The attendance on the second day of the Conference was
less than on the first, and the proceedings less interesting. The majority were very clear that the special charges upon land should be reduced, especially by the repeal of the Land-tax and the levy of the Poor-rate upon personalty as well as realty. They were also clear that the unexhausted value of any improvement should be secured to the tenant ; and also that the sale of farm produce direct to the purchaser would be beneficial. There was much difference of opinion, however, as to the abolition of the law of distress, which, it should be observed, protects farmers with means from the competition of farmers without ; and there was no general desire for judicial rents, the farmers evidently thinking they could bargain for themselves ; while the labourers' delegates apparently did not care. The total result of the Conference, as we have said elsewhere, was disappointing, the squires and farmers evidently longing for Protection, which they cannot have, and the only practical proposal being for a reconsidera- tion of the taxes on land. There was a visible consensus as to the liberality of English landlords in general, but an equally visible reserve as to their want of liberality in par- ticular districts. We should like to know what the true explanation of exceptionally high-rented districts at a dis- tance from towns really is. We have some fear that farmers are taxed most heavily when they belong to a hereditary caste, and cannot endure to move.
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