8o extracts from Coxe^s travels. July i8, 



ety offered a premium of fifty ducats and a gold medal, value 

 twenly-five ducats to the author of the best difsertation on 

 the following question : " Is it most advantageous to the 

 state that the peasant fliould pofsefs lands, or only personal 

 effects •, and to what point (hould that property be exten- 

 ded for the good of the public ? " The premium was ad- 

 juged to the author of a French 6fsay in favour of the pea- 

 sants. The following judicious reflection of the present 

 emprefs perhaps comprehends in few words the sum of the 

 beat arguments wliich may be advanced on this subject. 

 " Agriculture can never flourilh in that nation where the 

 husbandman pofaefses no property." Thus far Mr Coxe. 



The emprefs is certainly much to be esteemed for her 

 patronage of tl^ arts and sciences, notwithstanding the am- 

 bition which appears to have excited many of her measures 

 with regard to foreign powers. The death of her favourite 

 Potemkin, it is to be hoped, will stop all such measures for 

 the future. The ex?.mple fhe lias set the nobles by- 

 franchising the peasants wo were her own property, is 

 amiable J and it is to be hoped the nobles will soon be con- 

 vinced that it is their interest to imitate her. Till this is 

 done it is evident from the above extracts that the pros- 

 perity of the country must be greatly retarded. 



As to the ignorance of peasants, it would appear that 

 the lords of such peasants are strangers to the sweets of li- 

 berty, since they are not more anxious that their fellow 

 men (hould enjay them ; or are under the most, selfilh pre- 

 judiced, and depraved principles. But this is not peculiar 

 to Rufsian lords ; many among ourselves, notwithstanding 

 our boasted superior knowledge, are no strangers to these 

 principles, witnefs the African slave trade. 



" Oh ! is there not some patriot, in whose pow'r 

 That bcsf; that godlike luxury is pI.'.cM, 

 * Of b'efsing thousunds, thousands yet unborn, 



Thco' Jate posteritj- V\ 



A FRIEND TO LIBERT?. 



