94 THE RUPlAL SOCRATESc 



Conferences were alfo held with fotne of the cmii' 

 vators, on the fubjccl of the advantages and defe^^s of 

 the rural ccouoaiy in their fevcrai neighborhoods* 

 Thefe conferences were attended by fomc of tlie chiefs 

 cf the government, by many clergy, military perfons, 

 iiterary men, merciiants, a!]d arriians. At every new 

 conference, the aiiiilants were more numerous than at 

 ^he preceding ones ; and the pealants were always 

 Satisfied and lent away in loinc reipecr or other iiii- 

 jproved. 



' By thefe different mcsns, the pea Hints became mor<? 

 and more proud of their profcilion, and more and more 

 ?.ttentive to its principles. Whole communities joined 

 i^ogethcr to gGt rid of the droll de parcours (or particu- 

 lar right of commonage above noticed.) Others agreed 

 to divide tlieir common pailures in n^ardiy places, con- 

 verting ihem into meadows, or plantations of willow 

 f which fays the French editor are fomctimes as profita- 

 ble as the bcH: meadows, in countries where flraw is 

 fcarce.] — Others again advanced in the care of their 

 zvGods ; in working np their turf ; or in difcovcring 

 ?}2arle pits^ or other matter proper for dreffing the land. 



EcQ7iomical OT \AoriciiUurai SoQicfxes were formed in 

 many places ; and m.any talents called to }ight, which 

 hrive been dirc£led to objecls highly important. 



Premiums have been inpcraddcd in favor of thofe 

 \v\\o have found out metliods for employing the poor^ 

 to the advantage of the individual and of the c.ommuni- 

 ty ; as by improving the common paflures, keeping 

 in order the common woods, preventing the ravages 

 of torrents, and making roads, &c. 



Many humane perfons have alfo joined in fubfcrip- 

 tions for aiiifting inch poor laborers as wanted capital^ 

 which was to be diiliibuted by a committee of the Soci- 

 cty ; ^nd the bailiifs [or chiefs] of the villages and 

 r,l^ curates-were invited to give advice as to the diflri- 

 bution. — Two pieces of land, which together did not 

 eoritain i3,ogo v^'iarc feet (or not a fquare of 45* yards) 



and 



