MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA. 481 



Those which have not held their owa are : Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne, Som- 

 erset and Talbot (on the Eastern,) and Charles, Frederick, Montgomery and 

 Prince George's. Frederick fell off' probably not in fact, but because Carroll has 

 been detached, and of that county there is in the statement before us (Darby's) 

 no account. What surprises us is the diminution in Montgomery. How has 

 been lost, there, the example of the Brookses andStablers, and many others, ex- 

 emplars of intelligent industry and sagacious management! Have they no 

 water-power, or have they no capital to bring it into play, and is much lost 

 on bad roads or otherwise in the work of exchange ? 



On the Eastern shore of Maryland, in the time above named. 



Caroline lost 2235 



Kent .. 611 



Q,ueen Anne .. 2319 



Somerset .. 71 



Talbot . . 1099 



Total 6535 



Worcester gained 916 



Dorchester .. 1088 



Cecil .. 1184 



Total 3188 



Gross loss 6535 



Gaiu 3188 



Net loss on the Eastern shore 3357 



Now is not a state of thuigs exhibited here, that imperiously demands the anx- 

 ious investigation of every landholder ? 



But, farmers of Maryland ! as we would rejoice to see you going ahead in all 

 that constitutes strength and prosperity, excuse us for asking, Have you the 

 men willing to go into public life, to whom you can assign the business of 

 Legislation, and who are animated by a true and noble American, not party, 

 spirit ; and who, moreover, are educated up to the point of capacity equal to 

 such mquiries ? — men who have the self-command to lay aside party feelings 

 and boldly follow the line of duty wherever it may lead ? and, above all, 

 83?" Will you support them in so doing ? Here, as you see, instead of a steady 

 thickening of population, increase in the variety and quantity of your staples, 

 and constant appreciation in the value of your lands, such as might naturally be 

 expected from its locality, its natural fertility, and the ease — comparatively 

 with New-England — with which it can be labored, you behold moneyed men 

 with their capital turning their backs on you, and going away to the Western 

 Frontier for investment, and your population diminishing ! Such results cannot 

 have come to pass without some powerful depressing incubus resting on your 

 landed interest, arresting its development and melioration, and paralyzing your 

 Industry — reminding one of the squab fiend described by Darwin, flitting •' o'er 

 fen and lake and bog," until he finds " some lone 'wildered maid with sleep 

 oppressed," and there 



" On her fair bosom sits the demon ape 

 Erect, and balances his bloatfid shape — 

 Rolls in their marble orbs his Gorgon eyes, 

 And drinks with leathern ears her tender cries." 



"What is that influence, and how is it to be removed ? And is it not worthy 

 of the consideration of all agricultural societies, and of all good men devoted to 

 the prosperity of the landed interests ? Nay, is it not a matter for investigation, 

 quite as practical and as promising of good results, as would be an inquiry for the 

 thousandth time, how much lime should be spread on an acre— and how big 

 and fat can a bullock or a hog be made ? Pardon the plainness and the freedom of 

 such questions from one who, in prosperous as well as adverse times, has ever 

 found his greatest pleasure, all his life, in earnest (however ineflectual) in- 

 quiries and exertions to assert your rights and to promote your welfare. 



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