486 source in case of the failure of voluntary enlistments. A nation has a full right to the service of all her citizens in cases of emergency, on any terms, and a prior right, in any case, on fair and equal terms of pay. This right should always be exer cised with caution and tenderness; yet the hardships and suffer ings of individuals, though they may render it unpopular, do not render it less a right. As exercised in the impressment by the British navy, without discrimination, and at a pay far be low the fair value of the service, it is odious and oppressive in the highest degree; but by a regular system of registry, it may be made mild as to person, and by a proper arrangement of wages, even desirable and advantageous, to the individual. Such a system, with fewer advantages than the one proposed, has prevailed in most parts of Europe; and such a system, adopted in time, would have probably saved us from the calamities of the present war. Should any of the above remarks prove advantageous to the rising navy of this country, the object of the author, which was merely to draw attention to so important a subject, will be fully answered. Should they awaken a discussion that will bring to light any of the naval energies of the nation, they will fully attain the end proposed. BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR OF COMMODORE PERRY. IN taking up the pen to commemorate another of our naval victories, we solicit the patience of our readers if we indulge in a few preliminary reflections, not strictly arising out of the subject of this memoir, though, we trust, not wholly irrelevant. Indeed, we do not pretend to the rigid precision and dispassionate coolness of historic narrative. Excited as we are by the tone and temper of the times, and the enthusiasm that prevails around us, we cannot, if we would, repress those feelings of pride and exultation, that gush warm from the heart, when the triumphs of our navy are the theme. Public joy is at all times contagious; but in the present lowering days of evil, it is a sight as inspiring as it is rare, to behold a whole nation breaking forth into gladness. There is a point, however, beyond which exultation becomes insulting, and honest pride swells into vanity. When this is exceeded even success proves injurious, and, instead of begetting a proper confidence in ourselves, produces that most disgusting of all national faults, boasting arrogance. This is the evil against the encroachments of which we would earnestly caution our countrymen; it comes with such an open and imposing front of worthy patriotism, and at such warm and incautious moments, that it is apt to take possession of us before we are aware. We have already noticed some symptoms of its prevąlence. We have seen many of our papers filled with fulsome and extravagant paragraphs, echoing the vulgar joy and coarse tauntings of this rabble: these may be acceptable to the gross palates of the mean minded; but they must grieve the feelings of the generous and liberal; and must lessen our triumphs in the eyes of impartial nations. In this we behold the striking difference between those who fight battles, and those who merely talk about them. Our officers are content modestly to announce their victories; to give a concise statement of their particulars, and then drop the subject: but then the theme is taken up by a thousand vaunting tongues; each tries to outvie the other in extravagant applause, until the very ear of admiration becomes weary of excessive eulogium, We do not know whether, in these remarks, we are not passing censure upon ourselves, and whether we do not largely indulge in the very weakness we condemn; but of this we are sure, that in our rejoicings no feelings enter insulting to the foe. We joy, indeed, in seeing the flag of our country encircled with glory, and our nation elevated to a dignified rank among the nations of the earth; but we make no boastful claims to intrinsic superiority, nor seek to throw sneer or stigma on an enemy, whom, in spite of temporary hostility, we honour and admire. But, surely, if any impartial mind will consider the circumstances of the case, he will pardon our countrymen for overstepping, in the flush of unexpected and repeated success, the modest bounds of propriety. Is it a matter of surprise that, while our cheeks are yet scarce cool from the blushes-the burning blushes of wounded pride and insulted patriotism, with which we have heard our country ridiculed and set at naught by other nations--while our cars still rings with the galling terms in which even British statesmen have derided us, as weak, pusillanimous and contemptible-while our memories are still sore with the tales of our flag insulted in every sea, and our countrymen oppressed in every port-is it a matter of surprise that we should break forth into transports at seeing these foul aspersions all suddenly brushed away-at seeing a continued series of brilliant successes flashing around the national standard, and dazzling all eyes with their excessive brightness?" Can such things be, and overcome us, like a summer cloud," without, not merely our special wonder," but our special exultation? He who will cast his eye back, and notice how, in little more than one short year, we have suddenly sprung from peaceful insignificance to proud competition with a power whose laurels have been the slow growth of ages, will easily excuse the temporary effervescence of our feelings. For our parts we truly declare that we revere the British nation. One of the dearest wishes of our hearts is to see a firm and well-grounded friendship established between us. But friendship can never long endure, unless founded on mutual respect, and maintained with mutual independence; and however we may deplore the present war, this double good will spring out of it, we will learn our own value and resources, and we |