the binder folding, stitching, covering, pressing, ing, as "coming home to men's business and botrimming, lettering, &c., &c. soms." It introduces the reader to a portrait galThe book at last completed is next to be trans-lery of heroes, patriots, statesmen, poets, philosoported over sea and land, crossing rivers and moun- phers, martyrs and saints, Poetry and Romance tains, until it finally reaches the reader's hand. enchant the fancy with their beautiful creations; And then to what vicissitudes of fortune is it sub- while the severe mathematics serve to repress the ject? The "Adventures of a Book," if written out, extravagance of the imagination, and strengthen might be as entertaining as the "Adventures of a the energies of the understanding. Philosophy, Guinea." The book may fall into good hands, per- with one hand, unfolds the teeming wonders of the haps into bad; it may come into the possession of a physical world; and with the other, uncurtains the scholar, a man of letters and of taste, or of a goose- mysterious phenomena of mind and spirit. Books of cap, a blockhead, an illiterate ass. Like Gil Blas, geography, together with voyages and travels, afford the work may encounter many ups and downs, an inexhaustible fund of information in its most keep high company and low. It may be tossed on picturesque and fascinating form. With them the the bosom of the waters, or whirled along rail- reader, seated in his own arm-chair, may expatiate ways; now it may slumber on the toilet of beauty, at will over the several quarters of the earth, study then tremble under the auctioneer's hammer; to- the manners and customs of every people, investiday it is the companion of wealth-to-morrow it gate the productions of nature and survey the may be thumbed by the ploughman. monuments of art. He may visit the pyramids that tower sublime over the sandy borders of the Nile, wander among the ivy-mantled marbles of fallen cities, and linger pensive among the echoes of deserted palaces and dilapidated temples, where, "O'er each mouldering tower Equo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas regum-que turres. Could books speak, perhaps one would be heard lamenting that it was his fate ever to be misunderstood and perverted, his figures all taken in sober earnest, and his serious statements all misconstrued into metaphor and allegory. Another would be heard declaring his indifference to the ignorant When satiated with the monuments of human neglect of his degenerate times, appealing to posterity, exulting in fancied images of future fame and posthumous renown, by hope uncurtained to his transported view. THE PLEASURES OF READING. Dim with the mist of age, gray flits the shade of power." grandeur and decay, astronomy will elevate the soul to distant worlds and sublimer scenes—the stupendous machinery of the heavens, suns and planets and systems circling harmonions through the illimitable wilderness of space. Dazzled and amazed by the "dread magnificence of heaven," man reGibbon, the historian, in his autobiography, said turns to the earth, which, in the comparison, dwinthat "he would not exchange the pleasures of read-dles to "a mere speck in one corner of the universe." ing for all the wealth of the Indies." That he But here again he finds new subjects of admiration, who aspires at all to the dignity of a cultivated in the curious structure of his own body, and in the mind, should, in the first place, make himself ac- various teeming kingdoms of animate and inaniquainted with the history of his own country, is mate nature. And, as in the contemplation of the sufficiently obvious. To the American citizen, the heavenly bodies, he was lost in astonishment at the discovery and settlement of the new hemisphere, infinitely vast, he is now no less amazed at the inthe growth of her republics, the revolutions by finitely small. The telescope discloses the wonwhich they attained their independence and their ders of immensity above us; the microscope disgovernments, laws, manners and institutions afford closes the equal wonders of infinity beneath us. In a wide field of inquiry. The old world opens a the tiny insect, perfectly organized, yet invisible to still wider scene, the records of antiquity, the dim the naked eye and living but for a day, may be chronicles of the middle age,-feudalism and chi- seen the impressions of the same divine hand, valry, the papacy and the reformation,-the dark-which guides worlds and systems "whirling in the ness of barbarism and the revival of letters,-the void immense." progress of literature, science, the arts and religion, with all the various and eventful annals of modern times. The array is vast and complex; yet, while the narrative of events is so voluminous, as the narration of one country and age is oftentimes but the echo and counterpart of what occurred in other countries and other ages, only a comparatively small portion is necessary to be read for the illustration of the whole. The facts of history spread out over an immense area; its philosophy is compressed within far narrower limits. Biography, akin to history, is still more entertain Petersburg, Jan. 31, 1844. THE SUNFLOWER. O many a flower bares its breast Constant the Sunflower turns, and bends, C. C. 2. Let our hearts be like the adoring flower, But follow, and turn to Him every hour, If the dying plant worship, shall not we, March, 1844. NOTES ON OUR ARMY. No. II. E. J. E. "An Army is a collection of armed men, obliged to obey one man."-Locke. TO THE HON. THOMAS H. BENTON: tect the junior from tyranny and oppression. Very recent occurrences have proved its necessity, and I hope Congress will weigh well the effects of a repeal, before giving sanction to it, notwithstanding the high toned and indignant manner in which our commander has repelled the severe reflection it casts on them, "by supposing it possible that his juniors, no matter by whom detailed, might, at the prosecution of the commander, be subservient enough to inflict punishment against conscience, justice and law!" Courts have been found very recently, and he almost tells you so in his report, which, under threats from superior authority, have, on being reconvened, reversed former decisions and awarded severe sentences in lieu of former acquittal. One court has been found, I honor them, one and all, who I have endeavored to show, that the appropriate entertain an opinion of their own, and entertaining, duties of our Commanding General, have been dare express it. With shame I acknowledge there usurped by the Secretary of War, without a shadow has been but one. How many," at the prosecution of reason in law, and unsupported even by policy. of a commander, were subservient enough to inVery recent occurrences have tended to strengthen flict punishments against conscience, justice and my doubts, as to the competency of the distinguished law," I should blush to acknowledge. In a future individual now presiding over the department, to letter, I shall resume this subject; and in the mean perform duties so totally at variance with his early time, some additional light will be shed in regard pursuits. But having already devoted more space to that honored, but "contumacious" court, a copy to his Hon. Secretaryship than I had intended, it of whose proceedings I am happy to see has been becomes necessary to descend to persons and things called for by you. in lower places. In his report, the Secretary has The indelicate, ungenerous, and unprovoked atsaid, "Major General Scott has the immediate tack made by the commanding General, in an officommand of the Army." Coming from such au- cial report upon the character of one, who is his thority, we must take it for granted, though no senior in years, his equal in rank, and certainly not occurrences of late would have induced one to be- his inferior in those qualities which ennoble the man lieve, that Major General Scott even existed in a and elevate the soldier, calls for a few comments military capacity, had not attention been drawn to before leaving the subject. He says, "of the dishim by the astonishing and almost incomprehensi- cipline of the Army--that important element of ble report from his pen which accompanies the one efficiency-prompt and cheerful obedience to law from the Hon. Secretary. To the many valuable and to lawful commands, including the certain suggestions, contained in the report of the Com- punishment of every breach of either; of discimanding General, attention is invited" by the pline, thus technically understood, I may say, if it Secretary. What those suggestions are, I am at a be not universally respected and enforced on the loss to discover. They certainly do not appear on part of commissioned officers, the exceptions have the face of this report, a repeated examination of been of late but few, and are becoming yearly which, presents but three suggestions to my mind. fewer. Here, again, as in respect to morals, 1st. The remounting the late second regiment of dra-science and literature, the benefits and beauty of goons. 2nd. Interchanges of positions or districts an education at the United States Military Acadebetween troops; and this can hardly be called a my are highly conspicuous in the staff, in corps and recommendation, but the shadowing forth an inten- in regiments. Throughout the whole, directly and tion to recommend in future, and should it prove indirectly, the standard of excellence has been unpopular, we shall hear no more of it. 3rd. The greatly elevated by that institution. One officer, great recommendation, and the point to which his (occasionally on duty) with rank sufficient to renmind seemed solely directed. The repeal of the der his example of disobedience, &c., highly misact, approved May 29th, 1830, amending the 65th chievous; some hesitancy on the part of several article of the rules and articles of war. Which courts martial to punish officers for unlawfully amendment humanely and wisely enacts, that when striking or beating soldiers, and the positive refusal, any General officer commanding an army, or as yet, of an existing court to award any correction Colonel commanding a separate department, shall in a like case. These are the principal exceptions, be the accnser or prosecutor, the court for the trial under the head discipline, which call for animadof the offender shall be ordered by the President of version in a solemn report. The hesitancy, in the United States." The humanity of this act is some former courts, was soon overcome by reason apparent on its very face. It was intended to pro-and calm advice, at the instance of the executive. The court, remaining contumacious, is, I am sorry | a gold medal were tendered, induced all to suppose to say, composed of officers taken from those other- that his command of the American Army would wise fine regiments, the 3rd and 4th infantry, now in reserve at Jefferson Barracks. I need scarcely add, that this case and that of the individual of rank alluded to above, are not, in the special matters, under my control." This is an extract, verbatim literatim, et punctuatim, from the report of the Major General commanding the United States Army. Never before has Carlyle's remark appeared to me more forcibly true-"Extreme exactness is the sublime of folly." This is the only instance in which the discipline of the Army is referred to, and it would appear, that this is made solely for the purpose of securing an opportunity (I am sorry to add one is never lost) to cast odium on an "individual of rank" whose reputation was gained in hard fought battles. It was hoped, this personal warfare would cease upon the promotion of the present commander-in-chief, but his report seems to forbid the idea. It is only necessary for Major General Edward P. Gaines to exhibit in his defence the tokens of confidence received from a grateful country, to answer most eloquently the malignant and sarcastic sneers of a military rival and bitter personal enemy, though they do appear, in violation of all taste and propriety, in a "solemn report." prove as satisfactory, as his previous efforts on the field were brilliant and successful. Many causes combined, have prevented the fulfilment of these expectations. Not the least among them may be cited, an aspiration for political honors, and an erroneous impression, that the birth-place of a Marshall could produce none but eminent jurists. It will become necessary to refer so often to the Commanding General and his reports, including his frequent, though fortunately unsuccessful attempts to thrust himself into political notice, that I shall pass for the present to our organization. Our military establishment (unmilitary would be a more appropriate appellation) has for its basis the act of the 2nd of March, 1821. By this act, the line of the Army was to consist of eleven regiments. Several important changes have been made since then, and particularly by the acts of the 30th of May, 1832, 5th and 7th of July, 1838, and the 23rd of August, 1842. The result of all these changes has been, so far as the line is concerned, the addition of three regiments, a little more than one fourth of the original strength. Let us examine into the additions made to the staff during this time, not only in regard to numbers, but in rank and pay. The following table will exhibit very plainly the number and rank of officers in each departThe Army had cause to hope for more than it ment of the staff in the year 1821, when our army has received from its present commander. The consisted of eleven regiments, and again in 1844, brilliancy of his achievements "in the successive when it consists of fourteen. The enormous inconflicts of Chippewa and Niagara, and his uni- crease, both in numbers and rank, is almost incrediform gallantry and good conduct as an officer in ble; yet it has crept upon us so gradually, said Army," for which the thanks of Congress and little notice has been taken of it. that but Ten officers of the line, principally subalterns, the enormous and useless expense to which they were allowed by the law of 1821, to hold appoint- have subjected the country, must all be considered ments as Assistant Quarter Masters, and receive separately and fully before their extent and enora small addition to their pay for doing duty in that mity can be made to appear in a proper light. The department; this appointment, however, conferred act of Congress of the 23rd of August, 1842, no rank, and as we have as many, or more subal- served as a slight check, and stopped one of the teras performing the same duty now, and for which leaks through which the treasury was being exthey receive no pay, that number has been very hausted. As some member remarked, in debate properly omitted in the table. If we but deduct on that bill," we had a double ration post in every the Medical and Pay Departments, which have second or third room of the war office building," barely kept pace with the line, the rapid, unneces- and a law, intended to cover expenses necessarily sary and enormous increase of our staff is astound- incurred by military commanders, was, by an enoring. But little short of 700 per cent., during a mous construction, made to increase the already time, when the Army, to which it is, or ought to enormous pay of at least half our staff officers. be, merely an appendage, has only increased about Yet, strange as it may appear, the influence of 28 per cent. The number of officers in the line these gentlemen in Congress was so great, and has not increased in that ratio, forty Lieutenants of their opportunities in Washington so favorable, that Artillery having been discontinued in adding the they convinced the Chairman of the Military Comthree new regiments. The increase of these staff mittee in the House of the injustice done them by gentlemen in number, is by no means the greatest cutting off their allowances. In a conversation burden the Army has to bear. Look at their rank. with the honorable Chairman but a short time after Where is there an Army on the face of the globe the passage of the law, he expressed his regret, having more General and field officers by one half that the section referred to had found its way into in its staff than it has in the line? I will venture the bill, and was astonished beyond measure, when the assertion, that no other Army can be found, answered, that it was the only redeeming feature having even one fourth as many. If we consider of his whole bill of abominations. This subject this enormous increase in rank as well as numbers, will be resumed in my next, when I hope to preand also, that the officers of all these departments sent a few statistics in proof of the above asserreceive cavalry pay and allowances, we shall find, tions. that the actual expense of our staff, with the two previous exceptions, as compared with that of 1821, has increased at least 1,500 per cent., whilst that of the liue has not exceeded 25 per cent. In the laudable ambition of your friend, Mr. McKoy, to reduce the expenditures of the government, let him not overlook these foul stains on our military legislation. But let him be careful upon whom he relies for information, and if any calls are made on the Washington City Army, the Staff Bureaux, let them be for facts, and not for the gilded pills which have been so long used in gulling the people and their representatives. I will not pretend to assert, that the staff of our Army, as organized in 1821, would be sufficient for the wants of the service at present; on the contrary, I am convinced it would not; yet I do contend, that our present staff is too ponderous for so frail a body to bear, and unless we are relieved of a part of it, the line must sink, exhausted under its weight. A glance at the Quarter Master's and Commissary's Departments, where we find mere drivers of mules, and slayers of bullocks clothed with the military rank, and eligible to the command of Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, Majors and Captains, must convince the military eye of this fact. A SUBALTERN. From the proceedings in the House of Representatives, I have just seen a move thus early, by the indomitable and persevering McKoy, the worthy Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, to ferret out the abuses and corruptions in our Army. I hail him as a friend, and, with his consent, will unite with him in the righteous cause, "foot to foot, hand to hand, heart to heart." Through you, I respectfully ask his attention to the table above, and the comments following it. In my next, I hope to present him with some truths, told by figures too, which will afford him grounds for reducing his appropriation bills hundreds of thousands. The inquiries which he has made, are, many of them, very pertinent; but a want of knowledge on details, prevents the possibility of his striking at the seat of corruption. My object will be to remove the veil, expose the cancer, and afterwards assist in holding the patient, whilst he applies the knife. The Army proper, that is, the duty portion, invites scrutiny; and will rejoice to a man over the exposures which can be made, and which have only slumbered for want of champions and a The gross abuses which have crept into our service, in regard to these corps-the deception channel. The latter I have found, and I hail with which has been practised to conceal these abuses-no little pleasure the approach of the former. the odium which has been brought upon the whole Army through their instrumentality--and, finally, A SUB. THE "TABLEAUX.”—A DREAM. SHAKSPEARE BY H. P. VASS. PART I. WITH TRAGEDY AND COMEDY. How sweet the magic strains fell o'er my ear, Now quick and gay-now sad as Beauty's tear And as the varied harmony I heard. Lo! in the midst a god-like form appeared; Upon his lofty brow, immortal Fame Had stamped the deathless glory of his name. A fairy form now beckons him away; "The intention of these verses, was to commemorate a Gazed on the smiling dimples of her cheek, Fain would he go-yet, still he seemed to stay little exhibition at our boarding house, in which several And heard her voice in winning accents speak. of the young ladies and gentlemen took part. The object "Oh come with me," the maiden seemed to say, of the performance, was to personate any picture, or sub"And sweetest flowers shall strew thy joyous way,ject, which might be selected as interesting, the different characters assuming the dress and attitude proper to illus. And bright-eyed nymphs for thee the wreath entwine. Come to my bower where mirth and music join, trate the scene; and remaining (while the curtain is drawn) There happy fairies trip along the green, motionless in that position, so as to give their figures and And ever fadeless blooms the smiling scene; costume the appearance of a painting, or rather, of statuary. Then come with me"--but hark! a mournful sigh That part of the room, in which the spectators sit, is darkened, and a number of brilliant lights, so shaded and dis-O'er her white robe, and from her brow so fair, Stills the sweet voice-another form drew nigh, posed at the sides of the stage as to throw a strong light upon the figures, which renders the illusion very perfect and beautiful, if the parts are well sustained by the performers. A number of pieces were thus performed, and much admired. Among them, were the three subjects to which my dream refers. The first representation, discovered the bust of Shakspeare, elevated on a pedestal, with the Genius of Comedy and Tragedy on either side, arrayed in the costumes, and assuming the look and attitude appropriate to those characters-the first, with a smiling face, is in the act of crowning the immortal bard with a wreath of flowers, and seems to claim the poet as her favorite-while the more melancholy, but not less interesting Genius of Tragedy demands his attention by her tears, and the wild and hopeless despair which agitates her beautiful features. The great dramatist, equally sympathizing with each of his fair attendants, is supposed to remain transfixed and uncertain to which party he should vow allegiance. The next character, to which the verses have reference, was sustained by a young lady, arrayed in the Greek costume, and the last subject of the dream, is the well known story of Virginius, the Roman Father. Having written the poetical description of the first scene, and presented it to my fair colleagues of the "Tableaux," they were pleased to express their approbation of my lines and requested me to continue the subject, so as to embrace all the pieces performed, but fearing that my dream would thus extend to a tedious, or at least an unnatural length, I selected only the three subjects to which my verses refer. It will be perceived, that I have indulged my fancy in giving action and words to some of the characters which was not the case in the representation-but I look upon this as an acknowledged poetical license, which perhaps does not require an apology." The sun's last rays were fading in the West, I laid me down and viewed the quiet scene- Streamed the dark tresses of her raven hair; With courteous action, mournfully and slow, But oh! while thus I gazed with brief delight, - PART II. THE GREEK GIRL. My dream was changed-far o'er the Ægean sea, Lo! in a bower with sweetest flowers entwined, ' |