Notes Upon Canada and the United States: From 1832 to 1840; Much in a Small Space, Or a Great Deal in a Little Book (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Notes Upon Canada and the United States: From 1832 to 1840; Much in a Small Space, or a Great Deal in a Little Book

Moon has been said against travellers generally, and American ones particularly, for their profusion of words upon irrelevant sub jects, and similar occasions; very like looking for the moon with a lighted torch, or brightening the sun by illuminated tapers. But are the framers of this objection aware, or do they at all reflect, on the condition to which they would reduce those works that now, in bulk and number, demand so much time and large a space? As the minds of men are seemingly constituted, submissively yielding to the applause of the world, which they estimate in proportion to the noise that they make in it, or the share which they occupy, it is no small difficulty, nay altogether hazardous, to prescribe for or limit it. Being of this opinion, any further comment would not only be superfluous, but an intrusion on the reader, to whom it being evidently my duty, as it's certainly my desire, to be plain and simple, I would shortly say - be not too hasty in concluding, that because the work before you - quite original in its way - is small and inconsiderable, it is therefore devoid of labor or enquiry, and conclusively unfitting your attention or respect, since its great claims on both, are a pretty sure defence against rivals or competi tors. On exhibiting any literary production to such a one, be uni formly observes, and the world joins issue, - Pooh! A trifle! Quite easy! Bid him commit this trifle to his own memory, be hesitates, and begins to pause in his belief. Place the same quantum of blank paper before him to fill up with any similar trifle of his'own, which let him attempt to do for a brief space only, and what think you then is his opinion of its case? This, if it fall to instil wisdom, will at least teach us charity.

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