circumstanced as I was. I enquired for his residence and set out; but before I reached it, the consideration that he might be troubled more than is agreeable by the presence of strangers, and that a scholar like himself could feel no interest in an obscure traveller like me, who had no fame, no title, to serve as a passport, operated so strongly on my mind, that I passed the door without giving a knock. In consequence of my irresolution, I lost my only chance of being introduced into the most intelligent circle in the land; which, whatever regret it occasions, is partly compensated by the better chances I had in other places. I left the city without obtaining the information I wanted.

Let me add, that the state of learning is in many parts evidently improving, and that the yearly additions to the number of scholars are not few. It is likely that in half a century more, America will not be behind any country in the world. The prospect of such a state is little less cheering to a European than to a native, since whatever considerable improvements take place in learning or science, will soon extend their influence across the Atlantic. Rome learnt arts from Greece after she had subdued her, and England may learn arts from the colonies she has planted.

I

CHAPTER IX.

1

PATRIOTISM.

SOAME JENYNS, in his View of the internal evidences of the Christian Religion, has endeavoured to prove that patriotism is not a Christian virtue. That he has not made many converts is well known, and it is improbable that he ever will. The enlightened Christian will doubtless consider all mankind as his brethren; but he may surely prefer the people of his own country to those of other lands. There is no more impropriety in being attached in a superior degree to the nation of which we form a part, and in espousing its interests in preference to others, than in regarding our own family as nearer and dearer than one of no relationship. The man so expansive in his benevolence as to have no partialities, is not likely to be an actively useful member of society. He may soar high in imagination, but like Icarus he will soon sink. The love of country is implanted by nature, and ought to be cherished; but like other good qualities, it requires pruning to prevent a rank luxuriance. The Americans are as ardently attached to their country

as the Swiss, the Scotch or the Icelanders; and when its honour is assailed, they feel their pas

sions roused. The accounts of them by English travellers and the comments of reviewers, have excited their indignation to an extraordinary degree. It is therefore my intention to examine, whether they are justified in their complaints of English bigotry and English misrepresentation. Such an enquiry may perhaps be serviceable to both parties.

On examining most of the books of travels in America by Englishmen, it will be found that the impression they are calculated to make is on the whole unfavourable. Who after reading the narratives of Ashe, Jansen, Fearon, Weld, Howitt, Howisson, Welby, and Faux, but would conclude that the Americans are a rude, wild, dirty, crafty and low-minded people? But then it remains to be seen, whether these authors can be justly charged with falsehood, or wilful misrepresentation. There are unquestionably some erroneous statements in one or two of them; but I assert as undeniable, that truth has for the most part been supported, though candour has been laid aside. Now it is obvious that where this course is pursued, the object of publishing books of travels is defeated; understanding as I do,

that an author professing to inform his countrymen of a foreign land, its inhabitants and institutions, ought in justice to give the good as well as bad traits that present themselves. But when it is borne in mind, that the travellers above named appear to have passed through the country without becoming acquainted with the most intelligent part of the community, or at least without that disposition to be pleased which is so necessary in foreign lands, it may be inferred with great probability, that they were not qualified to do justice to the people, concerning whom they have written. Suppose that a foreigner travelling through England, were to publish an account of all his observations at the inns and public houses where he stopped, on the rudeness of one, the affected importance of another, and the peevishness of a third; and without having visited in genteel private families, were to endeavour to persuade his readers that England had nothing better, should we not laugh at him for a simpleton and despise his book? But the Americans, who in degree have been thus treated, have manifested anger instead of mirth; in which they have been as unwise as the travellers in the fable, who quarrelled about the colour of the chameleon. I scarcely met with a single person, except the Secretary of war, who

viewed the subject in its right light. Many were quite furious on it, and nearly all seemed as sorely wounded as poor Christian after he had had Giant Despair's cudgelling. Walsh's Appeal was evidently written under irritated feelings. It pleased his countrymen for a time, but was soon laid on the shelf as a clumsy book, according to the author's definition of it, being inadequate to its professed object, and written in a bad spirit. But the most amusing proof of the feelings of the Americans, on the treatment they have received from English authors, is a book entitled, A Sketch of Old England by a New Englander. The author with commendable diligence, has collected a mass of facts and assumed facts, elucidatory of the miserable state of England; and having arranged them with some ingenuity, and commented on them with malignant satisfaction, has given them to the world partly in revenge, but principally with the view of compelling Englishmen to speak respectfully of America! And was this writer so ignorant of human nature, as to suppose that vulgar abuse is the most likely means to ensure respect? It is a proof however of that morbid sensibility which I have mentioned. While they complain so loudly of English travellers, they seem to forget that the works of Hall, Harris, and more espe