f 3 So J 

 to furround a manfion with an accurate and 

 mafterly cultivation. Were I pofiefTed of a 

 contiguous ten thoufand a year, I would 

 chuie to have my territory, and the approach 

 to my dwelling, marked by the excellency 

 of my tenants hufbandry ; I would have my 

 farms diftinguifhed from my neighbours, by 

 their fuperior products ; I mould chufe to be 

 able to boair, that an hundred acres of my 

 foil were of more benefit to my country, 

 than the fame quantity of another's land : 

 But mod aiTuredly this would not be by 

 leaving my farms at the old rent, but by rail- 

 ing them to their real value. He who boafts 

 of his cheap tenures, boafts of living in 

 the midif. of ilovens, inftead of fpirited 

 farmers. For the truth of thefe fenti- 

 ments, I appeal to the experience of all thofe 

 among the nobility and gentry, who have 

 confiderabiv raifed their rents, whether the 

 culture of their eftates has not been much 

 improved fmce their railing them. I muft 

 therefore be allowed to confider it as a 

 maxim, that the mil: ftep to increafing the 

 products of the foil, and confequently the 

 general income, from which fo many ufeful 

 effects refult, is to raife the rents of the king- 

 dom to the real value of the land; which 

 would be to raife nine-tenths of England. 

 As to otlur means of improvement, the 

 bounds of this letter will not allow me to 



examine 



