335 
generally of an inferior kind ; he easily perceived that it was 
not owing to the fruit, but to the ignorance and prejudices of 
the growers. He foresaw, that to remedy these circumstances, 
would be to confer an essential benefit on the island, and, at 
the same time, enable him to follow his predilection for ex¬ 
perimental philosophy. With this view, therefore, he de¬ 
voted the greatest part of his leisure from his professional 
avocations for his last thirty years, to this branch of rural eco¬ 
nomy. He not only succeeded with regard to his own cider, 
but he had also the satisfaction to see his instructions spread 
daily more and more among his countrymen, and their staple 
commodity increase in reputation. The first edition of his 
work was published in 1S01, and the second, with very consi¬ 
derable additions, in 1806. The substance of some of Mr. Le 
Couteur’s speeches in the states of the island have been pub¬ 
lished at different times. 
We are now come to the most afflicting part of the narrative. 
He had the misfortune in the beginning of the year r8o8, 
to lose his daughter-in-law, the wife of his eldest son ; this 
amiable and interesting lady was snatched in the bloom of 
youth, and her loss was still more severely felt by her discon¬ 
solate family, as she was an only child, and left three infant 
children. Scarcely had Mr. Le Couieur experienced this 
affliction, when it pleased Providence to visit him with another 
trial, in the loss of his second son, Captain Philip Le Couteur, 
who had died in the East Indies. This young gentleman’s 
merit had given room to the fondest expectations; he had a 
particular talent for painting, and he fell a victim to his art 
by having remained too long in a marshy situation in drawing 
some cataracts. Religion and philosophy still supported the 
worthy parent under this severe infliction. His soul was not 
to be subdued by grief; but the human constitution cannot 
fail of being impaired under such circumstances, and worn 
out, as he already was, by bodily infirmities, he did not re¬ 
cover from the shock; he was seized with a typhus fever a 
few weeks after, and a mortification at the same time taking 
place in one of his thighs, he expired without a struggle, on 
the 15th of May, 1S0S, being then in the sixty-fourth year of 
his age. 
Mr. Le Couteur’s constitution was naturally robust, but it 
had been impaired by the accidents which he had met with at 
different times. In his person, he was rather tall and strong 
built, he had a full face, and there was something remarkably 
pleasant in his countenance, such as indicated the benevolence 
'of lus heart, and the frankness of his disposition. 
In his character, Mr. Le Couteur appears to the highest 
advantage. In his different capacities he deserved commen¬ 
dation : as a clergyman, no one ever discharged his duty 
more conscientiously ; his piety was lively and unaffected, 
without either ostentation or enthusiasm ; he was not ait 
orator, but his earnest and forcible manner of delivery, which 
proceeded from his conviction of the awful truths of Chris¬ 
tianity, 
