106 v 



sent to Smith field this spring, I could have made & 

 higher price of in the country. The graziers in this part 

 of the country sadly mistook their own interest, in opposing 

 the Islington Market. 



What ungrateful creatures must we be, it we are not 

 most thankful for the numerous comforts and blessings we 

 daily and hourly receive from the Almighty Ruler of the 

 universe. Man has every thing he can reasonably wish 

 for ; but, according to that sentence he received, so full of 

 wisdom and of mercy, not without his own exertions ; the 

 corn, not without his labour in ploughing and sowing ; the 

 meat, not without his care in providing winter food for 

 the animals ; clothing, not without his toil and ingenuity 

 in its manufacture ; nor fuel, without digging into the 

 bowels of the earth for the chief part. How wisely is it 

 thus ordained. Were it not so, man, from the tendencies 

 of his evil nature would, if left to perfect idleness, be worse 

 than a beast. Among those whose minds are directed as 

 they ought to be> there is perhaps no class more likely to 

 be ofteuer reminded of the kind ordinations of Providence, 

 than those who are engaged in the cultivation of the land. 

 Every thing loathsome to man, becomes, by applying it 

 properly to the earth, nourishment both to the grain which 

 produces his bread, and to the grass for the animals which 

 produce his meal. Every noxious weed may, by labour 

 and contrivance, become manure to enrich the land, and 

 thus may even an enemy be turned into a friend. 



For many years past, I have lent my willing though 

 feeble aid, in endeavouring to promote the advancement of 

 the practical knowledge of agriculture, by occasionally 

 writing, under various signatures, in different periodical 

 papers ; but, having now finished a second edition of my 

 little work, which, at the close of the first, I had no idea of 

 undertaking, it is, in truth, my real desire never to write 

 again for publication, fully conscious that such employment 

 engrosses the mind far more than it ought, at my advanced 

 age. To others, therefore, I leave the pleasant task of pur- 

 suing a subject, which to myself has been a source of 

 continual pleasure and amusement. If the result of so 

 many years study and practice of this most useful science, 

 should prove in any way advantageous to my readers, it 

 will afford me lasting satisfaction. 



