REPORT ON SURVEY OF ESSEX COUNTY. 



It is admitted, that the first motives to industry are derived- 

 from the necessity for sustenance; it follows that, accumulation^ 

 whether of food or of any other material object, leads to an in- 

 terchange of commodities and ^n increase of oar desires : these 

 desires stimul ite industry, and industry inspires a taste for a 

 more extended enjoyment of civilized life. Hence it may be 

 argued that to render a people industrious, a careful endeavor 

 should be exerted to introduce a moral taste for refinement, 

 and luxury. In other words, that we should by all practical 

 methods increase, and freely afford to all, the enjoyments of 

 civilized life by the exercise of knowledge, the arts, and learn- 

 iiig generally. 



It has been argued, though feebly, that happiness is not in- 

 ereas3d by a dsp irture from rustic simplicity, substituting the 

 addition of an increasing appetite far wealth; that the un- 

 taught, being largely supplied with fish from the waters and 

 potatoes from the earth, are as cheerful and truly hapj-y, as the 

 most learned or the most wealthy. 



We need not argue the question at this t'ime^ yet the remark 

 i^ ready that, with the very dawn of reason we begin naturally 

 to learn, and the desire to improve comes with us into the world: 

 and further, we uniformly find ambition and enterprise to occur 

 in all things, most keen where freedom and prosperity exist. 



We all know that our lot is to labor, either with our hands, 

 or our minds, or with both ; yet we are not always ready to ad- 

 mit, that this labor, apart from the w^ealth it procures for us, is 

 of far greater value than the blessings coveted and produced. 

 Reflection, however, and a continued series of observations seem 

 to have made it evident and conclusive that the tastes which 



