The Hillsborough Recorder

An English paper states that one half of the soil of Spain, and that consisting of the most fertile, best situated and most productive land which the country possesses, is now on sale. This property belonged to the inquisition, monks, privileged orders, and clergy; and in lieu of it, the cortes have given the latter one half of their former tithes. The value of this property is stated to be 200 millions of dollars, of which about five millions worth have already been sold. The abuses in that country must have arrived to an intolerable height, when the monks, inquisitors, privileged orders and clergy could amass such an extensive property as this to support them in idleness and superstition, especially as, under the former government, they were exempted from national taxes and burdens. It is not difficult in such a state of things to account for the revolution that took place. The effect of the contemplated sale of the property will be its distribution among new and effective classes of the community, from which an increase of population and national wealth will necessarily take place in the country. It would not be surprising under the present system, if the population, strength and commerce of Spain should, after a time, revive and equal those of her best epochs.