riages that might occur, which no human forefight could prevent, would thereby be taken off their fhoulders.

A work of confiderable importance, in the bank near Saltfleet, was lately blown up by a tide; which, in the first instance, recently coft the country from 1500l. to 2000l. and which is now to be replaced in a more skilful and fubftantial manner. More difcernment in the commifioners, or in their agents, might probably have prevented, or rendered this expence unneceflary.

It has, in fome inftances, been a practice, in erecting new banks, to retreat fome way from the fites of the former bank, as if fuch retreat was giving a degree of eafe to the preffure of the water. This measure ought not to be attempted, but in cafes of extreme necefity. I fhould rather recommend the standing firm to the fites of the ancient banks, until the fea fhall fo far gain upon the fhore, that the whole works must neceffarily be abandoned, for new ones, in a more remote fituation. The fea certainly gains upon fome parts of this coaft, and retreats from other parts; and in the frontage of the parishes of Summercotes and Marfh Chape, fome thoufand of acres of falt marthes may now be fafely embanked from the fea.

On Leafes.-The gentleman of landed property, who fhould make a refolution not to grant any part of his estate upon a lease, would commit as great an error, as he who grants the whole in that way. There are but few eftates, that are fo circumftanced, as not to admit of improvement; few on which an occupier of abilities might not lay out a confiderable part of his property, for the fake of future advantages to his landlord, as well as himself. On this account it is reafonable, that he fhould be fecured in his expectations, as far as human forefight will allow; and this is moft effectually done by a leafe. Though a gentleman's word may be as binding to him as his bond, his fucceffor is not bound by it; therefore a farmer can

not be expected to lay out his money, which is often the dependence of a family of children, upon the uncertainty of an occupation from year to year. Such gentlemen as are determined not to grant leases at any rate, must be content to let their eftates beneath their real value, and neglect many ufeful improvements, which would tend to their own, the tenants, and the public advantage.

Many gentlemen of this temper, poffefs a pride in not raifing their rents, and efteem all others poor, who attempt to make a fair income of their poffeffions. The tenants upon fuch farms, are not found to be richer than thofe on improved eftates, for as they rent the land at half the real value, they are content to exert but half their induftry, and confequently jog on in an antediluvian ftyle. There is no great danger of fuch eftates being reduced in value by felf-interested tenants, on which account leases are unneceffary for the landlord's fake, while their farms are confidered as hereditary poffeffions, lineally defcending from father to fon. The trouble or difficulty of agency, under such tlemen, is comparatively fmall. Α fuperannuated domeftic may do their bufinefs as well as any other perfon. An advance of rent would give a fpur to industry, by roufing the whole body of farmers into action.

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Where an estate is let according to its whole value, a leafe is as neceffary to fecure a landlord's interest in the premifes as a tenant's. Where a farmer occupies land from year to year, particularly arable lands, if he is felf-interested, indolent or injudicious, a farm may almoft imperceptibly become impoverished before any alarm is taken. Indeed fuch farms generally fall into the proprietor's hands in the moft wretched condition. I have frequently heard gentlemen of landed property complain, that they are confiderable lofers by farming; and it may reasonably be accounted for, fince the land ufually comes into their hands in a reduced state, and in that case,

let who will be occupier, two or three years rent must be funk to restore it. Rent is an annual fum paid by the tenant to the landlord, without diminishing the value of his property; and when the value of an estate is reduced, it cannot be called rent, but fo much deducted from the real worth of the poffeffion. Proprietors of land, do not all of them confider this matter in a true light, and when they can advance the annual income of their eftates, confider it as rent, while the property is fuffering in an equal proportion to the annual fum received during the demife.

In the courfe of my experience, I have had applications from people to take farms confifting of arable and pasture, who have fet out with a determination not to be bound by what I conceived to be the rules of good husbandry, but to do as they pleafed with the premifes during the intended demife: I always refused to treat upon fuch terms, well knowing the value of the land must be reduced. But when fuch matters have been represented to a principal, who was not a judge in thefe things, he confidered fuch denial as foregoing his intereft, by refufing what appeared to him to be a great

rent.

There are particular fituations where -long leafes are unneceffary and improper, efpecially when farms confift wholly of rich pafture land, which will admit of no improvement, or farms lying near to gentlemen's feats or parks, where a difagreeable neighbour, for a term of years, would be a great inconvenience. Where gentlemen forego their own intereft, and that of the community, by not granting leafes,

ALTHOUGH

by which it may poffibly be imagined fuch tenants would become independent of their landlords, they are guilty of a grofs error, because when leafes are properly drawn, it must always be highly to a tenant's prejudice to offend his landlord. Fortuitous circumstances ever produce fome indulgence to be folicited from a landlord; even exacting rent on the day it becomes payable, would be an inconveniency, which many tenants could not bear. All farms fhould be let upon agreements, whether for one or twentyone years, in a judicious manner, as near as poffible for the mutual advantage of landlord and tenant, always preferving the value of the land at least. Whatever agreements or leafes are not made with fuch views, or directed to such ends, it would be better that no fuch leafes or agreements fubfifted. Though the value of the land would be likely to bè diminifhed, yet abuses would not be fo fpeciously practifed, as when they are admitted by ftipulated terms, reciprocally established between the proprietor and his tenant.

I cannot take leave of this fubject, without recommending to all gentlemen of landed property, as well as perfons defirous of hiring farms, to be cautious that farmers do not take more land, than their circumftances will admit of ftocking, improving, and managing, to the greatest advantage. Though the ill confequences attending fuch practices both to landlord and tenant, are flagrant, yet they are but too frequent; by which procedure, many very industrious farmers have been ruined, and many eftates undefervedly brought into disrepute.

LTHOUGH many of the calamities incident to human life, are fuch as no wisdom can foresee, or skill prevent, there are others in which we take a more active share, and may be faid in a great measure to promote, if not to create. Such are the ills which flow from anxiety, a paffion,

which though it feems to be compounded of hope and fear, furmounts the utmoft energies of both, and leads the mind into a ftate of complete infulation from all its former fentiments, its habits, and its propenfities.

Anxiety, when employed on schemes of aggrandizement, which can admi

nifter only to pride, or of wealth, which is fought only for the indulgencies it holds forth, is an object which may be treated with cenfure or ridicule, without any breach of charity. If in the pursuit of fuch objects, a man takes no other means than what are lawful, yet proposes to himself no higher end, his anxiety may be ranked among thofe circumftances of mifery, which the author of the Rambler fays, are fo powerfully ridiculous, that neither kindness nor duty can with and them; they bear down love, intereft, and reverence, and force the friend, the de pendent, or the child, to give way to inftantaneous merriment.' But if he is regardless of the means by which he may elevate his rank, or increase his riches, fuccefs becomes a crime for which no language can be too fevere, and his anxiety is an aggravation of his guilt by proving the wilful intent.

There are other fchemes in which the anxiety of the parties may be contemplated, without any emotion of fympathy or refentment, schemes that are perhaps equally indifferent, in a moral fenfe, whether fuccefsful or not, and where advice and cheering arguments may probably not be thrown away. Much of the difappointment incident to gay and youthful minds is of this fort, and may be diverted without fear of offence, or indulged without fufpicion of cruelty, but there is one fpecies of anxiety, which commands our refpect and fympathy in a much higher degree, though we are every day convinced how unavailing are all endeavours to affuage its violence.

It is the anxiety we feel for a beloved friend, whofe life is endangered by disease. Of all intemperate paffions this is leaft under the government of reafon. It prevails againft knowledge, which cught to regulate the judgment, and against fenfe, which ought to moderate our actions. It creates a forgetfulness of ourselves, our duties, and our avocations. It palfies the temper, if I may be used the expreffion, and renders every movement of the heart tremulous, ir

refolute and impotent. In vain do they who are leis interefted, fuggeft the inefficacy of groundlefs fears, and of turbulent grief; in vain do they fuggeft the probability of recovery, prove the abfence of fatal fymptoms, and recommend that cheerful calmnefs which is neceffay to the recovery of the beloved object. Every thought is big with alarm, every figh is the harbinger of forrow, and the imagination is tortured to give a variety of wretchedness to the unhappy profpect. The kill of the phyfician is fufpected; he is teazed to explain what would not be understood, and to predict what will not be believed. If he puts on a gravity of manner, he confirms every fear; if he is confident in his hopes, he is cenfured for rathnefs. The whole is a conteft between good fenfe and affection-between good fenfe fuggefting the propriety of hope while there is life and reason, and of affection, which gives place to every rifing fear.

It would be eafy to offer a feries of arguments againit a paffion by which no one can be benefited, by which two are made to fuffer instead of one, by which he on whom heaven has laid its afflicting hand, cannot be relieved, and he who fuffers by fympathy can afford no relief. But it is not a fubject for argument, and though it ought not to be thought/prefumptuous, it is always found to be ufelefs to combat the fears which arife from affection. Affection itself is not always an object for argument. We generally know why we love one perfon in preference to another, but we can neither reafon ourfelves into this love, nor out of it.

"Shall we then cenfure this anxiety, because it is not an object of reafon, and because we ought in all cafes to act as reasonable beings? No; though endued with reason, we are not perfect in the exercife of it. Our time here is a time of trial, not of triumph over our natures, and he who has learned to conquer his attachments, and to moderate his affections by argument, has fubdued the better part of man, has taken away some of the afflictions, but far more of the comforts of human