272 



spirit of inquiry, he will discover how senseless and unavailing 

 were the attempts to thwart my advocacy of these important 

 subjects, and to confine within the limits of a locality benefits 

 that were ordained for the kingdom at large. 



Our flax-ship may now be considered fairly launched, re- 

 quiring only skilful mariners to direct her course. That her 

 voyage will be prosperous, I entertain no doubt ; because the 

 necessities of an increasing population imperatively demand 

 that food, raiment, and employment, with which she is so richly 

 laden ; — food, because of the seed of flax, which, formed into 

 compounds to fatten cattle, produces corn as well as meat — 

 raiment, because of the linen obtained from the stalks — and 

 employment, because of the thirty branches of business attached 

 to the crop. 



If idleness be the root of all evil, the employment of the 

 poor must ever be a prominent object of Christian duty. Could 

 my readers witness the beneficial effects of flax-scutching alone 

 upon certain classes destitute of all moral and religious order, 

 they \\ould firmly unite with me in the furtherance of this 

 great cause, nor desist from their labours till flax shall have 

 become a staple commodity of this country. 



During my progress, I have been enabled to surmount diffi- 

 culties to which I shall ever revert with gratitude and astonish- 

 ment. Had my opponents been capable of appreciating the 

 principles by which I was actuated, they would have shared 

 with me " the luxury of doing good," and escaped an unen- 

 viable notoriety now inseparably attached to the history of the 

 flax-cause. 



And here, I must briefly advert to the encouragement 

 derived from many of mycorrespondents whom I may probably 

 never see ; but whose intelligent letters I shall retain as pleasing 

 remembrances of friendly co-operation. 



According to my original intention, I shall now proceed to 

 compile this series, with my pamphlets, &c., and to republish 

 them, by subscription, in a collected form, dedicated to the 

 landlords and tenants of Great Britain. The work will contain 

 ample directions for grazing all descriptions of stock, and for 

 securing the flax-crop according to the Belgian system. The 

 whole ^yill be illustrated by engravings of the bullock-boxes. 



