National Gazette

FOR THE NATIONAL GAZETTE.

MR FRENEAU,

OUR friends in Virginia will observe by the constitution of the Philadelphia county society that one object of the institution is to promote domestic manufactures. We are attentive that our farms should not only supply our families with household linen, but as much as possible with every article of clothing. When it is not convenient to have the different parts of the work performed by the family, the poor neighbors are employed, who for the most part receive the produce of the farm in pay for their services; by this means a simple exchange of property takes place between the manufacturer and farmer, greatly to the advantage of both. I have now a coat in use made from the wool of my farm which stands me in but five shillings per yard. English cloth of the same quality cannot be purchased out of the stores for less than seven shillings. I am convinced from experience that a steady attention to domestic manufactures makes at least a saving of sixty per cent to the American farmer, particularly where his family is numerous This method of encouraging American manufactures is slow, but it has a firm foundation, and they will no doubt improve whenever the real friends of this country give them a decided preference to the finer, but more limy productions of Europe.

Knowing the advantages to be derived from agricultural societies, I sincerely wish that success may attend the introduction of them in Virginia. Such institutions should take place in every county of that valuable state ; each society should be in possession of a collection of books on agriculture, for the use of the members - all of Mr. Young's works on this important subject are valuable, particularly his last publications---his annals contain much practical information. Marshall's publications also merit attention. The Rev. Mr. Hart's Essays on agriculture are wrote with elegance and purity ; his observations on the culture of Lucern are highly esteemed. Home's Gentleman-Farmer is a valuable book. Altho' this gentleman was one of the lords of session in Scotland, he found leisure to give a practical attention to agriculture; he improved his farm at Kaimes near Stirling in the new method of husbandry, and by his laudable example and writings contributed to render his country more productive, wealthy, and happy.

Many other authors antient and modern merit to be placed in an agricultural library.

A FARMER.