Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-12-13
THOMAS FOWNALL-THE PROPHET OF
AMERICAN GREATNESS.

AMERICAN GREATNESS.
The history of this remarkable man, whose
writings are referred to in the following article
from the Boston Courier, is almost unknown to
the American public Yet it will be conceded
by all who read these exceedingly interesting re-
miniscences, that he was a statesman OF Won
derful foresight, aud one whole memory Ameri-
cans should cherish with peculiar veneration.-
Indeed, we doubt whether, in the whole range of
historical literature, there can be found such
striking provisions as those of this English states
man concerning the destiny of America:
Shelf I'D was the inliml; end OF Gibson, and
was entrusted by him with his nosthumous papers,
The historian remarks Of Sheffield IN his auobogra-
ply:
THE sense and spirit of his political writn.s have
decided the public opinion the great question Of our
commercial interests with America and lrslaad. The
sale OF his Observations the American States was
dffisve; their effect beneficial"
Of this work, so highly commended by the man
whose philosophg MUD explored and brought to hight
Intelli gencer remarks, and with nsce:
1--WE do not believe that any other made so
many baseless assertions aud untuhled prognostica-
tons ia few short sentences"
Bur il Lord Shettields book OF unlucky predictions
is likely to become o. the curioses of literature
there is another work on the same sahJ which we
recommend to the notice of our Washington co TEN
porqry likely 10 be, if it is already, a much
greater curiosity This book which we regard as by
far the most xtraordinary work OF ia kind that
the light, was published about the me time with
ShetFeld's. 1t treats of the general topics
but the conclusions SO directly opposite that one
might fancy the two books were wri ten set pur-
pose to contradict each other.
The author of This work was Thomas Pownall an
EHgllshman, who was in America seven eight
wears from 1853 I76l He held the Offices al diff
ferent times of Governor of Massachusetts Raw
Governor of South Carolina and I4ienten Governor
of New Jersey. His book is entitled Three Memo
ole liz, al a.
Europe and America" They published from
1850 to 1888 The author speculales upon the future
fate of the Am rlcan States, d 'cusses charac Of
the people, their institutions their national
their peculiar political position, and their inevitable
destiny. On these points he displays knowledge of
facts, correct appreciation OF causes and saga-
cious foresight to which we think parallel can be
found in the whole history of political speculation
Pownall was no visionary, no hap-haZ ird uerer of
wild conJectnTes, trusting to chance for their fu fiji
ment He had seen America; he had been familiar
with the people, and had studied their character; and
although he left the country fourteen years before the
beginning OF the revolutionary struggle, his keen in
tellect enabled hun TO discover causes DIT work which
were destined to accomplish porentous changes -
With instinct boder and clearer than that of Burke
or Chatham, or Dean Tucker, the Bishop of c. OWE
who sung of times nobest empire and the last
Pownal foresaw the future greatness of the Ameri-
can Republic and also able to orete the precise
elevation.
In contrast with Shelield's picture of the poverty,
small resources, and doubtful growth of the American
States, we may place the following deineaton by
Pownal:
"Norh America has advanced, and s every dsy
advancing to growth of state, with steady and comic
ualy acceleratlng motion, of which there has never
yet been any example in Europe"
'lt is young and strong, and will struggle, by the
vigor OF internal healing principles of lite, against
those evils, and surmount them Like the infant
Hercules. 1t will strange these serpens in its cradle
Its strength will grow with its years. and it will es-
tabish its constitution and perfect adu'tness in growth
OF state. To this greatness of empire cW certain g
arise
Were words so prophetic SIT will establish
its constitution; and this written in l7C) But fur.
Their, Under the same date:
"One may pronounce OF America said Of
Rome, Ciuifas, incredible est aaeMoratu adepta h6
crate, qudntan breui creuerit" America will
then become the arbitress OF the commercial world
and perhaps the mediarx oil peace, and OF the cA
business of the world"
The7e assertions which Sheffield and most oher
Engishmen must have reld with dsdalnul inciedulty.
Pownall sustains by the cearest reasoning upon the
facts which had fallen under his own OBJ Walton while
in America. Let US see how clear sighted he was on
the subject OF the character OF the people oil this
pr.
'ln county like this, where every man has the
full aad free exertion OF his powers where every
may acquire any share Of the good things thereof,
of interest ard power which his spirit can work him
up to- there an unabsed application OF the pcwers Of
individuals, and perpetual struggle OF their spirits,
sharpenS their Wits aud gives constant training to the
mind. Inc requirement OF mo. nation 10 things and
business. which becomes ry TO this mode OF lie,
gives the mind thus sharpened and thus exercised a
turn OF inquiry and Investigation which forms a char
with, nor ever exist. any other 10 the same de
gree unless in some OF The anceat republics where the
people We're VI der the same predicament. This turn
OF character, which IN the ordinary occurrences OF
lie is called nqua veness, and whi' h, when EXERT
about TRIES go even 10 deg ee OF rid cafe IN many
instances is vet m maiteis oil bus md commerce
iul ard efficient talent. Whoever knows
these people. and has viewed them in this Light. VI
consider them as animated IN his new word IL may
expires myself with the sp rit OF the philosophy.
Their system OF lite Is course of exr rim-nls, AMI,
s andng on that high ground OF Improvement up 10
which the most enlightened parts Of Eu5ope hare al
vanced, Ike eagles they Commence the fist eorts OF
their pfnions from toWerng ADVANTAGE"
The keen dssceruFnent OF Pownal had already dis |
covered the inventive genus of The Americans, their
une~asng mental activity, aod their extraordinary ap
tiude for the industrial and useful arts Ii did not
cape his notice thai these people, although not pretend
ing to be manufactures, yet had singular faculty. of
deyotlng fragments OF tm=" to such pur-uts, from
VIII ch he rightly arEled important things OF them in ,
this department Of Industry. He remarks that more
useful Inventions mad already BEEN mad blythe Amer.
cans than by any other Peep the world IN The
space OF time. We doubt whether there were ten
men in England who behaved this story. Bat Pow |
nall had seen the people OF whom he spak'.
Hire one sees the inhabitants labonrg after the
plough, or with the spade and no though they bad
not idea beyond the ground they {" well upon Y at
is their mind all the while eula'gng all is powers, aud
their spih Uses as their improvements advance"
The writer sensible that this would not be |
credited in England, ""iirre the hu ndman has not
an idea beyond the ground he d~es upon,' that he
found necessary 10 enoTcc the point BY the following
Il hope will so misunderstood this as take |
1t i1f iaucy having OF what MAY be. Ii is iineal
ard exact port ali OF what actually exists"
But We have sill more say of tn extraordinary
dlscefnment 81 Po~SALL, who not ony predicted the
greatness 81 empire" destjned for Inc American |
peo9e but with sagaciy appro schnI 10 Inspiration
saw also, far IN advance, the infuegce of TIE new
form of Government and political IDEAS ab>ut to
be developed 30 America. aad brown back from the
new rrFuohc 10 Europe 10 work great changes IN
the systems OF ih= OH World. We've uof the pIi1ted
DO k before our ey,s, we could hardly believe the
following 10 have been wuttcG before Arncld aposta-
fized or CorBwAils captured:
''The independence Of America il fixed a. fate
She is mistress o. her osa t,riure: know. that che
is and VII actlae tat p1syrr which She ir.is hnh