THE EMIGRANT'S GUIDE, mmtftf stat^ AMERICA? IKCLDDIMG THE SUBSTANCE OF THE JOURNAL OF THOMAS eUJLME, ES^. The Second Edition, Enlarged and Improved f am HINTS TO EMIGRANTS, &c. / BY THOMAS SMITH. LONDON ; PUDLISUED BY SlIERWOOD, NeeLY AND JoNES, PaTERNOSTER-RoW, AND BY r. Smith, PAKADISE-SxaEBT, LiVEIlPOOX.. 1818. enteretj at ^tattoner'i Wt %^^ IV. Btttiell, Printer. PREFACE. No country, it has justly been observed, presents a more ample field for inquiry, than the United States of America. And tlie curiosity of the people of this, and of other European countries, appears to be awake to the subject. To answer, at a small expence, the inquiries of his countrymen, is the object of the Compiler of this little work ; which, as its title expresses, is written chiefly with a view to furnish information to persons contemplating an emigration to those States ; and, to render it useful to such individuals, nothing has been omitted which appeared likely to be of service, and of the insertion of which its limits would allow. The Editor flatters himself, however, that his production will not bi thought unwortliy the attention of others, wlio par- ticipate in the general desire for informal ion. The Journal, made during a tour through many of llie most important parts of tlie Union, and the substance of which is here given, was not intended for perusal beyond the circle of the t'Vriter's friends. But, containing, as it does, much valu- able information, it was obtained for this work, at the expence of some interci'ssion. The Journalist is welt acquainted with several trran^hes of manufacture, and his observations on the establisliments in that rising country, may be relied on. Hic applause, with which tlie Write, speaks of many of the objects noticed during his four, will not escape tlie observation of the discerning reader. These praises may, in some in stances, have exceeded tlie merits of t/ieir respective subjects ; but, aware of the circumstance, the reader will txcuse a Utile enthusiasm, smittt^i as the author evidently is, with a love of freedom, and contempLaiing, as its result, the ease, plenty. and consequent hospitalUij, with which he teas surrounded. — Of ike sincerity of the Journalist, there will be no question with those who have lutd the pleasure of his acquainlancc : and a conclusive proof is furnished, in his embarkution, with a numerous and interesting family , for the country he so recently visited. "^ To promote emigration from these countries, is not the de- sign of the Editor. ^Severe as are the present sufferings, and discouraging the prospects of many at home, he is eager to declare his confidence in the talents, the enterprize, and the industry of his countrymev ; in their information and public spirit ; and in the means of restoration which the country itself affords. These will render us prosperous whenever they shall be suffered to operate, unimpeded by a weight of taxes, of which nature and policy ali-ke forbid the continuance. With respect to the present work, the Writer has been anxious to furnish a sober, rational, and correct view, of the advan- tages and disadvantages, to be expected from emigra/ion to the United States He has not ventured an opinion, unless previously well considered ; nor stated any circumstance of importance, without possessing various and concurring tes- timonies in its support. And, throughout, has gladly availed himself of the opportunity, which the republication of hts work has afforded, for its improvement; and now ventures to lay it b'fore the Public, under a persuasion, that, both as to viaLe- rials and arrangement, it will not be deemed lU-suited to the purpose which it professes to serve. •« July2[)th, 1818. "- ■ PACE. Geographical Division, G overnment and Religion , 3 Journal - 5 Arrival at New York ibid Visit to Boston and its neighbourhood 6 Providence 9 the Governor of (he State 10 Sail jp the Hudson River to Albany, «S:c 11 Proceed to Puiladelpiii a 12 Visit VViLMivcTON, Newcastle and Washington 13 Return to New York 15 Considerations for persons entertaining thoui^hts of removing to the Un!te Virginia. ' • ' These eastern States lay the nearest to Europe, have been the greatest length of time settled by Europeans, are the most populous, presenting most of the manners, habits, and customs of the countries whence they are peopled ; and will, consequently, be found most agreeable as places of residence, to settlers from Europe. These States are nearly bounded on the west by the Alleghanny Mountains, beyond which lay the Western countries, as they are commonly called, or States of Ohio, '.- ., , Kentucky, , ] Indiana,,' ^.-^ |_,.V, and ' _ • _ .- . Illinois, ■" " " Tenessee. • The Southern division is generally understood, to be formed of north and south Carolina, and Georgia. — These, with their neighbouring state of Virginia, have a climate much too warm, to invite the settlement of the generality of our countrymen. It will now be seen, by the attentive reader, that the class of States, usually denominated Middle, are these situated between the northern and southern ; laying, chiefly within the parallels of 37 to 42 degrees of aorth iat. '■:■■'.. /;. . I 1 'i cents per pound. Common labourers, li dollar per day. Bricklayers' ditto 14 ditto per month, with meat & drink. 1 left Boston on the 12th July, travelling by the stage coach to Providence, distant about 42 miles, paying for my passage 3 dollars. The drivers here are paid by their em- ployers, and not by the passengers. Their mail coaches travel in safety without guards. PROVIDENCE. At Providence I stopped all night, with other travellers, at the 6rst inn in the town, kept by a Frenchman. And, as some idea of the expences of travelling in this country may be had from this little journey, the reader will excuse the following enumeration of our fare.- — The supper-table was furnished with beef-steaks, mutton chops, veal cutlets, cold beef, tongue, ham and fowl ; broiled ham and fowl ; two or three sorts of fish ; oysters ; four or five sorts of bread and butter ; with spirits ; we had good lodgings, followed by a breakfast resembling our supper, and were charged 1^ dollar, or about 6s. lid. each. Here I inspected the dye and bleach-works of Messrs. ■ which are extensive, and appeared to be in good order. They were glazing and finishing coloured goods, which they did well; bnt their white goods I thought were not so well finished. They had both hot and cold, callen- ders at work. At ten o'clock in the morning, I embarked on board a sloop, destined for New York, distant about 220 miles, and arrived the following day at two o'clock in the afternoon, for which I paid for passage, provisions, liquors and bed, 10 dollars. ». • ' ■ ■ NEW YORK. • - » ■ July 18th, accompanied by a Mr. H , an English gentleman, and two Americans, I went to see Paterson Falls, and manutactories. These falls are awfully grand, one being 70 feet perpendicular. The manufactories are extensive ; consisting, chiefly, of works for the manufac- ture of cotton, linen, nails, and iron rolling-mills. July 22nd, I visited the state prison at New York, in which I found about 600 prisoners, at work at their several trades, viz. : taylors, shoe-makers, joiners, carpenters cabiuet-makers, spinners, weavers, &c. Here they are em- ployed, and their conduct observed ; their behaviour, in a great measure, regulating the period of their respective confinements. To improve, and not to punish, is the object of their laws. STATEN ISLAND. On the 2d August, about 9 o'clock in the morning, I sailed across the bay to Slalen Island ; anxious to avail myself of the kind invitation of the governor, Mr, Tomkins. He received me at his door with a friendly welcome ; with- out ostentation in his appearance or manners. He reminded me of our English notion of a respectable farmer. Would it, thought I, add more dignity or happiness to this coun- try, to have its chief magistrate surrounded by a train of pampered attendants, dressed out like so many mounte- banks ? Walking round his house and farm, I found Mr. Tomkins superintending the labours of his several work-people, pay- ing small accounts of two or three dollars each, &c. These things are all matters of course amongst this people ; but, new to me, they awakened reflections vihich I shall not forget. Well may they enjoy plenty, thought I, where almost all are usefully employed ; and where, to consume the produce of the labour of thousands, is not deemed essential to the honour and rank of a few. I need not say that the chief magistrates of the I nited States are without " Body-Guards" and " Life-Gnards," and the people with- out the expence of maintaining them. But how order, "Social Order'' I should say, is maintained, without either standing armies, or the more frequent use of the rope and the drop, would puzzle our " Holy A!liance''-people, especi- ally amongst this strange mixture of persons, from all the nations of the world ; and those, too, none of the best, as some report. But, should the Holy Alliance, in its august wisdom, deem these people worthy their notice, and con- ALBANY— RALSTON. 11 descend to send them a few Legitimates to reign over them, standing-armies, and ropes and drops without number, would, I think, be wanted to maintain social order. ,; r ALBANY— BALSTON. August 11th, left New York, and sailed up the Hudson River, to Albany, about 180 miies, in one of the steam- boats, paying for passage, victuals, &c. 7 dollars. Or my arrival, I called on the Lient. Governor, the Mayor, and a Mr. K. to whom I had letters, and by whom I was hospita- bly treated. From hence, I went to Balston and Saratoga, places frequented in the summer season, by people from all parts of the Union. The waters at these places are said to be excellent. At Ealston there is a new cotton manufactory, built of bricks, 60 yards long, 14 broad, and four stories high, exclusive of the garrets in the roof. Here, and at Saratoga, there are the largest taverns, or boarding-houses, as they call them, that I ever saw. ■ ''" " Man never is, but always to be blest" Says the poet, and to be dissatisfied with the present con- dition, is the lot of humanity. Yet I am far from regarding this as a moral, or a natural defect in our constitution ; it i» this discontent with our present state, which impels us to all our improvements, mental and physical. Without this ingredient in our composition, the human race would exhibit at this hour, but a vile abortion of filth and stu- pidity — contented to gorge on the first garbage it enconn- tered, and satifified with it's shelt«(r under the nearest clump which the vast desart of the earth might present. — Yes, discontent, like the other elements of our nature, has it's Use ; and our all-vvi.se Creator implanted it for beneficial purposes — But, like other of our qualities, it requires the regulation of reason ; and must be carefully watched, or it will lead us into foolishness and misery. But to my subject. At Balston I became acquainted with a Mr. M , whom I found to be, what is called, a strong Federalist — tran- slated into English, we should say, a disaffected man. All federalists are not disaffected to the government, but only to the administrators thereof, wishing themselves, or their friends, to be in place, from an honest persuasion, no doubt, in many, that affairs might be better managed. But Mr. M. seemed to be of another order, telling me, as he did, that he thought things would be much better with 12 PHILADELPHIA. them, if the Stales were governed by Great Britain, in the same way that Canada is governed — that is, without beiiiir taxed! and then, he thought, they would not he "bothered" with the election of their Tomkinses or Jenkinses, or other upstarts ; for that England would furnish them with logiti- mate governors, without trouble or expence. Poor man ! I told him I suspected he was mistaken in his calculations as to the terms on which England would undertake the trouble of governing them; that, if Canada were untaxed, it was purely because she was M«able to pay — for, that Legitimates and Boroughmougers were never satisfied, until they had exacted the last farthing ; adding, that if the Canadians were taxed to one fourth the amount of their fellow subjects in England, they would think of doing the business of government themselves, in the same manner as the people of the United States had done forty years ago. - PHILADELPHIA. August 2Ist, left New York for Philadelphia, part by steam boat, and part by land, through Brunswick, Prince- town, Trenton, Bristol, Burlington, and down thr Dela- ware. On the road sides lay great quantities of fine fruit, and trees broken down by the weight thereof— every thing appears more abundant in this country than placemen and pensioners, tax gatherers and paupers. Arriving at Philadelphia, I was struck with the beauty and. grandeur of the city, which I thought exceeded New York, taken altogether; but Broad-.vay, in the latter city, exceeds any street I have seen. I stopt at ^^'ashington- hall, in South-third-street, at the best and most comforta- ble house I have rested at in any country. It is said to be the best in the States, nor do 1 see how it could be ex- celled. The charge, for bed and board, was two dollars per day. August 22d, I had the honour, as well as very great pleasure, to be the bearer of a handsome silver cup, to a Mr. William Turner, of this city, from some friends in Manchester. The occasion was as follows: — In his native country Mr. Turner had been unsuccessful in business, and, assigning over his effects to his creditors, he went to America, where he soon acquired some property, and remitted to his creditors. This first, was followed in a little time, by a second remittance, which made up his payments to twenty shillings in the pound, with interest. This upright conduct of Mr. T. was so pleasing to his creditors (some of whom refused to take the interest) that WILMINGTON— NEWCASTLE. l3 they set on foot a subscription, and purchased a cup, to be pr(?sented to him as a token and memorial of their respect. " They should not have sent it," said the worthy man, " I have done no more than my duty." Had Mr. T. remained in Eiighind, he mi;::ht have striven in vain to accomplish his honourable wishes ; the unceasing demands of the tax- gatherer, would, in all probability, have frustrated every honest effort. , ,- WILMINGTON. August 24th, left Philadelphia by a steam-boat, for Wil- mington, where I stopt a few days, examining the manu- factories on the Brandy-wine River. On each side, (near the mouth,) there are corn mills, with a fall of water of from twenty to thirty feet. Vessels sail out of the Delaware into this river. A little way up the river, is a place for making machinery for cotton-mills, &c. and a little higher, two cotton factories; still higher up, on the banks of the Rrandy-wine, stand in succession, a manufactory of wool- lens, with dye-houses, &c. and a large establishment of powder-mills. This river is very rapid, running upon a stony and rocky l)ed. In the valley, I saw vines as thick as my arm, grow- ing along the ground eight or ten yards, then entwining themselves to trees, and spreading to the height of twenty yards. The country round, is high, pleasant and healthy, and the fruit abundant. The roads are good. The inhabitants are not subject to the fever and ague, as they are in bome of the swampy grounds, where are stagnant waters. ^ NEWCASTLE. August STth, went to Newcastle, about five miles from Wilmington, a little Port on the Delaware, pleasantly situated ; enjoying good land, with abundance of fruit; if 1 wanted apples, pears or peaches, 1 had only to stop the gig, and could reach them without rising from my seat. August 28th, 1 spent half the day with a farmer, near the Brandy-wine; he told me he had left Ireland, his native country, twenty years ago. The farm, which was a large one, was his own, as he informed me, and that he had lately purchased another in the neighbourhood. I was much pleased with his method of keeping his milk, having a stream of spring water running through his small milk- house, a depth of four or six inches of water was retained on the floor, into which, the basons» with the milk, were set, and thereby kept cool and sweet. c 14 WASHINGTON. August 30th, left Wilming-ton for Baltimore, which I quitted on the 31st, and arrived at Washington about two o'clock in the afternoon. Here I saw the renaius of the public building!) burned by Gen. Ross and h's troops, in the late war, aud felt ashamed of my countrymen for this violation of the laws of war. Great numbers of workmen were employed in repairing these handsome buildin(2;s; I thought the same labour and expence would be better bestowed o!i the erection of comfortable dwelling-houses. Washington is beautifully situated, amphitheatre-like; and, were it but finished according to the plan laid down, would, perhaps, be one of the handsomest cities in the world. September Lst, returned from Washington to Baltimore, in company with some young officers, one of whom amused us with several diverting stories. PHILADELPHIA. September 3rd, arrived f.gain 8t Philadelphia, where I met with some Englishmen who laboured, in the old strain, to convince me that ihe Americans are much more heavily taxed than the English, &c. &c. ; they succeeded in alarm- ing some newly imported emigrants, but a little time will correct the erior. September 6th, walking through the market in High- street, I met with a countryman ; "Well," said I, " there is plenty of fine fruit in the market; is there not?" " Why yea," said he, " but they look better than they are, for in reality, they are not so good as the English." I found him to be a true John Bull, determined to despise every thing that even grows in a country, where popes, princes and priests, do not govern. September 7th, being* market day, I went through the market, to ascertain the prices of provisions, which I found as follow : Lamb, per pound, .... 6i cents. Prime Beef, 9 Veal, 10 Pork, 12| Cheese, 15 Butter, 37 Egg5, per dozen, 12 Peaches, per bushell, ... 2 dolls. Best Flour, per barrel, 91 Jamaica Rum, 1 French Brandy, 1 j Hollands Gin, 1 Cognac Brandy 1 i Rums made in the States, 64 rents. Whiskey, per gal 55 15 RETURN TO NEW YORK. September 8th, returned to New York, in company with the Spanish Patriot, General Carrera, with whom 1 was proud to be acquainted. September 18lh, taking a turn in the burying-ground, called Potler's-field, in this city, I transcribed, from a plain marble stone over the grave of John Taylor, son of the late Doctor of that name, of Bolton-Je-moors, in England, the following lines, which breathe an ardent and exalted love of freedom, while they indignantly lament its loss. — They were written by the late Edward Rushton, of Liverpool; and, at his mslance, thus inscribed over the grave of his departed friend. ''• Far from his kindred, friends and native skies, Here, moulderii>g in the dust, poor Taylor lies. Firm was his mind, and fraught uith various lore, And his mild heart was never cold before. He loved his Coanf ry — loved that spot of earth, Which '^ave a Haminlen, Milton, Bradshaw, birth ; I}at, when that Country, dead to alt but gain, IJowed tier Ijase neck, and hugg'd the oppressors' chain, Loathing the abject scene, he drooped, he sighed, Crossed the wide waves, and here untimely died. Stranger ! whate'er thy country, creed, or hue, Cwo, and like him, the virtueus path pursue, — Go, and for freedom every peril brave, And nobly scorn to hold, or be a Slave 1" September 22nd, went in company with Mr. H. C. to see some friends near Fort Washington, about 10 miles from New York. By the Hudson River, near this place, is an immense rock of white marble. On our way, about two miles from New York, I requested my friend to drive a little to one side, to avoid running the horse and gig over some apples that lay on the road ; he did so, and imtnedi. ately we met three men, apparently mechanics. I looked behind me to see if lliey would gather any of the fine fruit we had passed, but, to my surprise, they i)assed them with- out stooping. Soon after we met a drove of cows and bul- locks, which cleared the road as they marched along. September 26th, 1 took a ride with Ca])t. R. about seven miles into the country, and on our return we called on a friend of his, originally a Scotchman, who left his native country when young. He had acquired a large fortune, and lives in an elegant house of his own, near New York. October 10th, Mr. Peter H , formerly of Bolton-le- moors, Lancashire, in England, but now a resident in Lan- caster, Pensylvania, called on me in New York, when I 16 NEW YO'iK. . requested him to give me a gliort history of his proceedings since he left Holton, which is as follows: — " I left Bolton about tile Ist of December, ISl^i!, and sailed for New York. I had not one dollar when I arrived. 1 stopt at this city about three weeks, when I went to Philadelphia, where I remained about six weeks, and was then ordered nilo the country, forty miles from tidewater, on account of the war with England. I went to Lancaster, Pensylvania, where 1 have resided ever since. I now employ sixteen or eighteen hands. 1 have saved from five to six thousand dollars, and live as weU as my old neighbour. Col. F I wear as good a coat as any Englishman ; and I have not had one day's sickness since my ai rival, I pay 2s. 4c/. a year to light the town and mend the streets, but 1 pay nothing for the light of the sun, nor any poor tax, nor any tax of any sort, except my share of duty on imported goods, and these are now cheap enough." Lancaster (he informed me) is a flourishing town, and the country in general good lime-stone land, well culti- vated, and possessed by a wealthy people. Seven or ei^ht hundred persons per week, pass through the town to the western country, where the climate and soil are said to be good. They generally proceed in waggons, six or eight together. October 11th, 1816. -Accompanied by Capt. R. and Mr. T. T visited the alms-house in New York, in which were children, and aged and infirm persons, who cannot work. These are well led, and the children educated, and bound apprentice at a proper age ; bein^?, as 1 was informed, much sought after. The old people were separated into different classes, some being dean and comfortable, and others the contrary. Our guide told me that they were, thus separated as an encouragement to cleanliness. Behind the alms-house is a penitentiary, in which are kept cwn- victs for small offences. Whilst we were there, about twenty came in from work on a new road ; each man was secured by a chain, fastened to his leg, with a ball at the end. During my stay in the United States, which compre- hended a period cf 114 days, it appears, from a table which 1 kept of the weather, that there were, out of this number, 14 days and S half-days of raiii, in one of which the weather was sultry, with .some thunder : the restof this time, namely, V6 days, ',ve enjoyed fine clear skies. On the 17th of October, after a pleasant tour, I embarked on board the Carolina Ann, for Liverpool, where we ar- rived on the 17th of November, being an absence of six nionths and seven days. PRELIMINARY > . »^u. For Persons enieriaining Thoughts, qfremoving to the United States. Wkue the pfutiments of the compiler of this little work of any moment, he should confess, that they are favourable as to the means of happiness, which the United States pre- sent to individuals who have the disposition and the talents to employ themselves usefully. Strong differences of opinion, however, on this subject are known to prevail amongst respectable persons; persons, too, who appear to have enjoyed the best means of informing themselves — and it behoves us, in forming an opinion, to weigh well the teslimony and the credit of eacli. This the Editor has done to the best of his judgment, and, without slighting the %en- liments of those who entertain opposite views, so consistent and overpowering has been the evidence ia favour of this extensive Kepjiblic, that the conclusion unavoidably became such as he has staled. To reconcile the conflicting opinions of others with honesty of intention, would, perhaps, be no very difficult task, could we enter into a detailed statement of the pre- vious circumstances and points of view from which the opposing parties have contemplated the subject. — At pre- sent we must content ourselves with glancing at such as appear most prominent. And these are to be found in what may be termed a difference of taste, formed by previous circumstances, and in the contemplation of a different class of objects. Englishmen are, perhaps, the most prone to form a low estimate of the advantageous side of the ques- tion ; especially those Englishmen who have enjoyed all the comforts and conveniences of life which continue to distin- guish their native land above the other nations of Europe. No one pretends that America, or any other country, can vie with England in this respect; and the Englishman who has the means of commanding them at hom?, must be pre- pared to make a liberal abatement whenever he travels. The populous cities in the northern and middle parts of the Union, such as New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, dec. may be secoud to none in the world, except our own, in the supply of all those circumstances which sweeten our (existence ; but, inferior as thev confessedly are, that Eng- 18 PRELIMINARY lishman must be disappointed, who, because lie hears every where his native language spoken, expects to feel and to see all other things the same. To the poor man, who toils hard for a scanty supply of the means of existence, without aspiring- to any of the comforts of life, America, doubtless, presents a most in- viting- aspect — for all parties bear testimony to the abun- dance with which labour is rewarded ; and the more ele- vated individual, who generously participates in the joys and sorrows of his fellow creatures, will find ample com- pensation for some abridgment of his own comforts, in the plenty and happiness which surround him. But, after stating this general conclusion, with respect to the prospects held out by the United States, to the in- dustrious poor of this country, and to those in more for- tunate circumslances, who sensibly feel for their neigh- bours, the editor anxiously invites the attention of his readers, and especially of those, who enter.'ain thoughts of removing to those States, to the consideration of certain circumstances which may be of vast importance to their future welfare. A little serious attention bestowed in this manner, may determine some persons who think of emigra- ting, to remain where they are, and induce them to set about the improvement of their present opportunities with new ardour ; or, determining them, as it may do, to carry their inclination for removal into effect; they will enter on the business with much of the advantages of experience, without the serious cost which too frequently attends it ; and, gathering information and wisdom from those who have gone before them, they will possess all the means of laying down a plan of proceeding, such as may, in all human probability, terminate in the prosperity of them- selves, and of their families. The considerations which ought to deter certain indi- vidu'ils from quitting their native country for America, may, perhaps, be stated in a few words, and the editor feels, that he cannot do better for his readers, than lay before them the following passage, from the pen of an able writer; one whose experience, and opportunities of observ- ing, would entitle his opinions to attention, were he not possessed of the sagacity to discover at a glance, what niauy others would find out in little less than an age. It will, however, be proper to prerni.«e, that whilst the passage in question evinces much of the unpleasant feel- ings of the writer at the moment, occasioned by tlie long and disagreeable voyage he had just then accomplished, it evidently contaios far too much truth and solid conclusion CONSIDERATIONS. n to be slighted by any person of understanding:, and we should perhaps look in vain, elsewhere, for a text so snit- able to our purpose. The passasre is from Mr. Cobbett's Register, written immediately after his late arrival in Ame- rica. — It is dated from the State of New York, May 8th, 1M7. It will not be forgotton, that Mr. C. formerly re- sided many years in the United States. "Some of our fellow passengers have found great disap- pointment ; and, it is stated in some of the public papers here, that many hundreds have, during the last year, ac- cepted of the offer of our Consul at New York /o go and settle in Canada.* You know, that I have never advised any body to emigrate. I have always said, lh«.t it is no place for manufacturers; no place for men to live without work : no place for a farmer wlio does not work himself; no place, in short, for any one who is not able and willing to work at the ordinary sorts of work, but, for such men, there is every where a plentiful, happy, and easy life. None .should come, however, who have any views of idleness; and, even for the indnstrious poor, I see no reason why they should expend their last shilling, and undergo all the miseries and dangers of a sea-voyage, in order to save those who eat the taxes the expence of their share of poor-rates. A man and his wife and a child or two cannot come under an expence of 35 guineas, at least. A single man about 20 guineas before he gets into work again; and, as I always said, I never would, if I were in the place of such a man, expend my earnings on a sea-voyage, and endnre all its hardships, in order to remove one eye-sore out of the way of Corruption. Besides, there is the climate, which is not so good as ours, though it is not bad, and though people often live to an old age. The country is good, but, it will easily be conceived, that new facps, an entire new scene, a sepa. ration from every friend, work done in quite a different way from what it is in England ; it will easily be conceived, that all this make^i such a dislocation in a man's mj,nd as to make him very unhappy for a while. Then, he cannot ex- pect to find work the Jirst day. He must as/c first, at any rate. Englishmen are sheepish; and, if they meet with any little rebut, they are disgusted, at once, with the whole country ; and, they are sure to find rascals enough here to foster their disgust, merely for the sake of .«erving the cause of Corruption at home. In short, I advise nobody * Reports of this kind are noticed in (he Journal, pa^es 7 and 8 j ♦here appears to be but little credit due to them. ,,„ ,^ 20 PttELIMINAKY to emigrate, but I will truly describe the country and tlie people. As to emifjratjuf^ with a viow of settling^ and farming in the new countries, it is neither more nor less than downright madness. It is what our English tanners know uolhing at all about ; it is what they are not at all fit for ; and the far greater part of all such speculations end in disappointment, if not in ruin and premature death. 1 hope that our beloved counlry will shortly be fit for an honest and industrious man to live in ; but if any farmers come with money in their pockets, my advice is, not to give way either to enthusiastic admiration, or to instant disgust. But, lo stop a little; to look about them ; to see not only after good land, but a good market for ita products. The VVestern Romance writers tell us, that the land in the Ohio IS too good; but Mr. Mellish, in his valuable book, tells us, that beef and pork sell for three half-pence a .pound. An excellent country for people who want to do nothing but. eat. Give me Long Island, where the land is 7iot too good; but, where beef and pork sell for about eight-pence a pound (I speak of English money ;) where good hay sells for five pounds a ton ; and where there is a ready market for every species of produce. One thing above all : if an English farmer (I mean by English, peopleof the whole of the united kingdom) comes here, with money in /its pocket, let him re- solve to keep it therefor a year, and then he will be sure to do well." Such are the conclusions and advice of a strong and clear mind, pregnant with information, and enjoying the benefit of experience. Let us attend to some of these points separately. — " It IS NO PLACE FOR Ma.nufacturers."— The reasons for this will be obvious, on a little reflection. What we call m.anufacturks, can only be carried on, with advantage, amidst a full population, in which labour can be had at a low price. This is not the case in any part of the United States; and the manufacturer who proceeds thither, must not therefore expect to find a large field for the employment of his powers. — His knowledge of his art will frequently be of little use to him ; and he must not be disappointed, if he find himself reduced to a level with persons who enter on a strange business. — " It is no place FOR MEN to live WITHOUT VVoRK." — The whole tenor of this book will furnish reasons for the truth of this assertion of Mr. Cobbett's ; and it is not more true than creditable, to the country of which we are speaking. Where many can live in luxurious plenty, '■'■without work," excessive labour, and want, must be the portion of others. considerations. si " It is no place for a Farmer, who does not work HIMSELF." This position awakens sentiments similar to the last; and Idlers, whether professing themselves to be Farmers or Gentlemen, will do well to bear them in mind. " It is no place," our author adds, " for any one who IS not able and willing to work at the ordinary sorts OF WORK, BUT, FOR SUCH MEN, THERE IS EVERY WHERE A plentiful, happy, and EASY LIFE." Such are the considerations which ought to prevent the emigration of some persons ; or, if they do not prevent, they ought to />rp/7are such individuals for the difficulties they may encounter. Every one is acquai:ited with in- stances of Idlers returning from the United States with disgust. Bnt the industry of the manufacturer, though not requited according to his expectations or wishes, may be directed into a channel in which it will not go unre- warded. With respect to the other objections to emigration, as stated in the preceding exintct, they are rather of a poli- tical nature, and the discussion of them would be foreign to the object of this work. The latter part of the passage, however, consists of some very valuable suggestions as to the difficulties and errors into which emigrants freqniently fall, and by which they are often embarrassed and dis- tressed, and sometimes, indeed, utterly ruined. To prevent these distressing and fatal consequences, and to guide such persons as may finally determine on emigra- tion, to the best field for the employment of their industry, their talents and their capital, will be the chief business of the subsequent pages, in which, it is presumed, the reader will find a compendium of all the information that can be required by emigrants generally. But before we proceed to instruct the Emigrant in what manner he should proceed, on his arrival in the United States, there are still some particulars of importance, which require his attention, aud to these we will now address ourselves. The first of these, in point of order, would seem to be the Laws which bear upon this subject. The Editor has, therefore, with great care, drawn up the following ab- stract. ABSTRACT ■ ■■ s iLAW^ (DIP HBfoitjiiSJiD 9 RELATING TO &miQVHti0ni IF any person shall contract with, entice, endeavour to PERSUADE, or solicit any manufacturer or artificer of, or in wool, iron, steel, brass, or any other metal ; Clock-maker, Watch-maker, or any other artificer or manu- facturer, of Great Britain, to go out of this kingdom into any conhtry out of his majesty's dominions, and shall be convicted thereof upon any indictment or information, which shall be preferred against him in any of his Majesty's courts at Westminster, or at the assizes, or general gaol de- livery, oi" quarter sessions of the peace, for the county, &c. where such offence shall be committed, the person so con- victed shall be fined in any sum not exceeding £100 for such FIRST offence, at the discretion of the court, and shall be imprisoned three months, and until such fine be paid ; and for a pecond offence, fined as above, and imprisoned twelve months, &c. (blhGeo. I. chap. 21, sec. \.) If any of his Majesty's subjects within this kingdom, being such artificer, or manufacturer, as aforesaid, shall go into any country out of his Majesty's dominions, THERE to USE, or EXERCISE or TO TEACH any of the said trades or manufactures to foreigners ; or in case any of his Majesty's subjects, now being, or who hereafter shall be in any such foreign country, dec. and there using or ex- ercising any of the said trades or manufactures, &c. shall NOT RETURN iuto this realm, within six months next, AFTER WARNING, given to him by the Ambassador, Envoy, &c. of the Crown of Great Britain, resident m the country, or by any person authorised by such Ambassador, or by one of his Majesty's Secretaries of State, and from thence- forth continually inhabit and dwell within this realm; in such case, every such person shall be, from thenceforth, incapable of taking any legacy, «fec. or of being an execu- tor or administrator to any person within this kingdom. /I ABSTRACT, &C. 23 and shall be incapable of taking any lands, &c. within this kingdom, by descent, devise, or purchase, and also for- feit all his lands, tenements, hereditaments, goods and chattels within this kingdom, to his Majesty's use, and shall, from thenceforth be, and be deemed an alien, &c. (Same act, l^c. sec. 3.) The 4th sec. of the aforesaid act, enables any Justice of the Peace to receive information respecting attempts to SEDUCE or DRAW AWAY any snch manufacturer, &c. or that any such manufacturer, &c. hath contracted, pro- mised, or IS preparing to go out of his Majesty's domi- nions, for any of the purposes aforesaid, and also enables any such Justice to issue his warrant, and to bind persons so offending, to appear at the next assizes to answer such charges; and if convicted at the quarter sessions, Aic. ^; offenders are compellable to give such security as the ' court shall think reasonable, not to depart out of his Ma- .jesty's dominions, i&c, ajid in case of refusal, to be com- mitted, &c. The 5th sec. extends the provisions of this act to Scot- land. And by an act of 23, Geo. II. chap. 13, sec, 1, penalties of £500 and twelve months imprisonment, for the first of- fence ; and for the second, double these penalties are to be inflicted on any person convicted of contracting, per- suading, or endeavouring to persuade, &c. any manufac- turer, workman, or artificer of, or in wool, mohair, cotton or silk; or of. or in iron, steel, brass, or any other metal, or any clock-maker, «Scc. or in any other of the manufac- tures of Great Britain or Ireland, of what nature or kind soever, to go out of this kingdom, or out of the kingdom of Ireland, &c. By the act 22, Geo. HI. chap. 60, sec. 1, — If any person shall contract with, entice, or persuade any artificer or workman, or endeavour to entice or encourage any arti- ficer, &c. concerned or employed, or who shall have WORKED at, or been employed in printing calicoes, cot- tons, muslins, or linens of any sort; or in making or pre- paring any blocks, plates, tools or utensils, for such man- factures to go abroad, on conviction in the Court of King's Bench, or at the assizes, &c. where the offence is com- mitted ; every person so convicted, shall forfeit £500 for each artificer so contracted with, &c. and be committed to prison for twelve calendar months, and until such for- feiture be paid ; and for the second OFFENCE, the penalties l and imprisonment are doubled. '■ And further, by an act of 25, Geo. III. cbap. 67, sec. 6, 24 AD8TKACT, &C. penalties similar to the last, are to be inflicted on persons! convicted of enticing or persuading', «fcc. any artiGcer or workman, concerned or employed in the iron or steel manufactures, in this kingdom, or in making or preparing any tools or utensils for such manufactory, to go out of Great Britain, &c. Subsequent sections of each of the above-recited acts, require prosecutions for any of the offences therein named, to be commenced within twelve calender months next, after such ofl'ence shall have been committed. And further, tiiat any suitor action commenced against any person for what he shall do in pursuance of any of these acts, shall be commenced within six mouths after the fact committed, with the exception of the last, viz. the 2oth of Geo. III. the period allowed for such suit being limited to /hree months. On an attentive perusal of the foregoing abstract it will be seen, that persons who shall contract with, entice, endea- vour to persuade, or solicit any Manufacturer or Artificer, of the description therein mentioned, are liable to very heavy penalties of fine and imprisonment ; but that no such penal- lies are to be inflicted on the manufacturer or artizan him- self, for endeavouring to go abroad. He may, indeed, be restrained from carrying the design into execution, in the mode laid down in the 4th sec. of the 6th Geo. I. as above recited. But it will be observed, that this must be done by the warrant of a magistrate, issued in consequence of information on oath, " that such manufacturer, &c. hath cojitracted, promised, or is preparing, to go out of his Ma- jesty's dominions, there to use, or exercise, or to teach any of the said trades or manufactures to Foreigners." in- formation, which, it is to be observed, it would be scarcely possible to lodge against any one without his own concur- rence and assistance. In the event, however, of such in- formation being given, and such warrant issued, the person so attempting to emigrate, is only to be bound over to an- swer such charge, &c. The real bearing of the law on this point, appears to have been misunderstood, or overlooked, until determined by the actions tried at Lancaster in the Spring Assizes of 1>^18, of Broadhurst and Lawton, versus Miller, the Police Officer, at Liverpool. Miller, it appears, arrested and impri- soned the Plaintiffs in their attempt to emigrate, — for they were on ship-board, in the river Mersey. Miller did this without having been previously furnished with the legal OBSERVATIONS. . 25 warrant, for which act, damages to a large amount were recovered by the plaintiffs. An appeal, from the verdict of the Lancaster Jury, to the Court of King's Bench, being made on behalf of the defendants, the former decision was unhf-sitatingly confirmed, and the money ultimately paid. But while such is the law, as it respects manufacturers, &c. attempting to emigrate, and, also as it respects per- sons contracting with, or persuading manufacturers to do so, there are certain regulations at the Custom-house which prevent the Captains of vessels from taking out with them passengers who have not previously passed exa- mination at the Custom-house. In order, therefore, to effect this, it is requisite that persons about to emigrate should present themselves before the collector, or other proper ofiRcer, of the customs, at the port from which they may intend to sail, furnished each with a certificate, somewhat similar to the following, and signed by a magis- trate and mixiister of the parish in which he may have lately resided; and, if to these, he have the signature of one or both of the Churchwardens, it may be better. Or, instead of such certificate, the officer, whose business it is to examine passengers, may be induced to pass them, on being assured, by one or more persoxis whom he may deem worthy of credit, that the passenger is well known to them, and that they believe there is no legal objection to his leaving the country. Form of A^davit and Certificate, I, , one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the Borough (or County) of , do hereby cer- tify, that on the day of the date hereof, personally ap- peared before me, A. B. the Bearer, and made oath that he has not at any time been employed as a manufacturer or artificer, of, or in wool, cotton or silk, or, of, or in iron, steel, brass, or any other metal ; or as a clock-maker or watch-maker. — As witness my hand this day of . (Signed) We, he undersigned, do hereby declare that we (or I) know the above A. B. and that we are (or 1 am) acquainted with no reason why he should not be allowed to leave th« country. Minister. Churchwarden- Precautions in taking the Passage, <^'> At most seasons of the year vessels may be found pre- paring to sail to some parts of the Union, at the several ports of London, Liverpool, Bristol, and Glasp;ow, — but at Liverpool the most numerons and greatest choice ; there being: always at this port, vessels taking in their freight foralmost every maritime town of the United States, except during the spring months, when, on account of the heat, and unhealthiness of the approaching season, but few or none sail for Charleston, and the more southern ports. And here it becomes an important duty, to put the Emi- grant on bi.« guard, against the pretensions and artifices of greedy and unprincipled individuals, wuo never fail to spread out their snares, and lay in wait for the ignorant and unsuspecting. In taking his passage hence, and on landing at the place of his destination, all the vigilance and circnmspection of the inexperienced, will be requisite to save him from becoming the prey of impostors, who will lure him with friendly oflFers only to enrich, or to gratify themselves at his expence. Kut at present wf shall con- tent ourselves with cautioning the passenger against per- sons who advertise, and «)fler their accommodations at lower rates than usual. Few, or perhaps none of those respectable persons, with whom a prudent man would trust his person, make any such tempting offers and pre- tensions ; and it will be the '^uty of every one to enquire rigidly into the character and respectability of the per- sons into whose hands he i.s about tu place himself. For the want of these precautions, many individuals have fallen victims, not only in th.^ir property, but in their health and their lives. A recent instance of atrocious per- fidy in this way, is fresh in the recollection of the public. Some unfeeling ******* of the name of Fitzgerald, af- fected to fit out a ves.-iel called the Caledonia, at Liverpool, fur some port in America. This v^'ssel, which in the end appeared to be unfit for sea, was kept as a sort of receiving ship, and passages in her were engaged, and the money received from many most unfortunate individuals, who were deluded and detained with promises of being carried to the place of their wishe.s, until many of them were re- duced to the most abject state of beggary and wretched- ness. The fraud was at length discovered, and such of the PRECAUTIONS, &C. 27 ens, and one that niiirht entail irreparable ruin on many an enterprising emigrant. To render the passage agreeable as possible, by accom- modating attention lo the convenience and comfort of the other passengers, will be the duty and interest of all. The author we have just quoted very sensibly observes, " that, generally speaking, people's happiness is very much in their own power. A suavity of matiners, and an obligingly civil deportment, are calculated to secure the esteem of man- kind ; and when things are not exactly as we could wish them to be, it will add to our own comfort to take them as we find them." ARRIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES. Having proceeded thus far, as we trust, in the safe con- duct of our charge, — having furnished the Emigrant with a brief, yet comprehensive view of society, of trade, manu- factures and agriculture in the United States; having re- commended to his consideration a sober estimaJe of the advantages and disadvantages to be expected from a settle- ment in those countries, and suggested the requisite pre- cautions, and most prudent course of proceeding on the part of those who determine to remove thither, our duty leads us to a new scene, in which, if the emigrant be care- ful to act on a wise and pru all who are able and willing to make th-..msehes useful, like everj'^ other country, it contains idle, dissrdute and rapacious schemers, who have no relish for honourable industry, and who exist only by making a prey of the heedless and the indulgent. Against thi.- >pec f»s of de- vourers the emigrant has now to guard bimseii, and this may be a less difficult task than those he vvi i h? »'e pre- viously encountered. In the country he may r- ve left behind him, it is no easy course to resist the pi'- ings of hunger and wretchedness that every where a,>-.« . ■ one; bankruptcy and want, too, may be the lot of man_ .-"ri- torious individuals, in the lands of taxation and op, .re •. m from which he is escaping, and the prudence and eneigl»'g requisite to enable a man to rally, and to recover hiuiiself under the pressure, is more tiian can be expected in man/ individuals. Considerations of this kind have a tendencv to soften the heart, and leave it open to the j ractices of imposture. But in America, where all wiio will work, c:mi live well ; and, where all who cannot work, and who are without provision of their own, are comfortably pro\ ided for, there is no occasion for the indulgence of any ie and Champlain, shall be completed. These most useful and magnificent works will probably be begun next sum- mer, and atVord for several years to come, to many thou- sands of industrious poor men, an opportunity of enriching 36 INFORMATION, &C. themselves. If prudent, they may realize tlieir earnings on tlie spot, and become proprietors, in fee, of landed estates in the beautiful country they shall have so much improved. From no other city in the Atlantic can a person sooner reach the country, than by means of the Hudson, (N. York,) and the roads that branch from the towns on either of its banks. Lands of g-ood quality may still be purchased, even in the midland parts of New York, at a reasonable rate. Emigrants from Europe usually arrive here during sum- mer, and, every thing considered, it is the best they should; for, in the middle and eastern states, the winter is long, fuel very dear, and employment comparatively scarce in that season. In winter they will expend more, and earn less. But if arriving at this time bear more upon the pocket, the heats of summer are undoubtedly more tryinjj to the health. In the Middle States, namely. New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania and Maryland, a northern Euro- pean usually finds the climate intensely hot from about the middle of June until towards the first of October. The thermometer frequently ranges from 84 to 90, and some- times above it, in the middle part of the day; this, to a stranger who works in the open air, exposed to the burning sun, is certainly dangerous, and requires .some precautions on his part. First ot all he should regulate his diet, and be temperate in the quantity of his food. The American labourer, or working mechanic, who has a belter and more plentiful table than any man in the world of his class, is, for the most part a small eater, and we recommend his example. The European of the same condition, who receives meat or fish, and collee at breakfast ; meat at dinner ; and meat or fish, and tea at supper, an abundance of animal food to which he was unaccustomed, insensibly falls into a slate of too great repletion, or fullness, which exposes him to the worst kind of fever during the heats of summer and au- tumn. He should, therefore, be quite as abstemious in the quantity of food, as of strong drink ; and, in addition to this method of preventing sickness, he should take a dose of moderate physic, every now and then, especially in the hotter months of July and August. By this prudent course, an ardent climate will have no terrors, and after some residence here, he may preserve his health by regimen and exercise alone. The labourer or mechanic should put off his ordinary elotbes, and wear next his skin a loose Hanuel shirt, while INFORMATION, &C. 3t he works : and it should be taken off again when he has done. The stranger, as well as native, must be particularly careful not to drink cold water, after being heated by ex- posure to the sun or exercise — Sudden and severe pain at the stomach, and even death, are frequently the conse- quence of such imprudence. The Humane Society of the city of New York, has published the following directions to be observed in such cases: — 1st. Avoid drinking water while the body is heated, or during profuse perspiration. 2d. VVash the hands and face with cold water before drinking. 3d. If these precautions have been neglected, and cramps or convulsions have been induced, let a tea-Si)oonful of laudanum be given immediately in a cup of spirits and water, and repeat the dose in half an hour if necessary. 4th. At the same time apply hot fomentations of spirit and water to the stomach and bowels, and to the lower extremities, covering the body with a blanket ; or immerse the body in a warm bath, if it can be immediately obtained. 6th. Inject into the bowels a pint of warm spirit and water, mixed in the proportion of one part of the former to two of the latter. Do you ask by this time, with a view to the ordinary business of life, — What is America? What sort of people may expect to succeed in it? The immortal Franklin has answered these questions — " America is the land of la- bour !' But it is, emphatically, the best country on earth for those who will labour. By industry they can earn more wages here than elsewhere in the world. — Our go- vernments are frugal, they demand few taxes; so that the earnings of the poor man are left to enrich himself ; they are nearly all his own, and not expended on kings and their satellites. Idlers are out of their element here, and the being who is technically called a man of rank in Europe, is despica- ble in North America. He must beconie a useful member of society, or he will 6nd no society ; he will be shunned by all decent people. Franklin, whose sage counsel is the best that can be given or observed, has said, that it is not advisable for a person to come hither, " who has no other quality to recommend him but his birth. In Europe, in- deed, it may have it's value, but it is a commodity which cannot be carried to a worse market than that of America, where people do not enquire concerning a stranger, What 38 INFOUMATION, &C. is he? but What can lie do? If he has any useful art, he is welcome, and if he exercise if, and behare well, he wi!i b« respected by all who know him. Tiie husbandman .s in honour here, and so is the mec^hanic, because their em- ployments are useful." " And the people," he adds, have a saying, that ' God Almighty is himself a mechanic, the greatest in the universe.' Franklin further illustrates the g:enerality of industrious habits l)y the negroe's observation, That the white man makes the black man work, the horses work, the oxen work, and everything work except the hog, which alone walks about, goes to ileep when he pleases, and lives like a genl/etnan. " The only encouragements we hold out to strangers are, a good climate, fertile soil, wholesome air and water, plenty of provisions, good pay for labour, kind neighbours, good laws, a free government, and a hearty welcome. The rest depends on a man's own industry and virtue.'' It would be very prudent for new comers, especially labonrers or farmers, to go into the country wilhout de- lay, as they will save both money and time by it, and avoid several inconveniences of a sea-port town. IJy spending some time with an American farmer, in any capacity, they will learn the method of tillage, or working a plantation, peculiar to this country. No time can be more usefully employed than a year in this manner. In that space, any smart active man can learn how woodland may be cleared, how cleared land is managed ; he will acquire some know- ledge of crops and their succession, of usages and customs that ought to be known, and perhaps save something into the bargain. Many European Emigrants who brought money with them have heretofore taken this wise course, and found it greatly to their advantage ; for, at the end of the year, they knew what to do with it. They had learned the value of lands in old settlements and near the frontiers, the prices of labour, cattle and ffrain, and were ready to begin the world with ardour and confideuce. Multitudes of poor people, (rom Ireland, Scotland and Germany, have, by these means, together with industry and frugality, become wealthy farmers, or, as they are called in Europe, estated men; who, in their own countries, where all the lands are fully occupied, and the wages of labour low, could never have emerged from the condition wherein they were born. In the west of Pensylvania, there is a cu.stom which the farmers there call cropping, and which is as beneficial to the owner as to the tiller of the ground, in the present INFORMATION, &C. H gtafe of this country. — The cropper performs the labour of the plantation, as spring and fall p]oughing;s, sowing, har- rowing;, or other work, and receives a certain share of the crop, as agreed on, for his pains. — But he must be an ex- pert farmer before he can undertake, or be intrusted with the working of the farm. None but a poor man undertakes it, and that only till he can save money to buy land of his own. It )s invariably the practice of the American, and well suited to hi:5 love of independence, to purchase a piece of land as soon as he can, and cultivate his own farm, rather than live at wages. It is equally in the power of an emi- grant to do the same, after a few years of labour and economy. From that moment he secures all the means of happiness. He has a sufficiency of fortune without being exempt from moderate labour ; he feels the comfort of in- dependence, and has no fear of poverty in his old age. — He is invested with the powers, as well as the rights, of a freeman, and may, in all cases, without let or apprehen- sion, exercise them according to his judgment. He can afford to his children a good education, and knows that he has thereby provided for their wants. Prospects open to them far brighter than were his own ; and, in seeing all this, he is surely blest. Industrious men never need lack employment in America. Labourers, Carpenters, Masons, Bricklayers, Stone-cutters, Blacksmiths, Turners, Weavers, Farmers, Curriers, Tailors, and Shoe-makers, and the useful mechanics generally, are always sure of work and wages ; Stone-cutters now receive in this city (New York) two dollars a day, equal to nine shillings sterling ; Carpenters, one dollar and eighty-seven and a half cents. ; Bricklayers, two dollars ; Labourers, from one dollar to one and a quarter ; others in proportion ; At this time, (July, 1816,) House-carpenters, Bricklayers, Masons and Stone-cutters, are paid three dollars per day, in Petersburgh, Virginia. The town was totally consumed by fire about a year since, but it is uow rising from its ashes with more elegance than ever ; Mechanics will find ample employment there for, perhaps, two years to come. Artinan^s receive better pay in America than in Europe, and can live with less exertion, and more comfort ; be- cause they put an additional price on their work equal to the cost of freight and commission charged by the mer- chant on importations. But there are not many of the laborious classes whom we would advise to reside or even loiter in great towns, because as much will be spent during 40 INFORMATION, &C. a long winter as can be made through a toilsome summer, so that a man may be kept a moneyless drudge for life. But this is not, perhaps, the worst : he is tempted to become a tippler, by the cheapness and plenty of liquors, and then his prospects are blasted for ever. In few countries is drunkenness more despised than in this. The drunkard is viewed as a person socially dead, shut out from decent in- tercourse, shunned, des{)ised, or abhorred. The pernicious habit is to be guarded against as scrupulously for political as moral considerations. It is the opinion of some judicious men, that though persons newly arrived ought to go without loss of time into the country, yet it would not be prudent for them to re- tire all at once to the remote parts of the west ; that they ought to stop nearer the sea-board, and learn a little of the mode of doing business. Perhaps this, in some in- stances may be advisable, but we thii;k that young men, whose habits are not fixed, cannot post too speedily to the fine regions beyond the Alleghany. The labourer, how- ever, will find great diftereuce between them and Europe in every thing. The man who was accustomed to the spade, must now use the axe; he who used to dig ditches, must learn to maul rails and make fences. These are ex- tremes that must be met; and the sooner, perha:ps, the better. Mr. Birkbeck, in his lale valuable work on America, ob. serves, — " I am fully convinced that those who are not screwed up to the full pitch of enterprize, had better re. main in Old England, than attempt agriculture, or business of any kind (manual operations excepted) in the Atlantic states. Emigrants from Europe are too apt to linger in the eastern cities, wasting their time, their money, and their resolution. They should push out westward without de- lay, where they can live cheaply until they fix themselves. Two dollars, saved in Pennsylvania, will purchase an acre of good land in the Illinois. " The laud carriage from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, Is fr' m seven to ten dollars per cwt. (1001b.) clothing, razors, pocket-knives, pencils, mathematical instruments, and light articles in general, of constant usefulness, ought to be car- ried even at this expence ; and books, which are scarce, and much wanted in the west. Good gun-locks are rare, and difficult to procure. No heavy implements will pay carriage. " A pocket comj)ass is indispensable for every stranger who ventures alone into the woods of America, and be INFORMATION, &C. 41 should always carry the means of lighting a fire: for the traveller, when he starts in the morning on a wildnerness journey, little knows where next he may lay his head. — Tow, rubbed with gunpowder, is good tinder ; a few bis- cuits, a phial of spirits, a tomahawk, and a good blanket, are necessary articles. Overtaken by night, or bewildered, if thus provided, you may be really comfortable by your blazing fire, — when, without them, you would feel dismal and disconsolate. A dog is a pleasant and useful fellow- traveller in the back woods. You should make your fire with a fallen tree for a back log, and lie to leeward, with your feet toward.s it. The smoke flying over, will preserve you from the damp air and the musquitoes. Tie your horse with a long rein to the end of a bough, or the top of a young hickery tree, which will allow him to graze or brcwze ; and change his position if you awake in the night." The Editor cannot better conclude this branch of his subject, than by the insertion of the following passages, from two letters, written by emigrants from Great Britain. In addition to other information which they contain, they are well calculated to introduce the reader to a further ac- quHintance with the western country, the condition and manners of its inhabitants, and the course to be pursued in forming a settlement. To the kindness of a frieud, the Editor is indebted for the first letter, which is dated from Marietta, January 1st, 1S18. The latter is from the second vo'.ume of Mr. Mellish's Travels, a work to which he has before confessed his obli- gations. The good sense and valuable information with which this letter abounds, does much more than compen- sate for any defect in the arrangement of the matter of which it is composed; it is, therefore, given without alte- ration. From the first letter — " This country is new, and only settling, we cannot easily get every luxury and conve- nience as in England ; whatever trade a man may have, I should advise him, if he cannot make his own tools, to bring them with him." " .- The country is new, and a great part of it in wood, though the land is excellent, producing capital potatoes, pumpkins, mellons, cabages, onions, cucumbers, and culinary herbs and roots in abundance, without dung or any force whatever ; likewise all kinds of grain, such as Indian corn, averaged at from 40 to 60 bushells on a sta- tute acre ; barley, wheat, and excellent rye, such as I never saw before for goodness. 4^ IXFORMATION, &C. " Yet before you can raise these things, the land must be cleared of it's timber, and you have to buy your food until you can raise it yourself. The price of clearin"^- land, if you hire it done, is about ten dollars per acre, to clear the biush-wood, and fence it in. The price of the hind, with an indisputable title, is only two dollars per acre." After enumerating; the prices of provisions of various sorts, which in this plentiful country are low, as mi^ht be expected, — while those of manufactured articles, as clollis of all kinds, hardware and eaithenware, are at high prices, the writer proceeds : " I have not yet seen a beggar, nor any one asking alms, nor heard of a single theft. In the country, there is not one house, I think, in twenty, that has either lock or bar on its door. The inhabitants are exceedingly good neigh- bours, and when we are on a journey, and dark comes f)n, we take up our quarters in the first house we com'; to, and are accommodated with the best it atfoids. When we ask if there is any thing to pay, they tell us, ' We must do to others, as they have done to us.'*' Le.ringlon, {Kentucky,') Nov.Ath, 1813. Dear Friends and Countrymen, I received your's of tlie 6th of July, and what follows will, I hope, be a satisfactory answer to all your queries. The general price of land here, at it's first settlement. Is from two to three dollars. Land sold by Congress is two dollars, to be paid iu five years. — The manner of clearing is to cut down all the timber below a foot thick, and to notch the heavy timber all round : thus the growth is stop- ped, and, the land being every year laboured, the roots gradually die, and are torn out; so that, in a few years, the whole field is cleared. Unless what is used in fencing and building, and fuel, and such purposes, all the wood is burnt upon the ground. In the most of places, wood is no more thought of than lieath and rushes are with you. — Two men, who are ordinarily expert at hewing wood, can easily, in two months, clear as much land as will produce food sufficient for the support of a family of six or eight for a whole year. It is usual for those who bring families to settle, to rent a house and a piece of clear land for a year or so, till they have time to look about them, make a convenient purchase, and get a house of their own laised. The first houses which are built upon a plantation, are osu- ally raised in little more than a week or two. They are, indeed, not very elegant ; but they do very well for a year INFORMATION, &C. 43 or so, till the family has time to build a better. The peo- ple are every where exceedingly kind and obliging to ne\r comers, and render them all the comfort and assistance in their power : they have all once known, in their own case, what it is to be strangers. There are at no times any thing like a market for produce, such as that in the old country, 'jut there is always some little market, sometimes better, and sometimes worse. The situation of society, however, is such, that very little cash is needed. Every family who has the least industry, may, after the second or third year, easily raise within itself almost every thing that is neces.sary. Salt and iron, aud the taxes of government (which are by no means heavy;, are almost the only things for which men need to give money. Men'? persons and properties are here as safe as in any })art of tlie world ; while liberty, civil and religious, is fully enjoyed ; law and justice are strictly and impartially executed. Snakes, and such like, are here no more dangerous than in Carnwath mnir. In all my wander- ings, I have not seen above half a dozen snakes, nor met with many more who have been bit by them. When any are bit by them, they have always a simple and efficacious cure at hand. Indians, where they are to be seen, are equally harmless. Unless it is along some of the large rivers, where the people are, at certain seasons, liable to the fever and ague, the country is every where healthy? the people in general live as long, and are subject to as few diseases as they are in .Scotland. The weather, in the summer, is con- siderably hotter than it is at home ; but neither I, nor my partner, have found it the least disagreeable. We have only worn our clothes a little lighter, and have kept in the house, or the shade, a few hours, while it was hottest. To be out in the evenings and mornings is most delightful. — A brewer or a smitli along with you will be a valuable ac- quisition ; each of these branches can be carried on with considerable profit. I cocld fill sheets in praise of the conntrj', but there is nothing like fact. I am acquainted with hundreds who came here within these 20 years, with nothing more than a sound constitution and an industrious disposition, who have raised Inrge families, and are now living in ease and affluence. 1 would recommend unto you to comeandsettle upon Eagle creek, Adams county, STATE OF Oiiio, about 100 miles nearer you than Lexing- ton. In that quarter there is plenty of good vacant land. The length of the journey- there is, from Philadelphia or Baltimore to Pittsburgh 300 miles, then about as much by water down the river Ohio. In preparing for such a long 44 INFORMATION, &C. more, dispose of every thing; you have, except your body and bed-clothes. The latter end of July, or the beginning; of August, is the best time for you to set sail. If the war continue, take an American bottom. It makes very little matter whether you sail for Baltimore or Philadelphia. If you cannot find a convenient passage for one of these, Newcastle or Wilmington, or some other place on the Delaware river, is the next best shift. In packing up your clothes, it will be much to your advantage to have them pat into as light trunks, or chests, ai; possible, and to pack them very hard. There are waggons continually passing from these parts to Pittsburg ; ?Tiake the best bargain you can with one or more of these v/aggons to carry your wo- men and children, and the men of you may travel on foot. Set off in company with one of these carriers' waggons. — You will usually travel about twenty miles a-day. When you pass market-towns, purchase a little provision for yourselves and horses. When you have advanced about 60 or 100 miles, the road will grow rougher, which will likely render it necessary to purchase one or two more horses. — By this time you will have fallen in with other families in the same situation with yourselves. You will find the peo- ple every where very freely dispo.sed to ask every thing, and tell you every thing. The sooner you get into their manner, it will be the more advantage to you ; but be always on your guard against kiiaves. You will find a gieat many difficulties and inconveniences, but with a good spirit, and an indulgent Heaven, everything becomes easy. Your expences will depend a great deal on little incidents, which human eye cannot foresee. 1 don't think it will suit men in your situation, to lay out any of your money in speculation upon trading articles; but you may consult with the merchants in Greenock You must likewise ob- serve to have the money you bring into America changed into dollars or gold coin. Take care and secure your liquors well, else the sailors will use it as common stock. — If any of you are skilled in music, a fiddle, or some such instru- ment, to raise the spirits, will be a valuable piece of furni- ture. Keep as much above deck as possible. — 1 commend you all to the care of the God of Abraham, who went out not knowing whither ; and remain, dear brethren, ROBERT HAMILTON BISHOP. 45 Information and Advice TO FARMERS AND MONIED MEN. A rery large portion of the preceding part of this work, 13 not only intended for, but, it is presumed, will prove highly serviceable to the class of readers we are now ad- dressing. Tiiere are, however, still some particula, .. :• i. ■■ £.\r-^- ■■ •■••!;. ■; ':v-i^ ■',• • 1 •.' ■>: ■ .. li, • ' •.• \r :■: A : ■ ■ ,',. ,.■!;.) ■ ; ■ , • v^ ; ■ ■ ■ .r. *,. , ». .- • ■ I ' ■ ■ -.'' ..:\ r. , ' .»■■ . /; t! •.■• '. <"t \ ^f . IN- - - " s ■ ' .1.^1 .-. 1':.' K>--^.l'-:' 1 ■•' . ' ;■ - j . ■ ■ ■• '■_ ■ ! • >--. - -■ * .. ■■-.:.V), . ,t" *f''yf J« : • - £• • END. - . .If •' ' 1 ■ \.v»; v.' (' • '"■'_.■""; ■, , j i.lTSOt •>.' . ■'■ .;■ -,!v< - . . ' ' ■ " .-- '-n^' r. '.11,1 T ■. ;/ J*. : ■• "Kf. '(•'I- ' !■ Livtrpool: Printed hi/ W. Bethell, Marshall-street.