AGRICtTLTURAL MtJSEUM 5 



in some measure,un{lersfcoodin t!ie firstag-es, and is almost 

 CO eval with our knowledge of the world. But the won- 

 derftil and incredible advantages we receive from it, arc 

 what we have the most reason to admire. " The art of 

 agriculture by a regular connection and consequence 

 introduced and established the idea of a more perma- 

 nent property in the soil, than had hitherto been recei- 

 ved and adopted. It was clear that tlie earth would 

 not produce her fruits in suiBcicnt quantities with- 

 out the assistance of tillage ; but who would be at the 

 pains of tilling it, if another might watch an opportunity 

 to seize upon, and enjoy the product of his industry, art, 

 and labour? Had not, therefore, a separate property in 

 ands as well as moveables been vested in some individu- 

 als, the w^orld must have continued a forest, and men 

 have been mere animals of prey, which, according to 

 some, IS the genuine state of nature. Whereas (so gra- 

 ciously has providence interwoven our duty and our Iiap- 

 j)iness together) the result of this vevy necessity has been 

 the ennobling of the human species, by giving it oppor- 

 tunities of improving its rational faculties, as well as ex- 

 erting its natural. — Necessity begat property, and in or. 

 dcr to insure that property, recourse was had to civil so- 

 ciety, which brought along with it a long train of insepa- 

 ^ble concomitants ; states, governments, laws, punish- 

 ments, and the public exercise of religious duties. Thus 

 connected together, it was found, that a part only of so- 

 ciety were sufiicicnt to jn-ovide by their manual labour 

 for the necessary subsistence of all ; and leisure was gi- 

 ven to others to cultivate the iiuman mind, to invent useful 

 arts, and to lay the foundation of science." 



Agriculture is that profession which promotes morality 

 and religion. The man who labours in the field, has a 

 constant opportunity for serious reflection ; his mind en- 

 joys a sweet and innocent repose, out of the way of diffi- 

 cult and dangerous temptations — he views in every rou- 

 tine of business, and in every day's employment, the di^ 

 vine dispcjisatioDs of providence; and is Ied_, as it were- 



