INTRODUCTION. XXXI 



grant portion of the community, and thus to secure the 

 public tranquillity. In Spain, where the nobility and cler- 

 gy possess nearly all the landed property, we see the pop- 

 ulation besieging the gates of the castles and convents, to 

 ask alms from the monks and nobles. Without doubt 

 the greater part of the wealthy are not insensible to the 

 cries of misery which surround them ; but it is surely 

 better for each one to derive his subsistence from his 

 own resources, than to beg it from another. I do not 

 pretend, that it would be of advantage to divide all the 

 French territory into small estates, or to reduce it every- 

 where to the mode of culture adapted to them : those 

 portions of country, which admit of the full develope- 

 ment of great agricultural resources, ought to be covered 

 with farms of an extent sufficient to unite all the means 

 necessary to call them into action. It is not ex- 

 pected that it will be possible, except on these great 

 farms, to raise cattle, or to supply all the requisites of 

 life for the markets. The present state of things has 

 established itself by its own fitness : the difference be- 

 tween those portions of country suited to great, and 

 those adapted to small cultivation, is so well felt, that 

 the division of real estate into small farms is only found 

 in the last. Private interest has placed the bounds of 

 the subdivision of territory ; and it can be safely left to 

 that great mover of the conduct of men, to stop the 

 further division at that moment, when the processes of 

 labor can be carried on with the most ease, and to the 

 greatest advantage. If exchanges should become less 

 difficult than at present, there is no doubt that contiguous 

 portions of land, belonging to different proprietors, would 

 be united under one, till a farm of convenient extent 

 ihould be formed. 



