The native American., 1838-08-25

| CAPTAIN MARRyAT.-Some of the papers are
perfectly satisfied with this individuals erpldna-
tion of his toast at Toronto, and intimate their
wishes that he will be honored as disfin guished
stranger. Some say that whether his explanation
were satisfactory or not, is mmaterial, because the
claims of national hospitality are paramount, and
the strangers rights are peculiarly sacred: and
therefore that Captain Marryat should be treated
with becoming courtesy and attention.
We admit the claims of national hospitality but
are yet to learn that this individual can urge them.
When an individual who has rendered important
services to our country particularly, or to mankind
generally, comes among us, he presents a claim
to NATIONAL hospitality, which cannot be denied
or postponed without ingra,itude. This claim
was presented by Lafayette, and most enthusiast
cally acknowledged by us. Nor has the acknow-
Judgement been withheld from any philanthropist,
or any proficient in science, whose labors have
been consecrated to the benefit of mankind. But
can Captain Marryatt be included in any such cate
CORY? Has he done any thing beyond administer
ing to the idle qualification of those who mistake an
idle tale for genuine literature? The mighty spirits
of the age, at least, in English literature, are By
ron, Scott, and Bulwer. The first may be called
the genius of evil as well as of good; the second
abored to illustrate the spirit of ancient, for the
benefit of modern aristocracy: the third is laboring
to illustrate and disseminate the spirit of repub-
cansm. OF the two latter, each is identified with
one Of two great principles struggling for supre-
macy. But what has been illustrated by Captain
Marryatt? With what great principle is he iden-
titled? What has he done that will live beyond the
day of its brth?-that will not be swept into
oblivion by the next contributor to the amusement
of the hour! Nothing! To say then that he is
entitled to national hospitality is to perver such
hos, ali
and by confounding all distinctions between the
great and the little, to repress all inclination among
nobler minds, to labor for the benefit of mankind.
| If Captain Marryat or "Boz," however amusing
for moment, are to be objects of national hospi-
tality, we have nothing higher for Lafayette, or
Bulwer, or Brougham; and the former might as
well have spent his life amid the frivolities of
corrupt court, as to have abored for the political
liberty Of hemisphere; and the two latter might
as well have consumed their mighty powers in
writing ephemeral tales for the forecastle of a
coastng schooner as labor for the intellectual
emancipation of world.
But the claims Of national hospitality are pa
ramount! Paramount to what! To the great
principles of international law! To the immuta-
BILE principles of morals! Is man to Justify mur-
der, arson, robbery, and violation of neutrality,
crimes against the municipal laws of one nation,
aHu aSaihsI uo seHerdt coue oI all natlOnS, and
then urge claims to the hospitality Of the very ma
ton against which these crimes have been COM
mitted, because he chooses to offer an explanation.
accompanied by professions Of respect for such
nation! We consider the claims Of national and
municipal law, and of the great moral principles
on which both are founded, paramount to all other
claims If we allow our respect for such claims
to be extinguished by Captain Marryatts compli.
ments' we show ourselves more intent upon gra-
hiying our own vanity, tlran upon maintaining
the moral government Of mankind, collectively or
individually If Captain Marryats toast is to be
estimated by national considerations, he has for
feed all claim to countenancc from civilized ma