ABSTRACT
The changes in rural life and manners, which have taken place in this country, in the course of a few years, furnish ample matter for reflection and regret. The spirit of avarice and monopoly has possessed almost all ranks and degrees of people, and appears to have rendered the heart callous to the feelings of humanity. The drift of this little attempt is principally designed, (without adverting to political argument,) to shadow forth the evils arising to the peasantry of this country, from the system of engrossing small farms, and driving the hereditary occupiers to the necessity of embracing a maritime or military life for support, or being reduced to the most abject state of dependence, and submitting to the galling hardship of becoming servants on the spot where they once had been masters.
