with respect to the French revolution,was indecisive, impolitic, and unjust. Instead of being adapted to the extraordinary circumstances of the case, it exhibited all the selfish and narrow-minded policy of former times. The object was on the one hand to restore the antient despotism, and on the other to profit by the dissensions of the country, which the unprincipled cabinets of Europe affected to relieve. The object of the war, in the pompous and indefinite phraseology of Mr. Pitt, was indemnity for the past, and security for the future. No precise meaning was ever annexed to these terms, by those interested placemen by whom they were most employed. But after the peace of Amiens, the happy genius of Mr. Sheridan, we think, discovered the secret, and informed the puzzled nation that Indemnity for the past,' signified the Isle of Trinidad, and Security for the future,' that of Ceylon.

But it is now time to take our leave of Mr. Butler, whom it is our duty to thank for a clear exposition of many important historical facts, as well as for many ingenious discussions on intricate points of antiquity. We admire the multitude of the books he has. quoted, and recommend, both to the genealogist and historian, the tables of descents with which his work abounds, which he seems to have deduced from the best sources, and investigated with great labour and accuracy. But the world was well acquainted before with his skill in ascertaining titles. Uniformly with this work are published new editions of the author's Hora Biblicæ,' and Horæ Juridicæ Subsecivæ,' to the latter of which is now annexed' a Sketch of the professional Character of the Earl of Mansfield,' which has before been published in Seward's Anecdotes of distinguished Persons.'

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ART. V.-The Stranger in America; containing Observations made during a long Residence in that Country on the Genius, Manners and Customs of the People of the United States; with biographical Particulars on Public Characters, Hints and Facts relative to the Arts, Sciences, Commerce, Agriculture, Manufactures, Emigration, and the Slave-Trade. By Charles William Janson, Esq. late of the State of Rhode Island, Counsellor at Law. Illustrated by Engrav ings. 4to. pp. 489. London, Cundee. 1807.

THOUGH Mr. Janson resided for many years in America, he details his observations as if he had performed a rapid tour through that country, and gives to his work the geographical arrangement of north and south. He first

perspires and grumbles in the states of New England, and afterwards leads his reader to the southward to listen to his execration of the manners and customs of Georgia and the Carolinas. The curiosity of the Anglo-Americans, is exposed and described very nearly in the terms of Dr. Franklin. The excessive heat of the summer, the piercing cold of winter, bed-bugs, musquitoes, processions and orations pass before us in review like the pictures in the shewman's box, nor are we able to observe much sagacity of discrimination in the observations on these subjects. The third chapter contains an account of the extent and population of the union: the former is in effect if not in reality unbounded but by the ocean, and the latter is estimated at upwards of six millions, and to be in a state of rapid increase. The country notwithstanding is very thinly peopled when compared even with the most barren of the European kingdoms. When we consider the great distance of the American states from each other, their different climates and their most discordant interests, with the spirit of restlessness and rebellion which reigns universally through the confederated governments, it is impossible not to agree with our author and many others who predict a speedy divulsion of the American republic. It would be an event we conceive not less beneficial to that country itself than to the European governments, with which it has entertained an insolent and precarious connection. It would give origin to a balance of power in America, from which must arise in its turn some regard to principles of national honour and justice while it would enable the respective states to pursue without controul those plans of aggrandisement or security best suited to the peculiarities of their situation. Whatever may be the event we are persuaded that even in our own times an opportunity of judging of the truth of these conjectures will be afforded to the world, and America, as Europe, will be occupied by a multitude of independent states, jealous of each other and equitable through fear and interest.

The manners of the Anglo-Americans appear to have been little suited to the taste of our author, who in vain expected that deference and civility to which he had been accustomed in his intercourse with his inferiors in wealth in the ancient world. We have long known that in New England it is hardly possible to procure a servant, so high is the spirit of independence, and so great the facility of procuring subsistence without descending to the degrading situation of a menial.

"The arrogance of domestics, observes our author, 'in this land of republican liberty and equality,' is particularly calculated to excite

the astonishment of strangers. To call persons of this description servants, or to speak of their master or mistress, is a grievous affrout. Having called one day at the house of a gentleman of my acquain tance, on knocking at the door, it was opened by a servant maid, whom I had never seen before, as she had not been long in his family. The following is the dialogue, word for word, which took place on the occasion: Is your master at home?'-'I have no master.'-' Don't you live here.'-' I stay here.'-' And who are you then?' Why I am Mr.'s help. I'd have you to know, man, that I am no sarvant; none but negers are sarvants.'

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It cannot be denied that these replies were not likely to prove agreeable to an English ear. English servants are kept at a greater distance and more respect is demanded from them than from those of most other nations, precisely because they are more nearly on a footing with the master, who dares not to treat them ill beyond a certain and very limited point. A considerable degree of reserve and hauteur is necessary to prevent the barrier from being wholly overleapt whereas in countries where the master knows that he may kick or maltreat his domestic to the fullness of his fancy, he is apt to disregard minor insolencies which can lead to no more serious consequences, and which he can instantly repress when they become too great. Much familiarity between master and servant is a sure sign that the former considers his authority over the latter to be completely established. These views we conceive to be generally correct wherever there is a fair competition in the market for servants, wherever the master is sure of being able to suit himself with a moderate facility. In the United States, from the plenty of land servants are a scarce commodity:. there is a monopoly of them, and the purchaser is unable to insist on the requisite goodness of the article.

Mr. Jansen gives nearly the same account of the religion of the North Americans as former travellers have done. There are numerous sects, none of which are assisted by the secular arm. In the northern parts more austere doctrines prevail in the southern there is a considerable tendency to throw off the yoke of religion altogether.

The next chapters contain a long and uninteresting account of public characters of America, and of some parts. of the history of the revolutionary war, which might have been altogether as well omitted. The city of Washington, according to our author, makes very little progress, and its situation is not so adinirably adapted to unite the advantages. of a seat of government, and of a commercial emporium,

as was at one time imagined. In fact, it was founded upon a theory which has every appearance of being false, that the American states would continue under a federal government. The shares of property in this city have turned out a very indifferent concern, and we should suppose are likely to turn out yet worse than they have done. Nothing, in all probability, can postpone the disunion of the component parts of the trans-atlantic republic to any very remote period.

A long account is given of the American theatres, and many minute details of the performers who have left England for the western continent. The greater part of these have succeeded very indiferently, and many of them have fallen early victims to the unhealthiness of the climate, especially in the southern states. We should imagine the circusstances here stated, if correct,will afford very little encourage ment to emigrating actors. But Mr. Jansen grumbles throughout his quarto, and loses no opportunity of saying ill both of the citizens, the government, and the country of America. We must therefore take his statements with due allowance for his notorious and unceasing partiality.

Some strange facts are stated regarding the American bankrupt law, which we believe to be less exaggerated than many other of the complaints of our author. The law which permits a debtor to put his property beyond the reach of his just creditor, by investing it in land, is alone enough to give room to the most odious abuses. We could be indignant upon such a subject, and inveigh against the profligacy of so atrocious a regulation; but when we recollect how nearly some part of our own law corresponds to the object of our condemnation, we must rest in conscious silence that it does not belong to an inhabitant of England to take up the gauntlet on this subject. Certificates of bankruptcy, if we believe Mr. Jansen, are procured in America with a scandalous facility, and a rapidity which must be altogether destructive of good faith and honest dealing.

Our author gives very discouraging accounts of the land in America. But his statements are obviously tinged either with disappointment or spleen. Nobody will believe that all or even a considerable part of the soil in that country is ill-fitted to reward the toil of the labourer. It certainly will not reward his indolence, and we know of no country in the world where a poor man can at once be lazy and comfortable. It is undoubted that many emigrants have been swindled into. purchases which have not answered their expectations. But it is not less certain that, in the majority of cases, it has been Owing to their own inattention. We have in this part of the

work an account of the practice of cooking land, as our author calls it. This is done by land jobbers, and consists in fixing on some barren tract worth nothing for any purpose, and in planting a few small trees. at particular spots, so that in conveying the ground to the unwary, they may legally describe portions of it as running from such a mulberry tree to such a sycamore, and so on. The state of Georgia is strongly accused by our author of unfair practices in the sale of their waste lands; but, as Mr. Janson was a party concerned, and conceived himself greatly injured, we cannot trust implicitly to the accuracy of his statements.

Most of our readers have probably heard of the order of the Cincinnati in America,which is a private association of such officers as served in the war of the revolution. They wear an eagle as a badge, and the honour, such as it is, is transmitted to the eldest male heirs of the original associators. This institution excited considerable jealousy among the democracy of America, and a very amusing satire of it appeared and is inserted in this work, which, if it were not too long, we would transcribe. It is indeed the best specimen of American composition which is presented to us by Mr. Janson. We are here favoured with many observations on the Cincinnati, which we have no doubt appeared very acute and sagacious to their author. He is displeased with their motto, and proposes a new one. He disapproves of their badge, but good-naturedly observes that it is pleasing to indulge a whim, though for no very obvious reason. But, above all, he is scandalised at the small number of officers who are members of this society, and thinks the claims of the militia and of those who served only for a short period too strong to be forgotten. He would give some of them gold medals, some silver, some brass, copper, pewter, ʻor even a bit of tin, or pot metal.' He would permit the most worthy to wear it at the breast, and the less excellent at the breeches pocket, a most extraordinary place for a medal. The reason assigned for all this elegance of arrangement is, that we might see the proportion of the honour as well by the point of suspension as by the bob itself.

Mr. Janson gives a very deplorable view of the state of education in America: boys, he asserts, are indulged in all manner of excesses, and that he has often seen those of wealthy parents intoxicated, shouting and swearing in the public streets. Smoaking of segars is carried by mere children to so great a length as sometimes to occasion death, as appears from the following advertisement:

Died in Salem Master James Verry, aged twelve, a promising