"We argue the gradual decline of English and American literature, not only from the number of merely clever writers and the general prevalence of imitation, but also from the love of periodical criticism, and the success with which it is cultivated. Criticism has always flourished in the absence of other kinds of genius; it is best when others are in decay or gone, and this seems to us one of the most remarkable of the signs of the times. From the great increase, too, of periodical literature, most of the minor kinds of writing are more cultivated than the longer and more imposing. We have few histories and long poems, but abundance of critiques of all kinds, political, literary, theological, and characteristic essays, on all subjects, of manners, morals, medicine, and mercantile policy; sketches of life and scenery; letters from abroad and at home, tales, short biographies, and every possible variety of the lesser orders of poetry.

"We apprehend that literature of this grade and character-short, to the point, interesting, will be the prevailing literature for a long time to come. The chief instruction of the people, their main intellectual resource of amusement, also, will be found in the periodical press. The infusion of popular feeling into our works of speculation; the great aims of reforming, enlightening, and, in a word, educating the people, and impressing the importance of the individual-this is one of the great problems of the age, perhaps the problem. To render man physically comfortable, and to give him sufficient occupation, of whatever sort circumstances demand, is the primary duty of society; but, immediately next to that, to seek to elevate, and refine, deepen and expand the characters of all men, till they come to know, appreciate, and act upon the immutable principles of justice and humanity; to recognize one Father and Master above, and all brothers and equals below-this is the great lesson of life, the very object and end of being."

SECTION III.

CONCLUDING REMARKS ON OUR NATIONAL LITERATURE.

[From the North American Review of 1844.]

The life of our native land-the inner spirit which animates its institutions-the new ideas and principles of which it is the representative-these every patriot must wish to behold reflected from the broad mirror of a comprehensive and soul-animating literature. The true vitality of a nation is not seen in the triumphs of its industry, the extent of its conquests, or the reach of its empire; but in its intellectual dominion. Posterity passes over statistical tables of trade and population, to search for the records of the mind and heart. It is of little moment how many millions of men were included at any time under the name of one people, if they have left no intellectual testimonials of their mode and manner of existence, no "footprints on the sands of time." Greece yet lives in her literature, more real to our minds, nearer to our affections, than many European kingdoms. The true monarchs of a country are those whose sway is over thought and emotion.

America abounds in the material of poetry. Its history, its scenery, the structure of its social life, the thoughts which pervade its political forms, the meaning which underlies its hot contests, are all capable of being exhibited in a poetical aspect. If we have a literature, it should be a national literature; no feeble or sonorous echo of Germany or of England, but essentially American in its tone and object. No matter how meritorious a composition may be, as long as any foreign nation can say it has done the same thing better, so long shall we be spoken of with contempt, or in a spirit of benevolent patronage. We begin to sicken of the custom, now so common, of presenting even our best poems to the attention of foreigners, with a deprecating, apologetic air; as if their acceptance of the offering, with a few soft and silky compliments, would be an act of kindness demanding our

warmest acknowledgments. If the Quarterly Review or Blackwood's Magazine speaks well of an American production, we think that we can praise it ourselves, without incurring the reproach of bad taste. The folly we yearly practice, of flying into a passion with some inferior English writer, who caricatures our faults, and tells dull jokes about his tour through the land, has only the effect to exalt an insignificant scribbler into notoriety, and give a nominal value to his recorded impertinence.

In order that America may take its due rank in the commonwealth of nations, a literature is needed which shall be the exponent of its higher life. We want a poetry which shall speak in clear, loud tones to the people; a poetry which shall make us more in love with our native land, by converting its ennobling scenery into the images of lofty thoughts; which shall give visible form and life to the abstract ideas of our written constitutions; which shall confer upon virtue all the strength of principle and all the energy of passion; which shall disentangle freedom from cant and senseless hyperbole, and render it a thing of such loveliness and grandeur, as to justify all self-sacrifice; which shall make us love man by the new consecrations it sheds on his life and destiny; which shall vindicate the majesty of reason; give new power to the voice of conscience, and new vitality to human affection; soften and elevate passion; guide enthusiasm in a right direction; and speak out in the high language of men to a nation of men.

PART VIII.

SUPPLEMENTARY.

CHAPTER I.

THE DIVINE ORIGIN OF HUMAN LANGUAGE.

[Supplementary to Chapter I., Part II.]

THE first use of words appears from Scripture to have been to communicate the thoughts of God. But how could this be done but in the words of God? Upon the creation of man, God blessed him and said, "Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it," &c. Having placed man in the garden, he laid a verbal command upon him not to eat of the fruit of a particular tree, while he informed him that he had liberty to eat of the fruit of every tree besides. When this command, unhappily, was violated, Jehovah is represented as entering into a conversation with Adam and Eve respecting their crime, and pronouncing sentence upon them.

Moreover, we learn that about this early period Adam was qualified to bestow names upon the various animals that God caused to pass before him for this purpose.

But how could Adam understand the addresses of his Maker, or name the animals before him, unless he had been divinely instructed in the meaning of the language made use of? He had had no opportunity to form a language for himself. He was, therefore, in a manner to us inexplicable, furnished with a knowledge of a certain amount of language.

Mr. Wollaston contends that language is the indispensable instrument of thought; and even Herder, who has la bored to prove language not to have been of divine ap pointment, admits that without it reason can not be used by man.

Now, if language be necessary to the exercise of reason, it clearly can not have been the result of human contrivance, or, according to Dr. Ellis, language can not be contrived without thought and knowledge; but the mind can not have thought and knowledge till it has language therefore lan

guage must be previously taught, before man could become a rational creature; and none could teach him but God.

Even the infidel Hobbes admits that "the first author of speech was God himself, that instructed Adam how to name such creatures as he presented to his sight."

They who consider language to be of mere human invention are, for the most part, obliged to proceed on suppositions of the original state of man totally inconsistent with the Mosaic history.

Moreover, a single instance can not be produced, in the whole range of history, of any human creatures ever using articulate sounds as the signs of ideas, unless taught, either immediately and at once by God, or gradually by those who had been themselves instructed. But there have instances been discovered of persons who, possessing all the natural powers of mind and body, yet remained destitute of speech, from the want of an instructor.

It may be added, that Adam is not the only instance which is recorded in Scripture of the instant communication of language. The diversity of tongues occasioning the confusion at Babel, and the miraculous gift of speech to the apostles on the day of Pentecost, may render a similar exercise of divine power in the case of our first parents more readily admissible.-See Magee on Atonement.

CHAPTER II.

CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE STYLE OF ADDISON. [This chapter is designed as a model for students in preparing written criticisms upon passages that may be selected from books by the teacher, or upon compositions written by members of the class in Rhetoric; in which criticisms, should be investigated and set forth those qualities of style which have been discussed in Chapters ix-xxi., Part ii.]

EXAMPLE.

1. "Our sight is the most perfect and most delightful of all our senses.'

CRITICISM.

This is an excellent introductory sentence. It is clear, precise, and simple. The author lays down, in a few plain words, the proposition which he intends to illustrate in the rest of the paragraph. In this manner we should always