1799] 
time and application, that are neceffary to 
read his works, in the original, might 
not be more pleafingly and more ufefully 
employed, in perufing the produétions of 
thofe, for whom he only prepared the way 
in the wildernefs: it was his fucceflors 
that made it to bloom. 
April 30, 1799. CRE 
(To be continued.) 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
A igteet upon the north-border of 
Yorkhhire,, this Summer, I met 
with fome labourers employed in clearing 
away a large heap of ftones overgrown 
with bufhes, &c. fituated upon a_hill in 
the midft of a wood, where they dug up 
a great many hand millftones, fome of 
limeftone, but principally of freeftone ; 
as there are no conjeétures refpecting this 
place either in hiftory or tradition, I fhould 
be glad if any of your correfpondents 
would favour your readers with fome ac- 
count refpeéting the time and way how the 
feveral forts of mills for grinding grain, 
whether worked by the hand, water, or 
wind, came into ufe. 
Homerton. ieee 
a 
‘TOUR OF ENGLAND. 
(Continued from page 374.) 
Journal of a Tour through almoft every county 
in England, and part of Wales, by Mr. Joun 
Housman, of Corby, near Carlifle; who 
Was engaged to make the Tour by a gentle- 
man of diftinction, for the purpofe of col- 
le&ting authentic information relative to 
the ftate of the poor. The Journal com- 
prizes an account of the general appearance 
of the country, of the foil, furface, buila- 
ings, &c. with obfervations agricultural, 
commercial, &c. 
ECEMBER 14. From Lancafter to 
Kendal, in Weftmoreland, 22 miles. 
About half of this diftri& is in Lanca- 
fhire, and the other in Weftmoreland: that 
jn Lancafhire is level, but the other rather 
uneven, and high hills appear at a little 
diftance ; fome of which are wholly com- 
pofed of limeftone, particularly that moun- 
tain called Failton Knot. The whole ex- 
tent of this diftrict is a farming country ; 
the farms and fields are finmali; the foil 
rather gravelly and dry; and the produce 
wheat, barley, oats, and grafs ; but moft 
of the latter, efpecially towards the extre- 
mities. —On the Weftmoreland part -of 
this diftrict the road crofles large, dry, 
and green commons, which are very fuf- 
ceptible of improvement. The new canal, 
which I faw in different parts of Lancafhire, 
appears allo here, but is far from being 
MonTuriy Mac. No xtvi. 
Hand Millftones....d4r. Houfman’s Tour. 
457 
finifhed. It is intended to be carried on to 
Kendal, and will be extremely ufeful to 
the country, when completed. lis prin- 
cipal objeét feems to be the conveyance of 
lime and coal. Weftmoreland abounds 
with limeftone, and Lancathire with coal, 
conlequently the exchange will be conve- 
nient and profitable to each county. —Lan- 
cafhire is famous for its manutacture of 
cottons ; that manufacture is not confined 
to large towns, but is {pread through every 
village and hamlet in the greateft part of 
the county.—The furface in general is 
level, yet not withont a few mountains ; 
and in the north-weft corner is extremely 
rocky, even on the low grounds; fo much 
fo, that I have feen fome places covered 
with rock to fuch a degree, that fcarce a 
blade of grafs could be produced.— Coal 
is found in abundance in many parts of 
Lancafhire.—In the farming department, 
cheefe is the principal object of the farmer, 
and that article is generally very good in © 
quality : the cattle of this county are long 
horned, and allowed by mott judges of 
that fpecies of animals, to be, at leatt, 
equal to any breed in the kingdom; and 
{till capable of great improvement, which 
Mr. Bakewell, who got his breeders from 
hence, has fhewn. Fields and farms are 
fmall, and rather decreafing- in fize, in 
order to accomodate the manufacturers, 
and increafe the rentals. —Here are feveral 
great extents of peat mofs, {ome of which 
have been improved to great advantage, 
and others are ftill under the hands of the 
egriculturift.—Buildings, in general, are 
very good. The pronunciation of the com- 
mon people is well known ; I thought it 
the moft difagreeable diale& in the king- 
dom.—I have again reached Kendal, which 
place I vilited at the commencement of my 
Tour ; and Dec. 15,I left that place, and 
went to Penrith, in Cumberland, 26 miles. 
Weftmorelana affords the finelt flate in 
the kingdom ; a great deal of which is 
fent to London, and other diftant parts. 
Mott part of the county confifts of high 
and barren mountains, but fupporting a 
few fneep and plenty of groufe. The val- 
leys produce a little wheat and barley, 
but oats is the principal fort of grain cul- 
tivated here. However, the farmer ufually 
has the greateft part of his farm in gra{s, 
for hay and pafture.—Buildings are very 
ood, and covered with blue flate; farms 
and fields are fmall, and the latter mottly 
divided with ftone walls. The foil dry 
and gravelly ; rivers, brooks, and {prings 
in abundance ; the air fharp and healchy 
enough, but fubjeét to much wet from the 
mountains attracting the atmofphere. 
3N December 
