Thus their acquaintance relate the story. Therefore it appears that an English kept mistress makes an American gentleman a good wife. When I had seen this gentleman, and heard the tale, it instantly remind.. ed me of the character of Cunning Isaac, in the "Duenna."-I imagine that the judge is inclined to impress strongly on the minds of his sons the policy of marrying rich women, which occasions such conversation in company; yet it must be particularly improper to come from the mouth of a judge : and, although the Americans deal so much in cunning, it appears they sometimes outwit themselves; hence the truth of the old adage is in this instance exemplified--“ A cock fights best on his own dunghill.”

SECTION XXVI.

Observations on the Soil and Climate. Reasons why Canals, and Improvements in Draining, will not succeed in America. The Difficulty of making Division Fences, planting Quicks, &c. Some Remarks on Diseases.

THE soil is in general very thin; in many places, not more than from one inch to an inch and a half thick. The under stratum is of a loose sandy nature, and so light, that, after the frosts are over, the pavement in the streets will not bear even the weight of a man; and the fields are so like a quagmire, that a man on horseback would be endangered in attempting to pass over them. From such lightness, the soil is apt, when rain comes, to form into small channels, that afterwards constitute what are termed gullies, which, as I have before observed, are holes like quarries or marl-pits; and which, in the

course of six or eight weeks, become from eight to ten feet deep, and the same in width. The loose earth, thus detached from its primary bed, covers the contiguous surface, for an acre or two together, where the best soil is, and even spoils that.This may account for their not having ditches cut, for division-fences or drains. I apprehend, that, if ditches were cut and quicks set, as is done in England, the fences would fall down, by the water washing away the soil that composes the bank. In this sort of earth, I imagine that there cannot be canals cut, or even drains. The land is indeed materially injured in many parts, for want of drains; but I think the expence would exceed the profit: they would soon lodge up, and consequently want jettying on the sides. I do not remember I ever saw five yards of earth, in any space at all, thus excavated, with the sides standing as they do in England; since no grass will grow on the banks of the canals or rivers, the soil being too poor to

produce grass; and of so light a nature, as to keep continually crumbling down.

Those swamps or bottoms which the Americans term rich, are light and crumbly. Lands of this kind are said to be so fertile, as not to bear wheat when first cleared; this, however, is not owing to their richness, but to a sort of vegetable manure, composed of leaves of trees, small sticks, rotten wood, &c., with which they are covered, and which is too light and loose for wheat, as wheat delights in a stiff soil. This land is very fine for Indian corn, which thrives best in a soil that freely admits the sun to its roots. The manner of raising it shews that it is impossible to plough too much, or keep the soil too light. I am of opinion, that, if the earth were moved every day, the crop would be the better for it. Instead of this sort of land being firm, as in England, it is here like chaff, and light under foot. If timothy be sown in it, and the water run so as to leave any sort of weight upon it, it will succeed; but

otherwise, it will not, from its being open to the sun, whose power over the land is such, as to penetrate much deeper than the surface, or the roots of the grass. The heat is frequently so great that, if sand get into your shoes, it will compel you to take them off, otherwise your toes will become excoriated. By working, ploughing, harrowing, sowing, &c. I have had my feet in that state, and which the working-people call the cow-itch. I suppose the sun's intense heat is the reason why English grasses will not thrive in America: and I have planted some Indian corn since I landed in England; but none of it has prospered. Then the winter in America is very severe, and sets in so suddenly, as to find those plants in a very porous state; consequently the cold penetrates so quickly into them that they are killed. Indeed the effect of extremes is as great as it would be to any plant reared in a hothouse being taken, in its warm state, and exposed to the most severe frost. I do not