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Through a refined tafte, Gr a miftaken policy, 

 the induftrious occupiers of fmall property, thofe 

 mod ufeful fubjects to the ftate, have been already 

 too much opprefied, and are in many places nearly 

 extirpated. The good-natured reader will excufe 

 me, if I quit my iubject for a moment to deplore 

 the confequences. 



The Norman Conqueror, in the "plenitude of his 

 power, depopulated thirty villages for his pleafure, 

 •which has left an indelible ftain on his character. 

 In the prefent enlightened age, the fame ruinous 

 policy is adopted, without remorfe or cenfure. If 

 the homely habitation of induftry grows cpld and 

 comfortlefs, avarice whifpers that the expence of 

 reparations may be faved, and the land be added to 

 a neighbouring farm. • If parks or pleafure grounds 

 are to be extended, whole villages are razed to the 

 ground. Hulhed are the cheerful " founds of popu- 

 lation/* and the bufy footftep is feen no more. The 

 once comfortable, but now dejected inhabitants, are 

 reduced to the hard necefiity of earning a fcanty 

 morfel in the evening of. life, by dint of labour be- 

 yond their dec! iing ftrength; and thus their grey 

 hairs go down with forrow to the grave: — their be- 

 loved children, the comfort of their age, ill-brooking 

 the idea of fervitude, where they have feen better 

 days, fcek employment in the capital; — difappoint- 



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