Slike strani
PDF
ePub

fare of my blifs. Yes, CAMPBELL! it was once my happiness, though now, alas! the fource of poignant mifery, to be bleffed with the best parents that ever watched over the welfare of a child -with friends, too, who loved me, and whom my heart cherished-and-O God! do I think of her, and yet retain my fentes-with the affections of a young Lady, than whom Providence, in the fullness of its power and bounty to Markind, never formed one more lovely, one more angelic in perfon, more heavenly in difpofition, more rich in in tellectual endowments. Alas! my friend, will you, can you pardon thefe warm ebullitions of a fond paffion? will you for a moment enter into my feelings, and make allowance for thefe tranfports? But how can you? Your friendship and pity may indeed induce you to excufe this interruption; but, to fympathife truly, and feel as I feel, you must have known the charming girl herself.

"My father, though he did not move in the very first walk of life, held the rank of a Gentleman by birth and education, and was refpectable, not only as a man of confiderable property, but as a perfon who knew how to turn the gifts of fortune to their beft account: he was generous without prodigality, and charitable without oftentation: le was allowed by all who knew him to be the most tender of hufbands; the most zealous and fincere of friends; and I can bear witness to his being the beft of parents. As long as I can remember to have been able to make a remark, the tenderness of both my father and mother knew no bounds: I feemed to occupy all their thoughts, all their attention; and in a few years, as I thank God I never made an unfuitable return for their affection, it increafed to fuch a degree, that their existence feemed to hang upon mine.

To make as much of a child fo be loved as his natural talents would allow, no expence was fpared in my education; from childhood, every inftruction that money could purchase, and every allurement to learn that fondnefs could fuggeft, were beftowed upon me; while my beloved father, tracing the advances I made with the magnifying eye of affection, would hang over me in rapture, and enjoy by anticipation the fame and honours that, overweening fond nefs fuggefted to him, must one day furround me. Thefe prejudices, my

dear friend! arifing from the excefs of natural affection, are excufeable, if not amiable, and deferve a better fate than difappointment. Alas! my honoured father, you little knew--and, oh! may you never know, what fort of fame, what fort of honours, await your child t May the anguish he endures, and his moft calamitous fate, never reach your ears!-for, too well I know, 'twould give a deadly wrench to your heart, and' precipitate you untimely to your grave!

Thus years rolled on; during which, time feemed to have added new wings to his fight, fo quickly did they' pafs. Unmarked by any of thofe finif ter events that parcel out the time in weary ftages to the unfortunate, it flid on unperceived; and an enlargement in my fize, and an increafe of knowledge, were all I had to inform me that eighteen years had paffed away.

"It was at this time that I first found the fmooth current of my tranquillity interrupted, and the tide of my feelings fwelled and agitated, by the acceffion of new ftreams of fenfation: in fhort, I became a flave to the delicious pains of Love; and, after having borne them in concealment for a long time, at length collected courage to declare it. Frank. nefs and candour were among the vir tues of my beloved: the liftened to proteftations of affection, and, rifing above the little arts of her fex, avowed a reciprocal attachment. The meature of my blifs feemed now to be full: the purity of my pallion was fuch, that the thoughts of the groffer animal defires never once occurred; and happy in loving, and in being beloved, we paffed our time in all the innocent blandifhments which truly virtuous Love in fpires, without our imagination roaming even for an inftant into the wilds of fenfuality.

"As I w was to inherit a genteel inde pendent fortune, my father propofed to breed me up to a learned profeflionthe Law; rather to invigorate and exercife my intellects, and as a step to rank in the State, than for mere lucrative purposes. I was put to one of the Universities, with an allowance fuited to his intentions towards me; aud was immediately to have been fent to travel for my further improvement, when an unforeseen accident happened, which completely cruthed all my father's views, dathed the cup of happiness from my lips, and brought me ultimately to that deplorable ftate in which

C 2

you

you have now the misfortune to be joined along with me.

"It was but a few months, antecedent to my embarking for the Eaf tern World, that my father, whom I had for fome time with forrow observed thoughtful, ftudious, and melancholy, took me into his study, and, feizing my hand, and looking earneftly into my face, while his countenance betrayed the violent agitation of his mind, asked me emphatically, if I thought I had fortitude to bear the greatest poffible calamity. I w was horror-ftruck at his emotion, accompanied by fuch a queftion but replied, I hoped I had. He then afked me, if I had affection enough for him to forgive him if he was the caufe of it? I answered, that the idea connected with the word forgiveness, was that which I could never be brought by any earthly circumstance to apply to my father; but begged him at once to dif. close the worst to me-as, being what it might, my mifery could not furpafs what I then felt from the myfterious manner in which he spoke,

"He then told me that he was an undone man that he had, with the very best intentions, and with the view of aggrandizing me, engaged in great and important fpeculations, which, had they fucceeded, would have given

us

a princely fortune-but, having turned out, unfortunately, the reverfe, had left him little above beggary. He added, that he had not the refolution to communicate his loffes to me, until neceffity compelled him to tell me all

the truth.

"Although this was a fevere fhock to me, I endeavoured, to conceal my feelings from my father, on whofe account, more than on my own, I was affected, and pretended to make as light of it as fo very important a misfortune would justify; and I had the happiness to perceive that the worthy man took fome comfort from my fuppofed indifference. I conjured him not to let fo very trivial a thing as the lofs of property, which could be repaired, break in on his peace of mind or health, which could not; and obferved to him, that we had all of us ftill enough-for that my private property (which I poffeffed independent of him, and which a relation left me) would amply fupply all our neceffities.

"Having thus endeavoured to ac. commodate all my unhappy father's feel ings to his loffes, I had yer to accom.

modate my own; and began to revolve in my mind what was likely to ensue from, and what ftep was moit proper to be taken in, this dreadful change of circumstances. That which lay nearest to my heart first occurred; you will readily guess that I mean my Love: to involve her I loved more, far more, than my life, in the misfortunes of my family, was too horrible a confideration to be outweighed even by the dread of losing her. I knew not what to do, and I thought upon it till I became al moft enfrenzied. In this ftate I went to her, and unfolded the whole state of our concerns, together with my refolution not to involve her in our ruin ;— when can you believe it? the lovely girl infifted on making my fate indif folubly her's-not, as the faid, that the had the fmalle ft apprehenfion lapfe of time, or change of circumftance, could make an alteration in our affection, but that he wished to give my mind that repofe which I might derive from fecu, rity. This I would by no means accede to; and, for the prefent, we contented ourfelves with mutual vows of eternal fidelity.

"As foon as I thought my father's mind fit for fuch a converfation, I opened to him a plan. I had formed of coming to India, to advance my fortune. His understanding approved of it, but his heart diffented; and he faid, that to part with me would give the finishing ftroke to his misfortunes: but, as my intereft was tolerably good, I reprefent ed to him the great likelihood I had of fuccefs; and at laft, with fome difficulty, he confented.

[ocr errors]

Mifs

My next step was to acquaint with my refolution. I purpofely pafs over a meeting which no power of language can defcribe !-then how can I-Oh! CAMPBELL, the remembrance of it gnaws me like a vulture here" (and he put his hand upon his heart, while the tears rolled down his cheeks), "and will foon, foon bring me to my end.

"Not to detain you with vain efforts to deferibe all our feelings, I will confine myself to telling you, that after having made every neceffary prepa. ration, and divided with my much honoured parents the little property I poffeffed, I fet fail for India, in a ftate of mind compared with which the horrors of annihilation would have been enviable: the chaos in my thoughts made me infenfible to every object but

one;

[blocks in formation]

SIR JOHN SINCLAIR'S ADDRESS to the BOARD OF AGRICULTure, ON TUESDAY, the 24th of MAY 1796,

STATING THE PROGRESS THAT HAD BEEN MADE BY THE BOARD DURING THE THIRD SESSION SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT.

Igitur et de cultura agri præcipere, principale fuit, etiam apud exteros; fiquidem et Teges fecere, Hiero, Philometor, Attalus, Archelaus, et duces Xenophon, et Panas euam Mago; cui quidem tantum bonorem fenatus nofter (Romanus) habuit, Carthagine captu; ut cum regulis Africa bibliothecas donaret, unius ejus duo de triginta de agricultură volumina, cenferet in Larinam linguam iransferenda, cum jam M. Cato præcepta condidiffet, periifque linguæ Punica dandum negotium, in quo præceffit onnci soir clariffimæ familiæ D. Syllanus.

[blocks in formation]

PLIN. HIST. MUND. 1. xviii. c. 3.

[merged small][ocr errors]

in detail as they are wanted; they require no manufacture of drying, milling, &c. previous to their being used; and they can be prepared in various ways for confumption. Above all, it is to be observed, that there is a space of perhaps four months, which generally is fupplied from the old ftock, but in tines of fearcity muft be taken from the ew crop. That is a circuittance of leis confequence where Spring Corn is the food of the people (but even there it is defirable to the the Corn in Wister rather than in Spring, as the ftraw is better for the cattle): but where the people live upon Wheat, which is fown in autumn, the cafe is otherwife; and it is impoffible to say what diftreis it might occafion (when there is no old feck of Wheat in the country), unlets the aid of fuch an article as Potatoes can be obtained, if the tarmer is obliged, in a hurried and deftructive manner, to thresh Corn, both for Seed for himself, and Food for the Public. He might be tempted, indeed, by the high price of Grain for Food, to delay fowing his Seed until the favourable teaton has elapfed, in which Cafe it is impoffible to fly what damage would ultimately reful from it.

The Board not having yet obtained the privilege of franking, its correfpondence is much more limited and lefs regular than it ought to be, and is attended with a degree of trouble and inconvenience to the perfon who presides at it, of which it is difficult to form an adequate conception. In confequence, however, of the want of this privilege, fo effential to a Public Institution, and the great reftrictions recently impofed upon the privileges enjoyed by a Member of Parliament, it has been found in poffible to keep up that extensive and regular Correspondence, and to pro. cure that extent of information, from which the Public might derive to many important advantages. By the active zeal, however, of many friends to the Inftitu. tion, information was at a very early period fent to the Board, containing rather unfavourable accounts of last year's crop of Wheat. I thought it a duty, therefore, incumbent upon me, to make ufe of every degree of influence which my fituation as Prefident of this Board gave the with the Public, to recommend, in the ftrongest `manner, an extra cultivation of Wheat laft autumn. My letter upon that fubject, dated 11th September, 1795, was fent to all the Members of the Board, was tranfmitted to the Quarter Sellions of the dif. furent Counties, and was printed in above fifty different newlpapers." It is witdmuch

pleasure I add, that the recommendation/ was attended with more extenfive confequences than could well have been expected. From all parts of the kingdom intelligence has been received, that a greater quantity of Wheat was fown last autumn than perhaps ar any period in the memory of man; and fhould the ensuing harvest prove favourable, this kingdom will be as well to ked with Grain as it was fome

years ago At any rate, by these meafures, much risk of an immediate fcarcity feems to be obviated.

The high price of Corn, at the com mencement of the laft Seffion, naturally directed the attention of Parliament to confider the bett means, not only to retedy the prefent diftrefs, but to prevent it in future. For attaining the first object, a delect Committee was appointed, known under the name of the Corn Com mittee, whote anxious zeal to do every puflible juftice to the great fubject referied to their confideration merits the utmost praife. The measures recommended by that Committee have ince been confidered unneceffary by fome individuals, in confequence of the price of Grain having had a temporary fall-But it will probably yet appear, that, had it not been for the earnelt recommendation of that Committee to economize the confumption of bread, to ufe other kinds of Grain as fubftitutes for Wheat, and to encourage the impor tation of foreign Corn by bounties of uncommon magnitude, the price of Grain would not probably have decreated, and complaints would have been made of the inattention of Government to the diftreffes of the country; a more ferious ground of accufation than any over anxiety, which, at all times, particularly in regard to fo critical a matter as the Subfittence of the People, is at least excutable, but on the prefent occafion was n only neceffary, but has proved extremely beneficial.

It was a matter, however, of itill greater importance to prevent, by fome great and effetinal measure, the risk of fearcity in future, and our being under the difgraceful and fatal neceffity, not only of depending upon foreign Grain for our fubfiftence, but allo of encouraging its impor ration by high bounties. With that view, in confequence of the directions of this Board, I had the honour of moving in Parliament for the appointment of a Select Committee, to take into its confideration the means of promoting the cultivation and improvement of the watte, uninclosed, and unproductive lands of the kingdom. The pafting of a General Bill of Inclofurs,

though

though long ardently wished for, has hitherto been attempted in vain, and by many was held to be impracticable. By the exertions, however, of the Select Committee, to whom the drawing up the Bill, and the confideration of the whole subject was referred, a Bill has at last been prepared, which, in the opinion of many intelligent perfons converfant in that fub. je, is fully adequate to the object in view; and had not the last Seffion been cloled rather earlier than was expected, it would probably have received the fanction of the Legiflature this year. I truft, however, that the first Seffion of the enfuing Parliament will have the credit of completing this important and valuable fyftem, on which the future fubfiftence of the country depends. It is not likely at leaft to fail, if it can be effected by the exertions of the Board of Agriculture.

Another mealure recommended by the Board, of infinitely lefs importance, bat at the fame time beneficial to the agri. cultural interefts of the country, hus already paffed. I allude to the exemption of Linised and Rape Cakes from duty, hy an Act of laft Seffion, 36. Geo. III.c. 113. The first article, Linseed Cake, is of confiderable importance to the feeders of cat. tle, and may be had, it is fappofed, in abundance from America, where a great quantity of Linfeed Oil is made ufe of in painting their wooden houfes. The refele, known under the name of Linfeed Oil or Cake, is of little value there, in confequence of the fuperabundance of other kinds of provifion for cattle. No. this would be more defirable than thus to citablish a new source of trade, beneficial to two countries, inhabited by a race of men fpeaking the fame language, de! fsended from the fame common origin, and who ought to confider themselves as the fame people.-As to Rape Cake, it is found to be a valuable mannre in many parts of this kingdon. Confiderable quantities of this article, it is fuppofed, may be obtained from the Continent of Europe; and fince this regulation has taken place, Rape will probably be cul. tivated in America. Were Ruffia alfo to devote fome part of her boundless territories to the culture of that plant, the foundation of a commerce might be laid adFantageous to both empires.

In regard to collecting and circulating

agricultural information, the true foundation of all thofe various improvements, which, under the auspices of the Board, will probably be effected, confiderable progreis has been made. The General Views of the agricultural ftate of the different Counties, with the exception of two small districts in Scotland (Clackmannan and Kinrols), a part of each of which is already printed, have been completed. The corrected Reports of Lancashire, Norfolk, Kent, Staffordshire, and Mid Lothian, are published; and thofe of feveral other Counties are almost ready for the prefs. A valuable addition has been made to the printed paper on Manures. The sketch of a Report on a point which has of late been much difcuffed, namely, the fize of farms, has alfo been printed, and throws much light upon that fubject. A valu able communication from Lord Winchelfea, on the advantage of cottagers renting hand, was ordered to be printed, with the unanimous approbation of those who had the fatisfaction of being pretent when that paper was read to the Board.

It is impoffible, in this short abstract of our proceedings, to give any idea of the numerous communications tranfmitted to the Board, or of the various points to which its attention has been directed. Its experiments in regard to the Compofition of Bread, and information tranfmitted to it upon that fubject, would of ittelf have been fufficient to have occupied the full attention of many Societies. The perfection to which the manufacturing of Barley Flour has been carried under the aufpices of this inftitution, is a discovery of great importance, as it is thus afcertained, that from the meal of Pearl or Pot Barley, Bread may be made, in taste and colour, and probably in nourishment, little inferier to that of Wheaten Flour; and that in the proportion of at least one-third, fuch Meal may be mixed with the produce of Wheat, fo as hardly to be diftinguished. A very general correspondence has been established, for the purpose of afcertaining the Price of Stock, both lean and fattened. Experiments on a great fcale, under the directions of that able chymift Dr. Fordyce, are now carrying on at Gubbins in Hert. fordshire, the leat of Mr. Hunter, for the purpose of afcertaining the Principles of Vegetation, and the Effects of Manures; and iteps are now taking, in order to pro

Intituled "An Act for allowing the Importation of Arrow Root from the British Plantations, and alfo of Linfeed Cakes and Rope Cakes from any foreign Country, in British-built fhips, owned, navigated, and registered according to law, without Payment of Duty."

cure

« PrejšnjaNaprej »