526 OCTOBER. 



farmers save more than they make; and others, 

 after deducting the value of their own labour, and 

 that of their children, do not make more than a 

 living. Except upon particular soils, it is not a 

 profitable employment of money, compared with 

 many others ; and I urge this the rather, that you 

 may be assured it will not answer, unless well fol- 

 lowed and judiciously conducted. When I come 

 to you, I will hear what has been the manage- 

 ment, and put you in a train that shall be safe and 

 beneficial. I will then talk with you upon what 

 you have written of new Leicester sheep, and some 

 other things, all of which I beg you to postpone 

 not only now, but till a year's account is made up 

 on the present management, that we may know 



the points in which any change is advisable. " 



The habit of being a guest in the houses of all 

 ranks and classes of the people, not wholly without 

 observation, enables me to form somewhat of an 

 estimate of the nature and extent of the happiness 

 that a man has the chance of in the different paths 

 of life ; and I do not hesitate a moment in prefer- 

 ring the life of great farmers. The style of living to 

 which I mean to allude, is this : a large, roomy, 

 clean kitchen, with a good rousing fire on the 

 hearth, and the ceiling well hung with smoaked 

 bacons and hams : a small room for the farmer and 

 his family, opening into this kitchen, with glass in, 

 the door, or the wall, to see that things go right* 

 When company is in the house, the fire in the 

 garlour ; very well furnished. At table, great 



plenty 



