128 ON DRAUGHT OXEN. 



corn. The following melancholy pi£lure of 

 the moft fertile part of France, during the 

 bloody reign of the Diftator, was given by 

 Dubois Crance, " Almoft all the confiderable 

 farnners have been thrown into prifon. In La 

 Vendee, fix millions of acres lie uncultivated, 

 and five hundred thoufand oxen have been 

 turned afl;ray, without fhelter and without 

 owner." Such atrocities detra6l infinitely from 

 the pleafure which a lover of liberty muft feel, 

 even at the final eftablifliment of human rights ; 

 and they ought to form a mofl; powerful argu- 

 ment with all parties, to difcard little, mean, 

 and fraudful fophiftries, to join hands in ho- 

 nefty and truth, and thereby fuperfede the fatal 

 neceffity of revolution. 



The Ox, being an animal of a meek and 

 gentle fpirit, and eafily intimidated, it is highly 

 neceffary to ufe the utmofl mildnefs'and for- 

 bearance in breaking him to labour, and, in- 

 deed, in driving him ever afterwards; a rafli 

 and mad-headed fellow will foon fpoil the 

 tempers, and lower the worth of the bed 

 team of bullocks. They are apt to conceive 

 attachments and antipathies, and to take alarm 

 at perfons who have treated them ill. A fel- 

 low being difcharged for mifconducl upon a 

 certain farm in Hereford (hire, out of revenge 

 fat up a malkin or fcare-crow, in the place 

 where he knew the ox-team would go to 



plough : 



