90 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
March 
feet style our improved artisans could give it. One he 
sent as a tribute of patriotism to Mr. Madison, and the 
other he transmitted, as an evidence of our triumphant 
progress in the arts, to the Prince Regent of England. 
At an early day Mr. Watson introduced the subject of 
an Agricultural Society, and personally, as well as by 
constant discussions in the newspapers, pressed its 
formation. His exertions in the outset, with the mass 
of the community, met with little favor or considera¬ 
tion. The practical farmers, with few exceptions, de¬ 
rided his schemes, and turned a deaf ear to his solicita¬ 
tions, as the mere dreams of visionary speculation. 
Unyielding zeal, the sagacity of some, and the intelli¬ 
gence of the mass, ultimately triumphed. Many who 
were the most violent in their derisions and opposition 
to his project, lived to feel their error, and to give to 
the society their most hearty and vigorous support. In 
1810, a feeble and sickly manifestation was made in 
to attempt at an organisation. This, however, the 
next year expanded into an exhibition, affording the 
highest interest and gratification. Mr. Watson, on the 
first anniversary of the society, delivered an address 
before a crowded and interested audience. A feeling 
was aroused that has never since that day slumbered. 
The success of the effort was no longer a problem. 
The progress of the society has continually been on¬ 
ward, expanding in influence and usefulness. Its anni¬ 
versaries have become festival days of the county. Its 
form and plan have been made the model throughout the 
Union, wherever similar institutions have been organ¬ 
ized. Its vast and most beneficial effect upon the ag¬ 
ricultural condition of that county, none can hesitate to 
admit. 
In 1816, Mr. Watson abandoned his rural pursuits, 
his flocks and herds, and returned to his former resi¬ 
dence in Albany. He soon became involved in the 
agricultural movements in this State. The following 
year he aided in the formation of a society after the 
Berkshire model, in Otsego county, and for several suc¬ 
cessive years was constantly and vigorously engaged in 
the organization of similar societies in this and the ad¬ 
jacent States. He struggled during this period with 
unremitted efforts, to induce the legislature to extend 
to them, and kindred interests, the fostering hand of 
government patronage. At an earlier period a Nation¬ 
al Board of Agriculture, had been with Mr. Watson a 
cherished project. He was the author of an elaborate 
report, presented by the Committee on Agriculture of 
the New-York Assembly, in vindication of this policy, 
which attracted much attention and was generally dif¬ 
fused. Although without pretension to scientific at¬ 
tainments, the opinions and suggestions of Mr. Watson 
were continually solicited from variohs sections of New- 
York, and the adjoining States, in reference to nume¬ 
rous questions of internal improvements. 
Our space will not premit us to present any detail 
of the system or theory of the Berkshire Society, and 
can only refer to Mr. Watson’s history of that society, 
published in 1820, for a full exposition of its plan and 
operations. Other associations for agricultural im¬ 
provement had no doubt previously existed; but we 
believe it is conceded, that the model and general 
features of the Berkshire system were peculiar and 
original. 
The addresses delivered by him before various agri¬ 
cultural societies were of deep interest, and fraught 
with judicious scientific and practical suggestions. 
During the last residence of Mr. Watson in Albany, he 
opened an extensive correspondence with our foreign 
public functionaries, for the purpose of procuring, by 
enlisting their services and zeal, new and useful varie¬ 
ties of vegetables and grain. He thus became the 
medium by which the seeds of many important and 
valuable agricultural productions were introduced into 
the country. The staple grains of some sections of this 
state, still successfully cultivated, may be traced to 
these efforts. 
Mr.W. was an ardent and efficient promoter of popu¬ 
lar education. The interests of colleges, academies, and 
common schools, continually engaged the services of 
his pen, and his individual exertions. He was an early 
and active advocate of the cause and privileges of 
Union College. The Lombardy poplars, that formed 
the academic grove which enveloped the old college 
edifice, were transmitted personally by him from Al¬ 
bany, and many of them planted by his ©wn hand. 
His mind and eye were ever intent on subjects of 
public improvement, and prompt and vigilant in their 
development. Whilst a sojourner at Poughkeepsie for 
a few months, he devoted himself to arouse the public 
mind to the consideration of various questions of gene¬ 
ral and local interest. The project of a turnpike road 
from New-York to Albany at that time occupied his 
attention, and was urged with his usual ardor and de¬ 
termination. Passing through Buffalo, on a journey to 
Detroit in 1818, he saw the extreme necessity of more 
extended commercial facilities at that place; and on 
the impulse of the moment devised a plan for a harbor 
which he submitted to the proper authorities. The 
plan subsequently adopted was almost identical with 
that he suggested; whether his was the original con¬ 
ception, we cannot assert. 
Although fervent and enthusiastic in his patriotism, 
a warm admirer of our political institutions, and a firm 
believer in their perpetuity, Mr.Watson rarely engaged 
in the mere party politics of the hour. His essays and 
speculations on political subjects were numerous and 
diversified, exhibiting no ordinary sagacity and obser¬ 
vation. In 1782, whilst at London, he earnestly and 
with great boldness, in the avowed character of an 
American#itizen, advocated in the public press of that 
city, the rights of the colonies to their independence, and 
urged the policy of its recognition upon the govern¬ 
ment. 
He again removed from Albany in 1827, and resided 
the remainder of his life at Port Kent, a village upon 
Lake Champlain of his own creation, and the principal 
avenue to the immense manufacturing region embraced 
within the valley of the Ausable. Here a new field 
was presented for his patriotic labors, and although 
verging upon three score and ten, Mr. Watson entered 
upon it with renovated vigor. We will only indicate, 
as an evidence of his active usefulness, the law for a 
public state road from Port Kent to Hopkinton; a rail¬ 
road from Lake Champlain to the St. Laurence, and 
another from Champlain to Boston. Each of these 
was either the original conception of his own mind, or 
was powerfully promoted by his agency. The powers 
of his mind were unimpaired, and his intellectual in¬ 
dustry unabated, to the last days of his life. His 
thoughts were occupied on these subjects even amid the 
last throes of nature. Just before his decease, and when 
unconscious of all external objects, he inquired for one 
who then stood over his bed, and added, 11 ah, yes, I 
know, he is gone to-, after that railroad bill,” and 
then, in the delirium of approaching death, he exclaimed 
with the strongest emphasis, and earnest gesticulation, 
u yonder is the track for the road, and at this point it 
must terminate.” “ The ruling passion strong in 
death,” was still animating and lightening his mind. 
Few citizens have exhibited through a long career 
more ardor and devotedness for the promotion of the 
best interests of their country. The fact that his de¬ 
votion to public concerns impaired the private fortune 
of Mr. Watson, attests the purity and disinterestedness 
of his motives. Some of the projects which he con¬ 
ceived were doubtless visionary and extravagant, while 
others, which found little favor in popular sentiment, m 
