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Were it not that the false pretences of monarchs produce such melancholy effects, their hypocrisy would be altogether ridiculous. The king of England, according to his minister's account, is most disinterestedly fighting to preserve Europe from the yoke of Bonaparte by land; and the little French emperor, no less disinterested than his brother king, is fighting to preserve the world from the domination of England by sea. Between them both, a good portion of the whole world, by land and by sea, is kept in a state, to which, plague, pestilence and famine are modes of comparative happiness. There is somewhere, or at any rate, there ought to be, a fable to the following effect.

The porcupine was once seized with an unaccountable fit of universal benevolence, so that he never could see any of the weaker sort of animals, but he must either carry them on his back, or cover them with his body, to keep them from harm. The consequence was, the poor little devils got so pricked and worried by the quills of their troublesome protector, that many of them, in a short time, had not a drop of blood left, and others were reduced to skin and bone. Upon this, the wretched survivors came to him in a body, and with great humility requested, that in future, when his majesty saw them in any difficulty, he would graciously suffer them to get out of it as well as they could, without his interference.

It was officially communicated to the American government, by Commodore Chauncey, commandant of the lakes, (who, by-the-bye, has called one of his vessels “The Lady of the Lake,”) that the mace of the Speaker of the parliament of Upper Canada, was surmounted by a scalp; which was taken down at the capture of York, and forwarded to the commander in chief.

I rejoice, and so will his pious excellency Governor Strong, to find by this, that such an intimate and brotherly union subsists between our country and the savage, on whom the example of Englishmen cannot fail of having a most beneficial effect. The humane General Procter, will, doubtless, take every pains to have them properly instructed in the principles of the Christian religion, so that by the time the war is over, they will probably, under the guidance of the great prophet Tecumseh, be marvellously improved in humanity and politeness.

The militia of America have, by the public accounts, distinguished themselves on various occacasions during the present war, but most especially by running away. Heretofore it was a popular theory with those who wrote against standing armies, that a militia was the best bulwark in case of an invasion. It was erroneously supposed that men would defend their property, their wives and children, and their “sacred homes,” with spirit, firmness, and vigour, whenever they were attacked. But experience has destroyed this, among many other popular and plausible theories; and it is now demonstrated, that the experiment is dangerous and destructive. It is found, even in America, where the mass of the people have more to defend than in any other country, that the militia, with the exception of those perhaps of Virginia, labour under a most extraordinary disinclination to defend even their own property; and, like the honest carter who, instead of helping himself, called upon Hercules, do nothing but clamour for the assistance of the general government, and grumble because it does not send a body of troops to every exposed point, on a frontier of more than fifteen hundred miles. Nay, such is the singular species of patriotism prevailing in America, that a distinguished member of Congress, did seriously utter the most extravagant praises of the people of Connecticut, because some of the militia turned out when they were ordered, to defend their own fire-sides!

It has been shrewdly suggested, that the real object of Sir Cockburn's expedition was to procure some of these ducks for Sir Bolus, who is remarkably fond of them. I think however the account of the minstrel is much more natural, for it is hardly to be supposed that Sir Bolus, however fond he might be of these celebrated ducks, would fit out a fleet on purpose to capture them.

Leland says, that before the invasion of Earl Strongbow, the rank of King of Ireland was disputed by the O'Conners, and the family of the Northern Hi-Niall, as it undoubtedly ought to be spelled. Of this family was the famous Brian Boirhoime, or Boromy, King of Munster, and King Twaddle, of whom I can discover nothing, except that he was a great friend of Tom Thumb.

From Brian descended the well known John O'Neal, and Hugh, Earl of Tirowlow, or Teyrone, as it was afterwards written, who disputed so manfully the usurpation of Queen Elizabeth, but at length fell victims to her policy, and were executed, at least the latter; the former having died before. The descendants of these princes as is usual with the children of great families that fall into misfortune, having no respectable calling dwindled into great insignificance, and became in a generation or two common peasantry. Such are the vicissitudes of life! And those who live an hundred years hence, may in all probability, see many of the descendents of the present race of upstart potentates, following some respectable handicraft trade, and getting an honest livelihood, without picking people's pockets, or robbing on the highway.

The philosopher in speculating on the curious figure exhibited by America, for the last ten or fifteen years, will be struck with the prodigious foreign influence of one kind or another which exists in that country; more especially in the places that border on the Atlantic Ocean. I have been told that a vast proportion of the people of the cities, whence public opinion generally emanates, are natives of other countries, who flock there, not from any disgust to their native land, but because they afford an easier opportunity to acquire a fortune. These people, as is natural and proper they should, ever retain a rooted affection for the scene of their youthful attachments, and the theatre of their earliest pleasures. Far be it from me to blame one of the most exalted affections of the heart, the affection for the land of our birth; I am merely stating circumstances which will in some measure explain the reason, why America, which possesses so many claims to the attachment of its citizens, contains more disaffected persons than any other country in existence, with the same number of inhabitants. I mean, not merely disaffected to any particular administration, but to the soil, to the nation itself, when ever its interests, come in competition with those of their native country. It is this which paralizes the proceedings of the government; for no sooner is there a disposition displayed, to resent any injury or insult of a foreign nation, than it is checked and repressed, or at least embarrassed, by the clamorous interference of a herd of interested foreigners, who swarm in their cities, and who being the principal supporters of newspapers, have always influence sufficient to direct the effusions of a patriotic editor into what channel they please. Men certainly ought never to forget the country that gave them birth; but they should recollect the fable of the lamb and its foster mother, and that the soil in which they thrive, and whence they draw their daily being and existence, is at least entitled to their gratitude, if not to their devotion.

But it has been represented to me by intelligent Americans, that many of these people abuse the protection which is given them, by an impertinent interference in those political concerns, which are peculiarly the business of the citizen; by clamours against the government, and by degrading comparisons betwixt the country which they left, because it did not hold out a prospect of competency, and the one, upon which they have bestowed the honour of their adoption.

Another charge brought against foreigners is, that they too often become citizens from mere motives of personal interest; thus sacrilegiously violating the most sacred of human obligations; and resembling the paltry and self-interested fortune-hunter, who proffers his hand to one mistress, while his heart is devoted to another.

While this state of society exists, there will never be seen in that country, the noble spectacle sometimes exhibited by other nations—that of one strong sentiment actuating and impelling and uniting the people, in one great irresistible impulse—a vital feeling running through, pervading, animating the whole mass, and quivering at the touch. The national energy will be wasted in the energy of civil dimensions; its spirit dissipated in domestic broils; and its resentment neutralized by the collision of conflicting interests and passions.

The following is the substance of a note of Mr. S. on this passage.

The people of New England have so often been assured by their orators and select men, of the superiority of their religious and moral habits, their patriotism, and their intelligence, that it appears from many of the newspapers of that quarter, that they are perfectly satisfied of its truth. Like the lawyer in the play, they have so often repeated, “I am an honest man,” that they have not only convinced themselves, but persuaded a great many other people to believe it. The latter, with good natured credulity mistook every repetition of the same tale, for a proof of its authenticity, without considering that it was but the authority of men praising themselves. No one in America has hitherto it seems, thought it worth while to repress, the hitherto harmless vanity of these poor people; and the claim has been tacitly allowed, not because it was believed to be true, but because it was looked upon as the innocent delusion of credulous men, who having been cured of their belief in witches and other imaginary beings, had made themselves amends by indulging a new set of preposterous fancies.

The silence hitherto preserved with respect to this diverting claim, is however no proof that any such superiority exists. Many things have been denied that were true; and many things that are false, remain uncontradicted. To escape being questioned is no demonstration of truth, and what remains for a long time undisputed, is not therefore indisputable.

Nevertheless, such is the influence of assertions often repeated, that the weakness of human nature is seldom able to resist it. Experience every day demonstrates that if men hear continually the same thing, they confound the repetition with evidence, and mistake every reiteration for an additional proof of its truth.

But after all the most general and universal delusion, is, that which men practise upon themselves. They weave their sophistries, till their own reason is entangled; and repeat their falsehoods till they are credited by themselves; by often contending, they grow sincere, and by long searching for proofs, come at last to believe they have found them. When arrived at this desperate stage of perverted reason, there remains scarce a hope of reasoning them from their delusion; but like the spider caught in the net woven by himself, they are destined to remain the monuments of their own self destruction.

Without entering any farther into these deep speculations, I will conclude the subject with remarking, that I cannot help looking upon this locating, and taking as it were, such quiet possession of an unauthorised and unacknowledged pre-eminence, over their honest unassuming neighbours, as altogether analogous to other parts of the conduct of the people of New England to the sister States. Finding nobody in possession, they seem to have squatted down upon the public reputation, as they did upon the land, without enquiring particularly whether it belonged to them or not. Remaining a long time unmolested in their occupation, they grew at last to consider themselves the lawful possessors of the soil, and to talk of their farms, and their estates, as if they had actually held them by legal possession.

[It cannot be sufficiently regretted that so many local prejudices, springing out of mere geographical distinctions, should have arisen in this country, to lay the foundation of national antipathies and national disunion. The pernicious distinctions of Eastern, Middle, and Southern States, seem to have laid the seeds of a precious harvest of ill blood, between the people of these sections, more especially since the claim made by the great representative of New England in the late Congress, to such a preeminence in “religion,” “moral sense” and “intelligence” over his neighbours. Such a claim, where it escapes ridicule and contempt, will excite emotions of jealousy and ill will, and lead perhaps to a lasting dislike. There is in human nature a principle which prompts us to repel any airs of superiority, that are considered ill founded, and men feel the same ill natured satisfaction in stripping away these borrowed feathers, that they do in unmasking the sly hypocrisy of a knave, or the blustering cowardice of a bully.

This prodigious hero is called the Washington of the Plymouth Colony, in the history of New-England, written by two celebrated literary characters of America, the Rev. Jedediah Morse, and the Rev. Elijah Parish.

“In 1636, at a very advanced age, died Capt. Standish, the military commander, the Washington of the Plymouth Colony. A man so conspicuous and celebrated in his life, ought not to be forgotten when dead.”

The following are the principal exploits of this “Washington of the Plymouth Colony.”

“When Corbitant, one of the petty sachems of Massasoit, meditated a revolt, Capt. Standish, with fourteen men, surrounded his house in Swansea; but he being absent, they informed his people they should destroy them, if he persisted in his rebellion. This so alarmed the chief, that he entreated the mediation of Massassoit, and accordingly, was admitted, with eight others, to subscribe his submission to the English!”

“Being on a trading voyage to Mutachiest, between Barnstable and Yarmouth, in February, 1623, a severe storm compelled him to leave his vessel, and sleep in a hut of the Indians. Being impressed with an idea of their design to kill him, he made his people keep guard all night, by which he escaped the snare they had laid for him.”

“Often was the providence of God conspicuous in his preservation. The next month at Manomet, a creek in Sandwich, where he went for corn, he was not received with his usual cordiality. Two Indians from Massachusetts, were there; one had an iron dagger, and derided the Europeans, because he had seen them when dying, “cry and make sour faces like children.” An Indian of the place, who had formerly been his friend, appearing now very friendly, invited the captain to sleep with him, because the weather was cold. Standish accepted his hospitality, and passed the night by his fire; but sleep had departed from his eyes; he was restless and in motion all night, though his host seemed solicitous for his comfort, and “earnestly pressed him to take rest.” It was afterwards discovered that this Indian intended to kill him, if he had fallen asleep.”

Another time he was sent to a place, called Nessaquassel, on suspicion that the Indians were plotting against the white people. The following exploit is recorded of him, by the Rev. gentlemen, who so aptly call him the Washington of the colony.

“Pecksuot being a man of great stature, said to Standish, “Though you are a great captain, yet you are but a little man; and though I be no sachem, yet I am a man of great strength and courage.” The captain had formed his plan, and was therefore silent. The next day seeing he could get no more of them together, Pecksuot, and Wittuwamat his brother, a young man of eighteen, and one Indian more being together, and having about as many of his own men in the room, he gave the word; the door was fast; he seized Pecksuot, snatched his knife from him, and killed him with it; the rest killed Wittuwamat, and the other Indians. The youth they took and hanged. Dreadful was the scene; incredible the number of wounds they bore, without any noise; catching at the weapons, and struggling till death.”

“In 1624, the people of Plymouth had erected fishing-stakes at Cape Ann. A company from the west of England, the next year took possession of them. Captain Standish was sent to obtain justice. His threats were serious; and the people of Cape Ann, assured the company they were dead, unless they satisfied the captain, for he was always punctual to his word. The company built another stage or stake in a more advantageous situation, which the Plymouth people accepted. Thus harmony was restored.”

After all these exploits, which certainly justify the captain's claim to a comparison with the father of American liberty, we learn from this stupendous history, which reminds us not a little of the interesting and truly important “Memoirs of P. P. Clerk of the Parish,” that the captain's great sword was burned, and those who fancy they have it in their possession, are mistaken.

“His name,” adds the writer, a great grandson of the captain's grandson Deacon Joseph Standish, “will long be venerated in New-England. He was one who chose to suffer affliction with the people of God; who subdued kingdoms, and put to flight the armies of the aliens.”

The following curious particulars, may be found in the History of New England; frequently alluded to in this work. Pages 309, 310, 311.

“The public mind was shocked and alarmed, and the most decisive proceedings followed. For a time, all, or most of the people was of one mind. March 2d there was a public examination at the village, and several were committed to prison. March 21st the magistrates met in Salem, and Mr. Noyes opened with prayer. On the 24th they met at the village, and Mr. Hale prayed. On the 26th they met again in Salem, and kept the day in fasting and prayer.”

Having thus duly prepared themselves they went to work.

“There was another examination at Salem April 22d, and a number imprisoned. June 2d an old woman was tried and condemned at Salem, and executed on the 10th; making no confession. Five more were tried June 30, and executed July 19; six more were tried August 6th, and all executed the 19th, except one woman. One of these was Mr. George Burroughs, sometime minister at Wells; he also preached at the village, but met with great opposition. A great number of witnesses appeared at his trial: a specimen of their testimonies may be seen by the following deposition.

“Elizur Keysar, aged about forty-five years, saith, that on Thursday last past, being the 5th of this instant month of May, I was at the house of Thomas Beadle in Salem, and Captain Daniel King being there also at the same time, and in the same room; said Captain Daniel King asked me, whether I would not go up and see Mr. Burroughs, and discourse with him; he being in one of the chambers of of the said house.” The witness did not go up at that time, but goes on to say; “The same afternoon I having occasion to be at said Beadle's house, in the chamber where Mr. Burroughs kept, I observed that the said Burroughs kept his eyes steadfastly fixed upon me. The same evening being at my own house, in a room without any light, I did see very strange things appear in the chimney, I suppose a dozen of them, which seemed to me to be something like jelly, that used to be in the water, and quivered with a strange motion, and then disappeared. Soon after which I did see a light up in the chimney about the bigness of my head, something above the bar, which quivered and shaked, and seemed to have motion upward; upon which I called the maid, and she looking up the chimney, saw the same; and my wife looking up could not see any thing. So I did and do conclude it was some diabolical operation!”

On grounds like these, not only Mr. Burroughs, but hundreds of others were executed in different parts of New England.

But the real ground on which Mr. Burroughs suffered, was probably, his intermeddling too much in political matters, for it seems that about this period, commenced that custom which has since so deeply stained the churches of New-England, and corrupted the Ministers of the Gospel there. I cannot sufficiently reprobate that canting spirit, which connects politics and religion inseparably with each other; nor refrain from bearing my testimony against those late attempts which have been made, not only in America, but Great Britain, to debase the pure spirit of christianity, by making it subservient to the views of interested ambition, or rancorous party spirit. Enough will be said on this subject if we merely revert to the days of the Barebones, and the canting Puritans of the Rump Parliament; to the example of those remorseless non-descripts, who half hypocrite and half devotee, united the practice of the most unrelenting persecution, with the theory of the mildest toleration; and who acting under the combined influence of fanaticism in religion, and enthusiasm in politics, equally outraged the divinity of the one, and the principles of the other. The perilous examples of the effects of this incestuous union, in stimulating party spirit into the most intolerant frenzy, are thick set in the pages of history, and float as buoys in an ocean of blood, to warn the interested politician against connecting any particular system of belief, with any particular party, or any particular modes of government, and above all, with any particular ruler. There is no being more dangerous to the repose of society, than a fanatical politician. He becomes the most choleric and revengeful animal; considers the deity as bound to assist him; that religion itself is wounded in his person; and that the bitterness of his intolerance originates in piety, and is sanctioned by Heaven.

One of the few kingly wishes on record, which deserve to be for ever honoured in our recollection, is that of Henry the fourth of France, whose favourite hope it was, that “He might live to see the day, when every peasant in his kingdom would have a fowl to put in his pot on Sunday.” This homely wish deserves to have, and indeed has, endeared the memory of that gallant and noble prince to the hearts of all, even those of the stoutest republicans. The only country in which this blessing is enjoyed in its fullest extent, is America, where the most common labourer can if he please, and without extravagance, have his fowl for dinner on Sabbath day. All impartial relaters agree in representing that country as holding out to the poor, and those with small means, a prospect, which could they but behold it, would quickly allure them from their native homes, which present, for the most part, a prospect of endless labour, and endless privation. The commonest day-labourer, without a trade, can earn six or seven dollars a-week; a sum that will afford him a dinner of fresh or salt meat, or both, every day, and enable him even to indulge in roast-beef; which though perhaps not so fine as that of “Old England,” has this special advantage, that it is much more accessible to the generality of the people. The Americans know and feel their superior national happiness; and if they took as much pains to circulate true accounts of their country, as disingenuous travellers have taken to disseminate false ones, nothing but the vast ocean would prevent the poor peasants of Europe from pouring themselves into the bosom of America.

But the truth is, the writers of that country are divided into three classes, one of which claims the exclusive honours of patriotism, and is industriously employed in depreciating it; another in exalting it preposterously over the heads of other nations, without being able to give any reason for it; and a third, which knowing that the country has already quite enough of foreign leaven, to assist its rising, refrains from indirectly inviting foreigners, by setting forth its advantages; and is content merely occasionally, to refute unfounded aspersions and libellous sneers.

One great cause of the contemptuous opinion expressed by various of the learned of Europe, towards America, is her youth. An antiquary, or a theorist, despises a young country, as heartily as the Prince Regent does a young woman. They become enamoured of it, as the bucks of Vienna do of a lady, on account of her wrinkles: or as a collector does of a coin, for the precious rust it exhibits. There is in fact nothing in the world which a genuine scholar, so much detests, as a country exhibiting all the redundant freshness, and buxom hilarity of youth, health, and vigour, and having neither moss grown castle, ruined town, or desolate village in it. The antiquarian looks in vain, in such a place for objects worthy of his attention; and is induced to wish that some earthquake, or other convulsion of nature, would produce a premature ruin; or like the tragic lover, to pray that the gods would annihilate both space and time, and make him happy in the contemplation of the dear object of his affections. To him, the ruins of Palmyra or of Rome, the one swarming with banditti, the other with beggars, are a thousand times more gratifying than the spectacle of a country, rising out of the forest, breaking from the embraces of rude nature, and advancing with steps more rapid than the world has ever yet seen; or of cities, exhibiting all the careless gaiety of youth, all the varieties of business and pleasure, and all the splendour of wealth, acquired by the successful exertion of enlightened industry, and expended with tasteful liberality.

In almost any other country now, but America, the name of Mount Ararat would be ominous of a dissertation. It's summit would be infested with an infinite number of learned men, who like ants about their sand-hill, would be running backwards and forwards, in search of a little crumb of conjecture, about the place where the ark rested, when the waters subsided after the deluge. In some parts of Asia, such a name would be invaluable; but here, alas! it is a mere worthless, every-day-mountain of vulgar strata, of no value, except to the plodding mineralogist; and its only claim to distinction is founded on the following tradition.

A long time ago, when that part of the country was a desart, Lord Talbot, one of the ancient proprietors of Virginia, took refuge from the consequences of some crime, in this mountain. He inhabited a cave; and his only companions were two trained falcons, who contributed essentially to his amusement as well as his subsistence. After residing in this place several years, he quitted it, it is believed in consequence of a pardon, but his falcons remained; and it is said they are still sometimes seen soaring around the summit of the mountains.

[Mr. Scott is supposed here to allude to the following resolution, which was put by Mr. Quincy in the Senate of Massachusetts, and agreed to.

“Resolved, as the sense of the Senate of Massachusetts, that in a war like the present, waged without justifiable cause, and prosecuted in a manner that indicates, that conquest and ambition are its real motives, it is not becoming a moral and religious people, to express their approbation of military or naval exploits, which are not immediately connected with the defence of our sea-coast and soil.”

It is somewhat remarkable, that the very same individuals, who thus thought it unbecoming “a moral and religious people” to rejoice in the victories of their country, feasted most lustily for the Russian victories.