XXVI INTRODUCTION. 



rendering common to a whole nation the production of 

 each locahty, all the sources of public wealth and pros- 

 perity are multiplied. By an increased intercourse be- 

 tween men civilization is perfected; intelligence and 

 urbanity of manners find their way into the most se- 

 cluded spots ; and the law which has established a great 

 system of inland navigation in France, will excite the 

 gratitude of all future ages. 



If agriculture requires some new laws favorable to 

 her interests, she also demands the suppression of a 

 small number which are opposed to them. The law 

 should protect and favor exchanges; and government 

 ought to view in this operation only the mutual accom- 

 modation arising to the proprietors of the property ex- 

 changed, and not to collect any duties excepting from 

 the profits on what is exchanged. By facilitating and 

 encouraging exchanges government would do much for 

 agriculture; scattered and disjointed property would in- 

 sensibly become collected around the dwelling of the 

 owner; the inspection of it would thus be rendered 

 easy, and a better system of management might be 

 adopted without difficulty; transportation would be fa- 

 cilitated and rendered less expensive; the laboring ani- 

 mals would suffer less from fatigue, and their quantity 

 of work be increased in value. 



Another advantage arising from the exchange of 

 property is that of annexing to some estates small por- 

 tions of land lying contiguous to them, which, from their 

 limited extent, do not give scope to the exercise of all the 

 resources of good husbandry. These exchanges would 

 likewise have the good effect of extinguishing a thou- 

 sand disputes, which are constantly arising amongst the 



