i^<y STUDIES OF NATURE. 



Would to God, that all conditions were nobi- 

 litated, the profeffion of agriculture in particular ! 

 for it is that, above all others, of which every func- 

 tion is allied to virtue. Jn order to be a hufband- 

 man, there is no need to deceive, to flatter, to de- 

 grade one's-ielf, to do violence to anoîher. He 

 is not indebted, for the profits of his libour, to the 

 vices or the luxury of his age, but to the bounty 

 of Heaven. He adheres to his Country, at leaff, 

 by the little corner of it which he cukivates. If 

 the condition of the hufbandman were ennobled, a 

 multitude of benefits, to the inhabitants of the 

 kingdom, would refult from it. Nay, it would be 

 fiifficienr, if it were not confidered as ignoble. But 

 here is a refource which the State might employ, 

 for the relief of the decayed nobility. Moft of the 

 ancient feignories are purchafed now-a-days, by 

 perfons who pofTefs no other merit but that of 

 having money; fo that the honour of thofe illuf- 

 trious houfes have fallen to the fliare of men who, 

 to confefs the truth, are hardly worthy of them. 

 The King ought to purchafe thofe lordfhips as 

 often as they come to market ; referve to himfelf 

 the feignorial rights, with part of the lands, and 

 form, of thofe fmall domains, civil and military be- 

 nefices, to be bellowed as rewards on good officers, 

 ufeful citizens, and noble and poor families, nearly 

 as the Ti mari Qts are in Turkey. 



OF 



