In the year 1805, Frederick Tudor, the brother of William, formed the plan of establishing a new branch of commerce, by the transportation of ice to the tropical climates. The plan was, of course, ridiculed by a large portion of the community; but he persevered. William was sent as his agent to the West Indies; and though many obstacles, as might be expected, were encountered, yet the perseverance of Frederick finally triumphed over all. He established the traffic, acquired in it great affluence, and created for his country an important branch of commerce, of which he was unquestionably the author and founder.

On his return from the West Indies, William Tudor rejoined the Anthology Club, was chosen a member of the Massachusetts Legislature for the town of Boston, and, at the request of its authorities, delivered an oration on the 4th of July, 1809. In 1810, he again went to Europe, in the employ of Stephen Higginson, Jr., an eminent Boston merchant, upon commercial business; but returned, the next year, to devote his time to pursuits more kindred to his genius. Indeed, general literature and the political relations of his country now became the chief objects of his attention; and to open a field for the discussion of these subjects, he formed, in 1814, the design of establishing the "North American Review," which still continues a noble monument of his industry, intellectual power, and varied learning. In May, 1815, it first made its appearance. Mr. Tudor took upon

of its existence:-Rev. Drs. Gardiner, Kirkland, and McKean, Professor Sidney Willard, Rev. Messrs. Emerson, Buckminster, S. C. Thacher, and Tuckerman; Drs. Jackson, Warren, Gorham, and Bigelow; Messrs. W. S. Shaw, Wm. Tudor, Peter Thacher, Arthur M. Walter, Edmund T. Dana, Wm. Wells, R. H. Gardiner, B. Welles, J. Savage, J. Field, Winthrop Sargent, Thomas Gray, J. Stickney, Alex. H. Everett, J. Head, Jr., and George Ticknor. This work undoubtedly rendered great service to our literature, and aided in the diffusion of good taste in the community. It was one of the first efforts of regular criticism on American books, and it suffered few productions of the day to escape its notice. The writers, of course, received no pay: they worked in this field for the love of it; for the profits of the Review did not pay for their suppers.

The "North American Review" came out, under Mr. Tudor's editorship, in May, 1815. It was published at first every two months, and was thus continued to the twenty-first number, (inclusive,) which was the number for September, 1818. Three numbers constituted a volume: consequently, the first seven volumes are of the bi-monthly issue. With December, 1818, commenced the eighth volume with the quarterly issue. The tenth volume begins with January, 1820, and is called the first of the "new series," probably because it passed over December, in order that the volumes might thenceforth correspond with the years, there being two volumes in the same year. The following have been the editors of this ablest and oldest of American periodicals:

William Tudor............ from May, 1815, to March, 1817, inclusive, 4 vols. Jared Sparks

May, 1817, to March, 1818,

2

66

Edward T. Channing....

66

May, 1818, to Sept.,

1819,

3

Alex. H. Everett........

66

John G. Palfrey.

Francis Bowen............

The Rev. Andrew P. Peabody, of Portsmouth, N. H., still continues the editorship of this review, of whom it is praise enough to say that he fully sustains its previous high reputation.

himself, avowedly, the character of editor, and sustained the work with little external aid. Of the first four volumes, three-fourths of the articles are known to be wholly from his pen.

In 1819, Mr. Tudor published Letters on the Eastern States; in 1821, a volume of Miscellanies; and in 1823, the Life of James Otis, a most instructive and interesting piece of biography, which may indeed be regarded as a history of the times. In the same year, he conceived the design of purchasing the summit of Bunker Hill, and erecting thereon a monument commemorative of the battle. Not having the means himself, he communicated his views to some wealthy friends, and the result was the organization of the "Bunker Hill Monument Association."

In 1823, he was appointed Consul at Lima and the ports of Peru, the duties of which office he discharged with singular ability. There he remained till, in 1827, he received the appointment of Chargé d'Affaires of the United States at Rio Janeiro, where he died on the 9th of March, 1830, of a fever incident to the climate.

In William Tudor, the qualities of the gentleman and the man of business, of the scholar and the man of the world, were so manifestly and so happily blended, that, both in public conduct and private intercourse, his character commanded universal respect and confidence. And when we look at the part he took in sustaining the "Monthly Anthology," at a time when we hardly had any literature of our own, and subsequently as the founder of the "North American Review," and the chief writer of its earlier volumes, we must say that to no one is the cause of American literature more deeply indebted.1

INFLUENCE OF FEMALES ON SOCIETY.

From an accurate account of the condition of women in any country, it would not be difficult to infer the whole state of society. So great is the influence they exercise on the character of men, that the latter will be elevated or degraded according to the situation of the weaker sex. Where women are slaves, as in Turkey, the men will be the same; where they are treated as moral beings, where their minds are cultivated, and they are considered equals, the state of society must be high, and the character of the men energetic and noble. There is so much quickness of comprehension, so much susceptibility of pure and generous emotion, so much ardor of affection, in women, that they constantly stimulate men to exertion, and have at the same time a most powerful agency in soothing the angry feelings, and in mitigating the harsh and narrow propensities, which are generated in the strife of the passions.

The advantages of giving a superior education to women are not confined to themselves, but have a salutary influence on our sex.

Read an excellent sketch of his life in "The History of the Boston Athenæum," by Hon. Josiah Quincy.

The fear that increased instruction will render them incompetent or neglectful in domestic life, is absurd in theory and completely destroyed by facts. Women, as well as men, when once established in life, know that there is an end of trifling; its solicitudes and duties multiply upon them equally fast; the former are apt to feel them much more keenly, and too frequently abandon all previous acquirements to devote themselves wholly to these. But if the one sex have cultivated and refined minds, the other must meet them from shame, if not from sympathy. If a man finds that his wife is not a mere nurse or a housekeeper; that she can, when the occupations of the day are over, enliven a winter's evening; that she can converse on the usual topics of literature, and enjoy the pleasures of superior conversation, or the reading of a valuable book, he must have a perverted taste indeed if it does not make home still dearer, and prevent him from resorting to taverns for recreation The benefits to her children need not be mentioned; instruction and cultivated taste in a mother enhance their respect and affection for her and their love of home, and throw a charm over the whole scene of domestic life.

CHARACTER OF JAMES OTIS.

James Otis was one of the most able and high-minded men that this country has produced He was, in truth, one of the masterspirits who began and conducted an opposition which at first was only designed to counteract and defeat an arbitrary administration, but which ended in a revolution, emancipated a continent, and established, by the example of its effects, a lasting influence on all the governments of the civilized world. He espoused the cause of his country not merely because it was popular, but because he saw that its prosperity, freedom, and honor would be all diminished, if the usurpation of the British Parliament was successful. His enemies constantly represented him as a demagogue, yet no man was less so; his character was too liberal, proud, and honest to play that part. He led public opinion by the energy which conscious strength, elevated views, and quick feelings inspire; and was followed with that deference and reliance which great talents instinctively command. These were the qualifications that made him for many years the oracle and guide of the patriotic party. It was not by supple and obscure intrigues, by unworthy flatteries and compliances, by a degrading adoption of plebeian dress, manners, or language, that he obtained the suffrages of the people, but by their opinion of his uprightness, their knowledge of his disinterestedness, and their conviction of his ability. He vindicated the rights of his countrymen, not in the spirit of a factious tribune, aiming to subvert established authority, but as a Roman

senator, who became the voluntary advocate of an injured province. He valued his own standing, and that of his family, in society, and did not wish a change or a revolution. He acknowledged a common interest with his countrymen, and sacrificed in their support all his hopes of personal aggrandizement. Had he taken part with the administration, he might have commanded every favor in their power to bestow; in sustaining that of his native land, he well knew that his only reward would be the good will of its inhabitants, and the sweet consciousness of performing his duty; and that he must be satisfied with the common lot of great patriotism in all ages,-present poverty and future fame.

In fine, he was a man of powerful genius and ardent temper, with wit and humor that never failed: as an orator, he was bold, argumentative, impetuous, and commanding, with an eloquence that made his own excitement irresistibly contagious; as a lawyer, his knowledge and ability placed him at the head of his profession; as a scholar, he was rich in acquisition, and governed by a classic taste; as a statesman and civilian, he was sound and just in his views; as a patriot, he resisted all allurements that might weaken the cause of that country to which he devoted his life, and for which he sacrificed it. The future historian of the United States, in considering the foundations of American independence, will find that one of the corner-stones must be inscribed with the name of JAMES OTIS.

CAUSE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

The following authentic anecdote on the origin of American taxation may be gratifying to persons who are fond of tracing the currents of events up to their primitive sources, and who know how often changes in human affairs are first put in motion by very trifling causes. When President Adams was minister at the Court of St. James, he often saw his countryman, Benjamin West, the late President of the Royal Academy. Mr. West always retained a strong and unyielding affection for his native land, which, to borrow a term of his own art, was in fine keeping with his elevated genius. The patronage of the king was nobly bestowed upon him; and it forms a fine trait in the character of both, that, when a malicious courtier endeavored to embarrass him, by asking his opinion on the news of some disastrous event to America, in the presence of the king, he replied that he never could rejoice in any misfortune to his native country; for which answer the king immediately gave him his protecting approbation. Mr. West one day asked Mr. Adams if he should like to take a walk with him, and see the cause of the American Revolution. The minister, having known something of this matter, smiled at the proposal,

but told him that he should be glad to see the cause of that revolution, and to take a walk with his friend West anywhere. The next morning he called, according to agreement, and took Mr. Adams into Hyde Park, to a spot near the Serpentine River, where he gave him the following narrative:-" The king came to the throne a young man, surrounded by flattering courtiers, one of whose frequent topics it was to declaim against the meanness of his palace, which was wholly unworthy a monarch of such a country as England. They said that there was not a sovereign in Europe who was lodged so poorly; that his sorry, dingy, old brick palace of St. James looked like a stable, and that he ought to build a palace suited to his kingdom. The king was fond of architecture, and would therefore more readily listen to suggestions which were, in fact, all true. This spot that you see here was selected for the site, between this and this point, which were marked out. The king applied to his ministers on the subject; they inquired what sum would be wanted by his majesty, who said that he would begin with a million. They stated the expenses of the war, and the poverty of the treasury, but that his majesty's wishes should be taken into full consideration. Some time afterwards, the king was informed that the wants of the treasury were too urgent to admit of a supply from their present means, but that a revenue might be raised in America to supply all the king's wishes. This suggestion was followed up, and the king was in this way first led to consider, and then to consent to, the scheme for taxing the colonies."

FRANCIS S. KEY, 1779-1843.

FRANCIS SCOTT KEY, the son of an officer in the army of the Revolution, was born in Frederick County, Maryland, August 1, 1779. He studied law, and in 1801 established himself in his profession at Fredericktown; but, after a few years, he removed to Washington, D. C., and became District-Attorney for the city, where he lived till his death, January 11, 1843.

A small volume of Mr. Key's poems was published, with an introductory letter by Chief-Justice Taney, in 1857. Besides that stirring national song by which he is chiefly known, it contains many pieces of very great beauty.

THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER.1

I.

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hail'd, at the twilight's last gleaming?

1 In 1814, when the British fleet was at the mouth of the Potomac River, and intended to attack Baltimore, Mr. Key and Mr. Skinner were sent in a vessel with