12 A Walk from 



mer, Autumn, and Winter, they shall show the fresh 

 checker- work of the ploughman's hob-nailed shoe. The 

 surreptitious innovations of utilitarian science shall 

 not poach upon these sacred preserves of the people, 

 whatever revolutions they may produce in the machinery 

 and speed of turnpike locomotion. These pleasant and 

 peaceful paths through park, and pasture, meandering 

 through the beautiful and sweet-breathing artistry of 

 English agriculture, are guaranteed to future genera- 

 tions by an authority which no legislation can annul. 



A walk of a few miles brought me in sight of Tiptree 

 Hall ; and its first aspect relieved my mind of an im- 

 pression which, in common with thousands better in- 

 formed, I had entertained in reference to the establish- 

 ment. An idea has generally prevailed among English 

 farmers, and agriculturists of other countries who have 

 heard of Alderman Mechi's experiments, that they were 

 impracticable and almost valueless, because they would 

 not pay ; that the balance-sheet of his operations did and 

 must ever show such ruinous discrepancy between income 

 and expenditure as must deter any man, of less capital 

 and reckless enthusiasm, from following his lead into 

 such unconsidered ventures. In short, he has been 

 widely regarded at home and abroad as a bold and 

 dashing novice in agricultural experience, ready to lavish 

 upon his own hasty inventions a fortune acquired in his 



