50 



INTRODUCTIQN. 



thorns, and figs on thistles/' In their attainments 

 they have had nothing to stimulate them but the love 

 of literature itself. What may we not expect from them 

 when all the avenues to preferment and distinction 

 shall be laid open — when public opinion shall be pu- 

 rified by reason and sound philosophy — when patriot- 

 ism shall elevate their national character — when na- 

 tional interest shall call forth native talents from ob- 

 scurity, or prompt their cultivation — when national 

 celebrity shall become the reward of wisdom and vir- 

 tue? How different were the circumstances under which 

 the sages and heroes of our revolution were reared! 

 There were no schools in South America in which to 

 form great men, by giving them a practical know- 

 ledge of political life. Our colonial legislatures were 

 schools for statesmen; we had a free press, and we 

 shared besides in the political disputes which agitated 

 Great Britain. Our colonial wars, made known to us 

 our Washington — our colonial affairs, called forth the 

 talents of a Franklin — our bar trained up a number of 

 eloquent men to assert the cause of their country. But 

 the state of things was very different in South Amer- 

 ica. Before the revolution, the South Americans 

 could not be said to have any voice in public affairs, 

 and no theatre of action was afforded for the exercise 

 or display of talents as in our own country; and even 

 if such characters could be formed, the want of general 

 diffusion of knowledge among the people deprived 

 them of the proper materials to act upon. Those nu- 

 merous periodical works and light essays, which in our 

 country are scattered every where, and eagerly read, 

 and which operate like refreshing dews, were unknown 

 to them. The only libraries in the country, were to be 



