Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

BECOMING AMERICA
REVOLUTIONARY AND EARLY NATIONAL PERIOD LITERATURE
hemisphere; and by whom a moral and political structure might be raised, the
growth of pure wisdom, and totally unlike those fragments of Roman and Gothic
barbarism, which cover the face of what are called the civilized nations. The belief
now rose in my mind that some such scheme had actually been prosecuted, and
that Ludloe was a coadjutor. On this supposition, the caution with which he
approached to his point, the arduous probation which a candidate for a part on this
stage must undergo, and the rigours of that test by which his fortitude and virtue
must be tried, were easily explained. I was too deeply imbued with veneration for
the eects of such schemes, and too sanguine in my condence in the rectitude of
Ludloe, to refuse my concurrence in any scheme by which my qualications might
at length be raised to a due point.
Our interview was frank and aectionate. I found him situated just as formerly.
His aspect, manners, and deportment were the same. I entered once more on my
former mode of life, but our intercourse became more frequent. We constantly
breakfasted together, and our conversation was usually prolonged through half
the morning.
For a time our topics were general. I thought proper to leave to him the
introduction of more interesting themes: this, however, he betrayed no inclination
to do. His reserve excited some surprise, and I began to suspect that whatever
design he had formed with regard to me, had been laid aside. To ascertain this
question, I ventured, at length, to recall his attention to the subject of his last letter,
and to enquire whether subsequent reection had made any change in his views.
He said that his views were too momentous to be hastily taken up, or hastily
dismissed; the station, my attainment of which depended wholly on myself, was
high above vulgar heads, and was to be gained by years of solicitude and labour.
This, at least, was true with regard to minds ordinarily constituted; I, perhaps,
deserved to be regarded as an exception, and might be able to accomplish in a few
months that for which others were obliged to toil during half their lives.
Man, continued he, is the slave of habit. Convince him to-day that his duty
leads straight forward: he shall advance, but at every step his belief shall fade;
habit will resume its empire, and tomorrow he shall turn back, or betake himself
to oblique paths.
We know not our strength till it be tried. Virtue, till conrmed by habit, is a
dream. You are a man imbued by errors, and vincible by slight temptations. Deep
enquiries must bestow light on your opinions, and the habit of encountering and
vanquishing temptation must inspire you with fortitude. Till this be done, you are
unqualied for that post, in which you will be invested with divine attributes, and
prescribe the condition of a large portion of mankind.
Conde not in the rmness of your principles, or the stedfastness of your
integrity. Be always vigilant and fearful. Never think you have enough of
knowledge, and let not your caution slumber for a moment, for you know not
when danger is near.
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