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CHAPTER XI.
Oub observations hitherto have been confined to the
position in which the Rhenish landlord and farmer stand
with respect to that open field of exertion in which suc-
cess depends upon a skilful use of natural advantages.
That all soils and situations have either peculiar advan-
tages, which may be turned to good account by clever
farmers, or are saddled with drawbacks that demand no
less exertion of skill to compensate, is a fact to which
we have seen the Rhenish farmer is keenly alive. He
suits his mode of cultivation where he can to his re-
sources, and where he cannot choose he follows the
demand to his best ability. The chief obstacle to his
success we have also seen consists in the imperfect di-
vision of labour that prevails in Germany, and which
makes nearly every man a producer of the objects of
general consumption : by which means the home-market
is almost annihilated in times of abundance, while in
periods of scarcity there is no surplus of produce to
look to.
We have now to consider the burthens that press upon
the land from a quarter that is beyond the cultivators’
reach—the taxes levied for general State purposes, as
well as for local expenditure. The two heads must be
taken together, because many things that in England are
left to private management form in Germany objects of
solicitude for the government.
AGRICULTURE ON THE RHINE.
225
In the administration of justice, although the forms are
occasionally dilatory and demand a sacrifice of time, yet
the public functionaries diminish very much the outlay
that attorneys’ and counsels’ fees occasion in England.
We have already noticed the inexpensive and satisfactory
mode of transferring land and real property by entries
made in the parish books under the control of chosen
assessors. In criminal cases an advocate is appointed
amongst the members of the board that takes cognizance
of offences for any party who is unable to pay the mo-
derate remuneration demanded by advocates for drawing
up papers. All police enquiries and pursuit of offenders
are carried on at the charge of the State. The sanatory
and other preventive police enquiries are discharged by
officers paid by government. The provision for the
clergy, for the poor, and for schools, where they are not
drawn from funds set especially apart for the purpose,
form items of local taxation, while a considerable sacri-
fice of time is demanded in the personal attendance on
the military exercises required of every individual during
a portion of his life ; and no small share of trouble
devolves upon the respectable inhabitants of both towns
and villages, who are called to fill the office of assessors
at local courts.
Direct taxation is a prominent feature in the budgets
of all the German States. According to the last pub-
lished budget of supplies and ways and means for Prussia,
the land-tax yielded 10,497,944 dollars, or one-seventh of
the whole revenue ; being about half as much again as the
interest of the national debt, which amounted to
7,253,000 dollars. The trading and manufacturing por-
tion of the population contributed 2,435,460 dollars, and