a consummation, that I would earnestly urge upon our people, and those whom they have placed in as thority, to adopt the modified but still desirable measure of International Copyright, alrea ly suggest ed. Just at present this would be a little against us, that is to say, we should buy more copyrights of the British than they of us; but, at the rate of progress hitherto attained by American literature, before twen ty years-probably before ten years are past, 1.e

speech, with the gulf which separates principles from not, ora Men are struggling to realize dim ideals of right and truth, and each fa....uto *. Î to the desperate earnestness of their eff rta. Bereat, n. thea row! ness and selfishness of the American character, there is a smea lemn enthusiasm which flares out at the first ta h of fire

hot and hasty words of party, and sometimes at the bling of great thoughts and unselfish prinopes. The heart of the hai, o a man stirred to its depths, but those who rouse its fiery im; es are often men compundled of ignorance ani wirkevitems ar unfitted to guide the passions which they are a'xe to ex..te. no country in the world which I as nobler i leas em ××3 less at apes. All our factions, fanat.e sms, ref›rms, part en diculous or dangerous though they often at pear, are fi stolovi asparation or reality which deserves a better form an å ex; ress is a mighty power in great speech. If the sources of wal fooveries and faults were rigt tiv al iresse 1, ti ey w Jeste ati kiting truths We want a poetry which aì ad clear, log i tones to the people, a poetry wit, al mï make 'an * live with our native lat, 1, *** svart ng ita etib tung warens Images of joy thig to, who, to winog ve via the form a abstract ideas of our written comoliations, wi

virt je a.. the strength of pro ie a 1 mil the ener

.

art speak wit in the higt, language of men to a "a"

scales will be turned in our favor, and they will buy more copyrights of us than we shall of them. At all events, an immediate and powerful stimulus would be added to authorship, and to some of the trades and professions connected with the production of books in this country, if we could have the British market opened to us on some such plan as is herein proposed. Nearly every new work would be stereotyped, and a set of plates sent to England; and these, in view of the increased sale, and the high and improving standard of taste, abroad, would be got up in a superior manner, in all respects. Let us think well of these things!

LETTER LV.

Recollections of Washington-The House of Representatives—Missourı Compromise-Clay, Randolph, and Lowndes- The Senate-Rufus King William Pinkney-Mr. Macon-Judge Marshall-Election of J. Q. Adams-President Monroe-Meeting of Adams and Jackson-Jackson's Administration-Clay-Calhoun-Webster-Anecdotes.

MY DEAR C******

In the autumn of 1846, I went with my family to Paris, partly for literary purposes, and partly also to give my children advantages of education, which, in consequence of my absorbing cares for a series of years, they had been denied. Here they remained for nearly two years, while I returned home to attend to my affairs, spending the winters, however,

with them. Leaving my observations upon Paris to be grouped in one general view, I pass on with my

narrative.

Toward the close of 1849 I removed to New York, to execute certain literary engagements. These e pleted, I went, in December, 1850, to Washington, taking my family with me. Here we remained for three months, when, having received the aj pullment of United States Consul to Paris, Intured to New York, and after die preparation, sared on the 5th of April, 1551, to enter upon the othlal dates which thas devolved upon me.

I invite you to return with me to Washington. I had often been there, and had of coarse sen cbserved many of the remarkable men who halfs ured in the great arena of politics, through a of thirty years. I shall now gather up and t to you a few reminiscences connected with this, national metropolis, which still or in my : Avoiding political matters, however, which are div chromced in the books, I shall only give such of persons and that, less likely to have fan der your observation.

My first visit to Washington was in the water { 1×19-20, Mure was then Pres, lett, a: 1 D. D Tompkins, Vas pres, lent; Marshall was at the of the Supreme Court; C., S; dor of the H of Representatives. In the latter noted men.'« rs, ex lusive of the

liam Lowndes of South Carolina, and John Randolph of Virginia.

At the period of my visit, the clouds were mustering in the horizon for that tempest which not only agitated Congress, but the whole country, in consequence of the application of Missouri for admission into the Union. A few weeks later, the " "Compromise of 36° 30'," was passed by both houses, but the actual admission of the State did not take place till the ensuing session. I was at Washington but one day, and of course could only take a hurried view of the principal objects of interest. I was in the House of Representatives but a single hour. While I was present, there was no direct discussion of the agitating subject which already filled everybody's mind, but still the excitement flared out occasionally in incidental allusions to it, like puffs of smoke and jets of flame which issue from a house that is on fire within. I recollect that Clay descended from the speaker's chair, and made a brief speech, thrilling the House by a single passage, in which he spoke of "poor, unheard Missouri"-she being then without a representative in Congress. His tall, tossing form, his long, sweeping gestures, and above all, his musical, yet thrilling tones, made an impression upon. me which I can never forget. Some time after, in the course of the debate, a tall man, with a little head and a small, oval countenance like that of a boy prema. turely grown old, arose and addressed the chair. He

paused a moment, and I had time to study his ap pearance. His hair was jet black, and clubbe-i in a queue; his eye was black, small, and painfully pnetrating. His complexion was a yellowish-brown, bespeaking Indian blood. Indian blood. I knew at once that it must be John Randolph. As he uttered the words, "Mr. Speaker!"-every member turned in his seat, and facing him, gazed as if some portent had sud denly appeared before them. Mr. Speaker"—sa. İ he, in a shrill voice, which, however, pierced every nook and corner of the ball-"I have but one wori to say; one word, sir, and that is to state a fa The measure to which the gentle man has just allu ded, originated in a dirty trick!" These were s precise words. The subject to which he referresi 1 did not gather, but the coolness and impud noe of the speaker were admirable in their way. I never saw better acting, even in Kean. His look, he man ner, his long arm, his elvish fore-finger-like mation-point, punctuating his bitter thought -the skill of a master. The effect of the whole startle everybody, as if a pistol-shot had rug thr the hall.

A remarkable instance of the inverse which Me Eato to use.f occurred in the Senate, of w..... h he was then à mot Boon after Mr. A janss access sto te pres ler v. Is a DA when he took piace upon the “* la „a na Mae La intenterate speech, with the f * W Cis on their fave retort events wich had occurred at a retra e vojne tak, ja lah panas theat. ng the a ane between. Mr. A.a. ar i Mr Cay.

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