31 



Some estates are entirely composed of this quality 

 of soil, and there are few that have not some por- 

 tion of it. To throw out of cultivation the inferior 

 soils, would impoverish, and in most cases abso- 

 lutely ruin, the tenants of them, as well as the 

 labourers who are employed upon them. Then, 

 as there would be a greater number of tenants 

 without homes, and without occupations, the 

 demand for those farms which would yield a pro- 

 fitable return for the capital employed would in- 

 crease ; the demand though it would not keep 

 the rent of the better land from falling, would 

 keep it from falling in proportion to the deprecia- 

 tion in the value of produce. This would act in 

 favour of the proprietors of this land, but un- 

 favourably to the occupiers, for the increased 

 competition for land of this nature would lessen 

 the rate of their profits. Thus, such an approxi- 

 mation to free trade would not only impoverish, 

 but, in many instances, entirely ruin the occu- 

 piers of inferior land, but injure also the occupiers 

 of good soils, by reducing their capitals, and low- 

 ering the rate of their profits. 



I know Lord Fitzwilliam and those who think 

 like him on this subject say that the tenantry will 

 not suffer. It would be some consolation if there 

 were reasonable ground for believing such would 

 be the case. They say the landlords would be 

 the only sufferers ; but the plain common sense 

 and practical observation of the farmer have sup- 

 plied him with more correct information, and he 



