688 
criticifins, eipecially in the department 
of polite literature. 
‘* The Allgemeine Deutfche Biblio- 
thek’’ has exifted for more than forty 
years, and during the whole of that 
period been under the direction of Mr. 
Nicolai, bookfeller, in Berlin, a man of 
confiderable rank in the Republic of 
Letters. During its long duration, it 
has not always been of equal value: but 
for the laft two years has again rifen con- 
Ketrofped? of American Literature.—Politicse 
fiderably in reputation. In the two 
laft-mentioned journals, the criticifms 
are anonymous, and the names of the 
contributors are carefully concealed. 
In the ** Gelehrte Zeitung,” of Er- 
furt, on the contrary, the Reviewers fign 
their names to the articles they write. 
Perhaps it may be owing to this, that 
in many cafes they thew too much 
lenity. 
7 
HALF-YEARLY RETROSPECT OF AMERICAN LITERATURE. 
ee ae 
POLITICS. 
i i is the grand fubje& which prin- 
cipally intere&s the minds of men 
in the United States of America. The 
form of the Government, the habits of 
the people, and the wonderful revolu- 
tionary events which have occurred, both 
in America and Europe, within the me- 
mory of the prefent generation, ferve to 
fix their attention more ftrongly on this 
object, and to make it dear to their 
hearts. 
Comparatively, the few laft months have 
piffed away in remarkable tranquillity. 
The general afcendency acquired by the 
Republican over the Federal party 
feems to have extinguifhed much of that 
animofity which might have been expected 
to prevailif thecontentions had been main- 
tained with nearly equal numbers. The 
Jarge, unfhaken, and augmented majorities 
in favour of the Republican intereft, ex- 
hibited at moft of the late elections, evince 
a decifion among the people concerning 
their political fentiments which does not: 
appear likely to be fpeedily reverfed. 
The moft fruitful fource of altercation 
among the parties, for the lait fx months, 
has been the proceedings of the national 
Jeciflature and executive, on the fubjeét of 
the difpute with Spain, concerning New 
Orleans. The fudden withholding of the 
right of depofit at that place, which had 
been folemnly ftipulated by treaty, 
created a ftrong fenfation in the minds of 
the people of the United States. Adoubt, 
however, early arofe whether this un- 
warrantable aét originated from the In- 
tendant of Louifiana, or from the Spa- 
nith court. While this queftion re- 
maired undecided, the Government of 
the United States deemed it more advifa- 
ble to attempt a‘fettlement of the diffe- 
rence by negociation, than abruptly to 
adopt forcible meafures which might lead 
to war. They therefore determined to 
take fuch precautionary and preparatory 
fieps as would provide againft the worft, 
and at the fame time to open a negocia- 
tion. 
But the Oppofition, ‘obferving the popu- 
larity of the economical and other falu- 
tary reforms undertaken by the prefent ad- 
miniftration, and defpairing of all means 
but a foreign war to unhinge a fyfiem 
refting upon fo deep a foundation, em- 
ployed every means in their power to 
precipitate the nation into hoftilities with 
Spain. For this purpofe the difcontents 
and murmurs of the people of the Weftern - 
States, more immediately fuffering the in- 
conveniences and privations refulting from 
the fufpenfion of the depofit at New Or- 
leans, were warmly cherifhed and en- 
couraged ; and hints of no equivocal 
meaning were induftrioufly thrown out, 
that they ought themfelves, without wai- 
ting for the concurrence or authority of 
the Government, to provide a remedy, 
and that a hoftile one, for the exifting re- 
ftriétion on their trade. Thefe fuggef- 
tions, though well calculated to gratify 
the feelings of the moment, obtained no 
fuccefs. The Weltern Siates, ftrongly 
attached to the adminiftration, to repub- 
lican principles, to the authority of the 
conftitution, to Jaw and to order, refufed 
to liften to propofitions fo deftructive to 
every thing that freemen hold moft dear. 
Thus the affair was quietly left to the ope- 
ration of the remonftrances which the Go- 
vernment had early tranfmitted to the 
court of Madrid. 
At length the order of the King of 
Spain arrived, the conduct of the Inten- 
dant was difavowed, and the right of, de- 
polit entirely reftored. Thus the bufinefs 
was terminated with much more difpatch 
than could poffibly have:been done by any 
arrangement of violent meafures, and 
without any breach of the good under- 
ftanding between the two nations. 
The 
a 
