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Andrew the Hebridean
Iwan is a Russian gentleman and friend of James’s and the author of Letter XI. On James’s encouragement, Iwan visits botanist John Bertram to learn about American farming practices. Iwan is struck by the freedom American farmers enjoy and predicts that America will surpass Europe in prosperity. He tells Bertram how Russia’s progress is hindered by poverty and particularly by the inhumane practice of serfdom.
Iwan Quotes in Letters from an American Farmer
The Letters from an American Farmer quotes below are all either spoken by Iwan or refer to Iwan. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Letter 11
Quotes
Then I began to botanize all over my farm; in a little time I became acquainted with every vegetable that grew in my neighbourhood and next ventured into Maryland, living among the Friends; in proportion as I thought myself more learned, I proceeded farther, and by a steady application of several years, I have acquired a pretty general knowledge of every plant and tree to be found in our continent.
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
“I am glad to see that thee hast so much compassion; are there any slaves in thy country?” “Yes, unfortunately, but they are more properly civil than domestic slaves; they are attached to the soil on which they live; it is the remains of ancient barbarous customs established in the days of the greatest ignorance and savageness of manners and preserved notwithstanding the repeated tears of humanity, the loud calls of policy, and the commands of religion. The pride of great men, with the avarice of landholders, make them look on this class as necessary tools of husbandry, as if freemen could not cultivate the ground.”
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Iwan Quotes in Letters from an American Farmer
The Letters from an American Farmer quotes below are all either spoken by Iwan or refer to Iwan. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Letter 11
Quotes
Then I began to botanize all over my farm; in a little time I became acquainted with every vegetable that grew in my neighbourhood and next ventured into Maryland, living among the Friends; in proportion as I thought myself more learned, I proceeded farther, and by a steady application of several years, I have acquired a pretty general knowledge of every plant and tree to be found in our continent.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
“I am glad to see that thee hast so much compassion; are there any slaves in thy country?” “Yes, unfortunately, but they are more properly civil than domestic slaves; they are attached to the soil on which they live; it is the remains of ancient barbarous customs established in the days of the greatest ignorance and savageness of manners and preserved notwithstanding the repeated tears of humanity, the loud calls of policy, and the commands of religion. The pride of great men, with the avarice of landholders, make them look on this class as necessary tools of husbandry, as if freemen could not cultivate the ground.”
