end, but action, strong action; action, not | and almost as listless novel-rcaders in the passion; and there is a great difference. There may be a passion of feeling about a book, and yet no action of mind whatever. Read something every now and then, w say that will task you. We will not venture to recommend books, for reviewers cannot help showing a little modesty sometimes, though they are apt to get not much credit for it; but we will venture to say, 'Read something, any thing, that will put your mind to an effort and stretch to follow it out."

We may be thought singular in recommending such a course to general readers, and to young readers, but we do it most advisedly and seriously. We believe that the immense reading of the day does not yield half the results it might, for the want of a settled purpose of self-improvement; and we see no way in which this improvement is to be gained, but by some voluntary efforts at thinking; and it does not appear to us that even the reading of history, much less that of voyages and travels, is likely to awaken this effort. But to sink still further below the point of intellectual activity, to throw one's self into the current of an allabsorbing tale, to be borne in dreary listlessness or with hurrying speed upon its bosom, to make no other intellectual excursions than these, and to make these from day to day, or from week to week, never a whit wiser at the end than at the beginning, never making any progress of thought, never the more prepared either for this world or another, this is a folly and sin, against which we think it is time loudly to protest. It is but one step from that absorption in card-playing and other games, which occupied so many hours in the social and domestic circles of the last century. The objection to excess in all these cases is the same; it is, that time and talents are wasted,-not merely taken up with recreation, when recreation is fit,-but wasted, when they might be devoted to nobler ends.

ten thousand nurseries of the land, as there are stretched upon the parlour couches,—not to say, in the study easy-chairs. Children too much indulged in this way, and that inay happen long enough before the parent is aware of it,-acquire an almost inveterate hostility to all severe application of mind. There are thousands of such, who need to be put, without delay, upon a dispensation of hard study, to save them from utter rum. Alas! for those, whose parents, instead of offering any counteraction to this mighty power of the press, resolve that their children shall have nothing but a lot of ease and gratification, that they shall be urged with no tasks, that they shall be lead in none but inviting and flowery paths, to the heights of knowledge and power. It is all mistake; and utter mistake. There are no steps to those heights, but rugged steps. There is no way of intellectual advancement, but the way of strenuous effort and patient toil.

The truth is, that the same law obtains in the cultivation of the mind that governs all other success,-the law of labor. Woe to the young man who thinks to rise to the heights of intellectual power by any easy flight! All the noblest efforts of the mind are intense, laborious, patient efforts. All real genius, all true originality, all lofty poetry, all powerful writing and speaking consist in these, and in nothing else. And the young inan,—the professional man, let us say, in particular,-who spends much of his time in reading Reviews and Romances, and abhors every severe task, though he may be a clever or a respectable man, can never be much more, he his talents what they may.

MR. EWING, OF OHIO.

The Washington correspondence of the Portland Daily Advertiser, gives the following interesting sketch of Mr. Ewing, a Senator of the United States, from the State of Ohio.

It is for the young to whom we have already had reference, that we most feel the importance of this subject. We feel it as par- Mr. EWING, of Ohio, has been addressing ents, and we cannot help regarding it as em- the Senate on the Tariff. He is a new Senainently deserving the attention of all parents. tor from Ohio, and not only a new Senator Much is said, at this day, about the great ad- but a new man in Cicero's acceptation of the vantages that are enjoyed for education; phrase. He is now among the first in the and nothing-is more frequently pointed to in Senate,—not, perhaps, in oratory, though he proof of this,than the children's book-shelves. is a good speaker, but among the first for Now we confess that we look upon this mul- grasp of mind, for correct, logical, and natiplication of books, or, to speak more accu- tional views. He is emphatically a sound rately, upon the use which is made of them, man-an able lawyer, and by and by, will be with more distrust and doubt than upon any-I venture to predict a distinguished statesother department of early discipline. Discipline-did we say? These books are the very foes of discipline. They are the most of them novels, and nothing else but novels. The reading of them, as we have already said, is novel reading. And there are as jaded,

man. That hacknied topic the Tariff, he has already clothed in a new dress. He has started in another orbit, and developed many points of Political Economy quite new.

Mr. Ewing is a man over 40, perhaps 412, or 3,-well-and firmly built-of about

own delegation. There are six Senators in
Congress, natives of that State. And this, is
Connecticut alone, without Massachusetts,
that fertile nursery of patriotisin, literature,
and distinguished men.
are such facts upon our beloved homes!
What an eulogium

.

NAVAL SKETCH.

From the London U. Service Journal.

Service afloat during the late war.

B.

6 feet and a goodly size. His private life is interesting as demonstrating with a thousand other examples the peculiar excellence of our institutions in opening the faculties of the mind, and in encouraging the poor boy to consider no honorable exaltation beyond his reach. He is the son of a poor tavern keeper, somewhere between Lancaster and Chilicothe-did the honor of the stableacted the part of the hostler and the servant for many years, till by and by, feeling himself made for something else, he determined upon having a collegiate education. Nothing is impossible to him who is resolved. He left Being the personal Narrative of a Naval Officer, home and started for the salt works by the English Harbor to refit. On this occasion I In the month of December we repaired to Kanbawa, and chopped wood for money, do- had an adventure which had well nigh proving as much in one day as many men did ined a tragical one. Among the crew before three. Thus he was able to lay up' funds to fit for, and to support himself in college, He continued alternately chopping and studying till his collegiate education was finished. Then came his law studies, which by the kindness of a friend he was enabled to get through-then that subsequent prosperity which talent and industry always give to their worshippers; and now you see him, his first term in the U. S. Senate, taking a stand amongst the first, and laying the foundation of a reputation which by the by, will rank him among our illustrious men, who, no matter to what party they belong when truly illustrious and upright, are the common property of their whole country, the jewels of our republic that are sparkling in her capitol.

How instructive is such a life as that of Mr. Ewing, and yet how many can tell nearly the same story? Does he feel ashamed of it? I think not, for there is no truly great man who would not rejoice that his own arm had taken him from obscurity, and put him side by side with the great men of his country. Small minds feel ashamed of such things. Great minds rejoice to narrate them, are proud of them, and bequeath them to their children as their exploits, as famous as those of the laurelled chieftain.

I ask, "and how many can tell nearly the same story?" How many New England young men, for example, have gone forth from their homes to the distant West, or the distant South, with their intellects as their only property and their enterprise their only stock in trade? I am surprised at finding so many New England men in Congress. New England is not only represented by her own inembers, but her sons are found coming from almost every State. I have not now the means of giving you a statistical account of the members of Congress from New England, besides her own delegations, but I may have by and by. For the present, let me tell you, that in 1820-21, there were in Congress THIRTY-ONE gentlemen from the single State of Connecticut, în addition to her

powers.

the mast, was one Jonathan Williams, a stout athletic fellow, measuring about six feet two in height, with an outline and proportions evincing corresponding muscular This man, shortly after the commissioning of the EAmerican citizenship, corroborated as I behad, in spite of his plea of lieve, by a certificate of naturalization, been impressed from an English merchant ship. This was an occurrence by no means rare; especially as the similarity of language and national traits between individuals of the two nations, left no leading marks whereby to discriminate between the two; moreover, these protections were easily counterfeited, and therefore little regarded. Indeed, the fact was notorious that spurious documents, crimps in the American seaports) could at (an ordinary article of traffic among the any time be procured by our seamen for a few dollars. A reasonable apology was thus offered for the frequent repetition of an act feeling against us in all parts of the Union, which had no small share in exciting a hostile and which otherwise might certainly have been deemed indefensible. In this instance, however, there were some collateral circumstances, which, with the consistency and energy so characteristic of truth, displayed in tice of his detention, affording a strong prehis unceasing remonstrance against the injussumption favorable to Williams' claims. Some months having elapsed, and the little attention paid to his case affording but a faint prospect of emancipation, he determined on desertion. Accordingly, seizing the opportunity while the vessel was alongside the wharf, in English Harbor, he with two or three others effected their escape. The only channel by which they could finally leave the island being by the merchant ships in the harbor of St. John's, distant about twelve miles, it was naturally conjectured that their flight lay in that direction, with a view to intercept them I was sent round to that place. At the end of a week spent in fruitless inquiries in attempts to trace them, I was on the eve of returning from my unsuccessful

Goliah-in one hand brandishing the formidable clasp knife usually suspended round the neck of seamen at the two sable boatmen, comparatively pigmies and who had now airly surrendered and were crouching with every sign of astonishment and pusillanimity in the bow of the canoe; while with the other he was endeavoring to retain the mast in its erect position, the sail having partly blown loose and luffed her broad-side to.

mission, when accident effected that which my endeavors had failed in. I had taken up my lodgings at the tavern in the town, kept by a French woman, among the numerous inmates of which, principally masters of ships, was a merchant, a resident of the place, with whom I had previously been acquainted. This man having occasion to visit a brig, of which he was the owner, and which was loading in the harbor, proposed to me to accompany him. It happened to be a boister- "In this dilemma, no boat being alongside, ous day; but the wind being fair, and the I was for a moment at a loss what to do vessel lying well up the harbor, a canoe man- however, having no time for deliberation, Í ned by two negroes, which we hired, soon sprang into a small punt lying under the wafted us along-side. I had been but an in-counter, the only one belonging to the vessel, stant on board when the principal object of and followed by my friend the merchant, my search, the fugitive Williams, little ex- who, in defiance of the gale, readily underpecting such a visiter, unexpectedly popped took to render assistance, we shoved off from his head up the fore hatchway. The sudden the vessel; and the canoe having been deappearance of some terrific spectacle would layed by the causes already stated, we sucnot have caused a greater revulsion of feel-ceeded in getting up with her, just as Wiling and consequent expression of counte- liams, having got her once more before the nance than that which the sight of so unwel- wind, was setting the sail, and she was accome a visiter produced at this moment. The quiring rapid way. Unluckily, in my eagerpoor fellow, pale, paralized, and dumb from ness to board, I jumped into her stern; and the surprise, for a few moments uttered not my companion, whose motions were not sufa word. But gradually recovering his self- ficiently agile to follow or lay hold of the possession, he seemed quietly to resign him-canoe, was left fairly in the lurch, and got self to his fate, and without offering the adrift. Thus I remained solus to grapple smallest resistance, walked aft to the quarter with my formidable adversary, who now, deck as desired. Here taking up a large tin wrought up to frenzy by the effects of the pot lying by the side of a cask of what ap- potation from the rum cask, and the probable peared from the color of its contents to be frustration of his hopes, looked scarcely huwater, he drew off a considerable quantity man. Having summoned him to submit, and which he drank off.-This turned out to be pointed out to him the consequences of agwhite ram-the effects of such a stimulant gravating his crime by resistance, he once may be readily imagined. They were neither more drew forth his knife, and glaring wildly slow in their development nor disproportion- on me with eyes inflamed with liquor and exed to the potency of their influence. Such citement, he in a broken and sepulchral tone a dose as he had imbibed was more than suf- thus addressed me:-" Mr. , I am a ficient to screw the moral energies, already native American born; I am determined to in a state of strong excitation, to a higher have my liberty, whatever may be the consepitch than was necessary for a much greater quences, and you had better not attempt to enterprise than that which he suddenly con- prevent me.' The only weapon I had about ceived and as promptly executed. Having me was a small uniform dirk, four or five, from his assumed quiet demeanor no suspi- inches long, and made more for ornament Cion of what he meditated, I had gone for a than service. This I had drawn forth, and moment to the opposite side of the deck, and standing over him, was menacing him with was looking in another direction when turn- it, when suddenly with one hand seizing my ing round I found my prisoner had disappear- wrist, with the other he wrenched the weapon ed. Watching his opportunity, he had leap- from me, closing upon me and got me down ed into the canoe, clearing the gunwale at a in the bottom of the boat. The brevity of bound. And when I looked over the side this conflict, if any thing had before been had already got clear of the vessel. I now wanting, effectually deinonstrated the odds beheld him in the attitude of menacing the to which I was opposed. I was like an infant two boatmen, who after a slight and ineffect-in his powerful grasp. In a moment I found ual resistance, were retreating to the bow of myself transferred to the other element, the boat. It was à scene for the pencil. In with as much apparent ease as one might his red woollen shirt, without a hat, his dark fling over board a spaniel. Whatever might shaggy hair closely matted over his bronzed have been his motive, after a few seconds, forehead, with a beard unshaven, perhaps, during which I found myself retained under from the moment of his quitting the E- ; the sides of the boat, which by her heeling resolution, anxiety, hope, and fear, all blend-nearly level with the water, I contrived to ed in his agitated countenance-there he cling to, he suddenly relinquished his iron stood or rather stooped in the boat, a marine grasp, and I, like a drowned rat, crawled

once more into the boat. For this, perhaps, | American.

66

This, however, he refused to I was indebted to the appearance of a large accede to. On the first occasion of his being boat, manned with six or eight men, which, brought on deck, he refused to take a share pulling up the harbor, and passing at the dis-n any part of the duty; nor could the retance of half a cable length, was no sooner monstrances of the officers, the heavy denunperceived by my adversary, than he jumped ciation of vengeance, or the nenaces of inoverboard and swam towards her: and I, stant death from the captain, make him without reflecting upon the rashness of a fur- swerve from his resolution. The latter ther pursuit of such an adversary, threw wound up to the highest pitch of anger by myself after him, and with no small difficuity such a pertinacious example of disobedience reached the pinuance just after he had been in the face of the whole ship's company, at taken on board. The crew naturally sympa-length ordered his pistol to be brought, and thising with him, evinced no great alacrity in threatened to blow his brains out for mutiny, picking me up and but for a circumstance or if he continued any longer refractory; this two, I might have fared but badly; moreover, however produced as little effect. While the it was only by dint of the threat to make captain was actually stamping with rage, and them responsible for the prisoner's evasion, alternately threatening to hang or to shoot that, after a considerable parley they were him, the prisoner with the most intrepid coolprevailed on to put us on board the nearest ness and self possession addressed him thus: merchant vessel. Here again I had to en- Captain- -, I am an American citizen: counter the same difficulty. The master, you have no right to detain me: I am in your under the plea of not being able to spare an power, it is true, and you may shoot or what only boat, absolutely refused to accede to my else you please with me, but I am determined desire of being conveyed on board the never more to touch a rope or do a stroke of Guachapin guard ship, which was lying at duty in your ship." I have never seen an some distance round a point in that part of instance of greater determination than this the harbor called the Carcuage. In this di- man exhibited. Though fully alive to his lemma, an occurrence suddenly gave a new critical situation he remained firin and unturn to the affair, and decided the skipper to shaken as a rock, till at length he was once comply with my wishes. All at once the more ordered below. Here, before the prisoner, making a last desperate effort, gun room bulk head, inmediately under the sprang over the gunwale, and threw himself, main hatch way ladder, he remained several at the risk of his neck, into the boat, and months in double irons. Our distance from endeavored to cut her a drift. It was a most head quarters, constantly cruising, prevented Judicrous to observe the change which this an opportunity for his trial. This delay sudden proceeding wrought in the tone and proved fortunate for W Time at bearing of the skipper. He now flew into a length brought a termination to his sufferviolent rage, and showed himself ready, byings. The promotion and appointment of any means in his power, to rid himself of so the captain some months after to a frigate, troublesome a guest. He was my prisoner, caused a relaxation to his rigorous treatwas accordingly secured, and finally lodged ment, and finally led to his release and disin safe custody on board the guard vessel. charge from the service. In this almost mortal struggle, I found that I had received a wound in the hand, either by my own dirk or the knife of my adversary, which I had remained unconscious of until advertised by the blood which streamed from

it.

From the Asiatic Journal for February.
VALLEY OF DEATH, IN JAVA.

The following extract from the Journal of Mr. A. Loudon, is communicated by that gentleman to Dr. Jameson, and published in his last Philosophical Journal.

66

Balor, 3d July, 1830.--This evening, while walking round the village, with the Patteh (native chiei) he told me that there is a valley about three miles from Balor that no persons could approach without forfeiting their lives, and that the skeletons of human beings, and all sorts of beasts and birds corered the bottom of the valley. I mentioned this to the commandant Mr. Van Spreewonburg, and proposed our going to see it; Mr. Daendels, the assistant resident, agreed to go with us.

This man on his return to the ship, under circumstances that might have shaken the constancy of the firmest, displayed a fortitude and equanimity which astonished every one on board. This was more particularly shown on the following occasion. Being short of complement, the service of an able bodied individual could not well be dispensed with, particularly in action. On getting to sea, therefore, it was proposed to liberate him at the hour of mustering to quarters. This would probably have led to his further enlargement, and in the end might have averted the fate which in the opinion of all awaited him under the aggravated circum"Balor, 4th July.-Early this morning we stances of his case, and in the absence of made an excursion to the extraordinary val sufficient proof of his naturalization as anley, called by the natives Guwo Upas, or

ཙྪཱ