may be said to be the case throughout the Union, except in two or three of the old republics of the south. The mode of election employed in the choice of senators varies a little in the different states; in many the term of service extends but to one year, in others to three, four, or, as in Maryland, to five years; but we cannot exactly calculate the varying popularity of the senatorial elections by the greater or less frequency of their occurrence; this is effected by the greater or less extention of the right of suffrage; greater qualifications by some constitutions being required to entitle a citizen to vote for a senator than a representative; by others these are declared to be equal, though the period of election should occur more frequently in the one case than the other. In Virginia, the governor, representatives, and senators, are chosen annually, and yet her constitution is the least democratic of any state in the Union. In the eastern, central, and western states, all the elections are thoroughly popular. In Virginia and the Carolinas the suffrage neels farther extension before they can be said to legislate truly upon American principles. The most admirable contrivance in the frame of these governments is, the provision made in all for their alteration and amendment. The convention is at once the foundation and corner-stone in the beautiful structure of American government; by its means the constitution of the state is shaped to the wishes of the people as easily and silently as its laws; it is at once the safe-guard of the public rights, and the keeper of the public peace. The rights of this community rest not on charters or ancient usages, but on immutable principles, which every head and heart is taught to understand and to feel. There is here no refining upon the meaning of words, no opposing of records to reason, no appealing from the wisdom of the present to that of the past; the wisdom of today is often the ignorance of to-morrow; what in one age is truth, in another is prejudice; what is humanity becomes cruelty; what justice, injustice; what liberty, slavery; and almost what virtue, wickedness, and happiness, misery. All things are by comparison; the man of this generation, with views and feelings adapted to earlier ages, is cramped in a sphere of action which those before him found commensurate to their powers and their ambition. If law oppose barriers, his spirit is checked, but not quelled. The flood of knowledge gathers strength, and the mound is swept away with a sudden fury, which shakes the very foundations of society, and spreads a momentary ruin over the wide field of civilized life. Power and liberty, existing in the same state, must be at eternal war; it is only where one or other rules singly and undisputed, that the public peace can be preserved; in the one case by the free exercise of all the human energies, in the other by their extinc tion. The representative system, invented, or rather by a train of fortuitous circumstances brought into practice in England, has been carried to perfection in America; by it the body of the people rule in every thing; by it they esta blish their constitutions; by it they legislate according to the constitutions established; and by it again they amend their constitutions, according to the gradual advance of the public mind in political wisdom. MR. JEFFERSON. It was the object of Mr. Jefferson to preserve, in every trifle, that simplicity which he deemed the most appropriate characteristic of a republic. At his entrance into the presidency, he found himself a little troubled with the trifling etiquette which the foreign ambassadors, and more especially their ladies, were essaying to establish in his own drawing-room; and, apprehending that the wives and daughters of his official brethren might catch the contagion, he let pass no opportunity of giving it his discountenance. He wisely judged, that in this matter, as in most others, example was better than precept, and set about new ordering the manners of the city, much in the manner that Franklin might have taken. Did he go to make a morning visit, he rode without a servant, tied his horse to the gate, and walked in as plain Thomas Jefferson. Did all the different legations come to dine with him, he received them with indiscri minating politeness, and that simple dignity for which he is eminently distinguished; conversing with and welcoming all, he left the company to arrange themselves at his table, of which he so did the honours, as to spread ease and cheerfulness around it, and to make his guests in good humour with themselves and each other; the wife of the Spanish Minister, however, upon returning returning home, began to ponder upon the events of the evening: she had been seated below the lady of , my informant forgot which ambassador, but one whom she judged of inferior importance to her liege lord. His most Catholic Majesty had been insulted, she declared, in her person; for was not an insult offered to the wife always offered to the husband; and as in this case an insult offered to the husband was offered to the King of SpainEuclid himself must have concluded with Q. E. D. The next morning the Don could do no less than summon a council, consisting of his most chosen friends among the diplomatic corps. The case was stated, and their opinions severally taken. One ventured to apologize for the President, on the ground of his ignorance as a republican of the rules of etiquette. To this it was replied, that the dignity of his most Catholic Majesty was not to be laid at the mercy of every man who might call himself a republican. The lady particularly insisted, that satisfaction must be given. It was suggested, that the best way would be for Spain's representative to go and ask it. The divan broke up, and one of its members went to advise the President of the matter in agitation. Some hours after, Mr. Jefferson, while occupied in his library, was informed that the Spanish minister was in an adjoining apartment; he called immediately for his boots, and putting one on, and holding the other in his hand, proceeded to the room. Having half opened the door, he issued orders to the servant behind him, touching his horse, and then advancing, and drawing on as he did so his remaining boot, welcomed his visitor with his wonted amenity. "Pray be seated; be seated; no ceremony here, my good sir. Very glad to see you;" and then without regarding the disconcerted air of the astonished representative of Spain and the Indies, entered with his wonted ease into general conversation, opposing the gentleman to the minister, and the unaffected majesty of the philosopher to the frozen haughtiness of the diplomatist. The combat was soon decided. The Spaniard departed, and reported to his lady and diplomatic friends, that when they went to the house of the American President, they must leave the dignity of their masters at home. CORREA DE SERRA. We met yesterday at her house a cha、 Mr. racter well known and highly respected throughout this country; the Portuguese minister, Correa de Serra. Brackenridge of Baltimore, in dedicating to him his little work on Louisiana, has pronounced him to be " one of the most enlightened foreigners that has ever visited the United states." The observations with which he follows up this compliment are so similar to what I have universally heard applied to this amiable philosopher by the citizens of this country, that I am tempted to quote them. "Your amiable simplicity of manners restore to us our Franklin. In every part of our country which you have visited, (and you have nearly seen it all) your society has been as acceptable to the unlettered farmer as to the learned philosopher. The liberal and friendly manner in which you are accustomed to view every thing in these states, the partiality which you feel for their welfare, the profound maxims upon every subject which, like the disciples of Socrates, we treasure up from your lips, entitle us to claim you as one of the fathers of our country." After such testimonies from those who can boast an intimate personal acquaintance with this distinguished European, the observations of a stranger were a very impertinent addition. I can only say, that, as a stranger, I was much struck by the unpretending simplicity and modesty of one to whom unvarying report ascribes so many high gifts, vast acquirements, and profound sciences. The kindness with which he spoke of this nation, the admiration that he expressed of its character, and of those institutions which he observed had formed that character, and were stillforming it, inspired me, in a short conversation, with an equal admiration of the enlightened foreigner who felt so generously. As he walked home with me from the party, (for your character is not here fastened to a coach, as Brydone found his was in Sicily,) I chanced to observe upon the brilliancy of the skies, which, I said, as a native of a moist and northern climate, had not yet lost to me the charm of novelty. He mildly replied, "And on what country should the sun and stars shine brightly, if not on this? Light is every where, and is each day growing brighter and spreading farther." "Are you not afraid,” I asked, encouraged by the suavity of the venerable sage to forget the vast distance between his mind and years 4 H years and my own, "Are you not afraid, as the representative of royalty, of loving these republics too well?" He retorted playfully, "As the courtly Melville adjudged Elizabeth the fairest woman in England, and Mary the fairest in Scotland, so I deem this the fairest republic, and Portugal, of course, the fairest monarchy." JOSEPH BONAPARTE. It may amuse you somewhat more to receive the account of our visit to Joseph Bonaparte. Some days since, joined by the friends in whose house we are now inmates, we filled a carriage and light waggon, called a Dearborn, struck across to the Delaware, and then took boat to Bordentown, on the Jersey shore. A friend of our polite Philadelphia acquaintance here joined our party, and we walked forwards to the residence of the Ex-King. It is a pretty villa, commanding a fine prospect of the river; the soil around it is unproductive; but a step removed from the pine-barren ; the pines, however, worthless as they may be, clothe the banks pleasantly enough, and, altogether, the place is cheerful and pretty. Entering upon the lawn, we found the choice shrubs of the American forest, magnolias, kalmias, &c. planted tastefully under the higher trees which skirted, and here and there shadowed, the green carpet npon which the white mansion stood. Advancing, we were now faced at all corners by gods and goddesses in naked, -I cannot say majesty-for they were, for the most part, clumsy enough. The late General Moreau, a few years since, according to the strange revolutions of war-stricken Europe, a peaceful resident in this very neighbourhood, and who recrossed the Atlantic to seek his death in the same battle which sent here, as an exile, the brother of the French Emperor, this general, in the same Parisian taste, left behind him a host of Pagan deities of a similar description, with a whole tribe of dogs and lions to boot, some of which I have seen scattered up and down through the surrounding farms. Two of these dumb Cerberuses are sitting at this moment on either side of a neighbouring gentleman's door, and the children of the *From the American general of that name; to whom the farmer and country gentleman are under infinite obligations for its invention. family use them as hobby-horses. Truly, the amusement of the child has often less folly in it than that of the man, the child rides the hobby, while the hobby too often rides the man; and then, if ambition be the hobby ke chooses, the man rides down his fellowcreatures. Happy the country where, without iron claws, all men check upon each other! I thought this when I entered the house of the brother of Napoleon. are a Until the entrance of the count, who was superintending the additions yet making to the house, we employed ourselves in considering the paintings and Canovas, of which last we found a small but interesting collection. It consists chiefly of busts of the different members of the Bonaparte family. The similar and classic outline prevailing in all is striking, and has truly something imperial in it. As these were the first works of this Italian Phidias that I had met with, I regarded them with much curiosity. There are two small pieces of most exquisite workmanship--a naked infant (the little King of Rome,) lying on a cushion, which yields to the pressure of one of the feet with a truth I remember a that mocks the marble. Ichild in the same attitude in a much prized Rubens, from which my first thought was that the sculptor had caught his idea; but, studying the same nature, genins is often original when vulgar criticism suspect the contrary; the same thought has been elicited from minds that never had communication, and this not once, but repeated times. There was another yet more lovely figure of a girl caressing a greyhound. What softness and delicacy wrought out of such rude materials! It is presumptuous for one so little skilled to venture upon the remark, yet I have always felt my eye offended by the too glaring whiteness of modern sculpture; perhaps the mellowing hand of time is as necessary for the marble as the canvas. Turning to look at David's portrait of Napoleon crossing the Alps, I was greatly disappointed with the expression of the young soldier; the horse has far more spirit than the rider, who sits carelessly on his steed, a handsome beard less boy, pointing his legions up the beetling crags as though they were some easy steps into a drawing-room. Such, at least was my impression. Count Survillier (he wears this title, perhaps, to save the awkwardness of Mr. Bonaparte,) soon came to us from his worken, in an old coat, from which he had barely shaken off the mortar, and, a sign of the true gentleman,-made no apologies. His air, figure, and address, have the character of the English country gentleman-open, unaffected, and independent, but perhaps combining more mildness and suavity. Were it not that his figure is too thick set, I should perhaps say, that he had still more the character of an American, in whom, I think, the last-enumerated qualities of mildness and suavity are oftener found than in our countrymen. His face is fine, and bears so close a resemblance to that of his more distinguished brother, that it was difficult at the first glance to decide which of the busts in the apartment were of him, and which of Napoleon. The expression of the one, however, is much more benignant; it is, indeed, exceedingly pleasing, and prepares you for the amiable sentiments which appear in his discourse. The plainness and urbanity of his manners for the first few moments suspended pleasure in surprise; and even afterwards, when smiling at myself, I thought, And what did I expect to see? I could not still help ever, and anon, acknowledging that I had not looked to see exactly the man I saw. I felt most strangely the contrast between the thoughts that were fast travelling through my brain, of battles and chances, ambition and intrigues, crowns and sceptres,-the whole great drama of the brother's life passing before me, I felt most strangely the contrast between these thoughts and the man I was conversing with. He discoursed easily on various topics, but always with much quietness and modesty. He did and said little in the French manner, though he always spoke the language, understanding English, he said, but imperfectly, and not speaking it at all. He expressed a curiosity to become acquainted with our living poets; but coinplained that he found them difficult, and enquired if there was not often a greater obscurity of style than in that of our older authors; I found he meant those of Queen Anne's reign. In speaking of the members of his family, he carefully avoided titles; it was mon frère Napoleon, ma sœur Hortense, &c. He walked us round his improvements in-doors and out. When I observed upon the amusement he seemed to find in beautifying his little villa, he replied, that he was happier in it than he had ever found himself in more bustling scenes. He gathered a wild flower, and, in presenting it to me, carelessly drew a comparison between its minute beauties and the pleasures of private life; contrasting those of ambition and power with the more gaudy flowers of the parterre, which look better at a distance than upon a nearer approach. He said this so naturally, with a manner so simple, and accent so mild, that it was impossible to see in it attempt at display of any kind. Understanding that I was a foreigner, he hoped that I was as much pleased with the country as he was; observed that it was a country for the many, and not for the few; which gave freedom to all and power to none, in which happiness might better be found than any other, and in which he was well pleased that his lot was now cast. The character of this exile seems to be much marked for humanity and benevolence. He is peculiarly attentive to sufferers of his own nation-I mean of France; is careful to provide work for the poorer emigrants; and to others affords lodging, and often money to a considerable amount. His kindness has, of course, been imposed upon, in some cases so flagrantly that he is now learning circumspection, though he does not suffer his humanity to be chilled. This I learned from his American neighbours. I left Count Survillier, satisfied that nature had formed him for the character he now wears, and that fortune had rather spited him in making him the brother of the ambitious Napoleon. ALBANY. We have just made the passage up the magnificent Hudson (160 miles) from New York to this city, which has indeed but one, though that no unimportant title to so grand a name, in being the capital of the state. It is probable, however, that the government will soon have to travel in search of the centre of the republic in like manner with that of Pennsylvania. Albany in deed seems to stand as in expectation of her falling honours, for though there are, some well-furnished streets and many commodious and elegant private dwellings, the general appearance of the town is old and shabby. MILITARY ACADEMY. A few observations upon the military academy at West Point will perhaps interest interest you more than a sketch of the rocks and woody precipices upon which it stands. This interesting academy, which flourishes under the eye of the Central Government, was established in 1802. Its first organization was devolved by Congress upon the late General Williams, whose talents and unremitting industry did honour to himself and to his country which employed them. The average number of youths educated at West Point varies from 230 to 250; 336 dollars are expended yearly upon each cadet, and the support of the establishment is rated by the government at the sum of 115,000 dollars per annum. The branches of education taught at the academy are similar to those taught at Woolwich and the Polytechnic school of Paris. About 1,000 youths from all the sections of the Union have here received a liberal and scientific education. A few of these now fill respectable posts in the corps of engineers, artillery, and other branches of the little army, amounting to a few thousands, which, scattered through this vast empire, are actively employed in the erection and conservation of forts, the protection of the Indian frontier, drawing of boundary lines, roads, &c. By far the greater number, however, retire from this little military fortress to the shade of private life, as peaceful cultivators of the soil, from whence some have been called by the voices of their fellow-citizens to fill important civil-offices: and all would be found ready at the first call of the republic, to rush foremost for her defence. It is judged by this government, ever liberal in all that touches the real welfare and dignity of the nation, that military knowledge can never be idly bestowed upon a citizen, who, whatever be his condition or calling, must always form one of the civic militia; and, looking to the event, always possible, and therefore always to be provided against, of attack from foreign powers, it is perhaps the wisest of all conceivable precautions to scatter thus the seeds of military science among the peaceful population. It is true, that these may never be required to put forth their fruits. These infant soldiers may live and die as peaceful tillers of the soil; but it is well to know, that the trump of defensive war could summon skilled heads as well as devoted hearts to the field. This establishment has yet in it the seeds of more good. These youths, natives of different states, gathered from the north, south, east, and west of this vast confederacy, and here trained together for the defence of the great whole, under the fostering and liberal care of the government of that whole, neces sarily forget all those paltry jealousies and selfish interests which once went nigh to split these great republics, and to break down the last and noblest bulwark of freedom erected on this earth. Scattered again to the four winds of heaven, these sons of the republic bear with them the generous principles here imbibed, to breathe them perhaps in the senate, if not to support them in the field; and to hand them down to future generations throngh the minds of their children. "The most interesting and important consequences,”—I quote the words addressed to me by au enlightened American officer, General Swift, to whom I have often been obliged for many particulars regarding the condition of this country, and to whose politeness I am chiefly indebted for my information respecting this establishment-" The most interesting and important consequences which I have noticed as resulting from an education at West Point, are a zealous attachment to the political institutions of the nation, a devotion to country, an ardent love of liberty." This last, indeed, I have observed in the mind of an American to be synonymous with the love of the other two. In this country the government is the very palladium of liberty; her throne is at Washington; upheld there by the united force of the whole people, she throws back light and heat upon her children and defenders. Generally speaking, all those connected with, or forming a part of the Central Government, engaged in its service, or in any manner placed under its more immediate direction or protection, are peculiarly distinguished for elevated sentiment, a high tone of national feeling, an ardent enthusiasm, not merely for American liberties, but for the liberties of mankind. Among the most promising scholars, there are at present two Indians, the sons of chiefs. In the second class, at a late examination, they carried away several of the prizes. There was an instance of the same kind some years since, but, ere the boy reached his sixteenth year, he left his diagrams, (as a young geometrician he had been one of great promise,) ran to the woods, and forewent all other ambition for that of |