Xll INTRODUCTION. 



Amongst all nations, agriculture is the purest source 

 of public prosperity. Situated under different climates, 

 their productions and modes of cultivation are extremely 

 diversified. But commerce scatters the productions of 

 the various soils ; and thus each nation is able to enjoy 

 the fruits peculiar to the several portions of the earth. 

 These exchanges have connected nations together, by 

 rendering them dependent on each other ; and the advan- 

 tages arising from intelligence and industry have been 

 made to spread through all. 



The agriculturist, then, holds the first rank amongst 

 men. By what fatality has his condition, in France, 

 been always miserably servile and degraded ? Those, 

 even, whom he has toiled to support in luxury and idle- 

 ness, have often compelled him to envy the condition of 

 the animals which assist him in his labors. The statute 

 work, the tithes, and the other exactions of feudal power, 

 have left him, for his subsistence, only the most wretched 

 productions of his fields. He has watered the land with ' 

 the sweat of his brow, but the fruits which it brought 

 forth were for the enjoyment of others. In this state of 

 niisery and oppression, the cultivator of the soil followed 

 blindly the track which was marked out for him. Without 

 emulation, without knowledge, and nearly without inter- 

 est, the thought of improvement scarcely presented itself 

 to his mind. 



It was not till the moment, when, by a wise return to 

 the true principles of justice, the right of property was 

 respected and received protection, — when taxes were 

 proportionably levied, and privileges abolished, — that the 

 farmer recognised his strength, and felt himself rising 

 into the true importance and dignity of his state. Then, 



