been more remarkable, perhaps, for the carly share he took in the formation of the republic, than from any very predominant superiority of understanding. Mr. Hall made him a visit: "I slept a night at Monticello, and left it in the morning with such a feeling as the traveller quits the mouldering remains of a Grecian temple, or the pilgrim a fountain in the desert. It would indeed argue great torpor, both of understanding and heart, to have looked without veneration and interest on the man who drew up the declaration of American independence; who shared in the councils by which her freedom was established; whom the unbought voice of his fellow-citizens called to the exercise of a dignity from which his own moderation impelled him, when such example was most salutary, to withdraw; and who, while he dedicates the evening of his glorious days to the pursuits of science and literature, shuns none of the humbler duties of private life; but, having filled a seat higher than that of kings, succeeds with graceful dignity to that of the good neighbour, and becomes the friendly adviser, lawyer, physician, and even gardener, of his vicinity. This is the still small voice' of philosophy, deeper and holier than the lightnings and earthquakes which have preceded it. What monarch would venture thus to exhibit himself in the nakedness of his humanity? On what royal brow would the laurel replace the diadem ?"-(Hall, pp. 384, 385.) topics of conversation were various. Eng land, America, religion, politics, literature, science, Dr. Priestley, Miss Edgeworth, Mrs. Siddons, Mr. Kean. France, Shak speare, Moore, Lord Byron, Cobbett, American revolution, the traitor General Arnold. "The establishment of this political patriarch consists of a house two storeys high, containing, I believe, eight rooms; of two men and three maid-servants; three horses and a plain carriage. How great is the contrast between this individual-a man of knowledge and information-without pomp, parade, or vicious and expensive establishments, as compared with the costly trappings, the depraved characters, and the profligate expenditure of House, and -! What a lesson in this does America teach! There are now in this land no less than three Cincinnati!"— (Fearon, pp. 111–113.) The travellers agree, we think, in complaining of the insubordination of American children— and do not much like American ladies. In their criticisms upon American gasconade, they forget that vulgar people of all countries are full of gasconade. The Americans love titles.-The following extract from the Boston Sentinel of last August (1817) is quoted by Mr. Fearon. "Dinner to Mr. Adams.-Yesterday a public dinner was given to the Hon. John Mr. Fearon dined with another of Q. Adams, in the Exchange Coffee-house, by the Ex-Kings, Mr. Adams. "The ex-president is a handsome old gentleman of eighty-four; - his lady is seventy-six::-she has the reputation of superior talents, and great literary acquirements. I was not perfectly a stranger here; as, a few days previous to this, I had received the honour of an hospitable reception at their mansion. Upon the present occasion the minister (the day being Sunday) was of the dinner party. As the table of a 'late King' may amuse some of you, take the following particulars: -- first course, a pudding made of Indian corn, molasses, and butter;-second, veal, bacon, neck of mutton, potatoes, cabbages, carrots, and Indian beans; Madeira wine, of which each drank two glasses. We sat down to dinner at one o'clock; at two, nearly all went a second time to church. For tea we had pound cake, sweet bread and butter, and bread made of Indian corn and rye (similar to our brown home-made). Tea was brought from the kitchen and handed round by a neat, white servant girl. The his fellow-citizens of Boston. The Ho Wm. Gray presided, assisted by the Hon. Harrison Gray Otis, George Blake, Esq, and the Hon. Jonathan Mason, vice-pres dents. Of the guests were, the Hon. Mr. Adams, late president of the United States, his Excellency Governor Brooks, his Honor Lt. Gov. Phillips, Chief Justice Parker, Judge Story, President Kirkland, Gen. Dearborn, Com. Hull, Gen. Miller, several of the reverend clergy, and many public officers and strangers of eminence." They all, in common with Mr. Birkbeck, seem to be struck with the indlence of the American character. Mr. Fearon makes the charge; and gives us below the right explanation of its cause. "The life of boarders at an American tavern presents the most senseless and comfortless mode of killing time which I have ever seen. Every house of this de scription that I have been in is thronged to excess; and there is not a man who appears to have a single earthly object in view, ex- | we are giving an account, made except spitting and smoking cigars. I have tensive tours in every part of America, not seen a book in the hands of any person as well in the old as in the new settlesince I left Philadelphia. Objectionable as ments ; and, generally speaking, we these habits are, they afford decided evidence of the prosperity of that country, should say their testimony is in favour which can admit so large a body of its citi- of American manners. We must exzens to waste in indolence three-fourths of cept, perhaps, Mr. Fearon;-and yet their lives, and would also appear to hold he seems to have very little to say CL encouragement to Englishmen with against them. Mr. Palmer tells us, English habits, who could retain their in- that he found his companions, officers dustry amid a nation of indolence, and have and farmers, unobtrusive, civil, and sufficient firmness to live in America, and obliging;-that what the servants do for you, they do with alacrity; -- that at their tables-d'hôte ladies are treated with great politeness. We have real pleasure in making the following extract from Mr. Bradbury's tour. yet bid defiance to the deadly example of its natives."-(Fearon, pp. 252, 253.) Yet this charge can hardly apply to the north-eastern parts of the Union. The following sample of American vulgarity is not unentertaining. "On arriving at the tavern door the landled makes his appearance.- Landlord. Your servant, gentlemen, this is a fine day. Answer. Very fine.-Land. You've got two nice creatures, they are right elegant matches. Ans. Yes, we bought them for matches.-Land. They cost a heap of dollars (a pause, and knowing look); 200 I calculate. Ans. Yes, they cost a good sum.-Land, Possible! (a pause); going westward to Ohio, gentlemen? Ans. We are going to Philadelphia.-Land. Philadelphia, ah! that's a dreadful large place, three or four times as big as Lexington. Ass. Ten times as large.-Land. Is it by George! what a mighty heap of houses! (a pause; but I reckon you was not reared in Philadelphia. Ans. Philadelphia is not our native place.-Land. Perhaps away up in Canada. Ans. No, we are from England. -Land. Is it possible! well, I calculate you were from abroad (pause); how long have you been from the old country? Ans. We left England last March.-Land. And in August here you are in Kentuck. Well, I should have guessed you had been in the State some years; you speak almost as good English as we do! "This dialogue is not a literal copy; but it embraces most of the frequent and improper applications of words used in the back country, with a few New England phrases. By the log-house farmer and tavern keeper, they are used as often, and as erroneously as they occur in the above discourse."-(Palmer, pp. 129, 130.) This is of course intended as a representation of the manners of the low, or, at least, the middling class of people in America. The four travellers, of whose works 'In regard to the manners of the people west of the Alleghanies, it would be absurd to expect that a general character could be now formed, or that it will be, for many years yet to come. The population is at present compounded of a great number of nations, not yet amalgamated, consisting of emigrants from every State in the Union, mixed with English, Irish, Scotch, Dutch, Swiss, Germans, French, and almost from every country in Europe. In some traits they partake in common with the inhabitants of the Atlantic States, which results from the nature of their government. That species of hauteur which one class of society in some countries show in their intercourse with the other is here utterly unknown. By their constitution, the existence of a privileged order, vested by birth with hereditary privileges, honours, or emoluments, is for ever interdicted. If, therefore, we should here expect to find that contemptuous feeling in man for man, we should naturally examine amongst those clothed with judicial or military authority; but we should search in vain. The justice on the bench, or the officer in the field, is respected and obeyed whilst discharging the functions of his office, as the representative or agent of the law, enacted for the good of all; but should he be tempted to treat even the least wealthy of his neighbours or fellow-citizens with contumely, he would soon find that he could not do it with impunity. Travellers from Europe, in passing through the western country, or indeed any part of the United States, ought to be previously acquainted and more particularly if they have been in with this part of the American character; the habit of treating with contempt, or irritating with abuse, those whom accidental circumstances may have placed in a situation to administer to their wants. Let no one here indulge himself in abusing the I been told, as I had, that the Americans waiter or ostler at an inn; that waiter or never failed to cheat and insult every Enostler is probably a citizen, and does not, nor glishman who travelled through their cannot conceive, that a situation in which country, especially if they knew him to be he discharges a duty to society, not in itself an officer. This latter particular they dishonourable, should subject him to insult: never failed to inform themselves of, for but this feeling, so far as I have experienced, they are by no means bashful in inquiis entirely defensive. I have travelled near ries: but if the discovery operated in any 10,000 miles in the United States, and never way upon their behaviour, it was rather to met with the least incivility or affront. my advantage; nor did I meet with a single instance of incivility betwixt Canada and Charleston, except at the Shenandoah Point, from a drunken English deserter. My testimony, in this particular, will cer other travellers, who, I doubt not, have frequently encountered rude treatment, and quite as frequently deserved it; but it will at least prove the possibility of traversing the United States without insult or interruption, and even of being occasion ally surprised by liberality and kindness.” "The Americans, in general, are accused by travellers of being inquisitive. If this be a crime, the western people are guilty; but, for my part, I must say that it is a practice that I never was disposed to com-tainly not invalidate the complaints of many plain of, because I always found them as ready to answer a question as to ask one, and therefore I always came off a gainer by this kind of barter; and if any traveller does not, it is his own fault. As this leads me to notice their general conduct to strangers, I feel myself bound, by gratitude and regard to truth, to speak of their hospitality.—(Hall, pp. 255, 256.) In my travels through the inhabited parts of the United States, not less than 2000 miles was through parts where there were no taverns, and where a traveller is under the necessity of appealing to the hospitality of the inhabitants. In no one instance has my appeal been fruitless; although, in many cases, the furnishing of a bed has been evidently attended with inconvenience, and in a great many instances no remuneration would be received. Other European travellers have experienced this liberal spirit of hospitality, and some have repaid it by calumny."-(Bradbury, pp. 304 -306.) We think it of so much importance to do justice to other nations, and to lessen that hatred and contempt which race feels for race, that we subjoin two short passages from Mr. Hall to the same effect. "I had bills on Philadelphia, and applied to a respectable store-keeper, that is, tradesman, of the village, to cash me one: the amount, however, was beyond any remittance he had occasion to make, but he immediately offered me whatever sum I might require for my journey, with no better security than my word, for its repayment at Philadelphia: he even insisted on my taking more than I mentioned as sufficient. I do not believe this trait of liberality would surprise an American; for no one in the States, to whom I mentioned it, seemed to consider it as more than any stranger of respectable appearance might have looked for, in similar circumstances; but it might well surprise an English traveller, who had "I fell into very pleasant society at Wash ington. Strangers who intend staying some days in a town usually take lodgings at a boarding-house, in preference to a tavern: in this way they obtain the best society the place affords; for there are always gentlemen, and frequently ladies, either visitors or temporary residents, who live in this manner to avoid the trouble of housekeeping. At Washington, during the sittings of Congress, the boarding-houses are divided into messes, according to the political principles of the inmates; nor is a stranger admitted without some introduc tion, and the consent of the whole company. name a few of its members with gratitude, I chanced to join a democratic mess, and for the pleasure their society gave me Commodore Decatur and his lady, the Abbé Correa, the great botanist and plenipotentiary of Portugal, the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Navy Board, known as the author of a humorous publication entitled, John Bull and Brother Jonathan,' with eight or ten members of Congress, principally from the Western States, which are generally considered as most decidedly hostile to England, but whom I did not on this account find less good-humoured and courteous. It is from thus living in daily intercourse with the leading characters of the country that one is enabled to judge with some degree of certainty of the practices of its government; for to know the paper theory is nothing. unless it be compared with the instruments employed to carry it into effect. A political constitution may be nothing but a cabalistic form, to extract money and power from the people; but then the jugglers must be in the dark, and 'no admittance behind the curtain. This way of living affords, too, the best insight into the best part of society; for if in a free nation the depositaries of the public confidence be ignorant, or vulgar, it is a very fruitless search to look for the opposite qualities in those they represent; whereas, if these be well informed in mind sad manners, it proves at the least an incination towards knowledge and refinement in the general mass of citizens by whom they are selected. My own experience obliges me to a favourable verdict in this particular. I found the little circle to which I had happily fallen full of good sense and good humour, and never quitted it without feeling myself a gainer, on the score either of useful information er of social enjoyment."-(Hall, pp. 329— 331.) tenth of produce. Their clergy, however, are respectable, respected, and possess no small share of influence. The places of worship in Philadelphia in 1810 were as follows:-- Presbyterian, 8; Episcopalian, 4; Methodists, 5; Catholic, 4; Baptist, 5; Quakers, 4; Fighting Quakers, 1; Lutheran, 3; Calvinist, 3; Jews, 2; Universalists, 1; Swedish Lutheran, 1; Moravian, 1; Congrelaticosualists, 1; Unitarians, 1; Covenanters, 1; Black Baptists, 1; Black Episcopalians, 1; Black Methodists, 2. The Methodists, Mr. Palmer tells us, are becoming the most numerous sect in the United States. Mr. Fearon gives us this account of the state of religion at New York. In page 252. Mr. Hall pays some ery handsome compliments to the gal-repeat, what indeed you are already ac Entry, high feeling, and humanity of the American troops. Such passages reflect the highest honour upon Mr. Hall. They are full of courage as well as kindness; and will never be forgiven at home. Literature the Americans have none -no native literature, we mean. It is all imported. They had a Franklin, indeed; and may afford to live for half a century on his fame. There is, or was, a Mr. Dwight, who wrote some poems; and his baptismal name was Timothy. There is also a small account of Virginia by Jefferson, and an epic by Joel Barlow; and some pieces of pleasantry by Mr. Irving. But why should the Americans write books, when a six weeks' passage brings them, in their own tongue, our sense, science, and genius, in bales and hogsheads? Prairies, steam-boats, grist-mills, are their natural objects for centuries to come. Then, when they have got to the Pacific Ocean - epic poems, plays, pleasures of memory, and all the elegant gratifications of an ancient people who have tamed the wild earth, and set down to amuse themselves. This is the natural march of human affairs. five "Upon this interesting topic I would quainted with, that legally there is the most unlimited liberty. There is no state religion, and no government prosecution of individuals for conscience sake. Whether those halcyon days, which I think would attend a similar state of things in England, are in existence here, must be left for future observation. There are five Dutch Reformed churches; six Presbyterian; three Associated Reformed ditto; one Associated Presbyterian; one Reformed ditto; Methodists; two ditto for blacks; one German Reformed; one Evangelical Lutheran; one Moravian; four Trinitarian Baptist; Quaker; eight Episcopalian; one Jews' Synagogue: and to this I would add a small Meeting which is but little known, at which the priest is dispensed with, every member following what they call the apostolic plan of instructing each other, and building one another up in their most holy faith. The Presbyterian and Episcopalian, or Church of England sects, take the precedence in numbers and in respectability. Their ministers receive from two to eight thousand dollars per annum. All the churches are well filled; they are the fashionable places for display; and the sermons and talents of the minister offer never-ending subjects of interest when social converse has been exhausted upon one Universalist; two Catholic; three the bad conduct and inferior nature of niggars (negroes); the price of flour at Liverpool; the capture of the Guerrière; and the battle of New Orleans. The perfect equality of all sects seems to have deadened party feeling; controversy is but little known."—(Fearon, pp. 45, 46.) The Americans, at least in the old States, are a very religious people: but there is no sect there which enjoys the satisfaction of excluding others from civil offices: nor does any denomination of Christians take for their support a The absence of controversy, Mr. The following picture of a slave song is quoted by Mr. Hall from the "Let ters on Virginia." "I took the boat this morning, and crossed Fearon seems to imagine, has produced must be a prodigy who can retain his indifference; and he heaves a sigh to morals and manners undepraved by such circumstances."". ""-Notes, p. 241.—(Hail, the memory of departed oppression. "Can it be possible (he asks) that the P. 459.) non-existence of religious oppression has lessened religious knowledge and made men superstitiously dependent upon outward form, instead of internal purity?" To which question (a singular one from an enlightened man like Mr. Fearon) we answer, that the absence of religious oppression has not lessened religious knowledge, but theological animosity; and made men more dependent upon pious actions, and less upon useless and unintelligible wrangling.* the ferry over to Portsmouth, the small an infant sucking at her breast as she walked along, while two small children ba hold of her apron on either side, almos running to keep up with the rest. They came along singing a little wild hymn, of sweet and mournful melody, flying, by a divine instinct of the heart, to the con negroes, of different sizes and ages, followThe great curse of America is the ing a rough-looking white man, who st institution of Slavery. - of itself far carelessly lolling in his sulky. They hal more than the foulest blot upon their just turned round the corner, and wee national character, and an evil which coming up the main street to pass by tie counterbalances all the excisemen, spot where I stood, on their way out of licensers, and tax-gatherers, of Eng them loaded with chains to prevent ther town. As they came nearer, I saw some f land. No virtuous man ought to trust escape; while others had hold of each his own character, or the character of other's hands, strongly grasped, as if his children, to the demoralising effects support themselves in their affliction. produced by commanding slaves. Jus-particularly noticed a poor mother, wit! tice, gentleness, pity, and humility, soon give way before them. Conscience suspends its functions. The love of command-the impatience of restraint, get the better of every other feeling; and cruelty has no other limit than fear. "There must doubtless,' says Mr. Jeffersolation of religion, the last refuge of the son, 'be an unhappy influence on the manners of the people produced by the existence of slavery among us. The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions; the most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other. Our children see this and learn to imitate it; for man is an imitative animal. The parent storms, the child looks on, catches the lineaments of wrath, puts on the same airs in the circle of smaller slaves, gives loose to the worst of passions; and thus nursed, educated, and daily exercised in tyranny, cannot but be stamped by it with odious peculiarities. The man Mr. Fearon mentions a religious lottery for building a Presbyterian church. What will Mr. Littleton say to this? he is hardly prepared, we suspect, for this union of Calvin and the Little Go. Every advantage will be made of it by the wit and eloquence of his fiscal opponent;-nor will it pass unheeded by Mr. Bish. unhappy, to support them in their distress, The sulky now stopped before the tavern, at a little distance beyond the court-house, said I to a person who stood near me, "can and the driver got out. "My dear Sir," you tell me what these poor people have been doing? What is their crime? And what is to be their punishment?" "0," said he, "it's nothing at all, but a parcel of negroes sold to Carolina; and that man is what have they done, that they should be their driver, who has bought them." "But sold into banishment?" "Done," said he, "nothing at all, that I know of; their these drivers give good prices." Here the masters wanted money, I suppose, and driver, having supplied himself with brandy, and his horse with water (the poor negroes of course wanted nothing), stepped into his chair again, cracked his whip, and drove on, while the miserable exiles followed in funeral procession behind him.' "—(Hall, pp. 358–360.) The law by which slaves are governed |