The Industrial Revolution

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 1027928145

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-159926

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Cunningham, William http://d-nb.info/gnd/128907487

Title:: The Industrial Revolution

Place of publication:: Cambridge

Publisher:: The University Press

Year of publication:: 1922

Scope:: xxii S., S. 404-886

Digitisation:: 2021

Collection:: Economics Books

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THE REACTION OF COMMERCE ON LANDED INTERESTS 543 The progress of their endeavours has been recorded in many - cases by Arthur Young, who watched their proceedings with ’ interest and admiration. To him they were the greatest of patriots, for whom no praise could be too high. They were “spirited cultivators” who managed their land in such a fashion as to deserve “every acknowledgment which a lover of his country can give,” He is full of enthusiasm for their and in experimental farms, new patterns of agricultural implements, i and new plans for laying out farm buildings; as well as for i the care which they bestowed on the smallest points of land management. Perhaps we may feel that the judgment of a contemporary, who mixed with these men and discussed their successes and failures, was formed on better grounds than that of writers who, at a distance of more than a century, decry the landlords, and gratuitously attribute to them the meanest motives. The progress was initiated by wealthy landlords; but in and the order to carry out their schemes effectively it was necessary anys one that there should, if possible, be enterprising farmers too. The Yo new owners, who were improving their estates, preferred to throw the holdings together, so as to substitute farms of three hundred acres and upwards, for farms of one hundred acres and under. With the possible exception of poultry farming, there was no department of agriculture in which small farms proved more advantageous to the public. As the usual calculation appears to have been that the capital requisite, in order to work the land, was at least five pounds an acre, for getting more, he hath no rent to pay, but some to receive, which will maintaine him ; and when he is gone, all is gone; spending is easier then getting. And thus by little and little roweth himself and the hope of his posteritie under water, in the calme weather. Whereas, he, that hath a rent to pay is not idle, neither in hart nor hand; he considers the rent day will come, and in true labour and diligence provides for it, and by his honest endeavours and dutiful regard, gets to pay rent to his Lord * * I inferre not yet by this, Sir, that because they sometimes thrive well, that live upon rackt rents, therefore you Landlords should impose the greater rent or fine; that were to do evill that good might come of it, nay rather to doe eviil that evill may followe; for if there be not a meane in burdens, the backe of the strongest Elephant may bee broken. And the best and most carefull and most laborious and most industrious husband may be overcharged with the rent of his Land.” Surveyor's Dialogue. 80-81, also p. 16. Compare above, p. 107, n. 1. 1 Arbuthnot, An Inquiry into the connection between the present price of Provisions and the size of Farms (1773), p. 21.

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