Page:The Effects of Civilisation on the People in European States.djvu/68

46 the Germans on the Roman provinces, did not happen, the appropriation of portions of land to individuals took place probably before any historians arose to record it. In what manner, and on what principles this was done. Dr. Robertson, as we have before seen, thinks cannot now be determined with any certainty. From the earliest accounts that are authentic, we find the land, in large tracts, in the hands of great allodial lords, and other great proprietors, throughout great part of Europe. As this happened long before there was any commerce, or any other means by which large estates are sometimes acquired in our times, they must, most probably, have had their rise in a manner somewhat like the following. Long after men were first placed in the world, the land, no doubt, was common to all, as it is at this day to the inhabitants of many parts of the world, North America, Tartary, &c., where the people, notwithstanding, are very far from being barbarous or savage. In this situation of things, some daring spirits arose, and seized certain parts to themselves, and their conduct was imitated by others. This, probably, must be the original foundation of exclusive property in land; for what other can possibly be supposed? The land being in the first instance common, no person could have any exclusive right to any part of it, except we can