258 



Englsliraen 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 

 measures, 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 danger- 

 ous, 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 rela- 

 tion thereto, from every poiut of view. Nor do I 

 allude, now, to the jrreat measure proposed for 

 adoption by Lord Canning; but rather to minor 

 measures, involving similar principles, adopted, appa- 

 rently, with little thought or consideration, on the 

 suggestion of local authorities. The measure of 

 that great and good Viceroy, whose name will never 

 be mentioned by any who had the happiness to 

 serve under his Government but with admiration 



* For some years the land revenue has been redeemable iu the eal- 

 lectorate of Calcutta, Chitta<ron<r, and other places, at fifteen and 

 ten years purchase, and generally estates could be freed from rit.k 

 of sale, by deposit of Government securities ; but of neither of these 

 offers has any advantage been taken. 



