[ xili ] 



an undertaking as plenty of patience. Af-. 

 ttr abundance of explanations, I frequently 

 had fuch intelligence as would have patTed 

 current with thofe who were unexperienced 

 in hufbandry, but which forced me to a 

 mod uncommon attention to difcover 

 wherein was the miftake. My bufmefs was 

 likewife lb very unufual, that fome art was 

 requifite to gain intelligence from many 

 farmers, &c. who were ftartled at the firit 

 attack. I found that even a prcfunon of 

 expence was often neceffary to gain the 

 ends I had in view : I was forced to make 

 more than one honeft farmer half drunk, 

 before I could get fober, unprejudiced intel- 

 ligence. Nor were fuch my only diffi- 

 culties ; I met with fome farmers who gave 

 zne accounts too improbable to credit ; 

 whether from ignorance, or an attention 

 to deceive, I know not ; but I always re- 

 peated my enquiries upon thole occalions, 

 until I gained the truth. When the can- 

 did reader coniiders thefe, and many other 

 circumitances, I flatter myfelf, he wilfex- 

 cufe fmall errors, and improprieties of flile. 

 One point remains for me to fpeak to, 

 whereon I lhall ever dwell with pieaiure ; 

 it is the returning my moft grateful thanks 

 to thofe gentlemen that had the fpirit to 

 encourage an undertaking, which has by 

 fome been branded as vifoonary, I cannot 

 forego the fatisfaclion of a flight recapitu- 

 lation, 



