36 Clinton's introductory discourse. 



it as one of the causes of the revolution. " This study," says he, " ren- 

 ders men acute, inquisitive, dexterous, prompt in attack, ready in de- 

 fence, full of resources. In other countries, the people, more simple, 

 and of a less mercurial cast, judge of an ill principle in government by 

 an actual grievance : here they anticipate the evil, and judge of the pres- 

 sure of the grievance by the badness of the principle ; they augur mis- 

 government at a distance, and snuff the approach of tyranny in every 

 tainted breeze."* 



The statesmen who appeared at the dawn of the revolution attracted 

 the admiration of Europe ; and the masterly state papers which our 

 state convention and the general congress promulgated, breathed tho 

 genius of Greece, and the invincible spirit of Rome, and covered with 

 glory the American name. " When," said the elder Pitt, " when your 

 lordships look at the papers transmitted us from America — when you 

 consider their decency, firmness, and wisdom, you cannot but respect 

 their cause, and wish to make it your own. For myself, I must declare 

 and avow that in all my reading and observation — and it has been my 

 favourite study, (I have read Thucidydes, and have studied and admired 

 the master states of the world,) that, for solidity of reasoning, force of 

 sagacity, and wisdom of conclusion, under such a complication of diffi- 

 cult circumstances, no nation or body of men can stand in preference to 

 the general congress at Philadelphia."! 



The convulsions, devastations, and horrors which attended the revo- 

 lution, were ill calculated to cherish the interests of science. Our 

 seminaries of education were broken up, and all our attention was 

 occupied in resisting the calamities which pressed upon our country. 



* Speech on Conciliation with America. 



t Speech on a Motion to remove the Troops from Boston. 



