Conchology. 137 



good may be hoped from her maturer wisdom. Our fathers have 

 left us a noble inheritance, and it is our duty to improve it. What 

 surer basis can we choose for national wealth, than a learned and 

 enterprising agriculture.'' How can we more effectually strength- 

 en the ties of interest that bind the extremities of our country in 

 indissoluble union, than by augmenting the number and the value 

 of their useful productions.'' How can the intelhgence of a people 

 be more favorably developed, than by an art which gives so wide 

 a scope to comparative sagacity, and which brings its conclusions 

 to the tests of immediate experience.' Who are more likely to 

 be devoted to their country, than those who have attached the 

 hopes of their children to its soil .''—There is, besides, in the pro- 

 fession of agriculture, something so congenial to republican man- 

 ners, that we should naturally expect to see the freest country the 

 best cultivated. Remote from the contest of sordid passions, and 

 surrounded by all that is necessary to his happiness, the husband- 

 man has no inducement to calculate the interest upon political 

 corruption. An active life, spent in the open air, in the majes- 

 tic presence of Nature, lends a corresponding simphcity and ele- 

 vation to his character. In public stations a patriot is often driv- 

 en from his purpose, by the jealous opposition of his rivals, or by 

 the invincible prejudices of his age; he must at least, sacrifice his 

 freedom to the duties of his oflice; but in a life devoted to agri- 

 cultural improvement, the purest sources of rational enjoyment 

 are united; the first want of a generous spirit, is that of being 

 useful to mankind; the second, is that of liberty. 



V • i' PLATE V. 



A brai3ch and fruit of the natural size. Fig. 1. Flowers of the natural 

 size. Fig. 2. A flower magnified. Fig. 3. A drupe with the stone ex- 

 posed. 



CONCHOLOGY 



NO. III. 



Of the Formation of Shells. The shell or covering of 

 testaceous animals, has been considered in some measure as anala- 

 gous to the bones of other animals, although its formation and 

 growth are veiry different; since it serves as a base or support to 

 the muscles, which are attached to its internal surfaces. The 

 18 



