126 
ter, which he has fo frequently d fcovered, 
But hefides indulging a natural partiality 
for his uwn country, whicnis at Jeaft par- 
donable, he was defirous of collecting aod 
exhibiting as much information on the 
fubje&t of American literature as the na- 
ture of his undertaking admitted. And 
as no attempt to give a general h:forical 
view of this fubject has ever before ben 
made; asa conifiderable portion even of 
the humble and meagre records from 
which he has drawn his materials, are 
daily perifhing ; and, as peculiar circum- 
ftances fometimes give to literary charac- 
ters and events a relative importance be- 
yond their abfoluie value, he thought it 
advifeable to take notice of more ob{cure 
names, and of fmaller publications, than 
could with propriety have been mentioned 
in countries of a more mature literary cha- 
racter. Perhaps, however, im his zeal to 
collect every thing he could find on this 
fubject, he has fometimes defcended too 
low.” 
But, notwithftanding this partiality for 
his own country, the author ts duly fen- 
fible of the inferior condition of literature 
in the United States, compared with the 
elevated ftation which it has attained in 
Europe. This inferiority, however, he 
contends, does not arife trom any ‘ def- 
ciency of talents in America, nor from 
any inaptitude in its foil or atmofphere to 
promote the growth of genius; but from 
one or another, and, in fome cafes, from 
a com ination of the following caufes:” 
—rft, he mentions “ defeétive plans and 
means of inftruction in American femina- 
ries of learning.” Thete defects he fup- 
pofes to arife in part from the fcantinefs 
of the funds of thefe inititutions, which 
prevents the appointment of an adequate 
number of profedors and the felection of 
fuch as are well qualified tor the tafk; and, 
in part, likewile from a difpofition too 
prevalent among the truftees or governors 
of American colleges, io abridge the pe- 
riod as well as the courfe and extent of 
academic fitudies, and to difpenle, par- 
tially or totally, with many branches of 
inftruction which make a very important 
part of the fyftem cf literary education, 
—2 ly, Want of Icifure is mentioned as 
one of the impediments in the progrefs of 
_ American literature. In a country Mill 
fo young and unfettled, the inhabitants 
are nearly all engaged in fuch aétive pur- 
fuits ast» preclude any clofe and fyitematic 
attention to literary objeéts.—3diy, Want 
of pacronage and encouragement is ano- 
ther caufe of the flow advances of learning 
in America. The advantages of agricul- 
I 
Half-Yearly Retrofpe& of American Literature. 
[ Sept. I; 
ture, commerce, and other active employ- 
ments, are fo much more adapted to the 
acquiition of wealth and influence, that 
literature mut of neceffity be compara- . 
tively in a laneuifhing condition —sihly, 
Want of books is mentioned in-the laft 
place Public libraries in the United 
States are few in number, and, compared 
with thefe of Europe, very icantily fup- 
plied with books. : 
After this enumeration of the caufes of 
the flow progrefs hitherto made by the 
Americans in {cience and literature, the 
author prefents the following view of im- 
provements, which we fincerely hope may 
be realized. ‘¢ The literary prefpeéts of 
our country are brightening every day. 
Letters and fcience are becoming more im- 
portant in the public eftimation. The 
number cf learned men is becoming rapid- 
ly greater. The plans and means of in- 
ftruction in our feminaries of learning, 
though by no means improving in al] re- 
fpects, are in fome, receiving conftant 
melioration. The emulation of founding 
and fuftaining a national chara&ler in 
{cience and learning begins to be more 
generally felt, and from time to time, will 
doubtlefs be augmented. A larger pro- 
portion of the growing wealth of our 
country will hereafter be devoted to the 
improvements of knowledge, and efpeci- 
ally to the furtherance of all the means by 
which fcientific diftoveries are brought 
within popular reach and rendered fubfer- 
vient to practical utility. American pub- 
lications are every day growing more nu- 
merous, and rifing in refpectability of cha- 
ratter. Public and private libraries are 
becoming more numerous and extenfive. 
The tate in compofition among our writers 
is making very {enfible progrets in cor- 
rectnefs and refinement. ~ 
American authors of merit meet with 
more liberal encouragement; and when 
the time fhall arrive that we can give to 
our votaries of literature the fame !eifure, 
and the fame ftimulants to exertion with 
which they are favoured in Europe, it 
may be confidently prediéted, that letters 
will flourifh as much in America as in 
any part of the world; and that we hall 
be able to make fome return to our tranf- 
atlantic brethren, for the rich ftores of 
knowledge, which they have been pouring 
upon us for nearly two centuries.” 
In the lift ef mifcellaneous articles, it 
will be proper to notice ** The Literary 
Magazine and American Regiffer,’ a 
monthly publication, of which feven 
numbers have already appeared. This 
magazine is conducted by Mr. C.B, 
Brown, 
