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ftop. 15 He therefore cried out against it with all his might. He fent out a proclamation, in which he affirmed, that it ftruck against the very being of Servants, and that the defign was no lefs than to exterminate them from the face of the earth. He reprefented it as the most unnatural thing that ever was heard of. That there had been fometimes confpiracies of fervants against their mafters, but a joint confpiracy of masters againft their own fervants, and of fervants against their fellow-fervants, was abfolutely without precedent. He concluded with a folemn execration, devoting all who fhould continue in this rebellion to com pleat and irretrievable ruinaitist sartão m.

The confequence of this was a civil war in the kingdom. Many battles were fought, in which there was a dreadful flaughter on both fides, and multitudes taken prifoners, who were none of them used very well. The Emperor indeed, and his court, had a manifeft advantage, by long practice, in devising the most exquifite methods of revenge and cruelty. But, to fhorten my narrative, after many violent and bloody disputes, as well as useless conferences, dat daft fome provinces agreed to keep the old way, and fome eftablished the new. Particularly, in one northern province there was, at the time of the change, a moft excellent method and order established with regard to the Servants. They not only renounced the authority of the Emperor; but all overseers, archoverfeers, auditors, controllers, accountants,

keepers

keepers of records and other unneceffary officers were banifhed at once: and none fuffered to continue but useful working Servants. The fpeculative drones were expelled, and their lands given to persons of rank and worth in the province. That regulation was abolished, as extremely pernicious, which permitted lords or great men to name fervants to others, for that. every family chose such as best pleased themfelves, and fuch as were well qualified for the bufinefs for which they were hired. The exorbitant increase of their wages was reduced, as well as all extravagant perquifites, and only a moderate provifion continued and fettled.c

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Some account of the Reformed Establishment, in a Northern Province and the happy effects that followed upon its for a time.

sa time. It begins however

again to degenerate.211791

rit strong fisa 36 dout it.

HE people of this province were now so ful

TH

ly convinced of the terrible conlequences of the late ufurpation, that they refolved to use all poffible precautions, to prevent the return of corruption for the future.In this the fervants themselves feemed to concur very heartily, and were, apparently, animated with a warm zeal against the worthlefs part of their own order. Many excellent rules were laid down in the meetings of the corporation. They were ordered under the fevereft penalties to apply themselves diligently to their business; to live fober, grave and mortified lives; to forbear all ranting, junketing and gaming. They were forbid all travelling abroad, or wandering from their families, but upon urgent occafions, and with leave afked and given. If any were convicted of dishonesty, lazinefs, or disobedience, they were not only difmiffed, but stript of their cloathes, branded in their foreheads, and declared utterly incapable of ever being again employed.

The

The greatest strictness imaginable was used in trying them, as to their fufficiency in every branch of bufinefs for which they were hired; and very diligent enquiry made into their character for honefty and fincerity. When they were introduced to any family, they weretaken folemnly bound by a tremendous oath, to have the good of the family always at heart, and that they should never do any thing, directly or indirectly, that might tend to its prejudice. But above all, there was a ftrict law made, and declared to be unalterable, that no Servant fhould be forced upon any family against their will. In order to fecure, in the moft effectual manner, the execution of these laws, it was refolved, that, in the government of the corporation, there fhould be joined with the Servants certain perfons of the most prudent fort from the families. Thefe were calle helpers, they had no falaries, but being naturally a fort of reprefentatives of the people, it was expected they would univerfally support their intereft.

15.

For a long time this province was exceedingly happy in their reformed conftitution. The moft perfect harmony fubfifted between mafters and fervants. The work of the fervants feemed to be a pleasure to them, and, on the other hand, the members of every family feemed to vie with one another who fhould treat their fervants with the greatest tenderness and humanity. Once or twice there was an attempt made to introduce overfcers and archoverfeers among them, from a neighbouring

neighbouring province which had retained these officers, tho' they would not fuffer them to be fubject to the Emperor. However, the people fhowing a proper fpirit, they were still thrown out. All this time matters went on exceeding well, the fields were affiduoufly cultivated, and brought every year immense crops; and plenty as well as harmony was every where to be seen.

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But alas, after a long feafon of peace and quiet, things began to alter for the worse. Ambition, a varice and luxury, would not be kept out by the banishment of the old titles. They found a way of introducing themselves, under cover of the form that then prevailed, without any apparent change. The most important step towards bringing this about, was re-eftablishing the law which impowered great men to nominate Servants to inferior families. This was fubmitted to the more easily, because they only nominated them. to the falary, provided that the corporation should think proper to introduce them to the family. For this purpose, the most facred laws required an invitation from the family itself. But the young Servants foon began to find, that it was far easier for many of them to play the parafite or fycophant about great men's houfes, that they night procure a writ of nomination, than to acquire a good reputation for diligence in their work. That was the road, therefore, in which the greatest part of them travelled to preferment. F f

Many

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