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fiouriftiing ftate into national difregard, Thls^ 

 however, is eafily accounted for, 



I have laid it down as a general rule, that civi- 

 lization encourages hufbandry : yet it is pofTible 

 that rural oeconomics nnay be impeded by this 

 very civilization, unlefs it be well regulated. A 

 nation may be civilized to fo high a degree of re- 

 finement, as that the politer part of its inhabitants 

 will afTociate in cities and towns, and attend to no- 

 thing but pleafure and the fine arts. The confe- 

 quence is, that Agriculture will be nearly in the 

 fame predicament as it was before the commence- 

 ment of civilization. 



In fuch a ftate o{ falfe refinement, the cultiva- 

 tion of land will be confidered as beneath the notice 

 of the rich and the learned, and be left to the ruder 

 part of the people. 



Such was the ftate of this nation in the reign of 

 that gay Prince Charles II.j and could any thing 

 elfe be expedled but that Agriculture muft feverely 

 fufFcr, in an age fo deeply immerfed in luxury, 

 pride, and diffipation ? efpecially if it be confidered 

 that the perfons who paid the clofeft attention to it, 

 had " crept into the confifcated eftates of the no- 



.** bility. 



