356 Remarks on Labourers' Divellings. 
increase, without -;oinethiiig be dune to prevent it. Why not give 
them the pos-ifssioii ot" a ^niall piece of land, by reducing the large 
farms ? — they have now no property to lose, and tlierefore do not 
resjject that of othei-s ; — they have no characters to lose, and are 
therefore dangerous members of society. Give them education, ^hat 
tbey may see the advantages of emigration to some fertile country. 
I should not, however, advise ^^liiyh and eqital education," as has 
been recommended by some learned gentlemen, considering it to be 
impracticable in the ])resent state of things ; neither would I go so 
far as to change, (as if by magic,) the established churches into " Na- 
tional Education Establishments." How far those religious estab- 
lishments are beneficial to the public it is not my purpose to show ; 
but if they derive any happines from such, why not let them enjoy 
them? The education I would recommend, for the children of the 
peasantry, would be, to make the girls exactly what Mr. Cobbett re- 
commends ; and the boys might be taught reading, writing, arithmetic, 
English grammar, and a little natural philosophy. Those who were 
intended for mechanics, might be taught the rudiments of geometry ; 
and those destined for agiicultural labourers, might be taught a little 
natural history. The former of these, would have plenty of " music,^' 
from the machinery connected with his business, and the latter would 
have sweeter music than that of a ^^ guitar," by listening to the sky- 
lark, while at his daily employments. 
By the foregoing reflections, on the neglect of the peasantry, I do 
not wish, or try to make that large body of people dissatisfied with 
their stations. They are well aware of the fact themselves, without 
being told ; and it is of no use to expect contentment, from a body of 
the community who have not even common necessaries to support the 
requisites of nature. It is of no use to talk of education to, — to pro- 
vide houses for, — or improve the moral character of, — a people that 
are actually starving ! 
It would be well, if some effectual measures could be adopted for 
the redemption of the labouring classes in general ; and if some means 
could be devised that would hold out an inducement to land-owners to 
pay more attention to their tenantry than they have hitherto done. 
I say "inducement," because ^ey will not enter into any action un- 
less stimulated and excited by some sort of interested motives : man is 
such a selfish creature, that he must either have pecuniary interest, 
direct or indirectly— -the praise of the world — or self approbation, — as 
a recompense for all his good actions. 
I should like to see that friendly intercourse subsist betwixt land- 
owners and the peasantry, which is familiar to us, only by listening to 
the tales of our fore-fathers ; and further, to see the master visiting his 
gervants in person, at their dwellings, enquiring into their wants and 
