ADDRESS 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Hampshire 

 Agricultural Society : 



We have met, to-day, to do what we can to advance the 

 cause of agriculture. Coming together from all parts of your 

 county — many of us from more distant sections of the State 

 — we desire to obtain from each other the knowledge, which 

 different minds, working in different localities and upon differ- 

 ent systems of observation and practice, may impart, and, thus, 

 from a free and unrestrained intercourse, gather hints and 

 suggestions for the future. 



But this festival is not useful for these purposes only. It 

 has another and an equally important object. It is designed 

 to bring together all those interested in the cause for which 

 we labor and to unite them by all the bonds, which are crea- 

 ted and strengthened by social intercourse. The day on 

 which we meet is eminently a social occasion — a day of re- 

 laxation as well as improvement. 



The time and the place, then, seem not to demand, not 

 even to admit of the exposition of any abstruse scientific the- 

 ory, or the discussion of any question which would require a 

 close and wearisome attention. It seems more appropriate 

 that we should pause here, for a moment, to look back upon 

 the space already passed ; and, then, turning to the heights 

 which yet lie before us to be surmounted, consider what path 

 we shall take, and what strength we must put forth to meet 

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