6 PREFACE. 



pie set them (upon my suggestion) by New-York, in 

 the establishment of academies for the fine arts. My 

 ambition, however, leads me to render myself more 

 extensively useful, by suggesting and enforcing such 

 improvements in agriculture as may add to the wealth 

 of individuals, and, by forming the basis of manu- 

 factures, to the independence of our country\ My 

 occupations in Paiis kept mc from collecting all the 

 information on that subject which I could have wish, 

 ed; yet some things I have noted in the countries I 

 have hastily visited, which, I trust, may furnish useful 

 hints, and lead to useful experiments. Among other 

 objects, my attention was forcibly attracted to one that 

 at present occupies not only the agriculturalists, but 

 the statesmen of Europe, It was long thought that 

 the Merino sheep could only be raised advantageously 

 in Spain, and that their migration w^as necessary to 

 the perfection of their wool. Under the influence of 

 this opinion, the rest of Europe submitted to be tri- 

 butaries of Spain for this precious commodity; and 

 so slow is the progress of agricultural improvements, 

 that though an enlightened Swedish nobleman natu- 

 ralized them eighty years ago, in a country litde con- 

 genial to their native habits, yet it was long before 

 his successful experiments excited public attention, 

 France, after some abortive attempts, succeeded so 

 fully as to open the eyes of the neighbouring nations. 

 I saw and admired her beautiful flocks; and the in- 

 quiries I had the means of making of intelligent men 

 from different parts of Europe, convinced me, that 

 instead of degenerating, tliey h;.id improved in every 

 region to which they had been transported. Knowing 



