in all places was the fame. A fage remark the reader will fay, but I can eafily remember to have heard it before.

There was, however, one clafs of men in that nation, whofe conftitution as a body, and many of whofe characters and practices were of the most extraordinary kind, viz. the SERVANTS. Their ftate and conduct, at the time which fell under his own obfervation, were fo fingular that they excited his curiofity; and induced him to enquire with great care into their condition, as far back as history could trace them. This is what I am now to communicate to the publick, being willing that my book fhould be buried in oblivion, or burned with difgrace, if a story can be produced equal or even fimilar to it in any other age or country.

redt ai asm loétníɔ sno ravewod ww madi to vasm be's „zbod s as montumfivros slogy mo Of the original State of the Servants, and their Erec 2Ttion tion into a Corporation rishT sahau Iỳ bidw amit edt to fabion lyts 2752 N very early times, of which there are still

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some accounts handed down by tradition, the Servants were in a state not much different from what they are at prefent among us. It does not appear that ever they y were 1 flaves, or were treated with exceffive rigour or severity. They were trained up in fome acquaintance with, and ap plied themselves to fuch work as they feemed to be fitted for by the turn of their minds, and the ftrength or agility of their bodies. They were chofen or hired by every family as they pleafed, made a voluntary agreement, and were employed in doing what was neceffary of every kind. They were paid as they and the family could agree, eating of their own labours, and were cherished and careffed in proportion as they deserved it. In cases of remarkable neglect disobedience or misbehaviour they were turned away. This, indeed, happened but seldom, for they were in general honest, fober and industrious. They had the interest of their masters at heart, nay, fo remarkable were fome of them in these times for fidelity, that (it is reported) they seemed to have

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as much or more pleasure in doing their work, as in receiving their wages.

But it happened, fome ages ago, that one of their princes was faved from a formidable confpiracy against his life and crown, just upon the point of execution, by the fidelity and courage or a fervant. The prince was a man of warm heart, and an uncommonly generous difpofition. Not content with bountifully rewarding his benefactor by kindness to himfelf and family, he conceiv ed a defign of perpetuating the memory of the fact, and fhewing his gratitude by doing fomething in favour of the whole order or body of For this purpofe, being poffeft of abfolute power, after confulting upon it for fome time, he eftablished the following regulations, not doubting that they would be highly beneficial to his fubjects in general, as well as the fervants in particular.

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1. It was ordered that the wages of fervants. should be confiderably augmented, and fixed to a certain rate in all the king's dominions. This was evidently dictated by compaffion. He observed that it was hard and unequal, that those who were who promoted the intereft of their masters fo much, fhould notwithstanding live fo poorly; that they should have nothing but the coarfeft diet, and no more money than was barely neceffary to purchase the meaneft cloathing. He used when the matter was under deliberation, to rea

hantly employed in labour,

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fon thus; For my part I think a king ought to have the heart of a man; I confider the fervants as my fellow creatures, and am defirous, that they fhould tafte fome of thofe pleasures, • and delicacies of life, which they contribute fo largely to procure for the accommodation of others'.

He alfo obferved that intereft as well as compaffion dictated the fame thing; that keeping them poor would entirely difpirit them, and make them do their duty in the most careless and flothful manner, by which their masters must receive manifest prejudice. On the other hand, a good and fecure provifion would give them great vigour and alacrity. He ventured to foretel, that a third part increase of their salary would increase their work in a far greater proportion, fo that the publick would be gainers by this feeming burden; besides that fuch a fixed provision would free them from all temptation to pilfering and ftealing, and fo be an improvement upon their honefty as well as activity, it wohira

"Another advantage he proposed to reap by this measure was, increafing the number of fervants. It was well enough remembered that, at no very diftant period, the kingdom had fuffered not a liitle from the fcarcity of fervants; fo that the land lay uncultivated, and many branches of bufinefs neglected. Now it was impoffible to avoid feeing that this measure must increase the num ber of fervants, by inducing them to come into

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the kingdom from the most diftant places, as well as encouraging them to marry and propagate, and blefs their country with a multitude of ufeful hands.

Nay, he even called in the aid of luxury to enforce his argument, alledging, that keeping the fervants poor, muft make them fordid and nafty, so that it would be odious to people of taste and elegance to have them about their perfons, or even to fee them in their houfes. But by carrying the propofed defign into execution, he faid, he hoped to fee the fervants in general genteel, well dreffed, well behaved, and converfible men. That this must be an advantage in particular to families in the country, who were confiderably distant from one another, and, in certain seasons of the year, could have very little intercourfe: nay even, that in cities and places of greater refort, it would be better, in many respects, to have opportunities of converfation within doors, than to be always obliged to feek fociety abroad.

In fhort, he fupposed that the regulation now established would put an entire period to all the murmurings and complaints of fervants, and their defire of shifting from one family to another, which was a fource of daily inconveniences. They must be touched, fays he, with a fenfe of gratitude for fo unexpected and fo happy a change in their fituation, and will therefore be thoroughly content and never ask for more.'

2. Having the publie good all along at heart,

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