the character of a people, without being well acquainted with their history, however shrewd he might be on general subjects. The foreigner says that there can be but little difference in persons similarly situatedthat for strong features of character, you must go to nations who have hereditary distinctions-nations agitated by avarice, ambition, and thirst of blood-rising, and falling, or dashing against each other with every wave of fortune. It must be confessed, that in such a people you can find more readily incidents to illustrate the character you attempt to exhibit, than in a quiet community. It is not in the difference of pursuits, but in the elements of character, that contrasts and peculiarities are seen. The Apostles, who followed one Master in the same great cause, exhibited the greatest variety of disposition and temper. It may seem tame to those heated by fictions of other lands, in which the worst of crimes are set in the strongest lights-where murders by dagger and bowl are found in every legend to trace the lines of nature and truth among a moral, quiet, and industrious people; but he who examines human nature closely, will find that there is a greater variety in the latter than in the former state of society. Courtiers are all of one class; the avaricious and ambitious are governed by a few strong impulses; and all know, that whatever may be the component parts of a mob, its spirit is violent and vindictive; but when every one is under the guidance of his own reason, infinite varieties of thought and action shoot out for examination. A healthy appetite in literary matters is taking place of a literary dispepsia, which has deranged us for a long time. Such novels as Lewis's Monk now give place to the Vicar of Wakefield, and the day of simplicity is dawning. I could have found subjects of greater interest in the history of my country; but I have left those for others to expatiate upon, and seized these found in the common pathway of life. Our primitive fathers are subjects not yet exhausted, or in fact hardly touched upon. The red men, strange as it may seem, have taken precedence of them: but no matter; the habits-the feelings-the moral and religious character of our forefathers will, in the end, yield to no other topic. If we look carefully into what is called a heroic age, we shall find that the deeds of the sword are transient, unless embalmed by the pen. The record that a light was kindled, lives longer than the light itself. No one man can do much for a nation's fame; that must be built up as the monument to Kosciusko's memory in Poland, where, to accomplish the great object of creating a pyramid, every citizen threw a stone on the pile. He who describes his own country must depend on his own countrymen for a favorable reception of his works, for foreigners in general cannot fairly judge of their merits. If we have the same language as is spoken in England, our manners and habits are essentially our own, and have grown out of the peculiarities of our situation. Englishmen have written clear histories of us, but they cannot seize the traits of individual character. We see imitations of Buckskin and Yankee characters, and your Nimrod Wildfires of the West: but a shrewd observer will at once see that they are not true to nature, but caricatures of those they intend to represent. If these imitations were closely examined, the ignorance of the writers would be as easily detected as that of an English sailor impressed to serve in the West India squadron, who insisted that he was an American born citizen, and fixed the place of his birth at Marble-head--a town famed for being the cradle of oceanheroes. He was thought to be an American citizen by his examiners, until Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin called him up. "Well, my lad, if you were born in Marblehead," said he, " you can tell me of what materials the steps of the bishop's palace are composed." of marble," was the reply! "Why, THE BACHELORS. "One impulse of a vernal wood THE knowledge of human nature cannot be acquired by simply surveying the mass of mankind. We must study the characters of individuals, and draw our general inferences from a careful examination of the whole details. By such a process we shall find that the laws of nature and the commands of heaven are in harmony, and cannot be opposed with impunity. The heart that is cased in flint to the common observer, often beats with an irregular motion, and has its aches, that are ill-concealed under the mask of indifference. JOHN THOMPSON, HENRY GILBERT, and MONTJOY TILESTON RUSSELL, were nearly of the same age-born in the same city-educated in the elementary branches of know. ledge in the same school-and graduated from college in the same class. They were bright boys-emulous of distinction—and held, if not an equal rank with each other, surely a high one in their class. In the course of obtaining their education, they were constantly associated together, and a strong friendship grew up between them, which they fondly believed that nothing but death could destroy. They agreed to settle in their native city. Thompson studied the law-Gilbert, physic-and Russell entered the counting room of his father, and prepared himself to become a merchant-one acquainted with the history and geography of nations, with the nature and amount of their products and commerce.. After a few years, he became a partner in the house of which his father was the head, and was considered as an active, intelligent young merchant. The lawyer and doctor began business under good auspices, particularly the former. He was well read, sagacious, and full of confidence. He studied his causes well, and was in general very successful-for he would not condescend to be a tool against his judgment for any one. The doctor was learned in his profession, and refined in his manners. He would not use a harsh word to the humblest patient, nor flatter the most exalted. If he did not advance so rapidly as many dashing young men have done, still it may be said, that what he gained, he never lost. His delicacy was only surpassed by his firmness-and that never had a particle of asperity in it. These young gentlemen had made it a rule with themselves to meet once a week, to enjoy a banquet of conversation; and to which feast, like Scarron's, each guest brought his own dish. This habit was kept up for several years with great constancy, and to their mutual advantage. Sometimes a few friends were admitted to join this trio-and this was considered a great favor. At a time between the embargo of 1807 and the war of 1812, the prices of merchandize underwent many fluctuations, in the successive shocks given to commerce by the numerous acts of national legislation. At a time when new changes were anticipated, the young merchant was not at his weekly supper as usual. The other two went out to find him. He was still at his desk, but engaged to be with them in the course of an hour or two. When he arrived he told them that he anticipated that great changes were |