tate their predecessors in the hberal provision they 

 made for their successors. But I make not this ap- 

 peal to any who are actuated by similar feelings to 

 those which were indulged by the enlightened legis- 

 lator, who, in the discussion of a subject bearing some 

 analogy to this, inquired, what has posterity done for 

 us ! that we should be required to do this for our pos- 

 terity ! 



The reflection that we may not realize the advan- 

 tages of those experiments, should not deter us from 

 making them. We should be influenced by more 

 patriotic and liberal sentiments. Every generation 

 of men is a link in the great chain that has been 

 forming from the creation of the world, connecting 

 the present with the past, and is to be lengthened out 

 through succeeding ages. Be it our province then, 

 as it is our duty, to preserve the brightness of this 

 chain, that our appropriate division of it may loose 

 nothing upon a comparison with all its parts, but that 

 the period of which it is typical, may be regarded as 

 one that was characterized by a suitable respect for 

 ourselves, and as a stimulus to the coming generation 

 to evince a like regard to the claims of those who are 

 to follow. 



The agricultural interests of Nev/ England have 

 been greatly promoted by the skilful, judicious, and 

 generous exertions of the society long since instituted 

 in Massachusetts for that purpose. To the ardor 

 and zeal that has been unceasingly manifested by the 

 distinguished men who have directed its eflbrts, this 

 2 



