Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-08-11


the hands bf Mr. Jsy) admitting me foreign
honorary member Of The Board Of Agricultural.
For this testimony of the attention or lha, body;
and for the honor il has conlefted on me. / have
high sense. From the fist inimaton you
were pleased TO give me Of this Institution,
conceived The most favorable ideas Of lis utility:
and the more have seen and reflected on the
plan since, the more convinced ! am Of lis i'm.
portance, in a national point Of view, not only
to Great Britain, but TO all other countries"
Under date of July Goth, 1874, he writes TO
Sinclair as follows ;--"l know Of no pursuit in
which more real and importan, service can be
rendered 10 any country, than by improving its
agriculture--its breeds Of useful animals-and
other branches Of husbandmsn's cares nor
can | conceive any plan more conducive to this
end than the one you have introduced for bring
ing into view the actual state Of them 10 all
parts Of the Kingdom by which good and bad
habits are exhibited in manner too plain 10 be
misconceived, for the accounts given TO the
British Board appear, in general, to be drawn
up in a masierly manner, aflording fund Of
information useful in political leconomy--service-
able in all countries"
i Again, under date Dec. 10, i7D0, he says :
-"few months more, say the Sd Of March
next, (l797,) and the scenes Of my political
life will close, and leave me in tho shades Of
retirement when, il few years are allowed
me TO enjoy il (many cannot expect, being
upon the verge Of sixty-fve,) and health is con-
tinued TO me, ] shall peruse with pleasure and
edi6caiion the fruits Of the exertions Of the
British Board for the improvement Of agricul-
ture; and shall have leisure, ] trust, to realize
7 some Of the useful discoveries which have been
made in tho science Of husbandry, Untl the
above period shall have arrived, aud particular
ly during the present session Of Congress, which
commenced the 9Th instant, | can give but little
+ attention TO matters out Of the line Of my i'm
mediate avoeations. l did not, however, Omit
the occasion, at the opening Of the session, TO
call the attention Of that body to the importance
Of agriculture
The following extract from his Speech TO
Congress, Dec. s, 1896, contains his remarks
alluded TO above -
at will not be doubted that with reference
either TO individual or national welfare, Agri-
culture is Of primary importance. In propor-
tion as nations advance in population and Other
circumstances Of maturity. this truth becomes
more apparent, and renders the cultivation Of
the soil more and more an object Of public pat
ronage. Institutions for promoting it grow up
supported by the public purse and TO what oh
, ject can il be dedicated with greater propriety
, Among the means which have been employed
to this end, none have been attended with great
, er success than the establishment Of Boards
/ composed Of proper characters, charged will
collecting and difasing information, and enable,
, by premiums, and small pecuniary aid, 10 en-
courage and assist spri, Of discovery and i'm
, 2royement. This species Of establishment con
tributes doubly to the increase Of improvement
, by stimulating TO enterprise and experiment
and by drawing a common center the resuiu
, everywhere Of individual skill and observation
and spreading them thence over the whole ma
tim. Experience accordingly has shown tina
they are very cheap instruments Of immense na
b. tiunal benefits"
Washington ofien remarks 10 Sinclair iha
. agriculture has ever been his favorie pursuit
+ regrets that the duties Of his public station d
not allow him to pay that attention to it that b
n could wish, and expresses an earnest longin
: for the time TO arrive when he may return /
= Mount Vernon, and engage in ''these mos
agreeable and useful occupations" On reiir
!. ing from his public Office, in the spring of 1897
!. he returned to his estate on the Potomac, an
# engaged with renewed pleasure in farming
! Writing to Mr. Strickland soon aiier his retire
!. ment TO private life, he says AT no perio
q have been more closely employed than now
3 in repairing the ravaees Of an eight yers' al
A sence. Engaging work,neG Of dfisrcn, sort.
,s providing and looking after them, together wit
n the necessary attention 10 my farms, have occu
!. pied all my time since have been at home
D. For the detailed accounts Of your observation
n on the husbandry Of these United States, an'
"a your reflections thereon, ! feel myself mucl
nj obliged, and shall at all times be thankful fc
" any suggestions on agricultural subjects whic
~ you may find leisure and inclination TO favor m
Is with, as the remainder Of my life, which in III
d common course Of things, now in my sixty
p- sixth year, cannot be Of long continuance, wi
g. be devoted wholly to rural and agriculurl
pursuits"
IA Aud SO for the brief period allotted him Al
s. ter this final retirement was that life spent
m Only four days previous 10 his death, he mad
De out new and elaborate plan for the manag'
Ne ment Of his farms, revising and improving uf
r.. on such former modes Of cultivation as appea
r ed to him to need it, making new tables Of It
of tation and of estimate Of labor. products, IL
h, A sketch Of these interesting documents cal
in no, be given in this necessarily limited artir
nd close with the brief expression Of. a wis
,d that our statesmen might copy largely from u
d. example Of Washington, catching something
In his earnest soicitude for the advancement Of Il
10 agricultural interests Of the country, and NJ
Iis allowing mere political theories, or consider
on tions of party, to hinder them from efforts
no promote those interests.
nd Brattle6oro', July 10, 1856.
ed -