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lord marshal。 His houses were all built in the form of castles；
and seem to have been the principal fortresses which he
possessed。 The keepers of those houses or castles might be
considered as a sort of military governors。 They seem to have
been the only military officers whom it was necessary to maintain
in time of peace。 In these circumstances the rent of a great
landed estate might； upon ordinary occasions； very well defray
all the necessary expenses of government。
In the present state of the greater part of the civilised
monarchies of Europe； the rent of all the lands in the country；
managed as they probably would be if they all belonged to one
proprietor； would scarce perhaps amount to the ordinary revenue
which they levy upon the people even in peaceable times。 The
ordinary revenue of Great Britain； for example； including not
only what is necessary for defraying the current expense of the
year； but for paying the interest of the public debts； and for
sinking a part of the capital of those debts； amounts to upwards
of ten millions a year。 But the land…tax； at four shillings in
the pound； falls short of two millions a year。 This land…tax； as
it is called； however； is supposed to be one…fifth； not only of
the rent of all the land； but of that of all the houses； and of
the interest of all the capital stock of Great Britain； that part
of it only excepted which is either let to the public； or
employed as farming stock in the cultivation of land。 A very
considerable part of the produce of this tax arises from the rent
of houses； and the interest of capital stock。 The land…tax of the
city of London； for example； at four shillings in the pound；
amounts to L123；399 6s。 7d。 That of the city of Westminster； to
L63；092 1s。 5d。 That of the palaces of Whitehall and St。 James's；
to L30；754 6s。 3d。 A certain proportion of the land…tax is in the
same manner assessed upon all the other cities and towns
corporate in the kingdom； and arises almost altogether； either
from the rent of houses； or from what is supposed to be the
interest of trading and capital stock。 According to the
estimation； therefore； by which Great Britain is rated to the
land…tax； the whole mass of revenue arising from the rent of all
the lands； from that of all the houses； and from the interest of
all the capital stock； that part of it only excepted which is
either lent to the public； or employed in the cultivation of
land； does not exceed ten millions sterling a year； the ordinary
revenue which government levies upon the people even in peaceable
times。 The estimation by which Great Britain is rated to the
land…tax is； no doubt； taking the whole kingdom at an average；
very much below the real value； though in several particular
counties and districts it is said to be nearly equal to that
value。 The rent of the lands alone； exclusively of that of
houses； and of the interest of stock； has by many people been
estimated at twenty millions； an estimation made in a great
measure at random； and which； I apprehend； is as likely to be
above as below the truth。 But if the lands of Great Britain； in
the present state of their cultivation； do not afford a rent of
more than twenty millions a year； they could not well afford the
half； most probably not the fourth part of that rent； if they all
belonged to a single proprietor； and were put under the
negligent； expensive； and oppressive management of his factors
and agents。 The crown lands of Great Britain do not at present
afford the fourth part of the rent which could probably be drawn
from them if they were the property of private persons。 If the
crown lands were more extensive； it is probable they would be
still worse managed。
The revenue which the great body of the people derives from
land is in proportion； not to the rent； but to the produce of the
land。 The whole annual produce of the land of every country； if
we except what is reserved for seed； is either annually consumed
by the great body of the people； or exchanged for something else
that is consumed by them。 Whatever keeps down the produce of the
land below what it would otherwise rise to keeps down the revenue
of the great body of the people still more than it does that of
the proprietors of land。 The rent of land； that portion of the
produce which belongs to the proprietors； is scarce anywhere in
Great Britain supposed to be more than a third part of the whole
produce。 If the land which in one state of cultivation affords a
rent of ten millions sterling a year would in another afford a
rent of twenty millions； the rent being； in both cases； supposed
a third part of the produce； the revenue of the proprietors would
be less than it otherwise might be by ten millions a year only；
but the revenue of the great body of the people would be less
than it otherwise might be by thirty millions a year； deducting
only what would be necessary for seed。 The population of the
country would be less by the number of people which thirty
millions a year； deducting always the seed； could maintain
according to the particular mode of living and expense which
might take place in the different ranks of men among whom the
remainder was distributed。
Though there is not at present； in Europe； any civilised
state of any kind which derives the greater part of its public
revenue from the rent of lands which are the property of the
state； yet in all the great monarchies of Europe there are still
many large tracts of land which belong to the crown。 They are
generally forest； and sometimes forest where； after travelling
several miles； you will scarce find a single tree； a mere waste
and loss of country in respect both of produce and population。 In
every great monarchy of Europe the sale of the crown lands would
produce a very large sum of money； which； if applied to the
payment of the public debts； would deliver from mortgage a much
greater revenue than any which those lands have ever afforded to
the crown。 In countries where lands； improved and cultivated very
highly； and yielding at the time of sale as great a rent as can
easily be got from them； commonly sell at thirty years' purchase；
the unimproved； uncultivated； and low…rented crown lands might
well be expected to sell at forty； fifty； or sixty years'
purchase。 The crown might immediately enjoy the revenue which
this great price would redeem from mortgage。 In the course of a
few years it would probably enjoy another revenue。 When the crown
lands had become private property； they would； in the course of a
few years； become well improved and well cultivated。 The increase
of their produce would increase the population of the country by
augmenting the revenue and consumption of the people。 But the
revenue which the crown derives from the duties of customs and
excise would necessarily increase with the revenue and
consumption of the people。
The revenue which； in any civilised monarchy； the crown
derives from