chap. xvi. THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 341 



readily to agree. This would he fair and equi- 

 table for all parties. The owner of the mills 

 receives the full value of his property. The 

 proprietors of the lands can run no risk, as the 

 money is laid out upon their own estates ; and, 

 at the termination of the present leases, they 

 may expect a considerable rise of rent in conse- 

 quence of this improvement. 



But as the passions, the prejudices, and jar- 

 ring interests of individuals, are apt, on many 

 occasions, to throw obstacles in the way, and to 

 retard or prevent the agreement of parties, it 

 would, perhaps, be adviseable to apply for an 

 act of Parliament, not merely with a view to 

 this particular case, but which should extend to 

 all instances of a similar nature through the 

 kingdom ; by which means a speedy and effec- 

 tual remedy could be applied, wherever the 

 evil should be found to exist. And should a 

 law of this kind be obtained, a clause might be 

 introduced, providing, that whoever shall pos- 

 sess land that cannot be drained without bring- 

 ing up a level through part of his neighbour's 

 ground, shall be authorised to do this, upon 

 paying full damages for the cut. And as, in 

 many cases, such drains could not be made, 

 without benefiting more than one proprietor, 

 the maker of the common drain shall have it in 

 his power to cause each pay a share of the ex- 

 pence, in proportion to his share of the advan- 

 tage gained ; in the same way as, by the exist- 

 ing laws, he can oblige a neighbouring heritor 

 to straight marches, and, if he chuses to inclose, 

 can make him pay half of the expence of the 

 fence upon the march. 



