2S2 Nations lately become Literary. [Ch. XXVT. 



connected with such small salaries, that they pre- 

 sent little temptation to the scholar: and, finally, 

 the state offers very inconsiderable motives for 

 the acquisition of knowledge, and the exertion of 

 talents. Its rewards are small, and its favour ca- 

 pricious. Can it be wondered then, that those 

 who have some acquaintance with books, and hold 

 important stations, are more anxious to secure 

 pecuniary advantages, and to place themselves in 

 a situation independent of popular favour, than 

 to make advances in literature, or to do honour 

 to their country by the display of intellectual 

 preeminence ? 



Besides, the spirit of their people is commercial. 

 It has been said, and perhaps with some justice, 

 that the love of gain peculiarly characterises the 

 inhabitants of the United States. The tendency 

 of this spirit to discourage literature is obvious. 

 In such a state of society, men will not only be 

 apt to bend their whole attention to the acquire- 

 ment of property, and neglect the cultivation of 

 their minds as an affaif of secondary moment ; 

 but letters and science will seldom be found in 

 high estimation ; the amount of wealth will be the 

 principal test of influence ; the learned will ex- 

 perience but little reward either of honour or 

 emolument ; and, of course, superficial education 

 will be the prevailing charadter. 



church or in state, are, on the whole, useful or desirable. He is 

 persuaded that they are much more productive of mischief than 

 of advantage. But that they often excite literary ambition, and 

 afford, in many instances, convenient and useful leisure to literary 

 characters, will scarcely be questioned by those who have paid 

 any attention to the subject. 



