( 328) 
NATIONAL CHARACTER. 
BY THOMAS JARROLD, M. D. 
(Bead January 25, 1811.) 
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Ons of the great uses of history is the 
display it makes of the character of man. 
Actions, without their corresponding and con- 
necting circumstances, are robbed of much of 
their interest, by being thus.deprived of their 
character. ‘The motives which lead to an 
action, the mode of its execution, and its influ- 
ence, are all necessary to be known, in order 
to its character being appreciated; and it is 
the office of the historian to place these in a 
conspicuous point of view.—Although history 
is the only true and legitimate source from 
whence a knowledge of the national character 
can be derived, it is but seldom appealed to 
for that purpose ; on the contrary, the customs 
of a people are erroneously made the founda- 
tion of their character. Captain Cook’s ac- 
count of the islanders he visited, is deemed 
