214 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



have need from now on of soldiers, statesmen, divines, 

 physicians, and lawyers, all of whom must receive the 

 necessary preparation in schools and colleges. America 

 must have historians to preserve the deeds of its sons 

 for posterity ; these must be instructed and clear- 

 sighted men if its councils are to be regarded and its 

 arms to have authority. It would be for so many 

 states as these a dishonor if they continued for long 

 willing to see foreigners instructing them in every 

 science, foreigners explaining the nature of their 

 country and investigating for them their natural curi- 

 osities. So many diverse and still little known regions 

 offer objects enough, certainly, to tempt the diligent 

 student of nature. Their mountains and mineral veins 

 are little known as yet. The virtues of many plants 

 that promise much are untried. Why should the 

 American scholar, as he has hitherto done, rely solely 

 upon the observations of others, and not study the 

 natural phenomena of his own country? The plan 

 of government of these free states, and their liberty of 

 the press, opens a wide field for orators, for critics, 

 and for the study of man in general. Arts and 

 sciences hitherto have made a better progress and 

 found a more fruitful soil in the northern parts of 

 America. + They had formerly, and still have, many 

 zealous followers among the New England Presby- 

 terians; Boston and Cambridge have always been able 

 to boast of many learned men. And a taste for music, 

 painting, and the humanities generally has long been 

 more widespread there. Next in process of time were 

 the Pensylvanians. So late as the year 1760, Burnaby 

 remarks that arts and sciences were yet in their in- 

 fancy among them, but he allows them a taste for 



