The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

a1/2 SERMONS.dwindle to ruin. Formerly, in a dear year, theywere kept alive by the cheapnefs of fuel j but by themonopoly of coal that hath been lately formed, theprice of tliat commodity is nc.irly doubled, and thepoor difheffed: And if the price of grain fhall alforile, and continue high, the manufadlurers will wdthdrr:w,and go where grain is cheap •, and then thci-emay. be bread enough, but fcv/ to buy or eat it. Manufactureshave greatly contributed to raife the valueof land ; and the landholders, ignorantly to befure, feem to aim at the ruin of manufa6lures *, likethe viper, which, they fay, is no fooner hatched andfees the light, but it turns ai)Out and devours its mother.2. The fliort leafes which landlords grant are anothermeans of raifing the rent of land.Thefe leafes'are mighty difcouragement to the indullriousfarmer, ami the almoft. never failing m.eans of injuringand opprefiing him. When he hath, with forelabour and expence, brought his ground into goodheart, and the leafe is near expiring, the tafk-mafterdemands a highcx^ rent from him, which he mufi:either give or be gone. No- allowance will- be madehim ; if he comes not up to what is demanded, fomeof his neighbours will ; the highefl offer will be welcometo the inhuman talk-malter, and the laboriousfivilful farmer muft lofe the expelled fruits of his la^hour.3. It oftentimes happens, that, when a tenant isr'lriving in his farm, the" mafter looks upon himwith an evil eye, and falls upon forae pretence to