glinton's introductory discourse. 45 



that composure and serenity which are generally necessary to elicit the 

 powers of the mind, there is no country which can claim a superiority 

 over the United States. 



The nature of our government, and the constitution of our confede- 

 racy, are admirably adapted to promote the interests of science. Free 

 governments are the native soil of great talents. " Though a republic 

 should be barbarous," says Hume, " it necessarily, by an infallible ope- 

 ration, gives rise to law, even before mankind have made any consider- 

 able advances in the other sciences; from law arises security; from 

 security curiosity, and from curiosity knowledge."* That most pro- 

 found political writer whom I have just quoted, with the vast volume of 

 history before his eyes, and aided by all the powers of an analyzing and 

 investigating mind, has laid down the following incontrovertible propo- 

 sitions in relation to the influence of government upon the arts and 

 sciences. 



1. It is impossible for the arts and sciences to arise, at first, among 

 any people, unless that people enjoy the blessing of a free government. 



2v Nothing is more favourable to the rise of politeness and learning 

 than a number of neighbouring and independent states connected toge- 

 ther by commerce and policy. 



3. Though the only proper nursery of these valuable plants be a free 

 government, yet may they be transplanted into any government ; and a 

 republic is most favourable to the growth of the sciences, a civilized 

 monarchy to that of the polite arts.f 



Although this was published more than half a century ago, yet it suits 

 our situation so precisely that one would suppose the writer had the 

 United States fully in his view. Perhaps the flourishing condition of 



Hume's Essays, vol. 1. 14th Essay. f Ibid. 



