The American Quarterly Review, No. 18, June 1831 (Vol 9)

In Short

This 1831 collection captures the intellectual fever of early 19th-century America as it evaluates its own institutions, art, and standing on the global stage. Across essays examining higher education reform, English professorships, the decryption of Egyptian hieroglyphs, metallurgy, foreign literature, and the fall of Poland, the volume acts as a barometer for a young nation defining its cultural and political boundaries. Through vigorous critical reviews, the publication weighs domestic progress against European traditions, urging America to cultivate its own rigorous academic and civic standards. Its lasting value lies in this vivid window into early American intellectual life during a period of intense nation-building and self-reflection.

The Story

The volume opens by confronting the internal state of American education. It scrutinizes the discipline and instructional frameworks of colleges, dispelling myths regarding regional student temperaments while demanding firm, temperate institutional governance. The argument highlights the ruinous effects of gambling and drinking on young minds and champions strict sumptuary laws to curb student extravagance. Crucially, it highlights a glaring void in higher education: the neglect of the English language. It calls for establishing dedicated professorships in English rhetoric and literature, urging universities to teach the historical development of the language alongside composition, rather than focusing solely on classical Latin and Greek.

From domestic schooling, the narrative shifts to international scholarship and historical intrigue. The volume weighs theories regarding the authorship of the letters of Junius, suggesting the elusive writer was a private secretary bound to secrecy rather than a high-profile politician. It then turns to the breakthroughs of Jean-François Champollion, detailing his decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphs. By comparing the cartouches of Ptolemy and Cleopatra found on the Rosetta Stone and the Philae obelisk, the text demonstrates how sound linguistic principles unlocked ancient history.

Industrial science and technology take center stage next. The volume traces the history of iron and steel production from ancient biblical and Greek origins to modern blast furnaces. It provides a granular analysis of how fuel choices—specifically charcoal versus coke—impact the chemical composition, color, and structural integrity of cast iron. While acknowledging Great Britain's past dominance in fine machinery, it highlights American advancements at furnaces in Vermont and New York, celebrating domestic capabilities that rival imported materials.

The review then delivers a sharp critique of contemporary English popular culture, systematically dismantling Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s satirical poem The Siamese Twins. It attacks the self-promotional literary culture surrounding the book, noting the vast gulf between orchestrated publisher hype and actual poetic merit.

Expanding its scope to geopolitical affairs, the text surveys the precarious political landscape of Europe following the French Revolution of July and the domestic unrest in Great Britain over the Reform Bill. It chronicles the tragic dismantling of Poland, exposed to foreign domination through internal noble feuds, religious bigotry, and Russian military intervention under Catherine the Great. Amid these European convulsions, the narrative highlights the rising influence of public opinion as an elastic, irrepressible force against arbitrary violence.

The volume culminates in a defense of the American constitutional framework. It examines key legislative battles, such as the debate over a national bank, and celebrates the constitutional advocacy of Daniel Webster. The work concludes with an optimistic vision of America’s future, predicting that the empire of science, power, and literature will travel westward to find its permanent home in a free republic.

How It Unfolds

Reforming higher education The volume begins by analyzing the disciplinary and structural shortcomings of American colleges, arguing for firm governance against student vices like drinking and gambling. It identifies a critical gap in the university curriculum: the absence of formal instruction in English literature and rhetoric.

Unraveling historical mysteries The narrative transitions to literary and linguistic analysis, first evaluating political conspiracies surrounding the authorship of the letters of Junius. It then details Champollion’s breakthroughs in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs using bilingual inscriptions from Rosetta and Philae.

Tracking industrial progress The focus shifts to physical science, mapping the history of metallurgy from ancient ironworking to modern blast furnace operations. It examines the chemical properties of iron and celebrates the rise of high-quality American manufacturing in New York and Vermont.

Critiquing modern literature The volume sharply criticizes contemporary publishing trends by dissecting Bulwer-Lytton’s over-hyped satirical poem The Siamese Twins. It condemns the practice of author self-promotion and book-seller puffery that elevates mediocrity over true artistic merit.

Examining European instability Geopolitical essays survey the turmoil across Europe, detailing civil unrest in France, parliamentary disputes in England, and the tragical partition of Poland. The text argues that brutal military force cannot ultimately conquer the growing power of enlightened public opinion.

Defending constitutional union The collection concludes with a study of American governance, detailing legislative efforts to stabilize national currency and legal structure. It extols the constitutional defense mounted by figures like Daniel Webster, framing America's democratic institutions as the foundation for future national greatness.

The People

• Thomas Smith Grimké, James R. Leib, and William Lyon Mackenzie: Educational reformers and writers whose pamphlets serve as the springboard for evaluating collegiate discipline, scientific education, and the necessity of establishing English language chairs in American universities.
• Junius: The anonymous 18th-century political satirist whose identity remains a point of sharp debate; the text views him not as a famous political leader, but as an adept private secretary bound to total concealment.
• Jean-François Champollion: The determined French scholar who systematically deciphers ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics by cross-referencing phonetic signs across the names of Ptolemy and Cleopatra on ancient stone monuments.
• Edward Bulwer-Lytton: The prominent English author whose satirical work The Siamese Twins is held up as a prime example of literary vanity and commercial hype outstripping genuine poetic achievement.
• Repnin and Catherine the Great: The Russian ambassador and Empress who manipulate internal Polish factionalism, orchestrating the arrest of patriotic dissidents and cementing foreign dominance over a collapsing state.
• Daniel Webster: The influential American senator portrayed as the stalwart defender of the United States Constitution, whose speeches defeat destructive financial measures and safeguard the integrity of the Union.

In Its Own Voice

"Gaming is one of the offences that require a collegiate, in addition to the municipal law."

An essay on university discipline establishes the necessity of institutional rules to curb student vices like card-playing and dice.

"To prove that the conjectures of Champollion were true, the first sign in the name of Cleopatra should not be found in the name of Ptolemy, because the letter K does not occur in PTOLMES."

A study on Egyptian antiquity explains how cross-referencing specific phonetic signs validated the decipherment of hieroglyphic text.

"Moral causes come into consideration, in proportion as the progress of knowledge is advanced; and the public opinion of the civilized world is rapidly gaining an ascendency over mere brutal force."

Reflecting on foreign affairs and authoritarian power, a political commentary highlights the rising strength of global public sentiment against tyranny.

What It's Really About

At its core, the volume is an inquiry into what makes a nation both intellectually independent and politically enduring. It argues that physical power and economic growth are insufficient without a strong foundation of cultural self-reliance, moral discipline, and constitutional integrity. By critiquing the superficialities of European literary fashion and analyzing the tragic collapse of nations like Poland due to internal division, the text warns against domestic apathy and superficiality.

It insists that America must build robust domestic institutions—ranging from rigorous universities that value the native tongue to advanced industrial furnaces that process local raw materials. Ultimately, the collection explores the tension between arbitrary power and enlightened public opinion, asserting that a free republic’s survival depends on an educated, morally grounded citizenry anchored by solid legal principles.

Why Read It Today

This volume offers a compelling, unvarnished look at the intellectual landscape of 1831 America, capturing a period when the young nation was actively negotiating its place in global history. Reading it feels like sitting in on an intense, wide-ranging salon where the most pressing topics of the era—from educational reform and industrial technology to international relations—are dissected with serious intent and sharp intelligence.

The prose is formal, dense, and characteristically 19th-century, filled with detailed chemical breakdowns of metallurgy, intricate linguistic proofs, and lengthy political analysis. Readers will encounter period attitudes, archaic spellings, and dense rhetorical structures that require patient attention. Yet, beneath its formal tone lies a vibrant, confident mind at work. It will deeply satisfy readers who enjoy intellectual history, historiography, and primary source explorations of early American thought, offering a vivid glimpse of a society busily building its cultural identity piece by piece.