CHAPTER V. 



OF THE RIGHTS OF THE STATE, OR THE COM- 

 MUNITY IN THE SOIL, AND THEIR SALE OR 

 COMMUTATION. 



ENGLISHMEN brought up born, I may say, 

 with the idea that land, like all other things, ought 

 to be private property, and blinded by that charac- 

 teristic prejudice which ever prevents them from 

 seeing good in the institutions, of any country but 

 their own, have endeavoured, by experimental mea- 

 sures, to introduce the practice here.* But these 

 measures have proved wholly abortive; and it is 

 fortunate, for the subject has never yet been con- 

 sidered carefully, practically, and on its true merits, 

 by persons thoroughly competent to deal well and 

 wisely with it. It would certainly be a dangerous, 

 if not a rash policy, to introduce measures involving 

 changes in principles that may affect vitally the 

 stability of the State Revenue, before those principles 

 have been discussed and examined in relation thereto; 

 from every point of view. Nor do I allude, now, 

 to the great measure proposed for adoption by Lord 



* Eor some years the land revenue has been redeemable in 

 the collectorate of Calcutta, Chittagong, and other places, at 

 fifteen and ten years' purchase, and generally estates could be 

 freed from risk of sale, by deposit of Government securities ; 

 but of neither of these offers has any advantage been taken. 



K 



