On National Character. 335 
fixed government, and a firm individual cha- 
racter. Industry is the wealth of a state and 
its security. It gives a perpetuity and an im- 
pulse to all our blessings. _When once in 
motion it rolls forward, and, like the ocean, 
surmounts and overwhelms every obstacle. 
But it is not self-moving ; it receives its im- 
pulse from wants that are felt, and is an evi- 
dence of the state of civilization; but. it does 
not create that state. When we see a luxu- 
riant tree, we attribute its luxuriance to a 
rich soil and a skilful gardener. In like man- 
ner, industry may be attributed to intelligence 
in the people, and wisdom in the government. 
Besides the causes that have been mentioned, 
climate is commonly considered as having a 
powerful influence on the character of a peo- 
ple; but a mere glance at history will refute 
theidea. Men of every character reside in every 
climate; in the east, the Malays are as brave, 
and the Chinese as ingenious, as the people 
of any country. The inhabitants of St. Vin- 
cent were courageous to a proverb; and the 
people of Mexico astonished their discoverers 
by their attainments in useful knowledge. 
Climate affects a stranger, but to a native 
every climate is agreeable, and admits of the 
developement of his mental energy and corpo- 
real strength. There is no imperfection in the 
creation = God, but there would he if man 
