hitherto prevented this salutary reform continue to operate, it is consolatory to believe that our literature, under all its disadvantages of our present condition and false policy, will steadily improve. We may judge of the future from the past. Formerly, in our country, as much reputation could be acquired by a newspaper essay as would now be gained by a respectable volume; and, fifty years since, an author would have found it easier to obtain admirers than it is now to obtain readers, so much has the standard of merit been raised.

In political philosophy, in the science of government, in diplomatic discussion, in moral speculation and theology, and in every species of oratory, whether of the pulpit, the bar, or of deliberative assemblies, in which the disadvantages mentioned have not operated, our writers and speakers will not suffer by a comparison with those of Europe. The same thing may, perhaps, be said of some of our historians, biographers, and writers of travels.

In fiction and romance, though still inferior to Europe, we have attained a respectable proficiency. In light and graceful literature, and in works of delicate and original humor, we have a small number of writers who have no superior in modern times. They are sufficient to redeem the literary character of the country for capacity in this line, but not enough to establish that of its positive achievement.

mens.

In poetry there has been a great and steady advancement. Of productions of the muse exhibiting fancy, feeling, and taste, we have many and ever increasing speciBut no one poet has yet arisen, whose brilliant and felicitous effusions every one remembers, and, like aphorisms, form part of the popular mind and speech. No national poet has yet appeared, who has enlisted his inspired genius in behalf of THE UNION, and has held up

to scorn or ridicule the follies and absurdities, or the unprincipled selfishness of its enemies. No one in tuneful verse has yet adequately blazoned the virtues of Washington, or, in some happy creation of fancy, foreshadowed his apotheosis. But that day will come when, on these, or other topics as national, some inspired genius will win the proudest laurels that poet ever wore.

In the drama we have been less successful; yet a few writers in this department have had a local and not fugitive success.

In the sciences not closely connected with the liberal professions—those which require long study and laborious research-in classical and antiquarian erudition, and in the higher branches of mathematics, we are still greatly in the rear of several nations of Europe. In any race which we may chance to win, it is not yet AS THE

TORTOISE.

The medical science, in all its branches, is extensively and successfully cultivated here. The debt which we owe for the European contribution to this happy union of science and art is already, or soon will be, amply repaid by America.

The practice of public lectures has greatly increased in every part of the United States. It has now become a favorite mode in which literary talent receives remuneration, and the people, intellectual pleasure and instruction.

But the periodical press must be regarded as the great instructor of the American people. It conveys daily information to the humblest, as well as the most elevated in the land. No country has so many of these sources of intelligence, and nowhere are they so extensively used. The papers issued every day considerably exceed

1,000,000, or 426,000,000 in a year;' and as their contents consist chiefly of facts, or are founded on facts, and not much of speculation, most of the knowledge which they communicate approaches to that derived from experience. The editorial corps puts in requisition all the educated, and half-educated men, who are not engrossed by the learned professions and the public functionaries.

In conclusion, it may be remarked, as likely to have an auspicious influence on our literary character, that the bold and independent spirit which was always manifested in our political speculations is now extended to other subjects. Long after political independence was here obtained, the spirit of colonial humility was exhibited in our minds; nor is it yet entirely shaken off. But most of our writers have now become sensible that, in matters materially affecting our country, we ought to think and act for ourselves. The maxim of drawing instruction from our enemies is a well-founded one; and we have often greatly profited by unfriendly censures and criticisms: but it must be taken with discrimination; for, while enemies are intuitively prompted to seize on the most vulnerable points, it must be remembered that malice, though never mistaken in its purpose, sometimes errs in its judgments. The crude and shallow censures and counsels of transatlantic critics have been, sometimes, very mischievous, especially in the great question which now agitates the country. De Tocqueville, of all European writers, has best understood the institutions and character of the American people. He too, indeed, has made some great mistakes; but his errors are those of a manly, ingenuous mind, bent on discovering the truth, and on giving it utterance.

De Bow's Compendium, page 156.

2 Fas est ab hoste doceri.

Our writers, indeed, now often pass to the opposite extreme of their predecessors, and seem more desirous that their speculations should be thought bold and fearless, than just and sound. Instead of believing Pythagoras always right, they now maintain him to be always wrong. Some instances of this literary valor are very amusing. Writers are found among us, who pronounce that Locke was no philosopher, and Adam Smith no political economist, because a flaw may be, here and there, found in their speculations. But, with all its abuse, the free spirit of inquiry was called for, and is likely to do good.

Having taken this general and imperfect view of the productions of the American mind, let us inquire into the characteristics of American literature. The subject is not without difficulty. The supposed peculiarities may be rather individual or accidental than national. The latter, supposing them to exist, may be of too minute and delicate a character to be seized by the critic. If we may hazard an opinion, in which error is probable, and even truth may offend, we would say that, in poetry and ornamental composition, there is a taste for an exuberance of ornament. The importance of simplicity, both for beauty and strength, are not sufficiently appreciated. The prevailing taste is rather Asiatic than Attic. To this, however, in oratory, there are some conspicuous exceptions.

Another deviation from simplicity is manifested both by our writers and speakers, in their profusion of words. This may, in part, be ascribed to the frequency of public addresses and discussions on all occasions of general interest; and, in part, to the influence of the bar on the public taste. Lawyers are accustomed to tautology in all their papers and pleadings; and they are apt to beVOL. IV.-27

come verbose, from the habit of multiplying arguments in favor of the cause they advocate-bad ones being often as efficient with juries as good ones. In this way, a degree of wordiness is produced in their own style; and the rank which they hold in the community makes them objects of imitation. In a large proportion of the speeches delivered in our deliberative assemblies, half the arguments may be well spared, and half the words in each argument. These labored harangues, like an overloaded ship, often fail to reach those to whom they are addressed. The opening messages of our Presidents and Governors are too often specimens of the same bad taste-exhibiting a minute display of facts, followed up by a wearisome display of argument. It would almost seem as if the time we saved by labor-saving machines was squandered in speeches.

As a set-off to this failing, and apparently connected with it, is the remarkable fluency of speech which characterizes the American people, of both sexes, and which is, perhaps, most conspicuous in the Southern States. No one who has had the opportunities of comparison, but must have been struck with the facility with which the people of this country give utterance to their thoughts. This gift may be often witnessed in those who have been little aided by education, and occasionally in some who can neither read nor write, but yet express themselves with clearness, precision, and even elegance. As the audience of the American public speaker consists mainly of ready critics, his knowledge of this fact has a quickening influence on his oratory, and may somewhat contribute to the exuberance both of words and images which has been mentioned.

Of a kindred character is the subject of the fine arts. These have been more successfully cultivated here than