acting always by modes inexplicable to men, has directed the formation of a National Board of Agriculture, for the express purpose of giving adoption to my fyftem. To that Board, with great veneration, but with equal confidence, I present a plan for rendering the foldiers contributary to the public weal; and with the fimplicity which ought to mark a propofal fo unprecedented, I difplay my fyftem without further introduction. The number of effective men, including the Militia, now embodied in Great Britain, I fhall fuppofe to be forty thousand. From this number must be deducted the Guards neceflary for the perfon of the Sovereign, in the capital of his Empire. The Duke of Richmond, alfo, will indubitably require to have a camp formed fomewhere; but as a camp any where, of two thousand men, might be called the army, and his Grace only wishes to have the command of an army, five thousand men will be found fufficient for the two objects; that is to fay, for this exhibition, and the protection of St. James's Park. There will then be five and thirty thousand men at liberty. I fay at liberty, because, occupied as the French are in refifting the irruption of our Allies on the Continent, and covered as the feas are with one of the most formidable naval armaments ever fet a-float by this country, I cannot fuppofe that the mind of man has ever harboured an idea fo ridiculous, as that the Sans Culottes could moleft us at home. I would, therefore, have these five and thirty thousand warriors affembled as fpeedily as may be, within one diftrict; which, for the fake of the experiment, I could with might be of the most barren foil that can be pitched upon in England. This army of Cincinnati fhould be under the abfolute direction of the New Board of Agriculture. The ground, deftined for improvement, fhould be accurately measured, and fubdivided into the partitions, that will be obvious, according to the following fcheme. For the fake of round numbers, I would allot five and thirty men to each each acre; by which means, a thoufand acres would be undertaken in the day. On the morning fixed for the operation, an ounce and an half of ftrong purgative falts, diffolved in a quart of spring-water, fhould be adminiftered to each individual on the parade; after which, the whole body fhould be marched to the spot deftined for improvement, where each fquad of five and thirty fhould take poffeffion of an acre. The men fhould then ftation themselves, as nearly as may be, at equal diftances; in which fituation they fhould be liberally fupplied by their wives, or by drummers, with their gruel, prepared for the purpofe. It is impoffible to compute, with entire precifion, what may be the quantity of manure yielded to an acre by this process; but affuredly it is not neceffary to be very minute in afcertaining it. If the refpectable members who conftitute the new board deem it adviseable to be more particular, they can try the experiment by their own perfons; and from the refult, eftablish a fcale whence calculations may be unerringly drawn. Experience would, no doubt, extraordinarily improve the foldiers. in their art; fo that when they were thoroughly difciplined, a much smaller number of men would equally meliorate an acre. For this we must look to time. In the present calculation, as I faid before, I only reckon upon one thousand acres radically, and effectually manured, in one day, by five and thirty thoufand men. I apprehend that it would be fcarcely held politic to fubject the troops to this operation oftener than twice a week; that is, if they were to be worked for a conftancy the year through. It is not only that the foldier might, by too great frequency of fervice, relax in attachment to the bufinefs, but it is alfo to be confidered, whether by a drain too fuddenly repeated, the manure might not be rendered defective in quality. Economy likewife muft here interfere, because it would be an expence in bounty-money to replace these implements of hufbandry, as they may be honourably entitled, fhould they be worn out by unconscionable fcouring. F 3 Upon Upon thefe data it will appear, that one hundred thousand acres may annually be rendered capable of producing the richest crops, at an expence to the public fo moderate as not to be worth notice.-Ten years, then, will give one million of acres thus improved; and fo on until the whole ifland fhall be fit to bear afparagus. I have not taken into my account the contributions of the Officers in this way, although it is clear their public fpirit will naturally inftigate them to fhew the most active examples in this fervice.-That their duty may be pleafing to them, I would, in their cafe, have the nature of the cathartic left entirely to their own difcretion; fo that, where habitual indulgence had rendered calomel, or any other drug, more grateful to them than falts, they might enjoy-provided it be out of their own pocket-the innocent luxury of that preference. I am aware, that all beneficial projects are coldly received at first. It is the prerogative of genius to foar, at once, to a height which ordinary minds cannot attain but by gradual ftages and fucceffive efforts. I therefore anticipate the reluctance with which this fentence. will be adopted; for adopted, at length, I am confident it will be, it being impoffible to advance any colourable objection to it. I know that, in thefe days of oftentatious economy, the expence of fo comprehenfive a purge will be loudly urged against the measure. At firft fight, this argument may have fome degree of weight; though, when it is better examined, it will be found unworthy of confideration. It is not to be fuppofed I should lay a plan of this magnitude before the public, without having duly informed myfelf of every circumftance involved in it. The price of purgative falt is not to be estimated by what gentlemen pay to their apothecaries. A chemift of diftinguished eminence has pledged himself to me, that whenfoever this plan fhall have received a Parliamentary fanction, he will come forward and offer to contract to purge the army round at five farthings per man, for each week. I acknowledge that fuch a contract might add to the Minifter's Minister's influence, and be bestowed in turn for Parliamentary adherence: but this is eafily obviated by lodging the power of granting that contract with the Board of Agriculture, which no man can fuppose will ever receive a bias from Minifterial intimations. Five farthings then being taken as the expence of the cathartic, to that fum must be added as much more, for providing the gruel neceffary on the occafion; fo that two-pence-halfpenny will be the charge of every man's hebdomadary exertion. Multiply this by thirty-five, and it will appear that for three fhillings and fevenpence-halfpenny an acre of land will be manured with an efficacy, fuch as probably has never been experienced from the commencement of tillage to the prefent day. For it is not to be imagined that the operation of manure, fo applied, will confift merely in the inert qualities, howfoever excellent, of the fæces. I am perfuaded, that the energy of mind with which that boon will be beftowed to the earth, muft influence in a furprizing degree the nature of the substance so communicated. The charms of fociety in the function; the heroic impulfe of profeffional ardour; the cheering infpiration of the fife and drum; and, above all, the consciousness of patriotic effort, will infufe a foul into the tribute that is to mingle with the clay, and enable it to impregnate every clod with unexampled fecundity. Laughing Ceres fhall glitter over the land, yellow as the fource whence the fprang; and the teeming granaries of England fhall bear grateful teftimony to the liberal bowels of her regimented fons. The huf bandman shall be agreeably aftonished, to find that he has a common cause with the foldier; and the landed intereft, in Parliament, shall exult at the amount of army eftimates, moved by the Secretary at War.-Chronicle.. THE TRAVELLER AND HIS GUIDE! AN ASIATIC APOLOGUE. GUL Alaked, a Perfian merchant, who was fetting off on a long journey, thought that it would be more fafe and easy if he took a guide." I will take one," faid he, "of fufficient ftrength to carry my burthen, brave enough to affift me in defending myself against robbers, and fubtle enough to fee that nobody take advantage of my good faith." As Arbogad, his neighbour, had all thefe good qualities, he agreed to give him honourable pay, and put his pack upon his fhoulders. During the first three or four days, he kept his purse himself; but Arbogad affuring him that he could make better bargains, and was more on his guard against imposition, perfuaded him to give it into his care. The next day, Arbogad, pretending that they were coming into a country infested by robbers, asked permiffion to take fome money out of the purfe to buy a large fcimitar, his dexterity in the use of which he highly vaunted. They had not gone much further, before Ogul Alaked, on waking from a found fleep, found that he was difarmed. "How is this?" faid he. Arbogad answered, that he had taken his fword from him, out of a regard to his own welfare." It is a dangerous weapon," added he: "you might cut yourself with it; and, as you are fubject to mental abfences, you might even difable me; and then who would take care of you?" Ogul Alaked did not find this reasoning perfectly fatisfactory; but as he had the best opinion of Arbogad, he acquiefced, and they proceeded on their journey with great apparent friendship. But, fhortly after, the Perfian remonftrating with his guide on the profufion with which he difpofed of his money; Arbogad, by way of answer, fhewed him the fcimitar, that had been bought under the pretence of defending him; and, on his repeating his complaints, drew it out of the fcabbard, and waved it over |