FRANCE. 97 



know their bufinefs ; for thofe who do not, 

 tempt the people to impofitions, which end 

 in their punifliment, and the matter's lofs. 



Almoft every man, who, in England, 

 would be a little farmer of 20!. a year, here 

 is a lir.le vineyard proprietor. Many of 

 them have their vineyards in property, which, 

 by dividing equally among the fons, become 

 at laft furprifingly fmall. Thefe the owners 

 dreis and cultivate, with a care, attention!, 

 and anxiety, which I never faw equalled 

 any where elfe : it is too fmall to maintain 

 the man and his family j fo he works for 

 his neighbour, who has more vines than 

 himfelf. Yet is not he neglectful of his 

 own little concern, which he manages with 

 fo much afliduity, as to make it partly the 

 fupport of his family. My friend the vig- 

 neron, however, told me, that this minute 

 divifion of the land was productive of cne 

 great evil ; it reduced the portions to be fo 

 inconfiderable, that the owners were fome- 

 times unable to pay the land-taxes, which 

 then brought on much mifery and oppref- 

 fion. If there was not a vineyard of Icfs 

 than an acre, this would be felt but feldom ; 

 but fometimes you will fee foar of five in 



VOL. IV. H that 



