stained with blood,-a circumstance which greatly dimitheir lustre ; but the bays that adorn the head of Sir John will flourish to the latest ages.

He is the father of the Board, &c.

To the unwearied endeavours of Sir John are the public indebted for this admirable institution, which has certainly done much good, and may still do a great deal more, &c.-Edin. Encyc. vol. I. P. 218.

Landholders keenly a contend

Who can improvement most extend.

Since the conlusion of the American war in 1782, improvement has proceeded with singular rapidity in every district; and while the rent rolls of proprietors have been doubled, tripled, and quadrupled, the condition of the tenantry and of the lower ranks, has been ameliorated almost in a proportional degree. These circumstances are sure tokens of agricultural prosperity, and demonstrate, in the most forcible terms, that husbandry is a main pillar of the state; and that the happiness and welfare of a community depend greatly upon the manner in which the art is executed.-Ib. page 226.

It does imbibe salt and carbon.

See the Earl of Dundonald's connection betwixt Chemistry and Agriculture.

Yet each of the grand chain a link.

See page 275, Note on Sir John Sinclair.

Andrew Meikle, of Houston Mill.

But none of them answered the purpose, till one was constructed at Houston Mill, near Haddington, Scotland, by Andrew Meikle, whose family possess a kind of hereditary right to genius and invention, &c. To one of the same family, who afterwards invented the thrashing machine, we are indebted for the introduction of fanners into this country, as can be proved by the most satisfactory written evidence. In the year 1710, James Meikle, father of the inventor of the thrashing machine, was sent to Holland at the expense of the celebrated Andrew Fletcher, Esq. of Saulton, (a character well known in the annals of that period), to learn the art of making pot-barley, and constructing barley-mills; both of which arts were then utterly unknown in this country, &c.—Edinburgh Encyclopædia, vol. I. Art. " Agriculture," pages 263 and 269.

Both Small and Wilkie, &c.

The late Lord Kames, in his "Gentleman Farmer," says, "I boldly recommend a plough introduced into Scotland about 12 years ago, by Thomas Small, which is now in great request. This plough may be considered as a capital improvement." Had his lordship lived a few years longer, and noticed the improvement since made on this valuable and useful implement, he would with greater justice have been warranted to recommend Mr Small's plough in the warmest manner. In short, no kind of plough will cut the furrow so clean, or turn it so nicely over for receiving benefit from the atmosphere, and effect from the harrowing process; and what is of greater importance, none is more easily drawn, taking into account the quality of work that is performed, than the one of which we are now speaking. -Ibid. page 252.

I have ever been of opinion that the education of youth is an object of the first importance. It is strictly enjoined in Scripture:-"Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it ;" and, in all Presbyterian countries, it has been more or less attended to; and, according to the degree of attention that

has been bestowed upon it, that country is more or less civilized and enlightened. In point of education, the country in which we live, above all others, justly claims the pre-eminence. Our sons are known, honoured, and esteemed, in every quarter of the globe, for their literary acquirements, and frequently attain to the highest situations of trust and honor in foreign lands. For all this we are indebted to the wisdom and foresight of our ancestors in establishing Parochial Schools; this last act of our Scottish Parliament has been productive of the most beneficial consequences, and has done more for the good of society than a thousand coercive laws, both in a political and moral point of view: for I presume none will deny (at least no intelligent or unprejudiced person) that education has the strongest tendency to make good subjects, good neighbours, steady friends, and sincere Christians And although, owing to the advance on every article of life, the emoluments of our parish schoolmasters are very inadequate to compensate for the time spent and expense incurred in their education, and to enable them to maintain that rank in society which their acquirements and official character entitles them to yet it is ardently to be wished the legis lature will take their situation under consideration, a proper view of which, I have no doubt, will induce them to grant such provision as will at once render their situation comfortable and respectable..

A SPRING EVENING WALK.

They think on Herculaneum's doom, &c.

Herculaneum, an ancient city of Italy, totally overwhelmed by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius, in the beginning of the reign of the Emperor Titus. Something of this city was discovered in 1689 and 1711. In the researches that have been frequently made by digging among the ruins since 1718, a great number of statues, busts, paintings, manuscripts, &c. have been found. The village of Portici now stands on its site.

Oh! why sleeps Brutus' shade, &c.

If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Cæsar's, to him I say that Brutus's love to Cæsar was no less than his. If, then, that friend demand why Brutus rose againt Cæsar, this is my answer-not that I loved Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Cæsar were living, and die all slaves, than that Cæsar were dead, to live all freemen? As Cæsar loved me, I wept for him ; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him. There are tears for his love; joy for his fortune; honour for his valour; and death for his ambition, &c.-Speech of Brutus on the death of Cæsar.