ving to itself the privilege of sanctioning them. But though
they appoint, they cannot dismiss. Their tenants also occupy their farms
for life, and are obliged to obey any summons to work on the part he
reserves for himself; but they are paid for their labour. In short, I
have seldom heard of any noblemen so innoxious.

Observing that the gardens round the count's estate were better
cultivated than any I had before seen, I was led to reflect on the
advantages which naturally accrue from the feudal tenures. The tenants
of the count are obliged to work at a stated price, in his grounds and
garden; and the instruction which they imperceptibly receive from the
head gardener tends to render them useful, and makes them, in the common
course of things, better husbandmen and gardeners on their own little
farms. Thus the great, who alone travel in this period of society, for
the observation of manners and customs made by sailors is very confined,
bring home improvement to promote their own comfort, which is gradually
spread abroad amongst the people, till they are stimulated to think for
themselves.

The bishops have not large revenues, and the priests are appointed by the
king before they come to them to be ordained. There is commonly some
little farm annexed to the parsonage, and the inhabitants subscribe
voluntarily, three times a year, in addition to the church fees, for the
support of the clergyman. The church lands were seized when Lutheranism
was introduced, the desire of obtaining them being probably the real
stimulus of reformation. The tithes, which are never required in kind,
are divided into three parts--one to the king, another to the incumbent,
and the third to repair the dilapidations of the parsonage. They do not
amount to much. And the stipend allowed to the different civil officers
is also too small, scarcely deserving to be termed an independence; that
of the custom-house officers is not sufficient to procure the necessaries
of life--no wonder, then, if necessity leads them to knavery. Much
public virtue cannot be expected till every employment, putting
perquisites out of the question, has a salary sufficient to reward
industry;--whilst none are so great as to permit the possessor to remain
idle. It is this want of proportion between profit and labour which
debases men, producing the sycophantic appellations of patron and client,
and that pernicious _esprit du corps_, proverbially vicious.

The f