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truth and point in his deseription over scrupulons how we obtain it!" Flence it would seem, that whatever porof the Americans as a people: but we do not warrant every line of it. Theretion of ability we may concede to the are such things as unfavourable like- Americans, we must deny them the character of either a good or a great people. nesses and though John Wilkes confessed that he every year grew more like his portrait by Hogarth; yet we do not wish the Americans to become every year closer resemblances of all the following traits.

In surveying the American people, they appear to be of all nations the most active, enterprising, patient, laborious, frugal, per severing, cautious, and not deficient in ingenuity. None excel them in the conduct of a lucrative commerce, or in daring fents of seamanship; they possess personal courage, are expert in the use of fire arms; and, traversing their forests, the American military are better adapted to the woody warfare of their own country, than Eu ropean troops, whose discipline in such sitnatious is rendered comparatively useless; irregular troops being able to hold veterans at bay, and destroy them at pleasure, while they themselves rest secure amidst their gloomy foliage.

The Americans are exceedingly enterprising in their commercial transactious, particularly those who form the New England states, where petty adventurers often risk their whole property in one small vessel, depending on their address, and the contingencies of trade, for their whole support. The very boys are speculators. If they possess a few dollars, they are immediately expended in merchandise, which

That America used the pretexts of seamen's rights, &c. to cloak her real designs in going to war lately, is notorious. Her intention was to seize Ca-' nada; and this writer states that the American General Dearborn had actually prepared a triumphal coat, richly decorated with oak leaves, the victor's meed, to be worn on his entering Quebec.— When this is admitted, with much more, it will not follow that Canada is destined to fall speedily, if ever, into the American Empire. The danger, from" which America did but barely escape, must always be present to the mind of her Government; and the President ought to be confined as a lunatic, who after the lesson taught his predecessor, stipulates for the conquest of Canada.

There is certainly some information in this volume; but the writer goes too far when he says "Canada is the ramA propart of Britain." A rumpurt distanthow many thousand miles ? vince valuable no doubt, of great and admitted importance, but not “the rampart of Britain": nor with propriety to be the place where our troops should be disbanded, our surplus population poured out by authority of the state, and almost all our power transferred, in order to curb the naughty Americans.

Many of the writer's hints concerning the West Indies, either have been rea lized, or are in progress for being rea

is committed to the care of a master or mate of a vessel for the West Indies. Thus the spirit of enterprise is universal among them, and would deserve high commendation, were it always conducted on just and liberal principles; but the reverse is in geberal the case: fraud, smuggling, and per-lized. We have formerly done our utjury, are practised with success and without reserve; and thus cupidity prevails most to recommend to public spirited becom among then to an astonishing degree. An planters the trial of a greater variety of eminent divine of Boston, thus justly charac- articles, which, in time, may Every interized his countrymen from the pulpit, on objects of demand at home. "putting away the easily besetting sin." stance of this, every such discovery "There have existed at all times," said he, adds real wealth to the colony, and to "not only personal and peculiar, but also the empire. What specimens of the folnational sins; for instance, among the aucients, the Asiatics were accused of effe-lowing articles, carefully cleaned, have minacy, the Carthaginiaus of perfidy, &c. lately been shewn in London? The Cabbage tree, whose leaves are So among the moderns, the French are said to be volatile and frivolous; the ligneous, and capable of producing a mateSpaniards proud and cruel; the Eugrial resembling flax, the stringy fibres of lish haughty, and evincing too great contempt for strangers, and we, my bre thren, of being greedy of gain, and not

which are remarkable for their fineness and strength, and free of those occasional inequalities existing in the best dressed

fax. Linen made of the cabbage tree fibres and common flax mixed, would most probably improve the fabric in fineness of texture, smoothness of surface, and durability. The Creoles are the only persons who use it as a substitute for fine thread, by extracting the fibres without maceration, and drawing the leaf under the edge of a knife applied to the thigh. Myriads of cabbage trees could easily be raised; and it is worthy of remark, that bad soils and rocky grounds would be equally eligible for them. The tree isThe attention of the Creoles should be produced from seed which it yields copiously; and it is supposed the young plant when about ten feet high would produce the best fibres.

There are various other things of great value that remain unnoticed, or neglected. These, in the present state of the country, should be explored and brought into use. Prohibitions and restrictions should be removed, and all new staples imported into this country, duty free, for ten years at least. The gamboge, the gum arabic, the cinnamon, and camphor trees, are found to thrive, both on the Continent and islands. A fine specimen of the latter, grows in the Botanic Garden in Jamaica. drawn to these sources of wealth, espe cially as the three former articles being produced from shrubs' rather than trees, might be raised very conveniently in hedge-rows, without occupying much land; and experience has proved, that these useful articles can be procured from the plants in great perfection, insomuch that no well founded objection can be raised against their quality.

Our author adds, the Silk Grass, or gigantic aloe, produces larger fibres than the former, and they are used singly as threads for sewing, &c.: their texture is firm, round, and thin shaped; the colour at first a glossy white, but, without bleach ing, it becomes in time a pale flaxen Here we have the honour to agree peryellow. This plant deserves peculiar encouragement, as it is capable of being fectly, with this British Traveller: these made into cordage of superior elegance, things should certainly be encouraged, and, if not exposed to wet, of great dura- But, we would not buy even these too bility. Though therefore unfit for cables, dearly; and too dearly, they certainly it would be very suitable for the standing are bought if they deteriorte and des rigging, braces, and bowlines of a ship; its stroy the manliness of British youth. If surface being smooth and compact, would our cupidity annually sacrifices, of ne please the eye, and not injure the seaman's hands so much as the common cordage. cessity, a number of our most hopeful In the manufacture of whipcord and twine, and active citizens, let not the statethe silk grass would be found greatly sument of exports and imports be trusted; perior, producing an article of peculiar nor any confidence be placed in the smoothness and polish, divested of loose fi- figures annexed to lists of goods, and Jaments. The Author has seen some twine prices current. Let these lives be inmanufactured of silk grass, both by the In-voiced: let the fair and full statement dians of Guiana and the Negroes of Barbadoes, far superior to that of British manufacture.

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be disclosed, and let the nation judge whether the price paid for commodities obtained be not more then their value, reason, rectitude and piety being judges,

A remarkable Lochier grows in every part of the West Indies, and that in great abundance, desecnding in festoons of con- That miserable race of beings, known siderable length from the branches of tall in Jamaica by the opprobrious negro-epitrees, particularly the silk cotton. It is thet of "Walk and Nyam Buchras," or found in greater quantities and higher per-white men who only walk and eat, afford fection in Guiana than elsewhere. The a striking example of this truth. These Indians call it "Wee weerie," a name abject wretches are for the most part those generally applied to substances of quick who once were industrious, and, descendgrowth. This vegetable consists of long ed from good families, had the fairest pros curly fibres wonderfully ramified, and ex-pects opened before them, either as meractly resembling curled boise hair. These fibres are enveloped in a sort of of brittle crust, to extract which, simple maceration alone is necessary. This article is eligible for all the purposes of horsehair, as a stuffing material, with which it might be mixed to great advantage, or even used alone.

chants clerks, or book-keepers on some plantation. Nothing was wanting to make them valuable members of society, but the presence of relatives, honourable cou nexions, and the dread of censure. Solitary, and in a strange country, when a young man arrives in the West Indies, be knows not how to employ his leisure time,

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But of all artists, the Professor of Landscape Gardening has the greatest advantages for exhibiting that maturity of judgment, that improved and corrected taste, which the habit of reflection and study never fails to induce. His labours, when delivered to their pro

and looks in vain for those innocent amusements which he has left The climate disposes him to sensuality: he enters loose company; is soon ridiculed out of those virtuous principles in which he was edueated, or which he may subsequently have imbibed; and feeling a high flow of spirits, he rushes amidst the pleasures of voluptuousness, to the very extreme of libertinism,prietor, are confessedly unfinished. His By these means he descends with rapidity trees are mere shrubs, and his shrubs to the lowest point of degraded existence, are mere pol-herbs. The owner is deand meanly condescends to subsist as an sired to look forward with an assurance absolute pauper. Rambling over the is that every year cannot fail to increase land, he abuses the hospitality of the plan- the beauties and enjoyments of his ters, by begging food of one, a bed of ano ther, and of a third the loan of a horse t park, his pleasure grounds, his garride to the next plantation. If the planter dens, and his prospects. He is desired spurus him from his door, he goes to the to magnify in his conceptions his now negro-yard to beg from them; and if any sapling oaks, to what they will be; and charitable person procures him clothes to to consider such and such disagreeable cover his half-naked body, he will inime- objects as not existing, because they ure diately purchase with them a night's lodg-planted out. Five and twenty, or thirty ing in the but of some negro-girl: in short he will do any thing but work.

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years roll over these improvements, and they, like most other things, are brought to the test of experience. The plan proposed is realized; the purpose intended is answered; and howe, în

fame to reward the skill, the 'diligence, the ingenuity, the foresight, of the babilities, and provided gratifications, Arti t, who sagacionsly anticipated pronot discerned till realized in the "bosky

Fragments on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening; including some remarks on Grecian and Gothic Archi-fact, is the proper time for the meed of tecture, collected from various Maun scripts in the possession of the different Noblemen and Gentlemen, for whose use they were originally written. By H. Repton, Esq. assisted by his son J.bourne," and the enlivening walk, or Adey Repton, F. A. S. Large Quarto, the fragrant éluster, scarcely visible, with many coloured plates and slides. stealing and giving odours." Price, Six Guineas. Taylor, London. 1816.

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Nothing in life exists without a drawback; and the Artist will never be able To a liberal mind acquainted to a to convince those who have no prior certain degree with the principles of acquaintance with a place, of the origiArt, scarcely any thing is more plea-ual aspect of the premises, and of the sant than a confidential-shall we say, a confessional conversation with an old artist, who in reviewing, recollecting, and estimating his works, passes the judgment of his riper years on the laboars of his youth and his prime of life. In this I attempted an effect of art beyond the usual limits of my contemporaries: it succeeded, and still does me credit. In that, the attempt was too hazardous, it failed; though it merited success. That was applauded by the public, uiuch above its deserts; it was good fortune, not merit; the other was overlooked, though in my own judgment, it is the chef d'œuvre of my performances."

difficulties he had to struggle with, to overcome, in the progress of his undertakings. A Landscape Gardener is a kind of Creator; water is wanting; he must catch every rill and amass water; but when he has accomplished his purpose, whosees the (previous) deficiency? Hills, dales, he fornis, or diminishes, enlarges or metamorphoses, at pleasure. Nothing in nature should escape him; and when he sets his foot out of doors, his eye rolls in a "fine phrenzy" from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven. His life is one continued scene of intense, intellectual, imaginative study. Mr. Repton has felt this: but, his fancy has beguiled his discretion. To attempt

to represent the effect of a dark rainbow cloud contrasted with the brightness of the solar rays, is to demand of Art more than Art can accomplish. To paint a high noon, never yet was the endeavour of a prudent Artist: he has no colours for the purpose.

Mr. Repton is well known to the public by a former Treatise on Landscape Gardening, which has been extremely well received; but not beyond its deserts, as it contained a system of inventive ingenuity, highly creditable to the author as a man of business, and promptitude. The present Fragments are selected from more than four hundred different Reports in MS. and contain_many_illustrations of former principles. From repeated hints in the course of the work we are afraid that the late troublous times have acted with the same injurious consequences on this branch of Art, as on all others. The Nobles of Britain have been called to defend their lands, rather than to adorn them; for why adorn them, if the next year some supercilious Frenchman whose only merit consists in fidelity to the Gallic eagle, should become their possessor? Who does not know that the estates of our principal nobility and gentry, were disposed of, in the Corsican's red book? Why then convert into gardens, premises from which the owners might never gather fruit.-Why into pleasure grounds, acres in which the owners might never take pleasure? Mr. Repton adds other reasons why the Art of Landscape Gardening bas slowly and gradually declined: but Peace is now intent on restoring what war had interrupted; and the present volume, published early in the period of peace, will, no doubt, greatly promote and revive a disposition so extremely laudable. It is impossible to form any intelligible analysis of a work, which must be seen to be understood. The objects are addressed to the eye; and consist of variations proposed for scenery where Nature may have done much, and merely require the finishings of Art; or where Nature has been niggard of her favours, and Art is called in to supply her defects.

But, in perusing the Volume we have found a variety of hints, which Gentle

men about to build residences, and having a choice of situation in their power, would do well to take into their consideration, before they determine on plan or elevation. There is, certainly, so great a difference between the climate of Greece (and Italy) and that of Britain, that it is nothing short of unreasonable to suppose that the residences suitable for one should be equally so for the other. The climate of our Island requires those bolder weather mouldings, and defensive projections, which partake more of the Gothic than the Grecian principle. We desire to be sheltered, while the inhabitants of those countries desire exposure; we must seek the comforts of the fire-side, while the people we refer to wonder at the description of our stove grates and brick chimneys, and cannot conceive by what power we endure the smoke and steam from coal fires, even in our best drawing rooms?

Nothing is of greater importance than the aspect of a house; and this, when once fixed, is seldom susceptible of change;-though Mr. Repton in many instances finds himself obliged to attempt it. We shall, therefore, insert this Gentleman's table of aspects; it may contribute to the comfort of thousands, properly understood.

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The reason alledged against the South West is the turbulent, and often destructive, winds which blow from that point. The North is bad because of its extreme exposure to cold, and its heavy light. The West is liable to evening heats in summer time; which are very injurious to health. The reader will adopt his aspect, among the other points, at pleasure.

The greater part of these designs refer to individual instances of improvement, proposed, or really executed. The remarks to which they give occasion, therefore, for the most part terminate in

Woods reared by themselves, as parents are most foud of their own progeny.

THE SITE FOR THE HOUSE.

themselves, though founded on general derive more real satisfaction from the trees principles; and we cannot follow the planted by himself, than from those which writer through his endless series of win-have long existed. All Planters delight in dows, views, gardens, terraces, raised strawberry beds, invisible fences and park palings. The practical man will derive many a useful hint from the This is an object most important in work ;-among others, not to entrust Landscape Gardening, yet there is none so sketches to brother workmen, without often mistaken or misunderstood, because value received :—and the gentleman will mankind are apt to judge by the eye rather find many of his difficulties solved, and lect objects for their beauty rather than for than by the understanding, and oftener sethe powers of art opened to him in a their use or intrinsic worth. The experimanner greatly beyond his expectation.ence of the inconveniences to which most But, we are sorry to say, that even gentlemen! may stand reproved by some instances referred to, by Mr. R. more than one is charged with accepting a drawing, and availing himself of its ideas, without considering how much those ideas cost the author, or how much they ought to have cost himself.

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beautiful situations are liable, has induced me to view the subject in all its bearings, and well to weigh against each other all the advantages and disadvantages which ought to influence our choice; these I have generally classed in the following order :ence, and lastly the Views from the House. the Aspect, the Levels, Objects of Conveni

doubt that a southern aspect is the most First, the Aspect. There can be no desirable for rooms which are to be oc

east is to be preferred. This I propose at Sherringham, and for two other reasons, it makes the view towards the opposite woods more central; and it gives more room for the oflices, and appendages proposed towards the west.

The sentiments of a gentleman who has seen so much, and done so much, during a long life, cannot but be in-cupied throughout the year, because the teresting and instructive; and it should sun in winter is always acceptable, and in seem, that without knowing it, and with- summer it is so much more elevated, that it out intending it, Mr. Repton in des- is rarely objectionable and easily shaded. cribing Sheringham Bower, in Norfolk, This is not the case with an eastern or westhas described a residence, approaching ern aspect, where the rays being more obhis ideas of perfection. We avail ourlique, are not to be shaded but by obliter selves of this, as combining in one view, winds with rain generally come from the ating the prospect, and as the prevailing the main requisites for a pleasant dwell-south-west, a little turn towards the southing, and as reminding our friends of those indispensables which they ought never to overlook, or to think lightly of, when they undertake the important work of constructing a family mansion. A dwelling for a day may be pitched, at pleasure; a house rented for a year, may try the patience of the tenant during that year, but all know that the term will end; and so will a term of years longer or shorter; but, a mansion intended to be an abode for life, for generations of descendants, has a kind of perpetuity with it, which involves all its qualities. The blessings of distant generations may attach on him, who made the best choice of an aspect, and constructed the fabric, in the best manner possible.

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PLANTATIONS.

Some have asserted, that it is more pleasant to make improvement by the axe than by the spade; but I consider it a fortunate circumstance that some further plauting is necessary, since i may venture to affirm, that after a few years the Proprietor will

2dly, The Levels. This is an object of much more importance than is generally for the sake of the prospect, so high supposed. We frequently see houses placed, that they are annoyed by every wind; and others, for the sake of shelter, so low that they are flooded by every heavy fall of rain, or by the sudden melting of the snow. The Site here proposed is on a sufficient eminence to enjoy prospect, and yet to be sheltered from the sea winds: the ground rection except towards the north; and in by Nature falls gently from it in every dithat direction it will easily be made to do so by Art: this is necessary to prevent any damps from the hill, and to provide a sufficient drainage for the House and Offices, all of which will require very little cost or labour.

3dly, Objects of Convenience, of which the first is the Supply of Water. This is

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