there hung a very beautiful landscape by Claud Lorrain, juft within my view-my eyes were immediately fixed on it, as if to fcrutinize its merits. But whil I was admiring its various tinges, and the beauty of the fky, the threw out her leg a fecond time and gave me a moit confounded kick on the fhins; Pardon M. le Conte, fays the Jady, I hope I have not hurt you, but I was practifing a new pasreleve that Madam Heinel has just taught me.'

But we shall here leave Maitre Jacques rubbing his thins; a kick from a French-woman's toe being a juft rebuke at his affecting to bluth at feeing the colour of her garter; efpecially after the learned fpecimens above given of his fkill in etymology.

ART. VI. Rural Improvements: or, Effays on the mast Rational Methods of Improving Estates; accommodated to the Soil, Chmate, and Circumftances of England: in which it is clearly demonftrated, that the Landed Eftates of this Kingdom may with certainty, and at a very moderate Expence, be increased to double their prefent Value. The Method of doing which is clearly pointed out, and evinced from undeniable Principles, deduced from a Series of real Practice and Experience. Efay firft; fhewing the Improvements that refpect the Occupier. Effay fecond; the Improvements that refpect the Land-Owner. The whole interfperfed with a Variety of Interefting Reflections and Obfervations, en the Poor, Poor-Laws, high Prices of Provifions, Labour, Decay of Foreign Trade, Population, Corn-Trade, Bounty on Exportation; with rational and proper Measures refpecting the fame. Alf, Remarks on Meffrs. Harte, Tull, Miller, Chateauvieux, Compleat Englifo Farmer, Young, Peters, Wefton, Te. By a Land-Owner. 8vo. 5s. Dodfley.

As we fee no good reafon why men of real experience, in fo ufeful a fcience as that of agriculture, fhould conceal their names, which might give fanétion and authority to their publications, we are forry to fee fuch publications anonymous: as they thence run the risk of being confounded with the multiplicity of futile productions that of late have iffued from the prefs on this univerfally interefting fubject. So artful, indeed, are the fabricators of books, particularly on Hufbandry, that we will not pofitively undertake to fay whether the author of the work before us be really a Land-holder in terra-firma, or a mere literary fky-farmer, whofe eftate is in nubibus. We are much deceived, nevertheless, by the ftrain of good fenfe and fincerity that pervades the whole performance, if he be not what he profefles. But whether his knowledge be derived from his own actual experience, or deduced from that of others, it must be confeffed he displays it in a manner that does honour to

his

his understanding. In his Dedication he pays a merited compliment to the refpectable Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce; obferving at the fame time that there have been grounds for the reflections that have been occafionally caft on fome of their proceedings.

"The powerful influence of your undertaking has operated far and near; and fome, many it is feared, have flocked to your standard with a view to private emolument, rather than public welfare. It can therefore be no wonder, if in many inftances they have obftructed and perverted, rather than affitted and promoted the laudable defigns of the fociety; bafely endeavouring to acquire by falfhood, artifice and cunning, what was meant to be an encouragement in the pursuit of truth, and the honourable reward of merit."

In his Introduction the Author treats of Agriculture in a political and commercial view, as it affects the general interests of the nation; in doing which, befides correcting fome other writers, and throwing out fome judicious remarks that are peculiar to himself, he adopts the beft obfervations and opinions of refpectable authors who have treated the fame topics.-We fhall felect a fhort extract, as a specimen of his manner of reafoning and writing.

"As Agriculture is the most neceffary art, for that reafon it is the firft that employs the care of mankind, and it is, undoubtedly, the bufinefs of government to give encouragement to the practice of it, that its fubjects may be plentifully fed, and to fpare; that is, as far as may be neceffary to answer that purpose. This feldom happens to be neceffary, but in the infancy of focieties or ftates; or when fome great or uncommon calamity has, in a great measure, destroyed the country. In fuch cafes, every aid is neceffary for government to beftow, in the first place to encourage the growing itrength of the infant ftate, and in the fecond to repair the devastation of the calamitous incident, and reftore the bleffings of which it had stript the Lociety. But the cafe is evidently different in a kingdom, whose agriculture, arts, manufactures, and commerce, are upon an established and flourishing foundation: then the interpofition of government may, and frequently has done great mifchief. The true wifdom of government in fuch ftates is, to grant equal encouragement and protection to all its fubjects, in whatever branch they are employed; to harmonize and conciliate the whole, for in this lies the interest, ftrength, and fecurity of the whole.

6

This is finely illuftrated by a beautiful picture, drawn by the ingenious Author of Effays on Hufbandry, p. 12 and 13. Such are the effects of induftrious diligence,' fays he: and a nation thus employed, may be compared to a piece of tapestry work, where a certain texture of threads, and an union of colours, imperceptibly interwoven and blended together, reprefent agriculture, trade, commerce, and the mechanic arts. In mixing and harmonizing these confifts the great skill of the workman: and except due care be taken in this point, the richest materials will be weak, unpleafing, and ufelefs. Therefore though trade, commercial arts, and hufbandry,

fhould

fhould be all encouraged and fupported in wife governments, with fcrupulous attention, yet ftill the fcale may be allowed to preponderate in favour of agriculture: but that in fo flight a degree, as only to be perceived by a few perfons of moft difcerning judgment; for the people employed in manufactures, artizan fhip, &c. are ftarved in times unprofperous to their bufinefs, if they are not fupplied with the common neceflaries of life by the generous industry of the cultivator; nay, even in more profperous times, care must be taken to fupply our fellow-citizens with food convenient, and that food at a moderate price, for fear of being underfold, in the works of our labour, by other nations.'

"This picture elegantly, fully, and truly defcribes the proper measures of government refpecting the employment of its whole people; but though its truth and elegance is fuch as every one must admire, we find its ingenious author frequently abetting principles, that are contrary to it. Here the fcale is to preponderate in favour of agriculture, in an almost imperceptible manner, and the reafon affigned for its preponderating at all is, that our manufacturers, and artizans, may be well fupplied with food, and that food at fuch a moderate price, that their manufactures may not be underfold by other nations.

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"This reafoning is perfectly confiftent, its conclufions juft, and by no means to be difproved, or rendered doubtful. Yet we find this ingenious author in many parts of his book, recommending fuch encouragement to agriculture, as inevitably tends to weaken and discountenance our manufactures, &c. by rendering the price of food higher, and by that means putting it in the power of other nations to underfell us at every market we go to. The truth of this obfervation, I am perfuaded, will clearly appear to every impartial and unprejudiced reader, from the facts and reafoning upon them, which are to be found in the following fheets. • Agrarian laws' may do much in infant ftates, but exportation of grain, procured by a bounty, would, at this time of day, be a pernicious meafure in England. -Agriculture is, of all arts, the most neceffary; yet it is by no means what determines the physical strength of ftates.' Holland is a remarkable exception, as it abounds in plenty, riches, people, and ftrength, in a moft remarkable manner: nor is agriculture properly the fource of population, as is frequently afferted, tho' it is the fupport of it; but induftrious population, is the fource of agriculture and plenty. Plenty too frequently is the parent of vice, extravagance, and luxury; which being countenanced by the remiffness of government, and the bewitching powerful example of the great, that by degrees fpreads through every order of fociety, and by fimilar gradations, the laborious and induftrious become enervated and contaminated. No wonder then they feek for eafe, where 'tis to be found in the fervile employment of the great. Thus the country becomes depopulated, and, of courfe, agriculture neglected. So that a declining flate of agriculture, is not the caufe of depopulation, but is the effect of it: the caufe is of a very different and more malignant nature. Men once eftablished in peace and plenty would never fly from it, if falle policy, corrupt manners, and evil example, did not

tempt

tempt them to it. While they remain uncorrupted, they conftitutes they, as it were, create plenty; but being feduced, they fly from peace and liberty; and put on the fordid chains of flavery and mifery. Keep your people frugal and induftrious, nothing can then prevent their being populous; agriculture flourishing, and art and manufactures thriving and becoming profperous. Without frugality and industry, all encouragement by bounties, or otherwife, are inef fectual and loft, and with them they ftand in need of none: preferve the virtue and industry of your people, and they will protect and provide for you. The wealth and indigence of a nation, takes its decifive turn' from the manners of the inhabitants, and the earth is well or ill cultivated in proportion thereto. Wealth and indigence are not governed by good or bad cultivation of the earth as its caufe ; but wealth and indigence, good and ill cultivation will ever be in proportion to the laborious industry of the people: they are effects equally depending upon the fame caufe, not one produced by the other, but like ftreams arifing from the fame fountain, divided into different currents. If the fountain is weakened or destroyed, the Streams of courfe are diminished, and at length are dried up and disappear."

Our author proceeds to many other judicious reprehenfions of principles laid down by the fame writer. The largest abstract, we could fpare room for, of the work itself would be little more than a bare repetition of the table of contents; the author having treated of almoft the whole variety of hufbandry concerns and bufinefs. We fhall felect only one chapter, as a specimen of the reft.

"It has long been a queftion among the farmers, whether it is moft profitable to plough with horfes or oxen. Α very voluminous writer, in a late publication, according to his ufual grace of pofitiveness; decides clearly in favour of oxen, and this upon proofs pretended to be drawn from experiments: but this, like the rest of his reafoning, appears to me very fallacious, and tends to mislead his reader, instead of informing him. His arguments are founded on the trite popular opinions of thofe who prefer oxen to horfes; but, as to himself, he appears to know very little of the ncer.

"That oxen are in fome cafes, and under fome circumstances, preferable to horfes I allow; but that they are generally more useful or more profitable I deny. I kept eighteen or twenty oxen for the plough two or three years, and have fourteen now I kept from ten to fourteen plough horfes at the fame time, and do ftill. I have had conftant opportunities of making comparifons between the ufe of each, and I am well fatisfied horfes are in general greatly preferable, both in refpect to convenience and profit.

"It is alledged in favour of oxen, that they coft lefs money, that they are kept at lefs expence, their harness and tips or hoes coft far less than horfes; and if they are fick, lame, or old, they may be fatted and fold, whereas horfes under like circumftances are worth little. I readily allow there is fome truth in thefe obfervations, yet deny they prove what they are produced for. In ox countries th e ufual practice is to buy them in at about three years old, and the VOL, II.

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cost from four pounds ten fhillings to fix pounds a piece; they ufually work them three or four years, and then fell them from fix pounds to ten pounds each. They do not ufually keep them longer than until they are about feven years old, because they would after that time decrease in value, befides, they have young ones to fucceed them. Upon this plan they get the labour of the ox for his keep, and from thirty fhillings to four pounds advance in price above the first colt. This is the cafe when all happens well: but notwithstanding the common opinion, they must be taken care of, or they will not fetch a profit, many would be loft, and indeed it is not uncommon for them to die, notwithstanding all the care that can be taken.

"The farmers who plough with horfes, ufually buy them in at two or three years old, and work them until they are five, fix, or feven. They are bought in at from ten or twelve to eighteen or twenty pounds a colt, and fold out from fixteen to thirty guineas a horfe, and fometimes more; in this way the farmer gets the labour for the keep, and from fix to ten guineas in his advance of price.

"A plough of oxen generally confift of fix, and in ox countries when they fay an ox plough, or a plough of oxen, they do not mean the plough but fix oxen, and that is the number they generally ufe if the land is pretty ftrong. I very frequently have oxen and horses at work in the fame field; oxen are very flow if compared with horfes, the latter will plough as much land in three days as the former in four, and frequently too when no more than two horfes are put against fix oxen: this I have often remarked, and upon obferving it to the ploughmen, they acknowledged it to be the cafe in general. However, I am very certain that two horfes will plough more land than four oxen, take the whole year through; and though they fel dom have any corn excepting in the fpring when they work very hard, yet the keeping of four oxen will certainly be more expence than keeping two hories. There are however fome cafes where oxen are very useful. If a man has a large quantity of ftiff heavy land to plough, oxen are very fit for fuch a jobb; for though they are flow, they are fieady, and by their weight against the yoke, they drag the plough along leady though gently. In hilly countries where land is often ploughed along the fide of a hill, oxen in general can get along better than horfes; but thefe are trifling advantages if compared with the great ufefulness of horfes, which may be employed in fo many more useful works than oxen can. Such as going to dung cart, fetching manure of all forts, carrying coin to market; in fhort, they are useful for every kind of hufbandry work; whereas oxen are fo only in part, and in nothing fo perfect, convenient, or tractable as horfes.

"From hence it is plain the ufe of horfes in general is much more profitable than oxen. In the first place, they yield three times the advantage when they are fold off. In the fecond place, half the number of norfes at molt as of oxen will do the fame labour; and laitly, they are useful and fit for every purpose; which oxen are not. "But there is another method of doing this bufinefs, which I take to be more profitable than either of the above, which I have practifed these two years and am going on the third. My scheme is

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