XXVIU INTRODUCTION. 



in conneclion with an adjoining farm ! And hence, per- 

 haps, more than from many other fingle caufes, we may date 

 the accumulating evil, fo much complained of, the prefent 

 difproportion oi immoderately large farms ! This occurrence, 

 although too obvious to have efcaped the notice of others, 

 feemed alfo too obvious a part of our fubjedt to be pafled 

 over without remark. And although it be of a nature for 

 which a general remedy cannot be expe£led, if politically to 

 be wifhed, yet the confideration of it, by the way, may at 

 leaft have a ufeful tendency. An extreme reverfe of this 

 fuppofed evil may be equally unfavourable to the common 

 interefts of the country. The golden mean has been de- 

 fervedly celebrated in theorj-, and will never be found un- 

 falutary in praftice. We may fafely conclude this part of 

 our remarks, by obferving, that, among men of moderate 

 landed pofTefllons, where one has lived to lament his caution 

 in the expences of unneceflary building, many have had 

 caufe to blame their profufion ! 



Among the obje£ts of ufeful ornament in an agricultural 

 dirtri£l, one of the moft confpicuous and linking is a well- 

 defigned, well-proportioned, fnug, and fimple manfion, with 

 fuitable offices, adapted to the confequence of a fubftantial 

 land-owner, or wealthy yeoman, without neceffarily imprefs- 

 ing on the mind the idea of expenfive fplendour and luxury. 



The next in order, more ufeful, becaufe required to be 

 more fre(iuent, and fcarcely adapted to give lefs pleafure, is 

 the plain, neat, convenient, and well-proportioned farm- 

 houfc, and homefted. Thefe are buildings which, generally 

 fpeaking, can never be out of ufe — can never be either 

 an incumbrance on the land or on the country. The ex- 

 pence of their prefervation is eafy ; and in general the pre- 

 fervation of farm-houfes, and offices, by the tenant, may 

 be made pne left of his worthinefs to have his leafe renewed. 

 Ik r 



