From the New York Amarican. Sketches ef tke History ef Engl;sh Litcya- t,we to fke deatk of CRrncer.
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tlHB CO tae 0e0gh or 9thGncer.

 The introduction of Christianity threw ray of light upon the benighted condi- tion of the Anglo Sax0ns, opened to them Q prospect of intellectual advancement, and may be considered as the dawn of sci- entifc information. Ecclesiastics of lear ming from Rome visited them, and found- ed libraries. Many of the converts, also, naturally desirous of beholding the great city of the faith, went thithcr obtained a knowledge of the Latin language made some progress in the study of tho sciences; and returned, like the refreshing extillation of the clouds to fertlize the country which ing, and desire of instruction, gradually extended themselves, although. their influ- ence was interrupted by hostile invasion, and national confusion until Alfred, the deservedly yenerated, became invested with the general sovereignty. He restored to their former conditions the towns which had been ravaged by war-he rebuilt the monasteries. Animated by the true spirit of patriotism, he stretched out the liberal hand of patronage towards the arts and in- fant literature of his country-he establish

  foreigners of talent to fill it's professorships. Protesting an energetic mind and capa- cious understanding, his own conduct pre- sented an example of studious persevc- rence-he translated the pastoral of Greg ory l., Retius de Consolatione, and Be- de's Ecclesiastical History.

 But the progression of the spirit of im- provement which had appeared in. the reign of Alfred, was not fatcd to be of long endurance-a "gioomy night was gathering fast" and the Danish irruption, like swelling tide, swept away almost ev- cry vestige of scientific institution, blighted the blossoms of promise, aggrava- ted the prevailing rudeness of manners, and involved the nation in the darkness o:I ignorance, from which he had began to emerge. The intellectual condition of the people seems to have been little advanced by the sovereigns who preceded the Nor man invasion.

 The conquest of William, destructive to what existed of liberty in England, by es- tablishing the despotism of the feudal sys- tenn, efecting an alteration in the judicial polity, and introducing the tyrannical for est laws, together with many of the detri-! mental customs of Normandy, was, how ever, favourable to the cause of literature William felt "a regard forlettcrs--he brought over with him some Normans of learning and comparative refinement, and filled some of the sees with prelates of talent.

 The progress of cultivation, although it fuctuated according to tho disorder or peacefulness of tho times, and the degree of encouragement bestowed by successive monarchs, still continued to advance. The clergy, who engrossed almost all the sour-s ces of information, could boast of men whose learning, concretedindeed with much abstruse scholastic absnrdity, was, howev- CT, profound. But the march of intelligence was extremely slow: those possessed of sovereign power were more intent tpon schemes of aggrandizement and usurpationt | -more diligent in expressing the people, and quarrelling with domineering and re- fractory priests-than desirous of extend- ing knowledge, aiding science, or raising the national character. About the l4th century, the Greek language, which had been treated with comparative inattcntion, became an object of more general study great number of Hebrew manuscripts al- so came into the hands of the ecclesiastics, in consequence, ofathe sudden disnission of the Israelites, whom William the con- queror had permitted to establish them- selves in England. These circumstanccsI were peculiarly advantageous to the cause of letters, as they opened two sources of kowledge, Grecian literature and Rabbi nical learning, the former intrinsically val- nable. e. t.

 We will now take nasty view of the early history of English poetry, before the appearance ofthat celebrated genius, whose productions are even now perused with sat- isfaction by the poetical antiquary. Of the poetry of the Anglo-Saxons, little is known; all that remains of it being one small fragment. The admixture of the Norman language, which the conquest oc- casioned. as may be supposed was no im- mediate advantage to the regularity or har- fnony of the Saxon. The Norman chief tains were attended by minstrels and har- pers, who composed and sung in rude verse to their harps, the romantic adventures of imaginary hordes, recited the valorous deeds, and eulogised the characters of the ancestors. or panegyrised the achievements oftheir patrons themselves. The wildand warlike melody, reused the soul of the da-