Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-04-12

the monasees the monks prscsed the different mechanical
arts The ronnnith the joiner, and the goldsmith were
raised by their utility high degree Of consequence among
their brethren their professions were ennobed by the abbos
and bishops who occasionally exercised Them and these dis
tncons contributed to excite emulation and to accelerate inn
provement. "
While the mechanic trades thus houshed under the PSI
tronace of the richer ecclesascs the important pro
sion Of agriculture acquired due share Of their atenio
The estates Of the lay propetors cultivated by the
pusoy labor Of bondmen and theowas or slaves put every
monastery greater number Of the was devoted
the occupation Of husand and the superior cultivation
Of their farms quickly demonstrated the difference between III
industry of those who worked through motives Of DIV and
Of those whose only object the loss their hol
ings, the lash of the surveyor Of the lands bestowed on
the monks, considerable portion originally wild ana un
cultivated, surrounded by Marshes covered with forests
They preferred such situations for the sake Of retirement and
contemplation and they Of less value they were
more freely bestowed by their benefacos But every obstacle
o. nature and soil was subdued by the unweaed industry
he MONKS !he forests cleared the waters dru. ~,
roads opened bridges erected and the waste lands 70
Plentiful harvess waved the coast Of Nor,nmb;a 80
luxunant meadows started from the fens Of the Cv; %
cusa'oh o. several counties in England l. original
owing 70 ne abors OF the monks who nj ,his earv J
were the parents Of agriculture well !. of The as
Here we have just and wel-,ye;ghaa .,,o,,;. .,k
claims Of the AngloSaxon writers on 81, r ''
tThe reader who has been tanah, u 49,. !.
OF the middle ages will perhaps conceive that hava s
to our ancestors more than they justly deserved H., 800
mating the respective merits Of writers who have E = az
erent tines would he unfair to Judge ali by he
ard we compare the literary characters II the seventh M
eighth centuries with those al much later periods hs d;s ~
between them will IN several respects appear ~
their claims to our applause will converge me nesr,v ),
point when we reflect that the latter have neen ~
collective wisdom and experience s successive rencaors
whereas the former were aps Just emerging from state q
ignorance and ashara9 The obstacles which he Saron
students had 70 overcome numerous aud formidable md
men industry and perseverance demand our admiration bev
performed whatever WIS possible for men in their circ
stances 70 perorm They collected every relic Of ancient lite
raue hey undertook the most peous and laborous Jour
neys IN pursuit OF knowedge they studied every speces az
learning OF which they could discover the rudments n
ana there Is reason to believe tina! they possessed most Il he
sciences as perfectly as they were known y the learned y any
part Of inc Wss when he foeisers made themselves mas
ers o. britain In purity and elegance Of yle thew were nm
doubleday deficient but taste had been on the decline from h
age OF Augustus and had gradually sunk with the prospev
OF the empire Tho Latin writings of the fourth and 0h cen
uries shaw that the language of Rome was no longer he l
guage OF Cicero and Virgil and lis dessoration was rap
accelerated by the conquess NJ the pohetn nations who
aduiteraed it BY the simxwe Of barball idoms This
detect them via appear to the candid critic subject Of re-
greet rather than OF blame and when he observes the SAXON
writers often equal, and sometimes SUPERIOR to some VIVA
lived before the dismembement of the empire instead of e
pislng, ne will approve and value their exertiens 1