82 Biographical Account of [Auc. 
of constant intercourse with several of his most intimate friends, 
who were more or less interested in his own particular pursuits, and 
with whom he could freely communicate relative to the various sub- 
jects upon which he was continually employed. His philosophical 
reputation was established; his talents were fully acknowledged ; 
and he was beginning to be known and valued in a distinguished 
circle of society for the extent and originality of his knowledge, 
and his extraordinary powers of entertainment and information. 
Something, however, was still wanting to his happiness; for 
though his time was agreeably and usefully filled up, he was with- 
out any regular occupation or definitive object of pursuit; and his 
studies, however interesting, were too desultory to fix his attention, 
or take a sufficiently permanent hold on his thoughts. The com- 
position of some literary or scientific work (of which at different 
periods of his life he had several vague and floating projects) would 
have been the natural resource and occupation of such a mind. 
But although Mr. Tennant was capable of great efforts on a 
sudden emergency or for a particular purpose, he had his full share 
of that indecision, and fastidiousness of taste which belong to the 
temperament of genius; and which seldom fail, unless counter- 
acted by early habits of self controul, to disqualify the possessor for 
those long continued, and persevering exertions, so indispensable 
to great literary undertakings. This detect of resolution, originating 
in part from his extraordinary powers, was lamented by all his par- 
ticular friends, but by no one more feelingly than by Mr. Tennant 
himself. It increased with his increasing years; and the evil was 
now aggravated by an unfortunate alteration in the state of his 
health, which was beginning gradually to decline, and to require 
continual attention. 
It was owing principally to these causes that, within a very few 
years after he had relinquished the study of medicine, he became 
insensibly disposed to some new occupation ; and one of those acci- 
dents upon which the fortunes of human life depend, determined 
him to engage in agricultural pursuits. He had for some time been 
accustomed to take long journies for the sake of his health; during 
one of which he happened to pay a visit to a friend in Lincolnshire, 
who had been much connected with his family, but with whom he 
was not in habits of regular intercourse. ‘This was about the year 
1797, at an early period of those great advances in agriculture, since 
become very general, by which that part of the kingdom has been 
so much distinguished. His friend’s residence was in an extensive 
tract of country, very favourable for such improvements, adjoining 
to the river Trent, and known by the name of the Isle of Axholme, 
where very considerable enclosures had lately taken place. A great 
spirit of enterprize had, in consequence, been excited ; and the cul- 
tivation of new land (principally by the growth of rape seed) was 
carried on to a great extent, and with extraordinary vigour and 
success. There was nothing in the previous habits of Mr. Tennant’s 
life which had particularly led him to the study or practice of agri- 
