Tenure^ whether in Property or on Lease. 53 



sistent with the nature of a work restricted to general princi- 

 ples, it is proposed to discuss them in a separate paper, (see 

 Appendix, No. 3.) The form of the lease, and the stipula- 

 tions essential for the interests of the two parties, must vary 

 so much, that it is hardly possible to reduce them to one uni- 

 form plan. 



SECT. IX. Rent. 



THE price periodically paid by the occupier, to the owner, 

 for the use of his land, is called rent. It formerly con- 

 sisted of a great number of particulars ; as personal ser- 

 vices, trifling sums in money, and various articles in kind, 

 as grain, lambs, pigs, poultry, &c. In countries unprovid- 

 ed with a sufficient quantity of circulating medium, payments 

 in kind were unavoidable; nothing, however, could be more 

 injudicious, when circulation became more abundant, than 

 such payments. The grain, and other articles of a similar 

 nature, were uniformly of inferior quality ; and the exaction 

 of personal services, was of little advantage to the landlord, 

 while it was an oppressive burden on the tenant, obliging 

 him to keep a greater number of men and horses than his 

 own farm required, and often interrupting the most im- 

 portant farming operations. Rent, therefore, in the pre- 

 sent more advanced period of society, ought in general to be 

 restricted to money payments ( l79 ) ; and the imposing of any 

 burden which has a tendency to impede the industry of the 

 tenant, or to withdraw his attention from the management of 

 the farm, ought to be avoided ( I8 ). 



The amount of rent, in a general point of view, must al- 

 ways depend on a variety of circumstances ; as the wealth of 

 the country ; its population; the price of produce; the 

 amount of public and other burdens; the distance from 

 markets ; the means of conveyance ; the competition among 

 farmers ; and other less important considerations : but 

 the rent of any particular farm must be regulated by, the 

 nature of the soil; the duration of the tenure, and the co- 

 venants contained in the lease ; the capital to be invested 

 by the farmer in its culture ; and the expenses to which he 

 is liable. 



Poor land cannot possibly pay the same proportion of rent > 

 according to the amount of its produce, as that which is rich 

 and fertile. The labour of ploughing, harrowing, sowing, 

 &c. when the land is in cultivation, is nearly the same, and yet 

 the produce is greatly inferior, not only in quantity, but in 



