The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-07-25

/. Dc}tiTipe tiirrj os,d nirass ofisArm7ion ia
orr Semnarie, ojf!earaias. The great majority
Of our colleges have very inadequate funds.
The coniequence is, that in mott of them
The Protectors are few III number, and have
Aligned 20 them too large field of in
itruction. Hence they can convey but very flu
perhcial knowledge of the various branches
which it is made their duty to teach, and if
well qualified themfeves, which is far from be-
ing always the cafe, find it irnpoiibe to do iui-
tice TO the pupils. In fome irltances, alto, the
Irultees or Governors of American Colleges,
either from their own ignorance, or in compli-
ance with popular prejudice, have 70 contracted
the time requihte for completing courie of in
itrucuon, as to render It neCetiary wholly to diff
pente with, or lightly to hurry over, fomc ofthe
mot irportan. branches of knowledge. Ac-
cordmglY, in Tome of theie inititutions, Mathe-
,natical Science is unpopular, and the acquiiit-
on Of as little as po1ble Especially ofthe higher
branches of it, enjoined the ttudent. In o.
theirs, Cla6ic literature, and Especially the Greek
ianguage,t is in low elimination, and not more
ituded than is indifpenfbly necehary to obtain
ing Diploma. If well bred fcholars ever iiIue
from iuch Seminaries, they mutt be formed by
a degree of private and individual application
rarely to be met with in youth.
| 9. Hant Of Lei/i0r.-The comparatively e.
quail diitribution of property in America,
while it produces the mott benign politi-
cal and moral effects, is by no means friend
| ly to great acquitious in literature and fcepcc.
In fuch rate of fociety, there can be few per
ions of leifure. 1t is neCeGary that amon all
| ihould be engaged in fome active purfiiit. Ac-
cordngly, in the United States, the greater num-
Der of thoic who pats thro' a courie of what is
called liberal education, in the hurried manner
which has been mentioned, engage, immediately
after leaving College, in the ftudy or buGnefs 10
which they propote to devote themielves. Ha-
wing run over the preliminary feps ofinGru6tion
in this bu!ineis, probably in manner no lers
hurried and superficial than their academic flu
dies, they infantly commence it's practical pur-
iuit; and are, perhaps, during the remainder of
life, coniigned to daily toll for fupport, which
! precludes them from reading, and ESPECIALLY
from gaining much knowledge out OF their par
ticular protection. Such is the career Of ninety
nine out of an hundred OF thofe of our country
who belong TO the learned projections When
the alternative either lies, or is fuppofcd TO lie
between erudition and poverty, or comfortable
| afiiuence and moderate learning, it is not Diff
cult to conjecture which fde will bcchofcn, nor
is it furpriing that, in fuch fate OF things,
there hould be lefs profound erudition, lefs ele-
giant accomplishment i'll literature, than where a
confederate number enjoy all the advantages of
exemption from laborious duties, and all the ac-
Communications ofopulent leifure.
| To this circumstance may be afcrbed the fu-
perfcal and unpoihed character Of many OF
our native publications. All that their authors,
in many cafes, want, to render them more re-
plete with inftruGtion, more attractive in manner
and of coure, more worthy Of public approba-
ton, is lecture. But, able only to redeem few
haity hours for literary puriIitc, from the en-
Payments which give them bread, they mutt
necefiarily, if they pubih at all, fend forth pro-
ductions, from time to time, bearing all the
marks of hate and immature reflection.
| 3. Want of encouragement to learning. Men
cannot be expected 10 labour without the hope
| of fomc adequate reward. Genius NUT be
nonriihed by patronage, d5 well ds strengthened
! by culture. Where fubhantial emoluments may
be derived from literary exeition, there, & there
alone, will it be frequently undertaken to any
| cCnhderable extent. Hence, in thofe countries
| where genius and learning are beft rewarded,
/ there they are ever found to be NOT cultivated
In the United States, the rewards of literature
are imall and uncertain. The people cannot
ahord to remunerate eminent talents Or great
requirements. Booksellers, the great patrons
, OF learning in modern times are in Ame-
RIGA too poor to fofter and reward the eff
| forts Of genius. There are no rich FcilozvHitJ
in our Lniverlities to excite the ambition Of flu
dents; no large eccie1iaftial benefces to ami
mate the eXertions of literary divines. Acade-
mic chairs are ufually connected with flIch
fmall ta!aries, that they prefent little template
on to the fcholar and finally the fate offers
very uncomfortable motives for the acquiition
acknowledge, and the exertion of talents Its
rewards are fnal, and its favour caprcious
Can IT be wondered, then, that thole who have
fome acquaintance with books, and hold impor-
tant ftations, are more anxious to fecure pecu-
mary advantages, and to place themfelves in
I Gtuation independent of popular favour, tnan
, to make advances in literature, or TO do honor
to their country by the difplay of intellectual
prominence
Bcfdes, the fpirit of our people is COMMERCIAL
IT has been faid, and perhaps with fome unice,
that the IoUe Of gain peculiarly chara6terifes the
inhabitants Of the United States. The tenden-
cy of this fpirt to discourage literature Is obyi-
Gus. In illch fate OF Society, men will not
only be apt 10 bend their whole attention to the
requirement Of property, and neglea the cult
vaton of their minds as an affair OF facondary
moment; but letters and fcience will feldom be
found in high enination the amount of wealth
will be the principal telt ofinHuence the learn
Cd will experience but little reward either of no.
nor or cmolument and, OF courfe, superficial
education viii BE- the prevailing character.
Nor is It of leis importance here 70 recolle6t,
that the nature of our connection with Great
Britain has operated, and continues TO operate
unfavourably to the progreGs of American lite
rature. Long accuftomed to fate Of colonial