THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN IDEAS. 
185 
THE FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT AND LIMIT OF 
STATE INTERFERENCE. 
SYLLABUS OF PAPER BY REV. W. DICKSON, LL.D. 
(Read February 12th, 1885.) 
Evils of over-government, with instances. Proper functions of 
government: Inspection, revision, national defence, internal police. 
Real object of government. Greater individualism. Short his- 
torical review. 
THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN IDEAS RELATING 
TO PROPERTY IN LAND. 
SYLLABUS OF PAPER BY C. F. BURNARD. 
(Read February 19th, 1885.) 
1. A review of the evils which have grown up with and out of 
the present and past land laws of this country ; such as (a) lessen- 
ing the productive power of the land, (b) the aggregation of land 
into large estates, (c) the extinction of the yeomanry class, (d) the 
divorcement of the labourer from the soil, &c. 2. An examination 
of the causes which have created and fostered these evils ; such as 
(a) primogeniture, (b) entails and settlements, (c) enclosure and 
appropriation of common land, (d) the breaking up of small hold- 
ings and extinction of the cottier class. 3. Origins of our land 
laws: (a) Old Saxon laws, (b) feudal tenures and soccage, &c. 
4. Proposed remedies. Conclusion. 
