PART II. IMPROVEMENT OF RESIDENCES. 



683 



may have influence on even the lowest of mankind. With re- 

 spect to the tradesman, and all between him and the man of pro- 

 perty, or, in common language, the independent, its influence 

 cannot be doubted, in civilizing, improving, and refining their 

 manners*; in rendering them docile, tractable, and in every re- 

 spect better members of society. Many other arguments might 

 be added to prove this, but certainly it is not necessary. 



When we consider how much the existence, prosperity, and 

 internal peace of a state, depends upon these qualities in the 

 lower and middling classes, the importance of a general intro- 

 duction of taste in scenery will appear. What might not be 

 done in Ireland, in the civilization and improvement of the 

 lower orders, by the introduction of taste among the higher and 

 middling classes? The arts illuminated Greece in the midst of 

 universal gloom ! What has freed Britain from the slavery of an 

 all-grasping clergy, or the feudal institution of a turbulent no- 

 bility, but the general introduction of better taste, both in senti- 

 ment and the arts ? It is chiefly owing to the liberty enjoyed in 

 this kingdom, that modern gardening was so soon adopted, and 

 spread so generally over every part of the country. Even this 

 alone strikingly proves the universal influence of general taste. 



* I do not speak of towns and cities, where, by rendering artisans too rich, it 

 very frequently introduces corruption and vicious habits. Nor do I speak of the 

 fine arts, which I consider to be far inferior in their effects upon the generality of 

 men, to rural beauty, because less calculated to sooth and harmonize. See Bates's 

 Reflections. 



