33 



the province of West Prussia, where they are situated, 

 not exceeding one-sixtietli part of the whole. 



The Value of Land generally is low, as may be in- 

 ferred from the low price of produce, and of rents 

 for what little is rented. An estate of medium soil 

 was put up to auction, and not producing an offer, 

 equal to the sum for which it was mortgaged, was 

 taken by the mortgagee. The extent is about 6,000 

 morgens, or about 4,200 acres. It is chiefly a thin 

 sandy soil, in some few r parts approaching to loam. 

 The principal and interest due to the mortgagee was 

 3,000/. for which sum he took the estate. The barns, 

 and other tenements, were in need of some repairs, 

 and the land far from being in a clean state. On 

 taking possession, as he could not let it, he had, and 

 calculated to expend, as he told me, betwixt 2,200/. 

 and 2,320/. to repair the tenements, and to stock it 

 with 1,500 merino sheep, 40 cows, and with bullocks, 

 horses, and the requisite implements. This gentle- 

 man, who had acquired his money by trade, and knew 

 how to calculate, hoped by the fleeces of his fine- 

 wooled sheep to draw some interest for the invest- 

 ment he had been compelled to make in land. 



In the same part of Prussia, another estate, one of 

 the best in the district, with a good house, with all 

 the buildings in good repair, and the land in a high 

 state of cultivation, was offered for sale ; and though 

 when I was there, the sale was not completed, I had 

 reason to believe an agreement for it would speedily 

 be concluded. 



The soil is good sandy loam, chiefly arable, with 

 some pasture, the extent 2,800 acres. The price, at 

 which I believe the contract to have been since made, 

 was between 5,200/. and 5,400/. 



If these two instances may be taken, as nearly the 

 highest and the lowest price of the average arable 

 land of the maritime provinces of Prussia, the highest 

 limit will be somewhat less than 40s. the acre, and 

 the lowest not quite 155. per acre. This estimation 



