The man of a sarcastic turn looks at foibles, weaknesses and errors, with the savage delight experienced by an Indian when his enemy is fastened to a stake, and he has the choice of inflicting wounds upon whatever part of his exposed and defenceless body he chooses. It is a pleasure to such an one when he can discover what is figuratively called a sore place in an individual character, while to that particular spot he is sure, with unerring aim, and in a spirit of unfeeling bitterness, to apply his satirical lash.

Sup. Why, my friend, you are excursive on pun, irony and sarcasm, upon my honour: but I am strongly inclined to opine that your discourse is cursedly like your name, merely "superficial," ha! ha! ha! that is what I call a pretty good pun,―by the immortal Gods it is.

Super. Yes, a real superfine joke, and, what is more, it is very true; it would be well if one half the wit uttered were as well-timed, and equally "founded on fact.”

But we are losing sight of the " question," and deserve to be called to order." Pope's assertion, that many persons require as much wit again as they possess, to enable them to use what they have with propriety, was, no doubt, founded on his own observation; for, although a poet, he was quite a practical man. And it is a subject well worthy the sedate consideration of witty men in all ages, whether it is not better in nine cases out of ten, for them to be entirely silent than to exercise their talent indiscriminately, as most wits do. When a rich man condescends to utter jokes they are pretty sure to be well received, and all are apt to imagine them more pointed than a rigid critic would admit them to be. But when a poor devil of a wag adventures in the same line,

whatever real merit may belong to his remark, it is either reproved, as being too bold and impudent, treated with cold neglect at the moment, or it engenders in the hearts of those who hear it "envy, hatred, malice and all uncharitableness;" instead, therefore, of being rewarded with applause or patronage, his wit only excites the sneers of the company, and scatters those who, if he were as great an ass as themselves, would be his friends, to the four corners of the earth-that is, if the earth has got so many corners for them to go to.

Thus, my friend, you must perceive, that wit, in the possession of one who lacks discretion, is like a sharp weapon in the hands of a child: though it be as brilliant in its coruscations as Hall's best fire-works, it will wound the hand of him who wields it, "as the o'erloaded culverin recoils on the unskilful gunner." Sheridan tells us, that "wit is more nearly allied to good nature than many people seem to think;" and so you will find it, when used as the coin of conversation. To be useful to the possessor, or agreeable to the partaker, wit must be as smooth and polished as the surface of your mirror, and at once "as bright and harmless as the flash of the summer lightning."

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF AMERICA.

Early gleanings of information respecting America, by a young English traveller, collected in a single day, during an excursion to the Sea-Bass Banks.

To

There are few things that we enjoy with such lively interest as our first impressions in a new country; and next to the delight of attending to our own fresh feelings after crossing the "desert waste of waters" between Europe and America, is that of listening to the recitals of other novices and comparing them with our own experience.

In this happy situation I was placed a few dasy ago, upon being introduced to a young gentleman named Green; who only a week previous had arrived from London, in the celebrated fast-sailing, high-flying, never stopping packet ship Rodomontade, Capt. Bluster.

It was at first my intention to take the whole of his memoranda in a body, and retail them to you after my own fashion, but I soon discovered, that by so doing I should sacrifice in a great measure the pleasure to be derived from the originality of his views. With his permission therefore, I contented myself with copying an extract from a letter he had just written "home," in which a full account of all he saw, and felt, and learned, is contained-here it is

"On the morning of our intended excursion I rose before" Aurora peeped over the dawn”. -as our old hunting song says-Ah! I wish I could hear you sing that song again—these Yankees never sing-they are a very grave people--there is no fun in them-they think of nothing but electioneering and making money. Why even this little jaunt of pleasure is got up for the purpose of speculation. I was informed so by an intelligent looking person on the wharf, who I took to be a tailor, see

ing him walking among the crowd, scrutinizing their clothes, as if to discover the newest fashion of their coat tails, but who I soon discovered held a post under the Government, which had sent an escort of only two plainly dressed men, (such is republican respect to persons of notoriety) to conduct him to his official residence in the town of Sing Sing, upon the Hudson river (so called from its constituting the leading thoroughfare from New York to Hudson's bay) whence he had arrived only the day before for a change of air.

Well, imagine me now on board the steam-boat Baltimore, named after a small town on the Delaware river, and which, to use the expressive language of our renowned traveller Henry Bradshaw Fearon, “in conformity with the customary vanity of the people" they dignify with the title of city.

On entering the boat I was struck with the reflection that the Americans must be exceedingly disingenuous to claim for their countryman, Fulton, the honour of inventing the mode of propelling vessels by steam, when every body in England knows perfectly well that Bolton and Watt of Birmingham are the real inventors of the whole affair. However, this boat was clean and

commodious; the company on board of her very numerous and she went through the water rather too fast for pleasure; you know we don't do so at home. We go upon a better principle and look to the means of enjoyment. When a man travels for pleasure he wants an opportunity to look about him, to observe scenery, notice incidents and collect information: none of these

things can be done while travelling in the United States. It is all hurry, bustle, tug and strive; simply to conform to the advice of their great Dr. Franklin, who upon all occasions used to tell them to "go ahead!" When I took a survey of the company I was surprised at the uniformity of their appearance and dress. You must observe that the Americans are a thin, lanternjawed, sallow-complexioned, slap-sided, meagre looking race of men and women; and, being originally descended from a part of this continent called Patagonia, not an individual of either sex can be found under six feet high. The weather was remarkably warm, and every man was dressed in a white round-a-bout and trousers: all wore shoes-while some dispensed with stockings, a mark of vulgarity we never see at home, among a similar class of people. None of them wore cravats, but merely a bit of black ribbon tied loosely round their necks--but they all had enormous straw hats, with flat crowns, and lined with black. I was previously informed that it would be judicious to dress in light clothing, but I scorned to adopt any of their republican habits, so I entered among them accoutred in a fine black beaver with a fashionably narrow brim--a first rate blue broad cloth coat with yellow buttons, a plush velvet waistcoat, double milled cassimere inexpressibles, and whitetop boots; in addition to which I wore a high black bombazine stock, with a broad handsome frill to my shirt, Now, notwithstanding my appearance so decidedly conspicuous, pointed me out as a person of some note, (which you know I am at home,) it was matter of astonishment to perceive that after the first glance