SOUTH CAROLINA 213 



not exactly a delight to him. As pastime partly, and 

 partly as immediately useful and necessary in a form 

 of government participated in more or less by every- 

 one, the study of history has been the favorite of those 

 who have wished to signalize themselves by applicable 

 information. Thus has America, circumstances being 

 otherwise equally favorable, on account of its general 

 prosperity, (and consequent indolence), and the lack 

 of causes inciting to emulation, hitherto produced 

 fewer learned men than other countries, where never- 

 theless genius is oftener restrained by oppressive ob- 

 stacles or must overcome a multitude of rivals. 



Geniuses are as much at home in America as in the 

 old world and in time they will measure themselves 

 with those of the old world. 



But before a zeal for the sciences and thorough 

 scholarship becomes more general and America may 

 lay claim in this respect to an equal place with the old 

 world, this new world must first pass through sundry 

 stages of taste and refinement. For a considerable 

 time yet, as hitherto, a moderate share of learning may 

 make and keep the Americans happy and content, and 

 they will long continue to draw the pleasure of a 

 literary entertainment from European authors. 



However, since this part of the world has now com- 

 passed the goal of its desires, independence, it must in 

 the future find among its own citizens those learned 

 persons requisite for the maintenance of the structure 

 of the state and the good of the community. The 

 Revolution has opened a number of new sources of 

 esteem and honor, and broken divers new roads for 

 diligence; thus the citizens of the new states are chal- 

 lenged to the exercise of all knowledge. America will 



