CHRONICLES OF A CLAY FARM. 



revision of the whole matter whenever a mortgage is 

 required form altogether a Tribute 7 of such oppres- 

 sive magnitude, that Protection for the land from 

 foreign competition is a dream indeed, compared to 

 the reality of the much-desired Protection from 

 " Law." To fully develop and expose the extent to 

 which our antiquated feudal system of Tenures, our 

 conflicting institution of " legal " and " equitable " 

 estates, our secret and prolix conveyances, and com- 

 plicated settlements, operate as a charge upon the 

 land, a drain upon the resources of the Owner, an 

 injury and virtual confiscation to the Tenant and 

 the Laborer, would be to write the heaviest satire 

 upon the struggle for Protection that has ever yet 

 been showered upon a Parliamentary party power- 

 less only for error, but powerful to achieve, if they 

 only willed it, the completest satisfaction for the 

 repeal of the Corn-laws which an important body 

 could command, or an intelligent community ap- 

 prove. Do what you will for land, this lies at the 

 bottom of, and completely surpasses in importance 

 all other {k Improvements." Free the soil from the pes- 

 tilent redundancy of parchment, that the obsolete 

 necessities and antiquated forms of centuries have 

 gathered around it, and more will be accomplished 

 for its increase in commercial value, its preference 



