INTRODUCTION. 1 1 



is reduced to a mere machine, and in a fituatlon little above 

 that of the irrational animals. 



To the introdudion of Agriculture we are indebted for that 

 dignified place now held by man in the fcale of created beings. 

 By having his fubfiftence fecured, without the neceflity of 

 bodily labour, his folicitude has been in a great meafure re- 

 moved, and the powers of his mind allowed to expand, and 

 raife him to that fituation he was originally intended to fill. 

 The fame thing may be faid of the other arts of peace : from 

 the period that Agriculture came to be fo well underftood, as 

 to enable a part to raife corn and other necelfaries for the 

 fupport of the whole, the attention of the remainder would 

 be direfted to other purfuits. There is a natural propenfity 

 in man to afpire to fomething beyond what he poficffes at the 

 time. The firft wants of life being once fupplied, and a per- 

 manent provifion made for them, new defires would be felt. 

 Warm clothing, and comfortable habitations, would be the firft 

 in order : fine clothes, and other elegancies, would follow in 

 fucceflion, together withfcience, literature, and the fine arts. 



Thefe new wants and defires, in many refpedts fo dilTerent 

 from the real wants and natural defires of man in his origi- 

 nal ftate, have, in their progrefs, gradually produced fuch a 

 change on the face of fociety, as none but thofe who have 

 had an opportunity of perufing ancient hillory could believe. 

 While a proportion only of the population is now required to 

 provide the necefiaries of life for the whole, the remainder 

 are employed in arts, manufa£l:ures, and commerce, and In 

 cultivating the fciences. To trace the progrefs of any, or all 

 of thefe, does not belong to a fketch like the prefent ; wlilch 

 has for its objeft only a delineation of the origin and pro- 

 grefs of Agriculture, and its infeparable connexion with the 

 comfort and happinefs of the human race. 



Hitherto it has been taken in a general fenfe, and its ef- 

 fects, as far as they have had a tendency to better the fitua- 

 tion of mankind, have only been noticed. Taking it in ano- 

 ther point of view, as conne6led with national wealth and 

 greatnefs, it affumes a high degree of importance, and claims, 

 in the prefent ftate of Europe, the mcd diRinguifhed atten- 

 tion 



