44 



change of times, and from the fear of diminishing 1 , 

 still more, the value of their slight security. Besides' 

 these mortgages, which are registered in the Hypo- 

 thecation books of the Landschaft, many of these 

 large estates, when the value of the produce was 

 very high, were enabled to borrow on subsequent 

 mortgages, which, as they are of no validity till those 

 registered are liberated, have in many instances been 

 attended with a total loss to the lenders. 



It is obvious, that when that which for a long 

 period has been deemed the most secure, if not the 

 only secure investment for money, becomes of no 

 avail, the consequence must be highly distressing \ 

 and peculiarly so, because the principal suffering 

 must, of necessity, fall on those least able to contend 

 with the adverse circumstances in which they are 

 placed. 



The new Proprietors, who have been raised to that 

 condition by the abolition of the ancient Feudal 

 Tenures, though they can scarcely ever want the 

 bare necessaries of life, have very little beyond them. 

 If they happen to be both industrious and economical, 

 their own labour, on the small portion of land which 

 they possess, will supply them Avith potatoes and 

 some little Bread Corn, as well as provision for their 

 two oxen. They all grow n small patch of Flax, 

 and some contrive to keep five or six sheep. If 

 disposed to labour beyond the time required for 

 their own land, there is a difficulty in obtaining 

 employment ; and in the winter months, which are 

 long and severely cold, no agricultural work can be 

 performed. The flax and the wool spun in their 

 cottages must supply the clothing of the family ; and 

 the fat of the animals they kill must be converted 

 into soap and candles. Meat of any kind can be 

 rarely afforded to be, eaten by such families ; and 

 only the few who are more prosperous than their 

 neighbours can keep a cow to supply them with milk. 



