PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. XX111 



weeping friends. And this, said I to myself, is military glory ; these are the 

 trophies of war. l louna the springs of feeling beginning to be deeply moved. 

 I turned my eyes at once to other neighboring fields of conquest, which I had 

 recently left. I had seen millions of acres, by an enterprise truly grand, a 

 courage most heroic, a labor most indomitable, rescued from the sea, and its 

 proud waves repelled ; barren sands converted into fruitful fields ; and where the 

 ocean held its profitless sway, and the winds, and waves, and tempests were 

 accustomed to spend their mingled and destructive violence, the calmness and 

 security of rural life every where triumphant ; fields crowned with plenty, and 

 speckled every where with rejoicing herds ; and cities and villages swarming 

 with busy and happy thousands, and rich in all the arts and luxuries of civilized 

 and refined life. I did not need to ask myself, What conquests are tne most 

 noble ? 



I hope my kind reader will not deem these reflections misplaced, as prelimi 

 nary to the somewhat dry task and the plain matters of fact to which I now 

 invite him. One of the most distinguished agriculturists which England ever 

 produced said, &quot; that the best way of improving agriculture was to go abroad 

 and see what other people were doing.&quot; I have been now some time in Great 

 Britain and on the Continent, that I might see what other people were doing, 

 and learn from personal observation the true state of the agriculture and the 

 rural economy of the old world ; that I might present to the agricultural com 

 munity in my own country, and in other places, matters of instruction and exam 

 ples for imitation, if such were to be found ; or subjects of congratulation if their 

 own improvements have already placed them in advance, and left them nothing 

 to learn. A full survey of European agriculture is a task for many minds, for 

 many years of observation, and for higher talents and acquirements than I could 

 bring to the work. Yet I shall deem it no mean honor to contribute any useful 

 service to so important an object. It will be understood that I enter the field 

 only as a gleaner. It is said that the gleaners often bring home the heaviest and 

 the ripest heads of grain, because these are the first to drop from the stalks. I 

 shall be but too happy if the analogy should be found to hold in my case. 



The sketches of French agriculture commence at the ninth report ; and these 

 will be followed by, and sometimes intermingled with, sketches of Flemish and 

 Swiss agriculture, and other observations which have suggested themselves 

 in the course of my tour. There may be found some deficiencies, because I 

 mean to state nothing, unless otherwise declared, which has not been verified by 

 personal observation ; but, on the other hand, there will be this advantage, that 

 such statements rest upon a responsible authority. My great object will be to 



