Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, And when she goes on to describe the most striking beauties of nature, the most poetical part of the passage is when she adds, "But neither breath of morn, &c. Paradise Lost, IV, 639. of poetry, at least of the higher species, is to address itself to our sense of the beautiful and the grand, and by means of the artifices of language, to enkindle, through the medium of the imagination, the same rapture and enthusiasm which produced it. But how circumscribed is this purpose, compared with that of prose, which seeks to transmit every shade of thought as well as feeling, that can arise in the human mind? Its most frequent and its worthier object being to inform and instruct, The reviewer has therefore overrated the powits immediate aim is often not so much to excite ers of the graphic and picturesque, even in poetry, feeling as to allay it or prevent it. It indeed also whose loftiest flights and most rapturous bursts endeavors to please by the decorations of its lan- touch our hearts by means that are beyond the guage and imagery, but pleasure is its means, not reach of painting. But in history, which aims to its end. The graces of diction and the embellish- make us acquainted with the progress of society, ments of fancy are useful auxiliaries to keep up and of the causes and effects of its changes, and the reader's attention, and to illustrate a subject where it is of more importance to know the state by presenting a new object of resemblance. These of the general mind, as to intelligence, opinion, are the legitimate purposes of ornament in prose, and moral feeling, the graphic style of writing and when carried further, it is used as some use can perform a much more limited part. Its chief their finery, not so much for setting off their per-use is to enhance the reader's pleasure, so that sons, as for making a display of their wealth. what he reads is more attended to and better remembered. But the historian would forego his highest duties, who should aim at nothing more than to present us with a series of lively portraits or groups of individuals, with all their attendant localities and personalities. The following paragraph from Hume's notice of the restoration of Charles the 2d contains more sound philosophy and conveys more solid instruction than a chapter of such sketchy stuff as we have cited from Mr. Carlyle. But if we were to disregard the well-settled distinction between poetry and prose, it would be a very mistaken and insufficient theory of the former to consider its graphic power as its only, or even its highest excellence. Whatever ideas are conveyed to our minds through the eye, whatever visual objects assist in exciting emotion, as to these, the more vividly the poet can exhibit them the better. But he has much to transmit that is independent of form or color-much that has no sensible properties whatever. How many noble sentiments, tender feelings, deep seated emotions "Agreeable to the present prosperity of public affairs, are best transmitted by the most shadowy abstrac-was the universal joy and festivity diffused throughout tions, and can be transmitted in no other way! Of this character are many of the finest stanzas in Childe Harold, as for example: "Oh! ever loving, lovely and beloved! How selfish sorrow ponders on the past, "But I have liv'd, and have not liv'd in vain : My mind may lose its force, my blood its fire; Like the remember'd tone of a mute lyre, "There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, So when Eve says to Adam, "With thee conversing I forget all time; All seasons and their change, all please alike. the nation. The melancholy austerity of the fanatics fell into discredit, together with their principles. The royalists, who had ever affected a contrary disposition, found in their recent success new motives for mirth and gaiety; and it now belonged to them to give repute and fashion to their manners. From past experience it had sufficiently appeared, that gravity was very distinct from wisdom, formality from virtue, and hypocrisy from religion. The king himself, who bore a strong propensity to pleasure, served, by his powerful and engaging example, to banish those sour and malignant humors, which had hitherto engendered such confusion. And though the just bounds were undoubtedly passed, when men returned from their former extreme; yet was the public happy in exchanging vices, pernicious to society, for disorders, hurtful chiefly to the individuals themselves who were guilty of them." But the reviewer asks, "Does any reader feel, after having read Hume's history, that he can now picture to himself what human life was among the Anglo-Saxons? how an Anglo-Saxon would have acted in any supposable case? what were his joys, his sorrows, his hopes and fears, his ideas and opinions on any of the great and small matters of human interest? Would not the sight, if it could be had, of a single table or pair of shoes, made by an Anglo-Saxon, tell us, directly HICKORY CORNHILL. A LETTER FROM HICKORY CORNHILL, ESQ. TO HIS will try, my dear friend, to inform you in rhyme: Each dame who was there was array'd like a queen. 'Ere tea was serv'd up, they were prim as you please, To set the example. "I pray, ma'am, be seated." Tom Shuffle, sit down, you prefer loo to whist." Some thirty years since, the ladies of Richmond, influenced by the example of the other sex, were greatly addicted But it is time to bring this disquisition to a close. You'll stump Mrs. Craven, and I Mrs. Clutch." It was prompted by a wish to put our young writers on their guard against imitating a style of writing which has been so bepraised as Mr. Carlyle's by partial friends, or perhaps interested associates, and which, with some merits, appears to me to have still greater defects. The caution will scarcely appear unnecessary to one who will look into the January number of the Democratic Review, where he will see, in the article on the federal judiciary, a palpable imitation of Mr. Carlyle's peculiarities. The writer evidently possesses talent, was well informed on the subject of which he treated, and if he had been content to say what he knew or thought in his own way, he might have given to the public a pleasing as well as instructive essay, but by laboring at sudden transitions, at new turns of expression, and at wild bursts of extravagance on subjects essentially sober in their character, he has disfigured the suggestions of a shrewd and reflecting mind, and given a further offence to good taste by becoming the copyist of so faulty an original. Affectation is bad enough any way, but at second hand it is intolerable. Let me then hope that if our writers will content themselves to rank with the servum pecus, we shall select better models than the poetry-prose of Mr. Carlyle, whose recent writings, if they obtain more than an ephemeral notoriety, will in time be regarded as showing us what we ought rather to avoid than to imitate. to cards. At first they merely sought to beguile the occasional dulness and formality of small evening parties, and played very chiefly by the hope of winuing, since, not content with the inlow,--commonly at loo,--but after a while, they were prompted terest excited by the game itself, they also staked their money freely in by-bets, so that it was not unusual for a lady to win or lose fifty or sixty dollars of an evening. While the fair votaries of fashion were thus eagerly indulging in what appeared to them no doubt an allowable recreation, many saw with concern the prevalence of a practice that was no less unfriendly to the pleathe female character; and especially to those which had been thought to characterise the matrons of Virginia. When the practice was at its greatest height, the above piece of humorous satire made its appearance in one of the city papers. It was cordially welcomed by the community generally--by the more moral part for its purpose, and by the other portions for its truth of resemblance, and a certain spice of espièglerie, which they thought they perceived in it. They even undertook to assign its always denied by the author, except so far as he had, in delineimaginary characters to particular individuals, though this was ating from fancy, unconsciously copied some personal peculi arities of manner or language. The piece thus met with a been heard the subject of mirth and quotation from the boys in popularity beyond its real merits, and for a week it might have the streets to the belles in the drawing-room. sures of conversation, than to some of the most amiable traits in The practice of loo-playing was then seen to decline, and change to the well-timed ridicule of Hickory Cornhill; but it is was finally laid aside. The public was inclined to attribute the highly probable that this rage for play, like other acute diseases, would, after having reached its crisis, have gradually disap peared. The Editor is now induced to republish it, from the the readers of the Messenger, and, as a piece of topographical history, be not unacceptable to the present generation. To such of them as have not been initiated in the mysteries of loo, many of the terms here introduced may be unintelligible. Indeed, these occupy perhaps too large a portion of Mr. Cornhill's epistle, if it had not been probably part of the author's purpose to throw ridicule on this very slang which is so offensive to good * Mr. Carlyle is himself a regular contributor to the London taste, and to all friends to female delicacy and refinement.-[Ed. and Westminster Review. belief that it will revive interesting recollections with some of March 28, 1928. QUILIBET. Mess. Without further parley, anon were allur'd "Now, ladies, determine what shall be the loo." Stay, stay, there's a knave--that to-night I shall win. "Is diamond the trump? then I vow I can't stand." And thus they go on---checking, stumping, and fleeting, With other strange terms that are scarce worth repeating. Till at length it struck twelve, when the winners proposed With the loo which was up, that their sitting should close. On a little more sport though the losers were bent, They would not withhold their reluctant assent. Mrs. Craven, who long since a word had not spoke, Though much had been lost, yet when now they had done, Mrs. Craven, whose temper seem'd one of the best- I thank'd her, and told her that one day I might Of this night scene a sketch to my neighbor and friend. CONFUCIUS. H. C. ILLUSTRATION OF A PICTURE. Written in the Album of Miss E. M. S. The lady from her casement gazes, Its vigils in the heavens keeping. Why looks she forth at such an hour, Some lover's lute its low tones breathing. See! see! she looks upon that star! Lone sentinel! whose solemn glory Burns o'er the slumbering lake afar, And gilds the distant mountain hoary. And thou, bright star, whose beams are shed A watcher o'er the grave of beauty! WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS.* The eleventh and twelfth volumes of this work have now made their appearance. These, which complete the series of the writings of Washington, are accompanied by the long expected first volume which contains his life. We have already taken notice of the first five volumes which appeared, and we are happy to say that the high praise then bestowed on them, is, in great measure due to the rest of the series. We acknowledge, however, that, in some instances we have been disappointed. From some specimens of Mr. Sparks's judgment in selecting and his skill in arranging the documents in his hands, we had, perhaps, been led to expect too much in other instances. We cannot better illustrate the character and value of this work, than by giving somewhat in detail, the papers relating to a particular transaction. The reader will thus be enabled to see the sort of light which it sheds on the history of the past, and the insight which it affords into the character of Washington, and of some of those with whom he had to do. We allude particularly to the papers relating to an affair popularly known as the "Conway cabal." Of this (though the volume containing it has already passed under our "The Writings of George Washington; being his Corres. Of the four books attributed to Confucius, viz. Ta-pondence, Addresses, Messages, and other Papers, official and Kio, Chung-Young, Lungya, and the book of Conversations, only the first chapter of the first, i. e. of the Ta-Kio, is the work of Confucius. private, selected and published from the Original Manuscripts: Sparks. Boston: Russell, Odiorne & Metcalfe, and Hilliard, with a Life of the Author, Notes, and Illustrations. By Jared Gray & Co." review) we beg leave to speak with some particu- | posed to have nearly obliterated the recollection larity. The public has heard much of this trans- of his brilliant but brief career of victory in the action, but has never before been permitted to winter of '76–7, and men might have been excused look so closely into its details. That the general for believing that nothing but the success of Gates result was honorable to General Washington and saved him from destruction. disgraceful to his enemies, has often been pro- It was while he thus lay, incapable of doing claimed. The confidence of his countrymen in anything to claim the favorable notice of the pubhis virtues prepared them to receive this annun- lic, that the intrigue known by the name of the ciation as just and true, but in doing this they Conway cabal" was set on foot. Its object was rather acquiesced in the judgment of others than to dislodge him from his place in the confidence judged for themselves. The opportunity of thus and service of the people, and to place Genjudging is now afforded them. Unfortunately the eral Gates at the head of the army. That of number of those who have the means of acquiring ficer was a soldier by profession, who had carthe costly publication before us and the leisure ried arms with honor to himself for more than to turn over its numerous pages is necessarily twenty years. Beyond this, little was known of limited. There are thousands capable of investi-him besides his late brilliant achievement. Of the gating and understanding the subject who will not advantages and disadvantages of his situation when enjoy this advantage, and we trust that we may find favor with our readers, when we avail ourselves of this occasion to give them a nearer view of the transaction. opposed to Burgoyne, the public had no means of judging. Everything was naturally presumed in his favor. It was not until the disastrous and disgraceful battle of Camden had stripped him of his laurels, that men began to reflect on the arduous character of the enterprise in which Burgoyne had been baffled. It was no less than an attempt to penetrate through the heart of a continent inhabited by a hardy and hostile yeomanry with arms in their hands. It was the spontaneous movement of these that cut off his retreat and hedged him around with difficulties, and drove him on his fate. He was caught in the cleft of the oak, and had no choice but to perish by famine, or to surrender at discretion. There was perhaps no event which conduced more to the successful conclusion of the revolutionary war, than the victory at Saratoga, and the consequent capture of Burgoyne. There had certainly been no affair before that time comparable to it for brilliancy, or for the importance of its results. Not only was the army which had so long hung on the northern frontier annihilated, but it was clearly shown that all attempts at invasion from that quarter must be fatal to the invaders. The attention of congress was no longer distracted by the necessity of resisting the efforts of the But of all this, at the time, the world at large enemy to penetrate at once from the north and the knew nothing. The whole merit of the achievesouth along the valley of the Hudson, and thus to ment was attributed to the commander. He was effect a junction in the heart of the continent, and the lion of the day; the theme of all eulogy, the to cut off all communication between its eastern object of universal admiration. Nothing was more and western sections. Relieved from this double natural than to suppose that the fickle voice of the danger, men began to breathe more freely. In multitude might claim for this new favorite the first the splendor of the achievement they saw a glori- place in the service of the public. The idea was ous presage of ultimate success, and hailed it as caught at with avidity by many. This was espethe morning star of a day of triumphant liberty. cially the case with men whose aspiring and preThe intelligence of this important event was the sumptuous ambition stood rebuked by the unpremore striking because it was unexpected. It tending modesty of Washington, and with others came like light shining out of a dark place. The whose loose morality quailed before his stern, unremoteness of the scene and the tardiness of com- compromising virtue. In each of these descriptions munication by land, had left the public in gloomy General Conway stood prominent. An Irishman and boding ignorance of what was passing there. by birth, and an adventurer by profession, he had The news of the result preceded any knowledge in early life sought his fortunes in France, and of the causes which led to it, and its annunciation devoted the prime of his manhood to the service procured for General Gates a sudden burst of popularity which might have turned a sounder head. of his country's enemies. The same spirit of adventure and quest of advancement led him to America, and hither he brought with him the taste and turn and talent for intrigue on which promotion so much depends in those ancient monarchies, "Where ladies interpose, and slaves debate." At the same time the situation of General Washington was most unenviable. His unsuccessful attack on Germantown had just been made. The unfortunate affair of Brandywine had not long preceded it, and baffled and disheartened, he was preparing to withdraw his shattered and ineffec- He was not slow to discover the unmeasured tive army to their inglorious winter-quarters at and vain-glorious ambition of General Gates, and Valley Forge. Twelve months might be sup- anticipating his speedy advancement, determined VOL. IV.-42 conclusive, that his incredulity was justified by the words and actions of the party himself. But we are getting ahead of our story. Immediately on receiving the information abovementioned, Washington addressed a letter to Conway, apprising him that it had been received. This letter contained only these words: "Sir: A letter which I received last night contained the following paragraph: "In a letter from General Conway to General Gates, he says, "Heaven has been determined to save your country, or a weak general and bad counsellors would have ruined it.' I am, sir, your humble servant." to secure his favor by being among the first to hail | the dawn of his greatness, and to prognosticate its meridian splendor. His letters to Gates seem calculated to answer the double purpose of gaining his favor and stimulating his ambition. In confederacy with others of the same views, a party was formed in congress who contrived to procure the appointment of a board of war suited to their purposes, and anonymous letters were addressed to influential men everywhere, lauding the exploits of Gates, and arraigning the conduct of Washington. But the popularity of that extraordinary man was not of a nature to be dissipated by a puff of caprice, or a blast of adverse fortune. It rested on the universal conviction of his disinterestedness, his magnanimity, and his law-abiding devoHaving despatched this letter, Washington cooltion to the authority of congress, and to all the ly awaited the result. It came in due time. No duties of his important trust. It rested too on the sooner does Gates hear of the affair than he writes personal acquaintance of nearly all the leading to Conway, (of whom Washington takes no farmen of the country, who had known him for more ther notice,) telling him he had learned that one than twenty years as a model, not only of virtue, of Conway's letters to himself had been copied, but of wisdom, sobriety, judgment, fortitude and and begging to know which. To this inquiry firniness; in short, of all those great qualities from Conway could give no answer, and Gates, with a which alone success in great affairs can be confi- trembling eagerness to know the worst, addresses dently expected. The anonymous defamations a letter to Washington himself. The latter knew addressed to these men were not merely thrown away; they were in several instances communicated directly to Washington himself, who was thus apprised of the intrigue which was going on. In all this there was nothing to indicate the parties to the conspiracy, but there was enough to rouse the sagacious vigilance of the commander-in-chief, and to enable him to draw conclusions from circumstances which might otherwise have demanded no notice. It happened that about this time General Wilkinson mentioned, in a way which brought the fact to Washington, that Conway had written to Gates a letter containing these words: "Heaven has been determined to save your country, or a weak general and bad counsellors would have ruined it." This was enough for Washington. He perfectly understood the characters of the men, and was at once au fait to the whole intrigue. His sagacity in detecting, and his address in exposing it, the dexterity with which he turned on General Gates his own arts and devices, convicting him on his own showing, of prevarication and falsehood, the withering sarcasm which is employed in the performance of this task, along with the delicate and self-respectful courtesy of his phraseology, and finally the calm magnanimity with which he forbears to press a disgraced and humbled adversary, present a study, of which they who would learn to" quarrel by the book," would do well to avail themselves. We doubt whether any more admirable composition can anywhere be found than the letter to General Gates, in which he plainly intimates that he does not believe him, and goes on to prove by an argument at once ingenious and his man. His enemy had ventured from his covert, and he was resolved not to permit him to escape without something decisive. It happened that General Gates, wishing to make a parade of openness and sincerity, had sent a copy of his letter to congress, in consequence of which he received the reply through that body. These letters we beg leave to lay before the reader, as being more interesting and satisfactory than any abstract that we can give of them. Horatio Gates to George Washington. "Albany, 8th December, 1777. "Sir: I shall not attempt to describe what, as a private gentleman, I cannot help feeling, on representing to my mind the disagreeable situation in which confidential letters, when exposed to public inspection, may place I conjure your excellency to give me all the assistance an unsuspecting correspondent; but, as a public officer, you can, in tracing out the author of the infidelity, which put extracts from General Conway's letters to me into your hands. Those letters have been stealingly copied; but which of them, when, and by whom, is to me as yet an unfathomable secret. There is not one officer in my suite, nor amongst those who have free access to me, upon whom I could, with the least justifi cation to myself, fix the suspicion; and yet my uneasi ness may deprive me of the usefulness of the worthiest men. It is, I believe, in your excellency's power to do me and the United States a very important service, by detecting a wretch who may betray me, and capitally injure the very operations under your immediate directions. For this reason, sir, I beg your excellency will favor me with the proof you can procure to that effect. But the crime being eventually so important, that the least loss of time may be attended with the worst con sequences, and it being unknown to me, whether the |