WEST DEVONSHIRE. 75 



may be faid, with little latitude, that, in 

 the end, it is equally detrimental to an 

 eftate, to overrent it, as it is to let it beneath 

 its fair rental value. This is an axiom of 

 management which is well known to every 

 man of landed property, who has perfe- 

 vered in paying attention to his own affairs ; 

 and which has cofl fome men bo fmall 

 fhare of property, refpedtability, and peace 

 of mind, to come at the knowledge of. 



The pradice of letting farms by aucflion, 

 in this Diftridt, is not difficult to be ac- 

 counted for. It has grown in part out of 

 the cuftom of felUng farms by audion, aa 

 abovementioned -, and is in part owing to 

 the circumftance of the imm.ediate manage- 

 ment of eftates being in the hands of, 

 country attornies ; who are, profefiionally, 

 unacquainted with the value of the lands 

 they have to let, and who have valuable 

 interefts in the holding of furveys. 



Another fmgular trait, in the manage- 

 ment of eilates, in this Diftrid, may be 

 proper to be mentioned. The agent, in- 

 rtead of receiving a falaiy adequate to his 



fer- 



