289 The collone!l, who was the freest man in the world from concealing truth from his friend, especially when it was requir'd of him in love and plainnesse, not only told him what others thought of him, but name, nnd likewise levellers; he declares Levellers and .Assertors of I... iberty to be synonimou.ii terms: in a variety of places they are treated as the only sincere patriots and opposers of the selfish schemes of the grnndees of both parties, peculiarly the lnrlependents, and above all, of Cromwell; and the Engrossers and :Monopolizers of Oligarchy, desiring to make themselves a Corporation of Tyrants, are said chieHy to dread the opposition of these levellers; but the most remarkable passnge is p. 194.-" Reader, let me admonish thee that the Levellers, for so they are miscalled, only fOr endc-avour - vouring to level the cxorbit.:1.nt usurpations of the Coun sell of State and Councell of Officers, are much abused by some books lately printed and published in their names, much ditl'ering from their declared principles, tenents and practises, but forged by Cromwell and others to make the sheep (the People) betray the Dogs that faithfully guard them." The mode here and before taken by Col. Hutchinson of readily adopting a name which was intended him for a reproach, was certainly the best way of disarming it of its sting. The principles held by that party of the levellers which he suppo rted, none venture openly to oppose, but try to attach to them the absurd extreme of those he blames; the modern philosophers who have stated that all men have equal rights, but to unequal things, have not met with a much more candid construction. The abuses Col. Hutchinson complained of, especially that of the privilege of parliament, have since been a little diminished; but many families st ill continue to be defrauded and undone by the shelter wh ich members of parliament find from their debts, and which seems long likely to continue a defect in our legislature, and a reproach to our morals. Among a number of pamphlets published in Mr. Hutchinson's time, one was found at Owthorpe, setting forth the views and desires of these inferior levellers. They therein stated, that they were willing to acknowledge the proprietors of lands, and principally the lords of manors, ~s their elder brothers, and rightfully possessed of the chief inheritance; but prayed to be allowed to cultivate the wastes and commons for the ir support. \·Vhether the pennitting and even encouraging this under moderate reservations might not have been conducive to the public good, is a question which seems to have been decided in the affirmative by the practice of the French under the anc ient government: a great share of the lands in every parish lmving been thus granted out, and cultivated by small proprietors, who paid what was called cltanpm·ts, fieldings or tythes, being seven iq the hundred; the industry anJ population this produced is felt by all Europe. The abrogating these payments to the lords, was one of the grand iucitem"ents to, and crimes of, the revolution.
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