125 
for fine stores to make a show, and 
thus the trade is not safe. 
13. If honest men of some capi- 
tal, and willing fp make only 20 per 
cent per annum in it, were to enter 
this line of business, a brisk trade 
could begin under much safer and 
auspicious terms. 
14. A tax of 10 to 20 per cent 
for advertisements and puffs is re- 
quired to make any book known, 
including a copy as a bribe to each 
editor and reviewer. 
^ 15. The taxes on postages amount 
almost to a prohibition of the sale 
aud transmission of books not peri- 
odicals, and of remittances of small 
amounts. 
16. On books published by sub- 
scription, a heavy tax of 20 per cent 
is required to pay those who solicit 
them, and 5 to 10 to collect the 
money. 
I7h Men of Science and learning 
are neglected by the States and Fed- 
eral Governments; they are but sel- 
dom appointed to stations of trust 
or profit, although they might be 
well qualified to become Indian 
Agents, Commissioners, Consuls, 
Judges, Postmasters, Agents abroad, i 
Surveyors, Surgeons, &c. according 
to their advocations, since all learn- 
ed men are here compelled to follow 
several pursuits. 
18. It is not even the most learn- 
ed that fill the literary offices in 
Universities, Colleges, Schools, and 
Libraries. Three-fourths of the pro- 
fessors, teachers and librarians are 
mere scholars or plodding men; 
while the majority at least ought to 
be men of learning, erudition, sci- 
ence, or genius, to give tone and 
character to our country. 
19. Wealthy Inen neglect knowL 
edge likewise, very few are to be 
numbered among authors and pa- 
trons. While the less wealthy are 
impeded by lack of free schools, 
cheap instruction, large libraries or 
good and cheap books. 
20. Except in a few cities, physi- 
cians and lawyers are afraid to ap- 
pear too learned for fear of losing 
some of their practice: although 
they ought always to be respected 
and rise in proportion to their knowl- 
edge and eminence. 
21. Many young friends of science 
or the muses are discouraged by these 
impediments, their genius is cramp- 
ed or asleep, they neglect the path 
to eminence, and prefer a servile 
plodding life. 
22. Out of nearly 50,000 men 
who have been members of congress 
or state legislatures, hardly 50 could 
be mentioned that have been emi- 
nent for great knowledge, science, 
or philosophy, and only 200 who 
have been eminent orators or impro- 
vers of laws, all the rest were par- 
ti zans, or lawyers, political scrib- 
blers, demagogues, sycophants of the 
people or office seekers. 
13. Except Jefferson, Franklin 
and Clinton, hardly any other very 
eminent man has reached the execu- 
tive chair of the states or the na- 
tion. 
24. Among farmers and mechan- 
ics, the bulk, bone and sinew of so- 
ciety, few have attained eminence. 
Fulton, Evans and Whitney were 
discouraged by difficulties. 
25. Patents, the reward of inge- 
nuity, are useless or nominal: they 
are purchases of law-suits, since if 
very useful they are stolen, and if of 
little use become worthless. This 
could have been avoided by a previ- 
ous enquiry and decision on their 
validity and novelty. 
This sad and appaling picture, 
must cause some painful reflections, 
we forbear to state them, they will 
easily suggest themselves. Let us 
rather enquire if this state of things 
cannot be amended/ We fear not 
speedily nor adequately; but nihil 
desperandum . 
First Corrective. As long as we 
shall have many citizens depraved 
by intemperance, notorious vices, 
bad habits, and ignorance,— even of 
reading and writing...im& thus ea- 
sily led by vicious propensities and 
designing men, we cannot hope to 
be a perfect people; but we may 
