COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. Deposits of gold and silver at U. S. Mints in Juue 1851. Coinage during same period. Condition of the N. Y. City Banks. Condition of the Bank of Tennessee and branches. Imports at New York for the month of June for four years. Imports at New York for the 6 months ending 30 June 1851. Dry goods entered for consumption at New York during the month of June, 1851. Amount withdrawn from ware-house during same period. Quantity entered for warehousing during same period. Description of dry goods thrown upon the market. Exports from New York for the month of June. Amount of exports from New York for six months ending 30 June, 1849, 1850 and 1851. Amount of duties collected at the principal ports of the U. S. for the year ending June 30, 1851...... COMMERCE OF ALTON, ILL. Fxports for the months of May and June, 1851... ....... MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS. 323 328 ELEMENTS OF CINCINNATI POPULATION. Birth place of the citizens of the city ........... ..... 329 330 TABLES OF POSTAGE within the United States and to Canada and other LITERARY DEPARTMENT. THOUGHTS ON AMERICAN LITERATURE. By F. S. G........................ ...... ...... 337 ... ..... 344 345 348 SHAKSPEARE EVERLASTING. By HENRY COBB, Member of the ..... ..... AGENTS. The following gentlemen are authorised to solicit subscriptions and receive money for the Western Journal: J. B. MCCORMICK, Esq., Wooderford, Versailles county, Ky. F. SCHUSTER, St. Louis, Mo. The times, whether productive of good or of evil, have always been a fruitful source of disquietude to a large portion of the human family; and the great variety of aspects in which they are viewed by different individuals, if correctly delineated, would make an interesting and instructive chapter in the science of social economy. When used in its largest sense this phrase denotes the political, religious, and pecuniary condition of the civilized world; but it is subject to innumerable modifications and restrictions. The times of the merchant relate to the state of trade and the financial condition of the commercial world: the price of produce marks the times of the farmer: and the moral condition of the age constitutes the times of the teachers of ethics and religion. Politicians, and, indeed, individuals of all professions and callings habitually regard that state of things which affects their own respective interests, as constituting the times. And even in the world of amusement and folly there are times and seasons which are regarded by its constituents as epochs not less important than the building of Rome or the American revolution. So forcibly does the existing state of things impress itself upon the minds of men, controlling their thoughts, actions, and ends, that every new phenomenon that indicates change in the social condition, attracts attention, and is, indeed, worthy of serious consideration. But owing to the infinite variety of mediums through which these phenomena are viewed, it rarely happens that mankind agree in opinion respecting their import; and hence every innovation, whether calculated to produce good or evil, has its advocates and opposers. In politics, morals, and religion, any new doctrine, no matter how unjust, absurd, or profane, finds zealous supporters: while the wisest institutions ever established by man, and even the religion revealed by the Almighty, are opposed :-the wisdom and justice which dictated the former, denied; and the benevolence and mercy which characterize the latter, questioned and contemned. Such are some of the startling phenomena of the times in which we write and similar exhibitions of madness and folly must continue to disturb the repose of mankind and jeopardize the progress of civilization until a more comprehensive philosophy shall have been inculcated and diffused throughout the masses composing the human family. We dare not affirm, as philosophers or christians, that those who exhibit such revolting traits of depravity, were deficient originally in mental and moral endowments, or that many of them are not actuated by a conscientious belief that they are serving the best interests of humanity. They are monomaniacs who, having seized upon an abstract principle, vainly resolve to carry it out, though all institutions, human and divine, should be oblitcrated from the earth, the fountains of human sympathy dried and men become demons. up, But, notwithstanding the signs in the North and the South betoken evil, and would seem to menace the Union of these States with dissolution, yet, nevertheless, we are firm believers in the strength and stability of our present form of government. The principles of Christianity and republicanism have taken root so deep and firmly in the hearts of our people that to doubt of the permanency of our political institutions would call in question the efficacy of the one and the wisdom of the other. We will not, we cannot believe that any considerable part of the people of this country will follow the lead of madmen who openly denounce and contemn all laws, human and divine, which contravene the accomplishment of their insane purposes. Their treasonable demonstrations against the government, their disregard for the precepts of religion and contempt for the social observances which characterize civilized men, are the fruits of a false philanthropy, which exhausts itself in vain efforts to enlighten the minds and ameliorate the condition of those dwelling on the remotest parts of the earth; while they have neither pity for the ignorance, nor charity for the sufferings of their immediate neighbors. These open demonstrations may be regarded as evidence that their power to work mischief is drawing to an end; for their treasonable purposes being avowed, their political influence must cease as a natural consequence. But confidence in the strength and stability of our institutions should not be indulged so far as to relax our vigilence. Avowed opposition and overt acts against the established order of things, though calculated to disturb individual and social quiet, are little to be feared. The dangers to be deprecated and guarded against, more than all others, lie concealed under political, social, and religious dogmas-abstract truths perhaps which few are prepared to deny; but when adopted and acted upon as creeds admitting of no qualification, come in direct conflict with social order, reason, and religion. The individual professing but one truth is a madman, but not without method: he knows that he can make no impression upon men of more comprehensive minds, and is too good an economist of his powers to waste their force in fruitless exertions. Hence he seeks out the ignorant, the weak, and the narrowminded, whose capacities are merely sufficient to comprehend his single idea without perceiving the consequences of being governed wholly by its dictates. With these, when indoctrinated, he commences agitation, and attacks the established order of society through the instrumentality of unprincipled demagogues who readily espouse any cause that promises to support their own baseless pre tensions. It is remarkable that an age so productive of discoveries calculated to ameliorate the social condition and expand and liberalize the human mind, should be fruitful in monomaniacs-men of one idea-resolved upon carrying out impracticable abstractions, regardless alike of the good or evil that may follow. It would seem that the truly valuable discoveries and improvements of the times, have brought into existence a tribe of pretenders who, possessing neither the capacity nor desire to benefit mankind, aspire simply to the attainment of notoriety by associating their names with deeds of infamy. War against the existing institutions and social observances of the best regulated governments and communities, may be regarded as their vocation. Their chief object is to pull down and disperse the materials of which the social fabric is composed, without even proposing to ereet a better in its place. These pseudo philanthropists manifest a profound foresight in their plans of operation, often breaking ground so far from their point of attack, as to mislead and deceive the most vigilent. Having resolved upon the consummation of a certain object, they open the way to its attainment by suggesting some change or innovation, which in itself appears innocent enough, but when adopted and acted upon, is productive of results which widely and deeply affect the social condition. The times are fruitful of instances in point, but we shall notice but one at present, leaving our readers to trace out others at their leisure. It is a humiliating fact that, in most cases where men have proposed to change the established order of society by abolishing those social observances which tend to elevate and refine humanity, beings in the form of women have been found amongst their most zealous coadjutors. Our readers have doubtless been grieved and sufficiently disgusted by the accounts of female agitators. Their labors in the cause of abolition, "the rights of women" and other disorganizing projects, constitute a chapter in the history of the times which we would fain expunge from its pages; but as we can not reverse the past, we may at least protest against the follies and vices of the present. We regard the change now going on in female costume as emanating from the doctrines of such worthies as Fanny Wright, Abby Kelly, and their associates of both sexes, and of all complexions. We are not of those who object to frequent changes in the fashions of female dress, nor are we disposed to critisise any form which it may assume within certain limits. Occasional changes, provided they are within proper bounds, present an agreeable and pleasing variety, and, are calculated to improve a taste for the beautiful. But there are limits that cannot be transgressed without violating the principles of an enlightened and refined civilization. An occasional exhibition of woman dressed in the costume of man, attracts attention by reason of its novelty, and for the moment may produce a pleasing effect; but one who should attempt to win the affections and respect of a man of refinement by assuming his costume, would soon discover that she had abdicated that indefinable and mysterious power, by which alone she is enabled to control the hearts and actions of men. The imagination of every man whose nature has not been degraded by vice, has fashioned woman according "To its own desiring fantasy," and endowed her with qualities far more lovely and excellent than those bestowed upon her by nature. And hence, it is the ideal, perfect in all its proportions of mind and matter, exempt from every frailty, that rules in the heart of man. Every exhibition of the imperfections and frailties of the real, tends to dispel the charms with which the ideal has been invested by the imagination. The wisdom and virtue of woman consists chiefly in personating, as nearly as she can, the ideal being enthroned in man's heart; and in those points wherein she fails, as fail she must in some, let her preserve the delusion by modestly concealing her defects. There is a philosophy involved in the forms of costume which is worthy of being studied by the political economist, as well as by the artist and divine, under whose directions it has chiefly been regulated in civilized nations. The savage treats woman as a slave or beast of burthen. In his case the exhibitions of nature are too palpable to admit of the existence of the ideal. Dissimilarity of costume opens the field of imagination; and the slave is not only enfranchised but installed as a divinity-inspiring man with sentiments of virtue, and inciting him to the performance of noble actions. It must be regarded as a rash and dangerous experiment for woman to disrobe herself of the mantle which has so long. shielded her against the aggressions of man's ruder nature, and thus unarmed, enter into rivalship with him from whom her social strength is principally derived. In such a contest she must be vanquished but cannot fall alone; for, though degraded from her |