Synopsis of Chapters. xvii 



PAGE 



The defects in the English land system pointed out, and then 

 demonstrated to have been almost entirely remedied by recent 

 legislation— The attitude of the community with I'egard to the 

 Thellusson case evinces its tendency to moderate rather than 

 revolutionise the practice of entails 383-400 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE DESCENT OF THE LANDLORDS FROM POLITICAL SUPREMACY. 



The high price of wheat at the beginning of the century, and 

 the depression in both trade and agriculture — Refusal of the 

 legislature to discontinvie the Protective S3'stem — Rise of a 

 formidable coalition against the monopolies of the landlords — 

 History of the Anti-Corn-Law League agitation both in and out 

 of Parliament — The academical phase of the contest — Ricardo's 

 and McCuUoch's views on the principle of protecting agricul- 

 ture — Attitude of political parties regarding the corn laws — 

 The Spafields incident, and the Corn Law Riots bring about 

 severe legislative measures, having for their object the suppres- 

 sion of popular agitation — The so-called Peterloo Massacre and 

 its disastrous effects on the cause of the landlords — The struggle 

 between the seignorial and commercial interests assumes an 

 acute form — The attitude of Lord John Russell and the Whig 

 party in this phase of the contest — "Wellington introduces a 

 new sliding-scale system — The still dissatisfied Radicals agitate 

 for and bring about the Reform Bill of 1832 — The lukewarm 

 attitude displayed in the great centres of commerce on the 

 subject of free trade at this period — Acrimonious utterances 

 of the orators of the League against the Landed Interest — The 

 extravagant language used by outside agitators embitters the 

 contest within the Houses of Parliament— Lord Melbourne seeks 

 to save his administration by adopting an attitude of com- 

 promise — Peel's succeeding ministry gradually lowers the 

 taxation on corn imports — Modified views of the Protectionist 

 leaders — Revulsion of political opinions caused by the Irish 

 famine — The Edinburgh letter of Lord John Russell — The 

 abolition of the corn laws by Peel, his consequent fall from 

 power, and dignified speech of farewell .... 401-422 



CHAPTER XIX. 



THE PROGRESS OF SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE. 



A short summary of the disasters with which English husbandmen 

 had to cope during the first half of the present century, and the 

 energy and skill with which they were combated- Features of 

 the a-^iiculture of the period shown to be increased wheat hus- 

 bandry and an improved economy on the heavy lands— The 

 history of agricultural chemistry continued, and carried from 

 the discovery of oxygen by Priestley and Scheele down to 

 the correction of Liebig's eri-ors b\ Lawes and Gilbert— Sir 

 Humphrey Davy's famous lectures on the chemistry of agri- 

 culture — The introduction of Liebig's manures and theories 

 into this country, and the subse(|uent establishment of scientific 



