tercourse of the absent, the confidences of friendship, the trust between man and man."

These generous thoughts, these energetic words, prove that the public interest does not demand the violation of correspondence; that the safety of the state is in no degree conjoined with the abuse of the secrecy of letters; that it is useless, shameful, criminal for a go. vernment to be guilty of such manœuvres, and to have recourse to means of which Robes

lele, Peyronnet, and Corbiere, seemed to attach extreme importance to becoming acquainted with a certain correspondence, which they believed to be very regularly sustained; and, in order to effect this, they caused the courier who had charge of the mail to be stopped two leagues beyond Orleans. All the letters were examined the carriage was minutely searched, and the courier taken into a room in an inn. There he was first questioned; and, after they had compelled him to appear in the cos-pierre, with all his crimes, did not dare to tume of truth, he persisted in his denial. It was impossible to convict him of falsehood, and yet he did not the less lose his place. We seldom forgive those we have unjustly suspected. This courier served on the road to Bourdeaux, and therefore carried the letters to Libourne, a town where the Duc de Cazes then lived, who had just overturned the anti-constitutional faction.

At the period of the discussion which arose from the numberless petitions presented to the Chamber of Deputies, on the subject of the thefts and frauds committed by the administration of the Post-office, the new ministry did not deny the previous existence of the cabinet noir; but they asserted, that since the fall of 'Messrs. de Villele and Co. it had ceased to exist. We are very well inclined to believe the truth of this ministerial declaration. But to re-assure the public confidence, and to avenge the cause of morals, outraged by the thefts and treacheries of the Post-office, it needs other acts, other guarantees, than a few words in a parliamentary speech. The security of families, the safety of commerce, will be assured only when the two French Chambers shall have energetically expressed, as free men ought to do, their indignation against the violation of the secrecy of letters; when they shall have demanded the impeachment of the Director-general, who orders and sanctions such a breach of the public faith; and when they shall have obtained from the ministry a severe law for the suppression of such abuses: --for the fine of the sixteen francs, and the exclusion from office, awarded by Art. 187 of the Penal Code, are no punishment in proportion with the crime committed by these sealbreaking spies.

make use. Indeed, in 1793, the Revolutionary Tribunal refused to ground a condemnation upon a fact, which had become known only by the violation of the secrecy of a letter; that is to say, by a crime. And the government of a legitimate king, of a king who takes the title of Most Christian, still continued to do, within the last half year, that of which, in the reign of terror, the most furious demagogues had been ashamed.

From the London Review.

THREE AMERICAN REVIEWS. THE number of new books is so exceedingly small, that we should offer but a meagre entertainment if we attempted a notice of them. We have on our tables some octavos on surgery and geometry-duodecimos on grammar and arithmetic-and pretty pocket manuals of geography and geology. We have also a poem or two-and one romance from the German. Out of these materials we somewhat despair of making an agreeable dozen pages; and, therefore, we shall turn our backs, for one month, upon the literature of our own country, and cross the Atlantic in search of instruction and amusement.

There are three Quarterly Reviews now published in the United States; one at Boston, one at Philadelphia, and one at Charleston. They are each exceedingly creditable specimens of the talents and attainments of our brethren of the New World; and we, whatever others may think, feel a real satisfaction, somewhat approaching to pride, in beholding the English language cultivated with such success, and made the instrument of diffusing so much "Is it for a people who pretends to be free," valuable information through countries where said the eloquent Mirabeau, at the tribune of the rude dialect of the Indian savage was, a the Constituent Assembly, "to borrow the century ago, the only medium of communicatmaxims and the practices of tyranny? Can it ing the commonest thoughts and desires of the become them to wound morality? Let those wild huntsman's life. The spread of our na vulgar politicians, who place before justice tive tongue over the widest and fairest porthe narrow combinations which they have tions of the globe is a remarkable example of dared to call political utility-let those politi- the influence of a great commercial nation in cians tell us, at least, what interest can give a the civilization of mankind; and it is more than colour to this violation of the national probity? probable that, in a very few years, the use of What shall we learn by the shameful examina- the English will as far exceed that of all other tion of letters? Base and filthy intrigues-languages, as did the Spanish within a century scandalous anecdotes-despicable frivolities! Does any one believe that plots and plottings circulate by the common post? Is it believed even that political news of any importance pass through this channel? What great embassy-what person charged with a delicate negotiation-does not correspond directly, and know how to escape from the spy-system of the Post-office? It is then without any utility that we violate the secrets of families, the in

after the discovery of the passage of the Cape.

The North American Review, published at Boston, is now in its 60th number. This work is well known in England, and is distinguished, if not for its brilliancy, for its calm good sense, and its general freedom from national prejudices.

The first article of the number before us, (July, 1828) is a sort of historical view of the relations of Great Britain, with her North

150

American colonies. The writer is contented
to place facts before us, rather than opinions;
and these facts warrant us in believing that it
is the duty of our government to quiet the ir-
ritation which has been observed between the
principal delegate of the executive power, and
the second branch of the legislative body of
Lower Canada. The reviewer thinks that
"probably before long, the British government
will come to some decisive measure, either to
satisfy or to silence the pretences of its Cana-
dian population." He further states that in-
cessant attention is paid to the fortifications of
Quebec, and that we are constantly endeavour-
ing "to give them a strength, which may in
time make of the capital of lower Canada, a
rival of the impregnable fortresses of Europe."
Let us satisfy, rather than silence, "preten-
Impreg-
sions" if they are at all reasonable.
nable fortresses" are weak barriers against a
discontented population.

66

A review of Compagnoni's "Storia dell' America," a popular history of the New World, printed at Milan, affords us the following interesting explanation of the source from which this great portion of the globe derived its

name:

coverer.

"Our author yields assent, we perceive, to the old hypothesis of the disingenuous conduct of Americus in giving his name to the continent, in derogation of the just claims of its disWe accordingly feel justified in the renewed assertion of the facts published in our journal some years ago, tending to vindicate the reputation of the Florentine. It is well known that all writers contemporary with the discovery of America, distinguished it by the appellation of the New World; by which name, or that of the Indies, it is called to this day in Spain. All the Portuguese historians of Brazil, and many of the old writers on the subject of that country among other nations, alike concur in stating that Brazil was originally denominated America in honour of Vespucci. The application of the name to the whole of the New World was a later thing, and happened in the following manner:-For fifty years after the discovery of this Continent, most (we may perhaps very safely say all) of the maps published in Europe treated the New World as if it were a group of islands, few portions of it having been thoroughly explored, and it being some time before the true geography even of those portions was universally understood. Thus Florida, Cuba, Hispaniola, Venezuela, and Brazil, under the name of America, were depicted in the maps as islands. It gradually became known that the land stretched uninterruptedly far south along the region called America, and this supposed island was therefore gradually increased in size on the maps, until, by the time that the actual state of the facts became well established, the island of America had extended itself on either hand so far as to occupy substantially the very space upon the globe, which belongs to the southern continent. Meantime, the tracts of land that were really islands retained their primitive names, while the name of America having spread with the growing expansion of the region to which it was original ly affixed, was left in the possession of the new meaning it thus accidentally acquired. All

this happened, not merely without any contri-
vance on the part of Vespucci, or any scheme
to injure the reputation, or appropriate to him-
self the fame of Columbus, with whom he re-
mained on terms of the most cordial and confi-
dential intimacy to the day of his death,-but se
far was Vespucci from contributing to bring
about the result, that no acts of his could possi-
which it was occasioned. It is due to justice,
bly have produced the series of mistakes by
that all these facts should be borne in mind,
whenever the mere good luck of the name of
America should afford argument for question-
ing the integrity of Vespucci."

A Monsieur Droz has published a little book,
"Sur l'Art d'être Heureux :" in which. accord-
dence of idleness as the summum bonum. Idle-
ing to the Reviewer, he describes the indepen-

ness, we admit, is a good thing in its way; but,
like most other good things, requires to be taken
The Reviewer talks very sen-
in moderation.

sibly on these inatters :

The common sense of the world is against M. Droz on the main point, and in favour of the pursuit of some honest employment, as one of the most efficacious means for attaining happiness. All the principal books are agreed in this. What says Voltaire, for example,-a‘ Le travail high authority with our author? 'Labour secures us against éloigne de nous trois grands maux, le vice, le besoin, et l' ennui. three great evils, vice, want, and ennui.' What says Dr. Franklin, the pride of the new world,'-the magnus Apollo of Mr. Droz? If our author would know, let him read Poor Richard, Le Bonhomme Richard, as the French translate it, where he will find but slender enWe cannot indeed but couragement to be idle, express our wonder, that a writer, whose chief purpose seems to be to inculcate the advantages of idleness, should have selected the author of the Way to Wealth,' as his guide, philosopher, and friend. Finally, what says the Bible? For we take it for granted, that Mr. Droz is a good Chrsitian, and will acknow ledge the authority of the precepts of the wise king of Israel. The Epicurean practice of ly ing in bed an hour or two in the morning, in order to ruminate upon the pleasure of having nothing to do through the day, is alluded to by Solomon in no very flattering terms. As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful man in his bed.' Does Mr. Droz conceive, that the happiness of a wise and good man consists in imitating the mechanical action of a door turning upon its hinges? So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.' Are poverty and want the chief elements of happiness? Even the weaker sex are exhorted to be up betimes and doing. The pattern wife riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household. and eateth not the bread of idleness.' Her She looketh well to the ways of her household, place, it seems, is no sinecure; but what reward has she for her trouble? Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.' Approved by her hus band, honoured by her children, the pride and love of all around her, our busy, little housewife is, after all, not so badly off. Can Mr. Droz promise his fair disciples any thing better

Three American Reviews.

than this, as a reward for being idle? We ap-
prehend not.

According to our belief, the common sense
of the world is therefore, as we have already
remarked, against Mr. Droz on this point, and
in favour of the diligent pursuit of some regu-
lar occupation, as a principal element of happi-
ness. It is true that we hear at times, from the
Italians, of the dolce far niente, or the delight
of having nothing to do; but even in the same
quarter, there are not wanting respectable au-
thorities in favour of a different system. The
Marquess of Spinola, an Italian general, cele-
brated for his military exploits in the war of the
independence of the Netherlands, passed the
latter part of his life in retirement, upon a
handsome pension, and of course in the full
fruition of the dolce far niente; but being one
of those persons without occupation, who are
also unoccupied, he found himself (as usually
happens, even according to our author, with
gentlemen of this description) rather ill at

ease.

While in this situation, he was informed of the death of one of his ancient comrades of inferior rank in the army, a captain perhaps, or possibly a colonel; and upon inquiring into the nature of his disease, was answered, that he died of having nothing to do. Mori della malattia di non tenere niente a fare. Basta, replied the unhappy Marquis, with a strong feeling of sympathy in the fate of his departed brother of the war, basta per un generale, ''Tis enough to have killed him, had he been a general."

"Such, even on Italian authority, are the pleasures of the dolce far niente. They appear to be enjoyed in the same way in other ranks and walks of life. Read, for example, in Lafontaine, the story of the cheerful cobbler, rendered miserable by a present of a hundred crowns, and finally returning in despair to lay them at the feet of his would-be benefactor, and recover his good humour and his last. Behold the luckless schoolboy, torn from his natural occupation on some Thursday or Saturday afternoon, and perishing under the burden of a holiday. See him hanging at his mother's side, and begging her, with tears in his eyes, to give him something to do; while she, poor woman, aware that the evil is irremediable, can only console him, by holding out the prospect of a return to school the next day. Observe the tradesman who has made his fortune (as the phrase is), and retired from business, or the opulent proprietor enjoying his dignified leisure. How he toils at the task of doing nothing; as a ship without ballast at sea, when it falls calm after a heavy blow, labours more without stirring an inch, than in going ten knots an hour, with a good breeze. How he 'groans and sweats,' as Shakspeare has it, under a happy life! How he cons over at night, for the third time, the newspaper which he read through twice, from beginning to end, immediately after breakfast! A wealthy capitalist, reduced by good fortune to this forlorn condition, has assured us, that he often begs the domestics, who are putting his room in or der, to prolong the operation as much as possi ble, that he may enjoy again, for a little while, the lost delight of superintending and witnessing the performance of useful labour.

"But this is not the worst. No sooner does
he find himself in the state of unoccupied bless-
edness, than a host of unwished for visitants
(doubtless the same with those who took pos-
session of the swept and garnished lodgings of
him in Scripture) enter on his premises, and
declare his body good prize. Dyspepsia (a
new name of horror) plucks from his lips the
untasted morsel and the brimming bowl, bedims
his eyes with unnatural blindness, and powders
his locks with premature old age. Hypochon-
dria (the accursed blues of the fathers) ploughs
his cheeks with furrows, and heaps a perpetual
cloud upon his brow. Hepatitis (like the vul-
ture of Prometheus) gnaws at his liver. Rheu-
matism racks his joints; Gout grapples him by
the great toe; so that what with black spirits
and white, blue spirits and gray,' the poor man
suffers martyrdom in every nerve and fibre,
until Palsy or Apoplexy, after all the kindness
of the tribe, gives him the coup de grace, and
releases him from his misery. His Elysium is
much like that of the departed Grecian heroes
in the Odyssey, who frankly avowed to Ulysses,
that they would rather be the meanest day-la-
bourers above ground, than reign supreme over
all the shades below."

This is very lively, and quite true; and it is
a consolation to know, that what is almost in-
evitable in London, is by no means of rare oc-
We that must work have
currence at Boston.
our compensations.

A notice of the remains of Nathaniel Appleton Haven, a member of the legal profession in the United States, who distinguished himself by his blameless and benevolent life, is introwhich we most thoroughly agree; and we canduced by the following general remarks, in not read thein without thinking of one man, at least, who has turned aside from the highest ambition to work with the humblest of us, in the great cause of human improvement :

come,

"We venture to hope that the time will when usefulness, if it is not the measure of greatness, will at least be sure of the applause of men. The world has been singularly inattentive to its rights and welfare; it has invariably misapplied that applause, which must be the inspiration and guide of common ambition. When it is once known that usefulness will secure its favour, it will be like the discovery of a new compass, for guiding a thousand adventurers to an innocent and enviable fame. Men of higher principle, too, will be on their side. We think, that whether we conanimated by the conviction that the world is sider the difficulties encountered and sacrifices made, or the spirit and energy required to meet them, nothing is more noble and reviving than 'that lead to indolence and talents fitted for disexamples of men, who, with prospects of wealth play, are yet able, through all the misleading opinions of the world and the flatteries of selfglory is to be serviceable to his fellow-men; love, to discern that man's best interest and who can devote themselves to the great cause of human improvement, not with momentary vigour but persevering resolution; not in its mere attractive parts, its pillars and capitals, dation is laid; conscious that they never see but in the humbler places where the deep founthe result of their labour, and doubting some

interests, and promoting the welfare of these people. It is not, however, supposed by any that these desirable objects are fully attained. The offices of the Indian Department are considered, under the existing laws, means of providing for importunate applicants, or of extending executive patronage. To the majority of the people it is well known that the existing system of Indian agencies is exerting no salutary or elevating influence upon either white men or Indians; and many would rather be convinced that the liberal expenditures already made on account of the Indian Department have been generally and extensively beneficial, than to see those expenditures increased to the extent recommended.

times whether it is not wholly vain. Such liv-superintending the concerns, watching over the ing sacrifices, we think, are even more illustrious than the dying self-devotion of martyrs; for it requires more strength to sustain the heart in the weary trial of life, than in the short agony of death. Milton complained with reason that men were so earnest to celebrate their destroyers, that they had left the better fortitude of patience and heroic martyrdom unsung; but he was too far before his age for even his mighty voice to reach it;—we trust that the stern old prophet has found many a heart in our times, to reply to those indignant appeals, which found no answering chord in his own.'" Our readers, doubtless, have perceived, from the extracts we have given, that this review is of a temperate, gentlemanly, and unprejudiced character. There is nothing that we can see in it, of any jealousy of England and her institutions, or any vain parade of the power, the resources, and intelligence of our trans-atlantic brethren. It is, indeed, fortunate, that the unnatural animosities of children, boasting a common mother, and participating, each very largely, in the blessings of a free government, should no longer be fomented by the passions and prejudices of ignorant and flippant writers, on either side the water. It is to the real interest, both of England and America, that a constant feeling of kindness should be cherished between them ;-those who desire friendship and peace cannot do better than promote their common literature, and freely interchange a tribute of respect for all those productions which belong to high principles and solid learning.

"The American Quarterly Review" is printed at Philadelphia, and has yet only reached its tenth number. It appears to us well adapt ed for popularity, and conveys a great body of valuable information, not very new or very original, but well adapted to the wants of a people whose literary habits have yet to be formed. The subjects, and the mode of treating them, are rather more elementary than in the North American Review; and it is, perhaps, rather more distinguished for a strong religious tone, not in the least allied to fanaticism, but very decided. We have read many of the articles with great pleasure and improvement; but from their nature they are rather unfertile in matters for extract. From a paper on "the Indian Language and Condition," we extract some remarks, which show the honest spirit of the Reviewer with regard to his own country:

"The sufferings of these people, and their apparent rapid decline, have excited, of late years, the commiseration of the humane, and called forth the exertions of the benevolent. The voice of the people of the United States, could it be heard, would speak peace to these long harassed tribes. Public sentiment has been and is strongly in favour of efforts for the amelioration of their condition, by conveying to them the lights of civilization, and the consolations of pure religion. The attention of the national legislature has been repeatedly call ed to the subject. Laws have been enacted, multiplied, modified, amended-any thing but enforced. A department of the general government has been organized for the purpose of

"In this case, which appears to us nearly identified with that of humane and Christian feeling, something may yet be done by legisla tion-something by the exertions of those, who, if there be any such, having a knowledge of the existing defects and abuses in our laws or their execution, will, without prejudice or partiality, hold them forth to the view of the public.

"But if any effort on our part could check or arrest the downward career of this race, if any extensive or valuable benefits could be extended to them, we might hope they would accrue from the benevolent exertions of that class of men who go among them to teach the elements of the useful arts, and the principles of the Christian religion. At several points along our extended frontier may these disciples of a benevolent religion be met with, labouring from day to day, and from year to year, in the slow and difficult attempt to give the Indians such a knowledge of letters, and such an enlargement of ideas, as may enable them to receive and comprehend the important doctrines of revealed religion. Without any sanguine expectation of extensive general improvement in the condition of the Indians, to be derived from the adoption among them of the Christian religion, we are confident that much good must spring from pure example and industrious habits, as well as from the cultivation of the mind imparted to the children about our mission stations. Here it is that the most earnest efforts are made to apply the remedy to the seat itself of the disease, to form the habits, to discipline and elevate the minds of these children of the forest, to inure them to the practice of patient application-of connected and persevering exercises of thought, and thus by degrees eradicate that brand, deeper than the colour of the skin, which seems to have marked the Indian for degradation. From the examples of these schools, the Indians have, perhaps, deduced the conclusion that numbers of white men can be moved by other motives than the thirst for gain. race have thus gained something in the estimation of those they would instruct, but it will be long before they can look upon us with that kind of respect and partiality which would make them eager to adopt our religion. The example of past times, and of tribes formerly numerous and powerful, but not extinct, forbids us to hope for great or rapid changes for the better."

Our

We have already alluded to the hostile feeling which has been engendered towards Great Britain, in the United States, by the intemperate attacks of some of our leading periodicals, particularly the "Quarterly Review." The tone of that Miscellany has, within these three years, been greatly improved in this respect. Indeed, it was impossible that such an unjust and paltry system of annoyance could have been persevered in, if the Reviewer at all pre-ple of the United States, no ungenerous hostended to represent the opinions of his age; we were, therefore, much pleased with a sensible, and, as it appeared to us, liberal paper, in the 73d Number, on American subjects. The publication before us is, however, much out of temper with it; and we quote a few passages, principally with the intent to show how unkind feelings between nations, as between individuals, are kept alive by little indiscretions, and mutual reproaches: