394 Nations lately become Literary. 



an interchange of opinions, and to a publication 

 of the results of their inquiries, which were never 

 so general before. 



In the Mechanic Arts, so far as respects the in- 

 genuity of individuals, and the important service 

 rendered by numerous inventions and improve- 

 ments, America yields to no nation under heaven. 

 Perhaps, considering the amount of our popula- 

 tion, and the peculiar circumstances of our people, 

 we have furnished even a greater number of these 

 inventions and improvements than our just propor- 

 tion. On this subject, as it would be difficult to 

 enter into details without exceeding all convenient 

 limits; so there can be no doubt that a number of 

 instances, abundantly sufficient to support the as- 

 sertion here made, will readily occur to every 

 reader. The Quadrant, by Godfrey 5 the Orrery, 

 by Rittenhouse; the Machinery for manufactur- 

 ing Cards, by Whittemore; and that for manu- 

 facturing Fire-arms, by Whitney, form but a very 

 small number of the large list that might be 

 presented. 



Of talents in the Fine Arts, America has been 

 less productive. But we have satisfactory evidence 

 that this arises not so much from the want of native 

 genius, as from the want of cultivation and en- 

 couragement of the genius we possess. The names 

 of West, Trumbull, Copely, and Stuart, are 

 more than sufficient to rescue their country from 

 any imputations of deficiency on this head, 



When we pass on to Theology, the noblest and 

 most important of all sciences, it will be found, 

 that, on this subject, America may claim high 

 distinction. To omit many names of less note, 

 the theological writings of President Edwards, 

 and of the Rev. Dr. Hopkins, have excited much 

 attention in the religious world. The former, in 

 particular, deserves, perhaps, to be considered as 



