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。ForwehaveintheAnnalsofAgriculture(3*)theform
oftheGeneralEnclosureBillof1796asitwaspresentedtotheGovernment
bythatexpertbody，theBoardofAgriculture，andwehaveamongtheParliamentary
BillsintheBritishMuseum(1)theforminwhichthisBillleftaSelect
Committee，and(2)theforminwhichitleftasecondSelectCommitteeof
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，andvestedinacorporatebody(composedofthelordofthe
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
AnnualRegisterfor1799(7*)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
theAnnalsofAgriculture(10*)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，ArthurYoung(l741-1820)，
who，thoughhefailedasamerchantandfailedasafarmer，andneverceased
toregrethisfather’smistakeinneglectingtoputhimintothesoftlap
ofalivingintheChurch，madeforhimself，bythesimpleprocessofobserving
andrecording，aEuropeanreputationasanexpertadviserintheartwhich
hehadpractisedwithsolittlesuccess。Ascarcelylessimportantauthority
wasWilliamMarshall(1745-1818)，whobeganbytradingintheWestIndies，
afterwardsfarmedinSurrey，andthenbecameagentinNorfolktoSirHarbord
