Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-03-01
MISCELLANEOUS.
ENGLAND AS SHE WAS
N the Serenteenh Century compared ,cih her
PRESENT CONDITION.

In respect it must be admitted that the progress of
civilization has diminished the physical comforts Of por
ton Of The poorest class 1t has already been mentioned
that before the Revolution. many thousands Of square
miles, inclosed and cultivated We're marsh forest
and heath. Ofthis wild land much was by law COM
mon, and much Of what was not common by law was
worth little that the propetors suffered it to be COM
mon in fact.
In such tract squatters and trespassers were tolera
led to an extent now unknown. The peasant who dwelt
there could, at little no charge procure occasionally
paatab addition to his hard fare and provide him
self with fuel for the winter. He kept flock of geese
on what Is now an orchard rich with apple bJssoms-
lie shared wild fowl on the fen which has long since
been drained and divided into corn fields and turnps-
lie cut turf among the urze bushes the moor which
Is now meadow bright with clover and renowned for
butter and cheese The progress Of agriculture ana the
Increase Of population necessarily deprived him of these
privileges But against this advantage long list of dis
advantages is 10 be set off
Of the blessings which civilization and philosophy bring
with Them large portion Is common 10 all ranks, and
would If Withdrawn, be missed painfully by The la
bofer as BY the peer The market place which The rus
tic reach with his cart in an hour was a hun
bred and sixty years ago, days journey from him.
The street which affords TO the artisan during the
whole night, secure, convenient and brilliantly
lighted walk, was, hundred and sixty years ago. SO
dark after sunset, that he would have been able to
see his band; i'll paved that he would have run con-
slant risk Of breaking his neck and ill watched that lie
would have been In Imminent danger of being knocked
down and piundeEed of his small earnings.
Every brlcklayer who falls from 4 scahold, every
sweeper OF crossing who Is run by carriage,
may have his wounds dressed and his limbs set with
Skill such as, hundred and sixty years ago, all the
wealth of great lord like Ormond or of merchant
prince like Clayton, could not have purchased. Some
rghtiu diseases have been expated by science, and
Some have been banlshed by police.
The term Of human life has been leng hened over the
v mole kingdom, aud especially in the towns.
The year 1858 was not accounted sckly yet in the
year 1859 more than one IN twentythree Of The inhab
ants of the capital died At present only one lnhabant
of the capital IN forty dies annually.
he difference In saubrlty between the London of the
nineteenth century and the London of The seventeenth
century very far greater than the difference between
London In an ordinary and London in the chol-
Still more important is the benefit which all orders Of
society, and especially the lower ORDERS have derived
from the modifying influence Of civilization on the ma
tonal character The ground work of that character
has indeed been the through many generations in
the sense which the ground work of The character of
az Individual may be said 10 be the same when he is
rude and thoughtess school boy and when he refined
and accomplished man. 1t is pleasing to reflect that the
public mind OF Eng land has soened while il has ripened
and that we have. IN the of age become not
only wiser, but also kinder people There scarce
~ page Of the history ghter literature of the seven
ieenh century which dues contain proof that our
ancestors We're less humane than their poseriiy. The
discipline OF workshops of school, of private families
though moi more efficient than at present. was Infinitely
harsher Masters, well born and Bred Were in the hab
II Of beailng 'her servants. Pedasognes knew no way