the noise of the artillery, and the consternation was universal amidst all classes of the inhabitants.

A bomb fell into the hall of the revolutionary council, while the members were assembled, and, in bursting, killed the secretary, who was reading a paper to the members.

About a thousand persons of both sexes took refuge, together with their most valuable property, in and before the house of the English Minister, in hopes of being spared when the Russians entered the city. But those of the suburb had no retreat, because the General, who had caused the approaches to the bridge to be defended from the beginning of the assault, caused it to be burnt on the side towards the Russians, to prevent Warsaw from being exposed either to massacre or pillage. After some time, he caused the cannonade to be slackened. At length, the fire of the artillery wholly ceased, and, at nine in the morning, that is, after four hours fighting, the assault was finally

terminated.'

Those who read the account of Marshal Suworow's actions will not be surprised to learn, that the great feature in his moral character is excessive austerity: but they may not be so well prepared to hear that he is also in an extreme degree de

Yout:

He is (says his biographer) sincerely religious, not from enthusiasm, but from principle; and takes every opportunity of attending the offices of public devotion: nay, when circumstances afford him the opportunity, he will, on Sundays and festivals, deliver lectures on subjects of piety, to those whom duty calls to an attendance upon him.'

We could extract various particulars of the private life and manners of Marshal Suworow, from the materials here afforded: but they have been so generally copied in all the public prints, that they would probably not be new to many of our readers. The well-established military reputation of the Marshal, also, and the interesting Lure of his present services, will doubtless obtain a considerable circulation for these volumes. We have therefore rather endeavoured to characterise them, and to report their contents, than designed to extract their marrow.

ART. XI. General View of the Agriculture of the County of Nottingham, with Observations on the Means of its Improvement. Drawn up for the Consideration of the Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement. By Robert Lowe, Esq. of Oxton. 8vo. pp. 192. 45. sewed. Nicol. 1798.

IT

Wall..e.

T is curious to observe the different usages, practices, and provincial terms, which prevail in the several countics of this island; and, by bringing these together in one view, and

affording

affording to each an opportunity of knowing wherein it agrees and wherein it differs from every other county, mutual improvement may result: perhaps, even, in time, an uniformity of agricultural language may prevail. We want a good complete dictionary of provincialisms; and few publications seem more conducive to the attainment of this desideratum, than the county surveys made and making for the consideration of the Board of Agriculture. Yet none of the gentlemen employed appear to have this end in view; nor have they been directed to notice the different names by which the same thing is called in different districts *; so that their reports contain no Previncial Vocabulary: but we could wish that a section were devoted to this object; and we hope that the Board, in their plans of Internal Improvement, will not overlook the state of language. As literary men, we may be excused for submitting this remark to the consideration of the Board, and of those who are employed under it. We are tincerely desirous of promoting the useful objects which it has in contemplation; and we feel a peculiar pleasure in doing justice to those gentlemen, who have been active in affording it their assistance.

Ability, considerable experience, and withal fidelity, are necessary in drawing up a General View of a County. These requisites Mr. Lowe appears to possess. Like the preceding Agricultural Surveys, his report includes a variety of topics and of communications, which will be more or less interesting as they apply to the experience and chief pursuits of the agricul tural reader. Mr. L. modestly introduces his work with this preliminary observation, constituting the whole of his preface:

The Surveyor begs leave to premise, that in undertaking the work, he proposed to himself only to state, as far as came to his knowledge, the usual course of husbandry used in the county, the new practices introduced, and such improvements as suggested them selves to him, without pretending to enter deep into scientific disquisition, or the subject of political regulation, which the reader must therefore expect to be but slightly touched upon.'

This modesty ought not to deprive Mr. L. of the praise which is due to his attention and diligence. Not having room enough to follow him through his multifarious details, we must enumerate only two or three particulars, and leave a solitary extract to vouch for the merit of the whole.

We are informed that the county of Nottingham is supposed to contain 480,oco acres; that in point of soil it admits of three divisions, 1. sand and gravel, 2. clay, 3. lime-stone and coalland; that the particular circumstance, which merits notice in

Ex. gr. Bearded wheat is called in some countics Cone wheat, in others Rivets, and in Nottinghamshire it is called Yeogrove; see p. 46.

the

A

the climate of this county, is its comparative dryness; that farms are in general small, usually let at will; that many of the principal farmers carry on agriculture with great spirit; that inclosures are proceeding rapidly; that the population of the county is 115,598;-&c. &c. Mr. L. also gives an account of the superiority of the roota buga, or Swedish' turnip; of the sowing of skegs, a species of oat peculiar to this county; and of the culture of hops; in which branch of husbandry, from 1100 to 1400 persons are employed; and he suggests the improvements of drainage and water-meadows.

As Planting makes the most considerable figure in Nottinghamshire improvements, the reporter has bestowed much attention on this subject. He has given the names of the noblemen and gentlemen who have distinguished themselves as planters, with the number of acres which they have severally cultivated; and he has detailed the process observed in making the most celebrated plantations, particularly those of the Dukes of Portland and Newcastle. We shall lay before our readers the author's remarks on the Cultivation of Willows:

The following observations relative to the method I make use of, in cultivating willows on waste moist lands, I flatter myself will not prove unacceptable to the Board of Agriculture. I have found, from experience, the advantage of it, and am convinced my country will be benefited, should it be generally adopted.

I would first advise the laying out the ground into lands, like hop lands, viz. from three to four yards wide, with a ditch on each side; three feet wide at the top; one foot at the bottom, and two and a half deep. The earth that comes out of the ditch should be thrown on the land. But if there is not full sufficient fall for the water to get off, the ditch should be deeper and wider, till you have near a yard of earth above the level of the water.

'As soon as this is done, the ground must be double dug, viz. trenched two spades depth, except your ground be very boggy, which will afford room for the plants to shoot, and will save the expence of weeding, which otherwise must be incurred in the first summer after the plants are set; for if they are not kept clear of weeds the first year, the hopes of the planter will certainly be destroyed.

The willow I recommend as most advantageous on every account is the broad-leaved red hearted Huntingdonshire willow; every other species I have tried, and find reason to give a decided preference to this.

The sets, or truncheons, may be cut from twenty inches to two feet long; particular care should be taken in the cutting, that the bark should not be fridged or bruised, or in any other respect injured; for in that case the plant will be weak and puny. They should be cut not on a block, but in the hand; obliquely and with a very

According to Appendix No. 2. skegs are the avena stififormis,

Linnai.

sharp

sharp bill, or instrument. They must be dibbled into the earth by an iron crow, to the depth of fourteen or twenty inches, so that not more than six, or less than four appear above. If the truncheon . should not fill the hole, the earth must be trampled close round it, in order that the air may be excluded. plant be set as the pole grows. of about three years growth. should be set three foot [feet]

thus:

Care must be taken that the The cuttings should be from poles Maiden poles are the best; they asunder in the quincunx form, as

Those truncheons will shoot out many branches, two or three of which will grow to poles if the land is good; if not, only one. Those poles I have sold at eight years growth, for 2141. per acre, neat money; the kids or brushwood pay for the felling. Had I suffered them to have stood two years longer, they would have produced 300l. per acre. Should any of the plants look weak or puny, or not shoot vigorously, it will be necessary to dig in a skuttle full of manure, to the roots, which I have no doubt in saying will pay.

Though I have planted no less than ten acres, I cannot say positively, from my own knowledge, what the value would have been had they remained on the ground for fifteen or twenty years, having been called on for sets by the gentlemen of the neighbourhood, which I have sold for three pound a thousand. I must here observe, that the stools from whence the sets are cut, shoot very luxuriously, and will produce from three to four poles.

The length of poles, at eight years growth, were from thirtythree to thirty-six feet, and most of them were large enough to make three rails, two at the bottom and one at the top; but the great use. to which they are applied, is the purpose of making hurdles, flakes, gates, and other farming implements, being a wood uncommonly tough and light, owing, as I conceive, to a new method I made use of in planting them close to the ground. If it is the design of the planter to let them grow into timber (which I would venture to say would be far superior to deal for the purpose of flooring, or other light work, particularly as it will neither splinter nor fire; and if suffered to remain for twenty or twenty-five years, would make good masts for small craft, as they shoot up perfectly strait, and without any colla teral branches) it is necessary, at the first or second year's growth, to observe which pole is the strongest, as the remaining poles must be cut away. In about fifteen years time I am led to suppose they will want thinning; of course the inferior must be taken out and the superior be suffered to remain.

The times of planting must be from January to the end of March; but the sets for that purpose should be cut from December to the end of February; when the sap is down.* If however there are

* And the reason is, that if poles are cut in the spring (the sap being up) the stool will at last be weakened by bleeding, if not killed; and of course prevented from shooting so vigorously as if cut at the preceding time.'

people

people so injudicious as to sell sets in spring, it will be to the advantage of the purchaser to plant them, as the sap is then in the poles. The reason why many are induced to cut at that time, is on the sup posed account of their peeling better; but I can affirm from experience, that poles cut in December, January, or February, and laid in rows upon the ground, or the ends put in water, will peel as well in the spring as at the usual time.

In regard to fencing, the planter should pay the greatest attention to it, otherwise his time and expence will be fruitless.'

Mr. Lowe does not forget to notice the manufactories of the county but he complains of their increasing the rates on the occupiers of land. He speaks, however, very favourably of the Poor, and exhibits a pleasing picture of their comforts. On the subject of tythes, he gives his opinion with great ingenuousness but we cannot agree with him that occupiers in general would not be benefited by a composition, or compensation, in lieu of tythes. If tythes obstruct improvements, which is generally agreed, we are not to calculate the occupier's advan-. tage from the suppression of tythes in kind, according to the present value of his crops.

In returning thanks to several noblemen and gentlemen for their communications, Mr. Lowe is obliged to except the case of one or two individuals. We cannot but feel extreme surprise that any should be so illiberal as to withhold their assistance, especially when solicited, from such an undertaking.

ART. XII. A Vindication of Homer, and of the Ancient Poets and Historians, who have recorded the Siege and Fall of Troy, in Answer to two late Publications of Mr. Bryant*. With a Map and Plates. By J. B. S. Morritt, Esq. 4to. pp. 124. Boards. Cadell jun. and Davies. 1798.

I

12s.

IN the year 1794, Mr. Morritt, being on his travels, and having reached Constantinople, determined to investigate the Troad, and the shores of the Hellespont, with Homer in his hand. He accordingly arrived there in the November of that year, accompanied by two other English gentlemen, Messrs. Stockdale and Dallaway; the latter of whom has published an account of the present face of the country, and of its striking coincidence with the Homeric description †. On Mr. M.'s return to England in 1796, Mr. Bryant's scepticism respecting the Trojan war, and even the existence of Troy itself, engaged his attention; and full of zeal for the honour of the great Poet, and convinced by ocular demonstration that there is no his

* See Rev. vol. xxii. N. S. p. 142, &c.

"Constantinople and its environs." See Rev. vol.xxv. N. S. p. 121. REV. OCT. 1799.

torian,

Moo-y.