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diff --git a/57732-0.txt b/57732-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9005171 --- /dev/null +++ b/57732-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8392 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 57732 *** + + + + + + + + +THE SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER: + +DEVOTED TO EVERY DEPARTMENT OF LITERATURE AND THE FINE ARTS. + + +Au gré de nos desirs bien plus qu'au gré des vents. + _Crebillon's Electre_. + +As _we_ will, and not as the winds will. + + +RICHMOND: +T. W. WHITE, PUBLISHER AND PROPRIETOR. +1834-5. + + + + +SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER. + +VOL. I.] RICHMOND, APRIL 1835. [NO. 8. + +T. W. WHITE, PRINTER AND PROPRIETOR. FIVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM. + + + + +We regret that from the late period at which the sixth number of +"Sketches of the History of Tripoli" was received, it has been +impossible to present it to our readers this month. It will appear in +our next. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +INFLUENCE OF FREE GOVERNMENT ON THE MIND. + + +Human society, from the nature of its formation, is governed in all +its multifarious movements, however majestic or delicate, by mind. +There are no changes, nor revolutions in society, that do not +acknowledge its influence. It is the all-pervading, all-exciting cause +of human action. Its power on the social system is similar to that of +gravitation in regulating the magnificent and rolling orbs of space; +the great centre of attraction, holding together and preserving in +harmonious order the thousand relations of life. Physical force, which +to the superficial eye appears to have swayed the destinies of mankind +in all ages of the world, will be found on examination to be only a +mean, enabling it to wield with greater skill and force the sceptre of +its power. The conquering legions of Cæsar or Bonaparte would have +been a useless pageant, deprived of this active, governing principle. +This exciting principle of society reaches its maturity and power by +gradual developement. In the first stages of civilization its strength +is that of an infant, afterwards that of a giant; and the spheres of +its action are as various as its powers. We behold it soaring on the +shining wings of imagination to the fields of fiction; calm, +comprehensive, searching in philosophy and science; animated and +exalted on the noble theatre of eloquence; pure and humble in the holy +aspirations of religion. Such being the nature of mind, we are led to +the irresistible inference, that the state of communities or nations +will be low or elevated in proportion to its neglect or cultivation. +The conceptions of mind form the mirror of national character. If +there be a want of mental cultivation, as a consequent, the numerous +attractions which hold in harmony and union the relations of society +will be destroyed; and general darkness and misery prevail. On the +contrary, if there be an expansion of mind, these ties so necessary, +so sacred, will receive new strength; and a universal joy, and beauty, +and brightness, pervade the whole social compact. + +Many and various causes tend to the development of mind. It varies in +every nation and under every form of government. We read of the +majestic melancholy, the lofty passion, the stern intellect of the +_North_; of the mental effeminacy, of the exuberant fancy, beneath the +sunny skies and amid the olive groves of the _South_. We read of the +effects, natural advantages and impediments; how inaccessible barriers +may raise their Alpine heads, and prevent the light of one nation from +beaming on another; thus destroying the interchange of kindred +thoughts and obstructing the growth of mind; how nature's works, her +forests, rivers, lakes, groves, and water-falls in their original +grandeur and sublimity; how art's works, shining in their new +splendor, or fallen from their primitive state, cities and towers +lying in the crumbling embrace of time, stir up the sympathies, +enliven the emotions, and arouse the imagination to high exertion; how +the resources of the earth, her rich mines, her quarries of marble, +stimulate the spirit of improvement in the arts and sciences. We read +too, how the mind wastes away under the influence of despotic +institutions, and how ignorance reigns shining in purple and gold; +lastly, how the mind attains its full developement, and is ever active +in its native strength, and power, and greatness, under the pacific +and stirring effect of free principles. Each of these causes which may +advance or retard the growth of mind, afford themes worthy of +investigation. That of the influence of free institutions, having a +bearing on the destinies of American mind, we have selected as the +subject of this essay. + +A ceaseless activity is the original characteristic of all material +creation. All matter, whether on the surface, or in the centre of the +earth, is imperceptibly undergoing a continuous change. To-day, we +gaze with delighted eye on the loveliness and grandeur of nature, lit +up by the smile of heaven; to-morrow, they have passed away. We only +look upon a clear blue sky, to behold it the next moment hung with +dark and angry clouds. The sun and the moon ever pursue their same +eternal tireless course. Nature has likewise created an undying active +spirit in the mental world. Activity is the earliest intellectual +developement. The many imperious duties, connected with the stupendous +relations which the individual members of society sustain to each +other, prove that the mind was destined for action. The different +natures, and the beautiful adaptations of the intellectual powers, +prove it. Their native elasticity, their quick excitability, prove it. +Curiosity, that key which unlocks the sanctuaries of knowledge, is +seen from the days of childhood to silvery age. A desire of society, a +commune and interchange of thought and feeling, has ever been a +distinguishing characteristic of mankind in all ages and in all parts +of the world. The sublime summits which the mind has reached, and the +perennial glories which have crowned its efforts, are evidence +unanswerable of the vastness of its power. But there cannot be full +powerful mental action without mental freedom. Freedom is incident to +action mental or physical. Observe the king of birds as he spreads his +majestic wings on high; mark his swift flight, his strength and vigor; +then behold him shut up within a cage, how weak, how lifeless, how +nerveless! The same is true of mind; unrestrained, its powers +transcend all limits, but fettered, they dwindle away--are powerless. +The mind then is both naturally free and active. Such being the case, +free institutions are founded in nature; and, therefore, their +influence on the mind arises from a natural and mutual relation: this +relation cannot be otherwise than efficacious in its tendencies on the +mind. + +What is the nature of free institutions? Founded in man's free active +nature, their tendency is to develope his powers and dignity. Their +permanency, depending on the mental part of man, their chief aim and +policy are his moral and intellectual elevation. Universal mental +cultivation is the enduring basis and majestic pillar of their +structure. As the effulgent life-giving orb of day brings forth the +hidden beauties and treasures of nature, they draw out to the light +the powers and faculties of every member of society. They bring mind +in competition with mind; thus striking out the "celestial spark," +they recognise no mental indolence; they afford means suited to the +growth of all kinds of mind; they hold out the same common inducements +to all; they reward with immortality noble intellectual action. Their +true prominent feature is the collision of minds. + +Let us examine their influences. All legislation, all governmental +measures and operations, originate in the chosen intellect of the +people, assembled in free deliberation. No single will creates a law. +Many cultivated thinking minds coming together in close discussion, +strike out the great principles of political science. And the minds +thus exercised are not confined in their illuminating influence to the +legislative hall, but go abroad, brilliant and powerful, awakening to +thought, and enlightening millions of minds. Whatever the legislators +conceive and create, affords a theme on which a thousand other +eloquent minds among the people concentrate their talents, and shine +forth in bright display. Thus we perceive that the splendid and +dazzling theatre of eloquence is opened, inviting the exertions of +bold, persuasive, original intellect. Eloquence is one of the +characteristics of free governments. It requires free action. Its +nature is to thrill the feelings, to awaken the fancy, to exalt the +thoughts of a nation. It is the mind speaking forth its native +inspiriting thoughts. It is the rapid flow of deep excited feeling. It +is the natural influence which one mind exerts over another. It is the +unbridled intellect, clothed in shining and magic forms. Can it exist +under a despotism? The bird that dips its wings in the heavens does +not require more freedom. It is opposed to tyranny of any kind. What +is the history of eloquence? We behold it in unrivalled brilliancy and +power in the Republican of mighty Rome. Rome's eaglet of conquest +canopied the world under his expanded wings; but the genius of her +eloquence, peaceful, but powerful, moulded and swayed the mind of her +people and raised her to matchless grandeur. + +In free governments, new occasions are continually arising for +intellectual action. It is the inevitable result of that freedom they +give to the mind. The free mind is ever active and progressive, ever +soaring to lofty heights. The free mind disdains to follow the beaten +track, and marks out an original, a more elevated path. The free mind +experiences the full efficacy of all the stimulating feelings of our +nature. Can such a cast of mind do otherwise than open new fields for +high action? or produce other than wonderful and glorious results? +Animated by an unconquerable love of action, all obstacles and +difficulties vanish before it. It overthrows old systems, and erects +new ones more dazzling in splendor. It revolutionizes all unsound +associations, political, social, religious and literary. It fully +developes and explains the existing relations of life, and unfolds +hitherto unfelt ones. It thinks and feels more exaltedly, more deeply, +more strongly. Lethargy never steals upon such a mind. Now a mind thus +exercised, thus unlimited in its action, must shine forth in its +original beauty and might, must attain all that is noble or sublime in +intellectual achievement. This mind does not exist under despotic +institutions. It could not. The restrained mind is ever retrograding. +The restrained mind, aimless and unambitious, pursues the old path and +never thinks of seeking a new one. The restrained mind never feels the +irrepressible delight of a superior thought, never the exhilarating +influence of deep and lofty meditation. Is it wonderful that despotic +governments never attain a high degree of intellectual eminence? Or is +it wonderful that free governments should know no barriers too great, +no limits too extensive, no summits too elevated; should send forth a +living increasing light of mental glory over the world? + +In free governments "capacity and opportunity are twin sisters." +Development of mind being their chief aim, they afford every proper +means to this end. The genius of learning is brought down from her +high abodes, and caused to walk radiant with beauty, through every +grade of society. Education, the soul's strength, is disseminated with +a liberal hand to every portion of the community. Intellectual +illumination is made universal, as extensive as the circling canopy of +the firmament. The inferior and superior mind drink at the same +fountain--aspire to the same immortal renown. For while they thus +develope the mind, they open to all the bright halls of eminence, +offer to all _fame's_ brilliant diadem. Glorious is the effect! The +principles of science are seen shining in increased brightness in the +work-shop; eloquence, deep and overwhelming, full of heavenly fire and +pathos, arises from the shades of obscurity; the lyre of poetry +touched by the spirit of song, sends forth its melodious and inspiring +strains from the deep valley and the mountain top; in truth, the great +mass of society is moved and agitated by an active untiring spirit, +even as the waters of Bethesda were wont to be moved when visited by +the angel of the skies. Do we behold such an aspect under despotic +institutions? Do they encourage the universal growth of mind? Do they +hold out a common inducement to eloquent and lofty effort? or insure +to superior genius an enduring fame? Impossible! when all intellectual +influence is confined to the palace. Impossible! when learning in its +effect on society is no more than the light of the moon, shining by +the side of the noonday sun. + +But free circulation of thought and feeling composes the chief +influence of free institutions on the mind. The beauty, union, and +elevation of society depend upon the action and re-action of mind. +Indeed, this reciprocal influence of mind is the final cause in the +formation of society. Where it is unfelt all relations, political and +social, are frail and disregarded. If we look through society we shall +find that all national mental greatness and power, originates in the +influence which a few mighty minds exert in setting the great mass of +mind to thinking and feeling. How great have been the effects of the +minds of the Newtons, Bacons, Ciceros and Luthers on the world! How +many millions of minds have they not excited to strong and elevated +action! Now, free governments, from their very nature, encourage this +interchange, this mutual action of mind on mind. And mark the results. +The original brightness of one mind throws new light on the path of +another. A superior thought, like the blast of the Highland warrior's +trump bounding from crag to crag, and causing, quick as sound, a +hundred minds to beat for action, spreads with electric rapidity +through every nerve of the social frame. Thoughts once clouded in +darkness assume a blinding brightness. Thoughts once confused and +incomprehensible are mastered and imbodied in enchanting forms. +Patient and ambitious investigation, surmounting every obstacle, and +penetrating to the lowest depths of knowledge, brings forth its rich +treasures; truths, brilliant and irresistible. Free discussion is +awakened, eliciting talent, intellectual energies and glories. Nor is +this all. In philosophy, a few mighty minds arise and unfold new +principles in human nature; and, immediately, a spirit of revolution, +rapid but glorious, rages through society, destroying false and +unnatural relations, and strengthening those that are genuine by +holier and imperishable ties. In literature, a few mighty minds arise, +profound in thought, imperial in fancy and conception, which like so +many meridian suns, casting their beams upon the mental world, draw +forth the native graces, and beauties, and grandeur of mind, and +disseminate through every department of letters an influence +enlivening and beautifying: an influence, which arouses the slumbering +spirit of poetry, and throws an immortal radiance over the Elysian +realms of fiction. In science, a few mighty minds arise, expose old +fallacies, explore the rich mines of the earth, develope the +mysterious principles of matter, explain the nature of their +application, and suddenly an unusual mental splendor encircles the +temple of learning. Art wields her sceptre with greater skill and +precision, improving and adorning every branch of mechanism, that +administers to the uses and comforts of society. And this influence of +these few mighty minds on the general mind of society reacts in +resilient bounds, again acts, and again rebounds, continually +increasing in vigor and majesty. Thus the powers, passions and +emotions of the mind, are developed to their full stature. Thus, that +mind gains its natural ascendancy, crowns itself with unfading +laurels, erects its throne, all magnificent, far above human thrones, +and wields an overpowering influence over the destinies of mankind. +Thus, all nations either in the ancient or modern world, where mind +has shone in its brightest forms, have gained their immortality. From +a want of this mutual influence of superior and inferior minds, +despotic nations have ever remained in superstition and ignorance. For +the sake of mind, who will not hail with delight the day when the +genius of liberty shall canopy the world with her guardian wings! + +But the friends of monarchical governments tell us that Republics do +not encourage high intellectual developement, because they do not +stimulate the mind to exertion by liberal rewards. In a triumphant +air, they point us to the munificent era of Augustus, when genius +bloomed amid kingly splendor, to the profuse liberality of _Eastern_ +kings; to the generous age of Leo X, when Italia's mind shone in +rivalry with her own bright and lovely skies. We grant that the mind +in free governments is deprived of this influence. Does it thereby +sustain any loss? Let us examine this point. Will the mind whose only +stimulant are the smiles and pecuniary emoluments of kings, exhibit +its native strength and grandeur? or will the Muse that sings to +please the whims and caprices of a court, soar on eagle wings and to +mountain heights? He who depends on another for support, must +necessarily so shape his actions as to gain the good will of his +patron. It is familiar to every one, that they who live in the +sunshine of a palace, and from whom the mind in monarchies receives +its patronage, are no more nor less in their characters than a +composition of vanity and pride; of vanity and pride demanding +deification. The mind then that acts under courtly favor must bow in +lowly adoration and flattery. The scholar mourns over this defect in +the writings of Horace: he wrote to please the wily and arrogant +Augustus. If we turn over the productions of modern ages, when +monarchy has reigned, we shall find the same grovelling slave-like +spirit. Can such an influence develope the real beauty and sublimity +of mind? No! For the mind that would attain a full growth, a growth +noble and dignified--must mark out a course of its own, must move +forward with a fearless, unbending step. + +But because the mind in free governments does not enjoy the influence +of princely favor, (which in our humble opinion is rather an injury +than a benefit,) it is not therefore deprived of every other +stimulant. In a Republic, mental influence is not confined to any one +particular sphere, but illumines by the same beneficent rays the +summits and the depths of society. It is sound reason, that the +motives to intellectual action will bear a character corresponding to +the influence of that action. If its influence be noble and extensive +the stimulus of mind will be strong and awakening. How great then the +motives to mental effort in free governments! There the mind acts not +to please a crown, not to scatter flowers for courtiers to walk over, +but conscious of the weight of its responsibility, and the boundless +extent of its power, thinks and feels, that its thoughts and feelings +may mould and sway countless other minds. There is an indescribable +glory in such a stimulus. It not only purifies and elevates the mind +which it arouses, but prospers and ennobles the condition of mankind. +Still further--The mind whose theatre of action is thus extensive, and +that looks up to no living being for aid, will in most instances, be +excited to action by the idea of a virtuous immortality. And say, +friend of monarchical munificence, is not the mind that conceives this +idea in its pure genuineness, actuated by a stimulus more powerful +than all the smiles of all the kings, than all the gold of all the +Perus in the world could create? Analyze this idea. It combines +benevolence and sublimity of feeling. It raises the mind above earthly +scenes to the contemplation of the ineffable brightness and goodness +of the Creator. Its great end is the promotion of the happiness of +coming ages. Who will compare the action of the mind thus stimulated +with that of the mind, whose only stimulus is present selfish +enjoyment? As well may we compare the anthill to the "cloud-crowned +Andes." + +What says biography of those superior minds that have shone as lights +to the world. Did they grow to their full power and greatness under +the influence of monarchical institutions? Did they arouse the mind of +Homer, the immortal bard of antiquity? Or the eloquence and moral +sublimity of Cicero? Or the unrivalled philosophy of Socrates? Who has +not lamented over the severe fate of modern genius? Danté, Petrarch +and Ariosto, minds resplendent in imagery and conception, wrote their +best works when friendless exiles on a foreign shore. Cervantes wrote +his Don Quixotte of undying fame, in a dungeon. Shakspeare, rightly +styled the great magician of human nature, was often obliged to act +parts in his own plays. Milton, who in thought and conception dwelt in +the home of angels, sold his Paradise Lost for five pounds; lived the +disgrace and glory of his age. These minds were the subjects of +monarchies. Others might be mentioned. Surely then this patronage of +kingly governments is but an empty name. It will not stimulate the +noble mind, for such a mind creates its own stimulus. Let no one say +then that the mind cannot ascend to lofty heights without its aid. But +rather let us exclaim with the poet, + + "'Tis immortality should fire the mind." + +In looking over the pages of history, no fact strikes us more +perceptibly than that all greatness of mind has ever been +proportionate to its enjoyment of civil liberty. In vain do we look +for universal education, either in ancient or modern times, among the +numerous kingdoms of the East; in vain for a philosopher, poet or +historian. The story of Grecian mind in its full maturity and +superiority is known to every scholar. He there beholds mind in its +real glory and power, shining under diversified forms; in imaginative +brilliancy; in philosophic research; in the highest spheres of +literature and science. But her freedom departed. The voice of +eloquence was no longer heard in her forums, or in her beautiful fanes +and groves; her Muses were cold to the embraces of her poets; in +short, her intellectual greatness was gone. Behold her now! How +striking the contrast of her former and present condition! And how +appropriate the line of Byron-- + + "'Tis Greece, but living Greece no more." + +The history of Roman mind does not differ from that of Grecian mind. +Who would ask for stronger illustrations of the argument in favor of +free principles on the mind. + +But the influence of free institutions on the mind is not confined +purely to the intellectual, but extends to the moral nature of man. +They blend strength and splendor of intellect with the soft and beamy +radiance of moral feeling. This is a natural consequence. For as a +general rule, where there is an expansion of intellect, there will be +a similar growth in morals. As intellect expands, as its perceptions +become keener and surer, the relations and duties of life are +perceived in a stronger and clearer light. Deprived of intellect, +morals and principles lose their efficacy. We speak now of unperverted +intellect; not of that kind of intellect which blasted the hopes of +revolutionary France; not of that kind of intellect which +characterized a Mirabeau or a Voltaire, but of such as free +institutions in their purity would create--an intellect pure and +exalted. Such an intellect cannot fail to strengthen our obligations +as public and private men. + +Indeed, one of the fundamental principles of free governments is +founded in man's moral nature, the equality of mankind. For from this +principle flows a spirit of peace, of love and kindness. Cherish the +idea that men are by nature possessed of equal rights, and you destroy +that coldness and selfishness which corrupt and debase the moral +affections. Cherish it, and benevolence reigns queen over the heart, +dispensing far and wide her refreshing benefits. Cherish it, and every +member of society feels himself drawn towards his fellow by heavenly +attractions. Cherish it, and the springs of sympathetic feeling rise +to overflowing. In fine, cherish it, and the virtues of the heart +increase in beauty and holiness, and run out in gladdening streams. +Destroy it, and general morality is gone forever. + +Thus we perceive that free governments tend both to growth of morals +and intellect; that the developement of the one is not attended to and +the other neglected, but that they unfold, bloom and mature in union. +Thus too, we perceive that free governments do not unfold half of +man's powers or strength, but that under their influence the whole +mind expands, full, bright and lovely, as the "bloom of blowing Eden +fair." + +We have now finished an imperfect view of the influence of free +principles on the mind. Beautiful is their application in our own +country. Here they exist in their pure original character. Here, their +influence is beyond calculation--over an extensive territory, +abounding in every variety of interest and advantage. Here the press +is free, and the thoughts and feelings of one section of the land may +enlighten another section; this section may throw new light and +splendor into another, this into another and another: thus creating a +chain of mental influence, which will extend from one extremity of the +country to the other. Here there is every civil advantage; numerous +theatres for the display of eloquent mind. Here there is every natural +advantage; numerous theatres for the display of literary and +scientific mind. Let the discerning traveller perform the tour of our +land, and there is no beauty of nature, no charm of landscape, no +majesty of forest, no grandeur or sublimity of mountain or water +scenery, that will not meet his delighted vision. Every state +possesses materials sufficient to create a literature of its own. The +Baronial castles and lofty hills of Scotland, together with their +incidents, penciled by the graphic hand of Walter Scott, gained him a +deathless name. Every state, and we assert it without fear of +contradiction, has more of the interesting, the romantic and +picturesque in incident and scenery than Scotland. It is our own fault +then if our literature is not immortalized by more than one Scott. Add +to these the great variety of mind which characterizes our land. Let +the traveller go through the south, and he will behold mind glowing, +impetuous and brilliant; let him go through the north, and he will +behold mind, more systematized, profound in reason, silent, deep in +feeling; let him go through the west, and he will behold a +comminglement of every variety of mind. Besides, there are peculiar +thoughts and feelings which belong to each state. Now consider all +these advantages joined together, mingled as the colors in the +rainbow, by one grand powerful feeling, which characterizes the whole, +a feeling of union, a common American feeling: and let our free +institutions act upon them in their full vigor and power, and we will +have a mind presenting every variety of interest, beauty, strength and +brightness--all eloquent, all sublime--a sun illumining the world. + +H. J. G. + +_Cincinnati, Ohio, April 1835_. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +A few weeks since D. D. Mitchell, Esq., a resident for many years +past, near the falls of Missouri, in the vicinity of the Rocky +Mountains, was in this city, on a visit to his native State, and it +was my good fortune to become personally acquainted with him. He has +been an enterprising and successful adventurer in the American fur +trade, and is now in command of a fort and trading establishment in +the neighborhood of the _Black-feet_, a nation of Indians with whom +the whites have had but little intercourse, and whose peculiar +character and manners we have had few opportunities of knowing. +Besides being a bold and active participator in many of the bloody +conflicts of various tribes, Mr. Mitchell has been a keen observer of +Indian customs, traits, and superstitions; and so great a favorite was +he among the powerful tribe of the Black-feet, that they created him a +chief, with the title of the _Spotted Elk_. Mr. Mitchell did me the +favor whilst here, to submit some of his manuscripts to my inspection. +They contain sketches of the Indian character, and of the country, on +the head waters of Missouri, hitherto almost unexplored by the white +man, and also various interesting anecdotes and observations, highly +creditable to the intelligence, discernment and enterprise of the +writer. I cannot withhold from the patrons of the Literary Messenger, +some share of the pleasure I have myself experienced, in reading these +valuable papers, and, for the present, I send to the publisher, a +remarkable Indian love tale, which Mr. Mitchell, besides his written +testimony, privately assured me was _founded on fact_.--Washington +Irving, in his recent "Tour on the Prairies," makes the following +remark: "As far as I can judge, the Indian of poetical fiction, is +like the shepherd of pastoral romance, a mere personification of +imaginary attributes." It may be so, and perhaps most heroes and +heroines of novels and romances, are principally creations of fancy; +but if the author of the Sketch Book, meant to assert, that the +children of the forest were altogether unsusceptible of some of the +noble and tender emotions of our nature--he stands opposed by +undoubted evidence to the contrary. Who does not believe, for example, +what our own history has taught, of the matchless purity and guileless +simplicity of Pocahontas--the lofty spirit of Totopotomoi, and the +rare magnanimity of Logan? The passion of love indeed, as modified and +refined in civilized life, has not often been found in the breast of +the Indian warrior, but even to this general truth, there have been +numerous exceptions, and among them, I have never met with one so +marked and striking, as that which is recorded in the following story. + +H. + + +THE WHITE ANTELOPE; + +OR, INDIAN LOVER. + +From the Manuscripts of D. D. Mitchell, Esq. + + +Some time during the autumn of 1832, a young blood Indian (of the race +of the Black-feet,) arrived at the fort all alone. He had no furs, or +other articles of traffic with him, and was not equipped in the usual +style for war. His pale haggard appearance, and deep settled +melancholy, attracted the observation of all who saw him; but as a +residence of several years among the Indians, had taught us something +of their rules of politeness, I forbore to question him as to the +cause of his grief, more especially as he did not seem to be in a very +communicative mood. I ordered him something to eat, but he pushed the +proffered repast aside, and refused to partake. Our interpreter then +handed him a pipe, which he received in a cold mechanical manner, +appearing scarcely conscious of what he did; and instead of sending up +dense columns of smoke in rapid succession, as is usually the case, he +sat with the pipe extended across his knees, absorbed in a deep +reverie, and now and then heaving profound sighs, which appeared to +arise from the inmost recesses of his soul. The pipe having gone out, +the interpreter relighted it, and again placed it in the young +Indian's hand. He started up, and after a few hasty whiffs, seized his +bow and arrows, and walked hastily out of the fort. Our curiosity +having been excited by his mysterious conduct, several of us followed +in order to watch his motions. He went to the river bank, and having +thrown off his robe, which he fastened to the back of his head, in +order to keep it dry, he deliberately plunged into the river and swam +for the opposite shore. I called to him through the interpreter, +promising if he would return, to send him over in my skiff, reminding +him at the same time that the current was wide, and the water +extremely cold--but he only turned his head around, and with a bitter +smile, exclaimed, "the fire which is burning in my heart, will keep me +warm!" He spoke no other word, but dashing through the waves, which a +keen October wind had lashed into motion, we saw him presently ascend +the rocky cliffs of the other side, and striking into the path which +led to the mountains, he disappeared, with the speed and agility of an +antelope. Several conjectures were made among us, respecting the +singular conduct of this seemingly unhappy youth; but as none could +furnish an explanation entirely satisfactory, the affair in a few +days, ceased to be the subject of inquiry or conversation. + +On a cold stormy evening, about the middle of the following February, +I was standing on the bank of the river, giving some directions to the +men engaged in constructing a kind of harbor or basin, to secure our +boats, on the opening of spring, from the drifting ice, when I was +startled by the quick report of a gun, and a loud shout of triumph, +which proceeded from the opposite shore, and were echoed in long +reverberations from the rocky cliffs of the Missouri. Broad flakes of +snow were falling around me, and whirling in every direction, so that +I was prevented from perceiving objects on the opposite side; but I +supposed that some war party was probably returning from a victorious +campaign. When about to return to the fort, I discovered two Indians, +a young man and woman, crossing the river on the ice; they both +approached the spot where I stood; the youth holding his hand towards +me, in a manner which denoted confidence and friendship. Though +actually shivering with cold, his countenance seemed to beam with joy +and animation, and pointing my attention to the comely girl, at his +side, he exclaimed, whilst his dark eyes sparkled with triumph, "Now +she is mine, for I have fairly won her in battle!" and at the same +moment he cast a glance at two bloody scalps, which hung suspended +from his ram-rod. I now recognised the mysterious young man, who had +visited the fort in October; but his manner and appearance were +altogether changed. His step was now buoyant and elastic, and in place +of the gloomy silence and mental agony which marked his previous +deportment, he was now gay and talkative, indulging in the light laugh +and ready jest. Being anxious to know something of his story, I +invited the lover and his young Indian maiden into the fort, an +invitation which they readily accepted. After a hearty meal, and a few +whiffs of the pipe, the warrior swain, drawing his Indian beauty +closer to his side, and assuming as much gravity of feature, as his +thrilling sensations of happiness would allow, related in a very +circumstantial manner, the following story:-- + +"I have loved this girl," said he, "as far back as I can remember;" +and at the same moment, as he laid his hand on her shining dark hair, +the black eyed damsel of the Prairies rewarded her lover's confession +with a smile of approbation. "I loved her," he continued, "long before +I knew the meaning of love; for when a small boy, I once shot my arrow +at her mother for striking the daughter. I afterwards wondered at +myself for doing so, especially as my father talked to me _angry_, and +said that the girl was no relation of mine. I remember too, when we +played at ball on the ice, if we happened to be opposed in the game, I +would not win from her, though every thing I had was staked. Those +were happy days. In the winter, we made snares for rabbits and foxes, +or climbed to the top of some high hill, and amused ourselves by +rolling the snow down its sides, which, as it rolled, grew bigger and +bigger, until it reached the bottom, where it lay till the warm sun in +the spring melted it away to fog, and raised it again to the clouds. +Even so has it happened to us. We continued to roll down the stream of +life, increasing in size and in love, until now we have reached years +of maturity; and we will continue to love each other, until time +wastes us away like the snow ball, and the Great Spirit takes us up +into his own land. + +"Last summer we were encamped by the side of the chief mountain, and I +saw Sinepaw (the name of the Indian girl,) almost every day. Often +have I wandered from the camp, and hiding myself behind some tree, +have watched the whole day in the hope of seeing her pass that way. If +I could but get a glance at her, I was satisfied, and returned quietly +to the lodge; but if it chanced that she did not make her appearance, +I then sat me down and wept; but during my sleep I was always happy, +for in my dreams I was never separated from her. You know that, +according to the law of our tribe, none but a warrior can dare to +think of a wife; and as I was nothing but a youth, and had never taken +a scalp, I was therefore ashamed to speak even to _Sinepaw_, much less +to her father and mother. One day, whilst preparing to go out to war, +where I panted to perform some exploit which should rank me amongst +our braves and warriors, and entitle me to the privilege of marrying +the girl of my choice, the whole camp was suddenly thrown into an +uproar, and I learned that eight of our women who were gathering wild +turnip in the prairies, had been captured and carried away by the +_Flat-heads_. Sinepaw was one of the eight. A war party, myself among +the number, was immediately despatched in pursuit. We followed for +several days, but we lost the trail of our enemies in the mountains, +and our leader commanded us to return. I thought that my heart would +burst with grief; but as yet I had no trophy in battle, and I dared +not utter a complaint. When I returned to the camp, my heart was very +heavy. I believed that it was dead. I could neither eat, nor sleep, +nor join in the merry song or dance, as it was my custom to do. My +only pleasure was, to climb to the top of the mountain, seat myself on +a bank of snow, and looking to the country of the Flat-heads, pray the +Great Spirit to give me the cunning and courage to recover my lost +Sinepaw. Once when I had remained in that dismal spot three days and +nights, taking neither rest nor food, on the fourth morning the sun +drove away the mist from the mountain, and warmed my veins with its +beams. I fell into a sound sleep, and the Great Spirit came down and +told me to go in pursuit of the _Flat-heads_; that he would take pity +on my grief, and restore Sinepaw to her lover. I awoke from my +pleasant dream: the Great Spirit was gone, but I remembered his words. + +"The next day I started all alone. You saw me when I passed your fort, +and you pitied my distress. For thirty-four days I travelled through +the mountains, before I found the camp of the _Flat-heads_. The Great +Spirit had caused them to place it in the only spot where it was +possible I could ever succeed in recovering Sinepaw. It was just at +the foot of a high rocky cliff, on the banks of the Snake river.[1] On +the top of the cliff, I found a hole in the rock, which served as a +hiding place, and from which I could easily see all that passed in the +camp. For seven long days I kept a constant watch, before I could once +get a glimpse at my girl. At last I saw her, and I thought that my +heart would leap from my mouth. My limbs trembled so violently, that I +could not stand, and the tears gushed from my eyes, causing the +prairie beneath me to look like a vast lake, whose waves were +troubled. Soon, however, I brushed away my tears, the lake +disappeared--and I again beheld the camp, and Sinepaw standing in the +same spot. She was employed in harnessing two dogs for the purpose of +assisting the squaws to haul wood from a little island in the middle +of the river. She did not return until nearly sun-set; but when she +did, I was lucky enough to see the lodge into which she went. I +examined that lodge particularly, and all the others around it, so +that I should know it again. When it was dark, I spoke to the Great +Spirit; told him he promised I should have my Sinepaw again, and +begged him not to deceive me. I resolved to carry her off that night, +or leave my scalp to be danced in the camp of the Flat-heads!! + +[Footnote 1: A small stream that falls into the Columbia.] + +"The night was very dark and stormy; the wind mourned around the top +of the cliff, and the snow flakes whirling through the air, seemed to +me like so many ghosts. Three ravens fluttered up the side of the +rock, and lighting on a stunted pine, which grew near my place of +retreat, uttered a dismal scream, as if scenting for something to eat, +and waiting to feast on my carcass. Beneath me lay a thousand enemies, +who would in a moment have cut me into pieces, and given my body to +their dogs. My teeth chattered with cold and fear, and I felt like a +woman. The cliff was steep and overhung with shelving rocks. It was so +dark that I could not see my hand before me; and if I made one false +step, I should be dashed to pieces among the rocks, and Sinepaw would +remain a slave among my enemies. When my courage was about to expire, +this horrid thought revived it, and I immediately commenced sliding +down the cliff, holding on the points of the rocks, and grasping the +pine bushes which grew in my course. Several times my foot-hold +crumbled beneath me, and I fell from rock to rock, but there was +always something to stop my descent and prevent my destruction. At +length I reached the bottom, and stood on the level prairie. The camp +was but a short distance from me, and I walked towards it slowly and +cautiously. Every thing was solemn and silent, and the stillness was +only broke by the hollow wind whistling through the prairie glass, or +by the howl of some dog who could find no shelter from the storm. When +I entered the camp, I drew my robe over my head, and boldly stepped +forward. Several young men were standing near the different lodges, +perhaps to get a sly look at their sweethearts, but they took no +notice of me. Once I thought that a dog, belonging to the camp, would +have ruined me: he made for the spot where I was, snapping and +barking, and running around me several times; but, luckily, an old +squaw came from a lodge hard by, and drove him off. No doubt the Great +Spirit sent her, for had it been a man, he would have come towards me, +and spoken, and all would have been lost. + +"When I came to the lodge I was seeking, I knew it by a large white +wolf skin, which hung on a pole at the door. I stood a few moments, +and prayed the Great Spirit to pity me, then ventured to raise the +skin and look into the lodge. A small fire which was burning in the +centre, cast a pale and sickly light all around me, and I saw that all +who were there, were asleep. Several times I tried to go in, but as +often felt as if something was pulling me back; but looking around and +beholding nothing, I knew it was the evil spirit, so I raised the skin +once more, boldly stepped forward, and stood in the same lodge with +Sinepaw. My heart beat so loud, I thought it would wake all the +sleepers. At the first glance, I knew it was the lodge of a chief, for +over the spot where he lay, hung his medicine bag, his bow and arrows, +and immediately under them, two scalps of my own nation. At the sight +of the scalps I drew my knife, intending to kill him, but I thought of +Sinepaw and stopped. Where was she? Fifteen men and women lay sleeping +on the ground, and all so wrapped in their robes, that I could not +distinguish them; so I drew my own robe over my face, and sat down to +listen to their breathing, for I knew there was music in the breath of +Sinepaw, different from that of all other women. I was not deceived: I +found that she lay just behind me: so I turned and took the robe from +her face. She still slept; a tear was glistening on her eyelash, and +her cheek was thin and pale. She murmured something which I could not +hear, but, stooping down, I kissed away the tear, which was even +sweeter than the blood of my brother's murderer, which I had tasted. +She opened her eyes, looked up, and saw me, but thought it was a +dream. She looked again, and when she saw that it was really me, she +would have screamed, but I laid my hand on her mouth, and whispered in +her ear, 'Rise, let us fly from the camp!' She gazed wildly around the +lodge, and seemed as if her senses would fly from her. At length I +raised her up, and led her to the door, but she stopped and turned my +face to the light, as if to be assured that it was me. She hesitated +no longer: we both sprung from the lodge, and Sinepaw threw her arms +around me! + +"Oh, my friend!" exclaimed the impassioned lover, addressing himself +to me, whilst his eyes sparkled with extraordinary brilliancy, "at +that moment I looked around on the camp, and laughed at all its +dangers. I felt as if I should not fear to meet a hundred enemies. It +was the first time that Sinepaw ever embraced me, and it kindled a +feeling, such as I shall never experience again. I believe when I am +dead and mouldered into dust, the parts of my body which her arms +encircled, will never be corrupted. + +"A number of horses stood tied around the lodge, and Sinepaw cut loose +the cords of two of the best, which we quickly mounted. I drew my bow +and arrows, and rode slowly forward, making as little noise as +possible; but a young man soon discovered us, and gave the alarm! +Laying whip to our horses, we soon cleared the camp, dashed down the +bank, and crossed the river on the ice; but the uproar which we heard +behind us, and the thundering of horses' feet over the frozen prairie, +too plainly told that we were closely pursued. The storm continued to +roar, and the darkness was greater than ever. Sometimes I heard a shot +behind us, and a hundred voices calling out loudly to each other; but +we still kept on our way, at the full speed of our steeds, and in +about two hours from the time we started, the tempest had spent its +rage, and daylight began to dawn. At sun-rise I rode to the top of a +hill, in order to survey the country and the better to shape my +course, when I spied two _Flat-heads_ on horseback, not far to my +right, who, seeing me also, raised a shout of triumph, and immediately +rushed forward in pursuit. I knew it was in vain to fly; our horses +were already weary and faint, and could hold out no longer. I made +signs to Sinepaw to come to the top of the hill, when seizing her +horse by the rein, I sheathed my knife blade in his throat, and dealt +the same fatal blow at my own. Their lifeblood gushed as a spring, and +as they staggered and fell, I placed their bodies around us, to form +an entrenchment for defence. + +"The warriors soon rode up, and discharged their guns, but their balls +fell harmless, or lodged in the carcases which protected us. They +fired again and again, but I still lay motionless, for as I had but +nine arrows left, I had not one to throw away. At last they began to +conclude that I had no arms, and they ventured to ride still nearer. I +heard the trampling of their horses a few steps off; my bow and arrows +were prepared, and I raised my head, but withdrew it as quick as +lightning. They fired at once, but their fire came too late: I sprang +upon my feet, and before the _Flat-heads_ could either reload or +retreat, I sent two arrows through the body of one, and one through +the head of the other. They attempted to fly, but both were brought to +the ground. I raised the war whoop of the Spotted Eagle, and rushing +down the side of the hill, I secured their scalps and guns. Here they +are!" he exclaimed, exhibiting his spoils in triumph; "who can now say +that the White Antelope is not a warrior, or who can refuse him his +daughter as a wife?" + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +_Mr. White_,--The following spirited lines, evidently composed on some +occasion of serious import, together with a gold ring broken into +several fragments, were accidentally found in my neighborhood about +two years ago, enveloped in a neatly folded sheet of letter paper, +without date, seal, or superscription. I send you a copy of them, +hoping that by the aid of your very good "Messenger" they may meet the +eye of poor "Corydon" again, or if you please, that of his "faithless +one." Should you deem them worthy of publication, they are now at your +service. Yours, respectfully, + +AGRICOLA. + +_Albemarle, March 25, 1835_. + + +THE LAST GIFT. + + When I sit musing on the chequered past, + (A term much darken'd with untimely woes,) + My thoughts revert to her, for whom still flows + The tear, tho' half disown'd, and binding fast + Pride's stubborn cheat to my too yielding heart; + I say to her she robbed me of my rest, + When that was all my wealth. 'Tis true my breast + Received from her this wearying, lingering smart, + Yet, ah! I cannot bid her form depart: + Tho' wrong'd, I love her--yet in anger love; + For _she was most unworthy_. Now I prove + Vindictive joy; and on my stern front gleams + The native pride of my much injured heart.--_H. K. White_. + + + I said to Love's accursed art, + Behold this broken ring! + Thus thou hast broke the bruised heart, + As 'twere some worthless thing. + But tho' it bleed at every pore, + Crush'd by the reckless blow, + My spirit still shall triumph o'er + The tide of wo. + I said to Friendship's lifted hand, + Smite on--my bosom's bare-- + Deep didst thou plunge the fatal brand, + And left it rankling there. + But still there throbs within these veins, + The spirit's manliness, + That scorns, amid its keenest pains, + To seek redress. + I said to Treachery's cunning dame, + Come on--I dread thee not; + Thou may'st pursue me till my name + And being are forgot. + But still my spirit ne'er shall weep, + Tho' driv'n to Ocean's farthest Isle, + I'd rather brave the angry deep, + Than thy _cold smile_. + I said to Mammon's golden store, + Shine on--thou art but dust; + I covet not thy worthless ore, + Tho' by Misfortune crush'd. + For deep within this bosom's shrine, + There lives a spirit still, + (More costly far than wealth of thine,) + Thou canst not kill. + I said to Earth's unstable ball, + Roll on--it matters not; + A few more suns will rise and fall, + And I shall be forgot. + But still the spirit in its bloom, + Tho' oft by sorrow curs'd, + Shall yet from thy sepulch'ral gloom + With rapture burst. + I said to Her, the faithless one, + Who vow'd to love me best, + Smile on--thy friendship I disown, + And spurn thee from my breast. + But still the spirit thou hast crush'd, + The secret ne'er shall tell, + And tho' thou tread it in the dust, + 'Twill say--FAREWELL. + I said to Him, the mighty Lord, + Who reigns above the sky, + And governs by his sovereign word, + Man's darkest destiny,-- + Father, I kiss thy chastening rod, + In love I know 'twas given, + For while it smites me 'neath the sod, + It points to Heaven. + +CORYDON. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +APOSTROPHE + +Of the Æolian Harp to the Wind. + + + "Wind of the dark blue mountains, + Thou dost but sweep my strings, + Into wild gusts of mournfulness, + With the rushing of thy wings. + + When the gale is freshly blowing + My notes responsive swell, + And over music's power, + Their triumphs seem to tell. + + But when the breeze is sighing, + Then comes 'a dying fall,' + Less--less indeed exalting, + But sweeter far than all. + + It sighs, like hapless mortals, + For youthful pleasures fled, + For hopes and friends once cherished, + Now mingled with the dead. + + And oh! how sweetly touching, + Is the sad and plaintive strain, + Recalling former pleasures, + That ne'er can live again. + + Once more thy breezes freshen, + And sweep the Æolian strings, + And again their notes are swelling, + With the rushing of thy wings. + + They seem to cheer the drooping, + To bid the wretched live, + And with their sounds ecstatic, + His withering hopes revive." + + Alas! and in life's drama, + Howe'er we play our part, + Hope is forever breathing, + On the Lyre of the Heart. + + Hope is forever touching + Some chord that vibrates there, + While bitter disappointment + Mars the delusive air. + + Alternate joys and sorrows, + Obedient to her call, + Now breathe a strain that's flatt'ring, + And now "a dying fall." + + Yet how unlike the measures + Of the sweet Æolian string! + These soothe the heart that's wounded, + Those plant a deeper sting. + + Then wind of the dark blue mountains, + Still sweep these trembling strings + Into sweet strains of mournfulness, + With the flutter of thy wings. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +ENGLISH POETRY. + +CHAP. I. + + +"Every modification of a society, at all lettered, works out for +itself a correspondent literature, bearing the stamp of its character +and exhibiting all its peculiarities."[1] + +[Footnote 1: Sir J. Mackintosh's History of England, vol. I.] + +It is thus that we see among the simple progenitors of a now polished +race, a simplicity of literature in extreme accordance with their rude +and unsophisticated manners. Yet when I speak of a rude literature, I +am not to be understood as implying want of merit. On the contrary, +the unpruned freedom of thought and unextinguished fire of feeling, so +essential to true poetry, are chiefly to be found among a people +martial and but little cultivated. Nor is this all; we often discover +a beautiful tenderness, breathing of the primeval simplicity in which +it has been nurtured. The dangers and hardships of severe employment, +were sometimes forgotten in intervals of rest, and at such times, love +ditties were made and sung. All natural beauties--the mountain--the +waters of the valley--the dingle--the mossy wood, peopled by its +vagabond essences and strange spirits--were inexhaustible food for +poetry. This love of gentleness was the stronger for its contrast with +the tone of feeling which preceded it. There are many instances of +"the soft" to be found amongst the mutilated scraps and scattered +records remaining to us from the numerous races usually called +Barbarians. Montaigne somewhere quotes an original Caribbean song, +which he pronounces worthy of Anacreon: + +"Oh, snake stay; stay, O snake, that my sister may draw from the +pattern of thy painted skin, the fashion and work of a rich riband +which I mean to present to my mistress: so may thy beauty and thy +disposition be preferred to those of all other serpents. Oh, snake +stay!" + +If this had been the song of a Peruvian or a Chilian, it would have +been less singular. As it is, it was probably sung by a savage Carib +in a moment of that rest, of which I have spoken as the season for +"love ditties." + +The curious student who searches into the authorities of our +historians, will find that they are chiefly made up of legends +imbodied in the songs of coeval bards and minstrels. This was the +source of historical knowledge to the Danish writers, more than to +those of any other country; indeed the scald was as well a chronicler +as a singer. Nor is this historical foundation to be despised. Those +who sung were most frequently eye witnesses of the occurrences +celebrated in their songs. Men in those early ages had not so +thoroughly learned the art of misrepresentation. Manly openness was a +virtue: cunning was scarcely known in action or narration: or, if +known, despised. Consequently we find that in many or all cases where +other proofs are to be had, the legends of the bards are +substantiated.--The chief source of our information with regard to the +Saxon rule in the island of Great Britain, is the Saxon Chronicle--a +kind of journal or annual, kept by the monks of early ages. This +extends considerably beyond the era of the conquest, and is often spun +into verse. Indeed the first instance of the use of rhyme in the Saxon +tongue, is to be found in this chronicle--I will not however +anticipate my subject by quoting the lines in this place. + +The materials with which English antiquaries build up their historical +creeds, are so slender, that the very existence of the minstrel, as +distinct from the poet, prior to William's coming, has been matter of +controversy.--After close examination, I am inclined to side with +those who maintain that minstrelsey--like the feudal system--was no +more than improved by the Normans; that it had accompanied the Saxons +from Germany. + +We are told that, Colgrin, a Saxon prince, gained access to his +brother Baldulph, while the latter defended York against Arthur and +his Britons, by disguising himself as a harper.[2] Likewise that the +great Alfred stole forth in the same disguise from the Isle of +Athelney--whither Guthrun the Dane had driven him--and that in such +plight he entered the enemy's quarters unhindered. Another story of +the same nature is told us of Anlaff, a Danish chief, who explored the +camp of king Athelstane.[3] The learned bishop of Dromore, after +quoting these several stories at full length, remarks: "Now if the +Saxons had not been accustomed to have minstrels of their own, +Alfred's assuming so new and unusual a character would have excited +suspicions among the Danes. On the other hand, if it had not been +customary with the Saxons to shew favor and respect to the Danish +scalds, Anlaff would not have ventured himself among them, especially +on the eve of a battle. From the uniform procedure then of both these +kings, we may fairly conclude that the same mode of entertainment +prevailed among both people, and that the minstrel was a privileged +character with each." + +[Footnote 2: Geoffrey of Monmouth.] + +[Footnote 3: Vide Rapin.] + +This proves, to me, that a plant from the same root whence sprung the +Danish scald, grew and flourished in England. This idea is farther +strengthened by the fact that Saxons and Danes were of one and the +same origin--both swarms from the same northern hive--and that the +scald retained by the Danes[4] was an important personage among the +Teutonic tribes; and nothing can be more natural than for men to recur +to the customs and usages of their parent-land. + +[Footnote 4: Sir W. Temple.] + +It seems therefore that minstrels constituted a privileged race among +the Saxons. Yet poetry was not meanwhile confined to their vocal +performances. Alfred himself was the author of several written pieces +of considerable merit. Among other ballads, one descriptive of the +battle of Brunnenburgh, is still extant. This battle--fought between +Athelstane and a confederacy of Danes and rebel Britons--was well +drawn in the original, and has been translated by a school boy at Eton +with unrivalled beauty and truth.[5] + +[Footnote 5: Frere.] + +Song was used likewise on the field of battle. Many instances of this +are on record, but I shall select no more than one for the sake of +proof. + +When Harold the last Saxon king, drew up his army against the combined +forces of Tostigg--his rebel brother--and Harold Hardrada, the +Norwegian king, Tostigg rode out upon a hillock, and _after the +fashion of the day_, began a war-chaunt. While thus engaged, a herald +came from Harold, his brother, greeting him, and offering +reconciliation. "The dukedom of Northumberland shall be given thee," +said the herald. "And what reward has he for my friend and ally?" +replied the haughty rebel. "Seven feet of English ground, or as men +call him a giant, perhaps eight." And the herald finding his attempt +at reconciliation futile, put spurs to his horse. Tostigg rode +backward and forward, tossing his bare sword into the air and catching +it as it fell. Meanwhile his brother's archers came within bow-shot, +and their arrows whistled from the string. Tostigg fought beside his +ally, in a blue tunic and shining helmet. He was yet chanting to his +army, when a shaft pierced his throat and ended song and life +together. + +Thus do we see that poetry existed in three shapes; in the songs of a +privileged order, called by the various names of _joculator_, +_minstrel_, &c. &c.; in writing; and in the martial chaunts of heroes +"bowne for battelle."--And what were the subjects of these several +species of poetry? The last explains itself. The first two were +probably on martial topics; so we may infer at least from the +specimens which have reached us, and from the situation of England, +even for centuries after its union under Egbert. Swept by the repeated +inroads of the Danes--harassed and ground by the never-ending feuds of +the great nobles, "ye might (in the strong words of an old historian,) +as well plough the sea."--Thus with warlike customs--the last half of +Sir J. Mackintosh's remark, quoted in the beginning of this paper, +being at all times a consequent on the first--literature grew up in +more harsh strength than graceful beauty. Society was little better +than a confederacy for joint defence against watchful foes. The air +was redolent of strife and contention. The "clash of armor and the +rush of multitudes," mingling _minaci murmure cornuum_, were imitated +on the harp's string, and enthusiastic damsels sung the deeds of their +lovers, or so far forgot the more tender affection which would prefer +the life of its object, to that object's death and after-honor, as to +mingle the _io triumphe_ with the burial song; thus giving way to the +fierce joy, which weakness, when excited by thoughts of great deeds +denied itself, conjures up--the _gaudia certaminis_, ever strongest in +the weakest. I have already remarked, that "during intervals of rest, +love ditties were sung." We have remnants enough to know that the +Saxon poets were not forgetful of all gentler feeling, though these +too were most often mingled with alloy. There were not wanting those +willing and eager to embalm the names of the beautiful and great. +There were not wanting bards to sing of the _loves_ of these. + +Elgiva, who drew her royal lover from the board where his nobles, and +the sage Dunstan, had met to do him honor. Editha, the lady of the +swan-neck, who recognised the body of Harold though mangled and +disfigured wofully "for that her eyes were strong with love." These +have had their good qualities and misfortunes immortalized by men, +who, in the pauses of the bitterest strife, turned to admire beauty +and unyielding affection, and to lament the evils brought upon +innocent heads. + +They sung too of Elfrida, who stabbed young Alfred while feasting in +Corfe-castle--a deed "than which no worse had been committed among the +people of the Angles, since they first came to the land of Britain." +And in this we perceive the alloy, as in their praise of the masculine +Ethelflida, "the lady of Mercia," daughter of the great Alfred. + +I have barely glanced over the Saxon literature from the middle of the +fifth century, to that of the eleventh, without entering into a +careful and accurate detail of the changes which must have occurred, +and which probably by a closer examination than I have thought +needful, might be spread open. One great change occurred about the end +of the eighth century. Egbert--Bretwalda, or king of Wessex, one of +the seven principalities forming the Heptarchy--long lived at the +court of Charlemagne, then the most polished court west of Italy. He +united the seven petty kingdoms into one, and as their single head, +had an opportunity of using effectually the information gathered +abroad. + +Several additions were made to this, but the one most worthy notice, +was more than two centuries after. Edward the confessor, passed +twenty-seven years, from boyhood to middle age, at the court of Rouen; +indeed (according to Ingulphus,) + + "Paene in Gallicam transierat." + +He therefore added to the polish, introduced by his predecessor, +though at so late an hour that the change for the better was scarcely +perceptible, before it merged in the more important one, introduced by +the Norman invasion. + +I now proceed to an examination of poetry through ages of comparative +light. Although from the gradual intercourse between the two nations +prior to their amalgamation, no alteration of feeling or manners had +taken place, extensive enough to mark the "conquest" as a grand and +important era in the history of national customs, still many and +subtle changes were produced, bearing in no small degree upon the +subject before us. + +The poetry of the Saxons was without rhyme, and the author of "an +essay on Chaucer," says, "without metre." The learned antiquary must +have attached a meaning to the word _metre_, wholly at variance with +that now and usually received. Metre (from the Greek [Greek: metron] +and Latin _metrum_) has several meanings, but scarcely distinct ones: +all may be included in that of 'an harmonious disposition of words.' +It is not enough to say that it differed from prose in being the +language of passion. The general rules by which we judge poetry, are +immutable, and equally applicable to that of Greeks, Saxons, and +modern English. Dr. Blair and his authorities, define poetry to be +"the language of passion metrically arranged," (I quote from memory) +and supported so ably, I will not consent to a halving of the +definition. The before mentioned Essayist on Chaucer, adduces the +"vision of Pierce Ploughman" as a specimen of the Saxon style of +poetry. And herein it becomes evident that he mistakes the meaning of +the word _metre_. For those old lines, composed about the middle of +the fourteenth century, are, notwithstanding the ancient mode of +writing without breaks or division into lines, beyond doubt capable of +being arranged in separate and distinct verses. I am not without +support in the opinion here given; Dr. Hickes[6] maintains that the +Saxons observed syllabic quantities "though perhaps not so strictly as +the Greek and Latin heroic poets." It may be asked how this comes to +be at all a question, since monuments of Saxon poetry still remain by +which we can judge. But it is no such easy matter to judge correctly. +Syllables were accented much at the whim of the versifyer; so much so +that general rules for the disposition of accent are little less than +useless. Add to this the common custom, before mentioned, of writing +poetry and prose alike; and when we remember that the object in view +is to ascertain the number and accentuation of syllables, the wonder +will disappear. + +[Footnote 6: Pref. Sax. Gram.] + +One among the earliest specimens of the use of rhyme in the Island of +Great Britain, is to be found in the Saxon Chronicle. The author says +that he himself had seen the Conqueror, and we may thence infer that +the lines were written in the reign of William Rufus, or at farthest +in that of his brother and successor Henry. It may be as well before +quoting this literary curiosity, to notice a distich in itself +trifling, and only worth noticing as the very earliest specimen of +Saxon Rhyme, on record. + +Aldred, Archbishop of York, threw out two rhyming verses against one +_Urse_, sheriff of Worcestershire, not long after the conquest: + + "_Hatest thou Urse--Have thou God's curse._" + _Vocaris Ursus--Habeas dei maledictionem._ + +William of Malmsbury, who has preserved this precious morsel, says +that he inserts this English, "_quod Latina verba non sicut Anglica +concinnati respondent_." The _concinnity_ I presume consisted in the +rhyme, and would scarcely have been deemed worth repeating if rhyme in +English had not been a rare thing. It is quite apparent that rhyme and +an improved metre were introduced by the Normans, among whom +composition in their own dialect had been long before attempted in +imitation of the jingling Latin rhythm. + +The lines in the Saxon Chronicle to which I have referred, are a +comment upon the changes effected by William. I will set them down in +legible characters. + + Thet he nam he rihte + And mid mycelan un-rihte + He foette mycel deor-frith + And he loegde laga therwith-- + He forbead the heortas + Swylce Eac tha baras; + Swa swithe he lufode the hea-deor + Swylce he waere heora faeder, + Eac he sætte be tham haran, + That hi mosten freo faran.-- + +This may be translated after somewhat the following fashion: "He took +money by right and unright--He made many deer parks and established +laws by which," whosoever slew a hart or a hind was deprived of his +eye-sight--"He forbade men to kill harts or boars, and he loved the +tall deer as if he were their father. He decreed that the brindled +hares should go free." + +In addition to these, Matthew Paris mentions a canticle which 'the +blessed Virgin' was pleased to dictate to Godric, a hermit near +Durham. + +From this time to the reign of Henry II, which began in 1154, we find +no records of rhyming poetry. In that reign, one Layamon, a priest of +Ernleye, near Severn, as he terms himself, translated from the French +of Wace, a fabulous history of the Britons, entitled, "Le Bruit;" +which, Wace himself, about the year 1150, had translated from the +Latin of Geoffrey of Monmouth. This poem is for the most part after +the Old Saxon fashion, without rhyme, except so far as a jingle at +intervals may be so called. We next, if guided by the actual records +of written poetry, are forced to pass over an interval of 100 +years--to the middle of Henry the third's reign. The reasons of this +gap are perhaps these-- + +The[7] scholars of the age affected to write in Latin--which they +called the universal language. The more skilful poets who lived, as is +usual with the race, upon the bounty of the great nobles, out of +compliment to these their Norman benefactors, framed their verse into +the Norman French; while the low and popular singers--then the only +true _English_ poets--left nothing worth preservation. I will pass on +hurriedly through this uninteresting portion of my slight history of +written poetry, to the nearest resting-place, and thence take a back +view of minstrelsy as nourished in the courts of the English Kings, +and principally in that of Richard Coeur de Lion. + +[Footnote 7: The poems of this interval have been translated into the +English of Elizabeth's time, when the rage for gathering scraps of +ballad into "garlands" was at its full. It is, however, impossible to +distinguish them from the numerous pieces, really French--i.e. written +not only in the French language, but in France, bearing similar date, +and translated at the same time. It is impossible to draw hair lines +or any kind of lines between these; or if possible, needs a more +skilful antiquary, than the author of these cacoethes scribendi.] + +In the reign of Henry III, we find that one Orm or Ormin, wrote a +paraphrase of the gospel histories, entitled, Ormulum. Hickes and +Wanley have both given large extracts from this, without discovering +that it was poetry. But a close examination will render evident to any +one, with any ear for metre, that the Ormulum is written very exactly, +in verses of fifteen syllables[8] without rhyme, in imitation of the +most common species of the Latin, tetrameter iambic. Another piece, a +moral poem on old age, bears date about the same reign; it is more +remarkable for a corrupt MS., from which the only print of the poem at +all common, seems to have been taken, than for any thing else. + +[Footnote 8: This metre is the same metre with that of the Modern +Greeks, which Lord Byron tells us, shuffles on to the old tune: A +captain bold of Halifax, &c.] + +The next interval from the end of Henry the third's reign, to the +middle of the fourteenth century, when Chaucer came upon the _dais_, +was filled up with a swarm of 'small poets.' These were principally +translators of popular poems from the Roman or French authors, and +their compositions were thence called _Romances_. They neither +improved on the material before gathered, nor added anything of value +to the store. And so we come to Geoffrey Chaucer--whence, let me recur +to another branch of the subject in hand. + +I have said that minstrels were known among the Saxons before the +conquest, and that these were in high repute at the Saxon courts. That +Alfred himself was a poet, and on one occasion, a minstrel. The +Normans brought with them their harpers and troubadours[9] and the +profession received a great acquisition of strength and honor. Every +Baron had his own joculator, and we find amongst the records of the +Old English families, items of _largesse_ to wandering harpers. Such +were at all seasons welcomed by the feudal nobles--perhaps for the +same reason that our modern aristocrats of Virginia were +hospitable--from a love of news. Minstrels as news-gleaners--often +coming too from the royal court--were a source of entertainment to the +lords, who, immured in their solitary castles among swampy moors, or +perched on hill-tops almost inaccessible to man, seldom heard other +than an enemy at their gates. + +[Footnote 9: Vid. the story of Taillefer--Du Cange.] + +At the court of Henry I,--to whom Sir Walter Scott refers in those +lines of his rambling epistle to George Ellis-- + + "But who shall teach my harp to gain + A sound of the romantic strain, + Whose Anglo-Norman tones whilere + Could win the royal Henry's ear,-- + Famed Beauclerc called, for that he loved, + The minstrel, and his lay approved?" + +Minstrels and minstrelsy were especially favored. + +Beauclerc--the most accomplished monarch of his day, so far as letters +were concerned, became by fellowship of feeling and taste, the patron +of all the caste. The court-fed minions, like the lizard whose color +depends on the species of grass or plant of which it eats, became of +course completely Norman in their feelings. Indeed the greater number +were Normans by birth and education, lured to the English court by the +ever ready bait of patronage; and those that were not, seeing that +these met with favor, imitated them in style and every thing else. The +'_Anglo_' might with propriety have been dropped in Sir Walter's verse +just quoted.[10] + +[Footnote 10: It is a melancholy sight to see so exalted a class of +human beings, whether from necessity or not, forever debasing +themselves into servile dependency. Even Dante, whose lament that he +had to climb another's stair would seem the outbreak of an independent +spirit, could humble himself before a Guido.] + +That the six kings following the conqueror were, with an exception, +completely Norman in their habits and predilections, we may easily +discover in the history of English law, traced back to its foundation +among the very roots of the feudal system. It was against Norman +innovation that the independent Barons of the thirteenth century +arose, and held John Lackland in duress until his name was affixed to +Magna Charta--a paper purporting to restore affairs to the state in +which Edward the Saxon left them. It was this same fondness for French +men and French rules that forced from Henry III a signature to the +same paper,--John having evaded his on plea of compulsion. + +But, although extremely opposed to those principles of freedom which +Hengist and his followers had brought from the woods of Germany, and +which ages after marked England as a great and prosperous nation, +Norman ideas and sentiments were a southern sun to the growth of +poetry and other literature. + +I have mentioned Henry Beauclerc's love for these. After him, in the +struggles of the heroic Maud or Matilda, and in the turbulent reign of +the ill-fated Stephen, neither party had leisure for literary +pursuits. But in the reign of Henry II, love and poetry both received +countenance from that gallant monarch. His amours with Rosamond +Clifford of Woodstock, have been the theme of many a popular ballad. +Richard Coeur de Lion, the knight errant king,[11] and king of knight +errants, invited the most famous of the Provencal bards to his court. +_Ubi mel ibi apes_, and London was soon a theatre crowded with +troubadours warm from the feet of the Pyrenees and banks of the Rhone. +The whispers of the sunny Provencal love-ditty were breathed upon the +rough ballad spirit of an earlier time,--mellowing that spirit, and +adding to its former dauntlessness the gloss of polish and +refinement.--Richard was himself a troubadour; and though at the +present day his deeds of verse would damn a schoolboy, they were then +thought worthy of being coupled with his deeds in arms. + +[Footnote 11: Richard was truly a king _errant_,--for he spent +scarcely one out of the ten years of his reign, in England.] + +Many romantic traditions have been handed down to us of that +adventurous monarch and Blondel de Nesle, his favorite minstrel. We +read in the records of our ancient chroniclers, a simple tale of the +latter's long pilgrimage in search of the captive king his master. How +Blondel came one evening as the sun went down among the hills of the +Rhine, to the solitary castle of Trifels, where the monarch lay in a +damp cold dungeon. How he seated himself at the dungeon grate, and +taking his harp from his shoulder, began a song which Richard and he +had made together in Palestine; and how the overjoyed king took up the +words as they reached his ear, and chanted to the top of his full +voice in answer. And farthermore, how Blondel returned to England, and +went 'shoonless and unhooded' through all parts of the land, until the +captive's loyal subjects were aroused; and until the great ransom was +gathered together by which those subjects bought his freedom. Many +such stories are told of the time of the chivalric Richard; and the +devoted fidelity of his dependents will ever be a bright spot on the +page of that history into which their names have stolen, and through +which they are now receiving--reward dearest to noble +spirits,--virtuous and stainless renown. + +In the reign of John Lackland, the minstrels were the means of saving +the life and fortunes of an Earl of Chester, by stirring up the +rabble, who had gathered to a fair in the border of Wales, to go to +his rescue. This they did under one Dutton, at sight of whom and his +followers, the Welsh besiegers retired from before the Earl's castle. + +In the time of Edward I, "a _multitude_ of minstrels attended at the +knighting of his son." + +Under the reign of Edward II, such privileges were claimed by this +class, that it became necessary to restrain them by a particular +statute. Yet notwithstanding this, towards the latter part of this +reign, we find that the minstrels still retained the liberty of +entrance at will into the royal presence, and were still remarkable +for splendor of dress. + +During the short rule of Richard II, John of Gaunt instituted a court +of minstrels at Tutbury in Staffordshire. They had a charter, +empowering them variously, and bestowing _inter alia_ the right of +appointing "a king of the minstrels with four subordinate officers." + +Under the usurper Bolingbroke--Henry the Fourth--the profession +maintained its dignity and importance, and met with favor from king +and noble, notwithstanding the contempt of the stuttering Hotspur. + + I had rather be a kitten and cry--mew, + Than one of these same metre ballad mongers; + I had rather hear a brazen canstick turned + Or a dry wheel grate on an axletree, Etc. + +Alcibiades cried down lute playing--because, though he excelled his +comrades in beauty, eloquence, and gallantry, in this one little thing +his skill failed him. Percy "spoke thick" and so song did not suit +him. Even as late as Henry VIII, we find minstrels attached in +licensed capacities, to the households of the great nobles. But the +profession was fast sinking into disrepute; and in the great +entertainment at Kenilworth Castle in 1575, a caricature copy of the +old minstrel appeared among the sources of amusement prepared by the +gallant Leicester for his royal mistress. + +Thus had the profession completed a circle, and, in name at least, +returned to its primitive state. Centuries before among the Saxons the +singer was called _mimus_, _joculator_, _histrio_, indiscriminately. +And though these words, like _parasite_, _demagogue_, _tyrant_, +_sophist_ and others, bore a respectable meaning at the period of +their first use, the minstrel in the course of time adapted himself to +the meaning which time and change had given them, and in the reign of +Elizabeth had become a mere '_jester_.' He turned the circle and went +back to the titles of his progenitors, adding to the ignominy of those +titles by wearing them. An act was at length passed, in the +thirty-ninth year of the queen just mentioned, classing "all wandering +minstrels, with rogues, vagabonds and sturdy beggars," and ordering +them to be punished as such. From this severe judgment, however, +those, attached by peculiar circumstances to the house of that Dutton +spoken of above as the preserver of Ranulph the last Earl of Chester, +were particularly excepted. This statute was the death blow to the few +remnants of the genuine old minstrelsy. + +I can now proceed undividedly in tracing out my slight sketch of +English classic poets and written poetry. + +Before I end this chapter, however, let me make a few remarks upon the +spirit prevalent among the English after the conquest. + +In the scrap of Saxon poetry quoted above, the reader will perceive +that the chronicler mentions William's severe restrictions upon the +exercise of woodcraft in the wide waste lands of the escheated manors. +Following the same lines farther, we find in the old chronicle the +winding up words, which I will translate from the original. After +remarking that "he forbade men to kill harts or boars," the chronicler +adds, "Rich men bemoaned it and poor men shuddered at it. But he was +so stern and hot that he recked not the hatred of them all." + +In consequence of these laws, Robinhoods and Littlejohns gathered in +the matted thickets, and among the oak glades on the banks of every +obscure lake and river, from the Thames to the Tweed. There was +something alluring in the romantic life of an outlawed forester, and +many a tall deer and bristling boar, died on the 'green shawe,' +against whom that law, intended as a shield, pointed the arrow. + +Thus sprung up a race of men of whom the ballad makers delighted to +sing--coupling their names with 'Hereward the hardy outlaw' and the +patriot heroes of the ground and trampled Saxons. + +That the introduction of Norman manners brought with it more +softness--a fact mentioned more than once--we may discover by +comparing the productions of those bards who in the same age, sung in +the rugged north country, and those who grew up in Kent and on the +Thames. These latter were for years before the Norman's coming, +receiving polish from their neighborhood, while those of +Northumberland retained much of their early rudeness ages after. The +bard who sings of the reyde on which + + "The Perse out off Northumberland" + +went to be killed among the Cheviot hills, has more roughness as well +as more strength than any of his compeers on the Thames. This old poem +is an important stone in the temple of English literature, and I will +treat of it in due season, as coming within the pale of English +classic poetry. This polish and increased softness introduced by the +Normans, opened the eyes and ears of all to "the soother and +honeyeder" style of poetry. And, indeed, unless Lord Bacon's +remark,--that verse is a better balm than any the Egyptians knew, "for +that it not only preserveth the stateliness of the form and the color +of the face--which the Egyptian preservative doth not--but giveth to +the one tenfold stateliness and borroweth from the rose for the +other,"--be true, their women were passing stately and very beautiful. +There were the three Mauds, all queens and all heroines. There was the +proud yet "fair Rosamond," who forgot her pride in the arms of a royal +lover; and many another fitting sharer in immortality with the Elgivas +and Ediths of an earlier time. + +Superstition too gave a tinge to poetry.--The Druids had left their +foot marks upon the soil, and the ancient rites and feelings cherished +in Wales--the last place of refuge for the injured Britons--still held +an undefined influence over the hearts of their neighbors. This +feeling blazed out for awhile, when the partisans of Henry slew Thomas +a-Becket, the "child of love and wonder,"[12] before the altar of St. +Bennet. And the murdered Archbishop was doubly canonized, in the holy +ritual of Rome, and in the songs of those whom his death had made +worshippers. + +[Footnote 12: Sir J. Mackintosh tells an odd romance of the mother of +the celebrated Archbishop, whom he calls the "child of love and +wonder."] + +But the greatest characteristic of the ballad, as used among the +Norman successors to the Saxons in England, was a love for the +legendary. Britagne--that country lying between the Loire and the +Seine, had been peopled by a body of British emigrants about the time +of the Saxon invasion under Hengist, and these calling themselves +_Armoricans_, settled quietly down in a strange land. They retained +many of their old British feelings, and when in the course of time +they became nearly amalgamated with their Norman neighbors, and +followed them into England, the old love of country revived and they +sung of King[13] Arthur and his knights as champions of their +forefathers. The strange legends of the early contests between Angles +and Britons, were mere clews to the discovery of a thousand others, +wholly unfounded in truth, yet none the less palatable to the +ignorant. This love of the legendary remains to this day among the +descendants of these people, and will, perhaps, never be obliterated. + +[Footnote 13: "The words _Konung_, _Kyning_, _King_, _Kong_, _Koenig_, +and others like them in the Teutonic languages, denoted every sort of +command from the highest to that of a very narrow extent. It would be +a gross fallacy to understand these words in their modern sense, when +we meet them in Anglo-Saxon history."] + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +MR. WHITE,--I offer a very threadbare excuse for the publication of +the following verses. They are published "at the request of a friend," +for whom, indeed, they were written. You have accused me of obscurity, +and to prevent a repetition of your censure, I will here add a scrap +of explanation. "The Last Indian" is something of a Salathiel; he has +survived his whole race. Stanza VI, refers to the Aztecs and other +tribes long ago extinct, and supposed to have lived once upon a time, +among the higher valleys east and west of the Mississippi. A second +and more hardy people, referred to in stanza V, perhaps drove the +Aztecs, as the Huns drove the Goths, southward, upon the rich regions +of Mexico. These dead Mexican tribes are described on their +return--led by a kind of _amor patriæ_ instinct--to their early homes +in the north. + +Before ending this scrawl, I would correct an error into which you +have fallen with regard to my signature. "Zarry Zyle" should be + +LARRY LYLE. + + +THE LAST INDIAN. + + Once more, and yet once more, + I give unto my harp a midnight-woven lay; + --I heard the ebon waters roar, + I heard the flood of ages pass away.--_Kirke White_. + + +I. + + I slept beneath a tree one Summer eve, + My couch a bed of blossom-beaded thyme, + My roof the bough which spirit fingers weave, + My slumber-song a brooklet's mellow chime: + I dreamed--and far away thro' space and time, + My liberated spirit joyfully + Forth went--a pioneer well skilled to climb + The cloudy crags and cliffs of mystery. + I dreamed--I speak my dream; and canst thou read it me? + +II. + + On the jagg'd summit of a mountain range, + More azure than the blue sky, sternly stood-- + Like Sathanas of old--a wanderer strange, + Drinking deep grief, as one who meets the flood + Of bitterness in some parched solitude; + Before him spread, in undulations vast, + A Prairie sea, all isled with rock and wood; + And young winds closed their wings above its breast, + As faint bees close their wings when Summer days have passed. + +III. + + The Sun had come--a weary traveller-- + Up o'er the hills of ether, for methought + 'Twas many thousand years since Lucifer + Fell from his glory, and, with trial fraught + And leaden labor, Time had weakness brought + To Sun and Moon. Men saw the Sun upcome, + And marvelled at its lustre: Sages sought + That lustre's source, and said "at point of doom + Mysterious fires full oft the closing eye illume." + +IV. + + Methought a change came o'er the face of earth; + Hill, plain, and hollow shook as with the throe + Of mortal agony. The mountain girth + Shrunk, heaved, then burst asunder. In mad flow + The waters of great lakes foamed, battling through + Far scattered crags; and mighty rocks, down hurled + From mountain tops, laid bare the volcano-- + The great volcano! and its flame unfurled, + Streamed redly, wrathfully, above the reeling world. + +V. + + A voice went forth, far louder than the roar + Of bounding rivers; and the summons broke + The deep sleep of earth's dead. Each burial shore + And tree-robed mound in groaning travail shook, + And giant skeletons from death awoke. + Barbarians seemed they, armed with spear and bow; + And thro' their ribs as thro' the winter oak + Winds whistled; while from bone lips evermo' + Uptrembled hollowly, horn murmurs, faint and low. + +VI. + + And, from the charnel valleys of the South, + A multitude, vast, vast beyond compare, + Moved darkly onward. Song and shout uncouth, + Betokened their wild joy; while on the air, + Forgotten instruments breathed music rare-- + Sweet unknown tunes, as soft as hymn of rills. + The Mammoth and the Mastodon were there, + All yoked;--and then I heard far-groaning wheels: + The tomb had gaped--the dead tribes sought their early hills! + +VII. + + Amid the groan and rumbling heave of earth, + And noise of waters, came each silver tone. + But ere my wonder ceased, a storm had birth, + And rattling thunder mingled with the moan + And sob of nature. O'er car--skeleton-- + A cloud-veil passed and hid them from my sight; + While o'er that cloud, far on a mountain throne, + A city rocked--illumined by the light + Of its own burning towers--fit type of frail man's might! + +VIII. + + And then the Sun waxed dim. The red Moon rode + Above the trembling nations, with an eye + Of wrath and anguish, and a brow of blood-- + While one by one, afar, in the dun sky + The stars went out, as dew-drops, when winds sigh, + From grass and flower and thin leaf disappear. + Then no man saw the Sun! but still on high + The great Moon rode; and, ever redly clear, + Glared thro' thick fog and mist, till men grew dumb with fear. + +IX. + + The wanderer looked forth tremblingly, and lo! + A wide winged Eagle on the darkness came. + Her brood had died,--all died! and wild with wo + And reckless wrath, that terror might not tame-- + Chasing the swart cloud from her eye of flame-- + She sought the summit of that lonely peak. + She saw the Red Man, and with joyous scream, + Claimed fellowship; but to her iron beak + A single death-flash leapt, and wreathed her scornful neck. + +X. + + Innumerable mounds belched lurid streams, + And poured, in hot black showers, the cinder-rain; + I gazed and saw, as high the forked gleams + Sprang piercingly thro' volumed smoke again, + Earth's wan-faced myriads. From the Ocean-plain + Her living tribes had flown, to seek the light + And safety of that adamantine chain, + In shivering crowds; and wildered with affright, + They toiled in throngs to reach the mountain's farthest height. + +XI. + + And one, more daring, stood upon the brink + Of a volcano,--and his scathed hand raised, + Dripping with hissing lava. Some would shrink; + And many called on God; while some, amazed, + Stood statuelike: and some in madness seized + With Vampyre tooth, and laid their full veins bare. + And one--a blue-eyed maiden--upward gazed + In speechless wo, while gleamed her long fair hair + And ghastly cheek, beneath that flame's unearthly glare. + +XII. + + Methought, pale girl, that thou wert of the line + Of her I loved; and tears flowed full and fast, + To see a form so beautiful as thine + In the Volcano's death-light. This soon passed! + Again with strength I heard and saw. A blast + From unseen horn, rang wildly o'er the herd + Of dead and living men: The myriad vast + Wailed moaningly when each the strange blast heard, + And dead and living stood with stony brows upreared. + +XIII. + + Earth heaved anew, and toppling crags fell down + In darkness. Rivers turned and fled the main-- + And galloping--like startled steeds back thrown + By some strong rampart--rushed in fear again + To their far founts, o'erwhelming rock and plain. + The fiend Tornado shrieked and wrung the wood, + Old Earth's scorched locks--until her ory brain + Lay shelterless and bare: while beryl-hued + And bubbling streams, breast, cheek, and cloven brow imbrued. + +XIV. + + Mine eye waned slowly into wakefulness; + The wild forms of my dream waxed faint and dim; + But ere they fled, methought the pallid race + Had crumbled into ashes; while o'er him, + Last of the injured, twin in death with time-- + A strong joy swept. Woe's furrow had been ploughed + Deep in his heart; he was avenged! + As swim + O'er Autumn skies the fleets of shattered cloud, + So swam those scenes and passed. I turned and sobbed aloud. + +XV. + + A purfled Oreole sate upon a bough + Above me, and with gentle carollings + Shook the still air; e'er raining on my brow + The dewy globules, with her restless wings: + I love the bird,--I love the song she sings! + For that I heard it by a lonely stream + In days, when love and hope were rainbow things: + The sweet bird soothed me, but my brain will teem + Full many a mirthless eve, with fragments of that dream! + +_Winchester, Va._ + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +WILLIAMSBURG BIRTH NIGHT BALL. + +MR. WHITE,--From all I can learn, your "Messenger" seems to give +general and increasing satisfaction in this quarter: to use a French +phrase, _tout le monde en dit du bien_. Though it is not probable any +thing so light and playful, (and particularly at this late period of +the month,) should obtain admission into its columns, yet, as one or +two stanzas of the annexed _metrical_, have some how or other found +their way into the newspapers, I have at last succeeded in procuring a +copy of _the whole_, that you may exercise your own discretion in +respect to its insertion. It originated as follows: Some young ladies +of your place, during a visit to Williamsburg to attend the +_Birth-night Ball_, &c. received from an accomplished female friend at +Richmond, a charming poetical letter, describing _a musical party_ at +which she had assisted; and narrating in a familiar, agreeable manner, +the principal incidents that had occurred in their absence. The +following lines were composed, as a _response_ to this lively and +entertaining communication:-- + + +WINTER SCENES AT WILLIAMSBURG. + + + Your letter, dear Mary, tho' resting so long, + Without a response, gave us infinite pleasure; + For seldom indeed, in the language of song, + And verse of so beautiful, smooth-flowing measure, + Have we met with the news and events of the day, + Reported and told, in so pleasing a way-- + Is it _thus_, that the _Muses_ to each other write, + And render e'en _absence_, a source of delight? + + _Euterpe_, perhaps, (ever partial, they say + To a _musical_ fête,) your concert attended, + And pleased with your talent to sing and to play, + Thought _music_ with _poetry_ happily blended-- + And so, when you took up the pen to prepare + An account of your party, to make it more rare, + Bade you write it _in verse_--and _assisted_ you too, + To get up a style, so romantic and new. + + Be this as it may--'tis certain that such + As have been indulged with a sight of your letter, + _Sans compliment_, all, have admired it much, + And say, of its kind, that they never read better. + But how can _we_ answer, in similar style, + A missive like yours?--we are sure you will smile + At our awkward and feeble attempt to compose, + An answer in verse, in our accent of prose. + + But smile, if you please--even laugh, if you choose-- + We _must_ make an effort to put rhymes together, + To give you some _items_ of Williamsburg news, + And tell you how well we got thro' the cold weather: + In converse and reading, we passed with delight, + The keen winter morning, the long winter night, + With a family never surpassed upon earth, + In kind hospitality, virtue and worth. + + 'Tis said, this _old city_ has seen its best days-- + We cannot think so--its present possessors + Are subjects of just admiration and praise-- + Whether _Judges_ or _Lawyers_, or learned _Professors_-- + All mingle with freedom and ease in the throng, + And move in the current of fashion along; + At the _ball_, or the _board_, or the cheery _fire side_, + Society's ornament, pleasure and pride. + + "And are there no _Doctors_ (perhaps you exclaim) + Distinguished by talents and virtues and merit?" + O yes, there are several; whom if we but _name_, + Or mention their liberal and generous spirit, + "The Messenger's" Critic may cry out--"O fie! + _Who ever blamed Hercules?_" Subjects so high, + Like Washington, need not a line to exalt + Their virtues and worth--_Who ever blamed G----?_ + + The fear we suggest, of the "Messenger's" lash, + As you well may imagine, is merely pretension; + Its _Critics_ at monarch-like _Hickories_ dash, + And smile at _flowret_ or _shrub's_ apprehension-- + _Palmettoes_ escape too! but, _Party_, away! + 'Tis time, to the _birthnight_ our homage to pay; + E'en _the Critic_ himself, we hope may agree + To spare our "_Sic semper_--PATRI PATRIÆ!" + + The ball of the _birthnight_, on Monday took place, + And, once more, the hall of the _ancient Apollo_, + Assembled a train of youth, beauty, and grace, + In which, well escorted, we ventured to follow: + _Professors_ and _students_, the _bench_ and the _bar_, + The _single_ and _married_ of both sexes, _there_, + In mirth and good humor, the hours employed, + Partook of the _dance_, or the _music_ enjoyed. + + The _supper_ was _superabundant_--in fine, + No _gourmand_ complained of a scanty provision + Of flesh, fish, or fowl--or of excellent wine, + Which _Bacchus's_ tribe thought a charming addition; + But the _nymphs_ and the _graces_ impatiently flew + To the ball room again, the _dance_ to renew; + And thoughtless of sleep or repose, in their glee, + Kept it up, it is said, till full _two_ or _three_. + + Of the cake, fruit, and wine, there yet was such store, + Laid in and prepared for the festive occasion, + That the Managers thought of _a hop or two_ more, + As a matter of justice and easy persuasion; + So, on several nights, the beauty and grace + Of the young and the old that distinguish the place, + With music and dancing enlivened the hall, + Till the close of the week, gave repose to us all. + + All needed it much; for a deep fall of snow, + Fatigued as we were, to _sleighing_ invited-- + And who could refuse, pray, a gallant young _beau_, + _Alcibiades_ like, with _driving_ delighted?-- + Thro' the streets, and _around and around_ on the _square_, + For the _belles_ and the _bells_, were all gathered _there_, + What racing--what contests _Olympic_ were seen, + On the snow-white expanse of the _cidevant_ green! + + We have not half finished the _sleighing_ affair, + With some other topics of social diversion, + But here we must stop--as we now must prepare + For a trip to old _York_, on a pleasure excursion-- + We _wish_ you were with us. Your eloquent pen + Might _there_ find a scene to amuse us again, + With lively description of things "old and new"-- + But the carriage is waiting; so, dear girl, _adieu!_ + + + + +UNREASONABLE WISHES. + +The subjoined _morceau_ is worthy notice. Many grave essays have been +written upon the vanity and unreasonableness of human wishes; but it +would seem, without much effect. The rhapsodies of lovers in the olden +time were thought sufficiently extravagant, and their wishes have been +quoted as the very essence of inordinate imaginations: in fact, +Shakspeare has classed the lover and the madman together: + + "The lunatic, the lover and the poet, + Are of imagination all compact: + One sees more devils than vast hell can hold-- + That's the madman--the other all as frantic + Sees Helen's beauty in a brow of Egypt," &c. + +Yet the old fashioned lovers kept some rule in their imaginary +desires, when compared with the vast conception of our correspondent. + + "Ye Gods! annihilate both time and space, + And make two lovers happy"-- + +and the passionate exclamation of Romeo, + + "Oh that I were a glove upon that hand! + That I might kiss that cheek!" + +were thought wild enough for those more stoical times. But it seems +that the march of improvement is onward in love-making, as well as in +road-making, as we will trust our correspondent's effusion to show. + + * * * * * + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +TO MISS S---- S---- + + + Would that thou were some isle, my love, + And I the wave that bound thee, + With naught but Heaven's pure sky above, + And I sole guard around thee. + + Then in one fond and long embrace, + Through calm and storm I'd cheer thee, + And bless the wind, that face to face, + Had brought me still more near thee. + +_Norfolk, April 9, 1835_. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +THE BROKEN HEART. + + I come, a stricken Deer, + Bearing the heart midst crowds that bled, + To bleed in stillness here.--_Mrs. Hemans_. + + + I come to my home in the forest shade, + By the summer boughs in their minglings made, + To my own bright hills and their clear blue sky, + With a broken heart in their stillness to die. + + I come from the midst of a changing world, + And the banners of Hope in my bosom lie furled; + I bring from the spoiler a mournful token,-- + The unfledged wing of my soul is broken. + + There is weight on my spirit too painful to bear-- + A feeling of gloom that corrodes like despair; + And the Rose's rich hue and the Violet's bloom, + Whisper we're nursed but to fade at thy tomb. + + And there comes a sound on the murmuring breeze, + As it creeps thro' the boughs of a thousand trees, + And it echoes back from the stars of night + And the placid lake, like a mirror bright, + + "Thou art not for earth! thou art not for earth! + And thou bearest no part in its gladness and mirth; + Its moments of pleasure have ages of care! + And the love which thou seekest is never found there!" + + And Spring shall return with its leaves and flowers, + And the song of birds to the woodland bowers; + To me they shall be as to one that's departed-- + There is rest in the grave for the broken hearted. + +S. W. W. + +_Raleigh, N. C._ + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +A DISCOURSE + +On the Progress of Philosophy, and its Influence on the Intellectual +and Moral Character of Man; delivered before the Virginia Historical +and Philosophical Society, February 5, 1835. By _George Tucker_, +Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Virginia. + + +_Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Society_:-- + +I feel the weight of the task I have undertaken to perform, the more +sensibly, when I recollect the brilliant qualifications of the +member[1] who was the first choice of the society, and that I must +disappoint the expectations which that choice so naturally raised. The +grave and sober speculations which I am about to submit to your +consideration will, I fear, but poorly compensate those who hear me, +for the graces of elocution, the rich, but chaste imagery, and the +rare felicity of diction by which that gentleman is distinguished; and +I regret on your account, as well as my own, that he has thus +unexpectedly failed to fulfil the wishes of his associates. + +[Footnote 1: James McDowell, Esq. of Rockbridge.] + +I have thought it would not be unappropriate to the occasion, to +present to the society some views of the influence which philosophy +has exercised, and must continue to exercise, over civilized man. +Amidst the din of political controversy, and the bustling concerns of +life, it is well sometimes to withdraw our thoughts from the +tumultuous scenes around us to the calm views of rational speculation. +Our minds may be not merely refreshed by the change, but they are +likely to acquire elevation and purity in being thus severed from +sordid and selfish pursuits, and made to contemplate human concerns in +the transparent medium of truth and philosophy. + +_Philosophy!_ a term to which some attach a mysterious import, as +implying a kind of knowledge unattainable except by a few gifted +minds--whilst others regard it as more an object of aversion than of +affection,--inculcating a system of thought and action equally at war +with nature and common sense,--as a perversion of human reason and +feeling, at once cold and repulsive to others, and profitless to the +possessor. This is not the philosophy of which I propose to speak, but +her counterfeit; which, being as bold and forward as the other is +modest and retiring, has made herself more known to the world than the +character she personates, and has thus brought discredit on the name. + +By philosophy, I mean that power of perceiving truths which are not +obvious--of seeing the complicated relations of things, and of seeing +them as they really are, unperverted by passion or prejudice. So far +from being repugnant to nature and common sense, it constantly appeals +to these for the justness of its precepts. It is indeed _Reason_, +exercising its highest attributes in the multifarious concerns of +human life. Such was the philosophy of Newton and Locke, and of our +own illustrious Franklin. + +It will be the object of the following remarks to show, that this +philosophy is gradually increasing and diffusing itself over the +world; that it now mingles in all human concerns, and gives to the +present age its distinguishing characteristics; that its progress must +still continue, and more and more influence the character of man and +civilized society; and that in no country is its influence likely to +be more extensively or beneficently felt than in this. + +The most superficial observer must be struck with the prodigious +advancement of the human intellect, when he compares the opposite +extremes of society. The savage, when his mind is roused from a state +of apathy, passes into one of strong emotion; for he is capable of +intense feelings, but not of profound and comprehensive thought. He +knows but few facts; and they have not that variety and complexity +which distinguish the knowledge of the civilized man. All that he sees +and hears, is heard and seen by the men of civilization; but to this +the latter is always adding the perception of new and intricate +relations, of which the former is incapable. Thus, compare the +knowledge of the relations of numbers possessed by one who barely +knows how many fives there are in twenty, with that of him who can +mark out the paths of the planets, calculate their mutual attractions, +and predict a distant eclipse to a minute; or the few and simple rules +of justice among a tribe of savages, to the intricate and multifarious +codes of civilized society; nay, extend the comparison to any other +department of human knowledge, and there will be found the same +difference between the two, as exists between the wigwam of mud or +bark, without a door, window or chimney, and the solid and spacious +hall in which we are assembled. Nor is this all; for as the reason, in +common with every other faculty, is strengthened by exercise, the +severer and more incessant exercise to which it is subjected by the +multiplication of new relations, is constantly increasing the +authority of reason, and weakening the dominion of the passions and +prejudices. + +The mind therefore becomes, with the progress of civilization, more +capable of perceiving relations--more imbued with a knowledge of these +relations--more comprehensive--more capable of making remote +deductions. It perceives more truths that are complex and +difficult--and has more capacity to detect illusion and error. We thus +see human reason gradually extending its empire, successfully +assailing former prejudice, and fashioning human institutions to +purposes of utility. We see men more and more inclined to value every +object only in proportion as it conduces to the happiness of the +greater number; and to consider nothing as permanently connected with +that happiness, but what gives gratification to the senses without +debasing them; to the intellect without misleading it; and to the +passions when fulfilling their legitimate objects. It is thus we see +each succeeding generation regarding with indifference, and even with +contemptuous ridicule, what commanded the veneration of a former age. + +It would exceed the limits of such a discourse as the present to give +even an outline of the advancement of reason, as exhibited in the +various branches of science. Nor is it necessary. It will be +sufficient for us to give our attention to some few striking facts in +the progress of science and art, especially in those cases which being +more recent, are at once better known to us, and have a nearer +relation to our interests. Let us turn to any department of human +knowledge or inquiry, and we see the clearest manifestations of the +growing philosophical spirit of which I speak. + +If we look at the character of civil government, we find that every +revolution--every important change--is the result of the progress of +philosophy--of the extension of the empire of reason. Once kings were +regarded as deriving their power not from the consent of the people, +but immediately from the Deity. They were said to be the Lord's +anointed; and implicit obedience--unresisting submission to the +mandate of the sovereign, was enjoined not merely as a civil, but as a +religious duty. + +In two out of the four quarters of the world, we all know how much +these opinions are changed; and that there, with the thinking portion +at least, government is now regarded as an institution created solely +for the happiness of the people; that they are the judges of what +constitutes that happiness; and that government may be changed, either +as to its form or agents, whenever it is proved incapable of +fulfilling its main purpose. This principle of reason and common sense +caused and justified the establishment of the Commonwealth in England; +the restoration of the monarchy; the subsequent revolution in 1688; +the American revolution in 1776; the French revolution of 1789, under +all its various phases; and that which produced a change of dynasty in +1830. We have seen the operation of the same principle in separating +the Spanish provinces on this continent from the mother country. We +have seen it in the separation of Belgium from Holland, and in the +liberation of Greece from the Turkish yoke. + +Every subordinate institution too, is now judged according as it tends +to promote the welfare of the community; and the notion of rights of +particular classes and orders of men, farther than they can be shown +to rest on this foundation, is deemed presumptuous and absurd. Even +the rights of property itself, the most sacred of any, because they +are the most obvious and are possessed by a greater number, are +derived from the same source, and are regulated and controlled by it. +Every tax in a popular government--every restriction on the free use +of one's own,--whether it be in the form of a prohibition against +gaming, or of laying out a new road, or of an inspection law, +recognizes this principle. It governs legislatures in conferring +rights as well as abridging them. They all find their authority and +justification in the public good; nor does any one now attempt to +resist a tax or defend a privilege, but by appealing to this great +test of right, the interests of the community. + +You see too in jurisprudence, that all those principles which grow out +of barbarous usages, or were the result of accident, or of mistaken +theory, are gradually made to give way to the light of reason and the +spirit of philosophy. They conform more and more to the common sense +and common feelings of mankind. Crimes which once incurred the +severest penalties of the law, are crimes no longer; modes of trial +originating in superstition have been abolished; many of the frivolous +niceties of pleading, or rules founded on a state of things which no +longer exist--such as that which excluded written testimony from the +common law courts, and which, like noisome weeds, choked up the +administration of justice, have been eradicated, in spite of the cry +which always will be raised against innovation, and which some of our +best principles, as well as our weakest prejudices, concur in raising. + +Nor have we yet reached the end of this course of salutary reform. The +administration of justice may be still more simple; and though the +rules of property and of civil rights must always be numerous and +complicated in a civilized community, yet this necessity furnishes a +further reason why the modes of investigating truth and the rules of +evidence should possess all practicable simplicity. The spirit of +philosophy has been actively at work here. In some instances, perhaps, +it has been too far in advance of the age, and under the influence of +the pride of discovery and reform, or provoked by opposition, it may +have been urged farther than reason and propriety would warrant. It +has, however, arraigned the whole system of judicial evidence, and +endeavored to show that the rules for the examination of contested +facts are so erroneous or defective, that the truth is commonly +discovered better out of court than in it; and that questions about +which all the world is satisfied, when technically examined by +tribunals created purposely for their investigation, either receive no +answer, or a wrong one. The official expounders of the law, partaking +of the liberal spirit of the age, have of late years greatly narrowed +the objections to the competency of witnesses; but it is only the +legislature and public opinion which are adequate to a complete +reform, and they will one day assuredly bring it. + +There is much seeming force in many of the other objections of the +reformers to the present very artificial and complicated system of +jurisprudence; but whether their views are satisfactory or otherwise, +they equally serve to show the prevalent disposition of men to bring +all human concerns to the bar of reason, and make them submit to her +decrees. + +There is nothing in which the progress of reason and philosophy are +more shown, than in the subject of religion. A large part, perhaps I +may say, the best part of religion, as it is most productive of good +results, is the religion of the heart; and consists in a profound and +thorough sense of the wisdom and beneficence of the Creator--of +thanksgiving for the blessings he has vouchsafed to frail and humble +beings like ourselves--to vigorous self-examinations by our own +conscience--to fervent aspirations after moral excellence in this +life, and a purer and higher state of existence hereafter. But all of +these are impulses of the feelings, rather than the cold dictates of +the reasoning faculty; and being dependant on the laws of our +emotions, which are as unchangeable as our forms, and probably as much +the result of organization, are the same in character, if not in +degree, in every stage of society. + +But while philosophy has not altered, and could not alter these +impulses of the heart, we may see here also its benignant operations. +It has driven away from religion the superstitions which fraud and +credulity combined had gathered around it. Man no longer imputes to +the Deity the same violent and ignoble passions by which the baser +part of his own nature is agitated; and instead of regarding cruelty +and vengeance as attributes of the Supreme Being, he is invested with +those qualities which appear to our feeble conceptions more consonant +with divine perfection. Thus mercy to human frailty and pity for human +suffering, are regarded as divine attributes no less than wisdom and +power. On the part of its votaries, humility is invoked to take the +place of pride; forgiveness of injuries to supersede resentment; +meekness and patience and long suffering are held to indicate a truer +devotion than pompous rites and vain ceremonies; and instead of +incense and sacrifices, good deeds to his fellow mortals, and a lowly +and penitent spirit, are deemed the most acceptable offerings which +man can make to his Creator. In this transformation, Mr. President, +you recognize the leading precepts of christianity, which may well be +called the most philosophical of all religions. + +It is true that after this religion became the creed of those northern +barbarians, who poured like an avalanche over the south of Europe, +christianity became greatly perverted from its original simplicity and +purity; but it was not destined to remain forever shrouded in these +mists of barbarism. After the growing spirit of philosophy prepared +men's minds for its reception and welcome, it broke forth in its +pristine beauty and splendor. The further continuance of the abuses of +the christian church was inconsistent with the increase of general +intelligence; and the reformation must have taken place had Martin +Luther never existed, or had the Dominican friars never carried on the +traffic in _indulgences_; though it might not have happened at the +precise time, or in the precise manner in which it did occur. + +In truth, man's religion, as well as every thing else relative to his +opinions and feelings, partakes of the character of the age; and we +are warranted in saying, that the christian religion in the middle +ages must as necessarily have been subject to its corruptions, its +superstitions, and its persecutions, among a people so rude as that +which then swayed the destinies of Europe, as that after the discovery +of the art of printing, the revival of letters, and the general +progress of science and philosophy, these foul exhalations should +disappear. + +It has been supposed, that the spirit of philosophy which has been so +hostile to superstition, is also unfavorable to true religion; and +many, listening to their fears rather than their reason, have readily +yielded to that opinion. But they have been too hasty in drawing +general conclusions from particular facts. It is true that many of the +philosophers of France, and some of those of Great Britain, during the +last century, were not only opposed to the prevailing creeds of their +country, but seemed to have no very fervid religious feelings of any +kind; but they were led first to make war on what they regarded as the +abuses of religion, and then their attacks appear to be levelled +against every thing which bore its name. It is highly probable that, +by a natural process of the mind, from coming to hate the corruptions +of christianity, they felt a prejudice against every thing which was +associated with it. But on the other hand, we have seen some, +occupying the very highest places in the scale of philosophers, who +were sincere and zealous christians. Besides, the present age, which +is the most philosophical the world has ever seen, is also the most +generally and ardently devoted to christianity, as is evinced by the +extraordinary number of Churches, Bible Societies, Missionary +Societies, Sunday Schools, &c. Let then the sincerely devout and pious +dismiss their fears. The foundations of religion are seated in the +very nature and constitution of man; in the deepest recesses of his +heart. It is a want of his moral nature, as indispensable as food to +his physical; and philosophy tends only to separate it from a part of +the dross with which every thing earthly more or less mingles, and to +leave its own pure essence undiminished and untouched. + +Let us now pass to the subject of literature, where we shall see the +same evidences of the growing influence of philosophy and reason over +the minds of men. Thus poetry, in its efforts to please and elevate +the mind, by exciting the imagination and feelings, now never +addresses us unattended by philosophy. Her favorite occupation of late +has been to delineate the dispositions and characters of men; to +reveal the secret workings of the passions and the sources of human +sympathy; to exhibit the human mind, in short, under its most +impressive phases. The prevalent taste of the age is for metaphysical +poetry; by which I mean, poetry imbued with philosophy,--poetry which +lays bare the anatomy of the human heart, and discloses all the +springs and machinery by which it is put in play. Those who are gifted +with this beautiful talent, have conformed to the ruling taste, and +their success has been proportionate. It is to this circumstance that +Byron owes part of his popularity; for in exhibiting the most subtle +processes of human passion, its energies and its susceptibilities, he +is superior to any of his predecessors; though in the mere +embellishment of smooth and felicitous diction, and of agreeable and +varied rhythm, or even in the higher attributes of lively imagery and +lofty conception, he can boast of no superiority. Perhaps it would be +more correct to say, that the metaphysical character of his poetry +proceeded not so much from his wish to adapt it to the public taste, +as because he himself partook of the character of his age; that he +wrote metaphysically and philosophically because he spoke and thought +in this way, and he so spoke and thought from the very same causes as +his contemporaries. + +This inference is the more warranted, when we find the same tincture +of philosophy in the poetry of his contemporaries,--Southey, +Wordsworth, Campbell and Coleridge.[2] Even Moore infuses into his +amatory poems as much philosophy as the subject will admit, though it +is of the sensual school of Epicurus. Sometimes we see the spirit of +philosophy controlling the poetic spirit, as was the case with +Shelley, Coleridge and some others, in whose poetry the precepts of +philosophy were more obscured by the restraints of verse than aided by +its ornaments. It is an unnatural alliance, and both the poetry and +the philosophy are the worse for the union. + +[Footnote 2: The recent poetry of continental Europe exhibits the same +psychological character; as for instance, that of Alfieri and Monte in +Italy, of Goethe and Tieck in Germany, and of Beranger in France.] + +In other works of imagination, those intended for the stage, and in +the region of romance, we see the same proofs of the progress of +philosophy. Walter Scott's novels are, throughout, the same +exhibitions of man, whether acting, speaking or thinking, which a +philosopher would take. We are made to see, not by the formality of an +instructor, or the impertinence of a _cicerone_, but by the consummate +fidelity and skill of the representation, every motive and passion of +the actors laid open to our view, and in strict conformity to what we +had often previously observed, though we may not have made it the +special subject of reflection. There never was before so much +philosophy taught by one writer, or taught in so pleasing a mode, or +taught to so many disciples. + +Such a gallery of moral pictures could not have been created before +the nineteenth century; and though they had been, they would not have +met with the same unbounded popularity, but, like Milton's Paradise +Lost, would have been in advance of the spirit of the age. + +In the drama, the plays of Joanna Baillie, and of Byron, are the most +metaphysical of all dramatic productions--so much so, as to make them +unsuited either to the tastes or capacities of a promiscuous audience. +The tragedies of Voltaire are of a more philosophical character than +those of Racine or Corneille, and these again more philosophical than +the earlier productions of the French drama. + +But it is in history that we most clearly perceive the spirit of the +age. Formerly it consisted in little more than a recital of the +actions of princes, public or private; and no occurrence in the annals +of a nation was deemed worthy of commemoration, except battles and +conquests, revolutions and insurrections--with now and then the notice +of a plague, famine, earthquake or other general calamity. Now, +however, the historian aims to make us acquainted with the progress of +society and the arts of civilization; with the advancement or decline +of religion, literature, laws, manners, commerce--every thing indeed, +which is connected with the happiness or dignity of man; he does this, +not only because he deems these subjects more worthy the attention of +an enlarged and liberal mind, but also because we can, from a faithful +narrative of these events, traced out from their causes, and to their +effects, learn the lessons of wisdom--and seeing the approach of evil, +be better able to avert or mitigate it. It is in this spirit that all +history must now be written, to be approved or even read. + +In the study of language, we perceive the same evidences of our +intellectual advancement. By arranging the elements of speech +according to the physical organs employed in their utterance, great +light has been thrown on etymology, and in this way, affinities have +been traced, first among languages, and through them among nations +apparently unconnected. And as all language consists of _signs_ of our +mental operations, the general principles of grammar have been sought +in the laws of the mind; while language in turn, has been sometimes +successfully invoked to explain those laws; and thus philology and +mental philosophy have assisted in elucidating each other. + +This branch of philosophy (which treats of our mental faculties) has +not indeed made as much progress as many others; for it admits not the +discovery of new facts. But neither has _this_ been stationary. Great +improvements have been made in analyzing its compound states; in +separating its original from its derivative properties; in tracing +many seemingly diverse operations to one simple principle. To be +convinced of this improvement, we have only to regard the theory of +associations as it now is, compared with the slight and vague notice +of it by Locke; or advert to the opinions of the same eminent man on +the foundation of morals. He maintained that there was no original +propensity in mankind to approve one action as virtuous, and another +as vicious; and that there was no practical principle which was +approved or condemned by all nations. He even denied that parental +affection, the strongest feeling in the maternal bosom, was an +original feeling. He refers to the inventions of travellers in support +of his theory, and was as credulous of the anomalous facts they +related, as he was skeptical of innate propensities. Thus he says: "It +is familiar among the Mingrelians, a people professing christianity, +to bury their children alive without scruple; he asserts that the +Caribbees were wont to fat and eat their own children;" and that a +people of Peru who followed this practice, used, when by the course of +nature they no longer had a prospect of more children to eat, "to kill +and eat the mothers." + +A more intimate acquaintance with the people of this globe, and juster +modes of reasoning, have dissipated these illusions; and if I mistake +not, the laws of the mind will, in no distant day, be traced with an +accuracy and precision little inferior to those which prevail in most +branches of physics. + +In the science of political economy too, we see the advance of the +light of philosophy. The errors which were the result of general and +deep-rooted prejudices, have yielded to the force of reason; and all +enlightened men now agree that nothing is so injurious to national +prosperity as too much regulation; and that the desire which mankind +have to increase their means of enjoyment, operates more unceasingly, +and sagaciously, and beneficially, than any schemes of the government, +however vigilant, intelligent and free from bias; since governments at +best can operate only by general rules, which injure some in +benefiting others,--while the sagacity of individuals, with few +exceptions, devises the best rules for each particular case. + +It was for philosophy also to discover the connection between good +government and the national prosperity, and that a community will have +the most industry, skill and thrift, where property is best +protected--where every one can freely exercise his talents or his +capital, and securely enjoy the fruits they have yielded. Philosophy, +or unprejudiced reason, if you prefer it, also refuted an error once +prevalent, that one country, or one part of a country, was injured by +another's welfare; and proved both by reasoning and example, that +every accession of wealth or prosperity, experienced by one portion, +radiates light and heat to all around it. + +If the progress of philosophy, or human reason, has done so much in +the moral sciences, it has done yet more in the physical branches of +knowledge for the material world--more invites our attention and +speculation--is more within the reach of experiment, and the benefits +it confers are more direct and obvious. It would be foreign to my +purpose, if I were competent to the task, to mark the steps by which +man has passed from conjecture to certainly--from rash hypothesis to +theories founded on cautious observation and experiment--from +inquiries which, if successful, had only gratified curiosity, to +discoveries and improvements immediately conducive to the benefits of +society. To enable us to appreciate the advance of science, it is +sufficient for us to look at what the condition of man now _is_, +compared with what it _was_. + +In whatever direction we turn our eyes, we behold some triumph of mind +over matter. We cannot see a ship, a book, a gun, a watch--scarcely +the commonest implement or utensil--without being made sensible of the +wonders achieved by human science and art,--the result of the combined +efforts of a thousand minds and ten thousand hands, embodied in a form +that has added incalculably to man's power and enjoyment. If we take +the departments of knowledge separately, we are filled with admiration +at the labor by which it has climbed, and the elevation it has +attained. Astronomy, not content with teaching us the motions of the +planets and moons of our system, and by them, enabling us to traverse +the pathless ocean with the certainty with which we travel by land--of +itself a glorious achievement of science--now undertakes to estimate +the weight and density of these bodies--their influence on one +another--of the smallest on the largest--the flight of comets, and +even some of the changes of position in the stars themselves. Optics +has taught us new laws of light, and has subjected the most subtle and +the most rapid body in nature to measurements, of as much certainty as +the gross portions of matter. We now know the weight, density, +motions, elasticity of the air we breathe, and which encompasses the +earth; the laws of sound--its velocity, force, repercussion, musical +tone. By electricity, magnetism, galvanism, are revealed to us new +fluids of the existence of which we did not formerly dream. Their laws +have been investigated with all the accuracy, acuteness and unwearied +diligence which belongs to modern science; and though this branch of +physics is every day receiving new accessions, it already forms a +copious science of itself. While yet in the full career of discovery, +it affords persuasive evidence of the close affinity if not identity +of light, heat, magnetism, electricity and galvanism. + +The progress of chemistry, shows us the growth of the human intellect +in its numerous useful results. In the power it has acquired over +brute matter, it has added infinitely to our means of comfort or +enjoyment, by improving the useful arts of husbandry, metallurgy, +dying, bleaching, tanning, brewing and medicine. Some of these +improvements have, indeed, been the effect of accident; but many, nay +the most of them, have been the result of human inquiry and sagacity. +And the _atomic theory_, which gives us an insight into some of the +primary laws of matter, is a pure deduction of reason. + +By chemical discoveries, useful processes which once required months, +or even years, are now effected in a few days. The chemist has found +means to separate one of several properties from a drug, so that its +medicinal effect may be undiminished and unaffected by other combined +properties originally with it. Light, which formerly was furnished +only by the valuable substances of wax, tallow, spermaceti or oil, has +been supplied of a better quality, from the cheapest and most abundant +objects in nature; and these improvements are but the precursors of +the more splendid retinue which are hereafter destined to make their +appearance. This science gives us assurance that all those substances +which are most indispensable to man, because they repair the waste +which is unceasingly going on in his bodily frame, are dispersed in +boundless profusion throughout the universe, but under forms and +combinations which conceal them from our unassisted senses; and that +it may be within the scope of human art to separate those which are +nutritious, and assimilate with our system, from those that are of a +noxious or neutral character, and thus to modify the law which has +hitherto limited the numbers of mankind. It is now thought whatever +vegetable substances can be made soluble can be made digestible, in +proof of which, a German chemist[3] has already succeeded in +converting ligneous substances into wholesome aliment; and it has long +been known that sugar may be made by a similar chemical conversion. +What would have been the transmutation for which the alchemist of +former days consumed so many anxious days and sleepless nights, +compared with these? Gold owes its extraordinary value to its +scarcity, and had the adept succeeded in making it at pleasure, he +would have lessened its value in the same proportion as he increased +the quantity. If he could have converted copper into gold, the gold +would have been worth no more than the copper, except for the expense +of the transmutation. And if society had gained some advantage in +being able to substitute it for metals that are liable to rust, yet it +would have lost as much by the destruction of its property of +containing great value in a small bulk, and its consequent unfitness +to perform the functions of money. + +[Footnote 3: Professor Autenrieth of Tubingen.] + +It is not improbable that some of these splendid visions of science +may never be realized: but then other discoveries and improvements may +take place of equal and greater importance; and should those hopes be +verified, would they exhibit a greater triumph of art than has been +witnessed in our day? they are certainly not more beyond the bounds of +seeming probability than balloons, and diving bells, and rail roads, +would have appeared to a former age. + +The most extravagant fancy in which the man of science has indulged +would scarcely exceed the wonders now wrought by steam, whether we +consider the simplicity of the means, or the magnitude of the results. +When in every vessel of heated water mankind had always seen a vapor +arise, who could have supposed that in this simple fact, nature had +furnished an agent, which by skilfully managing, he could multiply his +natural strength a thousand fold, and move from place to place with +the swiftness of a bird? By the alternate production and condensation +of this vapor, which he is able to do by the very common agents of +fire and water, he is able to extract the ponderous minerals from the +bowels of the earth, having made it previously drain off the water +which put them out of his reach. By the same power he fashions the +metal he has made, into bars, or sheets, or rods, according to his +various purposes. By it he performs all those operations which require +incessant action as well as preterhuman strength; and thus it is made +to spin and weave, to saw and bore and plane. By this he grinds his +flour, cuts and polishes marble, prints newspapers, and transfers both +himself and his commodities from place to place, by land or by water, +with a rapidity which had existed only in the creations of an eastern +imagination; and what is no less admirable, with a diminution of +fatigue equal to the increase of speed. + +The kindred sciences of geology and mineralogy have undergone the same +improvements as that of chemistry. And by a course of inductive +reasoning, founded on careful observation, the changes which the outer +crust of our earth, to the small comparative extent that we are able +to penetrate it, have been most satisfactorily shown, and referred to +their several chemical or mechanical agents. It has also afforded data +from which important facts in the history of organized beings have +been deduced, and thus it has shed a light on a branch of knowledge +from which it seemed most remote. The notion which once prevailed, +that no species of animals is extinct, has been incontestibly +disproved; and it has shown not only that there were many species +which not only do not now exist, but which could not subsist in the +present state of the world. Where important facts have not been +discovered by human reason, we see its power exerted in profiting by +those which accident has suggested; as in Galvani's discovery and that +of Haüy in crystallography, of vaccination and many others. + +Of all the branches of human knowledge there is no one which sooner +exercised the understandings of men than that of medicine, first as a +practical art, and then as a science, as there is none to which he is +impelled by stronger motives; and accordingly we find it practised by +a separate clan, in some of the rudest nations. Yet long and +diligently as it has been cultivated, it has made prodigious advances +of late years, and human reason has here too achieved its accustomed +triumphs. In the surgical branch diseases are cured every day, often +too by young and inexperienced operators, that were once deemed +immedicable, and often proved fatal. The materia medica has been +improved both by happy accidents, and the scientific labors of the +chemist--and the science, trusting only to cautious observation and +experiment, has profited as much by what it has rejected from the +catalogue of sanative remedies, as what it has added. Reason has here +taken the place of superstition and blind credulity, and few +prescriptions are now made on purely empirical grounds. We have the +most conclusive evidence of the advance of the medical science, in the +greater average length of life now, compared with former periods. It +has in England increased in 31 years from 1 in 33 to 1 in 58. A +similar increase has been found to have taken place in every nation of +Europe. In Great Britain, France and Germany, the average increase has +been from 1 in 30 to 1 in 38 in less than two generations. And if a +part of this melioration may be attributed to the moral improvement of +men, to the greater wealth and comfort of a greater number, the +diminution of intemperance and other vices, a part also seems fairly +attributable to the medical science; but in either way it attests the +progress of reason and philosophy. + +The progress of those sciences which exercise no other faculty but the +reason, also attest the increase and vigor of the human faculties. +Algebra is not only more generally cultivated than in a former age, +but it is now applied to every species of regular form and motion that +matter can assume, and has thus reached conclusions which seemed +unattainable by human skill; and the calculus which one generation +readily performs, was scarcely intelligible to that which preceded it. + +Even our most familiar and household concerns show the increased +influence of reason over our actions. The dress of both sexes is more +conformable to nature than formerly, and less biassed by caprice and +arbitrary or accidental forms. I need only, by way of proof, refer to +hair powder and buckles, and the tight ligatures which once bound our +limbs or bodies, but bind them no longer. Forms have been discarded or +abridged and made subservient to convenience--our modes of eating, +drinking and sleeping--all the ordinary habits of social life prove +the growing ascendancy of reason over habit and prejudice. Though in +all of these we may occasionally see some retrograde steps. + +The more philosophical spirit of modern, compared with ancient times, +is illustrated by what was then considered as the seven wonders of the +world. They boasted of magnitude or costliness--of some enormous +expenditure of human labor in a pyramid, a statue or temple, which was +fitted to make a strong impression on the senses. But what are the +objects which now fill men's minds with admiration and astonishment? +They are such as are addressed to their powers of reflection--great +moral changes like the American or French revolutions; the liberation +of Greece or of Spanish America; or if they be of a physical +character, then they are of some successful effort of science and art +which directly conduces to the benefit of mankind; such, for instance, +as the application of steam to manufactures and navigation--the New +York Canal, the Manchester Rail Road, and the Thames Tunnel. These, +and such as these, are the world's wonders in our day. + +Such then, Mr. President, is the character of the changes which the +mind of man has wrought on physical nature, as well as in the +improvement of his own condition; and these in turn have effected an +immense change in the character of his mind. _He has become less +subjected to the dominion of his senses and more to that of his +reason._ He is necessarily made to perceive an infinite number of new +and intricate relations, which the progress of knowledge and +civilization are ever adding to those which previously existed, and +his reasoning faculties have acquired strength in proportion to their +exercise. From particular facts he is continually deducing general +laws; and from those general laws, laws still more comprehensive. The +consequence of which is, that the elaborate deductions of one age +become the obvious truths of that which succeeds it, and each +succeeding generation is more capable of intricate processes of +reasoning than its predecessor. + +In the same proportion too, as reason acquires strength, the dominion +of the passions becomes weaker. They are less likely to be excited by +unworthy causes, and less violent when excited. Reason obviously tends +to prevent those mental perturbations which arise from false views of +things, as from mistaken notions of right--from the exaggerations of +future good or evil, and wrong estimates of their probability. Many +objects which a more ignorant age has deemed important, the light of +philosophy exhibits in their real insignificance. And in addition to +all these direct causes, it seems not improbable that our minds being +now so much more occupied in noticing causes and effects, and other +important relations, will be less prone to strong emotions, except so +far as they may have the sanction of reason. Let me not be understood +to favor the dream of some speculatists, that philosophy will ever +eradicate the passions. This result is neither possible nor desirable. +It is in their proper indulgence that consists all that is called +either happiness or virtue, and all that deserves to be so considered +by a moral and intellectual being. They are + + "The lights and shades, whose well-accorded strife + Gives all the strength and color of our life." + +The passions have been aptly compared to the winds which impel the +ship on the ocean of life,[4] but reason performs higher functions +than "the card." It sits at the helm, and guides the course of the +bark when the gale is not too strong, and takes in sail when it is. + +[Footnote 4: On life's vast ocean diversely we sail, + Reason the card, but passion is the gale.--_Pope_.] + +One of the consequences of this growing ascendancy of reason is, that +there will be less inequality in the civil condition of mankind; and +happy are they whose political institutions enable them to accommodate +themselves to the change, without going through the process of blood +and violence. Whatever may be the advantages, real or supposed, of a +difference of ranks, the institution originated in accident, and is +supported by illusions, which natural enough in a certain stage of +society, the light of philosophy tends to dissipate; and as ghosts, +witches and other shadows of the night have vanished at the +approaching dawn of reason, the further progress of day will +extinguish hereditary rank, which, when it does not, like faux-fire, +shine by its own corruption, emits an ineffectual ray at best. + +If the preceding views are correct, it would follow that in our +reasonings from the past to the future we must take these changes of +the human character into account, and if we do, that they would +sometimes lead us to expect different results hereafter from those +which formerly took place under similar circumstances. The failure to +make allowance for these changes, has produced much groundless +_apprehension_, much _mistaken confidence_, and much _false +vaticination_. + +In thus speaking of the gradual progress of reason and philosophy, I +do not mean to say that the advancement is uninterrupted. Far from it. +Though the tide may be rising, each individual wave does not always +reach as far as that which preceded it: so man, in his onward progress +to a higher state of existence, does occasionally make oblique and +even retrograde steps. By the influence of those prejudices which have +not yet been dislodged from their strong holds--under the sway of our +passions, which indeed may be regulated, but can never be +extinguished, reason for awhile succumbs and philosophy disappears. +Thus, in the Reformation, the struggle between those who sought to get +rid of the ancient abuses, and those who endeavored to maintain them, +was accompanied with ferocity, cruelty and injustice; and men were +often hated and persecuted in proportion to their sincerity in avowing +their real sentiments, and their firmness in maintaining them. Then +too, we beheld those who had been the victims of oppression, when +power changed hands, becoming persecutors in turn; and this, not on +the principle of retaliation, but because the new persecutors were +impelled by the same blind fury as their predecessors, in regarding a +mere difference of opinion as synonymous with crime. + +Philosophy had not then advanced far enough to teach them that men +were responsible only to their own conscience and their God for their +modes of faith; and that punishment tended to make hypocrites of the +bad and martyrs of the good, but converts of none. They had yet to +learn that the unadulterated common sense of that portion of mankind, +who were less frenzied by zeal, revolted at such injustice; and that +their sympathies acted more powerfully in favor of the sufferer, than +their fears in favor of their persecutors; a truth which has suggested +the maxim that "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." + +The French revolution also furnished a signal instance of the +retrograde steps of philosophy. The oppressions, the injustice, the +absurdities of the French monarchy, and above all, the incongruities +of many of its institutions with the state of knowledge and of private +society in France, could not be corrected without calling forth all +the strongest impulses of our nature--the worst passions of the worst +men, as well as the nobler feelings of the best. The advanced state of +reason and philosophy among the educated classes, acting on the sense +of justice, indelibly stamped on the heart of man, made the mass of +the nation see and feel the odium of their civil institutions, and +determined them to attempt a remedy. They were prompted in their +schemes, and quickened in their sensibility by the superior social +condition of their neighbors, the English, and yet more by the +American revolution and its happy issue. Before this great event, +their notice of the defects or abuses of their government was confined +to philosophical speculatists--to rhetorical declaimers--or to those +who wielded the lighter, but no less efficient weapons of ridicule--to +all of whom many of those classes who most profited by the existing +abuses, bowing to the resistless force of truth, and not foreseeing +the danger to themselves, gave their cordial support. Public opinion +was thus gradually gaining strength and unanimity; and when accident +afforded a favorable occasion for the _reformers_ to act, every one +was astonished at the rapidity and force with which they acted. But +there were strong interests and passions arrayed on the other side, +and the shock of the conflict was violent in proportion. + +As soon as the cry of reform and change was sounded, every furious and +ignoble passion--every sordid and profligate and depraved motive, +hoping to profit by the confusion, entered into the strife, and +corrupted the whole mass. Then it was that in the heart of +Christendom, we saw a city, associated in our minds with every +refinement of civilization--the emporium of science, literature and +the arts--suddenly transformed into a moral desert. The annals of +mankind had recorded no such metamorphosis. To the _senses_ indeed, +all the monuments of science and art and social improvement remained, +but they seemed to belong to other times. Every thing relative to the +human character was forcibly overturned, or wrested from its natural +position. Women without humanity or timidity, at one moment braving +death, and at another thirsting for blood. Science and practical art +employed in devising new modes of taking away life. Statesmen and +legislators engrossed by the one great subject of how they might +exterminate citizens no less than foreign enemies. Speculative minds +racking their inventions to frame excuses for these enormities, or in +making frivolous changes in the names of streets and provinces--of the +months and days--while _Religion_, finding nothing congenial to her +own mildness and purity, fled from the country, and the infuriated +multitude hallooed and exulted in her retreat: and in the metropolis +of fashion, which had given the laws of dress to all Europe, and one +of whose most distinguished literati[5] had asserted that the apparel +was a part of the man, an attention to outward appearance was deemed +presumptive evidence of aristocracy. Nor was there a more certain mode +of awakening suspicion of _incivism_, than to seem to be devout, or +moral, or gentlemanly, unless these obnoxious qualities were redeemed +by some accompaniment of crime. + +[Footnote 5: The Count de Buffon.] + +There have been those who would make philosophy responsible for these +extravagances and excesses, because it had been assiduously cultivated +in Paris, just before the Revolution, and some of its maxims were +appealed to in justification of the excesses. But nothing can be more +unjust. There was mingled with the enlightened part of the Paris +population, a far larger portion which was immersed in the grossest +ignorance. They had been brought up as it were in a prison house, into +which the surrounding light of heaven could never penetrate; and, when +set free from the restraints of law, they were powerful instruments of +mischief in the hands of those who were at once skilful and +unscrupulous in using them. There were also those who partook of the +intellectual light of the age, but who from a faulty education, or +accident, or the unjust institutions of society had not proportional +moral improvement--men who saw the inequality with which the goods of +life were distributed; that those who had the smallest share were the +most numerous; and that they might be prompted to the inclination, as +they already had the ability, to be their own carvers. An alliance was +thus formed between cunning and ignorance--the cunning few and +ignorant many--and no wonder that in a short time, all that was +venerable and virtuous and generous, as well as all that had been +tyrannical and oppressive, were furiously assailed and beaten to the +ground. The progress of knowledge had no other agency in producing +this result, than that a portion of society borrowed its _intellectual +light_ without approaching near enough to profit by its _moral +warmth_: and it is as unreasonable to blame philosophy for these +outrages, as to blame religion for the bloody massacres and merciless +persecutions which were perpetrated in her name. With far greater +reason may the moderation observed by the mob of Paris, in the three +day revolution of 1830, be ascribed to the influence of the liberal +and philosophical spirit, which had been gaining ground throughout the +civilized world, and particularly in France for twenty years before: +and it deserves notice, that this moderation, as well as the occasion +on which it would be exercised, was confidently predicted in this +country, by a French gentleman,[6] now enjoying an elevated rank in +France; and he founded his prediction on the improved character of the +population of Paris. + +[Footnote 6: General Bernard, whose anticipations of the leading +events of that revolution, in a conversation with the author, had all +the accuracy of history.] + +Having thus taken a view of the past effects of the progress of +philosophy, let us now look before us, and endeavoring to scan the +future, learn what are hereafter to be its effects on the world, +especially on that portion of it, in which we are most interested. + +We are sometimes reproached with being more disposed to look at what +our country will be, than at what it is; but when the changes are so +rapid and great, we should not only betray a strange insensibility to +our future destiny, but be grossly wanting in prudence, not to keep +the fact constantly present to our minds. It should affect our policy, +legislation, and even our individual contracts and schemes of profit; +and while we do not object to other nations seeing, in the mirror of +the past, interesting memorials of their former glory, they may suffer +us to look at ours, through the prism of hope, in which objects are a +little distorted without being exaggerated, and appear in hues +delightfully gay and diversified. Let us see then how the certain +progress of population, and the probable progress of reason and +philosophy are likely to affect us. + +Of the rapid advancement of the United States in numbers, powers and +wealth, we have now a moral certainty. After the lapse of forty years, +we have seen that their population continues to double at the rate +which Franklin long ago assumed, and we have full confirmation of the +views taken by Malthus more than thirty years ago, and by Franklin +long before him, that mankind continue thus to increase where the +means of subsistence are easy. There will hardly be any change in this +particular here, before our numbers have reached 60 persons to a +square mile. Perhaps when we consider the remarkable fertility of the +larger part, not before we have reached 100: but with the former +limit, our country would contain 100 millions of inhabitants, in three +periods of doubling, or in 75 years. Some doubts have been entertained +whether our future increase will not diminish in an increasing ratio; +and a very general error as to the rate of increase, exhibited at the +last census, has favored that opinion. But in point of fact, the +increase for the ten years ending in 1830, was a fraction more than 34 +per cent., instead of a fraction more than 33 per cent., as our +almanacs and other periodicals have stated, because they did not +attend to the fact, that the last census shewed the increase only for +nine years and ten months. This result is so unexampled and so great, +that it requires an effort for us to conceive its reality; yet it +rests upon as satisfactory grounds as any future event whatever: and +it is not a remote improbability, that some who now hear me will live +to see our population amount to 100 millions. + +For our political organization we have nothing to desire, if our +present government continues. The self-healing power, which more or +less pervades all bodies, politic as well as natural, has unrestricted +vigor here, and may be expected to bring an adequate remedy for every +political disease likely to arise. + +But one of the evils apprehended by some, is a dissolution of the +Union; and it is asked, if this has already been seriously threatened, +how will it be when the sources of collision and rivalship shall be +multiplied--when all fear of foreign aggression, which now operates as +a band to keep us together, shall be removed--when personal ambition +shall seek, by a separation, that field for its enterprises which the +Union does not afford--and the natural increase of an indigent and +ignorant class shall furnish him with ready tools for his selfish +projects? + +But I do not see the probability that the proud hopes, which dictated +a perpetual league among the states, are to be disappointed. It seems +to me that the occasions in which their interests clash are few, +compared with those in which they coincide, and that one of the +strongest ligaments of union is the diversity of pursuits among the +states, by which they are all benefited by a free commercial +intercourse. Thus, some produce grain and cattle, others, fish, or +sugar, or rice and cotton: some are exclusively agricultural in their +pursuits, and are of course venders of raw produce, whilst others are +manufacturing states, and purchasers of raw produce: some are largely +concerned in navigation, whilst others are inland. Thus all are +gainers by an interchange of their respective commodities and species +of industry; and this mutual commerce, founded in mutual interests, +will less and less require aid from the government. + +We may, moreover, reasonably expect, that these sources of mutual +benefit and intercourse will increase, and that new products of +agriculture and manufactures will arise under some propitious accident +or kindness of nature, will extend the mutual dependence of the +states, and proportionally multiply the bonds of union. Each state +will be important to the rest for its useful products, and they in +turn will be valuable to it, both for affording a market, and for the +products they give in exchange. The commerce, too, will be the more +profitable, and likely to be the more extensive, by its being free +from imposts or vexatious restrictions. Under the fostering care of +this freedom, we may expect that wine, and silk, and the olive may be +added to the products of the south--and that whenever labor shall fall +to the point of merely earning a subsistence, tea may be also +cultivated; as no doubt some part of our country is similar in climate +to China, since it is not only in a correspondent latitude, but on the +same side of its continent. + +The time will come when most of our manufactures can be procured from +the northern or middle states cheaper than from Europe, and when those +states will also furnish a larger market for the products of the +south. The time has already come when cotton, and rice, and tobacco, +if that pernicious weed shall always constitute one of man's +artificial wants, can be procured more cheaply from the southern +states than elsewhere; and though there is not, within the present +limits of the United States, as much land adapted to the cane as will +supply its future inhabitants with sugar, without that increase of +price which must greatly diminish its rate of consumption, yet the +trade in this useful commodity will not therefore be less important, +either to the states which sell, or those which purchase it. + +This commercial intercourse will be greatly extended by the numerous +canals and rail roads, which are destined to intersect our country in +every direction. By the greater cheapness of transportation, the +commerce will be extended, not only because more distant points will +be brought into connection, but also because there will be a greater +number of articles which may be advantageously transported. All the +canals and rail roads from one state to another, which shall be +sufficiently used to compensate for their construction, will be so +many sinews to knit together our wide spread and diversified republic. +New York and Pennsylvania have already thus bound themselves to the +west. Maryland and Virginia, and, without doubt, Georgia and the +Carolinas, will follow the example. + +When we shall be thus connected by the golden chain of mutual +interests instead of the iron fetters of power, and by that +homogeneousness of manners which an increased intercourse will +produce, what will be likely to effect a separation? Let us suppose +any state, considering itself aggrieved by some measure of the federal +government, was to withdraw herself from the confederacy, and that the +other states were to acquiesce in her course, either because they felt +no interest in the matter, or because they were willing to surrender +up those interests to a claim of right. It can scarcely be doubted +that such seceding state would find the disadvantages of its new +situation so great, surrounded by rival and hostile and taunting +neighbors--attended with so much contingent danger and certain +expense, that after the first irritation had passed away, it would sue +to be re-admitted. + +But when it is recollected that, in no distant day, every state will +either be an outlet for other states to the ocean, or the medium of +communication for those lying on each side of it, it would be +according to all experience to presume that they will not regard a +question thus directly affecting their _interests_, as one also +affecting their _rights_, and will vindicate both, by an appeal to +force, if necessary: and thus the question of _separation_ will always +be a question of _war_. The _constitutional_ question, which may have +been previously agitated, will be drowned in the din and tumult of +arms, and finally decided by the issue of the war. _Victory_ is the +great arbiter of right in national disputes, and that scale of justice +on which she happens to light, is almost sure to preponderate. + +I have been supposing the case of a single state, or even a small +section of states to desire a separation. But it may be asked whether +all the states may not voluntarily consent to a dissolution; or at +least so large a portion as to make resistance on the part of the rest +hopeless. I answer that I am not able to conceive any such general and +powerful cause, nor do I know of any example of a similar voluntary +disseverance in history. In every case in which an integral community, +whether consolidated or confederate, has been separated, it has been +by violence, and commonly external violence--either by one nation, +subjugating another, or by some successful leader succeeding by his +arts and talents in arraying one part against the rest: or the parts +of a great empire have been partitioned among the descendants or +legatees of the last occupant--none of which causes of separation can +be expected to operate here. It is indeed a conceivable thing for some +prominent and popular individual to excite a particular state to +discontent, and finally to civil war; and although we have happily had +no example of such flagitiousness, we have seen enough to make us +think it possible: yet whatever may be the supposed success of such +men at home, there will always be many counteractions to their +influence in the adjoining states, and in the same degree that the +agitator is a popular idol in his own state, he will be an object of +suspicion in the adjoining states, who will judge of him by his +actions, unaffected by his arts or the imposing lustre of his personal +qualities. + +Our own past history affords some confirmation of these views. It is, +for example, now seen, since the veil which once concealed the acts of +the Hartford Convention, has been partially raised, that the power of +the agents in that combination to separate the union was far less than +had been supposed, and that they could not have led on the states +there represented to make that shew of resistance to the general +government which excited apprehensions for the union, if they had +professed any other than the moderate and legitimate objects of making +their peculiar interests more respected, and of providing additional +guards against the invasion of those interests in the time to come. It +now appears, that however we may disapprove the _means_ used to +effectuate their objects, the _ends_ were blameless; and there is much +reason to believe that the moment the separation of the states had +shewn itself to be the ultimate object of their leaders, that moment +they would have been deserted by the larger part of their followers. + +The case of him whose history has been so pregnant of instruction to +lawless ambition, and who eighteen years ago was arraigned in this +very capitol for the highest of all crimes, affords another +instructive example. So long as his object was believed to be the +settlement of the Washita lands, he may have ranked among his +followers the most honest and patriotic of the land. So long as he +merely proposed to emancipate the Mexicans from the Spanish yoke, the +generous and enterprising youth of the west, as unsuspicious of guile +in others as they were incapable of it themselves, might have flocked +to his standard, and even gloried in the act of self-devotion: but no +sooner was it known that the infatuated man was pursuing the phantom +of individual aggrandizement, at the expense of his country's peace +and in violation of her laws, than he was "left alone in his glory." +Most of his followers abandoned him from principle, and the few who +were without principle, deserted him from cowardice. It is peculiarly +gratifying that both of these examples so strikingly exhibit the +attachment of the American people to the union, as it will probably be +only in one or the other of these modes that its integrity will ever +be assailed. + +The event by which the union was still more seriously threatened, has +been too recent for me to say much of it on the present occasion. Yet +I may be permitted to remark, without opening wounds hardly yet +cicatrized, that both those who apprehend disunion and those who dread +consolidation may draw salutary lessons from that event; and that each +party may, by a course of imprudence, promote the very evil of which +it is most apprehensive. I will add, that it affords additional +evidence of the strength of the ligaments which bind us together, for +if those who felt themselves aggrieved by the general government, had +been less sensible of the _value_--of the _necessity_ of the +union--then the master pilot,[7] who at the critical moment seized the +helm, and steered the ship of state through the breakers that +threatened her on either side, had interposed his consummate skill in +vain. + +[Footnote 7: Henry Clay, who was thus thrice mainly instrumental in +giving peace to his country.] + +But when it is considered that the continuance of the union is +indispensable to our peace, prosperity, and civil liberty--that on it +rest our hopes of national greatness, it would hardly seem consistent +with prudence to rely altogether on the natural securities I have +mentioned. We should also sedulously guard against whatever may tend +to weaken our attachment to it; and should therefore confine the +functions of the general government to those objects which are most +indispensable to the prosperity of the whole, and to which the powers +of the separate governments are incompetent. And while it should +exercise no power which was not clearly beneficial, as well as +constitutional, it should forbear to exercise such powers as come +under this description, when they may prove sources of discontent, or +of collision with local feelings and interests. The advantages of such +a course will be to give the federal government greater efficacy in +the execution of its remaining powers, and especially in our foreign +concerns; and it will afford us the best security, not only against +disunion, but the opposite danger of consolidation. The continuance of +our present complex system of government--the only one in which the +highest degree of civil liberty can be reconciled with the greatest +extent of territory--depends on its maintaining a just equipoise +between the general government and the governments of the separate +states; and that equipoise may be disturbed no less by enlarging the +capacity of conferring favors than that of doing mischief--of +appealing to the hopes no less than to the fears of the community. + +There is another safeguard against both disunion and consolidation, to +be found in the diffusion of instruction among all classes of people; +to which object all the states have given encouragement. Besides the +general moral effects which such mental culture is found to produce, +wherever it has been tried, it will make the mischiefs of a single +national government or of several disunited governments, which are +already so obvious to those who have reflection and forecast, +intelligible to all. The diffusion of intelligence will operate +advantageously to the same end in another way. It will raise the +self-respect and honest pride of the indigent classes, and these +sentiments afford the best security against an over-crowded population +and its deleterious consequences, for they naturally tend to raise the +ordinary standard of comfort, and the higher _that_ is, the sooner do +the checks to improvident marriages begin to operate. + +Supposing our federal union to be thus enduring, the progress of +philosophy may be expected to continue with our advancement in numbers +and wealth, and to exhibit itself in the increased vigor of the +reasoning faculties; the greater purity of religion; the better +government of the passions; an enlarged dominion over physical nature; +a deeper insight into the multifarious laws of mind and matter; and a +general amelioration of our condition, social, intellectual, and +moral. But dangers and evils are apprehended by some, when we shall +have a large class of manufacturers. This must eventually be the +condition of the greater part of the population of every civilized +country, since in no other way can the greater part of a dense +population find employment. A small proportion of the community is +sufficient to cultivate the soil, especially with so fertile a +territory as the greater part of the United States; and the rest must +be employed in manufactures, or starve. Besides, the products of this +species of industry are as essential to our comfort and enjoyment, if +not to our subsistence, as raw produce. We must have clothes, +furniture, utensils, and books, as well as food: and when our numbers +shall be sufficiently great to consume the whole of our raw produce, +as in time it certainly will be, we shall cease to export; and the +great mass of its consumers here, must fulfil the inevitable ultimate +destiny of man--he must labor for his subsistence, either in tilling +the earth, or in giving to its products some new form, which by +ministering to the wants of others, may enable him to satisfy his own. +The people of the United States must therefore become a manufacturing +people, as well as their progenitors, and that too at no very remote +period. At present, most of our citizens are agriculturists, because +they find a ready sale for their redundant products; but while it may +be easy to obtain a market for the surplus produce of fourteen +millions of people, it may not be equally easy to find a vent abroad +for the products of the one hundred millions before spoken of; or even +of the fifty millions which our numbers will certainly reach in less +than another half century. It must be recollected that while we +increase at the rate of three per cent. per annum, our customers do +not increase beyond the rate of one per cent., and some scarcely +increase at all. Those therefore, who will be thus spared from +agriculture, must be employed in manufactures. + +The political effects of so large a class of manufacturers in our +country, has suggested two very opposite theories. According to one, +the influence of property will be increased by the change; according +to the other, its rights will be endangered. The advocates of the +first opinion say, that capital has the same relation to manufactures +that land has to agricultural labor; for it is only large capitals +that can be advantageously employed in the principal manufactures; and +that the laborers in both species of industry, will feel their +dependence on their employers. It will therefore happen that the votes +given immediately by the laboring class, will be substantially the +votes of the rich landlord or capitalist. + +But on the other hand, it has been apprehended, and not without some +show of reason, that the working class, having the power in their own +hands, by the preponderance of numbers, need only to act in concert, +to control the course of legislation. It is further urged, that if the +means of popular instruction can become general, or though that should +be found impracticable, if the intelligence of the community should +increase with the progress of society, that this class will more +readily feel its power, have stronger inducements to exercise it, and +be better able to devise the means. Admitting concerted action +practicable, as it would be obviously desirable, what, it is asked, is +to hinder these men from ridding themselves of their proportion of the +taxes?--of appropriating to themselves the property of the rich by +various legislative devices, as in limiting the prices of provisions, +in planning expensive schemes in which the utility would be +exclusively to themselves, or not in proportion to the cost,--or even +in some moment of madness and reckless injustice, of passing an +Agrarian law? It is vain to urge that as such a violation of the +rights of property would have the ultimate effect of injuring all +classes, or at least a far greater number than it would benefit, it is +contrary to the general instinct of self interest to suppose the +greater portion of the community would pursue it; for these remote +interests might not be perceived, and though they were, they would not +prevail against the force of present temptation. + +But the argument assumes that there will be a majority of the +community who will feel a present interest in such violations of the +rights of property, and this proposition may well be questioned. In +our country, where industry and capital are free to exercise +themselves in any way, there will always be a gradation of classes +from the richest to the poorest, so as to make the line which +separates them an imperceptible one. We have no political +institutions, and few prejudices to make such a separation. Every one +is estimated according to his individual merits, little affected by +those of his ancestors: and although somewhat of the honor or +discredit of parents attaches to the child, yet it is probably little +more than is warranted by the presumption that there is a resemblance +between them. We are not distinguished into castes as in India, where +one portion of society engrosses all the more honorable and agreeable +employments of life, and the other is allotted to its most irksome and +debasing offices; nor into Patrician and Plebeian, as in Rome; nor +into lords and commons, as in England; nor _noblesse_ and _canaille_, +as formerly in France and the rest of Europe; distinctions which at +once provoke combination and make it more practicable. + +Nor is the indigent class likely to be as large in this country as in +most others. Our institutions, in many ways, favor both the +acquisition and the diffusion of property. In the first place, by +their being more exempt from restrictions. No trade or occupation is +fettered by monopolies or corporation laws, or laws of apprenticeship, +so that industry and talent being free to act, wherever and however +they please, are likely to find the situations in which they can be +most profitably exerted. + +In the next place, all offices and professions which are means of +acquiring property, or are of themselves a valuable property, while +they last, are thrown open to the competition of all; and we see them +as often, or more often, won by those who were born in poverty, and +who have been accustomed to rely on their own resources, than by the +pampered sons of wealth and luxury. + +And lastly, the diffusion of property is the greater by the practice +of dividing an estate among all the children of a family; which, +either by the act of law, or the will of the deceased proprietor, has +become almost universal. The law of primogeniture, by artificially +damming up property to prevent its natural diffusion, must increase +the number of the poor in the same degree that it increases the number +of the rich. The estate which remains in the same family in England +for three generations, and continues throughout the property of a +single individual, is here distributed among twenty or thirty, and +often a far greater number. _This single change_ in our municipal law, +would necessarily have the effect of converting the property holders +into a majority of the community. + +Whenever, then, the line between the rich and the poor is drawn in +this country, it will always comprehend a far smaller proportion of +the last class than in any other, so long as our civil institutions +retain their present character; and the number of people who have +property to some amount, and who have the hope of acquiring it, will +always be much greater than those who have none. When it is further +recollected that those who have made their own fortunes--a very +numerous class in all free countries--are likely to possess energy and +intelligence; they may also be expected to possess an influence more +than proportionate to their numbers. To these considerations we may +add the connections which arise from favors received or expected, by +the poor from the rich; the influence of habit; the protection of the +laws; the restraints of morality, of indolence, and fear, and they +seem sufficient to assure us that apprehensions of a mischievous +combination of the poor against the rich, are groundless; and that all +which the indigent class can effect for their own advantage by +combination, may not prove a sufficient antagonist to the influence +the rich will be able to exert over them. + +I know of no instance of a successful combination of the indigent +classes, except in the case of the Agrarian laws at Rome. But this +subject has been greatly misunderstood, and there never was a more +well founded complaint than that which the poor made against the rich, +on that occasion. Modern historians seem to have followed up the +injustice, by misrepresenting the facts, and assailing the character +of those who had been previously defrauded of their property. The +diligent researches of German scholars[8] have shewn incontestibly +that the Agrarian laws, for which the Gracchi lost their lives, +concerned only the _public_ lands, which had been obtained by +conquest, and not those which formed part of the territory of the +ancient republic. As these public lands were charged with a very +moderate,--merely nominal rent,--it was necessary to impose some limit +upon the portion which a single individual could obtain, which was +accordingly fixed at 500 _jugera_--equal to about 312 of our acres. +But the Patrician class soon found means to evade this law, and having +engrossed these lands, the purposes for which they were set apart--of +affording the means of support to the poor, and of rewarding those by +whose bravery and toils they had been won--was thus completely +defeated: and the redundant population, unprovided with the means of +subsistence, were obliged to become the bondsmen of the rich. Tiberius +Gracchus endeavored to have this flagrant wrong, which was a political +mischief, as well as a moral injustice, corrected: and whatever may +have been his motives, he so evidently had right on his side, that he +finally prevailed. But because he succeeded in defending the +unquestioned rights of the injured party, does it follow that he would +have had equal success in defending injustice? Because he was able to +sustain the violated rights of property, would he have been also able +to destroy them? Certainly not: For he with difficulty succeeded, even +at the cost of his life: and success would have been impossible but +for the dauntless intrepidity and the zealous support which the +goodness of his cause inspired. + +[Footnote 8: Heeren and Niebuhr.] + +To the progress of our literature and science we may look with +unalloyed hopes. In many branches, both ornamental and useful, we are +still behind the country from which we are descended; and we fall as +far short of her in the quantity of original productions as in the +quality. But this, we confidently trust, is but a temporary +inferiority. Our whole faculties are now engaged in cultivating the +choicest fruits of civilization, and by and by we shall turn our +attention to its flowers. Our late rapid advancement in letters +affords a sure presage of future excellence, and symptoms of this +gratifying change gladden our eyes in every direction. As soon as the +more imperious wants of the country shall be satisfied, and men of +superior powers and attainments shall have filled the learned +professions, and offices requiring science and talent, then we shall +begin to form a class of men of letters, who will devote their leisure +and genius to minister to our intellectual wants: And they will find +here a wide field both for speculation and description, political, +physical and moral. We are justified in pronouncing that our +literature will have freshness, boldness, richness and variety, and I +would fain hope, the crowning grace of simplicity. Poetry, though not +destined again to receive divine honors, or even the same profound +homage as in a later day, will always occupy a high place in the world +of letters: for the pleasure which can be conveyed to the mind by +rhythm, imagery and fervid sentiment combined, are immutable; but the +higher province of intellect will be to instruct and convince; to aid +us in the arduous duties of life--whether as members of a profession, +as citizens of the state, or as moral and responsible beings. Until +that day arrives, let us cherish those institutions which best serve +to preserve and diffuse a knowledge of science and letters, as well as +to increase a taste for them; and never relax in our exertions until +we are at least upon a level with the highest. Next to an elevated +moral character, this is the most proper object of national ambition: +and while I should be content that this country may never give birth +to a Phidias, or Canova, a Raphael or Titian--that it should not +produce as good musicians as Italy or Germany--as beautiful millinery +as Paris--as cheap or good cutlery as Sheffield--I should be mortified +to think that we should never be able to boast of such poets as Byron +or Pope, such historians as Hume or Gibbon, such moralists as Johnson, +such novelists as Walter Scott, or such mathematicians as La Place. + +In looking into our future destiny, I have not allowed myself to +travel into the regions of fancy, but have confined my attention to +those results which seemed fairly deducible from causes now visibly +operating; and which are in conformity with the past experience of +mankind. I have not indulged in those overstrained speculations with +which some have contemplated the future progress of philosophy, but +have endeavored to avoid on the one hand, those views of future evil, +which it is the nature of gloomy tempers to entertain, and on the +other, those visions of future excellence or perfection incompatible +with our past experience; such, for example, as the dreams, first of +Condorcet, and afterwards of Godwin. Of a similar character, I fear, +are the predictions of those who think that war may be banished from +the civilized world. Without doubt it is the tendency of the progress +of reason and philosophy, to lessen the chances of war: in the same +way as refinement of manners checks personal conflicts among +individuals. But it will, probably, no more put an end to them in one +case, than in the other; and the time may never come, when the +interests of nations will not clash, when they will not differ in +opinion about their respective rights; when they will not be willing +to resent supposed injustice, and hazard their lives to gratify their +resentment. Nor can occasions be wanting at any time to call forth +these motives to war. Nations may have rivalship in trade; rivalship +in fisheries; they may differ about boundaries, or the construction of +treaties; or they may be involved in the disputes of others. These +causes must be regarded as inseparable from the condition of man, even +if he should no longer be exposed to the danger of war, from mere +differences of opinion on some speculative points in religion, +politics or morals. It may then prove in all future time, as it has +proved in all time past, that it is man's nature to quarrel and fight, +no less than to love or to hate, and the only difference may be as to +the occasions of war, and the mode of carrying it on: in short, that +this ultimate argument of republics as well as kings, will continue to +be appealed to, as it always has been, when all others have failed. + +If this is to be regarded as a part of man's inevitable destiny, let +us not indulge in vain repinings at it--but endeavor to prevent it as +far as we can, by a course of justice, and moderation, and +forbearance: and if, nevertheless, our efforts should be unavailing, +let the philosophic and patriotic mind find consolation in the fact, +that though war is the cause of much human misery, it calls forth many +virtues, and affords occasion for the display of some of the noblest +traits of our character--courage, patriotism, generosity, +disinterestedness and every form of virtuous self-denial. It gives a +stimulus to all the more elevated and severer virtues. It breaks up +the icy frost of selfishness, which in the still times of peace may +congeal about the heart. The love of country never burns with a purer +or stronger flame than in the bosom of the patriotic soldier: nor can +any thing but war enable a citizen to make the same sacrifices, or so +prove his self devotion to his country. It may then be among the +dispensations of the ruler of the universe, that war, as well as +peace, is necessary for the development and the preservation of some +of our highest qualities, and to fulfil our destiny. Nor let us vainly +hope to extinguish national more than individual resentment, but +merely to regulate it--to reserve it for those occasions which a sense +of justice prompts and reason sanctions: and although it is but a +blind arbiter of disputes, it is the only one, in some circumstances, +that can be appealed to. + +Having thus, Mr. President, brought to your notice, with less of +condensation than I could have wished, the great and rapid strides +which human reason is now making in the civilized world, as exhibited +in every field of intellectual exercise: having noticed the +unequivocal signs that this progress will yet continue, that we cannot +assign to it any precise limits, and that in all estimates of the +future, we must take it into consideration: having endeavored to infer +its probable effects on our condition, taken in connection with the +other changes to which we are destined, I have discharged my main +purpose. Yet I do not feel that I have entirely fulfilled my duty as a +member of the Society, unless I say something of its particular +objects. + +One of these objects was to collect and preserve the perishable +memorials of the past history of Virginia, from the time it was a +colony to the present day. While this is a subject which must always +be one of lively interest to her citizens, it is also one in which +diligence will be amply rewarded. Our early colonial history more +abounds in events of a striking and diversified character, than that +of any of the other colonies; and this state, moreover, has a sort of +parental relation to nearly all the states to the south and west. Full +justice has never yet been done to this subject. There are indeed +points in the history of the settlement of the colony, which require +elucidation, and for which the materials are to be found, if at all, +only in the archives of England. But on our later history much light +has been thrown by a diligent examination of the laws of the colony; +and somewhat may be further gleaned from a search into those records +of the county courts, which have yet escaped the ravages of war and +time. The records of these courts, whose duties were always of a very +miscellaneous character, may communicate much information concerning +the state of society, the habits, manners and ways of thinking of the +people. The authentic details of the public offences and their +punishment, is no insignificant portion of a nation's history. Much +has been done in this way by Hening's Collection of the Statutes at +Large; and though a large portion of the treasure has already been +drawn from this mine, it has not been exhausted. After paying a just +tribute to the industry and general accuracy of that work, it also +suggests a caution to future inquirers against a spirit of skepticism +towards preceding narratives, merely because some inaccuracies have +been discovered. Of this I may be allowed to mention one or two +examples, as in the endeavor to shew (in which Burke concurs,) that +the account of all preceding historians of the loyalty of Virginia +towards the House of Stuart, immediately before and after the +Commonwealth, was erroneous--and that because Robertson in his +posthumous historical sketch was plainly mistaken in saying that no +man suffered capitally "for his participation in Bacon's rebellion," +he is not entitled to credit: or, when Bacon, according to all +previous accounts, had, during a wet spell, at the most sickly season +of the year, in the county of Gloucester, been seized with a dysentery +which proved mortal, to suggest that a death so little violating +probability, should be deemed mysterious, and warranted the _suspicion +of poison by his enemies_. + +The history of the settlements of the west exists only in tradition or +family letters, and its materials ought to be collected and preserved, +while it is not too late. The contest between the pioneer of +civilization and the native savage, is full of daring adventure and +romantic interest. If the command of gunpowder, and the use of iron +ultimately gave victory to the former, it was one always dearly +bought. The Indians defended their native rights with desperate valor +and consummate address, and it was only inch by inch that they yielded +their native soil to the invaders. + +The origin of some anomalous enactments in the statute book, also +invite inquiry. Thus in the year 1647, lawyers were forbidden to take +any fees whatever, and in 1658 they were excluded from the +legislature. For this uncourteous act, it must be confessed that their +descendants have made the _amende honorable_. The medical profession +seemed also an object of jealousy with the planter; as by another +law,[9] physicians were required to swear to the value of their drugs. + +[Footnote 9: Passed in 1646.] + +There is too, a good deal of uncertainty and inconsistency in the +statistical accounts of the state. On the duty of the present +generation to collect and preserve every thing relative to the +revolution, I need not lay any stress. There are still numerous papers +in many families, of no sort of value to them, that may yet shed light +on that interesting era. + +In all that concerns the other object of this Society, the physical +history of the state, every thing is yet to be done. The records here +are before us, and are indestructible in any reasonable term of time; +but we must first labor to remove the rubbish which conceals them, and +then study to decipher them. This is a tempting field of research, as +it may not only add to our stock of information, but also to our store +of worldly wealth. The great Appalachian chain of mountains, which +traverses the United States from Maine to Alabama, is broader no where +than in Virginia, or consists of a greater number of distinct ridges, +and no where has it given as clear indications of abounding in mineral +wealth. We have found in it already gold, copper, lead, iron, +manganese, gypsum, salt, coal, nitre, alum, marble in great variety, +besides other minerals that are useful in the arts; and a more +diligent and scientific search than has yet been made, may by +increasing their number increase the profit of those canals and roads +that are now projected, and give rise to others not yet contemplated. +Our demand for fossil coal is of growing importance; for our +increasing population at once increases the demand for fuel, and +diminishes the supply of wood. I was happy to see last evening, the +specimen of anthracite coal from the county of Augusta; and the value +of that mineral deserved the high eulogy it received. We may form some +idea of the importance of fossil coal, from the fact that steam +engines in England are now computed to perform annually, the work of +four hundred millions of men! a number nearly double to that now +living on the whole globe. + +Nor is the geology of the state to be disregarded. Ever since a +careful examination of the materials of the earth's surface has been +found to afford indications of its past changes, this science has been +diligently and successfully cultivated in Europe, and has not been +neglected in some parts of the United States. It is high time that +Virginia should contribute her quota to its researches. We should be +the more stimulated to cultivate this branch of science in the United +States, in consequence of the remarkable regularity of the different +formations on this continent. Thus along the coast below the falls, we +have south of Long Island the tertiary formation; between the falls +and the Blue Ridge, the primitive; and the great Mississippi Valley, +from the Alleghany to the Rocky Mountains, if principally secondary. +There are however, occasional exceptions to these general rules, and +they should be noticed with care. As our useful minerals lie near the +surface, our observations will, for a long time to come, be +principally confined to that; but as there are instances of shafts +being sunk in search of salt water or gold, the strata should be +carefully noted; and where any pit of unusual depth is sunk, it would +be well to make experiments on the heat of the earth, before the +admission of the ordinary air has altered its temperature. It has long +been asserted that there was an internal heat in the interior of the +earth, and further observation seems to confirm it. This fact has +lately had a seemingly conclusive verification in England. A shaft had +been sunk there in pursuit of coal, to the extraordinary depth of +nearly fifteen hundred feet; and by a number of careful experiments, +the heat at the bottom was found to be 28° hotter than the average +heat of the earth in this latitude, which would seem to show an +increase at the rate of a degree of Fahrenheit for every sixty +feet.[10] Should this correctly indicate the measure of the earth's +internal heat, then at the depth of something less than two miles, we +should come to the temperature of boiling water. When we recollect +that this heat is not farther removed from us than a two thousandth +part of the distance to the centre, (bearing about the same proportion +to the earth as the parchment stretched over it, does to an ordinary +globe,) it seems to afford a ready solution for volcanoes, +earthquakes, and many geological phenomena; and may even excite our +wonder, that some of these results of so mighty an agent are not more +frequent and terrible than they are. And when we recollect that the +confines between organized matter, and that form of it which is +inconsistent with animal or vegetable life, approach so near each +other, it is calculated to humble the pride of man, that he has been +upon this globe all but six thousand years without a suspicion of the +fact. + +[Footnote 10: See London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine for +December 1834. This experiment coincides with the theory regarding the +internal heat of the earth, promulgated by a member of the French +Institute (Mons. Cordier,) in a memoir presented to that association +about six years since, in which he gives a detail of numerous +observations and experiments on which he founded his theory, now fully +confirmed by the more decisive experiment in England.] + +There are also problems concerning our climate which well deserve +solution. The acknowledged difference between the eastern and western +coasts of climates, has been attributed, with a great show of reason, +to the prevalence of the westerly winds; and of the fact of their +greater prevalence there, is the most satisfactory general +evidence--but it is discreditable that the amount of the difference +should not be as well ascertained as the fact itself. The average +difference can be ascertained only by repeated and accurate +observations. + +It has also been asserted that the temperature of the Mississippi +Valley is higher than that of the Atlantic coast. Mr. Jefferson long +ago advanced this opinion, and it was adopted by Volney; but there is +strong reason to believe that the direct contrary is the fact. It is, +however, high time that this question should be settled by a series of +thermometrical observations, and a comparison of facts derived from +the vegetable world. + +We have, Mr. President, been three years in existence, and as yet have +done little. Let us bestir ourselves in the cause of science and of +our country; and endeavor, under some disadvantages, to give Virginia +the same rank in science and literature that she has always maintained +in her devotion to civil liberty and political integrity. Though borne +along with the rest of the world, by the great current of philosophy +of which I have been speaking, we should not fold our arms in listless +apathy, but diligently ply our oars, lest we should be left further +behind by those in advance of us, and be overtaken by those now in our +rear. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +LETTERS FROM NEW ENGLAND--NO. 5. + +BY A VIRGINIAN. + + +Scholars in Virginia are not generally aware, that the classical Greek +pronunciation is thought to exist still in Greece; and that +(connecting this fact with the close resemblance of the ancient, to +some of the modern dialects _as written_) that rich and elegant +language is no longer to be regarded as _dead_. Thus confidently think +two intelligent and accomplished natives of Greece, now in +Connecticut, who are reputed (no doubt deservedly) to be thorough +masters of both the ancient and the modern tongue. In a gratifying +interview with one of them (Mr. _Perdicaris_ at New Haven), being +curious to hear Homer in his native melody, I prevailed on Mr. P. to +read me a few lines of the Illiad. They were by no means musical to my +ear--vitiated, doubtless, by the faulty pronunciation to which I had +been accustomed, and destitute of those associated ideas, which +conduce so largely to the beauty of poetry. He sounds _oi_ dipthong, +like _e_; _d_ like TH soft; _g_ like a mere aspiration, as our _h_. +The word _poluphloisboio_ ([Greek: poluphloisboio]) so expressively +sonorous to our ears when pronounced with the full, swelling _roll_ of +the dipthong, he would attenuate into _poluphleesbeeo_--to me much +more like the whistling of the wind through a key-hole, than the +hoarse, multitudinous roar of an agitated ocean. I spare you, here, a +speculation that is passing in my mind, as to how far this diversity +between different ears, proves the notion of the _sound's echoing to +the sense_ to be merely fanciful; and as to the influence of previous +association upon our relish of poetical, and of other beauty--how +much, for example, of the native Greek's rapture at Homer, is owing to +love of country, and how much of an American's ecstacies to classical +enthusiasm, the pride of learning, or the influence of names. Yes, I +spare you--partly, because I have not _much_ that is new to say upon +the subject; and partly because, if I had, it would be wholly out of +season. + +By special invitation, I attended a lecture (one of a series) +delivered by Mr. Perdicaris, upon the literary and political history +of modern Greece. It was marked by a rich yet chaste imagination, a +generous glow of patriotic enthusiasm, and the eloquence which they +naturally inspire. You may feel a curiosity, as I did, to know +somewhat of the _outer man_ of a modern Greek. Mr. P. is about the +middle height, or five feet nine; shoulders broad, and a stout frame; +black hair, disposed to curl; large black whiskers, flanking a broad +oval face, the complexion whereof is a darkish olive--as dark, at +least, as Mr. Webster's. Having been eleven years in this country, he +speaks our language fluently and intelligibly: indeed, as is usual +with those who learn a foreign tongue from books, and from enlightened +native speakers, his _English_ is remarkably pure. A few rhetorical +and grammatical faults there were--for instance, "_he left Athens_" +was curtailed (_a la Yankee_) to "_he left_." This is a New +England-ism not confined to the vulgar: neither is the phrase "he +_conducted well_," for "he conducts _himself_ well;" nor "considerable +_of_ a place," for "a considerable place." We hear Yankees of +respectable literary pretensions, too, saying _shall_, where the +English idiom certainly requires _will_; as, "shall you visit Boston +during your tour?"[1]--and clipping the infinitive mood, in a way +equally contrary to the good customs of the realm--thus--"I have not +written yet, but to-day _I intend to_." But I am chasing game that is +hardly worth the powder. + +[Footnote 1: If I mistake not, I have heard Mr. Webster himself use +_shall_ in this manner. It is an innovation, sustained by no eminent +authority or precedent in England; and is confined, in America, to the +north side of the Potomac, if not to the east of the Hudson. With that +still grosser affectation, "the house is _being built_," "a war is +_being waged_," it should be promptly arrested, before it shall have +become inseparably mingled in the "well of English undefiled." By the +way, this latter _refinement_ prevails more in the south than in the +north.] + +I owe to Mr. P. another intellectual treat: the inspection of an +Illiad, edited by Mr. Felton, Professor of Greek at Harvard. Of all +the editions that I have examined, this is by far the best adapted to +schools; and the most likely to gratify the taste, or to aid the +study, of a retired scholar. The _character_ is a _fac simile_ of +Porson's M.S. Greek--surpassingly neat, simple, and distinct. The text +seems to be given with exemplary fidelity. And it is interspersed with +_Flaxman's Illustrations_; engraved cuts, of all the principal scenes: +which, though mere hints of incidents, and too meager outlines of +persons, greatly heighten the interest of the work. But its crowning +merits, are the Editor's English Preface and Notes. I read the former, +and most of the latter--much more, I dare say, than is usually deemed +needful for a reviewer. They do Mr. F.'s learning, judgment, taste, +feeling, and eloquence, very high honor. He does not make much ado +about the trivialities of _dialect_, _quantity_, and _various +readings_, like the cumbersome annotators upon the classicks, +criticised in the Spectator; nor does he, like "piddling Tibbald," +'celebrate himself for achieving the restoration of a comma,'[2] or +the correction of an accent. But beauties are pointed out and +commented on, with a critical taste and elegance, calculated to make +the learner's task a luxury; while difficulties are cleared up with a +fulness that leaves little need for oral instruction. The edition is +in one volume; and I hope soon to see it supersede the clumsy affair +of the too learned Samuel Clarke, which now has such fast foot-hold in +our schools. + +[Footnote 2: Johnson's Preface to Shakspeare.] + +You perhaps think it odd, that I have said nothing of the _judicial +systems_ of New England; and ascribe it either to my acting on Young +Rapid's maxim--"sink the shop, Dad!"--or to my being cloyed with +courts at home, and so, loathing them amid the countless attractions +of my journey. Neither, neither--be assured. 'Though last, not +least'--they have formed a leading subject of my inquiries: and to +judge speculatively, as well as from what is told me of their +practical operation (which I have had no opportunity to witness) they +have some points worth _considering_, if not _imitating_. + +The judiciary power of Rhode Island is vested in a supreme court, +consisting of a chief and two associate justices; and a court of +common pleas (composed of five judges) for each of the five counties. +_All the judges are appointed annually by the legislature_. This +feature alone suffices to stamp the whole system with insignificance: +for what skill in jurisprudence--what independence of popular +excitements and party influences--could be expected from judges whom +the breath of a party leader can make and unmake, at each year's end? +When to this we add, that the chief justice of the supreme court +receives a salary of $650, and each associate $550, we need not wonder +that no decision of the Rhode Island bench is ever quoted in other +states. The governor's salary is $400; the lieutenant governor's, +$200. But if, in scantiness of territory and a corresponding +scantiness of means, this state is ordained by nature to be the San +Marino of America, yet it is purely her own fault if, by the +precarious tenure of her judicial offices, she reduces one of the most +important departments of _mind_ to the same diminutive scale, and goes +far to make herself morally and intellectually also, the insignificant +miniature of a commonwealth. + +In Connecticut, justice is administered in causes of small amount by +county courts, whose judges are chosen annually: and in larger causes, +by superior courts. The latter are held semi-annually in each county +by one of five judges, who also form the supreme court. They hold +office during good behavior, or until seventy years of age: and have +both law and chancery jurisdiction. The supreme court sits once a year +_in each county_. I do not know what actual loss of valuable services +Connecticut has suffered, by her rule which drives judges from the +bench just at the juncture when their faculties are in many instances +the most happily ripe for its functions: but, that she has lost and +will lose, no one can doubt who remembers, that thirteen of the best +years of Mansfield's judicial life, and fourteen or fifteen of Wythe's +and Pendleton's, were after the age of seventy; and that such a rule +would have deprived the United States' judiciary, ten years ago, of +its present gigantic Coryphæus--confessedly one of the purest and most +powerful minds that ever filled any judgment seat. But what heightened +or adequate terms of censure can be found for the New York rule, which +displaces every judge at sixty? A rule which prematurely discarded +Spencer and Lansing; and which, for more than ten years, has made Kent +employ the full vigor and maturity of his intellect in writing +abstract treatises, and selling _chamber_ opinions, instead of going +on as he had begun, to build up for his state a system of +jurisprudence hardly inferior to that which Mansfield reared for +England? + +In Massachusetts, are some very striking peculiarities. The _supreme +court_, consisting of four judges, sits once a year _in each county_, +to decide questions of law, in the last resort. Some one of these +judges, besides, holds annually a _Nisi Prius_ term in each county, to +try appeals from an inferior grade called "courts of common pleas," +original suits in chancery, and upon the bonds of executors and +administrators. The appeals to them from the common pleas, are _as to +both law and fact_: a jury being empanneled, witnesses examined, &c., +as if it were an original proceeding. The latter courts are held twice +a year in each county, by some one of four judges; who hold office +(like those of the supreme court) during good behavior. They have +cognizance of all causes, except what I shall designate as vested +elsewhere. + +Presentments and indictments for all offences, are found only in the +_common pleas_; where, also, they are tried--_except in capital +cases_. These, after the indictment is found, are certified and +removed from the common pleas to the _supreme court_; at whose bar the +culprit is tried by a jury: a special term being held on purpose, in +any county where the judges are notified that a prisoner awaits trial +for life or death. _En passant_--though _eight crimes_ are, by the +laws of Massachusetts, punishable with death, _only twenty-six +persons_ in the whole state have been capitally convicted, _in thirty +years!_ The number of trials (I do not exactly remember it) bears an +immense disproportion to the number of convictions: so immense, as to +prove that either an undue severity in the laws, or the unreasonable +and too common lenity of juries, aided by the overwhelming superiority +of defending advocates--or (what is most probable) all three causes +together--have well nigh made those laws a dead letter. Prosecutions +are conducted by _district attorneys_, of whom there are four in the +state; each prosecuting within his allotted district. In the supreme +court, however, the attorney general is counsel for the commonwealth. + +_Chancery_, or _equitable relief_, is rarely sought in the +Massachusetts courts. Indeed it was unknown, until, within a +comparatively recent period, two or three statutes empowered the +supreme court to administer it, in a very few specified +cases--_mortgages_, _trusts_, _accounts between partners and +co-executors_, _waste_, _nuisance_, and two or three others: omitting +the fruitful subjects of _fraud_, _accident_, _dower_, _et +cetera_--and especially the sweeping power to relieve _wherever there +is no remedy at law_--subjects which, by the multiplication of cases, +have made _our_ chancery, like that of England, the dormitory if not +the grave of justice. And even as to the few specified subjects of +jurisdiction, those statutes rigidly restrict the relief to cases in +which there is _not a plain and complete remedy at law_. Before these +enactments (and _since_, too, in cases without their scope,) the rigor +of the law was mitigated only by the sense of justice in juries; and +by sundry expedients--curious enough, to Virginian eyes--which seem to +have left few _wrongs_ unremedied. For instance--if I am unjustly cast +in a trial at law, by accident or surprise, or for want of testimony +which I did not know of till the term was over; not a bill of +injunction, but a petition to the judge in vacation, within a limited +time, will procure me a new trial. If my debtor fraudulently dispose +of his property; instead of a bill in chancery to ferret out the +fraud, I may have, along with my execution (if I have obtained +judgment) a _summons_ to the colluding purchaser as _garnishee_, to +disclose orally on oath, in open court, what effects he has, of the +debtor. + +Roads are laid off by a board of commissioners, established for that +purpose in each county; and invested with judicial powers, in +controversies on the subject. + +The probat of wills, the granting of administrations, the appointment +of guardians, and the supervision of the accounts and conduct of +guardians, executors, and administrators, are confided to an officer, +called the _Judge of Probat_, appointed in each county for those +purposes only; and holding his court monthly, in several convenient +places of the county, to hear motions and decide disputes on those +subjects. His records and proceedings are kept by a distinct clerk, +called the _Register of Probat_; and an appeal lies from his decisions +immediately to the supreme court. We, in Virginia, sorely need some +tribunal like this; specially charged with the interests of widows and +orphans. + +Equally worthy to be copied, is the Massachusetts mode of constituting +_juries_. Lists of all persons qualified to serve, are kept by the +town-clerks; from which, just before a court, the town quota of jurors +is drawn by lot: and no one is compellable to serve oftener than once +in three years. _They are paid for their service._ Against juries thus +formed, I heard no complaints, of partiality, corruption, or undue +ignorance. They receive a compensation, which at least defrays their +reasonable expenses; and if there be still some burthen, it is borne +equally by all, and recurs at such long intervals, as to be absolutely +unfelt. How different is our plan, of sending out the sheriff just +before a trial, to gather in the sweepings of the court-yard! Suitors +and witnesses, attending perhaps for the tenth time, in hopes of +having their causes determined--strangers from other counties, nay, +travellers from other states--tipplers from the tavern porch--the +nearest merchants, mechanics, and farmers, torn suddenly and +capriciously from their employments--such is the medley, produced by a +system as oppressive to most of the jurors themselves, as it is +subversive of the important ends for which they are empanneled. One is +really tempted to believe, that in adhering so pertinaciously to a +system so obviously defective and so easily remedied, our statesmen +have been governed by a fixed design to bring jury-trial itself into +disrepute. + +Wiser in another respect also than we, these "Bay folk" have no courts +(except for cases of twenty dollars or less) held by _men who have not +themselves studied the science they are to expound_: no parallel to +our county courts--those _crack_ tribunals of some great men, whose +admiration arises either from the want of intimate knowledge--they +having ranged generally in a higher sphere--or from their enjoying +over that bench an _influence_, flattering to their vanity, and +blinding to their judgments. How long will the public attention +sleep--how long will the hand of reform be palsied--when will an +attempt be made to cure the unfitness of these courts for the weighty, +multifarious, and difficult functions entrusted to them?--the +ludicrous, if it were a less mischievous, uncertainty of their +decisions, owing to their ignorance of any fixed rules by which to +decide?--the delays, so fatal to justice, that attend their unsteady +ministration?--the ruinous accumulation of costs, besides harassment +and loss of time in dancing attendance upon them through years of +litigation? + +The Massachusetts and Connecticut plan, of an _itinerant supreme +court_, cannot be commended to imitation. The common arguments, of +_bringing justice home to the people_, and _enabling suitors to see in +person to their causes_, are not pertinent, where the whole case is +contained in the record; where no witnesses are to be summoned or +examined--no counsel to be instructed in the cause. Then, the loss of +time in travelling, and the want of so extensive a library and so able +a bar, as would be formed if the court sat always in one place, must +essentially impair the correctness of its decisions, and lower the +superiority of its intellect. + +The common-law of England is made the basis of Massachusetts law, not, +as in Virginia, by a legislative declaration that it shall be so, but +by adjudications of the courts, recognizing and adopting it as such. +By a still bolder stretch, the courts have acknowledged as generally +binding, English statutes made in amendment of the common-law--not +only before, but _since_ the foundation of the colony: nay, the terms +of the decision do not exclude English statutes subsequent to the +American revolution. This comprehensive grafting of a foreign code +upon the domestic, not by professed and authorised law-givers, but by +mere judges, is perhaps one of the most remarkable instances of +judicial legislation, any where to be found: and must have arisen from +a licentious spirit of _construction_, which, when it acts upon +written laws, may naturally be expected to make them mean almost any +thing that the interpreters choose.[3] The admirers of an _unwritten +law, reposited in the breasts of judges and to be sought only in +precedents and decisions_, may vaunt, if they will, its happy +_elasticity_, dilating and contracting to fit every conceivable +emergency: but I doubt if (among other evils) it does not nurture +habits of latitudinous interpretation, destined to be well nigh fatal +to one of the great boasts of modern times--written forms of +government. Minds accustomed always to make the law adapt itself to +the particular occasion; to regard that _as law_, which the immediate +case requires; naturally fritter away constitutions with as little +ceremony, as children demolish or alter their sand houses and dirt +pies. + +[Footnote 3: Hardly less startling an exercise of legislative power by +the judiciary, was in the abolition of slavery. The Bill of Rights +prefixed to the constitution of Massachusetts, adopted in 1780, +asserts, as most of our state constitutions do--substantially copying +the Declaration of Independence--"_that all men are born free and +equal_, and have certain natural and unalienable rights;" namely, the +right of enjoying their lives and liberties, &c. On this, some masters +spontaneously yielded freedom to their slaves; others, on its being +demanded of them. In 1781, a master who refused, was sued by his slave +for a trespass, assault and battery, and false imprisonment; and +pleaded, that the plaintiff, being his slave, had no right to sue him. +The court held, that slavery was contrary to the first article of the +Bill of Rights; and that therefore the plea was bad, and the plaintiff +was free. This decision virtually abolished slavery in Massachusetts, +without any legislative act for doing so. Some other suits were +brought; but in most cases, masters yielded at once. There were then +not quite five thousand slaves in the state. Abolition was similarly +effected in New Hampshire. It was by legislation in New York, where +there were twenty-one thousand slaves, in a whole population of three +hundred and forty thousand.] + +The chief court of Massachusetts has tasked the readers of law-books, +as heavily as our's has done. Its decisions fill twenty-seven or +twenty-eight octavo volumes--about our number. The supreme court of +New York has issued more than thirty; the supreme court at Washington +eighteen or twenty; Pennsylvania, Connecticut, South Carolina--but I +forbear the appalling list. Every good law library, however, should +have at least the five sets first named; and they are as yet but just +begun. If the monstrous increase be not checked, what purse can buy, +what head can read (much less remember,) nay what room can hold them, +a century hence? Already, indeed, we are grievously over-tasked: for +besides the thousands of tomes, English and American, now +accumulated,[4] it is impossible to keep pace with the daily +accessions, poured forth from a hundred manufactories of legal +oracles. Some powerful condenser, or another Caliph Omar, is our only +hope. The oppressive bulkiness of law-reports is owing partly to the +reporters; but more, to the judges--who, apparently more intent on the +display of learning and ingenuity, than upon adjusting the rights of +the parties, often swell the simple and clear page or two, which the +case requires, into a rambling and voluminous disquisition of twenty +pages. Nay, not content with _one_ such disquisition in each case, +each judge presents his own; and the reporter spreads them all at +length in his next volume. I wish that both judges and reporters could +be obliged to study, as models of lucid brevity, Yelverton's Reports, +and the still more admirable decisions of Chief Justice Tindal, of the +English Common-Pleas[5]--who frequently compresses into half a page or +less, what our American judges would wire-draw into half a dozen +pages. + +[Footnote 4: "Immenso aliarum super alias acervatarum legum cumulo."] + +[Footnote 5: In the late "English Common-Law Reports."] + +Lawyers are very numerous in Massachusetts--somewhere about seven +hundred; of whom one hundred and sixty or one hundred and eighty are +in Boston. Their intercourse appears to be marked by the same +fraternal spirit, which strews the toilsome path of the profession in +the south with so many sweets and flowers. Admission to the bar is +procured, not by examination, but by leave of court, on recommendation +of those who are already practising there; provided the candidate have +studied five years in some lawyer's office; or have so studied three +years, and be a graduate of some college. He has, besides, to pay for +admission into the supreme court, a fee of thirty dollars, and for the +common-pleas, twenty dollars; to be expended towards a joint library, +for the use of the bar in each county. These libraries are sometimes +large, and well selected. The emoluments of practice, except to the +very leaders of the profession, seem far inferior to those of +practisers occupying correspondent grades of talent and fame in +Virginia: indeed, I doubt whether any but Mr. Webster receives an +amount comparable to the incomes of several there, whom I could name. +Yet the life of a lawyer is probably more pleasant in Massachusetts. +From the pre-requisites to admission, you may infer that well-stored +minds abound more with the fraternity: at least it was so, till our +university, and our several excellent law-schools, began to give a +clearer and more expanded ken to the mental optics of our young +lawyers. Then, in society at large--certainly in the towns and +villages--there is more literature afloat in Massachusetts: amusements +are of a more rational cast. Where _we_ have a horse-race, a barbecue, +a whist-party, or a _pool_ at back-gammon, our Yankee brethren have a +meeting of some lyceum, or other society for mutual improvement, at +which a lecture is given or a debate held, upon some interesting +subject, of economy or morals: or an unceremonious evening visit is +dedicated to conversation, in which politics engross no unreasonable +share. The newspapers--even the most violent political ones--at once +attest and foster the prevalent taste for general knowledge, by +devoting a considerable part of their sheets to literary and useful +matter: unlike the two giants of the press in Virginia, that can +hardly ever spare a column, and never a page, from the +embittering--aye, the brutalizing--themes of party strife, to topics +which might exalt, enlighten, purify, innocently amuse, and humanize +the public mind. There is less locomotion in the practice of a +Massachusetts lawyer: he rarely attends more than two counties; for +the most part, only one. This, if he loves domestic life, is a great +point for him. And in the ordering of a New England home-stead, there +is a quiet, smooth despatch--a neatness--a happy fitting of means to +ends--a nicety of contrivances for comfort--an economy of trouble in +every thing--all calculated doubly to endear it to a home-loving man. +When to all this we add, that though the prime necessaries of life are +cheaper with us, those elegancies and luxuries which as the world goes +have become necessaries, are so much more accessible in New England, +as to make a smaller income yield a larger store of comfort; it will +not seem wonderful, that the balance of enjoyment is on the +Massachusetts lawyer's side. I take for granted, you see, that he is +not insensible to intellectual pleasures; and that _they_ conduce the +most of all to happiness. + +This is probably the last time you will hear from me before we meet; +as my tour is drawing near its close. The six weeks it has occupied, +have been crowded with more mind-stirring incident, than any six +months of my previous life. Vivid indeed is the contrast, between the +plodding, eventless tenor of the preceding eight years, and the +exciting, the feverish interest of these six weeks. Yet they have +afforded scarcely a describable adventure; nothing, at all calculated +to make an auditor's eyes stretch wide, or his hair stand on end. In +truth, the interest is explicable in great part by the simple case of +a plough-horse, turned loose to kick up his heels for an hour. He +enjoys the recreation (if his spirit is not broken by excessive work,) +five fold more than a daily roamer of the pasture could do. Judge how +the sport has kept my faculties aroused, by the fact, that though +habitually a great sleeper, requiring seven or eight hours in the +twenty-four, my sleep, since leaving Virginia, would hardly average +five hours. Even while on foot--walking from twenty to thirty miles a +day--my nightly allowance was sometimes less than five, never more +than six hours. + +Let me commend to tourists, _foot-travelling_--if they wish to see a +country thoroughly: I do not mean its rivers and mountains, cities, +forests, and churches, but its MEN and WOMEN. _These_ "constitute a +State." Whoever would see _them_ in their truest, every-day garb--of +dress and manners--upon occasions and amid scenes, where refined +disguises are laid aside, and life appears with the least +sophistication possible in our state of society; should walk among +them without equipage and in very plain clothes; call in at their +houses--partake of their meals--nay, find some excuse for tarrying a +day or two at one place--enter their schools, and their public +meetings--see them at their work--and hold "various talk" with them. +In two or three weeks thus employed, he will obtain a deeper insight +into their customs, character and institutions, than from months spent +in whirling along the highways, and attending formal dinner parties. +Unless he is a hardened pedestrian, he should take care to begin by +short journies, of only eight, ten, or fifteen miles a day; and not +till after five or six days, stretch away at thirty miles daily. +Otherwise he may cripple himself, so as greatly to mar the pleasure of +his jaunt. I speak from sore experience on this point. + +Though I have been obliged to concede to the Yankees, a superiority in +some respects over ourselves, you will not suspect me of having +over-colored my limnings, or of having wantonly--much less +ill-naturedly--disparaged our good old commonwealth. Without wishing +to lower the generally just and salutary, (though sometimes amusing) +pride her children feel at the bare mention of her honored name, I +have aimed to draw their attention to some traits of Yankee life and +character, which we may advantageously copy--nay, the _want of which_ +is the main cause of our lagging march in the numberless improvements, +that distinguish this age, and appear so fruitful of blessings to +mankind. My aim too has been, to disabuse them of a few of the +prejudices, which ignorance and misrepresentation have fostered +against our Northern brethren. Let any one who thinks I have +exaggerated their excellencies, only come among them, and see for +himself; bringing to the scrutiny _a candid mind_, prepared to _allow_ +for unavoidable differences.--Indeed our people ought to travel +northward oftener. It would be a good thing, if exploring parties were +frequently sent hither, (as to a moral _terra incognita_,) to observe +and report the particulars deserving of our imitation. Our independent +planters, and shrewd, notable housewives, could not make such an +excursion, without carrying home a hundred _notions_, for which they +and their neighbors would be the richer and better all their days. Nor +might they profit less, by sending their statesmen and law-givers, to +take lessons in civil polity. There are admirable things of every +magnitude; from TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENTS, COMMON SCHOOLS, and COURTS OF +PROBAT, down to _closed doors_, _splayed_ and _rumfordized_ +fire-places,[6] _seasoned wood_,[7] and _cold light-bread_.[8] Some +things, too, they would see, to be shunned: I need only name excessive +_banking_,--enormously multiplied _corporations_, for manufacturing, +and other purposes--and, what strikes yet more fatally at the +foundation of popular government, the _caucus_ system. But the +strongest reason for a more frequent intercourse, is the liberalizing +of mind that would result; the unlearning of our long cherished +prejudices, from seeing the Yankees _at home_--that place, where human +character may always be the most accurately judged. They too, have +some (though fewer and less bitter,) reciprocal prejudices, to be +cured by a more intimate acquaintance. No mind but must see the +unspeakable importance of weeding away these mutual and groundless +dislikes. The perpetuity of our union--and the liberty, the peace, the +happiness of its members--in a great degree depend upon the +accomplishment of that expurgation. There cannot be a simpler +_recipe_. _The North and the South need only know each other better, +to love each other more._ + +[Footnote 6: When the sides of a fire-place are slanting, instead of +being square with the back, they are said to be _splayed_. When the +back leans forward at top, approaching the inner side of the arch or +front top, so as to make the flue only six or eight inches wide, it is +said to be _Rumford-ized_, If my readers pardon me for being thus +elementary, I will presume further upon it, and add, that the latter +term comes from Count _Rumford_, who invented that improvement. The +sides of a New England fire-place often slope at an angle of 120 or +130 degrees with the back; so as to make the width _behind_, not more +than half the width in front. The wood is usually sawed, to fit the +hinder part of the fire-place.] + +[Footnote 7: The wood is cut 12, sometimes 15 or 18 months, before it +is burned. If cut in the summer, it is suffered to lie out for a few +months, and then put away till the second winter, in the _wood-house_; +a constant and close appendage to every dwelling. Southrons have no +idea, though Yankees have experimental knowledge, of the saving and +comfort there is in using this, instead of green wood--how vastly +further any given quantity of the former will go, in producing heat. +It has been satisfactorily shewn, that in a cord of green wood, there +are about 140 or 150 gallons of _water_; all of which must be changed +to steam--that is, _evaporated_--before the particles of the wood in +which it is lodged can burn: and in doing this, just so much _heat_ is +expended, which would otherwise be employed in warming the room. The +time spent in this process, makes our people fancy that green wood +actually _burns_ longer than dry: and because a dozen billets of +green, when the water is entirely evaporated, give out more heat than +four dry ones, they think that hotter fires can be made of green +wood!] + +[Footnote 8: The bread should not be eaten till it is _cured_, or +stale; i.e., at least twenty-four hours old; and it is _good_, for +several days more. The superior wholesomeness of _cured_ bread is +explained by the fact, that on coming out of the oven, it has an +over-proportion of carbonic acid gas--well known to be poisonous when +unmixed; but by lying in the open air, the bread parts with most of +this noxious gas, and imbibes instead of it, oxygen gas--the +wholesome, vital _principle_ in the atmosphere.] + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +THE WALTZ AND THE GALLOPADE. + + +MR. WHITE,--Although a short time only has passed since I wrote you a +long letter, partly to fulfil a promise made before your Messenger +began to perform his most welcome peregrinations, yet the spirit +moveth me irresistibly to address you again. The immediate cause of +this second tax upon your patience being so soon levied, is the +perusal of an article published some time ago in that spirited paper, +the "Constitutional Whig" of your city,--wherein, to my great +gratification, its talented editor has lashed in well merited style, +that outrage upon the yet unsophisticated manners and customs of our +country, seen, I believe, for the first time in the city of Washington +last winter, as if in mockery of the character and memory of its +illustrious founder. I mean the "Fancy Ball," as it is styled by those +who have undertaken to describe it; although with all due deference to +their superior taste and knowledge, I would venture to suggest "the +frantic hurlyburly" as a more appropriate term. I do this from having +some reason to believe, that a more deplorable caricature of what was +designed to be represented, was never perpetrated by the would-be +fashionables in any country--either _in_ or _out_ of Christendom. This +foreign and apish intruder has not yet, thank heaven, gained such +footing among us, as altogether to preclude the hope of extirpating it +from the land, if a few such pens as that wielded by the editor of the +Whig, could be exerted for so laudable a purpose; and therefore it is +that I venture to cry--"to the rescue," in the hope that several +others will obey the call. Let it once be deemed "_the fashion_" to +have "Fancy Balls," and even the greatest clodhoppers among us are +sufficiently acquainted with the despotism of this tyrant, to know +that _his_ behests will bid defiance alike to reason, ridicule, and +reproof--to good sense, good manners, and good principles. + +I am much gratified, Mr. Editor, at another circumstance brought to my +notice incidentally by this article in the "Whig." It is, that our +language, copious as it certainly is, does not yet afford terms of its +own to express several of the foreign fooleries and attempts to +corrupt our yet simple, unaffected character, described as a part of +this extraordinary exhibition, "the Fancy Ball;" such, for example, as +the waltz and the gallopade. For the benefit of those who may wish to +know the literal meaning of these outlandish terms, without the means +of gratifying such wish, I beg leave to offer the fruit of my +researches--aided, as I confess myself to have been, by far better +scholars than I am. + +The first term--"_waltz_," is evidently of German extraction, being +plainly derived from the verb "_walzen_" which, with the adjunct +"_sich_," means to roll, welter, or wallow oneself; and with the +prefix "_das_" becomes the participle rolling, weltering, wallowing; +from which selfish process the transition is quite easy, to roll, or +welter, or wallow another. In either case the predominant idea is, +that the term describes some action natural to an animal of the order +Belluæ; for our English correlative terms are never applied to human +beings, but by way of derision or contempt expressed in figurative +language. Quere: how does it accord with human pride and vanity--how +far is it reconcileable to the lowest aspirations that we are ever +willing to acknowledge ourselves capable of feeling, to be ambitious +of imitating either hogs, horses, or monkies in our actions? + +If there could be any doubt in regard to the derivation of the first +term "_waltz_," or the object of the practice of _waltzing_, the +etymology of the second term "_gallopade_," must settle the question +beyond farther controversy; and must prove that an imitation of +certain belluine gambols and gesticulations most be the grand +desideratum in adopting these exotic fashions. "_Gallopade_" is +manifestly from the French word "_galloper_," and that again from the +Greek "_kalpazein_" to gallop like a horse. From all this it seems +perfectly clear, that this latter dance at least, (if it may be so +called,) in order to honor its Greek Etymon, should be performed on +_all fours_; since for a biped successfully to imitate any action of a +quadruped, in which all its limbs are used, the biped must make its +arms, if it has any, execute the function of legs. The quadruped +resemblance then, which seems to be the thing coveted, would be +brought as near to perfection as the nature of the case could possibly +admit. Add to this, it is the best imaginable expedient for working +off that dissatisfaction at the ways of Providence which these +gallopading or galloping gentry appear to feel, at perceiving that all +the genera of the Belluæ order, (unless, perhaps, the Kangaroo may be +excepted,) have been so much more liberally dealt with, as to be +provided with one more pair of legs than they have. It may however be +well questioned, how far it is _good policy_ (to say no worse of it,) +to encourage this downward tendency, since the natural proclivity of +our species to indulge brute appetites and passions is generally +allowed to be already much greater than becomes us who claim to be the +only rational part of God's visible creation. Heaven knows that we +even _now_ approximate far too closely to the lower order of animals +in many of our propensities and practices, not to take any particular +pains, nor to use any extraordinary exertions to render this +approximation still more striking. If we can not prevail upon +ourselves to cherish higher aspirations, to act in a manner more +worthy of our exalted station among living and sentient beings, let us +at least strive hard _not to retrograde_. + +So much, Mr. Editor, for _the degradation_ of these foreign fooleries. +But their _demoralizing tendencies_ are matters of much higher +concern--of infinitely deeper interest. Let me endeavor to point them +out. The perfection of the "_waltz_" consists in exhibiting to the +gaze of a numerous company of both sexes, the female form in every +variety of position and attitude into which activity of body and +suppleness of limb can throw it--short of what all would exclaim +against as absolutely indecent, continually however verging to that +point. No modest woman ever beheld it for the first time, without the +burning blush of shame and confusion. As to the horse galloping dance, +I know not what allurement _that_ may in time be capable of producing, +since it is not yet sufficiently domesticated to be well understood, +nor very skilfully executed--to say nothing of the very reasonable +doubts yet entertained by many nice calculators on such intricate +subjects, whether such a thing be possible as either an alluring or +graceful gallop performed by horse, man, or woman. But that which I +have said of the "_waltz_," none can deny, however some may be +disposed to palliate it, by alleging that all its numerous postures +and gyrations are still practised under that powerful sense of decorum +which the ladies of our country, (God bless them,) who venture to +indulge in it, have not yet been able entirely to subdue. But the +anxious question is,--_can this always last?_ Can a sense of _decorum_ +or of _any thing else_ continue under the constant operation of causes +tending powerfully, nay, inevitably, to annihilate it? There is +nothing so great that time cannot destroy--nothing so small that it +may not increase to an almost inconceivable magnitude. Thus it is, +comparatively speaking, with our best principles--our most approved +manners. Injuries too slight at first to be regarded or feared, +accumulate by unperceived or neglected degrees, until at last they +grow past remedy, and all is lost that was worthy of preservation. Can +our beloved wives and daughters--beloved, because still uncontaminated +by foreign corruptions--can _they_ suffer themselves to be continually +whirled about in all the giddy, exciting mazes of the licentious +waltz, like so many French or Italian Opera girls, without impairing +or losing all self-respect--all that most lovely and endearing modesty +for which they have ever been so justly celebrated, so highly prized? +Can not polished manners, easy carriage, graceful deportment, be +taught at less sacrifice, less risk, than by calling in for the +purpose these deleterious foreign auxiliaries? Surely--_most surely_ +they may; for all, I think, will admit, that no more admirable and +perfect examples of these qualities _can_, or probably ever _will_ be +found, than among the ladies of what may be called _the old school_, +many of whom to our own great happiness, are yet spared to teach their +daughters, among numerous useful lessons, that neither waltzing nor +horse-like-galloping is at all necessary to gain for them all the +esteem, regard, and devoted love which they can possibly deem +essential to their happiness in the present life. Thoughtless as too +many of our young men are, and desirous as they may often be to choose +waltzing and gallopading young ladies for _partners in a dance_, most +rarely do they yet commit the egregious folly of seeking them as +_partners for life_. However giddy, rash, and improvident some of them +may be in other respects, they are too well aware that a fondness for +these indecorous displays of the person--these ridiculous, antic +gambols, will do any thing rather than fit their practitioners for the +various, complicated, and arduous duties of the married state--through +_not one of which_ can either a waltz or a gallopade carry them with +the least credit to themselves or benefit to their families. +Better--far better would it be for these daughters to live and die +utterly ignorant of what dancing is, than to be qualified to +participate in its pleasures, at the hazard of soiling, in the +slightest degree, that spotless purity of feelings and character, +which _we men_ rank (and long, very long may we have a right to do +so,) as the richest, the most precious by far of all our moral +possessions. Deprive us of these, and we shall be poor--miserably poor +indeed! Rather let our beloved girls be subject forever to the +ridicule and contempt of all the infatuated votaries of these modern +and foreign[1] corruptions, both of our manners and principles, than +to be longer exposed to their deeply pernicious influence. + +[Footnote 1: That your readers may know what our English friends think +of waltzing and gallopading, I take the liberty to add the following +extract from an article in the New Monthly Magazine, "on the +Revolutions of the 19th century." Here it is-- + +"Look at our balls: In 1800, modest woman danced modestly; and let the +conversation which passed between two partners, standing as far +distant from each other as people ordinarily do in a drawing room, be +what it might, it could do no harm in the way of example. Within this +century it has become the fashion for a delicate girl, who would, as +Fielding's 'Huncamunca' says--'shudder at the gross idea' of man's +advance, to permit herself, and be permitted by her mother--aye, or +her husband, to flourish about a room to a wriggling German air, with +a strange man's arm round her waist, and her delicate hand upon his +brawny shoulder. This thing is called--_a waltz_: there is another of +the same character, called--_a gallopade_, where the same operations +are performed, and in which, instead of turning the woman about until +she gets giddy, the fellow makes no more ado, but claps her up in his +paws, and hurries right on end from one corner of the room to +another." + +Thus speaks one of the most popular periodicals in England of these +foreign abominations; and it is for Virginia parents and heads of +families to say, whether they shall be naturalized among us, or +banished from our society as a moral pestilence.] + +I am no enemy, sir, to dancing; for I believe it to be not only an +exhilirating, healthful, and joyous amusement, but also entirely +innocent, when not carried to excess: quite as innocent as any other +imaginable thing that can properly be called amusement, in which the +two sexes participate together. But at every hazard of incurring the +ridicule and scorn of our American exquisites, I denounce waltzing and +gallopading, because, from my inmost soul, I dread any thing and every +thing that threatens, in the slightest degree, to change, for the +worse, the character of _the Virginia lady_; for upon _that character_ +I most conscientiously believe, the happiness both of ourselves and +our children--aye, and of our children's children, vitally depends. I +cling to _it_ therefore as our best, our last hope, to guard us +against all corrupting innovations. Those upon which I have ventured +to address you, will probably be deemed very trivial matters, I dare +say, by thousands; but many of our ladies, I trust, whose opinions +have still much influence in all our social circles; many who will +acknowledge me for their true, devoted friend, although quite too old +to be their beau, will decide, that I have not ascribed too much power +to these exotic fashions. Like all other corrupting influences, they +have gradually insinuated themselves into favor; their approach has +not been so sudden and violent as to excite alarm. Of this fact, there +is no stronger evidence, than that which is furnished by the history +of the waltz itself, which, trifling as it may seem, _will and must_ +have a powerfully demoralizing effect, especially when followed up by +its congenial ally, Masquerades,--of which the fancy-ball-folly is the +certain precursor. Mark the prediction, sir, for I know it will be +laughed to scorn by all the fashionables of the present day, although +I ask only two years for its fulfilment, but expect it much sooner. + +When the waltz first made its appearance in this country, it was +exhibited only on the public stage, and _even there_ met with almost +universal reprobation, except from a few reckless profligates, whose +sole object in life is mere sensual indulgence. None so much as +surmised that such a dance could ever be introduced into private +society. At last, a few adventurous foreigners succeeded in +introducing it into private parties: but, for a considerable time, +_they themselves_ were the only performers. It was long before our +country-women could so far forget the early lessons of decorum, self +respect, and modesty, taught them by their mothers, as to make that +public display and spectacle of their persons, which must unavoidably +be made, in waltzing at all, if executed as the fashion required. But +these most natural and laudable feelings, which caused them to revolt +at such an innovation, such an outrage against all their preconceived +notions of propriety, have gradually yielded to the almost resistless +force of example "_in high places_," until the waltz has not only +domiciliated itself permanently in nearly all our towns and cities, +but has enlisted in its defence many bold country advocates. The few +ladies, (comparatively speaking,) among us, who yet have firmness and +moral courage enough, to resist what they deem a very pernicious +example, cannot, I fear, long maintain their most laudable opposition, +against such a host of assailants. Even _you_, Mr. Editor, (if you +will pardon my freedom in making the remark,) seem a little +inclined--judging by some late comments of your's upon waltzing--to +submit to the practice without further resistance. + +Having made up my mind, Mr. Editor, to meet as I can, for this attack +upon foreign fashions, the sneers and scoffs of all our American +exquisites, should any condescend to notice me--a class of bipeds (by +the way,) who bear the same sort of resemblance to their European +prototypes, that the buffoon does to the head performer in a company +of tumblers and rope dancers--I shall say nothing to deprecate their +displeasure. But I must still beg leave to assign a few of my chief +reasons for addressing you on this occasion, lest that numerous and +highly respectable portion of your readers, whose good opinion I am +anxious to retain, may mistake my motives. Without some satisfactory +explanation, some of them might even be tempted to exclaim at me, as +old Edie Ochiltree did at the Antiquary--"Lordsake! he's gaun +gyte!"--"he has run crazy, to venture upon taking by the horns this +mad creature, Fashion, as if his feeble arm could at all check the +wild headlong course of such an animal." To prevent such comments, if +possible, I will urge in my own justification, should any be +necessary, that I have done this deed, because I deem it an essential +part of every aged person's obligations to his fellow men, as long as +life lasts, to oppose either orally or in print, for the benefit of +the youth of our country, every innovation, be it what it may, which +threatens to affect them injuriously. Whether they will listen to him +or not, depends upon themselves; _his duty_ in this behalf will have +been fulfilled. I have done it too, because I believe, that the most +feeble laborer with honest intentions, in a good cause, may accomplish +some good which will amply compensate him for his efforts. I have done +it, because apparent trifles are rarely noticed in books, although +many of these trifles have a most powerful and deleterious influence, +not only on our principles of action, but over our manners and +conduct. And lastly, I have done it, because I believe, without the +most remote possibility of this conviction ever being changed, that +the happiness of _the present_, as well as of _every future +generation_, depends upon preserving unsullied the purity of the +female character. _The matrons_ of our country are the first, the most +watchful, the best guardians of our children, where they themselves +have been virtuously educated. _They_ form the manners and character +of these children: _they_ sow the seeds of all their good qualities: +_they_ first discover and cherish with boundless affection and +solicitude, the earliest dawnings of each amiable disposition; and +never relax while life lasts, their anxious efforts to fit them both +for their present and future state of existence. How momentous then! +how vitally important it is! that, when the mothers depart hence to +another and a happier world, their surviving daughters should be +qualified to take their places, with equal capacity to fulfil all +their duties. But this, alas, cannot possibly be, without the most +zealous, unremitting and assiduous care, to guard them, as we would +the most inestimable of our possessions, against all demoralizing +influences whatever. Corrupt the source, and what will be the effect +of its streams? Poison the fountain, and who can drink of its waters +without death--death, both in a figurative and literal sense? An atom +of dust in itself is unworthy of notice; but in reference to the great +planet we inhabit, it is a constituent and essential part. A drop of +water alone, is apparently valueless; yet the mighty ocean itself is +composed of individual drops, without which its bed would be an arid +desert. + +The application of these general remarks to our subject, is too +manifest, I hope, to be mistaken. Let nothing, therefore, however +trivial it may appear on a cursory view, be deemed unworthy of serious +attention, which either directly or indirectly, can injuriously affect +the yet distinctive, still unsullied character of our justly and +dearly beloved country-women. + +Having thus thought and felt, as long as I have been at all capable of +serious reflection, it is quite too late to change: I am consequently +prepared to submit unmoved to whatever sentence may be pronounced +against this second communication, from your friend, and constant +reader, + +OLIVER OLDSCHOOL. + + + + +[The following amusing incident, is related in the lively manner for +which its author is much celebrated. The moral predicated upon the +bashfulness of his visiter, seems however disproportionably serious. +There are few cases of such extreme _mauvaise honte_ in the present +day, when an excess of _modest assurance_ (by some denominated +impudence,) is rather to be complained of.] + + + From the New York Mirror. + +A BASHFUL GENTLEMAN. + +BY M. M. NOAH. + + +Modesty, diffidence, and a proper humility, are jewels in the cap of +merit; but downright bashfulness, your real _mauvaise honte_ is +terrible, and is a distinct mark of ill-breeding, or rather of no +breeding at all. Your dashing impudent fops, who say a thousand silly +things to the ladies, and flutter around them like butterflies, are +yet more endurable than your bashful fellow who sneaks into a corner, +terrified to catch a look, or exchange a word with a pretty woman. + +Such an identical person paid me a visit on one of the cold days last +week, and broke in upon me with a thousand bows and apologies, while +busily engaged with pen in hand, thinking of a whig candidate for +president, who would not run the risk of being knocked on the head by +our friends the moment his name was announced. + +"Sit down, sir, if you please; make no more apologies; sit down and +tell me your business." "Well, sir, I'm come for a curious business, +quite an intrusion, I'm sure, but so it is; necessity knows no +ceremony. Some time ago I read in your paper a description of the +miseries of an old bachelor, and it was so to the life--so true, and +so exactly my condition, that I have made bold to call on you for +advice; for misery, they say, loves company, and one wretched bachelor +may be able to counsel another--thus it is.--" "Stop, stop, my friend; +before you proceed, let me correct an error in which you have, no +doubt, inadvertently fallen. Though I may be able from memory to +describe the misery of single wretchedness, I had not the courage +constantly to face it. You must not be deceived, I am no longer a +bachelor; do you want the proofs, look there; that black-eyed, ruddy +cheeked fellow on the carpet, employed in cutting out ships and houses +from old newspapers, is my oldest; he designs himself to be an editor, +for he contends that nothing is easier; it is only, he says, cutting +out slips from one paper and putting them into another. That little +one who struts about in a paper cocked-hat and wooden sword, with +which, ever and anon, he pokes at my ribs, while deeply engaged in +considering how the nation is to be saved, is my second hopeful; he is +a Jackson man; all children, sir, are Jackson men; he goes for a +soldier if there be wars. That little golden-haired urchin, with a +melting blue eye, who is sure to ask me for candy, while I am +describing, in bitter terms, the tyranny of the Albany regency, is my +youngest; and there, with a basket of stockings near her, sits my +better half; there is the sparkling fire, and here are my slippers: +does all this look like the miseries of a bachelor?" "Well, I beg your +pardon, sir, for believing that you were as wretched as I am; but +still when you hear my story you may possibly advise me what is best +to be done." "Go on, sir." "Well, sir, thus it is: My father realized +a handsome property by his industry, which he left to me; but such +were his rigid notions of the necessity of constant occupation to +prevent idleness and other evils, that my time was employed, after I +had left school, which was at an early age, from sunrise to bed-time. +It was an incessant round of occupation--labor, keeping books, and +making out bills. Behold me now, at the age of twenty-three, with a +good constitution, correct principles, and a handsome income. I have +lost my parents--am alone in the world. I wish to marry, but really, +sir, to my shame I confess it, I have no acquaintance among young +ladies. I do not know any. My secluded manner of living has prevented +my cultivating their acquaintance; and if by accident I am thrown into +their society, my tongue is literally tied. I do not know how to +address them--I am not conversant with the topics which are usually +discussed. In short, sir, I wish to advertise for a wife, and not +knowing how to draw up such an advertisement, I came to beg that favor +at your hands." + +"So, so," said I to myself, "here's a little modesty tumbled into +decay--'Coelebs in search of a wife.'" He was a good-looking young +fellow, and had a quick eye, which led me very much to doubt his +reserved, retired and abashed condition before the ladies. + +"Have you, sir, considered the risk in taking a wife in this strange +way? How very liable you may be to gross imposition? What lady of +delicacy or reputation would venture to contract an alliance so very +solemn and obligatory, through the channel of a newspaper +advertisement?" "Very probably, sir; but a poor honest girl might be +struck with it; a clever, well-educated daughter, ill-treated by a +fiery step-mother, might, in despair, change her condition for a +better one; nay, a spirited girl might admire the novelty, and boldly +make the experiment." "Well, sir, and how are you to conduct the +negotiation with your native bashfulness? You have no superannuated +grandmother or old maiden aunt to arrange preliminaries." "That's very +true; but, sir, necessity will give me confidence, and despair afford +me courage." + +I wrote the advertisement for him, which he thankfully and carefully +placed in his pocket-book, and bade us good morning. "Poor devil," +said I, "here's a condition--here's a novelty--here's a _rara avis!_ a +fellow of twenty-three, with a good character and income, and not +sufficient impudence to ask for a wife. I know lots of young ladies +who would have sufficient charity to break him of his bashfulness in a +few lessons." + +However, his case is not a novel one. It shows the necessity of +parents accustoming their sons in early life to cultivate the society +of respectable females. They should be encouraged in any disposition +they may manifest for good female society, although they may incur the +charge of being either a beau or a dandy. Boys should go to +dancing-school, not only because it teaches them grace, but it +accustoms them in early life to the society of women. They dance with +those girls, whom, in later periods, they may admire and respect as +ladies. The lives of children should be checkered with innocent +amusements--study and labor require such relief; and they should not +be brought up in close confinement, in a doggerel way which unfits +them for society when they are men; nor be driven to the dire +necessity of advertising for a wife, and taking the risk of such a +desperate adventure. + + + + + From the Knickerbocker. + +A SCENE IN REAL LIFE. + + 'The facts not otherwise than here set down.' + _Wife of Mantua_. + +Amidst the exaggerations of modern literature, and the fictions of +that exuberant fancy, which in these latter days is tasked to gratify +a public taste somewhat vitiated, it is useful to present occasional +views of actual existence. Such are contained in the following sketch, +which is studiously simple in its language, and every event of which +is strictly true. We have this assurance from a source entitled to +implicit credit. + +_Editors Knickerbocker_. + + +There is a vast amount of suffering in the world that escapes general +observation. In the lanes and alleys of our populous cities, in the +garrets and cellars of dilapidated buildings, there are pregnant cases +of misery, degradation, and crime, of which those who live in +comfortable houses, and pursue the ordinary duties of life, have +neither knowledge nor conception. By mere chance, occasionally, a +solitary instance of depravity and awful death is exposed, but the +startling details which are placed before the community, are regarded +as gross exaggerations. It is difficult for those who are unacquainted +with human nature in its darkest aspects, to conceive the immeasurable +depth to which crime may sink a human being,--and the task of +attempting to delineate a faithful picture of such depravity, though +it might interest the philosopher, would be revolting to the general +reader. There are, however, cases of folly and error, which should be +promulgated as warnings, and the incidents of the annexed sketch are +of this character. Mysterious are the ways of Providence in punishing +the transgressions of men,--and indisputable is the truth, that Death +is the wages of Sin. + + * * * * * + +Twenty years ago, no family in the fashionable circles of Philadelphia +was more distinguished than that of Mr. L----: no lady was more +admired and esteemed than his lovely and accomplished wife. They had +married in early life, with the sanction of relations and friends, and +under a conviction that each was obtaining a treasure above all price. +They loved devotedly and with enthusiasm, and their bridal day was a +day of pure and unadulterated happiness to themselves, and of pleasure +to those who were present to offer their congratulations on the joyous +event. The happy pair were the delight of a large circle of +acquaintances. In her own parlor, or in the drawing-rooms of her +friends, the lady was ever the admiration of those who crowded around +her, to listen to the rich melody of her voice, or to enjoy the +flashes of wit and intelligence which characterized her conversation. + +Without the egotism and vanity which sometimes distinguish those to +whom society pays adulation, and too prudent and careful in her +conduct to excite any feeling of jealousy in the breast of her +confiding husband, Mrs. L----'s deportment was in all respects +becoming a woman of mind, taste, and polished education. Her chosen +companion noticed her career with no feelings of distrust, but with +pride and satisfaction. He was happy in the enjoyment of her undivided +love and affection, and happy in witnessing the evidences of esteem +which her worth and accomplishments elicited. Peace and prosperity +smiled on his domestic circle, and his offspring grew up in +loveliness, to add new pleasures to his career. + +The youngest of his children was a daughter, named Letitia, after her +mother, whom, in many respects, she promised to resemble. She had the +same laughing blue eyes, the same innocent and pure expression of +countenance, and the same general outline of feature. At an early age +her sprightliness, acute observation, and aptitude in acquiring +information, furnished sure evidences of intelligence, and +extraordinary pains were taken to rear her in such a manner as to +develope, advantageously, her natural powers. The care of her +education devolved principally upon her mother, and the task was +assumed with a full consciousness of its responsibility. + +With the virtuous mother, whose mind is unshackled by the absurdities +of extreme fashionable life, there are no duties so weighty, and at +the same time so pleasing, as those connected with the education of an +only daughter. The weight of responsibility involves not only the +formation of an amiable disposition and correct principles, but in a +great measure, the degree of happiness which the child may +subsequently enjoy. Errors of education are the fruitful source of +misery, and to guard against these is a task which requires judgment, +and unremitting diligence. But for this labor, does not the mother +receive a rich reward? Who may tell the gladness of her heart, when +the infant cherub first articulates her name? Who can describe the +delightful emotions elicited by the early development of her +genius,--the expansion of the intellect when it first receives and +treasures with eagerness, the seeds of knowledge? These are joys known +only to mothers, and they are joys which fill the soul with rapture. + +Letitia was eight years old, when a person of genteel address and +fashionable appearance, named Duval, was introduced to her mother by +her father, with whom he had been intimate when a youth, and between +whom a strong friendship had existed from that period. Duval had +recently returned from Europe, where he had resided a number of years. +He was charmed with the family, and soon became a constant visitor. +Having the entire confidence of his old friend and companion, all +formality in reference to intercourse was laid aside, and he was +heartily welcomed at all hours, and under all circumstances. He formed +one in all parties of pleasure, and in the absence of his friend, +accompanied his lady on her visits of amusement and pleasure,--a +privilege which he sedulously improved whenever opportunity offered. + +Duval, notwithstanding his personal attractions and high character as +a 'gentleman,' belonged to a class of men which has existed more or +less in all ages, to disgrace humanity. He professed to be a +philosopher, but was in reality a libertine. He lived for his own +gratification. It monopolized all his thoughts, and directed all his +actions. He belonged to the school of Voltaire, and recognized no +feeling of the heart as pure, no tie of duty or affection as sacred. +No consideration of suffering, of heart-rending grief, on the part of +his victim, were sufficient to intimidate his purpose, or check his +career of infamy. Schooled in hypocrisy, dissimulation was his +business: and he regarded the whole world as the sphere of his +operations,--the whole human family as legitimate subjects for his +villainous depravity. + +That such characters,--so base, so despicable, so lost to all feelings +of true honor,--can force their way into respectable society, and +poison the minds of the unsullied and virtuous, may well be a matter +of astonishment to those unacquainted with the desperate artfulness of +human hearts. But these monsters appear not in their true character: +they assume the garb and deportment of gentlemen, of philosophers, of +men of education and refinement, and by their accomplishments, the +suavity of their manners, their sprightliness of conversation, +bewilder before they poison, and fascinate before they destroy. + +If there be, in the long catalogue of guile, one character more +hatefully despicable than another, it is the libertine. Time corrects +the tongue of slander, and the generosity of friends makes atonement +for the depredations of the midnight robber. Sufferings and calamities +may be assuaged or mitigated by the sympathies of kindred hearts, and +the tear of affection is sufficient to wash out the remembrance of +many of the sorrows to which flesh is heir. But for the venom of the +libertine, there is no remedy,--of its fatal consequences, there is no +mitigation. His victims, blasted in reputation, are forever excluded +from the pale of virtuous society. No sacrifice can atone for their +degradation, for the unrelenting and inexorable finger of scorn +obstructs their progress at every step. The visitation of death, +appalling as is his approach to the unprepared, were a mercy, compared +with the extent and permanency of this evil. + +Duval's insidious arts were not unobserved by his intended victim. She +noticed the gradual development of his pernicious principles, and +shrunk with horror from their contaminating influence. She did not +hesitate to communicate her observations to her husband,--but he, +blinded by prejudice in favor of his friend, laughed at her scruples. +Without a word of caution, therefore, his intercourse was +continued,--and such was the weight of his ascendant power,--such the +perfection of his deep laid scheme, and such his facility in glossing +over what he termed _pardonable_, but which, in reality, were grossly +licentious, indiscretions of language and conduct,--that even the lady +herself was induced, in time, to believe that she had treated him +unjustly. The gradual progress of licentiousness is almost +imperceptible, and before she was aware of her error, she had drunk +deeply of the intoxicating draught, and had well nigh become a convert +to Duval's system of philosophy. Few who approach this fearful +precipice are able to retrace their steps. The senses are +bewildered,--reason loses its sway,--and a whirlpool of maddening +emotions takes possession of the heart, and hurries the infatuated +victim to irretrievable death. Before her suspicions were awakened, +the purity of her family circle was destroyed. Duval enrolled on his +list of conquests a new name,--_the wife of his bosom friend!_ + +An immediate divorce was the consequence. The misguided woman, who but +late had been the ornament of society and the pride of her family, was +cast out upon the world, unprotected, and without the smallest +resource. The heart of the husband was broken by the calamity which +rendered this step necessary, and he retired, with his children, to +the obscurity of humble life. + + * * * * * + +At a late hour on one of those bitter cold evenings experienced in the +early part of January, of the present year, two females, a mother and +daughter, both wretchedly clad, stood shivering at the entrance of a +cellar, in the lower part of the city, occupied by two persons of +color. The daughter appeared to be laboring under severe +indisposition, and leaned for support on the arm of her mother, who, +knocking at the door, craved shelter and warmth for the night. The +door was half opened in answer to the summons, but the black who +appeared on the stairs, declared that it was out of his power to +comply with the request, as he had neither fire,--except that which +was furnished by a handful of tan,--nor covering for himself and wife. +The mother, however, too much inured to suffering to be easily +rebuked, declared that herself and daughter were likely to perish from +cold, and that even permission to rest on the floor of the cellar, +where they would be protected, in some degree, from the 'nipping and +eager air,' would be a charity for which they would ever be grateful. +She alleged, as an excuse for the claim to shelter, that she had been +ejected, a few minutes before, from a small room which, with her +daughter, she had occupied in a neighboring alley, and for which she +had stipulated to pay fifty cents per week, because she had found +herself unable to meet the demand,--every resource for obtaining money +having been cut off by the severity of the season. The black, more +generous than many who are more ambitious of a reputation for +benevolence, admitted the shivering applicants, and at once resigned, +for their accommodation for the night, the only two seats in the +cellar, and cast a fresh handful of tan upon the ashes in the fire +place. + +It was a scene of wretchedness, want, and misery, calculated to soften +the hardest heart, and to enlist the feelings and sympathies of the +most selfish. The regular tenants of the cellar were the colored man +and his wife, who gained a scanty and precarious subsistence, as they +were able, by casual employment in the streets, or in neighboring +houses. Having in summer made no provision for the inclemencies of +winter, they were then utterly destitute. They had sold their articles +of clothing and furniture, one by one, to provide themselves with +bread, until all were disposed of, but two broken chairs, a box that +served for a table, and a small piece of carpeting, which answered the +double purpose of a bed and covering. Into this department of poverty +were the mother and daughter,--lately ejected from a place equally +destitute of the comforts of life,--introduced. The former was a woman +of about fifty years, but the deep furrows on her face, and her +debilitated frame, betokened a more advanced age. Her face was wan and +pale, and her haggard countenance and tattered dress, indicated a full +measure of wretchedness. Her daughter sat beside her, and rested her +head on her mother's lap. She was about twenty-five years of age, and +might once have been handsome,--but a life of debauchery had thus +early robbed her cheeks of their roses and prostrated her +constitution. The pallidness of disease was on her face,--anguish was +in her heart. + +Hours passed on. In the gloom of midnight, the girl awoke from a +disturbed and unrefreshing slumber. She was suffering from acute pain, +and in the almost total darkness which pervaded the apartment, raised +her hand to her mother's face. 'Mother,' said she, in faltering +accents, 'are you here?' + +'Yes, child: are you better?' + +'No, mother,--I am sick,--sick unto death! There is a canker at my +heart,--my blood grows cold,--the torpor of mortality is stealing upon +me!' + +'In the morning, my dear, we shall be better provided for. Bless +Heaven, there is still one place which, thanks to the benevolent, will +afford us sustenance and shelter.' + +'Do not thank Heaven, mother: you and I are outcasts from that place +of peace and rest. We have spurned Providence from our hearts, and +need not now call it to our aid. Wretches, wretches that we are!' + +'Be composed, daughter,--you need rest.' + +'Mother, there is a weight of woe upon my breast, that sinks me to the +earth. My brief career of folly is almost at an end. I have erred,--oh +God! fatally erred,--and the consciousness of my wickedness now +overwhelms me. I will not reproach you, mother, for laying the snare +by which I fell,--for enticing me from the house of virtue,--the home +of my heart-broken father,--to the house of infamy and death: but oh, +I implore you, repent: be warned, and let penitence be the business of +your days.' + +The hardened heart of the mother melted at this touching appeal, and +she answered with a half-stifled sigh: + +'Promise me then, ere I die, that you will abandon your ways of +iniquity, and endeavor to make peace with Heaven.' + +'I do,--I do! But, alas my child, what hope is there for me?' + +'God is merciful to all who ----' + +The last word was inaudible. A few respirations, at long intervals, +were heard, and the penitent girl sunk into the quiet slumber of +death. Still did the mother remain in her seat, with a heart harrowed +by the smitings of an awakened conscience. Until the glare of daylight +was visible through the crevices of the door, and the noise of the +foot passengers and the rumbling of vehicles in the street had aroused +the occupants of the cellar, she continued motionless, pressing to her +bosom the lifeless form of her injured child. When addressed by the +colored woman, she answered with an idiot stare. Sensibility had +fled,--the energies of her mind had relaxed, and reason deserted its +throne. The awful incidents of that night had prostrated her +intellect, and she was conveyed from the gloomy place, A MANIAC! + +The Coroner was summoned, and an inquest held over the body of the +daughter. In the books of that humane and estimable officer, the name +of the deceased is recorded,--'LETITIA L----.' + +B. M. + +_Philadelphia_. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +CHRISTIAN EDUCATION. + + +It is a grand desideratum in all the affairs of life, to hold fast +what we get. The business of evangelizing the world, is like the stone +of Sisyphus, continually recoiling upon each successive generation. We +want something like what the sailors call a Paul to the Capstan,--a +sort of Ratchet. This is the business of Christian Education, and the +problem is to devise such a system of religious training and +instruction, as shall be best adapted to that end. + +It must be admitted that hitherto but little has been done, +notwithstanding that the blessings of the gospel are promised to +believers and to their children also. It is not found that the care of +pious parents, to infuse religious sentiments into the hearts of their +children, is attended with any remarkable success. Indeed, there is +often found a prejudice against religion, which seems to have grown up +with them, and is eradicated with the more difficulty, because it has +sprung up and rooted itself in a soil cleared from the rank weeds of +vicious indulgence, and prepared to receive the seed of the spirit of +God. This seed the enemy snatches away, and scatters the tares of +enmity and rebellion in the place of it. They spring up in the night. +They grow in darkness, shaded by the pall of a staid demeanor and +assumed sobriety of deportment. + +The promise is nevertheless often fulfilled in a remarkable manner, +long after the anxious parent has gone to his rest, and the child, +grown up to manhood, has taken his station among his fellows, in the +affairs of life. Then it is, that the recollections of his youth, of +the discipline and habits of his childhood come upon him, like a +confused and troubled dream. Softened by time, as by distance, objects +lose their asperities; any harshness which had once estranged him is +forgotten, and he now comes to dwell, with sad and self-reproachful +feelings, on his departure from the example of strictness, sobriety +and gravity, which he had once renounced:-- + + "How gladly would the _man_ recall to life + The _boy's_ neglected sire, whose sternest frown + Was but the graver countenance of love." + +Under the influence of such feelings, he often turns back into the +path from which he strayed. But how much better never to have left it! +How many sorrows has he in the mean time brought upon himself, by +vicious self-indulgence! How much matter of repentance has he provided +for his future life! How many has he led astray by evil counsels and +evil example, who are still wandering in the mazy wilderness of sin, +and may never recover the way that leads to heaven! + +It is surely well to consider, whether there is no remedy for these +evils. Every man is a priest in his own house, and is not only charged +with the care of the souls of his children; but is bound also, as far +as possible, to make them instruments of good to others. What should +we say to him who should make his house a menagerie of ravenous and +destructive beasts, to be turned out as they grow up to prey upon the +flocks and herds of his neighbors? And what better is he who carefully +adorns and accomplishes the persons and minds of his children, with +all the graces of manners, intelligence and address, which give them +so much power over the principles and conduct, and happiness, of their +associates, without guarding against the abuse of this power, by +impressing their hearts with the love of religion and virtue, and a +sense of the value of the souls of others? They go forth as fiends of +darkness, in the garb of angels of light, and contamination, and +misery, and death, are the fruits of their intercourse with the +children of men. + +Of this fault, it is not pretended that christian parents are +willingly guilty. They are not even careful in many instances, to +impart the ornamental parts of education, which so much enhance the +power of seduction, but they innocently supply an instrument hardly +less powerful, in the familiarity with the language of the Bible, +which is often acquired by those who have no taste for its doctrines. +When the devil cannot robe himself in the rainbow garment of Ithuriel, +he can, at least, "quote scripture for his purpose," and many a heart +has been corrupted, and many a mind confounded by scraps and ends of +texts, torn from their connexion, and uttered in derision by those who +have been taught to get verses by rote--but not, as the good old +phrase is, _by heart_. O! ever while we live, let us make our children +learn the Bible BY HEART, or not at all, that when they speak its +language, they may speak as one whose "mouth speaketh out of the +fulness of his own HEART." + +This is the great point to be accomplished. How is it to be effected? +The answer is plain. By addressing the gospel to the HEART. By the +same means which a judicious and affectionate parent uses to infuse +into the bosom of his child, the spirit of cheerful and willing +obedience to himself. Let him carefully show both himself and his +Maker to the infant's mind, as the personification of love. While he +anxiously contrives to make him feel that to the love of his earthly +parent, he owes all the benefits that he receives, let him point his +attention also to that Father who is in heaven, and from whom he +himself derives all the means of ministering to the wants and +pleasures of the child. When he gives a bit of bread to the hungry +urchin, and asking if it is good, receives an answer which shows that +the little fellow's heart is full of grateful love, let him tell him +what it is made of, and while he shews him the green blade from which, +by a wonderful and mysterious contrivance, the grain is to be +elaborated, and marks the half-incredulous wonder with which the +information is received, let him tell him that this is the work of +God, who causes the rain to fall, and the sun to shine, and matures +the fruits of the earth for the benefit of his children. Such +occasions of calling the attention of a child to the goodness, and +bounty, and love of God, are continually recurring. He is never too +young to receive impressions of love. Before he knows the meaning of +the word, he takes them from his experience of the care and fondness +of his mother; and long after he has begun to prattle, this feeling +thus early implanted, continues to flourish alone, and affords the +only sanction of parental authority. How happy is he, and how sweet to +behold his happiness, while in the pursuit of his little foolish joys, +the "todlin wee thing" needs no restraint from mischief, but the +playful look, half-smile, half-frown, and the admonishing voice which +warns without alarming. Well might our Saviour say, "that of such is +the kingdom of heaven," where love is the only law, and love the only +duty, and love the only sanction. Under this sweet engaging +discipline, love becomes the habit of his mind, and long before he is +capable of comprehending any but the simplest ideas, the foundation is +laid in his heart, of those affections, by means of which he is to be +formed to virtue, honor and happiness. What idea (next after those +derived from things present, to the senses,)--what idea is more +simple, more easily apprehended, than this; that while he receives all +good things from the hands of his parents, they are sent to him by a +friend he has never seen, whose name is God. What occasion for telling +him who God is, or where he dwells, or any thing more than that he is +good, and loves good boys, and will continue to love him and send him +good things as long as he is good? Is it not easy to impress his mind +with the same feeling which is cherished towards his dear Aunt or kind +Grandmama, of whom he is reminded every morning, when he drinks his +milk out of a pretty cup, on which he is taught to read, "a present +for my dear boy?" There is no time lost. The idea of the spiritual +nature of God cannot be communicated until the mind is ready to +receive it, and then it is uttered in one word, and comprehended in +one moment. The vanity of a parent may be mortified, that his child +does not know any thing of these high mysteries, at an age when other +children of whom we read in good books, have been found disputing with +the doctors about the trinity and the compound nature of the Redeemer. +But this vanity, like many other human errors, needs the restraint of +reason. For if it be asked, how long should this state of things be +kept up? I would answer, as long as possible. If man is never to enter +into the kingdom of heaven but as a little child, I would gladly keep +him as a little child to the day of his death. But as this is not +possible, I would apply my answer to the actual state of facts, and +say that the discipline of love should be continued as long as love +continues to supply the necessary motives to necessary restraint. + +I would therefore venture to recommend the imposition of no +restraints, and no tasks, but such as are necessary; and if possible, +I would impose only such upon an infant as are obviously necessary, +and, on an older child, such as he can be clearly made to see the +necessity of. Such a system not only prolongs the reign, and confirms +the habit of love, but prepares the mind to acquiesce with entire +confidence in the wisdom and discretion of the parent. Let care +therefore supply, as much as possible, the place of authority. Let the +mother's eye be on her child, and then, instead of turning him loose +with a code of unexplained laws upon his back, she will have it in her +power to draw his attention from unlawful to lawful objects, and to +lead him away unconsciously from forbidden places. The beautiful story +of the mother who bared her bosom to draw away her child from the edge +of the cliff, illustrates this idea. + +I would say then to christian parents, prolong as much as possible the +season of childhood--the empire of endearment and love; prolong that +season when the hearts of your children are all your own, and divide +them with God. Let their heads alone. No one ever teaches a child to +talk. He learns it of himself more readily and more perfectly, than he +can ever afterwards acquire a new language under the most skilful +instructor. He has enough to do in acquiring those ideas which are +necessary to him, and are suggested by the objects around him. He +learns a great deal, and it is easy to help him to learn, without +giving him lessons. He may have nothing of what we would dignify by +the names of _knowledge_ and _wisdom_, but he will acquire a great +deal of _sense_, and may have very just notions of what it is to be a +good boy, without having his mind perplexed with definitions of sin. +The spirit of imitation will keep him busy. Teach him to love you, and +he will need no command to make him try to do what he sees you do. Let +him crawl. He will not long be content to go on all fours, when he +sees his beloved and honored father walking erect. Curiosity will make +him eager enough to know the meaning of letters, and he will esteem it +a privilege to be allowed to look at round O, and crooked S, and to be +taught to read for himself in the pretty picture books, out of which +his dear mother is in the habit of reading entertaining stories to +him. Keep bad examples from before his eyes, and the opportunities of +mischief out of his way, and keep his heart alive to a sense of the +love of his parents and the love of God, until his mind has time to +settle into a HABIT of love, obedience and virtue. + +For reasons of the same sort, I would refrain from presenting in the +second stage of education, any views of religion that to the literal +and unpractised mind of a child, _might seem_ at variance with his +earlier conceptions of the divine character. I am very sure that any +doctrines _actually_ at variance with them must be false; and though I +believe that none such may be entertained by any sincere and +intelligent christian, yet it has somehow so happened, that many modes +of expression have obtained currency in the world, which a novice +would be startled at. I should therefore be careful, not to go beyond +the plain letter of scripture in explaining to him religious truth. + +The well digested form of sound doctrine as it is there set forth, +would be almost my sole reliance. I would be careful to accompany this +with appeals to his own experience and observation for the truth, +that, as a general rule, it is our own fault if we are not happy. That +occasionally, indeed, we receive injury at the hands of others, and +that therefore it is that we are so often led to fall into pits of our +own digging, that we may be not so fond of digging them in future. I +would endeavor thus to familiarize him with a sense of the necessity +of punishment, as the preventive of evil, and to enable him to +comprehend to what lengths of mischief the simple principle of +self-love would impel the best imaginable finite being, if he could +feel perfectly sure that no manner of harm to himself could possibly +arise from the indulgence of any desire. This idea, as it seems to me, +is capable of being placed in plain colloquial language, in so clear a +light, that any ingenuous mind would be readily brought to acquiesce +in the necessity of God's moral government of the moral universe, in +the necessity of punishing sin in order to prevent it, and the true +benevolence of resolutely inflicting the necessary punishment, as the +preventive of the far greater sum of suffering which the impurity of +sin would produce. I should not fear that a mind habituated throughout +to cherish the sentiments of gratitude and love, would be slow to +understand, or reluctant to believe a plan of comprehensive and +_general utility_ devised by the spirit of universal benevolence for +the _greatest possible good_ of the whole, or impatient to endure such +portion of evil, as, in the execution of such a plan, it might be +called to bear. + +I should anxiously endeavor to make my pupil sensible, that a plan of +coercion, intended to procure a cheerful, affectionate and happy +obedience, (and no other obedience can be happy,) must be understood +by those who are made subject to it, to be so intended, and to explain +to him the decisive proof of such intention which is afforded, when +the ruler himself condescends to endure a portion of the punishment +due to the sins of his people, and graciously pardons all whom this +exhibition of his goodness brings to sincere repentance. + +With these suggestions, gently insinuated from time to time, and +containing as I verily believe the pure milk of the word, the best +aliment for youthful minds, I should content myself, and leave him to +seek the confirmation of these ideas in the Bible; nor would I suffer +him, until on the verge of manhood, to puzzle his understanding and +_afflict his spirit_ with the perusal of works of theology. + +In confirmation of the ideas I have suggested, let me beg the reader +to observe how much more readily, and more frequently, the principles +of religion take root in female minds, than in those of men. How many +examples do we see among them of the most tender and fervent piety, +and how seldom do we find it incumbered with the heavy lumber of +theological learning, or frittered down into nice and shadowy +distinctions. Yet are they wise unto salvation, possessing that faith +by which the _heart_ believeth unto righteousness, though perhaps +unable to give any other reason for their faith, than that God is +love, and in proof of his love gave himself to die for the sins of the +world. Whence comes this tendency among them to imbibe this simple and +saving faith, unless it be from the peculiarities of their education? +The discipline of infancy is prolonged with them. They are kept under +the eye of the mother, whose unsuspected vigilance supplies the place +of commands, imposes an unperceived restraint, and renders the habits +of decorum, propriety, meekness and obedience, a sort of second +nature. Restrained only by the silken cord of love, whose weight they +feel not, they never strain against it, nor try to throw it off. Their +minds and tempers are formed rather by habit than precept, and their +obedience is secured, not by punishment or the fear of it, but by +prevention. They are accustomed to do right, because they have no +opportunities of doing wrong, without violating that instinct of +propriety, which makes it painful to do what we feel to be wrong in +the presence of those we love. When left to themselves, they do what +is right, because they have been long accustomed to do it; and they +know it to be right, because thus acting, they have always lived in +the enjoyment of those peaceable fruits which an upright conduct can +alone produce. + +It will be seen that many of my remarks on the subject of instruction, +apply also to that of discipline. I have already shown that the +discipline, whose purpose is to prepare the child for his duties to +his parents, should be modified by a proper regard to his duties to +God. In like manner, that which may be called religious discipline, +should be so regulated as not to counteract what has been already +done. _Parental_ training, if I may so distinguish it, should be so +managed as to cultivate the love of the child for his parents; +_religious_ training, so as to cultivate his love for God. It would be +strangely inconsistent, that we should be careful not to offend and +estrange a child by imposing on him, of our own authority, any harsh, +unexplained and inexplicable commands, and at the same time load him, +by the alleged command of God, with burthens grievous to be borne. +Duties which he is not old enough to understand the nature of, are not +his duties. There is no more violation of God's law in a child of a +certain age playing on the Sabbath, than in the sports of a puppy. Yet +long before he is old enough to be capable of a violation of this law, +it is a matter of great importance that he should be gradually and +carefully trained, and prepared to obey it. In this training, I would +carefully avoid any thing like austerity. I would familiarize his +infant ear to the name of _Sunday_, and accustom him to regard it as a +day of privileges. Put on his best clothes, caress him, praise him, +warn him to keep himself sweet and clean, make him take notice that +every body else is so, and that nobody is made to do any work, and all +because it is Sunday; make him observe the staid and quiet behavior of +every body about the house, and see how soon he will get his little +stool, and set up with his hands before him, and try to _behave +pretty_ too. When this is done, enough is done for the beginning. When +he is tired of imitating the grave demeanor of others, let him go. The +spirit of imitation will return again and again; the habits it induces +will make a deeper and deeper impression, and if he is carefully +imbued with a love for his parents, and a love for God, without being +taught to dread and hate the Sabbath, he will be thus well prepared to +submit cheerfully to its restraints, by the time he is old enough to +know the reason of them. Let him see that you too, submit to them +cheerfully. Let him miss nothing of your accustomed kindness or +amenity of manner on that day. Do not let him learn to think of it as +"a day for a man to afflict his soul, and hang down his head like a +bull-rush," a day of fault-finding, and formal observance, and +Judaical austerity. In short, let him see that you esteem the Sabbath +as a day of privilege, and leave the rest as much as possible to the +spirit of affectionate imitation. + +I would say the same of other religious duties. Do not force the +little drowsy urchin to sit up to family prayers. When he happens to +do so, let him hear you thank God in simple terms for the privilege of +being permitted to pray to him, and implore of him blessings whose +value he feels and knows. If you find occasion to preach in your +prayers, (a bad practice by the way,) do not preach about matters +which none but a Doctor of Divinity can be expected to understand. + +On the interesting subject of fashionable amusements, as they are +called, I own I feel more difficulty. It chiefly arises from the +consideration that the youth who is old enough to take an interest in +such amusements, is at a more unmanageable age than formerly. It is +not so easy to restrain him, without letting him be conscious of the +restraint. It is not so easy to draw him off from a pernicious +pursuit, to one less dangerous. He is no longer to be satisfied with +those cheap equivalents for forbidden gratifications, which made it +easy to command his obedience, without estranging his affections. The +whole business of education at this stage, is a difficult and delicate +operation. I cannot imagine any general rule for a class of cases as +various as all the infinite varieties of the human character. Let us +suppose some of them. + +If, in spite of all the care that had been taken to soften and subdue +his heart, and beguile him from self-love to the love of his friends, +and of God his best friend, if in spite of all this he continued +obdurate, wilful and rebellious, I am conscious that I should be at my +wit's end. I do not know but that in such a case, it would be the part +of wisdom to yield to those feelings which a parent would naturally +experience, and, acting as in obedience to the unerring instincts of +nature, to resort to severity instead of tenderness, and endeavor to +bring down his heart with sorrow. As a part of such a system, it would +be a matter of course, to deny him this indulgence. + +A different case would be that of a youth of mercurial temper, and +warm feelings, who had grown up in habitual love and reverence for his +parents and his Maker, and whose buoyant spirit and restless temper, +and keen appetite for enjoyment, might render him impatient of such +restraint. Even in this case I should not too readily relax it. I +should endeavor if possible to ascertain whether it might be enforced +without impairing those tender and reverential sentiments. If so, I +should enforce it. If not, I would yield with undissembled reluctance, +but without reproach. I should endeavor to draw him into a contest of +generosity, with a hope that he would not long consent to be outdone. +But in no case would I surrender the end for the means, and do +violence to the best, and kindliest, and holiest affections of the +human heart, and run the risk of destroying them, by restraining a +youth from things not evil in themselves, but only evil in their +tendencies. The only antidote to the love of pleasure, is the love of +God. In truth the great evil of the love of pleasure, is that it is an +antidote to the love of God, and when the authority of God is used to +force one away from a much coveted enjoyment, there is danger that it +may but make him love God less, and pleasure more. But it is the +saying of a wise man, that where an appetite for any thing actually +exists, the best security against excess, is in a regulated +indulgence; and to this indulgence I would resort with an humble hope +that my pupil might find wisdom to add this too to the list of +blessings experienced at the hands of his Maker, until the victory +should at last result to him to whom it belongs. + +For the remaining case of a young man having no taste for such +pleasures, and content to spend his time in reading and meditation, I +would prescribe nothing more than this; that he should not be +encouraged to bless God that he was not as other men, but be kept on +the alert by a warning that sin enters into the heart by more avenues +than one. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +EXTRACTS FROM MY MEXICAN JOURNAL. + +Festival of San Agustin de Las Cuevas--El Paséo de Las Vigas. + + +MAY 23d, 1825.--Yesterday and to-day we attended the festival at _San +Agustin de las Cuevas_. The avenues leading to this little town, were +thronged with people on foot, on asses, on mules, on horses, and in +coaches drawn by six or eight mules. The whole population of Mexico +seemed flocking to it and to _Istapalapa_, at which latter place is +the feast of the Indians. Most persons take lodgings for the three or +four days of the _Pascua_,[1] for which they pay enormous rent. From +day-light until ten o'clock, these pious christians hear mass in the +parish church. We had to travel four or five leagues, and, therefore, +did not arrive in time to witness these religious solemnities; but at +twelve, we were introduced into the cock-pit--a rough, circular +building, with seats around it rising one above the other--and in the +centre, an area serving as an arena for the combatants. Its roof, high +and open to admit light and air, was decorated with long wide shreds +of various colors--diverging from the centre--all in scenic taste. The +seats were soon filled with spectators of all ages, sexes and classes. +The most fashionable ladies of Mexico were present, and the most +distinguished men of the republic were engaged in betting heavily on +the champions of the pit. The noisy clamor of fifty voices, seeking +bets with stentorian cries, warned us of the approaching fight. The +cocks, armed with sharp slashers, like double edged sabres, are +arrayed before us--suddenly the pit is cleared--an awful silence +prevails--they rush to the conflict--a few moments decide the fate of +one--and all is again confusion. For three hours the sport continues, +to the great diversion of the spectators, who appear to take an eager +interest in the cruel scene. The women around me were betting and +smoking, and two friars sat at my right hand. What a picture of +Mexican customs is before us! Women--fashionable women, and priests in +a cock-pit on a Sunday! 'Tis quite bad enough for us to be seen here, +but we are curious travellers, and must observe every thing we can. +After witnessing a few fights, we visited the gambling rooms, to see +the game of _monte_, which resembles faro. The tables were loaded with +doubloons and dollars, and surrounded by players, who, in a few +minutes, won and lost many hundreds.[2] Here I saw no women betting, +but there was one a looker on like myself, but I don't know if the +scene was as novel to her as to me. On walking next through the plaza, +I observed all species of games, at which the blanket gentry--male and +female--young and old--were trying their fortune, invited in many +instances by an image of the Virgin or of some patron saint. Gambling +is, I may safely conclude, the general vice of this nation. +Drunkenness is not common in these assemblages, and is confined +chiefly to the Indians. + +[Footnote 1: Whitsuntide is the period for this festival.] + +[Footnote 2: Mr. Ward, who is good authority, states that "the bank at +these tables varies from 1,000 doubloons (16,000 dollars) to 3,000 +doubloons, (48,000 dollars.) Fifty or sixty of these (800 or 1,000 +dollars,) are an ordinary stake upon the turn of a card; but I have +seen as many as six hundred and twenty, (9,920 dollars,) risked and +won."--_Ward's Mexico_.] + +After dinner, we walked to a green plot without the village, where the +ladies were dancing to the music of two or three guitars. At this +amusement we left them each evening, and returned to the Hacienda. At +night the cock-pit is carpeted, and converted into a ball room. Thus +the fashionable people of the city of Mexico, celebrate for three +successive days this religious feast. + +In choosing San Agustin for these amusements, the selection is +certainly a good one. Conveniently situated at the edge of the plain +of Mexico, about twelve miles from the city, to the south, the site is +very pretty, and the scenery is extremely gay in contrast with the +sterility which immediately surrounds the capital. Water is so +abundant in this village, that every garden is irrigated, and the +trees and plants always possess a freshness of verdure which is rarely +seen upon the table land. The mountain of _Ajusco_[3] rises behind the +town--the tallest peak of this southern ridge--its top is rugged and +barren. It is sometimes sprinkled with snow during the winter. A +remarkable bed of lava from an adjacent peak, overlays a large corner +of the plain near _San Agustin_, round the point of which the road +leads from Mexico--so distinctly is it defined, that it is easy to +imagine the melted mass flowing from the furnace of the volcano till +it gradually congealed. + +[Footnote 3: The _Cerro_ of Ajusco is, according to Humboldt, 12,119 +feet above the sea--consequently 4,649 feet above the plain on which +the city of Mexico is situated.] + + * * * * * + +FEBRUARY 26th, 1826. I have just returned from witnessing the gayest +sight which Mexico ever presents. This is the promenade of _Las +Vigas_. + +_El Paséo de Las Vigas_ is a beautiful road just without the inhabited +part of the city, at its south-eastern extremity. It is bordered by +double rows of aspins and willows; and upon one side of it, passes the +canal which connects the lakes of _Chalco_ and _Tescuco_. Though it is +the month of February, nature has assumed the gay mantle of +spring--all is verdant--all is smiling with luxuriant sweetness. The +temperature of the shade is most delightful. + +At the moment when the sun, sinking behind the mountains, has lost its +oppressive warmth, the population of Mexico pours itself upon this +charming spot. Hundreds of coaches roll along amid multitudes on +horseback and on foot. These ponderous vehicles, uniform in shape, are +various in their decorations, showing the several fashions which +prevailed at the time of their construction;--some adorned with +paintings commemorative either of heathen mythology or of remarkable +historical events; the pannels of some tell us of sieges or of battles +in days long gone by; some represent the perils of the deep; others +exhibit Neptune riding gently upon his subdued waves, or perhaps the +"pale Diana" or the "laughing Venus," or Calypso in her grotto using +her bewitching sorceries to win the youthful hero. These, and similar +devices, mark the period of vice-regal magnificence, and are now +peculiar to the hackney coach. Those of modern date, are in better +taste, being painted modestly, of a uniform color, but the wheels and +carriage part are generally richly gilded. + +The coaches are filled with well dressed women--I won't say that many +of them are beautiful--who recognize their acquaintances by a +coquetish quirk of the fan--(a never-failing attendant even in coldest +weather)--or an active play of the fingers, at which the Mexican +ladies are very dexterous, and which might be misconstrued by the +uninitiated as a beckon to approach. Horsemen, in the characteristic +costume of the country elsewhere described, pass and repass, +exhibiting their proud and gallant steeds; and the multitude on foot +display their Sunday dresses, in which there has been of late a +manifest improvement. + +The canal is strewed with boats, crowded with passengers of the lowest +class, who are amusing themselves with guitars, to which they sing and +dance. They return decorated with flowers woven into a chaplet, which, +contrasted with the black hair hanging down in a single plait behind, +of a pretty Mestiso girl, renders her quite interesting, +notwithstanding her copperish color. + +All these in themselves present a highly exhilarating picture; but +added to the fine prospect of the mountain barriers of the Mexican +plain, and especially of the snowy peaks of the volcanoes of Puebla +which rise in full view to the south-east, this scene can scarcely be +equalled. + +As pleasing however, as the scene is, and though we meet none but +smiling faces, yet I cannot refrain from observing that remarkable +inequality so revolting to the feelings of a republican. Marchionesses +and countesses with the richest jewels, are seen at one glace with the +poor _lepero_, whose all is the single blanket which hides his +nakedness. Nor is it agreeable to see a strong guard of cavalry, whose +attendance it must be presumed, is necessary to prevent disorder. +Sentinels, indeed, are posted around and in all the public buildings +of Mexico--they are posted at the entrance to the halls of Congress +and to the galleries, in various parts of the palace, (a name by which +the government house is still known,) where the President resides, and +in which are the public offices--and they are posted even in the +theatre. I am sorry thus to detract any thing from the scene which I +witnessed this evening with so much pleasure, but candor requires it. + +Lent has now commenced. Public amusements (except occasionally a +concert at the theatre,) and large parties are suspended for a while. +The ladies complain occasionally of ennui. Their present diversion is +stupid enough. They assemble in small _tertulias_ every night at each +others' houses, and play an uninteresting game with cards, called +lottery. The sole object achieved is to kill time, of the value of +which Mexicans have no idea, for in themselves they have no resources +whatever. Reading is so irksome they cannot endure it--and work of any +kind costs labor. They can do naught but eat, sleep, smoke, talk, and +visit the theatre. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +NATURE AND ART. + +There is extant a beautiful tradition relative to the visit of the +Queen of Sheba to King Solomon, when she "proved him with hard +questions," in order to ascertain the greatness of his wisdom and the +acuteness of his ingenuity. She ordered before him two vases of +elegant flowers--one natural, the other artificial, but of workmanship +and colors so exquisitely beautiful, that to detect in them any +unlikeness or inferiority to the genuine ones, seemed beyond the power +of the human eye. They were placed in a lattice which opened on a +parterre of the royal palace, the appropriated residence of swarms of +bees, which were engaged in gathering their delicious food. The King +ordered the lattice to be opened, and the gathering and nestling of +the bees among the honied petals of the natural blossoms, developed at +once the eye-defying secret and the ingenuity of the monarch. + + + The wily Queen at the lattice placed + Twin vases, rich and rare, + Each with a cluster of blossoms graced, + Beautiful, bright and fair. + Roses, the glory of Sharon's vale-- + Lilies of thousand hues, + Such as are rock'd by Judean gales + And nursed by her crystal dews, + Mingled in beauty their tints of light;-- + "Which," said the royal dame, + "Are the fresh-born buds of the day and night? + And which from the artist came?" + The Tyrian dyes and the Tyrian skill, + Glow'd in the art-made flowers,-- + Those that were nursed by the gurgling rill + Or petted in Flora's bowers, + No grace of fashion or shade could show + With the beauteous things to vie; + Alas! for him who the truth must know + Alone by his own keen eye. + But the lattice ope'd on a soft parterre + That blushed to the sun's warm kiss, + And Bees at their nectar banquet there + Revelled in summer bliss. + "Open the lattice," the Monarch cried-- + Sweet in the melting ray + The humid blossoms the Bees descried, + And pilfered the sweets away. + Trembled in pride on their wiry stems + The flowers that the artist made, + But show'd not a cup where the honied gems + Or soft farina laid. + _Fragrance was not!_ oh! the blighted heart, + Lured in a fatal hour, + By the dazzling glow of deceptive art, + Like a Bee to the scentless flower,-- + How it turns in the blight of its grief away + From the figure that _looks_ so fair, + But in Love's own blessed, unclouded ray, + Is soulless and senseless there! + +ELIZA. + +_Maine_. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +A TALE OF THE WEST. + +FOUNDED ON FACT. + + The course of true love never did run smooth.--_Shakspeare_. + + +The incidents which I am about to relate, suggest some very natural +reflections. He who now migrates to the mighty west, in pursuit of +wealth or fame, encounters none of those innumerable hidden and open +dangers which thronged the way of those who turned their faces +thitherward half a century ago; he feels not, nor need he possess, the +adventurous spirit, the intrepidity, and the astonishing resoluteness +and daring of those brave and hardy pioneers. They ascended the lofty +Alleghany, and looked off upon the ancient and almost unbroken forest, +extending far beyond the Mississippi, and covering the vast valley +which lay between them and the Rocky Mountains; while only here and +there a small settlement, composed of a few families collected +together for mutual convenience, and defence against their common +enemy, disturbed its solitary reign. So soon as they entered upon it, +they met with a foe the most wary and subtle, the most sleepless and +untiring in his hostility, the most vigilant to seize every +opportunity to satiate his bloodthirsty disposition, inflicting the +most cruel and merciless tortures, and murdering indiscriminately +every age and sex; the bold and dauntless husband, who met him hand to +hand in murderous conflict, the helpless imploring wife, and the +innocent babe sleeping upon her bosom, ruthlessly torn from her dying +grasp, fell alike beneath the deadly blow of the savage, as he smiled +with a fiendish satisfaction over his bloody deed. And is there no +cause to mitigate our anger when contemplating such scenes? Is there +no excuse for the wild, uncivilized Indian, though pursuing with a +hatred the most vindictive his enemy, yet displaying towards his +_friend_ a noble and disinterested conduct which puts to blush the +enlightened white man? Yes! They had discovered the designs of the +whites; oppressed with a thousand wrongs, driven from their homes and +the tombs of their ancestors, to which they are more fondly attached +than any other people,--"hunted down like the partridge upon the +mountain," they had formed a deadly hostility, an undying revenge +against those, whom, when few and defenceless, they had received with +open arms, and by whom they were now, viper like, stung to the heart; +and they had stationed themselves upon the verge, and lurked +throughout what they believed to be their own possession, their own +inheritance,--determined to dispute every foot of it with those who +were encroaching upon them, and pursuing with a steady purpose their +extermination. + +Slowly would the emigrant plod his weary and fearful way, for months, +before he could reach the place of his location, his thoughts +frequently recurring to the peaceful and quiet abode he had left, for +a home in the wilderness filled with multiplied hazards. Here a small +hut was erected to shelter his family, while he labored from morn till +night, with his rifle by his side to protect him from his insatiate +enemies, bent upon the destruction of all who invaded their territory. +Almost every day, reports of aggravated murders perpetrated by the +Indians reached his ears, filling his family with alarm and terror +lest they should become the next victims; and himself liable at every +moment to be hurried off from them upon an expedition to drive back +the enemy, and check for a while their invasion of the settlements. No +one ever felt secure; and never did they retire to rest without taking +all necessary precaution to repel an attack, and barring securely +every entrance into the house. And even in the more dense settlements, +should they collect together for the purpose of divine worship, it was +necessary that every one should meet well armed, lest even _there_ +they might be attacked by their relentless and implacable enemy. + +Now how changed the scene! What wonders have fifty years effected! The +mighty tide of emigration has rolled on rapidly, diffusing prosperity +and every convenience in its train. The vigorous and powerful arm of +the government, after all other proffered terms had been rejected, has +forced the savage hordes beyond the limits of the Union, or reduced +them to a tame submission, and subdued their natural warlike and +ferocious disposition by the introduction among them of the arts and +principles of civilization. The inhabitant upon the most extreme +western frontier, feels as secure in his log cabin as the wealthy +farmer upon the seaboard. Under the fostering protective wing of a +free constitution, the population has swelled to an astonishing +amount. _States_ have sprung up, exercising a large degree of weight +and influence in the government, where but yesterday the red man, now +constrained to retire, pursued through the tangled woods the wild +deer, secure and undisturbed in his enjoyment by the presence of one +single envious _pale face_. Where once the savage held his frantic +revels or pitched his wigwam, now stands the populous and flourishing +city, whose spires pierce the clouds, and where arts, science, and +literature, flourish in all the vigor of maturity. Cultivated farms +and splendid mansions, occurring at short intervals, beautify the +interior, where but lately the wild beasts roamed their native +forests. Upon the placid bosoms of the most noble and beautiful +streams, where once naught was seen or heard but the rough hewn canoe +of the Indian and the dip of his paddle, now may be constantly heard +"the puff of the engine and flutter of the wheel" of that most +beneficial production of Fulton's immortal genius, as it rides +majestically by, wafting to a profitable market the productions of a +fertile and alluvial soil. For the advantage of commerce and the +facility of communication, distant waters have been united and noble +thoroughfares constructed from one section of the country to the +other; mountains have been levelled and plains elevated. An energetic +government sends with unrivalled rapidity, and unerring certainty, +intelligence of every kind from one end of the Union to the other, so +that the most distant friends scarcely realize their separation. The +whole region now teems with industry and enterprise. Independence, +ease, contentment and hospitality characterize the inhabitants. The +emigrant from the eastern states now leaves his home and his friends +with a light heart, for a country where merit receives its reward, +where he will meet with success in every undertaking, and where wealth +or fame will crown his labors. And all this in fifty years! The valley +of the Mississippi, _then_ a wilderness, _now_ a populous and mighty +empire! What unbounded resources, what powerful energies do the people +of this country possess! What glorious and encouraging fruits are +these, of self government--of a republican constitution. + +Among the emigrants to Ohio, just after the revolution, were a Mess. +Claiborne and Newton, who removed, with their families, from one of +the tide-water counties of Virginia, and settled upon the beautiful +banks of the Scioto, some distance above its mouth. Mr. Newton +selected as a site for his dwelling, a small hill upon the west side +of the river, gently descending to the water's edge, sparsely covered +with the tall majestic trees of the forest, and commanding a +delightful prospect of the river, as it lay like a polished mirror +reflecting the sunbeams from its smooth surface, or gently rippling as +the soft breezes of evening played upon its bosom; also, of the +extensive rich bottoms on either hand, and of the extensive woodland +in front. Behind, the country gracefully undulated, presenting the +pleasing variety of hill and dale, of wood and prairie. It was, in +fact, a charming situation. And long since that time, the enterprise +of another owner has made it the most handsome country seat in the +state. A noble mansion now crowns the hill with every ornamental +appurtenance, while the flats on each side, regularly divided, wave in +golden plenty, or are clothed in living green, on which hundreds of +cattle graze, or repose beneath a few of the old trees which are yet +standing. It fails not to arrest the attention and call forth the +admiration of the passenger along the Scioto. 'Twas here Mr. Newton +built him a tolerably convenient cabin, and commenced his labors. He +had taken up a large tract of country, sufficient to present each of +his children with a handsome patrimony. To the bank was moored a +graceful sail boat, such as had never floated on those waters before, +and which glided upon their even current as "a thing of life." This +was kept principally for the purpose of visiting Mr. Claiborne, who +had selected a level grove about half a mile above, on the other side, +in full view of Mr. Newton's. Directly to the rear, a frowning cliff +reared itself to the clouds; the river laved the rocky bank in front, +down which there was a descent by a flight of steps hewn out of the +limestone, where also was tied a small sail boat. There was, however, +a broader and better way a little above. Mr. Claiborne too, had made +extensive surveys in the country, intending to divide his large +possessions among his children. Modern improvements have also made +this a spot upon which the eye of the delighted and tasteful traveller +is pleased to linger. + +An undisturbed intimacy had ever existed between these two families; +and now that they were separated entirely, as it were, from the rest +of the world, exposed to a common danger, and were pursuing no +clashing interests, it had refined into a warm and steady friendship. +A constant intercourse was kept up between them, and means provided to +communicate immediately the alarm, should danger threaten. These two +gentlemen being in the prime and vigor of manhood, labored with +untiring industry. As there was no underwood, and the trees were tall +and did not grow very thick together, _girdling_ sufficed, and they +soon had a considerable farm prepared for planting Indian corn. + +The woods abounded in excellent game, and they frequently accompanied +each other in hunting excursions, but never venturing too far, for +fear of accidents or attacks from the Indians; and always taking along +their eldest sons, in order to gratify their anxiety; but principally +to instil into them a bold, fearless, and adventurous spirit,--to +teach them some of the rudiments of the arts and stratagems of border +warfare,--and to train them to a skilful management of their +rifles,--all qualifications indispensably necessary for the +inhabitants of an unsettled and hostile country. + +Among all the youths of these two families, Charles Claiborne had +early attracted notice. He displayed indubitable evidences of a +superior intellect, the most gratifying to his father, and which at +the same time won for him the respect and love of his associates. No +envious feelings rankled in their pure bosoms; they sincerely admired +him, and felt that in hours of peril to his skill, intrepidity and +bravery, they must principally look for safety. He had now nearly +attained his eighteenth year, tall and erect as an Indian Chief, +possessing an ease and grace the most simple and natural. No mark of +effeminacy was visible about his manly frame; compact, nervous, and as +active as the wild panther which he hunted. His high, broad and open +forehead, over which his smooth dark locks fell in neglected richness, +betokened the freeness and equability of his disposition, and at the +same time his resoluteness and determination; and a slight wrinkle +betrayed the existence of busy thought. Beneath an arched projecting +brow, his dark gray eye shot forth the fire of youth and genius. It +shone with a peculiar lustre; it would kindle with indignation or +contempt, as he contemplated crime or baseness, or soften down to +tenderness as a tale of woe or distress enlisted his sympathies. The +whole contour of his face was of a perfect mould. Devotedly fond of +intellectual culture, of acquiring information, he soon made himself +master of the little library which his father had brought with him, +composed of a few standard histories, Shakspeare and the Spectator; +and was now, at every spare interval, drawing rich stores of legal +knowledge from a musty old Coke, which he found among the rubbish +brought in his father's wagon, determined to "offer his professional +services" to the litigious part of the community when the country +should become more densely populated. + +Several other families had already settled in the neighborhood, and +Charles was deservedly the favorite of them all. But there was _one_ +to whom I shrewdly suspect he was even now _peculiarly_ agreeable, and +for whom the kind and obliging neighbors,--who will have their young +acquaintances in love or engaged, any how, and who arrange all such +matters in their gossiping conclaves without the conusance of the +parties,--had already allotted him. In this case they were not (as +usual) without some ground for their suspicions. + +Eliza Newton was now arrived at that most interesting period in a +woman's life, just sixteen, when combined with the simplicity and +coyness of the girl, she possesses many of the graces and charming +attractive attributes of maturer womanhood. Like the opening rose, +which displays its crimson folds at morn before one sunbeam has kissed +the dew-drop from its leaves of softest texture, or dimmed its fresh +rich tints, her loveliness was unfolding every day. Like the wild +flowers which she loved to gather from the meadow, she had grown up +without any artificial culture of fashionable _hot beds_, in all her +native sweetness, unpretending beauty, and unaffected modesty. Roaming +at will among the delightful groves around her father's dwelling, +brushing the early dew with her pretty feet from the fragrant herbage, +or wandering at even along the silent banks of the gentle Scioto, when +each zephyr + + Offered his young pinion as her fan, + +she acquired all the freshness and buoyancy of perfect health. Agile +as the young roe upon the mountain, she moved with the ease, elegance +and elasticity of a Sylph. Not too low to want a sufficient dignity of +mien, she was not so tall as to exceed the proper stature of her sex. +"Her hair's long auburn waves," curbed by a silken fillet, rolled back +from her small white forehead, flowed upon a chiselled neck white as +an Alpine mountain top; her dark blue eyes lay sleeping behind long +raven lashes, until roused, when they betrayed every sentiment of her +soul, beaming with affection or melted with pity; the transcendent hue +of her cheeks contrasted finely with the pure, healthful whiteness of +her complexion, and her sweet moist lips, just curved out enough to +bespeak her mild and even temper. In fine, she was so perfect a model +that + + The eye might doubt if it were well awake, + She seemed so like a vision. + +Amiability and kindness were the prominent traits of her character, +accompanied with the other female graces. Of a most delicate and acute +sensibility, she was keenly alive to the slightest insult, and would +repel it in a firm and dignified manner; but was ever ready to pour +the balm of reconciliation into a wound mistakenly inflicted. She +carefully forebore to speak disrespectfully of any one, and always +endeavored to place their conduct in the fairest light, which sprang +from the pure benevolence of her heart. And yet withal, she had no +little of the pride of her sex, ready to tear herself from a heart +where she had reason to believe she reigned not sole empress; slightly +imbued with jealousy, which is frequently a concomitant of the most +ardent and devoted attachment, as the deadly viper oft lays encoiled +under the bed of violets upon which we are tempted to repose. From the +small stock of substantial literature which her father's poorly filled +book case afforded, she had cultivated her mind to a degree which +thousands fail to do who have _skimmed_ over an Alexandrian library. + +Let no one deem these portraitures exaggerated in any respect, for +these families were among the most respectable and intelligent on the +eastern shores of the Old Dominion; but the barrenness of their sandy +plains yielded them but a small quantum of what was necessary to +sustain them in their high and expensive mode of living. They found +that vast retrenchments were to be made, or they must experience the +pinchings of poverty; and, too proud to endure the mortification of +either in the midst of their old associates and visiters, they +determined to emigrate to the west, where the rich soil affords, with +but little labor, abundance of the necessaries of life, while the +woods and rivers furnish many of its luxuries. + +The parents of Charles and Eliza themselves, had marked with +satisfaction and pleasure their growing attachment, and failed not by +evidences of approbation to encourage it. And for _once_ the designs +of prudent parents and the inclinations of inconsiderate, confiding +youths coincided, and promised to result in the happiest of +consequences. Would that it _could_ be always so! How many gray hairs +would it save from going down to the grave loaded with a weight of +sorrow! how many tender hearts would it preserve from an early and +hopeless blight! How many lovely and interesting females would it save +from tortures worse than the fabled one, of being linked to dead +bodies, those of being wedded to rich fools, or sots, or knaves, upon +whom they can never place their affections, and whom they frequently +hate from their inmost hearts. + +Though they had ever been in habits of constant intimacy, taught to +view each other in the light of brother and sister, and mingling +freely for years in every sport of their childhood, yet a year or two +having almost magically brought Eliza to womanhood, she began to feel +a strange restraint in the company of Charles, which the presence of +no one else produced. As rapidly as the sweet accents might be falling +from her active tongue, his entrance hushed them completely; and even +he would _labor_ for some time, through a few short sentences. Yet +notwithstanding these unusual effects, each felt that the cause which +produced them was not unwelcomed; and when _plagued about it_, (as the +phrase is) the crimson blush that mantled their burning cheeks, +indicated too clearly where arose this sudden alteration in their +deportment towards each other,--what had put an end to all the little +familiarities before so frequent. Gradually, however, would the leaden +weight fall from Charles' tongue; and as he would relate to the +company in most graphic and thrilling terms his dangerous pursuit of +the fierce panther or infuriated wolf, following them into the most +retired recesses, encountering them in their darkest caverns, and +drawing them forth dead, to the astonishment of his less venturesome +associates,--or his "hair breadth escapes" in wresting from the +infuriated she-bear her whelps, the very great interest vividly +manifest in Eliza's countenance, the breathless attention with which +she hung upon every word and caught each syllable as it fell from his +lips, and the quickly averted glance, her color slightly heightening +as he _frequently_ directed his eye towards her, soon convinced +Charles that he was the object of something more than an ordinary +regard in her bosom; nay, that he had actually won her affections. As +for himself he had long since been enthralled; nor could it be +otherwise. There is in every bosom, susceptibilities for all the +emotions; and so soon as causes calculated to excite them are +presented, quick as an electric flash the emotions succeed. Thus in +love, there is a susceptibility in every mind to be pleased with +certain virtues or actions; and when we perceive them, it is as +impossible not to admire them as to believe that they have never +existed. And when a combination of such qualities without a blemish is +discovered in any person, he had as well try to drive back the current +of the Mississippi as to resist the inevitable consequence. The +emotion of _love_ involuntarily arises; he _must_ love, for such is +his mental constitution; the feeling becomes a part of himself; he had +no agency in effecting it; he feels not, nor can he feel a disposition +to divest himself of it. Circumstances may induce him to check it, to +trample it down, to clip each bud as it appears, but he can never +extinguish it; he cannot destroy it. But let him give himself up to be +bound in its pleasant fetters; let him suffer it to sway an undivided +sceptre over him; let him give loose reins to it; let him plunge +himself into its delicious tide, and drink with a quenchless thirst +its intoxicating draughts; and then let him be thwarted, and no one +may safely predict the consequences to even the most powerful +intellect, that contemns every other loss or reverse of fortune. Until +something is done to excite a contrary emotion, ages of separation +cannot dim or extinguish it. For as in some fluids the application of +heat may entirely alter their qualities, so in love, a deception or +disappointment in some admired or prominent qualification, frequently +changes every feeling of regard for the object, into the most bitter +and relentless hatred. + +A very short time intervened, before Charles summoned the resolution +to communicate the existence of his passion. Upon a mild evening in +May, as the shadows stretched their gigantic lengths across the plain, +Charles moored his little boat at the foot of the hill, and ascended +to Mr. Newton's. Eliza (as usual) met him at the door, and ushered him +into an apartment denominated the parlor, though appropriated to +various uses. They were seated by an open window toward the west, +along the frames of which a honey-suckle twined its clinging tendrils; +the mild, red rays of the setting sun peered through its thick +foliage, and added a brighter tint to Eliza's fine complexion; the +evening dews were falling upon the blooming honey-suckle, which +breathed its fragrant odors upon the happy pair. She seemed to look +peculiarly sweet and lovely. A few desultory remarks upon the serenity +and pleasantness of the evening, and then--in language which I shall +not detail--he poured out his heart's fulness into her ear. At this +avowal, her face budded into a rich rubescent glow, and the veins in +her clear, round neck, swelled almost to bursting. She replied not; +but a yielding of her soft little hand, which be involuntarily pressed +to his lips, confirmed the happiness of the enraptured swain--and blew +into an inextinguishable flame, that spark of love, which he had long +cherished within his heart, and fanned with a sleepless assiduity. He +soon departed for his father's; he rowed slowly up the river, whose +waves reflecting the moonbeams, seemed like molten gold, while the +stars twinkled brightly above him: the scene was enchanting, and his +already excited feelings caught the inspiration. A plunge against the +bank awakened him from his reverie, and he discovered that he was far +above his father's. The delighted girl retired to her room, and wept +herself to sleep--when she dreamed incessantly of Elysian fields, and +happy islands upon the bosom of the deep blue sea, through which she +and her Charles roamed happy as their fabled inhabitants. Very +_frequently_ after this, was Charles' little boat seen gliding, in the +cool of the evening, towards Mr. Newton's; and he seemed much more +addicted to hunting of late, particularly on the _west_ side of the +river, especially as he never failed, on his return from his fatiguing +rambles, to meet at Mr. Newton's the best refreshments, prepared in +Eliza's most tasty style. + +Thus a year marched onward in the track of time, unmarked by any +unusual incident. The parties heeded not its rapid flight, but +enjoying together every amusement and innocent pleasure which their +imaginations could devise, they lived in a state the nearest to bliss +they ever saw on earth. + +Early however, in the following summer, as Mr. Claiborne's family were +sitting beneath a large oak in the yard, being refreshed by the pure, +cool breezes from the river, Charles espied Eliza wandering, with a +little sister, along the meadows on the opposite side, gayly and +joyously taking her accustomed recreation, and plucking the +innumerable wild flowers that decorated her path. So long had this +settlement been undisturbed, that a dread of the savages no longer +existed; both children and females walked miles unaccompanied, and +without the least apprehension of danger, relaxing their precaution in +many particulars. While Charles was eyeing with delight Eliza's +graceful movements, he saw two Indians dart suddenly from the edge of +a thick copse of pawpaw, and seizing the frantic girl and child, bear +them off, shrieking, into the woods. Charles distinctly heard the +screaming, which pierced his inmost soul. "My God!" he exclaimed, "she +is taken;" and springing from his seat, he rushed into the house. The +affrighted family followed him, to learn the cause of his conduct; but +all he said was, "the Indians have taken her! have taken her!" Excited +almost to madness, seizing his rifle, he flew to the stable, mounted +his fleet hunter without his saddle, and calling his faithful +bloodhound, went as fast as his charger, urged on by every incentive, +could carry him; and at the same time crying, "Indians! Indians!" He +swam the river, and the astonished family soon saw him entering the +woods, his fierce dog upon the track. The alarm was soon given, and +the whole neighborhood was in commotion. Charles pursued, as well as +he could through the trees, the course of his unerring bloodhound. +Swift as the wind, had the Indians run over hill and dale towards the +lakes, until long after midnight; thinking they had not been seen, and +had eluded pursuit; weary with bearing upon their backs their helpless +captives, and reaching a deep ravine, they determined to kindle a fire +and prepare some refreshments. They bound each of the girls to a +sapling with a strip of bark, and commenced their culinary operations. +Scarcely had they been seated an hour, before Charles approached, and +seeing the light, called in, softly, his hound, and dismounted to +reconnoitre. A moment's observation satisfied him. He could see but +one of the Indians, and he sat just beyond Eliza, his _head_ only +perceptible above her's. The least tremor or precipitancy might defeat +his purpose--kill the prized object which he wished to rescue, or +place them both at the _mercy_ of the savages. With deliberation, a +firm and steady arm, he levelled his rifle, and fired,--the impatient +dog at the same time springing forward with the fierceness of a tiger. +Charles rushed to the spot, with a drawn knife. One Indian lay +senseless weltering in his blood; and seizing a tomahawk, he plunged +it into the head of the other, who was engaged in mortal strife with +the eager hound, which clung to his throat with an iron grasp. He +severed at a stroke the cursed cords that bound the pretty form of his +Eliza. As the truth opened to the vision of the enraptured girl, +overpowered with joy, she fell insensate into his arms: he drew her +closely to his bosom, felt the wild fluttering of her little heart, +and kissed to life again her bloodless lips. Gradually she revived, +and in the bewildered consciousness of waking, threw her arms around +his neck, calling his name in the most tender, affectionate accents. +"Could all the hours of hope, joy and pleasure in Charles' previous +life, have been melted down and concentrated into a single emotion, +that emotion would have been _tame_ to the _rapture_ of Eliza's +momentary embrace."[1] Upon complete restoration, she wept with real +pleasure; poured out upon her benefactor, her deliverer, her own +Charles, ceaseless expressions of gratitude and love--renewed her +faithful vows, and "plighted them upon her heart." Ah, why not, in +such a moment, let the bright spirit wing its upward flight, nor keep +it here to feel the stings of remorse or pain. Day had dawned. This +was the first human blood Charles had ever shed; and as he left this +eventful spot, yet pointed out to the traveller, he cast an eye of +pity upon the senseless corpses, and even then a sigh of regret +escaped his tender bosom. Taking Eliza behind him, and her sister +before, he pointed out the way to his hound, and commenced his return. +He soon met with some of the party who had commenced the pursuit, and +with them, returned to bear the precious, rescued captives, to their +anxious, miserable parents. Such a day of rejoicing, the settlement +had never seen before, when the glad tidings were made known; and the +heroic adventure of Charles received the merited applause of all. + +[Footnote 1: Bulwer.] + +Of late years, there had been a rapid influx of emigrants from the +east to this part of the Ohio; and a small village had sprung up, as a +mushroom in the night, a few miles below this settlement. To this +place all the produce of the country was carried, by the inhabitants, +to be exchanged for such articles of necessity or luxury as they +wanted. It soon became a flourishing little town. Its necessities +called for a post office, to which there was a weekly mail on +horseback from the East, and from Fort Washington, (now Cincinnati.) A +very respectable merchant of that place was appointed, with general +satisfaction, the post master. His name was Bryant, a native of +Pennsylvania. He was considered a very honorable and active young +gentleman--very prepossessing in his appearance, easy and agreeable in +his manners, intelligent, and quite popular. His evident fondness for +drinking was not _then deemed_ a disgrace, and his tendency to +extravagance was attributed to his generous and liberal disposition; +and every body sagely predicted, that age would lop off these +excrescences from a character otherwise very good. He had seen Miss +Newton several times, and had become enamored of her, and his visits +to her father's became very frequent; for though he received no +encouragement whatever from the daughter, he was always treated +politely and respectfully, and with true old Virginia hospitality, by +the parents. + +The earnest efforts of the President of the United States, to give +security to the northwestern frontier by pacific arrangements, having +proved unavailing, it became evident that vigorous offensive +operations only would bring the Indian war to a happy conclusion. +Accordingly, in 1791, General Harmer was ordered to leave Fort +Washington with a considerable body of troops, and to bring the +Indians to an engagement, or at least to destroy totally their +villages upon the Scioto and Miami rivers. A general call was made +upon the militia of Ohio and the surrounding states, to join in this +expedition, which if successful, would permanently secure them against +the dreadful incursions of their savage foes. Fired with indignation +at the late outrage committed in the neighborhood, and impelled by a +noble ambition for distinction, young Claiborne commenced enlisting a +company of volunteers. He soon succeeded in obtaining a hundred +signatures to his list, from the extensive county of Ross, and was +unanimously elected their captain. The first of October was appointed +as the day for commencing their march. + +As much as Eliza admired this manifestation of bravery and patriotism +in Charles, and how highly soever she might be pleased to hear of his +distinction, this resolve of his was a source of real pain to the +affectionate and devoted girl. The innumerable dangers and hardships +of Indian warfare, magnified by her attachment to him who was to be +subject to them, overwhelmed her with grief and sad apprehensions. +Charles' visits to Mr. Newton's were no less frequent than heretofore, +and his efforts to console his weeping Eliza, and relieve her fears, +were unceasing. He painted to her, her own late fortunate escape, and +told her of the salutary consequences to their own security and +prosperity, which must ensue from a subjugation of the enemy. She was +partly reconciled and resigned. But banish she could not, her +forebodings of ill, so natural. Ah! love, why + + "With cypress branches hast thou wreathed thy bowers?" + +Why is the brimming cup of bliss dashed down just as it touches the +opening lips? Why are all our fond hopes delusions--all our realities +as fruit of the dead sea, beautiful to the eye, but turning to bitter +ashes on the tongue--but to loosen the already too tenacious hold with +which we cling to this world, and fasten it on the skies? Who reads +not this in every day's experience? Yet who, alas! obeys the warning? +With painful, tortured feelings, did this devoted pair note the +merciless rapidity with which time bore off the two short weeks yet +remaining, before his departure. The last day of September had +arrived, and to-morrow Charles must meet his company at the village. +Towards evening he rowed over to Mr. Newton's, with a heavy heart; yet +fearful of no consequences from his absence, but the pain of a +separation from one whose being constituted a part of his own +existence. Charles had given up his whole heart, and loved with an +ardency stronger than death itself. A melancholy sadness sat upon +Eliza's countenance, and a crystal tear-drop glistened in her pensive +eye,--which made her appear peculiarly interesting to the devoted +Charles. The reader must imagine the thousand mutual vows of unaltered +and unalterable affection--the unreserved surrender of the whole +heart--the frequent oaths by the immoveable hills--the pressing +importunities never to forget or forsake--to casket in each other's +heart but one jewel, each other's image--and the innumerable other +such things which lovers are wont to pour forth on far less serious +occasions. He promised to write frequently; and to insure her of his +purpose, he said that should he not, she might properly think that he +had forgotten her, and that all his vows were false; for there would +be a constant intercourse between the army and Fort Washington,--to +which place he could forward his letters, and thence they would +certainly come safely by mail. When about to leave, he took her pretty +little hand, and drawing a plain gold ring from his pocket, placed it +on her slender, tapered finger; and knowing that the blood which +flowed beneath his grasp, came warm from a heart that throbbed for him +alone, he impressed it with a thousand kisses, and washed them off +with his manly tears. Let not the callous, cold-hearted worldling, +curl his worthless lip in derision--or the _proud_ man made of sterner +stuff, "blush for his sex." Unfeeling indeed, would he have been, had +he done otherwise; for there stood the prettiest creature in the +world, who had enriched him with an enviable affection, one arm around +his neck, her aching head leaning against his breast, and her pure, +innocent bosom, which never yet felt the piercings of sorrow's icy +dart, heaving with the most convulsive sobs. Who has not felt that the +thought of a month's separation from one we love, though conscious of +its short duration, sickens the heart? But hope, the mild soother of +every ill which betides us, and which brightly gilds our darkest +forebodings, could here scarcely administer its delusive consolation; +and they were to separate, pained and tortured by the "undying +thought, that they _no more_ might meet." He who can look with scorn +or coldness on such a scene as this, or calling it weakness, laugh at +it,--may keep his poor enjoyment for me, and without my envy, go along +his cheerless path, unillumed by a single ray of true and warm +affection, himself a stranger to one tender emotion. + +The volunteers commenced their march on the morrow, intending to unite +with the main body of forces on the Miami; but in a few days met +General Harmer on his way to reduce the savages upon the Scioto, and +did much brave service in the severe but fruitless conflict on that +river,--Claiborne gallantly and heroically distinguishing himself at +their head, and obtained a particular notice in the public despatches +of the commanding officer. He returned with the troops to Fort +Washington, and addressed a letter to his father, and one to Eliza, +giving a glowing description of the deadly engagement. + +In the disastrous battle upon the Miami, under General St. Clair, he +was among the bravest of those who, under General Darke, so daringly +charged at the point of the bayonet the concealed Indians, and drove +them from their covert twice, but without material advantage; and +among those who greatly distinguished themselves for fearlessly +fronting the most threatening danger, was Captain Claiborne--and +justice was done to his intrepidity and cool bravery in the official +despatches. In the glorious battle upon the Maumee, where General +Wayne commanded--refusing to surrender the station of commandant of +his own brave and hardy volunteers, now greatly reduced, for the +office of Colonel in the regular army, he was in the front rank of +that legion, which advanced with trailed arms, and hunted the Indians +from their concealment, which produced the utter route of the enemy, +terminated in their overthrow, and forced them to a tame +submission--which eventuated in a definitive treaty of peace in 1795, +and brought joy and gladness to the heart of every western citizen. + +Four tedious and eventful years had Charles been absent from one, +around whom his heart's tenderest affections clung with a deathless +tenacity, and for whose sake not one hour in the day o'erslipped him, +that he sighed not. Why he never returned while the army was stationed +at its various winter quarters, I am unable to say. But unnumbered +times had he written the most passionate and affectionate letters; and +to them all he had never received an answer. For this he consoled +himself with the thought, that they had supposed it fruitless to send +letters to one whose situation was so uncertain, or to Eliza's +delicacy to entrust her communications to so precarious a mode of +conveyance, which was rendered probable by his _father's_ not having +written. Any excuse satisfied him, and quelled every doubt of the +fidelity of one whose constancy it was painful to _suspect_. 'Twas the +thought of her--the thought that the unyielding opposition of these +savages so long detained him from her presence, that drove him upon +their unshrinking ranks with a tiger-like ferocity, and nerved his arm +for the resistless stroke. And now that his object was accomplished, +at the head of the few remaining volunteers who started with him, he +took up his line of march for the peaceful valley of the Scioto, where +he flattered himself he should close his life in tranquillity and with +honor, possessed of a treasure, richer far + + "Than all the trophies of the victor are." + +How false, alas! all human calculations! What a cheat our every hope! + +After a long and painful journey, he reached a hill which overlooked +his home--that silent valley, where he had enjoyed his only bliss +unmixed with grief. + + "He stopped. What singular emotions fill + Their bosoms who have been induced to roam, + With fluttering doubts if all be well or ill?" + +He reached his father's house, and was received with the greatest joy +by its inmates. They had almost despaired of his return, so long had +they been ignorant of his very existence; and his arrival dissipated +the cloud of grief which had frequently overshadowed them. The bustle +of first greetings over, he had some excellent refreshments set out +for his companions; and when they drank his health with repeated +cheers, he addressed them for a few minutes in the most feeling +strains, expressed his gratitude for the noble and faithful manner in +which they had discharged their duties, and wished them years of +prosperity and happiness to compensate them for their toils and +dangers. When he finished, each one pressing his hand, shouldered his +knapsack and left for his own _home_. + +And now he hurried to his mother's apartment to gather some +intelligence concerning his friends; and to his first inquiry about +Eliza, the old lady rather pleasantly remarked, "you staid too +long--she's married!" Little did she anticipate the effect this +communication produced. With an incredulous air, he replied, "you +jest. Eliza Newton, married! dead, rather! no, never. But to whom!" +"To Mr. Bryant?" At once the fatal truth flashed upon his mind, and +pierced his brain like a hot fire-brand. "_Eliza Newton_, so +forgetful, so ungrateful, so inconstant, so _deceitful!_" His heart +sunk within him. The object which he adored, _unworthy!_ Suddenly his +head drooped to his knee, and one convulsive groan told the anguish of +his soul. His mother called to him in soothing accents. He lifted +himself, deadly pale, his lips all dabbled with blood, a vein had +burst, his fiery eyes gleamed with a wild and unnatural glare, and +gazing with a piercing stare upon his petrified mother, he shrieked in +a thrilling, fearful tone, "impossible, _she_, false! then where is +truth?" and springing to his feet, he fell senseless on the floor. His +distracted mother just recovered from her alarm, flew for assistance; +he was soon consigned to a bed, and a messenger despatched to the +village for a physician. He gazed on all with a vacant stare--his old +broken-hearted father sat beside him, and he turned himself away. His +weeping sisters sat around his pillow, but he knew them not. His +temples throbbed furiously, and his blood coursed through his veins in +rapid, boiling waves. All feared that his manly intellect had been +shivered by this sudden and tremendous stroke. The physician +arrived,--and assured them, that he had hopes that his mind was not +irreparably impaired, and by keeping him still and quiet, with the +help of some cooling draughts, he might yet recover, though his brain +was considerably affected. He remained a while to watch the symptoms, +and then leaving such directions as his skill suggested, he left this +afflicted family. He returned and reported the case and its cause. The +report soon reached the ears of Mrs. Bryant--when with a chilling +effect, the remembrance of early affection came across her--the ghosts +of by-gone joys stalked around her--but no distraction ensued--_tears_ +came to her relief, and quenched the fires that seemed to consume her +heart. Frequently the stroke which crushes the stout and stubborn mind +of man, only bruises the more pliable and yielding intellect of woman, +as the storm before which the slender reed bows to the ground, but +rises when it is past, tears up by the roots, and dashes to a thousand +pieces the gnarled oak. There was one consoling thought, however, +which mitigated the pains that Mrs. Bryant felt. There was another +reason which calmed her troubled bosom. Whenever there appears an +object of pity, or charity, every feeling of woman is enlisted to +administer relief; and as the lighter bodies float upon the surface, +self, with all its concerns and every other consideration, for the +present, sinks to the bottom,--while tenderness, sympathy and +kindness, direct every sentiment and exertion in favor of the +sufferer. Such was the case in the present instance. Her husband was +from home, and Mrs. Bryant loaded with every thing suited to +Claiborne's situation, hastened to her father's, and then to Mr. +Claiborne's. She was kindly and affectionately received by the family. +Pale and agitated, she entered the apartment of her unfortunate +Charles. He turned an unmeaning glance upon her, but recognised her +not. This she scarcely regretted, as she might administer each healing +potion, or bathe his burning temples, without his knowing the hand +which did it. For a week or two she remained at her father's, going +over every day, and frequently sitting beside his bed through the long +silent watches of the night, ruminating with a bleeding heart, upon +her own unfortunate situation, all her affection revived for one she +had driven to madness, and whom she could never possess--keen despair +and biting remorse, her only reward for the part she had acted in this +sad tragedy. As memory retraced upon her mind with a burning finger +each happy moment of her youth now gone, and her fond hopes +disappointed--she cursed bitterly the hour in which she first saw the +light. Unspeakable anguish!--Mr. Bryant returned, _and thought her +presence necessary at home_. Reluctantly she obeyed, she feared to see +his face. She was deceived--she had never rendered him her whole +heart, and even that little seemed now to quit its hold. Censure her +not, but listen further. With a sharp reproof for her _imprudence_, +Bryant suffered her no more to visit her father's. Submissively she +obeyed. She endeavored to respect and appear agreeable to her husband. +And by her unceasing exertion she partly succeeded, and he seemed +reconciled, but from her heart of hearts, his image was excluded. +'Twas true the nuptials had been celebrated, the troth plighted, but +it was all a sacrilege, they had never been united "heart in heart." +Her affections had never been _wholly_ estranged from Claiborne. +Assidiously after his departure, did Bryant urge his suit, but without +the least prospect of success: yet the ardency of his love, suffered +no denial to frustrate his designs. He however grew apace, in favor +with her father; his bland, and agreeable manners, and business +habits, made him quite acceptable to the old gentleman. Two years had +now gone by, and yet not one word in any shape from Charles. The +defeats of Harmer and St. Clair had reached their ears, and probably +he had fallen among the heroic officers, who met their fate in those +calamitous engagements. So thought Mr. Newton,--if not, he had treated +them very disrespectfully. Eliza was loath to think so. But we have +observed that she was acutely sensible, and possessed of some of the +pride of her sex. She remembered Charles' last words, and began to +suspect they were designedly spoken, and that probably he had gone on +this expedition for the express purpose, else why would he have staid +so long unnecessarily, as she supposed; and not a syllable had he +written her, though two years had elapsed. Even to a less jealous mind +these incidents would have been strong confirmations. And dwelling +upon them, she wrought herself into the belief that Charles had +deceived her--and she determined to be independent, and to tear her +affections from him, cost what it might. She sighed that it was so, +but gave him up without an effort. Had he never returned, she might +probably have lived at least a contented life. + +Bryant was scrupulously silent on the subject of Charles' absence or +his neglect, suffering it to produce its own effects. Yet Eliza loved +_him_ not. But since she had loosed her hold on Charles, she seemed to +be out on the boundless sea--without a spot on which to cast hope's +anchor; and woman must love something--she loves to love. And yielding +to the importunities, the frequent suggestions of her father, who +thought it would be a very _prudent_ match, and a very agreeable one +with a little exertion on her part--she determined to _hazard_ the +throw, and granted Mr. Bryant her hand. Would that parents grown +prudent with age, and thinking only of _wealth_, would recall for a +moment their own youthful sentiments, and not urge their children into +engagements against which every feeling revolts--for however small the +defect objected to, or how groundless soever each little prejudice, +yet they may produce jars and schisms the most disagreeable and +painful, and for which no splendor of equipage or name can ever +compensate. The nuptials of Eliza and Bryant were celebrated the fall +before Charles' return, with considerable eclat for that quiet +settlement. And though the bride seemed calm and contented, yet she +had lost her former gaiety and buoyancy of spirits. With the exception +of a slight ebullition of anger, occasionally, things had glided on +smoothly till Charles' return, and thus they stood at that time. + +Slowly and gradually Claiborne recovered his senses and health. After +three months close confinement he was so far improved as to be able to +ride a little on horseback, or take short excursions upon the river in +the sail boat. The presence of old scenes revived his memory, and +seemed to strengthen his other faculties. Though pensive ever, yet his +alienation returned not. After he had fairly recovered, for the first +time, he inquired, if they had never heard from him. When told +_never_, he said it was mysterious, as he had written hundreds of +times, and first from Fort Washington itself. He said a black deed +might yet develope itself. And when informed that Eliza had kindly +waited on him, until prohibited by her husband, he exclaimed, +"deception! I am satisfied. But let me not stay where every scene +sends a dagger to my heart." All preparations were soon made and the +unhappy Claiborne left his home, his weeping friends, the haunts of +his early youth, and the theatre of his only blissful hours, for the +territory of Mississippi, where he practised law. He soon became +popular throughout the whole country, and was finally elevated to the +Chief Magistracy of the state. After having filled his term of office +with distinguished honor, he retired to private life; and soon after +sunk to an early grave, "unregretting--regretted by all." Like the +meteor flash, his career was brilliant, but transient. With his health +he never regained his natural gay and lightsome temperament. Gloomy +and melancholy he shunned the abodes of pleasure or merriment--lived +in retirement, and cherished within his bosom an unextinguishable +flame, that "finally corroded each vital part," and sunk him to the +tomb. + +Not long after Claiborne's departure, Bryant went upon a trading +expedition, and for the first time left his keys with his wife, with +the charge, that if a certain person called for some money, to let him +have it out of his desk. While there for that purpose, her +curiosity--I might say her suspicions--led her to examine the contents +of the drawers, when in one, oh! blackest deed on memory's record! oh! +most base and villainous deception! She met with a large packet of +letters addressed to herself and Claiborne's father. Pale and +motionless she stood, struck with amazement and horror. She saw +herself the _wife_ of a vile hypocrite--the author of all her own +misery and sorrow--the demon of the desolation and blight of happiness +she had witnessed in an excellent family--the injurer and almost +_murderer_ of the noble and generous Charles Claiborne. The idea froze +the blood in her very heart. She read Claiborne's repeated +declarations of increasing affection in every letter--the irksomeness +of all his pursuits uncheered by her smiles,--his kind but touching +reproofs for not writing--his marked effort in every line to please +and delight--they were all unsealed and had been read by this +cool-blooded villain. The blackness of the deed was aggravated by the +deliberation with which it was done, and that too, while he perceived +the anxiety and painful suspense of the dearest friends of one, whom +he was thus so deeply injuring. The poor Eliza had borne up under all +but this; and now that she saw her _husband_ a fiend at heart--her +anguish was insupportable--her bosom was racked with every conflicting +emotion--her eyes swam--her bewildered brain whirled, and she sank to +the floor. How long she lay in this state she knew not; but when she +recovered, she replaced every thing carefully, and retired. Ten +thousand agonizing reflections inflicted their torments upon her mind. +She soon resolved upon her course. Erring on the better side, she +determined to endure every suffering, to preserve her _husband_ from +ignominy, but to cherish her sorrows, which she hoped would very soon +wear out the little of life that remained-- + + But life's strange principle will often lie, + Deepest in those who long the most to die. + +And she _did_ live, to be chained yet longer to one she could but +hate--she lived to receive the abuse of one who by a hell-engendered +artifice seduced her from the sheltering, peaceful roof of her +father--she lived to see him a beastly slave to intoxication--she +lived to see her whole family reduced to want and misery by becoming +sureties for this now unprincipled spendthrift--she lived to see the +just retribution of heaven poured out upon the defenceless head, of +this serpent, which wound his way into Paradise and brought its +inmates to shame and poverty--she lived to see him die in want and +disgrace, raving with the agonies of despair. And she herself survived +but a short time, a pensioner upon the bounty of a few friends, who +received her into their houses, to cheer, if possible, the approaching +close of her painful and wretched existence;--which blind, +presumptuous man, ignorant of the wise designs of Providence would +fain pronounce too severe a fate, for a flower so tender and beautiful +in its first buddings. + +_Lovingston, Virginia, March 25, 1835_. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +A TALE OF A NOSE. + +BY PERTINAX PLACID. + + I had a dream, which was not all a dream.--_Byron_. + + +The story which I am about to relate may by some be considered +extravagant. I shall not argue the point; but content myself with the +reflection that mankind have never yet been unanimous in their +opinions in relation to any subject which admitted of a question. +There are two special merits which I claim for my story, viz: that it +is _brief_, and that it has a _moral_. Such as it is I offer it to the +consideration of the reader. + +It was a beautiful night in July.--The noble steamer "Dewitt Clinton" +was speeding her way through the moonlit waters of the Hudson, +thronged with passengers. We had left Albany late in the afternoon; +already we had passed the majestic Cattskill, and were entering among +those gorgeous scenes of nature which have been celebrated by an +hundred pens.--Julia and myself had escaped from the crowd below, to +the upper "round house" or roofing of the boat, which commanded an +unobstructed view of the objects on either side of the river, and +where we were secure from interruption, the myriads below being too +busily engaged in contending for berths, and preparing for their +night's lodging, to seek out our retreat or participate in the +enjoyment of the beauties we were contemplating. + +After paying due homage to the magnificent scenery around us, our +conversation took a more common-place turn, and, as we had met that +day after a long separation, during which Julia had paid a visit to +some of our old friends in the north, she detailed to me the many +happy meetings and amusing incidents of her excursion. She had gone +through a long narration of the sayings and doings of aunts and +cousins, and had given me a full list of new members of several +families which we remembered in their simple elements, when the +fathers and mothers were girls and boys, innocent of all thoughts of +matrimony, and ignorant of its joys and sorrows. She enumerated the +births, deaths and marriages of a whole village, in each individual +resident of which we had felt more or less interest in our early +years, and detailed their various changes of fortune and situation. In +fact she brought up many years' arrearages of information, to me of +more importance than the result of the Kentucky election, or the fate +of the prime match on the Union Course between the best horses of the +north and south. The private history of the old associates of my +youth, as thus narrated to me, might have afforded a moral to adorn a +tale of much higher interest than this I am now writing. + +"And you saw my Aunt Deborah," said I. "Pray how does she look, and +what did she say? I remember the eccentric old soul, as if the ten +long years since I have seen her had been but as many months. Many a +lecture did she utter on the extravagance, the impetuosity, and the +recklessness of my boyhood; and much did she preach to me of prudence +and moderation, I fear, in vain. Does she still remember my wild +pranks?" + +"Oh yes--but her censure of your wildness was so mingled with praises +of your good qualities, that I doubt whether she would have permitted +another person to speak ill, even of those points in your character +which she blamed the most." + +"Kind old woman! It was so when I was a boy. She was perpetually +lecturing, and yet she was most kind to me. And somehow, in spite of +her irksome admonitions, for which I had then no great relish, I soon +discovered that I was a favorite with her." + +"On one point she was particularly urgent. She questioned me whether +you had as yet learned the value of money, observing, that in your +younger days you had been a good-for-nothing little spendthrift." + +"I hope you did not deceive the good old lady. It would be but fair +that she should know that the prudence with which I was not born, has +failed as yet of obtaining a lodgment in my head. It would have been a +pity to deprive her of the glorious consolation of knowing that her +predictions of my improvidence have been fully realized." + +"Well, I did not think it necessary to inform her of the full extent +of your delinquency; but I admitted to her that you had not the gift +of _saving_, which she admires so much." + +"She often told me that I would never acquire it." + +"Oh, now I remember, she charged me to deliver to you a renewed +admonition to prudence and economy. 'Tell E----,' said she, with great +solemnity, made still more solemn by the huge pinch of snuff which she +disposed of at the moment, 'that he must look forward to the future, +and now, while he is prosperous, prepare for a less plentiful time, +which may come. Tell him that, unless he studies prudence and economy, +sooner or later, _his nose must come to the grindstone_.' I hope you +will profit by the exhortation." + +"I wish I could, I hope I may," said I, with something like a sigh +interrupting for a moment the laugh, which I could not resist, at the +expense of my good-hearted aunt Deborah. + +Some further conversation occupied us for a short time, when we were +admonished by the comparative quiet which had taken place of the +bustle below, that it was time to seek such rest as we might find +among the crowd. + +Those persons who have not travelled in a "night-boat," as a steamer +is called which performs its trips during the night, are probably not +aware of the kind of lodgings which it affords when the number of +passengers is large. The disposal of five hundred lodgers on board a +steam boat is no trifling task. The berths are of course limited in +number, and when crowded, the floors of the cabins are covered with +sleeping contrivances of various descriptions. Settees, cots, and a +kind of oblong box, having thin mattresses spread over them, with a +sheet and blanket perhaps, are wedged together, each calculated to +hold the body of a human being, by the most scanty and economical +measurement. The berths are first exhausted by those who are most +prompt in looking after their own comfort; and then comes the scramble +for the cots, settees, &c. In this contest high words often occur, and +in some instances I have heard of serious conflicts for the possession +of one of these miserable dormitories. + +On this occasion I had enlisted the good offices of the younger +Captain Sherman, who promised to secure me a lodging, and when I +entered the cabin it was pointed out to me. Numbers had been less +fortunate, and unable to procure a place of rest below, had +accommodated themselves upon benches, chairs, &c. above,--or wrapped +in cloaks, had stretched themselves on the deck. Clambering over those +who had already retired, I stretched myself on my pallet. In doing so +I awoke my next neighbor, a gigantic Kentuckian, who lay cramped up in +his scanty cot, like a stranded leviathan among a shoal of porpoises. + +He cast his eyes upon me, and with an ineffectual attempt to extend +his limbs, muttered, "Close stowing this, stranger." + +I assented to the truth of his remark; but he seemed in no mood for +conversation, and was soon fast asleep. The heat was suffocating from +the effusions of so many human bodies lying in rows, almost touching +each other, + + "Thick as the autumnal leaves which strow the brooks + In Vallombrosa." + +I found it impossible to sleep. The feverish state of the atmosphere, +and the tumult around me, scared the drowsy god from my pillow--[I had +no pillow by the way, but made my great coat serve as a substitute for +one.] The thundering and crashing of the engine,--the dashing of the +paddles in the water--the stamping of feet above our heads--the uproar +of many voices, heard at intervals when some order was given to the +crew--the _banging_ of the wood upon the planks, at it was transferred +from the pile to the engine-room--the rumbling of ballast-boxes, as +they were occasionally transferred from side to side, for the purpose +of _trimming_ the steamer--the harsh rattling of the tackle, as a boat +was lowered, to land or take off passengers by a _tow line_,[1] and +the simultaneous rush to the gangway of those who were to go on shore, +while the subtile fluid which gave motion to our floating caravan, +being partially restrained, emitted a wheezing and uncomfortable +sound. + +[Footnote 1: This method of landing and taking off passengers was +practised for many years on the Hudson, but finally abolished by law, +on account of its risks, several fatal accidents having been caused by +it. The steamer was not brought to during the operation; but a tow +line attached to the small boat, was out from the steamer, and drawn +in by the machinery with great velocity.] + +But who shall describe the varied and terrific music of the steam +engine? I do not attempt it, not doubting that in the march of +improvement, the poet will hereafter make it a special theme; and that +some American Mayerbeer or Mozart, will consider the composition of a +passage by steam from Albany to New York, as affording facilities for +expression and contrast, equally sublime with the March in Saul or the +Battle of Prague.--Occasionally we came to a dead stop at some +principal landing place. For a moment the engine was hushed, as silent +as death; then a feeble whistle was heard from the steam pipe, (sweet, +shrill and almost plaintive,) followed by a roar of the imprisoned +element, fiercely exulting at its recovered liberty, as it was _let +off_ from the engine, and rushing forth with such gigantic impulse as +to shake every timber in the vessel.--Gradually the roar subsides; +slowly, slowly, until a humming sound succeeds, as though all the bees +of Hybla were swarming around our heads. Suddenly it ceases, and for a +moment the steam is silent. Then again, the hoarse thunder of the +machinery commences, the paddles dash the water from beneath them, +with giant strides, and the motion of the vessel is distinctly felt, +as she rushes onward in her course. + +Such were the sounds above which afforded to the hundreds of sleepers +a discordant lullaby, sufficiently hostile to repose, one would think, +to drive slumber from the eyelids of Somnus himself. But all this +"mortal pudder o'er our heads," was less distracting than the concert +of discords which was in a coarse of performance immediately around +me, comparatively, it is true, in a _minor key_.--One hundred and +fifty _wind instruments_ of various constructions and dimensions, were +playing _ad-libitum_, in every diversity of tone and time, concertos, +fantasias and airs, which breathed of any thing but heaven. Here could +be heard the mournful strain of a proboscis which seemed attuned to +melancholy--there, the fierce blast of a nostril which emulated the +magic horn of the wild huntsman; while in ludicrous contrast, hard-by +were heard the stifled eruptions of a snout, which might have been +taken for the rehearsals of an inexperienced porker. One drew in his +breath with a painful squeel and a low whistle, and puffed it forth as +he would have done in extinguishing a candle--another, began in a +gentle strain, "like the sweet south, breathing upon a bed of +violets"--gradually rising to a full and manly tone--still gaining +strength as it advanced--now louder and more rapid--dashing onward +with alarming impetuosity--louder, louder still; and now, the very +brink of this musical cataract having been reached--a _crash_ ensues, +like the termination of that terrific passage in the overture to Der +Freyschutz, which almost freezes the blood. The explosion past, this +fantastic nose commenced again its tender strains, and again rose to +its climax. Another rolled forth a heavy bass, deep, solemn and +monotonous, like the muttering of distant thunder, or the roar of the +vexed ocean heaving its waves on the shore after a storm. Another, +with teeth compressed, seemed to draw in breath repeatedly without +respiration, and suddenly to disembogue this over supply of air with a +single emphatic snort, which threw his mouth open to its full extent. +Some squeeled continuously; some groaned; and others whistled through +their mouths in drawing in breath, and through their noses, in +respiring it. + +It will not be wondered that I could not sleep, yet my fellow +travellers seemed unannoyed. I fell into a train of profound thought +upon the causes of the various cadences of different noses, and +puzzled myself upon the shapes and dimensions suitable to produce +certain simple or compound tones in the concert. In following out +these reflections, I wondered what description of music I must make +myself, and could not but wish to hear myself snore--(a thing I +believe impossible.) I could not avoid handling my own nose, to fix +according to my imperfect theory, the extent and character of its +musical capacity. By an association of ideas, the consideration of +this question brought back to my mind the prophecy of aunt Deborah. I +pondered upon it until the reflections which it suggested became +painful. I endeavored to banish it from my thoughts, but could not +entirely succeed. After a considerable time, I fell into a kind of +_snooze_--a state which was neither absolute sleeping or waking--a +kind of conscious unconsciousness, partaking of both in nearly equal +degrees. Visions of imaginary objects glanced before me, which seemed +to partake of or to be blended with the scene and sounds around me. +Dim figures came and went between me and the lamp, hanging at the +extremity of the cabin, on which my eye was fixed. Among these beings +my aunt Deborah two or three times made her appearance; her starch'd +cap, peaked nose, and keen grey eye, were not to be mistaken. I could +identify even her tortoise snuff-box, which seemed as new as when I +saw it ten years ago. Her look was rigid and menacing, and seemed to +bode me no good--for I dreaded a lecture. These objects were the +materials of dreams:--active thought and volition had nothing to do +with their production. Yet my eyes were open,--my senses were awake. I +could see and mark the motion of the red curtains, swinging to and +fro--I still heard the unwearied nasal minstrelsey to which I have +alluded, as distinctly as before. + +The philosophers, I believe, have explained this contradictory state +of the body and mind. I fear I have not described it so as to make +myself clearly understood; but I am no philosopher, unless it be a +laughing one. Those who have experienced a visitation of the "night +mare," will I presume, comprehend my meaning.--I am not aware that +this state of things had ceased, but believe the combat between real +and unreal impressions was still going on in my mind, when I plainly +perceived two large, gaunt blackamoors (whom I well remembered to have +seen when at home in Richmond, pursuing their daily toil in Myers's +tobacco factory,) descend the cabin stairs, and approach the spot +where I lay. The obstacles of a crowded room did not seem to impede +them; and I soon felt their iron grasp on my limbs. I was lifted by +them from my pallet, and borne, I know not how, up the stairs, past +the engine, to the forward deck. I endeavored from the moment they +laid hands on me, to struggle with them; but my limbs were powerless: +I endeavored to call out, and awaken my fellow lodgers; but my voice +had lost its sound, my tongue seemed paralyzed: I could not articulate +a syllable. The cold sweat of terror stood upon my brow. I had a +presentiment that some awful fate awaited me, but I could form no +conception what it was to be. + +At the place where they halted in their progress, I saw a huge +grindstone, from behind which a little black urchin leaped up, and +seizing the handle, commenced turning it with surprising velocity, +looking into my face and laughing with that hearty glee so peculiar to +the cachinations of his race. I knew the imp too well, for I had seen +him in his tatters an hundred times, hopping the gutters in front of +the Eagle Hotel. A horrible consciousness of my fate now flashed upon +me. The prophesy of my aunt Deborah came into my mind, and I felt that +it was to be fulfilled. I cast my eyes around me in despair, when they +fell upon the figure of the old lady herself, standing upon the prow +of the vessel. Her look was severe and reproachful. The finger of her +right hand was uplifted, as if she would have said, "I have warned you +in vain!"--while her left hand conveyed a pinch of snuff to her +nostrils, which they received with an inspiration so keen that it +hissed in my ears like hot iron. My glance at this figure was but +momentary. Scarce had the imp commenced turning the instrument upon +which I had now become aware that I was to be tortured, when the +Titans in whose gripe I was held, forced my head downward, until my +proboscis rested upon the revolving stone, and I felt its horrid +inroads upon that sensitive member. The first excoriation was severe. +I writhed and struggled to free myself, but the power which held me +was indomitable. Gradually the urchin relaxed in the rapidity of his +motions--the stone revolved slowly, and I saw that my torment was to +be a lingering one. + +In the midst of their task the inhuman wretches began to chaunt songs +and incantations adapted to the horrid ceremony. I remember some +snatches of the ballads they sung. Never shall I forget them, for the +cruel mockery of their fiendish merriment was more galling than the +pain I endured, or the awful reflection that I must pass the rest of +my days the noseless object of pity and contempt. One of the stanzas +ran thus: + + De man who hold he nose too high + Mus' be brought low: + Put him on de grinstone + And grind him off slow. + Wheel about, and turn about, + And wheel about slow; + And every time he wheel about + De nose must go. + +I was at no loss to recognize in this a parody on a popular ballad by +James Crow, Esquire, very skilfully arranged for the piano-forte by +Mr. Zephaniah Coon; and I despised my tormentors the more for their +plagiarism and want of originality. At the end of each _refrain_, the +barbarians sent forth as a kind of supplementary chorus, shouts of +laughter, which seemed to come from their very souls. It was none of +your civilized _ha ha's_--nor your modish _he he's_--but the hearty, +pectoral _yeoh yeoh yeoh_ of the unsophisticated "_nigger_." + +All this time my nose was gradually diminishing. The imp at the handle +turned it slowly but steadily; the grasp upon my shoulders was firm, +and the pressure upon my head was so heavy, that the inexorable stone +was fast penetrating flesh, cartilage and bone, and reducing to a +level the inequalities of my visage. This could not last forever; and +at length I felt that the sacrifice had been consummated--the friction +of the stone upon my cheeks, gave fearful evidence that what had been +a nose, existed no longer, and brought the horrid reflection that I +was noseless! That the pride of my countenance was gone, and forever! + +The awful consciousness of my bereavement made me desperate, and +strung up my sinews to a gigantic effort for freedom and +revenge.--Suddenly the grasp upon my body was loosened, and as +suddenly the agents and the instrument of my torment vanished. + +I awoke, covered with perspiration and in a mortal tremor. The cabin +was dark, and but for the snoring of my neighbors, I should not have +known where I was. My nose was still suffering a most uncomfortable +sensation, and I breathed with difficulty from some unknown +obstruction. Although instantly aware that, to use the language of +Molly Brown, I had merely "dreampt a dream," I instinctively lifted my +hand to my face to reassure myself that my nose remained in +undiminished amplitude and longitude. In searching for that +interesting feature, I found that it was eclipsed and borne down by +some weighty substance, which the sense of feeling soon informed me +was the ponderous fist of my Kentucky neighbor, who had in shifting +his position during his slumbers, unceremoniously thrust it into my +face. I was cramped for room, and tugged to rid myself of the +incumbrance, when its owner awoke. + +"Halloo stranger!" said he, "you kick about like an eel out of water." + +I explained to him the cause of my uneasiness, for which he briefly +asked my pardon; and re-adjusting himself, again fell asleep. I could +not follow his example, my mind being occupied in recalling the +incidents and sensations of my dream, which fully engaged my thoughts +until I was made aware, by the shouting and scampering upon deck, that +we had reached New York. + +And now for the _moral_ which I promised my readers. It is this--Do +not think too much of your nose--or hold it too high,--lest it should +be brought to the grindstone in good earnest; and moreover, never +sleep in a steam boat cabin, where men are planted, like Indian corn, +_in rows_--if you can avoid it. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +MORELLA--A TALE. + +BY EDGAR A. POE. + + Auto kath' auto meth' autou, mono eides aei ou. + Itself--alone by itself--eternally _one_ and single. + _Plato_. _Sympos_. + + +With a feeling of deep but most singular affection I regarded my +friend Morella. Thrown by accident into her society many years ago, my +soul, from our first meeting, burned with fires it had never +known--but the fires were not of Eros--and bitter and tormenting to my +eager spirit was the gradual conviction that I could in no manner +define their unusual meaning, or regulate their vague intensity. Yet +we met; and Fate bound us together at the altar: and I never spoke of +love, or thought of passion. She, however, shunned society, and, +attaching herself to me alone, rendered me happy. It is a happiness to +wonder. It is a happiness to dream. + +Morella's erudition was profound. As I hope to live, her talents were +of no common order--her powers of mind were gigantic. I felt this, and +in many matters became her pupil. I soon, however, found that Morella, +perhaps on account of her Presburg education, laid before me a number +of those mystical writings which are usually considered the mere dross +of the early German literature. These, for what reasons I could not +imagine, were her favorite and constant study: and that in process of +time they became my own, should be attributed to the simple but +effectual influence of habit and example. + +In all this, if I err not, my reason had little to do. My convictions, +or I forget myself, were in no manner acted upon by my imagination, +nor was any tincture of the mysticism which I read, to be discovered, +unless I am greatly mistaken, either in my deeds or in my thoughts. +Feeling deeply persuaded of this I abandoned myself more implicitly to +the guidance of my wife, and entered with a bolder spirit into the +intricacy of her studies. And then--then, when poring over forbidden +pages I felt the spirit kindle within me, would Morella place her cold +hand upon my own, and rake up from the ashes of a dead philosophy some +low singular words, whose strange meaning burnt themselves in upon my +memory: and then hour after hour would I linger by her side, and dwell +upon the music of her thrilling voice, until at length its melody was +tinged with terror and fell like a shadow upon my soul, and I grew +pale, and shuddered inwardly at those too unearthly tones--and thus +Joy suddenly faded into Horror, and the most beautiful became the most +hideous, as Hinnon became Ge-Henna. + +It is unnecessary to state the exact character of these disquisitions, +which, growing out of the volumes I have mentioned, formed, for so +long a time, almost the sole conversation of Morella and myself. By +the learned in what might be termed theological morality they will be +readily conceived, and by the unlearned they would, at all events, be +little understood. The wild Pantheism of Fitche--the modified [Greek: +Palingenesia] of the Pythagoreans--and, above all, the doctrines of +_Identity_ as urged by Schelling were generally the points of +discussion presenting the most of beauty to the imaginative Morella. +That _Identity_ which is not improperly called _Personal_, I think Mr. +Locke truly defines to consist in the sameness of a rational being. +And since by person we understand an intelligent essence having +reason, and since there is a consciousness which always accompanies +thinking, it is this which makes us all to be that which we call +_ourselves_--thereby distinguishing us from other beings that think, +and giving us our personal identity. But the Principium +Individuationis--the notion of that Identity _which at death is, or is +not lost forever_, was to me, at all times, a consideration of intense +interest, not more from the mystical and exciting nature of its +consequences, than from the marked and agitated manner in which +Morella mentioned them. + +But, indeed, the time had now arrived when the mystery of my wife's +manner oppressed me like a spell. I could no longer bear the touch of +her wan fingers, nor the low tone of her musical language, nor the +lustre of her melancholy eyes. And she knew all this but did not +upbraid. She seemed conscious of my weakness, or my folly--and, +smiling, called it Fate. She seemed also conscious of a cause, to me +unknown, for the gradual alienation of my regard; but she gave me no +hint or token of its nature. Yet was she woman, and pined away daily. +In time the crimson spot settled steadily upon the cheek, and the blue +veins upon the pale forehead became prominent: and one instant my +nature melted into pity, but in the next I met the glance of her +meaning eyes, and my soul sickened and became giddy with the giddiness +of one who gazes downward into some dreary and fathomless abyss. + +Shall I then say that I long'd with an earnest and consuming desire +for the moment of Morella's decease? I did. But the fragile spirit +clung to its tenement of clay for many days--for many weeks and +irksome months--until my tortured nerves obtained the mastery over my +mind, and I grew furious with delay, and with the heart of a fiend I +cursed the days, and the hours, and the bitter moments which seemed to +lengthen, and lengthen as her gentle life declined--like shadows in +the dying of the day. + +But one autumnal evening, when the winds lay still in Heaven, Morella +called me to her side. There was a dim mist over all the earth, and a +warm glow upon the waters, and amid the rich October leaves of the +forest a rainbow from the firmament had surely fallen. As I came, she +was murmuring in a low under-tone, which trembled with fervor, the +words of a Catholic hymn: + + Sancta Maria! turn thine eyes + Upon the sinner's sacrifice + Of fervent prayer, and humble love, + From thy holy throne above. + + At morn, at noon, at twilight dim, + Maria! thou hast heard my hymn. + In joy and wo, in good and ill, + Mother of God! be with me still. + + When my hours flew gently by, + And no storms were in the sky, + My soul, lest it should truant be, + Thy love did guide to thine and thee. + + Now, when clouds of Fate o'ercast + All my Present, and my Past, + Let my Future radiant shine + With sweet hopes of thee and thine. + +'It is a day of days'--said Morella--'a day of all days either to live +or die. It is a fair day for the sons of Earth and Life--ah! more fair +for the daughters of Heaven and Death.' + +I turned towards her, and she continued. + +'I am dying--yet shall I live. Therefore for me, Morella, thy wife, +hath the charnel house no terrors--mark me!--not even the terrors of +the _worm_. The days have never been when thou couldst love me; but +her whom in life thou didst abhor, in death thou shalt adore.' + +'Morella!' + +'I repeat that I am dying. But within me is a pledge of that +affection--ah, how little! which you felt for me, Morella. And when my +spirit departs shall the child live--thy child and mine, Morella's. +But thy days shall be days of sorrow--that sorrow which is the most +lasting of impressions, as the cypress is the most enduring of trees. +For the hours of thy happiness are over, and Joy is not gathered twice +in a life, as the roses of Pæstum twice in a year. Thou shalt not, +then, play the Teian with Time, but, being ignorant of the myrtle and +the vine, thou shalt bear about with thee thy shroud on earth, like +the Moslemin at Mecca.' + +'Morella!'--I cried--'Morella! how knowest thou this?'----but she +turned away her face upon the pillow, and, a slight tremor coming over +her limbs, she thus died, and I heard her voice no more. + +Yet, as she had foreseen, her child--to which in dying she had given +birth, and which breathed not till the mother breathed no more--her +child, a daughter, lived. And she grew strangely in size and +intellect, and was the perfect resemblance of her who had departed, +and I loved her with a love more fervent and more intense than I +believed it possible to feel on earth. + +But ere long the Heaven of this pure affection became overcast; and +Gloom, and Horror, and Grief came over it in clouds. I said the child +grew strangely in stature and intelligence. Strange indeed was her +rapid increase in bodily size--but terrible, oh! terrible were the +tumultuous thoughts which crowded upon me while watching the +development of her mental being. Could it be otherwise, when I daily +discovered in the conceptions of the child the adult powers and +faculties of the woman?--when the lessons of experience fell from the +lips of infancy? and when the wisdom or the passions of maturity I +found hourly gleaming from its full and speculative eye? When, I say, +all this became evident to my appalled senses--when I could no longer +hide it from my soul, nor throw it off from those perceptions which +trembled to receive it, is it to be wondered at that suspicions of a +nature fearful, and exciting, crept in upon my spirit, or that my +thoughts fell back aghast upon the wild tales and thrilling theories +of the entombed Morella? I snatched from the scrutiny of the world a +being whom Destiny compelled me to adore, and in the rigid seclusion +of my ancestral home, I watched with an agonizing anxiety over all +which concerned my daughter. + +And as years rolled away, and daily I gazed upon her eloquent and mild +and holy face, and pored over her maturing form, did I discover new +points of resemblance in the child to her mother--the melancholy, and +the dead. And hourly grew darker these shadows, as it were, of +similitude, and became more full, and more definite, and more +perplexing, and to me more terrible in their aspect. For that her +smile was like her mother's I could bear--but then I shuddered at its +too perfect _identity_: that her eyes were Morella's own I could +endure--but then they looked down too often into the depths of my soul +with Morella's intense and bewildering meaning. And in the contour of +the high forehead, and in the ringlets of the silken hair, and in the +wan fingers which buried themselves therein, and in the musical tones +of her speech, and above all--oh! above all, in the phrases and +expressions of the dead on the lips of the loved and the living, I +found food for consuming thought and horror--for a worm that would not +die. + +Thus passed away two lustrums of her life, yet my daughter remained +nameless upon the earth. 'My child' and 'my love' were the +designations usually prompted by a father's affection, and the rigid +seclusion of her days precluded all other intercourse. Morella's name +died with her at her death. Of the mother I had never spoken to the +daughter--it was impossible to speak. Indeed during the brief period +of her existence the latter had received no impressions from the +outward world but such as might have been afforded by the narrow +limits of her privacy. But at length the ceremony of baptism presented +to my mind in its unnerved and agitated condition, a present +deliverance from the horrors of my destiny. And at the baptismal font +I hesitated for a name. And many titles of the wise and beautiful, of +antique and modern times, of my own and foreign lands, came thronging +to my lips--and many, many fair titles of the gentle, and the happy +and the good. What prompted me then to disturb the memory of the +buried dead? What demon urged me to breathe that sound, which, in its +very recollection, was wont to make ebb and flow the purple blood in +tides from the temples to the heart? What fiend spoke from the +recesses of my soul, when amid those dim aisles, and in the silence of +the night, I shrieked within the ears of the holy man the syllables, +Morella? What more than fiend convulsed the features of my child and +overspread them with the hues of death, as, starting at that sound, +she turned her glassy eyes from the Earth to Heaven, and falling +prostrate upon the black slabs of her ancestral vault, responded 'I am +here!' + +Distinct, coldly, calmly distinct--like a knell of death--horrible, +horrible death, sank the eternal sounds within my soul. Years--years +may roll away, but the memory of that epoch--never! Now was I indeed +ignorant of the flowers and the vine--but the hemlock and the cypress +overshadowed me night and day. And I kept no reckoning of time or +place, and the stars of my Fate faded from Heaven, and, therefore, my +spirit grew dark, and the figures of the earth passed by me like +flitting shadows, and among them all I beheld only--Morella. The winds +of the firmament breathed but one sound within my ears, and the +ripples upon the sea murmured evermore--Morella. But she died, and +with my own hands I bore her to the tomb, and I laughed, with a long +and bitter laugh as I found no traces of the first in the charnel +where I laid the second--Morella. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +CONTENT'S MISHAP: + +A VERITABLE HISTORY. + +BY PERTINAX PLACID, ESQUIRE. + + + CONTENT once dwelt in humble cot + Beside a stream with music flowing, + Embower'd in shade--a verdant spot-- + Woodbines and wild flowers round it growing. + + There NATURE lavish of her store + Breath'd fragrance over plain and mountain; + A soft entrancing aspect wore, + And sang sweet strains by brook and fountain. + + Within the cot where dwelt the maid + PEACE ever reign'd, with mild dominion, + And LOVE, reform'd, no longer stray'd, + But loos'd his bow, and furl'd his pinion. + + There PLENTY crown'd each savory meal + With simple food from NATURE'S bounty; + And HEALTH contemn'd the boasted skill + Of all the Doctors in the county. + + One morning PRIDE, a city belle, + In FASHION'S gaudiest trappings glaring, + The fragrant meads for once to smell, + That way had driven to take an airing. + + By chance, a vagrant cloud sent down + A shower to cool the sultry weather, + When PRIDE protested with a frown, + 'Twould spoil her riding-hat and feather. + + CONTENT'S snug dwelling stood hard by, + And thither PRIDE her car directed: + Welcomed with homely courtesy, + She smiled to find her dress protected. + + The first brief salutations o'er, + PRIDE view'd with scorn the humble cottage, + Its narrow rooms, its sanded floor-- + And turn'd her nose up at the pottage. + + Then thus, to meek CONTENT she spoke: + "I wonder so genteel a maiden + Should dwell in this secluded nook, + As dull as ever hermit pray'd in. + + 'Tis shameful such a form and face + Should hide themselves in this mean hovel: + That so much loveliness and grace + Should with such stupid people grovel. + + How would you grace those splendid halls + Where I and PLEASURE lead the million! + There you would shine at routes and balls, + Queen of the _waltz_ and gay _cotillion_. + + These humdrum folks you live with now + Are _cut_ by all who aim at fashion: + To see you so beset, I vow, + It puts me quite into a passion. + + Here's PEACE, a tiresome, dowdy thing, + Fit only for the chimney corner, + To listen while the crickets sing, + And teach the brats their _Jacky Horner_. + + PLENTY is well enough 'tis true, + Where hungry peasants gorge their rations; + But her rude fare would never do, + For FASHION'S delicate collations. + + And LOVE,--who once was all the rage, + And turn'd the heads of half the city, + Dealing his shafts on youth and age, + As you have learnt from many a ditty-- + + Has long been voted quite a bore, + He made so many a sad miscarriage; + And now, the part he play'd before, + CONVENIENCE takes at every marriage. + + This rustic-looking, sheepish boy + I ne'er should dream was master CUPID,-- + Whom once I knew so full of joy-- + He looks so quiet and so stupid. + + I cannot bear that you should dwell + In such a lonely sequestration, + When you might reign a city belle, + And taste the sweets of admiration. + + Come then, nor longer tarry here + In this retreat so lone and dreary: + In PLEASURE'S brilliant throng appear, + Where TIME'S bright pinions never weary." + + The artless nymph, ta'en unawares, + Was dazzled by PRIDE'S invitation; + But still she fear'd the City's snares, + And answer'd with great hesitation. + + She said a happy life she led, + That care had ne'er her bosom enter'd + Tho' tenant of an humble shed, + Here all the joys she ask'd for centred. + + But PRIDE protested 'twas a sin, + That so perversely she should prattle, + When HOPE, (the jade) who just dropp'd in + That moment--closed the wordy battle. + + HOPE whisper'd in the maiden's ear-- + What 'twas I never could discover,-- + But from her beaming eye, 'twas clear + CONTENT'S resistance all was over. + + Suffice to say, the car was brought, + The ladies in it soon were seated: + PRIDE took the reins, and quick as thought, + The valley from their vision fleeted. + + 'Tis true CONTENT some sorrow felt + At leaving PEACE and LOVE behind her; + But HOPE sat by, and fondly dwelt + On all the happiness design'd her. + + * * * * * + + Soon by Dame FASHION'S mystic aid + CONTENT became another creature; + Such _art_ was in her form display'd, + She needed not the charms of nature. + + * * * * * + + Behold our country maiden now! + In PLEASURE'S train a gay attendant; + Before her throng'd admirers bow; + Her beauty was pronounced transcendent. + + In every scene where PLEASURE reign'd + CONTENT was found, a radiant charmer; + And while the novelty remain'd, + Her wild career did not alarm her. + + Months pass'd in one continued round + Of parties, balls, and routes and levees, + And tired CONTENT at length had found + No happiness in PLEASURE'S bevies. + + Jaded in this unceasing maze, + Her eye grew dim, her cheek grew pallid: + PRIDE only could her spirits raise, + And oft her melancholy rallied. + + But long even PRIDE could not hold out; + Sorely the maid her change repented-- + Her dreams had all been put to route-- + CONTENT was sadly discontented. + + One morning HOPE, who scarce had seen + The maiden since she sought the City, + To make a flying call, popp'd in,-- + And saw her alter'd looks with pity. + + "Ah faithless HOPE!" exclaim'd CONTENT: + "Why did you flatter and deceive me-- + Why urge the step I now repent, + And be the first to scorn and leave me. + + Oh, but for you, deceitful friend, + I still had lived untouched by SORROW, + Where beauteous flowers their fragrance blend, + Nor blushes from cosmetics borrow. + + I might have dwelt, a happy maid, + With PEACE and LOVE, in blest seclusion, + Afar from FASHION'S dull parade, + Her endless throngs of gay confusion. + + Fain would I to my cottage fly, + But PRIDE resists, and SHAME upbraids me; + And PLEASURE, ever hovering nigh + With some delusive tale dissuades me." + + HOPE, with a woman's ready wit, + From all reproach herself defended; + And forced her listner to admit + Her counsel "_for the best_" intended. + + * * * * * + + CONTENT at length "made up her mind" + ('Gainst PRIDE'S usurp'd control rebelling,) + To leave the bustling town behind, + And seek again her humble dwelling. + + 'Twas a bright morn in early Spring, + When, HOPE her languid steps attending, + Through vales where birds were on the wing, + To that lone cot the maid was wending. + + The sun shone bright on hill and lea, + The flowers from leafy shades were peeping; + The brook ran murmuring merrily, + And flocks were in the valleys leaping. + + The Cottage reach'd, she met once more + The smile of PEACE, and LOVE'S embraces; + JOY lit the maiden's eye again, + And from her brow chased sorrow's traces. + + Soon HEALTH return'd, with genial glow, + Her languid frame with strength induing, + The blood resumed its wonted flow, + The roses on her cheeks renewing. + + HOPE views the change with fond delight; + Vows from CONTENT she ne'er will sever; + Controls each wild impassion'd flight, + And points where mercy beams forever. + + What more could Providence bestow + To yield CONTENT an added blessing? + Each hour her heart's pure offerings flow, + To Heaven its gratitude addressing. + + And ever since, CONTENT has dwelt + From the gay crowd, in vale secluded:-- + Their joyless strife she once has felt, + And cannot be again deluded. + + Oft have I seen the humble roof, + Where, with PEACE, LOVE and HOPE uniting, + She dwells, from worldly cares aloof, + Even while her story I am writing. + + + + +The following beautiful reply to the stanzas of Mr. Wilde, published +in the first number of the Messenger, is attributed to Mrs. Buckley, +the wife of a distinguished physician of Baltimore, a lady whose fine +taste and poetic capacity are most happily displayed in these touching +lines. The answer is a very perfect counterpart of Mr. Wilde's +stanzas, and if we were called on to decide upon their relative +merits, we do not know which of the two would most demand our +admiration. + + +ANSWER + + To "_My Life is Like the Summer Rose_." + + + The dews of night may fall from Heaven, + Upon the wither'd _rose's_ bed, + And tears of fond regret be given, + To mourn the virtues of the dead: + Yet morning's sun the dews will dry, + And tears will fade from sorrow's eye, + Affection's pangs be lull'd to sleep, + And even love forget to _weep_. + + The _tree_ may mourn its fallen _leaf_, + And autumn winds bewail its bloom, + And friends may heave the sigh of grief, + O'er those who sleep within the tomb: + Yet soon will spring renew the flowers, + And time will bring more smiling hours; + In friendship's heart all grief will die, + And even love forget to _sigh_. + + The _sea_ may on the desert _shore_ + Lament each _trace_ it bears away; + The lonely heart its grief may pour + O'er cherish'd friendship's fast decay: + Yet when all trace is lost and gone, + The waves dance bright and gaily on; + Thus soon affection's bonds are torn, + And even love forgets to _mourn_. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +TO ---- ---- + + + We parted--not as lovers part-- + No tear was in thine eye; + No mantling blush was on thy cheek, + Thy bosom heaved no sigh; + Yet there was something in thine air + That seemed to all unmoved,-- + Something that told my bursting heart, + Dearest, that I was loved. + + For, when I took thy gentle hand + To bid a short adieu, + Methought within my trembling clasp, + That white hand trembled too; + And when too, from my faltering tongue + The parting accents fell, + Thou didst not, dearest--can it be + Thou couldst not say farewell! + + Forgive, if I have boldly erred-- + If fancy 'twere alone, + That check'd thy voice, and lent thy hand + The tremors of my own. + Forgive, forgive the daring thought-- + Forgive the hopes--the love-- + That bids me seek thee soon again, + My bliss or wo to prove. + +T. H. T. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +WHAT I LOVE. + + + I love to stray at early morn, + 'Mid flowers along the verdant dale, + Inhale the fragrance of the thorn, + And hear the Dove's low plaintive wail. + + I love within some forest deep, + At sultry noon reclined to lie, + And watch the fleecy clouds that creep, + With quiet pace along the sky. + + I love at quiet eve to go, + Far from the noisy crowd, and dream + Of all the glorious hopes which throw + Their sunshine o'er life's gloomy stream. + + But more than all, at silent night, + I love with one fair form to rove, + Beneath the pale moon's pensive light, + And whisper burning words of love. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +TO ---- ---- + + Let not your heart be troubled.--_John_ 14: 1. + + + Let Ocean swell with angry spite, + And yawn and lash the heedless shore; + And billows rage with mount'nous height, + As if they'd be at peace no more. + Let storm 'gainst storm their fury hurl, + And loudly roar with fearful might, + Till sea and land--yea, all the world-- + May seem to grope in trouble's night. + + But let _thy heart_ thy Saviour know, + Whose word once calmed the troubled deep, + Who spake to winds that dared to blow, + And _hushed_ them in the lap of sleep. + Tis He can quell each rising sigh, + And calm thy heart from cruel fears, + As when the storms in silence lie, + And not a wave the Ocean mars. + +SIWEL. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +AN ITALIAN EXTRAVAGANZA. + + Addressed to a beautiful lady. + + + Se tutti gli alberi del mondo + Fossero penne-- + Il cielo fosse carta, + Il mare, inchiostro-- + Non basterebbero a descrivere + La minima parte della vostra perfexione! + + +AN ATTEMPT AT TRANSLATION. + + + Could we the sky's unbounded range, + To paper all convert-- + And had we power, miraculous, to change, + To _pens_, the _trees_, + To _ink_, the _seas_-- + These would not all suffice to paint, in part, + The rich perfections of thy mind and heart-- + Thy _graces_--thy _desert_! + +ELLA. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +WHERE IS MY HEART? + +BY ALEX. LACEY BEARD. + + + Where is my heart? + Its place of rest is not within this aching breast;-- + Where does it dwell? + It is not in the glittering hall, + Where sunbright glances gaily fall + 'Neath pleasure's spell. + + Where is my heart? + Not in the crowd 'mid mirth and wine and revel loud;-- + It is not there. + Nor is it where the summer's sky + Gives birth to flowers of brightest dye + And balmy air. + + Where is my heart? + Upon the sea, where dwell the joyous and the free, + It has not gone. + My withered heart, it has not flown + Where love or hope or joy is known, + Or pleasures dawn. + + Where is my heart? + To the cold grave, where yew and cypress darkly wave, + My heart has fled. + Yes, where the form it worshipped sleeps, + My blighted heart its vigil keeps, + Beside the dead. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +INVOCATION. + + + Come my love--O! come with me, + We will wander wild and free,-- + Where the pale moon sheds her light, + And the dew-drops glisten bright;-- + Where is heard the gurgling flow + Of the streamlet, we will go, + And our joyous feet shall tread, + Near the humble violets bed. + We will breathe the rich perfume, + Born of fragrant flowers in bloom; + All that's sweet and all that's fair, + From green earth or scented air, + Nature brings in vesture gay, + Laughing strews around our way. + + We will seek the shady grove, + Through its mazes we will rove, + Sit upon the moss-grown seat, + And our youthful vows repeat. + Years have passed since we were there, + Still thy cheeks are fresh and fair, + Not a single care-worn line, + Mars that lovely brow of thine. + Many gay and gladsome hours, + We have spent in sunny bowers; + Not one cloud of care or strife, + E'er has dimmed our path thro' life,-- + And our pilgrimage doth seem + As one long and happy dream. + + Come my love the Moon's on high, + Sailing o'er the summer sky, + And the stars are twinkling through + Boundless fields of azure-blue-- + Faintly from the leafy trees, + Sighs the balmy southern breeze. + Down the valley we will stray, + Where the night-flowers scent the way; + Arm in arm we'll wander o'er + Many a scene beloved of yore; + Tell the oft repeated tale, + By the fountain in the vale,-- + Talk of deep, confiding love, + And of hearts that never rove. + +ALEX. LACEY BEARD. + +_Aldie, Va._ + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +AUTUMN. + + + Come to the forests, while the leaves are falling + In rustling showers from every yielding bough-- + Seek the wild haunts, where, save some lone bird calling + Its mate departed, all is silence now. + + Leave the bright hearth, where love and peace are smiling, + To dream awhile 'midst Autumn's falling leaves, + To watch her power the Summer's charms despoiling + As time of early joys the heart bereaves. + + There, as the year's bright glories fade around thee + Bring home the lesson to thy saddened heart; + Muse on the loves and friendships that have bound thee, + Which thou hast seen like autumn leaves depart. + + Or if the Past yield no sad recollection, + Upon the Future let thy thoughts be cast; + Nor check the current of the sad reflection + That whispers, human life is fleeting fast. + + Then bow to Him, in meek and low contrition, + Whose Wisdom, full of Mercy, doth ordain + To man a second spring in realms elysian, + Where the bright hues of Summer ever reign. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +NAPOLEON. + + + Aye! there he lies,--the mighty one! + Death's hand is on him now; + And fearfully he puts his seal + Upon that haughty brow. + + What boots it that his own proud name + In foreign lands has rung? + That orators his fame have spoke, + That bards his deeds have sung? + + What boots it that the hills of Spain + Shook 'neath his lordly tread-- + That with the blood of her best sons, + Her vallies' streams ran red? + + That over Moscow's battlements, + His flag-folds he shook out-- + That e'en the lofty pyramids + Rang with his charging shout? + + He who subdu'd so many lands, + Must now from England crave + (Although she is his deadliest foe) + What man last wants--a grave! + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + + +MR. WHITE,--You have published at page 199 of your January number, +four outlandish-looking lines, with a hope that some one of your +numerous readers may not only be able to inform your correspondent who +furnished them, in what language they are written, but let him still +further into the secret by giving their meaning. Happening to know a +little of the Gaelic, I have no hesitation in saying that that is the +tongue in which they are written; and further, I think I have +succeeded, after a good deal of trouble, in discovering to a certainty +that they are a translation of the first stanza of Sappho's celebrated +Ode addressed "_To the Beloved Pair_," and commented upon at some +length by Longinus, in the tenth section of his De Sublimitate. The +stanza in question runs thus: + +[For want of proper type we cannot give it in the Greek.--_Ed._] + + Videtur mihi ille æqualis Diis + Esse Vir, qui oppositus tibi + Sedet, et prope te dulce loquentem audit + Et rides amabiliter. + + Blest as the immortal Gods is he + The youth who fondly sits by thee, + And hears and sees thee all the while + Softly speak and sweetly smile. + +An interesting critique upon the Ode, with the whole of Ambrose +Philips' spirited translation of it, is to be met with in the two +hundred and twenty-ninth number of the Spectator. Yours, &c. + +UDOCH. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +THE FINE ARTS. + +No. II. + + ----If the painter saw + Naught but the prose of things, and dared but draw + The literal, aged, uninspiring truth, + And saw not nature in her winged youth + Her rainbow aspect, when she stands array'd + In floods of sunshine and in nights of shade, + What would he gain?--_Barry Cornwall_. + + +In my last number, I undertook to show, that "uncultivated taste, is +incapable of estimating excellence in art" and that, "the beautiful in +nature, like philosophy and science, can only be comprehended by those +who study it profoundly and observe it habitually." But those who +think nature an unveiled beauty to be gazed upon by every wanton eye, +or that the arts aspire no higher than the "prose of things;" those +who are resolved to admire what they like, rather than learn to like +that which is admirable, may spare themselves the trouble of reading +this article,--as my object is, to instruct the teachable, to ramble +with the lover of nature amidst the shades of rural life, and converse +with the amateur of art, about all that is excellent in ancient or +modern works. + +Before we can perceive what is beautiful in art, we must comprehend +what is beautiful in nature; and without entering into the abstruse +question of _beauty_, which has so much divided the erudite in all +ages, we may say, that every thing from the hand of the Creator is +beautiful in its _proper place_: and it is precisely this, that is +beautiful in art. But to know the place where beauteous nature lurks, +and to trace the harmony and fitness of every object to the part it +supplies in the picturesque of scenery, requires a mind + + "----by nature's charms impress'd, + An ardor ever burning in the breast, + A zeal for truth, a power of thought intense; + A fancy, flowering on the stems of sense; + A mem'ry as the grave retentive, vast + That holds to rise again, the imprison'd past." + +Beauty is not confined to the waving line of Hogarth, or to objects +smooth and soft, as Mr. Burke thought, but is multiform in nature, and +therefore admits of a diversity of tastes; yet it is not an arbitrary +principle subject to the fancy of every individual, but like harmony +in music, it vibrates on the imagination and affections of a +cultivated mind, as doth the octave in a well tuned instrument;--the +tutored ear perceives the slightest discordance in sounds, and the +cultivated eye detects with equal facility the want of harmony in art +or nature. It has been said "that the peasant youth, would require +more red in the cheek of his beauty, than would be agreeable to a man +of cultivated taste," and the inference was, "that the delicate is +more beautiful than the florid," but in fact, they are each beautiful +in their _place_. In rustic life, amidst the scenes of the vintage, in +the hay field, or milking the cow--how beauteous is the flush and +healthful bloom of the cottage maiden! The ruby lip and liquid +laughing eye bespeak the joyous heart, pleased with its vocation. +Here, the delicate and courtly dame of polished life would appear +unequal to the task; would be incongruous to the scene, and as much +out of place as epic verse in pastoral poetry;--yet in her proper +sphere + + "----those downcast eyes, sedate and sweet + Those looks demure, that deeply pierce the soul, + Where, with the light of thoughtful reason mix'd + Shines lively fancy and the feeling heart," + +she moves the attractive star of cultivated taste. + +The choice of these subjects, constitutes the difference between the +Dutch and the Italian schools of art. The former painted pastoral +scenery with a fidelity incomparably superior to the Italians, yet +greatly inferior in the higher excellencies of art. They are justly +admired for their attention to detail, to exact finish, and all the +results of "mere mechanic pains," but are void of classical taste, of +moral instruction, and the poetry of the imagination, that highest +effort of genius. Their works may therefore be beautiful, but never +sublime, and their attempts at historic painting degrade it to +something worse than caricature. I remember to have seen in the +Louvre, a little painting of this school, designed for "Peter denying +his Lord in Pilate's house." The interior was a _Holland kitchen_; +boors _were smoking_ before a _chimney_ place, or _playing at cards_ +on a tub reversed; a coarse looking woman held Peter by his collar, +and chanticleer sat perched on a beam of the house. The costume and +furniture were equally out of keeping, but executed with the most +harmonious tone and finest touch of the pencil. Now the same subject +in the schools of Italy would represent a hall becoming the governor +of Judea, soldiers in Roman costume would be grouped around an antique +vase of embers, placed upon a tripod, and Peter would quail under the +pert recognition of a beautiful damsel; the grey dawn would appear +through the intercolumniations of the portico, and the warning clarion +of the cock would be expressed on the brow of the conscience-stricken +Apostle. + +This may not be considered a fair comparison, but rather the +antithesis of the two schools. What then shall we take as the highest +effort of Dutch genius? The Bull of Paul Potter![1] As well might we +compare a wax figure of Tecumseh with the Apollo Belvidere, or the +Sleeping Beauty with the Venus de Medicis. But, if indeed, it be the +highest effort of genius to produce an _exact representation_ of +things, the modeller in wax, is superior to the sculptor in marble, +and the Bull at the Hague, to the Transfiguration in the Vatican. As +no one of any pretension to taste will ever assent to this conclusion, +I must again insist, that art aspires to a higher attainment than the +mere portraiture of nature, and claims poetic honors; it is the poetry +of form and color: it selects the agreeable from the discordant parts +of the great prototype--combines and disposes them--and without +changing the features, elevates and ennobles them; it seizes upon +incidental effects to cast a shadow over the asperities of objects, +and throws a broad and brilliant light on the more beautiful parts. +When Dominichino was asked what obscured a part of his picture, "_una +neblia si passa_," was his reply; and by thus imagining a passing +cloud, he was enabled to preserve that breadth of light and shade so +remarkable in the English school at present. The Italians however, did +not often seek after _effect_; they did not address themselves so much +to the eye, as to the judgment; and their distinguishing excellence is +_correctness_ of _design_ and _dignity of character_. It was this that +acquired for them the praise of a "grand gusto," or sublimity of +style, superior to all other artists. + +[Footnote 1: This is esteemed the greatest of the Dutch school.] + +G. C. + + + + + For the Southern Literary Messenger. + +ETYMOLOGY. + +----The inventor of a new word must never flatter himself that he has +secured the public adoption, for he must lie in the grave before he +can enter the Dictionary.--_D'Israeli_. + + +_Mr. White_:--I am an odd old fellow, and fond of etymology, and +frequently amuse myself with tracing to their roots, words in familiar +use. Having been confoundedly puzzled of late by the term CAUCUS, +which is in every body's mouth, and not being able to satisfy myself +as to its origin, I have determined to have recourse to you, and will +be infinitely obliged to you or any of your readers for a solution of +the difficulty. If it be true as D'Israeli says, that the inventor of +a new word cannot be secure of its adoption by the public, for he must +lie in the grave before he can enter the Dictionary--the man who made +the aforesaid word must be still living, though at a very advanced +age. I rather suppose however that D'Israeli is mistaken, and that the +inventor has been dead a long time, and lived to see the general +adoption of his word, notwithstanding it has as yet no place in any +Dictionary that I have seen. Supposing it to be an English word, I +consulted Walker, and was mortified to find that he took no notice of +it. I then made sundry combinations of other terms, but could light +upon none that seemed at all plausible, except the words _calk us_, +which, united into caucus, may produce a kind of _onomatopoeia_, +descriptive of the assemblage in question; for to calk, is, according +to the abovementioned lexicographer, "to stop the leak of a vessel;" +and inasmuch as a caucus is urged by the admirers of Mr. Van Buren, to +be the means of stopping all leaks in our political vessel, there +seems to be some show of reason in this derivation. Upon further +reflection, however, I concluded that the word must be Greek, and +having recourse to Schrevelius, found the paronymous term _kakos_, +malus. This I presently rejected, though apparently descriptive of the +pernicious tendency of a caucus, because the institutors of that +pestilent oligarchy would hardly have selected so barefaced an +epitheton, such a cacophony, if I may so speak. On further search, +upon meeting with _kaukis_, I was so much delighted with the near +resemblance of sound, as to jump up and cry out _eureka_; but +moderated my rapture on discovering that "_genus calceamenti_," the +explanatory terms in Latin, could not be tortured to any manner of +application, unless indeed it was intended to indicate that the +members of a caucus would be willing to stand in the _people's shoes_, +upon the occasion of electing a President of the United States; or +unless we observe further the _aliter baukos, jucundus_; for it is +literally a very pleasant and right merry way of getting rid of the +difficulty of a choice by the people. So far the Greek. As for the +Latin, I have consulted every Dictionary in my possession, from +Ainsworth and Young, up to _old Thoma Thomasius_, printed _Coventriæ +Septimo Idus, Februarii 1630_, and can find nothing resembling our +Caucus, but the three headed robber _Cacus_, who by paronomasia, might +be considered as the grand prototype of that modern monster, which has +stolen, if not the _cattle_, at least the property of the great +American Hercules, and will keep it, unless he rise in his might, and +crushing the political thief, resumes his original rights. Now, Mr. +White, I am disposed to rest here; though not quite so well satisfied +as Jonathan Oldbuck was about the locality Of Agricola's camp, from +those mysterious initials which the mischievous Edie Ochiltree so +wickedly interpreted to mean "_Ailie Davy's lang ladle_," and not +"_Agricola dicavit libens lubens_," as _Monkbarns_ would have it;--but +do observe, sir, the singular coincidences between Cacus and Caucus; +the one a three headed rogue--the other a sort of political Cerberus; +the first slily taking away the cattle of another--the second +insidiously cajoling the people of their rights; the former hiding +them in a cave, where they were discovered by their bellowing--the +latter betrayed by a bellowing from Maine to Georgia; and finally +Cacus demolished by Hercules, and Caucus easily demolished by the +Herculean force of public sentiment. + +I acknowledge, however, that I am not entirely satisfied, +notwithstanding this "_confirmation strong_," and hope you will +speedily relieve the perplexity of + +Your most obedient, + +NUGATOR. + +P.S. A friend facetiously suggests that Caucus is nothing more than a +corruption,--Caucus, quasi cork us; that is, shut close the doors that +nobody may hear us. + + +REMARK. + +We will do all in our power to assist our esteemed friend Nugator in +his etymological researches.--We remember to have read in a work of a +New England author, some years since, an elaborate inquiry into the +origin of the word which so much puzzles our correspondent. If our +memory serve us faithfully, that writer fixes the nativity of the term +in the city of Boston, and the date of its birth previous to the +revolution. The circumstances out of which it sprang he asserts to be +these. In that stormy period, when every class of citizens was +agitated by the sentiments which exploded shortly afterwards in the +thunders of revolution, public meetings were frequently held by the +different trades and professions. For reasons which we now forget, +particular attention was attracted to one called by the _Calkers_, a +large body of citizens in so commercial a town. Their proceedings +being peculiar, (perhaps in exclusiveness or secrecy,) caused this +assemblage to be much talked of; and every subsequent meeting +characterized by similar peculiarities in its formation or +proceedings, was called a "_Calker's Meeting_." Gradually, in the +lapse of time, although the term continued to be used, its origin was +forgotten; and a knowledge of its etymological parentage no longer +preserving it from corruption, an erroneous pronunciation, and +consequently an erroneous manner of spelling it, gave to it the form +and shape which it now wears--a change not at all surprising in regard +to a word which was probably _unwritten_ during the first thirty years +of its existence. We give this derivation from memory alone; we cannot +even recall the work in which we saw it. If it be the true one, our +friend will perceive that in one of his surmises he is not far wrong. +It is high time that the birth, parentage and early condition of a +particle of our language, which has of late become a word of power, +equal in its magic influence to the fabled spells of ancient +necromancers, should be settled beyond dispute. Seeing what Caucus now +means, it is natural that we should desire to know from what +beginnings it has arisen to its present stupendous importance in the +ranks of our modern political vocabulary. + + + + +CRITICAL NOTICES. + + +THE CRAYON MISCELLANY. By the author of the Sketch Book. No. 1. +Containing a Tour on the Prairies. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & +Blanchard. 1835. + +A book from the pen of Washington Irving, is a _morceau_, which will +always be eagerly sought after by literary epicures. He is decidedly +one of the most popular writers in this country: his sketches of +character and scenery, are always true to the life, full of freshness +and vigor; and there is usually a clear stream of thought pervading +his pages, in fine contrast with the crude and indistinct conceptions +of ordinary writers. The volume before us cannot be said indeed to +rival some of its predecessors from the same pen, but the cause is not +so much in the author as in his subject. In spite of an agreeable and +highly descriptive style, the mind becomes wearied with the monotony +of a journey through the solitudes of the Western Prairies, and after +we have once formed a tolerably distinct idea of a buffalo hunt, and +the lasoing of the wild horse, we become tired of the repetition of +adventures, which possess so little variety. Considering his +materials, however, Mr. Irving has contrived to sustain his narrative +with his usual ability. It is true, that most readers will somewhat +regret that he did not present more finished portraits of some of the +personages who accompanied the expedition. We have quite satisfactory +sketches of that "swarthy, meager, braggart" Tonish, and of the +"sullen saturnine" half breed Beatte, but we desire to know something +more of the wild young Swiss Count, of his travelling companion and +mentor, the virtuoso, and of the hardy old hunter, Ryan, a true member +of the leather-stocking family. + +Notwithstanding the famed perspicuity and purity of Mr. Irving's +style, he occasionally adopts a form of expression which creates some +surprise. We will give one instance, in particular, because the +inaccuracy, if we may so term it, is repeated several times in the +volume before us:--"The horse, which was fearless as his owner, and +like him, had a considerable spice of devil in his composition, and +who beside, had been familiar with the game, no sooner came in sight +and scent of the buffalo, than he set off _like mad_, bearing the +involuntary hunter," &c. &c. &c. (Page 232.) + +We should have supposed the expression, "_like mad_," a typographical +error, if it had not been frequently used. + +We copy for the reader's amusement, a short chapter, containing an +account of "_A Republic of Prairie Dogs_," a kind of quadruped, with +which we, at least, in this portion of North America, are not very +familiar. The harmony, vigilance and energy, with which these little +brutes rally around their rights and their laws, might whisper a sage +lesson even to the wisdom of rational and intellectual beings:-- + +A REPUBLIC OF PRAIRIE DOGS. + +On returning from our expedition in quest of the young Count, I +learned that a burrow, or village, as it is termed, of prairie dogs, +had been discovered on the level summit of a hill, about a mile from +the camp. Having heard much of the habits and peculiarities of these +little animals, I determined to pay a visit to the community. The +prairie dog is, in fact, one of the curiosities of the far West, about +which travellers delight to tell marvellous tales, endowing him at +times with something of the politic and social habits of a rational +being, and giving him systems of civil government and domestic +economy, almost equal to what they used to bestow upon the beaver. + +The prairie dog is an animal of the coney kind, and about the size of +a rabbit. He is of a sprightly mercurial nature; quick, sensitive, and +somewhat petulant. He is very gregarious, living in large communities, +sometimes of several acres in extent, where innumerable little heaps +of earth show the entrances to the subterranean cells of the +inhabitants, and the well beaten tracks, like lanes and streets, show +their mobility and restlessness. According to the accounts given of +them, they would seem to be continually full of sport, business and +public affairs; whisking about hither and thither, as if on gossiping +visits to each other's houses, or congregating in the cool of the +evening, or after a shower, and gambolling together in the open air. +Sometimes, especially when the moon shines, they pass half the night +in revelry, barking or yelping with short, quick, yet weak tones, like +those of very young puppies. While in the height of their playfulness +and clamor, however, should there be the least alarm, they all vanish +into their cells in an instant, and the village remains blank and +silent. In case they are hard pressed by their pursuers, without any +hope of escape, they will assume a pugnacious air, and a most +whimsical look of impotent wrath and defiance. + +The prairie dogs are not permitted to remain sole and undisturbed +inhabitants of their own homes. Owls and rattlesnakes are said to take +up their abodes with them; but whether as invited guests or unwelcome +intruders, is a matter of controversy. The owls are of a peculiar +kind, and would seem to partake of the character of the hawk; for they +are taller and more erect on their legs, more alert in their looks and +rapid in their flight than ordinary owls, and do not confine their +excursions to the night, but sally forth in broad day. + +Some say that they only inhabit cells which the prairie dogs have +deserted, and suffered to go to ruin, in consequence of the death in +them of some relative; for they would make out this little animal to +be endowed with keen sensibilities, that will not permit it to remain +in the dwelling where it has witnessed the death of a friend. Other +fanciful speculators represent the owl as a kind of housekeeper to the +prairie dog; and from having a note very similar, insinuate that it +acts, in a manner, as family preceptor, and teaches the young litter +to bark. + +As to the rattlesnake, nothing satisfactory has been ascertained of +the part he plays in this most interesting household; though he is +considered as little better than a sycophant and sharper, that winds +himself into the concerns of the honest, credulous little dog, and +takes him in most sadly. Certain it is, if he acts as toad eater, he +occasionally solaces himself with more than the usual perquisites of +his order; as he is now and then detected with one of the younger +members of the family in his maw. + +Such are a few of the particulars that I could gather about the +domestic economy of this little inhabitant of the prairies, who, with +his pigmy republic, appears to be a subject of much whimsical +speculation and burlesque remarks, among the hunters of the far West. + +It was towards evening that I set out with a companion, to visit the +village in question. Unluckily, it had been invaded in the course of +the day by some of the rangers, who had shot two or three of its +inhabitants, and thrown the whole sensitive community in confusion. As +we approached, we could perceive numbers of the inhabitants seated at +the entrances of their cells, while sentinels seemed to have been +posted on the outskirts, to keep a look out. At sight of us, the +picket guards scampered in and gave the alarm; whereupon every +inhabitant gave a short yelp, or bark, and dived into his hole, his +heels twinkling in the air as if he had thrown a somerset. + +We traversed the whole village, or republic, which covered an area of +about thirty acres; but not a whisker of an inhabitant was to be seen. +We probed their cells as far as the ramrods of our rifles would reach, +but could unearth neither dog, nor owl, nor rattlesnake. Moving +quietly to a little distance, we lay down upon the ground, and watched +for a long time, silent and motionless. By and bye, a cautious old +burgher would slowly put forth the end of his nose, but instantly draw +it in again. Another, at a greater distance, would emerge entirely; +but, catching a glance of us, would throw a somerset, and plunge back +again into his hole. At length, some who resided on the opposite side +of the village, taking courage from the continued stillness, would +steal forth, and hurry off to a distant hole, the residence possibly +of some family connexion, or gossiping friend, about whose safety they +were solicitous, or with whom they wished to compare notes about the +late occurrences. + +Others still more bold, assembled in little knots, in the streets and +public places, as if to discuss the recent outrages offered to the +commonwealth, and the atrocious murders of their fellow burghers. + +We rose from the ground and moved forward, to take a nearer view of +these public proceedings, when, yelp! yelp! yelp!--there was a shrill +alarm passed from mouth to mouth; the meetings suddenly dispersed; +feet twinkled in the air in every direction; and in an instant all had +vanished into the earth. + +The dusk of the evening put an end to our observations, but the train +of whimsical comparisons produced in my brain, by the moral attributes +which I had heard given to these little politic animals, still +continued after my return to camp; and late in the night, as I lay +awake after all the camp was asleep, and heard in the stillness of the +hour, a faint clamor of shrill voices from the distant village, I +could not help picturing to myself the inhabitants gathered together +in noisy assemblage, and windy debate, to devise plans for the public +safety, and to vindicate the invaded rights and insulted dignity of +the republic. + + * * * * * + +_North American Review_.--The April number is for the most part +excellent. But we are forcibly reminded by it of a defect in the +Reviews of this country, which it seems to us, might with some little +exertion, be remedied. The fault to which we allude, is their +tardiness in noticing the publications of the day. In this number of +the North American, we find several pages devoted to a review of +_Burkhardt's Travels in Africa_, which have been before the public +_sixteen years_, while the crowd of new works of undoubted merit which +fill our book stores, have not as yet, with but few exceptions, +attracted the attention of the reviewers. In this book-making age, we +are aware that it is impossible for a Quarterly to review the +twentieth part of the productions constantly issuing from the press: +but if, as we suppose, it is the design of these periodicals to direct +the taste of the public in every department of science and literature, +surely they should contain reviews of such works selected from the +mass, as are best worthy attention; and should endeavor to keep pace +with the stream of publication. We can see little value in a review of +a book after every reading man in the community has perused it, and +formed his opinion upon its merits. Thus to lag behind the march of +current literature, deprives the criticisms of the reviewer of much of +their value and weight. In the instance to which we have alluded, it +might well be asked whether the travels of Burkhardt, English reviews +of which we read ten or twelve, or more years ago, could have the same +claim upon the public interest as the newer works of Burnes, +Jacquemont, Bennet and many others, whose books possess the charm of +novelty? We subjoin the contents of the April number: 1. Politics of +Europe: 2. Coleridge: 3. Mineral Springs of Nassau: 4. Life of G. D. +Boardman: 5. National Gallery: 6. Italy: 7. Last Days of Pompeii: 8. +Immigration: 9. Burkhardt's Travels in Africa: 10. Popular Education. + +The first article contains a spirited review of the political events +in France since the revolution of 1830, and of the foreign and +internal policy of Louis Philippe. The progress of the _juste milieu_ +system is well delineated, and a forcible picture is drawn of the +present posture of the French government. We do not entirely coincide +with the writer's ideas of the onward course of the cause of liberty, +(or perhaps more correctly, of revolution) in France; but consider the +article generally correct and instructive. That on Coleridge is +admirable: and we heartily rejoice that in a work so much looked up to +in England as is the North American, for the expression of our +literary opinions, justice so ample should have been done to that +extraordinary mind. A Baltimore newspaper, in allusion to the article +in question, speaks of "the pitiful shifts to which the reviewer is +driven to account for a fact which he admits, viz.--that there is but +here and there an individual who understands him," [Coleridge.] "What +stronger proof do we want," says the journalist, "of that confusion of +thought and mysticism with which he has been charged?" We think _far_ +stronger proofs are necessary to support the accusation. That but few +comprehend the metaphysical treatises of Coleridge, is owing to the +simple fact, that few are so thoroughly versed in psychological +knowledge as to maintain a position in the van of the science, the +post universally acceded to Coleridge by the learned in ethics. It is +for this class of men that he has written, and in whose applauses he +has received a plentiful reward. These, at least, will not hesitate to +say that so far from being justly charged with confusion of thought, +and its consequence confusion of expression, no man who ever lived +thought _more distinctly even when thinking wrong_, or more intimately +felt and comprehended the power of _the niceties of words_. That his +philosophical disquisitions are abstruse, is the fault of the +subjects, and not of the language in which he has treated them, than +which none can be more lucid or appropriate. + +The article on Italy is interesting--also that on the National +Gallery. In the notice of the _Last Days of Pompeii_, justice is by no +means done to that most noble of modern novels. + + * * * * * + +The _London Quarterly Review for February_, American Edition, No. 1. +Vol. 2. is printed on good paper, with excellent type. It contains, 1. +Wanderings in New South Wales, by George Bennet, Esq. F. L. S. Fellow +of the Royal College of Surgeons: 2. Correspondence of Victor de +Jacquemont: 3. Population of Great Britain and Ireland: 4. Coleridge's +Table Talk: 5. Egypt and Thebes: 6. Rush on the Prophecies: 7. The +Church and the Voluntary System: 8. Recent German Belles Lettres: 9. +England, France, Russia and Turkey: 10. Sir Robert Peel's Address. The +eighth article contains much information on a subject with which +Americans are, for the most part, indifferently conversant. +Coleridge's Table Talk is highly interesting, as every authentic +fragment of his sentiments and opinions must be. The work reviewed in +this article, is published by Mr. Henry Coleridge, a near relative of +the departed philosopher and poet, and is made up from notes of +numerous conversations, taken down by the publisher immediately after +their occurrence. They bear the impress of Coleridge's mind, will be +read with interest by all classes, and probably do more to make the +general reader acquainted with him and his opinions, than all else +that has been written.--We take this opportunity of noticing the +excellent American Edition of the London, Edinburg, Foreign and +Westminster Reviews, combined. It does much honor to Mr. Foster of New +York, the publisher; and the compression of matter is such, without +being printed too fine, as to give to subscribers for the sum of eight +dollars, these four periodicals for which upwards of twenty dollars +was formerly paid. The paper, type, and execution, are good. + + * * * * * + +_The Life of Samuel Drew_, the shoemaker and philosopher of Cornwall, +by his son, is published by Harper & Brothers, and consists of 360 +pages. Drew was an extraordinary man, whose works, especially his +theological ones, have gained him no little celebrity. It now appears +that he had much to do with the writings attributed to Dr. Coke. + + * * * * * + +_The Life of the Emperor Napoleon, Vol. 1, by H. Lee. New York, +Charles De Behr._ This work has great merits and remarkable faults. +Published ostensibly as a corrector of the numerous errors of other +biographers of Napoleon, and especially those of Sir Walter Scott and +Lockhart, it cannot but be read with interest. The errors detected and +set right, are numerous and important. In most instances Mr. Lee +clearly makes out his charges--in some we are sorry to see that he +seems to be governed by a spirit of captiousness: And we cannot but +object to the tone of his strictures upon Sir Walter Scott. Milder +language would better have graced his cause. We have prepared a review +of this work, which we are compelled to postpone to the next number of +the Messenger. + + * * * * * + +_Celebrated Trials of all Countries, and remarkable cases of Criminal +Jurisprudence, selected by a Member of the Philadelphia Bar. +Philadelphia, E. L. Carey and A. Hart._ Such a book as this was much +wanted. The records of criminal trials were scattered through the +newspapers or buried in some huge tomes of antique law reports, almost +inaccessible to the ordinary reader. And this book seems fitted to +supply the deficiency to a considerable extent. It is a large octavo, +and contains a selection of criminal trials from the early period of +1588, down to the present day, among them some of the most celebrated +cases on record, such as that of Sir Walter Raleigh in 1602, of the +Earl of Strafford in 1643, of Alexis Petrowitz Czarowitz in 1815, of +the rebels, Kilmarnock, Cromartie, Balmerino, &c. in 1745, and others +of equal interest--the judicial proceedings in relation to which, +belong to history. The contents of the work are highly interesting, +but we cannot withhold our censure of their arrangement. The trials +are huddled together without the slightest attention to chronological +order; and it would seem that the gentleman of the Philadelphia Bar, +who is made responsible for the compilation of the work, could merely +have selected the several cases leaving the printer to arrange them as +he pleased. The consequence is, that the reader finds himself shifting +backward and forward, from century to century, in a complete medley of +dates. This is to be lamented, because the history of criminal +jurisprudence is a history of the progress of civil liberty, and of +the expansion of the human mind. And the interest which we find in +tracing the progress of just and equitable rules in the trials of +malefactors, is marred by this defect of arrangement. As future +volumes of this work are partly promised, it is to be hoped that in +them this fault will be amended. + + * * * * * + +_No Fiction_. _A Narrative founded on recent and interesting facts, by +the Rev. Andrew Reed, D.D._ has been republished by the Harpers. With +a plot of great simplicity, and with diction equally simple, this work +has attained much celebrity. It is indeed thrillingly interesting. +_Martha_, a more recent effort by the same writer, is however, in +every respect a book of greater merit. + + * * * * * + +_Memoirs of Celebrated Women of all Countries. By Madame Junot. +Philadelphia, Carey, Lea and Blanchard._ These memoirs are amusing, +and so far we can recommend them highly, but no farther. Their +morality is questionable indeed; and they bear upon their face, in a +certain pervading air of romance, sufficient evidence of their own +inauthenticity. There is a sad mistake too in the title of the work. +These are not memoirs of celebrated women in _all_ countries: they are +merely Madame Junot's celebrated women in a few particular regions. +The greater part of them have no pretensions to celebrity. It has been +remarked that the sketch of Marina Minszech will afford a fair sample +of the Duchess's biographical style. In this opinion we concur, and as +it is a pretty fable, we advise all to read it who have no inclination +for the book entire. + + * * * * * + +_Influence, a Moral Tale, by the author of Miriam. Philadelphia, Key +and Biddle._ There is an air of modest tranquillity about this book +which we admire. It is a pleasing tale addressed to the young, to +serious parents, and to friends--and it pretends to be nothing more. +Its style too is unobjectionable. If the work developes in the author +no extraordinary capabilities, it is, we think, because there was no +intention of developing them. + + * * * * * + +_Lives of the English Pirates, Highwaymen and Robbers, by Whitehead. +Philadelphia, Carey and Hart._ These lines will be read in spite of +all that a too fastidious taste may say to the contrary. We see no +very good reason why they should not be. + + * * * * * + +_Confessions of a Poet, 2 vols. Carey, Lea and Blanchard._ The most +remarkable feature in this production is the bad paper on which it is +printed, and the typographical ingenuity with which matter barely +enough for one volume has been spread over the pages of two. The +author has very few claims to the sacred name he has thought proper to +assume. And indeed his own idea on this subject seem not to satisfy +himself. He is in doubt, poor man, of his own qualifications, and +having proclaimed himself a poet in the title page, commences his book +by disavowing all pretensions to the character. We can enlighten him +on this head. There is nothing of the _vates_ about him. He is no +poet--and most positively he is no prophet. He is a writer of notes. +He is fond of annotations; and composes one upon another, putting +Pelion upon Ossa. Here is an example: "_Ce n'est pas par affectation +que j'aie mis en Francais ces remarques, mais pour les detourner de la +connoissance du vulgaire._" Now we are very sure that none but _le +vulgaire_, to speak poetically, will ever think of getting through +with the confessions: thus there the matter stands. Lest his book +should _not_ be understood he illustrates it by notes, and then lest +the notes _should_ be understood, why he writes them in French. All +this is very clear, and very clever to say no more. There is however +some merit in this book, and not a little satisfaction. The author +avers upon his word of honor that in commencing this work he loads a +pistol, and places it upon the table. He farther states that, upon +coming to a conclusion, it is his intention to blow out what he +supposes to be his brains. Now this is excellent. But, even with so +rapid a writer as the poet must undoubtedly be, there would be some +little difficulty in completing the book under thirty days or +thereabouts. The best of powder is apt to sustain injury by lying so +long "in the load." We sincerely hope the gentleman took the +precaution to examine his priming before attempting the rash act. A +flash in the pan--and in such a case--were a thing to be lamented. +Indeed there would be no answering for the consequences. We might even +have a second series of the Confessions. + + * * * * * + +_The Language of Flowers, embellished with fine colored engravings. +Philadelphia, Carey, Hart and Co._ This is a book which will find +favor in the eyes of the ladies, and thus, _par consequence_ in the +eyes of the gentlemen. Its motto is pretty and apposite: + + By all those token-flowers that tell + What words can never speak so well. + + * * * * * + +_Mr. and Miss Edgeworth's Practical Education_ has been republished by +the Harpers. Its character is well established. + + * * * * * + +_The Highland Smugglers. By the author of Adventures of a Kussilbush, +&c. 3 vols. Carey, Hart and Co._ This book is very much praised and we +think justly. It is full of exquisite descriptions of that region of +romance the Scottish Highlands, and has _a manner of its own_. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Lockhart's excellent novel _Valerius_ is republished by the +Harpers. The scene is in the time of Trajan, and the subject is +managed in that masterly style which we look for in Lockhart. We have +heard objections urged to the antique nature of his tale--ill-mannered +sneers, and by men who should know better, at travelling back to Roman +history for interest which could as well be found at home. _Procul--O +procul este profani!_ Valerius is a book _to live_. + + * * * * * + +_An Account of Col. Crockett's Tour to the North and Down East, +written by himself. Carey, Hart and Co._ We see no reason why Col. +Crockett should not be permitted to expose himself if he pleases, and +to be as much laughed at as he thinks proper--but works of this kind +have had their day, and have fortunately lost their attractions. We +think this work especially censurable for the frequent vulgarity of +its language. + + * * * * * + +_Illorax de Courcy, an auto-biographical novel, by Josiah Templeton, +Esq., 2 vols. Baltimore, William and Joseph Neal._ We have looked at +this book attentively--for we confess it was impossible to read it. A +glance over one or two pages will be sufficient to convince any +reasonable person that it is a mere jumble of absurdities. The +gentleman should not have thrust his name (if it be not a _nom de +guerre_,) into the title page. + + * * * * * + +_A Winter in the West, by a New Yorker. New York, Harper and +Brothers._ This is a work of great sprightliness, and is replete with +instruction and amusement. The writer evinces much talent in producing +an interesting narrative of a journey performed in the most +unpropitious period of the year. His observations on life in the +backwoods are sensible, and we should imagine correct, and his details +in relation to Michigan particularly interest us. The adventures of +the road are told with great vivacity, and although there are no +thrilling scenes or surprising incidents in the book, it cannot be +read with indifference. The traits of Indian character scattered +through its pages are vivid and striking, and the reflections on the +condition of that fast failing race mark the philanthropic spirit of +the author. Mr. Hoffman, formerly connected with the New York +American, and now Editor of a Monthly Magazine, is the reputed author +of this spirited work. + + * * * * * + +Note: The journal of Mrs. Frances Ann Butler, better known as Miss +Fanny Kemble, has, after a long delay, made its appearance; but at so +late a period that we are unable to present our readers with our +opinions at large of its merits, which we regret the more, as the work +has created much excitement in the literary and fashionable world. +Numerous extracts from its pages have been published in the +newspapers, and the daring authoress has received but little mercy +from any quarter. It will be reviewed in our next. + + + + +EDITORIAL REMARKS. + + +We recommend the contents of our present number with entire +confidence, to our readers. + +The article on the "_Influence of Free Governments on the Mind_," is +from the same gifted and exuberant pen which produced the +"_Impediments to Literature_," republished in our fifth number, from +the Western Monthly Magazine. + +The selection from Mr. Mitchell's Manuscripts, or the story of the +"_White Antelope_," will, we doubt not, be read with zest enough to +create a strong desire for future contributions from the same source. +The peculiarities of those wild sons of the forest who have never been +_corrupted by civilization_, (we hope the solecism will be pardoned,) +cannot fail to attract the curious. The story we publish is truly +_unique_ and excellent of its kind. + +Chapter I. on "_English Poetry_," tracing as it does the rude and +early dawnings of that divine art in our own venerable vernacular, +will deeply interest by its antique spirit, and by the accurate and +profound investigation which its author has evinced. We shall look for +the remaining chapters with much eagerness. + +We hope that no one will be deterred, by the length of Professor +George Tucker's discourse on the "_Progress of Philosophy_," from +reading it attentively. We acknowledge the value our pages derive from +its insertion, and we earnestly desire that all should share in the +pleasure and improvement which it will undoubtedly impart. Besides +that some of its views possess all the freshness of originality, the +whole address is couched in that felicitous diction for which its +author has been already justly distinguished, ennobling the subject, +while it familiarizes it to readers of all classes. + +The 5th "_Letter from New England_" is full of thought, and deserves +the serious consideration of every man who claims to be a patriot. +When will the disastrous conflicts of party strife so far subside, as +to authorise a thorough, if not exclusive devotion to our own state +institutions and concerns? There are many things in our own internal +policy which might be judiciously reformed: The allusions of the +letter writer to the system of fixing the age by law at which judges +shall leave the bench, are expressed in his best style, and forcibly +remind us of the veneration and respect due to the "gigantic Coryphæus +of the United States' Judiciary." + +Our excellent and able friend who writes the article on "_The Waltz +and Gallopade_," is mistaken if he supposes that we have favored those +outlandish innovations upon Virginian simplicity. We are advocates for +new inventions, only when they contribute to human happiness and +virtue; and we heartily join with him in censuring those of the +votaries of fashion who would corrupt the purity of our manners and +the innocence of our amusements, by introducing among us practices of +even doubtful effect upon the morals of the rising generation. + +In "_Christian Education_," much wholesome admonition will be found, +directly addressed to the consideration of parents. The writer shows +in this article, that the spirit of a christian renders the much +neglected exhibition of childish intellect worthy the attention of an +accomplished and masculine mind. + +The "_Extract from a Mexican Journal_," contains much valuable +information in relation to a country but little known. + +The Tales, of which we publish several in the present number, comprise +a variety of talent. "_A Tale of the West_," written as we are +assured, by a novice in composition, certainly displays much ability, +although a little more experience would have taught the writer the +value of compression. But amplification is generally the fault of +youth and inexperience, and in this case it does not conceal the +talent unequivocally displayed by the writer. + +"_Morella_" will unquestionably prove that Mr. Poe has great powers of +imagination, and a command of language seldom surpassed. Yet we cannot +but lament that he has drank so deep at some enchanted fountain, which +seems to blend in his fancy the shadows of the tomb with the clouds +and sunshine of life. We doubt however, if any thing in the same style +can be cited, which contains more terrific beauty than this tale. + +The favors and contributions of our friend Pertinax Placid, Esquire, +are particularly welcome; and we hereby give him due notice that we +adopt him as a member of our literary family. In the "_Tale of a +Nose_," he has illustrated with admirable humor the curious philosophy +of dreaming; and in "_Content's Mishap_," he has clothed a fine moral +in the charms of flowing verse. + +No. II. on the _Fine Arts_ will be read with more than ordinary +pleasure, by all who can estimate glowing descriptions of beauty and +grace, and the enthusiasm of an artist. The style of the article is +most captivating. + +We are pleased to welcome again to our columns, our old and much +respected friend "_Nugator_," and equally so to learn that he is +convalescent from a severe illness which has kept his pen idle for +some time. His letter contains some allusions to politics, which in +general we deem an unsuitable subject for a journal on the plan of the +Messenger. But his remarks are expressed in so good humored a manner, +that we are convinced they can afford no offence. The detail of his +researches is highly amusing, and given in his usual agreeable style. + +The selected article, a "_Scene in Real Life_," is characterized by +deep and impressive pathos. We are happy to say that its author will +probably become a contributor to our columns. + +It would be uncourteous and in violation of our feelings, to omit +noticing the poetical contributions to this number. We particularly +recommend to our readers the "_Apostrophe of an Æolian Harp_," a +strain of harmony and sentiment struck by a master hand from the +chords of a truly poetic lyre.--"_The Last Gift_" is also the product +of a fertile and glowing spirit. It comes to us wrapt in the mists of +the anonymous; but if, as we trust, Corydon has not wept himself to +stone, we should gladly receive his further favors. "_Nature and Art_" +is from a feminine hand, which has before awakened strains of rich +music and sentiment in our pages. "_The Last Indian_" by our valued +friend Larry Lyle, is a magnificent description of a somewhat +extravagant dream. It exhibits even a greater degree of _power_ than +his former contributions. The "_Winter Scenes at Williamsburg_," give +a pleasing and vivid description of the gaiety which reigned at that +interesting place during the past season. There are also several minor +pieces in which we doubt not our readers will perceive much merit. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. +I., No. 8, April, 1835, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 57732 *** |