BOOKS.

COLLEY GRATTAN'S CIVILIZED AMERICA.*

Ammorron Mr. Colley Grattan's opinions of and speculations on the United States, as already intimated, do not take the form of regular narrative, so much as disquisitions on a succession of s-filljlesets, yet these discussions are founded in some degree on successive tours. He lands at New York in 1839 and gives his impressions of the Empire City ; he goes on to Boston ; observing the appearance of things and people as he passes ; and impelled by fashion and the fiery heat follows the Bostonians tothe watering place of Nahant. As Consul to Massachausetts, Boston was of course Mr. Grattan's head-quarters, and the city and country whence he deduces his more general conclusions on manners, modes of living, national characteristics, and similar topics. He•visits Washington more than once ; he made several excursions

to the South ; and though the accounts of these and similar trips do not exactly take the regular narrative form, the more striking cities and features en route are touched upon ; and often made the occasion for the discussion of questions more appropriate to the locality than Boston would be. So it is with persons. Web- ster is brought before the reader in reference to some Boston ora- tions; Calhoun in connection with Washington and the Senate,

and so this place has its advantages. It gives occasion and life to the discussions, and introduces them naturally, besides con- necting them with a sort of story. Drawbacks, however, accom-

pany the plan or its execution. Although the author starts his disquisition as it were from a certain locality or state, the extent or the limitation of his views is not always clear. Neither is the chronology ever distinct ; we are not certain at times, for example whether he is speaking of his first arrival, or the latter part of his sojourn, or of conclusions drawn or modified since his return. For example, he says that general opinion and private feeling are averse to a man spending his income lavishly, or, more exactly, " stylishly " ; and this may be true of Boston twenty years ago, or possibly now. It certainly was not lately, of New York ; where ostentatious expense appears to have been the rule, very often without the income ; and Mr. Grattan himself marks the distinction on one of his visits to New York. These discrepancies are also at times marked in foot-notes ; but in these days of in- cessant demands upon attention, and with the myriads of books that have been published on America, we scarcely wish to read a text, which a comment tells us is no longer true.

Some of the facts or information, especially with regard to be- haviour, as smoking, spitting, and the like, are not novel ; but an under-current of theory more or less visible, gives novelty or application to many of the questions treated, whether they are large or small. Thus, in Mr. Grattan's opinion, the United States should cease to trouble themselves about history or Europe. They cannot achieve European forms of polities still less Euro- pean social systems. Those (very often vulgar) parvenus who long for aristocratical distinctions, are not in any way fitted for them; and if they were the power of public opinion renders their attainment impossible. The extent of their unoccupied territory with the economical considerations that spring from it—the na- ture of their laws, and above all their manners, opinions, and social condition, should induce the Americans to make up their minds, to a career of quiet, plenty, and comfort, a sort of jog-trot happiness, where though there may be inequality of wealth there will be no real want—this last opinion may now be doubted, as

ds the great towns. Literature, learning, arts, manners, the regards

refined ideas and lofty sentiments of life, Americans cannot at- tain, and they may as well make up their minds to abandon the hope. Mediocrity in the higher pursuits of national life, is the quality with which they must rest satisfied. This mediocrity is advantageous for the mass ; and in some other respects; but it is fatal to intellectual excellence or individual originality. "The varieties of human nature all round or below me were not so marked. Oharacter seemed moulded, for the time, into one regular standard, as though the weight and measure of each separate mind had a national stamp affixed to them, to give them a common value. There was difference of counten- ance, but sameness of expression. So it was as to cloth, in distinction from costume. The features of the many faces were finer or coarser, as the fabrics of the garments worn by their possessors. But one unvarying cut and pat- tern was seen throughout ; and it was, both as to mere humanity and its covering, of a very ordinary kind. The tone of the men and women was common-place; the fashion of their dress the same. Equality was more evident than liberty, in as far as the latter implies the power of gratifying individual whim or fancy. The movements of all were as nearly as possible alike. There was nothing curved or angular in any of their actions. They walked in straight lines, sat erect on the stools or benches, smoked their cigars and spat on the upper, and chewed their quids and spat on the lower deck, or read their newspapers and spat in the cabin, and had their drinks' and spat at the bar,' with a marvellous regularity. It was, take it all in all, a most curious specimen of living mechanism, completed and brought into action by the irresistible force of public opinion and general habit. But the first aspect of this monotony was imposink, and it created a certain feel- ing of respect, which being partaken by each individual in regard of his fel- lows, was sure to be returned to him by the mass. The total absence of everything discourteous, of quarrelling, disputation, and cursing, of vehe- ment language or violent gesticulation, gave to every group of talkers the air of a knot of business men transacting their affairs; and the journey, by water or land, seemed merely a link in the various mercantile transactions which took them from or brought them back to home. No man in the steamboat or the railroad ears (as the carriages are everywhere called) had the slightest appearance of a traveller for pleasure's sake. Some of our • Civilized America. By Thomas Colley Crattan,late her Britannic Majesty's Consul for the State of Massachusetts ; Honorary Member of the American Insti- tute, Scc., Scc. Author of "A History of the Netherlands," "Highways and Byways," &c. In two volumes. Published by Bradbury and Evans. fellow passengers in the British Queen ' accompanied us to Boston, and re- lieved the dulness which might otherwise have become oppressive."

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"Nor must this general deficiency in a high order of sentiment or infor- mation, or the inability to appreciate fully these qualities in English gen- tlemen, be made a reproach to the class of men in question [American gentlemen]. It should be remembered that they are for the most part drawn from pursuits of an inferior order, to fill a station for which they have re- ceived small culture, and that in a generation or two the most leading fami- lies very generally sink back to their original lowness. It is quite painful to observe at present the striking change for the worse in most of the sons of the men from sixty to eighty years of age who are now fast dropping off from the scene. But painful as this degeneracy is, in an individual point of view, it would be far better for the country at large were these weak scions of good old stems aware of their inferiority, and content to become merged in the general mediocrity (I am forced to reiterate the word) to which every- thing in the United States is tending."

According to Mr. Grattan the acknowledged irresistible power of the majority, not only produces the uniformity he notices, but great timidity of individual character. When singly, or in social groupes men dare not even or do not venture upon a joke. But when Americans are gathered into masses or meetings, then they are bold and animated enough. Whatever the cause of this may be, there seems some truth in the opinion. Indeed it is only on some such ground that the extreme, not to say rampant violence of American orators and public meetings is explainable ; followed as it mostly is by disproportionate results, or nothing.

"Let the Yankees congregate for any specific purpose—and no people on earth are so prone to assemble in large bodies—and they become the most excitable and enterprising people in the world. Their pent up feelings all then find vent. The caution which held them back singly degenerates into fear of now being behind-hand. Each man is anxious to take the lead. At their public dinners, suppers, caucuses, stump meetings, camp meetings, con- ventions, in Congress, in the State Legislature—wherever, in short, they come together in masses, they show surprising ardour. Individuals who in private society are prolix and prosy, become on these occasions brisk and fluent. The timid shake off their caution; .the taciturn are all at once talkative ; the men of doubts and apprehensions fearless and often despe- rate. There can be no better audience for a public speaker to address. A spurious but fierce enthusiasm arises on the slightest stimulus. While it lasts it carries all before it. Resolutions or subscriptions, as the case may be, are passed or filled up with reckless rapidity. Each man is emulous to out-talk or outbid his neighbour. Thus it is that doctrines of the most ultra nature in politics morals, and religion are put forth, and the most extravagant projects entered into by acclamation. The wildest speculations are decided on in this way, and a union of over-cautious individuals forms an aggregate of over-adventurous people."

Connected with his vehement and sudden impulsiveness is an- other quality, which we remember to have seen noticed by some visitor to the Californian gold fields. Americans are easily dash- ed by difficulties ; and as ready to abandon undertakings as to embark in them. Mr. Grattan, according to his usage, indicates the cause.

"But fearful consequences ensue as soon as difficulties arise. Individuals have then no confidence in others any more than in themselves. As soon as differences of opinion spring up—as they must always do in large under- takings—the principle of general distrust begins its work; and every man doubts, fears, and thwarts his fellow. Great undertakings are thus followed by total failure ; and men of wealth become penniless, from having given way to the force of example. The masses can resist no temptation, and they often become themselves irresistible. Hurried away without control, they sweep all obstacles from their path ; and it is only when their object is attained that they find it leads to loss, and too often to ruin. Enormous plans for money-making, either in local or distant adventures, turn out to be feasible as to execution, but fallacious as to profit. And it is quite mar- vellous to see persons who singly rail at speculation and set their faces akainst enterprise fall resistless victims to the epidemic as soon as they mix with the infected crowd."

This under-current of theory is found even in the chapter on servants. The author's general facts in reference to the inde- pendence and what are called "airs" of helps, are not novel ; though some particular examples may be ludicrous, looked at from the funny point of view. But the principle he starts from gives a sort of originality to his survey. "Disguise it as we may under all the specious forms of reasoning, there is something in the mind of every man which tells him he is humiliated in doing personal service to another; no matter though necessity may force him to its adoption or avarice reconcile him to its continuance, he must often feel a throb and a blush as the recollection of the truth flashes across him. And in the mood which follows, in the very teeth of distress or danger, he will give involuntary vent to his feelings, often unjustly, to the injury of the employer, who is guiltless of the cause and unconscious of its existence. How few masters in a thousand have a notion that, do what they can for their domestics., those persons labour under an inward sense of degradation that at times disqualifies them for the duty they are perhaps well disposed to perform ! "

Contrary to the general opinion he maintains that this feeling is stronger in Europe than in America. In the latter, as the Chan- cellor of France said at the opening of the States General, "all occupations are honourable." The American man or woman feels no more degredation in going out to help, than in undertaking any other employment. It is a simple matter of calculation; whether helpingness is better than any thing else at that time $‘ convenient." The helps, however, make stringent stipulations; women it would seem more than men, some requiring that the lady of the house shall assist in certain kinds of work ; and all taking those liberties as to going out, dressing, and the like with which. countless tourists have rendered us familiar. Mr. like, however, conceives the native American forms the best servant in the country ; in some respects the best servant of any country.

Everything has satisfied me that, if well treated, the native Americans arc the best servants in the country., and, according to my experience, the best I have ever known in the qualities which I consider among the most essential. They are regular, quiet, good-tempered, sober ; all knowing how to read and write, and every one looking forward to some better condition in life, for which they seem to prepare themselves by economy and good

conduct. They are not conscious of having forfeited their self-respect, from the manner in which they choose to view their condition in comparison with that of their employers. They can consequently afford, without any sacri- fice of self-importance, to be respectful to those whom they serve. It is only those who wince under the sensitiveness I have before described, and sensitiveness is rare in the Yankee temperament, who give themselves relief by insolence to others. Native American servants undoubtedly take great liberties in comparison with those of Europe as to the distribution of their time."

This sort of independence on the part of native servants occa- sions a kind of mental jar with their employers, the majority of whom prefer putting up with the Irish, as they admit and show they feel their master's superiority. At the very best, however, ladies keeping house have an arduous time of it; and Mr. Grat- tan's account is supported by Miss Johnson's incidental complaints in her "Peasant Life in Germany."

"Ladies keeping houses in America are indeed little better than upper servants. The whole superintendence of the in-door work depends on them. And very often do they assist in all that is going on, in laundry, pantry, nursery, and kitchen. The husbands invariably go to market. No woman does any of that essential business beyond giving an order at the 'grocery' or the provision store.' It is not easy to know the secrets of the scheme of domestic economy, followed by so very close and cautious a community. But a strict avoidance of needless expense, a great distrust of servants, and a mean system of locking up and doling out, are, I am inclined to believe, its general characteristics, though there, I am satisfied, many exceptions exist. The cook is a very independent and irresponsible person. She has none of the importance of housekeeping, but she is without its cares ; little being required from her, she has little to look after ; the meals of the family prepared, her time is her own. Between the regular hours she goes where she chooses, and if she be a person of the least pretensions in her profession she fixes her own time for everything, and upon the slight- est deviation from the arrangement, which might interfere with her plans for going to meeting on Sunday or to lectures on week days, she quits her place without notice, frequently while the dinner is half dressed and the

company waiting for it in vain. ' •

As bad an opinion is passed upon the eminent men of America, as upon the Americans in general. Webster made so poor an im- pression on several occasions, that Mr. Grattan cannot account for

; and can only ascribe it to waning faculties. He says that "Bancroft the historian is on account of his political tendencies, even more than his shifting and frivolous character, shunned [by the people of Boston ?] as a black sheep, against whom the white sheep of the opposite party are afraid to rub.' Of Story he says that his "ardent loquacity and amiable egotism made him a com- panion highly agreeable to meet with occasionally." Of Prescott he speaks better ; as being "far beyond the common run of his compatriots [and] an amiable man. He rates Channing higher than any other public man he met with except Clay; though he affirms of the great Unitarian that "a ,prophet in our country [he] was but a pamphleteer in his own. Clay, to whom he de- votes a chapter, is the only man to whom he gives large and un- grudging praise for high qualities of head and heart, and wonder-

ful of fascination ; though the grounds of the last do not distinctly appear. There is interest in the first interview.

"When I first met this eminent man in Washington, in the spring of 1840, he was in his sixty-third year. lie was then still in his prime alka great public character, as senator, orator, and candidate for the office of President; besides being the life and soul of society, mixing familiarly with the circles he adorned, and throwing a charm over the amenities of private life. I brought him a letter of introduction, and he received me in his bedroom, in the boarding-house where he lived and messed,' with the families of Mr. Henderson of Georgia, a brother senator, and Mr. Salton- stall, a representative in Congress for one of the districts of Massachusetts. In this first interview with Mr. Clay, in his small and scantily furnished chamber, I occupying the only spare chair, and he carelessly sitting on the bedside ;Her full two hours' talk, on subjects of serious importance at that moment to the 'United States and England, I felt that I had been in close intercourse with one of the world's celebrities, and assuredly one of the most fascinating of mankind. Daily during my stay at that period, I met Mr. Clay, either in his own house—so to call the residence shared with his equally hospitable friends—or at the many parties which were given just then. There were no topics of public interest respecting which he did not afford me great and valuable information. The North-Eastern boundary dis- pute, of which I have already said so much, was at that time (previous to Lord Ashburtou's mission) very prominent ; and the subject was pushed to a very dangerous length, by the virulent speeches of inferior men, such as Caleb Cushing, and others, with whom hatred of England was the uppermost

• feeling. "I took an early opportunity of pointing out to Mr. Clay the desirability of his speaking on the question in the Senate, and sending on his authority from the Capitol hill some words of conciliation to the excited country. The next day he spoke ; I unfortunately was not aware of his intention, but he sent to me that same evening to my hotel a corrected copy of the proof- sheets of his speech, which embodied everything that any reasonable British subject could expect such a man in such a position to put forth. I was much gratified and very grateful for this. It completely crushed for the time the paltry efforts of the mischief-makers, and prepared the public mind for the overtures of the British Government, which ended in the treaty of 1842."

More provoking books have been published on America by the Trollope school of critics, and a more sarcastic spirit may have ap- peared in sketches on other classes of subjects than the lady handled. A darker picture than Civilized America, we have not met ; because the author enters upon topics that a passing travel- ler would hardly discuss ; there is often an air of philosophical in- quiry about his manner ; and his delineations go below manners or morals to those feelings of human nature, on which morale and everything else ultimately depend. According to the deductions from Mr. Grattan's long expositions, the real want of the Americans as a people is want of heart, and of humanity—not in the limited sense of mercy or kindliness, but in the general feel- ings, and aspirations of a sentient being, in the position man is placed in. A cold calculating self interest is the fundamental trait, unredeemed by any even aberration of passion, glow of generosity, family affections, or aspiration for national or indi- • dividual greatness, save of a material kind. There is a good deal of inflated rhetoric on such things it is true ; but it is mere talk ; as different from reality as the violence of excitement from the depth of genuine passion. These remarks do not of course apply to individuals, and he admits that among the upper classes of the South, there is no deficiency in warmth, hospitality, or courtesy. Indeed Ms means of forming a close judgment were confined to New England, not extending far into the South, or reaching the West at all. But he says the New England or Yankee element is that which is gradually predominating throughout the Union, and giving its character to the whole people.

How far all this is true we cannot undertake to say. Well known facts contradict the conclusions as to the deficiency Of family affection • but Mr. Grattan may say they are individual exceptions; or that the emotional effusions of numbers are merely sudden impulse ; or an illustration of one of his positions, the difference between Americans as individuals, and. in combination. In some of his discussions on social economy we think a feeling even against persons is occasionally to be traced. Sometimes the fallacy of his conclusion is obvious. Take a slight instance. In America it seems " gentlemanly " is used in the sense of civil, at- tentive, and is consequently applied to persons and conduct to which it would not be in England. But though this may be an impropriety of diction,. it does not prove that gentlemanlike men may not exist inAmernia. They may have the thing, though net our word for it.

In America itself, of course, a portraiture so the reverse of flattering will be received with a feeling of annoyance, and, in this case we imagine, with more than the usual amount of sur- prise. It is indeed true that the Americans have been taught to expect these mementos of English travellers ; though, from the wondering annoyance they show in each fresh case, and the readiness with which they receive the next unpublished new- comer, it seems that they hay,e not yet come to any settled con- victions on the subject. Yet there is something to challenge re- flection, on both sides of the Atlantic, in an interminated succes- sion of books in which each visitor follows his P.P.C. with a most repulsive account of his hosts. The remarkable fact certainly suggests a curious question. Englishmen claim the character of an outspeaking frankness incompatible with simulation or back- biting ; yet how is it that in so many instances the author of the destined book managed, sometimes for years to accept, and to improve, with personal advantage and smiling countenance, the hospitalities that were to be thus requited ?