INTRODUCTION, | xix 
In another point of view, 7. ¢. in the political, to which 
we have already aliuded, this clafs of Britons, if happily 
they fhould become increafed, will be moft important in 
their diftricts. No man attaches himfelf more ftrongly to 
his home, and the civil compat of his country, than he 
who has an important little at ftake, and that little in clofe 
connexion with the foil he occupies! One grand fecurity 
againft foreign invafion, and even domeftick tumult, is ever 
found in the known attachment of the hardy country in- 
habitants to their government. Make this clafs as nume- 
rous as you can; and give them a fair intereft in fomething 
really their own to defend, and you eftablith the foundeft, 
broadeft bafis of national fecurity ! 
The reverfe of this pifture has been of late frequently 
alluded to, in the unhappy fituation of a fifter country. 
Without attempting to account for that lamented ftate of 
anarchy, which every one fees to have been largely fo- 
mented by bad men, the common opinion has been, and 
doubilefs with too much reafon, that the unwife and im- 
provident divifion of lands to the tenantry has unhappily 
favoured the atrocious attempts to excite general revolt and 
rebellion among the lower clafles. Every reflecting mem- 
ber, not only of this Society, (in which they abound) but 
_in civil fociety at large, has poignantly regretted the com- 
motions which haye afflicted and deeply endangered that 
country. Various may have been the caufes; but had there 
been in Ireland a large proportion of well-inftructed fall far- 
mers, privileged by renting immediately under the landlord 
himfelf, on equal and encouraging terms; and that landlord 
moftly, dwelling at his country manfion, taking a kind and 
paternal part in their improvements and profperity, Ire- 
land would doubtlefs have been in a different difpofition.— 
No man will attempt to perfuade us, that if, inftead of the 
b 2 general 
