had been negotiated at Ghent, and the Federalists
were so delighted with the result that Bryant con-
cluded to throw up his commission and to give the
government at Washington another trial.

It is a curious fact that the army which has fur-
nished the inspiration of so much good poetry can
hardly be said to have given to the world a single
great poet, and yet the most eminent English and
the most eminent American poet were both at one
time on the point of embracing the profession of
arms. ¹ Had they done so, it is doubtful if either
would ever have been heard of again as a bard.

In the course of the year following that in
which our war with England closed, young Bryant
was admitted to the Massachusetts bar. With
his license in his pocket he took leave of Bridge-
water on the 15th of the month, and returned to
his family in Cummington, to take counsel in re-
gard to the future, towards which he had thus far
been walking by faith rather than by sight.

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