b o o k the perfons o f the greateft merit often fettle in other coun-
— ,— 'tries; or, i f they return, foon link into an indolence, which
appears almoft national. The caufe o f this failure feems to
proceed from the little encouragement they, receive from the
nation in general. The fovereign may rear artifts, like fo reign
plants, at a prodigious expence, and by conftant cultivation
; but unlefs the fame care is continued when they are
brought to maturity, they will iicken by negleCt; and it is
impoffible, even for a monarch, however inclined to proteCt
and encourage merit, or for a few o f the nobility who are
pleafed to follow fuch an illuftrious example,, to diffufe a
love for the works of art among a people, who muft, before
they can judge or be pleafed with them, imbibe a degree of
tafte which can only be acquired by experience : and i f thofe
• who are eminent are not in fome meafure diftinguilhed, they
eannot feel that noble fpirit o f improvement and emulation
which excites to excellence; nor, unlefs they are employed,
can they fubfift by their profellion. The cafe is, that the
Ruffians are by no means deficient in genius ; but, as there
is not yet that general zeal for the purfuit and cultivation of
the arts which has taken place in other European .countries ;
they have not fufficient motives to animate and encourage a
.continuance of induftry, or to gratify thepurfuits o f reputation
and character.
As the nation, however, is gradually haftening towards a
.higher ftate o f civilization and refinement, thefe inftitutions,
ftill in their infancy, muft infallibly be productive of more
extenfive and permanent effeCts.
The Free CEconomical Society, or the Society'for the promotion
of Agriculture at Peterfburgh, is too important and
ufeful an inftitution to be overlooked. It owes its origin to
; the
A G R I C U L T U R E S O C I E T Y . , j ,
the following occafion: The emprels one day at table ex- CHAP-
preffing herfelf with warmth upon the advantages'that would ■ ■
refult from fuch a fociety, firft fuggefted the idea to prince
Orlof, who happened to, be prefent. In conformity to the
wiffies of his imperial miftrels, he and fourteen other perfons,
partly men of rank, and partly men o f learning, afiem-
bled in June, 17-65, drew. up rules, and formed them-
felves into a regular fociety. Having laid the plan before
the emprefs, her majefty returned the following anfwer.
written with her own hand.
“ The defign which you have juft formed for the im-
« provement o f agriculture and huibandry, is h ighly agree-
“ able to Us ; and your labours will be regarded as effectual
1 proofs o f a true zeal and love for your country. We con-
“ fider the plan arid the regulations, by which you. have-
1 bound yourfelves, as deferving our approbation ; and we
“ gracioufly allow you to be called T h e Free CEconomical
“ Society. You may reft allured, that we take your fociety
“ under our protection : We not only confent that you ufe-
“ our feal and imperial coat o f arms but, as- a particular"
“ mark o f our good-will towards you, we permit you to bear
“ our device in the center.of our imperial arms, namely, a-
“ hive, to which bees are bringing honey, with the
“ motto ‘ Profitably/
“ We gratify,, moreover, your fociety with 6000 roubles*-
H towards the purchafe o f a convenient houfe,. as well for
“ your meeting, as for the purpofe o f holding a library on
“ fubjeCts o f agriculture. Your labours will, under the pro- •
“ teCtion o f Divine Providence, be highly advantageous to-
“ y °u and your pofterity aadwe will not fail, in propor-
“ tion as your zeal difplays itfelf, to increafe our good-will..
“ OCfober 3 1 , 176 5 . C axharine.’*’
* £j 20°»-
The