( 2 ) 



ful lu-iglibour?, it was common for the farmers, w ho then lived in village". 

 to enter into an agreement, called a bond of good neighbourhood, in which 

 all ads which could be conllrued into bad neighbourhood were narrated, 

 and certain penalties annexed to the coniniiirion of each, and from the 

 joint manner in which they occupied the lands, (which was the fame as 

 is flill praClifed in the open field parilhcs in England), as well as from 

 the conditions contained in tliefe bonds, they were induced to turn out 

 in arms, on any general invafion of their property. 



This being the ancient (late of both countries> and it being well known 

 that a regular Government, together with the arts and habits of civilized 

 fociety, and improvements in Agriculture, were much earlier introduced 

 into England than into Scotland, it may appear difficult to account for the 

 manner in which both countries are now inhabited. In England the 

 farmers ftill living crowded together in villages, as in former tiujes ; where- 

 as, in the cultivated parts of Scotland, every farmer lives m the centre of 

 his own farm, as if the feudal fyftem had never exifted. But that dif- 

 ficulty will be removed, wiien, on the one hand, the manner of culti- 

 vating the open field lands in England is confidered, and that inclofing 

 has only come into general pradice of late years ; and, on the other, that 

 there does not appear to have been any commonable lands in Scotland ; 

 that fince the year 1560, the payment of tithes in kind (except in a very- 

 few indances, and thefe where the tithes are in the pofleffion of lay pro- 

 prietors) have been aboliflied, and that the lands were in general poflef- 

 fed by great proprietors, who, when ever they were inclined, had it in 

 their power, for the reafons juft now mentioned, to divide their lands, 

 and make fuch arrangements with their tenants as they judged moll 

 likely to promote the improvement of their efiates ; and that where a 

 townfliip was poflefied by two or more proprietors, in place of a tedi- 

 ous negotiation with the Clergyman, and thofe having right of com- 

 monage, and an expenfive application to Parliament for an inclofing bill, 

 which is the cUfe in England, the divifion of fuch lands, was effeded 

 by an aclion or procefs before a Court of law, (which was attended with 

 little expence), or amicably fettled, by a reference to fome man of re- 

 fpedable character in the neighbourhood. 



In the following ftatement, attention has been paid to reduce all 4he 

 articles therein mentioned, to the ftandard of the weights and meafures 

 generally ufed in England, and the rents and returns in both countries, 

 are calculated by the Englifli acre, and by the Winchelter bufliel of 8 



gallons. 



