great nursery of freemen now left upon the face of the earth. "LET us be content with the spoils and the destruction of the East. If your lordships see no impropriety in it, let the plunderer and the oppressor still go free. But, let' not the love of liberty be the only crime you think worthy of punishment. I fear, we shall soon make it a part of our national character, to ruin every thing that has the misfortune to depend upon us. If the tendency of this bill is, as I own it appears to me, to acquire a power of governing them by influence and corruption; in the first place, my lords, this is not true government, but a sophisticated kind which counterfeits the appearance, but without the spirit or virtue of the true and then, as it tends to debase their spirits and corrupt their manners, to destroy all that is great and respectable in so considerable a part of the human species, and by degrees to gather them together with the rest of the world under the yoke of universal slavery—I think, for these reasons, it is the duty of every wise man, of every honest man, and of every Englishman, by all lawful means to oppose it." Bishop of St. Asaph, (k) A LANDED interest widely diffused among the mass of a people, by the personal virtues of honest industry, fair dealing, and laudable frugality, is the firmest foundation that can be laid, for the secure establishment of civil liberty and national independence. Requisite arts, useful manufactures, and advantageous commerce, naturally grow from such an establishinent. up THE enlightened genius of Virgil, in describing the felicities of ancient Italy, rests the whole on these circumstances "Terra-potens armis atque ubere gleba- By the policy of Henry the seventh of England, in order to strengthen himself against the nobility," the acquisition of property in lands by the commons was facilitated. His selfish motives produced public benefits.By this distribution a new vigor was communicated, and soon manifested itself by an amelioration in the condition of the nation. Marriage was encouraged; population increased; a spirit of personal independence cherished; trade and navigation advanced; and in a very short time English discoveries were extended to this side of the Atlantic. IN consequence of the vast fortunes accumulated by the excessive profits of offices, inordinate commerce, corrupt contracts, and "the blood of Africa and the tears of Hindostan transmuted into gold," the lands of England are now and have been for several years past reverting into a few hands, as they were held in the times of feudality, but without the attachments of that system; and without such attachments by tenantry, as the prudence and benevolence of land-lords might form. At the same time, the laws and prevailing practices * have a tendency to diminish the number of her YEOMANRY, that truly respectable and by far the most important class of the people. Or this unwise and repulsive behaviour they will feel the consequences. To such conduct Aristotle ascribes the ruin of Sparta. He lived only about sixty years after Ly. ↑ "Voragines fœnoris, monopoliorum, et lati fundiorum in pascua conversorum, et similium."-The whirlpools of loans, monopolies--and the change of farms into pasture grounds, and the like. Francisci Baconi sermones fideles -71 sander, who by the conquest of Athens had introduced prodigious wealth into his country. THE rich men became the engrossers of the lands, and the militia were thereby so reduced in number, that the same territory which formerly supplied fifteen hundred horse and thirty thousand foot well-armed, could not in Aristotle's time furnish one thousand. SUCH is frequently the REACTION of short-sighted and hard-hearted selfishness, in national as well as in private affairs. Ir is not meant by what has been said, to commend the feudal system. J THAT system armed the vassals as much to gratify the passions of their superiors, as to protect the country. It was replete with discord, oppression and rapine. The principle of the Anglo-saxon government was much preferable, as this armed the people for national defence, and not for the purposes of pride, ambition, or any intemperate de sires. THE importance of such a landed interest as has been described, is not to be estimated merely on account of its immediate relation to general safety. It is also of high moment with respect to morals, as rural employments have a natural tendency to promote simplicity of manners, a love of peace, public order, and private tranquillity. THE cultivation of the earth, its returns for the skill and labour bestowed upon it, the varieties and properties of its products, the contribution of the elements under a superintending Providence to these benefits, the changes of seasons and their effects, the beautiful alterations of scenery made by art surrounding the designer with a sort of creati on by his own hands, an acquaintance with the se veral kinds and qualities of animals, and the gradual* improvement of circumstances by the regular application of industry to the honest acquisition of necessaries and conveniences, all conspire, by habit and reflection, the pleasures of the understanding mingling with attentions to laborious employments,to render a farmer at the same time a kind of philosopher; by his domestic comforts to extend the circle of social enjoyments; till by continual enlargement it embraces his country, enclosing all the heart-felt ties of relatives, friends, neighbours, and fellow-citizens. Public happiness arises from private virtue. "The mind of man is more refreshed and exhilarated by his going forward in small things than by standing still in great." Lord chancellor Bacon, sermones fideles. |