HON. MR. FOOTE'S ADDRESS. 149 



gains be slow, they are, in general, more sure than those of 

 other pursuits, for which the simple reason is sufficient, that, the 

 products of agricultural labor consisting of the prime necessaries 

 of life, the farmer is always sure of a market for his surplus 

 at some price, and cannot ultimately fail of the reward of his 

 labors. True, his annual net profits may not be large ; but, if 

 proper industry be practised out of doors, and due economy 

 within, it is seldom that the farmer will not be able, at the end 

 of the year, to "report progress;" and "the farmer," says 

 Buel, " who secures an annual and increasing income by his 

 industry, though it be small in the outset, is much more likely 

 to become ultimately rich, than the man of almost any other 

 profession in life." Nothing is more common than for young 

 men, ambitious of making their fortunes, to imagine, that, in 

 order to attain with certainty the object of their wishes, they 

 must betake themselves to mercantile pursuits. But well-au- 

 thenticated facts go to show, that, in giving this direction to 

 their pursuits, they are very likely to be disappointed ; for it 

 appears, from reliable sources, that, " in our country, every 

 twenty years witnesses the insolvency of the whole aggregate 

 trading community;" and Gen. Dearborn has stated, as the 

 result of accurate investigation, that, "of those who have 

 gained their livelihood by selling, ninety-seven out. of every one 

 hundred have failed, or died insolvent." 



Of the average per centum of profit realized by the aggregate 

 of farmers on the capital invested in their business, we have 

 not perhaps sufficient data upon which to base a very certain 

 estimate. It is supposed, however, by those best qualified to 

 give an opinion on the subject, not to fall short of 6 to 8 per 

 cent. But, while the average may not exceed, or possibly may 

 fall below this estimate, it is well known, that, under skilful 

 management, a profit much greater than this is often realized, 

 amounting, in given instances, to 15, 20, and even 30 per cent. 

 The greater the skill employed, the greater, of course, will be 

 the profit, and vice versa. 



In Great Britain, notwithstanding that her soil, by nature in- 

 ferior to ours, has been subjected to a thousand croppings, to 

 such a state of perfection has her agriculture, by the aids of 

 science, been brought, we are told, that " five millions, of all 



