National Gazette

In taking a retrospective view of the world, we are for a moment surprised when we recollect that some thousands of years had elapsed before printing was invented, and that the only way of accumulating the copies of art and genius was by the tardy method of transcribing; and that the art of navigation was for nearly as long a time devious, and regulated by no certain laws, the stars and head lands of different countries being the only guides to the adventurous mariner who often perished when the heavens were obscured. O liberty! how many blessings hast thou brought us! Man, in promulgating his opinions, now finds security under the wings of an established freedom; and the dismal dungeon which eclipsed the luminous mind of the celebrated Italian, would now be erected into a school for him to lecture in, instead of a prison to bewail the miserable ignorance and depravity of his fellow-creatures. Truth and reason have led to this melioration of manners, it will lead to more benefits to mankind. But should we still be obliged to row our boats against the stream, it is not only practicable but easy.

[The remainder in our next.]