have added that there really is, in the American mind, an impatience of control and constant tendency to resist, that renders government very difficult indeed. It appears. as if America had but two cardinal points in her political creed, derived from the Declaration of Independence, that all men are equal, and therefore no one should be subject to the control of another, and that all in authority tend to be tyrants, and thence the people have the right to resist their governors; and as if it was felt to be a duty, as well as a right, to take every possible opportunity of calling into action these fundamental principles of trans-atlantic government.

The case of "the philosopher of Concord," referred to by the "Courier," well illustrates this spirit of resistance. This was a Mr. Sanborn, a teacher of that place, who, backed by other philosophers and the House of Representatives, at Boston, had the honour and glory of bidding defiance to the Senate of the United States. A committee of that body had been. appointed to inquire and report as to the John Brown insurrection at Harper's Ferry, with power to send for persons and papers. The committee proceeded to summon as witnesses various parties, who, it appeared, had been in communication with Brown, with the view of

throwing some light on the subject. Of the persons summoned, or expecting to be summoned, some found it convenient to disappear, others gave evidence under protest. Mr. Sanborn was bolder; he would neither testify nor run away. Having paid no attention to the summons, the sergeant-at-arms was instructed to bring him before the House, and an officer was sent by the sergeant to arrest him. The officer went to Mr. Sanborn's house in the evening with a carriage and several assistants, and Mr. Sanborn refusing to go with them. peaceably, they were dragging him by force to the vehicle, when his cries brought down his sister; she called out "murder" most lustily, alarmed the neighbours, and it is said, got the whip and lashed the horses, so that the marshal's men were occupied in holding them, and he could not force Sanborn into the carriage alone. Soon the crowd who had gathered protected him, till some one ran to a judge's and got a writ of habeas corpus, which a deputysheriff served, and took the prisoner from the hands of the marshal. On this writ, Sanborn was brought before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, at Boston, and liberated on the ground that the sergeant-at-arms must execute the warrant himself, and cannot, unless

E

specially authorized, depute to another the duty of arresting a recusant witness. It was understood that there were innumerable other pleas for resistance in reserve. This might be good law, but it is remarkable that the Senate proceeded no further in the matter; that the House of Representatives at Boston took it up and evinced a determination to support Sanborn, even while the question was in the hands of the judges; that at a public meeting at Concord, resolutions were passed, justifying Sanborn's resistance, declaring that "resistance to tyrants is obedience to God," and organizing a Vigilance Committee to protect him for the future; while it is also said that determined and wellarmed men attended the court, and had carriages ready outside, to rescue him and carry him off, should the decision have been adverse to him.

It was with great regret that I observed many evidences of this turbulent and disloyal spirit in Massachusetts. That little republic is the gem of America; one sees there so much to praise, so much to excite admiration and respect, so complete and highly-finished a piece of workmanship in state-craft, that one is sorry to find its perfection marred by any serious defect. A book might be filled with descriptions of the

excellent institutions for government, police, reformation of juvenile offenders, education, literary and scientific research, collection of statistics, and the general advancement of all classes; betokening a humane and highly enlightened spirit pervading the whole body of the people. In the Legislature and Law Courts, in its celebrated Harvard University, and its admirable system of public schools, in its literary, scientific, and historical societies, its public libraries and lectures, its periodical press, and the more enduring literature it produces, its men of science, historians, statesmen, its enterprising merchants, bankers, manufacturers, its neat, clean, cheerful-looking towns, its well-cultivated fields, and trim gardens, the numerous common roads, railroads, docks and harbours, and other public works, one sees innumerable signs of not only an energetic and a thriving population, but of a fine-spirited, well-ordered, intellectual community. And all this-which

* The Newspaper Press of Boston is of a very superior character indeed; and from that fine city emanate the two foremost periodicals of the United States-the "North American Review," and the "Atlantic Monthly;" and one of the best Almanacs in the world-the "American Almanac ;" while the "Massachusetts Annual Registration Report" is one of the most complete things of the kind produced in any country of the world.

will compare favourably with any of the oldest and most highly-civilized States in the worldall this has been created out of the wilderness in little more than two hundred years! Massachusetts is truly a model republic; admirable in itself, its influence for good has spread over the whole of that vast country, to which it sets a thousand excellent examples; if it could add one more, that of respect for the law and the government, it would be almost perfect.

Nothing is more striking to an Englishman, accustomed to the respect for, and instant submission to, the law, which prevail in Britain, than the turbulent disregard of the legal authorities and their decisions evinced in the British Colonies and the United States. A remarkable instance occurred in Nova Scotia lately.

A leading member of the government was convicted of bribery by the Election Committee that tried the case. This was a terrible blow to the government; they had but a doubtful majority of only two or three, and one vote lost might be ruin. Besides, this was by far the most respectable man of the party; his character and standing were of even more consequence to them than his vote. It was determined to support him at all hazards. It did