No. 216.] 309 



privileged to act. But I know full well by experience, how hard it 

 is to lead the thoughts of men to travel in a new and untried direction. 

 They love an old pathway, and recoil at the labor of searching out 

 a new one. Incredulity is a common refuge from mental toil. 

 However salutary and beneficial the introduction of a new thing may 

 be either in its use or cultivation, it has always had to struggle with 

 the prejudices and habits of mankind, before it burst into general 

 acceptation. And how can it be otherwise, when opinions are 

 formed, and maintained in the abstract, without any knowledge upon 

 the subject under consideration, and without any disposition to acquire 

 it. 



If we have succeeded in proving that our soil, climate, and phys- 

 ical advantages are not only equal, but far superior to those of China, 

 for the growth of the Tea Plant, then we are compelled to fall back 

 upon the population of our country, and ask the questions, which we 

 suppose no one whose heart is warmed by (he blood of an American, 

 will answer in the affirmative — are we inferior in intellectual attain- 

 ment, in native vigor, and habitual industry, to the Tea Planters of 

 the Celestial Empire? Then why is it that we do not annually grow 

 eleven million pounds of Tea for home consumption, and eleven 

 times eleven millions for increased consumption and exportation. 

 The answer involves the sum and substance of the whole investi- 

 gation, because the industry of our country has not been applied to 

 the production. And if we ask a consecutive question, why the 

 industry of our country has not been applied to the production, the 

 answer is, because no one has taxed himself with the labor of ana- 

 lyzing the subject, and of acquainting the people with the fact that 

 they are the fortunate holders of such a splendid prize. A mighty 

 spirit of enterprise, however, burns in the bosom of our countrymen, 

 which, kindled into action by a clear discernment of their own 

 interests, overleaps every obstacle and urges them forward to the 

 most magnificent results. Fearless of toil, no trifles dissuade, no 

 <tlisappointments discourage, no dangers appal, no sufferings tire, but 

 on they go, periling health and life, body and soul, rushing on thro gh 

 trackless wilds and savage hosts, through mountain storms and 

 equatorial heats, nothing can overawe, nothing daunt, nothing quench 

 their burning ardor. JSuch are the elements to which we look for 

 the execution of this great agricultural enterprise, and we do not 

 entertain the slightest apprehension that we look in vain. 



Time will unfold the capacity of our country for the growth of 

 Tea, and the native energy and accustomed industr} of the husband- 



