Utility and ^ferits df ^fr. Roptoii's Moilo of showiiifr EITt'cts by Slides and Sketclies, 

 ami Stricturos on liis Opinions and rractice in Landscapo-Oardonin^. Illnstratcd 

 by Descriptions of Scenery and JJnildin^s, by References to Conntry-Seats and 

 Passaires of Conntry in most Parts of Great Britain, and by tliirty-two Engravings." 



This work was much more volnniinons than any of tlie ])receding ones ; it was 

 ornanu'iited by sonic elegant copperplate engravings of landscape scenery, drawn 

 by himself, which, in 1807, were rei)iiljlished, with short descri[)tions, as a separate 

 work. 



During the greater part of the year ISOfi, Mr. London was actively engaged in 

 lands('a]ie-gardening ; and, towards the close of that year, when returning from 

 Tre-Madoc, in Caernarvonshire, he canglit a violent cold l)y travelling on the 

 outside of a coach all night in the rain, and neglecting to change his clothes when 

 he reached the end of his journey. The cold brought on a rheumatic fever, which 

 settled finally in his loft knee, and, from improper medical treatment, terminated 

 in a stiff joint; a circumstance which was a source of great annoyance to him, 

 not only at the time when it occurred, but during the whole of the remainder of 

 his life. This will not appear surprising, wlien it is considered tlmt he was at 

 that period in the prime of his days, and not only remarkably healthy and vigor- 

 ous in constitution, but equally active and independent in mind. While suffering 

 from the effects of the complaint in his knee, he took lodgings at a farm-house, at 

 Pinner, near Harrow; and, while there, the activity of his mind made him an.xionsly 

 incpiire into the state of English farming. He also amused himself by painting 

 several landscapes, some of which were exhibited at the Royal Academy, and by 

 learning Gorman, paying his expenses, as he had done before when he learned 

 French, by selling for publication a ])amphlet which he had translated by way of 

 exercise. In this case, the translation being of a popular work, it was sold to 

 ]Mr. Cadoll for 15/. He also took lessons in Greek and Hebrew. The following 

 extract from his Jounial, in 18()G, will give some idea of his feelings at this period : 

 "Alas! how have 1 neglected the important task of improving myself! How 

 much I have seen, what new ideas have developed themselves, and what different 

 views of life I have acquired since I came to London three years ago ! I am now 

 twenty-three years of age, and perhaps one-third of my life has passed away, and 

 yet what have I done to benefit my fellow-men ?" 



Mr. Loudon, during the length of time he was compelled to remain at Pinner, 

 l)ecame so interested respecting English farming, and so anxious that the faults 

 he observed in it should be corrected, that he wrote to his father, stating the 

 capaljility of the soil, and the imperfect state of the husbandry, and urging him 

 to come to England. It happened that at this period the fiirm called AVood Hall, 

 where he had been staying so long, was to be let, and Mr. Loudon, Senior, in 

 consequence of the recommendation of his son, took it, and removed to it in 1807. 

 The following year, Mr. Loudon, Avho was then residing with his father at Wood 

 Hall, wrote a pamphlet entitled " An Immediate and Effectual Mode of Raising 

 the Rental of the Landed Property of England; and Rendering Great Britain 

 Independent of other Nations for a Supply of Bread Corn. By a Scotch Farmer, 

 now farming in Middlesex." This pamphlet excited a great deal of attention ; 

 and General Stratton, a gentleman possessing a large landed estate, having read 

 it, was so much interested in the matter it contained, that he offered him a portion 

 of his property at a low rate, in order that he might undertake the management 

 of the rest, and thus introduce Scotch farming into Oxfordshire. 



The farm which Mr. Loudon took from General Stratton, and which was called 

 Great Tew, was nearly eighteen miles from the city of Oxford, and contained up 

 of 1,500 acres. " The surface," as he describes it, " was diversified by bold 



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