riches can supply.' They form, indeed, a heritage which admits of no fluctuation or decay-those xтnμara es as¡—those possessions to eternity, which are at once ennobling and imperishable. But with us, though its elements exist in supreme abundance, its developement must be slow. In the words of Burke, it is a small seminal principal, rather than a formed body; but its birth will be certain, its growth invigorating and unshackled, its maturity noble and gigantic."

But, father," said we, "in what does its elements consist? What are the principles which must regulate its advancement? It consists not surely in the servile imitation-of the idioms, the expressions, the thoughts, of the foreign writers of a foreign land. It, to our mind to be national, even if it be rude and unpolished, must be steeped and imbued, with the peculiarities of our country. Surely, surely the wild freshness of morning' is more bright and attractive than the cold, though serene, reflection of the evening glories of another people."

"Your observations are perfectly sound," returned my instructor, "but you found your hopes upon data altogether wrong. You look for a national literature where it never can be found. For many, many years the productions of our best writers can be but essentially imitations. If you want to see the semina from which a national literature will spring, stand up and look around you."

We know not what spell was thrown over us, or what magic he employed, but on following his direction, the glories of an unrivalled scene had burst upon us,- -the universe seemed before us in one gigantic landscape. Stupendous mountains, covered with unmelting snows, rose up,—huge, awful, rugged, like stepping-stones to heaven. Rivers, whose massive tides might wash a thousand realms, rolled, in dark and deep magnificence, through vast forests, consecrated for ages to solitude and God, and giving a music to their awful loneliness, by lifting up their voices in the dread thunder of everlasting cataracts. Plains of interminable continuity stretched into the horizon, where the buffalo and the bison, and the elk, bounded in uncontrolled and unregarded liberty. A sun, palaced in a sky, without a shadow, and without a cloud, pouring over the gorgeous land a flood-a blaze of living light, and the whole, glassed in lakes of ocean magnitude, mirrors worthy of the unrivalled scene. The sun went down, and a moon of intensest radiance took his place, flinging the splendour of elysian softness over the whole. The light of a thousand watchfires glanced up from the forest depths, and innumerable swarthy warriors pealed their battle-whoop in the midnight stillness, and danced in the exultation of triumphant warthe moon was eclipsed--the watchfires were extinguished-the blackness of darkness curtained up the earth-the million throat

ed thunder burst in terrific peals from the careering clouds-the gathered whirlwinds were let loose, and raved like the madness of angry nature round the giant mountains, tearing and rending, in their fearful sweep, the solid rock and the mighty tree- -sheet after sheet of candescent flame flashed along the illuminated sky, splitting and shivering the massive fabrics of the almighty hills, and lighting up the everlasting forests, as they bowed in awful reverence to the storm, the vivid corruscations lending a grandeur of sublimest terror to a panorama, whose greatness was almost beyond mortal ken-again the tempest, in its path of darkness, passed away and calm and beautiful, thesunny light of autumn slept upon the hills-the lakes were turned to sheets of gold, and the tinted waters of the rivers flashed in every rainbow colour-their tide like a corinthian brass of melted gems,the monarch mountains were robed in purple wreaths, and the primeval forests arrayed in a gala dress, where green, and gold, and blue, and scarlet, were blending in a living mosaic of dazzling beauty. "The pageant of the year" was there-and the limitless landscape, as it laughed in light, might have seemed the radiant scenery of a sinless world. It was not any cold feelings of loftiest admiration that spell-bound us at the glorious sight. Our soul expanding with the vastness of the prospect, awoke to a new and thrilling consciousness, that steeped every faculty in sublimest thought.

The sage marked the effect which the wondrous spectacle produced, and stretching out his hand towards the vast expanse, exclaimed, "There are the elements of your National Literaturethere are the stamina from which it must arise there are the sources at once of its originality and its power, and until the poetry of that breathing scene is impressed deep in the national heart, we can never look for a corresponding literature. It is not from the exotic feeling and the transplanted associations of the settler or his descendant, that such can spring. It must be indigenous. It must arise from, and grow up with the soil with which it may be connected. When the mighty plains of Germany were still in the fifteenth century, covered with those awful forests which called forth the wonder of the Roman conqueror,-though a national literature did not exist, yet its principles were implanted deep in the feelings of the people. The demons of their tradition, and the warrior-gods of their forefathers, nerved the spirit of their crusades and lingered in the baronial halls of their mountain chieftains, influencing the successive states of society through the long career of ages, until the gradual light of civilization had formed these floating, undetected, yet irresistible associations, into the numberless manifestations of originality, excitement, and power, to be found in their almost every author. The ghosts of Ossian-the blue mists of his hills-the soft voices of his waters, and the shadowy forms of his heroes, still linger in the

undisturbed morasses, and loom in the formless superstitions of the Irish peasantry: and in like manner, for it is of no use to multiply examples, or to refer to India, to Spain, to Italy, or England; had the aborigines of this enormous continent existed, until they had become its conscious lords, and developed into power and utility all its limitless resources, we would have found a national literature, corresponding in grandeur, in sublimity, in beauty, with their magnificent land; and which speculation can even now detect in worthy consonance with their savage state, in the wild poetry of their eloquence, and the touching simplicity of their superstitions.As it is, we must wait until the vast inequality of surface with population will be proportioned-until that unceasing current, which the necessities of the old societies of earth has caused to flow for three hundred years into the bosom of this land, shall have restored the level of the world-until its vast regions and unexplored territories shall have ceased to cry 'give, give, give'-in the satiety of their flourishing improvement- -then, my son, and not till then, we may look for a native Milton, whose song will be pregnant with celestial fire then we may look for a Skakspeare, whose genius, 'dipped in heaven,' can catch and communicate the glorious but unrevealed imaginings, whose pulsations throb through every scene. Then we may look for that truest poetry,-the poetry of feeling.-Then we may expect that loftiest eloquence, whose images and energy spring only from the heart. Then, and hardly before, we may hope to see that purity and perfection of intellectual light, which is diffused, not by the blaze of one solitary intellect, but by the blended radiance of a whole people's mind, glowing with an ardent perception of the unrivalled beauties of their clime, and which will burn on bright and unwasting for ever. Until this consummation shall arrive, we must be content that our greatest names, not merely in every department of mind, but in every walk of science and every branch of art, shall rank as ornaments of English literature."

'Father," said we, profoundly gratified by the pains he had taken in this long and earnest disquisition, to enlighten our understanding, "the prospect thou hast unfolded, if remote, is certainly magnificent. Wilt thou not point out in what manner we can assist in an object at once so glorious and consonant to our feelings. Will not thine own immortal" Knickerbocker" have a leading share in directing the national taste."

"My son," returned he, with great complacency, "thy best course will consist in following, not in stemming the tide. Agencies so humble as thine, can alter or influence such commanding objects, as little as the gongs and the wounds of the Peruvians could avail to dissipate the eclipse from the luminary they adored. Thou wilt find thy best fame and thy surest reward in administering such wholesome gratification to the public taste, as may comport for the time

with its wishes and its wants. If thou wilt so far miscalculate thy influence as to attempt to lead, thou wilt most assuredly and deservedly fail. In thy situation, my son, it is much better to be favoured, than to be feared."

-Will

"Yes; but venerable and most respected sir," said we, with some little astonishment, " can we not calculate our destiny, in that case, after the invariable fate of the time-serving genera who have preceded us ?—will it not be our lot to languish on for a few moons, and then miserably perish? Oh, that thou wouldst exercise thy preternatural powers, and uncurtain the future fate of this our dear Magazine, as thou hast that of our national literature?-Will it not be the lot of this renowned periodical, which rejoices in thy name, to witness and exult in that intellectual millenium?. it not be our fortune 'to share the favor and partake the gale.'" Here, at this our ardent, but somewhat faith-wanting speech, we thought the little gentleman looked somewhat piqued. "Friend," said he, with a great appearance of dignity, "if thou dost not believe that the name it bears is not already a sufficient passport for the Knickerbocker Magazine to immortality, thou dost scarcely deserve to have thy incredulity removed; however, in consideration of thy mortal shortsightedness, and thy great anxiety, thou shalt see."

Instant as he spoke, we felt a sudden and startling twitch, as if the air had been divided by an instant vacuum, and we conceived our senses had deceived us, so wonderful was the immediate change. The green sward beneath us had given place to a costly ottoman of gold brocade; the high arch of the foliage overhead, was turned into an inlaid ceiling, wrought in many a superb device with the chivalrous doings of Walter the Doubter, William the Testy, and Peter the Headstrong; the gnarled trunks around us, had been changed by some unaccountable metamorphosis, into stately pillars of an unusual order of architecture, supporting the aforesaid roof, and the walls of the noble apartment, which seemed to be a library, were covered with a vast number of books in costly bindings. A mossy bank beside us, was changed into a splendid or molu table, on which which were spread an infinite multiplicity of papers, and a range of windows in the front, looked out into a spacious square, composed of buildings of towering magnitude, and princely magnificence. The whole seemed a lively haunt of business; but the fantastic dress and outlandish appearance of the inhabitants, prevented our wondering senses from forming any conjecture as to what country they belonged. I applied to the sage, who remained unchanged beside me, for an explanation of the marvellous phenomenon. He seemed to highly enjoy the increase of our astonishment. "You are now," said he, " in the Knickerbocker office, in the city of New-York, the Metropolis of the great empire of North America;-the time, is December, A.D. 2833.

The books you see, form a complete set of the great Magazine from its commencement, supposed to be the only perfect one in the world, and esteemed so invaluable by the proprietors-that they will not part with them on any consideration, though large offers have been made for them by the King of New Zealand, as they are to be maintained for ever by an express reservation in the will of Peabody and Co., the original founders. You will get whatever additional information you require from the newspapers before you." I took up one. I thought its texture resembled silk.* The characters were peculiar, but by a species of intuition, I was able to decypher them, without difficulty, and an ingenious machine to which it was attached, turned over the leaves as I required, of its own accord. It proved to be the New-York Courier and Enquirer, for December 13, 2833, and though enlarged to near six times its present size, there was no difficulty attending its perusal. We can only recollect a few paragraphs which struck us as being peculiarly interesting.

"The city, yesterday morning, was visited by a severe cold of several degrees below zero, in consequence of an accident having happened at the manufactory of the Patent Caloric generating Company. The most serious consequences were dreaded from the sudden diminution of the temperature."‡

"We have not had any advices from the Moon since the 2d ultimo. The balloon, Highflyer, which left on that day, reports, that there is a severe frost about midway, which will probably prevent arrivals for some time. The late revolution in Saturn, had not seriously affected the funds." There is some talk of our ministry sending out a fleet of twenty balloons of the line, to protect our commercial interests in that quarter."§

"It is reported, that the zealous antiquary, Dr. Skilldecypher, has lately discovered some valuable antiquities in the regions once occupied as England and France;¶ among others, a curious volume of ancient literature, called the Edinburgh Review.** In the doctor's

A chemist, in France, has invented a process, whereby fallen leaves, straw, and vegetable matter, hitherto supposed to be useless, can be fashioned into paper. Its texture, it is said, is peculiarly durable, and resembles silk.-Repertory of Arts.

The Patent Paper folder is a machine lately invented in London, which prevents any accident from tearing, &c. while reading a newspaper or pamphlet. It is adapted to all sizes, and by touching a spring, the leaves are turned over and the book adjusted.--Penny Magazine, pubhshed by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.

Heated air, conveyed in metal pipes, which has been so successfully applied to warming the apartments in Windsor Castle, might, by an extension of the same system, be made to diffuse, in our cities, the genial glow of summer in the coldest depths of winter.-Lectures delivered before the London Institution, as reported in the Working Man's Companion, by Dr. Stevenson.

I have little doubt but that invention can be perfected, unfil distance will be annihilated, and nature subdued, and the vast system of distant worlds brought into close connection by the omnipotence of mind.--Bohlinhup, lectures on mechanical invention, translated by J. Skinner. Édin. 1831. In the campaign of 1795, war balloons were employed by the French in reconnoitering the enemy's camp, and there can be no doubt but they might be improved into most formidable engines of destruction.-Encyclopedia Perthenis, Art. Erostation.

When, in the certain revolution of the wheel of time, the mighty nations of Europe shall, like Assyria and Babylon, have returned to barbarism, or been forgot, then shall young America,' &c.-Fourth of July Oration, read before the Philoclean Society of Wilbraham, by W. Sandford..

**If the Edinburgh Review reaches another decade, the age of miracles will have returned.→ Blackwood's Magazine, in defence of Sadler.