176 Slaney on Rural Expenditure. 



more to his own thoughts, directed and aided as they must 

 have been by his own observations and experience, he would 

 have made a better book. We shall express its faults in a 

 lew words : it wants method and arrangement : it is too 

 full of quotations, not always elucidating or bearing out the 

 opinions of the author. He informs us, in his preface, that 

 his wish is not only " to suggest some occupations to the 

 rich, which may combine amusement and advantage ; but to 

 introduce, at the same time, those maxims of political economy 

 which appeared connected with the questions discussed." 

 We are not surprised that he has got himself entangled in 

 the mazes of modern political economy ; for notwithstanding 

 the high, we had almost said arrogant tone, with which its 

 promulgators and teachers publish themselves to the world, 

 as the first who have placed this science on a basis formed of 

 philosophy and practical usefulness cemented together, we are 

 of opinion that most of their first and elementary principles 

 are much more calculated to perplex than to enlighten, and 

 are, in reality, " a form of words," with little of the vitality 

 of thought. Had Mr. Slaney, therefore, brought his own 

 good sense to bear on the first principles of political economy, 

 or, what would have been much better, had he brought it to 

 bear on the process that necessarily occurs in the most simple 

 cases of the production, distribution, and augmentation of 

 wealth, — had he not puzzled himself with the definition of 

 words, but neglecting them, looked into the things them- 

 selves, — had he not become enamoured with the metaphysical 

 subtilties of Mr. Malthus, — often so subtle and immaterial, 

 as, on the approach of an acute and vigorous intellect to 

 vanish into thin air — his maxims of political economy, 

 connected with the questions discussed, would have been more 

 clear, intelligible, and sound, and of more service to the prac- 

 tical part of his work. 



Of this practical part we shall now say a few words, before 

 we dismiss our general notice of the volume, and proceed to 

 our own subject. The practical part properly begins at 

 chapter vii ; and that our readers may have a fair and clear 

 notice of it, we copy the contents of this and the following 

 chapters : — 



Chap. vii. on Agricultural Improvements ; — viii. on Planting ; — 

 ix. on Pruning Forest Trees; — x. on improving Farm Buildings 

 and Cottages ; — xi. on the Improvement of Roads and Foot- 

 paths ; — xii. on the Preservation of Game; — xiii. on Festivals 

 for the Working Classes ; — xiv. on the Formation of Public 

 Libraries ; — xv. on the Collection of Works of Art for Public 

 View ; — xv on Preventive Charity ; Schools for the Poor ; — 



