No. 216] 557 



But' in its turn, the majesty of Rome has left the earth, and the "hos- 

 tile plough" has continued to pass over and bury much of her splen- 

 did remains, and the proud eagle now builds her lonely nest amid the 

 ruins of her former watch-towers. 



A simple commentary on the benighted ignorance which now so 

 universally prevails in Mexico, is exposed in the fact that priestcraft 

 is tolerated at the sacrifice of Agriculture. A recent traveller in that 

 region of country assures us, that but about two years since an iron 

 plough was introduced, but that on being brought before the Inqui- 

 sition, the wood-work was burned, and the iron thrown into the river. 



The agricultural era of Spain was probably during the latter part 

 of the enlightened reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, when "the fer- 

 tility of her soil, the products of opposite climes, the fruit of her 

 plantations, and the vineyards of her hills," yielded their abundance, 

 not since surpassed in her less glorious history. 



It is evident, therefore, that the success of nations is co-extensive 

 with the industry of their population, and that both rely on the boun- 

 ties of nature as their mutual allies; and when the hunter subdues the 

 ferocity of the beast and extends to them his pastoral care, he percei- 

 ves that good regulations, however simple, result advantageously to 

 him and his household. The green pasture, the wheat of the valley, 

 and the corn of a thousand hills, afford a sufficient scope for his 

 care and attention, and in looking after these, he learns the more im- 

 portant office of taking care of himself. 



It is the fulfilment of trifling circumstances that often impels us 

 forward to the accomplishment of greater ones. We occasionally 

 find certain developments in an untaught mind of an unusual order, 

 which are sometimes the dawn of great results, but which need the 

 full power of judgment and reason to make them perfect. 



The woodsman who strikes the first blow of the axe at the root of 

 the tree, to open a clearing, or for some other purpose, feels that his 

 ambition is in a measure compensated when it falls to the earth. He 

 is no less gratified when another and another find their places at his 

 feet, until after repeated industry he perceives himself master of a 

 clearing, which he anticipates may yield him an acceptable crop, and 

 leave room for the primitive log cabin. 



