Page:Pleasing art of money-catching (3).pdf/19



MY first direction shall be that all such persons as design to thrive in the world, should always take care not to spend a penny idly; for that they thereby may purchase a square yard (or three feet) of good land. This, how improbable soever it may seem, is an undoubted truth, as will appear by the following demonstration.

1. Sixteen feet and a half, make one rood.

2. Forty such roods in length, (that is 660 feet) and four such roods in breadth, (that is 66 feet) make an acre of land.

3. Now, multiply 660 feet, (the length of an acre) by 66 feet, (the breadth of an acre) and the product will be 43,560 square feet, and so many an acre contains.

4. Land that will let at 20s an acre, per annum, an acre of which, if sold at 20 years purchase, may be bought for £20, that is for 4800 pence.

5. Now, if you divide 43, 560, (the number of pence for which an acre may be purchased,) the quotient or product thereof is 9, and 360 remaining; which shews that every penny does purchase three square feet (that is, three feet long, and three broad) of such land, and somewhat above, which is what was to be demonstrated; and consequently, it follows, that for every two shillings, you may purchase 216 square feet; that is a piece of ground of 18 feet long, and 12 feet broad, which is enough to build a little house upon, or make a little garden, which bring well planted, the fruit there-