[60] The original inheritors have, through their lawfully constituted rulers, parted with their property, having, in most cases, received an equivalent for it in the shape, either of eminent services rendered to the State, or else of actual payments in hard cash; and these transactions have been deliberately ratified and acknowledged by the laws of the country from time immemorial. It is therefore simply childish to argue that the land thus disposed of still belongs to the original inheritors, after they have enjoyed for past years the proceeds for which they have bartered the land that once belonged to them. [61] I beg your pardon, my dear Fanatic, I see I have unconsciously made a slight mistake. Mill says, that appropriation is wholly a matter of general expediency, and on that ground you _may_ justify slavery. [62] Mill’s Political Economy, Bk. II. Chap. II. CHAPTER XVII. SELECTIONS FROM JUGERNATH’S SACRED WRITINGS. Allow me, my dear Idolator, to make a few quotations from one of your sacred Vedas, on the subject of land. You are fond of quoting them when it suits your purpose. _Wealth of Nations, by Adam Smith._ _Action of Free Trade._ (1.) Every improvement in the Free Trade has ruined circumstances of the society agricultural industry. Can it tends, either directly be an improvement in the or indirectly, to raise the circumstances of the society. real rent of land, to increase the real wealth of the landlord, his power of purchasing the labour or the produce of the labour of other people. (2.) Every increase in the real Free Trade has lowered rents. wealth of the society, Can it have wrought increase every increase in the in the real wealth of society? quantity of useful labour employed within it, tends indirectly to raise the real rent of land. (3) All those improvements in The improvements in machinery, the productive powers of science, steam, and electricity labour which tend directly prevented the collapse of to reduce the real price agriculture at first, and has of manufactures, tend indirectly even given a semblance of to raise the real temporary prosperity, and this rent of land. has been dishonestly claimed by Free-traders as their work. (4.) Whatever reduces the real In spite of this advantage price of manufactured agriculture has collapsed produce raises that of under Free Trade. rude produce of the landlord.