Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-04-18

siasm Of the Englishman is supposed 10 be bar.
rem Of its only fruit. The former talks from
ennui, aud he must therefore talk always: talk
ing is The opia,e with which he drug, himself.
The latter talks from the impulse OF the heart,
and he cannot accommodate himself TO the
heartless hilarity Of his neighbor.
II may perhaps be supposed that the division
of this country into political communities, dis.
tinct for some purposes, may create psrcep.
tible difference Of character among US. have
before adverted to that disposition which men
feel to identify themselves with The character.
of their country, which is sometimes capable
of communicating more reputation to them than
:hey are themselves able TO impart. The pulse
of the Englishman beats high at the mere men.
ton of the name Of Trafalgar or Waterloo, and
life itself appears to derive new strength and
fresh interest, from every recollection Of those
events. But it may be doubted whether this
does not produce something Of the injurlou.in.
fluence (,hough not to the same eXtenO which
the reliance upon the character and rank OF ones
ancestors exercises upon the mind, and whe
Their, therefore, il does not subtract something
from the personal energy Of individuals.
In this country, we have been accustomed 10
talk of the peculiar character which belongs 10
the natives of Virginia: and perhaps it may in
part be ascribed 10 the just fame which their
state has acquired. Virginia has been the en-.
pire of power and influence in the Un,ed States;
and The great name which she has acquired in
the confederacy, is treasured up by the most
uncomfortable Other citizens part Of their pa.
trimony. she should lose her rank among
the states, perhaps it will be impossible to de.
nv that the character other citizens will under.
70 some change A single generation may pro.
duce visible alteration. The immense po!i,i.
cal importance into which the state Of New.
York is rapidly growing, will probably exercise
some influence over the character of her CHI.
zens Ii isimpossible for individuals 10 be in.
sensible Of the character which is ascri5cd 10
their state; and in fifty years the New Yorker
may OF known abroad BY the same air ofinde.
dependence aud the same careless and elegant
ease, which has been observed in the Virginian.
But, as observed before, all the circumstances
which contribute to render our character, ariant
and dissimiar, are so feeble compared with
those which concur to produce uniformity, that
they are hardly worth noticing in any general
estimate Of the American character They are
like the difference of features in the faces OF ME
individuals with whom we associate, which
strike at first sight, but are forgotten on a rear
Oar laws and religion are sub
slanlially the same; our institutions are con-
s,antly expanding themselves, and exercising
continually increasing influence over US: so that
if we are destined 10 acquire great strength and
a great name as nation, much Of both will be
a,tribu. able to the unity Of character which will
belong 10 as.
Even in the western country, which is peo-
pied from all parts Of The union, one can observe
no very remarkable dissimiIarity Of character
the people famliarly speak Of their
home as across the mountains, and delight to
cherish the recollection of their native spot,
which is consecrated by the tombs Of their an.
cestors; yet after ALL the engrossing occupations
oflife almost swallow UP these feelings, and have
given them a character which is as little defa.
ced by 2eculiarities as that Of their eastern or
southern ncighbors. AN AMERICAN.
When Rousseau once retired to avillage, he
had 10 learn TO endure its conversations for this
purpose he was compelled to invent an expedi-
mt to get rid OF his uneasy sensations. "A.
one" says Rousseau, I" / have never known en-.
,ui, even when perfectly unoccupied; my ina.
,ination, filling the void, was sufficient 10 busy
ne. 1t is only the inactive chitchat 9th
DOM, when every one is seated face to face, and
,nly moving their tongues, which never could
upport. There to be fixture, nailed with one
and OH the other, to settle The state Of the wea
her, or watch the flies about one, or what is
worse, to be bandying compliments, this to me
S not bearable."-D Israeli.
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