The southern press., 1851-10-28
From thx nu.sou Courier.

But II Lord Shefhold'e book or unlucky pre-
dctions is likely " be come one OF the curlosi-
ties of literature, there Is another work on the
same subject which We recommend 10 the notice
of our Washington contemporary, as likely TO be,
If il is not already,--a much greater curiosity.
Tiis book, which We rega d as by far the most
extraordinary work of this kind that ever saw
the light was published about tho same time
with Shefieli's. IL treats of the same general
topics but the conclusions are SC directly oppo-
site that one might fancy the twJ books were
written on set purpose to contradict each other.
The author Of this work was Thomas Pown-
all, an Englishman, who was in America seven
or eight years from 1853 to l76l. lie held the
offices a. different times, of governor OF Massa-
chusetts Bay, governor OF South Carolina, and
lieut.. governor of New Jersey. His book is en-
titled Three Memorials, most humbly addressed
to the Sovereigns of Europe and America"
They were published from 1880 to 1888. The
author speculates upon the future fate of the
American States, disc usses the character of the
people, their Institutions their national resources,
their peculiar political position, and their inevta-
BILE destiny. On these points he displays a
kno Wedge OF facts, correct appreciation of
causes and sagacous foresight, TO which we
think no parallel can be found in the whole his.
tory of political speculation. Pc vnall was no
Visionary no hap-hazard ulterer of wild coIj &C.
lures, trusting to chance for their fulfment
He had seen America, be had been familiar with
the people, and had studied their character, aud
although no let! the country fourteen years be-
fore the beginning Of the revolutionary struggle,
his keen intellect enabled him to discover
causes at work which were destined to accom-
pl sh portentous changes, With an instinct
holder and clearer than that Of Burke or Chat
ham, or ID an Tucker, or the Bishop of Cloyue,
who sung OF " times noblest empire and the
last" PowHal! togeaaw the future greatness of
the American republic, and was also ahle to fore
tell the precise steps by which she was destined
to reach that great elevation,
In contrast with Sheffield's picture of tho pow
eTty, small resources, and doubtful growth of the
American States, we may place the following
delineation by Pownal -
North America has advanced and is every day
advancing to growth Of state, with a steady and
continually acce Grating motion, of which there
has never yet been any example in Europe.
1t is young and strong. and will struggle by
the vigor Of internal healing principles Of life,
against those evils, and surmount them. Like
the infant Hercules, it will slrangle these SER
pents in it's cradle. It's strength will grow with
its years, and it will establish it's constitution
and perfect adultnesa in growth Of state To
This greatness Of en- pire IL ,oW certainly arise"
We're ever words prophetic. "lt will es-
tablish its constitution" and this was wtiten in
1850 But further, under the same date
"One may pronounce of America as was said
of Rome. Cutas, incredible esl memoratu adept1
Hberiaie, quani,ia, breUi creperu. America
will then become the arbtress of the CONNER
cial world, and erhaps the mediatrix of peace,
and of the political business of the world"
These assertions, which Sh field and most
other EngIishmen must have read with disdan-
ful increduty, Pownall snstains by the clearest
reasoning upon the facts which had fallen under
his own observation while in America. LIT us
see how Glearssighted he was on the subject of
the character of tue people f this cOuntry;-
g in couatry like this, where every man has
the full and free exertion of his powers-w where
every man may acquire any share of the good
things thereof, or of interest and power which
his spirit can work him up to--thore an unaba
led application of the powers of individuals and
a perpetual struggle of their spirits, sharpens
their wits and gives constant training to the
mind. The requirement of information in
things and business, which becomes necessary
to this mode of life, gives the mind thus sharp
ened and thus exercised, turn of inquiry and
investigation which forms n character peculiar
10 these peopie, which is not to be met with, nor
ever did exist in any other, to the same degree
unless in some OF the ancient republics, where
the'people were under the same predicament
This turn Of character. which in the ordinary
occurrences of life, called inqmsitiueness, and
which, when exerted about trihes, goes even to
a degree of ridicule in many instances, is yet in
matters OF business and commerce most useful
and efficient talent Whoever knows these
people, and has Waved them in this light, will
consider them as animated in this new world, if
! may so express myself, Sith he spirit # the
neI0 philysophy Their system of life Is
course of experiments, and standing on that
high ground of improvement up to which the
most enlightened parts of Europe have ad-
vaDced like eaglets they commence the first
efforts of their pinioins from towering advan-
tsga." |'
The keen discernment of Pown II had already
discovered the inventive genius of the Ameri-
cans, their unceasing mental activity, and their
extraordinary aptitude for the industrial and use.
ful arts Il did not escape his notice that these
people, although not pretending 10 be manufac
turers, yet had single faculty of devoting frag-
ments Of time? to such pursuits, from which he
rightly argued important thirgs Of them in this
department of industry. He remarks that more
useful inventions had already besn made by the
'HlefVdns tldn Dy any oiier people in thb wofiu
in the same space Of time. We doubt whether
,hnre were ten men in England who believed
this story. DT. Di;. Powna had seen the people of
whom he spaks.
81 Here one sees the inhabitants laborlng after |
the plough, or with the spade and hoe, as though !
they had not an idea beyond the ground they |
dwell upon, Yet is their mind all the while en-
Iarging all its powers, and their spirit rises as
their improvements advance"
The writer was so sensible that this would /
not be credited in England" f" where the husband
man has not an idea beyond the ground he |
iwells upon" that he found it necessary to en- !
force the point by the following language -
| hope no one will so misunderstood this rs
TO take it for fancy drawing of what may be- |
1t is neal and exact portrait of what aclu lily |
exists"
But we have still more to say of the extraor.
binary discernment of Pownall, who not only |
predicted the greatness of empire" destined for |
The American people, but with sagacity APP !
preaching to inspiration, saw also far in advance |
the influence of the new form of government