390 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book VII. 



CHAP. VIL 



The mhahhatits of the country co7iftJl of three orders of men ; — The no- 

 bility and gentry ; the farmers ; and the cottagers, — Land formerly 

 divided amon^ a ^reat number of nobility and ge?Jtry^ but noiv in 

 the hands of a feijo great proprietors : — In fome countries hardly an 

 ejlate of 50 1. per annum. — The farmers now as much diminified 

 in fiumber^ from the increafe of farms ; — of ivhich there are fome 

 in England of T^oooX. rent, — The Author^ from his frequent jour-- 

 flies to London^ on horfeback, qualified to judge of the number and, 



Jize of farms. — Infance of a fingle houfe in a pariflD, — Of the num- 

 ber of cottagers in England ; — their great utility : — They are the 

 breed of fcrvants^ labourers^ mechanics^ tradefmen^ fotdlers^ and 



fallors :—Few cottages to be feen In England; — and theft confined. 

 to. hamlets \ — proof of cottages being once more frequent, — The num- 

 hers of E'.^land infifjiclent to the demand of trade ^ manufadlureSy 

 and war : — Afatute of population^ like that of Henry the VIL ne^ 

 ceffary —Small farms conducive to population ; — exemplified in the 

 original fize of the Roman farms of two Jugera. — The great quan- 

 tity of paflure ground in England, which is neceffary for feeding 

 cattle^ to fipply th^ immenfe confumptlon of fiefh^ miifl prevent the 

 increafe of the Population of that kingdom^ even were farms lefs, — 

 Another caufe^ the quantity of ground employed In ralfing barley for 

 dif illation : — A third caufe, the keeping fo many horfes for rui a I 

 occupations^ which might be better performed by oxen; and alfo for 

 luxury^ vanity y and indolence. — Thefe three caiifes confidcred^ A 

 fourth., the great quantity of wqjle lands and commons, — Conclu- 

 fioUy that the number of inhabitants muH be dlmlniflAng, 



The 



