38 Letters from a Scots Farmery k2fc, Jan. 



iJty; and the fields, withfome exceptions, which happen every- 

 where, are in apparent good order. Perhaps too much of the 

 land is in old grafs pafture •, but ftill the quantity under tlie 

 plough is confiderable. I Ihould fuppofe that it is capable of 

 \ielding very heavy crops of all grains ; but the want of leafes, 

 and the reltridlions Impofed upon the tenantry, are obftacles 

 to the exertions of the occupiers, which will always prevent 

 agriculture from being carried on in a perfect manner. Unlefs 

 a farmer has liberty to work the land he pofTefles agreeable to 

 Lis inclination, it is impoflible that he can farm with advan- 

 tage. When he is infecure in his poffeffion, and liable to be 

 turned out by capricious fummary warning, he is of courfe 

 deftitute of the great charm which everywhere fets induftry 

 in motion, that is, the profpe6l of reaping the fruits of the 

 money expended in improvements; and when his powers of 

 management are-limited, he caH only be confidered as a tool 

 to another perfon, who prefcribes dire£lions for his govern- 

 ment, which muft be implicitly .obeyed, whether they are 

 agreeable to his judgement or not. I fliould humbly fuppofe 

 that thefe things have greatly contributed to keep the practice 

 of hufbandry, not only in this dillrici, but over all England, 

 much more in a ftationary pofition, than it would otherwife 

 have been, had the farmer enjoyed the fame difcretion in the 

 conduct of his bufinefs as is poiTclTed by merchants and manu- 

 facturers. The latter claffes have made much greater progrefs 

 to perfe6lion than the cultivators of the ground, who may be 

 defcribed as following, from one generation to another, the 

 fame beaten path. 



The city of Tork occupies a greater extent of ground than 

 many places of equal population. The river Oufe is navigable 

 here, and even to the dillance of Ripon, in the Weft Riding. 

 I believe the city is a county of itfelf, and, together with 

 •what is called the Ainjleyy unconnecfed with any of the tliree 

 diftrifts into which Yorklhire is divided. 



There are no manufactures at York, at lead we did not hear 

 of any; whicli is rather furprifing, confidering their extent in 

 the weftern and fouthern parts of the fhire. Perhaps the 

 ground in the neighbourhood is too good for manufadures 

 thriving upon, as it is well known they'are generally moft 

 iuccefsful upon barren fpots. Shall I trace this to the bounti- 

 iul direftion of Providence, which uniformly influences the 

 flifpofitions of the people to fuch works as is moft conducive 

 to general profperity? Where the foil is good, and capable of 

 producing fubfiftence in a plentiful manner, the inclinations 

 p{ the grear bulk of mankind are turned to rural affairs, 

 'Where it is inferior, and incapable of fupporting a number c,f 



inhal'itantSj 



