yielded scarcely a product but " man and steel, the sol- 

 dier and his sword." That long and dreary night had 

 passed away, and, with the returning dawn of civilization 

 and letters, the earth was made to yield her increase. — 

 And the cultivation of the soil of Europe, and the proper 

 mode of encouraging her manufnctures, have for a long 

 time been the favourite topics that have employed her 

 statesmen and wisest scholars. Both the theory and 

 practice of tilling her soil, now employs the ablest of her 

 hands, the wisest of her heads, and the purest of her 

 hearts. All the knowledge that can be derived from 

 Chemistry and from Natural Philosophy is there daily 

 shedding new light upon this science. And in the pres- 

 ent period of peace, the comparatively small demand she 

 has for our products is the best evidence that the agricul- 

 tural exertions of Europe are not made in vain. Every 

 part of that interesting continent (if we except the penin- 

 sula) is nov/ probably making greater advances in every 

 branch of local improvement than at any former period. 



Do we not also see the beneficial results of domestic 

 industry in every part of our own beloved nation ? We 

 witness it in the unexampled improvement of our public 

 canals, bridges and ways ; in the facilities for transporta- 

 tion to the most remote parts of the land ; in the superior 

 taste displayed in our public edifices and domestic dwell- 

 ings ; in the erection of spacious and permanent manufac- 

 tories in every branch of the arts ; in the general appear- 

 ance of the country, "green with the dew of heaven," 

 and rejoicing in the labour of its inhabitants ; and in the 

 smiles of contentment that are so generally spread upon 

 the countenances of a grateful people. Nor need we 

 travel beyond the boundaries of our own County, to wit- 

 ness the rapid advances that have been made during the 

 short period of the existence of this Society, and which 

 furnish the best commentary upon the motives of its 

 founders. Yes, the spirit of improvement has gone forth. 



