8» THE RURAL SOCRATES. 



whole extent of its powers ; that great talents are never 

 lofl to fociety in whatlocver rank he who pofTefles them 

 .^s phced ; and that the real grandeur oi man confifls 

 in adling cpnfonhably to the faculties beftowed. The 

 hufbandnaij, the artifan, the fch )lar, the magiftrate^ ev- 

 ery man accordi'ig to his occupation, will Mnd fufficient 

 opportunities for the exertion of thefe faculties ; and 

 will render hitnfelf pleali ig to that Being, whole be- 

 nevolent eye co nprehendi ^.tonce what is uiefultothe 

 human race ; provided he makes a good ale of the taFent 

 he has received, accordiiig ra his (laiion. A' wile 

 and inteHigent farmer may be., as injflrumental to 

 the general pro 1 peri cy, as the moft confummate legif- 

 lator. The influence of his example will infenfibly op- 

 erate upon his neighbors ; good morals will prevail in 

 the village to which he belongs, and from thence be 

 ipread ambngft thofe adjacent ; till, by degrees, the 

 whole country w?ll reap t^e benefit of io excellent a mo- 

 del. Such happinefs cannot elcsipe the eyes of atten- 

 tive flatefmen, who are defirons to revTrify errors in gov* 

 ernment ; and the utility v/ill then become general. 



This confideration has induced me to confiply with 

 the importunities of my friends-, in communicating to 

 the public, a work atfirfl undertaken with the fole view 

 of ftiniukting Tome of my countrymen to ofe their ut- 

 moft efforts for the re-eflabliihrnent of agriculture 

 cj'mongfl: us ; and of pointing out the fliortefl way for 

 the attainment of this laudable purpofe. The inflancc 

 before us proves the pollibilitv of fucceeding \ and aC 

 the fame time indicates the moil efficacious means ; that 

 is to fay, unremitting ardor and alfiduity in labor ; with 

 a more precife and comprehenfive knowledge of the belt 

 methodic of irn pro vement. The tirll: obje*i requires a 

 general reformation in the moral conduct!: of the pea- 

 fants ; the fecond depends upon experiments and obfer- 

 "^ations. 



The flrongeft incitements to irdefatigable toil are 

 Cither the pecuniary adYanta2:es arifing from it ^ or hon- 



* 



