Stiggestions for its Improtement. 
7 
country ; and to this state of thingrs the landowners of England 
are called, alike bv a sense of public duty and a regard for their 
own interest, to endeavour to apply a remedy. 
Everv English landlord will admit that property has its du- 
ties as well as its privilejes. and he ought not to be backward 
in acting up to the principle wtiich the admission involves. He 
must not onlv do whatever mav be necessiry himself, but he 
must likewise exert his influence with his tenantry, and lead 
them to adopt improved methods of cultivation, affording them at 
the same time all proper assistance and encouragement, and as- 
suring to them the full enjoyment of the fruits of their outlay. 
The good effect of a landlord s so acting, would soon be wit- 
nessed in the improved appearance of the larm, and in the in- 
crease of emplovment and improved appearance ot the labourers, 
whilst himself and the public would be benefited by the increase 
in the produce of the soil.* 
The landlord s influence ought likewise to be exercised lor 
bringing about a change in another important respect. The 
practice of keeping voung men as yearly servants in the house 
with the farmer, was heretofore universal ; and the discontinuance 
of this practice of late years, has been productive of much mis- 
chief and demoralization. Towards young men so employed, the 
farmer stood in the relation ot a parent. Thev formed a part of 
his lainilv. To him thev were accountable. To hiin thev were 
accustomed to look for advice. And they were thus kept out of 
the way of temptation, and prevented trom falling into idle and 
improndent habits, to which all voung men are more or less prone 
if left without control. Our farmers now rarelv employ yearly 
servants of this description. They generally engage their labourers 
by the dav, by the week, or by the job, taking no further care 
about them, and leaving them, whether single or married, to 
provide for themselves as they best can. The consequence is 
that young men are now for the most part left without supervision 
of any kind. Their parents" cottage is almost alwavs too small 
to accommodate them. They struggle for a time against its dis- 
comforts, and against the bickerings and disagreements to which 
these frequently give rise ; and thev then quit the parental roof, 
and take refuge in some lodging-house, occupied probably bv 
other young men of their own class. 
Can youths and young men so cast upon the world, loosened 
from all control, and subjected to vicious promptings and the 
temptations ot their own animal passions — can voung men so 
situated, often uneducated and without the benefit of religious 
training, be expected to exercise forethought and self-restraint 
* See note A. at the end. 
