( 20g )' May 



BRANCH II. 



Review of Agricultural Publications. 



LclUrs addrcjftd io a Noble Lord on the ManufaElures^ Agriculture^ 

 and apparent Profpertty of Scotland. Mundell & Son, Edinburgh. 

 Longman & Rces, London. 1804. 55 pp. 



Nations, like individuals, progrefTively advance from youth to 

 old a'j;e •, and to contemplate them in the feveral flages of growth, 

 furnilhes ample gratification to philofophers. Thefe fages, how- 

 ever, from the imbecility of human nature, are often led to form 

 miitaken notions concerning the age and health of the body politic^ 

 and to confider it, w^hen in full health and vigour, and hardly ar- 

 rived at manhood, as far advanced in years, or labouring under a 

 galloping confumption. Perhaps the author of thefe well writ- 

 ten, but declamatory letters, has fallen into the error we allude 

 to *, at ieaft, if fymptoms of indifpofition are to be recognifed, 

 they are evidently much exaggerated and mifreprefented by him. 



Not many more than twenty years ago, it was apprehended, 

 and not without reafon, by feveral well-meaning people, that the 

 Britifli nation was rapidly hallening to ruin. Our Tranfatlantic 

 dominions had recently fcparated from us. Almoft every one of 

 the Weft India iflands had been conquered by our ancient and 

 fvvorn foe. Our Eaft Lidia pofiefTions were in imminent danger, 

 and the great Company, to whom the trade to that quarter was 

 exclufively committed, were on the verge of bankruptcy. Our 

 connexion with Ireland was fufpended by a thread. We were 

 dcfpifed and infulted abroad, and torn to pieces at home by inter- 

 nal diilenfion. Under thefe circumilances, it did not require 

 much confidence to prognofticate, and apparently upon fure 

 grounds, that a dreadful crifis was approaching, and ' that the 

 fun of Britifh glory was going to fet for ever. ' We have caufe 

 to rejoice that fucli predictions remain unfulfilled ; nay more, that 

 Britain, at no period on record, prefented a healthier afpe6t, or 

 promifed a longer political life, than at the prefent moment. The 

 connexion with Ireland is fecured upon a permanent footing. 

 Our Eall India pofleilions are augmented to triple their former 

 jize, while our enemies in that quarter, who formerly threatened 

 li:'iUu6liG!i to the Britifli pov/er, are completely overcome. The 



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