Arthur Young. 
15 
It is the variety of subjects so graphically dealt with that 
gives the book all the charm one finds in travelling through a 
new country. The whole scene and economy of rural life are 
opened out, and the mind of the reader is relieved by the free- 
dom with which the author describes the pursuits of the people, 
their homes and industries, with the features of the country 
modified and marked by the operations of husbandry, and the 
residences and conspicuous improvements of the landowners. 
The three Tours, Southern , Northern, and Eastern, were 
translated into Russian by the express command of the Empress 
Catherine, who at the same time sent several young Rus- 
sians to reside with the Bradfield tenantry for instruction in 
English agriculture. Prince Potemkin afterwards sent two of 
his own young men for the same purpose, while others came 
from the Marquis La Fayette. 
The six weeks’ tour produced such a sensation that he was 
pressed to visit other districts, and in 17G8 he started on his six 
months’ Northern tour, which appeared in four volumes, “ con- 
taining an account of the present state of agriculture, manufac- 
tures, and population in several counties of this kingdom.” In 
the preface he says that private business carrying him into the 
South of Wales gave birth to the six weeks’ tour, which he wrote 
chiefly for amusement on the road, not being sensible that the 
papers might be of use till he “ sat down to consider them.” 
Before commencing his new journey he advertised his inten- 
tions in the London papers, requesting such of the nobility, 
gentry, farmers, and others as were acquainted with any parti- 
cular improvements, &c., in the agriculture of the counties to 
give him information, with exact directions to the places where 
such improvements are carried on. 
The effect of this intimation did not come up to his expecta- 
tions, but, he adds, “ unremitted industry made some amends for 
the want of better advantages, and the loss of such intelligence 
as gentlemen alone can give was compensated by application to 
farmers.” Spending, however, the race week in the city of 
York brought him the acquaintance of several gentlemen famous 
for their love of agriculture and the uncommon spirit with which 
they practised it, who received him with much politeness and 
furnished him with intelligence which proved the most valuable 
part of the work. This tour, he adds, “ is useful in proportion 
to the value of my authorities. Common farmers have given 
me very sensible accounts of common practices, but few of them 
enter into the spirit of such an undertaking.” Some were 
jealous, none try experiments, but in all these points he declares 
that he “ found many gentlemen extremely satisfactory.” 
