read by him to the Indians. In some of their deliberations on the subject, the question arose among them, whether this mysterious power of the talking leaf, was the gift of the Great Spirit to the white man, or a discovery of the white man himself? Most of his companions were of the former opinion, while he as strenuously maintained the latter. This frequently became a subject of contemplation with him afterwards, as well as many other things which he knew, or had heard that the white man could do; but he never sat down seriously to reflect on the subject, until a swelling on his knee confined him to his cabin, and which, at length, made him a cripple for life by shortening the diseased leg. Deprived of the excitements of war, and the pleasures of the chase, in the long nights of his confinement, his mind was again directed to the mystery of the power of speaking by letters-the very name of which, of course, was not to be found in his language. From the cries of wild beasts, from the talents of the mocking bird, from the voices of his children and his companions, he knew that feelings and passions were conveyed, by different sounds, from one intelligent being to another. The thought struck him to try to ascertain all the sounds in the Cherokee language. His own ear was not remarkably discriminating, and he called to his aid the more acute ears of his wife and children. He found great assistance from them. When he thought that he had distinguished all the different sounds in their language, he attempted to use pictorial signs, images of beasts or birds, to convey these sounds to others, or to mark them in his own mind. He soon dropped this method, as difficult or impossible, tried arbitrary signs, without any regard to appearances, except such as might assist him in recollecting them, and distinguishing them from each other. At first these signs were very numerous; and when he got so far as to think that his invention was nearly accomplished, he had about two hundred characters in his alphabet. By the aid of his daughter, who seemed to enter into the genius of his labors, he reduced them, at last, to eighty-six, the number he now uses. He then set to work to make these characters more comely to the eye, and succeeded."

Here closed the invention of the alphabet of this Cadmus of the forest. His next step was to learn to read with it himself, and to teach others to do the same. In this he was also successful, to the astonishment and awe of the people of his nation, who began to consider him peculiarly favored by the Great Spirit-or aided, perhaps, by the spirit of evil. Such is the way in which the ignorant and superstitious, whether savage or civilized, Christian or Pagan, account for things they cannot understand. When the wind suddenly changes or abates in violence, and obvious benefit to some portion of the human race is the issue, although another portion may be injured by it, or when a shower descends opportunely on the parched earth and withering herbage, instead of deriving the events from the laws that, without varying, govern the universe, they ascribe them to the interposition of a special Providence. The Deity has been kind or angry; and, influenced by his passions, like any other mutable being, has deviated from his eternal and inviolable purposes, to do good or evil to the tiny mite of existence called man! Thus does superstition, by perpetuating error, prepare sustenance for itself, and maintain not only its existence, but its dominion over man. And thus is the ignorance of the many still employed by the designing few, in forging fetters for the human mind.

Certain individuals, who do not appear to have studied the matter very profoundly, have seized on this invention of an alphabet, with a view to prove by it, that the intellect of the Indian is equal to that of the white man. But the attempt is unavailing. The testimony, as used, is fallacious, and proves no such thing. See-quah-yah is not a full Indian, but a half-blood," his father being a Scotchman. The invention, therefore, is not Indian. Nor ought it, perhaps, to be deemed an

invention at all. That term imports something strictly original. But here is nothing such. The whole is derivative. The first conception of See-quah-yah was the fruit of the "speaking leaf," not of his own unaided reflection. Had he been a full-blood Indian, and had he formed his alphabet in the depth of the forest, without any intercourse with the white man, the facts would have been important in the solution of the question referred to. They would have constituted evidence highly flattering to the genius of the Indian. But as matters

now stand, they furnish no evidence to that effect. They show what a half-blood can do, with assistance, not what a full-blood can do without it. Under similar circumstances, white men, of moderate abilities, would do as much.

LECTURE II. This lecture treats of Greek, Roman, and Arabic literature of the state of learning, when our ancestors first came to America-of the character of those virtuous and heroic emigrants-of Sir Walter Raleigh, and Captain John Smith, two of the most extraordinary men of their age, or of any age-of the pilgrims, and other matters connected with those times.

LECTURE III. Here we find sketches of some of the pilgrims, showing them to be men of talent and learning-notices of the books they wrote, as samples of intellect and attainment, and of their peculiar mode of thinking. Harvard College founded. This alone testifies to the high and enterprising character of the colonists, and to their unconquerable devotion to letters. Situated as they were, surrounded by danger, oppressed by labor, and familiar with suffering of every description, they were, probably, the only people on earth, who, under circumstances so adverse and discouraging, would have thought of erecting a literary institution, to rival those of the mother country. The progress of the colonists, in other respects, is here referred to-the celebrated Roger Williams-the high and heroical character of the females of the time traced to the excellence of their education-general remarks on the early settlers of the country. This lecture abounds in matter of peculiar interest.

LECTURE IV. In this lecture our author delineates the characters of the two Mathers, Increase, the father, and Cotton, his son. All things considered, these were wonderful men; the latter, perhaps, most so. Their lives were a romance. Although they stood related as father and son, they were, notwithstanding, cotemporaries. They died within five years of each other, the one at eighty-five, the other at sixty-five. The amount and variety of their knowledge were surprising.

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"The concerns of religion and literature, the duties of political and domestic life, the subjects of the passing day, and the most abstruse questions of science, all fell within their grasp, and were honored with their attention." "They felt every thing, and received every measure of attention, from adoration to hatred, from individuals of the same community, at the same time.” ***They were born on the same soil, and educated at the same university." **Their minds were, in a great degree, alike. Both were indefatigable students, and devoted to the same pursuits in letters and religion. The father wrote more than an hundred works, which issued from the press in this country or in England. Nothing escaped them, from cometographia to witchcraft. They shot off an arrow at profane dancing, and threw off a pamphlet in favor of inoculation for the small pox." Happy in other respects, the father was thrice blessed' in his son Cotton, who arose from the swaddling-clothes of the cradle a prodigy. In his father's mind, the Arabian tale of the birth of Solomon was no longer a fable, of whom it

was said that, the first word he spoke was the awful name of the MOST HIGH, and the first sentence was a confession of faith. Cotton Mather, when an infant, checked the wandering and reproved the vicious. At fifteen years of age he had finished his collegiate course, and was before the world as a scholar. His piety was superior to his talents and learning; for he read fifteen chapters a day in the bible, and reading, with him, was nearly committing to memory and multiplied his fastings and vigils, with the zeal and perseverance of an hermit, destined to grace the calendar of saints. He preached sermons of great length every Sunday, wrote treatises with almost incredible celerity, and scattered them profusely, in the hope of doing good. One of his biographers says, that the number of his works was three hundred and eighty-three. Franklin ascribes to one of Mather's essays "all his usefulness in life. Others have bestowed on him still higher praise. If any thing could exceed his industry, it was his wish to be useful; and if any thing could exceed that, it was his credulity."

In this lecture many other topics of interest are discussed-William Penn, and the literature of Pennsylvania-the origin of Yale College -the literature of South-Carolina-William and Mary College, in Virginia-General Summary of the first century.

LECTURE V. This lecture gives a view of the population, difficulties, changes, and state of the colonies at the commencement of the second century-the character of Benjamin Franklin-David Mason-Mathematicians and Astronomers of the time-Metaphysicians-President Edwards and his son-Origin of Columbia College, in New-YorkBrown University, in Rhode-Island, and Dartmouth, in New-Hampshire -the Mathematicians who distinguished themselves by their observations on the transit of Venus-Rittenhouse and others—American observations on that event, the most accurate that were made.

LECTURE VI. This lecture is replete with matters of deep interest, partly literary, and in part political. It depicts the state of public feeling, and recites some of the events previous and preparatory to the revolution-the prominent characters of the day-Otis, Gridley, Samuel Adams-Dr. Cooper, his taste, eloquence, and fine writing-the massacre in Boston, and the proceedings held on the occasion-Orators and their orations on the anniversary of that event-the intrepidity and firmness of Dr. Warren, in the character of orator-John Adams, his conduct, writings, and declaration that a speech by Mr. Otis "breathed into the nation the breath of life"-attention to Oriental literature. Passing in silence over Lectures VII and VIII, we say of

LECTURE IX. that it is a beautiful discourse. In refinement and interest it is rarely surpassed. It treats of poetry in general, its origin and nature-shows that it springs instinctively from the constitution of man-of English poetry from its dawn, in the twelfth century, to the time of Shakspeare-the period of the first colonization of our country -American poetry and poets-the celebrated John Smith. Of this chivalrous and truly singular man, who has no parallel in romance or reality, our author gives the following spirited account :

"Our first quotation shall be from the muse of John Smith, who was the Eneas of the New World. One would think, from the character of the man, that his poetry would be of the first order. He was fitted, by nature and education, for a poet; generous, noble, and full of genius, he saw every thing in a chivalrous light, not the flitting, irregular, meteoric light of a perturbed mind, which is so often found to mistake the agitations of feebleness for the workings of the divinity within; but one who saw things in the blaze of intellectual day. He had been a philosopher, a hero, and a lover in every clime; and a favorite of the fair in every path of the sun. The veiled beauties of Asia, whose hearts melt with

romantic tenderness within the haram walls-the refined and accomplished women of his own country, and the simple, honest, and noble daughters of the forest, were enamoured with the blaze of his fame, and charmed with the martial elegance of his person. His whole life was an epic."

On Lectures X. XI. XII. and XIII. we cannot dwell, although they are well written, and contain matter respecting American orators, and other points of much value, and no common interest. In Lecture XIV. Washington is thus referred to and described :

"On the second day of July, 1775, Washington arrived at Cambridge, and took command of the American army. He was not, at this time, much known to the officers of the army; but, in addition to his having been selected by the Continental Congress, a body which had the confidence of all the people, his personal appearance, his military air, his sage demeanor, his attention to every minutiae of the camp, and his punctilious regard to religious observances, at once commanded respect and admiration. This soon ripened into that enthusiastic veneration, which had before been rather the creature of the imagination than the belief of the understanding. This adoration, for it came as near it as any thing a mortal could inspire, was never, for a moment, lessened by accident or reverse of fortune. Washington had the undiminished affections of New-England from that hour to the last moment of his existence."

LECTURE XV. treats of the naval character of our country. The navy, its exploits and glory, from its commencement to the present period. This lecture is, of course, historical, and, from portraying, fine touches and vivid colors, the workings and products of American mind, is replete with interest.

Such is the fullest brief, the limits of this article permit us to prepare of the contents of the "Lectures on American Literature." Imperfect as it is, we trust it will be sufficient to induce the reader to look into the work itself, which will richly reward him for the attention he may bestow on it. When we consider the importance of its end, and the abundant means it employs for accomplishing it, we are justified in ranking it among the most valuable productions of our country. To the specimens of our author's style and manner already given, hundreds of other fine ones might be added. Without any particular care in selecting, we subjoin the following. Or if it be selected, it is not so much on account of its eloquence and beauty, as of the affecting incident it so fitly records.

"We are a generous people in our sympathies, and have mourned over the fate of the unfortunate Andre, who fell a victim to the laws of nations, in the prime of his life, for the very reason that his case has been presented to us in every form of prose and verse, by those of his own country, and we read all they write; while one of our own kindred and brethren, as young, as accomplished, and as unfortunate as Andre, has hardly been mentioned by an obituarist or historian. Nathan Hale, a martyr in the cause of liberty, is a name almost unknown to his countrymen; but it is time that we should be familiar with his reputation. He was born in Connecticut, and was graduated in Yale College, in 1773, with exalted reputation as a scholar, and a lofty, high-minded man. He was cotemporary with Dwight, Barlow, and Humphreys, who often mourned his untimely fate, and cherished his memory by toasts and eulogies. Some of the lines of Dwight, on the melancholy occasion of Hale's death, are still extant; they breathe the affection of a friend, and are almost too true, solemn, and pathetic, to be poetical. It was a dark and gloomy period in the history of our country; and he, with many other young men, caught the spark from their fathers-in fact, anticipated them in preparing for the great struggle that was to come. At the moment the war broke out, he obtained a commission in the Connecticut line, and took the command of a company in Colonel Knowlton's regiment, and was with the army in their memorable retreat from Long Island, in 1776. After Washington had succeeded in an enterprise so much favored by Providence, he was for a

while ignorant of the movements, numbers, or disposition of the British army; and anxious to get all possible information of their movements or intentions, he applied to Colonel Knowlton for a discreet, intelligent, enterprising and bold officer, to penetrate the enemy's camp, and bring him the desired information. Knowlton made known the request of the commander in chief to Hale, who was the charm of every polished circle, and the delight of the army, the soul of honor, and the "bravest among the brave." At the first moment it was named to him, he shrunk from the thought of becoming a spy; but reflecting that it was Washington who required his services, and his country that was to be benefited, perhaps preserved, by his accepting the arduous and perilous appointment, he gave up all scruples, and instantly prepared for the adventure. He passed in disguise to Long Island, examined the British camp, and having satisfied himself on this point of his mission, he was apprehended on attempting to return; and being carried before Sir William Howe, and finding that every thing was known to the enemy, he boldly declared himself, and his object in visiting the British camp. Howe, without a trial, or even the forms of a court martial, ordered him for execution the next morning. He was confined for a single night, and had only an opportunity to write a few lines to his mother and sister. As he had led a religious life, he asked for a clergyman to attend him in his dying moments, but his request was denied, and he was not permitted to have even a Bible for a moment's consolation. A guard of pitying soldiers, with the provost-martial, attended him to the fatal tree. The provost-martial, the common abhorrence of the camp, excited a more than ordinary share of disgust, by the brutal manner in which the wretch executed his victim. The firmness and composure of Hale did not for a moment desert him, and he died regretting that he had but one life to lose in the sacred cause of his country-the cause of freedom and the rights of man. The veteran soldiers wept like children at his untimely fate, wondering that a rebel could die so much like a hero. The letters he had written were destroyed; for they were so full of fortitude, resignation, and conscientiousness of duty, even in this great sacrifice, that it was thought dangerous to let the Americans know that they had ever had such a man. When the news of his execution reached the American camp, every one, from the commander in chief to the humblest soldier, looked as if some general calamity had overtaken the army. If his death was just, the manner of it was execrable; and a deep and settled resentment was mingled with their grief, which was not forgotten in the future events of the

war.

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"It is valiant to fight bravely when our fire-sides and altars are invaded. He, who falls in such a conflict, sleeps with all his country's honors blest. Monuments and epitaphs are given him, and his children find a rich inheritance in his fame. But what is this to staking one's life and reputation together—and staking them for love of country; to throw off the garb of distinction, which is, and should be, a soldier's pride, and covering one's self in disguise, for the purpose of visiting, in secrecy, an enemy's camp, to discover his nakedness or strength, not for one's own fame or emolument, but for the general good? It is above the common martyr's fame; above his glory. It is, if it can be justified at all-and all nations, polished, wise, and noble, do justify it—the highest of all mortal resolves. To die is nothing; to sleep in the bed of glory is a common lot, often an enviable one, and should never be contemplated with horror by a brave man who draws his sword in a good cause; but to think of the chances of an ignominious death, a dishonored grave, closed without funeral knell, or muffled drum, or "volley of solemn soldiery;" Oh! it is too much to think on; and can never be endured without dismay, unless the living fire of patriotism is burning with all its fierceness and unquenchable intensity."

Having occupied so much of our space with our remarks on the "Lectures on American Literature," our notice of the "Sketches of Public Characters" must be brief. As already stated, the work is but a part of the enginery which our author has constructed and brought into action, in defence of the intellectual reputation of our country. And it is well contrived, composed of substantial materials, finished in excellent style, and must operate powerfully. We are not sure that it will not be deemed, by the public at large, the most beautiful and attractive portion of the machinery. To drop the metaphor.