Bunker's Hill had disappearedBoston had faded from sight. The gorgeous sun, dipping his fair disc behind the horizon, had bid the wide Atlantic good night, and a lurid haze alone, marking where the land lay, told me that I had fairly taken leave of the Western World. Light breezes followed the ship, which, like a bird, spread its snowy wings to catch the chill zephyrs of an autumnal evening. The rustling of canvas, the swash of the waves as we cut through them, and the occasional cry of the sea-bird, were almost the only sounds to rouse the dreamer from his reveries. Farewell Columbia! One who may possibly be destined never again to tread thy shores, now bids thee a last adieu. If, in a brief pilgrimage through thy lands, he has seen more to condemn than to approve, let it not be supposed that he now watches the last glimmer. ing halo which hovers over the retreating continent without regret. In fancy he sees many a familiar face, and hears the friendly accents of those who welcomed the stranger. Though the "Flying Shot" has flown right and left, in relentless antagonism with the errors of democracy, there is much that lies beyond the range of ordnance, however skilfully directed. The satirist, though he may be prone to dip in gall the celestial feather" with which he seeks to maintain an aerial position, is fain to confess that even in a constitution of things such as he heartily disapproves of, there is still something to commend; and far be it from a Fitzgunne to deny to individuals that meed of praise which he grudges to bestow on a system. If in these pages more pains has been taken to lay bare than to cover deformities-if criticisms have been severe-if censure has been unsparingly used-be it understood that there has been no intention of casting a stigma upon a whole people. Freely be it granted, proudly confessed-proudly, on account of our mutual claims of consanguinity-that there are many in America who would do honour to any kingdom under heaven. In spite of the injurious influ ences which are exerted upon the public mind by popular misrule, we shall find amongst the people of the United States much to excite our warm sympathies, much hospitable feeling, much real kindness; and, lastly, while we must deny that they display all the cardinal virtues in their full lustre, we must at least admit that they possess some of the manlier and more important ones. For those of industry and perseverance, then, we here give them a parting salute. As Whatever we may say of the present condition of America, we must admit that the future is all her own-an almost boundless territory, vast lakes, and mighty rivers are hers; and she boasts of possessing all the vegetable productions of the tropic and temperate regions, and nearly all the treasures of the mineral kingdom. yet the great continent is little else than a forest intersected by roads, with a patch of cleared land around the village, and a larger tract around the suburbs of the city. What shall America be when the woodman's axe shall have finished its tremendous task?— when, one by one, all the silvan giants shall have bowed their proud heads?when what is now a wilderness shall be converted into a garden? In sooth, perhaps, the soaring monarch of the air may not have been a badly chosen symbol, after all; and so I wish all strength to the pinions of the American eagle. My task is now done; my ammuni tion is expended; my port-fire is extinguished. I must melt from the public view, in the gunpowdery vapour of my last explosion. Apparitions have been known to vanish in various forms, and with various accompaniments; some have "disappeared with a curious perfume and a melodious twang;" and others have gone off in peals of thunder, and wreaths of sooty vapour. Let me hope that I shall not be set down as an evil genius, if, following the example of most apparitions and explosions, I am found to have ended in * Vide "Antiquary,” SMOKE. Like emeralds melted by his ray, O lovely May! O long'd-for May! V. And lo! the ladies of the hill, The rippling stream, and sparkling rill, VI. And we have fashioned, for thy sake, VII. Arise, O May! arise and see Thine emerald robes are held for thee The verdurous velvet from the ground, Smooth-folded o'er their outstretch'd arms- VIII. Thy robes are stiff with golden bees, That, blown from Heaven's re-open'd bowers, O lovely May! O long'd-for May! IX. The moss to guard thy feet is spread, Then, lady, make no more delay, The world still lives, though Spring be dead: O lovely May! O long'd-for May! And thou must rule and reign instead. |