Ch. xiii. Pr'uiciplcs on lliis Subject. 423 



some land, I should expect to see both very often 

 neglected. 



It has been observed that those cottagers, v;ho 

 keep cows, are more industrious and more regular 

 in their conduct, than those who do not. This is 

 probably true, and what might naturally be ex- 

 pected; but the inference that the way to make 

 all people industrious is to give them cows, may 

 by no means be quite so certain. Most of those 

 who keep cows at present have purchased them 

 with the fruits of their own industry. It is there- 

 fore more just to say that their industry has given 

 tliem a cow, than that a cow has given them 

 their industry ; though I would by no means be 

 understood to imply that the sudden possession 

 of property never generates industrious habits. 



The practical good effects, which have been al- 

 ready experienced from cottagers keeping cows,* 

 arise in fact from the system being nearly such as 

 the confined plan which I have mentioned. In the 

 districts where cottagers of this description most 

 abound, they do not bear a very large proportion 

 to the population of the whole parish ; they con- 

 sist in general of the better sort of labourers, who 

 have been able to purchase their own cows; and 

 the peculiar comforts of their situation arise as 

 much from the relative as the positive advantages 

 which they possess. 



From observing therefore their industry and 



* Incjiiiiy into the State of Cottagers in Counties of Lincoln 

 and Riitlaiifl, by Robert Gonrlay. Annals of Af:;riciilfiire, vol. 

 XXX vii. J). .J14. 



