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last, by new extracts of soda from it, advance astonishingly several most 
valuable branches of business. This last, though in appearance so hum- 
ble an improvement, is said already to employ more capital than the 
whole coffee trade of the world. 
After applying usefully all scientific discoveries, whether made at 
home or abroad, another object should be to move onward still further, 
and do our part in enlarging and perfecting the sciences themselves. 
Not content to be mere copyists or imitators, let us strive for a due share 
of originality, freshness, boldness, independence ; seek to make new 
discoveries in every thing useful ; force from nature more of her secrets ; 
increase as well as diffuse knowledge : and excite and draw out all our 
latent or peculiar advantages — every thing new in our country, or its 
productions or social position, and thus add our full share to the great 
truths and common treasures of the civilized world. 
But I have not time to enlarge on this, and should here terminate 
the argument, were it not manifest that many suppose the public mind, 
under our political institutions, is more stiff-necked or impracticable than 
elsewhere in encouraging improvements either in or by science, and 
more skeptical as to their utility, as well as the public authority or expe- 
diency in any way to patronize them* But in my apprehension the 
facts already alluded to show this to be a mistake. 
The chief difference is, that many, rather than a few, are here to be 
convinced. It is here the many who are to be benefitted ; the many 
who pay and rule. The public mind itself is even more open than else- 
where to argument, if it be, as most of us believe, more enlightened ; 
and only satisfy it that any encouragement of science is likely to end in 
practical good, and our whole history demonstrates, it will be seized on 
with an avidity even beyond what exists in most other places. Our 
people are also a reading, and reflecting, and ambitious people ; and if 
you convince them that the encouragement of science has in other coun- 
tries proved commendable and useful, will they not believe that such 
encouragement is even more so here ? And will they not see that it 
eminently becomes a people, claiming to be the most enlightened — a 
Government, boasted to be the best — to discover and secure promptly, 
all possible benefits, and call forth all latent powers ? Will they per- 
mit a Government of the people to be unjust to the people themselves, 
and neglectful of their advancement? — a free and Christian Republic to 
be cast into the shade by monarchies, and even Pagan despotisms, as to 
any thing that expands the intellect, elevates the soul, enobles the char- 
acter, or augments its power, whether in arts or arms ? 
