330 Elevation of Agriculture as a Pursuit and a Profession. Vol. IX. 



numbers. Please excuse these hasty re- 

 marks, and accept my good wislics. 



o. JL. 

 Delaware co., Pa. 



Elevation of Agriculture as a Pursuit 

 and a Profession. 



The pursuit of agriculture is almost uni- 

 versally considered as merely a profession 

 of commerce or trade, the farmer looking 

 wholly to its pecuniary results. In a trading 

 community, pecuniary considerations are al- 

 ways liable to control the judgment and pre- 

 dominate over every other consideration. 

 Where the means are limited, and the farm 

 must be cultivated as the only source of sub- 

 sistence, pecuniary returns must, of course, 

 be the main object. Where, as in England, 

 the cultivator is not the owner of the soil, but 

 an annual rent must be paid, and he is liable, 

 as in most cases, to be compelled to quit his 

 occupancy at the pleasure or the caprice of 

 his landlord, farming must be conducted 

 merely as a matter of business, and there is 

 no inducement to pursue the profession as 

 matter of taste or sentiment. In many cases 

 in my own country, it must, of necessity, be 

 followed wholly as a means of support and 

 of profit, and in some cases as a struggle for 

 life. 



But there are innumerable other cases, in 

 which men have the power, under the most 

 favourable circumstances, and I am most 

 anxious they should have likewise the dis- 

 position to devote themselves to it as an ele- 

 gant and liberal profession, worthy of a mind 

 gifted even with the finest taste, and en- 

 riched by the highest cultivation. The 

 United States present not many examples 

 of very great wealth, at least when esti- 

 mated by the standard of wealth which pre- 

 vails in England, where, indeed, are to be 

 found individual accumulations which dis- 

 tance all the dreams of oriental magnifi- 

 cence. But, on the other hand, no country 

 upon the globe, and no condition of things 

 since the establisliment of society, ever pre- 

 sented more favourable opportunities than 

 the United States for any one, by active and 

 wholesome industry and a proper frugality, 

 to acquire a competence, and that respect- 

 able independence, in which, with a full 

 supply for the necessities of life, and an 

 abundant provision for its comforts, there 

 will be found within reach as many of the 

 eleo"ancies, and ornaments, and luxuries of 

 life, as a well-disciplined and healthful state 

 of mind can require. I have seen too fre- 

 quently such beautiful examples in our coun- 

 try villages, and scattered over several parts 

 of a land in many respects favoured by Hea- 

 ven above every other, not to be deeply im 



pressed with a condition of life which, where 

 its blessings are properly and gratefully ap- 

 preciated, seems to leave little more on earth 

 tor a rational and reflecting, a benevolent 

 and truly religious mind to ask. Happy is 

 it where its waters are not poisoned by an 

 insatiate avarice, nor disturbed and thrown 

 into confusion by ambition of political office 

 or distinction, or a feverish thirst for noto- 

 riety and excitement; but in a quiet, yet 

 not stagnant repose, they reflect everywhere 

 the tokens of that divine goodness, which 

 seems in such examples to have poured out 

 its richest earthly treasures. Now, I am 

 anxious that agriculture should occupy that 

 place among the liberal professions to which 

 it can be raised, and to which, from its im- 

 portance, it is entitled. But this can only 

 be done by improving the education of farm- 

 ers as a c\ass,— by multiplying, through the 

 means of a most liberal and extended edu- 

 cation, the charms of the country, and the 

 subjects of interest which would be con- 

 stantly more and more developed to a culti- 

 vated and inquisitive mind; and by showing 

 that its successful pursuit, either as matter 

 of business or recreation, where a moderate 

 fortune is possessed or a moderate profes- 

 sional income is secured, is not incompatible 

 with the highest improvement of taste, and 

 even a vigorous and successful pursuit of 

 learning; and that, where so pursued, under 

 favourable circumstances, it affords as fair a 

 chance of rational enjoyment and quiet use- 

 fulness, as any situation which the most lu- 

 crative trade, or the most successful political 

 ambition, or even the highest professional 

 eminence, can command. 



But I fear, how much soever I may satisfy 

 the sober and reflecting minds on this point, 

 my opinions and persuasions will scarcely be 

 heard, and far less heeded, in that rush for 

 wealth, for office, and for notoriety, which, 

 like a torrent sweeping over the country, 

 carries every movable object in its course. 

 It seems, however, not less my duty to re- 

 cord my strong convictions, which the expe- 

 rience of a life not short has served only to 

 confirm. I see in my own country every 

 where proffered to an honest industry, a 

 wise frugality, and a wholesome self-govern- 

 ment, the most ample rewirds: I see a wide 

 extent of rich and beautiful territory wait- 

 ing the improving hand of skill and labour, 

 to1)e had in many cases almost for asking, 

 with every man free to choose where he will 

 pitch his tent, not only without injury, but 

 to the advantage of his neighbour: I see the 

 means of education, of competence, and of 

 substantial independence, held out to all 

 who will avail themselves of them. In the 

 midst of all this, I see thousands and thou- 



