ACCOUNT 
aval labour is their only fupport, 
to an immediate unexampled pitch 
of eafe and comfort. They, in- 
deed, laid the foundations of future 
greatnefs; but. could not confer 
directly, on the humble occupa- 
tions of the artizan or hufbandman, 
thofe domeftic gratifications and 
focia] enjoyrments which can be 
expected only from flow and im- 
perceptible improvement. That 
they, however, gave that tone and 
energy to the nation which are ne- 
- ceflary to fit them for induftrious 
‘exertion, is abundant praife. Ad- 
mitting, what feems to be the faé, 
that this important epoch in our 
annals did not produce any altera- 
tion in the conftitution; yet, if (as 
it has been juftly obferved) “it 
changed the maxims of adminiftra- 
tion, which have everywhere fo 
great an influence on the condi- 
‘ion of the governed;” if it in- 
dpired the great mafs of the nation 
with that fpirit of thinking and 
atting which have been conducive 
towards rendering them more hap- 
“py and independent, the evils arif- 
ing from the funding fyftem (which 
has Gi think unjuftly) been afcrib- 
ed to the policy of our great deliv- 
erer-and its adherents) have bcen 
more than fully compenfated. It 
is not my intention to enter into a 
comparative eftimate of the re- 
fources of the nation at the clofe 
of the laft, and at different times 
in the prefent, century; but I can- 
not avoid obferving, that, at no 
period fince the death of King Wil- 
iam, has this country ever exhi- 
bited thofe alarming fymptoms 
which have ever been thought to 
indicate an enfeebled and declining 
induftry, as it did in thofe years 
immediately fubfequent to the Re- 
volution. 
“It is not an unfair mode of 
OF BOOKS. = 48 
judging of the earnings, and con- 
fequently of the thriving condition 
of the workman, to afcertain the 
quantity of the work annually per- 
formed by him.— More work is 
done now than was performed at 
the Revolution ; and, if we admit 
Dr. Price’s fuppofition, that our 
population has declined fince that 
period, it will follow, that with 
fewer hands we are more induftri- 
ous, and (if the comforts of la- 
-bourers depend on the demand for 
Jabour) more comfortable. And 
the fame argument will hold in a 
proportionable degree, if we fup- 
pofe, what is probably the cafe, 
that the population of Great Bri- 
tain, though greater than it wasa 
century ago, has not kept pace 
with increafing commerce and im- 
proving manufactures. , 
“It is unreafonable to fuppofe 
that the effe@s of good govern- 
ment and the accumulations of 
induftry are confined to enrich- 
ing the monied capitelift and the 
landed proprietor; to {welling the 
emoluments of office, and increafing 
the {plendor of a devouring me- 
tropolis: — the humbicft peafant, 
in the remoteft proyince of the_ 
kingdom, is not uninterefted in 
that improving flate of fociety 
which creates new wants and new 
dependencies: the cultivation of 
the ufeful arts, even of thefe which 
are not immediately connected 
with his occupation, is ultimately 
beneficial to him. The invigorat- 
ing rays of commerce and manu- 
factures, though moft dazzling and 
refplendent in the capital, extend 
their genial influence to the hamlet: 
The felf-fame fun, that fhines upon the 
court, 
Hides not his vifage from the cottage, but 
Looks onallalike.” Shakf.. Winter's Tale. 
Great and burthenfome as the 
Hh 3 poor’s 
