i 4 2 TRAVELS THROUGH 

 the Great's acceffion, to the days wheii 

 Colbert was placed at the head of the Mi- 

 niflry, while every branch of induflry was 

 left to take-its own courfo, and no one fa- 

 crificed to the other -, the body of the 

 people drew great riches from the earthj 

 and it was upon the foundation of this that 

 Lewis XIV. was able afterwards to make 

 fuch prodigious exertions -, and his over- 

 Araining his power, at the fame time that 

 he funk (by the edict prohibiting all tranf- 

 port of corn) the price of the farmers pro- 

 duels, were what ruined the power of 

 France. But, to return to the comparifon 

 It would feem, from the above parallel 

 of the two kingdoms, that Britons could 

 never attempt to meafure the fword with 

 her neighbour ; but, upon a nearer view, 

 there are circumfiances which certainly 

 give a different turn to the conclufions na- 

 tural at firft. By the inclofures of Eng- 

 land, her farmers are enabled to practice 

 whatever hufbandry they pleafe by the 

 fyftem of letting their lands, the tenants 

 are wealthy, and confequently able to work 

 great improvements. M. deMirabeau, who 

 has been in England, and gained much in- 

 formation 



