There is scarcely any point in rural economics more generally acknowledged than the great benefits of enclosing open lands ... some ... it is true ... assert them to be very mischevious to the poor. First: The proprietors of large estates generally agree upon the measure ... the small proprietor, whose property in the township is perhaps his all, has little or no weight ... and as little weight in the choice of commissioners. Third: The attorney delivers his bill to the commissioners, who pay him and themselves without producing any account, and in what manner they please ... the expenses previous to the actual inclosing are from £1800 to £2000 all which is levied and expended by the commissioners absolutely and without control. Fourth: The division and distribution of the lands are totally in their breasts.... Nor is there any appeal but to the commissioners themselves from their allotments, however carelessly or partially made. Thus is the property of the proprietors, and especially the small ones, entirely at their mercy. I am not here arguing against inclosures, the advantages arising from them are certainly very extensive. I am only saying they do not always indemnify the _present_ possessor from the great expense he is at in obtaining them, by the absurd and extravagant manner in which they are generally conducted. PRICE OF LABOUR (A. Young, _Northern Tour_, Letter XXXIX, pp. 445 _et seq._) { Harvest 10/8 } Averages { Hay 9/5 } Pay per week { Winter 6/5 } I do not think there is much reason to find fault with any of these average prices as exorbitant or higher than a flourishing agriculture can well afford to pay, nor are any of them so low as to oppress the labouring poor; there not being above one or two places where any allowance is made for _piece work_, whereas much is everywhere done; and it is universally known that they earn more in that manner than the weekly pay of the country. * * * * * Servants’ wages are higher than I conceived. £10 8s. 6d. for upper farming men is out of proportion to the average pay of labourers. * * * * * The rates of labour admit of prodigious variations.... I apprehend that Chance has been the mother of three fourths. Famine before the exportation of corn was encouraged, and extreme high prices locally heightened the prices of labour, as the richer inhabitants were more or less willing to assist the poor. The rates so raised in some places continued after the occasion, in others were reduced. * * * * * In some places I was informed of the value of servants’ board, washing and lodging; average £9. * * * * * PRICES OF LABOUR IN THE MANUFACTURING TOWNS (SUMMARIZED) Men: from 15/- or 11/- (colliers) to } 7/6 or 7/1 (textile) } per week