PERHAPS the best way, after all, of inaking any two people thoroughly acquainted with each other, is to run a fair parallel between them, wherever it can be done with a firm hand, a clear head, and a steady eye. One simple fact, brought home upon us unexpectedly, will often do more than volumes of abstract propositions.

But, in running a parallel of this kind, one should be perpetually upon his guard, or he will wander into poetry and exaggeration. The desire of doing a clever or a brilliant thing-of being lively, smart, and entertaining, is exceedingly prone to interfere with plain matters of fact. But, where national fellowship is concerned, the simple truth is always better than pleasantry, and caricature, however rich and humorous it may be, is entirely out of place. Broad, absolute nature, although it may be, sometimes, offensive, is never so very offensive as affectation.

The language of an American will not often betray him; that of an Englishman will; so will that of a Scot, or an Irishman, unless he be of the highest class, when his English is often remarkable for purity.

But there are no provincials in the United States. The Yankees, who inhabit the New England States, (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Maine,) differ, it is true, from the southern people; and the latter, in their turn, differ from the western people; but then it is only in a few words, the whole of which might be enumerated in half a minute; and in a strong nasal tone, common to a part of the New England population. But for these few words, and this tone, the people of any one state in the Union might become incorporated with the people of any other, five hundred or a thousand miles distant, without being known for strangers. And, as it is, the native of any one state can travel from one end of the Union to the other, thousands and thousands of miles, not only without an interpreter, but with a tolerable certainty, if he desire it, of passing, in every state, for a citizen of that state. An Englishman who has no strong provincial dialect, and no very peculiar

pronunciation, may pass in the same way, without suspicion, over the whole of the North American States.

A fact like this cannot but make a strong impression upon us. The best of English, we all know, will not carry a man far, in the British Empire. To a large proportion of the people, it would be wholly unintelligible; and to another large proportion, a sort of dialect.

He who would travel comfortably, for three or four hundred miles, in any direction, from London, should understand many languages and many dialects. But one language, if he speak it tolerably, will carry him all over the North American States; and, in some cases, without permitting him to be known for a stranger.

The country people of New England-the Virginians and the Kentuckians, who are the posterity of the New Englanders have a disposition to sound the vowel a, like the Scotch and Irish; and, in some cases, like the Italians, without any variation of tone. Thus, they say chamber, and even

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A Yankee will say, I guess; or, sometimes, though very rarely, I calculate, but never I reckon. A Marylander and a Virginian will say, I reckon-sometimes very oddly, as thus: "Do you visit Mr Jefferson, before you leave the country?"—“ Í reckon." But a Virginian was never known to say, I guess, or I calculate. A Tennessian or Kentuckian will generally say, I calculate; seldom, I guess; and hardly ever, I reckon. These words, in fact, are the distinguishing marks of three different divisions of the American people.

Hence the absurdity of those représentations, however humorous they may be, which put all these phrases, and others that resemble them, into the same fellow's mouth. And hence is it, that an American who goes to see Mr Matthews, although he may

laugh as heartily as another at his drollery, is laughing at a kind of drollery which our countrymen do not perceive. Mr M.'s Yankees come from no particular part of the confederacy; and are, evidently, "made up," at second hand, with two fine exceptions, of which I shall hereafter take some notice.

But how would a native of Great Britain relish a character that should come upon the stage kilted; with a shamrock in his hat, a shilelah in his hand, a leek in his button-hole, or a piece of toasted cheese and a red-herring in his pocket; swearing alternately by St Patrick, St Andrew, St David, and St George; and speaking a gibberish made up of Scotch, Irish, and Welch, interspersed with provincial and Cockney phrases?

And yet that is precisely what has been done by those who have been employed in getting up brother Jonathans for the English market. They have jumbled everything together, true and false-all the peculiarities of all the different people-and called the composition a Yankee.

In almost every book of travels, play, novel, and story, if a New Englander be introduced, he is generally made to do the most absurd things for a New Englander; things that are hardly less absurd than it would be for an Irishman to wear a Scotch dress, talk Yorkshire, and swear by St David. The character of the American seems generally to have been manufactured at leisure, from the materials collected by other people, in any way, at any time. Thus, the dialogues of Mr Fearon-although there is a great deal of truth in his book, notwithstanding what the people of America may say to the contrary-are evidently made up from story-books and vocabularies. And the representations of Mr Matthews are so full of blundering, with two exceptions, that, had I not met him in America, I should, on seeing his performance, really doubt if he had ever been there; so little is there in his "trip to America," of that extraordinary truth and richness which characterize his trips to other parts of the world. He himself would seem to be aware of this, because he introduces, under one picture and another, three Frenchmen, one Irishman, one Dutchman, one Yorkshireman, and sundry

other second-hand characters, for which he had already been celebrated.

But there are two fine exceptions in the entertainment of Mr Matthews. The story of "Uncle Ben" is inimitable-and the sketch of the Kentuckian is masterly. They are two of the most legitimate pieces of sober humour in the world, for one that knows the American character. But then the first-the story about "that are trifle," is an American Joe Miller. Mr Jarvis, a portrait painter of New York -a man of remarkable power and drollery-is the person of whom Mr Matthews had it-as well as that story of General Jackson. The Review is an old story in this country; and the Dutch Judge is from Judge Breckenridge, originally one of the most "genuine" story-tellers that ever lived. His only son, Henry M. Breckenride, a judge of Louisiana, and author of the "Views of Louisiana," inherits a large portion of his father's extraordinary talent; and has made this very story, which he tells better than Mr Matthews, as common in America, as any anecdote of Foote or Sheridan is in this country.

Nevertheless, the finest parts of the Kentuckian's character, and those which are the most severe, because they are the truest, may be safely put down to the credit of Mr Matthews himself. They must have been drawn from life. They were never made out at second hand; or got up, in a solitary chamber, out of novels, newspapers, and books of travels, as nine-tenths of the rest of his " trip to America" are.

Thus, nothing can be truer or bolder, than the canting of the Kentuckian about the "land of liberty-where every man has a right to speak his genuine sentiments"-and where, therefore, he is free to offer "fifty-five dollars for that are nigger"-being determined, beforehand, if he should be cheated, to "take the balance out of his hide." Nothing can be more reso lute and cutting than this. The Americans deserve it; and I am exceedingly mistaken, if they would not immediately acknowledge the truth of, it. The worst fault of Mr Matthews, apart from his absurd credulity-is the tameness of his caricatures. They want spirit; but perhaps that is not wholly unaccountable, since it is believed that he intends to "settle" in

the United States. And yet, there is bad policy in such daintiness. The Americans would respect him a thousand times more, if his whole enter tainment were as true-however severe it might be as are the two sketches alluded to.

It is a common thing, in the United States, to hear a high-spirited Virginian, or Carolinian, declaiming about Liberty, as if he were inspired, in the presence of his own slaves, a part of whom bear an alarming resemblance to the white children of the same family, upon whom they are waiting, perhaps, at the time, in a state of the most abject and pitiable submissiveness-within hearing, it is ten to one, of the overseer's lash-or the cries of some poor fellow undergoing punishment and the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, superbly framed, hanging up in front of him-while he is holding forth-wherein it is proclaimed to all the nations of the earth-that "all men are born free and equal!"

There is no exaggeration, therefore, in the character of the Kentuckianboastful of Liberty; and speculating, at the same time, in the flesh of his fellow-men, with a heartless and abominable indifference, at which I, for one, cannot laugh, notwithstanding the drollery of the picture; because I know it to be true.

But, a word or two of Brother Jonathan's "lingo." We laugh at him for pronouncing genuine, as if it were written genu-wine, forgetful of the fact, that the common people of England very generally say appo-síte, giving the same sound to the vowel i; and that our public speakers, perhaps without one exception, say hostile, instead of hostil. We wonder, also, at the absurdity of the Yankee "had ought, and hadn't ought," which, after all, are not only pure English, like I had rather,' but in common use here, particularly about Coventry; and, in strict analogy with every other language, wherein the verb to owe can be found.

We chuckle at his "I guess," "considerable," and " pretty particularly," -overlooking the fact, that guess is true old-fashioned English, for which "I presume," "I fancy," "I imagine," "you know," &c. &c. are awkward and feeble substitutes; that "darn-nation" is common through Kent; that "guess" in America, is never used so absurdly

as people say, hardly ever at the end of a phrase; and that "pretty particularly damned," and all such phrases, are only a sort of Yankee, or Kentucky, flash language; so little known throughout the country, that multitudes in every direction have probably never heard, and would not understand it. It is, in fact, the slang of story-tellers.

We wonder, also, that the Yankees never give a direct answer; that they always reply to one question, by answering another; that they never say yes or no; and that they always begin their answer with some superfluous word.

But all these things, it should be remarked, are common to every people, polite or barbarous. Put what question you will, to a well-educated man or woman; and, whatever people may say to the contrary, you will rarely get a direct answer; and never, unless they are angry, or in haste, as direct an answer as might have been given. Ask a well-bred Englishman, if you shall help him from a dish before you; and what will be his reply? Will it be yes or no?-or, will it, in truth, be capable of any grammatical interpretation, as a reply? Is it not

"I thank you"-" much obliged to you," or something of the same sort ? So, a Frenchman will say, "bien obligé," or “mercie, monsieur," a German, Ich danke ihnen," each and all seeking to avoid the rudeness of saying, directly, yes or no.

Ask an Irishman the way to St Paul's, and his reply will be, "Is it St Paul's ye'd have?" Put the same question to a Scot, and his reply will begin with, "Aweel?"-accompanied with a look, or word, or tone of shrewd interrogation. And so it is, in fact, with every people, particularly if they are sagacious, social, or situated in a part of the country where a stranger is rarely seen. Every one will have his money's worth. If he give information, he will have information in return.

As a people, take them altogether, the Americans talk a purer English than we as a people. But then, there are not many Americans, who either speak or write so good and pure English, as multitudes of our countrymen do.

Let us not arrogate too much, however, our speakers are far from being scrupulously correct, either in 1

guage or pronunciation, let them take what authority they will. They, like our writers, are in the habit of coining and manufacturing words at pleasure; and some of our critics have more than once mistaken for Americanisms, pure old English, or English that had been sanctioned by our poets, (the worst authority, by the way, in the world, because the poets are, by inclination, habit, and necessity, the most licentious in the use of words ;) and omitted by Dr Johnson, or forgotten by ourselves.

Thus, they have quizzed the Americans over and over again, for using the verb to improve (as it is the fashion to call such combinations,) in the sense of the words to use. It sounds very oddly to our ears, when we hear a New Englander talk about improving a house, when he only means to occupy it. But the New Englander has a higher authority than is generally known, for this-no less than that of Alexander Pope himself, who says, while speaking of a lady at a theatre, that

"Not a fan went unimproved away."

Let us farther recollect, that our spoken language, and our written language, are two different things. Our English, when written, is the same, throughout the whole British empire; but, when spoken, it varies at almost every furlong. In America, it is not so. The same language is both written and spoken, in the same way, by the same people.

I shall now run a short parallel between the Americans and the English. We are an old people. The Americans are a new people. We value ourselves on our ancestry-on what we have done; they, on their posterity, and on what they mean to do. They look to the future; we to the past. They are proud of Old England as the home of their forefathers; we, of America, as the abiding place of western English

men.

They are but of yesterday as a people. They are descended from those, whose burial places are yet to be seen: we, from those, whose burial-places have been successively invaded by the Roman, Saxon, Dane, and Norman, until they are no longer to be distinguished from the everlasting hills.

As a whole people, the Americans talk a better English than we do; but

then, there are many individuals among us who speak better English than any American, unless we except, here and there, a well-educated New Englander; and a few eminent public speakers, like the late Mr Pinkney, who was minister to this Court; and Mr Wirt, the present attorney-general of the United States, who will probably succeed Mr Rush in the same capacity; and, then, there are a multitude among us who speak a better English than is common among the well-educated men of America, although they do not speak the best English, such as the few among us do.

I have heard a great deal said about the habits of cleanliness in England and America; and I have sometimes laughed very heartily at the reciprocal prejudices of the English and Ameri

can women.

I have heard an English woman complain of a beastly American for spitting into the fire: and I have heard an American woman express the greatest abhorrence of an Englishman, for spitting in his pocket-handkerchief ;or, for not spitting at all, when he happened to mention that well-bred men swallowed their saliva. A spitting-box is a part of the regular furniture of every room in American, although smoking is now entirely out of fashion there.

An American will not scruple to pick his teeth or clean his nails, if he should think it necessary-anywhere, at any time-before a lady. An Englishman would sooner let them go dirty.

An American never brushes his hat very rarely his coat; and his hair, not once a-week. An Englishman will brush the first with his coat sleeve, or a silk handkerchief, whenever he puts it on or off: and the two latter, every time that he goes out. The American is laughed at for his personal sloven. liness, in England, and the Englishman for his absurd anxiety, in America. Such is national prejudice.

The Englishman is more of a Roman; the American more of a Greek, in the physiognomy of his face and mind; in temper, and in constitution. The American is the vainer; the Englishman, the prouder man of the two. The American is volatile, adventurous, talkative, and chivalrous. The Englishman is thoughtful, determined, very brave, and a little sullen. The

Englishman has more courage; the American more spirit. The former would be better in defence, the latter in attack. A beaten Englishman is formidable still-A beaten American is good for nothing, for a time.

The countenance of the Englishman is florid: not sharply, but strongly marked; and full of amplitude, gra vity, and breadth; that of an American has less breadth, less gravity, less amplitude, but more vivacity, and a more lively character. The expression of an Englishman's face is greater; that of the American, more intense.

In the self-satisfied, honest, hearty, and rather pompous expression of an English face, you will find, when it is not caricatured, a true indication of his character. Other people call him boastful, but he is not. He only shews, in every look and attitude, that he is an Englishman, one of that extraordinary people, who help to make up an empire that never had-has not, and never will have, a parallel upon earth. But then, he never tells other men so, except in the way of a speech, or a patriotic newspaper essay.

And so, in the keen, spirited, sharp, intelligent, variable countenance of an American, you will find a correspondent indication of what he is. He is exceedingly vain, rash, and sensitive: he has not a higher opinion of his country, than the Englishman has of his; but then, he is less discreetmore talkative, and more presumptuous less assured of the superiority, which he claims for his country; more watchful and jealous; and, of course, more waspish and quarrelsome, like diminutive men, who, if they pretend to be magnanimous, only make themselves ridiculous; and being aware of this, become the most techy and peevish creatures in the world.

The Englishman shews his high opinion of his country by silence; the American his, by talking: one, by his conduct; the other by words: one by arrogance, the other by supercilious

ness.

The Englishman is, generally, a better, braver, and a nobler minded fellow, than you might be led to believe from his appearance. The face of an American, on the contrary, induces you to believe him, generally, a better man than you will find him.

But then, they are so much alike;

or rather there are individuals of both countries, so like each other, that I know many Americans who would pass everywhere for Englishmen ; and many Englishmen who would pass anywhere for Americans. In heart and head, they are much more alike, than in appearance or manners.

An Englishman, when abroad, is reserved, cautious, often quite insupportable, and, when frank, hardly ever talkative; not very hasty, but a little quarrelsome nevertheless: turbu lent, and rather overbearing, particularly upon the continent. At home, he is hospitable, frank, generous, over flowing with honesty and cordiality, and given to a sort of substantial parade-a kind of old-fashioned family ostentation.

But the American is quite the reverse. Abroad, he is talkative, noisy, imperious; often excessively impertinent, capricious, troublesome, either in his familiarity, or in his untimely reserve; not quarrelsome, but so hasty, nevertheless, that he is eternally in hot water. At home, he is more reserved; and, with all his hospitality, much given to ostentation of a lighter sort; substitute-finery and show.

An American is easily excited; and of course, easily quieted. An Englishman is neither easily quieted, nor easily excited. It is harder to move the latter; but once in motion, it is harder to stop him.

One has more strength and substance; the other more activity and spirit. One has more mind, more wisdom, more judgment, and more perseverance, the other more genius, more quickness of perception, more adventurousness.

The Englishman's temper is more hardy and resolute; that of the American more intrepid and fiery. The former has more patience and fortitude, the latter more ardour. The Englishman is never discouraged, though without resources: the American is never without resources, but is often disheartened. Just so is it with the female character.

An American woman is more childish, more attractive, and more perishable: the English woman is of a healthier mind, more dignified, and more durable. The former is a flower-the latter a plant. One sheds perfume; the