Mr Withers, who appears to have no general knowledge of soils and climates, would hold a different language with regard to Scotland and Scotsmen, if he saw the beautiful thriving plantations now rising in that country, planted by mere pitting and slitting, where, owing to the drought in early summer being less fierce than what occurs in the central, eastern, and southern counties of England, and to the herbage being less luxuriant, planting without trenching can always be depended upon. Mr Withers would also have been sensible had he had much practice in rural affairs, that twenty loads of putrid manure per acre at planting, although of very considerable advantage for two or three seasons to the rising trees, in promoting, along with hoeing and digging, an early start to luxuriance, would cause little or no lasting amelioration of the soil; That the vegetable mould naturally occupying the surface is generally by itself a much better defence against the summer’s drought, than when incorporated with the subsoil, especially after cultivation ceases; that lasting fertility of ground for timber, though sometimes, is often not increased by admixture of soil {221} and subsoil; and that, generally, the luxuriance of the tree must ultimately depend on the natural depth and quality of the ground itself. Mr Withers, with that precise knowledge of the subject, and clear conception of the nature of things, which generally accompanies a partial acquaintance with facts, makes a confident and rather imposing appearance as a wielder of language and a logician. From his assumed superiority, we especially wonder that he should possibly have envy of Scotsmen, which, from the tenor of his letter, we are constrained to believe. Need Caledonia remind her noble sister, England, of their consanguinity,—that they are sisters whom nature hath _twinned_ together? Is there another in all the earth, with quadruple the advantages of Scotland, who can rank with her in science and literature, arts and arms? And is England not proud of her poorer sister? Or can they feel aught but mutual love? * * * * *