And 'mid the blue expansive skies
Her soul forever roves.

Worlds revolving in their orb,,
Converging to their suns;

Why not rush lawless through the space
Of heaven, and fly in mystic race?-

Attraction doth that fury curb,

And each in its respective circle runs.
'All glorious works of heaven,' the raptur'd maid
Exclaim'd, and long farewell she bade;

The lyre unhonor'd hung,

The chords unstrung,

The heavenly sound has ceas'd, the muse no more has

sung.

A.

ART. VI.-History of the Rise, Progress, and Existing state of the Berkshire Agricultural Society, in Massachusetts, with practical directions for Societies forming in North Carolina, on the Berkshire model. By Elkanah Watson, first president of said society, &c. Albany, 1819. 8vo. pp. 80. 2 An address delivered before the Philadelphia Society for promoting Agriculture, at its Anniversary meeting, January 18, 1820. By William Tilghman, L.L.D., Chief Justice of the state of Pennsylvania, and one of the Vice Presidents of the Society. Philada. 1820.

THE first of the two publications, the names of which are placed at the head of this article, is the production, if we are rightly informed, of a gentleman who devotes himself, to the promotion of agricultural knowledge, and agricultural taste. It is a most amiable sort of enthusiasm which prompts a man to labour for the improvement of his fellow men. And a kind of patriotism, though profitless, and unproductive of extended fame, or political honours, yet most estimable because of its disinterestedness, and admirable for its rarity, that is shown in elevating the

dignity and importance of rustic industry, in the eyes of the American people. That our agriculture, as a science, is capable of vast improvements, there can be no doubt. Nor can it reasonably be questioned, that the prodigious success of our commercial enterprize, for a series of years previous to the pacification in Europe, had thrown the very ancient and honourable occupation of tilling the earth rather lower in the scale of dignity and general estimation, than its intrinsic usefulness and natural compatibility with healthfulness and virtue deserved. Every sincere and well directed effort to render agriculture an honoured and a favourite pursuit, should therefore be received with kindness and thankful

ness.

Mr. Watson, it seems, was mainly instrumental in establishing the Berkshire society, from which, great benefits have been derived by that part of the country; and afterwards assisted in the organization of those in Cayuga and Otsego counties, New York. He attributes great effects to the public distribution of honorary premiums, and giving to agricultural festivals by means of processions, orations, music, and even balls, all that sort of eclat, which usually surrounds political anniversaries. And he relates some striking examples within his own experience, of the happy effects flowing from the presence and encouragement of the fairer and gayer part of the coinmunity, at the ceremonials in honour of agriculture and domestic manufactures.

Pennsylvania is still much behind many of her sister states in efforts to encourage and promote agricultural skill. A bill now before her legislature, and which will probably have become a law before this number of our journal is published, is calculated to do much towards calling the attention of the people to the practicability of great improvements, and towards exciting a most beneficial spirit of emulation. But she has no society at present, established, that exercises any very active influence in favour of agriculture.

This assertion is made without any disposition or intention to detract from the highly respectable association, before whom the address, mentioned at the head of this article, was delivered. But respectable as that society unquestionably is, in the individual worth of its members, proofs are yet wanting of any great benefits heretofore derived by the public from its exertions. The introduction of gypsum, as a manure, into general use, for which we are indebted mainly to the example and precept of the very estimable gentleman that presides over that institution, is indeed a most valuable improvement; and our lasting obligations for it, are due to that public spirited individual. The volumes too of transactions, it is granted, contain a voluminous collection of tracts, presenting the results of numerous experiments, and descriptions of various newly invented instruments of husbandry. But a tardy publication after two or three years have elapsed, of a ponderous tome made up of the papers collected during all that period, reciting theories that meanwhile have become obsolete, describing machinery grown out of use, or no longer novel to any one, and announcing new inventions, that at the time of publication, have seen two or more summers pass, is a very unavailing plan of disseminating the knowledge that the society labours to collect. The book is necessarily too expensive for general circulation, and the information too stale to be very valuable. No premiums are bestowed, or, as far as we know, offered, to stimulate exertion, or do honour to successful experiment. There is, however, an Agricultural Almanack, published annually under the direction of the society, which is calculated to be very useful because it contains a good deal of practical information in a small compass, and unexpensive form. We know not whether the agricultural societies in other states, adopt a similar plan; certainly it is much to be commended, and may be imitated with good effect. Nothing is so sure to be read as an almanack, every master of a family possesses one, and has frequent occasion

to consult it; any information therefore appended to the mere calendar, is certain to find its way to his understanding. As very able, learned, and judicious editors of an almanack, the Philadelphia society are entitled to unlimited praise, but much more is expected of them, and little of it performed. In thus expressing, with perfect frankness, the sentiments we have adopted from the collection of many unbiassed opinions, in relation to an association that comprehends a large share of the respectability and distinction of individual character in this city, it is obvious that we tread 'super ignes suppositos cineri doloso, but any error or misconception, when pointed out, shall be as frankly acknowledged. And if the sins of omission that we charge upon the society were ten fold more extensive, we should be quite willing to forgive them, while we are annually gratified by listening to such an address, as that above referred to, and from a personage so worthily distinguished as chief justice Tilghman.