On National Character. 349 
consequent civilization, sinks the: number to 
four. Such is the testimony of ‘the registers of 
nations, and not that disheartening sentiment 
Mr. Malthus makes them speak. 
We have conducted the human race from 
the: agricultural to the imitative stage of ci- 
vilization ; let us view him im that situation. 
In the purely agricultural state the faculties 
of man are dull, and it is difficult to excite 
an interest in any’ new pursuit. They are 
agticulturalists merely to procure the means 
of: stibsistence, having no relish for mental 
pursuits. -But when they have burst this 
barrier, they see with delight what nations 
moré civilized have effected, and they strive 
' to imitate! them; and’ it is at this stage of 
civilization, that the imitative powers of man 
are by far the strongest. It is now that 
nations’ undertake those stupendous works 
which ‘astonish future generations. ‘There is 
little envy among them; for, there is no 
invention. They are pleased because they 
can imitate, and thus claim a connection with 
those to whom they look with admiration and 
“respect. If at the lowest link of the chain 
we place the New Hollander, and designate 
him’ by the name of savage, if at the next 
advance we find the Otaheitean, and many 
‘tribes of Americans, people whose business it 
