THE EDITOR IN CANADA.

397

Declaration of American Independence, Modern as these relics are, they

are the beginning of American history, and they represent principles and
aspirations worthy of the great nation whose infancy they commemorate.
Imbued with such feelings I looked upon them with a genuine reverence,
which I desire to cultivate and strengthen rather than obliterate. Cogi-
tating over what they represent would turn a coward into a hero, and I
am heartily pleased that I visited Philadelphia if it were for nothing else
than to see Independence Hall.
Dr Carroll also introduced me to a gentleman whose name was not
altogether previously unknown to me by repute, and who, apart from his
position in the American literary world, I was glad to meet as a connect-
ing link beeween the present and the past, and especially from his con-
nection with Inverness. This was Dr Shelton Mackenzie, well-known in
connection with the American press, and as an author of considerable re-
putation. He wrote Lives of Dickens and of Scott, which in a very short
time went through several editions ; he edited the American edition of
the " Noctes Ambrosianae," as well as several other works of note. He
is a brother of the late J, C. Mackenzie, of Paris, editor of Galignani,
who died a few weeks after I had been to Philadeli^hia, and son of Ken-
neth Mackenzie, the Inverness bard, of Avhom the late John INIackenzie
gives the following interesting account in his " Beauties of Gaelic Poetry."
He says, " Kenneth Mackenzie Avas born at Caisteal Leauir, near Inver-
ness, in the year 1758. His parents were in comfortable circumstances,
and gave him the advantage of a good education. When he was about
seventeen years of age he was bound an ajDprentice as a sailor, a profession
he entered with some degree of enthusiasm. Along with his Bible, the
gift of an afiectionate mother, he stocked his library with two other
volumes, namely, the poems of Alexander Macdonald and Duncan Mac-
intyre. These fascinating productions he studied and conned over on
* the far blue wave,' and
they naturally fanned the latent flame of poetry
which yet lay dormant in his breast. His memory was thus kept hover-
ing over the scenes and associations of his childhood ; and, represented
through the magic vista of poetic genius, every object became possessed
of new charms, and so entwined his ailections around his native country
and vernacular tongue, that distance tended only to heighten their worth
and beauties.
" He composed the most of his songs at sea. His Piohairachd net
Lninge is an imitation of Macintyre's inimitable Beinn-rlorain, but it pos-
sesses no claims to a comparison with that masterpiece. We are not pre-
pared to say which is the best school for poetic inspbation, or for refining
and maturing poetic genius, but we venture to assert that the habits of a
seafaring man have a deteriorating influence over the youthful feelings.
This has, perhaps, been amply exemplified in the person of Kenneth
Mackenzie. He was evidently born with talents and genius ; but, not-
withstanding the size of his published volume, we find only four or five
pieces in it which have stepped beyond the confines of mediocrity ; these
we give as in duty bound.
" Mackenzie returned from sea in the year 1789, and commenced going
about taking in subscriptions, to enable him to publish his poems. With
our veneration for the character of a poet, we strongly repudiate that
timber brutality which luxuriates in insulting a votary of the muses, Men