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THE UNITED STATES LITERARY GAZETTE.

Published on the first and fifteenth day of every month, by Cummings, Hilliard, & Co. No. 1 Cornhill, Boston.-Terms, $5 per annum, payable in July. VOL. I.

REVIEWS.

The Art of Invigorating and Prolonging Life, by Food, Clothes, Air, Exercise, Wine, Sleep, &c., and Peptic Precepts, pointing out Agreeable and Effectual Methods to prevent and relieve Indigestion, and to regulate and strengthen the Action of the Stomach and Bowels. By the author of "The Cook's Oracle," &c. &c. From the third London Edition. Philadelphia. 1823. 8vo. pp. 281.

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The Economy of the Eyes, and Precepts for the Improvement and Preservation of the Sight, &c. &c. By William Kitchiner, M. D., author of The Cook's Oracle," "The Art of Invigorating and Prolonging Life," &c. Boston. 1823. 8vo. pp. 224. THE author of these works, if we may credit his account of himself, may be truly said to have suffered for the good of mankind. He informed us, if we remember right, in "The Cook's Oracle," that he had actually eaten of every culinary composition described in that extraordinary performance; which fact renders the occasional intimation in the first of the works before us, that he has suffered by indigestion, the less necessary. His acquaintance with the economy of the visual organs, has also been acquired from experience of the evils of bad eyes and bad spectacles. In short, Dr Kitchiner comes before us, non ignarus mali, and, like the philanthropic traveller, who in his old age built a bridge over a ravine to secure future travellers from the inconveniences which he had endured all his life, is determined that if the public do not derive some benefit from his experience, it shall be their own fault. The idea of the "Peptic Precepts," was indeed naturally enough suggested by "The Cook's Oracle," to which it is an appropriate companion, and both deserve to be bound into one volume, which would compose an epicurean manual as unique as perfect in its kind-for which we can find no simile more fitting, (for we are merciful, and spare our readers the more obvious illustrations from the Soliloquy of Cato) than the classical allusion of the worthy alumnus of Marischal College, when he likened himself to the "half-pike or spontoon of Achilles, one end of which could wound and the other cure-a property belonging neither to Spanish pike, brown-bill, partizan-halbert, Lochaber-axe, or any other modern staff weapon whatever." With the first part, however, or offensive end of this supposed volume, we have nothing to do, leaving the consideration of it to those, whom native taste or acquired acumen have enabled

"To mix the food by curious rules of art."

BOSTON, OCTOBER 15, 1824.

No. 13.

Excepting occasional aberrations of this sort, the readers of these works will find in them, and particularly in the first, much good sense and useful information, delivered in a familiar manner;-much that every man ought to know, that few men out of the medical profession do know, and fewer still pay proper regard to.

On the more proper object of this re- that any attempt to regain the subject from view, we have to make two general re- which he had originally diverged, would be marks. The first regards the extensive out of the question, or perhaps,, lifted by acquaintance of our author with colloquial the grandeur of the occasion above all concant phrases, and proverbial small wit. siderations of sight, finishes his chapter Being something accomplished in this way with a copy of this anthem, properly markourselves, we are the better qualified to ap-ed throughout with accents, circumflexes, preciate the excellence of Dr Kitchiner in &c., for the correct singing thereof. this particular, which is truly extraordinary; and though he sometimes repeats himself, yet we are convinced that this is rather from inadvertence, or the very "embarras des richesses," than from any paucity of "saws or instances." The other peculiarity in the writings of our author, is his natural manner; by which we mean his practice of following out the train of his associ- Our author's doctrine respecting the best ations, without being bound down to a ser- method of invigorating the system, is foundvile and artificial adherence to the matter ed principally upon the results of the proin hand. This is well illustrated in the cess of training men for athletic exercises, latter part of "The Economy of the Eyes," as taught and practised by Capt. Barclay, where the Doctor is led very naturally and other celebrated amateurs of the fancy. from the consideration of spectacles, As physicians have been taught the use and through the intermediate steps of opera- advantage of some of the most efficient arglasses and theatres, to the comparative ticles of the materia medica by the daring distances in the last from the stage to the practices of empirics, so they are likely to boxes-thence to the reasons why Garrick learn from the turf or bear-garden many produced a greater effect upon his audience valuable lessons in hygiene and dietetics. than his successors;-the effect of acting What bark, or what bolus, can take from being, as the Doctor supposes, in an inverse the victim of obesity forty or fifty pounds ratio to the size of the theatre, which puts in a few months, and give him in exchange him in mind of the great size of the mod- the lightness and elasticity of youth, impart ern ones, and this suggests (metaphysically coolness to his mind and vigour to his musspeaking) the idea of a calculation of the cles, and convert the relaxed and sedentary actual expense of Drury Lane, which he sensualist into the hardy pugilist and pedesproves, by official data, to have cost no more trian. Yet these things are every day ef(notwithstanding what malicious people may fected by the experienced trainers for the say) than the original estimate. Our au- ring and the race-course. The process for thor's ideas now begin to rise with his sub-restoring health and strength in a similar ject, and he is led to the examination of way, is doubtless more or less severe; but the numbers of loyal subjects, which have there is no royal road to these blessings. been contained in the theatres at the seve- "The primal, eldest curse" is upon all of us ral different times when they have been visited by his Gracious Sovereign; and he shows by a document communicated to him by "Mr Robertson, the Treasurer to Covent Garden Theatre," that, "on Wednesday the 3d of December 1823, the performances on that night being The Cabinet' and Timour the Tartar,' a greater number of persons assembled in the theatre than had been in it on any previous performance. The whole scene was most brilliant; God save the King' was sung several times,”which leads to a discussion of the proper manner of singing that national anthem, which should not be thus,

Gaw-od

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God! save great George our Kin'g.
And now the Doctor, finding probably

without exception; and he that may not labour for food, must labour for its digestion. We have no intention of entering here into the details of the system of training; but referring the curious in these particulars to the works of Barclay and Pierce Egan, we proceed to notice the doctrines of our author, according to the heads under which he himself has arranged them.

The directions respecting food are numerous and particular; and we know not how to select any, without making longer extracts than we are disposed to do, or without encroaching upon the province of the physician. We recommend them to our readers, with the assurance that they will certainly do them no harm, since they may be all summed up in this very comprehensive general rule, viz. "to eat only of such food-at such times-and in such quantities, as experience has convinced

you agree with your constitution, and absolutely to avoid all other."

Sleep-"Child of wo, lay thy head on thy pillow instead of thy mouth to the bottle.' The Doctor maintains that of all stimulants, sleep is the best,-whether for exhaustion of body or mind,-that a "forty winks' nap," is better than a glass of brandy, and that a sofa is a sine qua non in a study. He does not forget, however, that this panacea cannot always be had at will,-that the downy pinions will not light on every lid. He tells us, that the habit of sleeping may be acquired, that he who has urged his nerves into a feverish irritability, cannot sooth their commotions with a word, that there are moments when the Nepenthe is offered by kind nature to all, and if her kindness is neglected, that she cannot be whistled back like a tame spaniel;-in short, that if we do not remember we are mortal, she will teach us the lesson with whips and scorpions. To those unfortunates who have their abodes in "Elysiums of brick and mortar," our author offers "all he has, a tear," and to them he acknowledges that often " sleep cannot come, that comes to all." The unction with which he touches this part of the subject will be felt by all, who have ocasionally (and what denizen of a city has not?) felt the agony of sleep delayed, and he shall speak for himself.

Sound passes through the thin party walls of modern houses with most unfortunate facility. If you are so unlucky as to have for your next door neighbours, fashionable folks, who turn night into day, or such as delight in the sublime economy of cinder saving and cobweb catching, it is in vain to seek repose, before the former has indulged in the evening's recreation of raking out the fire, and has played with the poker till it has made all the red coals black; or after Molidusta 'the tidy one,' has awoke the morn, with the broom, the bonny, bonny broom.' A determined dust-hunter or cinder-saver murders its neighbour's sleep, with as little mercy as Macbeth did Malcolm's-and bangs doors, and rattles window-shutters, till the Earth trembles and air is aghast. All attempts to conciliate a savage, who is in this fancy, will be labour in vain. The arrangement of its fire is equally the occupation of the morning, and the amusement of the evening; and the preservation of a cinder and the destruction of a cobweb, are the main business of its existence.***The majority of the Dogs, Parrots, Piano-fortes, &c. in this metropolis are actionable nuisances.***Little sweep-soot-ho is another dreadful disturber. The shrill screaming of the poor boys making night hideous,' at five or six o'clock in cold dark weather, is a most barbarous custom, and frequently disturbs a whole street, before they rouse the drowsy sluggard who sent for them.***The Editor's feelings are tremblingly alive on this subject. "Finis coronat opus." However soundly he has slept during the early part of the night, if the finishing nap in the morning is interrupted from continuing to its natural termination, his whole system is shook by it, and all that sleep has before done for him is undone in an instant; he gets up distracted and languid, and the only part of his head, that is of any use to him, is the hole between his nose and chin.

Among the variety of queer things in this chapter is the definition of single grog, "one brandy and nine waters.' The siesta and semi-siesta (i. e. putting the feet on a stool about eight inches high) are recommended, and we add our authority, quantum valeat, to the host of those, who are

cited in support of it-from that of the Lord Chancellor " Aged men and weake bodies, a short sleepe after dinner does help to nourish," to the old English proverb, "After dinner sit awhile."

Clothes. We were aware that many absurdities prevailed among mankind in regard to clothing,-some ridiculous only, and others injurious; but the following grievance had escaped our notice.

Of all the customs of clothing, the most extremely absurd is the usual arrangement of bed clothes, which, in order, as the chamber-maid fancies, to make the bed look pretty in the day time, are left long at the head, that they may cover the pillow. ble load on your lungs, &c. &c. When they are turned down, you have an intolera

confirms what we have before suspected, that he is a bachelor,-it is this, that the babies are apt to be brought to table with it.

The part of this volume denominated "Peptic Precepts," abounds with exquisite maxims, and nice calculations, of which the following is an example: "From thirty to forty (according to the tenderness of the meat) has been calculated as the mean number of munches that solid meat re

quires, to prepare it for its journey down the red lane.'

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The " Economy of the Eyes" is the strangest jumble of disquisitions upon spectacles, telescopes, microscopes, opera-glasses, theatres, and astronomy; song-singing, and musical ears; of judicious observations, and mal-à-propos quotations,-that we ever remember to have met with. It has neither beginning, middle, nor end. Any thing like a regular analysis of it, we believe to be out of the question; and so we leave it to our readers, assuring them that they will find some amusement, if they find nothing else in it.

After a diligent perusal of these works, we profess ourselves unable to determine whether the author is really a flat or a philosopher.

The general direction respecting clothes, is to wear warm apparel when we are cold, and thin and cool, when we are warm; which one would think was obvious enough; but maxims of this sort are too simple for many people, who cannot believe a plain reason to be a good one, and will sweat under loads of broadcloth in hot weather, lest they should take cold, or shiver through a winter half-dressed, that they may become hardened, as they term it;-in plain English, that they may have some chance of We have wavered in our suffering less from the next season than opinion, as the reader may perceive in the they do from the present, without seeming course of this review, as the evidence on to be aware that a great coat would make either side preponderated. We are even them comfortable now and ever. These uncertain whether Dr Kitchiner is in relast should remember the aphorism of the rum natura, his account of himself is so vagreat Boerhaave, that "only fools and beg-rious. If he is so, we are persuaded that gars suffer from cold, the latter not being he is, as we before observed, a bachelor; able to procure sufficient clothes, and the and that he sings a good song. Concernformer not having the sense to wear them." ing his age we can form no conjecture, With respect to the articles of Fire and since in the "Art of Prolonging Life" he Air, the author thinks that money saved in tells us that he is about forty-three, and in buying fuel is often spent in buying physic; the "Economy of the Eyes," speaks of the and that, while it is necessary that we time when he was forty-five; but we are should have a supply of fresh air, what is certain that he has frequently amused, and commonly called change of air is often in- sometimes instructed us, and we shall, jurious to invalids, it being many times like therefore, according to his desire, rather taking an oyster from his shell, in which recommend his books than lend them. last opinion we disagree with the Doctor.

We find a very short chapter devoted to Exercise, which one would think deserved a long one. We do not know how to account for the brevity with which Dr Kitchiner passes over this subject. He probably considered, that he who did not acknowledge the indispensable nature of this, and was not fully aware both of its use and necessity, was not worth wasting words upon.

On the subject of Wine, our author is very diffuse. But we have not space to follow him through all his details. In one particular he differs toto cœlo from some of our modern epicures,-roundly asserting, that all wines begin to deteriorate after being kept five or six years, and that the best way to make old wine is to mix water with new. "All," says he, "that the outrageous advocates for vin passé' really know about it is, that sherry is yellow, and port is black, and that if they drink enough of either of them, it will make them drunk." Upon such abominably heterodox opinions we offer no comment. The Doctor has one association with wine, which is evidently not an agreeable one, and which

An Oration, pronounced at Cambridge, before the Society of Phi Beta Kappa, August 27, 1824. By Edward Everett. Boston. 1824. 8vo. pp. 67.

WE welcome every indication, that intelligent Americans are beginning to investigate the peculiar circumstances, the prospects, and the duties of our country. All civilized nations are looking upon us; let it not be our fault, if they look in vain. Throughout Europe, and in all states of European origin, men are getting new thoughts, new hopes, new purposes; plans of revolution, if not of liberty, are agitated; they who govern have been made to join themselves in solemn league, the better to maintain their common cause by common efforts; the people of many realins are demanding to know some reason for the rights which their rulers claim;-and every where, they who hope for change, and they who fear it, are looking at this country. Our success, our unparalleled, and, until realized, unimagined political happiness, nurtures the hopes of millions, if it did not

ture.

inspire them; and from our history, our conduct, and our condition, they ask instruction. None can doubt that important relations exist between this country and all others in Christendom. The tendency of the political movements of this age-we do not say their irresistible and absolute tendency, for of the future we have no right to speak in terms of certainty, but their obvious present tendency is towards the reclamation and recovery of their rights, by the people; and in this path we have advanced until all precedent is left behind, and all nations who would tread it must be content to follow. It may be believed, that our revolution, with our subsequent national establishment, has mainly contributed to awake the world, and stir up the spirits of men to high purposes and strong actions; or that it is but one mighty circumstance in that vast chain of causes and effects, which may be traced backwards to ages of darkness-ages when the press began to extend the aid and influence of truth to countless multitudes, and Luther armed himself with the Scriptures to fight down the Churchand leads forwards to a brighter futurity than the hopes of men ever dared to picIt is of no consequence, what opinion is held as to the exact manner or degree, in which our success has caused or promoted that struggling for rights, which characterizes these days. Certain it is, that we have gained what other nations are seeking;-that we are, what they are striving to become. There are essential differences between us and these, which should be pointed out, for they lead to important consequences; with some advantages which we have not, they must become free in despite of many hindrances, which neither we nor our fathers were tasked to subdue. Now, it is an easy thing for them to become free who are ready for freedom; but it is very hard to prepare for liberty, to make susceptible of its blessings, men to whose common thoughts and feelings, to whose habitual life, it is altogether foreign. But at this moment this great work of preparation is going on. The cause of justice and of truth may not be much furthered by local and spasmodic reactions against established abuses. Men will be ruled by men, and governments will continue to be for the good of the few, until the crowds, the populace of nations are freed from those habits and those vices, which make it impossible that they should govern themselves. A national character which could endure the establishment of an actual government of laws, neither could nor would submit for an hour to the tyrannous rule of any man or men; and, until such a character as this is created in Europe, the uproar about Legitimates and Carbonari, and royalists and republicans, and kings, and cortes, "this common cry of curs," cannot be stilled. The preparation for the enjoyment of all that we enjoy, we should aid; and we may aid it by enlightening the public mind of the many nations from which we sprang. Follies and falsehoods which time and authority had sanctified, the progress of reason

195

and truth is beginning to desecrate; let not | free institutions, still it may be inquired, whether these feelings of reverence and submission the new form of social organization among us is be extirpated, but turned upon their proper of our literature? As the country advances, as the objects. The great principle that all po- population becomes denser, as wealth accumulates, at least to produce no corresponding modification, litical power rests upon opinion, will-at as the various occasions of a large, prosperous, and least may-soon be tested by tremendous polite community call into strong action and vigo experiments; of its truth there can be no rous competition the literary talent of the coundoubt,-public opinion must be victorious try, will no peculiar form or direction be given to and absolute; how infinitely important is it, this question an answer must, without any hesitaits literature, by the nature of its institutions? To then, that this omnipotent opinion be duly tion, be given in the affirmative. Literature as well enlightened. Let the nations of Europe be in its origin, as in its true and only genuine characmade to know what manner of people we ter, is but a more perfect communication of man are, and how we became what we are. The with man and mind with mind. It is a grave, susexamination of our national condition, and feeling; or a free and happy reflection of nature, of tained, deliberate utterance of fact, of opinion, and of the causes which created it, and the influ- character, or of manners; and if it be not these it ences which affect it, is a work of too much is poor imitation. It may, therefore, be assumed importance to be left undone—or ill done- as certain, that the peculiarity of our condition and any longer. Let it be rescued from the institutions will be reflected in some peculiarity of hands of those who can do no more than early to say. Literary history informs us of many our literature; but what that shall be it is as yet too make it an opportunity for nonsensical and studies, which have been neglected as dangerous to nauseating glorification, and of those who existing governments; and many others which have are so free from vulgar and conceited preju- been cultivated because they were prudent and dice, that they can see nothing remarkable safe. We have hardly the means of settling from in this conntry,-nothing that is valuable cively take, when left under strong excitements to analogy, what direction the mind will most deciin that which is peculiar-nothing in our action, wholly without restraint from the arm of freedom but licentiousness-nothing in our power. It is impossible to anticipate what garsimplicity but rudeness-nothing in our naments our native muses will weave for themselves. tional economy but short-sighted and waste- To foretell our literature would be to create it. ful economy-nothing in them who claim There was a time before an epic poem, a tragedy, for our native land a decided superiority in by the wit of man. or a historical composition had ever been produced the best blessings God can give a nation, It was a time of vast and but idle boasting and childish, miserable vanity. Let men of sense undertake this work; men of strong and patient minds, men of knowledge and experience, who have dwelt among the people of other lands, and studied them and their ways. That the result of their labours will be received abroad as a welcome gift, they need not that we should tell them; and the attention it will meet with here, may be learned from the extreme interest with which this very long oration was heard, and from the fact, that the copy now before us, although it is not so stated upon the title page, is of a second edition.

The subject of this Address, is "The pe-
culiar motives to intellectual exertion in
America." This important inquiry is closely
connected with all the most interesting pe-
culiarities in our condition and prospects.
In pursuing it, Mr Everett first examines
the common opinion, that literature needs
a patronage which cannot exist without
monarchical institutions, and shows it to be
an error.
power, the peculiar facilities afforded to the
He then illustrates with great
intellectual progress of this country, by the
extension of one language, government,
and character, over so wide a space as the
United States of America. We have not
room to follow the course of Mr Everett's
reasoning, and cannot, easily, by a few ex-
amples, do justice to the strength of his ar-
guments, or the beauty of his illustrations.
Perhaps no part of this oration interested us
more than those passages which relate to the
character of the growing literature of this
country, and the difficulty of predicting
what that character will be.

powerful empires, of populous and wealthy cities. But these new and beautiful forms of human thought and feeling all sprung up in Greece, under the stimin the world, it would have been idle for the philoulus of her free institutions. Before they appeared sopher to form conjectures, as to the direction, which the kindling genius of the age was to asise the anticipation, and it would cease to be an antisume. He, who could form, could and would realcipation. Assuredly epic poetry was invented then Iliad, not in its full detail of circumstance, but in and not before, when the gorgeous vision of the the dim conception of its leading scenes and sterner features, burst into the soul of Homer. Impossible, indeed, were the task fully to read the auspices of the nind, under the influence of institutions as those of Greece. But if, as no one will deny, our new, as peculiar, and far more animating, than equal terms, if it provide a prompter circulation of political system bring more minds into action on thought throughout the community, if it give weight and empasis to more voices, if it swell to tens of who crowd the narrow strait where honor travels, thousands and millions those sons of emulation, then it seems not too much to foretell some peculiarity at least, if we may not call it improvement, in that literature, which is but the voice and utterance of all this mental action. doubt that the instrument of communication itself There is little possibly, that forms of address, wholly new, will be and spoken language will acquire force and power; will receive great improvements; that the written struck out, to meet the universal demand for new energy. When the improvement and the invenfor, as well to its happy author as the world. But where great interests are at stake, great concerns tion (whatever it be) comes, it will come unlooked

Continent are of themselves sufficient to produce *The peculiar natural features of the American some strong peculiarity in its literature, but this separate Essay. It has, I am permitted to say, been made the subject of one, by M. de Salazar, the mintopic is comprehensive and curious enough for a ister from the Colombian Republic to the United States, which will shortly be presented to the friends of American letters. An essay on such a subject, cy, which is alleged to exist in this country toward an admirable illustration of the genial influence of But though it be conceded to us that the tenden-lished in the kingdom of Nueva Granada, is itself from an accomplished citizen of a free State, estabthe political career, is not a vicious effect of our popular institutions on Intellectual Improvement.

Narrative of a Pedestrian Journey through Russian and Siberian Tartary, from the the Frontiers of China to the Frozen Sea and Kamtchatka; performed during the years 1820, 1821, 1822, and 1823. By Capt. John Dundas Cochrane, R. N. Philadelphia. 1824. 8vo. pp. 415.

rapidly succeeding each other, depending on almost | Hume and Smollet Abridged, and Continued instrument of instruction, than either alone. innumerable wills, and yet requiring to be appre- to the Accession of George IV. By John These engravings are numerous, and reprehended in a glance, and explained in a word; where Robinson, D. D. With 160 Engravings. sent strikingly the most important facts in movements are to be given to a vast empire, not by transmitting orders, but by diffusing opinions, exNew York. 1824. 12mo. pp. 501. English history; and, with the correctness citing feelings, and touching the electric chord of WE think the true principles of education of the statements and general liveliness of sympathy, there language and expression will be--both the science and the art-are as well the style, make the work very well suited come intense, and the old processes of communica- understood here, as in England, or else- to the domestic reading of children. tion must put on a vigor and a directness, adapted to the aspect of the times. Our country is called, where. The attention of scholars, and of as it is, practical; but this is the element for intel- practical men, is directed quite as much to lectual action. No strongly marked and high toned that important subject; and it is reasonaliterature; poetry, eloquence, or ethics; ever ap- ble to believe, that our best books for peared but in the pressure, the din, and crowd of schools, and for domestic instruction, will great interests, great enterprises, perilous risks, and dazzling rewards. Statesmen, and warriors, and soon cease to be the re-prints of English poets, and orators, and artists, start up under one works. This is already the case in a conand the same excitement. They are all branches siderable degree. Many of the schoolof one stock. They form, and cheer, and stimulate, books now in most common'use, are of home and what is worth all the rest, understand each oth- manufacture; and of the new works which er; and it is as truly the sentiment of the student, in the recesses of his cell, as of the soldier in the the press of this country is pouring forth ranks, which breathes in the exclamation; with a profusion which will soon wipe away all reproach of literary barrenness, the number of those which relate, in some way or other, to the work of education, bears a very large proportion to that of the whole. In astronomy, in geography, and, more than all, in arithmetic, we think that Wilkins, Worcester, and Colburn, have fairly driven from the field competitors, who had all the advantage of established and extensive usage. In other branches, less has been done, and in history, little indeed is yet accomplished. We must, therefore, be contented with using works provided for us in foreign lands;-and may be glad that the supply from abroad is in a good measure satisfactory, in respect of quality as well as quantity.

To all the sons of sense proclaim,
One glorious hour of crowded life
Is worth an age without a name.

*

Literature, as has been partly hinted, is the voice

of the age and the state. The character, energy, and resources of the country, are reflected and imaged forth in the conceptions of its great minds. They are the organs of the time; they speak not their own language, they scarce think their own thoughts; but under an impulse like the prophetic enthusiasm of old, they must feel and utter the sentiments which society inspires. They do not create, they obey the Spirit of the Age; the serene and beautiful spirit descended from the highest heaven of liberty, who laughs at our little preconceptions, and with the breath of his mouth, sweeps before him the men and the nations, that cross his path. By an unconscious instinct, the mind, in the strong action of its powers, adapts itself to the number and complexion of the other minds, with which it is to enter into communion or conflict. As the voice falls into the key, which is suited to the space to be filled, the mind, in the various exercises of its cremaster-note, which will awaken a vibration from the surrounding community, and which if it do not find, it is itself too often struck dumb.

ative faculties, strives with curious search for that

In his second paragraph, Mr Everett alludes to the "Panegyric on Athens," and offers the example of that beautiful work. as an excuse for the choice of his theme. No excuse for this choice was needed; and per haps the orator meant rather that the suggestion should explain his mode of treating it. In a composition more directly and exclusively devoted to a severe examination of the topics of this oration, we should require the facts and principles assumed, to be stated with more exactness, and more specific qualifications; and should demand a more full array, and a clearer exposition of opposing circumstances. The subject could not be exhausted, nor fully discussed, within the space which a spoken address could not well exceed; but Mr Everett's Oration cannot fail of encouraging and confirming those who hope that the intellectual works of this country will bear testimony, by their power and splendour, to the propitious influence of our free institutions, and the many favorable conditions of our national existence. We think that all will admit the correctness of his general views, and-if we may so speak-adopt the principles of prophecy which he has laid down, who are able to comprehend them, and are not deluded by some prejudice.

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WHAT is there, in which modern times so far excel the ancient, as in the increase of travels? We do not read of accounts of voyages and travels published by the Greeks and Romans; few then travelled except on business, and the very few who travelled for improvement, chose rather to work up the stock of information, which they had thus acquired, into formal histories of the nations among whom they had sojourned, than to give a detailed account of their personal adventures. In the time of the Crusades there was of course much travelling; but we know of no writer among the Crusaders who has attempted to tell what happened particularly to himself, though several wrote histories of the crusades. On the revival of commerce, the great agent of civilization, different adventurers, some suc

cessful and others unsuccessful as to the The pretensions, and the merit of the main object of their wanderings, favoured work now under notice, may be stated in their countrymen, on their return, with the few words. From all the examination we stories of their hair-breadth escapes, and have been able to make, it appears to be a of the wonderful things which they had faithful abridgment of Hume and Smollet, seen. Ignorant nations-whatever may as to facts; and with respect to the style be thought of it-are not apt to be creduof a work like this, it is, perhaps, praise lous; and, until lately, travellers were gene enough to say, that it has no striking char-erally stigmatized by the appellation of acteristics. Many expressions-even many liars. Herodotus has been called the fathperiods and paragraphs, appear to be copied er of liars; Marco Polo was held in light verbatim from the originals; and the author's esteem by his countrymen because he pubown style, in those parts which are wholly lished such monstrous stories; and in a rere-written or added, is animated, and, gene- cent work of an eminent scholar, Sir John rally speaking, in good taste. The preju- Maundeville is denominated the greatest dices of Hume-if prejudices they were traveller and the greatest liar of his age. which, in the opinion of those whose po- Times are now altered; men of establishlitical views differ from his, have influenced ed reputations for science and arts, now and falsified his account of the Common- travel, not for the purpose of amassing wealth, and of the reigns of the last of the wealth, nor in the train of conquering arStuarts, are still more prominent in this mies, but go peacefully forth" to see many abridgment; either because the senti- cities and nations;" to establish important ments of the author are necessarily stated in abstract truths, and to enlarge in every an abridgment with less periphrasis or quali- possible mode the range of human knowlfication, or because Mr Robinson agrees in edge. The more we learn, the more we opinion with Hume, and is willing to say just are ready to believe; and the character of what he thinks. The engravings are from many modern travellers is such, that, howthe most valuable and celebrated pictures, ever strange may seem the things of which or rather from miniature copies by Mr they tell us, we rely with unlimited confiCraig. The drawing of them is very good; dence on their veracity. Their observabut the American publishers did not employ tions are daily rescuing their predecesthe best of our artists, or else the engrav-sors from the charge of falsity so often ings of the copy now before us were not preferred against them. Herodotus is provstruck off until the plates had been consid-ed to have been accurate in very many erably worn. Miss Edgeworth says, that the young learn more readily, and more effectually, from pictures than from books; but both together, form perhaps a better

instances where he was formerly discredited; the fame of Marco Polo is rescued from the obloquy with which it was so long overwhelmed; and though we have never

many of them indeed we would rather should be familiar in any one's mouth than ours; they look as if the attempt to pronounce them would save our tooth-drawer some labour.

been so fortunate as to see a copy of Sir of the government. With this protection, and such country very little known, and there is no
John Maundeville's travels, we have found recommendations as it might procure me, I would map of it annexed. We have traced the
little that was very particularly incredible have accompanied the caravans in some servile ca-
in the extracts which we have met with pacity, nor hesitated even to sell myself as a slave, route as well as we were able upon the
if that miserable alternative were necessary to ac-
best map
that we could procure, and be-
now and then, in the course of our read-complish the object I had in view. * * *
lieve we have succeeded in most instances
ing. We rejoice at this change of things: My answer from the admiralty was unfavourable, at guessing within five hundred miles at the
it is one among a multitude of reasons expressing an unwillingness to countenance the un-situation of the place mentioned; but it is
which make us very well satisfied that our dertaking; whether from tender regard to the safety not a little vexatious in reading a work of
birth was deferred till the latter part of the of my person, or because they considered such an this nature, to look in vain for towns and
expedition foreign to their department, or from what
eighteenth century.
other reason I shall leave the reader to conjecture. stations and even rivers without number,
The book which is now before us is I was not, however, the less convinced of the prac- the names of which seem to the author
another proof of the zeal, with which that ticability of my plan; but finding that a young com- "familiar in his mouth as household words"
information, which can be gained only by mander like myself was not likely to be employed
travelling, is sought in the present day; afloat, I determined to undertake a journey, vary
and though Capt. Cochrane failed in the ing only the object and the scene to that of the un-
fortunate Ledyard, viz. to travel round the globe, as
ultimate objects of his expedition, yet we nearly as can be done by land, crossing from Nor-
have good cause to congratulate our read-thern Asia to America, at Behring's Streights; I
ers that he made the journey, and has pub-also determined to perform the journey on foot, for
lished this account.
the best of all possible reasons, that my finances
Capt. Cochrane has prefixed to his book allowed of no other. I accordingly procured two
a dedication to Lord Melville; and had we, the continents of Europe, Asia, and America. ***
years' leave of absence, and prepared to traverse
as is our wont, begun at the beginning, we My first and leading object was to trace the
should have proceeded to read the narra- shores of the Polar Sea along America, by land, as
tive with strong prejudices against the Captain Parry is now attempting to do by sea; and
author;-a more debasing dedication we at the same time to note my observations on men
have seldom seen. Our readers will scarce- and manners in the various situations and condi-
ly believe, that Capt. Cochrane gravely fail of presenting many opportunities. Having,
tions of life; for which such a journey could not
tells Lord Melville, that he is permitted to therefore, procured such documents as were ne-
hope "that his Lordship may derive a few cessary, and filled my knapsack with such articles
hours of amusement from the perusal of the as I considered requisite to enable me to wander
work; and that should this wish fortunate-through the wilds, deserts, and forests of three quar-
ly be accomplished,” Capt. Cochrane "will ters of the globe, I quitted London and landed at
Dieppe from the packet-boat.
not consider his time to have been useless-

ly employed." Ye Yankees, just look at To attempt to give an analysis of this
this a journey on foot, occupying three or journey would be equally vain and useless.
four years, and an octavo book of four hun-Suffice it to say, that our author travelled
dred and fifteen pages-performed, written, chiefly on foot, through France, Germany,
and published, and the author's time not and Prussia, to St Petersburg, where, be-
uselessly employed, if the result of all this ing furnished with two writs, one patent
labour furnish a few hours' amusement to a
and one close, from the Emperor of all the
Lord! But Lord Melville is First Lord Russias, permitting him to travel through
of the Admiralty, and John Dundas Coch- the empire on foot, and commanding all in
rane is a Captain of the Royal Navy, out authority to assist him as occasion might
of employment. Luckily we happened not require, he set off, and skirting the fron-
to observe the dedication when we first tiers of China, made his way to the mouth
opened the book; and we enjoyed undi- of the river Kolyma, on the borders of the
Frozen Ocean. There he found Baron
minished pleasure in its perusal. Next to
the dedication comes a well-written pre-
Wrangel preparing for his expedition to
face, in which the author shows much more ascertain the north-east point of Asia. Be-
manliness and independence while address-ing a foreigner, Capt. Cochrane was not
ing the public, than he displayed while permitted to join this expedition; and at-
crouching before his patron.

Capt. Cochrane's zeal for travelling, and his object in the journey which he made, will better appear from the following passages of his first chapter, than from any

abstract which we could make of them.

Capt. Cochrane very candidly states, in his preliminary remarks,

The account I am about to give of my travels can but little gratify the scientific reader. I conbeen ever so skillful could I, travelling on foot, fess my ignorance of natural history, nor had I mals, plants, or minerals. I had no means of carhave brought away with me any specimens of anirying with me such instruments as are necessary for rally expected to be noted by travellers. The few making geographical observations of places, of the state of the air, or such other matters as are geneinstruments I did possess were taken from me, as

will hereafter appear.

Though, however, this work does not abound with observations valuable to science, it is full of what is perhaps not less worthy of our attention, and what to a large majority of readers will be more interesting, than calculations on the length of the pendulum, and on the magnetic variation. It abounds with what we doubt not is a correct delineation of the habits and mode of life of the savage tribes scattered over the vast plains of Siberia, and along the banks of the rivers which run into the Frozen Ocean.

The sum of our author's observa

tions is well expressed in his conclusion, which we extract with pleasure.

I feel convinced that compassion is the leading characteristic of what are termed barbarians, and that man, in a state of nature, will freely give to the distressed that bread which he would not sell for money. I am confident that man is really humane, and that he gives more from the dictates of a good heart, than from ostentation. I have received food from a family who were almost in a starving state, and am, therefore, justified by grateful experience, in affirming that those people who are the able and friendly to their fellows. most ignorant and uncivilized, are the most hospit

tempted next to cross the country of Tchuktchi, and pass over Behring's Strait into America. Here again he was disappointed; for the Tchuktchi refused him a passage; so he turned about and went to Should my readers concur with me in this opinOkotsk, whence he hoped to obtain a pas-ion, as deduced from the facts I have stated in this sage to America. On his arrival here, journal, they will not regret to have devoted a few In the month of January, 1820, I addressed a letter however, he learned that another Russian hours to its perusal; and with these sentiments I to the Secretary of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, offering to undertake a journey into the expedition had sailed under Capt. Vassi- conclude this narration. interior of Africa, which should have for its object lieff, having in view the same object which the ascertaining of the course and determination of he had. Being thus defeated or forestalled the river Niger. Besides the bent of my own in- at all points, he passed from Okotsk over to clination, I had an inducement to this step in the Kamtchatka, and spent his time partly in conviction, established by experience, of my capa-wooing and partly in journeying over the bility to encounter the ordinary difficulties of a pedestrian traveller; having, on the conclusion of the peninsula, till at length he married, and general peace, traversed on foot the beautiful coun- with his wife returned to Okotsk, and tries of France, Spain, and Portugal, an excursion thence across land again to the shores of in which I certainly underwent a full proportion of the Baltic, where he embarked, and, havfatigue and privations. The plan I purposed to follow was nearly that ing landed in England, published his jouradopted by Mungo Park in his first journey; intendThere is one great defect in the ing to proceed alone, and requiring only to be fur-book, which we have severely felt while Aished with the countenance of some constituent part reading it; the route described is across a

nal.

The acuteness of the Tchuktchi, a tribe who wander over the north-eastern extremity of Asia, is well exemplified in the account of our author's attempt to treat with them for permission to travel through We think Kacharga and their country. his fellow chief would make very clever diplomatists.

The next topic started was that of my desire to accompany the Tchuktchi through their country, and this seemed to require more generalship than all the others. The commissary, though an interpreter, commenced by informing the Tchuktchi people, that, the Emperor understanding two

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