in relation to literature. A bold and vigourous mind might not be willing to submit to such circumscription, and of course we should lose the results of its labours; and, beyond all doubt, many a bold and vigorous mind among us has by this submission, exhausted itself, in ephemeral labours, for these short lived works. If we have been successful in detecting some of the causes of our literary delinquency, it may be expected, that some means for correcting this national fault should be suggested. It is a trite but true saying, however, that it is easier to discover the causes of evils, than to find their remedies. And some have argued, that it is but a stinted charity, which is only successful in doing the first. It may require an apology too, that we have ventured on the discussion of our literary deficiencies at all. But we are all partakers in this sin, and all, and each of us, of course, have some reason, and right, to inquire into its nature and extent. It may be, that we may be solicitous for amendment in ourselves, or if we find that hopeless, that we may become instrumental, in some degree, towards that of others. If it be not arrogant, we would ask, what are the means which appear to promise to do most to remedy our literary delinquency? Would they not principally, nay at the present moment wholly consist in the vigorous exertion of our own minds? And what are some of the topicks, on which they may be exerted? Would not the complete history of the United States of America be a subject worthy of writing? We do not mean a work of a day, or of a volume, but a work which should embrace our political history in its widest extent ;-which should contain a discussion of all that is peculiar in our civil polity,-which should investigate and decide the effects of our religious toleration, which, except in America, has never been perfect in any part of Christendom,-which should give the history of our literary labours in all their varieties and degrees-and which, above all, should give the moralist and philosopher our genuine national character? Would not a collection of all that has been done for poetry among us, which is worthy the name, be an honourable labour for a vigorous mind? It might embrace the biography of our poets,-It might contain, the real state of this department of literature among us, and if it were found deficient, trace the causes of its deficiency, and show the remedy.-But we will leave this ungrateful office, of tacit reproof, and only lament, that for literature, the pride of a nation,—an earnest of its immortality, this country has done no more. FOR THE NORTH-AMERICAN JOURNAL. There is an annual exhibition at Westminster school in London, when the upper class of boys leave the school; on which occasion one of the comedies of Terence is performed by some of the best scholars. A prologue and epilogue, are composed every year, the latter of which is commonly of a lively cast, and alludes to the events of the day. The play selected this year was Phormio, and the epilogue which is taken from the Gentleman's Magazine for the month of April, here follows. The motive for republishing this piece of classick scurrility, is to shew the pernicious effects of the libels of the Quarterly Review. All the most odious and absurd calumnies contained in that work, are here introduced into Latin verse, and a class of boys, belonging to some of the most respectable families of the kingdom, take leave of the seminary, and their last act reciting an exercise, conveying the most false and degrading picture of this country; and leaving an impression on their minds which will probably continue through life. Now it is impossible to suppose, that the respectable heads of this celebrated school would have permitted an indecency of this kind, and this too soon after the declaration of peace, if they had not believed the falsehoods on which it is founded. It is impossible to read without disgust and indignation the villainous inflammatory abuse, with which all the democratick papers in this country have been filled since the peace, against Great Britain: for a state of peace produces no cessation of animosity, or any change of language in them. Nay, the National Intelligencer, which derives great support from the particular patronage of government, and is one of the most conspicuous in this line, published in the paper of 1st of August last, two or three columns of the most stupid calumny against Russia, merely because Russia was opposed to Buonaparte. It is an awkward task to find fault with a foreign nation, when our own government protects such conduct as this. But in despite of the newspapers in this country and in England, which labour so assiduously in their vocation of national abuse, and endeavouring to exasperate the two countries into perpetual war; a good understanding may still be maintained, if honourable men in both, will treat their efforts with the contempt they merit; and endeavour to cultivate esteem for each other. The intercourse between the two nations is so constant, and from a similarity of language so easy, that it would not be difficult to bring to the bar of publick opinion any literary, or political character, who should in either country, bring forward or support a gross calumny against the other; and he should have an opportunity to apologize for errour, or be disgraced for it, as certainly, as if the offence were against his own. If this responsibility could be produced, the efforts of the profligate incendiaries who subsist by administering stimulants to the passions of the vulgar, might be regarded with contempt. This epilogue may be considered a sufficient apology, if any necessary, for the indignation which has been felt, in this country, at the brutal abuse of the Quarterly Review. DA. DA. DA. DA. GE. DA. GE. EPILOGUS. IN PHORMIONEM. DAVUS. GETA. were Salve iterum, Geta. Sed quid agis? quisnam iste paratus? Nempe tuâ cecisse operâ vestra omnia pulcrè Prospicio ipse mhi. DA. Quid meditare? GE. Fugam. Di vortant bene! sed pedetentim. GE. Atqui omnia dudum Barbara inhumanis terra babitata viris ? Immo ea, quæ, nostris quondam quæsita colonis, Horrida quorum Fominum vel nomina respuit auris Chaktawos, Cherokæos, Pawwawos, Chickasawos, Nullam non longe exsuperat gens unica gentem. Nostra venustatis si quid, si secula vatum Aurea divinæ simplicitatis habent. Hésperia omne tênet: neque adhuc Astræa reliquit DA. Atque ibi non virgo, verum est Astræa virago; Nonnunquam quoque fur. Nec morum dicere promtum est, Ethiopissa palam mensæ famulatur herili In puris naturalibus, ut loquimur. Vir braccis se bellus amat nudare décentér, Quid quod ibi; quod congerere ipsis conque morari Sponte suâ, sine fraude, torum sese audet in unum Quid noctes cænæque Deûm? quid amœna piorum Auceps es? media perdix vulgo errat in urbe. Fit sponte injussus quisque indoctusque, Senator, Est diploma satis cuique libido sua. DA. Nempe senatores pestrinum et ganea mittunt : Scitè oratorem orator convincere certat ? Neve ea Rhetorice valeat minus, herba salivam Mentiri est mercatoris laus summa; ducisque Cura, diarrhææ consuluisse suæ. Tum lusus oculos exculpere pollice, frontem Atque necare hominem jocus est lepidissimus. At tu, Primum, crede mihi, si te semel atra Charontis Ipsum omnes absumet opes tibi naulum animam inde PUNS. FROM THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. "I was told some time ago of a pun being whistled at Cambridge. A member of that University was so addicted to punning, that a wager was laid him, that he could not refrain from it an hour in company. Before the time was expired, he happened to see a sailor in the street, who had lost a leg, swinging between two crutches; and immediately began to whistle the tune of "Through the wood laddie." Billy Snip went to skate, when, the ice being loose,, He fell in; but was sav'd by good luck : 6 Cried the Tailor, I'll never more leave my hot goose, [The science of Bibliography, is perhaps of all others the least known in this country, although there a few amateurs who have a smattering of it. When books and libraries became multiplied, there was real utility, in it when properly conducted, and there are some works in this department that are invaluable. It has recently in England become a most expensive and fashionable pursuit, and much ridiculous extravagance is discovered, which in the mode in which it is now conducted, rather demands wealth than talent to become an adept. The principle author in this branch is the Rev. T. F. Dibdin, who has published some amusing works, that by their splendid decorations have tended greatly to nourish the Bibliomania. In the Gentleman's Magazine for June, there is a letter from him describing a work he has now in progress, and which may give an idea of the present state of this fashionable pursuit.] MR. URBAN, Kensington, June 7. On publishing the fourth and last volume of the BIBLIOTHECA SPENCERIANA, I consider myself in some degree called upon by the subscribers to my remaining works in hand, to state the progress they are making, and the probable period of their publication. The third volume of the TYPO |