Sect. III.] United Stutes of America. 281 



To this circumstance may be ascribed the su- 

 perficial and unpolished character of many of 

 their native publications. All that their authors, 

 in many cases, want, to render them more replete 

 with instruction, more attractive in manner, and 

 of course more worthy of public approbation, is 

 leisure. But, able only to redeem a few hasty 

 hours for literary pursuits, from the employments 

 which give them bread, they must necessarily, if 

 they i^ublish at all, send forth productions, from 

 time to time, bearing all the marks of haste and 

 immature reflection. 



3. Want of encouragement to learning. Men 

 cannot be expected to labour without the hope 

 of some adequate reward. Genius must be nou- 

 rished by patronage, as well as strengthened by 

 culture. AVhere substantial emoluments may be 

 derived from literary exertion, there, and there 

 alone, will it be frequently undertaken to any 

 considerable extent. Hence, in those countries 

 where genius and learning are best rewarded, 

 there they are ever found to be most cultivated. 

 In the United States, the rewards of literature 

 are small and uncertain. The people cannot af- 

 ford to remunerate eminent talents or great ac- 

 quirements. Booksellers, the great patrons of 

 learning in modern times, are in America too 

 poor to foster and reward the efforts of genius. 

 There are no rich felloxvships in their universities 

 to excite the ambition of students; no large eccle- 

 siastical benefices to animate the exertions of li- 

 terary divines*. Academic chairs are usually 



* The author would by no means be understood to e\{;rcss an 

 opinion, tliat such immoderately lucrative places, cither in 



