356 
Remarks on Labourers' Dwellings. 
increase, without something be done to prevent it. Why not give 
them the possession of a Small piece 'of land, by reducing the largo 
farms ?—they have now no property to lose, and therefore do not 
respect that of others they have no characters to lose, and are 
therefore dangerous members of society. Give them education, that 
they may see the advantages of emigration to some fertile country. 
T should not, however, advise ^‘1iigha7id equal education^' as has 
been recommended by some learned gentlemen, considering it to be 
impracticable in the present 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 agricultural labourers, might be taught a little 
natural history. The former of these, would have plenty of 
from the machinery connected with his business, and the latter would 
have sweeter music than that of a guitary' by listening to the sky¬ 
lark, \vhile 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 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 usy only by listening to 
the tales of our fore-fathers ; and further, to see the master visiting his 
servants in person, at their dwellings, enquiring into their wants and 
