perilous war under its most aggravating burdens of sacrifice and suffering. Can we imagine a situation in which were required higher moral courage, more intelligence and talent, a deeper insight into human nature and the principles of social and political organizations, or, indeed, any of those qualities which constitute greatness of character in a statesman? See, likewise, that work of wonder, the Confederation-a union of independent States, constructed in the very heart of a desolating war, but with a beauty and strength, imperfect as it was, of which the ancient leagues of the Amphictyons, the Achæans, the Lycians, and the modern confederacies of Germany, Holland, Switzerland, afford neither exemplar nor parallel.

In their foreign affairs, these same statesmen showed no less sagacity and skill, taking their stand boldly in the rank of nations, maintaining it there, competing with the tactics of practised diplomacy, and extorting from the powers of the old world not only the homage of respect, but the proffers of friendship.

The military events of the Revolution, which necessarily occupy so much of its history, are not less honorable to the actors, nor less fruitful in the evidences they afford of large design and ability of character. But these we need not recount; they live in the memory of all. We have heard them from the lips of those who saw and suffered; they are inscribed on imperishable monuments; the very hills and plains around us tell of achievements which can never die; and the day will come, when the traveller, who has gazed and pondered at Marathon and Waterloo, will linger on the mount where Prescott fought and Warren fell, and say: "Here is the field where man has struggled in his most daring conflict; here is the field where liberty poured out her noblest blood, and won her brightest and most enduring laurels."

The instructive lesson of history, teaching by example, can nowhere be studied with more profit, or with a better promise, than in this revolutionary period of America; and especially by us, who sit under the tree our fathers have planted, enjoy its shade, and are nourished by its fruits. But little is our merit or gain that we applaud their deeds, unless we emulate their virtues. Love of country was in them an absorbing principle, an undivided feeling; not of a fragment, a section, but of the whole country. Union was the arch on which they raised the strong tower of a nation's independence. Let the arm be palsied that would loosen one stone in the basis of this fair structure, or mar its beauty; the tongue mute, that would dis

honor their names, by calculating the value of that which they deemed without price.

They have left us an example already inscribed in the world's memory; an example portentous to the aims of tyranny in every land; an example that will console in all ages the drooping aspirations of oppressed humanity. They have left us a written charter as a legacy, and as a guide to our course. But every day convinces us that a written charter may become powerless. Ignorance may misinterpret it; ambition may assail, and faction destroy, its vital parts; and aspiring knavery may at last sing its requiem on the tomb of departed liberty. It is the spirit which lives; in this are our safety and our hope; the spirit of our fathers; and while this dwells deeply in our remembrance, and its flame is cherished, ever burning, ever pure, on the altar of our hearts; while it incites us to think as they have thought, and do as they have done, the honor and the praise will be ours, to have preserved, unimpaired, the rich inheritance which they so nobly achieved.

SAMUEL G. GOODRICH.

IF, in the pages of this Compendium of American Literature, a place can be claimed by any one from the number and popularity of the works he has published, then Samuel G. Goodrich, the renowned "Peter Parley," has a right here above all others. He was born at Ridgefield, Connecticut, on the 19th of August, 1793, and in early life commenced the publication of historical, geographical, and other school books, at Hartford, in his native State, and subsequently became, in the same department, a writer so prolific that it was difficult to keep the run of his published works. In 1824, on his return from

The number of works that Mr. Goodrich has published, either written, compiled, or edited by himself, is so great that the very catalogue would fill two pages of my book. For a full account of the same, and also for a list of spurious works that have been claimed to be written by him, see the appendix to the second volume of his "Recollections of a Lifetime." They may be summed up as follows: Miscellaneous works, including fourteen volumes of the "Token," thirty volumes; School Books, twenty-seven volumes; Tales, under the name of "Peter Parley," thirty-six volumes; "Parley's Historical Compends," thirty-six volumes; "Parley's Miscellanies, seventy volumes; in all, one hundred and seventy-seven volumes. "Of all these," he says, "about seven millions of volumes have been sold; and about three hundred thousand volumes are now sold annually."

Europe, he published "The Token," a collection of original pieces in prose and poetry, by various contributors, and elegantly illustrated. It was the first "Annual," we believe, published in our country, and proved to be very popular. It was continued for fifteen years, and many of the poems and tales in it were written by himself.

Besides his almost numberless compilations, Mr. Goodrich has published the following original works: In 1836, "Sketches from a Student's Window," being a collection of his contributions to the "Token" and various magazines; in 1838, "Fireside Education;" in 1841, "The Outcast and other Poems;" in 1855, "The Court of Napoleon;" in 1856, "Recollections of a Lifetime, or Men and Things I have seen," in two volumes. From the latter I have made the following prose selections:

TIMOTHY DWIGHT.

Dr. Dwight was perhaps even more distinguished in conversation than in the pulpit. He was indeed regarded as without a rival in this respect; his knowledge was extensive and various, and his language eloquent, rich, and flowing. His fine voice and noble person gave great effect to what he said. When he spoke, others were silent. This arose in part from the superiority of his powers, but in part also from his manner, which, as I have said, was somewhat authoritative. Thus he engrossed, not rudely, but with the willing assent of those around him, the lead in conversation. Nevertheless, I must remark, that in society the imposing grandeur of his personal appearance in the pulpit was softened by a general blandness of expression and a sedulous courtesy of manner, which were always conciliating, and sometimes really captivating. His smile was irresistible.

In reflecting upon this good and great man, and reading his works in after-time, I am still impressed with his general superiority-his manly intellect, his vast range of knowledge, and his large heart-yet, I am persuaded that, on account of his noble person-the perfection of the visible man-he exercised a power in his day and generation somewhat beyond the natural scope of his mental endowments. Those who read his works only cannot fully realize the impression which he made upon the age in which he lived. His name is still honored; many of his works still live. His Body of Divinity takes the precedence, not only here, but in England, over all works of the same kind and the same doctrine; but at the period to which I refer, he

was regarded with a species of idolatry by those around him. Even the pupils of the college under his presidential chargethose who are not usually inclined to hero-worship-almost adored him. To this day, those who had the good fortune to receive their education under his auspices look back upon it as a great era in their lives.

There was indeed reason for this. With all his greatness in other respects, Dr. Dwight seems to have been more particularly felicitous as the teacher, the counsellor, the guide, of educated young men. In the lecture-room, all his high and noble qualities seemed to find their full scope. He did not here confine himself to merely scientific instruction; he gave lessons in morals and manners, and taught, with a wisdom which experience and common sense only could have furnished, the various ways to insure success in life. He gave lectures upon health-the art of maintaining a vigorous constitution, with the earnest pursuit of professional duties-citing his own example, which consisted in laboring every day in the garden, when the season permitted, and at other times at some mechanical employment. He recommended that in intercourse with mankind, his pupils should always converse with each individual upon that subject in which he was most instructed, observing that he never met a man of whom he could not learn something. He gave counsel, suited to the various professions; to those who were to become clergymen, he imparted the wisdom which he had gathered by a life of long and active experience; he counselled those who were to become lawyers, physicians, merchants and all with a fulness of knowledge and a felicity of illustration and application, as if he had actually spent a life in each of these vocations. And more than this: he sought to infuse into the bosom of all that high principle which served to inspire his own soul-that is, to be always a gentleman, taking St. Paul as his model. He considered not courtesy only, but truth, honor, manliness in all things, as essential to this character. Every kind of meanness he despised. Love of country was the constant theme of his eulogy. Religion was the soul of his system. God was the centre of gravity, and man should make the moral law as inflexible as the law of nature. Seeking to elevate all to this sphere, he still made its orbit full of light-the light of love, and honor, and patriotism, and literature, and ambition-all verging towards that fulness of glory which earth only reflects and heaven only can unfold.

THE RURAL DISTRICTS OUR COUNTRY'S STRENGTH.

However the fact may be as to our larger cities, it cannot be doubted that all over New England, at least, there has been a quiet, but earnest and steady march of civilization-especially within the last forty years. The war of 1812 was disastrous to our part of the country; disastrous, I firmly believe, to our whole country. In New England it checked the natural progress of society, it impoverished the people, it debased their manners, it corrupted their hearts. Let others vaunt the glory of war; I shall venture to say what I have seen and known. We have now had forty years of peace, and the happy advances I have noticed-bringing increased light and comfort in at every door, rich or poor, to bless the inhabitants-are its legiti mate fruits. The inherent tendency of our New England society is to improvement; give us peace, give us tranquillity, and with the blessing of God we shall continue to advance.

You will not suppose me to say that government can do nothing; the prosperity of which I speak is in a great measure imputable to the encouragement given, for a series of years, to our domestic industry. When farming absorbed society, a large part of the year was lost, or worse than lost; because tavern haunting, tippling, and gambling were the chief resources of men in the dead and dreary winter months. Manufactures gave profitable occupation during this inclement period. Formerly the markets were remote, and we all know, from the records of universal history, that farmers, without the stimulus of ready markets, sink into indolence and indifference. The protection, the encouragement, the stimulating of our manufacturing and mechanical industry, created home markets in every valley, along every stream-thus rousing the taste, energy, and ambition of the farmers within reach of these pervading influences.

The importance of the fact I state-the progress and improvement of the country towns-is plain, when we consider that here, and not in the great cities-New York, or Boston, or Philadelphia-are the hope, strength, and glory of our nation. Here, in the smaller towns and villages, are indeed the majority of the people, and here there is a weight of sober thought, just judgment, and virtuous feeling, that will serve as rudder and ballast to our country, whatever weather may betide. As I have so recently travelled through some of the finest