Every particular of these wars is minutely related; and the peculiar conduct and sufferings are recorded of most of the individuals engaged during their whole course. To show the manner in which their wars were conducted, and to represent it more forcibly by a few particular relations, was certainly proper; but when we find page after page of murder, differing only in unimportant circumstances, it is impossible to refrain turning from the recital with disgust. Who could tolerate in a history of France a particular relation of the conduct and sufferings of every victim during the reigns of Marat and Robespierre? We regret this minuteness of Dr. Belknap the more, because at the end of his account of the second Indian war, he has drawn a general character of the Indians, and has portrayed in striking colours both their vices and virtues.

The early part of the civil history of New-Hampshire is almost wholly occupied with the endeavours of the claimants under Mason to recover the property abandoned by his widow, and the resistance of the occupants. The Masonians possessed the greatest influence in England, and were enabled to have New-Hampshire erected into a distinct government contrary to the wishes of the people, and to have officers appointed who favoured their cause. On the other hand the decisions of these officers were prevented by the people from taking effect. One circumstance is remarkable, that this dispute, which involved the property of almost the whole community, was carried on with but little violence and no bloodshed. This moderation is perhaps the most distinguishing trait in the American character. In the history of the disputes between parties contending under discordant titles, and where sometimes different states erected opposing standards, or in the more important struggle with the mother country for independence, when property was but a secondary consideration, there are but few instances where the person was not secure; and when violence was carried to the utmost extremity, life was seldom endangered. There were likewise continual disputes between the governours and the assemblies. The former by their patents were obliged to insist upon permanent and honourable salaries; the latter always endeavoured to evade this requisition, to grant as little as possible, and that for a period not exceeding a year. The appendix to the first volume contains a great number of documents, principally original letters, relative to Mason's claim.

The second volume of this history was not published till 1791. It continues the history of New-Hampshire from 1715 to the period of the adoption of the federal constitution. The first part continues the account of the civil government and of the wars with the natives, a series of events which, although of interest at the time, yet as they resulted in consequences of no importance, and exhibited no development of character, have long since lost their interest.

In 1741, Benning Wentworth was appointed governour of the state, which had hitherto been governed by a deputy under the governour of Massachusetts. This did not for a long time produce any change, from the close connection between Mr. Wentworth and the chief magistrate of Massachusetts. The latter being a man of a very active mind and extremely enterprising, formed various schemes which, being joined in by New-Hampshire, give an unusual interest to this period. At this time was undertaken the expedition against Cape Briton, an expedition almost as romantick as the enterprises of Cortes and Pizarro with a few Spaniards against the populous, and in some degree, civilized nations of Mexico and Peru, and which show what numerous deficiences may be supplied by enthusiastick and persevering valour.

The account of this expedition is very interesting, and the ignorance both of those who projected and of those who executed it, and the simplicity of their characters are extremely well portrayed. After describing the instructions to the commander, Dr. Belknap remarks: "such was the plan for the reduction of a regularly constructed fortress, drawn by a lawyer, to be executed by a merchant, at the head of a body of husbandmen and mechanicks, animated indeed by ardent patriotism, but destitute of professional skill and experience." So improbable was its success, that Belknap has the following quotation from Douglass: "If any one circumstance had taken a wrong turn on our side, and if any one circumstance had not taken a wrong one on the French side, the expedition must have miscarried."

This expedition, in which New-Hampshire bore her part, and which ended in the capture of Louisbourg, the strongest fortress in the new world, forms the most brilliant occurrence in the whole bistory, and Dr. Belknap's relation of it is extremely interesting. This occurrence first made known in Europe the enterprising spirit of New-England, and awakened

a great degree of jealousy in the mother country. Its success excited strong hopes of the conquest of Canada both here and in England, for which preparations were several times made, but which from various circumstances were ineffectual during this war. At the peace a dispute arose between the governour and legislature respecting the right of representation, but the former being supported by the crown, the people after much opposition were obliged to submit.

Upon the appearance of the renewal of hostilities with the French in 1754, an union was recommended by the British government to be formed among the colonies for mutual protection. "Its fate was singular: it was rejected in America, because it was supposed to put too much power in the hands of the king; and it was rejected in England, because it was supposed to give too much power to the assemblies of the colonies." It is remarkable that the articles of union were signed July 4, 1754, exactly 22 years previous to the Declaration of Independence, and that the name of Franklin is subscribed to both.

During this war, in which the entire conquest of Canada was effected, the troops of New-Hampshire were distinguished as rangers in reconnoitring the woods, obtaining intelligence and skirmishing. Dr. Belknap describes the particular services of these troops and the number of men raised each year. But in endeavouring to confine himself to his subject, he barely mentions the great events of the war, without stating how they were effected, the proportion which the troops of New-Hampshire bore to the whole employed, or the number and circumstances of the forces with which they had to contend. We cannot without a previous knowledge of the history of this war obtain sufficient information from this work, to feel any interest in the detached relations of the exploits of the NewHampshire troops.

(To be continued.)

ERRATA.

In the last line of Stanza I, on page 109, for winter's cold, read winter cold.

The last line of Stanza I, on page 110, should end with a semi-colon. In the third line of the last Stanza but one, on page 111, for glided, read mantled.

INTELLIGENCE.

1

Longman and Co. London, have just published the Travels of Captains Lewis and Clarke, from St. Louis, by way of the Missouri and Columbia Rivers, to the Pacifick Ocean; performed in the Years 1804, 1805, and 1806. by Order of the Government of the United States. Contain`ing Delineations of the Manners, Customs, Religion, etc. of the Indians, compiled from vari ous authentick Sources, and original Documents; and a Summary of the Statistical View of the Indian Nations, from the official Cominunication of Meriwether Lewis. Illustrated with a Map of the Country inhabited by the western Tribes of Indians.

The following account of the work we extract from the Electic Review for November, 1809. See page 1052.

If our own simplicity is not greater than that of other persons, this book, notwithstanding the equivocal mode in which the title page is constructed, will be sent for, and somewhat eagerly too, as Captain Lewis's own account, at tolerable length, of the late adventurous journey across the western part of the American continent. A meagre journal of the enterprise written by Mr. Patrick Gass, one of the adventurers, appeared some time since, and, from its extreme scantiness of observation, made us but the more desirous of obtaining the leader's own narrative, which, it was to be presumed, would shortly be printed in America. When we saw the present volume announced, we made no doubt that such a work must now have appeared in America, and were not a little pleased at its being reprinted here at a price which we might hope to afford compatibly with the first and most sacred application of our pecuniary means, the payment of taxes. We instantly procured the book, and we have too much respect for the art and mystery of literary trade to complain that, under the title of The Travels of Capts. Lewis and Clarke,' it is made up in the following manner. It begins with a few pages of introduction, containing a statement 'made by a gentleman,' without a name, of the commercial products of the countries on the Missouri, consisting chiefly in the peltries obtained from the Indians, but including also the pretended produce of certain lead mines, where situated, and by whom worked, we must get information where we can. Within the twenty or thirty pages following, there are a few observations relating to the Missouri and its banks, and the two interesting letters of Captain Clarke, which have appeared in various publications, the first of them written in the outward journey, at Fort Mandan, the other after the party had reached St. Louis on their return. And this portion, of from twenty to thirty pages, is all that specifically relates to the extraordinary journey; nor

is there any certainty that one sentence of it was written by Captain Lewis. The next eighty or ninety pages are a general description of the character, customs and notions of the Indians. It is so totally without classification of particulars, as to reduce the very best memory to despair. And no wonder it is without arrangement; for it is a studied effort to disperse into perfect disorder, and in that state stiffen into a crude consistence, the paragraphs and pages which are arranged in their proper distinct sections in the travels of the plain and honest Captain Carver, whose very entertaining book is thus pillaged and dislocated, while even his name is not so much as once mentioned. What is here put together is not all taken from him, (Dr. Robertson, among others, has not been forgotten) but, as far as we can trust our recollection, the larger part is reprinted from him, verbatim, including many passages in which he makes some reference to himself, in which the pronoun 'I' is unavoidably understood, by any reader who has not happened to see Carver's book, to mean Captain Lewis. The next piece is a long account of the Knisteneaux and Chepewyans, avowedly taken from Mackenzie. This is followed by Captain Lewis's statistical view, and Dr. Sibley's historical sketches, of the Indian tribes in Louisiana, and the observations of Mr. Dunbar and Dr. Hunter, in a voyage on the Red and Washita rivers; three papers published by the American government in 1806, and of which an analysis may be seen in the second volume (p. 665) of our Review. There is inserted also, from an ingenious traveller,' an amusing sort of dissertation on the origin of the American population.

We need scarcely say, therefore, that the volume is made up of curious, and in part interesting materials; and will be acceptable, as a compilation, to the reader who can forgive the dexterous trick that has caught him to buy it, for The Travels of Capts. Lewis and Clarke,' and the grossly unfair use that has been made of Captain Carver's book. We must still hope that Captain Lewis means to give a full account of the journey, in his own name and words; and, in spite of the most provoking dryness of our good friend Mr. Patrick Gass, it cannot but be certain that the work, besides its value on a geographical account, might be enlivened, without the smallest aid of fiction, with a number of extraordinary incidents, and with a variety of remarkable facts relative to the wild and miserable inhabitants.