THE SOURCES OF OUR NATIONAL PROSPERITY, &c.

CHAPTER I.

IN recommending Agriculture and Commerce, as proper fubjects of attention in a general fcheme of liberal education, I am not only juftified by the importance of the fubjects themfelves, but by the inftitutions of refpectable feminaries, and the opinions of writers of high character. The art of agriculture has been for feveral years publicly taught in the Swedish, Danish, and fome of the German universities; and I am informed, that a profefforship for this purpofe has been founded in the University of Edinburgh. In addition to the advice of Milton and Locke, I have moreover the concurrence of the prefent Bishop of Landaff. His remarks upon the beft mode of improving academical education are fo much to the purpose, that my readers, I doubt not, will be pleased with the following remarks.

"I have

"I have spent the beft part of my life in the Univerfity of Cambridge; and have not been wholly incurious in obferving what, I thought, were either excellencies or defects in our mode of education. I mean not, upon this occafion, to enlarge upon either, but simply to take the liberty of fuggefting an hint, which has often engaged my attention. The hint refpects-the utility of an academic inftitution for inftructing young men of rank and fortune in the elements of agriculture; in the principles of commerce; and in the knowledge of our manufactures.

"This kind of study would agreeably folicit, and might probably fecure, the attention of that part of our youth, which, in being exempted from the difcipline of fcholaftic exercifes, has abundant leifure for other purfuits; which, in being born to opulence, is (I will fay) unhappily deprived of one of the strongest incentives to intellectual exertionnarrowness of fortune;-it would prepare them for becoming, at a proper age, intelligent legiflators of their country; and it would infpire them with fuch a taste for hufbandry, as might conftitute the chief felicity of their future lives.

"When the treaty with Ircland was agitated in parliament, the utility of a comprehenfive knowledge of our commerce and manufactures was perfectly understood, both by thofe who poffeffed it, and by those who lamented their want of it. The commerce of wool, corn, cotton, hemp, flax, filk,

beer,

beer, wine, fpirits, falts, fugar, tar, glafs, earthen ware, iron, copper, lead, tin, &c. &c. are fubjects of great importance to this country; and it is humbly apprehended, that they are fubjects alfo on which there are but few perfons in either houfe of parliament, who have had an opportunity of being inftructed during the courfe of their education.

"Of all the amufements or employments in which country gentlemen are engaged, that of fuperintending with intelligence the cultivation of a farm is one of the moft ufeful to the community, as well as to the individual who applies himfelf to it. Great improvements have been made in Agriculture within the last fifty years: there is a chaos of printed information on the fubject, which wants to be digested into form, in order to be made generally useful. The feveral agricultural focieties, which have been established by gentlemen in different parts of the kingdom, have done great fervice; we owe to their endeavours, and to the patriotic exertions of one deferving citizen', the prefent flourishing condition of our husbandry; but far more gentlemen would, probably, have been induced to turn their thoughts that way, and all of them with better profpects of fucceeding in their inquiries, had they, in their youth, been carefully inftructed in the principles of vegetation, in the chemical qualities of foils, and in the natures and ufes of different manures."

Arthur Young, Efq.

Agriculture.

The pursuits of Agriculture are connected with that love of the country, which may be called an univerfal paffion. The charms of nature are there fully displayed; and every mind, which is not debafed by vicious refinement, or enflaved by irregular defires, is eager to enjoy them. A principle fo univerfally felt has never failed to call forth the powers of genius; and writers of all ages have expatiated on rural scenes and occupations with the moft lively fatisfaction. Every poet more especially claims the country as his peculiar province: from thence he derives the most beautiful and ftriking defcriptions, and is enabled to represent thofe various profpects of nature, which are fo highly gra tifying to every ingenuous mind.

But rural fcenes and occupations, confidered as conducive to the fupport and comforts of life, become far more important and useful objects of speculation, than merely as they please the eye by their beauty, or charm the fancy by the images, with which they enrich it. They lead to inquiries, which are worthy of the particular attention of every lover of his native country; inafmuch as they prefent a view of the powers of art combined with thofe of nature to improve the foil, to the greatest degree of fertility; and thus minifter to the fubfiftence, the increafe, and the happiness of mankind.

Agricul.

Agriculture may properly be confidered with refpect to the eminent writers upon the fubject, and the countries where it has chiefly flourished-its fuperiority to commerce as a fource of permanent abundance and power-the improvements made fince it has occupied the attention of English gentlemen -the condition of the hufbandman-its comparatice ftate in France, Ireland, America,, and England-and the best methods for its farther advancement in our island.

Agriculture is the art of caufing the earth to produce the various kinds of vegetables in the greateft perfection and plenty. It is not only effential to the well-being of fociety, in a rude and unpolished state; but is equally requifite in every ftage of its refinement. As an incitement to its conftant and uniform purfuit, it repays the exertions of mankind with regular and abundant returns. From the remoteft ages, it has been ef teemed worthy of general attention. The fimplicity of ancient manners rendered it an object not inconfiftent with the rank and fituation of perfons of the greatest eminence. Gideon, the renowned champion and judge of Ifrael, quitted the threshingfloor to prefide in the public affembly of his countrymen: and Cincinnatus, the conqueror of the Volfci, left his plough to lead the Roman armies to battle; and afterwards declined the rewards gained by his victories, to return to his native fields. In' modern times this occupation has been held in no less esteem. General Washington, the late illuf