which might be set apart for the purpose of opening this new school. The original plan was to have ten professors, and to include several important branches now omitted in the course of studies; which, however, is very thorough and extensive.

upon them. Indeed they have all been tried in neglected by a majority of the students. If a deother, but similar situations, and the friends and partment of English literature were established, patrons of the University may banish their appre-embracing exercises in composition and oratory hensions and suspicions as groundless and fruitless. and a course of history, it would be one of the Professors Tucker, Sylvester, and Kraitser fulfil the most useful and interesting schools in the instituindispensable requisition of reputation and distinc- tion. The expense is the only difficulty. Its benetion in their respective departments; and students fits would justify any expenditure. Cannot the may flock to them to learn, what they, by study and society of alumni do something towards it by means experience, have already fitted themselves to teach. of annual contributions, and devise some mode in The time has now arrived when an important which contributions can be obtained from those dechange might be made in the Board of Visiters. sirous of promoting intellectual improvement? A The University went into operation in 1825, and small sum contributed each year by the alumni many of her alumni are now at the proper age to would gradually accumulate; and the Legislature, be entrusted with her guardianship. The alumni witnessing so laudable an effort, would lend its aid have formed a society, which, if it bring together by making an appropriation. The annual approannually ever so small a number, will be produc-priation by the State is fifteen thousand dollars. tive of great good. If the power of appointing Deducting the salaries of the nine professors, the Visiters were vested in this society, it would give sum of five thousand dollars is left-a portion of it a dignity and permanence which would greatly increase its usefulness. It would then be more closely linked to the University; its objects would become more definite; its members would have an inducement to meet; and would come annually with hearts overflowing with love and zeal for their alma mater. There can be no doubt that the power of appointment would be as judiciously exercised by this society, as it is by the Executive. This, however, would require an alteration in the charter; but the Governor, by appointing alumni, will strengthen the bonds of affection, and promote the interests of the institution. The next 29th of February will give him an opportunity of trying it. It is pleasing to anticipate the time, when the distinguished and honored shall assemble as alumni of their beloved University; when presidents, senators, and others high in authority, shall deem it an honor to be classed among her sons. Then we may look for a revival of Virginia's glory, when the greatest orators shall incite her youth to love, to venerate and labor for her in those halls which she has provided for the advancement of literature and science.

Experiment has proved that Mr. Jefferson committed one great error in the system of government which he sought to establish in the University. But this was "as the dust of the balance" to that of banishing religion from her walls. The whole should have been planned and executed in reliance upon Divine aid and direction; for nothing can be truer than "except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it." Without being superstitious, the overruling hand of Providence must be acknowledged; and apprehensions sometimes arise lest Heaven has decreed the fall of the University, in order to prove to man the folly and impiety of founding such institutions, without invoking its blessing. Religion cannot be safely separated from any human undertaking. For literature and science to produce their salutary effects upon the mind and heart-to make man better as they make him wiser-they must be associated with, There is one palpable defect, Mr. Editor, in the and tempered by, religion; nor should their consystem of instruction pursued at the University. nection be slight and incidental, but designed and There is no department for exercises in writing intimate. The system of Mr. Jefferson has been and speaking. Every Northern College has such abandoned; and there are now regular religious sera department and it is this which gives such an vices twice a-week, and the students pay marked interest to the literary societies, and renders them respect to the minister. But the fact of having a productive of so much profit and pleasure. At the chaplain is a small matter. He must not be looked University, there is a class of belle-lettres, and upon as a mere preacher and sermonizer on Sunthe members are occasionally required to submit days, but as pastor and instructor in religious mattheir productions to the criticism of the Professor. ters; not as a mere appendage, but as an imporThere are debating societies also, but very little tant, an essential part of the institution. Religion writing is practised; and speaking is done so care- must be admitted, not as a secondary matter, but lessly, and with so little preparation, as to yield as of primary concern; not as an incident, but an but little improvement. Writing and speaking in-essential; not through complaisance to public opinduce students to read; and at the North each one ion, to allay the fears of anxious parents, nor as a takes out his book, with nearly as much regularity compromise between the opposition of Mr. Jefferas he goes to his meals; whilst the large and son, and the convictions of the Visiters. Every choice library of the University, is almost entirely social fabric must fall-its materials will become

corrupt and rotten, unless the spirit of pure religion | their own hands-guard her, watch over her, and be incorporated with them and made their preserver. lend her their zeal and a small portion of their It is much a habit to decry the externals of reli- treasure. She will repay both; and they will rear gion. These are all important, not as superse- an institution, in which it will be a proud distincding the substance and the spirit, but as manifest- tion for their sons to be tutored. They will ing and embodying that spirit. In the University, make Virginia the literary centre of the South; the services are performed in the lecture-room, the fame of her splendid seat of learning will draw which is very inconveniently arranged, and where students from every quarter; and one common senthe mind is diverted by a thousand perceptions and timent, together with a high degree of intelligence, associations. Every thing in connection with the will pervade our common country. Will men praespirituel of that institution would show, if we did tically confess that nothing but political contention not know the fact, that the introduction of religion can excite their zeal and efforts? Will they not, was an afterthought. In all her extensive arrange- then, raise up some place, where representatives ments, there is not a single accommodation for re- and electors may be qualified rightly to discharge ligion. The association of ideas is powerful, and their respective duties, whence knowledge may be there is very little in the religious services of the diffused, and men taught to settle questions by disUniversity calculated to inspire the minds of the cussion, and not by disputing-by argument, and students with a sense of their essentiality. Nearly not abusive wrangling? There are thousands who every thing tends to make their feelings permissive seek to justify their faith and practice by the prerather than submissive; tolerant, rather than tena- cepts and example of Jefferson. Will they stop short cious; complaisant, rather than obedient and at- and not imitate his zeal for the prosperity of the Unitached. versity, which he, their political paragon, founded? Let them all remember, that he did not most glory in that, for which, they most laud him. He wrote his own epitaph; and the simple granite obelisk, which marks his tomb, bears no such inscription as "The Leader of the Democracy." We learn from it, that he was the "Author of the Declaration of American Independence," and "of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom." This is not all that we learn. American independence is to be perpetuated, and religious freedom to be secured. Ignorance is the foe of both, and must be vanquished. His unsatisfied spirit sought another and a crowning honor; and he became "The father of the University of Virginia,"

The first thing to be done is to erect a suitable chapel. The faculty are anxious for this to be effected, and presented a memorial to the Visiters on the subject. At the request of the writer, Professor Bonnycastle drew up an eloquent memorial to be presented on the part of the students; but as circumstances prevented the signatures from being obtained, it was not handed in. A chapel is not only necessary for the religious services, but for public occasions, anniversary orations, the use of societies, and for important meetings of the students, when they wish to do honor to the memory of a departed fellow-student or professor. It will also be useful as an ornament,—and this dreadful hiatus, so painfully obvious to every Christian friend of the institution, should be speedily supplied. This object is so important, that, if no better plan can be devised, the Visiters would be justified in sending special agents through the country asking donations. One of the chaplains promised to raise five thousand dollars from his branch of the Christian church; and, no doubt, the requisite amount can be obtained. One session is, moreover, too short a period for a chaplain to remain. Get a good one and retain him longer. There might still be rotation, but not such frequent rotation.

ROMANCE READING AND WRITING. MR. T. W. WHITE.

Dear Sir,-I am a champion of Romance Reading and Romance Writing. Please give me space to argue my point.

The story of a life, told in a plain manner, and without exaggeration, may be both agreeable and instructive. When circumstances have cast a coloring of romance over veritable incidents, and This theme is not yet exhausted; but we fear we made that which actually happened, appear like have written too much; not more however, than the fiction; when real and supposititious events have importance of the subject demanded. If any abler become so interlaced, that the nicest discrimination pen shall be incited to pursue it, we shall be highly cannot separate them, nor the most unscrupulous gratified. The foregoing considerations, Mr. Edi- and fastidious censorship find anything to condemn tor, are deemed worthy of the attention of the Visi- on the score of improbability-romance then beters and Alumni especially; but the public gene- comes a most attractive kind of reading, and may rally are greatly interested in this matter. Their be useful by enabling us to form correct estimates sons are to be educated; the benefits of education of character. Such is the well-known story of cannot be confined to the recipient, but are re- Robinson Crusoe. In it, fiction is blended with flected from him to all around. Let them, then, fact to the production of one of the most entertake the welfare of the University somewhat into taining books ever written. We feel sure that a

part of the adventures it details, actually happened; | little, and talk much--" ancient Pistols" in a farce we may guess that a part never did; and yet, were wherein they play not only the Welsh Captain, but we to accept a challenge to lay our finger on any particular passage with an affirmative of its falsehood, we should be as likely to impugn the passages susceptible of verification as those which were the coinage of Defoe's own brain.

I consider verisimilitude to be the highest praise of authorship-the fiend that "lied like truth," could not have been the worst of his class.

Nick Bottom the Weaver-to declaim against all romances and novels, and to hold them as of evil tendency. Nothing certainly can be worse than a licentious novel written with power-a stupid one carries its own antidote with it. But this is not the age of licentious novels-it is no more the fashion now to write them, than it is to use indecent language in polished society. There are some exI do not mean to be witty, when I say it is owing ceptions, but these make the rule general. In the to the strong natural liking men have for novelty merry days of Charles II, the obscene jest was and romance, that books of voyages and travels fashionable,-obscenity had then a particular claim are so popular-especially voyages and travels to to public approbation and patronage derived from lands replete with romantic fiction-the former the custom of a court and circle putrid with viceabodes of classic song-the romance of earlier as it were a splendid stew reeking with licentiousages and to lands clouded with present difficulty ness. It is the taste of this day to make the noand danger. vel the vehicle of useful information, and to use none but chaste and polished language in the communion of ideas.

Descriptions of newly discovered countries, and of the manners and customs of people little known, are nothing but romance softened into history, by giving a habitation and a name to the imagined incidents and personages of romantic story. The love of romance and romantic legends is as natural, as the love of meat and drink, to the human species; this is most fully seen where education and factitious refinement have least warped the mind from the path of nature. The child listens with intense delight to fireside stories of the marvellous related by garrulous old age, with a nevertiring relish. The fur-clad warriors of the frozen north, red from the slaughter of foes, gathered around the Skald to bestow breathless attention upon his wild Runic rhymes. The North American Indian would forego every other amusement, give up even the death-grapple, to listen to the traditional fables of his tribe. The Persian Satrap summoned his tale-teller at the dead hour of night, to repeat the romance of the Zendavesta, and woo sleep to his pillow, by the music of the Sabian ritual with its romantic cosmogony and contests of angels and devils.

See the improvement which taste and good sense have made in novel writing by comparing Madam Cottin's "Saracen," with the "Talisman" of the Great Scottish Novelist. See Mr. James' novels illustrating the most important epochs of French history better than their own historians, and presenting us with pictures of Henri Quatre, Henry of Guise, Richelieu and Catharine de Medicis, as true as can be found in the galleries of the Louvre. See Miss Edgeworth, Miss Austin, Madam D'Arblay, and many others dignifying human nature by their most accurate delineations of its best traits,recording ennobling deeds by no means rare, and splendid virtues in common use and of lowly origin; the Jew Montenero, redeeming by his merit almost the whole tribe of Israel from ignominy, and all of them guarding us against evil by vivid pictures of its worst passions.

Such novels are of more value in any and every point of view, than a hundred ill-penned volumes, falsely called histories-to make up which the scissors have done far more than the pen. A When I write a story, I am only anxious that licentious novel is "hell-broth" itself; but, I would those who believe it a fiction, shall think it an inte- sooner put into the hands of a child of mine one resting one. I hold, that if useful truths be im- of that namby-pamby species, known by the name parted, and reflections of practical value made, it of the "Leaden-hall press novels," even one of is of little consequence in what shape or through that still ghastlier class, called "Pictures of High what channel they meet the public eye-only that Life," with all their frivolities, "commodities of that is the best which has the best chance of ex-good names," and make-a-dog-sick pretensions to tended circulation. If a romance inculcate better fashion and exclusivism, than I would one of those morality, or present truth in a more effective shape historical abridgements so profitable to publishers, than a sermon-if its exposition of the moral and but so injurious to readers. christian duties be the sounder one, the romance is certainly the better sermon- -the better promoter of religion, and the more able advocate of truth. He who puts it forth, is the more useful preacher, and renders the cause of piety and virtue, the cause of morality and good order, the greater and more enduring service.

I will not war with men's tastes; but having once advanced my opinions, I am bound to their full exposition.

I hold that nothing so soon saps the foundation of human learning, as the supplying students of an advanced age, with mere manuals. They acquire by the perusal of these compendiums, a little knowIt has become the fashion-with those who think ledge at little expense-a smattering which ena

No dreams disturb thee of the anxious morrow;

bles them to "shine as a substitue till a King be | Sleep in thy silent grave!
by"-to pass for learned, when none are present to
detect their ignorance. They learn when the bat-Angels have wafted thee away, to save

Thy youthful years from sin-thine age from sorrow.

And shall we mourn that thou art gone,

Thus early, to a state of bliss?
No, no-we weep that we are left, alone
To linger in a world of care like this!

[Heath's Book of Beauty for 1842.

FITCH.

tle of Cheronea was fought; who Mark Anthony was; and where Julian the Apostate perished; what great event followed the battle of Hastings; and what fruitless glory the reign of the "Swede." Than this, they search no deeper; and so, their minds become merely imbued with a few facts, without an atom of philosophy; and they die without having once attempted to analyse the motives which stimulated the men of past ages. The records of departed days have passed before them as rapidly as the "line of Banquo" passed before the "But past is all his fame. The very spot Where many a time he triumph'd, is forgot." Usurper Macbeth; and their recollection is of a piece with the images left on our minds at the dis- Basil Hall, in his travels in America, has attance of years, by the succession of "baby Kings." tempted to throw some light on the question, who My opinion then is, that a good novel, not such was the first person that applied the power of steam as Bulwer's, but such as Miss Edgeworth's et al, is to the propelling of boats? In this attempt, he of healthy tendency—that it deserves to be read has discovered an evident prejudice in favoring his and its author rewarded, and encouraged; but that own countrymen, which warps his judgment, and it is inferior in value to a well-written history, pen- disqualifies him from judging of others accordned with a scrupulous regard to truth, and to a ing to their merits. Among others, he has menreasonable degree, minute and philosophical. But tioned John Fitch as being among the early ina book that takes up false or absurd positions upon ventors of steamboat navigation, and says his plan any subject, that urges unsatisfactory or inconclu- on trial, proved defective, and was abandoned. sive reasons, decries the good and extols the bad-This, in my opinion, was not doing Fitch that jusin other words, that is a false or vicious treatise, tice his efforts deserved. He undoubtedly was the deserves to fall stillborn from the publisher's press, man who first applied the power of steam to the padif it meet with no severer condemnation. And in dles of a boat, with complete success, in America. the proportion that we expect historical truth from I resided in Philadelphia from 1787 to 1793, and one writer, and metaphysical truth from another, knew Fitch. He was one of those ardent spirits, and scientific truth from a third, is the work a fai-who, in the march of improvement, was calculated lure, when it lacks it, compared with that which to take the lead. Although illiterate, he possessed tells you, gratuitously enough, that it is a fiction a strong penetrative mind, and untiring industry. from beginning to end. From history, theology, He had a just conception of the power of steam, metaphysics and the natural sciences, we expect and great mechanical genius in applying it to maabsolute, unqualified, unimpeached, and unimpeach-chinery. At this time, it was a subject which but able verity; whilst we are satisfied with poetry slightly engaged the attention of the scientific part and romance if they be fiction arrayed in a pleas-of society; yet he prevailed on a considerable ing dress, and in good keeping with known customs number of liberal minded gentlemen, to subscribe and manners. Sometimes they mount far higher in the scale of literary merit; as thus-when a novel inculcates good behavior, and virtuous conduct, it is a moral discourse;―when it urges to christian profession, and a life of faith, it is a sermon.

Shall we say, that such is the peculiar province of the pulpit? I will not believe so till a more conclusive fiat than I have yet heard, goes forth against me.

Yours, very sincerely,

ARCHEUS OCCIDENTALIS.

THE CHILD'S GRAVE.

Sleep, child, thy peaceful sleep-
Thou art in mercy early called away-

While we, alas! are left to weep,

Who in this world of trouble still must stay.

and form a company for the encouragement of steam navigation. This was no doubt the first association of the kind in America. They had a boat construced of about fifty tons burthen, and gave Fitch the direction and management of the machinery. It was rude and imperfect; the iron of the boiler was too thin to withstand the pressure of the steam, and it gave way, which occasioned some delay to the experiment. The boat was put in operation in 1788, and performed a number of trips on the Delaware, to Bordentown, Bristol and Burlington. I was standing on the wharf when the boat came by, on her way to Burlington, and being invited with others to make the trip, I went on board,-we made good headway against the current of the river, generally at the rate of five miles an hour. The boat was propelled by five paddles over the stern, on a crank, which had a rising pulley, turned by a chain of short links, made in the form