GREAT SPIRIT who created them, who created the sun, moon, and stars, the mighty mountains, and the vast waters that flow at their feet. They worship this Great Spirit with fear, because of the wonderful manifestations of power which they behold around them; - they worship him with love and gratitude, for the fruits of the earth and the produce of the chace; for their success in war, and their security in peace; they worship him, also, in hope, that when the turf has covered them they will be gathered to their fathers; that the mother will be re-united to her lost child, and the wife to her husband, in some distant and delightful country where their employments, divested of pain and trouble, will resemble those of this world; where game will be abundant, and where there is one continued spring and cloudless sky. When Mr. Hunter and his companions unexpectedly reached the shores of the Pacific Ocean after an expedition over the Rocky Mountains, the amazement of the whole party was indescribably great. "The unbounded view of waters,' says he, "the incessant and tremendous dashing of the waves along the shore, accompanied with a noise resembling the roar of distant thunder, filled our minds with the most sublime and awful sensations, and fixed on them, as immutable truths, the traditions we had received from our old men, that the great waters divide the residence of the Great Spirit from the temporary abodes of his red children. Here we contemplated in silent dread the immense difficulties over which we should be obliged to triumph after death before we could arrive at those delightful hunting-grounds which are unalterably destined for such only as do good and love the Great Spirit. We looked in vain for the stranded and shattered canoes of those who had done wickedly, we could see none, and we were led to hope that they were few in number. We offered up our devotions; our minds were serious, and our devotions continued all the time we were in this country." Here we see the strong workings of natural religion, of pious and reverential feelings towards the great First Cause, in the minds of uninstructed Indians. They have neither priests, nor temples, nor ceremonies. When the Missionaries from Europe have instructed them in creeds, doctrines, and mysteries, and have declared to them that there is no hope of salvation but in the name of Jesus Christ or the holy Trinity, is it possible that such abrupt efforts to effect conversion should succeed? Little do those know of the nature of man, savage or civilized, who can speculate on the success of such experiments. We despair not, however, of the time when the light of Christianity may be shed over the whole Indian population: but it must 22 rise rise upon them mildly and gradually like the dawn of day. Their eyes are not yet prepared to receive it in its full and dazzling effulgence. We have not only,' observes Mr. Halkett, to combat the native prejudices of the Indians, but to effect the more difficult task of making them forget the impressions we had already given them. Were it possible for the Indian of North America happily to lose all knowledge or traditionary remembrance of the interference imprudently exerted in behalf of his race for two centuries, were it practicable to replace him at once in that state of total ignorance with respect to the Christians in which he was situated when first discovered by them,-it would be far easier at the present time to teach him Christianity, and to effect his civilization. Measures cannot now be adopted with regard to him as to an unbiassed stranger: on the contrary, his education and feelings strongly tend to make him repose little confidence in those Europeans who would be disposed to exert themselves for his benefit.' In another place Mr. H. observes, in reply to those who are of opinion that civilization and religion must go hand in hand, that this is extremely questionable.' The attempt to convert should invariably be preceded by an endeavor to improve the habits of the Indian, and promote his general advancement. It is more likely that his civilization has been obstructed by the steps taken to convert him, than that his own tardiness in being converted should be attributed to any want of docility in becoming civilized. Their native conjurers have, also, at all times, been considered as forming a great obstruction to the progress of conversion among the Indians. The influence and authority which these jugglers, who at the same time serve as physicians and as prophets, exercise over them is prodigious. They attend the sick, and pretend to cure by the power of magical incantations as well as of medicine. Although many pretend to effect cures by supernatural means, there are others, however, who practise the art of healing on more rational and effective principles; and Mr. Hunter's account of the state of pharmacy and medicine among these unlettered tribes has excited a good deal of attention and surprize. The observation of that gentleman is repeated by Mr. Halkett, that nothing would tend so rapidly to put a stop to the reign of sorcery and conjuration, and thus to remove one of the great obstacles to the civilization and conversion of the Indian countries, as the introduction among them of medical science, and a knowlege of surgery. While Mr. Hunter was in this country, his attention was distracted by too many subjects to allow of his becoming a proficient in any one: all those subjects, however, which most most interested his mind, had a direct bearing upon the one grand object which he always had in view, upon that which he felt himself called on from on high to be the means of accomplishing, so far as his powers of body and mind would allow; namely, the civilization of his red friends. He endeavored to make himself acquainted with the principles of medicine and surgery, and took out with him a large supply of surgical instruments.* A short time after his arrival in England, the members of the New-England Company requested Mr. H. to commit to writing his sentiments on the best means of civilizing, educating, and instructing the heathen natives of America. He accordingly penned some "Reflections on the different States and Conditions of Society," with the outlines of the plan for ameliorating their circumstances, which he is now pursuing. As this pamphlet was printed solely for the use of the members of the New-England Company, it is not in general circulation. It was printed by "J. R. Lake, Tokenhouse Yard," and Mr. Halkett will probably thank us for directing his attention to it. We have reason to know that Mr. Hunter has had interviews with several Indian chiefs since his return to America, by whom he has been kindly received, and invited to go among them. Many of his friends here, and, subsequently, many there, have earnestly attempted to dissuade him from his design, as a task disproportioned to his power. To these friends he has replied, "I know nothing which would cause me to relax, much less to desist from my purpose, I see no way in which I could be any way serviceable in a society highly refined and deeply skilled in accomplishments, in which I am almost a novice. I think there is no vanity in saying I am capable of being in some degree useful among a people whose character I well understand, and among whom I can take information which the wisdom of ages has declared to be essential to the comfort of society. I have in my mind hewn out many plans: but having seen most of the social compacts of that character in the United States, I shall add to the information derived from them what I can collect from those of a similar character in England. In hopes of being useful, I shall cheerfully perform the task I undertake, resting the event with the Arbiter of the universe, and the Parent of Indians and white people." *Presented to him, with many other appropriate and useful instruments, by his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex. An additional supply has been forwarded to Mr. H. since his departure, by his own desire. Nothing Nothing grand was ever accomplished without enthusiasm: that cordial which inspires him who quaffs it with strength to undergo all toil, and courage to face all danger. Mr. Hunter has quaffed it deeply, but not to intoxication: he has tempered it in a remarkable degree with prudence, circumspection, thoughtfulness. He will not readily be deterred by difficul ties nor depressed by disappointments: he is prepared to encounter both, and the better because he will never rashly expose himself to either. The civilization of the Indians occupied all his thoughts during his residence in this country: he talked of his red brethren by day, he dreamt of them by night. To use his own phrase, he had hewn out' many plans for their improvement in his mind; and it is not unadvisedly we can say, that his hopes of succeeding, to a certain extent, have suffered no diminution since his return to the great mother of waters, the Mississippi. The Historical Notes' which Mr. Halkett has collected, together with his own observations on the various questions to which they relate, will be consulted with advantage by all who' have a desire to understand the present condition of the American Indians, and to examine further into the subject of their moral and religious improvement. * In a chapter on the state of literature in Mr. Candler's "Summary View of America," (p. 362.) that gentleman, speaking of Mr. Hunter's Narrative, says, "This book is so evidently the workmanship of some other person than the professed author, that it should have been mentioned in the preface, and the third person used instead of the first." Mr. Hunter in his preface does very distinctly acknowlege that he "was assisted by his friend Edward Clarke in the revisal and arrangement of the manuscript." It is, however, but justice to add, that this must be understood to refer only to that part of his book which was written and published in America. After Mr. H. arrived in England he made very considerable additions to the original publication, including the Indian Anecdotes," and a large portion of the latter part of his work. This we have reason to know was never revised or corrected by any one, but passed directly from his own hands to those of his publishers. And, with respect to the former part of his book, whatever verbal corrections his friend may have made for him, there is no doubt that the whole of the subject-matter was furnished by Mr. Hunter alone. We have seen a great many of his private letters, and they authorize us to speak confidently as to his competence to have written the book of which we doubt not he was the actual as well as the " professed author." REV. MAY, 1825. D ART. ART. IV. A Summary View of America: comprising a Description of the Face of the Country, and of several of the principal Cities; and Remarks on the Social, Moral, and Political Character of the People. Being the Result of Observations and Enquiries during a Journey in the United States. By an Eng⚫lishman. 8vo. pp. 500. Cadell. 1824. ACCOUNTS of America have been so prodigiously multiplied. of late, that we should justly incur the reproach of tiresome repetition were we to detail the contents of every new book of travels through the United States with the fulness we have been accustomed to bestow on them. The gentleman to whom the public is indebted for this Summary View' extended his travels through Massachussetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. This is a range of considerable compass; and it affords him ample means of comparing the characters and customs which prevail in different states. Travellers usually note down currente calamo as well as currente rotâ the incidents which strike their fancy: outlines thus hastily taken often require to be corrected at a more leisure time: but by being taken on the spot, there is a freshness and vivacity of delineation about them which constitute no mean portion of their charm. We observe a deviation from this ordinary course in the volume before us. The author does not invite his readers to a seat beside him, that he may point out, as he goes along, the most interesting objects: but he waits till his journey is completed before he opens his port-folio, and then exhibits a generic rather than a specific portrait, which, however, he has been carefully at work upon during the course of it. Accordingly, he gives us a chapter on the general face of the country, and on the general appearance of cities, towns, and villages; on the men, the women, their domestic life, hospitality, politeness, oratory, literature, the fine arts, &c. &c. There is some novelty in this plan, but we have doubts whether it is an improvement on that which is more usually pursued. The work is written in a very praise-worthy spirit; remarkably free from all "hatred, malice, and uncharitableness" towards any political or religious opinions; and equally free from all extravagance of eulogy in favor of them. In not displeasing any party or sect, however, it is not very improbable that the author may, on that very account, fail to obtain the approbation of any but the few who enlist under the banners of none. Those chapters which treat on the various religious sects now prevailing in America contain some curious matter. The Metho |