13 
Arthur Young. 
1 attribute to no cause so much as that of attracting the attention 
of such a multitude of enlightened minds, diffusing knowledge 
among their tenantry and animating with rural energy all 
cultivators of the earth.” 
At nearly eighty years of age his course was run, and he 
died in London on April 12, 1820. Buried at Bradfield, the 
inscription on the tablet erected to his memory by his son 
makes a truthful reference to his character in these words : — 
“In agriculture and political economy pre-eminent ; distinguished 
for publick virtue, private worth, and the strict performance of 
every moral duty; above all a faithful but humble disciple of 
that blessed Redeemer on whose atoning blood alone he relied 
for salvation. 
“ His natural genius, cultivated talents, and benevolent exer- 
tions were disinterestedly and successfully devoted to the promo- 
tion of the statistical, commercial, moral, and religious interests 
of his country.” 
A memoir of his life, thus brought down to the grave of 
Arthur Young, still requires some mention to be added of his 
writings, especially such as relate to Agriculture. Of his Tours, 
the Southern Tour of six weeks was the first published, in the 
form of Letters to a Friend. In the introduction the writer 
says, “ This is the first attempt ever made in England to lay 
any account of her agriculture, taken on the spot, before the 
public ; ” the design being to display the real riches of the 
country ; to discover the rental, value, stock in husbandry, 
labour, prices, &c., of the kingdom; to bring local practices, 
which are found highly advantageous, into general notice, so 
that “ the farmers in one place should grow rich by methods 
which would enrich their brethren in another, but remain quite 
unknown.” His view is that the country abounds in gentlemen 
farmers whose ideas are more enlarged, and whose practice is 
founded less on prejudice than is the case with the common 
farmers, upon which class he is somewhat unfairly severe. He 
goes on : “All the well-known capital strokes of husbandry are 
traced accurately to gentlemen. From w'hence comes the intro- 
duction of turnips in England? But from Tull. Who intro- 
duced clover ? But Sir Richard Weston. Marling in Norfolk is 
owing to Lord Townshend and Mr. Allen.” He declares, how- 
ever, that the professed design of his sketches is husbandry. 
He started from Wells towards Lynn, moving “rather in a zig- 
zag manner, crossing the country more than once.” There 
is soon a minute description of Holkham, its plantations, 
