system of roads and canals. Let us conquer space. It is thus, the most distant part of the republic will be brought within a few days' travel of the centre; it is thus, that a citizen of the west will read the news of Boston, still 5 moist from the press. LESSON CLXXII.-FOUNDERS OF OUR GOVERNMENT. WM. M. RICHARDSON. The love of liberty has always been the ruling passion of our nation. It was mixed at first with the "purple tide" of the founders' lives, and, circulating with that tide through all their veins, has descended down through 5 every generation of their posterity, marking every feature of our country's glorious story. May it continue thus to circulate and descend to the remotest period of time! Oppressed and persecuted in their native country, the high, indignant spirit of our fathers, formed the bold design 10 of leaving a land, where minds, as well as bodies, were chained, for regions where Freedom might be found to dwell, though her dwelling should prove to be amid wilds and wolves, or savages less hospitable than wilds and wolves! An ocean three thousand miles wide, with its 15 winds and its waves, rolled in vain between them and liberty. They performed the grand enterprise, and landed on this then uncultivated shore. Here, on their first arrival, they found 20 The wilderness "all before them, where to choose Their courage and industry soon surmounted all the difficulties incident to a new settlement. The savages retired, the forests were exchanged for fields waving with richest harvests, and the dreary haunts of wild beasts, for 25 the cheerful abodes of civilized man. Increasing in wealth and population, with a rapidity which excited the astonishment of the old world, our nation flourished about a century and a half, when England, pressed down with the enormous weight of accumulating debts, and consider30 ing the inhabitants of these States as slaves, who owed their existence and preservation to her care and protection, now began to form the unjust, tyrannical, and impolitic plan of taxing this country, without its consent. right of taxation, however, not being relinquished, but the The same principle under a different shape being pursued, the AWFUL GENIUS OF FREEDOM arose, not with the ungovernable ferocity of the tiger, to tear and devour, but with the cool, determined, persevering courage of the lion, who, disdain5 ing to be a slave, resists the chain. As liberty was the object of contest, that being secured, the offer of peace was joyfully accepted; and peace was restored to free, united, independent Columbia! LESSON CLXXIII.-CONDUCT OF THE OPPOSITION.-HENRY CLAY. [Extract from a Speech on the new Army Bill.] If gentlemen would only reserve for their own government, half the sensibility which is indulged for that of Great Britain, they would find much less to condemn. Restriction after restriction has been tried; negotiation 5 has been resorted to, until further negotiation would have been disgraceful. Whilst these peaceful experiments are undergoing a trial, what is the conduct of the opposition? They are the champions of war; the proud, the spirited, the sole repository of the nation's honor, the men of exclu10 sive vigor and energy. The administration on the contrary, is weak, feeble, and pusillanimous,—“incapable of being kicked into a war." The maxim, "not a cent for tribute, millions for defence," is loudly proclaimed. Is the administration for negotiation? The opposition 13 15 tired, sick, disgusted with negotiation. They wish to draw the sword and avenge the nation's wrongs. When, however, foreign nations, perhaps emboldened by the very opposition here made, refuse to listen to the amiable appeals, which have been repeated and reiterated by the 20 administration, to their justice and to their interests; when, in fact, war with one of them has become identified with our independence and our sovereignty, and to abstain from it was no longer possible; behold the opposition veering round, and becoming the friends of peace and 25 commerce. They tell you of the calamities of war, its tragical events, the squandering away of your resources, the waste of the public treasure, and the spilling of innocent blood. "Gorgons, hydras, and chimeras dire!" They tell you that honor is an illusion! Now we see them 30 exhibiting the terrific forms of the roaring king of the forest: now the meekness and humility of the lamb! They are for war and no restrictions, when the administration is for peace. They are for peace and restrictions, when the administration is for war. You find them, sir, tacking with every gale, displaying the colors of every 5 party, and of all nations, steady only in one unalterable purpose, to steer, if possible, into the haven of power. LESSON CLXXIV.-GOD, THE CREATOR.-Fenelon. Cast your eyes upon the earth that supports us; raise them then to this immense canopy of the heavens that surrounds us, these fathomless abysses of air and water, and these countless stars that give us light. Who is it that 5 has suspended this globe of earth? who has laid its foundations? If it were harder, its bosom could not be laid open by man for cultivation; if it were less firm it could not support the weight of his footsteps. From it proceed the most precious things: this earth, so mean and unformed, is 10 transformed into thousands of beautiful objects, that delight our eyes. In the course of one year, it becomes branches, buds, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds; thus renewing its bountiful favors to man. Nothing exhausts it. After yielding, for so many ages, its treasures, it experiences no 15 decay; it does not grow old; it still pours forth riches from its bosom. 20 Who has stretched over our heads this vast and glorious arch? What sublime objects are there! An all-powerful Hand has presented this grand spectacle to our vision. What does the regular succession of day and night teach us? The sun has never omitted, for so many ages, to shed his blessing upon us. The dawn never fails to announce the day; and "the sun," says the Holy Book, "knows his going down." Thus it enlightens alternately 25 both sides of the world, and sheds its rays on all. Day is the time for society and employment. Night folds the world in darkness, finishes our labors, and softens our troubles. It suspends, it calms everything. It sheds round us silence and sleep; it rests our bodies, it revives our spirits. 30 Then day returns, and recalls man to labor, and reänimates all nature. But besides the constant course of the sun, that produces day and night; during six months it approaches one pole, and during the other six, the opposite one. By this beau35 tiful order, one sun answers for the whole world. If the 5 sun, at the same distance, were larger, it would light the whole world, but it would consume it with its heat. If it were smaller, the earth would be all ice, and could not be inhabited by men. What compass has been stretched from heaven to earth and taken such just measurements? The changes of the sun make the variety of the seasons, which we find so delightful. The Hand that guides this glorious work must be as 10 skilful as it is powerful, to have made it so simple, yet so effectual; so constant and so beneficent. 5 110 15 20 25 LESSON CLXXV.-CRESCENTIUS.-. I looked upon his brow,-no sign He stood as proud by that death-shrine, He had a power; in his eye A spirit that could dare The deadliest form that death could take, He stood, the fetters on his hand,- And had that grasp been on the brand, With freer pride than it waved now. The rack, the chain, the axe, the wheel, I saw him once before; he rode And tens of thousands thronged the road, His helm, his breastplate, were of gold, The sun shone on his sparkling mail, 5 10 15 But now he stood, chained and alone, The plume, the helm, the charger gone; He bent beneath the headsman's stroke, A wild shout from the numbers broke LESSON CLXXVI.-ADDRESS TO THE OCEAN.-Barry Cornwall. Thou thing that windest round the solid world Fleets come and go, and shapes that have no life The earth hath naught of this; nor chance nor change 15 Give answer to the tempest-waken air; |