ART. VI. A new compendious Syftem of Husbandry. Containing the Mechanical, Chemical, and Philofophical Elements of Agriculture, &c. &c. By George Winter, Member of the Society of Arts in London, of the Bath Agricultural Society, Honorary Member of the Odiham Agriculture Society, and of the Society for the Participation of useful Knowledge at Norwich, and a PRACTICAL AGRI, CULTURIST. 8vo. 6s. Boards. Newbery. 1787.

Four Readers will believe that a Reviewer can poffefs the common feelings of humanity; if they can be perfuaded that it is poffible for him to be acquainted with the firft rudiments of politeness, that of endeavouring to make all those with whom he has any intercourfe pleafed and happy with themfelves; if they can fuppofe that he will feel pain at wounding in the moft fenfible part, their felf love, thofe who are brought before his tribunal; if all these things are believed, and if they farther fuppofe that he can be influenced by a principle of integrity, which, in spite of these feelings, compels him to decide with ftrict impartiality in every cafe; they will admit that, in his judicial capacity, he muft frequently be obliged to do what, in his focial character, he would above all things with to avoid. Let not, therefore, the Reader think it is an easy matter to criticise where we muft condemn; or, because we fpeak with freedom, where we cannot approve, let him not conceive that we are actuated by malevolence or fpleen. In fome cafes, indeed, we condemn without compunction or scruple of any fort, viz. wherever we see a ftudied defire to miflead. But where, with feemingly good intentions, and public spirited views, an author only discovers his own self-love, or his ignorance, it is with extreme reluctance we can prevail with ourselves either to hurt the one, or expofe the other.

We are inclined to believe that Mr. Winter is a well-meaning agriculturist, to adopt his own word; and that, by frequently thinking on the fubject, and probably talking of it with his goodnatured neighbours, lefs acquainted with it, perhaps, than himself, he may at last have become perfuaded, in good earnest, that his book would be of great general utility: we are forry that it is not in our power to view it in the fame light..

"Drink deep, or tafte not the Pierian fpring," was the advice of one who had studied men with due attention. The precept was excellent, and we with it could be univerfally enforced. How many volumes would in that cafe be fuppreffed!

and among others, perhaps, the work that now claims our attention. Let thofe farmers who have spent a long life in the practice of agriculture, and in a careful attention to the various phenomena that daily occur in that walk-let fuch men relate how few are the facts they have feen thoroughly afcertained, and

how little is yet with certainty known! let them then, if they are poffeffed of Mr. W.'s work, look at its title-page, which profeffes fo much, and is fo uncommonly verbofe, that we had not patience to transcribe it. But we do not defire that they should fay all they think on the occafion :-it might fhock the feelings of the Author ;- to avoid which we shall only give a few quotations from the book, leaving our Readers, in a great meafure, to judge of its value from these specimens.

Mr. W. obferves, that he principles of agriculture are deduced from mechanics, chemistry, and natural philofophy;" which he thinks it neceffary to explain in as many diftinct chapters, viz.

Of MECHANICS,

Mechanics are a branch of practical mathematics, which confider the nature and laws of motion and moving powers, with their effects in machines, which are made fubfervient to the various purpofes of mankind; and it is by the knowledge of this fcience, that the greateft improvements are made of every power and force in nature; by which any work may be more expeditioufly executed, and at the leaft expence.

In all well-managed manufactories the smallest savings of expence, in materials as well as labour, are never neglected. Thofe articles which may appear trifling, and very inconfiderable at first fight, muft on a small scale in a few years, or in an extenfive line of bufinefs in one year, amount to a very confiderable fum. Therefore, why fhould not agriculture admit of a fimilar comparison with manufactures? This art is certainly of more real confequence to the community.

The very great advantages derived from machines, in manufactures, invented by ingenious men of the firft abilities and fortunes in that line, are fufficiently known.

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The great and good effects of new inventions in mechanics are, by the wifdom of the legislature, well fecured. Individuals are protected against the oppreffions, and unjustifiable combinations, of ricious and fervile imitators; who may be compared to the drones, fupported by the labours of the induftrious bee: fuch fecurity to inventions encourages the ingenious artist to rifque his labour and property in new and useful attempts.'

This is the whole of the chapter on mechanics. The next that follows treats

Of CHEMISTRY.

Chemistry is an art by which mixed bodies are feparated, or reduced into their component parts; thereby the feveral properties of foils and manures are difcovered; that fuch manures may be applied as will deftroy any bad qualities that prove hurtful and poisonous to vegetation, and which fertilize the foil.

As all lands differ materially in their qualities, so different manures fhould be accordingly applied.'

And thus ends the compendious chapter on chemistry. At fome diftance follows the chapter

Of

Of NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.

Natural philofophy is the knowledge or study of natural productions founded on reafon and experience. By studying the qualities of natural bodies, in relation to their generation, motion, or other properties, the wonderful works of the creation are difcovered to our view, that we may, with cheerful and divine contemplation, fenfibly feel, and gratefully acknowledge, the myfterious works of Providence.

• God bestowed upon man the ear h, that he might employ his time, by labour and understanding, in replenishing and fubduing it. By labour to cultivate the ground; fuch employment makes him ftrong, active, and healthy.

By understanding to ftudy the most beneficial methods of replenishing, and applying fuch manures as are most effectual for fub. duing and correcting its cohefive and injurious particles, that he may, by his induftry and knowledge, be beft enabled to fupply the wants of nature.

• Providence most wonderfully affifts the industry of man, by celeftial and atmospherical influences, which greatly tend to enrich the earth, and to promote vegetation.'

So much for natural philofophy. Next follow accounts equally fatisfactory-of the Sun; [why was the Moon omitted?] of Fraft; Hail; Snow; Lightning; Dew; Clouds; Rain; Air,-with copious extracts from Dr. Hunter of York, and Dr. Priestley's Effays, &c.

Should we enter upon any critical remarks on the above paffages? The mechanic anfwers, "No, it is unneceffary, and would prove only tiresome to those who know any thing of the matter." The chemift fays, "No-no-no." The natural philofopher, By no means, why fhould you unneceffarily wafte your labour?" Never did Pope fpeak more truly than when he faid-"A little learning is a dangerous thing."

Leaving thefe learned digreffions, we return to the proper objects of the Farmer's attention:

Of DUNG.

• Dung of all forts contains falts and oils. The dung of horses, hogs, and fheep, is the hottest, and beft adapted for ftiff and cold foils.

Human ordure, the dung of poultry and rabbits, are all extremely hot and rich; but are procured in fuch fmall quantities, as not to merit the hufbandman's particular attention. Hence fhould be mixed with other dung or earth.

The dung of horned cattle is fat and cooling; therefore most proper for light, fandy, and gravelly foils.'

Such is the vague manner in which Mr. W. goes on with general affertions. Should the reader afk, by what experiments he has ascertained that the dung of horses, &c. is het, and that of cattle cooling?-None are to be found,-no attempt at proofs; but bold affertions are adopted in their stead. Where are the ex

periments

periments which prove that horfe dung is better for ftiff ground, and worse for fandy land, than the dung of cattle? The fame anfwer occurs.-Norfolk is in general a fandy foil, yet, we have lately feen that the farmers there greatly prefer horse dung to that of cattle. But no obftacles ftand in the way of our Author; a few lumping affertions overcome every difficulty. Example:

Human urine is the richeft [kind of urine], as containing more falts and oil than any other. [Qu.] As great quantities may be collected in cities and towns, it should be kept in cafks to ferment; if mixed, when ftale, with piles of earth, it will form an excellent compoft, far fuperior to dung, for gardens and other ground. Stale urine, applied by watering pots over the trenched garden ground, after being levelled in the fpring, will kill worms and infects, [Proofs?] and prove an exceeding rich manure, entirely free from weeds, &c.'

Thefe fpecimens, no doubt, will fatisfy our Reader as to the nature of the inftruction he may look for, in this compendious Syftem of Hufbandry; and we hope to be excufed for not proceeding farther in the detail.

It would, however, be blameable in us, were we to overlook the circumstance which probably gave rife to the work itself, the Author's patent drill machine; to pave the way for which, copious extracts are given from Dr. Hunter of York, M. Lullin de Chateauvieux, and others, intended to prove the great advantages to be reaped from the drill hufbandry: but no notice is taken of other experiments, equally clear, which have an oppofite tendency. This was not, indeed, to be expected. The Author, we prefume, is himself convinced, and he wishes others to be convinced. The drill machine is here but imperfectly defcribed. It appears, however, to be ftrong, and fimple in its conftruction; well adapted for lafting long, and working smoothly; but is obviously defective in the most important part-that of the delivery of the grain: which, on the principle here. adopted, we think, cannot be done in an equal and perfect

manner.

On the whole, the work before us is evidently mis-named. If instead of A Syftem of Husbandry, containing the chemical, mechanical, and philofophical elements of agriculture,' it had been called The country-gentleman's recreation; or, defultory effays on various fubjects connected with a country life,' it might have paffed very well, as it would have conveyed a juft idea of the contents. We are forry that the Author, among his numerous subscribers, had no friend who dared to moderate the

See our Review of Marshall's Rural Economy of Norfolk, in Auguft laft.

title, and correct feveral improprieties which exhibit him to the Public in a very different light from what he himself intended, and from what his partial favourers would with.

ART. VII. Evidences of the Chriftian Religion briefly and plainly ftated. By James Beattie, LL. D. F.R. S. E. Small 8vo. 2 Vols. 6s. fewed. Sold by Cadell in London, and Creech in Edinburgh.

HA

AVING been much entertained and inftructed by the former productions of this Author, we announce the present publication with peculiar pleafure. Dr. B. tells us, in his advertisement, that this little work was originally intended for the ufe of fome young perfons with whom he was connected; and that during a vifit which he paid, laft year, to the Bishop of Chefter (Dr. Porteus), he fhewed his Lordfhip a sketch of the first and fecond chapters, and gave him a general account of what he meant to introduce in the fequel. The Bishop faid that fomething of this kind was much wanted; and that a comprehenfive view of the principal evidences of Chriftianity, drawn up in fuch a manner as to fix the attention, without fatiguing it, might be highly ufeful in eftablishing the religious principles of our youth at their firft entrance into the world. pleased,' adds our Author, to exprefs, in pretty ftrong terms, his approbation of my whole plan, and of the execution as far as he had seen it. He favoured me, both at that time and afterwards in the course of our correfpondence, with important hints for the management of fome parts of the fubject. And he defired me to finish the performance as foon as poffible, and fend it to the prefs. On the ftrength of this encouragement, chiefly, I have ventured to make it public."

He was

We have carefully read the whole, and we entertain the fame fentiments of the work that the good Bifhop did, on feeing only a part; and we acknowledge, with great pleasure, that we approve both the plan and the execution.

Vol. I. contains, firft, a General Introduction, to explain the defign of the work; in which we have, 1. A chapter on revelation, confidered as ufeful and neceffary. 2. The truth of the Gospel hiftory. In the 3d, he confiders the Gofpel as a portion of ancient hiftory; he then proceeds to the argument in fupport of its veracity, drawn from prophecy; and fhews that the faith of the firft difciples was the effect, not of weakness, but of well-grounded conviction.

As a fpecimen of his mode of reafoning, we fhall extract a paffage from what the Doctor fays, in his fection on The Gofpel confidered as a portion of ancient history.'

* This account is dated in the year 1785.

• Miraculous