obtained the majority in Pittsburgh and Alleghany county. The result was such as may be anticipated; the counties have no canal-but the House of Representatives has one drowsy member more. This is very much the way in which the honourables are elected, particularly in those counties peopled by descendants from Germans, or where these people constitute the majority of voters. They never fail to select among the candidates the man of the meanest understanding, and thus the term of honest German is almost become synonymous with stupid German.

This prevalent spirit of democracy no doubt does very well in an enlightened State; but if a person is to be elected for no better reason than that he is a potter or a carpenter, or for his having the manners of a journeyman, it shows a poverty of understanding which provokes our contempt. These very errors in the mode of electing their representatives, are the causes why the State of Pennsylvania is so much neglected, and its interests so little attended to. It possesses neither the influence of the New England nor of the Western and Southern States, which, although democratic, are not so far advanced in their predilection for these principles,

as to send none but tradesmen to Congress. No wonder then that some worthies are to be found among the representatives of the middle States, who, to the no small scandal of the more fashionable imitators of the British House of Commons, are economical enough to send home, in a truly republican manner, their dirty linen and wornout pantaloons franked by the mail; the linen to be returned to Washington by the same conveyance, the clothes to be altered by their honourable ladies into second-hand trowsers for the offspring, of the parsimonious representative.

As soon as one of the members of Congress opens his mouth, you may tell to what part of the Union he belongs. The more literate Yankee borrows from Shakspeare and Byron, blundering through both these and other authors, in order to embellish the offspring of his genius. Should restitution be demanded of one of these honourables, as once the Peacocks are said to have reclaimed their own from the Jackdaw, we should stand a chance of witnessing a still more lamentable scene. The Kentuckian (Mr. Trimble) swears "By G-d," and " may heaven's lightning blast him if he meant any more, and he hoped that the calumniator and perjured

felon (meaning Mr. M'Duffie) he has described, may be delivered over to heaven's hangman, to scourge the rascal naked round the horizon of heaven's circumference." The poor Ohian (Vance) tells us, "that he came from the very lowest orders of society," and giving us a specimen of lamentation, leaves us uncertain whether he is not attempting to raise a subscription for himself. The proud Georgian speaks of violated rights and civil war, because he is not permitted to drive the poor Indians into the wildernesses of Oregan. The Carolinian declares that he is going to live and to die with his slaves, while the Pennsylvanian, quietly seated on his bench, seems to be perfectly astounded and perplexed by the wisdom, energy, good sense, learning, and elegance of his honourable brethren. Each is heard to speak in a manner corresponding with his education, and according to his degree of intelligence.

CHAPTER IX.

Literature-Literary Institutions-Education-Libraries—

Newspapers.

THE literature of the United States of North America, compared with the progress in political importance, is in its infancy. It has taken its general features from the literature of Europe, although essentially differing in many respects. It is often new, and sometimes original. Although the offspring of England, it confines itself within its own limits, taking an interest in the literature of other countries, only so far as it is allied to its own. The American literati are deficient in the elegant, the polished, and the classical taste of English writers; they are equally strangers to the systematic pedantry of the Germans, who know every part of the world except their own country-but in the art of a practical application of their knowledge, they probably excel both England and Germany. The American universities, contrasted with those of Europe, may, perhaps, be called compendiums of instruc

tion. Men of learning, natives as well as foreigners, are not wanting amongst them, but they are generally too impatient, too egotistical, to apply the necessary time to study the speculative sciences. If the American visit a college, he does it not to improve his talents, but to make money as speedily as possible: he wants to learn quickly, and only to acquire what is absolutely necessary. Satisfied with the elements of science, he supplies the rest by private reading, by experience, and by natural shrewdness. This may explain the reason why there is even in their men of superior genius, so strange a mixture of learning and home-breeding, if I may so express myself, so much light thrown upon still more shadow, so much wit and shrewdness with such little logic and philosophy. The American seldom gives his attention to any science that is not likely to be conducive to a livelihood: to "make money" is the object, to which every other is subservient. Philosophy he leaves to the clergy, poetry to the ladies, and if any unfortunate should happen to wander into these fanciful regions, he is very likely to starve, unless he expatriates himself, or is provided with a sufficient income. The Boston bard was actually