Byron, says, that Byron had
always on his table the bible, Machiavelli, Shakspeare, and Alfieri.
"Byron," says Mr. Headley, "loved Machiavelli for his contempt of
mankind, making them all a flock of sheep to be led, or slaughtered at the
will of one haughty man." Had Mr. Headley read all the works of
Machiavelli, the master of statesmen, and so little known, or disregarded
by the american senators; he would not have repeated with the english,
such an unjust slander against Machiavelli. _Il principe_ is but a long
irony. And here, let me be permitted to say, that the word Machiavelism
should be taken off from the english, and american dictionaries, unless
such a virtuous italian, who took off the mask from the face of tyrants,
and showed to nations how ugly they are, be still thought by the english,
and american literati, as a writer, who intended to favor arbitrary power.
Machiavelli was as noble, and sincere in his sentiments of republicanism
as Brutus, or Cato themselves. The english, and american lexicographers
had been very much mistaken in saying that the word Machiavelism is
synonymous of political cunning, and artifice.

Had I demonstrated in this chapter nothing else but, that writers should
not go into other countries with a spirit of wishing to show themselves
superior to other nations, it will always do something good to the future
American Literature. A man of letters is indebted to all nations for his
discrimination, and wisdom; and unless he writes with the feeling of a
citizen of the world, his writings will never attain the purpose to profit
mankind in general, and himself, without which a National Literature will
always be in the clutches of national selfishness. We cannot write of
heaven without looking to heaven. We are all children of one single
destination: and we cannot expect civilization, until all nations will
give to each other the hand of brotherly love. That God intended to
improve the race of man with the time to come, the different characters of
different nations show God's infinite wisdom. Consult the best
physicians, and they will demonstrate to you, that children from parents
of different nations, having the qualities of their father and mother, are
cleverer than those children whose parents are both of the same nation.
The intermarriages of different nations with so many different
propensities, must, of course, bring the race of man to a great
improvement, and for which the mind of the