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INCLOSURE AND THE LABOURERS 711 
ic spirited and philanthropic men to remove all 4-D.1776 
ie increase of the area of tillage. ’ 
te were improvers who saw with alarm that the With the 
ely on imported hind he inere 7 
y ported corn was a hindrance to the increasing 
. . . «the hom 
of our own agriculture to its highest capacity, in 
is trade with regret’; and a general consensus of of corn. 
een reached as to the necessity of doing away 
yfal methods of cultivation in common fields, and 
e enclosure of land. The Board of Agriculture, 
sidency of Sir John Sinclair, moved earnestly in 
«1d it was fully discussed by Committees of the 
mmons in 1795, 1797 and 1800. The chief 
xrying out this improvement lay in the heavy 
iamentary and legal, which had to be borne, as 
osts of obtaining surveys and erecting fences. 
hat if a General Enclosure Act were passed, it in i 
» considerable saving in the outlay involved”. on. 
» an encouragement to proprietors to proceed 
of the kind; while it was also believed that, if 
were reduced, the real gain, which sometimes 
e cottagers®, would be more generally realised. 
eo of 1797 on the Cultivation of Waste lands endorsed the view 
more clearly exemplify the advantages resulting from agri- 
than the flourishing state of this country, for many years 
svolution ; during which period, with but few exceptions, con- 
3s of Corn were annually exported. By means of that exporta- 
rere brought into the kingdom, yet the price was steady and 
eneral rather low than otherwise. The farmer, however, was 
he considered himself under the special protection of the 
4 a reasonable prospect of having his industry rewarded. But 
has been relied on, the consequences have been of a very 
The prices have been often high, and always unsteady. High 
blic discontent. With unsteady prices, it is impossible for the 
what he ought to demand, nor the tenant what rent he ought to 
of small or even moderate incomes, also, such a circumstance is 
5. When prices are high, they can scarcely procure for them- 
unilies a sufficient supply of wholesome provisions; when low, 
» run into a system of expence, which it is not easy afterwards 
reas, when the price is steady and uniform, they can make their 
with their income. The system therefore of encouraging agri- 
sting the exportation of a surplus on ordinary occasions, which 
asons can be retained at home, is the only mode of securing the 
tence of the great body of the people.” ZHeports, 1x. pp. 224-5. 
80. 
1 Report, quoted in Reports, IX. 204 1. 
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