18 OBSTACLES TO

the premifes, will always be exaétly in propor- tion to the free produce he thinks he can difpofe of from the lands. If the lands were rich, there- fore, the occupier of the land muft lay his ac- count with paying a proportionably higher rent, or quit; fo that his aétual profits may be equally

great upon thefe lands in their prefent ftate, as if

they were capable of yielding ten times their prefent produce. What inducement has fuch a man to make exertions in induftry? It is rather his intereft to let things continue as they are; for this will effectually prevent fpirited men, who have ftock for carrying forward agricultural im- provements, from ever thinking of interfering with him in a competition for his miferable farm. In this way, a proprietor who fhall think of mak- ing an alteration on tenures of this fort, muft fre- quently find that he meets with a body of vis in- ertieé to remove, which it is impoflible for him to overcome. It is, as if a fitherman in his boat were to ssiewriek to move the Craken of Pontip- pidon, He finds it exceeds his force, and he muft finally give over the attempt as hopelefs,

But though a law, which fhould fet afide all the practice of commonable fields, could fuch a Jaw be aétually obtained, would not, of itfelf, re- move the evils complained of; yet, as there may

See