 The Buzz of Wheels, Reels, and Looms; the Sound of Hammers, Files, and Forges; with the Shouts of Vintage, and the Songs of Harvest, would be heard in all Lands! I am quite astonished that a Work, so full of Benefit and Blessing to the Universe of Man, is not already commenced, advanced, and completed.
How comes this to pass, Mr.
Meekly?
Have You yet mentioned this Matter to Any of our Great Ones?
I have, my Lord, to Several. They confessed themselves convinced of the Utility of the Scheme; and, could Each of them be assured of engrossing to himself the most considerable Part of the Profits that would thereby accrue to the Public, the Work would instantly be begun, and would shortly be perfected. For, such is the Nature of unregenerate Man, that he grudges to Others any Portion of those Goods which he so eagerly craves and grapples after for himself. He would hedge in the Air, and make a Property of the Light. In Proportion as he sees his Neighbours in comparative Want, he exults in the Accumulation of imaginary Wealth. But, should he deem them, in a Measure, more prosperous than himself, he sighs at his inmost Soul, and grows wretched and repining.
I protest, cried the Earl, were I young, I would to Morrow Morning, at my own Cost, set about this great Work of national, or rather of universal Beneficence. But, my
Harry
here has Youth enough, with an Abundance of Benevolence also for the Purpose; and I recommend it to him as the greatest of Charities, a Charity to
Great Britain,
a Charity to Mankind. What would you think, my Lord, said
Harry,
of my expending your whole Drawer of Gold upon this Business? great as it is, it would be but a small Matter toward the Value of purchasing Peace upon Earth, and the Sons of Peace, upon Earth, will be likeliest to be the Sons of Love in Heaven. So that we cannot lay out our Money to better Advantage, in any Purchase for the Benefit of the Brothers of our own Frailty.
Alas, my Love, rejoined Mr.
Meekly,
though you were Master of Half the Wealth of the People of
England,
and were willing to employ the Whole for their Emolument in this Way, the People themselves would oppose you in every Step you should take. Some would be too proud to accept a Benefit from You. Others would tell you that no Man should dare to violate their Property with either Spade or Pick-Axe;
