Three and a half

adorned with the useful and the elegant arts. centuries ago, this race, in obedience to the great command, arrived in the New World, and found new lands to subdue and replenish. For a long time it was confined to the border of the new field (I now mean the Celtic-Anglo-Saxon division); and even fourscore years ago the philosophic Burke was considered a rash man because he said the English colonists would top the Alleghanies, and descend into the valley of the Mississippi, and occupy without parchment if the Crown refused to make grants of land. What was considered a rash declaration eighty years ago, is old history, in our young country, at this day. Thirty years ago I said the same thing of the Rocky Mountains and the Columbia: it was ridiculed then; it is becoming history to-day. The venerable Mr. Macon has often told me that he remembered a line low down in North Carolina, fixed by a royal governor as a boundary between the Whites and the Indians where is that boundary now? The van of the Caucasian race now top the Rocky Mountains, and spread down to the shores of the Pacific. In a few years a great population will grow up there, luminous with the accumulated lights of European and American civilization. Their presence in such a position cannot be without its influence upon eastern Asia. The sun of civilization must shine across the sea: socially and commercially the van of the Caucasians and the rear of the Mongolians must intermix. They must talk together, and trade together, and marry together. Commerce is a great civilizer, social intercourse as great, and marriage greater. The White and Yellow races can marry together, as well as eat and trade together. Moral and intellectual superiority will do the rest: the White race will take the ascendant, elevating what is susceptible of improvement, wearing out what is not. The red race has disappeared from the Atlantic coast: the tribes that resisted civilization met extinction. This is a cause of lamentation with many. For my part, I cannot murmur at what seems to be the effect of Divine law. I cannot repine that this Capitol has replaced the wigwam-this Christian people replaced the savages-white matrons the red squaws, and that such men as Washington, Franklin, and Jefferson have taken the place of Powhattan, Opechonecanough, and other red men, howsoever respectable they may have been as savages. Civilization, or extinction, has been the fate of all people who have found themselves in the track of the advancing Whites, and civilization, always the preference of the Whites, has been pressed as an object, while extinction has followed as a consequence of its

resistance. The black and the red races have often felt their ameliorating influence. The Yellow race, next to themselves in the scale of mental and moral excellence, and in the beauty of form, once their superiors in the useful and elegant arts, and in learning, and still respectable though stationary; this race cannot fail to receive a new impulse from the approach of the Whites, improved so much since so many ages ago they left the western borders of Asia. The apparition of the van of the Caucasian race, rising upon them in the east after having left them on the west, and after having completed the circumnavigation of the globe, must wake up and re-animate the torpid body of old Asia. Our position and policy will commend us to their hospitable reception: political considerations will aid the action of social and commercial influences. Pressed upon by the great Powers of Europe-the same that press upon us-they must in our approach see the advent of friends, not of foes; of benefactors, not of invaders. The moral and intellectual superiority of the White race will do the rest; and thus, the youngest people, and the newest land, will become the reviver and the regenerator of the oldest.

It is in this point of view, and as acting upon the social, political, and religious condition of Asia, and giving a new point of departure to her ancient civilization, that I look upon the settlement of the Columbia river by the van of the Caucasian race as the most momentous human event in the history of man since his dispersion over the face of the earth.

THE HONOURABLE SAMUEL D. HUBBARD,

MEMBER OF CONGRESS FOR NEW HAVEN AND MIDDLESEX, STATE of CONNECTICUT.

THIS is a man who has compelled me against all my prejudices, against all my sympathies, to love, esteem and respect him. In religion, politics, social habits and manners we are the very antipodes of one another. He is a Puritan,—I am a Puseyite; he is a frequenter of the Meeting House,-I worship in Cathedrals;-he respects the Independent Preacher,at home I recognise the Hierarchy of the Church of England; while in America I have fallen in love with the virtues and good works of the Jesuit Fathers; he is a Whig, I am an

ultra Democrat; he is a strict Protectionist,-I am a Free Trader;-he abhors Slavery,-I hold it but a name;-he condemns dancing,-I hop about like a French grandmother; -he is quite natural,-I am quite artificial;-he despises the pomps and vanities,—while I, alas! am their loving, faithful votary. Surely no man was ever so maliciously good as this representative of stern old Connecticut; and I can only account for it by supposing that he originally came out of the Mayflower, and landed with the Pilgrim Fathers ;—he is their express image. I envied the Whigs and Puritans such intelligence, judgment and virtue, and have tried all arts to beguile him from their ranks, but in vain; he will neither be persuaded nor convinced, and he walks along with head erect, conscious of inflexible integrity;-and, sooth to say, if I wished to speak an evil word of him, I could not.

very

MARTIN VAN BUREN,

OF KINDERHOOK, STATE OF NEW YORK, EX-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

On arriving at the village of Kinderhook, the Doctor and I hired a nice little carriage to Lindenwood, the residence of Mr. Van Buren; it is distant three or four miles from the hamlet. It was the 12th of July, and a lovely evening; the drive was extremely pretty, through a fertile farming country, studded with fine forest trees. The house stands at a pleasant distance from the road, and the shady limes, then in the rich luxuriance of summer foliage, precluded it from view until we arrived at the door. On ringing the bell, a gentleman stepped from the parlor; and with that feeling of true unaffected politeness which would not permit a lady, female or woman (they are the same person in America, and are all regarded with the same courtesy), to wait until the arrival of an attendant, advanced himself to receive us. From the resemblance to his pictures, I immediately recognized the ex-President. I had received my husband's positive command to pay my respects to Mr. Van Buren, but I had no letter of introduction, for, on requesting this favour from some of my friends in New York, they mentioned that they had recently differed from him on

political grounds, and should feel diffident upon the subject; but I had with me a letter of introduction from Lord Aberdeen, then Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in London, to the British Minister in Washington; to be sure, it was sealed up, but that did not signify; so I presented it to Mr. Van Buren, observing that it would certify that I was not an impostor. The ex-President's manners are bewitching; he took me by the hand, laughed heartily at my mode of self-introduction, himself lifted from the carriage my travelling bandbox, first ordered the driver home, and then said,-"The name you bear, Madam, is of itself a sufficient introduction; of course you will stay here, for it will give us the greatest pleasure." Of course, it gave the Doctor and myself the greatest pleasure; we sat down in a cool and pleasant parlor; iced water, lemonade, and wine* were immediately presented; we were introduced to the family of Mr. Van Buren, and after tea rambled through the garden and the farm. The ex-President gathered flowers for me, led us to look at his potatoes, presented me with a branch of delicious red currants, and delighted me by calling my boy "Doctor," and walking along the fields with his arm round the little fellow's neck. The child was perfectly happy, and I retired at half after eleven, forgetful of rest and sleep; for I had listened with delighted ear to the discourse of my accomplished host. And yet I could not define the charm which this magician flings upon his words; they are natural, and of common use; and he speaks of common things, and of common feelings; his opinions, sentiments, and thoughts are expressed in language which all men understand, for it appeals perpetually to their own nature; he clothes their own perceptions and desires, their knowledge and their wisdom, in hues so fair that they become enamoured of the wit and worth which he so skilfully places to their account. His conversation is like a strain of varied music, now grave, now gay, now learned, now simple; generally new and original, but sometimes blending in its harmonies the chords of other minstrels; and by this union, imparting to their sounds a grace transcending their own. Being somewhat of a humourist, he tells a story most happily, and likes to hear a good one. Often, unexpectedly, a new view of a subject is presented, unconsciously as it were, by the speaker, who never for one moment seems to think of display; self is annihilated in the wish to make others happy and at ease; no temptation could induce this most amiable of men to

* There was, also, I remember, some unfermented wine.

utter a witticism at another's expense; he praises the deserving of all parties and of all countries with generous candour, and with discerning justice; and speaks of himself with that unreserved confidence, which is so attractive in a distinguished man. His voice is very agreeable; it has a cheerful, kindly sound, and varies with the theme he speaks upon; combined with the inexpressible charm of his manner and conversation, it is, doubtless, a powerful agent in enabling him to conjure men's hearts out of their bosoms.

He spoke of many whom he had known in England; and observed that he "should like to visit the Old Country again as a private traveller, divested of the insignia of office, and thus to observe more at his ease the various peculiarities of society." But, added he, smiling, "I am sixty-four, and I am here in the midst of my family, my children and my friends are all around me, and I am happy." "It is impossible to describe a more affectionate family," says one* who knows him well, and loves him much, "than the home circle at Kinderhook. The intercourse between the father and his sons is of the most confidential and endearing kind. The amiable disposition of Mr. Van Buren, his invariable good humour and indulgence, make every inmate of his household happy."

I remember well the emotion of Mr. Van Buren, while relating to him, during my second visit in July last, the death of one, gentle and good, whom he had known and loved from her infancy. At first he was unable to speak, but when he recovered his self-possession, he dwelt with exquisite tenderness on the various scenes of her life, on the sorrow of her husband and family, and on the general loss to the society of Washington occasioned by the death of this amiable woman.

Mr. Van Buren's reading is very extensive, and his mind is stored from the choicest authors both in prose and verse; the usages of the most courtly society are those of his familiar and habitual practice; the comforts and elegancies of his residence exactly resemble those we find in the country house of an English gentleman of fortune who lives upon his estate. His garden and his farm constitute his chief amusement and occupation when at home; and the ex-President is much interested in all agricultural improvements.

Mr. Van Buren was brought up to the law; he has filled the offices of Minister to England and Vice-President of the United

The Hon. Henry D. Gilpin, who filled the office of Attorney-General of the United States during the Presidency of Mr. Van Buren.