82 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE fr 



PAET II. 

 I. 



AMENDMENT OF LAW OF PRIMOGENITURE. 



IT will be evident, I tliink, from the preceding- 

 statements, that the English " Land Laws " are not 

 justly chargeable with the faults usually urged 

 against them by advanced politicians, whose opinions 

 upon the subject appear to be grounded, for the most 

 part, on hasty assumptions. It cannot however be 

 denied, that, in two respects at least, the English 

 system of land tenure loudly demands amendment. 



The Law of Primogeniture, although it operates 

 but rarely, contravenes, in many instances, the wish 

 of an intestate. The owner of a landed. estate is, no 

 doubt, usually desirous that it shall continue in his 

 name and family. This may be condemned as a 

 weakness by philosophers ; but, like the desire of 

 posthumous fame, it is frequently attended with 

 beneficial results. Now, the owner, although opposed 



