. . s ' V" 5>» "^v^ ^v^-n^. ^ *v ♦ o -*'^ ' -^ . A o , t, ^ 'v' c qV ^^^ o « o o -^ -^^0^ C . '> ^^ A r\^ ^ M' J 4 <-•, .V '5>^ " O „ " -<{, v- \' '^/y ^ "y#^^^% ^ V ^i <'^ 'o . X « ,G^ "O. ■"/ . . s ^<^. ,0 .^ o « « '^- < ^. -P °^, 'I f rj' <"»• r o_ 9 I A. > o « o -"v-^^^ .^ 5^. -^ a -^1 4 c '^-^ ^ ■^ r O '^i'. ■0 *n ^■^ 4 O b 1 .0 ^ •,-V V ■ '■) ^*- .■ ■■'■A >^. » r- ^ ^^'^ ^^ .' r,* * A. ^ '« . V » • o o _ • . r, -. « 3 V * 7 '^o V-^' ■^. -<-J 'S '.V ^^"-. ° < -7' -^--0^ ^ _ ,l'>-7_ t V <> * O N O 0^ ^ » ( T V^ -. ^^ o (^i-'.O,'::. ^v <* '^ .W THE WANDERING PHILANTHROPIST; OB, LETTRES FROM A CHIJ^'ESE. WRITTEN DURING HIS RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES DISCOVERED AND, EDITED BY GEORGE TOWLER, Of yirgimu. \>^ J >v - <; % - PHILADELPHIA : ^' PRINTED BY BARTHOLOMEW GRAVES, % ' No. 40, North Fourth street. T ■pUBt>tSHED roa GEO. FOWLER AMD BARTHW. GRAVES. 1810. \ ^ r.'fi. *»» PREFACE, IT is not necessary to state the acci- dent by which the following letters fell into the Editor's hands. By many per- haps, they will be deemed a fiction. Be it so. X strive not to remove the error. Bat, what does it signify whether they be written by an x\merican or an Anti- pode ! Truth is the same from whose- ever lips it may flow, and error or pre- judice cease not to be such because we derive it from that circumscribed indivi- dual spot of the great globe v/hich hap- pened to give us birth. With respect to those individuals enveloped in nation- al p.rejudice, or perveited by party ani- mositv, should they take up this volume wiih an expectation of deriving any plea- sure from the perusal, they must be dis- appointed. And can this circumstance IV. PREFACE. be supposed to give any mortification Xund knowledge of human nature, but I he people here never advert to these facts. They vvould seldom be able to give any satis- factory answer to such questions as these. ( 12 ) Did you ever study the history of nations and draw from it your political creed ? Did you ever seriously or profoundly study the various relations of politicks ? Did you ever read any treatise on government ? Did you ever read the constitution of your own country ? To all these queries perhaps one half of the pretend- ed politicians of this country would have to reply in the negative. No one can have any pretensions to the character of a lawyer or physician without having studied the branches belonging to these professions: but no such ingredient is thought necessary in politics. What can be the reason of this ? Is it that there are no difficulties in the science of poli- tics ? Or is it that all necessary knowledge is derived from nature or possessed by inspira- tion ? From this statement of the scantiness of their knowledge you would suppose they were always desirous of acquiring information, and that they at least expressed their opinions with modesty and diffidence. But alas ! it is pre- cisely the reverse, and they are as much over- burthefied with zeal as they are deficient in knowledge. This repubiick, like all others^ ( 13 ) has almost from its commencement been divi- ded into two parties ; each claiming the ex- clusive merits of patriotism, and branding the others as enemies to their country, as stupid, ignorant, obstinate, wicked, prejudiced, and a thousand such appellations too numerous to mention. The sacred light of reason is ban- ished and forgotten, under the turbulent ope- ration of illiberal passions. Each party dis- play the most profound ignorance of human nature. '1 hey can make no distinction be- tween the intentions of their opponents and their opinions, nor consider that the one may be honest whilst the other is erroneous. Each makes their own opinions the infallible mea- sure of right and wrong, of truth and false- hood. Proud and infatuated beings, are not your opponents members of the same species and possessed of the same attributes.... a part of the same community, and governed by the same interests ? Do not they inherit the same good qualities which you do, and do not you inherit the same weakness which they do ? Why then may not their intentions be as ho- nest, their opinions as correct as yours? Are you more infallible in other respects and in B ( 14 ) your general conduct ? Why then are you so transcendantly above your competitors in the single department of politicks ? Have they not the same capacities for acquiring information and the same means of obtaining it ? Do not similar soil rear the same productions ? Do not trees of the same species bear the same fruit, and similar flowers the same blossoms ? Oh ! renounce, then, your contracted preju- dices and look not with an evil eye upon a man who differs from you in opinion. I It is remarkable, that when these people are discoursing in a general manner on political and religious toleration, their sentiments are liberal and expanded. I have often heard men professedly of either party deplore the violence of political zeal, whilst, if it was not such as their own, they would have no occasion to deplore it. When they are discoursing on general principles a foreigner would suppose that it was impossible but their sentiments would be tinged with the like liberality when they touclied upon local subjects, or entered into detail, but to see the violence of their manner in these moments, he would suppose it was impossible that they could entertain a ( 15 ) libera! idea on any subject whatever. Now, my friend, what is the value of general prin- ciples except so far as they govern us on par- ticular occasions, and in our practical con- duct ? What is the use of the compass except to enable the mariner to avoid rocks and shoals, and to govern him through every part of a voyage ? What signifies professions with- out practice ? Yet, this seems to be the na- ture of the human mind, not only on politicks, but every other subject. All men, for in- stance, will admit that justice, liberality, and economy are virtues, but when they would draw the limits to each, or descend into detail, there is always a clashing of opinion. When discoursing on general principles, or speaking in general terms, the different and peculiar ideas of each party lie dormant : when they descend to particulars they are called into ac- tion, and all their concomitants of pride, an- ger, and self-delusion enlisted in the contest. The disputes of these people on politicks are like those of their farmers about their land : neither party would have more than his due, but the line by which this must be determin- ed is a subject of eternal legal contention. ( 16 ) The party at this time the strongest are de- ncminated Repiihlicans ; the other part}^ bear the appellation of Federalists, The latter were formerly most numerous, but some un- popular acts of the last federal aciministration amply augmented the strength of the republi- can party, who now triumphandy carry every measure. Upon my first arrival here I spent an evening* with a man attached to this party. He is hospitable and polite to strangers, and having understood that he Vv-as a great politi- cian^ I expected to gain some important poli- tical information fiom him. After some tran- sient conversation on other subjects, I took occasion to ask him in what the ciiifc-rence of the creed of tliose parties consisted, and what the particular excellence of that of the party to which he professed himself attached. ^' Sir," said he, '' the particular merit of the Repub- *' licanir consist in a firm attachment torepub- *' lican prirxiples, and a constant desire to ** promote the best interests of their country. " But as to the Federalists it is difficult to say " what are their principles. Indeed I believe ^* they have none at all. They are no friends to *' our constitution : gladly would they see it ( 17 ) « de^trdyeS. They would besides render ti1s ** tribiiti^ry to Britain ; to free us from whose ** tyranny cost our brave fathers so much » blood and hardship." Is it possible ! ex- claimed I, that any people can so far depart from their national character as to entertain such sentiments. But what, continued I, was the conduct of the federalists in the revolu- tion f and though party distinctions took place afterwards, yet the real patriotism of both par- ties must at this trying crisis ha v)e been fully disp'ayed ? Did they shew any want of ardour in the common cause ? Did they not also shed their blood in defence of liberty ? Even the great Washington, he who led your ar- mies triumphant through all their diiFiculties, was not he afterwards called a federalist, and can the purity of his principles be doubted ? Was not he the idol of the federal purity, and can it be supposed that they would Vvorship one whose principles were in Ci^ntiadictibn to their own ? As to their being hostile to thd constitution, let us not too readily give way td ungenerous suspicions. What was the sen- timents of the federalists on this subject when it was proposed fur adoption, and Wi.en ii ex- JB 2 ( 18 ) * Gited so much agitation ? Then was the time for them to have expressed their unequivocal opinions. Did they shew any hostility to it ? Were they not, on the contrary, amongst its principal advocates ? Did they not use their influence to gain its adoption? And was it not for this that they took the very name they bear ? I only make these remarks to soften censure, and I believe the intention of both parties are honest, but My friend here interrupted me. He perceived, he said, that I was a federalist and.it was in vain for us to hold any argument, as we should never come to an understanding : the longer we disputed the more widely vve should differ. He ad- ded, that whatever might be the frailties of his own party, they were certainly all in- ferior to one unpardonable one of the fede- ralists, which was their inveterate obstinacy and aversion to all fair discussion. In re- ply I told him he had certainly mistook my character, that I was no federalist nor re- publican.... that I had little knowledge of these distinctions, and felt no interest in them, that I was a foreigner and felt favorably disposed both towards the government and the people. 1-itde indeed, my friend, did I expect that my ( 19 ) innocent enquiries and remarks could have produced die irritation which I observed in my deluded host, or have led to such conclu- sions respecting myself. I was astonished to see alt the gaiety and good humor which was natural to him, vanish in touching upon this gloomy and misterious subject. It convinced me, indeed, that men in the perfect possession of their intellects may, on particular points, be as completely deranged as the lunatic confined in a hospital. I endeavoured to draw the at- tention of my host from the obnoxious sub- ject of politicks, and restore him to his natural state of intelligence and good humour, but it w^as in vain; and 'though he indicated some symptoms of politeness, it was evidently for- ced. I began to think it was time to with- draw, and took my hat and bid him good night. I before mentioned that this nation prided itself on its national justice. This is, indeed, their most fervent opinion, but here, as in other respects they labour in a great measure under national delusion. It is remarkable that to nations, as well as to individuals, the max- im of an European poet is equally applicable, '' the, eye sees not itself." ( 29 ) In a government such as this, the admiiiis. tration must alwa)'S, in a great degree take its colour from the prevailing temper of the peo- ple, which is often extravagant. The people is the source from which the legislative body derive their authority, and the latter consider it an essential part of their duty to adopt their pohcy to the wi^vhes of the former. Every fepresenlative must study not oidy the interest but the temper of the district from which he is sent. In the national legislature, petitions from the' people are received with great re- spect. Nodiiisg is more common among its orators than to dweh in an empha ic mannef on the feeliiigs of the sovereign people, and nothing has mo!e iniliience on their proceed- ings. Now, when rulers are thus constantly iijiiuenced by the people, it is no woiuler that the policy of the former should ofien partake of the extr. vigance of the latter, and that they should be often led fsom their duty. Some- times they will receive this impuise without being aware of it, and sometimes they will feel overawed and have to depart from the dictates of their own judgemnl. it is ab:,urd to talk of the iniallibiiity of the people, or their pacifick C 21 ) disposition. The people are often impelled by extravagant passions. They are seldom governed by the enlightened dictates of i)hilo- sophy. They are not capable of understand- ing fully the complicated matters of national misunderstanding. With an impatience na- tural to them, they feci only their own interest and view only one side of tl;e question. They are not capable of tracing the interest of tlieir country in all its bearings : or of seeing fully the consequences of measures which they would wish adopted. Their infatuation will often impel them to war, v. hen both their honor and interest would dictate peace. But besides these facts concerning the peo- ple, there are other arguments deduced horn the nature of the human mind, which prove the deluded egotism of these people. What nation, or what legi lature, I ask, then, is exempt from national pride, nationd preju- dice, and the dictates of national interest ? Public men, in their coolest moments of re- flection, ai'e no more exempt from the influ- ence of these principles than the multitude. It matters not \\ hether it be kno^vn to ihem or not. They are principles derived from ( 22 ) nature, confirmed by habit, and their infiuence is invariable and eternal. It may be that each party took up their claims which they conceiv- ed to be no more than just, but considering the force of national partiality, these claims, strictly and fairly speaking, should have been the result of negociation, and not negociation the result of these claims, but after having once been asserted it is felt a matter of na- tional honor to maintain and defend them. At the time these claims are taken up it might be asked : Didst thou consider both sides of the question ? Didst thou weigh the interest and honor of thy adversary as attentively as thou didst thy own ? Wast thou then aware of all the arguments which he has since adduced, and did they occur to thee with the same force ? It is evident that to all these queries the answer must be in the negative. It is no less certain that the negotiation which follows must receive a strong tinge from this previous partiality. It is precisely the case in discus- sion between nations, as it is between indivi- duals. The mind of each party is somewhat in a state of ferment and actuated by delusive principles. Negotiation does not... .cannot ( 23 ) always produce either reconciliation of diiTer- ences or removal of prejudices, and error and envy very often tends to heighten both. But though I smile at the national egotism of these people, I cannot deny them the tribute to w hich they are fairly entitled, and in their general conduct, and \^ here they are not under the subtle delusions of intellect or of popular feeling, their conduct is ever magnanimous and just. Did every nation possess even an equal regard for justice two thirds of the mise- ries of war would be banished from the earth. Their national character has never been stain- ed by violence, am.bition, or treachery. They would only make use of their power to de- fend what they conceive to be their interest or their rights. These are the virtues of every rising republick. Jt is to be feared that this, like all others, will, in time, degenerate.... that it wijl not always pursue the honorable career which it has commenced. A degeneracv in the history of nations takes place pi ecisely as \A ith individuals in their progress through life, and idr the same reason. When a young man enters into the woild he is as yet govern- ed by the pure vmcontaminated principles of ( 24 ) nature ; but as he advances in life difficulties and temptations occur and he is still more and more led from the dictates of virtue. E very- new breach lessens the remorse with which it is attended, till at last he becomes familiar with what at first he looked upon with horror. Just so it is with nations in their intercourse wath others, and even their internal transac- tions. As they are involved in wars and troubles a thousand ten^ptations occur ; that high respect which they had been accustomed to feel for their national character is gradually abandoned, till at last a nation has no longer the virtuous pattern of their ancestors as a warning. Whilst I, at this time, look upon this fair repubhck flourishing in its rising strength, and holding out the olive branch to every nation, I cannot but offer up to Heaven my fervent prayers for its perpetual welfare. Oh I linger, ye approaching days of internal corruption of gloomy change, disasters, and difficulties ! Suffer, Oh fortune ' one small portion of the srreat e:lobe to be consecrated to virtue, and to justice., to be exempt from scenes of violence and blood. Ye rulei*s of America, persevere ■m ( 25 ) in the happy course which ye have commenecu. Consider your pubhck buildings as dedicated to virtue, and let none enter them who does not feel the sacred chill of the honorable, but awful, duties attached to his station. Oh! never let ambition, injustice, or treachery stain your cpunciis. So shall the days of this en- lightened republick be marked with real glory and perpetual prosperity, and heaven itself will look down with pleasure on the happy scene* ( 26 ) LETTER II. This great continent, as thou already knovvest, was discovered by Christopher Co- lumbus, to whom the obscure repubHck of Genoa had the honour of giving birth. He was one of those rare characters who was in- spired above the vulgar prejudices and con- tracted ideas of the age in which he lived. In His bosom first dawned the grand idea of dis- covering a New World, and with brave reso- lution he overcame every obstacle to its final execution. Astronomy was at that time little understood, and this knowledge confined to a few. Columbus, in reflecting on the figurt and dimensions of the earth, concluded that the extent of Europe and Asia, bore but a small proportion to the real circumference, and that other lands might be discovered by sailing to the West. He knew that the only way to execute his design was to secure the patronage of some prince of the day, who would furnish him v\ ith a fleet for the intend- ed expedition. He successively laid his plan ( 27 ) before different princes, frequently he appeared before them or those to whom the considera- tion of it was referred, and spoke with that bold confidence which great objects alone inspire, but ye sovereign potentates, ye pre- tended philosophers, it was not given to your contracted souls, to understand or to feel the noble eiithusiasm that laboured in his bosom. For years he had to contend with ignorance and prejudice, and to answer a thousand cap. tious objections.... sometimes his soul lighted i*p with pleasing expectation, at others, hope was extinct. And in whora at last did he find a patron. ...in the breast of a woman.... Queen Isabella.... and whilst it reflects honour on her, it must add disgrace to her husband. From him, Columbus never received any cordial assistance. Indeed, my friend, I believe that in such cases as these, the heart of woman is more exempt from contracted prejudices, and that their generous and unsuspecting nature always incline them to the favorable side. Columbus at last set sail in two indifferent vessels, and these but badly manned.... he had to encounter innumerable difficulties, but his fortitude and prudence never forsook hinCv ( 28 ) He had the exquisite gratification of landing in the country which had so long been the ob- ject of his anxious thoughts. What joy must the first sight of land have inspired ! With what exquisite gratification did he behold its fertile soil... .its luxuriant vegetation ! With w hat honest pride did he reflect that the doubts and prejudices of his country would, on his return, be dissipated, and that he w^ould every v.here be hailed as the discoverer of a new tvorld ! Columbus made several voyages to the countries he had discovered. He planted co- lonies, introduced wise regulations, and every where endeavored to win the good w ill of the natives bv pentleness and insinuation. In his contract vviih Ferdinand liC vras to have ex- tensive power over tile countries he should discos er; and a part of its profits, but this powder he never abused. Under every diffi- culty, the mildness and fortitude of his cha- racter was conspicuous. But what w as the return Columbus met with for his unparalleled services ? What the means taken to assuage hig mind for past anxiety and difficulty ? Under unfounded suspicions, he is arrested in the ( 29 ) eountry which his enterprize discovered, put on board of a vessel, and sent to Spain in chains ! Oh, ir»gratitude ! Thou art indeed tlie worst of crimes. The continent being now discovered, the great object was to plant colonies, accumulate 4 gold, and spread destruction among the na- tives. In this the whites derived as little glory in the execution, as they did honor from their motives. What honor, wliat glory, could result fiom attacking widi fire arms, those inoifensive people, who, with missive weapons, could hardly make any resistance, Ind where thousands were sure to be cut to pieces on the one side, and scarcely an indi- vidual lost on the other. Here was only bru- tal force without humanity, justice, or cou- rage. Indeed, my friend, if we view these transactions divested of that pride and haugh- tiness with which civilized nations are too apt to look upon those less civilized, they open a scene of the most tremendous injustice and bloody oppression, that ever disgraced the earth. Were not the natives the only propri- etors of this country? Did they not inherit it from their ancestors, and depend on it for c 2 ( so ) their food ? If the territory of any civilized nation is invaded by another, is it not looked upon as a flagrant violation of national faith, and considered as ample ground for war? What right, I repeat, then, had the whites to seize the territory of those unoffending people, or to prescribe it within bounds of their own arbitrary pleasure ? Was it to violate the sa- cred laws of justice, and riot in innocent blood, oh, ye cruel invaders, that ye left your native country and crossed the wide Atlantic ? The people of the United States surely, if they have any respect for those natural rights in others, which they are so highly jealous of themselves, must look with abhorrence on those bloody deeds in the settlement of the New World. What was the ground upon which they took up arms against the mother country ? That their property was taken from thcin without their consent. This encroach- ment on their national rights, determined them to encounter all the troubles of a tedious and doubtful \var. They thought it more ho- norable to part with their life than their inde- pendence. They said they would rely on the justice of heaven for the support of their cause. ^ ( 31 ) Every individual who did not unite in the common cause, or shewed any hostility to it, was looked upon as a wretch worthy of the severest punishment. And was not the cause of the poor Indians, in opposing the rapacity of theif invaders, equally just ? Were they not also contending for their indubitable rights and interest ? Upon w^hat principle then can these bloody deeds be justified, except upon the maxim that ** force is law''... .which the haughtiness of civilized nations has heretofore ascribed only to the state of barbarity. \\'hen a man with arms In his hand has a right to murder one who can make no resistance ; when the strong have a right to beat and ^ p- press the weak ; when the world shall get so depraved as to admit such maxims as tliese, then the bloody deeds of the Europeans, in the new world, may be justified, and not be- fore. The destructive arms of the Europeans, so different from any thing the natives had ever been accustomed to, spread terror amongst them. In some places they submitted with- out opposition, in others they made a vigorous resistance, but were always compelled ta submit,. /' \ 32 ) When the Spaniards landed and displayed their destroying power, the Indians looked iipon them as angels, but in the horrid and bloody use which they afterwards made of this power, they must have appeared rather in the light of iSeingsfroin the infernal regions. No wonder that their rapacity sometimes inspired the natives with a resentment above the influ- ence of all fear, and forgetting their own in- abilitv, they rushed against the storm, regard- less of the consequences. No \\'onder that they displayed a desperate intrepidity, which astonished their invaders ; that they rushed upon them in such numbers as almost to overpower them or render them weary with slaughtering. No wonder that they looked around on the heaps of tlicir dead and dying countrymen, with savage indifference, and widi frantick fury turned the whole of their at- tention ag-ainsft their invadel's. In one of those desperate engagetnerits t'.^ o young Indians of rank, observing the continued slaughter of their hapless countrymen, fastened a look in which their souls were mutually trsnsfused into each other, they sprung together towards the Spanish general, and seizing him drew ( 33 ) him after them to the battlements, determined to pull him from the top, contented to lose their oXvn lives, provided they could destroy- that of their oppressor, but the Spaniard dis- engaged himself, and the glorious youths fell martyrs to their country and to heroism, whilst tremendous oppression reigned above. And what were the motives of all this waste of blood ? The thirst of gold, and love of domi- nion, passions Which confine the sOiil in the most grovelling ties of the earth, and which banish every generous feeling, which has ren- dered scenes of blood a delightful spectacle and the groans of dying agony niusick to the ear. Considering the imrhense disj^arity of p'o\v- er betweeH the prfrtie^ ; the Indians' certainly displayed, oil many occasions, a bravery truly worthy of their cause. Had they had a historian to record their actions, we should be furnished with maiiy brilliant examples of heroism. One of the Indian princes, after havingdisplayed the most heroick exertions iii defence of his country. Was made a captive by the Spaniards. When he came into thfe' presence of Cortes^ the Spanish genetal^ he ( 34 ) thus addressed him....** I have used ir.y best *' exertions for the defence of my country, *' and now that I am }our captive, take that '* sword," pointing to one which Cortes wore, '* and put an end to a life which is ** useless to my country, and a burthen to ** myself." His life was spared, but not re- served for a more honorable fate. Cortes was a brave commander, and had not shewn him- self insensible to the feelings of humanity, but on this occasion, thirsting for gold, he resolv- ed to put his brave captive and his chief fa- vorite to the torture to extort from him -a confession of the spot v/here his treasures had been hid. In the midst of their sufferings, the favorite casting an enquiring lock towards his master, seemed to implore permission to make an acknowledgment ; but the high-spi- rited prince, with a look of authority and contempt, cried, " Am I reposing on a bed ** of flowers." The favorite overawed by this rebuke, persevered in his silence and expired under his tortures. Cortes, struck with the intrepidity of the prince, and asham- ed of his own cruelty, released the sufFcring captive. ( 35 ) The same destruction of the Indians took ^ place in the settling of North America. But here the Indians made a more vigorous re- sistance. It was with vast difficulty that the whites got settled with any degree of tran- quility. But the Indians, never forgetting their wrongs, often rushed with savage feroci- ty on their invaders, whilst blood and terror marked their way. A vast portion of the original race of this great continent has been cut off, and in almost all the islands of the West Indies, wholly destroyed. The suffer- ings of this unhappy race of men are at an end. In North America their numbers are gready reduced, but their condition is comparatively happy. I am glad to close this melancholy recital, by adverting to a more pleasing scene. The Indians in North America enjoy their liberty and have their limited territory which is never invaded. The people of the United States and their successive Presidents, Wash- ington, Adams, and Jefferson, have strove to cultivate peace and confidence with them and not without success. Whenever any of their chiefs pass through the country, they are treat- ed with marked hospitality. Trading houses ( S6 . ) are established on the lines, and such articles as they stand in need of exchanged for the peltry which they procure by hunting. Emis- saries have been sent among them to instruct them in the arts of civilized life. Several trijbes are in a state of progressive improve- ment. It is to be hoped that the whole of this unhappy race will, before long, be brought to turn their attention to agricultural pursuits, gnd enjoy ^hp f^cfiign injiu^nce.x>£ civilization. o i ) LETTER IIL Moralists have always made a distinc- tion between the profession and practice of man : between what he affirms of himself and w^hat others are disposed to affirm of him. But the infatuation of the people of this coun- try on the subject of politicks, prevents them from applying this rule, or making this dis- tinction ; and he who makes the loudest pro- fessions is looked upon as the best patriot. How often liave I listened with a smile to these popular political strains, whilst I knew that the individual was not only deceiving the publick, but deceiving himself! How often have I heard men express the deepest detes- tation of tyranny or expatiate in the most lu'- minous manner on the blessings of liberty, whom I knew to be destiture of the only ma- teri^s of this virtue, and who in their family D ( S8 ,) exercised as complete tyranny as any despo of Europe ! If such be their conduct in pri- vate life, would not such be their conduct in pubhck life ? and if such be their conduct in either case, can they be supposed to have any real regard for the sacred rights of human nature, or to be entitled to the praise of re- publicans in the real sense of the word ? Clergymen here are \yatched with the most scrupulous vigilance, and if in their practical conduct they depart in the smallest degree from the doctrine which they deliver in their black gown, they are looked upon as hypo- crites. When we buy the wares ofa trader weex- amine their quality and pay no attention to his interested recommendations. Why are not these self evicent maxims adopted here in politicks ? It costs men nothing to find fault of publick proceedings or to make profes. sions of political virtue themselves : they can claim no merit except when these virtues are actually felt and exercised. O ye delu- ded politicians full of blind zeal or empty declamation! how small is your political merit unless supported by the infallible and only criterian, the acts of your private life ; ye who ( 39 ) can shock the f^.elings of a wife, or depart from the dictates of honour to\\ ard thy fellow men ; who can exenH.se a wanton cruelty over helpless animals, or rob the harmless bird of an e^^ ; how vainly do ye imagine that ye pos- sess one spark of the only ingredient of poli- tical virtue ! For this reason I am surprised at a distinc- tion which in this country is made bet\^ een pub- lick and private cliaracter. Is not man in both cases governed by the same principles of nature, and will not his conduct in either case take its colour from those qualities which are peculiar to himsesf ? Does not the stream in both ca- ses flow from the same source ? Can a man in pubiick life be governed by qualities v/hich he does not possess ? He who would oppress his subjects, would oppress his family ; he ho would rob the public coffers would rob a pri- vate purse. He who would overstep the lim- its of his power, or violate the law in a pubiick capacity, would violate the law in a private capacity. He who is fonder of the pomp of ofSce than of attending to its duties, will in private life be fonder of procuring fine equipage { 40 than of paying for it. He who is haughty in pub- lick life, will be haughty in private life except vvhen fawning for popularity. He who would infringe on the rights of the publick, would infringe on the rights of individuals. He who svould violate a pubUck oath would violate a private contract. He who would abuse pub- lick confidence would abuse private confi- dence ; and he who w ould be ungrateful to ills country would be ungrateful to his friend. He in short who is destitute of prudence, ho- nor; humanity or integrity in public life, will be dcstitntute of the same aualitics in private life. TliC dibtlnction made by the people of this country, to which I have adverted, must pro- ceed upon the presumption that the private life of a publick candidate is no criterian from v.hlch to infer what will be his publick con- duct. If this is not the case I cannot con- ceive that a republick, so highly jealous of its rights, would give up the important one of enquiring into the real character of publick candidates and would give no weight to their professions, whether publick or private. Nei- ther have publick men any reason to com- ( 41 ) plain of such enquiry; for where the right belongs to the one party there can be no hard- ship to the other. When a candidate comes forward and lays claim to the confidence of the people, he incurs all the rehponsibility of the measure, and it is not only the right but the duty of the people to enquire into the justice of his pretensions. If he wishes to throw aside his private character and appear in a publick one, he is no better than he who having violated the law, assumes a new dress and name to prevent his being recognized, ar- rested and brought to the tribunal of justice. And what are the parts of his private life ^vhich should enter into consideration ? Not his empty declamations, nor his continual echo of certain popular words which have no definite meaning, or Vvhich if they have, are neither felt nor understood. We should look to his srentral character and his conduct in situations of difficulty and temptation which required the exercise, and not the professions, of virtue. Li on all such occasions he has been governed by the principles of honor and humanity ; if he has exercised the portlfu of privaie power he possessed with moderation C 42 ) and discretion ; if he has extended to merit however poor the hand of esteem, and dispised vice though surrounded by riches ; and if to these quahfications are added the necessary mental acquirements ; this man may safely be pronounced worthy of publick patronage and will not abuse it. The private life of men is not only the most general test which we can have of his publick pretensions, but certainly the surest, .and if skilfully consulted, can seldom mislead. Authors have remarked, that a short jest or a single expression will often exhibit the real character of a man in a stronger light than sieges or victories. Accordingly, the most skilful biographers have seized those incidents as indispensably necessary to convey a just idea of the characters thev would describe, and when properly selected, not only display the skill of the biographer, but are most amu- sing to the reader. We love to view them in these moments of privacy and relaxation in which nature acts without restraint, and when every quality, good or bad, is fully exhibited. When, on the contrary, they are acting in pub- lick life, or courting the suffrage of the people, { 43 ) they often appear in a borrowed character. Their real qualifications lie hid from our view, and Me see nothing but the exterior, and hear nothing but their professions. They are like an actor on the stage, who assumes a fictiti- ous character and performs a part which his own nature could not aspire to. It is not surprising that men who thus get into power by their -party zeal, without prin- ciple, and their professions without practice, should often appear in a new character, and display a conduct in perfect contrast with what was expected. But it would not have been surprising if the publick inspection had been directed in the proper channel. They would infallibly have discovered in private Hfe the davvnings of that character to which power now gives the full exercise. The character of men is not changed in an instan^. Power does not alter the good or the bad ; but only gives that exercise to the qualities of each, which before was not so fully displayed. It is a remark of some author whom I do not recol- lect, that the ingredients of the character which govern us through life, is in general formed at seven years of age, and this character is de- (44 ) veloped in every successive stage, and more particularly when possessed of power, or act«. ing in the unrestrained situations of private life. But how far from the rule which these ob- servations would suggest, is that which go- verns the people of this infatuated country, in political matters! It is not the private virtues of a man, not even his acts in public life, which entitle himtopublick confidence. What is it then ? His attachment to the most popu- lar party, and his professions to this purpose. And what is the peculiar fascination of these parties ? What are the principles by which they are governed ? No principle at all, and the facination exists in the individual and not in any mental or moral superiority of the par- ty or the cause. How, then, are these prin- ciples, opinions, prejudices, or whatever you may call them, acquired ? They are, in gene- ral, derived by the individual from his parents at an age when he is incapable of judging of their propriety, or perhaps even understand- ing them : they are kept alive and inflamed by mutual opposition. When an individual ch^Mges his tenets, he has been so long accus- tomed to view things in the mass, that he can ( 45 ) advert to no medium, but goes quite over to the otiier party.... and in this his ardour is just as strong as it was in that he has left. When- ever such recantations happen, the individual is branded by the party he has deserted, as guilty of flagrant inconsistency. Deluded par- ti zans! how much aie ve mistaken! Think ye, that in this solitary instance of apparent inconsistencv, he incurs the charsre more than ye who make the proceedings of your party the measure of truth, and not truth the mea- sure of the proceedings of your party ; and who, fl-oniyoiir blind attachment to men and not to principles, are, and ever must be, liable to continual inconsistencies ! In the warmth of this zeal men of tlie most amiable virtues, and who would be equally amiable in publick life, are neglected for the uncharitable and vi- olent partizan. Men of the most extensive information, or the finest talents stand no com- petition with beings so ignorant, that if you take certain political names out of their mouth they are scarcely able to utter an idea on any subiect v\hatever. Veterans who have served their country long and faithfully, and who, in ( 46 ) the independence of their spirit are upon some pubhck measure, recognized in another party, are thrown aside and the upstart of yesterday- taken in his place. To act independently is considered to act treacherously, and to act im- partially to act dishonestly. 1 have, perhaps, been led into the whole of these reflections by an adventure which I late- ly met V, ith in the country. In one of m.y excursions through the state of Virginia, I stopt at the house of a farmer from v\ horn I obtained a very welcome reception. I had introduced myself as a traveller, and at his re- quest I was induced to stay a few days by w^ay of relaxation. I had much conversation with him on ^opicks relative to the country in ge- neial, but politicks was the subject on which he most delighted to talk. I always listened to his effusions with attention, and without partaking in the conversation, only regarded his remarks as materials for mv own reflection. Once at dinner, after having drank to the spirit of liberty he began a regular eulogium. on its blessings...." You have travelled," said he, " through the countries of Europe, and '' must have beheld, with a sigh, the op- ( 47 ) '' pressed and degraded condition of human *' nature. There you have seen the great *' mass of the people labouring to support *' a few. There a few proud and haughty *' nobles iook down with contempt on the *' labouring poor; to whom they are, never- " theless, indebted for all their pomp. But *' here, sir, the scene is different.... a scene *' which the enlightened friend of man may '* contemplate with rapture. Our coun- " try is a school in which every foreigner " may learn the rights of human nature and " the wisdom of republican institutions. — ** Here on the broadest basis" The votary of liberty was here stopped by the entrance of a servant who approached him in an humble attitude and presented a note. The master took it in a hasty manner and spoke, " Why " sirrah, did you stay so long on this errand ? *' Did I not give you your orders ? Haveyow ** forgot tlie lacing I lately gave you on a si- *' milar occasion ?" The poor wretch, bend- ing in an humble manner, answered " Master *' I proceeded with all the haste I could, but *' the steward was in one of the outer fields, *' and it was some time before 1 could find ( 48 ) *' him out. It has not been half an hour'* sweating and blowing from fatigue, " since I '* got his answer." '^ Begone, villain, from ** my presence," cried the master, *' and let *' me hear none of thy lying excuses." He now began his oration exactly \^ here he had left off....'' Here, on the broadest basis, every *' man exercises the rights of human nature, *' and enjoys the fiuits of his own labour. *' Here are no exclusive priviledges to any " proud or imperious individuals, but the laws " operate alike on all. ...they are as promiscu- '* ously, or equally enjoyed as the light of the *' sun, or the air which we breathe.'' The orator seemed to be now just getting into the spirit of his oration, and I know not how long it would have lasted had not one of the servants accidentally let fall a wine glass.... the noise so startled and enraged the master that, seizing a stick which lay near him, he gave him several unmerciful strokes, and then, in a very dis- composed manner took his seat. This gave an entire new turn to the mind of ihe master, and he seemed to have now entirely forgoten his oration. '* These negroes," he began, ( 49 ) are the most careless and ungrateful wretch- es in the world. They forget that they owe their clothing, food, and every thing to their master, and do nothing to deserve what is given them. They even forget that they are servants, and the obedience which they owe us. My philosophy is often put to the severest trial to bear with them. Some de- luded persons would have them^set free.... But they forget that it is impracticable, and such a measure would produce more incon- venience than they are aware of. Many w^ho ai*e now supported by their negroes would • then have to voork for themselves. This is a hardship to which we should not be reduced. Besides, negroes are in every respect inferior to the whites, and in these distinctions nature evidently designed they should be under our dominion." ( 50 ) LETTER IV. I HAVE more than once O ! thou friend of my heart, spoken of the political parties of this country, and the deplorable exiravigance by which they are governed, but there is no evil without its concomitant good, and it would in fact be extremely difficult to deter- mire whether this spirit is here productive of most good or evil. It is at once the bane and antidote of a republick : without a portion of it no republick can exist, and with too much it may be overwhelmed in destruc- tion. The operation of this principle may be compared to the river Nile, which when flow- ing within proper bounds serves to fertilize the adjacent country and gives to vegitation all its charms; but overliowing these bounds is productive of ruin and desolation. The spirit of party is here necessary at pe- riods of ]iubiick election, in order to direct ( 51 ) the publick choice in such a manner as to exclude much difficulty. Each party makes choice of some conspicuous character whom they design to support, and this selection is made long before the period of election arrives. The union of the members of each party is so perfect, their sentiments so congenial, and their party interest so identified that the se- lection is spontaneous and undivided. Thus two men at least equally respectable in point of character and talents, but of different party opinions, are held up for publick choice, and he who gets the majority of votes is duly elected. But it is evident that this happy facility of election could not take place were it not for the salutary operation of party spirit. On the contrary the mostseriousdifncui- ties would be the consequence, and the wheel ofgovernment perhaps entirely stop't. Men are so much governed by self-interest, so much engrossed in private concerns that a portion of party spirit is necessary to rouse the publick mind, to draw it from private concerns and give to it a due attention to publick objects. It was destined to supply the place of pure disinterested benevolence, and so far as it ( 52 ) answers this purpose it is valuable and saluta- ry. Was it not for party zeal, publick elections in this country would be divested of all their importance. The publick mind ^vould neither be sufficiently engaged in re- llecting on the subject nor the publick at- ^ tention directed to it in due time before its arrival. But the most fatal circumstance would be that where the attention of the nation was not, by the dividing influence of party spirit, directed to a moderate number of can- didates; w^here the sentiments of each indivi- dual were detached, and knovvu cnly to him- self, a hundred candidates or none at all might be nominated. Indeed under such difficulty, I cannot perceive hovv^ an election could take plice. To be du:y elected the candidate must have a majority of votes of the whole na-ion or district; but v/here the, publick suiTrage is divided among so many it could not Le fairly expressed and no particular candidate chosen. In publick deliberating bodies of a moderate number this difficulty may be obviated by frequent ballots conti- tiiiually dropping him who hasfewes votes, but when weadvertto a nation or district, the C 53 ) difficu Ity seems to be insurmountable. . But admitting that so many candidates might not be nominated, what reason is there in the na- ture of things to believe that the number would be few ? By what land mark can the people be governed r or who in a repubUck can dic- tate to the people on a subject of such diilicul- ty and delicacy ? Veither can this point be set- tled by la^v. Let us suppose that a certain number of candidates, two or three, is limited by law. By whom, the question again recurs, are the particular characters to be pointed out, or the m]mr>er prescribed ? Or how is the voice of the sovreign people to be directed on the oc- casion. Ti us we see that a republick dj vest- ed r>f partv spirit would be like a vessel deprived of its rudder, and driven in any and eve] V direction. B^si;les these most prominent advantages of -rarty spirit, there are otliers equally insep- arable from it. And each party operates as a ch( ck on the other. It rouhcs the people to exercise their rights, to enquire into pub- lick proceedings. The movements of pub- lick men are vlgilan y v\at iucl an l every fault exposed. Tliey are thus restrained vviih- £ 2 ( 54 ) in the bounds of duty, and despair of arriving^ at an ambitious power. It inspires them with vigilance and caution in every publick mea- sure. . There is one beneficial operation of party spirit which perhaps deserves particular no- tice. A nation, in her intercourse with others, is too apt, on every subject of difference, to think her antagonist in the wrong. Her own honor and interest are felt with the keenest sen- sibility, whilst that of her opponent makes but a faint impression or none at all. All the ar- guments in favour of her own cause appear in aggravated colours, while those in favor of the cause of her adversary are ah^ays depre- ciated, or not at all adverted to. At such pe- riods, the daring spirit of party exercises a free enquiry. It exhibits both sides of the ques- tion, and diffuses important information. It checks the infatuation of self- love, and brings a nation to recollect that she also is not in- fallible. By this means, she is often pre- served from the calamities of ^\ar, or from the adoption of precipitate measures which would lead to it. By this means her national character is preserved and a conduct of mode- ration extended towards all nations. , ( 55 ) From these considerations it appears, that a repiibiick without party spirit wou- uke the tree viihout its portion of rain, in conse- quence of u hich it must not only lose its ver- dure, but languish and perish rhi> spirit is, nevertheless, at all times prouucavc yi its portion of evils, and when it rises into vif)lence -may overwhelm a government in distn»ction. The welfare of a republick, and ihe exist- ence ' f its government, depend entirely on the prudent and vigilant conduct of the people.... and (his column removed the whole edifice tumbles into ruins. For this reason there is no argument against the republican government, so strong as the fluctuating and intemperate disposition of the people. Of all those princi- ples which lead the publick mind astray, party spirit is, perhaps, the most prominent. It is the most inseperable evil of a republick, and productive of the most violent effects. It dif- fuses a spirit of infatuation, envelopes the human mind in one universal cloud of preju- dice, and exhibits every topick of reflection in a distorted shape Accidents add to the state of publick irritation, till at last the torrent is Ko longer to be restrained. In these dis- astrous times of publick delusion, there ( 56 ) are never wanting viplent and ambitious men who are f .lemost to direct the stonru Convulsions arise and blood must flow. Ah ! whither now is fled the boasted reason of man ! Whither is fled those sparks of celestial intel- ligence which has measured the distance of the planets.... «-Ietermined their bulk.... ascer- tained their relations.... and fixed their orbits, while flying through the infinity of space. Behold the chief, the enlightened inhabitants of the earth engaged in murdering each other. Behold a nation once united and ready to op- pose, with one feeling and one eflbrt, any fo- reign-aggression, now divided into infatuated parties, each striving to establish their pou er on the destruction of the other. And what does this prove but the unaccountable blind- ness of man. ...the weakness of his reason, and the force of his passions ? These terrible eftects aiise not from earthquakes or storms, but from the bosom of man himself. Alas ! by what blind infatuation are the human spe- cies s-overned ! I I vvhut opDosite lii^rhs is hu'oan iiuture presented to view ! In one case we bciiold a man arraisrned before the tribunal 'J of justice for committing a single murder, ( 57 ) and condemned to the gallows for the crime ; in another we behold a field groaning beneath mangled carcasses, and smoaking blood, and no tribunal to appeal to. Force is substituted for law, the murdering^ sword for ihe scales of justice, and the party that sheds most blood is that which claims all that justice could be- stow. Ah let me turn from the unhappy picture. Let me endeavour to console myself in viewing the peaceRil charms of nature.... the tranquil stream murmering over its bed, and gently flowing down its green and flowery banks.... the variagated landscape, and the charming groves waving to and fro under the influence of gentle zephers. Let me view, at a distance, the innocent lambs skipping to- gedier on the green, they that never felt or dreamed of any malignant passion. Let me listen to the charming birds while they chaunt forth their notes from the grove. Let me view the painted ducks gently swimming up and down the smooth unruflled stream. Ah, amidst these peaceful scenes my heart feels content, and I can listen, with a tear of sym- pathy, to the plaintive cooing of the distant dove. Why, innocent warbler, are thy notes ( 58 ) bO mournful ! Has some accident disturbed . thy peace ? Hast thou been disappointed in thy love, and now solitary and alone vent thy sorrows to the rocks and Vvoods. From these beautiful scenes let me direct my thoughts to objects more sublim-e. Let me view that, glorious luminary from which we all derive life and comfort, and which gives to the vegitable kingdoms, those charms upon which I gaze with delight. How unlike the fluctuating and intemperate dispo. sition of man is this glorious object, always magnificent bright and uniform ! From what source is its i.iexhaustable and ever flowing light supplied I Who can tell for how many ages it has dispersed its rays through the in- finity of space ! Who can count the ages of its existence, and how many it is still to exist, when every object of animal or vegetable life now on earth shall be no more. Perhaps it is eternal, and, like its omnipotent Creator, des- tined to shine forever. ( 59 ) LETTER V. There are a species of publications in this country, commonly issued several times a week, and the object of which is to detail the news of the day, whether foreign or domestick, and generally contain remarks on these topicks by the editor. Internal events and public pro- ceedings are viewed as objects of primary importance, and entitled to the first and high- est consideration of the people. The press is regarded as the most powerful weapon against the encroachments of ambition or tyranny, and its liberty is looked upon as sacred and inviolable. Nothing would more completely rouse the indignation of the people than for publick men to make the smallest encroach- ment on this priviledge. Its licentiousness and liberty is considered as inseperable, and }-je who would seek to apply a remedy to the ( 60 ) one would immediately be thought to aim a blow at the other. In all republicks this jealousy of rights is highly necessary and salutary ; and whenever this spirit becomes extinct, the people at once become the tools of ambitious tyrants. They cannot be too vigilant in watching the conduct of publick men, or too prompt in checking the first dawning of evil designs. They must preserve their rights while the purjiick men are their servants, and it is too late to attempt it when they are the servants of their piibiick men. That moral maxim which in the re- lations of private life, would teach us to put the best construction on every \\ ord or act of others, is not applicable to our judgment of publick proceedings, but the reverse is more prudent as well as more salutary. Ami^itious designing men never let fall an ex])resbion w^hich can exhibit their real character, or dis- close their real intentions; they are constant- ly full of professions of their regard for the rights and welfare of the people ; but all this time they are advancing step by step to the object of their ambition, while it is unknown to any one but themselves. They know it ( 61 ) will not do to attempt to exercise power he- fore they possess it, but when once they gain it thev^ know how to secure it as well as to ex- ercise it. The people awake from their dream and find themselves slaves.... they behold the ruins of their once adored liberty, and in itS' place a despotism rears its iron iront. The pros- perity of every republick, no doubt, depends much on the conduct of their publick men, but infinitely more on that ©f the people, and if ever their liberty is curtailed or destroyed, the fault is originally iheir own. For these reasons the great advantages of the liberty of the press are obvious. It is a perpetual tribunal before which publick characters are arraigned, and their acts exposed to the light, and con- standy reminds them of that more alarming tribunal of law before which they may be call- ed, and the vengeance of the people which awaits them lor dishonest conduct. It is to be regretted, however, that these writers are in general so poorly qualified for the discharge of the important duties of their occupation, that their talents or infoimation is so limitted, and this so much perverted by party spirit. In a former letter 1 endeavoured to shew that F C 62 ) this principle had a salutaiy tendency in a re- publick. There is no doubt, however, that a publick print conducted by an intelhgent, inde- pendent, and candid vvriter would, at all times, do much good and diffuse much important information, were it not that the people them- selves are so much under the influence of party spirit, that they are never disposed to encourage a paper of such a cast. The par- tizans on either side, however violent their zeal, take no paper but such as are consistent with their own opinions, and to expect to form correct opinions on political subjects from such aid is as absurd as to attempt to write a letter with the use of only half of the letters of their alphabet. A judge must hear the arguments and evidence on both sides of the question be- fore he can be master of the subject, or give a correct decision. This maxim is, indeed, one of the most universal to which the mind of man is familiar, and we should be con- stantly exposed to error did we not advert to it. Why have these people made particular excep- tion to this rule in the department o; politicks? It is here, in fact, w here it is most necessary. Why ? Because the violence of their political ( C3 ) zeal is so apt to cany them beyond the bounds of reason, and because these party opinions are not derived from rtfiection or study, but from their parents and the impression of early years. This is an indubitabie fact, and in a thousand instances there is scarcely one exception to it. 'i'he argument acquires additional strength when we reflect that the paper which is re- ceived, instead of being: calculated to remove these prejudices, tends in every respect to confirm them, that the author, like the reader, being under the influence of party spirit, views every thing in a distorted shape ; that what- ever comes from his pen is ever exaggerated, and that truth and falshood are so mixed that 4t is impossible to separate the one from the other. A man of the best intellects and the most moderate temper would have to exercise a vigilant reflection to separate the pure metal from the dross. But what great advantage can such a puper be to a reader whose mind is already sufficiently perverted, and who is inclined to believe, without discrimination, every thing that the author in the violence of his zeal mav aflSrm* { 64 ) The re can be no doubt, however, that pub- lick prints in a generalpoint of vitw are oi'in- fiiiite service in every republick. It is, indeed, mucli to be reg-retted that the editors of them >\ ho might be the guardians of public hberty •lo not corifine themselves widiin their province, | and that the liberty of the press should be so triuch perverted by its licentiousness. But aias ! how can it be otherwise when their own defects are those which are least known ; when thev mistake the violence of their zeal for publick jmtriotism and their malignant pas- sions for a concern for the publick good? It is the busirjess of one party to condemn every publick act, and that of the other to approve; and such is the force of party spirit that there is rarely any intermission or exception. — V/hePi any tliing improper is done the oppo- sition party are never tired of their invectives, bur \\\\i n an.y measure is adopted which exhi- bits publick men in a favorable light, the least which they do is to remain silent, but more .eenerally to represent it in the blackest co- lours. It has been said that the rugged breast of the savage may be teuched with the charms Qf virtue, but the more rugged breasts of ( 65 ) printers are insensible to those charms. When they can find nothing to bUme in the publick conduct of pubhck officers, they descend into the acts of their private Hfe, and when they cannot ahenate the affections of their country they would wish to alienate the affections of their friends. The honesty of the motive and the difficulty of the crisis never soften the vio- lence of their invective, while the good that re- sults from publick proceedings is sought for in any source rather than the wisdom or virtue of publick men. On the fairest characters they diffuse the die of their own hateful passions, and then cry aloud to the world to behold the deformity of the object which has made so miich noise. They are like the callous wretch v\ ho, insensible to the charms of a Venus De Medccis, would besmeie it over with dirt or filth. And who are these who assume this high province over the gi eatest characters in the country ? Are they beings possessed of supeniatural talents and virU es ? Oh no ! If this was the case their conduct would be very different. They are no more to be compared to the characters they abuse than the stars are to the sun in whose blaze they are lost and 2 F ( 66 ) ©bscured. They are in many instances equal- ly deficient in talents anci information, and know nothing of poHticks except the names. They are contemptible in eve.y point of view but still more so in their professional pursuits and that in which they assume most self im- portance. They are the reverse of what they ought to be, and the shadows of what they pretend to be. There is a particular custom among these Printers, which I cannot but notice, and this is crouding their composition with words, expressions, and sentences in Italick letters, or letters distinguished from the rest, thereby begging their readers not to pass them over without weighing their importance. This is an artifice like that of a trader afiixin.sj labels in praise of his articles, as if he thought peo- ple so easily imposed on as to judge from such inscriptions without examining the qual- lity of the article itself. If the idea, or any part of it be striking, it does not require the aid of new type to give it its proper effect, and if it is dull it cannot be rendered bright from this circumstance. It is a miserable expedi- ent to su^ ply, or rather to conceal on paper, ( 67 ) the vacancies in the mhid of the writer, and without answering any good only serres to expose his vanity. I thought that words were only the signs of our ideas, that they could not alter them, and that it is perfectly imma- terial by what characters they be conveyed, so as they are understood. If the reader can be attracted by the novelty of type he is as silly as the writer is vain. He displays the folly of him who wearies himself in digging for a gold mine, because he discovered the tran- sient glitter of a piece of iron ore. Perhaps in these remarks on the printers of newspapers, I have gone too far, and though they are, in general, true, there are certainly men who afford prominent exceptions. There are members of this profession Vv'ho are not only well acquainted with its duties and the politicks of their country, but who are possessed of general learning and information. They seldom, however, possess sufficient in- dependence of judgment to acknowledge that talents and frailties belong to both parties, and that Their own parry is sometimes iji the wrong and the other sometimes in tlie rights C 68 ) LETTER VI. Providence, O thou friend of my heart ! seems to have destined this country for some important ^jurpo^e, and has given it every na- tural and political advantage. Perhaps no na- tion on earth, not even China itself can com- pare with it in several respects. Its first and most prominent advantage is its remote situa- tion fi om the convulsions of the European world which amidst all its splendid improve- ments in the arts and sciences, ever has been and probably ever will be the theatre of wars carried on with a more deep rooted rivalship and hatred, and with more disasterous conse- quences than is to be found among the most barbarous tribes. A vast ocean at once unites and divides this republick from Europe, and whilst it enjoys the blessings of a commercial intercourse with that portion of the world, it is placed beyond the disasters ofits never end- ( 69 ) ing wars. It has still less to fear from the fee- ble colonies, or the barbarian Indians by which it is surroumied. 1 his nation is the only independant one and the only one of any strength or importance in North America. Her progress in national strength, and all the branches of civiliza^tion more particularly since her rt volution has been rapid and un- precedented and it has been but a few ages since the greater part of her territory was in* habited by nothing but howling beasts of prey. She has rose far above any neighbouring co- lony, wliile the liberty of her government, the mildness of her laws, the cheapness of land and other advantages, have occasioned a great number of Europeans to resort to it, and make it their adopted country. Wiih the rcigh- bourino- Indians she has had some wars, but the latter \^ ere soon taught to dread the effects of superior numbers, arms, and descipline. Since the conclusion of peace the United States have strove bv friendlv conduct to inspire them widt confidence ; have sent emissaries among them to instruct them in the arts of civiliza- tion, which they are beginning to adopt and which are daily increasing among them.. ( "0 ) Seperated as this country is from Europe, perhaps no individual power of that quarter can transport an army sufficient to conquer it, and it would be a measure attended with such vast tx pence and hazzard as will per- haps never be risked, and if attempted would proi:)ably be unsuccessful. The advantages of the United States in such a contest could only be equalled by the disad- vantaL'-es of her enemv. The armv of the for- mer would be constantly increasing ; that of the latter would more probably be constantly di- minishing. 'I'he supplies of the former are4iear and easily obtained, those of the latter are at a distance, and obtained with great difficulty. Tiie necessarv assistance is obtained bv the former at the most critical period ; that of the latter would frequently come when it is too late. The next great blessing of this country is its republican goverrimentand humane laws. The governnients may be divided into tlie general and states government. The gene- ral or Federal government is divided into \eg^ islative and executive departments. The leg- islative department is composed of a senate and house of representatives which hold their ( 71 ) deliberations separate. Each state contributes two senators J and they are chosen by the re- spective governments of the state from which they are sent. The term of their office is six years. For the housr of representatives one mc mber is chosen bv each of the districts of each of the states, and is elected by the peo- ple. These districts are in number propor- tioned to the population of the slates, and are of course very unequal. The term of their of. fice is ttrnrr years. These two bodies which compose the legislature have the power of de- liberating on all matters of a general or na- tional nature, such as declaring war or con- cluding peace, raising or disbanding armies, and deliberating on all points of relation with other nations. Such is the general complexion of its powers, but to descend into the tedious detail which the subject w^ould admit of, is a task which could not be accomplished in the compass of a letter, nor am I disposed to er.gc^ge in it. I v\ ill only remark that congress itself is often at a loss on points relative to the extent of its powers, which produce long debates. Tiie ( 72 ) ♦ general government of the United States is supported by eludes on imported articles. The executive department consists of a president aiid vice president. The former is by far the most important character, and the perfor>mance of the latter is little more than to preside over the deliberations of the senate. The president has the execution of many of the laws, but not those which come under the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States. The functions of the executive :department require that it should be in constant session. It corresponds with foreign ministers residing in the country, and gives instructions to mi- nisters of the republick residing at foreign courts. It receives the dispatches of foreign ministers, and when it is thought necessary lays tJiem before congress. It has the power of convening congress on extraordinary occa- sions. It has the power of granting pardons or remitting fines in decisions of the federal courts. The governments of the different states are instil uted on a model very similiar to the general government, though the object of their power is different. The ieglblative body is ( 73 ) is composed of a senate and house of represen- tatives; the former chosen from the senatorial districts, and the latter by each county. — These governments have the power of making laws of a common, but not of a national cast, and which govern the state courts but not the federal courts. Of course the laws made by these governments only opperate in the respec- tive states, in which they are established. The executive authority is lodged in the hands of the governor, who, in some of the states is chosen by the legislature, and in others by the people, and generally has a coun- cil of a fe# members to assist him. This department has the execution of certain laws, and the power of granting pardons ; and special power is sometimes vested in it by the legislature, to be exercised when the latter is not in session. Publick men thus chosen by the people, elected for short periods, and always subject to their check and controul, are naturally and habitually led to make the interest of the peo- ple the polar star of their conduct. G ( 74 ) The next great advantage of this country is its wide extent of fertile soil. No part of it is so th ckly inhabited as to produce poverty, and there remains large tracts which are not inha- bited at all. Whilst in China, every foot of land is cultivated with care, here are vast tracts f^hich are inhabited by nothing but sa- vage beasts. While there population is so great, that the helpless infant is often exposed to death, this country is an assyium to the op- pressed of every other nation, and the emigra- tion of forei2:ners considered an advantao-e. — This extensive territory, must necessarily turn the attention of the people t|LagricuIture, as their chief pursuit, and is a source of im- mense wealth. It is for this reason that every class of citizens can easily hnci employment, and that their labor ccrjamands a good price. It is for this reas(n ihat there are so few beg- gars in the couhtiy, and thcit there is more equality in the posse.'ision of property than in most other nations. The numher of native Americans v\ ho are rt(:uced to the necessity of begging, is ex trem^ely few. Perhaps they never can resort to it without fcrfeitii g supe- rior advaiiccigcs, and in cases of lameness, ( 75 )■ weakiic^s, or habitual disease, the law humane- ly provides a support. It is not uncommon, houever, to meet with foreigners \vho have never been naturalized, that pursue the prac- tice of begging. These are such probably who had been accustomed to beg in the coun- try they left, and now fromjiabit resume the practice, and are excluded from the benefit of the poor, from the circumstance of not being citizens. Thus these urihappy beings, too lazv to work, and unable or ashamed to be- come ctizens, only to eat the bread of indus- try in aland to which they contribute nothing, pursue thef<:legrading practice to the end of their lives. I before remarked that this country is in general very thinly inhabited. There are a few states hovvcver where the soil is well cul- tivated and am-iculture advanced to a consi- derable state of improvement. This is more generally true of the northern states and the land adjacent the Atlantick. The more western states exhibit in many parts a miserable ap- pearance. The great fault of farming in this country has been a rage for cultivating too much land to the total neglect of manuring ( 76 ) and improving. While their farmers are em- ployed in cultivating one part of a large field the other part is often overrun with grass, and \vhile in the former the growing article ex- hibits the freshness of cultivation, in the lat- ter it is languishing for want of the plough and the hoe. To jsuch a degree has this un- fortunate practice been carried, that on nu- merous large farms the timber has been cut down and wasted until there is none left for necessary use, while the cleared land for want of cultivation exhibits nothing but poverty. No w^onder \^hen vie look on such farms that we see the domestic animals broken down and wore out with excess of labour and ^\ ant of proper tieatment. How cften have I seen a poor half naked negro boy following a horse over stony solitary hills that could hardly drag one leg after another? How often have I seen tliese degraded negroes labouring in a dusty and barren soil \^hich perhaps they had a hun- dred times passed over in the sam.e manner without its ever having received the reviving influence of manure ? Thus the master is the worst of tyrants and reduces every thing around him to poverty and distress without deriving any advantage himself. ( 77 ) Another great defect of the fanr«;ng cf-t^SC people is the shallowness of their ploughing. Deep ploughing is necessary in breaking up land, and is no less so in cultivation. But it is common enough here to see the plough totter- ing over stones skimming over the grass, entan- gled with briars or choaked with weeds, with- out doing any good to the article. Regular and deep ploughing is little attended to^ and its value little known. But the people are at last beginning to open their eyes to the wretch- ed practices of past cultivation, and a better system begins to dawn. The manner of Eng- lish cultivation, the example of several emi- nent farmers in their own country, and some books written on the subject have produced a favorable eiFect. The people now begin to attend to their domestic animals as well as to their desert fields. They now begin to know the importance of manuring, and pay more attention to the proper cultivation of a mode- rate portion of land, than cultivating a great deal tb no purpose. They are in some degree freed from old customs, and it is not difficult to foresee that they will graduallv, if G 2 ( 78 ) nmravidly improve. The greatest difficulty to improvement in every pursuit, is to get rid of the shackles of custom and prejudice. It is much to be wished that those who arfe destined to settle the immense territories, which are still desert, would take heed from the example of their fathers and pursue a dif- ferent course ; that they would not from a rage for cultivation, waste their timber and ruin their farms ; that they would not from an appearance of present advantage sacrifice their future prosperity, or to benefit them- selves, entail a mutilated territory on their posterity. Another feature of this country, is the wretched state of its roads in many parts. In China, as well as in some countries of Eu- rope, the roads are equal to the pavements of the towns, whilst here they are almost impas- sible. It is not uncommon for carriages to be upset from their irregularity, and at other times so deeply entangled in mire, as hardly to be extricated by the horses. Those who are on horseback must have the patience of a, philosopher, to endure the tedious difficulty with which his wearied horse moves on thro^ ( 79 ) the mire. In other places he trembles > in passing over little pole bridges, often full of dangerous holes, and should his horse happen to step into one of them, might run the risk of breaking an ancle or a leg. As to foot pas- sengers, it is rarely that they are enabled to walk in the road, but are obliged to pick their way thro' the woods as well as they can. This description may appear exaggerated, but it is strictly true, though it is more particularly- applicable to the roads of the western part of the union. Thou wilt, perhaps, be still more sur- prised, when I inform thee that the condition of the streets in some of their towns is as bad as their roads. In Virginia, the principal towns are of this description, as well as some in several other parts of the union. In the winter you can hardly get along for the mud, and in the summer your eyes are almost put^ out with the dust. When the streets are in this miry condition, the people are obliged to wade patiently thro' the mud, or jump from one dry spot to another ; but it is seldom that they can extricate themselves without besmearing their boots or shoes, or besplash- ( 80 ) ing their clothes. As to the ladies, they must either ride in carriages or remain in their houses, for it is impossible they can encoun- ter the mire, unless it be only to pass by a few dooib. Attieu. ( 81 ) LETTER VII. There is a method of deciding private quarrels in this country, according to which the parties meet at a place previously agreed upon, and with loaded pistols fire at each other. The weapons, the distance at which the parties shall fire, and the time and place of meeting are , all fixed by the seconds, with the consent of the principals. Of these seconds, each party has one , and also a surgeon in case of being wounded. The laws throughout the union are, I be- lieve, designed to suppress the practice, but owing to the vigilance of the parties, the neg- ligence of the civil authorities or the indul- gence with which the custom is viewed by the publick, they are seldom ever carried into ex- ecution. I do not recollect to have heard of an instance of a person implicated in duelling, being subjected to the penalties, of the law. ^ ( 82 ) The proceeding scrrictimes adopted by the parties is to go into an adjoining state, v. hich of course must have jarisdiction of the oftence, and havirg executed their purpose, they re- turn to their native state where they are be- yond the reach of the civil authority. Some- times the act takes place in the native state of the parties, and if either is killed, the survivor as well as the second fly to an acijoining state, where they remiain until the matter is hushed or forgotten and then return. Upon the first view of this custom, it ap- pears to be an absurd one ; because the in- jured person is under as great a risk of losing his life as the other. But should the reverse take place, there is certainly neither honour nor pleasure to be derived from the considera- tion of being a murderer. In either case it is plunging into a greater evil to avoid a less, and sacrificii;^- the honourable dictates of con- science to an absurd opinion of society. It is remarkable that many of these profess- ed duellists, from a callousness of heart and selfish pride seem to exult in their feats in this w w ; and take to themselves as much honour for destroyins: the life of a fellow creature, as ( 83 ) if they had been the means of saving one.-^ Some instances of a contrary nature, however, have fallen under my notice, and I have heard of persons who were hurried into a duel from thehjeat of passion or the pride of the moment, who had sumcieiit sensibility to regret it all their lives afterwards. In these transactions the seconds are often as much to blame as the principals. They often act the part of enemies in the disguise of friends. Their temper is not liable to be irritated, nor their judgment perverted by the peculiar circumstances of the aiiair, as is the case with the principals j and diey generally have it in their po^ver to jrioduce an accom- modation, but thev seem to be more desiruus to irritate than to reconcile. Many a cowardly second is ready enough to encourage a duel between others, which he would shiiiik from himself; to inspire courage ni another when he has none hmiself ; and talk of wounded honor, vihen in his verv conduct at the time, he she^vs he has no rational regard for it. One party imagines he has received an in- sult, and gives a challenge ; the other is afraid of being called a coward and accepts of it. ( 84 ) yery often, however, when they get on the brink of the precipice, they shrink back, regret their folly, and are fully disposed to be recon- ciled. They are induced to terminate a matter through fear, which was begtin through pride, and to make those explanations very auk- wardly at last, which they might have done honorably at first. It is not, however, my intention to moralise on this subject but to describe. 1 will, therefore, relate a few in- stances of duelling, which have fallen under my notice, from which you will discover the manner in which it generally arises, and the method of proceeding. Johnson and Clopton meet together at a tavern.... they are glad to see one another; and in the joy of the moment call for a bowl, over which to dilute their friendship.. ..they repeat the anecdotes of their past lives, and laugh at their joint adventures.... their conversation soon partakes of every shape and colour, argumentation, story- telling, max- ims, jests, criticism, freedom, acrimony, and at last ends in quarrelling. The people about the house flock in the room and prevent them from proceeding to violence.... but Johnson tells Clopton that he will hear frcm him again; ( 85 ) to which Ciopton replies that he will be reaclv to meet him in any manner, or in any place he may think proper. Johnson returns to his lodging and sends for a friend, to \\hom he imparts the whole affair. They both agree that his honor is deeply wounded ; and that the importance of the case requires that they should make the arrangement for repairing to the field as early as possible. The scene of combat, after solemn consultation, is fixed upon in an adjoining state. The parties order horses, servants, and portmanteaus for the expedition, and lay in stock to eat and drink sufficient to last them a year.... they exchange a fire, but w ithout doing any material damage, except that Johnson had a small piece of his thumb shot off and Ciopton had the thigh of his breeches perforated. Here the seconds interfere, and the heroes being men of great moderation, as w ell as great courage, are, after some hesitation, persuaded to desist. They now return to their native state in great pomp, each having proved himself to be a man of courage. Hopkins and Moore were men of very op- posite characters. Hopkins hud many exte- M ( 86 ) rior accomplishments.... Moore recommended himself alt gether by tne unalfecteci goodness of his nature, and the fair simplicity of his manners. Hopkins attracted the attention of strangers.... Moore obtained the love of his friends and those who best knew him. Hop« kins paid great deference to estabii;-ihed cus- toms and the opinions of the world.... Moore often employed his good sense to expose the former, and consulting the dictates of his own conscience, paid very little attention to the latter. These characters sometimes met to- gether at the same house. Hopkins had taken up an idea that Moore disliked him ; and under this impression his jaundiced imagina- tion was ready to misconstrue every expres- sion thut fell from the latter. In a conversa- tion in which IVloore expressed himself with his usual freedom, but without any personal allusion, (of Vvhich indeed his nature was in- capable) Hopkins's heated imagination collect- ed a thousand expressions which he coactived were aimed direcdyat himself, and his colour changed repeatedly in the course of the re- marks which Pvloore made. Hopkiijs now returned to his iodgings.... locking huii:ielf up ( 87 ) in his room, he continued to walk backwarcl and forward, repeating again and again the expressions he had heard,. ..he stamps his feet, throws up his arms ; curses the assassin of his character, and is determined to have re- Aenge....he attempts to go to rest; but his irritnted mind and turbulent dreams will not s uTer him to i;eep....he anxiously wishes for the ViQ-ht of dav, and earlv next morning sends to Moore the following note. '' In conse- quence of your indecent allusions to my character last eveniiig, I have to request that you will disavow every word you uttered, or meet me on the ground of a gentleman.'^ — Moore is astonished at receiving such a note; and still more at a loss to know the occasion of it.... he returns, hov»^ever, the following laconick answer. " The particulars of my remarks last evening; are fresh in my recollection, and conscious of havincj offered you no offence, I can give no explanation." The bearer returns with this to Hopkins, wlio now writes the following which is handed to Moore. ^'^As you have refused to give me the explanation I demanded, you must be prepared to comply with the only alternative which the nature of ( £8 ) the case admits of. My liiend, who docs me t';ie honour of being the bearer of this, will arrange \v\\h your friend the terms of meet- ing.*' This note Moore hands back to the bearer without L.ivlng any reason for his non- acceptance of It. Upon this Ho. kins affixes, -in some public place, the following libel. *' I hereby pronounce Hazelo^i Moore to be a liar, a scoundre], a poltroon, and a coward. *' JOHN HOPKINS.'* To this pompous piece of idle nonsense, every ciie crouds to look with gaping curiosi- ty. The hero who is the author of it struts the street with more consequence than ever, and enjoys, if not in reality, at least in imagi- tiation, the admiration of the town. Rogers and Chiton were bodi paying their addresses to the same lac.} , and euch conceiv- ed he had the priority of claim. The young hdy seen.ed to prefer the pretensions of Clif- ton, but diis did not satir.fy Rogers.... he look- ed uipou his opponent as an intruder, v» ho had alienated the regard of the young lady from him, V ithout intending to marry her himself; but even if such were his views, it wounded him so much the more, that she whom he ( 89 ) fondly believed, was to crown his happiness, should be torn from him and possessed by another. At last a challenge passed, and the necessary arrangements are preparing by the parties for carrying their view s into execution, but as the time approached each began to regret his rashness. *' Why, says one, should I sacrifice my life for a woman who has no regard for me ; whom, should I escape the danger of a duel, I shall never possess, and who, should I die, will not shed one tear for my memory ? Are there not many women in the world, as amiable and beautiful as she, and who would be more disposed to favor my ad- dresses ?" The other reflects pretty much in the same strain. *' Since I enjoy the smiles of her whom I love, why should I run the risk of blasting all the happiness which a peaceful union with her would bestow ? Why should I run the risk of losing my life or of plunging her into misery, merely to encounter the frowns of a jealous adversary ? Should I sur- vive, I might return with a broken leg, a.m or head, in which case I can never be the object of her love." These reflections unnerve the resolution of the parties, and almost throw^ H 2 ( 90 ) . ihem into a hypochondriack state; but the arrangement has now taken place, and they are bound to carry it into execution.... they do not, however, take much pains to conceal the affair from the publick, or to prevent it from coming to the ears of the magistrates, whose duty it is to suppress such practices. The seconds are sometimes seen passing backwards and forwards, sometimes conversing together, and sometimes walking in solemn consultation with the principals. The parties are seen moulding bullets, rubbing up their pistols, walking out to exercise at the mark, &c. See. They do not hesitate to disclose the matter in confidence to their friends, and take of them a pathetiok farewell, in case they should never see thehi again. They even drop ambiguous hints of it in publick, and leave people to draw their own conclusions. In the mean time the magistrates seeing what is on foot, have thei. parties arrested, and compel them to give se- curity for their good behaviour, which no doubt they very readily do, and are glad even on these terms to get rid of the affair. Earl and Stanhope were two respectable men of family. They resided in the same ( 91 ) county, were of opposite politicks, and c?ac-lf offered to represent their county in the legisla- ture of the state. This, it seems was the sub- ject of their misunderstanding, and one re- ported, or was stated to have reported, that the other made use of unfair means to pro- cure his election. The honorable seconds who were concerned in this case, strove much to produce a reconciliation ; but new occurrences served to inflame the minds of the parties, and bring on the unhappy catastrophe. Stanhope had once made a kind of explana- tion, but something which he afterwards inad- vertantly uttered, which was told with ex- aggeration, served to inflame the matter beyond the possibility of reconciliation; The parties who had been so long intimate friends, who once esteemed each other's virtues, and forgave each other's foibles, now meet on the ground, with no other sentiment but that of murdering each other. They fired almost at the same instant. One was shot through the heart, instantly fell and expired on the spot. The other was dangerously wounded and car- ried in a car from the field. The efi'usion of blood was so great, that his friends almost ( 92 ) despaired of reaching home with him alive.— This, however, they effected, and his distract- ed family, who with' sad presentiments had been enquiring for him in vain, now met him at the door, groaning in pain, disfigured w ith blood, and on the verge of existence. The skill of his physicians and the tenderness of his family are in vain, and in a few hours he expires. ( &3 ) LETTER Vlir. I HAVE for some time past been acquainted with a man here who has rendered me several services ; and our acquaintance has now ri- pened into mutual frieridship and esteem. I have often felt the want of a friend in the coun- fries, through \\ hich I have successively travel- led, and national puculiarities h«ve aKvaj^s presented themselves as not tlie least obstacle to the attainment of my wislies. My present cora])anion has rieither the austerity of an Kng'lishrnan, nor tlie egotism -fa Frenc'hman ; he is iieiilici- too melancholy, nor too volatile ; but the ]i<A^as far from his wish to attempt to Aveaken my resolution, and that I was bound to comply with it by all the ties and sympathies of hu- man nature. *' But believe the sincerity of my friendship," said he, " ^vhen I entreat you to embrace our holy religion, established bv the most undoubted miracles, and endeared to us by the sufferings and blood of Christ himself. What, though you be an inhabitant of a distant part of the earth ! No particular portion of the world is either em!)raced or ex- eluded in the Christian scheme of salvation^ and the happiness of Heaven is hung out to the whole hu.nan race. *' Look unto mp, and be saved, all ye ends of the earth, '^ is the promise of the creator himself. Remember my friend that we have not long to stay in this world, and when you bid m.e a last adieu, to depart for your native couiUry, how should I rejoice in the reflection, that we are to meet again in the mansions of the blest. In reply, i observed that 1 had no reason to be surpriseu that the Christian reli- gion, should be dear to his heart, since it was 1 2 ( 102 ) the religion of his country, and derived from education and early impressions; I had no reason to be offended at his desire, to make the same impression on me, since it proceeded not only from his own faith, but also from his solicitude for my welfare, of which I had already had many proofs, and of which I should always retain a grateful impression. But I stated the great difficulty of suddenly believing a religion of which I scarcely ever heard the name until I left my native country. I suggested to him whether his own belief proceeded from any other cause or agency than ft education ; whether if he had been born in Turkey or Arabia, he would not have been a follower of Mahomet ; whether if he had been bom of Jewish parents, he would not have been a follower of Moses ; and whether if he had been born in China, he might not, like myself, have been a disciple of the w ise and virtuous Confucius. '* We ste, said I, that all mankind neither are, nor can be of the same religion ; but I conceive it of little con- sequence what religion we may possess ; or in other words, on what part of the great globe we happen to be bora, so as we follow that hght *«■•; ( 103 ) of nature which God has given us, and which is not confined to this country, or to that, but is inherent in the whole human race.'' *' But do we not," replied my companion, ** find this Hght of nature insufficient for the purpose you mention : else why are books written, why are penal laws enacted ? But God seeing the feebleness of these aids, not only in giving man a knowledge of his attributes and perfections, but also in the government of his moral conduct in this life, has graciously re- vealed iiimself in our holy religion. This is of more importance in reclaiming the deluded world, and teaching the total of what is neces- sary to be known, than all the aids which the wisdom of man has been able to devise, and is at the same time a sourse of perpetual con- solation. It supports us in adversity, and it checks the presumption of prosperity. It inspires us with joy, gratitude, and veneration by the display of that brilliant prospect after death, which, to the unfortunate being that has no religion, is enveloped in darkness, anxiety, uncertainty, and terror. You say all mankind neither do, nor can, believe in this divine religion. I admit it. Those who arc ( 104 ) beyond the reach of its knowledge, do not,- perhaps, come under its penahies, and where there is no command heard there can be no transgression. These unfortunate nations, we must leave to the wisdom and goodness of God and it is not for us to say, in what man- ner he w ill dispose of them» But surel}^ those who hd^e an opportunity of seeing and know- ing the excellence of our holy religion are deficient in their duty to thcmsdves, if not in • their duty to God, if they do not avail them- selves of the inestimable blessing. At least it is the duty of all to enquire into a matter of such magnitude, and compared to which all other concerns vanish into nouidit. o ^' Let me then advise 3'ou my friend, to in- restigate the subject, and you will be richly rewarded. How many hardsiiips have you endured, how many difficulties have you en- countered in wandering through so many CQuntiies in pursuit of knowledge, which must fade with this life ? and vvall you refuse to de- vote a small portion of your time to that which may secure your eternal happiness hereafter ; a happiness which will still be only commen- * cing when the earth shall fall into atoms or be ( 105 ) struck fi'om the universe, and which will be assuming new brightness when the sun himself shall fiide into nought." Alas! cried I, von did not attend to the sub. stance of my first remark, your own zeal pre- vents you from ^veighing my argument, or even making allowance for the difticulties under which, as a foreigner, I must view the subject. The dispute turns upon this point, is the Chriitian religion the only true religion, or is it not ? If it is the only true religion ; if It is the only religion from God, why is it not the only prevailing religion on earth ? Why is it not as universal as the light of the sun, or the atmosphere which envelopes the earth? Why is the Mahometan religion more general? Had God ever seen proper to send a revela- tion on cardi, it would be deeply and equally important to the whole human familv, of which he is the common father, and he would not have given it to one part and withheld it from another. Like the people of e\'ery other country, it is natural, indeed, that you should believe your rehgion to be the only true one because you derived it from your parents.-* The impression in such cases is received Mlien tlie mind is susceptible and the under- standing feeble, but when wc arrive at years of discretion it is too strong to be resisted. We are, indeed, so confident of its truth that we do not advert to the necessity of inquiry ; and so far from exercising independent rejec- tion we timidly shrink from the doubts which may casually arise. Like children in the dark, we are afraid of our own ideas. — From the same infatuation it happens that when we come in contact with others, so il\r from being willing to receive information, we are partial, overbearing, and in many cases sanguinary and cruel. Is it not from this principle, that nations have been hurried into the horrors of war, each in support of its own religion ? Is it not from this principle that the different sects of the same religion, and the very religion which you profess, as they hap- pened to gain the ascendancy to power, con- signed each other to the burning flame, be- cause the unfortunate victims could not think exactly as their persecutors. Do not think, however, that from these re- marks I have any desire to weaken your faith, ©r to cast any stigma on your religion. If, ( 107 ) as you say, it is a source of consolation to you ; if it enlarges your knowledge of the divine attributes of God, if it tends to pro- mote the general welfare of society....! pro- nounce it worthy the patronage of your country. But the same indulgence which I grant to you, I expect you will grant to me. I have already received my ideas of God and futurity, w'hich are sanctioned by my reason and dear to my heart, and therefore I am as little disposed to renounce them as you are to renounce yours. I know the faith of my companion to be in- flexible, but such is the sympathy of his nature, that he now embraced me cordially and decla- red, that since our souls were so congenial in every other respect, it was impossible that we should ever differ on aai abstract opinion of re- ligion. ( 108 > LETTER IX Science, in this country, has made rapid advances since the revolution. Several things have conspired in producing this effect. In the first place, that pride and elevation which the people felt, when they had throw n off the shackles of subjection, and found themselves independent, naturally inspired a corresponding action, and nothing which could promote the national honour, or advantage of the state was neglected. Many of the leading characters of the country, stepped forth in the cause of learn- ing; public bodies co-operated in the same, and parents smiled at the brilliant prospects of education held out to their children. The country now, had no longer the appearance of a discontented colony, laboring under existing evils and gloomy prospects, but every thing was calculated to inspire pride, joy and cheer- fulness. Whether they turned tluir eye to ( 109 ) their own country, or to the countries of Ku- rope ; whether to the present, past or future, they had equal reason to appreciate their situa- tion, and return thanks to providence. The troubles of war being over, their energies were now excited in promoting the arts of peace, and to use the expression of their sa- cied volume, '* the swords were beat into plough shares, and the spears into pruning hooks." The glorious commander in chief, destined by Heaven for the purposes he at- chieved, who, in the arduous cause was sur- rounded with so many difficulties, but never despaired, who received so many honours from the hands of his country, but never was intoxicated, cheerfully gave up the pomp of command for the fond endearments of domes- tick life, and the useful and innocent pursuits of agriculture. He saw with pleasure the brilliant piospect which now opened to view. Savage nations have an obstinate attach- ment to their okl customs, and an invincible repugnance to civiiization ; they cannot ap- preciate the vahie of that, the blessings of which they have never tasted, and hence they K ( HO ) generally must be conquered before they can be civilized. But the Americans at this pe- riod enjoyed a sufficient share of civilization to make them struggle for more. Here a spot is chosen for the metropolis of the union, ornamented with public buildings, equally spacious and magnificent. There a body of republican sages held' their luminous discus- sions, for the formation of a general constitii* tion, which would harmonize the interests of the different parts of the state into one perfect system : which would hold out the terrors of punishment to the ambitious and corrupt, and watch over the happiness of successive gene- rauons. Publick buildings every where arose from the earth; those dedicated to the cause of science, those to the cause of religion, and those to the cause of humanity. And here I cannot but suspend my rpunarks for a moment, while I express the deep vene- ration which I feel for the character of that chiefs ho perfoimed so distinguished a pnrt in the revolutionary war, as well as the politi- cal cperalions which afterwards took ph:ce : I mean George Washington, whr^se vigilance biezed every favorable opportunity for attack. ( 111 ) while his prudence avoided every disadvanta- , geous rencouiitre : who preserved his army when he could not conquer, and kept them together, amidst all their discontent and all their sufferings. Had the Americans been Ipss cautious, or the British more daring, the cause of America must inevitably have fallen. How numerous were the virtues of this extra- ordinary man, and how few his failings I What dignity, and yet what modesty ! What fervent love of country, and Vvhat incorruptible inte- grity. How far was he elevated above the in- fluence of prosperity or adversity ! How fond of virtuous retirement, and how insensible to the empty pomp of office : yet for the sake of his country he readily gives up the pleasure of the one, to encounter the cares and difficulties of the other. He could not be said to live for himself, for his whole life was devoted to pub- lick cares, while the natural propensity of his heart sighed for retirement ; yet his reward in the next world is infinitely beyond what this could have bestowed. It was not until his country could hear the plaintive plea of decli- ning years, that they would suffer him to re- main in retirement. It is true, that fickle- ( 112 ) ness, natural to the people, sometimes impair- ed, or suspended the confidence he always merited ; yet in his farewell address, he pi e- sents the gratitude of his heart for the uniform support he had always met with-. The most prominent traits of his publick character was a i^cctitude of understanding, which no art of sophistry could either" baffle or mislead, and an inflexible principle of honour which neither the extravagance of publick favour, nor of publick clamours could divert from its pur- pose. But to return to the present state of learning in this country, another support which it has received since the revolution, and which has been anticipated from what I have stated, is the influx of learned foreigners. It is true, the characters who emigrated to this country were of various descriptions, and came from various motives. Some came over because they were surrounded with poverty at home, and thev were told this was a country where every thing was to be enjoyed and nothing to be suffered. Some came over because they were oppressed at home, and they were told this was "an assyium for the oppressed of ( 113 ) every nation." Some came over because they wanted to see a country where such an astonishing revokition had taken place, and where every body had a right to think and speak as they pleased. A few real repubU- cans came over, because they preferred hving under a government which was congenial to their principles. Many came over because their trade or profession was overstocked in their own countr}^, while they were told that here employ nieiit was ample, and prices high. Of these, many wIkjsc talents in their OAvn country, were below mediocrity, or per- haps held in contempt, came over, and by as- suming the importance of an European, pub- lishing pompous advertisements, and telling marvellous tales, imagined they could easily impose on the credulity of the nation, and ele- vate themselves to honour and profit. Some perhaps came over who thought they weie doing well in their ovvncountiy, but imagined they could do better here. But amidst this diversity of characters, the United States no. doubt obtained many learned and worthy.men. ?viany of the teachers both in the city and die village, both in pubiick colleges and couiitry V ( 114 ) schools are foreigners. Such has been the mediocrity of learning in this country, that the higher branches of it have been almost exclusively confined to foreigners, though this distinction is not so perceptible now as former- ly. The people, before the revolution had much of that torpid ignorance which belongs to the savage state, and were more devoted to the pursuits of gain than to the pursuits of literature. Parents, such as had a wish to have their children well educated, very fre- quently after they had acquired the rudiments, sent them to Europe, not only to obtain their professional degrees in law and phy sick, but also to acquire the common attainments of an accomplished education. The latter practice is now totally abolished, and the former, thdugli sometimes adopted, is, perhaps, never neccssar\^ Though the arts and eiciences have made rapid advances since the revolution, it does not appear to have produced a corresponding ef- fect, and great men appear to be even more rare now than formerly. The revolutionary war produced a Washington, and self energy and self application produced a Franklin and a ^- ( 115 ) Rittenhouse ; but what has the advance of science done for the honour of the present day, or where are the luminaries of the age to be found ? I have been much at a loss to give a solution of this matter. Is it owing to a de- ficiency of genius in the present age ? I am persuaded this idea is inconsistent with the established laws of nature. Is it because the ambition of the people is altogether directed to publick offices, while the prospect of lite- rary fame is neither so sure nor so inviting ? This is a point which demands at least some attention, if not some illustration. The peculiar government of this country is perhaps more calculated to excite the ambition of the people generally for publick places than any otlier in the world. Most of these are. at the disposal of the people; the elections are held at stated periods and cannot fail to excite the interest and attract the attention of all. The zeal of the people, and the ambition of the candidates are equally great. The former conceive the issue is connected with their dearest rights and interests ; to the latter there is something irresistably captivating in the triumph of election and the pomp of office. ( 116 ) When, on the other hand, I look to the reward of literary pursuits in this country, I fiiid it to ' be such as to suppress rather than to encou- rage. It is truly cimusing to listen to the pompous boast of these people, respecting their " superior iiluniination,'* when, in the most slavish manner, they look up to England for every production, both of amusement and instruction, and seem to think it impossible that an American can write a book. They are freed from the poliiical dominion of Bri- tain, but in respect of literature they are still only her satellite and thence receive all their brightness. If -an European production is issued from the press, that is sufficient to re- commend it ; if an Aniei ican, that is sufficient to damn it. The booksellers will not pur- chase it.... the people will not read it. No matter what may be the real genius of the un- known author.... no matter what may have been the glowing rapture which the flight of his ideas inspired, or the brilliant prospect of success which then arose to his deluded fancy. When he looks around for publication, he meets with nothing but gloomy looks and eva- sive insinuations. The son of genius and ( 117 ) misfortune finds that he has not only been spending his time in vain, butactuaily involv- ing himself in real difficulties, Gladiy would he console himself in his known superiority and look down with contempt on the contract- ed and illiberal world ; but it will not do.... he feels a sorrow at heart which is unknown to the labourer of the mine and the pit. Throw- ing aside all prospect of interest, even the craving expectations of his heart are not satis- fied, and he hears not one approvin.s: expres- sion.... perhaps not an abstract opinion of the merit of a book, which yet the divine rap- ture with which it was written, assures him with more certainty than could all the acclama- tions of the world, that it w^ill descend to un- born generauons and be read wiih , pleasure when himself and his judges shall be no more. When such is the disposition of this peo- ple towards their own authors ; oh thou en- lightened patron of all that bears the marks of genius, thou instructor, friend and guardian of my youth.... what right have they to suppose their country will ever be the nursery of great men ? What right have they to suppose that the man of genius, any more than the fool^ ( 118 ) will devote a large portion of his time to the complicated and ahnostyendless pursuits of learning Vvithout the feeblest hope of advan. tage ; that he will consume the midnight oil and bear the paleness of study, v\ hen the pros- pect of publication can be compared to nothing | but the meteor \^hich holds for a while its sparkling coiu^sc, attracts the attention of a few r and is soon extinguished in darkness and for- gotten fore^'er. ( 119 ) LETTER X. I STATED in my last letter, O thou light of wisdom ! that science had made rapid advan- ces in this country since the revolution. This is a position, however, that admits of many- exceptions, and in a country so extensive, a skilful observer may trace almost every pro- gressive shade from a state of barbarity to the highest state of civilizuion. The geography of the country does not exhibit Jj greater ^'a^iety than does the state of its manners. — When I Jof'k at its map, I here behold popu- lous and elegant cities ; there I behold wild and trackless forests, inhabited by nothing but howiing beasts of prey ; here are smiling vallies ; there are barren mountains : in some places agriculture is advanced to the highest improvement, and every spot yields a rich crop ....in others the fields are barren, the domes- tick ainnials poor and spiritless, and the grow- ( 120 ) ing aiticles yellow, withered, and declining. No less diversified is the state of civilization. Here the people are illuminated with science; there they are immersed in clouds of igno- rance ; here are to be seen all the elegance,- the bombast, and the foppery of the fashionable world ; there all the plainness, the ruggedness, and the simplicity of a state removed hut a few degrees above barbarity. This is a matter ^vhich travellers cannot attend to in its full latitude, aiKl which they do not attend to as much as they ought.. ..they cannot draw the perspective of the manners of a country.... they can seldom travel through the different parts of it. ...and even then it is extremely difficult to ascertain where these shades either begin or end, and to deiiniate them without exaggera- tion. Great allowance should be made for these difficulties ; but after all due allowance is made travellers are often presumptuous and errone- ous. How absurd is it to expect by residing a short time in the met, opolis of a country to be able to give a full account of the manners of the country itself .^ How often is an acci- dental occurrence taken for an established custom, and a local custom for a general one? C i2i ) Kow often does the traveller sufier his Q^vtl temper, or the incidents he may have met with, to give an exaggeration to the picture which bears no resemblance to the original. How often does he brand this country as bar- barons, and applaud that as civiUzed, when the difFerent parts of each differ as much from one iMiother as do the countries themselves, and when a skilful observer could trace in each almost every shade from barbarity to civiliza- tion. It is remarkable that the natives of every country are themselves constantly making this blunder. It is a common thing among the people here to allot diiferent customs to each state, without considering whether they be original or adopted, or ,^^ hether they belong most to that state or to the state adjoining. It is a conmion thing to say, "I know a northern man or a Yankee, a Pennsvlvanian or a Vu'- glnian, by his appearance," but nature every where opperates in such variety, and produces characters of such opposite extremes that the expression is absurd. The laws of each state are indeed distinct, and their opperation pre- L i. 122 ) ; scribed within geographical boundaries, hut in no other respect is the maxim true. But to return to the general state of litera- ture. You will not expect that I shall be able io delineate to you, with geographical preci- sion, the state of learning in every part of this extensive continent. The difficulties as already stated, are insurmountable ; and if they could be overcome the advantage would not compen- sate for the trouble. This field I leave for more daring adventurers. I shall follow the example of the geographer who, in dra\\ ing the map of a country not fully explored, gives the real delineation of the part \^ hich is known and leaves the rest blank, with the word doubtful thereon. By this means I shall copy nature and not disfigure her ; and if 1 shall not deserve the praise of industry, I shall, at least, avoid the censure of presumption. The unequal state of learning in dlfierent parts of the Union may be traced among the members sent from the difierent districts, and assembled together in congress. A ou would suppose that each district \ACuld at least be capable of sending one man of talents sufficient to represent it ; but this is not the ( 123 ) case. The coastitutioaal view of the meet- ing cf this body is iiicked to represent the in- terest of the respective districts, but though there have always been many members in it of respectable taients, there are alw y-. many whose aukward conduct and rugged appearance, shew them better calculated to represent the ignorance than defend the interest or support the di.^-nitv of their districts. Whether it bb that such parts of the couiitry have no men of talents, or whether the j)eople are them- selves so ignorant that they cannot distinguish them, I know not. For such people to ap- preciate the value of men of genius is periiaps as much above their comprehension as to as- certain the orbit of a comet. They look upon them as beings of ai; other order, around whom there is an atmosphere of repulsion which they cannot approach. They can feel no more sympathy for them than they could for the inhabitants of another planet. How then can they be supposed to represent their inter- ests? But the candidate who can drink the honest farmer's grog, and enter into his rustick stile of conversation, who will listen to his •story of the boggs he has lately cleared up; ( J24 ; efthe remedies which he has lately ibundoii for the diseases of his horses and catllc; of llic number of pigs which his sow had at a litter ; of tliC siibiection under which he has broiJJ?:hl liis servants; of the work which he has some- times had dore in a day; of the schemes which he and neiy:hbour Simon have concerted for tl-;eir mutual beneiit: the candidate who can listen to tiiis, and talk in a corresponding .•;train ; this, this is the accomplished fellowi the model of perfection, both ^\■orth3' and cap- able of representing^ Inm in congress. In my excursions throiiQ-h some of the fiontier parts of the countr\' I was struck Vy-ith the extreme ignorance of the people. Here no colle^^es. no nubliclv libraries, no aca- den.-iies are to be found, ar;y more than they are to b-c met v.ith nmo]Uj:the barbarian hordes ■of Africa, or the ^vildest woods of Loui-^ianna. Tlie library generally consists of a bible, a tes- larnent, and sometimes a dictionary and a few old English publications, generally on religious subjects: vrhilsttothe children belong a read- ing book, in ^\hich they stammer over their lessons, a spelling book, and sometimes a grammar. If at aiiy house I accidentally met ( 125 ) with a larger collection they generally laid in a solitary corner, and from their mouldering and dusty appearance sufficiently proclaimed that t'he torpid mind of their possessor was di- rected to other concerns, and that they were seldom touched. The school houses to be metwidi, are a kind of little log cabins covered with boards and plastered with clay, but hardly sufficient to keep out the over-- whelmi'^o; torrent, or the piercing wind. Some- tinaes they stand on the sides of the road, some- times in an old field, and sometimes in the woods, with little paths leading to it. Here the bovs make the fire in rotation, while the master gives directions how to put on the logs, and teaches reading, \vriting, cyphering, and sometimes a smattering in grammar, but as to geography, or the common practical branch- es of madiematicks, they are as much above his comprehension as it would be to measure the distance of the planet Herskell. Is this sa- tire? ah no! I too well recollect the melancholy feelings wiih which 1 viev/ed those poor lit- tle children trudging through the muv^ die snow, and the ice, for sue .a scanty and miser- L 2 jT-- , ( 126 ) able prospect of education, to feel any thing but simpathy in the description. It is not uncommon in these parts to meet tvith men who own tracts of land, of which they hardly know the extent, who cannot write their names. Many who in the early part of life learned the common rudiments of educa- tion, have so little occasion for them in the dark state of society in which they live, or are so wholly devoted to rugged pursuits or hard labour, that they have either totally forgot them, or retain- but a very scanty remnant. Many who should attempt to write a letter, or even a short note, would do it in such a blun- dering manner, both in hand writing and ortho- graphy, that a school boy who should see it, would laugh in proud superiority. Tlieir dress is of the coarsest homespun ; and their manners still coarser. Their hospitality (and happy 1 am to say so, for it reflects honour on the natural character of man) is always con- spicuous, and their accommodations, though of the coarsest sort, is ever granted with a hearty welcome. But as to conversation,^ the principal that a traveller from, an improved part of the country can expect to derive, is some ( 127 ) direction about the roads ; the course which he is to pursue, and the distance to certain places. When from any expression that fell from me, they understood I had come from near the Metropolis ; they enquired with wild eager looks, what was the news; whe- ther Britain was going to do them justice, or whether they should have to shoulder their muskets ; whether the embargo on the ves- sels was to be kept on or taken off. I always endeavoured to statisfy their enquiries as well as I could, adapted to their comprehension. They are by no means unsociable, particularly to strangers, and never declined talking on subjects within their comprehension, or on which they could give me any information ; and I confess I often listened with more heart felt pleasure to their honest rustic strain, than I derived from all the bombast and artifice of civilized life. They could give me some account of the desert vvoods> by which we were surrounded; of the game which they had, and of the number of wild turkeys which they sometimes killed in a day, of the kind of pro- duce which they were accustomed to cultivate, of the bushels of wheat or barrels of corn ( 128 ) .. which thev raised from an acre ; of the frost which sometimes desiroytd their fruit ; of the drou2;hts \vhich sometimes withered their corn and wheat, or the torrents which some- times overvvhehncd it ; of the number of cattle whiic:h this neighbour lost from a hard spell of weatlier; or of the unsuccessful attempt of another to bring water to a mill which he hoped to establish. Such in general was the extent of their know ledge. Their sons work in the field; their daughters wash, cook, and do most of the house work. You will think this hard treatment for females ; but from tlieir robust appearance they are fully able to bear it. The country generally is not desti- tute of Kuropean gallantly, but you must re- collect the parts of it of which i am speaking. Those poor girls would feel as much at a loss in a ball, a draw ing school, or the common societv of the Metn polis, as an Indian would, placed on a throne in Europe. From my conversation with the inhabitants of the cities, after mv return from these w ild excursions, I found they w^ere as ignorant of the state of so- ciety m these parts, as the) could be of the people in the islands of the wide unexplored ^^;jific Ov-. u;.. In ^ ,^ as to be liardiy perceived, in others cc f^ttc^ as hardly to be surmounted, and in lookinf? down over the rocks and precipices you can hardly bear th€ dizziness which comes over you. Here the thick clouds, ready to burst with rain, often passed but a little distance above my head.... at another time I could see them gathering' in blackness below me, and pouring down in torrents, while above the sun appears in all his majesty, every object is gilded with his rays, and the sky presents one unspotted azure. Here I would sometimes endeavour to trace the diversified objects ; the hills, the rocks, the vales, the woods that was spread out in boundless view below, until every shade \^as involved in the thick mist \\hich seemed to enshioud thtm. It is impossible for me to express the divine rapture which swelled in my bosom in vie\\irgthis grand andcR'versi- fied scene. I felt as if 1 could spend uncloy- ed the days of eternity in the contemiplation. I scarcely felt as if I was any longer en this earth; as if i belonged to the pur.y race of men f the sunshine of prosperity.— The country is held in a state of suspence be- tween war and peace, and the people affirm they endure all the difficulties of the former, and none of the blessings of the latter. These difficnlties have continually increased to the period at which I am writing, nor do I see any prospect of their speedy termination. The vessels which were formerly seen scattered over the ocean, or unloading their cargo in distant ports, now^ lie embargoed in the docks, useless, and many of them consuming ^vith worms. The merchants who were formerly engaged in loading and unloading the cargoes of their vessels, and in the various branches of purchase and sale, now see their business at a stand, and are held in perplexing sus| ence. The farmer, v.ho formerly got a ready and advantageous piice for.liis produce, now sees it livya-ed in his barns, or is compelled to sell it at a reduced price. The sailors, whose element is vrater, and who were formerly em- ployed in the trade which was carried oh to ( 141 ) every' part of ihe world, are now seen wander- ing- about the streets, in want of bread and cloathing ; or are compelled to fly to some other country for employment. Of the differ, ent classes of men who were formerly engaged in business depending on commerce, many are thrown out of employment, the business of all diminished, and some at a loss what course to pursue to gain a subsistence. A thousand false reports of a favourable change of affairs is successively in circulation, and sue cessively contradicted. Thou, my friend, wlio livest in a country- secure from the convulsions of the rest of the world, with which it could hold no intercourse without being involved in the same; a country which, depending on its own resources, main- tains a greater population than what is to be found in any other part of the w^orld....a coun- try which, cultivating the substantial produc- tions of the earth, refuses to dig for or coin those metals which so much attract the atten- tion of the rest of the w^orld, and is the source of so ^ttiany evils ; thou who livest in this happy land to which I now long to retunij, ( 142 ) will be at a loss to account for this gloomy chans^e in the aiTairs of the United States. France and England cany on a war of ex- teimination, uhich will, no doubt, continue till one or the other shall be subjected oi annihiliated....at no former period did it ever assume so savage an aspect as at this time.... each have issued a law authorizing the capture and condemnation.of ail vessels trading to the ^orts of the other and its dcpendancies. The congress of the United States was at this time in session, and though an official account of these laws had not yet arri\ ed, they had suf- ficient reason to believe that such were in contemplation and probably already issued. The measure which they preferred to adopt was an embargo. They wisely determined to reject that trade altogether which could not be maintained on honourable term.s, and to preserve the produce of their country at home, though it should be lessened in ^ alue, rather than it should fl\ll into the hands of their enemies. But thousch this was a measure which the crisis required, it was not difficult to foresee that it would, in no long time, produce consl- C 143 ) derable inconvenience. Commerce was noi an incidental, but a principal and fundamental pursuit of the nation, with ^^•hich all others were essentially connected, and a blow given to the first must materially affect the rest and occasion a general embarrassment to the peo- ple. Of those articles which had been ex- ported there must be a superfluity ; and of those which had been imported, there must be a want. Persons must be thrown out of employment in one trade or business w^ho have neither the skill nor the inclination to pursue any other ; and others must be wanting in a different business who are not to be found. Some branches of trade must be curtailed and others enlarged ; some abolished and others introduced. To harmonize the diiierent pai ts of the complicated maciiine requires time. Labour and skill are in the mean time lost, and labour and skill is the wealth of a nation. The e British and French decrees have proved the greatest diuiculties to a friendly adjustment between those countries and the United States. Pre\'ious to the adoption of these measures this country and France ^\ere on friendly terms; but there e:\isted other ( 144 ) differences between the United States and Bri- tain, which had created much discussion with- out producing any satisfactory arrangement. Britain, who seems to pride herself on the strength of her navy, claims the right of searching for her sailors on board the mer- chant vessels of other nations, and of taking them by force wherever they are to be found. The U. States is the only country wdth whom there can arise any difficulty in recognizing her sailors, as the same language is common to both countries.... with all others the difference of lans-uage is a sufficient mark of distinction. The United States claims only her citizens, and Britain only her subjects, but owing to the circumstance just mentioned, ill placed protection will often be extended by the for- mcr, a ul tyrannick seizures exercised by the latter. While Britain exercises this i ight herself, she is willing to allow the same to America, but this is nu concession on the part of the former, and rio object on tl:e part of the latter. lia- priviicdge of searcliing for deserters is oni . iitta<.lied to the navy and not to the mer- cantile service. The American navv is (143 ) small.... there are always to be had plenty of hands to man it, and there are few desertions. The officers of the immense British navy, on the contrary, have an opportunity of exercising and abusing this priviledge on board of every American vessel they met. It is on board the British navy that America has most reason to search for her seamen, where they are compell- ed, by stripes, to fight against a country with whom they are at peace; but the right of searching an armed vessel of another nation, it seems, is contrary to law and custom. It is worthy of notice to observe the diiFer- ent views with which these countries claim their own sailors. Britain claims hers as slaves who arelDound to fight for her honour and interest.... the United States claim theirs as citizens whose liberty they are bound to protect. The one insists on the duty which their sailors owe to them. ...the other insist on the duty which they owe their sailors. Another material point of dispute between the United States and Britain is what is called the carrying trade. France has several islands in the West Indies, with whom, in time of peace she has a regular intercourse, but in the N ( 146 ) present ^^ ar, this trade has been cut off by the superior navy of Britain.... it ha:^ been carried on through the ports of the United States and in American vessels.... this point Britain dis- putes. There is another matter which has occa- sioned great irritation and clamour. I before remarked that neither Britain nor America claimed a' right of searching for their seamen on board of an armed vessel of the odier.,.. this, however, was, in one instance exercised by Britain, An American frigate that had been fitted out for a distant expedition Mas, at a short distance from the shores of the United States, attacked by an armed vessel of his Britannick majesty, some of htr men killed, the frigate greatly damaged and several of the crew^ taken from on board. 'This news spread through the country in an instant, and excited one sentiment of rage..., in every town the people were imm.ediately formed and or- ganized into volunteer com.panies.... the presi- dent issued a proclamation excludii^g all Bri- tish armed vesse's from the waters widiin the jurisdiction of the United States, and inter- dicting all supply of provisions.... Congress C 147 ) was convened by a special call.. ..instructions were sent on to the American ministers in London to require a reparation for the out- rage.... the papers, whether federal or republi- can, pronounced the same sentence.... the people breathed nothing bifc war, which was now thought inevitable. This impulse, how- ever, like all violent emotions, soon subsided, but it is still regarded as one of the principal subjects of misunderstanding between the two countries. The embargo still continues. A large por- tion of the mercantile part of tb.e community look forward to the next session of congress, expecting it will then be repealed, but 1 be- lieve the majority of the people are still in its flwour. Those who are hostile to the mea- sures, affirm that it was adopted by congress under an expectation that its effect on the beni2:erent nations would induce them to do the united States justice, but that it has failed to produce this effect, nor is there the least prospect of the sam^e ; that it is distressing and ruinous to the United States, whilst it is scarcely felt by those whom it was designed to operate ; that the commerce of France with ( 148 ) the. United States, previous to the embargo was trifling, and that Britain has abundant vent for her manufactures in Spain and her colonies, since her rupture \\ ith France ; that the pressure of the embargo is chit fly on the French and Spanish West India islands, who had no share in the act of the parent country, find who had never done the United States the least injur}. The other party in reply, af- firm that the same reasons which rendered the embargo necessary still remain ; that had it not been for this measure, a vast deal of American produce would have been seized and condemned, under the French and British de- crees; that these decrees still remain, and have been even more rigorously enforc- ed ; that to trade with either of thfe belligerent nations, whilst each cut off the commerce of the United States with every other country, would be prostrating national dignity and in- dependence ; that if the British and French West India islands suffer from die embargo, they must look up to the injustice of the pa- rent countries, as the sourse of the evil, and not the United States. , They affirm that the clamours respecting the effect of the embargo ( 149 ) on the <:ouiitry is greatly exaggerated, and that though it is productive of inconvenience, it is not without its concomitant good ; that as necessity is the motlier of invention, it has induced the country to turn its attention to domestic manufactures ; that several are alrea- dy established ami in operation, and others contemplated in every part of the union ; that they hope the period is not far distant when America, disdaining to have any intercourse with nations, who disregard all law and jus- tice, will shew the world that she can live on her own internal resources. The circumstance which chiefiV excites the regret of the party in favor of the embargo, is its frequerit violation. Rather than see such daily instances of corruption before their eyes, and exposed to the rest of the world, many of them would almost wish the law repealed altogether. Although bond with considera- ble penalties, is required to insure that every vessel, cleared from any part of the United States, is bound to some other part of the country, although cruizing vessels are employ- ed to guard the coast, and many other restric- tions used; the people have found various N 2 ( 150 ) ways to evade them all. Sometimes these smugglers seize a favorable time and place to load and . sail without the knowledge of the officers, whose duty it is to suppress such trade ; sometimes they conform to the requi- sitions of the law, and pretend to be blown off the coast, and land in distress in some foreign country, where they sell their cargo; and in many instances they have conveyed their pro- perty by land to an adjoining territory, where they expect it either in their own vessel, or vessels chartered for the purpose. To pro- vide a remedy for all these invasions, and many others which the ingenuity of those whose ruling passion is love of gain has found out, would be a matter equally complicated and difficult, and after all can never be fully cifected. To cut off external commerce must prove a great embarrassment to internal inter- course ; and to suppress the licentiousncs of smugglers, must impose great inconvenience on those whose views are honest, and to the' people generally. C 151 ) LETTER XII ■'f#-'^ My friend Appolonious of whom I gave some account in a former letter, lately accom- panied me to a publick election which he as- sured me would be a scene both new and pleasing. As soon as we entered the hall where the candidates were seated, and where the people were successively giving in their votes, the countenance of my companion brightened up with joy in viewing the exer- cise of this important priviledgeof his belov- ed country. After we had satisfied our curi- osity , we rambled together to a wood, where my companion gave nu^ an oration on the ** tn- lightened state" of his country. His remarks being altogethtr the result of that nv^mcntary feeling of nationality which was exci.ed in his bo^om, they were too ge^ eral to give me any new or important information. This favour- ite epithet which the iVmeiicans lavish on ( 152 ) themselvas in such a romantick degree, a for- eigner is "at a loss to discover the meaning of. Like most other expressions of a simi- lar kind, it is too general to be intelligible, and whilst the people extend it to every branch of civilization, a stranger can discover its ap- plication to but very few, ahd even in those not without doubt and hesitation. In several departments the Americans are perhaps equal to Europe, in some superior, but in many they are certainly below it. They have the exercise of important polit- ical priviledges, but it does not follow that their skill in this science is in an equal de- gree. The former was guaranteed by the con- stitution and inherited at their birth : the lat- ter nuistbe acquired by industry and applica- tion. The former is in several of the states measured out by the possession of property, which is no criterion of the possession of information, as on the contrary men may have a good education without having a free- hold. From the boast which the Americans make of those important priviledges which they possess, one would suppose that they would ( 153 ) at least be solicitous to acquire that degree of political skill which is necessary to exercise them with discretion. But this duty I appre- hend is but feebly felt by the community, and if they attend the publick elections which.they do from party zeal it is as much as they per- form. Tae author, the schoolmaster, the mechanick strive to perfect themselves in their respective departments, because this is the foundation of their interest and reputation. But when we look to the community, the duty of acquiring knowledge in their social relations does not operate with the same warmth if it operates at all. According to the maxim of these people, " charity begins at home" and " what is every body's business is no body's business," and notwithstanding all their declarations to the contrary they in no respect evince the truth of these sayings more than in politicks. These reflections are evi- dently as applicable to publick men as they are to the people, and if the former de\ ote a little more time to the political scenes of their country (which I am not sure is always the case) it is rather for their own reputation or to save themselves from the blush, than from the { 1^^ ) disinterested wish to promote the general in- terest of their country. The extraordinary exertions of tlie celebrated Giecian Demos- thenes to overcome the natural impediments of his speech, proceeded no doubt more from the ambition to excel in eloquence, than from any advantages, which liis eloquence might bestow on his country. The publick men here are seldom under the influence of the Grecian or Roman enthusiaiim. I hive heard of several characters A^ho had long exercibcd the right of suffrage and never thought of study- ing the institutions of their country until they weie themselves prompted by ambition, or the advice of their friends, to offer for some publick office, and then they only study ihem from the same motive with which a school boy cons over his lesson a few m^cments before he is called up to be heard by i;is master. When I wcis in Europe and looked forward to the period when I should arrive in this land of freedom ; when I saw the independent effu- sions of its newspaper writings, '' This eomitry," said I to myself, *' is the true pro- vince of a traveller.... there I sliali not be placed under the painful necessity of courting infor- ( 155 ) mation from a few proud classes of men..... wherever I go those sons of freedom can in- form me of die constiturion and laws of their country; my enquiries will be satisfied, my doubts removed, and my ignorance dissipa- ted." But alas! how was the picture reversed, how did mv charms vanish when I arrived. I had previously procured s(3me of the best books on the institutions and manners of the country that I had heard of, not only that I might be the better qualified to meet the ex- positions which I should every where hear, but also to save mvseU from the b.ush of shame in the various conversations which I should have. But how strangely did these people fail below mv exnectations when I found that so far from being able to perform the part of an interpreter, their informatio i was in m.my respects inferior to mv own? On some topicks they v\ ere totally uninformed and on others their ideas were erroneous, scanty, and iliiberal. Some regard- ed my enquiries with entire indifference, others seemed to think them intended (or a reflection on them, and others seemed to be ingeniously awakened to their ignorance ; but few, indeed, ^vere capable of entering into any rational dis- ( 156 ) cussion, or of giving me any important infor- mation. The federal conatitution itself though it is the palladium of publick liberty, and in the mouth of every one, is read by few. In a short excursion in the country soon after my arrival htre, I fell into company with a farmer on the road, we travelled on together until we came opposite to a house which he informed me was his, and requested me to call and stay with him all night, with which I complied. We had been talking on poli- ticks, and I accidentally asked him if he had ever read the constitution. ** No,*' replied he, *' I have often heard of it but never read it. ^* It was as my paper tells me, framed by w ise '' men, and tends to secure our liberty, and ^ ** that is enough for me. I have not time to ** devote to these difficult subjects. There ** are many of your over curious philosophers *' that get inimersed in these matters, neglect " their private affairs, become bewildered, and ** find themselves involved in a thousand diffi- *' culties. My newspaper is my guide, and I *' do all 1 can to knock down federalism ; I •* attend every election, rain, hail or shine, ( 157 ) *' for they shall never get an inch of ground *' from us." From the preceding statement thou wilt at once perceive the two reasons why the politi- cal knowledge of the people of this country is neither so general nor so correct as a stranger would imagine. In the first place they do not sufficiently study their prominent political in- stitutions ; and in the next place they are too much governed by the flimsy representation of party writers. They are in this view like a ves- sel without her helm, and driven whithersoever the wind may direct. Viewing the publick law, and newspaper writing, as two distinct departments and sources of information, this difference occurs. The institutions of iaw are permanent and fixed : the eifusions of news- papers are as changeable as the wind. All the parts of the former agree and con- spire to make one system: those of the latter are as contradictory and dabbing as the ac- count of the confusion of tongues at the to^\ er of Babel ; the former serves as a rule of con- duet to pubiick men, and of course a rule of judging for the people ; the latter serves only o "^ ( 158 ) to abuse or to flatter the conduct of the one, and mislead the judgment of the other. Thou must not conclude from this letter that the people of this country are more igno- rant of political science than the people of Europe. They are, I think, in this respect, above the people of Europe, though they cer- tainly fall far below their own romantick ideas. In the controul which they have over the pub- lick administration, they are too apt to con- found knowledge with power, and think they are illuminated with the one, when they are only in the dormant possession of the other. Gn the other hand, it must be recollected that where political priviledges are possessed and exercised bv all classes of citizens; wliere political topicks in so many shapes come under their inspection, and are so frequently the subject of conversation, it is impossible but the people must acquire a degree of poli- tical skill unknown to countries immersed in slavery, and though this knowledge is not very brilliant it is pretty general. ( 159 ) LETTER XIII. Appolonius and mvself have now become inseperable companions. We walk, we ride, we comment arid converse together. In all his sentiments respecting his own country he gives me (without perhaps being aware of it) only one side of the question, and the other I must find out from my own observation and rejection. For this reason I am not aivvays disposed to receive liis opinions as infaUible. When this is the case a Vvarm discussion ge- nerally ensues..., and I, by this means, derive many hints which I could not otherwise obtain, while the good nature of my companion pre- chides the possibiHty of displeasing him by the freedom of my remarks. In a late conver- sation with him, he unfolded to me at some length the government of his country and endeavoured to shew its superiority to tliat of any other. In speaking of the leeiblative ( 160 ) body he observed....*' There we hear no sla- vish allusions to empty titles, but the honour and interest of the nation is v hat rouses their energies and governs their proceedings." It is true, replied I, that this body have m great and honourable duties to perform ; but I fear thy national partiality carries thee too far when thou supposest they are performed in such an irreproachable manner as stated. — They have, it is true, no kings to revere, but diCy are subjects to the demon of party ; and if tliCV use no slavish allusions to tides above them, they use very harsh epithets towards each other. Scarcely, I believe, does a ses- sion pass Gvc r in which there does not occur much unneces«iaiy harshness in the publick de- bates and even private misunderstandings. Challenges are sometimes passed and duels sometimes follow. Thou wilt recollect that in one instance tvvo individuals, even in the hall of congress, forgot themselves so far as to lay aside the character of legislators and take up that of boxing champions, and instead of arguments tried what effect hard blows would have. I hope this candour will forgive the freedom of my remarks, since I believe they ( 161 > are sanctioned by truth.... they relate to the American Congress, and can have no allusion to thee. **Alas!" exclaimed Appolonius, ^*your answer is of that severe kind which, though I know to be exaggerated, banish my ideas and leave me without the power of reply. Your remarks, you say, are on the American Con- gress, and not on me, but I thought you were sufficiently acquainted with me to know that my publick patriotism is almost as strong as my private feelings and to satirize my country is little less than to satirize me. However, I am ready to believe that this proceeded from the freedom of your manner and not from any acrimony, and I will not, therefore, suffer either you or myself to dwell on the circum- stance. To return to your remarks on Con- gress....! cannot but think there is more in- genuity than candour in what you said, and that you know you were only exhibiting one side of the picture. The acrimony of discus- sion you would make a vice peculiar to tlie American Congress, when it is no more than a weakness belonging to the whole human race. In a body where there exists such free- o 2 (162 ) dom of discussion there will always te some degree of severity attached to it i and in a body composed of so many members there will always be some w ho will act disorderly. These cir- cumstances are not peculiar to our legislature, but prevails in those where far less freedom of enquiry is enjoyed. The impatience of argu- ment takes place too as universally in private conversation as in publick debates^ and the severity with which you yourself spoke a while ago is a proof of it." I know, replied I, that this frailty is com- mon in private life, but when men assume a publick character, their conduct should as- sume a correspondent change, and they should no longer suffer their private feelings to govern them. The cause of the publick is not pro- moted but perverted by such conduct. When congress is assembled in the hall dedicated to the independence of the nation : when the constitution alone should be their guide, is this the time or the occasion for them to in- dulge their private animosities ? I cannot but think that this folly (owing perhaps to the pe- culiar freedom of your government) is more common and carried to greater extremes in ( 163 ) the American congress than almost any other publick body. The instances I mentioned are a strong indication of this truth, and I did not advert to them from a view to exaggerate, but because they were so prominent as could not escape my notice. I perceive too that we differ on this subject in the most essential par- ticular.... thou seemest to look upon this as a matter of mere etiquette, but I look upon it as a matter of deep national importance. Under monarchal governments, indeed, the operation of party spirit is always salutary, but in repub- lican governments its violence is much to be dreaded. By the firmness and wisdom of congress the liberty of the people may be pre- served and their interest promoted ; when publick infatuation or party violence might endanger the one and defeat the cause of the other. Though men in power receive their authority from the people they should not give up the dictates of their own judgment but should promote the interest and not adopt the follies of their constituents. ** I perceive'* answered my friend *' that you have shifted the point in dispute and finding yourself miable to maintain the first. ( 164 ) you have artfully assumt-d another which bears to it some analogy Your remarks which at firsr onh related to the impatience of discus- sion, now embrace the general principle of party violence, which at first only related to congress and the administration, now embrace the government and the people. 1 have only to say in reply, that the spirit of pa^ty whose effects you so much deprecate, is not only in- separable from the very existence of a popular government but absolutely necessary for its salutary operation ; and that we have heretofore enjoyed all its blessings without any of its evils. The enemies of our country and the enemies of our government, have been eager- ly looking for some occurrence which would gratify their hostility and justify their political tenets, but in vain. Many I believe who were once enemies to a republican government in theory are now induced from its happy example in this country, to yield to it the tribute which it deserves. If foreign nations are so blinded by prejudice that they cannot perceive its beautv, it is sufficient that we Americans can, and that we are at all times ready to sacrifice our lives in its support. ( 165 ) Thousands of individuals in those countries that pretend to despise our government are often glad enough to fly to it for an assylum. The only thanks however, which we get by affording them protection, is their abuse while at home, though they groaned under oppres- sion they dared not complain." These replied I are sentiments both natural and honourable. It is wisely ordained by pro- vidence that every people should not only be satisfied with, but partial to the government whatever it may be under which they live, and the people of a monarchy are as ready to sac- rifice their lives in support of their King, as this country in support of its liberty. But viewing the matter in an abstract point of view I cannot think the example of the United States affords any strong argument for the per- manence of a republican government. Popular governments founded on principles less wise than those of the constitution of this country have existed longer ; but I do not think that any example, ancient or modern, afford a de- cisive argument on the subject. Among the many discussions which have taken place on this subject, there appears to ( 166 ) me to be a distinction v\ hich has not been sufficiently attended to» and it is my impres- sion that a republican government is produc- tiv'C of most happiness, and a monarchal one most permanent. It is true that in this coun- try the example of the former has been salu- tary and the prospect is still brilliant and pleasing, but let us take circ^imstances into consideration. This rcpublick is as yet but just established, the revolution . still fresh in every persons mind, many are living Vvho bore a part in it ; and it would surely be surpri- sing if the people could already think of de- stroying that fabrick, the erection of which cost their fathers so much blood, toil, and difficulty. The circumstances of the history of this countrv too, since the revolution have not been such as to lead ye from the path of duty. Ye have enjoyed an almost uninterrup- ted peace, had few temptations to encounter, and ftwdiiTiCultles to contend \^ ith. Eul is it not to be feared that as tlie country grov. s eld- er, domestick corruption will take place, and publick disasters follow ? Nay, if we inspect your history since the tevoluiion, we shall not be at a loss even at this early period, to disco- ( 1^7 ) ver symptoms of that disease so hostile to the permanence of a republick. At the conclusion of the revolution strong indications of an actual insurrection began to appear among the army, and had it not been for the firmness and personal influence of the commander in chief, might have led to fatal consequences. When after peace was concluded, and a war broke out between France and England, such was the infatuation of this country, that*diey were almost impel- led openly, to take up arms against the latter, which might have entailed endless evil with- out the least prospect of advantage. The treaty of ninety four occasioned equal irritation and greater clamour against the government. In some parts of the federal administration, during the term of Mr. Adams,, party spirit assumed a degree of violence far worse than the acrimony or scurrility of nevvspaper wri- ting, and the people were ia some parts al- most ready to rise in open rebellion. Even at the present period, is not the opposition of •a large portion of the people to the measures of government, and iheir impatience under the pressure of the embargo, and the stagnation of C 168 ) trade great and alarming. Though it was thought at the time it was adopted, a measure of prudence and necessity, and I am told is thought so still in foreign c^ untries, yet such is the opposition to it here, that it is daily repeated, and believed that if not repeal- ed, it will occasion a revolt of the eastern from the western states. A division of the union will be the destruction of the constitution, and cannot take place probably without ari epusion of blood. Think not that these reflections give me any pleasure. Gladly would I be- lieve that your government were immortal I' Most devoudy do I wish that ye may al- ways reap the same benefit from it that ye have done heretofore. *^\nd I" replied my companion ^*not only hope so, but have no doubt but it \\ iii be the case. The great misfortune is that you being a for- ei^-ner, and altosreiher unacqifainted with the customs of a republic, vit:w them in a distorted shape. Liberty you coastiue inio licentious- ness, and clamours Vvhioh to } ou appear big with terror, are in the eyes of a citizen peiftct- Iv harmless. Believe what I teli you, and you may rest assured that the rumours 3 ou haVe ( 169 ) mentioned are wholly without foundation, and ■"like those thousands which in every country and every age, serve to amuse the credulity of mankind. The eastern states impute the hostility to the western states, and the western states impute it to the eastern states ; but in fact it is to be found neither in the east nor the w^est; the north nor the south. One half of the people tell the tale, and the other half believe it ; but the being who would put it in execution is no where to be found, and the mere offspring of imagination. That there "exists at present considerable freedom of dis- cussion I readily grant, but little more than what has existed ever since the establishment of our government, and which is insc[)arab!e from it. You might as well suppose that when the sky is overcast with clouds, that the sun will never more be seen, as to suppose that the transient clamours of the present day can destrov or weaken our s^rlorious constitu- tion. The p^^ople are not so stupid as to plunge into the horrors of civil war, to remove a diffiv.ulty for which the constitution itself piipvides a sufficient remeds . If publick men abuse their duties, the people can easily re- p ( 170 ) move ihem and put others in their place. — This is the course which always has been adop'ccl, and I hope always will be. ** Adhering to your system, that republicks are not calculated to last, you nevertheless ac- knowlediJ^e their benevolent -ind salutary ten- dency. You say a popular government is best calculated to secure the happiness of the peo- ple, and a monarchal one best calculated to last. This is acknowledging in substance, that monarchies are oppressive, and in this light it is certainly no recommendation, but a misfortune that they are calculated to last. — We must look upon it as a consuming disease, which the people cannot get rid of too soon ; as a galling yoke, which the sooner they can throw off the better. But even on the ground of durability, I do not think that an^ iiiftrence disadvantageous to the government of the United States can be drawn. You cannot draw any argument from the example of an- cient republicks, because tliat of the United States is liOt orlv far superior, but altogether different from any thing of the kind that ever existed, and the framers of our constitution profited from both ar.cient and modern history. (171 ) The freedom of the people, and the power of rulers are so judiciously divided, as equally to exclude the licentiousness of the former, and the tyranny of the latter. The different de- partments of government are so wisely orga- nized as to afford a mutual check ; and so ac- curately prescribed that neither can encroach on the duiies of another. That our govern- ment should possess these excellencies cannot be doubted, \^ hen you consider the enlighten- ed crisis which gave it birth, and the peculiar circumstances which attended its formation. Neither ambition, power, accident, nor pnju- dice, had any share in its creation. It was the joint production of a body equally learned and accute, delegated by their country for this duty, and who had no other wish at heart, but to perform it wisely and faithfully." Thy national enthusiasm in favor of thy go- yernment, replied I, commands my respect ; but I cannot but think it somewhat like the enthusiasm of a lover who attributes to his mistress a thousand charms which are the off- spring of his own fancy. Without entering into a discussion on the comparative excel- lence of the republick of this country, and ( 172 ) those of ages past, I must believe that the principle of their o|.eration is pretty nearly the -same, and that where so much power is possessed by the people, it is as likely to be absurd at the present day, as it Was at any former period. You say the people are not so stupid as to plunge into the horrors of civil war, to obviate an inconvenience for which the constitution provides a sufficient remedy. The constitution indeed supposes that a majo- riry should rule. But in the intervals of elec- tion, this principle cannot be ascertained, and if it could be ascertained the minority are not always disposed to submit to the majority. — When parties are under this ungovernable [■)hrenzy they cannot submit, or even advert to the cold dictates of duty. Thus, the great disadvantage of a republick is the fluctuating disposition of the peoj)le, and their continual aptness to be carried to extremts. Party spirit among them is sometimes so violent as to derange the wheels of government; at other times so weak as not to afford to them a suffi- cient check. Sometimes the people are per- secuting and cruel to their publick characters ; at other times they place in them a dangerous ( 173 ) confidence, and look up to them with an adu- lation approaching that which subjects pay their sovereign. Sometimes they are ready to be led on by violent ambitious demagogues, at other times they are lulled into apathy, and submit to the silent, progressive and plausible encroachments of those in power, and are awakened when it is too late to a sense of their situation. '* Alas !*' exclaimed my companion, ^* in- stead of drawing a fair comparison between a monarchy and a republick, and noting die prominent features in each, you keep nothing but a republick in view and magnify its evils, but forget its blessings. Tlrat arepublick has its inconveniences like every thing else on this earthly scene, no one will doubt; but If it is productive of more happini^ss, and fewer evils than a monarchy, that is sul£cient to determine its excellence, and decide the pre- dilection of an impartial mind. Without considering that our constitution is altogether different from those of ages past, 3'ou apply to the former all the defects of the latter. With- out considering the happy experiment and salutary tendency of it exhibited in our history j V 2 ( 174 ) you indulge yourself in melancholy reveries with respect to the future. Notwithstanding all that you have said about publick dema- gogues, party spirit, and danegrous apathy, I find nothing in our history ; nothing in our future prospects which can justify your con- clusions. Our great and good Washington had indeed the gratitude of his country for unparalleled political and military services, yet in every part of his administration there ex- isted among the people sufficient freedom of discussion to keep both branches of govern- ment on their guard. His successor Mr. Adams was warmly and generally condemned for the principles he espoused, but the people were not carried to any dangerous or ridiculous ex- tremes: there existed among them sufficient freedom of opinion to exhibit both sides of the question, and they were satisfied with remove- ing him from office and placing the executive authority in the hands of another, whom they conceived would pursue a difierent course.'' I have transcribed this dialogue as nearly as I can recollect, because it affbrdi perhaps a curious picture of the different manner in which different persons sometimes view the ( 175 ) same subject. It may also serve as a general view of the opinions of these people concern- ing their government. I give the conclud- ing marks in the sentiments of my compan- ion, because lam not ambitious of any hon- our which I might have derived from the ar- gument, and because I know that whether my opinions were given last or those of my companion it would have little influence on the strength and rectitude of they understand- ing, whatever may be your opinion on the sub- ject. Adieu. ( 176 ) LETTER XIV. It has been a hackneyed remark of the philosopher and the peasant ; the ambitious and the unaspiring ; the avaricious and the contented ; the idle and the laborious ; the man of pleasure and the man of business; the } oung and the old; male and female.... that man is never satisfied with what he may at present possess, but is constantly looking forward to what he may, in future, enjoy. These pleas- ing hopes are not drawn from the laws of things but our own chimeras. I'he present is always depreciated, the future magnified, and the past forgotten. We let go the substance to grasp at the shadow, and to avoid imaginary evils plunge into such as are real. And what is the conclusion? Be contented with the present, provide decently for the future, and be not perplexed with imaginary evils. Of this maxim every heart is convinced, and every tongue ( 177 ) eloquent, but few give the exam[)le in their own conduct. All can point out the course to others, but none can lead the way.... all are ready to command, but none to obey. When men exhort it is with a confident air and an ardent manner ; when they listen it is wiih a cold nod of assent they stretch and yawn.— The former wonder that such an indispu- table truth should f^iil to make its due im- pression ; the latter wonder to hear such a trite observation repeated. It is easy to perceive that it will be preached and ac- knowledged to the end of the world, but that mankind will as invariably pursue the course, they do, as the earth will continue to revalve in its orbit. It may be from this universal spirit of dis- content that I have heard in every country die Complaint of hard times. It i** the caiit at all times and among all classes, and is so common that it is impossible to know when it is true. One would suppose if any country was exempt from this absurd complaint it would be the United States. While they declaim against the tyranny and pity the misery of every otlier country, they extol their own as the land of { 178 ) liberty and happiness, the assyliim of tlie op- pressed of erery other country. Such is their national exultation, but when I mix among indi\ iduals, hard times is the constant subject of complaint. In the foi mer case the blessings are magnified and rhe evils forgotten ; in the latter the evils are nicigi ified and the blessings forgotten. Yet, v. hat is national prosperity and happiness, but individual prosperity and happiness ? \\ h} boa.st of the oriC and be dis- satisfied wiih the in( ivi('Ual portion uhich they possess of the other ? When the sun shines, or the air is pure, do not all equally enjoy the blessing ? This complaint of *' hard times" every one makes use of to suit his own views. If a man involves himself in debt without considering the prudence of the step or the means of pay- ing, and is reminded by his creditor that the time is past when he should have paid, he declares diat he has made eveiy exertion he possibly could, but such is '* the hardness of the times'' that it is impossible either to make money or collect it : but rem/mds him that times caiiuot continue long in their present aspect, and he may rest assured of being soon ( 179 ) paid. If a publican should not accommodate his customers so well as they may have reason to expect ; if his beef is lean, his poultry poor or his vegetables scarce, he makes an humble apology, assures them that it has always been- his exertion to procure the best, but that the markets are so badly supplied, and these arti- cles so high that he could not provide as he wished, and reminds them that it cannot be otherwise, when they take into view the difficul- ty of tlie tim.es. U a dependant recounts to his employer the services he has render- ed, or states the insufficiency of his present pay, the latter tells him that should the times grow better he will think about it> but that they are at present too dull to admit of ariy thing more. If an old batchelor who is aiiiuent in fortune, and easy in his situation, is asked why he does not get married, he observes, that in that case he should have to make additions to his house, buy new furni- ture, and enter into many expences which the hardnesis of the times forbid him to thiiik of. If a man enters into a new trade or business, and finds that it does not answer his expecta- tiotis ; if liis profits arc not equal to his expen- ( 180 ) CCS, he still consoles himseif under the retiec- tion that he cannot judge from so hasty a trial, that his difiicuities necessarily arise from the '^ hardness of the times" but that these clouds will soon blow over, and a brilliant horizon open to view. If an old maid, grown ugly and ill natured, is quized on the subject of her situation ; she declares that such is the difficulty of the times, that the men are alto- gether taken up in their pecuniary affairs, that they have no prospect of getting mar- ried, and that she liad much rather re- main with her father, mother, uncle, or aunt, than to get married and contend with the *' hardness of the times." { 181 ) LETTER XV. The more I trace the national character of these people.; the more I have occasion to ob- serve their extravagant egotism. The Chinese, from time immemorial, have considered their country as the center of the earth, and all beyond it as contemptible appendages : the people here look upon theirs as the spot of perfection, and all beyond it as overrun with wretchedness and error. Hence the}' style it ** the assylum of the oppressed of every other nation." Their laws, indeed, in relation to foreigners, do not want philanthropy j but the people are but little governed by the like spirit, and foreigners here, as in e\ery other country, are looked upon with a jealous eye. Some thty consider as perverted by max- ims of tvrannv : others as intoxicated with tlie stream of liberty, and all who happen to differ from them on politicks, are proscribed ( 182 ; as enemies to the coimtiy. No iiatioii .?o they load with more opprobrious epithets than Britain, though it is not only tlie wisest go- vernment of Europe, but that from which the United States itself has received almost the whole bociy of its most valuable laws. Thus they praise the purity of the stream \\ hile they declaim against the corruption of the source, they enjoy the fruit but despise the tree from which it was gathered. While they boast of their superior laws, they forget that these laws are in almost ail their relations, secured, traced, and defined by the numerous volumes of British precedents and British com- mentaries. While their eyes dart fury against the tyranny of Great Britain, their students consume the midnight oil over the volumes of Blackstone and Coke, their judges revolve them in mind in giving a legal decision, and their lawyers strive with all the art of sophis- try or ihe evidence of truth, to shew that tl eir conclusion is drc'wn fiom these indubitable authorities. Their own jurisprudence they look upon as having no fault, that of every o h-.r countrv as haviiii^ no excellence. "^^ ^ m f- ( 183 ) Bat let me not go too far, or be led into extremes in the one way as the Americans are in the other. Let me not forget that I have aspired to the elevated char.icter of a citizen of the world ; that I am a s<)ectaior and not an actor in the scenes which pass in review before me. I will net deny then, that the Americans have in several respects, greatly improved the British code, and rendered it not only more congenial to their own peculiar form of government, but better calculated to •secure the rights and happiness of the people. Britain indeed is the mine from which the materials generally have been imported, but these materials have in many cases undergone a new operation ; the dross thrown away and the pure metal a'one retained. The venerable ediiice of tlie British common law" was estab- lished here long before the revolution, but since that period it has recei\ cd new addi- tions, and more splendid decorations, and strikes the enliolitened friend of man with more divine rapture. The benign Goddess of Juiitice that sits in it smiles alike on all who seek it for an assylum, and in her apartments are no invidious distinctions. As the dawn ( 184 ) of the revoluticn diiTused the enthusiasm of liberty, and inspired universally new views of gfjvernmeiit and law, the people naturally re- jected every tiait of the British law which wore an arristocratick or monarchal cast. These changes were diiFerendy modified in the dif- ferent states. There are some traits, however, that emanated from the new order of things, which appear to be pretty general. As all the old European systems of the conncclion between church and state, together widi the diiTerent degrees of religious autho- ritv was rejected, so care was taken that no otlier species of religicms tyranny should be . introduced, and that every one should enjoy the priviledge of believing and propagating ^A'hatevcr reli«:lon he choose. The law re- quires no contribution for thQ support of re- ligion, and no particular religion is eiiher saiiCtioned o!* pioscribcd. How happv are tl".e people of this country in this particular ! lii how manv shapes has reU2;ion been made ihe iiistrmnentof the most dreadful oppression. How often has an innocent or inadvertent ex- pression been regarded by the jaundiced eye of religioub fanaticism as a subject oi heinouS' ( 185 ) accusation; con'jigned the culprit to the damps [ and darkness of a dungeon, or led him to die stake to expin* in flames amidst the shouts and Iiuzzas of a numerous multitude, assembled to enjoy the scene. Oh, ye bloodthirsty, de- luded fanaticks ! is it thus ye \A'ouId worship God, by murdering your fellow men. Though the government in this country has not yielded any pecuniary support to religion this circumstance has not given that blow to it which foreign countries predicted. Chris- tianity, \\ hich the people inherited from their fathers, was at the revolution as it is now, the reigning religion of the age, and the people rejected all legal interference, not because they doubted the trutli of this religion, but becanse thev believed such interfereiice an infrins:e- ment on their general liberty. They conceiv- ed, and justly too, diat all men cannot think :ilike on the same subject, and that if this was practicable, the only Riir means of promoting or obtaininix it is throu^^h the internal evidence of religion itself, that the mind cannot, like the body, be feUereJ, and that force can ne\'cr supply the place of argument. 12 ( 186 ) The only method, I believe, in which the government has undertaken to assist the cause of religion is now and then to authorize a lot- tery to raise a sum for religious purposes, but in this they have not, I believe, been partial to any particular sect. It is also a method adopt- ed to promote other publick objects, as cut- ting canals, building bridges, academies, That this was a noble proof of the indepen- dent spirit of the people cannot be doubted, but I doubt whether it has been any advantage to religion itself. Its branches may be moie numerous in consequence, but its roots not more vigorous. On religion, as on every other subject there will always be a portion who are neutral or wavering, and these are more likely to be increased than diminished bv the numerous divisions which they observe. While each sect affirm their own to be the only true creed those are inclined to doubt them all. They are disposed to v\ onder how Christianity, if it was clear in its doctrine and consistent in its parts, could give rise to so many different, and even contradiciory, creeds, and are ready to believe that if it is not i^ ( 187 ) actually falpe, must at least be very obscure and doubtful. Their situation is somewhat like that of a judge in a court of justice, who hears the same fact stated in such different manner by different witnesses, that his mind is left in a state of doubt and suspence. Some sects will appear to be too lukewarm ; others too enthusiastic ; and there will always be some whose extravagant follies will be the subject of ridicule, not only to deists, but to mankind in general. If, on the contrary, re- ligion was clothed with some degree of autho- rity, the people would look up to her with more respect and reverence, but the misfor- tune is, she would be too apt to abuse her pi'iviledge, and discarding the principles of benevolence would exercise the rod of op- pression. But to return from this digression. Ano- ther characteristic difference between the laws of Britain and of this country, is that they are here less sanguinary, and operate more equally. As the hia^hest officers of the [rovernment are elected by the people for short periods, and are always responsible for their conduct in office, the laws of course partake of this cast, ( 188 ) and ackno\^ ledge no distincticn between one chizen and another. Tii<,' British K.ng while he has the power of declaring war, or making peace; while in many instances he has the power of life and death over liis subjects, is himself subject to no law. The persons of the British lords are sacred, and they can only be tried by a jury of their own peers, but here the highest ofncer of government stands on the Sdme footing with the meanest citizen, and with respect to trial by jury, they have no other priviledge but to object to any indhid- uals of the jury who are supposed to be under \]\€ influence of personal pique or prejudice, which is also a priviledge enjoyed by every citizen. But to return to the Britibh King. There is something extremely absurd in the maxim of Kn^lish law, that ministers alcne are responsible for the faults of administration. While it shields the person of the King from the law, it reduces his official character to a mere cypher. It literally supposes that he has neither power nor capacity to dirtct tl e wheels of government, and that he is entirely under the controul of ministers. While he has tlie sole power of selecting and displacing C 189 ) his ministers : while they are in every respect under his command, and acknowledge him their master ; this maxun supposes him only their satelhte, no more than a clock in their hands, and who are therefore alone responsible for any irregularities of itsmodon. When I consider that in all publick elec- tions as well as publick proceedings in this country, a majority rules; and that the people seem to look upon this as the polar star of their liberty, I am inclined to wonder why the same principle has not been adopted in trial by jury. On the contrary the practice here, as in Britain, requires the verdict to be unanimous. On no sul>ject is it practicable that a number of men can always be of the same opinion, and if it was practicable it is rot necessar}^ If indeed the jury generally yield to the sam.e opinion, it is to be presumed they do it rather to save themselves from the inconvenience of being detained, than because they think it just. But even this miserable expedient is not always adopted, and a single man and often for the m.ost whimsical reason ; has been known to detain a jury and embarrass f a cause for several days. I am m^uch mistaken ( 190 ) if it does not also frequently give to designing men who are party to the cause, tlst po\\er of securing by persuasion or briber}", the vote of one or two of the jury, which if it does not always answer their purpose, is certainly a pal- pable obstruction to the free and pure admin- istration of justice. In place of the too sanguinary laws of Europe this country has adopted a plan which they conceive to be more wise and humane. In the principal states they have established pen- itentiary houses, where mechanical trades of different kinds are taught, and vvhere each of the unhappy beings \\\\o are confined in them are compelled to learn, and work at one of these trades. Is this sentence, my friend, or is it not preferable to death ? It is at least more congenial to the leading principles and wishes of man who is always disposed to cling to life, however bitter the draught, and therefore it may be pronounced more humane. But I confess that v\ hen I have visiter! those solidary cells the depression of my feelings but liitle inclined me to listen to the copioub expositions' of my interpretors respectirig the humanity of the plan, and the advantage accruing to the ( 191 ) publick. When I considered the death- iu. : unifomiity with w hich the life of those unfor- tunate beings must drag on ; when I looked around me and beheld the sadiK.ss depicted in their countenances, my feelings were such as it would be in vain to express. But alas ! how does selfishness mix wi*h our most hu- mane emotions, for was it not selfishness which induced me to say '* 1 can never wit- ness these scenes again". It is stated, that in some of the states these institutions, besides being sufficient to support the prisoners and defray the expences of ma- nagement generally yield an annual income to the state. They are certainly conducted w^ith all the humanity which the case will ad- mit of, and every means em!)raced to give a ray of hope to the unfortunate prisoners. All who particularly distinguish themselves for industry and goo 1 behaviour stand a good ch ince to have the period of their confinement sliortened an:l their libertv restored. It is even stated that this method of punishment has brought m my back to a moral life, and ther'efore these institutions have not improper- ly received the name of " Penit.er»tiancs." In ( 192 ) whatever light they may be viewed, they have certainly been established from good motives and from the insuperable reluctance oi the people to shedding the blood of their fellow citizens in legal cases. C 193 ) LETTER XVI. The great defect of an hereditary govern- ment is the despotick power which rulers ex- ercise over the people ; the great defect of an elective government is the despotick power which the people exercise over rulers. The cruelty of the Athenian mobs was as great as that of the Roman emperors, and the fate of Socrates, Aristides, and Phocion, is as much calculated to awaken our sympathy-, as any acts com.nitted by the latter. This, however may be said in favour of the republican government, that though the people have their follies, there is more reason in the principle, that the whole should have despotick pow er over a hw^ than that a k^w should have despotick power over the Vvhoie. You will be inclined to ask whether the evil oi a republic ui government, which i have ju;st mentioned, h.ib yu . ^>eareU in this coun- a ( 194 ) try. With respect to publick trials by law, I must answer that it has not. This appears to be owing partly to the excellence of the constitu- tion and laws of the coutry, and partly to the po- litical integrity inseparable from a rising repub- lick. The manner of proceeding against pub- lick characters here, is very different from \\ hat it was in tiie republicks of Rome and Athens, and while it allows the accused person supe- rior priviledges, is better calculated to secure the ends of justice. Here he is brought be- fore a hall of justice, where the judge or judges who preside, are compelled to decide agreea- ble to law, and not agreeable to the popular temper or opinion of the people. He is aiow- ed the priviledge of counsel, time to collect his witnesses, and even legal process to cc m- pel their attendance. Under this arrai ge- ment, it is seldom that an unjust sentence can take place. But in the Roman and Athenian republicks, the manner of proceeding uas totally different, and their publick^.rnen w ere more at the disposal of the fluctuating temper of the people, than of any regular form of trial. The priviledges of the accused were f^w or wholly insutiicient for the purposes of ( 195 ) justice. The turbulent disposition of the people left no hope of a fair trial, and the sen- tence of banishment or death was often passed on their most celebrated worthies, without the shadow of guilt. To affirm, however, that the despotism of the people is in this country wholly excluded from publick trials, would be to affirm what can never take place in any republick. Un- der every popular government there is so close a connection between publick officers and the people, that the conduct of the former must always be influenced in some degree by ^!ie prevailing temper of the latter. In trials where the publick mind is strongly agitated, the judges must possess a high degree of in- trepidit\ , and be almost exempt from human weakness, if they can wholly escape the pre- vailing contagion, whether it be for or against the accused. It is probable, however, .that this impulse is felt in a less degree by the judicial than it is by the legislative authorities. The officers of the former department are ap- pointed and removed by the legislature and the executive ; those of the latter are elected and discontinued by the people themselves. The ( 196 ) former never receive petitions from tlie peo- ple, because the abstract province of their duty supposes the people have no knowledge there- in ; the latter frequently receive such petitions and always pay to them great attention. The former must make the abstract and compli- cated science of law the polar star of their conduct ; the latter must act according to the immergency and circumstances of the crisis, of which the people are not only supposed to have full knowledge, but in which their feel- ings are always excited in a lively and some^ times an extravagant degree. The highest judicial court of the United States is composed of the members of con- gress itself, 'ihere is no stated period for its sitting, which only takes place in cases of im- peachment, and these rarelv occur. It is here that the president of the Ui;ited States, minis- ti> and federal judges themselves are tried. The manner of proceefUng in a judicial capa- city, becomes (iiifereht from ^^hat it was in a legislative cap:^city, and in the former case the law is the rule of decision. From \\hi\t I have stated then, thou wilt dis- cover that publick characters are not here so ( 197 ) much at the mercy of the fluctuating temper of the people, as they were in the ancient re- publicks,...but with respect to the portion of power which belongs exckisively to the peo- ple, it is exercised in a manner at once des- potick and absurd. Publick oflices are dispos- ed of in a manner truly capricious. The li- berty of the press is made the instrument of personal abuse, rather than of publick investi- gation ; and popularity, another gift of the people, rests on a foundation equally precari- ous and absurd. Two things must conspire to render an ad- ministration popular. It must in the first place be consistent with the political creed of the miijority of the nation, which is for the most part founiled in strong party prejudice.... ^ and secondly, it must have a plausible out- side appearance. When a majority of the nation elects a publick character to office, it is considered a glorious triumph, and they arc always inclined to support him in difficulty or prosperity. This thty do not because they think his conduct alwa) s right, but because they think it necessary to secure the honour of their party and the success of their cause> R A ( 108 ) There is one method however by which pub- lick favour is easily lost, and this is by acting in contradiction to some leading principle of the creed of the popular party. It is then considered that the person guilty of this breach has forfeited their confidence, abandoned their cause, and gone over to the other party ; and while the one party brand him as a political apostate, the other receive him as an inde- \ pendent friend of his country, who would no longer adhere to a cause which he found ini- ! mical to the interest of the nation. To render an administration popular it must in the next place have a plausible outside ap- pearance. Truly speaking, we cannot judge of publick men by the prosperity or difficulty of the crisis, but the measures which were used to promote the one and'avert the other. The most ignorant mariner may steer the ves- ■ sel when the wind is fair, the points of land i known, and the sky serene, but the most ex- | perienced may be baffled where all is enveloped | in darkness, and the vessel assailed with vio- lent storms. There are difficulties in the po- litical horizon which it is no more in the power of the statesman to controul than it is ! •ffp ( 199 ) in the power of the mariner to controul the elements. The publick however, the impa- tient, the fluctuating pubhck, attend but little to this distinction, and are ever inclined to judge from the prosperity, and not the wisdom of an administration. When the country is on the eve of war they affirm that it might have been prevented had the government been satisfied with peace on- reasonable terms ; but when they have received a real or imaginary insult from a foreign nation, they are not only roused to the utmost, but afiirm that it would never have been offered had it not been for the known pusillanimity of their own govern- ment. Publick difficulties create publick ir. ritation, and publick irritation is not a temper In which to make a fair estimation of men and measures. Indeed this requires not only great moderation of temper, but afeo a degree of political sagacity and political knowledge which does not fall to the share of the people in general. Many have not even the time or the opportunity to devote the necessary at- tention to the subject : others have not the common or nece-sary rudiments of education, and many depend for information on the flying ( 2(^0 ) rumours of the day, on i:he flimsy representa. tio' i of violen r- partizans. Thus the lull cletai of pub ick pioceeclHigs and the many suljtk points which they embrace, are but partially understood (and a smattering of knowledge u often worse than none at all) ; but the actua difficulties of the crisis strikes the senses anc awakens the indignation. Every de^jartmeni of knowledge Tias its own terms, and there are many who are so ignorant of politicks- that they cannot ever speak on the subject! without helping themselves out. with the termjij of theii' own trade or profession. Their situil alion is somewhat like that of a sailor on land'j and of course out of his element, and when htj would speak of the objects around him, h\ compelled to use sea phrases which, whik they are unintelligible to some, excite th<' risibility of others, , ( 201 ) LETTER XVIL Some excentrick characters, warm with ;eneral benevolence have doubted, whether pon the eternal and reciprocal principles of. iistice, we have a right to subject inferior nimals to toil and labour, for our conveni- nee, or to destroy them for our food. This ndeed is one of those subjects in which we jTe so much under the influence of interest, ,nd habit, that it is impossible for us to decide lirly. The truly enlightened philosopher, oaring above human prejudices, Vv ill consid- r it with sceptical feelings, while to those w ho re immersed in the universal cloud of igno- ance, such a proposition would be locled up- •n with indifference, or treated with ridicule, 'ould the poor brutes be allowed to have a oice on this subject, they would certainly pro- dunce their treatment tyrannical and unjust, 'ould they be supposed to have any know- ( ^02 ) ledge of the relation of things they would cer- tainly look upon us with the same feelings and abhorence, with which we look upon th( tyr^int who riots in human blood. There is one reflection however that migh lead us to believe, that in exercising the do minion which we hold over inferior animals we only act within the limits which the a] mighty seems to have prescribed for us, ant to have followed the course which his provi dence has pointed out. For reasons on! known to the adorable creator, it seems to b a law throughout the creation, that one clae of animals should serve as food for anothe class. This is evinced not only from a pr( pensity to pursue their prey, but by the pre perties which each possess for the executio of their purpose. How far this reasoning miy be conclusiv* I pretend not to ScT, but if inferior anima were intended for our use, it certainly do< not follow that we are authorized to tre them in a tyrannical manner. \[ we act irj co: foi mity to the design of the Almighty, ihe captivity may be rendered to them a blessin rather than a curse. We should make u I ' ( 203 ) i f our power to protect, and not to oppress lem. Surely if we enjoy the benefit of their ibour, it is the least that we can do to treat lem with kindness. Why should not a good laster feel the same sentiments towards his omestick animals, which a good prince does awards his people? Who does not feel a riendship for a good horse, or faithful dog ? irVho feels not gratitude when he looks upon he patient laborious ox, that tills his field, ^hile perhaps he reposes under the shade, hd enjoys the goodly scene? But ah! sacred jOd, with what indescribable emotions has I wy heart been oppressed, when I have seen he tyrant man, exercise his cruelty over his lelpless domesiicks: and I would not part vith these feelings for all the wealth, and pow- tof the world. Oh man, thinkest thou not iiat thou wilt have to account for thy cruelty, efore die tribunal of heaven ? Thinkest thou hjt thy poor domesticks, who toil for thy ;upi ort, are susceptible of no feeling, or enti- led to no gratitude ? Cowardly man! 'tis hine to exercise power with boundless des- potism wheiT it is given thee, and to slirink ( 204 ) from it with debasing submission, when ex- ercised over thyself. I have been led into these reftections, from a scene to which I have lately been a specta- tor, and which to my feelings, is little inferior in atrocity to the spectacle of the roman glad, iators. The practice I allude to is very com. mon in this country, and particularly in Vir- ginia, and is here called amusement, Thij amusement consists in matching two cocks, with sharp pointed irons so fixed to their legs as to wound each other at every flutter, anc the owier of him who kills the other, wins the wager. This barbarous practice general!) continues the whole day, and sometimes foi several (lays together. I was at one of those spectacles, but never \\ ish to be at another, both on account of my ietlings for the agonj which the poor animals seemed to endure, and my burning inc'it^nation against the sav^ age joy, \\ ; i^h the cruel and cowardly spec- tators tvince. Th'. high spirited animajj panting, for l«reath, sulTocatcd v.ith heat, anc almost choak.ed with bjwici, ^re looked upor with no other letling but a vehement c'csIk for a coiiliiiiiation of the battle. At eveiy ( 205 ) wound there is an infernal shout. The ffreat Washington did not feel more joy upon the happy result of a battle which he conceived tended to promote the future independence and happiness of his country, than on these occasions do those wretches evince in winning a few sordid dollars. True it is, my friend, that my feelings were precisely those which I should have felt, had I ever been present at an ante de foe. When I heard the tumultuous shouts of the spectators, my heart died within me. When I looked round and saw the stu- pid and savage joy displayed in every look and every word, I scarcely knew whether I was among human beings or brutes. In vain did I look for one solitary individual whose sar- ness of countenance indicated a soul that could weep at human degradation, and whom per- haps I should at the moment have clasped to my heart, and expressed the feelings which agitated my boosom. Ah! sacred God, all the pride of bf^ing a member of the human species vanished like a dream, and I felt noth- ing but shame and indignation. I kfc the r| scene to those who had hv:a! ts capable of en- joying it ; I plunged into the depiiis oi a grove, ^ 206 ' and shed a torrent of tears over the calioub and cruel disposition of man, and the cloud of prejudice in which the human species arc enveloped. It is a hiippy considt ration oh! thou en- lightened and universal friend of all that was | born to feel, that I am addressing myself to thee, whose heart has ever beat in unison w i h my own, and from whom I received the fn st impressions of virtue I ever recollect to have felt. I would not for the world that this let- ter should be seen by the people of this country, not because it exhibits any trait of their character in an erroneous light, but be- cause the limit of their sordid feelings could not comprehend it. 1:1 ven thy genius soaring above all earthly prejudices, would not be able to bring them to a knowledge of thtir frailties, or exhibit a picture which could ' strike them with remorse. In vain is it to plead humanity to a tyrant. In vain is it to talk of sounds to the deaf, or colours to the blind. I repeat that my soul feels an efflux of joy in imparting my feelings to thee who cun re- cognize in thtm thy pupil, and they oiily flow it ( 207 ) hack lo the source from whence diey came. How furtunate is it, O bountiful Providence! that I V. as born in the distant empire of China, for iij)on no other part of the globe probably should I ha\e ever met with so divine an in- structor. How often have v»e asce'nded to- irether tlie iofiv mountains of Kamsi, where elevated above the surface of the earth, our souls seen:i cquallv elevated, and uhere ami(!st aricient spreading oaks and craggy rocks, we spent the day in celestial contem- plairon. How oiten have I there canght with enthusiasm the sublime flights of your Heaven bora Genius, and at other times been melted hy the tranquil but no less delicious tone of your sentiments. These, these were precious moments indeed. I dwelt i^pon their recollec- tion with fond delight and lingering satisfac- tion. ?.hiv the care of Heaven dwell around liim to \vhom I am indebted for all T possess, and all I en jov, and once more I bid you adieu. ^^ ( 208 ) LETTER XVIII. I MF.KiioNED in a former letter the reli- £>-ious freedom tliat is enjoyed in this country. You may here witness, in one day the worship of the various religion of ahnost every other country. I lately took an excursion with my friend Appolcnius, to indulge my curiosity in tliis wa}'. My first adventure was at a Protestant church. This is the established church of England, and has more followers here than any other. I was much gratified in c^bserxiiig tlie various movements I saw, Lut as I had no knowledge of them myself, I tC'ok care only to do as 1 saw others do, and paiticiiiarly my com.panion, Vvho promised to be my guide on this occasion. The parson V. as elevated in a pulpit which overlooked his congregation, was dressed in black, and appear- ed very grave and solemn. With respect to the ivlic'ious demeanour of the audience, \^ ithout I # ( 209 ) approving or condemning in the mass, I will only observe, that there prevailed a great di- versity of behaviour. Some seemed to be seriously impressed with the purpose of the meetins^, and perfectly attentive to whatever the parson spoke or read, and others seemed -to be wholly engaged in adjusting their dress, looking about for pretty faces or new fashions, or arresting the timid glances of persons of cin opposite sex. When the parson prayed, some descended on their knees, which seemed both natural and devout, but others, afraid of j fatigue or of soiling their dress, contented themselves with leaning on their arm, or of turning and looking out at the window. In the mere forms, hov\'ever, they were pretty regular. Tiiey rose with one impulse, and sat down with one consent. When the parson jehearsed a psalm such I suppose as could sing gave their aid, and such as could not read it in their books. A great number, however, did not conform even to these rules, and seve- ral seemed so little interested in what was .passing, that they could hardly keep from falling asleep. The duties of the parson were successively different. He sometimes uttered s 2 ( 210 ) a prayer, sometimes rehearsed a song, and sometimes read from his bible. These histo- rical sketches were, it seems, of transacti(jns which took place two thousand years ago among the Jews and Egyptians, and \\hich might be true, but I could not tell in what respect they tended to make the present gene- ration cither wiser or better. Thou must naturally wish to hear some account of the religious lecture that was delivered, but this also turned on matters which I couid not un- derstand in any rational light, nor do I believe could the parson himself. The subject was the coming of Christ, his sufferings, and the means thence held out for the salvation of the Vv'orld. These the preacher told us very gravely were mysteries, and 1 confess they \vere such to me; nor did his explanations ' tend, in any respect, to remove them, but rather involve them in still farther difficulty. My next adventure was at a meeting of the society of Friends. This is the only religious i^ect 1 have ever heard of that have wholly dis- carded those superstitious ceremonies which, in every age and natioUj seem to have been taken for religion itself.... they appear even to ( 211 ) have gone on ihe other extreme, and to hav-e discarded forms which seem natural and pro- per.... they have no pulpit, no select preach, ers, no prayers.... they meet together neither to hear nor to speak, but to retlecl....they sit in an unchanging position, with their eyes fixed to the earth.... they never rise to speak, except when they conceive they are under the influence of a divine spirit, nor continue when this influence has subsided. Sometimes the men speak and sometimes the women : some- times their discourse consists of a single sen- tence, and sometimes continues for half an hour, but they generally endeavour to express iLt'ir ideas in as few words as possible. When their meeting is over, they shake hands with each other and depart. Tlie manners of this sect are verv similar to thtir religious habits. They are friendly and familiar among each other, and their ac- quaintances ; but not officious in their servi- ces to persons of a different religious denomi- nation, or to strangers. Religious persecution is foreign to their disposition, and they equal- ly reject it themselves, and despise it in others. They are the most methodical people in the ( 212 ) world, observe exact justice to all, and re- quire the sarFie from others ; always propor- tion their expcnces to their incon^iC ; are fond of conveniences, but lit; le smitten with iuxu» ries ; resrular and industrious in their ovv n concerns, but selc'.om interfering in those of others. They -are fond of gain and through their industry and economy, they are often very rich but for the same reason they are seldom ever poor, seldom involved in difficul- ties, and never found in a jail. Their dress is plain and uniform, and equally divested of os- tentatious pride, and slovenly indecency. The character of these people upon the whole is good, but not without its defects. While they have rejected the ostentatious expences of the rest of the world, they hiave also rejected their innocent amusements, and while they have discarded their conipllmental ceremonies, they have also discarded their civilities. They take little part in the noisy scenes of politicks, or the flying political rumours of the day. They seem to live in a woi Id of their own, and though they are friendly to one ano- tlier, their carriage towards others has an un- sociable, if not a selfish cast. ( 213 ) My next visit was to a church of the Cath- olick faith. Here I was struck with a thou- sand odd ceremonies. On the wall, in front of the congregation, is a represeatation of Christ expiring in tortures on a cross. To- ^vards which the Bishop advances in a reveren- tial manner, with a bucket of insence in his hand, continually swinging it backwards and forwards, while the rising vapours that fill the house, often occasion a disagreeable smell. Sometimes he advances towards the sepulchre, representing that of Christ, and opening the door where he is supposed to asceiid ; he raises his hands and eyes, in a posture of ap- pai'ent adoration of the mercy of God. There are various ceremonies, which it is needless to relate* The dress of the minister is rather ostentatious than solemn, but the subject and manner of preaching is similar to that of the Protestant minisiers. Their liturgy also ap- peared tabe somewhat similar except that their prayers and psalms are sometimes written in Latin. My next adventure w^as at a Methodist meeting. This sect maintains the necessity of ^ total change of nature in every j^uccessful ( 214 ) candidate ibr Christianity, ^vhich thcv say can- not take place but through divir:e interposi- tion, and a deep felt repentence for past sin?. They blame tine ministers of the hioh churches for being too lukewarm in the auful duty ot the conversion of souls. Their conduct is con- sistent with these tenets. At tlie meethig [ visited, sev^eral preachers succeederl, and each seemed to excel the preceeding in violence of manner and ardour of exhortation. The orator appeared sometimes ahnost exhausted by the violent eX:ertion of his lungs and mo- tion of his limbs, but draining breath, and wiping the falling sweat away from his face, he ever began the attack with increasing ardour. The shortness of life, the necessiiy of repentence, the yawning grave, and the flames of Hell had an effect on the deluded hearers, which no rational eloquence could have produced. Groans, cries, clapping of hands, resounded from every part of the house. Some falling on tlie floor and imploring the forgiveness of God for their hedious and ma- nifold crimes, and all was urroar and confu- sion. The preacher gratified and even trans- ported with the sight, would involuntarily ( 215 ) leave the rostrum mix among the truiibpoitcd congregation^ encourage their repentance, ad- minister comfort, and return thanks to God for so plentiful a shower of grace. When matters were a lictie subsided, the experience of the repr:nting candidates for heaven, were heard by the preacher, when he expressed his hopes tiiat they were worth} of the pardon of (tjod, and exhorted them to persevere in the course they had began. The meeting closed .with prayers and several songs of praise to the diety in which all united their voice, in one lofiy, loud, and rapturous swell, accompanied with a corresponding clapping of hands. f 216 ) LETTER XIX, I STATED in a former letter that the par- ty called Federalists, and a large portion of the mercantile part of the community, looked forward to the next session of Congress, in hopes the embargo w ould then be repealed. This session has arrived, and is now nearly closed. At its commencement several pro- positions for repealing the embargo were of- fered by difTercnt n>ttmbers. The question gave rise to long discussion. ..every resource of invective and argument was exercised by both parties, and it was at last carried in the affirmative. In the early part of the session, this result was not expected, the proposition seemed however to gain ground, but even at last the issue of it excited some degree of as- tonishment. One thing might have had an influence, on the legislature in finally decide- ing on this subject, which did not operate at . ( "217 ) the beginning of the session. A report be- gan to circulate which was believed by some, and feared by others, that the people would not submit to the pressure of the embargo, and that if not repealed it would occasion a revolt of the eastern from the western states. This rumour was repeated on the floor of congress, as an alarming symptom of the dis- content oF the people, and no doubt had an in- fluence on their proceeding. Another subject of eitibarrassment was, the difficulty, if not the impossibility of the putting the embargo law in complete operation. From the time it Wifs passed to the time it v^as repealed, it was frequently violuted, and u-hen a proposition for applying a remedy to the evil was made in congress, it appeared to be attended with so many difficulties as to be almost insur- mountable. Tliouii-h the embarp'o is raised there are Still left many obs^ructibiirs to commerce. Previous ti> its repfcii an act was passed pro- 'hii)ltin£i: all iiTtercou sc between the United -Si-.i^es, ujid F; :n"r, airl Britain, or their de- pendancies. Tnis ^.\ \ p^enerally speaking, is perhaps rather (L :ted to exclude f^^ieign ( 218 ) merchandise, than to prevent the exportation of country produce, and afford to the United States the means ol getting rid of their super- fluities, but not of supplying their \vants. Britain and some other countries, with whom ^his law prohibits an intercourse^ are those from which the United States have been large- ly and regularly supplied with articles which thev have not been in the habit of manufac- luring, and of which they are now in want. A portion of that stock which was imported previous to the embargo still remains, a par- tial supply has been obtained since, by evade- ing the embargo, and some feeble exertions have been made to establish domestick man- ufactures, but this has not prevented foreign ;. merchandize from diminishijig in quantity, and rising in price, and unless some unexpec- ted change should lake place, it \\\\\ continue- to be more and more the case. W iih respect to the means which the people have for ex- porting their oun productions, the non-intcr- ' course law has left countries, aiid islands enough for this purpose. Among these are a few countries on the continent of Europe, and the Spanish, Portugue, and some other ( 219 ) islands of the West Indies. Immediately af- ter the embargo was raised, a great quantit)^ oiffljurand other articles, were seat to these islands, and though a direct trade with those under the dominion of France and Britain is prohibited, it is probable they found means of supplying themselves from the same stock. With respect to the articles which have been shipped to the belligerent powers, as cotton, flax-seed, tobacco and some others, dicre must . probably remain in the United States, a su- ; pet-fiuity, unless they are obtained in those countries, in which they have been consumed throusrh a circuitous channel. In the present perplexed state of the na- tional affliirs of this country, the legislature are under great embarrassment to determine whatpourse to pursue. To declare war would be precipitate, and to submit to their injuries would be degrading. Many propositions have been made, but none afford any remedy for the evil : much discussion has taken place but nothing has been done. After many inquiries, in wliich the wrongs and injuries of their country were constantly echoed, they have agreed to adjonrn until May. What ( 220 ) changes they then expect will liave taken phice, or a\ hat nieasuies they then pro- pose to adopt, I ani at a loss to inu'gine. I am incliried to behve they will fine! thcniselyes in the same predicament then, in which they are now. A proposition was made during the present session to take ofT all restrictions on com- merce, and allow thefnercantile commur.ity to aim their yessels for defending their trade, but this proposition, like the rest, has been reject- ed. It was belieyed by some that the profits that accrued to the m.erchants, from their trade, would not justify the expence of these equipments, and the hazzard of defence, and that consecjuently the law v^ouId not be carried into complete execution ; but admitting that it should, the co; 'sequences were dreaded. It was Rared that the measure would shut the door to 'future neeoclation and ullimatelv invohe a war, thatfiom the use of diis priyiledge giyen to American merchant yessels, they >vould pro- ceed to the abuse of it ; and from acts of de- fence to acts of hostility ; and that the United States would thus invite the hostility and de- ( 221 ) predations of her enemy on an dement in which she was strons^ and herself weak. Formerly this country appealed to think, j that the fate of every other depended on her and were su tained bf h'ef productions, but now she begins to feel her dependence on them, and the want of their merchandize. — j Formerly she thought that withholding from the belligerent nations her commerce, would soon compel them to render her justice^ but now she finds that this measure operates less i on her enemies than on herself, and dispairing to derive from it any benefit, has been glad to get rid of its evils. As her general situa- tion is perplexed, so her relation with each of the belligerents is equally critical : to take any" part in the cause of Britain would involve her in a v^'ar with France, and to take any part in the cause of France woukl involve her in a w^ar with Britain. Discussions have been penciing for several years wiui both of the belligerent nations, particularly Britain, sometimes on this side of the water and sometimes the other, but they have all ended in smokt-, iwxd matters remain in the same posture now liiat they did at the commencement of negociation. VVhen- 1 2 - 1 ( 222 ) ever a new minister or fresh instructions ar- rive either in Britain or America, a thousand reports of a new and happy change are imme- diately in circulation, but as soon as the cor- respondence is officially disclosed, the gloomy contrast bet^veen report and reality is perceiv- ed. To the first difficulties new ones have been added, and in the midst of negociation fresh subjects of negociation have arisen. I! ( 223 ) LETTER XX. The equal distribution of property in this country, affords a very pleasing spectacle to a benevolent traveller. Extreme affluence and extreme poverty are in a great degree unknown. There exists neither haughty airs among one j class, nor servile adulation among another. T here are few dressed in rags, and still fewer in gold lace ; and you have to encounter nei- ther the imperious frowns of the lord, nor the doleful petitions of the beggar. But thou must jiot infer from these reflections, that all dis- tinctions of rank are levelled to the ground. When I speak of the equality of rank and possession, I view this country in a relacire point of view with those of Europe, but when 1 descend into detail, I find a thousand excep- tiops to the position. In every age and every country, these distinctions not only exist, but stand high in the estimation of men ; and the ( 224 > country, where the contrary is supposed to J take place, is the mere c ffspring of imagina- tion. All mankind -cannot be philosophers.... even in the philosopher there is often to be observe-] a striking contrast between his words and actions ; and though lie declaims against the insignificance of riches and rank in his closet, yet when he mixes in the world he shows he has the same partialities with the rest of his species. Perhaps by means of the very book in which he endeavours to show the emptiness of riches, and the harmlessness of poverty, he expects to obtain a share of the former, and relieve himself from the embar- rassments of the latter. When we hear a nation praising itself as the only one in the world where all distinc- tions are banished, except those of merit, we may mark it down as the empty vauntings of national egotism. Should we expect to find a country where the distinctions of property and rank are unknown, we must not look for it in any portion of the civilized world, but among nations immersed in barbarity. When I look around on this country, 1 find a thou- sand proofs of this position, and a thousand (• 225 ) contradictions of what the people affirm of themselves. Their national pride has led them to have their capital and president's house both large and splendid, when a much coarser one would have answered as well with half the ex- pence. Indeed, in all those traits of pride and pomp, which are inseparable from civihzation, I find little difference between this country and those of Europe. Thus, for instance, i their actors on the stage are fond of mimicking great characters, however diminutive they mav be themselves, and I am told sometimes quarrel for the preference in this particu- lar. Their rich men driving by a poor man who pulls off his liat to them, may, it is true, give him a nod of their head, but it would give them little concern, should tbtcir horses besplatter the poor man over with mud. Gold or silver used in furniture or dr^ss, is not ad- mired so much for its beauty as for its cost, unless it can be said that its cost make it ap- pear more beautiful. A wide distinction therefore must be made between the equality of political priviledges, and the :nherent adora- tion which men are accustomed to pay to rank. ( 226 ) This country has made rapid advances iu the mor.e splendid arts of civilized life since the revolution, and particularly within a few years back. The stile of their equipage, fur- niture, and dress, is greatly improved, and many luxuries introduced which were for- merly unknown. Where the productions of fj their own coui try, or the workmanship of their own ingenuity has not pleased, those of other countries have been sought for and ob- tained. Brick houses have taken place of wooden ones, mahogany tables are substituted for oak ones, silver spoons for pewter, China ware for English, and European broadcloth for homespun. Formerly the people valued their gardens principally for their vegetables ; but now they begin to pay some attention to the arrangement of flowers, trees, and shrubs. Formerly the arts of architecture, sculpture, painting, and engraving, were ahriost un- known, or executed in a miseralile stile ; but now^ their artists in these branches beerin to vie with those of Europe. The education of t)oth male and female is greatly enlarged and improved, and the latter are better instructed now than the former were before the revolu- ( 227 *) tion. Reading, writing, and cyphering were once thought sufficient for them ; but now they are instructed in drawing, musick- and several modern languages, as well as dancing, and their personal carriage. With these im- provements of civilization, its attendant vices have also been introduced. The French dresses and manners have in a considerable degree been transplanteci to this countrjr. The dress and manners of the men are fopish and often ridiculous.... those of the w^omen allu- ring rather than captivating. It seems to be more cons:enial to their taste to attract the attention of all, than to secure the respect of a few, or the love of one. Empty compliments arc exchanged in profusion, and devoured with avidity. If paint and wigs are not so common now as formerly, it is only because they happen not to be in fashion. Both co- quets and fops are more numerous now than iibrmerlj'. One cursed effect of the progress for civilization is to envelope the heart of man in culous pride, to induce him to look up with reverence to the splendour of rank, and to pass by an unfortunate fellow creature borne down with years, shivering in cold, or pinched with ( 2-2B ) hunger, with a pitiless eye, and notwithstand- ing all the declamations of these people, about liberty and equality, and their regard for the cries of humanity, I do nqt find them exempt from this hateful trait. I do not find their words and actions to correspond. In every country of Europe through which I have successively passed, 1 have ever heard ready and plausible excuses for their contempt of the unfortunate poor. It is natural indeed for men to seek to hide their humanity ; it is. easy for them to talk in this way who cannot talk in any other ; but to nit even the weak- ness of humanity, the sigli of compassion, and the tear of sympathy, has ever been a welcome and a heart levi'. i: g sight. A poor un- fortuiuUe bciiig(uho has perhops seen better days) conu-s to the door of a rich man and implores a shelter i'o- iLc i ii',lit, aid a morsel of br aC' ; but the proud man so lar from re- lievinp- hischstress. is r( adv to iriitate"^ it by inso!ci\ce ; so i^a ii»/i>i g..'-'iL^ Ms humble petition, that wi*h hi ugl ty irowiv^ar;d imperi- ous threads he drives him out to the mercy ol the stomi. W iitii I ;et tl t-e ihii c'>., cm Z longer pric-e n.y^e:!" iabt big a member of the human species r Oh nol ( 229 ) But to returh from this digression. I before mentioned the progress which these people have, within a few years, made in the arts of civilization; but this position must only be taken within certain hmitations. There is a great difference between the stile of building, the farnirure, the dress, and the manners of the people of the city and the people of the country. In cities superior workmen are em- ployed, and the latest improvements adopted ; in the country their chief object is to engage workmen whose terms are chcaj), and V ry often employ their own servants ; and having little taste for elegance, and little knowledgq of lute improvements, they cannot adopt ti-em. it is sufficient that their houses and their iur- nitiiie are as good as t^-ose of tiiLir neigh- bours, wiihout emulating the fashions ot ihc city. '1 he farmer spends the principal of his time in riding or uaiking over his plantation, consuiiing w iih his overseer and giving orders to his scivanlb, but de. votes a small portion of ii to siuciy, txcept h Ue to ieacl his newspaper. To iiiin aii) t-xLiaordinary phaenomenon of nature is a buljcct oi iu jtiitr vvondtr nor spe- cuiauoii. 'I iic matron i(;ui;s over the euiti- u ( 230 } vation of her garden, the cutting up of hci; meat, aid the work of her kitchen, and sorrie- times gives an aid herself, but thinks little of parties, visits, or the fashions of the day. The whole family generally dress in homespun ; ^ and if they wear the dress of foreign manufac^ ture it is only when they go to church, to a country dairce, or visit a neighbour. The young ladies, so far from learning modem languages, few of tliem understand their ow n grammatically. They know nothing of the prin- ciples of musick ; and thouijh rhty \\ili sirg you a song, they can seldom perform (.n any instrumeni....they krjow somethir.g of draw'- ing, and the elegance of needle work, but they acquire it from the instructions of iheir parents or their neighbour associates, and noi from boarding schools. l\rsons of both sexes aie mote healthy, more biooming than those of ci ies ; but they want thatdigTiiiy of Cririige, vivacity of expression, and that ease and j.:race of manner vrhich distinguish thelatttr. When they are visited by persons from the tOun or the city, pariicularly if of some rank, ifty seem to feel it a grtat honour ; and whiie they ciiucavour to a^-pcar to the best ad van 'age and ( 231 ) receive their visitors in the best stile, thcv ex- hibit that diffidence, simplicity, and innocence which at once excites our lo\e and our pity. In the exterior parts of the country the arts of civilization prevail in a less degree. Those who remove thither do it from deliberate mo- tives of gain.... they are vvilhng to give up ele- gance for profit ; and to leave their friends and ficquaint'ances provided by the removal, they can becjueath individually to their children a larger share of prope-ty. Here they have neither the workmen nor the materials to buikl in an elegasit stile* Architecture is an art of which they know as little as they do of the structure of the Universe, or the order and motions of the solar system. In the hurry of the;T removal too they have not the time to build on an extensive plan or in an elegant stile. Profit and convenience dictate a coarse and cominon plan, and the example of those v> ho are settled is not calculated to stimulate their ambition for any other. Generally the landed possessions of the inhabitants are im- mense , but the greater part is overrun with wilderi^ess, and but a small portion cleared : the former yields plenty of game, the latter an ( 232 ) abundant crop, but exhibits little of the art of cultivation, or the in)provements of fancy. — Their business is rather that of cutting down u iidernesses and clearing up swamps, than of attending to the laborious niceties of cultiva- tion, or the arrangement of fiov\ ers, trees, and shrubs* Very often the house is almost en- tirely surrounded with wood, and where you may hear through the gloom of night the iox^ the owl, and the whipperwill. Towns are extremely dispersed, and in some parts en- tirely unknown.... those which you may now and then meet with, are small, remote from commerce, and built in the coarsest stile. — 'Ihis want of navigation and commerce is one great inconvenience of the exterior parts of the country, and one great obstacle to their settle- m.ent. In the present state of this country, the pursuits of agriculture and ecmme'ce are es- stntial-y cor.nected ; and neither can exist without the other. The richness and cheap-, ness of land in many of the exterior parts are, indeed, allurhig, but when those who would remove, take into consideration the want of commerce, there is scarcely sufficient induce- ment for them to change their situation. The ( 233 ) soil yields a rich crop ; but the difficulty of getting it to market is great, and the price scant) and precarious. The people are, ne- vertheless, independent, arid dity are less lia- ble to be affected by national vicissitudes than the people of the cast. They raise abundance of the necessaries of life, and having litde knowledge of its luxuiies, they are content. Tiie waring apparel which the more commer- cial parts of the country receive from pAirope, those make for themselves.... thty are at once farmers and manufacturers, and equally mas- ters of the plough and the shutde. With respect to education, their mental powers lie dormant, and their curiosity has never been awakened to the cliarms of literature. Learn- ing, among the higher class, is held in little estimation ; and the information of the lower snd middle classes is extremely rude and scantv. I have heard, if I mistake not, of a member of a legislature of one of the states, who, while he was sent to represent the dis- trict of his constituents, took the opportunity to learn those common riidinients of ^ihich his father failed to instruct him when young ; and 2 IT ( 234 ) instead of making laws, turned his attention t(^ leaijilng to lead and write. This individual instance, however, is not to be taken as a ge- neral reflection. ( 235 > LETTER XXL My friend Appolonius lately came to my lodgings ; when I observed in his features an unusual expression of melancholy and discon- tent. I was surprised at this change, for he had always saluted me with a smiling counte- nance, and cheerful disposition ; and imme- diately concluded that something had hap- pened to him, that his fortune had suffered a wreck, or that some disaster had befallen his family or connections. I had already drawn my chair towards him without perceiving it ,' and with my eyes fixed in his countenance began to inquire what w^as the matter. '* My concern** says he *' is not for any thing that has happened to myself, but I feel for my be- loved country. I have just come from the coffee house, and find, from the papers that all our friendly propositions to the belligerent powers of Europe have been rejected ; gladly :{ 236 ) would I hope for a favourabfe change, but alas ! what have we to expect from natloiio \ ho have long discar -ed all regard to justice, who actu- ated by an inextinguishable hatred of each other care not \\hat injury they inflict on neu- tral nations, even though they should them- selves suffer by it. Oh ! what an age is it in which we live ! The art c>f v»ar is all that en- gages the attention of infatuated Europe, and he who can destroy most of his fellow men is locked upon as their greatest benefactor. Xhe waters no longer unite nations in commerce, but are converted into a scene of mutual des- truction. Armed vessels are substituted for merchant vessels ; and cannon, powder, and bullets for those articles which Vvcrc formerly exchanged for the maitual support and comfort of mankind. The United States has been the only assylum of peace and justice, and it seems that we are now to be involved in the con- vulsions of the rest of the world." After hearing this oration I took the oppor- tunity of stating an opinion on which I had at other times had some conversation va i h my companion. If such be the state of the world, I observed, would it not be better for your ( 237 ) country to renounce external commerce and encourage: domestick manufactures: to depend on your own industry and resources, and not on that precarious intercourse with other na- tions which cannot be maintained without in- volving you in war or sacrificing important privi ledges. *' Everything" replied Appolonius ** that can promote the general interest of my coun- try is dear to my heart, but I confess I cannot agree with you in what you have stated. It may be specious in theory, but should it be put in execution it would occasion a stagna- tion of trade, and a distress of which we can, at this time, form but a faint conception. Agri- culture and commerce have t\er been the principal, and favourite pursuits of this coun- try, and ever since the revolution they have been coutinually increasing. Fvery other branch is connected wdth them, and every na- tional improvement has grown out of them. Our commercial towns have rapidly increased both in number and size, and our commer- cial shipping in an equal degree. Our farmers have CO- operated in the same scheme ; they have laid off their farms in such a manner as { 238 ) the established system required, and cultivated such produce as the markets called for. Com- merce is the main spring which has given motion to the machine. And should this spring be broken, v^hat will be the conse- quence ? There would be a stagnatio^i of trade and general distress among the people. Our towns if they did not fall into ruins, would rap- idly decline, and the value of the property be greatly reduced. Our merchants would sec their business expire, \a hile they had neither the skill nor the inclination to pursue another. Our farmers would be compelled to alter the plan of their inclosures, and at a loss what ar- ticles, or w^hat quantity x>f each to cultivate. Our sailors, our ship carpenters, and m»any other classes of men, whose business depend on commerce, must [)e throAvn out of employ- ment, and in want of bread.... As a friend to my country, I could never wish to see it re- duced to this wTCtched situation. I am inclined to believe, replied I, that thou hast greatly exaggerated those evils from attributing too many advantages to com- merce. Agriculture, and not commerce is the real source of the A'lealth of a nation ; and ( 259 ) the former can flourish without the latter, but the latter cannot flourish without the former. A nation possessed of an extensive and fertile country, may combine her other pursuits as circumstances may render necessar} , and still live independently and happily. Should this country submit to this happy revolution, the people would not be thrown out of employ, ment, but would only, in some respects, have to change their business. As one pursuit was abolished, another would take place ; and those who were thrown out of employment in the former, would find eipployment in the latter. Domestick manufactures would arise in place of those wljich supplied } ou from Europe ; and before the stock imj^orted from the latter was exhausted, you v\ould he abun- dantly suj)plied from the former. Your far- mers would cultivate the same ground with the same u ensils, but they would rear less of that produce whicii has hereto- fore been exported, and moie of those articles which would be waniuii^ for in- teiiial manufactures. Ywur mercimnts mi^ht be induced to renounce their farmer pursuits, but so far from being at a loss for objects to ( 240 ) employ their capites!, there would even be u field open for enterprize. 1 his class of the community, who formerly had their property plundered on the ocean by the enemies of ihcir country, would now see their canitat vested in ^ manufactories, under then .riiiiie..iaie inspec- tion, and equally advantageous to tlumseives and iheit" country. \v nh respect to persons who might want emploviiiwu I, i cannot but think that they might generally meet vuih it in some line or otner, and those who should not be qualified for one pursuit, mighi be qualified for another. Thus the revoiulion would be gradual and not violent, and though former pursuits woidd be abotisii%M dau new. ones introcluced, it would be ^difiiGult to teil wiiere the one ended or the other begun. The machine of }our nati(>nal ali<)i?s mrght suffer a temporary derangement, but Ji *; ouid ><;Oon rccoxer itb harn'.uny and regularity of motion. ** To view an undertakinp- iv ^heorv '' re- plied my companion, ** and u joui^cer it in praciice, oiitn prove to be extremely dif^ ferent ; and vvhile die ir.ventiv Ladily supplies every dtfcct in die L-)^L cai»r, ;e overwhelmed in difiicuity an . f. ii ( 241 ) in the other. The most ingenious are often in this respect like the fabulous account of the person who imagined he could make wings by which he could soar above the earth ; and when he had finished his task, he ascended to a height where he took his leap, but instead of his imaginary flight, soon found himself overwhelmed in the waters of a lake that lay beneath him. Our country has heretofore been engaged in certain pursuits on an exten. sive plan. The majority of those engaged in them, have in the early part of their lives served a regular apprenticeship to their respec- tive callings, to gain a competent knowledge of them, and all have been compelled to de- vote to them a certain desrree of time and atten- tion. Wnat is to become of these numerous citizens, the benefit of whose labour the coun- try once enjoyed, but who are now to be tlirown out of employment, to pine in want and distress ? Are ihose diflfeiear species of manufictures which must be introduced, bran, ches v\ liich eveiy one can pursue, or which are to b^^ iear.ie'i in an jnst: nt ? F^r from it. They are equally slaviiah and difficult ; a d for persons euiici lo tMclure them or pursue ( 242 ) ^ them with success, it is necessary (o have been bread to them almost from their infiancy* Thus a considerable portion of the union must want employment ; while the country generally would be in want of those necessary, articles with which commerce has su[ plied us. The rearing of manufactories has in^ every country been the progressive work of »c ages ; and it is impossible they can be estub- ,. lished in sufficient number and perlection to ; suppl) the immense wants of a country vihere: they were previously unknown, and foreign to 3, its leading pursuits." , " You would not," replied I, ** have to pass through the tedious progressive improve- ments of Europe in these arts ; but they would in their present state of perfection, be at once transplanted to this country. ]Viai»y ; of your ingenious countrymen, who have been ' in Europe, would take n.odels of what thty had seen, and when they returi ed home \^ ouid put them in execution. English books on tliese subjects would be published, and receive the attention of the community. Many of the - p" ' .^.^:. .^ bred to these arts in Eurc)pe, would be induced to come to this country. VV h-^*^ 'hr ( 243 ) ustom of the United States was withdrawn 'om P'.uropean manufactories, they would in a onsiderable decree languish. Many persons k'ould be thrown out of employment.. ..and v^hile they v\ oukl be compelled from neces- iiy to look out for s(.mie other, common sense vould dictate their removal to the United itates. But exclusive of any f )reign aid, hv countrv has already considerable know- edo:e of those arts. Since the obsiruc- ions to her commerce ':ave taken place, several manufactures have been estabrished, md in operation ; and they are increasing m ;very part of the union. I have myself seea ♦ome of the cloth wrought in them, and .vhile it is just as good as those of Europe is, I arn told, sold cheaper with a better profit. With respect to that distress which thou say- ?st will take place among certain classes for ivant of employment, I can only observe that for the reasons before stated, I am inclined to believe that it will be less, and continue a shorter time than supposed, and these reasons It is unnecessary to repeat. But admitting these difficulties should take place, are not the difficulties to your commerce equally great. ( 244 ) Is r,ot your property piunck red ? Are not your seamen inipressed P In short is not your ex- ternal trade either er.tirelv cut oft or reduced to a seamy rcnmaiit ? Have not these things Jong Ixen severeiy feh ? And w hy did not th€ peGj)Ie at once tnin their aitenticn to domes- tick niamilactures ?" '' But would there not,'' replied Appoloni- us, "• be moie national honour in defending that cc-mmcrce to which we have a right, and ^^h■ch cannot he relinquishe(] wihout produ- cm^' t] 'i trfca'est distress and inconvenience; than thus ignobl) to f/ive it up because a foreign nation Ji*o\vns (^n us ? Should our external trac'e be anhihilatecb it is not only cotton and \vooikn majujf'acturt'S which we should have to establish, and v.hich atthis tim.e seem alone to occupy ihe consideratioji of the nublick ; but a thiousand othf;rs of v\liich we have form- i ed no coi^eeption. Can those various » roduc- tions brought f om so n^anv diiierent climes, be reared in the soil and climate of the United States ? Can th.ose numerous manufactured articles, collected from the ingenuity of every n.ation, be wroup^ht in the United States ? is our country at this time prepared to engage in ( 245 ) hese numerous pursuits; and does not the very idea of their magnitude and difficulty over- whelm us in dispair ? For the production of some of tliese articles we have not the materials; for others we have not the workm.en; and for some we have neither materials nor work- men.'* Many of those articles replied I, are mere luxuries; the importation of which has only served to exhaust the substantial wealth of thy country ; and their exclusion so far from being an injury, would be a real blessing. Your country could do without them ; the greater portion of it already does without them, and thoueh their exclusion mlp:ht extort somethine from the pride of the rich, it would extort lit- tle from their real warits. But with respect to the real necessaries of life, your country can and does manufiictuie the principal of them. Some of these pursuits would be im- proved, others would be conducted on a larrer scale, and new ones would be invented and encouraged; but the enterprising spirit and diversified skill of thy country would be competent to the whole. With respect to ail necessar}^ Diateriah, 1 am persuaded diat- a X 2 ( 246 ) country so extensive, and embracing such a variety of soil and climate, must be adapted to the most of them, and if they are not already produced, they certainly would when the en- terprize of the people was awakened, and these articles in demand. There is certainly trea- sures of discovery and improvement reserved for thy country, of which it has at this time no conception, and many of which has only escaped its attention, because it has been whol- ly engrossed by other objects. The burthen of this important revolution would be greatly diminislied by the exclusion of useless luxuries. Articles of general and necessary uisC, would first engross the atten- tion of the publick ; luxuries, if they were introduced, would be the result of progressive improvement, but it would be far better for thy country could they be forever excluded, ji ** These are sentiments" replied my com- II panion ** which may do honour to a philoso- pher, but it is extremely difficult, perhaps impossible, to induce a whole nation to sul^mit to the dictates of philosophy, and rencuiice their nld habits. This is an efiect which can S^om be produced on an individual, and fi ( 247 ) though he may receive a transitory impres- sion, he soon returns to his former customs ; but when we would expect it from a nation, the difficulties are equally numerous and insurmountable. In a state of civilized so- ciety, it is in fact extremely difficult to separate necessaries from luxuries, and men do not judge from the value of the articles them- selves, but from being more or less accustomed to them. The artificial wants of man, are as strong as his real ones ; and his pride is always stronger than his philosophy." These objections, replied I, would have their due weight if your commerce had no interruption, but when we consider the nu- merous obstructif ns to it, may not your country be induced to do from necessity; what they would not from choice ? But throwing aside necessity, is thy country wholly destitute of patriotism ? Her history forbids me to entertain this opinion. Consider how manv difficulties, and hardships she endured through a tedious, and doubtful war, to gain her in- dependence ; and will she not now endure the s.^me to preserve it, and to establish her interest on a solid and lasting foundation, ( 248 ) beyond the power of foreign nations • to ef- fect. '* It is often less difficult" replies my com- panion, " to encounter an enemy, than to conquer our own passions and habits. In the one case our energies are roused by the hos- tile attitude of t ur enemy ; in the other they in a great measure lie dormant, or there is a conflict between our good and bad propensi- ties, while the former too often yield to the latter. In the oiie case we are often moie resolute in a bad cause than in the other we aie in a good one. There are many who would face the mouth of a cinnon, who cannot resist their own weakness, and Alexander Avho conquered the world, was himself con- quere(' by the love and wine But there is one consideration which seems to liave escaped our notice, and which may serve to illustrate what 1 have advanced. Should this projected revolution take place, by what agency, or what means, is it to be effected ? It must either be produced by a law of congress, or the voluntary consent of the people ; and in neither way can it be ef- fected. Congress has the pov. er ta regulate, ( 249 ) but not to annihilate commerce ; and if it had the power, the people would never submit to the exercise of it. Tne enii^argo (though Un act essentially difterent from an annihilaiion of commercej Uas fully exemplified this fact. Though it was a measure which the difficulty of tht crisis required ; though it was less a measure of retaliation upon our enemies, than one for preserving the property of citizens; yet it in no long time raised an alarming discontent. It was even affirmed, though erroneously, that if it was not repealed, it would occasion a re- Volt of the eastern from the v\ ester n states ; and notwithstanding its many provisions, and se- vere penalties, it was frequently violated while it continued. All these circumstances at length compelled congress to repeal it.'* I have only to make one remark, replied I, in answer to your observations. I believe we have all along differed more respecnng the manner in which the projected revolution is to be affected, than respecting the benefits which inust i levitably result from it. It is true it may not be produced either by a law of con- gress, or by the vohmtary consent of the peo- ple ; but then it may be produced by the ( 250 ) clifficulties of the crihis. It is this which has already turned the attention of thy country to domestick manufactures ; and there is reason to believe they \\ ill still continue in progressive improvement. On the subject of commerce I will make but one remark. Whatever doubts may exist as to the wisdom of its total an- nihilation, I am decidedly of opinion that it would be much better for thv countrv to conduct it on a much smaller scale, to exclude useless luxuries and import only such articles as are necessary, or which she cannot produce herself; to cut off those unv/ieldy branches which only exhaust the sap of the tree, and retain those only which bear fruit. A coiunry whose commerce, like that of the United States, is so immense, and branched out in so many different directions, without a navy to protect it, is at the mercy of every country, and whatever may be her national justice, she is iicjbie to be involved in wars and plundered by every piratical power Should the ccnnrerce of such a country be entirely cut off, her situ- ation is truly wretched, and she s left with a thousand ariificiai wants without the means of supplying even such as are real. When wc i 251 ) GonsicJer the rapacity and injustice which has always prevailed in the political world, we may take it for an indubitable maxim, that the more a nation can live by her own economy and industry, the more she has her resources within her own controul, the better. Here our conversation ended, and my friend declared, that in these maxims he entirely concurred. Adieu. ( 252 ) LETTER XXII. I SOMETIMES take a ramble by myself, stop successiveiy at different publick places, and find srme degree of pleasure in noting the various characters that resort to them, and listening to their motly conversation, without being known. Sometimes I sit in a solitary corner trapped in my cloak, and have nothing to amuse me but ihe passing scenes ; and someiimcs 1 cf>me in contact uith a social fellow \\hom 1 am compelled to join in puffirig a segar or drii kjng a mug of ale. Sometimes I am taken for a foreigner, and sometime s for a" citizen, sometimes for a democ; at and some- times for a federalist, I never drop any hint oi my real character further than \\ hat mny be discovered from n^y physiognomy, or the peculiarity of my pronunciatlofu 1 hei^e ex- curbi(.nb afibrd liuie iimusemert to a ciTizcn, but to a traveller like ujvbeif, whose cuiioi^irv ( 253 ) is awakened by every thing he sees, they are highly gratifying, and furnish many hints of speculation. The companies in which I find myself, are sometimes grave, sometimes se- rious, and sometimes a mixture of all de- scriptions. In the first house at which I stopt was a crouded company, who were eagerly dispu- ting on politicks. They were divided into several parties, and the fumes of tobacco, the stimulous of wine, and the warmth of the fire had raised the spirit of their conversation to the highest tone. Each, I observed, was restless while the other was speaking, one half of whose remarks he did not listen to, while the other half appeared in a light wholly distorted. Frequently one would interrupt the other in the midst of his observations, and if the latter still persisted, the other would involuntarily address his spontaneous effusions to the rest of the company, or woula cast around him a look of contemptuous astonish- ment, at what he was compelled to listen to.-^ Frequently the argument turned upon the' point who had a right to speak, and when one hiad fully proved his claim as he imagined, and { 254 ) just entered on his explanation, the othe^ would cut him short, with *' that 1 have al- ready answered," or *' that is incorrect," or *' you are wandering from the point." A little sturdy fellow being seized with the pre- vailing fit, and desirous of expressing some new idea which I suppose had occurred to him, left his glass, rose from his seat, and threw down his segar, but after a thousand stutter- ing efforts to obtain a hearing, first jogging the shoulder of one, and then another, was at last compelled to renounce the attempt, and re- sume his seat in all the irritation of oisap^voint- ment. Another with a glass of grog in his hand, was equally impatierit, but unfortunately having applied it tu his lips, when his oppor- tunity was at hand, it was to his great mortifi- cation seized from him by another before he could recover the use of his lungs. Frequently the whole company united in one ciamoqr, and while each was striving to attract the attention of the rest, there was not a solitary lisiner in the room. Some laboured unoer a confusion of ideas ; others under impediments of expression ; some burst out in a horse laugh, and others exhibited every mark of ( 255 3 I irritation. But the most amusing circum- stance was the facihtv with which thev wan- derecl from the point. There was a hundred \ topicks disputed, and not one discussed. It \^'as a contest of passion in which reason had no share, and thev^ endured all the thorns of \ controversy without any of the fruits. The scene miarht be com oared to a fire which suf- focates the company with smoke without im- j parting one ray of heat. My curiosity being gratified here, I pra- [ ceeded to another place of the same descrip- tion. Here I observed in one room a number i seated around a card table, on which v.erc staked several parcels of money, for which their avarice was excited. A number of idle fellows were crouded around the gamblers, and eagerly looking over to see the result. There were several much intoxicated, who seemed to be most implicated in betting, and throwing dow^n their money with a brutal curse, were perfecdy indifferent about the fate of it. The minds of the company generally seemed to be wholly fixed on the game, and nothing was to be heard, except at intervals an oath or excla- mation of regret for a loss sustained, or the < 256 ; blustering jargon of the drunkards... .At last a dispute arose between t\\ o of die gamblers on SQir,t incident of the game. They appealed to the bye standers, but some had not observed, and some gave their opinion in favour of one ■party and some in favour of the oiher. From argument they proceeded to dc;gniatick asser- lionb, from thence to harsh insinuations, and from thence to blows. In the turbulence of the «ngageriient they upset the sramblins; table, scattered the cards, and mixed together the money \\ hich lay on it. This occasioned a most dreadful confusion, for each party striv- ing to obtain what he imagined his own, and some Mishing to profit from the coni'usion, they began to wiangle and fight in every di- rection about the division. ...some came off with bloody noses, others with bloodshot eyes, some were wooUed by the hair, and others stamped uiKler foot, and several Vvcre glad to make their escape. In another room was a set of a different de- scription, who, though iiiduloino: in ail the excess of dissipation, still preserved the hila. rity of I'^riendship and good nature. They had met together with the determination of having ( 257 ) a frolick. The glass circulated freely, jokes were cracked, and bursts of laughter followed. Songs passed round, and v/ere roared in an unmerciful strain. When at a late hour they attempted to rise from the table, few had the use of their limbs. Some staggered against the wall, others fell against the table, and others got entangled in their chair, and fell prostrate on the floor. The wine was spilt on the table, the glasses were scattered about, several crushed to pieces on the floor, and the chairs upset. Having now replenished their glasses, which they drank standing up, they began to break them to pieces one against the other. Several being seized with the conta- gion, and desirous to keep up the fun, took up the bottles lying on the table and threw them against the wall, and all \vere highly delighted with the flying pieces of glass and the wine flowing down the floor. They now with, one impulse, seized the table which obstructed their movements, and having thrown it on one side, they formed themselves in a ring, and began to roar out a song in which all united, accompanied with stamping, huzzaing, and bursts of laughter. The landlord wishing Y 2 ( 258 ) to preserve some decorum in his house, came in to expostulate, but they swore they would pay for all damages and wanted no advisers. The servant came in to endeavour to set the furniture in some order, but he only afFoided a new object of fun for die turbulent Baccha- nalians, and seizing him, some by one limb and some by another, and others setting fire to his hair, he was glad to make his escape, while the fiame issued from his head. Wish- ing now to take a farewell drink, they loucily demanded a fresh botde, but it was with great difficulty thnt the affrighted servants couk! be mustered, and not until long and impatient clamour that they obtained it. Having filled their glasses, and mingling with the draught the sentiment that they might never all meet together again, they swallowed it with all ima- ginable relibh. They now broke up iheir meeting and dispersed. I observed that stu- pefaction soon took place of hilarity ; some fell asleep in their chairs, others began to vomit, and others were carried to bed by the servants. Such as had homes endeavoured to seek them, and those who were less intoxicated undertook [[ to assist the others^ I attended them to tb^ i ( 259 ) door. Some, ii; trying to sound the steps, 'missed their footinj^ and fell on the pavement: others got entangled in die streets and fell in the mire, and all moved along with tottering steps, and in a circuitous direction. Returning to vny lodgings, 1 began to reflect on \ihat I had seen. It is at such places, said I, that human nature is seen in its most de- gr tied light ; it is there that habits are con- tracted, which lead to immedi..te ruin and disgrace. How many fortunes, at such places are, in a few months, nay a few nights, dissi- p^ited ! How many healthy constitutions are reduc<:rd to a wreck ? Unfortunate is the poor woman who has a husband of such a charac- ter ! How often, through him, is she reduced to the extreme of v^retchedness? Her children, instead of being supported by the industry of the father are, by his prodigality, reduced to poverty and w^ant ; instead of being instructed by the example of his virtues, are contanana- ted by the example of his vices. While he is squandering his money at taverns, it is per- haps through the exertions of the moiher that her children are maintained, |)erhaps after all her efforts she sees them looking up to her in ^ ( 260 ) vain for bread. But the most affecting circum- stance is, that to her other miseries are verj^ often added the tyranny of an intoxicated hus- band. How many a poor woman is thus brought to an untimely grave^ and dies of a broken heart ? In the midst of these melancholy reflec- tions, I cast my eyes up and found myself near an inn of a more genteel description than those I had visited* I entered it. In a room at some distance from transient custom- ers, I observed several persons of a serious aspect, who were engaged in conversation. I approached them, and found that the subject w^as religion. One of the companj^ addressed himself somewhat in the follou ins: strain. ** I do not believe there is any religion in the world that had its orii>:in from God. Thev all attribute to him human passions, and even human weakness, and sometimes represent him in a detestable, and sometimes a ridicu- lous pointof view; nor does the christian religi- on afford any exception. The universe is the best evidence of the u isdom of God, and our own reason and conscience, the best rule of Our moral conduct. There are many parts of I I (■ 261 ) the scripture which prove that the authors of it were not only men, but that the) had very coniracted ideas of the p^randeur of the crea- tion ; and there are many parts of it wliich contradict the first ayi'>ms of the human un- derstand ng. Absurdiiits, which have been shielded under the name of mysteries, abound through the whole, and there are many parts which contradict each other. It is irom this obscurity and contradiction of the bibie, that there ha^e arisen so many difft rent sects, each I drawing their creed from difFerent texts, and " while they have preached humanity to the rest i of the world, have set the example of intoler- ance, and persecution among each other." This severe invective highly incensed the christians, who had alwa} s been accustomed to look upon their religion as sacred, yet such was their embarrassment, that thev could make no reply. An old man, however, apparently far advanced in years, made the following an- swer. " The manner in which vou have spoken of Christianity, is only a proof theit you have never experienced that divine consolation and support which it is calfulated to afford, and does afford to every person who reads k ( 262 ) with a pious mind, and your situation is ra- ther worthy of pity than of envy. The uni- verse may indeed display the wisdom, and power of God, but it leaves us in darkness, and doubt, on many other important poiins, of which the heart of m.an isaturaliy sighs to be informed. As beings, feeling our depend- ence on an overruling creator, endowed wiih the principles of action, susceptible of joy and hope, and capable of looking forv^-ard to the next world, as well as the present; we anxi- ously desire a more intimate acquaintance with our creator, and embrace ^^ ith joy aitd gratituc'e, the system in which those treasure? are revealed. And why should not the AU mighty have condescended to gratify this, desire of his creatures? Or what system bears more striking proofs of divine origin tljaa christi:^.nity, a system w hich breathes the most divine benevolence, and some of whose max- ims are almost too celestial for man in his i»a- tuial, and corrupt state to admit ? It is this which imparts a satisfaction to the pious, which hey w ould not give up for all the wealth and power of the world, and which gloomy acepticks would themselves envy, were they ( 263 ) "capable of feeling it. It is this which in softw inbiances has changed even the very nature of man, which always engages the affection, and strengthens the viriuous exertions, which unoer every misfortune cherishes the consoling belief that we are in the hands of an all- wise creator, and amidsi all the emptiness of this toansient life, reminds us of that whose duration is eternal, and w hose happiness is without a\* loy. If deists are incapable of feeling this divine satisfaction, why do they endeavour to take it from others, and diffuse in place of it their gloomy doubts ? Why spread the contagion among those who have not the disease.*'— These remarks which the pious old man de- livered in a feeling and artless manner had a very visible effect on the young Deists. He sighed, cast a look to the earth, and me thought his countenance seemecfto say, '* I may have truth on my side, but the Christian surely has happiness on his. ' Indeed my friend this is not the only proof which I have w^itnessed of the consolation which Christians both in this country and others derive from their religion. It has been the opinion of some philosophers, that every religion which ( 264 ) is founded on morality, and points to a future and more happy state is a blessing to society. Those on the contrary who have discarded all systems of religion, have exhibited sufficient proofs of the weakness of that philosophy which they would substitute, and passing from one gloomy chimera to another, have at last ended with denying the existence of a universe, the existence of a God, and the cs- nstence of themselves. ( 265 ) LETTER XXIIL A quESTioN which has here given rise to much discussion is, whether it is expedient to appropriate a sum for building a navy, and whether it would afford a better defence than fortifications and gun boats. My companion, Appolonius, though he is an advocate for com- merce, does not seem to approve of this mea- sure, we have just had a conversation on this subject, and I have only taken up my pen to relate the substance of it. Why said I, address- mg him, has thy country declined the ho- nour of building and supporting a navy vv hich would afford protection to your commerce and command the respect of other countries. Your policy is in this respect, it seem>, diile- rent from that of the nations of Europe vrho think it as necessary to be powerful at sea as to be powerful on land. Ncverthoiess you have in your possession every means ( 266 ) of becoming their rival in this branch of national strength. The immense forests of thy country afford abundance of materials for building a navy and her commierce carried on with every part of the world yield plenty of sailors to man it. ** *Tis true'' answered Appolonius ** that we have all the means of raising a navy but we do not hi this respect chuse to enter the list of am- bition widi Europe. The gigantic navy of | Britain is no better than a necessary evil and ; like those painful operations which the human j body is sometimes compelled to endure in order to preserve a remriant of existence. Se- parated as we are from the commotion of Eu- rope and living under a government whose ob- ject is the happiness of the people our manner of thinking is, in mxany respects different In m that of Europe: we turn with abhonence from war and arubiiion and tmbri^ce the l;li ss- ings of i eace and justice. Kad v e a ni.v) it might only inspire us with an i'aung in the air. The commanders on hoi beback assume great pomp and importance, sometimes spurririg their horses forv. ard, sometimes st- pping short and retreating back, now pointing their swords, and now giving orders. Every heart is elated with jcy, and every eye attracted by the sieht. Tlie women crowd to tlie window^ ; the boys collect in groups; the servants let go their wlieehbairows, or kiy down their burdens, and lock on vnth gaping curiosity. The foot passap;cs next to the houses are crowded w ilh spectators who advance u ith the march of the soldiers, and transient passen- gers find it impossible to get through hem. The street is so ccm.pletely stopped up tliat no other engine can pass. Here a carriage is compelled to si op to give room for the passage of the soldiery, there ahorse breaks fiom his bridle and escapes tl iron gh the crowd, and ano- ther too ungovernabiC for his rider, ruiiS i 273 ) against the side of a house or tree and tlie horseman narrowly escapes being thrown. The band of nnusick and the solemnity of the procession attract every eye until the last com* pany cf soldiers disappear and the scene to those who remain in town is closed. The wo- men nnwiliineiv let down their windows, la- bourers with reluctance return to tneir work, *and the valetudinarian with a sigh returns to *'his sick room. The soldiers are now on their march to the place of parade, accompanied by a riumber of spectators on horseback. Having arrived, ahey undergo the various evolutions of military discipline. When service is over, the com- mander sometimes makes a speech to his men, always replete v.ith national egotism. He tells them that this is the glorious day on wliich their heroick farhers resolved to be free and sealed the resolution ^^ ith their blood, that it is worthy the descendents of such heroes, not only to haii its return ^^ ith e\ery demonstration of joy to the end of time, t;ut to shew in every trait of their national conduct that tiiCv w ill ever defend their liberty with the same valour by which their fathers gained it> ( 274 ) JInd that clinging to it as a blessing insepara- ble from their existence, both ir.ust be crushed under the same blow. He reminds them that the difficulties of the crisis require the exertion of all their patriotism ; that they know not how soon the unprincipled aggressions, or hostile invasions, of their enemy may call them to the field, when hearkening to the voice of the guardian angel of their country, they Mill cheerfully leave their fire- sides and the happiness of domestick scenes^ to enccunter the. inclemencies of \^ eather, the toil of marches, and the danger of battle. He concludes with observing, it is a gratifying consideration that the dem.onstraiion of tlie patriotism and xuMy cf their cor.ntry is calculated to inspire their CJiemies v.ith respect, if not v»ith dread, and to convince them that a body of enlightened freemen are not to be resisted by the hai rass- ed slaves of a tyrant. Such, on this and other occasions is the common strain of their na- tional vanity. On this anni\ersar)% they have sometimes adopted a manoeuvre which is perfectly con- sistent with their national pomp, and this is a sham battle. The companies aie divided int© ( 275 ) t\vo parties, and pass through all the forms of battle, but none of the danger, make use of powder but not lead, and gratify their vanity without bringing their courage to the test* They load and fire, advance and retreat, and after desperate exertions on both sides one party is at last compelled to surrender. Leaving the field of muster, they repair to the different places where dinner is prepared for them.... some to inns in the city, some to gardens in the suburbs, and some to a spring overshaded with trees. In these places are made temporary arrangements of planks, an- swering the purpobC of a table, and extended far enough to admit of seats for a number of persons. Here the sons of fieedom think they display their patriotism by indulging ij^ every excess of natural an 1 artificial appetite, and that they render a tribute to their political constitution by infusing poison into their na- tural ones. To view their intemperate indul- gencies, you would hardiy suppose that they were the descendants of that hardv band who endured so many difficulties and pri vatic ns during the revolution. It is cu:itomary for every one before he swaliows his diaught to ( 276 ) give a toast, full of the pomp of words, but destitute of truth, and by which the powef and virtue of his own country is exaggerated and that of every other depreciated. This is followed by several ioud and stupid shouts. When the festival is broke up few are able to walk without staggering, cr to taik Vvithout mumbling their words. The more temperate part endeavour to find their way home ; and of the rest some get among driiikiiig clubs, others among gambiing parties ; some go to sera- glios, and some patrole the streets, w ith their bottle in their hand, making every spe- cies of noise, and sometimes pulling down signs, making traps at doors, or upsetting steps. ( 277 :) LETTER XXV. Thou wilt discover, from several of my letters, the unbounded civil freedom which is enjoyed in this country, and that the highest officers of government are subject, not only to the investigation, but to the abuse of the low- est order of citizens. This priviledge of the people is particularly exercised at every period of national difficuitv, and besides the usual newspaper eiFusions, there are abundance of pamphlets, each prufessing to hold out a sove- leign remcfjy for the evil, and only requiring a fair examination to convince every one of the same. ' There are manv characters who derive all their importance from some weakncbs ofthtir spe- cies. The kiiig (ieiivts his from thtir reverence of empty rank and tide. The shew-man or fortune teller d^ri es his from their credulity. The poliucal dcmJgfiLni': derives his from the A a C 278 ) frenzy of their party feelings ; and the political scribbler derives his from the avidity with which men read evtl-j ephemerical publication on subjects which agitate their leelings, while the finest productions on other topicks are read with indifference, or passed over wiih neglect. Eclitus has all the vanity of an author, \^ ilh hardly the information of a school boy. He has, nevertheless, had the gratification to see a few of his pieces inserted, with some gram- matical coriections, in several periodical pro- ductions. This excited his vanity to such a degree, that he resolved to \\rite a book which would not only display his powers to the pre- sent generation, but extend his fame to the latest posterity. He accordingly made several exertions, but in each miscarried. Some of his productions he could not prevail u| on any bookseller to publish, others were pt inted hut were neglected by the pi bllck. His fiiuK'S censured his vainly, and il;ose lew of tl.e people vho rend h'^s bo(.k renc;ertd it more ridiculous by their ci i^iri^-m than it really v. as. Eclitus could not, however, be pcrsuaf ed to renounce Iiis pui*siiit, arid upon rcfiection is ( 279 ) resolved to chuse a political subject for hi^ next performance. Viewing the interest which his country felt on this subject, in all its bran- ches, to the total exclusion of almost every oilier, he was convisiced that a political produc- tion could not laii to attract their attention. He accordingly resolved to write a pamphlet on the crisis. ...he be^>ins it with enumerating' the difficulties in which the nation is placed, not only to shew the necessity of aM investigation on the subject, but to convince you of his superior powers, in being able to overcome them all, and to point out that sovereigii re- medy which had escaped tiie sagacit}' of the national cabinet. In his progress he examines successively every opinion in opposition to the po-.ition he means to lay down, and of course ' rehires them. He now comes to his grand poiiiical panaeea, the expectation of his readers are raised to the utmost ; but, alas, it I is found to be no more than some stale idea which has been reiterated a thousand times } both in publick prints and private conversa- tion ; or some political opinion into which his party creed has led him. After proving, in- contestably, the utility of his position, and ( 280 ) deienciing it cngainst all cavil, he ends with re- marking, that he has gone through his inves. tigation solely from the motive to discharge his duty to the publick, that though it may have cost him some hours study over the midnight oil, he ^vill be sufficiently com|.en. sated should the pubiick have the prudence to fellow his advice, but that should w hat he has written be neglected at the preseiU day, pos- tcr>tv at leist will do it justice. CuTstock has always been a noisy politician, and a violent cnemv of the administration. He is t!:e author of many sciUTilous piece/3, Vvhich has appeared in the newspapers. At publick elections his haughty carriage, and dogmatick assertions are very apt to involve him in nuarrels, with tlioae who do not think :;s he (Iocs. Ke e^'C^ to colTee houses on purpose to incUi'ge his ungovernable propen- sity for abu'.ing all ] ubiick officers. On pii'olick ft.*stivals the toasts he gives alwa\s pouit to the weakness r. ho'ly perverted by illiberal prejuciices. On the ( 281 ) subject of politicks, you can neither derive infonn:ition froin him, nor will he receive it from you. When you speak, he is impatient until you are done, and hears not a word you uttered, but when he addresses you, though in a dogmatick aiid blustering stile, he expects vou will look up to him with as much rever- ence as if a pure intelligence were addressing you. His behaviour often offends strangers, and is disgusting to his most intimate ac- quaintances. After long indulging his invectives against publick characters in every company, and Conversation, he resolves to commit his ideas fully to paper, and publish them in a pamph- let. He thinks it impossible, but such IIP investigation must convince every candid mind of tlie truth of his opinions. He begins 1^ with observing that the dema2:oguc rulers [ have long imposed on the crtduiity of the nation, but he is determined to strip them of, the musk, to expose tlieir weak and wicked policy, and aro se the people from Uicir dream. He observes that the consequences, of the election of the preserit mcnibtrs of the cabinet, were long ago foicLoId by his own A a 2 ( 282 ) party, and are now realized. Wholly gov- erned by party passions, he goes on to view only one side of the question, and to exhibit every thing in a distorted shape. The diffi- culties of the crisis he confounds with defects of national policy. Where rulers have made exertions to obtain peace, he construes it in- to a pusillanimous submission to insults, and where they have made preparations for defence, he constnies it into a wish to involve the country in a war. His blunders hf mistakes for his discoveries ; his own prejudices for that of the adverse party, and his total igno. ranee of his own frailties, for a full demonstra- tion of the ignorance, the folly, and stupidity of the national cabinet. His intemperance carries him still farther, and he relates every pitiful story, whether true or false, uhether i from good or bad authority, that can irjure the moral character of publick men, or giTC a plausible colour to his invectives. He con- cludes with a solemn appeal to the nation, intreats them to reflet fairly and impartially, on the contents of his pamphlet, to exercise the priviledges of freemen, and no longer submit to the delusions of prejudice j to cast i ( 283 ) out from OiRce men who have thrown a dis- grace on their i.ational character, and to avert the dangers that threaten the country. Prickear is a politician of some talents, but greater credulity, and as his thirst for news is great, so he believes without discrimina- tion every story, whether true or false, probable or miraculous. He is acquainted with alm.ost €very sea captain, that sails from the port of his native city, and is the first who can detail the news of everv late arrival. He had rather go without his dinner than his paper, and the loss of the latter takes away his appetite for the former. He has a correspondence with some person of almost every town in the Union, and is always acquainted with some members of congress, who give him a detail of their pro- ceedings. He is a constant visitor of coffee houses, elections and town meetings. If he sefs a collection of persons taklinj^in the street, he cannot pass without mixing am(.ng them, and enquiring what is the subject. Accost him with t le qnestion, whether he has heard the news, and he immediately casts up a wild en^ quiring look. Tell him that war is declared, and be thinks he sees the enemy advancing in { 284 ) hostile array. By means of his active but credulous curiosity he hds acquired a great deal of hetorogcnious knowledge and is find of displaying it both in conversation and writing, and the subject of both is generally politicks. When his country is involved in difficulties witha foreign nation, he expects every day that it will be attacked and loudly recommends pre- paration for war. He solemnly assures his coun- try , that the threatening aspect of affairs ren-* der it highly, necessary to pre pare for the worst and that statements of the hostile designs of their enemy are no longer to be doubted. He o'oes on to expatiate on tlie various resources of theirnational strength, and c!eclares that if they will only with united exertion make use of themeans which providence has placed in their hands, they are fully able to meet the difficuL ties of the crisis. His own chimeras he mis- takes for the real dangers of the nation, and the solicitude which anotlier i ation may feel for her own rights, he construes into a hostile de- sign, towards those of his own country. { 285 ), LETTER XXVI. » i iiii I HAVE in none of my former letters, f oelieve, given thee any accownt of the slaves in this country. They have been purchased on the coast of Africa, brought here in large quantities and sold among the people. This traffick has lately been prohibited by a law of congress. The original features of this race are black colour, tiat noses^ thick lips, and nottecl hair ; but in this country they are a mongrel breed, and exhibit almost every shcide of feature from the Afiican to the European. This, of course, has arisen from their venerial intercourse vviih die louer orders or debauch- ed characters of the whites. The colour of some is hardly altctcd from the original Afri- can black, tiiat of l; great number is mulatto, and that of a k\\ ;'.])pioach so ne.ir to the whiles as hardly to admit of dibtinGtion, ( 286 ) These men are far more numerous in the southern, and western states, than hi the northern and eastern, and their conditicn more wretched. In the former parts of the coun- tr} they are all slaves ; in the latter the great- er number are free, and all, after they arri\ e at a certain age ; In the former the laws in relation to the whites, and the blacks are founded en no lecijrccity of rights, and permit an unbounded exercise of tyranny by the ore over the other ; in the latter the blacks in many respects enjoy equal priviledges with the whites, and are treated accordinoU. When a Virginian goes into Pennsylviinia, he is astonished at the licentious priviledges, and impudent behaviour of the blacks ; when a Pennsylvanian goes into Virginia he is as- tonished at the debasing subjection, and tyran- nical treatment of the same order. The condition of the negroes in the western parts of the country is a melancholy scene. Sonieiimes thev are knocked down in a lit of ! m passion, and sometimes delii erateiy tied up i and cut until the back is bruised and raw, and j the blood trickles to d\e ground. Their f^ od i consists of but one article, an ailovvance of . 4 287 ) meal, not enough to support them under the kboiir they are compelled to endure, and some- times hardly enough to sustain life, TJieir cjoathing, is coarse and scanty and neither suf- ficient to protect them from the winters' blast i^or the summers' heat. They are called up l)y their overseer at the light of day.. ..a few rag- ged remnants of cloathing around them, and drawn up and shivering with cold, they totter over the frosty or frozen ground to the place of their daily labour, some bare- footed and others with old shoes tied around their feet. Their labour throughout the day is unremitting, threats and stripes is their only portion, and hardly is time allowed them to eat their scanty meal. Returning to their miserable huts, their only covering is an old ragged blanket, their bed the i;are earth. The insu|.portabie ty- ranny of the master, or overseer sometimes compels them to run away ; and their scanty allowance of food and cloathinia; sometimes induce them to steal, and in bodi cases they are su ipped, and beaten in the vilest manner. Tue cruelty of these punishments have some- times put a period to their miserable existence. Tiie ponioi* of tune which they have f)r rest ( 288 ) are Sundays and ni^^hts after the close of their days labour. This time they sometimes em- ploy in cultivating a small portion of ground in vegitables or procuring game by their traps or by hunting, and by this means they procure those scanty necessaries which their masters do not allow them. When they come in pre- sence of their master their hat is taken off, their body bent, and their words are uttered in a timid and humble tone. Ir has been said, that the holders of slaves are, in every country, the sanje, v\hich is no doubt true, but not to render the picture too melancho'V I must observe, that as the cha- racter> aX mea vary from each other, the con- duct of some towards their servants will be miikc-v wrh hciivianity rather than tyranny. In m:'.i } ')ar!.- ot the c«:,untry, indeed, tie number ol slaves owned by one master is often so j;^:reat, hii land so poor and his system of farmim*- ^v. !;a(!, that if he had the disposition he has nei tiie means to cloathe and feed them wei'. In '.his case tliey are besides left to the t}ranny of i.verseers ai.cl if the master even ■ possess a (kj^ree of hamantry they can ex] ect I no protection fioni him. Where the nuuiber ( 289 ) m owned bv one m ister, is small and he has the eare of them ihey are not generally treated cru- elly. In their mental faculties, I believe this this race are inferior to the whites. The na- tive African is also inferior to the mulatto. Wirh respect however to that degree of im* provement of which their genius may be sus- ceptible or their capacity for the higher branch- es of literature there is, perhaps, no cri»:ci ion upon which lo form a rational conjecture. Ttie number of those uin vig them who have receiv- ed an education is extremely icWy ana this very imi)crfect. in a whole nation where science to© is generally diffused, a great genius is not al- ways to be fo\ n I. That the blacks saouid not have exhil. ted any striking proofs of in- ji^lligcnce from the or^portuniiies tl^ey nave had is not surprising, but it would have been ytry surprising had die contrary t«ke i place. Who kiiows but did t;\ey possess the sarr.c civil !)i : iiedo-e^ and iiteraiAav.iva:'taaes vhat aic wnites dv. c'ces v' ur world!} ailairs seem to p!(>»>|)er.''' *' Oh luui't i Uiter a word cii that bubjeci sir, i asstue ^ 291 ) ,,^ vo!i the embamo has almost ruined me.'* '' Ps.hav\ ," t xclaimed ihe other ''where is \ our patriotihm ; vcu know, as citizens, we muot submit to the orders of government." '*True, very good reasoning, but my finances are dislocated, I begin to fear I shall have to stop pcivment." "Bear up philosf^^phy sir, [hiloso* phv is a grand thing.'* In this strain their con- versation proceeded, I despair of giviag you anv impression of the amusement it afibrded me. The num'.;erof new coined wordo dicy had, together with then' pompous and cere- monious manner, rendered it truly ludicrous, and diverting. • C 292 ) LETTER XXVII. J HAVE hcen so lon^ a wanderer on llie great gloLe; I have witnessec] human nature in such various points of view; I have seen such a variety of human institutions; and have been so long immersed in the reflections which such 0! ijects are calculated to awaken, that you will haidly be able to recognize in my letters any traits of the Chinese character. But this cir- cumstance will be easily accounted for, and to ih\ expi:nsive soul, above the shackles ofvul- gar and local prejudices, will be a suLject of delight. It Vvus from thy luminous iristruc- tions that I first received the divine impuLse of a eirizen of the world, and it is this im- pulse which has lead rr.ethioudi tracts which ( 293 ) itiy memory is now scarcely competent ta trace. 1 feel like one who had been priviledg- ed to ^\'ander through the solar system and view, successively, the different bodies, which comose it, and when he looks down to his diminutive earth floating in the infinity of space, he can hardly believe that it ever did, bound the sphere ol his action. He only is worthy the name of man who can look through thevvorldand say, my attachment, my feelings, my if*cas are not connned to , this district of teniiory, or to that ; wlio can look through the human spcci s and feel the effusions of love for all and none in particula)'. Why should our solicitucc fur the ^velfare of man be con* fined by rivers, by wilderness, by imaginary lines, or by oceans ? Why should our feelings be shut up w iihiri imaginary districts when noiliinfr l:ut ii.fi:)itv can set bounds to the fii"ht of our ideas? The human mind has soar- ed through the solar system, Las dettrmined tlie bulk, the order, tiit relations, and flight of the planets; aiid why siiould our ft el ii it's, the noblest part of oiu' nature, be coiiliiicd to op.e diminutive hpot ? Oh, av/ake }e ions of the B b 2 ( 294 ) earth from your torpid and contracted ideas and become sensible of the dignity of your na- ture and your rank in the creation ! Throw aside your national pride and haughtiness, the destructive fire arms and murdering sword, and let nations embrace each other in friend- ship and love. Let the destroying implements of war be thrown togedier in one consuming blaze, and on their ruins, let the eternal temple ©f peace be erected. Successive generations shall fail prostrate before it and admire the sublime and glorious resolution. Men would then no longer meet to murder each other, but would be employed in the cultivation of the earth before continually dyed with liinr.an goiCi^ The poor would no longer be torn from their helpless, unprotected families to imbrue | their haridt) in innocent blood. Why ye callous sons of the earth, would you smile at the>-.e re- flections vvhich vou Vvoui^l call extrava2:ant be- c-ause you cannot feel them. Thiiik you thai those who are governed by the divine impulse of general pliilantl ropy would exchange it for the coutemptibie pleasure whiciiycm may Ge- rive from die sordid concerns in vvhich vou are ( 295 ) immersed... think you that they would for the mines of Peru ? Oh ! how much you under- vnlue the dignity of human nature if such be y?ur ideas. Whether, in our sympathy for th; joy or sorrow of our fellow men, nature has infused some sacred drops which tell us the divinity of virtue. If I can be supposed to feel an attachment for any particular country, it is certainly that in which I drew my first breathy and which is honoured by thy noble spirit ; but this at- tachment I believe to be uncontaminated bv any contracted prejudices of opinion. Of the countries throusrh which I travel, mv at- tachment is successively fixed on that in which 1 last take up my residence. While I 2m engaged in inspecting the manners of the people, and tracing the excellencies and de-_ fects of their instiuuions, it is impossible but that I should feel drawn tovrarcls them, and that my feelings as well as my ideas should be called into action. Never do I !eavt a country without sheckling a tear on i^s soil, ta- king of it a pathetick fareuell, and imploring for it the proteciioa of heaven. Aii! if my ( 296 ) wishes could make the wurkl happy, it should be a paradise. I confess however, that neitlier r.iy feelings nor ideas are ahvays bounded by the country in which I reside. Often does my imagination retrace the steps 1 have pa^t, and hove^ over countries f^irmeilv the ohitct '1 . "J of my solicitude. Oi\en would the strenpth of my feelif !gs persuade me that I see armies engaged, the ear'h dyed \vith fiouing blood, au'l fields groaning beneath the dying and the dead. I hear the cries of the wounded and the s:roans of the d\ ine:. I see thousands of mutilated i:jL'ings, (Upiived of ii:e use of their limbs, and destined to be the victims of pain and infi mitv, during the remnant of their lives. N.;r does this scene limit Iialf the evils of war. How many poor families are under the bur- then of tuxes, reduced to distress to support destructive wars! How pitiable to see the hei!)less widow deprive* 1 of the last, the coars- est i5ecessarics (>f Iife...of the on'y bed perliups on Vvhich she had been accuhtomeci to rest Ikt wearieci limbs. Bc^hfjld !ier chii ren clinp^- ing around her for bread, vvliiie all that slie ean i^-ivc is the tears v\ hicii fiovv^ copiouslv liom ( 297 ) her eyes. Behold the vacant stare which she fixes on her oiFspring, now casts a look to heaven, gives a deep sigh, and seems to say i' Oh kind providence take us from this mis- erable world." Ye rulers of nations, these, these are the t fleets of youi destructive wars i Is it at this expence that your national pride, and ambition must be graiified ' O t ye rich, and ye proud, satiated with luxu y, and at a loss how to dispose of your time ; how little do you consider that your inactivity and your pleasure are purchased at the expence of the laliour, and pa gs, of tlie poor. Tliey pro-, duce the Vvcalth v hich }(:u enjoy ; they bear your burthens, and you lepa} them with a haughty contempt. While you sit under your magniHc nt walls, surroiinded with cosily fur- niture, the poor have hardly a hut sufficient to protect them from the piercing wind, the drivino: snow, or the overwhelm ins: torrent. While you sit do\\'n to your spacious table, covered with dishes of luxury, and glittering decorations ; the half famished poor sit >c'own to their oaken table, and scantv meal, and hr.id- ly is tiieir fare over before they ar hurried ( 2^^8 ) auc'iy to the labour of the da v. While \o{\ repose on your bed of down, surr« uncled by murrains of silk ; they have little more [ban the damp unwholesome earth, ou whi:h to rest their wearied limbs. While vou are cloathed in attiie of pompous and attractive n aterials, they are hardlv secured, from he scorching: beat of the summer, or the piercing cold of the V inter. While vou are sitting by vour com- foriabie fire, ihtv are trudg:;ir.cr hrou^b the snov^' or shi\erinQ: in the cold v\ith tlicir axe in their hands. While you are indo- lently reposing on your cool sopha they are labouiing iii the parchtd arid duhty earth, and sweating berieath the meridian beams. In reiilit}'. when 1 vie\\' the unremitting labour and astoi-islsing exertions of this active class of men, it excites not only my gra iiude but my admiration. How little are the sons of iui'olence capable of such exertions ! Should one of them, by any accident, be reduced to the necessity of depeiiding on his own bodily exertions, how poorly would he be able to sustain his situation ? One day of such labour as the active poor endure through life, woukV ( 299 ) deranr^ the nerves and muscles of an indolent 'man to such a degree, that he would hardly recover for week^ or months. Why, in any point of view, then, sKould the pour be the object of our contempt ? If they are useful, let us respect them ; but if they are unfortu- nate, let us pity them. Were we to look upon them with these sentiments it would greatly ameliorate the hardship of their condition ; and were we to respect them according to their iherit, it would excite their laudable exertions to deserve the good opinion of society. Th/i applause or approbation of others is the chief stimulous to every generous exertio " .e, to rne Llav VvMen, ihrough the ir.ierj)o-itii> ..f Pioviciciiv.e, i m..y iaiiLi ni inv naiive couiiirv. •C 300 ) Converse familiarly with those friends who, amidst all my wandtriiigs, have ever been uppermost in my thoughts, view again the scenes of my early youth, and finally spend the remnant of my days in philosophick coii- tempimign. Aui^f! ^ ZH. t EII-94 i »i ,^* ^^^^ • .y^i A- / ^^ ^^^ V. # / A ^V s * « '/■• ■^o L < « v^ H9^ -„nf?>^. ^■^ 4 ^' O N O " * o . ■f . c <$. \ o " o , ^•^ '."k^- Fv. .^ 40^ . » ; ■> O ^ v ^ "'.^^^^V ,^ o L ' » o \ ■5^ ^ '' G* •yjl^ ' ^"^ -^^ >• DOBBS BROS. "^ "^<^ " IIBRANV BINOINQ ' ,1 MAY 8CW^ -^. 0^ ^ ST AUGUSTINE -A^ , . 'p J>^^ 32084 13^^^ - O ': \v: hinC^