It is thus that the Phenicians, the Carthagenians, the Dutch,
the Chinese, the New-Englanders, and the modern Greeks, have always
been regarded as inclined to petty frauds by their less commercial
neighbours.' I mentioned the English nation.
"'If the English,' said he, interrupting me; 'who are the most
commercial people of modern times, have not acquired the same
character, it is because they are as distinguished for other things as
for traffic: they are not merely a commercial people--they are also
agricultural, warlike, and literary; and thus the natural tendencies
of commerce are mutually counteracted.'
"We afterwards descended slowly; the prospect beneath us becoming more
beautiful than my humble pen can hope to describe, or will even
attempt to portray. In a short time after, we were in sight of
Venezuela. We met with the trade winds and were carried by them forty
or fifty miles inland, where, with some difficulty, and even danger,
we landed. The Brahmin and myself remained together two days, and
parted--he to explore the Andes, to obtain additional light on the
subject of his hypothesis, and I, on the wings of impatience, to visit
once more my long-deserted family and friends. But before our
separation, I assisted my friend in concealing our aerial vessel, and
received a promise from him to visit, and perhaps spend with me the
evening of his life.
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