Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-05-13

tue, and in the opProbrium with which
history brands rhe names oftyrants and
conspicuous villains, the adherence
, and contempt that are soon or late the
punishment ofvice. Through the his
foricsl SCIENCES, the man of iearning,
and the arts follow genius in its eff
forts, its progress, its discoveries, and
Its errors. They trace back the caus-
es which promoted in one nation the
sciences and arts, and in another nation
obstructed their culture, and success.
But the moralist finds In history a
more precious and more extensive adj
vantage. Whatever NAV be our sphere
OF life in the social world, tn US nothing
IS more necessary than an unbiased
Judgment, and an unpreiudiced and
, impartial spirit. These are invalua-
able qualities, which enable us to dis.
tinguish the sacred characteristics of
truth amid the innumerable forms
and assumed garbs of error. To il.
lustrate this, let US select the case of
national prejudices. 1t is well known.
that they produce an unreasonable az
version to foreign nations, foreign
manners, foreign religions, &c. The
nurture and education which we have
received in our native land, the debt
of gratitude which we have incurred
90 it, the influence of early associations,
the disguised emotions of personal
pride, every thing contributes to make
she grossest pariialit.es prevail in the
comparative estimate which we form
OF our own and other countries. The
glory and interest of the community to
which we belong, become in our eyes
paramount to all consideration of ge-
neral justice, truth, and benevolence.
OF this the Grecians and Romans of.
fer a most striking instance, who
branded all other nations with the in.
sulting apPeilation of Barbariaus. That
the amor botria is noble and respec.
table sentiment every virtuous man is
ready to acknowledge. But is SO pure,
so sublime a principle to be adulterat-
ed by the base and degrading alloy of
prejudice and error Has not the sa-
cred flame of patriotism sufficient
aliment in virtue, liberality, and ge-
nerous sense of duty? And can not
we love and value our native corner of
the globe, without haunting and revil.
ing the inhabitants of every other
region? 1t may be, in some Aoun.
tries, the interest of particular persons
and parties to promote these prejudi
GEES, but though they may occas ionally
prove useful to thecommunitya at large,
they are always degrading to indivi-
daals. He whose purPoseis the pur-
suit OF truth cannot too soon get rid of
themn To cure this intellectual dis
ease;;'nothing is better calculated than
history, and this. beneficial tendency
universal history more particularly
possesses. He who reads only the his
tory of the country and age wherein
he lives must necessarily imbibe err
roneous opinions, because historians
are most generally partial either TO
their own country or to their own
times. To please their countrymen or
contemporaries is too otter their principal
object, and to 1t they sacrifice truth and
impartiality. Universal history alone,
as it lays open to US all ages and coun-
tries, and affords a comparative view of
facts, opinions & manners, removes the
fascinating Illusion of national preiu.
dices, and enables us to weigh things
in the scale Of reason and truth.
Hence originates modest habit of
beneficial scep;ici m: Thus taught to
examine and compare, before we pro-
Dounce, we soon, discard the erroneous
ideas in which we NAV have been nur.
tured, and nothing but truth can OBJ
: tain our assent and support.
MP 1t is stated in the Philadelphia
papers, that Captain Grassin, of the
French privateer Diligent, now in
that port, has been arrested and held
40 bail at the suit of some American
citizens who had been plundered by
him !
From the National Intelligencer.