Page:A Letter on the Subject of the Cause (1797).djvu/86

 order to afford an uncontroulable ſcope to ingenious and induſtrious minds. So began the granting of patents, a ſource of profit to the community ſuperior to any former political tranſaction; and hence muſt follow the ſpecific obligations which are neceſſary to bind the contracting parties, and which I humbly conceive to be the following:—

The leſſee ſays to the leſſor I want to incloſe ſuch a part of this vaſt common field for a certain term of years; and to be inſured by the Law the peaceable enjoyment of all its produce after uſing my own mode of cultivation. To theſe terms the leſſor agrees on condition the leſſee ſhall, on his part, give to the public a certain price; which is as follows:

The King is here acting as the ſteward or guardian of public right; and that he may give a good account of his ſtewardſhip, propoſes to the leſſee, that he ſhall minutely deſcribe, firſt, the local ſituation of the ſpot; ſecondly, aſcertain the dimenſions; and laſtly, give a preciſe plan ſuffcient to determine its perfect ſhape. For he remarks, except I clearly know what I take from the public by this bargain, I cannot poſſibly know what I am to reſtore at the expiration of the contract. The King farther propoſes,