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Literary
April 2, 1788
The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Reflection on Admiral Anson's humane act of leaving gifts for island inhabitants after frightening them, contrasted with Spanish brutality against Americans. Envisions philosophical voyages spreading knowledge and arts to distant regions, elevating humanity while acknowledging human limitations.
Merged-components note: These two components continue the same literary piece discussing Admiral Anson and philosophical voyages to enrich distant nations.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
ANSON.
There are few passages in history so charming as one relative to Admiral Anson, who having landed on an island where the inhabitants fled from him, left them presents on the sea shore to make them amends for the terror which his appearance on their coast had occasioned.
Compare this humane, this magnanimous action with the rage of Spaniards, murdering the unhappy Americans, and you must judge whether the Englishman did not seem a god compared to a herd of tygers.
This great example exhibits at length what was never yet seen, the missionaries of philosophy embarking in cosmopolite ships, carrying into the South Sea the consolatory arts, and displaying the zeal of humanity, instead of the political frenzy which embrued the globe in blood.
It is no longer self-interest, always confined in its views, that is the motive of their voyage; it is a truly philosophical association, which will circulate human knowledge to the most distant regions, and will enrich growing societies with those useful and necessary instruments, the invention of polished societies.
The happiness of mankind will increase rapidly, and those philosophic voyages will hasten the maturity of ages. Arts, suddenly rising among those new nations, will be exempt from the inconveniencies they are still subject to amongst us of the rust of our ancient barbarism; the happiness of those people will be the effect of transplanting our ideas; the good ones only will be adopted: we shall impart to them our wisdom; our follies will remain with us.
It is charming thus at once to consider the elevation of the mind of man, and the weakness of his arm. He says, Let us go to the extremities of the earth, and enrich with our arts a people without industry. He will measure and travel over the globe, while he does not even know himself: he will take in the past and future, whilst his own existence is rapid and transient: He will diffuse himself, as it were, over every point of the earth, whilst he is only a point himself.
There are few passages in history so charming as one relative to Admiral Anson, who having landed on an island where the inhabitants fled from him, left them presents on the sea shore to make them amends for the terror which his appearance on their coast had occasioned.
Compare this humane, this magnanimous action with the rage of Spaniards, murdering the unhappy Americans, and you must judge whether the Englishman did not seem a god compared to a herd of tygers.
This great example exhibits at length what was never yet seen, the missionaries of philosophy embarking in cosmopolite ships, carrying into the South Sea the consolatory arts, and displaying the zeal of humanity, instead of the political frenzy which embrued the globe in blood.
It is no longer self-interest, always confined in its views, that is the motive of their voyage; it is a truly philosophical association, which will circulate human knowledge to the most distant regions, and will enrich growing societies with those useful and necessary instruments, the invention of polished societies.
The happiness of mankind will increase rapidly, and those philosophic voyages will hasten the maturity of ages. Arts, suddenly rising among those new nations, will be exempt from the inconveniencies they are still subject to amongst us of the rust of our ancient barbarism; the happiness of those people will be the effect of transplanting our ideas; the good ones only will be adopted: we shall impart to them our wisdom; our follies will remain with us.
It is charming thus at once to consider the elevation of the mind of man, and the weakness of his arm. He says, Let us go to the extremities of the earth, and enrich with our arts a people without industry. He will measure and travel over the globe, while he does not even know himself: he will take in the past and future, whilst his own existence is rapid and transient: He will diffuse himself, as it were, over every point of the earth, whilst he is only a point himself.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Political
What keywords are associated?
Admiral Anson
Humane Action
Spanish Brutality
Philosophical Voyages
Human Knowledge
Arts Transplant
Human Elevation
Literary Details
Title
Anson.
Subject
Admiral Anson's Humane Action And Philosophical Voyages
Key Lines
Compare This Humane, This Magnanimous Action With The Rage Of Spaniards, Murdering The Unhappy Americans, And You Must Judge Whether The Englishman Did Not Seem A God Compared To A Herd Of Tygers.
The Missionaries Of Philosophy Embarking In Cosmopolite Ships, Carrying Into The South Sea The Consolatory Arts, And Displaying The Zeal Of Humanity
It Is No Longer Self Interest... That Is The Motive Of Their Voyage; It Is A Truly Philosophical Association
We Shall Impart To Them Our Wisdom; Our Follies Will Remain With Us.
He Will Measure And Travel Over The Globe, While He Does Not Even Know Himself