The captain then told me, that the young lady | The entertainment on the road, at the miserable having admitted a partiality for him, some two stations for changing horses, was of the most years previous, in her father's wigwam, he had homely description, being literally nothing more bought her. "Bought her," said I, "why what or less than "corn bread and common doings." did you give for her?" "Fifty dollars, and some whisky." "But who did you buy her of?" I asked. "Of her own father," was the reply. "Oh Good God!" said I. The burial-places of the Indians are generally on the summit of a lofty hill, and the corpses being placed on rude platforms, ten or a dozen feet from the ground, to protect them from the wolves, present a most extraordinary appearance. An immense wolf was shot whilst I was in the neighbourhood, and I was offered a beautiful skin for a quarter dollar. I was highly delighted with the Falls of St. Anthony, which are seven miles from the fort; they are styled in the Indian dialect, "The Laughing Water," and are really magnificent. The whole river, half a mile in width, falls perpendicularly some twenty or thirty feet, amongst gigantic masses of rock. There is a romantic little island almost at the foot of the cataract, and the wild country around is interspersed with groves of trees that give a charming variety to the scenery. On the 24th of June, our steamer's head was turned, and I reluctantly bade adieu to the officers of Forts Snelling and Crawford, a most gentlemanly set of fellows, from whom we had received the greatest hospitality. "In a strange land Journey over the Prairies of Illinois. On my return I landed at Galena, a place I have before spoken of, for the purpose of crossing the prairies of Illinois to Chicago, at the foot of Lake Michigan, a distance of one hundred and sixty miles. I left Galena, by the four-horse stage, at three o'clock on Wednesday morning, the 28th of June, and after travelling two successive days and nights, arrived at Chicago dead beat on the following Friday. We went at least one hundred miles over prairies of immense extent, generally without a tree of any kind, or even a rock to relieve the monotony of the view; but here and there a little bit was farmed and cultivated, and, where it was, I never saw heavier or finer crops. The price of land in this region is only a dollar and a quarter an acre. It is sold by government at that rate, in sections of eighty acres each. The deficiency of wood and water must, however, be a serious disadvantage. Indeed, from all I can hear, emigrants to these fertile regions have greater difficulties to contend with than is generally supposed; for, to say nothing of the unhealthiness of the climate, especially to European constitutions, the great distance from markets makes it difficult for a farmer to dispose of his produce at any thing like a remunerating price. The fare for this journey was eight dollars each. VOL. XIII-NO. CL. The coach was drawn by four horses, and contained nine inside passengers, including a lady (for they are all ladies in this country) and a four months' child, the incessant screaming and squalling of which dear little dumpnosed darling, did not contribute much to enliven the wearisomeness of the journey. That I saw a tremendous rattlesnake on this prairie; and on another occasion, when gathering some prairie flowers, a large black snake glided through my fingers, in a way that effectually cured me of botanizing for the remainder of the journey. And what a journey it was! Sometimes we went over layers of pine trees, called corduroy roads, that made our very teeth clatter again; sometimes we stuck fast for an hour or two in a morass, being, as the driver said, "in a pretty considerable d-d enormous fix;" and occasionally we crossed creaking bridges that threatened every instant to give way beneath us. When we came to a morass, the driver would open the door and say, "Now, gentlemen, I guess you'll do that thing for me." thing was to get out and walk almost knee deep in mud, until he succeeded in getting the coach through; but scarcely had we again resumed our seats, when with a jerk that sent us flying out of our places, and made the four months' child scream till it was literally black in the face, the coach would drop into a mud-hole, some three feet deep, and open would come the door again. "Now, gentlemen, I guess you'll do the other thing for me." The other thing was, to get out, lay hold of the wheels, and pull the darned coach out of the hole by main force; and we had no alternative. The last night the lamps went out, and we crept stealthily along at the rate of a mile an hour; and right glad was I, on reaching Chicago, to submit myself to "Tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep." A few years ago, Chicago was but a small village. It is now a good sized town, full of life and business. They are a very free and easy set of people in many of these western towns, and their notions of equality too often lead them into the error of mistaking a quiet tone of insolence for independence. One day when I was inhaling a cigar," my custom always of an afternoon," a man with a cheek full of Virginia, who had been very attentively regarding me for some time previously, at last abruptly said, "Well now, stranger, I reckon you're a Britisher." I admitted the soft impeachment, and wishing to please him observed. "What said he, after a prolonged pause. a splendid country yours is!" "Con-siderable," "It whips yourn all to smash." miles, round the large lakes to Buffalo, the inter- may now actually go from New York to New mediate distances being as follows:Orleans, two thousand six hundred and thirty-five miles, entirely by water. Miles. Chicago to Milwaukie, Wisconsin territory. 90 Miles. New York, by the Hudson river, to Albany, 150 Albany, by the New York and Erie Canal, to Cleveland..... 54 Dunkirk.......... Buffalo......... 2,635 53 33 1215 The accommodations on board were equal to those of a first-rate hotel. We had a military band, and four or five hundred passengers; the voyage occupied five days, and the fare throughout, including meals, was only eight dollars, or about seven shillings a day; but there is no dependence to be placed on the fares for any length of time; they are constantly changing them. In this instance there was a violent opposition, and the fare to Buffalo was reduced, fortunately for me, the very day I embarked, from fifteen dollars to eight, and the Captain said they were losing money at the latter sum. Another interesting spot we landed at for several hours, in the course of our voyage, was Detroit, prettily situated on the river of that name, which divides the United States from our Canadian possessions. The town was all life and bustle. It was the 4th of July, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a day which is kept as a holiday throughout the States. Bands of music paraded the streets, playing with all their might the national air of "Yankee Doodle." Bonfires were blazing, and guns, pistols, and crackers, exploding under one's very nose. The star-spangled banner floated in the breeze: gin-slings, smashers, cocktails, and juleps, were drank with enthusiastic ardour; and, upon the whole, I never saw people more independently drunk than on this great occasion. The Detroit Fencibles, with their colours The voyage round these large inland seas is somewhat monotonous, owing to their immense extent. We frequently lost sight of land alto-flying, made a desperate attempt to march in gether, and the steamer was steered by the com pass. I shall give their dimensions from the table on my map, which I understand is perfectly correct. We went the whole extent of Lake Michigan, which is about three hundred miles long, and fifty wide, with a large inlet at its northwest corner, called Green Bay, about one hundred miles long, and some twenty broad. We then passed the pretty island of Machinac, and entered Lake Huron, which is on the boundary between the United States and Canada, and is two hundred and fifty miles long, and one hundred and eighty broad. Besides the waters of Lake Michigan, Lake Huron receives those of Lake Superior, which is four hundred and fifty-nine miles long, by about two hundred in width; and these congregated waters pass down the river St. Clair into the St. Clair lake, which is about ninety miles in circumference. From the latter they pass through the river Detroit into Lake Erie, which is on the boundary line between the United States and Upper Canada, and is two hundred and ninety miles long, by sixty in width, at its widest part. The whole of this tremendous mass of water then enters the Niagara river, which connects Lake Erie with Lake Ontario, thunders over the falls, and passes into the ocean by the river St. Lawrence. One of the most important places we landed at in our voyage round the lakes, was Cleveland, on Lake Erie, a thriving, bustling place, at which all the steam-packets touch. What a great extent of steam navigation there is in this country! You A party of gentlemen on this occasion waited upon me, the only Englishman, with an invitation to dine and celebrate the memorable day, and which, as I had no objection to a good dinner, and a bottle or two of champagne gratis, I at once accepted. A band of music played appropriate airs between the patriotic songs and speeches, and the night drove on "wi' sangs and clatter." After the preliminary toasts had been disposed of, I gave the health of the American ladies, which was drank amid deafening cheers. AIR. "Timber Doodle." The next toast proposed, was the health of the Colonel, and prosperity to England. AIR. "Rule Britannia." As soon as the music had ceased, I got up to return thanks for the honour that had been done the country; and, unaccustomed as I was to public speaking, spoke a long time nevertheless, appearing as much overpowered by my feelings as decency required; and having expressed my delight at the cordiality and friendship that they and their countrymen generally entertained towards England, (which, by the by, was a dreadful fib, as they hate us like the very devil,) I concluded by proposing the health of the officers of the American army and navy. AIR.-"The Star-spangled Banner." As there was no officer present to return thanks, the serjeant of the Detroit Fencibles did so, as well as he was able. Now, as the wine circulated, greater freedom of discussion ensued, and their abominable self-conceit became more apparent. The worthy Vice rose, and made a long rigmarole speech, through his nose, about England, and " God Almighty's free and independent States." "We are," he remarked, "a great people, that's a fact. There are some here," he said, looking with an eye of pity upon me, "that aint a notion what a free country is." ("Hear, hear," I called out.) "Now, by the tarnal," said he, warming with his subject, "We have a pretty considerable first-rate country, as rich as cream, with a legislature, such as none on the face of the airth can equal." (Hear, hear,' I reiterated.) "Our great-grandmother England, is pretty well used up now, I reckon; and I do calculate some, that although we are descended from the old country, we are an Almighty improvement upon the old stock," (tremendous cheering.) "Tu es exquisitus, tu es," said I. "Why what on airth's that," he inquired. "You're a nice man, you are," I said was the translation. Shortly after this, one of the company sang, through his nose, the popular melody of Yankee Doodle, the whole party, band and all, joining heart and soul in the chorus. Yankee doodle is a tune, FULL CHORUS. Yankee doodle borrows cash, The appearance of Buffalo, from the water, is very imposing, and it certainly is one of the most beautiful cities in the Union. The harbour was full of magnificent steamers, and other vessels. Many of the public buildings are exceedingly handsome, especially the American hotel, one of the most splendid in the Union, and at which the charges for board were only six shillings per day. We were just in time to visit the theatre; which was well attended, but I can't say much in favour of the performance. The play-bills called it a tragedy, but I laughed more heartily at it than I have done at many a comedy; and well I might, for the ghost of Hamlet's father had its left cheek so full of Virginia, that it could scarcely speak for expectoration. It is only those who have seen a ghost in such a fix, that can form any adequate idea how very ridiculous it looks. Then what havoc they made with the text of our beloved Shakspere. It is surprising how the author's meaning may be perverted by simply laying the emphasis on the wrong word. In the play of The Tempest, for instance, the actor has to say, in a low desponding tone, "As he is very potent with such spirits, But the fellow who performed the character "As he is very potent with such spirits, notes are therefore brief and scanty. It is, however, written, so far as it goes, with the brevity and modest, manly grace of Franklin. He was born at Biggar; and though he attained the age of nearly four score, was so delicate a child that he was not expected to survive. He was far advanced in life before he wrote down the particulars of his early career, which seems to have been vividly remembered. Of himself in childhood, he says, FORSYTH'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY; AND OBSERVATIONS ON GENESIS.* To the citizens of Edinburgh, and the people of | look back upon past trials and pleasures; and his Scotland in general, this posthumous volume requires no introduction. Through a long life, its author was, among them, well known, and highly esteemed as an eminent lawyer, and as a man of learning and general science: the author of several works that have attained celebrity, though of none so well calculated as that on our table directly to advance the interests of religion and virtue. And we are not sure but that the history of Mr. Forsyth's life, of his early struggles, indomitable perseverance, and final triumph over great difficulties, may not afford even more effectual lessons than his Sermons and Commentaries. His personal history is one which is almost peculiar to his native country; for in what other land could the son of " very poor parents," without patrons, and with nothing to rely upon save his own exertions, have trode the same ardu- Latin at a parish school at seven years old, and con"I was taught to read English by my mother-began ous path and attained the same distinction? Mr. tinued till twelve, learning very little. We were kept Forsyth has related his early history in an auto-in school in summer from ten A.M. till two P.M., and then biography full of interest and instruction, though the reader may wish that it had been more expanded and circumstantial. But the author considered it great presumption in a man to dwell upon the history of his own life, pleasant as it is to "I had slow talents, but great fits of application. I was an only child, and my parents were extremely poor, but they resolved to make me a minister, if in their power. I assented to whatever was proposed. I was of a soft timid disposition in childhood — kept down by a sense of poverty, and the evident preference given at school to the children of wealthy parents. Occasionally, however, starts of fearlessness occurred in my conduct; but I soon relapsed. from three to six or seven o'clock: in winter from ten A.M. till dark. Going to school I often looked at grownup persons, and wondered if the time of blessedness would ever arrive when I would be allowed to walk about like them, without being subjected to the misery of sitting all day in school. Observations on the Books of Genesis and Exodus; with Sermons. By the late Robert Forsyth, Esq. Advocate. To which is prefixed a Memoir of the Author. Small octavo, pp. 203. Edinburgh: Blackwood & Sons. "Our family consisted of my father and his mother, and his wife. I loved my mother greatly. She was proud but silent. With much difficulty, on account of poverty, I was sent to Lanark school, eleven miles distant, at twelve or thirteen years old. I went on Monday morning, and returned home on Saturdays. The schoolmaster, Robert Thomson, the husband of the sister of the author of the Seasons, was an excellent teacher, except as to Latin prosody. Under him I became a zealous scholar, and from January to August learned more than I had done in five years before. "But I was well prepared. I had read many books. John Cree, a gardener, lent me various tale books, such as the Persian and Turkish, &c. In the winter nights I often sat beside Robin Rannie, a shoemaker, and read to him such books as he had. I recollect Milton's Paradise Lost, and the History of the Devil. I had also terrified myself with Satan's Invisible World, and such books. I had read Knox's History, Josephus, Cruikshanks, and Ross's View of all Religions, mentioned by Hudibras. I could repeat most of Allan Ramsay's Poems and Penycuik's Collection. But Young's Night Thoughts was my favourite, which I could almost repeat. Observe, my father had a notion that a child should never be caused to commit to memory any thing that he could not understand, and hence I learned few questions -only the Shorter Catechism, for decency. He said, it made a riddle of a child's memory to cause him to repeat what he did not understand. So it was that I took great pleasure in committing verses to memory, and could at one time repeat most of the Scottish songs and ballads. I had also read some voyages and geography; so that, by my parents encouraging me to read, and praising me for it, and for all my rehearsals of poetry, I became tolerably fond of literature, and sufficiently prepared to take advantage of better teaching at Lanark. "I was sent to Glasgow College at fourteen. On the day I entered, my grandmother died, aged ninety-six. I was a great favourite with her. On Saturdays, when I was expected from Lanark, she sat by the wayside impatiently scolding me for delaying my arrival; but I no sooner appeared than she seized me with great delight, and my delays,-pillaging crows' nests, perhaps, at Carstairs, were forgotten. My grandmother, who possessed a very vigorous mind, and was a zealous Presbyterian and Whig of those days, has fixed deeply in my mind the memory of herself, her sayings and opinions. Proudly may we say, "From scenes like these old Scotia's grandeurs rise;" and we should have great pleasure in tracing out the whole progress of the poor, young, studious collegian; with the "silent, proud" mother; a father, probably only a hand-loom weaver or shoemaker, but who yet knew that it could not benefit his child to become a parrot; and a grandmother, born after the battle of "Bothwell Brig," and not unlike Mause Headrigg. At the first Christmas recess of his college, the student walked home thirty miles to spend a week with his parents, and he then saw his mother for the last time. He says he learned little at college; and gained more by reading moderately and thinking much, than by listening to lectures. The minister of his native parish procured him, while still a mere boy, a situation as tutor in a gentleman's family, and he filled the same office in three different families. Before the age of twenty, he became a licentiate or probationer of the Church of Scotland. Of this period he says,— "I had few sermons, but these I could repeat correctly, and therefore never used notes, but spoke vehemently and somewhat rhetorically. I could add a part of one sermon to a part of another so as to multiply them. "The year before I became a preacher, I went to reside with a family in the country, as tutor. Having much leisure time, I became restless and impatient of my inactive situation, and the foundation was laid for that impatience which led to a change of profession. About this time I was seized with much delicacy of stomach, which did not go off for a year or two. Having, from impatience or ambition, left the country and taken a licence to preach, I preached in most of the Edinburgh churches, and in the neighbourhood. I took much pleasure in doing so. But it so happened that, in about two years, all the churches became vacant of which I was thought to have a prospect. I was uniformly disappointed by some interest or other. Wauchope of Niddry at one time, and at another Gillespie the snuff-merchant, prevailed with Henry Dundas to give churches to my competitors. I was soon regarded as very unlucky, and became angry with my profession. I lay awake a whole night deliberating, whether I would be a doctor of medicine or an advocate. I thought if I became a medical man, I must go abroad and desert my old father. This last idea decided the point, and I resolved to study law. My eyes were delicate. I therefore resolved to dine every day on rice and milk, which I did for a year, and that removed the tendency to inflammation in the eye-balls, which had teazed me. I resolved, at the same time, to conceal my views, that I might preserve the power of taking the situation of a parish minister, if it should come in my way." The secrecy which Mr. Forsyth found it necessary to maintain, prevented him from obtaining needful direction as to the course of his legal studies. He therefore missed the royal road found in commentators, abridgments, and compendiums; but the toilsome one which he took, probably helped to lay the sure foundation of his future eminence as a thorough-bred lawyer. He was the member of a law student's club, in which "Mr. Walter Scott showed good sense, but no unusual powers." And, certainly, Scott's unsuspected powers did not lie in that direction. The obstacles, paltry and ridiculous in themselves, which Mr. Forsyth had to encounter, before being admitted a member of the Faculty of Advocates, are still well remembered in Edinburgh. He thus briefly touches upon events which went far to break up the monopoly, or to quash the petty, exclusive spirit of Scottish gentlemen of the long robe. "I presented to the Court of Session a petition to be remitted to trial by the Faculty of Advocates. That of preachers should profane and ruin their profession. body were terrified, lest, on my example, a multitude There existed at that time also a high aristocratical spirit in the body. They were offended that a poor man's son should presume to intrude into their body. was therefore opposed. But a restless energy had, by this time, arisen in my mind. With great feeling and modesty, even to bashfulness, I was fearless and intrepid if brought into public view. I complained to the Court. The objection was, that I was a preacher, and must renounce that profession. I resisted this, and made a long speech at the bar. The Court decided that I must resign my privilege as a preacher or licentiate of the Church of Scotland. It was supposed that, in the face of opposition by the Faculty to my admission to the bar, I would not venture to do so; but I immediately tendered my resignation to the Presbytery that had granted my licence. It was objected that such a licence could not be resigned, as in the Presbyterian Church every individual may preach and exhort, and a licence is merely a certificate of a man's morals and literature, certifying that he is qualified to teach, and may safely be ordained a clergyman. My resignation was, however, ultimately accepted. "September 19. Still the Faculty resisted; but the Lord President (Islay Campbell) insisted that they were now acting improperly. I was admitted to trial, and passed" (in 1792.) above twenty years of age. I recollect an expression I frequently used, We ask not of thee the riches, the honours, or the passing pleasures of this mortal existence. Give us such things as it is worthy of thyself to bestow, and of mortal natures to receive minds still rising higher in progressive excellence-advancing from strength to strength, still nearer and nearer, through endless ages, to the throne of God. Spirit of the Universe! we are thine-make us what thou wouldst have us to be."" "Then almost immediately came the French Revolution. I was solicited to join the Society of Friends of the People. I entered very sanguinely into the notions of the first French Reformers. I did not see that I could do much in aid of what I thought the cause of freedom, or that my countenance to it was important. Still I was conscientious. I said to myself, what if for such a time as this I have been brought forward and made some- Again, in 1839, in a prayer evidently intended for his what conspicuous ? So I joined that society. We own use, he expresses his feelings thus :-" Eternal were all inexperienced in politics, and had no intention Spirit-maker of thousands of worlds, what is man that of opposing force to the government. I soon became an thou art mindful of him?-still more, what are indiobject of grievous persecution. Nobody was thought inviduals of our race that thou shouldst advert to them? safety to intrust a cause to me. So I, with difficulty, yet sure it is, that thy providence does watch over supported myself by teaching law, and some very them. This even natural religion teaches. But the trifling employment at the bar. I kept free of debt, revelation by Christ Jesus demonstrates far higher kindand employed myself in the study of Chemistry, ness-sinks, yet exalts our race, and shows an interest Mechanics, &c. I sunk into total obscurity for years, taken in us which no gratitude can appreciate. I am but at last began to write a little in the Encyclopædia overawed by the sentiment that we, that I, should Britannica. In the meanwhile my father died (1798) especially be an object of regard and beneficence, in the without my having been able to do any thing of impor- sight of whom I cannot think of it:-yet He who tance towards the comfort of his old age, which morti- laid help on one mighty to save - who gave for us a fied me very grievously. being denominated his own Son-mysteriously, there"At last Pitt's ministry ended, and I hoped for better fore, himself — will with him freely give us all things. times. I had become attached to a young lady, now Yes, after that, I may address him--I may pray to him my wife, and ventured to marry; all went well, and I -to whom? Eternal Spirit, to thee to the Omgradually prospered. I wrote for some time for the nipresent fountain of life-the supporter of all that booksellers; but getting into business at the bar, I de-is-who hast been, and will be, for ever, the same unsisted from that laborious employment. "These details are quite vague and general, and give no precise idea of my character." The memoir here breaks off, and at a critical juncture. It is well-known that the young Jacobin afterwards took to the directly opposite, but more thriving political extreme of high Toryism; that in fact his strong and stern mind finally received some taint of the usual bitterness of the renegade. Mr. Forsyth had received a religious education, and was even tinctured with not the finest part of the spirit of the Covenanters. He had the hardness of the old Presbyterians, without their devotional enthusiasm; and this made him, though most conscientiously, the determined maintainer of Catholic disabilities, and indeed of all ecclesiastical things as they are." 66 His sermons are not in any way remarkable, save that at a time when Blair may be presumed to have given the tone to young preachers, they show more of the style now usually termed "Evangelical." His dissertations and commentaries on the book of Genesis, display learning, and contain many ingenious hypotheses and original speculations; and there can be no question, that this shrewd man, this acute theological student and able lawyer, was deeply imbued with the truth of the leading doctrines of the Christian system, and had strong impressions of the importance of religion. We quote, as more convincing than any assertion, an extract from his private notes, of date July 1821, when Mr. Forsyth must have been in full practice as a lawyer, and probably looking forward to the bench as no unmerited reward of his distinguished professional abilities. - changeable in wisdom, power, and goodness, diffusing life and joy immeasureable to a family innumerable." The habits of self-reliance acquired by the circumstances of his early life, appear to have made Mr. Forsyth somewhat obstinate, or opinionated. If he went right, it was by his own impulse or judgment; for his friends alleged that 66 no one else could keep him right." But this unyielding temper might have been more in manner than in feeling. The man must not have been very severe who could conscientiously say of himself— "I hope, and rather believe, that though my manners are somewhat abrupt and rough, yet I never treated a human being with contempt. I was early taught to respect the aged and the wise. This last was unnecessary, because high intelligence forces respect. I was also taught that the meanest being in the human form may hereafter be an angel, because Christ died for all. Then came the applauded sentiments in the classics: "Haud ignara mali miseris succurrere disco." "Homo sum et nil humanum a me alienum puto." Then also came the doctrine of the perfectibility of mind, of which I was early fond to a degree of enthusiasm of which I have cooled. I still look forward, and hope that for the human race here and hereafter Providence has much in store; but I rely on the operation of an immortal wisdom and intellect, to which one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." Mr. Forsyth had, like many more ingenious young men of his day, probably been the disciple of Condorcet and Godwin. These early opinions were, by this time, modified. Revering, in his latter years, every thing as "by law established," his attachment to the Church of Scotland, and to the letter of Protestantism, irrespective of its spirit, was carried almost to the length of bigotry. When the Catholic claims were, in 1829, about to be conceded, he wrote in his Diary— "I have joined in petitioning against granting political power or seats in Parliament to Papists. My reason chiefly is, that Popery is hostile to freedom and the improvement of mankind. That religion establishes an aristocracy or vast incorporation of men sworn to celi |