XVi INTRODUCTION. 



portant queftions : Can they be likely to be fo good in their 

 kinds ? Have Juch perfons equal advantages of giving their 



Jlocli the necejfary fupply of regular food and nourijhment^ even 

 in fum?ner^ for duly puj}n}ig their growth before u'inter; 

 and efpecially in winter to prefcrve them from fiuvting^ arui 

 the various ?naladies to vjhich young flock^ in barren and 



fivaynpy fituations^ without fodder^ vjithout litter^ and without 



coverings are continually expofed?- It is obvious, that, from 



fuch want of advantages, the hopes of thofe poor perfons are 

 often difappointed, to their own immediate diftrefs, and the 

 ultimate lofs to the community at large. Even in rare 

 inftances more favourable to thtir views, and where from 

 local advantages and comparatively greater fkill and care 

 they happen to have been more fuccefsful in the fummer 

 feafon, they mufl in general bring their ftock to market be- 



m 



fore or in the feverity of winter; and being obliged to fell, 

 muft fell at fuch prices as their more opulent neighbours 

 will give them : If at high prices, it is a proof of general 

 dearnefs, to which a too-confined cultivation has doubtlefs 

 contributed ; if at low or middling prices, they fcldom are 

 gainers by their purfuits — for having been obliged to fub- 

 fill: partly on credit till the feafon of felling, they are rarely 

 able to do more than pay their debts at laft. The be- 

 ginning of the year found them poor — the end commonly 

 leaves them fo. And unlefs they happen to be under a 

 llronger moral rcflralnt, than their ftation and habits in 

 life are favourable to, they are tempted to affift them- 

 felves through the winter, by poaching, purloining, and 

 creeping again into debt : for in general they have no 

 regular habits-of labour for themfelves, their wives, or their 

 children. T'hus they too frequently degenerate from 



bad to worfc, and fet a loofe and baneful example in 



the 



