Book IV. LAND STEWARDSHIP. 



7C3 



Sect. I. General Principles of Business considered relatively to Land-Stewardship. 



4659. The Jirst and most general principle, in this and every other department of 

 business, is to embrace readily the several matters as they occur ; and not to put them 

 off from time to time, until they accumulate, and render the task difficult and irksome. 

 The only artifice, it may be said, which a man of character can well employ in business 

 is that of endeavouring to render it pleasurable ; and, by meeting it cheerfully, as it 

 rises, or as it becomes ripe for despatch, this desirable end will generally be attained : 

 for, in that state a man not only enters upon it with pleasure himself, but he will gene- 

 rally find his opponent in the same temper of mind. Whereas, through delay, misun- 

 derstandings, idle tales, and groundless surmises are liable to intervene ; the minds of 

 both to be soured ; a distant coolness to take place between them ; and a barrier to be 

 raised, which, though altogether imaginary, nothing but the mystic wand of the law may 

 be able to remove. 



4660. There are three distinct methods of conducting business. The first is that in 

 which the parties meet, with fair intentions, to find out the point of equity, and there to 

 close. In the second, they enter upon business, guarded with cunning, and armed with 

 trick and artifice, as gamblers draw round a table, to take every advantage, fair or other- 

 wise, which they can effect with impunity. The last method lies in the courts of law 

 and equity. 



4661. A business founded on honourable intentions is the only one in which a man of honour can volun- 

 tarily appear. Here honest men come, as indifferent persons, to arbitrate the matter in reference. In 

 every settlement between man and man, there is a point of equity and right, which all good men are 

 desirous to find ; and when men of liberal minds fortunately meet and join in the search, it is seldom 

 difficult to be discovered. Should some little difference of opinion arise, let them call in an umpire to 

 decide between them ; or leave the whole to the decision of three capable and disinterested men. 



4662. A man of strict integrity may become entangled in business with a man qf looser principles. In 

 this case, it behoves him to be upon his guard ; but still to enter into the negotiation with temper and 

 civility. There is even a politeness in affairs of business which cannot be departed from on any occasion. 

 Interruptions and schisms frequently arise, especially between men who are of keen sensibility, and who 

 (though passably honest) are tenacious of their own interests, from mere matter of punctilio. The mind 

 of either being once soured by neglect, or ruffled by disrespectful behaviour, the smooth path of peaceful 

 negotiation is broken up, a spirit of warfare is roused, and advantages are taken, or attempted, which 

 calm reason would not have suggested. Hence, when men of unequal degree are brought together in 

 business, it is incumbent on the superior to set the example of liberality and civility of demeanour. 



4663. In extreme cases there is no resource but the law ; and here the most that an honest man can do 

 is to procure, without loss of time, the best advice ; and to spare no exertion or useful expense in bringing 

 the dangerous and tormenting business to a speedy conclusion. Not only is a man's property endangered, 

 while it is tossed on the troubled sea of the law; but his time and attention are led astray, and his peace 

 of mind is liable to be broken in upon, thus deranging his ordinary concerns, and disturbing the stream 

 of life. How much legal disputation might be prevented by a timely attention to business! 



4664. In forming connections in business, select the man who has a character to lose. 

 This principle should be invariably acted on : for if a man of established good cha- 

 racter be properly treated, and determinately closed in with in case he demur or swerve 

 from the right line of conduct, he will not forfeit his good name by doing a disreputable 

 action ; and must therefore come forward to the point of equity and justice. 



Sect. II. Management of Tenants. 



4665. The general treatment of tenants and cottagers may be considered as the most 

 important part of every land-steward's occupation : it includes the mode and conditions 

 of letting lands, and the time and manner of receiving rents. The idea of a landlord 

 or his agents managing his tenants does certainly on the face of it appear an absurdity. 

 The tenant is not more obliged to the landlord than the landlord is to the tenant ; and 

 therefore both parties being on an equality in point of obligation, the one ought not to 

 require or have the power to manage the other. This power is given, however, by the 

 ignorance of one of the parties, and the existing monopoly in favour of the other ; and 

 till these are done away with, by education and political changes, the ignorant part of 

 farmers will always be managed by their landlords. 



Subsect. 1. Proper Treatment of Tenants. 



4666. On every large hereditary estate, there are established customs and usages, to which 

 the proprietor and the occupiers consider themselves mutually amenable, though no legal 

 contracts may subsist between them. Even where imperfect leases, or other legal 

 agreements exist, still there is generally much left for custom and usage to determine. 

 Though some of these may be improper, yet they ought to be strictly observed by its 

 superintendent, until better can be placed in their stead ; not merely on the score of 

 moral justice, but, in the same observance, to set an example of integrity and good faith 

 to the tenants. If a superintendent imprudently break through a custom or a covenant, 

 what can he say to a tenant who follows his example ? 



4667. A manager ought to set an example to the tenants under his care of liberality 

 and kindness. This is more especially applicable to the case of cottagers and others who 

 rent small holdings. There are numberless small favours which he can bestow upon 

 them without loss, and many with eventual advantage to the estate. A spirited improv- 



