tinguished excellencies of his kind. The same diversity will be found in the historical writers of the language. Their sentences are never cast in the same mould. The simple neatness of Hume is quite unlike the dignified eloquence of Robertson; the dignity and elegance of Robertson are unlike the loftiness and splendor of Gibbon; and the chaste beauty of Goldsmith is unlike them all. The same remark holds true in every other department of literature. Addison is widely different from Johnson in his style, and Melmoth is different from both. There is a variety in the character of English literature, which would probably be sought for in vain in any other language.

The grammar of this language is more simple than that of any other tongue, if we except the Hebrew, without the points; and the facility with which its grammatical construction may be acquired, is one of its advantages. The article has no variation. The adjective is only varied to express the degrees of comparison. The verbs have but one conjugation, and the original verb remains mostly unchanged in all the moods and tenses, which are chiefly expressed by auxiliaries. He who, with great labor, has mastered the various inflections of the Latin, Greek, or French verbs, will know how to estimate this advantage. The order of the words in the construction of sentences in the English is the order of nature; nor does the idiom of the language allow extensively of inversion, except it be in poetry. This gives to it a philosophical character.

But if the English language has distinguished excellencies, it has also its defects, which it would evince a want of perspicacity or of candor to deny. The short words with which the language abounds, which extensively terminate with consonants, detract much from the harmony of its pronunciation. The similarity in the form of the verb, in different tenses and different persons, often creates an ambiguity in regard to its import, which can only be removed by a careful attention to that which precedes, and that which follows it in the sentence. The division of accented and unaccented syllables in English, though it fits the language for poetry without rhyme, is by no means as well defined, and as extensively productive of harmony of versification, as were the long and the short syllables in the Latin and the Greek. By the transposition of words, also, they could secure a variety of cadence, and a harmony of pronunciation, to which the English language can never attain.

Another and concluding number will be devoted to a consideration of the best means of cultivating an acquaintance with the English language; the danger of corruption to which it is exposed from innovation; with some allusion to British criticism upon the manner in which the English language is written and spoken in America; and an examination of its future prospects, in regard to its prevalence and extension.

ALARMISTS.

THERE are, that when they wet their pen, must still turn prophesiers,
While fact and date, both obstinate, turn up to prove them liars.
For our own land this croaking band much evil have been brewing;
But she is sure to thrive the more, when such predict her ruin.
VOL. XV.

13

scene.

THE text may be found in the tragedy of Othello, third act, third I state this remarkable fact, to show that the above is an original quotation,' taken directly from the author, and not merely quoted from a previous quoter. I hold that there may be as much piracy in quotation, as in stealing an original idea; and I am ready to wager that half the scribblers in the world quote from quoters, without ever reading the originals. But to the illustration of my quotation.

And

A few years ago, I left my native state, on an invitation from my kind uncle Scrapings, of Havana, to join him in partnership there, under the firm of Scrapings, Scrapps, and Company; but before I went, I had incontinently fallen in love with a beauty of my native city, of eighteen years, and a little money. She was a most voluptuous-looking little creature, with eyes as black as a pair of suspender buttons, and two little fairy hands, as white - oh, how white ! the dear creature loved me, too; and so it came to pass, that we were 'engaged.' It was arranged that I should go to Havana, get well established in business, then return to claim Clara Smith, (an own sister of John,) for my bride. In due time, I was established, and business prospered famously. Every thing we touched was converted into gold, and almost without an effort.

I kept up a correspondence with Clara, in which there was a due proportion of vows, rhapsodies, and apostrophes; but occasionally

interspersed, on her side and on mine, with little trifling jealousies, which tended to give a lively dash of bitters to the otherwise too sickening draughts of sweets. There was nothing very serious in these lovers' quarrels, however, and after a short time, we always returned again to the old worn-out track of unadulterated love.

Two years passed away, and I was making ready to return for my beloved. I was always fond of exciting surprise, and determined, on this occasion, to make a sort of trap-door entrée into the presence of my little idol. So, having deceived her as to the time when she might begin to expect me, I found myself, in the month of September, in New-York, on my way home; and the next evening found me at Clara's gate that gate over which I had taken and given many a parting kiss! The evening was warm; the parlor windows were open; and I heard within voices and laughter. Softly I approached, and slily I looked in. With a thrill of horror, I beheld Clara seated in a rocking-chair, while a fellow, a young fellow, a handsome fellow, seemed with one hand to be playfully covering her eyes, and with the other paddling in her neck with his damned fingers; while her mother and sister sat on a sofa, quietly grinning at the fellow's impudence! I felt my blood bissing in my veins, yet I stood still. I saw him play with her ear; I grinned horribly a ghastly smile.' He spanned her face with his fingers; I twisted off two buttons of my coat. He encircled her head with his arm; I tore out a handful of hair. Finally, the dumb ass opened his mouth and spake; and I felt my blood reddening the very tip of my nose; but I restrained my indignation, to listen.

'I think,' said he, you are fond of men in general; and I think you would find little difficulty in transferring your affections from one to another, after the decease or treachery of the first. Now suppose your lover prove treacherous - don't you think so?'

I paused no longer. Job himself, when incrusted with 'sore boils,' would not have waited so long as I did. I rushed into the room, and catching the dog by the throat, laid him prostrate. 'Villain!' cried I, and is it thus you attempt to inveigle away the affections of my betrothed? Know, Sir, that I will suffer death, rather than dishonor !'

The mother and sister ran screaming from the room; but Clara, recognizing me at once, fell upon my neck, cried out, ' O Judgment, (Reader, my euphonious name is Judgment Scrapps,) dear, dearest Judgment spare him, and I will explain all to your satisfaction!' Half doubting, I quitted my hold, and half doubtingly I returned her embrace. Say on then, my Clara; I shall be but too happy to believe any thing you can say in explanation.'

6

That gentleman whom you have so wronged, is Dr. Feeler, the Phrenologist.'

'Phrenologist! — and pray what may that be?'

Why, dearest, it is one who uses the same means to discover another's intellect and disposition, that a monkey does to discover a certain species of the animal creation.'

Ah, I understand; such as we used to call craniologists. Humph! I never had the pleasure of seeing one. But is that indeed all? What a fool I have been! My dear Clara, and you my dear Dr. Feeler, is it possible you can pardon my atrocious violence? Sir,' continued

I, hesitatingly, for he looked rather needy, as I thought, 'Sir, if money

Say no more, Sir,' replied he; 'Iperceive that your animal organs, and that of ideality, vastly preponderate over the reflective; and this unfortunate combination has led to these unhappy consequences: but if you will allow me a thorough examination of your —

'Sir, you are very kind - very; but having just returned from a foreign land, Sir, and wishing, Sir, to say something to this lady, Sir, will you be so good as to call again, Sir; any other time, Sir; but don't let me detain you now, Sir; good evening, Sir; and I politely bowed him out of the room.

'And now, my dear girl, let us forget this laughable mistake; and, dear, we must be getting ready to be married. We will be married in one month from this very day!'

So unexpected!

'A month! dear me! So very soon! 'Soon! Not a bit too soon, dearest! So just shut that little ripe mouth, and let me hear no arguments, no objections. I must be back to Havana in all November.'

At this juncture, the mother and sister rëentered; and after explanations, recitals of adventure, statements of future arrangements, and obtaining the old lady's consent, they considerately left us to ourselves, and we poured out our souls together, in all the rapture of passionate attachment. Next day I left for New-York, there to purchase my wedding garments, and to transact certain other necessary business.

At the expiration of a week, I again drew near the temple of my idol, secretly hoping that the accursed phrenologist had been extending his examinations in other regions, if any where, during my absence, and feeling beside a great curiosity to find how Clara employed her leisure. So I crept up softly to the house, and again peeped in at the fatal window. The phrenologist was not there would to Heaven he had been!-but a person somewhat older, and a great deal larger, with spectacles on nose, and a most diabolical smirk of total depravity. She was seated in the old-fashioned easy-chair, leaning back, while her eyes were closed, as if in conscious shame at her degraded situation; and he was standing over her, making motions that almost stifled me with mortification and rage. He seemed to be rubbing his dirty digits up and down over her soft velvet cheeks; those cheeks I had so often kissed; cheeks that now blushed with guilty passion! Anon, the rascal passed his hands over her full, heaving bosom. Yet I had resolution enough to await the result. The scoundrel kneeled―ay, kneeled to her! and passed his hands up and down each side, even to her very feet! How my blood tingled! 'Yet,' thought I, 'I will wait! It may be, after all, some other new-fangled notion, started during my absence. I must not again make a fool of myself too suddenly. She may be asleep, and the fellow takes this opportunity to insult her and me. But no; her sister is there, and smiles complacently, as if in mockery of my disgrace !'

Soon the fellow rose, and whispered in Clara's ear. aloud: 'O how rejoiced I am at your return, dearest!

She replied

My heart is

all your own!'

A single moment's reflection would have convinced me that she supposed herself addressing me; but, blinded by what I had seen, and the agony I had felt, I could appreciate nothing save my own dishonor; and jumping in at the window, I rushed upon the villain, and dealt him a thwack that sent him reeling to the wall. He recovered, however, immediately, and returned the compliment with great vigor. Finding we both might expect some severe sparring, before we had finished, we placed ourselves in the attitude of experienced pugilists, while our eyes glared like the eyes of hungry wolves.

Clara and her sister advanced to the rescue, and caught my arms, crying out, the while, at the top of their voices: Animal Magnetism! Animal Magnetism! It was It was nothing but Animal Magnetism!'

‘Ay, ay,' I replied, 'I saw it was! at the same time shaking them off, and redoubling my efforts; 'there was quite too much of animal attraction to suit me; but wait till I spoil your magnet, and then you, madam, may go to

'Here,' as Yellowplush says, 'I recollect I was obliged to stop;' for at this moment I received a blow under the left lug, which laid me prostrate and senseless.

When I recovered, I found myself upon the sofa, and Clara's sister bathing my temples.

'How!-what!' I exclaimed: 'Ah! I remember! Where is Clara ?'

'She left the room but now, declaring she had done with you for ever.' 'Glad of it! Have the kindness to call her in to receive my farewell.'

Presently she entered, when I commenced a tirade upon her fickleness and faithlessness, etc., which only ended when I was out of breath. She listened calmly till I had done, when she replied with freezing coldness and hauteur:

Mr. Scrapps! you have spared me the pain I might have felt in bidding you farewell for ever. This is not the first time your absurd jealousy has brought you into a situation the most ridiculous. You will doubtless ere long learn, Sir, that the science, of Animal Magnetism is an exalted and innocent one; quite as much so, Sir, as that of Phrenology; and that a woman may submit to the process from pure love of knowledge, without compromising her dignity, her modesty, or her honor!" And so saying, she turned her back upon me, and was stalking out of the room with great dignity.

Bitter remorse overwhelmed me. 'Stay! stay!' I cried; 'I entreat, I implore! Pardon, pardon my ignorance!'

'No, Sir; I am well satisfied, from the frequent manifestations of your jealousy and violent disposition, that we never could be happy together. I should be as jealous as yourself; and our life would be one scene of discord and rude commotion. And, Sir-however reluctantly I must now bid you an unequivocal and eternal farewell!'

I LOST that girl, merely because I was ignorant of the extent to which modern science had been carried; because I had not then learned, that undue familiarity with the female sex might be extenuated, by the forced 'march of the age.'