at your over-sensitiveness; it is a generous trait in you to be jealous of our love. But where is any longer need of this young feeling? The lion grown may well afford to repose quietly, as we do, in passive strength. Without conceding every absurd claim, (for there are fools enow also among mere unvarnished truth, still there can be no doubt that you have gone ahead surprisingly; you are a great people and that's a fact; aye, and in the words of certain sonnets, well known to some among you, I would add— ments, and entangle cabinets;-let even the broadcast sprinkling among you of an alien element, a race (I will not name it) ever foremost in mischief among men, provoke as much hostility as possible against you, on the one part, and the poor old mother-country on the other, still, America, still thy heart beats generously for England, and Eng-you,) without admitting every empty boast to be land still thinks tenderly of thee! For my own poor part, I never meet a friend, thitherto unseen, who comes to me with the ipso facto recommendation that he is from Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, New Orleans, or Memphis, but I seem to see in him a long-lost, long-loving, long-loved brother; an exile from home, whose grand object in life is then daily being realized, (through the favor of Providence,) in re-visiting the hearth of his ancestors, and in discovering how kindly and yearningly his kith and kin receive him; a son, once the wilful but generous-hearted youth who played truant from his father's house, (through the centrifugal force of unwise austerities,) but now travelling back once more, by land and by sea, over thousands of miles, in mature life, eager to be recognized again as a child, and reconciled to us, his brethren. Go on, go on, And, precious child, dear Ephraim, turn those eyes, For thee thy mother's yearning heart doth wait. Whether or not man is capable of self-government, is, in part at least, a theological question, and we will not here discuss it; but certainly you seem to have got nearer to that ripeness of humanity than any other race in history. The republics There is yet a tenderer feeling in our minds of Greece and Rome come not near you for modabout you. We acknowledge that, in those old eration in prosperity; indeed, if it were not for times for which our great-grandfathers are answer- certain mixtures of race among your millions-to able, and possibly sometimes since, in many mat- speak less enigmatically, if you were all Angloters, you were wronged and vexed and forced into Saxons-our misgivings as to an enduring repubrebellion; we grant that the obstinacy of home-lic would, after such experience, be fewer. There government has much to answer for in its intrusive harshnesses; we admit that our colonies, even now, (and you once were first upon the list,) are treated with far too little wisdom, justice, or indulgence; therefore is it additionally pleasant to receive you graciously, when in some sort we can be no hesitation in admitting that, as things are, you are the most prosperous, increasing and improving people in the world; and England has a right to be proud of her old colony, and is glad to claim you for her son. sippi :- We cannot dwell on England's page Her poets are our heritage, Her statesmen are our guide; Many among you know, from sundry wideought to feel ashamed. As yet, Australia, Hin- spread ballads, that all this sort of talk is no new dostan, New Zealand, and even the West Indies word from me. And it may gratify you to and Canada, have no irremediable reason to com- hearken, for a minute, to a few notes from the plain of us, beyond transitional conditions, and many cordial responses, wafted over to me by your sundry inconveniences of time and distance; as thirty noble nations. One says, from Missisyet, we have no urgent cause to blush for our total indifference to their welfare. The home-government intends, at any rate, all things just and right; although the various views of opposite parties may interpret these things differently; neither is it at all an easy matter to please everybody. But with you, Columbia! it must have been, nay, it was, far otherwise; we must have been wrong and unjust, unreasonable and unmotherly, or how could Washington have been found fighting against us? We must have been unwise and unkind, or Franklin would never have been yours. So then, Americans, we are in some sort your debtors as to rights of kindliness; and it is a chastened pleasure thus to find you amiably seeking us out, and professing to owe us many loves. Mutual faults, haste on the one side, and harshness on the other, provoke to mutual forgiveness; therefore, we are all the more ready to receive you, and you to come over to us. So be it so be it. Stood firm, with shield and spear, Again; from Rhode Island, sings another :— Join then the stripes, and stars, and cross, Till Anglo-Saxon faith and laws And in broad day, the basking earth A fair poetess from Philadelphia, tenderly an- Aye, loving British brother! With quickening pulse we've heard Your claim and your petition, Has proved so strong a band, Your claim, yes we confess it! That Britain is our home; The reverence we bring her, And duty of a child! beat of our troops, following the sun and encircling the earth, keeps up a continual strain of the martial airs of England!" We look-and, by this time, triumphally and gratefully, for our looking is not vain-we look for substantial service at the hands of the best men of the Anglo-Saxon race, everywhere, from the Ganges to the Hudson, from Carolina to the Cape. And the reason wherefore (humblest monoliteral!) I have ventured in my proper person, thus frankly to address you, is, because, upon the unsought solicitation of those whose zeal has reared this standard, I have just accepted the honorable post of ambassador to youward. In this fair position, I desire to perform And thus cordially am I met by a New rather than to promise; more reasonably, because in Yorker : Ho! brother John, my heart of oak, Your proffered hand I clasp, As true in friendship's grasp; And our old England home, Yes-haply should a haughty foe And many more the like-quick, hearty, loving answers, full of English feeling, and of old country patriotism, have oftentimes rewarded my poor peace-making. Thanks, brothers, thanks! It is a great deed, and a good, to have roused such noble echoes; it is a happy thing, and full of happy recompense. Whereunto, then, does all this word-spinning tend? quoth Zoilus. Even to brotherly kindness, and Anglo-Saxon unity; that is the moral. And now for an application of that moral, practically and personally, to both of us; to me that speak, and to you that hear, my brothers. an adequate measure to fill up the duties of international editor, must, in the present case, depend very much upon the response which this call may elicit from America. Faithfulness, and kindliness, and diligence, will be no more than intentional good properties, if they meet not your cooperation to make them of importance. I invite you, then, Anglo-Saxon brothers on the transatlantic shore, to rivet with me these links of international friendliness; I offer to you thus a worldwide vehicle, for all that your best, and wisest, and most eloquent may have to tell us here; I call upon you, in no mercantile, far less in any factious, spirit, to close with the opportunity afforded you, through this medium, of intellectual communion with all your British kindred. The publisher will receive your literary contributions; concerning which, the only stipulation is, that they be, in every sense, good-to wit, high-principled, able, and legible-hieroglyphic writing must always rest uninterpreted, and obscurely remain in its normal state of unreadableness. For all else, names of writers can be published or otherwise, as they may desire for themselves, but nothing will be received anonymously; parcels must be paid: and (to redeem our fine writing" from this very mundane bathos)—good fame, and good-doing all over the world will follow as a reward to all our fellow-laborers. We shall be extending peace on earth, and good will towards men. Who would not press forward to take rank among so blest a brotherhood, whose duty towards their neighbor tends to glorify God in the highest? 66 Let Know, then, that this same "Anglo-Saxon" standard has lately been set up, in order to rally round its staff all the children of our common English family. A few gentlemen have undertaken thus to plant it in London, the metropolis And this climax again brings me to add a word of our race, and thence to unfurl its broad heraldic or two as to our reasonable aims and ends. blazon throughout the world of our colonies and no man ridicule or malign these humble efforts to comrades. The object we propose is simple and overthrow prejudices, or to eradicate evils, by exunselfish; UNION, between all Christian men, who aggeratively suggesting that, to its full extent, speak our kindly mother tongue; and with that such success is possible. We think not to regenview to put forth, from time to time, a volume erate this wicked world, nor to bring about the such as this of no mean character, we trust, in new birth of universal love throughout creation. any point of view-full of matters interesting and Mere man is not permitted to do that; neither, important to us all. Its pages are open to the were the office his indeed, is this bad age the contributions of every honest and able pen, which season: so, let none discourage the effect of what can interpret wholesome thought in the language really can and may be done, by imputing preof old England. We expect the responsive bea- sumptuous impossibilities. Nowadays, however, con lights of genius and affection to welcome our as always, "England expects every man to do his standard from every continent and island, from duty;" even if he cannot work miracles, he must every sea and shore, where "the morning drum- energize for good, as much as may be, in his own 66 small sphere; but in wisdom he may sadly rest power-great in America as well as in Europe-to contented with the fact that this hard old world, promote between the English families on both sides as a mass, will be but little softer, little better, of the Atlantic the most hearty friendship. notwithstanding all his efforts. It is quite conI am sure that if you knew how much the English press is really a sistent with strenuous exertion in every good America, you would be careful never to print an power," in its influence upon cause, to acquiesce in the truth that now is "the idle word about us. Contemptuous or harsh exday of small things," the scarce and scant gath-pressions rankle deep in many hearts, and are felt ering of first fruits," the "here a little and there a as personal injuries from the people of England to little," the modest attempt to do individual duties; the people here. And, above all, even above the without proposing to anticipate the wide-world government itself, the Times is supposed to speak with the voice of England. blessing of millennial perfection, or fanatically yet to look for universal peace. 66 And after all that has tried it, how abiding has been our love and respect for the "old country!" It was some time before we could cease calling it "home." We are sensitive to what you say and do to us, for we desire your respect and good will above that of all Europe beside. And even when we set our face as a flint against encroachments by you, we separate your government from your peosame spirit which made you free and invincible. ple in our anger, and think we are animated by the spared man in his wrath, or woman in his lust." But you may make us all of one mind; and, just now, in the melting tenderness of reconciliation, and while we are hurt by the attitude of France, our ancient ally," is a favorable time to lay a foundation upon which perpetual peace may be builded. And although I rejoice in the "entente cordiale," and have honored the King of the French for his sucthough I should think it great glory for America if cessful labors to preserve peace so long; and alher influence should be able to prolong it for you after the death of the king, yet it seems to me impossible that with any other nation you can make so strong an alliance, as with one which is bone of your bone. Yet one topic more, and I have done. I had been led to hope that one among yourselves-in particular a very able and eloquent diplomatist, (whom I do not name, solely because it is not fair to praise a friend to his face)-would before this have acted upon the idea which our AngloSaxon" has now for some time since embodied. It tells well indeed for both mother and child to That this is the feeling of all Americans, I do find that the thought was unintentionally coinci- not say. Many prefer to represent England as an dent. The noblest hearts of America and Eng- encroaching, domineering nation; and, instead of land were reciprocally yearning towards each finding its type, in good-natured, jolly "John-Bull," other; and (in spite of trifling outbreaks of ill-look for it in your Eighth Harry, "who never blood, as will sometimes occur in large communities) the two nations, represented in their wisest and their best, were preparing to extend the right hand of fellowship to welcome each the other over the Atlantic. This was a good sign, and prophetic of success; and, during many months of delay (in order to obviate forestallings) I once and again urged my eloquent friend to initiate the matter. Since, however, for a considerable time past, this "Anglo-Saxon" had commenced without me, and that its appearance has been "hailed with delight" by your Chrysostom in question, the delicacy which interfered with my personal coöperation is fully satisfied, and all hesitation at an end. The present governments of the two nations are It only remains for me to add how gladly any intercourse. I should be glad to go beyond that, disposed to promote a more intimate commercial "New York International Magazine" will be and to come as near a union of strength and feeling welcomed, either as a tangent or a parallel-as could be effected, without our being entangled either in union with our columns, or as a friendly but independent band elsewhere. Whether any such enterprise has been determined on, I know not; if it has, let it cooperate with us; if not, let all the good American blood which would have circulated there, help to enrich our pages; so, con- great a nation, England wishes to lay the foundation say to ours, that, proud of being the mother of so tending for the same objects-union, peace, and of perpetual peace and friendship, by removing all true fraternity-let us fight under one banner-causes of anger and distrust, and so far from quara banner sacred to our race from the birth-day of its religion-the Golden Cross of Egbert's AngloSaxon ! Cordially your friend, MARTIN F. TUPPER Albury, Guildford, May 30, 1849. Perhaps the most cordial answer which the editor of the Living Age (speaking for one Anglo-Saxon) can give to Mr. Tupper, is to print two letters which he wrote several years ago. We are ignorant of the fate of the one sent to the Times; that addressed to the British minister was acknowledged in the most gratifying terms. Boston, 31 Jan., 1846. To the Editor of the Times, London: with your alliances and conquests, or losing any of the simplicity of our government. Would that it were possible for your government to rise above the points in dispute between the nations, and, strong in truth and conscious greatness, to 66 relling about a desert on the Pacific, wishes to promote between us and her American possessions as much cordiality of intercourse and freedom of trade, as if they were now, or were to become, parts of the same family. Stipulating for a drawback" of all duties which America might impose, upon goods intended for British America, and reserving a right of free export through all our territories, (you reciprocating all these privileges,) rot only might you disregard the question of boundary on the Pacific, but you might suffer and sanction the more intimate union which would grow up on the Atlantic, and thus forever cut up by the roots the suspicions and jealousies by which only can an antiEnglish party be unnaturally supported here. By this process you might, for all useful purposes, get back your ancient colonies, and correct not only the blunder of 1783 in retaining Canada as a hostile garrison near us, but the ten or twenty years older follies which made two nations out of one. If you could do this you might make the changes, which probably must take place at all events, of great profit to you and to all the world; instead of leaving them to be accomplished through a long course of anger and suffering. Upon the removal of all doubt of you, we should be able to indulge our natural sympathy. We should rejoice in your spread in Asia, and in your probable growth in or near Brazil. We should no longer be a house divided against itself, and the Anglo-Saxon race would go on in the fulfilment of what would then plainly appear to be its mission, the settlement, civilization, and Christianization of the world. Near Boston, 11 February, 1846. To the Honorable Richard Packenham, Washington, Sir,-The fear of being thought intrusive shall not prevent me from expressing to you, the gratification with which I, yesterday, read the offer made by you, of submitting all differences between the United States and Great Britain, to a mixed commission-a Board, (implying perhaps permanence.) By this mail I send to you some numbers of the Living Age, and ask you to look at pp. 248 and 296. When you see that what I had longed for, had been actually proposed by you, you may imagine the delight with which my heart was expanded at your proposition, and the sinking of soul which came over me at its rejection. Important as the Oregon harbors are to us, it was not less important to lay hold of such an opportunity to settle the peace of both the English families forever, and thereby to enable them to maintain the peace of the world. It hardly enters into the thought of man to conceive of the strength which our reunion would give to the MEN who speak English, and who might then fill up the waste places of the whole world. But although we mourn over the present failure of your offer, let us not have to say, "Oh! fair occasion, now forever lost!" If Great Britain will preserve the same temper and tone, it must be yet accomplished. And even already, a hundred thousand hearts, at least, beat more kindly toward England because of your offer. This is of more advantage The government of Protestant England may be able to make, gradually and quietly, the organic changes which the "movement" requires. But that will hardly be done upon the continent of Europe. And, perhaps, even so early as the death of the dexterous and sagacious King of the French, the trumpet will call to a desperate battle. When that shall happen, you would be greatly strength- to you than a year of victories. ened by having your own descendants in the position Valuable to you and to the world as the good unof strong neutrality and peace-makers, with understanding with France is, you may, by a few years doubted friendship and sympathy for you, rather of prudent gentleness and kindness, make a more than have us calculating the chances of that awful time, and arguing that, as we must fight you sooner or later, it would be prudent to do it then. perfect and more enduring friendship with us. You may knit together the broken bones. That you, sir, may personally be the means, in the hand of ProviThe waters must soon or late break up in Ger- dence, of helping to place the two nations at the many and Italy, as well as in France, and what-head of all Christian people, is my prayer. ever triumphs may await England in the strife which will be thrust upon her, it will be prudent for her to prepare this continent for her use and support when the waves shall dash over Europe. The people of America, and I hope the people of Great Britain, are now ripe for the constitution of a tribunal for the settlement of all present and future differences between them-whether their statesmen are ready to carry this into effect remains to be seen. Let us bombard them with good measures." suggest the following COURT OF NATIONS. I The United States to nominate five of our citizens, to be approved by England, who shall for life hold the sacred office of members of this court, with ample provision for their support. Appoint such men as Chancellor Kent, Bishop White, Justice Story, Horace Binney, John Jay. Let England do the same, and let the court select an umpire, in case of its equal division upon any question. Let the place of holding these courts be alternately in America and England-and all expenses be jointly paid by the two nations. The indirect influence of these ten men would ward off many occasions of ill will-and purify many ill humors-and thus prevent as many disputes as it would pronounce upon. And other nations would from time to time leave their differences to it. AN AMERICAN. The President may have resources upon which he relies for a settlement of the dispute. But this is not all that I hoped for. I should have rejoiced that its close had been so brought about, as to let our hearts knit to the "old country." These feelings are communicated to you, in the hope that you will believe that they are shared by a very large part of the American people, and that you may be encouraged by this belief to persevere in " winning our hearts." If so, you will not fail of success. Our government, I truly believe, is desirous of peace-but even if not, it vocation to it, in the face of such correspondence. could not go to war, or give you any reasonable proI am, sir, with great respect, Your humble servant, E. LITTELL. From the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser. THE NIGHT ATTACK ON FORT ERIE. THE brief obituary notices of the late General Gaines, that have appeared in the newspapers, all speak of his defence of Fort Erie as one of the most gallant acts in his long career. The following spirited description of the achievement is taken from Mr. Silliman's clever little volume, "A Gallop among American Scenery," published some five or six years ago :— "Here," said the major, "we had thrown up to a moment. We had been engaged perhaps an our lines, making the defence as strong as practi- hour-perhaps three-when I heard in that bastion cable. The British had also erected formidable of the fort, a hundred feet from me, above the upworks about half a mile in front, (the forest inter- roar, a quick, furious struggle, as if of men engaged vening,) composed of a large stone battery on their in fierce dead fight; a clashing of bayonets and left, and two strong redoubts, from which they kept sharp pistol shots, mixt with heavy blows, and short, up an incessant discharge of shot and shells for sev- quick breathing, such as you may have heard men eral successive days, which was returned by us with make in violent exertion-in cutting wood with equal vigor. At length a shell from their batteries axes, or other severe manual labor. The conflict, blew up one of our small magazines, but with trifling though fierce, was short-the assailants were reinjury to the rest of our defences." They were ele-pelled. Those that gained a footing were bayvated with their success, and General Gaines received onetted, or thrown back over the parapet. In a few secret information that they intended to carry the moments I heard again the same fierce struggle, works by storm on the following night. That and again followed the like result and stillness-if night," said the major, "I shall not soon forget. stillness could be said to exist under continual roar It set in intensely dark and cloudy, extremely favor- of musketry and artillery. A third time it rose, able to the design of the enemy. Everything was sudden and desperate; it ceased, and presently a put in the fullest state of preparation to receive clear, loud voice rose high above the battle from them. The men, enthusiastically awaiting the attack, the bastion: Stop firing in front there; you are were ordered to lie on their arms. Extended along firing on your friends.' An instant cessation folthe lines, and manning the fort and bastion, our lowed.-We were deceived. In another moment little army, in perfect silence, awaited their coming. the voice of an officer, with startling energy, re"The forest had been cleared about three hundred plied: Aye, aye, we 'll stop; give it them, men, yards in front of our works-beyond that were, as give it them!'-and the firing, renewed, was conyou see, the woods. As the night wore on, we tinued with redoubled fury. The head of the centre listened with earnestness to every sound. A little column, composed of eight hundred picked men, after midnight we heard on the dry leaves the led by Lieutenant Colonel Drummond in person, stealthy sound of footsteps. We listened-they after three several assaults, had gained possession came nearer. A short, sharp challenge: Who of the bastion, and by that ruse endeavored to cause goes there?' issued from that further redoubt. The a cessation of the fire-a result that might have footsteps ceased, as if irresolute to advance or re- been fatal to us had not the deception been so soon cede, and all was still. Another quick challenge-discerned. But the prize was of but little value, as a rattle of the musket, as it fell into the hollow of the hand-followed by the reply:- Picquet guard forced in by the enemy's advance.'-' Back, guard! back to your post instantly, or we will fire upon you,' said the stern voice of our commanding officer. The footsteps of the stragglers slowly receded, and entire stillness again obtained. It was as profound as the darkness, not even the hum of an insect rose upon the ear. We laid our heads upon the ramparts, and listened with all our faculties. Perhaps half an hour elapsed, when we imagined we heard the dead, heavy sound of a large body of men -tramp-tramp-tramp-advancing through the pitchy darkness. A few moments passed-a brisk, scattering fire, and the picquets came in in beautiful order, under the brave subaltern in command. The measured_tread of disciplined troops became apparent. Every sense was stretched to the utmost in expectancy-every eye endeavored to fathom the darkness in front, when from Towson's battery, that toward the river, glanced a volley of musketry, and in another instant the whole line of works, bastion, redoubt, and rampart, streamed forth one living sheet of flame. Two eighteens, mounted where we stand, were filled to the muzzle with grape, cannister, and bags of musket bullets-imagine their havoc. The enemy came on with loud shouts and undaunted bravery. By the continued glare of our discharges we could see dense, dark masses of men, moving in columns to three separate points of attack upon our works. Our artillery and musketry poured upon them as they advanced, a continual stream of fire, rolling and glancing from angles, bastions, and redoubts. Repulsed, they were re-formed by their officers, and brought again to the charge, to be again repulsed. At such times, hours fly like minutes. A life appears concentrated the bastion was commanded by the interior of the works, and the men, under cover of the walls of an adjoining barrack, poured into the gorge that led from it a continual storm of musketry. The firing continued with unabated fury. The enemy, repulsed with great loss in every attack, was unsuccessful on every point save that bastion, the possession of which they still retained-when I heard a groaning roll and shake of the earth, and instantly the bastion, bodies of men, timber, guns, earth, and stones, were blown up in the air like a volcano, making everything in the glare as clear as noonday. A descending timber dashed one of my artillerymen to pieces within a foot of my shoulder. Profound darkness and silence followed. Naught but the groans of the wounded and dying were heard. As if by mutual consent the fighting ceased, and the enemy withdrew, repulsed on every side, save from the parapet which they purchased for their grave. A large quantity of fixed ammunition had been placed in the lower part, and a stray wad falling upon it, had blown them all up together. My duty required that I should immediately repair the bastion, and most horrible was the sight-bodies burnt and mutilated, some of them still pulsating with life, among them Lieutenant Colonel Drummond, the leader of the attack. There he lay in the morning light stark and stiff, extended on the rampart, a ball having passed through his breast. History mourns that his courage assumed the character of ferocity. His war-cry of No quarter to the damned Yankees,' his own death-warrant, was long remembered against his countrymen. The enemy did not resume the attack, but retiring to their entrenched camp, strengthened their works and prepared to make their approach by regular advances." 6 |