14 INTRODUCTORY ESSAYS. 



who pretends to cultivate from three to five hundred acres of 

 vahiable land, manage his business with so little economy, that 

 he barely obtains from them, after defraying the necessary ex- 

 pences of cultivation, produce enough to afford a scanty subsis- 

 tence for himself and family. Cincinnatus, the noble Roman, 

 got as much from his six acres : and some few farmers in our 

 own country obtain as much produce, from their industry, on 

 fifteen or twenty acres. Those who would justify such a sys- 

 tem of economy, often direct their conduct by the calculation 

 that no efforts to increase the piolucts of the soil, are useful, 

 beyond what may be necessary to procure a living, unless the 

 market is such as to afford great pecuniary encouragement for 

 surplus produce ; and, to obtain money, will neglect their ag- 

 ricultural interests to pursue some visionary and haz-ardous 

 speculation. It is a truth, which reflects dishonor upon the 

 character of our republic, that while paupers and idlers are ev- 

 ery where multiplying through our country, we may see, in al- 

 most every section of our territory, large tracts of land which 

 present to the eye nothing but a barren waste. The population 

 of the United States is but about the same as that of Great Brit- 

 ain and Ireland.* Ours at the present time occupies about ten 

 times the extent of territory, exclusive of Louisiana. Can this 

 be consistent with sound policy, or the interest and happiness 

 of individuals ? Notwithstanding a few of our citizen..; may 

 have accumulated greater estates, by this prodigious and rapid 

 extension of our settlements to the west and south, it is very 

 certain that the people generally, might, by a practical use of 

 agricultural science, at this time, have been as wise and happy 

 within the limits of the Atlantic States, as they now are, scat- 

 tered over a million of square miles. It is said that we have 

 already more surplus produce than we can sell, and it will be 

 soon enough to provide for the evils of a crowded population, 

 when they begin to press upon us. But it should be consider- 

 ed, that by directing our pursuits too much to other than agri- 

 cultural objects, our national habits and manners may become 

 so degenerated, and our prejudices so established, that we shall 

 have no disposition to return to the innocent and honest busi- 

 ness to which we were destined by nature. Will not Ameri- 

 cans be admonished by the examples of the old world, which 

 have passed and are passing in awful review before us ? Through 

 all the kingdoms and empires of the east, which have risen, 

 flourished and fell, and which are now hastening to ruin, it is 

 not probable, from the best calculations, that more than about 



'■Accordiag to the census of 1820. 



