excellent music. Nor is it extravagant in us to say, that no inconsiderable portion of the superiority of the British in naval combats, has arisen from the soul-inspiring sentiments and airs of their sea-songs.

Persuaded as we are of the truth of these observations, and impressed with the importance of essaying, by every practicable expedient, to entwine around our country more closely and indissolubly the affections of her children, it is our intention to hold out, from time to time, such motives as, we flatter ourselves, may be somewhat instrumental in producing on our own countrymen, through the medium of appropriate airs and songs, the same effects which are, by similar means, produced on the people of other nations.

Pursuant to this resolution, we offer for the best NATIONAL SONG, with which we may be furnished by the tenth, or at furthest the fifteenth of June next, so that it may appear in the July number of The Port Folio, and be ready to be introduced at the celebration of the anniversary of our independence, the sum of FIFTY DOLLARS the premium to be paid in money, or in any other form more agreeable to the successful competitor.

The song may be adapted to some popular tune now in vogue; but it will be considered more meritorious, and be, therefore, the more acceptable, if set to a new, bold, and striking national air.

Writers, on this occasion, will at once perceive, that no sentiments of local or party policy will be at all admissible. They will be further sensible of the indelicacy, and therefore impropriety, of levelling any thing offensively against foreign nations, whether at war or in amity with the United States. The praises of our own nation furnish for the poet an ample and gorgeous theme, and have no necessary connexion with the abuse of others.

Let each song that may be transmitted to us, in this patriotic and honourable competition, be accompanied by a sealed letter, containing the name and place of residence of the author, and also setting forth under what form the premium, if deserved, will be most acceptable.

It is to be distinctly understood, that we reserve to ourselves the privilege not only of deciding on the relative merits of the compositions we may receive, but also of determining whether or not any one of them be worthy of the premium. On nothing

short of excellence will we bestow either approbation or reward. On the present, as well as on all future occasions of a like nature, the names of unsuccessful candidates shall be honourably concealed.

We will feel greatly indebted to any of our western correspondents who will favour us with biographical notices, or materials for such notices, of major general Harrison, and the youthful hero of Sandusky, colonel Croghan, or either of them. Our obligations will be the weightier if such notices can be accompanied by correct likenesses, from which engravings may be taken. It will be our delight to honour in the pages of The Port Folio those who have done honour to the American character.

Have we no Horace in Philadelphia, to laugh at the foibles and follies, and to apply, as it may seem meet, the gentle corrective lash to the vices of the day? A Juvenal the state of society does not yet require. Had the friend of Mæcenas begun to rally and ridicule a little earlier, perhaps even Rome herself would have afforded no ground for the dismal invectives of the graver satyrist. Verbum sapienti.

We defer till the next number of The Port Folio, the commencement of our strictures and observations on the Rev. Dr Smith's celebrated essay "on the causes of the variety in the complexion and figure of the human race."

Several valuable communications intended for the present number are necessarily excluded for want of room. In our next they shall receive the attention they merit.

BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR OF COMMODORE DALE.

THE subject of this memoir is still living. We, therefore, feel ourselves restrained by a sense of delicacy, as well as by a regard to that unaffected modesty, which is generally an accompaniment, and always an ornament of real merit, from indulging our feelings in the well-merited eulogy of his public services, and his private character. We shall content ourselves with a simple narration of the prominent circumstances of his public life; and in so doing, furnish materials for his posthumous biographer, who, uninfluenced by considerations of the kind we have alluded to, will be enabled to do justice to his subject.

RICHARD DALE was born on the sixth of November, 1756, in Norfolk county, Virginia. He is descended from a family highly respectable, though not wealthy. His parents were both natives of Virginia. His father left five children, of whom Richard was the eldest. Having manifested, from an early period of life, a strong predilection for the sea, his friends were induced to comply with his wishes. Accordingly, when only twelve years of age, he entered on board a vessel commanded by his uncle, with whom he sailed from Norfolk for Liverpool, in November, 1768. He returned the following summer, and remained at home until the