LIFE of Dr HUTTON. 87 



After the publication of the work jufl mentioned, he began 

 to prepare another for the prefs, on a fubject which had early- 

 occupied his thoughts, and had been at no time of his life en- 

 tirely neglected. This fubject was hufbandry, on which he had 

 written a great deal, the fruit both of his reading and experience ; 

 and he now propofed to reduce the whole into a fyftematic form, 

 under the title of Elements of Agriculture. This work, which he 

 nearly completed, remains in manufcript. It is written with 

 confiderable perfpicuity ; and though I can judge but very im- 

 perfectly of its merits, I can venture to fay, that it contains a 

 great deal of folid and practical knowledge, without any of the 

 vague and unphilofophic theory fo common in books on the 

 fame fubject. In particular, I muft obferve, that where it treats 

 of climate, and the influence of heat, in accelerating the maturity 

 of plants, it furnifhes feveral views that appear to be perfectly 

 new, and that are certainly highly interefting. 



The period, however, was now not far diftant, which was to 

 terminate the exertions of a mind of fuch lingular activity, and 

 of fuch ardour in the purfuit of knowledge. Not long after the 

 time we are fpeaking of, Dr Hutton was again attacked by the 

 fame diforder from which he had already made fo remarkable 

 a recovery. He was again faved from the danger that immediate- 

 ly threatened him, but his constitution had materially fufFered, 

 and nothing could reflore him to his former ftrength. He 

 recovered, indeed, fo far as to amufe himfelf with ftudy, and 

 with the converfation of his friends, and even to go on with the 

 work on agriculture, which was nearly completed. He was, 

 however, confined entirely to the houfe ; and in the courfe of 

 the winter 1796-7, he became gradually weaker, was extreme- 

 ly emaciated, and fufFered much pain, but ftill retained the 

 full activity and acutenefs of his mind. He conftantly employ- 

 ed himfelf in reading and writing, and was particularly pleafed 

 with the third and fourth volumes of Saussure's Voyages 



Vol. V.— P. III. M mix 



