THE LA W OF SETTLEMENT OF LAND. 281 



ment, will not make a fair return. It is a delusion 

 that most tenants are willing to pay a fair interest on 

 landlords' improvements. They are willing enough 

 to ask for them, but many expect not to be charged 

 for them, and on many estates they are done without 

 charge, except perhaps for draining, which pays the 

 tenant double. Sense, knowledge of business and of 

 land, a skilful and trusty agent, the traditions and 

 habits of families, duty, even taste, have a great deal 

 to do with a landlord's making improvements, or not 

 doing so. No doubt there are landlords so wealthy 

 that large improvements are no burden, and others 

 so poor that they are a heavy burden ; but so it would 

 be if there were no settlements, and all the minor 

 motives I have alluded to would be equally operative. 

 There is no sort of doubt but that a very large number 

 of settled estates are well managed with due outlay 

 by the tenants for life. The true question is, whether 

 there is any such difference in the condition of estates 

 held in fee, compared with settled estates, as will 

 show a real superiority of one over the other. Upon 

 this, actual inquiry is the only evidence of value. 

 For one, I am not afraid of the result. 



The foundation of the views against settlement of 

 land is, that tenants for life are less able and less 

 willing to spend money on improvements than owners 

 in fee. Let us see how far this goes. I will first 

 clear away a point that produces some confusion. 

 What is the true basis of the relation of landlord and 



