"Leaving the reader falsely to suppose, that the order [for printing this edition] issued from the Congress of 1823-4." This, gentlemen, is a heavy charge, and ought not to have been lightly made. The proofs ought to be clear and unequivocal, so that "he that runs may read." It implies a conduct of which I should scorn to be guilty, and I hope to prove that it is wholly unfounded. I quote your last number, page 387, wherein, as I have stated, the charge is repeated. "In the original, the title-page, after setting forth the name, &c. adds, "Printed by order of the House of Representatives. "The present edition reads 1792. [Printed by order of the House of Representatives.]" 1823. This, and "no more, is the very head and front of my offending;" and on this foundation rests the strong charge of "falsely" leading the public astray. It is to be regretted that these quotations are both materially wrong. Neither of them gives the printer's name; and both have the dates so placed as to refer to the order for printing, whereas the reference clearly is to the time of publication. This is a most vital error. I now present you with the title-pages of two editions of this work, one printed at Washington, sixteen years ago, by order of the then House of Representatives, and the other that which has called forth the severity of your animadversions. "Report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the subject of Manufactures, made the 5th of Decr. 1791. "Dec. 7, 1809. "Printed by order of the House of Representatives. The other runs thus, and is very materially different from your statement of it: "Report of the Secretary of the Treasury [Alexander Hamilton] on the subject of Manufactures, made the 5th of Decr. 1791. "Printed by order of the House of Representatives. Is Now, gentlemen, I appeal to you as men of honor, whether this title-page warrants the aspersion you have cast on me? there the slightest possible connexion between "the order for printing," and the date, Jan. 1, 1824 ? But what temptation could there have been to the alleged literary fraud? Was a system matured by the full exercise of the splendid talents of Alexander Hamilton, one of the greatest statesmen that ever flourished in this country, in want of the imprimatur of the late House of Representatives? Could the alleged simulation of the order for printing add an iota to the force of the arguments? Surely not. On this point I have said enough. Two of the other charges, which make a conspicuous figure in the indictment, those respecting capitals and notes of exclamation, you have abandoned, as wholly unwarranted. On the subject of italic and indexes, I appeal to an enlightened public, whether an edition of a work can, with any appearance of propriety, be termed "spurious," when the text is preserved immaculate, without alteration, suppression, or interpolation, merely because various powerful passages, shedding strong light on a vital topic, in which the country is deeply interested, are italicized, and six of peculiar importance are marked by indexes? I throw myself on their good sense and candor for a favorable verdict. Two other charges remain-"the INTERPOLATION of a silly dialogue," (which, by the way, is not an "interpolation,”—it is given in the form of an "appendix,") and the conversion of a few words printed in italics, into the Roman character. With respect to the first, I have only to observe, that it does not affect the text―does not, of course, impart the character of spuriousness to the edition, and stands or falls on its own merits. When the original work was set up, it was found that there were twelve pages vacant, and, as the dialogue bore strongly on the subject, it was introduced to fill the void. And with respect to the other, there is not one change that affects the grand question at issue in the United States, as to the protection of manufactures. The one you have selected goes to a question of comparatively little importance, whether manufacturing industry is or is not more profitable than agriculture. Had we adequate markets for all our agricultural productions, we might then discuss this VOL. I. 11 question. But as we have not, the conversion of a portion of the labor now devoted to agriculture in the other direction, could not fail to be highly salutary. Notwithstanding the repugnance we all have to acknowledge our errors, I flatter myself you must acknowledge, that neither the editor nor the edition merited the censure you bestowed on them. MATHEW CAREY. March 15, 1825. Remark. One word in reply. Mr. Carey is tilting against a shadow of his own conjuring. We have nowhere imputed to him, since he has avowed himself the publisher of the report, the slightest dishonesty of motive. Mr. Carey meant, no doubt, to make a genuine edition; all that we have done is to insist that it is not genuine. This is a mere matter of opinion, and, to our opinion, we have as much right as Mr. Carey has to his. What we said, we said deliberately, and now repeat deliberately. The ambiguity of the title-page-the conversion of unemphatic to emphatic passages-the interpolation, or appendage, (if that be a better word,) of a silly dialogue 'to fill up a void,'and, above all, the removal of the marks of emphasis which Alexander Hamilton himself affixed with his own hand to those passages which denied the superior productiveness of manufactures, are objections great enough, in all conscience, to impair the genuineness of the edition, without implicating, in the least, the motives of the editor. AMERICAN NATURAL HISTORY. A work has been projected, and, we understand, is now in press in Philadelphia, which promises to form an æra in the progress of American Natural Science. Its object is to accomplish what has long been regarded as a great desideratuma complete history, at once philosophical and popular, of the American Animal Kingdom. Dr. John D. Godman, who has devoted himself to this arduous undertaking, is peculiarly qualified for the task; and the reputation he has already gained as an able and indefatigable teacher of anatomy,—as a Professor of the Philadelphia Museum,-and as an Editor of the Philadelphia Medical and Physical Journal, will, we are confident, be greatly confirmed and extended by the publication of his "American Natural History." The first part will comprehend the quadrupeds of North America, in three octavo volumes of about 400 pages each. The work will be rendered peculiarly valuable and interesting by a great number of beautiful engravings, from designs taken principally from the living animal, by Mr. C. A. Lesueur, Mr. Rider, and Mr. W. W. Wood. These gentlemen have, each of them, already given the most satisfactory evidence of their great ability and talent. Mr. Lesueur's reputation, in particular, both as a naturalist and an artist, stands too high to leave us room to doubt, for an instant, of the entire success of this part of the work. A great additional value will be conferred upon the "History" by the circumstance, that, among the numerous designs which are to be obtained, there will be many of animals now for the first time figured or engraved. With respect to the authenticity and general merit of the descriptions, no question can be reasonably entertained, when it is known that in addition to the extensive observations and unwearied industry of Dr. Godman, we have the further guaranty of the zealous co-operation of the most distinguished naturalists of the United States. Professor Say, Mr. Charles Bonaparte, Dr. Harlan, Dr. Dekay, Dr. Mitchell, and Mr. Ord, have promised to contribute their assistance in rendering the contemplated History every way worthy of the most liberal support. What peculiarly interests us in the success of Dr. Godman's work, is the gratifying reflection, that the honor will belong almost exclusively to our own countrymen, and that foreigners will no longer have it in their power to reproach us with a dependence upon transatlantic writers, for nearly all the useful knowledge we possess of the riches and resources of the American animal world. SPIRIT OF SPRING. -the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come." Spirit, that from the breathing South By the softened light of that sunny eye, And those golden tresses wantoning, And the perfum'd breath of that balmy mouth, Spirit of beauty, these thy charms, Spirit of Spring! Spirit of Spring! thou com'st to wake The zephyr's breath to thee we owe, Spirit of Spring! when the cheek is pale, And peace in that brow of beaming bright, Spirit of health, peace, joy and hope, Spirit of Spring! Yet fail it must-for it comes of earth, But oh! there's a changeless world above, Who will not watch, and strive, and pray, On Faith's untiring wing, To join the throng of the saints in light, March, 1825. DIGAMMA. |