sense of the word qualify is evidently novel; adjective he explains by assistant; ought is "the only defective verb in our language." These traits shall constitute his apology; our object is merely defence of truth. It is possible that his meaning for defective may not have been discovered, since he has mistaken the representation of a historical fact in the Essay for a definition of a defective verb. This he might have found on page xii. of the syllabus. "Defective," verbs, " are such as want any of the parts," Be is therefore properly classed with such verbs: for was is another word of different origin.

His last "observation" on the work is directed against the definition of a "mode; it (as stated in the syllabus p. xvii.) is the form of a verb indicating the manner of being, or action, denoted by the verb;" which, nevertheless, is no otherwise impeached, than by attempting to show that love, when implying a command, and can, which is in the Essay deemed to be an indicative, are under the same circumstances, and equally in the indicative. This confusion arises from his comparing the meaning of the verb can with the "direction," as he terms it, implied in the imperative love, which is wholly distinct from the sense of the word. The "observation on the mode," justly disclaims the character of an argument; it is rather the feeble effort of a mind prejudiced against evidence which it cannot resist, and particularly afflicted by the consideration that can, if potential, presents a bis petitum, potentially expressed in the obvious meaning of the term, and potentially implied by the mode of the expression; and therefore that can must, when finite, be taken indicatively.

FLACOURT, in his history of the island of Madagascar, gives us a sublime prayer, used by the people we call savages.—“ O Eternal! have mercy upon me because I am passing away:-O Infinite! because I am but a speck:-O Most Mighty! because I am weak: -O Source of Life! because I draw nigh to the grave:-( Omniscient! because I am in darkness:-O All-bounteous! because I am poor:-O All-sufficient! because I am nothing."

CRITICISM.-FOR THE PORT FOLIO.

The Resources of the United States of America; or a View of the agricultural, commercial, manufacturing, financial, political, literary, moral, and religious Capacity and Character of the American People. By John Bristed, counsellor at law, author of the Resources of the British Empire. New-York, published by Jas. Eastburn & Co. 1818. pp. 505.

The following account of a recent work is derived from so respectable a source that we publish it without hesitation. Perhaps our correspondent is correct in his opinion, that no verdict will be pronounced upon Mr. Bristed's labours. We agree with him that they will excite the extremes of praise and blame; and though we cheerfully give place to a paper of the former description, we ought not to preclude ourselves from the expression of different opinions. Mr. Bristed comes voluntarily to the stake, after eleven years preparation, during which time he informs us, that he had access to the most ample materials. His carriage is lofty, and his tone is very peremptory. He writes as if he thought we were ignorant of the advantages which we possess, and that Nature had confided to his custody the key to our hidden resources. He seems to challenge criticism to that diversion which has become so popular in modern times. The "Advertisement" prefixed to his work justifies an expectation that it is the precursor of a methodical exposition of the resources of our country. In such a work there should be nothing superficial, nothing trifling, none of those little tricks, which are too common with our writers, of scattering praises around them, in order to be repaid in the same coin. We are constrained to say that this work appears to us to be greater in promise than performance. However long a time the author may have been employed in preparing his materials for the press, we think he has not been sufficiently careful in the collocation of them. The edifice, though evidently polished with great art, has not been reared with that attention to coherence and symmetry which ensures durability. In those parts which relate to our literature, he has endeavoured to rescue, from the abyss of oblivion, several barks which have been stranded and forgotten; and many of our greatest names are entirely unnoticed, while others are extolled whose existence, we think, will be confined to these pages. We do not dwell with any satisfaction on the defects of this work, and shall therefore make but a single observation before we present to the reader its brighter side. We allude to the sarcasm in which the community is represented as giving “permission to starve” to the founder of this journal," in recompense for his felicitous effusions of genius, taste, feeling, tenderness, eloquence, wit and humour." Now if

Mr. Bristed had been as well acquainted as he ought to have been, with the literary history of the amiable and lamented personage, whom he describes, he could have depicted the enthusiasm with which Mr. Dennie's literary project was received in every section of this country, and he might have added, that although his prejudices on certain subjects were by no means popular, and were expressed in violent, and often offensive terms, yet it was in his power to derive an ample revenue from this jour nal. Among the latest compositions of our predecessor, the author should not have overlooked that “Address," in which Mr. Dennie described, with so much sensibility, the kindness of his personal friends, and the liberal indulgence of his patrons. Although he was not a prophet in his own country, we know that in Philadelphia he was warmly welcomed, liberally cherished, and deeply regretted.

It has become so established a habit, among critics, to consider the works which they profess to review as merely texts upon which to comment, and as subjects upon which to display their own profundity of thought and extent of erudition, that a review is generally expected to be a finished original essay upon a given subject. We feel it incumbent upon us to acquaint our readers beforehand, that in the following pages, we do not make any such pretensions. We do not consider ourselves as the principals and our author as the secondary. On the contrary, we desire to act merely as a faithful medium between the work before us and the public. We are not professed artists, who hold a picture up to view, and by our significant looks and artful observations, endeavour to persuade those whom we address, that we ourselves could produce a much finer piece; but we are merely amateurs, who aspire to nothing more than to point out the beauties and the defects of the production before us.

Mr. Bristed's book is of such a nature as, probably, to admit of a greater variety of opinions respecting its merits than almost any other of the same dimensions. It contains so great a variety of matter, so many sentiments which some persons will approve and others dislike, that each chapter will probably have its admirers and opposers; and very few will entirely agree in sentiment respecting the whole work.

Mr. Bristed writes with much appearance of ardour and enthusiasm; and every such writer must expect to meet with the extreme of praise or of blame. If he warms his readers to a tempe

rature equal to his own, he may expect to be highly extolled; but if they remain cool and undisturbed, there is danger that his enthusiasm may be looked upon as folly or madness.

Besides, if our author maintain his ground at all, he necessarily stands so high, that self love will be apt to take the alarm, and, instead of freely acknowledging his merits, be inclined to judge of him by his imperfections and errors. Another circumstance may probably militate against our author: we mean his manner of treating the subjects which come before him. There is a way of gaining reputation for superior wisdom and learning by treating ordinary matters with pomp and formality. But, to the mass of readers, Mr. Bristed is in danger of appearing below his proper level because of the ease and familiarity with which he treats the profoundest subjects.

The work before us contains so great a variety of matter that the limits of a review will admit little more than a faint outline of the plan, and a few extracts, to show the manner of the author.

The title of the book does not fully express what it is; for the writer not only enumerates and displays the resources of the Uni ted States, but indulges in various discussions respecting the manner in which those resources should be displayed.

The introductory remarks are designed to expose some of the misrepresentations respecting this country made by European travellers, and to hold up to public contempt their blunders and absurdities. After an honourable exception from the above cen. sures of a few of those who have written about this country, the design of the work is thus expressed: "The chief intention of the following pages is to show, that the truth, as is generally the the case in all human opinions and transactions, lies between the two extremes which have been chosen by the calumniators and panegyrists of the United States; that this country is neither the garden of Eden, nor the valley of Tophet; that the Americans themselves are neither angels nor fiends, but human beings, clothed with flesh and blood, possessing the appetites and passions, the powers and frailties of mortality; and greatly influenced in their feelings, sentiments and conduct by the peculiar circumstances in which they are placed. It is wished, nothing extenuating,

nor setting down aught in malice,' to give a faithful portrait, a living likeness of the habits and condition of an enterprising, intelligent, spirited, aspiring people, that must be, ere long, and that ought, before this period, to have been better known; and more justly appreciated by the potentates and nations of Europe."

The first chapter contains a variety of interesting facts and details relative to the aspect, agriculture, and population of the United States, interspersed with reflections and comparisons which serve to set this country in a very favourable light, when contrasted with the countries of Europe. The whole is summed up in the following spirited manner. "The United States then exhibit a mighty empire, covering a greater extent of territory than all Europe, and held together by twenty separate state sovereignties, watching over and regulating, in their executive, legislative, and judicial departments, all its municipal and local interests, with a federal head, a general government, preserving and directing all its national concerns and foreign relations; with a soil rich in all the productions of prime necessity, of convenience, and luxury, and capable of sustaining five hundred millions of people; a line of sea-coast more than two thousand miles in extent, and a natural internal navigation, in itself excellent, and capable of still further improvement, by the construction of canals, at a comparatively trifling expense; affording within its capacious bosom an asylum sufficient to receive all the distressed of Europe, and holding out the sure means of ample subsistence and perfect independence to every one who unites in his own character and conduct the qualities of industry, sobriety, perseverance, and integrity.”

The second chapter, which treats of the commerce of the United States, begins with the embargo and restrictive systems of Mr. Jefferson, and the consequences resulting from those measures. In this, as in the preceding chapter, Mr. Pitkin's Statistics serves as a text book for our author. One remark, which occurs among the tables of imports and exports, is particularly worthy of notice: "Whence it appears that the trade between the United States and Britain is greater in amount than between the United States and all the rest of the world; which is a strong reason why the two countries, for their mutual benefit, should preserve friendly relations towards each other, in the spirit as well as in the letter