156 FACT AGAINST FICTION. 



tlie growth of food for the people? It was 

 by the blatant stump men claimed as a visible 

 sin to be laid on an overbearing and cruel aristo- 

 cracy, who, while the ^^Constitution" was starving, 

 kept that wide extent of barren land for their 

 own immediate and selfish pleasure. This is a 

 grave charge, though made by vague minds, and 

 one worth a few moments' serious consideration. 



Granted, then, in the first instance, that there 

 is a very considerable acreage at present put to 

 no available resources whatever, either as a site 

 for the production of the craving appetite of the 

 '^ Constitution," or for the pleasurable amusement 

 of the proprietors. 



If a proprietor, or one of the much-abused aristo- 

 cracy, cannot derive any income out of these at 

 present unprofitable acres, surely, in the absence 

 of all derivable income, he has a perfect right to 

 get as much pleasure-profit out of this ^^ waste," 

 so-called, as he can. But, alas ! so desolate and 

 poor are the acres and the soil, and subsoil, that — 



" Far as the eye could reacli no tree was seen, 

 Earth clad in russet, scorn'd the lively green ; 

 No bird — except as bird of passage — flew. 

 No bee was heard to hum, no dove to coo ; 

 No streams, as amber smooth, as amber clear, 

 Were seen to glide or heard to murmur here." 



