G 



many of our sister States. It is tliese, that enable so 

 many of jou to see " distinguished talent and liigh public 

 trust resting where your names rest." 



And while reviewing the progress of our County in 

 Husbandry and the Arts, and with each returning year 

 finding more abundant causes for exulting in our success, 

 is not this anniversary a proper season to inquire whether 

 a correspondent advance has been made in those greater 

 objects that are equally under our control, and which are 

 the causes of these blessings ? With our increased popu- 

 lation, and the means of doing good, have we done more 

 towards the education of our children and youth ? Have 

 we been more liberal in the support of our public and 

 private Schools ? Are our Social Libraries increased ? 

 Have School Books and copies of the Holy Scriptures 

 been placed in the hands of our destitute neighbours ? 

 Are the institutions of the Lord's day, those Schools for 

 children of a larger groicth, been better supported and 

 more generally attended ? Are our municipal concerns 

 free from embarrassment, and under proper regulation ? 



Is the standard of public morals more elevated ? 1 



know that, from many of our towns, these questions would 

 receive favourable responses ; but if negligence any where 

 exists, it peculiarly behoves the possessors of the soil to 

 see that a remedy is provided. The character of your 

 towns is determined by these things : your own respecta- 

 bility and happiness and that of your children depend up- 

 on them. The tenure of our lands is allodial : we our- 

 selves hold the fee-simple^ and are accountable to no liege 

 lord. But not so the institutions of our fathers : of them 

 we are in the line of transmission — we are barely tenants 

 for life, and posterity will hold us impeachable for ivaste 

 or for alienation. 



The system of furnishing public instruction to the whole 

 population, by a tax upon the estates, has been practised 

 here for two ccnturie?, and has been followed by the most 

 happy results. It is considered by our most distinguish- 



