214 COMPARATIVE VALUE OF AGRICULTURE. 



Commerce. 

 The total exports for 1838 amounted 



To foreign countries, to £37,833.000 



To her colonies, to 15,53-2,566 



£53,365,566 



The Cultivator then proceeds to say, — 

 It appears, from the preceding data, that the capital 

 invested in British agriculture is fifteen times as great 

 as that which is invested in British manufactures, al- 

 though the latter excel in magnitude the manufactures 

 of any other nation ; that British agriculture pays most 

 of the hurthens of the government, supports a privi- 

 leged clergy, and contributes more than thirty millions 

 of dollars annually to her poor rates ; that its products 

 exceed in value more than fourteen times the whole 

 amount of her exports to foreign countries, although 

 her commerce exceeds that of any other nation ; and 

 that her agricultural capital is fixed and abiding as her 

 islands, while the capital vested in her commerce and 

 manufactures is subject to many contingencies which 

 may impair or destroy it. 



Now let us apply these facts to our own condition. 

 We will assume the population of both countries to be 

 the same. Ten millions, or one half of her popula- 

 tion, are assigned to agriculture. With the collateral 

 branches, as mines, fisheries, &c. which are classed 

 under agriculture by Mr. McQ^ueen, fifteen millions of 

 our population may be assigned to this class. And the 

 presumption is, that our agricultural capital and agri- 

 cultural products overbalance the capital and products 

 of manufactures and commerce as much, nay more, 

 than they do in Great Britain. From this view of the 

 subject it ^vill be seen that agriculture is really the 

 GREAT business of this nation ; that it is worthy of the 

 most liberal patronage of our governments, state and 

 national ; that it ought to be enlightened hy a better 

 education to the agricultural class; that it ought to be 

 encouraged and patronized by public bounties and 



