passions. The author has no right to project himself into his characters, and give different proper names to one personality. We want a forcible conception and consistent development of individual minds, with traits and peculiarities which constitute their distinction from other minds. They should be drawn with sufficient distinctness to enable the reader to give them a place in his memory, and to detect all departures, either in language or action, from the original types. We desire beings, not ideas; something concrete, not abstract.

"To fulfil this condition seems easy; but the scarcity of men and women in current romances and plays proves at once, that it is difficult and indispensable. A wide range of what is sometimes called 'characterization' is very rarely found, even in the works of men of genius, or rather men with geuius. Byron's power in this respect only extended to one character, and that was his own, placed in different circumstances and modified by varying impulses. When he aimed at a larger range, and attempted to give freshness and life to individual creations, the result was feebleness and failure, which the energy and splendor of his diction could not wholly conceal. Manfred, Childe Harold, and Don Juan are the different names of one mind. Shakspeare's Timon comprehends them all, and is also more naturally drawn. Innumerable instances might be given, of strenuous attempts made in this difficult department, which have ended in ignominious failure. Dr. Young's Zanga and Shiel's Pescara are ideas and passions embodied. Iago is a man, possessing ideas and passions.

"In truth, to be successful in the exact delineation of character, requires a rare combination of powers,-a large heart and a comprehensive mind. It is the attribute of universality, not of versatility, or subtilty. It can be obtained only by outward, as well as inward observation. That habit of intense brooding over individual consciousness, of making the individual mind the centre and circumference of every thing, which is common to many eminent poets of the present age, has turned most of them into egotists, and limited the reach of their minds. They are great in a narrow sphere. They have little of that clear catholicism of spirit, which is even tolerant to opposite bigotries,' which seeks to display men as they are, not as they may be, or ought to be; which is not fanatical for one idea, and seeks not to be considered as the one inhabitant of the whole earth. Most of our great poets of the present century have taken the world into their hands, and made it over again, agreeably to a type of excellence in their own imaginations. The current subjective metaphysics of the day pursues the same method. Egotism in poetry and philosophy meets us every where. The splendid mental qualities often exercised in

both redeem them from the censure we apply to meaner and smaller attempts in the same one-sided, subjective method.

"Not in this manner did Shakspeare work. It was not from a lack of imagination, that he did not turn every thing he touched into 'something rich and strange.' His excursions into the land of dream and fancy throw all others into the shade. But he knew when and where outward men and events should modify inward aspirations and feelings. He would not do injustice even to crime or folly, but represent both as they are. In what may be called the creation of character, in distinction from its delineation, as in Hamlet, Macbeth, and Lear, his excellence is unapproachable. In no other department in which the human intellect can be exercised, does it so nearly approach the divine, as in this. It is creation in the highest human sense of the term. It takes the elements of humanity, and combines them in such a manner as to produce a new individual, essentially different from other beings, yet containing nothing which clashes with the principles of human nature. Who believes that a character exactly like Macbeth or Miranda ever existed; yet who ever thought they were unnatural? In fact, these ideal beings are as true existences to the soul, as any friends or enemies whom we see bodily. They are more real than most of the names of persons which we read in history. We quote their sayings, and refer to their actions, as if they were living beings. They are objects to us of love or hate. We take sides for or against them, in all their principles and actions. We forget the author in his creations."

WASHINGTON, 2d June.

In the afternoon I went with Mr. G. and Mr. H. to the president's gardens, where there is music every Saturday. The musicians, in their red clothes, stood on a high and very narrow platform, and played chiefly pieces from Italian operas. The most interesting part of the entertainment was the great number of gentlemen and ladies wandering about the garden. The latter were very much dressed, mostly in striped stuffs of bright colors on a white ground; and were much prettier than any I had yet seen in America. It was proposed to go up to the president; which I thought inadmissible, as I had on a great coat. But when I saw several who preceded me in the like circumstances, shaking their temporary chief cordially by the hand, I followed their example, and was not in the least displeased at the absence of all etiquette. On the contrary, this friendly contact of freemen appears much more patriarchal, than the wholly unequal relations to which that term is applied by us. I feel constantly how neces

sary it is, not (like most travellers) to attach too great importance to small matters in America, and thus overlook the greater. Dickens above all is severely censured for this.

I have had the reading of a package of the Allgemeine Zeitung for the month of April. Much of the contentions, gossipings, censorship disputes, university matters, bestowing of orders and titles, and the like, seems, when looked at from this distance, very petty and ridiculous; while many things which are there magnified to the size of elephants, have here long ago been burnt in the candle! Whether Clay or Van Buren shall be president of this great republic, is another sort of question from the numerous ones to which in Europe an overween g importance is attached.

In the evening we enjoyed the magnificent prospect from the capitol, over city, country, and forest, and the retreating circle of hills in the background. Nothing, indeed, of the mighty remembrances presented by the old war capitol, filled the mind; but neither were there any degrading recollections, nor any vast Campagna di Roma,-that Golgotha of many nations, and of the Romans themselves,-over which only artists and philanthropists wander in their solitary enthusiasm.

WASHINGTON, 6th June.

I have been visiting the Patent Office. The collection of machines is rich and remarkable; there is also a good foundation for a collection of natural history, and a large number of interesting objects collected in the South Seas during a voyage round the world under Captain Wilkes. Good old Washington's coat, waistcoat, and pantaloons, worn by him on the day when he resigned the chief command, hung in peaceful vicinity to the feathers and coral ornaments of Indian chiefs. These latter have, for European eyes, and in an asthetic point of view, more peculiarity and poetry of a certain kind, than that civil or military uniform. If we only had some historical account of all the savage tribes!

As a reward for useful inventions, patents are granted here, mostly for 14 years. Their number since the existence of the United States as a nation amounts to 13,323. In the year 1843, 531 new patents were granted, and 446 of the old ones expired. The patent office is also a central point for the improvement of agriculture and trades. In 1843 they distributed 12,000 packages

of seeds.

Yesterday we went with Dr. L. to Georgetown. The views on the Potomac, the line of hills that follow the river, and some

of the valleys that branch off from it, are very charming; but the most remarkable feature is the new Chesapeake canal. The stony, irregular channel of the Potomac could not be used for ship navigation. The greater part of the water has therefore been intercepted and led into a canal, which runs by the side of the river. The bottom of the canal is from twenty to thirty feet higher than the bed of the Potomac, and the bank next the river is well dammed and walled up. Near Georgetown the canal, fed from the waters of the drained Potomac, is led across the river to the other side. The vessels seem to be sailing over a bridge, or through the air; and one looks down with astonishment on the broken rocks and the stream that wildly struggles through them below. Such enterprises and works show the greatness of the Americans; so that, as I said before, trifles that differ from our own customs and usages may well be overlooked. Near Georgetown is situated the Jesuits' College. The prospect extends on one side over the Potomac and its islands as far as Washington and the capitol; on the other, to the neighboring hills, slopes, and luxuriant valleys: the one grand and extensive, -the other limited, but varied and beautiful. The site is certainly chosen with taste, and it would be difficult to find a better in the whole neighborhood. The college buildings are large and well adapted to the purpose for which they are intended, and the sleeping rooms of the numerous students are light and airy. Order and cleanliness every where prevail. The grounds of the institution are carefully cultivated; and there are a library, collections in natural history, &c., and an observatory in progress. The perfectly pure and unmixed wine grown on the southern declivity of a hill, is an American product of such success, that much may be anticipated from a more extensive cultivation of the vine. Every where the ancient cleverness and activity of the Jesuits are conspicuous; and it is easier (where they have not the power of persecution) to get along with these clever, experienced persons, than with the gloomy, narrow-minded fanatics of many small and for that reason doubly arrogant sects.

Yesterday, the seventh, which was a very hot day, we drove with Dr. L. and his wife to Mount Vernon. The road as far as Alexandria was tolerably good; but then it went up kill and down dale, and over stocks and stones. Washington's house appears spacious enough for the simple, venerable man; but, being built of wood, it cannot long resist the action of the elements. serves rather, like the House of Loretto, to be enclosed in a more lasting one, and preserved for the sympathy of after-ages. On one side is seen a green lawn enclosed with tall trees; and on the other are lovely glimpses of the Potomac flowing below. Washington's coffin has been removed from its first resting-place to a

second; where it is enclosed in a marble sarcophagus, and is now at least protected by a stone superstructure from the snow and rain.

BALTIMORE, June 10th.

Yesterday, the ninth, which was Sunday, Mr. B. M. sought me out in the morning. He was ambassador to Mexico, and has written a good book on that country. He took me to the Catholic church. It is one of the largest and handsomest in America. The ground-plan and the dome remind one of St. Peter's, though on a very small scale. The chief object of my visit was to hear the music, which is much talked of. It would hardly bear a comparison with any European church music; but the organ has a fine register, and one of the soprano voices was deserving of praise. Mr. M. then accompanied me, at my request, to a negro church, frequented both by free blacks and slaves. All the men were well dressed, and not a single one of them showed any traces of want. The women and girls all wore straw hats, and were dressed pretty much like our spruce servant-maids and sempstresses. They showed as little appearance of want of any kind as the men. The black preacher wore no robes, but was dressed very respectably, and spoke just as well (or ill) as the generality of white preachers. The temperate exordium was quietly listened to by the congregation; but when the voice of the minister rose, and he applied to his auditors descriptions of sin, death, the wrath of God, hell, the devil, and such like spiritual Spanish flies, a different effect was produced. Some began to join in; one woman repeated over and over, Oh yes, my God!" another "Holy, holy!" a third, "Bless me!" &c. &c. This powerful accompaniment urged the speaker to the most violent exertions of voice, and the most energetic action; while the tumult among the greater part of the audience gradually rose to shrieks and yells, as if every one of them was being murdered. One man clapped on his hat, held fast with both hands to the desk, and jumped up and down as fast and as high as he could. His exploit was emulated by a black dame, who sprang equally high, till at length she fell back exhausted. In the meantime the chorus of shrieking, squalling, and howling was continued, as if for the purpose of keeping time. In the eveningwhen I went again with H., who had not been present in the morning the tumult was much less. Some individuals only, uttered shouts and cries, and repeated certain forms of words; but to compensate for this, the Holy Ghost, as they said, had been pleased to descend upon a negro lad about eighteen years of age.