The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-19
ENGLAND's OLD NOBILITY.


THEIR EsTATEs-.-THE ILLEGITIMATE AcoUI-
sITIoN OF LANDED PROPERTY.
Tue London Echo has been publishing an interest
ing series OF articles. entitled 'Our Old Nobility"
in which the growth of the noble families of Eng
land has been portrayed. In concluding article
the writer thus sums up his views:-
In hundred chapters have briefly sketched the
agrarian history OF the majority OF most notable
aristccratic houses. In my selection l have not
been guided mainly by the greatness OF their pos
sessions, but rather by their historic interest
present prominence. Thus have included some
and have altogether omitted peers like Lord Trede-
gar. with over one hundred thousand acres. and
dealt in all with LIZ mobiles. owning in round
numbers nearly five and half millions Of acres.
with rent roll OF nearly f5.750.05O, an average
ownership OF $4,000 acres. aud average rent roll
of over $4,000 1t certain has not been my object
to seek out examples of what, for want OF better
word. will call tho illegitimxte acquisition of
landed property. Yet the result is that those who
claim that they have obtained their lands by
money solely acquired in or nal
pursuits are singularly few-perhaps about dozen
in all. Compared with other peoples we are land
less nation and We are landless nation in conse-
our ancient forefathers possessed. Throughout the
reigns OF the Hanoverian kings landowners paria-
able for the most part with view to Increased pro-
duction, but resulting in tue appropriation OF
between seven and eight millions OF acres Of com.
mon land. Of which. the common people retained
but very small proportion-not more than
three-qusrters OF . million acres in ALL Occasion
have been increased by these acts but generally it
has been impossible to obtain exact information.
1t is worthy OF notice that anciently the lavish
grants OF the Crown were checked by the power Of
resumption. Most OF the vast estates seized and
retained by William the Conqueror dissipated
to resume the grants which he had made.
About the middle of last century the grasping
avarice of one of the Lowthers, in attempting to
obtain for himsolf large tract Of Crown lands.
which had been previously granted to the Ben
tincks. occasioned the passing Of what is known
the Nullus Tempus act, which secured the
grantees OF Crown lands against any resumption OF
their properties 1t is obviously impossible to
has at various times been obtained otherwise than
by purchase. The aRrarian history OF many OF the
great houses is complicated by the acquisition Of
previous history OF such lands III a sufficient num-
Der OF cases tn show that we may safely presume
that u rule they have been acquired in much the
same wy the rest. After careful consideration
OF all the houses have noticed. bearing in mind
modern enclosure acts. and the increased value Of
lands due to the improvements OF tenants, cannot
but arrive at the conclusion that not one-tenth Of
the estates in question have been acquired for value
received. All the rest. in one way another. has
been obtained for nothing.
LAND IN IRELAND.
In Ireland the great majority OF tho landlords owe
their successive CONVERSATIONS. With
regard to Irish landowners it ought to be borne in
mind that in very large number of it is the
given to the land almost all the value 1t possesses.
and that not few landlords have improved their
properties by the aid OF the State. When tho Corn
laws repealed sop given to tho land
owners. In the darkest days of commercial distress
no statesman ever proposed to ind out of the pub
lie capital for manufacturers or shopkeop-
yet this what done for landlords after
the repeal of tho Corn laws Acts passed which
declared Whereas ii il desirable that works OF drain
age should be encouraged i'll order to promote the
increased productveness OF the land ana the heathi
of tho districts when it is required. and to sup
ply the demand Tor agricultural labor especially at
that OF the year when other sources are ex-
pended, &c.," f2.OOO.O00 were allotted to English
landowners and Fl. 100000 to Irish landowners in
der make advances to then to he gradually repaid
at low interest. Nor was the accommodation Of
the State Loan Office resorted to by comparatively
small proprietors. Among the Irish recipients was
the wealthy Marquis OF Waterford. For the most
part the landlords content that the farmers
should do the work OF improvement, and havo
the authority OF MIR. Card for stating that some
times they borrowed Of the government for their
permanent advantage and charged the farmer. who
had only temporary advantage. one and one and .
half per cent more than they themselves paid.
land all permanent improvements have been eff
fected by the landlords is only partially true
II We turn from the lowlands to the hills.
, the truth holds good that the cultivator has
done the greater part of the work Of reclamation.
Had but the space could give muititudinous ex-
amples. Only give young and energetic man q
nineteen years lease of uncultivated con-
tiguous to his farm and he will work miracles. In .
multitude OF cases 1t has needed not even that small
security; the landlords or agents word was enough.
But when the lease expired or the old landlord or
the old tenant died, the permanent gain ut be-
came the property OF tho owner OF the bare SOIL I
have walked on land. not more than . long day .
walk from London. which IN now paying its ownor
three times what It did generation ago. and the
owner has not laid out single sixpence upon 1t.
the public by complaining that they cannot just
get three per cent interest the present pur-
chase money OF agric cultural land; but when know
that a little farm in Carmart hcnshrs, which the
middle Of the last century only brought In f10 .
year to its owner pays Its descendant ten times
that amount every yoar laugh them to scorn.