X 
strange that a Board, possessed of means so extremely 
limited, should find it difficult to reach even that de¬ 
gree of perfection, which, perhaps, might have been 
attainable with more extensive powers: the candid 
reader cannot expect, in these Reports, more than a 
certain portion of useful information, so arranged as to 
render them a basis for farther and more detailed en¬ 
quiries. The attention of the intelligent cultivators of 
the kingdom, however, will doubtless be excited, and 
the minds of men in general, brought gradually to con¬ 
sider favourably of an undertaking which will enable 
all to contribute to the national stores of knowledge, 
upon topics so truly interesting as those which concern 
the agricultural interests of their country; interests 
which on just principles never can be improved, until 
the present state of the kingdom is fully known, and 
the means of its future improvement ascertained with 
minuteness and accuracy. 
magistrate ia the Account of Languedoc, die collection would have 
been one of the most valuable monuments of the age. Some of 
them are well done; but the plan was irregular aud imperfect, be-, 
cause all the intendants were not restrained to one and the same. 
It were to be wished, that each of them had given, in columns, the 
number of inhabitants in each election; the nobles, the citizens, the 
labourers, die artisans, the mechanics, the cattle of every kind; the 
good, the indifferent, and the bad, lands; all the clergy, regular and 
secular, their reveuues, those of the towns, and those of the comma, 
nities. 
“ All these heads, in most of their accounts, are confused and im¬ 
perfect; and it is frequently necessary to search with great care and 
pains, to find what is wanted; the design was excellent, and would 
have been of the greatest use, had it been executed with judgment 
and uniformity.” 
PRELIMINARY 
