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SUBJECT THE SECOND.

POLITICAL ECONOMY.

APPROPRI

PPROPRIATION.-On this subject, Dr. Mavor speaks at some length, in three distinct sections; namely, 1. " Enclosing" &c., wherein is included a list of parishes, with the different states in which they were, in 1807;-thus furnishing valuable data for future topographers. 2. "Wastes.” 3." Common Fields."

In these separate divisions of the work, we find many ingenious remarks,-without much practical information.The subjoined passages are what appears, to me, eligible to be inserted, here.

Common Pastures.-P. 324. "Though Berkshire may be considered as a well cultivated county, the wastes are by far more extensive than in others which are infinitely behind it, in their general agricultural improvement. Including the sheep-walks, on the chalks hills, chiefly uninclosed, and which amount to about 25,000 acres, the whole quantity of land, in a comparatively unproductive state, cannot amount to less than 60,000 acres, or nearly one-sixth of the whole area.

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"The forest of Windsor, Maidenhead thicket, Bulmarsh heath, and many smaller wastes, the downs from Ilsley to Ashbury, and a track of common and waste lands, begining at Inkpen, about eight miles to the south-west of Newbury, and running east, with a few intermission, as far as Windsor forest, of the breadth of two or three miles, and forming the Hampshire boundary, are incontestable proofs of what still remains to be done, in order to render Berkshire as rich, fertile, and productive as it might be made." For a disadvantage of Common Meadows, see Irrigation, ensuing.

Common Fields.-P. 492." The want of a general inclosure, and the enormous expences attending private bills of this kind being carried into execution, are not only checks on agricultural improvement, but in many instances render it impossible. A common field bargain, in which many have an interest, but no one can be said to have an exclusive property, can neither be cultivated, drained, manured, or managed with any degree of spirit or effect. As for wastes, however productive they are susceptible of being made,

they

they are inevitably devoted to sterility and neglect, till allotted to individual owners; and it may be said in regard to all property, not in severalty,

The lands that many owners share,

Can never know an owner's care."

On the Difficulties of Appropriation, by separate Acts. -P. 141. "In courts of law, I have more than once seen the parties obliged to produce a written copy of a bill of enclosure; and in one instance, I am well assured that the solicitor in a suit of this kind, being pressed for time, and finding the clerks otherwise engaged, was glad to copy the act himself, and only received the usual attestation,, for which they were paid as if they had done the whole busiEven admitting the distinction between public and private bills, might not the subject be relieved, and the revenue increased, by affixing a stamp of five guineas to every private printed act, in order to give it the validity required? I throw out these hints to country gentlemen, members of parliament, whose interest and whose duty imperiously call upon them to bring forward some regulations in this respect.

"But it is not only in obtaining an act of parliament that the proprietors of land have to lament a wanton waste of money. The grand system of fleecing only commences with the circuitous and protracted manœuvres of solicitors and commissioners, who are to put it in force. Summonses are sent to every individual proprietor by the attorney, on the most trifling occasions, in order to swell his bill; and meeting is held on meeting by the commissioners, that they may come in for their full share of the spoil. When an act of parliament is passed, it must be a matter of notoriety to the proprietors of land, and an advertisement in the provincial papers ought to be the only further notice to parties interested in subsequent arrangements.

"At length the award is made out and signed; but this instrument, so far from defining every thing with a precision that will allow no scope for future litigation, has been known to contain accidental or intentional omissions, which furnish the lawyer with a future job, and involve the proprietors in new expences.

f But supposing every thing adjusted as it ought to be, which I will hope is frequently the case, it is alway expressly ordered that a copy of the award shall be deposited in the parish chest; and as a further security, that another copy shall be lodged with the clerk of the peace, or in one of the courts at Westminster. This wise provision, however, of rendering what concerns all easily accessible to all, at a

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trifling

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trifling expence, is not unusually defeated by the interested policy of the solicitor, who perhaps keeps the only copy the award in his own possession, as long as the proprietors will submit to it and charges for information and extracts, according to his own fancy. I speak of practices that have fallen under my personal notice elsewhere."-excellent! MANUFACTURES.- "Berkshire," we are told, p. 472, not be considered as a manufacturing County." Under the Head, "Markets," the manufacture of each market town is noticed. Sack cloth appears to be, at present, a principal object. Formerly, different articles of the woolen trade were manufactured at

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Newbury.-P. 460. "Newbury was formerly famous for its woollen manufactures; but these are now nearly lost, and hence a numerous poor.

"In the town and its vicinity, however, some kerseys, cottons, callicoes, linen, and damask, are now manufactured. Blankets are likewise made by some persons from Witney, in Oxfordshire; and it does not appear that they produce an inferior article.

"A paper-mill, on a large scale, does much business in its line. The paper is excellent, and applicable to almost every purpose of printing or writing."

Oakingham.-P. 462. "Three silk manufacturers have establishments here. One is for spinning, and two for weaving. Hatbands, ribbands, watch-strings, shoe-strings, sarcenets, figured gauzes for ladies' dresses, &c. are manufactured here."

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Reading.-P. 465. "Large quantities of malt are made here for the London market; and not less than 20,000 sacks of flour are annually sent from hence to the same mart. The Abbey mills remain."

PUBLIC TAXES.-P. 494. "I am fully aware that the necessities of the state require, and I trust the patriotism of the subject will ever incline him to pay the very large aggregate sums now imposed, for the defence and support of all that can be dear to men; but in apportioning the taxes in such a manner as may be least oppressive, and produce the best effect, all the wisdom of legislators and statesmen should be brought into action. With the greatest part of our rulers, for the last century or two, commerce has been the idol to which every thing has been sacrificed. A national debt of five hundred millions, an annual expenditure so enormous as almost to stagger belief that it could be raised, ttest this truth, without the necessity of a single argument for it will never be contended, that of the millions of debt which are ready to overwhelm us, one-fiftieth part was ever incurred by agriculture and internal improvement. Manufactures

Manufactures and agriculture go hand in hand, and encourage each other; but foreign commerce and colonial possessions are certain drains on the mother country, for the benefit of comparatively few; as they must be supported by wars and taxes, beyond their relative worth."-Hear! Hear! LOCAL TAXES.-POOR RATE.-Assessing.-In the section," Size of Farms," Dr. Mavor elicits a novel and good idea (susceptible I conceive of improvement); namely, that of assessing the occupiers of lands, toward the maintenance of the poor,-not simplexly according to the rental value of the lands in occupancy, but jointly with the sizes of farms; as "for instance, a farm of 50l. a year should be assessed at 6d. in the pound, rent; 100l. at 74d.; 150l. at 9d.; 2002. at 10 d.; 250l. at 18.; 300l. at Is. 1d.; 3507. at 1s. 3d.; 400l. at 1s. 6d. ; and so on in proportion." p. 79.

It appears to be evidently unjust that a working farmer, a man who cultivates his farm by the labor of his own family-by himself, his wife, and his children-should pay in equal proportion with one who cultivates his, by the means of hired servants and laborers; who and whose children may be liable to become burdensome.-A law to assess to the poor, in proportion to the number of workpeople employed, not in AGRICULTUBE, only, but in MANUFACTURES and TRADE in general,-would, in my opinion, be founded in right reason. The working farmer, however, ought not to be wholely exempt; inasmuch as some part of his family might eventually become chargeable to the parish.

P. 101. "Moveable property, as far as I have obtained information on the subject, is seldom assessed. In Abingdon, however, where the rates in St. Helen's parish now average about 68. 6d. on a three-fourths value, and in St. Nicholas' about 7s. 6d., on a two-thirds value, stock is charged in a moderate proportion; and in towns where the poor is numerous, from the decline of manufactures or other causes, it seems not only just, but expedient, that the poor's rate should be assessed on moveable as well as immoveable property.

"Instead of this, I have to lament, that in some parishes, the proprietor of a cottage and a garden, who lives by his daily labour, and ought to be an object of respect and indulgence, because he keeps himself from being chargeable to the parish, is assessed in his full proportion; while a person who is making hundreds a year by trade or a profession, pays only to the poor for the premises he occupies."

Average of Poor Rate.-P. 101. "From a variety of calculations, and taking a number of averages from accurate data, I find that the poor's rate on the actual rents throughout

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throughout the county, does not exceed 3s. 4d. in the pound."

P. 108. "The poor's rate, on the nominal, but not on the real rent, in most parishes which are not very populous, and where there is a considerable quantity of land, pretty much divided in occupation, averages about 4s. 6d. in the pound."

In a section entitled "Poor," in the chapter "Obstacles to Improvements," a series of well intentioned remarks appear. The following are worthy of transcription.

P. 475." The characters of men are influenced by circumstances, and are formed by habits; and the only effectual means, in my opinion, of ameliorating the condition of the labouring poor, and of giving them honorable feelings and impressions, is to assist and direct their endeavours in the path of independence.

"The first step is to render their cottages comfortable, and to give them an interest, if possible, in this kind of property, which is dear to every mind not wholly lost to sensibility and reflection. In a former section I have delivered my sentiments on this subject, and I wish to enforce them here. Nothing would more tend to make men good labourers, good husbands, good fathers, and good subjects, than a property in their homes, or an assurance that they would not be dispossessed, except by their own misconduct, with such a portion of land for a garden, &c. as would employ their leisure hours, without drawing them off from their regular engagements."

P. 479. The number of public houses is unquestionably a nuisance; and that country is in a lamentable state where the Machiavelian principle of private vices being public benefits,' is acted on, however much it may be disguised. The poor, however, not only require, but are entitled to comforts and occasional relaxations; and if they cannot brew their own beer, it would be a humane and charitable action if the persons by whom they are employed, would allow them from time to time a certain quantity of table beer at prime cost, without being subject to any duty. To the gentleman or the farmer, the trouble of brewing a few bushels or quarters of malt extra, would be but trifling-to the poor the accommodation would be great."

"Connected with the amelioration of the condition of the poor, a virtuous education is also indispensably requisite. Their duty to God, to their neighbour, and themselves, they should have an opportunity of knowing, not by accident, but by systematic arrangements. Where the parent is unable, the parish officers should see that every child be taught by some competent person, to be paid by them, the principles of religion, and the practice of morals."-This is a

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