who may desire to read more exten-ledge of the origin and progress of sively on any particular subject, can the various employments which are easily obtain works which are exclusively devoted to it. in active operation all around, will throw upon the busy world an aspect exceedingly interesting. 20. It may be well, however, to caution the reader against expecting too much information of this kind, in regard to most of the trades practised in very ancient times. Many of the most useful inventions were effected before any permanent means of record had been devised; and, in after ages, among the Greeks and Romans, the useful arts were practised almost exclusively by slaves. The latter circumstance led to their 17. Prolix descriptions of machinery and of mechanical operations have been studiously avoided; for, it has been presumed, that all who might have perseverance enough to read such details, would feel curiosity sufficient to visit the shops and manufactories, and see the machines and operations themselves. Nevertheless, enough has been said, in all cases, to give a general idea of the business, and to guide in the researches of those who may wish to obtain information by the impressive method of actual || general neglect by the writers among inspection. these distinguished people 18. A great proportion of the whole 21. The information which may be work is occupied in recounting his- obtained from this work, especially torical facts, connected with the in- when accompanied by the inspection vention and progress of the arts. The of the operations which it describes, author was induced to pay especial may be daily applied to some useful attention to this branch of history, || purpose. It will be particularly valufrom the consideration, that it fur-able in furnishing subjects for convernishes very clear indications of the real state of society in past ages, as well as at the present time; and also|| that it would supply the reader with data, by which he might, in some measure, determine the vast capabil-norama of Professions and Trades," ities of man. sation, and in preventing the mind from continuing in, or from sinking into, a state of idle indifference in regard to the busy scenes of this world. 22. In the composition of "The Pa all puerile expressions have been 19. This kind of historical informa- avoided, not only because they would tion will be especially beneficial to be offensive to adult individuals of the youthful mind, by inducing a taste, but because they are at least habit of investigation and antiquarian || useless, if not positively injurious, to research. In addition to this, a know-younger persons. What parent of 25. In the embellishment of "The Panorama," great expenses have been incurred. The first title-page and the representation at the commencement of each article were designed express reflection would suffer his children to peruse a book calculated to induce or confirm a manner of speaking or writing, which he would not have them use after having arrived to manhood? Every sentence may be ren-ly for the work. The designs were dered perfectly plain by appropriate explanations and illustrations. made by Messrs. Morton, Hoyle, Burton, and Gimber, of New-York; and nearly the whole of the engraving was executed by Mr. A. J. Mason, of The first title, the cut representing some of the operations of the manufacturer, and the illustrations of archi 23. No formal classification of the professions and trades has been adopted, although those articles which || the same city, but lately from London. treat of kindred subjects have been placed near each other, and in that order which seemed to be the most natural. The paragraphs of the sev-tecture and of optics, were engraved eral articles have been numbered for the especial accommodation of classes in schools: but this particular feature of the work need meet with no serious objection from miscellaneous readers, as it has no other effect, in reference to its use by them, than to give it the aspect of a school-book. by R. S. Gilbert, of Philadelphia. 26. Near the close of the volume is a copious set of questions upon the articles which precede; and these are numbered according to the paragraphs to which they refer. It is recommended to parents and teachers, to use not only these, but also many more, which they can easily construct extemporally. 27. The author cannot well close his preface without again recommending to parents the practice of teach 24. While writing the articles on the different subjects, the author consulted several works which embraced the arts and sciences generally, as well as many which were more circumscribed in their objects. He, how-ing their children, not only when ever, relied more upon them for historical facts than for a knowledge of the operations and processes which he had occasion to detail. For this he depended, as far as practicable, upon his own personal researches, although in the employment of appropriate phraseology, he acknowledges his obligations to predecessors. the latter are deprived of the advantages of school instructions, but even when they enjoy the best privileges of this kind. The necessity of performing this duty is evident from what has been already said: but an additional argument in its favour may be derived from the circumstance, that the prevailing system of education is not sufficiently intellectual. 28. Many parents see the necessity of domestic instructions; but they commonly fancy that they have discharged their obligations by hearing their children read and spell a little. Some interpose their authority so far as to compel their children to commit to memory the tasks imposed by the teachers, and, to determine the fact of the committal, go through the irksome task of hearing the recitations. 29. These efforts are certainly commendable, and ought not to be discouraged; but they do not embrace the kind of instructions which the author is particularly urgent in recommending. He verily believes that more efficient aid can be afforded to the intellect in one hour, when common things are the subjects of instruction, than by a month's severe discipline in the course just alluded to. 30. The objection most commonly urged to the performance of the duty proposed, is, “We have not time." To this it may be answered: parents have time enough to provide food and raiment, as well as every other means to supply the wants of the animal nature of their children; and if they would estimate, with any degree of exactness, their intellectual necessities, no such objection would be made, especially by those who feel the influence of moral obligation. 31. But the most formidable objec tion is this: "We are incapable of executing a task so difficult, teaching not being our business." To this it may be answered: the difficulty is much overrated. Any individual with a moderate share of intelligence, and some reading, can name the materials of the furniture of his house, and describe the process by which each article has been manufactured. After having done this, he can easily extend his instructions upon other subjects of a similar nature. 32. A systematic course of instruction, conducted on the principles proposed, would be attended with nothing irksome or disagreeable. On the contrary, it would add much interest to the social intercourse between parents and children; and the former would soon discover in the latter a great increase of intellectual strength, which would display itself in an improved expression of countenance, as well as in a more rapid progress in their regular studies at school. 33. With the preceding remarks, the author submits his work to the public, in the confident expectation, that the subjects which it embraces, that the care which has been taken in its composition, and that the skill of the artists employed in its embellishment, will secure to it an abundant and liberal patronage. 1. AGRICULTURE embraces, in its broad | Adam instructed his sons in the art of signification, whatever relates to the cultivation of the fields, with the view of producing food for man, and those animals which he may have brought into a state of domestication. 2. If we carry our observations so far back as to reach the antediluvian history of the earth, we shall find, from the authority of scripture, that the cultivation of the soil was the first employment of man, after his expulsion from the garden of Eden, when he was commanded "to till the ground from which he had been taken." We shall also learn from the same source of information, that "Cain was a husbandman," and that "Abel was a keeper of sheep." Hence it may be inferred, that husbandry; and that they, in turn, communicated this knowledge to their posterity, together with the superadded informution which had resulted from their own experience. Improvement in this art was probably thenceforth progressive, until the overwhelming catastrophe of the flood. 3. After the waters had retired from the face of the earth, Noah resorted to husbandry, as the surest means of procuring the necessaries and comforts of life. The art of cultivating the soil, was uninterruptedly preserved in many branches of the great family of Noah; but, in others, it was, at length, entirely lost. In the latter case, the people, having sunk into a state of barbarism, depended for subsistence on the B natural productions of the earth, and on - such animals as they could contrive to capture by hunting and fishing. Many of these degenerate tribes did not emerge from this condition for several succeeding ages. 4. Notwithstanding the great antiquity of agriculture, the husbandmen, for several centuries immediately succeeding the deluge, seem to have been but little acquainted with any proper method of restoring fertility to an exhausted soil; for we find them frequently changing their residence, as their flocks and herds required fresh pasturage, or as their tillage land became unproductive. As men, however, became more numerous, and as their flocks increased, this practice became inconvenient, and, in some cases, impracticable. They were, therefore, compelled, by degrees, to confine their flocks and herds, and their farming operations, to lands of more narrow and specified limits. 5. The Chaldeans were probably the people who first adopted the important measure, of retaining perpetual possession of the soil which they had cultivated; and, consequently, were among the first who became skilful in agriculture. But all the great nations of antiquity held this art in the highest estimation, and usually attributed its invention to superhuman agency. The Egyptians even worshipped the image of an ox, in gratitude for the services of that animal in the labours of the field. other people for their military enterprise, were also most attentive to the proper cultivation of the soil; and many of their distinguished men, especially among the Romans, were practical husbandmen. 7. Nor was agriculture neglected by the learned men of antiquity. Several works on this subject, by Greek and Latin authors, have descended to our times; and the correctness of many of the principles which they inculcate, has been confirmed by modern experience. 8. Throughout the extensive empire of Rome, agriculture maintained a respectable standing, until the commencement of those formidable invasions of the northern hordes, which, finally, nearly extinguished the arts and sciences, in every part of Europe. During the long period of anarchy which succeeded the settlement of these barbarians in their newly-acquired possessions, pasturage was, in most cases, preferred to tillage, as being better suited to their state of civilization, and as affording facilities of removal, in cases of alarm from invading enemies. But when permanent governments were again established, and the people enjoyed comparative peace, the regular cultivation of the soil once more began to revive. 9. The art of husbandry was at a low ebb in England, until the fourteenth century, when it began to be practised with considerable success in the midland and southwestern parts of the island: yet, it does 6. The reader of ancient history can form not seem to have been cultivated as a scisome idea of the extent to which this artence, until the latter end of the sixteenthwas cultivated, in those days, from the warlike operations of different nations; for, from no other source could the great armies which were then brought into the field, have been supplied with the necessary provisions. The Greeks and the Romans, who were more celebrated than any century. The first book on husbandry, printed and published in the English language, appeared in 1534. It was written by Sir A. Fitzherbert, a judge of the Common Pleas, who had studied the laws of vegetation, and the nature of soils, with philosophical accuracy. |