44 DEER. Class I. 



hunting-grounds became more limited •, and as til- 

 lage and hufbandry incrcaled, the beads of chace 

 were obliged to give way to others more ufeful to 

 the community. The vail tracts of land before de- 

 dicated to hunting, were then contraded; and in 

 proportion as the uleful arts gained ground, either 

 loft their original dcllination, or gave rife to the in- 

 vention of Parks. Liberty and the arts feem coe- 

 val, for when once the latter got footing, the for- 

 mer proteded the labors of the induftrious from 

 being ruined by the licentioufnefs of the fporrfman, 

 or being devoured by the objects of his divcrfion ; 

 for this reafon, the fubjeds of a defpotic govern- 

 ment ftill experience the inconveniences of vafl 

 waftes, and forefts, the terrors of the neighbouring 

 hufbandmen*; while in our well-regulated monar- 

 chy, very few chaces remain : we ftill indulge our- 

 felves in the generous pleafure of hunting, but con- 

 fine the deer- kind to parks, of which England boaOis 

 of more than any other kingdom in Europe. Our 

 equal laws allow every man his pleafure ; but con- 

 fine them in fuch bounds, as prevents them from 

 being injurious to the meaneft of the community. 

 Before the reformation, our prelates feem to have 

 guarded fufficiently againft the want of this amufe- 

 ment, the fee of Norwich in particular, being pof- 



* In Germany the peafants are often obliged to watch their 

 grounds the whole night, to preferve the fences and corn from 

 being deftroyed by the deer. 



feffed 



