V. BUNKER HILL.

[Courier. Charleston.]

THIS Country, so virginal in her history, and fresh in her appearance, deserves examination and analysis, as well in her exterior arrangement and decorations, as in the internal government, and organization, of her happy constitution. It will be discovered, with little effort, that there is a corresponding and sympathetic grandeur, between the structure of her hills, and the immensity of her forests and rivers, and the towering, and ardent, and impetuous spirit of her people; that if patriotism had no other luxury, nor incentive than it derives from the eye, still it would drink in inexhaust less sources of affection, in the romantic beauties of American soil. The genius of place would come to strengthen the spirit of patriotism, and plead with re sistless energy for the protection which valour owes to beauty.

Illustrating this idea by reference to the early scene of our revolutionary war-place an American on the heights of Bunker-Hill-show him the magnificent ho rizon of successive hills and vales--mark the streams that bear wealth on their bosoms-the cities, the marts of industry and enterprize-the munificent institutions of learning and humanity-the ocean, tost with contend ing billows-and the elegant villas of rural repose-and if he have a soul, would he not fight for these? Could he desert all, or one of these delightful attractions?— the blended and beautiful combinations of art and nature. He could not. In the scenery around him, he would find encouragement and incentive, and a rebuking enthusiasm. He could not, of his own accord, leave the garden of Eden. Perhaps no better site to commence the battles of liberty, could have been devised, than the vicinity of Bunker-Hill. The landscape was full of rural and of physical beauty. There was the ocean, from whose benevolent waters, the sailors of Massachusetts earned their perilous support-there were the hills of the surrounding country, crowned with the mothers and children of the inspired soldiers-there were the vales, rich with agricultural beauty--and there the cities, rear

ed in the wilderness, by the steadfast and devoted pilgrims, who brought us out of the land of England, and out of the house of bondage.

Attribute, then, what you will, to the patriotic ardour of that herioc force which immortalized the scene of their valour-analyze, if you will, the ingredients of that gallant defence and, if we mistake not, you will find that the hills, and the vales, and the rivers, which re-echoed with their cannon, roused, and inspired, and sustained the soldiers of liberty.

VII. NATIONAL BURYING GROUND.*

[Statesman. New-York.]

ONE of the first objects for which I inquire on entering a new place is the church-yard, since, independent of the pleasing melancholy derived from meditations" among the tombs," the selection of a site for a burying-ground, the manner of laying it out, the sculpture of the monuments, and the inscriptions they bear, furnish a pretty correct index to the intelligence and taste of the inhabitants. In the congregation of the dead, you may study and catch the manners of the living, discovering in turn, refinement or rudeness of taste, knowledge, or ignorance, ostentation or modest retirement, affectation of sorrow, or the simplicity and sincerity of real affection and real grief. Had Mr. Alden been less voluminous and less indiscriminate, his collection of epitaphs might have been an interesting and useful work, presenting at least one striking feature in the moral physiognomy of the country.

It was my intention sooner to have given a brief sketch of what may be considered the National Burying-Ground, as members of congress and other officers of the government are there interred. I have paid it two visits--the first at evening twilight, in company with the obliging friend alluded to in my last letter, and an English traveller. We arrived in season to take on

*This article is one of a series of letters written from Washington in the winter of 1822-23, by N. H. Carter, Esq. one of the editors of the N. Y. Statesman.

ly an imperfect view of the ground, and to read a few of the inscriptions before the departure of day-light, all the horizontal monuments being covered with snow, to the depth of several inches. Yesterday morning I walked there alone, and passed an hour before the meeting of the House.

This cemetery is in a remote and lonely situation, being something more than a mile in a southeasterly direction from the capitol. It lies immediately upon the bank of East Branch, at the distance of only a few yards from the water's edge, but elevated considerably above it and commanding an extensive view of the river. The winding path leading to it, is over a wide and barren common —there are no houses in the vicinity—and it will be long. before it will be in the midst of the city. Had the churchyards in New-York been laid out with the same precaution, they would not now have formed a subject of legislation for the common council, nor for newspaper discussion. This grave-yard contains an area of two or three acres, enclosed by a plain wooden fence, and sprinkled with copses of native cedar, stinted in their growth, and many of them withered, either from the poverty of the soil, or from having their roots broken by the spade of the grave-digger. There are, however, enough living to conceal many of the graves; and their verdure contrasted with the grey tomb-stones produces an agreeable effect.

The most conspicuous monument, is that erected in memory of GEORGE CLINTON, Vice President of the United States. It is a handsome pyramid of stuccoed free stone, ten or twelve feet in height, standing upon a broad base and mounting by steps. On one side is a profile likeness cut from marble in bold relief, and surrounded with a civic wreath. Beneath is the following inscription:" To the memory of George Clinton.-He was born in the state of New-York on the 26th July, 1739, and died in the city of Washington on the 20th of April, 1811, in the 73d year of his age. He was a soldier and statesman of the revolution. Eminent in council, and distinguished in war, he filled, with unexampled usefulness, purity and ability, among many other

offices, those of governour of his native state, and of vice president of the United States. While he lived, his virtue, wisdom, and valour, were the pride, the ornament and security of his country; and when he died, he left an illustrious example of a well-spent life, worthy of all imitation. This monument is affectionately dedicated by his children." I have copied the whole of this inscription, because it is concise, neat and appropriate, and because I do not recollect to have seen it noticed. The virtues and services of such a distinguished patriot cannot be too often called to mind, especially by the citizens of a state, to which he was a public benefactor.

Near the grave of George Clinton commences a range of monuments, which extends for some rods towards the south, erected to the memory of members of congress, who died at Washington. These memorials are placed in an exact line, and are of the same height, composed of the same materials, uniform in their structure, and uninterrupted in the series, except by a marble pyramid in honour of Capt. Hugh George Campbell, of SouthCarolina. They are built of free-stone painted white, and consist of short, square, and plain pillars, with a cone at top, and resting on a broad pedestal, which rises by two steps. On one face of the pillar is an inscription, similar throughout, with the exception of names and dates. I shall give that of Mr. Pinkney as a sample, because he is among the most distinguished in this assemblage of the dead, and because it is a perfect contrast to the epitaphs proposed by several persons soon after his death. In plain black letters, you find the following brief inscription: "In memory of the Hcn. William Pinkney, a senator in the congress of the United States from the state of Maryland, died Feb. 25th, 1822, aged 58 years." Here sleep the remains, and such is the epitaph of the man, on whose eloquence courts and senates have hung with admiration and delight. By his side and near him, sleep the ashes of Mr. Trimble, of Ohio--Mr. Burrill, of Rhode-Island-Mr. Malbone, of the same state, and Mr. Tracy, of Connecticut, members of the senate, together with Samuel A. Otis, former se

cretary of that body: also, Mr. Smilie, of Pennsylvania -Mr. Dawson, of Virginia-Mr. Slocumb, of NorthCarolina--Mr. Hazard, of Rhode-Island--Mr. Walker, of Kentucky-Mr. Mumford, of North Carolina-Mr. Sandford, of the same state--Mr. Brigham, of Massachusetts --Mr. Darby, of New-Jersey, and Mr. Blount, of NorthCarolina, members of the house of representatives, making an aggregate in both branches, of seventeen. It is somewhat remarkable, that so large a state as that of New-York, has no other representative in this congress of the dead, than George Clinton, while the small state of Rhode-Island has three or four. In the monuments and tomb-stones of other persons interred here, there is is nothing very peculiar or striking, if you except the marble slab over the remains of Tobias Lear, which "his desolate widow and mourning son erected to mark the place of his abode in the city of silence," and a plain tomb-stone to the memory of Mr. Machen, with the classical and beautiful expression of filial affection,

"Heu! genitorem, omnis curæ casusque levamen,
Amitto."

IX. THE INDIANS.

[National Republican. Cincinnati.]

THERE are many traits of the Indian character highly interesting to the philosopher and christian. Their unconquerable attachment to the pristine modes and habits of life, which counteracts every effort towards civilization, furnishes to the philosopher, a problem too profound for solution. Their simple and unadorned religion, the same in all ages, and free from the disguise of hypocrisy, which they have received by tradition from their ancestors, leads the mind to a conclusion, that they possess an unwritten revelation from God, intended for their benefit, which ought to induce us to pause before we undertake to convert them to a more refined and less explicit faith. The religion of the Indian appears to be fitted for that state and condition in which his Maker has been pleased to place him. He believes in one Supreme Being, with all the mighty attributes which we ascribe to God; whom he denomin