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                                THE SKETCH BOOK

                           ENGLISH WRITERS ON AMERICA

                              by Washington Irving



  〃Methinks I see in my mind a noble and puissant nation; rousing

herself like a strong man after sleep; and shaking her invincible

locks: methinks I see her as an eagle; mewing her mighty youth; and

kindling her endazzled eyes at the full mid…day beam。〃



                         MILTON ON THE LIBERTY OF THE PRESS。



  IT IS with feelings of deep regret that I observe the literary

animosity daily growing up between England and America。 Great

curiosity has been awakened of late with respect to the United States;

and the London press has teemed with volumes of travels through the

Republic; but they seem intended to diffuse error rather than

knowledge; and so successful have they been; that; notwithstanding the

constant intercourse between the nations; there is no people

concerning whom the great mass of the British public have less pure

information; or entertain more numerous prejudices。

  English travellers are the best and the worst in the world。 Where no

motives of pride or interest intervene; none can equal them for

profound and philosophical views of society; or faithful and graphical

descriptions of external objects; but when either the interest or

reputation of their own country comes in collision with that of

another; they go to the opposite extreme; and forget their usual

probity and candor; in the indulgence of splenetic remark; and an

illiberal spirit of ridicule。

  Hence; their travels are more honest and accurate; the more remote

the country described。 I would place implicit confidence in an

Englishman's descriptions of the regions beyond the cataracts of the

Nile; of unknown islands in the Yellow Sea; of the interior of

India; or of any other tract which other travellers might be apt to

picture out with the illusions of their fancies; but I would

cautiously receive his account of his immediate neighbors; and of

those nations with which he is in habits of most frequent intercourse。

However I might be disposed to trust his probity; I dare not trust his

prejudices。

  It has also been the peculiar lot of our country to be visited by

the worst kind of English travellers。 While men of philosophical

spirit and cultivated minds have been sent from England to ransack the

poles; to penetrate the deserts; and to study the manners and

customs of barbarous nations; with which she can have no permanent

intercourse of profit or pleasure; it has been left to the broken…down

tradesman; the scheming adventurer; the wandering mechanic; the

Manchester and Birmingham agent; to be her oracles respecting America。

From such sources she is content to receive her information respecting

a country in a singular state of moral and physical development; a

country in which one of the greatest political experiments in the

history of the world is now performing; and which presents the most

profound and momentous studies to the statesman and the philosopher。

  That such men should give prejudicial accounts of America is not a

matter of surprise。 The themes it offers for contemplation are too

vast and elevated for their capacities。 The national character is

yet in a state of fermentation; it may have its frothiness and

sediment; but its ingredients are sound and wholesome; it has

already given proofs of powerful and generous qualities; and the whole

promises to settle down into something substantially excellent。 But

the causes which are operating to strengthen and ennoble it; and its

daily indications of admirable properties; are all lost upon these

purblind observers; who are only affected by the little asperities

incident to its present situation。 They are capable of judging only of

the surface of things; of those matters which come in contact with

their private interests and personal gratifications。 They miss some of

the snug conveniences and petty comforts which belong to an old;

highly…finished; and over…populous state of society; where the ranks

of useful labor are crowded; and many earn a painful and servile

subsistence by studying the very caprices of appetite and

self…indulgence。 These minor comforts; however; are all…important in

the estimation of narrow minds; which either do not perceive; or

will not acknowledge; that they are more than counterbalanced among us

by great and generally diffused blessings。

  They may; perhaps; have been disappointed in some unreasonable

expectation of sudden gain。 They may have pictured America to

themselves an El Dorado; where gold and silver abounded; and the

natives were lacking in sagacity; and where they were to become

strangely and suddenly rich; in some unforeseen; but easy manner。

The same weakness of mind that indulges absurd expectations produces

petulance in disappointment。 Such persons become embittered against

the country on finding that there; as everywhere else; a man must

sow before he can reap; must win wealth by industry and talent; and

must contend with the common difficulties of nature; and the

shrewdness of an intelligent and enterprising people。

  Perhaps; through mistaken; or ill…directed hospitality; or from

the prompt disposition to cheer and countenance the stranger;

prevalent among my countrymen; they may have been treated with

unwonted respect in America; and having been accustomed all their

lives to consider themselves below the surface of good society; and

brought up in a servile feeling of inferiority; they become arrogant

on the common boon of civility: they attribute to the lowliness of

others their own elevation; and underrate a society where there are no

artificial distinctions; and where; by any chance; such individuals as

themselves can rise to consequence。

  One would suppose; however; that information coming from such

sources; on a subject where the truth is so desirable; would be

received with caution by the censors of the press; that the motives of

these men; their veracity; their opportunities of inquiry and

observation; and their capacities for judging correctly; would be

rigorously scrutinized before their evidence was admitted; in such

sweeping extent; against a kindred nation。 The very reverse;

however; is the case; and it furnishes a striking instance of human

inconsistency。 Nothing can surpass the vigilance with which English

critics will examine the credibility of the traveller who publishes an

account of some distant; and comparatively unimportant country。 How

warily will they compare the measurements of a pyramid; or the

descriptions of a ruin; and how sternly will they censure any

inaccuracy in these contributions of merely curious knowledge: while

they will receive; with eagerness and unhesitating faith; the gross

misrepresentations of coarse and obscure writers; concerning a country

with which their own is placed in the most important and delicate

relations。 Nay; they will even make these apocryphal volumes

text…books; on which to enlarge with a zeal and an ability worthy of a

more generous cause。

  I shall not; however; dwell on this irksome and hackneyed topic; nor

should I have adverted to it; but for the undue interest apparently

taken in it by my countrymen; and certain injurious effects which I

apprehended it might produce upon the national feeling。 We attach

too much consequence to these attacks。 They cannot do us any essential

injury。 The tissue of misrepresentations attempted to be woven round

us are like cobwebs woven round the limbs of an infant giant。 Our

country continually outgrows them。 One falsehood after another falls

off of itself。 We have but to live on; and every day we live a whole

volume of refutation。

  All the writers of England united; if we could for a moment

suppose their great minds stooping to so unworthy a combination; could

not conceal our rapidly…growing importance; and matchless

prosperity。 They could not conceal that these are owing; not merely to

physical and local; but also to moral causes… to the political

liberty; the gener

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