[ 3*3 ] 



curious fpeculation to trace it through the flo\* 

 and almoft imperceptible gradations by which it 

 has been brought to its prefent ftate of perfection. 



With refpeel: to manures, we have little ac- 

 count (except in the Bible) of any being ufed be- 

 fore the eltabliflimcnt of the Roman empire. In 

 flvci il of the Prophets* we find mention is made 

 of dung and dung-hills, in a manner which in- 

 dicates that their ufe in fertilizing land was not 

 wholly unknown. 



It is probable, that the inhabitants of thofc 

 ages which immediately fuceeeded the flood, knew 

 not any method of reftoring fertility to an ex- 

 haufted foil; and this opinion feems warranted 

 by their frequently changing their fituation, when 

 the land they occupied failed in yielding its natu- 

 ral produce. 



We find that Abraham, and the refl of the 

 Patriarchs, had no long-continued refidence on 

 one fpot. They applied themfelves to a paftoral 

 life; and when their numerous flocks and herds 

 had exhaufted the natural produce of one place, 

 they removed to another; ennobling by their ex- 



# See Kings vi. 25. ix. 37. Jer. viii. 2. Pf. lxxxiii. 10. Neh. 

 lii- J3, 14. Ezra vL it. Ila. xjev. 10. Lxm. it. 5, &c. 



X 3 ample 



