Anniversary discourse delivered before the Columbian Institute on the 7th of January, 1826 / by Tobias Watkins.

  • Watkins, Tobias, 1780-1855.
Date:
1826
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Anniversary discourse delivered before the Columbian Institute on the 7th of January, 1826 / by Tobias Watkins. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    occasional reminiscence like this, that the philoso- pher and man of science, gathers fresh energy and vigour to pursue his labours—that he is cheered and animated in his solitary studies: and that he finds a solace in those moments of anxiety and de- spondence, to which genius is said to be so peculi- arly obnoxious, and in which so few know how to sympathize. It may almost be said, that knowledge makes man a God to man. When the Spaniards, to- wards the close of the 15th century, landed in this new world, the poor untutored natives looked upon them as beings of a superior order, and pros- trated themselves at the feet of the strangers, in awe and adoration. The meanest sailor in the fleet of ColunJ)us, was regarded by them with mingled feelings of reverence and apprehension: their ships, their fire-am^ and swords—the thousand unknown and miraculousinstruments and machines, by which they seemed to lwe and move; and, above all, the inconceivable art tf transmitting their thoughts to each other at a distance. were considered by these neglected children of naturt. as incontestible proofs of an unearthly and divine origin. Spain, it is true, had, at the pe^od referred to, nearly attained to the full eminence of her power and grandeur. She was the cynosure of neigh- bouring eyes--the country to which all Europe looked for polish and refinement. But in what light do the philosophers and learned men of the present day, regard the Spaniards as they were, three cen-