Xx] T0 ME, BRIGHT, ON THE LAND QUESTION. 561

“I agree with you to the letter in all you say about 185%
Irelang, There is no doubt that the land question (coupled Zr 43
"ith the Church Esteblishment) is at the root of the evil.
And here let me say that I go heartily with you in the
determination to attack the land monopoly root and branch
both here and in Ireland and Scotland. There is an article
2 this day’s Fresholder (“ Large and small Farms”) which
Will show you that our minds are running in the same
Hireotion, Wherever the deductions of political economy
leag Tam prepared to follow. By the way, have you had
time 4 read Bastiat’s partly posthumous volume, ¢ Les Har-Qonjeg
 Economiques’ ? If not, do so; it will require a
Studion perusal, but will repay it. He has breathed a soul
to the dry bones of political economy, and has vindicated
hig favourite science from the charge of inhumanity with
" the fervour of a religious devotee,
“But to return to the Land customs of this country.
We have made no progress upon the subject of primogenifore
 during the last twenty years. Public opinion is either
"different or favourable to the system of large properties
kept together by entail. If you want a proof, see how
Very successful trader buys en estate, and tries to per-Petuate
 his name in connexion with that ilk’ by creating
"2 eldest son, It is probably the only question on which,
i an attempt were made to sbolish the present system,
France could be again roused to revolution; and yet we are
2 England actnally hugging our fendal fetters! But we
®6 a Chinese people. What a lucky thing it is that our
Srandmothers did not deform their feet & la Chinoise ! if
“% we should have had a terrible battle to emancipate
Women’s toes, But, however unprepared the public may
bo for our views on the land question, I am ready to incur
fny obloquy in the cause of economical truth. And it is, I
*onfess, on this class of questions, rather than on plans of
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