each side of the railway, the principle which governs that under
the railway itself? I consider the production of food the primary
trust upon the land, that rapid transit over it is a secondary
object; and as all experience shows that the division of land into
small estates leads to a more perfect system of tillage, I think it
would be of vast importance to the entire nation if all tenants who
were, say, five years in possession were made "promoters" under the
Land Clauses Act, and thus be enabled to purchase the fee of their
holdings in the same manner as a body of railway proprietors. It
would be most useful to the state to increase the number of
tenants-in-fee--to re-create the ancient FREEMEN, the LIBERI
HOMINES--and I think it can be done without requiring the aid
either of a new principle or new machinery, by simply placing the
farmer-in-possession on the same footing as the railway
shareholder. I give at foot the draft of a bill I prepared in 1866
for this object.

[Footnote: A BILL TO ENCOURAGE THE OUTLAY OF MONEY UPON LAND FOB
AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.

Whereas it is expedient to encourage the occupiers of land to
expend money thereon, in building, drainage, and other similar
improvements; and whereas the existing laws do not give the tenants
or occupiers any sufficient security for such outlay: Be it enacted
by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and
consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons in
Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same:

1. That all outlay upon land for the purpose of rendering it more
productive, and all outlay upon buildings for the accommodation of