( 302 ) 

 ftile as to be excluded from the prefent 

 reafoning: But, on the contrary, others 

 who begin the world with 2 or 3000 /. or 

 more, may undoubtedly find agriculture as 

 fure a means of rlfmg to a large fortune as 

 ever commerce proved. 



Many gentlemen of family are above 

 that obfcure drudgery requifite for ri- 

 fing in trade; and indeed I cannot con- 

 ceive the propriety of a young fellow of 

 quality (who is bred up from his infancy 

 with a contempt of a counting-houfe) be- 

 ing fixed in the trade of telling that two 

 and two makes four; and we accordingly 

 fee the greateil number of them bred to 

 profefTions which are reckoned honourable 

 and polite ; fuch as arms, the court, and 

 the church : profefFions in which no for- 

 tunes are made, only good incomes gain- 

 ed; and thefe are, in many inflances, had 

 recourfe to for want of a profitable bufi- 

 nefs exifting, that is, at the fame time, per- 

 fectly liberal, polite, and honourable. 



Agriculture, of all others, is that profef- 

 fion, in the genuine reafon of things, none 

 is more creditable, more ufeful to mankind; 

 in no inftance feeding the luxurious pamper- 

 ed 

 8 



