his manners or conversation, nor was he ever seen either to display his learning with ostentation, or to treat with slight or superciliousness those less informed than himself. He rather sought to make them appear partakers of what he knew, than to mortify them by a parade of his own superic ity. Nor had he any of that miserable fastidiousness about him which too often disgraces men of learning, and prevents their being amused or interested, at least their choosing to appear so, by common performances and common events.

It was with him a maxim, that the most difficult, and infinitely the preferable, sort of criticism, both in literature and in the arts, was that which consists in finding out beauties, rather than defects; and although he certainly wanted not judgment to distinguish and to prefer superior excellence of any kind, he was too reasonable to expect it should very often occur, and too wise to allow himself to be disgusted at common weakness or imperfection. He thought, indeed, that the very attempt to please, however it might fall short of its aim, deserved some return of thanks, some degree of approba tion; and that to endeavour at being pleased by such efforts, was due to justice, to good-nature, and to good sense.

Far at the same time from that presumptuous conceit which is solicitous about mending others, and that moroseness which feeds its own pride by dealing in general censure, he cultivated to the utmost that great moral wisdom, by which we are made humane, gentle, and forgiving; thankful for the blessings of life, acquiescent in the afflictions we endure, and submissive to all the dispensations of Providence. He detested the gloom of superstition, and the persecuting spirit by which it is so often accompanied; but he abhorred still more the baneful and destructive system of modern philosophy; and from his early solicitude to inspire me with a hatred of it, it would almost seem that he foresaw its alarming approach and fatal progress. There is no obligation which I acknowledge with more thankfulness; none that I shall more anxiously endeavour to confer upon my own children, from a thorough conviction of its value and importance.

My father's affection to every part of his family was exemplary and uniform. As a husband, a parent, a master, he was ever kind and indulgent; and it deserves to be mentioned to his honour, that he thought it no interruption of his graver occupations, himself to instruct his daughters, by exercising them daily both in reading and composition, and writing essays for their improvement, during many of their younger years. No man was a better judge of what belonged to female education, and the elegant accomplishments of the sex, or more disposed to set a high value upon them. But he had infinitely more at heart, that his children should be early habituated to the practice of religion and morality, and deeply impressed with their true principles. To promote this desirable end, he was assiduous both by instruction and example; being himself a constant attendant upon public worship, and enforcing that great duty upon every part of his family. The deep sense of moral and religious obligation which was habitual to him, and those benevolent feelings which were so great a happiness to his family and friends,

had the same powerful influence over his public, as his private life. He had an ardent zeal for the prosperity of his country, whose real interests he well understood; and in his parliamentary conduct he proved himself a warm friend to the genuine principles of religious and civil liberty, as well as a firm supporter of every branch of our admirable constitution.' Vol. i. p. xxiii.

Such is the life of a revered father by an affectionate son !— of an amiable, worthy, and learned man, from a writer best able to appreciate his talents and admire his virtues! It has by some been thought too prolix, and occasionally egotical; but we have perused it repeatedly, and are convinced that the reader will not easily assent to such a charge. It has our full and unqualified approbation.

ART. IV.-Transactions of the Society instituted at London, for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce; with the Premiums offered in the Year 1801. Vol. XIX. 8vo. 10s. 6d. Boards. Robson. 1801.

As we have always wished well to this society, and constantly commended the liberal and patriotic views with which it has conducted itself, we observe with pleasure its increasing prosperity. The extending of its premiums to Ireland is a measure which merits our warmest praises; and this wellmeant liberality has been received by the Dublin society with cordiality and gratitude. The nineteenth volume is illustrated with a plate of Owen Salusbury Brereton, Esquire, one of its late vice-presidents; and the life of this gentleman is detailed in the preface, without the meanness of fulsome adulation, or those meretricious ornaments still common in a neighbouring nation; and which, with other novelties, seem to gain ground in this. Mr. Brereton himself might have read his own biography, as here detailed, without a blush, and with a consciousness of his truly deserving the commendations which it contains. The rest of the preface offers a brief and comprehensive abstract of the contents of the volume. Mr. Barry's explanatory account of the alterations made in the pictures, which adorn the society's great room, follows. It is ingenious, but replete with vanity and egotism.

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The premiums have been revised with great care; and many trifling ones are omitted. Some still lie open, as the period for which they were offered is not concluded. The new ones we shall notice particularly. Of these, the first (here marked the 14th) is entitled Comparative Tillage; and its object is to ascertain the advantages of trench-ploughing, analogous to

trenching among gardeners, above the repeated ploughing and harrowing generally employed. The second (No. 22) respects the Rotation of Crops,' designed for those who shall cultivate the greatest quantity of land with winter tares, turnips, and wheat, in succession; and applying the two former to the rearing, supporting, and fattening cattle and sheep. The three next, viz, Nos. 28, 30, and 31, are designed to reward the best methods of preserving the drum-headed cabbages, carrots, parsnips, beets, or potatoes-particularly during the months of February, March, and April so that they may be fit for supporting cattle, or for the table. The ensuing (No. 44) is for a more effectual and expeditious threshing machine; and the following new premium is for preparing tallow so as to burn clear with wicks as small as wax candles, at a less expense than spermaceti candles. The 72d premium is for extracting the tannin from oak-bark, &c.; the 73d and 74th, for a red and a green colour, more durable, cheap, and expeditious, than those commonly employed, for the use of calico-printers; the 77th, for the preparation of an artificial ultramarine; the 98th, for the best stroke-engraving published in 1801; 100th and 102d, for chintz and copper-plate patterns for calico-printers; the 103d, for the best engravings on wood, capable of being worked with letter-press; 105th, for the best drapery figure cast in bronze; 125th, for an improved ventilation of hospitals and workhouses; 148th, &c. for the cultivation of hemp in Upper and Lower Canada; the 160th, &c. for curing herrings (white herrings) by the Dutch method. It will be ob vious that many of these objects are truly important, though some of them appear trifling. Together they constitute, however, the only new objects,

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The first communication in the class of agriculture relates to the plantation of English elms by Mr. Vernon of Hilton-park, The plantations are extensive, and the trees thriving. This claim is followed by one from Mr. Selby of Orford-castle, Kent, for the plantation of osiers on wet, and otherwise barren, ground. All these attempts, however, disappear, in comparison with Mr. Johnes's plantations at Hafod in Cardiganshire. He has made the barren wastes of that part of Wales the most beautiful spots in Europe, by very extensive and judicious planting, From October 1795 to April 1801, he has planted upwards of two millions of trees, of which somewhat more than half are larches. His dairy is also considerably improved, and his sale of cheese and butter annually increasing to a great amount.-Mr. Brown's account of the management of spring wheat is peculiarly interesing in a climate so variable as ours, The result of his experience we shall transcribe. We believe his trials are confirmed by the experience of farmers in many English counties.

are,

The inferences which may be drawn from the above statement,

First, That wheat may be sown with advantage in the spring months, till the middle of March, if the weather is then dry, the land in good condition, and the succeeding summer moderately

warm.

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Secondly, That under the above circumstances, the period of harvest is not retarded above ten days by the late sowing, especially in favourable seasons.

Thirdly, That the grain produced from spring crops of wheat is equally good in quality, as that sown in the autumn and winter months. P. 85.

The Courland method of making hay is interesting in many respects. To render hay perfect, some fermentation must necessarily take place, as is evident from the smell of acetous æther in the best hay: but, when put together hastily, the fermentation is too rapid; and the stacks, as is well known, sometimes take fire. The Courland method consists in checking the fermentation, by treading the cocks closely while the grass is but partly dried; and by spreading the grass again on the ground when the fermentation has begun. It is afterwards cocked, and may be kept in the cocks for many days, if the weather be uncertain.

A new method of housing corn in wet weather is also described by Mr. Palmer. It depends on threshing the corn immediately on its being cut, and drying it on a malt-kiln. His threshing machine appears to be improved, and to answer very well.-Mr. Fogg of Lancashire has very properly been rewarded for inclosing and improving some very barren waste land at Bolton in the Moors in Lancashire. He propagates potatoes by cutting out the eyes with a cheese-trier; and thinks the young plants equally vigorous and thriving with those planted in the usual way.

The duke of Bridgewater's drain-plough appears to be a most valuable invention. It is adapted for surface draining, and is said to succeed very well, as it destroys but little herbage; and no loss of land arises from the small drains, as the natural grasses appear early in the spring. Mr. Knight's drill-machine for sowing turnips seems useful, as it makes the furrow, drops the seed, and again covers it by one operation. The same author furnishes some judicious remarks on the blights of fruittrees. These arise from aphides; and Mr. Knight thinks, for some good reasons assigned, that the honey-dew is the production of these insects. They may be destroyed by suspending á canvas against the tree, and introducing under it the smoke of tobacco. Parasitical plants also occasion blights. These are the mildew, and a brown kind of the same genus, mucor; the red and white mould on hops; and the rubigo of wheat. The

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most extensive causes of blights, however, are the variations of our climate, particularly sharp cold, with succeeding warm or wet weather. Our author advises us to shelter the tree with double or triple net. The effects usually attributed to lightning, he thinks, may be owing to the excessive heat which generally accompanies it. Some judicious remarks on pruning and thinning the bearing wood are subjoined.

Mr. Lester's cultivator' is an instrument designed to pul verise tenacious soils, and must be employed in the driest seasons. Whatever becomes of the question respecting the drill and broad-cast sowing in general, Mr. Munnings seems to have shown that, for turnips, the former method is preferable. His machine is simple, and the seed is immediately covered. With a one horse plough he moulds up the turnips in the manner of two-furrow' work, which he thinks will protect the young plants; and in this way the ground may be easily weeded. It is a neat scientific method, and promises, we think, to suc ceed. Mr. Eccleston's peat-auger makes a drain by cutting out a column of peat in proportion to its diameter; and this drain is not so soon obstructed by the pressure of the surrounding water. Why are not attempts made to work the auger in every kind of boring by machinery? It would facilitate the labour, and shorten the time employed. We have seen the model of a very useful machine for this purpose.

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A method of rendering barren soils productive, by planting, is exemplified by Mr. Ashton, near Liverpool, who has planted 133 acres of moor waste land near the forest of Delamere, in the county of Chester. The trees planted are about 487,000, and nearly one-half of these are Scotch firs. Of oaks he has planted only 16,200.

Mr. Jones's communication respecting moles is highly curious. It relates to the destruction of the grubs of cockchafers by moles, which entirely destroy them; and contains some valuable facts respecting the latter.

• Some notice of the habits of moles may be acceptable to the society, as it has been said" that they penetrate deep into the earth, in dry weather; rarely quit their subterraneous dwellings, and have few enemies ;" and "that they do great mischief in gardens and corn-grounds."

I have always found that in hay and pasture grounds, as soon as the grass is high enough to cover them, they run upon the surface, where they find their food in the numerous caterpillars and insects which in the early part of the summer crawl out of the earth; and they continue above ground till the harvest. They are frequently cut by the scythe; and I have seen them at various times come out of deep hay grass into places recently mown, and, perceiving their exposure, endeavour to conceal themselves in the shorn grass.