WEST DEVONSHIRE. iii 



than they could exped: to receive from 

 their parents. To the farmers, too, fuch 

 children, under proper tuition, might, one 

 would think, be made highly valuable in 

 their concerns, and, in the end, would 

 become very profitable. 



The contrary, however. Is generally the 

 cafe : an unfortunate and indeed lamentable 

 circumflance, which arlfes, in a great mea- 

 fure, I apprehend, from improper treat- 

 ment. Inflead of treating them ag their 

 adopted children, or as relations, or as a fu- 

 perior order of fervants, whofe love and 

 eileem they are delirous of gaining, for 

 their mutual happinefs, during the long 

 term of their intimate connexion, as well 

 as to fecure their fervlces at a time when 

 they become the mofl valuable, they are 

 treated, at leaft in the early flage of fer- 

 vitude, as the inferiors of yearly or weekly 

 fervants, are frequently fubjedted, I fear, 

 to a ftate of the moil abjedt drudgery : 

 a feverity which they do not forget, even 

 fliould it be relaxed, as they grow up. 

 the ordinary confequence is, no fooner are 

 they capable of fupporting themfelves, 



than 



