Retrefpecl of American Literature—Politics, 
recommends itfelf by the curious carica- 
tures, with which it is accompanied. 
** Tralien ;—a Journal relative to Italy, 
by ReuFeur and TsCHARNER, two 
German literati travelling through that 
country, {till meets the approbation of the 
reading public. To ScHEDiUS’s loug 
eftablifhed «© Zeitfchrift von und fur Un- 
garn;"—which is principally devoted to 
ee ee 
ee 
——— 
the hiftory, geography, and literature of 
Hungary ; a new one has been added, 
entitled ** Ein Patriotifches Wochen- 
blatt,”—-the principal object of which is 
the diffufion of generally uleful know. 
ledge, and the encouragement of every 
thing that may tend to promote the pro{~ 
perity and happineds of the country, 
HALF-YEARLY RETROSPECT OF AMERICAN LITERATURE, 
Ren 
POLITICS. 
fH HE people of the United States of 
i America poffefs, or, at leaft, fup- 
pofe that they poffeis, fome political blef- 
fings peculiar tothemfelves. Not to men- 
tion the ftructure of their Government, 
which will be varioufly eftimated. among 
political theorifts, and which it would be 
unfeatonable now to difculs, they confider 
themfelves as fingularly fortunate in their 
territorial pofition, and in the adminiftra- 
tion of their public affairs. In addition 
tothe kindnefs of nature, in fevering them, 
by a wide ocean, from the everlafting agi- 
tations and hoftilities of the old Conti- 
nent, they find themfelves feated in a re- 
gion which fupplies them, directly or in- 
directly, with all the neceffaries and luxu- 
ries of life ia the greateft profufion, and 
which provides for the extenfion and per- 
manency of their happinefs by an almoft 
indefinite increafe of their numbers. They 
find themlelves at peace with all the 
world (except the feeblett’ and molt con- 
temptible of the piratical States of Bar- 
bary), with the proipe&t of its long conti- 
nuance. With the great Powers of Eu- 
rope they ftand connected by relations 
which are likely long to preferve the pre-~ 
fent fate of amity and beneficial inter- 
courfe. Nothing but necefficy will drive 
the United States into war ; and there is 
good ground to believe, thatevery enligh:- 
ened nation will paufe and confider ma- 
turely the points of variance, before they 
provoke this neceffity into action. The 
acquifition of Louifiana confers the fove- 
reignty of a valtly extended territory, and 
the-exclufive commerce of the greateft 
river of North America. Spain has 
wilely withdrawn her objeétions to the 
ceffion of this country, and has now only 
to adjuft queftions concerning limits, 
which the Government of the United 
States will always be difpofed to difcufs 
on liberal and amicable terms. The 
wifdom of contracting for the purchale of 
this immenfe country, particularly wien 
the previous extent of the United States is 
confidered, has indeed been denied by 
many perfons whole opinions are entitled 
to great refpect. But the evils to be ap- 
prehended ‘ain this meafure are diftant, 
contingent, and, by judicious manage- 
ment, may probably be obviated ; while 
thofe which were to be feared from Loui- 
fiana remaining in the hands of France, 
or being wreited from her by conquett, 
were Numerous, great, imminent, and un. 
avoidable. 
Befides the circumftances of national 
profperity already mentioned, the United 
States have done, and are now doing, 
much towards conciliating and fecuring 
the friendfhip of the tribes of Indians fet- 
tled and occupying territories of great ex- 
tent within their jurifdi¢tion. By treat- 
ing thefe people with juttice and mildnefs, 
by refpecting their cuftoms and prejudices, 
by accommodating their wants, and efpe- 
‘cially by introducing among them the 
arts of civilized lite, trom natural enemies’ 
they are.converted into friends, and are 
rapidly laying afise the ferocioufnefs 
which belongs to the favage ftate. This 
triumph of juftice and humanity over vio- 
lence and fraud, is now become fo con{pi- 
cuous, as to be acknowledged by every ob- 
ferver of public affairs. What was for- 
merly too often obtained from the Indians 
by war, bloodfhed, and rapine, is now 
amicably yielded through the medium of 
negociation, and all parties participate in’ 
the bleflings of the improvement. 
The opulence, power, and refources, of 
the people of the United States, -increafe 
as rapidly as their numbers. Compara- 
tively only a {mall portion of their terris 
tory is cleared of the foreft-trees with © 
which it was originally overfpread; the 
chief part is itil] referved for the enterprife 
and diligence of fuch as are inclined to 
improve their circumftances and form efta- 
blifhments for their children. How long 
will 
