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The fafhionable cuftom of noblemdn, gen- 

 tlemen, merchants, and even tradefmen hav- 

 ing fo much of the beft ground in Britain 

 laid out for pleafure, in grafs and fhrubbery, 

 alfo contributes to raife the price of provi- 

 fions. 



This neither brings profit to themfelves, 

 nor any advantage to the nation ; but inftead 

 of that, is confiderably expenfive in keeping 

 it clean. The quantity of ground laid out 

 this way in Britain is very conliderable ; moft 

 of which in former years was wont to pro- 

 duce good crops of corn : And this, with 

 the number of acres laid down in grafs, and 

 never broke up, muft of courfe very much 

 diminifh the produce of the nation. 



The Romans were very frugal of their foil 

 at firft, when a fingle acre was found fuffi- 

 cient to maintain a whole family. But when 

 Rome came to its grandeur, luxury increafed, 

 and great numbers came alfo to have their 

 villas and pleafure grounds ; and this obliged 

 them to fetch their provifions from different 

 quarters of the globe, which in the end oc- 

 cafioned their ruin. Any perfon may fee, 

 that when provifions are brought from fo- 

 reign countries, the expence muft be very 



great 



