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ANALECTIC  MAGAZINE, 

AND 

NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


MARCH,  1816. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF 


CAPTAIN  THOMAS  MACDONOUGH. 

The  writers  of  biography  in  legitimate  monarchies  pos- 
sess great  advantages  over  those  of  a simple  republic,  where 
a man  must  depend  on  his  own  merits  rather  than  those  of 
his  ancestors,  for  public  admiration.  In  writing,  for  instance, 
the  life  of  a noble  lord,  who  never  in  his  life  did  any  thing 
worth  recording,  the  true  legitimate  biographer  slily  resorts 
voL.  vr.  26 


202 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


to  the  noble  lord’s  ancestors,  their  exploits,  interinarriages^ 
and  other  important  events  in  the  family  history.  By  these 
means,  aided  by  the  legends  of  the  herald’s  office,  he  com- 
piles a very  interesting  memoir,  at  least  of  the  noble  lord’s 
ancestors,  to  whose  exploits  he  is  fully  entitled  by  the  theory 
as  well  as  the  practice  of  hereditary  succession.  For  if  it 
should  happen  (as  certainly  it  may  possibly  happen)  that  fol- 
ly or  knavery  should  succeed  to  the  distinctions  originally 
bestowed  on  genius  and  virtue,  it  can  only  be  justified  by 
means  of  some  mysterious  extension  of  birthright,  by  which 
the  great'great-grandson  becomes  a party  m exploits  that 
happened  long  before  he  was  born. 

By  this  theory  the  true  legitimate  biographer  obtains  an 
undoubted  right  to  decorate  his  titled  hero  with  as  many  ol 
those  achievements  as  he  can  conveniently  carry;  and  thus  it 
happens  in  legitimate  governments,  that  family  honours  are 
accumulating  by  a sort  of  compound  interest,  notwithstanding 
the  degeneracy  of  the  means,  somewhat  in  the  same  way  that 
the  riches  of  some  countries  are  said  to  increase  with  the 
amount  of  their  debts  and  expenditures..  This  accumulation 
of  family  honours,  which,  like  the  rust  on  an  old  coin,  in- 
creases with  years,  and  furnishes  unequivocal  proof  of  anti- 
quity, makes  it  worth  a man’s  while  to  perform  great  actions, 
since  he  thereby  not  only  ennobles  himself  and  his  wife,  but 
all  the  rogues  and  blockheads  of  his  posterity  forever  and 
ever.  The  temptation  to  perform  great  actions  is  thus  incon- 
ceivably heightened,  and  it  is  without  doubt  owing  to  this 
accelerating  motive,  that  the  achievements  of  men  in  legiti- 
mate governments  are  so  much  more  prodigious  than  in  sim- 
ple republics,  where  all  that  a man  can  expect  for  his  highest 
exertions  in  the  cause  of  his  country,  is  honours  that  are  ex- 
clusively paid  to  his  own  merit,  together  with  the  admiration 
of  his  cotemporaries,  and  the  veneration  of  their  posterity. 
The  highest  reward  the  Roman  republic  ever  paid  to  her  most 
illustrious  warriors,  was  a ride  through  the  streets  of  Rome  in 
a chariot  drawn  by  four  white  horses,  together  with  a laurel 


LIFE  OF  CAPTAIN  THOMAS  MACDONOUGH.  203 

crown,  that  might  be  worth  about  one  penny.  The  natural 
result  of  all  this  was,  that  none  of  the  Roman  heroes,  of  whom 
we  read  so  much,  ever  performed  an  action  that  can  be  put 
in  competition  with  the  burning  of  the  capitol  at  Washington, 
for  which  the  renowned  perpetrator  was  ennobled,  together 
with  all  his  posterity. 

Unhappily  for  this  country,  and  still  more  unhappily  for  ^ 
the  WTiters  of  biography,  few  of  us  can  trace  our  ancestry 
higher  than  Adam.  And  we  can  do  this  only. by  the  aid  of 
the  authority  of  scripture,  which  wont  do  in  the  college  of  he- 
ralds. Family  trees  are  exceedingly  scarce;  and  those,  in 
truth,  are  rather  barren,  containing  at  most  not  more  than 
three  or  four  generations.  Our  ancestors  unluckily  forgot 
their  pedigrees,  having  other  matters  to  attend  to,  or  perhaps 
being  in  too  great  a hurry  to  think  of  such  trifles.  We  cannot 
trace  back  to  those  glorious  times  when  a man  was  ennobled 
for  killing  a fleet  deer,  or  immortalized,  like  young  Lochin- 
var,  for  owning  a swift  horse,  and  running  away  with  a lady, 
as  if  that  was  any  great  matter.  Not  one  of  our  ancestors, 
that  we  know  of,  came  over  with  William  the  bastard  to  con- 
quer England;  nor  can  any  of  us  claim  an  unquestionable  af- 
finity to  a single  name  in  the  roll  of  Battle  Abbey,  about  which 
the  English  antiquarians  wrote  so  many  huge  dissertations. 
We  are  consequently  obliged  to  build  up  a name  for  our- 
selves, as  the  first  settlers  of  this  country  were  obliged  to 
build  houses,  because  they  found  none  ready  built  for  them 
when  they  arrived;  and  instead  of  boasting  lustily  of  our  an- 
cestors, are  reduced  to  the  unpleasant  necessity  of  leaving  it 
for  posterity  to  boast  of  us,  if  they  should  be  so  inclined.  It' 
is  believed,  that  with  the  exception  of  a few  of  the  indubitable 
Dutch  patriarchs  of  New  York,  whose  ancestors  must  have 
flourished  before  the  invention  of  history,  since  nobody  can 
tell  any  thing  about  them — a few  families  claiming  a descent 
from  the  aborigines  of  this  country — ^and  a few  that  have  en- 
nobled themselves,  by  purchasing  a pedigree  and  coat  of  arms 
at  the  herald’s  office  in  England,  that  this  undignified  repub- 


204 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


lie  cannot  boast  of  a single  man  the  merits  of  whose  ances- 
tors can  make  amends  for  his  own  want  of  merit. 

Happily  for  us,  however,  the  subject  of  our  present  no- 
tice, although  most  respectably  descended,  does  not  require 
the  assistance  of  any  documents  from  the  herald’s  office,  nor 
to  intrench  himself  under  magni  nominis  umbra.  W e will 
therefore  proceed  to  a detail  of  the  prominent  incidents  of  his 
life,  which  have  gained  him  the  notice  of  the  world  and  the 
gratitude  of  his  countrymen. 

•Thomas  Macdonough,  the  father  of  captain  Thomas 
Macdonough,  was  an  eminent  physician,  who  resided  at  a 
farm  called  The  Trapp,  in  the  county  of  New  Castle,  Dela- 
ware. In  the  year  1775  he  entered  the  army,  and  was  ap- 
pointed a major  in  a regiment  raised  by  the  state  of  Dela- 
ware, of  which  Mr.  John  Haslett  was  colonel,  and  the  late 
Gunning  Bedford  lieutenant-colonel.  Major  Macdonough, 
from  what  cause  is  not  known,  retired  early  from  the  army, 
and  returned  to  the  Trapp.  After  the  establishment  of  our  in- 
dependence, he  was  appointed  a judge,  and  held  that  office  till 
his  death,  which  took  place  in  1796.  He  left  several  chil- 
dren, of  whom  three  were  sons.  The  eldest,  James,  was  a 
midshipman  under  commodore  Truxtun  when  he  took  the  In- 
surgent, in  which  engagement  he  received  a wound  from  a 
musket  ball,  that  rendered  the  amputation  of  his  leg  necessary. 
“James,”  says  the  gentleman  who  furnished  us  with  these 
particulars,  “ was  very  brave.  He  was  placed  in  the  tops 
when  he  was  wounded,  and  he  told  me  that  when  the  men  in 
the  tops  were  lowering  him  down,  he  could  distinctly  see  the 
enemy  aiming  and  firing  at  him.”  The  amputation  of  his  leg 
rendered  it  necessary  for  him  to  retire  from  the  service. 

After  the  death  of  his  father,  young  Macdonough,  the 
subject  of  this  memoir,  obtained  a midshipman’s  warrant,  and 
commenced  his  career,  with  many  other  gallant  young  men, 
who  only  want  opportunity  to  distinguish  themselves  like  him. 
Of  the  vessels  in  which  he  served;  the  time  of  his  promotion 
to  a lieutenancy,  and  other  ordinary  circumstances  of  the  life 


LIFE  OF  CAPTAIN  THOMAS  MACDONOUGH. 


205 


of  every  naval  officer,  we  know  nothing,  and  in  truth,  these 
things  are  of  no  extraordinary  interest  in  themselves.  He 
followed  the  fortunes  of  our  little  fleet  in  the  wars  of  Tripoli, 
and,  like  other  young  officers  who,  on  that  occasion,  first  met 
“ grim  visaged  War”  face  to  face,  was  frequently  engaged  in 
those  conflicts  where  the  Christian  and  Mahometan  prow- 
ess was  so  severely  tried.  Though  at  this  time,  grave,  reser- 
ved, and  circumspect  in  a remarkable  degree,  we  are  told  he 
was  then  remarkable  for  a daring  impetuosity,  an  invincible 
chivalrous  sort  of  perseverance  in  every  kind  of  adventure. 
In  1806  he  was  first  lieutenant  of  the  Siren,  then  lying  in  Gi- 
braltar harbour,  under  the  late  captain  John  Smith.  A cir- 
cumstance took  place  here,  which  as  it  strongly  displays  that 
firmness  which  is  the  strong  feature  of  his  character,  we  will 
detail  particularly.  It  is  derived  from  the  most  undoubted 
authority,  and  when  we  consider  what  a vast  diflerence  is  ob- 
servable in  our  feelings  now  and  at  that  time,  we  cannot  help 
greatly  admiring  the  conduct  of  the  young  lieutenant. 

During  the  forenoon  of  a day,  in  which  captain  Smith  was  on 
shore,  a merchant  brig,  under  the  colours  of  the  United  States, 
came  into  port,  and  anchored  a-head,  and  close  to  the  Siren. 
Soon  after,  a boat  was  sent  from  a British  frigate  then  lying 
in  the  harbour,  on  board  this  brig.  After  remaining  along- 
side a little  wffiile,  the  boat  returned  with  one  man  more  than 
she  went  with.  This  circumstance  attracted  the  notice  ofMac- 
donough,  who  sent  lieutenant  Page  on  board  the  brig  to  know 
the  particulars  of  the  affair.  Mr.  Page  returned  with  infor- 
mation that  the  man  had  been  pressed  by  the  boat  from  the 
British  frigate,  although  he  had  a protection  as  an  American 
citizen.  Immediately  on  the. receipt  of  this  information,  Mac- 
donough  ordered  the  Siren’s  gig'  to  be  manned  and  armed,  and 
putting  himself  in  her,  went  in  pursuit  of  the  boat,  determined 
to  rescue  his  countryman.  He  overtook  her  alongside  the  Bri- 
tish frigate,  just  as  the  man  at  the  bow  was  raising  his  boat- 
hook to  reach  the  ship,  and  took  out  the  American  by  force, 


^06 


xNAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


although  the  other  boat  had  eight  oars,  and  his  only  four,  and 
carried  him  on  board  of  the  Siren. 

When  the  report  of  this  affair  was  made  to  the  captain  of 
the  British  frigate,  he  came  on  board  the  Siren  in  a great  rage, 
and  desired  to  know  how  Macdonough  dared  to  take  a man 
from  one  of  his  majesty’s  boats.  The  lieutenant,  with  great 
politeness,  asked  him  down  into  the  cabin;  this  he  refused,  at 
the  same  time  repeating  the  same  demand  with  abundance  of 
threats.  Macdonough  then  told  him  with  firmness,  that  he 
was  not  accountable  to  him,  but  to  captain  Smith,  for  his  con- 
duct. The  Englishman  threw  out  some  threats  that  he  would 
take  the  man  by  force,  and  said  he  would  haul  the  frigate 
alongside  the  Siren  for  that  purpose.  To  this  Macdonough 
replied,  “ he  supposed  his  ship  could  sink  the  Siren,  but  as 
long  as  she  could  swim  he  should  keep  the  man.”  The  En- 
glish captain' said  to  Macdonough,  “ you  are  a very  young,  and 
a very  indiscreet  young  man:  suppose  I had  been  in  the  boat, 
what  would  you  have  done?”  “ I would  have  taken  the  man, 
or  lost  my  life.”  “ What — sir,  would  you  attempt  to  stop  me 
if  I were  now  to  attempt  to  impress  men  from  that  brig?”  “ I 
would,  and  to  convince  yourself  I would,  you  have  only  to 
make  the  attempt.”  On  this  the  Englishman  went  on  board 
his  ship,  and  shortly  afterwards  was  seen,  bearing  her  in  a di- 
rection for  the  American  merchant  brig.  Macdonough  order- 
ed his  boat  manned  and  armed,  got  into  her  himself,  and 
was  in  readiness  for  pursuit.  The  Englishman  took  a circuit 
round  the  American  brig,  and  returned  again  to  the  frigate. 
When  captain  Smith  came  on  board,  he  justified  the  conduct 
of  Macdonough,  and  declared  his  intention  to  protect  the 
American  seaman. 

During  the  continuance  of  the  Tripolitan  war,  our  ships 
occasionally  visited  the  city  of  Syracuse,  once  so  famous,  but 
now  mouldering  away,  under  that* wretched  system  of  go- 
vernment which  has  blasted  and  withered  one  of  the  fairest 
portions  of  this  earth.  Of  Sicily,  once  the  resort  of  the  gods — 


LIFE  OP  CAPTAIN  THOMAS  MACDONOUGH.  20T 

the  cradle  of  fertility* — the  seat  of  arts  and  luxury — the  coun- 
try of  Archimedes  and  Theocritus — the  granary  of  Rome,  and 
the  most  famous  island  of  the  most  famous  sea  of  the  world — 
who  is  ignorant?  It  is  associated  with  the  earliest  recollections 
of  the  scholar;  its  very  name  conjures  up  a thousand  ideas  of 
beauty,  grandeur,  and  fertility;  but  the  admirer  of  antiquity, 
in  visiting  the  countries  most  famous  in  days  of  yore,  and  the 
cities  most  celebrated  for  their  grandeur  and  exploits,  is  doom- 
ed to  have  his  enthusiasm  checked  or  destroyed  by  the  mise- 
rable contrast  of  their  present  state,  with  the  descriptions  of 
the  ancient  poets  and  historians.  The  history  of  the  world  is 
but  the  history  of  man;  and  as  in  the  one  case  the  young  suc- 
ceed to  the  old,  so  in  the  other,  new  cities,  and  new  empires, 
spring  into  existence,  to  take  the  lead  upon  the  theatre  of  life, 
while  those  that  preceded  them,  sink  into  insignificance,  and 
are  only  preserved  from  oblivion  by  the  writers,  whose  fame 
has  long  survived  every  vestige  of  the  splendours  they  cele- 
brated. 

The  climate  of  Sicily  has  been  the  theme  of  praise  in 
every  age,  and  the  hardy  northern  man,  who  is  exposed  to  the 
inclemencies  of  winter,  three-fourths  of  the  year,  and  whose 
toils  are  repaid  by  a scanty  subsistence,  might  perhaps  com- 
plain of  the  unequal  distributions  of  Providence,  while  read- 
ing of  the  genial  airs,  the  flowery  meads,  the  ruddy  skies,  and 
delicious  vales  of  Sicily,  where  the  earth  yields  an  hundred 
fold.  But  when  he  finds  in  the  history  of  all  nations,  that 
such  a climate  and  such  a soil  is  ever  the  concomitant,  or  ra- 
ther the  parent  of  idleness,  luxury,  and  its  inevitable  product,- 
slavery; — when  he  reads  how  nations  thus  happily  situated, 
sooner  or  later  are  ever  the  prey  of  tyranny — he  becomes  re- 
conciled to  frosts  and  snows,  and  wintry  blasts,  and  barren 
hills,  and  is  grateful  for  being  born  beyond  the  reach  of  a 
luxurious  indulgence,  to  be  followed  by  such  degradations  as 
have  prostrated  the  manly  genius,  not  only  of  Sicily,  but  of  all 

* Diodorus  Siculus,  says,  the  hounds  lost  the  scent  of  their  game  in  hunting, 
owing  to  a profusion  of  odoriferous  plants  that  perfumed  the  air  in  Sicily. 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


i’08 


Italy.  Riches  may  enslave  a country,  but  will  never  make  it 
free;  for  it  is  only  the  poor  and  the  hardy  that  can  sustain  the 
labours  and  privations,  by  which  the  struggle  for  freedom  must 
be  maintained. 

With  the  exception  of  Rome,  the  city  of  Syracuse  was  the 
most  celebrated  in  all  Italy,  and  its  islands.  In  its  most  flou- 
rishing state  it  extended  twenty-two  miles  in  circumference, 
and  maintained  an  army  of  one  hundred  thousand  foot,  ten 
thousand  horse,  with  a navy  of  four  hundred  ships.  It  was 
said  of  the  inhabitants  of  Syracuse,  that  they  were  the  best  of 
men  when  virtuous — the  most  wicked  when  depraved  by  vi- 
cious pursuits.  Unhappily  they  verify  the  truth  of  the  latter 
position  at  this  time.  Our  officers  all  agree  that  no  community 
can  be  in  a worse  moral  state  than  the  people  of  this  city. 
The  nobility  are  impoverished  and  corrupt: — monopolizers  of 
almost  every  employment — one  nobleman  has  the  monopoly 
of  baking  bread  for  a city,  and  no  one  is  permitted  to  bake 
but  himself;  another  has  the  rare  privilege  of  supplying  Mes- 
sina, or  some  other  place,  with  fish,  and  it  is  not  many  years  ^ 
since  this  last  city  was  obliged  to  live  upon  tainted  fish  for  seve- 
ral days,  because  the  prince  who  had  the  monopoly  of  that  ar- 
ticle, and  who,  if  we  remember  right,  claimed  a descent  from 
the  Cyclops,  who  once  possessed  Sicily,  chose  to  enrich  him- 
self at  the  expense  of  the  wretched  populace.  In  short,  eve- 
ry thing  is  a monopoly  in  Sicily;  and  the  peasant  who  has  a 
surplus  of  grain  to  sell,  cannot  dispose  of  it  until  a price  is 
fixed  by  a certain  chamber  at  Palermo.  Certainly  it  is  worth 
while  to  shed  little  blood  for  the  restoration  of  such  a system 
of  government! 

Robberies  and  assassinations  are  the  nightly  amusements 
of  Syracusans,  and  our  officers  in  their  evening  rambles,  were 
frequently  assailed  by  soldiers,  or  fellows  armed  with  knives 
or  daggers.  Their  favourite  mode  of  fighting  is  to  blow  out 
the  candles,  and  in  that  situation  their  knives  and  daggers  are 
the  most  dangerous  of  all  weapons.  On  some  occasion,  which 
occurred  in  Syracuse,  Macdonough  was  attacked  by  three  of 


LirE  OF  CAPTAIN  THOMAS  MACDONOUGH. 


20^ 


Uiese  desparadoes;  with  his  back  against  a door,  he  had  the 
good  fortune  to  wound  two,  and  the  other  took  to  his  heels. 
He  was  followed  by  the  lieutenant,  who  pushed  him  so  hard 
that  he  climbed  up  to  the  roof  of  the  barracks,  whither  Mac- 
donough  followed  him  still,  and  finding  no  other  means  of  es- 
cape, he  jumped  off,  with  the  loss  of  his  life. 

In  the  interval  between  the  Tripolitan  war  and  that  which 
commenced  in  1812,  no  occasion  occurred  to  our  naval  offi- 
cers for  signalizing  themselves,  and  w^e  shall  pass  silently  over  ^ 
this  period  of  lieutenant  Macdonough’s  life,  because  it  fur- 
nishes no  incident  of  sufficient  importance  to  be  interesting 
to  the  reader.  The  ordinary  vicissitudes  of  life,  are  only  of  con- 
sequence to  ourselves,  and  our  immediate  friends;  and  though 
we  may  run  counter  to  the  opinion  of  Dr.  Johnson,  we  cannot 
help  believing  that  the  curiosity  which  is  gratified  by  the  im- 
portant fact,  that  Milton  wore  latchets  in  his  shoes,  is  more 
worthy  a prying  village  gossip,  than  a great  philosopher;  be- 
cause such  a circumstance  furnishes  no  elucidation  either  of 
character  or  manners.  It  is  by  the  aid  of  such  trifles  that  a 
jobbing  writer  will  contrive  to  swell  the  life  of  a learned  arch- 
deacon, or  of  a man  who  derives  his  sole  claim  to  notice,  from 
freezing  ice  in  summer  (as  if  we  had  not  quite  enough  of  it  in 
winter)  into  a bulk  surpassing  that  of  all  Plutarch’s  Lives  put 
together.  As  we  have  no  perception  of  the  value  of  such 
minute  inquiries,  we  will  proceed  to  a detail  of  that  action 
in  which  the  subject  of  this  article  became  distinguished  by 
the  most  important  services  to  his  country,  in  gaining  a victory 
wffiich  occasioned  the  total  failure  of  a plan  of  operations 
on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  which  w^ould  otherwise  have  pro- 
duced the  most  fatal  consequences. 

Soon  after  the  declaration  of  war,  in  1812,,  a small' naval 
force  was  created  on  lake  Champlain,  for  the  three-fold  object 
of  affording  protection  to  our  frontier  in  that  quarter;  facili- 
tating military  operations;  and  preventing,  as  far  as  possible, 
the  enemy  from  receiving  those  supplies,  which  w'ere  conti- 
voL.  vn.  27 


210 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


nually  furnished  by  the  corrupt  and  treasonable  agency  of  some 
of  our  own  citizens.  It  became  necessary,  in  proportion  as  the 
operations  of  our  armies  were  directed  to  this  quarter,  to  aug- 
ment this  force,  as  well  because  it  could  materially  co-operate 
in  offensive  designs,  as  because  it  had  become  indispensable, 
perhaps,  from  the  augmentation  of  the  naval  force  of  the  ene- 
my, on  lake  Champlain.  This  contest  of  building  was  carried 
on  from  year  to  year,  until  1814,  when  the  relative  force  of 
the  two  nations  stood  as  follows: 


AMERICAN.  GUNS. 

BRITISH.  GUNS. 

Saratoga, 

26 

Frigate  Confiance 

39 

Eagle, 

20 

Brig  Linnet, 

16 

Ticonderoga, 

17 

Sloop  Chubb, 

11 

Preble, 

7 

Finch 

11 

lOgallies,  carrying 

16 

1 3 gallies  carrying 

18 

Total, 

86 

Total, 

95 

Thus  stood  affairs,  when  early  in  the  month  of  September, 
in  that  year,  sir  Oeorge  Prevost  began  his  march  at  the  head 
of  fourteen  thousand  men,  with  the  intention  of  dislodging 
general  Macomb  from  his  works  at  Plattsburg,  and  then  pene- 
trating into  the  heart  of  the  state  of  New  York.  There  is  rea- 
son to  suppose  that  this  plan  was  connected  with  an  attack 
on  the  city  of  New  York,  by  the  force  on  our  maritime  fron- 
tier, had  it  succeeded  in  the  affair  of  Baltimore.  Certain  it 
is  that  this  apprehension  had  drawn  the  militia  from  the  coun- 
try above,  and  left  it  in  a state  very  much  exposed  to  the  in- 
cursions of  the  enemy.  The  destruction  of  the  American  na- 
val force  on  lake  Champlain  was  supposed  by  sir  George  Pre- 
vost to  be  essential  to  the  success  of  his  plan  of  operations; 
and  captain  Downie,  who  was  at  the  head  of  the  British  squa- 
dron, was  directed  to  attack  the  American  naval  force,  which 
had  been  for  some  time  under  the  command  of  Macdonough, 
then  only  a lieutenant,  at  the  same  time  that  sir  George  storm- 
ed the  intrenchments  at  Plattsburg. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  TRISTAN  d’  ACUNHA.  215 

bly  depressed  or  exalted  by  the  opinions  of  others.  Though 
a married  man,  he  is  still  young;  and  though  a soldier,  strict 
in  his  deportment,  and  exemplary  in  his  piety.  He  has  a 
fine  head,  light  hair,  complexion,  and  eyes;  and  his  person  is 
tall  and  dignified.  It  is,  indeed,  a source  of  uncommon  gra- 
tification to  think  how  many  of  our  distinguished  officers  are 
still  so  young,  that  we  may  look  to  them  in  many  years  to 
come,  whenever  the  situation  of  this  country  shall  call  for 
their  exertions.  Few  of  them  are  past  the  middle  age,  and 
many  of  them,  whose  names  are  familiar  to  us,  have  just 
reached  the  period  of  manhood.  They  seem,  like  this  coun- 
try and  every  thing  in  it,  bearing  the  stamp  of  vigorous  youth, 
and  promising  yet  more  than  they  have  ever  yet  performed. 

Having  annihilated  the  enemy’s  force  on  Champlain, 
captain  Macdonough,  now  promoted,  requested  his  recall 
from  that  command,  as  his  health  was  somewhat  affected  by 
his  long  stay  on  the  lake,  which,  at  some  seasons,  is  very 
unhealthy  to  strangers.  Since  then  he  has  been  in  the  com- 
mand of  the  station  at  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  where  he 
now  is.  Should  the  passions  of  men,  the  interests  of  com- 
merce, or  the  ambition  of  an  enemy  again  force  us  into  a 
war,  he  is  one  of  those  to  whom  we  shall  look  for  new  ex- 
ploits; and  should  the  chance  of  battle  again  give  him  an  op- 
portunity for  the  exercise  of  skill  and  courage,  we  feel  confi- 
dent the  chance  will  not  occur  in  vain;  nor  the  victory  of 
Champlain  want  its  parallel  in  the  life  of  Macdonough. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  ISLAND  OF  TRISTAN  d’aCUNHA,  OFF 
WHICH  THE  ACTION  BETWEEN  THE  HORNET  AND  PENGUIN 
WAS  FOUGHT.  BY  AN  OFFICER  OF  THE  HORNET. 

The  island  of  Tristan  d’  Acunha,  in  the  South  Atlantic 
ocean,  lies  in  latitude  37,  6 south,  and  longitude  11,  42 
west.  It  is  at  present  inhabited  by  three  men.  Thomas 
Currie,  who  has  been  on  it  the  longest,  that  is  to  say  about 
four  years,  claims  the  sovereignty,  and  is  styled  governor; 


2IG 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


the  second  is  a Portuguese,  has  been  there  about  a year,  and 
the  third,  whose  name  is  Johnson,  is  believed  to  be  a Ger- 
man, and  was  left  on  the  island,  about  four  months  since, 
by  the  American  privateer  Young  Wasp  of  Philadelphia. 
They  appear  to  be  perfectly  contented  and  happy  in  their  si- 
tuation, dreary  and  uncomfortable  as  it  may  seem.  Their 
houses  are  entirely  built  of  straw,  and  covered  with  sea  ele- 
phants’ skins,  which  renders  them  impervious  to  the  rain. 

The  soil  of  this  island  is  of  excellent  quality,  capable  of 
producing  vegetables  of  every  kind  in  profusion.  Gov^C^or 
Currie  now  raises  potatoes,  cabbages,  and  carrots  in  abun- 
dance, and  some  turnips,  sallad,  and  beets.  Of  the  three 
last  he  carefully  preserves  the  seed.  The  governor  has  also 
a good  stock  of  hogs,  of  a small  breed,  which  he  caught  wild, 
and  reduced  under  his  government.  The  authority  of  governor 
Currie,  though  founded  on  the  title  of  preoccupancy,  extends 
only  to  his  hogs,  as  neither  the  German  nor  the  Portuguese 
* acknowledge  his  superiority.  The  most  perfect  system  of  equa- 
lity prevails  among  the  three;  but  it  is  feared  that  ambition 
will,  one  day  or  other,  occasion  a struggle  for  power  that 
may  possibly  produce  another  triumvirate  equal  to  Caesar, 
Pompey,  and  Crassus.  There  are  an  immense  number  of 
birds  on  the  island,  principally  of  two  kinds,  the  largest  of 
the  size  of  a robin,  the  other  not  larger  than  the  yellow  bird, 
both  of  a dirty  brown  colour.  When  we  first  went  on  shore, 
they  were  so  very  tame,  that  we  could  knock  them  down  with 
our  hats;  but  they  afterwards  became  more  shy,  owing  to  our 
killing  a great  many  of  them  for  the  use  of  the  sick.  We  al- 
so killed  several  sea  lions,  with  which  the  shore  abounds,  and 
whose  tongues,  hearts,  and  flippers  are  excellent  eating. 
There  are  also,  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  a number  of 
seals  and  penguins,  particularly  on  the  south  side  of  the  island. 

Tristan  d’  Acunha  appears  to  be  about  fifteen  miles  in 
circumference.  It  is  very  high  land,  and,  in  clear  weather, 
may  be  seen  at  the  distance  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  leagues. 
We  made  it  at  about  forty-five  miles,  owing  to  the  weather 


217 


DESCRIPTION  OF  TRISTAN  d’  ACUNHA. 

being  hazy.  Part  of  the  island,  from  the  north,  rises  perpen- 
dicularly from  the  sea,  apparently  to  the  height  of  near  one 
thousand  feet;  a level  then  commences,  forming  what  is  call- 
ed table  land,  and  extends  towards  the  centre-  of  the  island, 
whence  rises  a conical  mountain  four  thousand  feet  in  height. 
The  top  of  this  mountain  is  almost  constantly  enveloped  in 
clouds,  and  it  was  only  when  the  weather  was  very  clear,  and 
the  sun  very  bright,  that  we  could  see  the  summit,  which  is 
covered  with  perpetual  snows. 

The  coast  of  Tristan  d’  Acunha  is  very  bold,  and  ap- 
pears to  be  clear  of  danger,  except  the  west  point  of  the 
island,  where  there  are  breakers  about  two  cables’  length 
from  the  shore.  The  ship,  while  at  anchor,  was  oversha- 
dowed by  that  part  of  the  island  under  which  she  lay,  which 
rises,  like  a moss-grown  wall,  from  the  bosom  of  the  ocean. 
In  other  places  the  shore  was  covered  with  a kind  of  sea- 
weed called  kelp,  and  by  our  sailors  Cape  Ann  moorings. 
The  landing  place  is  perfectly  safe  for  the  smallest  boats,  ex- 
cept in  heavy  blowing  weather.  A stream  of  water,  which 
takes  its  origin  in  the  mountain,  empties  itself  on  the  beach, 
by  a cataract  about  forty  feet  high,  and  may  be  seen  at  the 
distance  of  eight  or  ten  miles  at  sea,  tumbling  down  the  moun- 
tain as  white  as  the  snow  on  its  summit.  The  water  is  very 
fine  and  pure,  and  the  casks  can  be  filled  by  means  of  a hose 
of  about  one  hundred  feet  long,  without  removing  them  from 
the  boat.  The  anchorage  is  on  the  northeast  side  of  the  island, 
and  vessels  wishing  to  make  it  for  the  purpose  of  procuring 
wood  and  water,  should  run  in  until  the  watering  place  bears 
southwest  by  south,  about  one  mile  distant,  where  they  will ' 
get  seventeen  fathoms  water  in  a gravelly  bottom  mixed  with 
])ieces  of  shells.  But  it  would  be  advisable  not  to  come  to  an 
anchor,  owing  to  the  steepness  of  the  anchorage  ground^  and 
the  frequency  of  sudden  squalls  from  off  the  island. 

VOL.  vir.  28 


/ 


fi 


IfAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


ON  SHIP  TIMBER. 

(From  the  Southern  Patriot,) 

A PIECE  from  the  National  Intelligencer,  signed  “ Experi- 
ence,’* has  induced  me  to  offer  some  further  observations  upon 
this  subject.  I had  touched  upon  it  but  slightly  before,  and  am 
ahvays  pleased  to  hear  of  Ex/ierknce,  if  it  be  really  founded  upon 
just  exheriments.  The  subject  may  be  useful,  but  is  not  inter- 
esting to  many  readers.  As  an  amusement,  I have  attended  to 
the  growth,  durability,  and  decay  of  vegetable  substances;  but  of 
ship-buiiding  I have  no  practical  knowledge,  therefore  I extend 
my  observations  no  further  than  the  two  last  qualities  in  timber 
which  appear  to  render  it  fit,  or  unfit  for  that  purpose.  Fermen- 
tation, in  vegetable  substances,  is  equivalent  to  putrefaction,  in 
animal  ones.  The  three  great  agents  in  their  decomposition  or 
decay,  are  heat,  air,  and  water;  the  same  which  support  them 
when  alive.*  In  timbers,  water  is  the  primitive  agent,  as  it  brings 
the  other  Uvo  into  operation.  Acting  upon  the  saccharine  matter 
it  produces  spirituous  fermentation,  and  upon  acidity,  the  acid  fer- 
mentation. In  its  progress,  fermentation  excites  heat  and  air.  A 
more  minute  and  technical  explanation  would  be  foreign  to  my 
purpose;  it  may  be  found  in  essays  expressly  upon  the  subject. 

I have  seldom  found  the  saccharine  or  acid  principle  to  abound 
in  any  tree,  which  was  durable  as  a timber.  For  instance,  the 
black  walnut  and  hickory  belong  to  the  same  genus  of  plants,  the 
walnut  to  the  taste  is  destitute  of  saccharine  matter,  and  the  hicko- 
ry abounds  with  it — the  consequence  is,  that  the  walnut  is  as  re- 
markable for  its  durability,  as  the  hickory  for  premature  decay — 
when  I speak  of  acidity  in  timber  trees,  I shall  confine  myself  to 
the  gallic  acid,  as  the  other  acids  are  seldom  found  in  large  trees. 
The  gallic  acid  is  a second  great  cause  of  decay.  The  live-oak 
has  very  little,  in  proportion  to  the  black-oak  (quercus  tinctoria) 
or  the  black  jack  (quercus  nigra)  yet  the  first  will  last  for  half  a 
century,  and  the  two  last  not  a tenth  of  that  time.  The  lob- 
lolly-bay (gordonia)  abounds  with  the  gallic  acid,  so  much  so,  that 
the  bark  is  thought  better  than  that  of  oak  for  tanning — but  the 

* Oxygen^  vhich  gives  much  life  and  spirit  toaniraals  and  vegetables, 
greatest  decomposer. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS 


^223 


iiccrs  and  crew,  during  the  chase,  was  perfectly  correct  and  free  from  cen- 
sure.’* 

SAMUEL  EVANS,  President. 
SAML.  R.  M\RSHALL, 

Acting  Judge  Advocate. 

JVavy  Department^  January  20thy  1816. 

Sir, 

In  obedience  to  the’resolution  of  the  honourable  senate  of  the  United  States, 
passed  on  the  Slstdayof  December  1815,  directing  the  secretary  of  the  navy  “ to 
communicate  to  the  senate  whether  any,  and  if  any,  what  steps  have  been  taken 
during  the  recess,  to  ascertain  the  most  convenient  harbours  in  the  waters  of  the 
Chesapeake  bay,  for  the  reception  of  ships  of  war;”  and  “whether  the  middle 
ground,  between  the  capes  of  said  bay,  has  been  explored,  with  a view  to  that 
object,  and  the  result  of  such  examination  ” 

I have  the  honour  to  report,  that  orders  have  been  given,  through  the  com- 
missioners of  the  navy  board,  to  captain  Arthur  Sinclair,  to  survey  York  river, 
in  Virginia,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  advantages  of  that  place  for  the 
establishment  of  a navy  yard,  &c.  copy  of  which  is  herewith  enclosed. 

Orders  have  also  been  given  for  a survey  of  the  Tangier  islands  in  the  Chesa- 
peake bay.  These  orders  will  be  carried  into  effect  early  in  the  spring. 

No  examination  of  the  middle  ground  between  the  capes  of  the  Chesapeake 
bay  has  been  undertaken,  or  even  contemplated,  except  as  connected  with  the 
general  plan  of  survey  of  the  whole  coast;  nor  has  it  been  deemed  practicable  to 
make  improvements  upon  that  ground,  either  for  a shelter  or  harbour  for  our 
ships  of  war,  or  for  the  purposes  of  defence.  If  a project  of  this  nature  should 
be  considered  by  congress  as  essential  to  public  utility  or  local  defence,  the  ne- 
cessary measures  will  be  taken  to  carry  it  into  effect  with  all  possible  despatch. 

I have  the  honour  to  be. 

With  the  highest  respect. 

Sir, 

Your  most  obedient, 

15.  W.  CROWNINSHIELD. 

The  honourable  the  president  of  the  senate. 

JVavy  Commissioner's  office^  JVovember  3^  1815. 

Sir, 

The  board  of  navy  commissionei’s  under  the  impression  that  an  eligible  site 
for  a navy  yard  may  be  found  on  York  river,  Virginia,  require  of  you  to  pro- 
ceed thither,  with  a suitable  engineer  or  draftsman,  to  be  by  you  appointed  for 
the  purpose,  and  use  your  best  exertions  to  procure  every  information,  so  as  to 
enable  the  commissioners  to  form  a satisfactory  opinion  upon  the  subject. 

A na\7  yard  should  combine  the  advantages  of  free  and  easy  egress  and  ingress 
to  ships  of  the  largest  draft  of  water  at  all  seasons  of  the  year — healthiness  of 
situation — security  against  attack  by  land  or  by  w ater — a good  harbour — a stream 
of  water  for  docking  and  labour-saving  machinery — security  from  icq — a facility 
in  getting  to  sea  with  guns,  provisions,  and  stores  on  board — and  space  sufficient 
for  work-shops,  rope-walks,  store-houses,  sheds,  and  every  other  necessary 
building.  Other  advantages,  such  as  a facility  in  procuring  timber  and  naval 
stores  are  desirable;  but  these  are  considered  indispensable-  In  the  examina- 
tion which  you  are  required  to  make  you  will  attend  to  and  minutely  report  up- 
on each  of  the  points  stated;  and  when  you  shall  have  found  a site  which,  in  your 
opinion,  may  embrace  all  these  advantages,  you  will  carefully  take  an  accurate 
survey  of  it,  and  send  such  survey,  with  a minute  description  to  the  board  of 
commissioners,  with  the  terms  upon  which  such  site  may  be  purchased.  And 
if  more  than  one  place  should  be  found  suitable  for  a navy  yard,  you  will  in  like 
manner  survey  aud  describe  it,  and  inform  the  aboard  as  to  the  terms  upon 


224 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE, 


which  it  may  be  procured;  and  you  will  give  your  opinion  to  the  board,  with 
the  reasons  upon  wl)ich  it  may  be  founded,  as  to  which  of  the  two  places  you 
may,  under  all  circumstances,  consider  the  best  adapted  for  a navy  yard. 

The  surveys  must  be  made  so  as  to  embrace  the  approach  from  the  sea,  and 
the  channels  now  known  to  aftbrd  navigation  for  line  of  battle  ships.  To  enable 
you  to  execute  these  instructions  with  facility,  the  tender  Despatch  is  placed 
subject  to  your  orders.  When  this  service  shall  have  been  performed,  you  will 
send  the  Despatch  back  to  this  place. 

Respectfully,  &c. 

(Signed)  JNO.  RODGERS,  President. 

Capt,  A.  Sinclair,  of  the  navy,  present. 


ANECDOTE  OF  THE  ACTION  ON  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN. 

Immediately  after  the  action  on  Lake  Champlain  commenced,  a game 
cock  on  board  commodore  Macdonough’s  ship  flew'  up  the  fore  hatchway, 
and  lighted  on  the  ship’s  bell,  where  he  crowed  with  all  his  might,  till  the 
bell  was  struck  by  a shot,  and  knocked  to  pieces.  He  then  flew  up  into  the 
rigging,  and  continued  crowing  till  the  action  ceased.  Many  of  the  seamen 
considered  the  circumstance  as  a favourable  omen. 


SUPPLEMENTARY  NOTE  TO  CAPTAIN  MACDONOUGH’S  LIFE. 

Page  208. — On  some  occasion  -which  occurred  at  Syracuse. — This  occa- 
sion, we  are  told,  was  as  follows:  While  the  American  fleet  lay  at  Messi- 
na, Macdonough  was  detained  one  night  on  shore  till  all  the  ships’ boats  had 
returned  to  the  fleet.  He  then  hired  a boat  to  take  him  on  board;  but  find- 
ing three  instead  of  two  men  (the  usual  complement)  going  in  it,  he  sus- 
pected them  of  some  evil  design,  and  refused  to  go;  whereupon  they  drew 
their  poniai’ds  and  attacked  him  in  fhe  manner  related. 


select  reviews. 


Memoires  de  Goldoni,  &c.  i.  e.  Memoirs  of  Goldoni,  and  of 
his  theatrical  productions.  By  himself.  2 vols.  8vo.  Paris. 
1814. 

[|From  the  Monthly  Review.3 

Biography  is  a term  which  has  a different  import  on  the 
opposite  sides  of  the  British  channel.  From  Marseilles  to 
Calais,  it  implies  the  full  and  explicit  delineation  of  character 
and  conduct,  even  to  the  smallest  incidents  and  most  fleeting 
thoughts  that  present  any  peculiar  distinction  between  the  in- 
dividual and  the  collective  species;  and,  in  embracing  the  bet- 
ter side,  it  turns  not  away  from  the  more  dishonourable  traits 
that  may  mark  the  man.  This  system  of  self-espionage  was 
first  instituted  by  La  Montaigne;  it  was  carried  to  an  extrava- 
gant length  by  Rousseau;  it  returned  to  its  primitive  temper 
under  the  happy  pen  of  Marmontel;  and  it  lends  occasional 
amusement  to  the  pages  of  their  imitator  Goldoni.  A bio- 
grapher on  this  side  of  the  channel  is  contented  with  relating 
what  may  be  related;  while  on  the  other  side,  that  which  was 
never  intended  to  be  recorded  forms  an  equal,  and  unhappily 
the  more  entertaining,  part  of  the  story.  Not  to  mention  the 
real  frankness  of  La  Montaigne,  the  affected  frankness  of 
Rousseau,  the  natural  and  ungarnished  history  of  Marmontel, 
the  avowed  and  unblushing  infamy  of  Richelieu,  and  the  nai- 
vete of  a Stahl,  who  were  both  the  subjects  and  the  authors  of 
their  histories,  we  may  trace  the  same  desire  to  reveal  the  man, 
and  the  whole  man,  in  the  memoirs  of  Grammont,  written  by 
an  English  apostle  of  the  French  school;  and  yet  more  promi- 
nently displayed  in  the  gallery  of  portraits  bequeathed  to  us 
by  St.  Simon.  Of  all  biographers,  this  last  is  possibly  most 
true  to  nature:  of  all  servitudes,  that  of  a despotic  court  is 
possibly  the  most  degrading  to  the  heart  and  mind;  and  if  the 
caractere  haineux,^^  attributed  to  the  due  de  Saint  Simon,  has 
not  misguided  his  pen,  of  all  courts  since  the  pagan  courts  of 
Tiberius  and  Nero,  that  of  Louis  XIV,  in  his  latter  days, 
abounded  most  in  the  monotony  of  human  misery.  The  per- 
fect portraiture  of  the  master  and  his  slaves,  by  the  severe  but 
vigilant  Saint  Simon,  will  descend  to  posterity  together  with 
the  unjust  eulogies  of  partial  historians  and  biographers,  and 

VOL'.  VIT.  34 


266 


SELECT  REVIEWS. 


act  as  a corrective  on  minds  that  are  liable  to  be  dazzled  by 
false  glitter  or  deluded  by  false  taste. 

No  country  has  produced  a harvest  of  biography  so  copious 
or  so  excellent  as  France; — to  seize  and  delineate  a character 
exactly,  neither  to  exaggerate  nor  extenuate,  neither  to  omit 
nor  to  set  down  aught  in  malice,  is  the  pride  of  French  bio- 
graphy. This  may  not  have  been  avowed,  although,  from  the 
increasing  and  never  satiated  demands  for  French  memoirs,  it 
is  evidently  though  silently  admitted;  and  indeed,  paradoxical 
as  it  may  seem,  we  question  whether  any  human  invention  can 
devise  and  string  events  together,  as  agreeably  as  they  spon- 
taneously fall  in  the  chequered  life  of  a man  of  enterprise. 
Still,  with  all  due  respect  to  the  Sieur  Goldoni,  we  do  not  class 
his  memoirs  with  those  > which  have  given  interest  to  this  style 
of  composition,  A decent  writer  of  the  language,  in  the  early 
part  of  his  memoir  he  is  a clumsy  copyist  of  Hamilton  and 
Marrnontel;  while,  a stranger  to  their  natural  and  easy  graces, 
he  seeks  an  antithesis  in  almost  every  sentence,  and  an  un- 
seasonable pleasantry  in  almost  every  paragraph.  The 
larger  part  of  the  two  volumes  which  we  have  before  us,  forms 
an  almost  continued  tissue  of  successful  or  unsuccessful  levi- 
ties; and,  as  the  unsuccessful  are  ninety  and  nine  against  one, 
the  value  of  the  work  must  rest,  not  on  style  or  sentiment,  but 
on  the  events  of  a varied  life,  and  on  the  light  thrown  by  it  (in 
a most  unpleasant  manner)  on  the  progress  of  that  theatrical 
talent  of  which  the  development  has  obtained  for  the  author  a 
considerable  share  of  popularity.  The  very  appearance  of 
the  pages,  arranged  as  they  evidently  are  by  the  author’s  di- 
rection, in  so  many  divisions,  presents  a certain  idea  of  un- 
connexion, or,  to  use  a French  term,  a decousu  of  manner, 
which,  although  attempted  for  the  purpose  of  alluring,  suc- 
ceeds only  in  fatiguing  the  reader.  W e have  no  continued 
narrative;  all  is  ambitious, — all  is  scintillation, — digression, — 
apropos^  and  consequently  disappointment.  Not  to  speak  of 
that  vulgar  tone  which  is  contracted  by  habitual  intercourse 
with  the  green-rooms,  and  with  the  premieres  amoureuses  of  so 
many  strolling  and  stationary  companies,  we  cannot  but  re- 
probate a certain  light  and  trifling  mention  of  actions  and  sen- 
timents that  are  too  important  to  be  converted  to  a jest. 

We  are  far  from  denying  that  Italy  is  much  indebted  to  this 
writer  for  attempting  the  reform  of  her  comic  theatre;  neither 
can  the  author,  who  has  witnessed  in  his  life-time  eighteen 
editions  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  comedies  in  prose  and  verse, 
be  in  need  of  much  apology  for  presenting  to  the  "world  his 
portrait,  drawn  by  his  own  hand: — but,  besides  the  propriety 


MEMOIRS  OF  GOLDONI. 


267 


of  giving  some  account  of  himself,  M.  Goldoni  was  influenced 
by  another  motive  yet  more  forcible,  viz.  self-interest.  Per- 
ceiving that  several  of  his  works  were  printed  without  his 
permission  (a  larceny  admitting  no  redress  in  a country  like 
Italy,  which  is  divided  against  itself,)  the  injured  author,  to 
put  a stop  (as  far  as  he  could)  to  future  pillage,  resolved  to 
preface  every  subsequent  volume  with  a detached  morsel  of 
his  biography:  which  should  serve  the  triple  purpose  of  sign- 
manual  to  the  genuineness  of  the  edition,  as  a preface,  and 
also  as  a farther  advance  to  the  history  of  his  whole  life;  and, 
as  it  appears  to  have  been  his  intention  to  live  zoriting,  he 
conceived  that  his  last  comedy  for  the  stage  would  contain  for 
its  introduction  nearly  the  last  of  its  author’s  history.  The 
dissipation  of  Paris;  in  which  capital  he  passed  his  latter  years, 
interrupted  this  scheme;  and,  contenting  himself  with  transla- 
ting from  the  Italian  the  part  which  was  already  finished,  and 
making  a few  additions,  he  has  furnished  us  with  the  present 
work. 

Goldoni  was  born  at  Venice,  as  he  tells  us,  ‘ in  a grand  and 
noble  mansion,’  but  his  family  was  originally  of  Modena.  His 
grandfather,  Charles,  consoled  himself  for  the  loss  of  his  first 
wife  by  espousing  a widow,  one  of  whose  daughters  he  con- 
signed in  marriage  to  his  son.  ‘ My  mother,’  says  the  author, 
‘ was  a pretty  brunette:  she  was  a little  lame,  but  very  inviting.’ 
His  grandfather,  devoted  to  a life  of  pleasure,  hired  a magni- 
ficent country  house,  six  leagues  from  Venice,  where  he  ex- 
cited the  envy  of  all  the  neighbourhood  by  the  splendour  of 
his  entertainments:  but,  being  deprived  of  this  house  by  the 
artifice  of  an  envious  man,  he  settled  at  Carrara,  farmed  all 
the  possessions  belonging  to  the  prince  at  Venice,  increas- 
ed his  expenses,  represented  comedies  and  operas  at  his  own 
house,  and  attracted  thither  the  best  actors  and  most  famous 
musicians  of  the  day.  Visiters  also  flocked  from  every  quar- 
ter. ‘ I was  born,’  says  Goldoni,  ‘ during  all  this  bustle,  and 
in  this  abundance;  how  could  I despise  the  theatre?  How  could 
I dislike  gayety?’ — ‘ My  mother,’  (he  continues,  in  the  charac- 
ter of  a comic  writer,  we  suspect,  rather  than  truly)  ^ brought 
me  forth  almost  without  a pang,  and  she  loved  me  for  it  the 
better.  I did  not  announce  my  entrance  into  the  world  by 
cries,  and  this  gentleness  seemed  to  give  presages  of  my  pa- 
cific character,  which  from  that  hour  have  never  been  belied. 
I was  the  jewel  of  the  house;  my  nurse  declared  that  I had 
wit;  my  mother  charged  herself  with  my  education,  and  my 
father  with  my  amusement.  He  constructed  a puppet-show: 
he  directed  the  motions  of  the  figures  with  his  own  hand,  as- 


268 


SELECT  REVIEWS. 


sisted  by  one  or  two  of  his  friends;  and  at  four  years  old  i 
thought  that  the  amusement  was  most  delicious.’ 

Such  is  the  coxcomb-style  whioh  pervades  the  early  part  of 
these  memoirs.  The  death  of  the  writer’s  grandfather,  as  we 
might  naturally  expect,  unhinged  a family  subsisting  on  the 
riot  of  his  house.  Profusion  was  followed  by  penury;  his  fa- 
ther, although  ‘ not  deficient  in  wit,’  had  neglected  his  son’s 
education,  and  a second  child  increased  the  embarrassment: 
but,  as  he  was  by  no  means  fond  of  dwelling  too  long  on  sad 
reflections,  he  left  madame  with  a small  part  of  the  wreck  of 
their  finances,  and  took  a journey  to  Rome  for  a little  diver- 
sion. At  four  years  of  age,  Goldoni  says,  ‘ he  read  and  wrote^ 
knew  his  catechism  by  heart,  was  placed  under  a preceptor, 
and  was  fond  of  books;’  and,  although  the  sentences  follow 
with  an  epigrammatic  rapidity  which  confounds  time  and  cir- 
cumstance, at  an  age  scarcely  more  advanced,  we  suppose, 
‘ he  was  learning  his  grammar  with  facility,  and  the  principles 
of  geography  and  arithmetic:  but  his  favourite  reading  was  co- 
medy.’ His  first  author  was  Ciccoguini;  and,  as  ‘‘  the  sports 
of  children  satisfy  the  child,”  he  found  great  delight  in  the 
trivial  scenes  of  the  Florentine  author.  At  eight  years  of  age, 
he  had  frequently  perused  and  began  to  imitate  his  model  by 
a comedy  of  his  own  growth;  and  a copy  of  this  infantine 
production  was  forwarded  to  his  father,  who,  it  appears,  had 
been  metamorphosed  into  a physician.  If,”  said  Dr.  Gol- 
doni, charmed  by  this  premature  proof  of  genius,  and  calcu- 
lating on  the  principles  of  arithmetic, — “ if  nine  years  yield 
four  carats  of  wit,  eighteen  years  should  yield  a dozen  ca- 
rats; and,  by  successive  progression,  he  may  arrive  at  perfec- 
tion.” 

The  author  takes  advantage  of  a visit  to  his  father  to  de- 
scribe his  agitation  on  first  mounting  a horse.  This  is  done 
in  the  style  of  farce,  and  is  as  unfortunate  as,  w^e  think,  most 
of  his  attempts  at  wit  have  proved  through  these  volumes. 
The  meeting  took  place  at  Perugia: 

‘ My  father  made  me  remark  the  citadel  built  by  Paul  the  Third, 
at  a time  when  Perugia  enjoyed  republican  liberty,  under  the  pre- 
tence of  benefitting  the  Perugians  with  a hospital  for  their  sick, 
and  for  pilgrims.  This  pious  successor  to  the  chair  of  St.  Peter, 
on  finishing  the  work,  introduced  cannons  into  the  place  in  carts 
covered  with  straw;  and,  when  the  Chi  viva  was  uttered  from  the 
battlements,  the  citizens  found  it  necessary  to  make  answer, 
“ Long  live  Paul  III.”  * 

It  would  be  an  idle  attempt  to  follow  Goldoni  through  his 
examination  at  the  Jesuits’  college  of  this  city;  and  yet  more 


MEMOIRS  OF  GOLDONI. 


269 


idle  to  discover  the  reason  of  that  sudden  illumination,  which, 
though  he  was  the  dullest  in  the  school,  on  one  happy  day 
gave  him  the  prize  over  all  his  competitors: — but  so  we  sup- 
pose it  was.  A play  and  a play-house  were  his  rage.  His 
fether,  to  gratify  this  darling  desire,  fitted  up  a theatre  in  a 
hall  of  the  Hotel  of  Antinori;  and,  as  females  are  not  allowed 
to  act  in  the  states  of  the  pope,  the  part  of  a lady  and  the 
prologue  were  conferred  on  our  hero.  The  style  of  this  pro- 
logue was  the  style  of  the  Italian  drama  of  that  day;  metaphor, 
hyperbole,  antithesis,  inflation,  and  bombast,  had  usurped  the 
place  of  common  sense  on  every  stage  in  Italy:  but  his  father 
was  accustomed  to  it.  The  commencement  is  a fine  relic  of 
the  art: 

‘ Most  benign  heaven  (this  was  the  name  given  to  the  auditory,) 
to  the  rays  of  your  most  refulgent  sun,  behold  us,  like  butterflies, 
expanding  the  tender  wings  of  our  conceits,  and  raising  our  flight 
to  your  meridian  radiance.— -This  charming  prologue  brought  me 
a bushel  of  sugar-plums,  with  which  the  theatre  was  filled,  and  I 
was  almost  blinded.  This  is  the  usual  applause  in  the  papal  ter- 
ritories. The  piece  in  which  1 played  was  La  Sorellina  di  Don 
Pilone;  and  I was  much  commended:  for  in  a country  in  which 
such  sfiectacles  are  uncommon,  the  spectators  are  not  nice.’ 

On  his  way  fi’om  Perugia  to  Venice,  the  author  embarked 
in  an  expedition  with  a company  of  comedians  at  Rimini,  in 
whose  society  he  performed  the  journey  thence  to  Chiozza. 
Their  assemblage  is  thus  described: — ‘ Twelve  persons,  ac- 
tors and  actresses,  a prompter,  a machinist,  a keeper  of  the 
wardrobe,  eight  servants,  four  chambermaids,  two  nurses, 
children  of  all  ages,  dogs,  cats,  monkeys,  birds,  pigeons,  and 
a lamb:  it  w^as  the  ark  of  Noah.’  Our  readers  will  perceive 
in  this  description  nothing  beyond  the  ordinary  oddity  of  a 
Margate  hoy,  yet  it  must  be  converted  into  an  effort  to  raise 
a laugh;  and  then  a poor  attempt  at  continuing  the  laugh  is 
made  by  the  description  of  a quarrel  between  the  conductor 
of  the  boat  and  the  premiere  amoureuse^  for  not  having  prepa- 
red a bouillon,  without  which  the  lady  could  not  dine.  This 
sally  is  succeeded  by  another,  about  a cat  belonging  to  the 
same  interesting  lady,  which  was  pursued  by  a sailor.  We 
notice  these  follies  as  characteristic  of  the  Memoirs,  and  with- 
out any  intention  of  doing  violence  to  the  dramas  of  Goldoni. 
Indeed,  the  same  pen  is  to  be  discovered,  and  nearly  the  same 
manner,  in  all  his  works:  but  that  which,  when  “ submitted  to 
the  eye,”  is  more  pleasant,  is  frequently  known  to  fail  in  de- 
scription; more  particularly  when  description  professes  truth 
for  its  canvass.  We  approve  the  rule  of  transferring  scenes 


SELECT  REVIEWS. 


210 

ill  real  life  to  the  theatre,  which  should  be  its  shadow:  but  t© 
reverse  the  rule  would  be  to  offend  grossly  against  all  the  de- 
cencies and  probabilities.  The  ground-work  of  these  me- 
moirs may  be  true:  but  the  language  of  the  first  volume,  at 
least,  has  always  a dash  of  the  theatre,  a certain  air  of  insin- 
cerity, w^hich  proves  to  us  that  every  scene  is  not  represented 
exactly  as  it  passed.  Thus,  when  his  father  returns  unex- 
pectedly, and  rushes  into  the  apartment  of  Mad.  Goldoni, 
complaining  of  his  son,  the  latter  is  during  the  w'hole  time  a 
listener  in  an  adjoining  closet;  and  the  stale  theatrical  prac- 
tice of  dragging  the  young  culprit  from  his  hiding-place  is  re- 
peated in  the  history  of  real  life. 

At  Venice,  Goldoni  was  articled  to  an  attorney;  and  it  will 
excite  no  small  degree  of  surprise  to  hear  that  the  first  drama- 
tist who  introduced  the  better  school  to  the  notice  of  his  coun- 
trymen, began  his  literary  career  in  the  fortieth  year  of  his 
age.  It  cannot  be  expected  that  persons  at  our  advanced 
time  of  life  are  possessed  of  sufficient  agility  to  accompany 
this  versatile  author  from  Venice  to  Rome,  and  thence  to  Ve- 
nice again,  to  Pavia,  to'Milan,  and  through  all  his  mazy  pil- 
grimages; neither  do  the  events  that  occur  on  the  several  roads 
appear  worthy  of  much  remark.  As  he  grew  older,  he  be- 
came more  and  more  sensible  that  his  country  had  lost  the 
true  comic  spirit.  During  his  residence  at  Pavia,  wffiere  he 
received  the  tonsure,  he  applied  himself  with  attention  to  the 
Greek  and  Roman  drama,  and  to  the  modern  comedies  of 
France,  England,  and  Spain.  To  the  method,  style,  and 
precision  of  the  ancient,  he  wished  to  add  the  interest  and 
character  which  are  to  be  found  in  many  of  the  modern  pieces. 
In  the  course  of  his  vacations,  some  new  light  w^as  thrown  on 
his  darling  subject  by  the  Mandragore  of  Machiavelli:  which 
profligate  but  humorous  piece  was  inadvertently  lent  to  him 
by  a monk,  wdio  -was  unacquainted  with  the  wit  and  danger  of 
the  pages  with  which  he  furnished  his  young  friend.  Ten 
perusals  of  it  left  impressed  on  Goldoni’s  mind  the  resolution 
to  imitate  its  beauties  and  avoid  its  abominations:  but  these 
divitm  miser (2  are  not  gained  without  producing  some  evil 
effect  on  their  possessor.  On  returning  to  Pavia,  he  was  en- 
gaged in  a dispute,  common  to  collegians,  with  the  townsmen 
of  the  place;  and,  while  his  young  friends  repelled  force  by 
force,  Goldoni,  armed  with  a licentious  pen,  was  convicted  of 
having  written  a satire  on  the  young  ladies  of  Pavia,  which 
caused  his  expulsion  from  college,  and  exposed  him  to  the  re- 
venge of  bi’others  and  husbands  who  had  been  insulted  in  the 
persons  of  their  female  relatives. 


MEMOIRS  OF  GOLDONI. 


271 


At  Udina,the  author  applied  himself  once  more  to  the  study 
of  the  law.  He  also  frequented  the  church;  and,  as  a speci- 
men of  his  edification,  his  memory  having  carried  off  the  divi- 
sions and  substance  of  six  and  thirty  sermons,  he  reduced 
them  into  the  contracted  and  grotesque  form  of  as  many  son- 
nets, of  which  the  publication  procured  him  the  thanks  of  the 
orator,  and  the  admiration  of  all  the  good  people  of  Udina. 
His  residence  at  this  city,  however,  was  (as  usual)  interrupt- 
ed by  some  idle  intrigues,  unworthy  of  us  to  mention,  and  of 
his  more  serious  years  to  have  remembered.  To  our  com- 
plaint at  these  levities,  we  cannot  but  add  another  against  the 
shame  which  he  evinces  at  yielding  for  a time  to  a more  ho- 
nourable passion.  At  Chiozza,  he  was  enamoured  of  a young 
and  beautiful  girl,  at  a convent-school,  who  was  otherwise 
engaged;  and  his  regret  at  parting  is  thus  feelingly  described: 
‘ I no  longer  saw  the  directress,  nor  her  pupil;  and,  God  be 
thanked,  in  a very  short  time  I forgot  the  one  and  the  other!’ 
Another  tender  and  virtuous  attachment  is  laughed  out  of 
countenance  in  the  same  manner.  The  death  of  his  father  in 
some  degree  puts  a stop  to  this  biographical  harlequinade,  and 
brings  back  the  author  to  rather  better  feelings  and  far  better 
taste.  This  event  fixed  him  in  the  profession  of  an  advocate 
at  Venice;  whence  he  was  obliged  to  remove  in  order  to  avoid 
the  performance  of  an  inconsiderate  promise  of  marriage.  In 
a short  time  afterward,  we  find  him  secretary  to  a governor  of 
Milan:  but  he  soon  demands  his  discharge,  becomes  a wan- 
derer as  before,  always  happy,  generally  poor,  the  associate 
of  strollers,  of  abbes,  and  of  peasants,  until  he  found  it  safe  to 
return  to  Venice.  To  this  place  he  is  peculiarly  attached: 
* They  sing,’  says  he,  ‘ in  the  squares,  in  the  streets,  and  on 
the  canals.  The  shop-keepers  sing  until  they  sell  their  mer- 
chandise; workmen  sing  on  leaving  their  labour;  and  the  gon- 
doliers sing  while  they  wait  on  their  masters.  The  basis  of 
the  Venetian  character  is  gayety,  and  the  basis  of  the  Vene- 
tian language  is  pleasantry.’  In  this  lively  city,  where  even 
the  saints  are  made  to  lend  their  names  to  the ‘theatres,  he  re- 
presented, with  universal  applause,  his  Belisario,  which  was 
followed  by  several  other  pieces,  of  unequal  merit,  but  of  ge- 
neral success.  ‘ My  language,’  he  says,  ‘ was  not  elegant, 
and  my  versification  never  verged  towards  the  sublime:  but  it 
was  the  better  adapted  to  bring  back  to  reason  a public  which 
had  been  accustomed  to  hyperboles,  antitheses,  and  the  ab- 
surdities of  the  gigantic  and  romantic  style.’  Having  experi- 
enced infidelity  in  the  principal  actress  of  the  theatre,  Goldoni 
avenged  himself  by  representing  the  afi'air  in  his  Don  Juan, 


272 


SELECT  REVIEWS. 


and  complimented  the  lady  and  her  paramour  by  assigning  to 
them,  in  the  piece,  the  exact  characters  which  they  had  play- 
ed in  actual  life. 

At  Genoa,  the  author  gained  a prize  in  the  lottery,  and  an- 
other in  a wife,  who  formed  the  happiness  of  his  existence; 
and  from  this  time  we  cannot  refuse  him  the  merit  of  a com- 
plete reform  in  style  and  character.  His  first  endeavour  was 
to  banish  from  his  stage  those  whimsical  personages,  who  are 
commonly  known  in  the  South  by  the  appellation  of  the  four 
Italian  masks.  The  history  of  their  families  is  curious;  and 
from  their  antiquity  they  had  so  completely  subjected  Italian 
taste  to  their  empire,  that  the  w’hole  peninsula  at  ditierent 
times  revolted  against  the  innovator  who  wished  to  expel  them 
from  the  comic  scene.  Let  us  hear  M.  Goldoni: 

‘ Before  I explain  my  ideas  on  this  subject,  I conceive  that  my 
reader  will  thank  me  for  a short  digression  on  the  origin  and  em- 
ployment of  these  four  masks. 

‘ Comedy,  which  has  at  all  times  been  the  favourite  spectacle  of 
civilized  nations,  had  shared  the  fate  of  the  arts  and  sciences,  and 
been  swallowed  up  in  the  ruin  of  empires  and  the  decline  of  let- 
ters: but  the  germ  of  comedy  was  never  quite  extinct  in  the  fertile 
imagination  of  the  Italians.  The  first  who  laboured  to  revive  it, 
being  disappointed,  during  a dark  age,  in  skilful  writers,  had  the 
boldness  to  compose  plans,  to  divide  them  into  acts  and  scenes, 
and  to  utter  as  impromptus,  conversations,  thoughts,  and  pleasan- 
tries which  were  previously  concerted. 

‘ Those  who  could  read  (and  the  rich  were  not  of  the  number) 
observed  that  the  comedies  of  Plautus  and  Terence  always  con- 
tained fathers  who  were  dupes,  debauched  sons,  amorous  girls, 
lying  valets,  and  corrupt  maid-servants;  and,  traversing  the  diffe- 
rent cantons  of  Italy,  they  took  their  fathers  at  Venice  and  at  Bolog- 
na, their  valets  at  Bergamo,  their  enamoured  youths  and  maids, 
and  their  soubrettcs^  in  the  states  of  Rome  and  Tuscany. 

‘ We  must  not  wait  for  w'ritten  proofs  of  this  reasoning,  because 
we  are  speaking  of  an  age  in  which  writing  was  nearly  unknown, 
but  I prove  my  assertion  in  this  manner:  The  pantaloon  has  al- 
ways been  Venetian,  the  doctor  a Bolognese,  and  the  harlequin  and 
clown  have*  ever  been  from  Bergamo;  from  these  places,  the  ac- 
tors took  those  comic  characters  which  are  known  to  us  by  the 
name  of  the  four  Italian  masks.  I advance  these  remarks  not  en- 
tirely from  my  own  conception:  I am  in  possession  of  a manuscript 
of  the  fifteenth  century,  in  good  preservation,  bound  in  parchment, 
which  contains  a hundred  and  twenty  subjects  or  canvasses  of 

* These  two  personages  are  exactly  reversed  in  this  country.  The  real  and 
original  Italian  harlequin  is  the  heavy,  and  the  Brighella  the  light  and  active  zani.  , 
The  former  is  attired  in  a dress  of  various  colours,  to  show  his  poverty  and  pro- 
pensity to  stealing. — Rev. 


THE  ROUND  TABLE. 


281 


of  the  splendid  shadows  that  surround  them,  and  wedded  to  the 
very  mockeries  of  opinion. 

Whatever  is  our  situation  or  pursuit  in  life,  the  result  will 
be  much  the  same.  The  strength  of  the  passion  seldom  cor- 
responds with  the  pleasure  we  find  in  its  indulgence.  The 
miser  ‘‘  robs  himself  to  increase  his  store;”  the  ambitious  man 
toils  up  a slippery  precipice  only  to  be  tumbled  headlong  from 
its  height:  the  lover  is  infatuated  with  the  charms  of  his  mis- 
tress, exactly  in  proportion  to  the  mortification  he  has  receiv- 
ed from  her.  Even  those  w^ho  succeed  in  nothing,  who,  as  it 
has  been  emphatically  expressed — 

“ Are  made  desperate  by  too  quick  a «ense 

Of  constant  infelicity;  cut  off 
“ Fi’om  peace  like  exiles,  on  some  barren  rock, 

“ Their  life’s  sad  prison  with  no  more  of  ease, 

“ Than  sentinels  between  two  armies  set,” — 

are  yet  as  unwilling  as  others  to  give  over  the  unprofitable 
strife:  their  harassed  feverish  existence  refuses  rest,  and  frets 
the  languor  of  exhausted  hope  into  the  torture  of  unavailing 
regret.  The  exile,  who  has  been  unexpectedly  restored  to  his 
country  and  to  liberty,  often  finds  his  courage  fail  with  the  ac- 
complishment of  all  his  wishes,  and  the  struggle  of  life  and 
hope  ceases  at  the  same  instant. 

We  once  more  repeat,  that  w’e  do  not,  in  the  foregoing  re- 
marks, mean  to  enter  into  a comparative  estimate  of  the  value 
of  human  life,  but  merely  to  show,  that  the  strength  of  our  at- 
tachment to  it  is  a very  f^lacious  test  of  its  happiness. 

No.  4.  Sunday,  January  22,  1815. 

— — — — Sociali  foedere  mensa. — Milton. 

A Table  in  a social  compact  joined. 

As  we  have  announced  our  intention  of  occasionally  speak- 
ing in  the  first  person  singular  as  w^ell  as  plural,  and  at  the 
same  time  have  not  assumed  any  fictitious  characters,  there 
will  be  some  readers,  we  are  afraid,  who,  notwithstanding  the 
numerous  and  evident  claims  we  possess  upon  the  public  at- 
tention, and  even  the  didactic  infirmities  which  we  have  ac- 
knowledged, may  not  always  chuse  to  recognise  our  right  of 
instructing  them,  much  less  of  alluding  to  any  feelings  or  ex- 
periences of  our  own.  Even  our  illustrious  predecessors,  the 
Taller  and  Spectator^  had  great  difficulty  in  carrying  their  pre- 
tensions on  this  score,  though  agreeably  to  the  characters  they 
had  assumed,  they  seldom  thought  fit  to  allude  to  them.  It 

VOL.  VII.  36 


282 


MISCELLANEOUS  SELECTIONS^ 


was  soon  discovered  that  old  Isaac  Bickerstaff,  the  Tatler,  in 
Shire-lane,  was  a jovial  young  fellow  about  Saint  James’s,  no 
better,  of  course,  than  any  one  else, — and  that  the  silent,  short- 
visaged  personage,  who  described  himself  as  a philosophic 
Spectator,  was  the  same  identical  person  a little  older,  who 
would  talk  away  till  one  or  two  o’clock  in  the  morning,  and 
was  sometimes  as  short  of  cash  as  he  was  of  countenance. 
With  some,  no  doubt,  the  secret  may  have  been  of  no  disser- 
vice to  this  eminent  instructor;  the  being  one  of  themselves 
met  with  nothing  at  the  bottom  of  their  hearts  to  render  them 
impatient  of  hearing  him;  it  was  an  assurance  to  them,  per- 
haps, that  if  he  could  detect  their  infirmities,  he  could  also 
feel  for  them;— but  not  so  with  others.  Among  his  numerous 
assailants,  now  forgotten,  there  was  one,  we  remember,  who 
seemed  to  take  it  particularly  ill  that  he  had  now  and  then  a 
jerk  in  his  walk,  and  a trick  of  driving  his  cane  at  the  pave- 
ment. How  such  a pedestrian,  who  had  nothing  remarkable 
about  his  general  appearance,  and  who  was,  in  fact,  nobody 
but  sir  Richard  Steele, — ^a  sort  of  pleasant  fellow^  enough, — 
could  think  of  setting  up  to  instruct  mankind,  and  of  saying, 
“ I think,”  or  ‘‘  in  my  opinion,”  or  “ I remember  once,” — 
•w^as  to  this  modest  and  indignant  gentleman  inconceivable. 

This  man  was  not  aware  that  he  was  the  egotist  for  having 
his  self-love  so  annoyed;  while  sir  Richard,  who  delivered, 
with  a cordial  and  unaftected  confidence,  his  thoughts  and 
feelings  as  they  arose,  was  in  reality  one  of  the  humblest  of 
Self-inspectors,  and  often  sat  to  himself  for  the  weaknesses 
which  he  painted. 

There  is,  in  fact,  no  commoner  mistake  than  this  one  about 
egotism,  and  none  which  stiffens  and  encrusts  people  more 
against  the  genial  reception  of  knowdedge. 

We  are  no  advocates  for  a man’s  talking  of  himself  out  of 
all  season  and  measure;  it  is,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  a mark  of 
bad  taste,  and  a want  of  reasonable  consideration  for  others; 
though  even  in  this  respect,  the  talent  and  disposition  of  the 
person  make  a great  deal  of  difference;  and  no  reader  of  pro- 
per spirit  -would  think  of  bringing  the  solid  and  generous  Mon- 
taigne to  the  same  account  as  a pretender  like  Boswell. 

But  among  the  idle  sophistications  and  levellings  which 
people,  in  certain  stages  of  society,  are  apt  to  practice  upon 
each  other,  there  is  nothing  that  more  betrays  a general  sore- 
ness of  self-love,  and  a w-^ant  of  all  proper  simplicity,  than  this 
extreme  horror  of  seeing  a man  break  in  upon  the  jealous  re- 
serve of  the  majority.  They  attribute  it  to  a w^ant  of  modes- 
ty in  him:  but  people  are  not  apt  to  take  so  much  interest  in 


I'OETKY. 


S87 


Columbia^  my  country!  whose  generous  blood 
Controll’d  the  strong  surges  of  tyranny’s  flood> 

When  England  was  mistress  of  ocean’s  domain — 

How  long  shall  thy  sons  in  vile  bondage  complain? 

The  dawn  through  my  grates  the  thick  darkness  dissolves^ 

And  again  the  huge  bolt  of  my  dungeon  revolves; 

That  monster’s  dread  step  is  a prelude  to  pains, 

When  the  lash  that  he  bears  will  drink  blood  from  my  veins. 

Hark!  what  notes  of  sweet  music!  they  thrill  through  my  soul; 
Columbia’s  own  strain  is  that  soft  melting  roll! 

Gracious  Heav’n!  my  dear  countrymen  once  more  I view. 

Hail  Liberty’s  banner!  ye  base  tyrants  adieu. 

My  wrongs  are  all  cancelled — your  shore  is  receding^ 

My  country  has  freed  me,  my  heart  has  ceas’d  bleeding; 

In  the  arms  of  affection  I soon  shall  be  bless’d. 

And  my  dust  with  the  dust  of  my  fathers  shall  rest. 

T).B. 


DOMESTIC  LITERATURE. 


^ selection  of  all  the  laws  of  the  United  States  now  in  force,  relative  t,b 
commercial  subjects.  By  John  Brice,  deputy  collector  of  the  port  of  Baltimore’. 
Neal,  Wills  and  Cole.  1814. 

The  officers  of  the  customs,  merchants,  masters  of  vessels,  and  others  whose 
duty  or  interest  it  may  be  to  become  acquainted  with  our  commercial  regulations, 
will  find  in  this  one  volume  all  the  commercial  laws,  described  in  the  title-page, 
for  which,  without  the  aid  of  this  compilation,  they  might  have  to  seek  through 
the  several  volumes  in  which  the  laws  of  the  United  States  are  printed. 

Clan-AUnn:  a national  tale.  London  printed.  Philadelphia  republished. 
Earle. 

The  principal  charm  of  this  novel  is  in  the  view  it  presents  of  the  state  of 
society  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland;  and  although  it  is  not  equal  to  Waverly  or 
Guy  JMannering  in  the  strong  delineation  of  national  or  individual  character,  it 
will  be  read  with  great  pleasure,  especially  by  the  admirers  of  those  excellent 
works. 

A narrative  of  the  events  which  have  taken  place  in  France  from  the  land- 
ing of  JVapoleon  Bonaparte,  on  the  first  of  March,  1815,  till  the  restoration  of 
JLouis  XVllI.  By  Helen  Maria  Williams.  Philadelphia  republished.  Thomas. 

This  volume  contains  many  interesting  anecdotes,  relative  to  the  extraor- 
dinary occurrenoes  it  describes,  which  were  never  before,  we  believe,  comrau- 
aieated  to  the  public. 

The  literature  of  America  appears  to  be  regarded  in  England  with  increas- 
ing attention.  Mr.  John  Souter,  bookseller  of  London,  and  publisher  of  the 
Monthly  Magazine,  the  Medical  and  f*hysical  Journal,  &c  has  announced  his 
intention  to  become'  an  agent  for  the  sale  of  Arqeriean  publications. 


FOREIGN  LITERATURE  AND  SCIENCE. 


From  late  British  Publications. 

J\Iaps  of  the  Danish  Islands. — The  Danish  engraver  Bagoe  has  lately 
Hnished  an  excellent  general  map  of  the  island  of  Zealand:  it  has  met  with  the 
approbation  of  the  Society  of  Sciences  at  Copenhagen,  which  has  testified  its  sa- 
tisfaction by  presenting  him  with  the  sum  of  three  hundred  crowns  by  way  of 
encouragement. 

The  engraver  Angelo  was  busily  employed  in  finishing  a general  map  of 
Northern  Jutland.  It  may  be  expected  that  emulation  will  produce  the  most 
favourable  effects  on  this  production  of  tlie  art. 

The  mechanician  Baumann  has  sent  to  the  Society  of  Copenhagen,  a new 
Instrument  for  Levellings  the  tube  of  which  is  placed  on  a plate  that  floajts  on 
mercury. 

Literary  intercourse  projected. — M.  K.  Haest,  author  of  the  Northern  Spec- 
tator, proposes  to  establish  a fair  for  books,  for  Denmark,  Norway  and  Sweden, 
in  the  town  of  Gottenburgh,  to  which  the  booksellers  of  the  three  countries 
might  resort  once  a year,  for  the  purpose  of  exchanging  each  other’s  publications, 
and  of  facilitating  literary  intercourse  between  Sweden  and  Denmark.  Whether 
any  political  motives  arising  from  the  separation  of  Norway  from  Denmark 
might  render  this  plan  abortive,  must  be  left  to  the  decision  of  events. 

Js/'ev)  Jlrrangement  of  Botany. — M.  L Lefebure  is  publishing  at  Paris,  in 
parts,  a new  system  of  botany,  w hich  he  calls  Systeme  signalementaire.  He  has 
taken  for  the  principal  bases  or  elements  of  his  system,  the  leaves  of  plants. 
The  leaves,  attached  one  to  one,  two  to  two,  three  to  three,  form  the  first,  se- 
cond, and  third  classes;  these  leaves,  placed  either  on  a herbaceous  stem,  or  on 
a woody  stem,  or  at  the  foot  of  a herbaceous  stem,  form  the  three  orders;  twelve 
families  borrowed  from  the  twenty -two  classes  of  T ournefort,  complete  the  sub- 
divisions of  the  general  arrangement;  in  which  each  genus  takes  its  proper  place 
according  to  an  analogy  which  distinguishes  the  author’s  system  from  any  here- 
tofore projected.  Whether  this  work  deserves  the  encomiums  lavished  on  it,  as 
possessing  principles  eminently  pi'oper  to  dissipate  the  difficulties  of  botany,  we 
cannot  determine.  It  may  certainly  contribute  to  arrange  those  vegetables  to 
which  nature  has  given  leaves,  steins,  and  flowers.  These  are  an  important  and 
extensive  department  of  the  vegetable  kingdom,  and  we  concur  in  recommending 
the  thought  to  the  attention  of  the  learned  and  studious. 

On  the  organization  of  Plants. — In  1812,  the  Teylerian  Society  of  Haer- 
lem,  proposed  the  follow  ing  question:  To  endeavour  to  determine  by  means  of 

recent  observations,  as  well  as  by  comparison  of  those  formerly  made,  those  facts 
which  are  incontestible,  in  respect  to  what  has  been  advanced  on  the  organization 
of  plants;  especially  on  the  structure,  the  difference,  and  the  functions  of  their 
tubes  or  vessels;  at  the  same  time  indicating  with  precision,  what  is  indeterminate 
or  doubtful  in  our  present  knowledge;  and  what  proceedings  may  be  proper  to 
be  had  to  obtain  satisfactory  information  on  these  subjects.”  This  question  has 
produced  a JMemoirCs  &cc.  on  the  organization  of  plants:  a work  crowned  by  the 
Teylerian  Society.  By  D.  G.  Kieser.  1 vol.  4to.  pp.  345.  Haerlem. 


ANALECTIC  MAGAZINE, 

AND 

NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


APRIL,  1816. 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


{From  the  British  JVaval  Chronicle.') 

An  article,  the  first  part  of  which  the  reader  will  find 
below,  has  lately  made  its  appearance  in  the  British  Naval 
Chronicle.  It  appears  to  contain  all  that  has  hitherto  been 
urged,  as  well  as  every  thing  that  can  be  urged  in  extenuation 
of  the  numerous  disasters  of  England  during  the  last  war,  on 
the  ocean  and  the  lakes,  together  with  a garnishing  of  inven- 
tion, sneering,  and  sarcasm.  We  have  all  heard  these  excu- 
ses before,  but  there  are  some  admissions  made  by  this  “ Bri- 
tish Naval  Officer”  in  his  zeal  to  account  for  the  almost  miracu- 
lous disparity  of  loss  in  these  actions,  which  cannot  be  ac- 
counted for  by  the  mere  disparity  of  force,  which  we  consider 
as  decisive  of  the  question  of  superiority.  We  mean  there- 
fore to  give  the  whole  of  it  to  our  readers  in  our  subsequent 
numbers,  together  with  some  accompanying  remarks,  in  order 
that  a fair  judgment  may  be  formed.  We  have  preferred  giving 
voL.  VII.  . 37 


290 


NAVAL  CHRONlCLi;. 


the  “ Synopsis”  entire,  rather  than  quote*  extracts  from  it, 

‘ not  only  because  we  considered  it  the  fairest  way,  but  for  the 
reason  that  if  on  any  occasion  we  deviated  into  severity  of 
remark,  our  readers  might  refer  to  that  article  for  our  justih- 
catioij. 

A SYNIOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS  BETWEEN  THE  SHIPS  OF  HIS  BRI- 
TANNIC MAJESTY  AND  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  DURING  THE 
LATE  WAR. BY  A BRITISH  NAVAL  OFFICER  ON  THE  AMERI- 

CAN STATION. 

Mr.  Editor, 

“ Permit  me  to  present  you  a history  of  the  encounters  of 
British  with  American  public  and  private  armed  ships;  it  was  my 
intention  to  narrate  such  losses  of  national  ships  only  as  were,  or 
by  the  rules  of  our  service  should  have  been  preceded  by  resist- 
ance, however  slight  or  unavailing.  I have  since  determined  to 
include  all  losses  of  regular  men-of-war  sustained  by  either  nation 
through  the  other’s  means;  also  casual  meetings  of  the  respective 
national  vessels,  in  which  the  stronger  force  not  merely  declined 
engaging,  but  ran  away  from  an  enemy  often  more  daring  than 
discreet. 

American  accounts  of  all  these  matters  are  drawn  up  not 
more  to  animate  the  citizens,  than  to  acquire  a name  among  the 
nations  of  Europe  at  our  expense.  In  these  metaphysical  pro- 
ductions truth  is  never  an  obstacle.  What  Englishman  can  read 
them  without  feelings  of  indignation? — A former  volume  of  yours 
contains  the  translation  of  a letter  from  the  captain  of  Le  Gene- 
reaux,  74  to  the  French  government,  detailing  his  capture  of  the 
Leander  fifty-gun  ship.  That,  except  for  its  brevity,  affords  a 
tolerable  specimen  of  the  official  correspondence  of  American 
naval  commanders.  The  latter  have  an  advantage  however,  in 
the  talents  of  their  numerous  commentators  for  drawing  inferen- 
ces and  explaining  ambiguities  to  suit  the  wishes  of  the  writer 
and  the  taste  of  the  public. 

Much  has  been  said  both  in  public  and  private  about  the  cap.- 
ture  of  so  many  of  our  national  vessels  by  the  Americans.  On  our 
side  bewailings  and  excuses — on  the  enemy’s  exaggerations  and 
boastings  have  been  invariably  resorted  to;  but  no  where  can  wc 
find  a fair  statement  of  the  force  engaged  in  the  different  actions. 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


291 


“ British  accounts  of  actions  are  sometimes  faulty,  but  rather 
fdr  want  of  minuteness  than  for  studied  misrepresentation.  Our 
credit  has  suffered  more  by  painters  and  journalists  than  by  the 
official  statements  of  British  officers.  A handsome  engraving  of 
the  action  between  the  Shannon  and  Chesapeake  is  turned  from 
with  disgust  by  those  acquainted  with  the  real  force  of  the  ships. 
The  enemy  shows  fifteen  guns  of  a side  on  her  main-deck,  when 
she  had  only  fourteen,  her  bridal-port  being  as  usual  vacant. 
Should  that  pass  unobserved  he  that  can  read  is  at  once  informed 
below,  that  the  Chesapeake  mounted  forty-nine,  the  Shannon 
thirty-eight  guns,  l^ither  the  actual  mounting  or  the  rate  of  both 
ships  should  be  given,  not  the  mounting  of  one  and  the  rate  of 
the  other.  This  lays  us  open  to  an  enemy  who,  we  should  recol- 
lect, speaks  our  own  language,  and  can  therefore  recriminate  with 
double  effect.  Besides,  did  the  Shannon’s  action  need  any  em- 
bellishment? 

“ The  period  elapsed  since  most  of  the  battles  were  fought, 
has  brought  to  light  many  particulars  respecting  the  armament  of 
the  American  ships  that  were  at  first  (for  purposes  pf  exultation 
no  doubt)  industriously  concealed.  Of  these  I shall  take  advan- 
tage, and  any  remaining  point  of  difference  between  British  and 
American  statements  I shall  endeavour  to  reconcile. 

“ One  reason  for  deferring  this  publication  to  so  late  a period 
is  not  only  to  collect  all  the  necessary  facts,  but  to  obtain  a view 
of  the  adverse  statement  of  each  action,  hoping  by  that  means  to 
present  the  world  with  a fair  and  impartial  summary  of  naval  oc- 
currences between  us  and  America  during  the  late  war,  and  which 
may  help  to  detect  and  refute  some  at  least  of  the  numerous 
falsehoods  hitherto  so  undeviating  a feature  in  the  maritime  re- 
cords of  the  latter  power. 

“ It  is  now  fully  ascertained  that  the  American  forty-fours  are 
in  length  equal  to  our  first  class  seventy-fours,  and  built  with 
similar  scantling,  having  their  sides  both  above  and  below  at  least 
a fourth  thicker  than  our  heaviest  frigates.  They  have  two  en- 
tire decks,  and  carry  their  lower  deck  battery  equally  high  and 
commanding  with  the  new  razees.  When  government  resolved 
to  have  ships  able  to  meet  frigates  like  these  on  equal  terms,  they 
should  have  fitted  out  razees  with  twenty-four  pounders  ©n 


295 


^AVAL  chronicle; 


lower  deck— reserving  at  the  same  time  a few  ships  armed  like  thp 
Majestic  and  Saturn  (with  long  32*s)  to  cope  with  the  new* 
thirty-two  pounder  frigates  now  fitting  for  sea  in  Philadelphia 
and  Baltimore.  Ships  of  the  former  kind,  well  manned  and  ap- 
pointed, would  be  far  more  likely  to  succeed  in  a long  close  action 
with  the  American  forty-fours  than  the  slight  built  fir  fiftys. 

‘‘  The  Americans  were  many  years  ago  fully  sensible  of  the 
advantages  to  be  derived  from  having  their  ships  of  war  of  far 
greater  force  than  their  rate  implied,  and  the  measure  was  deliber- 
ately considered  and  resolved  on  by  the  government. 

<<  How  far  the  imposition  thus  solemnly  resolved  upon,  when 
afterwards  carried  into  effect,  benelitted  this  cunning  people,  is 
now  but  too  well  known. 

« The  capture  of  our  packets  or  of  the  enemy’s  revenue-cut- 
ters and  gun-boats  will  be  excluded  from  the  plan — although  up- 
wards of  twenty  of  the  latter  have  been  taken  or  destroyed,  and 
the  former,  by  the  unparalleled  defences  they  have  made,  rank 
high  in  the  annals  of  fame.  Our  first  loss  to  the  Americans  was 
the  Whiting  schooner  of  four  guns.  She  was  taken  at  anchor  in 
the  American  waters,  ignoi’ant  of  the  war.  The  next  was  the  Alert 
of  sixteen  guns  and  eighty-four  men.  She  ran  down  upon  and 
engaged  for  several  minutes  the  Essex,  captain  Porter,  of  nearly 
four  times  her  force.  Even  rashness  like  this  is  preferable  to  a 
surrender  like  that  of  the  Frolick  to  the  Orpheus  and  Shelburne. 

“ When  the  American  squadron  first  proceeded  to  sea  at  the 
commencement  of  the  war,  their  men  were  thoroughly  drilled  at 
the  guns,  and  the  several  situations  of  boatswain,  gunner,  cap- 
tains of  the  guns,  &c.  on  board  every  ship,  were  principally  filled 
by  British  seamen. 

“ At  this  period  our  half-manned  ships,  having  no  enemy  to 
dread,  (French  ships  being  seldom  out)  were  carelessly  cruising 
about  in  every  sea.  Thus  was  met  by  the  American  ship  Consti- 
tution, on  the.  19th  of  August,  1812,  the  frigate  Guerrierc,  return- 
ing into  port  with  sprung  masts  after  a long  cruise.  A long  ac- 
tion ensued  and  the  latter  was  taken  and  burnt. 

« The  American  captain  in  his  official  letter  omitted  to  men- 
tion the  force  of  his  prize  either  in  guns  op  men.  The  former  I 
have  obtained  from  an  officer  that  belonged  to  her,  and  the  latter 


SyNOPSlS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


293 


from  captain  Dacres’  official  account  of  the  action.  To  show  the^ 
relative  force  of  each  ship  engaged  in  the  different  actions  as  we 
proceed,  I shall  present  the  broadside  weight  of  metal  only,  and 
where  a shifting  gun  is  on  board  I shall  add  that  to  it.  The  Guer- 
riere  had  a gun  in  every  port  on  her  main  deck,  including  the  bri- 
dle one,  but  it  was  only  to  bring  her  by  the  head,  which  was  her 
trim  of  sailing,  and  such  bow-gun  could  not  be  used  in  the  broad- 
side, therefore  will  be  excluded  from  the  calculation. 

‘‘  The  force  of  the  Constitution  in  guns  as  given  below,  is  ta- 
ken from  an  American  statement  subsequently  extorted  from 
them,  and  agrees  within  six  pounds  with  that  published  in  captain 
Dacres’  letter  to  the  admiralty.  The  following  then  is  an  esti- 
mate of  the  force  engaged  in  that  action. 


Guerriere. 

(Rating  38,  mounting  48  guns.) 

Broadside. 


Qr.  deck  & 7 t 9R»  do.  9 

forecastle,  3 8 321b  carronades  256 

517 


Constitution. 

(Rating  44,  mounting  56  guns.) 
Broadside. 


guns. 

Men  (19  boys  included) 
Measurement, 


263 


Lower  deck  15^241b  long  guns 

360lli3. 

Upper  or  7 1 do.  do. 

24 

spar  do.  3 12  321b  carronades. 

384 

768 

With  howitzers  in  all  the  tops,  and 

some  boat  guns. 

Men  “ all  picked.” 

476 

1630  tons. 


1084  tons.  Measurement  (English) 

Superiority  on  the  American  side. 

In  weight  of  metal  as — -three  to  two. 

In  number  of  men  as — nine  to  five. 

In  size  of  vessel  as — three  to  two. 

“ With  such  disparity  of  force  no  one  can  be  surprised  at  the 
result  of  this  action.  But  certainly  had  the  Guerriere’s  men  been 
half  as  well  skilled  in  the  use  of  the  great  guns  as  the  Constitu- 
tion’s were,  the  proportion  of  killed  and  wounded  would  not  have 
been  so  great  as  fourteen  to  seventy -eight,  nor  one  ship  made  a 
complete  wreck  of,  while  the  other  suffered  no  material  injury  in 
hull  or  rigging.  These  are  lamentable  truths  that  betrayed  a 
laxity  of  discipline  on  board  our  ships,  and  which  in  the  course 
of  time  would  have  ruined  our  navy.  Thanks  to  the  war  with 
ATnerica,  so  fatal  a catastrophe  is  not  now  likely  to  happen  again.’^ 


^^94 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


A Cursory  Examination  of^^A  Synopsis  of  Naval  Actions  hc‘ 
tween  the  Ships  of  his  Britannic  Majesty  and  of  the  United 
States,  during  the  Late  War,  By  a British  Naval  Officer 
on  the  American  Station,^"^  / 

The  time  is  not  very  remote,  when  there  was  nothing  the 
people  of  America  believed  more  implicitly  than  the  accounts 
of  British  victories  published  in  England,  and  re-published  in 
the  United  States.  The  royal  gazettes  were  our  political 
scriptures,  and  the  falsehood  of  a French  bulletin,  and  the 
truth  of  a British  official  account,  were  equally  matters  of  im- 
plicit faith.  Of  late  years,  however,  this  faith  is  somewhat 
shaken,  and  a man  may  now  doubt  the  veracity  of  English 
newspapers,  and  English  statements,  without  being  persecuted 
as  a nonconformist,  or  burned  as  a heretic.  We  have  uni- 
formly observed,  that  these  newspapers,  and  statements,  and 
official  accounts,  have  been  not  only  different  from  our  own,' 
but  in  direct  contradiction  to  those  of  every  other  nation. 
There  must  be  a vast  difference  in  the  character  of  witnesses, 
if  the  testimony  of  one  is  to  weigh  against  that  of  many,  inas- 
much as  it  is  much  more  probable  that  one  should^  be  either 
mistaken,  or  suborned,  than  that  several  should  be  so.  It  is., 
we  think,  much  more  likely  that  a man  who  is  always  contra- 
dicting every  body  should  be  generally  WTong,  than  that  every 
body  else  should  be  uniformly  mistaken.  Ever  since  the  com- 
mencement of  the  wmr  in  1812,  thousands  of  mistatements  and 
misrepresentations  have  been  ushered  into  the  world  under 
the  sanction  of  British  veracity;  denials  of  notorious  facts  and 
assumptions  of  notorious  falsehoods  have  been  so  common,  that 
we  even  begin  to  doubt  the  truth  of  their  historical  achieve- 
ments. Setting  aside  the  battles  of  Cressy  and  Agincourt,  which 
nothing  but  an  established  character  for  veracity,  and  the  re- 
cent example  of  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  can  render  proba- 
ble, it  begins  now  to  be  shrewdly  suspected,  that  the  victories 
of  Howe  and  Duncan,  as  well  as  those  of  the  amorous  Nelson, 
have  been  recorded  a little  too  much  in  the  spirit  of  English. 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 

hyperbole.  It  is  now  indeed  a notorious  fact,  that  during  the 
battle  of  Trafalgar  at  least  one  third  of  the  Spanish  sailors,  as 
they  were  called,  were  sea-sick,  and  that  far  the  greater  pro- 
portion of  the  whole  were  mere  city  vagabonds,  impressed 
upon  the  spur  of  the  occasion,  without  inquiring  whether  they 
had  ever  been  at  sea  or  not.  So  much  indeed  has  a belief  in 
the  prow^ess  of  the  British  navy  fallen  in  the  United  States, 
since  the  last  war,  that  the  British  Naval  Chronicle,  which 
formerly  sold  at  six  or  seven  dollars  a volume,  has  been  lately 
purchased  at  less  than  seventy-five  cents.  This  marks  a fear- 
ful declension  in  the  price  of  romances^  and  I doubt  not  but  it 
will  be  urged  against  us  as  a proof  of  our  want  of  taste  in  po- 
lite literature. 

Such  being  the  state  of  the  public  mind,  we  are  encou- 
raged to  attempt  a reply  to  the  article  of  which  the  first  num- 
ber is  here  presented  to  the  reader,  that  he  may  see  both 
sides  of  the  question  and  judge  accordingly.  It  is  possible, 
too,  that  in  the  course  of  our  examination,  we  may  be  tempted 
to  use  somt;  little  asperity,  and  we  wish  the  reader  to  see  that 
it  is  not  entirely  unprovoked.  Most  of  the  statements,  rea- 
sonings, and  assertions  in  the  Synopsis,  have  already  been 
published  separately,  and  separately  refuted  before.  But  they 
are  here  collected  in  one  mighty  mass,  and  every  defeat  pal- 
liated and  excused  with  every  exertion  of  the  writer’s  art  and 
ingenuity.  We  presume  that  this  then  is  intended  as  England’s 
apology  for  her  defeats  at  sea,  and  that  all  the  force  of  her  advo- 
cate and  apologist  has  been  put  in  requisition  to  make  the  apo- 
logy as  satisfactory  as  possible.  Such  being  our  ideas,  we  will 
bestow  some  little  attention  to  ihxs  Synopsis^  which  is  in  reali- 
ty but  an  indifferent  production,  marked  with  a deal  of  pert- 
ness,  disingenuousness,  and  misrepresentation.  As  the  best 
that  England  can  do  in  this  way — as  a production  coming 
abroad  under  the  sanction  of  the  admiralty,  we  are  inclined 
to  treat  it  with  more  respect,  at  least  with  more  attention,  than 
its  intrinsic  merits  deserve. 


296 


NAVAL  CHRONiCLL. 


The  naval  officer  on  the  American  station”  sets  out  with 
the  assertion  of  the  fact,  that  in  every  action  that  occurred 
during  the  last  war,  the  superiority  either  in  men,  guns  or 
ships,  was  on  the  side  of  the  Americans.  Our  ships  are  al! 
great  seventy-fours;  almost  as  large  as  Ptolemy’s  great  gal- 
ley— our  guns  throw  twice  or  thrice  as  many  pounds  of  ball, 
at  a broadside;  and  our  men  are  not  only  much  more  numer- 
ous, but  much  taller,  stronger,  braver,  more  active,  dexterous 
and  powerful  than  the  poor  little  beef-eating  jack  tars  of  Old 
England.  The  “ British  naval  officer,”  doubtless  intending 
that  his  work  should  be  a romance,  has  thus  set  out  in  the 
genuine  track  of  the  writers  of  sir  Tristan,  Don  Belianis,  and 
the  peers  of  Charlemagne,  whose  heroes  never  yielded  to 
any  thing  less  than  a misbegotten  giant,  a magic  sword,  or 
an  odds  of  at  least  fifty  to  one.  This  is  the  true  language  of 
fable,  and  no  doubt  the  admiralty  selected  for  its  defender 
one  of  the  writers  most  learned  in  the  romances  of  the  middle 
ages.  Such  a wTiter  was  well  calculated  to  make  the  best  of 
a bad  bargain,  for  though  he  could  not  actually  gain  a victo- 
ry over  us,  he  could  tell  exactly  why  we  ought  to  have  been 
victorious,  and  it  is  always  a marvelous  consolation  to  know 
the  reason  of  any  thing.  The  ingenuity  of  the  English  has 
been  exhausted  to  find  excuses  during  the  last  war,  and  had 
their  officers  and  sailors  been  half  as  zealous  in  defending 
the  honour  of  their  flag,  as  their  writers,  these  last  had  not 
been  put  to  such  straits  for  excuses,  devices,  and  inventions. 

One  of  the  arts  resorted  to  in  England,  for  many  years 
past,  in  all  the  official  statements,  as  well  as  in  that  romantic 
fiction,  “ Steele’s  List,”  has  been,  and  still  is,  that  of  stating 
the  whole  number  of  guns,  of  a captured  ship,  and  only  the 
number  at  which  the  vessel  capturing  was  rated,  thus  always 
making  it  appear  that  they  had  conquered  a superior  enemy. 
But  the  moment  the  captured  vessel  is  put  on  Steele’s  List,  as 
a government  ship,  you  will  find  her  frequently  rated  below  the 
vessel  by  which  she  was  taken.  The  Guerriere  at  the  time 
of  her  capture  from  the  French  was  called  a large  forty- 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


297 


four,  but  in  Steele’s  List,  we  find  her  transformed  into  a thir- 
ty-eight: nay,  even  the  candid  author  of  the  Synopsis,  notwith- 
standing his  affecting  lamentations  on  account  of  the  national 
credit  being  injured  by  painters  and  journalists,  himself  adopts 
this  very  practice,  with  an  easy  effrontery  that  would  sur- 
prise us  in  a writer  of  any  other  nation.  So  far,  however, 
from  agreeing  with  him,  that  the  reputation  of  the  English 
navy  has  been  tarnished  by  the  painters  and  journalists,  we 
are  of  opinion  that  it  is  principally  owing  to  the  exertions  of 
these  worthy  gentlemen  that  it  has  now  any  reputation  at  all. 
Were  it  not  for  the  fine  pictures  of  the  one,  and  the  fine  sto- 
ries of  the  other,  it  would  hardly  now  be  believed  that  the 
navy  of  England  was  once  mistress  of  the  ocean — that  “ the 
rolling  sea  was  Britain’s  wide  domain” — or  that  old  Nep- 
tune w'as  once  absolutely  henpecked  by  Britannia.  The  ob- 
servation, however,  which  the  “ British  officer  on  the  Ameri- 
can station”  has  coupled  with  his  charge  against  the  painters 
and  journalists,  is  not  only  just,  but  it  betrays  a curious  secret, 
as  wrell  as  a very  diverting  perplexity.  It  seems  he  is  wil- 
ling that  these  patriotic  rogues  should  continue  this  practice  of 
overrating  the  force  of  an  enemy,  and  diminishing  their  own, 
in  respect  to  the  French  and  Spaniards,  because  they  dont 
understand  English — and  therefore  cant  turn  this  falsity 
against  the  inventors — or  if  they  did,  honest  John  Bull  could 
not  understand  them,  and  no  harm  would  be  done.  But — and 

there’s  the  rub” — we  Americans  can  understand  and  read 
English,  though  it  seems  w^e  cant  write  it,  and  consequently 
can  expose  these  unblushing  bravadoes  and  turn  them  back 
upon  their  authors.  This  is  a great  stumbling  block  in  the 
way  of  the  modern  writers  of  British  romances.  We  fear  St. 
George  will  never  kill  another  dragon,  and  are  really  inclin- 
ed to  feel  a little  sympathy  with  the  poor  ‘‘  British  officer  on 
the  American  station.” 

The  writer  of  the  Synopsis  has  placed  the  capture  of  the 
Chesapeake  at  the  head  of  his  list,  although  it  did  not  occur 
until  long  after  several  other  engagements  w-hich  had  a diffier- 

• VOL.  VII. 


298 


naval  chronicle. 


ent  result.  Whether  this  is  to  put  himself  in  spirits  for  his 
herculean  task,  or  merely  to  put  John  Bull  in  a good  humour, 
we  are  unable  to  say.  But  we  cannot  forbear  giving  an  opi- 
nion that  it  is  ill-judged — he  ought  to  have  saved  it  for  a 
Bonne-bouche,  at  the  last,  and  then  his  guests  might  possibly 
have  risen  from  this  feast  of  Polonius,  with  more  satisfaction. 
Although,  by  the  aid  of  a carpenter’s  i*ule  to  measun^ — to- 
gether with  a reasonable  assumption  of  British  ingenuity,  we 
could  very  easily  account  for  the  capture  of  this  vessel,  and 
prove  how  it  ought  and  should  have  happened;  yet,  to  make 
short  work  of  it,  we  will  give  the  British  officer  the  Chesa- 
peake and  let  him  make  the  most  of  her.  She  was  always 
considered  an  unfortunate  ship,  and  every  one  knows  the  in- 
fluence of  such  an  impression  on  the  mind  of  a sailor.  But 
we  admit  that  the  Chesapeake  was  taken  by  an  equal  enemy, 
and  further  that  this  exploit  requires  no  further  embellish- 
ment. It  certainly  has  been  already  sufficiently  embellished, 
by  the  painters  and  journalists,  heretofore  denounced  by 
the  British  officer;  the  gentlemen  of  Suffolk  have  presented 
captain  Broke  with  a piece  of  plate,  and  compared  him  to 
lord  Wellington — and  his  royal  master  has  embellished  his 
merit  with  the  order  of  knighthood — assuredly  then  this  ex- 
ploit requires  no  further  embellishment,  and  if  it  did  we  might 
find  it  in  captain  Broke’s  official  letter,  wherein  he  assures 
Mr.  Croker  that  “ both  ships  came  out  of  the  action  as  if  they 
had  only  been  firing  salutes.”  We  never  heard  of  such  plea- 
sant salutes  as  these — they  killed  and  wounded  eighty-four 
men  of  the  Shannon,  and  came  very  near  sending  that  vessel 
in  search  of  the  Guerriere  and  Java.  However,  we  give  them 
the  credit  of  this  affair,  as  well  as  that  of  the  Argus,  although 
in  the  former,  the  British  had  five,  and  in  the  latter  three  more 
guns;  and  having  so  done.,  we  require  of  them  equal  candour 
in  their  own  acknowledgments.  It  is  really  paltry  to  deny 
what  all  the  world  knows,  and  we  question  whether  the  repu- 
tation of  England  has  suffered  as  much  even  by  her  defeats, 
as  by  her  disingenuous  and  shuffling  attempts  to  deny  them. 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS# 


299 


For  ourselves,  we  freely  admit  their  claim  to  the  honour  of 
capturing  the  Chesapeake,  and  the  admission  is  no  small 
proof  of  our  magnanimity,  because  it  is  conceding  an  honour 
such  as  they  have  not  been  much  accustomed  to  boast  of  in 
their  contest  with  the  people  of  the  United  States.  It  is  this 
single  solitary  instance  which  is  assumed  by  the  British  officer 
as  the  groundwork,  the  proof  of  a claim  to  superiority  which 
cannot  be  disputed,  although  we  have  sixteen  or  eighteen 
proofs  to  oppose  to  this  modern  miracle. 

Before  the  “ British  officer” — the  unfortunate  British  of- 
ficer, we  might  say — begins  his  examination  of  his  special 
cases,  he  attempts  to  establish  certain  general  facts,  which 
we  will  also  admit  without  hesitation.  He  insists  upon  it  that 
our  ships  are  better  ships — that  they  are  better  manned — and 
that  their  guns  are  better  managed  than  those  of  the  British. 
We  agree  perfectly  with  him  in  all  these  positions,  and  here 
we  might  leave  the  controversy  to  rest.  What  is  it  that  con- 
stitutes the  superiority  which  we  claim,  but  these  things — and 
on  what  other  basis  can  a superiority  on  the  ocean  be  founded? 
We  have  better  ships,  better  men — and  we  fire  better.  Really 
if  we  were  Englishmen,  we  should  not  thank  the  admi- 
ralty for  such  a defence — and  were  we  British  naval  officers, 
we  should  feel  excessively  mortified  at  the  service  to  which 
we  belonged  being  thus  stripped  of  its  laurels  in  this  insidu- 
ous  manner  to  give  them  to  our  adversary. 

But  it  seems  that  the  British  naval  officers  never  before 
discovered  this  superiority  in  our  ships,  and  men,  and  guns, 
and  gunnery.  Both  in  the  ports  of  the  United  States,  and  in 
the  Mediterranean,  during  our  war  with  Tripoli,  they  had  va- 
rious opportunities  to  become  acquainted  with  the  force  and 
armament  of  our  ships.  Several  of  our  frigates  were  at  Gi- 
braltar while  sir  James  Saumarez’  fleet  lay  in  the  bay.  Fre- 
quent visits  w^ere  exchanged  between  our  officers  and  his,  and 
the  latter  had  ample  time  and  opportunity  to  form  a cor- 
rect estimate  of  our  men  and  ships.  It  was  the  same  when 
the  squadron  of  admiral  Keith  lay  there.  Our  frigates  were 


300 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


at  Malta  when  the  expedition  came  from  Egypt,  and  also  when 
the  British  fleet  arrived  from  the  Dardanelles:  so  also  when 
lord  Nelson  assumed  the  command  of  the  fleet  that  afterwards 
gained  the  battle  of  Trafalgar,  as  well  as  when  a Russian  and 
English  combined  fleet  came  to  Syracuse  from  the  Levant, 
destined  to  act  against  Naples,  we  met  them  daily.  In  short, 
in  every  part  of  the  Mediterranean  vessels  of  either  nation 
fell  in  with  each  other  singly,  and  in  squadrons,  and  prompted 
either  by  courtesy  or  curiosity,  the  officers  almost  invariably 
exchanged  visits.  On  these  occasions  they  were  led  through 
every  part  of  the  ship,  and  permitted,  nay  invited,  to  examine 
every  thing,  fbr  it  was  a matter  of  pride  to  show  the  high  or- 
der in  which  the  vessels  of  the  United  States  were  kept. 

Yet,  with  this  intimate  and  perfect  knowledge  of  our  ships 
and  our  men,  the  British  officers  always  gave  the  preference 
to  their  own,  and  their  opinions  gave  rise  to  various  excellent 
jokes  that  w^ere  uttered  in  and  out  of  the  British  parliament  at 
the  commencement  of  the  war;  but  which  gradually  died  away, 
and  are  now  only  remembered  by  those  at  whose  expense  they 
first  came  abroad.  Shortly  before  the  war,  the  Constitution, 
under  captain  Hull,  was  in  an  English  port,  as  was  also  the 
Essex,  captain  Smith:  both  were  thronged  with  British  naval 
officers  during  their  stay;  and  we  well  remember  that  on  her 
departure,  she  was  called  by  these  gentlemen — and  the  phrase 
went  the  rounds  of  the  newspapers  with  great  applause — a 
bunch  of  boards” — a fir  built  ship  with  a bit  of  striped  bunt- 
ing at  her  mast-head!”  No  doubt  captain  Hull  remembered 
these  pleasant  jokes,  in  good  time,'  and  poor  captain  Dacres 
paid  the  piper  for  other  peoples’  dancing. 

Thus  the  matter  stood  when  the  war  began,  and  it  was 
discovered  in  a little  time  by  these  same  sagacious  officers, 
that  this  same  bunch  of  pine  boards”  was  unaccountably 
metamorphosed  into  a seventy-four  in  disguise!  What  excel- 
lent judges  of  ships  of  war  must  these  officers  of  the  royal  na- 
vy be,  who  always  preferred  their  frigates  to  ours,  and  nick- 
named honest  Old  Ironsides  “ a bunch  of  pine  boards!”  We 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


SOI 

hardly  know  which  most  to  admire,  the  pertinacity  with  which 
they  at  first  denied  the  equality  of  our  ships,  or  the  obstinacy 
with  which  they  now  insist  upon  their  superiority.  Your 
new  converts,  however,  are  very  apt  to  go  beyond  the  mark, 
and  so  it  has  fared  with  John  Bull,  who  has  passed  from  a most 
exalted  contempt,  to  a most  degrading  admiration  of  our  prow- 
ess, which  he  demonstrates  every  day  by  abusing  us  manfully, 
calling  us  “ bastards,”  and  devising  very  ingenious  excuses, 
for  what  every  body  but  himself  knows  is  the  consequence  of 
his  own  want  of  skill  and  courage,  and  his  senseless  presump- 
tion of  a superiority,  which,  if  he  ever  possessed,  he  has  lost 
forever. 

It  was  not  until  the  capture  of  the  Guerriere,  by  “ a bunch 
of  pine  boards,” — (poor  John!) — tliat  the  British  naval  offi- 
cers discovered,  to  their  great  astonishment,  no  doubt,  that  the 
American  forty-four-gun  frigates  were  “ in  length  equal  to  our 
first  class  of  seventy-fours,  and  built  with  similar  scantling; 
having  their  sides,  both  above  and  below,  at  least  a fourth 
thicker  than  our  heaviest  frigates:” — so  says  the  British  offi- 
cer on  the  American  station.”  Ye  gods — what  a metamor- 
phosis of  ‘‘  a bunch  of  pine  boards!”  Ovid  de  Tristibus  is  no- 
thing to  John  Bull  de  Tristibus:  but  fear  is  a great  magnifier 
as  well  as  multiplier,  and  doubtless  some  of  these  valiant  offi- 
cers, like  Jack  Falstaff,  multiplied  scantling,”  and  “ length,” 
and  “ guns,”  as  that  valiant  knight  did  his  “ men  in  buckram.” 
There  is  little  doubt  that  Shakspear^  intended  this  fat  knight 
for  the  representative  of  John  Bull,  and  it  must  be  confessed 
that,  with  the  exception  of  his  wit,  there  is  a striking  resem- 
blance. 

Captain  Dacres  had  seen  American  frigates  a hundred  times, 
yet  this  superiority  in  size  and  scantling,  it  seems,  never  struck 
him  until  the  Constitution  gave  him  such  a terrible  drubbing; 
then,  forsooth,  for  the  first  time,  his  perception  was  quickened, 
as  they  quicken  that  of  the  little  boys  at  school — by  the  appli- 
cation of  the  birch.  Before  that,  this  gallant  commander  sport- 
ed the  name  of  his  ship  on  his  top-sails  in  defiance  of  the 


302 


.\AVAL  CHROMCLli. 


“ bunches  of  pine  boards.”  In  the  heyday  of  imaginary  su^ 
periority,  he  endorsed  a formal  challenge  on  the  register  of  a 
merchant  vessel.  Nay,  when  he  saw  the  Constitution  running 
down  to  him,  he  said  to  his  men — ‘‘  there  is  a Yankee  frigate: 
in  forty-five  minutes  she  is  certainly  ours: — take  her  in  fifteen 
and  I promise  you  four  months  pay.”  It  is  also  credibly  re- 
ported that  he  had  prepared  a hogshead  of  molasses  and  water 
to  treat  the  Yankee  prisoners j but  we  will  not  vouch  for  this 
liberality,  since  it  happened  unluckily  for  him  that  he  had  no 
opportunity  of  putting  his  generous  intentions  into  operation. 
Whether  he  would  have  kept  his  promise  to  his  ship's  crew, 
must  also  forever  remain  a matter  of  uncertainty. 

Now  it  came  to  pass  that  after  the  capture  of  the  Guer- 
riere,  the  Macedonian,  the  Java,  and  some  other  of  his  ships, 
John  Bull  called  for  his  two-foot  rule,  and  began  to  measure 
the  length,  and  breadth,  and  thickness  of  his  unfortunate  ves- 
sels, and  found  that  our  frigates  were  a match  for  his  seventy- 
fours,  a discovery  which  delighted  the  people  of  the  United 
States  beyond  measure,  and  gave  the  last  blow  to  their  appre- 
hensions of  the  British  navy.  He  then  got  a nice  pair  of  scales, 
and  putting  on  his  spectacles,  began  to  weigh  some  of  our 
cannon  balls  that  had  stuck  in  his  ribs,  and  to  calculate  the 
weight  of  our  iron  metal,  instead  of  looking  to  another  kind 
of  mettle,  for  the  true  cause  of  his  numerous  and  deplorable 
disasters.  Some  way  or  other,  with  the  aid  of  measuring,  and 
weighing,  and  calculating,  and  putting  on  a little  here,  and 
clipping  away  a little  there,  he  managed  to  make  out  a tolera- 
ble case,  at  least  he  managed  to  put  a good  face  on  the  mat- 
ter, and  having  collected  all  the  force  of  calculation,  misrepre- 
sentation, and  abuse,  he  has  poured  it  upon  our  heads  in  the 
form  of  a synopsis,  the  first  part  of  which  we  have  given  to 
the  readers  in  our  present  number. 

It  will  be  perceived  that  the  “ British  officer  on  the  Ame- 
rican station”  takes  up  and  examines  separately  each  action, 
stating  a sort  of  debtor  and  creditor  account,  and  striking  the 
balance  with  affected  arithmetical  precision.  This  method 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


303 


might  have  had  its  effect  upon  us  some  five  or  six  years  ago, 
when  the  reputation  of  English  official  statements  for  veracity 
stood  somewhat  higher  than  at  present.  At  all  events,  it  is  a 
method  exceedingly  well  calculated  to  deceive,  since  we  in- 
voluntarily pay  a greater  regard  to  these  arithmetical  state- 
ments, without  reflecting  that  a falsehood  may  as  easily  be 
conveyed  in  figures,  as  in  unqualified  assertions.  We  have 
only  to  admit  the  premises  of  the  author  of  the  Synopsis,  which 
are  merely  founded  on  assertion,  so  far  as  they  relate  to  our 
vessels,  and  all  the  rest  follows  of  course.  It  is  only  neces- 
sary, by  this  mode  of  establishing  facts,  to  assert  that  one  ship 
carries  thirty-eight  twenty-fours,  and  another  forty-nine  thir- 
ty-twos; and  this  being  assumed,  the  calculation  of  the  weight 
of  ball  fired  in  every  broadside  respectively  will  be  undenia- 
ble. But  this  is  no  way  of  demonstrating  facts,  for  though  it 
is  permitted  a reasoner  to  prove  the  truth  of  a hypothetical 
axiom  by  the  assumption  of  his  premises,  another  and  a more 
solid  basis  is  necessary  in  establishing  facts. 

A writer  whose  professed  object  was  to  give  “ a fair  and 
impartial  summary  of  naval  occurrences  between  England  and 
America  during  the  late  war,  and  to  detect  and  refute  some  at 
least  of  the  numerous  falsehoods  hitherto  so  undeviating  a fea- 
ture in  the  maritime  records  of  the  latter  power,”  ought  cer- 
tainly to  have  had  the  courtesy  to  inform  us  how  he  came  by 
the  basis  of  these  accounts  current,  wffiich  would  really  do  ho- 
nour to  honest  Thomas  Dil worth  himself.  F or  instance,  it  would 
have  been  just  as  w'ell  to  tell  us  how  it  came  to  be  ‘‘  fully  as- 
certained that  the  American  forty-fours  are  equal  to  our  first 
class  of  seventy-fours” — that  they  have  two  entire  decks,” 
(meaning  gun-decks)  and  carry  their  lower  deck  battery  equal- 
ly high  and  commanding  with  the  new  razees.”  Such  astound- 
ing assertions  ought  to  have  been  well  substantiated  before 
they  were  made  the  foundation  of  a summary,  whose  professed 
object  was  the  refutation  of  falsehood.  In  order,  however,  to  give 
some  colour  to  these  assumptions,  the  admiralty  of  England 
has  cunningly  laid  the  frigate  President  close  alongside  an 

1 


304 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


old  low  seventy-four  at  Plymouth.  The  President  is  lightened 
of  every  thing,  and  the  seventy-four  laden  so  deeply  that  she 
would  not  go  to  sea  in  her  present  trim.  The  consequence  is 
that  the  President  appears  much  higher  out  of  water  than  the 
seventy-four,  and  every  honest  John  Bull  that  comes  down  to 
Plymouth  is  fully  convinced  that  our  frigates  are  in  reality  se- 
venty-fours in  disguise.  It  is  no  small  triumph  to  have  driven 
the  British  government  to  such  miserable  shifts  to  keep  up  the 
credit  of  its  navy  even  among  its  own  ignorant,  vain  glorious 
people,  and  assuredly  the  mere  resort  to  these  petty  arts,  is  a 
better  proof  of  the  superiority  w^e  assume,  than  any  which  has 
yet  been  offered  in  opposition.  England,  that  used  to  depend 
upon  her  ships,  her  sailors,  and  her  guns,  is  now  reduced  to  de- 
pend for  her  naval  reputation  upon  measurements,  calculations, 
excuses,  and  mistatements.  She  is  obliged  to  count  men  and 
guns,  to  measure  keels  and  scantling,  and  to  w'eigh  balls  with 
the  most  minute  precision.  It  was  not  wont  to  be  so  with  John 
Bull,  and  we  cannot  help  thinking  that  if  we  have  gained 
nothing  else  in  the  late  war  this  is  no  small  matter. 

The  first  case  the  writer  mentions,  after  the  preliminary 
notice  of  the  Chesapeake,  is  that  of  the  schooner  Whiting,  a 
case  of  not  the  least  importance,  but  introduced  by  this  un- 
lucky officer,  as  it  w^ere  by  a sort  of  fatality,  to  show  us  in  the 
very  outset  what  dependence  we  can  place  in  his  statements. 
He  says  the  Whiting  w’as  taken  by  us,  lying  at  anchor,  ig- 
norant of  the  war.”  Now  the  Whiting  w*as  actually  taken  by 
the  French  letter  of  marque  brig  Le  Diligence,  captain  Gras- 
sin,  who  a short  time  afterwards,  off  the  capes  of  Delawrare^ 
fell  in  wnth  and  took  his  Britannic  majesty’s  brig  Laura^ 
lieutenant  Hunter,  of  very  superior  force,  and  carried  her  in- 
to the  port  of  Philadelphia.  This  mistake  is  not  otherwise  of 
consequence,  except  as  indicating  the  w^ant  of  accurate  infor- 
mation of  the  “ British  officer  on  the  American  station;’'  as 
such  the  reader  is  desired  to  bear  it  in  mind. 

The  next  action  referred  to  by  the  officer.  Is  that  of  the 
Alert,  whose  force  is  stated  at  sixteen  guns,  and  eighty-four 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


305 


men.  Nobody  in  this  coimtryj  and  least  of  all  captain  Por- 
ter, ever  thought  of  taking  any  credit  for  the  capture  of  this 
\ ship,  nor  has  it  ever  on  any  occasion  been  brought  forward 
S'.s  an  argument  to  sustain  our  reputation,  or  put  down  that  of 
a ur  enemy.  As  however  it  happens  to  be  one  of  the  cases  in 
hich  there  was  indeed  a vast  disparity  of  force,  the  officer 
is  quite  right  to  make  the  most  of  that  circumstance.  All  we 
ski.ll  take  the  trouble  to  do  will  be  to  detect  some  few  mis- 
tak^;s  with  respect  to  this  “ action^'*  as  he  chooses  to  call  it. 

The  Essex  was  disguised — this  is  another  art  of  these 
cunning  Americans,”  for  which  John  Bull,  who  never  uses 
any  arts,  not  he,  abuses  them  sadly. — The  Alert  ran  down  and 
fired  into  her  most  manfully,  supposing  her  to  be  an  English 
Indiainan,  captured  by  the  Americans.  Immediately  on  dis- 
covering her  mistake  she  struck,  before  the  Essex  had  fired 
one  complete  broadside.  Captain  Laugharne  informed  cap- 
tain Porter  of  his  having  mistaken  his  ship,  but  at  the  same 
time  told  him  that  he  had  been  instructed  by  admiral  Duck- 
worth to  engage  any  American  frigate  he  fell  in  with,  as  he 
was  confident  of  success.  In  this  desperate  affair  the  Alert 
had  two  men  wounded,  and  a few  shot  in  her  hull,  and  only 
one  of  her  shot  touched  the  Essex.  The  first  lieutenant  of  the 
Alert  Y/as  broke  for  cowardice,  notwithstanding  this  gallant 
defence,  and  captain  Laugharne  was  not  again  employed  du- 
ring thi?  war.  The  Alert  mounted  twenty  guns',  and  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  men  of  her  crew  were  sent  in  her  to  Halifax, 
captain  Porter  having  converted  her  into  a cartel  for  that  pur- 
pose. 

Preparatory  to  the  exhibition  of  his  account  current  of 
the  action  between  the  Constitution  and  Guerriere,  the  officer 
premises  first,  “ that  the  several  situations  of  boatswain,  gun- 
ner, cap^;ains  of  the  guns,  <&;c.  on  board  every  American  ship 
were  principally  filled  by  British  seamen” — and  that  at  the 
period  of  the  declaration  of  war  our  half-manned  ships,  hav- 
ing no  enemy  to  dread,  were  carelessly  cruising  about  in  evc- 
ij  sea.”  Poor  big  John  Bull!  he  never  was  so  hard  put  to  il 

VOL.  VII.  39 


306 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


before  to  find  excuses.  What  a set  of  rascals  John’s  seamen^ 
who  are  represented  in  songs  and  poetry  as  the  most  loyal 
and  faithful  subjects  in  the  world,  must  be  to  join  the  enemies 
of  their  country,  and  thus  teach  them  to  beat  their  excellent 
sovereign — and  what  a set  of  careless  persons  must  be  these 
officers,  who  were  thus  carelessly,  with  their  half-manned  ves- 
sels, cimising  about  on  every  sea,  although  under  the  express 
apprehension  of  a war  with  the  United  States,  the  govern- 
ment had  augmented  its  force  on  this  station. 

The  writer  of  the  Synopsis  has  here  unwarily  disclosed 
the  true  cause  of  the  naval  disasters  which  he  attempts  to  ti*ace 
solely  and  exclusively  to  our  superior  ships  and  heavier  guns,. 
It  seems  their  seamen  are  disaffected,  for  they  desert  to  the 
enemy,  and  teach  them  to  beat  their  countrymen;  and  that 
their  officers  neglect  their  duty  by  “ carelessly  cruising  about 
in  every  sea,”  without  any  apprehension  of  encountering  an 
enemy.  This  is  all  we  have  ever  contended  for; — a supe- 
riority in  men,  who  were  attached  to  the  service,  and  in  offi- 
cers, more  brave,  more  hardy,-  and,  above  all,  more  vigilant 
than  our  rivals.  For  our  part,  we  Icnow  of  no  legitimate  claims 
to  superiority  but  these,  and  having  thus  virtually  acknow- 
ledged them,  we  cannot  help  thinking  the  British  officer  has 
taken  a vast  deal  of  trouble  to  account  for  it  by  his  profound 
arithmetical  calculations  of  weidits  and  measures. 

O 

The  defence  thus  set  up  by  the  British  officer  is,  liow'ever, 
not  only  extremely  injudicious,  but  palpably  untenable  and 
absurd.  If  the  ‘‘  boatswains,  gunners,  captains  of  guns,”  &c. 
on  board  of  all  our  ships  of  war,  were  in  reality  all  English- 
men, how  comes  it  that  they  fulfilled  their  duties  so  much 
more  effectually  than  those  of  the  British  ships?  The  answer 
is  obvious: — they  must  have  been  taught  by  our  officers; — 
they  must  have  learned  what  they  did  not  know  before,  and 
been  scholars,  instead  of  teachers,  on  board  of  the  American 
ships.  There  is  no  other  possible  way  of  accounting  for  the 
truly  marvellous  difference  between  the  ‘‘gunners,  boatswains, 
and  captains  of  guns,”  who  deserted,  and  those  who  remained 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


307 


true  to  his  majesty’s  service.  The  admission  also,  that  the 
British  commanders  were  ‘‘  carelessly  cruising  about,”  is  one 
of  the  severest  censures  that  was  ever  cast  upon  the  character 
of  British  officers.  Every  body  knows,  that  it  is  the  express 
duty  of  every  commander  of  a ship  of  war,  when  on  a cruise, 
to  keep  his  men  in  daily  exercise,  and  his  vessel  always  pre- 
pared for  action,  for  the  obvious  reason,  that  the  first  notice 
he  will  probably  receive  of  a declaration  of  war,  will  be  an 
encounter  with  the  enemy.  Besides,  England  was  then  at 
war  with  France,  and  this  furnishes  additional  reason  why 
the  British  naval  officers  ought  to  have  discarded  this  pleasant 
kind  of  “ carelessness.”  We  cannot  but  think  these  officers 
are  but  scurvily  treated  by  their  brother  “ officer  on  the  Ame- 
rican station;”  for  he  here  not  only  admits,  but  actually  states, 
in  extenuation  of  their  defeats,  a fact  which  is  in  itself  suffi-. 
cient  to  dishonour  them  forever. 

However,  under  these  disadvantages,  the  frigate  Guer- 
riere,  “ returning  into  port  with  sprung  masts,”  as  the  w’riter 
says,  and  with  her  name  painted  in  large  letters  on  her  top- 
sails, as  the  writer  does  not  say,  met  with  the  frigate  Consti- 
tution, to  which  very  vessel  captain  Dacres  had  a few  days 
before  sent  a challenge.  “ A long  action  ensued,”  says  the 
writer  of  the  Synopsis,  to  zvit^  forty -five  minutes.  And  now  be- 
gins the  cyphering  business,  wffiich  we  wdll  passtby  in  this 
instance,  with  only  a few  remarks,  because  the  very  humili- 
ating acknowledgment  of  this  expert  arithmetician  will  save 
us  a deal  of  trouble.  This  is  the  first  time  battles  have  been 
weighed  and  measured  by  the  pound  and  by  the  foot,  anc} 
really  we  are  willing  to  give  this  laborious  calculator  all  the 
benefits  of  his  ingenuity  in  figures. 

We  all  know  that  the  Guerriere  was  in  better  order  per- 
haps than  any  British  ship  on  the  American  station.  She  was, 
in  the  cant  of  the  English  Naval  Chronicle,  a crack  ship. 
She  was  returning  to  Halifax  after  that  swaggering  cruise, 
in  which  her  name  had  been  exhibited  in  proud  defiance  of 
fhe  American  frigates,  and  captain  Dacres  had  endorsed  the 


308 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


challenge  we  have  mentioned  before,  on  the  register  of  a ves- 
sel bound  to  Boston,  where  the  Constitution  then  lay.  Captain 
Dacres  was  of  course  informed  of  the  declaration  of  war;  for 
in  addition  to  this  fact,  he  had  previously  captured  an  Ame- 
rican vessel,  with  a considerable  quantity  of  specie  on  board. 
He  therefore  was  not  “ carelessly  cruising  about,”  but  pre- 
pared for  an  encounter,  if  any  of  our  “ bunches  of  pine  boards” 
could  possibly  be  suspected  of  such  temerity  as  to  stand  his 
assault.  If  he  was  not,  he  had  scandalously  neglected  his  du- 
ty, and  there  was  no  occasion  to  measure  keels,  and  scantling, 
or  to  weigh  balls,  in  order  to  account  for  his  deplorable 
defeat. 

The  “ British  officer  on  the  American  station”  sums  up 
his  calculations  by  saying,  that  the  superiority  on  the  Ameri- 
can side  in  this  affair  was,  in  weight  of  metal,  as  three  to  two; — 
in  number  of  men,  all  picked”  too,  and  no  doubt  “ in  buck- 
ram,” as  nine  to  five; — and  in  size  of  the  vessel,  as  three  to 
two.  The  correctness  of  this  statement  may  be  fairly  infer- 
red from  the  crew  of  the  Constitution  being  all  picked  men, 
not  a single  boy  among  them,  which  is  the  first  instance  of 
the  kind  ever  known,  and  that  of  the  Guerriere  including  nine- 
teen boys.  This  pitiful,  half-sided  manner  of  coming  at  the  ^ 
truth  is  carried  through  the  whole  Synopsis,  and  with  such  a 
childish  art,  that  our  contempt  of  the  falsehood  is  lost  in 'our 
amusement  at  the  shallow  folly  which  it  betrays.  It  is  a fact 
well  known,  that  the  crew  of  the  Constitution,  gallant  fellows  as 
they  were,  were  not  “ picked  men,”  but  fresh,  with  no  extraor- 
dinary degree  of  discipline,  and  that  they  had  never  been  at  sea 
in  this  ship  before;  But  admitting  ail  the  points  of  superiority 
urged  by  this  writer,  how  are  we  to  account  for  the  full  re- 
sult of  this  memorable  action?  The  author  of  the  Synopsis 
shall  do  jt  for  us. 

With  such  a disparity  of  force,  no  one  can  wonder  at 
the  result  of  this  action.  But  certainly  had  the  Guerriere"^ s men 
been  half  as  well  skilled  in  the  use  of  the  great  guns  as  the  Con- 
stitution's Trere,  the  proportion  of  killed  and  zoounded  zeould  not 


PAPER  WAR. 


309 


hax)t  been  so  great  as  seventy-eight  to  fourteen^  nor  one  ship 
made  a complete  wreck  of,  while  the  other  suffered  no  material 
injury  in  hull  or  rigging!  These  are  lamentable  truths,  that 
betrayed  a laxity  of  discipline  on  hoard  our  ships,  which  in  the 
course  of  time  would  have  rmned  our  navy.  Thanks  to  the  war 
with  America,  so  fatal  a catastrophe  is  not  now  likely  to  happen 
againP"^ 

The  truth  is  here  acknowledged  at  last;  it  was  in  reality 
“ a want  of  skill  in  the  use  of  great  guns,”  “ a laxity  of  disci- 
pline,” that  lay  at  the  root  of  these  disasters,  and  Ave  cannot 
hel})  j.hanking  this  “ second  Daniel  for  teaching  us  that  word.” 
These  acknowledgments,  made  in  the  very  agony  and  bloody 
sweat  of  mortified  pride,  concede  all  that  Ave  ever  contended 
for,  and  thanks  be  to  the  war  wdth  Great  Britain,  Ave  have  at 
last  forced  her  adA^ocate,  even  in  a Avork  expressly  in- 
tended to  deny  these  things,  to  confess,  that  the  inferiority  of 
her  officers  and  men  is  in  truth  the  great  cause  of  our  repeat- 
ed triumphs  on  the  ocean. 

In  our  next  AA^e  shall  go  on  Avith  a cursory  examination 
of  the  succeeding  section  of  this  curious  article,  which  is  con- 
tinued by  driblets  through  several  numbers  of  the  British 
Naval  Chronicle.  The  Avriter,  in  fact,  appears  to  have  been 
afraid  to  administer  the  Avhole  dose  to  honest  John  Bull  at 
once,  lest  it  should  turn  even  his  stomach. 


- Account  of  the  paper  zear  between  the  crews  of  the  Essex,  the 
Phoebe,  and  the  Cherub,  in  the  hay  of  Valparaiso, 

While  the  Essex,  the  Phoebe,  and  the  Cherub,  lay  to- 
gether in  Valparaiso  bay,  letters  Avere  sent  from  the  British 
vessels  to  the  crew  of  the  Essex,  by  the  hands  of  a British  pri- 
•soner  on  parole,  to  induce  them  to  desert  that  vessel.  These 
letters  were  alw" ays  delivered  to  captain  Porter,  Avho,  provoked 
at  these  attempts,  sent  them  to  captain  Hillyer,  Avith  a letter 
remonstrating  against  this  conduct.  This  produced  a cor- 
respondence betAveen  the  tAvo  commanders  Avhich  fell  into  the 


310 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


hands  of  captain  Hillyer  on  the  capture  of  the  Essex.  While 
‘this  was  going  on,  divers  queer  letters  and  messages  passed  be- 
tween the  crews  of  these  vessels.  Captain  Porter  had  adopt- 
ed the  well-known  motto  of  “ Free  trade  and  sailors’  rights,” 
and  captain  Hillyer  opposed  it  with,  “ God  and  our  country — 
British  sailors’  best  rights — traitors  olfend  both.’^  The  best 
poets  and  letter- writers  on  either  side  were  put  in  requisition, 
and  a diverting  paper  war  was  carried  on  for  some  time.  The 
copies  of  most  of  these  forecastle  productions  were  lost,  but 
the  following  were  found  in  a book  belonging  to  one  of  the 
crew  of  the  Essex,  who  fell  in  the  action  which  afterwards 
took  place. 

“ On  hoard  the  frigate  Essex,  March  9th,  1814. 

“ The  sons  of  liberty  and  commerce  on  board  the  saucy 
Essex,  whose  motto  is  ‘‘  Free  trade  and  sailors’  rights,”  sends 
their  compliments  to  their  oppressed  and  pressed  brother  tars 
on  board  the  ship  whose  motto  is  too  tedious  to  mention,  and 
hopes  they  will  put  an  end  to  all  this  nonsense  of  singing, 
sporting,  bunting,  and  writing,  which  we  know  less  about  than 
the  use  of  our  guns.  Send  the  Cherub  away  and  we  will 
meet  your  frigate,  and  fight  her,  and  then  shake  hands  and 
make  friends — and  whether  you  take  us,  or  we  take  you,  you 
will  be  sure  to  be  gainers;  for  in  the  first  case,  you  will,  no 
doubt,  for  your  long  services  in  a cause  which  every  freeman 
detests,  be  turned  over  to  Greenwich  hospital,  or  to  a new 
ship,  on  your  arrival  in  England.  If  we  take  you,  we  shall 
respect  the  rights  of  a sailor — hail  you  as  brothers  whom  we 
have  set  free  from  the  black  hole,  and  place  you  in  future  out 
of  the  reach  of  a press  gang.” 


From  the  Sons  of  Liberty..” 


PAPER  WAR 


311 


SONG. 

A pleasant  new  song,  chanted  by  Nathan  'Whiting,  (through  his  nose) 
for  the  amusement  of  the  galley  slaves  on  board  the  Phcebe,  who  are  allowed  fo 
sing  nothing  but  Psalms. 

Oa!  Johnny  Bull  is  much  perplex’d. 

And  what  d’ye  think’s  the  matter? 

Because  the  Yankey  frigates  sail 
Across  the  salt  sea  water. 

For  Johnny  says  the  Ocean’s  mine,  i 

And  all  the  sailor  lads  too; 

So  pay  us  tax  before  you  trade. 

And  part  of  each  ship’s  crew, 

“ What,  pay  you  tax,”  says  Jonathap, 

“ For  sailing  on  the  water? 

**  Give  you  our  lads  of  Yankey  breed?  , 

I’d  sooner  give  you  a halter.  ^ 

‘ Free  trade  and  sailors’  rights,  John  Bull, 

**  Shall  ever  be  my  toast; 

“ Let  Johnny  but  these  righs  invade. 

And  Johnny  Bull  I’ll  roast.” 

John  didn’t  mind,  but  took  our  ships. 

And  kidnapp’d  our  true  sailors; 

And  Jonathan  resolv’d  to  play 
The  d ■ — -1  among  the  -whalers i 

Away  went  frigates  four  or  five. 

To  cut  up  Johnny’s  trade. 

And  long  before  the  year  was  out 
The  squire  grew  sore  afraid. 

Some  found  frigates,  some  found  sloops 
Belonging  to  John’s  navy; 

And  some  they  took,  and  some  they  burnt^ 

And  some  sent  to  old  Davy. 

The  saucy  Essex,  she  sail’d  out. 

To  see  what  she  could  do; 

Her  captain  is  from  Yankey  land. 

And  so  are  all  her  crew. 


312 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE 


/ 

1 

• 

Away  she  sail’d  so  gay  and  trim 
Down  to  the  Gallipagos, 

And  toted  all  the  terapins. 

And  nabb’d  the  slii)p’ry  whalers. 

And  where,  d’ye  guess,  we  next  did  go? 
Why  down  to  the  Marquesas; 

And  there  we  buried  under  ground 
Some  thousand  golden  pieces; 

Then  sail’d  about  the  ocean  wide, 
Sinking,  burning,  taking. 

Filling  pockets,  spilling  oil. 

While  Johnny’s  heart  was  aching. 

At  length  he  muster’d  up  some  spunk. 
And  fitted  out  three  ships,  sir: 

The  Phoebe,  Cherub,  and  Racoon, 

To  make  the  Yankeys  skip,  sir. 

Away  they  scamper’d  round  Cape  Horn 
Into  the  South  Sea  Ocean, 

To  catch  the  saucy  Yaukey  ship. 

They  had  a mighty  notion. 

Korlh,  east,  and  west,  and  likewise  south. 
They  fumbled  all  around; 

“ Why,  where  the  d 1 can  she  be. 

That  she  cannot  be  found?” 

At  length  to  Valparaiso  bay, 

They  came  in  mighty  funk; 

The  Yankey  boys  were  then  .on  shore. 
Some  sober,  and  some  drunk. 

Some  rode  horses,  some  rode  mules. 

And  some  were  riding  asses; 

Some  tippling  grog,  some  swigging  wine. 
Some  dancing  with  the  lasses. 

# 

The  signal  made  all  hands  on  boards  ' ' 

Each  man  unto  his  station; 

And  Johnny  he  came  swaggering  by, 

B a met  some  botheration.* 

* The  PhcEbe  nearly  ran  aboard  of  the  Essex,  by  accidpif,  as  captain 
Hillyer  said. 


PAPER  WAR 


313 


The  Ytnkey  lads  all  ready  were, 

With  pistol,  sword  and  gun, 
lb  hopes  John  Bull  would  run  on  board. 
To  have  a bit  of  fun; 

’ » • But  John  got  clear  the  best  he  could, 

■f  ' And  soon  came  to  an  anchor. 

And  hoisted  up  a printed  flag,* 

- . As  big  as  our  spanker. 

Some  swore  it  was  a morning  prayer; 

Some  swore  *twas  (Jreek.  or  German; 
But  Nathan  Whitingf  spelt  it  out, 

^ And  said  it  was  a sermon. 

And  thus  long  time  in  merry  mood. 

All  side  by  side  we  lay. 

Exchanging  messages  and  songs. 

In  Valparaiso  bay. 

1;  ^ At  last  John  Bull  quite  sulky  grew. 

And  call’d  us  traitors  all, 

' And  swore  he’d  fight  our  gallant  crew, 

'i*- 

Paddies  and  Scots,  and  all. 

Then  out  he  went  in  desperate  rage, 

, ^ ^ Swearing  as  sure  as  day. 

He’d  starve  us  all,  or  dare  us  out, 

Of  Valparaiso  bay. 


Then  out  he  sail’d  in  gallant  trim. 
As  if  he  thought  to  fright  us. 
Run  up  his  flag,  and  fir’d  a gun. 

To  say  that  he  would  fight  us. 
Our  cables  cut,  we  put  to  sea. 

And  run  down  on  her  quarter; 
But  Johnny  clapt  his  helm  hard  up. 
And  we  went  following  after. 


Says  general  Wynne,  and  squire  Roach, ^ 
And  many  more  beside. 

We  wish  those  English  boys  had  stay’d. 
We’d  show  them  how  to  ride. 


* The  flag  bearing  captain  Hillyer’s  long  motto. 

f Nathan  was  we  understand  a tall  long-sided  Yankey,  and  reckoned  the 
best  scholar  of  the  whole  ship’s  crew. 

^ Two  sailors  nicknamed,  by  the  crew. 

VOL.  VII.  40 


314 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE 


In  haste  to  join  the  Cherub^  he 
Soon  bent  his  scurvy  way. 

While  we  return’d  in  merry  glee. 

To  Valparaiso  bay. 

And  let  them  go — to  meet  the  foe 
We’ll  take  no  further  trouble. 

Since  all  the  world  must  fairly  know. 

They’ll  only  fight  us — double. 

Ne’er  mind,  my  boys,  let’s  diink  and  sing, 

“Free  trade  and  sailors’  rights;” 

' May  liquor  never  fail  the  lad 

Who  for  his  country  fights. 

Huzza,  my  lads — let’s  drink  and  sing! 

And  toast  them  as  they  run — 

Here’s  to  the  sailors  and  their  king, 

Who’ll  fight  us — two  to  one!” 

“ A Yankey  song  for  the  amusement  of  the  crews  of  his  Britannic  majesty’s 
ships  Pheebe  and  Cherub.  Attempted  by  general  Wynne,  who  is  a bloody  bad 
singer.”  [Note.  We  have  some  doubts  whether  this  song  has  not  been  pub- 
lished somewhere  before.  If  so,  and  the  author  will  pul  in  his  claim,  we  will 
gladly  give  it  to  the  right  owner,  for  it  appears  to  be  worth  claiming.] 

“Ye  tars  of  our  country,  who  seek  on  the  main. 

Redress  for  the  wrongs  that  your  brothers  sustain. 

Rejoice  and  be  merry,  for  bragging  John  Bull 
Has  got  a sound  drubbing  from  brave  captain  Hull. 

The  bold  Constitution  a ship  of  some  fame, 

(Sure  each  jolly  tar  must  remember  her  name) 

On  the  nineteenth  of  August  o’ertook  the  Guerriere, 

(A  frigate  once  captur’d  by  John  from  Mounseer.) 

At  five  past  meridian  the  action  begun, 

(’Twas  before  John  had  1 earn’d  from  our  frigates  to  run) 

So  back’d  his  maintopsail,  quite  tickled  to  find, 

A Yankey  for  fighting,  so  stoutly  inclin’d. 

Proud  Dacres  commanded  the  enemy’s  ship. 

Who  often  had  promis’d  the  Yankeys  to  whip; 

But  it  seems  be  had  reckon’d  without  his  good  host, 

' As  he  found  on  that  hot  bloody  day,  to  his  cost. 


POETRY, 


31d 


That  boasting  commander,  his  crew  first  address’d, 

(It  was  partly  made  up  of  Americans  pi-ess’d;) 

“ Says  he,”  ray  brave  lads,  see  our  wish  is  fulfill’d. 

For  ’tis  better  to  capture  a ship,  than  to  build. 

And  you  who  are  tir’d  of  our  boatswain’s-mates  whip, 

And  sigh  to  return  to  some  d ’d  Yankey  ship. 

Ten  minutes  or  less,  of  our  fierce  British  fire. 

Will  give  me  that  ship — and  give  you  your  desire. 

Our  di'um  beat  to  quarters,  each  jolly  tar  hears. 

And  hails  the  glad  tidings  with  three  hearty  cheers; 

All  eager  for  battle  to  quarters  we  fly, 

Resolving  to  conquer  that  ship — or  to  die.” 

So  at  it  we  went,  in  a deluge  of  fire, 

Fiach  party  too  stubborn  an  inch  to  retire; 

Balls,  grape-shot  and  langrage  promiscuously  fly. 

While  the  thunder  of  cannon  stills  ocean  and  sky. 

At  a quarter  past  five  our  shot  told  so  well. 

That  the  enemy’s  mizzenmast  totter’d  and  fell. 

And  while,  eager  to  board  him,  for  orders  we  wait. 

His  foremast  and  mainmast  both  shar’d  the  same  fate. 

Our  cabin  had  now  from  his  shot  taken  fire. 

Yet  danger  but  kindled  our  courage  the  higher: 

’Twas  quickly  extinguished,  and  Dacres’  lee  gun 
Proclaim’d  his  ship  ours  and  the  bloody  fight  done. 

The  prize  we  then  boarded,  all  arm’d,  in  a boat. 

But  found  her  so  I’iddled  she’d  scarce  keep  afloat. 
Fifteen  of  her  seamen  lay  dead  in  their  gore. 

And  wounded  and  dying  left  sixty-four  more. 

Our  loss  was  but  seven,  Heav’n  rest  their  brave  souls. 
For  over  their  bodies  the  green  ocean  rolls; 

And  seven,  who  wounded,  will  long  live  to  tell. 

How  they  got  these  brave  scars  that  become  them  so  we 

Huzza  for  the  can,  boys,  come  give  us  a pull. 

Let’s  drink  a full  bucket  to  brave  captain  Hull; 

And  when  next  to  meet  us  the  enemy  dare, 

God  grant  in  his  mercy  that  we  may  be  there  ” 


31b 


ORIGINAL  POETRY. 

FOR  THE  NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 

Car  fie  Diem. 

SEIZE  THE  DEY.— -Zloc^Or  C 

**  The  Dey  of  Algiers,  not  being  afraid  of  his  ears,” 

Sent  to  Jonathan  once  for  some  tribute; 

“Ho!  ho!”  says  the  Dey,  “if  the  rascal  don’t  pay, 

“ A caper  or  two  I’ll  exhibit.” 

“ I’m  the  Dey  of  Algiers,  with  a beard  a yard  long-, 

“I’m  a musselraau  too,  and  of  course  very  strong: 

“ For  this  is  my  maxim,  dispute  it  who  can, 

“ That  a man  of  stout  muscle’s,  a stout  musselman.” 

“ They  say,”  to  himself  one  day  says  the  Dey, 

“ I ma>  bully  him  now  without  reck’ning  to  pay; 

“ There’s  a kick-up  just  coming  with  him  and  John  Bull, 
“ And  John  will  gWe  Jonathan  both  his  hands  full.” 

So  he  bullied  our  consul,  and  captur’d  our  men. 

Went  out  thz’ough  the  Straits  and  came  back  safe  again; 
And  thought  that  bis  cruisers  in  triumph  might  ply 
Wherever  they  pleas’d,  but  he  thought  a d ■— d lie. 

For  when  Jonathan  fairly  got  John  out  of  his  way, 

He  prepar’d  him  to  settle  accounts  with  the  Dey; 

Says  he,  “I  will  send  him  an  able  debater:” 

So  he  sent  him  a message  by  Stephen  Decatur. 

Away  went  Decatur  to  treat  with  the  Dey, 

But  he  met  the  Dey’s  admiral  just  in  his  way; 

And  by  way  of  a tribute  just  captur’d  his  ship; 

But  the  soul  of  the  admiral  gave  him  the  slip. 

From  thence  he  proceeded  to  Algesair^s  bay. 

To  pay  his  respects  to  his  highness  the  Dey, 

And  sent  him  a message,  decided  yet  civil,  ^ 

But  the  Dey  wished  both  him  and  his  note  to  the  d— "I. 

And  when  he  found  out  that  the  admiral’s  ship. 

And  the  admiral  too,  had  both  giv’n  him  the  slip. 

The  news  gave  his  highness  a good  deal  of  pain. 

And  the  Dey  thought  he’d  never  see  daybght  again. 


POETRY, 


31 


**  Ho!  ho!”  says  the  Dey,  “ if  this  is  the  way 
**  This  Jonathan  reckons  his  tribute  to  pay; 

“ Who  takes  it  will  tickle  his  fingers  with  thoi’ns.” — 
So  the  Dey  and  the  crescent  both  haul’d  in  their  horns. 

He  call’d  for  a peace  and  gave  up  our  men, 
And^promis’d  he’d  never  ask  tribute  again; 

Says  his  highness,  the  Dey,  “ here’s  the  d - 1 to  pay 
instead  of  a tribute;  heigho,  well-a-day!” 

And  never  again  will  our  Jonathan  pay 
A tribute  to  potentate,  pirate,  or  Dey; 

Nor  any,  but  that  which  forever  is  giv’n:— 

The  tribute  to  valour,  and  virtue,  and  Heav’n. 

And  again  if  his  Deyship  should  bully  and  fume. 

Or  hereafter  his  claim  to  this  tribute  resume. 

We’ll  send  him  Decatur  once  more  to  defy  him. 

And  his  motto  shall  be,  if  you  please,  Carpe  Diem. 


ORIGINAL. 


[Communicated.3 

ON  THE  CAUSES  OF  THE  DEPOPULATION  OF  T^E  AMERICAN 
INDIANS. 

Xerxes  possessed,  in  an  uncommon  degree,  the  oriental 
chai’acteristics.  His  imagination  was  constantly  breaking  out 
into  the  most  extravagant  personifications.  He  reproved  mount 
Athos  for  its  obdurate  resistance  to  his  progress,  and  gave  the 
Hellespont  lashes  for  its  rebellious  destruction  of  his  bridge. 
At  the  grand  review  of  his  forces  in  the  vicinity  of  Abydos, 
he  shed  tears,  when  he  reflected  that,  of  the  countless  multi- 
tude before  him,  not  one,  perhaps,  would  attain  the  age  of 
thirty  3'ears.  Few  persons  would  have  been  so  intensely  af- 
fected as  actually  to  have  wept  over ‘this  sight,  and  it  would 
hardly  be  believed  that  an  American  could  so  far  have  over- 
come his  accidental  phlegm  as  to  have  exhibited  any  tokens 
of  extraordinary  sympathy.  But  we  are  non-conformists  to 
the  doctrine,  that  the  powers  of  man  are  to  be  estimated  from 
the  region  which  he  inhabits,  or  the  atmosphere  he  in- 
hales. Who  could  not  feel  like  Xerxes,  when  he  looks  around 
upon  the  population  of  the  world? — ^Among  all  the  innumera- 
ble people  who  are  scattered  over  its  surface,  none  claim 
greater  attention  from  the  American  philanthi'opist  than  the 
aboriginal  inhabitants  of  his  own  country.  To  develop  the 
causes  of  their  rapid  disappearance,  since  the  seizure  and  set- 
tlement of  their  territory  by  Europeans,  is  peculiarly  the  pro- 
vince of  the  people  of  the  United  States — both  because  we 
are  the  only  persons  near  enough  to  give  the  subject  an  accu- 
rate investigation,  and  because  we  are,  in  some  measure,  ac- 
countable for  the  depopulation  of  the  Indian  communities. 

The  writers  who  have  hitherto  speculated  on  this  subject 
are  generally  prone  to  lay  great  stress  upon  the  destructive 
operation  of  ardent  spirits — attributing  extravagant  conse- 


DEPOPULATION  OF  THE  AMERICAN  INDIANS, 


319 


quences  to  this  comparatively  insignificant  cause,  and  passing 
over  the  acknowledged  laws  of  society  by  which  the  popula- 
tion of  a country  must  always  be  regulated.  That  distilled 
liquor  is  injurious  to  health,  the  most  limited  experience  can 
testify.  Of  the  number  of  those  whom  we  daily  see  stagger- 
ing around  us,  many  were  originally  blessed  with  sound  con- 
stitutions, which  have  been  gradually  debilitated  and  wasted 
away  by  a long  course,  of  habitual  inebriation.  The  vacuity 
which  is  left  in  society  by  the  death  of  these  WTetched  crea- 
tures, is  not,  however,  commonly  taken  into  the  account,  when 
w'e  are  estimating  the  numerical  diminution  of  civilized  men; 
and,  indeed,  a cause  of  destruction,  which  is  not  reducible  to 
any  steady  rate  of  operation,  cannot  be  fairly  brought  into 
view,  in  accounting  for  the  depopulation  of  any  community. 

If  we  look  attentively  into  the  laws  of  our  nature,  we 
shall  find  that  this  propensity  to  attribute  the  disappearance 
of  the  aborigines  to  their  inordinate  fondness  for  intoxicating 
liquors,  has  a very  plausible  foundation  in  fact;  and  that,  af- 
ter every  allowance  is  made  for  former  exaggeration,  there 
will  still  remain  a sufficiency  of  blame  to  be  laid  at  the  door 
of  the  distiller.  We  may  safely  go  so  far  as  to  assert,  that 
ardent  spirits  have  committed  greater  ravages  among  the  In- 
dians than  among  the  same  number  of  civilized  men; — the  rea- 
sons lie  upon  the  very  surface  of  the  subject;  and  perhaps  we 
might  spare  ourselves  the  trouble  of  making  a formal  exposi- 
tion of  them  here,  did  not  the  ordinary  pursuits  of  our  coun- 
trymen prevent  them  from  turning  their  attention  to  such  spe- 
culations. 

By  the  frequent  use  of  poisonous  potations,  Mithridates 
is  said  to  have  become  insensible  to  the  most  powerful  poi- 
sons. The  extreme  hazard  of  such  an  experiment  is  a suffi- 
cient preventive  to  its  repetition;  and  we  can  never  expect, 
therefore,  to  know  how  far  habit  may  enable  the  constitution 
to  withstand  the  attacks  of  such  drugs:  but  something  analo- 
gous to  the  case  of  the  king  of  Pontus  may  be  found  in  all 
communities  where  ardent  spirits  have  been  long  known  and 


320 


ORIGINAL. 


habitually  used.  We  will  not  join  with  Cyrus  in  calling  these 
absolutely  poisons but  we  believe  their  frequent  use  may  sa 
much  hebetate  the  constitution  as  to  render  their  malignant 
qualities,  to  some  extent,  inoperative.  Every  one  must  here 
recur  to  his  own  experience.  In  the  circle  of  our  own  ac- 
quaintance, there  is  generally  some  individual  who  arrogates 
to  himself  the  possession  of  a very  strong  head; — an  accom- 
plishment, which  is  not  the  gift  of  nature,  but  the  gradual  re- 
sult of  long  devotion  to  the  pleasures  of  the  bottle.  But  to 
those  who  might  be  induced  to  rely  so  much  upon  this  facility ' 
of  our  nature  as  to  adopt  the  advice  of  Falstaff, — “ to  forswear 
thin  potations  and  addict  themselves  to  sack,” — we  must  ob- 
serve, that  the  above  reasoning  is  to  be  understood  with  many 
qualifications.  No  constitution  can  long  maintain  its  vigour 
under  the  repeated  drenchings  of  habitual  intoxication. 

When  distilled  liquor  was  first  introduced  among  the  abo- 
rigines, they  had  never  tasted  any  other  artificial  drink  than 
a comparatively  innocuous  beverage  of  their  own  rude  manu- 
factured; an  its  effects,  therefore,  instead  of  being  divided  and 
protracted  through  the  whole  progress  of  their  lives,  fell  in 
one  overwhelming  crush  upon  the  vigour  of  their  constitutions. 
Without  a doubt,  then,  the  diminution  of  their  number,  in  the 
first  stages  of  depopulation,  was  rightly  attributed  to  the  pes- 
tiferous influencciof  rum  and  brandy,  but  since  the  present 
generation  has  grown  up  in  the  habitual  use  of  these  noxious 
liquors,  and  since,  in  despite  of  this  circumstance,  the  number 
of  Indians  still  continues  to  dwindle  away,  it  behoves  us  to 
search  after  some  other  cause  of  destruction  more  steady  in 
its  effects. 

We  do  not  deny  that  even  noio  the  ravages  of  drunken- 
ness are  more  extensive  among  the  natives  than  among  the 
European  settlers.  Happily  for  the  latter,  the  laws  of  God 
have  made  it  sinful,  and  the  customs  of  man  have  made  it  dis- 
graceful, to  indulge  in  habitual  intoxication;  but  the  Indians 
are  not  restrained  by  any  obligations,  either  of  conscience  ov 


* Xen.  Cyrop. 


©EPOPULATION  OF  THE  AMERICAN  INDIANS.  32l 

of  honouFi  They  swallow  every  drop  they  can  beg  or  pur^ 
chase;  and  the  only  restriction  they  experience  as  a counter^ 
balance  to  the  fear  and  shame  of  civilized  men,  is  occasioned 
by  their  aversion  to  labour  and  their  paucity  of  funds.  Beings 
who  are  withheld  from  destructive  pleasures  only  by  the  pre- 
carious  restraints  of  physical  necessity,  will  much  oftener  find 
the  means  and  opportunities  of  indulgence,  than  such  as  are 
governed  by  the  steadfast  principles  of  moral  obligation^ 

But  although  we  admit  that  ardent  spirits  destroy  a greater* 
proportion  of  the  aborigines  than  of  their  white  neighbours^ 
we  are  yet  far  from  conceding,  that  the  depopulation  of  their 
territory  is  materially  ascribable  to  this  cause.  If  their  dis- 
appearance is  not  the  effect  of  something  more  radical  than 
an  attachment  to  ‘‘  strong  drink,”  why  are  they  running  in  a 
continued  stream  of  emigration  towards  the  west — abandoning 
the  land  of  their  forefathers  to  live  in  hopeless  temperance 
beyond  the  haunts  of  civilization? — That  necessity  must  be 
v^ry  cogent  which  can  thus  drive  men  from  the  gratification 
©f  a predominant  desire:  and  it  will  be  found,  we  apprehend, 
that  both  the  “ foreign  emigration”  and  domestic  depopula- 
tion of  the  aborigines,  are  attributable  to  one  and  the  same 
cause. 

After  exhausting  all  the  resources  of  argument  and  decla- 
mation in  pointing  out  the  fatality  of  drunkenness,  we  must 
at  last  appeal  to  those  steady  principles  of  society  by  which 
the  depopulation  of  all  nations  is  unavoidably  regulated. 

In  so  far  as  the  present  discussion  is  concerned,  we  shall 
have  occasion  to  notice  only  two  of  the  great  causes  of  depo- 
pulation: one  of  these  is,  a diminution  in  the  quantity  of  that 
kind  of  provision  which  has  been  customarily  used:  the  other 
is,  an  increase  in  the  expensiveness  of  living,  occasioned  by 
the  introduction  of  more  costly  food.  The  Chinese  subsist 
chiefly  upon  fish,  and  the  Persians  upon  melons:  but  should 
the  fish  no  longer  continue  to  swim  in  the  rivers  of  China,  or 
should  the  melon  no  longer  be  able  to  extract  nourishment 
ffom  the  soil  of  Persia,  it  is  easy  to  see  that  the  inhabitants 
VOL.  VII.  41. 


322 


URIC5INAL. 


of  each  of  these  countries  must  suffer  a very  serious  numeri- 
cal diminution.  As  the  commonalty  are  by  far  the  most  nu- 
merous class  of  population,  and  as  they  are  barely  able  to 
support  themselves,  by  the  ordinary  supply  of  that  kind  of 
provision  to  which  they  have  been  accustomed,  the  moment 
such  a supply  is  unattainable,  the  prospect  of  marriage  is  re- 
moved from  their  view.  With  few  exceptions,  it  may  be  laid 
down  as  an  axiom,  that  no  man  will  burden  himself  with  the 
weight  of  a family,  until  he  knows  he  shall  be  able  to  sus- 
tain it. 

The  same  observations  may  be  applied  to  the  other  di- 
vision of  the  subject.  Should  any  revolution  in  the  manners 
of  the  Chinese,  or  of  the  Persians,  make  animal  food  a neces- 
sary constituent  of  their  diet,  a decrease  of  population  would 
be  the  inevitable  effect:  for  although  the  supply  of  ordinary 
food  may  still  continue  to  be  afforded,  yet  flesh  has  become 
an  article  of  domestic  necessity;  and  no  man  will  be  likely  to 
marry  unless  he  has  a prospect  of  being  able  to  support  his 
family  in  the  use  of  this  new  species  of  sustentation.  It  is  in 
vain  to  allege  that  the  old  kind  of  diet  is  sufficient  for  all  the 
purposes  of  actual  necessity.  The  laws  of  fashion,  though 
mutable,  are  imperious.  “ Men  will  not  marry  (to  use  the 
language  of  Dr.  Paley)  to  sink  their  place  or  condition  in  so- 
ciety, or  to  forego  those  indulgences,  which  their  own  habits,- 
or  what  they  observe  among  their  equals,  have  rendered  ne- 
cessary to  their  satisfaction.” 

We  have  confined  our  view  to  the  article  of  food,  in  or- 
der to  illustrate  the  principles  of  population  as  simply  and  as 
briefly  as  possible:  but  it  is  evident  that  the  same  reasoning  is 
applicable  to  dress,  to  drinky  to  houses,  to  furniture,  and,  in 
short,  to  every  thing  connected  with  the  comfortableness  of 
living.  As  all  general  principles,  however,  require  to  be  some- 
what modified,  W'hen  reduced  to  specific  application,  it  may 
not  be  amiss  to  see  how  far  the  depopulation  of  the  aborigi-' 
nes  is  regulated  by  the  law  s Tve  have  been  endeavouring  to 
expound. 


DEPOPULATION  OF  THE  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


323 


The  Indians  of  America  have  always  betrayed  an  un- 
quenchable thirst  for  strong  drink.  The  checks  of  fear  and 
shame  are  impotent  in  restraining  this  propensity;  and  accord- 
ingly, its  pestilential  control  extends  to  both  sexes  and  to  all 
ages.  After  supplying  the  scanty  food  which  actual  necessi- 
ty demands,  their  funds  are  entirely  subservient  to  this  great 
“ ruling  passion”  of  their  lives.  The  aggregate  enjoyments 
of  connubial  life  will  by  no  means  compensate  for  the  depri- 
vation of  bacchanalian  pleasures,  which  the  support  of  a fa- 
mily must  necessarily  involve;  and  this  state  of  things  has  pro- 
duced what  a king  of  Persia,  once,  it  is  said,  endeavoured  to 
produce  by  royal  proclamation, — a general,  indiscriminate 
prostitution.  As  an  aggravation  to  this  disgraceful  circum- 
stance, we  are  compelled  to  state,  that  some  of  the  civilized 
inhabitants  have  not  been  ashamed  to  dally  with  the  easy 
nymphs  of  the  western  Indians:  the  consequences  resulting 
to  population  from  this  promiscuous  concubinage,  need  not 
be  pointed  out. 

But  the  effects  of  this  passion  for  drunkenness  do  not 
stop  here.  With  the  dissipation  of  their  revenue,  the  Indians 
are  constantly  lessening  their  means  of  supply.  A part  of  the 
time  they  spend  in  senseless  drunkenness;  and  the  lucid  in- 
terlapse of  sobriety  is  chiefly  occupied  with  schemes  of  future 
intoxication.  They  become  idle,  enervated,  and  improvi- 
dent. All  other  passions  have  dwindled  into  insignificance, 
or  have  been  totally  swallowed  up,  by  their  insatiable  desire 
for  the  pleasures  of  drinking.  Such  is  not  the  state  of  society 
in  which  we  are  to  expect  frequent  marriages  and  numerous 
families. 

We  are  aware  of  the  futility  of  attempting  to  scrutinize 
the  designs  of  Providence;  but,  in  our  reflections  on  the  sub- 
ject under  consideration,  we  are  often  upon  the  point  of  con- 
cluding, that  forests  and  savages  were  originally  intended  for 
. each  other,  and  that  the  levelling  of  the  former  will  almost  ne- 
cessarily be  accompanied  by  the  depopulation  of  the  latter. 
Long  before  the  epoch  of  Columbus’s  discovery,  the  aborigi- 


324 


ORIGINAL. 


nes  of  this  couutry  had,  perhaps,  arrived  at  their  maximum  of 
population.  A very  small  number  of  inhabitants — concentra- 
ted in  some  insignificant  hamlet — Avere  the  proprietors  of  a 
very  extensive  area  of  territory,  and  derived  their  subsistence 
almost  solely  from  the  flesh  of  those  animals  within  their  do- 
miuion; — -animals  which  were  little  less  savage  than  them- 
selves, and  which,  with  them,  were  the  joint  owners  and  oc- 
cupants of  the  land.  This  disproportion  between  the  num- 
ber of  inhabitants  and  the  extent  of  territoi*y,  .was  a necessary 
result  of  their  circumstances.  It  was  chiefly  owing  to  the  fact, 
that  the  subsistence  afforded  by  the  wild  animals  in  any  given 
portion  of  country,  bore  no  ratio  to  that  which  the  same  land 
might  have  produced,  had  it  been  subjected  to  agriculture. 

But  this  extensive  and  fruitful  continent  was  not  fated  to 
be  always  a mere  hunting-ground.  The  hordes  of  European 
emigration  set  their  restless  feet  upon  its  soil.  The  deer  and 
the  buffaloe  soon  discovered  that  civilization  was  a more  in- 
tolerable enemy  than  savagery.  Habitations  regularly  con- 
structed, and  plains  denuded  of  their  trees,  were  not  to  be 
borne  by  eyes  which  had  never  seen  any  thing  but  the  browm 
thickets”  of  an  interminable  wilderness.  The  blows  of  the 
busy  axe,  and  the  explosions  of  the  deadly  musket,  were  stun- 
ning to  ears  which  had  never  been  pricked  but  to  the  strokes 
of  the  tomahawk,  or  to  the  twang  of  the  bowstring.  Soon, 
therefore,  the  Indians  saw  their  forests  deserted,  and  them- 
selves unable  to  ^epend  any  longer  for  subsistence  upon  the 
capture  of  game:  they  did  not,  however,  immediately  follow 
the  example  of  the  \vild  beasts,  by  flying  before  the  obtrusive 
new-comers  from  another  world;  but  considered  themselves  as 
lords  of  the  soil,  and  were  resolved  to  repel  the  advances  of 
civilization.  The  tenure  of  occupancy  had  given  them  a crude 
idea  of  property;  and  that  which  they  had  long  fought  for  and 
long  enjoyed  was  not  to  be  submissively  yielded  up.  But 
their  resolution  was  not  inflexible,  nor  their  resistance  unin- 
terrupted. The  superiority  of  civilized  warfare  often  fright- 
ened them  into  submission,  and  the  disappearance  of  game 


DEPOPULATION  OF  THE  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


325 


frequently  compelled  them  to  seek  subsistence  from  their  an- 
tagonists by  an  unwelcome  accession  to  ephemeral  treaties. 
Their  frequent  infractions  of  these  compacts  did  not  wholly 
arise  from  bad  faith:  there  were  some  paliative  circumstances 
which  furnish  at  least  the  semblance  of  an  apology  for  their 
conduct.  When  game  was  no  longer  to  be  found,  necessity 
forced  them  to  have  recourse  to  their  enemies  for  a temporary 
subsistence;  but  no  sooner  had  the  demands  of  hunger  been 
satisfied,  than  they  began  to  reflect  again  upon  their  relations 
with  the  new-comers.  They  saw  the  flaming  sword  of  extir- 
mination  suspended  over  their  heads,  and  could  think  of  no 
method  to  avert  the  danger,  but  by  one  more  eflbi*t  to  repel 
the  invaders.  Thus  were  they  the  constant  subjects  of  coun- 
tervailing necessities,  and  only  escaped  from  the  one  to  be 
driven  back  by  the  other.  The  disappearance  of  game  com- 
pelled them  to  adopt  the  more  expensive  diet  of  their  enemies, 
and  the  superiority  of  civilized  war  induced  them  to  exchange 
the  bow  and  tomahawk  for  the  rifle  and  hatchet. 

We  have  to  lament  that  this  revolution  in  manners  should 
have  stopped  here.  It  would  be  some  consolatory  recompense 
for  the  devastation  of  the  aboriginal  tribes,  to  see  one  con- 
verted Indian  to  grace  the  triumph  of  civilization.  The  re^ 
suit  of  more  than  three  hundred  years  of  experience  is  now 
before  our  eyes, — and  what  ground  of  hope  does  it  give  us, 
that  we  shall  ever  be  able  to  domesticate  the  aborigines?  At- 
tempts have,  not  unfrequently,  been  made  to  initiate  them 
into  all  the  refinements  of  civilized  society;  nay,  in  some  in- 
stances, to  give  them  the  rare  endowment  of  a liberal  educa- 
tion: but  they  have  uniformly  relapsed  into  their  primitive 
state,  quitting  the  pursuits  of  literature  for  the  more  congenial 
pleasures  of  the  chase. 

Perhaps  nothing  is  more  fantastically  odd,  than  the  ap- 
pearance of  an  Indian  tricked  out  in  his  national  costume,  re- 
luctantly following  the  steps  of  the  tardy  ox,  and  endeavour- 
ing to  make  his  rebellious  nature  submit  to  the  drudgery  of 
agriculture.  Every  act  betrays  an  utter  absence  of  all  mo-? 


326 


ORIGINAL. 


live  to  exertion.  The  whole  current  of  his  education  and  of 
his  life  runs  against  such  kinds  of  employment.  He  wants  to 
be  bounding  through  the  forest  in  pursuit  of  his  game — lurk- 
ing in  ambush  for  an  approaching  foe — displaying  the  horrors 
of  savage  grimace  in  the  antic  evolutions  of  the  war-dance — 
or,  by  his  wild  and  oriental  eloquence,  swaying  the  councils 
of  his  nation,  and  unwittingly  convincing  European  monopo- 
lizers of  talent  that  America  is  not  the  country 

a Where  Genius  sickens  and  where  Fancy  dies.’* 

He  hates  to  see  his  common  divided  by  fences  and  lacerated 
by  the  ploughshare.  It  violates  all  his  notions  of  property; 
and  compels  him  to  transfer  his  exertion  from  the  forest-to  the 
held.  The  elastic  vigour  of  his  constitution  sinks  into  ener- 
vation, He  cannot  make  his  provision  extend  from  seed-time 
to  harvest.  He  comes  to  his  agricultural  task  with  a total 
ignorance  of  the  tools  which  he  is  to  handle,  and  with  no  an- 
ticipation of  the  benefits  which  he  is  to  reap. 

We  may  observe  further,  under  this  head,  that  laziness 
is  much  less  grievous  to  an  Indian  than  to  a member  of  civi- 
lized society.  Idleness  and  oscitancy  seem  to  be  the  usual 
characteristics  of  beings  who  are  seldom  employed  in  any 
business  but  such  as  requires  only  the  exercise  of  their  cor- 
poreal powers.  What  Mr.  Jefferson  observes  of  the  negro 
slaves  in  this  country,  may  be  applied  with  equal  propriety 
to  the  situation  of  the  aborigines. — ‘‘  The  existence  of  negro 
slaves  in  America,”  says  he,  in  his  Notes  on  Virginia,  “ ap- 
pears to  participate  more  of  sensation  than  of  reflection.  To 
this  must  be  ascribed  their  disposition  to  sleep  when  abstract- 
ed from  their  diversions,  and  unemployed  in  their  labour.  An 
animal  whose  body  is  at  rest,  and  who  does  not  reflect,  must 
be  disposed  to  sleep,  of  course.”  Under  their  present  cir- 
cumstances, the  aborigines  spend  a much  greater  portion  of 
their  time  in  sleep  than  they  did  before  the  presence  of  civi- 
lization had,  driven  the  game  from  their  hunting-grounds. 


DEPOPULATION  OF  THE  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


327 


The  time  which  was  formerly  allotted  to  the  chase,  is  now 
chiefly  divided  between  drunkenness  and  sleep. 

But  the  depopulation  of  the  aboriginal  communities  is,  ia 
part,  occasioned  by  their  continual  emigrations.  In  general, 
the  departure  of  emigrants  from  any  country  does  not  diminish 
the  average  number  of  its  population;  for  as  the  multiplication 
of  the  species  is  indefinite,  and  the  productiveness  of  any  given 
portion  of  ground  is  limited,  it  is  quite  clear  that  a country 
may  retain  its  usual  supply  of  inhabitants,  and  yet  be  con- 
stantly sending  forth  bodies  to  seek  new  seats.  All  emigra- 
tion, however,  is  occasioned,  more  or  less,  by  a disproportion 
between  the  number  of  inhabitants  and  the  quantity  of  provi- 
sion;— the  very  same  cause  that  operates  to  lessen  the  num- 
bers of  those  who  stay  at  home.  It  is  the  disappearance  of 
game  that  both  curtails  the  population  of  those  Indians  who 
continue  resident  on  their  ancient  grounds,  and  acts  as  a mo- 
tive to  those  who  relinquish  the  habitations  of  their  forefa- 
thers. 

From  these  brief  considerations,  it  is  apparent  that  the 
natives  of  this  country  are  beset  with  more  causes  of  depopu- 
lation than  any  other  community  on  the  globe.  First,  they 
are  swept  away  by  drunkenness: — secondly,  they  are  depriv- 
ed of  the  usual  supply  of  their  accustomed  diet,  and  are  oblig- 
ed to  use  the  far  more  expensive  food  which  has  been  intro- 
duced by  civilization: — thirdly,  they  have  lost  all  energy  of 
character  and  motive  to  exertion: — and,  fourthly,  numbers  of 
them  are  compelled  to  emigrate  to  other  portions  of  the  coun- 
try. The  wonder  is  not,  therefore,  that  the  aboriginal  tribes 
should  have  disappeared  so  rapidly,  but  that  they  should  so 
long  have  maintained  their  ground  against  the  encroachments 
of  civilization: — and  we  may  safely  assert,  that,  were  it  not  for 
the  annuities  which  some  of  the  state  governments  have  granted 
to  the  race,  their  depopulation  would  have  proceeded  with  a 
much  more  accelerated  pace. 

In  the  course  of  the  above  reflections,  we  have  hinted 
that  it  is  hopeless  to  think  of  civilizing  the  Indians.  To  pre- 


328 


ORIGINAL. 


vent  misapprehension,  we  ought  here  to  specify  those  qualifi- 
cations with  which  w^e  wish  this  assertion  to  be  understood. 
That  the  Indians  are  absolutely  unsusceptible  of  civilization, 
we  by  no'means  admit; — inasmuch  as  history  furnishes  us  with 
numberless  examples  of  nations  which  were  once  in  a little 
less  hopeless  condition  of  barbarism  than  the  aborigines  of 
this  country,^ — but  which,  nevertheless,  have  ascended  to  the 
highest  stages  of  refinement.  Even  the  Athenians,  not  long 
prior  to  the  time  of  Thucydides,  were  distinguished  by  a fri- 
volity of  taste  and  manners.  The  golden  grasshoppers  with 
w^hich  they  adorned  the  hair,  and  the  kind  of  tunic  with  which 
they  covered  their  bodies,  are  indications  of  barbarism  not 
less  unequivocal  than  the  present  costume  of  our  own  abori- 
gines. But  the  progression  of  attic  refinement  was  gradual^ 
and,  moreover,  owed  its  final  completion — not  to  the  influence 
of  foreign  education — but  to  their  own  intrinsic  disposition  to 
civilization.  To  Cadmus,  indeed,  they  w'ere  infinitely  indebt- 
ed:— for  perhaps  there  is  no  one  instrument  of  melioration 
which  is  more  extensive  and  permanent  in  its  effects,  than 
the  single  art  of  securing  our  thoughts  in  visible  expressions. 
Were  our  Indians  in  possession  of  an  alphabet,  and  left  to  the 
undisturbed  enjoyment  of  their  own  territory,  w^e  are  extrava- 
gant enough  to  believe  that  they  would  eventually  make  some 
approaches  towards  a state  of  civilization.  These  approach- 
es, however,  must  be  made  by  almost  imperceptible  steps, — 
and  we  may  add,  that  there  is  no  royal  road  to  civilization. 

But  this  is  not  the  manner  in  which  our  aborigines  have 
been  attempted  to  be  reclaimed  from  barbarism.  They  W’ere 
called  upon  to  take  one  bold  stride  from  the  savage  to  the  ci- 
vilized state.  They  could  not  advance  by  a slow  progression; 
and  they  were  utterly  incapable  of  going  over  the  ground  in 
any  other  way.  Had  nobody  but  a Cadmus  landed  among 
them,  they  might  ere  now  have  been  in  some  of  the  advanced 
stages  of  improvement: — but  as  it  is,  w'e  can  hardly  find  a sin- 
gle Indian  w^ho  lives  and  moves  like  civilized  men. 


329 


NOTICE  OF  CAPTAIN  M.  LEWIS. 

The  portrait  of  captain  Lewis,  given  in  the  present  nutn*- 
ber,  is  taken  from  a drawing  of  that  officer  belonging  to  his 
fellow  traveller,  governor  Clark,  who  considers  it  an  excel- 
lent likeness,  and  prizes  it  highly.  The  gentleman  who  lent 
it  to  us  remained  here  but  a short  time,  and  was  obliged  to 
take  it  with  him:  to  which  circumstance  it  is  owing  that  our 
engraving  from  it  is  not  executed  in  so  good  a style  as  we 
could  have  wished.  But  that  engraving  is  a faithful  copy  of 
the  original,  which  is  believed  to  be  the  only  likeness  of  capr 
tain  Lewis  now  extant.  The  ornaments  w’orn  by  him  when 
in  the  costume  of  an  Indian  w^arrior,  (as  represented  in  the 
picture)  are  preserved  in  the  Philadelphia  museum. 

Conformably  to  our  usual  plan,  we  accompany  the  por- 
trait with  a biographical  sketch,  drawn  as  briefly  as  possible, 
as  the  subject  of  it  is  already  so  generally  known:  it  is  taken 
from  the  life  of  captain  Lewis,  written  by  Mr.  Jefferson,  and 
prefixed  to  the  interesting  history  of  the  expedition  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  under  the  command  of  captains  Lewis  and 
Clark.  The  passages  marked  with  inverted  commas  are 
given  in  Mr.  Jefferson’s  own  words. 

Meriwether  Lewis,  late  governor  of  Louisiana,  was  born 
on  the  18th  of  August,  1774,  near  Charlottesville,  in  Virginia,  of 
one  of  the  distinguished  families  of  that  state.  Having  lost  his 
father  at  an  early  age,  he  continued  some  years  under  the  care  of 
a tender  mother,  and  was  remarkable  even  in  his  childhood  for 
enterprise,  boldness,  and  discretion.  At  thirteen  he  was  put  to 
the  Latin  school,  and  continued  at  that  until  eighteen,  when  he 
returned  to  his  mother,  and  entered  on  the  care  of  his  farm; 
having  been  left  by  his  father  with  a competency.  “ His  talent 
for  observation,  which  had  led  him  to  an  accurate  knowledge  of 
the  plants  and  animals  of  his  own  country,  would  have  distin- 
guished him  as  a farmer;  but  at  the  age  of  twenty,  yielding  to  the 
ardour  of  youth,  and  a passion  for  more  dazzling  pursuits,  he  en- 
VOL.  VIT.  • 42 


330 


ORIGINAL. 


gaged  as  a volunteer  in  the  body  of  militia  which  were  called  out 
by  general  Washington,  on  occasion  of  the  discontents  produced 
by  the  excise  taxes  in  the  western  parts  of  the  United  States;  and 
from  that  situation  he  was  removed  to  the  regular  service  as  a 
lieutenant  in  the  line.  At  twenty-three  he  was  promoted  to  a cap- 
taincy; and,  always  attracting  the  first  attention  where  punctuality 
and  fidelity  were  requisite,  he  was  appointed  paymaster  to  his 
regiment.” 

“ In  1 803,  the  act  for  establishing  trading  houses  with  the 
Indian  tribes  being  about  to  expire,  some  modifications  of  it  were 
recommended  to  congress  by  a confidential  message  of  January 
18th,  and  an  extension  of  its  views  to  the  Indians  on  the  Missouri. 
In  order  to  prepare  the  way,  the  message  proposed  the  sending 
an  exploring  party  to  trace  the  Missouri  to  its  source,  to  cross  the 
highlands,  and  follow  the  best  water-communication  which  offer- 
ed itself  from  thence  to  the  Pacific  ocean.  Congress  approved 
the  proposition,  and  voted  a sum  of  money  for  carrying  it  into 
execution.  Captain  Lewis,  who  had  then  been  near  two  years 
with  me  as  private  secretary,  immediately  renewed  his  solicita- 
tions to  have  the  direction  of  the  party.  I had  now  had  oppor- 
tunities of  knowing  him  intimately.  Of  courage  undaunted,  pos- 
sessing a firmness  and  perseverance  of  purpose  which  nothing 
but  impossibilities  could  divert  from  its  direction;  careful  as  a fa- 
ther of  those  committed  to  his  charge,  yet  steady  in  the  mainte- 
nance of  order  and  discipline;  intimate  with  the  Indian  character, 
customs,  and  principles;  habituated  to  the  hunting  life;  guarded, 
by  exact  observation  of  the  vegetables  and  animals  of  his  own 
country,  against  losing  time  in  the  description  of  objects  already 
possessed;  honest,  disinterested,  liberal,  of  sound  understanding, 
and  a fidelity  to  truth  so  scrupulous,  that  whatever  he  should  re- 
port would  be  as  certain  as  if  seen  by  ourselves;  with  all  these 
qualifications,  as  if  selected  and  implanted  by  nature  in  one  body 
for  this  express  purpose,  I could  have  no  hesitation  in  confiding 
the  enterprise  to  him.  To  fill  up  the  measure  desired,  he  want- 
ed nothing  but  a greater  familiarity  with  the  technical  language 
of  the  natural  sciences,  and  readiness  in  the  astronomical  obser- 
vations necessary  for  the  geography  of  his  route.  To  acquire  these 
he  repaired  immediately  to  Philadelphia,  and  placed  himself  un- 


i 


NOTICE  or  CAPTAIN  LEWIS. 


331 


di3r  the  tutorage  of  the  distinguished  professors  of  that  place, 
who  with  a zeal  and  emulation,  enkindled  by  an  ardent  devotion 
to  science,  communicated  to  him  freely  the  information  requisite 
for  the  purposes  of  the  journey. 

“ Deeming  it  necessary  he  should  have  some  person  with 
him  of  known  competence  to  the  direction  of  the  enterprise,  in  the 
event  of  accident  to  himself,  he  proposed  William  Clark,  bro- 
ther of  general  George  Rogers  Clark,  who  was  approved,  and, 
with  that  view,  received  a commission  of  captain.” 

In  April,  1803,  captain  Lewis  received  a draught  of  his  in- 
structions for  the  expedition. 

“ While  these  things  were  going  on  here,  the  country  of 
Louisiana,  lately  ceded  by  Spain  to  France,  had  been  the  sub- 
ject of  negociation  at  Paris  between  us  and  this  last  power;  and 
had  actually  been  transferred  to  us  by  treaties  executed  at  Paris 
on  the'  thirtieth  of  April.  This  information,  received  about  the 
first  day  of  July,  increased  infinitely  the  interest  we  felt  in  the  ex- 
pedition, and  lessened  the  apprehensions  of  interruption  from 
other  powers.  Every  thing  in  this  quarter  being  now  prepared, 
captain  Lewis  left  Washington  on  the  fifth  of  July,  1803,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Pittsburg,  where  other  articles  had  been  ordered  to  be 
provided  for  him.  The  men  too  were  to  be  selected  from  the 
military  stations  on  the  Ohio.  Delays  of  preparation,  difficulties 
of  navigation  down  the  Ohio,  and  other  untoward  obstructions,  re- 
tarded his  arrival  at  Cahokia  until  the  season  was  so  far  ad- 
vanced as  to  render  it  prudent  to  suspend  his  entering  the  Mis- 
souri before  the  ice  should  break  up  in  the  succeeding  spring. 

“ From  this  time  his  journal,  now  published,  will  give  the  his- 
tory of  his  journey  to  and  from  the  Pacific  ocean,  until  his  return 
to  St.  Louis  on  the  twenty-third  day  of  September,  1806.  Never 
did  a similar  event  excite  more  joy  through  the  United  States. 
The  humblest  of  its  citizens  had  taken  a lively  interest  in  the 
issue  of  this  journey,  and  looked  forward  with  impatience  for  the 
information  it  would  furnish. 

“ It  was  the  middle  of  February,  1807,  before  captain  Lewis, 
with  his  companion  captain  Clark,  reached  the  city  of  Washing- 
ton, where  congress  was  then  in  session.  That  body  granted  to 
the  two  chiefs  and  their  followers  the  donation  of  lands  which  they 


332 


OlllGINAL. 


had  been  encouraged  to  expect  in  reward  of  their  toil  and  dangers. 
Captain  Lewis  was  soon  after  appointed  governor  of  Louisiana, 
and  captain  Clark  a general  of  its  militia,  and  agent  of  the 
United  States  for  Indian  affairs  in  that  department. 

“ A considerable  time  intervened  before  the  governor’s  arri- 
val at  St.  Louis.  He  found  the  territory  distracted  by  feuds  and 
contentions  among  the  officers  of  the  government,  and  the  people 
themselves  divided  by  these  into  factions  and  parties.  He  deter- 
mined at  once  to  take  no  side  with  either;  but  to  use  every  en- 
deavour to  conciliate  and  harmonize  them.  The  even-handed 
justice  he  administered  to  all  soon  established  a respect  for  his 
person  and  authority;  and  perseverance  and  time  wore  down  ani- 
mosities, and  reunited  the  citizens  again  into  one  family. 

“ Governor  Lewis  had,  from  early  life,  been  subject  to  hypo- 
chondriac affections.  It  was  a constitutional  disposition  in  all  the 
nearer  branches  of  the  family  of  his  name,  and  was  more  imme- 
diately inherited  by  him  from  his  father.  They  had  not,  however, 
been  so  strong  as  to  give  uneasiness  to  his  family.  While  he  lived 
with  me  in  Washington  I observed  at  times  sensible 'depressions 
of  mind;  but  knowing  their  constitutional  source,  I estimated  their 
course  by  what  I had  seen  in  the  family.  During  his  western 
expedition,  the  constant  exertion  which  that  required  of  all  the 
faculties  of  body  and  mind,  suspended  these  distressing  affections; 
but  after  his  establishment  at  St.  Louis  in  sedentary  occupations, 
they  returned  upon  him  with  redoubled  vigour,  and  began  se- 
riously to  alarm  his  friends.  He  was  in  a paroxysm  of  one  of  these 
when  his  affairs  rendered  it  necessary  for  him  to  go  to  Washing- 
ton. He  proceeded  to  the  Chickasaw  Bluffs,  where  he  arrived 
on  the  sixteenth  September,  1809,  with  a view  of  continuing  his 
journey  thence  by  water.  Mr.  Neely,  agent  of  the  United  States 
with  the  Chickasaw  Indians,  arriving  there  tAvo  days  after,  found 
him  extremely  indisposed,  and  betraying  at  times  some  symptoms 
of  a derangement  of  mind.  The  rumours  of  a war  with  England, 
and  apprehensions  that  he  might  lose  the  papers  he  was  bringing 
on,  among  which  were  the  vouchers  of  his  public  accounts,  and 
the  journals  and  papers  of  his  western  expedition,  induced  him 
here  to  change  his  mind,  and  to  take  his  course  by  land  through 
the  Chickasaw  country.  Although  he  appeared  somewhat  re- 


LIFE  OF  JAMES  A.  BAYARD. 


333 


li^ivedy  Mr.  Neely  kindly  determined  to  accompany  and  watch 
over  him.  Unfortunately,  at  their  encampment,  after  having  pass- 
ed the  Tennessee  one  day’s  journey,  they  lost  two  horses,  which 
obliging  Mr.  Neely  to  halt  for  their  recovery,  the  governor  pro- 
ceeded, under  a promise  to  wait  for  him  at  the  house  of  the  first 
white  inhabitant  on  his  road.  He  stopped  at  the  house  of  a Mr. 
Grinder,  who  not  being  at  home,  his  wife,  alarmed  at  the  symp- 
toms of  derangement  she  discovered,  gave  him  up  the  house  and 
retired  to  rest  herself  in  an  out-house,  the  governor’s  and  Neely’s 
servants  lodging  in  another.  About  three  o’clock  in  the  night  he 
did  the  deed  which  plunged  his  friends  into  affliction,  and  de- 
prived his  country  of  one  of  her  most  valued  citizens,  whose  va- 
lour and  intelligence  would  have  been  now  employed  in  avenging 
the  wrongs  of  his  country,  and  in  emulating  by  land  the  splendid 
deeds  which  have  honoured  her  arms  on  the  ocean. It  lost  too 
to  the  nation  the  benefit  of  receiving  from  his  own  hand  the  nar- 
rative of  his  sufferings  and  successes,  in  endeavouring  to  extend 
for  them  the  boundaries  of  science,  and  to  present  to  their  know- 
ledge that  vast  and  fertile  country,  which  their  sons  are  destined 
to  fill  with  arts,  with  science,  with  freedom  and  happiness.” 


FOR  THE  AKALECTIC  MAGAZINE. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  MEMOIR  OF  THE  HONOURABLE  JAMES  A.  BAYARD. 

The  loss  of  public  benefactors  is  always  a national  ca- 
lamity. But  there  is  a period  of  life  when,  having  performed 
their  allotted  task,  they  stand  upon  the  verge  of  time,  and  are 
ready  to  sink  into  the  grave,  full  of  years  and  full  of  honours. 
The  separation  which  a grateful  country  mourns,  is  deprived 
of  half  its  sorrows  by  the  reflection  that  their  days  of  activity 
were  gone.  Age  which  threatens  to  dissolve  the  union  that 
has  been  cemented  by  mutual  benefits  and  affection,  bears 
with  it,  in  the  course  of  nature,  infirmities  that  impair  the 
ability  and  restrain  the  enterprise  of  man.  Living,  he  is  but 
a monument  of  former  worth;  and  the  grave,  which  encloses 
his  enervated  body,  leaves  his  bright  example  to  excite  the 

* This  was  written  in  August,  1813- 


334 


ORIGINAL. 


imitation,  and  his  unsullied  name  to  receive  the  respect  of  af- 
ter ages.  Public  affliction  seeks  in  vain  for  consolation  when 
its  object  has  been  arrested  in  the  midst  of  his  career  of  use- 
fulness: vdien  schemes  of  national  advancement,  but  partially 
matured,  must  be  buried  with  their  inventor:  when  the  seeds 
of  public  aggrandizement  have  been  profusely  scattered,  but 
the  harvest  remains  ungathered:  when  the  course  already  run 
— bright  and  honourable  as  it  has  been,  is  but  the  moiety  of 
what  w^as  destined  for  its  daring  efforts:  and  when,  having  pas- 
sed the  temptations  of  early  life,  and  overcome  its  instability, 
it  yet  was  far  distant  from  the  feebleness  of  years;  and  stand- 
ing at  the  happy  and  enviable  medium  between  youth  and  age, 
it  united  daring,  ardent,  and  adventurous  enterprise,  wdth  the 
wariest  prudence  and  most  calculating  philosophy.  Private 
lamentation  is  but  the  echo  of  national  sorrow,  and  the  bosoms 
that  throb  for  the  loss  of  a parent  and  a friend,  sympathize 
with  the  distresses  and  beat  in  unison  -with  the  hearts  of  a 
wfflole  people. 

In  the  meridian  of  life,  died  James  A.  Bayard.  A great 
man’s  best  eulogium  is  the  history  of  his  actions;  and  a rapid 
vdew  of  the  features  of  his  public  conduct,  and  the  occasions 
upon  which  he  -was  chiefly  conspicuous,  will  serve  to  recall 
events  that  endeared  him  to  his  country,  and  to  perpetuate  in 
the  nation’s  memory  a consciousness  of  the  magnitude  of  its 
loss. 

Mr.  Bayard  was  the  son  of  Dr.  James  A.  Bayard,  and 
w'as  born  in  Philadelphia,  in  the  year  1767.  His  parents  dy- 
ing wdiile  he  was  yet  a child,  he  w as  placed  under  the  guar- 
dianship of  his  uncle,  the  late  colonel  John  Bayard,  of  whose 
family  he  became  a member,  and  with  whom  he  continued  to 
reside  for  several  years.  His  education  was  submitted  to  the 
care  of  the  reverend  Mr.  Smith,  a most  respectable  clergyman 
of  Picqua,  in  Lancaster  county;  and  after  remaining  with  him 
a considerable  time,  he  resumed  his  studies  in  his  uncle’s  fa- 
mily with  the  assistance  of  a private  tutor.  There  he  conti- 
nued until  he  w^as  qualified  for  admission  into  Princeton  col- 


LIFE  OF  JAMES  A.  BAYARD. 


335 


lege.  ' In  that  respectable  seminary  he  passed  the  important 
and  interesting  season  of  life  when  the  faculties  first  assert 
their  tone  and  vigour,  and  when  the  mind  becomes  moulded 
into  the  form  on  which  the  future  character  is  stamped.  His 
abilities,  which  did  not  satisfactorily  display  themselves  until 
the  second  or  third  year  of  his  college  life,  were  rapidly  de- 
veloped. The  prompt  and  energetic,  yet  deliberating  and 
steady  character  of  his  mind,  was  already  conspicuous.  He 
retired  from  college  with  distinguished  honour,  and  in  the  re- 
putation w^hich  he  carried  with  him  into  the  more  extended 
scenes  of  life,  he  gave  a pledge  of  future  eminence  w^hich  has 
since  been  nobly  and  faithfully  redeemed. 

In  the  year  1784,  Mr.  Bayard  having  selected  the  pro- 
fession of  the  law  as  the  best  adapted  to  his  course  of  reflec- 
tion, and  the  most  likely  to  aflbrd  an  opportunity  for  the  dis- 
play of  acquirements  which  his  industry  and  intellectual  vi- 
gour promised  soon  to  master,  commenced  his  studies  wuth 
the  late  general  Pteed,  and  upon  his  death,  renewed  and  suc- 
cessfully prosecuted  them  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Inger- 
soll,  the  present  attorney-general  of  Pennsylvania.  On  his 
admission  to  the  bar,  he  selected  the  state  of  Delaware 
for  his  place  of  residence,  and  the  thcotre  for  the  pursuit  of 
his  professional  labours.  To  this  selection  the  state  of  Dela- 
ware is  proud  to  acknowledge  itself,  in  a great  degree,  in- 
debted for  a political  weight  in  the  national  councils,  which 
neither  its  population  nor  resources,  its  local  advantages  nor 
geographical  extent,  could  have  secured.  With  a single  re- 
presentative upon  the  floor  of  congress,  that  little  state  as- 
sumed an  attitude  w’hich  commanded  the  highest  respect,  and 
retained  an  influence  and  authority  wrhich  a ten-fold  more  nu- 
merous representation  has  rarely  possessed.  His  shining  quali- 
ties disarmed  the  opposition  and  overcame  the  difficulties  which 
a young  man  necessarily  encounters  in  a strange  place;  and 
his  unwearied  industry  secured  the  attention  that  had  been  li- 
berally bestowed.  He  soon  attained  a situation  of  the  most 
distinguished  respectability  at  the  bar,  and  participated  large- 
ly in  the  honours  and  emoluments  of  the  profession. 


336 


OHIGINAL. 


Not  long  after  he  arrived  at  the  constitutional  age,  Mr. 
Bayard  was  elected  a representative  to  congress,  and  remained 
in  public  life  from  that  moment  through  all  the  vicissitudes  of 
party  triumph  and  defeat,  until  the  time  of  his  death.  Ac- 
tively engaged  in  political  and  professional  duties,  he  contri- 
ved to  reconcile  their  endless  varieties,  and  evinced  a rare 
and  happy  aptitude  for  both.  At  the  same  moment  one  of  the 
most  conspicuous  supporters  of  the  federal  administration,  and 
a leader  of  acknow  ledged  ability  in  the  house  of  representa- 
tives— and  the  chief  ornament  of  the  forum,  where  he  had 
chosen  to  excel.  At  once  the  profound  jurist  and  the  accom- 
plished statesman;  the  acute,  ingenious,  and  dexterous  advo- 
cate, and  the  eloquent  and  dignified  occupant  of  the  parlia- 
mentary floor.  The  same  efforts  of  industry,  and  powers  of 
genius,  that  qualified  and  calculated  him  for  superiority  in  the 
less  magnified  but  intricate  controversies  of  individuals,  rea- 
dily enabled  him  to  extend  his  intellectual  grasp  to  the  com- 
prehension of  more  enlarged  topics'  of  general  interest,  which 
involved  the  duties  and  the  policy,  the  happiness  and  the 
rights  of  nations.  The  study  and  practice  of  the  law  is  cal- 
culated to  add  vigour  to  a mind  naturally  strong.  In  a coun- 
try emphatically  subject  to  the  government  of  the  laws  alone, 
the  remark  is  peculiarly  obvious  and  perpetually  illustrated; 
and  from  the  multitude  of  the  professors  of  that  science,  who 
have  borne  the  weight  of  public  councils,  and  successfully  en- 
deavoured to  ennoble  by  their  efforts  the  national  character, 
it  derives  irresistible  weight  and  authority.  To  Mr.  Bayard’s 
early  adoption  and  active  and  vigorous  pursuit  of  this  profes- 
sion, are  to  be  ascribed,  in  no  unimportant  degree,  the  method 
of  his  arguments,  and  the  logical  accuracy  of  his  inferences. 

An  important  occasion  for  distinction  soon  presented  it- 
self to  Mr.  Bayard,  in  the  accusation  of  William  Blount,  a 
member  of  the  United  States’  senate,  of  high  crimes  and  mis- 
demeanors; and  the  proceedings  which  were  intended  to  be 
preparatory  to  his  impeachment. 

Qn  the  3d  of  July,  1797,  a message  was  communicated 
by  the  president  to  congress,  accompanied  by  a mysterious 


LIFE  OF  JAMES  A.  BAYARD. 


337 


_ letter  of  Mr.  Blount’s,  in  which  designs  were  demonstrated 
prejudicial  to  the  interests  and  injurious  to  the  character  of 
the  country.  A committee  was  promptly  appointed,  and  an 
impeachment  was  decreed  by  the  house.  Elevt;n  managers 
were  chosen  to  conduct  this  “ high  constitutional  proceeding.” 
Mr.  Sitgreaves,  who  had  been  originally  the  chairman  of  this 
honourable  committee,  was  appointed  a commissioner  under 
the  sixth  article  of  the  treaty  of  ami  ty,  commerce,  and  naviga- 
tion, with  Great  Britain,  and  the  duties  of  that  station  de- 
volved on  Mr.  Bayard.  To  the  articles  of  impeachment  ex- 
hibited, the  accused  jileaded  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  senate; 
upon  the  principle  that  a senator  is  not  a civil  officer^  within 
the  meaning  of  the  constitution;  and  that  the  courts  of  common 
law  were  “ competent  to  the  cognizance,  prosecution,  and 
punishment  of  the  said  crimes  and  misdemeanors,  if  the  same 
have  been  perpetrated,  as  has  been  suggested  and  charged 
by  the  said  articles.”  The  preliminary  question  growing  out 
of  this  plea  was  to  be  discussed,  and  the  direction  of  this  deli- 
cate and  interesting  inquiry,  was  submitted  to  the  chairman, 
and  Mr.  Harper,  one  of  the  managers.  The  subject  under- 
went a laborious  and  ingenious  discussion,  in  which  the  con- 
stitution was  thoroughly  sifted,  and  the  doctrines  of  the  com- 
mon law  of  England  bearing  a remote  or  close  analogy  to  the 
point  in  controversy,  were  made  tributary  to  the  talents  of 
the  respective  advocates. 

The  decision  was  adverse  to  the  managers;  a majority  of 
fourteen  to  eleven  senators  deciding,  “ that  the  matter  alleged 
in  the  plea  of  the  defendant  is  sufficient  in  law  to  show  that 
this  court  ought  not  to  hold  jurisdiction  of  the  said  impeach- 
' - ment,  and  that  the  said  impeachment  is  dismissed.”  The 
efforts  were  abortive,  because  the  cause  was  insupportable; 
but  the  exertion  was  not  the  less  honourable,  nor  the  display 
of  genius  and  erudition  the  less  brilliant,  because  success  did 
not  crown  them. 

It  w as  the  happy  and  peculiar  quality  of  Mr.  Bayard  to 
^ excite  the  esteem ‘and  command  the  confidence  of  both  of  the 


VOL.- vn. 


4-3 


S35 


ORIGINAL. 


great  political  parties,  into  which  the  nation  since  its  inde- 
pendence has  been  divided.  Though  ahvays  consistent  and 
firm  in  the  course  w^hich  he  had  originally  adopted,  yet  he 
never  sacrificed  or  rendered  subservient  the  cause  of  his  coun- 
try to  purposes  of  party  ambition  or  animosity.  He  was  a 
federalist,  because  he  believed  that  the  dearest  rights  and  best 
interests  of  the  nation  were  involved  in  and  promoted  by  the 
great  system  of  policy,  and  course  of  measures,  adopted  and 
' pursued  by  federalists.  His  acquaintance  with  history,  and 
knowdedge  of  human  nature,  convinced  him  that  men  must  be 
governed  that  they  may  be  free  and  happy.  He  was  opposed 
to  anti-federalism,  because  he  thought  that  the  demoralizing 
and  pernicious  example  of  a sister  republic  had  threatened  to 
involve  America  in  the  vortex  of  its  contagion;  and  that  a di- 
minished strength  of  government,  and  adoption  of  disorga- 
nizing principles,  -would  lead  to  the  result  here  -which  he  early 
and  confidently  predicted  w ith  regard  to  France.  But  he  had 
no  party  feelings,  distinguished  from  those  of  patriotism.  He 
always  keenly  felt  for  the  sufferings,  and  gloried  in  the  tri- 
umphs of  his  country:  his  sensibility  was  actively  and  con- 
stantly alive  to  her  slightest  wrongs;  and  the  interest  that  he 
felt  not  only  became  matured  into  the  keenest  perception  of 
'what  was  due  to  the  nation’s  honour  and  advantage,  but  often 
grew  into  a morbid  and  feverish  irritability  on  points  of  na- 
tional feeling  and  concern. 

At  an  early  period  of  his  political  career,  Mr.  Bayard 
was  designated  as  a proper  representative  of  the  character 
and  concerns  of  the  nation  abroad.  His  political  sagacity, 
personal  intrepidity,  and  cool  discriminating  judgment,  could 
not  fail  to  distinguish  him  as  peculiarly  qualified  for  diplo- 
macy. Accordingly,  not  long  before  the  close  of  Mr.  Adams’s 
presidential  career,  he  offered  to  Mr.  Bayard  the  appoint- 
ment of  envoy  to  the  French  republic.  This,  from  motives 
of  prudence,  he  thought  proper  to  decline. 

At  the  first  election  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  a most  extraordi- 
nary scene  was  displayed.  The  constitution  provides,  that 


LIFE  OF  JAMES  A.  BAYARD. 


339. 


V the  person  haviilg  the  greatest  number  of  votes  shall  be  the 
president,  if  such  number  be  a majority  of  the  whole  number 
of  electors  appointed;  and  if  there  be  more  than  one  who  have 
such  majority,  and  have  an  equal  number  of  votes,  then  the 
house  of  representatives  shall  immediately  choose  by  ballot 
one  of  them  for  president,”  In  that  situation  stood  the  can- 
didates, and  the  election  devolved  of  consequence  upon  the 
house  of  representatives.  No  less  than  thirty-six  times  was 
the  vote  ineffectual,  each  party,  equally  zealous,  and  equally 
numerous,  adhering  to  its  candidate.  The  federalists  of  the 
house  adopted,  as  they  believed  the  less  evil,  the  side  of  Mr. 
Burr,  and  persevered  during  so  many  abortive  efforts  to  give 
him  their  votes.  It  was  at  length  perceived,  that  a pertinacious 
adherence  to  this  course  of  conduct  might  expose  the  country 
to  greater  embarrassment  and  difficulty  than  even  the  selection 
of  a president,  who  was  considered  dangerous;  and  some  of 
the  federalists  determined  to  withdraw  frbm  him  their  opposi- 
tion, without  giving  him  direct  countenance  and  support. 
They  accordingly  threw  into  the  box  blank  votes;  and  the 
election  of  Mr.  Jefferson  was  thus  obtained.  By  a sacrifice 
of  personal  feeling  and  judgment,  which  required  no  ordinary 
firmness  and  magnanimity,  Mr.  Bayard,  by  this  means,  princi- 
pally contributed  to  place  in  the  executive  chair  the  decided 
enemy  of  the  men  and  measurcvs  that  he  personally  approved; 
and  removed  to  a distance,  apparantly  insurmountable,  the 
fulfilment,  if  they  existed,  of  his  own  political  aspirations. 
But  the  good  of  the  country  required  it,  and  the  sacrifice  was 
made. 

A change  of  hands  was  now  effiscted  in  the  politi- 
cal game.  They  who  had  been  accustomed  to  complain 
at  every  measure  of  the  administration,  and  to  find  them 
selves  frustrated  in  every  attempt,  had  become  in  turn  the 
rulers  of  the  nation’s  destiny.  While  the  men  who  had 
heretofore  guided  the  helm  of  state,  and  regulated  the  courses 
of  the  political  voyage,  yielded  their  supremacy,  and  became 
a reluctant  but  formidable  minority.  Xhe  conte&t  was  stoutly 


340 


ORIGIN'AL., 


maintained.  The  struggle  was  arduous,  and  the  victory  dear- 
ly won.  The  expiring  blaze  of  federal  power  exhibited  a 
splendour  of  intellectual  effort  which  will  never  be  forgotten, 
and  left  a gloom  hanging  over  the  councils  of  its  successors 
that  ages  cannot  dispel.  Inch  by  inch  the  ground  was  con- 
tested; and  yielded  at  last,  not  to  the  force  of  argument,  or 
the  demonstration  of  right,  but  to  overwhelming  superiority  of 
numbers. 

A sweeping  revolution  of  officers,  in  every  department 
W'ithin  the  control  of  the  executive,  -was  beheld  with  astonish- 
ment. It  w-as  however  readily  submitted  to,  as  it  affected  not 
the  constitution.  But  -when  that  instrument  appeared  to  be 
threatened,  the  united  energies  of  the  party,  rallied  round 
its  imperishable  standard.  In  their  efforts  to  preserve  it  un- 
impaired, they  encircled  it  -with  a garland  of  eloquence^and 
patriotism  as  lasting  as  the  monument  it  adorns.  An  able  re- 
presentative from  South  Carolina, conjured  the  majority  “ to 
celebrate  their  victory  by  more  harmless  sports.  Let  them,” 
says  he,  ‘‘  triumph  over  us,  but  not  by  immolating  the  consti- 
tution; let  them  beware,  that  in  erecting  a triumphal  arch  for 
the  celebration  of  their  success,  they  do  not  dig  a grave,  and 
decree  funeral  rites  for  our  constitution.  Myself  and  ray  friends 
have  always  been  the  sincere  friends  of  this  constitution,  and 
we  will  attempt  its  defence  as  long  as  wc  have  the  means  of 
making  it.  We  wall  struggle  to  the  last;  if  w^e  cannot  command 
success  we  wall  endeavour  to  deserve  it;  and  should  the  friends 
of  the  constitution  be  subdued  by  numbers,  the  ministerial 
phalanx,  in  bursting  into  the  temple,  will,  I hope,  find  them  all 
at  their  posts:  they  wall  be  seen  in  the  portico,  the  vestibule, 
and  around  the  altar,  grasping,  grappling  the  constitution  of 
their  country  wath  the  holds  of  death,  and  wath  nolumus  mutari 
on  their  lips.” 

Among  the  most  memorable  of  these  struggles,  in  which 
the  vital  principles  of  the  constitution  wmre  supposed  to  be 
involved,  wms  that  for  the  maintenance  of  the  judiciary  sys- 


Rutledge. 


LITE  OF  JAMES  A.  BAYARD. 


341 


tern,  established  towards  the  close  of  the  administration  of 
Mr.  Adams.  The  inconvenience  of  the  original  organization 
of  the  courts  of  the  United  States  had  been  long  experienced, 
and  a well  digested  plan  had  been  prepared  and  substituted 
with  infinite  pains.  Its  chief 'object  was  to  facilitate  the  de- 
spatch of  business;  to  preserve  to  the  supreme  court  all  its  con- 
stitutional functions,  and  to  destroy  the  anomaly  of  appeals 
from  component  parts  of  a body  to  the  body  itself.  On  the 
13th  of  February,  1801,  the  act  was  passed  ^Oo  provide  for 
the  more  convenient  organization  of  the  courts  of  the  United 
States.”  This  divided  the  country  into  districts,  and  united 
those  districts  into  convenient  circuits,  and  prescribed  the 
session  of  the  courts  not  only  in  every  circuit,  but  in  each 
subdivision,  or  district  of  the  circuits.  It  provided  for  the 
appointment  of  three  judges  for  each  of  the  six  circuits,  whose 
duty  it  should  be  to  hold  courts  in  their  different  departments 
at  seasonable  terms;  and  authorized  appeals  to  the  supreme 
court  in  all  cases  where  the  sum  in  controversy  should  exceed 
two  thousand  dollars. 

The  judges  were  accordingly  appointed,  and  the  courts 
went  into  complete  and  successful  operation.  The  extent  of 
patronage  however,  which  the  system  was  supposed  to  have 
conferred  on  the  president,  excited  the  warmest  oppugnancy 
on  the  part  of  his  political  adversaries,  and  they  cherished  the 
hope  of  speedily  effecting  a change.  On  the  4th  of  March 
following,  the  new  president  was  inducted  into  power.  The 
offices  within  the  grasp  of  executive  authority  were  promptly 
vacated,  and  a host  of  new  incumbents  was  summoned  to  fill 
the  empty  chairs.  The  constitution,  it  was  maintained,  per- 
mitted no  such  arrangement  with  regard  to  the  judiciary. 
The  dum  hene  se  gesserit  tenure  of  its  offices  forbade  an  ap- 
peal to  the  president,  and  the  constitution  must  be  unravelled 
by  the  legislature.  Still  a direct  infraction  of  its  explicit  pro- 
visions would  have  been  too  palpable  and  partial  an  eftbrt  of 
favouritism,  and  individual  removal  was  therefore  impractica-, 
ble.  But  the  object  would  be  no  le.ss  effectually  attained  by 


ORIGlNAli. 


. 342 

a provision  which,  at  a single  blow,  should  level  system  and 
supporters,  judges  and  their  courts,  altogether.  In  both  houses 
of  congress  the  effort  was  manfully  resisted.  The  majority 
was  conjured  not  to  interfere  with  this  remnant  of  federal  po- 
licy, because  it  was  engrafted  upon  the  constitution.  They 
were  entreated  to  postpone  a decision  until  the  public  opinion 
could  he  clearly  ascertained,  and  the  efficacy  of  the  system 
could  be  tested  by  experience;  they  were  offered  any,  and 
every  compromise: — if  the  army  w^ere  disliked,  to  abolish  it; 
if  a further  reduction  of  the  little  navy  were  required,  to  re- 
duce it: — to  surrender  internal  revenues,  and,  indeed,  to  make 
any  sacrifice  short  of  the  constitution. 

On  this  memorable  occasion  all  parties  united  in  paying 
homage  to  the  abilities  of  Mr.  Bayard.  It  will  not  be  invi- 
dious to  remark,  that  in  the  constellation  of  talents  that  glitter- 
ed in  that,  transaction  none  were  more  conspicuous  than 
his.  He  was  alike  distinguished  for  the  depth  of  his  know- 
ledge, the  solidity  of  his  reasoning,  and  the  perspicuity  of  his 
illustration.  On  his  own  side  of  the  house  his  range  was  pro- 
nounced to  be  “ commensurate  with  the  extent  of  his  own 
mighty  mind,  and  with  the  magnitude  of  the  subject,”  which 
was  declared  to  be  as  awful  as  any  on  this  side  of  the  grave. 
On  the  part  of  the  majority  he  was  termed  the  Goliath  of  the 
adverse  party,  and  sarcastically,  but  with  truth,  denominated 
the  high  priest  of  the  constitution.  In  the  discussion  of  the 
bill,  introduced  for  the  repeal  of  the  law"  establishing  the  ju- 
diciary system,  Mr.  Giles  had  taken  occasion  to  attack'with 
vehemence  the  whole  course  of  measures  adopted  by  the  fede- 
ralists, and  to  assail  them  individually  and  collectively.  In 
reply,  Mr.  Bayard  felt  himself  called  on  to  travel  out  of  the 
immediate  course  of  argument  which  the  question  afforded, 
and  to  enter  upon  a collateral  one,  into  w"hich  he  w^as  driven 
in  defence  of  his  own,  and  the  conduct  of  his  friends.  He 
traced  the  division  of  party  to  the  difference  of  views,  as  t<^ 
the  powers  w"hich  do,  and  ought  to  belong  to  the  general  and 
state  governments,  fie  deprecated  the  effect  of  state  pride  in 


LIFE  OF  JAMES  A.  BAYAKD. 


343 


extinguishing  national  sentiment.  “ The  ruins  of  this  govern- 
ment,” said  he,  “ aggrandize  the  states.  There  are  states 
which  are  too  proud  to  be  controlled;  whose  sense  of  greatness 
and  resource  renders  them  indifferent  to  our  protection,  and 
induces  a belief  that  if  no  general  government  existed,  their 
influence  would  be  more  extensive;  and  their  importance 
more  conspicuous.”  He  met  the  complaints  against  the 
federal  party  for  their  various  prominent  measures  and  prin- 
ciples. Assumption  of  state  debts — internal  taxes — the  In- 
dian war — the  navy — war  with  Algiers — preparations  for 
expected  hostilities  with  France — the  memory  of  Washing- 
ton— all  of  which  had  been  openly  or  indirectly  assailed, 
passed  in  review  under  his  masterly  hand,  and  were  depicted 
in  the  most  glowing  colours.  He  asserted  and  maintained  the 
soundness  of  the  doctrine,  that  the  constitution  was  founded 
in  an  existing  common  law,  and  that  the  evils  imputed  to  it 
never  had,  or  could  have,  any  existence.  He  vindicated  the 
judges  from  the  imputation  of  having  sought  for  victims  of  ri- 
gorous statutes,  and  retorted  upon  the  new  executive  a simi- 
lar charge.  If,”  he  observes,  “ the  eyes  of  the  gentleman 
are  delighted  with  victims — if  objects  of  misery  are  grateful 
to  his  feelings,  let  me  turn  his  view  from  the  walks  of  the 
judges  to  the  track  of  the  present  executive.  It  is  in  this  path 
we  see  the  real  victims  of  stern,  uncharitable,  unrelenting 
power.  It  is  here,  sir,  we  see  the  soldier  who  fought  the  bat- 
tles of  the  revolution; — who  spilt  his  blood,  and  wasted  his 
strength  to  establish  the  independence  of  his  country,  deprived 
of  the  reward  of  his  services,  and  left  to  pine  in  penury  and 
wretchedness.  It  is  along  this  path  that  you  may  see  help- 
less children  crying  for  bread,  and  gray  hairs  sinking  in  sor- 
row to  the  grave.  It  is  here  that  no  innocence,  no  merit,  no 
truth,  no  services  can  save  the  unhappy  sectaries  who  do  not 
believe  in  the  creed  of  those  in  power.  I have  been  forced 
upon  this  subject,  and,  before  I leave  it,  allow  me  to  remark, 
that  without  inquiring  into  the  right  of  the  president  to  make 
vacancies  in  oflice  during  the  recess  in  the  senate,  but  admit- 


344 


ORIGINAL. 


ling  the  power  to  exist,  yet  that  it  never  was  given  by  the 
renstitution  to  enable  the  chief  magistrate  to  punish  the  in- 
sults, to  revenge  the  wrongs,  or  to  indulge  the, antipathies  of 
the  man.  If  the  discretion  exists,  I have  no  hesitation  in  say- 
ing, that  it  is  abused  when  exercised  from  any  other  motive 
than  the  public  good.  And  when  1 see  the  will  of  a presi- 
dent precipitating  from  office  men  of  probity,  knowledge,- and 
talents,  against  whom  the  community  has  no  complaint,  I con- 
sider it  a wanton  and  dangerous  abuse  of  power;  and  where  1 
see  men  who  have  been  the  victims  of  this  abuse  of  power,  I 
view  them  as  the  proper  objects  of  national  sympathy  and 
commiseration.” 

Having  thus  pursued  his  antagonists  through  their  erratic 
flight,  among  topics  faintly  and  remotely  connected  with  the 
legitimate  subject  of  discussion — Mr.  Bayard  assumed  the 
argument  with  respect  to  the  repeal  of  the  judiciary  law. 
Deeply  versed  in  his  subject,  from  profound  reflection,  and 
active  experience;  and  sensibly  interested,  from  a solemn 
conviction  of  its  magnitude,  he  penetrated  the  deepest  re- 
cesses of  his  theme.  The  inexpediency  of  the  bill  was  main- 
tained, because  it  would  restore  the  evil  of  appeals  from  the 
individuals  who  pronounce  a decision,  to  the  court  of  which 
the  same  individuals  are  component  parts;  which  had  been 
obviated  by  making  the  supreme  court  merely  the  great  na- 
tional tribunal  of  last  resort,  before  which,  questions  of  un- 
limited magnitude  and  concern  both  of  a civil  and  political 
.nature  should  receive  their  final  determination — the  national 
crucible  of  justice,  in  which  the  judgments  of  inferior  courts 
might  be  reduced  to  them  elements,  and  cleansed  from  every 
impurity.  The  inconvenience  and  delay  attending  the  con- 
stant journeys  of  the  judges  on  their  circuits,  and  the  want 
of  uniformity  in  the  decisions  of  those  who  followed  each 
other  in  rapid  succession  in  the  same  districts  were  exposed. 
The  charge  that  the  new  system  was  introduced  not  so  much 
with  a view  to  improvement  in  the  old,  as  to  obtain  places 


LIFE  OF  JAMES  A.  BAYARD. 


345 


tor  the  friends  of  the  administration,  was  pronounced  a ca- 
lumny so  humble  and  so  notoriously  false,  as  neither  to  re- 
quire nor  deserve  an  answer.  The  advantage  of  the  increas- 
ed number  of  judges  to  sit  in  the  circuit  courts  was  displayed. 
It  was  demonstrated  that  no  additional  courts  had  been  creat- 
ed by  the  new  law — the  number  of  district  courts  remained 
the  same,  the  supreme  court  as  such,  was  unchanged;  a cir- 
cuit court  still  continued  to  be  held  in  each  district,  though 
under  an  improved  modification  as  to  form.  But  the  unna- 
tural alliance  of  the  difierent  courts  had  been  severed,  while 
the  jurisdiction  of  each  remained  untouched.  The  expense 
of  the  establishment  was  proved  to  be  insignificant;  and  the 
arguments  that  had  been  urged  that  it  was  formed  by  a party 
at  a time  when  they  were  sensible  that  their  power  was  ex- 
piring and  passing  into  other  hands,  were  answered  by  the 
assertion  of  the  fulness  and  legitimacy  of  that  power — that  the 
remnant  was  plenary  and  efficient,  and  it  was  their  duty  to 
employ  it  according  to  their  judgments  and  consciences  for 
the  good  of  the  country.  They  thought  the  bill  a salutary 
and  wise  measure,  and  there  wms  no  obligation  on  them  to 
leave  it  to  their  successors.  They  had  indeed,  no  confidence 
in  the  persons  who  were  to  follow^  them,  and  were  therefore 
the  more  anxious  to  accomplish  a work  which  might  contri- 
bute to  the  safety  of  the  nation  by  giving  strength  and  sup- 
port to  the  constitution  through  the  storm  to  wdiich  it  was 
likely  to  be  exposed. 

The  constitutionality  of  the  proposed  repeal  was  argued 
with  no  less  ability,  than  its  expediency.  It  was  declared  to 
resolve  itself  into  the  question,  whether  the  legislature  has  a 
right  by  law  to  remove  a judge.  The  object  of  the  advocates 
of  repeal,  w as  to  evince  a distinction  between  the  removal  of 
a judge  and  the  extinction  of  the  office — and  therefore  that 
the  purpose  which  Avas  prohibited  from  being  done  directly, 
might  still  be  indirectly  effected:  a difference  being  supposed 
to  exist  between  taking  the  office  from  the  judge,  and  remov- 
ing the  judge  from  the  office.  Tw'o  prominent  features  of  the 
VOL.  VII.  44 


34G 


ORIGINAL. 


constitution  were  perpetually  exhibited  in  reply  to  such  sug- 
gestions:— that  the  judges  hold  their  offices  during  good  be- 
haviour;— and  that  their  compensation  shall  not  be  diminish- 
ed during  their  continuance  in  office.^  By  the  term  good 
behaviour^  it  "vvas  said  was  intended  a tenure  for  life,  qualified 
and  accompanied  by  the  good  conduct  of  the  judge,  the  ces- 
sation of  which  must  be  ascertained  by  impeachment.  Bui, 
said  the  administration  party,  a necessary  implication  is  con- 
tained in  the  power  given  to  congress  from  time  to  time  to 
establish  tribunals  inferior  to  the  supreme  court — a power  it  is 
presumed  that  could  not  carry  with  it  by  any  implication,  the 
right  to  destroy  them.  Inferences  too  of  a most  extraordina- 
ry character  were  drawn  from  the  use  of  the  word  “ hold,”  in 
allusion  to  judicial  continuance  in  office.  The  president 
nominates  the  judge,  and  commissions  him  when  approved  by 
the  senate.  It  was  hence  inferred  that  as  the  president  nomi- 
nates and  commissions  the  judge,  the  judge  holds  the  office 
of  the  president;  and  that  when  the  constitution  provides 
that  the  tenure  of  the  office  shall  be  during  good  behaviour, 
the  provision  applies  to  the  president,  and  restrains  the  pow^- 
er  which  would  otherwise  result  in  consequence  of  the  offices 
being  holden  of  him,  to  remove  the  judges  at  will.  It  was  no 
difficult  task  to  expose  the  errors  of  an  argument,  which  im- 
puted to  the  president  of  the  United  States  regal  attributes ' 
and  prerogatives,  derived  not  from  the  pure  fountain  of  the 
constitution;  but  from  the  rude  doctrines  of  the  feudal  law,  by 
which  the  executive  is  made  the  fountain  of  honour,  of  justice 
and  of  office;  an  argument  which  would  make  the  courts — the 
president’s  courts,  and  the  judges  the  president’s  judges;  and 
would  infuse  into  the  institutions  of  the  republic  the  vital 
spirit  of  feudal  principles.  The  construction  of  laws,  or  the 
application  of  them  to  the  touchstone  of  the » constitution, 
must  be  vested  in  some  efficient  authority.  With  whom 
should  it  reside?  Not  with  the  legislature  or  executive,  be- 
cause they  have  already  passed  upon  the  merits  and  pro- 


* Cons.  U.  S.  xVrti  3.  Sec.  1. 


LIFE  OF  JAMES  A.  BAYARD. 


34? 


priety  of  a law,  by  its  enactment.  Not,  surely^  with  the 
people — who  construing  a law’  to  be  void,  and  violating  its 
sanctions,  expose  themselves  to  its  penalties;  which,  hard 
and  iniquitous  as  they  may  be',  must  be  blindly  enforced  by 
the  judiciary  if  they  have  no  power  of  construction:  and  the 
effect  of  a right  to  disregard  the  provisions  of  a statute  will 
be  to  impose  the  inconsistent  and  paradoxical  duty  of  inflict- 
ing upon  those  who  have  merely  exercised  a right,  necessary 
and  condign  punishment.  Such  a construction  must  rest  only 
with  the  judges;  and  the  existence  of  the  judges  cannot  pos- 
sibly be  dependent  upon  a body  whose  acts  they  may  set  at 
defiance  and  pronounce  void.  This  would  suppose  a right 
of  the  legislature  to  destroy  the  office  of  the  judge  and  a si- 
multaneous but  heterogeneous  right  of  the  judge  to  vacate  the 
act  of  the  legislature.  ‘‘  You  have  a right,”  said  Mr.  Bayard, 
“ to  abolish  by  a law,  the  offices  of  the  judges  of  the  circuit 
courts.  They  have  a right  to  declare  your  law’  void.  It 
unavoidably  folio w^s  in  the  exercise  of  these  rights,  either 
that  you  destroy  their  rights,  or  that  they  destroy  yours. 
This  doctrine  is  not  an  harmless  absurdity,  it  is  a most  dan- 
gerous heresy.  It  is  a doctrine  w’hich  cannot  be  practised, 
without  producing  not  discord  only,  but  bloodshed.  If  you 
pass  the  bill  upon  your  table,  the  judges  have  a constitutional 
right  to  declare,  it  void.  I hope  they  wdll  have  courage  to 
exercise  that  right;  and  if,  sir,  I am  called  upon  to  take  my 
side,  standing  acquitted  in  my  conscience  and  before  my  God, 
of  all  motives  but  the  support  of  the  constitution  of  my  coun- 
try, I shall  not  tremble  at  the  consequences.” 

The  utmost  efforts  of  skill  and  the  best  exertions  of  elo- 
quence were  ineffectual,  and  on  the  8th  of  March,  1802,  the 
act  to  provide  for  the  more  convenient  organization  of  the 
courts  of  the  United  States,  was  repealed. 

Thus  terminated  the  celebrated  judiciary  system;  and  with 
it,  one  of  the  most  interesting  discussions  that  has  awaken- 
ed the  attention  of  the  American  people.  Independent  of  the 
forcible  and  eloquent  appeals  made  within  the  walls  of  con* 


OIIIGIXAL. 


:^48 

gress,  addresses  from  various  quarters  of  the  union  were  re- 
ceived in  which  the  benefits  of  the  ne^w  arrangement  were 
portrayed,  and  the  danger  and  mischief  of  its  annihilation 
insisted  on.  But  ail  in  vain. 

A change  of  rulers  being  effected,  the  cares  of  legislative 
business  devolved  upon  other  hands.  The  labours  of  a mem- 
ber of  the  opposition,  particularly  at  a time  when  parties  run 
high,  are  far  from  being  burthensome.  The  arrangement  of 
business  is  entrusted  to  others;  and  all  that  he  can  display  is 
a jealous  care  of  the  rights  of  his  constituents,  and  a firm  op- 
position to  measures  which  he  believes  to  be  injurious  to  the 
welfare  of  the  country.  During  the  session  of  congress  Mr. 
Bayard  was  generally  at  his  post,  the  faithful  and  constant 
supporter  of  principles  which  he  brought  with  him  into  pub- 
lic life,  and  which  descended  wdth  him  to  the  grave.  In  the 
recess  of  legislative  duty  and  occupation,  he  successfully 
pursued  his  professional  avocations,  and  maintained  and  en- 
larged the  reputation  which  he  had  early  acquired. 

In  the  year Mr.  Bayard  was  elected  by  the  legisla- 

ture of  Delaware  to  a place  in  the  senate  of  the  United. 
States;  and  in  that  dignified  and  honourable  station,  continu- 
ed for  several  years,  as  he  had  been  in  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives, the  pure  politician  and  the  unbending  patriot. 

In  the  month  of  December,  1807,  the  first  embargo  law 
was  passed,  which  commenced  a series  of  restrictions  upon 
American  commerce,  which  are  happily  now  no  more.  After 
an  experiment  of  about  a twelvemonth,  it  was  proved  to  be 
inefiectual.  The  cupidity  of  the  trader  could  not  be  restrained 
by  statutes  howTver  penal,  and  the  existence  of  the  provisions 
of  the  statute,  exhibited  at  once  a government  restraining  the 
ardour  and  forbidding  the  advancement  of  a people  wdiom  it 
was  bound  to  protect;  and  a free  people  contemning  the  re- 
straints, and  breaking  through  the  authority  of  the  govern- 
ment of  their  choice.  The  law  w^hich,  prohibiting  not  the  de- 
parture of  a vessel,  attempted  to  prescribe  her  path  upon  the 
oces^n,  derived  none  of  its  details  from  an  acquaintance  with 


LIFE  OF  JAMES  A.  BAYARD. 


340 


the  devices  and  desires  of  the  human  heart.  It  might  possi- 
bly have  prevented  all  commerce,  foreign  and  domestic;  but, 
once  upon  the  deep,  a higher  destiny  guided  the  helm  and  pro- 
voked a deviation.  It  was  an  attempt  to  control  the  elements, 
and,  like  the  presumptuous  effort  of  king  Canute,  to  stay  the 
surge  of  the  ocean,  it  created  nothing  but  mortification  and 
disappointment  in  the  minds  by  which  it  was  engendered.  It 
was  well  observed  by  an  eloquent  member  of  the  house  of  re- 
presentatives,'^— that  tw^o  limits  exist  to  the  powder  of  the  na- 
tional legislature — nature,  and  the  constitution.  “ Should 
this  house,”  he  proceeds,  “ undertake- to  declare  that  this  at- 
mosphere should  no  longer  surround  us — that  water  should 
cease  to  flow — that  gravity  should  not  hereafter  operate — that 
the  needle  should  not  vibrate  to  the  pole;  1 think  I may  ven- 
ture to  affirm,  that,  such  a law  to  the  contrary  notwithstand- 
ing, the  air  would  continue  to  circulate;  the  Mississippi,  the 
Hudson,  and  the  Potomac,  would  hurl  their  floods  to  the  ocean; 
heavy  bodies  continue  to  descend;  and  the  mysterious  magnet, 
hold  on  its  course  to  its  celestial  cynosure.” 

In  February,  1809,  opportunity"  was  afforded  in  the  senate 
for  a direct  attack  upon  the  embargo.  Mr.  Giles  introduced 
a resolution  to  repeal  the  several  laws  laying  an  embargo  on 
all  ships  and  vessels  in  the  ports  and  harbours  of  the  United 
States,  except  as  to  Great  Britain  and  France  and  their  de- 
pendencies; and  to  make  provision  by  law  for  prohibiting  all 
commercial  intercourse  with  those  nations  and  their  dependen- 
cies, and  the  importation  of  any  article  into  the  United  States, 
the  growth,  produce,  or  manufacture  of  either  of  those  nations, 
or  of  the  dominions  of  either  of  them.  Mr.  Bayard  moved  to 
amend  the  resolution,  so  as  to  render  the  repeal  general,  and 
prevent  the  introduction  ^of  these  clauses  which  were  intended 
to  prohibit  commercial  intercourse  with  the  belligerent  na- 
tions. 

The  motion  of  Mr.  Giles  w as  supported  on  the  principle 
and  belief,  that  a suspension  of  intercourse  with  Great  Britain 


^ Mr,  Quincy. 


350 


ORIGINAL. 


and  France,  would  be  the  immediate  and  necessary  prelude 
to  open  war — that  the  exposure  of  vessels  to  capture  and  con- 
demnation under  the  orders  in  council,  w^ould  place  the  nation 
in  a predicament  that  would  render  hostilities  inevitable.  Some 
of  the  members  of  the  majority  had  been  desirous  of  promptly 
declaring  war  against  England;  but  othei's,  more  w'ary,  and 
less  confident  of  the  smiles  of  Providence,  whence  alone,  aid 
and  strength  were  to  come,  paused  on  the  brink  of  so  tremen- 
dous an  appeal,  and  refused  to  be  dragged  or  driven  into  the 
measure.  And  not  a few,  unwdlling  to  carry  their  hostile  pur- 
poses into  full  and  immediate  operation,  aimed  at  a partial 
system  of  w^arfare,  by  means  of  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal. 
This  too  was  rejected.  As  a substitute  for  more  active  mea- 
sures, but  calculated  to  contribute  virtually  to  the  same  end, 
the  non-intercourse  project  w^as  advanced  and  supported:  for 
this  reason  Mr.  Bayard  entered  his  solemn  and  powerful  pro- 
test against  it.  He  denied  that  England  was  an  enemy,  or 
that  any  necessity  existed  to  make  her  so.  He  admitted  that 
there  were  many  and  heavy  complaints  to  be  made  against 
her  conduct,  nor  did  he  deny  that  causes  existed  wdiich  might 
justify  a w^ar;  but  he  asserted  that  the  measure  was  forbidden 
by  policy;  and  not  required  by  honour.  He  avowed,  that 
whatever  were  the  aggressions  and  improprieties  of  England, 
and  hov/ever  little  he  was  disposed  to  defend  or  palliate  any 
aggression,  public  or  private,  against  the  rights  or  honour  of 
the  country,  yet  he  felt  equal  sensibility  at  what  had  been 
suffered  from  France.  He  denied  that  w'hat  wms  right  in  one 
nation,  could  be  wTong  in  another.  The  w*ar  upon  neutral  pri- 
vileges— that  part  of  it,  at  least,  which  scorned  even  the  pre- 
text and  mask  of  propriety,  and  openly  and  flagrantly  violated 
established  usage  and  principle — commenced  with  the  Berlin 
decree,  which,  finding  its  sanction  neither  in  precedent  nor 
principle,  asking  for  no  right,  and  established  only  in  pre- 
sumed power,  forbade  to  neutrals  a trade  with  England  or 
her  colonies,  or  the  carrying  of  her  manufactures  ox’  produce. 
What  ensued,  flagrant  as  it  was,  derived  a feeble,  indeed,  but 


LIFE  OF  JAMES  A.  BAYARD. 


35^ 


plausible  apology,  from  the  equally  novel  pretext  of  retalia- 
tory right.  It  was  unsound  doctrine  that  could  assert  the  suffi- 
ciency of  the  excuse:  but  in  the  scales  of  national  injustice, 
the  original  introduction  of  illegitimate  and  noxious  pretences, 
at  least  counterbalanced,  and,  perhaps,  far  outweighed  the 
imitation  that  pursued  with  no  tardy  pace  the  original,  initi- 
ate wrong.  More  especially  as  the  retaliating  power  could 
reproach  herself  merely  with  the  breach  of  international  law; 
' while  her  rival  superadded  to  the  infraction  of  established 
principles  a most  wanton  breach  of  faith,  plighted,  as  it  had 
been,  by  the  most  solemn  instrument  that  can  mature  and  make 
perfect  the  bond  by  which  different  communities  are  held  to- 
gether. As  upon  all  occasions  that  brought  Mr.  Bayard 
before  the  public,  he  was  on  this,  open  and  sincere:  tra- 
cing the  relatWe  position  of  America  with  regard  to  the  two 
great  belligerents,  to  its  supposed  source,  he  derived  it  mainly 
from  the  partial  feelings  and  actions  of  the  executive;  and 
from  a want  of  sincerity  in  their  negociations  with  England. 
This  charge  had  been  pronounced  by  the  friends  of  the  ad- 
ministration a miserable  vision,  and  Mr.  Bayard  declared  his 
conviction,  that  it  was  a miserable  melancholy  fact.  The  rule 
of  the  w'ar  of  1756 — constructive  blockades,  and  impressment 
of  seamen  from  American  merchant  vessels — were  all  examin- 
ed and  illustrated;  and  while  their  adoption  and  abuse  were 
demonstrated  and  condemned,  the  facility  of  correcting  all 
these  errors,  without  resorting  to  the  last  and  most  solemn  ap- 
peal of  nations,  was  distinctly  exhibited.  The  measures  of 
the  administration  were  arraigned,  not  only  for  insincerity, 
but  extreme  feebleness.  “ They  will  not,”  he  argues,  ‘‘  set- 
tle their  differences  witli  England,  and  yet  have  not  courage 
openly  to  quarrel  with  her;  they  pass  a non-importation  act 
to  punish  the  impressment  of  seamen,  and  the  aggressions 
upon  our  carrying  trade;  they  exclude,  by  proclamation,  Bri- 
tish armed  ships  from  our  -waters,  to  avenge  the  outrage  on 
the  Chesapeake; — and  what  benefit  to  ourselves  or  detriment 
to  our  adversary  have  these  measures  produced?  They  are 


ORIGINAL. 


a&2 

calculated  to  increase  the  animosity  between  the  nations,  but 
I know  of  no  other  effect  they  can  produce.  So  far  indeed 
have  they  been  from  constraining  Britain  to  accede  to  our 
terms,  that  they  have  rendered  her  more  regardless  of  our 
rights  and  interests.” 

There  was  certainly  little  independence  and  less  oppo- 
sition to  the  powers  that  had  aggrieved,  in  tamely  pursuing 
the  measures  which  they  in  effect  prescribed,  or  at  least  in 
furthering  and  promoting  their  degrading  views.  France  ex- 
pressly approved  of  the  embargo,  and  the  measures  of  Eng- 
land indicated  no  great  disinclination  for  the  act.  In  both 
houses  of  congress  it  was  depicted  as  a measure  of  subservi- 
ence, and  not  of  freedom.  An  eloquent  member  of  the  lower 
house  i^emarked,  in  reply  to  the  idea  that  acquiescence  in  the 
embargo  was  the  duty  of  freemen — “ an  embargo  liberty  was 
never  cradled  in  Massachusetts:  our  liberty  was  not  so  much 
a mountain  as  a sea  nymph:  she  was  free  as  air:  she  could 
s\yim  or  she  could  run:  the  ocean  was  her  cradle:  our  fathers 
met  her  as  she  came,  like  the  goddess  of  beauty,  from  the 
waves:  they  caught  her  whilst  she  was  sporting  on  the  beach: 
ihey  courted  her  as  she  was  spreading  her  nets  upon  the 
rocks:  but  an  embargo  liberty — a hand-cuffed  liberty!  a liber- 
ty in  fetters,  a liberty  traversing  between  the  four  sides  of  a 
prison,  and  beating  her  head  against  the  walls,  is  none  of  our 
offspring:  we  abjure  the  monster. 

The  object  of  the  administration  was  attained:  the  repeal 
of  the  embargo  was  only  partial,  and  the  succedaneum,  non-in- 
tercourse, w’as  an  obvious  prelude  to  actual  w'ar.  Still  the  re- 
sentment of  the  government,  executive,  and  legislative,  fore- 
bore  to  brandish  the  spear,  and  found  its  vent  in  words. 
Like  subterranean  fires,  w^hich  shake  the  elements  and  fright 
the  beholder  with  threats  of  future  mischief,  but  still  struggle 
in  vain  for  escape,  the  murmurs  of  discontent  continued  to  be 
heard  while  the  attitude  of  war  was  yet  unassumed. 


Mr.  Quincy. 


LIFE  OF  JAIttES  A.  BAYARD. 


353 


At  length,  in  the  month  of  June,  1812,  the  president 
communicated  to  congress  a message,  in  which  a declaration 
of  war  was  strongly  recommended.  In  the  lower  house  the 
resolution  was  promptly  passed;  but  in  the  senate  it  encoun- 
tered serious  difficulties.  Mr.  Bayard,  equally  sensible  of  the 
injuries,  and  alive  to  the  insults  that  his  country  had  sustain- 
ed, yielded  not  to  the  warmest  advocates  of  hostilities  in  zeal 
for  her  honour  and  prosperity.  But  he  felt  that  that  honour 
was  not  to  be  vindicated,  that  prosperity  was  not  to  be  re- 
deemed by  angry  and  precipitate  measures,  that  would  plunge 
the  nation  unprepared  into  war.  He  foresaw  the  disgraces  in- 
evitably attendant  on  a hasty  adoption  of  the  measure;  and 
foretold,  with  a sagacity  that  was  always  his  distinguishing 
attribute,  the  evils  that  must  certainly  ensue.  Of  the  fate  of 
the  question,  war  or  no  war,  it  was  impossible  to  judge  until 
the  last  moment.  In  a letter  to  one  of  his  friends  of  the  4th 
of  June  Mr.  Bayard’s  uncertainty  is  thus  expressed:  Al- 

though our  doors  are  closed,  I do  not  presume  that  our  pro- 
ceedings here  are  a secret  to  you  elsewhere.  They  are  cer- 
tainly no  secret  here,  and  there  are  none  but  members  of  con- 
gress who  are  denied  the  privilege  of  talking  openly  about 
them.  Being  one  of  those  whose  lips  are  sealed,  you  can  ex- 
pect no  explanations  from  me.  I may  express  it  as  a conjec- 
tural opinion  that  the  course  which  will  be  pursued  is  by  no 
means  certain.  Great  Britain  certainly  does  not  expect  a war 
with  us,  and  she  will  not  be  prepared  to  strike  suddenly,  even 
if  we  commence  hostilities.  We  are  in  the  midst  of  uncer- 
tainty, and  it  will  not  be  the  most  judicious,  but  the  most 
lucky  man  who  profits  by  events.  In  the  affairs  of  this  world, 
good  fortune  does  more  for  men  than  good  sense#  The  best 
sense  penetrates  but  a little  way,  and  the  primary  causes 
upon  which  events  depend  are  ahvays  out  of  sight.  Nobody 
can  tell  when  this  terrible  session,  which  has  already  lasted 
eight  months,  is  to  end.” 

In  communicating  to  a correspondent,  as  late  as  the  1 1 th 
of  June,  Mr.  Bayard  writes,  “ there  is  a bare  possibility  that 

45 


VOL.  VII. 


354 


ORIGINAL. 


a war  with  England  may  be  escaped; — there  is  every  proba* 
bility  that  it  will  happen.  You  know  my  situation  as  to  the 
proceedings  in  congress  with  closed  doors.  There  is  no  secrecy 
between  the  members  of  the  two  houses,  and  we  communicate 
with  each  other  in  every  stage  of  business  before  either  house* 
As  to  the  rest  of  the  world,  our  lips  are  sealed,  and  it  is  im- 
possible even  to  hint  any  thing  without  trespassing  upon  the 
bounds  prescribed  to  us.  No  vote  has  yet  been  taken  in  the 
senate;  one  not  decisive,  but  important,  will,  I apprehend,  be 
taken  to-day.  The  probability  is,  that  the  two  branches  will 
not  agree  as  to  the  course  of  measures  in  the  first  instance,  but 
ultimately  will  agree  in  a course  which  will  result  in  a com- 
mon point.  What  I suggest  is  conjectural  only,  and  has  no 
advantage  over  your  own  conjectures,  but  what  arises  from  a 
certain  knowledge  of  some  facts,  of  which  you  must  be  doubt- 
fully informed.” 

On  the  16th  of  June  Mr.  Bayard  moved  to  postpone  the 
further  consideration  of  the  bill  declaring  war  against  Great 
Britain,  until  the  31st  of  October.  Had  this  measure  been 
adopted,  the  precious  lives  that  have  been  devoted  to  their 
country  might  perhaps  all  have  been  spared,  still  to  adorn 
and  still  to  improve  it.  National  character  acquired — a gal- 
lant navy  permanently  established — a discovery  of  resources, 
which,  like  the  treasures  in  the  mountains  of  S\^iitzerland, 
might  otherwise  have  remained  uncultivated  and  unknown, 
are  indeed  fruitful  sources  of  consolation:  but  they  are  com- 
posed of  widows’  and  of  orphans’  tears.  Had  the  declara- 
tion of  war  been  postponed,  the  clouds  that  hung  upon  the 
early  efforts  of  the  American  army,  which  nothing  but  the 
splendour  of  its  after  achievements  could  disperse,  never' 
would  have  gathered.  The  short-sighted  policy  of  the  go- 
vernment expected  to  find  in  the  arrangements  of  general 
Hull  a substitute  for  every  other  preparation.  The  whole  of 
the  remaining  frontier,  from  Michilimackinac  to  Plattsburg — 
the  extensive  sea-board,  covered  with  the  richest  and  most 
intelligent  and  useful  population  of  the  country — the  multitude' 


LIFE  OF  JAMES  A.  BAYARD. 


355 


of  vessels  on  the  ocean,  and  the  mass  of  property  accumulated 
in  England — all  were  to  be  placed  in  jeopardy  for  the  sake  of 
striking  a blow,  towards  which  adequate  force  was  supposed 
to  be  concentrated,  without  giving  the  new  enemy  time  for 
preparation.  Mr.  Bayard  was  one  of  those  who  sacredly 
believed  in  the  spirit  and  wisdom  of  his  countrymen,  but  de- 
nied the  necromancy  of  their  rulers.  He  was  satisfied  that 
troops  must  be  levied  before  they  could  be  disciplined,  and 
disciplined  before  they  could  safely  take  the  field.  He  felt 
that  the  days  of  Cadmus  were  gone,  and  that  the  dragon’s 
teeth  would  remain  unprolific  in  the  ground.  He  prayed  for 
an  opportunity  to  place  the  country  on  something  like  an 
equality  with  the  contemplated  foe.  He  said  he  was  greatly 
influenced  in  his  motion  for  postponement  from  the  combined 
considerations  of  the  present  defenceless  condition  of  tke 
country,  and  the  protection  which  Providence  had  given  us 
against  a maritime  power  in  the  winter  season.  During  the 
winter  months  you  will  be  protected  by  the  elements.  Post- 
pone the  war  till  November,  and  we  shall  not  have  to  dread 
an  enemy  on  our  coast  till  April.  In  the  meantime  go  on  with 
your  recruiting;  fill  up,  discipline,  and  train  your  army.  Take 
the  stations,  if  you  please,  which  will  enable  you  to  open  an 
early  campaign.  Your  trade  will  all  have  time  to  return  be- 
fore hostilities  commence,  and  having  all  your  ships  and  sea- 
men at  home,  you  may  be  prepared  to  put  forth  all  your 
strength  upon  the  ocean  on  the  opening  of  the  ensuing 
spring.  Shall  we,  by  an  untimely  precipitancy,  yielding  to  a 
fretful  impatience  of  delay,  throw  our  wealth  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy,  and  feed  that  very  rapacity  which  it  is  our  ob- 
ject to  subdue  or  to  punish?” 

War  was  declared.  A nation  yet  untutored  in  the  trade 
of  destruction  was  brought  into  collision  with  a power  whose 
fleets  had  covered  the  deep,  and  whose  armies  had  been  dis- 
tinguished in  every  quarter  of  the  globe.  Experience  was 
soon  dearly  won;  and  the  conquerors  of  the  peninsula  found, 
in  the  citizen  soldiers  of  America,  a mqre  formidable  foe  than 


UKlliiiVAL. 


•3oG 

they  had  vanquished  in  the  well-trained  veterans  of  the  old 
world. 

When  the  intelligence  of  hostilities  reached  Europe,  the 
emperor  of  Russia  communicated  to  both  governments  an  offer 
of  mediation.  The  American  minister  at  St.  Petersburg,  and 
the  Russian  minister  at  Washington,  were  authorized  to  make 
known  to  the  proper  authorities  in  America,  this  kind  and 
conciliatory  proposal.  It  was  received  by  the  president  with 
a satisfaction  that  was  evinced  by  unhesitating  acceptance; 
a'nd  by  the  nomination  of  envoys  before  any  knowledge  had 
been  communicated  of  the  concurrence  of  Great  Britain. 
Commissions  were  issued,  and  instructions  delivered  to 
James  A.  Bayard  and  Albert  Gallatin,  who  were  directed  to 
proceed  immediately  to  St.  Petersburg.  They  were  fully 
charged  to  conclude  a peace  upon  the  terms  set  forth  in  the  de- 
claration of  war  and  upon  no  others.  The  prodigious  change . 
in  European  politics  which  has  since  astonished  the  world,  was 
not  then  anticipated.  The  situation  of  the  two  great  rival 
nations,  still  threatened  interminable  war;  and  the  rights  and 
interests  of  the  American  republic  were  menaced  with  co- 
equal violation.  War  was  declared  not  in  maintenance  of 
abstract  principles,  but  in  consequence  of  practical  suffering. 
Ail  its  views  w^ere  or  should  have  been  directed  to  the  removal 
of  the  mischief;  and  that  end  attained,  either  by  the  direct 
and  powerful  operation  of  fleets  and  armies,  or  by  considera- 
tions disconnected  from  the  application  of  hostile  force,  the 
nation  that  went  to  w'ar  to  relieve  itself  from  oppression,  must 
sheathe  the  sword.  It  w^as  not  merely  the  state  of  the  coun- 
try that  called  for  peace.  It  was  against  the  practice  of  im- 
pressment that  war  was  declared. 

It  was  understood  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Bayard’s  departure, 
that  he  had  expressed  himself  perfectly  satisfied  wdth  the  in- 
structions he  had  received,  and  conceived  them  to  be  com- 
patible with  the  honour  of  the  nation.  But  how  could  he 
have  reconciled  either  to  principles  of  honour  or  sentiments  of 
morality  a determination  to  wage  endless  w*ar  in  maintenance 


LIFE  OF  JAMES  A.  BAYAKD. 


367 


of  abstract  notions  that  in  practice  should  cease  to  operate? 
It  was  against  ihe  practice  of  impressment  that  the  instruc- 
tions were  directed;  upon  the  continuance  of  the  practice 
alone  could  hostilities  be  justified,  and  on  its  cessation,  arms 
would  have  no  further  use.  The  secretary  of  state  in  his 
letter  to  the  envoys  of  April  15,  1813,  asserts  merely  “ the 
right  of  the  United  States  to  be  exempted  from  the  degrading 
practice  of  impressment.”  He  remarks  “ the  practice  is  ut- 
terly repugnant  to  the  laws  of  nations;  it  is  supported  by  no 
treaty  with  any  nation;  it  was  never  acquiesced  in  by  any, 
and  a submission  to  z7,”  still  the  practice^  by  the  United 
States,  would  be  the  abandonment  in  favour  of  Great  Britain 
of  all  claim  to  neutral  rights  and  all  other  rights  on  the  ocean.” 
The  object  of  the  mission,  so  far  as  regarded  the  subject  of 
impressment  was  to  effect  a discontinuance  of  the  practice, 
and  that  being  produced  by  any  means,  though  not  within  the 
view  of  the  administration  at  the  time  when  the  instructions 
were  framed  and  communicated,  the  end  was  equally  attain- 
ed. '-''A  subsequent  part  of  the  same  official  note  has  been  re- 
sorted to  for  the  purpose  of  illustrating  an  opposite  position: 
but  enveloped  as  it  certainly  is  in  a mysterious  obscurity  that 
characterizes  the  diplomatic  productions  of  the  day,  its  liberal 
and  most  obvious  construction  will  comport  with  the  views 
adopted  and  the  course  pursued  by  the  negotiators  at  Ghent. 
Towards  the  close  of  the  letter  of  April  15th,  it  is  said  “ upon 
the  whole  subject  I have  to  observe  that  your  first  duty  will 
be  to  conclude  a peace  with  Great  Britain,  and  that  you  are 
authorized  to  do  it,  in  case  you  obtain  a satisfactory  stipula- 
tion against  impressment,  one  wffiich  shall  secure,  under  our 
flag,  protection  to  the  crew%  The  manner  in  which  it  may  be 
done  has  been  already  stated  wdth  the  reciprocal  stipulations 
’ which  you  may  enter  into,  to  secure  Great  Britain  against 
the  injury  of  which  she  complains.  If  this  encroachment  of 
Great  Britain  is  not  provided  against,  the  United  States  have 
appealed  to  arms  in  vain.”  So  far,  it  should  seem  that  the 
practice  was  not  all  that  the  United  States  had  to  dread,  or 


UIUdilNAL. 


35^ 

were  bound  to  resist;  that  a war  must  be  prosecuted  for  theo- 
ries, the  abandonment  or  support  of  which  would  equally  fail 
to  affect  the  interests  of  either  nation.  It  were  scarcely  less 
romantic  than  to  pursue  the  argument  still  further  and  to  re- 
quire of  the  British  parliament,  boasting  as  it  does,  a politi- 
cal omnipotence,  to  expunge  from  its  statute  book  the  muni- 
cipal laws  relating  to  aliens,  denizens  and  subjects;  or  to  en- 
force upon  it  in  hypothesis,  the  admission  of  the  superiority 
of  republicanism,  and  the  propriety  of  the  prevailing  senti- 
ments in  America,  relative  to  kingly  governments — while 
every  act  of  its  sovereignty  and  every  feature  of  its  constitu- 
tion, denied  in  practice  the  truth  of  the  assertion.  As  well 
might  they  resolve  to  fight  about  supposed  differences  in 
moral  or  physical  science.  If  one  nation  attempt  to  prescribe 
to  another  its  course  of  conduct,  and  to  enforce  its  prescrip- 
tions by  violence,  it  is  cause  of  war:  but  a difference  of  senti- 
ment which  leaves  to  each  the  absolute  enjoyment  of  its  pre- 
rogatives, never  can  justify  an  appeal  to  arms,  or  a continu- 
ance of  them  when  they  are  unfortunately  begun.  The  de- 
cided expression  of  public  feeling  in  England,  on  the  publi- 
cation of  the  correspondence  at  Ghent,  which  demonstrated 
the  error  of  the  belief  that  their  maritime  rights  were  placed 
in  jeopardy,  indicated  how  little  that  nation  was  disposed  to 
cause  or  continue  the  eftusion  of  blood  on  such  insufficient 
grounds  as  those  which  remained  to  be  discussed.  Nor  could 
the  ruling  pow  ers  of  America  venture  to  keep  alive  the  con- 
test at  such  a hazard. 

At  the  time  of  sending  the  commissioners  to  St.  Peters- 
burg, the  war  had  been  little  known  in  America  except  by  the 
noise  of  the  distant  thunder.  The  manufacturer  and  the  agri- 
culturist still  pursued  with  industry  and  advantage  their  ac- 
customed callings,  and  reaped  in  abundance  the  harvest  of 
their  toil:  specie  circulated,  like  the  blood  in  the  animal  sys- 
tem, through  all  the  arteries  and  veins,  and  gave  life  and  ac- 
tivity to  every  enterprise:  commerce  itself  depending  for  its 
existence  upon  the  freedom  of  the  seas,  found  in  the  wants  of 


LIFE  OF  JAMES  A.  BAYARD. 


359 


other  nations,  a mantle  that  protected  it,  amongst  hostile 
fleets.  The  very  existence  of  hostilities  was  doubted  by  those 
who  were  separated  from  their  immediate  vortex.  Disasters 
had  hung  upon  the  earlier  enterprises,  but  they  did  not  affect 
the  business  and  the  bosoms”  of  individuals,  and  in  a na- 
tional estimate  they  were  largely  counterbalanced  by  the  un- 
expected triumphs  on  the  waves.  England,  occupied  with 
her  own  immediate  and  important  concerns  on  the  continent 
of  Europe,  possessed  not  the  ability  to  bring  her  power  to  bear 
upon  America.  The  means  of  counter-annoyance  were  com- 
paratively small,  and  she  could  well  sustain  the  system  of 
almost  exclusively  defensive  -warfare  on  the  ocean,  and  the 
yet  unimportant  attacks  upon  the  Canadas,  while  her  parent 
territory  was  free  from  harm.  The  immediate  overthrow  of 
French  domination  was  not  expected.  Lines  of  circumval- 
■ lation  had  indeed  been  marked  out,  but  the  gathering  strength 
j of  imperial  despotism  threatened  to  keep  the  world  in  un- 
ceasing commotion.  Calculating  upon  these  prospects  abroad, 
and  the  yet  unabated  tension  of  the  chord  which  had  been 
struck  in  the  summer  of  1812,  and  still  vibrated  with  full-toned 
sounds  of  war,  the  administration,  in  communicating  instruc- 
tions to  the  envoys,  assumed  a lofty  and  daring  attitude:  but 
j even  these  circumstances  could  not  mislead  them  into  an  ex- 
I pectation,  that  the  world  would  sanction  or  the  country  ap- 
prove a measure  so  preposterous  as  that  which  would  require 
unqualified  acquiescence  in  a doctrine  which  might  become 
merely  abstract,  and  could  in  that  case  no  longer  affect  the 
rights,  the  honour,  or  the  interests  of  the  nation.  All  the  in- 
ferences, therefore,  to  be  drawn  from  the  expressions  that 
have  been  quoted,  are  dissipated  by  a single  line:  for  after 
requiring  a stipulation  in  terms,  a security  prospective  in  its 
operation,  2iprovision,  the  effect  of  which  should  be  not  mere- 
ly to  arrest  present  encroachments,  but  to  guarantee  their  ces- 
sation forever — a limitation  is  introduced  in  these  words: — 
“ The  president  is  willing  that  it  (the  stipulation)  be  limited 
to  the  jiresent  war  in  Europe.”  There  the  abstract  princi 


ORIGINAL. 


3l>0 


pie  ended,  and  a sensible  recurrence  was  made  to  the  evil 
practice.  The  original  doctrine,  out  of  which  complaints  grew, 
is  that  allegiance  once  attached,  can  never  be  devested  by 
any  lapse  of  time,  however  long,  or  by  any  distance  of  resi- 
dence, however  remote:  that  the  national  character  is  imbibed 
with  the  earliest  breath,  and  must  remain  indelibly  stamped 
upon  the  individual  during  life.  This  doctrine,  engrafted  as  it 
is  into  the  very  stalk  of  the  British  constitution,  cannot  pos- 
sibly injure  other  nations,  provided  it  leaves  them  the  undis- 
turbed enjoyment  of  their  sovereign  rights,  and  respects  the 
protection  which  their  territorial  limits,  actual  and  construc- 
tive, afford.  With  the  assertion  of  perpetual  allegiance,  Ame- 
rica had  nothing  to  do.  With  the  abuse  and  perversion  of  the 
principle,  as  it  was  alleged  to  exist  in  practice,  every  thing. 
To  reform  this  abuse  and  perversion,  so  far  as  they  affected 
the  safety  of  those,  who,  owing  allegiance  to  the  American 
government,  advanced  the  correlative  claims  of  protection  and 
defence,  the  envoys  were  commissioned.  It  is  not  extraordi- 
nary, therefore,  that  Mr.  Bayard,  viewing  the  points  of  differ- 
ence with  the  dispassionate  eye  of  an  intelligent  statesman, 
who  had  pronounced  the  war  unnecessary  and  ill-timed,  but 
with  the  best  feelings  of  honest  patriotism,  expressed  himself 
satisfied  with  the  instructions  he  had  received. 

The  appointment  as  minister  plenipotentiary  and  envoy 
extraordinary  to  treat  with  Great  Britain  for  peace,  under, 
die  mediation  of  the  emperor  of  Russia,  it  was  impossible 
that  Mr.  Bayai-d  should  decline.  The  nomination  was  as  un- 


solicited as  it  was  deserved.  Not  an  idea  of  the  sort  had  been 


suggested  to  him,  and  an  official  letter  from  the  secretary  of 
state,  announcing  the  fact,  was  the  earliest  intimation  he  re- 
ceived of  his  being  in  the  view  of  the  executive.  Having  ac- 
tively opposed  the  declaration  of  war,  it  was  fit  he  should  be 
entrusted  with  a share  in  bringing  it  to  a close.  With  senti- 
ments directly  opposed  to  those  of  the  ruling  party — senti- 
ments that  had  been  always  openly  and  honourably  avowed, 
the  selection  was  alike  creditable  to  him  and  them.  His  place 


LIFE  OF  JAMES  A.  BAYARD. 


361 


ill  the  mission  was  a pledge  to  the  country  of  the  fairness  of 
the  views  with  which  it  was  undertaken.  Besides,  how  could 
he  reconcile  to  himself  the  idea  that  his  refusal  to  serve  might 
throw  the  appointment  into  some  less  honourable  and  inde- 
pendent hands,  w’ho  would  be  content  to  purchase  popularity 
at  the  price  of  national  honour  and  aggrandizement.  With  a 
manly  resolution  to  promote  the  great  ends  for  which  he  had 
been  appointed,  he  promptly  accepted  the  trust,  and,  in  com- 
pany with  Mr.  Gallatin,  sailed  from  Philadelphia  on  the  9th 
of  May,  1813. 

On  the  23d  of  June  additional  instructions  were  address- 
ed to  the  commissioners,  in  which  the  course  of  reasoning 
originally  adopted  is  pursued.  “ If  the  British  government 
had  issued  orders  to  its  cruisers  not  to  impress  seamen  from 
our  vessels,  and  notified  the  same  to  this  government,  that 
cause  of  war  would  also  have  been  removed.” 

The  negociators  arrived  at  St.  Petersburg  on  the  21st 
of  July,  1813.  The  emperor  Alexander,  under  whose  au- 
I spices  the  mission  was  undertaken,  was  with  his  armies  in 
Germany;  and  no  intelligence  had  been  received  indicative  of 
an  intention  on  the  part  of  the  British  government  to  meet  the 
United  States  on  the  terms  proposed.  Mr.  Bayard  conclu- 
ded that  the  hopes  of  peace  were  blasted,  and  that  the  ob- 
ject of  his  painful  separation  from  his  country  and  home  was 
entirely  defeated.  He  remained  in  St.  Petersburg  until  he 
thought  this  fact  fully  demonstrated,  and  in  January,  1814,  he 
asked  and  obtained  his  audience  of  leave  of  the  Russian  court. 
At  diat  inclement  season,  in  the  most  frightful  climate,  he  de- 
termined to  proceed  upon  his  journey,  preparatory  to  an  im- 
mediate embarkation  for  America.  The  vessel  that  had  been 
detained  subject  to  the  orders  of  the  envoys,  lay  at  a port  in 
Holland,  which  it  was  necessary  to  reach  by  land.  The  re- 
treat of  the  French  army  had  opened  a passage  through  Ger- 
many; and  Mr.  Bayard  proceeded  by  the  way  of  Riga,  Ko- 
ningsburg,  Berlin  and  Hanover  into  Holland, 

VOL,  viiv  46 


362 


ORIGINAL. 


In  the  meantime  lord  Cathcart  had  communicated  to  the 
Russian  court  the  non-acceptance  by  the  prince  regent  of  the 
interposition  of  the  emperor  as  to  the  question  which  consti- 
tuted the  principal  object  in  dispute  between  the  two  states, 
and  his  readiness  nevertheless  to  nominate  plenipotentiaries 
to  treat  directly  with  the  American  envoys.  The  Bramble 
was  despatched  to  America  with  the  view  of  communicating 
these  circumstances;  and  proposing  at  the  same  time  London  • 
pr  Gottenburg  as  the  scene  of  operations.  The  proposal  was 
accepted,  and  Gottenburg  was  selected  as  neutral  ground. 

New  commissions  were  issued,  and  Mr.  Clay  and  Mr.  , 
Russel  were  despatched  to  Gottenburg.  Still  the  practice  of  ! 
impressment  was  complained  of,  and,  under  a belief  that 
hostilities  continued  in  Europe,  an  abandonment  of  it  in  terms 
was  expected.  But  when  the  state  of  affairs  w^as  altered  so  as 
to  expose  the  commerce  of  the  United  States  to  that  incon- 
venience no  longer,  the  proposed  stipulation  was  no  longer 
required.  In  the  letter  from  the  secretary  of  state  of  June  25,  j 
1814,  it  is  said:  “ The  United  States  having  resisted  by  w^ar 
the  practice  of  impressment,  and  continued  the  war  until  that 
practice  had  ceased,  by  a peace  in  Europe,  their  object  has 
been  essentially  obtained  for  the  present.  It  may  reasonably 
be  expected,  that  the  arrangement  contemplated  and  pro- 
vided for  will  take  effect  before  a new  war  in  Europe  shall 
■furnish  an  occasion  for  reviving  the  practice.  Should  this  ar- 
rangement however  fail,  and  the  practice  be  again  revived, 
the  United  States  will  be  again  at  liberty  to  repel  it  by  war.” 
And  in  the  letter  of  August  11,  authority  is  explicitly  com- 
municated to  conclude  a treaty  without  any  provision  on  the 
subject  of  impressment. 

With  these  instructions,  on  the  most  interesting  part  of 
their  duty,  the. American  plenipotentiaries  prepared  to  mea- 
sure their  dexterity  with  the  experienced  diplomatists  of  Eu- 
rope, Previous  to  the  arrival  of  his  colleagues  Mr.  Bayard 
visited  England,  A people  naturally  cold,  and  little  disposed 
to  lavish  civilities  upon  strangers,  could  not  be  expected  to 


LIFE  OF  JAMES  A.  BAYARD*  S63 

welcome  the  representatives  of  an  always  despised,  but  now 
dreaded  republic.  “ I arrived  in  London,”  says  Mr.  Bayard 
in  a letter  to  a friend  in  America,  “ at  a very  inauspicious 
moment  for  an  American.  The  allies  were  at  Paris,  and  news 
had  just  been  received  of  the  abdication  of  Bonaparte.  The 
whole  nation  was  delirious  with  joy,  which  was  not  indulged 
without  bitter  invectives  against  their  remaining  enemies,  the 
Americans.  The  time  of  declaring  the  war  stung  them  more 
than  the  act  itself.  They  considered  it  as  an  aid  given  to 
their  great  enemy,  at  a moment  when  his  power  was  most 
gigantic,  and  most  seriously  threatened  the  subjugation  of  the 
continent,  as  well  as  of  themselves.  They  thirst  for  a great 
revenge,  and  the  nation  will  not  be  satisfied  without  it.  They 
know  little  of  our  parties.  It  was  America  that  fell  upon  them 
at  the  crisis  of  their  struggle,  and  it  is  America  now  that  is  to 
be  made  to  feel  the  weight  of  their  undivided  power.” 

An  arrangement  was  made,  which  had  been  authorized 
by  the  instructions,  to  transfer  the  negociations  from  Gotten- 
burg  to  Ghent;  and  Mr.  Bayard  immediately  proceeded  to 
that  place.  He  arrived  on  the  27th  of  June,  and  all  the  Ame- 
rican commissioners  were  considerably  more  than  a month  at 
the  place  of  rendezvous  before  a step  was  taken  towards  pro- 
viding them  with  antagonists.  During  this  unpleasant  state 
of  suspense  and  expectation,  when  even  the  intention  to  pro- 
ceed at  all  seemed  doubtful,  apprehensions  the  most  gloomy 
were  entertained  of  the  result.  Mr.  Bayard  writes  on  the  6th 
of  August  from  Ghent,  “ Nothing  favourable  can  be  augured 
fi’om  the  delay  in  sending  their  commissioners  to  the  rendez- 
vous agreed  to  at  their  instance  as  the  seat  of  the  nogocia- 
tions.  Our  comnaissioners  have  all  been  here  more  than  a 
month,  and  we  have  not  yet  heard  that  theirs  are  even  pre- 
paring to  quit  London.  We  expect  them  daily,  but  so  we 
have  done  for  twenty  days  past,  and  so  we  shall  till  they  ar- 
rive, or  till  we  learn  that  they  do  not  mean  to  come  at  all.  I 
assure  you,  between  ourselves,  my  hopes  of  peace  are  very 
slender.  The  government  of  England  affect  to  despise  n«. 


364 


ORIGINAL. 


■ i 

I 

but  they  know  we  are  a growing  and  dangerous  rival.  If  they  1 

could  crush  us  at  the  present  moment  they  would  not  fail  to  I 

do  it;  and  I am  inclined  to  think  that  they  will  not  make  peace  | 

till  they  have  tried  the  effect  of  all  their  force  against  us.  An  I 

united,  firm,  and  courageous  resistance  upon  our  part,  alone,  ^ 

in  my  opinion,  can  furnish  hopes  of  a safe  and  honourable 
peace  to  the  United  States.  I wish  I could  present  you  with 
different  views;  but  what  does  it  avail  to  deceive  ourselves? 

By  shutting  our  eyes  upon  danger  we  may  cease  to  see  it, 
while  in  fact  we  are  increasing  it.  What  I doubt  is,  that  if 
the  olive  branch  be  presented  to  us  by  one  hand,  a cup  of 
humiliation  and  disgrace  will  be  held  out  in  the  other;  and 
although  I should  rejoice  to  carry  the  former  to  the  United 
States,  yet  I never  shall  consent  to  be  the  bearer  of  the  latter.” 

In  a subsequent  letter  he  writes,  ‘‘  No  people  are  more 
easily  elated  or  depressed  by  events  than  the  English.  We  , 
have  nothing  to  hope  but  from  vigorous  and  successful  mea- 
sures, so  far  as  the  war  depends  upon  ourselves  alone.  The 
British  force  in  America  must  be  overcome  and  repelled,  or 
the  war  must  end  in  national  disgrace,” 

In  August  the  British  commissioners  arrived  at  Ghent, 
and  the  negociation  was  opened  in  due  form.  A knowledge 
of  the  secrets  of  all  the  cabinets  of  the  continent,  conscious- 
ness of  her  weight  and  influence  in  the  scale  of  European 
politics,  of  being  able  to  direct  all  her  force  to  an  active  and 
vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war  with  America,  and  of  the 
proximity  of  the  scene  of  discussion  to  all  the  authority  and 
information  of  the  country,  gave  to  the  commissioners,  on  the 
part  of  Great  Britain,  decided  and  striking  advantages.  These 
wmre  counterbalanced  by  an  inflexible  determination  of  the 
American  envoys  to  do  their  duty,  a superior  acuteness  of  in- 
tellect, and  a conscious  necessity  of  their  thinking  and  acting 
from  the  impulse  of  their  own  vigorous  minds,  without  a re-  } 
ference  to  the  fountain  from  which  their  authority  was  deriv- 
ed. In  their  correspondence  it  is  understood,  that  all  the  ne- 
gociators  largely  and  actively  participated.  Among  men  of  ^ 


LIFE  OF  JAMES  A.  BAYARD* 


365 


great  sagacity,  which  was  called  into  operation  by  the  pres- 
sure of  most  interesting  and  important  circumstances,  all  act- 
ing with  one  view  to  their  country’s  good,  and  ardently  la- 
bouring to  promote  it,  a collision  was  created,  from  which  the 
most  brilliant  success  must  necessarily  result.  Each  one  bore 
an^honourable  and  an  active  part.  The  character  and  quali- 
ties of  Mr.  Bayard,  it  wnll  readily  be  believed,  gave  him  a 
weight  and  influence  in  the  proceedings  which  could  scarcely 
be  surpassed.  Possessing  originally  a mind  strong,  ardent, 
and  capacious,  he  had  stored  it  with  the  fruits  of  laborious 
study  and  long  experience.  Accustomed  to  scenes  of  politi- 
cal controversy,  he  had  learned  to  profit  by  the  errors  of  his 
adversaries,  and  to  correct  his  own.  Naturally  cool,  sedate, 
and  dispassionate,  his  judgment  freely  operated  without  the 
danger  of  being  aflfected  by  a too  luxuriant  fancy.  Silent  when 
it  was  his  part  to  listen,  but  capable  of  manly  eloquence  when 
circumstances  occurred  to  call  it  forth,  he  gathered  knowledge 
from  every  quarter,  and  insured  to  each  expression  profound 
intelligence.  Personally  intrepid,  as  he  was  politically  inde- 
pendent, his  purposes  never  could  be  shaken  by  menaces  or 
vituperation.  A profound  thinker,  an  ingenious  reasoner,  an 
accomplished  speaker,  he  seemed  formed  for  a negociator. 
The  last  act  of  his  public  life  confirmed  the  expectation  of  his 
countrymen,  and  completed  the  catalogue  of  honourable  ser- 
vices which  he  had  long  before  begun. 

^ The  result  of  the  negociation  is  well  known;  peace  was 
©btained  upon  rational  grounds.  Not  the  less  credit  is  due  to 
the  commissioners,  that  all  the  original  alleged  causes  of  war 
were  not  redressed.  It  was  their  business  to  make  peace:  and 
the  praises  of  a grateful  country  rise  to  Heaven  for  the  efforts 
and  abilities  that  contributed  to  the  event. 

After  the  arrangements  at  Ghent  were  concluded,  Mr. 
Bayard  made  a journey  to  Paris,  where  he  remained  until  he 
heard  of  the  ratification  of  the  treaty;  and  his  appointment  as 
envoy  to  the  court  of  St.  Petersburg.  This  he  promptly  and 
absolutely  resolved  to  decline.  He  stated  that  he  had  no  wish 


ORIGINAL* 


to  serve  the  administration,  except  when  his  services  were  ne^ 
cessary  for  the  good  of  his  country.  In  the  late  transactions 
he  believed  that  to  be  the  case,  and  therefore  he  had  cheer- 
fully borne  his  part.  Peace  being  obtained,  he  was  perfectly 
satisfied  to  resign  the  honours  of  diplomacy  for  the  sweets  of 
domestic  life*  Nothing  could  induce  him  to  accept  an  appoint- 
ment that  would  threaten  to  identify  him  with  the  administra- 
tion party,  without  contributing  essentially  to  his  country’s 
good.  That  was  his  primary  and  exclusive  object.  In  all 
his  reflections  he  was  principally  affected  by  an  anxious  jea- 
lousy for  the  welfare,  and  an  ardent  affection  for  the  people  of 
his  native  land.  It  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  an  idea  should 
have  arisen,  that  he  ever  deviated  in  thought  or  action  from 
the  genuine  principles  of  federalism.  In  every  public  display, 
in  every  private  discussion,  he  was  their  warmest  advocate. 
The  whole  course  of  his  political  pilgrimage,  long  and  labo- 
rious as  it  was,  may  safely  challenge  a comparison  with  that  of 
any  statesman  for  undeviating  consistency  of  conduct,  and 
pure  and  enlightened  patriotism. 

From  Paris  Mr.  Bayard  intended  to  proceed  to  England, 
to  co-operate  in  the  formation  of  a commercial  treaty,  as  he  was 
• included  in  the  commission  despatched  for  that  purpose.  An 
alarming  illness,  however,  prevented  him.  Active  and  power- 
ful remedies  w’ere  not  applied  in  an  early  stage,  and  the  dis- 
ease advanced  with  painful  rapidity.  Still  he  flattered  himself 
that  he  should  be  able  to  reach  his  home,  and  left  Paris  on 
the  1 0th  of  May,  in  a state  of  extreme  debility  and  suffering. 
On  arriving  at  Havre  he  immediately  embarked,  and  the  ves- 
sel sailed  for  Plymouth.  At  that  place  she  was  detained  for 
five  weeks,  during  which  time  Mr.  Bayard  w^as  unable  to  leave 
his  birth,  but  remained  in  excessive  and  increasing  feebleness^ 
expecting  hourly  to  sail.  During  all  these  bodily  sufferings, 
the  firmness  of  his  mind  never  abandoned  him.  Equally  se- 
rene on  the  bed  of  languor  and  of  pain  as  he  had  been  during 
a life  of  almost  uninterrupted  health,  he  cheerfully  contem- 
plated the  welcome  of  his  expecting  family.  That  melancho- 


LIFE  OF  JAMES  A.  BAYARD. 


367 


ly  welcome  came — but  it  was  only  to  gild  with  one  ray  of 
comfort  his  expiring  hour.  He  arrived  in  America — breathed 
his  native  air,  and  reposed  for  a moment  in  the  bosom  of  con- 
jugal and  filial  love.  That  moment  was  his  last. — The  tears 
of  afflicted  friends,  and  the  universal  grief  of  his  grateful  and 
admiring  countrymen  proclaim  his  eulogy. 

The  publisher  has  been  favoured  with  the  article  which 
• he  has  inserted  in  the  preceding  pages,  by  a respectable  friend 
of  Mr.  Bayard’s,  and  a warm  advocate  of  the  political  party 
to  which  that  illustrious  and  lamented  patriot  was  attached. 
In  writing  the  biography  of  a statesman,  so  distinguished 
among  the  leaders  of  a party  as  Mr.  Bayard,  the  introduction 
of  subjects  of  party  politics  was  in  some  measure  unavoida- 
ble. This  consideration  will  account,  and  the  publisher  trusts 
satisfactorily,  for  the  admission,  in  this  instance,  of  topics 
which  he  is  always  desirous  of  excluding,  as  far  as  possible, 
from  the  pages  of  his  journal. 


SELECT  REVIEW. 


Researches  about  Atmospheric  Phenomena:  together  roith  Mete- 
orological Journals^  <S^c.  by  Thomas  Forster,  F.  L.  S.  8vo. 

[From  the  Monthly  Review.^ 

Notwithstanding  the  great  number  of  literary  men,  and 
of  learned  societies,  who  have  for  a long  time  been  employing 
themselves  in  keeping  registers  of  the  weather,  and  in  observ- 
ing atmospherical  phenomena,  it  must  be  confessed  that  nei- 
ther the  science  of  meteorology  nor  the  practice  of  it  has  yet 
made  any  considerable  progress.  W e can  account  in  a satis- 
factory manner  for  very  few  of  the  changes  which  are  daily 
exhibited  before  our  eyes,  and  we  are  still  unable  to  predict 
those  changes  with  any  degree  of  certainty.  This  deficiency, 
perhaps,  has  proceeded  from  the  circumstance,  that  the  atten- 
tion has  been  almost  exclusively  directed  to  the  instruments 
by  which  we  judge  of  the  weight,  temperature,  and  moisture 
of  the  air;  in  which  way  wc  do  not  become  acquainted  with 
the  alterations  in  the  atmosphere  till  after  they  have  taken 
place.  When  any  other  remarks  have  been  made,  they  are 
expressed  in  language  not  so  precise  as  to  convey  accurate 
ideas,  and  have  indeed  been  so  incorrect  as  to  deserve  little 
notice.  Lately,  however,  some  individuals  have  followed  a 
plan  of  observation  which  seems  much  more  likely  to  promote 
the  acquisition  of  this  species  of  knowledge,  and  which  can 
scarcely  fail  to  answer  some  useful  purpose.  They  have  care- 
fully watched  the  different  appearances  which  the  clouds  as- 
sume, have  formed  a nomenclature  to  record  those  appear- 
ances, have  noticed  also  the  state  of  the  barometer,  thermo- 
meter, (fee.  and  have  compared  all  these  particulars  with  the 
subsequent  changes  of  the  weather.  This  plan  was  first 
adopted,  at  least  in  a regular  and  systematic  manner,  by  Mr. 
Howard,  and  has  been  extended  still  farther  by  the  author  of 
the  volume  now  before  us.  He  has  been  for  some  time  in  the 
habit  of  publishing  his  reports  in  the  different  scientific  jour- 
nals, and  he  has  now  thrown  into  a more  connected  form  the 
general  principles  which  he  has  deduced  from  his  observations. 


RESEARCHES  ABOUT  ATMOSPHERIC  PHENOMENA.  369 


Mr.  Forster  divides  his  work  into  ten  chapters.  The  first 
is  entitled  introductory,  and  consists  principally  of  Mr.  How- 
ard’s hypothesis  of  the  origin  and  modification  of  clouds. 
Mr.  Howard’s  opinions  on  this  subject  have  been  some  time 
before  the  public,  and  it  would  lead  us  beyond  our  limits  to 
enter  on  a minute  examination  of  them  in  this  place:  we  have 
only  to  state  that  they  are  adopted  by  the  present  author,  with 
little  or  no  alteration,  except  that  he  subdivides  the  species  of 
Mr.  Howard  into  varieties,  and  gives  them  also  specific  cha- 
racters and  appellations,  which  appear  to  us  in  general  very 
appropriate.  The  extension  of  the  original  arrangement  oc- 
cupies the  second  chapter,  consisting  of  seventeen  sections; 
in  which,  besides  the  account  of  the  modifications  of  the  clouds, 
derived  from  their  form,  we  have  remarks  on  thunder-storms, 
rain,  snow,  and  hail — on  the  colour  and  elevation  of  clouds-— 
on  their  structure — on  the  luminous  appearances  called  halos, 
parhelia,  Szc, — and,  lastly,  on  the  process  of  evaporation. 

The  most  original  and  interesting  of  these  sections  re- 
lates to  halos,  which  are  arranged  and  defined  in  a much  more 
scientific  manner  than  any  which  had  previously  been  allotted 
to  them;  the  essential  differences  between  them  are  pointed 
out;  and  a nomenclature  is  formed,  which  will  probably  be 
sufficient  to  enable  the  meteorologist  to  note  down  the  phe- 
nomena with  the  requisite  accuracy.  Falling  stars  and  me- 
teors occupy  the  third  chapter:  but  it  contains  rather  an  im- 
perfect account  of  them;  and  we  think  that  the  author  has 
been  unfortunate  in  adopting  Mr.  De  Luc’s  hypotheses  of 
their  phosphorescent  nature,  which  appears  to  us  to  be  with- 
out foundation.  The  subsequent  chapters  are  less  strictly 
scientific,  and,  on  the  whole,  of  less  value  than  the  first  three. 
The  indications  of  future  changes  in  the  weather,  as  deduced 
from  the  particular  motions  of  animals,  from  the  observation 
of  the  usual  meteorological  instruments,  and  the  effects  on  the 
vital  functions  of  organized  bodies,  each  constitute  the  subject 
of  a short  chapter;  and  we  have  also  some  scanty  remarks  on 
winds.  The  account  of  atmospherical  electricity  is  more  am- 
ple and  interesting.  Mr.  F.  appears  to  regard  electricity  as 
the  source  of  all  the  changes  of  the  atmosphere,  as  the  cause 
on  which  they  depend,  and  as  the  immediate  agent  by  which 
they  are  produced.  The  various  forms  which  the  clouds  as- 
sume, the  different  changes  v/hich  they  undergo,  the  manner 
in  which  the  modifications  are  converted  into  each  other,  the 
occurrence  of  rain  and  of  fair  w’^eather,  not  to  mention  the 
more  obvious  phenomena  offthunder  and  lightning,  are  all  to 
be  traced  to  the  action  of  the  electric  fluid. 

VOL,  VII.  A7 


370 


.'SELECT  REVIEWS. 


The  tenth  chapter  treats  on  “ the  superstitious  notions 
which  appear  to  have  had  their  origin  in  an  observance  of 
certain  meteorological  phenomena.”  As  a specimen  of  Mr. 
Forster’s  manner,  we  shall  quote  the  commencement  of  this 
section;  premising  that,  in  our  opinion,  his  ideas  on  the  sub- 
ject are  generally  well  founded: 

‘ There  is  a natural  tendency  in  the  human  mind,  arising  from 
the  faculty  of  association,  to  attach  ideas  of  good  or  evil  to  those 
objects  which  have  been  observed  to  precede  or  to  accompany 
pleasurable  or  painful  circumstances;  hence  the  origin  of  many 
superstitious  opinions. 

‘ From  such  association  of  ideas,  many  animals  were  anciently 
worshipped,  either  as  good  or  evil  spirits;  and  even  at  a later  pe- 
riod, when  their  worship  was  rejected  as  superstitious,  or  useless, 
they  were  considered  as  foreboders  of  evil  or  of  good.  Many  of 
these  superstitions  originated  in  the  observance  of  facts,  ascribable 
to  atmospheric  influence  Thus,  certain  birds  being  affected  by 
peculiarities  of  the  air,  previous  to  thunder  storms,  or  other  terri- 
ble events,  and  showing  signs  of  their  affections  by  particular  ha- 
bits, were  found  to  be  foreboders  of  tempests,  hurricanes,  and 
other  dangerous  atmospheric  commotions;  and  they  were  subse- 
quently considered  as  evil  omens  in  general,  gaining,  as  it  were, 
an  ill  name  by  their  utility  as  monitors.  So  the  crow,  garrulous 
before  stormy  weather,  was  afterwards  regarded  as  a predictor  of 
general  misfortune.  Many  animals  too  were  considered  by  the 
ancients  as  influenced  by  human  prayers  and  supplications.  In  this 
manner,  the  observance  of  many  real  facts  laid  the  foundation  for 
superstitions,  which  terrified  the  ignorant,  and  which  the  designing 
made  use  of  in  order  to  acquire  respect,  and  to  aggrandize  their 
own  power.  Hence  the  rise  of  sorcerers,  augurs,  and  other  im- 
postors, the  interpreters  of  omens  and  poi’tenta,  who  pretended,  in 
the  peculiar  flight  and  song  of  birds,  to  read  the  destinies  of  mo- 
narchs  and  of  nations.  It  is  probable,  that  out  of  a number  of  such 
predictions,  some  might  happen  to  be  true,  where  the  sagacity  of 
the  augur  penetrated  farther  into  probable  events  than  the  igno- 
rance of  the  multitude,  and  this  fortuitous  coincidence  enhanced 
the  public  credulity,  strengthened  the  empire  of  superstition,  and 
became  a fatal  impediment  to  the  progress  of  science  throughout 
succeeding  ages.* 

This  chapter,  as  well  as  some  of  (he  jmeceding,  is  illus- 
trated by  numerous  quotations  from  the  classical  writers,  which 
are  appropriate  and  interesting:  but  many  of  them  are  inac- 
curately transcribed.  We  have  only  farther  to  remark,  that 
this  tract,  although  it  contains  m^any  errors  of  style,  and  some 
weak  and  unimportant  observations,  possesses  considerable 
claims  to  respect,  and  must  tend  to  the  advantage  of  the 
science  which  the  author  has  cultivated  with  so  much  assiduity. 


POETRY. 

Ti'onslatmi  of  a Romaic  Love  Son^;  by  Lord  Byron:  not  published  in  any 
American  edition  of  his  lordship's  -works. 

Au!  Love  was  never  yet  without 
The  pang,  the  agony,  the  doubt, 

Which  rends  ray  heart  with  ceaseless  sigh, 

While  day  and  night  roll  darkling  by. 

Without  one  friend  tahear  ray  wo, 

I faint,  I die  beneath  the  blow.  '' 

That  Love  had  arrows,  well  I knew; 

Alas!  I find  them  poisoned  too. 

Birds,  yet  in  freedom,  shun  the  net. 

Which  Love  around  your  haunts  hath  set; 

Or  circled  by  his  fatal  fire. 

Your  hearts  shall  burn,  your  hopes  expire. 

A bird  of  free  and  careless  wing 
Was  I,  through  many  a smiling  spring; 

^ But  caught  within  the  subtle  snare, 

1 burn,  and  feebly  flutter  there. 

Who  ne’er  have  loved,  and  loved  in  vain. 

Can  neither  feel  nor  pity  pain. 

The  cold  repulse,  the  look  askance. 

The  lightning  of  Love’s  angry  glance. 

In  flattering  dreams  I deemed  thee  mine; 

Now  hope,  and  he  who  hoped,  decline; 

Like  melting  wax,  or  withering  flower, 

I feel  my  passion,  and  thy  power. 

My  light  of  life!  ah,  tell  me  why 
That  pouting  lip,  and  altered  eye? 

My  bird  of  love!  my  beauteous  mate! 

And  art  thou  changed,  and  canst  thou  hate? 

Mine  eyes  like  wintry  streams  o’erflow: 

What  wretch  with  me  would  barter  wo? 

My  bii’d!  relent:  one  note  could  give 
A charm,  to  bid  thy  lover  live. 

My  curdling  blood,  my  raadd’ning  brain. 

In  silent  anguish  I sustain; 

And  still  thy  heart,  without  partaking 
One  pang,  exults— while  mine  is  breaking. 

Pour  me  the  poison;  fear  not  thou! 

Thou  canst  not  murder  more  than  now: 

I’ve  lived  to  curse  ray  natal  day. 

And  Love,  that  thus  can  lingering  slay. 


372 


POETRV, 


My  Mounded  soul,  niy  bleeding  breast. 
Can  patience  preach  thee  into  rest? 
Alas!  too  late,  T dearly  know. 

That  joy  is  harbinger  of  wo. 


THE  DEATH  OF  HOFER,  THE  TYROLESE  LEADER. 

Translated  from  Korner^s  Poems, 

Hofer!  in  thy  bold  bosom  glow'ed, 

A stream  as  pure  as  ever  flowed 
Beneath  a prince’s  plume; 

Nor  ever  warrior’s  nobler  toil. 

In  battle  for  his  native  soil. 

Shed  glory  round  his  tomb. 

Rous’d  by  thy  horn  from  cot  and  fold. 

From  forest  glen,  and  rocky  hold. 

With  heart  and  eye  of  flame,— 

Like  rushings  of  the  mountain  flood. 

Like  lightning  from  the  rifted  cloud. 

Thy  band  of  brothers  came. 

And  now  that  heart’s  rich  tide  is  chill. 

That  horn  is  silent  on  the  hill. 

The  gallant  chase  is  done; 

Scatter’d  and  sunk,  the  mountain  band 
Threw  the  loved  rifle  from  their  hand. 

The  soul  of  fight  is  gone! 

But  God  is  all. — Vain  warrior-skill. 

Vain  the  high  soul,  the  mighty  will. 

Before  the  word  of  Heav’n: — 

The  helm  that  on  the  chieftain’s  brow. 

Flash’d  fire  against  the  morning’s  glow. 

His  blood  may  dim  at  ev’n. 


Yet,  Hofer!  in  that  hour  of  ill 
Thine  was  a brighter  laurel  still 
Than  the  red  field  e’er  gave; 
The  crown,  immortal  liberty 
Gives  to  the  few  that  dare  to  die 
And  seek  her  in  the  grave. 


Who  saw,  as  levelled  the  chasseur  . 

His  deadly  aim,  the  shade  of  fear 
Pass  o’er  the  hero’s  brow? 

Who  saw  his  dark  eyes’  martial  gaze 
Turn  from  the  muskets’  volley’d  blaze 
That  laid  him  calm  and  low? 


DOMESTIC  LITERATURE  AND  SCIENCE 


Doctor  Sevbekt  has  prepared  for  the  press,  an  ample  collection  of  sta- 
tistical tables  relative  to  the  populatioji,  commerce,  government  and  revenue  of 
the  United  States.  Among  these  tables  are, — 

A statement  for  eac/i  of  the  United  States,  exhibiting  the  number  of  represen- 
tatives, as  provided  for  by  the  constitution  of  the  United  States;  the  actual 
number  of  the  inhabitants  of  every  description;  the  federal  number  of  the  in- 
habitants; the  unrepresented  fractions;  the  ratio  of  representation;  the  number 
of  representatives  from  each  of  the  states,  for  1790,  1800  and  1810. 

^ Statements  of  the  value  or  quantity  of  every  article  of  merchandise,  which 
has  been  expoi’ted  from  the  United  States,  during  each  year,  commencing  with 
the  year  1789,  and  ending  in  1815.  The  merchandise  distinguished  as  to  its 
origin. 

Statement  of  the  value  of  each  descrii>tion  of  merchandise,  Avhich  was  ex- 
ported from  each  of  the  United  States,  during  each  y^ar,  from  1789  to  1815. 

Statement  of  the  articles  of  domestic  produce  which  were  exported  from 
the  United  States,  for  each  year,  classing  them  according  as  they  Avere  the  pro- 
duce of  the  sea,  of  the  forest,  of  agriculture,  or  of  manufactures,  the  nature 
and  value  of  the  articles  being  specified. 

Statement  of  the  tonnage  of  the  United  States  of  every  description,  for 
each  year,  from  1789  to  1815 — distinguishing  the  amount  of  registered,  enrolled, 
licensed,  and  whether  employed  in  the  fisheries. 

Statement  of  the  public  lands  sold  prior  to  the  opening  of  the  land  offices. 

Statement  of  the  amount,  in  acres  and  value,  of  the  public  lands  sold,  dur- 
ing eacA  year,  since  the  opening  of  the  land  offices;  distinguishing  the  land  sold 
in  the  Mississippi  territory,  from  such  as  have  been  sold  in  other  districts. 

Detailed  statement  of  the  post-office  establishment,  from  1789  to  1813, 
enumerating  for  each  year,  the  number  of  post-offices;  the  amount  of  postages; 
the  compensation  to  post-masters;  the  incidental  expenses;  the  cost  of  the 
transportation  of  the  mail;  tke  nett  revenue,  and  the  extent,  in  miles,  of  the 
post-roads  of  the  United  States. 

Statement  exhibiting  the  extent  of  square  miles  of  each  of  the  United  States; 
the  population  in  1810;  the  number  of  representathes  in  congress,  according  to 
act  of  1811;  the  annual  value  of  the  domestic  articles  exported  on  the  average 
of  10  years;  the  annual  value  of  the  foreign  merchandise  re-exported  on  the 
average  of  ten  years;  the  amount  of  registered  tonnage  employed  in  foreign 
trade,  on  the  average  of  ten  years;  the  annual  nett  revenue  derived  from  the 
customs,  on  the  average  of  ten  years;  together  with  the  estimated  A'alue  of  the 
manufactures,  according  to  the  I'eturns  of  the  marshals  in  1810. 

The  states  named  and  ranked  in  distinct  columns  according  to  the  data  of 
the  preceding  statement. 

Notes,  historical,  explanatory  and  illustrative  will  accompany  these  tables: 
They  are  all  interesting:  some  of  them  are  highly  important,  as  the  docu- 
ments from  which  they  were  taken  were  consumed  by  fire  on  the  capture  of 
Washington,  and  it  is  believed  that  no  copies  of  these  now  exist. 

Dr.  Colhoun  of  this  city  has  written  and  proposes  to  publish  an  essay  on  the 
connexion  of  science  with  the  rise  and  downfall  of  empires;  intended  to  show 
the  utility  of  a system  of  national  instruction. 

Major  Latour*s  Historical  Memoir  of  the  War  in  West  Florida  and  Louisiana, 
in  1814-1815  is  ready  for  publication.  The  extract  Ave  gave  from  this  work  in 
our  number  for  December  last  (p.  470.)  may  be  considered  as  a good  specimen 
of  the  whole. 

Mr.  George  Clymer  has  invented  a new  printing  press  for  Avhich  he  has 
obtained  a patent. 

The  editors  of  the  New  York  Courier,  state  that  they  have  erected  one  of 
these  improved  presses,  and  chai'acterize  it  as  an  excellent  and  useful  macliine. 


374 


DOMESTIC  LITERATURE  AND  SCIENCE 


Mr.  Robert  Gillespie  lias  obtained  a patent  for  a steam-still  on  an  improv- 
ed plan.  It  is  said  that  these  stills  are  much  used  in  the  state  of  Tennessee, 
and  are  found  to  be  the  best  and  most  profitable  ever  known  there. 

A young  man  of  the  name  of  Campbell  is  said  to  have  improved  the  ma- 
cliinery  of  the  loom.  It  is  expected  that  this  new  combination  of  machineiy 
will  greatly  reduce  the  expense  of  fabricating  cloth,  and  thus  become  highly 
beneficial  to  the  country. 

The  legislature  of  Virginia,  with  an  enlightened  liberality  worthy  of  the 
resources  and  the  reputation  of  that  great  slate,  have  granted  a large  sum  of 
money  for  the  support  of  seminaries  of  public  instruction. 

A bill  has  been  reported  in  congress  for  the  establishment  of  a national 
university  in  the  city  of  Washington.  It  is  hoped  that  no  misplaced  notions  of 
public  economy,  or  political  fastidiousness  will  defeat  the  success  of  so  impor- 
tant a measure. 

The  Jesuits,  who  on  their  expulsion  from  the  states  of  the  church  and  other 
catholic  countries,  were  protected  in  Russia  and  permitted  to  devote  themselves 
to  the  education  of  youth,  have  been  ordered  by  an  ukase  dated  in  January  last, 
to  quit  the  two  capitals  of  that  empire.  They  are  accused  of  disturbing  society 
hy  their  inordinate  spirit  of  proselytism. 

James  P.  Parke  of  this  city,  has  published  in  tw  o volumes  8vo,  the  life  of 
the  late  Charles  lirockden  Brown,  together  with  selections  from  the  rarest  of 
his  printed  works,  from  his  original  letters,  and  from  his  manuscripts  before  un- 
%c  published.  By  William  Dunlap,  esqr. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  memoir  possessed  a genius  worthy  of  the 
care  with  which  it  was  cultivated;  and  its  efforts  liave  jirocured  for  him  a high 
and  w'ell  established  reputation  among  the  admirers  of  that  species  of  romance 'of 
■which  Mr.  Godwin’s  Caleb  Williams  was  considered  the  best  model.  Caleb 
Williams  is  in  fact  a work  of  powerful  talents,  exhibiting  a thorough  knowledge 
of  the  human  heart, — of  those  passions,  especially,  by  which  it  is  most  variously 
and  dreadfully  agitated, — and  displaying  in  colours,  painfully'  glowing,  the  evils, 
(perhaps  unavoidable)  of  a state  of  society,  crowded  in  its  population  and  far 
advanced  in  refinement.  This  is  the  -work  on  which  the  reputation  of  Mr.  God- 
■win  will  rest.  It  will  be  read  and  admired  when  his  Political  Justice  with  all 
its  train  of  supplementary  essays  will  be  forgotten,  or  remembered  only  as  monu- 
ments of  the  extravagancies  which  genius  without  the  guidance  of  judgment  s® 
often  commits.  Mr.  Brown  m some  respects  does  not  fall  short  of  the  celebra- 
ted writer  whom  he  avowedly  imitates.  His  acquaintance  with  the  human 
heart  was  far  less  profound,  but  he  knew  how  to  excite  and  keep  up  an  interest 
equally  strong  and  of  a much  more  agreeable  nature.  His  style  was  even  better 
suited  than  that  of  his  model  for  the  relation  of  an  interesting  story.  The  lan- 
gu.age  of  Caleb  Williams  is  elaborately  elegant,  and  the  reader  often  pauses  to 
admire  its  beauty  and  magnificence.  The  style  of  Arthur  Mervin  and  Edgar 
Wuntley,  is  plain,  unadorned,  and  flows  with  uninterrupted  rapidity.  The  peri- 
ods appear  perfectly  artless.  T'he  words  communicate  the  thought  so  simply 
and  clearly  that  they  are  not  themselves  particularly  noticed.  The  reader 
seems  to  behold  ideas  rather  than  their  symbols:  the  picture  is  so  exact  that  it 
is  not  distinguished  from  the  original.  We  peruse  the  pages  of  such  a writer, 
as  we  listen  to  the  impressive  discourse  of  an  orator  of  the  highest  class,  inatten- 
tive to  liis  person  or  his  gestures,  and  unmindful  even  of  his  language,  except 
as  the  medium  through  wliich  the  speaker  poui-s  the  light  of  his  mind. 

The  life  of  Mr.  Brown  was  not  sufficiently  public,  brilliant  or  diversified  to 
afford  subject  for  an  interesting  biography'.  A man  of  letters,  conscious  of  his 
own  merit,  modest  and  retiring,  he  shrunk  from  every  species  of  vulgar  noto- 
riety; while  his  industry,  prudence  and  domestic  endearments  preserved  him 
from  those  distresses  and  irregularities  w hich  too  often  afflict  and  degrade  men 
of  literary  eminence. 


FOREIGN  LITERATURE  AND  SCIENCE, 


375 


The  selections  in  the  fii  st  volume, -r-which,  the  preface  informs  us,  were 
ma<le  and  printed  before  Mr.  Duniap  undertook  the  compilation, — are  injudicious. 
But  the  original  letters  and  pieces  contained  iii  the  second  volume  are  excellent. 
Of  these,  the  memoirs  of  (Jarwin  the  Biloquist,  and  of  Stephen  Calvert,  are  the 
best;  and  if  the  author  had  lived  to  complete  them,  would  no  doubt  have  been 
equal  to  any  of  his  former  productions.  Tlte  work  we  understand  is  published 
for  the  benefit  of  his  widow  and  children. 

John  Binns  of  Philadel[)hia,  proposes  to  publish  a splendid  edition  of  the 
DKCLARAT  I o N of  I N u Ercxj.'E xct,  to  be  embellished  with  medallion  portraits  of 
those  patriots  who  were  most  conspicuous  in  preparing  and  passing  that  glorious 
national  act.  Fac  similes  of  all  the  signatures  to  it,  faithfully  copied  from  the 
original,  will  be  given.  T'he  paper,  types  and  ink  will  be  manufactured  on  pur- 
pose for  this  publication,  and  the  designs  and  engravings  will  be  e.xecuted  by  the 
best  artists.  The  whole  work,  it  is  believed,  will  exhibit  a favourable  specimen 
of  the  improved  state  of  the  fine  arts  in  this  country. 


FOREIGN  LITERATURE  AND  SCIENCE. 

From  lute  British  publications. 

1'he  second  livraison  of  the  splendid  French  w ork  on  Egypt  has  made  its 
appearance,  and  is  principally  devoted  to  the  remains  of  ancient  'I’hebes.  Many 
of  the  plates  measure  six  feet.  Among  other  remarkable  objects,  the  eelebi-ated 
colos.sal  figure  of  Memnon,  which  was  said  to  emit  an  harmonious  sound  at  the 
rising  of  the  sun,  still  exisis  in  the  plain  of  T'hebes.  Jt  is  remarkable  that  the 
French  artists  attest  that  they  heard  similar  sounds  at  sun-rise  in  another  place 
covered  with  blocks  of  granite  Is  it  possible  that  the  I'apid  change  in  the  tem- 
perature of  the  air  can,  by  its  action  upon  the  stone,  produce  this  effect?  In  the 
palace  and  tomb  of  Osyraandyas  is  still  standing  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
beautiful  colossal  figures  of  rose-coloured  granite,  which  must  weigh  upwards  of 
two  millions  of  pounds,  and  have  been  brought  thither  from  a quarry  two  hun- 
dred miles  distant.  The  palace  of  the  Projiyliea,  as  it  is  termed,  contains  a liall 
supported  by  columns,  the  dimensions  of  which  may  alford  some  idea  of  the  pro- 
digious magnitude  of  these  remains.  It  is  fifty  fathoms  in  length,  and  twenty-five 
in  breadth;  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  pillars,  each  sixty -five  feet  high,  support 
tlie  roof,  which  is  coniposed  of  immense  blocks  of  stone.  'Fhe  whole  church  of 
Notre  Dame,  at  Paris,  would  stand  in  it.  “ We  can  scarcely  express,”  say  the 
wi-iters,  “the  disagreeable  impression  made  on  us  by  the  first  works  of  GVecian 
architecture  that  we  saw,  after  a residence  of  eight  months  among  these  antiqui- 
ties. The  elegant  Corinthian  columns  appeared  slender,  and  without  solidity; 
^ and  their  rich  capitals  an  unmeaning  decoration  It  required  some  time  before 
we  could  recover  our  former  taste.  Grecian  architecture  possesses  the  utmost 
elegance  and  beauty  of  proportion,  the  ancient  Egy  ptian  a noble  simplicity,  not 
destitute  of  elegance,  and  a grandeur  that  elevates  the  mind.”  This  work  opens 
a new  w orld,  a boundless  field  for  inquiries  concerning  ancient  history,  commerce, 
literature,  and  science.  Much  that  modern  writers  have  liitherto  only  conjec- 
tured, relative  to  the  ancient  intercourse  of  nations,  and  the  higher  degree  of 
their  culture,  is  here  reduced  to  certainly. 

A translation  has  been  published,  in  London,  within  the  present  year,  of  the 
History  of  the  Life  of  the  Squire  Marcos  de  Obregon,  by  Vincent  Espinel.  This 
writer  lived  during  the  most  flourishing  ]ieriod  of  the  Spanish  monarchy;  and  he 
is  supposed  to  have  given  in  this  work,  under  a fictitious  name  and  title,  a detail 
of  the  principal  events  of  his  own  adventurous  and  variegated  life.  The  work 
does  not  possess  that  interest  which  strongly  rivets  the  attention  of  the  reader; 
but  it  contains  abundance  of  pleasant,  prudential,  and  humorous  observations, 
characteristic  of  the  old  Spanish  romance,  with  many  curious  anecdotes  illustra- 
tive of  the  manners  of  the  age  in  which  it  was  written. — I'he  following  extract 
is  a favorable  specimen,  and  may  enable  our  readers  in  some  measure  to  judge 
for  themselves. 


376 


FOREIGN  LITERATURE  AND  SCIENCE 


“ Young  girls  are  joyous  of  heart,  and  merry  in  society;  they  run  about 
frisking  like  hinds,  while  their  old  husbands  are  creeping  along  with  their  gouty 
feet.  A hare  is  not  so  much  persecuted  by  greyhounds,  as  the  young  wife  of  an 
old  man  by  other  men  Neither  is  there  a young  man  in  the  place,  but  what 
calls  her  cousin,  nor  an  old  tale-bearing  woman  that  is  not  of  her  acquaintance. 
She  goes  to  all  the  churches  round  about,  either  to  get  away  from  her  husband, 
or,  as  a pi*etence  for  \isitingone  or  other  of  her  gossips.  If  the  husband  is  poor, 
she  complains  of  his  stinginess;  if  rich,  she  soon  takes  care  to  leave  him  nothing 
but  what  grows  upon  his  forehead,  (lod  preserve  ray  understanding!  I am  very 
well  as  a single  man,  and  know  how  to  manage  myself  in  a state  of  solitude.  I 
do  not  w’ish  therefore  to  disturb  the  remainder  of  my  life  with  new  cares  or  vain 
counsels.”  The  doctor  was  ready  to  burst  with  laughter  at  all  this,  while  his 
wife  was  thinking  of  the  reply  she  had  to  make.  At  last  she  said  with  great  in- 
genuity and  good-humour:  “ One  learns  something  new'  every  day;  it  is  a good 
thing  to  live,  in  order  to  study  different  characters.  You  are  the  first  old  man  I 
ever  saw  or  heard  of,  that  refused  to  marry  a young  girl.  I'hey  are  fond  of  new 
blood  to  warm  their  old  We  make  old  trees  young  by  grafting  them.  That 
plants  may  not  be  frost-bitten,  we  cover  them  up.  The  palm-tree  will  uot  bear 
fruit  unless  her  companion  grows  near  her.  Melancholy  and  desperation  arc 
the  friends  of  solitude.  All  rational  animals,  and  even  brutes,  are  friends  to  so- 
ciety. I hope  you  are  not  like  that  brutal  philosopher,  who,  on  being  asked 
what  w'as  the  proper  age  to  marry,  answered:  ‘ When  a man  is  young,  it  is  too 
early';  when  old,  too  late.’  ” 

“ Harold,  the  Dauntless,”  a poem,  in  four  cantos,  by  the  author  of  the 
“ Bridal  of  Triermain,”  is  in  the  press. 

Airs.  Opie’s  novel,  called  “ Valentine’s  Eve,”  is  nearly  ready  for  publication- 


MONTHLY  LIST  OF  NEW  PUBLICATIONS.  ’ 

J\L  Carey  has  published,  Patience  and  Perseverance,  a novel,  by  Mrs.  Iloff- 
land.  2 vols.  §2. 

AJawe’s  Travels  in  Brazil. 

The  Heart  and  the  Fancy; — Paired,  not  Alatched; — and  Varieties  of  Life. 

Wells  iff  Lilly,  Bosto?i,  have  in  press,  vol  2 of  Allison’s  Sermons; — and 
Bhoda,  by  the  author  of  Things  by  their  Right  Names. 

Jil.  Thomas  has  in  press,  The  History  of  the  1-ife  of  the  Squire  Alarcos  De 
Obregon,  inscribed  to  the  most  illustrious  Cardinal  Archbishop  of  Toledo,  Don 
Bernardo  De  Sandoval  and  Rojas,  the  protector  of  virtue  and  father  of  the  poor- 
By  A'^incent  Espinel,  master  of  arts,  and  cliaplain  of  our  lord  the  king,  in  the 
royal  hospital  of  the  city  of  Honda.  Translated  into  English  from  the  Aladrid 
edition  of  1618;  by  Alajor  Algernon  Langton,  Gist  regiment. 

JM.  Carey  has  in  the  press,  and  nearly'  ready  for  publication,  ‘‘Letters  to 
the  Directors  of  the  Banks  of  the  City  of  Fhiladelphia,  on  the  pernicious  conse- 
quences of  the  prev;»iling  system  of  Reducing  the  Amount  of  Bills  Discounted, 
and  on  the  impropriety  of  banks  holding  Immoderate  Quantities  of  Public  Stock, 
when  they  are  unable  to  discount  the  most  unexceptionable  promissory  notes.” 
LTTEnARY  NOTICE 

.If.  Carey  respectfully  informs  the  friends  of  literature,  that  he  has,  for  a 
considerable  time  past,  employed  his  leisure  hours  in  collecting  materials  for  a 
History  of  the  Religious  Persecutions  of  the  1.5th,  IGth  and  I7th  Centuries,  which 
he  hopes  to  be  able  to  publish  in  two  octavo  volumes  w ithin  one  year. 

Any  documents,  tending  to  elucidate  this  important  portion  of  the  history  of 
human  folly  and  wickedness,  left  w ith  .Messrs.  Wells  and  Lilly,  Boston,  Messrs. 
A'an  Winkle  and  Wiley,  New  York,  Mr.  Fielding  Lucas,  Baltimore,  or  Messrs, 
Fitzwhylson  and  Potter,  Richmond,  will  be  gratefally'  received. 


ANALECTIC  MAGAZINE, 

AND 

NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


MAY,  1816. 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS, 


DURING  THE  LATE  WAR,  BETWEEN  BRITISH  AND  AMERICAN 
VESSELS. 

(Continued,  from  our  last  number,  from  the  British  Naval  Chronicle.) 

“ The  next  action  was  between  the  Frolic  brig  and  Ameri- 
can ship  Wasp;  and  took  place  on  the  18th  of  October,  1812.  Of 
all  the  actions  between  us  and  the  Americans,  this,  in  weight  of 
VOL.  VII. 


378 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


metal,  has  been  the  most  equal.  The  Wasp  (now  the  Peacock 
in  our  service)  is  certainly  a much  finer  ship  than  any  sloop  of 
war  we  have,  and  has  her  bulwarks  nearly  as  thick  as  a frigate’s. 
Put  the  evening  previous  to  the  action,  the  Frolic  ‘ carried  away 
her  main  yard,  lost  her  top  sails,  and  sprung  her  main  top  mast:* 
consequently  was  quite  in  a disabled  state.  Then,  as  to  men,  the 
substance,  sinews,  arms,  and  strength  of  war,  she  was  miserably 
defective.  Her  station  had  been  Jamaica,  which  place  she  left 
(with  a crew  partly  consisting  of  invalids,  from  the  naval  hospital) 
in  June  preceding,  bound  to  Honduras,  and  thence  with  convoy 
home.  It  is  stated  that  captain  Whinyates,  her  commander,  was 
not  apprised  of  the  war  even  when  he  met  the  Wasp;  but  for  this 
I cannot  vouch.  The  Wasp,  the  Americans  will  not  now  deny, 
had  for  a crew  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  of  the  best  men  captain 
Jones  could  procure,  and  had  only  left  the  Delaware  a fortnight 
previous  to  the  action.  She  was  therefore  fully  prepared  to  meet 
an  enemy’s  vessel,  every  way  her  equal, — much  more  one  igno- 
rant, perhaps,  of  the  war,  disabled  in  her  spars  and  rigging,  with 
a crew  at  least  twenty-five  short  of  her  complement,  (one  hundred 
and  twenty-one)  and  part  of  them  just  recovering  frony;hat  dread- 
ful West  India  malady,  the  yellow  fever.  Captain  Whinyates 
speaks  decidedly  of  the  unmanageable  state  of  the  Frolic  in  the 
action,  owing  to  the  loss  of  her  mainyard,  and  of  the  power  it  gave 
the  enemy  to  rake  him  repeatedly.  Here  is  a comparative  view 
of  the  force  of  the  two  vessels. 


FROLIC  (^brig.') 

Rating  18  gnus,  raonntingthe  same,  be- 
sides perhaps  a single  boat  gun. 
Rroadside,  8 321b  carronades  *256lbs. 

1 61b.  long  gun  6 

262 

Men  and  boys,  05. 

Measurement,  about  3S0  tons. 


WASP  {shiji.') 

Rating  16,  mounting  18  guns. 

I'roadside,  8 321b.  carronades  2561bs. 

1 91b,  long  gun  9 

265  I 

Men,*  all  picked,  165.  | 

Measurement,  about  480  tons.  i 


Superiority  on  the  American  side. 

In  weight  of  metal,  say  nothing. 

In  number  of  men,  nearly  as  nine  to  five. 
In  size  of  vessel,  nearly  as  four  to  three. 


* The  few  on  board  an  American  ship  of  war,  that  are  designated  as  boys^ 
m*e  as  old  and  as  stout  as  most  men  employed  in  our  service.  Our  boys,  besides 
being  so  numerous,  are  often  so  young  as  to  be  fitter  for  the  nursery  than  the 
quarter  bills  of  a ship  of  -war. 


SYNOrSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


379 


“ The  British  official  account  of  this  action  omits  stating  the 
number  of  killed  and  wounded  on  either  side:  only  mentioning 
that  not  Hventij  of  the  Frolic’s  men  remained  unhurt.  The  Ame- 
rican account  says  the  brig  had  seventy-five  killed  and  wounded, 
and  that  only  three  were  standing  on  the  deck  when  they  boarded. 
It  is  not  attempted  to  be  insinuated  that  any  of  our  men  had  left 
their  quarters  that  were  not  disabled;  therefore  with  the  exception 
of  the  eight  or  ten  in  the  tops,  and  a few  sick  in  their  hammocks 
below,  none  of  the  survivors  could  have  went  off  the  deck.  The 
American  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  amounted  only  to  ten;  far 
too  great  a disproportion. 

“ I have  now  the  painful  task  of  presenting  an  enemy’s  cha- 
racter to  view  in  no  very  favourable  light.  The  Frolic,  for  want 
of  after  sails,  fell  on  board  her  opponent,  soon  after  the  action  com- 
menced, with  her  bowsprit  ‘ betwixt  the  Wasp’s  main  and  mizen 
rigging,*  and  so  continued  until  the  conflict  ended,  ‘ unable  to 
bring  a single  gun  to  bear.*  What  enemy  but  an  Algerine,  or  an 
American,  seeing  the  helpless  state  of  his  brave  adversary,  would 
not  have  ceased  firing,  and  rushed  on  board  to  end  at  once  the 
slaughter  and  the  combat?  No;  two  motives  prevented  this: — 
one,  the  expected  gratification  of  seeing  the  British  haul  down 
their  own  flag:  the  other  (doubtless  by  far  the  most  powerful  one) 
their  dread  of  venturing  sword  in  hand  upon  the  Frolic’s  deck. 
One  of  the  Wasp’s  men,  it  seems,  made  a show  of  boarding. 
‘Not  yet,*  says  captain  Jones,  ‘ another  broadside  first.’  Poured 
into  her  it  was,  and  repeated  again  and  again;  nor  did  they  dare 
to  board  this  poor  wreck  at  last,  till  the  captain  and  his  friend 
Biddle,  (now  commander  of  the  Hornet)  peeping  over  the  gun- 
wale, saw  with  surprise  but  ‘ three  men  standi '.g  on  the  Frolic’s 
deckl*  Then  they  did  board  in  ‘ gallant  style,’  and  stepping  over 
dead,  dying  and  wounded,  (with  which  the  deck  was  covered)  re- 
ceived the  sword  of  the  British  commander.  He  who  needs  con- 
firmation of  this,  may  find  it  in  the  American  newspapers  detail- 
ing the  action. 

“ There  are  many  instances  where  ships  of  ours  have  captured 
very  superior  enemy’s  vessels,  after  the  latter  had  been  disabled 
in  their  spars  and  rigging.  Often  have  our  18  gun  brigs  attacked, 
singly,  enemy’s  frigates  of  the  largest  class,  when  similarly  cir- 


380 


flTAVAL  CHROKICLE. 


cumstanced.  And  was  it  not  the  little  Terpsichore  32  that  some 
years  ago  played  round,  and  fired  into,  repeatedly,  that  immense 
three  decker,  the  Santissima  Trinada,  after  she  had  been  dismast- 
ed in  earl  St.  Vincent’s  action?  Let  the  Americans  then  take  the 
credit  of  one  victory,  obtained,  after  a long  action,  over  a British 
vessel  of  the  same  force  in  guns,  but  in  a crippled  state,  and  with 
a crew,  feeble  as  it  was,  of  little  more  than  half  the  number  op- 
posed to  them. 

“ The  next  battle  was  another  frigate  one,  fought  on  the  25th 
of  the  same  October,  between  the  Macedonian  and  the  United 
States.  Our  ship,  in  this  instance,  had  even  a greater  force  to  con- 
tend against  than  the  Guerriere  had,  for  the  United  States,  like 
the  President,  carries  forty-two  pounders  on  her  upper  deck. 
The  Constitution,  the  Americans  say,  is  a stronger  and  finer  ship 
than  either;  yet,  according  to  the  official  letters  of  both  captain 
Dacres  and  lieutenant  Chads,  carries  carronades  ten  pounds 
lighter;  whether  of  French  or  English  caliber  is  not  mentioned, 
but  believed  to  be  the  former. 

“ Captain  Decatur  states  the  number  of  the  Macedonian’s 
guns  to  have  been  forty-nine,  including  of  course  boat  guns  of 
every  description,  and  that  her  crew  consisted  of  three  hundred 
men,  which  was  her  full  complement.  Captain  Carden  is  totally 
silent  on  this  subject,  but  gives  the  force  in  guns,  of  his  formida- 
ble opponent,  precisely  as  it  appears  in  the  American  statements, 
published  long  after  the  action.  He  makes  the  crew  four  hundred 
and  seventy-eight  ‘ picked  men.’  On  this  point  nothing  has  been 
said  by  the  Americans,  either  in  confirmation  or  denial;  therefore 
we  may  presume  captain  Carden  was  correctly  informed.  For 
weight  of  metal  of  the  Macedonian,  (exclusive  of  the  two  brass 
twelve  pounders,  since  retaken  on  board  the  Argus  brig)  1 must 
refer  to  the  regular  establishment  for  vessels  of  class.  As  to  the 
number  of  men  and  boys  with  which  she  went  into  action,  I am 
compelled  to  refer  to  captain  Decatur’s  letter,  although  rather 
ambiguously  worded,  as  to  whether  three  hundred  men  meant  the 
complement  allowed  her,  or  the  actual  number  she  then  had  on 
board.  The  following  will  be  found  a tolerable  estimate  of  the 
force  engaged  in  this  action. 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


381 


MACEDONIAN. 

UNITED  STATES. 

Rating  38,  mounting  49  guns. 

Rating  44,  mounting  55  guns. 

Main  deck,  14  I81b  long  guns 

252 

Lower  deck,  15  241b.  long  guns 

360 

Quarter  deck,  1 121b.  ditto 

12 

Upper  ditto.  1 ditto  ditto 

24 

Fore  castle,  1 91b.  ditto. 

9 

8 321b.  carronades 

256 

11  421b.  carronades 

462 

1 181b.  ditto,  shifting  gun 

' 18 

1 18lb.  shifting  gun 

IS 

547 

864 

Men  and  boys,  at  full  complement, 

With  howitzers  in  her  tops. 

300. 

Men,  “ all  picked”  4f8. 

Measurement,  under  1100  tons. 

Measurement,  full  1 630  tons. 

Siiperiority 

on  the  American  side. 

In  weight  of  metal. 

In  number  of  men. 

> full  as  three  to  two. 

In  size  of  vessel. 

J 

“ The  relative  execution  done  in  this  frigate  action  was  still 
more  disproportionate  than  the  former  one,  standing  thus. — Bri- 
tish killed  and  wounded,  104;  American  ditto.  12.  For  this  we 
can  account,  in  some  degree,  exclusive  of  the  disparity  of  force, 
by  the  novel  manner  in  which  the  action  was  fought.  Our  ship 
had  the  weather  guagc:  but  captain  Carden,  not  knowing  perhaps 
that  the  weight  of  metal  of  his  cautious  adversary  was  superior  to 
his  own,  kept  at  long  balls^  till  all  his  top  masts  were  shot  away, 
and  his  ship  become  an  unmanageable  wreck,  while  the  United 
States,  lying  beyond  the  range  of  the  Macedonian’s  shot,  received 
little  or  no  injury.  Crippled  as  the  Macedonian  was,  and  having 
so  wide  an  extent  of  ocean  to  pass  over,  is  it  not  surprising  that 
she  should  have  reached  an  American  port?  There  she  is  how- 
ever, snug  and  secure^  although  the  little  town  of  New  London 
ought  long  ago  to  have  been  burnt  to  the  ground,  if  nothing  less 
w’ould  have  restored  to  us  (out  of  three  that  have  been  cap- 
tured) the  only  British  frigate  in  the  hands  of  the  Americans.” 

Remarks  on  the  Synopsis  of  Naval  Actions,  betzoecn  the  Ame- 
rican and  British  ships  of  war,  lately  published  in  the 
British  Naval  Chronicle,  (Continued  from  our  last 
number.) 

Whoever  is  tolerably  conversant  with  English  literature, 
must  well  recollect  how  often  the  writers  of  that  country  have 
made  themselves  merry  with  the  credulity  of  the  people,  who, 


382 


NAVAL  CHRaNICLE. 


however,  by  the  way,  seem  to  believe  all  on  one  side,  and  ar« 
quite  paralitic  of  belief  on  the  other.  Any  thing  strange,  un* 
natural,  or  monstrous,  is  pretty  sure  to  obtain  full  credit 
among  them,  whether  it  be  the  supernatural  abstinence  of 
Ann  Moore,  the  existence  of  the  lady  with  the  pig’s  face,  the 
immaculate  conception  of  Joanna  Southcote,  or  the  enormous 
size  of  an  American  frigate.  But  their  astonishing  credulity 
on  one  hand  is  singularly  contrasted  with  their  scepticism  on 
the  other;  for  while  they  give  full  and  entire  credit  to  the  re- 
lations of  victories  that  they  never  gained,  with  a most  pre- 
posterous inconsistency  they  refuse  their  assent  to  defeats  that 
are  notorious  to  all  the  world.  It  is  therefore  little  to  be  -won- 
dered at  that  such  a people  should  believe  in  that  magazine 
of  wonders,  the  British  Naval  Chronicle,  and,  by  a natural 
consequence  of  this  peculiar  feature  of  character,  disbelieve 
in  the  claims  of  America  to  a naval  superiority.  The  doubts, 
as  well  as  the  credulity  of  ignorance,  are  -v\dthout  limits,  and 
it  is  not  uncommon  to  see  men,  who  believe  in  the  wildest 
creations  of  fancy,  refusing  their  assent  to  the  most  irrefraga- 
ble evidences  of  sense.  It  would  seem,  indeed,  to  be  a natu- 
ral consequence,  that  a man,  who  gi-ves  all  his  faith  to  im- 
possibilities, should  have  none  left  for  the  natural  effects  of 
known  and  received  causes. 

The  ministerial  writers  of  England,  w-^hose  business  it  is 
to  keep  John  Bull  in  a good  humour,  by  patting  him  on  the 
back,  and  persuading  him  that  he  is  altogether  invincible  by 
sea  and  land,  have  taken  advantage  of  this  peculiar  instinct 
of  the  good  man,  who,  like  an  oyster,  opens  his  mouth,  and 
swallows  every  thing  that  comes  in  with  the  flood  tide,  but  ob- 
stinately shuts  it  when  it  is  ebb  with  him.  Knowing  that  he 
will  believe  any  thing  to  his  own  advantage,  they  every  day 
invent  pretty  stories  for  his  gratification,  and  w'henever  the 
tax-gatherer  knocks  at  his  door,  which  is  almost  every  day  in 
the  year,  he  is  sure  to  bring  an  account  of  some  great  victory, 
either  in  the  west,  or  the  east,  or  somewhcre*^or  other. 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


583 


But  these  dextrous  jugglers  in  literature  were  never  so 
hard  put  to  it,  for  victories  to  tickle  the  good  squire,  as  during 
the  late  contest  with  this  country,  and  indeed  were  at  length 
obliged  to  resort  to  the  inglorious  task  of  accounting  for  de- 
feats, rather  than  boasting  of  triumphs.  Not  being  able  to 
persuade,  even  him,  that  his  ships  have  not  been  beaten,  they 
have  exercised  all  their  ingenuity  in  proving  how  it  was  ut- 
terly impossible  that  they  should  not  have  been  beaten.  This, 
to  be  sure,  is  but  a sorry  consolation,  and  it  is  almost  a pity 
to  attempt  undeceiving  him.  Had  his  claims  been  urged  with 
a becoming  modesty,  and  not  been  mingled  v;ith  sneers  and 
abuse  of  his  gallant  enemy,  they  might  perhaps  have  passed. 
Had  his  apologists,  in  fact,  contented  themselves  with  ex- 
tenuating alone,  and  ‘‘  set  down  nought  in  malice,”  John 
might  have  remained  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  his  delusion. 
He  might  have  continued  to  sing  “ Rule  Britannia”  till  his 
dying  day,  and  enjoyed  the  full  fruition  of  his  belief  in  this, 
as  in  the  story  of  Ann  Moore,  Joanna  Southcote,  and  the  lady 
with  the  pig’s  face.  The  war  being  over,  and  the  two  nations 
friends,  we  would  never  have  thought  of  reviving  this  ques- 
tion while  the  peace  continued.  We  have  no  enmity  to  En- 
gland except  what  arises  from  her  enmity  to  us.  Hitherto 
the  wars  waged  against  that  nation  by  the  writers  of  this  coun- 
try have  been  defensive  wars,  and  were  they  to  let  us  alone 
we  should  never  think  of  attacking  them.  But  the  people  of 
the  United  States  of  America  are  not  Hindoos,  or  Portuguese, 
or  Italians,  to  be  trod  under  foot  or  calumniated  with  impu- 
nity. That  time  is  past:  the  worm  has  turned — and  now,  as 
we  will  be  at  all  times  ready  to  return  courtesy  for  courtesy, 
so  will  we  be  equally  ready  to  return  contempt  for  contempt, 
scorn  for  scorn,  obloquy  for  obloquy.  It  is  but  a sorry  busi- 
ness, after  all,  for  two  nations  to  be  abusing  each  other  at  a 
distance  of  three  thousand  miles;  like  two  of  Homer’s  heroes, 
with  the  Scamander  between  them.  But  we  desire  our  coun- 
trymen to  remember  who  cast  the  first  stone,  and  to  remem- 
ber also  that  hitherto  acquiescence  in  misrepresentation,  has 


384 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


only  called  new  vials  of  wrath  from  the  British  press  upon 
our  heads.  All  things  must  have  a beginning,  and  perhaps 
the  time  may  come  when  the  insignificant  example  we  have 
set  will  call  forth  the  exertions  of  others,  more  qualified  for 
this  contest.  The  history  of  England,  even  as  written  by  her 
own  writers — the  conduct  of  her  government,  as  displayed  by 
her  most  illustrious  orators  in  parliament,  furnishes  us  with 
ample  means  of  turning  the  abuse  of  her  writers  back  upon 
herself.  The  laborious  industry  of  her  statistical,  the  com- 
plaints  and  statements  of  her  religious  and  moral  writers,  have 
let  us  into  all  the  secrets  of  the  interior  and  exterior,  the  mo- 
ral and  political  state  of  England,  and  where  she  is  obliged  to 
resort  for  materials  against  us,  to  writers  without  credit  or 
authority,  we  can  gather  those  to  be  employed  against  her 
from  the  most  unquestionable  sources.  The  progress  of  this 
system  of  abuse  of  our  national  character,  our  manners  and  our 
government,  will  assuredly  provoke  reprisal,  and  the  time  will 
perhaps  come  when  the  character,  manners  and  government 
of  England  will  be  laid  open  to  the  world,  at  different  times, 
in  a way  that  will  not  redound  to  her  credit.  It  may,  there- 
fore, be  worth  while  for  these  people  to  consider,  which  is  like- 
ly to  suffer  most  in  the  end,  and  w^hether  the  superior  know- 
ledge we  possess  of  them  may  not  give  us  many  advantages 
in  the  contest,  inasmuch  as  the  more  we  know  of  some  peo- 
ple the  less  they  are  thought  of;  and  whether,  finally,  the  wea- 
pons which  this  superior  knowledge  furnishes  us  with,  may 
not  make  ample  amends  for  the  want  of  equal  dexterity  in 
their  management.  With  these  observations  we  will  now  pro- 
ceed with  the  “ Synopsis,”  w^hich  naturally  gave  rise  to  them. 

The  next  action  in  the  black  list  of  the  “ British  naval 
officer  on  the  American  station”  is  that  of  the  Wasp  and  Fro- 
lic, which  the  writer  himself  admits^was,  “ of  all  the  actions 
between  us  and  the  Americans,  in  weight  of  metal  the  most 
equal.”  After  this  candid  acknowledgment  he  proceeds  how- 
ever to  account,  as  usual,  for  the  extraordinary  result  of  this 
affair,  by  a train  of  petty  excuses,  and  half-sided  misrepresen- 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS, 


38i> 


talions,  which  we  are  compelled  to  notice.  The  facts  we 
shall  adduce,  are  furnished  upon  authority  at  least  fully  equal 
to  those  of  our  antagonist.  He  has  not  told  us  whence  lie 
derived  them;  but  we  are  not  afraid  to  say  we  derived  ours 
from  officers,  whose  gallantry  in  these  actions  is  ample  secu- 
rity that  they,  at  least,  would  not  stoop  to  misrepresentation. 
The  word  of  the  victor  is  of  greater  weight  than  that  of  the 
vanquished,  because  he  has  not  equal  motives  to  tell  a false- 
hood, It  will  be  found,  by  all  experience,  that  the  thing  that 
is  beaten  is  always  the  most  noisy,  gs^rulous,  and  full  of  ex- 
cuses. If  it  be  a dog,  he  always  barks  the  loudest,  if  a cock, 
he  always  cackles  most  vociferously,  and  if  it  be  honest  John 
Bull  that  gets  worsted,  he  will  always  have  the  most  to  say  in 
favour  of  his  own  prowess,  as  well  as  against  that  of  his  suc- 
cessful antagonist. 

Thus  the  officer  on  the  American  station.” — He  sums 
up  the  balance  of  his  account  current  as  follows,  to  wit: — 
that  the  superiority  on  the  American  side  was  in  the  number 
of  men  as  nine  to  five,  and,  “ in  weight  of  metal — say  no- 
thing;” and  certainly  the  less  he  says  about  that  the  better. 
We  state  it  as  a fact,  derived  from  the  authority  above  alluded 
to,  that  the  Frolic  carried  twenty  32lb.  caiTonades  on  her 
main  deck,  and  two  large  howdtzers  on  her  top  gallant  fore- 
castle. The  Wasp  carried  eighteen  32lb.  carronades  on  the 
main  deck,  and  had  no  top  gallant  forecastle.  Now  were  w e 
as  deep  in  Thomas  Dilworth  as  the  naval  officer,  we  w ould 
calculate  the  difference  in  weight  of  metal;  but  in  truth  it  is 
quite  unnecessary,  and  we  will  go  on  to  expose  other  misre- 
presentations. The  officer  states  the  crew  of  the  Frolic  at 
ninety-five  men  and  boys,  that  of  the  Wasp  at  one  hundred 
and  sixty-five,  all  ‘‘  men  in  buckram,”  as  usual — all  “ picked 
men,”  But  there  was  something  w^orse  than  all  this.  The 
crew  of  the  Frolic  were,  a great  part  of  them,  invalids,  just 
come  out  of  the  yellow-  fever,  and  “ it  is  stated,”  says  the 
officer,  prudently  however,  without  giving  his  authority,  “ that 
VOL.  VII.  * 49 


336 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE.* 


captain  Whinyates  was  not  apprised  of  the  war  even  when  he 
met  the  Wasp.” 

The  purser  of  the  Frolic  informed  lieutenant  Biddle,  first 
of  the  Wasp,  that  the  crew,  at  the  commencement  of  the  ac- 
tion, consisted  of  one  hundred  and  nineteen  men,  and  we  are 
fully  authorised  to  state,  that  in  none  of  the  conversations 
which  took  place  after  the  capture,  with  the  officers  of  the 
Frolic,  did  there  occur  the  least  hint  or  complaint  that  her 
crew  were,  or  had  been,  recently  sickly.  To  our  officers  the 
survivors  appeared  as  well  looking  as  the  generality  of  sailors 
in  British  men  of  war,  which,  to  be  sure,  is  not  saying  much 
in  their  favour.  The  war  was  declared  against  England  the 
18th  of  June,  and  on  the  18th  of  October,  four  entire  months 
afterwards,  captain  Whinyates,  “ it  is  said,”  did  not  know 
of  the  war!  Where  had  he  been?  Only  in  the  West  Indies, 
gentle  reader,  where  news  gets  from  the  United  States  in 
eight  or  ten  days.  And  yet  poor  captain  Whinyates  was  ig- 
norant of  the  war,  and  like  his  fellow  ignoramus,  captain 
Dacres,  was  “ carelessly”  sailing  about  singing  Rule  Bri- 
tannia,” we  suppose,  and  not  even  so  much  as  dreaming  of 
being  stung  by  such  an  overgrown  Wasp.  “ Prodigious!  pro- 
digious!” as  Dominic  Sampson  says. 

But  there  is  still  another  and  another  exjcusc  forthcoming, 
as  if  the  v eakness  of  each  could  be  sustained  by  the  weak- 
ness of  all  together.  It  seems  that  the  “ American  hoys  are 
as  old  and  as  stout  as  most  men  employed  in  the  British  ser-  ^ 
vice.  “ Our  boys,”  continues  the  officer,  “ besides  being  so 
numerous,  are  often  so  young  as  to  be  fitter  for  the  nursery 
than  the  quarter  bills  of  a ship  of  war.”  Here  this  really  silly 
apologist  discloses  another  cause  of  the  superiority  which  we 
contend  for: — their  ships,  he  says,  are  pestered  with  little 
boys,  only  fit  for  the  nursery; Avhereas  the  American  boys  are 
a match  for  the  British  men  on  board  their  ships  of  war.  If 
there  is  such  a diftercnce  in  the  hoys,  what  must  there  be  be- 
tween the  men  of  the  two  nations?  and  what  inhumanity  in 
thus  carrying  little  children,  “ fit  for  the  nursery”  only,  int« 
scenes  of  bloodshed  and  carnage! 


SYNOPSIS  OP  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


387 


The  last  inaccuracy  in  the  basis  of  this  writer’s  account 
current  is,  in  stating  the  number  of  men  on  board  the  Wasp 
at  one  hundred  and  sixty-five,  when  in  reality  her  crew  con- 
sisted of  only  one  hundred  and  ten,  of  whom  a number  were 
boys,  smaller  than  those  of  the  Frolic,  but  still  not  exactly  fit 
for  any  nursery  but  that  of  seamen.  In  stating  the  compara- 
tive loss  on  either  side,  the  unfortunate  officer  is  again  forced 
into  the  acknowledgment,  that,  notwithstanding  the  disparity 
of  ships  and  men,  as  stated  by  himself,  “ it  was  far  too  great 
a disproportion.”  Again  we  ask,  to  what  could  this  dispro- 
portion be  owing  but  to  a superiority  in  skill,  activity,  energy, 
in  every  thing  in  fact  that  constitutes  the  superiority  of  one 
man  over  another? 

“ I have  now  the  painful  task  of  presenting  the  character 
of  an  enemy  in  no  very  favourable  light,”  continues  the  writer 
of  the  Synopsis.  He  then  proceeds  with  a statement,  which, 
as  it  furnishes  a brilliant  specimen  of  the  usual  style  in  which 
the  character  of  our  nation  and  its  officers  is  treated  in  the 
British  publications  of  the  day,  w^e  w ill  quote  at  length,  for 
fear  the  reader  should  not  sufficiently  recollect  it.  “ The 
Frolic,  for  w^ant  of  after  sails,  fell  on  board  her  opponent  soon 
after  the  action  commenced,  wdth  her  bow^sprit  betwixt  the 
Wasp’s  main  and  mizen  rigging,  and  so  continued  until  the 
conflict  ended,  unable  to  bring  a single  gun  to  bear.  What 
enemy  but  an  Algerine,  or  an  American,  seeing  the  helpless 
state  of  his  brave  adversary,  would  not  have  ceased  firing, 
and  rushed  on  board  to  end  at  once  the  slaughter  and  the 
combat?  No;  two  motives  prevented  this: — one,  the  expect- 
ed gratification  of  seeing  the  British  haul  down  their  own 
flag: — the  other,  (doubtless  by  far  the  most  powerful  one) 
their  dread  of  venturing  sword  in  hand  upon  the  Frolic’s 
deck.  One  of  the  Wasp’s  men,  it  seems,  made  a show  of 
boarding.  ‘ Not  yet,’  says  captain  Jones,  ‘ another  broadside 
first.’  Poured  into  her  it  was,  and  repeated  again  and  again; 
nor  did  they  dare  to  board  this  poor  wTeck  at  last,  till  the 
captain  and  his  friend  Biddle,  (now  commander  of  the  Hornet) 


NAVAL  GHRONICLE. 


38^ 

peeping  over  the  gun-wale,  saw  with  surprise  but  three  men 
standing  on  the  Frolic’s  deck.  Then  they  did  board  in  gal- 
lant style,  and  stepping  over  dead,  and  dying,  and  wounded, 
(with  which  the  deck  was  covered)  received  the  swwd  of  the 
British  commander.” 

Tliere  is  something  extremely  pitiful  in  all  this,  and  were 
it  not  that  the  colouring  which  is  given  to  this  detail  might  de- 
ceive those  who  are  ignorant  of  the  usages  of  war,  we  might 
leave  it  w ithout  further  comment.  The  plain  English  of  this 
rare  specimen  of  rhetoric  is,  that  the  Frolic,  it  blowing  a gale, 
fell  on  board  the  Wasp,  in  such  a way  as  to  give  the  latter 
vessel  great  advantages  in  firing  into  her,  and  that  captain 
Jones  preferred  preserving  this  advantage  to  boarding  at  a dis- 
advantage, which  must  have  been  the  case  in  such  a heavy 
sea.  How  was  it  possible  for  captain  Jones  to  know  that  the 
cre’iv  of  .the  Frolic  had  quitted  their  guns,  and  skulked  be- 
tween decks,  labouring,  as  we  all  did  at  that  time,  under  a 
mistaken  idea  of  the  prow^ess  of  British  sailors?  or  how  was 
he  to  know  that  resistance  had  finally  ceased  while  the  ene- 
my’s flag  was  still  flying?  Is  not  this  the  ^vay  that  all  nations, 
except  the  Bi-itish,  fight?  Do  they  not  calculate  advantages, 
take  advantage  of  any  favourable  position,  and  fire  till  they 
know  their  enemy  is  conquered?  When  captain  Broke  board- 
ed the  Chesapeake,  several  of  the  crew  of  that  vessel  were 
killed  by  firing  down  her  gangway,  after  all  resistance  had 
ceased;  yet  no  complaint  on  our  part  wms  made,  because 
every  one  knows  that  in  the  heat  of  battle  it  is  impossible  to 
know  the  precise  moment  when  the  enemy  is  conquered.  We 
never  compared  the  British  to  the  Algerines  on  that  occasion, 
whether  from  regard  to  the  feelings  of  the  latter  we  will  not 
p>retend  to  say.  The  last  reflection  on  the  events  of  this  ac- 
tdon,  even  as  detailed  by  the  writer  of  the  Synopsis,  will  con- 
vince every  reader  of  judgment*  that  he  has  here  converted 
the  ordinary  incidents  of  almost  every  sea-fight  into  an  accu- 
sation that  has  not  the  least  foundation,  even  if  the  basis  he 
has  assumed  be  true.  But  we  are  authorized  to  state  posi- 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


389 


lively  and  unequivocally,  that  only  one  single  gun  was  fired 
into  the  Frolic  after  she  fell  on  board  the  Wasp.  The  Frolic 
was  then  taken  possession  of,  all  her  surviving  crew,  to  the 
number  of  near  fifty,  having  run  below,  leaving  the  captain, 
the  first  lieutenant,  and  purser,  alone  on  the  deck.  Captain 
Jones  then  received  the  sword  of  captain  Whinyates,  and  no 
doubt  did  walk  over  the  deck,  which  was  ‘‘  covered  with  dead, 
and  dying,  and  wounded  men,”  as  is  usual  on  such  occasions. 
If,  however,  ‘‘  the  task  of  presenting  the  enemy’s  character  in 
no  favourable  light”  is  so  “ painful”  to  this  writer,  why  did 
he  not  sooth  his  feelings  by  detailing  the  high  and  courteous 
humanity  of  Lawrence  in  exposing  even  the  lives  of  his  own 
men  to  save  the  drowning  crew  of  the  Peacock; — the  genero- 
sity of  Bainbridge,  acknowledged  by  lieutenant  general  Hys- 
lop — and  the  conduct  of  Perry  and  Macdonough,  in  paroling, 
on  their  own  authority,  their  wounded  antagonists,  treating 
them,  as  was  acknowledged  by  captain  Barclay,  “ like  bro- 
thers?” Such  a candid  writer  as  this  ought  certainly  to  have 
remembered  these  things,  and  we  can  only  account  for  his 
forgetfulness  of  notorious  truths  by  the  supposition,  that  he 
was  so  industriously  employed,  while  engaged  in  this  work, 
in  the  pursuits  of  imagination,  that  he  forgot  entirely  to  resort 
to  his  memory  for  his  facts. 

In  looking  back  on  the  Synopsis  we  perceive  that  much 
stress  is  laid  upon  the  loss  of  the  Frolic’s  main  yard,  carried 
away  the  evening  previous  to  the  engagement  in  a gale.  It 
may  therefore  be  proper  to  state,  that  the  Wasp  lost  her  jib- 
boom,  and  was  without  it  during  the  action,  which  was  fought 
running  right  before  the  wind,  the  Wasp  under  close  reefed 
topsails,  and  the  Frolic  under  closed  reefed  fore  topsail  and 
reefed  main  sail.  In  four  minutes  after  the  action  began, 
the  main  topmast  of  the  W asp  was  shot  away  within  two  feet 
of  the  cap,  and  from  that  time  to  the  end  of  the  affair  she  was 
more  disabled  in  her  spars  than  the  Frolic.  Neither  ship  got 
a position  to  rake  until  the  end  of  the  action,  when,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  Frolic  endeavouring  to  sheer  from  the  Wasp 
to  avoid  so  close  an  action,  by  hauling  upon  the  wind,  both 


380 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


vessels  were  taken  aback  nearly  at  the  same  time,  and  the 
Frolic  paying  off  first  fell  aboard  of  the  Wasp. 

The  next  engagement  that  occupies  the  arithmetical  in- 
genuity of  the  British  officer,  is  that  between  the  Macedonian 
and  the  United  States,  fought  on  the  25th  of  the  same  month 
of  October.  On  this  occasion  he  falls  to  cyphering  most  ve- 
hemently, and  the  result  of  his  calculation  is,  a superiority  of 
three  to  two  in  ship,  guns,  and  men,  all  picked  men,”  too, 
and  “ in  buckram,”  no  doubt,  on  the  side  of  us  unlucky  Ame- 
ricans. We  might  state,  in  contradiction  to  this,  that,  in  the 
first  place,  the  Macedonian,  instead  of  eleven  hundred  is 
twelve  hundred  American  tons,  and  the  United  States  only 
fourteen  hundred  and  fifty,  instead  of  sixteen  hundred  and  thir- 
ty, as  stated  by  the  writer  of  the  Synopsis; — in  the  second 
place,  that  the  United  States  had  neither  shifting  guns  nCr 
howitzers  in  the  tops,  and  that  the  number  of  men  on  one  side 
is  considerably  exaggerated,  on  the  other  materially  diminish- 
ed; but  the  writer  has  kindly  saved  us  the  trouble. 

Again  he  is  compelled  to  notice,  that  “ the  relative  exe- 
cution done  in  this  action  was  still  more  disproportionate  than 
in  any  former  one,”  to  wit,  one  hundred  and  four  to  twelve. 
Admitting  the  relative  force  to  be  what  he  states,  three  to  two, 
we  have  here  a relative  loss  of  almost  nine  to  one.  This  he 
ascribes  to  “the  novel  manner  in  which  the  action  was  fought:” 
that  is,  as  we  shall  directly  substantiate,  to  the  superiority  of 
skill  displayed  by  captain  Decatur,  and  the  shyness  of  cap- 
tain Carden.  To  the  proof. 

“ Our  ship,”  says  the  British  officer,  “ had  the  weather 
guage;  but  captain  Carden  kept  at  ' long  halls'^  till  all  his  top- 
masts were  shot  away,  and  his  ship  had  become  an  unmanage- 
able wreck.”  Why  did  he  so?  The  Macedonian,  it  has  since 
been  ascertained,  easily  outsails  the  United  States;  she  was 
to  windward  in  the  engagement;  the  two  vessels  crossed  each 
other  on  opposite  tacks,  each  dead  upon  a wind,  and  thus 
commenced  the  action.  It  was  therefore  in  his  power  to  close 
with  his  antagonist,  and  in  his  only.  These  facts  were  proved 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


391 


by  the  concurrent  testimony  of  all  his  officers  on  captain  Car- 
den’s court  martial,  which,  on  that  testimony,  passed  a direct 
censure  on  his  conduct  in  not  closing  when  it  was  in  his 
power.  It  must  be  acknowledged  however  that  the  Macedo- 
nian was,  as  the  writer  states,  “ an  unmanageable  wTeck”  in 
a very  few  minutes  after  she  came  within  touching  distance 
of  the  United  States;  and  really  we  think  it  rather  hard  to  be 
thus,  as  it  were,  ceiisured  for  the  shyness  of  our  enemy,  or  for 
our  skill  in  taking  advantage  of  it.  It  only  proves,  what  we 
have  all  along  asserted,  that  our  officers  and  seamen  are  su- 
perior to  those  of  Great  Britain.  Palliate  their  disasters  as 
they  may,  this  is  the  inevitable  conclusion  to  be  drawn,  even 
from  the  statements  of  their  owm  apologists. 

As  much  reliance  is  placed,  by  the  writer  of  the  Synopsis, 
on  the  alledged  superiority  of  the  American  frigates,  and  the 
weight  of  their  metal,  we  will  state  the  following  facts,  which 
are  derived  from  a gentleman  present  on  the  occasion  to 
which  we  refer.  Not  more  than  three  months  previous  to  the 
declaration  of  war,  the  United  States  and  Macedonian  were 
lying  together  at  Norfolk,  where  captain  Carden  wms  treated 
with  the  hospitality  for  which  that  place  is  distinguished,  and 
where  he  and  commodore  Decatur  often  dined  together  at  the 
houses  of  different  gentlemen.  The  same  officers  and  crews 
were  attached  to  both  ships  that  were  in  them  when  the  en- 
gagement afterwards  took  place;  and  they  visited  each  others 
ship  daily.  On  one  of  these  meetings,  at  the  table  of  the  con- 
sul at  Norfolk,  in  the  presence  of  a number  of  gentlemen,  the 
conversation  turned  on  the  comparative  fore  of  the  two  ships, 
their  armament,  and  the  number  as  well  as  excellence  of  their 
crews.  Captain  Carden  then  stated,  that  a British  thirty-eight 
gun  frigate  was  fully  ascertained  by  experience  to  be  the  most 
efficient  single  decked  vessel  that  ever  ‘‘  swam  the  ocean;” 
that  any  increase  of  size  w'as  worse  than  useless,  as  it  only 
rendered  them  more  unmanageable;  that  long  eighteen  pound- 
ers had  been  demonstrated  to  be  better  than  tw^enty-fours,  and 
cduld  actually  throw  a greater  weight  of  metal  in  a given  time. 


392 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


because  their  lightness  rendered  them  more  manageable;  that 
an  increased  thickness  of  sides  rendered  a ship  only  more 
heavy,  without  bringing  any  counterbalancing  advantage,  as 
it  could  not  be  increased  so  as  to  stop  an  eighteen  pound  shot, 
while  the  sides  of  their  frigates  would  resist  grape  and  can- 
nister  as  well  as  ours;  and,  finally,  that  it  was  also  ascertained 
that  a greater  number  of  men  than  their  regulations  allowed 
was  not  only  useless,  but  pernicious,  because  it  only  crowded 
them  together,  and  exposed  them  to  greater  slaughter.  Cap- 
tain Carden  proceeded  to  state,  that  this  reasoning  was  found- 
ed on  his  own  experience,  he  having  obtained  his  promotion 
in  consequence  of  being  first  lieutenant  of  a British  thirty- 
eight,  which  captured  a French  frigate,  mounting  forty-four 
twenty-four  pounders.  He  concluded  by  saying,  that  from 
this  experience  he  felt  satisfied  he  could  take  the  United  States 
with  the  Macedonian,  though  at  the  same  time  he  disclaimed 
any  intention  to  question  the  skill  or  bravery  of  the  American 
officers.  These  opinions  were  held  by  all  the  British  naval 
officers  in  all  their  debates  on  the  subject,  either  in  the  ports 
of  England,  the  United  States,  or  the  Mediterranean  sea. 

Now  really,  in  all  humility,  we  conceive  ourselves  enti- 
tled, being  a young  and  inexperienced  nation,  to  some  little 
credit  for  having  taught  the  thrice  valiant  and  experienced 
officers  of  our  enemy,  that  they  absolutely  did  not  know  what 
they  were  talking  about,  and  that  their  experience^’’  had  most 
wofu'lly  deceived  them.  It  is  certainly  an  evidence  of  the 
superior  genius  of  our  country,  that  even  against  the  authority  , 
of  such  great  men,  and  more  than  all,  against  the  practice  of 
Great  Britain,  from  whom  we  are  from  time  to  time  reproach- 
ed with  borrowing  all  we  knowq  we  should  have  persisted  in 
building  ships  with  such  thick  sides,  and  dared  to  fight  her 
with  twenty-four  pounders.  We  further  think,  in  the  simpli- 
city of  our  hearts,  perhaps  it  may  be  from  our  ignorance  of 
such  matters,  that  the  officer,  who  at  this  time  of  day,  like 
Decatur,  discovers  “ a novel  manner  of  fighting  his  ship,”  by 
the  which  he  renders  his  enemy  an  unmanageable  wreck,” 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


393 


aiul  kills  and  wounds  more  than  one-third  of  his  crew,  with 
so  little  loss  or  damage  to  himself,  deserves  some  little  credit 
for  his  genius.  A liberal  and  a noble  enemy  would  have  ac- 
knowledged this  at  once,  instead  of  consulting  Dilworth’s  As- 
sistant, or  Cockei-'S  Arithmetic,  and  racking  his  brain  for  . 
palliatives,  the  absurdity  of  which  he  is  himself  forced  to 
acknowledge;  for,  notwithstanding  every  a Hedged  disparity 
of  force,  he,  in  many  instances,  is  obliged  at  last  to  resort  to 
the  confession,  that  this  alone  will  not  account  for  the  dispa- 
rity of  loss.  The  solution  of  this  enigma  lies,  we  repeat  again, 
not  in  the  “ length  and  scantling”  of  our  ships,  the  weight  of 
their  metal,  or  the  number  of  their  men,  but  in  the  superiority 
of  their  officers  and  men,  who  are  morally  and  physically  bet- 
ter than  those  of  the  British  navy; — who  can  point  guns,  and 
stand  the  pointing  of  an  enemy  better; — and  who  will  neither 
risk  drowning  or  hanging  to  desert  from  their  ships  when- 
ever they  have  an  opportunity. 

The  last  thing  we  shall  notice  in  the  foregoing  part  of 
the  Synopsis,  is  the  author’s  spiteful  denunciation  against 
poor  New  London,  where  the  Macedonian,  together  with  the 
United  States  and  Hornet,  was  blockaded  by  a British  fleet. 
Not  content  with  having  burnt  that  good  town  once  before, 
he  is  for  burning  it  again,  for  affording  a shelter  to  one  of  his 
B.  M’s.  captured  frigates.  Now  this  is  really  carrying  the  joke 
a little  too  far.  One  would  have  supposed  that  burning  a 
town  once  would  content  a magnanimous  enemy;  but  some 
people  are  never  satisfied.  One  might  also  have  supposed, 
that  a “ British  naval  officer,”  who  had,  like  our  author,  been 
on  the  coast  of  America  during  the  whole  war,  would  have 
known,  that  by  burning  New  London  he  would  have  been 
never  the  nearer  to  burning  the  Macedonian,  which  lay  seve- 
ral miles  up  the  little  river  Thames;  consequently,  even  our 
fiery  officer’s  fire  could  hardly  have  reached  her  such  a long 
'way  off',  unless  he  could  have  set  the  river  on  fire,  which  per- 
haps, however,  would  be  no  very  hard  matter  for  such  a smart, 
sensible  officer  as  he  appears  to  be. 

VOL.  VII.  50 


394 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


BRITISH  NAVAL  PEACE  ESTABLISHMENT. 

We  present  our  readers  with  an  abstract  of  the  proceedings 
of  the  British  house  of  commons  on  voting  the  supplies  for  their 
present  naval  establishment.  It  will  appear  from  this  document, 
that  the  United  States  are  at  length  resfiected  by  the  govement 
of  Great  Britain. 

HOUSE  OF  COMMONS,  FEBRUARY  14,  1816. 

t Sir  G.  Warrender  rose  to  move  for  the  supplies  for  the  navy 
of  the  present  year.  It  was  the  intention,  he  said,  of  the  naval  ad- 
ministration of  the  country  to  put  the  navy  in  a state  of  perfect 
efficiency.  By  efficiency,  he  meant  it  would  be  kept  in  such  a 
state,  that  it  would  be  able  to  contend  with  the  united  navies  of 
the  world.  He  should  now  compare  the  naval  establishment 
which  it  was  intended  to  keep  up,  with  that  which  had  been  deter- 
mined on  at  the  close  of  the  last  war,  though  to  refer  in  this  way 
to  what  had  been  done  in  former  times,  might  not  be  the  most 
convenient  course,  as  he  was  prepared  to  contend  that  the  ques- 
tion now  to  be  considered  ought  to  be  viewed  with  a reference  to 
the  circumstances  of  the  present  day;  to  the  state  of  our  foreign 
commerce,  and  the  number  and  importance  of  our  colonies,  rather 
than  with  a reference  to  what  had  been  thought  sufficient  when 
the  situation  of  the  country  was  very  different  from  what  it  was 
now  known  to  be.  In  the  East  Indies  no  addition  had  been  made 
to  the  naval  force  which  it  had  been  thought  wise  to  keep  up  at 
the  time  of  the  last  peace.  From  the  Cape,  which  was  perfectly 
a new  station,  and  which,  from  its  connection  with  St.  Helena, 
now  of  more  importance  than  ever,  from  its  being  the  place  where- 
in he  who  had  so  long  disturbed  the  repose  of  Europe,  was  con- 
fined, must  demand  particular  attention;  and  for  the  Mauritius  a 
very  considerable  squadron  had  been  appointed.  This,  howevei', 
was  limited  to  the  very  lowest  scale  which  the  distinguished  admi- 
ral on  that  station  had  thought  would  be  sufficient.  Eleven  ships 
of  the  line  had  been  thought  necessary  for  this  service.  In  the 
Mediterranean  it  had  been  thought  advisable  to  substitute  74  gun 
ships  for  those  of  50  guns,  which  had  heretofore  been  employed. 
A small  squadron  had  been  station  off  South  America,  in  compli- 
ance w’ith  the  applications  made  since  tlie  last  peace,  in  order  to 
protect  our  growing  trade  in  that  quarter.  This,  it  would  be  ob- 
served, was  quite  a new  station.  The  force  stationed  at  Jamaica 
and  the  Leeward  Islands  had  been  somewhat  diminished;  but,  in 
consequence  of  the  situation  in  which  they  stood  with  respect  to 
South  America,  the  reduction  here  was  but  small.  One  frigate 
had  been  added  to  the  force  stationed  off  North  America;  and  on 
the  coast  of  Africa  a squadron  would  be  maintained  equal  to  that 
kept  up  during  the  last  peace.  The  squadron  on  the  home  sta- 
tion would  be  the  same  as  that  maintained  in  1792.  It  was  pro- 
per to  remark,  that  liad  there  been  no  new  stations  to  occupy,  an 


BRITISH  NAVAL  PEACE  ESTABLISHMENT. 


395 


increase  of  men  for  the  peace  establishment  would  be  necessary  from 
other  circumstances.  This  partly  arose  from  larger  frigates  being 
now  more  generally  in  use  than  were  common  formerly.  These, 
from  the  arrangements  made  by  other  fwwers^  had  become  neces- 
sary to  us,  and  those  now  in  commission  required  260  men,  instead 
of  the-  former  compliment  of  200.  He  also  thought  it  very  impor- 
tant that  a corps  of  royal  marines  should  now  be  maintained, 
which  were  not  thought  to  be  necessary  formerly.  He  concluded 
by  moving  a vote  of  33,000  men  to  be  employed  in  the  navy  for 
the  present  year,  including  3000  marines. 

Mr.  Ponsonby  said  that  it  would  require  much  stronger  rea- 
sons than  he  had  yet  heard,  for  voting  that  number  as  a permanent 
peace  establishment,  which  on  an  average  had  amounted  to  only 
18,000  men.  It  would  be  necessary,  therefore,  to  establish  the 
necessity  of  a greater  number.  That  necessity  must  be  shown  to 
exist,  not  from  the  state  of  our  trade  or  commerce,  but  from  the 
maritime  force  of  other  powers,  who  might  attempt  to  interfere 
with  our  naval  strength  or  safety.  The  American  war  closed 
after  two  naval  campaigns,  in  one  of  which  the  fleet  of  the  enemy 
rode  triumphant  in  the  British  channel;  and  in  the  other,  our  ships 
were  compelled  to  seek  security  in  our  harbors  against  the  com- 
bined fleets  of  France  and  Spain. 

If  then,  at  the  close  of  that  war,  the  house  thought  18,000 
men  sufficient  for  our  safety,  what  could  now  induce  them  to  vote 
33,000?  Spain  and  France  were  now  in  alliance  with  us,  and 
though  he  did  not  place  much  security  on  their  friendship,  yet 
where  was  their  power  to  injure  us?  The  fleet  of  Spain  was  anni- 
hilated, and  that  of  France  was  so  reduced  as  not  to  deserve  any 
serious  consideration  on  our  part.  No  nation  in  Europe  had 
any  formidable  navy;  and  the  combined  fleets  of  the  worid  could 
not  collect  twenty-five  sail  of  the  line  to  meet  us.  It  was  true, 
France  had  twenty  ships  at  the  termination  of  the  war;  but  no 
one  would  contend  that  they  were  at  all  ecjual  to  a contest  with  us. 
But  suppose  that  France  should  show  a disposition  to  put  her 
navy  in  a formidable  state;  could  she  proceed  faster  than  ourselves? 
Or  could  it  be  a secret  to  those  at  the  head  of  naval  affairs,  that 
France  and  Spain  were  making  preparations?  It  must  require  a 
considerable  time  to  augment  their  maritime  strength,  and  we 
could  not  fail  to  perceive  their  motions.  They  could  not  have 
the  means  of  increasing  their  power  at  sea  in  any  way  in  which 
we  should  not  be  equal  to  their  exertions.  It  was  quite  unneces- 
sary, therefore,  to  maintain  a greater  number  of  men  than  after 
the  American  war. 

Mr.  -Law,  considering  that  from  the  disposition  and  conflict- 
ing interests  of  various  powers,  from  the  feelings  known  to  exist 
in  America,  the  hopes  of  a durable  peace  were  not  so  certain  as 
had  been  represented,  that  our  navy  ought  not  to  be  diminished 
even  to  the  extent  it  had  been  already.  If  the  gentleman  passed 
his  eye  over  the  map  of  Europe,  and  considered  the  feelings  of 


396 


^JAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


the  difiPerent  governments,  he  would  be  satisfied  there  was  a neces- 
sity for  our  keeping  up  a gi’eat  naval  establishment. 

Sir  G.  Warre?ider  ivished  to  explain  a point  which  he  thought 
had  been  misunderstood;  he  wished  to  state  that  the  increase  in  the 
number  of  seamen  did  not  arise  from  the  number  of  ships  employed, 
but  from  the  manner  in  which  they  were  manned.  The  size  of  the 
French'*  frigates  had  been  increased,  and  it  was  necessary  that  the 
complement  of  ours  should  bear  some  approximation.  The  view 
that  the  gentleman  had  taken  of  the  navies  of  Europe  was  not  quite 
fair.  The  last  time  the  Toulon  fleet  put  out  to  meet  lord  Ex- 
mouth, it  consisted  of  only  seventeen  sail  of  the  line  and  two  fri- 
gates: the  hardest  actions  fought  by  the  French  were  in  the  year 
1813,  during  which  period  they  sent  to  sea  thirteen  frigates,  of 
which  eleven  were  taken,  but  after  hard  fighting:  but  now  the 
French  ships  of  the  line  amounted  to  sixty  sail,  and  those  of  Eu- 
rope united  to  nearly  two  hundred.  Such  being  the  case,  he  would 
ask  the  house,  he  would  ask  the  country,  if  they  would  wish  to 
see  the  establishment  of  this  country  reduced  to  twelve  guard 
ships?  No!  it  would  be  said,  let  us  rather  submit  to  al?  the  bur- 
thens of  taxation  than  diminish  that  navy  to  which  we  owe  all  our 
glory — all  our  security!  Itjiad  been  urged  that  reduction  might 
be  made  in  some  of  the  foreign  stations;  but  the  situation  of 
South  America  was  different  from  what  it  had  been:  our  mer- 
chants desired  protection,  and  it  was  proper  they  should  have  it. 
As  to  any  reduction  in  the  West  Indies,  could  we  forget  or  over- 
look the  new  fio%ver  growing  up  in  that  quarter — the  fiower  of 
JV'orth  America! 

Mr.  Ponsonby  said  a few  words  respecting  the  observations 
made  upon  America,  and  although  he  did  not  know,  he  believed 
no  disposition  of  hostility  existed  in  the  government  of  that  coun- 
try towards  us;  and  he  regretted  that  such  observations,  made  in 
the  house  of  commons  imdesignedly,  might  yet  have  a tendency  to 
inflame  the  minds  of  the  people  of  America.  He  much  dreaded 
the  existence  of  any  hostile  spirit  in  America  towards  this  country, 
or  in  this  country  towards  America,  and  he  wished  that  country 
should  not  be  adverted  to  in  the  manner  it  had  been  adverted  to 
this  night. 

Lord  Castlereagh  would  only  trouble  the  house  with  a very 
few  words,  as  it  would  be  much  more  satisfactory  to  reserve  the 
minuter  view'  of  the  subject  to  the  proper  time,  when  it  would 
come  before  the  house.  The  best  general  principle  in  the  forma- 
tion of  a peace  establishment  must  be  to  combine  security  with 
economy.  It  was  on  this  principle,  that  owing  to  the  unsettled 
state  of  the  w'orld  at  present,  it  had  become  necessary,  on  many 
remote  stations,  to  keep  up  a very  considerable  naval  force,  for 
the  purpose  of  inspiring  that  confidence  which  was  so  indispensi- 
ble  for  the  prosperity  of  commerce.  The  knowledge  that  there 


For  French  read  American. 


NAVAL  OCCURRENCES,  &C. 


397 


was  a British  flag  in  remote  seas,  gave  to  the  merchant  the  earnest 
of  security  and  protection  for  carrying  on  his  trafiic.  To  prevent 
any  danger,  the  sure  way  was  to  give  no  opportunity  for  attack, 
by  keeping  up  a strong  force  wherever  it  was  most  probable  h 
could  in  any  case  be  meditated.  On  the  particular  station  alluded 
to  by  the  baronet,  it  was  necessary  to  have  a strong  force  for  se- 
curing the  safe  custody  of  the  individual  confined  there. 

As  to  the  establishment  at  home,  it  had  been  found,  with  a 
view  to  economy,  it  was  better,  instead  of  completely  reducing  the 
fleet  and  retaining  only  guard  ships,  to  keep  the  guard  ships  at  a 
very  low  rate,  and  to  have  at  the  same  time  other  ships  fit  for  ser*- 
vice.  It  was  a great  advantage  in  every  respect  to  have  ships 
ready  to  be  sent  on  foreign  services  at  the  shortest  warning.  He 
could  not  sit  down  without  adverting  to  what  had  fallen  from  some 
gentlemen  in  the  course  of  the  debate,  as  to  the  jealousy  to  be 
entertained  towards  foreign  powers  increasing  their  navy.  He 
would  be  sorry  if,  in  the  house,  or  out  of  the  house,  any  inference 
was  to  be  drawn  to  inculcate  a belief  that  government  entertained 
any  feeling  of  jealously  on  this  subject  towards  any  foreign  state. 
As  to  America,  it  had  been  said  that  the  people  of  that  country 
were  jealous  of  us,  and  to  a certain  extent  perhaps  this  was  truth 
— but  at  the  same  time  it  was  to-be  recollected,  that  in  this  coun- 
try there  exist  great  prejudices  against  America,  (i/ear,  hear.) 
It  was  his  most  earnest  wish  to  discountenance  this  feeling  on 
both  sides,  and  to  promote  between  the  two  nations  feelings  of  re- 
ciprocal amity  and  regard. 

Certainly  there  were  no  two  countries*  interests  more  naturally 
and  closely  connected;  and  he  hoped  that  the  course  which  the 
government  of  each  country  was  pursuing  was  such  as  would 
consolidate  the  subsisting  peace,  promote  harmony  between  the 
nations,  so  as  to  prevent  on  either  side  the  recurrence  of  any 
imputations  against  foreign  governments,  which,  with  whatever 
intention  they  might  be  thrown,  were  always  productive  of  the  worst 
consequences.  Conjectures,  on  counsels  not  understood,  were 
ignorantly  hazarded  even  on  matters  unconnected  with  the  affairs 
of  this  country,  (//ear,  hear!)  He  was  happy  that  on  this  sub- 
ject he  had  met  with  an  ally  in  the  gentleman  opposite  (Mr.  Pon- 
sonby)  and  hoped  they  would  cordially  cooperate  in  the  encourage- 
ment of  feelings  of  friendship  and  good  will  between  America  and 
this  country,  (//ear,  hear!) 


NAVAL  OCCURRENCES,  &c. 

Loss  of  the  United  States^  schooner  Roanoke^  off  Cape  Hatteras. 

Extract  of  a letter  from  sailing  master  Page  to  the  navy  department,  dated 
February  2 1st,  1816. 

“ At  ten  P.  M.  made  Cape  Hatteras  light — and  blowing  heavy  from  E.  to 
E.  S.  E.  I immediately  tacked  to  the  northward,  but  found  that  we  drifted 


395 


KAVAL  CHRONICLE 


towards  the  shore,  and  shoaled  our  water  fast.  1 then  thought  it  prudent  tOv 
tack  to  the  southward,  but  missing  stays,  wore  her.  Still  continuing  to  shoal  our 
w ater  in  steering  south,  at  twelve  P.  M.  I attempted  to  tack  again,  but  without 
effect.  The  vessel  having  now  sternway  almost  two  knots  an  hour,  soon  after 
struck  on  one  of  the  shoals,  so  frequent  off  this  cape.  We  however  beat  over, 
as  we  all  thought,  without  any  material  injury;  but  before  we  could  get  her 
trimmed,  she  again  struck,  and  bilged.  1 immediately  had  the  main  mast  cut 
away, — and  made  all  sail  forwai'd,  in  hopes  to  get  as  close  in  as  possible,  the  sea 
making  a complete  breach  over  her.  We  had  a w retched  night  of  it;  and  if  it 
had  been  cold,  should  all  have  frozen  to  death.  But  I thank  the  Almighty  we 
all  escaped,  and  are  now  tolerably  well.” 

The  United  States’s  frigate  Java,  captain  O.  H.  Perry,  arrived  at  Gibraltar, 
in  seventeen  days  from  Newport,  and  proceeded  up  the  Mediterranean,  to  join 
the  American  squadron  under  commodore  Shaw,  at  Port  Mahon. 

The  Washington,  seventy -four,  captain  Chauncey,  is  now  ready  for  sea. 
The  Macedonian  frigate,  captain  Warrington,  is  only  w’aiting  the  completion  of 
her  crew  to  proceed  wdth  Mr.  Hughes  to  Carthagena,  to  demand  the  release  of 
the  American  prisoners  detained  in  custody  by  the  general  of  the  forces  of  king 
Ferdinand. 

The  Algerine  brig  captured  by  commodore  Decatur,  and  retained  by  the 
Spaniards,  had  not  been  given  up  by  the  latest  advices;  and  it  is  said  that  the 
application  of  Mr.  Morris,  our  resident  at  Madrid,  had  been  treated  by  the 
government  with  arrogant  indifference. 

The  whole  of  the  Algerine  fleet  was  preparing  for  sea,  and  it  was  supposed 
would  be  out  early  in  the  spring.  The  fleet  carries  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  guns.  The  Dey  dont  like  the  peace,  pai’ticularly  since  the  government  of 
Malta  assured  him  the  friendly  disposition  of  his  Britannic  majesty,  that  is  to 
say,  his  protection;  and  it  is  the  current  opinion  of  all  the  best  informed  officers 
there,  that  the  departure  of  our  squadron  w ill  be  the  signal  for  hostilities  against 
the  United  States. 


THE  TARS  OF  COJ.UMBIA.* 

Ye  generous  sons  of  Freedom’s  happy  climes. 

Think,  while  you  safely  till  your  fruitful  fields. 

Of  him,  th’  aveuger  of  Oppression’s  crimes. 

Who  ploughs  a soil  which  blood  and  danger  yields. 

Remember  still  the  gallant  tar,  w ho  roams, 

I'hrough  rocks  and  gulfs,  the  ocean’s  gloomy  vast; 

V.  To  quell  3'onr  foes,  and  guard  j our  peaceful  homes. 

Who  bides  the  battle’s  shock  and  tempest’s  blast. 

Think,  while  you  loll  upon  your  beds  of  down. 

And  mingle  with  Affection’s  cheering  train. 

How  he^s  e.xposed  to  winter’s  chilling  frown. 

Without  a kindred,  soul  to  soothe  his  pain. 

When  seated  by  your  joy-diffusing  fire. 

Some  dreary,  dark,  tempestuous,  howling  night, 

Let  Fancy’s  strong,  adventurous  wing  aspire. 

And  poise  o’er  ocean  on  aerial  height  — 

* The  author  will,  w e hope,  pardon  us  for  a few  trifling  alterations  wc  have  made. 


POETRY, 


30t) 


Thence  view  the  rolling  world  of  waves  below-— 

Survey  the  barks  that  bear  our  daring  tars. 

As  round  them  Neptune’s  howling  whirlwinds  blow, 

And  rend  their  sails,  and  crash  their  yielding  spars; 

Lo!  where  the  lashing  surges,  foaming  high. 

Convulse  the  groaning  vessel’s  sturdy  frame; 

With  lightning  torches  snatch’d  from  the  vex’d  sky, 
Destruction’s  angel  whelms  her  all  in  flame. 

Tierce  thunders  burst — the  starless  welkin  glares — 

No  aid  is  near — the  lamp  of  hope  expires — 

Terrific  Death  his  haggard  ^^sage  bares. 

And  ocean  monsters  fly  the  raging  fires. 

Behold  the  gallant  crew,  Columbia’s  sons! 

Who’ve  boldly  torn  the  British  banner  down, 

And  faced  the  mouths  of  her  exploding  guns; 

E’en  now'  they  scorn  to  sully  their  renown! 

Though  nought  but  one  dark  waste  of  billows  wide 
Meet  their  unweeping  eyes — and,  ere  an  hour 

Has  flown  one  hundredth  part  away,  the  tide 
Must  quench  their  breath;  their  spirits  do  not  cower! 

They  feel,  with  joy,  they’ve  serv’d  their  country  well, 

And  lift  an  honest  orison  to  heaven; 

Their  homes  upon  their  dying  accents  dwell. 

And  as  they  sink,  they  hope  their  sins  forgivei). 

Behold  that  head  with  gloiy  circled  bright! 

As  it  descends,  the  waves  around  it  glow; 

’Tis  Blakeley’s!  he  that  halo  gained  in  fight. 

When  Britain’s  standard  fell  beneath  his  blow. 

Though  watery  mountains  roll  upon  his  breast. 

And  scaly  millions  gambol  in  his  grave; 

Yet  shall  his  spirit  shine  among  the  blest. 

And  fame  embalm  his  memory  on  the  wave. 

But  see!  where  yonder  floating  fragments  blaze, 

A lonely,  lingering  sailor  still  survives! 

From  his  frail  plank  he  casts  a hopeless  gaze. 

Yet  still  for  lilc  with  the  rough  sea  he  strives. 

Far  on  the  tumbling  deep  the  hero’s  tost — 

Ere  long  the  tempest  flags,  and  dawn  appears; 

The  sun  rolls  up  the  sky,  “ all,  all,  are  lost!” 

He  cries,  “ my  comrades  brave!” — thence  gush  his  tears. 

The  wearied  billows  sink  in  slumbers  mild. 

And  on  their  sparkling  bosoms  dolphins  play; 

With  lusty  arms  he  stems  the  watery  wild. 

And  thinks  on  friends  and  country  far  away. 

A thousand  tender  feelings  swell  his  heart — 

His  wife’s,  and  babe’s,  and  kindred’s  dear  embrace, 

Shoots  through  his  bosom  like  a burning  dart. 

At  thought,  that  they  no  more  shall  see  his  face. 

His  eye  around  the  wide  expanse  he  strains. 

In  hopes  some  passing  vessel  to  descry; 


400 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


14oughing  the  waste  of  ever  waving  plains, 

That  at  far  distance  meet  the  bending  sky. 

And  not  a whitening  surge  is  seen  to  rise 
In  the  waste  distance,  and  towards  him  roll, 

But  seems  a friendly  sail  to  liis  dim  eyes. 

Bringing  sweet  hope  to  cheer  his  sinking  soul 

Alas,  poor  sailor! — ’tis  no  help  for  thee! 

It  comes  the  foaming  heraln  of  the  storm. — 

’Tis  not  the  whitening  canvass  that  you  see. 

But  the  white  winding-sheet  to  wrap  thy  form. 

In  pomp  majestic,  on  his  billowy  throne. 

Far  in  the  west  Day’s  radiant  sov’reign  glows; 

His  cheering  sway  the  finny  nations  own. 

As  o’er-the  deep  his  golden  splendour  flows. 

Their  frolics  wild  the  hapless  sailor  views. 

As  round  him,  through  the  brine,  they  flounce  and  frisk; 

Then,  on  the  Avestern  glories  seems  to  muse. 

Until  the  sun  withdraws  liis  flaming  disk. 

Now,  hear  the  plaint  his  heart  in  sadness  pours — 

**  While  pleasure  sparkles  through  the  sw  arming  main, 

Illumes  yon  heav  en,  and  robes  my  native  shores; 

I’m  throAvn  adrift,  the  sport  of  direst  pain! 

0!  that,  w^hen  in  the  battle  fray  I stood, 

And  sti*ained  each  sinew  in  the  glorious  cause; 

Some  cannon  peal  had  drained  my  veins  of  blood. 

And  croAvned  my  mortal  exit  with  applause! 

But,  here  I’m  doomed  to  perish  in  the  deep. 

By  ocean  monster,  hunger,  storm,  or  cold; 

Without  one  messmate  o’er  my  corse  to  w'eep, 

And  pay  the  honors  due  a sailor  bold.” 

The  pall  of  Night  the  liquid  Avorld  enshrouds. 

And  silence  mingles  with  the  gathering  gloom; 

Again  the  heavens  are  wr.app’d  in  rolling  clouds. 

And  sea-mew’s  shriek  o’er  many  a Avatery  tomb. 

Ah!  think  w’hat  now  the  lonely  sailor  feels! 

Chill  are  his  brine-steep’d  limbs,  and  mimb’d,  and  tired— 

The  SAvelling  mass  of  Avaves  already  reels — 

The  sky  with  flash,  succeeding  flash,  is  fired. 

The  winds  ai’e  raging  fierce — the  surges  roll — 

The  shark  and  huge  leviathan  noAv  roam — 

I’remendous  thunders  shake  the  distant  pole. 

And  ocean’s  heaving  breast  is  Avhelm’d  in  foam. 

A flickering  light  gleams  o’er  the  tumbling  flood — 

Perhaps  a meteor’s. — Lives  our  seaman  still? 

Or  drinks  the  insatiate  shark  his  A aliant  blood? 

This  knoAv,  whate’er  his  fate,  ’tis  God’s  just  will. 

Ere  long,  if  not  deter’d  by  critic’s  ire. 

Wild  Fancy  may  his  destiny  disclose; 

And  call  upon  his  country  to  admire, 

A sailor’s  gallantry,  and  feel  ids  woes. 


/ 


I 


ORIGINAL. 


Elements  of  the  Philosophy  of  the  Human  Mind,  By  Dugald 
Stewart,  F.  R.  S.  Eclin.  &c.  Szc,  Boston,  1814. 

The  Quarterly  Review^  No.  xxiv.  January,  1815. 

It  may  be  supposed  that  subjects  requiring  so  much  me- 
taphysical study,  and  so  long  a course  of  philosophical  inves- 
tigation as  that  on  which  we  are  now  engaged,  do  not  come 
within  the  legitimate  province  of  a periodical  publication. 
Even  the  Edinburgh  reviewers  thought  fit  to  apologise  for  the 
hasty  speculations  they  hazarded  on  such  topics.  As  an 
excuse  however  for  these  remarks  of  ours  on  the  philosophy 
of  the  human  mind,  we  would  beg  leave  to  observe  that  our 
examination  of  the  strictures  of  Mr.  Stewart’s  critic  is  only  a 
review  against  a review;  and  that  we  may  be  capable  of  de- 
fending a fortress,  though  we  could  not  undertake  to  rear  its 
walls. 

Every  reader  of  Mr.  Stewart’s  masterly  production  must, 
we  think,  have  noticed  the  transition  of  his  style  in  the  third 
chapter  of  the  second  volume.  In  his  preceding  speculations^ 
the  course  of  his  argument, — 

‘ Though  deep,  was  clear;  though  gentle,  was  not  dull;* 

But  in  his  strictures  on  the  Aristotelian  logic,  it  proceeds  with 
a force  and  fluency  which  the  system  it  opposes, — fortified  as 
it  is  by  its  high  antiquity,  and  by  the  authority  of  great  names, 
— is  little  calculated  to  withstand.  So  thoroughly  persuaded 
is  he  of  the  justness  of  his  principles,  and  so  anxious  is  he  to 
spread  them  at  once  before  his  readers,  that  he  appears  almost 
regardless  of  the  language  in  which  they  are  to  be  delivered; 
his  style  losing  its  former  characteristics  of  studious  accuracy 
and  elaboration. — The  free,  and  sometimes  contemptuous 
manner  in  which  he  treats  the  ‘ art  of  syllogizing,’  is  poorly 
fitted  to  please  the  disciples  of  the  Stagirite;  and  we  are  thei:e- 

51 


VOL.  VII. 


402 


ORIGINAL. 


fore  not  in  the  least  perplexed  to  account  for  the  offence  which 
he  has  given  to  the  writer  in  the  Quarterly  Review.  ‘ That 
Aristotle’s  works  (to  use  the  language  of  Mr.  Stewart  himself) 
have- of  late  fallen  into  general  neglect,  is  a common  subject 
of  complaint  among  his  idolaters.’ — And  is  it  to  be  wondered 
at,  indeed,  if  men  are  stirred  up  to  some  sort  of  resistance, 
when  those  principles  which  have,  from  early  education,  struck 
deep  into  all  their  habits  of  thinking,  are  torn  up  by  the  very 
roots?  If  any  thing  should  be  a legitimate  source  of  wonder, 
it  is,  that  the  logical  writings  of  Aristotle  should  have  so  long 
retained  mankind  in  intellectual  bondage. 

That  the  logic  of  Aristotle,  considered  merely  as  an 
object  of  literary  curiosity,  is  properly  introduced  into  the 
routine  of  academical  studies,  we  have  no  disposition  to  deny; 
and  indeed  Mr.  Stewart  has,  more  than  once,  observed  that 
a cursory  acquaintance  with  the  syllogistic  art  is  rightly  con- 
sidered as  a necessary  accomplishment  in  a liberal  education. 
On  this  point,  therefore,  we  fully  agree  with  the  Quarterly 
Reviewers.  But  that  the  object  of  syllogistic  reasoning  is 
‘ precisely  analogous  to  that  which  any  other  science  propo- 
ses,’ and  that  the  study  of  all  sciences  is  barely  an  ‘ object  of 
curiosity,’  we  can  by  no  means  admit.  The  practical  inutility 
of  syllogizing  has  been  so  often  proved,  that  a repetition  of 
the  reasoning  employed  for  the  purpose  would  be  altogether 
superfluous;  and  the  only  excuse  we  can  possibly  assign  for 
making  a knowledge  of  the  art  a part  of  liberal  education,  is, 
that  it  has  so  long  predominated  over  the  intellects  of  some  of 
our  most  subtle  philosophers,  and  has  so  completely  incorpo- 
rated itself  with  our  best  systems  of  education; — the  same 
reason  which,  with  a little  variation,  is  to  be  given  for  the 
avidity  with  which  we  read  descriptions  of  the  labyrinth  of 
Crete,  or  of  the  pyramids  of  Egypt. — Far  different,  however, 
is  the  case  with  respect  to  the  other  sciences.  The  specific 
uses  to  which  these  are  respectively  subservient,  it  would  be 
idle  to  enumei’ate  here; — and  is  it,  indeed,  to  be  disputed,  at 
this  stage  of  scientific  improvement,  whether  the  sciences  are. 


PHILOSOPHY  OF  THE  HUMAN  MINI). 


403 


or^ire  not,  a subject  of  curiosity  merely?  If  the  question  is 
to  be  discussed,  we  will  leave  it  to  those  who  may  entertain 
doubts  on  the  subject. 

The  comparison  which  the  Quarterty  Reviewers  institute 
between  the  visionary  extravagances  of  the  alchymists  and 
the  futile  logic  of  the  school-men,  is,  in  our  opinion,  very 
unhappily  introduced;  inasmuch  as  it  militates  against  the 
very  position  they  wish  to  establish,  and  is,  indeed,  the  best 
analogy  which  could  be  employed  against  the  study  of  the 
Aristotelian  system.  For  if  the  dreams  of  the  alchymists  are 
now  universally  abandoned  for  the  substantial  pursuits  of  mo- 
dern chymistry, — how  much  more  necessary  is  it,  to  quit  the 
occupation  of  disputatious  syllogizers,  and  betake  ourselves 
to  the  legitimate  employment  of  the  human  mind, — the  induc- 
tive logic  of  lord  Bacon!  The  truth  is,  the  very  object  of  that 
class  of  writers  to  which  Mr.  Stewart  belongs,  is  to  effect,  as 
far  as  possible,  in  the  philosophy  of  the  human  mind,  what 
has  already  been  effected  in  the  department  of  chymistry. 

But  the  Quarterly  Reviewers  have  not  rested  the  impor- 
tance of  studying  the  syllogistic  science  (as  they  would  have 
us  call  it)  upon  the  analogy  which  it  bears  to  chymistry  only. 
Natural  philosophy  and  taste  are,  according  to  them,  on  pre- 
cisely the  same  footing  as  the  logical  system  of  Aristotle. 
The  analogy  which  they  suppose  to  subsist  between  the  art  of 
syllogizing  and  the  science  of  natural  philosophy,  is  expressed, 
without  qualification,  in  the  following  sentence: — “ To  argue 
that  the  science  {silicet^  of  syllogism)  is  itself  a mockery  and 
an  imposture,  merely  because  it  may  be  possible  to  reason  as 
well  without  a knowledge  of  it,  as  with  it,  (admitting  the  fact), 
presupposes  a principle  against  which  Mr.  Stewart’s  own 
pursuits  are  by  no  means  secure,  and  which  in  other  respects 
seems  to  be  just  about  as  reasonable,  as  to  underrate  the  dis- 
covery which  Newton  made  of  the  laws  of  gravitation,  because, 
whether  we  know  these  laws,  or  know  them  not,  bodies  will 
continue  just  as  certainly  to  fall,  and  the  planets  just  as  regu- 
larly to  describe  their  appointed  orbits.”  In  this  passage  the 


404 


ORIGINAL. 


writer  has  taken  for  granted  the  very  point  about  which  there 
can  be  much  dispute,  to  wit,  that  the  mind  in  all  its  reasoning 
does  actually  proceed  in  the  way  of  syllogism,  through  all  its 
variations  of  mode  and  figure,  just  as  uniformly  as  a stone  falls 
to  the  ground,  or  a planet  revolves  in  its  orbit; — a petitio 
principii  of  very  extraordinary  compass;  embracing  not  only 
the  certainty  of  the  art  to  which  it  refers,  but  placing  it,  in 
point  of  importance,  upon  a level  with  the  sublime,  and  expan- 
sive study  of  natural  philosophy. — We  grant  the  possibility  of 
resolving  any  demonstration  (of  Euclid’s,  for  example)  into 
a series  of  syllogisms  of  one  kind  or  another;  but  that  the  mind, 
in  prosecuting  a demonstration,  ever  did  perform  the  resolu- 
tion in  question,  we  cannot  admit.  To  assert  that  the  mind 
in  such  a case  goes  through  this  circuitous  reasoning,  is  about 
equivalent  to  saying,  that  in  walking  to  a certain  distance  we 
absolutely  step  on  every  inch  of  the  ground  we  pass  over. 
The  very  reason,  we  apprehend,  which  led  to  the  application 
of  the  word  step  to  the  successive  stages  of  the  inductive  pro- 
cess, was  an  anxiety  to  represent  the  real  manner  in  which 
the  mind  is  employed, — not  as  touching  upon  every  minute 
' point  which  might  lie  in  its  way, — but  as  proceeding  from  one 
important  footstep  to  another^  without  regarding  the  interme- 
diate ground.  Our  meaning  will,  perhaps,  be  better  expressed 
in  the  language  of  Virgil: — 

— longae 

Ambages;  sed  summa  sequar  fastigia  rerum. 

If  the  foregoing  observations  be  just,  they  completely 
destroy  the  analogy  which  the  Quarterly  Reviewers  pretend 
to  have  discovered  between  the  natural  philosophy  of  Newton 
and  the  syllogistic  ‘ science’  of  Aristotle. — But  waving  the 
consideration  of  analogies,  (which,  as  Mr.  Stewart  somewhere 
justly  remarks,  are  better  calculated  to  confute  each  other, 
than  to  evince  the  truth),  let  us  see  how  the  Quarterly  Re- 
viewers have  invalidated  the  objections  against  the  efficacy  of 
syllogism  considered  as  an  organ  of  discovery  in  the  various 
departments  of  science. 


PHILOSOPHY  OF  THE  HUMAN  MIND. 


405 


“ The  first  remark  which  I have  to  offer,”  says  Mr. 
Stewart,  “ upon  Aristotle’s  demonstrations,  is,  that  they  pro- 
ceed on  the  obviously  false  supposition-  of  its  being  possible 
: to  add  to  the  conclusiveness  and  authority  of  demonstrative 
! evidence.  To  which  the  Quarterly  Reviewers  make  the 
I following  reply.  “ This  objection  Mr.  Stewart  expatiates 
1 upon  at  much  length:  it  would,  however,  have  been  much  more 
satisfactory,  had  our  author  exerted  his  ingenuity,  rather  in 
proving  the  fact  Avhich  he  states,  than  in  demonstrating  its 
absurdity.  The  former,”  (they  proceed),  “ which  is  every 
thing  but  certain,  Mr.  Stewart,  however,  is  pleased  to  take 
for  granted;  while  by  an  error  exactly  analagous  to  that  of 
which  he  accuses  Aristotle,  he  goes  on  to  demonstrate,  through 
we  know  not  how  many  pages^  an  opinion  which  assuredly  no 
person  will  contest  with  him.”  These  remarks  are  closely 
followed  up  by  others  in  the  same  strain.  It  is  curious  to 
observe  the  extravagances  into  which  a writer  maybe  led  by 
starting  from  a misconception  of  fact.  One  would  suppose,  after 
reading  this  commentary  on  Mr.  Stewart,  that  the  Quarterly 
Reviewers  not  only  ‘knew  not  how  many  joages’he  had  written, 
but  were  strangely  ignorant  of  their  contents  also.  Does  not 
Mr.  Stew'art  inform  us  as  plainly  as  our  language  will  permit, 
that  it  is  to  the  fact  alone,  and  not  to  its  falsity^  that  his  ob- 
servations are  directed? — Would  he  have  laboured  ‘ through 
w^e  know  not  how  many  pages’  to  establish  the  absurdity  of  a 
proposition,  which,  in  the  very  enunciation  of  his  design,  he 
pronounced  to  be  ‘ obviously  false’?  He  who  reads  Mr. 
Stewart’s  discussion  on  this  subject  with  a moderate  share  of 
attention,  and  no  candour  at  all,  cannot  but  perceive,  that  he 
is  not  exerting  his  ingenuity  to  prove  an  incontestible  propo- 
sition, but  to  establish  as  a matter  of  fact,  ‘ that  the  demon- 
strations of  Aristotle  [do]  proceed  on  the  obviously  false  sup- 
position,’ &c. — Surely  the  Quarterly  Reviewers  have  indulged 
themselves  in  a latitude  of  censure  on  this  point,  which,  how- 
ever it  may  accord  with  their  code  of  criticism,  has  no  manner 
of  foundation  in  the  conduct  of  Mr.  Stewart.— -That  writer  has 


OIUGINAL. 


40t> 

indeed  employed  about  three  pages  in  some  preparatory  re* 
marks  on  the  nature  of  demonstrative  evidence,  as  contradis- 
tinguished from  that  which  is  called  probable;  and  in  removing 
objections  to  his  argument  which  some  might  suppose  to  be 
legitimately  drawn  from  the  divers  methods  which  different 
mathematicians  frequently  employ  to  demonstrate  the  same 
theorem.  No  person,  however,  could  be  much  fatigued  with 
this  discussion;  and  the  number  of  pages  through  which  it 
extends  would  not  baffle  the  notation  even  of  an  Indian  with 
the  common  compliment  of  fingers. 

From  a subsequent  passage,  we  derive  some  corroborative 
evidence  that  the  Quarterly  Reviewers  had  not  perused  Mr. 
Stewart’s  book  with  sufficient  attention.  ‘ When  we  demon- 
strate any  particular  arithmetical  truth,’  say  they,  ‘ by  putting 
it  into  a general  form,  it  is  not  that  we  mean  to  demonstrate 
the  truth  of  a particular  truth,  but  merely  to  show  that  it  is  a 
particular  case  of  a general  theorem.’  W e are  not  awmre,’  they 
continue,  Hhatthe  demonstrations  of  Aristotle  suppose  any 
design  thanthisof  algebra;  if  Mr.  Stewart  could  show  to  the  con- 
trary, we  must  regret  that  he  did  not  think  proper  to  do  so,  either 
by  general  arguments,  or  by  quoting  from  Aristotle,’  &c. — In 
the  analogy  here  introduced  between  the  art  of  algebra  and  the 
art  of  syllogism,  they  have, — apparently  without  the  least  idea 
that  Mr.  Stewmrt  had  touched  upon  the  subject, — fallen  into  a 
course  of  reasoning  which  had  been  before  adopted  by  Dr. 
Gillies,  and  which  is  formally  considered  in  one  of  the  notes 
subjoined  to  this  volume.  Mr.  Stewart  there  observes,  that 
the  analogy  in  question  ‘ amounts  to  little  more  than  this,  that, 
in  both  cases,  the  alphabet  happens  to  be  employed  as  a 
substitute  for  common  language.’ — Considered  in  one  point 
of  viewq  the  arts  we  are  now  speaking  of,  are  placed  in  the 
most  palpable  contrast;  inasmuch  as  Algebm  is  by  all  con- 
fessed to  be  only  a method  of  contraction,  and  even  the 
Quarterly  Reviewers  have  told  us  that  the  office  of  syllogism 
is  only  that  of  ‘ expansion,'^  When  professor  Playfair  cast  the 
propositions  of  the  fifth  book  of  Euclid  into  the  algebraic 
form,  how  wonderfully  did  he  abridge  the  operation,  and 


I'lIILOSOPHY  OF  THE  HUMAN  xMIND. 


407 


focilitate  the  acquisition  of  the  demonstrations!  Had  he  pur- 
sued an  opposite  course,  by  expanding  each  demonstration 
into  a series  of  syllogisms,  where  could  he  have  found  room 
for  the  remaining  elementary  books  of  his  author? 

In  one  place,  Mr.  Stewart  observes  that  syllogistic  rea- 
soning ‘ leads  the  mind  into  a direction  opposite  to  that  in 
which  its  judgments  are  formed;’  and  in  another  place,  he 
confesses  that  ‘ every  process  of  demonstrative  reasoning 
may  be  resolved  into  a series  of  syllogisms.’  Between  these 
two  passages  the  Quarterly  Reviewers  think  they  perceive  a 
I miraculous  inconsistency,  and  victoriously  ask, — ‘ Does  Mr. 
j Stewart  then  mean  to  say,  that  every  process  of  demonstra- 
I tive  reasoning  ‘ leads  the  mind  in  a direction  opposite  to  that 
j in  which  its  judgments  are  formed’?’  Here  it  is  attempted  to 
add  plausibility  to  an  argument  by  taking  advantage  of  an 
ambiguity  in  the  word  judgment,  and  by  confounding  two 
things  together,-  which  it  is  radically  important  should  be  kept 
separate.  When  Mr.  Stewart  remarked  that  syllogistic  rea- 
soning leads  the  mind  in  a direction  opposite  to  that  in  which 
its  judgments  are  formed,  he  was  speaking  of  this  method  of 
investigation  as  an  organ  for  the  discovery  of  physical  truth; 
— and  in  this  department  of  science,  who  does  not  know  that 
the  mind  ascends  from  individual  facts  to  universal  conclu- 
sions, instead  of  descending,  by  the  way  of  syllogism,  from 
general  propositions  to  particular  cases?'^  On  the  other  hand, 
when  v/e  reason  from  the  hypothetical  assumptions  of  pure 
mathematics, — since  what  we  must  call  our  ^judgments’  are 
presupposed  to  have  been  formed, — the  consecutive  steps  of 
any  demonstration  can  easily  be  resolved  into  a series  of  syl- 
logisms. Mr.  Stewart  was,  therefore,  perfectly  consistent  in 
making  the  two  remarks  under  consideration;  and  to  us  it  is 
surprising  how  the  Quarterly  Reviewers,  (who  are  always 
accusing  others  of  inaccurate  reasoning,)  should  have  run  into 


* After  a judgment  has  been  formed, — or,  in  other  words,  after  we  have 
established  a general  proposition, — the  mind  does,  indeed,  descend  to  particular 
facts;  not,  however,  by  syllogistic  reasoning. 


408 


ORIGINAL. 


the  egregious  mistake  of  supposing  him  in  both  cases  to  be 
speaking  of  the  same  science.  Indeed,  there  seems  to  be  a 
strange  propensity  in  the  writer  of  the  article  before  us,  to 
confound  distinctions  where  there  is  plainly  a difference,  and 
to  institute  divisions  where  there  is  nothing  but  identity.  ; 

To  this  propensity  must  be  attributed  the  inaccuracy  of  | 
which  he  is  guilty,  in  supposing  that  is  synonymous  1 

with  the  certainty  which  always  accompanies  a process  of  ■ 
demonstrative  reasoning.  This  error  is  the  less  excusable,  I 
because  the  reviewer  could  hardly  have  been  ignorant  of  the  .1 
pains  taken  by  Locke  to  prevent  such  a misapplication  of  I 
words; — devoting  a whole  chapter  to  the  adjustment  of  the 
distinction  between  the  certain  knowledge  w^hich  we  attain  by 
demonstration,  and  the  fallible  information  which  is  the  result 
oi  judgment^ — a power,  he  remarks,  ‘ whereby  the  mind  takes 
its  ideas  to  agree  or  disagree;  or,  which  is  the  same,  any  pro- 
position to  be  true  or  false,  without  perceiving  a demonstrative 
evidence  in  the  proofs,''  Thus  we  see  a wide  distinction  between 
demonstration  and  judgment^  the  object  of  the  former  being 
absolute  certainty, — that  of  the  latter,  mere  verisimilitude. 

We  are  aw^are  that  Mr.  Stewart  has  made  objections  to  this 
division  of  Locke’s;  and  Ave  fully  agree  with  him  that  it  sup- 
poses an  unnecessary  multiplication  of  our  intellectual  facul- 
ties. In  so  far,  however,  as  the  distinction  is  concerned 
between  judgment  and  demonstration^  the  question,  whether 
the  former  be  an  act,  or  a power  of  the  mind,  is  comparatively 
unimportant.  We  think  it  wdll  not  be  departing  from  logical 
accuracy,  or  from  the  diction  of  our  purest  writers,  to  say  that 
judgment  differs  from  demonstration  as  a part  differs  from  the 
whole;  the  former  being  an  individual  act  of  the  mind, — as 
when  it  deduces  a single  inference  from  any  proposition, — 
and  the  latter  being  a succession  of  such  acts, — as  when  it 
deduces  a series  of  those  inferences. 

The  Quarterly  Reviewers  arraign  the  opinion  of  Dr. 
Reid,  Mr.  Stewart,  and  others  of  the  same  sect,  relative  to  our 
instinctive  ‘ belief  in  the  continuance  of  the  laws  of  nature.’  I 


PHILOSOPHY  OF  THE  HUMAN  MIND. 


409 


Hume,  after  showing  the  impossibility  of  our  perceiving  a 
necessary  connexion  between  cause  and  effect,  carries  what  he 
calls  his  ‘ sifting  humour’  a little  farther,  and  inquires,  By 
what  principle  of  belief  we  are  led  to  expect  from  like  causes 
similar  effects;  unanswerably  proving,  too,  as  we  believe, 
.that  this  expectation  is  neither  the  result  of  reason  nor  of 
experience.  It  is  not  obtained  by  reason;  for  such  a process 
would  involve  the  perception  of  the  necessary  efficiency  of 
causes: — it  cannot  be  obtained  by  experience;  for  experience, 
without  the  intermediation  of  some  other  foundation  of  belief, 
can  only  show  us  how  things  zvere  in  time  past, — but  can 
throw  no  light  whatever  upon  what  zuill  be  their  situation  in 
time  to  come.  Logicians  were  driven,  therefore,  ‘ to  the  alter- 
native, either  of  acquiescing  in  his  sceptical  conclusions,  or  of 
acknowledging  the  authority  of  some  instinctive  principles  of 
belief  overlooked  in  Locke’s  essay.’  This  concession,  how- 
ever, is,  according  to  the  Quarterly  Reviewers,  throwing  upon 
Mr.  Hume  ‘ the  whole  onus  probandi  of  one  of  the  strangest 
and  most  untenable  paradoxes  that  ever  was  started.’  To 
prove  this  very  confident  asseveration,  they  have  resort  to  a 
passage  in  Mr.  Stewart’s  first  volume,  chap.  1,  sect.  2; — a 
passage  which  they  quote  in  order  to  convict  this  philosopher 
of  uttering  a silly  truism;  and  which  zve  shall  quote  for  the 
purpose  of  showing  how  an  author’s  meaning  may  be  perverted 
by  considering  single  passages  of  his  writings  segregated  from 
the  context. 

‘ The  natural  bias  of  the  mind,’  says  Mr.  Stewart,  ‘ is 
surely  to  conceive  physical  events  as  somehow  linked  toge- 
ther, and  natural  substances  as  possessed  of  certain  powers 
and  virtues  which  fit  them  to  produce  particular  effects.  That 
we  have  no  reason  to  believe  this  to  be  the  case,  has  been 
shown  in  a very  particular  manner  by  Mr.  Hume,  and  by 
other  writers:  and  must  indeed  appear  evident  to  every  per- 
son on  a moment’s  reflection.’ 

‘We  certainly  agree  so  far  with  our  author,’  say  the 
Quarterly  Reviewers,  as  to  admit  there  is  no  doubt  “ a natural 

52 


VOi,  VII. 


410 


ORIGINAr. 


bias  in  the  mind  to  conceive  material  substances  as  possessed 
of  certain  powers  which  fit  them  to  produce  particular  eftects;” 
that  is,  to  suppose  fire  as  possessing  power  to  burn,  and  bread 
to  nourish;  and  truly,  were  it  any  other  person  than  Mr.  Stew- 
art who  is  speaking,  we  should  have  supposed  that  he  must 
be  facetious^  when  he  tells  us  that  ‘ it  must  appear  evident  to 
every  person  on  a moment’s  reflection’  that  we  have  no  reason 
whatever  to  believe  in  what  would  seem  to  be,  at  first  sight, 
so  very  undoubted  a fact.’ 

There  can  be  no  greater  illiberality  of  criticism,  than 
that  which  draws  disparaging  inferences  from  a misquotation 
of  language, — no  easier  way  to  appear  zoitty^  than  by  misre- 
presenting another’s  meaning.  When  Mr.  Stewart  observed 
that  there  was  a ‘ natural  bias  in  the  mind  to  conceive  phy- 
sical events  as  somehow*  linked  together — in  other  words, 
that  there  is  a necessary,  indissoluble  affinity  between  cause 
and  effect, — between  fire,  for  instance,  and  its  power  to  burn, 
— what  is  easier  than  to  represent  him  as  simply  saying,  ‘ fire 
will  burn,  and  bread  will  nourish’!  Again,  would  any  person 
appear  ^ facetious,'^  who  should  say  that  there  is  no  reason  to 
believe  such  a necessary  connexion  to  exist,  as  must  ‘be  evident 
to  every  person  on  a moment’s  reflection?’  Does  it  apr-ear 
evident  to  every  person  without  any  reflection  at  all?  Then 
indeed  every  man  believes  that  which,  without  a moment’s 
consideration,  he  knows  to  be  untrue!  W e shall  leave  it  for 
our  readers  to  decide;  who  appears  the  most  ^ facetious^  in 
this  case, — Mr.  Stewart,  or  his  Quarterly  critic. 

Passing  over  their  verbal  criticism  upon  the  word  custom, 
let  us  see  with  what  success  the  Quarterly  Reviewers  have 
attacked  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Stewart  concerning  our  instinctive 
reliance  on  the  permanency  of  the  laws  of  nature. 

^ ‘ The  question  as  to  the  foundation  of  our  belief  in  mat- 

ters of  fact,’  say  they,  ‘ may  be  considered  under  two  heads, 
which,  however  intimately  connected  in  their  principles,  are 
yet  distinguishable  in  themselves:  these  are  why  we  con- 
clude that  the  things  which  now  exist  will  continue  to  exist  in 


PHILOSOPHY  OF  THE  HUMAN  MIND. 


411 


future;*  and  continuing  to  exist,  why  we  suppose  that  they 
will  retain  the  same  properties.  Both  these  questions  may 
be  very  briefly,  and  we  think  very  satisfactorily  answered. 
With  respect  to  the  first,  we  may  observe  that  the  maxim  de 
nihilo  nihil  fit,  is  one  which  it  plainly  involves  a speculative 
absurdity  to  deny.  Accordingly,  Dr.  Reid  enumerates  among 
what  he  calls  ‘ the  first  principles  of  necessary  truths  that  every 
thing  which  had  a beginning  must  have  had  a cause.’  p.  311. 

‘ It  is  however  perfectly  obvious,  that  to  suppose  any 
thing  to  be  annihilated  without  a cause,  is  just  as  impossible 
as  to  conceive  its  produced  without  one;  and  consequently 
no  such  cause  being  perceived  or  apprehended^  our  reason  neces- 
sarily infers,  upon  the  principles  of  Dr.  Reid  himself,  that 
whatever  now  exists  will  continue  to  exist,  in  some  shape  or 
other,  until  the  same  Almighty  hand  that  called  it  into  being 
shall  be  pleased  in  like  manner  to  recall  it  from  existence,"^  Id.  p. 

To  us  this  does  not  appear  to  be  a very  ‘ satisfactory’ 
refutation  of  Mr.  Stewart’s  principles;  inasmuch  as,  being 
more  fully  stated,  it  will  be  found  to  contain  the  very  opinion 
which  this  philosopher  was  anxious  to  establish.  For  the 
sake  of  perspicuity,  we  will  repeat  the  sentence  last  quoted 
in  the  same  words  as  are  used  by  the  Quarterly  Reviewers; 
only  inserting  in  some  places  enunciations  of  the  same  propo- 
sition in  different  forms  of  phraseology.  ‘ It  is  however  per- 
fectly obvious,  that  to  suppose  anything  to  become  annihilated 
without  a cause,  is  just  as  impossible  as  to  conceive  its  being 
produced  without  one;  and  consequently  no  such  cause  being 
perceived  or  apprehended,’ — that  is,  since  we  cannot  perceive 
any  annihilating  cause, — or,  in  other  words,  since  we  rely 
upon  the  continuance  of  the  laws  of  nature, — ‘ our  reason 
necessarily  infers,  that  whatever  now  exists  will  continue  to 
exist,  in  some  shape  or  other,  until  the  same  Almighty  hand 
that  called  it  into  being  shall  be  pleased  in  like  manner  to 

* The  language  here  used  involves  a petitio  principii;  for  to  conclude  that 
things  will  continue  to  exist,  supposes  a process  of  reasoning, — the  very  point  in 
question. 


412 


ORIGINAL. 


recall  it  from  existence.’  We  will  venture  to  say,  that  Mr. 
Stewart  would  not  dispute  a single  clause  of  this  passage. 

As  long  as  we  continue  to  rely  upon  the  stability  of  the  laws  * 
of  nature, — or  in  the  less  definite  language  of  the  Quarterly 
Reviewers,  as  long  as  we  apprehend  no  cause  of  their  annihila- 
tion,— so  long  we  may  conclude  that  things  (which  are  only  the  ? 

results  of  these  laws)  will  continue  to  exist.  The  proposition  « / 
thus  stated  amounts  merely  to  this,  that,  while  the  cause  exists,  . 
w^e  conclude  the  effect  will  take  place;  while  the  law  of  gra-  t : 
vitation  remains,  the  descent  of  heavy  bodies  may  be  expected.  | 
Whether  this  conclusion  be  the  result  of  reason,  is  another  1 
question; — a question  on  which  Mr.  Stewart  has  not  even 
suggested  a remark.  All  he  wished  to  enforce  was.  That,  in 
all  reasoning  concerning  contingent  truth,  wx  do  actually  rely 
upon  the  continuance  of  the  laws  of  nature;  and  that  this 
reliance  is  neither  the  result  of  reason,  nor  of  experience. 

The  argument  of  the  Quarterly  Reviewers  does  not  therefore 
even  bear  upon  the  position  which  they  have  attempted  to 
assail. 

It  may  be  observed  further,  that  their  reasoning  on  this 
subject  proceeds  upon  the  very  unphilosophical  plan  of  assign- 
ing a superfluous  number  of  causes  to  the  same  effect.  It  is 
plainly  absurd  to  represent  God  as  first  instituting  a particular 
cause,  and  then  as  producing  another  to  counteract  ils  effect; 
inasmuch  as  a bare  removal  of  the  original  cause  is  a much 
more  simple  and  natural  way  of  accomplishing  the  object.  It 
is  therefore  a very  violent  application  of  the  proposition  de 
nihilo  nihil  Jit,  to  assert  that,  since  nothing  can  be  produced 
without  a cause,  nothing  can  be  annihilated  without  one. 

This  annihilation  is  effectuated  as  soon  as  the  Almighty  pleases 
to  annul  the  laws  of  the  universe. 

After  proving  (as  they  supposed)  that  our  reason  neces- 
sarily infers  that  what  now  exists  will  continue  to  exist,  the 
Quarterly  Reviewers  proceed  to  answer  the  next  question  by 
the  following  very  extraordinary  process  of  reasoning: — 


PHILOSOPHY  OF  THE  HUMAN  MIND. 


413 


‘ But  why  do  we  conclude  that  it  will  continue  to  retain 
the  same  nature  and  properties?  This  question  is,  in  substance, 
already  answered;  it  may  however  be  farther  observed,  that 
the  existence  of  material  substances  being  supposed,  the  rela- 
tions in  w’hich  they  stand  towards  each  other,  are  obviously 
just  as  absolute  with  respect  to  us,  as  those  which  we  trace 
among  merely  speculative  truths;  the  only  difference  of  the  two 
oases  is,  that  the  former  depend  for  their  continuance  upon  con- 
tingency, whereas  the  latter  are,  in  their  very  nature,  immutable 
and  eternal,’^  p.  312. 

It  is  surprising  how  it  could  have  escaped  this  writer  that 
the  ‘ difference’  alluded  to,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  passage, 
completely  subverts  the  position  laid  down  in  the  former. 
The  very  circumstance  upon  which  this  difference  is  founded, 
was  all  that  Mr.  Stewart  washed  to  be  admitted;  namely,  that 
physical  relations,  being  held  together  by  contingency, — that 
is,  being  dependent  for  their  continuance  upon  the  permanency 
of  the  laws  of  nature, — are  not,  and  cannot  be  absolute;  but 
that  the  relations  of  speculative  truths,  being  altogether  inde- 
pendent of  those  laws,  are  in  their  nature  immutable  and 
eternal. — The  reasoning  of  this  writer,  in  short,  sets  out  with 
declaring  that  physical  truth  is  absolute,  and  ends  by  admitting 
it  to  be  contingent!  If  the  reader  will  take  the  pains  to  inspect 
the  remainder  of  the  reasoning  on  this  subject,  he  will  find  it 
pregnant  with  this  species  of  inconsistency;  the  different  pa- 
ragraphs alternately  recognizing  and  confounding  the  distinc- 
tion between  physical  and  hypothetical  truth. 

We  have  now  touched  upon  the  principal  objections 
which  the  Quarterly  Reviewers  have  opposed  to  the  philoso- 
phy of  Mr.  Stewart;  and  our  readers  will  undoubtedly  be 
pleased  to  hear  that  this  dry  analysis  is  now  drawn  to  a close. 
The.number  and  the  nature  of  the  subjects  upon  which  it  was 
necessary  to  animadvert,  furnish  the  best  excuse  for  the  length 
to  which  our  remarks  have  extended. 

• We  are  indebted  for  this  review  to  a learned  gentleman  of  Newhaven,- 
Connecticut. 


414 


£Communicated.3 

H istorical  Memoir  of  the  War  in  West  Florida  and  Louisiana 
in  1814— 15,  With  an  Atlas,  By  Major  A.  Lacarriere  La- 
tour^  principal  engineer  in  the  late  Seventh  Military  District 
United  States’’  army.  Written  originally  in  French^  and 
translated  for  the  author^  by  H,  P,  Nugent,  esq. 

Bis  Tusci  Rutulos  egere  ad  castra  reverses. 

Bis  reject!  armis  respectant  terga  tegentes. 

Turbati  fugiunt  RutuU — 

Disjectique  duces,  desolatique  manipli, 

Tula  petunt Virg. 

Philadelphia,  published  by  J , Conrad  Co,  8i;o.  Price  $5, 

Our  brethren  of  1 Louisiana,  since  their  admission  into  the 
American  family,  have  displayed  a spirit  of  patriotism  which 
does  them  the  highest  honour.  The  invasion  of  their  territo- 
ry by  a British  army,  sufficiently  tested  their  attachment  to  the 
nation  of  which  they  constitute  a respectable  part.  The  ene- 
my expected  to  find  them  disaffected  to  our  cause;  but  they 
vied  with  our  soldiers  in  the  exercise  of  all  the  civic  and  mili- 
tary virtues,  and  entitled  themselves  to  the  thanks  of  the  na- 
tional legislature  “ for  the  patriotism,  fidelity,  zeal  and  cou- 
rage with  which  they  promptly  and  unanimously  stepped  forth 
in  defence  of  all  the  individual,  social  and  political  rights  held 
dear  by  man.”  Not  satisfied  with  emulating  their  fellow  citi- 
zens of  the  older  states  in  warlike  achievements,  they  also 
appear  determined  to  pursue  a rival  course  in  the  flowery 
fields  of  literature.  Far  from  viewing  this  spirit  with  a jealous 
eye,  we  are  disposed  to  give  it  every  possible  encouragement, 
and  to  bestow,  with  an  impartial  hand,  our  meed  of  praise,  on 
every  valuable  literary  production  of  our  country,  whether  ge- 
nerated on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  or  on  those  of  the 
Delaware. 

Tros  Tyriusve  mihi  nullo  discrimine  agetur. 


i 


REVIEW  OF  LATOUr’s  HISTORICAL  MEMOIR.  415 

Copious  extracts  from  this  work  have  already  been  present- 
ed to  the  public  in  The  Port  Folio  for  November  and  in  The 
Analectic  Magazine  for  December  last,  so  that  our  readers 
have  been  in  a great  degree  enabled  to  form  a judgment  of 
its  merits,  as  far  at  least  as  respects  the  style  and  manner  of 
narration.  We  will,  therefore,  content  ourselves  at  present 
with  giving  our  opinion  of  the  general  character  of  the  book, 
without  loading  our  pages  with  further  specimens,  except 
where  we  may  find  it  necessary  to  illustrate  some  observation 
that  we  may  be  induced  to  make. 

The  author  of  this  memoir  was  employed  during  the  whole 
of  the  Louisiana  campaign  as  principal  engineer  of  the  late 
seventh  military  district,  and  his  duty,  as  w^il  as  his  inclina- 
tion, attached  him  to  the  person  of  the  commander-in-chief. 
He  was  not  only  an  eye-witness,  but  a principal  actor  in  the 
events  which  he  relates,  et  quorum  pars  magna  fuit.  We 
may,  therefore,  expect  from  him  a more  detailed  and  correct 
account  than  from  a mere  unconcerned  spectator,  or  one  who 
should  relate  the  facts  only  from  the  testimony  of  public  do- 
cuments, and  the  hearsay  of  others.  Nor  are  we  deceived  in 
our  expectations — Truth  is  stamped  on  the  face  of  Major  La- 
tour'^s  narrative  by  its  own  internal  evidence.  The  writer 
professes  no  more  than  to  give  us  a plain  unvarnished  tale,  a 
journal,  as  it  were,  of  events,  as  they  occurred  from  day  to  day, 
and  hence  he  has  entitled  his  work  an  ‘‘Historical  Memoir” 
and  not  a “history,”  a name  which  has  often  been  given  to 
productions  that  deserved  it  less.  Under  the  favour  of  this 
unassuming  title,  he  was  at  liberty  to  vary  his  style  as  he  pleas- 
ed, and  never  found  himself  under  the  necessity  of  sacrificing 
facts  to  arrangement  or  diction.  Of  this  liberty  he  has  freely 
and  properly  availed  himself  whenever  the  subject  has  requir- 
ed it.  Hence,  in  relating  those  events  and  circumstances 
which  involved  a great  deal  of  minute  detail,  he  has  given  us 
a simple  diary  of  daily  occurrences,  while,  in  other  places,  he 
has  given  full  scope  to  the  powers  of  his  imagination;  and  his 
style,  always  chaste  and  pure,  occasionally  rises  even  to  elo- 


416 


URltilNAL. 


quence.  Perspicuity  appears  throughout  to  have  been  his 
principal  object,  and  throughout  he  appears  to  have  attained 
it.  With  the  help  of  his  maps  and  plans,  the  reader  may  ob- 
tain as  complete  and  correct  an  idea  of  the  various  events  of 
this  memorable  campaign  as  if  he  had  been  present  at  each 
scene.  We  have  no  doubt  that  military  men  will  be  highly 
satisfied  with  the  performance. 

The  moral  scenes  which  the  country  exhibited  in  those 
eventful  times,  major  Latour  has  depicted  with  the  pencil  of  a 
master.  For  this  we  refer  our  readers  to  his  descriptions  of 
the  state  of  the  city  of  New  Orleans  before  and  after  the  arri- 
val of  general  Jackson,  which  are  inserted  in  The  Port  Folio 
for  November  last,  pages  479-480.  In  pages  481-482  of  the 
same  number,  will  be  found  his  descriptions  of  the  face  of  the 
country  which  was  the  theatre  of  war.  In  both  instances  the 
author  has  exhibited  the  talent  and  the  skill  of  a painter. 

Among  the  distinguishing  characteristics  of  genius,  there  is 
none  more  certain  than  the  power  of  discerning,  in  the  midst 
of  a variety  of  confused  scenes,  those  delicate  traits  of  national 
character,  which  though  worthy  of  remark,  seldom  fail  to  es- 
cape the  eye  of  a common  observer.  This  major  Latour  has 
done  in  several  instances,  with  peculiar  felicity.  We  will 
only  select  two,  which,  we  hope,  will  not  only  illustrate,  but 
fully  justify  our  observation. 

The  first  is  in  the  preface,  where,  after  giving  due  praise  to 
the  patience  and  perseverance  of  our  brave  soldiers,  in  the 
midst  of  the  most  intolerable  hardships,  he  caps  the  climax  of 
his  proofs  by  the  following  observation:  “Nay  more,”  says  he, 
“ four-fifths  of  our  little  army  were  composed  of  militia-men  or 
volunteers,  who,  it  might  be  supposed,  would  with  difficulty 
have  submitted  to  the  severe  discipline  of  a camp,  and,  of  course, 
Would  often  have  incurred  punishment;  yet,  nothing  of  the 
kind  took  place,  and  1 solemnly  declare,  that  not  the  smallest 
military  punishment  was  inflicted.  This  is  a fact  respecting 
which  I defy  contradiction  in  the  most  formal  manner.” 


REVIEW  OF  LATOUR’s  HISTORICAL  MEMOIR.  41 7 

For  this  phenomenon,  as  he  calls  it,  he  finds  it  difficult  to  ac- 
count. He  takes  this  opportunity  to  burst  out  in  so  eloquent  a 
strain,  tliat  we  cannot  resist  the  temptation  of  inserting  the 
whole  passage: 

What,  then,  was  the  cause  of  this  miracle?  The  love  of  coun- 
try— the  love  of  liberty.  It  was  thb  consciousness  of  the  dignity  of 
man — it  was  the  noblest  of  feelings,  which  pervaded  and  fired  the 
souls  of  our  defenders — which  made  them  bear  patiently  with  their 
sufferings,  because  the  country  required  it  of  them.  They  felt 
that  they  ought  to  resist  an  enemy  who  had  come  to  invade  and 
to  subdue  their  country; — they  knew  that  their  wives,  their  chil- 
dren, their  nearest  and  dearest  friends  were  but  a few  miles  behind 
their  encampment,  who,  but  for  their  exertions,  would  inevitably 
become  the  victims  and  the  prey  of  a licentious  soldiery.  A noble 
city  and  a rich  territory  looked  up  to  them  for  protection; — those 
whom  their  conduct  was  to  save  or  devote  to  perdition,  were  in 
sight,  extending  to  them  their  supplicating  hands.  Here  was  a 
scene  to  elicit  the  most  latent  sparks  of  courage.  What  wonder, 
then,  that  it  had  so  powerful  an  effect  on  the  minds  of  American 
soldiers — of  Louisianian  patriots!  Every  one  of  those  brave  men 
felt  the  honour  and  importance  of  his  station,  and  exulted  in  the 
thought  of  beiftg  the  defender  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  the  aven-* 
ger  of  his  country’s  wrongs.  Such  are  the  men  who  will  always 
be  found,  by  those  who  may  again  presume  to  insult  a free  nation, 
determined  to  maintain  and  preserve  her  rights.” 

The  other  instance  of  a happy  discovery  and  elegant  deli- 
neation of  a nice  trait  of  the  American  character,  is  in  pages 
244-^5,  where  he  describes  the  humane  feelings  of  our  army 
after  the  battle  of  the  eighth  of  January,  and  contrasts  them 
with  what  they  felt  on  other  les,s  glorious  occasions.  We  copy 
the  whole  passage. 

In  my  account  of  the  affair  of  the  8th  January,  which  I beg 
the  reader  to  compare  with  the  report  of  general  Lambert,  I have 
forgotten  to  mention  a circumstance  that  reflects  the  highest  ho- 
nour on  our  troops.  I shall  insert  it  here;  and  it  cannot  fail  to 
afford  pleasure  to  the  feeling  mind. 

VOL.  VII.  .^>3 


$1^ 


ORIGINAL. 


“ At  the  time  of  the  preceding  attacks,  those  of  the  28th  of  De- 
cember and  first  of  January,  after  our  artillery  had  silenced  that 
of  the  enemy,  and  forced  his  troops  to  retire,  repeated  huzzas  from 
the  whole  of  our  line  rent  the  air;  the  most  lively  demonstrations 
of  joy  were  every  where  exhibited  by  our  soldiers — a presage  of 
the  fate  of  the  enemy,  in  a general  attack.  On  the  8th  of  Janua- 
ry, on  the  contrary,  no  sooner  was  the  battle  over  than  the  roar  of 
artillery  and  musketry  gave  place  to  the  most  profound  silence. 
Flushed  with  victoty,  having  just  repulsed  an  enemy  who  had  ad- 
vanced to  scatter  death  in  their  ranks,  our  soldiers  saw,  in  the  nu- 
merous corpses  that  strewed  the  plain,  only  the  unfortunate  vic- 
tims of  war; — in  the  wounded  and  prisoners,  whom  they  hastened 
to  attend,  only  suffering  and  unhappy  men;  and  in  their  vanquished 
enemies,  brave  men,  worthy  a better  cause.  Elated  with  their 
success,  but  overpowered  by  the  feelings  of  a generous  sympathy 
for  those  unfortunate  victims  of  the  ambition  of  their  masters,  they 
disdained  to  insult  the  unfortunate  by  an  untimely  exultation,  and 
cautiously  avoided  any  expression  of  joy,  lest  they  should  wound 
the  feelings  of  those  whom  the  chance  of  battle  had  placed  in  their 
hands.  In  the  midst  of  the  horrors  of  war,  humanity  dwells  with 
delightful  complacency,  on  the  recital  of  such  noble  traits;  they 
sooth  the  heart  under  the  pressure  of  adversity,  and  divert  the 
mind  from  the  contemplation  of  ills  which  we  can  neither  avoid 
nor  entirely  remedy.’* 

We  are  sorrv^  to  observe  that  major  Latoiu'  has  sometimes 
indulged  himself  in  indecorous  expressions  against  the  British 
government  and  nation;  such  as  “our  ferocious  enemy,”  and 
the  like;  which  ouglit  never  to  find  place  in  an  historical  work: 
— yet  we  do  not  find  that  these  feelings  have  made  him  swerve 
any  where  from  the  strictest  impartiality^  He  bestotvs  due 
praise  on  the  courage  of  our  late  enemies — on  the  intrepidity 
of  the  unfortunate  Packenham,  and  on  the  honourable  and 
“‘soldierly  conduct”  of  major-general  Lambert.  But  he  se- 
verely criticises  the  official  reports  of  admiral  Cochrane,  gene- 
ral Keane,  and  some  other  British  officers,  and  it  appears  that 
his  criticisms,  though  dealt  with  no  sparing  hand,  are  in  gene- 
ral just,  and  founded  on  the  truth  of  facts  wdiich  those  gentle- 


REVIEW  OF  LATOUr’s  HISTORICAL  MEMOIR.  419 

men  had  rather  too  much  discoloured.  Perhaps  the  reader 
will  be  curious  to  know  in  what  manner  our  author  takes  no- 
tice of  the  celebrated  charge  which  was  made  against  the 
commanders  of  the  British  army,  of  having  given  the  words 
“ Beauty  and  Booty”  for  a parole  and  countersign,  on  the 
memorable  eighth  of  January.  This  subject  is  only  mention- 
ed in  a note  at  the  end  of  the  Memoir,  with  which  we  shall 
conclude  our  extracts,  and  our  review  of  this  interesting  and 
valuable  book. 

“ It  has  been  asserted  from  the  concurrent  report  of  a great 
number  of  the  British  prisoners  and  deserters,  that  on  the  memor- 
able 8th  of  January,  the  parole  and  countersign  of  the  enemy’s 
army  were  Beauty  and  Booty.  Although  this  report  is  generally 
believed  in  the  United  States,  particularly  as  it  never  has  been 
formally  denied  by  those  whom  it  most  concerns,  I have  not 
thought  it  sufficiently  authenticated  to  record  it  as  an  historical 
fact.  It  is  indeed  a most  heinous  charge,  and  if  untrue,  requires 
not  only  a clear  and  positive  denial,  but  also  the  proof  of  the  genu- 
ine parole  and  countersign,  which  may  be  easily  obtained,  as  it  is 
well  known  that  it  is  consigned  in  the  orderly  books  of  every  corps 
in  the  army.  It  has  been  said  that  the  British  government  considers 
it  below  its  dignity  to  condescend  to  refute  a calumny  which  has 
been  only  circulated  through  the  medium  of  newspapers  and 
other  periodical  publications  in  the  United  States.  But  this  will  not 
do;  the  almost  unanimous  assertion  of  the  deserters  and  prisoners 
on  which  this  report  is  founded,  is  a fact  too  serious  to  be  looked 
over,  and  it  is  but  too  much  supported  by  the  positive  and  repeated 
threats  of  admiral  Cochrane,  in  his  letters  of  the  1 8th  August  and 
19th  September,  1814;  by  the  letters  of  other  officers,  intercepted 
on  board  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  conduct  of  the  British  at 
Hampton,  Alexandria,  and  other  places.  It  cannot  be  considered 
derogatory  to  the  dignity  of  any  government  to  undeceive  a great 
nation,  among  whom  every  individual  exercises  a portion  of  the 
sovereignty.  The  voice  of  that  nation  will  be  heard,  and  its  his- 
torians, if  the  British  government  persists  in  its  unjustifiable  si- 
lence, will  at  last- no  longer  be  swayed  by  the  motives  of  delicacy 
and  respect  to  a vanquished  enemy  which  have  actuated  the  41^ 


420 


ORIGINAL# 


thor  of  these  Memoirs.  The  fame  of  general  Packenham  and  his 
officers,  the  moral  character  of  the  British  military,  strongly  im- 
plicated by  a charge  of  this  nature,  and  the  honour  of  the  British 
government,  all  imperiously  demand  that  it  be  refuted,  if  capable 
of  refutation,  which  may  be  easily  done,  if  general  Lambert,  whose 
honourable  conduct  in  the  course  of  this  campaign  does  not  per- 
mit the  least  doubt  to  be  entertained  of  his  veracity,  will  only 
come  forward  and  state  the  real  fact — otherwise,  and  if  proof,  such 
as  this,  cannot  be  obtained,  the  report  must  be  considered  as  true, 
and  I leave  to  future  historians  the  unpleasant  task  of  animad- 
verting upon  a conduct  so  shocking  to  humanity.” 


[Communicated.] 

REMARKS  ON  ADDISOn’s  CRITICISM  OF  THE  SEVENTH  BOOK  OF 
PARADISE  LOST, 

Looking  over  that  delightful  collection  of  essays,  The  Spec- 
tator, of  which  Addison’s  make  by  far  the  best  part,  I parti- 
cularly noticed  in  the  339th  number,  his  celebrated  criticism 
upon  the  seventh  book  of  Paradise  Lost.  Addison  extols  in 
very  high  terms  Milton’s  thought  of  the  Creator  taking  his 
golden  compasses  to  circumscribe  this  universe  and  all  cre- 
ated things;”  and  says  “ it  is  a noble  incident  in  this  wonder- 
ful description.”  Now,  with  all  due  deference  to  so  great  a 
critic,  I think  the  thought  a very  poor  one.  The  Creator, 
who  had  only  to  say,  ‘ let  the  world  be,  and  the  world  was,’ 
is  represented  almost  irreverently,  certainly  most  unworthily, 
like  a mechanic,  taking  a pair  of  compasses  to  circumscribe 
the  bounds  of  the  universe.  This  thought,  which  would  do 
honour  to  Blackmore,  and  might  make  a figure  in  Pope’s  Art 
of  Sinking,  is  yet — merely  because  Milton  wrote  it,  and  Ad- 
dison praised  it — extolled  by  thousands,  who  are  ready  to  pro- 
nounce it  wonderfully  sublime. 


REMARKS  ON  A PASSAGE  OF  PARADISE  LOST. 


421 


But  Addison  tells  us  that  this  thought  is  ‘‘  altogether  in  Ho- 
mer’s spirit.”  I grant  it  is  much  more  like  a heathen  poet’s 
idea  of  his  gods,  than  like  that  which  a Christian  ought  to 
entertain  of  the  Great  Creator.  Homer  frequently  represents 
his  deities  engaging  in  contests  with  men,  and  not  always  suc- 
cessfully:— Even  Mars  is  once  sent  bellowing  from  the  field 
of  battle,  having  been  wounded  by  the  sword  of  Diomed. 
But  how  different  are  these  gods  from  that  Almighty  Being,  to 
whose  greatness  the  highest  human  imagination  cannot  elevate 
itself! — who  “beheld,  and  drove  asunder  the  nations;’’’ — at 
whose  presence  “the  everlasting  mountains  were  scattered.” 
What  a sublime  idea  is  here  presented  of  the  Supreme  Being, 
in  comparison  with  Homer’s  Minerva,  with  “her  spear,”  which 
would  overturn  whole  squadrons,  “and  her  helmet  that  was  suf- 
ficient to  cover  an  army  drawn  out  of  an  hundred  cities;”  or 
even  with  Milton’s  notion  of  the  Creator  taking  a pair  of  com- 
passes, and  centering  one  foot  and  turning  the  other  round — 
to  lay  out  the  world  in  an  exact  circle.  How  feeble  are  these 
conceptions  compared  with  the  representation  given  of  the 
Eternal  Spirit,  in  the  first  book  of  Genesis — simple  as  that 
appears,  and  unadorned  by  that  magnificence  of  language, 
with  which  Milton  has  clothed  his  ideas.  In  his  whole  poem 
there  is  hardly  greater  beauty  of  versification  than  in  the  pas- 
sage to  which  I allude;  and  this  charm  imposes  upon  many 
who  mistake  elegance  of  diction  for  grandeur  of  thought. 

How  many,  while  repeating  the  following  lines,  will  con- 
demn my  criticism? 

“ Then  stay’d  the  fervid  wheels  and  in  his  hand 
“ He  took  the  golden  compasses,  prepared 
“ In  God’s  eternal  store,  to  circumscribe 
“ This  universe,  and  all  created  things. 

“ One  foot  he  centered,  and  the  other  turned 
“ Round  through  the  vast  profundity  obscure, 

And  said,  thus  far  extend,  thus  far  thy  bounds, 

“ This  be  thy  just  circumference,  O world!” 


422 


STRICTURES  ON  THE  BIOGRAPHY  OF  MR.  BAYARD. 

TO  THE  PUBLISHER  OF  THE  AXALECTIC  MAGAZINE. 

Sir, 

1 HAVE  read  with  no  small  degree  of  pleasure  in  your 
magazine  for  this  month,  a biographical  memoir  of  the  late 
lamented  James  A.  Bayard.  The  talent  it  displays  docs  ho- 
nour to  the  writer.  I have,  however,  one  objection  to  it,  which 
has  led  to  this  animadversion,  for  which  1 request  a place  iw 
your  next  number. 

This  memoir  is  tinged  with  strong  party  feeling,  and  is  real- 
ly the  vehicle  of  a general  defence  of  one  of  our  great  politi- 
cal parties,  and  as  general  a reprobation  of  the  other.  This 
cannot  escape  the  obser\'ation  of  the  most  superficial  reader. 

It  is  not,  however,  my  intention  to  enter  into  a particular 
review  of  this  memoir.  It  w’ould  require  more  time  than  I can 
spare — more  leisure  than  I possess.  I merely  trespass  on  you 
for  the  purpose  of  correcting  a most  important  error,  which 
involves  a direct  contradiction  between  two  different  parts  of 
the  production. 

Among  the  most  important  questions  between  the  two  par- 
ties, is  that  of  the  late  war — whether  it  was  just  or  unjust — 
expedient  or  inexpedient.  Great  has  been  the  variance  of 
opinions  on  this  subject.  Many  of  the  most  respectable  fede- 
ralists in  the  Uriited  States,  who  have  most  unqualifiedly  re- 
probated the  war  as  inexpedient  and  ill-timed,  and  entered 
into  without  any  adequate  preparation,  nevertheless  admit  that 
the  outrages  perpetrated  on  our  seamen  and  the  depredations 
on  our  commerce,  afforded  ample  justification  of  war,  even 
long  before  it  was  declared. 

Your  correspondent  has,  however,  placed  Mr.  Bayard  be- 
fore the  public  w ith  a strong  declaration  that  the  wmr  was  not 
only  “ ill-timed’’  but  “ unnecessary.” 

This  idea  is  conveyed  in  the  following  w'ords:  “ Mr.  Bayard, 
viewing  the  points  of  difference  wdth  the  dispassionate  eye  of 
an  intelligent  statesman,  had  pronounced  the  war  unnecessary 
and  ill-timed.” 


STRICTURES  ON  THE  BIOGRAPHY  OF  MR.  BAYARD.  423 

This  statement  is  wholly  erroneous;  and  it  is,  in  fact,  indi- 
rectly contradicted  in  the  preceding  page.  Mr.  Bayard  is 
there  correctly  stated  to  have  “ moved  to  delay  the  declara- 
tion of  war  till  the  31st  of  October.”  A short  synopsis  of  his 
speech  is  given,  in  which  there  is  not  the  most  remote  allusion 
to  the  idea  of  the  war  being  “ unnecessary y The  whole  jet 
of  the  argument  goes  to  enforce  the  necessity  of  making  ade- 
quate preparations  to  meet  in  hostile  array  the  most  formida- 
ble nation  in  the  world — and,  likewise,  of  aflbrding  time  for 
the  commerce  and  navigation  of  the  United  States,  then  scat- 
tered over  the  surface  of  the  ocean,  to  return  home  in  safety. 

It  is  too  obvious  to  escape  notice,  that  a motion  to  postpone 
a measure  till  a definite  period,  and  for  a specific  purpose,  and 
without  any  other  objection  to  the  measure  itself,  than  merely 
the  time  of  its  adoption,  is  a clear  admission  of  its  justice  and 
necessity.  Acquiescence  in  this  conclusion  requires  no  very 
extraordinary  portion  of  candour. 

But  strong  as  this  ground  is,  the  position  I advocate  can  be 
maintained  without  a recourse  to  it.  It  rests  on  a basis  far 
beyond  mere  inference. 

Mr.  Bayard,  who  was,  in  the  fullest  sense  of  the  word,  a 
true  American,  had  long  before  borne  the  most  decisive  testi- 
mony against  the  outrages  perpetrated  by  Great  Britain  on 
this  country,  and  had  scouted  the  idea  of  the  pretence  of  reta- 
liation, on  which  your  correspondent  places  no  small  depend- 
ence.'^ And  still  further — in  the  very  speech  w'hich  he  made 
in  support  of  his  motion  for  postponing  the  declaration  of  war, 

* Extract  from  a speech  of  James  A.  Bayard,  Esq.  in  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States,  October  31,  1811. 

“ They  (the  orders  in  council)  were  adopted  as  a measure  of  retaliation,  tfiough 
i)hey  never  deserved  that  cljaracter.  lie  had  always  considered  the  Berlin  and 
Milan  decrees  used  as  a mere  pretext.  'I’hose  decrees  were  vain  and  empty 
denunciations  in  relation  to  England,  The  ]>lain  design  of  the  British  govern- 
ment was  to  deprive  France  of  the  benefits  of  external  commerce,  unless  the  pro- 
fits of  it  were  to  be  divided  with  herself.  This  was  fully  proved  by  the  liceose 


424 


ORIGINAL. 


or  in  one  delivered  about  that  time,  he  solemnly  pledged  him- 
self and  his  party,  that  if  war  were  delayed  till  October^  and 
if  the  British  did  not  in  the  interim  redress  our  wrongs,  he  and 
they  would  heartily  support  the  war.  Would  such  a man  as 
Mr.  Bayard  give  such  a.  pledge  in  favour  of  a war  which  he 
deemed  unnecessary?'^'^ 

I have  been  brief,  because  I wish  not  to  engross  too  much 
of  your  valuable  miscellany.  Permit  me,  however,  to  add, 
that  I most  sincerely  deprecate  the  admission  of  articles  whose 
object  is  to  give  your  work  the  forbidding  features  of  a party 
publication.  Into  the  capacious  reservoirs  of  newspapers  let 
our  party  politicians  discharge  the  effusions  of  their  zeal,  their 
prejudices,  their  antipathies.  These  boundless  vehicles  afford 
ample  space  and  a suitable  scene  to  satisfy  the  most  ardent 
zealot.  Let  the  Analectic  Magazine  aspire  to  preserve  the 
reputation  of  being  a national  work — devoted  to  support  the 
national  honour — to  advocate  the  national  interest — to  correct 
the  national  taste — and  to  inspire  a nationality  of  feeling.  So 
far  as  it  runs  that  glorious  career,  so  far  it  will  continue  to  de- 
serve the  approbation  and  support  of  all  who  are  worthy  of 
the  honoured  name  of  Americans.  . 

One  unpleasant  consequence  of  a departure  from  these  rules 
is,  that  if  you  allow  a democratic  correspondent  to  assail  the 
federalists,  or  a federal  correspondent  to  assail  the  democrats, 
you  cannot,  without  a violation  of  the  rules  of  equity,  preclude 

trade.  Britain  carries  on  the  very  trade  she  denies  to  neutrals,  and  having  en- 
grossed the  whole  to  herself,  she  excludes  neutrals  from  a participation. 

“ I am  among  the  last  men  in  the  Senate,  who  would  justify  or  defend  the 
orders  in  counpil — they  violate  the  plainest  rights  of  the  nation.  The  gi^ound  of 
retaliation  was  never  more  than  a pretext,  and  their  plain  object  is  to  deprive 
France  of  neutral  trade.  It  never  was  contended,  nor  does  Britain  now  contend, 
that  she  would  be  justified  by  the  laws  or  usages  of  nations,  to  interdict  our  com- 
merce with  her  enemy.  She  covers  her  injustice  with  the  cloak  of  retaliation, 
and  insists  that  she  has  a right  to  retort  upon  her  enemy  the  evils  of  his  owll 
policy.  This  is  a doctrine  to  which  I am  not  disposed  to  agree.  It  is  destruc- 
tive to  neutrals.  It  makes  them  the  prey  of  belligerents.  It  is  a doctrine  to 
which  must  resist?* 


PLATO  ON  TYRANNY. 


425 

/ 

Uie  aggrieved  party  from  an  opportunity  of  defence;  and  your 
work  will  thus  be  encumbered  with  replies  and  rejoinders,  like 
the  present — far  less  acceptable  to  your  readers  than  those 
elegant  and  powerful  productions,  which  have  given  it  so  high 
a rank  among  the  periodical  publications  of  our  era. 

April  1.  Americanus. 

The  note  appended  to  the  Life  of  Mr.  Bayard  renders  any  comment  on  the 
preceding  article  unnecessary.  No  further  discussion  of  the  subject  will  be  ad- 
mitted in  this  magazine. 


PLATO  ON  THE  NATURE  OF  TYRANNY  AND  THE  CH.\RACTER  OF  A 

TYRANT. 

The  writer  of  the  following  article  has  endeavoured  to  trans- 
fuse into  our  language  an  important  part  of  one  of  the  most 
celebrated  of  the  works  of  Plato;  a name  which,  notwithstand- 
ing all  the  visionary  and  extravagant  ideas  associated  with  it, 
is  still  dear  to  the  lovers  of  learning  and  virtue.  The  work  in 
question  is  his  discourses  on  republics:*  it  consists  of  ten  books 
of  dialogues,  on  justice,  religion,  government,  and  various 
other  subjects  connected  with  political  affairs.  The  principal 
speaker  is  supposed  to  be  Socrates:  his  discourses  form,  in- 
deed, almost  the  whole  of  the  book.  The  other  occasional 
speakers  are  Glauco,  Adimantus,  Cephalus,  Polemarchus,  and 
Thrasymachus.  The  scene  is  in  the  house  of  Cephalus  at 
Pirasum. 

Our  extract  is  from  the  eighth  and  ninth  books.  To  make 
it  more  interesting  to  our  readers  and  more  suitable  to  our 
limits,  we  have  omitted  the  numerous  responses  and  common- 
place observations  of  the  interlocutors;  and  have,  in  other  re- 
spects, abridged  and  condensed  it,  endeavouring,  however,  to 
preserve  the  spirit,  force  and  peculiar  character  of  the  original. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  the  democracies  of  which  it 
treats,  were  essentially  different  from  ours.  Democracy  was 
understood  by  the  Greeks,  to  denote  a form  of  republican  go- 

* In  the  original;  IToA/Tj/av,  Hy  TTe/»/  usually  quoted  in  Latin,  De 

republica. 

VOL.  VII.  54 


126 


OftieiNAL. 


vernment  in  which  the  supreme  power  is  vested  in  an  aggre- 
gate assembly  of  all  the  free  citizens  of  the  state,  and  exerci- 
sed by  them,  for  the  most  part,  not  by  deputies  or  represen- 
tatives, as  with  us,  but  in  their  own  proper  persons. 

Socrates. — Let  us  now  see,  my  dear  friends,  what  is  the  na- 
ture of  tyranny.  It  evidently  arises  from  popular  government, 
in  the  same  manner  as  democracy  from  the  government  of  the  few. 
The  last  sort  of  government  is  destroyed  by  the  excessive  ava- 
rice and  ambition  of  those  who  rule;  and  those  who  overthrow 
them  are  in  like  manner  perverted  and  ruined  by  their  too  ar- 
dent desire  of  unbridled  liberty: — for  in  a democracy  liberty 
is  esteemed  above  all  other  things: — in  it  the  name  of  liber- 
ty is  continually  resounded;  and  yet  it  is  the  insatiable  lust 
of  liberty,  with  the  neglect  of  other  things,  which  changes  this 
republic,  and  compels  it  to  stand  in  need  of  a tyrant.  When 
a democratic  state  is  thirsting  after  freedom,  and  happens  to 
have  bad  presiding  cup-bearers,  and  becomes  drunk  with 
swilling  too  copious  draughts  of  it,  the  people  punish  their 
chiefs  and  archons  if  they  be  not  wholly  tame,  and  do  not  con- 
cede whatever  is  demanded  of  them;  accusing  them  of  being 
tyrannical  and  desirous  of  aristocracy;  and  those  who  obey 
the  magistrates  are  abused  as  willing  and  worthless  slaves. 
Such  a people  applaud  and  honour,  publicly  and  privately, 
magistrates  who  are  on  a level  with  subjects,  and  subjects  who 
are  on  a level  with  their  rulers.  And  must  not,  my  friends, 
this  rooted  and  ingrafted  anarchy  insinuate  itself  into  private 
families?  Will  not  the  father  resemble  his  child,  and  the  son 
become  the  equal  of  his  father,  neither  revering  nor  standing 
in  awe  of  his  parents;  that  so  indeed  he  may  be  absolutely 
free?  The  foreigner,  in  such  a state,  is  equal  to  the  denizen, 
and  the  denizen  to  the  citizen.  The  teacher  fears  and  flatters 
his  scholars,  and  the  scholars  despise  their  preceptors  and 
schoolmasters.  The  young  set  themselves  upon  an  equality 
with  those  advanced  in  years,  and  the  old  and  the  young  re- 
semble and  rival  each  other  in  their  amusements,  their  words 
and  their  actions.  The  liberty  of  the  populace  is  extreme: 


PLATO  ON  TYRANNY. 


42T 


even  the  bondsmen  are  no  less  free  than  those  who  purchase 
them;  and  the  women  are  on  a perfect  equality  with  their  hus- 
bands. At  length  the  citizens  become  so  fastidious,  and  so 
intolerant  of  authority,  that  they  despise  all  laws,  written  as 
well  as  traditional,  lest  any  one  should  by  their  means  rule  over 
them.  This,  my  friends,  is  the  government  apparently  so  ex- 
cellent and  beautiful,  from  which  it  appears  to  me  that  tyranny 
originates.  The  democracy  is,  in  fact,  enslaved  by  its  own 
excessive  licentiousness: — for  excesses  of  every  kind  are  wont 
to  occasion  their  contraries.  Thus  too  much  freedom  seems 
to  be  changed  into  excessive  slavery.  Wherefore  I say  that 
out  of  no  other  republic  doth  tyranny  so  often  arise  as  out  of 
democracy:  from  extreme  liberty,  the  most  grievous  and  sa- 
vage slavery  springs.  The  idle  and  profligate,  who  are  bold 
and  enterprising,  are  the  ruin  of  such  a state,  for  they  are  ge- 
nerally the  ruling  party  in  it;  and  they  say  and  do  severe  and 
daring  things.  Some  of  them  frequent  the  tribunals  of  justice 
and  speak  there,  and  will  allow  no  one  to  direct  in  them  but 
themselves.  All  things  in  this  republic,  with  few  exceptions^ 
are  administered  by  them.  But  another  party  is  soon  distin- 
guished; the  industrious,  the  polite,  and  the  opulent.  These 
will  be  squeezed  and  pillaged  by  the  other;  for  the  rich  are 
the  pasture  of  the  drones  of  this  hive.  And  as  for  those  who  mind 
their  own  affairs  and  meddle  not  much  with  any  others,  they 
form  a third  or  middle  party,  and  are  often  numerous  and  in- 
fluential in  the  general  assembly  of  the  state.  The  rich  who 
are  plundered,  or  in  danger  of  being  so,  are  obliged  to  defend 
themselves  against  the  popular  party  by  every  means  in  their 
power.  They  are  naturally  led  to  wish  for  a change  of  govern- 
ment from  the  democratic  to  the  oligarchic  form.  A violent 
opposition  is  made  by  the  people  and  their  partisans;  and 
thence  accusations,  lawsuits,  and  mutual  contentions  arise. 
In  such  circumstances  the  people  are  wont  to  set  up  some  one 
as  their  champion  and  defender,  and  to  support  and  cherish 
him,  in  order  that  he  may  powerfully  and  effectually  maintain 
their  cause.  This  is  the  root  of  a tyranny.  What  theji  is  the 


428 


ORIGINAL. 


beginning  of  the  change  from  a lawful  chief-magistrate  into  a 
tyrant?  The  fable  relates,  that  whoever  tasted  of  the  human 
entrails,  which  were  mixed  with  those  of  the  other  sacrifices 
in  the  temple  of  Lycaean  Jupiter,  (to  whom  was  dedicated  the 
wolf  in  Arcadia)  immediately  became  a wolf.  In  the  same 
manner,  he  who,  becoming  the  ruler  of  an  enslaved  multitude, 
abstains  not  from  kindred  blood,  but,  as  tyrants  are  wont,  un- 
justly accuses  others  of  pretended  crimes,  and  stains  himself 
with  cruel  slaughter,  tasting  with  impure  tongue  and  unhallow- 
ed mouth  the  blood  of  his  neighbour,  and  banishes  some  and 
murders  others,  and  abolishes  debts  and  distributes  plundered 
lands — must  not  such  a man,  of  necessity,  be  either  killed  by 
his  enemies,  or  exercise  great  tyranny,  and  from  a man  become 
a wolf?  And  if  the  people  are  unable  to  expel  him  or  cause 
him  to  be  put  to  death  by  a public  accusation,  they  will  con- 
spire to  kill  him  privately.  Hence  it  happens,  that  all  who 
have  mounted  up  to  tyranny  have  demanded  guards  for  their 
persons. 

Let  us  now  consider  the  condition  with  respect  to  happi- 
ness of  the  tyrant  himself,  and  of  the  state  in  which  such  a man 
arises.  At  first,  indeed,  he  smiles  upon  and  salutes  every  one 
he  meets,  and  declares  that  he  is  ao  tyrant,  and  promises  many 
things,  and  frees  from  debts,  and  distributes  lands  to  the  peo- 
ple and  to  his  partisans,  and  affects  to  be  good-natured  and 
mild  to  all.  But  when  he  shall  have  reconciled  some  of  his 
enemies  and  destroyed  others,  and  that  tranquillity  is  esta- 
blished, he  will  immediately  excite  some  war,  in  order  that 
the  people  may  stand  in  need  of  a leader,  and  that  such  of  them 
as  may  have  been  impoverished  and  are  destitute,  may  be  thus 
urged  and  enabled  to  gain  their  daily  subsistence,  and  be  there- 
by less  ready  or  likely  to  meditate  plots  against  him.  And  if 
he  suspect  that  any  of  them,  who  are  of  free  and  bold  spirits, 
will  not  allow  him  to  govern,  to  have  some  pretext  for  destroy- 
ing them,  he  exposes  them  to  the  enemy.  For  these  causes, 
it  is  necessary  for  a tyrant  to  be  always  stirring  up  new  wars. 
But  this  must  render  him  odious  to  his  citizens.  Some  of  these 


rLATO  ON  TYRANNY. 


429 


who  have  been  advanced  along  with  him,  and  who  partake  of 
his  power — such  of  them,  at  least,  as  are  of  manly  spirits — 
will,  among  themselves  and  even  with  him,  condemn  these 
proceedings.  It  will  behove  the  tyrant  to  cut  off  all  those 
persons  if  he  mean  to  reign  securely,  till  he  leave  no  one,  ei- 
ther friend  or  foe,  of  any  importance  in  the  state.  He  must, 
therefore,  strictly  observe  who  is  courageous,  who  is  magna- 
nimous, who  wise  and  who  rich:  for  such  is  his  hard  fortune, 
that  whether  he  wills  it  or  not,  he  is  under  a necessi  y of  being 
an  enemy  to  all  these,  and  to  lay  snares  until  he  clear  the  state 
of  them.  In  a dire  necessity  truly  is  he  bound;  that  he  must 
either  live  with  many  wicked  men  and  be  hated  by  them,  or 
not  live  at  all.  And  the  more  he  is  hated  by  his  citizens  or 
subjects,  shall  he  not  want  a greater  number  of  guards  for  his 
defence?  And  whom  shall  he  employ?  The  sordid,  the  ser- 
vile, and  the  worthless;  for  good  men  hate  and  fly  from  him. — 
Euripides,  and  other  poets,  commend  tyranny  as  an  excellent 
government,  and  say  much  in  praise  of  the  wisdom  of  tyrants; 
for  which  reason  those  writers  (as  they  loo  are  wise)  will  par- 
don us,  and  those  who  wish  to  administer  public  affairs  after 
our  manner,  for  not  admitting  such  panegyrists  of  tyranny 
into  our  republic.  Let  them  go  about  among  other  states  and 
offer  for  sale  their  fine,  magnificent  and  persuasive  words,  and 
endeavour  for  the  sake  of  the  honours  and  rewards  they  receive 
from  tyrants,  to  seduce  republics  into  tyranny. — But  to  return 
to  our  subject;  Let  us  now  mention  in  what  manner  the  tyrant 
can  support  his  army,  so  numerous,  so  splendid  and  multiform. 
If  there  be  in  the  state  any  property  consecrated  to  religious 
purposes,  he  will,  in  the  first  place,  seize  and  sell  that,  and 
spend  what  it  produceth.  He  will  next  require  from  the  peo- 
ple some  light  tax  or  tribute:  and  when  these  resources  fail, 
he  and  his  household  companions,  and  his  associates,  and  his 
harlots,  must  be  maintained  wholly  by  the  people  out  of  their 
paternal  inheritance.  Those  who  have  begotten  the  tyrant 
must  nourish  him  and  his.  But  the  enraged  multitude,  who 
s>et  him  up,  will  say  that  it  is  not  just  that  the  adult  offspring 


<)RIGINAL. 


450 

should  be  maintained  by  the  parent;  that  they  did  not  make 
him  for  this  purpose  to  be  the  servants  of  his  servants,  and  to 
maintain  him  and  them  with  all  the  tumultuary  train  of  his 
attendants  and  parasites;  but  in  order  to  be  liberated  by  him 
from  the  dominion  of  the  rich.  And  now  they  will  command 
him  and  his  friends  to  depart  from  the  state,  in  the  same  man- 
ner that  a father  would  turn  out  of  doors  a prodigal  son  and 
his  drunken  companions.  Then  at  length,  by  Jupiter,  will 
this  people  know  what  beasts  they  are  themselves,  and  what 
a beast  they  have  generated,  and  bred  up,  and  delighted  in. 
Their  attempt  to  drive  him  out  will  be  vain,  for  he  is  now  too 
strong  for  them.  The  tyrant  with  parricidal  arms  will  over- 
power his  country:  so  that  this  people,  so  impatient  of  the 
government  of  freemen,  instead  of  the  excessive  and  unseason- ^ 
able  liberty  they  desired,  must  submit  to  the  most  rigorous  and 
grievous  bondage. 

The  tyrant  himself  remains  to  be  considered,  what  kind 
of  man  he  is,  how'  his  character  is  formed,  and  whether  he 
leads  a miserable  or  a happy  life.  Let  us  first  consider 
the  nature  of  the  desires  of  man. — Of  those  desires  which 
are  not  necessary,  some,  it  appears  to  me,  are  unlawful. 
These  indeed  spring  up  in  every  one;  but  being  corrected  by 
reason,  by  the  laws,  and  by  the  better  desires,  they  either 
forsake  some  men  altogether,  or  are  so  repressed,  as  to  ap- 
pear rarely,  and  to  become  feeble.  Such  are  the  desires 
which  are  oftenest  excited  in  sleep,  when  the  rational  part  of 
the  soul  is  at  rest,  and  the  part  which  is  brutal  and  savage, 
being  intoxicated  with  liquor  and  loaded  with  food,  exults  im- 
moderately. It  then  dares  to  do  every  thing,  being  void  of  all 
reason  and  discretion:  it  will  commit  whatever  is  impudent, 
rash,  impure,  and  atrocious;  and  scruples  not  at  any  crime,  or 
any  manner  of  depravity,  however  hideous.  But  he  who  is 
in  good  health,  and  lives  with  temperance  and  moderation, 
and  retires  to  rest,  having  stirred  up  the  rational  part  of  his 
soul,  and  filled  it  with  good  thoughts,  and  feasted  it  with 
choice  reasonings; — and  having  allowed  the  concupiscible 


PLATO  ON  TYRANNY^ 


431 


part  of  the  soul  (which  requires  the  nourishment  of  pleasures) 
neither  to  be  starved  nor  glutted,  so  that  it  may  be  quiet,  and 
give  no  disturbance  by  its  wants  or  its  satiety;  and  having 
likewise  restrained  and  soothed  the  irascible  part  of  the  mind, 
that  it  be  not  disturbed  by  transports  of  anger;  such  a person 
having  thus  composed  the  two  unadvised  parts  of  the  soul,  in 
order  that  the  third,  or  rational  part,  wherein  wisdom  resides, 
may  shine  forth  unclouded,  shall  in  this  manner  take  rest:  he 
will  enjoy  tranquillity,  and  the  visions  of  his  sleep  will  resem- 
ble truth. — There  is,  in  fact,  in  every  one,  even  in  those  who 
appear  among  men  the  most  moderate,  a species  of  desires, 
terrible,  savage,  and  iniquitous. 

Suppose  now  a person  educated  in  corrupt  manners,  and 
drawn  into  all  kinds  of  licentiousness  and  flagitiousness — 
which  is  termed,  however,  by  those  who  seduce  him,  the  most 
complete  liberty:  when  those  corrupters  have  no  hopes  of 
retaining  him  in  their  power  any  other  way,  they  excite  in 
him  certain  furious  lusts,  and  by  their  odours,  and  perfumes, 
and  garlands,  and  wines,  and  all  the  various  contrivances  and 
machinations  which  such  dissolute  persons  are  wont  to  em- 
ploy, they  feed  his  pleasures,  and  add  stings  to  his  desires. 
Then,  indeed,  his  whole  soul  rages  and  burns  with  madness. 
Being  thus  stimulated  and  surrounded  with  such  companions, 
if  any  moderate  desires,  or  any  modest  sentiments  or  opinions 
should  obtrude  themselves  upon  him,  he  immediately  destroys 
or  expels  them,  until  he  be  entirely  void  of  all  temperance, 
and  be  filled  with  new  phrenzy.  Thus  it  is  that  a tyrannical  man 
originates.  Of  old  it  was  said,  that  love  is  a tyrant;  and  hath  not 
adrunken  man,  likewise,  a tyrannical  disposition?  He  is  furious 
and  beside  himself,  and  endeavours  and  hopes  to  govern  not 
only  men,  but  even  the  immortal  gods.  The  tyrannical  man, 
most  excellent  friends,  becomes  so  completely,  when,  either  from 
his  natural  temper,  or  his  pursuits,  or  from  both,  he  becomes 
melancholy,  or  a drunkard,  or  violently  in  love. — But  in  what 
manner  does  he  live?  In  the  midst  of  feastings,  and  revellings, 
and  banquets  and  harlots,  and  all  such  things  as  may  be  ex- 


432 


ORIGlIvAL* 


pected  to  surround  those  whose  souls  are  governed  by  tyrant 
lusts.  And  every  day  and  night  do  there  spring  forth  in  them 
most  vehement  desires,  indigent  of  many  things.  If  they  have 
any  yearly  revenue,  it  is  soon  expended,  and  then  they  bor- 
row on  usury,  and  dissipate  their  paternal  inheritance.  And  V 
when  all  things  fail  them,  when  their  many  and  ardent  desires, 
nestling  in  the  mind,  shall  give  frequent  and  powerful  cries,  ■ 
and  sting  and  goad  them,  they  will  endeavour  to  find  out  if 
any  one  possess  any  thing  which  they  may  acquire  by  deceit,  V 
or  seize  by  violence.  They  are  compelled,  therefore,  to  | 
plunder  from  every  quarter,  or  be  tormented  with  great  ago-  * 
nies:  and  as  with  such  a man  his  new  pleasures  predominate 
over  his  ancient  ones,  and  usurp  what  belonged  to  them, 
shall  he  not,  in  the  same  manner,  deem  it  right  that  he  may 
have  more  than  his  parents?  and  if  he  hath  spent  his  own ' t 
property,  that  he  may  encroach  upon  theirs?  If  they  will  not  | 
permit  him  to  do  so,  will  he  not  cheat  or  steal  from  them?  % 
And  if  he  is  not  able  to  do  either,  will  he  not  use  rapine  and  j 
violence?  His  desires  loosed  from  all  control,  will  tyran-  1 
nise  over  him:  such  as  he  rarely  was  when  asleep,  will  he  I 
now  always  be  when  awake,  and  from  no  impious  murder,  or 
horrid  deed  of  any  kind,  will  he  abstain.  But  that  tyrannical  \ 
lust  within  him,  having  unbounded  license,  shall  urge  him  on 
rashly  to  every  wickedness,  whereby  he  may  support  himself, 
and  the  vile  rout  of  his  companions.  If  there  be  but  a few  | 
of  such  men  in  the  state,  they  will  serve  as  guards  to  the  tyrant,  5^ 
or  assist  him,  for  hire,  in  his  wars.  But  if  there  be  no  war,  | 
and  that  they  remain  at  home,  they  commit  many  and  griev-  I 
ous  mischiefs.  They  steal,  rob,  break  open  houses,  rifle  1 
temples,  make  free-men  slaves,  and  sometimes  become  accu- 
sers and  informers,  and  give  false  testimony,  and  corrupt  the 
judges  with  bribes.  All  these  evils,  great  as  they  are,  bear 
no  comparison  to  those  which  the  wretched  state  endures  from 
the  tyrant  himself  and  his  tyranny.  | 

Tyrants  are  rendered  wicked  and  miserable  by  the  com-  A 
pany  they  keep,  conversing  only  with  their  minions  and  flatter-  2 


PLATO  ON  TYRANNY. 


' 43a 


ers,  who  arc  ever  ready  to  administer  to  them  obsequiously  in 
every  thing.  These  at  first  assume  the  appearance  of  his 
friends,  but  after  they  have  gained  their  purposes,  they  be- 
come his  enemies.  Liberty  or  true  friendship,  the  tyrannical 
disposition  never  tastes.  We  may  then  surely  call  the  tyrant 
faithless  and  unjust;  and  on  the  whole  conclude  that  he  is  the 
worst  and  most  miserable  of  men.  The  longer  he  exercises 
tyranny,  the  more  completely  wicked  and*  miserable  he  will 
become.  The  tyrant  himself  will  in  these  respects  very  much 
resemble  the  state  which  he  oppresses.  The  relations  of  both 
to  virtue  and  happiness  are  similar.  And  let  us  not,  my 
friends,  be  deceived  by  the  specious  appearance  of  such  a 
state,  nor  be  struck  with  admiration,  whilst  we  regard  the 
tyrant  alone,  or  those  few  who  share  with  him  the  supreme 
power.  We  should  go  through  the  state,  and  view  it  with 
our  own  eyes  minutely,  in  order  to  form  our  judgment  of  it. 
We  should  investigate  the  mind  and  manners  of  the  tyrant,  and 
penetrate  into  the  very  interior  of  his  soul,  and  not  like  chil- 
dren, beholding  the  outside  merely,  suffer  ourselves  to  be 
astounded  at  the  sight  of  tyrannical  pomp. — The  state  is 
enslaved  in  the  greatest  degree:  and  yet  ^ve  see  in  it  some 
who  are  the  masters,  (the  worst  part  of  the  community,)  and 
others  called  freemen,  who  obey.  But  the  whole  of  it,  in 
general,  and  chiefly  the  most  excellent  part,  is  disgracefully 
and  miserably  slavish.  In  the  same  manner,  the  soul  of  the 
tyrant  is  abject  and  servile;  those  parts  of  it  which  are  the  no- 
blest, being  enslaved,  whilst  that  small  part  of  it  which  is  most 
wicked  and  frantic,  is  the  ruler.  A soul  thus  tyrannized  over 
is  always  goaded  violently  by  some  stinging  passion:  it  is 
indigent,  craving,  and  insatiable,  and  filled  with  tumult,  per- 
turbation, and  remorse.  There  will  not  be  more  lamentations, 
and  groans,  and  wailings,  and  torments,  in  any  enslaved  city, 
than  in  the  soul  of  the  tyrant,  who  madly  rages  with  his  desires 
and  his  lusts.  He  is  by  far  the  most  wretched  of  all  men,  a's 
a tyranny  is  the  most  wretched  of  all  governments. 

VOL*  VII. 


ORIGINAL. 


Private  men  who  are  rich  and  have  many  slaves,  have 
some  resemblance  to  the  tyrants  I have  described.  Like 
them  they  rule  over  many.  But  there  is  this  diftcrence  between 
them:  the  former  live  securely,  because  each  of  them  is  pro- 
tected by  the  whole  state.  But  if  some  god  should  take  one 
of  them  who  had  tifty  slaves,  or  upwards,  out  of  the  state,  and 
establish  him,  together  with  his  wife  and  children,  and  all  his 
property  and  slaves,  in  the  midst  of  a desert,  where  there  was 
no  freeman  to  afford  him  assistance;  in  what  fear  would  he 
not  be,  lest-his  slaves  should  rise  upon  him,  and  destroy  him- 
self and  his  family?  Would  he  not  be  obliged  to  flatter  some 
of  those  slaves,  and  set  them  at  liberty,  and  promise  them 
niany  things?  He  must  even  do  so,  or  soon  perish.  And  if 
many  other  freemen,  who  had  no  slaves  themselves,  and  who 
could  not  endure  that  any  one  should  be  the  absolute  master 
of  another,  should  settle  around  him,  his  condition  would  then 
be  still  worse.  He  would  be  enclosed  and  encompassed  with 
enemies.  In  such  a prison-house,  is  the  tyrant  of  whom  we 
have  been  speaking  bound,  disturbed  always  with  anxiety  and 
terror,  He  alone,  of  all  in  his  state,  is  unable  to  go  abroad, 
or  to  see  such  things  as  other  men  behold;  dwelling  in  fear 
within  the  walls  of  his  palace,  and  envying  his  citizens  the 
freedom  and  pleasures  they  enjoy.  Most  true  it  is  then, 
though  many  imagine  otherwise,  that  the  complete  tyrant  is  a 
complete  slave;  and  a flatterer  of  the  most  wicked  men.  His 
desires,  which  are  so  ravenous,  are  never  satisfied;  but  he  is 
always  in  want  of  many  things,  and  would  appear  poor  indeed 
to  any  one  who  could  penetrate  into  his  mind.  He  is  dis- 
tracted with  perpetual  fear,  and  a prey  to  solicitude,  through 
the  whole  of  his  life.  From  all  these  things  he  must  neces- 
sarily become  envious,  faithless,  unjust,  and  unholy,  and  a sink 
and  fomenter  of  all  kind  of  wickedness, — and  be  very  mise- 
rable himself,  and  render  all  those  who  adhere  to  him  equally 
\\Tetched. 


SELECT  REVIEW. 


A Journey  through  Albania^  and  other  provinces  of  Turkey  in 

Europe  and  Asia,  to  Constantinople,  during  the  years  1809 

a?2c/ 1810.  By  J.  C,  Hohhouse.  ^vols,  4to, 

[From  the  Monthly  Review,] 

We  have  in  these  volumes  another  example  of  the  effect  of 
the  late  system  of  exclusion  from  France  and  Italy,  in  direct- 
ing the  researches  of  our  countrymen  to  the  shores  of  Greece. 
Mr.  Hobhouse  took  an  extensive  survey  of  the  classic  territo- 
ry and  travelled  in  company  with  lord  Byron;  whose  prolific 
muse  has  of  late  rendered  our  fair  countrywomen  so  familiar 
with  the  manners  and  scenery  of  the  Levant.  These  consi- 
derations entitle  his  journal  to  a notice  of  some  length,  not- 
withstanding the  frequency  of  late  publications  on  the  subject, 
and  the  promise  of  a comprehensive  performance  of  a similar 
description  under  the  superintendance  of  Mr.  Walpole. — The 
leading  objects  of  Mr.  H.’s  observations  were  Albania,  Attica, 
the  Troad,  and  Constantinople,  to  each  of  which  we  shall  give 
attention  in  its  turn;  bestowing,  however,  a larger  portion  of 
our  space  on  the  first-mentioned  articles,  the  Troad  having 
already  been  a topic  of  ample  discussion,  and  the  wonders 
of  Constantinople  having  been  lately  brought  before  our  read- 
ers in  our  notice  of  Dr.  Clarke’s  Travels. 

Mr.  Hobhouse’s  narrative  begins  in  September  1809,  at 
wdiich  time  lord  Byron  and  he  set  sail  from  Malta,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  shores  of  Greece.  Being  on  board  a brig  of  war, 
which  convoyed  a fleet  of  small  merchantmen  to  Patras,  the 
northwest  part  of  the  Peloponnesus  was  the  portion  of  Grecian 
territory  that  first  attracted  their  observation.  Cephalonia 
appeared  a chain  of  high  rocks  to  the  north,  and  Zante  a level 
island  to  the  south;  wdiile,  in  front,  their  attention  was  fixed 
on  the  high  mountains  of  Albania  and  the  Morea;  and  the 
freshness  of  the  green  plantations  of  currant-trees  afforded  a 
delightful  relief  to  eyes  accustomed  to  the  white  waste  of 
Malta.  After  having  passed  near  Ithaca,  and  viewed,  in  their 
progress  northward,  the  far-famed  Leucadian  precipice,  the 
voyagers  anchored  off  Prevesa,  a southern  port  in  Albania, 
and  commenced  their  tour  on  the  main-land.  An  apology  is 
made  in  limine  (pp.  5,  6,  7.)  fora  want  of  precision  in  explain- 
ing the  course  of  rivers,  the  direction  of  the  mountains,  and 
the  relative  position  of  the  ancient  and  modern  cities  of  Epi- 


436 


Select  review. 


rus.  That  country  was  never  accurately  described  by  either 
the  Greek  or  Roman  writers,  and  its  frequent  change  of  mas- 
ters led  unavoidably  to  a perplexing  change  of  names.  Strabo 
avows  his  inability  to  specify  the  limits  of  the  different  Epi- 
rote tribes;  and  Ptolemy  takes  perhaps  an  unauthorized  liber- 
ty, when  he  includes  Acarnania  and  Amphilochia  within  the 
boundary  of  Epirus.  M.  D’Anville  frankly  confessed  his  want 
of  information  on  this  topic;  and  Mr.  Gibbon  declared  that  we 
are  nearly  as  much  acquainted  with  the  nature  of  the  territo- 
ry in  question  as  with  the  wilds  of  North  America.  To  expect 
such  a thing  as  a map  among  the  Turks  would  be  idle,  as  they 
are  accustomed  to  ridicule  all  statistical  calculations. 

Having  described  Prevesa,  and  the  adjacent  ruins  of  Nico- 
polis,  Mr.  H.  proceeds  to  give  an  account  of  the  town  of  Arta, 
situated  inland  near  the  gulf  of  that  name.  It  was  a place  of 
consequence  until  Ali  Pacha  made  loannina  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment and  ruled  Arta  by  a dependent  under  the  title  of  aga. 
Mr.  H.  does  not  incline  to  the  opinion  that  Arta  is  the  ancient 
Ambracia,  or  that  the  river  on  which  it  stands  is  the  ancient 
Aracthos. — Holding  a northward  course  from  Arta,  the  tra- 
vellers reached,  on  the  second  day.  loannina,  a city  containing 
not  fewer  than  40,000  inhabitants,  and  standing  on  the  western 
bank  of  the  lake  to  which  M.  Pouqueville  would  give  the  name 
of  Acherusian. 

‘ The  houses  are,  many  of  them,  large  and  well-built,  contain- 
ing a court-yard,  and  having  warehouses  or  stables  on  the  ground, 
with  an  open  gallery  and  the  apartments  of  the  family  above.  A 
flight  of  wooden  steps  under  cover  of  the  pent  of  the  gallery  con- 
nects the  under  and  upper  part  of  the  houses.  Though  they  have 
but  a gloomy  appearance  from  the  street,  having  the  windows  ve- 
ry small,  and  latticed  with  cross  bars  of  wood,  and  presenting  the 
inhospitable  show  of  large  folding  doors,  big  enough  to  admit  the 
horses  and  cattle  of  the  family,  but  never  left  open,  yet  the  yard, 
which  is  often  furnished  with  orange  and  lemon  trees,  and  in  the 
best  houses  communicates  with  a garden,  makes  them  very  lively 
from  within,  and  the  galleries  are  sufficiently  extensive  to  allow  a 
scope  for  walking  in  rainy  weather. 

‘ The  Bazar,  or  principal  street,  inhabited  by  the  tradesmen, 
is  well  furnished,  and  has  a showy  appearance.  The  Bizestein, 
or  covered  B^izar  is  of  considerable  size,  and  would  put  you  in 
mind,  as  may  be  observed  of  ali  these  places,  of  Exeter-’Change.* 

‘ The  CbVistains  of  loannina,  though  inhabiting  a part  of  Alba- 
nia, ahd  governed  by  Albanian  masters,  call  themselves  Greeks, 
as  do  the  inhabitants  of  Arta,  Prevesa,  and  even  of  many  villages 
higher  up  the  country:  they  neither  wear  the  Albanian  dress,  nor 
speak  the  Albanian  language,  and  they  partake  also  in  every  par- 


HOBIIOUSe’s  journey  through  ALBANIA. 


437 


ticular  of  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  Greeks  of  the  Morea, 
Roumelia,  and  the  other  christain  parts  of  Turkey  in  Europe  and 
Asia. — They  appear  a distinct  race  from  the  inhabitants  of  the 
mountains,  and  perhaps  are  sprung  from  ancient  settlers,  who  may 
have  retired,  from  time  to  time,  before  the  successive  conquerors 
of  Peloponnesus  and  Greece,  into  a country  where,  although  en- 
slaved, they  were  loss  exposed  to  perpetual  ravages  and  to  a 
frequent  change  of  masters. — 

‘ The  Greeks  of  loannina  are,  with  the  exception  of  the  priests, 
and  of  some  few  who  are  in  the  employments  of  the  Pasha,  all 
engaged  in  trade;  and  many  of  the  better  sort  pass  three  or  four 
years  in  the  merchant-houses  of  Trieste,  Genoa,  Leghorn,  V enice, 
and  Vienna,  which  in  addition  to  the  education  they  receive  in  the 
schools  of  their  own  city,  where  they  may  learn  French  and  Ita- 
lian, gives  them  a competent  knowledge  of  the  most  diffused 
modern  languages,  and  adds  also  to  the  ease  and  urbanity  of 
their  address. — 

‘ There  is  a fair  which  lasts  a fortnight,  held  once  a year  on  the 
plain,  a mile  and  half  to  the  south-east  of  the  city,  and  during  this 
time  all  the  tradesmen  are  obliged  to  leave  their  shops  in  the  Ba- 
zar and  Bizestein,  which  are  shut,  and  to  set  up  booths  in  the  plain. 
This  the  vizier  finds  a very  good  method  of  getting  at  some  know- 
ledge of  the  actual  property  of  his  subjects.  The  fair  was  held 
during  our  residence  in  the  city,  and  opened  on  the  8th  of  Octo- 
ber, when  we  passed  through  it  on  horseback.* — 

‘ Cloth  of  French  and  German  manufacture  is  sent  from  Leip- 
sig.  This  is  the  chief  article  of  importation,  as  it  is  from  this  fair 
that  all  the  richer  Greeks  and  Turks,  not  only  in  Albania  but  in 
great  part  of  Roumelia  and  in  the  Morea,  supply  themselves  with 
the  loose  robes  and  pelisses  of  their  winter  dress.  English  cloth 
is  in  the  highest  estimation,  but  seldom  to  be  met  with  here,  or 
even  at  Smyrna  and  Constantinople,  on  account  of  its  great  price. 
The  best  of  the  cloth  sold  at  loannina  was  not  equal  to  the  worst 
of  that  manufactured  in  England,  and  was  of  a coarse  thin  texture, 
and  very  badly  dyed.  ' 

‘ The  articles  of  exportation  are,  oil,  wool,  corn,  and  tobacco, 
for  the  ports  of  the  Adriatic  and  Naples;  and,  for  inland  circula- 
lation  through  Albania  and  Roumelia,  spun  cottons  from  the  plains 
of  Triccala,  stocks  of  guns  and  pistols  mounted  in  chased  silver, 
both  plain  and  gilt,  and  also  embroidered  velvets,  stulfs,  and  cloths, 
which  are  here  better  wrought  than  in  any  other  part  of  Turkey  in 
Europe. 

‘ Large  flocks  of  sheep  and  goats,  and  droves  of  cattle  and  horses, 
are  collected  from  the  hills  both  of  the  Lower  and  Upper  Alba- 
nia for  the  fair.  Of  these,  all  but  the  horses,  which  are  disper- 
sed in  the  country,  are  sold  into  the  Ionian  islands. 

From  loannina,  the  course  of  the  travellers  was  directed 
northwards  to  the  town  of  Tepellene;  where  tliey  found  Ali 


438 


SELECT  REVIEW. 


Pacha  engaged  in  the  bustle  of  military  movements,  and  about  ' 
to  extend  his  territory  by  incorporating  into  it  the  possessions 
of  a neighbouring  prince.  During  their  journey,  they  had  ‘c 

ample  opportunity  of  observing  that  the  Albanians  devolve  r 

on  their  women  a number  of  toilsome  and  degrading  offices.  | 

The  aged  matron  and  the  tender  maiden  arc  seen  fetching  ^ 

water  from  the  distant  fountain,  and  labouring  under  the  } 

weight  of  their  large  pitchers,  one  of  which  they  carry  on  the  | 

head,  the  other  in  the  hand. — On  arriving  at  head-quarters,  j 

the  travellers  were  received  with  attention  by  the  officers  of  J 

the  pacha,  and  were  formally  introduced  to  him  on  the  next  '' 

day. 

‘ The  vizier  was  a short  man,  about  five  feet  five  inches  in 
height,  and  very  fat.  He  had  a very  pleasing  face,  fair  and  round, 
with  blue  quick  eyes,  not  at  all  settled  in  a Turkish  gravity.  His 
beard  was  long  and  white,  and  such  a one  as  any  other  Turk  would 
have  been  proud  of;  though  he,  who  was  more  taken  up  with  his 
guests  than  himself,  did  not  continue  looking  at  it,  nor  smelling 
and  stroking  it,  as  is  usually  the  custom  of  his  countrymen,  to  fill 
up  the  pauses  of  conversation.  He  was  not  very  magnificently 
dressed,  except  that  his  high  turban,  composed  of  many  small  rolls, 
seemed  of  fine  gold  muslin,  and  his  attaghan,  or  long  dagger, 
w'as  studded  with  brilliants. 

‘ He  was  mightily  civil;  and  said  he  considered  us  as  his  chil- 
dren. He  showed  us  a mountain  howitzer,  which  was  lying  in 
his  apartment,  and  took  the  opportunity  of  telling  us  that  he  had 
several  large  cannon.  He  turned  round  two  or  three  times  to  look  t 

through  an  English  telescope,  and  at  last  handed  it  to  us  that  we  1 

might  look  at  a party  of  Turks  on  horseback  riding  along  the  banks  4 

of  the  river  towards  Tepellene.  He  then  said,  “ that  man  whom  ! 

you  see  on  the  road  is  the  chief  minister  of  my  enemy,  Ibrahim  ^ 

Pasha,  and  he  is  now  coming  over  to  me,  having  deserted  his  mas- 
ter to  take  the  stronger  side.”  He  addressed  this  with  a smile  to 
the  secretary,  desiring  him  to  interpret  it  to  us. 

‘ We  took  pipes,  coffee,  and  sweetmeats,  with  him;  but  he  did 
not  seem  so  particular  about  these  things  as  other  Turks  whom  | 

we  have  seen.  He  was  in  great  good  humour,  and  several  times  I 

laughed  aloud,  which  is  very  uncommon  in  a man  of  consequence;  5 

I never  saw  another  instance  of  it  in  Turkey. — I 

‘ There  are  no  common  topics  of  discourse  between  a Turkish  | 

vizier  and  a traveller,  which  can  discover  the  abilities  of  either  1 

party,  especially  as  these  conversations  are  always  in  the  form  of  J 

question  and  answer.  However,  a Frank  may  think  his  Turk  i 

above  the  common  run,  if  his  host  does  not  put  any  very  foolish  \ 

interrogatories  to  him,  and  Ali  did  not  ask  us  any  questions  that 
betrayed  his  ignorance.  His  liveliness  and  ease  gave  us  very  fa- 
vourable impressions  of  his  natural  capacity. 


1 


HOEnoUSE’s  JOURNEY  THROUGH  ALBANIA. 


439 


‘ In  the  evening  of  the  next  day  we  paid  the  vizier  another  visit, 
in  an  apartment  more  elegantly  furnished  than  the  one  with  the 
fountain.  Whilst  we  were  with  him,  a messenger  came  in  from 
“ Berat,’*  the  place  which  Ali’s  army  (of  about  five  thousand  men) 
was  then  besieging.  We  were  not  acquainted  with  the  contents 
of  a letter,  which  was  read  aloud,  until  a long  gun,  looking  like  a 
duck  gun,  was  brought  into  the  room;  and  then,  upon  one  of  us 
asking  the  secretary  if  there  were  many  wild  fowl  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood, he  answered,  yes;  but  that,  for  the  gun,  it  was  go- 
ing to  the  siege  of  Berat,  there  being  a want  of  ordnance  in  the 
vizier’s  army.  It  was  impossible  not  to  smile  at  this  w^ar  in  mi- 
niature.’— 

‘ He  asked  us,  what  had  made  us  travel  in  Albania?  We  told 
him  the  desire  of  seeing  so  great  a man  as  himself.  “ Ay,” 
returned  he,  “ did  you  ever  hear  of  me  in  England?”  We,  of 
course,  assured  him,  that  he  was  a very  common  subject  of  con- 
versation in  our  country;  and  he  seemed  by  no  means  inaccessible 
to  the  flattery.’ 

This  singular  character  was  at  that  time  about  sixty  years  of 
age;  and,  though  born  of  a family  of  some  consequence,  he 
owed  his  acquisition  of  power  altogether  to  his  own  exertions. 
Having  made  himself  master  first  of  one  village,  then  of  an- 
other, he  collected  together  a considerable  body  of  Albanians, 
whom  he  paid,  according  to  the  common  practice,  by  plunder. 
After  having  acted  for  many  years  as  one  of  those  independ- 
ent-freebooters, of  whom  so  many  are  to  be  found  in  the  Turk- 
ish empire,  he  at  last  obtained  money  enough  to  buy  an  infe- 
rior pachalik,  and  elevated  himself  by  the  progressive  opera- 
tion of  force  and  artifice  to  his  present  situation.  He  subse- 
quently contrived  to  obtain  pachaliks  for  both  his  sons;  one 
of  whom,  named  Veli,  is  pacha  of  the  Morea.  Unprincipled 
as  his  career  has  been,  he  has  succeeded  in  clearing  his  do- 
minions from  those  bands  of  robbers  who  formerly  laid  both 
inhabitants  and  travellers  under  an  indiscriminate  contribution: 
but  the  neighbouring  territory  continues  in  the  most  disturbed 
state.  His  regular  force  is  generally  about  eight  thousand 
men:  but,  as  every  Albanian  is  familiar  with  the  use  of  the  gun 
and  the  sabre,  and  firmly  attached  to  his  ruler,  any  attempt, 
on  the  part  of  a foreign  enemy,  to  conquer  the  country,  would 
be  extremely  hazardous.  Throughout  the  whole  of  this  ter- 
ritory, the  imperial  firman  is  little  respected,  -while  the  signa- 
ture of  the  pacha  commands  unlimited  obedience.  His  reve- 
nue arises  from  a number  of  villages,  which  are  considered  as 
his  own  property,  as  well  as  from  various  towns  and  districts 
v/hich  are  forced  to  pay  him  for  protection;  altogether,  it  ex- 
ceeds half  a million  sterling,  a sum  of  great  importance  in  that 
country. 


440 


SELECT  REVIEW. 


When  they  took  leave,  the  travellers  received  from  the  pacha 
a letter  to  his  officers  in  the  quarter  whither  they  intended  to 
proceed,  of  which  a fac-simile  is  inserted  towards  the  end  of 
the  work;  and,  as  the  running  hand  of  a modern  Greek  is  al* 
most  unintelligible  except  to  a practised  reader,  Mr.  H.  has 
given  (p.  1151.)  a copy  of  the  letter  in  the  usual  character, 
each  line  corresponding  with  the  fac-simile.  His  readers  will, 
no  doubt,  be  gratified  on  finding  such  an  approximation  to  the 
classic  language,  in  a composition  which  is  not  put  together 
with  care  in  the  closet,  but  which  expresses  the  current  dic- 
tion of  those  barbarians. 

With  respect  to  the  national  character  of  the  Albanians,  Mr. 
Hobhouse,  without  lanching  into  the  eftusions  of  Pouqueville, 
describes  them  as  men  of  great  spirit  and  activity.  Their  sta- 
ture is  of  the  middle  size,  their  chests  are  full  and  broad,  their 
eyes  lively,  and  their  posture  is  upright.  Their  women  are 
tall,  hardy,  and  not  ill  looking,  but  bear  in  their  countenance 
the  decisive  tokens  of  penury  and  hard  labour.  The  men  al- 
ways go  armed,  having  a y)istol  in  their  belt,  and  frequently  a 
curved  sabre  at  their  side.  The  peasants  carry  a long  gun  when 
tending  their  flocks,  and  often  when  tilling  their  land,  so  much 
have  the  unsettled  habits  of  the  country  impressed  on  the  whole 
population  the  necessity  of  defence.  The  Albanian  dress,  when 
new  and  clean,  is  not  inelegant,  but  the  clothes  commonly  worn 
are  of  a coarse  and  dirty  appearance.  Their  dw'ellings  have 
generally  two  apartments,  one  of  which  is  the  place  of  depo- 
siting their  maize  and  grapes.  In  point  of  diet,  the  people  are 
usually  temperate,  and  save  their  money  with  a view  to  the 
purchase  of  arms  and  trinkets. 

On  leaving  Albania,  Mr.  H.  proceeded,  under  the  protection 
of  a guard,  through  the  ancient  Acarnania,  and  passed  the 
Achelous,  (now  the  Aspro,)  the  largest  of  the  Grecian  rivers. 
After  having  crossed  over  to  Patras,  he  and  his  noble  friend  re- 
turned to  the  northern  side  of  the  gulf,  and  held  their  course 
by  Parnassus  to  Livadia,Chaeronaea.Orchomenos,  and  Thebes; 
visiting,  by  the  way,  the  ruins  of  Delphi  and  the  Castalian 
spring.  The  places  honoured  with  these  high-sounding  names 
afford,  however,  in  their  present  condition,  very  little  to  ani- 
mate the  enthusiasm  of  an  admirer  of  the  classics.  The  towns 
and  villages  in  most  parts  of  Greece  are  insignificant  beyond 
description;  the  streams  are  mere  rivulets;  and  disappointment 
is  experienced  in  everything  except  in  the  beauty  of  some  parts 
of  the  scenery,  and  the  grandeur  of  others.  On  the  rugged 
surface  of  Delphi,  it  -was  in  vain  to  look  for  ground  fitted  for 
the  site  of  a^own  of  magnitude;  but  the  difficulty  of  access 


I 


‘hOBHOUSE’s  journey  through  ALBANIA. 


441 


I sufficiently  pointed  it  out  as  a safe  place  for  depositing  trea- 
i sures.  Though  Delphi  was  often  plundered,  yet,  when  due 
[ precautions  were  taken,  we  find  from  history  that  the  invaders, 
I whether  Persians  or  Gauls,  were  repulsed,  and  taught  to  reve- 
rence the  sanctity  of  the  spot.  One  only  of  the  master-pieces 
which  adorned  Delphi  is  now  in  preservation,  but  it  is  a relic  of 
the  highest  importance: 

‘ The  triple-twisted  serpentine  column  of  brass,  whose  three 
heads  supported  the  tripod  dedicated  by  the  Greeks,  after  the  bat- 
tle of  Plataea,  to  Apollo,  is  still  to  be  seen,  though  mutilated,  in 
the  spot  to  which  it  was  conveyed  from  Delphi  by  Constantine,  to 
adorn  the  hippodrome  of  his  new  capital.  The  column,  as  much 
of  it  as  is  seen  above  ground,  is  now  about  seven  feet  in  height,  and 
of  a proportionate  thickness.  It  is  hollow,  and  the  cavity  has  by 
the  Turks  been  filled  up  with  stones.* 

BcEotia  is  remarkably  destitute  of  ancient  remains,  and  the 
traveller  who  makes  a progress  through  it  wdll  find  little  on  the 
spot  to  assist  his  conjectures.  The  following  particulars  afford 
a striking  example  of  the  frailty  of  human  affairs  in  the  case  of 
the  city  which,  under  Epaminondas  and  Pelopidas,  exercised 
such  distinguished  influence  over  the  Grecian  community: 

‘ Thebes  has  been  in  a manner  blotted  out  of  the  page  of  histo- 
ry, since  the  last  battle  of  Chxronea  between  Sylla  and  Taxilus. 
In  the  time  of  Strabo  it  had  the  appearance  of  a village,  which  was 
the  case  with  all  the  other  Boeotian  cities,  except  Tanagra  and 
Thespiae.  Onchestus,  Haliartus,  Coronea,  and  other  towns,  once 
of  considerable  magnitude,  were  almost  in  ruins,  and  hastening 
fast  to  decay.  In  the  second  century,  the  whole  of  the  lower  town, 
except  the  temples,  had  fallen  to  the  ground,  and  the  citadel  alone, 
no  longer  called  Cadmea  but  Thebes,  now  continued  to  be  inha- 
bited. It  never  appears  to  have  recovered  its  importance  under 
the  emperors. — It  is  now  a very  poor  town,  containing  about  five 
hundred  houses,  mostly  of  wood,  and  inhabited  chiefly  by  Turks. 
It  has  two  mosks  and  four  churches.  We  slept  two  nights  in 
the  town,  and  were  lodged  in  the  house  of  a Greek  bishop.  There 
is  nothing  worthy  of  notice  in  this  place;  though  a public  clock, 
certainly  without  a rival  in  this  part  of  Turkey,  is  considered  by 
the  people  of  the  place  and  pointed  out  to  travellers  as  a great  cu- 
riosity.’— 

‘ 1 he  stream  of  the  Ismenus  has  been  much  diminished,  by  the 
means  taken  to  make  part  of  its  waters  flow  in  an  artificial  chan- 
nel, for  the  sake  of  turning  an  overshot-mill  about  a hundred  pa- 
ces below  the  fountain.  We  stepped  across  it  with  ease,  and, 
had  we  walked  through  it,  should  not  have  been  wet  above  the 
ankles.*— 

VAL.  VII. 


44i 


SELECT  REVIEW. 


‘ We  had  some  difficulty  in  procuring  horses  at  Thebes,  as  we 
were  not  provided  with  a travelling  firman  from  the  porte,  and 
as  we  had  now  left  the  dominions  of  our  patron  Ali,  and  were  in 
the  territory  of  Bekir,  pasha  of  the  Negroponte.  We  at  last, 
however,  accomplished  this  point,  and  set  out  late  in  the  day  for 
Athens. 

‘ The  road  took  us  across  the  rivulet  in  the  ravin,  and  near  the 
tepid  fountain,  which  we  left  to  the  right,  and  proceeded  for  two 
hours  over  a plain  to  the  south-east,  well  cultivated,  but  without  a 
singletree.  We  then  crossed  the  Asopus,  a small  stream,  at  a 
bridge  called  Metropolita,  in  the  site  nearly  of  Erythrae,  whence 
the  troops  of  Mardonius  were  encamped,  along  the  banks  of  the 
river,  as  far  as  Hysiae,  on  the  confines  of  the  Plataean  territory,  and 
near  which  the  Greek  forces  were  also  stationed  when  Masistius 
was  killed  by  the  Athenian  horse.  We  here  found  ourselves  at 
once  in  another  kind  of  country;  for  the  soil,  which  had  been  before 
rich  and  deep,  was  now  rocky  and  light,  and  we  began  to  scale  low 
stony  hills,  going  to  the  south-south-east  for  thee  hours.  We 
passed  a small  marshy  plain,  and  then  ascended  a zigzag  path  on 
a rock,  which  is  a low  ridge  of  Mount  Elatias,  or  Cithjeron.  When 
we  got  to  the  top  we  had  the  ruins  of  a small  tower  on  a crag  to 
our  left.  Descending  a little,  we  came  at  once  upon  a green  plain, 
about  four  miles  in  length  and  two  in  breadth,  running  from  west  to 
east.  On  entering  this  plain,  we  left  on  our  right  hand  a small  vil- 
lage, with  a church  of  some  size,  and  proceeded  eastward  for  an 
hour,  when  we  arrived  at  a most  miserable  and  half  deserted  vil- 
lage, called  Scourta. 

‘ Here  we  passed  our  Christmas  Eve,  in  the  worst  hovel  of  which 
we  had  ever  been  inmates.  The  cows  and  pigs  occupied  the  low- 
er part  of  the  chamber,  where  there  were  racks  and  mangers  and 
other  appurtenances  of  the  stable,  and  we  were  put  in  possession 
of  the  upper  quarter.  We  were  almost  suffocated  wdth  the  smoke, 
a common  calamity  in  Greek  cottages,  in  which  the  fire  is  gene- 
rally made  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  and  the  roof,  having  ho 
aperture,  was  covered  with  large  flakes  of  soot,  that  sometimes 
showered  down  upon  us  during  the  night.’ 

The  hardships  of  travelling,  how'ever,  are  amply  compensa- 
ted on  arriving  at  Athens,  where  a foreigner  discovers  an  agree- 
able change  in  the  aspect  of  all  around  him.  Personal  safety  is 
here  complete;  and  the  Turk  appears  to  lose  his  repulsive  look, 
and  to  assume  in  some  measure  the  character  of  humanity  and 
affability.  Lord  Byron  and  Mr.  H.  remained  between  two 
and  three  months  in  the  metropolis  of  Attica,  and  had  thus  an 
ample  opportunity  of  examining  the  remains  of  ancient  art 
which  exist  in  it  to  an  extent  that  is  really  surprising  after 
the  lapse  of  two  thousand  years.  Athens  stands  at  the  foot 
of  the  rock  of  the  citadel,  and  contains  about  1300  houses. 


HOBHOUSe’s  journey  through  ALBANIA.  443 

surrounded  by  a wall,  which,  as  it  comprehends  gardens  and 
corn-grounds,  is  nearly  three  miles  in  circuit.  The  houses  are 
small  and  badly  built;  while  the  streets,  notwithstanding  the 
Homeric  epithet  of  hpvayvtx^  are  all  narrow  and  irregular. 
Several  of  them  have  a raised  causeway  on  both  sides,  so 
broad  as  to  contract  the  middle  of  the  street  into  a kind  of 
dirty  gutter.  The  trade  of  Athens  consists  in  exporting  the 
produce  of  the  neighbouring  territory,  particularly  oil,  and 
receiving  corn  in  return,  with  manufactured  goods  from  Italy, 
and  of  late  years  from  England.  Several  families  of  Franks 
are  settled  here,  and  have  intermarried  with  the  Greeks;  and 
it  is  among  these  families  that  a stranger  will  find  the  most 
agreeable  society,  the  character  of  the  natives  falling  consi- 
derably below  the  impression  excited  by  a remembrance  of 
the  days  of  Themistocles  and  Aristides.  Though  the  op- 
pression of  the  Turkish  government  is  less  felt  here  than  in 
other  places,  great  irregularity  and  vexatious  exaction  still 
prevail: 

‘ The  murmurs  of  the  commonalty  have  frequently  broken  out 
into  open  complaints;  and  even  a complete  revolution,  involvings 
the  destruction  of  the  Archons,  and  an  establishment  of  a better  or- 
der of  things,  has  been  meditated  by  the  more  daring  and  ambitious 
amongst  the  oppressed.  An  unfortunate  malecontent,  who,  in 
fond  recollection  of  better  days,  has  given  to  his  three  sons  the 
names  of  Miltiades,  Themistocles,  and  Alcibiades,  talked  to  me  of 
this  glorious  project  (ro  kocXo  Tr^etyf^cc).  “ The  Turks,”  said  he, 
“ will  be  on  our  side  if  we  get  the  better;  but  alas!  the  influence  of 
money  is  all-powerful;  and  Demosthenes  himself,  were  he  alive, 
and  (like  me)  without  a para,  would  not  have  a single  listener.” 
He  added  besides,  that  their  priests,  a powerful  body,  would  es- 
pouse the  cause  of  their  Codja-bashees.’ — 

‘ Some  of  the  Athenians  are  fond  of  tracing  back  their  pedigree, 
which,  however,  acording  to  their  own  account,  they  are  unable  to 
do  beyond  the  Turkish  conquest.  The  name  Chalcocondyles 
was,  till  lately,  the  one  held  in  the  greatest  repute;  but  the  person 
who  at  present  professes  himself  to  be,  on  his  mother’s  side,  a de- 
scendant of  the  family,  has  not  assumed  the  appellation.  The  cha- 
racter of  the  modern  inhabitants  of  this  town  does  not  kink  high  a- 
mongst  their  countrymen;  and  the  proverb  which  is  to  be  seen  in 
Gibbon,  I heard  quoted  against  them  in  their  own  city — “ As  bad 
as  the  Turks  of  Negroponte,  the  Jews  of  Salonica,  and  the  Greeks 
of  Athens.”  A French  resident,  who  had  lived  amongst  them 
many  years,  talking  to  me  of  their  propensity  to  calumniate  and 
supplant  each  other,  concluded  with  this  lively  expression,  ‘‘  Be- 
lieve me,  my  dear  sir,  they  are  the  same  canaille  as  they  were  in 
the  days  of  Miltiades.” 


444 


SELECT  REVtEW. 


‘ We  were  not  amongst  them  long  enough  to  discover  any  very 
unamiable  traits  by  which  they  may  be  distinguished  from  other 
Greeks,  though  1 think  we  saw  in  them  a propensity  to  detraction 
and  intrigue.  Whatever  may  be  their  talents  this  way,  they  are 
now  chiefly  employed  in  debating  whether  the  French  or  English, 
nations  inhabiting  countries  unknown  to  their  ancestors,  shall  de- 
prive them  of  the  last  memorials  of  their  ancient  glory.  To  retain 
them  themselves  never,  1 believe,  is  an  object  of  their  wishes.* — 

‘ Until  within  a few  years  a journey  to  Athens  was  reckoned  a 
considerable  undertaking,  fraught  with  difflculties  and  dangers; 
and  at  a period  when  every  young  man  of  fortune,  in  France  and 
England,  considered  it  an  indispensable  part  of  his  education  to 
survey  the  monuments  of  ancient  art  remaining  in  Italy,  only  a 
few  desperate  scholars  and  artists  ventured  to  trust  themselves 
amongst  the  barbarians,  to  contemplate  the  ruins  of  Greece.* 

‘ But  these  terrors,  which  a person  who  has  been  on  the  spot 
cannot  conceive  could  ever  have  been  well-founded,  seem  at  last 
to  be  dispelled.  Attica  at  present  swarms  with  travellers,  and  se- 
veral of  our  fair  country-women  have  ascended  the  rocks  of  the 
Acropolis.  So  great,  indeed,  has  been  the  increase  of  visitants, 
that  the  city,  according  to  a scheme  formed  by  a Greek,  who  was 
once  in  our  service,  will  soon  be  provided  with  a tavern,  a novelty 
surely  never  before  witnessed  at  Athens.* 

The  author  and  his  companion  made  it  a rule  to  devote 
a portion  of  each  day  of  their  residence  at  Athens  to  the 
inspection  of  the  monuments  of  antiquity.  The  temple  of 
Theseus,  the  best  preserved  of  ancient  edifices,  was  within  a 
few  minutes’  w'alk  of  their  residence.  Its  length  is  a hun- 
dred and  ten  feet,  and  its  wddth  forty-five,  a size  too  limited 
to  impress  the  spectator  at  first:  but  the  transient  disappoint- 
ment never  fails  to  be  succeeded  by  admiration  on  examining 
the  beautiful  proportions  of  the  building.  Its  roof  is  supported 
by  thirty-four  columns,  all  of  the  finest  Parian  marble,  the 
sculpture  on  which  is  in  general  in  good  preservation.  It 
stands  on  a knoll  of  open  ground  between  two  and  three  hun- 
dred yards  from  the  town.  The  Areopagus  is  a very  uneven 
elevation,  consisting  of  two  rocky  eminences,  and  is  within  a 
stone’s  throw  of  the  craggy  sides  of  the  Acropolis.  ‘ We 
must  be  cautious,’  says  Mr.  H.  ‘ of  attaching  an  important 
signification  to  the  'words  “hill,  valley,  or  rock,”  when  applied 
to  Athens  or  its  vicinity;  for,  although  the  landscape  there 
presented  to  us  is  among  the  most  lovely  in  the  world,  it  is  a 
landscape  in  miniature,  and  by  no  means  correspondent  to  the 
notions  excited  by  the  exploits  of  antiquity.’  In  truth,  we 
meet  thoughout  these  volumes  with  repeated  hints  of  the  dimi- 
nutiveness of  the  Grecian  territories  and  cities; — hints  -which, 


HOBHOUSE’s  journey  through  ALBANIA.  44'f 

on  the  part  of  a writer  evidently  averse  to  undervalue  the 
ancients,  possess  a decided  claim  to  the  attention  of  the  im- 
partial inquirer.  The  habit  of  reckoning  distances  by  stadia 
has  a tendency  to  conceal  from  the  reader  of  Grecian  history 
the  insignificant  extent  of  many  of  their  districts.  A traveller 
who  is  unincumbered  with  baggage  may  easily  make  the  tour* 
of  Boeotia  in  a couple  of  days;  and  he  may  ride  from  Livadia 
to  Thebes,  and  back  again,  between  breakfast  and  dinner. 
The  Athenian  generals  were  sworn  to  invade  the  territories  of 
Megara  twice  in  a year;  an  exploit  which  any  horseman  may 
perform  in  the  course  of  a few  hours,  since  the  distance,  by  the 
longest  computation,  is  only  twenty-seven  miles. 

Mr.  H.  had  an  opportunity  of  visiting  the  fields  of  battle 
both  of  Marathon  and  Plataea.  In  the  former,  he  saw  nothing, 
as  far  as  the  nature  of  the  ground  is  concerned,  to  contradict 
the  assertion  of  Herodotus  that  the  Persian  force  exceeded  a 
hundred  thousand  men:  but  when  speaking  of  Plataea,  his 
opinion  is  different: 

‘ Notwithstanding  the  circumstantial  account  and  the  particular 
enumeration  of  the  forces  of  the  two  nations  engaged  in  the  battle 
given  by  Herodotus,  no  traveller  who  has  seen  the  scene  of  action, 
which  is  to  this  day  recognizable  by  most  undoubted  signs,  can 
fail  to  suspect  the  Grecian  historian  of  some  exaggeration.  The 
whole  conflict  must  have  taken  place  on  a triangular  space,  boun- 
ded by  the  road  from  Thebes  into  the  pass  of  Cithaeron,  five  miles, 
the  base  of  Cithasron  three  miles,  and  the  road  from  Plataea  to 
Thebes,  six  miles.  The  Greeks  w'ere  one  hundred  and  ten  thou- 
sand men;  the  Persians,  with  their  confederates,  three  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand.  But  the  most  severe  part  of  the  action,  and  in 
which,  reckoning  both  Lacedemonians  and  Persians,  nearly  three 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  troops  were  engaged,  was  fought  on 
the  ravin,  in  marshy  steep  ground  amongst  the  hills,  where  notwith- 
standing the  account  informs  us  that  the  cavalry  of  Mardonius 
were  the  most  active,  it  seems  difficult  to  believe  that  a single 
squadron  of  horse  could  have  manoeuvred. 

‘ From  Gargaphia  to  the  Molois  is  but  little  more  than  a mile, 
and,  according  to  the  historian,  the  whole  of  this  immense  body 
fought  in  less  than  that  space;  for  Mardonius  advanced  into  the 
hills  to  encounter  Pausanias.  I should  suppose  that  such  an  ex- 
tent of  ground  would  not  contain  such  numbers,  although  ranged 
in  the  deepest  order  of  which  the  ancient  tactics  allowed;  and  the 
Persians  did  not  advance  in  any  order  at  all,  but  confusedly.  The 
fifty  thousand  allies  of  Mardonius  and  the  Athenians  might  have 
fought  in  the  plain  between  the  Asopus  and  the  foot  of  the  hill, 
which,  however,  according  to  modern  tactics,  would  not  admit  of 
even  that  number  of  troops  to  engage.* 


SELECT  REVIEW. 


•Hb 


Chasronaea  appears  to  have  been  situated  on  a hill  near 
the  north-east  base  of  Parnassus;  and  the  fatal  plain  lies  to 
the  north,  extending  in  length  from  east  to  west.  ‘ No  spot 
in  the  world,’  says  Mr.  H.,  ‘ can  be  better  calculated  for  decid- 
ing a national  quarrel,  since  there  does  not  appear  to  be  even 
a mole-hill  to  impede  the  manceuvres  of  hostile  armies.’  The 
remains  of  the  town  are  very  insignificant.  A similar  remark 
applies  to  the  vestiges  of  Megara;  where,  however  a popula- 
tion of  three  thousand  inhabitants  still  exists;  but  their  dwel- 
lings are  built  of  mud  with  low  flat  roofs.  Eleusis  is  now  a 
miserable  village  of  thirty  mud  cottages,  but  finely  situated  on 
the  declivity  of  a long  hill,  with  sufficient  remains  to  make  it 
probable  that  a great  part  of  the  hill  was  origiijally  occupied 
by  buildings.  As  to  the  Piraeus,  nothing  in  its  present  appear- 
ance would  lead  a person  to  imagine  that  it  had  ever  been  a 
harbour  of  consequence.  It  has  lost  the  aspect  of  a triple 
port,  the  recess  on  the  right  being  like  a marsh,  while  that  on 
the  left  is  of  little  depth.  The  deepest  water  is  at  the  mouth 
of  the  third  interior  port;  yet  one  of  our  sloops  of  war  was 
warned  that  she  would  run  aground  if  she  endeavoured  to  get 
in,  and  was  accordingly  obliged  to  anchor  in  the  straits  between 
Salamis  and  the  part  once  called  Phoron. 

Corfu  has  been  rendered  by  the  French  a place  of  great 
strength;  and  the  distance  from  Italy  or  Albania  is  so  short  as 
in  a manner  to  put  a blockade  out  of  the  question.  As  a 
siege  of  the  town  by  land  -would  require  a large  force,  Bona- 
parte could  scarcely  have  fixed  on  a station  of  more  impor- 
tance for  the  views  which,  in  his  days  of  sanguine  calculation, 
he  entertained  against  the  Turkish  empire. — Patras  stands  in 
a beautiful  country  on  the  declivity  of  a mountain,  but  is  fre- 
quently visited  with  agues  and  contagious  fevers. — The  table 
of  a Greek  of  rank  living  in  this  quarter  is  thus  described: 

‘ The  meat  was  stewed  to  rags.  They  cut  up  a hare  into  pieces 
to  roast.  1 do  not  recollect  that  any  of  the  flesh  dishes  were  boiled. 
The  pastry  was  not  good,  being  sweetened  with  honey,  and  not  well 
baked;  but  the  thick  ewes’  milk,  mixed  with  rice  and  preserves, 
and  garnished  with  almonds,  was  very  palatable.  The  boutaraga, 
caviar,  and  macaroni  powdered  with  scraped  cheese,  were  good 
dishes.  But  the  vegetables  and  fruits,  some  of  which  the  luxuri- 
ant soil  furnishes  without  culture,  were  indeed  delicious,  and  in 
great  variety.  There  were  cabbages,  cauliflowers,  spinach,  arti- 
chokes, lettuces,  and  cellery,  in  abundance;  but  the  want  of  pota- 
toes was  supplied  by  a root  tasting  like  sea-cale.  The  fruits, 
which  were  served  up  at  the  conclusion  of  the  dinner,  and  before 
the  cloth  was  removed,  were  oranges,  olives,  pears,  quinces,  pome- 
granates, citrons,  medlars,  and  nuts,  and  lastly,  the  finest  melons 
we  ever  tasted.* 


HORHOUSE’s  journey  through  ALBANIA. 


447 


Having  appropriated  his  first  volume  to  Greece,  Mr. 
riobhouse  proceeds,  in  his  second,  to  Asia  Minor;  and,  having 
described  Smyrna  and  the  ruins  of  Ephesus,  he  devotes  a 
considerable  space  to  the  Troad.  Though  he  does  not  ven- 
ture to  rank  himself  under  the  banners  of  Mr.  Bryant,  or  to 
incur  the  odium  attached  to  incredulity  with  respect  to  Homeric 
desciiptions,  it  is  obvious  that  he  entered  on  the  examination 
without  much  hope  of  finding  the  scenery  of  the  Iliad  recalled 
by  the  evidence  of  ocular  observation;  and  he  confined  his 
anticipations  to  the  discovery  of  a resemblance  between  the 
present  scenery  and  the  descriptions  of  Strabo,  a calculation 
too  moderate  to  be  exposed  to  disappointment.  Those,  how- 
ever, who  are  still  desirous  of  weighing  the  assertions  of  Le 
Chevalier  and  the  arguments  of  Bryant,  will  find  in  the  minute- 
ness of  the  topical  descriptions  of  Mr.  H.’s  book  a conside- 
rable stock  of  materials  for  the  examination.  He  has  inserted 
(p.  688)  a map  of  the  eastern  half  of  the  Hellespont,  and  has 
exhibited  with  sufficient  clearness  the  course  of  the  Scaman- 
der,  the  scite  of  Alexandria  Troas,  the  tumuli  adjacent  to  the 
Scamander,  the  mountains  of  Ida,  and  the  different  streams  in 
which  travellers  have  respectively  endeavoured  to  trace  the  an- 
cient Simois. — The  theory  of  Dr.  Clarke  shares  no  better  fate 
than  that  of  his  predecessors,  Mr.  H.  considering  it  as  very  un- 
likely that  the  Callifatti,  a small  and  almost  stagnant  rivulet, 
should  be  the  representative  of  the  Simois.  Dr.  C.’s  favourite 
TrsS'toto  fares  equally  ill  (p.  756.)  in  the  hands  of  this 
inquirer. — Leaving  these  mysterious  topics,  we  proceed  to  ex- 
tract Mr.  H.’s  observations  on  the  personal  appearance  of  the 
modern  Greeks: 

‘ It  cannot  appear  at  all  surprising,  that  in  their  habits  of  life  the 
modern  Greeks  should  very  much  resemble  the  picture  that  has 
been  transmitted  to  us  ofthe  ancient  illustrious  inhabitants  of  their 
country.  Living  on  the  fruits  of  the  same  soil,  and  under  the  same 
climate  apparently  not  changed  since  the  earliest  ages,  it  would  be 
strange  if  their  physical  constitfttions,  and  in  some  measure  their 
tempers,  were  not  very  similar  to  those  of  the  great  people  whom 
we  call  their  ancestors;  and,  in  fact,  I take  their  bodily  appear- 
ance, their  dress,  their  diet,  and,  as  I said  before,  their  tempers, 
to  differ  but  little  from  those  of  the  ancient  Greeks. 

‘ There  is  a national  likeness  observable  in  all  the  Greeks, 
though,  on  the  whole,  the  islanders  are  darker,  and  of  a stronger 
make  than  those  on  the  main-land.  Their  faces  are  just  such  as 
served  for  models  to  the  ancient  sculptors,  and  their  young  men  in 
particular,  are  of  that  perfect  beauty,  which  we  should  perhaps 
consider  too  soft  and  effeminate  in  those  of  that  age  in  our  more 
northern  climate.  Theii^  eyes  are  large  and  dark,  from  which  cir- 


148 


SELECT  REVIEW. 


cumstancc  Mavromali,  or  black-cyes,  is  a very  common  surname; 
their  eyebrows  arc  arched;  their  complexions  are  rather  brown,  but 
quite  clear;  and  their  cheeks  and  lips  are  tinged  with  a bright  Ver- 
million. The  oval  of  their  faces  is  regular,  and  all  their  features  in 
perfect  proportion,  except  that  their  ears  are  rather  larger  than 
ordinary:  their  hair  is  dark  and  long,  but  sometimes  quite  bushy, 
and,  as  they  shave  off  all  of  it  which  grows  on  the  fore-part  of  the 
crown  and  the  side  of  the  face,  not  at  all  becoming:  some  of  the 
better  sort  cut  off  all  their  hair,  except  a few  locks  twisted  into  a 
knot  on  the  top  of  the  head.  On  their  upper  lips  they  wear  a thin 
long  mustachio,  which  tlicy  are  at  some  pains  to  keep  quite  black. 
Beards  are  worn  only  by  the  clergy  and  the  Archontes  Presbute- 
roi,  or  Codja-bashces,  and  other  men  of  authority.  Their  necks 
are  long,  but  broad  and  firmly  set,  their  chests  wide  and  expanded, 
their  shoulders  strong,  but  round  the  waist  they  are  rather  slender. 
Their  legs  are  perhaps  larger  than  those  of  people  accustomed  to 
tighter  garments,  but  are  strong  and  well  made.  Their  stature 
is  above  the  midling  size,  and  their  make  muscular  but  not  braw- 
ny, round  and  well  filled  out,  but  not  inclined  to  corpulency. 

‘ Both  the  face  and  the  form  of  the  women  arc  very  inferior  to 
those  of  the  men.  Though  they  have  the  same  kind  of  features, 
their  eyes  are  too  languid,  and  their  complexions  too  pale,  and, 
even  from  the  age  of  twelve,  they  have  a flaccidity  and  loseness  of 
person  which  is  far  from  agreeable.  They  are  generally  below 
the  height  which  we  are  accustomed  to  think  becoming  in  a female, 
and  when  a little  advanced  in  life,  between  twenty-five  and  thirty- 
years  of  age,  are  commonly  rather  fat  and  unwieldly.’ 

‘ The  dress  of  the  Greeks  is  not  at  the  first  sight  to  be  much 
distinguished  from  that  of  the  Turks,  nor  is  there  any  difference  in 
the  habit  of  those  in  power,  except  that,  instead  of  the  turban,  the 
head  is  covered  with  an  immense  calpac.  A cotton  shirt,  made  like 
a woman’s  chemise,  cottondrawcrs,a  vest  and  jacket  of  silk  or  stuff, 
a pair  of  large  loose  brogues,  or  trowsers,  drawn  up  a little  above 
the  ancle,  and  a short  sock,  make  the  inner  part  of  the  dress:  the 
part  of  the  garment  next  added  is  a long  broad  shawl,  often  high- 
ly worked,  and  very  expensive,  wrapped  in  wide  folds  round  the 
loins.  In  one  corner  of  this  girdle  the  poorer  people,  especially 
in  travelling,  both  Turks  and  Greeks,  conceal  their  money,  and 
then  wind  the  shawl  round  them.  A common  fellow  in  Turkey- 
might,  as  properly  as  the  soldier  in  Horace,  talk  of  the  loss  of  his 
zone  as  of  that  of  his  money;  but  the  better  sort  of  people  have 
adopted  the  use  of  purses,  which,  together  with  their  handker- 
chiefs, watches,  and  snuff-boxes,  they  carry  in  the  bosom,  between 
the  folds  of  their  vests.* — 

‘ In  the  inland  towns,  and  even  at  Athens,  the  Greeks  seldom 
admit  a male  stranger  to  a sight  of  the  females  of  their  families, 
who  live  in  a separate  part  of  the  house,  and  in  some  cases  are  as 
closely  confined  as  the  Turkish  women.  Before  marriage,  they 
are  rarely,  sometimes  never,  seen  by  any  male  excepting  those 


IIOBHOUSk’s  J0131U\EY  THROUGH  ALBANIA.  4 

of  their  own  family,  but  afterwards  enjoy  the  privilege  of  being  in- 
troduced to  people  of  their  own  nation,  and  to  travellers.  A young 
lady,  the  sister  of  Seignor  Nicolo,  at  loannina,  to  whom  we  had 
made  a present  of  soine  Venetian  silks,  sent  word  to  us,  that  she 
regretted  that  not  being  married,  she  could  not  kiss  our  hands  in 
person,  but  begged  that  it  might  be  done  by  proxy  by  our  drago- 
man, who  brought  the  message.  We  did  not  obtain  a sight  of  her 
during  our  stay  in  the  house.  — 

‘ A few  friends,  and  perhaps  a Frank  stranger,  arc  sometimes 
invited  to  the  first  public  ceremony  in  which  the  young  girl  is  con- 
cerned, that  is,  her  betrothing  to  her  future  husband,  who  general- 
ly has  never  seen  her;  and  we  ourselves  were  once  asked  to  a sup- 
per where  there  was  music  and  dancing  on  an  occasion  of  this 
kind.  The  girl  (called  » was  sitting  in  the  middle  of  the 

sofa,  covered  with  paint  and  patches,  having  a sort  of  crown  on 
her  head,  and  stuck  round  with  jewels  and  gold  chains  on  every 
part  of  her  dress.  We  were  regularly  led  up  and  presented  to 
her,  as  were  the  other  guests,  and  she  kissed  our  hands.  Her  own 
female  relations,  and  tliose  of  her  future  husband,  were  sitting  on 
the  rest  of  the  sofa.  The  mother  of  the  young  man,  who  was  not 
present  himself,  put  a ring  on  the  finger  of  the  maiden,  and,  as  her 
son’s  proxy,  kissed  her  cheek,  a ceremony  by  which  the  betro- 
thing takes  place.  The  marriage,  we  were  told,  would  not  take 
place  perhaps  for  more  than  a year,  as  the  youth  was  engaged 
in  trade  at  some  distance,  until  he  could  amass  a fortune  compe- 
tent to  maintain  his  wife.’ 

‘ There  are  very  few  instances  of  second  marriages  amongst 
the  Greeks,  nor  of  any  men,  except  a priest,  remaining  single  for 
life. 

‘ The  women  can  seldom  read  or  write,  but  are  all  of  them  able 
to  embroider  very  tastefully,  and  can  generally  play  on  the  Greek 
lute,  or  rebeck.  Their  dancing  they  learn  without  a master,  from 
their  companions.  The  dance  called  Xo^«5>  and  for  distinction, 
Romaica,  consists  generally  in  slow  movements,  the  young  women 
holding  by  each  other’s  handkerchiefs,  and  the  leader  setting  the 
step  and  time,  in  the  same  manner  as  in  the  Albanian  dance.’ 

Mr.  H.  has  devoted  a chapter  to  the  interesting  question 
of  the  state  of  literature  among  the  modern  Greeks.  He  ha.s 
inserted  (p.  .560)  a list  of  one  hundred  persons  who  flourished 
between  the  years  1570  and  1720,  and  who,  though  unknown 
in  this  country,  have  been  deemed  worthy  by  Demetrius  Pro- 
copius of  being  commemorated  as  learned  men.  They  were 
chiefly  theologians  educated  in  Italy,  and  were  accounted 
prodigies  by  their  countrymen  from  being  able  to  read  the 
ancient  Greek.  The  more  intimate  connection,  which  of  late 
years  has  taken  place  between  the  polished  part  of  Europe 
and  the  Levant,  has  had  a visible  effect  in  lessening  the  gene- 

voL.  VII.  57 


45Q 


SELECT  REVIEW. 


ral  ignorance  of  the  Greeks;  and  Leghorn,  Venice,  Vienna, 
Paris,  all  contain  young  Greeks  who  have  repaired  thither  in 
search  of  that  education  which  their  own  country  cannot  afford. 
The  study  of  medicine  is  their  principal  object:  but  some 
individuals  among  them  aim  at  a more  general  acquaintance 
w'ith  literature;  and  they  are  particularly  successful  in  the 
acquisition  of  languages.  When,  however,  we  consider  the 
slavery  or  rather  the  non-existence  of  their  press,  it  would  be 
too  sanguine  to  anticipate  any  diffusion  of  general  improve- 
ment in  education  throughout  Greece.  Hitherto,  they  have 
gone  no  farther  than  to  compose  Hellenic  grammars  in  the 
Romaic  or  current  language,  and  to  translate  some  popular 
works  from  the  European  tongues,  Mr.  Hobhouse  found  a 
translation  of  Telemachus  and  of  Rollin’s  Ancient  History: 
but  of  the  translations  of  Locke  on  the  Understanding,  and  of 
Montesquieu  on  the  Roman  Empire,  he  heard  only  by  report. 
At  Constantinople,  are  two  academies  for  teaching  ancient 
Greek;  at  Athens,  two  schools;  and,  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Mytilene,  is  a sort  of  university  for  Greek  and  other  languages. 
The  knowledge  thus  acquired  must,  however,  be  of  little  use, 
as  long  as  the  country  is  devoid  of  good  books,  and  while  the 
objects  of  education  are  confined  to  the  perusal  of  the  church- 
service,  to  the  transaction  of  petty  traffic,  or  to  the  qualifying 
of  a young  man  for  employment  in  the  service  of  the  pashas. 
In  1808,  the  French  at  Corfu  established,  with  great  formality, 
an  institution  styling  itself  the  Ionian  academyq  under  the 
sanction  of  Napoleon,  Benefactor  and  Protector:”  but  the 
very  limited  territory  in  Greece  which  was  subject  to  him  co- 
operated with  other  causes  to  render  the  attempt  fruitless. 
Mr.  Hobhouse  treats  of  the  language  of  the  modern  Greeks 
at  considerable  length,  and  has  exhibited  various  specimens 
from  printed  works.  We  subjoin  a few  remarks  on  the  diffe- 
rent existing  dialects: 

‘ The  Greek  of  Smyrna  is  much  infected  by  the  Franks.  That 
of  Salonica  is  more  pure.  The  Athenian  language  is  not,  in  my 
opinion,  so  corrupted,  nor  has  admitted  so  many  Latin  and  Italian 
words,  as  that  of  the  Morea;  hut  it  has  not  preserved  so  much  of 
the  ancient  elegance  as  the  dialect  of  loannina,  which  the  inhabi- 
tants of  that  city  boast  to  be  superior  to  any,  except  that  of  Con- 
stantinople.’— 

‘ The  substantives  most  commonly  in  use  have  undergone  the 
most  complete  change;  such  as  represent  breads  water,^  clothes^ 
would  surprise  the  ear  of  a Hellenist,  and  yet  neither 
nor  pevKcc  are  of  a very  late  date.  But  the  names  of  plants  are  near- 
ly all  Hellenic,  and  a botanical  treatise  would  scarcely  want  a glos* 


HOSHOUSe’s  journey  through  ALBANIAN  45-1 

Sary  of  Romaic  terms.  The  old  names  of  places  are,  as  might  be 
expected,  not  altogether  lost  in  the  modern  appellations  of  the 
Greeks,  although  the  Turks  have,  in  many  instances,  given  names 
of  their  own. 

‘ With  respect  to  the  written  tongue,  it  must  be  observed,  that 
the  composition  at  this  day  current  is  of  three  kinds:  the  first,  is 
the  language  of  the  mass,  and  some  other  parts  of  the  rituals,  which 
are  grammatically  Hellenic:  the  ancient  Greek  has  also  been  late-* 
ly  used  by  Corai,  and  one  or  two  others,  but  is  not  adopted  in  any 
common  books.  The  next  maybe  called  the  Ecclesiastical  Greek| 
which  is  the  kind  employed  by  the  majority  of  the  church  writers 
in  their  pastoral  letters,  and  which,  besides  other  characteristics, 
does  not  have  recourse  to  the  modern  vulgarism  of  always  recur- 
ring to  the  auxiliary  verbs.  This  is  the  style  of  many  of  those  ci- 
ted by  Procopius,  and  even  of  earlier  authors,  of  Meletius,  in  his 
geography,  and  several  other  later  works,  and  does  not  seem  to  be 
formed  by  any  certain  rule,  but  by  an  attempt  of  the  writers  to 
come  as  near  as  possible  to  the  Hellenic.  The  Romaic  is  the  third 
species  of  composition;  but,  even  in  this  vulgar  idiom,  there  is 
necessarily  some  distinction  made  by  the  nature  of  the  various 
subjects,  and  the  talents  of  the  respective  authors.  The  philoso- 
phical treatises  of  Corai  and  Psallida  are  as  good,  in  point  of  style, 
as  the  dedication  of  Cimon  Portius’  grammar  to  Cardinal  Richer 
lieu,  and  although,  perhaps,  their  subjects  contribute  much  to  their 
apparent  superiority,  arc  not  so  entirely  vulgar  as  the  downright 
common  dialect.* 

Mr.  Hobhouse  has  inserted  above  twenty  engravings, 
which  have  the  effect  of  conveying  a clearer  idea  of  the  objects 
in  question  than  any  written  description.  They  delineate 
chiefly  ancient  monuments,  the  dress  of  the  inhabitants  of  th6 
present  day,  and  the  more  striking  parts  of  local  scenery;  and 
the  admirer  of  the  abode  of  Socrates  and  Plato  has  the  satis- 
faction to  find,  on  opening  the  first  volume,  a view  of  Athens; 
which,  though  somewhat  flattering,  seems,  on  the  whole,  to 
present  a faithful  picture  of  that  celebrated  city. 


452 


MISCELLANEOUS  SELECTIONS. 

ON  David’s  pictures  of  buonapartf. 

[From  the  Examiner.] 

1.  Genius,  like  the  sun,  irradiates  every  thing  in  visible  na- 
ture, however  inferior.  If  touched  with  the  ease  and  energy 
that  is  ever  seen  in  untrammelled  nature,  much  interest  will  be 
felt  by  the  educated  and  tasteful  mind,  even  in  the  representa- 
tion of  individuals  of  obscurest  destiny.  How  lively  then  will 
be  the  impression,  where  cultivated  science  and  genius  place 
before  our  view  a cotemporary,  whom  fortuitous  circumstan- 
ces, and  whose  superior  genius,  have  lifted  up  to  the  gaze,  the 
hatred,  the  envy,  the  hopes  and  fears,  the  admiration  and  love, 
of  an  entire  world.  Such  a cotemporary  is  Napoleon,  as 
painted  by  the  pre-eminent  French  portrait  and  historical 
painter,  David,  on  two  canvasses.  One  displays  him  in  his 
Passage  over  Mont  St,  Bernard,  and  in  that  strong  action  of 
mind  and  of  body  which  so  peculiarly  characterize  him  among 
existing  potentates,  advancing  on  a rich  blooded  charger, 
whose  high-tossed  head,  proud  display  of  elegant  limb,  and 
flashing  and  intelligent  eye,  appear  as  if  he  was  half  conscious 
of  his  bearing  the  agitator  and  founder  of  empires.  Napoleon 
is  seated  on  him  gracefully,  both  as  to  form  and  attitude,  the 
head  bent  a little  downward  in  thoughtful  guise,  and  mingling, 
with  the  management  of  his  horse,  the  destiny-fixing  thoughts 
of  men  and  kingdoms.  Fie  is  turning  on  you  a look  of  firm 
purpose  and  deep  cogitation,  as  calmly  meditative  and  resolved 
as  if  not  surrounded  by  an  elemental  war  on  Alpine  heights,  or 
not  about  to  meet  the  more  awful  war  below  them.  The  acti- 
vity and  attachment  of  his  soldiers  are  displayed  by  their 
briskly  upward  and  cheerful  march  among  the  rocks  in  the 
back  ground,  some  of  them  looking  towards  him  with  confi- 
dence and  enthusiasm, — others  with  patient  labour  dragging 
up  cannon,  all  with  a devoted  or  martial  and  active  air.  The 
pye-bald  horse  and  his  rider  glittering  with  equestrian  and 
martial  trappings,  relieve  with  great  force  and  sprightliness 
from  the  snow-tinted  atmosphere  and  ground.  The  hair,  es- 
pecially the  tail,  looks  rather  like  metallic  strips,  or  v/hat  is 
rather  coarsely  but  significantly  called,  “ rat’s  tails.”  The 
picture  is,  in  fine,  one  altogether  of  energy.  The  marking, 
the  colouring,  the  proportions,  the  out-door  light,  and  what  is 
of  more  importance,  the  character,  all  emanate  from  a hand  ri- 
gidly executing  the  high  WTOught  and  correct  feelings  of  an 
extraordinary  mind  operating  on  an  extraordinary  object. 


MISCELLANEOUS  SELECTIONS. 


453 


Tlie  bustle  of  objects  in  the  equestrian  picture,  improves 
by  contrast  the  quiescence  of  the  contiguous  canvass,  repre- 
senting Napoleon  in  his  Cabinet^  just  risen  from  his  pen — 
Painted  at  an  after  time,  when  Napoleon  became  fat,  it  exhi- 
bits a less  elegantly  proportioned  form  of  face  and  figure,  but 
retains  a similarly  removed  character  of  intellect  from  that  so 
below  par  in  the  many  worn-out  families  of  European  royalty, 
where  the  breeds  are  in  sad  want  of  crossing.  The  point  of 
time  is  marked  to  be  four  in  the  morning,  after  the  emperor 
has  been  intensely  devoted  to  his  pen.  The  act  of  rising  from 
this  long  application;  and  its  cramping  effect  on  the  limbs,  are 
denoted  by  a small  degree  of  feebleness  in  the  limbs,  rendered 
additionally  so  in  their  appearance  by  the  muscles  being 
rounded  by  fat.  He  is  in  a military  dress.  This  and  the  pa- 
pers; furniture,  &c.  are  correctly  and  beautifully  painted,  and 
without  that  degree  of  hardness  which  is  so  unnatural  and  so 
unpleasant  in  most  of  the  French  works  we  have  seen.  Still 
perhaps  many  of  the  secondary  objects  in  both  pictures  are 
too  prominent  as  to  outline  and  light;  and  ought  to  be  rounded 
off  into  partial  obscurity 

3.  Pius  VIII.  and  Cardinal  Caprera,  is  a picture  nearly,  if 
not  altogether,  without  this  undue  hardness.  It  has  a relief 
strikingly  as  well  as  naturally  and  delicately  powerful,  for  it 
is  without  that  artificial  forcing  out  by  glaring  light  and  large 
violent  shadows,  which  so  much  predominates  in  the  pictures 
of  Opie,  and  in  some  of  Reynolds.  They  are  from  a large 
subject  representing  the  Coronation  of  Napoleon  and  Maria 
Louisa,  dii  the  moment  when  the  Pope  is  giving  her  his  bless- 
ing. This  is  described  with  much  suitable  fervour,  the  Pope 
lifting  up  his  hand,  his  face  full  of  piety,  while  his  frame  is  in- 
clined a little  forward  with  the  sudden  emotion  of  the  act. 
The  Cardinal  stands  by  with  an  earnest  look  of  curiosity  and 
satisfaction.  Dignity,  the  impulse  of  the  time  and  circum- 
stance, unpretending  attitudes,  bold  effect,  and  above  all,  a 
rivalry  of  the  actual  life,  pervade  this  attention-fixing  canvass. 

The  three  pictures  are  proofs  of  talents  of  the  first  order — 
deep  thinking,  careful,  yet  powerful  execution,  and  that  close 
looking  into  and  description  of  nature,  which,  when  even 
united  with  defects,  will,  like  an  intelligent  face  with  indiffer- 
ent features,  always  command  attention;  and  where  the  defects, 
as  in  the  present  instances,  are  comparatively  trilling,  will  in- 
duce admiration  and  delight. 

Satan’s  mode  of  swindling. 

The  following  narrative  is  most  marvellous,  and  lest  hi§ 
readers  should  doubt  its  truth,  the  author  prays  them  to  “ sus- 


454 


MISCELLANEOUS  SELECTIONS. 


pend  their  judgment,  quhill  they  spere  [until  they  inquire  at] 
the  maist  afl'ectionat  Protestantis  of  Scotland  quha  lies  bene 
■ in  Geneve.  Surelie  I ressavit  the  treuth  of  this  be  honorable 
gentilmen  of  our  coiintrie,  quha  confessit  to  me  before  gud 
vitnes,  that  the  devil  gangis  familiarlie  up  and  down  the  town, 
and  spcciallie  cumis  to  pure  and  indigent  men  quha  sellis  thair 
saullis  to  him  for  ten  sous,  sum  for  mair  or  less.  The  monie 
is  verie  plesent  quhen  they  ressave  it;  bot  putting  hand  to 
thair  purse,  quhen  they  vald  by  thair  denner,  thay  find  nathing 
bot  uther  staine  or  stick.’ ^ Hamilton’s  Catholik  and  facile  3 
traictise,  fol.  50,  b.  Paris,  1581.  1 

DANGER  OF  LEARNING  GREEK  AND  HEBREW.  I 

Villers,  in  his  essay  on  the  reformation  by  Luther  has  the  1 

following  curious  passage. — The  faculty  of  theology  at  Paris  j 

declared  before  the  assembled  parliament,  that  religion  was  ! 

•nnclone,  if  the  study  of  Greek  and  Hebrew  were  permitted.  But  | 

the  language  of  the  monks  of  those  days  is  still  more  amusing.  r 

Thus  we  are  informed  by  Conrad  of  Heresbach,  a very  grave  ,, 

and  respectable  author  of  that  period,  that  one  of  their  number  f 

is  said  to  have  expressed  himself,  ‘‘  They  have  invented  a 1 

new  language,  which  they  call  Greek;  you  must  be  carefully  | 

on  your  guard  against  it;  it  is  the  mother  of  all  heresy.  I 1 

observe  in  the  hands  of  many  persons  a book  written  in  that  1 

language,  which  they  call  the  Mew  Testament,  It  is  a book 
full  of  daggers  and  poisons.  As  to  the  Hebrew,  my  dear  1 
brethren,  it  is  certain  that  all  those  who  learn  it  immediately  1 
become  Jews.”  ^ 

I 

REMARKABLE  INSTANCE  OF  SUCCOUR  IN  DISTRESS. 

An  accident,”  says  archbishop  Spottiswood,  “ befel  ^ 
Mr.  Craig,  which  I should  scarcely  relate,  so  incredible  it  < 
seemclb,  if  to  many  of  good  place  he  himself  had  not  often 
repeated  it,  as  a singular  testimony  of  God’s  care  of  him.”  In  ) 

the  course  of  his  journey  through  Italy,  while  he  avoided  the 
public  roads,  and  took  a circuitous  route  to  escape  from  pur-  * 
suit,  the  money  which  he  had  received  from  the  grateful  sol- 
dier failed  him.  Having  laid  himself  down  by  the  side  of  a J 
wood  to  ruminate  on  his  condition,  he  perceived  a dog  ap-  | 
proaching  him  with  a purse  in  his  teeth.  It  occurred  to  him  J 

that  it  had  been  sent  by  some  evil  disposed  person,  who  wms  ; 

concealed  in  the  wood,  and  wished  to  pick  a quarrel  with 
him.  He  therefore  endeavoured  to  drive  it  away,  but  the 
animal  continuing  to  fawn  upon  him,  he  at  last  took  the  purse, 
and  found  in  it  a sum  of  money  which  enabled  him  to  prose- 
cute his  journey. 


POETRY 


FROM  THE  SIEGE  OF  CORINTH,  BY  LORD  BYRON. 

*Tis  midnight:  on  the  mountain’s  hrown 
The  cold,  round  moon  shines  deeply  down; 

Blue  roll  the  waters,  blue  the  sky 
Spreads  like  an  ocean  hung  on  high. 

Bespangled  with  those  isles  of  light. 

So  wildly,  spiritually  bright; 

Who  ever  gazed  upon  them  shining. 

And  turned  to  earth  without  repining, 

Nor  wished  for  wings  to  flee  away, 

And  mix  with  their  eternal  ray? 

The  M'aves  on  either  shore  lay  there 
Calm,  clear,  and  azure  as  the  air; 

And  scarce  their  foam  the  pebbles  shook. 

But  murmured  meekly  as  the  brook. 

The  winds  were  pillowed  on  the  waves; 

The  banners  drooped  along  their  staves. 

And  as  they  fell  around  them  furling, 

Above  them  shone  the  crescent  curling; 

And  that  deep  silence  was  unbroke. 

Save  where  the  watch  his  signal  spoke. 

Save  where  the  steed  neighed  oft  and  shrill. 

And  echo  answered  from  the  hill, 

And  the  wide  hum  of  that  wild  host. 

Rustled  like  leaves  from  coast  to  coast, 

As  rose  the  Muezzin’s  voice  in  air 
In  midnight  call  to  wonted  prayer; 

It  rose,  that  chanted  mournful  strain. 

Like  some  lone  spirit’s  o’er  the  plain: 

’Twas  musical,  but  sadly  sweet. 

Such  as  when  winds  and  harp-strings  meet. 

And  take  a long  unmeasured  tone, 

To  mortal  minstrelsy  unknown. 

It  seemed  to  those  within  the  wall 
A cry  prophetic  of  their  fall: 

It  struck  e’en  the  besieger’s  ear 
With  something  ominous  and  drear. 

An  undefined  and  sudden  thrill. 

Which  makes  the  heart  a moment  still. 


45G 


POETRY. 


Then  beat  with  quicker  pulse,  ashamed 
Of  that  strange  sense  its  silence  framed; 
Such  as  a sudden  passing>bell 
Wakes,  though  but  for  a stranger’s  knell. 

The  tent  of  Alp  was  on  the  shore; 

The  sound  was  hushed,  the  prayer  was  o’er 
The  watch  was  set,  the  night-round  made, 
All  mandates  issued  and  obeyed: — 

He  felt  his  soul  become  more  light 
Beneath  the  freshness  of  the  night. 

Cool  was  the  silent  sky,  though  calm. 

And  bathed  his  brow  w ith  airy  balm: 
Behind,  the  camp — before  him  lay. 

In  many  a winding  creek  and  bay, 
Lepanto’s  gulf;  and,  on  the  brow 
Of  Delphi’s  hill,  unshaken  snow. 

High  and  eternal,  such  as  shone  * 

Through  thousand  summers  brightly  gone. 
Along  the  gulf,  the  mount,  the  clime; 

It  will  not  melt,  like  man,  to  time: 

Tyrant  and  slave  ai’e  swept  away. 

Less  formed  to  wear  before  the  ray; 

But  that  white  veil,  the  lightest,  frailest. 
Which  on  the  mighty  mount  thou  hailest, 
While  tower  and  tree  are  torn  and  rent. 
Shines  o’er  its  craggy  battlement; 

In  form  a peak,  in  height  a cloud. 

In  texture  like  a hovering  shroud. 

Thus  high  by  parting  Freedom  spread. 

As  from  her  fond  abode  she  fled, 

And  lingered  on  the  spot,  where  long 
Her  prophet  sph’it  spake  in  song. 

Oh,  still  her  step  at  moments  falters 
O’er  withered  fields,  and  ruined  altars, 

And  fain  would  wake,  in  souls  too  broken, 
By  pointing  to  each  gloi’ious  token. 

But  vain  her  voice,  till  better  days 
Dawn  in  those  yet  remembered  rays 
Which  shone  upon  the  Persian  flying. 

And  saw  the  Spartan  smile  in  dying. 

Not  mindless  of  these  mighty  times 
Was  Alp,  despite  his  flight  and  crimes; 


rOETRV, 


457 


And  through  this  night,  as  on  he  wandered, 

And  o’er  the  past  and  present  pondered, 
t And  thought  upon  the  glorious  dead 

Who  there  in  better  cause  had  bled. 

He  fell  how  faint  and  feebl)'  dim 
The  fame  that  could  accrue  to  him, 

Who  cheered  the  band,  and  wa\ed  the  sword,  / 

A traitor  in  a turbaned  horde; 

And  lec^them  to  the  lawless  siege. 

Whose  best  success  were  sacrilege. 

Not  so  had  those  his  fancy  numbered. 

The  chiefs  whose  dust  around  him  slumbered; 

Their  phalanx  marshalled  on  the  plain. 

Whose  bulwarks  were  not  then  in  vain. 

They  fell  devoted,  but  undying: 

The  very  gale  their  names  seemed  sighing: 

The  waters  murmured  of  their  name; 

The  woods  were  peopled  with  their  fame; 

The  silent  pillar,  lone  and  gray. 

Claimed  kindred  with  their  sacred  clay; 

Their  spirits  wrapt  the  dusky  mountain, 

Their  memory  sparkled  o’er  the  fountain; 

The  meanest  rill,  the  mightiest  river 
Rolled  mingling  with  their  fame  for  ever% 

Despite  of  every  yoke  she  bears. 

That  land  is  glory’s  still,  and  theirs! 

’Tis  still  a watch  word  to  the  earth. 

AA  hen  man  would  do  a deed  of  worth. 

He  points  to  Greece,  and  turns  to  tread. 

So  sanctioned,  on  the  tyrant’s  head: 

He  looks  to  her,  and  rushes  on  ^ 

Where  life  is  lost,  or  freedom  won. 


From  PauCs  Letters  to  his  Kinsfolk,  [^ascribed  to  Walter  Scott.^ 

The  following  poems  are  translations  from  a manuscript  collection  of  French 
songs,  which  was  found  on  the  field  of  Waterloo  after  the  battle. 

THE  TROUBADOUR. 

Glowing  with  love,  on  fire  for  fame, 

A Troubadour  that  hated  sorrow. 

Beneath  his  lady’s  window  came, 

And  thus  he  sung  his  last  good*morrow; 

VOL.  Vll.  58 


I 


458 


POETRY. 


**  My  arm  it  is  ray  country’s  right. 

My  heart  is  in  ray  true  love’s  bower; 
Guly  for  love  and  fame  to  fight 
Befits  the  gallant  Troubadour.** 

And  while  he  marched  with  helm  on  head 
And  harp  in  hand,  the  descant  rung. 

As  faithful  to  his  favourite  maid. 

The  minstreV-burtheii  still  he  sung: 

**  My  arm  it  is  my  country’s  right. 

My  heart  is  in  my  lady’s  bower; 
Resolved  for  love  and  fame  to  fight, 

I come,  a gallant  Troubadour.” 

Even  when  the  battle-roar  was  deep. 

With  dauntless  heart  he  hewed  his  way, 
IMid  splintering  lance  and  falchion-sweep, 
And  still  was  heard  his  warrior-lay; 

My  life  it  is  my  country’s  right. 

My  heart  is  in  ray  lady’s  bower; 

For  love  to  die,  for  fame  to  fight, 

5,  Becomes  the  valiant  Troubadour.” 

Alas!  upon  the  bloody  field 

He  fell  beneath  the  foeman’s  glaive. 

But  still,  reclining  on  his  shield. 

Expiring  sung  the  exulting  stave: 

**  My  life  it  is  my  country’s  right. 

My  heart  is  in  my  lady’s  bow'er; 

For  love  and  fame  to  fall  in  fight 
Becomes  the  valiant  Troubadour.” 

CUPID’S  CHOICE. 

It  chanced  that  Cupid  on  a season. 

By  Fancy  urged,  resolved  to  wed. 

But  could  not  settle  whether  Reason 
Or  Folly  should  partake  his  bed. 

What  does  he  then? — Upon  my  life, 

’Tw'as  bad  example  for  a deity — 

He  takes  me  Reason  for  his  wife. 

And  Folly  for  his  hours  of  gayety. 

Though  thus  he  dealt  in  petty  treason. 

He  loved  them  both  in  equal  measure; 
Fidelity  was  born  of  Reason, 

And  Folly  brought  to  bed  of  Pleasure* 


DOMESTIC  LITERATURE  AND  SCIENCE. 


An  inquiry  into  the  principles  and  policy  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States.  Com  prising  nine  sections,  under  the  following  heads: — 1.  Aristocracy. 
2-  The  principles  of  the  policy  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  English  policy. 
3.  The  evil  moral  principles  of  the  government  of  the  United  States.  4.  Fund- 
ing. 5.  Banking.  6.  The  good  moral  principles  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States.  7.  Authority.  8.  The  mode  of  infusing  aristocracy  into  the  policy  of  the 
United  States.  9.  The  legal  policy  of  the  United  States.  By  John  Taylor,  of 
Caroline  county,  Virginia.  Fredericksburg:  Green  and  Cady.  1814.  pp.  656. 

Mr.  Taylor  is  a veiy  decided,  unsparing  and  formidable  enemy  of  the 
banking  and  funding  systems.  His  doctrines  on  these  subjects  are  in  open  defi- 
ance of  Adam  Smith,  Alexander  Hamilton,  Lord  Lauderdale,  Ganilh,  Dr.  Boll- 
man  and  the  whole  host  of  our  orthodox  political  economists.  According  to 
him  there  is  ris.ngup  in  this  country  an  aristocracy'  of  paper  and  patronage  that 
threatens  to  be  more  fatal  to  its  freedom  and  happiness  than  any  other  species 
of  aristocracy  could  prove  J'he  evils  of  this  system  he  considers  inherent,  uni- 
form and  inevitable:  an  absolute  monarch,  he  says,  guided  by  the  good  moral 
qualities  of  man  may  produce  national  happiness,  and  so  any  other  anomalous 
case,  under  other  'forms  of  government  may  serve  to  perplex  the  science  of 
politics;  but  under  the  vicious  system  of  paper  and  patronage,  founded  in  the 
evil  moral  qualities  of  avarice  and  ambition,  a nation  has  no  chance  of  happi- 
ness, “ because  an  evil  moral  principle  can  not  produce  good  moral  effects. 
That  a system,  founded  like  this,  upon  evil  moral  principles,  is  incapable  of 
amelioration  from  the  personal  virtues  of  magistrates,  is  proved  by  its  steady 
unfluctuating  course  of  effects  in  England,  where  its  rigorous  consistency,  and 
growing  severity,  is  neither  interrupted  nor  softened  in  the  smallest  degree  by 
the  virtues  of  individuals  Martial  law  and  stock  law,  are  naturally  and  neces- 
sarily tyrants,  but  a man  may  be  a tyrant  or  a patriot.  If  a political  system, 
founded  in  evil  moral  principles,  proceeds  consistently  and  certainly  in  the  dis- 
pensation of  evil  to  nations,  without  sustaining  impediments  from  the  virtues 
even  of  its  administrators;  is  it  not  conceivable,  that  one  founded  in  good  moral 
principles,  is  discoverable,  capable  of  dispensing  good,  independently  also  of  the 
vices  of  its  administrators?  One  as  free  from  evil  qualities,  as  that  of  paper  and 
patronage  is  from  good,  would  probably  effect  so  desirable  an  object.”  p.  36. 

**  It  is  the  same  thing  to  a nation  whether  it  is  subjected  to  the  will  of  a mi- 
nority, by  superstition,  conquest,  or  patronage  and  paper.  Whether  this  end 
is  generated  by  error,  by  force,  or  by  fraud,  the  interest  of  the  nation  is 
invariably  sacrificed  to  the  interest  of  the  minority. 

If  the  oppressions  of  the  aristocracies  of  the  first  and  second  ages,  arose 
from  the  power  obtained  by  minorities,  how  has  it  happened,  that  a nation 
which  has  rejoiced  in  their  downfal,  should  be  jo>  fully  gliding  back  into  the 
sanqe  policy?  How  happens  it,  that  whilst  religious  frauds  are  no  longer  render- 
ed sacred,  by  calling  them  oracles,  political  fraud  should  be  sanctified,  by  calling 
it  national  credit?  Experience,  it  is  agreed,  has  exploded  the  promises  of  ora- 
cles; does  it  not  testify  also  to  those  of  paper  stock? 

**  Paper  stock  always  promises  to  defend  a nation,  and  always  flees  from 
danger.  America  and  Fi’ance  saved  themselves  by  jibysical  power,  after  dan- 
ger had  driven  paper  credit  out  of  the  field?  In  America,  so  soon  as  the  dan- 
ger disappeared,  paper  credit  loudly  boasted  of  its  capacity  to  defend  nations, 
and  though  a disaster,  artfully  repealed  the  rewards  due  to  the  conqueror.  In 
France,  it  transferred  to  fraud  an  avarice  the  domains  which  ought  to  have  aid- 
ed in  defending  the  nation,  or  to  have  been  restored  to  the  former  owners,  p.  37, 

“ Sinecure,  armies,  navies,  offices,  war,  anticipation  and  taxes,  make  up  an 
outline  of  that  vast  political  combination,  concentrated  under  the  denomination 
of  paper  and  patronage.  These,  and  its  other  means,  completely  enable  it  to 
take  from  the  nation  as  much  power  and  as  much  wealth,  as  its  conscience  or 
its  no  conscience  will  allow  it  to  receive;  and  le.st  the  capacity  of  public  loaning 


460 


DOMESTIC  LITERATURE  AND  SCIENCE, 


to  transfer  private  property  should  be  overlooked,  it  has  pi’oceeded  In  England 
to  the  indirect  sa'e  of  private  real  property.  If  a land  tax  is  sold  for  a term 
amounting  to  the  value  of  the  land,  a proprietor  is  to  buy  his  own  land  at  its 
value,  or  admit  of  a co  proprietor,  to  whom  he  must  pay  the  value  by  instal- 
ments; and  thus  a paper  system  can  sell  all  the  lands  of  a nation.  If  national 
danger  should  occur  after  this  sale,  it  can  only  be  met  by  the  people;  and  the 
purcha^r  from  a paper  system,  of  an  exemption  from  the  land  tax  to-day,  must 
be  again  taxed  or  fight  for  his  land  to-morrow.  The  case  of  this  individul  is 
precisely  »hat  of  every  nation,  made  use  of  directly  or  indirectly  to  enrich  a pa- 
per system;  it  is  perpetually  at  auction,  and  never  receives  any  thing  for  itself; 
because,  however  ingeniously  a paper  sy  stem  can  manage  artificial  danger  for 
its  ow  n emolument,  it  is  neither  able  nor  willing  to  meet  real  danger;  and 
how  ever  rich  it  is  made  by  a nation,  the  nation  must  still  defend  itself,  or  per- 
ish. p.  38. 

The  effect  of  opposite  interests,  one  enriched  by  and  governing  the  other, 
correctly  follows  its  cause.  One  interest  is  a tyrant,  the  other  its  slave.  In 
Britain,  one  of  these  interests  ow  es  to  the  other  above  ten  hundred  millions  of 
pounds  sterling,  which  would  require  twelve  millions  of  slaves  to  discharge,  at 
eighty  pounds  sterling  each.  If  the  debtor  interest  amounts  to  ten  millions  of 
souls,  and  would  be  worth  forty  pounds  sterling  round,  sold  for  slaves,  it  pays 
twelve  and  a half  per  centum  on  its  capitation  value  to  the  creditor  interest,  for 
the  exclusive  items  of  debt  and  bank  stock  This  profit  for  their  masters,  made 
by  those  who  are  called  freemen,  greatly  exceeds  what  is  generally  made  by 
those  who  are  called  slaves.  But  as  nothing  is  calculated  except  two  items,  by 
including  the  payments  for  useless  offices,  extensive  salaries,  and  fat  sinecures, 
it  is  evident  that  one  interest  makes  out  of  the  other,  a far  greater  profit  than 
if  it  had  sold  this  other,  and  placed  the  money  in  the  most  productive  state  of 
usance. 

**  Snch  is  the  freemen  of  paper  and  patronage.  Had  Diogenes  lived  until 
this  day',  he  woidd  have  unfledged  a cock  once  more,  and  exhibited  him  as  an 
emblem,  not  of  Plato’s  man,  but  of  a freeborn  Englishman.  Had  Sancho  known 
of  a ])aper  stock  .system,  he  would  not  have  wished  for  the  government  of  an 
island  inhabited  by  negroes.  Has  Providence  used  his  system  to  avenge  the 
Africans,  upon  the  Europeans  and  .Americans? 

“ W hatever  destroys  an  unityof  interest  betw'een  a government  and  a nation, 
infallibly  produces  oppression  and  hatred.  Human  conception  is  unable  to  invent 
a scheme,  more  capable  of  afflicting  mankiml  witli  these  evils,  than  that  of  pa- 
per and  patronage.  It  divides  a nation  into  two  groups,  creditors  and  debtors; 
the  first  supplying  its  w-ant  of  physical  strength;  by  alliances  with  fleets  and 
armies,  and  practising  the  most  unblushing  corruption.  A consciousness  of  in- 
flicting or  siitfering  injuries,  fills  each  with  malignity  towards  the  other.  This 
malignity  first  begets  a multitude  of  penalties,  punishments  and  executions,  and 
then  vengeance. 

“ \ legislature,  ui  a nation  where  the  sy  stem  of  paper  and  patronage  pre- 
vails, will  be  governed  by  that  interest,  and  legislate  in  its  favour.  It  is  impos- 
sible to  do  this.  Without  legislating  to  the  injury  of  the  other  interest,  that  is, 
the  great  mass  of  the  nation.  Such  a legislature  w ill  create  unnecessary  offices, 
that  themselves  or  their  relations  may  be  endowed  with  them.  They  will  lavish 
the  revenue,  to  enrich  themselves  They  will  borrow  for  the  nation,  that  they 
may  lend.  They  will  offer  lenders  great  profits,  that  they  may  share  in  them. 
As  grievances  gradually  excite  national  discontent,  they  will  fix  the  yoke  more 
securely,  by  making  it  gradually  heavier.  And  they  will  finally  avow  and  main- 
tain their  corruption,  by  establishing  an  irresistible  standing  army,  not  to  defend 
the  nation,  but  to  defend  a system  fbr  plundering  the  nation. 

“ .\  nation  exposed  to  a paroxysm  of  conquering  rage,  has  infinitely  the  ad- 
vantage of  one,  subjected  to  the  aristocratical  system.  One  is  local  and  tempo- 
rary; the  other  is  spread  by  law  and  perpetual.  One  is  an  open  robber,  who 
warns  you  to  defend  yourself;  the  other  a sly  thief,  who  empties  your  pockets 


DOMESTIC  LITERATURE  AND  SCIENCE 


461 


under  a pretence  of  paying  yonr  debts.  One  is  a pestilence,  which  will  end  of 
itself;  the  other  a climate  deatlly  to  liberty. 

After  an  invasion,  suspended  rights  nmy  be  resumed,  ruined  cities  rebuilt, 
and  ]>ast  cruelties  forgotten;  but  in  the  oppressions  of  the  aristocracy  of  paper 
and  patronage,  there  can  be  no  respite;  so  long  as  there  is  any  thing  to  get,  it 
cannot  be  glutted  with  wealth;  so  long  as  there  is  any  thing  to  fear,  it  cannot 
be  glutted  with  power;  other  tyrants  die;  this  is  imniortal  p 41. 

*'’  1 he  only  two  inodes  extant  of  enslaving  nations,  are  those  of  armies  and 
the  system  of  paper  and  paironage-  T’be  European  nations  are  subjected  by 
both,  so  that  their  chains  are  doubly  riveted.  The  .Americans  devoted  their 
effectual  precautions  to  the  obsolete  modes  of  title  and  hieraTchy,  erected  se- 
veral barriers  against  the  army  mode,  and  utterly  disregarded  the  mode  of  paper 
and  patronage.  '1  he  ai  my  mode  was  thought  so  formidable,  that  military  men 
are  excluded  from  legislatures,  and  limited  to  charters  or  commissions  at  will; 
and  the  paper  so  harmless,  that  it  is  allowed  to  break  the  princiiile  of  keeping 
legislative,  executive  and  judicative  powers  separate  and  distinct,  to  infuse  itself 
into  all  ihese  departments,  to  unite  them  in  one  conspiracy,  and  to  obtain  char- 
ters or  commissions  for  unrestricted  terms,  enlrei^.ched  behind  public  faith,  and 
out  of  the  reach,  it  is  said,  of  national  will;  which  it  may  assail,  wound  and  des- 
troy with  impunity  p.  42. 

“ A paper  system  proposes,  to  fulfil  its  promise  of  defending  a nation,  by  giv- 
ing it  creilii;  from  which  credit,  it  infers  an  increase  of  natoinal  strength.  Let 
us  ascertain  what  national  strength  is,  before  we  hastily  conclude,  that  it  can  be 
created  by  a stock  system.  It  consists  of  people  and  re%cnue.  If  by  any  means 
a nation  was  deprived  of  half  its  people  would  this  add  to  its  strength?  If  by  a 
paper  system,  it  is  deprived  of  halfits  revenue,  can  this  either  adil  to  its  strength? 
Ilevenue,  like  pcojile,  is  subject  to  numerical  limits.  Suppose  the  people  of 
Britain  are  aide  to  pay  a revenue  of  forty  millions  sterling,  but  that  thirty  are 
appropriated  to  the  use  of  paper  and  patronage:  are  not  tliree  fourths  of  their 
strength  gone,  so  far  as  it  consists  of  revenue?  But  Gi-eat  Britain  with  her  ten 
millions  of  free  revenue  can  borrow  two  hundred  millions.  If  strength  is  to  be 
measured  by  the  power  of  borrowing,  she  could  have  borrowed  four  times  as 
much,  liad  her  w hole  revenue  been  free,  and  consecpiently  would  have  been  four 
limes  as  strong  ” p.  44. 

These  extracts  may  give  the  reader  a general  view  of  the  grounds  on  which 
Mr.  Taylor  supports  his  bold  opinions.  Tlie  great  political  importance  of  the 
subjects  he  discusses,  and  his  very  able  and  ingenious  manner  of  treating  them, 
entitle  his  work  to  the  profound  consideration  of  all  those  wlio  wish  to  become 
thoroughly  acquauited  with  public  affairs.  We  will  only  observe  at  present  that 
in  many  parts  of  the  work,  as  w ell  as  in  the  section  from  w hich  the  above  pas- 
sages are  selected,  he  has  mingled  and  confounded  institutions  which,  however 
allied,  h:ne  no  necessary  connexion  with  each  other,  and  which  should  be  inves- 
tigated separatel}  in  order  to  ascertain  the  nature  and  properties  of  each.  'I'he 
funding  sy.stem,  for  example,  rnav  subsist,  ami  it  has  in  fact  been  established 
and  raised  to  a great  extent  in  countries  which  had  neither  paper  currency  nor 
any  banks  like  ours.  In  France  the  amount  of  the  funded  debt,  previous  to  the 
revolution,  was  enormous,  although  she  had  no  paper  money,  and  but  few  banks; 
which  were  mostly  private  ones,  dealing  only  in  specie  or  in  bills  tliat  were  its 
real  representatives.  I'he  public  debt  of  Spain,  without  banks  or  paper  curren- 
cy arose  to  more  than  eighty  millions  sterling,  or  upwards  of  three  hundred  and 
fifty-five  millions  of  dollars;  and  the  Dutch  nat  onal  debt  became  still  larger, 
although  the  banks  of  Holland  were  merely  banks  for  the  safe  keeping  and  pay- 
ment of  specie,  issuing  no  notes  and  giving  no  credits  but  for  coin  actually  de- 
posited in  their  coffers. — The  banking  system,  though  it  undoubtedly  facilitates 
loans  to  government,  may  in  like  manner  subsist  where  the  funding  system  is 
not  adopted.  'I'he  opponent  of  banking  should  moreover  distinguish  between 
the  various  kinds  of  banks,  and  point  out  the  manner  and  the  degree  in  which 
he  conceives  their  respective  operations  to  be  pernicious;  for  it  is  manifestly  un- 
reasonable to  class  the  bank  tliat  merely  takes  charge  of  and  returns  on  demand 


462 


DOMESTIC  LITERATURE  AND  SCIENCE 


the  coin  belonging  to  others,  with  the  bank  that  lends  out  its  own  specie  for  in- 
terest; or  to  degrade  the  banks  which  give  their  notes  or  credits  for  more 
coin  although  not  for  more  real  property,  than  they  possess,  to  the  level  of 
those  asociations  which  issue  their  notes  without  possessing  wherewith  or  ever 
intending  to  redeem  them.  Yet  this  writer,  without  making  such  discri- 
minations, denounces  the  whole  banking  system  in  mass,  along  with  the 
system  of  national  funding  and  governmental  patronage  which  it  occasions,  as 
being  the  combined  foes  of  the  public  welfare.  He  arraigns  and  tHes  the  three 
supposed  conspirators,  paper  currency,  patronage  and  funding  all  together  and 
endeavours  to  fix  dpon  each  all  the  alledged  misdemeanors  of  both  the  other 
culprits.  This  mode  of  proceeding  displays  the  talent  of  a zealous  and  artful 
accuser  and  gives  full  scope  for  the  exercise  of  popular  declamation;  but  it  is 
unsuitable  for  a philosophical  inquirer  whose  duty  it  is  rather  to  discriminate 
between  things  apparently  similar  or  congenial,  than  to  confound  those  between 
which  marked  distinctions  exist.— In  the  course,  of  the  work,  however,  Mr. 
Taylor  gives,  as  the  title  page  announces,  seperate  investigations  of  funding  and 
banking.  Many  of  his  observations  on  the  former  are  strung,  and  most  of  them 
are  very  specious.  But  here  too,  as  in  the  inquiry  on  ban  King,  his  conclusions 
ai’e  unphilosophically  generalized.  He  decides  against  the  expediency  of  the 
funding  system  without  having  any  regard  to  the  condition  of  a state,  whether 
it  be  advancing,  stationary  or  retrograde;  whether  it  be  deficient  or  abounding 
in  surplus  capital;  whether  the  rate  of  interest  in  it  be  high  or  low;  whether 
its  credit  and  position  be  such  as  to  enable  it  to  borrow  from  foreigners  on  ad- 
vantageous terms,  whether  in  fine  its  agriculture,  mauafactures  or  commerce  be 
or  be  not  susceptible  of  extensive  improvements.  But  whatever  may  be  Mr. 
Taylor’s  errors  as  a political  economist,  his  style  is  clear,  forcible,  and  animated. 
His  w'ork  should  be  aiisw  ered  by  some  able  advocate  of  the  monied  interest.  It 
is  quite  foolish  to  talk,  as  some  do,  of  despising  such  attacks:  less  powerful  ones 
have  sometimes  shaken  interests  as  firmly  established  as  those  of  the  stock- 
holders of  the  United  States;  and  that  too  in  countries  where  the  debtor  part 
of  the  community  (the  large  majority  of  course)were  not  invested  by  law  with 
the  supreme  power  of  the  state. 

Daniel  Kapine,  of  Washington  City,  D.  C.  has  published,  in  the  form  of  a 
pamphlet,  an  Essay  on  Naturalization  and  Allegiance.  It  is  attributed  to  John 
Francis  Dnraoulin,  esq.  a gentleman  of  the  bar  of  that  city.  The  author  main- 
taijis  strenuously,  and  we  think  satisfactorily,  the  right  of  expatriation.  The 
disquisition  displays  great  zeal  in  the  cause  of  freedom,  and  considerable  legal 
and  historical  learning. 

Fielding  Lucas,  of  Baltimore,  has  published  No.  I of  ‘‘Sketches  of  Ameri- 
can Orators.  By  Anonymous.”  Whoever  this  author  may  be,  he  is  possessed  of 
respectable  talents.  We  have  perused  his  sketches  with  great  pleasure.  They 
would  be  rendered  much  more  interesting,  if  there  were  annexed  to  the  oratorical 
character  of  each  speaker,  for  the  purpose  of  illustrating  it,  some  well-chosen 
extract  from  his  most  eloquent  speech. 

The  same  bookseller  has  also  published  “ Letters  from  Virginia.  Trans- 
lated from  the  French.” — Notwithstanding  the  authority  of  the  title  page,  it  is 
more  than  probable  that  these  letters  are  the  original  productions  of  an  Ameri- 
can writer.  They  relate  principally  to  the  religion,  morals,  manners,  and  lite- 
rature of  the  people  of  the  state  of  Virginia;  and  are  written  in  an  unafiected, 
familiar,  and  pleasing  style. 

Mr.  John  Conrad  has  published  a book  entitled  “ Some  information  con- 
cerning Gas  Lights.  By  Thomas  Cooper,  esq.”  With  six  plates  of  the  various 
machinery  hitherto  employed  in  producing  the  gas,  whether  on  a large  scale  for 
cities,  or  in  a small  way  for  manufactories,  theatres,  or  private  houses. — So  little 
h.as  been  done  in  this  country  on  the  subject  here  treated  of,  that  the  work  must 
necessarily  consist  of  European  information;  and  it  appears  in  fact  to  contain 
every  thing  requisite  to  enable  the  reader  to  understand  the  subject  thoroughly, 
and  to  judge  of  the  utility  of  substituting  carburetted  hydrogen  for  oil  or  tallow, 
for  the  purpose  of  producing  light. 


DOMESTIC  LITERATURE  AND  SCIENCE, 


463 


Judge  Cooper  has  given  remarks  on  the  various  kinds  of  apparatus  hereto- 
fore employed,  and  a plate  exhibiting  an  improved  apparatus  of  his  own,  which 
seems  to  combine  the  good  properties,  and  avoid  the  defects  of  those  which  had 
been  in  use  before.  However  convenient  pitch  or  rosin  may  be,  as  a substance 
employed  to  furnish  the  gas,  he  is  of  opinion,  that  for  the  lighting  of  cities  we 
must  resort  to  bituminous  coal.  The  evidence  before  the  committee  of  the 
British  house  of  commons,  reprinted  in  this  work,  contains  much  collateral  useful 
information,  particularly  on  the  use  of  the  coke,  or  charcoal  of  coal. 

On  the  whole,  we  venture  to  recommend  this  book  as  a plain,  perspicuous, 
and  satisfactory  treatise  on  a very  curious  and  important  subject  of  inquiry. 

J.  E.  Hall,  esq.  editor  of  the  Law  Journal,  has  prepared  for  the  press  a new 
**  Treatise  on  the  Law  of  Evidence.  By  S.  Phillips,  esq.  of  the  Middle  Temple. 
The  first  .American,  from  the  second  London  edition.”  With  copious  references 
to  American  cases.  To  ^hich  will  be  added  an  appendix,  containing  an  essay- 
on  the  theory  of  presumptive  proof.  This  work  is  expected  to  appear  in  the 
course  of  a few  weeks. 

The  Uaciad.  A poem  so  called,  describing  the  amusements  of  horse  racing, 
has  been  lately  published  in  a Charleston,  S.  C.  newspaper.  From  the  extracts 
■we  have  seen  from  this  work,  it  appears  to  possess  great  poetical  spirit,  and  to 
merit  publication  in  a more  permanent  form. 

T.  and  J.  Swords,  of  New'  York,  announce  their  intention  of  publishing  a 
?ew  periodical  journal,  to  be  entitled  “ The  Christian  Register,  and  Literary  and 
' Theological  Magazine  and  Review.”  It  is  to  comprise  matter  selected  chiefly 
from  the  best  and  most  recent  European  publications,  together  with  original 
essays — moral  and  literary — reviews,  notices  of  useful  works,  relations  of  remark- 
able facts,  biogi’aphy,  necrology,  and  other  interesting  articles.  It  is  to  be  pub- 
lished in  quarterly  numbers,  of  about  250  pages  each,  similar  to  those  of  the 
Quarterly  Review.  The  price  to  subscribers  will  be  one  dollar  and  a quarter  per 
number,  or  two  dollars  and  a half  for  two  numbers,  payable  on  delivery. 

Judge  Cooper,  we  understand,  means  to  give  a course  of  chemical  lectures 
in  Carlisle  during  the  summer,  and  a course  of  chemistry  and  mineralogy  In  PhL 
ladelphia  from  October  to  April  next. 


FOREIGN  LITERATURE. 

Paul’s  Letters  to  his  Kinsfolk,  republished  from  the  Edinburgh  edition  by  M. 

Thomas. 

Under  this  very  singular  and  quaint  title,  we  are  presented  with  the  reflec- 
tions and  observations  made  by  a writer  of  good  abilities,  and  apparently'  well- 
informed,  in  the  course  of  a tour  from  the  Netherlands  to  Paris,  soon  after,  the 
last  capture  of  that  city  by  the  allies,  on  the  military  affairs,  the  politics,  the 
morals  and  manners  of  the  French  nation.  He  describes  at  length,  and  in  a very 
lively,  interesting  manner,  the  particulars  of  the  battle  of  Waterloo.  Great 
credit  is  given  to  marshal  Grouchy,  as  well  for  his  successful  attack  on  the  Prus- 
sians, under  the  command  of  Tauenzein,  upon  the  Dyle,  as  for  his  masterly 
retreat  with  his  division  to  Paris,  after  the  defeat  and  destruction  of  Bonaparte’s 
army. 

“ The  bndge  at  Wavre,”  says  this  author,  “ particularly,  was  repeatedly 
lost  and  gained  before  the  French  w'ere  able  to  make  their  footing  good  bevond 
it.  At  length  a French  colonel  snatched  the  eagle  of  his  regiment,  and  rushing 
forward,  crossed  the  bridge  and  struck  it  into  the  ground  on  the  other  side.  His 
corps  followed  with  the  unanimous  shout  of  Vive  V Empereur!  and  although  the 
gallant  officer  w ho  thus  led  them  on  was  himself  slain  on  the  spot,  his  followers 
succeeded  in  carrying  the  village.  That  of  Bielge  at  the  same  time  fell  into 
their  hands,  and  Grouchy  anxiously  expected  from  his  emperor  orders  to  improve 
his  success.  Rut  no  such  orders  airived;  the  sound  of  the  cannon  in  that  direction 
slackened,  and  at  length  died  away;  and  it  was  next  morning  before  Grouchy  heard 
the  portentous  news  that  awaited  him,  announcing  the  fate  of  Napoleon  and  his 
army.”  p.  If  6.  And  afterwards,"  The  only  division  of  the  French  army  which  re- 


464 


MONTHLY  LIST  OF  NEW  PUBLICATIONS 


raainetl  entire  after  the  rout  of  Waterloo,  was  that  of  Grouchy  and  Vandamme, 
which,  by  a retreat  that  did  these  generals  the  highest  honour,  was  not  only  conduct- 
ed unbroken  under  the  walls  of  Paris,  but  gained  some  accession  of  strength  from 
the  wrecks  of  the  main  army.”  p.  343. 

Alluding  to  some  late  attempts  in  France  to  restore  the  superstitious  obser- 
vances of  the  dark  and  degraded  ages,  he  makes  the  following  judicious  remarks: 
“ We  must  learn  to  look  with  better  hope  upon  ilie  more  conscientious  eftorts 
for  re-establishing  the  altar,  which  have  been  made  b\  the  king  Yet  w e cannot 
but  fear,  that  the  order  of  the  necessary  reformation  has  been,  to  a cei  ta:n  extent 
at  least,  the  reverse  of  what  would  really  have  attained  the  important  pur])ose8 
designed  by  the  sovcieign.  The  rites,  forms,  and  ceremonies  of  a church,  all 
its  external  observances,  derive,  from  the  public  sense  of  religion  itself,  the  res- 
pect which  is  paid  to  them.  It  is  true,  that  as  the  shell  of  a nut  will  subsist  long 
after  the  kernel  is  decayed,  so  regard  for  ceremonies  and  forms  may  often  remain 
when  true  devotion  is  no  more,  and  when  ignorant  zeal  has  transferred  her  blind 
attachment  from  the  essence  of  religion  to  its  mere  forms.  But  if  that  zeal  is 
quenched,  and  that  attachment  is  eradicated,  and  the  whole  system  is  destroyed 
both  in  show'  and  in  substance,  it  is  not  by  again  enforcing  the  formal  observances 
which  men  have  learned  to  contemn  and  make  jest  of,  that  the  vivifying  jn-inci- 
ple  of  religion  w ill  be  rekindled.  Indeed,  far  front  supposing  that  the  foundation 
of  the  .altar  should  be  laid  upon  the  ritual  of  the  Romish  church,  with  all  the 
revived  superstitions  of  the  twelfth  century,  it  w ould  be  more  prudent  to  aban- 
don to  oblivion,  a part  at  least  of  what  is  shocking  to  common  sense  and  reason; 
W'hich,  although  a most  Christian  king  might  Iiave  found  him.self  under  some  dif- 
ficulty of  abrogating,  w hen  it  was  yet  in  formal  observance,  he  certainly  cannot  be 
called  upon  to  renew,  w'hcn  it  has  fallen  into  desuetude.  Fhe  catholics  of  this  age 
are  not  excluded  from  the  lights  which  it  has  aff<>rdcd;  and  the  attempt  to  re- 
establish  processions,  in  which  the  officiating  persons  hardly  know  their  places, 
tales  of  miraculous  images,  masses  for  the  souls  of  state  criminals,  and  all  the 
mummery  of  barbarous  ages,  is  far  fioni  meeting  the  enlarged  ideas  which  the 
best  and  most  learned  of  them  have  expressed  ” p 59/ 

These  letters  are  announced  in  the  British  journals  as  the  ])roduction  of 
Walter  Scott.  The  w riter  of  them,  though  a zealous  and  loyal  Britton  of  the 
tory  sect,  does  not  utter  those  infamous  calumnies,  nor  indulge  in  the  unmanly- 
exultation,  with  which  so  many  of  the  late  English  tourists  to  France  have 
disgraced  themselves  and  their  works 


MONTHLY  LIST  OF  NEW  PUBLICATIONS. 

W.  W.  Woodward,  of  Philadelphia,  has  published,  in  four  octavo  volumes, 
Ridgely's  Body  of  Divinity,  price  eleven  dollars,  enlarged;  with  valuable  notes, 
original  and  selected,  by  the  reverend  Dr  James  P.  Wilson,  of  Philadelphia. 

Also,  the  royal  octavo  Bible,  with  all  Scott's  marginal  references  and  intro- 
ductions to  the  books  and  chapters — about  1200  pages;  price  from  five  to  nine 
dollars,  in  one  or  two  volumes. 

And  an  edition  of  the  pocket  Bible  just  out  of  press. 

He  has  also  in  press,  vol.  1st.  soon  to  be  printed,  reverend  Dr.  John  Gill’s 
Commentary  on  the  Old  Testament.  \lso,  Scott’s  Family  Bible,  in  three 
quarto  volumes,  to  be  published  w ithout  marginal  references — on  a new  plan— • 
the  notes  to  follow  immediately  after  the  text  in  order.  Price,  in  boards,  §18 
75  cents,  bound,  §21. 

Armstrong  and  Burr,  of  Boston,  propose  publishing  Pratt’s  Life  of  Cecil, 
in  one  neat  volume,  at  about  one  dollar  bound. 

Also,  Buchanan’s  Jubilee  Sermons,  in  one  volume,  at  fifty  cents.  . 

A.  Finley,  Philadelphia,  will  publish  on  the  lOth  of  May,  inst.  “ A disserta- 
tion on  Terms  of  Communion,  with  a particular  view-  to  the  case  of  the  Baptists 
and  Pcedohaptists.  By  Robert  IFall,  M.  A.”  author  of  a sermon  **  on  Modem 
Infidelity,”  “ The  Work  of  the  Holy  ^irit,”  i&c.  &c. 


ANALECTIC  MAGAZINE, 

AND 

NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


JUNE,  1816. 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS, 


DURING  THE  LATE  WAR,  BETWEEN  BRITISH  AND  AMERICAN 
VESSELS. 

(Continued,  from  our  last  number,  from  the  British  Naval  Chronicle.) 

“ Now  comes  the  third  frigate  action,  decidedly  the  best 
fought  of  the  three.  It  was  between  the  Java  and  Constitution# 
and  took  place  on  the  29th  of  December#  1812.  Like  the  Guer- 
VOL.  VII.  59 


466 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


riere,  she  Hvas  burnt  soon  after  the  action.  lThe  Java  ^vas  on  her 
passas^e  to  India,  with  governor  Hislop  and  his  suit  on  board,  and 
some  naval  officers  and  men  to  join  their  ships  on  that  station. 
She  was,  no  doubt,  as  the  Americans  say,  “ fitted  out  in  great 
style;’^  that  is,  her  cabin  ivas  elegantly  set  off;  her  accommoda- 
tions for  the  great  folks  on  board  of  her  were  excellent;  but  her 
crew,  which,  at  this  period,  when  the  caj)ture  of  two  frigates  suc- 
cessively, by  two  enemy’s  frigates,  was  grieving  the  nation,  ought 
to  have  been  choice,  or  at  least  equal  to  the  crews  of  our  ships  in 
general,  was  actually  composed  of  the  most  miserable  set  of 
wretches  that  could  be  scraped  together.  Well  might  one  of  the 
Anierica.n  seamen  exclaim,  after  the  action,  the  Java’s  men  were 
the  most  ragamuffin  set  of  fellows  I ever  saw  on  board  a man  of 
war.”  Why  did  not  captain  Lambert  apply  for  a better  crewd  It 
is  said  he  dici,  and  was  told  an  East  India  voyage  w'ould  make  sea- 
men. The  fact  is,  many  of  his  men  had  never  fired  a gun  before, 
except  in  a salute,  and  those  that  knew  how  were  scarcely  enough 
in  number  to  fill  the  places  of  captains  of  guns  throughout  the 
ship.  The  armament  of  the  Java,  as  appears  by  lieutenant  Chads* 
letter,  w^as  similar  to  the  Guerriere’s,  with  the  exception  of  the 
two  bow-port  main-deck  guns.  The  broadside,  therefore,  will  be 
the  same.  About  the  number  of  the  Java’s  men,  the  two  accounts 
differ.  The  Americans  say  she  had  three  hundred  and  ninety- 
three-— lieutenant  Ciiads,  three  hundred  and  seventy-seven.  Al- 
iowdng  for  any  mistake,  let  us  take  the  mean  of  the  two,  and  admit 
there  were  three  hundred  and  eighty-five,  including  crew,  super- 
numeraries, and  passengers. 

“ The  Constitution’s  force  I have  already  enumerated:  lieute- 
nant Chads  calls  her  two  spar-deck  foremast  guns  eighteen  pound- 
ers; captain  Dacres  twenty-four  pounders: — neither  are  wrong, 
for  the  guns  in  question  are  two  long  English  long  eighteen  pound- 
ers bored  to  carry  a tw^enty-four  pound  shot.  Lieutenant  Chads 
gives  the  Constitution  four  more  men  than  captain  Dacres.  That 
is  probably  correct,  for  upon  her  return  from  her  last  cruise,  in 
May,  this  year,  she  had  five  hundred  and  fifty-three  on  board,  al- 
though she  had  just  previously  declined  an  engagement  with  La 
Pique  of  36.  There  is  a wide  difference  in  giving  the  amount  of 
the  enemy’s  wounded.  Lieutenant  Chads  says  forty-eight;  t.li« 


Si^NOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


467 


American  twenty-five.  As  in  the  number  of  the  Java’s  crew,  I 
will  aliow  for  errors  on  both  sides,  and  fix  thirty-six  for  our  loss 
in  wounded: — with  the  killed,  then,  the  relative  numbers  run  thus: 
British  one  hundred  and  twenty-four,  American  forty-six.  1 have 
no  hesitation  in  avering  my  belief,  that  had  the  crew  of  the  Java 
been  a little  more  experienced  a different  result  would  have  hap- 
pened, in  spite  of  the  vast  disparity  of  force.  1 have  omitted  giv- 
ing a statement  of  the  force  engaged  in  this  battle,  as  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  two  crews,  the  superiority  on  the  American  side  is 
precisely  the  same  as  that  between  the  Guerriere  and  Constitu- 
tion, to  which  I refer.  In  number  of  men  the  Americans  exceed- 
ed us  exactly  as  five  to  four,  with  the  advantage  of  having  “ all 
picked  men,”  to  oppose  so  motley  a ship’s  company.  In  this  year 
we  captured  the  Nautilus  American  brig  of  sixteen  guns  and  one 
hundred  and  thirty  men. 

“ The  next  in  order  of  date  is  a second  sloop  action  fought  on 
the  24th  of  February,  1813,  between  the  Peacock  brig  and  Hornet 
ship.*  1 have  no  British  official  account  to  direct  me  in  this  af- 
fair. It  appears,  however,  that  the  Peacock  having  exchanged 
her  carronades,  by  the  desire  of  the  captain,  when  last  in  an  En- 
glish port,  had  on  board  only  twenty-four  pounders,  as  admitted  by 
the  Americans.  As  to  her  complement  of  men,  when  we  recur 
to  fhe  station  she  was  attached  to  (the  West  Indian)  we  have  a 
right  to  believe  she  was  far  short  both  in  number  and  efficient 
strength.  An  account  published  in  the  States,  some  months  after 
the  action,  by  some  of  the  officers  that  belonged  to  her,  mentions 
her  crew  to  have  consisted  altogether  of  one  hundred  and  ten. 
The  Americans,  by  drowning  nineteen  of  them  and  throwing  over- 
board five  or  six  more,  did,  I know,  swell  the  number  to  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-four;  but  as  this  talc  was  framed  immediately  after 
the  action,  and  the  above  British  account,  though  subsequently 
given,  was  not  contradicted,  I shall  adopt  the  latter  for  my  guide. 
The  armament  of  the  Hornet  I take  from  their  own  records.  Her 
crew  was  confessed  to  have  been  upwards  of  one  hundred  and  se- 
venty. Many  in  Aiperica  have  said  one  hundred  and  eighty  odd. 
I shall  be  contented  with  the  smaller  number,  the  usual  quality  of 
American  seamen  being  kept  in  recollection.  Here  then  follows 
a comparison  of  these  two  vessels: 

■*  Vide  Naval  Ghfanicle,  vol.  19,  p.  388, 


NAVAL  OHRONIGLE. 


PEACOCK.  HORNET. 

(Rating  18,  mounting  the  same)  (Rating  16,  mounting  20  guns.) 

Broadside,  8 241b.  carron ad es,  lQ2Ib.  Broadside,  9 321b.  carronades,  2881b.s. 

1 61b.  long  gun,  6 1 121b.  long  gun,  12 

1981b.  SOOlbs. 

Besides  a small  boat  gun.  Men  ITO. 

Men  and  boys  110  Measurement  about  (English)  530  ton^. 

Measurement  under  3S0  tons. 

Superiority  on  the  American  side. 

In  weight  of  metal,  as  three  to  two. 

In  number  of  men,  as  three  to  two. 

In  size  of  vessel,  as  seven  to  five. 

In  this  battle  the  Americans  had  evidently  the  whole  fight 
to  themselves.  Were  we  to  credit  all  we  heard  on  the  subject, 
it  would  appear  our  brig  was  not  in  order  to  sustain  a contest  with 
an  enemy’s  vessel  of  even  rather  less  than  her  own  force,  much 
more  with  one  upwards  of  a third  stronger  in  guns  and  men,  and 
in  the  highest  state  of  discipline  and  good  order.  The  Americans 
acknowledge  only  five  killed  and  ^vounded,  and  slate  our  loss  to 
have  been  thirty-eight,  including  some  that  went  down  in  the  brig 
at  the  close  of  the  action.  Never  was  there  a finer  specimen  of 
marine  gunnery  than  the  Americans  displayed  in  this  engagement. 
Against  this  loss  we  have  to  place  the  capture  of  the  Vixen  and 
Viper  of  similar  force  to  the  Nautilus. 

“ The  Americans  have  down  in  their  list  the  Duke  of  Glouces- 
ter brig,  of  twelve  guns,  taken  from  us  at  the  surrender  of  York, 
on  the  26th  of  April.  It  is  probable  she  was  neither  armed  nor 
sea-worthy,  as  they  have  made  no  use  of  her. 

“ The  next  action  was  between  the  Chesapeake  and  Shannon, 
fought  on  the  doubly  glorious  1st  of  June  this  year.  Long  had 
captain  Broke,  and  his  “ gallant  shipmates,”  as  he  emphatically 
calls  them,  sought  this  meeting.  The  enemy,  confident  in  his 
fine  crew,”  and  the  superior  equipment  of  his  ship,  and  inebri- 
ated with  former  successes,  was,  perhaps,  not  less  anxious  for 
battle,  though  more  certain  that  victory  would  crown  his  efforts. 
The  Shannon’s  proper  complement  was  three  hundred  and  ten,  but 
the  day  previous  to  the  action  she  got  twenty  hands  out  of  a re- 
■o^pture,  which  increased  her  whole  crew  to  three  hundred  and 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


469 


thirty.  The  Chesapeake’s  victualling  book  contained  three  hun- 
dred and  eighty-nine;  but  lots  of  volunteers,  to  be  present  at  the 
“ glork)Us  triumph,”  sallied  forth  from  Boston.  These,  having 
just  came  on  board  for  a frolick^  were  not  inserted  on  the  muster- 
roll.  I know  the  Congress  frigate,  of  similar  rate  to  the  Chesa- 
peake, returned  into  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  shortly  afterwards,  with  a 
crew  of  four  hundred  and  ten,  therefore  cannot  be  surprised  at  the 
Chesapeake,  on  such  an  occasion,  having  four  hundred  and  forty,  as 
stated  in  captain  Broke’s  letter.*  From  persons  who  went  on 
board  both  ships  on  their  arrival  in  port,  expressly  to  take  an  ac- 
count of  their  respective  armaments,  I am  enabled  to  give  the  fol- 
lowing particulars: 


SHANNON. 

(Rating  38,  mounting  48  guns) 

Besides,  1 12Ib.  carronade7  ^ 

IGlb.  do.  j boat  guns. 

Broadside. 

Main-deck,  14  181b.  long  guns,  2521bs. 
Quarter-deck,  2 91b.  do.  do.  18 
Forecastle,  8 321b.  carronades,  256 

. .')261bs. 


Men  and  boys,  in  all,  330. 
Measurement,  under  1050  tons. 


CHESAPEAKE. 

(Rating  36,  mounting  49  gwns.) 

Besides,  1 121b.  on  an  elevating  car- 
riage. 

Broadside. 

Main-deck,  14  181b.  long  guns,  2521bs, 

Quarter-deck,  1 do.  do.  (shifting 
gun)  . . 18 

Forecastle,  10  S21b.  carronades,  320 

590lbs. 

Men,  picked  and  volunteers,”  440. 

Aleasurement  exactly  (English)  11271-2 
tons. 


Superiority  on  the  Jlmerican  side. 

In  weight  of  metal,  as  nine  to  eight. 

In  number  of  men,  as  four  to  three. 

In  size  of  vessel,  as  fourteen  to  thirteen. 


“ Thus,  in  thirteen  minutes  from  the  firing  of  the  first  guia. 
ended  the  fairest,  shortest,  severest,  and  most  decisive  action 
ever  fought  between  two  ships  so  nearly  of  an  equality  as  the 
Shannon  and  Chesapeake.  The  enemy’s  ship,  originally  rated  a 
forty-four,  and  carried  four  more  guns  on  her  upper  deck  than  she 


* To  prove  the  size  and  sturdiness  of  the  Chesaiieake’s  crew  generally,  it 
is  a fact  that  the  v'ons  found  on  board  that  ship,  which  were  of  the  ordinary  con- 
struction, when  applied  to  the  wrists  of  the  prisoners,  made  many  of  them  wince 
a«d  complain  of  their  tightness. 


470 


;NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


had  in  the  action;  but  upon  such  forty-four’s  as  the  President,  and 
her  two  sister  ships,  being  sent  to  sea,  the  rate  of  the  Chesapeake 
v/as  altered  to  a thirty-six,  although  even  then  larger  and  of  more 
force  than  any  thirty-eight  in  our  service.  The  Shannon  lost  her 
first  lieutenant  and  several  men  after  possession  had  been  gained 
of  the  enemy’s  deck,  owing  to  some  mistake  in  shifting  the  colours. 

“ The  Chesapeake's  loss  is  stated  by  captain  Broke  to  have 
been  one  hundred  and  seventy.  One  of  the  American  surgeons  esti- 
mates it  at  about  “ one  hundred  and  sixty  to  one  hundred  and  se- 
venty;” therefore,  the  British  account  is  probably  correct.  The 
American  official  account,  written  by  a lieutenant  Budd,  is  glar- 
ingly false  in  many  particulars,  so  that  if  the  list  of  killed  and 
wounded  stated,  as  annexed  to  his  letter,  had  been  published  (which 
was  not  the  case)  it  could  not  have  been  relied  upon.  The  follow- 
ing is  a summary  of  the  relative  execution  done  by  the  two  ships. 
Shannon’s  killed  and  wounded,  eighty-four — Chesapeake’s  ditto, 
one  hundred  and  seventy  Upwards  of  nineteen  men  disabled  per 
minute  proved  the  earnestness  of  the  combat,  and  the  proportion 
that  fell  by  the  Shannon’s  guns  proved  further,  that  in  this  action, 
at  least,  British  powder  and  shot  did  not  scatter  uselessly  in  the 
air.  The  whole  inside  of  the  Chesapeake’s  bulwarks,  fore  and  aft, 
was  covered  with  netting  to  catch  the  splinters!  So  much  for  the 
tenderness  of  the  enemy.  His  bitterness  created  general  amuse- 
ment in  the  cart-loads  of  langridge,  iron  bolts,  and  other  American 

artillery  that  were  exposed  to  sale  at  public  auction!” 

• 

Continuation  of  the  Remarks  on  “ the  Synopsis  of  Xaval  Ac- 
tions, fought  between  the  British  and  American  ships  of 
warf  in  the  British  Naval  Chronicle- 
If  the  British  officer  on  the  American  station”  were  as 
dextrous  in  gaining  a victory  as  in  excusing  a defeat,  he 
would  be  the  greatest  oflicer  in  the  world.  His  storehouse  of 
excuses  seems  absolutely  inexhaustible,  and,  what  is  very 
singular,  its  variety  equals  its  exuberance:  for  he  has  a new 
apology  for  every  new  disaster.  Some  of  these  are  indeed 
none  of  the  best,  but  it  is  said,  even  a poor  excuse  is  better 
than  none,  which  is  all  we  can  say  in  favour  of  the  excuses 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


471 


of  this  unfortunate  British  naval  officer.  In  progressing — 
pardon  us,  most  potent  reviewers — in  progressing  with  our 
examination  of  the  Synopsis,  we  were  led  to  wonder  exceed- 
ingly what  excuses  he  would  find  for  the  next  defeat,  suppo- 
sing as  we  did  that  by  that  time  he  must  be  quite  exhausted. 
But  in  this  we  did  great  injustice  to  the  fertility  of  his  imagi- 
nation, which  never  fails  him  at  a pinch;  for  if  he  don’t  find 
excuses,  he  makes  them,  and  thus,  though  we  cannot  in  con- 
science give  him  much  credit  for  the  authenticity  of  his  state- 
ments, w^e  wall  not  withhold  our  admiration  of  the  originality 
of  his  invention,  or  the  extent  and  variety  of  his  imagination. 

These  qualities  are  no  where  more  strikingly  displayed 
than  in  the  details  of  the  action  between  the  Java  and  Consti- 
tution, (that  pestilent  ‘‘  bunch  of  pine  boards”)  which  took 
place  on  the  29th  of  December,  1812.  In  this  affair  the  loss 
of  the  Constitution  was  thirty-four,  nine  of  whom  were  killed, 
and  twenty-five  wounded; — that  of  the  Java  sixty  killed,  and 
one  hundred  and  one  wounded,  making  a total  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty-one.  The  Java  was  so  completely  a WTeck  as  to 
render  it  necessary  to  destroy  her.  The  Constitution,  after 
putting  the  surviving  crew  of  the  Java  on  shore  at  St.  Salva- 
dor, proceeded  on  her  cruise,  which  she  completed,  so  little 
damage  had  she  sustained.  Against  these  facts  the  British 
officer  puts  his  account  current  in  formidable  array,  and  the 
result  of  his  calculations  is,  that  the  disparity  of  force  was 
precisely  the  same  as  existed  between  the  Constitution  and 
the  Guerriere. 

Our  gallant  officers,  whose  authority  is  at  least  equal  to 
that  of  lieutenant  Chads,  of  the  Java,  of  whom  we  shall  say- 
more  presently,  state  the  force  of  the  Java  at  forty-nine  guns, 
and  three  hundred  and  ninety-five  men.  The  Constitution 
carried  fifty-four  guns,  and  four  hundred  men.  The  Java 
therefore  was  inferior  by  five  guns  and  five  men  to  the  Con- 
stitution. This  is  but  a trifling  difterence,  and  wholly  inade- 
quate to  account  for  the  disparity  of  loss,  which  is  almost  as 
five  to  one.  But,  says  the  ingenious  officer,  the  crew  of  the 


472 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


Java  was  composed  of  the  most  miserable  set  of  wretches  that 
could  be  scraped  together.”  This  is  quite  enough  for  us. 

W e never  said  any  thing  more  than  that  we  had  better  mea 
than  those  in  the  British  navy— better  officers,  and  better 
ships — and  the  writer  here  admits,  for  the  third  time  at  least, 
that  the  crews  of  the  British  vessels  were  and  are  utterly  in- 
ferior to  ours. 

Of  captain  Lambert,  who  died  of  his  wounds  not  long  i 
after  the  surrender  of  the  Java,  we  wish  to  speak  with  the  re-  ; 
spect  due  to  a brave  man,  who  died  in  defence  of  his  ship,  and  i 
whom  we  allow  to  have  defended  her  bravely,  if  not  judiciously.  . 

It  appears  by  the  admission  of  some  of  the  officers  of  the  Ja-  ; 

va,  that  captain  Lambert  mistook  the  Constitution  for  the  Es-  ! 

sex  frigate,  which  had  left  Port  Prayo  only  one  day  before  the  ; 

arrival  of  the  Java  at  that  place.  From  the  time  of  his  depar-  j 

ture  to  that  of  his  falling  in  with  the  Constitution  he  was  in 
hourly  expectation  of  meeting  the  Essex,  and,  from  the  ad- 
mission of  his  owm  officers,  he  fought  the  action  under  the  im- 
pression that  it  was  this  ship.  This  accounts  for  his  keeping 
at  long  shot  distance,  during  much  of  the  action,  knowing  that  i 
the  Essex  mounted  only  carronades,  and  consequently  that  he 
could  reach  her  with  his  long  eighteens  without  being  exposed 
to  her  fire  in  the  least.  Though  captain  Lambert  was  pre-  s 
occupied  for  several  days  with  the  idea  of  meeting  the  Essex,  ^ 
and  was  ignorant  that  the  Constitution  was  in  his  neighbour-  : 
hood,  still  considering  the  small  size  of  the  Essex,  and  the  j 
enormous  magnitude  of  the  Constitution,  wffiich  according  to  ^ 
this  writer  equals  that  of  a seventy-four,  w^e  think  that  a judi-  ! 
cious  and  experienced  officer  ought  not  to  have  mistaken  one 
for  the  other.  There  is  little  doubt  that  his  prolonged  resist- 
ance w'as  not  a little  owing  to  this  mistake:  for  it  is  related  by-' 
our  officers,  that  he  was  mightily  relieved  when  told  wffiat 
vessel  had  beat  him,  and  incontinently  exclaimed,  then  we 
are  safe.” 

In  the  Java,  besides  her  complement  of  men,  was  gene- 
ral Hyslop,  his  suite,  and  one  or  two  captains  of  the  British 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS^ 


473 


navy,  on  their  way  to  India.  Captain  Bainbridge  paroled 
the  whole  surviving  officers  and  crew,  together  with  general 
Hislop  and  his  suite,  and  recovered  and  restored  to  the  general 
a number  of  pieces  of  silver  plate,  claimed  as  his  property. 
The  lieutenant-general  wrote  a letter  to  captain  Bainbridge, 
acknowledging  in  the  most  unqualified  terms  his  liberal  cour« 
lesy,  not  only  to  the  general  himself,  but  to  the  surviving  offr^ 
cers  and  crew  of  the  Java.  In  grateful  return  for  the  kindness 
shown  to  the  officers  and  crew,  lieutenant  Chads,  on  his  re- 
turn to  England,  wrote  an  official  letter  to  the  secretary  of  the 
admiralty,  in  the  true  spirit  of  a British  official  statement:  that 
is  to  say — marked  with  every  feature  of  misrepresentation; 
and  the  surgeon  of  the  Java,  not  to  be  outdone  by  his  gallant 
commander,  published  a most  scandalous  account  of  the  in- 
humanity with  which  the  wounded  were  treated  by  our  officers 
after  the  battle.  If,  as  some  officers  soon  after  the  conclusion 
of  the  war,  acknowledged  in  New  York,  it  is  the  policy  of 
their  government  to  make  the  best  of  every  disaster,  for  the 
purpose  of  deceiving  the  people,  let  it  be  so*  But  this  is  no 
argument  why  w^e  should  not  repel  their  calumnies,  and  vin- 
dicate not  only  our  victories,  but  our  national  reputation,  as- 
sailed as  it  has  been  in  every  point  with  the  most  inveterate 
hostility.  On  no  occasion  has  it  happened,  that  any  of  their 
beaten  commanders  has  done  justice  to  the  courtesy  of  their 
conquerors;  or  if  it  did  so  happen  that  they  were  unw^arily 
seduced,  by  a momentary  and  evanescent  feeling  of  gratitude, 
to  pay  a compliment  to  American  courtesy,  it  has  invariably 
been  seen  that  when  they  returned  to  England  they  were  fain 
to  conciliate  the  admiralty,  and  obtain  pardon  for  their  defeats 
by  recalling  their  hasty  effusions  of  gratitude,  and  eating  their 
words.  It  is  rather  singular,  however,  that  the  writer  of  the 
Synopsis,  who  has  been  a whole  year  collecting  his  facts,  and 
who  is  withal  so  candid  a gentleman,  should  not  have  known, 
or  knowing,  should  have  omitted  to  mention,  the  conduct  of 
captain  Bainbridge  towards  general  Hislop,  and  the  officers 
and  crew  of  the  Java.  If  “ the  task  of  representing  the  ch^J- 
YOL.  viu  6D 


474 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


racter  of  an  enemy  in  an  unfavourable  light  was  so  painful” 
to  his  feelings,  why  did  he  not  solace  his  wounded  sensibility 
by  giving  that  enemy  credit  for  his  high  and  generous  courte- 
sy? It  is  plain  from  this,  and  other  omissions  we  mean  to  no- 
tice in  their  proper  place,  that  his  affectation  of  pain  on  the 
occasion  alluded  to  was  nothing  but  the  low  and  miserable 
cant  of  insidious  hypocrisy,  giving  a keener  and  deeper  cha- 
racter to  the  injury  by  pretending  to  inflict  it  unwillingly. 

We  cannot  help  noticing  the  cunning  attempt  intertwined  ' 
with  the  relation  of  the  capture  of  the  Java  to  put  John  Bull 
in  somewhat  of  a good  humour,  by  telling  him  of  the  Consti- 
tution, with  ‘‘  five  hundred  and  fifty-three”  “ picked”  men  oh 
board,  running  away  from  the  La  Pique  thirty-six, . in  the 
West  Indies,  and  of  the  capture  of  the  Nautilus,  of  sixteen 
guns.  The  first  story  is  singularly  unlucky,  since  it  is  noto- 
riously known,  that  at  that  time  the  order  not  to  engage  an 
American  frigate  singly  had  been  promulgated  by  the  British 
admiralty,  and  that  the  British  frigates,  in  doubtless  most  un- 
willing obedience  to  this  painful  duty,  always  saved  our  ships 
the  trouble  and  disgrace  of  running  away  by  running  away 
first.  As  to  the  Nautilus,  she  was  taken  by  a squadron  of  line 
of  battle  ships  and  frigates,  and  the  honour  must  be  divided 
among  so  many  that  it  is  hardly  worth  claiming,  except  where 
honour  is  very  scarce. 

The  next  action  that  occurs  in  the  “ Synopsis”  is  that  of 
the  Hornet  and  Peacock,  which  took  place  on  the  24th  of  Fe- 
bruary, 1813.  The  relative  force  of  the  two  vessels  is  thus 
summed  up  by  the  author: — In  weight  of  metal  and  number  of 
men  as  three  to  two,  in  size  of  vessel  as  seven  to  five,  in  fa- 
vour of  the  Americans.  Where  he  procured  his  data  for  these 
calculations  the  writer  does  not  tell  us,  merely  hinting  at  an 
account  published  somewhere  or  other,  and  which  not  having 
been  contradicted,  as  he  says,  “ he  shall  adopt  for  his  guide.”  , 
The  force  of  the  Hornet,  as  taken  from  the  records  of  the  na- 
vy department,  was  twenty  guns,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  men;  her  tonnage  four  hundred  and  forty  and  two-thirds. 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


475 


The  Peacock,  by  his  own  acknowledgment,  was  of  three  hun- 
dred and  eighty  tons,  and,  from  the  best  information  which 
could  be  procured  by  our  officers,  she  carried  one  hundred 
and  thirty-nine  men.  13ut  even  admitting  the  difference  stated 
by  himself  to  be  correct,  will  this  account  for  the  result?  In 
fifteen  minutes  from  the  first  fire  the  Peacock  struck,  and 
went  down  so  immediately  after,  that  some  of  our  own  men 
were  drowned  in  attempting  to  save  her  crew.  In  less  than 
two  hours  after  the  action,  the  Hornet  had  all  her  damages 
repaired,  her  boats  hoisted  in  and  stowed  away,  and  was  rea- 
dy for  action  with  another  British  sloop  of  war,  which  was  in 
sight  during  the  whole  engagement,  but  which  doubtless,  from  a 
principle  of  honour,  kept  aloof,  and  did  not  interfere  either  be- 
fore or  after.  The  Peacock  had  five  killed  and  thirty- eight 
wounded;  the  Hornet  one  killed  and  two  wounded — making 
a difference  of  five  to  one  in  killed,  and  nineteen  to  one  in 
wounded.  This  is  rather  more  than  the  difference  in  men, 
guns,  and  tonnage  will  warrant,  even  if  we  take  the  statement 
of  the  British  naval  officer  for  our  guide.  Again  he  is  forced 
to  acknowledge  it  to  have  been  owing  to  the  superiority  of 
our  skill.  “ Never,”  says  he,  ‘‘  was  there  a finer  specimen  of 
marine  gunnery  than  the  Americans  displayed  in  this  engage- 
ment.” Here  once  more  we  have  the  key  to  the  whole  affair, 
and  the  admission  is  still  more  remarkable,  as  being  the  only 
specimen  of  candour  exhibited  in  the  whole  course  of  the  la- 
bours of  the  British  naval  officer. 

In  this  memorable  engagement,  perhaps  more  decisive  of 
a superiority  on  the  part  of  the  Americans  than  any  that  ever 
occurred,  our  people  exhibited,  in  the  most  striking  manner, 
their  humanity  to  the  conquered  enemy.  They  risked  their 
lives  in  saving  them,  and  some  of  our  gallant  seamen  were 
drowned  in  the  attempt.  They  afterwards  generously  subscri- 
bed a portion  of  their  pay  to  clothe  the  survivors  of  the  Pea- 
cock’s crew,  who  had  lost  their  baggage  when  that  vessel 
sunk.  We  should  scorn  to  mention  these  things^  did  not  the 
want  of  candour,  as  well  as  truth,  which  distinguishes  almost 


476 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE, 


all  the  accounts  of  our  country  published  in  England,  render 
it  an  act  of  self  defence  to  proclaim  our  kindnesses  to  this  un- 
grateful enemy,  who  measures  our  character  by  his  own  antir 
pathies,  and  who,  in  the  mortification  of  his  defeats,  forgets 
that  justice  is  due  even  to  an  opponent. 

Against  this  loss,”  continues  the  officer,  wo  have  to 
place  the  capture  of  the  Vixen,  and  the  Viper,  of  similar  force 
to  the  Nautilus.”  He  wusely  however  abstains  from  giving, 
the  relative  force  in  these  instances.  It  did  not  suit  his  pur- 
pose, for  the  Vixen  w^as  taken  by  the  Southampton  frigate  of 
thirty-six  guns,  and  much  as  we  feel  our  superiority,  w^e  hard- 
ly think  an  American  brig  of  sixteen  guns  a match  for  a Bri- 
tish frigate  of  six  and  thirty.  The  Viper  was  originally  built 
for  an  anchor  hoy,  then  turned  into  a gun-boat — was  after- 
w^ards  rigged  as  a cutter,  but  being  found  unfit  for  either  gun- 
boat or  cutter,  "was  rigged  as  a brig,  and  laughed  at  by  every 
body.  She  was  taken  by  a frigate  or  seventy-four,  we  forget 
which.  These  two  brilliant  victories  are,  how^ever,  put  forth 
as  a sort  of  offset  against  one  of  the  finest  victories  ever  gain- 
ed by  one  sloop  of  war  over  another;  and  although  they  seem 
to  have  little  to  do  in  a question  of  superior  skill  and  gallantry, 
we  are  willing  to  let  them  go  for  wffiat  they  are  w^orth.  In  an 
account  current,  like  that  of  our  great  arithmetician,  wdiere 
the  balance  is  so  heavy  against  him,  it  would  be  ungenerous 
to  scrutinize  his  little  credits  too  sev*erely,  and  therefore  let 
them  pass. 

When  people  have  but  little  to  boast  of  they  are  some- 
what excusable  to  make  as  much  of  a small  matter  as  they 
can;  and  we  are  therefore  neither  surprised  nor  mortified  at 
the  triumphant  exhibition  of  the  battle  between  the  Shannon . 
and  Chesapeake  for  the  second  time  in  the  Synopsis.  It  was 
fought,  says  the  wTiter,  on  the  ever  glorious  first  of  June,” 
which  the  reader  may  possibly  recollect  is  the  anniversary  of 
lord  Howe’s  victory.  The  result  of  this  action  every  body 
knows;  and  though  it  was  fought  mider  many  disadvantages 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


477 


on  our  side,  as  well  as  with  an  inferiority  of  force,  we  will 
give  them  the  credit  of  this  victory,  not  only  because  we  can 
well  spare  it,  but  because  we  wish  to  set  them  an  example  of 
candour.  True  it  is,  that  the  Shannon  was  a thirty-eight  gun 
frigate,  carrying  fifty-three,  according  to  the  testimony  of  all 
the  surviving  officers  of  the  Chesapeake,  and  carrying,  by  thfe 
admission  of  this  writer  himself,  three  hundred  and  thirty  men. 
The  victualling  book  of  the  Chesapeake,  to  which  he  refers, 
is  of  little  authority,  when  it  is  known  that  captain  Lawrence 
put  to  sea  almost  immediately  on  the  appearance  of  the  Shan- 
non, and  that  his  men  having  leave,  were  many  of  them  on 
shore,  and  could  not  be  found  in  time.  From  the  best  autho- 
rity we  state,  that  her  crew,  at  the  time  of  the  action,  did  not 
come  up  to  three  hundred  and  fifty  men — so  far  from  being 
“ picked,”  as  the  writer  of  the  Synopsis  states,  that  they  were 
in  a state  of  great  discontent,  in  consequence  of  some  delay 
in  the  receipt  of  prize  money.  The  Chesapeake  mounted  but 
forty-eight  guns;  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that  this  difference 
of  five  guns  is  precisely  what  in  reality  constituted  the  differ- 
ence in  the  number  of  the  guns  of  the  Constitution,  the  Guer- 
riere,  and  the  Java.  But  we  will  not  descend  to  imitate  the 
English  in  their  excuses.  If  the  crew,  and  the  inferior  officers 
of  the  Chesapeake,  were  disaffected,  or  inexperienced,  they 
were  in  this  instance  inferior  to  their  enemy;  and  so  far 
as  this  instance,  and  that  of  the  Argus,  can  weigh  against 
eighteen  or  twenty  on  the  other  side,  let  it  have  its  full  weight. 
Far  be  it  from  us  to  say,  that  accident,  or  some  other  cause,  will 
not  sometimes  give  a victory  to  our  enemies:  for  we  know  that 
there  are  cases  in  which  a French  ship  has  beat  a British  one 
of  equal  force.  Yet  we  never  inferred  from  this,  that  the  for- 
mer was  superior  to  the  latter  in  skill  and  bravery.  This 
would  be  a new  species  of  demonstration,  making  the  truth  of 
a position  to  depend,  not  upon  the  number,  but  the  rarity  of 
its  proofs,  and  establishing  a fact  on  the  basis  of  nineteen  con- 
tradictions out  of  twenty.  It  would  be  like  breaking  down  a 
general  rule  on  the  authority  of  a single  exception,  and  con- 


478 


XAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


verting  that  single  exception  into  a general  rule.  We  recol- 
lect a blustering  sort  of  an  English  sailor  in  one  of  our  country 
villages,  a sort  of  Pindar  of  Wakefield^  that  is,  a kind  of  rural 
champion,  who  goes  to  town  meetings,  reviews,  and  horse 
racings,  picking  quarrels  with  peaceable  people,  and  bullying 
those  who  he  thinks  will  not  light.  In  the  same  village  was 
a queer,  slouching,  good-natured  countryman,  a great  talker, 
but  withal  of  a quiet,  peaceable  disposition,  and  very  slow  to 
anger.  These  two  never  met  but  the  bully,  who  by  dint  of 
being  beaten  tolerably  often  had  got  pretty  well  used  to  it, 
made  it  a point  to  force  this  peaceable  man  into  a fight.  True, 
he  always  got  the  worst  of  it  except  once,  when  his  antago- 
nist was  a little  out  of  order.  But  although  beaten  a dozen 
times  afterwards,  he  insisted  upon  it  that  thi^  one  case  was  a 
decided  proof  that  he  w^as  the  greater  bruiser  of  the  two. 
His  rival,  who  was,  as  w^e  said  before,  a good-natured  lad, 
sometimes  laughed  at  the  braggart,  and  sometimes  beat  him, 
just  as  he  happened  to  be  in  the  humour.  But  he  could  never 
cure  him  of  boasting  of  his  single  victory  to  his  dying  day. 

Thus  it  is  wnth  this  affair  of  the  Chesapeake,  which,  ac- 
cording to  the  writer  of  the  Synopsis,  is  to  weigh  against 
every  other  proof  to  the  contrary,  and  to  establish  the  fact  of 
British  naval  superiority  beyond  contradiction.  At  such  pre- 
posterous claims  a man  can  do  nothing  but  laugh,  for  it  w^ould 
be  ridiculous  to  fall  into  a passion  because  the  enemy  we  have 
beaten  wall  not  acknowledge  himself  beaten.  This  w^ould  be 
too  much  to  expect  from  honest  John  Bull,  as  he  calls  himself, 
who,  so  far  as  we  recollect,  was  never  yet  known  to  acknow- 
ledge any  thing  to  his  disadvantage. 

The  loss  of  the  Chesapeake  was  nothing;  and  had  she 
sunk  to  the  bottom  of  the  ocean,  the  people  would  have  re- 
joiced that  a vessel,  through  whose  sides  the  nation  had  long 
before  been  stabbed  to  the  heart,  had  disappeared  forever. 
But  the  loss  of  the  brave  Lawrence  w'as  felt,  and  long  will  be 
felt,  as  a national  calamity.  His  death,  coupled  wdth  the  cir- 
cumstances which  attended  it: — with  his  bodily  wounds — his 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


479 


mental  anxieties — his  glorious  and  ever  to  be  remember- 
ed exclamation  of  “ Don’t  give  up  the  ship” — all  these, 
combined  with  the  knowledge  that  his  valiant  spirit  prompt- 
ed him  to  accept  the  challenge  unprepared,  and  with  the 
memory  of  his  previous  victory,  excited  a feeling  towards 
him  in  this  country  which  we  would  not  exchange  for  the 
knighthood  and  the  silver  plate  of  captain  Broke,  or  the  pom- 
pous eulogiums  of  the  British  naval  officer. 

There  are  some  things  brought  into  the  statement  of  this 
action,  which  we  think  the  writer  had  better  have  let  alone. 
His  attempt  to  prove  that  the  men  of  the  Chesapeake  were  all 
giants,  because  their  irons  pinched  them,  savours  too  much  of 
ancient  fable.  The  breed  of  giants  is  generally  supposed  to 
be  extinct,  and  the  attempt  to  revive  a belief  in  their  exist- 
ence is  rather  what  we  might  call  a forlorn  hope  at  best.  The 
early  discoverers  of  Patagonia,  being  obliged  to  run  away  be- 
fore the  natives,  called  them  in  revenge  giants,  and  the  British 
naval  officers,  being  equally  alarmed,  have  resorted  to  the 
same  expedient  as  a salvo  to  their  honour — to  varnish  over 
their  defeats,  or  swell  a solitary  victory  into  a factitious  con- 
sequence. The  impudence  of  these  pretences  is  almost  equal 
to  their  folly.  Every  body  conversant  with  the  two  nations 
knows,  that  Englishmen  are  in  general  larger  and  heavier  than 
the  Americans.  It  is  a difference  that  strikes  every  traveller; 
and  the  idea  of  picking  out  large  men  for  our  ships  is  too  ridi- 
culous to  be  credited  any  where  except  in  England,  which  has 
suffered  for  her  ignorance  of  America,  and  will  suffer  still  more 
in  all  probability,  unless  more  pains  are  taken  to  come  at  the 
truth. 

So  with  respect  to  the  relative  loss  of  the  two  vessels. 
He  has  swelled  that  of  the  Chesapeake  from  one  hundred  and 
forty-six  to  one  hundred  and  seventy,  as  if  determined  to  glut 
himself  this  once  at  least  with  blood  and  carnage.  He  riots 
to  the  very  lips  in  slaughter:  and,  in  order  to  have  full  play, 
kills  and  wounds  twenty-four  men  with  a stroke  of  his  san- 
guinary pen.  Then  being  fully  sated,  it  would  seem,  with  his 


* 480 


^^AVAL  CHRONICLE, 


bloody  banquet,  he  becomes  exceeding  merry  and  joculal* 
withal,  as  your  fat  fellows  are  wont  to  do  after  dinner,  before 
they  fall  asleep.  ‘‘  The  whole  of  the  inside  of  the  Chesa* 
peake’s  bulwarks,  fore  and  aft,”  says  he,  “ was  covered  with 
nettings  to  catch  the  splinters!  So  much  for  the  tenderness  of 
the  enemy;  his  bitterness  created  general  amusement  in  the 
cart-loads  of  langridge,  iron  bolts,  and  other  American  artiU 
that  were  exposed  to  sale  at  public  auction,^^  Poor  John 
Bull!  as  this  is  one  of  the  few  opportunities  for  being  merry, 
afforded  by  the  late  war,  he  would  have  been  inexcusable  not 
to  make  the  most  of  it,  and  we  should  be  unreasonable  to 
break  in  upon  his  merriment,  was  it  not  founded  upon  very 
common  circumstances.  In  the  first  place,  splinter  nets  are  no 
uncommon  proof  of  “ tenderness for  they  are  in  common  use 
among  all  nations  having  ships  of  war.  In  the  second  place, 
langridge  and  iron  bolts  are  also  very  usual,  the  one  as  “ ar* 
tillery^'^  if  the  gentleman  chooses  to  call  it  so;  the  other  for 
various  purposes,  which  are  quite  unnecessary  to  particu- 
larize. It  was  paltry,  therefore,  to  bring  forward  these  things 
as  unusual  in  like  situations,  because,  as  a joke,  it  is  but  a 
poor  one  at  best;  and  if  the  writer  is  in  earnest,  he  either 
shows  that  he  is  utterly  ignorant  himself  of  the  usages  of  na- 
val w^arfare,  or  that  he  washes  to  impose  upon  the  ignorance 
of  his  readers.  If  these  articles  w'ere  exposed  to  sale  atpuS- 
lic  auction^  we  presume  this  was  done  by  w^ay  of  giving  cele- 
brity to  the  victory,  by  thus  causing  it  to  be  well  advertised 
in  the  newspapers,  where  men,  w^ho  never  read  any  thing  else^ 
would  stand  a good  chance  of  seeing  it,  acompanied  by  the 
pufts  of  the  auctioneer. 

Nothing  indeed  of  the  kind  ever  made  so  much  noise  in 
England  as  the  capture  of  the  Chesapeake.  The  bells  rung, 
and  the  tower  guns  were  fired.  All  Grub  street  w'as  inspired 
to  pour  forth  its  notes  of  triumph  on  the  occasion;  and  even 
lord  Thurlow,  the  undoubted  head  of  that  inspired  tribe, 
wrote  a ballad  on  the  occasion.  We  regret  it  is  not  in  our 
power  to  present  a specimen  of  this  ballad  to  our  readers,  as 


\ 

\ 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  A0TIONS 


481 


8L  proof  of  the  superiority  of  lordly  nonsense  over  that  of  com* 
mon  men.  Perhaps  however  his  lordship  may  have  been  out 
of  his  wits  with  joy  when  he  wrote  it,  and  if  so,  we  cannot 
refrain  from  excusing  its  enormous  folly,  and  hoping  he  will 
do  better  another  time.  In  addition  to  all  these  demonstra* 
tions  of  public  exultation,  the  victory  was  advertised  like  a 
quack  medicine,  or  Packwood’s  razor  strops,  and  for  sever 
ral  nights  after,  “ Rule  Britania”  was  sung  at  the  theatres 
without  being  hissed. 


WASP  AND  FROLICK.'^ 

The  following  article  was  received  too  late  for  insertion  in  our  test  number, 
which  contains  some  remarks  on  the  engagement  between  these  two  ships,  as 
detailed  in  an  article  in  the  British  Naval  Chronicle.  The  reasonings  and  infer- 
ences it  contains  are  so  conclusive,  as  to  carry  the  fullest  conviction,  and  the  facts 
stated  are  from  an  authority,  which,  if  we  were  permitted  to  mention  it,  would  be 
conclusive  as  to  their  truth.  The  facts  av«  know  to  have  been  furnished  by  an  eye- 
witness to  the  action. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Maval  Chronicle, 

Sir, 

Having  observed  that  you  have  begun  an  examination  of 
an  article  in  the  British  Naval  Chronicle,  in  which  is  contain- 
ed a studied  misstatement  of  every  naval  action  fought  during 
the  late  war,  and  professedly  written  by  “ a British  naval  of- 
ficer on  the  American  station,”  I take  the  liberty  to  offer  you 
the  following  remarks.  They  relate  entirely  to  the  action  be- 
tween the  Wasp  and  Frolick — they  are  given  on  the  authority 
of  one  who  was  present  at  the  engagement,  and  it  is  believed 
will  effectually  establish  the  want  of  veracity  in  the  writer  of 

* The  very  name  of  the  Frolick,  it  will  be  recollected,  became,  in  conse- 
quence of  this  action,  disagreeable  and  painful,  not  only  to  my  lords  commission- 
ers of  the  admiralty,  but  to  the  whole  British  people.  The  British  government^, 
wisely  regarding  these  feelings  and  prejudices,  ordered  the  Frolick,  on  her  arrival 
in  England,  although  she  was  nearly  a new  vessel,  and  very  excellent  of  her  class 
to  be  broken  up,  and  thus  expunged  the  very  name  from  their  navy  list. 

VOL.  VII.  61 


482 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


the  “ Synopsis.”  I shall  examine  the  different  positions  of 
this  writer  as  they  occur. 

“ The  Wasp,  now  the  Peacock  in  our  service, he  observe?, 

“ is  certainly  a much  finer  ship  than  any  sloop  of  war  we  have, 
and  has  her  bulwarks  nearly  as  thick  as  a frigate,’^''  That  the 
Wasp  was  a fine  ship  I am  ready  to  admit,  and  the  only  conclu- 
sion I shall  draw  from  the  admission,  is  that  this  country,  young  ^ 
Jis  it  is  in  naval  architecture,  already  surpasses  England,  v hich, 
for  centuries,  has  been  exercising  her  ingenuity  in  bringing  \ 
this  science  to  perfection.  To  a nation  labouring  under  such  . 
an  incurable  lack  of  genius  as  ours  (if  we  believe  our  cousin  j 
England)  it  is  not  a little  creditable  that  such  has  been  the  re- 
sult of  our  early  exertions,  and  it  is  earnestly  hoped  that  this 
success  will  inspire  us  to  attempt  greater  things.  But  the  as- 
sertion that  the  bulwarks  of  the  Wasp  were  nearly  as  thick  as 
those  of  a frigate,  is  palpably  absurd,  and  in  direct  contradic- 
tion of  the  first  part  of  the  sentence;  because  a sloop  of  eighteen  ' 
guns,  vrith  such  bulwarks,  could  not  be  a fine  vessel.  Such  a 
disproportion  between  her  hull  and  her  armament  never  oc- 
cuired  in  a fine  ship,  because  it  is  at  war  with  that  nice  and  • 
indispensable  harmony  of  parts,  Avithout  Avhich  no  vessel  can  | 
be  entitled  to  that  appellation.  The  assertion  is,  therefore, 
improbable,  absurd,  and  contradictory,  and  requires  a stronger 
support  than  the  mere  assertion  of  an  anonymous  British  naval 
officer.  i 

Buff'  says  the  officer,  ‘‘  the  evening  previous  to  the  action, 
the  Frolick  carried  away  her  main-yard,  lost  her  topsails,  and 
sprung  her  mamtop-mast , consequently  was  quite  in  a disabled 
stated’’ 

The  assertion  that  this  disastrous  gale  happened  on  the 
evening  previous  to  the  action,  is  taken  from  the  British  offi- 
cial statement,  and  is  made  for  v^ery  obvious  reasons;  but  it  is, 
nevertheless,  incorrect.  Captain  Jones  says,  in  his  official 
letter,  “ IVe  had  left  the  DcIaAvare  on  the  1 3th.  The  1 6 th  had 
a heaA^y  gale,  in  Avhich  we  lost  our  jib-boom,  and  tAVo  men. 
Half  past  1 1;  in  the  night  of  the  17th,  in  lat.  37  and  long.  65 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


483 


west,  we  saw  several  sail,  two  of  them  appearing  very  large. 
We  stood  from  them  for  some  time,  then  shortened  sail,  and 
steered  the  remainder  ol  the  night  the  course  we  had  perceiv- 
ed them  on.  At  daylight,  on  the  18th,  we  saw  them  ahead; 
gave  chase,  and  soon  discovered  them  to  be  a convoy  of  six 
sail,  under  the  protection  of  a sloop  of  war,  &:c.”  Captain 
Whinyates  states,  in  his  official  letter,  the  following  particu- 
lars: “ On  the  night  of  the  17th,  we  were  overtaken  by  a most 

violent  gale  of  wind,  in  which  the  Frolick  carried  away  her 
main-yard,  lost  her  main-topsail,  and  sprung  the  main-topmast. 
On  the  morning  of  the  18th,  as  we  were  repairing  the  dama- 
ges sustained  in  the  storm,  and  reassembling  the  scattered 
ships,  a suspicious  ship  came  in  sight,  and  gave  chase  to  the 
convoy.  The  merchant  vessels  continued  their  voyage  before 
the  wdnd  under  all  sail;  the  Frolick  dropt  astern,  and  hoisted 
Spanish  colours^  in  order  to  decop  the  stranger  under  her 

gU7lS,  &c.” 

From  this  extract  it  would  appear,  that  while  captain 
Jones  was  cruising  on  the  17th,  he  saw  several  strange  sail, 
some  of  them  apparently  large,  and  stood  from  them,  till,  at  a 
convenient  distance,  he  shortened  sail — that  during  the  night 
he  steered  the  course  he  had  observed  them  to  be  pursuing, 
and,  at  daylight  in  the  morning  of  the  18th,  made  them  out  to 
be  a convoy  of  six  sail,  under  the  protection  of  a sloop  of  war. 
All  this  time,  and  while  so  near  the  enemy,  he  remained  utter- 
ly ignorant  of  this  tremendous  gale,  which  shattered  the  Fro- 
lick and  dispersed  her  convoy,  having,  it  seems,  anticipated  it 
two  days  before.  Yet,  in  this  very  latitude,  and  within  the 
distance  of  a few  miles,  captain  Whinyates  was  suffering  these 
terrible  disasters.  His  convoy,  which  was  thus  dispersed  at 
this  very  time,  was  seen  together,  by  captain  Jones,  at  11  at 
night  on  the  17th,  and  at  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  1 8th, 
that  is  the  very  morning  of  the  action.  There  is  here  a con- 
tradiction which  cannot  be  reconciled,  and  one  of  the  state- 
ments must  necessarily  be  incorrect. 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE* 


iU 

Let  us  admit,  for  the  sake  of  argument,  that  the  testimo- 
ny of  one  man  is  as  good  as  another,  abstractedly  considered; 
yet  as  one  man  has  a much  stronger  motive  for  falsifying  his 
word  than  another,  his  testimony  labours  under  a weakness  of 
probability,  which,  in  all  •ases,  necessarily  deprives  it  of  its 
greatest  support,  and  gives  a preference  to  that  of  the  other. 
In  addition  to  this  test  of  truth,  there  is  another  equally  cal- 
culated to  throw  light  on  conflicting  testimony,  and  that  is  the 
mass  of  accompanying  circumstances,  among  which  will  almost 
always  be  found  something  that  will  irresistibly  incline  the  mind 
to  one  side  or  the  other.  Let  us  apply  these  rules  to  the  pre- 
sent case: 

Captain  Jones  had  fairly  and  gallantly  beaten  his  enemy; 
he  could,  therefore,  have  no  feeling  of  humiliation  on  the  oc- 
casion— no  spiteful  motive  of  revenge  to  satiate,  by  underva- 
luing or  overrating  the  force  or  efficiency  of  those  over  whom 
he  had  just  triumphed — nor  was  it  of  the  least  consequence  to 
his  reputation,  whether  there  was  a tempest  or  a calm  before 
or  after  the  action.  Where  then  shall  we  look  for  the  impulse 
w'hich  could  possibly  actuate  captain  Jones  to  misrepresent, 
without  any  conceivable  motive?  With  captain  Whinyates, 
just  conquered  by  an  enemy  he  had  been  accustomed  from  his 
youth  upwards  to  despise,  the  case  is  far  different.  To  be 
beaten  by  one  whom  a man  has  been  in  the  habit  of  contemn- 
ing as  weak,  or  cowardly,  must  be  a bitter  pill,  most  especial- 
ly to  such  bullies  as  the  British  naval  officers  who  have  lorded 
it  so  long  over  the  subject  seas.  There  is  no  situation  in 
which  I should  expect  such  men  to  be  actuated  by  an  invete- 
rate dislike  towards  the  victor,  and,  consequently,  where  I 
should  anticipate  a stronger  disposition  to  deprive  the  latter, 
by  every  possible  means,  pf  the  credit  of  his  gallantry,  “ It 
is  with  the  most  bitter  sorrow  and  distress, says  captain  Whin- 
yates  in  his  official  letter,  ‘‘  I have  to  report  to  your  excellency 
the  capture  of  his  majesty’s  brig  Frolick,  by  the  ship  Wasp, 
&c.”  Again,  he  adds:  “ I shall  ever  deplore  the  unhappy 
issue  of  this  conflict,  4ic.”  This  is  the  very  language  of  ex- 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


48i» 

t}P€me  mortification  and  chagrin,  and  indicates  a mind  precisely 
in  that  state  to  seize  on  every  thing  that  could  palliate  the  dis- 
grace or  sooth  the  wounds  of  feeling — in  short,  when  all  the 
ingenuity  of  pretext,  and  every  possible  extenuation  will  be 
resorted  to,  in  order  to  diminish  individual  and  national  dis- 
grace. We  all  perceive  from  captain  Whinyates’  letter  that 
he  seems  to  consider  himself  called  upon  to  make  such  an  of- 
ficial statement,  as  will  most  effectually  screen  himself  and  so- 
lace the  w'ounded  pride  of  his  nation.  Captain  Jones  had  no 
conceivable  motive  to  disguise  the  truth,  while  captain  Whin- 
yates had  powerful  ones  to  tempt  him  to  deviate  into  misstate- 
ments. 

“ It  is  stated, says  the  writer  of  the  Synopsis,  ‘‘  that 
mptain  Whinyates,  her  commander,  was  not  apprised  of  the  war, 
even  when  he  met  the  Wasp,^'^ 

This  fact,  I believe,  now  comes  abroad  for  the  first  time. 
Most  certainly  the  officers  of  the  Frolick  did  not  marshal  this 
among  their  excuses;  on  the  contrary,  one  of  the  officers  of 
that  ship,  in  a conversation,  with  an  officer  of  the  Wasp,  after 
the  capture  of  the  former,  casually  mentioned  where  they  were 
when  they  first  heard  of  the  war.  In  addition  to  this,  some  of 
the  Frolick’s  officers  also  mentioned,  that  they  had  obtained 
from  a neutral  vessel,  some  American  newspapers,  which  spoke 
of  the  capture  of  the  Guerriere;  which,  how^ever,  they  paid  lit- 
tle attention  to,  as  they  had  not  the  remotest  idea  that  any  one 
©f  our  frigates  could  take  the  Guerriere.  But  this  point  is  * 
placed  beyond  all  doubt.  “At  thirty-t'ivo  minutes  past  11, 
A.  M.”  says  captain  Jones’s  letter,  “ we  engaged  the  sloop 
of  war,  having  first  received  her  ^re.”  Captain  Whinyates 
says:  “ About  ten  o’clock,  both  vessels  being  within  hail,  we 
hauled  to  the  wind  and  the  battle  began.”  If  he  did  not  know 
of  the  war,  he  here  most  unaccountably  omits  stating  the  very 
circumstance,  of  all  others,  that  would  have  gone  furthest  in 
extenuating  his  defeat;  and  that  he  did  not  state  it,  is  a better 
proof  against  it  than  the  mere  assertion  of  an  anonymous  wti- 
ter  k its  favoui’.  But,  in  fact,  it  is  not  asserted — the  writer 


486 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


was  too  cautious  for  that: — he  knew  that  it  could  be  disprov- 
ed, and  that  the  detection  of  one  falsehood  must  inevitably 
weaken  the  authority  of  every  other  part  of  his  statement. 

He,  therefore,  merely  intimates  it,  well  know  ing  that  those  for 
whom  alone  his  statement  is  intended,  w^ould  give  it  all  the 
w’eight  of  an  unqualified  assertion,  while  at  the  same  time  he 
would  have  a snug  excuse  in  case  the  insinuation  should  be 
proved  unfounded. 

“ Then  as  to  continues  the  British  officer  on  the 

American  station,  ^^she  (the  Frolick)  was  miserably  defective,^"^ 

Her  station  had  been  J amaicad"^  “ With  a crew  partly  consistiyig 
of  invalids  from  the  naval  hospitald^  ‘'With  a crezu  at  least  ■/ 
twenty-five  short  of  her  complement  {one  hundred  and  twenty- 
one) — and  part  of  them  just  recovering  from  that  dreadful  West  V 

India  malady^  the  yellow  fever “ With  a crezefieeble  as  it  zvas^  i 
of  little  more  than  half  the  number  opposed  to  themd^  ! 

These  are  very  remarkable  assertions,  and  it  is  still  more  ^ ) 
remarkable  that  w^e  should  never  have  heard  of  them  before.  - 1 
It  is  remarkable  that  captain  Whinyates  knew^  nothing  of  the  ' 
melancholy  istate  of  his  crew*.  It  is  remarkable  that  none  of  | 
his  officers  ever  mentioned  it  after  the  capture — and  it  is  ab- 
solutely astonishing  that  this  material  fact  should  never  have  * | 
come  to  light  until  three  years  after  the  action!  It  is  a fact, 
sir,  that  nothing  of  this  kind  w'as  ever  hinted  by  either  of  them  n 
in  any  of  their  conversations  with  the  Americans,  nor  wms  this  ^ 
circumstance  ever  before  presented  to  the  public  in  any  one  i 
of  the  numerous  apologies  for  this  signal  defeat.  I have  no  f 

means  of  ascertaining  the  number  of  the  Frolick’s  crew,  but  j 

a circumstance  w*hich  took  place  at  the  time,  leads  me  to  sup-  j| 
pose  that  it  had  been  augmented  from  the  convoy  on  the  Wasp  ^ 
heaving  in  sight.  One  of  the  ships  of  the  convoy  was  observ- 
ed to  keep  to  windward  during  the  action.  She  afterwards  | 
came  down  in  company  wuth  the  Poictiers,  and  put  into  Ber-  I 
muda  for  want  of  hands.  The  inference  is  irresistible,  that . c 
her  crew  had  been  borrowed  by  the  Frolick,  who,  unfortunate- 
ly,  could  not  afterwards  return  them.  / 

< 

V 

) 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


487 


The  Wasp^"^  says  the  British  naval  officer,  ‘‘  the  Ame- 
ricans zoill  not  nozc  deny^  had  for  a crew  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  of  the  best  men  captain  Jones  could  procure^  and  had  only 
left  the  Delaware  about  a fortnight  previous  to  the  action.  She 
was^  therefore^  fully  prepared  to  meet  an  enemy^s  vessel  every 
way  her  equal, 

This  paragraph  is  written  with  a deal  of  petty  art  and 
disingenuousness.  In  saying  that  the  Americans  will  not  noze 
deny  the  fact  which  he  states,  he  insinuates,  and  doubtless  his 
readers  wull  believe,  that  the  Americans  had  at  first  denied  it, 
but  that  it  had  since  been  so  undeniably  established,  that  they 
had  at  last  been  forced  to  acknowdedge  the  truth  even  against 
their  wall.  The  fact  is,  it  never  has  nor  ever  will  be  acknow^- 
ledgcd  by  the  Americans,  either  that  the  crew^  of  the  Wasp 
consisted  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  men,  or  that  they  w^ere 
all  picked  men,  because  neither  of  these  assertions  are  true. 
The  Poictiers,  which  captured  the  Wasp  after  the  action  w ith 
the  Frolick,  became  entitled,  by  the  usages  of  the  British  ser- 
vice, to  head-money  for  each  person  on  board  the  Wasp.  In 
order  to  ascertain  the  precise  number,  captain  Jones  and  one 
of  his  officers,  wTre  desired  to  give  their  depositions  before 
the  court  of  admiralty  at  Bermuda.  They  testified,  on  oath, 
that  the  whole  number  of  persons  on  board  the  Wasp,prermw5 
to  the  action,  was  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven,  and  for  that 
number  the  captors  w^ere  paid  head-money.  If  the  writer  of 
the  Synopsis  doubts  this,  he  may,  if  he  pleases,  consult  the 
archives  of  the  court.  It  is  equally  incorrect,  that  the  crew 
of  the  Wasp  wxre  picked  men.  She  was  on  her  wm.y  from 
France,  with  despatches,  wdien  captain  Jones  first  heard  of 
the  war;  and  no  alteration  afterw  ards  took  place  in  her  crew, 
except  what  occurred  in  consequence  of  the  discharge  of  a 
very  few  men,  who  claimed  to  be  British  subjects,  and  were 
fearful  of  being  hanged  if  they  were  taken.  That  the  Wasp, 
as  the  writer  of  the  Synopsis  affirms,  “ was  fully  prepared  to 
meet  a vessel  every  way  her  equal,”  is  an  honest  truism,  which 
I have  not  the  hardihood  to  deny,  because  every  vessel  that 


488  ' 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


«ver  sailed  the  ocean,  must,  of  necessity,  be  prepared  to  meet 
another  which  is  only  “ every  way  her  equal.”  Equality  pre- 
cludes any  advantage,  or  to  state  the  proposition  of  this  logi- 
cal writer  more  at  large,  equality  precludes  any  superiority, 
and,  therefore,  every  vessel  is  prepared  to  meet  another  ves- 
sel, which  is  only  equal  to  herself;  for,  if  she  be  equal  to  the 
enemy,  the  enemy  cannot  be  her  superior,  and,  therefore^  I 
admit  that  the  Wasp  was,  in  reality,  equal  to  any  vessel  not 
superior  to  herself.  This  is,  in  fact,  the  amount  of  the  “Bri- 
tish naval  officer’s”  proposition,  as  expressed  in  the  Synopsis; 
and,  if  he  really  meant  any  thing  else,  the  poverty  of  his  lan- 
guage or  his  ideas,  it  would  seem,  prevented  him  from  ex- 
pressing his  meaning  so  as  to  be  understood. 

“ Captain  Whinpates,'^^  continues  our  author,  ‘‘  speaks  de- 
cidedly of  the  unmanageable  state  of  the  Frolick  in  the  action^ 
owing  to  the  loss  of  her  main-yard,  and  of  the  power  it  gave  the 
enemy  to  rake  him  repeatedly. 

The  same  motives  which  induced  captain  Whinyates  to 
state  that  the  gale  happened  the  evening  before  the  action, 
which  is  not  true,  undoubtedly  prompted  him  to  exaggerate 
the  injuries  he  received  from  it.  During  the  whole  action  the 
Frolick  was  never  once  raked,  nor  was  the  Wasp  in  a situation 
to  rake  her.  Captain  Jones  states,  in  his  official  letter,  that 
the  action  commenced  at  the  distance  of  fifty  or  sixty  yards, 
both  vessels  right  before  the  wind,  and  that  they  gradually 
lessened  this  distance,  until  he  ran  on  board  the  Frolick.  If 
this  vessel  had  been  in  reality  thus  disabled  by  the  gale  two 
days  before,  was  it  probable  that  captain  Whinyates  w^ould 
have  decoyed  this  “ suspicious  sail”  under  his  guns,  thus  ma- 
king sure  of  a battle,  under  circumstances  so  every  w^ay  dis- 
advantageous to  himself?  I believe  no  one  will  suspect  him 
of  such  temerity.  The  truth  is,  that  the  loss  of  the  main-yard, 
the  only  loss  sustained  in  the  previous  gale — (for  every  man 
on  board  the  Wasp  saw,  at  daylight,  on  the  morning  of  the 
action,  the  main-topsail  of  the  Frolick  furled,  and  her  fore- 
topsail set) — was  of  no  consequence  in  the  manner  in  which 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


489 


captain  Whinyates  fought  the  action.  He  kept  right  before 
the  wind,  and  every  nautical  man  knows  well,  that  in  such  a 
situation,  it  is  not  of  the  smallest  consequence  whether  any 
after  sail  is  set  or  not.  Captain  Whinyates  kept  right  before 
the  w'ind,  because  in  so  doing  he  experienced  no  disadvantage 
from  the  want  of  his  main-yard;  and  captain  Jones  also  kept 
before  the  wind,  because  it  was  in  this  way  alone  he  could 
keep  company  with  his  adversary. 

Very  early  in  the  action  the  W^asp  was  very  much  crippled 
in  her  spars  and  rigging,  and  hence  arose  the  idea  of  the  “ su- 
periority of  his  fire,”  which  so  tickled  the  hopes  of  captain 
Whinyates.  He  saw  distinctly  the  effect  of  his  fire,  but  he 
could  not  so  distinctly  ascertain  that  of  the  Wasp,  which,  be- 
ing entirely  directed  to  the  hull  of  his  ship,  swept  away  his 
men;  as  distinctly  appeared  to  the  Americans,  from  the  blood 
that  poured  through  the  scuppers,  and  the  gradual  slackening 
of  the  enemy’s  fire.  It  was  not  the  superiority  of  the  Frolick’s 
fire  that  induced  captain  Jones  to  run  her  on  board,  but  the 
apprehension  that  his  masts  would  go  over  the  side,  by  which 
means  the  enemy,  having  then  all  his  spars  standing,  might 
be  enabled  to  make  his  escape.  If  by  superior  fire,  captain 
Whinyates  means  higher^  I fully  agree  with  him;  for  he  seemed 
exclusively  to  direct  his  guns  at  the  spars  and  rigging  of  the 
Wasp.  In  any  other  point  of  view,  the  result  of  the  action  is 
sufficiently  convincing  that  the  “ superiority  of  his  fire”  was 
not  very  remarkable. 

The  wTiter  next  gives  a statement  of  the  relative  size, 
armament,  &c.  of  the  two  vessels,  which  is  founded  on  no  au- 
thority whatever,  as  is  virtually  contradicted  by  the  silence  of 
captain  Whinyates  on  the  subject.  We  find  the  commanding 
officers  of  the  Guerriere,  the  Macedonian,  the  Java,  and  every 
other  captured  ship,  stating,  in  the  broadest,  most  prominent 
manner,  the  superiority  of  the  ships  to  which  they  w^ere  com- 
pelled to  surrender;  but  captain  Whinyates,  who  made  so  much 
of  his  gale,  and  the  loss  of  his  main-yard,  is  entirely  silent  as 
to  any  disproportion  of  force.  He  says  not  a word  of  tho 
YOL.  YH.  62 


490 


NAVAL  CHRUNK^LE. 


superiority  of  his  enemy — he  says  not  a word  of  his  being 
short  of  men — that  his  crew  was  sickly — he  does  not  com- 
plain that  the  American  boys  were  as  big  as  his  men — and  he 
is  altogether  silent  on  the  subject  of  the  mighty  bulwarks  of 
the  Wasp,  “ almost  equal  to  those  of  a frigate.”  Is  it  to  be 
supposed  for  a moment,  that  captain  Whinyates,  in  “his  bitter 
sorrow  and  distress,”  “at  the  unhappy  issue  of  this  contest,” 
would  not  have  urged  these  things  in  extenuation  of  that  “un- 
happy issue?”  The  author  of  the  Synopsis  has  stated  the 
number  of  the  Wasp’s  guns  correctly;  but  say^s,  “the  Frolick 
mounted  eighteen  guns,  besides,  perhaps,  a single  boat-gun.” 
Captain  Jones  says,  “ the  Frolick  of  twenty-two  guns,  sixteen 
of  them  thirty- two-pound  carronades,  four  twelve-pounders 
on  the  main-deck,  and  two  twelve-pound  carronades  on  the 
topgallant-forecastle,  making  her  superior  to  us  by  four  twelve- 
pounders;”  and  certainly  the  official  statement  of  captain  Jones 
is  at  least  of  equal  authority  to  the  assertion  of  an  anonymous 
writer  in  the  British  Naval  Chronicle.  We  may  judge  of  ihe 
accuracy  of  this  writer,  when  he  says,  that  the  Wasp  of 
eighteen  guns,  was,  in  measurement,  as  four  to  three,  compared 
with  the  Frolick  of  twenty-two  guns,  both  vessels  carrying 
guns  of  the  same  calibre.  The  falsehood  as  well  as  folly  of 
this  statement,  must  be  apparent  to  every  man  of  experience. 
It  is  equally  ridiculous,  because  it  must  strike  the  least  reflect- 
ing mind,  that  captain  Whinymtes,  who  sailed  in  company  with 
the  Wasp,  after  she  was  taken  by  the  Poictiers,  to  Bermuda, 
must  have  perceived  this  vast  diflerence,  and  seeing  it,  would 
most  assuredly  have  stated  it  in  his  official  communication. — 
So  wdth  regard  to  the  alleged  inferiority  of  the  crew  of  the 
Frolick.  Captain  Whinyates  had  an  equal  opportunity  of  as- 
certaining the  number  of  men  on  board  of  the  Wasp;  yet  he 
is  silent  also  as  to  any  superiority.  Is  not  this  conclusive 
V proof,  that  no  such  superiority,  in  number  at  least,  existed? 

“ The  British  official  account  of  the  action, says  the  wri- 
ter of  the  Synopsis,  “ omits  stating  the  number  of  killed  and 
wounded  on  either  side,  only  mentioning  that  not  twenty  of  the 
Frolick’^s  men  remained  unhiirt*'^^ 


SYNOPSIS  OF  NAVAL  ACTIONS. 


401 


The  reason  why  captain  Whinyates  departed  from  the 
usual  practice  on  such  occasions,  of  stating  the  number  remain- 
ing unhurt,  instead  of  the  number  killed  and  wounded,  is  ob- 
vious enough.  If  he  had  given  a fair  account  of  his  killed  and 
wounded,  he  would  have  betrayed,  probably,  an  alarming  fact 
respecting  the  number  of  his  crew  before  the  action.  By 
merely  stating  the  number  of  the  survivors  he  betrays  nothing. 
It  is  ridiculous  to  say  that  he  w^as  separated  from  the  Frolick, 
and,  therefore,  could  not  furnish  the  list;  for  his  letter,  if  really 
written  on  board  the  Poictiers  the  day  it  is  dated,  could  not 
have  been  sent  till  her  arrival  at  Bermuda;  and,  at  the  date  of 
that  letter,  the  Poictiers,  the  Frolick,  and  the  Wasp,  were  all 
proceeding  together  on  their  way  to  that  island.  The  same 
reason  that  prevented  his  ascertaining  the  number  lost,  would 
have  operated  equally  in  preventing  him  from  finding  out  how 
many  survived.  It  is  sufficiently  evident,  therefore,  that  the 
usual  mode  of  making  returns,  was  studiously  and  designedly 
departed  from  in  this  instance,  in  order  to  disguise,  not  only 
the  number  of  the  Frolick’s  crew  before  the  action,  as  well  as 
the  dreadful  loss  she  sustained. 

‘‘  It  is  not  attempted  to  be  insinuated says  the  Synopsis, 
that  any  of  our  people  had  left  their  quarters  that  were  not 
disahled*^^ 

It  is  true  that  no  such  insinuation  is  made  by  captain 
Jones  in  his  official  letter^  but  it  is,  nevertheless,  a fact,  that 
the  survivors  of  the  Frolick’s  crew  did  quit  their  quarters  and 
go  below.  When  our  people  first  saw  the  deck  of  the  Frolick, 
nobody  remained  on  it  but  the  seaman  at  the  wheel  and  three 
officers.  If  twenty  of  the  crew,  as  captain  Whinyates  states; 
remained  unhurt,  where  were  they  at  that  time?  The  truth 
is,  they  were  below,  and  had  broken  into  the  spirit-room;  in- 
formation of  which  being  given  to  one  of  our  officers,  a sentinel 
was  placed  over  the  room  in  consequence. 

The  last  part  of  the  Synopsis  I shall  notice,  is  that  in 
which  the  writer  is  “ under  the  painful  necessity,”  as  he  af- 
firms, “ of  comparing  the  Americans  with  the  Algerines,  be- 


402 


KAVAL  CUllONICLE, 


cause  they  did  not  board  the  Frolick,  immediately  on  running 
upon  her.”  The  inference  the  writer  plainly  attempts  to  palm 
upon  his  readers,  is,  that  the  Americans  are  not  only  cowardly 
but  cruel.  The  charge  of  cowardice  recoils  on  himself;  for 
if  the  Americans,  who  have  so  frequently  beaten  the  British  in 
naval  actions,  are  cowards,  what  must  be  those  whom  they  have 
conquered,  and  what  egregious  folly  it  was  to  make  such  a 
noise  about  the  capture  of  the  Chesapeake!  The  charge  of 
cruelty,  in  taking  advantage  of  an  enemy  whose  flag  was  still 
flying,  by  making  the  most  of  a favourable  position,  is  equally 
ridiculous  and  unsupported.  The  assertion  that  the  Frolick 
fell  on  board  the  Wasp,  ‘‘very  soon  after  the  action  commen- 
ced,” is  equally  unfounded,  as  this  did  not  occur  until  the  con- 
clusion of  the  affair,  and  but  one  gun  was  fired  into  the  Frolick 
after  the  two  vessels  fell  on  board  each  other.  By  referring 
his  readers  to  the  American  papers  for  confirmation  of  ail  he 
says,  the  writer  displays  the  petty  art  of  a disingenuous  mind. 
He  well  knew  that  few  or  none  of  his  readers  would  ever  see 
these  papers,  and  very  safely  made  them  the  foundation  of 
statements  which  never  received  any  support  from  any  Ame- 
rican publication,  or  any  admissions  on  the  part  of  the  Ame- 
ricans. This  is  a safe  way  of  propagating  falsehoods,  and 
fully  answers  every  purpose  of  deception,  since  it  appeals 
confidently  to  authorities  to  which  his  readers  can  have  no 
access,  and  states  facts  of  which  the  contradiction  will  proba- 
bly never  be  seen  by  those  intended  to  be  made  the  dupes. 
Nothing  can  more  strikingly  indicate  the  declining  state  of  the 
British  navy,  once  so  renowned,  than  the  desperate  misrepre- 
sentations and  low-bred  arts  resorted  to  by  “ a British  naval 
officer,”  to  cover  its  numerous  disgraces  and  deceive  his  cre- 
dulous countrymen.  I am,  &c. 


OFFICIAL  DOCUMENT?. 


40o 


OFFICIAL  LETTER  OF  CAPTAIN  JONES,  REFERRED  TO  IN  THE 
FOREGOING  COMMUNICATION, 

j\few  York,  24//i  November,  1812. 

SlB, 

I HERE  avail  myself  of  the  first  opportunity  of  informing  you  of  the  occur- 
rences of  our  cruise,  which  terminated  in  the  capture  of  the  Wasp,  on  the  18th 
October,  by  the  Poictiers,  of  seventy-four  guns,  while  a wreck  from  damages 
received  in  an  engagement  with  the  British  sloop  of  war  Frolick,  of  twenty-two 
guns,  sixteen  of  them  thirty -two  pound  carronades,  four  twelve  pounders  on  the 
main  deck,  and  two  twelve  pound  carronades  on  the  top-gallant  forecastle,  making 
lier  superior  in  force  to  us  by  four  twelve  pounders.  The  Frolick  had  struck  to 
us,  and  was  taken  possession  of,  about  two  hours  before  our  surrendering  to  the 
Poictiers. 

We  had  left  the  Delaware  on  the  13th.  The  15th  had  a heavy  gale,  in 
which  we  lost  our  jibboom  and  tw  o men.  Half  past  eleven,  on  the  night  of  the 
l7th,  in  latitude  thirty-seven  degrees  north,  longitude  sixty-five  west,  w^e  saw- 
several  sail,  tw'o  of  tlicm  appearing  very  large.  We  stood  from  them  some  time, 
then  shortened  sail,  and  steered  the  remainder  of  the  night  the  course  we  had 
perceived  them  on.  At  day-light,  on  Sunday  the  18th,  we  saw  them  ahead — gave 
cliase,  and  soon  discovered  them  to  be  a convoy  of  six  sail,  under  the  protection 
of  a sloop  of  war,  four  of  them  large  ships,  mounting  from  sixteen  to  eighteen  guns. 
At  thirty -two  minutes  past  eleven,  A.  M.  we  engaged  the  sloop  of  war,  having 
first  received  her  fire,  at  the  distance  of  fifty  or  sixty  yards,  which  space  we 
gradually  lessened,  until  we  laid  her  on  board,  after  a well  supported  fire  of  forty- 
three  minutes;  and  although  so  near  while  loading  the  last  broadside  that  our 
rammers  were  shoved  against  the  sides  of  the  enemy,  our  men  exhibited  the  same 
alacrity  which  they  had  done  during  the  whole  of  the  action.  They  immediately 
surrendered  upon  our  gaining  their  forecastle,  so  that  no  loss  was  sustained  on 
either  side  after  boarding. 

Our  main  topmast  was  shot  away  between  four  and  five  minutes  from  the  com- 
mencement of  the  firing, — and  falling,  together  with  the  main  topsail  yard,  across 
the  larboard  fore,  and  fore  topsail  braces,  rendered  our  head  yards  unmanageable 
the  remainder  of  the  action.  At  eight  minutes  the  gaft  and  mizen  top  gallant 
mast  came  down;  and  at  twenty  minutes  from  the  beginning  of  the  action,  every 
brace,  and  most  of  the  rigging  was  shot  away.  A few  minutes  after  se])arating 
from  the  Frolick,  both  her  masts  fell  upon  deck;  the  mainmast  going  close  by 
the  deck,  and  the  foremast  twelve  or  fifteen  feet  above  it. 

The  courage  and  exertions  of  the  officers  and  crew  fully  answered  my  ex- 
pectations and  wishes.  Lieutenant  Biddle’s  active  conduct  contributed  much  to 
our  success,  by  the  exact  attention  paid  to  every  department  during  the  engage- 
ment, and  the  animating  example  afforded  the  crew  by  his  intrepidity.  Lieu- 
tenants Rodgers,  Booth,  and  Mr.  Rapp,  showed,  by  the  incessant  fire  from  their 
divisions,  that  they  were  not  to  be  surpassed  in  resolution  and  skill.  Mr.  Knight, 
and  every  other  officer,  acted  with  a courage  and  promptitude  highly  honourable, 
and  I trust  they  may  be  relied  on  whenever  their  services  may  be  required. 

I could  not  ascertain  the  exact  loss  of  the  enemy,  as  many  of  the  dead  lav 
buried  under  the  masts  and  spars  that  had  fallen  on  deck,  which  two  hours  exer- 
tion had  not  sufficiently  removed.  Mr.  Biddle,  who  had  charge  of  the  Frolick, 
states,  that  from  what  he  saw,  and  from  the  information  of  the  officers,  the  num- 
ber of  killed  must  have  been  about  thirty,  and  that  of  the  wounded  between  forty 
and  fifty.  Of  the  killed,  is  her  first  lieutenant  and  sailing  master,— of  the  wounded, 
captain  Whinyates  and  the  second  lieutenant. 

We  had  five  killed  and  five  wounded,  as  per  list.  The  wounded  are  reco- 
vering.  Lieutenant  Claxton,  who  was  confined  by  sickness,  left  his  bed  a little 
previous  to  the  action;  and  though  too  much  indisposed  to  be  at  his  division,  re- 


494 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


niained  upon  deck,  and  showed  by  his  composed  manner  of  noticing  the  incidents,- 
that  we  had  lost  by  his  illness  the  services  of  a brave  officer. 

, 1 am,  &c. 

JACOB  JONES. 

Hon.  Paul  Hamilton,  Secretary  of  the  JSTavy. 


CAPTURE  OF  THE  FROLICK. 

From  the  London  Gazette^  December  26. 

LETTER  FROM  THE  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  FROLICK  TO  ADMIRAL  WARREN. 

His  Majesty’s  ship  Poictiers,  at  seat  October  23, 

Sir, 

It  is  with  the  most  bitter  sorrow  and  distress  1 have  to  report  to  your  ex- 
cellency the  capture  of  his  majesty’s  brig  Frolick,  by  the  ship  Wasp,  belonging  to 
the  United  States  of  America,  on  the  18th  instant. 

Having  under  convoy  the  homeward  bounjl  trade  from  the  bay  of  Honduras, 
and  being  in  latitude  thirty-six  degrees  north,  and  sixty -four  degrees  west,  on  the 
night  of  the  17th,  we  were  overtaken  by  a most  violent  gale  of  wind,  in  which 
the  Frolick  carried  away  her  mainyard,  lost  her  toi)sails,  and  sprung  the  main 
topmast.  On  the  morning  of  the  18th,  as  we  were  repairing  the  damages  sus- 
tained in  the  storm,  and  reassembling  tlie  scattered  ships,  a suspicious  ship  came 
in  sight,  and  gave  chase  to  the  convoy. 

The  merchant  ships  continued  their  voyage  before  the  wind  under  all  sail; 
the  Frolick  dropt  astern,  and  hoisted  Spanish  colours,  in  order  to  decoy  the  stranger 
under  her  guns,  and  to  give  time  for  the  convoy  to  escape.  About  ten  o’clock, 
both  vessels  being  within  hail,  w e hauled  to  the  wind,  and  the  battle  began.  The 
superior  fire  of  our  guns,  gave  every  reason  to  expect  its  speedy  termination  in 
Dur  favour,  but  the  gaffihead  braces  being  shot  away,  and  there  being  no  sail  on 
the  mainmast,  the  brig  became  unmanageable,  and  the  enemy  succeeded  in  taking 
sf  position  to  rake  her,  while  she  w-as  unable  to  bring  a gun  to  bear. 

After  laying  some  time  exposed  to  a most  destructive  fire,  she  fell  with  the 
bowsprit  betwixt  the  enemy’s  main  and  mizzen  rigging,  still  unable  to  return  his 
fire. 

At  length  the  enemy  boarded,  and  made  himself  master  of  the  brig,  every 
individual  officer  being  wounded,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  men  either  killed  or 
wounded,  there  not  being  twenty  persons  remaining  unhurt. 

Although  I shall  ever  deplore  the  unhappy  issue  of  this  contest,  it  would  be 
great  injustice  to  the  merits  of  the  officers  and  crew,  if  1 failed  to  report  that  their 
bravery  and  coolness  are  deserving  of  every  praise;  and  1 am  convinced,  if  the 
Frolick  had  not  been  crippled  in  the  gale,  I should  have  to  make  a very  different 
report  to  your  excellency.  The  Wasp  was  taken,  and  the  Frolick  recaptured  the 
same  afternoon,  by  his  majesty’s  ship  Poictiers.  Being  separated  from  them,  I 
cannot  transmit  at  present  a list  of  killed  and  w'ounded.  Mr.  Charles  M’Kay, 
the  first  lieutenant,  and  Mr.  Stephens,  the  master,  have  died  of  their  wounds. 

I have  the  honour  to  be,  &c.  8cc. 

T.  WHINYATES. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  MINORCA. 


495 

DESCRIPTION  OF  MINORCA. 

JDescri/ition  of  the  Island  of  Minorca^  and  Port  Mahon^  the  firesent 
rendezvous  of  the  United  States*  squadron  in  the  Mediterranean, 
Comfiiled  from  the  best  authorities. 

Minorca,  anciently  called  Insula  Minor,  with  reference 
to  its  neighbour  Majorca,  the  largest  of  the  Balearic  isles,  is 
situated  in  the  Mediterranean  sea,  in  latitude  59'  north, 
and  longitude  30'^  43'  east,  and  about  fifty  miles  east  of  the 
river  Ebro,  in  Spain.  It  forms  part  of  a circle  from  south- 
east to  north-west,  and  is  about  thirteen  leagues  in  length  and 
nearly  thirty-eight  leagues  in  circumference.  The  inhabitants 
were  anciently  celebrated  as  slingers,  whence  this  group  of 
islands  acquired  the  name  of  Baleares.  Minorca  was  suc- 
cessively possessed  by  the  Carthaginians,  the  Romans,  the 
Vandals,  the  Moors,  the  Arragonese  and  Castilians,  the  En- 
glish, the  French,  and  the  Spaniards.  It  is  surrounded  by  a 
number  of  small  rocks  and  islets,  and  the  whole  of  the  south 
side,  with  very  little  exception,  is  level.  The  air  is  moist,  but 
the  soil  is  naturally  dry.  The  island  is  divided  into  districts 
called  terminos,  the  chief  towns  of  which  are,  Ciudadella; 
Mahon,  Alayor,  Ferarias,  and  Mercadal.  Its  principal  porU 
are,  Mahon  on  the  east;  Fomella  on  the  north;  and  Ciudadel- 
la on  the  west.  The  latter,  which  is  also  known  by  the  name 
of  Samna,  is  the  capital,  and  is  a small  distance  inland,  about 
ten  or  eleven  leagues  from  Mahon.  When  the  island  was 
successively  possessed  by  the  Carthaginians  and  Romans,  it 
was  a place  of  considerable  magnificence,  but  it  has  greatly 
declined  since,  and  is  now  a place  of  little  consequence,  its 
port  being  greatly  inferior  to  that  of  Mahon.  It  is  merely  a 
canal,  bounded  by  rocks.  The  entrance  is  difficult,  and  is 
defended  by  two  large  cannon.  The  city  is  surrounded  partly 
by  an  old  wall  of  Moorish  origin,  and  partly  by  one  of  mo- 
dern construction,  formed  of  bastions,  with  curtains  of  hewn 
stone.  The  streets,  like  those  of  most  old  cities,  are  narrow, 
and  paved  with  unhewn  stone.  The  most  remarkable  build- 
ing is  a cathedral,  flanked  with  a fine  tower,  said  to  be  built 
in  the  third  century.  The  total  population  of  the  termino  of 


4.96 


NAVAL  CHRONICLE. 


which  Ciudadella  is  the  capital,  probably  docs  not  ^amount  to 
c'ii^ht  hundred. 

Port  Mahon,  where  the  American  squadron  has  its  depot, 
is  the  capital  of  the  termino  of  the  same  name.  It  is  the 
most  considerable  of  the  island,  containing  about  sixty  thou- 
sand acres,  and  is  situated  on  the  south-east  extremity  of  Mi- 
norca. Nearly  one  half  the  inhabitants  of  the  island  reside 
in  this  termino.  The  town  of  Mahon  derives  its  name  from 
Mago,  the  Carthaginian  general,  who  is  universally  acknow- 
ledged to  have  been  its  founder.  It  stands  on  a pretty  steep 
tminenoe,  at  the  west  side  of  the  harbour,  and  is  a tolerably 
large  town,  with  narrow,  ill  paved,  and  crooked  streets.  The 
fort  of  St.  Philip  is  near  the  entrance  of  the  harbour,  which  it 
entirely  commands,  being  very  extensive,  of  great  strength, 
wdth  subterraneous  works  bomb  proof,  large  magazines,  nu- 
merous and  well  appointed  guns,  and  every  thing  else  neces- 
sary to  a complete  fortification.  Port  Mahon  is  the  finest 
harbour  in  the  Mediterranean,  about  ninety  fathoms  wide  at 
its  entrance,  but  widening  into  a capacious  bay  within,  and 
extending  nearly  a league  into  the  island.  Beneath  the  town 
there  is  a fine  quay,  one  side  of  which  is  appropriated  to  ships 
of  war,  and  furnished  with  every  convenience  for  repairing  or 
refitting;  the  other  to  merchantmen.  The  castle  of  St.  Philip 
W’as  esteemed  to  be  impregnable,  before  the  English  took  it. 
By  them  it  was  greatly  improved  and  strengthened;  but  what- 
ever may  be  the  opinion  of  its  present  possessors,  experience 
has  pretty  w'ell  demonstrated,  that  no  place  can  be  considered 
impregnable  that  is  not  defended  by  a brave  and  vigilant  gar- 
rison. 

Besides  the  ports  of  Ciudadella  and  Mahon,  the  most 
remarkable  are,  Fornella  and  Adaya.  The  former  is  about 
six  miles  from  mount  Toro,  the  highest  land  on  the  island,  is 
of  a circular  form,  with  a narrow  entrance  towards  the  south, 
and  is  capable  of  containing  the  largest  fleet.  It  is  defended, 
by  a small  square  fort,  wuth  bastions  and  fosses,  capable  of 
containing  about  three  hundred  men.  The  entrance  to  the 


DESCRIPTION  OF  MINORCA. 


497 


port  of  Adaya,  is  hid  by  high  lands,  and  is  only  used  by  fish- 
ermen. Monte  Toro,  is  within  a short  distance  of  Mercadal, 
and  commands  the  whole  island.  Its  form  is  that  of  the  frus- 
trum  of  a cone.  Mount  St.  Agatha  is  situated  N.  W.  of  Mer- 
tadal,  and  is  next  in  altitude  to  Monte  Toro.  On  the  sum- 
mit is  a chapel  dedicated  to  the  saint,  and  held  in  great  vene- 
ration by  the  people  of  the  island,  who  are  exceedingly  su- 
perstitious. The  whole  of  this  region  is  inhabited  by  shep- 
herds, who  feed  their  flocks  principally  on  these  mountains. 

Minorca  is  exposed  to  the  north  winds,  which  are  unfa-  ^ 
vourable  to  vegetation,  but  notwithstanding  this,  snow  is  sel- 
dom or  ever  seen  there  in  winter,  and  the  air  of  spring  is  de- 
lightfully serene  and  temperate.  The  summer  is  hot  and  dry, 
and  in  the  autumn  there  fails  a great  deal  of  rain.  The 
island  is  in  many  parts  fertile  in  vegetation.  Its  products  are 
wheat,  barley,  and  maize — it  produces  red  and  white  wines 
for  exportation — plenty  of  olive  trees  are  every  where  seen, 
and  oranges,  pomegranates,  figs,  lemons,  water-melons,  &c. 
together  with  garden  vegetables,  are  in  great  plenty.  By  late 
accounts,  the  horses,  mules,  and  asses,  were  estimated  at 
2000 — the  horned  cattle  at  7000 — sheep,  goats,  and  smaller 
animals,  at  45,000 — and  hogs  at  10,000.  Little  poultry  is 
raised,  but  the  fish  all  around  tiie  island  are  excellent,  and  in 
great  abundance.  Its  natural  curiosities  are,  a grotto  called 
La  Cava  Pevalla,  near  Ciudadella,  and  a subterranean  lake; 
and  its  antiquities  are  Phcenician,  Macedonian,  Carthaginian, 
Grecian,  Roman,  and  Spanish  medals,  in  gold,  silver,  and 
bronze,  that  are  sometimes  dug  up.  There  are  likewise  a 
number  of  sepulchres,  vases,  lamps,  urns,  &c.  made  of  red- 
dish earth,  with  illegible  inscriptions.  The  inhabitants  are  a 
quiet,  peaceable  people,  attached  to  their  old  customs,  and 
very  ceremonious  in  their  devotions.  Minorca  exports  cheese, 
salt,  wax,  honey  and  wine,  to  the  amount  perhaps  of  twenty 
thousand  pounds  sterling;  and  receives  in  return,  corn,  rice, 
sugar,  coftee,  brandy,  spices,  tobacco,  linen,  fine  cloths, 
boards,  naval  stores,  and  some  little  iurnitiire. 

€3 


VOL,  VII. 


NAYAL  CHRONICLE 


4di 


MONUMENT  OF  LAWRENCE. 

This  monument  is  now  erecting  in  Trinity  church.  The 
design  is  simple,  and  affectingly  appropriate.  It  is  a broken 
column  of  white  marble,  of  the  pure  Doric,  the  cap  broken  off 
and  resting  on  the  base.  The  inscription  is,  we  think,  singu- 
larly beautiful,  and  does  great  honour  to  the  author,  whose 
name  we  have  not  heard.  It  presents  a fine  contrast  to  the 
unfeeling  and  inflated  bombast  which  so  often  disgraces  this 
species  of  composition,  exhibiting  a rare  specimen  of  that 
sweet  yet  dignified  simplicity  which  so  well  accords  with  the 
records  and  the  emblems  of  perishing  mortality.  The  intro- 
duction of  the  dying  words  of  this  gallant  ofticer,  is  in  the 
highest  degree  affecting. 

In  Memory  of 

Captain  JAMES  LAWRENCE, 
of  the  United  States  Navy, 

Who  fell 

on  the  first  day  of  June,  1813,  in  the  2Sd  year 
of  his  age. 

In  the  action  between  the  frigates  Chesapeake  and  Shannoi\. 

He  distinguished  himself  on  various  occasions; 

But  particularly  when  he  commanded  the 
sloop  of  war  Hornet, 

By  capturing  and  sinking 
His  Britannic  Majesty’s  sloop  of  war  Peacock, 

After  a desperate  action  of  14  minutes. 

His  bravery  in  action. 

Was  only  equalled  by  his  modesty  in  triumph, 

And  his  magnanimity  to  the 
vanquished. 

In  private  life. 

He  was  a gentleman  of  the  most 
generous  and  endearing  qualities. 

And  so  acknowledged  was  his  public  worth. 

That  the  whole  nation  mourned  his  loss; 

And  the  enemy  contended  with  his  countrymen. 

Who  most  should  honour  his  remains. 

[on  the  keterse.] 

The  Hero, 

Whose  remains  are  here  deposited. 

With  his  expiring  breath. 

Expressed  his  devotion  to  his  CountiT". 

Neither  the  fury  of  battle; 

The  anguish  of  a mortal  wound; 

• • Nor  the  horrors  of  approaching  Death, 

Could  subdue  his  gallant  spirit. 

His  dying  words  were, 

/‘DON’T  GIVE  UP  THE  SHIP.” 


ORIGINAL. 


A SKETCH  OF  THE  CHARACTER  OF  THE  LATE  OHIEF  JUSTICE 
PARSONS. 

There  is  no  department  of  knowledge,  no  pursuit  of  in- 
tellectual enterprize  or  industry,  which  offers  in  the  United 
States  such  munificent  rewards  to  those  who  deserve  them,  as 
the  science  and  practice  of  the  law.  Wealth,  reputation,  sind 
power,  are  the  splendid  prizes  held  out  to  incite  the  candidate 
for  forensic  eminence.  We  find,  accordingly,  that  the  profes- 
sion of  the  law  has  furnished  most  of  the  very  distinguished 
men  of  whom  our  country  can  boast.  While  we  had  no  na- 
tive poetry  of  extraordinary  excellence,  while  the  muse  of 
history  was  almost  silent,  and  our  general  literature  confined 
to  the  ephemeral  columns  of  gazettes,  our  jurisprudence  and 
forensic  eloquence  might  vie  with  those  of  the  most  celebrated 
nations.  The  person  whose  portrait  is  exhibited  in  our  pre- 
sent number,  stood  high  among  the  illustrious  lawyers  and 
judges  of  America.  We  present  our  readers  with  a brief 
sketch  of  his  character.  It  is  taken,  on  the  contracted  scale 
to  which  our  limits  restrict  us,  from  an  address  delivered  to 
the  grand  jury  of  the  county  of  Suffolk,  soon  after  his  death, 
by  his  friend  and  associate,  the  honourable  judge  Parker. 

Chief  justice  Theophilus  Parsons  was  born  in  February, 
A.  D.  1750,  and  received  the  rudiments  of  his  education  at 
Dummer  academy,  in  his  native  parish  of  Byefield,  within  the 
ancient  town  of  Newbury.  His  father  was  minister  of  that 
parish.  His  youth  was  so  successfully  devoted  to  study,  that 
before  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he  had  acquired  a 
critical  knowledge  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages,  and  made 
considerable  progress  in  logic,  metaphysics,  and  the  mathema- 
tical sciences.  He  received  the  ordinary  honours  of  the  univer- 
sity of  Cambridge  in  1769.  He  entered  upon  the  study  of  the 
law  under  the  late  judge  Bradbury  in  Falmouth,  now  Portland, 


500 


ORIGINAL. 


and  kept  for  some  time  the  grammar  school  in  that  town.  He 
practised  law  t’iere  a few  years;  but  in  consequence  of  the  de- 
struction oftim  town  by  the  British,  he  retired  to  the  house  of  his 
father  in  N^nvbury,  where  he  met  judge  Trowbridge,  who  had 
sought  shelter  from  the  confusion  of  the  times  in  the  same  hos- 
pitable mansion.  This  venerable  old  man,  perhaps  the  most 
profound  common  lawyer  of  New  Eniiland  before  the  revolu- 
tion, had  pursued  his  legal  studies  and  disquisitions,  long  after 
he  had  ceased  to  be  actively  engaged  in  the  profession,  and 
had  employed  himself  in  composing  essays  upon  abstruse  and 
difficult  points  of  law.  To  have  met  in  a peaceful  village, 
secure  from  the  alarms  of  war,  with  such  a learned  instructor, 
fraught  with  the  lore  of  half  a century’s  laborious  study,  and 
willing  to  communicate  what  he  knew,  was  to  Mr.  Parsons  a 
most  fortunate  occurrence.  He  regarded  it  as  an  uncommon 
blessing,  and  frequently  observed  that  this  early  interruption 
of  his  business,  which  seemed  to  threaten  poverty  and  mis- 
fortune, was  one  of  the  most  useful  and  happy  events  of  his 
life,  in  about  a year  from  this  time  he  opened  his  office  in 
Newbury  port. 

Never  was  fame  more  early  or  more  just,  than  that  of 
Parsons  as  a law’yer.  At  an  age  when  most  of  the  profession 
are  but  hegianing  to  exhibit  their  talents  and  to  take  a fixed 
rank  at  the  bar,  he  was  confessedly,  in  point  of  legal  know- 
ledge, among  the  first  of  its  professors. 

His  professional  services  were  generally  sought  for.  In 
his  native  county,  and  in  the  neighbouring  state  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, scarcely  a cause  of  importance  was  litigated  in  which 
he  was  not  an  advocate.  His  fame  had  spread  from  the  coun- 
try to  the  capital,  to  which  he  was  almost  constantly  called  to 
to  take  a share  in  trials  of  intricacy  and  interest.  Having 
entered  upon  business  early  in  our  revolutionary  war,  when 
the  courts  of  admiralty  jurisdiction  were  crowded  with  causes, 
in  the  management  of  which  he  had  a large  share,  he  was  led 
to  study  w th  diligence  the  civil  lawq  the  law  of  nations,  and 
the  principles  of  belligerent  and  neutral  rights. 


CHARACTER  OF  JUDGE  PARSONS. 


501 


In  special  pleading,  which  more  than  any  thing  tests  the 
learning  of  a co  lunon  lawyer,  he  had  then  few  competitors. 

He  possessed  the  happy  talent  of  penetrating  through  the 
mass  of  circumstances  which  sometimes  surround  and  obscure 
a cause. 

His  arguments  were  directed  to  the  understandings  of 
men,  seldom  to  their  passions;  and  yet  instances  may  be  re- 
collected, when,  in  causes  which  required  it,  he  has  assailed 
the  hearts  of  his  hearers  witli  as  powerful  appeals  as  were  ever 
made  in  the  cause  of  humanity.  His  great  talent  was  that  of 
condensation.  He  presented  his  propositions  in  lucid  order, 
drew  his  inferences  with  justness,  and  enforced  his  arguments 
with  a simplicity  yet  fulness  which  left  nothing  obscure  or 
misunderstood. 

He  had  a quick  perception  of  the  cardinal  points  of  a 
cause,  upon  which  he  poured  out  the  whole  treasures  of  his 
mind,  while  he  rejected  all  minor  facts  and  principles  from  his 
consideration. 

With  this  fulness  of  learning  and  reputation,  having  had 
thirty-five  years  of  extensive  practice  in  the  law,  and  having 
indeed  for  the  last  ten  years  acted  unofficially  as  judge  in  many 
of  the  most  important  mercantile  disputes  which  occurred  in 
Boston,  he  was,  on  the  resignation  of  chief  justice  Dana,  ap- 
pointed to  preside  in  the  supreme  judicial  court  of  Massachu- 
setts; and  took  his  seat  accordingly  on  the  first  Tuesday  of 
July,  1806.  This  was  the  first  instance  of  a departure  from 
the  ordinary  rule  of  succession;  and,  considering  the  charac- 
ter and  talents  of  some  who  had  been  many  years  on  the  bench, 
perhaps  no  greater  proof  could  be  given  of  his  pre-eminent 
legal  endowments,  than  that  this  elevation  should  have  been 
universally  approved.  Perhaps  there  never  was  a period  when 
the  regular  succession  would  have  been  more  generally  acqui- 
esced in,  and  yet  the  departure  from  it  in  this  instance,  was 
every  wffiere  gratifying. 

The  imperfect  system  of  judicature,  which  had  prevailed 
in  Massachusetts  until  about  that  period,  had  rendered  great 


ORIGINAL. 


legal  abilities  requisite  to  the  establishment  of  a course  of  pro- 
ceedings, and  uniformity  of  decisions,  so  necessary  to  the  safe 
and  satisfactory  administration  of  justice.  There  had  been  no 
history  of  past  transactions  preserved  by  a re]3orter,  the  sage 
opinions  of  departed  judges  had  been  lost  even  from  the  me- 
mory, and  precedents  were  sought  for  only  in  the  books  of  a 
foreign  country.  The  most  interesting  points  of  law  had  been 
settled  in  the  hurry  and  confusion  of  jury  trials;  and  conflict- 
ing opinions  of  judges,  arising  from  pressure  of  business  and 
want  of  time  to  deliberate,  were  adjusted  by  that  body  which 
is  supposed  by  the  constitution  and  the  laws  to  be  competent 
to  try  the  fact  alone. 

But  a new  era  had  arisen.  A system  of  jurisprudence, 
assimilated  to  that  of  England,  but  with  great  improvements, 
had  been  adopted.  Its  success  however  depended  much  upon 
those  who  were  to  administer  it.  The  appointment  of  Par- 
sons was  therefore  hailed  by  all  with  the  highest  approbation. 
His  profound  learning,  his  great  experience  as  a practitioner 
of  the  law  in  the  country  and  in  the  capital,  and  his  accurate 
knowledge  of  forms  and  practice  peculiarly  fltted  him  to  take 
the  lead  in  the  new  order  of  things:  The  public  expectation 

was  not  disappointed.  The  regularity  of  trials,  and  the 
promptness  and  correctness  of  decisions  throughout  the  com- 
monwealth, soon  attested  the  beneficial  eflects  of  a system, 
which  he  so  much  contributed  to  render  popular  and  perma- 
nent. The  first  six  volumes  of  the  reports  of  the  court  in 
which  he  presided,  will  long  endure  as  a monument  of  his 
accurate  juridical  reasonings,  and  his  deep  and  extensive 
knowledge  of  the  common  law,  and  the  constitutions  and  sta- 
tutes of  his  country. 

But  he  possessed  other  important  qualities  of  an  upright 
judge,  not  exposed  to  the  public  eye.  He  was  a patient  and 
diligent  inquirer  after  truth,  revolving  and  revising  his  own 
opinions,  communicating  freely  to  his  brethren  his  own  rea- 
sonings, and  candidly  listening  to  theirs,  suppressing  all  pride 


CHARACTER  OF  JUDGE  PARSdNS. 


503 


of  c inion,  and  being  ready  to  adopt  another’s  instead  of  his 
ov  , if  found  more  conformable  to  truth. 

Though  fraught  with  all  the  technical  learning  of  the  bar, 
and  accustomed  to  a strict  adherence  to  rules  in  his  own  prac- 
tice, he  yet,  like  lord  Mansfield,  was  averse  from  suffering 
justice  to  be  entangled  in  the  net  of  forms;  and  he,  therefore, 
exerted  all  his  ingenuity  to  support  the  principles  of  equity 
and  right. 

In  the  administration  of  criminal  lawq  how^ever,  he  w^as 
strict,  and  almost  punctilious,  in  adhering  to  forms.  He  re- 
quired of  the  public  prosecutors  the  most  scrupulous  exact- 
ness, believing  it  to  be  the  right,  even  of  the  guilty,  to  be  tried 
according  to  known  and  practised  rules;  and  that  it  was  a less 
evil  for  a criminal  to  escape,  than  that  the  bankers  established 
for  the  security  of  innocence  should  be  overthrown. 

He  was  a humane  judge,  and  adopted,  in  its  fullest  extent, 
the  maxim  of  lord  chief  justice  Hale,  that  doubts  should  alw^ays 
be  placed  in  the  scale  of  mercy. 

Having  thus  attempted  a sketch  of  the  professional  and 
judicial  character  of  chief  justice  Parsons,  his  political  charac- 
ter requires  some  attention. 

Although  unwilling  to  take  so  great  a share  in  public 
councils  as  his  townsmen  and  the  people  of  his  county  desired, 
yet  on  great  and  solemn  occasions,  he  yielded  to  the  impulse 
of  patriotism,  and  the  solicitations  of  his  neighbours,  and  gave 
his  time  and  talents  to  the  state.  Accordingly,  in  1779J  he 
became  a member  of  the  convention  w'hich  formed  the  frame 
of  sla-e  government  for  Massachusetts,  w'hich  has  continued 
to  the  present  day.  At  a time  when  the  people  had  freed 
themselves  from  a tyrannical  government,  when  they  w'ere  held 
together  as  a body  politic  by  a sense  of  danger  rather  than  by 
the  restraints  of  law,  and  when  an  enthusiastic  love  of  liberty 
was  almost  universally  felt,  it  was  no  easy  task  to  introduce 
into  the  compact  vigour  enough  to  prolong  its  existence  beyond 
the  time  of  peril.  Parsons  w^as  indefatigable  in  his  exertions 
to  obtain  as  energetic  a system  as  tlie  people  would  bear. 


ORIGINAL. 


Many  of  the  most  important  articles  of  the  constitution  were 
of  his  draught;  and  those  provisions  which  were  the  least  po- 
pular, such  as  dignity  and  power  to  the  executive,  indepen- 
dence to  the  judiciary,  and  a separation  of  the  branches  of  the 
legislative  department,  were  supported  by  him  with  great  elo- 
quence and  force  of  argument. 

After  this  constitution  had  been  adopted  by  the  people, 
and  had  gone  into  operation,  he  appeared  but  seldom  in  the 
political  assemblies  of  the  state.  The  ordinary  business  of 
legislation  was  not  of  importance  enough  in  his  mind  to  draw 
him  from  a profitable  pursuit  of  his  profession,  which  was  ne- 
cessary for  the  support  and  education  of  an  increasing  family. 
Yet  when  the  seeds  of  disorder  sprang  up  in  the  community, 
he  was  again  prevailed  upon  to  take  a seat  in  the  legislature, 
where  his  great  political  knowledge,  and  his  peculiar  address, 
contributed  largely  to  the  preservation  of  that  constitution  he 
had  done  so  much  to  establish. 

But  another  great  national  revolution  occurred.  The 
constitution  of  the  United  States  was  presented  to  the  people 
for  their  approbation,  and  a convention  of  delegates  from  the 
several  towns  of  Massachusetts  w^as  assembled  to  discuss  its 
merits,  and  adopt  or  reject  it.  Parsons  appeared  in  this  as- 
sembly, the  powerful  and  zealous  advocate  of  the  proposed 
plan,  as  new  as  it  was  grand,  to  unite  thirteen  sovereign  re- 
publics under  a single  federative  government,  without  endan- 
gering the  freedom  or  independence  of  any  of  them,  although 
that  federative  government  was  to  act  directly  upon  the  peo- 
ple, and  not  upon  the  governments  of  those  states,  and  was 
vested  with  the  unlimited  power  of  the  sw^ord  and  the  purse. 
Parsons  was  eminently  distinguished  on  this  occasion,  even 
among  such  men  as  Ames,  King,  Dana,  and  Strong.  This 
finished  his  political  engagements,  except  some  few  years  in 
the  legislature  at  subsequent  periods,  when  his  influence  was 
visible;  but  the  subjects  in  which  it  was  exercised  were  only 
of  ordinary  import. 


CHARACTER  OP  JUDGE  PARSON3.  4Q? 

But  though  he  was  only  occasionally  engaged  as  a mem' 
ber  of  the  legislature,  he  yet  was  an  active  observer  of  public 
measures,  and  contributed  his  councils  in  many  of  the  arrange- 
ments which  took  place.  His  political  friends  frequently 
sought  his  advice,  and  they  always  found  him  well  acquainted 
with  passing  events,  and  ready  to  communicate  his  opinions. 

In  his  political,  as  well  as  in  his  judicial  character,  there 
was  an  apparent  suddenness  of  opinion,  which  at  the  moment 
seemed  precipitancy,  but  which  in  most  instances  was  disco- 
vered to  be  the  effect  of  a rapid  process  of  reasoning,  or  the 
immediate  decision  of  judgment  upon  facts  and  principles 
stored  in  his  memory  and  always  ready  for  use.  Instance^ 
could  be  adduced,  in  which  his  friends  have  rejected  his 
opinions,  from  a doubt  of  their  correctness,  and  yet  have  been 
brought,  by  the  course  of  events  which  he  had  the  sagacity  to 
foresee,  to  the  very  point  from  which  they  had  prudently,  as 
they  thought,  receded. 

His  private  character  remains  to  be  briefly  exhibited* 
He  was  just,  regular,  and  punctual  in  his  transactions.  Sim- 
plicity and  order  presided  over  his  household;  hospitality, 
without  ostentation  or  ceremony,  reigned  within  his  mansion. 
Domestic  tranquillity  and  cheerfulness  beamed  from  his  coun- 
tenance, and  was  reflected  back  upon  him  from  his  delighted 
family.  It  has  been  the  misfortune  of  many  who  have  been 
devoted  to  literature,  and  who  have  attained  great  celebrity, 
to  have  been  so  much  absorbed  in  grave  contemplations  as  to 
acquire  a distaste  to  those  charities  of  life  which  are  the 
sources  of  its  happiness,  or  to  become  insensible  to  the  ordi- 
nary excitements  to  recreation  and  pleasure.  It  was  not  so 
with  Parsons.  His  conversation  could  instruct  or  amuse,  ajs 
times  and  seasons  suited.  Neither  philosophers  nor  children 
could  leave  his  society  without  being  improved  or  entertained. 
Amid  the  multifarious  occupations  of  his  mind,  he  had  still 
found  room  for  the  lighter  literature,  and  was  ready  with  his 
critique  even  upon  the  ephemeral  works  of  fancy  and  of  taste. 
The  more  solid  productions  of  polite  literature  had  passed  tfee 

voe.  VII.  64 


' 506 


ORIGINAL. 


ordeal  of  his  judgment,  so  that  his  materials  for  social  con- 
verse were  abundant.  Indeed,  his  memory  might  be  consi- 
dered a capacious  store  house,  separated  into  a multitude  of 
apartments,  in  which  principles,  facts,  and  anecdotes  were 
laid  up  according  to  their  classes,  marked  and  numbered,  so 
that  he  could  draw  them  out  and  appropriate  them  whenever 
occasion  oftered.  His  conversation  was  illumined  with  flashes 
of  wit  and  merriment,  which  captivated  his  hearers,  and  ren- 
dered him  at  the  same  time  an  edifying  and  entertaining  com- 
panion. He  was  accessible,  familiar,  and  communicative,  a 
patron  of  literature  and  literary  men,  a warm  friend  to  the 
clergy  and  to  the  institutions  of  religion  and  learning,  and  an 
admirer  and  promoter  of  merit  among  the  young.  He  was  not 
an  avaricious  man,  for,  after  a long  life  of  labour  in  a lucra- 
tive profession,  he  left  no  greater  estate  than  is  frequently  ac- 
cumulated by  a prudent  and  respectable  tradesman. 

His  attainments  in  classical  literature  were  great.  The 
late  Mr.  John  Luzac,  professor  of  Greek  in  the  university  of 
Leyden,  spoke  of  him  as  a “ giant  in  Greek  criticism,”  as  his 
professional  admirers  styled  him  “ the  giant  of  the  law.”  He 
loved,  and  occasionally  cultivated  the  mathematical  sciences. 
The  learned  and  modest  Bowditch,  in  his  practical  navigator, 
speaking,  on  the  subject  of  lunar  observations,  of  a method  of 
correcting  the  apparent  distance  of  the  moon  from  the  sun, 
acknowledges  that  it  is  an  improvement  on  Witchell’s  method, 
in  consequence  of  a suggestion  from  judge  Parsons.  M^hen 
fatigued  with  the  labour  of  deep  legal  research,  he  would  often 
amuse  himself,  as  he  called  it,  with  mathematical  calculations, 
or  relax  his  mind  by  the  perusal  of  some  popular  and  interest- 
ing novel. 

He  lived  to  the  age  of  sixty-three  years;  a long  Hfe  for 
such  a many  wdiose  mind  had  been  so  active,  and  whose  body 
had  seldom  been  in  exercise.  He  made  a public  profession 
of  his  belief  in  the  Christian  revelation:  his  wms  the  belief  of 
a strong  mind,  unobscured  by  superstition,  and  undisturbed  by 
the  apprehensions  of  death.  It  was  declared  repeatedly  in 


CHARACTER  OF  JUJiGE  PARSONS.  507 

r 

the  best  state  of  his  health,  and  confirmed  in  the  serene  con- 
templation of  his  expected  change. 

He  died  on  the  30th  of  October,  1813,  at  his  house  in 
Boston,  in  the  strength  of  his  understanding,  and  the  zenith  of 
his  reputation;  and  on  the  Tuesday  following  his  remains  were 
entombed,  accompanied  by  a long  procession  of  relatives  and 
friends.  The  general  sense  of  the  public  loss  in  the  death  of 
this  learned  jurist,  exemplary  magistrate,  and  sincere  Chris- 
tian, alike  honourable  to  the  community  and  to  the  deceased, 
was  shown  in  the  unanimous  act  of  the  legislature,  directing 
the  secretary  of  the  commonwealth  to  request  of  the  honourable 
judge  Parker  a copy  of  that  part  of  his  charge  to  the  grand 
jury  of  the  county  of  Sufiblk,  “ wherein  he  delineated  the  cha- 
racter of  the  late  venerated  chief  justice  Parsons,”  and  to 
cause  it  to  be  inserted  in  the  next  volume  of  the  reports. 

In  a note  annexed  to  judge  Parker’s  published  address, 
he  states  the  following  circumstances: 

About  three  months  before  the  chief  justice  died,  I had  a con- 
versation with  him  upon  the  subject  of  the  Christian  religion,  and 
particularly  upon  the  proofs  of  the  resurrection  contained  in  the 
New  Testament.  He  told  me,  that  he  felt  the  most  perfect  satis- 
faction on  that  subject;  that  he  had  once  taken  it  up  with  a view 
to  ascertain  the  weight  of  the  evidence  by  comparing  the  accounts 
given  by  the  four  evangelists  with  each  other;  and  that  from  their 
agreement  ih  all  substantial  and  important  facts,  as  well  as  their 
disagreement  in  minor  circumstances — considering  them  all  as 
separate  and  independent  witnesses,  giving  their  testimony  at  dif- 
ferent periods,  he  believed  that  the  evidence  would  be  considered 
perfect,  if  the  question  was  tried  at  any  human  tribunal. 

A similar  conversation  was  held  by  him  with  the  rev.  Mr. 
Thacher  during  his  late  sickness,  through  the  whole  of  which  he 
evinced  a patience  and  resignation,  which,  considering  his  extreme 
nervous  irritability  and  apprehensions  of  disease,  when  in  his  best 
state  of  health,  can  be  accounted  for  only  by  the  enlightened  and 
satisfactory  hopes  he  entertained  of  a happy  immortality. 

* .^ee  Massachusetts’  Reports,  vol.  10,  n.  372. 


SELECT  KEVIEWS. 


The  Colonial  Policy  of  Great  Britain,  considered  with  relation, 
to  her  North  American  Provinces,  arid  West  India  Posses- 
sions;  wherein  the  dangerous  tendency  of  American  Compe- 
tition is  attempted  to  be  developed,  and  the  necessity  of  re- 
commencing a Colonial  System  on  a vigorous  and  extensive 
Scale,  exhibited  and  defended;  with  Plans  for  the  promotion 
of  Emigration,  and  Strictures  on  the  Treaty  of  Ghent,  By 
a British  Traveller.  8vo.  pp.  238.  ; 

[^From  the  Critical  Review.] 

We  are  glad  to  have  an  opportunity  of  selecting  from  an  English  periodi- 
cal publication,  an  answer  to  the  execrable  work  of  an  English  writer,  hostile  to 
the  peace,  reputation  and  prosperity  of  our  country. 

At  no  period  within  our  recollection,  could  a book,  hold- 
ing forth  ^nd  defending  the  ill-imagined  and  impracticable  ^ 
system  delineated  in  this  bad-spirited  volume,  have  appeared 
with  less  chance  of  establishing  its  immoral  doctrines,  or  even 
of  procuring  for  them  a patient  discussion,  than  the  year  1816. 

In  that  golden  aera  of  ministerial  prosperity,  w^hen  Napoleon  oc- 
cupied the  throne  of  Europe,  and  was  daily  drawing  the  lines 
of  circumvallation  closer  round  the  shores  of  England; — w hen  / 

the  “ Empress  of  the  Seas”  had,  by  her  singular  policy  to- 
wards the  Atlantic  Republic,  forced  the  deeply-injured  ci- 
tizens of  her  flourishing  and  peaceful  comimon wealths  to  ap- 
peal to  the  sw'ord; — w'hen  a spirit  of  aversion  against  France, 
and  every  country  w^hom  it  pleased  the  “ great  men”  of  Eng- 
land to  represent  combined  with  her  in  plan,  principle,  and 
interest,  wms  carefully  cherished; — when  an  occasional  advan- 
tage in  Spain,  or  the  capture  of  a West  India  island,  sufiiced  to 
inflame  the  mind  of  the  populace,  and  set  them  raving  about 
Talavera  and  Salamanca,  v/ith  a greater  degree  of  frenzy  than  { 
their  forefathers  indulged  in  the  days  of  Blenheim  and  La 
Hogue;  and  lastly,  when  nineteen  blockheads  out  of  twenty, 
talked  in  a crazy  style  concerning  the  conquest  of  America; 
and  solaced  themselves  by  such  silly  prattle  for  the  unprece- 
dented expenditure  required  for  the  prosecution  of  their  mag- 
nanimous wmrs; — why,  aye,  in  those  bewitched  andbewdtehing 
days,  a pretty,  well-printed  book  against  our  American  brethren 
— abounding  with  all  sorts  of  virtuous  devices  to  increase  the 
resentment  already  entertained  against  us  by  the  republic, 
highly  seasoned  in  every  page  with  bombastic  compliments  tQ 


COLONIAL  POLICY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN,  <SiC.  5U9 

English  heroism,  and  on  (lie  other  hand,  plentifully  intersjier- 
sed  with  malignant,  stupid  abuse  against  the  states,  would,  we 
think,  have  been  received  with  rapture  by  all  the  aged  dames 
and  vieux  garcons  of  the  kingdom, — tea-table  and  card-table 
would  have  been  enlivened  by  the  sagacious  observations  and 
diffusive  rhetoric  of  those  venerable  worthies;  and  we  think  it 
perfectly  consistent  with  the  prevalent  mania  of  those  curious 
times,  that  such  a person  as  the  author  before  us  should  have 
been  looked  up  to  as  a most  surprising  gentleman,  and  that 
his  political  theories  should  have  been  regarded  with  a vene- 
ration equal  to  that  once  paid  to  Thomas  Aquinas.  But  our 
hero  is,  we  think,  utterly  in  an  error,  if  he  suppose  for  a mo- 
ment that  his  patriotic  labours  to  kindle  war  between  her  and 
the  republic,  enjoy  any  thing  like  the  same  chance  of  success 
W’hich  they  w^ould  in  the  course  of  the  unfortunate  period  to 
which  we  have  reluctantly  turned  our  contemplation.  Mad- 
men, in  the  hour  of  their  frenzy,  are  sure  to  adopt  with  fury 
all  expedients  that  strike  them  as  likely  to  injure  their  sup- 
posed enemies,  thoughtless  whether  or  not  themselves  are  lia- 
ble to  suffer  by  their  use,  calamities  greater  than  any  they 
have  it  in  their  power  to  wreak  upon  their  imaginary  foes. 
But  when  a lucid  interval  permits  them  to  comprehend  the 
bitter  truth — and  when  they  have  sense  and  leisure  to  under- 
stand how  little  evil  they  have  been  able  to  inhict  on  the  ob- 
jects of  their  rage,  and  how  grievously  the}^  themselves  have 
suffered  by  the  furious  exertions  of  their  delirious  hostility, — 
and  when,  besides,  they  are  rendered  fully  conscious  of  the 
debility  superinduced  by  such  a wreckless  expenditure  of 
strength,  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  from  every  consideration 
suggested  by  returning  wisdom,  (laying  aside  the  dictates  of 
morality,  since  it  is  unnecessary  to  provide  more  causes  than 
are  adequate  to  the  effect,  and  that  it  is  the  most  unlikely  thing 
we  can  suppose,  to  imagine  that  the  conduct  which  is  prompted 
only  by  feebleness  and  inability,  can  have  any  pretensions  to 
a feeling  of  rectitude)  they  will  comport  themselves  towards 
those  whom  they  have  offended,  in  such  a manner,  and  exhi- 
bit such  evident  tokens  of  contrition  for  their  recent  misbeha- 
viour, as  shall,  at  least,  give  them  a chance  of  pardon. 

The  whole  and  avowed  object  of  this  writer,  is  to  promote 
the  adoption  of  a plan  on  the  part  of  England,  that  will,  he 
conceives,  go  nigh  to  the  ruin  of  American  industry,  and  de- 
prive her,  by  means  which,  w^ere  they  not  happily  impractica- 
ble, would  yet  be  utterly  abhorrent,  by  reason  of  their  iniquity, 
6f  that  vast  trade  which  has  been  secured  to  her,  partly  by 
h^r  geographical  position,  partly  by  the  perseverance  and  ac- 


610 


SELECT  REVIEWS. 


tive,  adventurous  disposition  of  her  free  and  enterprising  ci- 
tizens. After  a long  extract  (see  Preface)  from  the  able  tract 
of  M.  Talleyrand  on  America,  in  which  that  reverend  person 
descants  upon  the  prodigious  advantages  that  would  accrue  to 
France  by  obtaining  the  mastenj  of  the  Mississippi  navigation, 
the  worthy  author  proceeds  thus: — 

“ This  region,  so  valuable,  lias  been  transfcrrecl  from  one  deadly- 
rival  of  this  country  to  anothei’;  whose  inclinations  and  opportu- 
nities assume  a more  tremendous  character  than  the  former;  whose  J 
restless  hatred  and  ambition  is  in  consequence  rendered  compara-  3 
lively  impotent;  but  which,  at  the  same  time,  has  given  to  the  lat-  | 
ter  a source  of  power  not  to  be  viewed  without  the  greatest  con-  | 

corn;  and  our  government  tamely  looking  on,  while  the  United  f 

States  most  frauduientiy  took  possession  of  this  fine  country , in  ^ 
trust  for  Napoleon;  being  the  first  step  of  a projected  concert 
between  the  ruler  of  France,  and  the  American  government,  for 
depriving  Great  Britain  of  her  Canadian  territories.  By  this 
strange  imbecility  on  our  part,  we  have  permitted  a source  of  the 
most  stable  greatness  to  pass  from  our  hands;  the  value  of  W'hich  to 
us  must  have  been  greatly  enhanced  by  its  contiguity  to  our  West 
Indian  islands;  by  its  being  the  key  to  the  rich  and  fertjlc  plains 
of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi;  by  the  avenue  it  would  open  for  our 
manufactures  into  one  of  the  most  populous  and  wealthy  of  all  the 
Spanish  colonies; — but  most  of  all,  by  the  command  this  would  k 

have  given  us,  in  union  with  the  Canadas,  over  the  United  States,  f 

which  would  then  have  been  surrounded  by  British  power,  and  the 
whole  length  of  internal  frontier  open  at  all  times  to  the  admission 
of  our  merchandize.”  * V 

So  all  that  tve  have  got  to  do  is  to  go  to  war  immediately,  at 
the  rate  of  about  three  millions  and  a half  sterling  per  month, 
actual  cost,  and  consent  to  the  cessation  of  our  American 
trade  for  an  indefinite  period,  and  the  endurance  of  all  the 
incalculable  evils  and  distress  consequent  to  hostilities  with 
nearly  the  whole  of  our  remaining  customers,  and  the  creation 
of  an  eternal  and  implacable  animosity  against  us,  in  the  hearts  ; 
of  our  American  brethren,  teaching  them  to  couple  instinctive- 
ly the  name  of  Britain  with  that  of  enemy ^ — and  all  for  what? 

To  wrest  from  the  rejmblic  a territory  incorporated  with  her 
own,  by  all  the  solemnities  of  a treaty;  a territory,  of  the  ad-  ^ 
vantages  of  which,  to  herself,  she  shows  a thorough  compre-  ' 
hension;  in  the  peopling  of  which  she  is  systematically  and  j 
wisely  assiduous;  w-hich,  in  fine,  from  its  naval  facilities,  she  ^ 

prizes  as  one  of  the  chief  organs  of  her  certain  grandeur,  and  i 

for  which,  rather  than  relinquish  it,  she  would  wage  unceasing  J 
war.  On  the  insurmountable  obstacles  attending  the  realiza- 
tion of  any  plan  on  our  part  to  obtain  the  command  of  the 


(^QLONIAL  POLKv’y  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN,  &LC»  511 

-Mississippi,  we  conceive  it  perfectly  unnecessary  to  expati- 
ate;— but,  granting  that  we  had  obtained  it,  how  are  we  to 
keep  it? — Fortified  places  there  are  scarcely  any;  and  how 
should  we  manage  for  provisions? — The  cultivation  of  the  im- 
mense regions  through  which  the  Mississippi  pours  his  majes- 
tic waters,  does  not  amount  to  that  carried  on  in  the  smallest 
of  the  English  counties;  and  we  should  be  somewhat  surpri- 
sed, if  we  were  told  that  its  inhabitants,  even  under  the  very 
liberal  system  acted  upon  by  the  republic,  would  equal,  years 
hence,  the  population  of  W ales.  As  rationally  might  we  in- 
dulge the  notion  of  commanding  the  Senegal  or  the  Niger,  as 
of  becoming  the  sovereigns  of  the  “American  Nile.”  If  we 
had  it,  we  could  not  retain  it,  even  on  the  supposition  of  our 
being  unmolested  by  the  States; — but  when  we  know  that  they 
would  be  at  war  with  us  for  ever,  rather  than  resign  their  un- 
questionable right  to  its  possession,  it  really  becomes  foolish 
to  doubt,  for  an  instant,  that  to  attempt  such  a design  as  is 
covertly  hinted  at  by  our  author,  would  be  the  extremity  of 
political  madness. 

We  have  refrained  horn  noticing  the  verbiage  with  which 
the  above  extract  abounds,  or  those  sentences,  in  which  the 
author  talks  about  the  restless  hatred  and  ambition  of  France, 
as  directed  against  this  country,  and  insinuates  that  the  Uni- 
ted States  are  not  less  distinguished  by  their  animosity  and 
ambition;  for  were  we  to  observe  upon  a tythe  of  the  language 
of  this  kind  contained  in  the  book,  we  should  not  have  room 
left  to  remark  upon  any  of  the  material  parts  descanted  upon 
by  the  author.  Abuse  of  all  nations  but  their  own  has  long 
been  the  privilege  of  British  writers: — it  would  have  been 
vastly  impudent  in  Louis  the  Fourteenth  to  have  attempted  to 
restore  the  Stuarts  to  the  throne  of  England;  but  it  is  very 
proper  that  his  Britannic  majesty  should  lead  back  the  de- 
scendants of  that  person  into  the  metropolis  of  France,  and 
force  upon  the  French  people  as  a ruler  the  natural  enemy  of 
his  own  family  and  country; — and,  lastly,  it  is  vastly  wise, 
and  no  less  dignified  in  the  gentleman  now  before  our  tribu- 
nal, to  anathematise  the  ambition  of  the  United  States,  and  in 
the  same  breath,  inform  us  how  very  proper  it  would  be  in  us 
to  appropriate  to  ourselves  a part  of  their  dominions;  but  it 
would  be  truly  abominable,  and  even  wicked,  in  her  citizens 
to  covet  the  possession  of  Canada. 

For  the  political  opinions  of  this  gentleman,  we  only  feel  a 
compassion,  which  makes  us  right  glad  that  he  has  refrained 
from  putting  his  name  to  his  book; — for  the  tone  of  irritation 
in  which  he  speaks  of  the  republicans,  we  were  prepared, — 


SELECT  REVIEW4S. 


^12 

SO,  we  may  suppose,  were  our  readers: — the  rivalshipof  cdh- 
teiiding  nations,  and  the  impulse,  whether  right  or  wrong  we 
do  not  stop  to  inquire,  of  nationality,  will,  we  are  aware,  al- 
most always  carry  a man  blind-fold  into  the  most  mischievous 
conceits;  but  we  were,  we  confess,  completely  taken  by  sur- 
prise, when  we  perused  the  following  passage: — 

“ It  is  indeed  much  to  be  regretted,  that  government,  in  order 
to  obtain  more  accurate  information,  does  not  employ  Secret  > 
Emissaries.  An  intelligent  active  man,  who  might  visit  a colony, 
or  the  United  States,  as  a mere  traveller,  would  prove  of  the  great- 
est service  to  Great  Britain;  furnished  with  credentials  to  show; 
in  cases  of  necessity  only,  and  funds  which  would  be  comparatively 
trifling,  to  defray  his  expenses.  He  might  mix  in  various  socie- 
ties, inspect  the  forts,  sea-ports.  See.  without  exciting  the  least 
suspicion;  and  thus  communicate  to  the  government  at  home  the 
fac-similies  of  the  real  state  of  things  abroad,  which  neither  an 
accredited  agent,  or  {nor)  any  person  in  his  suit,  could  ever  pos- 
sess. Persons  in  abundance  could  be  selected  from  the  middle 
class  of  society,  who,  for  a slender  travelling  stipend,  and  a trifling 
remuneration  for  their  time  and  labour,  might  prosecute  the  neces- 
sary inquiries,  and  do  the  business  most  effectually.” 

Good  God!  are  we  then  really  such  an  unprincipled  and  -I 
vile-hearted  nation  as  the  above  atrocious  proposition  takes  it 
for  granted  we  are?  Is  our  government  conducted  on  a sys- 
tem so  fundamentally  hostile  to  all  the  ordinances  of  morality, 
as  that  any  individual  shall  dare  to  breathe  in  its  ears  such 
devilish  counsel?  Does  this  wTetched  man  desire  to  behold 
his  country  paying  such  baleful  homage  to  the  arch-enemy  of 
mankind,  and  without  securing  the  w ages,  perform  the  drudge- 
ry of  sin?  And  can  it  be,  that  it  w^ould  please  this  unhappy 
person  to  see  her  embrace  measures  so  inexpressibly  wdeked 
as  to  rouse  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  against  her,  with  the  re- 
solution of  putting  her  dowm,  and  extinguishing  her  very  name, 
as  an  abomination  too  great  to  be  endured?  A paragraph 
like  the  above  w^e  have  never,  and  w^e  rejoice  to  say  it,  been 
shocked  with  in  any  volume  issuing  from  a British  press:  it 
delights  us  again  to  know^  that  the  spirit  of  our  constitution 
will  never  permit  the  secure  practice  of  the  infamous  system  . . 

now  for  the  first  time  broached  in  the  indignant  hearing  of  the  V 

English  public; — we  cannot  sufficiently  express  our  thanks  to 
that  gracious  Providence  who  has  hitherto  spread  before  us 
the  shield  of  his  omnipotence,  and  enveloped  us  in  the  mantle 
of  his  mercy,  that  not  only  has  he,  by  the  intellectual  keen- 
ness and  penetration  with  wffiich  it  hath  pleased  him  to  endow 
the  GREAT  XATiox  against  whom  it  is  proposed  to  adopt  these 


COLONIAL  POLICY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN,  &LC<.  v)i3 

indescribably  vicious  measures,  rendered  their  execution  futile, 
.and,  we  might  say,  impossible,  but  cast  the  hearts  of  Ei^lish- 
mcn  in  a mould  utterly  incompatible  with  principles  of  such 
extreme  turpitude.  The  wonder  is  not  that  neither  among  the 
middle,''^  nor  any  other  class  of  the  British  people,  it  would 
be  easy  to  find  in  abundance^'*  ]>ersons  sufficiently  depraved 
to  take  upon  themselves  the  odious  office  of  professional  spies, 
but  that  there  should  exist  among  us  any  individual  so  loose 
and  licentious  in  his  moral  system  as  to  entertain  such  crimi- 
nal notions,  and  so  unprecedentedly  audacious  as  to  present 
them  in  print  to  those  whom  he  insults  with  the  name  of  coun- 
trymen. Mark,  too,  the  cruel  and  insidious  blow  he  aims  at. 
that  body  of  the  community,  v/hose  integrity  it  is  of  the  deep- 
est importance  to  preserve  sound  and  untaint.  ‘‘  Persons  in 
abundance  might  be  selected  from  the  middle  class  of  society, 
who,  for  a slender  stipend,  and  a trifling  remuneration  for  their 
ihne  and  labour,  could  prosecute  the  necessary  inquiries,  and  do 
the  business  most  effectually We  trust  that  this  is  an  asper- 
sion on  the  character  of  this  country,  altogether  as  unfounded  as 
it  is  execrable; — persons  of  depraved  habits  and  morals  are, 
is  is  true,  to  be  found  in  every  nation,  men,  who,  for  a slen- 
der stipend,  and  a trifling  remuneration,”  would  infract  every 
law  human  and  divine,  and  who,  wherever  the  work  of  wicked- 
ness were  to  be  performed,  “ would  do  the  business  most 
effectually.”  W>  have  no  doubt  of  this  bad  person’s  large 
and  intimate  acquaintance  with  whatever  number  of  such  in- 
dividuals may  have  fallen  to  the  lot  of  England; — but  we  im- 
plore him  to  rest  satisfied  with  his  present  circle  of  friendships, 
and  to  discontinue  his  efforts  for  the  universal  corruption  of 
his  countrymen.  The  contagion  is,  at  present,  confined  within 
a narrow  and  congenial  field,  and  the  healthy  atmosphere  of 
the  surrounding  districts  is  not  permitted  to  be  contaminated 
by  the  foul  blasts  and  foetid  vapours  which  exhale  from  its 
baneful  soil. 

Though  we  can  scarcely  suppose  that  our  readers,  after, 
this  example  of  the  author’s  detestation  of  English  principles, 
and  cordial  antipathy  to  all  measures  not  assimilating  them- 
selves with  a system  destructive  of  British  honour  and  pros- 
perity, can  feel  very  strongly  inclined  to  become  farther 
acquainted  with  such  a bad  book,  we  shall  yet  beseech  their 
patience  for  a few  more  extracts,  simply  to  show  them  the 
wretched  arts  played  off  by  the  author  for  the  purpose  of 
creating  an  interminable  and  ruinous  war  with  the  American 
republic. 

. vor,  VII.  ^65 


514 


SELECT  REVIEWS. 


“ Ambition  and  the  lust  of  dominion  characterize  the  republican^ 
of  America.  An  ardent  desire  to  extend  their  sway  over  every 
part  of  the  continent,  and  to  extirpate  all  authority  but  their  own, 
has  strongly  marked  their  public  acts,  manifesting  itself  even  in 
their  favourite  toasts  and  sentiments.  In  short,  it  is  the  darling 
object  of  the  whole  nation,  which  sooner  or  later  maybe  gratified, 
if  we  neglect  to  strengthen  Canada,  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Bruns- 
wick, but  not  otherwise. 

“ Inflated  with  partial  successes  on  the  ocean,  their  national 
vanity  displayed  itself  in  the  most  extravagant  eulogies  on  the  su- 
perior skill  and  prowess  of  their  seamen.  This  theme  was  loudly 
touched  by  the  federal  party.  A navy  had  long  been  an  unpopular 
measure;  the  ruling  faction  had  neglected  and  opposed  its  forma- 
tion; the  federalists  alone  saw  the  vast  importance  of  a naval 
power,  and  were  the  original  founders  of  it.  This  circumstance 
ought  to  be  particularly  considered  by  the  British  public,  because 
those  have  been  esteemed  friends,  who  were  in  fact  the  most  dan- 
gerous foes. 

‘‘  At  the  present  period  the  federalists  and  democrats  coincide 
in  the  full  persuasion  of  the  declining  state  of  the  British  naval 
power,  and  of  the  brilliant  destinies  now  awaiting  their  own;  ex- 
pecting to  devest  the  parent  of  her  trophies,  and  to  annihilate  her 
commerce  as  well  as  her  navy,  at  a period  not  far  distant!  Various 
circumstances  have  contributed  to  flatter  them  into  this  opinion. 
Great  Britain  has  been  fondly  designated  “ a ma^mjicent  hut  sink- 
ing  vessel^*  This  will  prove  delusive,  if  they  by  whom  she  is 
directed  exert  those  energies  and  that  ability  they  so  amply  possess: 
on  the  contrary,  she  shall  ride  safely  amidst  contending  storms,  till 
her  glories  shall  be  merged  only  in  the  last,  the  general  convul- 
sion, while  she  has  existed  to  dispense  peace  and  beneficence  to 
every  shore.” 

‘‘  Ambition  and  the  lust  of  dominion,”  do  not  ‘‘  characterise 
the  republicans  of  America,”  in  a greater  degree,  assuredly, 
than  the  slaves  of  absolute  monarchies,  or  the  subjects  of  limit- 
ed sovereigns.  The  titled  villein  of  a Tzar  of  Muscovy  is, 
to  say  the  least,  “ characterised”  as  violently  by  the  passion 
of  widening  his  master’s  despotic  sway,  as  is  the  patriot  of 
America  and  ft’iend  of  the  world,  by  the  desire  of  extending 
the  blessings  of  his  admirable  government  over  as  large  a tract, 
and  to  as  considerable  a portion  of  the  human  species  as  pos- 
sible. If  the  converse  of  this  be  the  fact,  we  confess  ourselves 
•completely  at  a loss  to  account  for  the  immense  increase  of 
the  Muscovite  dominions  since  the  reign  of  Peter  Romanof, 
the  repeated  and  unprovoked  wars  with  the  Porte,  the  butch- 
ery of  Ismail,  and  the  nefarious  partition  of  Poland.  “ Ambi- 
tion and  lust  of  dominion,”  should  not  have  been  lightly  im- 
parted to  the  United  States  by  the  subject  of  a monarchy, 


COLONIAL  POLICY  OP  GREAT  BRITAIN,  &C.  515 

whose  possessions  in  Asia  are  the  fruits  of  that  glorious  spirit, 
“ An  ardent  desire  to  extend  their  sway”  as  wide  as  possible 
has  manifested  itself  among  all  the  nations  and  in  all  the  go- 
vernments of  which  mention  is  made  in  historical  record; — and 
assuredly  this  reproach  of  ambition  comes  with  a decidedly 
bad  grace  from  the  lip  or  pen  of  an  Englishman,  who  cannot, 
if  he  would,  conceal  from  himself  the  lamentable  fact,  that  of 
all  the  nations  of  whom  he  has  ever  read  or  heard,  his  own  is 
the  most  conspicuous  for  an  unquenchable  thirst  of  dominion, 
and  that  in  the  mischievous  disposition  so  “ manifested,”  and 
the  desire  she  is  unceasingly  tormented  with  of  interfering  with 
the  concerns  of  other  nations,  she  should  and  will  be  taught  to 
look  for  the  causes  of  her  present  condition. 

We  extract  the  following  remarks  of  this  gentleman  “ on 
the  respective  natures  of  British  and  American  warfare^  and  the 
necessity  of  anticipating  hostile  operations 

“ As  one  war  with  America,  which  originated  partly  in  French 
policy,  has  recently  terminated,  and  as  others,  from  various  causes, 
may  be  expected  to  arise,  a few  remarks  on  the  mode  of  American 
warfare  may  not  be  impertinent.  Its  peculiarities  being  deve- 
loped, means  may  be  taken  to  prevent  a recurrence,  of  the  disasters 
which  characterized  the  contest,  and  which  unhappily  gave  the 
enemy  plausible  ground  to  boast  of  their  superior  courage  and  abi- 
lity; though  the  cause  might  be  soon  discovered,  since  a radical 
difference,  in  the  war  maxims,  and  conduct  of  the  British  and 
Americans  is  obvious,  and  will  be  found  to  embrace  generally  the 
following  particulars: 

“ First,  The  British  scrupulously  regard  the  point  of  honour, 
while  the  Americans  hold  whatever  is  expedient,  to  be  also  law- 
ful, imitating,  in  this  respect,  the  French.  Secondly,  The  British 
maintain  a strict  discipline;  which,  though  it  be  carried  to  excess, 
restrains  the  brutal  licentiousness  of  victorious  soldiers;  the  Ame- 
ricans, on  the  contrary,  cannot  enact,  much  less  enforce,  laws 
authorizing  severity  of  discipline.  Hence  licentiousness  being 
tolerated,  plunder  is  connived  at,  with  all  its  concomitants.-— 
Thirdly,  In  the  British  army,  not  only  obedience  to,  but  respect 
for  officers  is  maintained;  while,  in  the  American,  the  soldier  is  a 
companion  for  his  officer.  Fourthly,  The  British  soldier,  unless 
from  patriotism,  is  without  any  strong  inducement  to  fight.  When 
discharged,  and  unless  his  wounds  entitle  him  to  a pension,  he  is 
not  sure  of  a recompense;  hence,  when  he  discovers  that  the 
Americans,  besides  their  usual  pay,  &c.  give  to  every  private,  on 
his  discharge,  three  hundred  acres  of  land^  this  not  only  damps  his 
loyalty;  but  he  is  under  the  strongest  temptation  to  desertion. — 
Fifthly,  The  military  evolutions  of  the  British  are  well  adapted 
to  European  countries,  comparatively  clear  of  i^ood,  but  are  in  a 
great  measure  useless  in  the  wilder  parts  of  America;  hence. 


SELECT  REVIEWS, 


51& 

while  particular  posts  on  the  frontiers  should  be  invested,  the  ur 
ought  to  be  carried  into  the  heart  of  the  cleared  parts  of  the 
country.  On  the  contrary,  the  American  tactics  arc  simple  and 
Tilde;  efficient  only  on  the  frontier,  where  their  militia  can  defend 
a post,  or  practise  a surprise  to  advantage. — Sixthly,  In  naval 
affairs,  the  British  have  long  rejected  the  use  of  other  missiles 
than  round  and  grape;  while  the  Americans  use  langridge,  com- 
posed of  old  knife-blades,  copper  nails,  glass,  buck-shot,  8cc.; 
also,  crow-bars,  chain-shot,  bar-shot,  and  various  other  kinds.— 
Seventhly,  The  British,  in  consequence  of  having  employed  their 
large  navy  for  so  long  a period,  at  the  commencement  of  the  late 
war,  could  not  man  their  ships  to  the  full  complement;  and  even 
the  major  part  of  them  not  being  ordinary  seamen;  while  the  Ame-> 
ricans  not  only  took  care  to  select  able  seamen,  but  almost  doubled 
the  usual  complement,  and  appointed  miscreant  deserters  for 
quarter-gunners,  boatswains,  &c. — Eighthly,  The  British  being 
in  the  habit  of  rather  under-rating  their  force  in  guns,  the  Ame- 
ricans improved  on  this  circumstance,  and  enlarging  the  dimen- 
sions of  their  vessels,  rated  them  low:  and  though  their  guns 
were  rated  as  British,  they  were  really  of  French  calibre. — Lastly, 
The  British,  at  the  commencement  of  the  war,  w'ere  elate  with 
victory,  too  confident  of  success;  and  by  despising  the  force  of 
the  enemy,  gave  him  a decided  advantage,  which  by  the  Ameri- 
cans was  carefully  improved.  The  more  thinking  part  among 
them,  even  before  the  war  commenced,  anticipated  success,  which 
they  grounded  on  the  neglect  observable  in  the  preparations  on 
the  part  of  the  British.  When  the  Guerriere  was  defeated,  the 
case  with  v/hich  the  victory  was  obtained,  excited  surprise;  but 
when  a second  and  a third  British  frigate  were  captured,  the  im- 
pression of  positive  superiority  over  uS,  was  forcibly  made  on  the 
public  mind. 

“ There  were  opportunities  of  bringing  the  late  war  to  an  end, 
without  compromising  either  our  national  character  or  interest: 
these,  however,  were  not  only  neglected,  in  consequence  of  those 
fatal  prepossessions  already  named,  but  the  general  disasters  of 
the  war  must  be  attributed  to  the  same  source.  New  Orleans, 
even  according  to  the  opinion  of  American  officers,  might  have 
been  captured  with  the  greatest  ease,  during  the  first  year  of  the 
war;  but,  by  giving  time  to  fortify  what  was  truly  a defenceless 
coast,  we,  in  fact,  deprived  ourselves  of  that  important  posses- 
sion. By  displaying  a large  force,  and  an  injudicious  mock  bom- 
bardment of  Stonington,  we  excited  contempt  and  indignation.” 

‘‘  The  British  scrupulously  regard  the  point  of  honour.”  As 
a proof  of  this  fact,  we  suppose  the  author  of  this  brochure  will 
request  us  to  recollect  the  fate  of  Washington;  and  gravely  in- 
form us  tiiat  the  destruction  of  the  civil  buildings,  and  tin- 
military  edifices  of  an  enemy’s  city,  is  on  undeniable  demon- 
stration of  a scrupulous  regard  for  the  point  of  honour.'' 


COLONIAL  POLICY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN,  &C.  517 

The  observations  on  the  utility  of  “discipline,”  when  applied 
to  bodies  of  men  who  practise  war  as  a trade,  but  when  the 
necessity  of  its  introduction  in  the  ardent  ranks  of  patriots  com- 
bating for  the  maintenance  of  their  rights  and  independence,  is 
argued,  we  conceive  such  a presumption  on  the  part  of  him  who 
presumes,  to  be  a gross  mistake,  perhaps  a designed  mistate- 
ment  of  the  exceeding  difference  between  a regular  and  paid 
army,  and  those  irregular,  but  in  the  long  run,  invincible 
assemblages  of  men,  who  have  no  reward  to  look  to  but  the 
safety  and  the  thanks  of  their  country.  The  regular  soldier  has 
all  his  sympathies  necessarily  diverted  out  of  their  ordinary 
channel; — the  professional  practice  of  war  dries  up  in  time  the 
sources  of  compassion,  and  obedience  to  the  command  of  his 
officer  is  the  only  check  upon  the  artificial  and  habitual  ferocity 
of  the  soldier.  If  a regular  army  be  a necessary  institution, 
discipline  is  absolutely  indispensable  to  i^meliorate  the  evils  that 
would  universally  arise  from  the  uncontrolled  indulgence  of  the 
military  disposition.  But  where  individual  safety,  and  an  en- 
larged and  generous  comprehension  of  the  interests  and  clan- 
gers of  a country  are  the  sole  stimulants  in  the  breasts  of  her 
sons; — when  her  native  and  unhired  defenders  rally  themselves 
round  her  sacred  standard,  war,  with  such  an  army  as  this,  be- 
ing the  result  of  necessity,  and  not  of  choice  and  long  practice, 
will  not  run  the  hazard  of  having  its  fair  and  honourable  fea- 
tures obscured  by  the  clouds  of  dishonour,  nor  will  the  triumphs 
of  such  an  array  of  bold  and  unsullied  spirits  be  polluted  with 
the  licentiousness  attendant  upon  the  existence  and  victories  of 
regular  armies. 

The  charge  of  encouraging  desertion  from  British  ships  of 
war,  is  one  that  it  has  long  been  in  vogue  to  advance  against 
the  Republic,  and  in  all  probability  it  is  one  that  her  citizens 
would  retort  upon  us  with  equal  vehemence;  but  what  excites 
our  surprise  is  the  fact,  so  repeatedly  and  mournfully  insisted 
upon,  that  ‘ British  seamen'*  do  desert. — How  is  this?  We 
have  always  been  eager  to  believe  that  the  condition  was  too 
happy,  and  enviable,  to  allow  their  entertaining,  for  a moment, 
the  notion  of  quitting  the  service  of  old  England.  There  cer- 
tainly must  be  some  mystery  in  this  with  wffiich  we  are  unac- 
quainted. Is  the  PAY  better? — No!  this  can  never  be — the 
United  States,  able  to  afford  higher  wages  than  England. — 
England  who  has  not  yet  a national  debt  of  much  above  nine 
hundred  millions  sterling,  and  is  contemplating  a peace  esta- 
blishment to  the  amount  of  thirty  millions  per  annum — scarcely 
the  interest  of  three  hundred  millions  more — oh,  no!  this  is 
ludicrous.  Is  the  treatment  better? . This  we  cannot  bring 
ourselves  to  credit — the  rvholesome  diIcipline  of  an  English 


518 


SELECT  REVIEWS. 


man  of  war  is,  indubitably,  more  attractive  to  the  mind  of  tlic 
sailor  than  the  system  of  the  Americans,  who,  “ on  the  contrary 
cannot  enact,  much  less  enforce,  laws  authorizing  severity  of 
discipline.”  What  is  it,  then,  that  induces  our  brave  mari- 
ners to  flock  in  such  crowds  round  the  flag  of  the  Republic? 
We  must  leave  the  solution  of  this  enigma  to  persons  of  supe- 
rior ingenuity  to  that  possessed  by  ourselves,  or  who  may  hap- 
pen  to  be  in  the  secret, 

“ The  British,  at  the  commencement  of  the  war,  were  elate 
with  victory;  too  confident  of  success;  (very  true)  and  by  de- 
spising the  force  of  the  enemy,  gave  him  a decided  advantage, 
which  by  the  Americans  was  carefully  improved.”  Was  this 
the  case  with  the  expedition  of  sir  G.  Prevost?  Yet  what  En- 
glishman can  reflect,  without  shame,  on  an  enterprise  in  which 
above  twelve  thousand  British  troops  were  compelled  to  retreat 
before  as  many  hundred  raw  American  militia-men?  Was  this 
the  case  at  New  Orleans?  Yet  with  what  other  feelings  than 
those  of  disgrace  can  we,  do  we,  recall  the  remembrance  of  that 
fatal  conflict — and  the  repulse  of  English  veterans  by  the  bush- 
fighters  and  riflemen  of  Kentucky? 

The  mixture  of  truth  with  error  in  the  following  passages, 
would  be  amusing  enough,  were  we  not  feelingly,  most  feel- 
ingly, convinced  of  the  facts  which  the  opening  sentences  con- 
tain. 

“ Her  proportion  of  poor”  (the  poor  of  England)  “ is  very  large, 
whose  necessities  even  her  immense  wealth,  flowing  so  copiously 
through  innumerable  channels,  can  scarcely  supply.  Frequent  wars 
have  loaded  her  with  taxes,  and  increased  the  poverty  of  some; 
while  others,  by  their  means,  have  been  raised  to  high  dignities  and 
great  wealth.  It  must,  however,  be  confessed,  that  the  condition  of 
the  poor  has  not  improved  in  the  same  proportion  as  that  of  the  rich; 
yet  these  differences  arise  from  causes  inherent  and  direct,  not 
from  combinations  of  the  rich  to  oppress  the  poor,  as  some  ima- 
gine, and  as  the  Americans  attempt  to  prove.  From  this  state  of 
things  arise  effects  equally  beneficial  and  injurious.  The  number  of 
poor  diminishes  the  price  of  labour,  and  thereby  benefits  the  mer- 
cantile and  manufacturing  interests;  and  the  numbers  whom  a 
small  bounty  will  induce  to  enlist,  give  facilities  for  warlike  ope- 
rations, without  which  they  could  not  be  carried  on.  But,  in  op- 
position to  this,  paupers  and  depredators  increase,  and  the  poor 
are  compelled  to  emigrate  to  those  countries  where  greater  advan- 
tages are  expected  to  be  obtained. 

“No  people  know  the  origin  of  property  better  than  the  Ame- 
ricans: none  have  it  so  immediately  before  their  eyes.  Not  only 
have  they  hewed  it  from  their  forests,  but  they  have  expelled 
thence  the  native  proprietors.  And  if  the  white  Americans  claim 
absolute  right  to  lahds  obtained  from  the  aborigines  by  treaty,  or 


COLONIAL  POLICY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN,  6LC.  519 

force  of  arms;  if  the  richer  Americans  amass  property,  to  the 
exclusion  of  the  poor;— with  what  countenance  can  they  accuse 
the  opulent  in  Britain  of  tyranny  and  oppression,  merely  because 
they  apply  their  property  agreeably  to  the  dictates  of  their  own 
minds?  If  the  poor  in  this  country  are  debarred  the  possession  of 
land,  the  wants  of  the  rich  furnish  them  with  employment.  But 
certainly  when  the  numbers  overflow,  care  should  be  taken  to 
remove  the  willing  superfluity,  by  the  colonization  of  foreign 
possessions,  where  they  may  take  root  and  flourish,  and  eventu- 
ally prove  of  the  greatest  utility  to  the  parent  country.  For 
want  of  due  attention  to  this  point,  great  numbers  of  British  sub- 
jects, disaffected  to  the  government,  or  borne  down  by  adverse 
circumstances,  have  sought  the  shores  of  independent  America. 
The  long  continuance  of  a state  of  war  in  Europe,  has  greatly 
contributed  to  swell  tbe  lists  of  emigrants,  who,  carrying  with 
them  their  arts  and  collective  experience,  have  increased  both  the 
numerical  force  and  the  political  importance  of  the  American 
states,  beyond  all  precedent.  To  this  have  been  added,  the  ad- 
vantages of  neutral  commerce,  when  all  Europe  were  engaged  in 
war;  the  connivance  of  the  British  to  (at')  an  illicit  intercourse 
with  their  colonies;  and  the  increased  demand  for  American 
flour; — a fortunate  concurrence  of  events,  wliich  have  so  contri- 
buted to  their  greatness,  since  their  disunion  with  the  British  em- 
pire, that  it  is  not  surprising  that  the  people  should  be  elated, 
and  draw  comparisons  to  the  disadvantage  of  other  nations.” 

The  Americans,  it  seems,  are  well  acquainted  with  the 
origin  of  property” — and  they  are  not  less  versed  in  the 
knowledge  of  its  loorth — a species  of  information  in  which  the 
people  of  this  country,  are,  we  take  it,  as  deficient  as  could 
well  be  expected  in  such  a nation.  The  Americans 

could  give  them  some  very  useful  hints  upon  this  topic,  and 
put  them  in  a way  to  save  some  few  millions  annually. 

The  following  is  a pretty  strong  instance  of  the  manner  in 
which  this  anonymous  writer  falsifies  the  facts  which  he  brings 
forward,  and  the  audacity  with  w^hich  he  is  in  the  habit  of  wan- 
tonly defaming  our  transatlantic  brethren. 

“ When  Napoleon’s  ambition  was  apparent,  the  allies  declared 
they  could  not  treat  with  him,  nor  with  any  of  his  family.  And 
if  no  peace  with  him  could  be  regarded  as  permanent,  so,  by 
parity  of  reason,  must  that  just  concluded  with  the  United  States, 
be  received  in  the  same  light.  For  as  the  democratic  government 
is  notoriously  influenced  by  Buonapartean  politics,  ajtd  as  it  has 
for  the  sole  purpose  of  serving  him,  declared  one  war,  under 
every  symptom  of  rashness  and  presumption,  unprovided  with 
funds,  with  a dubious,  defective,  and  untried  force,  do  these  cir- 
cumstances give  us  reason  to  expect  greater  sincerity,  more  pru- 
dence, and  love  of  copcord  for  the  future? — more  especially,  as 
the  objects  of  the  government  have  been  advanced,  hostile  experi- 


o20 


SELECT  REVIEWS. 


ments  successfully  made,  even  war  itself  rendered  instrumental  in  I 
the  promotion  of  native  manufactures,  and  the  nation  elated  with  9 
victory?  What  bond  of  security,  then,  and  of  lasting  amity,  can  J 
there  be  in  the  treaty  which  has  been  recently  concluded? — M 

“ With  regard  to  commissioners,  is  it  not  surprising  that  this  9 
country  could  not  appoint  men  thoroughly  acquainted  with  Ame-  || 
rican  affairs?  No  doubt  lord  Gambier,  and  his  worthy  coadju-  M 
tors,  acted  from  the  dictates  of  honour  and  benevolence;  but  -fl 
were  they  competent  to  the  task  of  negotiating  with  such  shrewd, 
not  to  say  subtle  men,  as  Bayard  and  Gallatin? — for,  as  in  the  V 
treaty  of  IT'S 3,  so  in  the  present  instance,  the  British  delegates 
have  been  foiled  by  American  sophistry.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  ]■ 
that  some  native  of  the  provinces,  was  not  added  to  the  list  of 
British  negotiators,  as  many  gentlemen  of  superior  talents,  might  9 
have  been  really  obtained  from  either  of  the  colonies.  Our  in-  9 
tercsts  would  then  have  been  ascertained,  and  as  certainly  de- 
fended.  The  author  feels  assured,  that  ignorance,  and  not  con-  |9 
scions  weakness,  swayed  our  councils  in  the  signature  of  the  t9 
treaty.  The  spirit  of  that  part  of  it,  at  least,  which  relates  to  the  .9 
boundaries,  is  founded  on  the  American  claims,  established  by  the 
treaty  of  1783.  The  arrangements  made  on  the  late  occasion,  re-  p 
late  to  surveying  this  frontier,  and  ascertaining  with  precision,  m 
its  exact  geographical  limits,  in  order  to  prevent  disputes  in  future.  b 
In  ordinary  cases  this  would  be  just  and  equitable  on  both  sides;  ft 
but  it  must  be  recollected,  that  although  disputes  had  arisen  on 
this  subject,  it  was  not  even  a collateral  cause  of  the  war:  on  the  I . 
contrary,  the  United  States  commenced  hostilities  for  the  real,  |ji 
though  concealed,  purpose  of  wresting  Canada  from  Great  Bri-  II 
tain  altogether.  It  was  this  circumstance  alone  that  produced  the  ft 
war  vote  in  congress;  and,  therefore,  sanctioned  a departure  from 
terms  of  reciprocity,  and  the  enforcement  of  measures  necessary  f’*, 
to  the  security  and  repose  of  those  provinces,  against  which  the  J j 
enemy’s  force  was  directed.  The  ostensible  motives  assigned  by  j 
the  American  government  for  the  declaration  of  war,  such  as  the  ^ ; 
establishment  of  sailors’  rights  and  a free  trade.  Sec.  were  rather  r) 
political  engines,  employed  to  gain  popularity,  than  real  causes  of  f . 
hostility.  Subjects  calculated  to  inflame  the  public  mind  were 
forced  into  notice,  and  commented  on  with  the  utmost  malignity  n 
and  virulence;  false  statements,  and  even  palpable  absurdities, 
were  assiduously  propagated,  both  by  newspapers,  and  various  W 
other  means:  and  it  is  a fact,  'worthy  the  serious  consideration  of 
Britons,  because  it  develops,  in  some  measure,  the  deadly  rancour  M 
of  the  ruling  party,  and  the  dangerous  principles  of  American  4 ^ 
policy,  that  these  injurious  comments  and  assertions  were  in- 
tended  to  shake  the  loyalty  of  British  seamen^  whom  they  design-  | ' 
edly  hold  up,  as  being  at  present  no  better  than  degi'aded  slaves  f | ' 

'We  gladly  close  our  remarks  upon  this  noxious  book.  Our 
report  of  its  contents  will,  we  are  persuaded,  deter  all  good 
men  from  wishing  to  peruse  it  further.  ^ 


1 

\ j 


LORD  Byron’s  siege  of  corinth,  &c.  ^21 

Tht  Siege  of  Corinth^  a Poem,  Parisina,  a Poem. 

[From  the  Montlil^  Review. 3 

Though  lord  Byron  has  not  chosen  to  give  his  name  to 
these  poems,  the  public  cannot  entertain  any  doubt  of  their 
legitimacy;  since,  in  addition  to  the  voice  of  report  and  the 
testimony  of  the  publisher  in  the  advertisements  of  the  work, 
sufficient  internal  evidence  of  the  fact  is  furnished  not  only  by 
the  general  style  and  character  of  the  compositions,  but  by 
various  particular  expressions  and  references  contained  in 
them.  Nor  do  we  see  any  sufficient  ground  for  supposing  (and 
this  is  the  most  material  point  to  the  reader)  that  the  circum- 
stance, to  which  we  have  alluded,  has  arisen  from  any  con- 
sciousness of  inferiority  in  these  compared  with  his  lordship’s 
former  productions:  because,  even  if  they  should  be  judged  to 
contain  nothing  quite  equal  to  the  best  parts  which  might  be 
selected  from  their  predecessors,  they  possess  the  same  vigor- 
ous conception,  and  brilliant  and  successful  elicitation,  w-hich 
have  been  by  general  consent  ascribed  to  lord  Byron’s  muse. 

On  the  general  merits  and  defects  of  this  noble  author’s 
poetry,  we  have  had  so  many  opportunities  of  expressing  our 
opinion,  that  we  shall  not  on  the  present  occasion  detain  our 
readers  with  any  such  discussion.  It  wdll  only  be  necessary 
to  repeat  that  the  greatest  merit  of  the  writer  consists  in  his 
skill  in  dissecting  the  human  character,  and  in  drawing  and 
contrasting  the  eftects  of  the  more  violent  passions;  while  his 
most  general  faults  are  a want  of  variety,  a perpetual  gloomi- 
ness, and  an  unpardonable  license  both  of  phraseology  and  of 
versification.  His  pictures  exhibit  the  bold  and  decisive  lines 
and  striking  contrasts  wdijeh,  in  the  sister  art,  are  to  be  found 
in  the  works  of  Rembrandt,  accompanied  by  the  same  depth 
of  shadowq  and  the  same  brilliancy  of  the  few  bright  tints 
which  they  contain:  but  they  seldom  display  any  of  the  breadth 
of  light,  and  the  gay  variety  of  colouring,  which  characterize 
the  Italian  school.  We  cannot  better  express  our  general 
ideas  than  by  the  above  illustration,  since  these  poems  are  too 
original  to  be  compared  with  any  other  productions  in  the 
same  art. 

Of  the  two  tales  wdiich  are  at  present  before  us,  the  first 
is,  in  our  opinion,  endued  wdth  the  least  interest  and  merit;, 
and  the  story  is  extremely  meagre.  It  is  well  known  that,  in 
the  year  1715,  the  city  of  Corinth  underwent  a siege  and  storm 
by  the  Turkish  army  which  was  led  by  the  famous  vizier  Ali 
Coumougi;  and  this  is  the  action  which  the  poem  describes. 

VOL.  VIJ.  f)6 


SELECT  reviews. 


Alp,  a Venetian  renegade,  has  a high  command  in  the  vizier’s 
army,  and  is  incited  to  a vigorous  prosecution  of  the  siege  not 
less  by  his  thirst  of  revenge  against  his  injured  country  than 
by  the  hope  of  possessing  himself,  in  the  assault,  of  the  person 
of  Francesca,  the  daughter  of  Minotti,  the  governor  of  the 
town;  to  whom,  in  earlier  days,  before  his  crime,  he  had  been 
a favoured  suitor.  Having  wandered,  in  the  night  before  the 
storm,  through  the  infidel  camp  to  the  very  gates  of  the  town, 
the  renegade  encounters  the  form  of  his  mistress,  who  earnestly 
warns  him  of  the  danger  in  which  he  stands  of  immediate  and 
everlasting  perdition:  but  he  refuses  to  listen,  and  returns  to 
the  camp  to  prepare  for  the  assault.  The  town  is  carried;  and 
in  the  conflict  Alp  encounters  Minotti,  against  whom  he  hesi- 
tates to  raise  his  hand,  eagerly  mentioning  Francesca,  but  he 
receives  for  answ^er  that  she  died  ‘ yester-night.’  Horror- 
struck  with  the  recollection  of  the  vision  which  at  the  same 
moment  he  had  himself  witnessed,  the  wretched  warrior  re- 
coils, and  immediately  receives  his  death  by  a shot  through 
his  head.  Such  of  our  readers,  as  are  acquainted  with  this 
portion  of  history,  will  recollect  that  a dreadful  explosion  of 
gun-powder  took  place  at  this  storm,  which  lord  Byron  has 
worked  up  into  a fine  incident  for  the  conclusion  of  his  poem. 

We  shall  now  quote  a part  of  the  description  of  the  repose 
of  the  night-scene,  when  Alp  commences  his  solitary  walk: 

‘ The  w'aves  on  either  shore  lay  there 
Calm,  clear,  and  azure  as  the  air; 

And  scarce  their  foam  the  pebbles  shook, 

But  murmured  meekly  as  the  brook. 

The  winds  were  pillowed  on  the  waves; 

The  banners  drooped  along  their  staves, 

And,  as  they  fell  around  them  furling, 

Above  them  shone  the  crescent  curling; 

And  that  deep  silence  was  unbroke^ 

Save  where  the  watch  his  signal  spoke. 

Save  where  the  steed  neighed  oft  and  shrill 
And  echo  answered  from  the  hill. 

And  the  wide  hum  of  that  wild  host 
Rustled  like  leaves  from  coast  to  coast, 

As  rose  the  Muezzin’s  voice  in  air 
In  midnight  call  to  wonted  prayer; 

It  rosCy  that  chaunted  mournful  strain, 
lAkc  some  lone  sfiirit*s  o*er  the  filain: 

’Twas  musical,  but  sadly  snveet. 

Such  as  when  winds  and  harfi-strings  meet, 

And  take  a long  unmeasured  tone, 

Vo  mortal  minstrelsy  unknown. 


.r^ORD  Byron’s  siege  of  corinth,  &£. 


•523 


It  seemed  to  those  within  the  wall 
A cry  prophetic  of  their  fall: 

It  struck  even  the  besieger’s  ear 
With  something  ominous  and  drear, 

An  undefined  and  sudden  thrill, 

Which  makes  the  heart  a moment  still. 

Then  beat  with  quicker  pulse,  ashamed 
Of  that  strange  sense  its  silence  framed; 

Such  as  a sudden  passing-bell 

Wakes,  though  but  for  a stranger’s  knell.* 

The  simile  printed  in  italics  is  extremely  beautiful,  and 
Indeed  the  whole  is  excellent.  The  contrast  to  this  stillne's's 
in  the  agitation  of  thejiero  is  equally  well-drawn: 


‘ His  head  grows  fevered,  and  his  pulse 
The  quick  successive  throbs  convulse; 

In  vain  from  side  to  side  he  throws 
His  form,  in  courtship  of  repose; 

Or  if  he  dozed,  a sound,  a start 
Awoke  him  with  a sunken  heart. 

The  turban  on  his  hot  brow  pressed, 

The  mail  weighed  lead-like  on  his  breast, 
Though  oft  and  long  beneath  its  weight 
Upon  his  eyes  had  slumber  sate^ 

Without  or  couch  or  canopy, 

Except  a rougher  field  and  sky 
Than  now  might  yield  a warrior’s  bed, 

Than  now  along  the  heaven  was  spread. 

He  could  not  rest,  he  could  not  stay 
Within  his  tent  to  wait  for  day. 

But  walked  him  forth  along  the  sand. 

Where  thousand  sleepers  strewed  the  strand. 
What  pillowed  them  I and  why  should  he 
More  wakeful  than  the  humblest  be? 

Since  more  their  peril,  worse  their  toil, 

And  yet  they  fearless  dream  of  spoil; 

While  he  alone,  where  thousands  passed 
A night  of  sleep,  perchance  their  last, 

In  sickly  vigil  wandered  on. 

And  envied  all  he  gazed  upon.* 


This  is  followed  by  another  fine  passage, in  which  the 
author,  describing  the  surrounding  objects,  (‘  Lepanto’s  gulf: 
the  brow. of  Delphi’s  hill,’  &c.)  is  led  to  apostro- 
phize their  ancient  glories:  but  we  have  not  space  to  extract  it, 

' • This  was  given  in  our  last  number,  p.  455. 


SELECT  REVIEWS. 


Hitherto,  the  metre  has  been  regular:  but  the  reader  must 
prepare  to  fi:ul  in  the  subsequent  extracts  a change  in  that 
particular,  which  not  even  their  utmost  beauties  can  withhold 
us  from  censuring.  It  seems  a strange  perversion  of  taste, 
that  when  the  subject  is  rising  in  interest,  and  the  incidents  are 
becoming  more  pow’crful  and  affecting,  the  verse  should  on  a 
sudden  be  changed  to  a style  w'hich  is  removed  the  farthest  of 
all  from  dignity,  and  scarcely  susceptible  of  it  in  any  hands. 

The  faults  of  this  poem  are  of  the  same  character  which 
we  have  described  as  belonging  to  lord  Byron’s  writings  in 
general;  and  it  is  perhaps  the  best  praise  that  w^e  can  bestow 
on  him  to  say  that,  in  order  to  exhibit  his  beauties,  we  are  led 
to  extract  whole  passages,  w^hile  to  show  his  faults  we  are 
forced  to  pick  out  individual  lines  and  expressions.  On  that 
ungrateful  labour,  we  do  not  feel  ourselves  now  obliged  to 
spend  many  moments:  but  we  cannot  forbear  to  censure  such 
expressions  as  that  which  occurs  at  line  910,  which  describes 
the  Madonna  ‘ and  the  hoy-god  on  her  knee;’  and  w^e  hope  that 
The  author  will,  in  the  next  edition,  expunge  or  alter  the  four 
lines  from  line  957  to  960,  the  subject  of  which  will  scarcely 
be  deemed  proper  for  such  a poem  as  the  present. 

Parisina,  the  second  of  the  tales  before  us,  is  on  the  whole 
one  of  lord  Byron’s  happiest  efforts:  but,  from  the  nature  of 
the  story,  w^e  doubt  whether  it  will,  in  general,  meet  with  the 
admiration  which  it  appears  to  us  to  deserve. 

This  tale  is  written  throughout  in  the  octosyllabic  metre, 
to  wdiich  lord  Byron  has  in  most  of  his  w'orks  given  a force  and 
dignity  that  were  before  unknowm  to  it.  In  phraseology,  too, 
this  poem  is,  with  very  few  exceptions,  not  open  to  censure. 
It  is  in  fact  the  most  equable  of  all  the  writer’s  works. 
Though  it  is  occupied  with  some  of  the  most  violent  and  fatal 
of  the  human  passions,  and  describes  some  of  the  most  distress- 
ing situations  in  w^hich  human  beings  can  be  placed,  the  noble 
author  has  dealt  with  them  more  calmly  than  his  usual  custom 
nvould  have  led  us  to  expect.  The  picture  is  indeed  all  gloom, 
but  the  keeping  is  good,  and  the  general  effect  is  as  pleasing, 
as  any  display  of  such  tragical  circumstances  can  be  made. 

The  Eclectic  Review  thus  concludes  its  examen  of  these 
two  poems: 

“ It  is  surely  a singular  circumstance,  that  lord  Byron  has 
hitherto  confined  himself  to  the  narration  of  crime,  and  to  the 
delineation  of  vicious  character.  His  spirited  sketches,  for 
they  are  after  all  sketches,  exquisitely  spirited  and  pow’erful, 
b'lt  nothing  more,  are  all  devoted  to  the  illustration  of  the 


LORD  Byron’s  siege  of  corinth,  &;c.  525 

jcnergies  of  evil.  This  certainly  evinces  either  a great  defi- 
ciency of  taste,  or  very  limited  powers  of  conception.  The 
gloomy  phantasmagoria  of  his  pencil,  though  diflering  in  form 
and  costume,  are  all  of  one  character,  or  rather  of  one  cast; 
for  the  sentiments  and  feelings  which  lord  Byron  attributes  to 
the  personages  in  his  poems,  do  not  constitute  them  charac- 
ters, There  is  no  individuality  of  feature  in  his  portraits. 
He  describes  admirably  a certain  class  of  emotions;  but  these 
should  have  been  imbodied  in  character,  rather  than  described; 
and  his  characters  should  have  been  developed  by  their  ac- 
tions. As  there  is  no  individuality  in  his  conceptions,  so  there 
is  little  variety.  It  should  seem  that  one  strongly  imagined 
personification  had  taken  possession  of  the  poet’s  mind,  so 
that  whatever  be  the  scene  or  the  story,  this  ideal  actor  is  still 
the  hero  of  the  drama. 

We  are  far  from  depreciating  lord  Byron’s  genius.  In  ener- 
gy of  expression,  and  in  the  power  of  giving  to  words  the  life 
and  breath  of  poetry,  we  think  he  is  almost  unequalled  by  any 
contemporary.  We  -conclude  that  his  powers  are  circum-  ' 
scribed,  from  the  way  in  which  he  has  employed  them^  rather 
than  from  any  other  circumstance.  To  go  down  to  posterity, 
however,  as  a great  poet,  something  more  than  genius  is  requi- 
site. There  must  be  a high  and  holy  ambition  of  legitimate 
fame;  there  must  be  a moral  discipline  of  the  intellect  and 
feelings:  the  good,  the  true,  and  the  beautiful,  must,  as  ideal 
archetypes,  occupy  the  visions  of  the  poet;  and  he  must  be 
the  partaker  of  an  elevating  and  purifying  faith,  by  which  his 
mind  may  be  brought  into  contact  with  “ things  unseen”  and 
infinite.  All  these  requisites  must  meet  in  a great  poet;  and 
there  must  be  an  appearance  at  least  of  approximation  to 
them,  in  the  character  of  any  one  that  aspires  to  maintain,  by 
means  of  his  writings,  a permanent  influence  over  the  minds 
and  sympathies  of  his  fellow  men.  There  must  be  at  least  the 
s-erablance  of  virtue,  or  of  the  love  of  virtue.” 


526 


. MISCELLANEOUS  SELECTIONS. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICE  OF  MARSHAL  NEY. 

[Abridged  from  the  French.3 

During  the  long  wars  which  for  more  than  a quarter  of  a 
century  have  desolated  Europe,  marshal  Ney  has  been  asso- 
ciated to  all  the  victories,  which  have  signalized  the  French 
armies.  History  will  decide  whether  so  much  valour  and  so 
many  military  virtues,  will  be  able  to  efface  a moment  of  for- 
getfulness and  a single  instant  of  error. 

Born  at  Sarre^Louis,  February  10,  1760,  of  an  honest, 
but  not  very  opulent  family,  marshal  Ney  embraced  early  the 
profession  of  arms;  before  the  revolution,  he  enlisted  as  a vo- 
lunteer in  the  fourth  regiment  of  hussars;  his  vivacity,  his 
strength,  his  skill  in  managing  a horse,  decided  him  to  give  a 
preference  to  the  light  cavalry.  His  activity,  zeal,  and  great 
intelligence,  were  not  long  in  distinguishing  themselves,  and 
after  having  passed  successively  through  all  inferior  ranks,  he 
was  made  captain  in  1794;  it  was  then  that  he  became  ac- 
quainted with  general  Kleber.  The  frankness  of  his  manners, 
and  his  military  air,  pleased  this  general,  who  soon  appointed 
Ney  to  the  command  of  a squadron,  and  employed  him  near 
his  person.  He  intrusted  him  with  several  missions,  in  which 
he  acquitted  himself  with  the  greatest  success. 

He  particularly  signalized  himself  at  the  passage  of  the 
Lahn  in  1794. 

Being  placed  two  years  after  in  the  division  of  general 
Collard,  with  the  army  of  the  Sambre  and  Meuse,  his  valour 
and  boldness  were  remarked  in  the  battles  of  Altenkirchen, 
Dierdorff,  Montabor,  and  Berndorff.  He  assisted  in  the  affair 
of  the  village  of  Obermel,  which  was  taken  and  retaken  four 
times  in  two  days.  On  the  24th  of  July,  wdth  100  men,  he 
took  prisoners,  near  Wurtzburg,  2000  of  the  enemy’s  soldiers, 
and  got  possession  of  a considerable  quantity  of  stores.  At 
Zell,  at  the  head  of  four  hundred  horse,  he  sabred  800  of  the 
enemy.  The  8th  of  August,  he  forced  the  passage  of  the  Red- 
nitz,  defended  by  fourteen  pieces  of  artillery,  and  got  posses- 
sion of  Pfortzein,  where  he  took  seventy  pieces  of  cannon; 
soon  after  this  brilliant  action,  he  was  appointed  general  of 
brigade. 

In  the  following  campaign,  Ney  repulsed  the  enemy  at 
Giessen,  and  pursued  it  to  Steinburg,  but  repulsed  by  superior 


• BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICE  OF  MARSHAL  NEY.  527 

force;  and  constrained  to  yield  to  numbers,  he  retreated:  his 
horse  was  killed  under  him;  he  was  made  prisoner.  The 
army  of  the  Sambre  and  Muese  was  then  commanded  by  ge- 
neral Hoche,  who  had  a great  esteem  for  general  Ney,  and 
who  soon  obtained  him  by  exchange;  on  his  return  to  the 
army,  he  received  the  rank  of  general  of  division. 

’The  command  of  the  cavalry  of  the  French  in  Switzer- 
land was  confided  to  him,  and  he  powerfully  contributed  to  the 
victory  gained  by  the  French  armies  on  the  Thur,  May  26^ 
1799. 

Shortly  after,  general  Ney  was  opposed  to  prince  Charles; 
he  fought  against  him,  and  took  Manheim.  In  the  action,  the 
advanced  guard  of  the  army  had  been  surrounded  near  Lauffen; 
Ney  came  to  its  assistance,  put  the  enemy  to  flight,  and  made 
1 500  prisoners. 

In  1800,  general  Ney  was  employed  in  the  army  of  the 
Rhine,  as  commander  of  the  fourth  division,  which  occupied 
Worms  and  Frankendal.  The  fifth  of  June  he  gained  the  bat- 
tle of  the  Iller,  and  took  all  the  enemy’s  artillery. 

Soon  after  general  Ney  was  charged  with  the  command 
©f  the  bodies  of  troops  dispersed  between  Huningen  and  Dus- 
seldorf;  in  less  than  eight  days  he  made  thirteen  attacks,  which 
all  succeeded,  and  gave  him  the  facility  of  causing  all  the  re- 
giments under  his  orders  to  cross  the  Rhine  at  the  same  mo- 
ment. While  this  passage  was  effected,  the  general,  at  the 
head  of  9000  men,  marched  to  the  walls  of  Frankfort,  where 
he  routed  20,000  Mayencais,  in  English  pay,  who  had  been 
joined  by  2000  Austrians.  He  then  returned  to  pass  the 
Maine  near  Mentz.  He  passed  as  a conqueror,  overthrowing 
all  that  opposed  him,  again  took  possession  of  Manheim, 
Heidelberg,  Bruchsal,  Heflbron,  and  reached  the  walls  of  Stut- 
gard,  without  experiencing  the  least  check.  These  bold 
movements  obliged  Austria  to  evacuate  a part  of  Switzerland,, 
and  thus  contributed  to  the  victory  of  Zurich. 

Employed  successively  under  the  orders  of  general  Mas- 
sena  in  Switzerland,  under  general  Moreau  in  Germany,  gene- 
ral Ney,  after  the  peace  of  Luneville,  was  charged  with  the 
general  inspection  of  the  cavalry.  He  soon  left  this  office  for 
a mission  to  Switzerland,  as  minister  plenipotentiary. — At  the 
epoch  of  the  projected  expedition  against  England,  he  was 
appointed  commander  of  the  camp  of  Montreuil. 

General  Ney  received  the  reward  of  so  much  glorious 
service;  he  w'as  included  in  the  first  promotion  of  marshals  by 
the  imperial  government. 


MISCELLANEOUS  SELECTIONS. 


cm 

The  war  between  Austria  and  France  having  again  bro- 
ken out  in  1805,  furnished  marshal  Ney  an  occasion  to  signa- 
lize himself  by  new  exploits. — He  left  the  camp  of  Montreuil 
for  Germany,  with  his  corps  d’^arinee.  On  his  arrival  there  he 
gave  battle  at  Elching^^n  (which  afterwards  gave  him  the  title 
of  duke) — in  this  action  he  displayed  all  the  resources  of  skill 
and  valour.  He  remained  master  of  the  field  of  battle,  and 
gained  a complete  victory. 

After  the  capitulation  of  Ulm,  marshal  Ney  conquered 
the  Tyrol,  and  made  his  entrance  into  Inspruck  on  the  7th 
November,  1 805.  He  then  marched  into  Carinthia,  where  he  j 
remained  until  the  peace  of  Presburg.  i 

At  the  famous  battle  of  Jena,  marshal  Ney  commanded  j 
the  6th  corps  of  the  grand  army;  his  skilful  dispositions,  and 
his  heroic  courage,  contributed  to  the  gaining  this  memorable 
battle,  where  the  French  armies  covered  themselves  with  im- 
mortal glory. 

Marshal  Ney  was  then  charged  with  the  blockade  of 
Magdeburg;  this  important  fortress  capitulated  on  the  9th 
November,  1806.  The  garrison  were  made  prisoners,  and 
there  were  found  in  the  fortress  800  pieces  of  cannon,  and 
immense  magazines. 

It  was  marshal  Ney  who,  after  many  bloody  combats, 
took,  in  1807,  the  town  of  Friedland,  which  has  given  a name 
to  one  of  the  thousand  victories  which  have  rendered  for  ever  ; 
illustrious  the  French  arms. 

After  the  peace  of  Tilsit,  marshal  Ney  conducted  his 
army  into  Spain.  It  was  in  that  fatal  war  that  the  marshal,  ■ 
having  to  combat  innumerable  obstacles,  which  the  natural  ■ 
difficulties  of  the  country,  and  exalted  patriotism  of  the  inha-  J 
bitants  opposed  to  him,  constantly  displayed  the  military  skill, 
the  prudence,  and  the  valour  of  the  greatest  captains. 

During  the  retreat  of  the  army  in  Spain,  marshal  Ney 
constantly  commanded  the  rear  guard;  and  on  this  occasion,  as 
well  as  on  many  others,  France  owed  to  his  valour  the  preser- 
vation of  so  many  thousands  of  her  bravest  defenders. 

After  this  retreat  the  marshal  was  called  to  the  command 
of  a corps  eVarmee  in  the  disastrous  campaign  in  Russia. 
Without  entering  into  a detail  of  the  many  bloody  actions 
which  happened  in  this  campaign,  and  in  which  marshal  Ney 
took  so  distinguished  a part;  without  speaking  of  that  victory 
at  Moskwa,  which  gave  the  duke  of  Elchingen  the  title  of  ? 
prince,  which  the  conqueror  and  the  conquered  alike  conferred  ^ 
on  him,  we  shall  merely  call  to  mind  that  this  illustrious  and 
generous  wtfi-rinr  saved  the  wrecks  of  an  army,  pursued  at  | 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  MARSHAL  NEVk  529 

once  by  fire,  hunger,  and  all  the  horrors  of  a climate  where  a 
speedy  death  was  the  last  wish,  and  seemed  to  be  the  only 
hope  of  the  soldier. 

It  was  at  this  epoch  of  mourning  and  consternation  that 
marshal  Ney  crowned  in  some  sort  his  military  career,  and 
deserved  to  be  placed  at  the  head  of  the  battalions  of  heroes 
w’hom  he  alone  knew  how  to  preserve  for  France.  We  shall 
pass  rapidly  over  the  campaign  of  1813,  where  marshal  Ney,  in 
the  midst  of  innumerable  reverses,  ahvays  showed  himsell  wor- 
thy of  his  great  reputation — we  shall  not  even  stop  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Lutzen,  where  he  fought  like  a hero — we  shall  only  name 
the  desperate  day  of  Leipsic,  and  we  shall  leave  to  history  the 
care  of  relating  the  high  deeds  of  the  prince  of  the  Moskw’a, 
at  the  different  battles  of  Troyes,  of  Champ-Aubert,  of  Sois- 
sons,  of  Monterca,  of  Craon,  of  Laon,  of  Arcis-sur-Aube,  and 
of  La  Fere  Champenoise. 

Marshal  Ney  has  been  present  in  more  than  500  actions 
or  pitched  battles,  and  in  this  long  career  of  glory  and  of  dan- 
• ger  he  has  never  disgraced  the  noble  title  of  the  bravest  of  the 
brave^  which  had  been  conferred  on  him. 

When,  in  the  month  of  March,  1814,  Buonaparte,  who 
had  retired  to  Fontainebleau,  wdshed  to  carry  on  negociations 
wdth  the  allied  monarchs,  marshal  Ney  wms  charged  to  signify 
to  the  ex-emperor  that  he  had  ceased  to  reign  in  France;  soon 
after  he  made  his  submission  to  the  provisional  government. 

When  the  king  entered  France,  the  prince  of  Moskw^a, 
was  named  a member  of  the  chamber  of  peers. 

His  majesty  then  entrusted  him  with  the  government  of 
the  6th  military  division;  he  exercised  those  functions  in  the 
name  of  the  king  till  Marc^  14,  1815,  the  period  at  which  he 
unfortunately  joined  the  standard  of  Buonaparte. 

In  the  last  short  campaign  of  the  month  of  June,  marshal 
Ney  had  again  occasion  to  show  his  wonted  valour;  we  shall 
borrow  his  own  words  to  relate  the  result  of  the  disastrous  day 
of  Waterloo. 

[Here  follows  Ney’s  letter  to  Fouche,  which  is  already 
before  the  public.] 

The  allied  troops,  in  virtue  of  the  convention  signed  the 
third  of  July,  occupied  Paris. 

The  king  returned  to  the  capital  the  eighth  of  the  same 
month. 

Marshal  Ney  thought  fit  to  remove  from  it:  it  appears 
that  he  had  at  first  the  intention  of  taking  refuge  in  a foreign 
country;  but  having  experienced  difficulties  as  to  passing  the 
frontier,  he  retired  into  Auvergne,  in  the  environs  of  Auriira^, 
VOL.  VII.  67 


MISCELLANEOUS  SELECTIONS. 


^.30 

to  a relation  of  liis  wife’s:  it  was  there  that  he  was  comprised 
in  the  ordinance  of  the  24th  of  July;  he  was  arrested  on  the 
5th  of  August. 

An  officer  of  the  gendarmerie  (M.  Jaumard),  in  wdiose 
custody  he  was  placed,  was  charged  to  conduct  him  to  Paris. 

Before  the  journey,  the  marshal  gave  his  word  of  honour 
to  the  officer  not  to  make  any  attempt  to  escape.  This  offi- 
cer had  formerly  served  under  the  orders  of  the  marshal,  and 
he  thought  fit  to  rely  on  the  word  of  his  former  general.  He 
had  no  reason  to  repent  of  his  confidence. 

Betiveen  Moulieur  and  Aurillac,  marshal  Neyand  his  con- 
ductor stopped  in  a village  to  take  some  refreshment  and  repose. 
After  the  repast,  a public  functionary  of  the  neighbourhood 
came  to  inform  the  officer  of  gendarmerie,  that  at  some  distance 
thencehe  would  find  on  the  road  persons  posted,  who  had  form- 
ed a plan  to  carry  off  the  marshal.  The  latter  was  in  the  same 
room  where  this  communication  took  place;  some  words  that 
he  heard  gave  him  an  easy  insight  into  the  subject  of  the  con- 
versation; he  advanced  and  said  to  the  officer,  ‘‘captain,  I shall 
merely  remind  you  that  I have  given  you  my  word  of  honour 
to  go  with  you  to  Paris;  if,  contrary  to  my  expectation  and  to 
adl  probability,  an  attempt  is  made  to  carry  me  oft',  I shall 
demand  arms  of  you  to  oppose  it,  and  to  fulfil  to  the  end  the 
sacred  promise  which  I have  made  to  you.” 

The  travellers  continued  their  journey,  and  no  attempt 
was  made  to  carry  off  the  marshal. 

Amved  within  four  leagues  of  Paris,  marshal  Ney  found 
in  an  inn  his  lady,  who  had  come  to  meet  him  in  a hired  chaise. 
They  had  a conversation  together  of  two  hours,  at  the  end  of 
which  the  marshal  told  the  captain  that  he  was  ready  to  go 
on:  some  tears  flo’wed  from  his  eyes.  “ Do  not  be  surprised,” 
said  he  to  the  officer,  “ if  I have  not  been  able  to  restrain  my 
tears.  It  is  not  for  myself  I weep,  but  for  the  fate  of  ray  chil- 
dren; when  my  children  are  concerned  I am  no  longer  master 
of  my  sorrow.” 

The  marshal  and  his  wife  entered  the  carriage,  and  the 
ofiicer  of  the  gendarmerie  placed  himself  in  it. 

It  was  thus  they  arrived  at  Paris,  August  19th.  After 
having  passed  several  streets  of  the  capital,  the  coach  arrived 
at  the  end  of  the  street  de  $evres;  the  officer  of  gendarmerie 
alighted  to  seek  another  vehicle,  at  sixty  or  eighty  paces 
distant. 

The  marshal  bade  adieu  to  his  wife,  ascended  the  second 
fiacre,  and  alighted  in  the  military  prison  of  the  Abbaye. 


NOTICE  OF  THE  TWO  LAST  DUKES  OF  BRUNSWICK,  53) 


Some  days  after,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Conciergcrie; 
he  remained  there  till  the  moment  when,  being  brought  before 
the  court  of  Peers,  his  fate  was  decided  by  its  decree  of  De- 
cember 6, 1815. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICE  OF  THE  TW^O  LAST  DUKES  OF  BRUNSWICK, 
FATHER  AND  SON, 

[From  the  European  Magazlne.3 

Charles  Ferdinand,  the  father,  was  one  of  the  most 
amiable  and  dignified  princes  of  his  time.  He  was  the  jiarti- 
cular  favourite  of  Frederick  the  Second,  He  displayed  the 
greatest  valour  in  the  field  during  the  seven  years’  war,  when, 
by  his  daringness  and  skill,  he  often  gained  important  actions 
with  very  small  means.  His  fine  figure,  his  wit,  and  discreet 
observance  of  circumstances,  distinguished  him  above  all  the 
German  princes  of  his  time. 

He  succeeded  to  the  government  of  a country  of  no  great 
extent,  oppressed  with  court  expenditure  and  debts.  He  de- 
dicated himself  at  the  same  time  to  the  Prussian  army;  and  he 
took  part,  also,  in  the  politics  of  Prussia.  His  merit,  how- 
ever, as  a wise  ruler  of  his  own  paternal  dominions  is  least 
known.  Here  he  was  inimitable. 

It  was  remarkable,  that  in  his  own  state  he  should  have 
refused  to  indulge  his  fondness  for  a numerous  and  brilliant 
army:  of  all  the  lesser  princes  he  maintained  the  fewest  troops. 
The  care  nearest  his  heart  was  to  lighten  in  every  way  the 
burdens  of  his  people.  The  expensive  opera  was  abolished, 
the  court  establishment  placed  on  the  simplest  footing,  in- 
triguing favourites  banished,  and  order  and  economy  intro- 
duced in  the  right  place.  The  duke  inquired  minutely  into 
every  thing — he  was  always  accessible  to  the  distressed — he 
had  a singular  memory,  and  knew  the  history  of  a very  great 
number  of  his  subjects.  He  willingly  conversed  with  his  peo- 
ple: he  sought  opportunities  of  allowing  the  lower  orders  to 
communicate  with  him;  all  were  known  to  him,  but  he  left 
every  man  at  full  liberty  in  his  operations;  for,  very  different 
from  so  many  other  petty  princes,  he  never  attempted  to  inter- 
meddle in  affairs  which  ought  always  to  be  left  perfectly  free. 
The  state  debts  were  soon  honestly  discharged,  the  prosperity 
of  his  state  increased;  the  taxes,  which  rose  in  all  the  other 
states,  were  (a  singular  fact  in  all  times)  actually  diminished  in 
his.  His  memory  is  held  among  all  classes  of  Brunswickers,  in 


53,2 


MISCELLANEOUS  SELECTIONS. 


the  highest  affection.  In  every  village  of  the  country  he  is  the- 
subject  on  which  the  })cople  fondly  dwell. 

Frederick  William,  the  son  of  Charles  Ferdinand,  dis- 
tinguished himself  in  two  events,  in  the  last  of  which  he  fell 
with  glory. 

When  the  dependence  of  Europe  was  sealed  by  the  peace 
of  1 809,  the  duke  of  Brunswick  was  on  the  Bohemian  fron- 
tiers, in  the  middle  of  subjugated  Germany.  Disdaining, 
though  it  was  in  his  p'ower,  to  remain  subject  to  the  enemy, 
he  undertook  the  passage  which  seemed  hardly  possible, 
through  a number  of  hostile  bands,  every  one  of  which  was 
superior  to  his  own,  till  he  reached  the  sea,  on  which  he  did 
not  possess  a single  boat.  The  adventure  became  a great 
achievement,  from  the  prodigious  efforts  made,  and  the  valour 
displayed  in  so  many  rencounters,  the  skill  in  countermarch- 
ing to  escape,  the  dexterity  in  obtaining  vessels,  and  the  good 
fortune  with  which  so  difficult  an  undertaking  was  crowned. 

The  evening  before  his  death,  the  duke  of  Brunswick  and 
lord  Wellington  were  at  a ball  at  Brussels.  The  duke,  whose 
whole  mind  was  occupied  by  the  awfulness  of  the  crisis,  was 
often  absent — he  listened  and  heard  a distant  cannonading. 
He  communicated  the  circumstance,  and  expressed  himself 
afraid  of  a surprise.  Wellington  did  not  entertain  any  such 
belief,  but  thought  that  it  was  a salutation  on  the  arrival  of  the 
king  of  Prussia  at  his  army.  Brunswick  repeated  his  appre- 
hensions several  times.  He  requested  urgently  to  be  permit- 
ted to  march  out  immediately  with  a corps,  by  way  of  guard- 
ing against  danger.  This  was  conceded,  and  he  was  allow^ed 
to  take  with  him  his  Brunswickers  and  2000  Saxons.  He 
immediately  began  his  march,  a considerable  time  before  mid- 
night, allowed  his  troops  to  rest  and  march  by  turns,  ajid 
advanced  four  German  miles.  He  fell  in  all  at  once  with  a 
very  large  army  of  French  destined  to  fall  on  Wellington.  He 
had  the  good  fortune  to  transmit  immediate  intelligence  to 
Wellington,  who  availed  himself  of  the  precious  hours.  The 
devoted  valour  wdth  which  the  duke  and  his  warriors  for  eight 
long  hours  occupied  the  French,  to  allow  time  for  the  assem- 
bling together  of  the  army — the  obstinacy  with  which  he  threw 
himself  with  his  small  and  wearied  band  in  the  way  of  the 
hostile  army — the  loss  of  nearly  three  thousand  men  on  the 
part  of  the  Brunswdekers — the  tw^o  severe  w^ounds  wdiich  the 
duke  allowed  to  be  bound  up,  and  the  ihree  slighter  w’dunds 
w'hich  he  disregarded — his  never  leaving  the  fight,  but  ad- 
vancing always  again  to  the  front,  and  though  enfeebled  at  last 
from  loss  of  blgo(3,  his  calling  out  perpedually  to  his  people  to 


T^A^ISLATION  OF  A GREEK  INSCRIPTION.  333 

tight  for  their  country,  till  a new  wound  laid  his  breast  open, 
and  stretched  him  on  the  field: — these  circumstances  will  al- 
ways constitute  one  of  the  proudest  subjects  of  history. — 
Honour  to  the  sacred  ashes  of  the  son  of  Henry  the  Lion. 

In  the  character  of  the  duke,  the  military  inclination  pre- 
dominated. The  number  of  troops  which  he  maintained  and 
seemed  to  wish  to  continue,  was  much  too  great  for  a country 
of  a quarter  of  a million  of  inhabitants;  though  in  this  new  and 
unexpected  danger  the  circumstance  has  been  particularly  use- 
ful. From  the  ardent  disposition  of  the  duke,  his  precipitate 
zeal,  and  his  want  of  pi'oper  knowledge  of  civil  aftairs,  he 
allowed  himself  at  first  to  be  influenced  by  persons  whose 
measures,  if  they  had  not  at  length  been  put  a stop  to,  were 
in  a fair  way  of  depriving  him  of  the  love  of  his  subjects. 
When  the  duke  found  his  mistake,  he  listened  to  wiser  coun- 
sel, and  things  were  every  day  taking  a better  train,  when  he- 
was  called  to  act  a part  in  the  late  events. 


A Translation  of  a Greek  Inscription^  erected  to  the  honour  of 
Crato,  150  years  before  Christ. 

[From  the  Monthly  Magazine.! 

In  the  time  of  Statyrus,  the  priest,  and  Nicoletes,  presi- 
dent of  the  games,  and  priest  of  king  Eumenes,  an  order  made 
by  the  society  of  the  artists  of  Bacchus,  in  Ionia  and  the  Hel- 
lespont, and  those  under  the  protection  of  Bacchus, 

Whereas  Crato,  the  son  Zotychus,  a beneficent  musician, 
hath  formerly  made  it  his  whole  study  and  care  to  promote 
the  common  advantage  of  the  society,  and  being  deservedly 
honoured  for  his  benefactions,  still  distinguishes  himself  by 
his  benevolence  and  friendship  to  the  artists,  striving  in  all 
things  to  advance  their  interest;  it  hath  pleased  the  society  of 
the  artists  of  Bacchus  to  join  in  commendation  of  Crato,  the 
son  of  Zotychus,  a beneficent  musician,  because  he  constantly 
preserves  the  same  generous  disposition  to  all  the  artists;  and, 
besides  the  honours  already  conferred  upon  him,  to  appoint 
also  the  proclamation  of  a crown,  as  the  law  prescribes,  which 
the  president  of  the  games,  and  priest  of  king  Eumenes  shall 
perform  upon  the  festival  of  king  Eumenes,  whenever  the 
procession  shall  pass  by,  and  the  rights  of  coronation  are  ce- 
lebrated; and  likewise,  that  the  declaration  of  the  crown  be 
made  on  the  same  day  by  the  magistrates,  at  their  feast,  after 
the  libation;  and  that,  at  the  shows  and  procession,  a tripod 


ailSCELLANEOUS  SELECTIONS. 


and  censer  be  placed  in  the  theatre,  near  the  statue  of  Crato;, 
and  that  the  president  of  the  games,  and  priest  of  king  Eu- 
menes,  for  the  time  beins;,  constantly  every  year  take  care  of 
the  incense. 

An  Order  of  the  Society  of  Artists, 

Whereas  Crato,  the  son  of  ZotjThus,  a Chalcedonian 
musician,  continues  his  benevolence  and  generosity  to  the  so- 
ciety of  artists,  and  both  by  words  and  deeds  is  continually 
promoting  their  interest;  and  having  been  formerly  chosen 
priest,  showed  the  greatest  care  in  performing  all  the  sacrifices 
wjth  reverence  to  the  gods  and  kings,  and  well  and  honour- 
ably with  regard  to  his  fellow-artists,  sparing  no  expense  nor 
pains;  and  being  since  made  president  of  the  games,  hath 
faithfully  discharged  that  office,  and  by  observing  the  laws,  , 
left  an  example  ever  memorable  to  those  wdio  come  after  him. 

To  the  end,  therefore,  that  the  society  of  artists  may  at  all 
times  testify  their  honour  to  those  who  are  of  their  society,  it 
has  pleased  the  society  of  artists  to  crown  Crato,  the  Chalce- 
donian, the  son  of  Zotychus,  so  long  as  he  shall  live;  and  that,  a 

•in  the  common-feast  of  the  fellow-artists,  and  in  the  theatre,  .4 

the  crier  shall  make  the  following  proclamation: — The  society  f 

of  artists  crowns  Crato,  the  son  of  Zotychus,  the  Chalcedo- 
nian, as  the  law  prescribes,  for  the  benevolent  disposition  he  '1' 
continues  to  express  towards  his  fellow-artists;  and  that  the 
magistrates,  who  are  annually  chosen,  take  care  this  procla- 
mation of  the  crown  be  accordingly  made;  and,  to  manifest  the 
gratitude  of  the  society  of  artists  for  ever  to  all  others,  that  t 
this  decree  be  inscribed  on  a stone  pillar,  and  set  up  near  the 
temple  of  Bacchus,  in  the  most  conspicuous  place;  and  his  ' 
statue,  at  full  length,  be  placed  in  the  temple  of  Bacchus,  with 
this  inscription — The  society  of  artists  crowns  Crato,  the  Chal- 
cedonian, the  son  of  Zotychus,  for  his  goodness  and  benevo-  j 
lence  towards  them. 

An  Order  of  the  Artists  in  the  Isthmus  and  N emea, 

Whereas  Crato,  the  son  of  Zotychus,  a general  musi-  J 
cian  of  Pergamus,  hath  formerly  done  many  great  services^  } 

as  well  in  particular  to  those  with  whom  he  was  conversant,  &c.  ^ 


ORIGINAL  Correspondence  of  franco  sacchetti. 

[[From  the  Mmithly  Magazine.] 

This  celebrated  poet  lived  towards  the  close  of  the  fouiv 
teerith  century.  He  was  the  author  of  three  hundred  tales 


FRANCO  SACCUETTI. 


ojiii 

[^novellas],  written  with  great  fancy;  and  of  an  infinite  number 
of  sonnets,  madrigals,  &c.  Among  the  most  pleasing  of  his 
productions  is  a poem,  containing  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven 
stanzas,  into  which  he  introduces  a description  of  all  the  beau- 
tiful women  who  flourished  in  his  time  at  Florence;  describing 
the  contests  between  the  younger  and  those  of  a maturer  age.^ 
His  epistles  being  greatly  esteemed,  we  here  introduce  two  ot 
them,  hitherto  unpublished. 

Letter  from  Franco  Sacchetti  to  Master  Donato  Acciaiuoli,  writ- 
ten in  the  month  of  June,  1391;  the  said  Master  Donato  being 
chief  magistrate  of  justice  in  the  city  of  Florence,  and  during 
the  zoar  betzceen  the  count  di  Virtu  and  the  Florentines, 
Magnificent  and  eminent  chief  magistrate  Master  Donato, 

It  is  Strongly  rumoured  that,  in  the  exercise  of  your  polit- 
er, you  are  about  to  give  peace  to  many,  which,  with  my  hands 
raised  to  heaven,  I invoke;  and  because  peace  is  a blessing, 
than  which  no  one  is  greater,  and  without  which  no  good  is 
perfect,  and,  also,  without  which  no  kingdom  can  say  that 
it  has  stability; — I,  who  desire  it  most  earnestly,  have  been 
moved  to  write  to  your  paternity.  Considering,  therefore,  how 
honourable  it  will  be  at  the  present  time,  and  how  necessary 
it  is  that  we  should  be  relieved  ft’om  the  many  dangers  induced 
by  war;  I think  I see  in  you  the  glory  which  was  ascribed  to  the 
Roman  Brutus,  who  was  entitled  the  second  Romulus,  because 
Romulus  founded  the  city  of  Rome,  and  Brutus  maintained  the 
liberty  of  that  capital.  And  will  not  this  renown  belong  to 
you?  Certainly  yes,  because  nothing  is  so  hostile  to  liberty 
as  war,  and  the  wastes  it  occasions.  This  is  that  which  has 
subjugated  the  nations  and  communities  of  the  universe,  as 
our  country  has  twice  approved.  God  grant  that  the  evil  may 
not  overtake  us  a third  time.  War  is  extraneous  to  celestial 
glory:  it  reigns  in  the  centre  of  the  abyss.  There  are  many 
who  say,  “ we  cannot  place  our  trust,”  &c.  And  I reply,  that 
we  have  not  any  pledge  to  give  to  the  enemy.  If  in  this  con- 
test he  had  come  off  triumphantly,  and  with  honour,  what  is 
said  by  these  persons  might  give  us  serious  apprehensions. 
But  seeing  that  the  contrary  is  the  case,  I entertain  a firm  hope 
that  he  wdll  have  a constant  dread  of  making  any  attempt 
against  us,  inasmuch  as  we  have  diminished  his  state,  and 
have  laid  open  that  which  still  remains  to  him.  Has  he  not 
lost  the  city  of  Padua?  And,  in  the  way  in  which  he  holds 
Verona,  disabled  as  it  is,  may  it  not  be  said  to  be  rather  an 
expense  to  him  than  of  any  utility?  Have  not  Ferrara  and  Mo- 
dena been  taken  from  his  confine,  and  the  way  opened  for  the 


53G 


illSCELLANEOUS  SELECTIONi\ 


passage  of  the  Appennines,  and  all  the  other  mountains?  In 
the  early  spring,  did  not  the  ensigns  of  your  warriors  wave 
over  his  Lombardian  territory?  Is  not  your  army  now  at  his 
very  gates?  And  is  not  the  other  army  of  Gascony  either  at 
present  on  his  territory,  or  about  to  penetrate?  Have  not  the 
Paduans  and  Bolognese  risen  in  arms  against  him,  while  an- 
other of  your  gallant  commanders,  at  the  head  of  your  militia, 
has  entered  the  Sanese  territory?  These  are  not  viands,  which, 
when  rightly  minced.,  the  enemy  will  return  a second  time  to 
taste,  but  will  rather  shun  them  on  the  proof.  Who  among 
his  soldiery,  unless  furtively,  has  had  a sight  of  your  territory? 
Certainly,  all  things  conshlered,  neither  in  writing,  nor  on  re- 
cord, has  so  much  honor  before  fallen  to  the  share  of  our  re- 
public. For  all  the  reasons  I have  given,  it  may  be  said  that 
peace  will  be  secure.  Hannibal  observes:  “ better  is  a secure 
peace  than  an  expected  victory;”  and  Petrarch  goes  still  far- 
ther in  one  of  his  epistles,  saying  that  “ a secure  peace  is 
better  than  a certain  victory.”  The  end  of  a war  is  not  cer- 
tain, but  very  doubtful,  when  we  consider  the  various  accidents 
to  which  it  is  exposed.  We  are  warned  by  Cato:  Xon  eodem 
cursu  respondent  ultima primis.  Some  will  say.  Peace  cannot 
be  procured  without  the  consent  of  others.  Est  modus  in  rebus, 
sunt  certi  denique  fines.  Without  a beginning,  there  can  be 
neither  middle  nor  end.  The  Venetians,  when  they  make  war, 
establish  an  office  of  war,  and  an  office  of  peace.  This  is  a 
thing  acceptable  to  God,  and  on  many  accounts  grateful  to  the 
world.  We  have  a famous  city,  and  a delightful  territory; 
but  let  us  hear  Scipio  Africanus.  ‘‘  Of  what  avail,”  he  ob- 
serves, is  the  possession  of  a great  city,  of  fine  palaces,  and 
of  high  walls,  when  the  foundations  of  virtue  are  overthrown.” 
Peace  is  the  principal  benefit  of  all  the  virtues.  Having  this, 
therefore,  we  shall  have  every  good. 

Briefly  to  conclude,  my  dear  lord,  I congratulate  you  on 
so  worthy  and  laudable  an  undertaking,  which  is  to  give  life 
to  our  city,  and  a mortal  grief  to  those  who  bear  it  in  hatred, 
and  look  forward  to  its  ruin.  You  being  the  author  of  this, 
have  in  my  opinion  acquired  three  names.  The  first,  Brutus, 
as  I have  said  above;  the  second,  Hercules,  which  has  so 
powerful  and  glorious  a sound;  and  the  third,  Solomon,  by 
vdiich  is  implied  the  vision  of  peace.  And  may  He  who  is  all 
peace,  grant  you  his  grace  in  this,  and,  in  every  thing  beside, 
do  that  which  may  be  for  the  good  and  advancement  of  our 
country.  Death  and  eternal  puni^hTnent  t(S  him  who  may  wish 
•he  contrary. 


FRANCO  SACCHfiTTI. 


537 


Reply  of  Master  Donato  Acciaiuoli  to  Franco  Sacchetti, 

If  I had  the  pen  and  the  intellect,  I would  make  you  a 
, suitable  answer;  but  this  is  not  possible,  seeing  that,  however 
.1  may  be  advanced  in  years,  I am  not  so  in  virtue,  and  am 
f sensible  of  my  insufficiency.  Nevertheless,  I will  not  on  any 
j occasion  neglect  to  furnish  a simple  reply. 

' Franco,  it  sometimes  happens  that  fame  is  less  than  the 
I truth,  and  sometimes  greater;  on  this  occasion,  however,  I 
: shall  study  to  testify  the  truth  which  I feel,  to  every  one  who 
I will  not  spurn  the  knowledge  of  it  through  passion,  as  some- 
times happens.  The  truly  benevolent  consolation  you  give 
to  the  country,  and  to  me,  I willingly  receive;  and  the  useful 
example  of  ancient  history  you  adduce,  animates  me  with  the 
desire  of  following  the  traces  of  those  whose  memory  will  be 
eternal.  Fancy  portrays  to  me  Romulus,  the  first  king  of 
the  Romans,  a chief  of  a lofty  mind^  the  founder  of  the  city,  of 
the  empire,  and  of  the  power  which  other  nations  attained. 

’ And  then,  that  first  founder  of  liberty,  Junius  Brutus,  who, 
moved  with  disdain  and  grief  for  Lucretia,  and  animated  by 
the  favour  of  the  people  and  the  love  of  justice,  dared  to  assail 
the  regal  pride  of  king  Tarquin,  and,  having  driven  him  from 
Rome,  was  constituted  first  consul,  as  father  of  the  city  and  of 
justice. 

Many  things  might  be  said  by  you,  who  are  acquainted 
' with  them;  but  I shall  not  neglect  to  speak  of  Numa  Pompi- 
lius,  the  second  king  of  the  Romans,  who  obtained  so  high  a 
celebrity  as  the  lover  of  peace,  of  religion,  and  of  justice.  He 
was  the  enemy  of  war,  and,  as  you  know,  built  the  temple  de- 
dicated to  Janus,  to  be  kept  open  during  war,  and  shut  in 
peace.  Throughout  the  whole  of  his  life  he  kept  it  closed  by 
the  locks  of  his  providence,  and  of  justice;  pacifying,  by  the 
gentlest  means,  the  irritation  of  those  who  were  bent  on  war, 
and  restraining  the  fury  of  their  arms  by  the  blessings  of  peace, 
and  the  right  exercise  of  power. 

I well  recollect  to  have  heard  of  that  famous  and  consum- 
mate commander  Hannibal,  the  leader  of  the  Carthaginians, 
who  was,  above  all  others,  victorious  in  arms,  and  who  con- 
fessed that  a secure  peace  was  better  than  the  hope  of  a vic- 
tory. And,  if  I should  hear  or  should  read  the  contrary,  I 
would  not  believe  it.  What  hopes  of  victory  had  not  Pom- 
pey  the  Great  in  Thessaly,  where,  having  at  his  command 
three  parts  of  the  world,  he  despised  the  peace  so  often  ten- 
dered to  him  by  Caesar;  still,  skilful  as  he  was  in  feats  of  arms* 
he  was  the  first  to  flee. 

VOL.  VII. 


68 


538 


MISCELLANEOUS  SELECTIONS. 


Peace  preserves,  and  augments  within  itself,  whatever  is 
useful:  with  war  it  is  otherwise.  It  bursts  asunder  the  bonds 
of  friendship,  and  imposes  shackles  of  its  own  forging.  May 
the  ardour  of  war  be  cooled,  and  justice  prevail  under  favour 
of  the  Divinity!  I conclude  this  reply  by  reminding  you  of  the 
words  of  Petrarca,  so  familiar  to  you,  where,  in  his  letters  ad- 
dressed to  Italy,  he  speaks  of  morals. 

Written,  or  I should  rather  say,  scrawled,  with  my  own 
hand,  this  tenth  day  of  July.  May  God  preserve  you. 

Donato  Agciaiuoli. 

Letter  from  Franco  Sacchetti  to  Astore,  Lord  of  Faenza,  with 
twelve  sonnets  in  praise  of  peace. 

No  comfort  is  greater  to  the  servant  than  this,  that  when 
he  is  labouring  under  afflictions  he  should  convey  his  lamen- 
tations to  his  lord.  I may  be  compared  to  one  who,  coming 
out  of  the  tomb,  knows  what  death  is.  If  in  the  space  of  thirty- 
three  years  I have  twice  received  the  shock,  I am  the  better 
able  to  judge  how  painful  is  the  blow:  and  I will  sing  that 
others  may  not  weep  as  I have  wept.  Magnificent  lord,  if  I 
should  finally  receive  the  gift  of  eternal  life,  as  happened  to 
Job,  I feel,  according  to  my  faculty,  a considerable  portion  of 
his  pains.  In  recounting  them  I shall  not  go  a great  way 
back,  but  shall  confine  myself  to  the  mention  of  those  which 
have  beiallen  me  since  I left  your  clemency.  On  my  way 
hither,  men  in  arms  were  assembling  from  every  side,  and  be- 
ginning to  weave  a 7ueb,  which  was  wrought  in  such  a form  as 
to  cause  a greater  dread  for  the  future.  Amid  these  prepara- 
tions I was  assailed  by  a confluence  of  twenty  mouths,  com- 
plaining of  divers  diseases,  one  of  one  infirmity,  one  of  ano- 
ther: and,  in  addition  to  this,  one  of  my  sisters,  who  had  made 
an  advantageous  match  some  years  before,  now  bereft  of  every 
property,  and  broken-hearted,  sought  refuge  in  my  house.  I 
myself  had  to  taste  the  fruit  of  count  Alberigp  [bitter  fruit],  all 
my  possessions,  and  the  furniture  of  five  apartments,  having 
been  burnt,  with  the  exception  of  the  bedding.  My  oil  jars 
were  broken,  and  the  oil  spilled,  of  the  value  of  a hundred  and 
twenty  florins;  and  my  loss  in  wine  was  nearly  of  the  same 
amount.  Twenty  fine  orange-trees  had  been  cut  down  for 
fuel;  and  the  houses  of  my  labourers  burnt,  with  their  furniture 
and  utensils,  together  with  many  other  losses,  which  it  would 
be  impossible  to  note  down.  The  roofs  and  planks  having 
all  been  consumed  by  fire,  nothing  remained  but  the  terraces 
and  the  decayed  walls,  well  stored  within  with  ashes.  I have 


ACCOUNT  OP  POPE  JOAN. 


539 


praised,  and  I praise  God,  beseeching  him  that  he  will  not  do 
me  so  much  evil  as  I have  sustained,  and  which  I did  not  for» 
merly  think  to  receive,  notwithstanding  I have,  for  a long  time, 
anticipated  the  calamitous  events  which  have  overtaken  my 
country.  Some  comfort  me,  by  saying,  that  God  visits  his 
friends;  and  I reply,  that  I am  content,  but  that  this  appears 
to  me  to  be  a new  kind  of  friendship.  Others  tell  me,  that, 
as  I have  always  been  an  enemy  to  war,  I have  received  four 
times  as  much  damage  as  another  citizen.  My  answer  to  this 
is,  that  I am  truly  grieved  for  those  who  have  not  received 
any;  and  that,  if  I should  desire  the  contrary,  I should  add  to 
my  misfortunes  envy,  which  would  make  me  more  sorrowful 
than  I am.  The  day  after  my  property  was  burned,  my  com- 
mune wished  to  recompense  me  from  the  stores  which  had 
been  laid  by.  I was  thankful,  and  glad  that  so  good  a provi- 
sion had  been  made;  but  observed,  that  when  dead,  I should 
be  freed  from  so  many  pains,  the  burthen  of  which  brought  on 
a fever  of  nearly  a month’s  duration.  This  has  been  succeeded 
by  another  attack,  from  which  I am  nearly  recovered.  And 
to  the  end,  that  every  one  may  be  certain  that  I have  always 
been  a lover  of  peace,  for  which  I have  a greater  fondness 
than  ever,  because  I have  a greater  need  of  it;  I have  com- 
posed the  twelve  sonnets,  which  I send  to  your  lordship;  and 
which,  as  a rude  man,  I have  rudely  composed,  to  the  end  that 
they  may  be  clearly  understood;  seeing  that  subtile  writings 
are  by  many  interpreted  variously,  and  contrary  to  the  inten- 
tion of  the  authors  who  frame  them,  more  especially  when  it 
is  the  aim  of  malevolent  persons  to  calumniate  the  latter. 

Dated  at  Florence,  this  15th  day  of  April,  1397,  with  a 
recommendation  for  your  servant — 

Franco  de  Sacchetti. 


Account  of  Pope  Joan,  extracted  from  the  work  of  a celebrated 
clergyman  of  the  church  of  England, 

[From  the  Monthly  Magazine.] 

I here  insert,  says  this  divine,  the  following  extract,  co- 
pied, verbatim,  by  my  own  hand,  from  that  scarce  and  curious 
old  book,  entitled,  “ The  Nuremburgh  Chronicle;”  which  was 
printed  at  Nuremburgh,  1493,  in  a popish  city,  by  popish 
printers,  and  compiled  by  popish  hands,  no  less  than  twenty- 
four  years  before  the  reformation  by  Luther. 

Johannes  Anglicufi,”  &c. 


540 


MISCELLANEOUS  SELECTIONS. 


TRANSLATION. 

‘‘  John,  of  English  descent,  but  said  to  have  been  born 
at  Mentz,  obtained  the  popedom  by  sinister  arts;  fur,  she 
palmed  herself  upon  the  world  as  a man,  when,  in  reality,  she 
was  a woman.  In  her  youth,  she  accompanied  a learned  lover 
of  hers  to  Athens;  and  there,  by  attending  the  lectures  of  the 
best  literary  professors,  she  made  so  great  a })rogress  in  eru- 
dition, that,  on  her  arrival  in  Rome,  she  had  few  equals,  and  no 
superiors,  in  all  kinds  of  theological  knowledge.  By  her 
learned  lectures,  and  by  her  masterly  disputations,  she  ac- 
quired so  much  esteem  and  authority,  that  on  the  death  of  Leo, 
she  was,  by  universal  consent,  (as  Martinius  affirms,)  created 
pope.  Some  time  after  her  elevation  to  the  pontifical  dignity, 
she  became  criminally  familiar  with  one  of  her  domestics,  and 
pregnancy  was  the  consequence.  She  took  care,  by  every 
precaution,  to  conceal  this  circumstance,  as  long  as  possible; 
until,  at  last,  as  she  was  walking  (in  public  procession)  to  the 
Lateran  church,  (in  Rome,)  she  was  suddenly  seized  with 
labour-pains,  and  brought  forth  her  infant,  in  that  part  of  the 
street  which  lies  between  the  theatre  and  the  church  of  St. 
Clement.  She  died  on  the  spot;  having  held  the  popedom  two 
years,  one  month,  and  four  days.  Some  writers  affirm,  that, 
to  this  very  day,  whenever  the  pope  walks  in  procession  to  the 
Lateran  church,  he  constantly  goes  thither  by  another  way,  to 
avoid  reviving  the  memory  of  the  above-mentioned  detestable 
event;  and  that,  in  order  to  prevent  a similar  imposition,  (that 
is,  in  order  that  the  infallible  church  may  not  again  mistake 
the  sex  of  her  popes,)  the  new-elected  pontiff  is  properly  ex- 
amined by  the  junior  deacon,  at  the  time  of  his  holiness’s  first 
enthronement  in  St.  Peter’s  chair — * * * ^ 

This  said  Mrs.  Joan,  (who  called  herself  John  VIII.)  was 
successor  in  the  popedom  to  Leo  IV.  who  died  A.  D.  855; 
and  she,  herself,  was  succeeded  by  Benedict  III.  Was  not 
this  pope,  at  least,  the  “ lohore  of  Bahylon?'^'^ 


A DASHING  ADVERTISEMENT. 

St.  Helena,  Feb.  ^\st.  1811. — To  the  Public.  Stolen 
or  mislaid,  a devilish  good  silver  hunting  watch,  made  by 
M’Cabe,  London,  (number  forgot,)  with  a dashing  geld  chain, 
and  two  huge  seals,  without  inscriptions.  Whoever  has  found 
the  said  watch  and  seals,  and  will  deposit  them  at  the  bar  of 
the  tavern,  or  give  any  information  relative  to  them,  will,  be- 
sides the  thanks  of  the  advertiser,  receive  any  reward  he  thinks 
proper.^'* 


641 


CHARACTER  OF  THE  MOREAN  GREEKS. 

From  F,  C,  P ouqueville^ s Travels  in  the  Morea^  Albania^  and 
other  parts  of  the  Ottornan  empire. 

The  Morean  women  have  undoubtedly  a claim  to  the  prize 
of  beauty,  perhaps  also  to  the  palm  of  virtue.  They  may  proba- 
bly owe  the  first  advantage  to  physical  causes  not  difficult  to  be  as- 
signed. During  the  greater  part  of  the  year  the  sun  warms  the 
Morea  with  its  benignant  rays:  the  air  is  free  from  all  humidity, 
and  charged  with  the  perfume  of  thousands  of  flowers — is  pure 
and  vivifying,  while  the  temperature  is  mild  and  serene  as  in 
our  finest  days  of  spring.  If  to  this  be  added  the  moderate  share 
of  labour  to  which  the  women  of  the  East  are  subjected,  and  the 
regular  lives  they  lead, — in  these  united  causes  a sufficient  reason 
will  be  found  for  the  beauty  which  has  ^ways  distinguished  the 
women  of  Peloponnesus. 

The  models  which  inspired  Apelles  and  Phidias  are  still  to  be ' 
found  among  them.  They  are  generally  tall  and  finely  formed; 
their  eyes  are  full  of  fire,  and  they  have  a beautiful  mouth  orna- 
mented with  the  finest  teeth.  There  are,  however,  degrees  in  their ' 
beauty,  though  all  in  general  may  be  called  handsome.  The  Spar- 
tan woman  is  fair,  of  a slender  make,  but  with  a noble  air;  the  wo- 
men of  Taygetes  have  the  carriage  of  Pallas  when  she  flourished 
her  formidable  aegis  in  the  midst  of  a battle.  The  Messenian  wo- 
man is  low  in  stature  and  distinguished  for  her  embonpoint;  she 
has  regular  features,  large  blue  eyes,  and  long  black  hair.  The 
Arcadian,  in  her  coarse  woollen  garment,  scarcely  suffers  the  re- 
gularity of  her  form  to  appear;  but  her  countenance  is  expressive 
of  great  purity  of  mind,  and  her  smile  is  the  smile  of  innocence. 
Chaste  as  daughters,  the  women  of  the  Morea  assume  as  wives 
even  a character  of  austerity.  Rarely  after  the  death  of  a husband 
whom  she  loved  does  the  widow  ever  think  of  contracting  a new 
. engagement.  Supporting  life  with  difficulty,  deprived  of  the  ob- 
ject of  her  affections,  the  remainder  of  her  days  are  often  passed 
in  weeping  her  loss.  Endowed  with  organs  sensible  to  melody, 
most  of  the  Greek  women  sing  in  a pleasing  manner,  accompanying 
themselves  with  a tetrachord,  the  tones  of  which  are  an  excellent 
support  to  the  voice.  In  their  songs  they  do  not  extol  the  favours 
of  love,  they  do  not  arraign  the  coldness  and  inconstancy  of  a lo- 
ver; it  is  rather  a young  man  who  pines  away  with  love,  as  the 
grass  is  withered  on  the  house  tops;  w'ho  complains  of  the  cruelty 
of  his  inflexible  mistress, — who  compares  himself  to  a bird  de- 
prived of  his  mate,  to  a solitary  turtle-dove; — who  requires  all  na- 
ture, in  short,  to  share  in  his  sorrows.  At  this  long  recital  of  woes, 
the  companions  of  the  songstress  are  often  melted  into  tears,  and 
. quit  her  with  warm  expressions  of  delight  at  the  pleasure  they 
. have  received. 


xMISCELLANEOUS  SELECTIONS. 


If  the  Greek  women  have  received  from  the  hand  of  nature  the 
gift  of  beauty  as  their  common  dower,  and  a heart  that  loves  with 
ardour  and  sincerity,  they  have  the  defects  of  being  vain,  avarici- 
ous, an  ambitious;  at  least  this  is  the  case  with  those  in  the  high- 
er ranks  of  society.  Totally  destitute  of  instruction,  they  are  inca- 
pable of  keeping  up  a conversation  in  any  degree  interesting,  nor 
van  they  supply  their  want  of  education  by  a natural  playfulness  of 
imagination  w hich  gives  birth  intuitively  to  lively  sallies,  and  often 
charms  in  w'omen  more  than  cultivation  of  mind.  It  may  be  said 
in  general  that  the  Greek  w^omcn  know  nothing:  even  those  who 
are  born  in  the  higher  ranks  are  ignorant  of  the  art  of  presiding  in 
their  own  houses;  an  art  so  well  known,  and  so  W’^ell  practised  in 
our  own  country,  that  a w'oman  destitute  of  real  knowledge  has 
often  by  this  means  drawn  around  her  a circle  of  the  most  culti- 
vated and  most  amiable  among  the  other  sex.  As  a proof  of  the 
total  want  of  education'v^iong  the  Greek  women,  I cannot  help 
adding  that  I have  often  Heard  at  Constantinople,  even  from  the 
mouths  of  those  v/ho  bore  the  title  of  princesses,  the  grossest  lan- 
guage used  to^vards  their  servants,  such  as  would  not  be  endured 
among  us  but  from  the  very  lowest  dregs  of  the  people.  It  is  not 
difficult,  from  the  specimen,  to  form  an  idea  of  the  charm  which 
such  sort  of  female  society  presents  to  Europeans  of  polished 
countries. 

A belief  in  sorcery  or  witchcraft,  that  great  stumbling-block 
of  the  human  understanding  in  all  ages  and  climes,  is  exceedingly 
prevalent  in  modern  Greece.  A number  of  old  Sibyls,  withered 
sorceresses  of  the  race  known  among  us  by  the  name  of  Bohe- 
mians or  Egyptians,  the  refuse  of  Thessaly,  a country  celebrated 
in  all  times  for  female  magicians,  are  in  high  repute  in  every  part 
of  the  Morea.  They  explain  signs,  interpret  dreams,  and  all  the 
delirious  wanderings  of  the  imagination.  Revei’enced,  feared,  ca- 
ressed, nothing  is  done  without  consulting  them;  nor  is  it  difficult 
to  conceive  how  unbounded  an  empire  these  impostors  obtain  over 
imaginations  as  ardent,  united  with  minds  as  little  cultivated  as 
characterize  the  Grecian  women. 

A Young  woman  wishes  to  know  what  sort  of  a husband  she  is 
to  have.  She  consults  one  of  these  oracles  of  fate,  who  gives  her 
a pie  seasoned  with  mint  and  other  aromatic  herbs  gathered  from 
the  mountains.  This  she  is  to  eat  at  night  without  drinking,  and 
go  to  bed  immediately,  first  hanging  round  her  neck,  in  a little 
enchanted  bag,  three  flowers',  one  white,  another  red,  and  the  third 
yellow.  The  next  morning  she  puts  her  hand  into  the  bag  and 
draws  out  one  of  the  flowers:  if  it  be  the  white,  she  is  to  marry  a 
young  man;  if  the  red,  one  of  a middle  age;  if  the  yellow,  a wi- 
dower. She  is  then  to  relate  what  she  has  dreamt  in  the  night, 
and  from  her  dreams  the  Sibyl  draws  omens,  whether  the  hus- 
band is  to  be  rich,  and  whether  the  marriage  is  to  prove  happy  or 
not.  If  the  predictions  be  not  accomplished,  no  fault  is  ever  as- 
cribed to  the  oracle;  either  her  orders  were  not  exactly  observed} 


CftARACTER  OF  THE  MOREAN  GREEKS. 


543 


or  the  Evil-eye^  has  rendered  her  divinations  abortive.  This 
eye^  the  Arimanes  of  the  ancients,  is  a dsemon,  the  enemy  of  all 
happiness,  the  very  name  of  whom  terrifies  even  the  most  coura- 
geous. According  to  the  Greeks,  this  spirit  or  invisible  power 
is  grieved  at  all  prosperity,  groans  at  success,  is  indignant  at  a 
plentiful  harvest,  or  at  the  fecundity  of  the  flocks,  murmurs  even 
against  Heaven  for  having  made  a young  girl  pleasing  or  hand- 
some. In  consequence  of  so  strange  a superstition,  no  one  thinks 
of  congratulating  another  upon  having  handsome  children,  and 
they  carefully  avoid  admiring  the  beauty  of  a neighbour’s  horse, 
for  the  E.vU~eye  would  very  probably  at  the  same  instant  afflict 
the  children  with  a leprosy,  or  the  horses  with  lameness.  The 
power  of  this  genius  even  extends  to  taking  away  treasures  of 
every  kind  from  those  by  whom  they  are  possessed.  If,  however, 
in  complimenting  the  beauty  of  the  children  or  the  horses,  care  is 
taken  to  talk  of  garlic  or  to  the  charm  is  broken 

After  having  shown  how  much  the  modern  Greeks  are  given 
up  to  superstition,  and  the  degree  of  debasement  to  which  their 
minds  are  reduced  by  the  slavery  under  which  they  have  so  long 
languished,  another  feature  of  their  character  will  appear  the  more 
extraordinary;  this  is  the  vanity  which  all  have  more  or  less  of 
being  distinguished  by  the  most  pompous  titles.  Nothing  is  heard 
among  them  but  the  titles  of  archon,  prince,  most  illustrious,  and 
others  equally  high-soujiding;  the  title  of  his  holiness  is  given  to 
their  priests.  The  child  accustomed  to  forget  the  most  endearing 
of  appellations,  the  wife  forgetting  that  which  she  ought  most  to 
cherish,  salute  the  father  and  the  husband  with  the  title  of  signor, 
at  the  same  time  kissing  his  hand.  This  name,  which  is  only  a 
term  gf  submission,  is  by  the  pride  of  the  Greeks  preferred  to  all 
others,  for  the  very  reason  that  it  seems  to  acknowledge  superi- 
ority in  the  person  to  whom  it  is  addressed. 

It  is  from  this  sentiment  of  vanity  that  those  Greeks  who  have 
acquired  any  knowledge  of  the  history  of  their  country,  speak  with 
so  much  pride  of  the  ancient  relics  still  scattered  over  it.  Ac- 
cording to  the  affinity  which  may  be  found  in  their  names  to  any 
of  those  celebrated  in  antiquity,  they  call  themselves  the  descend- 
ants of  Codrus,  of  Phidias,  of  Themistocles,  of  Belisarius.  The 
same  sentiment  leads  them  to  hoard  up  money,  that  they  may  be 
enabled  at  last  to  purchase  some  situation  which  shall  give  them 
the  power  of  domineering  over  their  brethren;  and  this  achieved, 
it  is  by  no  means  unusual  to  see  them  become  more  insolent  and 
tyrannical  towards  them  than  the  Turks  themselves:  they  justify 
in  this  respect  but  too  fully  the  common  saying,  that  the  Turk  has 
no  better  instrument  for  enforcing  slavery  than  the  Greek. 


544 


POETRY. 


SPECIMENS  OF  A VOLUME  OF  POETRY,  ABOUT  TO  BE  PUBLISHED 
AT  BALTIMORE. 

. 2 health  to  my  native  land,  on  her  birth’day,  the  fourth  of  July, 

Land  of  the  exile — my  own  native  land, 

Sweet  refuge  to  the  wretched  of  this  earth! 

To  thee  I lift  the  bowl  with  eager  hand. 

And  hail  the  glorious  morn  that  gave  thee  birth.' 

Here’s  to  our  country — our  dear  native  home! 

AVhere  all  that  breathe  the  breath  of  life  are  free; 

Here’s  to  the  happy  land  w here  strangers  come, 

• To  share  the  sweets  of  virtuous  liberty.  / 

The  blue-eyed-  German  smokes  his  pipe  at  ease. 

Oppressed  Erin  finds  a refuge  here. 

And,  free  as  his  own  nMive  Highland  breeze, 
j Treads  hardy  Caledonia’s  mountaineer. 

/ 

j The  conq’ror  check’d  in  his  career  of  blood; 

The  peaceful  monarch  banish’d  from  his  throne; 

The  patriot  who  against  oppression  stood. 

Here  seek  a refuge — here,  and  here  alone. 

Rage  wild  Ambition’s  tempest  where  it  may; 

One  bloody  deluge  roll  o’er  all  the  world — 

Our  ark  shall  swim,  regardless  of  its  sway,  ^ 

While  tottering  despots  from  their  seats  are  hurl’d, 

E’vn  as  when  one  wide  water  covered  all. 

And  veil’d  from  every  eye  sweet  Nature’s  face. 

The  ark  of  yore  sailed  o’er  the  drowned  ball. 

And  saved  the  remnant  of  the  human  race. 

Land  of  the  exile — my  own  native  land. 

Sweet  refuge  to  the  banish’d  of  the  earth! 

To  thee  I lift  the  bowl  with  eager  hand, 

^ And  hail  the  glorious  morn  that  gave  thee  birth. 

Still  may  thy  stripes  triumphant  wave  in  war; 

Still  thy  bright  stars  like  glorious  fires  of  Heav’n, 

Shine  quenchless  guides,  to  welcometfrom  afar. 

The  exile  from  his  home  and  country  driv’n. 

From  every  corner  of  the  suffering  earth. 

Oh  may  Oppression’s  victim  hither  come! 

And  while  he  mourns  the  land  that  gave  him  birth. 

Cherish  the  land  in  which  he  found  a home. 

Land  of  the  exile — my  own  native  land, 

I Mother  of  heroes,  child  of  liberty! 

God  give  thee  strength  against  thy  foes  to  stand; 

Flourish  forever — be  forever  free! 


POETRY 


SONG, 

IN"  IMITATION  OF  THE  OLD  WRITERS. 

Things  common  are  not  soxight. 

[From  the  same.] 

I LOVE  the  sun  that  shines  on  every  flower; 

I love  the  flower  that  gives  to  all  its  sweets; 

I love  the  breeze  that,  whispering,  woos  each  bower— 

But  I love  not  the  maid  that  smiles  on  all  she  meets. 
Sweet  is  the  modest  rose  that  blushes  at  a kiss; 

Sweet  the  wan  breeze  that  woos  each  waving  bower: 
Sweet  the  bright  sunshine  at  blithe  morning  hour— 
Sweet  every  common  benefit  but  this. 

But  did  the  sun  by  day  and  night  aye  warm. 

And  did  the  warm  breeze  breathe  through  all  the  year, 
And  the  red  rose  through  every  season  charm, 

Nor  very  bright  or  sweet  would  they  appear. 

And  so — if  woman’s  breath  be  ne’er  so  sweet. 

And  if  her  lips  are  redder  than  the  rose. 

And  if  those  lips  a thousand  sweets  disclose, 

AVho  cares  for  them,  if  they  do  smile  on  all  they  meet? 

INSPIRATION. 

[From  the  same.3 
Who  is’t  that  tells 
Bright  Inspiration  dwells 
In  silent  vales  and  waving  woods. 

Or  rocky  dells,  by  foaming  floods. 

Where  never  sunbeam  breaks. 

And  nought  but  nature  wakes? 

He  lies — 

It  dwells  in  Beauty’s  eyes. 

Vain  all  the  povVers  of  solitude; 

Vain  silent  vale  and  waving  wood. 

And  rocky  dell,  and  foaming  flood 
They  cannot  waken  Fancy’s  fires! 

’Tis  Beauty,  Beauty,  that  inspires 
The  soul  to  genius  warm  and  tn.ie— 

That  tvakens  and'  rexvards  it  too. 


FOR  THE  ANAL-ECTIC  MAGAZINE. 

THE  BACHELOR. 

They  say  my  heart  is  cold. 

And  never  has  for  lady  sigh’d} 

They  say  I’m  solitary,  and  grow  old 

Without  a lover’s  joy,  or  father’s  manly  pTadp. 

And  let  them  say  their  will,  ' 

And  call  me' names,  with  scornful  jeer; 

By  heav’n,  there’s  not  a man  among  them  still. 

Who  flatters  woman  less,  yet  holds  her  half  so  deaY. 

vrr.  09 


POETRY-. 


Mow  could  I ask  a maid 
To  leave  her  high,  ambitious  aim, 

And  sliare  with  me  the  dull  and  humble  shude^ 

Where  Mediocrity  laments  her  slighted  name? 

I dont  prefer  to  live 

A solitaiy  in  the  crowd; 

Let  me  enjoy  the  smile  a wife  can  give. 

When  love  performs  the  half  of  what  it  once  has  vow'd. 

fiut,  O!  avert  from  me 

The  disappointed  husband’s  sigh. 

Who  finds  too  late,  that  woman’s  constancy 

Scarce  lasts  till  other  charms  seduce  her  wand’ring  eye. 

O,  no,  I cannot  sue, 

For  neither  rank  nor  wealth  is  mine; 

The  thought  of  thee,  my  girl,  would  pierce  me  through. 
Whene’er  I saw  thee  sigh  for  joys  that  once  were  tliine. 


NURUZ; 

on  THE  LOVES  OF  THE  HOSE  AND  THE  NIGHTINGALE. 

[From  the  Asiatic  Journal.] 

The  following  jeu-d*esprit  has  a reference  to  The  Loves  of  the  Rose  and  the 
J^ightingaley  an  eastern  allegory,  founded  on  the  reputed  fondness  of  th<^ 
bird  for  that  flower  in  the  vernal  season. 

The  Nightingale  a sonnet  owes 
In  season  to  the  love-ripe  Rose, 

Whose  fairy  perfumes  haunt  the  gale. 

That  they  may  listen  to  his  tale, 

Where  Echo,  hid  in  thicket  nigJi, 

O’erhears  and  tells  the  chanter’s  joy: 

The  youthful  flowers,  in  spring-robes  drest, . 

Envy  the  rose  her  am’rous  guest; 

But,  as  her  charms  unfold,  the  sun 
Is  by  the  blooming  syren  won. 

And  daily  homage  to  her  pays, 

A rival  to  the  warbler’s  lays. 

To  baffk,  then,  this  adverse  spell, 

' , Oh,  spare  thy  notes,  sweet  Philomel! 

' For  Sol,  at  eve,  must  bid  adieu. 

When  thou  thy  suit  can  best  renew; 

With  magic  arm’d,  the  moment  seize. 

Pour  forth  thy  philters  on  the  breeze; 

And,  as  his  fickle  warmth  grows  less. 

Be  this  the  hour  for  thy  caress; 

Now  serenade;  and,  ereHhe  morn. 

The  Rose  is  thine,  and  his  the  Thorn- 


DOMESTIC  IMTERATURE  AND  SCIENCE 


A continuation  of  Burke’s  History  of  Virginia,  by  L.  H.  Girardin,  Esq.  is 'in 
the  press.  Mr.  Burke’s  work,  consisting  of  three  volumes  octavo,  brings  the  his- 
tory of  Virginia,  from  the  first  settlement  of  it  as  a colony  of  Great  Britain,  to 
the  year  1775.  Mr.  Girardin’s  work,  which  will  form  a large  octavo  volume  of 
about  eight  hundred  pages,  will  bring  the  history  of  that  state  to  the  peace  of 
1783.*  He  is  collecting  materials  for  a se\)arate  work,  Avhich  will  be  the  sequel 
of  tlife  one  List  mentioned,  and  continue  that  Ifistory  to  the  peace  of  Ghent 

Doctor  V.  Seameiiy  of  New  York,  has  published  a discourse  upon  Vaccina- 
tion, with  remarks  on  tlie  occasional  prevalence  of  the  small  pox,  and  the  mea*^ 
sures  necessary  to  prevent  it. 

, j\Ir.  John  jMelHsh  has  issued  proposals  for  publishing  by  subscription,  a six 
sheet  Map  of  the  Gnited  States,  and  contiguous  British  and  Spanish  possessions. 
This  work  will  be  accompanied  by  statistical  account  of  the  United  States^ 
vjith  topographical  tables,  and  tables  of  distances;  to  which  will  be  added,  A 
description  of  the  British  and  Sjianish  possessions.  The  price  of  the  Map  and 
Description  to  subscribers  will  be  ^10,  payable  on  delivery. 

Eleazer  Early  has  issued  proposals  for  publishing  Daniel  Sturges’s  Map  of 
Georgia,  from  actual  survey.  This  map  is  stated  to  have  been  prepared  with 
great  labour  and  care  by  Mr.  Sturges  during  the  period  of  fourteen  years  in. 
which  he  held  the  office  of  surveyor-general  of  Georgia.  The  map  is  so  con- 
structed as  to  give  a view  of  the  adjacent  countries,  particulai’ly  that  part  of 
South  Carolina  bordering  on  the  state  of  Georgia,  that  part  of  the  Mississippi 
territory  which  was  the  seat  of  the  war  with  the  Creek  Indians,  and  a considera- 
ble portion  of  the  Florldas.  The  price  of  this  map  to  subscribers  will  be  ten 
dollars. 

Darby’s  Map  of  Louisiana  and  the  adjacent  country  is  in  the  press. 

Wells  & Lilly,  of  Boston,  have  republished  Rhoda,  a novel,  from  the  Lon- 
don edition.  “ We  have  seldom,”  observe  tlie  critical  reviewers,  ‘‘had  an  op- 
portunity of  noticing  a novel  possessing  such  claims  to  approbation  as-the  volumes 
before  us.  We  deprecate  the  injurious  consequences  too  generally  produced  in 
the  female  mind  by  this  species  of  reading.  But  the  work  w'e  are  about  to  intro- 
duce to  the  attention  of  our  readers,  is  not  merely  exempt  from  the  ordinary  ob- 
jections imeferred  against  publications  of  this  description,  but  presents  sucli  nu- 
merous excellencies, and  illustrates  so  sound  a moral,  that  we  recommend  it  to  the 
perusal  of  all  our  female  readers;  particularly  to  those  w hose  pi'etty  faces  and  fas- 
cinating manners  become  dangerous  possessions,  from  being  the  allies  of  vanity, 
irresolution  and  frivolity.” 

After  giving  a genei’al  view  of  the  incidents  and  characters,  they  conclude 
thus: — “ We  have  traced  the  leading  outlines  of  this  novel.  'I  he  story  conveys 
an  instructive  moral;  and  is  related  in  language  perfectly  suited  to  this  description 
of  writing.  The  ch.aracters  are  all  well  drawn.  That  of  Rhoda  is  a very  just  de- 
lineation of  the  weak  and  wavering  disposition  of  a young  female  placed  in  so 
embarrassing  a situation,  moral  rectitude  on  the  one  hand,  and  seductive  plea- 
sure and  glittering  ambition  on  the  other.  The  follies  and  manners  of  fashionable 
life  are  faithfully  described:  and  these  again  are  well  relieved  by  some  ably  con- 
ceived characters,  in  whom  the  beauty  of  virtue  shines  forth  with  resplendent 
freshness;  forcibly  impressing  upon  the  worshippers  of  fashionable  depravity  the 
meanness  as  well  as  the  criminality  of  their  adoration.” 

M.  Correa  de  Serra  is  now  giving  a course  of  lectures  on  botany  to  the 
Tadies  and  gentlemen  of  this  cily\ 


548 


FOREION  LITERATURE  AND  SCIENCE 


The  publication  of  Mi\  Cobbett’s  Weekly  Political  Uegister,  in  the  Uiiltetl 
States,  commenced  on  the  21  st  ultimo,  at  New  York.  The  first  number  pub- 
lished there  was  No.  1.  vol.  XXX.  written  in  England,  on  the  6th  of  January  last. 
The  work  is  to  be  continued  w eekly,  as  nearly  as  possible,  and  to  consist  partly 
of  Mr.  Cobbett’s  essays,  which  have  been  published  in  the  corresponding  num- 
bers in  England,  with  the  addition  of  notes;  but  chief y of  matter  from 

the  same  pen,  sent  out  from  England  in  manuscript. 


FOREIGN  LITERATURE  AND  SCIENCE. 

{^Selected  and  abridged  from  late  British  publications'^ 

Eolian  Harp,  of  a new  kind. 

The  following  article  has  in  it  something  extremely  whimsical.  The  notion 
of  a musical  instrument^/J-ue  hundred  feet  in  length,  seems  all  but  ridiculous;  and 
yet  if  these  wires  really  are  affected  by  variations  in  the  atmosphere,  why  may 
they  not  be  rendered  musical  by  means  of  proportionate  length,  thickness,  com- 
position of  metal,  or  combination  of  metals?  To  say  the  least,  the  vigilance  of 
such  an  instrument  would  be  incessant.  A man  might  lie  in  his  bed,  and  receive 
notice  by  a recitative  of  a change  in  the  w eather:  he  might  gather  from  the 
sprightly  tones  of  his  monitor,  better  than  from  any  watchman,  the  beautiful 
morning  about  to  break  on  him;  or  he  might  infer  from  the  melancholy  tones  of 
his  wires,  the  probability  of  a wet  day,  and  provide  himself  with  clothing  accord- 
ingly. What  else? — let  the  reader  surmise. 

“ Not  only  animals  and  vegetables,  but  mineral  bodies  also  are  affected  by 
the  changes  of  atmospheric  temperature.  Metals  are  well  known  to  expand  or 
contract  by  such  alteration;  and  in  the  75th  volume  of  Philosophical  Transactions, 
general  Roy  has  shown  that  the  expansion  of  the  steel  pendulum  of  a clock  is 
such,  that  every  four  degrees  of  the  thermometer  will  cause  a variatioi^  of  a se- 
cond per  day  in  the  going  of  a clock.  Brass  will  be  absolutely  altered  in  its  na- 
ture, merely  by  being  suspended  in  a damp  atmosphere.  Madame  Roland  de- 
scribes a very  singular  kind  of  harp,  which  she  saw  in  a garden  of  M.  Haz,  letter- 
press  founder  at  Basle,  in  Switzerland,  which  must  have  been  made  on  this 
principle  of  expansion.  ‘ It  is  composed,’  she  says,  ‘ of  fourteen  wires  closely 
disposed,  fastened  at  one  end  to  a pavillion,  and  at  the  other  end  to  a wall  at  the 
extremity  of  the  garden,  and  at  the  distance  of  about  five  hundred  feet.  'I'he 
variations  of  the  atmosphere  excite  the  vibrations  of  these  wires,  and  make  them 
sound  in  a singular  manner.  In  settled  weather,  constantly  fair  or  constantly 
rainy,  the  instrument  is  silent.  If  any  change  is  to  happen;  if  any  distant  storm 
is  rising,  of  which  no  appearance  is  yet  perceived;  if  contrary  winds  are  ready 
to  contend  for  empire;  the  aerial  music  begins,  and  thus  announces  the  revolu- 
tions of  its  elements  sometimes  twenty-four  hours  beforehand.’  ” 

Benevolence. — Bible  Society. 

The  following  extract  shows  that  the  plan  and  principles  of  modern  Bible 
Societies  .are  by  no  means  absolute  novelties,  or  things  before  unheard  of: — why 
such  benevolent  institutions  were  not  continued?  is  another  (piestion. 

The  Londo7i  Journal^  Saturday,  Feb.  24,  1721. 

“ Our  Petersburgh  letters  make  mention,  that  the  czar  of  IMuscovy,  has 
given  orders  I'or  printing  the  Old  and  New  Testament  in  the  Russian  language, 
'i'he  edition  is  to  be  made  at  Amsterdank,  :md  a fair  side  left  against  every  page 
for  theological  remarks,  to  be  therein  inserted  by  such  divines  as  shall  be  ap- 
pointed for  that  purpose  Eacli  family  is  to  buy  one  of  these  bibles,  and  some  are 
t‘0  be  sold  at  a moderate  price,  for  the  use  of  the  poor.  Would  every  prince  foU 


FOREIGN  LITERATURE  AND  SCIENX'E. 


549 


ow  €()  laudable  an  example,  ^nd  j^ive  theii*  subjects  a right  to  think  for  them- 
selves ill  religious  matters,  the  Romish  communion  vouUl  be  greatly  lessened, 
by  there  being  but  few  left  to  believe  the  absurd  docti'inc  of  transubstantiation.” 

Antiquities. 

Viennay  January  13. — The  part  of  Isti'ia  belonging  to  the  government  of 
the  Littorale,  forming  a part  of  lllvrium,  and  since  the  time  of  Augustus  joined 
to  Italy,  contains  numerous  monuments  of  that  brilliant  ])eriod  of  the  Roman 
empire,  particularly  in  the  formerly  flourishing,  now  decayed  town  of  Fola,  and  in 
the  neighbourliood  of  Triest.  The  remains  of  the  Roman  amphitheatre  at  Pola 
have  been  frequently  described,  but  insufRciently.  Marshal  Marmont  set  some 
workmen  to  dig  round  it,  which  procured  some  information  respecting  this  mo- 
nument of  antiquity;  but  it  was  reserved  for  Mr.  Peter  Nobile,  architect  at 
Triest,  to  jiroceed  so  far  this  summer  that  as  much  has  been  discovered  under 
ground  as  was  before  above  it,  and  to  prove  the  pos.sibility  of  clearing  the  whole 
of  this  magnificent  building  from  the  rubbish,  he  has  also,  out  of  zeal  for  the 
arts,  uncovered  more  of  a temple  of  Augustus,  and  of  a Roman  gate,  at  Pola, 
and  secured  them  as  far  as  possible,  in  onler  to  give  the  friends  of  antiquity  a 
complete  wo’-k  upon  the  subject.  The  same  Mr.  Nobile  has  also  draw  n from 
the  rubbish  and  from  oblivion,  the  admirable  aqueducts  in  the  territory  of 'Priest, 
that  are  also  of  Roman  origin.  He  has  set  people  to  dig  in  above  thirty  places, 
and  has  discovered  the  whole  line  of  the  aqueduct  from  T’riest  to  the  source 
which  supplied  it  with  w ater.  His  imperial  majesty  has  granted  Mr.  Nobile  three, 
thousand  silver  florins  to  continue  the  digging  out  of  the  Roman  antiquities  at  Po- 
la, and  an  equal  sum  to  examine  farther  the  antiquities  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Triest. 

Government  of  Egypt. 

One  of  the  best  proofs  which  could  be  offered,  perhaps,  of  tiie  superior  sta- 
bility of  the  jiresent  government  in  Egypt  to  that  of  the  Mamelukes  which  pre- 
ceded it,  is,  that  during  the  two  years  absence  of  the  present  Pasha  in  Arabia, 
accompanied  by  all  the  male  branches  of  his  family  as  military  commanders,  and 
nearly  the  whole  of  his  army,  the  most  perfect  and  undisturbed  tranquillity  has 
prevailed  throughout  the  w lmleof  the  country,  from  the  sea  coast  of  the  Delta,  to 
the  cataracts  of  the  Nile;  while  it  is  known  that  under  the  government  of  the 
Atamaluke  beys,  the  banks  of  the  I’iver  were  divided  at  every  fifty  miles  into 
districts  commanded  by  Arab  sheiks  and  petty  chieftains,  continually  at  war,  as 
well  as  that  the  reigning  bey  dared  scarcely  quit  the  citadel  of  Cairo  before  in- 
surrection and  tumult  followed.  The  travels  of  Norden,  Pocock,  Niebuhr,  Vol- 
ney,  and  Savary,  with  all  the  still  earlier  writers  on  that  country,  give  a picture 
of  constant  and  general. anarchy,  ami  represent  it  as  almost  impossible  to  quit  the 
banks  of  the  river,  or  the  edge  of  cultivation  without  being  robbed  and  plunder- 
ed, while  the  dress  of  a Christian  was  sufficient  to  draw  down  the  insults  of  the 
lowest  orders  on  the  individual  who  wore  it.  At  this  moment,  on  the  contrarv, 
tranquillity  and  safety  every  where  prevail;  deserts  are  now  passable,  unattend- 
ed and  unarmed,  which  were  not  then  to  he  crossed  in  safety  without  u large 
military  escort,  and  the  dress  of  an  European  has  become  the  surest  passport  to 
obtain  accommodation,  protection,  and  respect. 

FRANCE. 

Points  of  public  instruction  and  education. 

1.  'Fhat  religion  should  form  the  essential  basis  of  education. 

2.  That  colleges  and  boarding-schools  sliould  not  only  be  under  the  super- 
intendence of  the  local  authorities,  but  under  that  of  the  archbishops  and  bishops, 
who  should  have  pow  er  to  reform  the  abuses  they  may  discover  therein. 

3.  T'hat  the  bishops  should  he  empowered  to  augment  the  number  of  semi- 
naries in  proportion  to  the  deficiencies  of  religious  instruction,  and  the  re.sources 
of  the  population  ami  the  uiocoses. 


S>oO 


FOREIGN  LITERATURE  AND  SCIENCE. 

4,  That  the  l)isljoj)S  should  have  the  right  of  appointing  to  the  places  of 
principals  in  t!>c  colleges  and  schools.  The  pi  incipal  to  appoint  the  professors; 
hut  the  bishops  to  be  nevertheless  empowered  to  dismiss  persons  who  may  be 
incapable,  or  whose  principles  may  be  recognised  as  dangerous. 

5,  That  the  universities,  as  they  now  exist,  shall  be  continued  under  the 
superintemience  of  the  minister  of  (he  interior.  Tlic  minister  to  be  advised  as 
to  the  means  of  joining  thereto  religious  instruction,  and  of  making  literary  ta- 
lents flourish. 

6,  TJjat  (lie  central  commission  of  public  instruction,  the  Zealand  talents  of 
vvhicli  his  majesty  will  honour  and  reward,  should  remain  suppressed. 

Engine  Pipes:  new  manufacture. 

The  pipes  of  the  engines  used  in  France,  for  extinguishing  fire,  are  made 
of  flax,  and  are  found  to  answer  the  purpose  much  better  than  those  made  of 
leather.  They  arc  w'oven  in  the  same  manner  as  the  wicks  of  patent  lamps,  and 
can  be  made  of  any  length  without  a scam  or  joining  Wiien  the  water  runs  a 
short  time  through  the  pipes,  the  flax  swells  aud  no  water  escapes,  though  the 
pressure  be  very  great.  They  are  more  poi’table,  not  so  liable  to  be  out  of  re- 
pair, and  do  not  cost  by  one  lialf  so  much  as  the  leather  ones  used  in  this  coun- 
try. This  article  is  now  manufactured  in  Glasgow. 

The  Bank  of  France. 

Tiie  JMomteur  of  January  26  contains  a long  report  on  the  state  of  the 
bank  of  France,  made  by  M.  Lafitte,  provisional  governor,  at  a general  meeting 
of  proprietors  on  the  preceding  day.  He  gave  the  following  statement  of  the 
operations  of  the  bank  during  the  previous  year.  The  sums  discounted  on  com- 
mercial bills,  for  the  first  half  year,  amounted  to  106,210,830  fr.  and  for  the  se- 
cond half  year  to  97,3.54,493  fr.  making  a total  of  203, 565, .323  francs.  There 
were  besides  bills  on  the  departments,  to  the  amount  of  10,966,243  fr.  nego- 
tiated by  the  treas\iry. 

M.  Lafitte  also  stated,  that  the  profits  of  the  bank  during  tlie  same  year, 
arising  from  tlie  interest  on  its  capital  and  its  discounts,  amounted  to  5,989,174  fr. 
The  shareholders  liad  in  consequence  received  five  ami  one-third  per  cent,  on 
their  shares,  calculated  at  1,200  fr.  eacii,  or  six  and  two-fifths  per  cent,  on  their 
original  value  of  1,000  fr.  The  capital  of  the  bank  had  also  been  increased  by 
5180  fr.  which  were  carried  to  the  reserve  account,  as  directed  by  law. 

I The  following  are  a few  of  the  general  observations  with  which  tlie  reporter 
concludes. — 

In  laying  before  you  the  state  of  tlie  bank  at  such  a period,  the  council- 
general  consoles  itself  for  the  smallness  of  the  dividend  which  it  has  to  offer  you 
by  congratulating  itself  and  yon  that  a x>art  of  the  capital  was  not  swallow’ed  up 
in  the  general  jiolitical  wreck  of  France.  An  event  uniiaralleled  in  history,  which 
brought  under  our  walls  ail  Europe  in  arms  against  us,  seemed  impossible  to  oc- 
cur again  in  Uie  same  century.  Unfortunately,  however,  it  did  occur  again,  al- 
most ill  the  same  year;  for  a difierent  cause  indeed,  but  attended  with  more 
alarming  symptoms.  Trade,  the  friend  of  peace,  and  the  bank,  which  cannot 
prosper  but  with  trade,  are  both  necessarily  compromised  by  great  political  con- 
vul.^ions.  Nevertheless,  in  sxiite  of  so  many  dangers,  and  obstructions,  you  will 
sec,  certainly  not  without  some  surprise,  that  though  the  bank  has  not  relaxed 
in  its  operations,  ami  though  its  discounts  have  been  very  considerable,  it  has 
not  sustained  one  single  loss  in  tills  confusion,  and  not  one  known  house  has 
ceased  to  honour  its  engagements.” 

GERMAKX. 

A curious  fiapcr  on  the  magnetism  of  the  earth  has  been  published  in 
Schwegger’s  Journal,  by  Aansten.  He  endeavours  to  show  that  the  earth  has 
four  magnetic  poles.  In  1769  one  of  the  north  magnetic  jioles  was  situated  in 
north  latitude  9 deg.  17  min.  ami  east  long,  from  Fevrol  277  deg.  40  min.  5 sec. 


FOREIGN  LITERATURE  AND  SCIENCE 


551 


'XJie  Siberian  north  magnetic  pole,  in  1815,  was  situated  in  north  lat.  85  deg. 
21  min.  5 sec.  and  long.  east,  from  Ferrbl  133  deg.  42  min.  In  1775,  one  of  thw 
south  magnetic  poles  was  in  south  lat  71  deg.  2G  min.  5 see.  and  150  deg.  53  and 
3-4  min.  east  long,  fiom  Ferroh  the  second  in  south  hit.  77  deg.  16  min.  75  see. 
and  254  deg.  23  min.  east  long,  from  I'errol. 

Antiquities. 

Itomcy  Oct.  28.’ — There  has  just  been  found  upon  the  Appian  Way  an  an- 
cient sun-dial,  drawn  upon  marble,  with  the  names  of  the  winds  in  Greek.  It  is 
exactly  calculated  for  the  latitude  of  Rome.  According  to  local  circumstances^ 
it  is  concluded  to  be  the  discus  belonging  to  llerodes  Atticus,  and  described  by 
Vitruvius. 

The  statues  from  France  are  to  be  placed  in  the  Vatican  museum:  73,000 
Scudi  are  to  be  devoted  to  its  enlargement. 

The  king  of  Naples  has  ordered  the  continuation  of  the  works  at  the  exca- 
vation of  Pompeiia;  two  hundred  workmen  liave  been  added  to  the  former  num- 
ber; Averkmen  are  digging  about  the  villa  Mattel,  by  order  of  the  prince  of  peace. 
Besides  a Mosaic  pavement,  Scarcophagi,  fragments  of  columns,  See.  they  have 
found  a bust  of  Seneca,  inscribed  with  his  name. 

Ancient  Map  of  the  world. 

The  late  Dr.  Vincent  obtained  for  this  country  a fac  simile  of  an  anci£ht 
planisphere,  or  map  of  the  world,  delineated  in  tlie  convent  of  Murano,  at  Ve- 
nice. it  is  now  in  the  British  museum. 

The  first  number  is  just  published,  of  Popular  Pastimes,  being  picturesque 
representations,  beautifully  coloured,  of  the  customs  and  amusements  of  Great 
Britain,  in  ancient  and  modern  times,  accompanied  with  historical  descriptions, 
To  be  continued  monthly  till  completed  in  one  volume. 

Part  IV.  of  the  selection  of  one  hundred  and  ten  engravings,  from  baron 
Denon’s  celebrated  travels  in  Egypt,  is  ready  for  publication.  It  contains  a view 
of  ruins  at  Medinet  Abou:  immense  blocks  of  granite:  view  of  the  garden  of 
the  institute  at  Cairo;  Egyptian  barber;  mode  of  passing  the  Nile:  assembly  of 
sheikhs:  mode  of  making  macaroni:  hieroglyphics,  size  of  nature:  historical  bas- 
relief.  This  splendid  work  will  be  completed  in  twenty  parts,  folio,  piice  five 
shillings  each. 

W.  T.  Brande,  esq.  has  nearly  ready  to  appear,  A Descriptive  Catalogue  oT 
the  British  Specimens  deposited  in  the  geological  collection  of  the  royal  institution,, 

Limborch’s  Account  of  the  Inquisition,  abridged,  and  continued  by  extracts 
from  subsequent  writers,  is  printing  in  an  octavo  volume,  with  engravings. 

Dr.  Styles  is  preparing  for  the  press,  Considerations  on  the  Revival  of  Pope- 
ry in  Europe,  and  the  character  and  influence  of  secular  establishments  of  i-eli? 
gion,  one  volume,  octavo.  This  work  will  embrace  a particular  view  of  the  pre- 
sent state  of  ecclesiastical  affairs  in  France. 

A translation  of  Kotzebue’s  interesting  work,  entitled.  The  Russian  !^isa: 
ner  of  War  in  France,  will  very  shortly  appear. 

A Narrative  of  a Ten  Years  Residence  at  the  Court  of  Tripoli,  from  tlie 
original  correspondence  in  the  possession  of  the  family  of  the  late  Richard  Tul- 
by,  esq.  British  consul,  is  preparing  for  the  press,  in  a qyarto  volume,  illustrated 
by  several  coloured  plates. 

Mr.  Allen  has  in  the  press.  Modern  Judaism,  or  a brief  account  of  the 
opinions,  traditions,  rites,  and  ceremonies,  maintained  and  practised  by  the  Jew.*, 
in  modern  times.  / 


FOREIGN  LITERATURE  AND  SCIEiNX'E; 


oj2 

]NIr.  Kobci’t  Buchaimn,  of  Glasgow,  will  soon  publish  a work  on  tho  Histoi^' 
and  Construction  of  Steam  Boats,  illustrated  by  numerous  engravings. 

Shortly  will  be  publi?he<l,  handsomely  printed  in  three  large  quarto  volumes, 
pi  ice  6/.  15s.  The  Origin  of  Pagan  Idolatry,  ascertained  from  historical  testimony 
and  circumstantial  evidence.  By  the  llev.  G.  S.  Faber,  rector  of  Long  Newton, 
Yarm. 

Mr.  T.  Williams  is  preparing  for  the  press.  An  Essay  on  Religious  Liberty, 
in  which  wHl  be  considered — the  primitive  terms  of  Christian  communion,  the 
right  of  private  judgment,  the  nature  of  Christ’s  kingdom,  and  the  horrid  effects 
of  intolerance. 

To  commence  on  the  1st  of  March,  vvith  a correct  likeness  highly  finished  of 
a well  known  fashionable  fop.  No.  1.  splendidly  printed  in  post  octavo,  price  1^. 
6fl.  of  a new  monthly  work,  entitled,  The  Busy  Body,  or  men  and  manners, 
edited  by  Humphrey  Hedgehog,  esq.  author  of  I’he  General  Post  Bag,  Rejected 
Odes,  A month  in  Town,  bcc.  &c. 

Mr.  Thibert  of  the  university  of  Paris,  proposes  to  publish  A Genealogical 
Table,  displaying  the  science  of  the  French  language,  after  a modern  and  excel- 
lent French  author,  w’ho  wrote  and  died  in  England.  The  price  of  the  work 
to  subscribers  is  not  to  exceed  one  guinea. 

Mr.  C.  Earnshaw  has  in  the  press,  in  royal  l6mo.  An  Abridgment  of  Wal- 
ker’s Pronouncing  Dictionary;  with  additions,  alterations,  corrections,  and  criti- 
cal remarks.  The  explanatory  part,  a principle  feature,  wall  be  copious,  and  the 
iwonunciation  intended  to  be  subservient,  will  be  simple  and  obvious. 

Speedily  will  be  published.  The  City  of  the  Plague,  a dramatic  poem.  By 
John  Wilson,  author  of  The  Isle  of  Palms,  &c. 

Mr.  John  Weyland  has  in  the  pi  ess,  in  an  octavo  volume,  The  Principle  of 
Population,  as  affected  by  the  progress  of  society,  with  a view  to  moral  and  poli- 
tical consequences. 

In  the  press,  a new  work  entitled,  The  Elements  and  Genius  of  the  French 
Language,  being  a natural  and  rational  method  of  teaching  a language  witli 
sciences,  deduced  from  the  analysis  of  the  human  mind. 

Memoirs  of  the  Ionian  Isles,  and  of  their  relations  with  European  Turkey, 
translated  from  the  original  manuscript  of  M.  de  Vandencourt,  late  general  in  the 
Italian  service,  with  a very  accurate  and  comprehensive  map. 

M.  Puigblanch,  the  Spanish  patriot,  is  about  to  publish  The  Inquisition  Un- 
masked; or  the  triumph  of  humanity  and  liberality  in  Spain;  being  a history  of  the 
conduct  and  objects  of  that  tribunal,  and  a dissertation  on  the  necessity  of  its 
suppression. 

Mr.  C.  J.  Metcalfe  is  preparing  A Translation  of  a Selection  of  the  Letters 
of  Ganganelli  (Clement  XIV.)  in  a duodecimo  volume,  with  a sketch  of  his  life 
prefixed. 

Mr.  Belsham  is  preparing  A Letter  to  the  Unitarians  of  South  Wales,  con- 
taining a reply  to  the  bishop  of  St.  David. 

An  Abridgment  of  Robinson’s  Scripture  Characters  is  in  a forward  state, 
at  press,  in  one  volume,  12mo.  for  the  use  of  schools. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Hawker  has  nearly  completed  his  Commentary  on  the  Old 
and  New  Testaments,  with  the  text  at  large.  Part  37  is  just  published,  and  the 
work  will  be  finished  in  the  ensuing  spring,  making  in  the  w'hole  40  parts.  An 
edition  of  a smaller  size,  without  the  text,  is  also  printed  at  a very  moderate 
price. 


FOREIGN  LITERATURE  AND  SCIENCE 


55.3 


A Treatise  on  Greyhounds,  with  observations  on  their  treatment  and  dis- 
orders, is  in  tlie  press. 

Recently  Published. 

Egypt;  H series  of  engravings,  exhibiting  tho  scenery,  antiquities,  architec- 
ture, costume,  iidiabitants,  animals,  kc.  of  that  country;  selected  from  the  ceie- 
l)Txatcd  work’by  "Vivant  Dcnon.  Part  111.  containing  the  temple  of  Thebes,  at  Kour- 
liou;  the  statues  of  Meinnop:  view  of  Karnak,  at  day-break:  view  of  Lu.xor:  re- 
markable ancient  planisphere:  Egyptian  antiquities:  twenty-two  portraits  of  na- 
tives: will  be  completed  in  twenty  parts,  price  5s.  each. 

Histoire  de  I’Origine  des  Progres  et  de  la  Decadence  des  Diverses  Factions, 
qni  ont  agit^  la  France  depnis  1789,  jusqu’a  I’abdication  de  Napoleon.  Par  Joseph 
Lavall^e,  ancien  capitaine  d’infanterie  et  ancicn  chef  de  division  a la  grande  chan- 
cellerie  de  la  legion  d’honneur.  3 vol.  8vo.  ll.  7s. 

The  Monthly  Magazine  for  March  last,  having  inserted  some  articles  from 
the  Analectic  Magazine,  makes  the  following  remarks,  in  answer  to  a reproach 
contained  in  one  of  those  articles  against  the  affected  contempt  with  which  the 
writers  of  old  England,  and  especially  the  critics,  treat  every  thing  written  in 
this  new  world.— “ Writers  and  editors  in  America,  and  in  other  countries,  conir 
plain  justly  of  that  wicked  spirit  of  writers  in  England,  which  seeks  to  create  and 
perpetuate  national  animosities;  justice,  however,  to  the  intelligent  part  of  our 
country,  compels  us  to  explain  that  the  writers  in  question  are  no  legitimate 
]>art  of  the  English  public,  but  sordid  agents  of  unprincipled  ministers,  v.  ho  flou- 
rish best  in  times  of  public  calamity,  and  are  happy  only  in  the  degree  in  which 
they'  see  others  miserable.  The  practice  is  also  part  of  a series  of  political  frauds, 
designed  to  reconcile  to  political  impositions  the  great  and  small  vulgar,  who,  in 
every  country,  constitute  the  majority  of  the  population;  for  he  will  not  grumble 
who  allows  himself  to  be  persuaded,  that,  whatever  be  the  extent  and  variety  of 
his  sufferings,  he  is  better  off  than  all  other  people.  This  principle  is  illustrated 
at  length  in  Machiavel;  who  is  still  the  standard  of  truth  and  virtue  among  Eu- 
ropean statesmen;  though  its  influence,  happily,  has  not  reached  America. 
There  is,  besides,  another  and  a better  apology  for  our  national  literati,  namely: 
— that  many  of  the  writers  in  question  are  not  Englishmen,  but  anglicised  Ger- 
mans, who  are  preferred  for  such  dirty  work;  and,  having  obtained  the  control 
of  several  of  our  public  journals,  propagate,  through  their  medium,  doctrines  of 
servility  and  passive  obedience,  and  other  sentiments  which  are  alien  to  the  an- 
cient and  honoured  feelings  of  Englishmen.” 

John  Scott,  the  author  of  A Visit  to  Paris  in  1814,  has  published  a volume 
entitled,  Paris  Revisited  in  1815,  by  way  of  Brussels.  We  select  a passage 
which  does  credit  to  the  author: — “ The  political  institutions  of  society  are  at 
least  as  far  from  having  reached  perfection,  as  the  arts  and  sciences;  and  if 
change  and  experiment  are  not  so  pi*acticable  in  the  former  as  in  the  latter,  yet, 
in  proportion  as  it  is  mischievous  to  tamper  with  them  but  when  the  occasion  is  clear, 
the  opportunity  striking,  and  the  call  urgent,  it  is  dangerous  and  guilty  to  with- 
stand those  great  invitations  which  at  iuv'Jrvals  summon  mankind  to  improve 
their  condition. — It  w'ould  be  stupidly  base  to  set  down  all  these  disturbances 
that  have  of  late  years  agitated  Europe,  to  a wilful  and  unfounded  temper  of 
popular  insubordination: — the  convulsion  can  only  fairly  be  considered  as  a natu- 
ral working,  accompanied  with  painful  and  diseased  symptoms,  but  occasioned 
by  the  growth  of  men’s  minds  beyond  the  institutions  that  had  their  origin  in  a 
very  inferior  state  of  information.  Nor  should  England  consider  herself  out  of 
the  need  of  advancing  herself  further,  because  she  is  already  advanced  beyond 
her  neighbours;  on  the  contrary,  her  strength  and  wisdom  lies  in  maintaining 
lier  wonted  prerogative  of  being  the  first  to  move  forward  in  a safe  road, — of  first 
catching  the  bright  prospect  of  further  attainments, — and  securing  for  herself, 
in  the  independence  and  fortitude  of  her  judgment,  what  others  tardily  copy 
from  her  practice.  I’he  vigorous  habits  of  action  and  thought,  which  her  rulers 
VOL.  VII.  70 


5.54 


FOREIGN  LITERATURE  AND  SCIENCE 


hare  found  so  valuable  in  the  late  struggle  for  national  fame  and  pre-eroinence> 
are  onij  to  be  preserved,  as  they  were  engendered, — namely,  by  admitting  po- 
pular opinion  to  busy  itself  with  the  internal  affairs  of  the  country,  to  exercise 
itself  freely  on  the  character  of  its  political  establishments,  to  grapple  on  even 
ground  with  professional  and  official  prejudices  and  prepossessions,  and  finally,  to 
knock  every  thing  down  that  does  not  stand  firm  in  its  own  moral  strength. — 
This  is  England’s  duty  to  herself, — and  to  the  world  at  large  she  owes  an  equally 
sacred  one:  viz.  so  to  regulate  the  application  of  her  influence  and  power,  that  it 
shall  oppose  no  tendency  to  good, — that  it  shall  never  be  available  to  evil  and  bi- 
goted designs,  masking  themselves  under  canting  professions,— but  justify  those 
loud  and  confident  calls  which  she  has  every  where  addressed  to  generous  hearts 
and  fine  spirits.” 

The  hon.  and  rev.  Francis  Hf.nrt  Egerton  is  printing  at  Paris  a new 
edition  of  the  Life  pf  his  ancestor  the  lord  high  chancellor  Egerton,  which  was 
viTitteu  by  him,  and  published  in  tbe  fifth  volume  of  the  Biographia  Britannica; 
the  author  will  subjoin  a Life  of  John  Egerton,  bishop  of  Durham,  and  Fran- 
cis, late  duke  of  Bridgewater.  A family  whose  name  is  so  intimately  inter- 
woven with  our  domestic  history,  distinguished  as  it  has  been  in  the  annals  of 
the  law,  the  church,  and  of  our  internal  commercial  prosperity,  certainly  deserv- 
ed such  a monument,  in  which  at  some  future  period  a niche  will  doubtless  be 
allotted  to  the  worthy  successor  by  whom  it  is  raised.  This  work,  which  will 
extend  to  at  least  tw  o 4to.  volumes  of  500  pages  each,  will  comprise  about  2,000 
manuscript  pieces,  important  state-papers,  and  other  authentic  documents.  It 
treats  of  a great  number  of  points  of  law,  equity,  and  divinity — civil,  military, 
and  ecclesiastical  histoiy — finance  and  parliamentary  affairs — literature,  and  the 
discoveries  recently  made  in  the  arts  and  sciences  during  the  period  which  it 
embraces — as  also  of  the  state  of  society,  manners,  and  character  of  the  English 
nation,  at  the  time  when  the  bases  of  our  civil  and  religious  liberty  began  to  be 
fixed.  It  is  not  intended  for  sale,  but  merely  for  the  gratification  of  the  author’s 
friends;  on  the  other  hand,  we  congratulate  the  public  on  the  free  access  allow- 
ed by  this  gentleman  to  his  vast  collection  of  manuscripts.  Under  the  head  of 
Turenne,  he  communicates  the  following  intelligence,  which  every  lover  of  lite- 
rature will  know  how  to  appreciate: — 

“ 1 have  had  no  objection  to  state  as  one  of  the  curious  and  rare  articles 
M ith  which  my  collection  abounds  that,  amongst  my  manuscripts,  henceforth  de- 
nominated ‘ Ashuridge  Collection:  MSS.  Francis  Henut  Egerton,  there 
exist,  at  letter  T,  y.  xxxiv.  1,  thirty  original  autograph  letters  of  the  Mareschal 
de  Turenne,  and  also  two  other  pieces  which  particularly  relate  to  the  history 
of  his  life. 

.Mr.  Thos.  Taylor,  has  issued  proposals  for  publishing  by  subscription, 
ifi  2 vols.  l oyal  quarto,  a translation  of  the  Six  Books  of  Proclus  on  the  theology 
of  Plato;  to  which  a Seventh  Book  will  be  added,  in  order  to  supply  the  deficien- 
cy of  another  book  on  this  subject,  which  was  written  by  Proclus,  but  since  lost; 
also  a translation  of  Proclus’  Elements  of  Theology.  In  these  volumes  will  also 
be  included,  by  the  same,  a translation  of  the  Treatise  of  Proclus  on  Providence 
and  Fate;  a translation  of  extracts  from  his  treatise,  entitled  Ten  Doubts  con- 
cerning Providence:  and  a translation  of  extracts  from  his  treatise  on  the  Sub- 
sistence of  Evil:  as  preserved  in  the  Bibliotheca  Gr.  of  Fabricius. — 250  copies 
only  will  be  printed. 

The  Life  of  tbe  late  Thomas  Holcroft,  written  by  himself,  and  announced 
for  publicatiou  soon  after  his  death,  has  been  for  some  reason  not  assigned  hither- 
to, withheld.  It  is  however  now  about  to  be  laid  before  the  public,  with  a con- 
tinuation to  the  time  of  his  death,  by  some  literary  members  of  his  family. 

Dr.  Granville  has  in  the  press  a translation  of  that  part  of  Orfila’s  General 
Toxicology  which  more  particularly  relates  to  poisons  derived  from  the  animal 
and  vegetable  kingdoms.  This  subject  having  formed  a very  important  part  of 
Dr.  Granville’s  scientific  studies,  he  has  been  enabled  to  accompany  his  transla- 
tion with  copious  notes  and  additions. 


INDEX  ro  VOLUME  VII. 


Account  of  Rais  Hammida,  the  Al- 
gerine admiral,  - - 10 

Advertisement,  a dashing  one,  - 540 
A health  to  my  native  land,  a poem  544 
American  literature,  notice  of  in 
England,  - - 287 

American  Indians,  on  the  depopu- 
tion  of,  - - - 318 

American  Orators,  sketches  of,  462 
original  works,  repub- 
lished in  England,  - lOl 

American  Register,  by  Mr.  Walsh,  100 
’ — science  and  literature, 
essay  on,  - - 190 

Anecdote  df  the  action  on  lake 
Champlain,  - - 224 

Antiquities,  Italian,  - - 551 

Arrival  of  U.  S.  vessels,  - 36 

Artists  of  Bacchus,  an  order  of,  534 

Bachelor,  The,  a poem,  - 545 

Bible  societies,  not  novelties,  - 548 

Biuns,  his  proposed  edition  of  the 
Declaration  of  American  Inde- 
pendence, • - 375 

Biographical  sketch  of  captain  War- 
rington, - . I 

Biographical  sketch  of  captain  C. 

Stewart,  ...  132 

Biographical  sketch  of  captain  T. 

M’Donough,  - - 201 

Biographical  sketch  of  captain  M. 

Lewis,  - - 329 

Biographical  memoir  of  James  A. 

Bayard,  - - 333 

Botany,  new  arrangement  of,  - 288 

Brackenridge’s  Journal,  review  of,  l4l 
British  naval  peace  establishment,  394 
Brooke’s  Gazzeteer,  - - 189 

Brown,  life  of,  by  Dunlap,  - 374 

Brunswick,  two  last  dukes  of,  bio- 
graphical notice  of  them,  • 531 

Burrows,  monument  of,  - 221 

Byron’s,  lord.  Siege  of  Corinth,  re- 
view of,  - - 521 

extract  from,  - 455 

Calcutta  press,  its  activity,  - 103 

Campbell’s  loom,  - - 374 

Carpe  Diem,  seize  the  dey,  a song,  316 
Chateaubriand  on  faith,  - 184 

Christian  Register,  The,  - 463 

Cincinnati,  Picture  of,  - 98 

Clan  Albin,  a novel,  notice  of,  - 287 
Clymer’s  improved  printing  press,  373 
Cobbett’s  Political  Register,  - 548 

Colhoun’s  Essay,  - - 373 

Colonial  policy  of  Great  Britain, 
review  of,  - - 508 

Commercial  laws  of  the  U.  S.  - 287 


Comparative  view  of  the  Java  and 
President,  - - 220 

Comparison  of  American  and  Bri- 
tish tonnage  and  seamen,  - 221 

Conduct  of  the  New  York  banks, 

on  the,  - - 99 

Constant,  Benjamin,  on  conquest 
and  usurpation,  - - 166 

Constitution,  plan  of,  for  the  Spa- 
nish colonies  - - 242 

Cooper’s  Treatise  on  Dyeing,  - 188 

on  Gas  Lights,  462 

proposed  lectures  - ib. 

Correspondence  between  commo- 
dore Decatur  and  the  Neapoli- 
tan government  - - 17 

Cupid’s  Choice,  a poem,  - 458 

Danger  of  learning  Greek  and  He- 
brew, ...  454 

David’s  pictures  of  Bonaparte,  ac- 
count of,  - - 452 

Description  of  the  island  of  Tris- 
tan d’Acunha,  - - 2l5 

Description  of  Minorca,  - 495 

Drake,  Dr.  his  Picture  of  Cincin- 
nati, - - - 98 

Dumoulin’s  Essay  on  Allegiance, 

&c.  - - - 462 

Dyer’s  History  of  the  University 
of  Cambridge,  - - 194 

Early’s  map  of  Georgia,  - 547 

Egypt,  splendid  French  work  on 
the  antiquities  of,  - 375 

Elliot’s  address  to  the  philosophical 
society  of  South  Carolina,  - 187 

Elliot’s  Southern  Flora,  notice  of,  189 
Encyclopsedla  of  Merchandize  - 197 

Engine  pipes,  new  manufacture,  550 
Eolian  harp,  of  a new  kind,  - 548 

Epitaph,  by  lord  Byron,  - 90 

Extraordinary  instance  of  succour,  454 

Fate  of  the  Wasp  and  Epervier,  37 
Foreign  literature  and  science,  101, 194, 
288,  375,  463,  548. 

Forster’s  Researches  about  Atmos- 
pheric Phenomena,  - 368 

France,  bank  of,  - - 550 

' ■■  public  instruction  in,  - ib. 
Franco  Sacchetti,  correspondence 
of,  - - - 534 

Gillepsie’s  steam  still,  - 374 

Girardin’s  History  of  Virginia,  - 547 
Goldoni,  Memoirs  of,  reviewed,  265 
Government  of  Egypt,  improved 
state  of,  - - 548 

Greek  inscription,  translation  of,  533 
(Jreeks  of  Mcrrea,  their  cKaraeter,  541 


556 


INDEX. 


Hall’s  Law  of  Evidence,  &c. 
Hebrew  Elements, 
ilenrv’s  American  Herbal,  review 
of,  - 

History  of  Ancient  Europe, 
Hobhouse’s  Journey  through  Alba- 
nia, review  of, 
llofer,  on  the  death  of, 
Hutchinson,  Lucy,  her  'Lreatise 
on  Theology, 

Inspiration,  a poem. 

Invocation  to  llope. 

Journal  of  education, 

Langle’s  Monuments  of  Hindoo- 
stan,  ... 

Latour’s  Historical  Memoir, 

review  of. 

Lay,  Benjamin,  memoirs  of. 
Letters  from  commodore  Deca- 
tur, - - 126, 

Lexicon,  Greek  and  English, 

Life  boat,  on  a new  ])lan, 

Lines,  supposed  to  be  written  bv 
lord  R. 

Literary  intercourse  projected. 

Magazine.  Monthly,  its  notice  of 
American  literature,  and  British 
criticism  thereon. 

Magnetism  of  the  earth, 

Maps  of  the  Danish  islands,  &,c. 
Maria  Neville,  a novel,  review  of, 
Marcos  de  Obregon,  life  of,  by 
Espinel, 

Married  state,  on  the  duties,  sor- 
rows, and  pleasures  of  the, 
Aloimmcnt  of  captain  Lawrence, 
Morier’s  Journey  through  Persia, 
&c.  Review  of. 

Naval  anecdote, 

■ ■ - ■ court  of  inquiry  at  New  Or- 
leans, - 

Naval  Monitor, 

occurrences,  &c. 

Ney,  Marshal,  biographical  notice 
of,  - - - 

Official  letters  to  the  secretary  of 
the  navy, 

Official  nsival  dqturaents, 

■ ' ' - report  concerning  Bona- 
parte’s journey  to  Elba, 
Operations  against  Algiers,  &c. 
Orfila  on  poisons, 

Paper  war  between  American  and 
British  sailors. 

Paradise  Lost,  criticism  on  a pas- 
sage of, 

Paris  revisited,  by  John  Scott, 


Parsons,  Judge,  character  of,  - 
Paul’s  letters  to  his  kinsfolk,  - 463 

Pennsylvania,  statistical  account  of,  100 
Philosophy  of  the  human  mind, 
on  the,  - - 41,  401 

Plato  on  tyranny,  - - 425 

Pope  Joan,  account  of,  - 539 

Port  Folio,  notice  of  the,  - 100 

Portico,  notice  of  the,  - ib. 

Raciad,  a poem,  notice  of,  - 465 

Religious  knowledge,  on  the  influ- 
ence of,  - - 277 

Romaic  love  song,  translated  by 
lord  Byron,  - - - 371 

Round  table,  the,  - 174,  278 

Sailor’s  elegy,  - - 39 

Sandiford,  llalph,  memoirs  of,  - 98 

Satan’s  mode  of  swindling,  - 453 

Sev  hen’s  statistical  tables,  - 373 

Ship  timber,  on  - - 218 

Sketch  of  the  Barbary  slates,  - 103 

South  America,  memorial  on  the 
government  of,  - - 225 

State  of  society  in  the  Spanish  co- 
lonies, - - - 238 

Strictures  on  the  bi'ograpliy  of 
Bayard,  - - 422 

Supplcrnemarv  note  to  captain 
M’Donougli’s  life,  - 224 

Synopsis  of  naval  actions,  289,  377,  465 
examination  of,  294,  381,  470' 

Taylor’s,  Miss,  Display,  - 57 


Taylor’s,  Mr.  John,  Inquiry  into 
the  Principles  and  I’ohcy  of 


the  government  of  the  U.  S.  - 459 
Taylor,  Mrs.  Practical  Hints,  - 276 

Tlie  Barbary  captive  released,  a 
poem,  ...  286 

Tomb  of  Burrows,  - - 90 

'I'riumphs  and  trojdiies  in  cooker}',  184 
I’roubadour,  the,  a i)ocm,  - 457 

University,  a national  one  project- 
ed, - - - 374 

A'acci nation.  Seaman’s  discourse 
on,  - : - 547 

Venus  de  Medicis,  anecdote  of  the  182 
Vii  ginia,  letters  fi  om,  - 462 

legislature  of,  their  libe- 
rality, - - 374 

Voyage  of  Ubald  and  Charles,  - 171 

Wasp  and  Frolic,  letter  on  the  ac- 
tion between,  - - 481 

Waterloo,  the  field  of,  a poem,  - 91 

Whiting,  Nathan’s,  pleasant  song,  311 
Williams,  Miss,  letters  of,  on 
France,  - - 287 

Yankey  song  for  British  seamen,  314 


463 

196 

248 

197 

435 

372 

196 

545 

186 

100 

195 

373 

414 

98 

131 

103 

196 

186 

288 

553 

550 

288 

169 

375 

196 

498 

149 

221 

29 

101 

387 

526 

18 

222 

67 

113 

102 

309 

420 

553 


V • ,