201 

 IMPRESSIONS OF AMERICA. 



BY TYROME POWUIl, ESQ. 2 VOLS. 8V0. BEMTLEY. 



** I SEEK, then," (Tyrone Power, loquitur) " to describe America 

 as I saw it, a mighty country, in the enjoyment of youth, and 

 health, and possessing ample room and time for the growth 

 which a few escapades incident to inexperience and high blood 

 may retard, but cannot prevent. Heaven has written its des- 

 tinies in the gigantic dimensions allotted to it, and it is not in 

 the power of earth to change the record. 



" I seek to describe its people as I saw them, clear-headed, 

 energetic, frank, and hospitable; a community suited to, and 

 labouring for, their country's advancement, rather than for their 

 own present comfort. This is, and will be, their lot for, pro- 

 bably, another generation." 



FEELINGS ON LEAVING HOME. 



** When one first contemplates a voyage of many thousand 

 miles, attended with long absence, loss of old associates, together 

 with all the charms of home and country, but always sorely 

 missed when no longer within call; one is yet, and this through 

 no lack of sensibility, apt to regard the sacrifice about to be made 

 to duty as sufficiently light, and, with the aid of manhood and 

 a little philosophy, easy of endurance. The very task which a 

 resolution of this grave nature necessarily imposes of making as 

 little of the matter as possible to those dear ones, who yield up 

 their fears, and subdue their strong affections, in obedience to 

 your judgment, serves for a time the double purpose of hood- 

 winking oneself, as well as blinding those on whom we seek to 

 practise this kind imposition. Next comes the bustle of getting 

 ready, assisted and cheered by the redoubled attentions of all 

 who love, or feel an interest in one's fortunes. Amidst the 

 excitement, then, of these various feelings, the deep-seated throb 

 of natural apprehension, or home regret, if even felt struggling 

 for expression, is checked or smothered in the loud note of pre- 

 paration. The day of departure is fixed at length, it is true, but ' 

 then it is not yet come. Even when contemplating its near 

 approach, one feels wondrous firm, and most stoically resolved. 

 At last, however, come it does, and now our chief friend 

 Philosophy, like many other friends, is found most weak when 

 most needed. In vain do we invoke his approved maxims, 

 hitherto so glibly dealt out, to silence all gainsayers; yet now 



VOL. VII. — 1836. BB 



