Dr. Lettfom and myfelf relates merely to the preceding affertions of Mr. Forfyth, and to Dr. Lettfom's atteftation of the truth of thofe affertions; and that any proofs the Doctor propofes to bring, relative to the general utility of Mr. Forfyth's compofition in other points of view, is foreign to the fubject of our correspondence. I muft how ever state, that, during the life of Mr. Forfyth, I repeatedly offered, through the public papers, to risk any fum, that I could without inconvenience raife, as a bet, that neither Mr. Forfyth nor his friends could repeat with fuccefs his experiment, or produce a fingle tranf verfe fection of wood fuch as he ftated to be in his and their poffeffion; and that these propofitions were not accepted. I propose to attend in town in the end of the prefent month, and have written to inform Dr. Lettfom of my intention in a private letter. I fhall alfo acquaint him with my arrival in town; but if he means only to contend for the utility of Mr. Forfyth's experiments, or practice as a gardener, and waves all defence of his affertions, there remains no ground of controverfy between us. THO. AND. KNIGHT. P.S. I agree in a great measure with your correfpondent Hantoni enfis, p. 17, refpecting the merits of Mr. Hitt as a writer on horticulture; and recommend an examination of his plates and opinions, and a comparifon with thofe of Mr. Forfyth. The latter gentleman has, I think (as Mr. M'Phail * asferts) borrowed every thing (except thofe affertions which I engage to prove falfe), and has not acknowledged a fingle obligation to preceding writers. T.A. K. of training vines (which is defcribed in pleasure of walking through the Royal Gardens at Kenfigion with Mr. Forfyth, and was particularly gratified with obferving his method of covering every yard of walling (unoccupied with other trees) with vines trained in the ferpentine way, and which then promifed a very abundant crop. I had on the fame occafion an opportunity of feeing his experiments in recovering I do not fay that the ufe of plafter is an decayed trees by means of his plafter. invention of his, as I know that Dr. Anderfon has recommended a fimilar thing; but from experience I can affirm, that Forfyth's compofition is much the most durable; and any one, who will take the trouble to examine fome of the hollow trees in Kenlington-gardens, will, I think, be convinced of the poflibility of the cavity growth of the bark at the two fides, the being filled up with new wood by the old wood being preferved from farther' decay by the plafter; but whether the old and new wood will perfectly unite, can, in my opinion, only be determined by cutting to-pieces and examining blocks of fuch wood; an experiment I had not an opportunity of trying, though Mr. Forfyth fhewed me feveral fpecimens which to all appearance would bear that teft. I have no doubt Dr. Lettfem will eafily clear up this matter. T. W.J. Mr. In the Summer of 1801, I had the fupported in a ftate fit for refidence. For this purpofe every one is aware that frequent, though perhaps trifling, repairs are neceffary. Every incumbent himfelf knows it; but incumbents in general have only a life intereft, are feldom poffeffed of more than a very limited income, and are apt to defer thefe repairs from year to year, till they dare not, and probably cannot, meet them. Dilapidations are a very ferious fubject in many cafes to new incumbents. Other incoming expences perhaps high, they have little money to fpare for repairs that are effentially neceffary. And what is the unfortunate being to do who finds his manfe totally dilapidated, and (which is no improbable nor uncommon cafe) his prede- ' ceffor's relict in a ftate not many degrees removed from actual poverty? Is he to conciliate the good opinion, or, rather, is he to excite the general abhorrence of his flock, by legally wrefting from her the whole or the greater part of her very scanty provision? Hard must be the man who can answer, Fiat juftitia. I lament that our Qui tam friend, who fo difinterestedly took the trouble of giving many of us a gentle hint upon our dereliction of profeffional duty, had not the power of compelling us to an act of juftice to ourfelves and our fucceffors. But I ftill more lament that our fuperiors in the Church, who have this power, do not refolutely and impartially exert it. It would be an act of kindness. Though the office of rural dean has long been abolished, our archdeacons ftill have authority to enforce neceffary repairs; and their forbearance is cruelty in the extreme. I ha.. zard nothing in affirming, that even thofe incumbents who, in confequence of long neglect, might be called upon to make very inconvenient exertions, would very foon feel themfelves much benefited by their fuperintendence. A triennial vilitation with this view would be of great fervice to prefent as well as future incumbents. I am happy to understand, that our archdeacon has either actually commenced, or intends very foon to commence, a vifitation of this nature. But I cannot forget that his unfortunate and worthy predeceffor, Dr. Waller, fcarcely ever attended an ordinary vifitation without ftrongly hinting his intention of immediately vifiting our parfonage-houfes in rotation. Nor can I forget that this fo often-repeated intimation, during the latter part of his life, ceafed to have any effect upon his Clergy. He was probably ferious in his intention; but the hand of Death fuddenly arrested him, and he lived not to put it in execution. J..O. ORIGINAL LETTERS TO AND FROM Sir, HAVE been much embarraffed by the receipt of the inclofed letter and papers, which were wholly unexpected. At length I refolve to fend them to you as I received them: forgive their liberty who wrote them, for they are ingenuous; and mine who fend them, for I mean well. Retain the dedication I request; and beftow on me beneficently, fuch an anfwer as I wish to fend, and they to receive. For the fincerity of the dedication, I appeal to the fuffrages of the English people in Runnymead*, in general aflembly convened, or any fuch hallowed fpot; or to Foreigners, every where. you have furprized, affonifhed us all, on a late remarkable occafiont; it brought honeft Lucan to my mind: Sir, |