146 APPENDIX. 



these the blessing of God may be confidently hoped 

 for. Nothing can be more effectual for the diffusion 

 of the spirit of Christianity, than a moderate cultiva- 

 tion of the understanding. Men will thus become 

 more mild, better content with the condition in which 

 Providence has placed them, more attentive to their 

 duties both moral and religious, more charitable tow- 

 ards each other, less jealous and vindictive in their 

 feelings towards foreign nations, less prone to rapine, 

 under whatever name disguised, and less easily daz- 

 zled by the false splendour of war. But I must in- 

 dulge myself on this topic no longer, lest it seduce me 

 from my main design. 



Closely connected with Agriculture is the subject 

 of leases. Though not so important iu the United 

 States^ as in other countries, because the body of ten- 

 antry is smaller here, yet it is not undeserving of at- 

 tention. The leases generally in use, are for a short 

 term, with a reservation, by way of rent, of a certain 

 share of the produce of the land. This system is li- 

 able to two great objections. The shortness of the 

 tenure, precludes all hope of improvement of the soil, 

 and the mode of payment, (the rendering a share of 

 the crop.) holds out inducements to fraud, which few 

 tenants are able to resist. When the landlord lives 

 upon the estate, he has some chance of checking the 

 tenant, by obtaining an accurate knowledge of the 



