CLAIMS OF AGRICULTURE. 39 



to the farmer. We, however, in this matter, should take the view 

 that it is not simply the farmer who is to be educated ; it is the 

 man and citizen, and any plan or course of education which leaves 

 out of view this sphere must be essentially defective, must be un- 

 sound and tend to foster a narroAv and confined view which belongs 

 only to place and business. The principles on which our insti- 

 tutions are founded are not worn out ; though they are ancient, 

 they are founded on those which wall not essentially change ; they 

 are not, it is true, inflexible and unyielding in their adaptations. 

 Like communities and like individuals, the progress of mind must 

 carry them along, the discoveries in science which they themselves 

 have been instrumental in making, must add from time to time to 

 the course of study. They must then enlarge the field of their 

 operations ; they must adjust themselves to the conditions of so- 

 ciety which they have actually brought about. But we do not 

 believe for all this, that for every wind which blows, they are to 

 change the course of their educational voyage which they are con- 

 ducting, that they are to steer for another port, though it may be 

 nearer than the one for which they have set their sails and their 

 compass. 



But still it is a happy feature in our institutions that M'hile they 

 move forward on the sea of human affairs, that while on this or 

 that side the breeze may spring up : still they can gently give to 

 its impulse, by swerving from an upright position accommodat- 

 ing themselves to the varying forces, and even if need be, outride 

 the storms which rise by stiffly adhering to the principles upon 

 which they are founded, and keeping clearly in view the chart 

 w^hich experience and observation has constructed for their guid- 

 .ance. 



THE CLAIMS OF AGRICULTURE UPON GOVERNMENT. 



The whole numbei- of persons in the state of New-York, en- 

 gaged in agricultural employments, according to the last census, 

 is 455,954 ; the whole number devoted to commerce is 28,468 j 

 the whole number employed in manufactures is 173,193. It will 

 then be seen from this short statement, that the agricultural is 

 numerically speaking, the great interest in this state ; and the 



