The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-04 00:00:00

The absurdity of the " heriot " system is so fully
recognised that it may seem a work of supereroga-
tion to say a single word on the subject. Under
that most extraordinary and anomalous law the
landlord was entitled on the death of his tenant to
seize the most valuable beast or chattel that had
belonged to the deceased, although it might be
worth far more than the entire manor, and many
times the value of the tenement in respect whereof it
was claimed. Many extraordinary cases have arisen
respecting the assertion of this right, and wealthy
men were frequently compelled to dispose of their
copyhold tenements at very serious sacrifices, to pre-
vent the possible loss of some highly prized article.
It is notorious that the late Sir ROBERT PEEL pur-
chased the entire manor under which he was a copy-
holder, lest one of his best pictures might be seized
at his death. It would be an endless task to enume-
ratesimilarcases, where the grievance came into actual
operation, or extraordinary means of precaution were
resorted to by the tenant at very considerable
inconvenience. The evil was of the most crying de-
scription, and yet we believe that during the eleven
years that the Act affording facilities for the volun-
tary commutation of heriots has been in force it has
only been twice resorted to with respect to heriots.
But the arbitrary" fines on death or alienation are
even more mischievous in their operation. These
are in force in about two-thirds of the manors in
England, and the natural result is that they
prevent draining, building, or any permanent and
lasting improvements. Who will expend a large sum
of money on the amelioration of the soil, or in bringing
it into a better state of cultivation, if, on every case
of death or alienation—even of the lands being made
available as a securitity for money—two years of the
improved value must bra paid as a fine to the landlord ?
If ever there was a system. devised, the object of
which was to prevent improvement and to keep
matters in statu quo, it is the custom relating to copy-
hold tenures in a majority of manors.
The Bill which was calculated to remove
these evils has been referred to a Select
Committee of the Lords, and it is asserted that its
further progress this session has been thereby seriously
endangered. We will, however, earnestly hope that
such may not be the case, and give full credit to the
declaration of the LORD CHANCELLOR, that "he had
no such object (viz. of throwing out the Bill), but
that he would go into Committee with the full de-
termination to give the measure his best attention,
and to render his honest assistance in carrying it into
effect."

MARKET NE 14;rS.—(T.tils DAY.)

CORN-EXCHANGE-FRIDAY.

.The present week's arrival of English Wheat up to
our market, coastwise, has been confined to 2,980
quarters, principally from Essex and Kent. By laud
catrisge the receipts of that grain fresh up to-day were
very moderate; hence the aggregate show of samples
was small. The attendance of both town and country
millers was comparatively limited, and only a small
amount of business was transacted in Wheat of home
growth, at Monday's prices. Very little was doing for
forward delivery. Only 1,600 quarters of Wheat have
come fresh to hand from abroad. Selected qualities
sold but all other kinds
were dull,
ull currencies
atbarely
yl ;
late
rates.
Floating
cargoes
of Wheat and Beans were not lower. The
show of Barley was very moderate, yet the demand
for all kinds was slow, at barely previous quotations.
We had a dull sale for Malt, and old parcels wero the
turn lower. Although the supply of Oats wero tole-
rably good, 13,320 quarters having arrived from abroad,
holders refused to sell except at full prices. Beans,
Peas, and fine Flour steady. The imports of the latter
article from the United States are 11,440 barrels.

ARRIVALS THIS WEER.

Wheat.

Barley.

Malt. Oat 3.

Flom.

Qrs. Qrs. Qrs. Qrs. Sackl
Englts)t .. ••• • \ 2,280 70 2,020 2,04') 2,160
r
Irish 150 6,920
Foreign •• 1,600 3,550 —.13,320 200
11,440 bi

The supply of Beasts on offcr here to-day being on
the increase, the demand for all kinds was in a very
sluggish state at priers barely equal to those of Mon-
da) , and a total clearance was not effected. Although
the numbers of Sheop were by no means heavy, that de-
scription of stock moved offslowly, and in some instances
the quotations had a downwerd tendency. Lambs, the
supply of which was seasonably extensive, met a dull
inquiry, and the currencies were a shade lower. From
the Lie of Wight 351 came fresh to hand. The demand
for Calves was heavy, and the
quotations gave way
quite 24 per 81b. Iu Pigs next to nothing was doing.
Mulch Cows were iu moderate request at from 17/ 103 to
191 10.5 each, including their small calf.
Per bibs. to sink the otal.
e. d. to s. d
tafarlor Beset/1..... 2 8 210
riacond quality ••• • 3 0 3 2
Prime large Osea .. 3 4 3 6
Prime Scots •• • ... 3 8 310
Large coarse Calves 3 4 310
Prime small ditto .. 4 0 4 4
Snekliez Calves ..21 0 25 0
Lambs •• 4 2 5 4

a. (1. 13 a. d
Inferior Stoop .• •2 10 3 0
Second qual. Sheep 3 2 3 4
Coarse-woolle4ditto3 6 3 8
Southdown Nether 3 8 310
Ditto outof tho wool° 0 0 0
Largo Hogg •.•• •• 2 6 3 4
Small Yorkers •• •• a 6 3 8
Quarter old Pigs • •17 0 21 0

TOTAL SUPPLY AT YAruz_rm.
Beasts. 1 Sheep. Calves. ' Pigs.
822 5,090 259 I 2,00
FOREIGN SUPPLY.
Beasts I Sheep. I • Calves. I Pigs.
120 500 180

WIEI77G.',AT3 AND ZBADZINZIALL.
The supplies of each kind of Meat from the country
being considerably on the increaso, the general demand
ruled heavy, as follows: _