CliAP. XXII.] Political Journals. 97 



duous office, but those who had some cUihns to li- 

 terature. Towards the close of the centur}^ how- 

 ever, persons of less character, and of humbler 

 qualifications, began without scruple to undertake 

 the high task of enlightening the public mind. 

 This remark applies, in some degree, to Europe j 

 but it applies with particular force to America, 

 where every judicious observer must perceive that 

 too many of the Gazettes are in the hands of per- 

 sons destitute at once of the urbanity of gentle- 

 uicn, the information of scholars, and the princi- 

 ples of virtue. To this source, rather than to any 

 peculiar depravity of national character, we may 

 ascribe the faults of American newspapers, Mhich 

 liave been pronounced hy travellers the most 

 profligate and scurrilous public prints in the ci- 

 vilised world*. 



editors wlio fait ijndcr this description has become even greater 

 tlian fornifTly. 



* These considerations, it is conceived, are abundantly suffi- 

 cient to account 'for the disagreeable character of American 

 newspapers. In every country the selfish principle prompts men 

 to defame their personal and political enemies ; and whore the 

 supposed provocations to this are numerous, and no restraints 

 are imposed on the indulgence of the disposition, an inundation 

 of filth and calumny must be expected. In the United States the 

 frequency of elections leads to a corresponding frequency of 

 struggle between political parties; these struggles naturally en- 

 gender mischievous passions, and every species of coarse invec- 

 tire ; and, unhappily, too many of the conductors of their public 

 prints have neither the discernment, the firmness, nortiie virtue 

 to reject from their pages the foul ebullitions of prejudice and 

 malice. Had they more diligence, or greater talents, they 

 might render their Gazettes interesting, by filling them with 

 materials of a more instructive and dignified kind ; but wanting 

 these qualifications, they must give such materials, accompi nied 



Vol. III. II 



