54 APPENDIX.
No. 2.
Sussex and Kent.
To a reflecting mind there cannot be a better oppor-
tunity for comparing the wonderful gifts of the Creator,
with the misuse made of them by the weak and corrupt
creature, than to view the present state of two of the
most distinguished Counties in this Island, Kent and
Sussex. Here you see the poor miserable and dis-
contented for want of work, in the midst of thousands
of acres given by Providence for their employment and
support. Sorry am I to observe, that this abuse of
the bounty of Providence cannot be altogether attributed
to neglect, or to our unwise and imprudent regulations
for the maintenance of the poor; I fear that it may
be traced to other causes—The griping hand of avarice
is too conspicuous—The increase of a rental is more
the object of managers of large estates than the relief
and employment of the poor—That odious system of
quit-rents is in full operation here, and the granting
them even at a low rent, tends to augment the rental
of the grantor, but affords little relief to the poor man,
to whom it is so granted. It is well known that in the
County of Sussex, there is an immense quantity of
waste land of little or no use, but there are persons in
other Counties besides Sussex, who have more grati-
fication in feasting their eyes on a fine prospect, or
enjoying their selfish amusements on fertile land, than
in seeing it converted to the employment, provision
and comfort of their suffering and distressed fellow