DUaiNG THE LONG WAR. 93 



construction of a tramroad from the lime- 

 stone field into the woodlands, but which was 

 never taken advantage of, though the powers 

 for making it may possibly still remain in 

 force. 



What a happy change has taken place 

 since the return of peace, in England ! The 

 lands in our hilly districts are fast recovering 

 or recovered from the former exhausted state, 

 from the effects of time and rest; coltsfoot, 

 thistles, and couch-grass, symptoms of beg- 

 gary on the land, similar to those of poverty 

 of blood in the human frame, are fast dis- 

 appearing or no longer seen on the surface ; 

 and we enjoy this, among the other blessings 

 of peace, without the conversion of our swords 

 into ploughshares, of seeing our green-swards 

 intact, while we with all others who toil for 

 it can now eat untaxed bread — to quote the 

 words of a great statesman. 



The most disastrous times I can remember 



