280 Kaiiojis latelij become Literary. [Ch. XXVI. 



2. Want of leisure. The comparative!}'" equal 

 distribution of property in America, while it pro- 

 duces the most benign political and moral effects, 

 is by no means friendly to great acquisitions in 

 literature and science. In such a state of society, 

 there can be few persons of leisure. It is neces- 

 sary that almost all should be engaged in some 

 active pursuit. Accordingly, in the United States, 

 the greater number of those who pass through a 

 course of what is called liberal education, in the 

 hurried manner Avhich has been mentioned, en- 

 gage, immediately after leaving college, in the 

 study or business to which they propose to devote 

 themselves. Having run over the preliminary 

 steps of instruction in this business, probably in 

 a manner no less hurried and superficial than 

 their academic studies, they instantly commence 

 its practical pursuit ; and are perhaps, during 

 the remainder of life, consigned to a daily toil 

 for support, which precludes them from reading, 

 and especially from gaining much knowledge out 

 of their particular profession. Such is the career 

 of ninety nine out of a hundred of those in 

 America who belong to the learned professions. 

 When the alternative either lies, or is supposed 

 to lie between erudition and poverty, or com- 

 fortable affluence and moderate learning, it is not 

 difficult to conjecture which side will be chosen; 

 nor is it surprising, that, in such a state of things, 

 there should be less profound erudition, less ele- 

 gant accomplishment in literature, than where a 

 considerabfle number enjoy all the advantages of 

 exemption from laborious duties, and all the ac- 

 commodations of opulent leisure. 



