It is said of the blacks by their white brethren, that they are incapable of that elevation of soul, that lofty enthusiasm, without which men cannot be ranked high in the scale of existence. It is certain that but few indications of such a spirit have yet manifested themselves amongst them but are we thence to infer that they are incapable of it? The contumely with which they have been regarded, the want of stimulus arising from their possessing no prospect of sharing in the honours of high offices, their exclusion from the family circles of the whites; these circumstances sufficiently account for their depression, especially when weighed in connexion with their imperfect education. But it would be unfair to suppose that under more favourable circumstances, the development of their faculties would never be accompanied by a correspondent elevation of soul. I have read several accounts of the behaviour of negroes in times of trial and at the hour of death, fully proving that they were sustained by the loftiness of their feelings. An instance was also mentioned to me by a gentleman of Charleston, into whose company I fell when in Long Island. He told me that amongst the negroes condemned to death for the projected insurrection in that city, there was one whom he had bought many years before from an African

slave ship, but whom he had sold to another man. This negro prior to his execution, was visited in prison by his master, who desired him to mention how he could think of joining in a plot which might have proved fatal to a master who had used him kindly, and in particular to state what induced him to join in it at all, since his situation was an easy one. The negro looking firmly at him, made this energetic reply: "you were my master, and I wished for liberty". He was then requested to communicate all that he knew of the ramifications of the plot, but he refused to give any particulars, and turning to his fellow prisoners said, "Tell them nothing. Die as you will see me die, with firmness, and without letting them know any thing about it". He continued unwavering to the last. This man's conduct, if he had been a Greek condemned to death by Turks, would have been lauded as heroic; but because he was a negro condemned to death by Americans, he must forsooth be branded as obstinate and cruel! From this relation, and from others of a similar nature, as well as from the numerous cases I heard of no

ble conduct in other negroes under very different circumstances, I conclude that they only require to have justice rendered them, to become ornamental as well as useful to their country. If

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a native born African who had been subjected to American slavery, could manifest the spirit of an old Roman when in the prospect of immediate death, surely it would be illogical to conclude, that persons from the same stock, natives of America, and possessing the rights and intelligence of freemen, are physically incapable of rising to an equality with the descendants of Europeans; to whom in the remaining remarks on the national character I shall confine myself exclusively.

The first distinguishing trait that I shall notice is that of sociability, a trait which fails not at once to strike an Englishman, from its being so different to that reserved air which is said to be gentilitious to England. A person when travelling in America, may at once begin to converse with his fellow passengers without fear of offending by the familiarity. If his address be mild and respectful, he will find no cold repulse, no haughtiness to bid him stand aloof; and if he continue to demean himself properly, he will be treated as a brother. The Americans, aware that in this respect they differ from the English, attribute the difference to their republican institutions. I rather suppose that the necessity of mutual kindness, which must have been felt by the

primitive colonists, was the origin of this agree able trait in their character. When once established, it was not likely to become extinct, so long as no great inequality of wealth prevailed in the country. Whatever influence therefore, republicanism may have had in preserving equaity amongst them, I cannot admit it to be the proximate cause of their sociability. How indeed should it be, when the French under a monarchy have nearly as much of it, and have been celebrated for centuries on that very account? The want of sociability in England is ascribed by Goldsmith to the political freedom enjoyed by the inhabitants, a deduction at variance with that of the Americans. After describing the blessings resulting from freedom, he thus proceeds:

"Thine, freedom, thine, the blessings pictured here,
Thine are those charms that dazzle and endear;
Too blest indeed, were such without alloy,

But fostered e'en by freedom ills annoy ;
That independence Britons prize too high,
Keeps man from man, and breaks the social tie;
The self-dependent lordlings stand alone,
All claims that bind and sweeten life unknown;
Here by the bonds of nature feebly held,
Minds combat minds, repelling and repelled :
Ferments arise, imprisoned factions roar,
Repressed ambition struggles round her shore,

Till over-wrought, the general system feels
Its motion stop, or phrensy fire the wheels."

I certainly think that Goldsmith in this passage is rather more poetical than philosophical, yet I shall not now stop to attempt to give a solution of a more probable nature; but as the difference in sociability between the two countries is very considerable, I shall be excused for dwelling on the subject a little longer.

The English gentry when travelling by the public vehicles, too often assume an air of distance to their fellow passengers, and rarely indeed adopt a pleasant familiarity with those who appear to be much below them in rank. I was once in a steam-boat on the Thames when there was a large number of passengers, the Vice-chancellor being one; yet with the exception of one who was his companion, and another who had some acquaintance with him, he did not deign to converse with any of us, though some of the passengers appeared very genteel, and had their carriages on deck. As the Vice-chancellor rose from a low station in life, he might think that if he adopted a familiar deportment, some would be ungracious enough not to show him that respect which is due to the occupant of his office;