Dickson's Agriculture, and a treatise on Farriery; and that the only books my mother was possessed of were, the Domestic Medicine, and the Complete Housewife.

In short, Sir, in the midst of a family happy in themselves, and desirous to make me so, I find myself wretched. My mind preys upon itself. When I look forward, I can discover no prospect of any period to my sorrows. At times I am disposed to envy the happiness of my sisters, and to wish that I had never acquired those accomplishments from which I formerly received so much pleasure. Is it vanity that checks this wish, and leads me, at other times, to think, that even happiness may be purchased at too dear a rate?

Some time ago I accidentally met with your paper, and at length resolved to describe my situation to you, partly to fill up one of my tedious hours, and partly in hopes of being favoured with your sentiments on a species of distress, which is perhaps more poignant than many other kinds of affliction that figure more in the eyes of mankind.

I am, &c.

E

H. B,

N° 52. SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1779.

To the AUTHOR of the MIRROR.

Dulce et decorum est pro patriû mori.

HOR.

SIR, IT has always been a favourite opinion with me, ⚫ that whoever could make two ears of corn, or two ⚫ blades of grass, grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together.' Possessed with this idea, I have long bent my thoughts and study towards those inquiries which conduce to the melioration of the earth's production, and to increase the fertility of my native country. I thall not at present tire you with an account of the various projects I have devised, the sundry experiments I have made, and the many miscarriages I have met with. Suffice it to say, that I have now in my brain, a scheme, the success of which, I am confident, can scarcely fail. The frequent disappointments, however, I have formerly experienced, induce me to consult you about my plan, before I take any farther steps towards carrying it into execution. You are an author, Sir, and must consequently be a man of learning: you informed us you had travelled, and you must of course be a much wiser man than I, who never was an hundred miles from the place where I now write: for

these reasons, I am induced to lay my present scheme before you, and to intreat your opinion of it.

6

In the introduction to the Tales of Guillaume . Vade, published by the celebrated Voltaire, is the following passage, given as part of the speech of Vadé to his cousin Catharine Vade, when she asked him where he would be buried? After censuring the practice of burying in towns and churches, and commending the better custom of the Greeks and Romans, who were interred in the country, 'What 'pleasure,' says he, would it afford to a good citizen to be sent to fatten, for example, the barren plain of Sablons, and to contribute to raise plentiful harvests there?By this prudent establishment, one generation would be useful to another, towns would be more wholesome, and the country more • fruitful. In truth, I cannot help saying that we want police in that matter, on account both of the living and the dead.'

To me, Sir, who now and then join the amusement of reading to the employment of agriculture, the above passage has always appeared particularly deserving of attention; and I have, at last, formed a sort of computation of the advantages which would accrue to the country from the general adoption of such a plan as that suggested by Monsieur Vadé. If the managers of the public buryinggrounds were, at certain intervals, and for certain valuable considerations, to lend their assistance to the proprietors of the fields and meadows, how many beneficial consequences would result to the public? How many of the honest folks, who now lie uselessly mouldering in our church-yards, and did never the smallest good while alive, would thus be rendered, after death, of the most essential service to the community? How many who seemed brought into the

world merely Fruges consumere nati, to consume the fruits of the earth,' might thus by a proper and just retribution, be employed to produce fruges similar to those which they consumed while in life? What a pleasant and equitable kind of retaliation would it be for a borough or corporation to obtain, from the bodies of a parcel of fat magistrates, swelled up with city-feasts and rich wines, a sum of money that might, in some degree compensate for the expence which the capacious bellies of their owners one day cost the town revenue?

The general effects of this plan, and the particular attention it would necessarily produce in the œconomy of sepulture, would remove the complaints I have often heard made, in various cities, of the want of space and size in their burying-grounds. Those young men who die of old age at thirty, and the whole body of the magistrates and council of some towns who are in such a state of corruption, during their lives, might very soon be made useful after their death. It has been often said, that a living man is more useful than a dead one; but I deny it; for it will be found, if ever my proposal takes place, that one dead man, at least of the species above mentioned, will be of more use than fifty living ones.

I am well aware, that most of the fair sex, and some such odd mortals as your Mr. Wentworth or Mr. Fleetwood, may possibly be shocked at this plan, and may cry out, That it would be a great indelicacy done to the remains of our friends. I do not, however, imagine this ought to have much weight, when the good of one's country is concerned. These very people, Mr. MIRROR, would not, I dare say, for the world, cut the throat of a sheep, or pull the neck of a hen off joint; yet when they are at table, they make no scruple to

eat a bit of mutton, or the wing of a pullet, without allowing a thought of the butcher or the cook to have a place at the entertainment. In like manner, when these delicate kind of people happen to see a very beautiful field of wheat, which is a sight every way as pleasant as a leg of good mutton, or a fine fowl, let them never distress themselves by investigating, whether the field owes its peculiar excellence to the church-yard or the stable. As the ladies, however, are of very great importance in this country, I think it is proper that their goodwill be gained over, if possible. I would, therefore, humbly propose, in compliment to the delicacy of their sensations, that their purer ashes never be employed in the culture of oats, to fill the bellies of vulgar ploughmen and coach-horses. No! Very far be it from me to entertain any such coarse idea. Let them be set apart and solely appropriated to the use of parterres and flower-gardens. A philosopher in ancient times, I forget who, has defined a lady to be an animal that delights in finery ;' and other philosophers have imagined, that the soul, after death, takes pleasure in the same pursuits it was fond of while united to the body. What a heavenly gratification, then, will it prove to the soul of a toast, while she rides in her cloud, on the wings of the roaring wind,' to look down and view her remains upon earth, of as beautiful a complexion and as gaily and as gaudily decorated as ever herself was while alive?

One of your predecessors, Isaac Bickerstaff, I think, tells us, that in a bed of fine tulips he found the most remarkable flowers named after celebrated heroes and kings. He speaks of the beauty and vivid colouring of the Black Prince, and the Duke of Vendome, of Alexander the Great, the Emperor of Germany, the Duke of Marlborough, and many others.