SECRETARY'S REPORT. 1G5 



of an ardent and deep-felt patriotism. We trust that our 

 country lias, in the view of all of us, other qualities than the 

 beauties of her natural scenery to recommend her to her proper 

 rank in our estimation. There is in her institutions — politi- 

 cal, intellectual, and religious — more than enough to justify us 

 in the preference which we give to our native land over all 

 other*. 



But patriotism, wherever it has existed in a high degree, 

 has been, I apprehend, a sentiment as well as a principle, and 

 is something more than a cold feeling of preference. It is, in 

 truth, an emotion of a complex character ; and if we would 

 cherish towards our country an enthusiastic attachment, we 

 should not suffer ourselves to be blind to those charms, whether 

 of nature or of art, which may recommend her to our fancy as 

 well as our sober judgment. 



Why should not the mind of an American dwell upon those 

 majestic forests whose beauties are commemorated throughout 

 the civilized world with something of the feeling which stirs 

 in the bosom respectively of a patriotic Frenchman or Eng- 

 lishman when his thoughts revert to the vine-covered hills 

 and gay regions of France or the spreading oaks and verdant 

 lawns of merry England? 



It is truly gratifying to reflect on the progress which has 

 been made within a very few years in the study and develop- 

 ment of the internal resources of this country. 



In former times, the political condition of Europe, and the 

 embarrassments in which we were involved by the conduct of 

 the leading belligerents, formed not only the predominant, but 

 the sole, topics of deep public interest. Little time or thought 

 could be spared, little at any rate was spared, for the exami- 

 nation and improvement of our internal condition. What, for 

 instance, had been done for the advancement of our agriculture 

 and manufactures ? and what was known of our coal mines or 

 our quarries ? Such was the state of things from the very 

 foundation of our national government to the signing of the 

 treaty of Ghent. It is one of the chief national blessings which 

 have resulted from our present peaceful condition that we have 

 been enabled and induced to turn our thoughts inward ; that 



