The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-10-15
forrign Correspondence.
LETTER FROM REV. AMOS GERRY
BEMAN.
N UNI B Err VI.
Boston, October /, 1859.

DOoIoN3 OctODef ~ 1000.
Mr.. EDIroR:-A distinguished poet de-
clares that "the mind is its own place." but
what precisely he means would require all
the metaphysicians to tell, from the prince
ly Stagerite of Greece down to the Neo-
phite, who, with dictionary in hand, and
an indefnable something in his conscious
ness, is endeavoring " to give to airy moth
ing local habitation." This is our intro
duction-to what? to Boston, or to the
fact that we are in Boston-the proud me-
tropolis of New England-the crown and
glory of the old Bay State; to linger amid
its rich historic scenes fora day A bright
er sun never bathed hilltop or dale, dome
and spire, palace and cottage, sparkling
river or rolling ocean, than on this glad
morning Forth we went with "our better
half,' under the guidance of the polite and
intelligent VIM. G. Nell, Esq, for our Cic-
erone, and who can point out with an ex-
aetness, and describe with an eloquence,
each scene and locality of interest with
which the city abounds, which makes the
use of this pen seem mockery. From
the vastly deep of the past he calls up the
mighty deeds, and stirs the soul with such
lofty ideas as almost inspire the soul
thoughts of intrinsic value flash fresh from
his mind and prompt the heart to, and
strengthen it for deeds of noble action.
We went to Faneuil Hall, where thous-
and associations of the past came into the
mind, for in that hall what words have
been spoken, what thoughts stirred up,
what purposes formed, in the cold cradle
of Liberty" What a market is that in
which Boston rejoices, and Of which it
boasts Creature comforts" enough for each
enough for all who have money--for
not without money and without price may
the poor or the rich here buy.
We were then conducted by our kind
friend to the Mercantile Association build
ing, and its rich library and magnificent
reading-room, where there is to be found
the living, every day created literature of
the civilized world, on terms so low, and
free and equal, that the humblest son of toll
may feast upon the intelligence of christen-
DOM Our friend is member of this AS
ISOLATION, and from this more than Castalian
fount drinks large draughts from more than
the 'Pierian Spring." which gushed up in
Temple Vale.
But of all the noble places in Boston for
study, we think that the Boston Library
with its magnificent building, so stately
and grand in its ornate simplicity within
and without, the very idea of strength and
beauty-is the place for the culture of the
| mind and the Improvement OF the taste
here without money and without price,
the sons and daughters of Boston may
pluck brighter flowers of literature, and
richer gems of science, than the most faith
full devotee ever found on the heights of
Parnassus.
Who would visit this city without enter
ing the Atheneum, with its rich collection
of statuary and paintings? Ours is not a
critics eye, yet we confess that works of
art have a fascinating power over us in
which, for the time being, we are held spell
bound. We love to gaze upon them and
think Of the persons represented, and of
the busy, working minds in which these
varied conceptions had their origin, and
the busy hands that patiently wrought
them out. We cannot particularize, but
we must speak of the more than patrician
nobility of Senator Sumner, whose picture
graces the walls of the Atheneum. The
majesty of intellect, the purity of justice,
the sweetness of mercy, are all throned on
that imperial brow. Standing there, we
thought of Hamlet when he said to his moth
er, "look here upon this picture and on thas,"
as we turned our eye upon the intended
representation of Rufus Choate-we never
saw him and had no idea of his appear
ance, and should not have dreamed that
what we must call the horrid picture before
us was intended to represent him, had not
some one have written his name and fas-
tened it upon the frame of the painting.
From all the accounts so numerous which
we have lately read, from Everett down to
South-side Adams, we did suppose there
might be at least something in his cOunten-
ance to strike with admiration, if not to
awaken the moral sentiments of the be-
holder He looks like the genius who in
spired Dante, when he wrote of the infer
nal regions, rather than like an arch angel
in ruins, as described by Milton in Paradise
Lost. If he has friends, why do they not
take that painting away2 The papers
have been full of remarks aud criticisms
unon the statue of Daniel Webster. inst