Star.
London, England, 1828-07-10 00:00:00

Two Vols. Octavo. COLBURi.

A press of other matter has prevented us from no-
ticing earlier this interesting work. Its very title sa-
vours of American origin, and indeed it has many in-
trinsic marks which show it is not of The literature of
this country. The w►iter is, we believe, well known in
America, and in this country too, as the author of se-
veral excellent novels, on the plan of Sir Walter Scott,
illustrative of the manners and habits of American so-
ciety at the breaking out of the war of independence.
ley are not, th be sore, comparable to those of our
own unrivalled novellist, nor to Miss Edgeworth's na-
tim.al wivelt., nor perhaps to some others, bit pn
doutsteJly they talc: a high rank, and show' Mr.
Cooper's talents for observing characters. The present
work, %% hid' has made its first appearance in this coun-
try, details, under the slight, and indeed unnecessary'
guise of letters to the members of an imaginary club,
the author's observations on the Government and so--
ciety of his native country. No regular stor), there-
tote, runs through and connects the volumes, but a
consid •rable degree of interest is at times excited by
making his imaginary travels coincide with the route of
the celebiat-d La I•ayerte, on his late visit to that
counrry, wh re he so early distinguished himself. It is
generally tine that the mo t original and .hiking ob.
accent on the character and peculiarities of any
country, are made by intelligent foreigners, with whom
custom is not yet a second nature, and who are, there-
fore, struck forcibly by circumstances which are too
familiar for natives to observe. America has not irks
this respect been done justice to. The Englishmen who I
have given an account of their travels there, have been
either hired agents, who never forgot their special pur-
pose, or men whose abilities and meat., of information
tell f;r short of what was.requisite. This general de-
ficiency of valuable and,correct aceouots-for travellers,
enhances the value of the present volumed though the
productions of a native, who, t etefote, admires or
apologises For every thinp, bec ruse we find him to be a
man of an original turn of niind, tempered with strong
good sense in general. The style is rather redundant,
vet eloquent, and now and t'ren tinctured with a
Yinkeeism—ot which even the title affords a specimen.
If there is any one point of his reasoning on which we
differ more especially from Mr. Cooper, it is his
attempt, as a Republican, to attribute all the advanta-
ges which, in truth, a rapidly progressive state of
society bestows on America, merely to its institutions.
It is a never failing argument on these subjects, that American
order Is owing to the morality of a simple condition of life, and
that one prosperity is incidental to our particular geographical
situation. There are many good men, and, in other respects, wise
men, even among ourselves, who retain so much of the political
theory which pervades the literature of our language, as to believe
the same thing. For myself, I cannot see the truth of either of
these positions. Our prosperity is owing to our intelligence, and'
our intelligence to our Institutions. gvery discreet man In Ame-
rica is deeply impressed with the importance of diffusing instruction
among our people, just as many very well-meaning persons in
your hemisphere honestly enough entertain a singular horror of
the danger of sch,Htl•bndkst. Thus it is our natural means of
safety to do the very thing which must, of necessity, have the
greatest possible influence on the happiness, civilization, and power
of a nation.

for t eory to which Mr. Cooper alludes is too well
known and too well f .unded, to Insist at any length on
it:-13ut this is to be observed, that never did the Ame-
rican character; never shall it,appear to more advantage,
than :it the commencement of . te revolution, when the
manners which -were inherited from this country and
fostered b toe liberal isists.utions this country had es-
tablished their, produced and maintained the real
effects of Government, when its forms were necessarily
dispensed .wi t h. The sameness of the present American
chasac er, so fat as it is really commendable, with
what it was previous to the revolution, is-a fact which
Arneticans themselves are is apt to forget.. Let it net
he supposed that this is saw slightingly uf their present
form of Government—but the effect should not be mis-
taken for the cause—the vrry establishment and con-
tinuance of a republic pre-supposes (without noticing
local causes) 4 degree of %oral intelligence which that
form of Government c 'mot at hist create, though it
may and does help to perpetuate it af a. As to Mr.
Cooper'! " notions" of the durability of the present state
of things, as the country become, nearly populated,
and as wealth begins to accumulate in families, who
may then dispense with the labour that at first acquired
it—these are points which Mr. Cooper treats fully and
indeed ingeniously. But independent of those deeper
observations so interesting to every philosophical in-
q ire r, the present volume. c ntaina number of striking
anecdotes at past American history, and of the truly
great men whom the exigencies of the times produced.,
The whole details of La Fayette's visit ; the account of
the retirement of Mr. Jay, and many anecdotes of
Washington, are extremely interesting. We extract the
follow ing anecdotes connected with Arnold's escape :
The Commandant of the advanced post of the highlands, at
Stoney Point. was at hand. This officer (a Colonel Cole) was a
warns friend and a ?mica of Arnold. He had even carried his
attachment so far, a. to have fought a duel in defence of the traitor's
hunter but a short time before the expesure of the treason.—
Washington now sent for him. " Colonel," he said. " we have
seen deceived iu the character of General Arnold; he has betrayed
us. Your post may be attacked this very ought: go to it without
delay, and defend it, as I know you will." This noble confidence
was sot misplaced. Cole could with difficulty speak. Pleasing
'his band on his heart, he found words merely to utter—•• Your
liscellettcy has more than rewarded all I have done, or ever can
du for my country," and departed. Is there not something noble,
and worthy of the best days of classic recollection, in the '
minded and direct character which marked the events of this gl.t.
Hues contest? One loves to dwell on that integrity, which having
been compelled to give credit to one act of baseness, refuses to
ielieve that another can be meditated. I know no fact more
honourable to the American character than the one which proves
that, notwithstanding the great trust and high character the traitor
uad once enjoyed, his Influence ended the instant he was known to
he untvoi thy of confidence. Whitt on board the Vulture, he es-
rayed in vain to tempt the sergeant and sir men, who coneppled
the crew of hie owe boat, to follow his tontines, though every
'free which nilglet tempt men of their class was resorted to, in
order to induce theft to change their service. " If General Arnold
.ices the King of England, let him serve him," said the stubborn
•Crg04144; " ae /On our country, and intend to live ur die in sup.
sort of her cau.e." The traitor own have felt the bitter degr--
tation of his fall, even ih this Ample evidence of his waning power
..:sasperated at their refusal, Arnold would have het* them a.
:Answers, but the English Captain was far too houourabk to lend
'lms!if to so aligraCtitit seausassfun. They rwtutned as they
ame, under ihv.protcalhilehil 411 et •
• The day passed away * mindens and prcoaktions such 6

IPsemrriv woalil be likely to prodn'ca. ^ln the neniog the barge
returned from rise Vonore. beagle" an insolent letter from the
tr toor to the Comminde.r.in.Chitti. in *lO. among other
and vain threats, he detioubeell the vengeance of hli new
master', unte" cittaiit conditions which he wished ro binvise. weirr
implicitly regarded. The invent/Ins character of Wa.hineton.
native temper is as well 'mown as she unrivalled self.command he
had acquired. While his eye glanced over this impadent and
characteristic communication front Arnold, it appeared, by his
countenance, as if a burst of mighty indignation was about to escape
him. Recovering himself as it were by magic, he turned to one
of his aides with surprising moderation and dignity. and said." Go
to Mrs. Arnold, and inform her, that, though my duty required
no means should he neglected. to arrest General Arnold, I have
great pleasure in acquainting /see that he is now safe on board a
British vessel of wet."
rhe iollowing long extract details a visit to Wash-
ington's I),,trie and tomb:
Yesterday, while walking with Cadwallader on the banks of the
Potomac, we saw a group of Gentlemen, in the midst of whom we
distinguished La Fayette, with YTI animated features, moving to•
wards a .ream boat that was waiting their arrival moment of
explanation induced us to join the party, which was about to visit
the tomb of Washington:
Mouut Vernon. an estate which ;he hero inherited from an elder
brother, lies on the river at the distance of about two hours' sailing
towards the sea. The boat was rather more crowded than was
desirable for such a visit ; hut the circumstances left us no choice.
We passed the liter city of Alexandlia on our route, and reached
the point of destination within a reasonable time of our departure.
l ht eitate of Nlount Vernon was It ft by the will of its late pos-
sessor to his nephew, Mr. Bushrod Washington, who flax long hero
one of the Assistant Justices of the Supreme Court of the United
States.- The country, immediately about the dwelling, Is much
wooded; the land being neither particularly level, nor yet very un.
even. 'She house stands nn a rather sudden ri,e, which may be
elevated more than a hundred feet above the level of the water.
The ascent from the river is qu;te precipitous, though the ground
falls away to the north arid to the south, with rather more regula-
rity. The building is placed on the highest point ; a position which
scarcely leaves room for a very narrow lawn tetween it and the
Iwo* -of the declivity in front. in the rear, the formation of the
ground is level, for 'tame distance, and, tolerably extensive gardens
coninatmicate with the inner or hack court.

• The hook of Mount Vernon is can of a framework, the
interstices of widen, lup Wormed, ire filled with bricks. The
exterior covering is of planks, concealed io such a manner as to give
itr, at a little distance, the appearance of being made of hewn stone.
The tn:eriur finish is like that of any other better sort of mansion.
The length of the whole edifice cannot greatly exceed one hundred
feet; and I should think that, in depth, it is something less than
fitty. There are, ht,wrvrr, two semicircular chains of offices,
which project from each of its ends towards the rear, something
in the torm of sweeping galleries. These additions serve to give
the building much more of an air of size from the side of the gar-
dens than Irons that of the river. Towards the east • (the river
front) there is a colonnade which supports a roof that Is continued
from the main edifice. Though the pillars are very simple, the
effect of a colonnade, so lofty and so long, is rather striking; and,
on the whole, it leaves an impression that the house was one not
altogether unworthy of its simple hut illustrious possessor.
'I he interior of the building-is exceedingly irregular, though far
from inconvenient. I had full leisure for its examination, while a
solemn scene was taking place at the tomb. La Fayette had been
Olperetitted to go to this satin spot, unattended by any except the
immediate members of the'two families. I was permitted, by an
especial favour, topass up the ascent by another path, and to ex-
amine tlie rest of the grounds and the mansion.
There was but one considerable apartment in the dwelling. This
was a drawing-room that occupied the whole width of the house,
with a proper proportion of its length. The rest of the rooms
were snuff, and of arrangements which proved that they were con-
strvcted before she master of the mansion was in the habit of re-
ceiving more guests than fell to the share of's private Gentleman.
Most of the furniture was of the time of the hero. It was exceed-
ingly simple, though I thought it quite good enough, In fashion and
in Form, for a country residence. The principal drawing.room bad
more the hir of a reception-room than the others, which were
altogether in a quiet, comfurrable, and domestic taste. There was
a library, that is rather large for America, but which, in Europe,
nronld be thought very small for the habitation of a man of any
eminence.

I looked on all these things with a deep and increasing emotion.
The house, at the moment, with the exception of Cadwallader and
myself, and a domestic who showed as through the rooms, was
entirely empty. More than once, do my hand touched a lock to
open some door, I felt the blood stealing up my arm, as the sudden
conviCtion flashed on my mind that the member rested on a place
where the hand of Washington had probably been laid a thousand
times. That indescribable, but natural and deeply grateful, feeling
hetet me. which we all are made to know when the image of a
fellow-Mortal, who has left a mighty name on earth, is conjured
before nail the imagination in the nearest approaches to reality
thaedelih", and tithe; and place, and the whisperings of an excited
fancy will 'alkiwt. There was a soft of secret desire, rather than
an expectation, of finding something more than what reason told
me to expect; and I passed from' parlour to parlour, in my haste,
until my companions were lett behind, and I found myself alone in
a sort of upper office of the mansion. I shall never forget the sett.
sation that I felt as my eye gazed on the first object it encountered.'
It was an article of no more dignity than a leathern fire-bucket ;
hut the words " Geo. Washington" were legibly written on it
in white paint. I know not how it was, but the organ never
altered its look, until the name stood before my vision Shrimp
insulated, and almost endowed with the Attributes of the human
form. The deception Was aided by all the accessories which the
house could furmsh. Just at that instant, my friend, who is a
man' of tail stature and grave air, appeared in the adjoining door,
without speaking. I felt the blood creeping nearer my heart
with awe, nor did the illusion vanish until Cadwallader passed
before me, and laid a hand, with a melancholy smile, on the words,
and then retired towards the grounds, with a face that I thought
be would gladly conceal. ,
We were shown into the gardens and green-houses. In the lat-
ter. the domestic culled us a bouquet of hot house flowers; and,
turning to a box which lay at band, be took a sheet of paper, and,
enveloping their stems, presented them to my Mend. Cadwalla-
deo received them thoughtfully; but his mind was too much cgcu•
pied at the moment to attend to so trifling an occurrence. We had
returned to the city, and were at our late dinner, when his eye
seemed Heated, by some charm, on the paper that encircled this
hale offering. Scattering the Rowers on every side of him, he laid
the paper on the, table, and trail its contents with breathless eager-
ness. It proved to be a sheet torn frogs a farming journal of the
modern Cmcinnatus, which bad been kept in his own band. The
writing was distinct, though there technics abbrevia-
tions: the pages were without blot or erasure, and the precision of
the language and the minuteness of the details were rigidly exact.
The precious morsel was divided, and each of us took his portion,
like men who were well content with the possession of some
sacred relic.

When we left the green house, we were joined by the party of
the veteran Frenchman. We had parted at the margin of the water,
and each of us bad found subjects for reflection that were alike
pleasing and painful. Just before we separated, there had been a
little hesitation in the choice of the paths that led to the mancion.—
" Let me show you the way,"cried Mr. George is Fayette, eagerly,
but with evident emotion—" I know all the paths of Mount Ver-
non." Twenty-five years before, during the exile of his natural
paten?, be bad been entrusted to Washington, as to a second father,
and he now rushed forward, full of his recollections, to point out a
route that, time and momentous scenes in another hemisphere had
oat blotted from his memory. I shall not attempt to describe what
passed at the vault during the visit of La Fayette. He was power-
fully affected, as the recess of the dead was opened to his admission.
When be joined us, it was evident that Iris feelings had been wrought
up to a high and painful point ; and I thought his eye wandered
over the tatnillar objects of the dwelling, as it every thing keenly re-
minded him that be who gave them lite and interest, bad passed
away from the moving scenes of the earth into the solemn quiet of
the place he had just quitted: We took the occasion of his absence
from the spot, to go ourselves to the tomb. As Cadwallader knew
the way, I bad no other companion.
The family vault of Mount Vernon stands near tbe brow of the
declivity, at a little diatance from mansion, and- at the point
where the grouud begins to fall away to the south. It is u plain
and simple as can be well imagined. 'The excavation in the earth is
neither large nor deep,aud the suiallporthiriol the work that is visible
An from, is a deid wall of bricks. The door was low, humble, and
unornamented7-a more meek and fitting passage to the narrow
house of the dead than thresholds and arches of mocking archttec•
tare. Thp earth is tounded over the summit of the vault, and a low
stunted and mthly cedars helm taro root uu and about it.
I have stood by the side of many a boasted and admired tomb ;
but by nonewith thy Mee slid reverence with whierixf saved on this.
The dark daysaitthe *Lime-and difficulties which
threatenest,the first hours of life's Government, tins cheerful
and prosperous scums through which I bad so recently passid,
crowded on my memory, and produced a teeming picture, in which
the most prominent object was the form of the mall whose ashes
were mouldering beneath my feet..
have ever been tut ardent, and were tberc not so much remain
tor, turusucppertetneste, I milk ety an enthusiastic admirer of Washington.
H .untlke that of tbehesees manlier day., is most lIIU,
mous when earn at the imams; appiiiash..• -.Those who lived th'
down to his person, end who pmeemed. Abe imet -oppattunity 01
studying hie Mind qpielities, are teethed with the deepest eeterence
foe Me Mertes. The pasemiversf •hie titivate deeds is the cosmic',
• P echo bietery ORibtliblicatets. They woe alike founded en

liensiutahle prißeiptei d leek. osid nu& Mei already pros
hint with the admiration wilt which they game at a .ee•re .tpnie
of antiquity. lie stanch, naked of meretricious °monism, Iso
grand in she majesty of realm,
A number of other passages, ecisiart intirestng, are
before us; but we mint only alltisfetn the
vi•,it to. Coo-
gress in the second volume, and, the several interesting
oarticulars of the it ate of finale society in the coa.ntry.
WI.o would think that " An er ca is the PkadiK of
women r Mr. Cooper has ci.oferred a considerable
advantage on the English public by the.e volumes, and
.4 1114 It LO this country cannot fail to be iastrtictive to
ono who has lost no opportnnity of ;4,4 ling himself of
all Ameilca could bestow on him.