6 INTRODUCTION. 



the whole inhabitants of the capital -, a cuftom that is ftill 

 kept up, and deferves to be ii^iitated by all fovereigns *. 



At a period fo remote as the prefent, and without the 

 means of corre£l: information, it is a difficult taflc to afcertain 

 to which of thefe countries the preference is due. The mofl 

 probable conjedlure is, that each of them is entitled to a fliare; 

 and that the agricultural knowledge of which they were 

 then in pofl'effion, in place of belonging exclufively to any- 

 one, was the united ftock of the whole. Indeed, if we rea- 

 fon from what we know, and compare modern with ancient 

 times, we will be fatisfied that this was a£lually the cafe. 

 The hulbandry of Britain, originally rude and'imperfeft, has 

 arrived by degrees at its prefent flnte. This, however, has 

 not been owing to the fuperior fkill, or the fuccefsful prac- 

 tice, of any particular county or diflricl, but to the united 

 talents and indullry of the whole. Is there any reafon to 

 doubt that this was the cafe with the ancients ? Be that as 

 it may, we certainly derived the rudiments of the art from 

 that quarter ; and though, in the weft of Europe, and efpe- 

 clally in Britain, it has attained a high degree of perfe6lion, 

 truth, and a jufl fcnfe of the benefits refultlng from its in- 

 trodu6lion, oblige us to acknowledge the Eaft as the fchool 

 in which the firft principles were taught. 



Of the (low progrefs of Agriculture, and the difficulties 

 encountered in the nrftattempts to cultivate the earth, we may 



form 



• In this place, it may be proper to ohfcrve, that the long duration of the 

 Chinefe empire, and form of government, which has no equal in hiftoiy, as 

 alfb the riches and profperity of that country, are to be afcribed, in a great 

 meafure, if not entirely, to the perfcdion of their Agriculture, and the ample 

 fupply of every necefTary of life thereby produced. Their rural economy be- 

 ing of the moft minute and perfect kind, demands the labour of a number of 

 hands, greatly exceeding what are employed in almoft any other part of the 

 world. 1 he produce, however, is great in proportion ; and, at this day, it is 

 computed that nearly feven eighths of the inhabitants of China are artizans, 

 and owe the necelTaries of life to the labour of the remainder ; this great n)a- 

 jority being employed in arts, rnanufaiftures, and commerce. 



