The Land Question: With Particular Reference to England and Scotland

The Land Question: With Particular Reference To England And Scotland — John Macdonell. The book surveys the tenure and distribution of land across England and Scotland, arguing that the current system concentrates ownership in a few hands and affects social character and national prosperity. It begins by analyzing the concept of land and its central role in national life, and critiques the idea of free trade in land. It then explores several domains: urban land where ground rents illustrate unearned increment; agricultural land where tenant rights, unexhausted improvements, and lease structures influence farming incentives; and mines, where the law largely favors landowners over discoverers and states. The author also investigates commons and waste lands, and how enclosure and customary rights have transformed rural life. Throughout, Macdonell integrates economic theory (Ricardo, Mill, Turgot) with constitutional and legal analyses, arguing for fundamental reforms: clearer land title registration, shortened periods for claims, conversion of many charges into monetary equivalents, and gradual enfranchisement of leaseholders, aiming to align private rights with the public good. The aim is to chart a path toward a more just and efficient system of land tenure.