The Sun.
London, England, 1827-12-14 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The French Language being usually learnt
with a view to conversation, a Grammar which
would afford the Student an opportunity of acquir-
ing a collection of phrases necessary for conversa-
tion, while he gradually attains a thorough know-
ledge of the elementary principles of the language,
could not fail to prove eminently serviceable. Such
is the consideration by which I have been influenced
in presenting the public with this new production.
My grand object has been to render the speaking of
French as easy and familiar to English persons, as if
they studied in Paris. To accomplish this great de-
sideratum, I have composed the essays on the rules
of passages and sentences used in ordinary discourse.
By construing them into French, the pupil will not
Only store his mind with useful expressions, blithe
will likewise' insensibly imbibe just notions of the
Grammatical technicalities of the language. This is
of the utmost importance for speaking French ; for,
unless the learner is properly trained up in the prac-
tical part, l►e will never be able to hold the least dis-
course with a native of France, although he may be
a proficient in the theory of the language. The na-
ture of the French Verbs is, also, exhibited in quite
anew and clear manner, and the remarks on pro-
nunciation are collected from the present practice of
the fashionable circles in Paris. The work is con-
cluded by a Grammatical Analysis, and a Treatise
on French Prosody and Versification ; besides a
classified vocabulary, a compendium of familiar
phrases, and numerous models of notes, letters of
compliment and business. In the execution of the
whole, in short, the speaking of the language has a
prominent feature ; and I flatter myself this Gram-
mar will be found peculiarly adapted to the capacity
of the generality of learners, being divided into sixty
easy lessons and essays, which will prove no less
instructive than agreeable.

I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
London, Dec. 13, 1827. J. V. DOUVILLE.

P.S. A Key to the Essays is just published.

[We haVe carefully examined this Key to Mr. Douville's
excellent Grammar, and can safely affirm that it is exe-
cuted with much fidelity and spirit. It forms a very
useful accompaniment to the Grammar, rendering it com-
petent for those who choose to be self-taught in the French
language, to make theMselves masters of it without the
assistance of a teacher. As such, we have no hesitation
in recommending Mr. Douville's Grammar and Key as
being the best calculated for speaking French. which we
have hitherto seen.]—EDITOR.

APPLICATION OF STEAM TO

AGRICULTURE.

(From the Gardener's Magazine for November.)

The application of steam to agriculture has hitherto
been confined to putting in motion some thrashing
machines : but, as steam will probably in a short
time be applied to the dragging of heavy waggons
on the public roads, the succeeding step will not

unlikely be its adaptation to the-implements ol
aration.

The advantages of ploughing and harrowing by
steam promise to be considerable in every country,
but especially in an uncertain climate. The soil can
only be stirred with advantage when in a moderately
dry state, and in dry weather. To enable a farmer
to accomplish this, he must keep a considerable
stock of horses and men, which, in unfavourable
weather cannot be employed, but must be fed and
lodged. A steam plough, guided by one man,
which could do the work of six pair of horses and
six men, would cost nothing but during the hours
it was in action : there would, therefore, be no
temptation on the part of the farmer to use it in
bad weather. Any agricultural implement, drawn
by horses, can only move at a certain rate per hour;
but a 'steam plough or harrow might be made to
move tit any rate of rapidity, and, at all events, at
three times the rate of a plough and pair. The ad-
vantage of such a rapid mode of stirring the soil in a
variable season in any country, and in rapid climates,
such as those of northern and tropical countries, will
be appreciated by the agriculturist. In short, the
power of steam would give the cultivator an un-
limited command. of labour at the moments favour-
able for labouring; and fifty acres a day might be
ploughed, with one machine and one man, as easily
as they are now ploughed by fifty days' work of one
plough, or ten day's work of five ploughs.
The sort of implement best adopted for stirring
the soil by the power of steam, is the next idea that
presents itself. Every cultivator, -we think, will
agree that it must be some implement of the grubber
kind (Encyclopaedia of Agriculture, sec. 2533), and
by far the best of them is what is called Finlayson's
Harrow, (Gardener's Magazine, vol. 2, p. 250, fig.
66); this implement may be enlarged so as to cover
any breadth, and regulated so as to go to any depth,
and the latter object is effected to such a nicety, that
it has been used on the same farm to harrow in
grass seeds, and to grub or stir the soil to the depth
of twelve inches. Those who have not seen an
implement of the grubber kind at work may question
its fitness as a substitute for the plough ; but where'
the soil is dry, and the grubber can be dragged
across it in different directions, it will not only equal,
but far surpass the plough in every case in which
Jittery manure is not to be ploughed in, or a tough
sward to be turned over. The effectual manner in
which this implement mixes the top and bottom of
the soil together, and breaks all the parts of the soil
to pieces, was completely shown last year, in that
part of Hyde Park submitted to its operations under
the direetion of Mr. Shedden, the surveyor. We
understand the whole of the Pruk is to undergo the
same process next year, and we should certainly like
to see the power of steam tried instead of horses.
But how is manure to be ploughed in,
.or a turf-
heootraroakrdodr
jefoettoiplosysngti,es::astri nuhubfbeocy?-rrt
pss%itfv,:nhorchloesafae-tnir.ecedgdall
sesspda.. tt
purpose
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ellei turnedvinlnepotgdiurmogcnstaognse
prongs
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laeiyasnsti
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than
and
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sub-
stitute the self-cleaning coulters and shares of his
a
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mh Sintghweedlisrihalalssreasonyr number of
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aalbinandtsiiketsplitting
llaeedkt
,1
sacks,
attendants,em m(i
thmbedti ogsbwal
put
be ann.lcl44t to e
unearth
laer harrow, with
fie l
a rake attached, and some other easy contrivances,
d
e
of potatoes, collect them, and deliver them into
'utaisnttoo stones or
the rate
carts, at
of fifty acres a day, or a much greater number, with
as much ease as the same machine would afterwards
prepare the soil, for wheat, and harrow in the seed.
It must always be recollected, in favour of steam
ploughs and harrows, that no holder whatever will
be required, and that an engine of twenty ploughs
power would be guided by one man just as easily as
one of half that capac►ty.
The power of selecting for the performance of all
the principal ploughings and harrowings of the
largest farm,a season when the soil was in the fittest