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TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The "Essay," by “Cleon,” is unavoidably deferred,—by mistake delayed till too late for insertion in this number, but shall appear in our next.

Happiness," by "Colin," possesses some merit, but the subject is so trite that nothing new can be said of it.

"Modern Liberty," by "P." is respectfully declined.

"J. F. Gay," appears to us too prolific. His details might be interesting to himself and those with him, but could hardly be so to the general reader.

The "Review" which we were favored with, partakes too much of the savage character. The piece it criticises has received several favorable notices, and although we claim to be independent enough to form an opinion for ourselves, still we had rather not add our solitary mite to the opposite scale,-above all, in the case of a youthful author.

In the essay upon " Enthusiasm,” in our last, thes entence beginning with 'To the exaggerated,' and ending with 'genius,' should have been printed with quotation marks.

"F." is accepted,―shall appear hereafter.

"Sn" is accepted,-shall appear hereafter.

"Manly Modesty," by "Discipulus," shall appear hereafter.

We give place to the following as the "first buddings of J. D.'s poetic genius."

Messrs. Editors :-With extreme reluctance would I fear the rejection of these verses the first buddings of my poetic genius. The gratification I should receive upon seeing my lines in print, in a place however humble, would sufficiently compensate me for the trouble they have occasioned. Do please, Gentlemen, publish them. Yours, J. D.

With strides gigantic, and on eagle wing,

How genius takes her flight, I fain would sing,

A flashing burst of heaven's etherial fire

Now strikes upon me, while I touch the lyre.

And while I dip my pen within the horn,
Grant me to be insensible to foppish scorn;
Boldly to whiz like lightning through the skies,
And gain, at length, the poet laureat's prize.

I clap my saddle on Pegasus' back,
And by the sun's bright stern Į keep my track,
And now th' effulgence of my red mustaches,
Aurora brings and burns the snow to ashes.

J. D.

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LIBERTY, morality, and intelligence, must advance unitedly in the great enterprise of reforming the world. Our country is the chosen abode of the former, and we may hope will become the scene of the happy influence of the heaven descended trio. Morality is not yet sufficiently entertained by our citizens, to exert its legitimate influence upon our government, or upon the world: but it is fondly anticipated by the friends of liberty and humanity, that a more general dissemination of intelligence will awaken our countrymen to a full sense of its need, and to vigorous exertions for its acquisition..

The eyes of the whole human race seem directed to our nation as the pioneer in the cause of liberty. Founded by men devoted to science and religion, sustained through an age of weakness by an enterprising and intelligent people, our country has arrived at the proud eminence of an independent nation, acknowledging no imperial sway, claiming freedom as its guardian, our God as its only Sovereign. With us distinction of rank has no existencepoverty can reduce no one to subjection-wealth exalt no one to power. From what better source could a pure influence originate, or to whom could an oppressed world better direct their supplications, than to such a people?

Let then the statesmen of our land first turn their attention to the condition of our own people. Let them purify the fountain, that the stream may become pure, of which so many are greedily partaking. Let them disseminate universally among our citizens exalted moral and political sentiments.

The condition of our government requires, that the influence of these great powers should be combined, to sustain our republican system. The influence of morality upon governments, and especially upon free governments, has not been sufficiently regarded. If we would profit by the examples of other republics, which have for a time borne the semblance of freedom, we should observe the

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want of moral principle, as the rock on which many of them have split. Although guided by men distinguished for their talents and their genius, if they trusted to the wisdom of man alone, and rejected the immutable principles of high heaven, their fate was soon sealed. Selfishness soon gained the ascendency over public spirit, and liberty became a license for every vicious indulgence. Every thing which gave to society its charms, to social intercourse its pleasures, was lost, and the dreariness of desolation swept from their land the last vestige of happiness and prosperity. Experience fully sanctions the sentiment, that "the permanence of public happiness depends upon the integrity of public morals."

But morality should be intimately associated with exalted political principles. In a democracy it is necessary that the people generally understand the principles of their government. Without this knowledge, they do not take that interest in the affairs of government, which is requisite to the maintenance of their freedom. A fatal apathy comes over them, from which they are not aroused, until the shackles of tyranny are effectually fastened upon them. Arbitrary power never effects the complete subjection of a nation by one fell effort; but by gradual advances, continually lulling the people with the syren strains of happiness and prosperity, until it finally encloses them within its fatal meshes, and secures the unresisting victims. Should pure political information be universally disseminated among the inhabitants of a democratic government; should they be able to judge judiciously concerning subjects of public interest; a vigilance would be continually kept up, which would guard the people from the insidious designs of demagogues or foreign despots. Let the inhabitants of our country fully appreciate the worth of their liberties-the inestimable value of their political privileges; and let them feel that the responsibility rests upon them, of deciding whether those rights and privileges shall be possessed by the whole human race, in future ages, or shall perish through their negligence-and where is the American citizen, who would not shed his life-blood, were it necessary, in the defense of our principles!

Our representative system removes the direction of the government too far from the immediate charge of the people, to secure a universal dissemination of political knowledge. Although it is a system of which America may well be proud, which is admirable in itself and useful in its consequences, yet it turns the attention of the people too much from principles to men, and leads them to confide too implicitly in the wisdom and integrity of their representatives. A general understanding of the principles of our government would soon dispel the evil consequences of this error, and arouse every man to noble exertion in the acquisition of political knowledge; as each person is subject to be entrusted with the vast responsibility of the representative of a free people. The

founders of our government prepared a system for an enlightened nation, the value of which will never be fully appreciated until the dawn of universal intelligence. Then, when exalted political sentiments, supported and tempered by moral principle, are entertained by each of our citizens, shall democracy arrive at the acme of perfection, and advance in triumph throughout the world.

That our people are at present as moral and intelligent as those of any other nation, cannot for a moment be doubted; but that they might be far more so, is equally true. Their political information, instead of springing from the clear fountain of historical truth and philosophy, originates in the filthy source of party corruption. The ephemeral productions of unprincipled editors exert a far greater influence, than the disquisitions of Milton, of Sidney, and a host of other political writers of ancient and modern days, whose works bear the stamp of wisdom and pure philanthropy. The frequent riots which take place among the lower classes of our large towns, are sure evidences of a want of principle among them, and also proofs of the necessity of integrity and virtue, for the maintenance of public order and security.

Even among the yeomanry of our land, there is not that high sense of morality, which befits men, who are entrusted with a participation in the government of their country. Were all our citizens conscious of the great responsibility that rests upon them, of the vast influence which our country is destined to exert upon the future condition of man; the apathy which is now so general, would soon be dissipated, and enterprise and activity, such as characterized our pilgrim fathers, would soon exalt our nation still higher on the scale of political worth. The pulpit, the bar and the rostrum, should all be eloquent in arousing the people to noble action; and our common schools, academies and colleges, should inculcate those primary principles, upon which our government and the hopes of the whole human family are based. The public press, that powerful engine of good or evil to a nation, according as it is wielded by a virtuous or dissolute hand, should be restored by a vigorous effort of our citizens, from the base purposes to which it has been prostituted, and be again rendered the medium of valuable intelligence. Without this aid, an effectual check will be presented to all exertions for the dissemination of worthy moral and political sentiments: with it, the productions of the statesman, conceived in the closet, might speed with almost the velocity of light to the remotest limits of our land, and their worth be fully appreciated, as well by the woodsman on the western confines of our territory, as by the man of wealth in his urban palace. By these means the standard of morality and political information would soon be exalted among our citizens, so that our system of self-government would be fixed upon the firmest foundation, and receive the unqualified admiration of the human race.

S-N.

LOVE'S HOME.

OH Love, where dwellest thou? doth morning sun
Enfold thee in his burning drapery,

Or evening star when bidding earth good night,
Turn in its look of purity on thee?

Do laughing zephyrs bear thee in their bosom,
As their merry voices swell and mingle
'Mid the forest trees, making melody
Most wild yet beautiful? Or is thy home
Within the wave that ripples on the shore,

And chants its nightly serenade to woo

The moon's soft beams? With spring-flowers dwellest thou,
Enthron'd upon their petals drinking in

The young bee's kiss? Do mermaids wind their tresses
Round thy form and lull thine eyes to slumber,

As sweetly on their coral harps they sing

Thy lullaby? Or doth the tempest steed

When leaping 'mid the storm from cloud to cloud,
Thy guiding hand obey? Say! where's thy home?

And can'st thou ask, vain mortal, where's my home?
My palace I have rear'd in woman's heart;—
"Tis there I stop and fold my weary wings,

And in her strong affections nestle, like
Weary bird amid a bed of roses.
Thou'lt find me there!

STORY OF AN ATOM.

I SAT one cold winter night in my room at No. 20, Rue de la Vigne-a cheerful fire was burning in the grate, and wax candles diffused a mild light around. I had but just returned from a long journey—a storm was raging without, and altogether I felt rather lonely, though I was right glad to be at home once more. In thinking what I should do to amuse myself, I cast my eyes on the well polished mahogany table beside me, but there was nought to mar its brightness save one solitary speck of dust. With the instinctive nicety of one who has nothing to do, I raised my hand to remove it, when I heard a tiny, dry cough, like that of a person regaining his voice after a long silence, followed by a conclusive-ahem! Presently a little voice, so soft indeed that had it not been very clear and distinct I could not have heard it, met

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