The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-04-21
NEWSPAPERS

Arc the best and surest civilizers of
country. They contain within themselves
not only the elements of knowledge, but the
inducements to learn. There is no one SO
instructed, no one SO ignorant, as not to learn
from them something. 1t seems impossible
that any people, within whose reach good
newspapers can be brought, can resist the
temptation to letters. In America, where
alone the thing has been tried, native, una
bile to read, cannot be found. II is thus that
the miscellaneous character of newspaper
makes it more valuable than if it contained
political occurrences and political disserta-
tions. The understandings Of its readers are
led ON, by degrees, from the simplest doncs-
tic occurrences to those which effect their
remotest interest or appeal to their nobest
sympathies; from the ovcrturning Of a coach
to the overturning of an empire. 1t is i'm
possible that man, however narrow may be
his views, can cast about in such mass of
information, for that which particularly CON
Germs his own objects or pursuits, without
stumbling on something which enargcs his
ideas, or exercises his reason. 1t is ncces-
sary to have seen people among whom
newspapers have penetrated, to know the
mass Of mischievous prejudices which these
productions instantly and necessarily dissi-
pate. We may instance the belief in witch
craft, and the rage which, on the approach
Of scarcity, was formerly directed against
all the dealers in provisions. No man accus-
toned to watch the state of crops and mar
kets, the speculations on the adequacy or
deficiency of supply can for moment, sup
pose that scarcity or plenty depends upoi
the bakers or millcrs of his district, or that
violence towards them can produce any O.
ther than bad effect. This is an example
of the general effect of newspapers. The
instruction is conveyed, not by the direct
inculcation of opinions, but by the habit
oflooking beyond the narrow circle of mans
personal observation to the results of more
enlarged view. A newspaper is in fact,
the instrument which enables an individual
to avail himself of the experience of the
whole community Westminster Reviezv
For the amusement of our readers we
make another extract from the work, Just
published, of "John Bull in America, or
the .Nezy Munchausen." 1t will be found
replcte with that peculiar hdmour that cha
recterises the author, PAULDING.
"Thc next morning l strolled ont into the
fields with view of seeing the system of ru-
raj economy practised in the south. One
OF the best managed plantations, l was told
was that of his eXcelency Governor Han
cock, whose name is signed to the dcclara-
ron of independence, said to be written by
one Jefferson, player belonging to the
Philadelphia theatre. The governor is
brisk, troublesome little man, about for
ty. His plantaton is at a place called
on the river of that name
I saw plenty of slaves, and a scarcity of
every thing else. The principal products
are rice, cotton and tobacco.-I'he rice
generally grows on high grounds: but the
cotton requires to be covered with water
best is called Sea Island,
because it grows upon little islands in the
mill ponds, which the people here accord
ing to their universal practice Of hyperbole,
call seas. As for the tobacco, this filthy
and unwholsome weed is found to flourish
best in the negro grave-yards, where it is
commoly raised, and where you may every
day during the month of January, when II is !