LAND TENURES 287 



" resident geutiy " system of ruimiii;,' our great land industry, 

 it will be manifested in results. If it be claimed tliat upon 

 such a system depends " the strength and durability of our 

 Empire," then it becomes imlubitalde that tin; Ikitish system 

 is better, or as good as, those systems on the Continent, which 

 are the antithesis of our own. If it be found, on the other 

 hand, that, in comparison with other countries, the British 

 system has not yielded equally good results, then the reason 

 for maintaining that system cannot be longer upheld. 



Tepjiitowal A^isTOcr.ACY System — a Failure 



Parliamentary Eeturns, statistical works, and common ol)scr- 

 vation all prove, alas, that British agriculture, in spite of tlie 

 exceptional fertility of the soil, is the worst and most backward 

 in Europe — in the AVorlu ! 



This single fact appears in itself so damning an indictment 

 against the British system as to need no further corroljorating 

 evidence. P3ritish agriculture, while being the laughing-stock of 

 the nations and held up by them to ridicule, serves them, at 

 the same time, with the means of growing millions of pounds of 

 agricultural produce which our inept system prevents us grow- 

 ing ourselves. 



It will be contended that this failure is not duo to the 

 " territorial aristocracy " system, but to the Free-trade policy of 

 the country, and although it is true to a certain extent it docs 

 not exonerate that system from the charge of being generally 

 inimical to agricultural interests. During the Peninsular War 

 the history of our country proclaims the fact that land rents 

 rose nearly threefold, that trade and agriculture were in a sad 

 condition, food was dear, employment scarce, and the people 

 endured considerable suffering. But let an independent witness 

 add his testimony to the case. 



SOxME OF THE TeSTS 



Peferring to the agricultural distress at that period, the work 

 so often mentioned in tliese pages has the following references 

 to the subject : — 



" The same parliament, composed largely of landowners, had 

 already passed a bill (1815) which had for its object to maintain the 

 price of corn and keep up rents, while it aimed also at keeping 

 the laud under cultivation and providing a sufficient supply of home- 

 grown corn." '■■■ 



" From 1820 to 1822 there were no less than IT.") petitions to 



* " The Free-Trade Movement," p. 44. 



