I have frequently remarked that the Americans, who generally treat of business in clear, plain language, devoid of all ornament, and so extremely simple as to be often coarse, are apt to become inflated as soon as they attempt a more poetical diction.

They then vent their pomposity from one end of a harangue to the other; and to hear them lavish imagery on every occasion, one might fancy that they never spoke of anything with simplicity.

The English are more rarely given to a similar failing.

The cause of this may be pointed out without much difficulty.

In democratic communities each citizen is habitually engaged in the contemplation of a very puny object, namely himself.