8 CLINTON'S 



maturity of growth which is essential to the promotion and encourage- 

 ment of literature ? Accordingly we do not find in any colony of modern 

 times any peculiar devotion to letters, or any extraordinary progress in 

 the cultivation of the human mind. The most fertile soil, the most 

 benign climate, all that nature can produce and art can perfect, are in- 

 competent to remove the benumbing effects which a provincial and de- 

 pendent position operates upon the efforts of genius. 



These difficulties, so embarrassing, were augmented from other causes. 

 The population of this colouy was derived from several nations. The 

 original emigrants were dutch. The next in order of time were from En- 

 gland. The revocation of the edict ofNantz, and the persecutions in the 

 Palatinate, occasioned considerable migrations from France and Ger- 

 many ; Scotland and Ireland also furnished a great accession of inhabi- 

 tants. Four different languages were for a long time used ; and the people 

 were separated from each other by a diversity of manners and opinions, 

 and strong national prejudices. How, then, was it possible to combine 

 their energies iu any common effort ? Two centuries have not entirely 

 extinguished the lines of national separation. The dutch and german 

 languages are still spoken in some settlements. Five or six generations 

 have, in a great measure, amalgamated these discordant elements. Na- 

 tional antipathies have subsided, a national character has been formed, 

 and a national physiognomy is supposed to be established. The triumph 

 and general adoption of the english language have been the principal 

 means of melting us down into one people, and of extinguishing those 

 stubborn prejudices and violent animosities which formed a wall of 

 partition between the inhabitants of the same land. In a country whose 

 population was thus composed, it was not to be expected that a great 

 taste tor literature would be considered an essential accompaniment. 



The government of Great Britain discountenanced emigrations. 

 Transportation to the colonies was declared to be the punishment for 

 many felonies. " It is a shameful and unblessed thing," said Bacon, 

 *'to take the scum of people ; and wicked, condemned, men to be the 

 people with whom you plant ; and not only so, but it spoileth the plan- 

 tation." This measure was, no doubt, the result of design, the dictate of 

 policy. It inculcated upon the public mind that the colonies were a 

 pUce of punishment, not a country enjoying the blessings of life ; and it 

 prevented that copious flow of migration which the necessities of the peo- 

 ple and the hope of enjoying better fortunes in another land, would 

 .Lave unquestionably effected. Although the relegation of convicts to 

 this country could not seriously affect the morals of the American people, 

 or materially disturb their internal tranquillity, yet it certainly injured 

 our character in the general estimation of Europe. The british govern- 

 ment has established one great settlement for convicts ; there can be 

 little doubt but that the same Beotimeut existed at one period, in the 



