116 TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 



arithmetic. I have, indeed, reflected, very seriously upon Home- 

 spun's story, and as I think, it is clearly proved he was a bit of 

 a gooseacre, a .self-conceited obstinate fellow, until he got new 

 lights, I hope this confession, although at Homespun's ex- 

 pense, will prove to a man of your knowledge and penetration, 

 that I am not undeserving to be ranked amongst those of" en- 

 lightened and liberal minds," to whom K. has submitted the 

 practicability of keeping a cow and pigs upon a sjnall piece of 

 arable land. 



I will now tell you my plain notions upon " the new-fangled 

 husbandry," as Mr. Homespun called it ; which we have lately 

 witnessed in this our island, where I have been born and bred, 

 and from which I have never been farther than the fishing banks. 

 You will, I hope, excuse me, if I should be a little long-winded ; 

 but, when we folks are beginning to write for the public view, 

 you cannot expect we can express ourselves in the same short way 

 as other folks would. 



Well then, Mr. Editor, I must also confess to you, that I am 

 naturally what they call a sly fellow, and I own, when I first 

 heard of all these new things, I thought they were down-right 

 foolishness. I thought my grandsires knew all that was neces- 

 sary to know. They planted yams, and potatoes, and beans, 

 with the spade and pick-axe ; which had been the practice from 

 time immemorial ; and, as I had never seen a plough, I did not 

 like to shew either my ignorance or curiosity ; nor did I wish to 

 appear publicly an advocate for new things ; because I dreaded 

 the jokes at the Almond-tree.* 



I therefore thouglit it best to take a peep, unsuspected, at what 

 was going on. I sneaked along the roads early of a morning, 

 iind had a good view of all that was doing, over the fences. I saw 



• The " Almoud-trcc," in James Towrij Is the resort of idlers. 



