214 CHRONICLES OF A CLAY FARM. 



rience the development of Steam Navigation, of the 

 Railroad system, the Electric Telegraph, and other 

 kindred appliances in the many-pathed field of prac- 

 tical science. 



'It was strange,' we may suppose our future 

 annalist to write, 'that amidst the blaze of sur- 

 rounding discovery in the arts that economize the 

 labour and advance the condition of man, an appli- 

 cation of steam-power that must surely have pressed 

 with such powerful motive and exigency on a period 

 when circumstances seemed especially to evoke the 

 mechanical resources of the kingdom, by way of set- 

 off to its often-urged disadvantages in climate and 

 in fiscal burdens, should have been long regarded 

 rather with the apathy evinced towards the cobweb 

 speculations of dreaming enthusiasm, than dealt with 

 as a practical question by practical minds. While 

 zealous agriculturists were eloquently excited once 

 a year over the weight of an ox, or the twist of an 

 improved mould-board, " Science " was satisfied, and 

 " Practice " seemed to tread on the heels of perfec- 

 tion ! Under such patronage, " Improvements " in 

 the established implements of tillage were of course 

 as numerous as the moiety of twenty acres of ground 



