The sun., 1872-04-24
Tenant Right in Scotland.

An aristocratic Scotch landowner, the
| Right Hon. NIsBET HAMILTON of East Lo-
| THAN, through an act of oppression exer-
| cised toward II tenant who had offended
| him, has started discussion relating to
tenant right In Scotland which Is likely TO
result in important legislation for the pro-
lection OF the tenant class.
Mr.. GEORGE I1oPE of Fcnton Barns, Fast
Lothian, is probably the most successful
farmer in Scotland, yet lac does not own Il
sod Of the ground which, through his i'll
tclligcut industry, has become widely cclr-
brated rs model farm. Mr.. llorE holds
his farm under II lease from Mr.. HAMILTON.
His grandfather, his father, and himself
have been on the estate i'm succession, their
occupation of the lands reaching back over
Il century. In his own country Mr.. HoPE
has long held the highest place us n practi-
cal farmer, and the most eminent agricul-
turists of foreign countries have been in
the habit of resorting 10 Fcnton Barns to
observe his improved methods of culture
and profit 10y the sound, practical advice he
was always ready 10 give TO those who were
interested in agriculture.
During the period this farm has been un-
VI
one-fourth of it, which early i'm the CEN
tury was so worthless rs TO be left waste,
has been reclnimed by him, and for many
years has contributed TO the rent roll of
the proprietor. Within the last seven
years he has added greatly to the depth of
active soil over the whole farm by the
removal of hundreds of tons of stones
from beneath the surface, and by the in
PRODUCTION of steam cultivation and heavy
manuring. Mr.. HoPE was the trusted friend
OF Mr.. CoBDEN and Mr.. BRIGHT during the
early times of the Corn Law League; he has
held prominent Offices in the leading agIi-
rultUIal associations of Scotland he has
also been nominated by the farmers of his
district as Il candidate for Parliament. All
this appears to have excited the jealousy
of his landlord, and the fact that he
had furnished the author OF an article re-
parding the relations between landlords and
tenants in East Lothian with certain facts
bearing on that subject ndded to the an
noyance of the aristocratic owner of the
acres which the intelligent aud energetic
tenant had so greatly enriched. The con-
sequence was that MIR. IIorE was sum-
marily notified that he must leave the
farm which he had made one of the most
celebrated in Europe.
This arbitrary eviction has excited gem
cral indignation, and the Right Hon. Mr..
HAMILTON is condemned in all quarters for
his conduct. which Is characterized Us EN-
tircly without justification and wholly
contemplate. What Is Of more impor-
tancc, however, l. the fact that the farmers
are demanding the immediate passage of
law of tenant right, securing TO the tenant
the value Of the improvements he has
made upon land which he has had under
cultivation. Mr.. IlorE had expended
thousands of pounds in improvements,
which added 70 the permanent value of the
estate. All this he loses because lac saw III
to differ in opinion from the owner Of the |
soil If he had been In Ireland he could |
have claimed payment for disturbances, |
for beneficial interest, for drainage and re |
clamat.on, for uucNlausted improve |
mcnts. In Scotland, when tenant leaves |
an estate he leaves behind him all the inn |
provcmonts he has made; buildings, drain
age and all are confscated by the land |
lord, and the man who has paid for them |
has no recourse whatever. This is mani |
fostly unjust, and it is probable that u law |
will soon be enacted which will protect |
tenants hereafter from being cyictcd with |
out receiving fair compensation for all m |
provcments which have added permanent |
value to the property which they have oc-
cupicd.