PREFACE. 



THAT the publick may with greater 

 clearnefs apprehend the fcope of the 

 prefent work, it is thought neceflary to pre- 

 fix the following fhort account of the nature 

 and the occafion of its publication. 



In the Autumn feafon of the year 1777, 

 feveral Gentlemen met at the City of Bath, 

 and formed a Society for the Encouragement 

 of Agriculture, Arts, Manufaftures, and 

 Commerce, in the Counties of Somerset, 

 Wilts, Glocester, and Dorset, and in 

 the City and County of Bristol. 



This fcheme received immediate approba* 

 tion and great encouragement, not only by 

 liberal fubfcriptions, but alfo by many ufeful 

 communications of knowledge, both fcien- 

 tifick and praftical, from ingenious and fen- 

 fxble correfpondents. 



A3 On 



