MR. stone'saddress. 21 



to plant the "friendship tree" for each Ulysses, — aye — for 

 each " beauteous Helen " of your blood. Let groves spring up 

 in your fields, to speak to coming generations of the best sym- 

 pathies of the human heart. 



One of the most striking features of the Agricultural popu- 

 lation of this county, is its essential equality. Here are none 

 of the broad lines, that, as in England, mark the several ranks 

 of land proprietors, land lessees, and land laborers — castes 

 maintained with a strictness that would delight a Brahmin. — 

 Here, one man is esteemed better than another, only as he is 

 more industrious, prudent, virtuous, — and more ready to re- 

 lieve suffering humanity. In the mutual dependence of the 

 employer and the employed, and in the mutual respect with 

 which each treats the other, they approach as nearly, perhaps, 

 the Ideal of Republicanism, as the imperfection of human na- 

 ture will permit. This arises, in part, from the general prev- 

 alence of free-holding. Here are no plethoric land-holders, 

 and half-famished land-workers. Few farms cover 400 acres, 

 and the average not more than 100. The advantage of this 

 state of things is in too striking contrast with the exhibitions 

 of the old world, where the laborer is doomed for life to the 

 condition in which he commences it, to escape attention, or 

 to require argument in its favor on the score of competency 

 and happiness. 



I might cite an hundred instances within my personal ob- 

 servation, to prove that large farms are not necessary to agri- 

 cultural success. I have in my mind at this moment, an in- 

 dividual, whose entire landed estate has never exceeded 

 twenty acres. Yet he has maintained, reputably, a family of 

 eight sons and daughters, added something annually to his 

 capital, contributed liberally to the support of christian institu- 

 tions, and found time to enjoy, with christian sobriety, the 

 pleasures of social life. What he has done, all may do. 



There are, perhaps, few topics of more anxious interest to a 

 young man, than the choice of occupations, and on this I would 

 offer a few remarks. It is not easy for a youth to select a fu- 

 ture pursuit of life, in which he may best succeed, far in ad- 

 vance of the period at which apprenticeship usually commen- 



