The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-01
The Agricultural Policy Of England.


Tho Agricultural Policy OF England.
For many hundred years-almost, indeed, ever
since the occupation ofEngland by the Norman con-
queror, and the feudal apportonment of the lands
among his chleftains dukes captains and supporters
the division of the lands among the people in Eng
land has renamed the same, the greater portion Of
the coil being IN the hands Of comparatively speak
ing, very few great noblemen and hereditary land
ed gentry. Although it is true some great changes
and revolutions have at different periods occurred
In that country, yet they have never been of such
q kind as very materially to affect the division of
the land and to equalize its distribution among the
people more generally The law of primogeniture
and entail has securely locked up the lands In the
hands of great families, and prevented their sub
division into emaller portions. Some slight
changes have been made in the various political
revolutions which have occurred at different
times since the Norman conquest but they have
been merely changes OF persons-not of things;
and of pOssessors-not OF distribution. That Is to
say, some great families have been attalnted and
lost their POSSESSIONS but other great ones have,
in the vortex of revolution, stepped into their
shoes, and it has been merely change of persons,
and not change of policy.
One Of those revolutionary changes which sub
veIted many ancient families, occurred in the wars
between the houses of York and Lanca ster-or the
two roses, Us they are more Familiarity called
when, according the varying fortunes of the two
families, the estates of the nobility changed hands
repeatedly These revolutions, however, SO far
from producing change in the agricultural policy
OF England, and leading to a more equable dlvl-
sion of the land, operated rather the contrary way,
as the prevailing monarch generally heaped toge-
Their several estates, already large, into one, and
gave them away to one man. who happened 10 be
the favorite at the time The only popular revo-
luton which has ever taken place IN England was
that OF l64S when, for the first and last time the
people really acted, and assumed some dignity
and Importance. But this revolution had little, If
any, effect as operating a subdivision of land, as
property wss respected, and no cenfiscatlon and
sale took place of the estates of the great lanhod
ers, was the case at subsequent period in
France. The greatest change and transfer of lands
which has ever taken place inEngland, occurred in
the time Of Henry the Eighth, when the great
landed possessions of the clergy, which were at
that time enormous, were tor the most part taken
away and given to the faverites of that despouc
monarch. THIS change, however, was not
change Of policy, bat only transfer from one
s at and greedy holder to one perhaps still greater
greedier, and more monopclizing
One would imagine that the monopoly of the
land to such an amazing extent, In 80 small coun-
try as England, and the exclusion Of the great
mass of the people from holding the land, would
operate very ruinously upon the prosperity OF the
country. Such, however, until within the last few
wears, comparatively speaking, has not been the
case A little reflection will explain this apparent
paradox. The immense landed possessions held
by the great famlles were divided out generally
into small farms OF from one hundred to two hun
bred acres, and these farms were leased out on
long leases, at very moderate rents. The farmers,
who thus constituted generally tenantry, became
easy In their circumstances and the leases were
generally renewed TO the same family from gene
ration to generation and thus no very great prac-
tical evil, political inconvenience, resulted from
the unequal distribution OF the land On the con-
,rary, two great and valuable bodies Of men sprung
I'D In the country one, the gentry, composed Of
obiemen and rich gentlemen, respectable for their
wealth, hospitality, generosity, aud the liberal dis
person OF their wealth the other, the farmers or
yeomanry, as they were called-the real bone and
einew OF the country
But great, and we may say fearIui, revolution
has OF late years been operating in England, which
has been but tile noticed, but yet has operated to
destroy the best elements Of English society, and
10 lun the famous old class OF farmers IN England,
10y turning the old yeomanry and their descendants
into beggars and paupers OF late years, the spirit
of cupidity and speculation-tbe desire OF making
money out of everythlng-ihe attempt, one might
say,to skin lmts-has had ts effect upon the landed
propnetors OF England, and they have taken up the
doctrine that they would make more money out
OF their estates il they put an end to the system of
email farms and numerous tenantry, and let out
the lands to great capitalists, who would carry on
farming ON a large scale This has been carried
into effect. AS the old leases expired, thew wero
not renewed-fve, six, or ten Of the old farms
were thrown into one; and the consequence now 49,,
that there are no small farmers in England. None
but great capitalists carry farm with profit
the class Of small farmers is destroyed, and the
agricultural population, once 80 thrivlng so happy,
30 industrious, has become pauper and tenant Of
the poorhouse.
Such is the ruinous and degraded position of the
agricultural population Of Eogand at the present