On National Character. 341 
raust have felt their own inferiority. Know- 
ledge, which had elevated the Romans, was 
in its practical effects exhibited to the Ger- 
mans; but they were scarcely if at all im- 
proved by it. America has been peopled by 
Europeans more than two centuries; but the 
aborigines have not received the instruction 
that was offered to them, and that still conti- 
nues to be held out. Besides these general 
facts, many attempts have been made to edu- 
cate individuals born of uncivilized parents; 
but no good effect has been produced. The 
Dutch carried this plan to a considerable ex- 
tent in attempting to train up young Hot- 
tentois in European manners; but the first 
opportunity that has presented, they gladly 
threw off their dress, and all the benefits 
civilization held forth to them, for the filth, 
the danger, and the wretchedness. of their 
former state. The Americans have trained 
up young Indians in their principal cities ; but 
they. have gone back again to their tribes, 
filled-with contempt at the manners of Huro- 
peans. The African society also with the 
most laudable intention educated many negro 
children in England ; and if Tam not misin- 
formed, they ran to a certain level in the 
acquisition of knowledge, and there be- 
came stationary. There was a point, far 
