B.

70

....

VOLUMED and vast, and rolling far,
The cloud enveloped Scotland's war,

As down the hill they broke;
Nor martial shout, nor minstrel tone,
Announc'd their march;their tread alone,
At times one warning trumpet blown,
At times a stifled hum,

Told England.from his mountain-throne
King James did rushing come.-
Scarce could they hear or see their foes,
Until at weapon-point they close.—
They close in clouds of smoke and dust,
With sword-sway,and with lance's thrust;

And such a yell was there,
Of sudden and portentous birth,
As if men fought upon the earth,

And fiends in upper air.

Long looked the anxious squires; their eye Could in the darkness nought descry.

1

At length the freshening western blast
Aside the shroud of battle cast;
And, first,the ridge of mingled spears
Above the brightening cloud appears;
And in the smoke the pennons flew,
As in' the storm the white sea-mew.
Then marked they,dashing broad and far,
The broken billows of the war.
And plumed crests of chieftains brave,
Floating like foam upon the wave;

But nought distinct they see:
Wide raged the battle on the plain;
Spears shook, and falchions flashed amain;
Fell England's arrow-flight like rain;
Crests rose, and stooped, and rose again,
Wild and disorderly.
Vol. V. No. VIII.

SE

Amidst the scene of tumult, high

They saw Lord Marmion's falcon fly:
And stainless Tunstall's banner white,
And Edmund Howard's lion bright,
Still bear them bravely in the fight;
Although against them come,
Of gallant Gordons many a one,
And many a stubborn Highlandman,
And many a rugged Border clan,

With Huntley, and with Home.

Far on the left, unseen the while,
Stanley broke Lennox and Argyle;
Though there the western mountaineer
Rushed with bare bosom on the spear,
And flung the feeble targe aside,
And with both hands the broad-sword
plied;

Twas vain. But Fortune, on the right, With fickle smile, cheered Scotland's fight.

4

Then fell that spotless banner, white,

Yet still Lord Marmion's falcon flew
With wavering flight, while fiercer grew
Around the battle yell,

The Border slogan rent the sky:
A Home! a Gordon! was the cry;

Loud were the clanging blows; Advanced-forced back-now low, now high,

The pennon sunk and rose; As bends the bark's mast in the gale, When rent are rigging, shrouds and sail,

It wavered mid the fees.

ART. 13.

The Life of George Washington, commander in chief of the American forces, during the war which established the independence of his country, and first president of the United and first president of the United States. Compiled under the inspectin of the honourable Bushrod Washington, from original papers bequeathed to him by his deceased relative, and now in possession of the author. To which is prefixed an introduction, containing a compendi ous view of the colonies planted by the English on the continent of North America, from their settlement to the commencement of that war, which terminated in their independence. By John Marshall Philadelphia, printed and published by C. P. Wayne. Vol. I, 1804, Vol. II, 1804, Vol. III, 1804, Vol. IV, 1805, Vol. V, 1807.

[Concluded.]

We cannot easily conceive of a more difficult task, than that of Judge Marshall in writing the históry of the political administration of Washington. To be the first to narrate the circumstances, which at

tended the entire organization and early administration of the government of a great empire, events, at once so numerous, complicated and

important, would under the happiest auspices be sufficiently arduous. But when we recollect, that most of the principal agents in these events are still alive; that the spirit of now convulses our party, which

country, had its origin within the period which he describes; that kindled, are still glowing, without the fires, which our dissensions then even the covering of deceitful ashes; when we consider also the share, which Judge Marshall himself took the peculiar delicacy, which his offiin the events which he relates, and cial station imposes, we must acknowledge, that to no writer could it ever be more truly said :

Periculosæ plenum opus alex
Tractas.

We commence our examination of the last division of his work with congratulating him on his success. It certainly implies a high and uncommon degree of accuracy, fairness and courtesy, that no publick con

any

futation has been attempted of of his principal facts. Although Although his work has now been so long before the world, and although it certally contams many statements, which, if left uncontradicted, will materially affect the opinion, which posterity will form of some of our most distinguished characters, we have not heard of a single denial of his fidelity, or even an impeachment of his candour and politeness. In this respect, we almost venture to pronounce his work an unique in the annals of political history.

Yet we are far from thinking,that by the exercise of this philosophical coolness and impartiality Judge Marshall has consulted his present reputation, however great may be the honours, with which posterity may crown him. We are all so full of agitation and effervescence on political topicks,that a man, who keeps his temper,can hardly gain a hearing. We have been so long accustomed to strong potations of ardent spirits, that our mouths have become too indurated to relish the soft and mellow flavour of our author's Burgun, dy. Besides, it is not to be denied, that the restraints, which he has imposed on himself,have somewhat impeded the freedom and vigour of his disquisitions, and prevented him from marking his views of the characters and motives of his political opponents with that bold and well defined outline, and that strength and glow of colouring, of which we believe him capable. He seems to write more in the spirit of a spectator of our political gladiators, who has watched attentively and coolly the different motions of the combatants, than of one, who has himself descended into the arena, appeared ży wypłaty, and is yet red with the wound, which he gave, and smarting with those which his en

But,

emies inflicted in return. though the effect of this moderation has been to prevent his work from becoming what, in the language of the trade,is called a very taking book, we confess, the mode he has adopted has our entire approbation. We should probably have read a book, in which he had unfolded his feelings and views of political characters and events without reserve, with greater interest; but, when we should have remembered, that its author was at the head of the jurisprudence of his country, we should have felt, that he had degraded his dignity by becoming the advocate of a party. There is a sanc tity in the character of the chief dispenser of justice, which we should have been sorry to have seen violated by the indulgence of bitterness of feeling, however well applied, or vehemence of invective, however justly directed. We do not mean by all this,that there is any want of decision in Judge Marshall's mode of narration. His opinions are eve. ry where perfectly visible: but then they are usually left to be collected by the deduction of the reader, and are seldom formally stated and de. fended. The node, which he has adopted, is generally that of strict narration; and always, when possible, he has preserved the language of the actors themselves. He has given an abstract of some of the most interesting debates in Congress, and though, like Dr. Johnson, he has taken care 66 never to let the Whig dogs have the best of it," it may perhaps seem to have arisen from the intrinsick weakness of their arguments, more than from any want of fairness in stating them. In point of fact, indeed,we think it is the most invulnerable book we ever read. We cannot name one of equal importance, which an enemy

would be so much puzzled to find fault with.

It was our original intention to have attempted an analysis of this volume, but a number of motives have induced us to relinquish it. It is a book so much in the hands of every one, that our usual motive for so much labour, that of giving our readers information of the contents of a work, is wanting. We are afraid too, that we could not effect our design without engaging more deeply in political discussion, than our feel ings and habits, and probably powers, will admit. We are,from principle, averse from making our work a political tract, and are therefore willing to suppose any argument strong, which opposes our engaging in the discussion of local politicks. We shall leave this volume, therefore with a few general observations on the merit of the work.

The more we have examined this volume, the more firmly have we been convinced, that it will be read by posterity with the deepest interest. The political history of our country will, we doubt not, hereafter be the most important, which the records of the world can afford. It is to display the effects of civilization on government and manners, decide the question of the utilty of a complete separation of civil and religious power, and put to the fairest possible test the degree of freedom of every kind, with which our nature can be trusted. As much also will be learned by the observers of human nature, as by the politician; and we fear, that the account of the origin and progress of parties among us will confirm the theories of the most gloomy moralists. On most of these subjects the book of Judge Marshall will be found to contain the most important infor

mation; but particularly on the last. When hereafter it shall anxiously be inquired, what were the causes, which drew up a party in array against such a constitution as ours, and so administered as it was by Washington, this volume will be consulted, as an original and authentick document. We dare not trust ourselves with predicting the opinions, which will then be formed; but we think it becomes every man, who embraces with warmth the cause of either of the great parties, which divide us, to examine with attention the account, which this book will afford him, of the conduct and characters of the principal leaders.

Another circumstance, which we think gives a peculiar value to this volume, is, the insight which it gives into the history of the foreign relations of Our country. There is no political topick, on which there appears a more universal ignorance, than on that of the management of our diplomatick affairs, and, from the nature of the subject, even the account of Judge Marshall is necessarily imperfect. The information however, which is given, is extremely interesting. If we should select the parts of this volume, which appear to us to be most original and spirited, we should point to the account of the proceedings of Genet, and the narrative of the negotiation of the British treaty. But we must now either enter into a particular examination of the work, or here close our observations. We prefer the latter, and shall therefore proceed to make some remarks on the style of the whole work.

It is the general character of the style of these volumes to be easy, fluent, perspicuous, and dignified; but when we come to examine it