THE ENGLISH LAND SYSTEM 79 



reported in favour of a general measure to facilitate 

 inclosures.^ 



In the following year, 1845, a General Inclosure 

 Bill, based on this report, was introduced, and after 

 much opposition was passed into law. The promoters 

 of the Bill claimed that it provided safeguards for the 

 peasantry and others who had property and rights in 

 the soil. Some of its provisions seemed, on paper, to 

 go some way in this direction, but experience proved 

 that these safeguards were practically worthless. The 

 debate on the Bill gives further evidence that the 

 opinion of the House of Commons with regard to 

 inclosures was fast changing. It amounted, however, 

 to no more than an attempt to " shut the stable-door 

 after the steed has been stolen." 



Lord Lincoln (afterwards Duke of Newcastle), in 

 introducing the Bill, compared it favourably in this 

 respect with the private bill system. He said : — 



" This I know, that in nineteen cases out of twenty 

 Committees of this House on private Bills neglected 

 the rights of the poor, . . . Committees being per- 

 mitted to remain in ignorance of the claims of the 

 poor man because, by reason of his poverty, he is 

 unable to come up to London, to fee counsel, to 

 produce witnesses, and to urge his claims before the 

 Committee." 



Mr. Sharman Crawford denounced the measure as 

 a "landlord's Bill." He declared that whatever land 

 was set apart under the Bill for the small holders 



1 The writer has analysed the evidence given before this Select Com- 

 mittee. He finds that the "competent and experienced witnesses" were, 

 with the exception of one farmer, composed of solicitors, clergymen, 

 hotel keeper (i), ginllemen, land agents, and tithe commissioners. 



