THE RURAL SOCRATES. 43 



.OurphilofopherKliyogg is invariably of this opinion* 

 «' You cannot conceive, Sir," he has often repeated, '' how 

 '^' many grievances would be rcdrelTcd, if the government 

 ** and the inhabitant of the country mutually concur- 

 *' red in promoting the general good. Our lands want 

 *' only to be cultivated with more underflanding and 

 ** induflry, to fupply a fufficient quantity of grain for 

 *' our ufe ; bat unfortunately we err in thele two par- 

 *^ ticulars.— The pcafant is feldom enlightened enough 

 *' to difcern his real advantages. — It muft be then from 

 " the magiflratc, who is appointed by the date to watch 

 *' over the good of the comqiunity, that we can hope 

 *' for relief. It is they who fhould prefcribe to culti- 

 *' vators thebcfh methods of husbandry ; and exert the 

 *' authority lodged in their hands, to oblige the idle to 

 *' work or to punifh their obftinacy. The public ofHcers 

 ^' fhould attentively infped the coRdu£l of every nidivi- 

 *' dual ; leading back to theirduty fuch as have devi- 

 ^' ated from it, by reprimands, menaces, and falutary 

 ^' corre«flion. — The clergy might be peculiarly inftru- 

 *' mental in this laudable work, were they more aflidu- 

 *' ousin admonifbing their parifhioners, either from the 

 " pulpit or in their pafloral . vifits, to the uniform 

 *' pradice of the duties of chriflianity : and if they in- 

 ^' culcated without ceafing, that the eiTcnce of piety 

 '* confifls in exa<^Iy performing towards our neighbors 

 ** what juflice di<^ates, or in other words, in rendering 

 *' to every one his due. Thefe gentlemen have com- 

 ^' monly a great deal too much learning in their fer- 

 *' mons. They feek tedious and labored explications 

 ^* of their text, which the peafant is incapable of com* 

 ** prehending ; inflead of informing him in a fimple 

 ** manner how he ought to regulate his conda£l. Hence 

 " it follows, that the villagers (far the greater part of 

 *> them) imagine that they have fulfilled all that rcli- 

 *' gion requires, in going to church, faying their pray- 

 ^^ crs, and finging pfalms ! and that they may then in- 



" dulge 



