DIGITISED MANUSCRIPTS

opinion ; the favourable influences under which this increase occurred, and the development of the intelli- gence of the people themselves. Inrernat Economy.—At the accession of James II. in 1685, the population of England and Scotland combined amounted to between six and seven mil- lions, whereas now it amounts to thirty millions. The great increase in the population has naturally been attended with a corresponding increase in the power of the masses. Moreover, owing to the con- ditions of the country as it was then, the people had not the power or the means of uniting and expressing their views with the force and effect they do now- a-days. Nor were they in a condition to enforce their opinions. In 1685 half the country consisted of moorland, forest and fen. The system of agricul- ture was of the rudest description, and the rotation of crops, though known, was little applied. No means were known of preserving cattle during the winter, and when October came round half the stock had to be slaughtered and salted. The ap- pliances of the farm were so primitive, and ploughs and harrows so inefficient, that the clods they left behind had to be broken up with a heavy instrument called a beetle. The average weight of a sheep was then 28lbs.; it is now 100lbs.: that of an ox was then 370 lbs. ; it is now 1000 lbs. The price