119 



were formed by these abused floatere in 

 Gloucestershire; and which meadows 

 Mr. Smith, I knovvr, took considerable 

 pains to make himself acquainted with, 

 by a nice examination, and by a minute 

 measurement. 



Mr. Smith, in limine, or however in 

 the third sentence of his introduction, 

 commences with a general and ungracious, 

 if not mio'rateful condemnation of the 

 skill and operations of all that have pre- 

 ceded him in the department of Floating. 



"It is an evil of great national im- 

 ** portance,'* says he, " that the direction 

 " and execution of this branch of agri- 

 " culture has so long been entrusted to 

 *' those whose situation in life cannot 

 *^ afford them an opportunity of extend- 

 Q 2 " ing 



