The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-23
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.
[From our regular eOrrssPOad.nt.l


Great Western and Great Britain hsps made money
Vhy not an .amsriea line .OiihOa government aid on
The same rO,lis7-Prstsssi0ns and trades IN Ma.
York.-Grsai number Of Lawyer, and doctors, mr..
chants, Se.-Ths eODdsd state Of the learned prejs'
SONS Chances ofrising In them subject 10 eoniin
gsneiss-.agTieulituGl and other practical pursuit.,
tOOrihy Of neutrality-suspicious. school, iSanisd.
Project Of sa agricultural college in this State The
legislature pciitiOnsd in lis tauOr-a public farm tie
proper place for apartments, and practical and prspar-
aiOry insrusfOn.-Ths last nsios from Canada, &C.,
&c.
Much discussion has taken place recently in the
papers relative TO the establishment, by the govern
ment, of mail line Of steamers. The argument OF
those who wish It for Liyerpoolis that the steamers
by running 10 that point can be made profitable 10
their owners. OF this there be no doubt since
the Great Western and Great Britain have made
money without aid from the government Of Great
Britain. II they oppose the line to Bremen, via
Cowes, because il will not pay, il affords a strong
reason why government should aid it, If the adyo-
Gates for Liverpool believe what they assert, why
not build their steamers
Professions IN .Nio York-A business directory
has recently been published, purporting TO give the
trades and pursuits Of the whole city. IL contains
a lis, Of 955 lawyers, and Goa physicians. have
to think the city contains about 900 physi.
cions and from 900 to 200 members of the legal
profession. 1t also contains 727 dry goods deal
ers, 1880 importers, $50 grocers, 222 tarsni and
eo6ss-hOuss! with extensive catalogue besides of
every variety Of trades and pursuits usually follow
ed in large cities.
Il will be perceived that this city, like every other
part of the Union, is oyerstocked with professional
men, The so-termed learned professions although
professed by great many unlearned men, and prac.
used by many irregular pretenders, are through
out the country out Of proportion to the real wants
Of the people. II would be better, if the attention
Of young men was directed in greater degree to
practical pursuts-such agriculture, engineering,
&c, with the study Of the steam engine in connex-
ion with ocean navigation, marine and general archi-
lecture. Agricultural academies or schools are
wanted, planned with a view Of giving the best
practical instruction in farming horticulture, gar
dening, &c.
A petition was sent up TO Albany from this city
early last autumn 10 be presented 10 the legislature
in favor Of founding an agricultural college. The
object is praiseworthy one; but far have seen
no action in reference 10 il. In all ages and in all
civilized countries, agriculture has been considered
noble and healthful pursuit. IL is TO the farmers
10 the culiyators Of the SOLVE are chiefly in
debted for national prosperity, for they support
more less, everything else. Considering its vast
importance, il must be confessed less pains have
been taken TO educate young men for farmers in the
United States than in other countries less favored
for such pursuits. Filling the soil is like other call
ngs; much advantage may be derived from instruc-
ton well as experience; and generally speaking,
the greater the skull with which operations on farm
are conducted the more profitable are the results The
misfortune is, that isolated and scattered farms are
not suitable places for making experiments on a
proper scale, many OF which may require several
years careful attention 10 bring them to maturity.
Indeed, many farmers have been seriously injured
by embarking in theoretical experiments set forth
in books which, from some inherent difficulty in the
thing itself or from want Of care and facilities in
executing them, they have been abandoned with
loss Of time and labor, and to the neglect of what
they better understood. Such trials and failures
have prejudiced farmers against experiments Of all
kinds The only place where experiments should
be made, and on a proper scale, and with proper
care, is on a large and well selected public farm
under the management of skilful and experienced
men. Here ssils could be analysed, rotation Of
crops tried, the relative value Of manures ascertain
ed, the growth Of new plants and grains tested, the
improvement Of stock tried by crossing, and the
rearing of newly imported animals undertaken. 1t
should be conducted not so much with an eye to i'm
mediate profit (Which is matter Of necessity with
the most Of our farmers but with view to the i'm
provement of agriculture generally, and the ins,ruc
ton of young men in its practical, well in its
scientific details. All useful and successful expert
ments performed on the public farm would be read-
y, and without difficulty, copied by the farmers
from one end Of the country to the other.
Ii would he a good thing il we had at this time
at least three agricultural colleges in the United
States-one of which should be at the North, an
other at the South, and the third at the West, in
order to suit the climate and productions of each
| section. Ii Congress had the power, and had ever
done half as much for the promotion Of agriculture
as for manufactures &C., it would have been far in
advance Of its present state. How much better
would it be for many Of our young men to
graduate well conducted public farm, and
take his position an enlightened and successful
farmer, than to graduate lawyer or doctor, and
then set down in small Office in large city or coun-
| try town, waiting many long and weary years for
| business and promotion, which, in comparatively
few cases, is ever fully or happily realized So much
does success among the most meritorious, de.
pend upon chance, or upon family connexions and
influence, that fortuitous circumstances too often
elevate the undeserving or weaGer-mnded above
the brightest genius most brilliant requirements.
How often has intellect been thrown into irrecovera-
BILE despair and misery by neglect being outstripped
by unworthy rivals more fortunate in wealth or
| friends! Every city and town abounds with mourn.
full instances of the kind painful to the memory
as the results fatal and disastrous to the unort-
nate victims. The pursuits of agriculture would
lead to no such shattered prospects and ruined hopes
in the noontide Of life. Then let its free, independ-
ent, and healthfu pursuits be encouraged.
The Courier des Etats Unls dwells upon rumors
afoat in Europe relative to the proposed establish
ment of a monarchy in Mexico, with Spanish
prince at its head. From what ! said in former
letter on this subject, deem further remark use.
| less.
The Albion republshes Mr.. Calhouns speech. II
is filed to-day with foreign news, including the par
ticulars ofth great battle in India.
The splendid new Liverpool packe,-ship Colum.
bia was launched this afternoon from the ship-yard
of William H. Webb, esq. She is to be command.
ed by Captain Rathbone, late Of the Oxford.
am indebted to Messrs. Virgil g. Rces ex-
press for the Montreal Gazette of the 10Th instant
Parliament was to have been opened by Earl Cath
cart on the Goth instant. A stormy session was ex-
pected. The Gazette Is the government paper. Il
defends Sir Robert Peel's policy against the agita
| ton lately produced in Canada by his movements
The Gazette anticipates great advantages to Ca.
madam trade, by the early opening Of the Welland
canal, which every year il says will be passable be-
fore the Erie canal, from Buffalo to the Hudson, is
| navgable.
Earl Cathcart rendered his thanks to the supern
tendent of the express, with the Cambria's news
| from Portland to Montreal, by which means his ex
cellency was put in possession of later advces.
LuIf r a. n NJ