We do not much wonder at such passages as we allude to being quoted
here, for, like many of those transatlantic extravagances which have
now attained the distinctive name of "Americanisms," they certainly
form rather amusing reading; but it requires only a very superficial
inspection of these tirades, to see that they no more reflect the real
tone of American opinions or American sympathies, than the harangues
of the United Irishmen or of Conciliation Hall represent the feelings,
judgments, or wishes of the Irish nation. Doubtless, among the less
intelligent classes of the community, and the "Suisses" of the Press,
on both sides of the Atlantic, there is abundance of rancour and bad
feeling, in some cases the offspring of mere ignorance, in others of
bad faith, disguised under the cloak of nationality and patriotism:
but among the educated and the thoughtful portion of the public, and
among the higher organs of periodical literature in both countries, a
very different spirit is evidently gaining ground. A feeling of mutual
respect, a spirit of cordiality is every day becoming more apparent,
as the conviction of the common interest of the two countries becomes
more palpable; and a union is gradually in the course of formation,
which the storms that are agitating the rest of Europe will only tend,
we trust, to cement and confirm. How, indeed, should it be otherwise?
How, at least, should it _long continue_ to be otherwise? For what
country but Great Britain has ever sent forth from its bosom such a
colony as now forms the United States of America? What colony could
ever look back upon a loftier lineage than America, when, comparing
her own wide and thriving domains with many of the sinking empires of
Europe, she remembers her British descent, and feels, in a thousand
traces of blood and thoughts and habits and morals, her connexion with
"the inviolate island of the sage and free."
INDEX TO VOL. LXIII.
Abercrombie, general, 430.
Aberdeen, kidnapping in, 612.
Ackland, colonel, 335, 336,
--his death, 339.
Ackland, lady Harriet, 336, _et seq._
Acre, defence of, by Sir Sidney Smith, 323.
Aids to Reflection, criticism on the, 702.
Agricultural produce, importation of, 11
--classes, present state of, 655.
Alaimo de Sentini, 592
--defence of Messina by, 595
--his death, 602.
Alba, battle of, 450.
Alexander, emperor of Russia, sketch of career of, 133, 135, _et seq._
Alfred, improvement of the English law under, 463.
Allen, Ethan, exploits of, 430.
America, periodical literature of, 106
--copyright in, 127
--feeling in, towards England, 780.
Angler's Companion, Stoddart's, review of, 673.
Armstrong, Johnny, execution of, 305.
Army, &c., Cobden on the, 261.
Arnold, Benedict, exploits of, 332, 336, 430.
Athole, earl of, murder of, 300.
Atterbury, bishop, 471.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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