NOTES 



A KB 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



NOTE 1. 



I have scarcely thought it worth while to refer to the book of M. De Paw, * 

 Prussian, wherein he has copied the calumnies of Buffon against America, with 

 -additions and embellishments. This work, which was published in three 

 volumes, has been amply refuted by don Pernety, aud the abbe Claviger*. 

 As a specimen of his accuracy it is sufficient to state, that he confidently asserts 

 that dogs suffer so much under the deteriorating influence of our climate, that 

 they lose the power of barking, and that all the plants of Europe have degenera- 

 ted in America, except those which are aquatic and succulent. 



If any person is desirous of seeing the essence of all the slanders against the 

 United States, invented and propagated by ignorant and insignificant tourists, 

 let him look at the eleventh article of the twentieth number of the London 

 Quarterly Review ; purporting to be a review of Inchiquin the Jesuit's Letters j 

 but, iu fact, an impotent effusion of malignity against our country, its morals, 

 manners, intellect, and institutions. This diatribe u attributed to the pen of 

 Southey the poet, and its whole force depends upon the liberal use of that com- 

 monplace sophism termed a false induction. From a few particulars, disparaging 

 to the country, he lias inferred a general conclusion to its disadvantage : upoa 

 the faults of the few he predicates the vices of the many. Applying the same 

 rule of judgment to himself, it would be easy to prove him the most wretched 

 poetaster in Europe. If we look into his poems we will find, among some splendid 

 effusions of genius, the most miserable conceits ; and if, upon the selection of 

 those offences against taste and good writing, we were to pronounce his poetic*! 

 character, who woold not condemn oar candour as well M our logic * 



