1803. ] 
the citizens of the United States, for the 
{pace of three years from this time, to de- 
pofit their merchandizés and effects in the 
port of New Orleans, and to export them 
from thence without paying any other duty 
than a fair price for the hire of the ftores ; 
and his Majefty promifes either to conti- 
nue this permiffion, if he finds during 
that time that it is not prejudicial to the 
intereft of Spain, or if he fhould not agree 
to continue, he will afign to them on ano- 
ther part of the banks.of the MifliMippi 
an equivalent eftabl.fiment.” 
Itis evident, from this article, that the 
fhutting of the port of New Orleans, 
without affigning an equivalent eftablith- 
ment, is an aft of aggreflion on the part 
of Spain, and fuch an one as the’ Ameri- 
cans are not likely to fubmit to ; for they 
have always looked with a jealous eye on 
Louifiana and the two Floridas, and can- 
not but confider the Spaniards as ufurpers 
of that foil which feems naturally to be- 
long to the United States. What the iffue 
of the prefent negotiation may be it, is 
impoffible to determine ;* but of this lam 
perfuaded, that if the Americans do not 
get their grievances {peedily redreffed, the 
Back-countrymen will overwhelm the Spa- 
niards like atorrent, and drivethem from 
thole fettlements which they are fo un- 
worthy of pofleffing. Tam, Sir, &c. 
Steck Exchange, April 1803. F. Batty. 
Io the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
HAT a knowledge of the preduéts, 
natura! and artificial, of our own 
country, is what every Enelifiman ought 
to be poffefled of, will be readily conced- 
ed; and though great additions have of 
Jate years been made to the general tlock 
ot infcrmation relating to thofe fubjects, 
yet the intelligence which might be ob- 
tained through the medium of a more ex- 
tended correfpendence than the caiual one 
of accidental information, has frequently 
“led me to with for the formation of a fo- 
cicty, which nvght be denominated the 
Society for Scientific Information, and to 
be tormed of one or more intelligent men 
in every city, market town and principal 
village through the United Kingdoms, to 
correipond wiih a committee compofed of 
thofe members who refide in London.— 
In-my opinion fuch a fociety wouid not 
only be produétive of much priva‘e con- 
venience, but of great public utility — 
Thus, if I with to know the }ocal agri- 
* yiuice this was written, trance has ceded 
Losifiana to tle Americans by treaty. 
A Society propofed.— Town of Macduff. — 
shen | 
cultural pra&tice of a ditant difria— 
the mineralogy of any of the mining- 
counties—the ftyle of archite&ture of any 
particular building—unlefs I fhould have 
a friend in the neighbourhood of my en- 
quiries, Tam at a lofs to whom to apply ; 
but if fuch a fociety were formed as above 
alluded to, every neceffary information 
could be obtained by applying to the mem- 
ber refident in the very place concerning 
which I wifh to be informed. 
The above is intended only asa hint 
for any gentleman who has leifure and in- 
clination to improve upon it, fhould fuch 
a fociety be thought worthy of being pro- 
moted, either by framing the neceflary or- 
ganization, or by any method which will 
bring it into afiivity. 
Tam, Sir, your’s, &c. 
HOWDvENIENSIS. 
April 16, 1803. | 
j EE 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
STATE of the TOWN of MACDUFF. 
HE town of Macduff is fituated im 
4 the parifh of Gamery-and county of 
Banff, and lies on the fea-fhore, near the 
mouth of the Moray Frith. In the year 
1752 it conlifted cf only a few fithers 
houfts, and from that time down to the 
years758, very few additions were made 
to it. dhe town, and a very extentive 
eitate adjoining, belong to the family of 
Fife ; and within about a mile of the town 
fiands Duff-houle, a mof magnificent fa- 
bric, and the principal feat of the family. 
About the year 1758 the prefent Earl, 
then Lord Vifcount Macduff, obtained 
from his father, the late Earl, what is 
called the Duff-houfe eftate, on a part of 
which the town of Macduff ftands, and 
then began thefe extenfive improvements 
which he has ever fiace carried on with 
great fucce‘s. At this period the Earl’s 
extenfiye domains, even around the prin- 
cipal feat of the family, were nearly ina 
fiate of nature ; the proper fyftem of 
agriculture being at that time there almoft 
unknown—toe culture of turnips and hay 
not introduced in the country—barley, 
bere or big, and oats, the principal crops 
—the black caitle and fheep, from poor 
winter keeping, of a diminutive fize and 
of little value. To remedy thefedefedts— 
to remove from the inhabitants ftrong pre- 
judices. in favour of ancient ufage, and to 
improve the country, was, the Earl’s firft 
obje& ; and though the doing fo has been 
attended with vait expence and incon- 
ceivable trouble, his fuccefs has even ex- 
ceeded his molt fanguine hopes. By in- 
troducing 
