G. S. BOUTWELL'S ADDRESS. 373 



joyed by other people, until, in the extent and capacity of 

 our commercial marine, we are the second nation of the 

 globe. 



And though we may now feel that the introduction of rail- 

 ways has diminished the value of our lands, and lessened the 

 inducements to agricultural employments, the change, in reality, 

 is only partial, and the loss only temporary. By the same 

 agency we have seen the population of our cities and principal 

 towns materially increased, and the value of our domestic mar- 

 kets materially improved. > 



If the agricultural population of Middlesex county were in- 

 clined, though for sufficient reasons they are not, to follow 

 the example of their ancestors of the last generation even, the 

 present would be with them a period of unprecedented accu- 

 mulation of property. We must remember that in thirty years 

 great changes in the habits and modes of life have taken 

 place. Not but that a few continue within the limits of their 

 former expenditures, but these are the exceptions. Houses are 

 more conveniently, elegantly and expensively built. They 

 are more richly furnished. Carriages and. carpets, then in- 

 dulged in but by few, are now so common as to lead one to 

 conclude that they are regarded as necessities or conveniences, 

 rather than luxuries. Now, we are not going to return to the 

 spinning-wheel or hand-loom, though they made very good 

 music for the day when they were popular ; but it is well 

 enough to observe the actual change which has taken place, 

 that we may the better judge of our relative condition. In 

 the matter of expenditures, it is true, our farmers have hardly 

 kept pace with men in other pursuits. The habits of city life 

 are disproportionately expensive ; so much so, that were peo- 

 ple generally to adopt them, nothing, not even the gold of 

 California, could save us from a common bankruptcy. But 

 I think it true, beyond controversy, that the proportion of 

 surplus capital in the hands of farmers is greater now than 

 it was thirty years ago, and that their indebtedness, as a 

 class, is less now than then. If so, they have made pro- 

 gress in wealth which is certainly one of the aims of man's 

 ambition. 



