have written upon it; for, although he frequently mentions Frazier and Ulloa, he cites their opinions only as far as they tend to confirm his theory. Both those authors speak of Chili as very fertile, but M. de Pauw has not thought proper to insert those passages, but only observes, in general terms, that wheat cannot be raised except in some of the North American provinces. Led away by inferences drawn from an ideal system of his own invention, he has carried his visionary notions so far that his work partakes more of the nature of a romance than a philosophical disquisition. It is sufficient for his purpose to find, in the vast extent of America, some small district or unimportant island labouring under the disadvantages of an unfavourable climate or unproductive soil, to attribute these circumstances as general to all the provinces of that country. A wretched tribe of the most obscure savage's serves as his model of character for all the Americans. Such is the logic of M. de Pauw: It would be an endless task were I to endeavour to confute the numerous erroneous opinions that he has advanced respecting America; upon that subject he has deduced his conclusions from the most unfounded premises, and employed a mode of reasoning that might, with equal propriety, be applied to the prejudice of any other portion of the globe; a proceeding that can be justified neither by reason nor philosophy. In short, De Pauw has made use of as much freedom with regard to America as if he had been writing upon the moon and its inhabitants. But to appreciate properly the observations of this author, I shall refer the reader to the opinions of many learned men who have visited that country, and have fully refuted his assertions. Among those who merit particular attention on this subject, is Count Juan Reynaldes Carli, so well known by his various literary productions, particularly his American Letters*, in which, with much critical and philosophical investigation, he has comprised whatever may serve to convey a clear and correct idea of America. N. B. The reader is informed that the mile made use of in this work is the geographical mile of sixty to a degree, the foot the French foot, and the pound that of Italy, of twelve ounces. Those literati who are desirous of becoming perfectly ac quainted with America, will do well to consult this work, which consists of three volumes....Sp. Trans. |