[ M7 ] 



ment and penury enfue: — the mounds of virtue are 

 now broken, and the ruddy bloom of health ex- 

 changed for difeafe and infamy: — our flreets become 

 crouded with ruined innocence; and our prifons 

 with wretched and defperate malefactors ! 



Where are the benefits to compenfate for this 

 mafs of evil? The property which maintained ten 

 or twenty families in comfort, is now converted into 

 a fingle farm. When a tenant is wanted, there are 

 but few competitors. If he fails, the lefs is a fe- 

 vere one. The landlord may confole, and perhaps 

 reimburfe himfelf by feizing on the farmer's flock ; 

 but his feelings are not to be envied; the reputa- 

 tion of his farm is thereby leflened, and the diffi- 

 culty of procuring a tenant increafed. The man 

 who can afford to flock fuch a farm, can probably 

 live on the interefl of his money. He will not 

 embark without a probability of large profit ; and 

 that without taking a laborious part. The labour 

 and attention of fervants and workmen are more 

 expenfive and lefs effectual than that of a fmall 

 . farmer, who eafily fuperintends his bufinefs, and, 

 with the afliftance of his children, tills his own 

 ground. The graduated fcale of property being 

 broken, and no medium left between the overgrown 

 farmer and neglected cottager, the finews of in- 

 I 2 duftry 



