Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-11-27
FROM THE PALLADIUM.
The RESTORATOR.
AMERICAN LITER 4TrJPF

general complaint, that lltera-
lure, 10 this country, is little encouraged,
and that learning meets not with its due
rewards. But though the truth of the
ooiervation cannot be denied, yet, conf.
derlng the inferiority of our means. com
Par:d with .hoie of older countries, |
think 1t is more the fubjea of regret than
Of complaint.
The frf Object, in new country, is
TO obtain the neceharies of life; perfever-
ing lnduitry will procure its conyeniences ::
out ITS Injuries are TO be attained only by
'Siiful agriculture and Aourilhing com
mefce. Hence nations nuit become, in a
degree, wealthy, before they become
learned: For learning, however deGrable
is, after all, rather luxur, and an orna-
ment, than neceGary ollie.
After nation has grown rich, educati-
on becomes an Important obiett of atten-
tion and the iuperfluons wealth of indi-
viduals is often judiciouny expended to
encourage literature and the arts. Col
leges are founded and endowed. learn;no i
encouraged and rewarded, readers are mnl-
tiPiied, and consequently books a cor
reit taite is cultivated, and the marion
reaches the highel pitch of civilization
Such is tile preient iituation of Great Bri.
tam, and fich, previously to the rayaees
OF Vandaiiim, was the iituation of France.
ihe laborlous Germans are purfuiag the
lame track, and though LET'S mercurial
may pofiibly IN time arrive at tba Give
eminence.
In Amerie4 our feminaries are more Zen
derly endowed, and few of their protector
lhips hold out any great temptations to
avarice or ambition. Where learning is nei-
ther honorable nor lucrative, it cannon
Honriih. Though this is not preciflv the
cafe IN this country, it is 70 in great de-
gree and there are few men even of mod
crate talents, who long continue tutors in
an American Univerhty. They general
~ undertake the talk but for fhort time
till they are ettabliihed in fome buiine{s or
protection, where the emolument is Iefs
icanty. Our tutors, therefore, are necef.
iarily fuceeilion of ly,0s who, in many
initances, attempt to teach what thev
themielves have but imperfeefly learnt.
am tar from intending any cenfure of
exiting infitutions. mean merely 70
fate facts, and trace iome of the caufes
from which proceed our comparative infe-
riority in literature.
In EHrobe, boys continue feven and
eight years at grammar fchool, where
broad and deep foundation is laid for 70.
I'D ttrutfure of learning, and feldom enter
the Uniyerlity till they have reached their
eighteenth year. In America we are much
more exPiditious; and I am told that a
gentleman now high in office, qualified
himtelt tor college by the preparatory flu.
dy OF fix months. Education, thus "a
pldly dispatched, mutt coniequently be fn-
Perfcial, and we muf adopt different
iyitem IT we are ambitious of riyaling the
MeraH OF E1rope. But we mutt frft gain
wealth and liberalify greatly to encreafe
the eitablifhment ofour Univeritics.
Notwithstanding the humiliatinp thee
~ OF viiionary philosopher, there are no
Pnyiical caufes TO prevent the American
genius from reaching the higheG eminence
In the arts and licences. In proportion to
It's opportunities, it has alread, exhibited
as much talent and intellectual energy as
the more highly cultivated genius OF En-
rope. When we fhall be as well able 20
reward the iaboufs of learning, we fhaIl
doubtless, be as learned. When learning
mali be rewarded with diainguilhed hoe.
hours and lucrative offices, men of genius
Will employ themfelves in its cuitis alton,
and America may then expect to have Ger
exploits recorded by fomc native Ivy,
and lung by iome native Homer. Blu.