4 MR. gray's address. 



*'fruits of the earth are his," "and the cattle upon a 

 thousand hills." 



The herdsmen of Dan, we may naturally suppose, 

 would emulate those of Beersheba; the shepherds of 

 the mountains, those of the plains. The clusters of Es- 

 chol, would be compared with those of Libanus; the 

 wild honey of the rock, with that from the desert; the 

 oil from the hills and the spices of Jordan. 



The Tyrian purple and tapestry, the fine linen and 

 embroidered-work, with all manner of needle-work and 

 carved-work and utensils of husbandry, according to the 

 skill and productions of each portion of the land, would 

 furnish an opportunity for inspection and profitable com- 

 parison. All this was not merely for display, it had its 

 appropriate effect. Every Jew would carry home a 

 higher sense of his duty to his country and his God. 

 He would also gain some new knowledge, or at least be 

 stimulated to greater exertions to increase the produc- 

 tions of his fields and of his fiocks. It was, doubtless, 

 one of the most important means in that age of securing 

 his attachment to the cultivation of the soil, as well as 

 of perfecting and perpetuating those modes by which 

 each one might reap the highest reward of his labors. 



You have come up to this annual festival to-day, 

 bringing with you the choicest fruits of your industry, to 

 commune with each other, to be excited to new zeal 

 and to higher efforts in the profession which you have 

 chosen; to gather new encouragement and consolation; 

 to lighten the toils of the field, and it is hoped, to pre- 

 sent to that Great Being who has crowned your labors 

 with success, the tribute of grateful hearts, and the con- 

 secration of the substance with which he has blessed 

 you. You wish, I doubt not, to return to your homes 

 with the conviction that you have made some advances 

 in the art which you cultivate. With the hope that I 

 might contribute something, however small, to this end, 

 I have consented to address ^ou. 



Under any circumstances I could not hope to do jus- 

 tice to this occasion. Under the present, I fear 1 snail 

 wholly disappoint you, as my hieath and professioir^l 



