SIX MONTHS TOUR

THROUGH THE

NORTH of ENGLAND.

CONTAINING,

An Account of the prefent State of Agriculture,

Manufactures and Population, in feveral

Counties of this Kingdom.

particularly,

I. The Nature, Value, and Rental
of the Soil.

II. The Size of Farms, with Ac-
counts of their Stock, Products,
Population, and various Methods
of Culture.

III. The \J(e, Expence, and Profit
of feveral Sorts of Manure.

IV. The Breed of Cattle, and the
refpeclive Profits attending them

V. The State of the Wafte LarJs
which might and ought to be
cultivated.

VI. The Condition and Number
of ihe Poor, with their Ratesi
Earnings, &c.

VII. The Prices of Labour and
Provifions, and the Proportion
between them.

VIII. The Regifter of many cu-
rious and ufeful Experiments in
Agriculture, and general Prac-
tices in Rural Oeconomics, com-
municated by feveral of the No-
bility, Gentry, & c. &c.

INTERSPERSED

With Defcriptions of the Seats of the Nobility and Gentry;
and other remarkable Objects : llluftrated with Copper Plates of
fuch Implements of Hufhandry, as deferve to be generally known ;
and Views of fome picturefque Scenes, which occurred in the Courfe
of the Journey.

La feule voie de fe procurer un corps complet d'agriculture feroit, fans
doute, ds raffiinbler les diverfes obfervations qu'auroient fourni dans
chaque province. Encvciopehii,

• IN FOUR VOLUMES.
The SECOND EDITION, correaed and enlarged.
V O L. I.

LONDON,

Printed for W. Strahan; W. Nicoll, N° 51, in St.

Paul's Church- Yard ; T. Cadell, in the Strand ;

B.Collins, acSalifbury; and J. Balfovr, at

Edinburgh.

MDCCLXaI.

62

TO

SUCH OF THE NOBILITY, ] /

GENTLEMEN, FARMERS,

AND OTHERS,

AS WERE PLEASED TO GIVE

INTELLIGENCE TO THE AUTHOR,

DURING THE COURSE OF THIS TOUR;
THIS REGISTER OF IT IS INSCRIBED.

BY THEIR OBLIGED,

MOST OBEDIENT, AND
DEVOTES SERVANT,

NOBTH MIMS,

HEUTFORDSHIRF,

OCT. I, I760.

ARTHUR YOUNG,
a 2

CONTENTS

OF THE

FIRST VOLUME

LETTER L

KjTATE of hujbandry from North Mims to
Stamford. \ Mr. ^earank'j experi-
ments on burnet at Hatfield. Earl of

ButeV feat at Luton. — Duke of Bedford's
at Wooburn. Mr. BramftoneV expe-
riments on grajfes. Sandy GardenerV

culture of carrots, &c. Duke 0/*Man-

chefter'-ry^Ytf at Kimbolton. Page i to 66.

LETTER II.

State of hujbandry from Stamford to Rother-

ham. Earl of Exeter's feat at Burgh*-

ley. Mr. Siffon o/Cafterton's experi-
ments on burnet. Duke of Ancafter'j

7 ai

13 CONTENTS.

at Grimfthorpe. Mr. Middlemore'-r

experiments at Grantham on cabbages,

lucerne, &c. Duke of Rutland'^ at

Bel voir. Mr. Lyfter'j experiments at

Bawtrey, on cabbages, carrots, lucerne,

&c. Mr. Wharton^ experiments at

Doncafter on cabbages, potatoes, carrots,
&c. P. 66 to 115.

LETTER III.

Hit /band ry from Rotherham to Beverley. —

Manufactures at Rotherham. Mr.

Tucker \f experiments at Rotherham on

cabbages, &c Beautiful landfcape. —

Manufactures at Sheffield. Earl of

Strafford's at Wentworth Caftle.

Manufactures at Wakefield and Leeds. —
To-wn 0/* Beverley. P. 115 to 150.

LETTER IV.

Agriculture from Beverley to Wentworth

Houfe. Sir George MethamV at

Cave. Mr, Watfbn'-f fJjrubbery at

Cottingham. Town of Hull. — Mr.

Elleker'j experiments on cabbages, &c.
Remarks on the high prices of labour

in the Eaft Riding. City o/'York.

Minjler.

CONTENTS. iii

Minfier. — Affembly room. — Mifs Morret'j

beautiful ivork. Dr. Hunter^ experi-

ments. ■ Drill plough. Propofed

improvement sat Stillingfleet. — Mr. Eller-
ker'i feat at Rifby. — Propofed improve-
ments in the Eaft Riding. — Inclofing.-—
Remarkable moors at Thorne.

P. 150 to 245.

LETTER V.

Defer ipiion of Wentworth Houfe, the Mar-
quis of RcckinghamV. Park, planta-
tions, water, temples, &c. Mir qui s of

Rockingham'^ experiments in hufbandry.

Sad fiat e of agriculture before his

Lordffoip improved it. His method of

executing it. — Covered drains. — Manage-
ment of grafs lands. Turnip hoeing,

Xeiv implements. Efiablifhment

of a Kentifh and a Hertfordfhire farm,

Cabbages. Manures, &c. — ■

Common hufbandry around Wentworth. — ■
Remarks. P. 245 to 3 1 7,

LETTER VI.

te of hufbandry from Wentworth to Ferry

Bridge. Duke of Leeds at Knive

' Duke o/'Portland'i at Welbevk.

8

iv CONTENTS.

His Grace's experiments on the ?noory foil*

&c. Duke of Norfolk^ at Wor^fop.

• His Graced farm-yard.— —His ex-
periments on carrots. Mr. HewettV

experiments at Bilham on carrots, lucerne,
burnet, bird grafs,fainfoine, cabbages, &c.
— Mr. FarrerV experiments at Barn-
borough on tillage, barley ', &c. Cul-
ture of liquorice at Pontefraft. —Lord

Mexborough'j at Methley. Lord

Irwin'j- at Temple Newfham. Sir

John Ramfden'* at Byrom. Sir John\r

culture of turnips and cabbages, &c.

P. 317 to 360.

PREFACE.

[ iii 1

PREFACE.

SOME private biifinefs carrying me in-
to the fouth of Wales, gave birth to
the Six Weeks Tour, which I wrote chiefly
as an amufement on the road ; nor was I
fenfible that the papers might be of ufe, till
I fat down to conhder them again. It then
appeared to me, that a view of EngliJIo
agriculture would be ferviceable.

The public, by a very kind reception of
it, has confirmed the idea, and induced
me to undertake a more extenfive Tour. —
But as my time before was limited, and
I had other things to regard befides my
book, I determined to have no other employ-
ment in my new journey, and to take fuch
means of procuring intelligence, as were
open to a perfon, who could command fo
few advantages.

With this view, I inferted the following
advertifement, in many of the London pa-
pers, and in all the country ones, published
near my intended rout.

The Author of the Six Weeks Tour
through the fouthern counties of England

A and

[ iv ]

andWaks, propofing to undertake this furn-
mer a Tgur through The North of
England, begs leave torequeft fuchtpf the
nobility, gentry, landlords, farmers, and
others, as poflefs, or are acquainted with,
any particular improvements, experiments,
cuftoms, implements, <&c. in the agricul-
ture of the following counties, viz. Hert-
fordshire, Bedford/hire, Huntingdonjhire,
Nortbamptonjhire, Rutland '/hire, Leicejler-
Jhir&i Nottingham/hire, Lincoln/loir e, Der-
by/hire, York/hire, Durham, Northumber-
land^ Qumhcrland, JVe/l more land, LancaJJjire,
c, Shrofiffjire, StaffordJJjire, Worcef-
terjlrire, Vl\ir",vickjhire, and Buckingham-
[hire, to inform him of fuch circumftances,
with exacjt directions to the places where
fuch improvements, &c. are carried on.
He fhould not take the liberty of this
general addrefs to pcrfons unknown, were
it not, that he might probably, without this
previous intimation, overlook many im-
provements and experiments in hufbandry,
and return unacquainted with many prac-
tices, implements, fee. which deferve to be
univerfally known. And it certainly is of
indisputable confequence to the welfare of
iculture, that every thing commendable
in the practice of it, mould not be confined
to particular diRricts, but published for
genera] good. The Author is not unac-
quainted with the improvement of waile

landss

t v ]

lands by marie, clay, chalk, &?c. with the
clover, turnip, and carrot hufbandry ; and
the culture of the modem artificial grafles ;
and fhall, with the utmoft readincfs, impart
the little knowledge he pofTeffes to any
who may think his opinion of the leaft
confequence, as he travels with the fincerefl
defire of being ferviceable to the interefts
of hufbandry. His principal aim is agri-
culture ; but he fhall not pais the feats of
the nobility and gentry without vifiting
them.

Thofe who favour him with their ad-
drefs, are defired to direct, to The Au-
thor of the Six Weeks Tour, to the
care of Mr. W. NicoII, St. Paul's Church-
yard, London.

The effect of this intimation, was not
{o advantageous as I expected : However,
I determined to take every meafure that
was requifite for procuring intelligence ;
and marked no certain rout, defigning to
turn to the right or left, whenever I heard
of any thing worthy the leaft attention.
An unremitted induftry made fome amends
for the want of better advantages, and I
compenfated the lofs of fuch intelligence as
gentlemen alone can give, by application*

to many farmers. This was in general

the cafe from London to York.

A 2 I fpent

I vi ]
I fpent the race-week in that city, which
accident brought me acquainted with fe-
veral gentlemen, famous in the north for
their love of agriculture, and the uncom-
mon fpirit with which they pradife it. I
was received by them with much politenefs,
and the intelligence they gave me is un-
doubtedly the moll valuable part of thefe
facets.

Now it mull furely be apparent, that the

value of fuch a work, as I at prefent offer to

the public, mufl inevitably depend on the

nature of the intelligence I receive; and this-

in fo great a degree, that it would be vanity

in me to pretend to any merit from the

compilation ; for as to the reflections which

I fubjoin, the)' are fo obvious, that I think

no one could have failed making the fame;

and moil certainly many others will occur,

which have efcaped me. This Tour is

therefore ufeful in proportion to the value

of my authorities : Common farmers have

given me very fenlible accounts of common

practices ; but few of them enter into the

fpirit of fuch an undertaking ; — fome were

jealous of my defigns; — and none of them

try experiments, and regifler them. — In all

thefe points, I have foimd many gentlemen

extremely fatisfa&ory. By their means,

(in fending for their tenants, o^.) I have
been enabled to gain complete accounts of
common hufbandry, and have been fa-
voured

[ vii ]

•roured with the particulars of many ex-
periments, that cannot fail of pleating and
inftructing. Some regiilers of this fort I
infert, which I am confident will do honour
to the age, and be of the greater!: life to
hufbandry.

In feveral parts of the journey I had not
thefe advantages ; it was, therefore, impof-
fible for me to make ufe of them. The
inferiority of luch parts of this regifler is
not to be laid to my account ; — but to thofe
who could have given me better intelli-
gence, but neglected or flighted the under-
taking.

I mult confers, that I have dwelt fo much
on the idea of rendering my general defign
complete, that I wifh for the opportunity
of extending the Tour through every part
of Great Britain and Ireland, and prefent-
ing the public a complete work.

Were I to receive the encouragement
that was neceffary, and which confifts only
in the intimation of defigned intelligence,

I mould proceed with the undertaking

finifh the account of England and Wales,
—travel over Scotland, and make the tour
of Ireland : But I have already found the
advantages of the belt authority too much,
to depend on that alone which chance may
throw in my way.

That fuch an extenfion of the journey

might be of fome ufe, is undoubted :

A 3 the

[ viii ]

the remaining parts muft contain many
practices that deferve to be generally
known ; and likewife numerous inftancea
of bad hufbandry, that require expla-
nation, in order for a remedy. The

more a man views the agriculture of vari-
ous foils, the readier and better able is he
to propoie methods of improvement. There
mull alfo, in fuch tracts, be many gentle-
men, who have pra&ifed hufbandry with
unufual attention, and who have noted
their experiments and obfervations ; fome
would probably confent to their publica-
tion. Political Arithmetic might
reap great benefit ; for molt of the points
that form the foundation of national calcu-
lations would receive a light they never

yet had; the proportion of cultivated

and uncultivated land ; — the rental ; — the

value Of the foil; the amount of flock;

— the annual expenditure in hufbandry; —
the ftate of population, dependent on agri-
culture ; thefe, and many other points

of equal importance, would afford to poli-
ticians much better grounds for their variety
of difputes, than fome they at prefent ufe.

But it is here requifite to explain or apo-
ize for one or two circumftances con-

•ning this Tour, that may not be lb clear
as tl . ht.

In the lirii place, I have heen afted more
tee, whether 1 did not think it a

little

[ ix ]

iittie too much, to pretend to inftruct others
in hufbandry, before I had convinced the

world of having practiied it myfelf ;

no work that I had yet published difplay-
ing any matters of experience ? Now, as
this queftion may arife in the minds of
many of my readers, I think it neceflary to
hint, that, imall as my experience is, yet I
have fome. I have been a farmer thefe
many years, and that not in a fingle field
or two, but upon a tract of near 300 acres,
molt part of the time ; and never on lefs
than ioc. I have cultivated, upon various
foils, mod of the vegetables common in
England, and many that have never been
introduced into field hufbandry; but, what
is of much more confequence towards

faining real experience, 1 have always
ept, from the fir ft day I began, a minute
regifter of my bufmefs ; inibmuch that,
upon my Suffolk farm, I minuted above
three thoufand experiments ; in every ar-
ticle of culture^ expences, and produce^ in-
cluding, among a great variety of other
articles, an accurate comparifon of the old
and new hufbandry, in the production of
moft vegetables : But in this, I would by
no means be thought to arrogate any other,
than that plodding merit of being viduf-
trious and accurate^ to which any one of
the moft common genius can attain, if

he thinks proper to take the trouble. ■

A 4 From

[ X ]

From thofe experiments, I have fele&ed
the mod conclufive, and propofe to lay
them before the public, under the patron-
age of a name aufpicious to agriculture.

This, I think, is fufncient to fatisfy

fuch of my readers as may think me io
greatly wanting in experience.

In the fecond place, I mould apologize
for introducing ib many defcriptions of
houfes, paintings, ornamented parks, lakes,
&c. I am fenlible they have little to do
with agriculture, but there is, neverthelefs,
an utility in their being known. They are
a proof, and a very important one, of the
riches and the happinefs of this kingdom :
No traveller can here move far, without

fomething to attract his notice, art or

nature will perpetually catch his eye. — An
agriculture that even reaches perfection. —
Architecture, painting, fculpture, and the
art of adorning grounds, every where ex-^
hibit productions that fpeak a wealth, a
refinement — a tafte, which only great and

luxurious nations can know. 1 have

thought it not improper, to confider them

all ; to reject nothing that either art or

nature have contributed to render our coun-
try beautiful or convenient : — Every reader
does not feek for the fame entertainment ;
fome haftily pafs over the pages that arc
not dedicated to ploughing and fowing, —
ofrhcrs quickly turn over every leaf that

concerns

[ xi ]

concerns hufbandry, and dwell alone on
the defcription of houfes and gardens, —
and not a few, perhaps, who feek the lat-
ter, are accidentally led to imore ufeful
paifages, and become undefignedly ac-
quainted with agriculture. — However, if I
have been in this refpect to blame, it is by

no means a matter of confequence ; -my

farming readers may pafs over thofe meets;
and in the general reflections I offer at laft,
neither architecture, painting, nor garden-
ing will interfere with rent, crops, and
culture.

Thirdly, I mould requeue, that the far-
mers will not fuppofe I have been inat-
tentive in fuch parts of the work as are
incomplete in the common articles of in-
telligence. I put the fame queftions to
every one, but very few were able to an-
fwer me all, confequently many gaps muft
appear : Every article varies in the ex-
tent of the intelligence ; and this general
remark, I think, much better than infert-
ing a firing of negatives in every day's
journey.

Some of my readers may poffibly think
I have been too free in inferting the parti-
culars of farms; it would be anticipating
my fubject to explain fully my motives,
but I refer to the general deductions at the
conclufion, where I apprehend the neceffity

of

[ xii ]

of this part of the enquiry will clearly
appear.

In refpect to Jiile and accuracy of language,
the candid reader will, I hope, confider the
time, places, and manner of writing thefe
fheets;. the minutes were fo extremely
numerous, and of fuch variety, that, had
they not been regiftered as faft as they were
taken, it would have occafioned an endlefs

confufion, and a work that is partly

founded on the prefent ftate of affairs {viz.
the prices of provifions, &c.) will not al-
low its author that time for correction and
polilhing, which more favourable fubjects
afford : This plea will perhaps be the rea-
dier accepted, when it is confidered, that I
pretend to nothing but giving a book of
fads.

Indeed the undertaking has been of that
laborious nature, that the idea of uniting
elegance with utility would be extrava-
gant : For many hundred miles, I had no-
thing but provincial weights and meafures,
totally unknown in the fouth : Thefe were

all reduced to the common Itandard ;

the intelligence I received in the mod com-
mon points was conceived in fuch uncom-
mon terms, and in fuch barbarous meafures,
that had 1 not gained numerous explana-
tions, my work would have been a volume
of contradictions. A practical know-
ledge of agriculture, is as tequiiite to fuch

an

[ xili ]

an undertaking as plenty of patience. Af-.
ttr abundance of explanations, I frequently
had fuch intelligence as would have patTed
current with thofe who were unexperienced
in hufbandry, but which forced me to a
mod uncommon attention to difcover
wherein was the miftake. My bufmefs was
likewife lb very unufual, that fome art was
requifite to gain intelligence from many
farmers, &c. who were ftartled at the firit
attack. I found that even a prcfunon of
expence was often neceffary to gain the
ends I had in view : I was forced to make
more than one honeft farmer half drunk,
before I could get fober, unprejudiced intel-
ligence. Nor were fuch my only diffi-
culties ; I met with fome farmers who gave
zne accounts too improbable to credit ;
whether from ignorance, or an attention
to deceive, I know not ; but I always re-
peated my enquiries upon thole occalions,
until I gained the truth. When the can-
did reader coniiders thefe, and many other
circumitances, I flatter myfelf, he wilfex-
cufe fmall errors, and improprieties of flile.
One point remains for me to fpeak to,
whereon I lhall ever dwell with pieaiure ;
it is the returning my moft grateful thanks
to thofe gentlemen that had the fpirit to
encourage an undertaking, which has by
fome been branded as vifoonary, I cannot
forego the fatisfaclion of a flight recapitu-
lation,

t xiv ]

lation, to let my countrymen know, that
there are men of every rank in hufbandry
that have given me intelligence ; and, I
doubt not, all with fome view to the good
of their country. No apology is wanting,
for joining peers and common farmers in
the fame page : He, who is the Best
Farmer, is with me the Greatest
Man.

I am much obliged to John Searanke,
Efq; of Hatfield, for giving me an account
of his burnet. Few have cultivated that
vegetable with more fpirit, or on a larger
icale.

Mr. Whittington of Stevenage has
my thanks, not only for the intelligence he
gave me, but in the name of the public,
for the neat and hufband-like manner in
which he cultivates a very considerable
farm.

Mr. Geor g e Sisson of Bridge Cafierton^
in Rutlandjliire, merits the like return : He
deferves much praife for his attention to
burnet, an article of culture unknown in
his neighbourhood.

lam much obliged to Samuel Tucker,
Efq; of Rot herb am, for his account of cul-
tivating cabbages. He has carried that
part of agriculture to very great perfection.

I had the Satisfaction of converfing on

the Subject of hufbandry with Dr. Hunter

of York, whole dciigns mew an inventive

3 genius,

[ XV ]

genius, and his writings difplay no trifling
ihare of knowledge and preciiion. I am
alio obliged to him for a hand-drill of his
own invention.

My very excellent friend E. M. Eller-
ker, Efq; of Rijhy-, muft allow me to repeat
in public what I have ib often reflected
on with pleafure in private : That no man
wifhes better to his country, or would fa-

crifice more to her welfare. The articles

of farming intelligence which I am enabled,
through his means, to offer to the public,
are particularly valuable ; — they concern
feveral very extenfive traces of country in
which his eftates are fituated ; and no cir-
cumftances in his power to command, were
wanting to render them clear and of au-
thority. The time I fpent at Rifiy afforded
me an opportunity of executing my gene-
ral defign with particular advantage. I am
alfo indebted to him for feveral recom-
mendations, which proved of much ufe to
me.

I am much obliged to Sir George Me-
tham, for the politenefs with which he
mowed me his plantations, and gave me
fome information concerning the hufbandry
of his neighbourhood.

If I was not fearful of breaking in
upon his attention to matters of greater
importance, I mould beg the Marquis of
Rockimch a m to accept my humble

thanks

t xvi ]

thanks for the great encouragement he
gave mc, and for the information I received
from him ; which any one, who views- the
land his Lordfhip keeps in his own hands,
will foon perceive muft have been very in-
ftruclive. I never faw the advantages of a
great fortune applied more nobly to the
improvement of a country. Every difcovery
of other counties, — every fuccefsful expe-
riment in agriculture, every new im-
plement, (and many of his Lordfhips own
invention) introduced at a great expence. —

Draining. The general management of

grafs-land and manures, among nume-
rous other articles, are, at Wentnvorth9
carried to the utmoft perfection. Nor fhould
I forget to obferve, how much T was in-
debted to his Lordihip for recommending
me to feveral excellent cultivators.

The Duke of Portland will honour
me with the acceptance of my acknow-
ledgements, for my reception at Wei-
beck, as well as the information he was
pleafed to give me concerning fome points
in agriculture. The effects of the black
moory foil, as a manure and a prefer-
vative fiom the cock-chaffer grub, arc

HIS.

Selwood Hewett, Efq; of Bilham,
a n d ] a M 1 s Farrar, Efq; of Barnborougb
Grange, receive my fincere thanks for the

intelligence

^ xvii ]

intelligence which they were pkafed to
give me.

I am much obliged to Sir George
Strictland, Bart, for fhewing me his
manufactory. It is an undertaking that
does him honour.

The value of the intelligence, I received
from SirDiGBY Legard, Bart, will fpeak
fufficiently for itfelf ; but I cannot avoid
acknowledging the liberal manner in which
he confented to improve my work. His
memoir upon the wolds husbandry, is a
piece full of excellent obfervations.

I beg the Reverend Mr. Comber of Eafl
Newton will accept the flight return of
thanks for the kind and friendly manner
in which he aflifted me in profecuting my
defign. I gained by his means feveral
valuable articles of intelligence.

I wifh I could return my thanks to
Ch arlesTurner, Efq; in a manner ade-
quate to the fpirit of his agriculture. His
undertakings do him much honour : His
experiments on cabbages, clover, potatoes,
&c. cannot fail of being of lafling utility
to the public. No one could enter more
into the nature of my defign or forward it
with greater alacrity. The w^eek I very
agreeably fpent at Kirkleatham, thefe fheets
will prove was no idle one.

Christopher Crowe, Efq; will permit
me to tbank him very fnicerely for the

Obliging

[ xviii

obliging reception I met with at Kiphni I
is with great pleafure, I reflect on the in-
telligence he gave me, which is extenfive

and accurate. -His own hufbandry is

fpirited ; and in feveral initances uncom-
mon.

I am much obliged to Smelt, Efq;

of The Leafcs, for an accurate account of
his experiments in agriculture.

It is with great pleafure that I remem-
ber the kindnefs with which William
Dan by, Efq; encouraged my undertaking.
My readers will find, that I was not negli-
gent at Sivinton, for that gentleman took
every meafure for my information of the
Hate of hufbandry in his neighbourhood ;
— his attention to the populoufnefs of his
extenfive eftate, and the excellent example
he has fet in the management of his mi-
ners, deferve every acknowledgement which
a lover of his country can give. One of
them (for whom I have ventured to pro-
pofc a fubfeription, fee Vol. II. Letter XI.)
is almoft as great a curiofity in farming as
can any where be met with.

I cannot omit acknowledging, how much
I am indebted toMATTHEwDoDSivoKTH^
Efq; for the important intelligence he gave
me ; as well as the very friendly manner
in which he received me at Crakchall.

WilliamDalton, Efq; of Sleningfmcdi
gave me, with great civility, a lull account

of

( *i* )

of the common hufbandry in his neigh"

bourhood ; and of many very important
experiments he made upon lucerne, burnet,
fainfoine, potatoes, &c.

Symon Scroope, Efq; of Danby, muft
allow me to aifert, that I was particularly
fortunate in meeting with a cultivator,
whofe experiments do honour, not to him-
felf alone, but to his country. Few works
of agriculture extant, contain more judi-
cious, accurate and decifive trials, than many
.which this gentleman favoured me with.

The intelligence which I received from
the Earl of Darlington, was too valu-
able his experiments too numerous and

accurate, not to be mentioned with all pof-
fiblc acknowledgments. I can by no means
do juftice to that uncommon candour, with
vhich his Lordfhip honoured me with the
particulars of the common hufbandry about
Raby CajUc ; and his own experience on a
moft extcnfive tract of land. No man can
be more accurate in the culture of twenty
acres, than his Lordfhip en fome thoufands.
I am particularly obliged to him for the
plan and elevation of a farm-yard, which
I believe has no equal.

Idcnrc that — CaRr, Efq; will allow me to
thank him for the civilities I received at Cock

It is with the utmofl: pleafure, that I
acknowledge the attention of ." :r

Dixon, Efq; of Bel ford-; — no man could
entertain a more favourable idea or my

Vol. I. B undei-

[ X* ]

undertaking. The intelligence I gained by
his means, was particularly valuable. The
extenfive county of Northumberland^ de-
manded a more accurate view than I
fhould otherwife have been able to offer ;
and Mr- Dixo7i\ experiments in agricul-
ture, and the active and fpirited manner in
which he carries on numerous and import-
ant undertakings, claim a particular notice.
I am obliged to Mr. Cuthbert Clarke
of Bel/ord, for a drawing of his turnip
fiicer, and to Mr. JoHNWiLKiEof Hetton,
and Mr. Culey of Fenton, for the civi-
lities I received from them. Northumberland
owes much to the latter for improving her
breed of fheep.

M. Parke of Liverpool has my thanks,
for the account of improving a bog in Lanca-
JJjire, that was conducted upon a very origi-
nal plan with fpirit, and does him much credit.
1 defireMr. ArchibaldBell, and Mr.
Hamilton, principal manufacturers at
Mancbejh'r, will accept my thanks for the
intelligence they gave me concerning the
fabricks of that town ';:.

* I do not at prefent recollect having received any
letters which are unanlwercd : I had feveral invitations
from counties through which I did notpafs, if I have
omitted a due acknowledgment, it has been through
error alone; and owiiitr neither to defigh nor neglect.
Should any remain unacknowledged, I beg it may
be attributed to my 'etc* rs having mifcarried, as I
hold my'elf tuo much obliged to all who thought or'
giving me intelligence, to omit fuch a return.

6 Jt

[ **i ]

It would be endlefs and tedious to reca-
pitulate every perfon who was kind enough
to afford me intelligence ; but I mull be
allowed in general to after t, that I found
a great many farmers who contributed
much to my defign ; — who gave me very
fenfible accounts of common hufbandry,
and many of them more void of prejudice
and contraction, than fome of my readers
would fuppofe. I beg that all fuch would
accept my fincere acknowledgments, which
I make with the greater pleafure, as I am
certain, from their converf ation, that they
are good huibandmen in their refpedtive
neighbourhoods. No fet of people what-
ever can be more hofpi table, or more de-
firous of obliging, than the farmers in the

north of England it is the land of

hofpitality.

In regiftering the minutes of a Tour of
above two thousand five hundred miles,

many errors muff have crept in : Many

articles of intelligence received not fo ac-
curate as could have been given by gentle-
men : Even in the particulars of private

experiments, I may have made fome mis-
takes— and not a few omiffions; whoever
obferves fuch errors or omimons, will lay
me under a great obligation by informing
me by letter of the particulars ; and I (hall
certainly make the proper ufe of them, in
cafe this work mould fee another edition.
B 2 This

[ xxii ]

This is the only way to render it per-
fect thofe who wi(h to fee a complete

view of Brit iflo agriculture, will take a little
trouble of this fort.

The manner in which my undertaking
has been promoted, by fo many fpirited
cultivators, claims fomething more than a
mere return of thanks ; I fliall never omit
any opportunity of acknowledging my obli-
gations, and be proud of obeying any of
their commands within the reach of my

fituation. 1 have farmed in Suffolk and

Effex j which counties, as well as Hertford-
shire•, in which I at prefent live, may pro-
bably contain fomething in hufbandry that
my diltant friends may accidentally ftand in
need of. — If any perfon has an inclination
to tranfplant good farmers into a foil occu-
pied by bad ones — to hire fervants ufed to
the beft culture in ibme of thefe countries*
■ — to make ufe of implements more perfect

than common in fome parts to procure

a change of feed corn or, in a word,

for any thing in which I can afftft them ;
I confider myfclf (independently of incli-
nation) as bound by gratitude to do it;
and I fhall accordingly execute their com-?
mands with the utmoft fatisfac~tion.

* Particularly ploughing with two horfes without
a driver ; and Jirali.

PREFACE

xxiii

PREFACE

TO THE

SECOND EDJTION.

THE favourable reception the firft edi-
tion of this work has met with
from the public, animates me in the
ftrongeft manner to render the prefent
impreilion as perfect as pomble. I have
corrected it with as much attention as I am
able ; and applied, I believe, to every
perfon whofe experiments are mentioned,
for their corrections, and the continuation
of their trials, and am happy in being able
to infert many fuch improvements that
render the refpective regifters much more
iifeful than they would otherwife be. The
communications of this fort which I have
B b eon

[ XXIV ]

been favoured with from feveral perfons,
deferve the warmeft acknowledgments.

I cannot omit exprefling how much I am
indebted to the Earl of HoldernessE, for
the attention he was pleafed to give to the
article concerning Hornby Cajile. I was
miiinformed of the hufbandry of fome
grafs fields ; and his Lordfhip was fo ob-
liging as to correct the errors, and at the
fame time explained the motives of his
conduct : His letter is infertcd in the pro-
per place, and will fpeak for itlelf much
more forcibly than any thing I can fay in
praife of it. It fhews him to be an excel-
lent farmer.

Thomas B.Bailey, Efq; of Hope, near
Manchejler\ has favoured me with fome
particulars relative to the defigns and fuc-
cefs of the patriotic fociety of Lancajhirey
for which I am much obliged to him. I
fhould have been able to render the Lanca-
Jhire part of this Tour much more complete
through the affiflance of this gentleman
and Colonel Townley, the prefident ; but
unfortunately I was not known to Mem
before the journey. The fpirit with which
they encourage and praclife agriculture,
merits much praife.

The Earl of Darlington, fince the
firfl: edition of thefe papers, has favoured
me with the product of a crop of drilled
turnips, which demands the attention of

all

[ XXV ]

all correct hufbandmen : I believe it is the
greateft ever raifed in England.

Mr. Turner has been fo attentive to
render the Kirkleatham article complete
and accurate, that I cannot but exprefs my
acknowledgments in the warmeft terms:
He has enabled me to continue the regifter
of all his experiments ; and the additional
ones (particularly on cabbages) now inferted,
will fhew to what perfection he has carried
that culture.

I am much obliged to Mr. Danby for
the corrections he fent me : They fhew the
attention he has given to render the work
accurate, and the judgment with which he
read it. His remarks on the calculations of
the moory improvements were very ufeful ;
as I have from them been able to fketcli
new ones which are much more decifive
than the former.

The letter with which Sir Dig by Le-
gard has enriched this edition, is extreme-
ly valuable ; the experiments on grades
and turnips are moft accurately regiftered
and perfectly fatisfactory : I am particu-
larly obliged to this moft fpirited farmer
for fo valuable a piece.

Mr. Dixon, Mr. Scroope, and the
Reverend Mr. Comber, have been fo kind
as to favour me with various corrections
and additions, lor which I am much in-
debted to them.

I am

xxv i ]

I am obliged to Mr. Sea RANKS of
Hal field, for the particulars he gave me
of his experiments on burnet. They are
now extremely Satisfactory and conclu-
sive.

It is only by communications of this fort,
that fuch an undertaking can be rendered
tolerably complete. Nor fhall I conclude
without again requesting thefe, and other
cultivators, to favour me with a continua-
tion of their trials ; from whence the
public will find, that real utility has caufed
an increafe of feveral practices which per-
haps curiofity alone began.

A SIX

[ xxvii
JAMES CROFTS.

I Have the fatisfaction of informing my
Readers, that the SubfcrJption I ven-
tured to propofe in the ririi edition of this
work, for this very honeff and induflrious
man, has met with fome fuccefs.
His worthy landlord, William
Danby, Efq; advanced in cam,
and additions in buildings and

m o

inclofures ; for which he ge-

neroufly takes neither intereft

nor increafe of rent during: £• s- d-

Crofts 's life, - - - 50 o o
Sundry fubfcriptions, by Charles

Turner, Efq; - - 2100

Mr. Lott Knight, - 1 1 o

Unknown, by ditto, - ° 5 3

Mr. Roberts, - - ° 5 3

Mr. George Hannay, - 220

Mr. Robert Livie, - ° 5 3

Mr. Middleton, (Suffolk,) - 1 1 o
Rev. Mr. Bouchery, of S waff ham,

Norfolk, - 1 1 o

G.N. - - - 026

John Arbutbnot, Efq; - 1 1 o
Mr. John Whin Baker, of Laugh-

linftone, near Dublin, - 1 1 o

A . T. - - - 1 1 o

W.N. - - - - 1 1 o

J- ■£• - - 0106

8

17 9

Subscriptions continue to be received.
Vol. I. *B Mr.

[ xxviii ]

Mr. Danby informs me, that this very
induftrious man's labours, laft fummer, were
greatly interrupted by inward complaints,
that are, in all probability, the confequence
of repeated ftrains and violence, and of the
incellant fatigues he has gone through ; but
iince he has recovered, he has returned to
his labours with his ufual affiduity.

It is propofed to expend the Subfcription
in aflifting him in Labour, for improving
fome of his inclofed waftes, and alfo in the
purchafe of fome cattle. But a further ac-
count will be given in the public papers ;
and the Subfcriptions received in the country
not yet come to hand will be acknowleged
and included in the general account.

A S I X

SIX MONTH'S TOUR, &c.

LETTER I.

Dear Sir, June 1768.

YOUR remark that the minutes J.
took of my Six Weeks Tour were by-
no means complete, in not being extended
over each county I paffed through, is cer-
tainly very juft ; but at the fame time you
muft allow me to obferve, that fuch per-
fection is not to be expected from the lei-
fure and fortune of a private perfon, who
has other matters to attend to befides the
public good. I am very fenfible of the
advantages which would refult from a tour
upon this plan through every village in
the kingdom ; but I do not think we
mould flight fuch general views as thefe
I venture to the world, becaufe greater
advantages in the traveller would be at-
tended with a more enlarged intelligence.

In a word, my good friend, I am

encouraged to un'dertftke a fecond tour by
Vol. I. £ the

[ 2 ]

the candid, but unmerited notice which
an impartial public has taken of my firft

Eflky with fuch a view, accept the

following minutes : I hope they will be
worthy your attention ; I promife that
no care and accuracy Ihall be wanting on
my part.

My former minutes extended from Lon-
don^ in the north road almoft to Hatfield ;
permit me, therefore, to begin the follow-
ing journal in that neighbourhood.

The firft objects I found worthy of at-
tention in hufbandry, were feveral fields
of hurnet belonging to Mr. Searancke of
Hatfield, for which he obtained a gold
medal of the Society for the Encourage-
ment of Arts, Manufactures, and Com-
merce.

EXPERIMENT, N° i.

He began his culture at Bramfeld in the
year 1764, on four acres of a poor, cold
gravelly loam, on clay and chalk. It was
well fallowed and amply dunged. Sown
broad-caft in Augufl, twelve pounds of
feed per acre, at two (hillings per pound.
The conduct of the trial will belt appear
from the following minutes which he made
of the fuccefs, and which are an extract

of a letter written on the iubjecl.

" As it lias been lately much agitated,

whether

t 3 ]

whether the cultivation of burnet will
prove beneficial to the farmer, and confe-
quently to the whole nation ? I trouble you
with a few particulars on the fubjeet. — In
the beginning of Augujl 1764, I fowcd
four acres of poor wet ground with feed
bought of Mr. Rocqueo£Wa!ha?n Green, after
the rate of twelve pounds per acre. It came
up very thick in about ten or twelve days :
But the fly beginning to take it, I imme-
diately fent for a load of foot, and ftrewed
over it, about twenty-five bufhels per acre :
This prevented its receiving further da-
mage. It grew and flourifhed more than
could be expected through the whole
winter, which was uncommonly wet. I
fufrercd no cattle of any fort to be turned
upon it, leaft it mould receive damage by
being poached. My cows once broke into
it, and I have reafon to believe it was a
dainty repaft to them ; as they feemed to
be very dcfirous of getting in again. By
the twelfth of May, it was full headed, and
fit to cut for hay: Some gentlemen (whom
curioiity had led to fee it) as well as my
and fervants, judged it would turn out
loads of hay (dry in the winter) per acre. It
was allowed to be by far the greatefl bur-
then that was known to grow upon the
land : In fhort, it was the only go

ever known on it. However, I cl

rather to let it ftand for iced ; mowed it
B 2

[ 4 ]

the third of July, and had eighty-four
bufhels on the four acres. The method
purfued in threfhing it was as follows: I
made a temporary floor in the field of
twelve feet three inch deals covered with
cloths, and inclofed with herdles hung with
other cloths to prevent the feed from flying
off the flagc. Ten men threfhed and were
fupplied by three others who brought the
burnet upon forks. On the outfide of the
floor I had another cloth for the men to put
the ftraw on, where it was the employ-
ment of another man to fhake out the loofe
feed, and then to carry the burnet and
ipread it on the ground to dry for hay. —
After it is mowed it ought to have two or
three days field-room before you begin to
threfh it. I hear it has been aflcrted, that
the draw makes very poor hay. I am of a
different opinion, for my hories eat it much
beyond expectation ; and my cows are very
fond of it. But one circumftance I mould
remark, which is, my flrewing fait over it
•i hen I flacked it, as I did in 1764 with
about four loads of after-pafture clover hay,
that was damaged (o much by rains as to
be thought more fit to be made dung of
than hay; but this I do aver as a truth,
that my horfes eat more, and fed more
- on this damaged but falted hay,
than they did upon that which was cut in
full lap and Hacked without rain : The

ex peri-

[ 5 ]

experiment was tried by racking them fome-
times with one fort, and fometimes with
the other : The nights they were racked
with the beft hay they did not eat all that
was given, but the nights in which they
had the falted damaged hay, although a
a larger quantity was given, yet in the
mornings their racks were found empty"4."

Mr. Searancke fold the feed at one ihilling
per pound . except fome he kept for his own
ufe) ; and the eighty-four bufhels weighing
21841b. came at that price to 109/. 4.S. od.
or 27 /. 6 s. o d. per acre ; a product that
will not often be exceeded. The price
of burnet is now three-pence per pound,
but fuppofe it two-pence in quantities, fuch
a crop would produce per acre 4/. 16 s. 6d.
befides the hay and after feed : This cal-
culation fhews that burnet-feed is yet an
object of importance in hufbandry,

After this crop of feed the land was fed
by cows until Oflober.

* This proof of the efficacy of fait in recovering
damaged hay convinced Mr. Searancke fo much, that
he pradiled it on other occafions. In finifhing a (rack
of common hay the top was making up with iome that
was almoft fpoiled by rain ; he ordered it to be thrown
off, fpread on the. ground and made again, and then in
ftacking it ftrewed it with a good deal of fait; in the-
winter it was eaten by cows, very freely.

The common quantity is a peck of fait to a load of
hay.

B % 1766.

[ 6 j

I766.

This year the crop was mown for hay,
the latter end of May, product four loads.
It was left rather too long ; the beginning
of that month is a much better feafon ; the
cows refufed to eat it : Mr. Searancke re-
flecting on the fuccefs of laft year with only
the flravu, thought it might be owing to
the bruifing the italks in the threfhing ; he
therefore took the hint, and made his men
threfh this hay enough to bruife the Italks,
and then trying the fame cows with it, they
eat it very freely. After the mowing it
was fed by cows, and the milk was always
found to be plentiful, and the butter excel-
lent.

1767, 8, and 9.

Throughout thefe years it was paftured
bv cows ; and the former remark verified
by experience, that no food gives more
milk or fweeter butter.

Prefent State of the Crop.

It is to be obferved, that the natural
grafies during the laft two years have arofe
pretty much, ib that the field is now a very
good common pafturc. This opens a view
of burnet that is very advantageous; it is
od and cheap way to lay down land for
perpetual pafturej the burnet gives imrrie-

itely

[ 7 ]

diately a profitable crop, and the grafTes
increafe by degrees until the land is quite

matted. -Not however to the exclufion

of the burnet, for Mr. Searancke thinks
there arc to the full as many plants of it
as in the firft year ; but the vacancies
among them are filled and the general
herbage thicker, and more like an old paf-
ture.

EXPERIMENT, N° 2.

*765-
Nineteen acres were fown at Bram-
jfield in Augnjl 1765 : the foil, a cold, wet,
ftrong clay land ; fallowed, but not ma-
nured : It was kept through the winter
without any cattle going in In April and
May 1 766, it fprung very thick, but low ;
It was fed by cows through the year. In
1767 it was alfo fed in the fame manner,
but the crop turning out very poor, owing
merely to the wetnefs of the land, Mr.
Searancke ploughed it up in 1768, and har-
rowed in oats, of which he got a moil ex-
cellent crop.

EXPERIMENT, N° 3.

1765.

Ten acres of land at Hatfield^ the foil an
upland poor gravel, and inclinable to wet-
IB 4 nefs,

[8 ]

nefs, were fallowed in 1 765, and thoroughly
manured with black rotten dung : Sown
with burnet (a bufhel, or 26 lb. per acre)
in Augufi : No cattle turned on it ; but it
was kept quite clean from weeds, by hand-
weeding for forne time, but the chick-
weed came up in fuch prodigious luxuriance
that it was mown twice and carted away :
Some cows got to the dunghill where it
was laid, and fed very eagerly on it : Some
fattening bullocks did the fame : This was
before the whole field was finifhed; Mr.
Searancke took the hint, and flopping the
weeding, turned in his cattle, and they eat
up every fprig. This is a remarkable cir-
cumftance, and mould be remembered by
thofe whofe lands are fubjecl: to that weed;
for the difference is amazingly great be-
tween the converting it to dung in one cafe
■ — or to beef and milk in the other.

1766.
May 1 2th mowed it for hay; the crop
about 12 loads: As to the application of
the hay in the following winter; horfes
would not eat it ; it was therefore all cut
into chaff, in which ftate they eat it very
freely; the price at which it was fold for
this life was 32 s. per load. After the
mowing it was paftured by horfes ; who
fed very heartily on it. And the quantity
of food it ) iclded was very conliderable.

'1767,

[ 9 ]

1767.
Mown the firft week in May ; produce,
about nine loads of hay. This hay was
eaten in the winter by cows : Six were kept
on it the chief part of the winter ; and the
butter made from them was excellent. After
the mowing the field was paftured by
horfes.

1768.

May 1 2th, mowed for hay ; but the pro-
duct not more than five loads : The fmall-
nefs of which quantity induced Mr. Sea-
rancke to fow over the burnet, one bufhel
per acre of ray-grafs and fix pound of white
clover. Both feeds took very well. Since
that time the field has not been mown, but
every year been fed with horfes and cows :
The quantity of food it has in that manner
yielded is confiderable : It is, however,
found advifable once a year to mow off
the bents, and thole fpots in the burnet
where a great luxuriancy makes cattle ne-
glect it, to encourage the frefh growth, in
the winter of 1769, manured it with long
dung.

Prefent State of the Crop.

This field is now a very good common
pafture : Equal to the general run of its
neighbours. The herbage is very thick,

con-.

[ 1° ]

confiding of burnet, ray-grafs, white clover,
and much natural grafs. And it is worthy
of remark, that notwithftanding the ray-
grafs took fo well, yet it has not in the leaft
damaged the burnet, which is fo vigorous a
plant, that it keeps the fuperiority over all
around it.

EXPERIMENT, N° 4.
1766.

In 1 765, five acres of the fame foil as
N° 3. were fown with barley; and in 1766
with oats, among which a bufhel per acre
of burnet, and fix pounds of white clover
were fown. After the oats were cut and
carried, the whole field was folded with
iheep.

1767.

The beginning of May, mowed it ; the
produce feven loads of good hay, eaten by
cows and horfes. After the mowing it
was paftured by horfes.

1768.

It was fed throughout this year by
cows and horfes, the number of which
maintained by it was very great. Plenty
of milk and remarkably fweet butter, the
conftant attendants of cows eating burnet.

J769.

II

iy69.

Fed again this year ; in the winter ma-
nured, for a trial, half of it with long dung,
and half with road fullage ; the fandy mud
ihovelled up in the turnpike. It mould be
obferved, that the farmers will have no-
thing to do with this fluff; fo that Mr.
Searaticke was applied to by the furveyor of
the road for leave to cart it into his land,
which being complied with, it was fpread
on this burnet in Autumn. I viewed the
field in March 1770, and the different ap-
pearance of the two parts of the field I
thought remarkable : The part covered with
the road fand, exhibited as beautiful a
young vegetation of the white clover as

ever I beheld : It formed quite a carpet;

whereas very little of it was to be fecn in
the dunged part. J have no doubt but the
fame fuperiority will be found throughout
the year. N. B. The dung was long liable
litter.

Prefent State.

The field is now a very good common
pafture and exceeds the others that were
fown without corn. The herbage very
thick, and in general has the appearance of
a very good natural grais field.

General

[ 12 ]

General Obfervatlons.

Mr. Searanckey upon the whole, is of
opinion, that burnet is a valuable acquifi-
tion to hufbandry ; but as to the general
and undiftinguifhing aflertions in its fa-
vour, he thinks them no more to be re-
garded than the prejudice of thofe who in-
fift, that no cattle will eat it. The fad
with him has been this : — For hay, he can-
not recommend it ; the quality is not com-
parable to common meadow hay, and the
quantity by no means an object of import-
ance. By way of pafture for horfes, cows and
fheep, it is excellent ; quite in the fame ftile
as natural grafs fields ; with this fupcriority,
that the butter made from it has a more
pleafant flavour, and in refpect to carlinefs
in the fpring, it is ready for fheep before
any other grafs : In general, it has a good
bite the beginning of March, if it is fed

down clofe in October. That the fowing

land with burnet is a very good way to lay it
for a conftant pafture ; and that it mixes ex-
tremely well with white clover, with ray-
grafs, or with natural grafs.

I cannot conclude this article without ob-
ferving, that Mr. Searancke has cultivated
burnet with unufual fpirit; and has given a
very clear and impartial account of his fuc-
cefs: Good hufbandry is never more laud-
able than when all circumftanccs, adverfe,

as

[ »3 3

as well as favourable are related with fuch
candour *.

From Hatfield quite to Welivyn, the foil
continues a light gravel, but moft of the
occupiers poffefs fome fields of ftronger
land, upon which they raife better wheat
than on their gravels. About B'iJliop\
Hatfield, farms run in general from 70 and
80/. to 140 /. a year rent, about 12 s. at
an average. Their courfe of crops is in

general,

1. Fallow 4. Fallow

2. Wheat 5. Turnips

3. Peafe or oats 6. Barley,

which is very good. For wheat they
plough four times, fow two bufhels and

an

* Hatfield House, the feat of the Earl of
Salifbury, is fituated in a very beautiful park
clofe to the town of Hatfield. The variety of
ground is fine, and the profpects rich and ex-
tcnfive. The houfe, which is very capacious,
is in the ftile of the ao;e of Elizabeth : and con-
veys very ftrongly from its magnitude and a
certain air of grandeur, the idea of an ancient
and confiderable family : It tells the fpectator
very forcibly, Here does not refide a family of
yefierday.

Many of the rooms are large, and well pro-
portioned. The following arethofe I was fhewed;
they are minuted in the order I viewed them.

The chapel ; the glafs of the windows finely
painted •, here are fcyeral pictures, much da-
maged

[ H ]

an half of feed, and reap on a medium 25
birfliels. For barley they plough their
turnip land generally but once, unlefs the
foil is not in good order, in which cafe
they give two itirrings, fow four bulhels,
and gain about four quarters. For oats
they plough but once, fow four bufhels,
and get four quarters. The practice of
giving but one earth for this or any other
grain, ought ever to be condemned. For
peafe alfo but once, fow the fame quantity
and gain about 20 bufhels. Beans they
very feldom fow. For turnips they ftir
three times, hoe once, and feed off with

fhecp;

maged by the damps ; fome of which feem to
difplay the hand ot a matter.
Mary and Elizabeth. Mary's attitude and at-
tention are well represented ; and Eliza-
beth's face not inexpreffively done.
Chrifi teaching among the Doclors. The head of
the old man in blue drapery is executed in
a great Mile.
The baptifm in the river Jordan. Our Saviour's
hands very well done. The figures and
the attitude of Chrift in this piece reminds
me of Albavio\ famous picture at Houghton.
The hall 30 by 55, is a good room, but irregu-
lar, paved with black and white marble.
In the parlour 36 by 27.

Lord Cranbourn. A portrait touched with great
freedom and fpirit ; the hands, face, and
hair are line.

Sir

[ 15 1

iheep; very often fell them to the fheep
graziers, the price at an average of years
about 50 r. an acre. Particulars of one
farm, I heard of, as follows :
150 Acres in all 100 Sheep
120 Ditto arable 4 Servants

30 Grafs 2 Labourers

£.120 Rent 20 Acres of wheat

6 Horfes 30 Spring corn

5 Cows 3 1 Turnips

LABOUR.

In harveft, 36 to 38 s. a month and board.
In hay time, 9 s. a week.
In winter, 1 s. and fmall beer.
Reaping, 5 s. per acre.

Mowing,

Sir P. Lely. Mary in the fepnlcbre after the
refurreffion There is iomething pleafino-
in the diffufion of light — in the attitudes —
and the angel's drapery.

Cleopatra. What fubjecT: fo unpleaiing as beauty
in pain ! Venus gay and voluptuous, drawn
in the car of the Loves ; — or appearing in
all the grace of motion to /Eneas, are the

painter's iubjecls •, not the lame goddefs

lamenting over the dead body of Adonis.
This Cleopatra is admirably executed;
there is a mellownefs in the colouring of
the flefh, — a warmnefs in the tints, ex-
tremely exprefllve.

In

[ i6 ]

Mowing corn, i s. and is. 2d.
Mowing grafs, 2 s. 6 d.
Hoeing turnips, 4 s. and fmall beer, before
harveft ; 5 s. in harveft..

IMPLEMENTS.

A cart, 13/. complete with broad wheels.

A plough, from 3 /. to 4 /.

A pair of harrows, from 1 /. 10 s. to 3 /.

PROVISIONS, &c.

Beef, per lb. -

4 d.

Bread,

id.

Mutton,

4

Candles,

- 8

Veal,

4v

Soap,

8

Butter,

7

Labourers

In the organ-room 28 by 22.

Dut chefs of Cleveland. Fine; but the fixed for-
mality, and demurenefs of the countenance
deftructive of all grace and elegance.

In the drawing-room 24 by 22. Lord and
Lady Tha.net, two portraits ; good.

In the waiting-room 30 by 24, is a curious
ebony cabinet. This room opens into
a bed-chamber 22 by 20. And that into
a clofet where is a piece by Holbein, repre-
fenting a mafquerade given by Henry VIII.
in honour of Anne Boleyn. It contains
many figures, and has fome curious atti-
tudes.

In the King's dining-room 60 by 30. Symbo-
lical portrait of Queen Elizabeth. h\ one
hand is a make, in the other a rainbow ;
S and

[ '7 1

Labourers houfe-rent from 50 s. to 3 /.
Wear of their tools per annum, 25 s.
Their firing, 40 j. per annum.

Sir Penyjhne Lambe's park at Brocket-
hall is extremely well worth feeing ; It con-
tains a fine variety of ground, many hills
that command noble profpects, and wind-
ing hollows very piclurefque; the water
is large, much of it finely traced and of a
beautiful colour : In a word, it is one of the
beft fituations in HcrtfordJlAre.

Around Stevenage, husbandry varies
fomething with the foil, for in that neigh-
bourhood there is a great deal of cola clay
land : The farms are of all fizes, from 50 /.
to 700 /. Land in general lets from 8 to

10 s.

and the drapery nothing but eyes and ears,
defigncd to give us an idea of her :unning,
her vigilance, and the extent of her empire.
Had Apelles gi\ en an idea of the fortitude,
the invincible courage, and daring 'ambi-
tion of Alexander only by the fymbols of his
picture, the hero of the painter would no:
have been called T.be Inimitable. Fortitude
and heroic conftancy might have ihined in
the countenance of Elizabeth, as well as
meaner virtues in the hem of her garments.
— The hands are delicately executed.
In the drawing-room 40 by 20, is a good por-
trait of the prefent Lord's grandmother;
after this come two bed-chambers of 24
by 23, and fome other rooms: Then the
Vol I. C Gallery

[ i8 1

ioj. per acre ; their caurfe of crops with
fome variations,
i. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Peafe or oats,

and in light lands it goes on,

4. Turnips

5. Barley

They plough four times for wheat ; fow
two bufhels and an half, and reap on a
medium 23 bufhels : For barley they ftir
three times, fow four bufhels, and gain in
return 4^- quarters. For oats they chufe

to

Gallery 105 by 20. Here are feveral pictures :

Among others,
Rubens. The Lafi Supper ; but more like a

banquet of Vulcan.
Baffan. Abraham and Lot. Cattle piece; in

his rough manner.
Virgin and Child; with a rabbit introduced: It

feems to be taken from Correggio ; the atti-
tude excellent. k
Raphael. Petrarch's, Laura : Very fine finifhingj

but not the Laura of Petrarch's poetry.
Baffan. Chrifi praying: In the rough ttile :

the lights thrown remarkably ftrong.
A Ruin. Very finely executed.
Abraham's Head. Sketched in a very noble flile*
In this room is a table inlaid with marble,,

pebbles, granate, &c. curious.
In the room over the kitchen.
Cherries XII. A portrait. Spirited; the fame

as tn the picture gallery at Oxford.

Hch

[ i9 ]

to plough twice, but cannot always; fow
four bufhels, and the mean produce they
reckon the fame as that of barley. For
peafe they ftir once or twice, as it happens ;
fow i4- bufhels of feed and gain from 5
to 30 bufhels in return. They give two
earths for beans ; fow them in every fur-
row after the plough, about iL bufhels
per acre, never hoe them, and the crop
upon an average about 20 bufhels. For
turnips three or four ploughings are given ;
hoe them always once, and fometimes
twice ; feed them off with fheep ; and the
large farmers, fome with black Scotch
cattle ; and reckon the average of crops at

Holy Family. Something in the ftile of many of
Raphael's pieces. It appears to me to be
incomparably fine, though an unequal
piece. The child is executed with great
fpirit ; his countenance is (like the children
of painting) animated ; his attitude fpirited,
his thighs well forefhortened, and the co-
louring excellent; there is a mellownefs in
the tints that is fine. The face of the vir-
gin is infipidity itielf, as is ufual, and not
badly adapted to the fubjeel in general.
The fecondary figures are mean, and the
draperies (efpecially the virgin's) in poor
ftile.

From the leads of the houfe, the park and
the furrounding country are {etn to great ad-
vantage ; nor will you often fee a richer view.

C 2 2/. 2S.

[ 40 |

2 A 2 /. The product of a cow they lay at
5 /. They always ufe four horfes in a
plough with two men, and do an acre in
a day. The moft capital farm in the
neighbourhood is Mr. Whittington\^ the
keeper of the Sivan Inn at Stevenage : the
particulars as follow :
1200 Acres in all go Turnips

iooo Ditto arable 40 Horfes

200 Grafs 22 Cows

£.700 Rent 28 Fatting Beafts

150 Acres of wheat 800 Sheep

annually 8 Servants

400 Offpringcorn 25 Labourers
Mr. Whittington fows a good deal of
fainfoine, with barley, after a clean turnip
fallow ; he finds it lafts from 6 to 8 and
10 years, but after that time he ploughs it
up again. This hufbandry ought in gene-
ral to be imitated on the proper foils. I
cannot difmifs thefe particulars without
remarking, that I rode over a confiderable
part of his farm, and not only found his
crops very good, but clean, and all his land
to lie in a truly hufband-Iike manner,

LABO U R.

In harveft, 35 s. and board.
In hay-time, gs. a week and fmall beer.
In winter, is. a day and ditto.
Reaping wheat, 5 s. per acre.

Mowing

[ 21 ]

Mowing corn, is. 6d.

grafs, 2 j.

Hoeing turnips, 4 s. and 4 s. 6 d.

IMPLEMENTS.

A waggon, 20 /.

A cart, 8 /. to 9 /.

A plough, 5 /.

A pair of harrows, I /. 10 s.

PROVISIONS.

Beef, per lb. t>t d- Cheefe, - 3 J. <£

Mutton, - 4 Bread, - 2

Veal, - 4 Candles, - yl.

Butter, - 7 Soap, - 7

Labourers houferent, the medium 2 /. /><?r

annum.
Wear of ditto's tools, 1 /. is.

Firing cofts them but little; break hedges,
and fteal moft of it.

From Stevenage I took the road to
Hit chin, and from thence to Luton ; in all,
twelve as villainous miles as any creature
can ever fear travelling, the roads are fo
execrably bad. At Offley I (topped for in-
telligence, and found their hufbandry to
vary in feveral particulars from that of
Stevenage. The foil is a chalky clay ; the
under itratum pure chalk ftone ; they call
it white land. The farms feldom reach
C 3 more

[ « ]
more than 140/. a year. The rents run
about 5 s. an acre fince they were inclofed,
but before ufed never to be above 1 s. in
feveral farms. Their courfe of crops

1. Fallow 4. Turnips

2. Barley 5. Barley

3. Peafe and Oats

For wheat they plough three times, fow
2.1 bufhels of feed, and reap about 15
bufhels at a medium. For barley they ftir
three times, fow four bufhels, and reap on
an average three quarters. They give for
oats but one ploughing, fow four bufhels,
and reap 2 1 quarters. They plough but
once alfo for peafe, fow four bufhels, and
gain from 10 to 24 bufhels in return.
They fow a great many turnips, plough
three times, hoe them but once, and
reckon the value per acre from 35 J", to
3 /. They feed them all off with fheep.
They never plough without four horfes and
two men, and do but an acre a day; this
terrible cuiiom, which is inch a bane to
the profit of hufbandry, cannot be too
much condemned ; for the whole expence
(on coraparrifon with the common cullom)
of tillage, might be laved by the farmer, if
lie would adopt the rational method of til-
line;; with a pair of horfes, and one man to
hold the plough and drive at the fame time.

• The product of a cow is reckoned here

at 4/. ioj". All thefe products you will

undoubtedly

I =3 ]

Undoubtedly remark, bear no proportion to
the rent of 5 s. which is evidently a favour-
ed one, or dependant on fome circumftances
unrelated to me. The foil admits not any
expenfive improvements by marie, &c.
The particulars of a farm were

300 Acres in all JT. 70 Px.ent

280 Arable 6 Horfes

20 Grafs 6 Cows

50 Of Wheat 220 Sheep

100 Of fp ring corn 5 Servants

30 Lr turnips 4 Labourers

The hufbandry of Sa'mfoine on fuch of
the chalks as are dry, undoubtedly deferves
attention in this neighbourhood.

LABOUR.

In winter, 1 x. a day.

In hay time, 1 s. and board.

In harveft, 2 /. a month and board.

Reaping per acre, 5 s.

Mowing corn, is. 6 d.

Grafs, 2 s.

Hoeing turnips, 4^. and a quart of ale per
day.

IMPLEMENTS.

A waggon, 17 /. to 20 /.

A cart, 9 /.

A wheel-plough, 4 /. to 5 /.

C 4 A foot

I 24 ]

A foot ditto, from 30 j. to4.oj\
A pair harrows, 1 /. 15^.
A barley roller, 1 /. 1 s.

PROVISIONS, &c

Thread, near 2d. per lb. Mutton, - 4^/.

ter, - 7 Pork, - 4

Cheefe, - ■ 3J. Candles, - 7

Beef, - 4 Soap, - 7

Veal, - 3t
Labourers houfe rent, from 35 j*. to 50 j.

a year.
Wear of their tools, 30 s.
Their hiring (if they buy) 30 s.

If the Earl of Bute's park at Luton Boo
was not an inducement, there certainly
could be none to vifit that town : Notwith-
standing the wretched roads I was forced
to crawl through, yet the beauties of the hill
and dale, wood and water in that park,
made ample amends. We entered through
the lodge from the town of Luton, and
drove along the banks of the river, which
was naturally a trifling flream, but is now
forming, and is made further on, the fined
water I have any where feen : the planta-
tions on the top of the of the hill:1, to the
right as we entered, are very beautiful ; on
the left, the winding hollow, which is pret-
tily diverfificd with fcattcred trees, is nobly
traced for continuing the water; and is a

fpot

[ =5 ]
fpot wonderfully capable. Where the
lake is imiflied, which io juft before you
come to the ifland, the view is very fine ;
the flxeam bends in a noble manner ; is feen
alone way without wanting irregularity,
and from its breadth has a magnificent
appearance. The iiland is large, has many
full-grown O'ees upon it, with young plan-
tati n mid adds much to the beauty of the
fcene The read winds among fome fcat-
terc tree- towards the right, the river ap-
pe. mg through them in a pleafing manner ;
th re are many very fine beeches as you ad-
vance up to the houfe, from the dark Ihade
of which the water is feen at a diftance
very advantageoufly. When you come near
the houfe (which I fhotild remark is now
rebuilding upon a more extenfive plan)
turning to the right, a gravel road leads
down to the water ; it partes through feve-
ral clumps of beech and other trees, through
the openings of which the oppofite hills
are viewed in a pleafing ftile ; at the
bottom of thefe hills the water ap-
pears , it is about a quarter of a mile
broad, forming a fine bend; two boats, and
a floop with fails and flying colours lie
at anchor here, but are by no means equal
to the fize of the water: Turning a little
to the right, the bridge fronts you ; it is
of wood, and though unornamented,
js light, and has here a good effe&. A

little

[ 26 ]

little further is the cafcade, which yet is but
a capability; when a little improved, and
catched from a pi per point of view, it will
add to the variety oi the fcene.

Returning from the water, you take a
different road, which lea Is through a
pleafin s 1| nd gives you a view of the

mon ital pillar which is feen among the

trees in a picturefque manner. It is a plain
one of the Tufcan order, on a fjquare pe-
deftal, upon which is the following in-
fcription :

In Memory of

Mr. Francis Napier.

Upon the top is an urn; and although it
is quite unornamented, this pillar is pecu-
liarly beautiful ; from the road in the val-
ley it appears to great advantage, with that
beautiful fimplicity which refults alone
from an harmony of proportion : The
urn refts on it with a lightnefs that is
pleafing. The view from hence is good ;
the breaks in the woods are fine, and the
hollow dales, grouped with beeches, are
perfectly rural.

From Luton we croffed the country
through very bad roads to Dunjlablc ; the
foil continuing a gravelly loam, and the
culture pretty good : At that place is a ma-
nufacture of baiket-work, which they have
carried to a great perfection of neatnefs,
5 and

[ *7 J

and make of hats, boxes, bafkets, eW. a
large quantity annually; but not a great
number of hands are employed. From
this town to Wooburn, the foil is various;
chalk, clay, loam and fand. At Houghton
it is chalk on the high grounds,, and a
black clay in the low lands. The farms
are in fize from 50/. to 3 /.a year; land
lets about 14^. an acre: Their courfe in
general is,

1. Fallow 4. Turnips

2. Wheat 5. Barley

3. Peafe and beans,
or oats,

They plough three times for wheat, fow
two buihels, and reap upon a medium
about 15 bufhels. For barley they plough
twice, fow three buihels of feed, and reckon
23 a middling crop. They likewife ftir
twice for oats, fow 2'- bufhels, which is
very little, and get on an average 3^ quar-
ters in return ; 24 buihels a middling crop.
For peafe and beans mixed they plough
twice, fow three buihels, and get on an
average 32 in return. When beans alone,
they ftir twice, fow fome broad caft, and
fome after the plough ; 24- buihels per acre,
but never hoe; twenty-five buihels the
medium produce. They give two tilths
for turnips, hoe them twice, and always
feed off with fheep. So few for this crop
cannot be too much condemned. They

plough

[ *8 ]•

plough their land with three horfes at
length, and ufe a driver ; do an acre and
half a day, in light work. The particulars
of a farm as follows :

300 Acres in all 60 Sheep

£. 200 Rent 9 Servants

9 Horfes 3 Labourers

1 2 Cows

PROVISIONS, &c.

Beef,- z^d.perlb. Pork, -4^/.
Mutton, 4 Bread, - 14.

Veal, - 4 Cheefe, 4

Labourers houfe rent, 2/.

Wear and tear of their tools, 12 J.

Their firing, 2 /. 1 o j-.

LABOUR.

In harveft, 40 s. a. month board and

lodging.
In hay time, 6 j-. a week and board.
In winter, 6 s. a week and fmall beer.
Reaping per acre, 5 j. and 6 s.
Hoeing turnips, 4-r. and 5 s.

I found many variations before I reached
Milton in the way to Wooburn ; at that
place and neighbourhood the foil is a mix-
ture of clay and gravel; farms are in ge-
neral much imaller than before, from 50/. to
100 /. a year; land lets at an average of about
10 j. the arable; and from 15 to 20 the

grafs

•[ 20 ]

grafs. They plough four times for wheat,
fow two bufhels per acre, and reap at a
medium 20 bufhels. ' For barley alfo four
times, fow two bufhels, and reckon three
quarters a middling crop. They low but
few oats ; when they do, they plough but
once, fow four buihels, and reckon four
quarters a middling crop. For peafe and
beans mixed they ftir but once, fow four
bufhels, and gain in return on an average
three quarters. When they fow beans
alone they plough but once, fow them broad
caft, three or four bufhels per acre, hoe
them fometimes, but oftener turn their
fheep in to feed off the weeds. For tur-
nips they ftir thrice, hoe once, and feed off
with fheep. They ufe four or live horfes
in a plough at length, with a driver, but

do feldom more than an acre in a day.

This execrable cuftom is pernicious to the
profit of farming : It is ftrange the race of
landlords are not vigorous in their endea-
vours to root out fuch miftaken practices.
They reckon the product of a cow at 4 /.
The following are the particulars of a farm
here :

150 Acres 100 Sheep

120 Arable 4 Servants

30 Grafs 2 Labourers

£. 90 Rent 30 Acres of wheat

9 Horfes 30 Barley, &c.

10 Cows 40 Beans and peafe.

LABOUR,

[ 3* ]

LABOUR.

In harveft, 35 s. a month and board and

carriage of a load of wood.
In hay time, 1 s. 4 d. a day, and fmall beer.
In winter, 1 o d. a day, and fmall beer.
Reaping wheat, 3 J", to 4-r. 6 d.
Mowing grafs, is. 4 d. and 1;. 6 d.

PROVISIONS, 6-'c

Bread, \\d.perlb. Mutton, %ld.
Butter, 7 Pork, - 4

Cheefe, 4 Candles, 7

Beef, - 3t Soap, - 7

Labourers houfe rent, 30 s.

Wear of their tools, 6 s.

Firing, 25 J.

IMPLEMENTS.

A waggon, 20 /. A cart, 11/.
I have not failed on all opportunities of
making many enquiries refpecling the ge-
neral ftate of the pari/hes I palled through,
but was never able until this time to gain
the leaft intelligence. The following parti-
culars of Milton are worth minuting ; I
fhould however remark that neither in this
cafe or any other, do I obtain anfwers to
all my queries, io that a complete defcrip-
tion is not to be expected ; but I believe

the

[ 3' ]

the following circumftances pretty accu-
rate ; in the number of acres perhaps it is
not abfolutdy exact **

iooo Acres ioo Cows

7 Farms 650 Sheep

£. 650 Rent 25 Labourers.

50 Horfes
The Duke of Bedford maintains a large
Hock of cattle in the fummer to keep down
grafs in his park, he found it difficult to
keep them in the winter; this occafioned
his practifing the turnip hufbandry upon a
large extent of land j and alfo to raife great

quan-

*Wooburn Abbey, the noble feat of his Grace the
Duke of Bedford, is in all refpefts well worth
the view of the curious traveller. The houfe
forms a large quadrangle, with a handfome
court in the center \ the front to the bafon is
the beft. Behind are two large quadrangles
of offices diftincl from the houfe, which are
very beautiful, plain, and fimple, but ex-
tremely proper for the deftination ; they are
built like the houfe, of white ftone ; in the
center of their principal front is a fmall dome
rifing over a porticoed center, fupported by
Tufcan pillars, which have a very good effect.
Upon the whole, thefe detached offices ap-
pear in a more judicious ftate, than any I
remember to have feen.

In the houfe you enter, firft the hall, which
though not a well-proportioned or elegant
room, is handfome. It is 40 by 37 and 15

high,

[ 3= ]
quantities of carrots, "Which the fandy parts
or his farm are admirably adapted for, being
of a deep ftaple and the fand a rich one ;
it is to be regretted that the neighbouring
farmers do not follow fo excellent an ex-
ample.

In the town of Wooburn, I had the fatis-
faction of meeting with a curiofity in agri-
culture, a moil accurate experiment ground,
in which many kinds of graffes are tried
with a neatnefs that muft pleafe every fpec-
tator. Mr. Bramftone is the owner, and

[certainly,

high, the cieling fupported by eight pillars.
The chimnies bats relieves in white itone.

The green drawing room is 22 by 35, between
the windows are line glades and two very
noble (labs of Egyptian marble. The chim-
ney-piece is of white marble polifhed. Here
are three large pictures ; the plague of
Egypt, dark •, David and Abigail, ditto ; as
are the colouring and general cxpreflion.
Two large landfcapes, fine.

The decker worked room 2-, by 20: Nothing
can be more pleaiing than this bed of decker
work lined with green iilk ; the work is ex-
qujftte, and the reprefentation of the birds
and beafts in it admirable. The chimney-
piece very elegant •, the fcrol of polifhed white
marble in a lujht tafte.

The dining room 25 by 22, a very noble room-,
the chimney-piece a feftoon of flowers carved
in white marble, and finely polifhed. In this

room

[ 33 ]

certain1v,from the variety of his trials, mint
be very understanding in the nature of
feparated grafTes, and very attentive to their
culture. This gentleman was not himfelf
at home, but I was very civilly received by
his brother, who fhewed me all the ex-
periments, and obligingly refolved my en-
quiries.

His prickly-edged Medico, appears to me a
great curiofity : It is an annual, as Mr. Bram-
fione apprehends, but the luxuriance of its
growth exceeds every thing I ever faw :
two or three plants which ftand fingle,
fpread an extent of fhoots fix feet diameter,

as

room are four large pictures of the battles of
Alexander. The repalt is not a diiagreeable
one, were the heroes grouped with more tafte,
but they fit at as fquare a table as any Dutch
painter could ever have defigned. The oppo-
fite piece to it is the belt ; the groupe of three
horfemen with a large rock in the bad: ground
is fine ; the fire and fpirit of the hories well
done.
In the yellow drawing room are two portraits
by Reynolds, one the late Marquis of Tavifiock;
the other the prefent Duchefs of Marlborough-,
the latter a very fine one. The chimney-
piece is elegant and the pier-glafs frame finely
carved, of plated filvcr : Here is alio a por-
trait of the prefent Duke of Bedford.
The coffee room 30 by 20 ; in this room
- remember to obferve a fmali portrait of
Vol. I. D Francis

[ 34 ]

as I meafured myfelf ; the leaf and yelloW
bloffom give it the appearance of a trefoil
rather than a lucerne, as does its trailing
{hoots, none of them being upright. I
cannot but apprehend that this plant might
be applied to mod excellent purpofes in
common, by attentive hufbandry, in which
cafe, it fhould certainly be fown very thin,
and the plants fet out at five or fix foot dis-
tance from each other with hand hoes ;
but if it is an annual, nothing of this fort
can ever anfwer.

The purple fefcue appears very thick
and fine ; but Mr. Bramjione^ who has tried

the

Francis Earl of Bedford, which is exceedingly
fine •, the face and hands admirably painted.

The grotto is pretty of its kind; the rufticks are
well cut, but the figures of bais reliefs in fhells
are ftrangely incongruous with the idea of a
grot. The china jars noble.

The billiard room is hung with very fine tape-
ftry, defigned from Raphael's cartoons.

The Ducheis's drefiing room, hung with em-
boffcd work on white paper, which has a
very' pleafing erTecl : The chimney-piece a
carved fcroll in wood, the marble black,
and veined : The pier-glafs large, and the
frame elegant ; over the chimney Lady Oifory
by Hudfon. The chairs and ibfas painted
taffi

• French bed-chamber, 26 by 22; the bed
and " hangings a very rich bclmozeen.

The..

[ 35 ]

the folding of two or three fheep upon
molt of his grades, finds that they do not
at all affect this fefcue.

The barren broom grafs was two feet
high, but neither fine nor thick.

The annual dwarf poa, which I remem-
ber Mr. Rocque praifed much for lawns, is
a fhabby, beggarly plant: Mr. Bramftone
has a (mall plat of it, which is quite ragged,
though fed off with fheep.

The great oat; two feet high, but coarfe
and thin.

The

The cnimney-piece light and beautiful ; the
cornice, feftoons of gilt carving on a white
ground ; and the ceiling the fame on a lead
ground ; the pier-glafs and frame, and the
frame of the landfcape ever the chimney
pleafing.

The drefling-room of the fame dimenfions, i9
likewife hung with the fame filk, the ceil'
and cornice richly ornamented with fcrolls or
gilding on a white ground : The chimnev-
piece all of white marble polifhed. but not
light. The doors, door-cafes, and window-
fhutters, &c. all ornamented like the ceiling,
&c. in white and gold. In this room, re^
member to obferve four very brge blue and
white china jars; the two by the windows are
prod'igioufly fine.

The ftate bed-chamber is moil magnificently
furnifhed. It is ^o by 22, the bed and hang-
ings of very rich blue damafk ; the ceili
ornamented in compartments of rich gildi]
2

t 36 ]

The bird grafs, very fine and thick, and
much affected by Iheep; this is certainly an
excellent grafs.

The meadow fox-tail, coarfe, but very
early; fheep in the fpring of the year eat
it greedily.

Crefted dog's-tail, made no great ap-
pearance, but is well affected by fheep.

Of lucerne, Mr. Bramjione has feveral
experiments; broad-caft, drilled at 18
inches afunder, and tranfplanted at two
feet ; all two years old, and cut twice
this year before I viewed them : I found
the drilled above two feet high, and very

fine

on a white ground. The chimney-piece of
marble polimed, and the carved and gilt
ornaments around the landfcape over it in a
beautiful tafte : The toilette is all of very
handfome Dre/den work, the glafs frame, and
boxes of gold. An India cabinet on each fide
of gold japan, with coloured china jars exqui-
fitely fine.

The drefling room 21 by 20, hung with green
damafk •, the chimney-piece very handfome j
the pier-glafs fine.

The drawing room exceedingly elegant, 33 by
22-, the ceiling a mofaic pattern of rich
curving on a white ground : the cornice of
the chimney-piece fupported by double pil-
lars of very fine Siena marble. The pier-
glafies very large, and in one plate •, under
them noble llabs of Siena. In this room
5 feveral excellent paintings-, particularly a

landfcape

f 37 ]
fine and thick. The tranfplanted was 18
inches high, but very thin ; it is, however,
by no means in perfection yet. The
broad-caft eight inches high, thick and
fine; cleaned by a ftrong iron rake inftead
of harrowing : In refpect to the compan-
ion, Mr. BramJlo?ie feems to think the
broad-caft yields moft in quantity, but as
the others were fo much forwarder, they
probably will get a cutting upon it, in winch
cafe the drilled muft certainly exceed it : i\T o
conclufions, he obferved, could be drawn
from the tranfplanted, as it was vifibly yet

in

landfcape by Claude Loraine, reprefenting a
ihip partly appearing from behind a building;
amazingly beautiful, the dihiifion of light,
the general brilliancy and harmony of the
whole, admirable.

A holy family •, very fine, the turn of the boy's
head inimitable.

Virgin and child ; the air of the Virgin's head,
and her attitude moft fweetly elegant and
expreffive.

A Magdalen ; fine.

The injide of a church ; the minute exprefllon of
the architecture, and the rays of light, well
done.

A rock, with the broken branches of trees
hanging from its clefts ; (I apprehend by Sal-
vat or) the expreifion very noble : The
romantic wildnefs of the fcene moil excel-
lently caught.

D 3 A holy

<12:

[ 33 ]

in an imperfect ftate ; but he apprehended
it would laft longer than any of them ; a
remark which is very probable, when the
rows are at the diftance o three feet four
inches, according to the directions of the
Rev. Mr. Harte, in his Kffhys on Huf-
bandry ; but I queftion whether, at an
equal diftance, it will laft longer than the
drilled. Mr. UraivJlont\ foil is a black rich
fand, very light, and of a good depth ; car-
rots would thrive incomparably in it.

From Wooburn to Newport Pagnell, the
foil has a great variety; for fome miles
it is quite a light fand, and then a gravel

with

A holy family •, the child Handing in the cradle-,

very pleafing.
Jofeph interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh, by
Kembran.lt ; moft admirable ; in a greater
ftile than common with this matter.
Rembrandt, by himfelf ;. inimitable.
Her Grace prefenting Lady Carolina to Minerva,
by Hamilton •, a very large picture, and fome
of the figures not inelegantly done.
The faloon 35 by 22, and of a good height;
it is moft magnificently fitted up, and ele-
ntly furnifhed •, the ceiling of gilt carv-
- op white •, the door-caie carved and
the cornices fupported by Corinthian
pillars in a light and pleafing ftile; the
-piece of white marble beautifully
iter hangs a magnificent

[ 39 ]

with fome light loams: About Wanden the
foil is chiefly fand, but few of their farms
are very large, they run from 30/. to 200/.
a year; their field land lets at an average
for about 7 s. 6d. an acre, and their in-
clofures from 10 s, to I2.r. Their courfe
of crop is,

1. Fallow 1. Fallow

2. Wheat or barley 2. Rye

3. Beans and peafe 3. Turnips
And 4. Barley

They plow four times for wheat, fow
tow bufhels an acre, and reap on a medium
three quarters. For barley they ftir four

times,
» ■ 1 ■ —

gilt luftre. Remember to obferve the picture,
reprefenting the Lift flipper ; it is fine. The
drawing in a tree and bold ftile.

A piece of angels \ fine.

Dining room 40 by 2 2 ; the ceiling white and
gold ; the chimney-piece pleafing ; over it a
landfcape, a waterfall, which has merit.

Second drawing room 20 fquare ; this, like the
reft, is well fitted up \ and among other
pictures, contains

Two landicapes, morning and evening •, by
Marat; capital.

Lyons, by Rubens ; fine.

Two battles, like Eorgognone.

The picture gallery in three divifions ico by
it, ornamented by a vaft number of excel-
lent portraits of the Rujfel family : Among
others, pemark that of the Counters of Somer-
D 4 fet,

[ 4° ]

times, low four bufhels, and get in return
about three quarters. For oats they plough
but once, fow four bufhels, and reap at an
average three quarters. For peafe and
beans mixed they likewife plough but once,
fow four bufhels, their crop not above 2?
quarters. They give but one tilth for
beans alone, fow them broad-caft, never
hoe them, but turn in fheep to feed off the
weeds, and reckon three quarters a mid-
dling crop. This is an execrable cuftom,
and ought to be exploded by all landlords
of the country. For turnips they ftir three
or four times, hoe them twice, reckon the

value

fet, the face and hands very finely done ; alfo
[Villi am Earl of Bedford and Lady Catharine
Brook, excellent. The ornaments of this
room are all carving painted white : There
are four ftatues, among them a Venus of
Medicis, but not pleafing; and a Venus
plucking the thorn out of her foot, but with
none of that exprefiion of pain in her counte-
nance which is fofine in the antique atlVilton.
Wooburn park is 10 miles around, and con-
tains variety of hill and dale, with woods
of noble oaks; we drove from the houfe
through them towards the fouth, and looked
up the great glade which is cut through
the park for feveral miles, and catches
at the end of it a Chinefe temple ; then
winding through the woods we came to
the Duchcfs's fhrubbery, containing \6 acres

of

[ 41 ]

value at about 40 s. an acre, and feed them
off with fheep alone, They ufe foui or five
horfes at length in their ploughs, and yet do
no more than an acre a day. The reader
will not forget the foil being iandy, the re-
quifite team is certainly nearer a fingle jack-
als than five horfes. This miferable ma-
nagement cannot be too much condemned.
The product of a cow they lay at near 4 /.
They let their dairies at 3 /. a head. The
particulars I gained of a farm are,

100 Acres 200 Sheep (a walk)

JT. 60 Rent 2 Servants

8 Horfes 3 Labourers

12 Cows

P RO-
of land beautifully laid out in the modern
tafte, with many moll: glorious oaks in it.
From thence we advanced to the hill at the
north end, from which is a vaft profpect into
Buckinghamjhire^ Hertford/hire, and Bedford-
Jhire ; turning down the hill to the left, the
riding leads to the evergreen plantation of
above 200 acres of land, which thirty
years ago was a barren rabbit warren, but
now a clofe winter's ride, on a dry foil,
with all forts of evergreens of a growth.
About the middle on the left hand, is an
handfome temple, retired and pleafing: At the
end of this plantation, we came to the lower
water, which is about ten acres, and in the
center, an ifland with a very elegant and light
Chinefe temple, large enough for thirty people

to

[ 4* ]
P R O V I S I O N S, &c.

Bread,

lid.

Veal,

Cheefe,

4

Pork,

3t

Butter,

7

Candles,

- 7

Beef

34

Soap

k

Mutton,

4

Labourers houfe rent, per annmn^^os. to

50 s.
Wear of their tools, 15 s.
Their firing they get off the common.

to dine in ; and in the adjoining wood is a
kitchen, &c. for making ready the repafts
his Grace takes in the temple. In the front
of the houfe is a large bafon of water with
fcveral handfome boats ; formerly a large
yacht fwam in it, but rotting, it has not been
rebuilt.
This park, which is one of the largeft in the
kingdom, contains 3500 acres of a great
variety of foils, from a light fand to a rich
loam, which yields grafs good enough to fat
large beads : It is all walled in ; was there
a greater variety of water, it would be much
more beautiful, but the nature of the foil in
the low parts makes that acquifition very
difficult; but what might be much eafier
gained, are buildings fcattercd about it, which
would give a pleafing variety to the ridings,
and for want of which, moil of them are very
melancholy.

LABOUR,

[ 43 ]
LABOUR.

In harveft, 35 s. the month and board.

In hay time, n.a day and victuals.

In winter, from 8 d. to 1 s. a day, and no

beer.
Reaping wheat, 5 s. 6 d.
Mowing corn, 1 s. 6 d.

• Grafs, 2 s. and 2 s. 6d.

The foil and management both changed
much for the better about Broughton : The
former is there various, but much of it
very excellent. Farms are from 100/. in
general to 200 L a year ; rents about 1 /. an
acre.

1. Fallow 4. Turnips

2. Wheat 5. Barley

3. Beans 6. Clover

This is an excellent courfe: For wheat
they ftir three or four times, low two
bufhels, and reap from 20 to 30. They
give the fame tillage for barley when on a
fallow which they manage excellently, for
they throw their fields on to the ridge to
lie dry in the winter, and then plough and
fow early in the fpring. Their quantity of
feed is five bufhels, and their mean crop as
many quarters. For oats they plough but
once, fow five bufhels, and gain in return
4'- quarters: They plough but once alfo
for the mixture of peafe and beans, fow
four bufhels, and reap 2~ quarters; nor

four

[ 44 J

Jo they give more earths for beans alone,
fow them generally broad caft, but fome-
times dibble them in, by which method
they fave near two bufhels of feed ; broad-
caft they fow fix bufhels, but never hoe
them ; before they bloffom, they feed off
the weeds with fheep; their crops are ex-
tremely various, fometimes none, and at
others 40 bufhels. For turnips they give
four or five tilths, hoe once, and feed them
all off with fheep; they generally lay all
their manure upon the turnip fallow :
They fow fome clover, but feldom mow it,
feed it with fheep; and mixrd with a little
ray-grafs, reckon that it will fat an ox in
the fpring of the year better than natural
graffes. This is a circumftance that much
deferves attention: Ray-grafs has of late

been much exploded but fafhion mould

never exclude the confideration of all fair
circumftances. The product of a cow they
reckon at 4 /. and in a kindly year like this,
one acre of their paftures will keep one
through the fummer.

Like their neighbours, they continue in
the abfurd cuftom of three, four, and five
horfes in a plough at length, with a driver;
life none but foot-ploughs, and do an acre
a day.

LABOUR.

In harveft, 32 s. the month and board.
In hay time, 6s. and board; ox. without.

In

t 45 ]

In winter, lod. a day and fmall beer,
Reaping wheat, 4 s. to 6 s.
Mowing grafs, 2 s.
Hoeing turnips, 5/.

PROVISIONS, &c.

Beef, - 4 </. Butter, - 6 </.

Mutton, - 3-i Cheefe, - 4
Bread, - 1^ Candles, - 7 _

Labourers houfe rent 20*. and keep in repair.
Wear of ditto's tools, 20 j.
Their firing, 50 j.

The following are the particulars of a
farm in this neighbourhood :

140 Acres in all 30 Cows

20 Ditto arable 150 Sheep

1 20 Ditto grafs 2 Servants

£.140 Rent 1 Labourer

4 Horfes

Of another :

200 Acres, all grafs 80 Sheep

£.160 Rent 3 Servants

3 Horfes 2 Labourers

30 Cows

Of another :

200 Acres, all grafs 80 Sheep

£.160 Rent 2 Servants

2 Horfes 2 Labourers

20 Cows

Of another :
200 Acres in all 60 Of arable

1 40

( 4<* }

140 Grafs 30 Oxeri

£•180 Rent 400 Sheep

7 Horfes 2 Servants

2 Cows 2 Labourers

Thefe four farms compofe the whole
parifh; confcquently it contains

7 +o Acres 82 Cows

8 0 Of arable 7 1 o Sheep

580 Of grafs 9 Servants

jf. 640 Rent 8 Labourers

1 6 Horfes

From Newport Pagnel I took the road to
Bedford, if 1 may venture to call fuch a
curled firing of hills and holes by the name
of road\ a caufeway is here and there
thrown up, but fo high, and at the fame
time fo very narrow, that it was at the
peril of our necks we paffed a waggon with
a civil and careful driver. This is a per-
nicious and vile practice ; it might be ex-
pected if thrown up at the expence of the
farmers alone; but when found in turn-
-pikes, deferves every unworthy epithet
winch frightened women or diilocated bones
can pofTibly give rife to. The whole way
to B i, 1 found immenfe quantities of

beans; not a mile paffed without feveral
hundred acres. About AJlwick their
courfe is,

1. Fall

2. Wheat and barley

3. Beans and peafe, or oats.

7 For

[ 47 ]
For wheat they plough three times ; fow two
bufhels, and reap on a medium 15 bufhels.
They give three ftirrings for barley, fow
four bufhels, and reckon 31 quarters a
middling crop. For oats they plough but
once, fow four buihels, and get on an
average not above 2 and 2.1 quarters.
They give but one tilth for beans, fow them
broad-caff, four bufhels to an acre, never
hoe them, but feed off the weeds with
fheep. Clover they often fow over their
wheat in the fpring ; generally mow it for
hay twice, but feldom feed it.

LABOUR.

In harveft, 40 s. the month and board.
In hay time, 8 j-. a week, no beer.
In winter, 8 d. and 9 d. a day.

IMPLEMENTS.

A waggon, 18 /. A cart, 10/.

About Biddenhcuiu they have all forts of
foil, from very light loam and gravel to
clay. Their tarms run from 40/. to 300 /.
a year; the open fields let from 2,f. 6d. to
3 s. 6 d. an acre; and the inclofures from
10/. 6 d. to 12 s. The principal of their
courfes are,

1. Turnips 1. Fallow

2. Barley 2. Wheat

3. Clover and ray- 3. Peafe and beans

grafs . And

6

For

L 48 ]

For wheat they plough three times, fow
two bufhels, and reap on a medium 2i.
and 3 quarters. They give three earths
for barley, fow four bufhels, and reckon
three quarters a middling crop : For oats,
which is fomewhat unufual, they ftir
twice or thrice, fow four bufhels, and three
quarters the mean produce. They plough
but once for beans, fow two bufhels broad-
caft, never hoe them, but like their neigh-
bours are flovens enough to truft to their
flocks for the weeding of them; the aver-
age of crops is three quarters. For peafe
they likewife ftir but once, fow two bufhels
and an half, and gain in return about two
quarters and half.

LABOUR.

In harveft, 40 s. a month and board.

In hay time, is. 4 d. a day for three weeks*

In winter, 4 j. 6 d. a week.

PROVISIONS, &c.

Beef, per lb. 4 d. Butter, - 6 d.
JVIutton, - 4 Bread, - ii-

The particulars of a farm, I enquired
after were,

£.40 Rent 4 Cows

5 Horfes 2 Servants

The vale of Bedford, which is a per-
fectly Hat tract of land for fome miles
1 around

[ 49 ]

around the town, is very rich in {oil and
excellently managed, if I may judge by the
noble crops I faw. The wheat, barley,
and turnips, were very fine, and equal to
any I have leen, and the beans, in point of
height and thicknefs, made a line appear-
ance, but I doubt can never turn out equal
to the other crops for want of hoeing : The
practice through all this country of lowing
three, four, and five bufhels of beans to an
acre, and not hoeing, muft for ever exclude
capital crops ; that quantity of feed, which
is more than double of what is requifite,
only choaks the earth with ftraw fo very
thick, as not to admit the air to forward
the production of the feed. In Suffolk and
Effex, they fow only two bufhels, and hoe
half the plants up, and yet reap much
greater crops than the farmers of this coun-
try, which, considering the foil of both, can
only be owing to a great fuperiority of ma-
nagement.

The town of Bedford is noted for no-
thing but its lace manufactory, which em-
ploys above 500 women and girls. They
make it of various forts up to 25 s. a
yard; women that are very good hands,
earn 1 s. a day, but in common only 8^.
yd. and lod. Girls from eight to fifteen,
earn bd. 8d-. yd. a clay. This manufac-
ture is of infinite ufe to the town, empl

Vol. I. E ing

I 5° }

ing advantageoufly thofe who otherwife
would have no employment at all.

Leaving Bedford, I took the road to
Nor thilli it was for a few miles the Biggie/-
wade turnpike, but I was aftonifhed to find
after I left the turnpike, that the road con-
tinued a very fine caufeway, of a good
breadth and heighth, and very level and
free from ruts ; I could fcarce believe my-
felf upon a byeroad, which induced me to
enquire : I found it was the excellent effect
of fevcral gentlemen attending much to

the bufinefs; particularly Hozvardj

Efq; of Carrington) who not only greatly
aftifted the parifh in making a fine caufe-
way through the village, but himfelf ex-
pended above fifty pounds in making one
bad piece a good road : Highly deferving
of praife are fuch inflances, for had other
gentlemen conducted themfelves with half
this fpirit, turnpikes would have been ren-
dered quite unneceffary : A ftriking con-
trad to this by-road is the turnpike between
Newport and Bedford.

Having mentioned Carrington, I fhould
not forget to remark, that that village is
one of the neatcft, beft built, and moft
lively I have fcen ; moft of the houfes and
cottages are new-built, all of them tiled,
and many of brick, which, with white
pales and little plantations, have a moft
plealing effect. After I left Carrington,

the

L AS ]

the road continued extremely good, until I
got near Northill; owing to the fpirited

attention of Butcher, Efq; but it

degenerated much over a common, a little
Wore Northill*.

The pariili of Sandy near Northill is
much noted for its gardens ; there are above
150 acres of land occupied by many gar-
deners, who fupply the whole country, for
many miles, with garden fluff, even to
Hertford. I examined their grounds with
much attention, and inquired concerning
the practice of a very fenfible gardener,
reflecting two or three articles of their
culture, which are, or ought to be the bu-
finefs of farmers in many fituations.

Their

* I would advife any traveller, who partes
through the county of Bedford to make
Northill in their route, were it only for the
fatisfaccion of viewing two fmall pieces of
painted glafs done by J. Oliver in 1660, be-
longing to the Rector, the Rev. Mr. Alaxey.
They are very fmall, but each has a fly, fo
exquifitely painted as to exceed the power
even of imagination to conceive ; the wings
are coloured on one fide, and the bodies on
the other of the glafs, and are touched in fo
lively and fpirited a manner, (efpecially one,
which is fuperior to the other, that without
fruit) that it is difficult to believe them but
painting, and not life itfelf •, the light appears
through the body at the junction with the t~:I
E 2 in

t 52 ]

Their foil is a rich black fand two or
three feet deep. Carrots they fow about
new Lady Day, upon ground dug one fpit
deep, hoe them very carefully three times ;
they do it by the day, and the three coft
them from 20 to 30 s. an acre, as the crop
happens to be ; they fet them out about
eight or ten inches from plant to plant ;
and get, on a medium, 200 bufhels upon
an acre. I drew feveral roots and found
them from one foot to 18 inches long.
Parfnips they cultivate exactly in the fame
manner, but the product never equals that
of carrots, by forty or fifty bufhels. This
point of comparison deferves attention,
for parfnips have been more than once
recommended as fuperior to carrots ; but
I apprehend they never will be found even
equal. The prices of carrots vary from 1 s.
to 4 s. a bufhel, but the firft is very low.
Potatoes they plant at the fame time ; 20
bufhels plant an acre, at the diftance of
about one foot every way; they hoe them
three times, but not at all before they come
up, which is praelifed in Effex about Jlford,

in the moft inimitable manner, and the round-
nefs of the fly, with the lightnefs cf its claws,
are reprcfented in the bolder! and fulleft re-
lief. Jn a word it is truly admirable: In the
chancel of the church, is a very fine painted
window in good prefervation by the fame
m after.

5 They

t 53 1
They reckon the midfu miner dun fort to
yield bcft; a middling crop is 250 bufhels
upon an acre; they always manure for them,
either with dung or allies, about 20 load,
but afhes they prefer. This on a iandy foil
is, I think, very extraordinary. The price
varies from 1 s, A^d. to 2 s, a bufhel.

Of onions, they fow vaft quantities ; —
the time, about a fortnight before Lady
Day ; they hoe and weed them always five
times at the expence of four pounds an
acre, fet them out fix inches afunder, and
their crops rife to above 200 bufhels, but
their price from 16 d. (which is very low)
to 2 s. They always manure for them
with great care. Thefe gardeners give
from 40 s. to 5 /. rent per acre, for their
land; it is, as I before obferved, a rich
loofe black fand of a good depth, and very
favourably protected from adverfe winds by
feveral considerable hills. It is a remark-
able, and a very pleafing fight, to behold
crops of onions, potatoes, French beans,
and even whole fields of cucumbers, inter-
mixed with crops of wheat, barley, tur-
nips, &c.

It may not be unentertaining, to calcu-
late the profit thefe gardeners make by the
preceding crops, and nrrl with carrots ;
the expences per acre we may fuppofe as
follow :

E T Kent

I" 54 ]

Rent -

Digging

Seed - -

£•3 °
1 0
0 3

0
0
0

Sowing -
Raking
Hoeing -

0 0

0 4

1 S

6
0
0

Digging up

0 10

0

£-6 7

6

Produce.

200 bufhels at 2 s.

20 O

0

Expences

6 7

6

Front

13 12

6

POTATOES.

Expences,

Rent

Manuring

Digging

20 Bulhels fets

Planting, &c.

Hoeing

Digging up

Produce.

250 Bulhels at 20 d.
Expences - -

Profit

0

0

0 0

5

0 0

1

0 0

1

13 6

0

10 0

1

0 0

0

15 0

12

1 6

20

16 0

12

18 6

7

17 6

ONIONS,

[ 5J ]
ONIONS.

Expences,

Rent - -

3

0

0

Manuring

5

0

0

Digging and raking

1

5

0

Seed -

0

15

0

Sowing and raking

0

6

0

Weeding and hoeing

4

0

0

Taking up

0

5

0

*

14

11

0

Produce.

200 Bufhels at 2,0 d.

16

13

0

Expences

14

1 1

0

Profit

2

2

0

At this place, is to be feen a fmall field
of lucerne belonging to Sir Philip Molyneux.
It was fown broad-call by itfelf laft fpring ;
the part of it that was uncut I found very
thick and fine, about two feet high, but
numerous weeds were among it, from
which I conjecture, that the land either
was not duly prepared by fallowing, or that
the crop was not kept clean while young.

From Sandy to St. Neot\ the country is
chiefly open, and the crops not equal to
thole around Bedford: I would acjvife you,
if accident mould carry you to that town,
to view a very beautiful little natural
£ 4 landfcapc.

[ 56 ]

landfcape, which is feen in great per-
fection from Mr. Cole\ cloie, at the bot-
tom of his garden ; the river winds along
at your feet ; at one end is the bridge,
through the center arch of which, houies
are feen in a pleating manner ; on the
other fide, the ftream is loft among the
wood ; in front are feveral meadows, which,
though flat, are by no means diiagreeable ;
fome high trees vary the fcene, among
which a farm houfe appears juft at the point
you would place it; turning a little to the
right the houfes of the town are feen very
prettily intermixed with trees, and the
fteeplc rifes from behind a fore ground of
wood, which has a good effect. St. Neofs
is a clean, well-built town, has a good
church ornamented with a handfome organ,
and the river not only adds greatly to its
beauty, but much enlivens it.

I took the road to Kimbolton, the coun-
try continuing in general open ; about
Hale Wefton^ the foil is a gravelly loam, with
variations. The open fields let at 7 s. and
7 s. 6 d. per acre, and the inclofed paf-
tures about lys. Hence we find a profit
of 10 j. an acre from inclofing and laying
to grafs : Is it not aftonifhing that the
landlords fhould allow any part of the
country to remain open ! The farms run
from 40 /. to 200 /. a year. Their courfe

crops,

1. Fallow

[ 57 ]

1. Fallow And i. Turnips

2. Wheat 2. Barley

3. Peafe, &c. 3. Peafe, &c.
They plough four times for wheat, fow two
bufhels, and reap at a medium fifteen. For
fummertilth barley they ftir four times, and
twice the turnip land, fow four bufhels, and
reckon the mean produce at three quarters.
They give but orie earth for oats, fow four
bufhels, and get at an average two quarters.
This produce is fo low that the crop mufl
unavoidably be a lofing one. For peafe
they plough but once, fow four bufhels,
and reckon 12 bufhels the mean produce.
For beans they likewife ftir but once, fow
them broad-caft, four bufhels to the acre,
never hoe them, but fometimes hook out
the rank weeds, and turn fheep in ; fifteen
bufhels the medium. For turnips the
give three earths, hoe them once ; reckon
the mean value per acre, at 55 s. andJeed
all off with iheep : They ufe from three to
fix horfes in a plough at length ; and do,
after the breaking the fallow, five rood a
day. The profit of a cow they reckon at
4 /. The particulars of a farm,

660 Acres 20 Cows

60 Grafs 650 Sheep

600 Arable 8 Servants

£. 300 Rent 10 Labourers.
20 Horfes

PRO-

r

[ S* }

PROVISIONS,^.
Bread, i^dperlb. Veal, 4*/.
Cheefe, 4 Pork, 4

Butter, 7 Candles 7

Beef, 3t Soap, 7

Mutton, 4

Labourer's houfe rent from 20 j. to 30 j.
Wear of their tools, 20 s.
Firing, 30 J.

IMPLEMENTS.

A waggon, 20 /.
A cart, 12/.
A roll, 15 s.

LABOUR.

In harveft, 36 s. to 40 s. the month and

board
In hay-time, 1 s. 6 d, a day, and beer
In winter, 1 s. a day, and finall beer
Reaping wheat, 5 s. to 7 .r.
Mowing corn, 1 J-.

grafs, 1 s. 6 <r/. to 1 s. 8 </.

Hoeing turnips, 4 j-. 6 ^. to 5 J-.
Ditching (the reparation) 4 */. a pole
Threfhing wheat, ix. a load, or 5 bufhels

fpring corn, i;,a quarter *.

From

• Kimbclton cattle, the feat of his Grace the Duke
of Manckefter, is fituated clofe to the town ;
it is a quadrangular building. The hall is

50 feet

[ S9 }

From Kimbolton to Thrapftonc, the country
is in general open, very little inclofed be-
fides their paftures ; I ihould obferve to
you, that quite from Newport FagneU to
Ihrapftone, the Toil is all ploughed into
broad arched lands about a perch and half
over, and a yard higher in the center than
the furrows. This cuftom is a very good
one, where the water is let clean clean out
the furrows, but I have more than once,
in winter feen fuch furrows twro feet deep
in water. About Great Catnvorth^ the foil
is very good, clay in general, but fome
gravelly loams. It lets, the arable for about

1 4 j.

50 feet long by 2 5 broad, and hung round
with family portraits, fome of which are very
good. Out of it you enter on the right hand,
the blue drawing-room, 35 by 20, over the
chimney-piece hangs a fine picture of Prome-
theus^ the horrible exprefiion of which is very
great. Between the windows are fix fmall
portraits, excellently done, particularly the
man and woman in the middle ; his face is
very exprefiive, and the finifhing in hers the
fame.

The yellow drawing-room 35 by 22, with a
handfome glafs luitre in the center: Here are,

A moil admirable portrait of Lord Holland^
with an attendant officer, and a page adjust-
ing his fafh ; the heads and hands, the drapery
and the relief of the figures are all fine.

A virgin and Jleeping child. Strange attitude.

Virgin

r fo ]

14 j. an acre, and the grafs 20 s. Farms,
from 30/. to 100/. a year. Their courfe
of crops,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat or barley

3. Beans, peafe or oats.

They plough three times for wheat, fow
two bufhels, and reap about 24 or three
quarters. For barley they give the fame
tillage, fow four bumels, and reckon three
quarters the mean produce. For oats they
ftir but once, fow four bufhela, and gain,
at an average, two quarters and a half.
They fow but few peafe, but when they

Virgin and child. Eyes very bad.

The faloon is 40 by 27 •, hung with crimfon
velvet ; the pillars in two corners, I fuppofe,
were neceflary to the building, but they are
handfome ones ; the flabs are of various
marbles in Mofaic ; over the chimney, a pic-
ture of Hetfor and Andromache, the colours,
attitudes and exprefiion of which are by no

means pleafing. The ftate bed-chamber,

27 by 21, is hung with cut velvet, the pier
glafs and flab glailes from Venice ; the border
of the lirit is pretty. In the clofet is a Mag-
dalen ; the exprefiion of pain in her counte-
nance, not amii's •, the thought feems borrow-
ed from Lord Pembroke's Venus. Through

the ftaircafe is a fmall room hung with very
fine drawings after Raphael and Julio Romano.

The dining room is 30 by 27.

The library 24 fquarti the book-cafes pretty.

do j

[ 6. ]

do, they plough but once, fow four bufhels
and reap on a medium two quarters. For
beans they plough likewiie but once, fow
all broad-cait, four bufhels, never hoe, but
fometimcs feed the' weeds off with fheep.
They never fow turnips : In their ploughs
which are all foot ones, they ufe from four
to eight horfes, and after one or two earths,
do an acre and half a day. All their dung
they lay on their barley lands, but feldom
mix it with earth. The particulars of a
farm were,

250 Acres 200 Sheep

£. 100 Rent 4 Servants

1 1 Horfes 2 Labourers

20 Cows

PROVISIONS, &c.

Bread, 2 d. per lb. Mutton, 3^ d.
Butter, 6 Veal, 3^

Cheefe, 4 Pork, 4

Beef, 4 Soap, 6

Labourer's houfe rent, from 10 s. to 30 s.
Wear of their tools, y s. to 10 s.
Their firing, 25 s.

LABOUR.

In harveft, 30 s. a month and board, with

carriage of a load of wood.
In hay-time, 1 s. 6 d. a day, and fmall beer.
In winter, 8 d. a day, and fmall beer, and a

mefs of milk of a morning.

Reaping

[ 6z ]

Reaping of wheat, 4 s.
Mowing corn, I s.

grafs, 1 j. /\.d.

Ditching, 5 d. per pole.
Threfhing wheat, 2 j". per quarter".
fpring corn, 1 s.

IMPLEMENTS, &c.

A waggon, 20 /.

A cart, 1 2 /.

Oak timber, per foot, 1 j-. 6 d.
The country between Kimbolton and
Thrapjlone is extremely pleafant, and more
Scattered with villages and churches than
any I ever faw; from one level plain,
which rifes above the furrounding country,
I counted with eafe twelve fteeples. It like-
wife continues very pleafant and wTell di-
verfiried to Oundle. About Ay churchy be-
tween Thrapjlone and the latter named place,
the foil is a ftrong clay. The farms are
imall in rent, in general from 20 /. to 60 /.
land lets at 5 j-. an acre. Their courfe of
crops,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat or barley

3. Beans

For wheat they plough four times, fow
two bulhels of (eedy and get at a medium
three quarters. They plough three times
for barley, fow four bulhels, and reap four
quarters. They fow fcarce any oats, and

no

[ 63 ]

no turnips. For beans they plough but
once, fow four bufhels broad-caft ; never
hoe, but the flovenly practice of feeding off
the weeds with fheep yet continues ; three
quarters they reckon the medium produce.
They manure only for wheat and barley,
fpread it on the fallows the end of July
or beginning of Auguft, and plough it in.
They ufe three horfes at length, and do an
acre a day. The particulars of a farm I
gained were

i So Acres all arable 200 Sheep
jT. 50 Rent 3 Servants

10 Horfes 2 Labourers

30 Cows

PROVISIONS, &c.

Bread, per lb. i^d. Beef, - 3^.

Butter, - 6 Mutton, - 4-1

Cheeie, - 4

Labourer's houfe rent, 2 s. 6 d. and repairs
to 5 s. and few higher ; this is furpriz-
ing, notwithftanding the many quarries
of itone in the country.

Wear of their tools per annum, 8 s.

Their firing, 50 s.

LABOUR.

In harveft, 30 s. to 36 s. a month, and

board.
In hay-time, 1 s. a day, and board.
In winter 8 d. a day and fmall beer, and a

mefs of milk in the morning.

6 Reaping

t 64 ]

Reaping wheat, 4 /. 6 d. and 5 s.
Mowing barley, oats and beans, 1 j-.

grafs, 1 s. 4 d.

Threihing wheat, 1 s. 4 d. per quarter,
fpring corn, 1 s.

IMPLEMENTS.

Waggon, 20 /. A cart, 10 /.

In the whole parifh are,
1200 Acres of arable land
8 Farms
A large fheep-walk
10 Labourers

1 Poor family that takes of rates
55 Horfes
200 Cows
2000 Sheep

About 550 /. Rent
This whole tract of country, quite to
Stamford, is chiefly open and uninclofed,
except in fmall parcels around the villages,
which however give a pleafant variety to it
in travelling; but it is melancholy to
think, that in an age wherein the benefits
of inclofing are fo well known and under-
flood, fiich vaft tracts mould remain in
fuch a comparatively unprofitable ftate. — -
Stamford is a very pretty well-built town,
allot' Aone, a quarry lying under the whole
country ; but the infamy of fuffering a
ftreet to be fo vilely bad as that at the

north

[ 65 ]

north entrance, cannot be too feverely re-
marked ; the pavement, if fuch it is to be
called, is nothing but deep holes.

As I mail to-morrow morning view the
feat of the Earl of Exeter, Burleigh
Houfe *, and am again come into the great
North road, after an excurfion from it,
I fhall here beg leave to conclude this let-
ter, remaining,

Dear Sir,

Your's, &c.

* Burleigh Houfe is a very antient building, in
the form of a quadrangle, very fpacious, fur-
rounding a large court, and in the old ftile
of building very handibmely ornamented
with turrets, carving in {tone, &c. &c. Many
of the rooms are but fmall, and therefore I
have minuted but few of them diftinctly ;
nor have I marked all the paintings as they
hang in each room, as it would be difficult to
diftinguiih them by peculiar phrafes. Some
are little more than clofets.

The Billiard Room, newly fitted up, 33 by 21,
the chimney-piece of white marble poiifned,
and a rounding of Siena j it is light and
pretty.

The Chapel, not fmifhed -, 33 by 34 j befides
the Anti-room, which is ornamented with
very elegant carved wainfeot.

The Bow-window-room, 45 by 33 •, painted by

Le Guere, who, with Ferric, painted all ti e

Vol. I. F ceilings,

t 66 1

LETTER II.

BOUT Stamford, particularly north-
wards, at Caflerton, &c. the foil is
clay, and what they call creech, which is
a poorfandy loam ; farms are from 20/. to
500 /. a year ; rents are, for field land,
from 5 J", to 7 s> per acre ; and for inclo-
fures, as high as 1 /. Their courfe is,

1. Fallow 4. Barley, fome-

2. Wheat times wheat

3. Trefoile and 5. Turnips

clover mixed 6. Bailey.

for two years

For

ceilings, &c. in the houfe. Out of this you
enter into another, 30 by 24, with filver
fconces around it, and furniture of the hearth
the fame. Next is a bed-chamber, rich work
on a black fatin, and lined with yellow filk ;
the fringe of the counterpane, and orna-
ments at the head of the bed, are in a pretty
tafte. In the clofet are
Three pieces by Gieufeppe Cbierera,

: Shepherds, by Baffan -3 the co-
louring good.

afcapest by Gafper VouJJin •, one of them
silent.
In th adjoining are two pieces by

/, , boys blowing bladders, and

girls

L 67 ]

For wheat they plough four times, Tow
two bufhels and an half and 21, and reap
on a medium two quarters and an half.
They give four tilths for barley, fow four
bufhels, and reckon four quarters the ave-
rage. They plough but once for oats, fow
four bufhels, and get at a medium five
quarters. For peafe they give one ftirring,
fow three bufhels, and gain in return about
S^quarters. For beans they likewife plough
but once, fow them broad-caft, never hoe,
and get about three quarters or 3* at an
average. They fow many turnips, plough

for

girls drefTing a cat ; admirable : The diffu-
fion of light ftrongly expreffed, and very
finking.

In the drefiing-room, 18 by 27,

Two flower-pieces, by Baptift, very fine.

Henrietta, King Charles's Queen, by Vandyke-,
the drapery well done.

Two fruit-pieces ; Michael Angel 0 •, very fine.

A bunch of grapes, by Mils Grey, in worried ;
inimitable.

Honey -fuckles, by Ditto ; very pretty.

Landfcape, a water-fall, by Harding ; the water
well done.

Here are, likewife a Chinefe pageda in ivory
and mother of pearl.; very pretty; and
fome fine china jars : Nor ftu j for-

get to remark the India cabinets in thc-fe
apartments, and the japan card tables, both
i; 2 whicha

[ 68 ]

for them three times, hoe them once, rec-
kon the mean value at two guineas an acre,
and feed them with nothing but fheep.
They cultivate a great deal of fainfoine,
fow it generally with barley that fucceeds
turnips, 4, 4^, and fometimes 5 bufhels of
feed to the acre ; they reckon that the land
cfinnot be made too fine for it ; it lafls
twenty years. They always mow it once,
and never more, and get for about a dozen
years two loads of hay per acre at an ave-
rage, but for the firft year only one load.
If they cut it oftencr, they reckon that it
damages it much. The particulars I gained
of a farm were,

£• 100

which, with a great variety of furniture,
are elepant. In the following rooms are,
Fruit and flowers, by M. Angelo \ fine.
Venus and Cupid, by jV. PouJJin -, fine ; but the

i\- yblue a ftrange one indeed.
Four pictures, by Carlo Marratt, but not in his

beft manner.
Defcent of the Holy Ghofly by Le Brun ; heads

amazingly fine.
Virgin and Child •, Correggio ; the colouring, &c.
of this picture does not equal the idea one has
formed of this great inafter.
IVifcmcns offerings ; Carlo Bold. The finilhing
of this picture is very fine ; the airs of the
heads noble, the attitude of the child excel-
lent, and the colours and clear obfeure of
great merit.

Martyrdom

[ h ]

£. ioo Rent 10 Cows

200 Acres 160 Sheep

150 Arable 4 Servants

50 Grafs t Labourers
6 Horfes

IMPLEMENTS.
A waggon, 18 /.
A cart, 7 /.
A plough, 1 /. 5 j.
A pair of harrows, I /. 5 /.
A roll, from 1 /. 5 s. to 2 /. ioj.

LABOUR.
In harveft, 7 j. 6 d. a week and board.
In hay-time, 1 /. a day and board, for
carting, &c.

In

Martyrdom of St. Catherine, by Julio Romano ;

a piece containing numerous figures, and is

very fine.
Virgin and Child, by Carlo Cignani ; noble.
AJleeping Chrift, by Poajfin ; moft exquifite.
Virgin's head, a fketch by Raphael.
Jofeph's head, a ditto by ditto. The name of

Raphael is great ; but thefe Iketches will not

anfwer any one's idea who has ieen thefe alone

of this mafter.
St. Eujlachius's Vifwn, by Albert Dtirer ■, prodir

gious expreMion of the minute fort.
Virgin and Child ; Correggio •, the attitude fine.
Chrift blejfing the elements, by Carlo Dolci. To

defire you to make a paufe when you come

%o this picture, would furely be needlefs ; for
F 3 all,

[ 7° 1
In winter, I s. Only three miles off it is jd*
Reaping, 5 s. per acre.
Mowing corn, 1 j-.

grafs, 1 s. 3 d.

Hoeing turnips, 5 s.

Threfhing wheat, is. 6 d. to 1 s. 8 d. pej:

quarter.
*— barley, &c. I s.

PROVISIONS, &c.

Butter, per lb. 6d. Mutton, - 3 i/„
Cheefe, - 3 Veal, - 3

Beef, - 3
Labourer's houfe rent, 20 s. an acre of land
included.

A mo-
all, from the connoilTeur to the clown, muft
be ftruck with aftonifhment at the firft enter-
ing the room : Sure never piece was finifhecl
in lb perfect a manner The divine re fig-
nation, attention to the moment,-

religions complacency of foul; all is moft

exquilite: There is not only a picturefque
beauty in this piece, but an ideal one, and in
a noble ftile; for the fentiments in the coun-
tenance of our Saviour, are rather thofe of an
imaginary exiflence, fomething fuperior to
humanity, than a reprefentation of what is
ever beheld. The nniihing and colouring,
down to the bread and napkin, are inimitable;
the general glow and brilliancy •, the bold
relief of the right hand ; the hollownefs of

the

[ 7i ]

A modern improvement in this country
is the laying their lands down with clover
and trefoile for two years, and keeping it
fed well down with iheep, by which means
many pernicious weeds which ufed to
trouble them greatly are got under, and
their lands kept clean and in good order.

Mr. Sijfon of Cqjlerton, a very consider-
able farmer, and a moft underftanding, in-
telligent man, was fo obliging as to give
me the above particulars : He is noted for
his good hufbandry in general, and for his
freedom from all prejudices againft new
methods of culture. He once tried lucerne,
broad-cart, upon a clean fallow, but met
with no fuccefs in the attempt. Burnet he

has

the open'd mouth all furprizingly touched.
In a word every part of this great work
proves that Carlo Dolci deferves to be ranked
among the firft of painters.

'Adoration of the Shepherds, by ditto •, amazingly
fine.

Chrift in the garden ; Baffan. The ftrong reflec-
tion of the light very ftriking, but the ftile of
painting coarfe, and almoft like tapeftry.

Martyrdom of St. Catherine, by Parmegiano, after
Correggio; mofl iweetly elegant.

Virgin and Chriffs body ; Hani. Carrache ; very
fine.

Holy Family ; Andrea del Sario\ fine. The old
female head excellent.

F 4 Head,

f 73 ]

]has an experiment on, which turns out very
advantageoufly ; the field has now a fine
after-crop, the firfi mowed for hay ; but I
forbear a particular account, as the follow-
ing paper contains Mr. Sij/bn's own regifter
of the experiment. I copy it from one
he gave me, which was in his own
hand.

ic George SiJJon of Bridge Cajterton in the
county of Rutland^ farmer, did, in May
1767, fow upon an acre of light creech
land in Ing thorp lordfhip in the fame county
(properly cultivated as for turnips) 1 4 lb. of
burnet in an inclofure, which was fown
with turnips, cultivated in the fame man-
ner. After the turnips were hoed, the
burnet was laid, and not meddled with till

the

Head; a {ketch by Correggio; difagreeable.

Morning and Evenings two landfcapes, by Tern-
pejia; fine.

Venus and Adonis -, Gieufeppa Chi er era : Venus' $
nefh is well painted ; clear, but natural.

The drefTing-room hung with green cut-velvet,
with elegant gilt papie machie borders, is
very handibmely fitted up : The chimney-
piece a iinall bais relief let into the center,
with a border around the whole of Siena
marble ; very elegant.

' :,o.d ; Carlo Marratt ; very fine.

Adoration of the Shepherds ; Ferara. This pic-
is a good one, but the principal action

ftrange!/

[ 73 ]

the time the turnips were flocked for eat-
ing, which was in March j 768 ; it grew
to about '8 or 20, and fbme 22 inches in
length, having received no damage by the
inclemency of the weather, although the
turnips rotted much ; and I verily believe
it did as much fervice to the flieep, as the
beft acre of turnips in the ground. They
being remarkably fonder of the burnet than
the turnips, I was under a nccejTity of eat-
ing of it until all the turnips were eaten
off, and the turnip land Towed with bar-
ley, which was the firft week in Aprils
Old Stile.

" It grew, and was a tolerable good crop
to all appearance, but (being a ftranger to
it) I believe it flood two or three days

longer

ftrangely abfurd ; the Virgin holds the Child
in he/ lap, as a crier would a parcel of
oranges.

Virgin fuppor ting the dead bedy ofChriJl ; Vandyke?
A fmall but aftoniihing picture. The body
is painted in the moft admirable ftile ; the
expre'flion exact, but great; the colouring
exquifite ; the group and general effect, fur-
prizingly fine. In a word, this piece is truly
capital.

Virgin, by Ferrato ; fine.

fioly Family. —Thck four by Carlo Marr at t, and
very fine,

Virgin*

[ 74 ]

longer than it ought : It began to Ihell
very mnch as I mowed it, which was in the
beginning of July ; the weather being fa-
vourable after it was mowed prevented it
iTielling much after that. After it was
properly in order as hay or fainfoine, I
carried it into a barn, and threfhed it out;
and to my aftonifhment, when winnowed,
there were 23 bufhels or two quarters and
feven bufhels, which when weighed, was
562 1 /Z>. from 14 only being fowed : the
fodder the horfes eat much like the fain-
foine after it was threfhed.

" N. B. The 14 lb. coft me j±d. per lb.
which amounts to 8 s. gd. and the 562
4 lb. after the fame proportion amounts to
17/. 115. Zt d-

" This

Virgin, copied by Patours; attitude, colour, and

turn of the moulders, good.
The offering the tribute money, in two colours, by

Vandyke. The group, airs of the heads, and

attitudes, admirably fine.
EUJha i Carlo Bolci •, prodigious fine. The

colouring, expreffion, and general effect, great.
Affumftion ; Hanibal Carrache.

. in at our Saviour's tomb \ Carlo Marratt,

after Raphael-, very fine.
Virgin and Child I Correggic, a fine, but an un-

pleafing picture -s the faces very ugly.

8 Flight

[ 75 ]

lc This being my firft experiment of the
burnet grafs, the good fuccefs I have had,
will induce me to make a further experi-
ment. I intend, (God willing) to fow 12
acres of land in the fame lordfhip properly-
cultivated in March 1769, with a crop of
barley, in order to find out the heft and
mod advantageous method of dealing with
the faid feed, and fhall endeavour to intro-
duce it in another lordfhip in the fame
county, and more of my family intend
doing the like upon different foils.

Bridge Cajlerton,
Rutland.

" Witnefs my hand,
" George Sisson.

Flight into Egypt \ Carlo Bold. The thought,
manner, colours, and expreflion, very beau-
tiful.

A Satire on the Capuchines ; David Tenters \ very
great expreflion.

Adoration of the Shepherds, and Offering of the Wife
Men; two pieces by Polenburgh; colouring,
finifhing, and defign of the heads very fine.

St. John, by Parmegiano 5 verv fine.

Centaur and Dejanira ; Jordanus -, finel) expr -
five. The female flefh fort and b aut.
and well contrafled with the roughr Is o\ 1
Centaur.

<S/. SebaJHan and St. Lucia, by Carlo D<
fine.

[ 7« 3

" N. B. John Gervis, farmer of little Caf.
terton, has tried the fame experiment with
the like fuccefs."

This trial is very important; let the
reader remember that it is a farmer,— not
a theorift that fpeaks. It is evident from
his relation, that burnet is of uncommon
ufe for feeding fheep ; which is an appli-
cation of fo much importance that it alone
ferves ftrongly to recommend it. The va-
lue of a food is determined by the feafon

in

A cat and dead birds, and pigeons in a basket, by
Dav. Conich; extremely well done.

Venus rifing from the Sea, by Titian ; very capital.
Mofl of the pictures I have ieen of this mailer
are either in bad prefervation, or the colour-
ing gone off and hard. We look in vain for
that glowing brilliancy of pencil, of which
we read fo much in many works on painting :
But in this exquifite piece, the colours are
admirable ; nothing can can be more beauti-
ful than the exprefiion of the naked; the
roundnefs and elaftic foftnefs of the breads
are inimitable •, the beauty of the face very
great, and moll elegantly painted ; her atti-
tude very pleafing: In a word, you will view
this picture with uncommon pleafure.

Albano •, Amphy trite ; fine.

Roleant Savary, landfcape ; very fine. It is
painted in the flile of Sahator Rofa.

In the blue damafk drawing-room are feveral
exquifite pieces •, and the glaffes, frames, &c.
yery elegant,

Cork

t 77 3
in which it can be procured : an acre of
food in dpril is worth five acres in Nir*
*v ember.

Returning to Stamford, I took the road to
Grimfihorpe ; the country moftly open,
and the roads execrably bad ; about little
Bytc?i, their hufbandry is but indifferent,
however their foil is the lame ; it is clay
and gravelly loam ; farms run from 40 /.

to

Carlo Marrat. Our Saviour and the Samaritan

Woman ; fine.
Celefli. Adam and Eve lamenting over the dead

body of Abel ; very fine.
Guido. The Per/tan Sybil; prodigioufly fine •, the

colouring and expreilion wonderfully great.
Jordanus. Ifaac bleffing Jacob ; amazingly fine.

The dying expreflion in Ifaac 's face, and that

of the whole piece, very capital.
Carlo Marratt. Virgin with, the dead body of

Chrift ; noble.
Salutation. The colouring fine ; but the clear

obfeure appears to me very faulty.
Jordanus. Tobit ; exquifite.
Carlo Marrat t. Magdalen ; inimitable.
Titian. Virgin and Child; the colouring a crood

deal gone off.
Girendo de la Nocle. The reconciliation of St.

Peter and St. Paul; the heads and hands verv
fine. ;

Ludovico Carrache. Virgin, Chrifi, and John -,

extremely fine.
Caflo Marratt. Magdalen.
In another drawing-room, 30 by 27, is a moft
0 nobis

[ 73 ]
to 80 /. a year ; rent of land about 4 J* an
acre : Their courfe,
1. Fallow
z. Wheat

3. Beans, pcafe or lentils.
They plough five or fix times for "wheat,
fow from four to fix bufhels per acre:
N. B. their meafure is random work, fome
acres very large, and others fmall, but the
largenefs of the above quantity made me

obferve

noble chimney-glafs in one plate 7 feet by 4 ;
it is hung with crimfon damafk : Here are
feveral very fine pictures.

Jordanus. Jupiter and Euro-pa.

Marcus Cur tins.

Fortune.

Death of Seneca.

Thele four pieces are all fine ; Iput the laft
moft inimitable. The expreflion in the whole
of Seneca's figure is wonderfully great •, no-
thing can be truer than the reprelentation of
the muicles.

Guerchino. Chrift, the Virgin, and St. John -, very
fine.

The dining-room is an excellent one, 40 by 25,
richly fitted up; the recefs is within ibme
very elegantly carved and gilt pillars. Here
eve, by

Ferrara, Faffage of the children of Ifrael ever the
Red Sea; fine.

MoreUio. Diogenes dajbing his cup to the ground •,

pro-

t 79 1
obferve their fields, and enquiring the fizc
believe by my eye that their acres in gene-
ral contain near one and hair" or better,
but ftill the quantity of feed is very great :
they reap on a medium about two and half
quarters. For barley they ftir three or
four times, low five or fix bumels, and
gain in return, two quarters. For oat<,
they plough but once, fow three bumels

and

prodigiouily fine attitude and expreffion. It
is life itfelf.
Jordanus. The beheading St. John ; fine.
Genario. Armida enchanting the /word of Rinaldo ;

extremely pleafing.
Jordanus. Diana and Aftecn •, the figure of
Diana great-, the naked backs inimitably-
done-, the clear obfeure excellent, and the
general effect very finking.
A Head in Mofaic •, the only pkee in that noble
invention that I remember having feen; at a
fmall diftance the colours are natural and fine ;
but near, the effect is by no means good.
This collection, upon the whole, will afford
any fpectator the greater! entertainment -, for
here are pictures that muff, kindle raptures in
thofe who remark nature alone ; and others luf-
ficient to afford the moll noble enjoyment to the
moft learned eye. The pieces are extremely
numerous; very few of them indifferent, and
many exquifitely fine. The collection of the
works of Jwianus is moft capital; they are in
great numbers, and of amazi ireffion. The

death of Seneca is one of the fine . . ■ . \

ma ..

[ 8o ]

and do not get above one and half or two
qaarters at an average ; from which itjis
plain their foil does not fuit them, and I
obferved the crops (even this good year)
to be very poor. They plough twice for
peafe, fow four bufhels, and gain in return
two quarters : They cultivate but few
beans : plough once for what they do
fow in the broad-caff, manner, and never
hoe, nor have any idea of feeding the

mafter that is any where to be feen. Carlo Bold
is likewife feen here in furprizing perfection; his
pieces in this collection are all good, and fome of
them fuperlatively fo ; particularly our Saviour
blelilng the elements. The two hiitoric pieces
by Vandyke are particularly valuable, as that
painter did to few of them: The dead Chrijl is
of moil capital merit. Of Carlo Marratt we
find many very fine pieces, but not upon the
whole equal to thofe feen at Houghton. Titian
is exhibited in the Venus rifing from the fea, to
very great advantage, coniidering how few of
his capital pictures are to be found in England.
Guido*s Sybil is worthy of the higheft admiration;
and PouJJin appears to advantage in feveral
pieces. In a word, many of the greateft painters
are here to be Itudied with profit and delight,
in works that will remain the lading admiration
of every fpectator. Among fuch a number of
exquifite pictures, it is difficult to draw compa-
rifons ; but I believe you will be belt pleafed
with Chrijl blejjing the elements, by Carlo Bold, the
dead Cbriji by , dndyke, and Seneca by Jcrdanus.

weedr>

[ Si ]
"weeds off with fheep, which flovenly cuf-
tom I have minuted fo long ; their mean
crop two and half quarters ; fcarce any
turnips fown. Their clover they commonly
fow over wheat in the fpring, and if it
takes well, let it lie a year, mow it twice
for hay, the fecond of which they reckon
bed, contrary to general ideas ; but their
reafon is the number of weeds, they cut
with the firft crop, a proof of bad hus-
bandry; at Michaelmas they plough up
the fward, and harrow in wheat, which
is running the land to impoverishment ;
but this is not however univerfal. Their
dung they never mix with earth, but carry
it directly on to their wheat fallows ; they
fold their fheep likewife on them, and
reckon that 1000 will fold an acre and
half, never on the fame fpot twice; 160
fheep they calculate will in a fummer fold
SO acres. They plough with four hcTrfes
at length, and fometimes fix, and do an
acre a day *.

PR O-

* The Duke of Ancafter\ park at Crvijlhorpe
is of very great extent ; the road leads through
it forthecourle or" about three miles; the houle
appears at firft view (as well as afterwards, as
you proceed) extremely magnificent; being ad-
mirably Situated on a hill with fome very fine
woods ftretching away on each fide; many hills
and (lopes feen in different directions, and all

Vol. I, G point-

[ 82 ]

PROVISIONS, &c.

Cheefe, - ^d.perlb. Mutton, - 34. d.
Butter, - 4 Veal, - 34-

Beef. - 4 Candles, - 7

Labourer's houfe rent, 19 s.

Their firing, 30 s.

LABOUR.

In harveft, 6 s. a week and board.
In hay-time, 1 s. 6 d. a day.
Reaping per acre, 5 s.
Mowing corn, 1 s.
Threfhing wheat, is. 6 d.

fpring corn, is. 6d.

From

pointing out as it were an approach to the dwel-
ling. In the vale before the houfe is a noble
piece of water, with two pretty yachts upon it,
the banks are boldly indented with creeks in a
Jincftile, and the breadth and length confider-
able, but two circumftances are much wanted to
render it complete ; the principal end of it ap-
pears in full view, inftead of being loft behind a
hill or a plantation which this might eafily be,
and would add infinitely to its beauty and mag-
nificence, for the conclujlon of a water being feen,
is painful at the very firft view: The other point
is, the break in the water by the road, for in fact it
is two lakes, and one being higher than the
other, a real bridge cannot be thrown over ; at
prelent it is a cauieway •, but might it very eafily
be made to appear fo like a bridge, as to deceive

even

r 83 ]

From Grinflhorpe to Colt/worth are eight
miles, called by the courtefyof the neigh-
bourhood, a turnpike ; but in which we
were every moment either buried in quag-
mires of mud; or racked to dillocation
over pieces of rock which they term mend-
ing : A great houfe muft be great indeed
to anfwer the fatigue, pain and anxiety of
fuch approaches ! No environs are fo truly
magnificent as good roads in a country
which abounds with bad. Pity that the
tolls are not irebled. The country is
chiefly open, difagreeable and badly culti-
vated.

It

even thofe who pafs it, and this would be at-
tended with a great effect.

The houfe is a very convenient, and a good
one, .and fome of the apartments very elegantly
fitted up. The hall is 50 feet long by 40 broad,
and of a well proportioned height ; at each end
is a (tone fbair cafe parted from the room by
(tone arches; but thefe are heavy. The chapel
is neat : The tea room with a bow. window is
pretty •, the chimney-piece of marble dug out of
the park. Returning through the hall you are
conducted up the ftaircafe, into the 'principal
apartment; the firft is a tea room richly orna-
mented with fluted pilafters of the Corinthian
order, finely carved and gilt, the ceiling, cor-
nices, &c. in a molt light and elegant tafte, gilt
fcrolls on a light lead colour. Next is the din-
ing room 40 by 27, with two bow windows
G 2 fitted

[ 84 ]

It is very picturefque and beautiful,
all the way from Coljierivorth to Grantham?
and all inclofed on the right hand. About
Paontony the foil is a loamy gravel, lets
from 5 s. to 15 s. an acre ; farms from
20 /. to 100 /. a year, their courfe,

1. Fallow 4. Turnips

2. Wheat 5. Barley,

3. Peafe

which is excellent. They ftir twice or
thrice for wheat, fow 10 pecks, and reap
on a medium, 3-*- quarters. For barley,
they plough twice, fow four bufhels, and
gain 37 quarters in return : For oats but

once,

fitted up with gilt ornaments on a blue ground.
The ceiling ditto on white in compartments.
The feftocns of gilt carving among the pic-
tures, &c. is in a light and pleafing tafte. The
chimney-piece one of the moft elegant in Eng-
land; under the cornice three baflb relievos in
white marble, (but not polilhed) the center a
man pulling a thorn out of a lion's paw, well
executed-, thefe are upon a ground of Siena
marble, and have a fine effect ; they are (up-
ported on each fide by a fluted Ionic pillar of
\i. In this room are feveral family portraits,
and
King Charles and his family y by Vandyke; a large

picture and fine.

The next is a bad proportioned room, being
much too narrow and low for its height, but the
fitting up is handibme. Here arc,

8 Coda

[ 85 ]

once, fow four bufhels and get four quar-
ters. For peafe they give two earths, fow
four bufhels, and reap three, four, and five
quarters. They fow few beans, but their
method is to plough once, fow them broad-
caft, four bufhels, never hoe, and get
about three quarters. For turnips they
ftir thrice, hoe once ; value from i /. to
3 /. feed them with fheep alone. They
mix ray-grafs with their clover, and fow it
both on barley and wheat, mow it once,
and feldom get more than 17 load per
acre : Their dung they lay on their turnip
land.

PRO-
— ii- - — ■ ■ ■

Cocks defending the bridge. His attitude is a very

tame ones ^or is there any great expreflion

in it.
Two Land/capes, in a fhowy (tile, containing

each a large trunk of a tree, pretty.
Afire at night in a town, fine ; the figures in the

front ground are numerous and well grouped,

and the light not badly expreffed.
Chrift crowned with thorns, the minute expreflion

good; but never were ideas more truly

Dutch.
A battle-, fine. I fuppofe by Bcrgcgncne.
Two large pieces of cattle; I apprehend by Baffan-

The ditfufion of light is in his flile, and like-
wife the roughneis of the tints.
A Dutch fair.

The blue damafk bed-chamber is elegant, it

is hung with blue paper upon which are painted

G 3 many

[ 86 ]

PROVISIONS, &c.

Cheefe, - 4 </. Mutton, - 3V.

Butter, - 6 Candles, - 7

Beef, - 3 1 Soap, - 6

Labourer's houfe rent, 50 s. with com-
monage.
Their firing, 40 s.

IMPLEMENTS.

A waggon, 22 /. A cart, 12/. is/,

LABOUR.

From the beginning of y«?z<? to Michaehnasi

9 s. a week.
In winter, 1 s. a day.
Reaping, 4 s. 6 d. to 5^. 6^/.
Mowing grafs, 2 j.

many different landscapes in blue and white,
with reprefentations of frames and lines and
taficls in the fame •, the toilette in a bow win-
dow, all blue and white. Out of this room you
enter the breakfafling-clofet, which is extremely
elegant; quite original, and very pleafing. It is
hung with fine India paper, the ceiling in arched
compartments, the ribs of which join in the cen-
ter in the gilt rays of a fun, the ground is pret-
tily dotted with coloured India birds •, the win-
dow mutters, the doors and the front of the
drawers (let into the wall) all painted in fcrolls
and ftftoons of flowers in green, white and gold*
the ibfa, chairs, and (tool frames of the lame.
Upon the whole, it is in real tafte.

Hoeing

[ 8; ]

Hoeing turnips, 4 s. to 5 s.
Ditching 24 yards, from 8 d. to 20 d.
Threfrung wheat, 2 s. a quarter.

— fpring corn, 1 s. id.

It is a common practice around Gran-
tham, to pare and burn their old turf when
they convert it into arable land. The
operation cofts about twenty millings an
acre.

Mr. Middlemore, at a farm about three
miles from that town, has for fome years
tried a feries of experiments on many acres
of land, a complete regifter of which would
undoubtedly be highly acceptable to the
Public. The following particulars I gained
of his bailiff, as he is himfelf abroad.
Near the farm-yard he has a clofe of about
three acres with lucerne ; a rood was trans-
planted in rows two feet fix inches afunder,
laft March twelvemonth ; it was cut but
once laft year, once this year, and I found
the plants about 18 inches high: They
were for their age fine and vigorous, but
many of them had failed, and the intervals
were quite overrun with weeds, infomuch
that I wondered at the luxuriance of the
plants while fo furrounded. The reft of
the clofe is broad-caft, feven years old : It
has been always cut three times a year ;
once this year, and when I faw it, was two
feet high, in bloffom, and very thick, but
had many weeds among it. It had been
G 4 always

[ 88 ]

always harrowed after each cutting, with
a machine, of which I took the draught.
See plate I. fig. i.

i . i . Two bars of wood 7 feet long.
2. 2. 2. Crofs-bars, 1 foot 5 inches.
The teeth 1 foot long. Drawn by-
one horfe.

Sometimes he ufes that reprefented by-
fig. 2. which is a folid piece of timber,
about fix or eight inches thick, and about
a yard fquare. The laft cuts the deepeft,
but is apt to choak. The lucerne has fre-
quently been made into hay, and yielded a
load an acre at each cutting ; nor has the
making it been found more troublefome
than with fainfoine or clover. The bailiff
calculates, that an acre will laft three horfes
at foiling the fummer round; but I appre-
hend this is a 'very large fuppoiition, for
the appearance of the crop fpoke no fuch
matter in three cuttings. He thinks it will
laft four or five years longer, and this I
believe may be the cafe, if the harrowing
is well executed, and the flrongeft weeds
were dug out. All forts of cattle have
been fed with it, but none aft eft it fo much
as horfes ; and it yields in general more
than any other grafs in that country, more
than either fainfoine or clover.

This gentleman has likewife cultivated
large quantities of cabbages for feeding his
fheep, (of which he keeps fome hundreds)

bullocksj

[ 89 ]

bullocks, fee. He has ufed them four
years, and notwithstanding the lightnefs of
the foil, which is a red land, called here
creech, has found them of incomparable
fervice. The forts he has planted moft are
the turnip, the Batterfea, and the winter
green globe * ; the firft have rofe to 5 lb.
weight, the fecond to 1 o or 1 2 lb. and the
laft to 14 lb. The bailiff informed me,
that the laft was much the beft ; for be-
fides the fuperior quantity, cattle like it
better, and it lafts longer good in the
fpring. It has generally been referved for
the fheep in the month of April, and it
ftands the fharpeft frofts. The turnip cab-
bage, though well affected by fheep, is not
liked by oxen, it being extremely hard, and
fometimes flocky. The feeds of thefe forts
are fown in the beginning of March, and
when four inches high, pricked out into a
well dug bed. About Midjummer they are
tranfplanted into the field in rows four feet
afunder, and one foot or eighteen inches
from plant to plant. If the weather holds
dry, they are watered with a water-cart,
and at a fmall expence. Six thoufand are
generally allotted to an acre ; they horfc-
hoe them according as the weeds rife. The
turnip cabbage-feed coft "fys.6 d. per lb. and
the pricking out the plants of either fort,

* I apprehend, the great Scotch.
•j- It is now only 3 s. or 4^, j.er lb.

IS.

[ 9° ]

I j. a thoufand, and the tranfplantation
into the field the fame : A man fets iooo
or 1500 in a day, and a gardener 3000. I
made enquiries into the product, but could
learn nothing explicit ; however, if the
weight per cabbage is only 4 lb. the amount
is above ten ton, which, confidering the
feafon of the year they laft to, is a mod
valuable crop.

Turnips are here cultivated in large
quantities, but in an imperfect manner :
Their foil about Coldharbour is fo light, that
they do not half pulverize it, even for this
crop, faying, that they mould get fcarce any
crops ; but their hoeing is very bad. I
walked over feveral clofes in a farm ad-
joining Mr. Middleware's, belonging to a
farmer who rents 550 /. a year ; and al-
though they had been hoed, they were
quite thick, and irregularly fet out. Mr.
Middlemore ufes for hoeing them a machine,
which I apprehend is his own invention.
See plate I. fig. 3.

1. Three feet five inches.

2. Five feet fix inches.

3. Nine feet.

4. The wheels 1 8 inches diameter.
The teeth are about 18 inches long, and

fland nine inches afunder. It is a good
plan, and loofens the foil well; but then
the breadth of the fharcs (which is not
above three inches) is too fmall to ferve by

way

[ 9i ]

way of hoeing ; the great ufe of it muft>
be inftead of harrowing, which is by fome
farmers in the eaft of England much prac-
tifed. In a field, juft by the homeftall of
50 acres, wherein I faw that machine, Mr.
Middlemore hasfeveral curious experiments.
This clofe of 50 acres was a few years ago
let at one milling an acre in Sward; but
Mr. Middlemore taking it into his own
hands, broke it up, and has kept it in til-
lage ever fince with great fuccefs. There
are a few acres of it occupied by a crop of
peafe in drills equally diftant of one foot:
They were never hoed, but were well
corned ; however, the crop was by no means
equal to thofe of the neighbourhood broad-
cart, nor to what the land would in that
manner have produced.

In this field I likewife found a remark-
able experiment on barley : Obferving a
large breadth of it, with a great difference
between one fide and the other, I enquired
the reafon ; and the bailiff informed me,
that the heft part (which I apprehend will
be full five quarters per acre) fucceeded
cabbages, and the other part (which does
not promife above 37 quarters) turnips.
Adjoining this barley is a good crop of
wheat, with fainfoine drilled among it in
one part, and fown broad-caft in another -y
the latter was harrowed in fpring, and be-
nefited the crop j both rife very finely. In

the

t 9* ]

the latter method, the common allowance
of feed to the acre is about four bufhels.
Here is likewife an extraordinary fine piece
of oats, fown with a peck of feed which
Mr. Middlcmore had from Flanders ; each
ftalk bears a very large quantity of grains ;
2nd the fpecies feem to prove greatly in the
change of climate and foil.

Throughout all this country, and much
I have already defcribed, is found a ftratum
of ftone at a fmall depth from the furface,
which precludes the improvement by clay,
chalk or marie, and yet their land much
wants fomething further than farm-yard
manure and the fold. Paring and burning
in fo fhallow a foil can be prattifed but once
in many years, and when done, lafts but
few. Lime was once tried by Mr. Middle-
ware upon turnip land, but the crop failed
juft where the manure was fpread ; and a
itrong proof now exifts, that this is no
improvement; for oppofite this gentleman's
fields are fome turnip clofes of the farmer
above-mentioned. One of 40 acres was
manured from the farm-yard; another
adjoining of 40 was limed ; the firfl is well
fpread with plants, and would prove a good
crop, had they been well hoed ; thofe upon
lime are nothing. Thefe fields I viewed
with particular attention, and I am confi-
dent from their appearance, that the lime
is abiblutely good for nothing on this foil ;

and

[ 93 1

and yet how numerous are the general
advocates for liming P It is much to be re-
gretted, that fome accurate cultivator does
not try the real efficacy of this manure on
various foils, that the merit of it might be
known with precifion.

Mr. Middlemore has a fpiky roller, which
I mould apprehend of excellent ufe in.
ftrong clays, but of none in this fandy
country; it is 7 feet 6 inches long, 14
inches diameter ; the fpikes Iths of an inch
fquare, and 4 long, 100 in number. Alio
a moveable fheep-rack, upon an improved
conftruction, for feeding flocks with hay,
bran, malt-combs, oats, &c. See plate I.
fig. 4. »

The

* My road not laying by Belvoir-caftle, I
went thither purpofely to view it. About three
miles from Grantham, in the way the road rifes
up a imall hill, at the fummit of which fuddenly
appears an immenfe profpeft over a prodigioufly
extenfive vale, which thofe who delight in extent
will be highly pleafed with. It is not however
equal to that from Behoir-cajlle, which is ihcn
almoft in the clouds on the top of a vaft hill,
for many miles around. From the rooms may
be feen Lincoln minftcr at 30 miles diftance per-
fectly clear; Newark appears in the center of
the valley; and Nottingham is eafily difcerned.

The houie is old, and the fitting up and fur-
niture the fame ; iniomuch that 1 may venture
to adviffi all who, being at Grantham, and having

fome

[ 94 ]

The country between Grantham and
Neivark is all open; about Fojfen the foil is
a rich clay, which flacks after rain like
lime ; a firong mark of excellent land.
Farms are fmall, from 20 /. to 36 /. a year ;
they do not hire or reckon by the acre, but
by what they call orfe-Jkinsy which gene-
rally contains nine acres, but varies; the
rents generally from 4 /. to 6 /. Their
courfe,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat or barley

3. Beans.

For wheat they plough four times; fow
two bufhels, and reap from 24 to 30. For

barley

fome inclination to fee it, but not a determined
one, to give up the icheme, for the road is dread-
fully bad, and the profpect exceeded in real
beauty by many in England. I remarked the
following pictures :
Two pieces of fruits and flowers, with a china

bafon in one, well done, in the Itile of Michael

Angelo.
Landfcape, a rock, and a waterfall; good.
Virgin and Child ; pleafing.
Portraits of the hereditary prince, the count de la

Lippe, and duke Ferdinand; very good ones,

efpecially the laft.
Landfcape ; the glowing light behind the trees

fine.
Storks; good.

A witch's

t 95 ]

barley plough four times, fow four bufhels,
and gain about the fame quantity as of
wheat. They fow no oats, confidering
their land as too good. For beans they
ftir but once, fow them broad-caft, four
bufhels to the acre, never hoe them, but
fometimes hand-weed the largeft ; mean
crop 20 bufhels. Their manure they lay
all upon their barley fallows. In their
ploughs they ufe four horfes at length, and
do an acre a day. I muft venture parti-
cularly to recommend to fuch of thefe
farmers as have inclofed lands, to fow beans

A witch's cave, in the Dutch ftife; romantic

ideas, and expreflive execution.
A cattle piece ; good.
The fet ting fun, a large landfcape; the glowing

warmth of the fky is fine; and the architec-
ture and trees well done.
The holy Virgin ; a large picture, in the manner

ofGuido; the turn of the head admirable,

and the general attitude fine.
Gods and Goddejfes, I apprehend by Rubens ; but

not in his belt manner.
The infide of a church ; the architecture and light

very fine.
Miracle of the five loaves ; the figures numerous,

and well grouped •, the finilhing and colours

good.
Landfcape, in a dark (tile, but good.
Two fnall ditto; pleafing.
Cards; not fo Butch as in common.

3 the

[ 96 ]

the nrft crop in the courfe, and hand hoc
them completely ; then to fow barley, and
with it lay down to clover, and upon the
clover fow their wheat. This precludes a
fallow which upon fuch land is quite unne-
ceflary, and would enfure great crops of all
forts ; but all would depend on giving the
beans excellent tillage : Of that crop they
would certainly gain five quarters an acre
inftead of 20 bufhels; of barley as much
inftead of 27 bufhels ; and of wheat four
quarters. One hundred acres upon this
plan would much exceed 200 as now ma-
naged ; their crumbling clays are particu-
larly adapted to this hufbandry. The par-
ticulars of a farm I gained were,

81 Acres in all 9 Horfes

20 Acres grafs (a furprizing number)
61 Arable 72 Sheep

£.36 Rent 3 Servants

6 Cows 2 Labourers

In the parifh are,
1080 Acres 60 Cows

20 Farms 960 Sheep

80 Horfes
2 s. 6d. in the pound poor rates.

IMPLEiMENTS.

A waggon, 16/. \6s.
A cart, 9 /. 9 s.
A plough, 1 /.

L A-

[ 97 J

LABOUR.

In hay and harveft, i s. a day, and board*
In winter, 6d. to 8 d. a day, and board.
Reaping wheat, 5 s. to 7 s. 6d.
Threlhing wheat per quarter, is. to is. 6d>
fpring corn, 1 s. 6 c/.

PROVISIONS, 6--c.

Butter, 6d. Beef, - 3r^

Cheeie, - 4 Mutton, - 3
Labourer's houfe rent, when no land, 15 J-.
Their firing, 30 .r.

Neivark is a very clean, and well built
town ; remark, when you fee it, particu-
larly the fteeple, which, for fome miles
around, appears light and beautiful : There
is likewife a new ftreet worth viewing;
although the houfes are very fmall, yet
each fide of the whole ftreet forms but
one front, and in a very neat tafle. How
much is it to be lamented, that this is
not the method in all the towns of Eng-
land !

From Newark the country is moftly in-
clofed to Tuxford, and appears to be pretty
well cultivated : Around Cromivell the foil
is fandy ; but lets from lo.r. to 2 ox. per
acre; farms from 20/. to 100/. a year:
Their courfe is,

1. Turnips

2. Barley or oats

3. Rye

Vol. L II They

t 98 ]

They plough three or four times for tur-
nips, hoe them once or twice ; value a crop
at about 40^. and feed them off with
fheep. They give the turnip land but one
ftirring for the barley, fow four bufhels,
and reap about four quarters. Oats they
manage in the fame manner, and gain at
an average four quarters. The few peafe
they fow they plow once for, fow three
or four bufhels, and get in return three
quarters. When they fow beans, which is
not often, and only upon particular pieces
of land, they fow them broad-caft. four or
five bufhels an acre, never hoe them, and
get about three quarters per acre. Thefe
crops are in general good, and fpcak better
management than common in many of thefe
parts.

LABOUR.

In hay-time and harveft, n. a day, and

board.
In winter, 8 d. and board.
Reaping per acre, 4 J-, to 6 s.
Mowing corn, Is. $d,

grafs, I s. 6 d. to 2 s.

Threfhing wheat, is. to zs. 6 d.

• ■ ■ fpring corn, 1 j". /\.d. to 1 s. 6 d,

PROVISIONS, &c.

Butter, - 6d. Mutton, - 3 <f .

Cheefe, - 4 Candles, - 6lc
Beef, - 4 . Soap, - 6

La-

[ 99 *

Labourer's houfe rent, 25/.
■ firing, 20 x.

The road from Neivurk to Tuxfird is
excellent, and very well kept. The pac-
tice of ploughing on to broad -arched lands*
continues yet on all but the lighted foils ;
but the farmers in this long tracl of coun-
try have little idea of draining off the water
which lodges in the deep furrows ; a cir-
cumftance of very bad management.

At IVefl-Drayton I was fortunate enough
to meet with a very intelligent occupier,
who gave me a clear and confident ac-
count of the hufbandry of that neighbour-
hood. The foil is a rich fandy gravel ;
the arable lets from ioj-. to 12 s. an acre,
and the grafs from 15 s. to 20 s. The
farms are not large, being in general from
40 /. to 100/. a year. Their principal
courfe is,

1. Turnips 3. Clover one year

2. Barley 4. Wheat

which, for land rich enough for wheat, and
light enough for turnips, is an excellent
courfe. They lay ail their dung upon their
turnip land, but never mix it with turf or
clay. They very often lime their lands "for
all forts of crops ; fow four quarters on an
acre ; which coft 1 s. 10 d. per quarter, and
the carriage they reckon as much more1;
but it lafts only one year. Sometimes they
pare and burn the old fward, which is
XI 2 done

[ I0° ]

done for i o s. 6 d. to 1 5 s. an acre, fur-
prizingly cheap. For turnips they plough
three, four, and five times, hoe once,
reckon the mean value at 35 s. an acre,
and ufe them for feeding fheep and rear-
ing young cattle. They give the turnip
land two earths for barley, fow three
bufhels, per acre, and gain on a medium
44 quarters, fometimes fix, and even feven
quarters. For oats they plough once, fow
five bufhels, and five quarters the average
produce ; have now and then ten quarters.
For peafe they give two flirrings, fow three
bufhels of feed, and get from two to four
quarters. They fow few beans, but plough
once, ufe four bufhels of feed, never hoe
them j the crop about 2-i quarters ; clover
at two cuttings gives three loads of hay.
Their land I am confident muff be of a very
fine and fertile nature from thefe crops,
which are uncommonly good. The par-
ticulars of a farm as follow:

55 Acres in all 6 Horfes

12 Ofgrafs 7 Cows

40 Of arable 1 Servant

£.40 Rent 1 Labourer

Has annually
8 Acres of wheat 7 Of turnips
14 Offpringcorn

In the whole parifh are,
250 Acres 20 Cows

e 3 Farms

[ 10. ]

3 Farms JT. o0o Rent

1 8 Horfes JT. 20 Poor's Rate

LABOUR.

In hay-time and harveft, 1 s. a day, and

board.
In winter, 8 d. and ditto.
Reaping per acre, 4.J. 6d.
Mowing corn, 1 s.

grafs, is. 6 d.

Hoeing turnips, 4 s.

Ditching, u. 2 d. the acre, or 28 yards,
Threfhing wheat per quarter, is. 1 1 d.
' fpring corn, is. /\.d.

PROVISIONS, &c.

Butter, - yd. Mutton, - 3^.
Cheefe, - 4 Candles, - 7
Beef, - qA Soap, - 6

Labourer's houfe rent, 20s.
Repairs of their tools, 14/.
Their firing, 35/.

IMPLEMENTS.

A waggon, 20 /. A roller 1 /. is.

A cart, 7 /. 10 J. A pair of harrows,

A plough, 5 /. 1 /. 1 s.

BUILDING.

Bricks per thoufand, 1 2 s.

Oak timber per foot, 16 d. and J%d.

Alh ditto, 14;/.

H 3 They

[ 102 1

They life in this country three ot four
horfes at length in a plough, with a driver,
and do about an acre a day. The pro-
duel of a cow they reckon at 3 /.

Shireivood forert was the firft large and
continued tract of ica/ie land that I have
met withfihce I left Hertforcljlnre.

At Baii'try, hearing that Ly/ier,

Ffq ; had feveral experiments in agricul-
ture of the modern kind, I defired to
view them, and his clerk mewed me
them in an obliging manner, and gave
me a very intelligent account of them.
Mr. Lyjler has cultivated cabbages as food
for cattle four years ; the fort he prefers is
the large Scotch cabbage ; he has raifed
them frequently to 16 and 20 11). weight,
which is a vaft fize. The ufes he gene-
rally applies them to, are the feeding of
cows both dry and milch ; the rearing of
young cattle which are exccfTively fond of
them, and the feeding of fheep. I viewed
the crop of this year, which made an ex-
cellent appearance ; it is of two acres in
rows, four feet afundcr and two feet from
plant to plant. Mr. Lyfier has the feed
fown the latter end of January, or the be-
ginning of February ; he ufed to tranfplant
them twice before they were fet out for a
crop in the field ; but this year he fet them
into the field direcli'y from the feed-bed ;
they were transplanted the middle of June^

but

I *©3 ]

but if the weather comes wet fooner by a
fortnight or three weeks, he never omits
making' ufe of it. The number fet on an
acre is 6240, and fix men plant an acre
in a day; the mean produce about 10 lb.
per cabbage ; which is a very considerable
produce of above 27 tons per acre; but
Mr. Lyfter's clerk informed me that cab-
bages are by no means fo fubftantial a
food for cows or beafts as turnips, for that
any given number of cattle will eat up
many acres of cabbages in " the time that
they will confume a few turnips. In Oc-
tober, they begin to burft, and by Chrifimas
muft be all fed off. The foil upon which
Mr. Lyjler\ cabbages are fown is a very
light fand, which furprized me greatly,
for a ftrong clay is what we find com-
monly recommended for the culture of
this vegetable ; but 1 take thefe fands to be
naturally of a very rich and fertile nature;
indeed, the land lets in general at 10s. or
12 s. an acre, which fpeaks no barrenncfr..
The rows are always horfe-hoed three times,
and I found the crop in an excellent order
without a weed in the field. Mr. Ly/ier's
clerk was in general of opinion that the
crop was not upon the whole advantageous ;
for although all the cattle tried with them,
feern very much to affe& them, yet they
coniume them fo quick, that a large pro-
duce of cabbages does not equal a fmall one
H4 of

[ i°4 ]
of turnips. In addition to this, I fhould
obferve that the landlord of the Crown Inn
at Baivtry, who rents a large quantity of
land, has made the fame remark in fatting
oxen with them.

Upon this culture of cabbages, it is in
general to be obferved, that turnips have
in many parts of England been found of
excellent ufe in fatting of beafts, and even
adequate to the purpole ; but the great
fault of a turnip crop is the rotting by frofts
early in the fpring, fo as to leave part of
March, all April, and in fome counties
part of May, quite without fpring provi-
sion : The vegetable therefore wanting as
a fuccedanum to fupply the place of turnips
at that feafon of the year, is one that will
abide the fevcrity of the winter frofts :
but from the preceding account, it is plain,
that the cabbages Mr. Lyjler has cultivated,
will by no means anfwer that purpofe as
they are gone by Chrylmas-, but we are
not therefore to conclude againft cabbages
in general, for other forts may be more
lading and hardy than the large Scotch,
paarticularly the turnip cabbage, and per-
haps others. For this reafon, I much wifh
that Mr. Lyjler had cultivated other forts as
well as the Scotch, as I doubt not but the
fpirit with which he conducts his inquiries
in agriculture, would have call new lights

on

[ i°5 ]

on the benefits of the advantageous cab-
bage culture.

Beiides this vegetable, Mr. L.yjler has
cultivated carrots ; laft year he had a fmali
piece which was of incomparable life in
feeding a large quantity of fwine ; this
year he has ibme acres which I viewed,
I found one field juft weeded and the other
weeding; the crop exceedingly fine in
point of regularity and growth but in-
finitely too thick ; in weeding, the weeds
alone were pulled out by hand, but the
carrots not thinned, infomuch that every
foot fquare prefented knots of three or
four, and often more within an inch or
two of one another ; no hoeing given
them : If carrots anfwer fo managed, what
would they net do if hoed three times as
in Suffolk ?

Beiides thefe experiments Mr. Lyjlcr has
an acre of lucerne fown five years ago
in drills two feet aiundcr. It is upon the
fame fandy foil ; he has generally cut it
thrice a year, and finds it of ufe in foiling
horfes ; but the clerk informed me, that it
by no means anfwered natural paftures or
clover in real value. It is however vigo-
rous, and promifes to laft many years
longer.

This ingenious cultivator laid down a
great many acres with Dutch clover, and
what is here called ribbed grafs, which I

take

[ io6 ]

take to be the narrow leaved plalntain, and
finds it anfwer very well, even to produ-
cing in favourable feafons two loads of
hay per acre ; he fows 4 lb. of Dutch
clover and 6 lb. of rib grafs feed : The firft
at 6 d. per lb. the laft at 4 d. and finds that
all cattle much affect both. One piece he
laid with them after a fallow in autumn and
without corn, and found it to anfwer much
better than in common.

I obferved in one of the fields an in-
itrument for levelling : See plate I. fig. 5.
If it is placed againft a ridge of earth and
held down by a man by the handle (a),
the edge (b) let againft earth, and fix
Jiorfes fixed to the chains (c), it cuts up
the earth until the machine is full, when
it is moved and emptied, and applied frefh
to the work, but as the breadth is not
above two feet and the length about four,
it muft ftrikc any one, that the trouble of
moving it fo often as would be requifite
in a few perches world, with the great
expence of To many hbrfefc, equal, or pro-
bably exceed the price of common digging;
and then there is the difference of throw-
ing the earth in the latter method directly
into the carts, whereas in the former it
will, after the operation, be to be thrown
into the carts : fo that I much queftion
whether any thing would be faved by the
ufe of this machine ; however, I have given

it,

[ icy ]
it, that if others are of a different opinion,
they may try the experiment.

Mr. Lyjicr's clerk gave me one piece of
information, which was very, furprifmg
indeed ; That the butchers of that neigh-
bourhood prefer turnips that never were
hoed, to thofe that are managed with the
utmoft attention, and will give more mo-
ney for an acre, the apples of which are
not larger than a double fift, than for one
whofe products are as large as a peck loaf:
and their reafon for this ftrange preference
is this; cattle, they affert, when feeding
upon turnips in a field, bite large ones,
and if the flavour does not pleafe them,
ieave them for others, when the firft
prefently decay and are rotten ; but this
objection holds proportionally to all iized
turnips, fmall in fuch cafes will rot as
well as large ones ; but to aniwer fuch
ridiculous notions by reafoning is abfurd,
facts fpeak infinitely ftronger ; afk a Nor-
folk, a Suffolk, or an EJfex grazier, whe-
ther he has any objection to large turnips ?
Why do fome of them take the pains to
raife large ones to have the trouble of
flicing them to pieces ? Will ten tons of
a vegetable fat as many bean's as thirty
tons of the fame ? The Bd*wtry butchers

muft be capital fools indeed ! and the

farmers equally ridiculous, if fuch preju-
2 dices

[ io8 ]

dices ever become a rule in their manage^
merit.

From this town to Doncajler, the road
leads through a very light fandy country,
greatly refembling the weftern parts of
Norfolk. About Cantler, the foil is chiefly
land ; lets at various prices, but all are low.
Farms run from 20 /. to 40 /. Their courfe
is,

1. Turnips 3. Clover

2. Barley 4. Rye, and fome wheat.
They plough four or five times for

their turnips, never hoe them, value a
crop at about 25* s. or 30 s. and feed them
off with both fheep and hearts. Upon fo
good a turnip-land, this low price can
proceed, I lhould apprehend, from nothing
but the villanous cuftom of not hoeing.
For barley they ftir twice, low three bulhels,
and gain at a medium a crop of 3I quarters.
Their clover they mow twice in the year,
and get about two loads of hay at the two
cuttings. For wheat they give the clover
land but one nirring, fow three bufhels of
feed, and reap at an average about two
quarters. For rye, they ]ike\\ife plough
but once, fow two bulhels, and have in
return about the fame quantity as of wheat.
For oats thev give but one tilth, fow four
bulhels, and get in return about three
quarters. For pcafe, they plough twice or
thrice, fow three bufhels 5 the mean crop

12 or

t 109 ]

12 or 16 bufhels; they lay all their ma-
nure on their turnips ; ufe three horfes
at length, fometimes two a-breaft, and do
an acre a day.

LABOUR.

In hay-time and harveft, 1 s. a day, and

board.
In winter, 10^/. a day, and ditto, (very

high !) formerly but 6d.
Reaping, per acre, 4 s. 6 d. or 5 .r .
Mowing corn, 1 s. to 1 s. 2 d.

grafs, 1 j-. 2 d. to il 6 d.

Ditching, 1 s. 5 d. the acre, of 28 yards.
Threfhing wheat, 8 d. the 3 bufhels.
barley, &c. is. \d. per quarter.

IMPLEMENTS.

A waggon, 20/. A plough, 12 s.

A cart, 10/. A narrow, 12 s.

PROVISIONS, &c.

Beef, - 4 d. -per lb. Soap, - 6 d.
Mutton, 3 Butter, - 7

Veal, - 2 Cheefe, - 4

Candles, 7
Labourer's houfe rent, 30 s.
Wear of their tools, $s.
Their firing, 20 j-.

The particulars of a farm, were
£. 50 Rent 3 Servants

6 Horfes 1 Labourer

5 Cows

Doncajler

[no]

Doncnjler is a clean, well built town ;
ths llreets broad and well paved. The
town hall is a handfome building, the
pillars very elegant, but the door in a
heavy and an ugly tafte. A little out of

the town Wharton, Efq; has two

cr three fields of experiments, which L
examined with much pleafure ; particu-
larly three or four acres of cabbages, very
large and fine for their age ; they had not
been planted above fix weeks, and their
leaves almoft met ; the rows were three
feet afunder, and the plants two between
each ; but this diftance was evidently too
fmall, as the horfe-hoe muff, be fliut out
long before the wetnefs of the winter
would render it neceflary to (lop. The
plantation was very clean from weeds, hav-
ing been hand-hoed once or twice. Mr.
Wharton has tried cabbages feveral years,
and found them of excellent ufe in feeding
all forts of cattle, particularly fatting beafts.
They are greatly preferred to turnips for
the latter ufe ; it is reckoned that two acres
will completely fat three large beafts: I
was likewife informed, that they will laft
late into the fpring, even to the time of
turning out to grafs. This product is very
great, and particularly for a fandy foil ;
cabbages I fhould apprehend to require much
ftronger land. As I gained thefe pieces of
information of a neighbouring farmer,

I was

[ I» ]

I was not able to difcover the fort, but be-
lieve it the common large Scotch-, and if fo,
the account is very different from the laft I
received at Baivtry.

Befides cabbages, I found in Mr. Whar-
ton's experiment field two prodigious fine
pieces of potatoes, one in rows 18 inches
afunder. and the other two feet ; as good
crops as ever I faw; the foil light loofe
fand, and I apprehend very rich ; the cab-
bages, &c. grow on the fame. They raife
a great many of thefe roots about Don-
cq/ler, and reckon the mean produce of an
acre at 25c bufhels, and the common price
is 1 j. 4 d. and 1 s. 6 cL a bufhel : There
have been fome wagers betted this year,
that that quantity is gained from off three
roods.

The fame gentleman has a fmall expe-
riment on carrots, which, like thofe I have
before mentioned at Baivtry^ have not
been hoed, but ftand quite thick on the
beds ; they were very poor ones, nor could
they poffibly be othervsrife, notwithstanding
the excellency of the foil for this root :
One of the common carrots now growing
in the fields of the fandy gardeners (already
mentioned) would outweigh 40 of the bell:
that can be picked out of the plantations
either of Mr. Lyfier or Mr. Wharton^ and
yet their foils appear to be as nearly allied
as poiTible to that of thole gardeners; but

the

[ IM ]

the want of proper cultivation makes this
immenfe difference.

I beg leave earneftly to reccommend all
the gentlemen of this neighbourhood to
enter largely into the culture of this excel-
lent root. I never beheld land better
adapted to it; but they muft a£t in the
ffioft fpirited manner relative to hoeing ;
and not let two carrots in the field be
nearer to each other than 12 inches : they
will certainly gain crops upon an average
worth 25 /. per acre.

There cannot be a more pleafant ride,
than from Doncajler to Rot her ham ; from
every part of the road various and agree-
able profpedts are feen, which vaftly enliven
the country. But one is peculiarly pleaf-
ing; it is a view of Coneysborough and the
caiile, with the adjoining lands. In the
front is a prodigious fine break between
two large hills, which lets in a-noble view
of a tra£t of fertile fields bounded by
diftant hills, and over them a very extend-
ed diftant profpcct. The hill on the right
hand is rough and uncultivated, and con-
trails admirably to the oppofite one, which
is divided into beautiful incloiures, with a
great quantity of wood hanging on bold
flops, down to the edge of the valley ; the
caftle, which feems almoft complete, riles
in a moft pidttircfque manner from one of
thefe woods, and in another part of them,

appears

[ M3 J

appears the town upon the fide of the
hill, with the houfcs one above another,
in a manner which adds greatly to the
beauty of the landfcape. A broad river
winds in a charming ftile through the ir-
riguous valley, breaking upon the eye in
fuch a pleaiing ftilc, that it is impofTible
not to be ftruck with rapture at the view.

Around this neighbourhood the foil is
chiefly a fandy gravel ; but under the fur-
face through all. this country the reck is
prefently found ; in fome places it rifes
quite to the view like an artificial pave-
ment, in broad patches of feveral yards.
Land lets from 6s. to 12s. an acre; farms
are from 20/. to 100/. a year. Their
courfe,

1. Fallow 3. Beans

2. Barley 4. Wheat

For the latter they plough but once, fow
three bufhels, and reap on a medium about
20 buihels. For barley, they plough four
times, fow four bufhels, and reckon four
quarters the average produce. They far
but once for oats, fow four bufhels, and gain
in return about four quarters. In their
clay lands, they fow fome beans, plough
once for them, fow four buihels, and rec-
kon the average produce at 18 buihels.
They fow but few turnips ;
ture is, to plough tour or five times for
them, hoe them once, and fbmetimes twice,
value a crop at about 3c s e them

Vol. I. r in

[ H4 ]
in feeding both fheep and beafts. The
particulars I gained of a farm were,
£.50 Rent 3 Servants

6 Horfes 1 Labourer

5 Cows

PROVISIONS, &c.

Butter, per lb. 6 d. Mutton, - zi
Cheefe - 4 Veal, - 3

Beef, - 3

Labourer's houfe rent, 30 s.
Wear of their tools, 1 /. is.
Their firing, 2 4 J".

IMPLEMENTS.

A waggon, 20 /. A plough, 1/.

A cart, 10 /. A roller, 15 s.

A pair of harrows, 12 s.

LABOUR.
In hay-time and harveft, 1 s. a day, and

board.
In winter, I s. and drink
Reaping wheat from 3 s. to 4/. 6 d.
Mowing corn, is. 6 d.

grafs, 1 s. 4-d.

Hoeing turnips, 5.C

Threftiing wheat, 9;/. the five bufhels.

. fpring corn, 1 s. 6 d. the quarter.

As am now come into the region of
manufactures, and my road running thro'
it for many miles, I fhall here make a
paufe in my narrative, and conclude my-
felf your, &V.

r Hi i

LETTER III.

T^Otherhdm is famous for its iron works,
***■ of which it contains one very large
one, belonging to Mr. Walker, and one or
two lmaller. Near the town are two col-
lieries, out of which the iron ore is dug, as
well as the coals to work it with ; thefe col-
lieries and works employ together near 500
hands. The ore is here worked into metal
and then into bar iron, and the bars fent into
Sheffield to be worked, and to all parts of
the country; this is one branch of their
bufinefs. Another is the foundery, in
which they run the ore into metal, pigs,
and then cafr. it into all forts of boilers,
pans, plough- mares, &c. &c. &c. The
forgemen work by weight, and earn from
8 j. to 20 s. a week, but 12J. or 14 s. the
average ; the foundery men are paid by
the week, from js. to 10 s. No boys are
employed younger than 14, fuch from 3 j.
toip. a week. In the collieries, the men
earn from 7 s. to 9 s. a week. There are
few women employed ; and only in piling-
old bits of fcrap iron (which are brought
to Rotberham by way of Hull from Holland,
London, &c.) into the form of final! pyra-
I 2 paids.

[ !i6 ]

mids, upon round pieces of ftone, after
which they are fet into the furnace till they
become of a malleable heat, and are then
worked over again.

Befides the iron manufactory, they have
a pottery, in which is made the white,
cream-coloured (Staff or djloire) and tortoife-
fhell earthen-ware : It employs about two
or three and twenty men and 40 boys ;
the men are paid $s. a week for day work,
but much is done by the piece, in which
cafe they all earn more, up to 15 J. a week.
Boys of nine or ten years old have 2 s. and
2 s. 6d. a week. There is alfo a very large
quantity of lime burnt in this town, which
conftantly employs about 20 hands, that
earn at a medium 9 s. a week.

PROVISIONS, &c.

Bread, per. lb. ild. Veal, - 3 </.
Butter, - 6 Pork, - 4
Beef - 3i. Cheefe, - 4

Mutton, - 34 , Candles, - 6
Manufacturer's houfe-rent, from 30 s. to

50 j- . a year.
Coals fold by the waggon-load, calculated

at two ton, for ioj. 6d.

But what gave me much greater fatif-
fa£tion than the iron works of Rotherham,
was the cabbage culture of Samuel Tucker,
Efq; who lives juft out of the town. This
fpirited and accurate cultivator has, I ap-
5 prebend,

f »7 ]

prehend, carried that branch of farm-
ing to its ne plus ultra : He was pleafed
to receive my enquiries with the utmoft
politenefs, and anfwered all my queflions
with the greateft candor. He has planted
them with great fuccefs three or four years,
but never before had fo large a crop as at
preier.t, upon three acres of land.

The foil is a light Tandy loam, but very
rich, and fufficiently ftrcng to throw out
any crop that is fown in it ; it is not in
many places above fix or kvcn inches,
and in others eight or nine deep, before
the rag ftone appears, under which lies a
quarry of building (lone : This fandy loam
is in all feafons dry and healthy, and may
be ploughed foon after rain throughout
the whole winter. This and the adjoin-
ing fields could all be let at from 40 s. to
50 /. an acre. It bore wheat laft year;
was manured for the cabbages in the fame
manner as is ufual for turnips, about 10
loads of rich rotten dung per acre. The
wheat Hubble was turned up in the au-
tumn, and a part of the field, upon which
feven rows of the plants ftand, received
four plough ings more, before the cabbages
were let ; the reft of the field received five
and fix more.

The feed from which thofe feven rows

were planted, was fown the 16th of laft

Augitft> pricked out of the feed-bed the

I 3 middle

[ »8 ]

middle of October, and tranfplanted intq
the field the laft week in May; it happen-
ing to be a dry time, they were watered
till rooted. I obferved fearce a gap in the
rows throughout the whole field. The
feed for the reft of the field was fown in
the fpring, fome of which were tranfplant-
ed into the field directly out of the feed-
bed, and viewing them attentively, I could
perceive fearce any difference between fuch,
and the others that had been pricked out :
Mr. Tucker was of opinion, that it is the
beft way to make two tranfplantations ;
but obferved, that the plants which were
taken directly from the feed-bed, rooted
much fooner, and with lefs watering, than
the others, A circumftance which undoubt-
edly deferves much attention. All the feed
for the whole field did not exceed half a
pound, was fown on three or four perches
of ground in the garden, and produced
plants enough for ten acres of land.

The feven rows from the autumn fow-
ing arc much the fineft ; many of them
Cabbaged largely ; fome I examined that
weigh, I guefs, 10 or I i lb. at prefent, and
when in perfection mult amount to near
30 lb. The reft of the field, however, is
inferibr to thefe row;, alone, but the whole
a moft noble crop. The plants on one
fide of it are much fmaller than the reft,
owing however to no other caufe than a

later

[ H9 ]

later planting, Mr. Tucker purpofely vary-
ing the feafon, that they might not all
come to perfection at once. And in this,
I apprehend, he judged right ; for I have
no conception that cabbages, which at the
beginning of Augujl weigh above even 6 lb.
can poflibly laft longer than October;
whereas thofe which are now much lefs,
may abide the winter much better ; how-
ever this is merely my own conjecture.

The whole field is planted in rows four
feet afunder, and the plants at two feet and
two feet fix inches from each other ; con-
fequently an acre holds about 5000 cab-
bages. But here I muft be allowed to dif-
fer in opinion from the practice of this
very ingenious cultivator ; the plants are
now fo fpread, as quite to fhut out a horfe
from the intervals, and in the rows they
perfectly crowd one another, which in the
nature of things cannot permit (ingle cab-
bages to grow to fo great a weight, as if
they enjoyed the full fpace and air that
nature demands. Perhaps it may be faid,
that the greater number of cabbages gained
in this way, will more than make up for
fuch a lofs : It may poflibly be fo, but ex-
periment can alone decide it. Was I to
plant cabbages on ground as rich as Mr.
Tucker's, I ihould place the rows fix feet
afunder, and give each plant three feet in
the rows ; and from the furprifmg fize of
I 4 that

[ 1^0 ]

that gentleman's plants at this time, I am
confident the cabbages would join in a
month or fix weeks. But fuch a conduct
would undoubtedly be improper upon land
of inferior fertility.

The whole plantation has been horfe-
hoed twice, and I found it as clean from
weeds as a garden. Tn the tranfplanta-
tion, three men in "half a day fet 3000
plants.

Two years ago, Mr. Tucker's cabbages
weighed, he calculates, about ] o lb. each
at an average : Many of them 23 lb. Laft
year, being on a much worfe foil, they
were not fo good.

In refpect to the ufes of them ; he begins
to cut about Martinmas. His method is
to take up three or four rows at different
diflances in the field to admit a cart, and
then to pick fuch as require cutting from
the whole, by which means the crop lafts
vaftly longer than if the cabbages were
regularly drawn. The quantity which
requires cutting before Chrifimas, is not
coniiderable, that being the time when
they chiefly come in, They have every
year lafted till the end of March, and
fome till the beginning of jJpril. They
have been of excellent fervice in feeding
milch cows, weaned calves, and fatting
beafts. If the cows are confined totally
to cabbages, the milk has a rank tafte ; but

if

[ "I ]

if they have other food befides, and depend
on thefe but in part, no fuch effect is per-
ceived. Lad year two acres and a half,
much worfe than the prefent crop, kept
twelve cows (with fome ftrawj the princi-
pal part of the winter. The oxen Mr.
Tucker has fatted on them, have proved
excellent beef. His pigs eat them very
greedily.

The vaft crops of corn he raifes after
this vegetable, prove that it by no means
exhaufts the foil, notwithftanding he con-
stantly draws them, and never feeds in the
field. He has raifed more than ten quar-
ters of oats per acre, the firft crop after
them, and eight quarters the fecond crop
without any fallow intervening, which is a
furprifing produce, confidering that his
farm never receives any other fallow than
the cultivation of fallow crops, viz. turnips
and cabbages.

This gentleman has a very curious ex-
periment on wheat ; it is a crop fown with
feed from Dunfablc ; it is an excellent
one, and the grain much improved. It
is pity that feed is not changed often, and
from a greater diflance than is common *.

From

* Another circumftance, though not con-
cerning agriculture, I fhould not forget-, which
is the landscape from Mr. Tucker's cabbage-
field,

[ I" ]

From Rot her ham to Sheffield the road is
execrably bad, very flony, and exceffively
full of holes

Sheffield contains about 30,000 inhabit-
ants, the chief of which are employed in
the manufacture of hard- ware : The great
branches are the plating-work, the cutlery,
the lead works, and the filk mill. To give

field, fituated on the top of a hill. I would at
any time, with the utmoft pleafure, ride forty
miles to view fuch another. You look down a
very bold defcent upon an extenfive valley,
moil exquifitely beautiful j chiefly meadows of
admirable verdure, and all interfered with hedges
and fcattered trees. Three rivers wind through
it in different directions, in the moil pleafing
manner imaginable •, loil in fome places among
the trees, and breaking upon the eye in others,
in a ilile of piflurefque elegance, eafier con-
ceived than expreffed. They appear in eigh-
teen different and almoft unconnected fpots,
infomuch that the whole valley is ornamented
with them in a moil charming manner : It is
every way bounded by hills, waving one above
another, fcattered with villages, and cultivated
to their tops. You look immediately down on
one fide upon Rotberbam, and Sheffield is feen
in the vale at the diffance of fix miles. There
is diftant profpeel enough to give a rariet;
the fcene, and not fufficient to fatigue the eye,
which commands every part of this bewitching
land! ith eaie and delight.

a c

[ i*3 ]
a clear and diftinct account of thefc articles,
would require infinitely more time than
any one can fuppofe a farming obferver
could give them.

In the plated work fome hundreds of
hands are employed ; the men's pay extends
from 9 x. a week to 60 /. a year: In works
of curiofity, it muft be fuppofed that dex-
terous hands are paid very great wages.
Girls earn 4 s. 6 d. and 5 s. a week ; fome
even to 9/. No men are employed that
earn lefs than 9 s. Their day's work, in-
cluding the hours of ceffation, is thirteen.
In the cutlery branch are feveral fub-
divifions, fuch as razor, knife, fciffar, lan-
cets, Hems, &c. &C. Among thefe the
grinders make the greater! earnings ; 18 s.
lgs. and 20 J. a week, are common among
them ; but this height of wages is owing
in a great meafure to the danger of the
employment ; for the grindftones turn with
fuch amazing velocity, that by the mere
force of motion they now and then fly in
pieces, and kill the men at work on them.
Thefe accidents ufed to be more common
than they are at prefent ; but of late years
they have invented a method of chaining
down an iron over the (lone on which the
men work in fuch a manner, that in cafe
of the abovementioned accidents, the
pieces of (tone can only fly forwards ; and
and not upwards ; and yet men bv the force

of

f **4 3

of the breaking, have been thrown back In
a furprifmg manner, and their hands
ftruck off by fhivers of the ftone. The
mechanifm of thefe grinding wheels is very
curious ; many grindftones are turned by a
of wheels which all receive the: mo->
tion from one water-wheel, in g in

velocity from the hrft movement to the
laft ; in the finifhing keels it is fo great,
thai 1 = :t cannot perceive the leaft mo-
tion. In the other branches of the cutlery,
workmen earn from il 6 d. and is. to
lor. 6 d. a day: The firft are common
wages, and the laft eafily earned by the
polifhers of the razors. Surprifing wages
for any manual performances ! All the
hands in thefe branches have conftant em-
ployment.

Here is likewife a filk mill, a copy from
the famous one at Derby, which employs
152 hands, chiefly women and children ;
the women earn 5 or 6 s. a week by the
pound; girls at firft are paid but n. or
1 s. : d. a week, but rife gradually higher,
till they arrive at the fame wages as the
women. It would be prcpofterous to
attempt a defcription of this immenfe mc-
chanifm ; but it is highly worthy of obfer-
vation, that all the motions of this compli-
cated fvftcm are fet at work by one water-
wheel, which communicates motion to
others, and they to many different ones,

until

[ «5 ]

Until many thoufand wheels and powers
are fet at work from the original fimple
one. They ufe Bengal, China, Turkey,
Piedmont, and American raw filk ; the Ita-
lian cofts them 35 s. a pound, but the Ame-
rican only 20 s. it is a good filk, though
not equal to the Piedmont. This mill works
up 150 lb. of raw filk a week all the year
round, or 7800 per annum. The erection,
of the whole building, with all the mecha-
nifm it contains, colt about 7 coo /.

I would advife you, in cafe you take this
place in your way to the more northerly
parts, to view all the mills in town : among
others, do not forget the tilting-mill, which
is a blackfmith's immenfe hammer in con-
ftant motion on an anvil, worked by wa-
ter-wheels, and by the fame power the
bellows of a forge adjoining kept regularly
blown : The force of this mcchanifm is
prodigious ; fo great, that you cannot lay
your hand upon a gate at three perches
diftance, without feeling a ftrong trembling
motion, which is communicated to all the
earth around.

Upon the whole, the manufacturers of
Sheffield make immenfe earnings : There
are men who are employed in more labo-
rious works, that do not earn above 6 or
7 s. a week, but their number is very fmall ;
in general they get from 91. to 20 s. a
week; and the women and children are

all

[ 126 ]

all employed in various branches, and
earn very good wages, much more than
by fpinning wool in any part of the king-
dom. The poor's rates in this town gene-
rally run at about 4 s. in the pound. All
I converfed with allured me, that their
bufincfs lias never been fo great fince, as
it was during the war : Every branch was
then ftrained to an unufual brifknefs.

The country between Sheffield and Bam-
Jley is line ; it abounds with the beauties
of landfcape, and has a pleafing variety.
The foil is in general good, and the crops
the fune. At Ecclesfield I converfed with
a fcnfible farmer, whole account of their
hufbandry was this :

Farms run from 20 /. to 80 /. and the
rent of land from 14 j-. to 20 s. an acre.
Their courfe of crops,

1. Fallow 3. Clover

2. Wheat 4. Wheat.
This is very bad hufbandry. Another is,

1. Fallow 3. Oats

2. Wheat

They plough five times for wheat, fovr

ten pecks, and reckon the mean produce

at 20 bufhels. For barley they give five

hs, low 3! bufhels, and get on an

rage 4 quarters. For oats they ftir but

once, fow five bufhels, and get in return

ir quarters. For peafe they likewife

but one earth, fow three bufhels, and

reckon

[ I27 ]

reckon the medium at 20. They plough
but once for beans, fow them broad-coaft
34 bufhels, never hoe them, and reap about
30. For turnips they ftir five times, hoe
them once or twice, value an acre at about
40 s. and ufe them for fheep, and ftall-
feeding bullocks. They drain their lands
with much attention, being in many places
of a wet fpringing nature. They cut them
from two to fix feet deep, according as the
fprings are found, which damage the land ;
the price is about 1 s. a. perch ; but this
relates only to good farmers, who copy it
from the Marquis of Rockingham. They
lay a conliderable quantity of lime upon
their lands, about four quarters an acre, and
do it for all forts of crops. Their yard
manure they never mix with earth, lay it
on wheat and turnip land. They fow
fome rye, plough for it five times, fow
two bufhels, and reap on a medium 30 *.

They

* The Earl of Strafford's, feat at Wentwortb-
caftk,nea.v BartiJIey, is very well worth feeing. The
new front to the lawn is one of the moil beauti-
ful in the world : It is luprifingly light and
elegant-, the portico, fupported by fix pillars of
t\vc Corinthian order, is exceedingly elegant; the
triangular cornice inclofing the arms, as light as
poflible ; the balluftrade gives a fine effect to the
whole builiding, which is exceeded by few in
lightnefs, unity of parts, and that pleaiing fim-
plicity which mult ftrike every beholder.

The

r i23 ]

They ufe three and four horfes in a
plough, at length, and do an acre a day.
They let their cows at 45 J. for twenty
weeks in fu miner. The particulars of a
farm :

70 Acres in all 4 Turnips

25 Ditto grafs 4 Horfes

45 Arable 6 Cows

£.50 Rent 8 Oxen

24 Acres of wheat 3 Servants
18 Spring corn 1 Labourer

LABOUR.

In harveft, 1 s. a day, and board.
In hay-time, 1 s. a day, and board, for
mowing.

In

The hall is \o by 40, the ceiling fupported
by very handfome Corinthian pillars •, and
divided into compartments by cornices hand-
fomely worked and gilt ; the divifions painted
in a pleafing manner. On the left hand you
enter an antichamber, twenty feet fquare, then
a bedchamber of the fame fize, and thirdly a
drawing-room of the like dimenfion ; the pier-
glafi is large, but the frame rather in a heavy
itile. Over the chimney is fome carving by
(gibbons.

The other fide of the hall opens into a
dr --room, 40 by 25. The chimncypiece

exc. . . 7 elegant •, the cornice furrounds a
plate of Siena marble, upon which is a beautiful
CeifrooA of flowers in white ; it is fupported by

■

[ «9 ]

In winter, i jr.

Reaping wheat, 4 s. 6 d. and 5 .r.

Mowing grafs, \ s. 6 d.

Hoeing turnips, 4 s. and 2 s. the fecond.

Ditching, 2 .r. for 28 yards the acre.

Threfhing wheat, 8 </. the load of three

bufliels.
Barley, 1;. a quarter.
Oats, 8 d. ditto.

PRO-

two pillars of Siena wreathed with white, than
which nothing can have a better effect. The
door-cafes are very neatly carved and gilt.
Here are three fine flabs, one of Egyptian granate,
and two of Siena marble •, alfo leveral pictures.
Carlo Maratt. David with Goliab's head, fup-

pofed by this in after •, fine.
Sahator Roja. Two cattle pieces, exceedingly

fine, and in a more finilhed and agreeable

ftile, than what is commonly feen of this

mafter,
Guido. Diana, copied from this mafter -, the

naked body is painted well, but the arms in

the blue drapery very ill done ; it is not at

firft fight clear, whether the figure has a

right arm or not.
Paulo Matea. Abraham.
Dining-room, 25 by 30. Here is found the

great Earl of Straff or dy by Vandyke •, the ex-

preffion of the countenance and the painting

of the hanns very fine.

Going up flairs, (the ftair-cafe is fo lofty as
to pain the eye) you enter the gallery, which is

Vol. I. K one

PROVISIONS, &c.

Bread, i^'d.perlb. Butter, 8 d.
Oat ditto i (This price muft be owing
to the neighbourhood of Sheffield)
Cheefe, 3'- Veal, - 3

Beef, 34. Pork, - 4

Mutton, 34. Candles, 6L.

Labourer's houfe rent, 40^.

Wear and tear of their tools, 6 s.

Their firing, 20 s.

IMPLE-

one of the moft beautiful rooms in England. It
is 180 feet long by 24 broad, and 30 high. It
is in three divifions •, a large one in the center,
r.nd a fmall one at each end. This circumilance
renders the breadth not of a bad proportion,
which would otherwife be much too narrow :
The divifion is by very magnificent pillars of
marble, with gilt capitals : In the fpaces be-
tween thefe pillars and the wall, are ftatues.

Apollo.

An Egyptian Prieftefs.

Bacchus, and

Ceres.
This noble gallery is defigncd and ufed as a
rendezvous-room, and an admirable one it is -r
one end is furnifhed for mufic, and the other
with a billiard-table : This is the ilile in which
fuch rooms fhould always be regulated. At
each end is a very elegant Venetian window,
contrived (like feveral others in the houfe) to
admit the air by Aiding down the pannel under
the center part of it. The cornices of the end-

di' ifions*

[ i3i ]
IMPLEMENTS, &c.

A waggon, 14/. A harrow, 1 /. 10 s-

A cart, 7 /. 10/. A roller, 10 s. 6 d.

A plough, 1 /. Bricks per J 000, 10 s.

The country between Sheffield and Barn-
Jley is in general good and well cultivated :
About Wooley^ the foil is chiefly clay, and
lets from 10;. to 15/. an acre ; farms run
from 20/. to 200/. a year. One of their
courfes is,

1. Fallow 3. Beans

\ 2. Wheat 4. Oats

They

divifions are of marble, richly ornamented*

Here are feveral valuable pictures.

Borgognone. Two battle pieces.

Vandyke. Charles I. in the I fie of Wight ; very
fine.

Bajfan. Wifemens Offerings.

Carlo Maratt : Himfelf, and a Turkijh lady kept
by him ; the lady is beautiful and graceful :
Carlo had a better tafte than Rubens.

Titian. Miracle by St. Paul; group and co-
louring very fine.

Carlo Maratt. Chrifi in the garden, and the
bloody iflue cured ; good.

Michael Angelo. Twd fharpers cheating a gen-
tleman at cards -, expreflive. Vifion ofS t.
John; the colouring and attitude bad.
Lord Strafford's Library is a good room,

thirty by twenty, and the book-cafes well dif-

poled.

K 2 Her

[ *32 J

They plough live times for wheat, fow
two bufhels, and reap at a medium about
22 bufhcls. They ftir three times for bar-
ley, fow four bufhcls, and gain three quar-
ters and half. For oats, they give but one
tilth, fow four bufhels, and gain in return
five quarters, fometimes ieven, eight, and
nine, which are vail crops. For peafe, they
plough but once, low three bufhels ; and
15 the medium produce. One earth like-
wife for beans, low them broad-caft three
bufhels ; the average crop 18 bufhels. They
ftir live times for turnips, hoe them once,
value a crop at about 40 s. and generally

feed

Her ladyfhip's dreffing-room is extremely hand-
fome, about 25 feet fquare, hung with blue
India paper •, the cornice, ceiling and orna-
ments, all extremely pretty •, the toilette boxes
of gold, and fine.

Her ladyfhip's reading clofet is elegant, hung
with a painted lattin, and the ceiling in Mofaics
feitooned with hoiieyfuckles •, the cornice of
glafs painted with flowers : It is a fweet little
room, and mull pleafe every fpectator. On
the ocher fide of the dremng-room is a bird
clofet, in which are many cages of tinging birds;
The bed-chamber 25 fquare, is handfome; and
th ./hole apartment very pleafing.

But IVentivorlh-cafik is more famous for the
beauties of the ornamented environs, than for
thofe of the houfe, though the front is fuperior
to many. The water and the woods adjoining,

are

[ 133 ]
feed them off with fheep. Their clover
they fowon fpring corn, mow it twice, and
gain three loads an acre. They plough
fometimes with two horfes a breaft, and at
others with three or four at length, and do
an acre a day. The particulars of a farm
I gained were,

50 Acres in all 10 Ditto of barley

7 Grafs 5 Horfes

43 Arable 1 Cow

£. 62 flent 60 Sheep

14 Acres of wheat 1 Servant

generally 1 Labourer

PR Cl-
are fketched with great tafte. The firir. extends
through the park in a meandring courfe, and
wherever it is viewed, the terminations are
no where ieen, having every where the effect of
a real and very beautiful river ; the groves
of oaks fill up the bends of the ftream in the
jufteft ftyle. Here advancing thick to the very
banks of the water ; there appearing at a
diftance, breaking away to a few fcattered
trees in fome fpots, and in others joining their
branches into the moft folemn brownnefs. The
water, in many places, is feen [from the houfe
between the trees of feveral fcattered clumps
moft picturefquely ; in others, it is quite loit
behind the hills, and breaks every where upon
the view in a ftile that cannot be too much
admired.

K 3 Tin

[ *34 ]

PROVISIONS,^.

Butter, - 6 d. Mutton, - 3^
Cheefe, - 4 Candles - 7

Beef, - 3i Soap, - 6~

Labourer's houfe rent 30 s.

Their firing, 1 2 s.

LABOUR.

In harveft, 1 s. 4 d. a day.

In hay-time, 1 s. 4 d, ditto for mowing,

In winter, yd. and 10 d.

Reaping and mowing corn and harvesting

it 5 s. an acre, one with another.
Mowing grafs, il 6 d. to 2 s. 6 d.
Hoeing turnips, 4.S. 6d.

Th refliing

The fhrubbery that adjoins the houfe is dif-
pofed with the utmoft tafte. The waving Hopes
dotted with firs, pines, &c. are pretty, and the
temple is fixed on lb beautiful a fpot, as to com-
mand a fweet landfcape of the park, and the
rich profpect of adjacent country, which rifes in
a bold manner, and prdents an admirable view
of cultivated hills.

Winding up the hill among the plantations
and woods, which are laid out in an agreeable
manner, we came to the bowling green, which
is thickly encompafTed with evergreens •, with a
very light and pretty Chinefe temple on one tide
of it ; and from thence crofs a dark walk catch-
ing a moft beautiful view of a bank of a diitant
Vrood. The next object is a flatuc of Ceres m a

retired

[ '3," ]
Threfhing wheat, 6d. or 8 d. the load, of

three bufhels.
barley , I s. 6 d. the quarter.

IMPLEMENTS.

Waggon, 1 6 /. A plough, i /.

A cart, 12/. A roller, 1 1 s.

Wakefield is noted for the drefling trade:
The cloths come to this town to be dyed,
&c. and go through their lad hands. The
men earn from 6 s. a week (in winter) to
14/. boys till their apprenticefhip or 14
or 15, is.Gd. and 2 s. a week. Around
the town are many collieries; "the men em-
ployed in them, earn 10 s. or 12 s. a week.

P R O-

retired fpot, the arcade appearing with a good
effect, and through the three diviiions of it, the
diftant profpect. is ieen very finely. The lawn
which leads up to the caflle is elegant, there is
a chump of firs on one fide of it, through which
the diftant profpect. is caught ; and the above
mentioned itatue of Ceres, in the hollow of a
a dark grove, one among the few initances of
ftatues being employed in gardens with real
tafte. From the platform of grafs within the
cattle walls (in the center of which is a itatue of
the late eari who built it) over the battlements,
you behold a furprizing profpeft on whichever
fide you look •, but the wiew which pleafes me
belt, is that oppofite the entrance, where you
look down upon a valley which is extenfive,
K 4 finely

[ 136 ]

PROVISIONS, &c.

Bread, per lb. i^d. Cheefe, - 6!-

Mutton, - 34- Soap, - 6
Beef, - 34- Butter, - 7
Veal, - 3

Manufacturer's houfe rent, from 40 s. to 5 0 s.

Their firing, 20L

The trade of this place, is at prefent
very dull ; it has been fo ever iinee the
peace.

The country between Wakefield and
Leeds continues very beautiful ; but the
roads ftony and very ill made. At this
town, but more in the neighbourhood, is

carried

finely bounded by riling cultivated hills, and
very complete in being commanded at a fingle
lock, notwithstanding its vaft variety.

Within the menagerie, at the bottom of the
park, is a molt pleafing fhrubbery extremely
fequeftered, cool, mady, and agreeably con-
trailed to that by the houfe from which fo much
diftant proipect is beheld : the latter is what
may be called fine ; but the former is agreeable.
We proceeded through the menagerie (which is
pretty well Hocked with pheafants, &c.) to the
bottom of the fhrubbery, where is an alcove in
a fequeftered fituation j in front of it the body
of a large oak is feen at the end of a walk in a
juft ftile-, but on approaching it, three more are
caught in the fame manner, which, from unifcr-
in fueh merely rural and natural objects,

dif-

[ 137 ]
carried on a vafl manufacturing trade:
Leeds cloth market is well known, and has
been often defcribed. They make chiefly
broad cloths from I s. 8 d. a yard to 12 s.
but moftly of 4 s. 6 d. and 5 s. Good
hands at this branch, would earn about
ioj. 6 d. a week the year round, if they
were fully employed ; but as it is, cannot
make above 8 s. This difference of 2 s.
6 d. is a melancholy confidcration. A boy
of 13 or 14, about 4 s. a week, fome wo-
men earn by weaving as much as the men.
The men, at what they call offal work,
which is the inferior branches, fuch as
picking, rinting, &c. are paid 1 d. an hour.

Befides

difpleafes at the very firft fight. The fhrub-
bery, or rather plantation, is fpread over two fine
Hopes, the valley between which is along winding
hollow dale, exquifitely beautiful; the banks are
thickly covered with great numbers of very fine
oaks, whofe noble branches in fome places al-
mofl join over the grafs lawn which winds be-
neath them ; at the upper end is a Gothic temple,
over a little grot, which forms an arch, and to-
gether have a moil pleaiing effect; on a near
view, this temple is found a light and airy
building. Behind it is a water fweetly fitua ted,
furrounded by hanging wood in a beautiful man-
ner, an ifland in it prettily planted; and the
bank on the left fide rifmg from the water, and
fcattered with fine oaks. From the feat of the
river God ; (the ftream by the by is too fmall

to

[ '3§ ]

Befides broad cloths, there are fome {bal-
loons, and many fluffs made at Leeds, par-
ticularly Scotch camblets, grograms, bur-
dies, Fome callimancoes, &c. The weavers
earn from 5 s. to 12 s. a week; upon an
average 7 .r. Boys of 13 or 14, $s. a week.
But they are all thrown out in bad wea-
ther; men in general at an average the
year round, about 6 s. or 6 s. 6 d. a week.
They never want work at weaving. Dref-
fers earn from 1 s. to 3 .r. a day, but are
much thrown out by want of work. The
aving fhiffs, earn 3 s. 6 d. or
4 j. a week. Wcc>l-combers, 6 s. to 12 s.
a week. The fpinning trade is conftant,

co be fanctified) the view into the park is pretty,
congenial with the fpot, and the temple caught
in proper ftile.

Before I leave this very agreeable place, let
me ;emark to yon, that in no great houie which
I have feen, have I met with more agreeable
treatment, from all who mow the feveral parts
generally feen as aftranger, nor will you perhaps
efteem it wrong to hint, that Lady Strafford retired
from her apartment for us to view it ; I mention
this as an inltance of general and undiftinguifhing
riking contrail to that unpopular
and aftc6led dignity in which fome great people
think proper to cloud their houfes — fuch as the
neceffity of gaining tickets — of being acquainted
. the family — of giving notice before-hand
of your intentions-, all which is terribly incon-
venient to a traveller.

women

[ 139 1
women earn about 2 s. 6d or 3/. a week.
Girls of 13 or 14, earn 1 s. Rd. a week. A
boy of 8 or 9 at ditto i\ d. a day ; of fix
years old, 1 d. a day. The bufmefs of this
town flourished greatly during the war,
but funk much at the peace, and conti-
nued very languid till within thefe two
years, when it began to rife again.

PROVISIONS, &c.

Much oat bread eat, 10 or 1 1 ounces for 1 d.
Butter, - Sd. per lb. 18 or 19 ounces.
Chcefe, - 4 Pork - ^ 4^.

Mutton, - 4 Bacon, - 7

Beef, - 4 Veal, - 24.

Milk, a pint in fummer 2, in winter 1 S-d,

and 1 d.
Manufacturer's houfe rent, 40 j-.
Their firing, 20 s.

The country from Leeds to Tadcajler is
fine, and to JVinmoor, a flrong blue clay
foil, with noble crops on it Around Kid-
del, land inclofed lets at about 8 s. orgs.
an acre ; it is generally limeflone with a
covering of various forts, but chiefly clay :
Farms from :o/. to 150/ a year; the
courfe,

1. Fallow 3. Oats

2. Wheat or barley 4. Barley, &c.
They plough three or four times for

wheat, fow three bufhels, and gain in re-
turn 1 3 or 20. For barley they plough
3 five

[ Ho ]

five times, fow four bufhels, and reckon
the medium produce at four quarters.
They ftir but once for oats, fow better than
four bufhels, and reap from three to eight
quarters. For peafe they likewife ftir but
once, fow three bufhels, and gain from
eight to 20. They give but one earth for
beans, fow four bufhels broad-caft, never
hoe them, and reap from 12 to 40 bufhels.
They reckon their foil in general too he:, vy
for turnips, but plough five, fix, or 'even
times, hoe once ; value them at from 35 s.
to 50 s. an acre, and ufe them for fheep
and oxen. Clover they fow on wheat and
barley, and get at one mowing on good
land near three load of hay an acre. Mr.
Rooks, from whom I have this account,
has introduced the hufbandry of feeding
the clover; he mows it for hay, or feeds
the firft crop, and lets the fecond ftand for
feed, gets from 4 to 12 bufhels per acre :
They manure with rape duft, lay three
quarters per acre on wheat, and four on
barley, cofts them 1 3 s. 6 d. a quarter be-
fides carriage of nine miles. They ufe two
horfes double, in their light lands ; in
their ftrong, four oxen and one horfe,
or two oxen and two horfes ; oxen reckon-
ed beft for ploughing. The particulars of
a farm,

283 Acres all 213 Arable

70 Ditto grafs j£»i20 Rent

9 Horfes

[ I4i ]

9 Horfes
4 Cows
I So Sheep

12 Oxen for ploughing
12 Ditto young, to fucceed ditto
7 Servants
2 Labourers
Sows 70 acres wheat
50 Barley, &x.

PROVISIONS, &c.

Butter, 6-1- d. per lb. Mutton, - 34.^.

Cheefe, - 4 Veal, - 22.

Beef, - 3 Candles, - 6

Labourer's houfe rent, 18 s.
Wear of their tools, 5 j-.
Their firing, 20 s.

IMPLEMENTS, fac.

A waggon, 16 /. A harrow, 14 s,

A cart, 8 /. ioj-. A roller, 10/.

A plough, 1 /. 5/.

LABOUR.

In harveft, 1 s. and board.

In hay-time, 1 j-. 4 d. for mowing.

In winter, 1 s. a day.

Reaping wheat, and getting it in, 5/.

Mowing fpring corn and getting it in, 2s. 6d.

grafs, 1 j. 6d.

Hoeing turnips, 5 s. 6 d.
Ditching, 1 s. the 28 yards.

Threfhiii£

[ Hi )

Threfhing wheat, 10 d. the load of three

buihels.
barley, fee* u. /\d. a quarter.

About York I remarked large quantities
of potatoes planted in the open fields.
Beans, potatoes, and clover, they reckon
a fallow, and fow winter corn after the
latter two ; fixty buihels they reckon a
middling crop ; they plant generally in
rows, two feet afunder, and earth them
up by hand hoes. The fields in which
they are fet, let at about 1 2 s. an acre.

I omit fpeaking of the city of York at
prefent, as I purpofe returning to it in
the race week, and expect then to view the
public buildings with greater advantage.
I took the road to Beverly.

About Wilbersfort, the foil is general
clay and fome iandy loams, the commons
let at 5 s. an acre, the held lands at 10 j»
and the grafs inclofures at 20 s. This plain
ltate of the rents fhew what great improve-
ments might be made, an advance from 5 j*,
to 20 s. Farms from 20 /. to 60 /. a year*
Their courle

1. Fallow

2. Wheat or rye, or barley

3. Oats or beans.

They plough four times for wheat, foW
ten pecks, and reap at a medium 30
buihels. For barley, they plough five
times, low three buihels, and reap from

[ H3 ]

30 to 4c. They give four earths for rye,
fow two bufhels, and gain 25 in return.
For oats, they flir but once, fow four
bufhels, and gain from 30 to 80. They
fow fome peafe, plough but once for them,
ufe four bufhels of feed and reckon from
15 to 20 about the mean produce. For
beans they likewife plough but once, fow
them broad-caft, four bufhels to the acre,
never hoe, and gain about the fame crop
as of peafe. Some few turnips are fown
upon the lands that are frefh burnt, plough
but once for them, never hoe, and eat
them with cows and fheep. They lime
their lands a good deal ; lay 64 bufhels
upon an acre, reckon that it lafts twTo
years; the expence 20 s. The grand im-
provement which they practice on their
new land is paring and burning; they give
5 s. an acre for flubbing up the whins,
10 j. for paring, and 5 j. for burning,
They low clover on their barley lands,
mow it for hay, and get furprifing crops,
two load each mowing, and they fow
wheat after it. In a plough they ufe two
horfes double, ftir an acre a day. The pro-
duct of a cow they reckon at 3 or 4 /. 7 he
particulars of a farm I gained as follow,
80 Acres in all 40 Grafs

40 Arable £. 30 Rent

2 Horfes 1 Servants

10 Cows 1 Labourer.

PR 0~

[ 144 J

PROVISIONS, 6-c

Cheefe, ad. per/£. Mutton, - £d.
Butter, - 7 Candles, - 6

Beef, - 32. Soap, - 6

Labourers houfe rent, 20 s.

Their firing, 30 s.

IMPLEMENTS.

A waggon, 1 2 /. to 1 5 /. (very narrow bodies)
A cart, 8 /. A plough, 1 /.

LABOUR.

In harveft, 1 s. 3 d. a day, and board.

In winter, Sd.

Reaping, 45. 6 d. and 5 s.

Mowing grafs, is. 6 d.

Threfhing, all by the day.

A vile cuftom I remarked in fome of
the new inclofures here, was the lowing
common clover in laying down land for
five, fix, or feven years ; that grafs lafts in
their land but two years, fo that you fee
fome fields in which it is wearing out, in
others it is quite gone and nothing but
couch grafs and rubbifh fucceeding. The
white thorn plants in the new hedges
were all full of weeds, and of a Hinted
growth.

At Hatton, and the neighbourhood, I
found feveral variations, which require
frefh minutes ; their foil is chiefly gravel,
lets from 5 s. to 20 j. an acre ; their courfc

1. Fallow

f Hi ]

1. Fallow 3. Barley

2. Wheat and rye 4. Peafe.

They give four ploughings for wheat*
fow two bufhels, and fometimes more, and
gain from 15 to 20. For barley they give
five earths, fow three bufhels, and get
about 15 in return. They plough four
times for rye, fow two bufhels, and reap
at a medium 20 bufhels ; they fow clover
on their barley lands, cut it twice for hay,
and get three loads at the two mowings.
For oats they plough once, fow four bufnels,
and get four quarters. They ftir once for
peafe, fow two bufhels, the crop from no-
thing to twenty bufhels. For beans they
give but one ploughing, fow them broad-
caft, three bufhels to the acre, never hoe,
and reckon the mean crop at three quarters.
Very few turnips fown. The particulars I
gained of a farm were,

140 Acres 4 Oxen

£ . 70 Rent 3 Servants

4 Horfes i Labourer

16 Cows

PROVISIONS, &c.

Beef, - 4. (I. Cheefe, - i^d.

Mutton, - 3 . Candles, - 6

Butter,- 7 ]Soz. Soap, - 6

Labourers houfe rent, 20 s.

Wear of their tools, ioj1.

Firing, 20J.

Vol. I. L LABOUR.

[ i4<* 1
LABOUR.

In harvcfc, 9 s. a week and board.

In hay-time, ditto.

In winter, 6 */. a day and board.

Reaping per acre, 4 x. 6 J. and 5 f.

Mowing grafs, n. 8 d. to 2 j-.

Threfhing wheat, is. 8 */. to 2 J. a quarter.

Barley, 1 j. 6*/.

■ Gats, 1 j.

IMPLEMENTS, 6>c.

A waggon, 16/. 10;.

A cart, 5 /. to 10/.

A plough, 1 /.

A harrow, 6 s.

Bricks, in. a thoufand.

Oak-timber, 1 s. 6 d. a foot.

Alh ditto, 1 s.
They ufe three, four, and five horfes in
a plough, and do an acre a day. The
product of a cow well fed, from 5 /. to 6 /.
I remarked the whole way from York to
Beverley, that they ufed many oxen in their
hufbandry works ; all the waggons I met
had two oxen and two horfes in them.
At Barnby Moor they informed me, that
oxen were much the beft, and exceeded
horfes in every refpect ; would out-draw
and out-plough them. A point much
worthy the attention of their landlords;
for the fame fuperiority has been acknow-
ledged in many other parts of the kigdom,
yet they have been fufFered to wear out

of

[ '47 ]
of ufe. The adjoining moors are common
to the houfes around them; would let, if
incloied, at 3 s. 6 d. or 4 s. an acre, with-
out further improvement, and might be
made, with nothing but good hufbandry,
worth 10 j. an acre. What a fcandal that
they remain in their prefent condition !
The foil in this country is chiefly fand and
gravel. The inclofures let at 20 s. an acre,
and the open fields at 7 s. 6 d. Their
courfe of crops,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Barley

They pare and burn a little, and fow rape
on it : They have a little fainfoine in
their'gravelly inclofures. Between Market
Weighton, and Beverley, I obferved feveral
warrens, which mull raife the wonder of
every traveller, to fee fuch good land left to
fo woful an ufe ; the turf is exceedingly
rich and fine, and the plentiful crops of
thiftles fcattered about it, prove the natural
goodnefs of the foil ; for the thiftle is fo
luxuriant and exhaufting a vegetable, with
fo ftrong and penetrating a tap root, that
it is fcarce ever found on bad foils.

About Bifnop\ Burton is fome of the
moft extrordinary open field land I have
met with ; for it let while open at 1 8 s. and
20 s. an acre; and now a bill of inclofure
has paHed, it is fa id to be raifed to near
L 3 30 s.

[ 148 ]

30 s. per acre. They raife fometimes fix
quarters per acre of wheat, and fix, and
even feven of barley, which are immenfe
crops upon any land, but efpecially in
open fields that do not admit of the moft
beneficial treatment *.

But

* Beverley is a very pretty town, well and regu-
larly built, very clean, and well paved; the ftreets
broad and handfome. The Minfter, for Gothic
architecture, is a very light and beautiful build- 1
ing, and kept in good repair; but its modern
decorators appear to have had ideas of neither
beauty nor propriety •, for, with true tafte, they
have given the venerable pile juft, fuch an en-
trance as you would imagine for a cakehoufe ; a
new-fajhioned iron rail, and gate handfomely
adorned with gilding, and a modern (tone wall
with two urns of white ftone, which, with a
few reliefs cut on them, would do tolerably well
for the decoration of a fhrubbery. But thefe
gentlemen, not content with this ftroke of
genuine propriety, have carried their Grecian
ideas into the very choir of a Gothic cathedral.
At the entrance, under the organ, they have
raifed fome half a dozen (if 1 recollect right)
Ionic pillars and pilafters ; and built an altar-
piece in the ftile of, I know not what. It is
an imperium in mperio\ the bird of Jove cer-
tainly flutters her lofty wings to command the
attention of the fpectator, and call it off from
the barbarifrri of Goths and Vandals to fix curious
fluted Corinthian pillars, raifed merely to fupport
the pedeital whereon appears the king of birds.

You

[ i49 1

But as I fhall have the pleafure of re-
ading fome days in this neighbourhood, I
fhall here make a paufe in my journal, by
alluring you how much I am, &c.

You will not quickly meet with a more capital
piece of abfurdity -, and yet (if you could fup-
pole a ufe for it) this altar-piece, as high as
the cornice of the pillars, has fomething light
and well proportioned in it, but rendered heavy
and unpleafing by the eagle's pedeftal. Clole
adjoining is a monument in memory of one of
the Percy's, near 700 years old, adorned with a
profufion of carving in ftone, very light and
airy. Behind the altar-piece is a modern one,
by Scbeemaker, (Sir Michael Wharton's) which is
in a heavy unpleafing tafte.

LETTER

[ **« ]

LETTER IV.

T Risby, near this town, the feat of
my very excellent friend, E. M. El-
lerker-i Efq; I fixed my quarters fome time,
and took the opportunity of viewing the
adjacent country*.

From

* In the way to Cave, the feat of Sir George
Montgomery Metham, from the hills is a very-
fine view of the river Humber, with the Trent
falling into it on one fide, and the Oufe on the
other ; the high grounds of Lincohiftnre heigh-
tening the profpect greatly. Sir George allured
me, that when he came to his eftate, he found
his houfe in the middle of what deierved the
name of a bog-, the ground all very flat, the
offices clofe to every window of the manfion,
and all in the midft of an open country, with
not an acorn planted. His defigns are not yet
completed j but what is done, gives a very
plealing fpecimen of judgment and tafle. Be-
hind the houfe is an agreeable doping fall,
down to a very fine irregular fheet of water,
the banks of which are waved in tafte, with
a juft medium between the flight trivial bend,
(which looks like an old ftreight line turn-
ed into a waved one) and the ftrong, bold,
and fudden indentures which mould ever be
furrounded with natural woods, or wild unorna-

mented

[ »5" 1

From R'uby towards Hull, the foil im-
proves in richnefs, great quantities of beans
arc fown in the open fields ; but I mould
not forget to remark, that the crops are all
over-run with weeds, to a greater degree
in general than I remember to have feen;
but when beans are never hoed, it is fur-
prizing there fhould ever be found a clean

crop.

mented ground ; a grafs-walk waves along the
banks, which is clofe fhaven, and kept in neat
order, and this is bounded by a thick plantation;
fo that the whole being in the ftile of a pleafure-
ground, no other plan of forming the water
would have had fo great an effect. The head at
the great end of the water appears at prefent
full in view from both fides; but Sir George de-
figns to give the corner oppofite to the hoi
fweeping wave around the new plantation, w
will take off the effect, and be a great i -
provement-, when the plantations get up, the
other end will be quite hid, and the whole have
no other appearance than that of ornamented
nature. Adjoining are many new plantati
fketched with much tafte, with zig-zag walks
through them in an agreeable ftile ; a paddock is
paling in around the whole, which will be well
iiirrounded with wood. Befides thefe improve-
ments, here are numerous and complete office",
both for the houie and farm, newly built or* a
:-coloured hme-ftone, dug almoft on the
fpot. The following eftimate of walling with
this (lone, Sir George was fo kind as to give me;

L 4 A

t 152 ]

crop. At Cottingham they plant a great
quantity of potatoes, chiefly for Hull mar-
ket ; their foil is a rich loam, or a mixed
clay ; lets at 3 /. an acre ; 70 or 80 pecks
of fetts plant an acre of land, and they
reckon the return upon a medium at ten
for one, or from 700 to 800 pecks ; the
price from 4 d. to 6 d. a peck. They hoe
them feveral times according to the quan-
tity of weeds, but never before they are
upf.

At and about a farm colled Hottenprice,
belonging to Mr. Ellerker, adjoining to
Cottingham^ I remarked a peculiar kind of
foil, which is found very troublefome to

cul-

A rood of feven yards in length, and one in
depth, takes three waggon loads of ftone, the
digging of which is, — — 1 s. 6 d.

Workmanfhip, — — 36

Chipping and pointing, — 49
In a wood where there was once only a paltry
ftream, Sir George has made a beautiful lake,
and iniiead of being totally open to every wind,
he has difpofed on all fides numerous and thriv-
ing plantations.

■f At this place Mr. Watjon has a pleaiurc-
ground, which is very well worth feeing •, it
confifts of fhrubberies with winding walks, and
the imitation of a meandring river through the
whole. The grafs plot in front of the houie fur-
rounded with ever-greens and fhrubs, with a
Goi-hic bench on one fide, is very pretty, and the
7 clumps

[ '53 J

cultivate ; it is a very loofe inoory land,
to the depth of about fix or feven inches,
and under it a ftiff clay; they ry

poor corn upon it, efpecially barley ;
beans fuit it beft. It is, like all the other
land in the country, kept on broad high
ridges, and as the clay is ftiff and retentive
of water, which finds no drains to carry
it off, the furrows in winter are half full
of it. I apprehend it is to this caufr the
poverty and loofenefs of the land is owing ;
if the furface was ploughed down, and
well drained with hollow drains, by lying
dry in the winter, it would become firmer
and more found ; this efFect I have often

ob-

clumps to the water's edge well difpofed : From
thence, pafling by a bridge, yon follow the
water through a pafture ground, with walks and
benches around it ; the banks clofely (haven,
the bends of them natural, and quite in the ftile
of a real river. About the middle of the field it
divides and forms a fmall ifland, which contains
two or three clumps of Ihrubs, and is a very
great ornament to the place ; the walk after-
wards leads to the other winding ones around
the field, which is certainly laid out in general
in a good tafte. There are, however, one or
two circumftances, that cannot fail of ftriking
every fpectator, which, if they were a little al-
tered, would be a great improvement. Directly
acrofs the whole runs a common foot-way,
which, though walled in, cuts the grounds too

much ;

[ 154 ]
obferved in Suffolk. This land lets at about
oj-. per acre. I fhould not forget to re-
mark, that over all this country I faw none
but very flovenly hufbandry ; no turnips
hoed ; the beans all full of weeds ; much
barley and oats the fame ; and all their
lands wanting draining even to the being
over-run with rufhes, flags, fedge, &c. &>c.
For fome miles around Hull, the land is
all flat, and interfered by dykes alone,
which feem full of water, notwithstanding
its being the middle of fummer ; but the
part from Cottlngham to Hull is now drain-
ing, and will probably be laid fo dry as to
take the water from out thofe dykes. No

foil

much} a broad arch or two thrown over it, well
covered with earth and planted with flirubs,
would take off the ill erTed of crofting this path.
In the water is the imitation of a rock, every kind
of which is totally unconfonant with the pleafing
and agreeable emotions of the gently-winding
ftream, and fmoothly-fhaven banks ; befides,
any rock worth feeing would fwallow up this
water. In the next place here are fome urns,
an ornament, when properly difnofed, of great
efficacy ; but clofe, (haded and fequeftered fpots,
whereon the eye falls by accident, as it were,
are the places for urns, and not open lawns, full
in view, and to be walked around. It is furpriz-
ing, that the ideas of imitating nature, in reject-
ing a (trait line for the water, and giving its
banks the wave of a real ftream, mould not be

extended

[ iSS ]

foil can ever be of a wholeforr^ irynefs, the
ditches of which are nearly funvof water.
Thefe flat lands are chiefly meadow ground,
and let from 30 s. to ^5 s. ar.j'acre. One
piece of ceconomy I obferved ,».vith pleafure,
not remembering to have if ui it before,
which is, the cultivating th>.**»rth thrown
out of the ditches with oats and potatoes :
you fee a narrow ftripe of fine oats, &c.
around many of the pafture fields; and as this
earth was thrown out but laft winter, and
undoubtedly of a moft wet and four nature, it
fhews the rank luxuriance of that grain and
root to flourifh fo well in a foil but jtaft
turned out from the bottom of a ditch
ufually full of water ; this management
was purfued upon the cleanfing of the old
ditches, as well as the moulds of the new
ones. But two remarks, no fpedtatof of

extended to hiding the conclufion, by wind-
ing it among the wood where it could not be
followed ; and it would have been a great im-
provement, to have given the ftream in one
place a much greater wave, fo as to have en-
larged it to four times its prefent width •, this
would have added much to the variety of the
fcene. Laftly, I might remark, that the circu-
lar bafon near the end of the river has a very bad
effect-, any water fo very artificial, fhould not
be feen with the fame eye that views the imi-
tation of a real dream,

thefe

\

I 156 ]

tliefe new *y drained lands can avoid
making, 1 iz. the immenfe breadth of the
bye-roads, many of which lead only to a
fingle farm-4>ouie, or to about a dozen in-
clofures; the) \ are all by Act of Parliament
60 feet broafj-o For thefe purpoies it is
prepofterouso vo lofe fuch quantities of
ftrong rich clay land of 30/. an acre, when
half the breadth would be equally ufeful.
High-roads, it is not to be regretted the
Parliament mould infift on that breadth for ;
but for fuch as thefe, which have fo very
flight a traffic, it is a ftriking abfurdity.
Secondly, it muft furely be obferved, that
many of thefe new inclofures are over-run
r'ith. rufhes, and other aquatic weeds, and
re in many places fo wet, as to poach
with the tread of cattle, even at this fea-
fon ; what therefore, muft they do in win-
ter ? Now it is evident from this circum-
ftance, either that the true fall is not taken
to carry off the water, (fo much of which
we fee ftagnatmg in the ditches) or that
the ditches are not of a fufficient depth to
drain the land. But fuppofing either of
thefe, or both, or neither, to be the cafe,
yet there appears the greateft rcafon to ap-
prehend, that thefe inclofures cannot be
perfectly drained without the affiftance of
hollow drains, fuch as are ufed in c
mon in Suffolk and Kffex\ if the ditches are
fouad of a fufficient depth 1, how-

ever,

[ '57 ]
ever, I have no conception) drains laid in-
to them of about 30 inches deep, 4 inches
wide at bottom, and 10 at top, filled 12
inches deep with ftones, bones, horns, or
wood, covered thinly with ftraw or broom,
and then the molds and turf laid in again :
thefe cut acrofs the lands, about a perch
and half afunder, would be a prodigious
improvement, even to nearly doubling the
value of the land, for they would kill all
the aquatic rubbifh, and make the grafs
iurprizingly fweeter and finer, both for
feeding and hay.

Hull is a large, and in general a clofe-
built town, but fome of the flreets are wide
and handfome ; all of them, down to the
narrower!: alley, excellently paved and per-
fectly clean;- but in winter I fuppofe the
latter circumftance not fo great, although
there are fcavengers publicly appointed
for cleaning them. The houfes in general
are well built, and great numbers of them
new, but I faw few large ones. The trade
carried on here is very great, for a number
ot the moll confide rable manufacturing
towns in England being litnated on the ri-
vers that fall into the Humber, are infinitely
advantageous to the commerce of this place ;
enabling its merchants to export largely to
mod parts of the world, a variety of ma-
nufactures at the very firft hand ; and the

fame

I 158 ]

fame rivers, particularly the Trent , the
Ouze, the Rother, &c. &c. which bring
them thefe fabrics, likewife give them a
vaft fharc ixf the corn trade, and then the
return by wine, deals, coals, iron, hemp,
A nerican produces, &c. &c. form together a
prodigious traffic. 1 hey have even entered
u ) the Greenland fifhery, which was fup-
poi d to be loft to this kingdom when gi-
ven uf • the South-Sea Company. Three
large (hips, of above 500 tons each, made
the voyage this year, one of which caught
four whales and an half*, and 150 feals.
The merchants of Hull deferve much com-
mendation for entering into a bufinefs fo
extremely expenfive, hazardous, and fo
often disadvantageous ; but from which
our neighbours, the Dutch, have made fuch
aflonifhing profit. There are about 150
fail of fhips belonging to Hull, rifing from
fmall craft to 600 tons. The harbour is
fmall, but very fecure ; at its entrance from
the Humber is a regular fortification, garri-
foned, but of no great ftrength, from
which you have a fine view of the river
and its mouth to the fea ; it is here three
miles broad.

* If two fhips join in the taking a whale, they di-
vide it, which occafions the halves, which, without
explanation, appear fo odd.

6 They

[ 159 ]
They reckon in Hull that the number of
fouls is 24,000 ; but from the fize of the
town, I have no conception they can
amount to 20,000 *

The

* Among the public buildings of the town,
thofe I found moil worthy of notice were,
1 . The Trinity-houfe, a very ancient eitablifh-
ment for the maintenance or* captains widows :
There is nothing linking in the building, but in
one of the rooms is a modern fea-piece, repre-
ienting the battle between Sir Edward Hazvke,
and the French fleet off Quiberon bay, by D.
Serres. It is a good picture ; the fmoak in a
variety of colours and exprefTions, the clouds,
and the clear obicure of the whole, are pleafing.
In one of the pafiages, remember to obferve
the effigy "of a man in a boat, who was taken
up at fea, alive, but died in three days. The
following is the inicription :

" Andrew Barker, one of the mailers of this
houfe, upon his voyage from Greenland, Anno
Domini 161 3, took up this boat and a man in it,
of which this is the effigy, the coat, bag, oars,
and dart the fame.

The boat is only 18 inches broad and 10
feet long, covered over, fo as juft to admit the
man to fit in it, and joins round his waift,
it is amazing it mould live a fingle day at
fea.

2. The new theatre is well contrived and
handfome •, contains a fmall orcheflra, a pit,

and

[ ifo ]
The foil about Ri/by is generally a pretty
ftrong loam from four to eight inches deep,
and then a vaft ftratum of chalk ftone. In
fome fields the chalk ftone is covered with
a furface of clay. The farms are in gene-
ral fmall, they rife from 10/. a year to
150 /. but are generally from 50 /. to 100 /.
In the open fields which are much more

and three ranges of boxes and galleries ; but the
baluftrade fronts of the boxes being lead co-
loured, have not a good effect •, they had better
have been pannelled, unlefs carved and guilt ;
the ftage has not half a fufficiency of extent in
front of the houfe.

3. The affembly-room is handfome and well
contrived ; it is 50 by 27 and 25 high ; the
card-room (32 by 20) is parallel with it, fo that
at the entrance you fee through the doors of
each, upon a large handfome pier-*glafs at the
further fide of the latter, catching the principal
glafs luftres in a proper manner : Of thefe there
are eight in the affembly-room, and one in the
card-room. The former of thefe is walled with
a moil difagreeable red clouded coloured ftone,
which deftroys the beauty of the room : It is
ornamented with Ionic pilailers. The mufic
gallery is a coved recefs on one fide, the front
of which being parallel with the fide of the
room, the proportions are not damaged by it,
nor has it that bad effect, which we always ob-
lerve in projecting galleries of every kind.

in

[ i6> ]

in quantity than the inclofures, the lands
let at various prices. In Walking ton field,
where the foil is chiefly clay, fo as to yield
wheat and beans, it lets at about 7 s. 4^.
an acre, whereas in Little IVeighton, which
is barley land, and ftands in need of being
manured now and then with rape dult, it
is not above 4 s. Some of the open land,
however, lets as. high as 1 1 s. and 14/.
but it is not much. Inclofures of grafs
that are not low and rich from 1 2 s. 6 d.
to 18 J. The arable ditto from 9 j. to 10 j.
In fome neighbouring towns however, rents
run much higher, as 5^. 6s. and to ioj.
in general for open field; and from 151.
to 25 s. old inclofures.

The courfe of crops in the open lands,
clay foil,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Beans

In others not fo ftrong,

1. Fallow

2. Barley

3. Peafe or lentils; or if the foil
is very thin, grey oats.

For wheat, they plough 4 times, fow 2
bufhels and a peck, and reckon 17 or 18
bufhels in the open fields a middling crop.
In the inclofed ones, three quarters two
bufhels.

Vol. LI M For

[ i6s ]

For barley they plough four times, fow
three bulhels and an half; and gain in re-
turn, in their open lands four quarters and
an half, and in the inclofures five quarters.

They plough but once for oats, fow
three bufhels and an half ; and the mean
produce they reckon at four quarters in the
open fields, and five quarters and an half
in the inclofures. At Cot ting ham one far-
mer afferts the having railed twelve quarters
from off an acre.

For beans, they give but one ftirring,
fow three bufhels and half broad-caft, ne-
ver hoe them, nor feed the wreeds with
fhecp : They get about three and half in
the open fields, and four quarters in the
inclofures.

Of peafe they fow but few ; plough
for them but once, fow three bufhels and
an half, and reckon the mean produce at
two quarters, or two and a bufhel.

For lentils they likewiie plough but once,
fow two bufhels and a peck per acre ; the
crop about two quarters and half, or three
quarters.

Very little rye fowed here.

Turnips are but coming in, they make
their land pretty fine for them, fcarce any
farmer hoes them; but thole whole are run
over, are done in i'o ilownly a manner,
that little p-ood reiulta from the operation ;
they ule them only in feeding of lhecp.

Clover

[ i63 1

Clover and ray-grafs, and fainfoine un-
known among the common farmers.

In a few of the neighbouring parifhes,
fome rape is fown both for feeding of
fheep, and for crops of feed ; it is gene-
rally thrown 'in upon new broke-up land,
and with good fuccefs, having produced
from three to five quarters per acre.

They arc throughout this tracl pretty
attentive to the manuring of their land :
Lime, after being long unknown, is coming '
into ufe, and thofe who have tried it rind
great advantage from the practice.

Soap-aftics they buy wherever they can,
and find nothing to exceed them.

All forts of manure is bought at high
prices at Hull, and carried nine or ten
miles around. Rape-duft from the oil
mills is a capital article with them, having
found it of prodigious benefit to all forts
of land ; but it is chiefly laid on their bar-
ley lands. All other forts of manure, fuch
as coal-afhes, horfe, hog, and cow dung,
the fullage of the ftreets, &c. &c. &c. is
purchafed at about 2 s, 6 d. or 3 s. a wag-
gon-load of 50 buihels, and fpread on the
fields to great profit. About 50 years ago,
the manuring from Hull was begun by a
poor man who hired a clofe of grafs; he
had four aiies which he employed con-
ftantly in carrying away allies and dung,
and Spreading them upon his pafture, the
M z improve-

[ «64 ]

improvement of which was fo manifeft,
that his neighhours followed the example ;
whoever brought away manure for many
years, were paid for taking it; 25 years
ago, it was to be had for 6d. to 1 s. a.
load, but the country around by degrees,
all coming into the practice, the price has
arofe to its prefent height ; extraordinary
good fluff will fell for 5.C a load.

They are very fenfible of the benefit of
folding their Iheep ; their folds rife from
120 to 200.

Scarce any paring and burning. Their
farm -yard manure is carefully fpread on
the foil, but never mixed with earth.

There are fever warrens in this neigh-
bourhood, which (like thofe I mentioned
on the other fide of Beverley J appear from
the luxuriance and verdure of the grafs,
and from the multiplicity and height of the

thirties, to be excellent land indeed, the

foil muft be naturally good, or it could not
yield fuch a fpontaneous growth : But yet
thefe large tra&s of country are fuffered
to remain in their prefent ftate, which is
comparatively that of waftcs, to what they
might eafily be converted to : Their rents
are about 6 s. an acre ; and when I en-
quired the reafon of not turning them into
arable farms, I was told that the farmers
would not give above qs. or 10 s. an acre
for a few years, after which the rent would

fa

HI

[ *65 ]

fall below what it is at prefent : This is
the ftrongeft proof imaginable of wrong
ideas of hufbandry, for it fhews that the
farmers here have no other notion of
breaking up old grafs, but that of imme-
diately ploughing out its very heart, and
trufting to chance for a renewal of ferti-
lity ; whereas fuch a rich furfice as thefe
warrens mould be managed with the
greateft caution, very little corn taken
from them, but much turnips, clover and
ray-grafs, and fainfoine, by which means
the Toil would be for ever in heart, the
rent greatly raifed, and the value more at
the end of a leafe than at the beginning.

Mr. Ellerker's fteward has in his farm
ftruck out a better hufbandry than that
of his neighbours ; inftead of remaining
like them ignorant of the clover hufbandry,
he has judicioufly introduced it into a
courfe which cannot be exceeded,

1. Turnips

2. Barley

3. Clover two years

4. Wheat

This is very different from the courfes I
gave above, and infinitely preferable to
them ; but I mould remark, that as the
foil has no complete fillow, the turnip huf-
bandry mould be managed with the utmoft
attention, or » worfe courfe cannot be
fixed on. If the preparation for the tur-
M 3 nips

f 1 66 ]

nips is not very complete by fuch a nuni-
ber of ploughings, and harrowings, as not
only to reduce the foil to garden finenefs?
but totally divefi: it for the time of weeds ;
and if the hoeings do not fet the plants at
a due diftance from each other, fo as to
admit a i o or i 2 inch hoe around every
one, for the utter extirpation of the re-
maining weeds, and for carrying on the
vegetable to its utmoft growth, as well for
the thorough covering of the land to raife
a fermentation, as for the value of the
crop : If thefe points are not well attended
to, this very beneficial courfc will prove by
no means advantageous ; for a crop of
fpring corn following them with graffcs
amongft it, and another of wheat upon
them, and all without the intervention of
more than one or two ploughings, the
land, if not thoroughly cleaned in the tur-
nip fallow, muft give a crop of wheat full
of weeds. And every courfe, the laft crop
of which is weedy, may be pronounced
either bad or badly managed : No land
is well conducted, that is not always clean:
It is almon: needlefs to add upon the courfe
of crops in queftion, that the turnips
ought on every account to be fed off the

land by fheep. But to return.

Mr. Ayer (the fteward) hoes his turnips
always once, and generally twice, and feeds
them off with fheep. He finds his clover

of

t 167 1

of incomparable ufc to him both in mow-
ing for hay, and feeding, and the wheat he
gets after it on one earth, is generally a
fine crop. If the clover turns out an in-
different or a weedy crop, he fows beans
upon it inftead of wheat ; manages them
like his neighbours, except in fowing a
fmaller quantity of feed about two bufhels
and half; and in this way without hoeing,
he gets flalks with about 40 pods : he
brought me one of laft year, that had 46,
but fuch ftalks cannot be common, but
muff grow in an open vacant fpot.

Cabbages he has cultivated thefe four

years The large Scotch cabbage : Sows

the latter end of February, pricks them out

once before they are fet in the field. He

never gives the land a whole year's fallow

for them ; only from November till the

time of planting, which is the beginning

of June ; but always manures for them

with about 10 loads of yard dung: The

large ftrong plants he fets directly from

, the feed-bed into the field. His rows

are three feet afunder and the plants two

feet in the rows, he never watered any but

once; however, that muft ever remain

accinental, in very dry feafons they would

not ftrike root without watering. A man

plants an acre in three days. He horfe-

hoes them according as the weeds rife from

once to thrice; begins to cut the latter end

M 4 of

I 168 ]

of November, and has always found them

to laft till the end of April: He generally

ufes them for the fatting of oxen ; both

for finiihing the large ones of 70, 80, and

90 ftone (14 lb.) that have been fatting

through the fummer, and alfo for the total

fatting of others of 36 or 40 ftone, taken

lean from work in November, put directly

to cabbages, and made fit for the butcher

by the middle of April: And he finds them

to carry the hearts forward in an excellent

manner : They are flailed in a houfe, and

have a little hay given them every day. As

I did not apprehend cabbages to be a food

fufficient to finiih the fatting of a large ox,

I repeated my inquiries on that head ; and

he allured me, that he had fold oxen from

cabbages at 23 /. each. An acre of good

plants has with him completely fatted two

beafts of 36 ftone each. His fentiments

upon the crop in general, are highly in its

favour ; he thinks it pays much better than

turnips, and affords not only a furprizing

quantity of food, but is a very profitable

crop.

Mr. Ayer has limed more than any of
his neighbours. He lays 1 2 quarters on
an acre when alone ; but fometimes mixes
it with other manure, then only eight, ger-
nerally on to turnip land, and finds great
benefit from it ; the efted of it being
plainly viliblc feven years after: Plate II,

3 %•

[ 169 ]

fig., i. is the fkctch of a machine invented
by this ingenious cultivator for cutting up
mole and ant hills, which he has found to
anfwer greatly.
(i.y The beam nine feet long and four

inches fquare.
(2.) The two flat fhares of iron four feet

long and five inches wide.
(3.) The fide pieces five feet long, and five

inches broad, by four thick.
(4.) The handles four feet fix inches long.
(5.) The four ftandards, two feet high

from the ground, fame fize as beam.
I forgot to tell you, that all the tillage
of this country, is performed by horfes
which are much preferred to oxen for that
purpofe ; but the latter are chiefly ufed in
the waggon for bringing home the crop,
or for carrying manure, &c. but generally
two oxen and two horfes. They all alien,
that two oxen at a draught are much
ftrongcr than two horfes, and will carry
out a much greater weight. In the heavy
lands they plough with four horfes abreaft ;
in the light ones with two, and do an acre
or an acre and half a day ; and what is
very aftonifhing, and to me unparallelled,
is their ploughing with four horfes, with-
out a driver ; there is no fuch thing as a
driver known in the country : A lad
ploughs, and drives the four horfes by two
lines, with great eafe. I mould likewife

inform

[ I/O ]

inform you, that it is here much the cuf-
tom to mow their wheat ; they do it with
a common fcythe, and cut to the ftand-
ing corn, not from it as with fpring corn:
A woman follows every mower, to gather
the corn, and lay it in order for binding ;
and a man follows every two fcythes to
bind after the women : A man will mow
from an acre and half to two acres a day ;
it is reckoned a llovenly method, for it
takes in great quantities of weeds at the
bottoms of the fheaves, and the ground is
obliged to be raked.

The particulars I gained of two farms,
one inclofed, and the other open, are as
follow. In the firft,
200 Acres 4 Working oxen

130 Grafs 4 Cows

70 Arable 70 Sheep

£. 120 Rent 2 Servants

7 Horfes 2 Labourers

In the fecond,

70 Acres all arable 3 Cows

£. 40 Rent 150 Sheep (a com-

10 Horfes mon right)

4 Oxen befides 4 Servants

young hearts 2 Labourers

IMPLEMENTS.

A waggon, 1 5 /. to 1 7 /. A plough, ijs.
A cart, 10/. A harrow, 12 s.

Oak

[ i;i ]

Oak timber, is. qd. and I /. 6d. a foot.

Am, ditto.

A run of wheels of afh, 3 /. a year age,

but now raifed to 3/. 15^.
Bricks, 1 1 s. a thouiand.

LABOUR.

From Midfunmier to Michaelmas, I2j. a

week, and fin all beer.
In winter, 7 s. a week.
Reaping, 6 s. 6 d. to 7 *. 9 <^, an acre.
Mowing fpring corn, 2;. yd.
grafs, 1 s. g d. on the wolds to 4 j.

6 */. in low lands.
Hoeing turnips, 5 s. bd.
Repairing hedges, the ditch five feet broad

and three deep, is. 6 d. the rood or

feven yards.
Threming wheat, 2 s. 6 d. a quarter.

—— barley, lentils and peafe, I s.

oats, g d.

Wages of farming fervants for all forts of

work, 12/.
Ditto plough lads, 7 /.
Dairy women, 5 /.

PROVISIONS, &c.

Beef, - 3 d. Cheefe,

- 8-tf.

Mutton, - 3 Butter,

- St

Veal, - 4

Labourer's houfe rent, 20 s.

Labourer's wear of tools, 1 5 J.

Their

[ 172 ]

Their firing, 5 J. (whins chiefly.)

Poor rates, 6 d. in the pound rack rents.

Surveyors rate, 3 d. in ditto fometimes.

Tythes generally gathered.

Lands upon a medium fells at 35 years

purchafe.

Thefe prices of labour are moft of them
extremely high ; and the occafion is fup-
pofed by all J converfed with on the fub-
ject to be owing to the public works which
have been for fome time, and . yet continue
to be carried on in the neighbourhood, fuch
as draining, inclofing and making turn-
pikes : Such works mult and will have
hands by giving fomething above the com-
mon amount of wages, which obliges the
farmers alfo to raife their pay until fome-
what of a competition enfues, infomuch
that very lately (fmce harveft begun) the
commimoners of a neighbouring drainage
cried in Beverley ftreets, 2 s. 6d. a day for
common fpadefmen. Thcfe high wages,
the gentlemen and farmers all afTert, to be
of no fervice to the poor families, but to
affect the price of labour out of propor-
tion to the number of hands taken from
husbandry ; becaufe the men that earn 3 .r.
or 4J-. a day, fcarce ever work above three
days in a week, but drink out the reft ;
and thus no great number being publickly
employed makes the labourers in winter fo

faucy,

[ 173 ]

fancy, that they are forced to be almoft
bribed to threfh.

Perhaps there is no part of the kingdom
which can furnifh a ilronger inftance of
employment creating hands, than that of the
works, I have juft mentioned. It ha^ been
averted, by abundance of writers, that the
kingdom wants people to carry on the un-
dertakings publick and private, which are
always in agitation. Thofe circumftances
which either prove or difprove this affer-
tion, however leemingly trivial, ought not
to be overlooked : Several of the gentle-
men, and many of the farmers of this
neighbourhood afTert, that the war carried
off fo many men, that it was with diffi-
culty the harvefis could be got in ; but t
never heard, here or any where elfe, that
a (ingle field of corn was ever left to fpoil
for want of hands to cut and carry it ; nor
do I remember any where the mention of
one barn of corn, that remained full for
wrant of men to threfh it : General com-
plaints have been, and are very common,
but thofe inftances which prove the afler-
tions, will be found extremely rare ; the
war might occafion a fcarcity of hands
ufually employed, but that fcarcity in the
nature of things will bring forth others not
ufually employed until the increafe of em-
ployment will be foiled to raife men like
mumrooms.

The

[ 174 ]

The fcarcity of hands in this country j
is at prefent loudly talked of; and attri-
buted to the drainages, inclofures, and
turnpike roads, carrying on ; thefe public
works acl: like a war in taking from the
farmers abundance of hands they uicd to
employ : But if employment does not create
indufirious people, how comes the prefent
harveft to be in iuch forwardnefs ? From
whence thefe troops of hands I fee in the
fields ; The inftance of this angle of coun-
try is peculiarly ftrong, as they employ no
travelling Scotch or Iri/b harveftmen ;
common in many other places. Here I
behold fome hundreds of men employed by
public works, the commiflioncrs of which
carry one their bufinefs fo eagerly, that be-
fore the harveft began, ihey cried z s. 6 d.
a day, for a common fpadefman : Now how
can fuch works be carried on, at a time
that all the bufinefs of hufbandry is feafon-
ably performed, and yet hands be really
wanted ? It is impoflible.

But here I am aware it will be urged,
that the reality of the fcarcity of men is
proved by the rife and height of wages and
pay, which are very great: But this proves
nothing ; for iure every one mull be fen-
fiblc, that if men were not in being,
money could not buy them ; a rife of
wages is a contingency, a circumftance
that operates we know not how, and is
7 founded,

t 175 J

founded, in a multiplicity of cafes, on
we know not what : But the exiftence and
increafe of the working hands are vifible ;
the progrefs of all public and private
works at the fame moment fufficiently
prove this. Thus it is of no confequence
to either fide of the prefcnt argument, to
talk of wages and pay ; whether they are
immenfely high, or unreafonably low, it
makes no kind of difference ; the number
of induftrious hands is the iingle point to
be attended to as proof : If we recur to
the chain of caufes of an increafe of in-
duftry, we ihall there find the rife of wages
coming in for its fhare, and forming one
material link.

Two millings and fixpence a day, will
undoubtedly tempt fome to work, who
would not touch a tool for one (hilling.
A fellow that has been ufed to lounge at
home, in an idle cottage, may be tempted
out by high wages, though not by low
ones : Another that in cheap times ufed to
balk himfelf all day in the fun, holding a
cow by a line to feed on a balk in dear
ones, betakes himfelf to the pick-ax and
the fpade. In a word, idle people are con-
verted by degrees into induftrious hands ;
youths are brought forward to work ; even
boys perform their mare, and women at
the profpecl: of great wages clap their
hand* with cheerfulnefs, and fly to the

fickle.

[ i?6 ]

fickle. Thus a new race of the induftri-*
ous is by degrees created, and its increafe
is proportioned to its creation ; an effect fa
undoubted, that any village in this coun-
try might by an incrcafing employment be
prefently raifed to a Sheffield, or a Birming-
ham. But who is weak enough to fuppofe,
that the furrounding farmers would there-
fore want hands.

But there is another circumftance, which
is a ftrong additional proof, that the in-
creafe of the induftrious, occafioned by an
increafe of employment, muff be immenfe,
and even more than apparent ; aud that is
the effect which great pay is attended with,
of making men idle : This now appears a
ftriking contradiction to what I have before
afferted ; but a very few words will fuffi-
ciently explain it.

Great earnings operate, as I have already
explained, in bringing people to work who
otherwife would have continued idle; but
they at the fame time have a ftrong effect
on all who remain the leait inclined to
idlenefs or other ill courfes, by caufing
them to work but four or five days, to
maintain themfelves the feven ; this is a
fact fo well known in every manufacturing
town, that it would be idle to think of

proving it by argument. The operation

of great wages therefore is this ; they pro-
digiouily increafe the number of the indu-
ftrious j

[ i77 J
ftrious ; but at the fame time take away
the neceflity of working a day, for a day's
maintenance, which, though it cannot be
fuppofed to render all at times idle, yet
muft affecT: a great number.

Thus it is evident, that the increafe of
employment raifes wages, and the rife of
wages increafes the number of the indu-
ftrious, the latter effect, muft be much
greater than apparent ; for not increafing
the quantity of labour, proportionally to the
number of hands ; the increafe of the latter
muft be out of proportion to the increafe
of employment, or fome of the demands
would be unfupplied. For inflance, 500
hands are employed by hufbandry, public
works are fet on foot, which would take
300, upon the average of work done by
labourers among the farmers ; but as the
increafe of wages occafions a new fpecies
of idlenefs, the works would be at a ftand,
if only 300 new induftrious were drawn
forth, fo that 350, or 400, muft poflibly
be created by the rife of wages, to do the
work of 300.

It is for thefe reafons, which are found-
ed upon the moft fimplc of all principles,
the common emotions of .human nature,
that no induftrious nation need ever fear
a want of hands for executing any the
moft extenfive plans of public or private
improvement ; it would be falfe to aflert,

Vol. I. N that

[ 178 ]
that fuch plans could any where be exe-
cuted at a given expence, or at a certain
rate of wages; but wherever employment
exifts, that is, money to be expended ;.
workmen can never wanting. A new
war may draw off fome hundred thoufand
men, turnpikes may at the fame time be
greatly extended ; marines may be drained;
open fields be inclofed ; harbours opened,
and new cities railed, without any preju-
dice to bufbandry : Let but the requilite
money be found, men can never be want-
ing : It is no paradox to affert, that

money will at any time make men.

The Eafl Riding of Tork/Jjire, is one
proof of thefe aficrtions among others ; for
the inclofures and turnpikes were carried
on with great fpirit, during the latter years
of the war, notwithstanding the great fear-
city of hands fo often talked of *.

Dr.

* In my excurfion rb the races at Fork, I
took the opportunity to view fuch of the public
buildings, Sec. as I heard were worth feeing :
The Minlter claimed the firit notice ; it is an
immenfe pile, and corifidering its enormous fize,
not heavy; though the lightnefs is not fo fink-
ing as in many others I have feen. The dimen-
fion of it are as follows,

The whole length befidcs the but- Feet.
trcfles is, 524 '-

Breadth of the cad end,. 105

Breadth

[ i79 1
Dr. Hunter of York, whofe polite and
obliging conduct I cannot avoid to acknow-
ledge, made known to me feveral points of
husbandry with which I was before unac-
quainted ; particularly, a difcovery of his
own, which merits great attention; the
invention of a drill, the principle and me-
chanifm of which is fo extremely fimple
and plain, the expence fo trifling, and the
reparation, in cafe of accidents, fo eafy, that
it cannot be too much commended. It di-
ftributes the feed regularly into the furrows
made to receive it : Thefe furrows he makes

at

Feet.

Breadth of the weft end, 109
Length of the crofs ifle from north to

fouth, 222
Height of the lanthorn fteeple to the

vault, 188

Height of it to the top of the leads, 213

Height of the body of the church, 99
Breadth of the in fide iQes, north and

fouth, 18
Height of the fide arches north and

fouth, 42

From the weft end to the choir door, 261
Length of the choir from the fteps

afcending to the door of the prefent

altar table, l$J?

Breadth of the choir, 46-r

From the choir door to the eaft end, 222

Height of the eaft window, 75

The breadth of it, 32

N 2 The

[ 180 ]

at fuch diftances as are thought proper, by
putting in fome broad iron teeth into the
common harrow, in place of the fharp
ones. Thefe drills the feedfman carefully
follows; and, if he is a good fervant, the
whole field will come up in rows, at fuch
diftances as the harrow teeth were fet for ;
a bum-harrow is ufually employed to cover
the feed. The following is a fketch of it.
See plate II. fig. 2.
1 to 2. An oiled-fkin bag, 8 or 9 inches

long.
3. The body of the drill, 6 inches long.

4. The

The entrance ftrikes the mind with that awe
which is the refult of the magnificence arifing
from vaftnefs-, but I never met with any thing
in the proportion of a gothic cathedral, that
was either great or pleafing ; the loftinefs is
ever too great for the breadth, infomuch,
that one mufl bend back the head to be able to
view the ceiling. What a glorious area would
220 feet long by 100 high, form, if the breadth
was proportioned ! But how difgufting is a dis-
proportion in any of the dimenfions ! Here is
much carving in Hone, that is furprizingly light;
particularly the canopy of a monument by the
iide of the eait window •, fome of the ornaments
to archbifhop Savage's tomb, and the decorated
divifions of the eail window, &c. &c. That
low is amazingly executed, both in paint-
ifonryi the gallery acrois it, and the
pro'; rame-work of ftone is uncommonly

light

[ 181 ]

4. The winch, that turns a wheel to throw
the feed into the tube 5, which is a
hollow cane.

6. Strings to throw round the man's neck,

to fupport the drill by.

7. A view of the open top of the body of

the drill.
(8) A circular plate of brafs, fixed in

by two pins, 9. 9. It is 2~ inches

diameter.
(10) A fmall wheel, 1^ inches diameter,

turned by the winch 4, with holes

in it large enough to contain eight or

ten

light and imperceptible at a fmall diftance-
The flone work in the upper part of the well
window is alfo traced in a very light and beau-
tiful manner.

The chapter-houfe is perhaps the mod pecu-
liar Gothic building in the world, for it is ele-
gance and proportion itfelf. It is an o&agon of
63 feet, the height in the center of the ceiling
6y. No perfon can enter this room without
being ftruck with the juftnefs and harmony of
the proportion. Seven of the divilions are large
windows, and there is a fmall gallery that runs
round the whole, which I mould not have men-
tioned, but as it is obfervable the projection of
it is fo well and (kilfully contrived, as not in the
leaft to offend the eye.

The caftle or prifon in this city is perhaps the

moll airy, healthy, and pleafant prifon in

N 3 Europe \

[ I*a ]

ten grains of lucerne, rape, &c. &c.
four of them,
(u) A piece of bear-fkin fixed upon the
brafs plate by two fmall fcrews; the
hair fide downwards, and clofe to the
wheel, to brum off as it turns all feeds
but fuch as lodge in the fmall cavities,
by which means no more than necef*
fary is carried through into the tube.
I know of no invention which, in point
of fimplicity (the grand article in hufbandry
implements) exceeds this : If the more
complex drill-makers do not imitate this
idea, it is much to be regretted.

The

Europe •, and for thefe circumftanccs it is worth
feeing.

The afiembly-room is reckoned the fined in
England, the late Earl of Burlington (or Kent
under him) was the architect who defigaed
it, on the plan of an Egyptian hall. It is iur-
ronnded by very magnificent Corinthian pillars,
which have a noble effect. The dimenfions are
i 20 feet long from wall to wall, 40 broad from
wall to wall, and 40 high ; but as the eye com-
mands, nor even fees further than to the pillar?,
thefe are not the proportions that we fee •, the
pillars themfelves are above two feet in diameter,
and there runs behind them a fpace of four
wide i fo that the dimenfions which appear, and
confequently alone to be considered, are
long, 28 wide, and 40 high, which is To

totally out of j m to the breadth, as to

I roy

I'o/.I.l'l.i-raaiJf;-;

[ i83 ]

The fame drill fows lucerne and rape-
feed in the molt convenient manner. This
gentleman once contrived a rake with two
broad iron teeth, for the purpofe of open-
ing the furrows ; it performed very well.
The back of it was fet with fmall teeth to
rake in the drills ; in that manner he could
fow without a horfc, the land being well
prepured, but he found the harrow above-
mentioned a more expeditious initrument.
The following is a fketch of the rake, Plate
II. Fig. 3.

Dr. Hunter has likewife invented a bean
hand-drill, and alfo a wheat one, upon the

fame

deftroy in a great meafure the elegance of the
room, and gives it the appearance of a very fine
paiTage or anti-room to ibmc magnificent faloon.
The paffage behind the pillars was abfurdly in-
tended for the feats, and ufed fo for fome time ;
but the company was by that means quite loft,
and ken no more than if they had hid themfelves
in the cloifters of a cathedral -, this occauoned
their moving the feats in front of the pillars,
which was a great improvement, but at the farrie
time not only leiTened the breadth of the room,
before too narrow, but like-wife took off from
the beauty of the pillars, by totally hiding their
bafe, and a large pare of their fnafts. An
affembly-room, which is always dedicated to
livelineis and gaiety, mould undoubtedly be
adorned in a gay and elegant manner, with c .
ing, gilding, and glafTes •, if a prcfujim oforna-

N 4 ment

[ 184 1

fame principle as the turnip one, only dif-
fering in fize. He has for fome years paft
been conducting a fet of experiments, upon
a new fyftem of hufbandry, fimilaf to that
of the drill, being perfuaded the drill huf-
bandry will never become general in Eng-
land : His lands are laid out in ridges nine
feet wide, and every other ridge is fown,
keeping the intermediate or fallow lands
as clear of weeds as poffible, by the affift-
ance of the horfe-hoe ; upon thefe he fows
the next year, and the ftubble then becomes
the fallow. In this manner the field may

be

rnent was any where excufable, it would cer-
tainly be in the temple of pleafure ; but this
room is fo totally devoid of decoration, that the
plain nefs of it muft {hike every one. The
walls have no other ornament than niches,
which feem calculated for Egyptian mummies :
There are no other lights in the room than the
glafs luicres, (only one of which is fine) which
. at prefent infufficient for lighting it, fo that
there is a darknefs between the pillars quite dif-
pleafing •, not a morfel of gilding is to be feen,
no carving but the capitals of the pillars, and
not a glafs of any kind in the room ; a defect
which, I am fure, the ladies will agree in con-
demning. But when a room that requires

ration is furrounded with pillars, they
lhoukl certainly be at fuch a diftance from each
bth< i" as to admit a full view of a fpace on the
behind, fufficient For a large glafs or pic-
ture..

[ i85 J

be kept under the fame grain for any num-
ber of years, taking care to beftow a fmall
portion of manures at proper feafon^. An
acre of middling land brings him three
quarters of wheat, which for that country
is a good crop. The grain is always well
fed, and the land is never diftrefled. In
this way, all kinds of land are made to
produce the grain moft fuitable to their
refpective natures ; it will be found from
this, that the Doctor is of opinion, that all
forts of corn draw the fame nourifhment,
and only differ in taking up more or lefs.

No

ture, with a fpreading frame for a wreath of
candles in it, which thefe at York will not \ and
if they would, fuch ornaments fhould certainly
be in a or>od meafure commanded from the
whole room, which cannot be the cafe with pil-
lars. For this reafon, I apprehend, that pila-
fters are for an aifembly-room more proper than
pillars, as they admit a full view of the orna-
mented wall, at the fame time that they afiift in
decorating it. It muft however be confefTed,
that if the walls are fuch as fhould be fcreened,
then pillars are preferable. Another objection
to them is, the drowning the mufic. The ad-
joining rooms for tea, cards, if>c. are nothing.

Upon the banks of the river, which is a fine
one, they have a very good walk, near a mile
long. In the middle it winds through a little
grove of trees in a very pleafing manner, the
river appearing through them in a pietureique

rule ;

I[ 186 J

No one can underftand the principles of
agriculture and vegetation better than this
very ingenious cultivator, whofe ideas are
ohilofophical and perfpicuous, and whofe
experiments are accurate and judicious.

From York I returned to Ri/by^ by way
of St tiling fleets which road, though out of
,;ay7 I took for the fake of the varia-
tion; and in confequence of the kind
attention of my friend Mr. Ellerker, who
poffefles at that place a large eftate. The
following are the minutes I made of the
agriculture there: The foil is of two forts,

clay

• from this walk you look one way upon the
river running through the meadow grounds, and
the other up to the bridge in the city, the center
arch of which is very large, and forms a fine
object •, the floops, barges, boats, and bufinefs
of the river, are moll lively objects for this
very agreeable walk.

But by far the mod curious things to be

feen at York are the copies of feveral capital

paintings, worked by Mils Morret, a lady of a

moit iurprizing genius. It is impoflible to view

h r performances without great aitoniihment \

for certainly the art of imitation, in work is

c! by her to the higheft point of perfection.

edingly line tapeilries are often \<y:n, and

here and there a piece of flowers, or a bunch of

done in a moll pleafing manner-, but to

ontainingfeveral figures, with

. a brilliancy, and an elegance iuperior to

the

I 187 ]

clay and land, but mod of the latter ; the
former is a ftrong fertile ioil, which yields
good crops of all forts of corn ; and ihc
fand is moftly of a dark colour, rich, not
(hewing any of the figns of poor or barren
land ; for the fpontaneous growths are
large and vigorous, fuch as whins in the
uncultivated parts and neutral grades; even
the paftures on this fand yield very tolerable
crops of hay and feed ; and the hedge-
wood is ftrong and luxuriant. Some of
the fields, indeed, have a lighter-coloured
and a thinner land that is not lb rich, but
none in which the fpontaneous growth

does

the originals, was referved for this mod inge-

nious lady. The following are her principal

pieces :

^wo land/capes from ZuccarelH \ they reprefent
waterfalls, and are furprizingly performed.
The nature and elegance of the colours, the
glowing brilliancy, the light feen through the
trees, the foam of the water, and the general
effects of the clear obfeure are imitated in .the
happieft mariner.

Four ditto 1 by Gafpar Potijfrn. Three of thefe
pieces are exceeding fine, the parts well con-
nected, the general expreffion fine, and the
colouring good : The fourth is a piece of
rocks, but they are not the rocks of Sahator.
Mifs Morfj&f% copy is however evidently juft;
the faults, if ftich, are thofe or the pah

57'<? defcent of St. Ignatius^ by P. da Cortona •, the

t 188 ]

does not mew a larger portion of nourifh-
ment. The crops of corn on thefe fands
were tolerably good, that is, as good as they
could be with bad hufbandry.

The mean rent (tythe-free) of Stilling-
. fleet, is about 14^ an acre; but if the
adjoining country is, included, it is not
above 10 s.

Their courfe of crops,

1.

4-

Fallow
Wheat
Barley, d>r.
Beans. And

1. Turnips

2. Barley

3. Oats, peafe or

beans

About

work good, but the original is not a pleafing
picture.

A Urge landscape from Bartolomeo, very capital ;
the effects of the work are here furprizing.
The peripeetive is finely imagined, the
groupes of trees excellent, the diffufion of
light extremely pleafing, and carried by the
trees on the left fide in a beautiful manner ;
the keeping exceedingly fine.

Detnocritus, in a contemplative poflure, from
Sahator Rofa ; nothing can be more nobly
defigned, or more expreflively finifhed, than
the figure of Democritus : His attitude is ad-
mirable, the lean of the head on the hand
fine, and the light falling acrofs the face in
the moil piclurefque manner ; nor can any
thing exceed the expreffion of the face, hands,
and feet.

Diogenes

t 189 ]

About Selbj; many farmers purfue the
following :

1. Turnips 3. Clover

2. Barley 4. Wheat,
At Fuforth and Nabvurn,

1. Fallow , 3. Barley

2. Wheat or rye 4. Peafe or beans
For wheat they plough four times, low

three bufhels, and reap at a medium three
quarters. They ftir three times for barley,
fow three bufhels, and reap the fame quan-
tity as of wheat. For oats they plough
once or twice, fow five bufhels, and reckon

four

Diogenes -, his cup thrown from him ; its compa-
nion by the fame matter ; the attitude and
expreflive countenance of the old man with
his hand in his boibm, the air of his head,
and his drapery are excellent ; the figure of
Diogenes not defigncd in lb perfect a manner,
but the exprefTion and beauty of the work in
the' whole inimitable.

Two large land/capes, companions •, admirably
done.

Figure of an old gardener holding a basket cf fruit-,
the exprefTion of this piece is aftonifhing :
Rembrandt in his happieft ftile fcarcely ever
exceeded the imitation of the face and hands,
where the mufcular traces, and the lines of
age, are hit off with the moft peculiar fpirit.

Chrift praying in tl ■: from Han. Car rack.

This work is executed moft inimitably ; no-
thing can exceed the brilliancy of the colours,

the

[ ioo ]

four quarters the mean produce. They
likewiie give but one earth for beans, fow
five bufhels broad-caft, and reckon the
mean crop 2 ' quarters, or three ; they ne-
ver hoe. It is aiferted, that Edward Smith,
of Cazi?ood, once had ten quarters of beans
per acre, in the broad-caft way, from five
buiheis of feed, and without any hoeing,
which is almoft incredible for an after-
crop. They fow a few turnips, plough
for them four or five times, never hoe
them, feed them off the land with fheep
and beafts, and reckon the mean value per
acre at about 27 s. I walked over feveral

of

the diffnfion of light acrofs the drapery; or
the turn (or forelhortning) of the angel's arm;
the countenance of Chrift is not of great ex-
preflion, but the copy I doubt not is perfect-
ly juft, for a graceful exprellion of the mind
was not UanmbaW excellency.
Boxs, from Rubens 5 not finifhed •, capitally done.
The laughing expreflion of the countenances,
and the bends and plaits of the bodies inimit-
ably copied. To what a height of perfection
may we not iuppoie this lady to arrive, when
(he has improved on fuch noble pieces !
Befides thine, there are feveral others of
flowers, fruit, pheafants, ducks, &c. &c. many
of which are exquifitely performed.

Upon the whole, one cannot view fuch ad-
mirable and uncommon perfection, without a

very

t '9' ]

of their crops, and found them prodi-
gioufly thick of plants and weeds, all pro-
miicuous. They plough three or four
times for rye, fow two bufhels and a half,
and reap at an average three quarters; they
fow it chiefly on their fands, as they rind
wheat on that foil very apt to be mildewed.
Taffels for dreffing cloth have been cul-
tivated in their richefr, clays to good ad-
vantage. They give the land a year's fal-
low, weed the crop by hand once, at the
expence of feven, eight, or ten {hillings per
acre : It remains three years : They are
fold by the thoufand, and are reckoned very
profitable, but are fuppofed to exhauft the
land greatly. Here are likewife many po-
tatoes cultivated, but more about Fuforth
and Nabourn ; the method is the fame in
all ; they give a winter fallow for them,
plant 1 6 bufhels on an acre in rows two
feet afunder, and the plants one foot,
plough between them two or three times,
and hand-weed the fame at 5 s. an acre ;
80 bufhels they reckon a middling crop j

very great degree of furprize ; and thole who,
after reading thefe imperfect notes minuted from
memory, (hall view thefe mod elegant produc-
tions of female genius, will rind them greatly to
exceed their expectation, and to abound with
beauties of the mod ftriking and plealing na-
ture.

the

[ *9^ ]
the price i s. a bufhel. Let us calculate
the expences and profit.

Expences.

£.

s.

d.

Rent, -

o

lo

O

Three ploughings,

o

8

6

Planting,

o

io

o

Plants, -

o

16

o

Two horfe hoeings,

o

3

o

Two hand-weedings,

o

5

o

Digging up*,

o

*S

o

Profit,

£•3

7

6

Product*

Eighty bufhels,

4

o

o

Expences,

3

7

6

Profit,

£.o

12

6

It is plain from hence, that the idea of
the profit and convenience of raifing pota-
toes for their own ufe is falfe ; for the re-
turn, even without manuring, is by no
means equivalent to the expences ; but at
Fu forth, and the neighbourhood of Torky
the produce is greater.

* If ploughed up it will be lefs, but all the roots
will not then be got.

6 Their

[ m 1

Their paftures' they lay down with corn-,
12 lb. of white clover, and one charter of
hay-feeds, and fometimes four buftiels of
rib-grafs (plantain). They always lay
them down, or rather ?//?, in broad high
ridges, by which means there is always a
breadth of about two yards in the furrows
that is good for naught, quite poifoned
with water.

They have better ideas of manuring,
than of moft other parts of husbandry ;
they lay large quantities of lime on their
lands with good advantage ; the quantity
from two to three chaldrons, fometimes
one and an half, and ten loads of dung.
It cofts them 8 s. a chaldron, and I s. 2 d.
carriage ; it is generally laid for wheat or
barley, and lafts three years. Paring and
burning is pra&ifed among them ; the
paring cofts 10 s. per acre, the burning $ s.
and the fpreading i s. i d. They have no
flocks of ilieep large enough for folding.

Some clover is fown among their barley ;
they leave it on the ground but one year ;
always mow it once, and fometimes twice ;
get one and an half or two ton of hay at
two mowings.

They reckon the product of a cow at from
3 /. to 4 /. io s. Upon a medium, two firkins
of butter per cow, at 25 s. Cheefe about
one third in value of the butter, bcfides
calf and pigs. Their method of feeding

Vol. I. O calves

[ *94 ]
calves and weaning them is extraordinary ;
for they never let any fuck above ten days
or a fortnight, whether for killing or wean-
ing, but in general only two or three days
for weaning, after which they are fed with
fivim-miik ; and numbers of oxen, even of
60, 70, or 100 ftone, are weaned almoft as
foon as born in this cheap manner, which,
in the fouth of England would be thought
imp jffible. A middling cow, in the height
of the fummer's feed, will give about four
gallons of milk per day.

The tillage is done all by horfes, two or
three in a plough abreait, and the general
quantity done in a journey is an acre. The
price of ploughing, if hired, is ] s. 6 d. per
acre the firft ilirring, and 2 s. 6 d. the reft.

They reckon that 300 /. is fufheient to
ftock a fai m of ico /. a year, half grafs and
half arable ; and 20c /. for the fame, all
arable ; which funis are very low, and
would never allow of any fpirited culture.

LABOUR.

In hay-time and harveft, I s. 6 d. a day, and

board.
In winter, 8 d. and ditto.
After Candlemas, 1 /. and ditto.
Reaping wheat, barley or oats, 6 s. per acre.
wing barley, <&c. and binding into
(heaves, q s. 6 d.
Mowing grafs, 2/.

Ma

[ '95 ]

Making ditto into hay, I s.

Ditching, new, the ditch 4 feet wide, and

2-1 deep, 8 d. or 9 d. the rood of 7 yards.
Repairing ditto, 47^/. ditto.
Threfhing wheat, 2 s. a quarter.

barley, 1 J".

— oats, lod.

beans, 1 s.

Making faggots, 1 s. a load of 60.
Servants wages; a head man, 10/. 10 s. to

12/.
A ploughing lad, 8 /.
A dairy-maid, 5 /.
A common maid, 4/. 4s*
Women and children earn by fpinning, 4^.

a day. Some only 1 d.
But little drinking of tea among them.

PROVISIONS, &c

Bread, per lb.

1 d.

Mutton,

■ 3id-

Butter, - -

6

Pork,

3t

Ditto firkin, -

47

Candles,

- 6t

Cheefe,

n

Soap,

6

Beef,

34-

New-milk, a pint and half for 1 d.
Hay, 20 s. a ton.
Labourer's houfe rent, 20 j.
Repairs of their tools, 5 s.
Their firing, 20 s.

IMPLEMENTS, &c.
A new waggon, 13/. 10;. (two feet fi*
inches wide at bottom, and nine feet long.)
O 2 A

[ ig6 1

A cart, 8 /. Sharpening do. i d.

A plough, I /. 2 s. Laying a coulter, i /.

A harrows, I /. 2 s. Sharpening do. I d.

A roller i /. is. Shoeing a cart horfe,
Laying a fhare, 8 d. i s. $d.

BUILDING.

Oak timber, i s. to is. 6d.

Am ditto, 9 d.

Elms, i j*.

Bricks per thoufand, io s.

They burn in clamps ; twenty chaldrons of

coals burn 100,000.

The farmers here buy their fheep in at
from jo to 1 3 j. each, and fell them after
a year's keeping at 25 or 26s. The parti-
culars I gained of feveral farms are as fol-
lows:

155 Acres in all
77 i-Grafs
77 ^Arable
£.100 Rent
4 Horfe s

He fows
17 Acres of wheat
40 Spring corn

Another
240 Acres in all
120 Grafs
120 Arable
£.152 Rent
8 Horfes

4 Oxen

12 Cows

30 Sheep
3 Servants
2 Labourers

5 Turnips

8'or 10 oxen,
and young cattle
j 4 Cows
6 Servants
3 Labourers

He

[ 197 1

He fows
25 Acres of wheat 25 Of clover
25 Of fpring corn

Another :
107 Acres in all 2 Oxen

30 Arable 1 5 Cows

77 Grafs 2 Servants

£. 75 Rent 1 Labourer

3 Horfes

He fows
8 Acres of wheat 1 o Spring corn

Another :

90 Acres in all 2 Oxen

40 Arable 6 Cows

50 Grafs 10 Sheep

£. 60 Rent 2 Servants

4 Horfes 1 Labourer

He fows
10 Acres of wheat 10 Of beans and
1 o Of barley oats

Another :
115 Acres in all 2 Oxen

j$ Arable 6 Cows

40 Grafs 10 Sheep

£. 84 Rent 2 Labourers

4 Horfes 3 Servants

He fows
20 Acre6 of wheat 30 Of fpring corn

Another :
1 10 Acres in all £. 80 Rent
60 Arable 4 Horfes

50 Grafs 2 Oxen

O 3 6 Cows

[ 198 ]

6 Cows 3 Servants

20 Sheep i Labourer

He fows :
15 Acres of wheat 30 Of fpring corn
Another :

160 Acres in all 2 Oxen

80 Arable 1 2 Cows

80 Grafs 50 Sheep

£. no Rent 3 Servants

6 Horfes 3 Labourers

He fows

25 Acres of wheat 20 Of oats and
20 Of barley beans

Another :
130 Acres in all 4 Oxen

70 Arable 16 Cows

60 Grafs 10 Sheep

£. 82 Rent 2 Servants

6 Horfes 2 Labourers .

He fows
1 3 Acres of wheat 1 2 Of oats, &c.
16 Of barley

Another :

122 Acres in all 2 Oxen

00 Arable 8 Cows

42 Grafs 10 Sheep

£. 80 Rent 3 Servants
6 Horfes 2 Labourers

la

[ J99 3

In the whole townfhip of Slillingjlat, are,
1700 Acres

13 Farms

60 Acres of wood

20 Of common Iheep walk

20 Labourers
Poor rates, 6d. in the pound rack rent.

I know very few tracts of country en-
joying greater natural advantages than this
neighbourhood, they have a very fine na-
vigable river borders their farms, which
carries any or all of their products to York,
at the fmall diftance of feven miles, and
alfo keeps a conftant communication open
to the fouthern rivers and with Hull; this
navigation being at their very doors, fpares
them all expences of land carnage on their
corn, and at the fame time enables them to
bring whatever quantities of manure they
pleaie from Fork, on very eafy terms, and
lime from other parts at as low a rate.
Thefe advantages are ineftimable.

Their foil contains in almoft every farm
that variety which a fenlible cultivator
would moft wifh. for, viz. an excellent
light fandy loam, in fome fields quite a
fand, but rich, and abounding with luxu-
riant fpontaneous growth ; and a ftrong
clay, good enough to yield beneficial crops
of the moft exhaufting vegetables. Un-
fortunately however, the fanners, who are
O 4 in

[ 2CO ]

in general great flovens, make very little
ufe of thefe advantages : I mall venture to
recommend an alteration in their conduct
and urge them no longer to neglect the
converting their fields to the greateft profit.
All their fandy foil, of which they have
a large quantity, is a good and found turnip
land as any in the world ; and ought be-
yond a doubt to be thrown into this courfe
of croos,

i. Turnips

2. Barley

3. Clover and ray grafs for two, three,
or four years according to their
want of feed.

4. Wheat. This crop, infuch a coiirfe,
would not be liable to the mildew.

A fallow upon this land is totally ufe-
fcfs, and confcquently a great lofs ; but
then the very foul of this culture lies in the
thorough hoeing of the turnips ; for the
fcvcral ploughings for that root, greatly
pulverifing every particle of the foil, gives
life and vegetation to innumerable feeds or
weeds, which are lodged in the land, and
fpringing up with the turnips, infeft
the foil to its abfolute ruin, unlefs they
are totally extirpated by the hoe : By
means of which the barley crop is clean;
and the clover and ray-grafs laid into a
per bed to receive it. Unlefs this is

the

t 201 ]

the cafe, how would it be poiiible in this
courfe to have a good crop of wheat ? And
yet no wheat is liner than what is thus
("own in many tracks of country I have
viewed. The clover and ray-grafs would
enable them to keep good Hocks of flicep
to fold all the year round, and to eat off
their turnips with, to the greateft profit,
which would be a conftant and regularly
increafmg improvement to their whole
farms. But all this is very contrary to
their prefent management, and totally in-
compatible with the wretched cuftom of
not hoeing their turnips.

In the next place, the culture of carrots
on their lands would be an admirable im-
provement ; I examined attentively fevnral
fields in which the fand was of a dark co-
lour, moift, and fmelt and felt as if of a rich
nature, which the weeds and crops from it
proved to be no falfe conjecture ; at the
fame time it admitted one's running in a
walking-cane a yard deep; this is precifely
the foil, which, about Woodbridge in Suf-
folk, is applied to the culture of carrots
to ib great profit : This root is for every
purpofe, infinitely fupcrior to turnips, fo
that if it wTas fubitituted for them in the
preceding courfe, the profit wTould be vaftly
greater: But fuch an extent cannot be ex-
pected at firft, and fuppofing turnips to be

the

[ 202 ]

the general fallow crop, yet carrots ought
undoubtedly to be directly introduced lb as
every farmer to have a field of them every
year; for this purpofe, I fhould advife
thole who attempted the culture, to purlue
It nearly upon the following plan.

The corn Hubble to be ploughed in
fometime in the autumn ; by two ploughs
in the fame furrow, to the depth of 18
inches : Another common ploughing be-
fore Chriflmas ; and to plough and low the
latter end of February, or the beginning of
March, according to the weather, but never
when the land is wet or adhefive. After
this laft ploughing, to be harrowed fine and
level, and then fix pounds of carrot feed
to be fown at four or five cafts over each
acre of land, and lightly harrowed in.
When the plants are about three or four
inches high, or in other words, to be feen
plainly in the hoeing, they mould have
that operation for the firft time ; for which
purpofe, a dry feafon muff be taken, and
many hands thrown in at once for the
chance of finifhing before rain comes,
which would fet the weeds again. The
people employed mould all crawl along on
their knees, if the young carrots are thickly
furrounded with weeds, their hoes four
inches wide, and the handles 18 inches
long; but if the land is clean, and the

plants

[ 2°3 ]
plants eafily to be diftinguifhed, they may
ftand to hoe them, the handles of their
hoes of a due length for that purpofe. The
plants mould, at this firft hoeing, be fet at
five or fix inches afunder, and if any two
plants, or a plant and a weed ftand fo
clofe, that the hoe cannot eafily feparate
them, the fingers mould be ufed for that
purpofe.

About a fortnight or three weeks after,
according to the weather, a dry time mould
be taken for harrowing over the whole
field; this will not pull up one plant in
twenty, but will loofen the moulds, make
the carrots thrive, and if any of the weeds
are fet again, w7ill difplace them.

As foon as the carrots are fix inches high,
the firft opportunity of dry weather mould
be taken to give the fecond hoeing ; which
mould be performed with nine inch hoes,
every other plant fhould now be cut up,
and the remainder left at 16 or 18 inches
afunder, the latter diftance beft ; every
weed cut up, and the whole furface care-
fully loofened : If any weeds grow clofe to
a plant, the hocr fhould ftoop and pluck
them out with his fingers; the laft hoeing
(with the fame hoes) fhould be given before
the leaves join ; or as foon as the eirect
of the fecond is fully feen, that the weeds
then left may plainly appear : none mould

now

[ 2C4 ]
now be left, and the foil every where cut
by the hoe, even in places where no weeds
are feen. Afterwards, if any fhould acci-
dentally fprout up and fhew themfelves
above the carrots, boys fhould be fent in to
draw them by hand ; for all depends on
totally extirpating them ; and none of thefe
operations muft be neglected under the
pretence of other bufinefs, fuch as hay or
harveft.

By the end of October^ they will be fit
to dig up. Carrots are ufed two ways ;
they are dug up, toped, dried and cleaned,
and laid up in a houfc for the winter to be
ufed as wanted, or they are drawn and left
in the field to be fed there by cattle : Both
methods have advantages, in the firft, the
crop goes much the farther!:, and may be
applied to purpofes, which it cannot in the
other ; in the fecond, the land on which
they grew is greatly improved: I fhould,
however, (unlefs upon a great breadth of
ground) prefer the former ; for beiides the
peculiar advantages attending it, that of
raifing manure may be added, as large
quantities mult arife from ufing the carrots
in the farm-yard, 6t. and the danger of
being prevented drawing them in the

ter way by frofts fhould not be for-
gotten.

The

[ 2°5 ]
The beft way of taking them up is with
a three-pronged fork, they mould be
thrown into heaps, or left Scattered about
(if the weather will admit) to dry, and then
carted home ; there the tops Ihould be cut
off and thrown to any cattle : all will cat
them greedily, efpecially hogs : The roots
cleared from dirt and laid up in any room,
houfe, or barn, furrounded well with flraw
to keep them from the frofts. Horfes may
be fed with them all winter inftead of oats,
and will do their work as well, provided
it is not riding quick: They mould be
warned clean, chopt in pieces in a tub
with a Iharp fpade, and given in chaff : I
kept fix horfes fo one winter ; they were
worked very hard, and flood it as well as
they ufed to do with oats : Oxen will fat
on them mod excellently ; they Ihould
have them in mangers, with a little hay
now and then in the rack ; and kept clean
littered with flraw, which will make plenty
of manure. For iheep they mould be
fcattered about a dry grafs field, and will
be ready for them in March or S/pri/, when
turnips and all other food are gone. No-
thing is better for hogs ; fows will bring
up large litters of pigs by this root; and
pigs may be weaned upon them.

An acre of good carrots will meafure
about 300 bufhels, and the farmer will find

them

[ 2C6 j

them worth to him from I s. to i /. 6 ch
per bufhel, or near 20 /. per acre. But
the product, like that of ail other crops,
will vary according to the goodnefs of the
foil, and rife to 5 or 600 bufhels. But all the
fands I viewed at Stilling fleet, would yield
good crops ; the dark coloured ones the beft,
jf the farmers there and in the neighbour-
hood, or any others upon light deep foils
of any fort none better than loams if nei-
ther heavy nor wet) will go into this article
of culture, I venture to allure them, they
will find it greatly advantageous, and make
their fands more profitable than their
richer! clays.

Another improvement much wanted in
this country, is that of hollow draining
the wet lands, all their clay foils and fome
of their light ones are much damaged by
wet, which they have fcarcely any notions
of carrying off. Their clays, whether grafs
or arable, are kept up on broad high
ridges; a practice feemingly judicious, but
when it is remarked, that they do not
take care to convey away the water which
fettles in the furrows, it muft ftrike the
leaft attentive obferver, that a vaft quantity
of land muft be loft by the overflowing of
the water : Their paftures are all overrun
with rnfhes and other aquatic weeds, the
furrows quite full, and many three quar-
ters

C 3°? ]

ters up the ridges, and all the feed and
tillage in their arable lands is thrown away
in the furrows, for the crop dies and is
fucceeded by quantities of weeds.

Inftead of this miftaken conduct, they
fhould undoubtedly plough down their
ridges, level the furface, and then hollow
drain the whole field, by numerous and
well directed cuts, after which they might
keep them on a perfect level, for grafs, and
ufe only moderate ridges of two bouts
in their arable fields. It is a common
complaint among them, that the manure
they lay on to their fields, lafts but a very
fhort time ; which is totally owing to their
want of draining, for the falts, and even
the manure itfelf is prefently wafhed away
by the wetncfs of the foil ; an effect which
would be quite prevented by draining.

To inform thefe farmers that it is a very
flovenly cuftom to let their paflures be
overrun with bufhes, mole and ant hills
is furely needlefs: They mud know that
nothing would anfwer better than clearing
away all rubbim of that fort ; they know
this, but have not the fpirit, or at lead: the
money to practife it. As to the hills and
all little inequalities of the furface they
fhould be pared off level, and nothing
makes fo fine a compoft for all forts of
land as thefe turfs mixed with lime and

"dung ;

[ 203 ]

dung ; they fhould make a layer of thefn,;
about two feet deep, and length and
breadth proportioned to the quantity, then
bring a layer of lime eight inches deep over
the turfs, then another layer of turfs two
feet deep, then a layer of yard dung 18
inches deep, then another layer of lime
eight inches deep ; then a layer of turfs
two feet deep ; next a layer of York ma-
nure, cinder allies, or mortar rubbifh, 12
inches deep, and laftly, another of lime
eight inches. This hill would be 12 feet
high in the middle, as each layer mould
be made with a Hope, particularly the
firft, for the reft to be right, that the carts
might drive up eafily ; it mould lay in this
manner about two months, then it fhould
be turned over and mixed ; but on no ac-
count in the common way of doing that
bufmefs. Let the men begin at one end,
(or if there be a great number of them,
along one fide) and turn over the compoft,
cutting evenly through the layers, chopping
to lmall pieces all the ant hills and turfs,
mixing the pieces well with lime and dung,
and when mixed, they mufl throw it from
them parallel with the hill to have a clear
fpace, a yard broad between the part mixed,
Hid that to mix; when this beginning is
made, iome of the men mould get on to
the hill, and others remain the vacant
i fpaccj

[ 20$ ]

fpace, the former to throw down the com*>
pod, and the latter to chop and mix it,
and then to give it a [catting throw, like
corn, on to the new made heap, that is
flnifhed. By thefe means all the kinds of
manure will be thoroughly reduced to little
pieces, and perfectly mixed together : If
the work is well done, the compoft will do
without further mixing ; though, as the
expence of a fecond turning would be a
trifle after it is fo well reduced, and every
turning would raife a frefh fermentation, a
fecond might be advifable : The farmer
would be furprifed at the vaft benefit his
crops would receive from a manuring of
this compoft after the draining ; before that
work is done it would be idle to do this or
any other.

1 have ventured thefe fentiments upon
the improvement of StiH'mgfleet and its
neighbourhood, from a fincere defire of
promoting the interefts,,. not only of agri-
culture in general, but that of this diftricT:
in particular, that its cultivators may have
objects of virtuous emulation in view, and
expend their money, and give their atten-
tion to a plan, which can fcarcely fail
of being greatly advantageous to them :
They are happy in an excellent landlord,
who will never reluctantly give, either his
protection or encouragement.

Vol. I. P In

[ 2IO J

In an excurfion I made from Rtjby^ into
Holdernefsj T took minutes of the prefent
ftate of that large trad of country, fome
of which I mall here lay before the
reader.

The foil is in general clay ; the rent
from 10 s. to 2 5 s. an acre, that of cars,
(marfhes) from 6 s. to iox, The farms
rife from 20 /. a year to 200 /. but chiefly
about 100 /. As to courfes, in the open
fields they run a crop to a fallow, but in
the inclofures, four crops to a fallow with
clover.

For wheat, they plough four or five
times, but only once after clover, fow two
bufhels per acre, and reap at a medium,
four quarters. For barley, they ftir four
times if fallowed; twice after turnips, fow
three bufhels per acre, and gain five quar-
ters in return. They itir but once for oats,
fow four bufhels, and reap five quarters.
For beans they give but one ploughing,
fow three bufhels and an half, and gain
four quarters. For rape they generally
pare and burn, and plough once, but fome-
times after oats, when they likewife give
but one ploughing ; fow a peck an acre,
and gain upon average, five quarters.

An acre and a half or two acres of grafs,
they reckon fufficient to fat an ox of 80
ftone. In rearing their calves, they give

them

t 2" ]

them new milk for the firft week, and then
fkim milk for two months. They feed
their cars with young flock, and working
cattle. Some farmers have of late begun
to lime ; and thofe who live within fix
miles of HulU bring manure of many forts
from thence. The following fketches of
farms will mew the general ceconomy of
this country.

ioo Acres in all

8 Fatting beaf

50 Arable

j 00 Sheep

50 Grafs

2 Men

£. 120 Rent

2 Boys

6 Horfes

2 Maids

4 Oxen

1 Labourer.

6 Cows

Another,

90 Acres in all

6 Cows

30 Arable

6 Fatting beads

60 Grafs

40 Sheep

£. 80 Rent

1 Man

4 Horfes

1 Boy

k 2 Oxen

1 Maid.

Another,

150 Acres in a

11

6 Oxen

60 Arable

10 Cows

90 Grafs

12 Fatting hearts

£. 120 Rent

16 Young cattle

3 Horfes

40 Sheep

P

2 2 M

[ 212 ]

2 Men 2 Boys

2 Maids 2 Labourers.

Draining is the great improvement of
the country, by means of which the land
is much advanced in value, fo that many
acres which once yielded from .6 d. to <; s.
now are let at from 1 2 s. to 35 s. The
great work of main drains is done by act
of parliament, all the fuperfluous water is
carried by them into the fea at Hull ; but
as the level of thefe waters is lower than
that of the fea at fpring tides, a fluice at
a very great expence (about 3000 /.) is
erected, containing two large doors which
open in common by force of the frefh
water, and let it into the fea ; but when
the fpring tides rife, thofe doors are fhut
by the fuperior weight of water, and the
country prevented from being overflowed.
Plate HI. fig. 1. 2. are fkctches I took of a
model of this fluice, made ^ of an inch to
a foot.

For the purpofe of railing the wrater out
of the ditches of private perfons into the
drains, they creci mills that work by wind,
which raifc it various heights. I took
a draught of a fmall one, Plate IV. which
would be of incomparable ufe in many
countries, where thefe mills are quite un-
known, for carrying water away, jn places

where

i — T"h T ' T" '- -, — * t 7T 1

1 ./J^V"

(:■/.//'/ j /a.',- .jj.

TbMM.4.ptyts

[ 2i3 ]
where a fall was difficult to be gained.
The expence is 40 /. From which mm they
rife in price to 400 /.

LABOUR.

In harveft, 10 s. a week, and board.

In hay-time, ditto.

In winter, 8j. 6d. a week.

Reaping wheat, 6 s. though but feldom

done by the acre.
Mowing corn, 3^.

grafs, 1 s. 6 d. to • 2 s. 6d.

A drain, four feet wide at top, two deep,

and three upon the dope, 8 d. to 1 6 d. a

rood of feven yards.
Threfhing wheat, is. 6 d. to 3 s.

barley, 1 s. to 1 s. 3 d,

oats, 8 d. to 1 o d.

beans, n. ton, 2 d,

rape, 2 s. a. day, and board.

Headman, 12/. to 14/.

Next ditto, 9 /.

Maids ditto, from 2 /. 10 s. to 5 /»

IMELEMENTS.

A waggon, 15 /. Laying a fhare, 8 d.

A cart, 8 /. coulter, 4 d,

A plough, 18 /. Shoeing, 1 s. 4 d.
A harrow, ioj.

P 3 BUILD-

[ 214 ]

BUILDING.

Bricks, per *ooo, lis.

Oak, i /. 15 s. to 6 /. per ton of 40 feet.

-Afh, 1 6 j to 3jf j.

Elm, 30. f. to 40 j,

Carpenter, per day, 2,0 d.

Mafon, 2 j.*

* Before I take my leave of Rifby^ a place I
have fo much reafon to remember with plca-
fure, I fhall attempt to give you fome idea of
what it will be when Mr. Elkrker has executed
his prefent intentions : He has begun his alter-
ations, and when they arc finifhed, he will Live
the pleafure of living in one of the rnofb agree-
able ieats in this country. The houfe, which is
a large quadrangle with three fronts, is jQtuated
on the brow of a rifing ground, and overlooks
to the fouth, weft, and eaft, a fine inequality of
foil well fpread with an old growth of wood ;
a winding valley runs before the fouth front, at
the diftance of 2 or 300 yards, the banks of
which are fringed with fpontaneous thorn trees :
To the north is a large lawn furrounded with
plantations ; to the north weft, but unfeen from
the houfe, is a middling fized park, all hill and
dale, and wood, exceedingly beautiful ; near
the houfe to the eaft, are ieveral groves of
young timber •, this is the prefent picture and
the outline of the future one.

Mr.

[ 2I5 ]

Having brought my vifit in to this angle
of country to a conclufion, I mail end this
letter with a few remarks on thole points
of husbandry, in which this part of Eajl
Riding is particularly backward.

In the fir ft place, I {hall obferve, that
their courfcs of crops and general manage-
ment of their arable land, are very faulty ;
and particularly fo in a country where
grafs land of any goodnefs is extremely
fcarce. Artificial grafs and roots for the
food of cattle, are of great profit, not only
by enabling the farmer to keep large flocks
of cattle both in fummer and winter, but
likewife by ameliorating and cleaning the

arable

Mr. Elkrkcr purpofes to throw down the
fences of the inclofures between the park to
the houfe, fo as to join it on one fide to the
garden, and in front to throw it around the
water-, taking in all the lawn and plantations.
The valley, which runs before the houfe to the
fonth, is to be floated with water," and will then
have the appearance of a very noble irregular
lake, winding both to the right and lett into a
wood to the length of a mile and half, and in
many places above ioo yards wide. The un-
derwood, in that part of the grove (to the eaft)
which ftretches down towards the valley will be
grubbed up, old garden walls thrown clown,
and all obftructions removed, fo that the lake
P 4 may

[ 2i6 ]

arable lands, and confequently improving
the crops of corn.

in this part of York/hire, the foil is in
general good turnip land, and the farmers
have fhewn they are of the fame opinion,
by introducing them ; but their culture is
fo wretchedly defective, that I may, with-
out the imputation of a paradox, aflert,
they had better have let it alone. Very
few of them hoe at all, and thofe who do,
execute it in fo flovenly a way, that nei-
ther the crop or the land are the leaft the
better for it. With fuch management, tur-
nips are by no means beneficial in a courfe

of

may be fecn from the houfe among the flems of
the young trees, than which nothing can have
a finer effect ; for as the grove will be dark, the
water, when the fun mines on it, will appear
»ugh the trees in the molt pifturefque man-
ner On the right fide, the water will flow

far up the valley, and be terminated by wood,
with an ornamented bridge in the fhade of it.
On one fide of the water is to be a pleafure-
ground, in a fequeftered hollow of varied ground,
icattered with old thorns and large timber trees;
fome of thele are to be thrown into clumps by
the addition of flowering ihiubs, and the grais
kept cloiely fhaven. From many parts of it
views of the water v/ill be various and pic-
tureique in fome lpots: It will flow up among

tk;

[ *V 1

of crops, as they leave the foil fo foul that
a fallow rather than another crop ought to
fucceed.

The great benefit of turnips is not the
mere value of the crop, but the cleaning
the land fo well as to enable the farmer to
cultivate the artificial grades with profit.
If nine hufbandmen out of ten, give a
complete year's fallow to a field, they can-
not forbear taking two, and perhaps three
crops of corn in confequence of it ; fo that
graifes cannot be fown with any profpect
of benefit ; but when turnips pay for the
expence of the year's fallow, they are in-
duced to fow the grafs with the fir ft fuc-

ceeding

the groves ; and in others ftretch away from the
eye in noble iheets, under a bold Ihore finely
fpread with hanging woods. A temple will be
erected, commanding a mod beautiful fcenery
of varied ground, wood, and water. From the
houfe will be feen, over the lake, fome fine irre-
gular (lopes fcattered with a few trees and
thorns, rifing to a plantation of firs, which,
when fomewhat altered, will have a very elegant
appearance. Embofomed in their center is to
rife a little Grecian temple, juft fhowing its
dome among the trees, from whence will be
yiewed, on every fide, a molt beautiful profpect;
it will look down on the lake with an irregular
Ihore on the oppofite fide, rifing to the houfe,
which appears in the fore ground of a nobie

wood

[ an ]

ceeding corn crop, which renders a fallow
unnecefTary ; and is beyond all doubt, upon
turnip land, and in a country where natu-
ral grafs is fcarce, the moft profitable hus-
bandry of all.

The farmers of this country ought
therefore to neglect turnips totally, or cul-
tivate them in the clean hufband-like man-
ner that is practifed in many parts of Eng-
land, of thoroughly pulverizing the land
and hoeing them twice or thrice, or as
often as neceflary, to keep them diftincl:
from each other, and ■perfectly free from

wood fpread above it, and ftretching away to
the right and left. On one fide from this tem-
ple, will be viewed a very extenfive country,
particularly a fine vale of wood, with Beverley
minder rifing from the center of it-, in another
fpot will be feen Flamlcrough Head, at the di-
stance of 40 miles : To the left it will look over
well cultivated hills, cut into inclofures. On
the fide oppofite the houle, a vaft tract, of coun-
try will be commanded far into Lincoln/hire,
with the noble river Himber taking its courfe
through it for many miles; Hull ken plainly on
its banks, at the diitance of nine miles. Thefe
are the principal improvements which Mr.
Ellerker defigns foon to execute-, I name them
among many others, which will all combine to
render Rijby one of the finefl places in 2"ork-
Jhire.

7 • weeds ;

[ 219 ]
weeds : Turnips would then be found an
excellent preparation for barley or oats,
and for the artificial gravies fown with
them.

It is in this manner that turnips and
grades arc connected; -the latter in a great
meafurc depend upon the former, and their
importance to this part of York/hire m ift
be evident to every one: As to the kind, I
fliouid in the rirfl place recommend ray-
grafs and clover in the manner they have
been ufed with fo great fuccefs in Norfolk,
for which purpofe the following courfe
upon lands rather inclinable to drynefs

than moifture or quite dry, is much to

be advifed.

1. Turnips thoroughly hoed

2. Barley

3. Clover and ray-grafs (12 lb. of the
firft and two pecks of ray-grafs) for
three years.

4. Wheat.

5. Turnips, &c. <&c. &c.

It is impofTible in this hufbandry, that
the land mould be foul or out of heart, as
in fix years it gives but two crops of corn :
Theie two crops will, on that account,
be worth twice the number as taken at
prefent ; and inftead of the ufelefs expence
of fallow years, very beneficial crops for
the food of cattle will be had ; an object,

as

[ 220 ]

as I before remarked, peculiarly important

in this country. It is by means of this

courfe of crops that we fee in Norfolk, up-
on dry fands, great ftocks of all forts of
cattle, kept, and rows of hay flacks more
like a town than a farm yard. Debar a
Norfolk farmer from a turnip-hoe ; and
clover and ray-grafs, and all the wonders
of hufbandry that have been performed in
that country, would at once fink to no-
thing.

Much of the foil upon the wolds in the
Eajl Rilling, is a light dry loam on lime-
ftone and chalk ; or, in other words, the
mod: proper of any for the production
of fainfoine, a noble grafs of uncommon
profit, but totally neglected, or rather un-
known in this tract of country. The far-
mers ought beyond a doubt to cultivate a
fufficient quantity of this grafs to fupply
the place of meadows and pafturas, where
fuch are naturally wanting or deficient.
For this purpofe, turnips ihould be fown
and well hoed, eat off with fheep, and
then barley fown, and with that four
Dufhels per acre of fainfoine feed. — This is
the moft improved of the common practice
in thofe countries where fainfoine is gene-
ral ; particular experiments direct: much
lefs feed, and a different method, but I re-
commend nothing here to common farmers,

which

[ 221 ]
which their brethren in other parts do not
in common practiie, and to great profit.
— With this management they will tind it
laft well for horfes, cows, beads, or hay,
fifteen years. They fhould then pare and
burn it, and fow turnips, keep it in a
courfe of other crops for five or fix years,
and then lay down with fainfoine again.

Another circumflance of bad hufbandry,
(which is indeed too common in other
countries) is the never hoeing of beans :
Great numbers are fown upon the rich
lands after wheat, and all I viewed were
extremely full of weeds ; this is a moft per-
nicious practice, and cannot be too much
condemned.

Next let me obferve, that the waggons
ufed in this country are fuch paltry infig-
nificant things, that the farmers, I am con-
fident, who ufe them for any purpofe upon
the road, mull fubmit to a conftant lofs.
In fome parts of England, they are chang-
ing narrow-wheeled waggons that contain
oo and ioo bulhels, for broad-wheeled
ones ; what therefore muft we think of
thefe hufbandmen who content themfelves
with fuch as hold no more than /o; and
50 with difficulty: this is remaining in
the darkneis and ignorance of five centu-
ries ago.

Laflly,

f 222 ]

Laflly, let me offer fome remarks on the
great improvement carrying on of inclo-
fures ; but this will require a more diffu-
five examination. There is fcarcely any
point in rural ceconomics more generally
acknowledged, than the great benefits of
inclofing open lands : fome authors, it is
true, have attacked them as fuppofitious,
and afferted them to be a national difad-
vantage, of trivial ufe to the proprietors,
but very mifchievous to the poor. My refi-
dence in this part of Vorkjlrire brought (at
firil accidentally) to my knowledge fome
particulars reipccting the merits of inclo-
fing, and the means commonly purfued in
the execution, which are not to be found
in the face of any afts of parliament what-
ever; but which are certainly of impor-
tance in weighing and deciding the advan-
tages of the meafure. To give ydu a
tolerable idea of thefe circumftances, it will
be neceilary to {ketch the progrefs of an
inclofure, as it generally is conducted,
without any eye to legal forms, or the letter
of the act.

I. The proprietors of large eftates gene-
ra1!/ agree upon the meafure, adjuft the
principal points among themfelves, and
fix upon their attorney before they appoint
any general meeting of all the propri-
etors. The fmall proprietor, whofe pro-
perty

[ 223 ]

perty in the townfhip is perhaps his all,
has little or no weight in regulating the
claufes of the act of Parliament, has
feldom if ever an opportunity of putting
a fingle one in the bill favourable to his
-rights, and has as little influence in the
choice of commiffioners ; and of confe-
quence, they have feldom any great in-
ducement to be attentive , to his intereft ;
fome recent inftances of which I have heard
of.

II. Any proprietor pofTefling a fifth of
the manor, parifh, lordfhip, &c. to be in-
clofed, has the right of a negative upon
the meafure, confeqtiently the poorer pro-
prietors are often obliged to afl'ent to un-
reafonable claufes, rather than give up all
the advantages they hope from the inclo-
fure.

III. The attorney delivers his bill to the
commiffioners, who pay him and themfelves
without producing any account, and in
what manner they pleafe. Is it therefore
any wonder, that the expences previous
to the actual incloiing the ground are very
frequently (unlefs where the townfhip is
very imall) from 1800 /. to 2000 /. all
which is levied and expended by the com-
miflioners abfolutely, and without controul.
To this extravagant expence add, that
attending the inclofure itielf, the making

the

[ —4 ]
the ditches ; the ports and railing ; buying
and letting the quickwood, &c. this, added
to the former expence, muft furely run
away with great part of the profits ex-
peeled from the inclofure. But what muft
we think of the indolence of the proprie-
tors, who will thus unneceiTarily neglect
the great improvement of their eftates to
advance the private interefts of the commif-
fioners, &c. For a proof of this enormous
power, fee the following extract from an
Act, which gives an abfolute and unli-
mited power to the commifTioncrs to raife
whatever fums they pleafe, and to allefs
them in the proportion* and infuch manner,
as they think proper.

" And be it further enacted, That the
reafonable colts and charges incident to,
and attending the obtaining and palling this
Act, and of the furveying, dividing and
allotting the faid lands and grounds hereby
directed to be incloled, and the preparing
and. inrolling the laid award or inftrument,
and all other necefiary charges and expences
relating to the laid divifions and inclofures,
and to the fencing, hedging, and ditching,
the fame mall, from time to time, as fuch
cofts, charges and expences (hall accrue,
be borne, paid and defrayed by the feveral
parties to whom any part of the faid lands
ds {hall be allotted, in proportion

to

[ »/ 1

to the value of their refpeetive (hares or
interefts therein, fuch proportions to be ad*
j lifted and fettled from tune to time, by the
faid commifjioners or any tzuo of them ; and
in cafe any perfon or perfons lhall refute or
neglect to pay his, her, or their propor-
tion or proportions fo to be from time to
time adj lifted and afcertained, of fuch
charges or expences within the time to be
limited by the faid commimoners, or any
two of them, to fuch perfon or perfons as
they, or any two of them, fhail appoint to
receive the fame, then the faid commimon-
ers, or any two of them, mall and may
raife, and levy the fame, by diftrefs and
fale of the goods and chattels of the perfon
or perfons fo neglecting or refufing to pay
the fame, rendering the overplus (if any)
on demand to the owner or owners of fuch
goods and chattels, after deducting the cofts
and charges of taking and making fuch
diftrefs and fale ; or otherwiie it fliall and
may be lawful to and for the faid ccmrnif-
fioners or any two of them, from time tp
time, to enter into and upon-the premiffes,
fotobe allotted to fuch perfon or perfons re-
fufing or neglecting to pav as aforefaid, and
to take the rents and profits thereof refpec-
tively, until thereby, or therewith, or other-
wife, the fhareor (hares, proportion or pro-
portions of the faid cods and charges fo to be
Vol. I. Q^ from

[ 226 ]

from time to time directed, awarded or
appointed by the faid commifTioners to be
paid by fuch perfon or perfons as aforefaid,
and alfo all cofts, charges, and expences
occafioned by or attending fuch entry upon
and receipt of the rents and profits of the
fame premiiTes, fhall refpe&ively be paid
and fatisfied."

A molt precious piece of delegated def-
potifm.

IV. The divifion and diftribution of the
lands are totally in their breafts, and as
the quality of the foil as well as the num-
ber of acres is confidered, the bufinefs is
extremely intricate, and requires uncom-
mon attention ; but on the contrary is
often executed in an inaccurate and blun-
dering manner. Nor is there any appeal
from their allotments, but to the commif-
fioners themfelves, however carelefsly or
partially made. Thus is the property of
the proprietors, and efpecially the poor
ones, entirely at their mercy ; every paf-
fion of refentment, prejudice, &c, maybe
gratified without controul ; for they are
veiled with a defgptic power known in no
other branch of bufinefs in this free coun-
try.

V. juflice as well as common fenfe re-
quires that after ihejurvey and divljion, the
award of the commifTioners fhould be di-

6 reclly

t 227 1

reclly publiihed, it being the record which
proves the refpedfcive properties : and like-
wife that their accounts ihould, upon the
concluiion of the buiinefs, be regularly
arranged under each diltinct head attended
by every correfponding voucher, and made
public to the inflection of every proprietor;
but unfortunately this is lb far from being the
cafe, that the time of publiihing the award
is greatly procraftinated, and as to accounts
they feldom mow any all the particulars
of that fort remain for ever a profound
fecret, fave the particular fum demanded
from each proprietor. That indeed, if they
chufe it, they may communicate to each
other and be able to form fome judgment
of the inequality of particular affeflments,
but as there lies no appeal from the award
they are generally induced to fit down
quietly, though the -difproportion of the
allotments and affeiTments mould be gla-
ringly confpicuous.

VI. There is no remedy againft the
impofitions or blunders of the commit-
fioners, but that which, perhaps, is as bad
as the difeafe, 'viz. tiling a bill in chancery ;
a remedy, which, in all probability, one or
two peribns mult fupport for the good of
the whole, but without the afliftance of
half.

Q^2 VII.

[ 2S8 ]

VII. And if I am not greatly miftaken>
even this means of redrefs is more limited
than in moft other cafes : it may compel
the commimoners to deliver in their ac-
counts, but how can it rcclify any unjuft
arrangement of the land ? It lies in the
breaft of the commiffioners when to make
their award, and I do not imagine, that
till they have figned it, it would be prudent
to file the bill againft them. It might
poffibly be two or three years before a de-
cree could be obtained, and when any pro-
prietor has been at the expence of incloling
his fhare, cultivating the ground, and rail-
ing the fences, how is it poffiblc that even
power of the court of chancery, exten-
five as it is, can in this cafe redrefs the in-
jury, whether it arifes from the particular
fituation of the allotment, the quantity, or
the quality of the foil. Need I fay any
tiling further, to point out the real necef-
fity of the proprietors of land exerting
themfelves to retrench this enormous power,
veiled in the commiffioners. The advan-
from inclpfures, are not to
be looked upon as merely beneficial to the
indi re of the mod: extenfive

'vantage. The improvements in-
ure, that fource of all our power,
t be trifling without them ; furely
ry meafure that can promote

them

t 229 ]

them mould be adopted, every difficulty
attending them fmoothcd, and every injury
redreffed.

It appears clearly from the above circum-
ftances, that the proprietors of a lordfhip
to be inclofed, give to the commiflioners
for executing the act, an unlimited autho-
rity of taxing their eftates ; and including
that unheard-of power of being party,
judge, and jury in the whole affair of
paying themfelves. If a proprietor is of-
fended at their proceedings, and refufes to
pay the fums levied on him, they are
entrufted by the act, with powers imme-
diately to diftrain. Such immenfe confi-
dence might be attended with few incon-
veniencies, if they were univerfklly men
of considerable property, and known in-
tegrity ; but when the hacknied fons
of bufinefs, are employed (which is the
cafe nine times out of ten) the proprietors
have jufl reafon to tremble at the fituation
of their fortunes. It is very natural to
conclude, that fuch caufes mult be attended
with a very ftriking effect, and this accord-
ingly is the cafe ; for impofitions, and the
inaccuracy of commiflioners have arofe to
fuch a height, that many proprietors who
were eager for inclofures, on a [anguine
profpect of benefit, have found the mea-
fure highly injurious and totally owing to
Qj the

[ 23<> ]
the immenfe expences. There is a very
falfe idea current, that rents are doubled
by inclofing; a meafure may be vaftly ad-
vantageous without pofTeffing fuch uncom-
mon merit. This notion hurries numbers
to inclofing, who afterwards find the exr
pences to run away with great part of the
profit. But even where the expences do
not exceed the profit, it is very often the
cafe, that the proprietor is not repaid in
fix or feven years, perhaps more ; and
when it is confidcred, how little able fome
proprietors, even in good circmnftances, are
to wait fo long before they are reimburfed
their expences; how often they arc difabled
(by advancing their proportions ncceflary
for an inclofure) to provide for the fettle-
men t of their children in the world, how
often they are prevented cultivating their
new inclofure to any advantage, by being

drained of their ready money 1 think it

will inconteftibly appear, that the advan-
tages refulting from this extravagant me-
thod, are trivial to the majority of pro-
prietors, in comparifon to what they might
reafonably have expected, from a more
equal management.

You will not think this furprizing, when
you are informed the immediate rife of
rent in many inclofures in this neighbour-
1, has not amounted to above five or

fix

t S31 ]

fix (Killings an acre, and in fome to no
more than eighteen pence and two mil-
lings an acre. In ftrong rich lands, where
they have fome meadow lands, the rife is
higher. But indeed the fmallnefs of the
rife is, in fome meafure, owing to their want
of better hufbandry ; for with very few
meadows, they know fcarce any thing of
clover and ray-grafs or turnips ; confe-
quently the value of an inclolure is com-
paratively fmall to them.

But whatever caufe the fact is owing to,
it remains equally furprizing that the pro-
prietors mould not be more attentive to
their intereft, a rife of rent fufficient to pay
the expences of the inclolure under the
management of honefr, able, and careful
conductors, may vanifh into nothing upon
the mention of thofe who have neither
integrity, abilities, or attention ; and it
mull be ftrange fupinenefs indeed that can
fuffer the gentlemen of a county to be
duped in fo flagrant a manner, as to allow
even in idea the trains of impofition which
are now common in the bufincfs of inclo-
fures. It is wonderful they do not exert
themfelves to introduce common fenfe and
honefty, in an affair hitherto under the
cognizance of ignorance, knavery, and felf-
intereft. '

Q_4 For

[ 232 ]

For this purpofe, it feems requifite, that
the following claufes fhould be added to
the a£ts for inclofure.

I. That the fmall proprietors mould have
a (hare in the nomination of commiffioners ;
either by a union of votes or otherwife, as
might be determined.

II. That the attorney and commiffioners
fhould, before the paffing the act, agree
upon their feveral rewards, and on no ac-
count whatever be fuffered to pay them-
felves one milling.

III. That the commiffioners proceed im-
mediately to the furvey, diftribution, and
affignment, and the building or forming
public works.

IV. That in cafe any man thinks him-
felf injured, he may be at liberty (but to-
tally at his own expence, in cafe he is in
the wrong) to fummons a jury immediately,
to view and decide the affair.

V. That as foon as the abovementioned
bufmefs is concluded, the commiffioners do
give in their account of alliums received and
expended, in the moft regular manner, and
with all the vouchers for payment ; and that
they immediately publifh their award.

VI. That an action at common law be
had againft the commiffioners for falfe, or
unvpuched accounts, &c. &&

By

L 233 ]

By means of thefe or other claufes better
imagined, but of the fame intention, this
undoubtedly beneficial meafure of inclof-
ing would be infinitely extended, and the
interefts of the community, as well as in-
dividuals, greatly fecured.

I am not here arguing again fl: inclo-
fures, the advantages ariling from them
are certainly very extenfive ; I am only fay-
ing, they are not fo great as they are fre-
quently imagined to be, and they do not
always indemnify the prefent poffellbr from
the great expence he is at in obtaining
them, by the abfurd and extravagant man-
ner in which they are generally conducted.

I mould extend thefe remarks farther,
but many other points of bad hufbandry
will be included in the general obiervations,
which I ihall trouble you with on the con-
clufion of this tour.

From R'uby I took the road to Went-
worth houfe. Pairing Cave, the feat of Sir
George Metham, which I before defcribed,
we came to Hoivden^ tlie foil in which
neighbourhood is chiefly clay, with fome
fields of fandy land : lets in the open field
at 10 s. and in the inclofures at 1 /. Their
courfe is,

1. Fallow

2. Wheat

3. Oats.

For

[ *34 ]

For wheat they plough five times, fow
two bufiiels of feed, and reap at a medium
about three quarters. For barley they
plough three times, fow four bufhels of
feed, and reckon the mean produce four
quarters. They give one or two ftirrings
for oats, fow four bufhels, five quarters the
average crop. For beans they plough but
once, fow three bufhels and a half broad-
caft, never hoe them, and gain at a me-
dium s> l. quarters. They fow fcarce any
turnips. For rye they plough once, fow
3 bufhels, and 24 the mean crop. Clover
they fow on fpring corn, generally mow it,
and gain two tons of hay at a mowing.
They cultivate much flax in this neigh-
bourhood, calling it line; they fow it either
on a ftubble in great heart, or on old grafs;
then weed it at the expence of from 5 s to
10 s. per acre, and they reckon that an acre,
if not a bad one, will pay 5 /. clear of all
charges..

The manure they principally depend on
is lime, of which they lay two chaldrons
on an acre, and it lafts a courfe.

They reckon 500 /. neceffary to flock a

farm of 100/. a year. The product of

a cow they value at 5 /.

They ufe two, and fomctimes three

horfes in a plough abreaft, and do an acre

a day. If ploughing is hired, it is 2 s. 6 cL

an acre.

The

[ *35 ]

The poor women and children are much
in want of employment ; only a little fpin-
ning among them of line and hemp hards.
The particulars of a farm I gained were,
5 jo Acres in all 6 Brood mares

300 Of them grafs 6 Cows

200 Arable 50 Beafts

JT. 200 Rent 260 Sheep

12 Horfes 5 Servants

4 Oxen 6 Labourers

He fows
40 Acres of wheat 20 Of flax
80 Of fpring corn

LABOUR.

In harveft, 9 s. a week, and beer.

A woman, 1 s. a day.

In hay -time, is. 2d. a. day.

A woman, 6 d.

In winter, 1 s.

Reaping wheat, from 6 s. to 8 s.

Mowing and binding fpring corn, 3/. and

2 s. 6 d.
Threlhing wheat 1 /. 9 d. per quarter.

•a barley, is. id.

• — beans, 1 s.

oats reaped, 6 d.

mown, 8d.

Wages of a farming man, from 10 /. to

ill. Of a maid, 4/.

PRO.

[ 236 ]
PROVISIONS, 6'c.

Bread,

1 d. per lb.

Butter,

7 — 21 01,

Cheefe,

Beef,

3^

Mutton,

3^

Potatoes,

4 a peck.

Milk, -

~ per quart.

Candles,

6i

Labourer's houfe rent, 30 s

firing, 15 s.

IMPLEMENTS, &c,

A new waggon, 12 /. 10 /.

A cart, 7 /.

A plough, 1 /. 5 s,

A harrow, 12 s.

A roller, 25 j-.

Shoeing a cart horfe, is. ^d.

Laying a plough fhare and coulter, is. 2 d.

Bricks, ioj, per thoufand.

Oak timber, 1 s. 6 d. a foot.

The country quite from Cave through
Hoivden and to Thome, is all low, flat, and
difagreeable. At the latter place I was very
lucky in meeting with information of the
beft kind, through the civility of Mr. AJli-
croft and Mr. Atk'wfcn. The foil is in ge-
neral

[ ~n ]

ncral a flrong clay, and many fields a pe-
culiar fort of earth formed by the over-
flowings of the tide, which left a firm fandy
kind of {lime ; the medium rent of the
country is 10 s. an acre ; but fome of their
common field lands let at ijs. and iSj-.
the acre ; the nominal rent 20 s. to 25/.
but the meafure is more than a real acre.
Their courfe upon this land is

1. Turnips 4. Oats

2. Barley 5. Clover

3. Wheat 6. Wheat

The moll infamous courfe I have met with
fince I have been out. On their other
la u :1s it is alfo very bad.

1. Fallow 3. Oats

2. Wheat 4. Wheat

For wheat they plough four times, fow
three bufhels, and gain at an average
twenty-four. They plough but twice for
barley, fow four bufhels, and reap at a
medium four quarters and a half. For
oats they ftir but once, fow four bufhels,
and gain fix quarters at a medium. They
give but one earth for beans, fow three
bufhels and a half broad-cart, never hoe
them, and get at a medium twenty-three
bufhels. For turnips they plough four or
five times, never hoe them, which is a fine
practice when five crops fuccecd them, and
the land never fallowed ; the mean value
5 per

t 238 ]

per acre they reckon at 18 or 20 s. and ufe
them for fheep and beafts; they flock them
with eight or ten fheep to an acre, or two
beafts. They plough four times for rape,
and reckon a middling crop at 3! quar-
ters. Flax they fow generally on an old
fwarth, plough but once, weed the crop
three times at the expence of 7 s. 6 d. an
acre ; a good one they value at 1 o /. or 12/.
an acre, and worth as it grows at an ave-
rage from 5 /. to 8 /. They fometimes give
4 /. rent for the flax year.

Their chief manuring is with lime, of
which they lay two chaldrons on an acre,
at 7 s. 6d. per chaldron; it lafts three
crops ; fometimes they mix it with tide
ilime, called warp. They alfo pare and
burn ; the paring they do with a plough,
and generally fow rape on the land.

In their tillage they ufe two horfes in a
plough, and do an acre a day. Hiring per
acre is 4. J.

Some other fundry circumftances worth
minuting are ; the fum requifite to ftock a
farm of 1 00 /. a year, they reckon 300 /. —
the product of a cow, 5 /. — the profit of
fheep 4-f per head; — poor women and
children have no employment, but drink
tea twice a day. The rythes are gathered,
and land fells at ^,5 years purchafe.

But

[ 239 3
But the greatefl curiofity to be met with
in this country is the vaft moors, which
are 3, 4, and 5 miles over, and fome of
them near as long ; they confift of a foft,
fpongy, loole foil, as if ccmpofed of rotten
vegetables : It is all what they call turf, and
is dug into fquare pieces for burning ; when
dried it is light as a feather, and burns ex-
cellently ; over all the moors it lays in an
even ftratum, about five or fix feet deep,
upon a bed of (tiff blue and black clay : in
digging it away they frequently find vaft
fir trees, perfectly found, and fome oaks,
but not fo good as the firs ; the body of a
man was alfo found, the flefli was black, but
perfectly preferved ; after a fhort expofure
to the air, it crumbled into powder ; the
nature of the moor is mch, as to refill all
putrefaction, and no kind of worm can
live in it. The property of it is very re-
markable ; on each fide, at the diftance, as
I mentioned before, of feveral miles, are
many little flips of cultivated land, gene-
rally an acre (28 yards) broad, fome more,
and others lefs ; the proprietors of thefe
poiTefs a right to all the moor which bor-
ders upon their land in a ftraight line, un-
til they meet witli the oppjfite poffeifors,
who are in the fame fituation. Thefe cul-
tivated Hips, which confift of many clofes,
have all vand probably molt of the adjacent

(country

[ 24° ]

country) been gained in the courfe of many
centuries from the moors ; it is a good
rich clay, that yields fine crops of corn and
grafs, but from its fituatiori is liable to be
overflowed in winter; lets at about 7 or
8 j. an acre. Thus a proprietor has as
much land as he thinks proper ; but then
the expence of digging away the turf is
more than the land is worth, for a man
feldom cuts above four fquare yards a day ;
they give it to the poor for their cutting
and taking away.

The improvement of fuch land is a very

dubious point: To view the moor, any

perfon would think it totally incapable of

any; but I mull own myfelf of a different

opinion. In the front of the piece, I viewed

where the men were cutting the turf; I

obferved a trench was cut on each fide,

and acrofs lh- moor, around a fquare piece

againft the field already cleared ; this trench

was not above two feet deep, and yet its

effect in draining was very flriking ; we

could walk very firmly within this trench,

but nn the outfide of it not without danger

of being fwallbwed up ; and although I

could fcarcely perceive any growth upon

or in general, yet this drained part

covered with ling of a luxuriant

which is a fufficient proof that

oukl not only be very advan-

[ 241 ]

tageous, but the point of all others which
mud be firft effected. The fall of five or
fix feet into the part cut away, which is
interfered with ditches, would fecure a

certainty of draining. When this work

was done, the fur face ought to be burnt ;
but they objected to this, that it would
not be allowed, as others property would
prefently be on fire, and poflibly the whole
country, which however I can fcarcely ima-
gine; but if it cannot be burnt, it ought to
be dug three or four times in the hammer
to fweeten it, and the fucceeding fpring
planted and lowed with fuch vegetables as
were moft likely to fucceed. I ventured to
recommend them on conjecture, potatoes,
cabbages, carrots, hops, oliers, &c. &c. &c.
to try them in fmall plats, that fome cer-
tainty might at leaft be gained ; and as the
expence would be very trifling, I believe
the trial will be made.

But I fhould further have obferved, that
the clay under the bog would in all probabi-
lity be an excellent manure for it, both from
weight and fertility ; and with the help of
lime, which they have at 7 s. 6 d. a chal-
dron, would enable them to reduce it to
good meadow ground.

One objection occurred to me, which
can only be anfwered by a lawyer: Sup-
pofe a proprietor drains the moor in front

Vol. I. R of

[ 242 ]

of him, until he meets with the oppofite
proprietor ; quaere, can they be flopped by
any thing but the want of turf? they
would have the fame bank prefent itfelf to
them as at prefent, only a polfeiTor on the
furface of it.

The following are the particulars of fome
farms in this country; one
1 20 Acres in all 7 Cows

100 Arable 200 Sheep (right

20 Grafs of commonage)

£. 76 Rent 2 Servants

6 Horfes 2 Labourers

He fows
15 Acres of wheat 20 Of beans
30 Of oats

Another:
170 Acres in all 10 Horfes

130 Arable 12 Cows

40 Grafs 3 Servants

£.56 Rent 3 Labourers

He fows
30 Of wheat 10 Of rape

60 Of oats 10 Of turnips

Another :

70 Acres in all 6 Cows

60 Arable 300 Sheep (com-

10 Grafs monage right)

£. 38 Rent 2 Servants

6 Horfes 2 Labourers

He

I 243 ]

He fovvs
25 Acres of wheat 25 Of oats

Another :
87 Acres in all 6 Cows

5J Arable 200 Sheep (right

30 Grafs of commonage)

£ . 70 Rent 2 Servants

6 Horfes 1 Labourer

No folding in this country !

LABOUR.

In harveft, 2 s. a day, and beer.
In hay-time, is. 6 d. and ditto.
In winter, i s.
Reaping wheat, 5 s.

oats, 4 s.

Mowing and gathering, 3 s.

■ grafs, 1;. 6 d.

Threming wheat, 2 s.

• -barley, is.

oats, Sd.

Wages of a farming man, 11/. lis.
Dairy and other maids, 3/. to 3 /. 10;,

PROVISIONS, &c

Bread, per lb. 1 d. Pork, - 3^

Cheefe, - 3 Potatoes,/?, peck,;

Butter, - 5 1902. Candles, - 6

Beef, - 3! Soap, - 6

Mutton, - Q>r Milk, per quart, o?

Veal, - 3i

R 2 Labourer's

I H4 i

Labourer's houfe rent, 2$s.
Their firing, 1 2 s.
Wear of their tools, $s.

IMPLEMENTS.

A waggon, iiLiis. A plough, 1 7 /.
A cart, 9 /. A harrow, 1 /.

Shoeing a horfe, is. 4 d.
Laying a mare, 1 s.
Bricks, per thoufand, gs.
Oak timber, is. 6 d.
Aih, 10 d.
Elm, is. ^.d*

I remain,

Your's, &c.

[ *4S ]

LETTER V.

WENT WORTH houfe, the palace
of the Marquis of Rockingham, is
fituated between Rot her ham and Barnjleyy
in the midft of a very beautiful country,
and in a park that is one of the mod
exquifite fpots in the world. It confifts of
an irregular quadrangle, inclofing three
courts, with two grand fronts : The prin-
cipal one to the park extends in a line
upwards of 600 feet, forming a center
and two wings. Nothing in architecture
can be finer than this center, which ex-
tends 19 windows. In the middle, a noble
portico projects 20 feet, and is 60 long
in the area ; fix magnificent Corinthian
pillars fupport it in front, and one at
each end: This portico is lightnefs itfelf;
the projection is bold, and when viewed
obliquely from one fide, admits the light
through the pillars at the ends, which has
a moft happy effect, and adds greatly
to the lightnefs of the edifice. The bafes
of the pillars reft on pedeftals, in a line
upon the nifties, which by fome critics
has been objected to, by afferting that the
R 3 pedeftal

[ *46 ]

pedeftal of a column ought to be fixed
on the ground alone ; but without enquir-
ing into the propriety of fuch ftriel rules,
let me remark that the effect of breaks
ing them, is to my eye a beauty ; for
as it is always neceffary to inclofe the area
of the portico with a balluitrade ; when
there are no pedeftals * the fhafts of the
pi Jars are cut by it, which hurts the beauty
of their proportion! and has in general a
bad effect : but in this portico, the balluf-
trade extending from pedeftal to pedeftal,
the fhafts are feen complete, and the unity
of the view not in the leaf! deftroyed. The
timpanum is excellently proportioned ; at
the points are three very light ftatucs ; the
cornice, the arms, and the capitals of the
pillars admirably executed. A balluftrade
crowns the reft of the front ; at each end a
ftatue, and between them vafes ; the whole
uniting to form a center at once pleafing
and magnificent; in which lightnefs vies
with grandeur, and fimplicity with ele-
gance.

The runic floor confifts of a very large
arcade, and two fuites of rooms. In the
arcade is a fine group in ftatuary, con-
taining three figures as large as lite, in
which one of gigantic ftature is getting the

* Perhaps, more properly fpeaking, it mould be
called the bafe, d)e and cornice.

better

[ 247 ]
better of two others ; the fcuiptor is Foggini ;
the upper parts of the two lower figures
are finely executed ; the turn of the backs,
and the expreffion of the countenances,
good ; the forced ftruggling attitude of the
hinder one very great, efpecially that of
pufhing his hand againft the body of his
antagonift. On the left of this arcade is
the common apartment ; firft, a fupping-
room, 30 by 22, and 14 high; a drawing
room, 33 by 25; anti-room to the dining-
room, and the dining-room, 36 by 25.
On the other fide, offices for the fteward,
butlers, &c. Upon this floor are a great
number of rooms of all forts ; and, among
others, many admirable good apartments,
of anti-room, drefling-room, bed-chamber;
furniflied with great elegance in velvets,
damafks, &c. &c. and gilt and carved
ornaments.

Upon the principal floor you enter firft
the grand hall, which is, beyond all com-
parifon, the fineft room in England ; the
juftnefs of the proportion is fuch, as muft
ftrike every eye with the moft agreeable
furprize on entering it : It is 60 feet
fquare, and 40 high ; a gallery 10 feet
wide is carried around the whole, which
leaves the area a cube of 40 feet ; this cir-
cumflance gives it a magnificence un-
R 4 matched

[ H$ ]

matched in any other hall. The gallery
is fupported by 18 very noble Ionic fluted
pillars, incrufted with a parte, reprefenting
in the moft natural manner feveral mar-
bles. The (hafts are of Sicna> and fo ad-
mirably imitated as not to be diftinguifhed
from reality by the moft experienced and
fcrutinizing eye ; the capitals of white
marble, and the fquare of the bafes of
verd antique. Nothing can have a more
beautiful effect than thefe pillars ; thofe
only on one fide of the room are yet
completed ; but the moft fkilful hands
from Tta'y are kept conftantly employed
in finiihmg this noble defign. Between
the pillars are eight niches in the wTall
for ftatues, which are ready to be placed
when the pillars, walls, &c. are fmiihed
for receiving them. Over them are very
elegant relievos in pannels, from the de-
ligns of Mr. Stewart. Above the gallery
are eighteen Corinthian pilafters, which are
alfo to be incrufted wTith the imitation of
marbles : Between the fhafts are pannels
ftruck in ftucco, and between the capitals
feftoons in the fame, in a ftile which cannot
fail of pleafing. The ceiling is of compart-
ments in ftucco, admirably executed. His
lordftiip defigns a floor in compartments
anfwerable to the ceiling, of the fame work-
man (hip

![ 249 ]

manihip as the columns. To the left of

this noble hall is a grand luite of apart-
ments; containing,

Firft, a iupping-room, 40 feet by 22.
The ceiling, compartments in ftucco ; the
center a plain large oblong; at each end, a
fquare, in which is a molt elegant relievo,
reprefenting two angels fupporting an urn-
ed cup of flowers refting on the head of
an eagle ; the di villous on each fide con-
taining fcrolls. The chimney-piece very
handfome ; the frieze containing the Rock-
ingham fupporters, with a plain fhield, in
white marble, finely polilhed; the columns
feftooned in the fame.

Second, a drawing-room, 35 by 23.
The ceiling coved in ftucco ; the center an
oval in an oblong, with medalions in the
corners of the fquare cut by the oval, in-
cloicd in wreaths of laurel furrounded by
fcrolls ; the cove rifing to it ftruck in fmall
octagon compartments, chequered by little
fquares, extremely elegant. The cornice,
frieze, and architrave of the wainfcot beau-
tifully carved ; nothing more elegant of
the kind than the fcroll of carving on the
frieze. The chimney-piece of white mar-
ble, polifhed ; the cornice fupported by
figures of captives in the fame ; on the
frieze, feftoons of fruit and flowers ; on
each fide a vafe, on which are four fmall

but

[ 25° 1
but elegant figures relievo, fomething in
the attitude of the hours in the Aurora of
Guido.

Third, a dining-room 40 feet fquare ;
the ceiling of fiucco ; in the center a large
o&agon ; around it eight divifions, within
four of which are relievos of boys fupport-
ing a fhield, inclofing a head in a blaze,
by a wreath of fruit ; over it a bafket of
flowers on a fhell inverted ; and under it
an eagle fpreading its wings. In the other
divifion are rays in circles of fret-work :
The dcfigti of the whole in a mofl juft
tafte. The chimney-piece large and hand-
fome, of white polimcd marble ; above
it architectural ornaments ; a cornice, &c,
fupported by Corinthian pillars ; the whole
finely carved, and furrounding a fpace
left for a pifture. In the walls of the
room are pannels in rtucco, of a bold and
fpirited deiign, and like the ceiling exceed-
ingly well executed. Over the doors are
fix hiftorical relievos ; in the center on each
fide a large frame work for a pi&ure, by
which are pannels, inclofing in wreaths
four mcdalions ;

Theocritus^ Heeler, Agamemnon-, Hya*
cinthus.

On one fide the chimney-piece, in the
fame (tile,

Hamilear \

t 251 ]

Hamilcar ;

And on other,
T roil us.

Returning to the grand hall, you enter
from the other fide another fuite.

Firft, an anti-room 30 by 20 ; the ceiling
finely finiihed in itucco.

Secondly, the grand drawing-room 36
fquare; ceiling the fame.

Third, a dreffing-room 30 by 25 ; the
ceiling coved in ftucco ; the center an oval
cut in a fquare, elegantly decorated ; the
cove riling to it mofaie'd in fmall fquares ;
defigned with great tafte.

Fourth, the ftate bed-chamber, 25
fquare.

Fifth, another dreffing-room, 16 fquare,
communicating with the palfage which
runs behind this fuite of apartments.

At the other end of the houfe behind
the great dining-room is the India apart-
ment, a bed-chamber 15 fquare, with a
dreffing-room the fame ; the chimney-
piece extremely handfome ; pillars of Siena
marble.

From the other corner of the hall on the
right-hand you enter by a large pafTage ;
the gallery, or common rendezvous room
130 feet by 18, hung with India paper ;
a moit ufeful and agreeable room. To the
right this opens into the new damafk

apart-

t 252 ]

apartment, confining of a bed-chamber
and two dreffing rooms, one of the latter
27 feet by 18. The chimney-piece fur-
prizingly elegant ; a border of Siena mar-
ble, furrounded by compartments of a
black marble ground, inlaid with flowers,
fruit, and birds of marble in their natural
colours; moft exquifitely finifhed. The bed-
chamber, 27 by 15, the other drefling-roorrt
(both open into the gallery) 28 by 18;
the chimney-piece pilafters of Siena, with
white polifhed capitals fupporting the
cornice of white and Siena marble ; the
whole very elegant : over it a copy, from
Vandyke, of Charles the Firft's Queen, by
Lady Fitzivi/liams, exceedingly well done ;

the face, hair, and drapery excellent. ■

Here is one of the mod curious cabinets in
England ; it is in architectural divifions of
a center and two wings, on a bafement
itory of drawers ; a cornice finely wrought
of ebony, the frieze of ivory, and the ar-
chitecture of tortoife-fhell, fupported by
Corinthian fluted pillars of tortoife-fhell
and ebony carved in reliefs, the capitals
and bafes gilt. The entrance of the
building ruilics in tortoife-fhell, the divi-
fions in ivory. By looking in the center
on either fide, is a deception of perfpeclive ;
the defign is very fine, and the work*
manfhip excellent.

S On

[ *53 ]

On the other fide of the gallery, you
open into a blue damafk dreffing-room,
25 by 24 ; here are two pictures by Mr.
Weft, which feem to be in his happieft
manner ; Diana and Endymion, and O,
and Iphigene. In the firlt, the moft ftriking
peculiarity is the light, all iffuing from the
crefcent of Diana; this is fomething of the
Concetto, but the execution is fine ; the dif-
fufion fpirited and natural. The turn of
her neck and naked arm is very beautiful ;
all the colours are fine and brilliant ; and
the general harmony very pleafing. In
the other piece, the naked bofom of Iphigene
is fine, and the turn of her head ini-
mitable. Cymo?iys figure is good, his attitude
eafy and natural ; the colours are glowing,
and confequently pleafing. Befides thefe
pieces, here is likewife a large portrait of
the late King on horfeback ; it is a good
one, the attitude natural. Likewife a
fmall relief in alabafter of a Cupid in a
car, drawn by panthers : his attitude very
pleafing. — Next is the chintz bed-chamber,
24 by 20.

After this comes the yellow damafk
apartment. The dreffing-room 18 fquare;
and the bed-chamber 25 by 18. Upon
a cabinet in this room is a fmall Ve-
nus in white marble ; fine, delicate, and

plea-

[ ^54 ]

pleafing ; the drapery under her bread
beautiful.

The red and white apartment, ig fquare;
and a drefling-room 20 by ig. Then into
the laft apartment on this fide, very hand-
fomely furnimed, 20 by 18, and 22 by 20.
The library 60 by 20, and nobly filled**
There aie here a vail number of books
of prints, architecture and medals ; of the

laft

* The great fcarcity of the Neapolitan collec-
tion -j- of antiquities found in Herculaneum, will
excufe a few remarks on fome of the molt
finking of the engravings, as fome may have
an opportunity of only a tranfient view ; in
which cafe I would recommend them to turn
particularly to the following pages of the
prints.

Vol. I. 43. Achilles, an exceeding fine and
perfect figure.
79. Drapery, very fine.
95. Surprizing drapery, the limbs

feen through it as if of gauze.
99. An halfnaked woman hanging in
the air-, theturn of the arms hold-
ing the drapery inimitably grace-
ful. The beauty of the face and
body exquifite ; the drapery ex-
ceeding fine, difplaying the form
of of the limbs through it in the

t Le Pitture Antiche D'Ercolnr.o E. Contcrni in-
cife con Qualche Spiegazione; Foli ?.

hap-

[ ^-55 J
laft his lordfhip has one of the greatefl
collections in Fngland.

From the library is a direct communi-
cation, on one fide with the preceding
rooms, and on the other with the crimibn
velvet apartment ; confirming of, firft, an
anti-room, painted in obfeura in blue, in
a very neat tafte, 2 3 feet fquare ; this opens
into the bed-chamber of the fame dimen-
fions, the ornaments of the bed, the glafs
frames, &c. &c. of guilt carving well exe-
cuted; then the dreffing-room 23 by 15.

The attic ftory confifts of complete fets
of apartments, of bed-chamber and dref-

fing-

happieft manner ; the whole range
of painting can exhibit nothing
fo aftonifhingly elegant as this
attitude.

103. The graceful turn of the right
arm inimitable j and the dra-
pery fine.

109. The animated fpirit of the atti-
tude, fpringing upwards, fur-
prizingly great : The drapery
pleafing.

1 19. The turn of the right arm ex-
tremely graceful ; and the dra-
pery fine.

123. The turn of the right arm very
elegant ; the upper part of the

dra-

[ »56 1

fing-room; including thofe of Lord and
Lady Rockingham, which are four drefling-
rooms and a bed-chamber : In his Lord-
fhip's anti-room hangs the famous picture
cf the Earl of Strafford, and his fecretary,
by Vandyke ; and incomparably fine it is.
Alio the portrait of an old fervant, by
Stubbs; which appears to be moft excel-
lently done : The ftrong expreffion of the
face is worthy the pencil of Rembrandt
himfelf. The rooms on this floor are all
fpacious, many of 36 by 30, 30 by 25,
&c. &c. in general well proportioned, and
the furniture rich and elegant. Upon the

whole

drapery graceful, and the difplay
of the body through all of it
noble •, but it bundles heavily at
bottom.
129. One of the fined attitudes in the
world i the profile, and grace of
the head charming. The dra-
pery inimitable.
253. Like fome others of the orna-
mental pieces, rather Chinefe
than antique, and the drollery
of the als and crocodile truly
modern.
Vol. II. 91. Correct, elegant and beautiful;
the attitude and drapery fine.
1 13. The attitudes and drapery pro-
diprioufly fine.

121, The

[ 257 ]
whole much fupcrior to the common ftile
of attic floors.

In refpect of convenience, the connec-
tion of the apartments throughout the
houfe is excellently contrived : For the
grand fuite of rooms on the left of the
hall has a roomy paiTage behind it, which
communicates with the offices by back flairs,
and with the library and apartments ad-
joining, by paflages. To the right of the
hall the fame convenience is found, for
one of its doors opens into the great flair-
cafe, landing-place and paiTage, which
runs behind the grand apartment and opens
into the fecond drefling room; fo that there

is

131. The attitudes and drapery and

variety in the figures, very

pleafing. The gardening, Chi-

nefe, and pretty.
267. The feftoon would do honour

the mod elegant invention in

modern tafte.
Vol. III. 61. A group full of eafe and nature

in the attitudes : The defigns

very fine.
87. A ipirited attitude.
97. Nothing can be finer than the

back parts; the face, and attitude

or the woman.
1 j. 7. The naked le^n through the
Vol. I. S dra-

[ *S* ]

is a double way through all this fuite, to
the ftate bed-chamber ; either through the
great rooms to the firft dreffing-room and
then into the bed-chamber : or on the other
fide through the fecond dreffing-room; and
an immediate communication between thefe
apartments and the ftaircafe, wrhich leads
down to the ruftic floor, and up to the
attic ftory. All thefe apartments are
nearly contiguous to each other, and yet
you may enter almoft any one of the rooms
without going through another. The dif-
pofition of the other apartments is not
inferior.

The paflage beforementioned, or rather
veftible, which connects the hall and the
apartments to the right of it, likewife
opens into the gallery, which as a rendez-
vous room is excellently fituated ; to the

drapery finely, and the attitude

fpirited.
151. Amazing drapery; the whole

form feen thro' it aftonifhingly.
155. The attitude fpirited, and the

drapery fine.
Vol. IV. 1 17. The figure of this woman is fur-

prizingly fine, her attitude eafy,

graceful and expreffive, and the

drapery excellent.
262. One would think this the deficrn

of a modern ceiling,

right

t 259 ]

right it opens into both the dreiTmg-rooms
of the blue damafk apartment; and on the
left through the green damafk dreffing-
room to the library and apartments ad-
joining, and by feveral large, handfome,
and well-lighted paiTages to other apart-
ments and itaircafes, which communicate
with the offices, fo that on every fide there
is a communication between all the apart-
ments, and yet without making one a paf-
fage-room to another ; which is excellently
contrived *.

But the park and environs of Wentivorth
houfe, are, if any thing, more noble than
the edifice itfelf ; for which way foever'you
approach, very magnificent woods, fpread-
ing waters, and elegant temples break up-
on the eye at every angle. But there is fo
great a variety in the points of view, that
it is impoffible to lead you a regular tour
of the whole without manifeft confufion;
I friall therefore take the parts diftinc~tlys
and fo pafs from one to the other.

Many of the objects are viewed to the
grcateft advantage by taking the principal

* His Lordfhip is building a moft magnificent pile
of ftabling; it is to form a large quadrangle inclofing
a fquare of 190 feet, with a very elegant front to the
park : There are to be 84 flails with numerous apart-
ments for the fervants attending; and fpacious rooms
for hay, corn, &c. &c. &c. difperfed in fuch a manner
as to render the whole perfectly convenient.

S 2 entrance

[ 260 ]

entrance from Rot her bam; this approach,
his Lordfhip is at preient laying out ; much
of the road, <£yc. is done, and when com-
pleted it will be a continued landfcape,
as beautiful as can be conceived. At the
very entrance of the park, the profpect is
delicious: In front you look full upon a
noble range of hills, dales, lakes and woods,
the houle magnificently fituated in the
center of the whole. The eye naturally
falls into the valley before you, through
which the water winds in a noble ftile :
On the opponte fide, is a vaft fweep of
rifing flopes, finely fcattered with trees,
up to the houfe, which is here feen dii-
tindtly, and ftands in the point of gran-
deur from whence it feems to command
all the furrounding country. The woods
it retching away above, below, and to the
right and left with inconceivable magni-
ficence; from the pyramid on one fide,
which rifes from the center of a great
wood, quite around to your left hand,
where they join one of above an hundred
acres hanging on the fide of a vaft hill,
and forming altogether an amphitheatri-
cal profpetl:, the beauties of which are
much eafier imagined than defcribed. In
one place the ruftic temple crowns the
point of a waving hill, and in another the
ionic one appears with a liglitncfs that de-
corates

[ tfl 1

corates the furrounding groves. The

fituation of the houfe is no where better
feen than from this point, for, in fome
places near, it appears to ftand too low ;
but the contrary is manifeft from hence,
for the front- i weep of country forms the
flope of a gradually rifing hill, in the
middle of which is the houfe; up to it is
a fine bold rife : If it was on the higheft
of the ground, all the magnificence of the
plantations which ftretch away beyond it,
would be loft, and thofe on each fide take
the appearance of right lines, ftiffly point-
ing to the edifice. But this remark is al-
moft general, for I fcarcely know a fituation,
in which the principal building mould be
on the higheft ground.

Defcending from hence to the wood be-
neath you, which hangs towards the val-
ley, and through which the road leads ; be-
fore you enter, another view breaks upon
the eye, which cannot but delight it. Firft,
the water winding through the valley in a
very beautiful manner; on the other fide
a fine flope rifing to the ruftic temple,
mod elegantly backed with a dark
fpreading wood. To the right a range of
plantations, covering a whole fweep of
hill, and near the fummit the pyramid
raifing its bold head from a dark bofom
of furrounding wood. The effect truly
S 3 great.

[ 262 ]

great. In the center of the view, in

a gradual opening among the hills, ap-
pears the houfe ; the fituation wonderfully
fine. Turning a little to the left, feveral
woods, which from other points are fcen
diftinc"^ here appear to join, and form a vaft
body of noble oaks, riling from the very
edge of the water to the fummit of the
hills, on the left of the houfe. The ionic
temple at the end moll: happily placed, in
a fpot from whence it throws an elegance
over the whole landfcape.

The road then entering, winds through
the wood before mentioned ; but here I
rnuft detain you a fhort time, for no grove
at Wentivorth is without its fcenes of plea-
fmg retirement. This wood is cut in-
to winding walks, of which there is a great
variety; in one part of it, on a fmall hill
of fhaven grafs, is a houfe for repafts in
hot weather. The dining-room is 32
feet by 16, very neatly fitted up, the chim-
ney-pieces of white marble of a judicious
fimplicity ; the bow-window remarkably
light and airy: Adjoining is a little draw-
ing-room hung with India paper, and a
large clofet with book-cafes; beneath are
a kitchen and other offices. From hence a
walk winds to the aviary, which is a light
Chinefe building of a very pleafing defigh ;
it is flocked with Canary and other for<

[ 263 ]

birds, which are kept alive in winter by
means of hot walls at the back of the
building; the front is open net-work in
compartments. In one part of the wood
is an octagon temple in a fmall lawn ;
And the walk winds in another place over
a bridge of rock-work, which is thrown
over a fmall water thickly furrounded with
trees.

Upon coming out of this wood the ob-
jects all receive a variation at once; the
plantations bear in different directions,
but continue their noble appearance; for
your eye rifes over a fine bank of wood
to the Ionic temple, which here feems
dropt by the hand of Grace in the very
fpot where Tafte herfelf would wifh it to
be (een.

The road from hence is to wind over the
hill, and take a flanting courfe down to-
wards the octagon temple; a very elegant
little building, fvveetly fituated in the val-
ley, commanding the bends of fhore among
the groves, and the hanging woods which
crown the furrounding hills. Not far
from this temple, a magnificent bridge is
to be thrown over the water, and the road
then to be traced through another wood,
which is full of a great number of the
rnoft venerable oaks in England; one of
which is 19 feet in circumference ; and a
S 4 great

[ =64 ]

great many of them near as large, with
noble {terns of a majeftic height. After
this it will gain an oblique view of the
grand front of the houfe, and wind up to it
in fuch a line, that the feet may never travel
in a direction that the eye has before com-
manded.

Another approach from which the park
is feen to great advantage, is the lower
entrance from Rotberham, where the
jiew porter's lodge is building. From
hence the pyramid is feen upon the right,
riling from a noble fweep of wood : In
front the ruftic temple juft fhews its head
above a fpreading plantation in a pictu-
refque manner. On the left, along the
valley, winds the lake in that waving
line, which art ufes to imitate the rmeft
touches of nature : It is broken by bold
projecting clumps of wood upon the
banks, through which the water is in ibme
places feen with much elegance. At a
fliitance upon the banks of the water,
which is upwards of 200 yards wide, is
feen the octagon temple, in a fituation
fixed with fuch tafte as to leave little for
the imagination to fupply. On the other
fide, you look upon a great extent of park,
fcattered with trees in the moil: beautiful
manner imaginable, crowned with two vaft
vyoods, which here appear as one; and qn

every

[ *65 ]

every fide fine profpe&s of cultivated hills

fpreading one beyond another. This

approach crofTes towards the lodge, where
is a fmall but very neat room of prints on
blue paper, and furnifhed with a harpfi-
chord, for varying the fcene of the molt
elegant of all amufements : The view
from the windows is full upon the water,
then the hills rifing boldly from the more,
and terminated with a magnificent range
of wood. The road winds from hence
around the hill on which the rurUc temple
ftands, and breaks at once upon the houfe,
in a manner not only ftrikingly judicious
in itfelf, but finely contrafied to the other
approaches from which it is gradually
feen. A part of this defign was the cut-
ting away a large part of that hill, which
projected too much before the front of
the houfe ; a vafl defign, but not yet
completed, although his lordfhip has
already moved from it upwards of one
hundred and forty thoufand fquare yards
of earth. An immenfe work, which re-
quired the fpirit of a Rockingham to un-
dertake.

Another point of view I would recom-
mend to your attention, if ever you fee this
truly magnificent place, is the fouthern
one at the top of the hill, from whence
you look down upon Rotherham^ and rJ 1

the

[ 266 ]•

the country around : From hence there
is a profpect of valleys all fcattered
with villages ; with cultivated hills arif-
ing on every fide to the clouds : The
houfe appears in the center of nine or
ten vaft hanging and other woods, which
have a genuine magnificence more noble
than can eafily be conceived. The pyra-
mid and temples are fcattered over the
fcene, and give it juft the air of liveli-
nefs which is confident with the grandeur
of the extent. This view is perhaps the
moft beautiful in Tcrk/Jjire ; for t.ie houfe,
•id woods form a circular connected
land 'ape, equally beautiful and grand,
while the furrounding country exhibits
Arcadian fcenes imiling with cultivation,
and endlefs in variety.

From this point, moving to the left, the
landscapes perpetually vary, each object
taking a new appearance, and every one
truly pleafing. Crofting a beautiful irrigu-
ous valley, you rife to the new plantation,
at the weft end of the park, from whence
a new ::c is beheld equal to any of the
reft. You look down over a fine flope en
the water, and catch it at feveral points
breaking upon the eye through the fcat-
tered trees ; the octagon temple appearing
on its bank, in a fituation extremely well
contraitcd to the elevated ones of the other
3 build-

t 267 ]

buildings. To the left, the woods rife in
a noble manner, and joining thole by the
houfe, have a very fine effect ; the Ionic
temple jufl lifting its dome above them in
an cxquilite tafte. In front, the ruftic tem-
ple is \ttn on the hill backed with wood in
the moft pleaiing ftile, and higher dill, the
pyramid rifing out of more lofty woods ;
the effect altogether glorious. To the right,
the eye is feafted with a beautiful variety
of cultivated hills.

Having often mentioned the pyramid,
it is requiiite to add, that it is a triangular
tower, about 2co feet high, which was
built on the fummit of a very fine hill, at
a diitance from the houfe. There is a
winding ftaircafe up it, and from the top
a moft aftonifhing profpect around the
whole country breaks at once upon the
fpeclator : The houfe, and all its furround-
ing hills, woods, waters, temples, <&c. are
viewed at one glance, and around them an
amazing tract of cultivated inclofures. A
view fcarcely to be exceeded. The follow-
ing infeription is engraven over the en-
trance.

" This pyramidal building was erected
by his Majesty's molt dutiful fubject,
Thomas Marquis of Rockingham, &c In
grateful refpect to the preferver of our re-

lgion,

[ 268 ]

ligion, laws, and liberties, King George
the Second, who, by the blefling of God,
having fubdued a moll unnatural rebellion
in Britain, anno \ 746, maintains the ba-
lance of power and fettles a juft and ho-
nourable peace in Europe."
1748.

Near it is a fmall but very neat room,
looking down upon a beautiful valley, and
over a fine and extenfive profpcct, where
Lady Rockingham fometimes drinks tea.

At no great diftance from the pyramid
is the arch, another building, which was
railed as an object to decorate the view
from the Ionic temple.

The mention of that elegant piece of
architecture reminds me of the exquifite
landfcapes {ccn from it ; an elevated fitua-
tion gives it the command of the valley
with the water in different places, and on
the other fide of it, you look upon feveral
of the woods before dcfcribed, rifing to that
noble one of an hundred acres, which
hangs towards you in the grandeft man-
ner. In this wood, his Lordfhip propofes
building an obelifk, which will have a
fine effect, when viewed from all the
oppofite hills. Juft by this temple is the
menagery in front of the green-houfe, con-
taining a prodigious number of foreign
birds, particularly gold and pencil phea-

fants,

[ *6g ]

fants, cockatoos, Mollacca doves, &C. &e.
The green-houfe is very fpacious, and
behind it a neat agreeable room for drink-
ing tea. Advancing from hence down

the terras, the eye is continually feafted
with an exceeding fine and various pro-
fpect of hills, dales, winding water, hang-
ing woods, temples, and noble fweeps of
park ; and at the end of it a moil: delicious
view, quite different from any feen elfe-
where ; for you look down immediately
upon a falling valley, beautifully inter-
fered with various fheets of water, fringed
with trees : Over this bird's-eye land-
fcape, on one fide, rifes a floping hill,
fcattered with fingle trees, and on the
other, a range of woods: under them in
the valley ftands the otlagon temple; to
the left the ruitic one upon the iummit of
an unplanted hill, admirably contrafted
to the others, which are either decorated
with clumps, or quite covered with fpread-
ing woods.

Upon the whole, Wentivorth is in every
refpect one of the fmeft places in the king-
dom: In fome, the houie is the object of
curiofity ; in others, a park is admired :
The ornamental buildings give a reputa-
tion to one, and a general beauty of pro-
fpect to another — but all are united here :
The hoyfe is one of the grander! in England^

and
8

[ 270 ]

and the largefl I have any where feen ; the
park is as noble a range of natural and arti-
ficial beauty as is any where to be beheld ;
the magnificence of the woods exceed all
dcfcription ; the temples, &c. are elegant
pieces of architecture, and fo admirably
iituated<as to throw an uncommon luftre
over every fpot ; and add to all this, the
beauty of the furrounding country, which
confiits chiefly of cultivated hills, cut
into inclofures, and well fcattered with
towns and villages, and you certainly will
allow, that mch circumftances cannot
unite without forming a place at once great
and beautiful.

To this flight account, I cannot but add
one remark, in praife of what I muft be
allowed to call true tafte : Nature has cer-
tainly done much at Wentnjuorth, but art
has heightened, decorated, and improved
all her touches ; in fuch attempts, no flight
genius is rcquifite : Valleys may be floated
with water, hills crowned with woods, and

temples appear in every fcene ; riches

will do all thefe ; the money of one man
may purchafe the tafte of another : But all
that Lord' Rockingham has yet done at
JVentvuorth, as well as the noble plans he
has fketched, and begun to execute, are
totally his own defigns: An inftance cer-
tainly

L 271 ]

tainly of his tafte, though not of his com-
pliance with fafhion *.

* * * * * #

Eut the hufbandry of the Marquis of
Rockingham is much more worthy of at-
tention than any palace ; the effects which
have and muft continue to refult from it
are of the nobleft and moft truly national
kind : A fhort fketch of his Lordfhip's
operations, will convince you how much
an ex ten five tract of country is obliged to
this patriotic nobleman for introducing a
cultivation unknown before.

Upon

* Certain criticks (who have objected to thefc
fheets on account of the Ji'ile being di (ordered and
diffufe, although I apologized for that circumltance in
the preface, and pleaded the unavoidable neceflity of
writing by fits and Harts at inns, farm-houfes, &c.)
have quoted a part of this defcription of Wentwarth%
and then afTert, " That it is vilely and abfurdly fituated
in a bleak, clayey country, with a hill before the
principal front, that cuts off every profpecV in reply
to this, I will venture to alien, That the country
is not clayey: It might as well be called a Aoney
country; — the foil in all that neighbourhood is va-
rious, from light gravels to rich loams ; but neither in
fiiffhefs, dirt, or any other circumftance, can it be cal-
led a clayey one. As to the bleaknefs of a fituation
where a hill cuts off every profpeft, I do not perfedly
underftand it. But the faff is, the whole country is
cut intofmail inclofures, the hedges are as full of trees
as other inclofed countries, the woods are numerous,
and throughout the environs of Ifentw:rtb full of gFeai

quantities

[ 272 ]

Upon turning his attention to agricul-
ture, his Lordfhip found the hufbandry of
the Weft, Riding of York/hire^ extremely de-
ficient in numerous particulars : It was
difguiling to him to view fo vaft a pro-
perty, cultivated in fo flovenly a manner ;
eager to fuhftitute better methods in the
room of fuch unpleafing as well as unpro-
fitable ones, he determined to exert himfelf
with foirit in the attempt ; and he execu-
ted the noble fcheme in a manner that does

honour to his penetration. A very few

particulars, among many of the common
practice, will fliew how much this country
wanted a Rockingham to animate its culti-
vation.

i. Large tracts of land, both grafs and
arable, yielded but a trifling profit, for

quantities of as fine timber as any in Britain. Let an/
one judge of the poffibility of fuch a fituation being
bleak: the face of the whole neighbourhood is that of
a thick woodland, rather than an open or a bleak

country. Further, a bill cuts off every proffc't :

they might have faid, did cut off a profpeit ; but at
prefent it is directly the reverie, for Lord Rockingham
(as I mentioned in the firft edition as well as the pre-
fent) has cut away that hill and let in the profpect,

which before was hidden. 1 fhould by no means

have bellowed this note in anfwer to criticifms on the
f tile and expreffion of a book of hufbandry; but
when the direct evidence of my fenfes is belied, I find
it difficult to refrain from this flight remark.

want

[ 273 ]
want of draining. In wet clays, the rufhes,
and other aquatic rubbifh, ufurped the place
of corn and grafs ; the feafons of tilling
were retarded, and even deitroyed ; and
thofe paftures which ought to have fed an
ox, fcarccly maintained a fheep.

2. The paftures and meadows of this
country were univerfally laid down in ridge
and furrow ; a practice highly dcitruclive
of profit, and deteftable to the eye ; and
the manner of laying down fuch lands, was
as miferable as their product denoted po-
verty ; for after many years ploughing, of
numerous crops but infufficient fallows,
when the foil was lb exhaufled as to difap-
point the expectation of corn, a parcel of
rubbifh called hay-feeds was fcattered over
the furface, and the field left to time for
improvement. A villanous cuflom, and
too much pra&ifed in all parts of the king-
dom.

3. The culture of turnips was become
common, but in fuch a method that their
introduction was undoubtedly a real mil-
chief ; viz. without hoeing, fo that the
year of fallow, in the general management,
was the moft capital one of flovenliiiefs and
bad hufbandry.

4. The implements ufed in agriculture
through this tract were infufficient for a

Vol. I. T vigor.

[ 274 ]

vigorous culture, and confequently the
hufbandman fuftained a conftant lofs.

5. The general knowledge of manures
was extremely imperfect, and the practice
void of fpirit.

Thefe circumftances, among others, fhew
how much the hufbandry of this country
wranted improvement. Let us, in the next
place, examine the means taken by his
Lordfhip to command that moft beneficial
purpofe. He conducted himfelf from the
beginning, upon the founder!: of all prin-
ciples, that of pratlifivg himfelf thofe me-
thods which re of on told him were the beft ;

— well convinced that argument and
perfuafion would have little effect on the
John Trott geniufes of farming, he deter-
mined to fet the example of good hufban-
dry, as the only probable means of being
fuccefsful.

In the purfuit of this end his conduct
was judicious and fpirited. He has up-
wards of 2oco acres of land in his hands;
and began their improvement with drain-
ing fuch as were wet, rightly confidering
this part of hufbandry as the fine qua von

of all others. His method was the

moft perfect that experience hns hither-
to brought to light ; that of cevcred
drains.

Tfepougl

[ 275 ]

Throughout this extenfive tra& of land,
I f. »und very deep fofTees cut, or old ditches
funk io deep as to give in every field the
command of a fufficient defcent. Thefe
are kept open. Into them run the covered
drains, which are cut in number propor-
tioned to the wetnefs of the land, but in
general at but a fmall diftance from each
other.

Of thefe there are three forts, the lead-
ing or main ones of two kinds, and the
branches or fecondary ones. The firft
fort of main drains are two feet wide at
top and bottom, and four or five feet deep,
walled on each fide and covered at top
with large broad ftones. Plate II. fig. 44
The expence 6d. a yard running meafure*

The fecond are a yard deep, two feet

wide at top, and 10 inches at bottom ; the
ftones ufed in filling them are oblong
fquares of 8, 9, or 10 inches length, the
edges of which are refted on the fides of
the bottom of the drains, and fall on each
other at their tops, in the manner repre-
fented, Plate II. fig. 5. a. a. a. a. the drain
h. the tops of the iiones joining ; then
they are filled up with bits of ftone, within
feven or eight inches of the top ; and,
laltly, the molds thrown over all.

The branches are three quarters of a

yard deep, 18 inches wide at top, and

T 3 nine

[ ?7* 1

nine at bottom ; they are then filled up
in the fame manner as the others. The
expence of the operation is as follows :

A cart load of nones of 40
bufhels will do 7 yards; the
getting thefe, beficles the lead-
ing, is

o

The leading,
Digging the drains,
Fixing in the fiones, and
filling up,

For 7 yards, it is

5

4'-

or juft 4 d. a yard.

The improvement by thefe drains (which
you will obferve lall for ever) is almoft
immediately manifefr.; the fummer fucceed-
ing the firft winter totally eradicates in
grafs lands all thofe weeds which proceed
from too much water, and leaves the fur-
face in the depth of winter perfectly dry
and found, infomuch that the fame land
which before poached with the weight of
a man, will now bear without damage the
tread of an ox. In arable lands, the effect
is equally ill iking, for the corn in winter
and fpring upon land that ufed to be ilowed
with rain, and quite poifoned by it, now
tly dry throughout the year, and
in the tillage of it, a prodigious benefit

rues

[ 277 J
accrues from this excellent practice, for
the drained fields are ready in the fpring
for the plough, before the others can be
touched ; it is well known how pernicious
it is to any land to plough or harrow it
while wet.

This excellent practice his Lordfliip ex-
perienced as he expected, fome years be-
fore his example was followed by any of
his tenants. But at laft the advantages
attending it opened their eyes, and fome
of the mod: unprejudiced executed in
their farms what they were convinced
fucceedcd fo greatly in their landlords;
and accordingly I viewed fome fields of the
tenants that were drained in this way, and
in a very effectual manner.

His Lordfhip's management in laying
down and keeping his grafs lands, is wor-
thy of univerfal imitation, as a fpirit of
culture has brought forth a fertility and
richnefs of pafture beyond any thing I re-
member to have feen. The method of lay-
ing down is this : Oats are fown (under
ieeded) upon land that has been exceedingly
well fallowed for a year and half, by many
ploughings, harrowings, £?c By which
operations the furface is laid moft com-
pletely level, Co that not the haft trace
of a furrow is to be diftinguifhed; with
the corn, 12 lb. of white Dutch clover, and
T 3 eight

[ 278 ]

eight bumels of finely drefTed hay -feeds are
{own. At harveft the oats are reaped, and
6 lb. more of clover-feed fown over the
flubblc, which is then mown, and raked
off, and confequently the feed pretty well
buried in the ground ; a very rich compoft
is immediately fpread on the field, and
well harrowed in, by which means the
feed is completely covered; in this manner
it is left the firft winter. The crop is next
year left until the feeds are ripe enough to
{hake in the mowing, and making, by
which means the land gains a frefh {prink-
ling, and the whole furface enfured a total
and thick covering.

The fuccels attending this method is fo
very great, that in feveral large fields I
viewed, the after-grafs was 8 and 9 inches
high, foon after clearing a crop of hay of
two tons per acre, and this the firft year of
the lay. No one would have known from
walking over the field that it was not of
fome vears growth, fo thick and matted
on the ground was the firft year's produce.
This grafs, in any part of the kingdom,
would have let for ^o s. an acre, and for
40 .f. in molt : -\n improvement you will
think of a noble kind, vxhen you are told
that the rents before this management wrere
no more than 8 and q s. and let at their
v ■; iuc\ Adjoining feveral of thefe new lays,

forne

[ 279 ]

fome of the old paitures are to be feen yet
in tenants hands; they are poifoned with
fuperfluous water, and overrun with every
fpecies of trumpery and weeds, the grafs of
a poor fort, and the quantity trifling. In
fome of his Lordfhip's lays of three or four
years old, theafter-grafs, had it been mown,
would have yielded at leaft two ton of hay
an acre.

It is obfervable upon this plan, that no
part of it is beyond the reach of a com-
mon farmer ; a principal view of Lord
Rockingha7?i in all his hufbandry. Here
are no two years fallow, nor any lofs by
laying without a crop of corn ; the feeds
indeed are in large quantities, and amount
in total price to near 50 s. an acre * ; but
then it is to be conlidered, that the thick-
nefs of fowing gives it a molt, excellent
crop the very firft year, which in the
common management is generally the very
contrary ; and it is inconteftible that his
Lordfhip's method pays its own expence
in the firft crop. Suppofe the farmer's
feeds coft him 20;. the excefs on the
fide of the better manner is then, we
will fay, 25 s. ; a fum in the value of hay

* 18 lb. Clover,

8 Buihels grafs, at 5 t.

T4

/.

s.

d.

0

9

0

2

0

0

1-2

9

0
that

[ 20*0 ]

that does amount to little more than a fifth
of the firft year's produce.

And to fhew how extremely profitable
it is to landlords to act in this fpirited
manner, let us calculate the improvement
of an acre of bad land converted in this
method into good.
Suppofe 40 yards of drain- /. s. d.

ing, in an acre, at 4 d. a yard, 613 4
50 at 6d. 150

Ploughing the old grafs up;

giving the land a fummer

fallow of fix earths, in all, at

5 s. the price of the country,
Seed earth for the oats,
3 buihels feed oats,
Sowing, -

Mowing and harvefting,
Grafs feeds, -
Five harrowings,
Sowing,

Mowing and raking the ftubble, o
Carting it off,
Manuring : fuppofe all expences

included,
Threfhing 8 quarters of oats,
Mowing and making, carting and

flacking the hay, 076

Harrowing the manure ; and

rolling twice, - - 010

Three years rent, at 8 j-. 6d. 1 ^ 6

I

10

0

0

5

0

0

6

0

0

0

3

0

6

0

2

10

0

O

0

6

O

1

0

O

0

0

O

1

0

s

0

0

0

8

0

Total expence, - 20 4 1

Pros

[ *8i J

Product.

By 8 quarters of oats at 14 s.
By one crop of hay, fuppofe only

3 o cwt. at 40 s. a ton,
By after pafture,

Expence,
Produce,

Remains,

Let at 30 s. an acre; the in-

creafe of rent is 21s. 6 d.

which at 3 5 years purchafe,

the rate of this country, is, 37 12 6

Deduct the above remainder, 11 2 1

Neat profit on the improve- •

ment, - - - 26 10 c

/.

s.

d.

5

12

0

O

0

0

O

10

0

9

2

0

20

4

1

9

0

0

1 1

0

1

Which fum, on the expenditure of 20 /. is
above 125/. per cent. On the improve-
ment of 100 acres is 2600/. And this
plain calculation, I think, fhews with how
jull an idea his Lordfhip undertook to im-
prove his grafs lands.

But Lord Rockingham in fcarce any thing
has acted with greater fpirit, than the im-
provement of the turnip culture by hoeing;
for the difguft he felt at feeing the com-
mon

[ 282 ]

mon flovenly management of the farmers,
in refpect to this crop, made him determine
to introduce the excellent practice of hoeing,
common in many of the fouthern parts
of the kingdom. With this view he at-
tempted to perfuade his tenants to come
into the method, defcribed to them the
operation, pointed out its advantages ;
clearly explained to them the great con-
fequence of increafmg the fize of the roots
in the luxuriance of their growth, and the
equality of the crops ; reminded them of
the poor crops of fpring corn gained after
turnips, for want of a better culture; from
the difference of following a crop of weeds,
which will not feed cattle, and confequcntly
not improve the land ; and fucceeding a
large produce of valuable roots, which by
their thick made, and the quantity of cattle
they maintain, enrich the land at the fame
time that all weeds are deftroyed by the
hoeing.

Uncontrovertible as this reafoning, fo
clearly founded on fads, mult appear to
the unprejudiced, yet with a fet of men of
contracted ideas, ufed to a ftated road, with
deviations neither to the right nor left, it
had very little effect : Turnips continued
to be fown, but were never hoed. His
Lordmip then finding that difcourfe and
reafoning could not prevail over the obfti-

nacy

3

[ 283 ]

nacy of their underftandings. determined to
convince their eyes. He lent into fieri**
fordjlnve for a hufb^ndman uifed to hoe-
ing turnips, and gave direct inns for his
management of a large crop : This he con-
tinued feveral years ; and by this means,
by degrees, he introduced the practice,
which is now (though not imive-falj the
common practice of all the good common
farmers. Much does this neighbourhood
owe to fo patriotic a defign, which was
truly planned with judgment, and executed
with ipirit. Much more genuine fame
ought to attend fuch an action, than the
gaining a fcore of battles : The fenfelefs
rabble may praife the military hero ; it be-
longs to the few to venerate the fpirited
cultivator.

In the introduction of new implements,
and the improvement of old ones, his
Lordihip was equally attentive: This will
appear clearly enough from the following
implements, which are fuch as his Lord-
ihip has, at different times, either had con^-
flructed bv his own directions, or ordered
upon the model of other counties : None
of them are common in York/hire; you
will eaiily perceive how much they merit
attention. 1 he {ketches, Plate V. Fig. i,
of a drill plougn are not fuch as I wifh
them; but an ingenious workman may, by

Weans,

[ 2§4 ]

means of the meafures, conftru£t them with
tolerable accuracy, I. i. The handles.

2. The hopper, 9 inches broad, 10
deep, 3 wide at bottom, with a hole
at the bottom, 2~ inches diameter,
for the feed to fall through into the
cavities of the roller (16), and thrown
by that through a hollow in the tail
of the plough ( 1).

3. A wheel 2 feet diameter, with an iron
rim faftened to the plough by a
moveable iron (5), and to the han-
dles by a chain (4). It turns the
roller (16) within the plough, by an
iron (20) jointed in the middle,
which goes through the hollow of
it (17), and keeps the wheel a foot
from the plough. By means of the
chain (4), the ploughman lifts up
the wheel, and flops the feed from
fhedding at the headlands.

6. An iron fcrew two feet long, which
turns againft the fpring (19), let into
the plough againft the cavities (18)
of the roller (16), bv means of which
the aperture for the feed to be thrown
through is larger or fmaller according
to its kind or quantity.

7. The fhare.

8. The beam 7 feet 8 inches long, 5
inches fquare, one third of the length
from the handles, and then 3.

9. A

[ ^5 ]
g. A chain fattened to the beam by a
moving hook (22), and to theaxletree
(11), to keep the plough lteady.
10. 10. The carriage wheels 3 feet diameter.

11. The axletree 2 feet from wheel to
wheel.

12. The fhaft to fix the whippletrees on
for the horfes to draw by.

13. A chain from the hook (22) to the
top of the ftandards (15).

1 4. A ditto from the beam to the chain

15. The ftandards of carriage 20 inches
high, and 15 broad.

1 6. The iron roller before-mentioned 4
inches long, and 2 diameter, contains
8 cavities, iA inch long, and i. broad,
for beans and peafe, and 1 o for wheat,
This is drawn on a larger fcale for
greater accuracy.

19. The fpring 4 inches and half long,

and one and half broad.

The coll: complete, 3 /. 3 s.

This plough is an excellent one, for its

fimplicity and ftrength are fuch that it is

never out of order ; will bear the rough

ufage of country hands, and perform its

work even in the ftrongeft of foils : Many

have been invented with more powers, but

then the complex mechaniim is luch as

renders them little better than gimcrack^.

It

[ 236 ]

It is excellent for wheat, or any larger"
grain, and never grinds the corn. Plate
V. fig. 2. A turnwrift plough.
j. The beam 9 feet long.

2. The handles, 4 feet.

3. The fhare, 18 inches long, and 5
broad.

4. The coulter, 3 feet long.

5. A long circular iron which is fattened
to the beam at the joint 9, and to
the carriage by the chain 8, to keep
the plough fteady.

6. A moveable ftick to faften the coulter
either to the right or left.

7. 7. Two holes in which the irons (io<
10.) of the mould board, fig. are
ftuck, to faften it on.

The carriage is the fame as the drill-
plough, only the axletree fhorter, like a
common wheel plough. The price com-
plete is three guineas.

I remarked this plough in its work, and
it performed with four horfes excellently,
cut ten inches deep, the furrow level and
true; the mould- board is fhifted from the
one fide to the other in an inftant, only
running the iron points into the holes, and
giving it a knock with the moveable
ftaff (6) This invention is of great ufe, for
when the mould-board is fixed, the land

mtoft

r 287 ]

mufl be ploughed different way*; to the
right and to the left, with a furrow left in
the middle of the ground at fmifhing ; or
elie the ploughman mull: begin in the middle
and arch up ; whereas the fliifting-board
enables him to throw his land all one way,
at the fame time that it has all the powers
of the fixed one.

His Lordfhip ordered it to be worked
before me, and it is very obfervable that
the plough would cut its furrow at the
ufual depth and with great truth for feveral
perch, without holding: the ftrongeft proof
in the world of a good initrument.

Plate V. Fig. 3. A horfe-hoe.

1. The beam 5 feet 8 inches long, 4 in
breadth by 3-i thick.

2. The handles iS inches to the join-
ing ; from thence 2 feet 2 inches to
the beam.

3. A wooden coulter, 2 feet 5 inches
long, on a wheel.

4. The front mare all of iron, which
works before the middle of the other
two, 19 inches long.

5. The double (hare.

6. The chain of the whippletree (7.)
8. The double {hare, a front view.

From

[ 288 ]

From a to b. 8 inches
c to d. 8 *

d to e. o ..'

f 4. 1 1 r ditto,

f to g. 6i. f

g to h. 4 J

The iron frame 2 inches broad, and .J. of

an inch thick.

9. Another double fhare to ufe in the

fame beam, for different diftanced rows.

From a to b. 8i inches

c to d. 14 "j

c to e. 10 J ,.

r ) ditto.

e to f. 7

e or f to g. 7 J

The price complete, 1 /. 7 x.

This is an excellent horfe-hoe, cuts the

ground with great truth of what depth is

chofen, and well calculated for eradicating

the weeds; by means of changing the

fhares, which is done in a minute, it fuits

different {paces.

Plate V. Fig. 4. Another horfe-hoe.

a. The beam,' 5 feet 6 inches long, and
3' by 3 fquare.

b. The handles, 3 feet 8 inches long.

c. The fhares.

d. The center and wheel, 2 feet long;
the wheel 9 inches diameter.

e. The fhare in large.

From 1 to a. 17 inches.

2 t0 3- 4?dittD.

3 to 4. 1 1 J

The iron ftandard 2 ' broad.

7 f. The

roi.r.i'/..,.

r.'i./r, ' ,, /:,.!, ?88

[ 289 ]

f. The fame mare, with the addition oi
a curved plate, tor a mould-board.
From i to 2. 8 inches.
2 to 3. 7 ditto.

It fixes on by putting the ftandard
through a hole in it, and the little wings g.
keep it fteady on the fides.

The price complete, 1 2 s.

This machine is well calculated for nar-
row rows ; does its work with great exacl-
riefs ; nothing can be more ufeful for horfe-
hocing rows of lucerne, burnet, potatoes,
&c. and the contrivance of the moveable
mould iron for earthing up the rows, faves
the expence of a complete implement for
that purpofe.

Plate VI. Fig. 1. A fpiky roller.

1. The roller 5 feet 10 inches long, and
13 inches diameter; the fpikes 3-i
inches long, and i~ or 3 from fpike
to fpike.

2. The fhafts, 1 1 feet long.

In the article of manuring alfo, this ex-
cellent cultivator gave the utmoft attention
to remedy the errors of the country ; and
to fet an example of good hufbandry to all
the farmers around. The management of
the comports at JVcntivort/j, and the expe-
riments Lord Rockingham has made on
manures, are curious.

Vol.!. U The

L 29° 1

The comports are formed of all Torts of
manures, particularly farm-yard dung, and
manures purchafed at the neighbouring
towns ; fuch as foap-boilers allies, coal
allies, horn {havings, curriers fhavings, &c.
&c. &c. And fometimes mole-hills, turf,
and lime are added, layers of thefe are
formed one on another, and after remaining
a few months are turned over ; then the
heap remains fome time longer, after which
it is mixed again, and fo repeated until the
mbftances are thoroughly rotted; which
with fome takes no trifling time and pains,
particularly horn fhavings; one compoft
of which manure mixed with dung, I
obferved, was in fo complete a ftate of
corruption, that it cut like butter, and
mult undoubtedly be the richeft manure in
the world ; it had been turned over many
times, that it might all be equally rotten.
Many of thefe comports, I remarked in
different fields, of various ages, fucceflively
preparing for the land, and that every acre
might receive its fhare, and all be manured
in three or four years. A management,
than which nothing can be more com-
plete.

Many other manures have been tried by

his Lordfhip in the experimental ftile. Clay

he burnt, in hopes of gaining rich afhes,

7 but

f 291 1

but it was reduced only to large hard pieces,
and to glafs.

It was a common notion, that rabbit-
dung was of no benefit to the land, and
the opinion of a neighbouring warrener,
upon which his Lordihip agreed with him
for fweeping his warren every year. By
this means he got a large quantity, which
coft him no more than 4 s. 6 d. a load :
He tried it with pigeons dung ; in a very
fair comparifon : On a grafs field he laid
ftripes of each, firft an acre covered with
rabbits dung two loads, then an acre with
the fame quantity of pigeons dung at a
guinea a load; then rabbits, and next pi-
geons again, and fo through the field,
which was a very fair trial. The rabbits
dung turned out much the beft, and laded
the longeft.

Thirty years ago, a fquare piece of grafs
at Wentvuorth) almoft furrounded by other
paflure, was manured very well with fait ;
Lord Rockingham has remarked, that the
part manured has flourifhed much better
than the other to this day, no manure has
been fince laid on either piece.

But this fpirited execution of a regular
plan is by no means the only inftance to be
produced of this Nobleman's attention to
the improvement of hufbandry : as a proof
of this, I fliall next mention to you a new

U 2 and

L 29a ]

and moft judicious thought which is exe-
cuted with uncommon fpirit. This is the
eitablifhment of two farms, managed, one in
the Kcnt'ifo, and the other in the Hertford-
jhlrc method. Thofe counties have the
reputation of a very accurate cultivation ;
his Lordihip therefore determined to fix a
farmer from each on a diftinct farm, to ma-
nage it in the beft manner they had been
ufed to; a moft excellent plan, as it gave
rife to a beneficial emulation, which could
not fail of being productive of the beft
confequences. Both are fenfible and under-
Handing men. I viewed their lands with
attention, and found their hufbandry to be
as follows :

. The foil of the Kentiflj farm is in general
a rich deep black loam ; in fome fields
light and excellent for turnips, and in
others heavy, being nearly allied to clay.
The grand principle upon which it is cul-
tivated, is never to fallow the land ; but, by
means of turnips and drilled beans and
peafe, to keep it perf icily clean from weeds,
and in good heart for crops of corn. For
this purpofe, the fields are thrown into the
following excellent courie :

I.

Beans

5-

Turnips or cabbages

■■'■

Wheat

6.

Barley

3-

Peafe

7-

C Hover

4;

Wheat

8.

Wheat

An

[ 293 1

An ameliorating fallow crop here inter-
venes between every two of corn, or the
exhaufting ones ; and when fuch a courfe
is conducted with fpirit, moft certainly none
can exceed it.

For beans he ploughs twice, fows them
in equally diftant drills, 20 inches afunder,
with a plough marked Plate V. Fig. 1.
among the preceding infiruments ; 3 bufhels
of feed per acre: He horfe-hoes them with a
machine, Plate V. Fig. 4. which anfwers
extremely well in loofening the foil and
cutting the weeds. This operation he re-
peats from three to {even times, according
to the quantity of weeds, but always fo as
to keep the ground perfectly free from
them ; befules this, he hand-hoes the rows
once with a fmall hoe, which clears away all
the weeds that grow there. By means of
this treatment, the land is in excellent or-
der for wheat, after the crop of beans is
off, which is very feldom lefs than 5 quar-
ters per acre.

Peafe he manages in the fame manner,
drills 3 bufhels and an half, but they only
require the horfe-hoeing ; the crop upon
an average is 4 quarters per acre.

The tillage for the wheat is varied ac-
cording to the cleanneis of the land ; if
frequent fhowers have brought up many
weeds after the laft lu^rie-hoeing, it is
U 3 ploughed

[ 294 J

ploughed three times ; if it is quite clean*
only one ploughing and an half fuffice.
The wheat is fown broad- caft, 10 pecks
to the acre, and the medium crop four
quarters. For turnips he ploughs four or
five times, and hand-hoes them carefully
twice, by which management he raifes in-
finitely finer crops than any common ones
in York/hire. After thefe roots the land is
ploughed but once for barley ; four bufhels
per acre fown, and five quarters gained at
a medium in return. When oats are
thrown in, they receive three ploughings ;
four bufhels fown per acre, and four quar-
ters reaped. Clover he fows with both
wheat and barley; if the latter, in the
common way, but when with wheat, his
management is excellent. Jf the weather
is dry enough, he fows 16 lb. per acre in
the middle of March, and then harrows
the wheat thoroughly, and rolls it ; and fo
far is it from being of any damage to the
wheat, that it evidently forwards its
growth.

Cabbages, his Lordmip ordered him to
cultivate according to the beft principles
of his method of hufbandry, and accord-
ingly he has planted feveral acres. He
fows the feed the latter end of February,
and if they run too faft, pricks them out
once before the tranfplantation, which is

about

[ 29* ]

about the middle of June, in rows three feet
afunder, and three feet from plant to plant
in the rows. If dry weather comes, they
require watering. In three weeks after
planting he horie-hoes them with Plate V.
Fig. 3. after which he hand-hoes around the
plants ; and thefe operations he repeats ac-
cording to the weeds that rife ; generally
from three to five horfe-hoeings. The
value he reckons at 4- d. each to feed any
fort of cattle with; ufes them chiefly for
the fatting of oxen, for which purpofe they
anfwer exceedingly well ; but I mould ap-
prehend them of a greater value than that,
efpecially as his foil is rich and deep.
Either beans or barley come after them,
according to the time they are off the
land.

Of potatoes he raifes large crops ; his
method is to plant them in the beginning
of March, in rows two feet afunder, and
nine inches in the rows ; he dices them,
which is not generally done in Torkjlo'ire,
The land for them is dunged with long
yard dung, 32 loads per acre, and then
ploughed in pretty deep, and the fetts
dibbled in by a line : the rows he hand-
hoes, and horfe-hoes the intervals accord-
ing to the rifing of the weeds. I remarked
that his crop was very free from them, and
of a vigorous growth.

U 4 Befidcs

[ 296 ]

Bcfides thefe numerous arricles, his
Lordfhip has dire&ed him to undertake
the culture of hops according to the prac-
tice of Kent, and in his farm a field is
planted with them. They are fet in hil-
locks fix feet fix inches fquare; planted
the latter end of January : there was a
crop of cabbages among them ; he fays
it is a common practice in Kent to have
rows of cabbages or beans, or to fow tur-
nips among them the firft year, but the
method muft be prejudicial to the hops;
for the nourimment which ought to be
praferved for them, is carried off the land,
and a probability of flocking it with cater-
pillars, grubs and other vermin, which
may damage the young hops. He poles
and gathers the fecond year, and as he
ha£ great hope from the goodnefs of his
foil, he expects eight or nine hundred
weigh! of hops per acre per annum.

His management of his manure is much
better than is common in Yorkjloire ; he
carries it out of the farm -yard, lays it
under the hedges, and then digs up all the
hillocks and riling irregular banks of earth,
and mixes them well with the dung. This
practice, which is common in Effex^ is un-
known among the common farmers in
York/hire ; of this compofl he lays 50 loads
( 1 8 bum els) per acre. His method of ufing

lime

[ ^97 ]
Hme is to mix it in the fame manner with
earth, one chaldron of lime to thirty loads
of earth.

His way of feeding his horfes is alio
uncommon among the Torkjljire farmers ;
it is to keep them all the fummer in the
ftables, and feed them with clover frefh
mown every day. He begins it the latter
end of May j and continues it till the middle
of September ; during which time 24- acres
of good clover wTill maintain fix horfes, but
they have fome chaff and hay with it. This
is an excellent cuftom ; makes a plenty of
manure; the clover goes infinitely further
than if fed in the field, and the horfes arc
kept in better heart (regularly worked)
than in the common way ; his team of fix
were fat and in good order. His allowT-
ance in winter is a buihel of oats and a
peck of beans per horfe per week. He ufes
three or four in a plough with a driver,
and does an acre a day.

The plough he ufes in common is the Ken-
iijh turn wrrift one, Plate V. Fig. 2. of an
excellent conftru&ion, cuts very deep, and
goes extremely fteady. He has 60 acres
of arable land to fix horfes. Having thus
gone through the ceconomy of the KentiJJ?
farm, I fhall next give you an accpurvt of
the Hertford/lure one.

The

[ *98 ]

The foil is different ; in fome fields a
ftrong clay, and in others a good hazel
loam, that is excellent for turnips and bar-
ley. His courfes of crops are,

i. Turnips 4. Wheat

2. Barley 5. Oats

3. Clover

This laft crop of oats ought never to be
fufFered.

1. Fallow 2. Wheat

2. Wheat 3. Beans

3. Oats 4. Wheat
And 1. Fallow

The beans in the laft courfe ought either
to be thoroughly horfe and hand-hoed,
or not fucceeded by wheat; for no land
can throw out three good crops upon the
credit of one fallow, unlefs fome of them
are fallow crops.

He ploughs three or four times for
wheat, fows 10 pecks, and reaps at a me-
dium 18 bufhels. For barley, after tur-
nips, he gives but one earth, but if on a
fallow, three or four ; fows four bufhels,
and gains at an average four quarters.
For oats he ftirs but once, fows five
bufhels, and reckons five quarters his mean
produce. The tillage he gives his beans
confifts only in one earth, which, confi-
dering them as a preparation for wheat, is
by no means good hufbandry. He fows

four

[ 299 ]

four bufhels broad-caff, does not hoe
them, and reapr at a medium about J-
quarters per acre. Sometimes he drills th.m
by hand after the plough in rows 10 inc -s
afunder, in which method two bufhels au I
a half of feed he finds fufficient ; y-epera^y
hand-hoes them but once, ibmetiines tw^c,
and earths them up with the hoe wku a
foot high ; in this manner he gets four
quarters per acre. Peafe he manages the
fame as beans ; in the broad-caff way he
fows four bufhels, and reaps two quarters
and an half; in the drilling method lows 3-i
bufhels; the crop the fame. For turnips
he ploughs three times, hoes thtm twice,
and reckons the value at an average about
36 s. per acre. Sometimes he ieeds them,
off the land with fheep, but when it is in-
clinable to wetnefs he draws them for hearts,
fcattering them over a grafs ciofe. Clover
he cultivates in the fame manner as the
Kentijlo farmer ; mows it twice for hay, of
which he gets at a medium three tons per
acre, and values it at 1 /. a ton. Cab-
bages he likewife cultivates, fows the feed
the end of February or the beginning of
March ; pricks them out once before they
are planted in the field, which is about
Midjummer : He makes the rows 3 feet
afunder, and lets the plants 3 feet from
each other. In three weeks after planting

he

[ S00 1
he hand-hoes them, and once more when
the weeds rife : His crop this year is a very-
fine one. The fort ufed both by him and
the Kentijh farmer, is the large Scotch cab-
bage.

His yard dung he fometimes mixes with
hedge earth, but oftenerlaysit on without;
he never fows turnips without dunging,
and of the vaft confequence of manure for
that root, he this year has a ftriking proof;
for not having a fufficiency to cover the
whole field, about a rood was left unma-
nured ; the ploughings over the whole
were the fame, and fown at the fame time ;
the field in general is a very fine crop ; but
juft that rood is fcarcely worth leaving on
the ground : A pregnant inftance of the
confequence of manuring.

His tillage he performs with horfes, four
to 80 acres of arable land, ufes two or
three in a plough, according to the foil,
and ftirs an acre a day. He fometimes in
his drilling practice has opened the fur-
rows with the inflrument, Plate VI. Fig. 2.
which is a good contrivance enough, and
would do very well in fome of the opera-
tions of horfe-hoeing.

1 . The beam five feet long, and three
inches fquare.

2. The handles, four feet fix inches

lons-

<j. The

[ 3°* ]

3. The fhare which lets into a groove
cut in the bottom of the beam, and is faf-
tened by the iron (4).

5. The mare at large.

from a to b 16 inches,
c to d
c to e
b to f

One point of management of grafs,
tried here with great accuracy, is the feed-
ing off the eddifh clean. It has been af-
ferted by many, that it is moft advanta-
geous to leave much of it on the ground
to keep the young moots warm in the
fpring, and to rot as a manure ; this his
Lordfhip has tried on one field, and in
adjoining ones has fed it off quite bare with
Scotch beafts; the fucceeding year the crop
has regularly been the better after the parts
fed. Which refult has iince induced him
always to buy in a large drove of cattle to
feed through the winter, well convinced,
that one great benefit of improving lands
is the keeping a proportional ftock of
cattle ; which increafes with increafing im-
provement ; and moft certainly, the more
cattle the land maintains, the better they
will make it : A much clearer pofition than
.the idea of letting its product rot for ma-
nure.

An

[ 302 ]

An experiment alfo made on clover
dtien-es great attention : It has been often
aiTeriLd, that the heft time of the year for
fowing this as well as other grafs feeds is in
a nmn, without corn ; his lordihip tried
it i .ee times, and once failing, he con-
tinued the fame field fallow another year
for it, fo that it was a fecond time fown
on a fallow of two years ; but, notwith-
standing fo great an advantage, the crop
w?s in no degree equal to others, with
corn on one year's fallow, a difference
immen.e, and fufficient rationally to pre-
vent any farmer from altering his prefent
profitable cuitom, for one fo evidently un-
favourable.

The following account of the ftate of
agriculture in 'he country for feveral miles
around TV entiLorth-Houfe, I owe to the
very a\ I !;ing attention of the Marquis of
Rocking. . himfelf. The moft valuable of
thefe pai i rs came from his Lordfhip,
and thole o ^.ich he was doubtful were
fupplied b-v fev al of his tenants, who were
fent for on p u ofe : A ftriking proof not
only of his Lore h'^'s knowledge, but like-
wife of his love of agriculture, and great
readinefs to forward ;my attempts which
have the lead appearance of being fervice-
able to the public.

The

[ 3°3 J

The two general divifions of the foil,
fmall tracts excepted, are into clay and
loam ; the former is ftrong and rich, but
wet ; the latter light enough for turnips,
and rich enough for wheat, which I have
often remarked, is the criterion of excellent
land ; the general average rent is about 8 s.
an asre. The farms are all fmall, rifing

in general from 20 /. to 60 /. a year.

The courfes of crops are chiefly thefe. On
the light loams,

1. Turnips 4. Wheat

2. Barley 5. Barley

3. Clover one year

On the clays,

1. Fallow 3. Beans

2. Wheat 4. Wheat

And,

1. Fallow 3. Clover

2. Barley 4. Wheat

For wTheat on a fallow, they plough four
or five times, fow nine pecks and an half,
and reap, at an average, three quarters on
clay land, and three quarters fix bufhels
on their loams.

But one earth for wheat, on clover land.

A fallow for barley confifts of four ftir-
rings on clay ; but on turnip land they
plough and fow. Three bufhels of feed

ufed;

[ 3°4 ]
ufed ; and the average crop on all land
about five quarters. For oats they plough
but once, fow four bufhels, and gain at a
medium, in return, about four quarters
and an half : but on frefh land, fix or feven
quarters. They give but one ftirring frjfc
beans, fow four bufhels and an half broad-
caft, never hoe them ; the crop about 18
bufhels. But Mr. Payne of Warth, in this
neighbourhood, cultivates them in a much
completer manner. He gives three plough-
ings for them befides harrowings and rol-
lings, until it is made perfectly line: He
then in the beginning of March drills in
the beans with his Lordfhip's drill-plough,
defcribed above, in rows 14 or 15 inches
afunder. He horfe-hoes them four times,
befides hand-hoeings, and hand-weedings
of the rows, and from ip pecks of feed
generally reaps 30 bufhels. This is an
imitation of the Kentiflj hufbandry, intro-
duced by his Lordfhip.

Peafe are not a common crop, but when
fown they plough for them but once ; fow
three bufhels and an half, ufe the common
rouncival, and get 24 bufhels an acre, at
an average. For rye, they plough four
or five times, fow nine pecks, and gain in
return 24 bufhels. Their culture of tur-
nips is from four to fix earths ; hoeing,
through the attention and example of the
6 Marquis

[ 305 ]
Marquis of Rockingham* is coming into
practice, infomuch that many farmers now
hoe their crops, who formerly had fcarce
any notion of it. Perhaps a quarter or a
third of the crops are now hoed : They
reckoned the medium value of crops not
hoed at 20 s. an acre, and of thofe that are
hoed, at 40 s. a moff. ftriking proof of the
excellency of the practice : They ufe them
both for fheep and beafts, generally draw
them and rfeed on paftures ; fometimcs in
fheds, and reckon that a middling acre of
hoed turnips will fat two beafts of fifty
ftone each ; that is finiih their fatting, if
half fat by grafs. They give both hay and
ftraw with them. Of rape the fow very
little; generally on frefh land, air' ^d it
off with fheep, fowing wheat 1 ter it.

Clover they fow with barley, chiefly for
mnwing ; they cut it twice, and get three
tons of hay at the two mowings: They
find no crop whatever to anfwer better,
but fome land begins to grow tired of it,
the culture having been common thefe 40
years. The wheat they find better after
that which is mown, than that which is
fed.

The management of their manure chiefly
confifts in the foddering their farm-yards
with the ftraw of the crop ; the excellent
cuftom of cutting ftubble for that purpoie

Vol. I. X is

[ 3°6 )

is almoft unknown among them : In the
fpring they lead the dung on to a hill, fome
few, in imitation of his Lordfhip, turn it
over, but it is not common ; they lay it
upon turnip land, and wheat fallow.
Lime is much ufed on turnips and wheat
fallows. They lay a chaldron an acre, which
cofts them 7 s. befides the leading, all to-
gether 1 2 s. by the time it is on the land :
To carry a chaldron 1 2 miles they reckon
worth 20 s.

Pigeon dung they lay on all forts of
land, a chaldron per acre, which they value
at 30 s. In the neighbourhood of Sheffield,
bones are a very common manure; they
lay a chaldron per acre on grafs, and find
them excellent.

Some malt-duft is ufed, of which they
lay a chaldron per acre.

Soap afhes are a favourite manure for
grafs lands, and fome are laid on a fallow
for turnips, three chaldrons per acre at 8 s.
per chaldron ; they are reckoned to laft
three or four years.

Coal-afhes they likewife lay on their
grafs lands, five or fix chaldron per acre ;
colt 1 s. 6 d. per chaldron.

Rape-duft they generally life with lime,
but not mixed ; five quarters of lime and 15
bulhels of rape-duft to an acre. It is an
excellent manure, but declining in ufe, on

account

[ 307 ]
account of the high price, being got up to
1 3 s. a quarter. Soot they get for 4 d. a
bufhel, lay it on grafs and barley, a chal-
dron to the acre ; it lafts one or two
crops.

The grafs lands in this neighbourhood
are applied rather more to the breeding of
ftock than either to dairying or fatting :
They have fcarce any notion of a good
dairy for the profit of butter and cheefe.
Indeed, as the prices of lean ftock have been
of late, indifferent grafs, like theirs, unim-
proved, may probably pay beft in rearing
young cattle. They allot two acres to the
fatting of a beaft of 50 ftone, or to the
keeping a cow : A good one give6, in the
height of the feafon, three gallons of milk
per day, and yields product by the year
about 4/. The profit of keeping a beaft of
50 ftone a year, and fatting him does not
exceed 4 /. They keep very few hogs in
proportion to their cows ; a dairy of fix
cows does not maintain above three or four
pigs. The winter food of their cows when
milked confifts of nothing but hay. In the
rearing their calves, they let them fuck
only two or three days, after which they
give them new, and then fkim milk : But
for the butchers, they let them fuck four
or five weeks. In the wintering a cow,
they reckon fhe eats, between Martinmaj
X 2 and

L 3°8 ]

and May-day i two tons and an half of hay.
The price of joifting a cow in winter at
ftraw is 6 d. or 8 d. a week, and to keep
them from May -day to Michaelmas 30 s. for
the keeping a fatting beaft 5 s. lefs than
for a cow.

As to fheep, the whole country has no-
thing that deferves the name of a flock ;
the number kept by the farmers rifing only
from ten to thirty, and yet the profit they
make on them is by no means trifling ;
they reckon 8 /. or 9 /. a fcore, their gain
by keeping them a year. The joifting price
is 3 d. a week in winter ; but any farmer
would readily give 6 d. a week through the
month of Aptil\ five fheep give about a
flone of wool.

Rcfpecling the tillage of this neighbour-
hood ; they rekon fix horfes neceflary for
the culture of 60 acres of arable land ; in
ploughing, at ftrong work, they ufe four
at length, but afterwards only two a-breaft;
and do three rood or an acre a day. Their
allowance of corn eonfifts only of half a
peck of oats each horfe per day in feed-
time : The of joifting from May-day
to Michaelmas is 35 s. and they reckon
their teams to colt them yearly, upon the
whole, (fhocing included) 7 /. 10 /. a horfc.
'Fheir o:;en th #inier in common upon

ftraw,

[ 3°9 1
ftraw, but, . when they work, upon hay •
Horfcs for tillage, they reckon heft.

The price per acre for ploughing is 5 s.

They reckon 150 /. abiblutely neceffary
for a farmer who hires 40 acres at 20 /.
a year, about half arable and half grafs ;
but if it is well flocked, 170/. will be
requifite : Which fum they divide as
follows,

1.

S. (I.

Three horfes, -

30

0 0

Two cows,

18

0 0

A fow,

0

0 0

Harnefs,

3

0 0

A cart,

8

0 0

A plough,

1

10 0

A pair of harrows,

1

10 0

Sundry fmall arti-~

1

cles, fpades, fhovels,

1 10

0 0

fcreen, ropes, &c. ,

1

Dairy uteniils,

1

IO O

Furniture,

20

0 0

Seed,

7

10 0

Rent,

20

0 0

Tythe and rates,

7

0 0

Houfe keeping, &c.

40

0 0

- 25 IO o

94 10 o
£. 17° o o
X 3 Land

[ 3io 'J

Land fells in general from 30 to 40
years purchafe. The employment of the
poor women dnd children is chiefly among
the farmers, but many fpin worried : All
drink tea.

The general oeconomy of the farms will
be feen from the following fketches.

180 Acres in all 6 Cows

60 Ditto arable 2 Beads

1 20 Grafs 6 Young cattle

£. 80 Rent 2 Servants

7 Horfes 1 Labourer.

Of another,

145 Acres in all 8 Cows
70 Arable 4 Beafts

75 Grafs 6 Young cattle

£.60 Rent 18 Sheep
7 Horfes 3 Servants

2 Oxen 1 Labourer

Another,

80 Acres in all 3 Cows

40 Arable 4 Young cattle

40 Grafs jo Sheep

£. 2>S Rent 2 Servants
6 Horfes 1 Labourer

Another,

60 Acres in all 30 Arable

30 Grafs £'3° Rent

5 Horfes

[ 3» 1

5 Horfes 60 Sheep (a right

4 Cows of commonage)

4 Young cattle 2 Servants

Another,

100 Acres in all 8 Cows

50 Arable 6 Young cattle

50 Grafs 10 Sheep

£.40 Rent 2 Servants

10 Horfes 1 Labourer

Another,

70 Acres in all 6 Horfes

40 Arable 4 Cows

30 Grafs 14 Sheep

£. 25 Rent 2 Servants

Another,

50 Acres in all 5 Horfes

35 Arable 2 Cows

15 Grafs 1 Servant

£. 22 Rent 1 Labourer.

LABOUR.

In harveft and hay-time, u. a day, vic-
tuals and drink.
In winter, 1 s.

Reaping, per acre, 5 s. 6 d. or 6 s.
Mowing corn, 2 s.

grafs, 1 s. 6 d.

X 4. Hoeing

[ 312 ]

Hoeing turnips, 4 s. an acre the firfl: time,

and 2 s. the fecond.
Ditching, the reparation 2 s, and 2 s. 6 d.

the acre, of 28 yards.
Threfliing wheat, 8 d. a load of 3 bufhels,

barley, is. od. a quarter.

1 oats, 8 d. ditto.

Wages of the headman, 9/. to 10/.

. ploughman, 7 /. to 8 /.

boy of 1 o or 12 years, 4 /.

maid fervants, 2 /. to 4/.

Women a day in harveft, %d. and \od,

with ale twice, fmall beer, and a dinner.

. in hay-time, 6 d. and beer.

ill winter, 5 <i.

IMPLEMENTS.

A waggon, 14/. A fpade, 3-r. gd.

A cart, 9/. Laying a fhare and

A plough, 1 /. 10 J". a coulter, n.

A harrow, 1 /. ioj. Shoeing a horfe, is,

A ftone roller, 1/ ioj-. 2 d,
A fey the, 3"/. yd.

BUILDING.

Bricks per 1000, g s. or 10 s.

Oak-timber, is. to 2s. 6d.

Afh, ix. 2d.

Carpenter, per day, is. 4-d. and 1 s. 6 d.

Mafon, ditto, 1 s. 4 d. and is. 6d.

Stonewalling, 3.C 6d. and 4 j. a rod.

PRO-

[ 313 ]
PROVISIONS, &c.

Bread, id. per lb. Veal, 2!- d.

Cheefe, 3 1 Milk, o£ a pint.

Butter, 7 1 8 oz. Potatoes, 4 a peck.

Beef, 3 ! Candles, 67

Mutton, 34 Soap, 6

Labourer's houfc rent, 25^.

i => tools, 4 j-.

filing, ISM*.

6

Upon this fyftem of hufbandry, it is in
general to be remarked, firft, That the
rent, 8 j-. per acre, muft certainly be a
rent of favour, not of value, fince the
difproportion between that and the pro-
ducts is obvious. The courfes 1. tur-
nips, 2. barley, 3. clover, 4. wheat; and
I. fallow, 2. barley, 3. clover, 4. wheat,
cannot be too much commended. But
1. fallow, 2. wheat, 3. beans, 4. wheat,
is very bad ; and execrably fo, where the
beans are not hoed : Eighteen bufhels
per acre of that pulfe from fuch good
land fpeaks fumciently the evil of the
conduct. Mr. Payne's imitation difplays
much better hufbandry ; this wretched
culture of beans, when tlefigned as a pre-
paration for wheat, was one caufe of Lord
Rockingham's being anxious to fet an ex-
ample of the Kentifh hufbandry ; fo much

fupcrior

[ 3*4 3

fupenor to the common method of York-
JJnre : Farmers are flow at imitating
new practices, but the continued fuc-
cefs which will undoubtedly attend his
Lordfhip's improvements, cannot fail of
effecting a reformation in time ; the con-
fequences of it give one peculiar pleafure
to contemplate : For Wentivorth is in the
center of an immenfe tract of many coun-
ties that never hoed a bean : fo that if the
improvement fpreads, here is field enough.
Greater crops of beans will be produced,
and the benefit to thofe of wheat will be
immenfe.

The introduction of turnip hoeing (ow-
ing alfo to the fame noble cultivator) is at
prefent more generally apparent in its uti-
lity, than from the number of common
farmers who have followed the method : It
mull undoubtedly become general, for the
value of hoed turnips to fell, being double
that of the unhoed ones, is a circumftance
that muft operate, and powerfully.

There is fomething both to commend
and difapprove in the management of
manures ; but their beginning to follow
the Marquis's example, in turning over
their dunghills, predicts a more perfect
conduct.

Their grafs lands they manage in a
very defective hufbandry ', the mere riding

through

[ 3*5 1
through the country, is iufficient to fee
this : Their manure is laid on grafs very
fparingly ; they take fcarce any care in
cleaning them from trumpery and rubbifh;
fuch as bufhes, briars, molehills, and even
thirties and docks : they have as little no-
tion of keeping old paftures level by
fmoothing all inequalities of the iurface ;
and as to the laying arable land down to
grafs, they do it in che ridge and furrow-
way, fow a very fcanty meafure of feeds,
and attend very little to the foil then being
in good heart.

And here I cannot but remark, the fin-
gular judgment with which Lord Rocking-
ham has practifed agriculture. He firft
firft took a general and comprehenfive
view of the common hufbandry of his
neighbourhood, and then applied his at-
tention peculiarly to thofe points in which
that common hufbandry was moft de-
fective.

I cannot take my leave of thefe purfuits,
fo truly worth of a Brit'iJJj nobleman
of a philofopher and of a man, with-
out remarking how greatly the example
calls for imitation. Thofe who have de-
clined the employments and amufements
of agriculture under the falfe idea of
their being mean and unworthy of great

riches

•*Lt

[ Si6 ]

riches and high rank, fhould, if reflec-
tion is infufficient to undeceive them,
confider the example I have in thefe
pages endeavoured to {ketch ; will they
rind the character of a ftatefman and a
patriot, fullied by the addition of that of
a farmer ?

LET-

[ 3!7 ]

LETTER VI.

f^ROM Wentivorth-Houfe, we took the
road to Kniveton^ the feat of his Grace
the Duke of Leeds. From Rotherham to
Kn'weton the land is of various forts ; near
that town, as I remarked in another place,
the rents are exceedingly high ; but to-
wards AJloton% the foil grows but indiffe-
rent, the fandy parts let from 2 s. 6 d. to
5 s. an acre ; and good inclofures at 1 2 s.
About Kni'veton, rents vary from 1 s. to 20/.
an acre, but run at an average about 8 s.
or 9 s. fome few farms of 200 /. a year
and upwards, but in general from 20 /. to
60 /. throughout this road. Paring and
burning is a common practice ; they cut
the turf with a paring plough, which ap-
pears a very good invention. Fig. 3.
Plate VI. gives an idea of its conftruc-
tion.

1. The beam, fix feet long.

2. The handles, live feet fix inches
long.

3. The fhare, one foot broad, and nine
inches long.

4. The

[ S'8 ]

4. The coulter and wheel, ten Inches
diameter.

5. The coulter frame work, which fhifts
it by means of Aiding the frame.

6. The ear.

7. Ditto in large, 10 inches from a. to b.
and 1 2 from b. to c.

8. The coulter frame in large, thirteen
inches from a. to b. and twenty-two from
b. to c. *

From

* At Kniveton, you firft enter the hall, 50 feet
by 30, painted by Sir James Hhomhill. Around
it it are feveral antique flatties, fome of which
are very finely executed.
Cupid.
Lucretia •, the drapery admirably light and fine;

and the air of the head beautiful.
Hercules.
Venus.
Paris.

Diana. Her drapery good, but the folds ra-
ther too fmall.

In the anti-room, among other pictures,
are,
Holbein. Portrait of the Earl of Worcejler.

Lord Cecil. The hands and face very fine.
Vandyke. M arquis of Montrofe, inimitably fine ;

the features and countenance noble, and the

attitude eafy and elegant.
King and Queen of Bohemia. Good.

Drawing-

t 319 ]

From Kniveton to Work/op and JVelbecky
the foil is chiefly fand ; lets at a low rent,
of from 4 s. to 8 s. an acre ; the latter
place, the feat of his Grace the Duke of
Portland, is very well deferving the atten-
tion of the curious traveller ; in the* park
are feveral noble woods of very antient and

venerable

Drawing-room, 24 fquare.

Bed-chamber.

Clofet. A mufic-piece by Titian. The dra-
pery pretty.

Dining-room, 36 by 25.

Rubens. The four parts of the world. The
figures are thofe of Rubens, a pure flelhy fe-
male, but the beafts furprizingly line; the
panther equal to any thing ever painted, and
the crocodile admirably done. The groupe
vile.

Titian. The four Evangelijls ; heavy and inex-
preflive, but the diftulion of light good, the
air of the heads is fine, and the hands appear
to me very well executed.

Paul Veronefe. Marriage of Cana. A ftrange
groupe •, the drapery very bad •, nor is there
any propriety of action : The expreilion is
however ftrong.

Solomon receiving his wifdom. The figure of So-
lomon is that of a fleeping clown. 7'he atti-
tude of the Deity in the air, and the expref-
fion of his countenance are fine : The colours
bad.

8 David

[ 32° ]
venerable oaks, of an extraordinary fize ;
the remains of one are to be feen, yet liv-
ing, with a paflage cut through it large
enough for a coach to drive through ;
and another with feven vafl branches
growing from one body : Thefe are both

real

David and Nathan, by the fame matter, but

unknown. The colours and manner the

fame.
Reynolds. The late Duchefs of Leeds ; a moft

fweet attitude and the eyes exquiiitely done.
Drawing-room, 25 fquare.
Vandyke. Earl of Stafford ; fine.
Rubens. Sea goddeffes •, the figures, attitudes

and colours are not pleafing.
Ditto. Venus and Cupid. By no means agree-
able.
Schalken. Old woman ivith a candle. The ex-

preflion of the light ftrong and fine.
Baffan. The creation.

The land/capes : Fine.

Adoration of the jhepherds \ ditto.

Lucretia and Tarquin ; the picture of an old
hag, pulling a letcher by the nofe.
Carlo Marrat. Virgin and child.
Wife men's offerings. Figure of the Virgin,

good.
Holbein. Erafmus and Sir Thomas More -, very

line.
Oft end. A man reeding a paper. The minute

expreffion ftrong.

Vandyke

r 321 ]

real curiofities ; though by no means equa
in beauty to many of the other oaks, that
are not in decay.

/i fine winding valley leading from the
houfe through the woods, whofe bottom
was of a boggy nature, his Grace has dug

out

Vandyke. Earl of Derby ; fine.

On the right of the hall is the flair- cafe,

painted by he Guere, 32 fquare by 60 high.
The falcon 54 by 34 ; here are the following

antiques.

Nero. The head and attitude very fine.

Venus and Cupid. The head and turn of
neck ezquifite j and the attitude elegant.

Cleopatra Nothing can be finer than this dra-
pery-, the turn of the head is good, but the
attitude wants expreffion.

The pictures are,

Guido. Death of St. Sel fine. The co-

lours, naked, and lights

Titian. Ditto tying 1 , Hue col :

no expreffion.

The veftibule, 23 fquare.

Canalletti. Six views of Venice \ of a fine :
blooming brilliancy.

Poujfin. Landfcape; fine. The figures excellent,
the hills and trees noble, but the 1
to be of too deep a blue.

Vol. I. Y

1 32^ J

otit to a proper depth, and floated with
water ; by wrhich means he has gained
a moO: noble lake, of a great length and
breadth, which winds in an eafy, but bold
courfe, at the foot of fevcral very fine
woods ; through which, from many points
of view, the water is {een in a pictu-

refque

Ancona. Two views of Rome ; the architecture

fine.
Drefiing-room, 25 by 21.
Titian. ' bil/p the fecond of Spain : Exceeding

fine •, the fame as at Devon/hire Houfe.
Bed-chamber, 23 by 21,
Vandyke. King Charles on horfeback. The horfe

by V/ooton -, fine.
Drefiing-room, 25 by 24.
Bed-chamber, 25 by 22.
Clofet. A nun, the drapery excellent.
A landscape \ a waterfall ; good.
Bed-chamber, 34. by 24.
Portrait of the Duke of Florence and Machiavel j

excellent.
Drawing-room, ^2 by 31.
Bartolomeo. Armida and Rinaldo.
Danae and the Golden Shower ', the colours arc

pretty good, but the drawing appears t© be

bad.
Other pictures not hung in order, are,
Holbein. Alderman Hewet ; very fine.

mdyke. Earl of Strafford, and bis Secretary.

E^rl

L S23 1

refque manner. At a diltance from the
houfc, but in fight of it, was buHt not long
fince a very elegant, as well as magnificent
bridge, of three arches ; the center 90
feet fpan, and the fide ones each 75; but

cruel to think of! no fooner fmfhed

than undone ! the center arch dr.'] ped

in, having juil exhibited the beauty of the
defign, to add to the mortification of the

lofs. Mr. Mylnc the architect *.

The

Vandyke. Earl of ArundeL

David with GoliaFs head.

'Titian. 'f at mtific* The colour?, dra-

pery and attitude good, but the diffufion of
light quite unnatural.

Titian. Let and lis daughters ; vile.

Portrait of the L ; very fine.

* The collection of paintings in zlie houfe
contains feveral caprtal piec^ orth

attention. The hall or" 36 teet by 30, is hung
round with : lily portraits by the belt

mailers, among which thofe of Horace, Lord
Vcre, and Sir s Vere\ appear to be p<

cularly

The library 30 by 20.
Old : pieces of res j

e colours extremely bril-
liant, and the finifhing exccikr.t.

Y 2 . larze

[ 3H ]
The great ftable at Welbeck is one of the
fineft in England-, it was built for a riding-
houfe by the Duke of Neivcafile. It is
1 30 feet long by 40 broad, and contains
40 flails.

Relative to hufbandry, his Grace was fo
obliging as to give me fome information,
which merits great attention.

The foil of the park and the fields his
Grace keeps in his own hands, confifis of
clay and fand. The latter I examined with
fome attention, and found it of a deep
ftaple ; and from the fpontaneous growth
of grafs, &c. I apprehend it not to be defi-
cient

A large land/cape with architecture ; very fine,
but the colours appear rather faded.

Rubens. Venus and Cupid.

'King Charles the Firfi on horfeback, the fame as
that at Kniveton, where the horfe is faid to be
by Wooton.

Drawing-room, 27 by 22. In this room and
the adjoining clofet are ieveral very fine
bronzes. On the other fide of the common
hall is the Gothic hall, 44 by 30. The doors,
door-cafes, window-frames, chimney-piece,
iSc. isc. are all Cotbic, and in a very light
tafte.
The dining-room, 6y by 25: Among other
portraits, here are

William

[ 325 ]

cient in richnefs. Carrots, I am confident,
would thrive admirably in it. and turn out
to immcnfe profit. One very remarkable
circumftance relative to it is, its being par-
ticularly fubject to the attack of the coc :'-
chaffer grub, which in this country is fome-
times an abfolute plague, from their im-
mcnfe numbers: Thcie vermin breed in
the fandy lands, and eat away all the roots
of the grafs, corn, <&c. &c. They come
in their infect ftate in fuch fwarms as to
darken the fun, and when they light on
trees, eat off the leaves to perfect naked-

nefs

William Cavendijb, firft Duke of Newcaftle \ ad-
mirable.

Holies, firft Earl of Clare; very fine.

Thomas Wentworth^ firft Earl of Strafford, inimi-
table ; the face and hands furprizingly
painted.

Blue drawing-room, 34 by 19.

Guido. A Magdalen, exceeding fine.

Rubens. Ahead-, admirable.

Vandyke. Sir Kenelm Digly ; fine.

Rubens. Mufic piece, ditto.

Salvator Rofa. Alandfcape; a water- fail ; beau-
tiful.

Holbein. Sir Thomas More, exquifite.

Carracbe. Venus rifen from the Bath.

p. Laura. Four fm all pieces, companions, very

fine, The fubjecte, which are chiefly rural

Y 3 bufmefs,

I 326 I

nefs. When the Duke dug away the
moory bottom of the valley, in order to
form the lake, fome of the loofe boggy
earth was fprcad on this fandy foil, by
way of an experiment to try its nature ;
the erfe£t was very remarkable; for the
land fo manured has been ever fmce per-
fectly free from thefe vermin, although the
adjoining pars, not manured, were attacks

ed in the ufual manner. The farms

around are all ffnall, from 20 /. to

70 /. a year, and land lets from 4 s. to 8 s.
an acre. Improvement is greatly wanting

in

bu re treated in a manner not ufual

xvith this painter; the defigns are elegant,

and the colouring good.
Allo.no. Chrijl and the Woman of Samaria.

Blue bed-chamber, 39 by 18, and two dref-

fing rooms adjoining.

Indie attic ftory are feyeral pieces, which
fhould by no means be overlooked.

In tiie crirhfon bed chamber, the laadfcape
over the chimney, though in a peculiar ftile,
has merit.

Two {fruit and flowers •, fine.

In tl r-room to the crimlbn damafk

mber, are ;
le. A battle ; fine.
Guido. St. Michael Archangel.

Ak:i\: ... U\ very exprefl".

[ r-7 ]

in this country, for the v/orft of the fancls
I viewed would, in many pans of trie king-
dom, let at 10 s. or 12 s. and if judicioufly
cultivated, would be well worth 15 s. to
any induftrious man ; nor will good hus-
bandry ever be found in them till the rents
are greatly raifed ; till four or live farms
arc laid together throughout the country,
and fome tenants brought from other parts

Several on glafs, very fine •, particularly a

Diana, inimitably done.

In the Gothic cloiet, which is very prettily
fitted up in that tafte, are,
The Defcent from the Crofs, admirable. Its com-
panion, very fine.
A [mall Venus on apedeftal; moft fweetly delicate.
A fin all clump of trees -, excellent; but the ground

is of amber.
An eld iceman's head ; furprizingly expreiiivc,
Borgognone. Twt es\ fine.

Three pieces of flowers^ ■. exceedingly well done.
Several of figures ; in the ftile of j
Cattle and two figures , P:
Chrifil and the Woman of Samaria ; admirable.
An old woman with a candle, dn» .

well done ; the light in the ilile of S
In the chintz bed-chamber.

• Rofdmorid, very fine and delicate, but no

tempting piece.

In Lady Oxford's bed-chamber is a very I
net, made out of the great oak in the
the veins are very beauti

Y 4 of

[ 3=8 ]

of the kingdom where fuch foils are mar
naged as they or<ght to be.

His Grace was fo obliging as to write to
the Duke of Norfolk, that I might not
meet with any difficulty in feeing V/orkfop,
as I had been informed it was not fbewn ;
this procured me a certain admiffion to
view that edifice, celebrated not only for
Its beauty, but the furprifng expedition
ufed in raifmg it. If finished upon as
large a fade as begun, it would be, I ap-
prehend, the largefthoufciri England*, for
the part already done is only a fifth of the
deli en .

In

* The front that is rimmed, is 318 feet long,

and very light and beautiful ; the center of it is

a portico, which makes a fmall projection •, fix

% very handiome Corinthian pillars, refting on the

ruftics, fupport the tyiBpanypa ; the whole ex-

: 't. Upon the points of the

tri-;'- are three figures, and a ba'luftrade

crc - from the tympanum to the

proje&ing part a; ihe ends* which mirk the

terminations in the llile of wings : Upon thefe

are vafes which are in a proper tafte, but the

double ones at the corncr> have the appearance

g crouded. This front, upon the whole,

ry beautiful ; there is a noble

in it which muft pleafe every eye,

in raifing any idea of want of ornament.

The

[ =59 ]
The farm-yard at U will bejuftly

thought very well worth viewing. It is
a quadrangular range of buildings, fur-

rounding a fquare of 6c See plate

VI. fig. 4-

a. Hie houfe, in the hack part of which
her Grace has a room fitted up in the

Gothic tafte for drinking tea in ; it
opens into the park.
h. b. Two barns.

c. An open fhade for the cattle to
under in bad weather.

d. d. d. Stables, hog-fdes, poultry apart-
ments, &c. &c.

e. A

The entrance is into a veliible, in front of
which is the flair-cafe; the grand-apartment to
the left and the following rooms to the right :
Firft, an anti-room 25 feet fquare-, the chim-
ney-piece of white marble, and handfome -,
over it a painting in frefco, an imitation of a
balib-reliev 0 s, by Bruin, a Flemijh artift,

at prefent en fkdb) ■ - Grace to execute
ral works m the fame manner ; they are
incomparably well done, and the deception
complete.

Bed-chamber, 5 fqtfare.; Vulcan boys by
the fame hand ; etfcelleiltly done.

Drefling-room, 22 by 25; the chimney-
piece, eagles in the white marble taking a
twirled fnake; handfome.

Chintz

\

[ 330 ]

c. A drain for carrying off the water.

f. A pump and ciftern.

g. g. g. g. The furrounding wall, againft
which the above-mentioned offices
(except the barns and houfe) are built
in the form of iheds.

4. The entrance.

The whole coft 7000/. But as others
may be induced, and at a confiderable ex-
pence, to fimilar undertakings, I fhall
venture a few obfervations upon this,
which may in fuch cafes have their ufe.
The barns (which are not large ones) are
out of all proportion to the fize of the

yard ;

Chintz bedchamber, 25 fquare ; chimney-
piece of black and white marble, very elegant ;
a fruit-piece, fine.

grand apartment confifts of, firft, a
drawing-room, 56 by 30, very elegantly fur-
niih< fon damafk, and magnificent

fiabs of Siena marble. Secondly, the grand
drawing-room, 53 by 30, hung with molt beau-
tiful tapeftry of the Gobelines manufactory,
for colours, and an exquiiite imitation of
■'• il of the animals, is beyond all
fe -, the colours arcamazingly brilliant, and
painting in fome parts moll hap-
pily imitated. The chimney-piece of Siena and
white marble polifhed, the pier and chimney-
giafift . - and magnificent. Third, the din-

r

r,-i.r.p/.,-/:u.-j.

r\

[ S3-1 ]
yard ; they ought, for foddering with
ftraw the number of cattle proper for fuch
a yard, to be fix tun. 3 as large, and cer-
tainly mould be four in number, one on
each fide, for the convenience of diftribut-
ing the ftraw as the corn is threlhed.

The fink for carrying off the water ex-
haufts the manure of its greateft riches,
for all the urine runs off with it. Inftead
of this, the furrounding buildings ought to
be raifed fo high, as to admit a layer of
marie, chalk, or clay, two feet deep, over
the whole area, then the foddering ; by

which

ing-room, 42 by 28; here are two large laiid-
es, brilliant and pleafin

'; dark, but expreffiye.
Dido mid .

The area of the flair-cafe is 37 by 25 ; it is
painted in prir.nels of frefco. tation of

lievos, by the above mentioned Fkmi
moil excellently done-, :■ ; lights ar ! Qiades
are fo happily tempered, ;is to giv<_j the rotun-
dity of nature to the t . :e them
al moil in full relief : Many oft e gns have
merit, the altitudes and expi ;ood. — Over
the chimney in the 1 e of
St. Rocque, which appears to be hne; ti'e dog
admirable, but the lights unnaturally diffui .

// dead thrift ; very fine.

Nop

[ 35* ]
which means the urine would be retained,
and the mixing the whole together in May,
would make an admirable comport ready
for the land. If it does run off, it mould
be into a well, for pumping up.

A pump is a very insufficient method of
fupplying a large (or indeed any) farm-
yard with water : All points of bufinefs,
and efpecially the care of cattle, that de-
pend abfolutely upon the memory of fer-
vants, will undoubtedly be, at times, in
jeopardy ; for which reafon, conveniencies
mould be io contrived, as to render me-
mory unneceffary. In this cafe, the mouth
of a pond, or a dream flowing into a

very

Not far from the houfe is a pleafure-ground,
laid out and decorated with great tafte : An
artificial lake and river are made, in which nature
is very happily imitated, and the ground fur-
rounding laid out in a very agreeable manner.
Near the entrance is a Gothic bench, in a Ihady
icquefter'd fpot, looking immediately on a creek
of the water, over-hung with wood ; the more
broken and rocky : At a little diftance the
banks fpread themfelves, and open a fine bend
of the water, furrounded with trees ; and at a
diftance, in the very bofom of a dark wood,
the water winds through the arches of a moil
bridge ; the effect as happy as can be
. - ; for the fun gaining upon the

bridge.

J&LZJV.7.JH&

L 333 ]
very long cifrern. fhould always be taken
Into -vard. I would give treble the

price t J )iit my cows in a yard wherein
the v • ran, than in one where it was
pumped.

While I was viewing this yard, a wag-
gon came in loaded with malt grains for
the hogs ; they were thrown down in the
cleaned places for the fwine to feed on
them. This {hews the great want of fuf-
ficient conveniencies for the hogs, viz. fpa-
cious citterns to hold fuch food, that when
plenty, it may be kept againft times of
fcarcity; pipes fhould be laid into fuch

ciiterns

bridge, gives it a brilliance which contrails ad-
mirably with the brownneis of the furrounding
groves. Plate VII. will give ibme idea of this
little enchanting fcene.

From this view, a walk winds to the left
through the wood, to a lawn, at the bot-
tom of which to the right, flows the water,
which is ieen as you move along very beauti-
fully •, on the left, at the upper part or the
opening, is a Tufcan temple, properly fituated
for viewing a part of the lake. Other ferpen-
tine-walks lead from hence to different parts of
the ground; one to the new menagerie, and
another down to the bridge, which is in itfelf
very light and pretty, but the termination of
the water being leen at no greater diftance ihzn

four

t 334 1
Citterns from the dairy and the fcullery
fink, and around them fpouts into troughs
communicating with all the hogs' apart-
ments, for the conveniency of feeding
them with little trouble, and without
wafte : with diftinct ones for thofe that are
fatting, that they may always be able to
help themfelves, and without wafte.

A yard upon fo large a fcale as this,
fhould have iheds with racks, mangers,
and flails for fatting oxen, with fpaces
for flacks of hay and ftraw, and back-
rooms for turnips, carrots, cabbages, GJV.
&c. to be thrown dire&ly into the manger

four or five yards, is rather unlucky, beca' fe it
oys the idea of all propriety to build a
bridge over a war/:" which may be coafted
round in half a fecpnd . but I apprehend it is
intended to carry the ater further, to remove
the conclufion out or light. After croffine this
bridge, you find the banks' riling ground (battered
with trees and (hrubs- the effecl truly beautiful.
At a little diftance in> a flight trickling fall of
water in the midft oi' wood, juft fufficient for the
neighbourhood of a temple in a fequeftered
fpot, where the water is heard but not ken.
Upon ihd whole, this (hrubbery will amufe any
on whofe tafte leads them to admire the foft
touches of nature's pencil, fcenes of tic beautiful
unmi .. fublime.

through

[ 355 ]

through Aiding doors, at the head of every
ox

I purpofe taking fome other opportunity
of laying before the public a plan for a
farm-yard, fo contrived as to obviate thefe
and many other objections ; as I appre-
hend, nobility and gentlemen of large
fortunes, who are defirous of building thefe
offices completely, may not always chufe
to give the time requifite for examining
the very imperfect plans that are fo often
laid before them.

His Grace keeps many hundred acres of
land in his own hands ; the foil chiefly
fand. He has tried carrots more than
once, and found them to anfwer incom-
parably : His method has very juftly
been to hoe and wTe'ed them thoroughly.
Cabbages he has likewife tried, and with
great fuccefs ; finds that one acre is better
than two of turnips (hoed) even on fandy
land. Rents run from 3 j-. to about 7 s. 6 d.
Farms in general lmall, from 20 /. to
100 /.

Returning towards Doncafier, in the way
to Poniefracl, the principal objects worthy
of notice are the experimental agriculture
of Sehvood Htivett, Elq; of Bilham, and
James Farrnr, Elq; of re ug h Grange*

to both which gentlemen I was introduced
by the oblicrine attention of the Marquis

of

[ 336 ]

of Rockingham. They were fo kind aS
to give me the following account. Mr;
Hcivett\ experiments have been chiefly
upon carrots, lucerne, and burnet. He
began the culture of the firft in the year
1765, with one acre, which he ploughed
feven times as a winter fallow ; the foil a
tine light hazel mould, about a foot deep,
upon a limeftone rock. They were fown
the middle of April, by hand, in drills one
foot afunder, with 4/^. and half of feed.
As foon as they came up they were horfe-
hoed, which a man and boy did in five
hours ; the weeds that grew among the
plants were drawn out by hand ; after this
they were horfe-hoed a fecond time, and
again acrois the rows, which cut away the
plants to the diftance of about fix inches
afunder. The crop was begun to be taken
up in Oclob'er, and continued drawing, as
■ Qted, till the middle of March; the

ntity fixteen cart-loads, of forty

each, or 640 bumels, which is an

Six horfes were kept on

n through the winter (except when ab-

fent from home) without oats ; performed

their work as ufual, and looked equally

Lie beads were flitted on them

and turnips, whi h evidently preferred

carrots, mfemuch that it was loon

; to make them eat the turnips

at

at all. A lean porker was fatted by car-
rots in ten days time; eat nothing elfe, and
the fat when killed was very fine, white and
firm, nor did it boil away in the dreffing :
The quantity of carrots eat, 1 4 ftone ; for
all were weighed. Hogs in general feed
upon them with great eagernefs.

In 1766, Mr. Heivett cultivated another
acre, which he managed in the fame man-
ner, and applied to the fame ufes, with the
fame fuccefs; the crop nearly as before.

In 1767, a third acre cultivated, cleaned,
and ufed as before ; the crop equally
good.

In 1768, he fowed two acres, but one
of them has failed, and are ploughed up
again ; nor is the remaining one equal to
former crops.

This ingenious cultivator is in general
of opinion, that carrots may prove of very
great ufe ; for turnips being fubject to the
fly, and cabbages to rotting, thefe roots
being liable to neither, may be much bet-
ter depended upon. But he thinks the
care and expence of cultivation too great to
be profitable to a common farmer. To this
opinion, however, I can by no means fub-
fcribe ; I have found by experiment, that
carrots applied to any ufe, are well worth
more than 1 s. a bufhel.

Vol. I. Z Now

[ 338 ]

/. s. d.

Now 640 bufhels at that rate )

amount to - - 5

32 00

o

Let us in the next place confider the
deductions to be made.
Suppofe rent, &c. - £.100

Seven ploughings, - - 180

Seed, 4I lb. at 1 s. \d* - 060

Sowing, - - - 016

Harrowing, - - 020

Three horfe-hoeings cannot? • n

amount to - - j '

Hand-weeding, - - 1 10 O

This is certainly an high al-
lowance.

Digging up, - - 200

Total expence,

6 15 0

Amount of crop,
Expences,

32 00
6 15 0

Neat profit,

25 5 0

Which fum per acre, I fhould apprehend
fufficient to fatisfy any man. Nor can
I poflibly fee why fuch culture mould
not anfwer in common, for if the expence
and care attending five acres of corn,
or any common crop, be thrown to the

account

t 339 ]
account of one acre of carrots, yet the far-
mer will find, it is evident, more than five
times the profit upon the latter than he
will ever receive from the former.

Lucerne, Mr. Henvett cultivated for fome
time. It was fown in drills 9 or I o years
ago, by Mr. Millerh direction in the Gar-
dener's Dictionary, upon the fame foil as
the carrots were raifed in ; for the firft four
years it was kept perfectly clean from
weeds, but after that the natural grafs got
the better of it. Mr. Heivett does not
mention it as a perfect experiment, becaufe
the feed was fown after four crops with-
out a fallow intervening, upon which ac-
count it certainly had not fair play : cows,
he obferved, would eat any fpontaneous
growth rather than lucerne when full
grown.

Of burnet he fowed two acres in drills
two feet afunder, and kept perfectly clean
for two years ; but he found that nothing
would eat it unlefs abfolutely forced by
hunger, though he tried all forts of cattle :
This induced him to let it fland for feed,
of which, the product of only one acre, he
fold as much as brought him 4 /.

Of bird-grafs, he fowed a rood with 3 lb.
of feed at 1 6 s. per lb. the land perfectly
clean ; it was fowed alone, and turned out
quite worthlefs.

Z 2 Sainfoine

[ 340 ]

Sainfoine he fows after a fallow or turnips
■with half a crop of barley, four buihels of
feed; it lafts in common 12 or 14 years.
It is never mown the firft year, but fed
with all cattle except iheep : After the firft
year, always mows the firft growth for hay,
and generally gets 50 Cwt. per acre, worth
30/. a ton: He gives it to his beafts, cows,
and horfes ; and it is reckoned a very great
improvement.

The large Scotch cabbage he cultivates
in the following manner : Sows them in
May, tranfplants them twice ; the laft time
into the field in Aiigujl in rows, three feet
afunder, and two feet from plant to plant ;
ufes them for feeding cows, and fatting
beafts and fheep. The butter, if ufed
immediately, is good, but will not keep
12 hours. Six cabbages weighed 10 ftone
7lb. and half. But the average weight
from 8 to 1 2 lb.

Mr. Farrer's hufbandry confifts chiefly
in attempting to perfect the common me-
thod of culture ; which will be feen by his
way of managing his fallows. He breaks
up the old ftubble at Michaelmas ; in March
or beginning of April, ftirs again, makes
it very fine by the middle of May : After
every ploughing he rolls it, fometimes with
a.fpiky roller, which he finds of great ufe
in breaking the clods in a dry feafon ; it is

upon

[ 34i ]
upon the fame conftruction as the Marquis
of Rockingh>wi>s, only the fpikes with
blunt ends inftead of fharp ones. After
the rollings, he rakes the field with a horfe
rake; which is made the fame as a com-
mon rake for clearing flubbles of corn,
only of a confiderable length and ftrength
to work by a horfe in fhafts: This machine
he draws acrofs the land to clear it of
twitch, and finds it to anfwer greatly.
Upon this fallow, he lays his manure in
October, confirming of his yard dung mixed
in heaps, and ploughing it in, leaves the
field for barley in the fpring, when he
ploughs and fows at once. He never gets
lefs than fix quarters per acre ; with it he
fows clover, which he mows for hay twice,
and gains 3^ tons at twice ; wheat upon
the clover, of which he feldom reaps lefs
than three quarters. The foil is excellent,
a fine rich loam worth 30 s. an acre.

Upon land not light enough for turnips,
nothing can exceed this hufbandry, which
©very where deferves imitation ; the mak-
ing the fallow fine by the middle of May,
is an admirable plan, and cannot fail of
great fuccefs, as it is the only method of
rendering the land perfectly clean from feed
weeds. But I fhould apprehend the laying
the dung on before the winter, would en-
danger the falts being wafhed from it by
Z 3 the

[ 342 ]
the winter's rains, notwithstanding its be-
ing turned in by the plough, for the weight
of the fnow and rain certainly act thrc ugh
the loofe moulds. Their method in EJJex
feems to be preferable, which is to throw
the land up in narrow ridges in ctober,
and to carry the manure on the firft froft
that comes in the fprir; and they leave it
in heaps on the land till . low, which
is always the firft dry feafon that comes,
even as foon as February.

This gentleman's way of breaking up
grafs lands is an excellent one ; firft with a
common plough he ftrikes a furrow, and
then with a paring one turns into that fu-
row a Mice of the turf two inches thick;
after this comes the common plough in the
fame furrow, and turning the moulds on
to the turf, buries it ; upon this tillage he
harrows in oats, and gets from 7 to 10
quarters per acre : After which he fallows.
The public is much indebted to both thefe
gentlemen for their attention to fuch judi-
cious experiments.

From Doncqfter to Pontefracl, the foil is
of various forts, and lets from 7 s. to 20 .r.
an acre; farms continue fmall, in general
under 100 /. a year. I made many inqui-
ries into the culture of liquorice around
Pontefracl, and found the quantity of land
planted with it, not fo comkli rable as I had

t 343 ]
been informed : It never amounts to ioo
acres, and oftentimes not to 50. The
crown of the bud and the runners (the
horizontal moots from the root) are what
they plant, and thefe they procure in taking
up an old crop. The method of planting
is this:

The land is firft dug three feet and half,
or four feet deep ; but I mould inform
you, that the foil is a fine rich hazel loam,
rather inclined to fand than clay, but not
vifibly to either. Then a covering of
rotten dung is fpread on the land, which
is directly dug in one fpit deep. After
this it is formed into arched ridges, three
feet wide. Upon every ridge they plant
three rows, one upon the crown, and one
on each fide of it. The plants on the
beft land, four inches from each other ;
but on that which is indifferent, only three
inches.

The firft year they fow the ground with
onions or carrots ; but this practice, they
allow, rather hurts the crop. The carrots
are exceeding fine ; all weeds are carefully
pulled out by hand, fo as to keep the
ground perfectly clean. In the winter,
the tops of the liquorice are cut off.

The fecond and third years, the planta-
tion is hoed feveral times, fo as to extir-
Z 4 pate

[ 344 j
pate all weeds and keep the foil loofe, the
hoes fix inches wide. It always Hands
three years, fometimes four.

When they dig up the crop, they cut a
trench as deep as the land was before dug
(for fo deep the liquorice roots will run)
and this trench they continue directly
acrofs the land ; when cleared, and the
roots all picked up by women and children
as the men proceed, they begin a fecond
by it, throwing the moulds into the old
one, and fo continue through at the whole
field, by which means it is all dug over to
the old depth ; and is ready with the for-
mer management for a frefh crop of li-
quorice ; by which means one digging
(after the firft) ferves both for the old and
new crop. And this is fo great an induce-
ment to continue the plantation upon the
fame ground, that many fields have been
continually cropped with it as long back
as the oldeft man can remember : In this
cafe, however, the land requires much
manuring ; new land is the beft.

Upon raifing the crop, the plants are
cut off, and the roots fepa rated into three
forts; they fell all together upon an average,
at 3 s. 6d. or 4 s. aftone of 15 lb.; and
thfir crops rife from 150 to 4Goflone;
many about 250.

All

[ 345 1
All the people employed about Ponte-
fraci in the liquorice plantations are paid
by the day, and not as in hop-gardens,
<&c. by the piece : This circumftance made
it difficult to difcover the cxpences and
profit of an acre of liquorice; but from the
bed: intelligence I could gain, it is not far
from the following (ketch :

Their rents rife from 4 /. to 8 /. ?

per acre ; commonly about ;>
The coil of the plants from 2 sr

to 5 s. per 1 000, fay 3 s. 6d.

90,000 plants, at that rate,

amount to
The firft digging the land cofts
The common digging, we can- ~j

not eftimate, in proportion /

to the price of the firft, at f

lefs than
Manuring, I calculate at
Striking into beds
Planting

Wheeding the firft year
Cutting off the tops
Hand-hoeing the fecond year
Cutting off the tops
Hand-hoeing the third year
Cutting off the tops
Piling up, &c.

,fc>toj

s. d.
o o

o o

o o

o o

3

0

0

0

10

0

0

10

0

2

12

6

-

0

0

6

2

2

0

0

3

6

-

0

0

0

0

5

0

14

0

0

£.

6r

7

6

Suppofe

[ 346 ]

£•61 7 6
Suppofethe crop 2jo flone, this? , r>
at 3 j. 9 d. amounts to 5

Lofs, - - 14 9 6

If the crop is 300 flone, the account
■will fland thus :
300 at 3 s. 9 d, - - 56 5 o

Lofs - - - 10 2 6

If 350 is the crop, the profit will be as
follows :

350 at 3 J. $d. - - * - 65 13 o
Expences, - - - 61 7 6

Profit, - - 4 5j5^

From hence we find that the firfl crop

muft be confiderably above the medium to

the expences : With the fecond, third,

fo forth, the cafe is different. The

expences then are thefe,

/.

j". d.

Rent, --

-

5

0 0

Digging,
Manuring,
Making the beds,

-

0

n
O

O

0 0

0 0

10 0

Planting,

Weeding and hoeing,

m

2

6

10 0
16 6

Cutting the tops,
Digging up, fyc. -

0

no
0 0

34

7 ^

250 flone,

I 347 ]
250 ftone, at 3 s. 9 d. - 46 18 o

Expences, - - - 34 7 6

Profit, - - - 12 10 6

Profit, per annum, - - 436

And this, I believe, is not exceeded in
common in the liquorice culture. The foil
in general about Pontefraci, is very rich
and fine, lets much of it fo high as 4 0 s.
an acre, 20 j\ a common rent, at an average;
farms very fmall *.

The

* Mcthley, the feat of Lord Mexborough, about
fix miles from this town, is fitted up and rur-
nifhed in lb rich a manner, as to attract the at-
tention of travellers. The ground-floor con-
fiits of a veftibule, a dining-room, and a draw-
ing-room ; the firft 37 by 7, and a large bow-
window-, the fecond 37 by 25, hung with
crimfon damafk, the ornaments carved and gilt:
The ceiling in compartments, ornamented in
green and gold and white. The chimney-piece
very handibme, the cornice, &V. of white
marble, the frieze of Siena, with white fcrolls on
it-, and fupported by Ionic pillars of Suna:
The door and window-cafes of white and gold;
the cornice of the fame, and the frieze c en
and gold, very elegant. The frames ot the
glafies, fettees, chairs, &c. carved and richly
gilt.

Upon

L 348 ]
The foil from TontefraEi to Methley is
rich, and lets at a high rent, generally
above 20 s. an acre, and fome as high
as 40 s. The farms are all fmall, from
20/. to 80/. a year ; very few rife to 100/.

From

Upon the firft floor are three apartments :
The green velvet bed-chamber, 19 by 18. The
chimney-piece, corinthian pillars of Siena mar-
ble, with gilt capitals. The crimfon damafk
room, 23 by 18 •, the ceiling white and gold in
compartments, with feftoons of gilding in them
in a light and elegant tafte •, the chimney-piece
white and Siena marble -, in the center, doves in
bafs-relief, very fine. The ornaments of the
bed gilt carving ; and the v/indow curtains co-
vered with fcrolls of the fame : Adjoining, • a
fmall dreffing-room, the ceiling gilt fcrolls on a
lead white, light and pleafing. The chintz-
room, 25 by 18, the ceiling in compartments
with flight fcrolls of gilding. Here are two
large and very fine India figures, above a yard
high, in glafs-cafes. A drefling-room, 18 by
j 2, neatly as well as richly fitted up. I fhould
remark in general, that the articles of carving
and gilding are done throughout the houfe
with much elegance-, the doors, door-cafes,
window-frames, pannels, &c. are ornamented in
this manner ■, the ceilings are in general very
well executed, the fcrolls of gilding not

crov, ded

[ 349 1
From Methley, we went to Temple Neiu-
Jloam^ the feat of Lord Irwin ; the roads in
many places are even worfe than before, but
the foil better. Rents runup to 50 s. an acre,
but on an average between 20 j-. and 30/. ;
farms the fame. Of wheat they get from
30 to 40 bufhels per acre : Of barley, four,
five, and fix quarters *.

From

crowded, but light and neat as well as rich, and
the furniture equally well chofen. The houfe,
you doubtlefs obferve, is not a large one, but
it is, upon the whole, much better finifhed than
molt of its fize in the kingdom, and than many
more capital ones. One remark, however, I
ihould add, which is, that thofe who go to
Methley by Pcntcfraft, mull be extremely fond
of feeing houfes, or they will not recompenfe
the fatigue of pafling fuch deteftable roads.
They are full of ruts, whofe gaping jaws threa-
ten to fwallow up any carriage lefs than a wag-
gon. It would be no bad precaution, to yoke
half a fcore of oxen to your coach, to be ready
to encounter fuch quagmires as you will here
meet with.

* Lord Irwin s collection of pictures is not
only capital, but very numerous. The follow-
ing are thofe which {truck me the molt. I can-
not add the mailers, as the pcrfon who fhews
the houfe, knows neither the fubject, or painter
of fcarce any ; a circumftance to be regretted,

when

[ 35° ]
From Temple Neivjham to Ferry Bridge,

land

when a catalogue is fo eafily written for the
information of the traveller ; one advantage
however attends it, which is, the certainty
that one's remarks are mere feelings, and never
the praife or cenfure which the world attaches
to names.

In the breakfaft-room, 32 by 27, are,
A Bacchanalian -piece : The attitude of the naked

woman, in the front ground, fine; and the

figures well defigned.
An Ajlrologer. Very fine.

In the crimfon damafk bed-chamber.
Countefs of OJfcry ; a portrait. The whole

figure excellent. The attitude aftonifhingly

fpirited and elegant •, the air of the head, the

beauty of the face and hair, inimitable. An

exquiiite piece.
Land/cape with figures. The woman in white,

good; the water very bad.

In the drefiing-room.
Large land/capes. Very fine.
Dead game. Excellent.
Land/cape. I apprehend by BaJJan. Strong

but ugly exprefiion.
Sea-piece. Fine.

Jn the green drefiing-room.
Land/cape. Rocks, and every thing green.
AJldrm. Fine.
A large battle-piece. Strong exprefiion ; I fup-

poie by Borgognone.

o Grcup

[ 35' ]

land lets, at an average, for about 20 s.

an

Group of horfemen, with rocks. The wild man-
ner of Sahator Rofa.
Lot and his daughters. Colours and attitudes

very fine.
Battle-piece. Spirited.
Ditto. Ditto.

Sleeping woman, fatyrs, &c. Good : In the ftile

of Rubens.
Land/cape. Middling.

In the blue damafk drefling-room.
Boys. Charity and her three children introduced j

the brilliancy of the colours exceeding fine ;

the boys very well done.
Cephalus and Prccris. Fine.
Two battle-pieces. Round ones; amazingly

fpirited.
Two pieces of dead game. Inimitable.
Two fmall pieces on copper. In one a decolation

by a female figure, with a fcimitar in her

hand : Perhaps Holophemes . The colours and

finifhing exquifite.
Landfcape. A water-fall •, very fine.
Group of boys. Inimitable.
Sea-piece.
Two fmall pictures, groups of horfemen. Very fine:

The fpirited manner of Sahator and Borgcg-

r.one.
A calm. Pretty.
A large landfcape. Rocks and trees dark, but

expreflive.

In

[ 352 ]

an acre ,* the arable about ior. Farms In

general

In the gallery, a very fine room, 108 by 28,
are

Two large battle-pieces. Exceeding fine.

Land/cape, under one of the above, a calm
evening. Very fine •, the boor on an afs,
exquificely done; colours, exprefilon, attitude,
and cattle excellent.

Ditto. Its companion. The figures, rocks,
and broken trees admirable.

Croup of horfemen on a bridge. The lights
ftrong, and the exprefilon fpirited.

Its Companion. Ditto.

Storm among rocks •, and the companion. Sur-
prizing exprefilon.

Fruit. Excellently done.

A baptifm. Very fine colours.

Def cent from the Crofs. This is in the ftile of
Albert Durer : The minute exprefilon refult-
ing from high finifhing, amazing; but the
draperies (except the gauze linen) very bad.

Battle at fea. Very fine.

Two rocks with figures. Very wild and dark,
but nobly touched : If they are not by Sal-
vator, they are worthy of him.

Large piece of birds. Spirited •, the colours ex-
cellent.

Two large pieces, a florm among recks, and a ra-
ging torrent. A wild and very noble ex-
preffion.

Holy family. In the ftile of Carlo Marrat -, the

boy

[ 253 ]
general fmall, but one man occupies

eight

boy admirably fine. Ker countenance good,

but the draperies heavy and dilgufting.
Large land/cape. In a dark (tile ± but the light

through the trees, and the woman very hue :

The general blueifh caft unnatural.
Hunting the wild-boar. Strong expreflion.
Two pieces of fruit, &c. Very fine.
Two landf capes. In the ftile of Pon/in.
Landfcape with rocks and buildings. The tree

on the left fide, exquifite : The keeping

fine.
Its companion. Trees and buildings excellent.
Prometheus. Great.
A large fhipwreck. Amazingly fpirited in the

figures ; and a general horror nobly expref-

fed.
A waterfall. Its. companion : The figures,

trees, and general wildnefs, exceedingly fine.
A landfcape \ under ditto. Admirably fine.

The general effect of the clear obfcure ; the

calm majefly of the fcene •, the fpirit of the

figures, architecture, £??£. incomparable:

Worthy the pencil of Poufin.
Portrait of a Scotch Lord. Excellent expreflion.
Ditto of Mr. Scarborough. Good.
Ditto of a man writing. Great expreflion ; in

the manner of Rembrandt,
Fruit-Jhop. Excellent.
Jane Shore. The minute expreflion of the

naked, and the gauze drapery is aftoniihingly

fine. The finiihing of the breafls and limbs,

furprizing.
Vol. 1. A a Europa,

[ 354 ]
eight hundred acres ; an inftance, however,

very

Europa. It feems in the flile of Rubens ; fine.

The colours excellent.
A /upper. The lights, and ugly expreffion, fine :

It is in the manner of Schalken.
Mofes firiking the rock. The colours bad; the

group and figures quite Dutch.
Scadrech, Me/hach, and Abednego. Prodigious

fine.
Two boys heads. Amazingly fine ; the turn,

attitude, and expreffion great.
Two pieces of horfes. Fine.
Portrait of the Earl of Holland. Admirable.
Holy Family. A large picture in the flile of
Rubens. Nothing can be finer than the
boys •, the principal one is inimitable ; the
head and face of the Virgin very fine, but
fomewhat too elegant for Rubens.
Two /mail battles.
A dead Ckriji. Amazingly fine.
Two fea-pieces. Fine.
Architecture. An arch and a landfcape through

it. The arch fine.
A priefi holding a crucifix. Excellent.
Jofeph and our Saviour. Fine •, fomething in the

manner of Carlo Marratt.
Rachel, Jofeph and Benjamin. Fine, but im-
pleading.
Architeclure and figures. Exceedingly fine.
Chrifi praying in the garden. The colouring and
attitude inimitable -, but the lights unnatu-

. - 1 .

[ 355 J
Very unufual *,

I obferved about Byrom much Tandy land,

which

rally diffufed : I mould iuppoie it of the

fchool of Carracb.
Its companion. A figure pra) ing, vile drapery;

but the reft fine.
Lord Irwin. Very good.
A group of dancing boys. Finifhed with a

glow and brilliancy beyond expreflion. The

attitudes cxquiiite : The colours aftonifhingly

fine-, tlie landicape beautiful ; bat the lights

ftrano;elv diffufed.
Diana, in two pieces. Ciumiy as ever Rul

painted.
Portrait of Sir Arthur Ingram. Good ; but a

wretched attitude.
A fruit-piece. Fine.
'jtfmall pi dure of many figures. It fomewhat

refembles the manner both of Borgognone and

Baffan ; fine.
Its companion, a woman riding. Quite Dutch

ideas,, figures and drapery.
Cattle-piece (over the library door).. Fine.
Architecture (under the large fea-piece). Very

fine and bold.

The library is a very handfome room, divided
by Corinthian pillars. It is 24 fquare. In the
chapel is an altar-piece, fomewhat curious : A
lift fupper. The figure of Chriji has the coun-
tenance of a clown-, the group is wretched;
one of the apoftles is in a tye-wig, and another's
hur would do exceedingly well ror a bag.

* At Byrom, the feat of Sir John Ramfdcn,
A a 2

[ 356 1

Which feemed of an excellent ftaple, and
great quantities of turnips. Sir John
Ramfden ufes the fame machine for hoeing
them as I have already defcribed near
Grantham : It is better than no hoeing, and
that is all that can be faid for it. I ihould
not, however, forget to remark, that this
gentleman once railed a turnip in the field
that weighed 421b. a fize which, I fuppofe,

was

are feveral pictures, which will give no flight
entertainment to thofe who are fond of paint-
ing : Among others here are, in the dining-
room, 36 by 25,

Rubens. Boys, with a feftoon of fruit by Sny-
ders. Molt capital -, nothing can be finer
than the attitudes and fweet expreflion of the
boys : The group is fketched with all ima-
ginable elegance. The faces and hair inCOm-
parable.
Spaniels on the /cent. An admirable fpirit in the
attitudes of the dogs. The partridge in the
air very fine.
A water-fall with rocks. Amazingly fine. The
foam of the water incomparable ; the rocks
nobly majeftic j the colours excellent ; the
figures fine and well placed •, their attitudes
ftriking ; and the general keeping and bril-
liancy very pleafing. I ihould fuppofe it by
Poujin.
Watir-fowl. Fine.

A Mvji-

[ 357 ]

was never equalled. The fand is excellent,
lets at 20 s. an acre, and would yield
immenfe crops of carrots; which would
be found by far the raoft profitable ufe
it could be applied to. Cabbages, Sir John
has cultivated with fuccefs : His prefent
crop is of a vigorous growth, large fize,
and bids fair for yielding an immenfe
produce.

The

A Mufician. It is Titian in that character ; faid
at Kniveton (where is another) to be by him-
felf. The colours and attitudes are good :
The diffufion of light bad.

An bunting-piece. The fpirit of the dogs excel-
lently catched •, the colouring is likewife
good. But the figures are thrown into a corner,
as if they had nothing to do with the fport;
but cattle was the painter's forte.
In the drawing-room, 30 by 16,

A large landfcape. Cattle going over a bridge ;
incomparably fine : The colours very lively,
without being tawdry. The general brilliancy
excellent. The tree amazingly fine : The
cattle good : The figures elegantly grouped:
The bridge, water, &c. inimitable. It may
be called, La belle Nature. Under it,

Dead Game. The partridge very natural.

Land/cape. A glowing heat; very fine: The
finifhing exquifite ; light through the trees,
fine.

Fruit

[ 353 ]

The foil between Ferry Bridge and How-
den, (which is in the road I before travelled)
confifts chiefly of fand ; it is very indiffe-
rently cultivated : Turnips they fow in fome
quantities, but feldom hoe them.

Fruit with a Tankard, &c. Very well done.

A Fcx with a dead Fowl. Excellent.

A dead Hare, &e. Fine. The greyhound's

head good ; but not curiofity enough in his

nofe.
Two Land] 'capes (over the doors). Fine. The

figures elegantly grouped : That of the lake

and trees very pleafing.
A large Battle. Great fire and fpirit.
Two/mail Land/capes. Colours admirable ; the

rocks and foreft fublimely grand.
Butterflies and Leaves. Exceedingly well finifh-

.ed.
A Nativity. Very graceful and pleafing •, the

Viroin's countenance fine, and her attitude

eafy and natural. If the hands are any rule

to judge by, I fhould fuppofe this piece by

Farmagiano.
A Venetian Profpeft. Brilliant and fine : It is

in Canaietti*s manner.
Two Pieces, Companions-, one of Fruit-women:

The colours very good. The other A Woman

milking a Goat, Ike. Fine -, but not fo brilliant.

But the cattle very well done.
Marchionefs of Rockingham (over the chimney).

The attitude elegant, and drapery good.
Two Heads -, Oliver Cromwell, and another, its

companion.

And

[ 359 J
And now, Sir, as I am fetting off for the
North-Riding, you will here allow me to
conclude this long letter.

I am, <&c.

End of the First Volume,

Jujl pub/ijhed, written by the fame Author,
Handfomely printed in O&avo; Price 5 s. fewed ; 6s bound j
The Second Edition, corrected and enlarged,
O F

A SIX WEEKS TOUR

THROUGH THE

SOUTHERN COUNTIES of ENGLAND and WALES,

DESCRIBING PARTICULARLY,

IV. The various Prices of Labour
and r'rovifions.

V. The State of the working Poor
in thofe Counties wherein the
Riots weie molt remarkable.

I. The prefent State cf Agriculture
and Manufactures.

II. The different Methods of culti-
vating the Soil.

in. The Succefs attending feme late
Experiments on various G ralTes, &c.

w 1 t H

DESCRIPTIONS and COPPERPLATES,
Of iuch new invented Implements of Husbandry,
as deferve to be generally known :

JNTERSPER S E B

With Accounts of the Seats of the Nobility and
Gentry, and other Objecls worthy Notice.

g^3 In this Second Edition, the Author has infertcd fome
freih Informations he received, of new Improvements in
Hufbandry in the Neighbourhood of the Rout, with other
considerable Additions, which he hopes will render it more
acceptable to the Public, and be found to co-operate entirely
with his original Defign of extending the Knowledge of
Biitifh Agriculture.

%* "The Defign of this Tour is to fpread ufeful Know-
ledge of all Sorts, to difplay to one Part of the Kingdom the
Pradices of the other, to remark wherein fuch Practice is
hurtful, and wherein it is commendable ; to draw forth
Jfpiriicd Examples of good Hufbandry from Obfcurity, and
difplay them as the proper Objecls of Imitation.

" The Farmersin one Placegrow rich by Methods that would
enrich their Brethren in another, but remain quite unknown.
7"J&« following Pafagc, eharaclerijlic of this Work, is tranfiated
from a foreign Literary Journal .

<c The Title of this Work is long, but we find the Work
itfelf too fhort. It is full of ufeful and interefting Observa-
tions upon divers Subjects mentioned in the Title. The
Author, who is profoundly verfed in every Thing that con-
cerns rural Oeconomy and Agriculture, is alfo a Man of
Wit and, Tafte ; and the Defcriptions which he gives of many
fine Seats in the Country, ihew that he has a great Know-
ledge of the fine Arts, and particularly of Architecture."
Biblioth. des Scicn. &c . Tom . <uivgt-neuvieme ; prem .part. p. 215,

6285 IT

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