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sconviction with the unprejudiced mind, the effecti of reason and 

 argument must be altogether fruitless. 



That the present mode of conducting the business is susceptible 

 of further improvement, no one conversant with the subject can 

 deny. Yet to accomplish this, many obstacles are to be combated, 

 and perhaps one of the most formidable is that of its having been 

 regarded, more or less, as z. little system of patronage. The lord of 

 the soil, the rector, and a few of the principal commoners monopo- 

 lize and distribute the appointments. It is well known that bills 

 of this sort have found their way through parliament without the 

 intervention of a country solicitor, where no opposition was me- 

 ditated. In such cases, the parliamentary solicitor, and a surveyor 

 have answered every purpose. Here a saving might be made from 

 sixty to a hundred pounds ; but this would exclude the friend of 

 one or more of the governing party. In some acts, five commis- 

 sioners have been appointed, in general there are three, but tivo 

 would be sufficient with power to nominate a third under the cir- 

 cumstance of difference of opinion, which seldom happens. If a 

 country solicitor be employed he should act as clerk to the com- 

 missioners, and save the expence of a supernumerary in that capa- 

 city. Hereby another saving of at leaft a hundred pounds would 

 be made, without any injury to the concern. The office of sur- 

 veyor is by no means inconsiderable in the aggregate of expence. 

 This ought invariably to be disposed of under a fair competition, 

 to the loweft given sum for executing the whole of the business, 

 (after the act is obtained) by advertising for proposals to such 

 effect. This alteration it is probable would save one third, and 

 in some cases nearly half of a bill made out by charges in detail. 



In the choice of commissioners, it is of the utmost consequence 

 to appoint one at least in the neighbourhood of the inclosure, fami- 

 liarized with all the varieties of the soil, with the influence of sea- 

 sons, and with its local peculiarities, whereby its present value, and 

 capacity for future improvement would be ascertained with preci- 

 sion, and the important office of qualifying the land executed with 

 safety and confidence. The next in the scale of utility, fhould be 

 a person conversant with all the forms and routine of the business ; 

 well instructed from experience in accounts, and in the prices and 

 different modes of fencing, making roads, bridges, gates, &c. of 



general 



