and spare each
other. Each felt the consequences of the neglect of these social duties,
in immediate, and often irreparable injury to himself. It was this
experienced necessity of mutual forbearance and support, which was the
mainspring of social improvement during the feudal ages, and enabled
society so quickly to repair the chasm produced by the dreadful political
evils to which it was occasionally exposed. Its spring of improvement and
happiness was within--its evils were without. We often read, in the annals
of those times, of the unbounded plunder and devastation exercised by
armed violence upon pacific industry, and the great fortunes sometimes
amassed by the robber chivalry, by such predatory incursions.--That is the
most decisive proof of the presence of political, and the absence of
social evils. The people must have been previously protected and
prosperous, or they could not have been worth plundering. The annals of
these times will transmit no account of fortunes made by pillaging or
taxing the cotters of Ireland, the weavers of Paisley, or the
cotton-piecers of Manchester.

What rendered the feudal system in the end insupportable, was the change
of manners, strengthening of government, and cessation of private wars,
which left its evils, and took away its blessings. When the baron lived in
rude plenty on his estate, surrounded by his followers, respected by his
vassals, feared by his neighbours, his presence was a benefit, his
protection a blessing. But when the central government had acquired such
strength as to have stopped private warfare; when standing armies had come
to supersede the tumultuary feudal array, and the thirst for luxury or
office had attracted the nobles to the capital, these blessings were at an
end. The advantages of the feudal system had ceased with the removal of
the evils it went so far to alleviate; its burdens and restrictions
remained, and were felt as an insupportable restraint, without any
corresponding benefit on the rising industry of the people. The seigneur
no longer was seen either at the chateau or in the village. In his stead
the bailiff made half-yearly visits to exact the rent or feudal services
from vassals, whose prosperity had ceased to be any object either of
interest or solicitude to their lord. Whether they were rich or poor,
happy or miserable, contented or repining, was immaterial to him after he
had ceased to reside in his castle, and to be protected by his armed