PREFACE. V 



to the injunctions of Sir John Sinclair, I had already anti- 

 cipated them in part ; but I could find nothing of material 

 interest respecting poultry in the books he quotes, agricul- 

 tural writers, in general, neglecting that subject as of infe- 

 rior concern, unless, indeed, we except one, and him there 

 mil be no doubt that I consulted. I, however, recollect the 

 description of a most complete poultry-yard some years 

 since, either in the Annals of Agriculture, or Communica- 

 tions to the Board. As to considerable poultry-feeders in 

 and about London, granting there be any such exclusive of 

 the goose-feeders, they must be sought, I apprehend, among 

 the poulterers.- (See p. 80.) 



A critic in one of the Magazines objects to my position, 

 that " no live stock is less liable to disease than the rabbit, 

 with regular and careful attention." I repeat the assertion, 

 coupled with another, namely, that without regular and 

 careful attention, no live stock is more precarious. 



May 27, 1816. 



Letter of the Right Honourable Sir John Sinclair, Bart, to 

 Messrs. Sherwood and Co. 



(COPY.) 

 " GENTLEMEN, 



" I have read over Mr. Moubray's Treatise on Domestic Poultry, 

 which seems to be the best work hitherto printed on that subject ; 

 but it might be much improved by a careful examination of all the 

 County Reports, and other recent agricultural publications. The 

 reports should be specifically referred to, when quoted, by the page. 

 I will trouble you to procure from the author, or by any other 

 channel, the names of the principal feeders of poultry in and about 

 London, and their places of abode. 



"(Signed) JOHN SINCLAIR." 



With the Third Edition, in the hope of rendering these pages addi- 

 tionally useful, the reader is presented with the result of the Author's 



