86 THE LANDED INTEREST. 



Parliament on the ground that the improvement 

 of the land of this country was a matter of public 

 interest. But this was not with the view of 

 protecting the interests of the remainder-man 

 and mortgagee, for that is no part of the duty 

 of Government ; but in order to give a first 

 charge on the inheritance, and so enable land- 

 owners, whether under settlement or otherwise, 

 to obtain money for improving their estates 

 (which is an object of public importance), at a 

 lower rate of interest than would otherwise have 

 been possible. This preferential charge could 

 be given only with the tacit assent of other 

 parties already creditors of the estate ; and the 

 condition which hitherto has assured that assent 

 has been the certificate, under statutory powers, 

 of an acknowledged Government authority, that 

 their security had not been thereby injuriously 

 affected. The continuance of the Government 

 inspection has thus been wholly in the interest 

 of the landowner, especially if he is under 

 settlement or entail, in which condition the 

 tenant for life is otherwise unable to raise 

 money for the improvement of his property. 



