XVIIL] DISTRIBUTION OF LAND IN ENGLAND. 75 



view of investing the purchase-money in another 

 property producing perhaps a larger income. 



The legislature has by various statutes, and par- 

 ticularly by Lord Cairns's Act (Settled Lands 

 Act, 1882), 45 and 46 Vic. c. 38, much increased the 

 facility for selling settled estates. The tenant for 

 life can now himself, without the consent of trustees, 

 absolutely dispose of the property, with the exception 

 of the principal mansion and its demesne, which 

 cannot be sold without the consent of the trustees 

 of the settlement, or order of the court. It is 

 provided that the moneys to arise from a sale of 

 settled land shall be paid into court, or to the 

 trustees of the settlement, and invested in land, 

 government stock, or other securities in which 

 trustees are authorised to invest moneys, or railway 

 debentures, upon the trusts and provisions of the 

 settlement. 



Provision is made for the application of capital 

 moneys arising from the sale of part of the settled 

 lands in improvements sanctioned by the Land 

 Commissioners ; and the tenant for life is empowered 

 to grant agricultural leases for twenty-one years, 

 mining leases for sixty, and building leases for 

 ninety-nine years. 



An objection often urged against settlements of 

 land, that a settled estate cannot be dealt with 

 advantageously, through the interest of the possessor 

 being limited in duration, appe* 



