Nations lately become Literary. 40$ 



taste for inquiries of this nature which has ever 

 since existed* in a greater or Jess degree, in some 

 individuals in those States. 



New-England has given birth to the greatest 

 number, and the most eminent of the native Theo- 

 logical writers of America. And there is no doubt 

 that by far the larger portion of the Sermons printed 

 in the United States, whether in volumes or single 

 discourses, is produced in that part of our coun- 

 try. It may also be asserted, that almost all the 

 valuable disquisitions on the Philosophy of the hu- 

 man mind, which have been published on this side 

 of the Atlantic, were written in New-England. 



In the literature and science of Politics, it is not 

 easy to say which part of our country is most en- 

 titled to credit. If we pronounce in favour of 

 those States, which have produced the greatest 

 number of eminent political writers, we must give 

 the first honours to Massachusetts, New- York, 

 Pennsylvania, and Virginia. But there is no sub- 

 ject more generally studied, in every State in the 

 Union, than Political science ; none on which our 

 literary men so frequently write; and, of course, 

 none which so constantly calls forth the exertion 



of talents. 



Of Historical composition, the Eastern States 

 have produced their full proportion, and rather 

 more. Of respectable Poets, they have given birth 

 to a greater number than any other proportional 

 division of the Union. And in Belles Lettres ge- 

 nerally, there is, without doubt, more cultivation 

 in New-England than in any other part of our 

 •country; if we except the larger cities in the 

 Middle and Southern States. 



With respect to the Mechanic Arts, New-Eng- 

 land has furnished her full proportion of those in- 



Cary, andGREENWAY, of Virginia; and the Bartrams, Marshall, 

 fend others, of Pennsylvania, were so much devoted to botamcal pursvute. 



