n their kingdom? In what manner is the dignity of the nobility
concerned in these principalities? What rights have the subject there,
which they have not at least equally in every other part of the nation?
These distinctions exist for no good end to the king, to the nobility,
or to the people. They ought not to exist at all. If the crown (contrary
to its nature, but most conformably to the whole tenor of the advice
that has been lately given) should so far forget its dignity as to
contend that these jurisdictions and revenues are estates of private
property, I am rather for acting as if that groundless claim were of
some weight than for giving up that essential part of the reform. I
would value the clear income, and give a clear annuity to the crown,
taken on the medium produce for twenty years.

If the crown has any favorite name or title, if the subject has any
matter of local accommodation within any of these jurisdictions, it is
meant to preserve them,--and to improve them, if any improvement can be
suggested. As to the crown reversions or titles upon the property of the
people there, it is proposed to convert them from a snare to their
independence into a relief from their burdens. I propose, therefore, to
unite all the five principalities to the crown, and to its ordinary
jurisdiction,--to abolish all those offices that produce an useless and
chargeable separation from the body of the people,--to compensate those
who do not hold their offices (if any such there are) at the pleasure of
the crown,--to extinguish vexatious titles by an act of short
limitation,--to sell those unprofitable estates which support useless
jurisdictions,--and to turn the tenant-right into a fee, on such
moderate terms as will be better for the state than its present right,
and which it is impossible for any rational tenant to refuse.

As to the duchies, their judicial economy may be provided for without
charge. They have only to fall of course into the common county
administration. A commission more or less, made or omitted, settles the
matter fully. As to Wales, it has been proposed to add a judge to the
several courts of Westminster Hall; and it has been considered as an
improvement in itself. For my part, I cannot pretend to speak upon it
with clearness or with decision; but certainly this arrangement would be
more than sufficient for Wales. My original thought was, to suppress
five of the eight judges; and to leave the chief-justice of