bued with benevolence, and stimulated by the noble pas- 

 sion of rendering his country more worthy its high desti- 

 ny, commenced a system of improvement which has 

 changed the face of that country, and multiplied its pop- 

 ulation and the resources of manufactures, commerce and 

 navigation, far exceeding all former attempts. The gen- 

 ius of Britain, in the majesty of her strength, inspired 

 Sir John Sinclair to become the organ of so many 

 inestimable blessings. It was the mighty effort of his 

 magnanimous mind, that boldly exposed to his country- 

 men the imperfections of their rural pursuits, and intro- 

 duced to their practice the knowledge and experiments 

 which distinguished the Romans above every nation of 

 the globe. Under the auspices of this great benefactor 

 of his country, that nation has surpassed all others in her 

 agriculture, manufactures and commerce. His example 

 animated numerous eminent men of various ranks, from 

 the throne to the cottage, to achieve something for their 

 country. It was at the instance of this distinguished 

 man, that a "National Board of Agriculture"' 

 was established, and received the protection of the Gov- 

 ernment. Adequate funds were assigned to succeed its 

 usefulness. Its annals display its important and splendid 

 career. 



Nearly at the same period, the spirit of improvement 

 passed the ocean and took up its abode in this happy land. 

 It was at the era when the present government began to 

 display its powers and its benefits, that agriculture and 

 manufactures arrested tlie attention of the national coun- 

 cils. It was at that eventful crisis, when Washington, 

 the first Farmer in America, and Hamilton, the first 

 Statesman of his country, guided by a maxim of the 

 great Frederick of Prussia, that " the first magistrate 

 ought to have a constant attention to agriculture, to pro- 

 mote plenty, to encourage industry and commerce"-— ex- 



