Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1870-11-25
The Land Question in England

The Lana question III EuS ldHu.
1.-The Land Question in England" is the
title of an interesting article In the October
number Of the Westminster Reria1. A large
portion of the article is occupied with topics
of minor concern to American readers but
there are many points Of information in It
which cannot fail to interest all of whatever
nation or condition they may be. We
shall select a few passages that our readers
may be able to see what has, in the long pro-
cess Of generations changed the condition of
q class in England, once consisting Of many
thousands Of comfortable and thrifty small
farmers, to one now vastly more numerous,
bat Of which, who are not absolute beggars
now, are 80 near beggary as to be hardly
better of than if they were hopelessly there
in reality.
Five centuries ago England was celebrated
in Europe for the great number of its separ-
ate freehold properties. No where else, ac-
cording to Chancellor Fortescue, no other
part Of the civilized world was SO favored.
Great and small men, in regard to their
wealth and landed property, were remarkably
intermingled. Even two centuries later,
according 10 Gregory Kings estimate the
small freeholders were very numerous body.
In loss there We're in England 10000 fami-
lies, "lreebolders of the best sort, and l40,
600 Sc freeholders Of the lesser sort, " in all
10000 families possessing freehold estates.
This was exclusive of the higher nobility.
baronets, knights, cs4uires and gentlemen,
who were classified separately, all of whom
were owners of more or less land. Taking
all into account he reo5o1ed that one family
in four were freeaoldeIs at the time be lived.
How different, says the reviewer, =. the state
Of things at the present day, when one half
Of England is owned by 80, and - - mil
lions ofacres in scotland are owned by - per
sons 3" d" At the date Of the last census
the total number Of land owners in England
was 30,76j but this includes the owncrs OF
building sites, town and suburban ailo5ments,
Of which, Of course, small account can be
made in reckoning the f-eeholdes occupied
in producing food Cor man or beast
10 the question wheth e- tins great and
radical change has been o ercfciaI- whether
employment in proportion to population is
is more aoundant-wheth labor, taking all
things into account. Is bet. er rcmunei 4ted.-
are the people As a whole mere prosperous
than formerly, in regard TO their material
comforts and social c5nditi3 D the replyis,
&c it mus. be admitted that the change has
been an unfortunate, and in many respects d
disastrous one for the countr y.
The following extract is a good summing
up of the matter
Il Is not a mere coincidence that the introiuc-
ton Of pauperism in England was coutemporan-
eous with the extinction Of Glass Of small
freeholders and farmers. . he connexion be-
tween them was tina, of cause and effect Ia
England, ~ former days the 10 5ilty, il IS true,
held large estates, but they di / not m0nopolize
tie who'll land of the country. Between each
large Is ate there ~ere nun ere Us small Tree
holds, owned and cultivated by class Of yeo-
men while ~ tie sane tine large spaces sl
over tae country were special y reesryed from
appropriation, and set apart the common use
# the people. he small FIRE holders began 10
Do absorbed into the large esta es about the mid
lie Of the fifteenth century. About the same
line great demand arose for wool English
Tool wss then in great repu;c tI over Europe /
or manufacturing purposes, n ! the price Wss
70 high that the landowners i)u al 10 more profit /
be 10 grow wool than any 0th T kind Of agrl- /
gtural produce With "a view 10 meet the in I
reased demand for This article. immense are.s /
4 land were laid down IN pas,u re all over the ,
ountry. But land laid down in pasture en-
loys less lator than if devoted TO tillage and /
housl-ds Of latorers were cons squeutly thrown
ut Of employment When y-t lonstr2ted with I
jr the course they we're taking in dcpriving 50 (
lany people Of livelihood, the landowners, in
arms which express the now pr eyailing notions
nth regard to the rights Of pr PertY, replied
Have we not right TO DO IS we like with our
WI ,'' and carried the day. .arge and small
rms alike were appropriated to pasture, and
le fate Of the small farmer - sealed. The
earsnce system was then fo the frs; time
lopted, and it wss remorsees 81 carried cut
rs for turning men ont Of hold says a
ritter cf this period, &c they tax il for no Of
nee, but say the land is the own. and 50
icy turn them out Of their su ouis ike mice.
thousands in EDgIand through such beg now
ON door to door, who ha 5s kept honest
luses.'