346 Plan of the gradual Abolition. Bk. iv. 



some other countries where such laws do not pre- 

 vail, and to compare it with their condition in 

 England. But this comparison, it must be 

 acknowledged, is in many respects unfair ; and 

 would by no means decide the question of the 

 utility or inutility of such a system. England 

 possesses very great natural and political advan- 

 tages, in which perhaps the countries, that we 

 should in this case compare with her, would be 

 found to be palpably deficient. The nature of her 

 soil and climate is such, that those almost univer- 

 sal failures in the crops of grain, which are known 

 in some countries, never occur in England. Her 

 insular situation and extended commerce are pecu- 

 liarly favourable for importation. Her numerous 

 manufactures employ nearly all the hands that are 

 not engaged in agriculture, and afford the means 

 of a regular distribution of the annual produce of 

 the land and labour to the whole of her inhabi- 

 tants. But, above all, throughout a very large class 

 of people, a decided taste for the conveniences 

 and comforts of life, a strong desire of bettering 

 their condition (that master-spring of public pro- 

 sperity,) and, in consequence, a most laudable spirit 

 of industry and foresight, are observed to prevail. 

 These dispositions, so contrary to the hopeless 

 indolence remarked in despotic countries, arc 

 generated by the constitution of the English go- 

 vernment, and the excellence of its laws, which 

 secure to every individual the produce of his in- 

 dustry. When, therefore, on a com.parison with 

 other countries, England appears to have the ad- 



