large towns and crowded districts, renders it
more necessary that corresponding changes in the law should take place,
both to improve their condition and contentment, and to give additional
facilities to investments of the capital which their industry and
enterprise are constantly creating and augmenting;" and "that they doubt
not ultimate benefit will ensue from any measures which the Legislature
may be enabled to devise for simplifying the operation of the law and
unfettering the energies of trade." But at present nothing has been done,
and the Laws of Partnership fetter the working man who would usefully
employ what little capital he has. Clearly, then, the Freehold Land
Movement offers him an eligible means of investment. Land cannot run
away. So long as England exists, it will always be worth its price.
Nay, it will become more valuable every year, for by no effort of human
ingenuity can it be increased.

At Birmingham several of the allotments have realised premiums as high as
20 or 30 pounds. On the East Moulsey estate of the Westminster Society
allotments, costing 23 pounds, have been let at a chief rent of 3 pounds
and 3 pounds 10s. per annum. The Ross Society, in one of its annual
reports, stated that, out of thirty allotments made by the Society during
the past year, ten exchanged hands at premiums varying from 3 pounds 10s.
to 5 pounds, and ten working men each received 10 pounds premium. At
Ledbury several allotments, costing 25 pounds each had realised premiums
of 15 pounds each. On the Stoke Newington estate, belonging to the
National, premiums of 30 pounds and even of 40 pounds have been realised.
At the Gospel Oak estate, belonging to the St. Pancras Society,
allotments which cost 20 pounds each have been let off on building leases
of 50s. per annum each. Greater sums have been made--but we would rather
understate than overstate our case.

We have inspected returns from one hundred and twenty societies, and in
every case the allotments have realised a handsome premium. Yet, in the
face of all this, articles have recently appeared in _Chambers's Journal_
and the _Edinburgh Review_, deprecating these societies as investments.
The Edinburgh Reviewer says:--"Notwithstanding this rapid popularity
however; notwithstanding, also, the high authorities which have
pronounced in their behalf, we cannot look upon these associations with
unmixed favour; and we shall be surprised if any long time elapses
wi