Oration delivered before the AgricuUnral Society. 3 



mankind, aiivd inftruft tlicm in the art of cultivating it; and it 

 would be equally ufclefs to quote from the fame fabulous 

 authorities, any particular accounts of the divinities, Priapus^ 

 Flora and Pcmonay who were thought to prefide over gardens, 

 flowers and orchards. The rays of right reafon have diflipatcd 

 the darknefs of thcfe fuperftitions, and flicwn us that next to the 

 providential blcffings of a good feafon, the hufbandman, trufting 

 to the laws of his country for fecurity, depends, under their joint 

 influence, upon his own labour, induftry and vigilance for the 

 various and plentiful produce of the year. 



For among the numberlefs favours which Divine bounty has 

 bellowed upon this fortunate land, that which in the firft place 

 claims our grateful acknowledgments, is the abundant harveft 

 which rewards the induftry of the farmer : fince to a healthy 

 climate and a fruitful foil, there is annually added the genial 

 influence of a feafon, that beautifies fpring with bloffoms, and 

 loads autumn with fruit. 



But neither the fertility of the land, nor the wholefomenefs 

 of the fituation, nor the favorablenefs of the weather, would 

 properly encourage agricultural exertions if the temper of our 

 laws did not fecond the attempts of the labourer, by encouraging 

 ih& Jickle diudi honoring the plough. 



By the wife policy of our Legiflature, the fhackles of feudal 

 bondage have been knocked off, and our citizens, who feel 

 nothing of vaflalage or fervitude, aft with the fpirit of Freemen. 

 The abrogation of the laws of entails and of primogeniture 



