doubt that they might be also gainers by being thrown
upon their own resources.

"The less your countrymen mingle in the controversy, the better. It will
only be an additional obstacle in the path of those in this country who
see the ultimate necessity of a separation, but who have still some
ignorance and prejudice to contend against, which, if used as political
capital by designing politicians, may complicate seriously a very
difficult piece of statesmanship. It is for you and such as you, who
love peace, to guide your countrymen aright in this matter. You have
made the most noble contributions of any modern writer to the cause of
peace; and as a public man I hope you will exert all your influence to
induce Americans to hold a dignified attitude and observe a 'masterly
inactivity' in the controversy which is rapidly advancing to a solution
between the mother country and her American colonies."

A prudent patriotism among us will appreciate the wisdom of this
counsel, which is more needed now than when it was written. The
controversy which Cobden foresaw "between the mother country and her
American colonies" is yet undetermined. The recent creation of what is
somewhat grandly called "The Dominion of Canada" marks one stage in its
progress.

LUCAS ALAMAN.--1852.

From Canada I pass to Mexico, and close this list with Lucas Alaman, the
Mexican statesman and historian, who has left on record a most pathetic
prophecy with regard to his own country, intensely interesting to us at
this moment.

Little can be gathered here with regard to this remarkable character.
His name does not appear in any biographical or bibliographical
dictionary,--not in the late editions of Michaud or Brunet,--although
his public life and his literary labors might claim for him a place in
biography and bibliography. From the title-page of one of his volumes it
appears that, besides being a member of the Mexican Society of Geography
and Statistics, and also of the Fine Arts, he was a corresponding member
of several foreign societies, among which were the Royal Academy of
History at Madrid, the Royal Institute of Sciences in Bavaria, the
Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, and the Massachusetts Historical
Society. It is only in the dearth of authentic information with regard
to him that I mention these circumstances. It does not appear when he
died. The Preface to the last volume of his History is dated 18th
November, 1852; and, as his nam