Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-09-06
LYELL's TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA.
FRom THE BOSTON DAILY ADvEnrIsrn.


cpa Of this is that il is evidently written for the very
purpose He is himself gentleman webred scholar and
geoogst of the first consideration and he to the Uni
ted States wholly for scientific purposes and in consequence
of being quite Unexpectedly himself invited to lecture at
the Lowell Institute This in S4l His lectures
very successful successful that he has been induced to
again, and will this autumn deliver another course be-
fore the Institution other points and portions of the
science which he has devoted his life.
Meanwhile he has published his travels during thirteen
months in the United States and the neghborng British Pro-
vnces For such work he had advantages which, perhaps
he himself thought little about but which tell many page
of his book In the first place. his peculiar pursuits led him
among all classes of people the farmers of the North and
the shareholders of the South and he them all in the
familiar manner, working with the and the COM
people with his hands in his geological researches
and sleeping sometimes in the houses of those who earned
their daily bread by their daily labor because they happened
be nearest to the spots that most important for his
searches. Besides this, having with really great OBJ
ect before him, and having purpose to be particularly in
qusye capous about and fashions he has seen
things they naturally lay before him. and has represented
them just he them without prejudice exaggeraton
The result is book that mpcsses the reader every where
with its good faith less than its spirit of wise and acute
observation, accustomed to exercise itself tho
and condition of many other countries in the same way has
been exercised in our own
This the which book ltsei
has received England both by those who commonly
favor United States and by those who do not All show,
beyond doubt that they feel the great power of Its honesty
When the last steamer left England it had been published
three weeks and already notices. generally quite AMPLE
had appeared in the Spectator, The Critic, John Bull Scots
man. Literary Gazette, Examiner Atlas, and other pa
pers of less note all euIogstc We will give specimen of
two Of them from the most opposite political parties
The first is from radicH Journal conducted with very
great ability, the London Spectator Of July IL
sTo considerable extent Mr.. LyeIs 1rareh in North
Anerica combines the mixture of scientific observation and
general remark the effects of whose absence notice the
last review of the american Exploring E1pedfion The
result Of this combination is highly favorable TO the principle
then advocated we have the Of the travellers original
observation instead OF minute day byday narrative of
every thing and every body he met WITH be followed by
an equally detailed Of his scientific doings Reegat
ing particular discussions to scientific journals Mr. Lye in
this volume confines the geology It's larger features, which
may interest every the probable age OF the falls OF
Niagara deduced from the gradual wearing OF the chan
mel from the rocky heights at Queenstown to the more
striking features of the science, which may attract any
with the slightest knowledge of as the facts observed in the
primitive regions of the countries he visited where
of the wonders of the aneduvan period working out
before his eyes, In like manner Mr. Lyel has sunk the
guar narrative of his journey noting his movements from
place place with great brcvy unless there something inn
pressve describe and combining his observations on life and
points which really interesting and characters
tic His book rather transcript Of the results which the
journey has left upon his mind than the waste-book in
which tourists travelling bookmakers enter their
daily rough memoTandums Of every thing that occurs.
This plan of mnging science and general observation
does interfere with the structure Of the narrative because
is in reality following the natural working of the writer's
mind and the way which he collected his matter Is OF
necessity open this Objectionable person who has
knowledge geology will find himself often baled in at
tempt follow his author should he feel any interest in
the subject Passing this unavoidable drawback regard
the work of the best books of travels that has APP
peared for years the matter well selected the style
easy, finished, and endowed with quiet animation the
aightforward, oihand and courteous though
nfa nf the
consequence Of all this the narrative rapid rather inducing
wish for than Of WEAKNESS. Mr.. Lye had
also peculiar advantages for travelling in America his
solid reputation introduced him TO families which
ephemea notoety might not have and his wide
perence Of European travel enabled him TO consider with full
knowledge the advantages and drawbacks of American travel
ling accommodation rather the advantages for all
good.
"The conclusions Mr. Lyell has himself
favorable to the Americans than those of any late writer,
perhaps of any writers except Mr. Abby and the honorable
e. A. Murray The impression he leaves upon the readers
mind is perhaps stronger than that by those travellers be-
cause with equal means of judging he seems TO speak with
authority The of appearances investigated
well the appearances described and more erp
mallory light thrown upon things that have excited much
oppobrium in Europe-as Reputation, and Democracal
lawlessness, well upon society and Upon
these last two points Mr. Lye tolerant and favorable
than many with less opportunity and less experience Like
Murray and Abby he describes the free and easy of
the Of the Americans the result Of their social cond
ton and the democratca feeling of equality rather than of
any formed desire to show OIL has been imputed to them
They familiar and peculiar rather than vugar
though both traits may doubt be met with, in other
places may be gathered from his remarks from Abdys
direct statements that there is in America respectable
class of society, holding themselves like the old fashioned
families OF this country aoof from onizng strangers,
and still more from literary commercial travellers
Hence Mr. Lyel ntmates the accounts which read
respecting the behavior and conversation of people public
conveyanccs and ordnaes should be taken with
and be held characteristics of all the community
than similar records would be at home"
The other extract from the John Bull of July 49, the
wel-known high Tory organ
There agreeable mixture of science and observation
in volumes and in both the marks of superior mind
Mr. Lyeps former work, the principles Of geology pre-
pared for what with in his geological
among the primitive formations Of the world and the
lovers Of that science these researches necessarily be full
absorbing interest Such readers as may wish TO pursue
them further than the author has thought advisable TO do in
book of travels, referred series Of papers and abb
sacts OF memoirs read by Mr. Lye the Geological Socie
y Of London Prexcd TO the second volume geological
map Of the United States Canada &c compiled from State
of the United States besides six plates maps IL
Illustrative of the Falls of Niagara and adjacent country, ~s
mammalian remains the coal the Monongahes,
&c. At Albany, the Hudson, Mr. Lyel found several
biologists employed the Government survey, and bnsy
engaged in forming fine museum illustrate the organic re-
mains and mineral products of the country.
In his remarks upon the people Of the United STATES ana
their political institutions Mr. Lyc is more favorable towards
both than travellers and must do him the jus
tce that his opinions dogmaicay pronounced
but deduced from premises which he lays before the reader
We may differ certainly do some points, both from
his premises and deductions but is impossible not to per-
that they entitled to respectful consideration as ne
impressions Of ACUTE impartial and weLinionned mind.
evep little further. and acknowledge that he