Agricultural Addresses Delivered at New Haven, Norwich, and Hartford (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

Excerpt from Agricultural Addresses Delivered at New Haven, Norwich, and Hartford

At his entrance into life, we see him among the smallest living existences, within the cognizance of our senses. In six weeks, at farthest, he completes his work; and by his humble and unobtrusive labors, contributes largely to the clothing of mankind, and creates, yearly, millions and millions of wealth. It would be curious to calculate the hands he employs, the months he feeds, the wheels he sets in motion, the ships he loads, and the vast riches to which his annual labors amount. This reads a striking lesson to the reflecting mind, on the immense results which spring from regular and combined, though minute and Often disdained labor. Nor are his changes the less striking to the thoughtful mind. Nature is full Of mysterious transformations which show that the power of death has its limi ts, and indicate the wonderful progress of animated existence. Having accomplished his appointed task he wraps himself in his silken shroud; but with him death is only a transient sleep. If left to himself he soon emerges from his tomb no longer a reptile but a winged Chrysalis, to enjoy another existence. In the curious transformations of this humble insect, man may see an instructive indication and testimony of the progress of being, and a proof that death is not annihilation. May we exult in the hopes gathered from such beautiful examples in nature, and confirmed by divine revelation, that with man also, death is only a translation into life; and that for him to burst these comments of the grave is not, like the silk worm, to pass rapidly through another form of being, but to enter upon an immortality.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Agricultural Addresses Delivered at New Haven, Norwich, and Hartford

The body is often spoken of with disdain, as though there were something degrading in its material elements. In such cases, a reflection is cast upon the divine skill and beneficence in one of their most wonderful exhibitions. But is there not an electric chain of sympathy between the body and mind 7 What is to become of our philosophy without bread and meat? How is genius to speed her flight, or the fires of the imagination to be kept bright, unless this same body, the dwelling place of the etherial guest, be maintained in its health, elasticity, and vigor. It is calculated, that if the harvests of a single year should fail, the whole of the human race must perish. In our latitude, the earth yields nothing unasked and unwooed. All of food and of clothing, all that sustains and protects the body, is the product of agricultural labor in some of its various forms.

Agriculture is the foundation of wealth. The sea renders her tribute; but the earth presents to skill and industry richer and infinitely varied contributions. Money is not wealth. It is only the representative of wealth. Money is coveted because it can command labor; but of what use would it be, if labor would not be commanded. What would it avail to possess all the riches of Potosi, if thereby we could not acquire the products of agriculture? What are manufactures concerned in but these products? What freights the barks of commerce in their liquid flight, threading every channel and whitening every port, but the products of agriculture? Whence does the government derive its revenues but from the fruits of agriculture? What constitutes the wealth of the country but her cotton, hemp, sugar, rice, tobacco, wool, wheat, beef, and pork? Agriculture only can be considered as the creator of wealth. The merchant, the manufacturer, the sailor, the various artisans and tradesmen perform their part in making the products of agriculture more valuable; in transporting them so that the advantages of climate are equalized, and in putting them in a condition for use; bul agriculture alone produces.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.