NOTES 



AMD 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



NOTE A. 



I have scarcely thought it worth while to refer to the book of M. De Paw, a Prussian, 

 wherein he has copied the calumnies of Buffbn against America, with additions and 

 embellishments. This work, which was published in three volumes, has been amply 

 refuted by Don Pernety, and the Abbe Clavigero. As a specimen of his accuracy it is 

 sufficient to state, that he confidently asserts that dogs suffer so much under the deteriora- 

 ting influence of our climate, that they lose the power of barking, and that all the plants 

 of Europe have degenerated in America, except those which are aquatic and succulent. 



If any person is desirous of seeing the essence of all the slanders against the United 

 States, invented and propagated by ignorant and insignificant tourists, let him look at the 

 eleventh article of the twentieth number of the London Quarterly Review, purporting to 

 be a review of Inchiquin the Jesuit's Letters, but, in fact, an impotent effusion of malig- 

 nity against our country, its morals, manners, intellect, and institutions. This diatribe is 

 attributed to the pen of Southey the poet, and iis whole force depends upon the liberal 

 use of that commonplace sophism termed a false induction. From a few particulars 

 disparaging to the country, he has inferred a general conclusion to its disadvantage: upon 

 the faults of the few he predicates the vices of the many Applying the same rule of 

 judgment to himself, it would be easy to prove him the most wretched poetaster in 

 Europe. If we look into his poems we will find, among some splendid effusions of genius, 

 the most miserable conceits; and if, upon the selection of those offences against taste and 

 good writing, we were to pronounce his poetical character, wuu wouid not condemn our 

 candour as well as our logic ? 



