X INTRODUCTION. 



portant in itfelf, and fo productive of difcover}', that the 

 publick-fpirited gentlemtn who firft aflbciated under the 

 title of the Bath Agricuhural Society, could not have formed 

 to themfelves the expectation of living to fee their efforts in 

 that line carried even to the borders of maturity. Some of 

 them, however, have lived to find themfelves congratulated 

 by their countrymen at home, and by the lovers of improve- 

 ment abroad, with confiderable fuccefs in the objefts of 

 their purfuit. Thus animated with increafing hopes of ufe- 

 fulnefs, they continue their fupport. And though morta- 

 lity has removed many members, and choice and other cir- 

 cumftances have removed others, during a lapfe of near 

 twenty years — the furvivors have the fatisfaclion to fee 

 themfelves gradually joined by a greater number, and thofe 

 from the moft intelligent and opulent ranks. I'he corre- 

 fpondence of the Society having conitantly increafed, the 

 expences of publication, experiment, patronage, and re- 

 ward, have augmented in proportion. And though the 

 annual income (never large) has increafed confiderably, the 

 funds have not yet accumulated fo far as to enable this So- 

 ciety to do, by pecuniary exertions, what has been more 

 happily in the power of the larger Societies of London, and 

 of Dublin. 



In the origin of the inftitution, it was reafonably fuppofed 

 that a Society like this would be remembered in the final 

 bequefts of fome gentlemen of opulence, who might wifh 

 to extend their encouragement to favourite objects beyond 

 the period of their lives — and the hint has been continued 

 in the Premium-Books, annually printed. But it happened 

 that about nineteen years palTed over before an inftance of 

 fuch a bequeft occurred. At the end of that period the 

 Society received a letter from the executors of one of its 



members, 



