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contributes towards increafing the Number of Individuals in any Country, and has a Tendency to quicken their Induftry, muft add to the Wealth and Power of that Coun try.

THE following Scheme is calculated to promote these Ends in the principality of Wales. If the Natives of that Country will diveft themselves of Prejudice and confider it with Attention; it is hoped the Reasonablenefs and Propriety of thefe Propofals will appear and fufficiently recommend them to their Approbation. To fee a better Plan will be the greatest Satisfaction to me: But to fee, even this, adopted and happily executed will give me uncommon Pleasure.

THAT the Principality of Wales can juftly boast of many of those Advantages, which are thought to contribute towards rendering the People of any Country numerous, no one will doubt, who confiders that our Liberties and Properties are fecured, that all Sects and Parties are tolerated in the free Exercise of Religion, according to their respective Opinions and Manner of Worship, that our Situation is preferable to that of most, if not all other Countries, that Milford is one of the finest Havens in the World,that we have a great Number

Number of other very convenient Ports, and that we abound in those native Productions, which are justly reckoned the Staple Com-" modities of feveral Countries in which Trade and Commerce flourish.

Ir we were nicely to inquire why the Natives withdraw themselves from a Country that can boast of these Advantages, and why this Country is fo thinly inhabited, fome of the chief Reasons would appear to be a Scarcity of most of the Neceffaries of Life, and the Want of domeftic Industry.

Now whatever Country abounds in the Neceffaries of Life, muft alfo abound in the lower Clafs of People. For wherever the Neceffaries of Life are cheapeft, thither all Sorts of People, but more particularly the Industrious, will refort. And the more numerous the People of any Country, the more diligent and industrious. But the Neceffaries of Life, if the Directions laid down in these Papers are followed, will be cheaper in Wales than in any other Part of his Majesty's Dominions.-An Inducement this, not only to keep our Countrymen at Home, but likewise to invite and bring over Others to fettle amongst us. The Numbers, who

annually

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*

annually withdraw themselves from us, and fpend the Remainder of their Days in London, Bristol, Liverpool, Chefter, and other Parts of England, are incredibly great, and the annual Lofs of their Labour amounts, upon a moderate Calculation, to 24,750 l. But thefe Natives, if they could advantageously, would gladly be employed in their own Country. In this Cafe they would marry, increase and multiply; and the Coming over of Engtish, Irish, &c. would make, probably, no inconfiderable Addition to the Number of our Inhabitants. Our Improvements would then become the Subject of Admiration, would raife the World into a Fit of Wonder; and what was once faid, upon a different Occafion, might with ftrict Propriety be applied to us-See how the Britons flourish!

As the Means of producing this desirable Abundance, I take the Liberty of laying before my Countrymen, A Method for improving their Eftates.

Non modo eft ars, fed etiam neceffaria ac magna; ea eft Scientia, quæ docet quæ fint in quoquo agro ferunda ac faciunda, quæque terra maxumos perpetuo reddat fructus. Varr.

non ullus aratro

Dignus honos: fqualent abductis arva Colonis,

LAND

VIRG.

LAND, upon a Medium, is lett in Two of the most fertile Counties in Wales, at three Shillings an Acre. If it appears that this was the Cafe, not above thirty Years fince, in any of the Counties of England, where at present the Land, upon an Average, is lett at ten Shillings an Acre; it will not be unreasonable to fuppofe, as like Caufes are productive of like Effects, that the fame Improvements may be made in Wales, provided our Landlords and Farmers will purfue the Methods hère recommended, which are ufed, with incredible Succefs, in many Parts of England.

WHAT is here afferted, with Regard to the Improvement of Lands in England, is Matter of Fact; against which there is no Difputing. But if any one of less Experi

ence

*Befides the Fertility of thefe Counties, they afford all the Means of Improvement that have been applied in the English Counties, wherein these Improvements have been made.

It may, probably, be objected to this Eftimate, that we have Lands, near large Towns, which lett at 10, 12, 15, nay 20s. am Acre; and confequently that Lands in General should be laid higher. Tho' the Premises are granted, yet fuch a Confequence is by no

Means deducible from them. For the Quantity of Land lett at those high Rates is very inconfiderable; whereas the Number of Acres lett at 2s 6d, 2 s, is 6d, is, 6 d. and under that are incredible: So that I am perfuaded I should have been nigher the Truth, if I had laid the Lands of the whole Principality at Half a Crown Acre.

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ence doubts the Truth of it, let him appeal to any of thofe Gentlemen, of our Country, who are competent Judges in thefe Matters, and he will be abundantly convinced.

THE principal Means, recommended in thefe Sheets, for improving Eftates in Wales, and enriching the Inhabitants, are the following ones-Claying and Marling,-Turnep-fow・ing,-Fattening of Cattle, And the Sowing of Clover and Rye-grafs Seeds.

WHERE the Lands are too light or fandy to produce good Crops, it will be proper to give them a Coat of Clay, of the yellow or blue Kind, which is the best, tho' the brown cor dark Sort, will do. Upon the other Hand, where they are too heavy, cold or moist, they may be covered with a brown or white Marl. Forty or Fifty Loads an Acre are fufficient for fome Sorts of Lands: For others 60 or 70 will be found neceffary. But, upon a Medium, the Quantity may be laid at 60* Cart Loads an Acre.

GREAT

* As this Method of improving is attended with a confiderable Expence; it has been, and ftill continues to be a Rule, with many Landlords to grant their Tenants a Lease of their refpective Farms, for the Term of 21 Years. And to encourage them, fome Landlords engage to pay for the Digging, Tilling and Spreading the Quantity of Clay or Marl neceffary for a certain Number of Acres, annually, for the Space of ten or twelve Years, Where the Tenants are neceffitous, 'tis certainly advisable to close

with