Sect. III.] United States of America. 273 



youth are considered * ; and to the p^eiieral spirit 

 of activity and enterprise which must be admitted 

 to enter into tlie national character of New En- 

 gland. 



It may also be observed, as another circum- 

 stance of discrimination, that in the eastern states 

 a larger portion of the youth pass tin'ough a regu- 

 lar collegiate course of education, than in any 

 other part of the country. In New England, the 

 mass of the people are more generally taught to 

 respect literature, and to make exertions for con- 

 ferrincr this advantacrc on their children. In that 

 part of the union, also, the expense attending an 

 academic course is rather less than in most of the 

 other American seminaries. These two circum- 

 fstances have a natural tendency to fill their col- 

 leges with a greater number of students than arc 

 to be found elsewhere. 



The Classic Literature of the United States, as 

 was before remarked, is almost every where super- 

 ficial. It is believed, however, that the learned 

 languages, and especially the Greek language, 



f This circumstance has a most benign influence in Nev/ En- 

 gland. In the middle, but more especially in the southern 

 states, the employment of a schoolmaster is considered by many 

 as rather degrading, and has sometimes been used as a ground of 

 reproach. The consequence is, that too many of the instructors 

 of youth in these states are ignorant and vicious adventurers; 

 those who are well qualified rather shunning an oflice to which 

 so little respect is attached. In the New England states it is 

 otherwise. Some of their greatest divines and statesmen were 

 schoolmasters in early life. The employment is considered and 

 treated as an honourable one. The consequence is, that tiie 

 common parish schools arc generally under the care of well in- 

 formed and virtuous men. 



Vol. III. T 



