The herald., 1837-04-22
correspondence Of the Herald.l


nit 1t to him when he should apprse me OF his arTl
val in Scotland where he wished his work first to
the light. Some months after his departure
learnt with deep regret and sorrow, that he had died
in Kingston, Jamaica, OF the yellow fever-wth which
ne had been seized few days after his arrival IN
that Island l had become much attached to this
young and interesting foreigner, and that attachment,
grew out OF the cstmabe qualities OF his heart ana
the fine powers OF his intellect have thought tna'
some of these letters, the production of an lnteli-
gent and relechag mind migiA be interesting 10 your
numerous readers, and if you should agree WIN me
in that opinion, shall continue 10 send sucn as may
select from tm2 to time, TIL they shall nave run out
These letters addressed to friend OF tle autn0r
in Scotland to whom ne was warmly attached ~ !
had been resdant of this country Tor hye years ana
was close and phylosophic observeraL
LErlERI.
Boston, -, 1885
have come TO this country you are aware Henry,
to s,ndy its political Institutions and make myself
acquainted with he customs, mann.rs, literature and
giorios Of It's people on well remember that grew
up with strong predictions lniavor of the American
Repeblc, and then | entertained The opinion that the
greatest degree of happiness and the highest intecc
tual and ply sca excellence could be reached only
when manknl enjoyed the freest government These
notions were derived from the history Of the ancient
republics of Greece and Rome, which exhibit so
many splendid models Of moral and intellectual pre-
eIlnence AT the romantic and beautiful seat OF your
father nave spent days IN friendly discussion on the
comparative merits and advantages of the different
forms of government which have existed and still ex
ist in the world and you have sometimes charged me
with enthusiasm in my admiration OF republics.
am not sure but that your charge IS IN some degree
well founded. begin 10 think, however, that some
thing else s necessary to add TO the stock Of human
felicity than mere system OF government whatever
may be its intrinsic merits excellence. Virtue
and intelligence constitGe essential ingredients IN the
production of national well as individual happiness,
and though those may be encouraged by republics,
they not exclusively confined 10 them. In this
country there is general diffusion of Information,
md no r.,
ference in knowledge between those in the higher
and lower walks Of life. This proceeds from the
promscuous intercourse of all classes of society in
the U. States. Men Of education and wealth, freely
mnele with the uneducated and INDECENT and thus
impart portion of the knowledge they possess, to
those who have not been equally fortunate in its ear
ly attainment. Somlnaries OF learning, too, are so
common and education, especially in the northern
states so cheap that but few 10 te found who
entirely illiterae and ignorant This constant inter-
mingling of all classes OF society tends to beget
kind Of equality OF intelligence, az wei as rights, and
hence the language Of England s spoken more gen.
orally with proprety and correctness here than IN the
land from which it cninated. As the road TO honor
and wealth is here open TO all, the most humble
individuals socitous TO give to his offspring the pow
er which knowledge bestows, where knowledge Is
rare and TO qualify them for the highest situations TO
which propitious destiny and their own merits may
elevate them. III Is not uncommon 10 meet with men
in the inferior walks Of life who have received Glass;
cal education, and whose attalnments far from
being contemplate. / saw c young man who had
devoted himself TO the business of butcher, whose
classical acq 4rements would have reflected credit on
those of the highest rank IN society: ard this youth
seemed to be entirely satisfied with his humble con-
ditien and manifested no ambition To rise above il.
He had been however, destined by his father, like
most children of parents IN humble life for one OF the
learned professions but the unexpected death OF his
parents frustrated this design, and left hun TO follow
that occupation which circumstances had forced upon
HIM But most young men thus educated IN this
country for higher ulteror objects, and is rare m
deed to find them willing or inclined TO pu sue any
occupation that is not calculated 10 give them an ele
yated rank in society Hence all the professions
are filled to overh swing, and thousands are living
IN indgence and dissipation, wasting he iectlng mo-
ments OF too short life, sometimes lnidencss and
prof gacy, who would had they betaken themselves
10 agriculture or the mechanical s have been, If not
rich at least above want and happy IN the conscious
ness of their independence. The road TO rank and
preferment like that 10 honor and wealth. beng free
10 ALL every citizen Is ambitious 10 give his sons If
he have any an education which may qualify them
for the situation to which destiny may elevate them,
or at least to place them on an equality with those on
whom fortune may have smiled more prop'ously.
There is IN this a natural and perhaps ceinmendablc
pride but the result VII be, aud tits now, think be-
gnnnp 10 be seen, that the great mass OF the COM
munty viii be brought up IN such manner as TO be
unfit for The useful occupations OF HE and thousands
and tens of thousands VIII be forced Ia hang loose
upon society They have been brought up TO ldeness,
intended for professions in which they can do Meth
inc because there is not business enough 10 give
them support; and being proud - labor and gn0-
rant OF every other occupation Than that Tor winch
they were educated they must hnally resort TO be2ga-
nv or crime for the means oil subsistence. III was
thought that this evil would have corrected itself;
but the observation of twenty years has shown that
its tendency is to increase rather than diminish by
time. There is not l think, that kind OF adaptation
in the American characters which you may have per
ceived in the French under the dncen regime. They
will not suit themselves 20 circumstances or easily
adapt themselves to the vcIssudes Of fortune. The
professional man. for example, cannot be mechanic,
ic and vii not descend TO the condition OF laborer,
should he fail TO he successful in the profession for
which ne was educated. Some indeed resort 10 az
ri,ut,re and commerce; but large proportion are
broupht up 4, DO almost nothing, aud when thrown
upon themselves, are found to be unfit for any kind
Of business tha, requires industry phys cxcrtion
and mnst consequently lead life Of indoence and
dependence or Of dlssip itIon and crime.
Van Buren IS in ?c1k Of troubles at this moment
-he i nj a loss 10 kr3v how to move The state
of The country alarms i'm on the one side, and the
fear OF Jackson and his party checks him on the
other. The cabinet are divided on the subject OF the
Treasury order Butler Poinsett and Woodbury. it
i said. want il rescinded-but Kendall and Dickn
son and FORSYTH wish il TO he continued. kclde,.,
and Benton ale desirous 10 destroy all the barss in
the country and to come in'o power on the AZ ruins
precious pair b.t sach have been ,ar rglers for
eirht y.afs past, 4 he nation .s. tolerated the
most 6arcfaced Qlackcry yona.y snd ignorance
h. tho uatu. ~ dlt# ~ dlsprnrpa