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to the higher endowiuent. All visible works of human industry rest 

 ultimately upon the invisible working of the thought within. Why 

 was not man content to retain the world in the state in which it was 

 given to him ? Simply because it did not answer in its rude state, to 

 his thoughts and desires. Just as he is destitute of knowledge and 

 cultivation, he is content to retain the world in its rude state, or to at- 

 tempt very few improvements. Such was the condition of the savage 

 tribes who once possessed these regions. The savage retains the world as 

 he finds it, because he is destitute of knowledge and education. He 

 has not the industry of thought, and therefore he has not the industry 

 of the hand. By this industry of thought, man in some age, in some 

 country, conceived of a higher utility than the rude wilderness around 

 him afforded. His first experiments upon improvement were doubtless 

 very crude, as his first ideas were crude. In making experiments, his 

 thoughts were more and more quickened, and his conceptions became 

 clearer, richer, and more definite. Work expanded his thoughts, as his 

 thoughts inspired his work. His hand and his mind carried on a re. 

 ciprocal action. Indeed this reciprocal action never ceases in the pro- 

 gress of humanity. Knowledge must direct the hand, but the experi- 

 ments of the hand ever serve to enlarge the sphere of knowledge. And 

 thus there was growing knowledge and growing skill — fresh discoveries 

 and new inventions — a more perfect acquaintance with the laws of Nature, 

 and consequently a more perfect mechanical and agricultural art. Who 

 does not see that it is knowledge that has made man the most perfect 

 worker of all God's creatures ? — that the development of his mind was 

 the necessary condition of all outward and material improvements ? 



But man conceived not only of a more perfect utility, but also of a 

 more perfect beauty. Doubtless he was stimulated by the beauty of 

 nature; but from the fountains of his own thoughts he conceived of pro- 

 portion, symmetry and grace beyond what was naturally represented to 

 him. Hence originated all the arts of design, and he was led to make 

 gardens and beautiful landscapes, to build houses and temples and ships, 

 with the art of the architect, and to call into being all the fine arts. 

 Thus he spread beauty over utility. Thus he made the world both 

 more beautiful and useful than he found it. By the industry of hie 

 thought, again, he conceived of his social and moral relations — ^he found 

 out that he was responsible, and a subject of law and government By 



