( *58 ) 1 



crs knew where to find theirproperty. Thefe 

 men therefore followed the trade of fheep-fleal* 

 ing with impunity. When one of the owners 

 was afked by the Judge, " why he did not 

 not fwear to a certain fheep when firft he difco- 

 vered it in the poflefTion of the old man y he 

 anlwered, " he was afraid of the confequences." 

 On the Judge's enquiring what were the con- 

 fequences he meant; he replied, " that he was 

 afraid of incurring a heavy expence." They 

 were all convicled. 



Now, were thefe commons inclofed, fuch 

 men as have been juftdefcribed could make no 



gexcufe for trefpaffing upon a perfon's property; 



j it would be more difficult to get amongft an- 

 other man's flock of fheep, and they would be 

 much more eafily detedled after a robbery. 

 Prevention is allowed to be better than punifh- 

 ment: the breedof thieves — a breed with which 

 this country is overftocked — would be dimi- 



'. nifhed by inclofures: by inclofures would the 

 national wealth be augmented, and of courfe 

 benefit accrue to the community at large. 



SECTION 



