98 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



" dible time and expenfe. I never was able to 

 *' make out the common intereft of my money." 



I am bound in juftice to remark, that this 

 wretched fleward, but excellent gentleman, in 

 every fenfe of that word, was at that very time re- 

 lieving, by his charity, moft of thofe ancient far- 

 mers, now difabled to earn a livelihood. Here, 

 then, is another inftance of both men and lands 

 rendered ufelefs, by the injudicious extenfion of 

 property. It is not upon the face of vafl domains, 

 but into the bofom of induftry, that the Father 

 of Mankind pours out the precious fruits of the 

 Earth. 



I could eafily demonflrate, that enormous pro- 

 perty is the principal caufe of the multiplication 

 of the poor all over the kingdom, for the very 

 reafon which has procured it the elogium of many 

 of our Writers, namely, that it fpares men the 

 labours of agriculture. There are many places, 

 where there is no employment to give the peafan- 

 try during a confiderable part of the year; but I 

 Ihall infift only on their wretchednefs, which feems 

 to increafe with the riches of the diftriâ: where 

 their lot is caft. 



The diilrid of Caux is the mofl fertile country 

 which 1 know in the World. Agriculture, on the 



great 



