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see the snow converted into one dull； dingy river。 Such I regarded as seers of tribulation； and endeavored with all my mind to disbelieve their interpretations of the signs。 That sleighing was excellent fun。 For myself I must own that I hardly saw the best of it at Boston； for the coming of the end was already at hand when I arrived there； and the fresh beauty of the hard snow was gone。 Moreover； when I essayed to show my prowess with a pair of horses on the established course for such equipage； the beasts ran away； knowing that I was not practiced in the use of snow chariots； and brought me to grief and shame。 There was a lady with me in the sleigh； whom； for awhile； I felt that I was doomed to consign to a snowy gravewhom I would willingly have overturned into a drift of snow； so as to avoid worse consequences； had I only known how to do so。 But Providence； even though without curbs and assisted only by simple snaffles； did at last prevail； and I brought the sleigh horses； and lady alive back to Boston； whether with or without permanent injury I have never yet ascertained。 At last the day of tribulation came； and the snow was picked up and carted out of Boston。 Gangs of men； standing shoulder to shoulder； were at work along the chief streets； picking； shoveling； and disposing of the dirty blocks。 Even then the snow seemed to be nearly a foot thick； but it was dirty； rough； half melted in some places； though hard as stone in others。 The labor and cost of cleansing the city in this way must be very great。 The people were at it as I left； and I felt that the day of tribulation had in truth come。 Farewell to thee； thou Western Athens！ When I have forgotten thee； my right hand shall have forgotten its cunning； and my heart forgotten its pulses。 Let us look at the list of names with which Boston has honored itself in our days； and then ask what other town of the same size has done more。 Prescott； Bancroft； Motley； Longfellow； Lowell； Emerson； Dana； Agassiz； Holmes； Hawthorne！ Who is there among us in England who has not been the better for these men？ Who does not owe to some of them a debt of gratitude？ In whose ears is not their names familiar？ It is a bright galaxy； and far extended； for so small a city。 What city has done better than this？ All these men； save one； are now alive and in the full possession of their powers。 What other town of the same size has done as well in the same short space of time？ It may be that this is the Augustan era of Bostonits Elizabethan time。 If so； I am thankful that my steps have wandered thither at such a period。 While I was at Boston I had the sad privilege of attending the funeral of President Felton； the head of Harvard College。 A few months before I had seen him a strong man； apparently in perfect health and in the pride of life。 When I reached Boston I heard of his death。 He also was an accomplished scholar； and as a Grecian has left few behind him who were his equals。 At his installation as president； four ex…presidents of Harvard College assisted。 Whether they were all present at his funeral I do not know； but I do know that they were all still living。 These are Mr。 Quincy； who is now over ninety； Mr。 Sparks； Mr。 Everett； the well…known orator； and Mr。 Walker。 They all reside in Boston or its neighborhood； and will probably all assist at the installation of another president。
CHAPTER IX。 THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES。
It is； I presume； universally known that the citizens of the Western American colonies of Great Britain which revolted； declared themselves to be free from British dominion by an act which they called the Declaration of Independence。 This was done on the 4th of July； 1776； and was signed by delegates from the thirteen colonies； or States as they then called themselves。 These delegates in this document declare themselves to be the representatives of the United States of America in general Congress assembled。 The opening and close of this declaration have in them much that is grand and striking； the greater part of it； however； is given up to enumerating； in paragraph after paragraph； the sins committed by George III。 against the colonies。 Poor George III。！ There is no one now to say a good word for him； but of all those who have spoken ill of him； this declaration is the loudest in its censure。 In the following year； on the 15th of November； 1777； were drawn up the Articles of Confederation between the States； by which it was then intended that a sufficient bond and compact should be made for their future joint existence and preservation。 A reference to this document will show how slight was the then intended bond of union between the States。 The second article declares that each State retains its sovereignty； freedom； and independence。 The third article avows that 〃the said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other for their common defense； the security of their liberties； and their mutual and general welfare； binding themselves to assist each other against all force offered to； or attacks made upon； them； or any of them； on account of religion； sovereignty； trade； or any other pretext whatever。〃 And the third article； 〃the better to secure and perpetuate mutual friendship；〃 declares that the free citizens of one State shall be free citizens of another。 From this it is； I think； manifest that no idea of one united nation had at that time been received and adopted by the citizens of the States。 The articles then go on to define the way in which Congress shall assemble and what shall be its powers。 This Congress was to exercise the authority of a national government rather than perform the work of a national parliament。 It was intended to be executive rather than legislative。 It was to consist of delegates； the very number of which within certain limits was to be left to the option of the individual States； and to this Congress was to be confided certain duties and privileges； which could not be performed or exercised separately by the governments of the individual States。 One special article； the eleventh； enjoins that 〃Canada； acceding to the Confederation； and joining in the measures of the United States； shall be admitted into and entitled to all the advantages of this Union； but no other colony shall be admitted into the same unless such admission be agreed to by nine States。〃 I mention this to show how strong was the expectation at that time that Canada also would revolt from England。 Up to this day few Americans can understand why Canada has declined to join her lot to them。 But the compact between the different States made by the Articles of Confederation； and the mode of national procedure therein enjoined； were found to be inefficient for the wants of a people who to be great must be united in fact as well as in name。 The theory of the most democratic among the Americans of that day was in favor of self…government carried to an extreme。 Self…government was the Utopia which they had determined to realize； and they were unwilling to diminish the reality of the self…government of the individual States by any centralization of power in one head； or in one parliament； or in one