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ried conditions of human life ; and, as it would sometimes seem, 

 cause the scale to preponderate in favor of those whose exter- 

 nal advantages seem fewest and least auspicious. It is an old 

 proverb, that "necessity is the mother of invention." The in- 

 habitants of very cold climates in general suffer much less from 

 cold than those of milder temperatures, because, in their dress 

 and dwellings, they much more carefully fortify themselves 

 against it. So too in restricted circumstances, where men are 

 urider the necessity of contending with adverse influences of 

 climate and hardness and barrenness of soil, by increased 

 energy, enterprize and skill they compel the reluctant earth to 

 yield her supplies ; and these efforts give sharpness to the wits 

 and strength to the hands ; and, above all, a richer zest to the 

 enjoyment of the fruits of toil. 



6. Gill is represented as making rapid advances in agricul- 

 tural improvement and productiveness. In its location it is 

 one of the most beautiful towns in the county and in the State, 

 and has a large proportion of excellent land, both upland and 

 intervale, capable of great improvement. Gill likewise was 

 once cursed with a cider-brandy distillery, whose liquid fires, 

 wherever they spread themselves, carried with them a worse 

 blight than rust or mildew, than frost or flood. The habits of 

 the town, since its removal, have greatly improved ; and the 

 improvement of their farms and condition goes on with an 

 equal step. I have referred to these towns in particular, in 

 different parts of the county, because these circumstances were 

 pointed out to me ; or they otherwise strongly attracted my 

 attention. I might give as favorable a picture of other towns 

 in the county, though not of all. 

 / It would seem at first blush very extraordinary that, in New 

 England, a farmer, who has for example his farm free of in- 

 cumbrance, should ever become bankrupt. So intimately con- 

 nected is this subject with the prosperity and respectability of 

 the agricultural profession, that some remarks in reference to it 

 will not, 1 hope, be deemed misplaced. Among the Romans, 

 six acres were considered ample for the support of a family ; 



