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 EXTRACTS 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 't-^t H 
 
 JOURNAL 
 
 OF 
 
 MARSHAL SOULT, 
 
 ADDREssmm)BmMSnsi 
 
 BELEASED. 
 
 HOW OBTAINED, 
 
 AND 
 
 BY WHOM TRANSLATED S^^ ^^ 
 IS JYOT d SUBJECT OF EJ^qUIRY, 
 
 "These are not the forgeries of jealousy." 
 
 NEWBURY PORT: 
 PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM E. ALLEN 8c CO. 
 
 i8ir. 
 

 
 ^^'\ 
 
 .^^^y 
 
 district of Massachusetts, to zvU : 
 (lTso "R^ ^"^ REMEMBERED, that on the fii'st day of January, 
 ^^^w JD A. D. 1817. and in the fortysecoiidyear of the Independence 
 of the United States of America, WM. B. ALLEN & Company, of the 
 said district, have deposited in this office the title of a Book, the tight 
 whereof they claim as proprietors in the words following, to wit : 
 
 *• Extracts from the Journal of Marshal Soult. addressed to a Friend ; 
 how obtained, and by whom translated is not a subject of enquiry. 
 " These are cot the forgeries of jealousy," 
 
 In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States entitled. 
 
 An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of" 
 Maps, Charts and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, 
 during the time therein mentioned; and also to an Act entitled " An 
 Act supplementary to an Act. entitled an Act for the encouragement of 
 learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the au- 
 thors and pviiprietovs of such copies during the time therein meriioned ; 
 and txtendui;^ the benefits thereof to the arts cf designing, engiavij'g 
 and Etching Histpr^ea!, and other prints."' 
 
 WILLIAMS. SHAW, {"'^J^^^! 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 Dear Friend 
 
 BEFORE my landing on these friend- 
 ly sliores; I had read the histories of A- 
 merica with the deepest interest, and at- 
 tention ; from the bald chronicles, and 
 quaint descriptions of their early histori- 
 ans, the splendid pages of Ramsay, — the 
 comprehensive, full, accurate and solid 
 work of Marshall, to the delightful trea- 
 tise of Botta, who enamoured with A- 
 merican liberty, has adorned the minute, 
 and faithful record of American history 
 with the fascinations and graces of the 
 Italian muse. 
 
 When it became inconvenient for me to 
 stay in France, I turned my eyes to this 
 countrv, as a refuge from the storms of 
 
life^ as an asylum, not of solitude and irk- 
 someness, but of civilization, activity and 
 enjoyment ; with this disposition, I found 
 myself in the capital of New-England, 
 and instead of hastening to meet my 
 friends in more southern cities, I deter- 
 mined to stay here, and in the vicinity, for 
 a few months, to judge if my impressions 
 were erroneous or well founded. Un- 
 known, and passing for a merchant, I 
 have leisurely moved about in a small cir- 
 cle ia Massachusetts, and New- Hamp- 
 shire, made enquiries relating to public 
 characters, and observations upon the man- 
 ners, customs, opinions, prejudices and 
 laws of these people ; and noted them in 
 my journal, in the spirit of faithfulness, 
 and truth. If I liad possessed the malig- 
 nity of the serpent who stung the bosom 
 that awaked him to life by its warmth, I 
 could have abused and vilified this people ; 
 quarrelled with every Maitre D'Hote, call- 
 ed the inhabitants Hottentots, and passed 
 on ; this has been the course of many of 
 
their visitors who when here were treated 
 with politeness and Tespect. Without so 
 much malignity, I could have made a dif- 
 ferent picture from what I have attempted 
 to draw ; by grouping all the disagreeable 
 subjects which came under my inspection, 
 and keeping a profound silence on what 
 was pleasant or excellent. I could have 
 described with truth and accuracy many 
 inane heads, purse-proud fools, bigoted 
 fanatics, cunning sycophants, and sober 
 knaves, in office, and out of office, in the 
 city, and in the country. I could in jus- 
 tice have stated that every gale was taint- 
 ed with slander, that freedom of speech 
 had become absolute licentiousness ; but 
 this picture, exhibited alone, would have 
 been as unjust a representation of the whole 
 as to paint the darkest shades of the rain- 
 bow for all its beautiful and magnificent 
 colors. 
 
 This country has suffered much from ig- 
 norant, or prejudiced travellers ; more es- 
 pecially from Englishmen, who think it 
 i * 
 
6 
 
 will please their government to shew this 
 growing Empire in an unfavorable point 
 of view. England has often been taught. 
 by these brave people, lessons of valof 
 which will not soon be forgotten ; and in 
 some future day,l trust, she will reap the 
 full reward of such wilful blindness, and 
 envious misrepresentations. Other trav- 
 ellers (and with pain I must acknowledge 
 some Frenchmen among the number,) 
 from motives of personal vanity, have at- 
 tempted to make falsehood and scurrility 
 pass for shrewd observations, and pointed 
 remarks : They have miscalculated on 
 such exertions for fame, for the world soon 
 discovers the difference between the low 
 abuse of a whole people, and the keen 
 and polished satire levelled by indignant 
 genius against folly and wickedness. 
 
 If, by any accident, this journal should 
 meet any other eyes but your own, the few^ 
 hints I have made, and the faint sketches 
 I have drawn, if they give but little pleas- 
 \ire, or information, will surely never give 
 any offence. 
 
The Americans are called a vaiii and 
 boastful people ; it may be so ; but they 
 liave the singular method of exhibiting 
 this trait of character by concealing the 
 merits of individuals. If you hear a lear- 
 ned divine, an able advocate, or an elo- 
 quent orator, in the pulpit, bar, or deliber- 
 ative assembly; or a wise judge deliver 
 a charge from the bench, on enquiring in 
 what publication his likeness and memoirs 
 may be found, — they tell you that there is 
 not one line, or impression extant to give 
 you his birth, his education, his progress 
 in life, or his form or features : In one 
 point you may procure satisfactory infor- 
 mation from any person, they can all tell 
 you his pecuniary circumstances. How 
 different from England ; there, notonly the 
 noble and distinguished, but the excen- 
 trie, antl often the very vulgar are before 
 the public by means of the press. At the 
 death of a great man, here, some friend 
 acts the panegyrist, and probably lias to 
 search the family bible to know when his 
 subject was born; the catalogue, to find 
 
' 8 
 
 when he left the university ; and collectins; 
 a few meagre anecdotes makes up at the 
 moment^ all that is ever said of some 
 men whose virtues, and whose talents de- 
 serve an imperishable record from the 
 hands of genius. Of late there has been 
 some honorable exceptions to these obser- 
 vations ; for the fame of the country, and 
 in justice to themselves^ may these excep- 
 tions increase. 
 
 The history of Massachusetts is now 
 sufficiently crowded, with incident and fil- 
 led with character, to be divided into coun- 
 ty histories ; for there are many precious 
 relicts to make up such works, on the sur- 
 face, or just buried, which are now fast 
 mouldering, and diminishing, and which 
 if not soon collected will be lost forever. 
 Many of the counties would furnish mat- 
 ter for a large volume of valuable and in- 
 teresting history which would find a ready 
 alrculation ; for the humblest, love their 
 native land, and are proud of its memori^ 
 Ills of honor. 
 
I AM now at Boston^ the place wlucii 
 has so often beeu called the cradle of 
 American liberty. The town is not large 
 in extent^ and stands on ground which for- 
 merly^ in every great storm, was an isl- 
 and, and is now so surrounded by the 
 sea, and arras of the sea, that the isthmus 
 at any time is but a few rods wide. The 
 population of this town is not far from 
 forty thousand, and its immediate envi- 
 rcns may be rated at ten thousand more. 
 Many of the streets are w ide and clean, 
 but some few are narrow and dirty. The 
 dwelling houses are generally large and 
 couvenient, and certainly the people are 
 more comfortably, genteely, and splendid- 
 ly lodged than any other forty thousand 
 taken indiscriminately in the world. The 
 stores, ware-houses, and wharves, are of 
 the first order, and are satisfactory evi- 
 dences of great commercial concerns. Im- 
 mense improvements have been made, and 
 
10 
 
 are still making under the direction of a 
 celebrated projector, who has already laid 
 streets, built wharves, and erected stores, 
 and dwelling houses almost as suddenly 
 as the genii of Aladdin's lamp. 
 
 The public buildings are many of them 
 on a scale of magnitude fand beauty not 
 surpassed in the magnificent cities of Eu- 
 rope. The exchange building, as it is 
 called, is a vast pile with a fine central 
 area lighted from an immense dome. This 
 area is surrounded by rooms of all kinds, 
 and for all uses, shops, halls, offices, 
 reading-rooms, and almost every place for 
 business, tomfort, or pleasure. The new 
 court-house is a large stone building, and 
 was much wanted for the numerous courts 
 held here. The state-house is a huge 
 edifice, v/ith chambers for the differ- 
 ent branches of their numerous Le- 
 gislature, and also a council chamber 
 for the chief Magistrate, with suitable 
 anti-chambers, and offices for the secre- 
 tary of the commonwealib. adjutant, and 
 
quarter- master- generals. This is proba- 
 bly the largest^ and most convenient build- 
 ing of the kind in the United States. 
 
 Fanuiel-Hall is the place dearest to a 
 Bostonian^s heart. It is a fine large room 
 over the old market-house. This is the 
 place where the people of the town of 
 Soston meet for all purposes of elections^ 
 frequently for what is called in this coun- 
 try a caucus ; a meeting not contemplated e ^ 
 in the laws of the town, or state^ and,'^ q^ i 
 merely a self-created assembly of citizensli:^ I ^ I ?, 
 legal voters, of a party^ called togetlier b^^g » ^ I £L 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 the arrangement of a few, to consult on theV^^ *^ 
 choice of representatives, chief magistrate, \^a 
 and other state and town officers, previous 
 to elections. They assemble, and the 
 meeting is called to order by some elderly 
 gentleman present, and a moderator and 
 secretary are chosen, and this simple or- 
 ganization is all that is required. Some 
 orator then rises, and addresses his fellow 
 citizens on the occasion they were called 
 togetber, gives a full scope to his imagin- 
 
12 
 
 atioDj breathes the vehement spirit of po- 
 litical zeal^ calls upon them to be united 
 and active, and promises them success. 
 Orator follows orator, and each pours 
 forth satire and praise, threatens and per- 
 suades, and tries to strike every chord 
 which vibrates in a freeman's bosom ; and 
 then some one offers a set of resolutions 
 previously prepared, full of the high sense 
 of their rights, and solemn determinations. 
 From this description, do not suppose that 
 this is a rabble rout : no, the caucus is 
 formed of all ranks and degrees of men, 
 who are the stability of government and 
 the support of the laws. The eloquence 
 which is heard in their caucuses is supe- 
 rior to that heard in any other place in 
 this country. The public are as fastidious 
 as Avere the people at Athens, and nothing 
 but the highest exertions of their best 
 speakers will suit them on such an occa- 
 sion. These meetings are conducted with 
 decency and order ; but in France such a 
 collection would end in tumult and frenzy. 
 
13 
 
 Boston is called, by many travellers, 
 London in miniature, and it may in some 
 particulars suggest a resemblance. In 
 Boston there is more equality of rank, 
 more diffusive courtesey, and more weight 
 of character, in the middling classes of the 
 people, than in any other city I know. 
 The inhabitants of Boston speaking gen- 
 erally, are generous, and enlightened, with 
 no small share of self-complacency ; but 
 they have a right to this feeling, for here 
 was opened the first act of the drama of the 
 American revolution, and it went off with 
 so much spirit, and effect that the British 
 actors shifted the scene to other parts of 
 the country during the remainder of the 
 conflict. Massachusetts made a distin- 
 guished figure on the stage of action until 
 the curtain droped. She had formed her 
 martial character in the wars with us on. 
 their frontiers. She showed the scars of 
 the wounds received at Ticonderoga, the 
 laurels she won at Cape Breton, and her 
 share in the fame of Wolfe, as a proof of 
 
her right to lead the van in the revolution ; 
 and as an earnest of her ability, and forti- 
 tude in the struggle for Independence ; 
 and in the darkest hour of that period she 
 was never broken down by despair, or 
 disgraced by imbecility. She suffered 
 much from the depreciation of the paper 
 currency, which had kept alive the conti- 
 nental armies for several years ; and ma- 
 ny of the most valuable and firm citizens 
 were ruined ; but the patriotism of Massa- 
 chusetts was not lost. The industry and 
 enterprize of the people soon began to give 
 animation to business, and a short period 
 of prosperity obliterated in a great degree, 
 the memory, and sense of their misfortunes. 
 These commercial people were among the 
 first to call for a navy for the protection of 
 their property, and for national honor ; 
 and offered to advance money to govern- 
 ment to bring a navy into immediate exist- 
 ence. In fact their two most noted frig- 
 ates, the Constitution and Essex, were 
 built in this State 5 the former at Boston, 
 the latter at Salem. 
 
la 
 
 Public institutions are rapidly growing 
 up in this town ; and the Legislature will 
 probably, after the State is relieved from 
 the burthens of the last war, be attentive 
 to their prosperity, and in truth, they are 
 now liberal as far as their present means 
 will admit. 
 
 There is aLinnean society founded here 
 which is only in a nascent state at present^ 
 but promises to be extensive in a short 
 time, for it is now under the patronage of 
 several zealous, and scientific young men, 
 who have it in their power to devote con- 
 siderable time, and attention to its pros- 
 perity. 
 
 The Atheneum here is on a large scale, 
 the library now contains twenty thousand 
 volumes, and is supported by the curious, 
 the literary and wealthy. It is placed under 
 the superintendence of a Mr. S*^*, who 
 possesses the true spirit of virtu. The in- 
 stitution is much indebted to his devoted, 
 and persevering disposition in the cause ; 
 for he fastens on every thing new, rare and 
 
16 
 
 «.ntiqne;, with an earnestness which baffies 
 all denial, and secures his object without 
 fail. 
 
 The literary people here read much^ 
 Jynt write but little. What is prepared 
 for the news-papers, and the sermons of 
 the clergy, make up the most of their 
 writings ; and the probable reason for this 
 is, that a large portion of the literati are 
 affluent, or in some profession which will 
 not admit of their devoting sufflcient time 
 to composition to do justice to their tal- 
 ents, or acquirements. Several religions, 
 and literary journals, and miscellanies 
 printed here are ably conducted, and only 
 want proper public support to be ranked 
 among prime works of this sort. The 
 poet's place in these publications, as Avell 
 as the corner of every news-paper, is re- 
 spectably filled ; but these people under- 
 value their own poetical powers ; for they 
 Lave so long depended on England for 
 delight and instruction, in this department 
 of literature, that they most unreasonably 
 
17 
 
 depreciate their own poetical merits. The 
 poet, Mr. PainE; lately dead, left some 
 fine specimens of an exalted fancy ; and 
 only wanted more chastity of taste, more 
 studious habits, and longer life, to have 
 been placed high in the first class of En- 
 glish poets. I have seen a poem or ode 
 on Time^ and one on Oceayi, said to have 
 been written by a retired young lady, of 
 great taste, genius, and acquirements^ 
 which I do not hesitate to pronounce the 
 first poetical productions I have met with in 
 this country. These pieces Would certain- 
 ly be distinguished in any collection, for 
 loftiness of sentiment, beauty of imagery^ 
 and sweetness, and harmony of numbers. 
 I did not see her for she was in the weeds 
 of domestic affliction, for the loss of some 
 relation, and I never intrude upon the sa- 
 credness of grief; but those who knew 
 her spoke of her kind disposition, and her 
 wonderful colloquial powers, and I was- 
 inclined to believe that had I been so for- 
 tunate as to have seen her I should have 
 
18 
 
 found ^^her eloquence was sweeter than 
 ' her song.^^ 
 
 Although this place has not given very 
 liberal patronage to artists^ yet several na- 
 tive geniuses of eminence are found here, 
 but I had not leisure to examine works of 
 taste if such had existed in profusion. Col. 
 Sargent, a gentleman of talents, (belonging 
 to a family of wealth and intellectj which 
 lias produced both poets and painters) not 
 long since exhibited an historical picture 
 which excited no small share of attention : 
 The landing of the Pilgrims, a subject full 
 of interest to all, but more particularly 
 gratifying to a native of this country. It 
 was an ample field for the finest touches 
 of the pencil. The wildness of nature, 
 from the immovable rocks against which 
 the wintry waves were dashing, through 
 every grade of her works up to savage 
 man ; the dreary coast, the inclement 
 sky of November ; the fortitude, religious 
 composure, the insuperable resolution dis- 
 
19 
 
 played in the eoiinteiiaiices of the adven- 
 turers, are all marks of the Iniad of a mas- 
 ter. It is rumored that a still more su- 
 blime subject, the triumphant entrance of 
 Jesus into Jerusalem now concentrates his 
 labors, and will soon meet the public eye. 
 Stewart, an American, a native of Rhode 
 Island, who many years since was ranked 
 in England, in the first class of painters, 
 resides in this vicinity, and confines his 
 attention principally to portrait painting. 
 In this line he fears no rival, and acknow- 
 ledges no competitor. The houses of the 
 rich are ornamented by the productions of 
 his pencil. Stewart's offence is, (but I will 
 not undertake to ^x an adequate punish- 
 ment to his crime) a more than Promethean 
 impiety, in giving to some of his likeness- 
 es thought, feeling, taste, and soul, when 
 the allwise Creator had denied these gifts 
 to the originals. He is old, but still glows 
 with the pride and animation of superior- 
 ity ; for he remembers the days when Rey- 
 nolds praised his meritS; and told him pes- 
 
20 
 
 severance would ensure wealth and fame 5 
 when FoXf and iiurke, loved and honored 
 him, and secured his immortality by the 
 breath of their praise ; for what they ad- 
 mired and patronized, detraction could not 
 reach, envy injure, nor time destroy. 
 
 I found in this town a Catholic Bishop, 
 a Frenchman, who is doing much good to 
 a small flock composed of Irish, French, 
 and Spanish. These foreigners of differ- 
 ent nations looked up to him as a friend 
 and father, for he had the comforts and 
 blessings of philosophy and religion to 
 pour upon their heads. He soothed their 
 anguish, relieved their wants, and taught 
 them that the path of virtue was the sure 
 road to immortal life ; and by his influ- 
 ence they became good citizens and were 
 respectable in a strange land. This 
 priest had been an exile from his coun- 
 try for more than twenty years, and all 
 the sorrows, and sufferings of his order, 
 and of iiis countrymen crowded upon, and 
 depressed his soul 5 but he felt all its an- 
 
2i 
 
 guisli in silence ; no complaints were utter- 
 ed ; no execrations pronounced ; for all re- 
 sentments were extinguished in his breast ; 
 and his constant prayer at the altar is for 
 the forgiveness of his enemies, and the 
 prosperity of his country. I heard this 
 liumble follower of the meek and lowly 
 Jesus attack the forgetful and the proud, 
 and encourage the unhappy and poor in 
 spirit, until I ardently desired to press 
 him to my breast and make him my con- 
 fessor ; but my pride and unsubdued feel- 
 ings rose to forbid it ; for I feared he 
 would have turned away from the soldier 
 whose sword had so often been stained by 
 the blood of nations ; therefore, I was ob- 
 stinately silent, and was not made known 
 to this pious man. The Holy Catholic 
 Church is increasing in numbers and res- 
 pectability in this land of toleration ; and 
 the day is not far distant when the reli- 
 gion by which Fenelon and St. Louis liv- 
 ed and diedj will increase and flourish in 
 this country. How little do protestants 
 
2% 
 
 know of this religion of the senses^ of the 
 affections and the heart ; let them adhere 
 to their cold reasoning, while we, pros- 
 trate, feel, believe, and adore. I pro- 
 fess to worship the genius of toleration ; 
 and hope and trust I am able to speak of 
 all religions and their professors without 
 prejudice. The clergy here are men of 
 cultivated minds, with a just sense of their 
 importance in society ; they, with some 
 few exceptions, profess the liberal doc- 
 trines of the day, and preach many finish- 
 ed discourses on the nature and duties of 
 man. They mingle much in society, 
 which is beneficial to the people and them- 
 selves. At the festive board they never 
 destroy proper freedom and pleasantry 
 by any stiffness or formality 5 and their 
 host, and his guests, have too much good 
 manners to offend them, and the dignity 
 of their cloth, by free remarks or indeli- 
 cate wit, which too often disgraces the 
 table of the wise, from the force of cus- 
 tom and the liberty of the glass. The 
 
S3 
 
 Boston clergy^ as a body, are charged 
 with attempting to destroy the orthodoxy 
 of the country. This is denied ; and, on 
 the whole, I suspect the extent of the on- 
 ly charge made out against them, is frank- 
 ness in avowi ng their own belief. There 
 is one among them, however, a great 
 champion for modern reform ; but he has 
 stepped out of the ranks, and like Her- 
 cules, wages war alone, unrestrained by 
 command, and unincumbered by numbers. 
 His sentiments, as far as I am able to 
 learn, are those of a humanitarian. He 
 considers the Messiah, in character like 
 Moses and Elijah, only that he came on 
 a higher mission, and taught a more dis- 
 tinct and better doctrine : — That he came 
 to fulfil, not to prophecy. His creed is a 
 renunciation of all creeds ; and every 
 thing divine must be tried by the stand- 
 ard of reason, as the only test of belief. 
 He has no respect for St. Peter's chair, 
 the tiara, or crucifix, nor the dark and 
 gloomy subtleties of the Genevean reform- 
 
S4j 
 
 er. He professes no reverence for the 
 ceremonies of tbe Jews, but dissects the 
 Thummim, and the Urim,and the Ephod, 
 to discover if their construction offers any 
 evidence that they responded the oracles 
 of God. This man is formed to support, 
 with great effect, whatever he chooses to 
 adopt as his belief. To an exalted gen- 
 ius, an unrivalled eloquence, and a vig- 
 orous understanding, enriched by prodi- 
 gious exertions, he unites an intrepidity, 
 a fearlessness, and an hardihood, which 
 defies diinculties antl danger. No objec- 
 tion can be made to his system of morals, 
 for it requires the brightest assemblage of 
 virtues kept in constant exercise ; nor 
 can any one impeach him for nonconform- 
 ity to his own system. It is through the 
 medium of his opinions alone, that he can 
 be assailed. No blandishments will ever 
 tye him to the distaff, or seduce him to 
 waste his time in frivolity ; and his only 
 danger is that in some hour of weakness 
 he may be tempted to put on the poisoned 
 
25 
 
 shirt of flattery^ bis admiring friends have 
 so often presented him. But after all his 
 labors^ be will find the moral world filled 
 with abuses^ and overrun with monsters. 
 Heaven has seen it wise that it should be 
 soj in the nature and fitness of things. 
 
 I am delighted with the system of Ju- 
 risprudence of this Commonwealth. They 
 have taken whatever is applicable to their 
 situation from the common law of Eng- 
 land — the law of their ancestors, and left 
 its hard features, and monarchical char- 
 acteristics behind. The invaluable code 
 of the Civil Law is adopted in many in- 
 stances where it is found more congenial 
 to the manners and customs of these repub- 
 licans ; and where both codes are inappli- 
 cable, they have supplied deficiencies by 
 their own statute book. Although I ad- 
 mire their laws, I think the administration 
 of them is still more perfect. This ex- 
 cellence arises from the independence of 
 their judiciary, and the superiority of their 
 judges. The judges proceed in their du- 
 3 
 
26 
 
 ty uiiiiiliueuced by i^olitical feelings or 
 changes, and dispense justice without fa- 
 vor, fear or control. The independence 
 of the judges is not founded so much on 
 constitutional provisions for their perma- 
 nence and security as on public sentiment, 
 which is disturbed at once by the slight- 
 est attack on the judiciary. The hum- 
 blest citizen prosecuting his suit in their 
 courts, knows no more of " the law^s de- 
 lay or the insolence of office ^^^ but has his 
 remedy, at law, as promptly as the opu- 
 lent and influential. This people can 
 never value this blessing too highly ; may 
 they retain it in its purity and elevation, 
 for ages. In all countries where the trial 
 by jury is established, eloquence is power; 
 but mere names, which when lawyers are 
 powerful and the judges inferior, do much 
 detriment to justice, never bias such a court 
 as this. Among the counsel eminent at 
 the bar in this place, (and there are many 
 deservedly so) is Mr. P***-^^tt. This 
 gentleman's character for .a great lawyer 
 
S7 
 
 is solid and unquestionable, not founded 
 on any whim of public favor, but cautious- 
 ly built up by his own unremitting exer- 
 tions. He commenced life under no ex- 
 traordinary auspices of fame or favor; 
 and never rested on any patronage or con- 
 nexions. Every day beheld him increas- 
 ing in property and knowledge ; and 
 his prudence secured all that his indus- 
 try gained. Passion never drove him, 
 nor did the bubble, popularity, ever allure 
 liim frem his fixed and stedfast course. 
 His patience conquered every obstacle in 
 his profession, and his perseverance reap- 
 ed the benefits of his conquests. As the 
 old lawyers went off the stage, without 
 proffering any particular claims to occupy 
 where they stood, he supplied their pla- 
 ces ; and so smooth and regular was his 
 upward course, that he moved by his e- 
 quals without rivalry ; and they beheld 
 him beyond them without envy. He is 
 a safe counsellor, and a powerful advo- 
 cate, well read in first principles, as well 
 
as the laws of his country. His brethren 
 of the bar say that there is nothing sharp^ 
 captious or over-bearing in his practice ; 
 that he never makes a biting retort^ mere- 
 ly to display his satirical powers ; nor 
 like Grarrow or Gibbs puts a witness on 
 the rack to show his strength^ and the ag- 
 onies of the wretched witness. In new 
 countries Vv here laws are few^ and incom- 
 petent to the just arrangement of complex 
 affairs^ it is generally supposed that their 
 administration is free, simple^ and far re- 
 moved from chicanery ; but this is a mis- 
 take; from that very tleflciency bad prac- 
 tice arises, and the law is made a trade, in 
 which trick, cunning, and impudence make, 
 up the art or mistery ; Imt, in Massachu- 
 setts, the business is extensive, and vari- 
 ous, and the laws numerous and well cal- 
 culated for the happiness, and prosperity 
 of the people. The framers of these laws, 
 seem to have borrowed from every coun- 
 try, and every age ; and this code with 
 some imperfections has many excellencies^ 
 
29 
 
 and lays claims with Englisli^ and Frencli 
 jurisprudence, to the beauty and dignity of 
 a science ; and its professors hold a high 
 rank in the scale of mental superiority. 
 
 I AM now on an excursion in the 
 country, and have travelled leisurely, 
 amusing myself with bird, and squirrel 
 shooting, when I found proper ground. 
 One morning I took my gun at the early 
 dawn and was proceeding to enter a small 
 piece of woods, the common'haunt of my 
 game, when I observed a man rising from 
 the ground who had been asleep ; his looks 
 were wild and haggard, his garments torn, 
 and he had an irou shackle on his leg from 
 which a chain had been filed. He was a 
 maniac who had escaped his keepers, and. 
 had walked on until fatigue had overcome 
 his strength and he rested, or rather had 
 3* 
 
sunk ill this wood. I led him to a place 
 of safety, quiet, and refreshment, and the 
 good people who harbored him agreed te 
 inform his friends where he was to be found. 
 From the nature of the case, and the nat- 
 ural constitution of the sufferer, I hfive but 
 little doubt that attention ithd skill would 
 restore him to sanity, and usefulness. This 
 occurrence induced me to make enquiries 
 what provision this enlightened, opulent, 
 and humane State had made for their in- 
 sane : — and the reluctant answer was, 
 nothing is as yet effected ; or rather no 
 plan is at present in operation. Some years 
 since the Legislature granted an act of in- 
 corporation for the purpose of establishing 
 a general hospital for insane persons, and 
 several active philanthropists were made 
 trustees of the institution. The govern- 
 ment did not stop here, but made a grant 
 of an old mansion-house, formerly occupi- 
 ed by the successive Chief Magistrates 
 of the Commonwealth, with the garden 
 grounds about it; to aid this important es- 
 
81 
 
 tablishment. Many charitable individuals 
 added liberal subscriptions, but its pro- 
 gress is delayed by a want of a just sense 
 of its importance to the public, in the minds 
 of many accustomed to bestow largely on 
 other institutions. This apathy cannot re- 
 main long in Massachusetts — a State which 
 so early after its settlement provided so 
 generally for primary instruction in every 
 town, establisaed and endowed a college 
 while the foot steps of the savage were 
 still fresh in the dust where they dug to 
 place the corner stone of the ediftce ; — a 
 Community which has sent missionaries 
 to carry the glad tidings of the gospel to 
 the remotest region of the globe ; and the 
 first among the sons of freemen who abol- 
 ished the cursed traffic in human flesh, 
 emancipated their slaves, and in the ex- 
 travagance of republican generosity ad- 
 mitted them to the franchise of citizens. 
 It is wonderful that in this country of be- 
 nevolence and intelligence that no particu- 
 lar establishment can be found to assuage 
 
32 
 
 or heal the maladies of the mind ; wheu 
 every town^ couiity, and in fact the whole 
 commonwealth is formed by their excel- 
 lent provisions^ into charitable societies ; 
 where the destitute foreigner, as well as the 
 native, is instantly relieved from Avant; 
 where humane societies, female assylums, 
 societies for spreading the gospel, educa- 
 ting heathen youth, fragment and cent as- 
 sociations, and all the blessed train of char- 
 ities seem to rise like the flowers and fruits 
 of Paradise, bringing comfort to mortals, 
 and flinging their incense to Heaven. It 
 is a fact that in this State there are more 
 than one thousand maniacs, and not one 
 has a proper place, or attentions for com- 
 fort, or cure ; but are supported in gener- 
 al at considerable expence, and incalcula- 
 ble trouble. This thousantl may be con- 
 sidered a great number in proportion to the 
 amount of population, but we must reflect 
 that there are many things to disturb and 
 derange the mind, and bring on incurable 
 infirmities in this country 5 climate, habits 
 
of livings vicissitudos of fortune^ wliere en- 
 terprise is open to all^ and even their 
 very liberties are among the causes of this 
 evil. These active philanthropists who 
 have taken the subject in hand have made 
 a feeling address to the public on this sub- 
 ject. — An appeal full of the warmth of 
 charity^ and the inspiration of wisdom^ 
 uniting the calculations of experience^ and 
 the suggestions of prudence with the best 
 feelings of our nature. A few men, how- 
 ever intellectual, are not able to excite the 
 interest of the community without long 
 and painful exertions ; and to push this 
 object to its proper extent^ the guardians 
 of the poor, the magisk'ates, the ministers 
 of God, the benevolent of all ranks and 
 degrees of men, must unite and strive with 
 misht and main until it is accomplished. 
 
34* 
 
 I AM now at Haverhill, a beautiful vil- 
 lasre situated on the left bank of the Mer- 
 rimack, about eighteen miles from its 
 mouth. It occupies the bank of the river 
 a mile or more in length, the main street is 
 close to the margin of the river, and follows 
 its windings ; this is a busy, thriving, de- 
 lightful place, with numerous stores of 
 merchandise, a banking house, work-shops, 
 two Meeting houses, several genteel dwel- 
 ling houses, with many others pleasantly 
 situated, with an air of comfort and con- 
 venience about them ; ship-yards are scat- 
 tered along the bank of the river, in the 
 settlement. Several merchant vessels 
 were on the stocks, and timber in great 
 quantities ^Yas collected, suf&cient for ma- 
 ny more. Many beautiful situations lie 
 adjacent the village, but the most conspic- 
 uous is called the Saltonstall place, about 
 one half of a mile from the centre of the 
 busy part of Haverhill, This was the 
 residence, for more than a century, of an 
 antient family of that name, which ha« 
 
35 
 
 produced a succession of generous, and 
 high minded men, distinguished in all the 
 affairs of their country, civil, ecclesiastical 
 and military, from its first settlement ; and 
 the present descendants of this house are 
 worthy their illustrious ancestors* This 
 place is distinguished for attention to 
 strangers, and unites the ease and freedom 
 of village manners, with the taste, refine- 
 ment, and splendor of the large towns. 
 The upper classes are mostly connected 
 by intermarriages, and form a family cir- 
 cle which brings all the virtues of a well- 
 regulated home, all the treasures of heart 
 and mind into social life. Introduced to 
 one gentleman of respectability, you at 
 once share the politeness of all in the cir- 
 cle, and feel an ease and pleasure which 
 can never be found in the parade and af- 
 fectation of constrained civility. These 
 people are within a few hours ride of the 
 principle towns in the state, and have 
 such an extensive acquaintance with the 
 inhabitants of each, that visiting and ev- 
 
ery other reciprocal attention is kept up. 
 and produces a greater share of business^ 
 and amusement, activity, and life, than 
 can be found in any other spot of its size, 
 I ever saw. I have passed but three 
 days here, and feel myself quite at home, 
 have examined their antiquities, for this 
 place was early settled, — am acquainted 
 with the fishing and shooting grounds, 
 and on social terms with several of the 
 inhabitants ; and although I am to day to 
 leave it forever, yet 1 shall long cherish 
 the remembrance of the amenity and hos- 
 pitality of this lovely and intelligent vil- 
 lage. 
 
 Ilaverliill, like most other early settle- 
 ments in New-England, suffered much 
 from dread of the savages, and in fact, 
 were frequently attacked, and many were 
 killed, many taken and carried into cap- 
 tivity. I have seen a rough door perfo- 
 rated with bullets, to which the following 
 history is attached. In August I7O8, this 
 village was attacked by the Indians in 
 
37 
 
 ^he most sudden^ and ferocious manner. 
 The savages in the dawn of the morning 
 began a scene of massacre, pillage and 
 conflagration. The parson of the parish 
 defended his house with great bravery, 
 but was shot through this door which I 
 saw ; and all under his protection were 
 m\irdered except two small children se- 
 creted by his maid- servant in the cellar 
 which the savages entered, and searched, 
 but happily did not discover the children. 
 Effected by some sudden panic, the sava- 
 ges tied, and left the work of butchery 
 unfinished. A few undaunted citizens 
 were collected, and followed these ruth- 
 less invaders, came up with them, gave 
 them battle, dispersed them, and secured 
 their packs, and other baggage which 
 they had deposited a few miles from the 
 place, to be more ready and expert in the 
 work of desolation. I blush to record, 
 that Frenchmen, though but a few, w^ere 
 mingled with these monsters. Britain 
 and France can never wipe from their es- 
 4 
 
38 
 
 cutcheous •' the damned sj)ots^' with which 
 they are stained by the use of such infa- 
 mous engines of war. Never did any 
 other people contend with so frightful a 
 foe as the first settlers of New- England. 
 The native savages were of gigantic sta- 
 ture, fleet in motion, capable of sustaining 
 incredible hardships of cold, fatigue and 
 famine, accustomed to Avar, glorying in 
 blood and death, and fearlessly bidding 
 defiance, and breathing vengeance for 
 their real or imagined wrongs. They 
 were stung to madness and fury to see the 
 white men in possession of their lands 
 and rivers, and their own w arriors dimin- 
 ishing, and their power and consequence 
 fast receding; but they struggled in vain, 
 for no stratagem, strength, force or fury is 
 a match for the cool determination of re- 
 ligious pilgrims, who have made up their 
 minds to martyrdom in the cause of Grod, 
 and the freedom of opinion, and self-de- 
 fence. 
 
39 
 
 Aliliough a ceutary lias elapsed since 
 the hostile savage has roamed over any 
 part of Massachusetts, yet I am told that 
 among those people who deal but little 
 with the records of history tliat " the tales 
 of other times'^ are kept alive by tradition. 
 Some shrivelled gran'am. warmed to a pa- 
 thetic remembrance of her early impress- 
 ions, will frequently sing to a group of 
 listening children the dirge of the brave 
 Capt.Lovel^Tecount some disastrous feats, 
 some providential escapes, or some dread- 
 ful massacre of former days, and dwell 
 as though she would never end on the pi- 
 ety, as well as the sufferings of the past, 
 and with a sigh exclaim against the profli- 
 gacy of the present age ; — but this people 
 have no talent this v/ay ; these stories 
 sometimes wander into falsehood, but nev- 
 er soar into fiction. 
 
 I have carefully collected several of the 
 effusions of their early muse, but have 
 searched in vain to find one spark of ge- 
 nius, or imagination in them ; those were 
 
40 
 
 the offspring, not the inspiration of grief. 
 These good people will never be called 
 to answer for the high crime of wandering 
 on the unhallowed ground of Parnassus, 
 or drinking of the heathenish w aters of 
 Helicon. At that period, they had no 
 oiher models, muse or Apollo, than Stern- 
 iiolds and Hopkins, two wretched scrib- 
 blers, who translated the beautiful, ma- 
 jestic, and divine poesy of David into hob- 
 bling and vulgar English verse ; which 
 Ibr many years was exclusively used in 
 the worship of God, in the churches : — 
 a profanation which their ignorance aud 
 sincerity alone could expiate. This peo- 
 ple did not want for genius, or ever 
 shrunk from labor, it w^as the narrow and 
 rigid rules of religious belief which quen- 
 ched every poetical spark, and chilled the 
 flow of fancy, and of soul. The wild, 
 vast, and stupendous views of nature a- 
 round them ; their own romantic aud tre^ 
 mendous struggles, and heroic achieve- 
 ments^ which in other nations, however 
 
41 
 
 i2:norant and rude, would have burst into 
 
 " Thoughts that breath, and words that hiirn^^'^ 
 were quaintly described, and tamely nar- 
 rated. Their descendants, for genera- 
 tions, felt this thraldom of mind, but it is 
 now passing, or has passed away, and the 
 powers of taste and imagination are be- 
 coming as prominent as their sturdy vir- 
 tues, piety^ fortitude and patriotism. 
 
 I have passed the boundaries of Massa- 
 chusetts, and penetrated about forty miles 
 into the neighboring State of New-Hamp- 
 shire; as I journeyed through Derryfield, 
 I became acquainted with Gen. S^^^k ; 
 the aged hero of Bennington, who is now 
 betw een eighty and ninety years old. This 
 veteran has still the marks of a once in- 
 trepid, daring man,— prominent features, 
 lai^e muscles, and a martial voice, and 
 step. His recollections of a remote period 
 are fresh and distinct, but of these latter 
 times, incorrect and confused. He was 
 an officer in the old French war of ^5^, as 
 it is called, when our arms were so success 
 4* 
 
42 
 
 fill; and the British lost that youthful he» 
 ro, the gallant Lord Howe. This early 
 experience in military affairs, gave S***k 
 rank and consequence in the beginning of 
 the revolutionary war, and we find him in 
 the battle of Bunker-hill, so famous for the 
 steady courage and deadly fire of an un- 
 disciplined militia ; but at Bennington he 
 gathered his laurels, and fixed his fame. 
 The speech made by this officer to his 
 troops, at that time, is remarkable for its 
 yankee indirectness, and pithy brevity ; 
 drawing his sword and pointing to the 
 enemy, he thus addressed his followers : 
 •• I am not much given to speech-making^ 
 but, my brave fellows, there are the Brit- 
 ish ; in faith, we must beat them, or my 
 wife sleeps a widow this night :'^ the sol- 
 diers caught his fire and determination, 
 and pushed on with ardor, and in such a 
 gallant style, that they killed, wounded, 
 and captured almost the whole British 
 d^itachmeato 
 
4a 
 
 I love to turn, for a moment, from the 
 blaze of modern improvement, and the 
 splendor of modern genius, to contc'niplate 
 the bold, rough, and inflexible virtues, and 
 hardy features of primitive character ; suck 
 as Rome exhibited under her old consuls 
 Fabricius and Curius, antecedent to the 
 ages of refinement and luxury : such as 
 started up in the troublesome times in 
 America, without the gtudes of literature 
 and science ; who by the strength of theiu 
 native powers, stood detached from the 
 mass of mankind, inspiring confidence, an- 
 nihilating doubt, and leading the people 
 with firmness, and caution from hope to 
 fruition. It gratifies the philosopher, and 
 delights the statesman to minutely exam- 
 ine the figure, and proportions, and cast 
 of mind of such men, for they are an hon- 
 or to our species, and a proof that nature 
 has created her noblemen. 
 
 I extended my journey to Canterbury^ 
 the residence of a family of that singular 
 religious sect; the shaking quakers, whose 
 
44 
 
 principles are so dissonant to all the com- 
 mon feelings and iiabits of human nature ; 
 they profess to annul the marriage coven- 
 ant, neglect the charities of parent and child^ 
 and sink all other tender relations into the 
 fraternal. Some of the wildest notions 
 they once professed are in part given up, 
 at least, so far as to be silent on those 
 points ; — such as that true believers v^ould 
 live on earth to meet the second coming of 
 Christ. No one would believe, until his 
 eyes had seen the influence of religious 
 opinions on the conduct, and even persons 
 of men. Their grave, quiet, and conten- 
 ted looks, seem to give them a family cast 
 of features ; and they live so regularly, and 
 temperately, and much alike, that every 
 countenance of all ages, appears full of 
 health, and soundness. If they are not 
 proof against the dart and scythe of Death^ 
 they have by their temperance triumphed 
 over his precursors, desease and pain. 
 The young, among them,are kept in great 
 Ignorance, particularly females. Several 
 
4j 
 
 years since a young woman of eighteen 
 made her escape from a family of shakers^ 
 not this, and is now respectably married, 
 and the mother of a large family. Her 
 relation is, and she is a woman of decency, 
 and veracity, that she was kept ignorant 
 that human beings were born or die, she 
 had some confused impressions from the 
 analogies of nature, to which her eyes 
 were open, but nothing distinct ; that ev- 
 ery enquiry was evasively answered, 
 and at times so hesitatingly and contra- 
 dictory, that she shrewdly suspected that 
 the truth was not told her ; and she was 
 too inquisitive to be as happy as others. 
 She had by the connivance of a friendly 
 matron, kept against the laws of their or- 
 der, her fine tresses of hair which was by 
 >some accident discovered, and fearing it 
 would be shorn by force she ingeniously af- 
 fected an elopement. In their rural econ- 
 omy the shakers are half a century in ad- 
 vance of their neighbors ; their lands are 
 well tilled and bear traits of industi-y. neat- 
 
46 
 
 ness, and agncaltural knowledge. Their 
 bouses^ barns, and work- shops, are con- 
 venient and substantial ; and as artizans, 
 in many branches, they are unequelled in 
 this country ; for every article they under- 
 take to sell is made with care, and faith- 
 fulness, and of excellent materials. I saw 
 a steel box and a waggon wheel of their 
 make which for exquisite wormanship 
 would be curiosities at Burmingham or 
 London. But their highest honor, and 
 most resplendent traits of character I have 
 yet to name, and which in the eyes of be- 
 nevolence will atone for all their deviations 
 from the received opinions of the world : — 
 This is a muniiicent,unostentatious,prompt 
 and delicate charity, always extended to 
 all who, from any painful calamity, have 
 claims on public feelings and generosity. 
 From their habits of trade their acquaint- 
 ance is extensive, and their active sympa- 
 thies never fall short of the sphere of 
 their business, and often extend far be- 
 yond it. 
 
47 
 
 I found tlie travelling very easy from the 
 excellence of the roads in this rocky, hUiv^ 
 country. The people of New-England 
 pay with cheerfulness a heavy high way 
 tax on themselves, in their corporate ca- 
 pacity as towns, and most of it out of 
 the seaports, is paid in the labor of the 
 farmers and their teams, to great public 
 advantage. This tax in New-England, 
 on the most moderate calculation is a mil- 
 lion dollars annually. In addition to these 
 common high ways, there are many turn- 
 pike roads, private property for public use, 
 made by special acts of the Legiskature, 
 allowing a corporation to exist for each 
 particular road, granting them the power 
 of levying a certain and definite toll on 
 whoever, and whatever passes. New- 
 England contains about fifteen hundred 
 miles of such turnpike road, which cost at 
 least five millions of dollars ; this portion 
 of the country is intersected by so many 
 fine wide rivers, that the number of per- 
 manent and expensive bridges, astonishes 
 
48 
 
 the foreigner who expects to find every 
 thing in its infancy here. No less than 
 from seventy-five to an hiuidred toll bridg- 
 es, which cost more than twenty thousand 
 dollars each on an average ; and all kept 
 in such good repair, that a traveller is sel- 
 dom detained a moment by any obstacles 
 so common in many countries. The fa- 
 mous via Avpia, which has been a theme 
 of praise for twenty centuries, allowing it 
 to have cost fifty thousand dollars a mile, 
 was not so expensive as a hundred miles 
 of New-England turnpike roads, which 
 can be selected. The distance from Can- 
 terbury to Portsmouth is about fifty miles, 
 through towns of well cultivated farms 
 owned and occupied by men, who appear 
 to have the means of independence and 
 happiness in their possession. 
 
 Portsmouth is a commercial town : the 
 largest in the state, its population is not 
 far from seven thousand souls. The man- 
 ners of the people are different from most 
 towns in New- England : for there is more 
 
49 
 
 distinction in classes^and of course the mid- 
 dling io.terest is not so substantial a body 
 of men, as in many other places. This 
 town is situated on the. river Piscataqua^ 
 and has so fine and safe a harbor, that his 
 British Majesty's ships made this their 
 port before the revolution, Avhen on this 
 station. Their last Grovernors sent from 
 England, the two Wentworths, were men 
 of great parade and show ; and the taste, 
 and refinement, communicated by these 
 gentlemen to the wealthy inhabitants, has 
 survived the revolution. Portsmouth has 
 been acknowledged by foreigners to pos- 
 sess more genteel manners, cordialty, and 
 hospitality, than any other place of its size 
 in New-England. For several years past 
 the literary and wealthy, speaking gener- 
 ally, have had but little share in their 
 town, and state relations, having been out- 
 numbered by their political opponents ; 
 and even when their own party were in 
 power and office, in the state ; they were 
 not precisely pleased with men, or meas- 
 5 
 
50 
 
 ures 5 and never seemed to enter into poli- 
 tics with mucli spirit or interest. Ports- 
 mouth as a town is not remarkably wealthy ; 
 many merchants are rich, and have an exten- 
 sive foreign commerce; but the place does 
 not contain a fortunate number of that ex- 
 cellent grade of citizens; extending from 
 those just helow opulence ^ to those just 
 above indigence ; who are in their several 
 branches, the depositaries of no small share 
 of the talents, and moral icorth of a people. 
 Yet it cannot be denied that Portsmouth, 
 has as much genius antl enterprize, and 
 cherishes it better ; more of that sociability 
 which gives a zest to life ; more of that 
 openness, urbanity and kindness, which 
 is the charm that attracts, detains, and de- 
 lights, than some other places of equal 
 magnitude, or more wealth, equality, and 
 sober habits. These social virtues redound 
 to their honor and praise, at home and a- 
 broad ; they give the heart a warmer cur- 
 rent of blood, the soul more elevation, the 
 thoughts more expansion : and teach 
 
51 
 
 them to bear calamity with a better grace^ 
 and enjoy prosperity with a higher rel- 
 ish. 
 
 AT about seven o'clock in the morning 
 I entered the town of Newburyport; its 
 appearance was neat, elegant, and tasteful ; 
 with fine side walks, wide, gravelled, and 
 clean in almost every street. The build- 
 ings were commodious, well made, and uni- 
 ted an air of economy and convenience in a 
 greater degree than I had before seen in 
 this country. The houses of public wor- 
 ship were numerous, for the number of in- 
 habitants, and built in a style of simjdicity 
 and beauty. From a little eminence, I 
 counted the spires of eight churches ; — 
 and from the same elevation I beheld the 
 beautiful river Merrimack, which springs 
 from a great lake with a long aboriginal 
 
52 
 
 name, which I have forgotten, situated 
 beyond the mountains, which indistinctly 
 appear from this place, more than one hun- 
 dred miles distant. This river winds 
 through a wild and beautiful country and 
 mingles with the ocean at about three 
 miles from the tow^n. The banks of the 
 river for more than a mile by the town, 
 from the wharves, stores, docks, &c. had 
 the appearance of a once extensive and 
 busy commerce. I was delighted with the 
 view, and continued to examine and en- 
 quire into all that concerned this place. — 
 I stared at the genteel people as they pass- 
 ed who seemed to wear a gloom, a dejec- 
 tion and perplexity in their looks. Tlie 
 mass of the people appeared idle, but not 
 indolent, listless and inactive without any 
 marks of sloth. The cast of manners, 
 here, seem formed from some great and 
 deep impression, what, I could not conjec- 
 ture ; but accident soon introduced me to 
 an acquaintance who gave an ample ac- 
 count of all the subjects of my enquiry. 
 
d3 
 
 This was a thriving place before the 
 great revolution, in this country, in 1775 
 — in which our nation took such an active 
 part, and in which our dear friend La 
 Fayette gained such imperishable laurels. 
 The generation which were active then, 
 have mostly gone off the stage ; and w ith 
 them their modes and manners and distin- 
 guished hospitality. From the commer- 
 cial prosperity of the first fifteen years af- 
 ter the constitution of this country was es- 
 tablished, a new race of men grew up, in- 
 dustrious, frugal, who accumulated wealth 
 rapidly, and spent it sparingly ; who had 
 no habits of show, or parade, and but lit- 
 tle taste for the refined pleasures of socie- 
 ty; who preferred the hasty meal of busi- 
 ness to the protracted delights of the 
 " great man's feast ;" but who in public 
 and private relations were ^good men and 
 true.' Industry was then found in all de- 
 grees of men, and plenty and happiness 
 were generally diffused. This prosperity 
 continued until the conflicts in Europe in- 
 5^ 
 
54 
 
 duced the government of this country, t© 
 try their "restrictive energies;" then, this 
 beautiful place began to decline ; the nerve 
 of industry was unstrung, enterprize died, 
 and idleness followed — want was at the 
 door of some, and scantiness and poverty 
 approaching to become the inmates of ma- 
 ny, and all were inactive and anxious. 
 The misery, which is not sufficiently pow- 
 erful to subdue the pride and soften the 
 affections, produces irratibility of temper 
 and dries up the milk of human kindness^ 
 and brings man back to some of the coars- 
 est and worst feelings of savage life with- 
 out the high fuindedness which is frequent- 
 ly found in that state of existence. That 
 intercourse which charms and delights in 
 social life, which is formed of taste, habits 
 and timenity of manners, and mildness 
 and complacency of disposition can only 
 be kept alive in prosperity. The social 
 sympathies expire without the genial influ- 
 ence of the good things of this world, 
 would it were not so 5 but it is vain to 
 
55 
 
 complain ; ifc is our nature. Not even iu 
 France could our social circles exist dur- 
 ing the agonies of the Revolution^ the 
 public indeed were gay but the social cir- 
 cles were all broken up. These good peo- 
 ple found one virtue after another drop 
 away, and many were altogether changed. 
 — Urbanity was turned into moroseness, 
 and generosity into parsimony, and chari- 
 ty and good will into selfishness. — No in- 
 tegrity, no hardihood can stand the buffets 
 of misfortunes long. — Difficulties, and 
 dangers may produce energy and exertion 
 a while ; but a continuance of distress de- 
 stroys the virtues which at first arose to 
 combat them. In these circumstances the 
 creditor grows hard, and sharp, and the 
 debtor resorts to any subterfuge for relief. 
 — Patriotism, and public spirit are lost 
 when we must dwell every moment on 
 ourselves ; and in such time«, narrow 
 views, pitiful suspicions, and bigoted no- 
 tions, in every form, fill the mind^ of 
 men. 
 
56 
 
 My new friend observed that this place 
 contained materials lor good society ; that 
 in it were many gentlemen of polished 
 manners ; and nearly forty, in the several 
 professions, and others, who had received 
 the honors of the first Literary Institutes 
 in this country : but they seldom met, he 
 said, as in other places, at the dinner ta- 
 ble, the supper party, or social club. 
 
 The next day was Sabbath. I had 
 heard that the day was observed with 
 great strictness. 1 found it so. About 
 eight o'clock on the morning of this day I 
 walked round this place to be certain 
 that my information was correct. It was as 
 still as the camp of Israel on the night 
 when the first born of Egypt were slain. 
 The morning was fine, with a clear sky, a 
 gentle westerly breeze; ^^the sear and 
 ^ yellow leaf of autumn'^ had prematurely 
 fallen and the silence was more impressive 
 by this intimation of the approach of win- 
 ter, which in this climate, must be long 
 and severe. I had felt tiie awful silence 
 
57 
 
 of the desert taud the wilderness but it did 
 not sink upon my soul like that stilness 
 which then reigned among the habitations 
 of men. At ten o'clock my friend conduct- 
 ed me to somewhat of an antiquated build- 
 ing, to hear prayers^ and a sermon, as is 
 the fashion in this country ; he told me 
 that the establishment was similar to the 
 kirk of Scotland, The choir was excel- 
 lent ; the prayer fluent and devout, the 
 discourse in religious principles, was in 
 unison with the tenets of that order ; but 
 the explanations, and critical observations 
 on the portion of scripture the speaker 
 used as his theme were learned, ingen- 
 ious, and satisfactory. The preacher's 
 selection of words and phrases was felic- 
 itous, and his whole style, neat, elegant, 
 and forcible, gave me an exalted opinion 
 of the taste and learning of this class of 
 the clergy. After a hurried dinner I 
 went again to attend a religious exercise. 
 The building was more modern, the order 
 that of the Church of England. This was 
 
58 
 
 more like eur own mode of worship and 
 of coarse I better understood it. The 
 preacher read well, and performed all his 
 ministerial functions, with ease, grace, and 
 proper solemnity. The sermon diseover- 
 ci3 an extensive knowledge of the powers 
 of the human understanding, and of the 
 philosophy of the heart, was full of prac- 
 tical principles strikingly illustrated, chas- 
 tily written, and eloquently delivered. I 
 presumed after this, all religious forms 
 and ceremonies were over for the day and 
 that the people would assemble for pleas- 
 ant exercise and innocent amusement, but 
 to ray astonishment all v/as still again, un- 
 til a third gingling of the bells summoned 
 the people to some other religious assem- 
 blage, but neither my curiosity or zeal 
 would carry me any farther. — This peo- 
 X)le keep the bow bent too long. The soul 
 is not constituted to be Ions: intenselv de- 
 votional. Under severe acts of reverence, 
 and homage, the mind is exhausted, the 
 imagination tires, and the affections grow 
 
59 
 
 languid — The young, particular' v, are 
 never drilled into virtue or religion. The 
 cords of gentle affection bind faster, and 
 stronger than the rigid shackles of austere 
 authority. The virtues never flourish un- 
 less they are first made household Gods. 
 The father's house should be the place 
 where the whole soul of the child should 
 be concentrated ; — The place of his amuse- 
 ment, instruction, indulgence, and protec- 
 tion. Beneath the paternal roofare plant- 
 ed the first seeds of intelligence and virtue, 
 which are developed in the mature charac- 
 ter. Greatness, patriotism and religion are 
 all germed by the domestic fire- side, and 
 watered, warmed, and cherished by pa- 
 rental care, and solicitude. Youthful spir- 
 its and gaity must be indulged in innocent 
 diversions, or they will fiy off into mis- 
 chievous activity. — Let me spend my days 
 in the place where all its youth return af- 
 ter years of successful business, (into what- 
 ever part of the globe they may have wan- 
 dered,) to enjoy what they have gained r, 
 
60 
 
 and not in that place where stupor and 
 irksomeness and austerity, drive even 
 children from home, to return no more. 
 It is now more than twenty years since 
 our nation, taught hy her philosophers 
 broke the chains of religious thraldom ; 
 ground them to dust, and scattered them to 
 the winds forever. In this violence relig- 
 ion was disregarded and profaned. Time 
 and experience have taught me that the 
 visions of mere philosophy, however daz- 
 zling and splendid, are vain and illusory. 
 Man even in his pride of power is but a 
 dependant mortal, and must, to be happy, 
 have communion with, and dependance 
 on his Creator ; but the medium of this 
 communion should not be filled with awe 
 and terror, but with love and reverence. 
 God does not now speak in the thunders 
 of Biuai, but through, the oracles which 
 flowed from Divine Love. True religion 
 is difficult to preserve. Liberality is apt 
 to degenerate into latitudinarianism, and 
 strictness into bigotry. Man is truly '^ a 
 
61 
 
 ^^ religious animal/' and likewise a super- 
 stitious one ; and it requires great eleva- 
 tion^ purity, and wisdom to cure him of the 
 fondness to the wild, uncertain, wander- 
 ings, and awful, and mystical feelings of 
 superstition. I recollect when you and I 
 were boys and studied with the good Ab- 
 be, how" sincerely we made our confes- 
 sions, and with what warmth and enthusi- 
 asm joined in his prayers. This was the 
 day, 
 
 ''When France before the Cross believed and slepV^ 
 Do not think my friend that my misfor* 
 tunes and my exile have made me a pil- 
 grim and a preacher, but I always shud- 
 dered at the infidelity and atheism which 
 was once so prevalent among our friends. 
 I have hardly awakened from the dream 
 and delirium produced by the events of 
 the last three years, but in time to come I 
 will tell you what I know and see, not 
 what I feel. 
 
 You w ill be happy to learn that a hope 
 of future prosperity is now reflected from 
 6 
 
62 
 
 the countenances of the good people I 
 have been describing to you. They are 
 quite engaged in a plan for improving 
 their internal navigation by means of the 
 fine river I mentioned to you. It has a 
 few falls and shallows, the first must be 
 passed by Canals, the other removed by 
 forming a channel through them. All 
 this is very feasible, and will ensure a 
 good share of trade to the place. If this 
 navigation is made free, the frieght for 
 goods a hundred miles into the interior 
 will be three quarters less than at present 
 by land carriage ; and timber, and lumber 
 of all kinds, can be brought down the 
 stream from a great distance for a little 
 more than half the present risque and 
 charges; and the heavy articles of West- 
 India produce, with Iron and Salt, can in 
 the event of a good interior trade, be afford- 
 ed in this place cheaper than in the Me- 
 tropolis. The means of procuring these 
 articles are as easy to the people here as 
 they be any where. The storage, wharf- 
 
age, and all the incidental expenses, would 
 be less here than in a larger place where 
 rents, &c. were high. In a few years the 
 ship-builder, the mechanic, the trader, the 
 merchant, and indeed, all classes of the 
 community would rejoice in its beneficial 
 effects. Can it be effected? is the enquiry. 
 From what I hear, it will be accomplished, 
 for many of the principal merchants are 
 quite active in the business. They are the 
 men to carry into execution such a plan. 
 The munificence of this class of men is 
 generally directed by calculation to some 
 permanent public good. The Dutch mer- 
 chants expended millions of money in cut- 
 ting canals, draining marshes, erecting 
 exchange buildings, and in making their 
 Cities marts for the commercial world. All 
 they expended, is so much lastingly saved, 
 for the conqueror spared their works which 
 he had not leisure to destoy but plundered 
 them of every thing of personal property. 
 The mercantile character, in this coun- 
 try, stands high : to the enterprize and 
 
economy of the De-Witts, they unite som- 
 thing of the taste and refinement of the 
 Medici ; Belgium and Florence, are one 
 day to he giirpassed by this new people. 
 
 THE next place I entered was Salem. 
 twenty-four miles south east from the place 
 I last described to you. Its appearance, at 
 a distance w^as not imposing, for the site 
 of the town is low, and there is no consid- 
 erable eminence, as you enter it from the 
 east, to afford an opportunity to extend a 
 view over the whole ground at once. The 
 main street through the centre of the town 
 is paved for a considerable distance. The 
 buildings exhibited a singular contrast^ 
 for not a few of the old houses v/hich have 
 stood near a century, strong, snug, but 
 whimsically built, were interspersed with 
 modern mansions which are spacious and 
 
65 
 
 Splendid. Many of the public buildings 
 are lav^e, and handsome, but it appeared 
 singular to a stranger to see an old church 
 standing directly in the market way, and 
 almost under its droppings a fine market- 
 house erecting with a town-hall, shops, 
 and other tenements. The ground which 
 the old church occupies is much wanted, 
 but the religion, laws, or some reverence 
 for this sacred antique must have opposed 
 its removal. Perhaps it is private prop- 
 erty which in this country as in England 
 cannot be taken from individuals for pub- 
 lic uses, without great form and many dif- 
 ficulties, and much nicety of proceeding, 
 even after many people are convinced that 
 such an appropriation is for the public 
 good. This is the boast of a freeman, the 
 pride of his birth right, and the inherit- 
 ance of his children ; — that his property 
 shall never be taken without his consent, 
 or a full equivalent for it, and this meted 
 out to him by his peers, owners of estates 
 by the same fee. 
 
 6* 
 
66 
 
 The hotel in wliich I lodge is a moderu 
 building, a noble edifice^ a very castle ia 
 magnitude, erected by a merchant who has 
 left this place for the Capitol. He must 
 have been a man of republican simplicity^ 
 for his arms are not over the gate, nor on 
 any part of the building that I could ob- 
 serve, nor did any square, aqueduct, or 
 public place bear his name, nor any in- 
 scriptions to his munificence. It is prob-= 
 able that this people have been ungrate- 
 ful, and have forgotten to do him justice, 
 i)v that his modesty forbid it. 
 
 The inhabitants of this place have been 
 stigmatized as a people confined in their 
 views, and parsimonious in their habits, 
 but the traveller does much injustice who 
 takes the reputation of one age for the. 
 character of another. The changes in the 
 social relations of a country may be nearly 
 as great as in her political relations, par- 
 ticularly, in a country whose growth is so 
 very rapid. Forty years since the people 
 of this place were known throughout the 
 
67 
 
 country, as an industrious, frugal, cautiouar, 
 and tlirifty set of men ; even then they 
 were frequently misrepresented and abus- 
 ed. The stranger trusting to common re- 
 port, looked at them and passed on, but 
 carefully retailed all the slander he col- 
 lected, hid his own ignorance of the state 
 of society here in the abuse of it, and tax- 
 ed his fancy to embellish the tales he gos- 
 siped. 
 
 Since that period, however, all acknowl- 
 edge that a great change has been effected ; 
 instead of that distant, unsocial, and sav- 
 ing mode of conduct, a delicate discrim- 
 inating hospitality is to be found. It is 
 still true that you do not see here that 
 anxiety to entertain every one, however 
 questionable his shape, as in some towns ; 
 but I will venture to say that no visitor of 
 genteel manners, or respectable attain- 
 ments, who comes here properly recom- 
 mended, but receives a polite and hospit- 
 able reception. The causes and progress 
 of this change is said to be easily and die- 
 
68 
 
 tinctly traced in their history. Soon af- 
 ter the revolution in this country, a gallant 
 and high minded young man, now Gener- 
 al D***Yj son to an opulent merchant in 
 this place, stimulated his father to the bold 
 enterprize of communicating with the 
 East-Indies, and bringing a cargo from 
 beyond the Cape of Good Hope. The 
 undertaking succeeded, and was repeated 
 by this merchant until it became a regular 
 business with him. The voyages were so 
 profitable, that the example was followed 
 by others, if not with the same, yet with 
 great success, that it is now estimated that 
 more than sixty millions of dollars value 
 of India goods have been brought here by 
 this adventurous people. In consequence 
 of this great influx of wealth, the children 
 of these merchants were well educated, 
 for they were able to do any thing ; and 
 many of the young men, after a course of 
 classical studies, returned to the profes- 
 sion of their fathers, and by their acquire- 
 ments did much to «'"<*Uorate, and ele» 
 
69 
 
 ?ate the general character of their birth 
 place. 
 
 Several Institutions have grown up a- 
 mong them^ which show their enterprize, 
 liberality, and taste, particularly the East 
 India Marine Society, This society have 
 a museum of rare and valuable curiosities, 
 collected from various parts of the East- 
 ern world. The members are masters, 
 factors, and super-cargoes of vessels in 
 this India traffic. This collection is not 
 exhibited for money, but may be seen by 
 every decent stranger. I visited their hall 
 of curiosities several times, and hardly 
 knew which to admire most, the number 
 and richness of the articles, or the ex- 
 quisite taste in the arrangement of them. 
 This arrangement, I understood, was made 
 by Dr. B*****y, whose fame had reached 
 us in France. The Dr. is a singular man, 
 a bachelor near sixty years of age. His 
 enemies allow him an acquaintance with 
 a wide and diffusive ran2;e of literature t 
 and freely acknowledge the benevolence 
 
7& 
 
 of his hearty and the charities of his life ; 
 but like Priestly he has grasped too much 
 to be accurate and profound. He has en- 
 gaged too deeply in politics for his hap- 
 piness or fame. He has been the author, 
 in a public paper printed here, of what he 
 calls a summary of events, and things : 
 It is a strange and bizarre production, 
 containing every thing, from the wonder- 
 ful to the trivial. Sometimes a scrap of 
 ethics, history, metaphysics, geography, 
 and common place remarks ; beginning, 
 perhaps, with some profound discussions 
 no national affairs, and ending in some vil- 
 lage accident. As a divine he seems to 
 reason on a new and singular analysis of 
 the human character, and gives a strange 
 interpretation of destiny, and providence. 
 As a writer his sentences are involved, 
 and elliptical ; not unfrequently spark- 
 ling, but more often obscure. As an an^ 
 tiquary he is most conspicuous, but even 
 here, he differs from other men ; for to a 
 profound and hallowed veneration fov 
 
7i 
 
 what has been, and long since been, he 
 adds an enthusiastic, and visionary belief 
 of the perfectibility of that which is to 
 come. 
 
 The reputation of a politician, partic- 
 ularly whose engine is letters^ is never 
 fully understood, and justly estimated in 
 his life time. In the contention between 
 friends and enemies, admiration and ob- 
 loquy, the exact truth is difficult, if not 
 impossible to be found, even by those 
 who have no prejudices, or partialities to 
 indulge. Tooke, Priestly, Wakefield 
 and Parr, are illustrations of this painful 
 fact — tliat vast literary acquirements, and 
 honest zeal are not always the safest 
 guides in politics. Political animosity 
 and party feelings once admitted into the 
 walks of the Academy, or the halls of 
 philosophy, are malignant spirits whom 
 no exorcism can reach, no charm expel ; 
 party zeal is the nightmare on the lovely 
 bosom of learning, which distempers the 
 imagination^ and gives distortion and car-^ 
 
7^ 
 
 kature to mental vision, and paralysis to 
 the social affections. 
 
 General D***y, whose name was men- 
 tioned in the history of the growth and 
 prosperity of this place, has now retired to 
 the country on the remnants of a once 
 princely fortune, and makes himself hap- 
 py in rural pursuits. This fortune was 
 lost by bold adventures in adverse times; 
 but while it was possessed was enjoyed in 
 munificence and liberality. Gen. D***v 
 was the patron of every valuable enter- 
 prize, and the promoter of every thing 
 which promised utility, and honor to his 
 friends and country. The unfortunate 
 never appealed to him in vain, for self 
 w^as disregarded whenever he could do 
 good to others. His charities have been 
 conspicuous in both hemispheres. The 
 forlorn French prisoners in India, have 
 kissed his hand w hich was open to relieve 
 them ; and the rough,destilute, and wretch- 
 ed inhabitants of the Orknies, have writ- 
 ten the tale of his bounties on the tablets 
 
73 
 
 of their hearts ; and in fact^ there is scarce- 
 ly a spot on earth which has not some 
 honest chronicle of his generosity, chival- 
 rous condnet, and goodness of heart. 
 Should a Lav ALETTE throw himself on 
 his magnanimity he would be found a 
 Wilson and a Bruce, for such a man is 
 always brave. If I were proscribed and 
 in danger, I would seek his protection, not 
 doubting but he would share with an un- 
 fortunate stranger his last loaf, and de- 
 fend him with his sword that he might eat 
 it in peace. The selfish may secretly re- 
 joice at his loss of fortune, for his deeds 
 were a satire on their lives ; but the high- 
 minded, and the noble will deplore that 
 bis standing is not as elevated as his 
 thoughts, and his means as immeasurable 
 as the spirit of his liberalty. 
 
 During my stay in this place I had a fa- 
 vorable opportunity of seeing a military 
 review. I knew the American soldiers to 
 be brave, but thought them to be ignorant of 
 military tactics ; but it is not so, my friend, 
 7 
 
74 
 
 for several companies I have seen here) 
 would have done honor to any corps of 
 men, in any army. Their movements 
 were regular, elastic, and simultaneous, — 
 No vociferation, bustle, or fever ; w hicli 
 is always found among undisciplined 
 troops, was to be discovered with them. -7- 
 The manceuverings, and firings were ex- 
 * act, and admirable. This review induced 
 me to look forward to the period when 
 this new world, would be the pride, and 
 admiration of nations, in arms, as well as 
 in arts ; in power, and extent of dominion, 
 as v/ellas in the science of government. — 
 The love of country produces a military 
 taste, in all classes of men. As the corps 
 of artillery passed a reverend chaplain. 
 Dr. P ->i^ * * * e, between sixty and sev- 
 enty years old, was pointed out to me. I 
 was told he was much distinguished as a 
 divine, and much more as a philosopher ; 
 and I am certain he had the air of a vet- 
 eran soldier. There can be no bigotry, 
 when philosophy, religion, and patriotism 
 
75 
 
 live together ; and in the study of Dr. P. 
 are found the modern alembic ; with the 
 christian fathers^ a philosophical appara- 
 tus, with the volumes of Massilon. What 
 enthusiasm it must give the soldier to see 
 such a learned, and venerable officer?— 
 What an honor to an army, is such a chap- 
 lain ? Adorned and elevated, by human 
 learning; and grown hoary in the minis- 
 try of Heaven. I was shown in the crowd, 
 at this review, in a citizen's dress, a young 
 man, of a fine, hardy and martial form, 
 and aspect, son to the venerable chaplain ; 
 who is said to possess the elements of a 
 great officer. He had never been high in 
 command, but had acted for several years 
 as a sort of Etat Major, for all the militia 
 about here ; and had by his knowledge 
 and exertions, produced much of the dis- 
 cipline, and martial spirit I had wit- 
 nessed. 
 
 I had passed several days here, before 
 I had an opportunity of being acquainted 
 with Mr. B^*****h, the La Place of 
 
76^ 
 
 America ; for he had been absent on busi- 
 ness of State, being a councilor to the 
 Chief Magistrate of this Commonwealth. 
 He is about forty- three years of age, of an 
 interesting person ; not exceeding the com- 
 mon size, quick, and easy in his motions ; 
 fluent, delicate, and insinuating in his con- 
 versation ; and without effort pleases ev- 
 eiy one, from the child to the philosopher. 
 He seems at all times entirely unconscious, 
 of his great powers, and wide spread fame ; 
 and talks on every subject with the same 
 simplicity, as though he had only a com- 
 mon share in the dignity of human nature. 
 His profound mathematical researches, 
 \vhich surpass the labors of all men on 
 this Continent, and probably equal any in 
 Europe, save only our great La Place, 
 effects neither his fancy nor his spirits, far 
 he is pleasant, and communicative at all 
 times. This self taught genius, has mas- 
 tered every language, ancient or modern, 
 in which his favorite science is to be found. 
 While quite a youth he discovered an er> 
 
77 
 
 ror iu the works of Newton ; but it was a 
 loug time before he could make the phi- 
 losophers understand or believe^ what he 
 had proved. They dared not do it, for he 
 was but a stripling; and Newton infalli- 
 ble. At length it was corrected in En- 
 gland by his exposure, but their magnani- 
 mous scavans purposely forgot to give an 
 American credit for his correction. In 
 more advanced life he communicated with 
 La Place, and pointed out some errors, 
 which had found their way into his work ; 
 and now mark the difference ; this correction 
 was acknowledged by our countryman, 
 and he claimed the man as his friend, who 
 had taught him to make perfect his great 
 work. This truly great man has no con- 
 fined, mean, or envious views ; but rejoices 
 to meet a kindred mind in every place ; his 
 soul is elevated above the sphere of vulgar 
 feeling, and like the eagle moves, and 
 poises in a region nearer the eternal 
 source of purity, and intelligence. 
 
 7* 
 
78 
 
 I have been indisposed several days, and 
 in conformity to my constant maxim, 
 *^ cuique in sua arte credendum est/' I 
 had a physician ; who has now brought 
 ine to a state of convalescence. This 
 physician Doctor H * * * ^ ^ * e, is one of 
 the oldest practitioners of physic in the 
 world 5 for he has been nearly seventy 
 years in his profession, and is now as 
 sprightly as old Fontennell was at the 
 same age. He called on me this morning 
 without a top coat, though it is a cold au- 
 tumnal day. This sage has seen since his 
 entrance into life, a prodigious advance- 
 ment in his profession : Anatomy was but 
 incorrectly understood, and chemistry was 
 ranked among the inscrutable mysteries 
 of nature. He has, in his time, seen each 
 of these branches rise to the dignity, and 
 glory of a science ; and was himself among 
 the first on this side the Atlantic, to hail 
 the progress of reason. His coadjutors, 
 were enlightened by his communications^ 
 and his numerous pupils were taught the 
 
best method of acquiring what was know«^ 
 and trying what was not satisfactory ; and 
 the good man now reaps the reward of 
 such a life, in the affection and reverence 
 of the community. The monument of his 
 fame is reared before his death ; formed 
 by the number, talents, and usefulness, of 
 those he has instructed. 
 
 The clergy in this place, and vicinity, 
 are of different denominations ; but as a 
 body of men, are of pure morals and ex- 
 tensive erudition ; and frara what 1 can 
 learn have great influence in society. As 
 there is not in this country, a. constitutional 
 connexion between church and statCj^ 
 this profession have but few motives to 
 ambition; but still however "this last 
 infirmity of noble minds,'' frequently 
 shows itself in polemic divinity. The 
 combatants are generally Trinitarians 
 and Unitarians ; and they choose for their 
 tilting match, some subject on the confines 
 of the human mind, in the very twilight 
 of the understanding j in the obscurest 
 
80 . 
 
 regioa of metaphysical subtlety ; on this 
 side which reason is always sure to be 
 found, and beyond which faith lifts lier 
 calm and undazzled eye. Tlie tourna- 
 ment ends when these ecclesiastical knights 
 are tired^and both parties with their friends^ 
 are sure to claim the victory. This war- 
 fare has its uses ; the genius, energy, and 
 learning engaged, attract attention ; and 
 many read, and enquire, who would nev- 
 er have been roused by the subject in any 
 other form. 
 
 The lawyers here are men of talents, 
 activity, learning, wit, and eloquence. 
 They mingle much in society and form a 
 distinguished part of it. I had a fine op- 
 portunity of hearing two excellent speci- 
 mens of their bar oratory. A cause came 
 on to be tried before the court sitting here. 
 A seaman brought an action against the 
 master- mariner for cruel and abusive treat- 
 ment. The cause was opened by Mr. S*****- 
 
8t 
 
 ***Y\, a gentleman of about thirty three or 
 four, in behalf of the seaman ; and after the 
 examination of his witnesses, he rested the 
 cause until the defence was made by Mr. 
 D^^E, who appeared to be near sixty 
 years of age, and the oldest member of the 
 bar, but was in full possession of all the 
 powers of his understanding. Every thing 
 about him was precise, logical, and minute : 
 His voice was clear, but not harmonious^ 
 his delivery fluent but not animated, and he 
 neither offended taste, nor delighted the 
 imagination. He is reputed to be a pro- 
 found black letter lawyer, and I have na 
 doubt but the reputation is just, for I nev- 
 er heard a man whose whole argument 
 partook so much of the form, and spirit of 
 the reasoners of the old school, in this pro- 
 fession, whose inspiration was said to flow 
 from the smell of antient deeds, and time- 
 worn parchments. The whole defence 
 was put upon the necessity of discipline, 
 and the propriety of corporeal chastisement 
 to produce proper exertions, obedience and 
 
83 
 
 subordination, in which he contended con- 
 sists the strength and stability of society 
 in general ; and strenuously maintained 
 that commercial prosperity and naval suc- 
 cess, was built on the great extent of pow- 
 er, custom had given the master of a ship. 
 This grave, learned, profound, and acute 
 common-law lawyer, who never makes 
 a gesture, or admits a figure of speech ; 
 who addresses the understanding in the 
 driest manner, and the most technical 
 forms, is, a safe counsellor, and an able 
 advocate, and just such a man as the old 
 lawyer Finch would have been proud to 
 own, and held up as a model to all young 
 practitioners. You will smile at my fre- 
 quent mention of England, and English- 
 men, but this people having sprung from 
 that nation, and adopted their laws, cus- 
 toms, and opinions, it is impossible to il- 
 lustrate the American character by com- 
 parisons, or parallels with any other peo- 
 ple, of any age; and our enmities and ad- 
 miration have made us acquainted with 
 
 1 
 
88 
 
 English history^ iiirtitutions, laws, and 
 characters. 
 
 The advocate for the seamen rose in re- 
 ply, and my prejudices were, perhaps, en- 
 listed against him, for his person and com- 
 plexion were those of a fair and athlete En- 
 glishman; but they were soon dissipated 
 by the spirit and fervor of his eloquence. 
 After a candid and lucid statement of all 
 the circumstances in the case, and a just 
 exposition of the rights, and duties of the 
 relative parties, he dwelt upon the extent, 
 and nature of the injury to his client; the 
 propriety of a full reparation to the injur- 
 ed; and the necessity of exemplary dam- 
 ages for the good of society. The whole 
 address was so full of a deep, but to him, 
 familiar knowledge, and an high sense of 
 the rights of a freeman, so glowing with 
 humanity, and so warm from the heart, 
 that to my feelings, the appeal would have 
 been irresistible. Before he finished his 
 speech, my opinion changed, and I was 
 ready to believe his veins were animated 
 
8^ 
 
 with the blood of our natiouj but both con- 
 jectures were incorrect^ for I was inform- 
 ed that he was a native of this county, 
 and descended ii «j5n one of the first, and 
 most respectable settlers of this country, 
 and had never been abroad. My passion 
 f and taste for eloquence was formed in the 
 school of the immortal Mirabeau, whose 
 praise 
 
 ** Time with his own eternal hps shall sing," 
 and practised in the harangues of a camp 5 
 yours was formed and nurtured in the 
 proves of philosophy and retirement, 
 where manner is nut much studied, or the 
 gifts of voice or person held in very high 
 estimation, and of course we must differ 
 in our standards of excellence. 
 
S5 
 
 YOU requested me to give you the full 
 history and character of that political corps 
 ^Uhe Essex Juuto/^ whose name has 
 reached every corner of the globe^ but 
 whose organization and particular design 
 has never been by us fully understood. 
 In France^ from the frequent mention of 
 ^^the Essex Junto'^ in their National As- 
 sembly, and from the manner they were 
 spoken of, we supposed they were our 
 deadly enemies, and the unwavering 
 friends to our great rival. I expected in 
 this celebrated county of Essex, to have 
 found a class or order of men ornamented 
 by stars and garters, or some other impe- 
 rial insignia, which would have proudly 
 told the world that they were members of 
 ^^ this Junto." Men, whose haughty de- 
 meanor would leave no doubts on the 
 mind of the traveller, that the fundamen- 
 tal principle of their order was a solemn 
 promise of perpetual hatred to Republics, 
 8 
 
86 
 
 and eternal friendship to kings. I really 
 thought to find men who would openly 
 and boldly declare that their country would 
 never be prosperous, or hold a rank among 
 the nations of the earth, until they had 
 presented some aspiring statesman or am- 
 bitious soldier with a crow n and sceptre, 
 and instituted an order of nobility. You 
 will deem it wonderful when I declare to 
 you on my honor, that after the most scru- 
 pulous enquiry among politicians, mer- 
 chants, farmers, artizans and lawyers in 
 the palace, and in the cottage, in their pri- 
 vate circles, and public places, in town, 
 village and country, that no such order 
 did exist. The whole story of this fa- 
 mous order is entirely false. These peo- 
 ple are the most quiet and gentle I ever 
 saw. There are more men in Essex who 
 sup at home like honest citizens, say their 
 prayers like christians, and go to bed and 
 sleep undisturbed by the dreams of pow. 
 er, or the restlessness and agonies of am- 
 bition, than in any other place in the civil- 
 
 ^ 
 
87 
 
 ized world. But you will ask how came 
 this shadow, if no substance ever existed? 
 How came this name, if no order was ever 
 formed? I will answer: From the best in- 
 formation I could obtain, and every source 
 was opened to me, that the origin of the 
 name ^^ Essex Junto'' was this: — Dur- 
 ing the revolution there lived in this 
 County of Essex, many enlightened 
 and firm statesmen, who wxre fervent 
 and sincere in their attachment to the 
 cause of liberty, patriots without stain or 
 reproach ; but who feared that the peo- 
 ple of this country after the struggle for 
 their independence was over, would be 
 remiss and backward in forming good 
 constitutions and making wholesome laws 
 for the tranquility and prosperity of the 
 country. These sound politicians fre- 
 quently saw each other, and expressed 
 their fears and anxieties, and of course 
 were constantly suggesting among them- 
 selves some hints and plans to prevent 
 the anticipated evil. 
 
88 
 
 In 1780, they moved the people of this 
 commoawealth^ as this department or can- 
 ton is called, to form a constitution, which 
 is the same they now live under. This 
 constitution is guarded by the most 
 scrupulous caution against every partiali- 
 ty for royalty. An abjuration, renuncia- 
 tion and denial of every kindred feeling, 
 affection or allegiance to Great Britain, or 
 any Principalities, Potentates, or Powers 
 must be repeated in the form of an oath, 
 by every one who holds an office under it. 
 This does not look like a longing after 
 royalty : no, it is the very jealousy of re- 
 publicanism. At a later period, when the 
 people throughout this wide extended 
 country, embracing many States or de- 
 partments, all governing themselves, but 
 feeling the necessity of some general 
 Head to obtain national power, dignity 
 and glory, these enlightened men were 
 prepared to sketch and defend a form of 
 government adapted to the wants and 
 tastes of the American people. They had 
 
S9 
 
 compared at home their own views and 
 brought them to harmonize. Those who 
 had only crude notions of restraints by 
 constitutions and laws^ boisterously at- 
 tacked every thing mature and wholesome 
 that was offered to the public. These 
 demagogues severely felt the influence of 
 such talents and character as was then la- 
 boring for their good, and thought to des-^ 
 troy their influence by making them sus- 
 pected. — The association of a few to pre- 
 serve their liberties, was represented as 
 the combination of many to destroy them ; 
 and some one in an evil hour baptized 
 these patriots-^^ The Essex Junto." This 
 was a powerful watch- word in the mouths 
 of those who wished for no law or order; 
 for it alarmed the timid, the jealous, and 
 the ignorant, and the name was made to 
 represent all that was hateful in aristoc- 
 racy and monarchy. These friends of their 
 country struggled on until a constitution 
 and laws were made and in operation, 
 
 8^ 
 
m 
 
 in defiance of obloquy and opposition. 
 No man at this day uninfluenced by par- 
 ty madness, but venerates the few revolu- 
 tionary statesmen now living, and honors 
 the memory of the dead ; and in the pride 
 of his heart boasts of tliem as his country 
 men, and acknowledges they were beacon- 
 lights in the night of anarchy, and firm 
 pillars in the temple of freedom, when the 
 storm had gone by. This opprobrious e- 
 pithet continues, because, many ordinary 
 men have come into power and influence 
 and are willing to take the aspersions 
 heaped on better men, who have gone be- 
 fore them, thinking thereby to share their 
 glory ; and proceed most gravely to imi- 
 tate them without understanding their mo- 
 tives or characters. These men are furi- 
 ous, because, the patriots of 1/76 were 
 zealous; obstinate, where they were firm, 
 and pertinacious, where they were fixed. 
 When the occasion which calls forth the 
 energies of great men is passed, they re- 
 tire, for those they have served are fre=^ 
 
91 
 
 quently forgetful if not ungrateful ; and in- 
 offensive mediocrity, supported by wealth 
 and connexions, are lilted into the high 
 places of activity and genius. 
 
 I will send you a few slight sketches 
 of some of their great men who were on 
 the stage, and actors, in those important 
 days, vvlien all tliey had, or hoped, was 
 put on the point of tlie sword, and risqued 
 on the event of the battle. They will be 
 just, but scanty epitaphs, or if I proceed 
 to say any thing of the living, hasty me- 
 moirs, which I hope will awake their own 
 biographers to furnish for the public a 
 minute detail of the lives of the eminent 
 men, who had the fortune of displaying 
 their talents and exercising their virtues, 
 at a time, wlien all were wanted, and ev- 
 ery one found his proper place in the 
 ranks of duty, and of course, deserves 
 his proper niche in the temple of his coun- 
 try's fame. 
 
Among the number, and one who stood 
 conspicuous was Nathaniel Tracy, Esq. 
 He was liberally educated, and after leav- 
 ing the university in 1769, settled as a 
 merchant in Newburyport, his birth 
 place. Assisted by his father's opulence, 
 and early connected with a lady of con- 
 siderable fortune, he was soon known 
 for the variety, extent, and success of his 
 business. At the commencement of the 
 revolution he was foremost among the 
 sons of liberty, and staked his fortune, his 
 prospects, his fame, and life on the event 
 of the contest. At this time all who were 
 able fitted out privateers ; and Trncy's 
 were among the most successful. While 
 fortune seemed daily pouring her show- 
 ers of gold upon his head, he was actively 
 engaged in diffusing it for the good of the 
 community. He made large advances, in 
 clothing and munitions of war, for the ar- 
 mies then just organizing, uncertain if the 
 Congress, collected and held together by 
 political necessity, would ever be able to 
 
93 
 
 pay him a favthiug. At this crisis his 
 houses were thronged by men of letters^ 
 officers, naval and military, merchants, 
 foreigners, and statesmen. Every one 
 was found around him wiio could bring 
 pen, tongue, sword, wealth or influence in- 
 to the cause of liberty and Independence. 
 The magnitude of his commercial rela- 
 tions, his patriotic sacrifices in the cause 
 of his country ; the munificence, and hos- 
 pitality of his establishments, his patron- 
 age to deserving individuals threw around 
 him a Medicean splendor which attracted 
 the gaze and reached the hearts of citizen, 
 and stranger. Such a man, and the ne- 
 cessity for such an one, will never, proba- 
 bly, again occur in this country. But the 
 Sun whose beams were so georgeous, and 
 waked into life and action such a busy cre- 
 ation was soon to suffer an eclipse, and be 
 forever shorn of its original brightness. 
 Xhe British, who were mortified and vex- 
 ed at losing so much valuable property by 
 Aaiericau cruisers, made such efforts to- 
 
wards the close of the war^ that most of the 
 American armed vessels and merchantmen 
 were swept from the ocean. The days of 
 adversity began now to thicken, in his cal- 
 lender, as rapidly as the days of prosper- 
 ity once did ; and misfortune followed 
 misfortune, until 1781, found him involved 
 beyond the hope of redemption, and he 
 retired to a country seat, avoided the 
 world, and in a few years fell a victim of 
 sensibility. The man who did so much 
 good, and at such a period, freely and 
 heartily, merits of his country a splen- 
 did monument and an ample page in her 
 annals. His younger brother, John Tra- 
 cy, Esq. lately deceased, his partner in 
 business and coadjutor in every patriotic 
 labor in his prosperity, was a man of ed- 
 ucation, excellent disposition, and gentle- 
 manly manners. 
 
 The Hon. Jonathan Greanleaf was a 
 native of Newburyport, and lived until he 
 was eighty-four years old ; with the gift of 
 fine natural talents, a considerable shave 
 
95 
 
 of improvement^ a genteel pevson^ a cour- 
 teous demeanor, bland and coneilatory 
 manners, with a peculiar tact for public 
 life, he filled many important offices, for a 
 long series of years, with honor to himself 
 and advantage to his country. He under- 
 stood better than most other men the signs 
 of the times, and knew precisely when to 
 advance and when to retreat, what the 
 people would bear and when they would 
 become restive. He used such gentle and 
 delicate persuasions to overcome his oppo- 
 nents, and to cheer his friends, that the 
 populace gave him the appellation of 
 '' silver tongue.^' 
 
 In troublesome times he was associated 
 with those great luminaries, Parsons, and 
 Cabot, and what they projected his ad- 
 dress and perseverance carried into effect. 
 In every '^ storm of state ^^ he Avas seen 
 on the billows in a political life boat, 
 pouring oil on the waves to calm their 
 rage, and dexterously managing to gain 
 •^ the point proposed '^ 
 
98 
 
 Literary men of all nations are mostly 
 on the side of liberty. The clergy of 
 New -En gland were among the first to 
 spurn at the tyranny of the mother coun- 
 try. From their piety, learning, and af- 
 fectionate attention to their flocks, their 
 infliienee was unbounded. When the 
 country called for soldiers for their ar- 
 mies these good men mounted the pulpit 
 and preached the ranks full. 
 
 The Bards who cursed Edward and 
 his race might have been more poetical 
 but not more animated and sincere than 
 these virtuous pastors in breathing the 
 wrath of Heaven on George and his Pre- 
 mier, Lord North. 
 
 Many men of the first intelligence 
 and integrity, among the divines of that 
 day, labored to temper this zeal and to 
 keep the flame from wasting by excess, or 
 expiring from disappointment. Among 
 the number whose zeal was according to 
 knoivhdge, and whose enthusiasm was 
 regulated by prudence was the Rev. 
 
97 
 
 Thomas Cary of Newburyport, an accom- 
 plished scholar, a sound theologian, a 
 man of a susceptible heart, of refined and 
 social feelings, a gentleman of easy and 
 dignified manners, who mingled familiarly 
 with the world, but who on all proper oc- 
 casions knew and felt the spirit of the 
 maxim, ^' Magnijiccibo meum apostola- 
 *' turn.'' Supremely attached to his profes- 
 sion, and alive to all its duties he rejoiced 
 with the fortunate and wept with the bro- 
 ken-hearted. At the bed of the dying he o- 
 pened the promises, explained the hopes 
 of the gospel, and taught their souls to feel 
 that the mercy and love of Grod surpasses 
 all understanding. 
 
 In ecclesiastical questions of doubt and 
 difficulty, he was consulted by his breth- 
 ren as a counsellor, for in addition to 
 his general information he Avas accurately 
 acquainted with the history and govern- 
 ment of the churches in New-England 5 a 
 subject of common law drawn from cus- 
 
 9 
 
98 
 
 toms and usages since the first settlement 
 of this country. 
 
 He cherished the remembrance of the 
 hardy virtues, and gleaned every histori- 
 cal fact of the '^ mighty dead^^ of his coun- 
 try, with the warmth of a patriot, and the 
 perseverance of an antiquary : But he has 
 rested from his labors and found a more 
 competent eulogist in his enlightened suc- 
 cessor than can be expected from the pas- 
 sing traveller, who only ventures to drop 
 his humble sprig of cassia on the grave of 
 genius and virtue, as he lingers among the 
 tombs of departed worth. 
 
 The Hon. Jonathan Jackson was a na- 
 tive of Boston, but early in life settled as 
 a merchant, spent his most efficient days, 
 and reared his children in Newburyport ; 
 and was before, during, and after the rev- 
 olution, an Essex man. His understand- 
 ing had reached its maturity, and his repu- 
 tation was well established in 177^, when 
 that bright, and glorious Galaxy of Essex 
 patriots spaned the political hemisphere, 
 
99 
 
 and sheding lustre on each other and light- 
 ed the way to independence and the bles- 
 sings of a free government. 
 
 In these times of confusioUj his precis- 
 ion and arrangement in public^ and pri- 
 vate affairs^ served as an example in ma- 
 ny proceedings which otherwise would 
 have been loose and irregular, from igno- 
 rance of the value of form, and method. 
 Several of the luminous political tracts 
 which at that time came anonimously to the 
 world, were satisfactorily traced to his 
 pen, and were acknowledged by all to be 
 full of practical good sense, and republi- 
 can principles. From the constant exer- 
 cise of thai politeness which is formed of 
 courtesy, philanthrophy, and delicacy of 
 taste, he was uniformly considered as the 
 ^' Arbiter Elegantiariim^^ in the refined 
 society in which he moved ; and indeed 
 such sincerely affectionate, and elegant 
 manners attract the notice and command 
 the respect and admiration of every grade 
 of men in the community. 
 
100 
 
 Several years before his death Mr, 
 Jackson removed to Boston and held offi- 
 ces of responsibility and honor in the com- 
 monwealth. 
 
 William Coombs, Esq. was another of 
 these firm, and well principled patriots 5 
 whoj without ambition or expectation of 
 personal aggrandizement, pressed forward 
 in the struggle for independence ; and vo- 
 lunteered his services, and risked his life 
 and property, to bring munitions of war 
 from the French West India Islands, 
 when the colonies were almost destitute 
 of these articles ; with this difficult mis- 
 sion he sailed, and performed the voyage 
 with dispatch, and success. Active and 
 influential, he was always at his post ; 
 whether wanted as one of the committee 
 of safety, or corps of protection. His 
 commercial business was extensive : and 
 from change of times frequently embarras- 
 sed, and perplexing ; but his course was 
 uniform, open, and upright; full of jus- 
 tice, gentleness, and generosity. He had 
 
101 
 
 seen much of the world, and understood 
 the motives and feelings, which govern 
 the great mass of mankind ; but no disap- 
 pointment, mortification or villiany, he ex- 
 perienced, ever gave his temper the slight- 
 est tinge of misanthropy ; but only in- 
 creased his exertions to make men more 
 honest, intelligent, and religious. His 
 example in society, was beyond all price ; 
 for he added the liberal feelings, and deU 
 icate manners of the accomplished gentle- 
 man, to the purity of the most exact moral- 
 ist, and the tender conscience of the chris- 
 tian disciple. His virtues seemed to cre- 
 ate an atmosphere of holiness around him, 
 for at his approach ribaldry shrunk abash, 
 ed, and blasphemy was dumb ; cheered 
 by his smile poverty forgot his wants, and 
 in his presence despair felt a pulsation of 
 hope. Providence in kindness continued 
 this philanthropist and christian, until 
 near eighty years old, as a reproof to all 
 selfishness, and an example of " every 
 virtue under Heaven,^^ 
 9^ 
 
10S 
 
 -" From hi« cradle, 
 
 " He was a scholar, and a ripe, and good one ; 
 « Exceeding wise, fair spoken, and persuading/* 
 
 The Hon. Samuel Phillips, was a na 
 tive of Andovevj in this County ; and had 
 just left his college- wallsj as the revolu- 
 tion commenced ; but at that time of life 
 he exhibited such maturity of mind, and 
 so much decision of character ; that the 
 people of that large, and important, agri- 
 cultural town, solicited him to take a lead 
 in public affairs ; which he did with such 
 wisdom, and prudence as to fully justify 
 their confidence. He was one of those 
 rare men who are sober in childhood, and 
 grave in youth ; and in possession of fine 
 natural talents, rapidly improved them by 
 method and economy of time. Scarcely 
 had the peace been won, and indepen- 
 dence secured ; when Phillips with his 
 father, and uncle, penetrated with a deep 
 sense of the importance of a general dif- 
 fusion of knowledge and virtue, to make 
 liberty a blessing; appropriated a con- 
 
103 
 
 siderable portion of their property to the 
 encouragement of learning, morals, and 
 piety ; and established that excellent sem- 
 inary in Andover, which bears their name. 
 To bring this Institution to promote tlie 
 great ends the patrons had in view, was 
 the prime labor of his life. Mr. Phillips 
 was in public life, from the earliest stage 
 of manhood ; and j&Ued the offices of re- 
 presentative, senator, judge, and trustee, 
 and patron of almost every valuable insti- 
 tution in New -England ; but notwith- 
 standing all these public employments, he 
 enjoyed much of private life ; in which he 
 exercised all the social^ and domestic vir- 
 tues. In every pursuit he vv^as distinguish- 
 ed for promptness, punctuality, and prac- 
 tical good sense ; and his short life, by or- 
 der, exactness, and method, was filled 
 with incredible attentions to business. — 
 As an orator, he was in the first grade of 
 eminence ; his speeches were clear, con- 
 else, logical, direct, and nervous ; but he 
 made no effort to amuse the fancy, and 
 
104 
 
 never sacrificed any thing to mere rhet- 
 oric. His compositions were written in a 
 style of elegant severity, modeled on that 
 of Sallust, full of accuracy, strength, and 
 precision. He possessed a constitution 
 naturally good, but exhausted and worn 
 out, by unremitted toils and labors, for 
 the good of mankind ; lie expired at the 
 premature age of fifty-one, in the office of 
 Lieut. Governor of Massachusetts ; loved 
 mourned, and honored by the wise, good, 
 and patriotic. 
 
10^ 
 
 I could not leave Essex witlioiit visit- 
 ing Mavblehead, celebrated for the hardi- 
 hood and humanity of its inhabitants. The 
 town is situated on a bluff or head of land, 
 four miles from Salem ; and contains about 
 five thousand people, mostly engaged in 
 fishery and commerce. They have some 
 men among them of affluence, but most of 
 them, are dependent ou the enterprize, in- 
 dustry, and success of the season. The 
 vicissitudes of want and plenty, the expe- 
 rience of hardships and dangers incident 
 to a sea-faring life, gives them rough and 
 boisterous manners, but cherishes the 
 most active and disinterested benevolence, 
 which the shipwrecked mariner of every 
 nation has often experienced from their 
 hands, and the philanthrophist recorded 
 in every journal of the world. The pur- 
 suits of the place make it a nursery of first 
 rate seamen for the navy, and Marblehead 
 has had her share of the sufferings, and 
 
106 
 
 the glory, in all the Ameriean naval victo- 
 ries. So many of the inhabitants of this 
 place are so constantly exposed to the dan- 
 gers of the ocean, that every storm multi- 
 plies the list of widows, and orphans ; but 
 the people struggle on with such fortitude 
 that the population increases 5 for poverty 
 only throws them on the resources of a 
 daring and active spirit. It is agreed by 
 all political parties, those who condemn, 
 as well as those who approve of their 
 creed, that the people of Marblehead, 
 have constantly shown a disinterestedness, 
 and firmness in their patriotism, which de- 
 served the best of causes. During the 
 restrictive system of warfare which is 
 gone never, never, to return, these peo- 
 ple bore tlieir privations, which were 
 greater than were felt by any other town 
 in the United States, without curse or 
 murmur against its authors. They drag- 
 ged from the deep one fare of fish after 
 another, only to be cured, stored, and to 
 rot, before the articles could be brought 
 
107 
 
 to a foreign market. They were cheer- 
 ful while striving for a bare subsistence 
 through uncertainty^ and peril^ for they 
 verily thought, these things were to re- 
 dound to the ultimate good and honor of 
 their country. In passing through the 
 streets a traveller would not think that 
 the vestal virgins were the patronesses of 
 the place ; nor ever once doubt that brav- 
 ery, and humanity were its tutelar divini- 
 ties. If this ledge of rocks is not '^ con- 
 secrated to Dian/' yet it can be proudly 
 said by them that no vile extortioner, no 
 base coward, can breathe this atmosphere 
 of the brave ; and the wretch who has vio- 
 lated the rights of hospitality, or shunned 
 an act of humanity is banished from Mar- 
 blehead with a jacket of tar and feathers, 
 a most indignant ostracism, which seems 
 to trample on the Platonic description of 
 the animal man — a *bipes implumis.' In a 
 town so populous there are always a class 
 of the refined and genteel to whom gen- 
 eral observations cannot iu every respect 
 apply. 
 
108 
 
 WHEN I returned to Boston, the Le- 
 gislature of this Commonwealth was in 
 session, and I had sufficient opportunity to 
 examine their method of passing laws, 
 and transacting other business. The num- 
 ber of the senate is fixed by the Consti- 
 tution at forty, chosen by districts on a 
 valuation of property. The house of rep- 
 resentatives is large, about ^\e> hundred 
 members, elected bv the towns in the state 
 upon a ratio of rateable polls, but the num- 
 ber is not always the same as it is left to 
 primary assembles to be fully, partly, or 
 not represented at all, as they please. 
 The members of both branches are return- 
 ed annually. In the Senate the members 
 are seated according to seniority at the 
 board. In the house of Representatives 
 each member draws for his seat and the 
 orator rises and makes his address where- 
 ever he may chance to be seated, for there 
 
109 
 
 is no rostrum for him to ascend. The 
 speaker of the house^ as the presiding of- 
 ficer is styled, is a man passed fifty years 
 of age, a distinguished lawyer, who ap- 
 pears perfectly acquainted with the rou- 
 tine of his buisness in this olfice, and has 
 such a retentive memory that after a few 
 first days of the session he is perfectly ac- 
 quainted with the names and persons of 
 every member of this great body. His 
 readiness is surprising, for he disposes of 
 a great mass of papers with a sort of mag- 
 ical celerity. This certainly gives expe- 
 dition to business, but some times prevents 
 discussion when it would be useful ; and 
 debate is frequently shortened by this de- 
 sire to do too much. But this is the fault 
 of the people, for they are constantly 
 harping on the economy of time, and are 
 anxious, and restless to make a short ses- 
 sion to save expense and gain popularity. 
 By this course many things must be done 
 slovenly,as sufficient time is not allowed to 
 mature, correct and polish. The speaker 
 10 
 
110 
 
 appears to be a man of warm temperament, 
 but all parties bear testimony to his im- 
 partiality, and solicitude for the public 
 weal. In politics he is a disciple of the 
 inflexible school of Washington, in mor- 
 als a philanthropist and a christian. His 
 prejudices are rather strongly set against 
 the policy which has for several years 
 past been pursued by the National Gov- 
 ernment in this Country. Such a man 
 may err politically, but can never be mor- 
 ally wrong. In private life he is highly 
 esteemed for his hospitality, and domestic 
 and social virtues. His wit, anecdotes and 
 pleasantry, are all used without one parti- 
 cle of malignity, and make him the delight 
 of the festive, and cheerful. 
 
 A man must be a legislator in this state, 
 to obtain information, to do good, or for a- 
 musement, jiot for emolument; the pay be- 
 ing only tM o dolls, a day and an additional 
 two dollars for the speaker of the house and 
 president of the senate. This is their on- 
 ly pecuniary compensation, for fees of of- 
 
Ill 
 
 fice are not allowed. Pensions arc never 
 granted by this Government to old servants 
 of the public, and when they are worn out, 
 by reason of age and labors, are cast off 
 without pecuniary provision or honors, and 
 hardly remembered at the end of the year : 
 So is patriotism rewarded in a Republic — 
 The members of the House are taken from 
 all classes in the community, yeomen, phy- 
 sicians, merchants,mechauics and lawyers, 
 and many among them are men of capacity 
 and good speakers. I saw several mem- 
 bers of common education who possessed 
 great solidity, and shrewdness, inaccurate, 
 it is true, in their speeches, but who under- 
 stood legislative proceedings, and were in- 
 fluential and useful. Others of the higher 
 classes of mind and endowments, are o- 
 bliged to make many every- day and mere 
 business speeches, from the general rage 
 for dispatch. Sometimes a subject comes 
 up which offers more opportunity for pre- 
 paration, and when this is the case an a- 
 ble and an eloquent debate generally, en- 
 
lis 
 
 sues, ia which the whole strength of the 
 House is called forth ; all the talents put 
 in requisition ; and the display is such as 
 would do honor to any deliberative assem- 
 bly. Several subjects have lately been on 
 the tapis which brought out most of their 
 first meu; but I can only notice a few, out 
 of many, I had the satisfaction to hear. 
 
 Mr. T**'^r of Boston brought into the 
 House a resolve for appropriating fifty 
 thousand dollars, from the public treasu- 
 ry, for the purpose of erecting a building 
 in the town of Boston to contain the libra- 
 lies, curiosities, and other property, of 
 the incorporated literary and scientific 
 institutions in the State, with large and 
 commodious rooms for the public meet- 
 ings of the societies ; the fee of the build- 
 ins; to be in the Commonwealth. The 
 advantages of such a plan were explain- 
 ed in a speech, he made on the subject, 
 at considerable length. The orator dis- 
 covered an extensive knowledsre of sim- 
 
113 
 
 iiar institutions in Europe^ particularly 
 in Fi-anee and England, and all the pat- 
 ronage they had received from their res- 
 pective governments. His eloquence and 
 zeal did him credit, but fell ineffectual on 
 the heavy senses of a great majority of the 
 House, who were murmuring about short 
 crops and heavy taxes. It is impossible, 
 at once to make the public feel, or under- 
 stand the honor and advantage to a people 
 of sucli academies of taste, science and 
 the arts : But the gentleman should not 
 despair, for perseverance will awaken and 
 enlighten the people, and watchfulness, in 
 some fortunate moment, will secure his ob- 
 ject, and more than he has ventured to ask 
 in behalf of the interest of learning. 
 Much has already been done, when we 
 consider how recently this country started 
 into existence ; that the forest tree is now 
 flourishing in middle age, under which 
 the aboriginal warriors pointed their 
 scalping knife, and sharpened theiy toma 
 hawks. 
 
 10* 
 
114 
 
 Mr.L***N fromNorth-Hampton spoke 
 for an hoar with great animation^ freedom 
 and fluency^on a bill for enlarging the pow- 
 ers of a religious corporation. The liberal- 
 ists were jealous of the institution, whose 
 creed they declared was a union of Cal- 
 vinistic and Hopkinsian sentiments ; and 
 assailed it without mercy as a tissue of 
 absurdity^ a marriage between antient 
 and modern bigotry, and superstition. The 
 orator defended the creed as containing 
 the faith once delivered to the saints and 
 the pure doctrines of the reformation; and 
 lavished the keenest satire on the liberal 
 believers as wanting in liberality. OthcF 
 gentlemen supported the bill on diflPer- 
 ent grounds ; on the principles of general 
 toleration, and contended that the world 
 at the present day are too enlightened to 
 fear the progress of narrow opinions, or 
 monkish bigotry, whatever shape they 
 might assume; but the majority were heret- 
 ical and determined, and the bill was lost. 
 At another time a question of military law 
 
115 
 
 was before the House, and Mi*. D**^*; 
 from Boston, made a speech of considera- 
 able length. This gentleman seemed crit- 
 ically acquainted with the laws of his own, 
 and other countries ; and clearly spread 
 the subject before the House, with happy 
 illustrations, and many forcible remarks. 
 He attracted, and convinced as he went 
 on, and without difiBculty secured his ob- 
 ject. The fault of this speaker, if fault it 
 can be called, is a studious and careful 
 selection of the choicest words, and an 
 anxiety, and perhaps it may be called fas- 
 tidiousness, in his whole phraseology; for 
 the charms of purity, and neatness of style 
 are not properly understood, or appreciat- 
 ed in such ail assembly. No one would 
 deny this body the possession of high tal- 
 ents and acquirements ; but refinement of 
 taste, and classical elegance, afford but 
 little or no pleasure for these business- 
 men, and they never make or enjoy a clas- 
 sical allusion. I have listened to their de- 
 bates when the profoundest national queg^ 
 
116 
 
 tioMS were agitated, when the speakers 
 made their utmost exertions to persuade, 
 convince, and awaken ; when every pow* 
 er of invention and force of language were 
 put in requisition ; when the aged spoke 
 with the solemnity of a farewell address, 
 and the young harrangued, glowing with 
 the ^^ lumen purpureum Juvenatis;'^ yet I 
 never heard one sentence from Cicero, or 
 one line from Horace escape their lips. 
 They follow the English House of Com- 
 mons in every thing, excep.t the use of 
 classical quotations. Their rules and 
 customs, and doubtful questions of order 
 or right, are tried and adjudged by the 
 parliamentary standard ;— yet they seem 
 not to know that the master spirits of Brit- 
 ish eloquence draw copiously, in every 
 splendid debate, from the pages of the po- 
 ets, orators and statesmen of imperial 
 Rome, some of the most exalted principles 
 and beautiful illustrations. 
 
 I looked round their halls of legislation 
 to find the statues or busts of the fathers 
 
117 
 
 of their Country; but I looked in vaiu. 
 Most of them are dead^ and the recollec- 
 tion of their forms and features is almost 
 faded from the memory of the living ; and 
 the chisel and pencil would now be em- 
 ployed without proper direction or much 
 hope of success. In a common merce- 
 nary repository of curiosities, among Stuf- 
 fed alligators^and wax-figures, I found the 
 likeness of Samuel Adams, the Prospero 
 of the revolutionary spell, who at will, by 
 the mighty magic of intellect and nerve, 
 raised, increased, softened or hushed the 
 storm, brought jarring interest to unite, 
 restrained and controlled every political 
 Caliban, and caused all by his incantations 
 to be in love with liberty. This patriot's 
 bust, with the genius of American freedom, 
 should stand conspicuously in every public 
 and private hall in this country. The 
 sun of glory cannot be said to shine on 
 his tomb — for his country has forgotten to 
 erect one to cover his ashes, and they are 
 mingled with common dust. 
 
lis 
 
 The other Adams, the man La Fayette 
 toasted on the day when Louis XVI sign- 
 ed the constitution, which the Marquis 
 called the '* Magna Charta of France/' 
 is now in retirement, in great old age, fil- 
 ling up the duties of a philosopher and 
 christian, cherishing the last flame of life, 
 and preparing for Heaven. He has pas- 
 sed a long, busy and varied public life,, 
 and has had a fair opportunity of exhibit- 
 ing his talents and virtues in the first sta- 
 tions in the gift of his country. He must 
 be a happy man, in possessing his health 
 and faculties in a good degree, though re- 
 moved ten years beyond the ordinary 
 bounds of human existence, and in seeing 
 Ms first horn, the pride of his strength, 
 justly occupying so large a space in the 
 literary and political w orld ; and indeed 
 the patriarch may without the inspiration 
 which blessed the couch of Israel, see his 
 beloved son filling more exalted stations 
 than any he has as yet adorned. If vast 
 literary and scientific acquirements, if great 
 
119 
 
 political knowledge and diplomatic expe- 
 rience, united with a general acquaintance 
 with mankind, are qualifications for high 
 offices in this republic, his claims are im- 
 posing and paramount. 
 
 Knowing that the subject would not be 
 disagreeable to you, I send you a slight 
 sketch of the military system here. Tlie 
 peace establishment of the United States 
 is an army of ten thousand men, stationed 
 in mere handfuls along their immense fron- 
 tiers, and extended seaboard, in the forts, 
 and at the military depots. — This army 
 is numerously officered, so that in the event 
 of a sudden war, this skeleton may be rais- 
 ed upon instantly to meet the emergency. 
 The military defence of the Common- 
 wealth of Massachusetts consists of a well- 
 organized militia, of nearly one hundred 
 thousand men, formed into thirteen divis- 
 ions. The troops are inspected by com- 
 panies in the spring, all on one day, and 
 a return made of the arms and equipments. 
 They meet at other times for company dis- 
 
ISO 
 
 cipline, and once in the autumn of every 
 year, are inspected and reviewed in regi- 
 ments^ brigades and divisions, at the pleas- 
 ure of the Major General of each divis- 
 ion. In the militia are many of the first 
 young men in the country, who serve sev- 
 eral years, and spend much time and mon- 
 ey in diffusing military knowledge and 
 taste. The whole body of these troops is 
 well equipt,but the light infantry, cavalry, 
 and artillery, are in handsome and costly 
 uniforms, and every part of their arms 
 ready at short notice for service. 
 
 I had the pleasure of seeing the Com- 
 mander in Chief- — the Governor, review a 
 brigade of these troops. This officer has 
 the ease, the precision, and martial air of a 
 soldier fond of his duty ; and both officers 
 and men appeared to regard him with ad- 
 miration and respect. He is not a Ma- 
 gistrate w ho has thrown on a uniform from 
 state-parade or necessity, and who is 
 in durance until it is off, but wears it 
 like one accustomed to command, and who 
 
1^1 
 
 loves the duties of a soldier. He wai5 a 
 revolutionary officer, and distinguished in 
 the hattles which preceded the capture of 
 Burgoyne ; Avhich event formed the most 
 memorable era in the history of the con- 
 test^ because this good fortune of the Amer- 
 icans gave the struggle the form and char- 
 acter of legitimate warfare. The staff of 
 his Excellency were finely mounted, and 
 r^ady and accurate in their duties, and 
 are gentlemen who fill a very considerable 
 space in society. 
 
 I was shown the arsenals of the State 
 by the Quarter Master- Greneral, who is a 
 veteran officer, with the politeness of the 
 old school; and he gave me the whole his- 
 tory, in minute and accurate detail, of the 
 state- defence, during the last war with 
 England, in and about the capital of Mas- 
 sachusetts, and it was more efficient than 
 I had supposed. The munitions of war 
 were in good order, and in considerable 
 abundance, quite sufficient for a peace 
 stock, except in the article of small arms^, 
 11 
 
12^ 
 
 but the deficiencyj the Greneral said, would 
 soon be supplied by a provision of the 
 general government. The buildings in 
 which these articles are kept, are small, 
 and altogether a disgrace to this great and 
 powerful State. 
 
 From the camp of Mars I passed to the 
 groves of the Muses, or in other words, 
 made a visit to Cambridge, three miles 
 from Boston, the seat of the most respect- 
 able, and antient seminary of learning in 
 this country-Cambridge University, The 
 college yard encloses several large build- 
 ings of brick and stone, containing numer- 
 ous chambers for officers and students, ca- 
 pacious rooms for a library, a philosophi- 
 cal apparatus, for recitations and lec- 
 tures, and a hall for dining. The num- 
 ber of students is about two hundred 
 and fifty, divided into four classes. 
 Very considerable acquirements are nec- 
 essary to be admitted into the lowest class. 
 Candidates for admission must have read 
 attentively several of the Latin and Grreek 
 
123 
 
 authors, studied an extensive treatise on 
 elementary mathematics, and possess cou-^ 
 siderable acquaintance with other branch- 
 es of learning, before they can pass the 
 threshold of this Institution. The pro- 
 fessors and other instructors are numerous, 
 carefully selected and sustain a high char- 
 acter for dignity and learning : but there 
 are no private tutors, those screens for 
 idleness and irregularity. The scholars 
 are all on an equality of rank, and fairly 
 bring mind to contend with mind for the 
 mastery ; and superiority of knowledge 
 and intellect is the only distinction which 
 is ever known on this classic ground ; and 
 it frequently happens that the son of a 
 yeoman wears the honors and v/rests the 
 bays from the sons of opulence, and pride. 
 Each class has its appropriate instructors, 
 and meet twice a day for lectures or i^eci- 
 tations, and as often have an opportunity 
 of comparing habits of study, and measur- 
 ing mental strength with each other. — 
 Quarterly and annual exhibitions of the 
 
talents and learning of the students are 
 pubiicly made. This fair and admirable 
 method of education^ where all distinc- 
 tions, but those of merit, like the dust of 
 the balance are ivithout weight and with- 
 out regard, is the seed of greatness, the 
 nurse of genius, and the salt of a free gov- 
 ernment. The president and professors 
 of this Institution have none of the gowns- 
 man's narrow views, nothing of the staid- 
 n«ss of learning, or the solemn awkward- 
 ness of recluse book-men; but are learned 
 2:entlemen instructins: the sons of freemen. 
 The president is about forty -five years of 
 age, a gentleman of learning, talents, easy 
 and polished manners, known at home as 
 an accurate and tasteful scholar, and an 
 excellent preacher; but abroad, more par- 
 ticularly, as an author of an elegant mor- 
 ceau of biography ; the life and charac- 
 ter of Fisher Ames ; who was an orator of 
 transcendent eloquence, and a patriot 
 without fear or reproach ; who spent his 
 life for his country's welfare, and died 
 
1«3 
 
 with the spirit of political prophecy oa 
 his lips. 
 
 The Chief Justice of this Commonwealth 
 has lately been appointed professor of law 
 at this University. His acceptance of this 
 office promises much usefulness to the com- 
 munity, and additional celebrity to the In- 
 stitution. He has already delivered one 
 course of lectures with great applause. — 
 From the specimens I have seen of his 
 ability and style, from such correctness 
 as he has exhibited in his opinions in the 
 law reports, and the elegance of composi- 
 tion he has shown in the sketches of char- 
 acter, delivered on the lately deceased 
 Judges, Parsons, Sewell, and Dewey ; it 
 may safely be inferred that these lectures 
 will have no small share of the solidity^ 
 neatness and ease of Blackstone's Com- 
 mentaries. The field before the professor 
 is large, and full of rich and uuwrought 
 materials, for the common law of New- 
 England, which existed before the revo- 
 lution, has never been gathered, or com 
 11* 
 
1S6 
 
 ineiited upon ; except so far as it has come 
 into the cases which have been heard, and 
 decided, in the Supreme Judical Court in 
 this Comoionwealth. What has been donCf 
 was well done ; yet much remains for sa- 
 gacious labor, and discriminating taste. — 
 The Chief Justice has many motives for 
 great exertions in this professorship ; his 
 own high reputation to support ; the raised 
 expectations of the public to meet ; the 
 law character of the State, the pride of 
 the bar^ and the fame of the University to 
 keep in view ; and to an affectionate heart, 
 like his own, a still stronger and more 
 sustaining motive, a large and fine family 
 to share his rewards, and rejoice in his 
 honors. 
 
i^r 
 
 Agriculture, the great basis of popular 
 tion, is not at present, in MassachusettSj 
 at so high a state of perfection as a stran- 
 ger would expect from the wealth and in- 
 dustry he every where discovers in this 
 Commonwealth. I saw in the public 
 prints, that a cattle show was to be held 
 at Brighton, in the vicinity of Boston, and 
 curiosity made me an early visitor at the 
 exhibition. It had excited considerable 
 interest, and was well attended. The 
 animals shown were not numerous, some 
 of them were very good, but others were 
 not of the first quality* The number of 
 the animals would have been greater, and 
 the quality, particularly, of the fat oxen, 
 would have been much better if farmers 
 had not been prevented from exhibiting 
 their cattle for fear the most extraordina- 
 ry animals would have been searched 
 out, and entered for tlie show. The 
 
whole proceedings of the Trustees of the 
 Massachusetts Agricultural Society on 
 this occasion, were precise, cautious and 
 liberal, with as many checks, guards, and 
 indulgencies, as were practicable. The 
 report on the rules and orders of the show, 
 as presented to the public on that day by 
 Mr. Lowell, contained a historical sketch 
 of the proceedings of the Society, the mo- 
 tives which led to its establishment, and 
 the difficulties it has had to encounter, 
 principally arising from the apathy of the 
 agricultural interest. 
 
 The report proceeded to a discussion 
 of some of the prime objects of the institu- 
 tion, and unfolded them in a succinct, 
 sound and lucid manner, calculated to 
 awaken the public from indifference to 
 these subjects, and to destroy the prejudi- 
 ces which have so long and so inveter- 
 ately been fixed in this country. I have 
 had the pleasure of hearing this gentlemaur 
 several times, on various subjects, and evcB 
 his impromtu productions wear a charac- 
 
ier and polish, which would seem to imply 
 a most patient and laborious finishing. 
 The high compliment once paid another, 
 may justly be said of him and even extend- 
 ed— 
 
 *' Nullum quod tetigit i>05i ornavit," 
 
 et tetigit orania^ — 
 
 It is surprising that the end and design 
 of this Institution should be so little un- 
 derstood. People talk of the amount of 
 the premiums offered and given by this 
 Society. True, in this case they are 
 something handsome in a pecuniary point 
 of view, but the real value of all these 
 things is in the honor. It would have 
 been amusing to have heard the victor 
 crowned with the wreath of honor, en- 
 quiring what sum the artist had for his 
 trifling pains in forming it. — The Cattle 
 Show is nothing, — -the premiums nothing, 
 only as a symptom of awakened attention, 
 and an earnest of future improvement. In 
 every business men must be stimulated to 
 
ISO 
 
 competition anil rivalry, to produce any 
 thing useful and important. 
 
 The philosophy of agriculture was the 
 first partially learned, and will be the last 
 fully understood. The growth and culti- 
 vation of indigenous plants and animals, 
 required but little information, for nature 
 distinctly marked out her own proper 
 course for what she had spontaneously 
 brought forth. But to compare, and prop- 
 erly to understand the climates and soils 
 of different degrees of latitude, and dis- 
 tant countries, that agriculturalists may 
 successfully introduce the vegetables and 
 animals of every region, for food, service, 
 or ornament, Avhich can add plenty, com- 
 fort, wealth or pleasure to their own coun- 
 try, require^ a unity of enlightened intel- 
 lect and unceasing labor. This Institu- 
 tion was established for such a purpose. — 
 Humanity and patriotism are its parents ; 
 liberality, enterprise and research its 
 nurses ; and perseverance will cherish its 
 growth, and give it a stable reputation and 
 
131 
 
 permanent success ; for ilirift always fol- 
 lows intelligent and honest labor to wipe 
 the sweat from his brow, to cheer his 
 countenance, and enliven him with the 
 prospect of future good. 
 
 Until the present age, agricultural 
 economy was founded on traditionary 
 statements and individual observation ; 
 from which grew numerous and contradic- 
 tory theories, frequently overthrown by 
 some change in soil or season ; and on 
 which, if successful, no farmer dared ful- 
 ly to rest, or decidedly to recommend. 
 Among the proud and wonderful improve- 
 ments of our time, the advancement of 
 husbandry stands conspicuous. Philos- 
 ophers who have long been abstracted from 
 the things around them by the science of 
 metaphysics and numbers, have sudden- 
 ly turned from speculation to utility, and 
 are now assiduously investigating the 
 properties of the earth, the prolific mother 
 of all things ; and these mighty minds, 
 like the fabled soils of earth, seemed to 
 
133 
 
 liave found new vigor the moment they 
 touched the ground. Philosophy has now 
 found her noblest subject, to increase the 
 means of living, and of course to enhance 
 the value of life. 
 
 A few years since the cultivation of the 
 soil was considered as a homely, and 
 rough employment, requiring only corpo- 
 real strength without calculation or inge- 
 nuity, but this mistake is passing, or has 
 passed away. — The art or science of ag- 
 riculture now presses into its service ev- 
 ery species of knowledge, of times, sea- 
 sons, soils, climates, properties, composi- 
 tions, and decompositions, matter, action, 
 growth, and dissolution, from the " rank 
 weed that rots on Lethe's wharf," the 
 ■'^ Omnia e conchis" of the chemist, to the 
 course of every star in the Heavens. 
 The antients held husbandry in much 
 higher estimation than the generations 
 who have more immediately preceded us. 
 They had much taste, and some knowl- 
 edge but their philosophy was so rapt up 
 
ill allegory^ and sniTOunded by the charms 
 of fancy, that all the phenomena of nature 
 were carried up to supernatural agency. 
 They had but little experiment, and no 
 analysis, they looked on the surface of 
 things, and drew on their imagination. 
 Yet the plough was venerated in the land 
 of the muses, and the chastest of the Ro- 
 man poets sang the beneficence of the 
 Gods to the husbandman. Apollo and 
 Pan blessed the shepherd, and taught him 
 the mysteries of his employment. Ceres 
 scattered her golden grain, ^' and Bacchus 
 came down with the vine.^^ The praises 
 of the Gods, heroes, patrons and husban- 
 dry were mingled together, and in the 
 same strain, were celebrated the beauty of 
 a heifer and the bounty of Maecenas, the 
 method of selecting a war horse and the 
 deification of Augustus. — The present is 
 an age of practical wisdom, and all the vi- 
 sions of poetry are dissolved by experi- 
 mental philosophy. The golden rule now 
 established is — the most food from the 
 13 
 
134 
 
 fewest acresj and the least possible labor. 
 The beautiful and tasteful must be control- 
 led by the useful. The hive is now kept 
 for the honey and not for the sagacity of 
 the bee ; the plant is now cultivated for 
 its substance and succulency and not for 
 the fragrance of the flower ; the forest is 
 trimmed to make better the quality and 
 increase the quantity of timber^and not for 
 regular shades or imposing scenery. All 
 things which regard husbandry and the 
 arts have changed for the better. Feeble 
 and fickle patrons who consulted their 
 own glory more than the general good 
 are superceded by powerful corporations 
 who unite the wealthy talent and interest 
 of the surrounding country^ who are more 
 able to surmount difficulties, more sted- 
 fast in purpose, and more just in the dis- 
 tribution of rewards. This society, as the 
 report states, has existed a number of 
 years, but has now made its first public 
 exhibition. If it continues with the same 
 zeal, talent, information and liberality 
 
1B5 
 
 which has hitherto been displayed, its 
 advantages will be certain, increasing 
 and incalculable ; its example contagious, 
 and diffusive. If it is continued with the 
 same spirit for a few years, county socie- 
 ties will start up to emulate its exertions ; 
 every farming neigbourhood will catch its 
 spirit and every individual farmer thank 
 Heaven for the good it has done. 
 
 If the man, " who could make two 
 ears of corn, or two blades of grass, to 
 grow upon a spot of ground where only 
 one grew before, would deserve better of 
 mankind, and do more essential service to 
 his country, than the whole race of politi- 
 cians put together," how great must be the 
 value of these philanthropists, and how 
 much do they deserve of their country, 
 who greatly multiply the ears of corn and 
 blades of grass, and teach men to do the 
 same, and then reward them for their 
 knowledge and success. 
 
 This awakened attention to agricultural 
 pursuits in its various branches with pru- 
 
S36 
 
 dent and well founded manufacturing es- 
 tablishmentsj will fix more certainty to 
 capital and in the event of a war prevent 
 that distress attendant on sudden cheeks 
 to commercial business, increase the pop- 
 ulation and add efficiency to the state as a 
 member of the union. 
 
 The probable duration of the republican 
 forms of government in this country is a 
 subject often discussed by the philosophers 
 and statesmen in Europe ; and as is com- 
 mon in political questions there is a great 
 diversity of opinion. Those who think 
 these civil and political forms of a free 
 people will soon crumble into the dust, 
 draw their arguments from the downfall 
 of others, and the decay and termination 
 of the small republics of modern Italy ; 
 but between them and the American re- 
 
137 
 
 public there is uo parallel ^ for the Amer- 
 ican republic is erectedj and supported on 
 different principles from former free gov- 
 ernments. In the first, ther seeds of their 
 own dissolution were inherent and palpa- 
 ble ; a scanty population ; a confined ter- 
 ritory ; a distinction of rank ; a proud and 
 profligate nobility ; a factious, ignorant, 
 and giddy populace ; without much stabil- 
 ity in the middle classes of society : These 
 were the canker-worm of their immortal- 
 ity, the spell which hung upon their 
 strength ; the spot deep, and indelible up- 
 on their loveliness ; — the presages of their 
 political and civil agonies, and at length 
 the seal of their departed liberty, and 
 happiness. An oppressive aristocracy 
 can never be a part of a free government. 
 These republics were surrounded by war- 
 like and barbarian neighbors, ignorant of 
 even the name of liberty ; but furious for 
 conquest and plunder. For a while, fear 
 and interest held them together ; — but the 
 eement was not natural, and permanent, 
 IS* 
 
13S 
 
 for the reciprocity of interest was not 
 equal. — The first grades of society had 
 too much, the lower too little at risk ; hut 
 to the honor of men in humble ranks of 
 life, they seldom, or never, desert their 
 superiors, when they discover talents, 
 magnanimity, and bravery to lead them to 
 glory. Most countries have fallen by the 
 pusillanimity, and avarice of the upper 
 classes ; who, when in danger of invasion, 
 have hesitated, negociated, and cowered, 
 hoping to save a part of their wealth, and 
 consequence, by treaty and management ; 
 and the end has invariably been the dis- 
 persion of their followers, and the ruin 
 of themselves. 
 
 The American republic is different, in 
 every point of view ; possessing a territory 
 of immense extent, embracing every vari- 
 ety of soil and climate, embosoming lakes 
 like seas in magnitude 5 extended plains, 
 and lofty mountains, producing every 
 shrub, tree and fruit, from those which re- 
 quire the warmth of the equator to those 
 
139 
 
 which flourish on the borders of perpetual 
 congelation ; containing rivers which flow 
 a thousand leagues to the sea, of such 
 breadth and depth, that augmented by an 
 hundred Tybers, they would not rise to 
 move a rush upon their banks. This 
 government, at present, is composed of 
 near twenty independent States, each at- 
 tentive to its own internal polity and pros- 
 perity ; making its own laws, for the pres- 
 ervation of their property and tranquility, 
 building up institutions of literature, and 
 science, as disposition or ability admits. 
 In all these there can be no hereditary 
 rank ; each man is independent and free ; 
 lord of the soil on which he lives, connect- 
 ed with the welfare of his country ; hav- 
 ing something to lose, and more to hope 
 for in his posterity ; and, however humble, 
 never degraded by the horrid thought that 
 he is propagating a race of vassals. — ■ 
 These States, bound together by a federal 
 compact for national purposes : a compact 
 solid and lastiui^, not connected as has 
 
been represented, by a slio-ht pack thread 
 which every calamity, or disaffection would 
 burst asunder. In fine, th- territory of 
 this country is so vast, its education so 
 generally diffused ; distinctions of rank so 
 systematically guarded against"; and so 
 many characters are of nearly equal pop- 
 ularity, and wealth ; that no one can ever 
 usurp the government, or destroy the lib- 
 erties of the people. They are in but lit- 
 tle danger from internal commotions, and 
 less from invasions ; for if every town on 
 the sea-board was in possession of an en- 
 emy,it would not dismay, or endanger this 
 great country. I am not contending for 
 the perfection of this system ; that is not 
 -the lot of man. I am not so much of an en- 
 thusiast as to suppose that any men, who 
 govern a nation, are always pure and just. 
 No, they are here, as well as in other free 
 countries, tlivided into parties, and stru"-- 
 gle for place, and power ; and it may hap- 
 pen in this, as in other nations, that the 
 great and good may be jostled out of place, 
 
141 
 
 and power ; and the weaker and meaner 
 iake the labors and lioaors of o lice ; yet 
 1 mean to be understood that there is, and 
 always will be. a redeeming spirit among 
 so many enlightened freemen, which will 
 preserve their liberties through every diffi- 
 culty ; and that the progress of civilization 
 will continue, and that time will roll on to 
 develope the high destinies of this people. 
 
 I am now about to depart from Massa- 
 chusetts to meet my friends who have taken 
 up their residence at the south, and I assure 
 you I shall leave this northern region with 
 regret, for in every situation I love to wor- 
 ship the mountain spirit of liberty, and ex- 
 amine the free and bold character of her 
 votaries whether on the, hills of Dclicarlia 
 
14S 
 
 or along the banks of the Merrimack. But 
 one word more on Massachusetts before I 
 bid her farewell ; for I have contemplated 
 her character, not with blindness, but witli 
 enthusiasm ; and can mark her excellen- 
 cies without exaggeration. She is power- 
 ful in the number, intelligence, competen- 
 cy and bravery of her yeomanry, and in 
 her industrious and ingenius artisans ; 
 rich in her enterprising, wealthy, and hon- 
 orable merchants, and great in her intellec- 
 tual and moral worth, the only sure foun- 
 dation of every superstructure of freedom. 
 Some things in her character I could 
 wish were altered, and time 1 have no doubt 
 willchangc or ameliorate them. To en- 
 sure her prosperity, she must act on a less 
 rigid and more magnanimous policy. I 
 speak now of her capitalists, and cherish 
 her adventurous and industrious young 
 men, and make some exertions to keep at 
 home her talents and enterprize, and not 
 permit them to emigrate to places at a dis- 
 tance where confidence & patronage await 
 
143 
 
 them. But I hasten to tell my friends that 
 the New-England character is not rightly 
 understood by us. With many preju- 
 dices and some faults she abounds in ex- 
 cellencies of head and heart. You may 
 liear from me in the south when I have an 
 opportunity of observing what effect mild- 
 der suns, and different habits, have on the 
 mind of man under the same govern- 
 ment. 
 
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