et in
April of that year the _Port Folio_ declared, "From facts within our own
knowledge, we fearlessly assert that Philadelphia contains scholars not
a few whom Europe herself would be proud to acknowledge." In 1817 the
_London Monthly Magazine_ began to copy from the _Port Folio_.

But about 1820 the prestige of Philadelphia begins to fade and her
ancient influences to hang about her "like a giant's robe upon a
dwarfish thief." In this year (_Port Folio_, page 463) is heard the
first note of alarm. New England is gaining; "with such rivalry
Philadelphia must yield the proud title which she has borne, or rouse
from the withering lethargy in which she slumbers." New York jealousy is
increasing. In 1820 Salmagundi says that "one of the editors of the
_Port Folio_ was discharged--for writing common-sense." These trifles
indicate a shifting of the balance of power. Three years more, and the
cry of discontent and peevish querulousness reaches its height.

"With the exception of some scores of verses 'tempered with lovers'
sighs' and oozing from the brains of 'lunatics, lovers and poets,' the
last volume contains very few communications from any friend to us and
our cause. In the days of our first predecessors such was the number and
zeal of contributors that the editor was obliged to exchange the labor
of composition for that of selection, and he often expatiated with
gratitude upon the learning, the liberality and the industry of his
voluntary assistants. Although they wore their visors up before the
public, most of them are now known to us, and we can recognize many of
them at home and abroad, pushing their fortunes at the bar, in the desk
or the academy, or serving their country in high and honorable stations.
They were all quickened with the fervid spirit of enterprise and
adventure. They combined learning and wit and genius with industry,
perseverance and ambition. They laid the foundation of a work which has
outlived all its rivals and contemporaries; but they have left few to
inherit and emulate their disinterested devotion to the cause of
letters.... England, that detestable country where _everyone_ has been
starving for the last century, where _everyone_ has been crushed by the
load of taxes, and _everyone_ has been flying from home to avoid the
oppressions of the Ministry, prints several thousand copies of a
magazine, and the whole edition is sold and paid for in twenty-four
hours. These matters are ordered diffe