XX 



accomplished scholars in the country, George P. Marsh, of Bur- 

 lington, Vt., has, at my request, translated from the Danish the 

 inquiries proposed by the Agricultural Commission of that 

 kingdom, which I subjoin.^ Agriculture is indeed, in this and 

 in almost every other country, the great and commanding in- 

 terest, on the enlightened improvement and success of which, 

 more than upon any other, and, I had almost said, all other 

 instruments combined, depend the general comfort and, to a 

 considerable aegree, the morals of the community. 



Massachusetts must live by her industry. She has reason 

 to thank Heaven for this condition of her being, involving as 

 it does the certain elements of prosperity in the physical, 

 social, and moral condition of individuals and of States. 

 In honest, enlightened, well-directed, persevering industry, 

 there are to be found a means of wealth, an instrument of 

 power, a source of comfort, a security to morals, and a ground 

 of independence, which the underlaying of her whole territory 

 with mines of gold would not supply. 



Massachusetts will not neglect her agriculture, this great and 

 vital interest. Having, in a memorial addressed to the Legis- 

 lature in February, 1840, fully communicated my views on this 

 subject, I shall not enlarge upon them here ; but I may be 

 allowed to add, that what seems to me to be wanted in her 

 government is a Department of Home Industry, which should 

 be under the control of a Board of Industry, or left to the con- 

 duct of some intelligent, competent and faithful individual, Com- 

 missioner, or Secretary, who should have every facility from the 

 government for obtaining information, and who should annu- 

 ally report to the government the condition of his department. 



• Appendix Q. 



