advancement was certain. They had acquired a taste for the conveniences of life, which could not fail to urge them forward. The first steps in improvement, are, perhaps, the most difficult and tardy; but, after the movement is begun, its own impetus impels society forward in a constantly increasing ratio. Desire was awakened, and the hope of its gratification gave rise to industry; healthful toil strengthened the bodily powers; forethought and invention afforded expansion to the mental faculties. A genial soil and climate favored the natural progress. As the resources of the inhabitants increased, their wants increased also. Ease and comfort, during intervals of peace, swelled the amount of the inhabitants, and augmenting possessions required an augmented number of dependants; while a denser population made new demands on industry, and opened new fields for the exertion of ingenuity.

This progress, which is, in fact, no other than the natural history of society, in every country advancing from a savage to a civilized state, was practically exemplified in the southern division of the kingdom, particularly during the period which intervened from the time of the Norman conquest to the consolidation of the state in the days of the Eighth Henry, and his immediate successors. Much interruption, indeed, had been given to this advancement, by the intestine divisions arising from the disputed titles of the powerful families of York and Lancaster. But, in some respects, these very divisions proved ultimately advantageous. During the alternate successes of the contending parties, the power of the great barons was repressed; and the reduction of the aristocracy gave consequence to the middle classes, and made room for the establishment of a more efficient police, and a more equal administration of justice. Private property came thus to be more secure. The power of the Crown, which had become so formidable to the nobles, was exerted for the protection and advancement of the people,—such was the policy of the day,—and agriculture flourished, as soon as rival chiefs ceased to live with impunity on lawless plunder.

With the improvement of agriculture, arose the desire

for comforts and luxuries, and a taste was acquired for the productions of foreign climes. Hence the origin of that commercial enterprise, which, since the days of Elizabeth, has been the remarkable characteristic of the British nation. The spirit thus introduced was doubtless increased and directed by the industrious manufacturing and trading emigrants from the Low Countries, whom bigotry and oppression had driven to take shelter in a happier land; while the facilities which an insular situation afforded, rendered that spirit permanent.

The effects of commerce, in giving a stimulus to agriculture, were various and important. The increase of the population in towns, which was the immediate consequence of mercantile employments, opened new markets for agricultural produce; the variety of unknown luxuries and conveniences, which an intercourse with foreign lands introduced, excited a longing to possess; and this, again, urged forward the progress of industry; new views were cherished, and a wider field was presented for exertion; and so the excitement proceeded till commerce came to be rivalled by manufactures, and manufactures, again, reacted on commerce and agriculture; and thus a constant excitement was kept up, which has given to Britain that industrious and enlightened population, whose distinguishing characteristics are exhibited by a kindred nation in the western world, which is even now emulating its parent in power and prosperity.

This progress, so rapidly sketched, was greatly facilitated by various circumstances, which strikingly mark the hand of a favoring Providence. The emancipation of men's minds from the debasing yoke of Papal dominion; the spirit of freedom which sprang up with the Reformation, and to which the peculiarities attending an insular condition gave free scope; the union, first of the crowns and afterwards of the kingdoms, which put an end to intestine wars; the genius of the government; the enterprise of merchants and agriculturists; the inventive powers of a Watt, an Arkwright, and a Wedgewood, seconded by the resources of a population growing in intelligence, in wealth, and in activity;-all these circumstances, and

IV.

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X.

many more which might be enumerated, combined to raise Great Britain to the eminence in which she now stands.

With what salutary influence have Nature and Art been made to combine, and even sometimes to oppose each other, for the benefit of man! Let it be remembered, that, if the earth had yielded her treasures spontaneously, there would have been no call for the exercise of industry and talent, in providing the means of subsistence; and if, on the contrary, she had been much more niggardly of her gifts, the love of improvement would have been overcome by the difficulty of the enterprise. As it is, the coyness of Nature excites desire; while the facility with which she yields, when vigorously attacked, gives energy to hope, leading from one attainment to another, and, with every new instance of success, affording additional incitement to exertion. So wonderful is the discipline by which, under an overruling Providence, the powers of the human mind are called into action!

SIXTH WEEK-THURSDAY.

MODERN CONTINENTAL AGRICULTURE.

AGRICULTURE on the Continent is undergoing gradual but steady improvement; yet, notwithstanding the superior salubrity of the climate, and, in many districts, of the soil also, the produce, acre for acre, is much inferior to that of Britain. With regard to France, it appears, from a work of M. Chaptal,* that landed property, in that country, was formerly possessed by three classes of proprietors, usufructuaries, who had no interest in improving it; great proprietors, who lived at court, and paid no attention to their immense domains; and laborers, who had not the means of extensive farming. But the whole system was changed by the Revolution, and the number

*De l'Industrie Francaise."

of proprietors has been nearly doubled within the last thirty years. This change must eventually produce an immense improvement in the produce of that country, and has already given rise to very considerable effects. The present inferiority, however, in the cultivation of the soil, to that of Great Britain, is still very great, and the following result has been deduced from an examination of the subject, in an able article of the Edinburgh Review,' for 1819, namely, that the ratio of produce between England and France is as ten to nineteen, and from equal surfaces as five to four,-that is to say, an excess in favor of England from equal surfaces of twenty per cent. "Now," adds the reviewer, "this is the ratio not of value, but of absolute quantity, and must be entirely attributed to our superior agricultural skill, which, notwithstanding the disadvantages of climate, makes four superficial measures of English soil yield as much in quantity, as five of the same measures of French soil."

The proportion of waste grounds in France is smaller than in England; but the art of cultivation is less understood; its processes are less enlightened, and less of principle presides over its practices. The French peasant is particularly ignorant; and even in the higher order of cultivators, there is little agricultural spirit. The fertility of the soil has served as a bar to improvement, by making laborious methods of cultivation less necessary; and the serenity of the climate saves the farmer from the exercise of his ingenuity, in providing against the inclemency of the weather, and the uncertainty of the seasons. "They rest with confidence," says the reviewer, " upon the bounty of Nature, that has prepared for them every advantage except an incitement to thought, and a motive for provident reflection." There is much truth, undoubtedly, in this observation; but we must go deeper into the subject before we shall be able to account for the extraordinary disparity in question. It is by no means wonderful that the disadvantages of an ill-constituted state of society before the Revolution, and the commotions which attended and followed it, should have themselves operated powerfully in retarding improvement, and depressing cul

tivation, while it deeply influenced the moral character of the inhabitants.

The improvements which have taken place in French agriculture, within the last thirty years, are, according to M. Chaptal, principally, 1st, The cultivation of the potato, which the poor formerly disdained, but which has now found its way to the tables of the rich; 2d, The introduction of beet root; and 3d, The introduction of merinoes.

The only branch of agriculture, in which the French surpass the rest of Europe, is the cultivation of the vine; and to this, they owe the excellence of their wines. France is situated, with regard to the vine, in the position which is most favorable for the developement of industry; because its cultivation is attended with considerable difficulties, which call forth care and ingenuity, and which readily yield to these means when properly applied. The frosts of the spring, the rains and cold of the later season, and the accidents which threaten, in a climate not every year mild and steady enough to bring to full maturity a plant indigenous to warmer regions, stimulate the husbandman to search out the best methods of giving it vigor and protection. It is remarkable, that in Spain, Italy, and Hungary, where Nature is more genial, industry is less powerfully excited, and hence the produce is inferior; exemplifying, in a comparison between France and these countries, a species of superiority, which, as we have already seen, belongs to Britain, when compared with France in other kinds of cultivation. In both instances, we find reason to remark the wisdom of the providential provision, which has refused an abundant produce to man, except as the reward of skill and industry.

The only other continental country, the present agricultural state of which seems, in this rapid glance, to require any particular notice, is Italy. There are some circumstances, which render every thing regarding that country peculiarly attractive. Its ancient fame in arts and arms; its commanding influence during the middle ages, and not less its present feebleness and depression,all claim our attention and our interest. Nor can we fail,