obstructedbytheresistanceofthecommoners，andParliamentthereforefound
　　itnecessarytoenactthatanyownerofwastecouldencloseforthepurpose
　　ofgrowingtimberwiththeapprovalofthemajorityinnumberandvalueof
　　thosewhohadcommonrights，andanymajorityofthosewhohadcommonrights
　　couldenclosewiththeapprovaloftheownerofthewaste。Anypersonor
　　personswhothoughtthemselvesaggrievedcouldappealtoQuarterSessions，
　　withinsixmonthsaftertheagreementhadbeenregistered。Wehearverylittle
　　ofthisAct，andtheenclosuresthatconcernusareenclosuresofadifferent
　　kind。InthefinalyearsofthecenturytherewasasuccessionofGeneral
　　EnclosureBillsintroducedanddebatedinParliament，underthestimulus
　　ofthefearoffamine。TheseBillswerepromotedbytheBoardofAgriculture，
　　establishedin1793withSirJohnSinclairasPresident，andArthurYoung
　　assecretary。ThisBoardofAgriculturewasnotaStatedepartmentinthe
　　modernsense，butakindofRoyalSocietyreceiving，nottooregularly，a
　　subsidyfromParliament。2*AsaresultofitseffortstwoParliamentary
　　Committeeswereappointedtoreportontheenclosureofwastelands，and
　　theReportsoftheseCommittees，whichagreedinrecommendingaGeneralEnclosure
　　Bill，werepresentedin1795and1799。Billswereintroducedin1795，1796，
　　1797and1800，butitwasnotuntil1801thatanyActwaspassed。
　　ThefirstBillspresentedtoParliamentwereGeneralEnclosureBills，
　　thatistosay，theywereBillsforprescribingconditionsonwhichenclosure
　　couldbecarriedoutwithoutapplicationtoParliament。TheBoardofAgriculture
　　wassetonthispolicypartly，aswehaveseen，intheinterestofagricultural
　　expansion，partlyastheonlywayofguaranteeingasupplyoffoodduring
　　theFrenchwar。Butthesewerenottheonlyconsiderationsinthemindof
　　Parliament，andweareableinthiscasetoseewhathappenedtoadisinterested
　　propOsalwhenithadtopassthroughthesieveofaParliamentofowners
　　oflandandtithes。ForwehaveintheAnnalsofAgriculture3*theform
　　oftheGeneralEnclosureBillof1796asitwaspresentedtotheGovernment
　　bythatexpertbody，theBoardofAgriculture，andwehaveamongtheParliamentary
　　BillsintheBritishMuseum1theforminwhichthisBillleftaSelect
　　Committee，and2theforminwhichitleftasecondSelectCommitteeof
　　EightsoftheShireandGentlemenoftheLongRobe。Wearethusabletosee
　　inwhatspiritthelordsofthemanorwhosatinParliamentregarded，in
　　amomentofgreatnationalurgency，thepolicyputbeforeitbytheBoard
　　ofAgriculture。Wecomeatonceuponafactofgreatimportance。Inthefirst
　　versionitisrecognisedthatParliamenthastoconsiderthefutureaswell
　　asthepresent，thatitisdealingnotonlywiththeclaimsofacertain
　　numberoflivingcottagers，whoserightsandpropertymaybevaluedbythe
　　commissionersatafivepoundnote，butwiththenecessitiesofgenerations
　　stilltobeborn，andthatthemostliberalrecognitionoftherighttopasture
　　acow，intheformofacashpaymenttoanindividual，cannotcompensate
　　forthecalamitiesthatasocietysuffersinthepermanentalienationof
　　allitssoil。TheBillasdraftedintheBoardofAgricultureenactedthat
　　inviewoftheprobableincreaseofpopulation，aportionofthewasteshould
　　besetaside，andvestedinacorporatebodycomposedofthelordofthe
　　manor，therector，thevicar，thechurchwardensandtheoverseers，forallotments
　　forever。Anylabourerovertwenty-one，withasettlementintheparish，
　　couldclaimaportionandholditforfiftyyears，rentfree，oncondition
　　ofbuildingacottageandfencingit。Whenthefiftyyearswereover，the
　　cottages，withtheirparcelsofland，weretobeletonleasesoftwenty-one
　　yearsandoveratreasonablerents，halftherenttogototheownerofthe
　　soil，andhalftothepoorrates。Thelandwasnevertobealienatedfrom
　　thecottage。Allthesefar-sightedclausesvanishabsolutelyunderthesifting
　　statesmanshipoftheParliament，ofwhichBurkesaidinallsincerity，in
　　hisReflectionsontheRevolutioninFrance，that’ourrepresentationhas
　　beenfoundperfectlyadequatetoallthepurposesforwhicharepresentation
　　ofthepeoplecanbedesiredordevised。’
　　TherewasanotherrespectinwhichtheBoardofAgriculturewasconsidered
　　tobetoogeneroustothepoorbythelordsofthemanor，whomadethelaws
　　ofEngland。Inversion1oftheBill，notonlythoseentitledtosuchright
　　but，alsothosewhohaveenjoyedorexercisedtherightofgettingfuelare
　　tohavespecialandinalienablefuelallotmentsmadetothem：inversion
　　2onlythosewhoareentitledtosuchrightsaretohaveafuelallotment，
　　andinversion3，thiscompensationisrestrictedtothosewhohavepossessed
　　fuelrightsfortenyears。Againinversion1，thecostofenclosingand
　　fencingsmallallotments，wheretheownersareunabletopay，istobeborne
　　bytheotherowners：inversion2，thesmallownersaretobeallowedto
　　mortgagetheirallotmentsinordertocoverthecost。Theimportanceofthe
　　proposalthusrejectedbytheParliamentaryCommitteewillappearwhenwe
　　cometoconsiderthepracticaleffectsofEnclosureActs。Theonlypeople
　　whogottheirfencingdoneforthemundermostActswerethetithe-owners，
　　aclassneithersopoornorsopowerlessinParliament。
　　HoweverthisBillsharedthefateofallotherGeneralEnclosureBills
　　atthistime。ThereweremanyobstaclestoaGeneralEnclosureBill。Certain
　　MembersofParliamentresistedthemonthegroundthatifitweremadelegal
　　foramajoritytocoerceaminorityintoenclosurewithoutcomingtoParliament，
　　suchprotectionasthesmallercommonersderivedfromthepossibilityof
　　Parliamentarydiscussionwoulddisappear。PowisquarrelledwiththeBill
　　of1796onthisground，andhewassupportedbyFoxandGrey，buthisobjections
　　wereoverruled。Howeveramoreformidableoppositioncamefromotherquarters。
　　EnclosureActsfurnishedParliamentaryofficialswithaharvestoffees，4*
　　andtheChurchthoughtitdangerousthatenclosure，affectingtithe-owners，
　　shouldbecarriedthroughwithoutthebishopsbeinggivenanopportunity
　　ofinterfering。Theseandotherforceswerepowerfulenoughtodestroythis
　　andallGeneralEnclosureBills，intendedtomakeapplicationtoParliament
　　unnecessary。
　　TheBoardofAgricultureaccordinglychangeditsplans。In1800theBoard
　　abandoneditsdesignofaGeneralEnclosureBill，andpresentedinsteada
　　consolidatingBill，whichwastocheapenprocedure。Hithertotherehadbeen
　　greatdiversitiesofformandeveryBillwasanexpensivelittleworkof
　　artofitsown。TheActof1801wasdesignedtosavepromotersofenclosure
　　someofthistroubleandexpense。Ittooksomefortyclausesthatwerecommonly
　　foundinEnclosureBillsandprovidedthattheycouldbeincorporatedby
　　referenceinprivateBills，thuscheapeninglegalprocedure。Further，it
　　allowedaffidavitstobeacceptedasevidence，thusrelievingthepromoters
　　fromtheobligationofbringingwitnessesbeforetheCommitteetoswearto
　　everysignature。Alltherecognitionthatwasgiventothedifficultiesand
　　theclaimsofthepoorwascomprisedinsections12and13，whichallowsmall
　　allotmentstobelaidtogetheranddepasturedincommon，andinstructthe
　　commissionerstohaveparticularregardtotheconvenienceoftheowners
　　orproprietorsofthesmallestestates。In1813，theideaofaGeneralBill
　　wasrevivedoncemore，andaBillpassedtheHouseofCommonswhichgave
　　amajorityofthree-fifthsinvaluetherighttopetitionquarterSessions
　　foranenclosure。TheBillwasrejectedintheLords。In1836aGeneralEnclosure
　　Billwaspassed，permittingenclosurewhentwo-thirdsinnumberandvalue
　　desiredit，andin1845ParliamentappointedcentralCommissionerswitha
　　viewtopreventinglocalinjustice。
　　ItisfortunatethattheParliamentaryReportsofthedebatesonGeneral
　　EnclosureBillsintheunreformedParliamentarealmostasmeagreasthe
　　debatesonparticularEnclosureBills。Wecangatherfromvariousindications
　　thattherightsoftheclergyreceivedagooddealofnotice，andLordGrenville
　　madeanindignantspeechtovindicatehiszealinthecauseoftheChurch，
　　whichhadbeenquestionedbyopponents。Thecauseofthepoordoesnotoften
　　rufflethesurfaceofdiscussion。Thiswecancollectnotonlyfromnegative
　　evidencebutalsofromastatementbyMr。Lechmere，MemberforWorcester。
　　Lechmere，whoselossofhisseatin1790deprivedthepoorofoneoftheir
　　veryfewchampionsinParliament，drewattentionmorethanonceduringthe
　　discussionsonscarcityandthehighpriceofcorntothelamentableconsequences
　　ofthedisappearancesofthesmallfarms，andrecommendeddrasticstepsto
　　arresttheprocess。PhilipFrancisgavehimsomesupport。Thegeneraltemper
　　ofParliamentcanbedivinedfromhiscomplaintthatwhenthesesubjects
　　wereunderdiscussionitwasverydifficulttomakeaHouse。
　　Itmustnotbesupposedthattheapathyofthearistocracywaspartof
　　auniversalblindnessoranaesthesia，andthatthemethodandprocedureof
　　enclosurewereacceptedasjustandinevitable，withoutchallengeorprotest
　　fromanyquarter。Thepoorwereofcoursebitterlyhostile。Thisappears
　　notonlyfromthepetitionspresentedtoParliament，butfromtheechoes
　　thathavereachedusofactualviolence。Itwasnaturallyeasierforthe
　　threatenedcommonerstoriotinplaceswhereasingleenclosureschemeaffected
　　awidedistrict，andmostoftherecordsofpopulardisturbancesthathave
　　comedowntousareconnectedwithattemptstoenclosemoorsthatwerecommon
　　toseveralparishes。Aninterestingexampleisaffordedbythehistoryof
　　theenclosureofHauteHuntreFeninLincolnshire。Thisenclosure，which
　　affectedelevenparishes，wassanctionedbyParliamentin1767，butthree
　　yearslatertheEnclosureCommissionershadtocometoParliamenttoexplain
　　thatthepostsandrailsthattheyhadsetuphadbeendestroyed’bymalicious
　　persons，inordertohindertheexecutionofthesaidAct，’andtoaskfor
　　permissiontomakeditchesinsteadoffences。5*Anexampleofdisturbances
　　inasinglevillageisgivenbytheBedfordshirereporterfortheBoardof
　　Agriculture，whosaysthatwhenMauldenwasencloseditwasfoundnecessary
　　tosendfortroopsfromCoventrytoquelltheriots：6*andanotherinthe
　　AnnualRegisterfor17997*describingtheresistanceofthecommonersat
　　WilbarstoninNorthamptonshire，andtheemploymentoftwotroopsofyeomanry
　　tocoercethem。Thegeneralhatredofthepoorforenclosuresisevident
　　fromthelanguageofEden，andfromstatementsofcontributorstotheAnnals
　　ofAgriculture。Edenhadincludedaquestionaboutcommonsandenclosures
　　inthequestionsheputtohiscorrespondents，andhesaysinhispreface
　　thathehadbeendisappointedthatsofewofhiscorrespondentshadgiven
　　ananswertothisquestion。Hethenproceedstogivethisexplanation：’This
　　question，likemostothers，thatcannowbetouchedupon，hasitspopular
　　anditsunpopularsides：andwherenoimmediateself-interest，orotherpartial
　　leaning，interferestobiasthejudgment，agood-naturedmancannotbutwish
　　tothinkwiththemultitudes；stunnedashisearsmustdailybe，withthe
　　oft-repeatedassertion，that，tocondemncommons，istodetermineondepopulating
　　thecountry’8*ThewriteroftheBedfordshireReportin1808saysthat
　　’itappearsthatthepoorhaveinvariablybeeninimicaltoenclosures，as
　　theycertainlyremaintothepresentday。’9*Dr。Wilkinson，writingin
　　theAnnalsofAgriculture10*infavourofaGeneralEnclosureBillsays，
　　’thegrandobjectiontotheinclosureofcommonsarisesfromtheunpopularity
　　whichgentlemenwhoareactiveinthecauseexposethemselvestointheir
　　ownneighbourhood，fromthediscontentofthepoorwhenanysuchquestion
　　isagitated。’ArthurYoungmakesasimilarstatement。11*’Ageneralinclosure
　　hasbeenlongagoproposedtoadministration，butparticularoneshavebeen
　　sounpopularinsomecasesthatgovernmentwereafraidofthemeasure。’
　　Thepopularfeeling，thoughquiteunrepresentedinParliament，wasnot
　　unrepresentedincontemporaryliterature。Duringthelastyearsoftheeighteenth
　　centurytherewasasharpwarofpamphletsonthemeritsofenclosure，and
　　itisnoticeablethatbothsupportersandopponentsdenouncedthemethods
　　onwhichthegoverningclassacted。Thereis，amongothers，averyinteresting
　　anonymouspamphlet，publishedin1781underthetitleofAnInquiryinto
　　theAdvantagesanddisadvantagesresultingfromBillsofInclosure，inwhich
　　theexistingpracticeisrenewedandsomeexcellentsuggestionsaremade
　　forreform。ThewriterproposedthatthepreliminarytoaBillshouldbe
　　notthefixingofanoticetothechurchdoor，buttheholdingofapublic
　　meeting，thatthereshouldbesixcommissioners，thattheyshouldbeelected
　　bythecommonersbyballot，thatnodecisionshouldbevalidthatwasnot
　　unanimous，andthatanappealfromthatdecisionshouldlienottoQuarter
　　Sessions，buttoJudgesofAssize。Thesamewriterproposedthatnoenclosure
　　shouldbesanctionedwhichdidnotallotoneacretoeachcottage。
　　Theseproposalscamefromanopponentofenclosure，butthemostdistinguished
　　supportersofenclosurewerealsodiscontentedwiththeprocedure。Whoare
　　thewritersoneighteenth-centuryagriculturewhosenamesandpublications
　　areknownandremembered？Theyare，firstofall，ArthurYoungl741-1820，
　　who，thoughhefailedasamerchantandfailedasafarmer，andneverceased
　　toregrethisfather’smistakeinneglectingtoputhimintothesoftlap
　　ofalivingintheChurch，madeforhimself，bythesimpleprocessofobserving
　　andrecording，aEuropeanreputationasanexpertadviserintheartwhich
　　hehadpractisedwithsolittlesuccess。Ascarcelylessimportantauthority
　　wasWilliamMarshall1745-1818，whobeganbytradingintheWestIndies，
　　afterwardsfarmedinSurrey，andthenbecameagentinNorfolktoSirHarbord