148 On the propriety of a Farmer living 



Are not these advantages worthy of communication 

 to my brother farmers. Is there a man among you, 

 that duly estimates a cheerful and vigorous old age, 

 free from pain and decrepitude, who would think these 

 blessings dearly purchased by taking Virgil's advice, 

 to live on the produce of his own farm ? 



It would take up too much time and space to be 

 particular as to the rest of my family. Suffice it to 

 observe, that if any of them go from home, a few days, 

 they rejoice on returning to their domestic fare ; and 

 I have never known a person yet, who had once lived 

 with me, that objected to returning and living with me 

 again, on account of the well known family economy. 



By living on the produce of our farms, I would not 

 wish to be understood, 2.s excluding all trade and com- 

 merce. Individuals may exchange, and states and na- 

 tions trade to advantage. But these abstract ideas are 

 very different from the habitual folly of our country. 

 Trade should be encouraged when advantageous ; but 

 a commerce that is injurious ought to be repressed. 

 The different states of the union might exchange com- 

 modities to great advantage, even in articles of diet. 

 These should be regarded as domestic produce, and 

 ought certainly to be preferred to those of foreign 

 grov/th. There is a wide distinction to be taken be- 

 tween sending to New England for cod-fish^ and send- 

 ing to China for tea. The same may be said of bring- 

 ing rice from Carolina, and rum^Yom the West-Indies. 

 Having a continent of our own, if domestic commerce 

 were duly cultivated we should have occasion of but 

 few articles from the eastern continents. As no tiai 



