l8co. bf the County of Fife, -291 



cart, for ten that were ufed twenty years ago i" a fa6l we 

 (hould confider as decifive upon the fide of horfes ; for the 

 greateft part of mankind are fliarp enough fighted in fuch 

 matters, to choofe always what is moft conducive to their 

 own intereft. If oxen had never been wrought, their utility 

 would have been problematical ; but when they were at one 

 time the ufual bealts of labour in this country, and have re- 

 gularly been laid afide as improvements were introduced, a 

 doubt can hardly be entertained refpe£ling the fuperiority of 

 horfes. 



We are forry that the nature of our work prevents us from 

 doing juftice to that portion of the report which treats upon 

 the fituation of the parochial fchoolmajlers. Animated with 

 the fame fentiments which influenced Dr Thomfon upon this 

 occafion, we join him in reprobating the fcheme of depriving 

 the lower ranks of the benefit of education, as inconfiftent 

 with found policy and productive of the moll ferious mif- 

 chief to the ftate. The cafe of the p.uochial fchoolmafters 

 deferves the commiferatiou of the landed intereft ; as at this 

 time their general fituation is much worfc than the meaneft 

 labourer. If it was neceifary and proper for the Parliament 

 \6^6y to ordain that they fliould be provided with falaries, 

 very probably fuited to their Ration according to the value of 

 monsy at the time, it certainly, under exifting circumftances, 

 is equally necefiary and proper that thefe falaries (hould be 

 advanced in a proportional manner to the rife that has taken 

 place upon the neceflaries of life ; otherwife, after the prefent 

 incumbents are fiarved out^ the office will remain unfupplied, 

 or be filled with perfons incapable of educating the rifing ge- 

 neration. 



'ThtfJjort endurance of kafes, \i ftated as one of the greateft 

 obflacles to improvement j and it is really furprifing that pro- 

 prietors Ihould ever expert that their lands will be improved, 

 by perfons who have not a fuitable intereft in the iflue of fuch 

 improvements. We have always confidered this queftion in 

 a public point of view, unconnedled with the benefit of pri- 

 vate parties, unlefs fo far as their exertions were necefTary to 

 infure a general advantage. If land, therefore, is held under 

 a ihort tenure ; if rellraints are impofed upon the adlivity of 

 the tenant ; if he is prevented from cultivating and improving 

 the ground in his hand, in fuch a way as to render it capable 

 of returning the greateft quantity of produce j then the public 

 intereft is injured, and the capital ftock of the country is lef- 

 fened and deteriorated. 



D d 2 Lord 



