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spect of mankind. Washington, first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen-Washington is all our own, and the veneration and love entertained for him by the people of the United States are proofs that they are worthy of such a countryman. I would cheerfully put the question to-day to the intelligent men of all Europe-I will say, to the intellect of the whole world-what character of any country stands out in the relief of history most pure, most respectable, most sublime? I doubt not that by a suffrage approaching to unanimity, the answer would be, Washington. That monument itself is not an unfit em blem of his character, in its uprightness, its solidity, its durability His public virtues and his private principles were as firm and fixed as the earth on which it rests. His personal motives were as pure as the serene heaven in which its summit is lost.

"Yet, indeed, although a fit, it is not an adequate emblem. Towering far above the columns our hands have built-beheld not by the inhabitants of a single city or a single state alone, but by all the families of men, ascends in colossal grandeur the char acter of Washington. In all its constituent parts, acts, effects, titles to universal love, and admiration, and renown, it is an American product. Born upon our soil-of parents born upon our soil-never having had for a single day a sight of the Old World-reared amid our gigantic scenery-instructed according to the modes of the time in plain, solid, wholesome elementary knowledge, which is furnished to all our children-brought up among and fostered by the genuine influences of American so ciety-partaking of our great destiny of labor-partaking in and leading our agony of glory, the war of our Independence-partaking and leading in that victory of Freedom which ended in the establishment of our present Constitution-behold him, and benold him altogether an American. That crowded and glorious life in which we see a multitude of virtues, each contending to be foremost in the throng, and yet seem to be making room for a greater multitude to come-that life, in all its purity, in all its elevation, in all its grandeur, was the life of an American citizen. I claim him, Washington, wholly for America. And amid the peril and the darkened hours of the State-in the midst of the reproaches of enemies and the misgivings of friends, I turn to that transcendent name for courage and for consolation. To him who denies that our fervid Transatlantic liberty can be combined with law and order-to him who denies that America has contributed any thing to the world's stock of great lessons and great examples-to all these, I would reply by pointing to the character, and to the great example of Washington."

It will be interesting and profitable here to present to the student a criticism upon three of perhaps the host distinguished of American orators now living, CALHOUN, CLAY, and WEBSTER. It is extracted from the American Biblical Repository for 1840 ·

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Mr. Calhoun is the acknowledged chief of metaphysical orato His mind is uncommonly acute, with a rare faculty of seeing or making distinctions. His reasoning is equally subtle and plausible. He loves to revel and soar in the airy regions of abstraction. He is the great Des Cartes of the Political Academy. His theory is always curious-often beautiful-sometimes sublime; but it is a theory of "vortices."

Not so with Mr. Clay. He loves to move on the surface of our earth, and amid the throng of fellow-men; or if at any time disposed to climb, 'tis only to some sunny hill-top, that he may get a wider view of the busy, happy scene below. He is the orator of popular principles and of common sense. His views are expansive rather than deep-his grasp of subject not so strong as it is broad. He needs no interpreter to make more clear his meaning, nor any other index to the kindness of his character than his homely, but open and expressive face. As a speaker, his style is Ciceronean; graceful and winning, rather than impetuous. Witty and powerful at repartee, he is more skillful and ready in the skir mish of debate than either of his great competitors.

One remains. In all the qualities of the orator and statesman fitted to confer present power and lasting fame, Mr. Webster's pre-eminence will be denied by few.

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His style is remarkable for its simplicity. To utter thoughts of the highest order, in language perfectly simple; by lucid arrangement and apt words, to make abstract reasoning, and the most recondite principles of commerce, politics, and law, plain to the humblest capacity, is a privilege and power in which Mr. Webster is equalled, probably, by no living man. This simplicity, which is thought so easy of attainment, is, neverthe less, in this as in most cases, undoubtedly the result of uncom mon care. Like the great Athenian orator, Mr. W. is always full of his subject. Like him, when most simple in his diction, he is yet admirably select. Like him, too, he can adorn where orna ment is appropriate, and kindle, when occasion calls, to the most touching pathos, or loftiest sublime.

As a public man, Mr. W. is eminently American. His speeches breathe the purest spirit of a broad and generous patrions The institutions of learning and liberty which nurtured him to greatness, it has been his filial pride to cherish his manly pri ilege to defend, if not to save.

For specimens of these and other American orators, we u refer to Lovell's United States Speaker, and other collection

CHAPTER VI.

OF NOVELS.

Q. What do you understand by the term Novel?

A. Novel, in its literal signification, means some. thing new; but, as denoting a branch of literature, it is generally used as the name of all fictitious compositions in prose.

Q. What may this term, in its widest sense, be made to include?

A. Allegories, fables, and stories of all kinds, whether invented for the purpose of instruction or of amuse

ment.

Q. Where had this species of composition its origin?

A. It is commonly thought to have originated among the people of Asia, and from them to have found its way into Greece and Rome, and thence into all the other nations of Europe, and into America.

Q. What are the best known of Eastern fictions?

Á. The Arabian Nights' Entertainments; tnough all the writings of Eastern nations possess more or less of a fictitious character.

Q. Who introduced or revived the writing of novels in more modern times?

A. A set of strolling bards or story-tellers in France, called Troubadours, who went about proclaiming the deeds of imaginary heroes, in order to prompt to acts of chivalry.

Q. In what language did they compose?

A. In a sort of Roman-French, called Romanshe, from which is derived our word romance.

Q. What is the difference between a novel and a romance? A. A novel is a fictitious work, either founded upon the events of real life, or at least bearing some resemblance to them: while a romance is a work of a similar kind, having something wild and unnatural in it; and, if not purely imaginary, resting upon some extravagant tradition, and extending far beyond the limits of probability.

Q. When did novel-writing find its way into Great Britain? A. It was introduced into England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth; and since that time it has gradu- .

ally extended, till now more novels issue from the press than works of almost any other description Q. Are novels an important branch of literature:

4. On this point there is great diversity of opinion, some extolling them as the best teachers of morals, and others condemning them as the corrupters o principle, and the contaminators of the mind.

Q. What is the character of a good novel?

A. A perfect freedom from every degree of immoral tendency, together with the power of deeply interesting the feelings of the reader.

Q. What is the consequence of too great a love of novels?

A. It tends to distract the mind, and disqualify it for solid thinking, and the pursuit of useful knowledge. Q. Is there any peculiar style adapted to novels?

A. They admit of every variety of style, according to the nature of the incidents and characters described; but that must always be the best, which is most natural and animated.

Q. What peculiar quality of mind does the writing of good novels require?

A. Great readiness of invention, with quickness in discerning, and power in describing, characters and

events.

Q. Can you mention some of the most distinguished writers of novels?

A. Le Sage and Voltaire among the French, Cervantes among the Spaniards, and Cooper among the Americans, with numerous novelists of great celebrity among the Italians and Germans.

Q. Have not the English distinguished themselves in this walk of literature?

A. More so than almost any other nation; and their most eminent writers of this class are, De Foe, Swift, Goldsmith, Richardson, Fielding, Smollett, Miss Porter, Miss Edgeworth, Sir Walter Scott, and Mrs. Ellis.

MORAL AND LITERARY INFLUENCE OF NOVELS.

Novels, in this day, are multiplying indefinitely. They are made the vehicles of every diversity of sen timent in philosophy, politics, and religion. Some of them display genius, some wit, and some ribaldry

Some are remarkable for the high moral tone that pervades them; some are negative in their character, and others are positively infidel and licentious. Some exhibit in their heroes the finest traits of humanity; others exalt the criminal tc a hero, and endeavor to render vice attractive. It is probable that there are more pages of ephemeral novels published yearly, throughout the civilized world, than of all other literary productions united. They are not only published, but circulated and read; read, too, by that very class of persons who have no moral strength to resist their vicious influence. The German press, since 1814, has produced not less than five or six thousand new novels, for the most part bad in their influence, embra cing several millions of volumes. French novels have been nearly as numerous, and more demoralizing.

English novels have, in proportion to the issues of the press, been as numerous as in France or Ger many.

In our own country, the facilities for cheap publi cation are manufacturing a flood of this species of literature, which is working out our destiny as a nation. Their influence can not be overlooked by the statesman, moralist, or philosopher. The unwary may imbibe the poison of vice or infidelity when looking only for amusement.

[For an ample discussion of this subject, consult the Amer. Bib. Repos itory, 1843; also an article in the Democratic Review, July, 1844; als North American Review, April, 1827, and for July, 1843

CHAPTER VII.

OF BLANK VERSE AND RHYME.

Q. What do you understand by Blank Verse?

A. That poetry which depends upon measure alone without any correspondence of sound in the termina ting syllables of different lines.

Q. Can you give an example?

A.

These, as they change, Almighty Father, these
Are but the varied God. The rolling year

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