270 Nations lately become Literary, [Ch. XXVI. 



that of the rev. Dr. Stiles, president of Yale col- 

 lege, may be added. At the time of his death, 

 he probably left no superior among his country- 

 men in this branch of literature *. 



It has been asserted, and probably with truth, 

 that in Political science, and in Parliamentary 

 eloquence, the United States will bear a very ho- 

 nourable comparison with any nation. Beside 

 the eminent political writers mentioned in a 

 former page, the names of Adams, Hamilton, 

 Madison, Jay, and several other native citizens, 

 are known and celebrated in Europe. In addi- 

 tion to these, many counsellors and juridical cha- 

 racters might be enumerated, who not only hold a 

 high station in their own country, but who would 

 also be considered as ornaments of the bar and the 

 bench, in the most enlightened countries of Europe. 



* Ezra Stiles, D. D. and LL. D., was born at North Haven, in 

 Connecticut, December 10, 1727. He was educated at Yale 

 college, where he received the degree of A. B. in the year 1746. 

 He was ordained to the work of the Gospel ministry, and install- 

 ed pastor of a church at Newport, Rhode Island, in 1755 ; and 

 was chosen president of the college at which he had received 

 his education in 1777; in v/hich important office he continued 

 till his death, in 1795. Dr. Stiles was one of the most learned 

 men that his country ever produced. He had a great amount 

 of general knowledge, but he was particularly attached to ori- 

 ental literature. Beside an acquaintance v.ith the Hebrew lan- 

 guage more than commonly extensi\'B and profound, very few 

 on that side of the Atlantic ever made so great progress in the 

 knowledge of the Arabic, Chaldaic, Syriac, and Samaritan dia- 

 lects; and on the Persic and Coptic he had bestowed some atten- 

 tion. He corresponded with learned rabbis in the Hebrew lan- 

 guage, and revived the study of it in the college over which he 

 presided. For upwards of thirty years he held a distinguished 

 place among the active friends and promoters of literature in the 

 United State!;-. 



