- There was no great encouragement for the dv^ri-* 

 ers of eflaces to exert themfelves in the cultiva- 

 tion of them, while others were to reap the fruit 

 of their labours : this was, therefore, left to their 

 meaner vafTals, whofe fpirits were fujfficiently 

 humbled to fubmit to almoft any impofuion. The 

 fame reafon which is to be given for the uncul- 

 tivated ilate of Italy, though in itfelf the garden 

 of the world, may be affigned for the general dif- 

 grace into which rural oeconomics had fallen in 

 England, till the time of the Reformation. — " For 

 one may venture to pronounce, without preju- 

 dice, that Agriculture, ceteris paribusy will always 

 flourifh moft irl free governments and proteftant 

 countries."'* 



In fuch a fituation of things, when Agriculture 

 "was, as it were, banifhed into defarts, and in tv^trj 

 refpedt took up its refidence among mountains 

 and vales, where knowledge had made fmall pro- 

 grefs; — when the rnind of the peafant was not 

 enlightened by the rays of fcience; when he tilled 

 the earth merely by the labour of his hands and 

 the fweat of his brow, without any fixed principles ; 

 it is not to be fuppofed, that any confiderable in^i- 

 provement could be made by him. 



• Harte's Eflay I. p. 67. 



Nor 



