ART. III.-NATIONAL VANITY.

NATIONAL VANITY IN CONNECTION WITH OUR OCEAN STEAMSHIPS.

IN contemplating the character of the people of the United States, one foible cannot but have forced itself upon the observer as a striking feature. It is that of boasting. Not satisfied with the extraordinary advances of our nation (recently, and within the memory of living men, a colony of England), in all the elements of civilization and the arts of life, we seem desirous of impressing upon the world our ability to surpass all others. That material, both physical and mental, abundantly exists among us, for the attainment of national glory equal to that of any other nation, no one will deny; but it is evident, that these resources must be developed. Experience and practice are essential to us, as a people, no less than to an individual. The renowned artists, architects, sculptors and painters, of Greece and Rome-the builders of St. Peter's and St. Paul's-were once but apprentices. Years of observation, study and practice, were necessary for them before they could carry out their sublime conceptions. To a great extent, we are but mere apprenticeshighly favored, certainly, by the facilities of improvement offered in the great achievements of Europe in every department of science, literature and the arts-but still, comparatively, only apprentices.

We are not content to wait. We are dissatisfied, if, upon the first experiment, we do not exceed all other people; and not only so, but boast in anticipation of success. If defeat ensue, which not unfrequently occurs, mortification follows, our self-love is reproved, and we render ourselves liable to the just criticism and ridicule of the world.

This national foible was, in early days, exhibited at a landing on the Mississippi, frequented by flat boats, in the person of a fearless young Kentuckian, who, so soon as the boat, on which he had floated down the river, was made fast, jumped ashore, and, giving three or four caracoles in the air with the necessary whoops, declared that he had the fastest horse, the truest rifle and the prettiest sister, on the western waters-threatening summary chastisement to any who would maintain the contrary. A crowd soon gathered, and the bravado was listened to, for some time, without any reply-some being intimidated and others not disposed to provoke a row. At length a quiet, slow-moving sort of body walked up, and, addressing the fiery Kentuckian, asked him if he had his horse with him. The reply was, that he was aboard the boat. The quiet man remarked, that he was willing to try his speed with a sorry pony that he had brought down with him. A small wager was made, the two horses were brought out, the riders mounted and the race run. The flash Kentuckian was shamefully beaten and

made the laughing stock of the assembly. After the race, a longshanked Tennesseean, with buckskin leggings and hunting shirt, stepped up, and, addressing the braggart, said: "Stranger, I hav n't seed your rifle, but here is an old flint-lock that I will try agin yourn, at one hundred paces, for a treat to the company." The banter was accepted, the distance measured, and the Kentuckian again defeated, to the renewed merriment of the crowd. The drink was taken, and some disposition shown for ending all dispute; but, at the moment, a wellset, stout young boatman walked up, with one handkerchief round his head and another tightly tied about the loins, with his shirt sleeves rolled up to the shoulder, and told our hero, that he should like to see him "walk out his sister." The Kentuckian replied, that she was not aboard, but he was willing to fight on his brag. Rules for fair play were established, a manly stand up made, and the Kentuckian served with a pair of black eyes, and compelled to acknowledge that there was one "gal" in the West as pretty as his sister. Now, this Kentuckian represented Brother Jonathan as he, at this day, stands-enterprising, brave, good natured and strong, but not sufficiently modest and prudent.

These reflections have been suggested by the confident predictions, made for two years past, of the superiority that would soon be shown by American ocean steamers, over those of Great Britain. Some good reason has always been given for their failures, but there is the fact. An occasional advantage may have attended the American vessels, but they have not shown the uniform character of the British steamersparticularly the Cunard line. When the Atlantic was preparing for sea the New Yorkers were in ecstacies. Such a steamer had never been built her model was perfect, her engines unsurpassed, and she was to show John Bull what ocean navigation was. The trial is past, and the Atlantic has been signally defeated. Reasons for this are "as plenty as blackberries." The paddles were too weak, the valves were made of India rubber, &c, &c. Why were the paddles too weak? Why were the valves made of India rubber? The answer must be, that the men employed in their construction were not acquainted with their business. They were ignorant of the relative strength of machin ery necessary for ocean steamers, as compared with those for river

navigation.

In the mere construction of ships, whether mercantile or war ships, for sailing, it is probable that no country surpasses the naval constructors of the United States. Far different is the construction of the steam engine. The English have more experience, better materials and more skillful artisans. They expend more money on their machin

ery, labor is much cheaper, and they are never in a hurry. Americans are proverbially so. The principle of the English is "slow and sure;" that of the Americans, "go ahead."

Considering the progress we have made, there is no danger of our being forgotten by the world, nor is there any necessity for our becoming our own trumpeters. There is a want of delicacy—an egotistical self-sufficiency-indulged in by the press, which would not be tolerated in individuals. But such writers do not reflect, that the laudations poured out upon their countrymen are, indirectly, intended for themselves. This propensity is too much in the Chinese spirit: we are celestials, and the rest of the world "outside barbarians."

It is the dictate of good sense, that we should be willing to learn. Let our builders and machinists examine these British ocean steamers and learn the secret of their success, and imitate the accuracy and strength of their machinery. It is the impression of safely, to person and property, which must confer popularity and profit. It is no satisfaction to a merchant or traveler, misled by the extravagant eulogisms of the press, to trust his property and life to one of these ships, and have them both endangered, to be told that the risk was all owing to the breaking of a paddle made of pine shingles, or the wearing out of a valve of blotting paper.

It will be a sufficient cause of congratulation, when we can equal and compete with the Cunard line. If we should surpass them in swiftness, but, above all, in safety, a little self approval might find some apology. But let us rather Do than boast what we CAN DO.

It is stated in the public papers, that a new ship is to be placed upon the Cunard line, intended to be superior, in every way, to any yet constructed. Let all improvements be studied, imitated, and, if possible, surpassed; but it is time to curb that national vanity which we indulge in-deceiving ourselves to the amusement of all other people.

We have, most certainly, swift horses, true rifles and beautiful sisters-but it is not in good taste to assume, that we can outrun Bucephalus and outshoot Apollo, or to regard the Venus de' Medici as a mere foil to our national beauties. Z.

ART. IV.—MONETTE'S "EARLY SPIRIT OF THE WEST," REVIEWED. POLITICAL PARTIES AND FACTIONS IN KENTUCKY AND THE WESTERN COUNTRY, FROM 1788 TO 1806.-De Bow's Commercial Review, April, 1850, Vol. VIII, No. IV. ST. LOUIS, 23d June, 1850.

J. D. B. DE Bow, Esq.: Sir-I inclose you the first sheets of a reply to an article which appeared in your April Number, continued in May. The deep feeling which those articles are so well calculated to produce, through a wide

spread connection of the early statesmen of Kentucky, some of whose descendants are now filling high stations of honor and confidence under the government of the United States, as well as that of Kentucky, induce me, profoundly and earnestly, to desire the publication of this reply in your highly esteemed work.

Will you grant this most earnest request, in respect to the feelings of the living and the character of the dead. I am an old surviving friend of many of those ancient statesmen of the West, have associated with them for years, and know their history and conduct with almost family familiarity.

I conjure you, by the high considerations of public justice to those who were deemed, by their generation, among the truest patriots of the West-the pride of Kentucky-and often the ornaments of the general councils of the Republic, to comply with my request. May not some of these considerations prevail on you to waive the want of editorial etiquette, in republishing, from the Western Journal of our city?* I intended the reply for your pages at first, but was deterred by my distance from the correction of the press.

I came to Kentucky in 1806, and have devoted myself to western story ever

since.

The criticism will be continued, in the next number of the Western Journal, and, if you so signify, shall be forwarded, in sheets, before they appear here. Do tell Dr. Monette, he has been led astray, by the mendacious calumny of the "Western World," to do the public men of Kentucky and the West the same injustice, which, I think, he has done the Hunters' History of Kentucky, in his "History of the Valley." Of this, more anon.

I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, yours,

MASON BUTLER.

THIS is the title of an essay, which, instead of portraying the early patriotism and gallantry of the West—a work it might well and justly have performed-attempts, at this late day, to rake up the embers of party strife, which have been long smothered by public consent, and are now almost forgotten in the subsequent strength and prosperity of this great section of the Republic. Still, nothing can excuse the injustice and gross misrepresentation of Kentucky history, and that of the West, which this essay so grossly betrays. It shall be the business of this reply to point out those misrepresentations, of both measures and men, which have, for many years, been the subject of the writer's study and inquiry, he might almost say "quorum pars fui."

The assertion with which this essay opens, is "That the great and dominant party (meaning in Kentucky, and about 1784) consisted of those favorable to a legal separation from the parent State, preliminary to an independent State government and admission into the Federal Union." This is only justice to the frank and loyal character of the Kentucky pioneers, confirmed by the whole history of their repeat

We publish, with all our heart, the article and the letter, though we are not sure the author intended this last for print. Fiat lux is our motto, and truth with it. Dr. Monette will take care of the rest.-ED.

ed and patient attempts to effect a separation from Virginia; and her consent to the measure repeated in four different forms, at as many different times.

But this essay represents, that other parties contemplated an independent government separate and distinct from the Federal Union, and under the protection of one of the great monarchies-Great Brit ain, Spain or France. These three parties were included under the general name of disunionists, in contradistinction to those who recognized and sustained the jurisdiction of the State and Federal governments in opposition to all others. This is, indeed, a peremptory statement, apparently challenging contradiction. Yet, I will venture to assert, upon a long and intimate knowledge of the parties of Kentucky, that no such term was ever, in fact, used to mark her parties; nor did the principles of disunion enter into their spirit. In 1776, before Virginia had formally claimed her dominion over the West, the colony of Transylvania was attempted to be established under the great land company of Henderson & Co., under the authority of the British crown, then the governing power. The earliest of the western colonies, and the first which collected a legislative body in the West, was so effectually put down by the combined authority of Virginia and North Carolina, and so absolutely acquiesced in by the people, that it has scarcely left a trace of its existence, beyond the grants of land which purchased the submission of the land company. Kentucky county sprung up in the place of the new colony, with scarcely an audible murmur, and Transylvania was afterward transposed to the oldest of the western literary institutions. But, when population and prosperity increased, then the pioneers began to look for a foreign market for the surplus produce of their labor, which could not pass the mountains. Then they began, naturally enough, to stretch their eyes to the Mississippi as the only practicable outlet to the ocean and the markets of the world. But, suddenly, a rumor was heard, that the government, consisting of the old Congress, meditated to suspend the navigation of this great stream for twenty or thirty years, in favor of Spain. Then, indeed, murmur naturally arose from the men who had perilled everything on this side of the mountains. Soon after the report of this meditated wrong to the West reached Pittsburgh, it produced an association for the purpose of warding off this blow, so fatal to the embryo West. The association transmitted to Lexington (Ky.) an account of this negotiation, so terrible to their hopes, in terms almost necessarily exaggerated in the imperfect condition of public intercourse-when no mail service existed west of Pittsburgh, and for years afterward, only one every two weeks. A letter of similar import