INTRODUCTION. 17 



and the coalition of kings against the inherent 

 rights of the people. The contrast for us is in- 

 deed most happy. Happy for our country, that 

 her people are sovereign, and their rulers the de- 

 legated agents of the nation, dependent on a 

 public opinion they dare not oppose, and con- 

 trolled by constitutional restraints they cannot 

 infringe. 



The picture of national prosperity would be 

 complete, could we see the agriculturalist parti- 

 cipating the general happiness. To the extent 

 we could wish, such is unfortunately not the case. 

 Europe is at peace. Her sword is transformed 

 to the ploughshare. Her camps broken up "and 

 her warriors scattered over the face of the earth. 

 The fields of Waterloo, so late the theatre of 

 mortal strife, now make glad with their golden 

 harvest, the heart of the husbandman, and like 

 the vallies of Israel, stand so thick with corn, 

 that they laugh and sing. In this situation the 

 interests of agriculture appeal to our patriotism, 

 and call on us to adopt the remedy which may 

 avert the impending evil, and by a new culture, 

 supply the place of a staple production, which we 

 were wont to exchange for the produce and 

 manufactures of Europe, but for which, in a spirit 

 of improvidence we now send abroad the specie, 

 essential to a sound circulating medium at home, 

 and necessary to support the operative members 

 of our own political household. 



A cultivation hitherto neglected or overlook- 

 ed, invites the attention of the agriculturist, and 

 promises to restore to his operations a recupera- 

 tive energy which shall succeed the paralysis 

 B 2 



