facts and principles which, though advanced by phrenologists, are independent of their peculiar doctrines, will endure; and among them Dr. Spurzheim's principles of education will ever hold a distinguished place. The merits of Gall and Spurzheim as anatomists, and observers of man, will not be forgotten; nay they will probably be more freely acknowledged since death has removed both the master and his more eminent disciple from the field of strife, and thus put a solemn veto upon all personal and party excitement which has hitherto intermingled with the discussions about phrenology." pp. 16, 17.

Though Professor Follen considered himself called to "the solemn task to speak the praises" of Spurzheim, "as his countryman by birth, and by adoption and domestic ties a citizen of this country," yet, apart from this, we do not see how the task could have fallen to one, who would perform it with greater ability and good judgment; who would more thoroughly sympathize with all that was most lovely and praiseworthy in his departed friend; and who would. more effectually secure the fellow-feeling of all good men, both with the lamented philanthropist who is commemorated, and with the author of the memorial.

ART. XIII.- Indian Biography: or an Historical Account of those Individuals who have been distinguished among the North American Natives, as Orators, Warriors, Statemen, and other Remarkable Characters. By B. B. THATCHER, Esq. In 2 vols. New-York.

J. & J. Harper. 1832. 18mo. pp. 324 and 319.

MR. THATCHER has been favorably known to the public as a literary contributor to the annuals, and as the author of an able article in "The North American Review," on "Indian Biography." We were prepared for a work full of interest, thorough in research, accurate in detail, and able in execution; nor have our expectations been disappointed. It is but justice to say they have been exceeded. The volumes before us are among the most remarkable productions of the day, and will occupy a permanent place in the literature of the country. How they will be received abroad remains to be seen; but if we may judge from the great interest excited, by Mr. Cooper's delineations

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of Indian character, in England, France, and Germany, we may be allowed to anticipate for the author of this work a welcome as cordial as he can wish, wherever American authorship is known.

Mr. Thatcher views it correctly as an act of historical justice to a much abused race. From our earliest childhood the name of an Indian has been associated with all the horror of blood-thirsty and remorseless cruelty. Tales of men, women, and children, led captive or butchered with every circumstance of barbaric torture, are made familiar by constant fireside repetition. The Indian's resentment for real or supposed wrong has been construed into a fixed or demoniac malice; his bravery in defence of his village or his wigwam, against a foreign settler, the very acts that have immortalized the names of Thermopyle and Marathon, have been painted in such false and forbidding colors, by partial or hostile historians, that justice towards them is an unknown attribute. The deep religious prejudices, the gloomy superstitions, the fearful condition of the early settlers, the gloom that overhung their prospects, the signs and omens and warnings that they saw or imagined, deepened the shading that they were naturally inclined to give to their pictures of aboriginal character. These pictures have been the popular ones, until very lately, and probably to a great extent, are so still. The eloquent pens of Irving and Cooper have done something towards removing the aspersions under which they have labored, but no regular and serious effort has been made to redeem them from obloquy, until Mr. Thatcher assumed the task of vindicating their claims to historic justice. He has engaged in it with an enthusiastic love of truth and love of his subject, and has executed his work with zeal and fidelity. His researches have been extensive and accurate. We have been surprised with the amount of information he has been able to collect, for we did not suppose so much had been preserved. This information, derived from every possible source, Mr. Thatcher has wrought into a series of historical portraits, remarkable for their distinctness, interest, and truth. He describes the Aborigines as one who comprehends them thoroughly. In filling up the outlines, his coloring is vivid and beautiful; and he has lent to historic truth all the attractions of poetry and romance. He is led, in his researches, to the contemplation of many characters and scenes, that

remind us of the simplicity, vigor, and hospitality of the Homeric age. He enters into their spirit, and sketches them with remarkable brilliancy. He does justice to the traits of manhood, daring, generosity, and, in some respects, consummate ability, which belonged to the Indian character. Their brief and nervous eloquence, their figurative and poetical expression, their acute logic, are discussed with a fulness of illustration, and a soundness of philosophical criticism, that give a permanent value to the work, and will, no doubt, be duly appreciated by the public.

Part of the first volume is devoted to the Indians of Virginia and Carolina. Every body is familiar with the chivalrous character and romantic adventures of Captain Smith. The name of Pocahontas is dear to every friend of native virtue and simple purity. Her spotless life, her heroic character, her gentleness of soul, stand recorded in history, and will stand for ever. Nothing can exceed the interest which belongs to this part of the "Indian Biography." When we have said that Mr. Thatcher has done it justice, we have said all that can be said.

The following is a brief summary of the character of Powhatan, at the close of the interesting history of his life.

"In fine, it would seem, that no candid person can read the history of this famous Indian, with an attentive consideration of the circumstances under which he was placed, without forming a high estimate of his character as a warrior, a statesman, and a patriot. His deficiencies were those of education and not of genius. His faults were those of the people whom he governed and of the period in which he lived. His great talents, on the other hand, were his own; and these are acknowledged even by those historians who still regard him with prejudice. Stith calls him a prince of excellent sense and parts, and a great master of all the savage arts of government and policy. He adds, that he was penetrating, crafty, insidious, and cruel. 'But as to the great and moral arts of policy,' he concludes, such as truth, faith, uprightness, and magnanimity, they seem to have been but little heeded or regarded by him.' Burk's opinion appears to us more correct. In the cant of civilization, (says that excellent historian,) he will doubtless be branded with the epithets of tyrant and barbarian. But his title to greatness, though his opportunities were fewer, is to the full as fair as that of Tamerlane or Kowli Khan, and several others whom history has immortalized;

VOL. III. NO. I.

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Still,

while the proof of his tyranny are by no means so clear. it might have been as reasonable to say, that there are no such proofs in being. The kind of martial law which the emperor sometimes exercised over his own subjects, was not only a matter of custom, founded on the necessity which must always əxist among ignorant men; but it was a matter of license, which had grown into constitutional law, by common consent. It has been justly observed, that there is no possibility of a true despotism under an Indian government. It is reason that governs, nominally at least, and the authority is only the more effectual, as the obedience is more voluntary." -- Vol. I. pp. 64, 65.

The following short extract may amuse our readers :

"One of the chief counsellors and priests of Powhatan, and the husband of his daughter Matachanna, was TOмOCOMO, who went to England with Pocahontas, and returned with Captain Argall. Smith, who calls him Vttamatomakkin, says he was held by his countrymen to be a very understanding fellow.' The same inference might be made from the commission which Powhatan gave him, on the occasion just alluded to, to take the number of the people in England, and to bring him an exact and minute account of their strength and resources. Tomocomo set about that business with equal simplicity and zeal. Immediately on his arrival at Plymouth, he procured a long stick, whereupon to cut a notch with his knife for every man he should see. But he soon became weary of his task, and threw his stick away. When the emperor inquired, on his return, how many people there were, he could only compare them to the stars in the sky, the leaves on the trees, and the sands on the sea-shore.

"Mr. Purchas (compiler of the famous collection of voyages) was informed by President Dale, with whom Tomocomo went out from Virginia, that Opechancanough, and not Powhatan, had given him his instructions; and that the object of them was not so much to ascertain the population, as to form an estimate of the amount of corn raised, and of forest trees growing in England. Nomantack and the other savages who had previously visited that country, being ignorant, and having seen little of the British empire except London, had reported a very large calculation of the men and houses, while they said almost nothing about the trees and corn. It was therefore a general opinion among the Indians, that the English had settled in Virginia only for the purpose of getting supplies of these two articles; and in confirmation, they observed their continual

eagerness after corn, and the great quantities of cedar, clapboards, and wainscoting, which they annually exported to England. Tomocomo readily undeceived his countrymen upon this point. Landing in the west of England in summer, and travelling thence to London, he of course saw evidences of great agricultural and rural plenty and wealth; and was soon obliged to abandon the account he had undertaken to keep, his arithmetic failing him on the first day.

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"In the British metropolis, he met accidentally with Captain Smith; and the two immediately renewed their ancient acquaintance. Tomocomo told the Captain, that Powhatan had given orders to request of him, if indeed he was not dead, as reported, the favor of showing Tomocomo the English God, and also their King, Queen, and prince, of whom they had formerly conversed so often together. As to God,' as Stith expresses it,Captain Smith excused and explained the matter the best he could.' As to the king, he told Tomocomo he had already seen him, which was true. But the Indian denied it; and it was not without some trouble that Smith, by mentioning certain circumstances, convinced him of the fact. The Indian then assumed a most melancholy look, 'Ah!' said he, 'you presented Powhatan a white dog which he fed as himself. Now, I am certainly better than a white dog; but your king has given me nothing.' Such an arch sense, adds the historian, had this savage of the 'stingy' treatment he had received at court. Nothing is known of Tomocomo after his return to America." Vol. I. 96-98. pp.

The sketches of the Indians in New England are drawn with equal skill. The names of Massasoit, Alexander, and Philip, are familiarly known in the early history of the Plymouth settlement, and still better in the beautiful tribute to their memory by Mr. Irving. This part of the work will be acceptable to every New-Englander. It is sustained with unabated power throughout. Our limits forbid us to make any extracts, which we should otherwise gladly do, and we pass at once to the last, and as some think, most interesting biography in the volumes, that of the celebrated chieftain RedJacket. The first volume contains an excellent likeness of this distinguished man. His figure was tall and commanding; his motion was dignified and graceful; and his head was of the highest order of manly beauty. No one could look upon him without feeling that Saguoaha, as he was called in the musical language of his tribe, was one of Nature's

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