A Collection of Letters for the Improvement of Husbandry & Trade.

“ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND ENGLISH SHOULD QUICKLY BE SENT TO JAMAICA”

Two Volumes in One. Vol 1, no.-15, Vol 2, no.1-6 [all published]. Each part browned and dusty, dog's muddy paw print on verso of Q4, hole through the centre of F1 (in the second part) touching three lines of text but not obscuring the meaning. Contemporary calf, covers ruled in blind, red edges (rebacked with a new spine, corners repaired and reinforced, rather worn and scuffed).

 

London: for John Lawrence...[and, second part], by John Gain for the Author, John Houghton..., 1681-1683

Rare. ESTC records many institutional copies, but these are largely single issues of the periodical rather than the complete volumes as found here. Before the recent sale of the Rothamstead copy at Forum Auctions only a handful of complete collections of this periodical have appeared at auction.

 

The first trade and agricultural periodical in England. 

 

A Collection of Letters, "appeared at monthly intervals from September 1681 to 1683 (though the final numbers emerged from the press only in 1685). Each issue consisted of Houghton's lengthy editorial, plus one or more letters, covering all aspects of agriculture and land improvement and occasionally venturing into matters of commerce or popular science and technology; they dealt with matters then under active discussion by progressive agriculturalists. Houghton was the first to remark on the cultivation of the potato as a field crop, just beginning at that time. His practice was to send the letters free of charge to those who agreed to supply him in return with local prices and news. His correspondents included many small farmers, countrywomen, rural merchants, and husbandmen such as John Worlidge, besides his fellow members of the Royal Society, among them John Evelyn, John Flamsteed, Edmond Halley, and Robert Plot" (ODNB).

 

Issue no. 12 has a long description by John Evelyn on bread with information of "The sorts of French Bread", "Brioche" and "Household-Bread". 

 

"An Account from Mrs. A. Lancashire, of Manchester, shewing the manner how there they Cure Woodcocks, so well that a better dish is seldom met with" (p.108)

 

In issue no.15 of the first volume, Houghton advertises his own wares, "The Author and Collector hereof sells by the pound, chocolate of several sorts, so good, that he thinks none sells better: and one sort especially, that is made with the best sort of nuts, and but with a very little sugar, without spice or perfume: any within compass of the Penny-Post may have it sent to them, if they send him five shillings for each pound, as directed at the bottom hereof" (p.168).

 

In the 12th issue Houghton advertises "The Philosophical Transactions [of the Royal Society] will be reviv'd and published Monthly" (p.142).

 

There is much information concerning America and other English Colonies: on p.35 of the first volume the author discusses how "The Plantations do not depopulate, but rather increase or improve our People". He continues further on:

 

"I would advise, that One hundred thousand English should quickly be sent to Jamaica, foreseeing that others would supply them with Negro's and other servants and Slaves, as long as ever they could give an incourging price" (p.37).

 

This section continues with a discussion of the economics of using slave labor. He reminds the reader that, "the Scots, who tho they have no Plantation, yet run about and disperse themselves to take possession of every corner of the known World" (p.38).

 

In the next issue is a letter on the "Manner and Advantage of Planting Liquorice" with the suggestion "These setts [of liquorice plants], if kept in good mould, may be kept three or four months, and by consequence be sent to our American Plantations" (p.40).

 

In relation to, "An Act prohibiting Irish Cattel", the author suggests the following:

 

"I was once told by Mr. Rainsford Waterhouse, a Merchant at Wapping, who hath a great Plantation in Jamaica, and keeps a great number of Whites and Blacks, Viz. That he found it cheaper to go to Leaden-hall Market, and buy good Beef there, and send it to his Plantation, than to send it from Ireland" (p.85). 

 

There are also extensive lists of imports and exports (imported books, almond, honey, skins tobacco and wine) and exports (chairs, violins, a guittar, globes, salmon and swords).  Tobacco "exported by certificate" is separated into tobacco for Virginia and Bermuda. There is also a list of ships coming in and leaving England including one coming from Virginia, three from Barbados, one from New England, one from New York. 

 

Provenance: John Cator (1728-1806), armorial bookplate on the inside of the upper board. Cator was an English timber merchant and politician. Cator was a friend of Samuel Johnson's, who remarked to Mrs Thrale that: "Cator has a rough, manly, independent understanding, and does not spoil it by complaisance, he never speaks merely to please and seldom is mistaken in things which he has any right to know."

Stock Code: 41642