The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-01-29

oGsce N. w. Corner or FULTON and Nassau
The Great Crisis Of the Nineteenth century,
Mr., Testers Works on Great britain'
The attention of the whole country 10 now
turned fevershly towards Great brltains anu eveIy
arrival from England is looked for with an anxiety
hardly ever before equalled. ga1s. us ahn,, ~
said 10 this country by all our journals ABOUT me
condiuon and probable destiny OF Great Britain;
and authors without number, have multiplied books
on the subject but no writer has IN our opinion ever
fully grasped this matter bat Mr.. Lester The as
founding news brought rs BY the late arrivals from
England will again turn public attention towards
MI. Lester and his TWO books" The Glory and
Shame" and " The Condition and Fate OF Eng
land"-as the truest and most profound exposltions
we have ever had OF the real condition and tenden-
cy Of affairs in the British islands. We furnish our
readers with some reflections on this and other
kindred topics appropriate TO the times
It is time for our people to decide whether this re-
public is to possess literature OF her own, warm
ed into vigorous maturity by American sympa-
thies, and protected BY the power OF an American
public opinion, or whether the millions OF this con-
inent are submit forever to be controlled in their
habits of thought and modes OF expression by for.
eign Influences hostile to our every interest, and
wholly untitled to SIMULATE or develope our ener-
gies. -
be reared from i1cY2rted materials, nor fashioned
after foreign pattern3 Better if it were necessary
to take the rough granite from our own mountains,
and the huge, strong, unhewn beams rom tne Yves.
tern forests and pile them into temple IN the rudest
style of frontier architecture, than to bring our
ploushs, our materials, our workmen. our orna-
ments from abroad, and when the edihce Is finish
ed, chrsten it American Literature, because II
adore. Our country can never win that respect
from others which she is entitled, till she produces
and is not ashamed to own, literature which shall
bear in deep bold lines the impress Of the distinct
fact IF our national character II
be exotic, but the natural outgrowth and result Of
all those new circumstances and relations, amid
which, we are building up this empire in the west
WE far from speaking Lightly 0 or IRON Rus es
be used to embelish, not to suppant that which IS
native to the soil We demand that America,
placed blythe hand OF God in position, such as no
other nation ever occupied, herself new creation,
her own language, and work out in the eyes OF the
world, her destiny in her own manner. and instead
of being controlled by foreign opinions, let her be
law unto herself.
Mr.. Lester has written as an American, who, in
penning paragraph, did not stop to inquire, with
trembling, "What will the English critics think of
that z"
In 1884, he turned the attention Of the country to
himself. as an author, by bringing out a work ent
tied 1.-The Glory and Shame of England
The novelty of the title, and the boldness of the
idea it conveyed, awakened an immediate interest
in the book, and desire to become acquainted
with its contents. Few American books have been
sold with success more marked and flattering than
these volumes at once obtained. The name OF the
author was in all mouths. The book was the ltera-
ry Ion-the press, religious and secular, hastened
Editors OF ANIMALS and magazines begged the ia
of an article; and there went up from the whole
land jubllate that seemed the sure herald of for
tune and of fame. Such feeling was abundantly
expressed, as used to make the amphitheatre when
in the tournament some youthful rider sent a
Boosting veteran reelIng from his saddle. In the
English armor OF proof, an opening had been found
at last; and through It shaft had penetrated
drinking blood somewhat too near the Goliath
heart.
Il matters not for our present purpose, whether
this feeling was well or i'll founded. That it did
truly exist, is fact not yet forgotten any where,
and Of which the newspapers of the day bear most
abundant testimony.
IT. Mr.. Testers organ OF self-approbation was not
largely and suddenly developed, was not the fault
OF his countrymen. To crown his lriumphs, the
U. s. Government thought him worthy of a special
reward, as young champion of American institl-
tons, and rendered him the opportunity of re-
sidence abroad, in an official capacity.
The facts disclosed in the "Glory and Shame"
were mostly unknown before 10 the mass of the
people, and as they become acquainted with its
strange statements, they exclaimed in astonlsh-
ment,, els this the Lady of Kingdoms -
els this she who shaketh the nations
10 this the terrible one Of the earth p
Mr.. Lester finding himself sustained by the gene
raj sentiment OF the country, and cheered by &C.
clamation in the work which he had undertaken,
was very. naturally stimulated to make a second
attempt, lnasmuch the volumes already published
embraced only part OF his original plan.
He announced his new work, " The present con-
dition and future fate of England anticipating for it
the same fiattering reception which had been 30
freely given to the first In this hope he was dsap
pointed. His last book, though more than equal to
"The Glory and Shame, in the importance of its
subjects and in its literary character, was met in the
hour Of its birth by influences which preveaed It's
immediate success. and checked temporarily the
popularity OF the previous volumes.
II is at this point where we think Mr.. Lester has
just of complaint. If the public had appauded
his first effort with true appreciation OF Its merits,
then, beyond dispute, was he entitled to continued
and increasing favor; when in this second book he
spread out before the country still richer stores OF
information upon kindred, but more important
subjects, and when in the execution of his task he
showed that his intellect had been quickened and
polished by exercise. He left for Italy about the
time of the publication OF "The Condition and
Fate" and had he received from the American press
warm and more decided support, 1t would have
been consistent with Its former course, while only
Justice would have been awarded TO him.
Ii is doubtless true that certain great influences
sweeping the country just them opposed to any
thing but faiiey of England, and for the moment
they were not to be controIled still when the public
had 20 lately been proud to declare our author a ia
voritc, it was ungenerous to turn from him in the
hour Of his need, when he was absent from the
country.
We propose to speak, in the Of this article
OF the particular causes which at that period
moved for a time the American mind. II Is
found that his works on England contain a mass
Of facts which have deep sgnifcancy for the
American peope-facts which It becomes us to
ponder with an earnest and solemn spirit Il has
also been made certain that there is chord in the
great heart of this nation, whose mighty tones
cord with the spirit OF these books, and this fact
enables US to predict for them hereafter wide and
permanent popularity.
These are two points Of view from which we may
regard the character and tendency OF these volumes
We are not allowed to consider them as containing
a wanton and mischievous attack upon neighbor-
ing nation--such they are not. Nor is it right to
believe them written in spirit Of revenge for
wrongful and provoking attacks upon ourselves
We are at liberty, however, to suppose that one pur-
pose OF our author was to strike blow in defence
Of our own country and institutions, SO repeatedly
they were viewed and welcomed, if we mistake
,,oa hu liz ere NJ rnasa Of nnf neonle