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( 10 ) 
ancient fertility of the soil) he remarked, “tbat the 
earth took pleasure in being cultivated by the hands 
of men, crowned with Jaurels and decorated with 
triumphal honors.” 
. If we pause for a moment, to glance at the civil in- 
stitutions of this wonderful people, we discover how 
soon 4nd how deeply it entered into their policy, not 
‘merely to promote, butto dignify agriculture and its 
professors. (1) When Cicero said, that “ nothing, 
in this world, was better, more useful, more agreeable, 
more worthy of a free man, than agriculture ;” (2) 
he pronounced, not merely his own opinion, but the 
public judgment of his age and nation. Were troops 
1o be raised for the defence of the republic? The 
tribus ruslicus was the privileged nursery of the le- 
gion! (3) Did exigencies of state require a general 
or dictator? he was taken from the plough! Were 
- his services rewarded? this was done not with ribbons 
or gold, but by a donation of land. (4) 
With such support from public opinion, it was not 
to be supposed, that the laws would he either ad- 
verse, or indifferent to this branch of industry ; we 
accordingly find the utmost security given to the la- 
bots of the husbandman; 5) no legislative interpo- 
sition between the seller and buyer; neither forced 
sales nor’ limilation of prices, and a sacredness of 
boundaries never disturbed; (6) fairs and markets 
{1) Tanus and Numa were deified for services rendered to agriculture. 
(2) Cicero de officiis. L. 2. 
(3) This continued till the time of Marius. 
(4) As much as he could plough in a day. | 
(5) To cut or destroy in the night the crop of his neighbor subjected the Roman 
to death. 
(6) Terminus was among their gods, 
