CHAPTER IV. 



DISTRIBUTION OF LANDED PROPERTY. 

 The distribution of landed property in England, Tendency 



of landed 



SO far as ownership is concerned, is, by the property to 



diminution 



growing wealth of the country, constantly tend- in the 



number of 



ing to a reduction in the number of small small 



estates. 



estates. This tendency is further promoted by 

 the law, which permits entails and settlements, 

 thus hindering the natural sale of land so 

 dealt with ; and also by rights of primogeniture, 

 which prevent subdivision of landed property 

 among the family in case of intestacy. Culti- 

 vation thus passes out of the hands of small 

 owners into those of tenant-farmers, causing a 

 gradual decrease of the agricultural population, 

 and a proportionate increase of the towns. This 

 has been much accelerated by a policy of Free 

 Trade, which has at once opened up the markets 

 of the world for our commerce, and for the 



