INTRODUCTION. j^jj} 



prejudice have involved it. This reafon I cannot but feel 

 on the prefent occafion; and fo feeling, have a lively motive 

 to plead for, what appears to this Society, an eflential article 

 in the caufe of national happinefs ! 



I have been alTailed, in common with other advocates for 

 inclofure, with feveral objections ; as, 



I - " That a general inclofure of common and warte 

 " lands, on which many poor country people have been lono- 

 " accuftomed to maintain their families, (by raifing geefe 

 " and fowls, keeping a few cows for milk, breeding calves 

 " for fale, breeding and keeping fmall horfes, mules, and 

 " afles, for various purpofes, and rearing pigs for fale and 

 " for their families) would entirely deftroy this fpecies of 

 " maintenance, and involve multitudes of fuch perfons in 

 " new difficulties and wretchednefs, almoft to extirpation." 

 Some are ready warmly to contend, alfo, " That this 

 " mode of occupying a part of the lands of the kingdom 

 " was the principal remaining check we had againft the 

 *' inconvenience of monopolizing, and increafing the fize of 

 " farms." 



Thefe objeaions are thus fully ftated, becaufe it is proper 

 they fhould be fully confidered. 



If, indeed, it were as probable, as the contrary feems evi- 

 dent, that the comfort and rational happinefs of the clafs of 

 perfons alluded to, were dependent upon their fo living, and 

 fo ufing the common and wafte lands around them; ftill 

 an important queftion would arife, Whether the land was 

 fo occupied as to be compatible with the interejis of the far 

 greater number of poor perfons, zvho are obliged to live other- 

 ivife? And if the anfwer muft be in the negative, it would 

 follow, on the principles both of ftricT: jultice and philan- 

 thropy, that fuch a fyftem Ihould be changed. Now this • 



IS 



