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their land was ill-di'ained, inadequately provided with farm 

 buildings, and so highly rented and held on so insecure a tenure 

 that it attracted only the worst class of farmers. Prom 

 ignorance of agricultural matters the clergy are generally bad 

 landlords. Even when incumbents are well versed in rural 

 affairs, the uncertainty of their interest in the land not only 

 deprives them of the best stamp of tenants, but robs them of the 

 ordinary inducements which stimulate landlords to improve 

 their estates. An incumbent enjoys only a life interest in his 

 glebe ; he does not know or care for his successor ; he does not 

 do his duty by his family if he makes a large outlay of private 

 capital upon land which passes at his death to strangers. He 

 has not even the ordinary incentives or the moderate security 

 of tenant-farmers ; he is under no obligation to farm the glebe 

 in a husband-like manner ; neither he nor his representatives 

 are entitled to claim compensation for unexhausted improve- 

 ments. It is frequently said that glebes are a standing reproach 

 for their bad farming to the rural economy of the country. If 

 the charge is true, a considerable part of the blame attaches to 

 the Legislature. This portion of the subject I reserve for my final 

 letter, when I shall venture to suggest some legal changes in the 

 position of glebeowners, which may assist them to hold their 

 own with ordinary landlords. 



