AGRICULTURE. QT

way, as not to recover for ages a fward equal to that which was originally upon it. It may be caft up and funk into pits: it may be converted into wet and rotten marfhes, by cafual obftruc- tions being thrown in the way of the water, which no one finds it his intereft to remove: it may, in fhort, while a common, be abufed ina thoufand ways, by reafon of the obftinacy, indo- lence, or caprice of individuals; but it never can be benefited by the induftry of man: and not only may this be done, but thefe things actually are done, in innumerable inftances, in this land of freedom; fo that to a perfon who contemplates the lofs that the nation mutt fuftain by thefe de- plorable abufes, nothing can afford a more me- lancholy train of refleétions, than that which the frequent recurrence of thofe difgufting commons fug get to his mind, as he travels over that, other- wife delightful, country of England.

When he ftops to enquire more minutely into the effets of this kind of property, upon the morals and domeftic economy of the individuals who claim a right to thefe commons; he only finds additional caufes for regret. He frequently difcovers, that the quiet and-induftrious culti« vator, having a nght upon a common, is obliged

to abandon that right, becaute of the. harraff-