6 Oration delivered before the Agricultural Society, 



nefs every. where as they go, changing to a civilized countiy, 

 and fmiling with plenty, even beyond the MiiTifippi. Such 

 are the enterprizing labours of thy citizens oh ! America. 



Salve magna parens frugum ! 

 Magna vlrlum.——— 



Such are the wonder-working efPeBis of induilry, altho' its 

 operations wxre cramped in the beginning by the felfifli policy 

 of Britain, and afterwards interrupted by the unnatural war 

 v/hich for feven long years fhe waged with the people of this 

 land. Even then, while green in the griftle of youth, and not 

 yet hardened in the bone of manhood, Columbia's fons, as 

 induftrious in defending as in aflerting their rights, told the 

 tyrants " they wifhed to be free," and as the mild language of 

 petition and remonllrance was treated by him with contempt 

 and difdain, they in a voice that ftruck with terror and difmay 

 both himfelf and his hoft, replied to him as an argumentum 

 crucisy the ultima ratio of nations, and from the cannon's mouth 

 thundered the unwelcome truth in his ears. 



Hitherto, the American hufbandman has cultivated a foil, 

 enriched for ages by the yearly addition of a frefli ftratum of 

 mould. From the firll exiflence of vegetation upon the dry 

 land, decayed plants have continually furnifiied a fupply of 

 manure, which the winds and rain have liberally fpread abroad. 

 As the fupply was annually greater than the confumption, the 

 earth, unexhaufted by it produ6tions, increafed in fertility. 

 The thick layer of vegetable mould which covered the face 



