These circumstances demonstrate the necessity of a gene- 

 ral new valuation adjusted to the altered condition of the 

 country a valuation on principles known and approved, 

 carried out by qualified persons, and creating general 

 satisfaction by the moderation and uniformity of its rates. 



V. THE VARIOUS PRINCIPLES ADVOCATED BY VALUATORS. 



The greatest diversity of opinion exists among the whole 

 class of land valuators as to the principle on which land 

 should be valued. The most enlightened and the most 

 ignorant appear equally at fault on this subject. 



The Committee appointed in 1834, to inquire into the 

 law and practice in respect to the occupation of land in 

 Ireland, made extensive inquiries on the subject of valua- 

 tion, and elicited copious evidence showing the absence of 

 all uniformity, and the disagreement on the first principles 

 of action, which valuators exhibited. 



A majority of the witnesses examined seemed to be of 

 opinion, that the true principle of valuation for rent was to 

 be found in the establishment of a certain ratio or propor- 

 tion between the gross produce of land and the amount to 

 be paid to the landlord. 



But among those who admitted the general principle 

 that the rent should bear a fixed proportion to the pro- 

 duce, there was great diversity of opinion as to what the 

 proportion should be. Some maintained that one-third of 

 the gross produce should go for rent; others, one-fourth; 

 many, one-fifth; some, one-sixth. 



The great difference between these'proportions will be 

 best observed if the reader will take the trouble to calcu- 

 late the effect they would have on an estate of any num- 

 ber of acres of land of medium quality, capable of yielding 

 in gross produce to the value of (say) 5 per acre. 



The effect upon society of adopting the principle that 

 one-third of the gross produce should be taken for rent on 

 a populous estate of medium land, occupying an area of 

 four miles square, would be, as compared with the princi- 



