WHILE we are erecting monuments of stone to the valor of our ancestors, it is also meet that we should present to the eye some living memorial of their characters; that their history should be interwoven with our national literature, and thus an imperishable remembrance of their deeds be transmitted to posterity. It is not sufficient that history records their exploits; it presents us with but a partial view of their worth. We can only attain to a just estimation of them by a knowledge of their general character. National novels are the best medium for obtaining this knowledge. It is the part of the novelist to portray character, not, as of the historian, to record events. He examines into past and contemporary history to acquaint himself with the character of the subjects of his fiction in real life. Possessed of a perfect knowledge of his hero, it is his part to develope the character, by creating circumstances which elicit its principal traits. What a correct impersonation of the loyal cavalier is Sir Henry Lee in "Woodstock!" What a faithful delineation of the Southern Whig Peasantry of the Revolution, is the character of Horse Shoe Robinson! The characters here mentioned are correct representations of classes; but the portraiture of individual character has been equally successful; witness James the First, in the "Fortunes of Nigel." The lapse of time has now consecrated the memories of the men of the Revolution, and sufficiently removed us from the equality of familiarity. Some venerated relics still survive of those immortal days, whose memories, rich with personal recollections of the great commanders, afford a valuable fund of information to the novelist; so that now, ere this venerated band shall become extinct, the national novelist should hasten to catch their dying whispers, and thus preserve unbroken the chain of history. We rejoice to observe this actually done in the revolutionary tales of Cooper, Kennedy, and Simms. Genius has the power of consecrating whatever it touches. Scott has made the scenes of his novels shrines of literary pilgrimage from all parts of the world, and sacred spots in the eye of the people. Gratitude forbids us that we should cease to remember one spot hallowed with the blood of our fathers; it is then for genius, through the novel, to point out, and invest these spots with the enchantment of the associations of romance, and to assist the historian in keeping alive a remembrance of the past. The novel, for this purpose, is more effective than the history, as from its superior interest it gains a more extensive reading. As a fiction it will be generally read, and thus may become a medium of the widest influence in developing those feelings of patriotism, which the exhibition of devotion to liberty and country must always promote. Inexhaustible materials for fiction may be found in all the different stages of the history of the continent; - the Indian traditions still handed down among the tribes of the west the inflexible and moral Puritans, with their perilous wars with the savages—the romantic character of the Southern settlers-and the great drama of the Revolution, with its stormy prologue and eventful scenes, - all these different periods abound in distinguished historical characters, with whose delineation the novelist may weave into his tale a graphic picture of the times. With this prolific source of material, opportunity is afforded of creating a purely national literature, founded on our own history, and separate from that of any other nation. Such Sir Walter Scott has done for Scotland, and Miss Edgeworth for Ireland; and such we hope some master spirit, who feels within himself the ability, may do for America. Thus the novel may become a useful appendage to history-recording events too minute for the dignity of history to commemorate, and presenting a perfect portrait of each character, which is only known. in the history by his most prominent actions. Our traditions should be recorded, and preserved in the popular memory, that they may serve in moments of national gloom as quickening appeals to patriotic exertion. The purest models of patriotism are to be found in the characters of our fathers. Let them be illustrated, and set before the people; in their bright examples being incentives to imitation, and in their history of sacrifices. marking with reprobation the citizen recreant to his country's interests and honor. We want a fund of historical recollections to keep alive the spirit of liberty. Our country's history is rich in such animating recollections. They should be sought out. The scenes of one's own country's history most forcibly speak to the feelings of man. The invocation of the Athenian orators, to the shades of the heroes of Marathon and Thermopylæ, always came like an exhorting voice from the sacred dead. So let the memory of the men of '76, with the fields of their glory, be kept alive, and cherished by the pen of genius; and we also shall have in our history names of power, whose bare mention shall wake the sleeping energies of the nation. Novels of this character would elevate the tone of public sentiment, by directing it to the contemplation of high moral excellence, and a correct appreciation of the services of public benefactors, and might even correct the present vitiated taste for tales of gross profligacy, and unnatural horrors, by the very contrast which the different characters of the two species of writing would exhibit. Thus every mound, which covers the bones of a soldier, may teach a practical lesson of patriotism. The curious stranger, who then visits our shores, will not travel from Maine to Georgia with but few objects to interest him, except the great wonders of nature; but at every step he will pause to ponder over some spot, hallowed to his mind by the writings of genius, and the local associations which they have awakened. The Chronicles of the Cid, wove into verse, were long the battle songs of the Spaniards; his heroic character was the model of the aspirant after true military fame, and the simple exhibition of his virtues, in the martial ballad, infused into the Spanish soldiery a romantic love of valor and honor, that for ages made them irresistible in the field. Are there not in the public characters of the fathers of the Republic virtues more elevated and inspiring, than even those of the Cid and his fellow champions? Truly there are patriotism, which in the Cid was a selfish love of glory-sacrifices, for liberty and the general good, without a parallel in the annals of history. It is for the welfare of the countryfor the just formation of the national character, that they should be embalmed in some species of writing which most frequently meets the public eye. Novels form the reading, in some degree, of all classes; and it is in works. of this character, treating of local history, that this desirable design may be best effected. THE FAITHFUL ABENAQUOIS. The following incident occurred at a village of the Abenaquois, on the Outawa river, where the French had established a military post, early in the 17th century. It is related by Père Lamartine, in the "Lettres Edifiantes et Curieuses," as a singular instance of strong affection in a native. "HUSBAND, dearest, do not leave me, No! thou canst not so deceive me, If thy haughty people spurn me, If a wife thy pride would scorn me, |