Sketches of Naval Life with Notices of Men, Manners and Scenery on the Shores of the Mediterranean in a Series of Letters from the Brandywine and Constitution Frigates (Volume 2); With Notices of Men, Manners and Scenery on the Shores of the Mediterranean (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1829. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... rived from it, and how much we have yet to learn on this subject. It might be promoted, in this manner, at a trifling national expense. It is not fitting out ships of discovery at great cost and uncertain prospect: it is simply placing an individual in each ship of large size, with proper salary and funds, to enable him to make observations abroad and enrich the collections of our colleges, or a national collection if we choose to have one, at his return. Whatever the nation may say to our not being prepared for such a project as the former; no one will say that we are not prepared for the latter. The English, even the Russians, every nation I believe has these men, but ourselves;--but ourselves, a nation priding itself on its intelligence, and telling all others that we look to this intelligence as the best safeguard of our liberties. Our boast is just. Among no other people is knowledge so widely diffused. I am glad it is so: for knowledge is the safeguard of liberty, but we owe ourselves little thanks fur it. Our forefathers brought a relish for learning, with them from England, their posterity as a natural consequence are enlightened: the nation is young and therefore vigorous: it has vast resources, and is therefore wealthy. Circumstances then have made us prosperous: WE have YET to make ourselves great. Excuse this long letter of censure: I have one more on the subject, and then shall be done with it. Adieu. LETTER LXV. Frigate Constitution, > at Sea, June 11, 1828. J DEAR GEORGE, Several of our midshipmen expect to be examined on their arrival at home, and are consequently hard at work over Bowditch's Navigator. I gave you a peep at our school, in a former letter: the character of my pupils has since that passed occasionally in review, an...