THE RURAL SOCRATES. % 



mentof aii which was colledled at this interefling con- 

 ference, proper td icrve for inftrucTlion to other hul^ 

 bandmen. — I (hall content myfelf with declaring that wc 

 were fingularly edified^ as much by the decent beha- 

 viour of thefe honed people, as by their intelligence and 

 zeal for the public good. It- is amazing with what fa- 

 cility,' clearnefs, and energy ihcyexprefTed their con- 

 ceptions, when we confider how very rarely we meet 

 with the like in men Vv^hofe genius has been cultivated 

 from their cradle !— Upon the whole, I may venture to 

 aflert, that this conference did honor to human nature ; 

 and has indifputahly convinced nSj that a good unckr- 

 (landing and an upright heart ai e not excluded from 

 any condition of life ; and that true dignity is no more 

 foreign to fimplc villagers, than to the mOfl elevated 

 raliko. 



With a heart affcifted with what I h^id feen and 

 heard, I could not forbear exprcliing to the afTembiy the 

 feelings with which 1 was agitated. — '-^ I have never ifi 

 *• my life experienced (faid I) a fatisfaclion equal to 

 "^what I am fenfible of at this agreeable moment ; when 

 " I behoKd men of worth in the city and the coontiy 

 '^ unite their common endeavors for the public bene- 

 ^ iit ! And you my friends from the country mu(l now 

 ''• be convinced that all our views center in the difcov- 

 '• ery offuch methods as may tend to augment the prof- 

 " perity of our republic, by giving frefh vigor to the 

 ^' indnflry and adlivity of our laborers^ and endeavorino- 

 ** to inflruft them irs the niofl; c?ri lain rules for culti- 

 *' vating and i^n proving the fertility of the foil. Ta 

 ^^ procure intslhgence, we read differtations from ?M 

 *^ parts of the globe, cempofed by men of talents and 

 " likely to inflrui^l us by their experience, Thofe 

 ^'^ of us whofe fituation v/ill allow it, in order to be more 

 *• fure, confirm this by irials of their own. I fee, my 

 ''' good friends, you are animated with the fame zeaJ» 

 *' and I expe<Si: the moft happy cffc£ls will attend your 

 ^^ country from, ir ; for, in realitVj it is cii you tha': 



