S6 HISTORY OF A FORTUNATE IDLER. May 23 



Soon after, my father died, and I became pofTelTed 

 of an eftate of four thoufand a year, without any in- 

 cumbrance. 



As I had not been bred to any profeffion, I applied 

 niyfelf, with unremitted earneftnefs, to the ftudy of a- 

 griculcure, and all the fciences and arts immediately 

 con netted with that moll ufeful and refpeciable of all 

 occupations. 



In the courfe of twp years, I became fo much niaf- 

 ter of its principles, praftice, and duties, that I found 

 myfelf able to originate and direcEl in all my opera- 

 tions, as the pater fo/niUas of Coliimmella, that I was 

 independent of my land fteward, my bailiffs, and my 

 old experienced fervants. 



I planted a field of two hundred acres with all kinds 

 of fered trees, fuited to the foil and fit..Rtion ; inclofed 

 a great part of my eflate, and planted the fences around 

 with hedge — rows of oak, afh and elm. 1 laid out, and 

 planted a large orchard, mod of the trees liaving been 

 ingrafted with my own hands, from the bed bearers 

 in the country. 



I gave a good beginning to a manufacturing village, 

 encouraged my farmers to good modes of hufbandry, 

 in which I fet them an example, often holding my 

 plough in their prefence, and eftablifhed a club among 

 them for comparing their refpedlive improvements 

 together, and keeping a diary of their proceedings. 



It is now ten years fince I have been thus employ- 

 ed, going only to London for a few mouths, during 

 the fitting of parliaHjcnt, to attend my duty, the inter- 

 vals from which are chiefly fpent in aflociating with 

 thofe who are intent on tl.e improvement of the coun- 

 try, or in attending the meetings of the Rojal Society, 

 and the lociety for the encouragement of arts and manu- 

 factures ; and though idle, as having no trade or em- 

 ployment in the common acceptation of the term, I 

 am one of the bufielt, and «onfequcntly one of the 

 happieft men in the world. 



