XXii INTRODUCTION. 
is very unpleafant; and, confidered as a national check 
on produce, ftill more ferious. _ 
The fituation of the poor cottagers of this country, and’ 
that of the miferable inhabitants of huts in Ireland, may 
doubtlefs be confidered as very different, and that the balance 
of difadvantage is againft the poor of the fifter country. 
The circumftance of not having any diftin& valuable pro- 
perty to value, but on the contrary a precarious fubfiftence 
in poverty, will always operate unfavourably to internal 
peace, wherever the found of property and its importance 
fhall be heard. It is impoffible to give every man in the 
country an eftablifhment as a mafter, and a large proportion 
will ever be found, who will not covet the care and the re- 
fponfibility—will not extend their views beyond regular 
labour, a cottage, and an ample garden. This ftation, in 
the due order of, civil fociety, has its fufficiently-attractive 
privileges. But gradation of rank is the beauty of domeftick 
life, the bulwark of domeftick peace; and while emulation 
of genius is natural to man, even in the rural departments 
of fociety, fcope fhould be ever provided for its exertions, 
by the moft eafy and imperceptible fteps of afcendancy. 
Thofe who are acquainted with the prefent ftate of Vales, 
know well, that though the fize of farms be confiderably 
increafed of late years, the warm attachment of the multitude 
to their native foil arifes from their having yet abundant, 
caufe of fuch attachment, on account of the numerous 
{mall convenient tenements, into which the country is di- 
vided; and in comparifon of which, the merely poflible 
improvements of condition by revolution are confidered, as 
they ought to be, but as duft in the balance. Hence, when 
the French landed at Fithguard, the unanimity of the nu- 
merous little farmers, their wives and children, urged them 
in defiance to the fhore, almoft without a fingle inftance of 
difaffeCtion ; 
