"Nor rough, nor barren, are the winding ways His calm benevolent features; let the light Stream on his deeds of love, that shunn'd the sight Of all but heaven, and in the book of fame The glorious record of his virtues write, And hold it up to men, and bid them claim A palm like his, and catch from him the hallowed flame." Bryant. Sands. STEREOTYPED BY JAMES CONNER. PUBLISHED BY ELAM BLISS, No. 107 Broadway. Ea NEW YOUR PUBLIC LIBRARY 159261 ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS. 1899. Southern District of New-York, ss. BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the 8th day of October, A. D. 1829, in the fifty-fourth year of the Independence of the United States of America, SAMUEL L. KNAPP, of the said District, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as author, in the words following, to wit: "Lectures on American Literature, with remarks on some passages of American History. By Samuel L. Knapp. "Nor rough, nor barren, are the winding ways His calm benevolent features; let the light Of all but heaven, and in the book of fame The glorious record of his virtues write, And hold it up to men, and bid them claim A palm like his, and catch from him the hallowed flame." "The freshness of that past shall still Sacred to memory's holiest musings be." Bryant Sands." In conformity to the act of Congress of the United States, entitled, "An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time therein mentioned." And also to an Act, entitled, "An Act, supplementary to an Act, entitled, an Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and ex tending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." FRED. J. BETTS, Clerk of the Southern District of New-York. Ludwig & Tolefree, Printers. ΤΟ WILLIAM AUSTIN SEELY, ESQ. COUNSELLOR AT LAW. MY DEAR SIR, To you, who, amid the cares of a full practice in a laborious and an allabsorbing profession, surrounded by clients and engaged in courts, have found time, by system and method, to collect the literature and science of every age, and to taste, most liberally, of their sweets, I respectfully dedicate this humble volume, in which I have attempted to describe, by a few faint sketches, and with some passing remarks, the literature, the talents, and the character of our ancestors. I have taken this liberty, because I was confident that you would favour the effort, whatever might be its success with the publick, as you understood the motives which called it forth; and for another reason, which is, that I know you are among the number who are anxious that we, as a people, should speak freely and justly of ourselves, and honestly strive to place our claims to national distinction on the broad basis of well authenticated historical facts; this would soon be accomplished, if all our able and enlightened scholars would come forward to aid the few who are toiling in the cause yet, with a few exceptions, our pride has rather led us to make spirited retorts, than laborious researches, for an answer to those who question our literary and scientifick character:-The work I now present you and the publick, is only offered as the opening argument of junior counsel, in the great cause instituted to establish the claims of the United States to that intellectual, literary, and scientifick eminence, which we say, she deserves to have, and ought to maintain; and in this, I have attempted but little more than to state my points, name my authorities, and then have left the whole field for those abler advocates who may follow me. To be thought by you, and those like you, capable of judging, that I have opened the cause fairly, and made out a respectable brief to hand to others, will be sufficient praise for me; I will not, in these few lines, devoted to personal respect and friendship, enter far into my plans, or fully express my hopes; but leaving these for time to develop, or for your private ear, I will only add my sincere prayers that your life may be long, and continued as happy and prosperous as it has heretofore been, and that your generous exertions, of every kind, may at all times meet with a just measure of gratitude, the richest recompense a high mind can receive. Your obliged friend and humble servant, SAMUEL L. KNAPP. November, 1829. |