278 Nations lately become Literary. [Ch. XXVL 



more. Of respectable Poets, they have given 

 birth to a greater number than any other pro- 

 portional division of the union. And in Belles 

 Lettres generally, there is, without doubt, more 

 cultivation in New England than in any other 

 part of our country ; if v/e except the larger 

 cities in the middle and southern states. 



With respect to the Mechanic Arts, New En- 

 gland has furnished her full proportion of those 

 inventions and improvements which do honour to 

 American genius. And with regard to the Fine 

 Arts, three out of Jour of our greatest native 

 painters were born in that division of the country. 



It must, however, after all, be acknowledged, 

 that what is called a liberal education in the United 

 States is, in common, less accurate and complete; 

 the erudition of their native citizens, with some 

 exceptions, less extensive and profound; and the 

 works published by Americait authors, in general, 

 less learned, instructive, and elegant*, than are 

 found in Great Britain, and some of the more en- 

 lightened nations on the eastern continent. These 

 facts, it is apprehended, arise neither from any 

 deficiency of talents in Amerixra, nor from any in- 

 aptitude in its soil or atmosphere to promote the 

 grov/th of genius ; but from one or another, and 

 in some cases from a combination, of the follow- 

 ins: causes. 



* It is not meant to be denied that a few of the works pub- 

 lished in Avncrica are as profound and instructive as any on 

 similar subjects published elsewhere. It is simply intended to 

 give a general character of American publications, liable to such 

 cxce{*tions as the mind of the well informed reader will readily 

 supply. 



