suffering, that when they witnessed, for the first time, on the western waters of the United States, the spectacle of a steamboat under way, moving along without sails or oars, and spouting fire and smoke, they could not refrain from exclamations of wonder. Hold out a handful of wheat, or Indian corn, to a person wholly uninformed of their nature, and ignorant of the mode of cultivating them; and tell him that, by scattering these dry kernels abroad, and burying them in the cold damp earth, you can cause a harvest to spring up, sufficient for a winter's supply of food; and he will think you are mocking him, by vain and extravagant tales. But it is not the less true, that in these, and in all other instances, it is the mind of man, possessed of the necessary knowledge and skill, that brings into useful operation, for the supply of human want, and the support and comfort of human life, the properties and treasures of the natural world, the aid of inferior animals, and even our own physical powers.

When, therefore, we improve our minds by the acquisition of useful knowledge, we appropriate to ourselves, and extend to others, to whom we may impart our knowledge, a share of the natural control over all other things, which Providence has granted to his rational children.

EXERCISE XCII.

HIS CAPTORS TO ANDRE.-J. W. Miller.

Look on us, Briton! readest thou
Aught base or craven here?

On these swart lips and toil-worn brows,
Is stamped the sign of fear?

Look, man of courts, for know'st thou not
Rude arms and peasant-vest
Are lightnings in a patriot's grasp,
Proof-mail upon his breast?

Go to! we would not wrong the truth
That fills thy noble eye:

That broad, pale forehead's lift of pride
Should take no shameful dye.

We would not that a bribe should be
Clasped in a brave man's hold:
"Tis a base weapon, vainly drawn ;
Briton! put up thy gold.

Nor hope thou thus, by prayer or threat,
To go hence, free and proud:
How faintly falls the speech of man,
When God's deep voice is loud!

'God and our country!'. hallowed words!
Breathe them but in thy heart,
Briton! then crave us, that we bid
A mortal foe depart.

Within our souls there is a voice, -
Within our eyes a fire, -

Leaving to pity's moan no ear,
No glance to low desire:

Our country's wrong, -our country's hope,

Are written on heaven's wall:

We may but read that lightning scroll, -
Hear but its thunder call.

We
may
Lead thee but as a slave;

but meet thee as a foe,

Start'st thou?—Yes! that proud form may
To fill a felon's grave!

Go thou with us: our last resolve,

Perchance thy doom,

is told:

Thinkest thou to buy a patriot's soul?
Briton! put up thy gold!

bow

RULE FOR POETIC DECLAMATION.

Pieces like the preceding, which exemplify DECLAMATORY style in VERSE, require, in reading and recitation, a degree of the ABRUPT ENERGY of a VEHEMENT HARANGUE in PROSE, combined with the FLOWING and HARMONIOUS utterance of POETIC language.

EXERCISE XCIII.

SUCCESS OF COLUMBUS. - Anon.

The crew of Columbus, having lost all hope of land, and finding that what he had thought so, proved but clouds, began to murmur against 'this bold Italian,' and determined to give him only three days longer to fulfil his promises. On the first of these days, he became convinced, by the sunset, that land was near, -in the night, he espied lights. Two hours after midnight, 11th of October, 1492, land was clearly visible. The island on which they landed was Guanahani,* which they called St. Salvador.

'The howling winds forbid us,
To trust the fatal main:-
Oh! turn our wandering vessel
To harbor once again!

The gallant leader heard;

But he listened undismayed,
Though he saw their furious glances,
And their daggers half displayed.

No fear was in his soul;

But his heart was wrung with woe:
Shall he quail before their murmurs,
And his glorious meed forego?

Had he braved the ocean's terrors,
In darkness and in night;

And shall he furl his sails

With the promised goal in sight?

* Pronounced, Gwânahânee, -a, as in arm.

For he looked towards the horizon, And marked the setting sun; And, by its ruddy light,

He knew his toil was done!

"T was in the deepest midnight,
As they cut the yielding wave,
When not a star was shining
To guide them or to save,
As in awful, hopeless silence,
Their onward course they steer,
Far in the murky distance,
Lo!- glimmering lights appear!

In breathless joy and wonder
They watch the opening sky;
And, with the morning, rises
Their rapturous certainty.

Through silvery vapor gleaming,
Extends the welcome strand;
And trees, and rocks, and mountains,
Before their view expand.

They breast the foaming surges,
And shouting leap to shore;

While every echo answers

'God! and Saint Salvador!'

Where glory was blushing,

Thy flight was the fleetest; Where death's sleep was hushing, Thy slumber was sweetest.

When broadswords were clashing, Thy cry was the loudest ; When deep they were gashing, Thy plume was the proudest.

But, triumph is over;

No longer victorious,
No more shalt thou hover,
Destructively glorious!

Far from the battle's shock,
Fate has fast bound thee;
Chained to the rugged rock,
Waves warring round thee.

Instead of the trumpet's sound,
Sea-birds are shrieking:
Hoarse, on thy ramparts bound,
Billows are breaking.

The standards which led thee,
Are trampled and torn now;
The flatteries which fed thee,
Are turned into scorn now.

For ensigns unfurling,

Like sunbeams in brightness,

Are crested waves curling,

Like snow-wreaths in whiteness.

No sycophants mock thee

With dreams of dominion ;

But rude tempests rock thee,
And ruffle thy pinion.

Thy last flight is taken,
Hope leaves thee forever;

And victory shall waken
Thy proud spirit never!