[71 county, is at once, so exemplary, and so much to the point, I wish to recommend, that I cannot suppress subjoining a letter, which contains a full description of the Rural Féte at Nuneham, transmitted to me by the Rev. Mr. Haggett, rhe rector, to whom

J consider myself much obliged, for the communication.* —₰½

7. 6 1 comply with your request, by sending you an account of the Spin- „ning-feast at Nuneham; but, I must confine myself to a general view; „*mand try only to convey the spirit of the institution; for the detail of it, ⁴ would far exceed the bounds of a single letter- Without, therefore, de- „*scribing minutely, the birth, parentage, and education, of our festival, I ¹* must inform you, that it originated in the very laudable wish of Lord and ** Lady Harcourt, to promote a spirit of industry amongst the women of ¹* this parish; about sixteen of whom(the utmost number who, at that time, *⁸ could turn a whecl) were accordingly invited to spin for prizes. In a few „¹ years, the number increased considerably, and after the prizes were deter- „ mined, the villagers were suffered to dance upon the green, before the **⁴ house: and, besides the rewards for spinning, a hat was given to the man, who was judged to have kept his cottage-garden in the best order, during ethe preceding year; another to the best mower; and a third to the best „¹reaper in the parish. Soon afterwards, a material improvement was made „¹in the distribution of rewards, not for industry alone, but for general good ¹⁴ behaviour. In 1782, on account of some accidental circumstances, the plan „ was discontinued, but it was revived in 1788, with considerable alterations; ³⁴ᷣ the principal of which was, the introduction of a religious service, at the ³* conclusion of which the prizes of merit are conferred, and the names of

g within the church, over the parish door.

„* those who gain them, hung

¹ Having thus shortly traced the steps by which the Spinning-feast arrived « at its present state, Inow proceed to a description ofit. The business ofthe ¹* day may be properly distinguished into four parts; the first of Which, is the 4* Reward of Merit. The persons who are honoured with this prize, are ¹t elected by those who have already gained it, and who form, what we call, „ the Society of Merit: the number of admissions, each time, is limited to ³ four, viz. a man, a woman, a boy, and a girl; but as the society are very ¹⁴ cautious in their choice, it frequently happens that the full number is not „⁴ completed, and that no boy or girl is thought sufficiently qualified for the ¹⁴ prize. About noon on the appointed day, which is usually towards the ¹“ latter end of June, the Socicty of Merit assemble at Lord Harcourt's house,

„and follow me in procession to the parish church, there, after a service

" Selected for the occasion, I preach a scermon, part of which is addres sed

For remarks,&c-