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 Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, II. On that shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, As it fit fully blows, now conceals, now discloses ? III. And where are the foes who so vauntingly swore Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution; From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave; IV. Oh, thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and the war's desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land And this be our motto, "In God is our trust;" a flag of truce to obtain the release of some prisoners the English had taken in their expedition against Washington. They did not succeed, and were told that they would be detained till after the attack had been made on Baltimore. Accordingly, they went in their own vessel, strongly guarded, with the British fleet as it sailed up the Patapsco; and when they came within sight of Fort McHenry, a short distance below the city, they could see the American flag distinctly flying on the ramparts. As the day closed in, the bombardment of the fort commenced, and Mr. Key and Mr. Skinner remained on deck all night, watching with deep anxiety every shell that was fired. While the bombardment continued, it was sufficient proof that the fort had not surrendered. It suddenly ceased some time before day; but as they had no communication with any of the enemy's ships, they did not know whether the fort had surrendered, or the attack upon it had been abandoned. They paced the deck the rest of the night in painful suspense, watching with intense anxiety for the return of day. At length the light eame, and they saw that "our flag was still there," and soon they were informed that the attack had failed. In the fervor of the moment, Mr. Key took an old letter from his pocket, and on its back wrote the most of this celebrated song, finishing it as soon as he reached Baltimore. He showed it to his friend Judge Nicholson, who was so pleased with it that he placed it at once in the hands of the printer, and in an hour after it was all over the city, and hailed with enthusiasm, and took its place at once as a national song. And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave Of Mr. Key's sacred lyrics there are two-exquisite little gems-that should be found in every collection of American poetry. LIFE. If life's pleasures cheer thee, His praises speak, his favor seek, If sorrow e'er befall thee, He, ever near, thy prayer will hear, The waves of woe shall ne'er o'erflow Death shall never harm thee, For death shall bring to thee no sting, 'Tis gain to die, with Jesus nigh, HYMN. Lord, with glowing heart I'd praise thee Praise, my soul, the God that sought thee, Bade the blood-stain'd cross appear. Lord! this bosom's ardent feeling Deign thy suppliant's prayer to bless. JOSEPH T. BUCKINGHAM. JOSEPH T. BUCKINGHAM, one of the most prominent journalists of New England, was born at Windham, Connecticut, on the 21st of December, 1779. After working upon a farm till he was sixteen years old, he obtained a situation in the printing-office of David Carlisle, the publisher of "The Farmer's Museum," at Walpole, N. H.; which he left in a few months, and apprenticed himself in the office of the "Greenfield Gazette." In 1800, he went to Boston, and in 1805 he commenced the publication, on his own account, of a magazine, under the title of The Polyanthos. It was suspended in 1807, resumed in 1812, and continued till 1815. In January, 1809, he published the first number of The Ordeal, a political weekly, of sixteen pages, octavo, which was discontinued in six months. In 1817, he commenced, with Samuel L. Knapp, a lawyer of Boston, a weekly paper, entitled The New England Galaxy and Masonic Magazine, which was conducted with great spirit, talent, and independence, and obtained a large circulation. In 1828, he sold it in order to devote his entire attention to "The Boston Courier," a daily paper which he had commenced in March, 1824. He continued to edit the "Courier" with great ability till 1848, when he sold out his interest in this also. In 1831, Mr. Buckingham commenced, in conjunction with his son Edwin, The New England Magazine,—a monthly of ninety-six pages, octavo, and one of the best of its class ever published in our country, containing articles by some of the best writers and most popular authors of the day. In less than two years his son Edwin died at sea, in a voyage undertaken for the benefit of his health; and, in 1834, the magazine was transferred to Dr. Samuel G. Howe and John O. Sargent. Mr. Buckingham was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for seven years, (four from Boston and three from Cambridge,) and of the Senate four years from Middlesex County. Since he retired from the press, he has published Specimens of Newspaper Literature, with Personal Memoirs, Anecdotes, and Reminiscences, in two volumes, and Personal Memoirs and Recollections of Editorial Life, also in two volumes. These are very interesting and instructive books, and give us a high opinion of the author, as an industrious and upright man, never discouraged by difficulties; as a writer of pure and nervous English; and as an editor, truthful, independent, courageous, and loving the right more than the expedient. As a legislator, Mr. Buckingham did himself lasting honor by the re |