4 CLINTON'S 



character is marked with all the traits of premature corruption and pre- 

 cocious turpitude, our manners are barren of refinement, and our mintta 

 are destitute of learning and incapable of great intellectual exertion. 

 When we v adventure into the fields of science the master spirits, who pre- 

 side over transatlantic literature, view us with a sneer of supercilious con- 

 tempt or with a smile of complaisant superiority ; and consider our pro- 

 ipjji is pases in the regions of Africa ; deriving their merit less from 

 beauty and excellence, than from their contrast with the sur- 

 ', 'gouhdirig /deserts. And it has even been gravely proposed, as a subject 

 foY Inquiry, whether the discovery of America has been advantageous or 

 prejudicial to mankind !(1) 



While we look down upon these aspersions it is due to candour, and a 

 just estimate of our own character, to acknowledge that generally speak- 

 mg, we are far behind our european brethren in the pursuits of litera- 

 ture. The enterprising spirit which distinguishes our national character* 

 has exhibited itself in every shape except that of a marked devotion to 

 the interests of science. There is nothing in the fixed operation of phy- 

 sical or moral causes, nothing in our origin, in our migration or in our 

 settlement ; nothing in our climate, our soil, our government, our reli- 

 gion, our manners, or our morals, which can attach debility to our minds 

 or can prevent the cultivation of literature. Two hundred years have 

 nearly elapsed since the first european settlement was made in this state; 

 and if, in the course of two centuries, labouring under difficulties of vari- 

 ous kinds, we have not attained the first elevation in the ranks of know- 

 ledge, surely sufficient reasons may be assigned without impeaching tbft 

 character of our minds or degrading us in the scale of being. Although 

 iu a review of these causes, which I shall now attempt with all possible 

 brevity, my remarks relate particularly to this state, they will apply, 

 generally speaking, to the United States at large. 



Ancient migrations were generally the offspring of want. Sometimes 

 a whole people departed from their natal soil, and sought for better des- 

 tinies in a milder climate and a more prolific land. Sometimes, whea 

 population became surcharged, and subsistence difficult, a portion of a 

 nation would change its habitation : at other limes, colonies were plaiit- 

 fil for the purpose of retaining conquered countries and checking the 

 predatory incursions of barbarian hordes. A different principle seetns 

 to have led to the first colonization of America. The discovery of this 

 western world appears to have infused a new spirit into Europe .- the 

 imaginations of men were dazzled with fabulous stories of dorados, or 

 mountains of gold, and of fountains by which the human race flourished 

 in immortal youth. In this land the god of wealth was supposed to have 

 erected his temples, and his votaries flocked from all quarters to propi- 

 tiate iiis blessings. When experience had sobered the distempered fan- 

 cies o{ ther:e adventurers, and had convinced them of their delusion, they 

 Hill discovered that, although the precious metals were not within then 



