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256 LETTER,Ù

4tbly, By a ftatute to amend the poor laws* in England, which

‘prevent labourers, mechanics, and manufacturers, who can-

not find employment in one parifh, from removing to another,

where they can get work, and burden the farmers with a

variable arbitrary tax for their fupport, to the number fre- quently in country parifhes, of one half of the wholeinhabitants, and to the amount perhaps of one half, or three fourths of their rent. Where is this evil to flop? farmers muft difcourage population, and turn their farms into grafs, out of fear of being ruined by poors rates? The rent of land ought to be precifely afcertained, for tythes and poors rates operate, like the faille under the former government of France, and moft materially difcourage cultivation.

5thly, À tax on all lands held by farmers without a leafe, or any regulation that will encourage landlords to grant leafes to their tenants; otherwife, no fpirited exertions in agriculture can be carried on in Britain: holding land from year to year may fuit the cultivation of the vineyards in France, where only labour and a few forry tools are neceffary, but is deftruc- tive of good hufbandry in this country, where a large capital

uft be invefted in agriculture.

6thly, À tax on all lands occupied by tenants when reftriét- ed from cultivation by the landlord. If the ftate be in want of bread-corn, or any other produétion which the foil affords, the proprietor, who ties up the hands of his tenants from con-

* Since writing the above, the poor laws have been brought under the confideration of Parliament,