HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 135 



and horses at plough ; much worse at harrow, which never ought 

 to be used but when the land is dry. 



" The different opinions upon the mode of culture of land has 

 employed many pens, and volumes have been written upon the sub- 

 ject ; I believe, notwithstanding the improvements made in the 

 present century, that farming is in its infancy. 



" October 23, 1797." " W. BOURNE." 



There is a handsome stone bridge across the Tame at Elford, 

 and a little above it on the river is situated a paper-mill and corn- 

 mill, formerly the property of the late Mr. Bage, the celebrated 

 author of ' Harmsprong, or Man as He is Not,' and other popular 

 novels. Mr. Bage resided for many years at Elford, and afterwards 

 removed to Tamworth, where he lived respected, and died regret- 

 ted, in the year 1801. He was a .native of Derby, and the late 

 Mr. Button, in his history of that town, gives the following quaint 

 account of the author and his publications : 



" Wherein is an excellent picture of life, a full display of 

 character and sentiment. These have travelled to the Continent, 

 passed through the Frankfort press, and appeared to the world 

 in a German habit. 



" Although fortune never made him conspicuous in the great 

 world, she gave him what is preferable, affluence and content. In 

 directing a paper-mill, may be found that head which is able to 

 direct empires ; that judgment, which can decide in difficult 

 cases ; a penetration, which can fathom the human heart, and 

 comprehend various systems of knowledge ; a genius, which con- 

 stitutes the companion for Newton in philosophy ; for Handel in 

 music ; for Euclid in mathematics ; a master of the living and 

 dead languages ; and all, like the wealth of a merchant who 

 rises from nothing, acquired by himself. 



"That rectitude which is rarely found, is here obscured from the 

 public eye ; but is a pearl of great price and a credit to our species. 

 Though a diminutive figure, yet one of the most amiable of men; 

 and though barely a Christian, yet one of the best." 



This high.eulogium on the genius and character of one of our best 

 modern novelists, will probably excite curiosity in the reader to 

 learn some further particulars respecting him. The following bio- 

 graphical sketch will probably prove sufficient on the subject : 



Robert Bage was born at Derby, in the year 1728. His father 

 was a paper manufacturer, and the son being intended for the same 

 business, received a common school education. In his youth, 



