126 THE LANDED INTEREST. 



have been afforded in larger proportion to the 

 extent of the land than appears by the Agricul- 

 tural Returns to exist elsewhere in England. 



Though the best of the land was probably 

 first dealt with, there can be little doubt that 

 much of that which still remains uninclosed may 

 be advantageously brought under the operation 

 of the new law of 1876, which, in the altered 

 state of the circumstances since 1845, provides 

 . more fully for the public interests of the neigh- 

 bourhood, and especially of large populations ; 

 and at the same time may yet be found, in less 

 populous quarters, the useful instrument of 

 adding some considerable extent of available 

 land to the solid resources of the country. 



Enfran- Lands or houses held by copyhold tenure 



chisement 



of copy- may be enfranchised through the copyhold 



hold lands 



or build- department of this Commission. These are held 



ings. 



by record in the book of the lord of a manor, 

 anciently on certain terms of service, now com- 

 muted into a money payment. The tenants of 

 a manor, which was held by the lord from the 

 Crown under ancient grant, gradually acquired 



