rians have more talent than genius-painters and sculptors, in order to be eminent, inust have both, but genius in a greater de gree. * It seems to be in the destiny of earth, that equity should seldom, if ever, prevail over might; that the strong man should yield only to him that is stronger; and that the shield of innocence should never be a defence against the sword of power. There is more poetry than philosophy in Horace when he tells his friend Fuscus Integer vitæ, scelerisque purus Non eget Mauri jaculis, neque arcu❞— and if Fuscus acted on the supposition that the advice of his poetical friend was sage and salutary, he most probably had occasion to thank Horace for leading him into scrapes innumerable. To be sure, the bard qualifies his assertion, by particularizing cases in which the upright man needs no armour-he may travel through the "sultry Syrtes, the wild Caucasus," and his innocence will be his defence against the monsters of the waste; but Horace is cautious Does virtue advance her votary to the glo- "Fie on't, oh fie-'tis an unweeded garden That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature It was not the fancy, but the truth of poet- sion of crimes? If the former, what need Yet it is in the destiny of things, that this should be the case. Were it otherwise, were the thousand springs of enjoyment unpolluted and unembittered; were this fair and beautiful earth unsoiled by meanness, fraud, wickedness, and dishonmind as he is in form; the Elysium of the our; were man the image of his Maker, in Pagan and the Paradise of the Christian would be realized on earth, and Death, whose power is coeval with that of his parent, Sin, would be stripped of his domi not to say, that the upright man may travel through the more dangerous journey of life, and be protected by his innocence against the prowling monsters that beset the way The poet sings, that his innocence guarded him against the wolf in the “Sabine wood" -but he does not tell us that it was as sure a protection against wolves in human form. The upright and pure man does need the darts and the bow and the arrow-fraught quiver, for he has to fight his way through life, and frequently to act on the offensive; his innocence, without weapons, is of as much service to him as a bow without arrows, and the heart which is at war with virtue and hardened against her, is less liable to be pierced by her arrow, by reason of its very hardness. Did virtue save Aristides from exile,-did she dash down the deadly cup from the lip of Socrates,-did Washington and the Marquis Chastellux. she protect Scipio from his ungrateful coun- A few weeks ago, we stated that Mr. try, and permit him to lay his bones in the Brennan was preparing a republication of sepulchre of his fathers? Did virtue save Chastellax's Travels in N. America. We her thousands of martyrs from the bloody have lately been gratified with a perusal of axe of persecution, when gloomy bigotry several manuscript copies of letters from seized the white robes of religion, and pro- General Washington to the Marquis.— fanely wrapped the emblems of mercy These copies were taken from previous coaround the form of unforgiving cruelty?-pies of the original letters, which the trans nion. criber received from the hands of Madame | have assisted in placing before us in such an Chastellux, and copied with her permission. agreeable point of view. Nothing would These letters embrace the period of time intervening between January 1781, and April 1788. They exhibit Washington in a very amiable light; they are fraught with warm and generous sentiments, and with those high and noble principles which always distinguished the man who wrote them. The politeness of the owner of the manuscript, a gentleman distinguished alike by cultivated intellect and urbanity of deportment, has permitted a selection from the letters, for publication. We have chosen the first of the two following, in order to show the high esteem in which Washington held Chastellux; and the second, because it contains a beautiful and affecting and poetical idea, by no means unbecoming the refirement of one who had led embattled armies, and founded a mighty nation. WASHINGTON TO CHASTELLUX. My dear Chevalier, I felt too much to express any thing, the day I parted with you-a sense of your public services to this country, and gratitude for your private friendship, quite overcame me at the moment of our separation. But I should be wanting to the feelings of my heart, and should do violence to my inclination, was I to suffer you to leave this country, without the warmest assurance of my affectionate regard for your person and cha racter. Our good friend the Marquis de la Fayette prepared me (long before I had the honour to see you) for those impressions of esteem, which opportunities and your own benevolent mind have since improved into a deep and lasting friendship, which time nor distance can ever eradicate. give me more pleasure than to accompany you, after the war, in a tour through the great continent of North America, in search of the natural curiosities with which it abounds, and to view, at the same time, the foundation of a rising empire. I have the honour to be, with sentiments of the most perfect esteem and regard, Dear Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, (Signed) I had the honour to receive a letter from you by Major L'Enfort. My official I can truly say that never in my life did I part with a man to whom my soul clave more sincerely than it did to you. My warmest wishes will attend you in your voyBefore I conclude, permit me to recomage across the Atlantic, to the rewards of a mend Col. Humphreys, (who is appointed gracious prince, and the arms of affectionate secretary to the commission) to your counfriends. Be assured that it will be one of tenance and civilities, whilst he remains in my highest gratifications to keep up a regu-France-he posseses an excellent heart and Iar intercourse with you by letter. I regret good understanding. exceedingly, that circumstances should With every sentiment of esteem and re withdraw you from this country, before the gard, I am, my dear Chevalier, Your most affectionate servant, final accomplishment of that independence nd peace, which the arms of our good ally(Signed) GEO. WASHINGTON. Facts and Observations, in relation to the origin and completion of the Erie Canal A pamphlet, bearing the foregoing title, has lately made its appearance. It is evidently the work of a man of thought and reflection, who is well acquainted with his subject, and whose opinions are entitled to respectful consideration. He details, in chronological order, the origin and progress of the undertaking, and proposes several improvements and alterations, the consequence of which will be, that all the water received from Lake Erie, as well as from all the feeders and inlets, may be used as łockage water at the only outlet at the lower end of the canal on the Hudson." The writer reasons very strongly in favour of the plan proposed by the late Gouverneur Morris, of descents and locks; which, if adopted, would have required, according to his calculation, only one fifth part of the lockage water now necessary, and only 114 feet of lockage between Utica and Lake Erie, instead of 267 feet, the present amount. We have not room for the arguments, but they are certainly very strong. His second proposition is, "to extend the Utica and Rochester levels to the meridian of Palmyra or Lyons, or between them, and to construct double locks there to connect them." After proposing his alterations, and dwelling on the advantages which would result from them, the writer continues ; New-York with pure and wholesome water? When the canal has received its alterations, and the water of the lake shall be received on the banks of the Hudson pure and limpid, and no longer turbid from the narrow shallow passage, a canal or aqueduct will, at the expense of a million or a million and a half of dollars, deliver the water in the city of New-York, which will then be supplied like Philadelphia, where the water is taken from the Schuylkill canal of one hundred miles in length, and like London from the New river and the Thames. If this aqueduct should be a navigable canal, thousands of families whose knowledge of through one of the cloves of the mountains, the country extends only a short distance, would, as in China, become temporary inhabitants of the water. They would visit the ocean, the most populous city of the United States, and the emporium of the commerce of the Western Hemisphere.This voyage would be performed in boats, which they will procure for the trip on the canal, and with their own horses, taken from wagons, bringing their provisions, produce, and manufactures from the interior. If a failure of the crop of any particular article should take place, from any unpropitious cause near the Atlantic, farmers would immediately supply the deficiency by proceeding to the canal with their wagons, putting their horses to canal-boats, and delivering in the city the articles in demand. Produce also arriving at maturity earlier or later, than that raised in the vicinity of New-York, would be brought from other places, and a continued and equable supply thus ensured to the city. "While we dwell on the great benefits which may be derived from the proposed al"While enumerating the advantages, terations, let us not omit minor advantages; which will result from the proposed altera- the delicate fish from the great lakes will be tions of the canal, we ought also to notice introduced into the small lakes and the wathat there will be an entire command of the ters of the Mohawk and Hudson, and a prowater of the great lakes, and of almost eve-lific supply obtained for the inhabitants to ry stream crossing the line of canal; and ensure plenty, variety, and good living."— as there will be no discharge of lockage Page 28. water, except at the Hudson, there will be In the bistorical part of his pamphlet, the an abundant supply along the line of canal writer quotes from a letter of Mr. Gouverfor grist-mills, saw-mills, factories, and other hydraulic machines. The sites to be let neur Morris to a friend in Europe, the folby the state in aid of the revenue: the irri-lowing characteristic language of that disgations while supplying the farmer, will tinguished man. The letter was written in likewise enrich the treasury.* the year 1800, when Mr. Morris visited Lake Erie— "In giving scope to the imagination many things occur, which though they may appear visionary at present, may not be thought so hereafter. Who will say that at a future day, Lake Erie will not supply *"Monsieur de la Lande, speaks of the canal de Provence, which takes the water of the Durance to Aix and Marseilles, being 110,000 toises long; and of the irrigations, by its bringing in a million of livres a year."-Young's Travels in France, vol. 2, p. 176. billows of these inland seas. At this point of this city, with whom we lately conversed commences a navigation of more than a on the merits of the work, said volumes in thousand miles. Shall I lead your imagina- its praise by remarking, that when his schotion to the verge of incredulity. I will :Know then, that one tenth of the expense lars had gone through it they were "not borne by Britain in the last campaign, only better readers, but also better boys." would enable ships to sail from London, through Hudson's River, into Lake Erie; as yet my friend we only crawl along the outer shell of our country, the interior excels the part we inhabit, in soil, in climate, in every thing. The proudest empire in Europe is but a bauble compared to what America will be, must be, in the course of two centuries, perhaps of one." p. 7. THE RUSSIAN CZAR. Upon what a prickly and painful bed must despots repose, when even the mild, the good, and the generous Alexander has not only to study the humour of his courtiers, his ministers, his generals, his admirals, and even of his nobles, but, besides, in order to please them, to act contrary to the dictates of his own heart. Who would envy the life of such a sovereign, with all its eastern gorgeous splendour, and all its apparently gigantic powers? The shades of Peter III. and of Paul, must sometimes disturb the midnight slumbers of all their successors to Mr. Morris's views were at the time considered, by many, as visionary and romantic-to a gentleman who treated them as such, Mr. Morris said, "Sir, you will live to see the day when this communication will be effected." He prophesied truly-that the throne of Russia. gentleman is still living. At the commencement of the Greek Revolution, the patriots formed a secret society, entitled "The Hetaria." Its members were divided into three gradations or classes. First, Blamides, or chiefs; secondly, the Systeméni, or coadjutors; thirdly, the Hiercis, or priests. The whole united was called the Hetaria Philiké, or Friendly socity or Fellowship. The three classes had nication by the position of the hand or fingers, as in free-masonry; and each had a separate cypher; though it would appear that they possessed also a common method intelligible to all. With respect to the romance of Mr. Morris's mind, we will take the liberty to say, that it consisted of those high and grand conceptions that are the property of extraordinary men-men whose intellect is in advance of the age in which they live. It was precisely the same kind of romance which existed in the mind of Columbus, distinct signs and private means of commuwhen he submitted his propositions to the Spanish court, and in that of " the starry Galileo," when he was cast into prison for asserting the motion of the earth. By men of common minds, the sublimity of exalted The qualifications necessary for admission intellect, which anticipates the march of were, that the candidate be · a true Hellene, time, and throws itself forward into the dis- a steady and zealous lover of his country, coveries and improvements of futurity, has and a good and virtuous man; that he be a member of no other secret society; and that always been termed romantic. his desire to be catechised into the Hetaria arise not from curiosity, or any other motive than pure patriotism;' and it is required of him, amongst other things, that he consider all other bonds and duties which he has in the world as next to nothing, when confronted with the bond of the Hetaria.' Literary. The translation of "The Roman Nights," is just published. We shall notice the work next week. PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY. JAMES G. BROOKS, "The story of Jack Halyard, the sailor boy; by William S. Cardell," has already gone through four editions. It is designed for American children, in families and schools, and is admirably adapted to interest Editor and Proprietor, No. 4 Wall-street, New-York. and instruct young minds. Its style is Subscriptions received by G. & C. Carvill, 108 Broadclear, simple, and chaste; its moral influ-way-where communications may be left, or transmitence perfectly pure, and a great quantity of ted through the post-office to the editor. useful knowledge is embodied in an interesting tale, that is well calculated to fix the attention and catch the feelings of children. It leads them to just impressions and correct principles, and a highly respectable teacher No subscriptions received for a shorter term than one year. No letters or communications will be taken out of the Post Office, unless the postage is paid. J. SEYMOUR, printer, 49 John-street. AND Phi Beta Kappa Repository. FIDE AC FIDUCIA. No. 21. NEW-YORK, JANUARY 28, 1826. LITERARY. VOL. I. "silver-tinselled feet" are rudely crushed by intruding toes, and many a lovely countenance obscured by the intervention of an SKETCH OF A LONDON ROUT. unwieldy peeress's huge bulk, or the still A ROUT is the carnival of fashionable life, more appalling convexities of a Dutch naand is adapted to the meanest capacity in its bobess glittering with Eastern plunder. A ceremonies. It is a well-dressed mob, with circulation of guests is kept up: some, after much of a mob's practice in elbowing, shuf- remaining a half-hour, go away to a second fling, cramming, whispering, and idle con- display of the same kind at Lady Twirlafabulation. Yet how important is a rout! bout's or Lord Doodle's; and others arrive For weeks the house of the receiver is in a who have already been both at her ladycourse of preparation for it. Carpenters, ship's and his lordship's parties. At length painters, confectioners, chandlers, uphol- not one half remain, and a confined corner sterers, and heaven knows who, are placed may be found about one in the morning to in requisition. The newspapers are solici- commence quadrilling-ennuyants still reted to emblazon the fame of the donor, and tire, and the number of "twinkling feet" inraise the expectation of the guests to the creases. The dance is kept alive until the loftiest pitch of excitement-" Ön Thursday fifth or sixth hours, though it did not comnext the Hon. Mrs. Ogle will entertain a mence until after three hours' standing, large party of the first rank and distinction jostling, and fatigue, had well nigh exhaustat her house in Sackville-street; all the ed the powers of the more tender portion of beauty and fashion of the metropolis are in- the visitants. About six o'clock the remvited." Those roguish newspapers, how nant of company retire from sultry rooms to they deal in hyperbole !-all-all the beauty their cold carriages and the morning air, and fashion of a city containing a million of beauty's eternal foe, to doze on their feversouls is to be huddled into three rooms, the ish couches till an hour or two after the largest only forty feet by eighteen, the others meridian of day. This is a rout, the maxiscarcely half the size! The important day mum of enjoyment!—the elysium of the gay arrives;—at ten at night Mrs. Ogle's house-the revel of fashion! Haply, for the first resembles Covent-garden Theatre at a roy-time, some lovely girl of eighteen from the al bespeak. The Duke of Dunderhead's healthful country-some "cynosure of carriage-pole fractures Lady Betty Leather- neighbouring eyes" at her father's mansion, head's coach-pannel-the footmen curse has visited London, and in the slang term each other most unchristianly-linkboys" come out" at this very entertainmentmove about like banditti in the mud and fresh in colour as the morning rose, having smoke, with the light of their torches re-eyes that lighten with mild and modest raflected on their haggard visages, in expecta- diance, a form like Psyche's, all animation, tion of a penny fee-ladies, at other times tempered by refined manners-a heart and all timidity, dash in their carriages amid the disposition sincere, confiding, truth itself— hubbub, undismayed at the uproar, and with hither she has come, to be initiated into a tumultuous bosoms hasten to the crowded way of life that must reverse all her better scene, from the windows of which brilliant habitudes. From this evening the languor lights are displayed and sounds of music de- of fashionable existence, slowly at first, but scend-within all is confusion, uproar, 'de- not the less sure, will begin to steal over lightful squeezing,' crowd, suffocation. her frame. Her vermeil beauty of cheek Strangers are introduced to the lady of the will fade into pallor, her limbs will lose their mansion, who have not elbow-room to bow firmness and become flaccid, her simplicity to her-the guests, unknown to each other, and candour of manners will be exchanged stare around, in hope of meeting an ac- for coquetry and art, every unsophisticated quaintance to break the tedium of their charm will be no more. In a season or two peopled solitude-many a sweet damsel's she will be the pale, artificial, languid victim 66 |