Anything in the nature of incorporation is almost
impracticable amongst them. Hope, fear, alarm, jealousy, the
ephemerous tale that does its business and dies in a day- all these
things which are the reins and spurs by which leaders check or urge
the minds of followers are not easily employed, or hardly at all,
amongst scattered people. They assemble, they arm, they act with the
utmost difficulty and at the greatest charge. Their efforts, if ever
they can be commenced, cannot be sustained. They cannot proceed
systematically. If the country gentlemen attempt an influence
through the mere income of their property, what is it to that of those
who have ten times their income to sell, and who can ruin their
property by bringing their plunder to meet it at market? If the landed
man wishes to mortgage, he falls the value of his land and raises
the value of assignats. He augments the power of his enemy by the very
means he must take to contend with him. The country gentleman,
therefore, the officer by sea and land, the man of liberal views and
habits, attached to no profession, will be as completely excluded from
the government of his country as if he were legislatively
proscribed. It is obvious that in the towns all things which
conspire against the country gentleman combine in favor of the money
manager and director. In towns combination is natural.
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