TENANT-RIGHT DELUSIONS. 31 



iota the principle of the system, yet they 

 seldom do more in cases where tenant-rights 

 are disposed of than exercise a veto in the 

 selection of incoming tenants. But were 

 tenant-rights legalised, so to speak, they would 

 become the principal party connected with 

 them, and hence the present privileges of the 

 tenant would be excluded by express stipulation. 

 This is obvious from the very constitution and 

 character of a lease ; for a lease is a contract 

 of location conditioned for the mutual benefit 

 of contracting parties, in which the respec- 

 tive rights and obligations of landlord and 

 tenant are either expressly stipulated or legally 

 understood. The law of the land is only effec- 

 tive in the absence of stipulation ; and hence 

 the tenant-right bills now pending before par- 

 liament, let them be passed in what shape they 

 may, or in all the shapes proposed, can only 

 be effective during the currency of present 

 leases. On renewals, their operation is at the 

 mercy of the landlord, who can stipulate to 

 suit himself, or what he thinks proper for his 

 own or his tenant's interest. He may even 

 insert covenants excluding assigning and sub- 

 letting, as well as those already mentioned re- 



