ii< IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // ^/ .<^t^^*^. *t ^<° /. f/. 1.0 I.I 1.25 t 1^ 12.0 1.4 1.6 V] ^. A r <^* ' o>. ^"' <5>5l o '/ /A Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^ V iV :\ \ ^'' ** '9> N^.- ^>.\ A '^>. ^ ^ ^ ^ » m* :<^.< CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques ^ Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographicaliy unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. D D V n D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagde Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurde et/ou pellicul6e Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartes g6ographiques en couleur Coloured inl< (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Reli6 avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serrde peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge int6rieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout6es lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte. mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 filmies. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppldmentaires; L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'ii lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la methods normale de filmage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. I I Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommag6es Pages restored and/oi Pages restaurdes et/ou peliiculAes Pages discoloured, stained or foxet Pages d6color6es, tachet^es ou piquies Pages detached/ Pages ddtachdes Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prir Quality inigalG de I'impression Includes supplementary materii Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible I I Pages damaged/ I I Pages restored and/or laminated/ rrri Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ I I Pages detached/ r~T| Showthrough/ I I Quality of print varies/ I I Includes supplementary material/ I I Only edition available/ to T^ pt of fil Oi be th si< ot fir si( or D Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure. etc.. ont 6ti filmAes A nouveau de fapon A obtenir la meilleure Image possible. Til sh Tl wl iVIi dh en be rig ret mi This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film6 au taux da reduction indiquA ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X ails Ju difier jne lage The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: National Library of Canada The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol —^(meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: L'exemplaire filmd fut reproduit grdce d la g6ndrosit6 de: Bibliothdque nationals du Canada Les images suivantes ont 6x6 reproduites avoc le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetd de l'exemplaire film6, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplaires orlginaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimde sont film6s en commenqant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'iili tration, soit par le second plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmds en commenpant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols ~^ signifie "A SUIVRE ", le symbols V signifie "FIN ". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmds 6 des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichd, il est film6 6 partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche 6 droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. ata slure, 6 3 2X 1 2 3 1 2 3 : 4 i 6 Jt 11 A COl A. \ 'A ih #^»^> A TOUE IN THE UNITED STATES, CUBA, AND CANADA. UY HENRY ASHWORTH, ESQ. A mm OF LECTURES DEIJVEREl) BEFORE THE MEMBERS OF THE BOLTON MECHANICS' INSTITUTION. LONDON: A. W. BExVNETT, 5, BISHOPGATE-ST. WITHOUT (E C ) FRED PITMAN, 20, PATERNOSTER ROW. MANCHESTER: JOHN HEYWOOD. 143, DEANSGATE. ■'»■ • ''-.^A > • ^•■' ?^ / J / i 1-r > uuOK/ /'I PEEFACE. A YEAK has now elapsed since the delivery of tlie ]a.sl of these Lectures; and the Avhole of them hr been reported as they were delivered, and published tlic "Bolton Chronicle" newspaper. ive iu The political troubles of recent timo have tended to increase the interest in American afilnrs, and applica- tions have been made for a republication of the whole. They arc therefore submitted to the public, not as ^ a literary production, l)ut as a descriptive review of the sights and occurrences of a six months' tour. The Oaks, Uolton, ^fnj^, i86i. ,*one ( "intoii cliapt of rei and t! my id I slui] Variet of opi tespec •ndea- Ijave obsci'V TOUE IN THE UNITED STATES. FIRST LECTURE. N accordance witli the request of your Committee, I I am now about to offer to t!>e members of this Institu- g bon the gleanings of that information which has been gathered during an absence of six months, haviu- one of my daugliters as my companion. It is not my intention to reduce my observations into heads or chapters, but throughout these lectures to carry on a sort of renewed intercourse witli every locality I have visited, and thus to facilitate my descriptions by the localising of Z " rf »»^ -collections. By this arrangement I hope vaS M ,"-'° ''""'" °^"^ every evening a greater vanety of local interest, and a wider range of exp^ssion Of opinion, more especially upon slavery and politics. In fespect of these, and upon all other matters also, I shall P^Jeavour to represent very faithfully whatever I may fave heard, leaving to your.selves to draw from my *«e,Vations whatever conclusions you may think proper v> A TOUR IN TliE It will bo admitted that tho dcsiro to travel abroad i.s comniendaljlc. It springs from that (?iilargcd desire for knowledge which is sure to load to the discovery of some- thing acceptable, whether in arts, science, literature, agriculture, commerce, or in tho study of those institutions which have relation to political or civil life. Its grati- fication affords to the eyes, as well as to the mind, an unspeakable delight in tho contemplation of those wonders and beauties of nature, which are to be found in every country as essentially its own. And, in our own ex- perience, the enjoyments have far outweighed any risk of disasters. Tho hazards of crossing the Atlantic may appear serious to many persons, but their real insig- nificance becomes obvious when we bear in mind that the Cunard Steamers have been constantly sailing, week by week, for nineteen years, without any loss of human life. Our outgoing passage was boisterous, being early in the month of January, llie sleet and snow became frozen, and for some days prevented our taking exercise on deck. Tho sun was overcast, and many a time prevented the captain from taking his noonday observations of the course wo were steering. The storm broke one of the paddle boxes ; the waves entered tho chimney ; the passengers wore confined to the saloon, and, deprived of tho power of enjoying out-door exercise, were compelled to fill up tho time with reading, chess playing, and other amusements. We landed safely at New York upon tho coldest day, as we were told, that they had ever known. The naviga- tion of the rivers had been closed, and from day to day great anxiety waa excited by rumours of igerious disasters UNITED STATES. abroad is Icsiro for of sonic- iteraturo, stitutioiis Its .L>,-niti- miiul, an c wonders in every own ex- my risk ol" mtio may ■eal insig- id that tlu! J, week by Linnau life, ig early in w became 2: exercise ly a time jservations .'oke one of mney; the ileiirived of compelled and otlier oldest day, he naviga- day to day :is disasters on the coast. '^I'lio streets of tlio city presented an anima- ting scene, l)eing triivorsed by sleiglis instead of wlieel carriages. To a stranger the nso of sleighs in winter pit'sents a novelty and singnlarity which gives it an alnu»st fantastic appearance ; niaiiv of them arc open conveyances, very superbly moiuited, — often filled with ladies, and well supplied with Avrappers of bnllalo skins, and other furs ; and despite the biting frosts, the travellers appear to enjoy the dry and bracing wintry atmosphere which prevails in that country. The city of Now York stands npon a neck of land forming the jjuint of IManhattan Island, having on two of its sides navigable waters of about a mile in breadth, which separate it from the two adjoining cities of Jersey and Ijrooklyn. Betwixt these two cities and New York there is a continuous stream of intercourse, carried on by steam-boats of a very commodious construction. Tho centre part of the deck of each of these boats forms a sort of street, running from stem to stern, which is often crowded with carts and carriages. On both sides of tho water, the point of tho boat enters the street, and as the tides rise only six feet, the joint of the landing-stage adjusts tho height of the boat to the level of the street. In this way, the moment that the boat has been moored in one of these street grooves, the carts and other con- veyances move onwards without hindrance. Upon each of the sides overhanging this central part of the boat, there is an elegant reception room provided for the i accommodation of the foot passengers. The comfortable J. style of arrangement thus provided for passengers, ap- ^^peared to contrast very favourably against the exposure 8 A TOUR IN THE on deck auy the proprietors. Tliis street is already a good many miles in Icngtli, and is laid down with a view to become extended beyond any limits at present conceivable. The original habitations, wliich were made of wood, have given place to others of brick, and now the brick onc!S are being moved to make way for enlarged structures of marble. The value of j^rojjcrty in Broadway lias increased amazingly. Tlie residence of a gentleman, with a frontage of 22 feet, which thirty years ago cost Ijini £600, was last year sold for £15,000. In some of tlio streets they liavo adopted a modo'of conveyance by railway cars drawn by horses. This has been found useful and cheap, but tho inhabitants complain of the damage which is sustained to the estimation of tho Btreets wherever they have been introduced. The utility of one-horse cabs they do not appreciate. We never saw one. They have their hackney coaches, with two horses each, such as we formerly kept on hire, and the fares appear discretional or according to bargain. Upon a rainy day, the sum of two dollars, or 8s. 4d., was demanded as the fare for half-an-hour. I offered one-half the sum, and it was declined. I then directed the attention of the driver to the string of twenty other carriages, all waiting to be employed, and remarked upon the inicertainty of his making any money at all within tlie next half-hour. He TOry coolly replied — " The rain is falling very fast, and I i K) A TOUR IN THE guess I'll spec, it:" or in other Avords ho preferred to speeulato upon the clianccs whicli miglit oiler ; and so 1 left him. Tlie Fifth Avenue is the most splendid street in New York. From one point of observation tliere stands before you an array of modern-built mansions, perhaps un- equalled for their ma'^.'nific^ence. There are in London many individual mansions of greater splendour, but taking- the street as a "wIkjIo, there is an appearance of archi- tectural design and completeness which is rarely to bo met with. In one of these houses, where we called upon the family, the drawing-room was one hundred and thirty- fivx feet in length, and was very tastefully decorated witli pictures, statuary, and works of art, which had been selected in various parts of Eurojie, and secured by n lavish outlay. The dining and other rooms of the house appeared of largo proportions, and elegantly furnished. The entertainments given by the wealtliy citizens, are frequent in occurrence, and many of them are upon a largo scale. In one instance we found that the number of guests W'as upwards of seven hundred, and the house was not over- crowded. The hotels are enormously large ; many of them are provided with three hundred beds in each, and otliers a.s many as eight hundred to one thousand : the lower rooms fronting the street are being used as shops, and the uppei rooms form the hotel. In numerous instances wo found that they were resorted to not alone by travellers, but as the temporary home of newly-married persons who hail entered upon life without suflicient means to begin house- keeping. It appeared somewhat repulsive to one's ideas cone wluc poss: Tlio with chan Comn •uflic lala?* Qs. 9oudi i 1 UNITED STATES. 11 iferred to and so 1 it in New lids before rliaps un- u London but taking 3 of arclii- y to bo met died npon and tldrty- Drated with had been cured by it, f tbc house ' furnished, itizens, arc are upon a he number the house >f them are id others a^! ower rooms 1 the uppei l3S we fouutl Icrs, but as IS who hail )egin house- one's ideuii of married hfe for the liusband to bo absent all day attend- ing to his pursuits, leaving liis wife, perhaps not twenty years of ago, to amuse herself amongst the company of tlio house, picking up all sorts of ac(piaintance, moving about in those beautiful entertaining rooms, and mixing at tho tabic dliote with every variety of strangers who miglit happen to be present. From such a beginning it cannot bo wondered at that young people sliould imbibe the desire for a course of hfe beyond their means to sustain. With a beautiful city, and every arrangement that can be required for the promotion of cleanliness and order, it ia greatly to be lamented that tlio offensive state of the streets should shock the feelings or interrupt tho comfort of the visitor. The municipal authtu'ities arc inexcusable for neglect of duty in this respect, and if one-half of what was reported of their corrupt practices was true, they are deserving of punishment. THE MONEY PANIC. You will doubtless be desirous to liear something concerning the recent money panic, and the troubles ,Khich have overtaken the tradespeople there ; and, if possible, some sort of conclusion in relation to its origin. The solution of this may not be witliin our province to deal with ; but it -would bo impossible for any Englisli mer- chant to visit New York, and not perceive that there aro commercial practices, and extravagant habits, which aro ■ullicient of themselves to account for a great deal of this laUu'^ity, which in its rebound lias so seriously aflccted 'Is. It would be wrong to lead you to suppose tliat tho ionducting of business iu the United States was altogether 12 A TOUR IX THE on a bad principle. This is not the case. Tlioro avc many wealthy capitalists wlioso businesses are conducted in a most unexceptionable manner : and notwithstanding- all this appearance of unsoundness, the solid wealth oi' New York is rapidly increasing. Tlio great bulk, how- ever, of the trading and mercantile classes, are represented as being always on the stretch, doing large l)usiness upon small capital, and year by year spending every shilling of their profits, and perhaps something more. They enjoy a singular facility for doing large business out of small means, by making sale of tlieir trading risks. They are in the practice of selling bills of exchange without en- dorsement for wliatever amount the credit of the drawer and acceptor may be worth. In this manner persons ol small capital may sell goods upon six or eight months' credit ; the bill received in payment they may again convert into its saleable value in cash ; and thus go on trading until, by some disaster, the house of cards is overthrown. Credit was said to be easily obtained, and that there was great facility for opening a business, or for making ii change from one pursuit to another. The attainment of a business position, based upon enlarged experience, which in this country is so much valued, ai)peared of so little concern to many persons in the United States, tliat they would willingly abandon one trade and run int(3 another, expressing tliemselves (putc eonlidc.t that they fully understood the trade they were entering upon. Extrava- gance and fast living appeared to ja-evail to an ineredibk extent, and the ladies were said to understand this as well as the gentlemen. An instance was remarked upon, ami UNITED STATES. 13 lero avc )iu'luctc(l ■itcinding "oaltli oi' Ik, liow- )resentcd .ess upon sliilling ley enjoy of small They are tiiout en- tie drawer persons of t months' luy agani IS go on cards is that there making ;i Iment uf ii Lce, Avhieh If so little that they I) another, hcv fully Kxtrava- ineredibh his as Nvel a l.'idy pointed out to us who was moving about with her carriage and attendants, and living in great stylo upon the faith of an invention wliieh her lnisl)and had recently pa- tented. We saw this invention, and considered it to be utterly worthless. It found no favour with the public, and a month or two afterwanls we heard that the building containing the patent had been destroyed by fire ! Passing away from New York, it did not suq^rise us to hear, in other parts of the country, severe remarks upon that city and the citizens. A genth^man who had left New York, after having resided tliere upwards of twenty- eight years, considered it tlie most money-making city in tlie world, and perhaps the most reckless in extravagance and expense. Anotlier gentleman, one who resided in another nart of tlie country, in expressing his dread of the harrassiij • effects of extravagance, most gravely declared that he would allow himself to bo sent up in a balloon, Jiot knowing where he might drop, rather tlian consent to marry a ^^•ifo from New York. I'here is a generous sympathy in the citizens which is highly becoming. Their public institutions of a charitable nature do them great credit. Upon the adjacent island of Blackwell, they have an orphan asylum for about 1,000 children, besides tlieir infirmary, lunatic asylum, penitentiary, and other similar establishiiicnts. The public schools of the city are their best institutions ; as indeed they arc the best institutions of America. hipon, am. ^ 14 A TOUR IN THE RAILWAYS. ( I T flY im flo] Our first excursion by railway warf from New York to Philadeliiliia. The carriages, or cars, as they are called, are of u;veat leiigtli, and accommodate from forty to fifty persons in each. Down the centre there is a passage Jjaviijg a door at each end, and on botli sides of the passage thore are seats placed crosswise, lidding two persons. All the passengers (coloured persons excepted) are looked upon as of one grade, the same as in travelling by an omidbu.s. The whole of the company sit exposed to each other, and wliatover conversation may be going on, is within the hearing, and exposed to the remarks, of the passengers immediately surrounding. Most of the railways have *^^^ Heiij po\v( tluoc of ]o El form We II lis t only one lino oF rails. In their engineering they gener- ally select level ground, have very few tunnels, and seldom or never have they any bridges passing over the lines of railway. The engineer rings a bell when ho approaches a crossing, and a notice board is erected to warn tlie road passengers, with an inscription in large letters — " Kailway crossing : when the bell rings, look out for the engine." The sides of the railways are unfenced, and by way of ' ZDoan provision against any interruption or accident, an iron grating is attached to the fore part of the engine, whicli they call a " cow-catcher," for securing or removing any lil o<:J 49,0( 47, 0( aniinal or other obstacle lying in the way. The railway ^ . *" A^^A Am companies do not provide porters, as in this country. . ' I to attend upon tlie passengers and aid them in the ^^j removal of their luggage : and those who are the guards *^ ^^ | or other servants of the companies, do not usually cany upon them any livery or other insignia of authority, '| m UNITED STATES. 15 y York to ti-e called, ty to fifty a, passage 10 i)assage :sons. All loked upon 1 omnibus, other, and witliin the passengers ways liave Dliey gcner- and seldom the lines of This idea of independence, no doubt, furnislies the opportunity for many of the paid servants to skulk iroiii tlio performance of tlicir duty; and to a stranger •vvlio may bo travelling, it is a matter of c(>nRideral)lo inconvenience. There is an appointment of baggage clerk attending the train?j, who, at a small rate of cluirge, nndortakcs t]io caro and delivery of luggage, and this department is well managed. MAGNITUDK OF TUK COUNTKY. As we are now bL;^imiing to explore tlie country, let lis cast iur eyes upon llio map, and take a little tliought about the geography of tliat portion of the Western Hemisplierc, wliich now constitutes one of the great powers of the earth. Tlic surface area is computed at three millions of S(piare miles, and is divided for purposes of local and judicial administration into forty states, as ^^^ ^ ■, England is divided into forty counties ; but in order to ^'"^ ft)rm some sort of estimate of the diflerence of magnitude, we must put down the state of New York, which is by no , iDeans tiie largest, as of the same extent as Eiigland; or, *" ^ . in other words, the surface of England and Wales being ' ^ . ^ 49,000 sipiaro miles, that of the state of New York is 47,000 square miles. The population of the whole of the ^^^'^^^^'^^ States in 1850 was, of whites, 19,553,068; free coloured. The railwaA ^^^^^^^ . ^j^^^^^^ 3,214,313 : total, 23,191,876.=:^ It is ^^^ ^ . .n evident, therefore, that the country must be very thinly ■< Peopled, and that there arc existing a vast extent of the guards ^^^^^ ^ not usua } * By the last Census (18fi0), free populat inn, 27,648,043; slaves, of authority 3,999,853:— total, 31,648,496. __" Railway 10 engine.'' 16 A TOUR IN THE natural reROiircos, still unappropriated. A wide field is thus afforded for tlie enterprise and capital of generations 3'et unborn. Perhaps there is no other country in which the inhabi- tants liavo already accomplislied so much within so short a period. River navigation is nowhere so extensively carried on, nor so well understood : and their railways extend to 26,000 miles, being more than half of all the raih'oads in the world. These manifestations of progress are unmistakeable. They denote the prosperity of the country, and the pre- vailing energy of character in the people, as well as their confidence in those institutions under which they live. Passing along, by railway, through the agricultural portion of the country, the grassy surface of the fields did not appear lively and green, but of a dark brown C(»lour, as though ever}'- blade had been deadened by frost. The fences surrounding the fields are formed of splits of timbei trees, cut down in clearing the land. They are placed in layers, in a zig-zag form, the points resting one upoii another, and, being held down upon each other by their own weight, they don't require to be fastened together with nails. The whit'^thorn fence, such as we have ir. this country, appears to be unknown in the United States. or if it grows at all, it is not planted for field fences. Tlit stumps of the trees cut down encumber the ground ches: interrupt the straight current of the plough, and th objec appearance of them in such great numbers indicates . ^^^ slovenly style of farming ; but the trouble and expense c f ^ilc their removal appear to prevent any systematic proceedicj |^ss( to have the ground cleared of them. In some few instance JP^sej UNITED STATES. 17 ie field is meratiors lie inhabi- n BO short xtcnsively r railways of all the istakeable. 1(1 tlie prc- •ell as their they live, [igricultural le fields did own colour, frost. The its of timber are placed Lg one "upoii her by their led together we have ir. nited States, 'ences. Tht the ground ;h, and thi indicates ; id expense c c proceedini few instance: the ground has been cleared by the stump extractor, an apparatus formed as a compound lever, mounted upon wheels, and wrought by a pair of oxen. rniLADELPUIA. This city is the capital of the State of Pennsylvania, and owes its origin to that noble-minded Christian states- man, William Ponn, whose memory is still greatly honoured by tho citizens. It was during a period of religious persecution in England, that it became his declared object to establish this colony, and thereby to "afford an asylum to the good and oppresned of all nations ; to frame a government which might bo an example to the world at largo, and thus to sliow men as free and as happy as they could be." The house in which he resided in the city, and the locality of the elm tree under the shade of which he entered into treaty with the Indians, are still cherished objects of regard. Since tlie date of this treaty in 1682, the city and suburbs ]iave become of great mercantile importance, and contain uj^wards of half-a-mil- lion of inliabitants. The principal streets run east and west, and they are crossed at right angles with other streets running north and south : some of them are upwards of one hundred feet broad, and their names indicate the rural simplicity of their origin, sucli as " pine, spruce, walnut, chesDut, &c." I'he State House is the most interesting object. It was in the hall of this building that tlio " Declaration of Independence" was signed in 177(J. I^hiladelphia upholds a reputation for philanthropy, and ssesses upwards of forty institutions for benevolent pur- Joses. Tho Girard College, which is the largest of them, B 18 A TOUR IN THE I 1 Wiis fonnclcd ])y an occentrio imliviilnal, Stoplicn Girard, as an Asylum and Scliool for 0]-])Iians, ut Iho cost of ncarly X 100,000. TIk- principal Imildini^ is after tlio dcyign of a (Ircok tomplo, and is tlic most imposiiij;^ and costly cdiiicr in tlif United States, oxcoptin,i^- only tli'.' Capitol o\' Washington. Having spoken of the existence of more; tlian forty institutions of ii l^encvolent character, it -will not bo necessary to deline tlio piirticidar purposes (»f (.'ach; tlioso whicli we saw were on a largo scale, and well conducted. It is deserving of notice, and liighly honourable to have to record, the readiness with which tlio wealthy classes conic forward, Mdien called upon, for any public object. We heard of the proposed enlargement of an asylmn, at the cost of £50,000, and the subscriptions soon amounted tn nearly £(10,000. In anotlier instance, which also occurre(] during onr visit, an enlargement of a ]")ublic park wa;- proposed, the money was very speedily raised ; and ^vc heard of two brothers — the Messrs. Cope — who liad sub- scribed £2,000 each. SCHOOLING AND EDUCATION. taL ) Ma; ^an(j invi arrj elec •tion dual of I Upoi of J TJie teacl atten tnre < child educc Free tweir tion freed( Tln'ougliout the historical proceedings of the (Jnitoii J^i^q,. States, there aboundi^ one universal expression of solici- frenu( tude for the training and education of the youtli, not alonr lyyy,,. for material and siiiritual advantages, but to enable tli amonj rising population to wield with effect the representative «j.Qgg power which has been vested in their bands. This dui; i^Qp]^; has not been taken up by the federal government, but Jia- i^ann been undertaken 1)y each and every one of the individiio. ^J^Qj-p states, and is being conducted at an unsparing expense. ■^ UNITED STATES. 19 1 Giravd, of nearly isign of a :,ly ediiic'-' japitol f>l' .liau forty U uf)t Lo u;li; thoso , I'oudnelcd. to liave to asses coil It jject. W<> am, at tlir inouiited to so occurred park Wii;- 1; and Vnt o iiad sal)- tlio United u of Kolici- ;li, not aloiK cnal)lo ill iresontativi This duty ent, but lia? individua'i ; expense* As an instance of tlio operation of the system, wo will take tlio example of Now York. Tho city is formed into Avards, each of the wards elects its own board of officers, and the officers so elected form a board of education, invested with power to erect sdiools, and conduct every arrangement in relation to schooling. In this manner every elcctur has, once a year, the opportunity of making selcc- ti(»n from amongst the candidates offering, of that indivi- dual wliom ho is most w illing to entrust with tho education of his own eliildi'cn, and witli permissitm to lay a tax Ml)on himself for the payment. According to tho census of 1.S''5, the poi)ulation of New York Avas 629,810. ITJie number of public schools in 18oG was 253, tho teachers employed wore 1,200, tho number of scholars in attendanec at these schools was 47,584, and the expendi- ture of tho year was £220,000. These schools are open to children of every grade in life, to receive any amount of education they may desire ; and in the High {School, or Free Academy, the students may remain to the age of ivventy-one. Ono of the principals assured ns that educa- tion in the public schools was adopted with the same i|reedom by the ri(.'h as by the poor ; that the sons of the liibouring hod-carrier and those of the higliest citizens were firerpiently found side by side in the same class ; and that by reason of such contact, the delicacy of habits prevailing among the sons of the wealthy did not degenerate into gross demeanour, but, on the contrary, the sons of the ^forking class were but too glad to avail themselves of the amples of the more refined, as a means, in their opinion, ereby to promote their own advancement in life. 20 A TOUR IN THE rli <./ Ill to AV] W] tJli tllf fro] for hy to c tnii It. has Ik'ou iound that tho (rliiiractcristic g'ontkMicss of Inmalc teaclicrs is very iiii])ortaiit in tli(3 infhieii''(» they exorcise upon ohiLh-oii ; and as \ho.\v is also an economy of wages ill th(^ eniiUovment of femah'S, tlioy are very oxtonsively engaged in ;se]u)ol teaeliing in every part ol the Uiiiori. At the; Normal Training Seliool of New- York, the uttendan(;(^ was rttported to ho from six to seven hundred female teachers. Tlio scliooling of Pliihiddphi;! is of tlio same character as tliat of New York, excepting;; only that it is conductecl at less expense, hecausci tht directors hire a good many <•!" tlioir schools, instead o! hiiilding scliool premises of their own. Tlie interest attacliing to education in the estimatioi. of the public, we had the o[)portuiiity of observing. At tli- closing of the t(;rm oi the High School, there was an as- sembly of u])wards of 4,(K)() persons to witness the displa; of school attainments of tlu; students who were leavinc Tho day was held ;is a gala day. The school dircct(ir>. along with the students, occupied the platform of a larg _. hall, and the stndtnits acqm'tted thenis(dves with grca ^ _ ability in tlu^ di Hvi'vy o'.' eomjiositions of their own, in juo? « ^ of which the amiable ([U.dities were prominent, togetli* '± with an earnest patriotism,— -altogether affording the be^ : guarantee of individual comfort and national progres' •* The enthusiasm of the audience was almost unboundo Upon those who displayed most cleverness, the ladi. j_ j.i showered bouquets of llowers ; and tho gentlemen o: ^r ^ pressed their (Micomiums vritiieut measure. The exhibili' ^^ lasted about three hours, and was (dosed l)y a very father ||pf], (Exhortation from the princi])al to the pupils. He remindJM. ri them thai " they were now entering upon the affairs ;>: ^g^,] sive for oa ^a FNTTED STATES. 21 tleuesrt <>l" •;t\«'o tlioy L i>conoiuy aio very M'y x^iivt ol 1 of Ki'>v ix to seven liiliulelplii;! , ('xeeptiii;i jceaviso tin ' duties of lif^; tliat tlicy •\vore eaeli of tliem in possesRion >, ol" Ji eertiliciite <>1' tlxir collcji.-iiite proHeieiiey, and of tlicir I unbleniislicd icpiitatinn ; and ho enjoined upon tlieni over to upliold tliosc ]iiL;li i»rincij»l('S of religion and virtiio -svliich had been iiundcated l>y their teaehers ; and in ■whatever eonditiim of life they should hereafter bo found, tliat they should elici isli with esteem the remenibraneo of those wlio had thus laboured for their welfare." Indeed, froin tlu^ established eharaeter of the students, the demand for them is so laig(\ tliat they ai'e regularly advertised for , instead ol jjy the merchants of the eity: indeed it is a noble speetacle to observe the manner in \vliieli Ajucu'iea is engaged in tho tnuning of her sons. c cstimatioi. ing. At th> e was an as- s the displa; COTTON MANUFACTURE. Near the Falls of the Sehuylkill we visited somci exten- ere lA'avnia ^^^^ cotton mills. Tliis concern had spinning and weaving )ol diroctov> £^^. j^oOO looms. Tlie manufacture was a description of 111 ot a hirg gtrong cloth for trousers, wrought into twills, stripes, and s with gvca (jIj^,,.]^^^ ,,f' almost every shade of colour, to the extent own, iunie^ of 300 varieties. The cotton was dyed in a raw state as lent, togetlu £^ came from the bale, by being immersed in the dye vats ing tlie be: ^^ ^y-^^^, baskets for about twenty-four hours ; afterwards mal xorogrc!^ it was dried, and carefully opened for operation for spin- t uuboun'ic Yong. There was a great deal of ingenuity displayed ss, the hiiU ill the weaAing department, especially in the arrangement eutlemen c: ^f i\^q shuttles carrying the different colours of w(d't, The exhibit 1 iipj i^ their displacing of one another in the formation very father >^ -j-he patterns. The goods were bleached and calendered Heremin*. ^^ the spot, and the bales were packed and sent away in the affairs '' Hiadiness for distribution to the retail trader of the south. 22 A TOTTU IN THF BALTIMORK. Passing from Philadolpliia to naltiinoro, about 100 miles distant, the railway is interfcptcd by tlie tSuM(ine- lianna river, at a point which in about a niilo in breadth, and the crossing of passengers is effected by a steam boat. Upon ^this occasion the boat liaving got frozen amongst tlio ice, the i)assengers were invited to walk acres.; the river upon plaidts, in order tliat they might escape tlie holes and tender parts of the ice. The danger api)eare(l imminent, but w(} crossed in safetv. The city of Baltimore is situatcjd upon the Potapscii River, entering the Chesa])eak(' Bay. A century ago it consisted of nine liouscs only, and in 1850 tlie populatioh had readied 1G9,054. "We arrived late in ilie eveninfj;. and next morning the object w(3 iirst saw before us was a monument of white marble, called the "Battle Column," to commemorate the names of those who fell in defence of the city when attacked by the Britisli forces in 1814. Baltimore has been called the monumental city, probably by way of compliment to the public spirit of the inhabi- tants in the erection of another monument, 17G feet higli. in memory of Washington, whom every true Americai. honours as the "Father of his Country." We thouc'k there was an aspect of great respectability prevailing about the city. The most important-looking edifice is the Mechanics Institute, 355 feet long and 60 feet wide ; the principn hall holds G,000 persons. Baltimore is largely engag( ■' in the export of grain and flour. It is the natural outlc for a large region of country which is principally undo T], rc^vi s UNITED STATES. 2.3 ,l)Out 100 11 "In-eiultli, cam boat. I ainou^ht Licros.; till' jficapo tl>^' r appoiu'ctl Pot apse nry ago u frnin cultivation. Flour mills iiro imnicrous, aiul in onu ol' iliciii wu saw M vrrv svslciiiat ic air I ccotioniic arranu'e- incnt I'nr ;j,Tinilin_n-, proparin,';-, and Itarit-llin?; oi' tla; Ilour. TIhtc nrc also sovoral largo niiiniil'at'toiios of ap;iirnl- tuial inipltMucnts. Tlic proprietor of oiu; of tlioso allowed lis to sec tlirough liis \vorks ; and llie extent of L • trado may bo ostinuitod bvhis annual business retuni;;, one itoni of wliicli eon.sisted of 5,0(10 ploughs, besides other farming- implemenls and tools, i-anging from the ihrashing niaeliine to ihe (,'hurn and wheelbarrow. Tinder for those J)urjiosL'S Is <'hoa]), and maybe had at Is. per cubic foot, ^hc ploughs and other iniph.unents are not constructed of iron, ;is in tins eimntry, Imt of Avood, and the several parts iire wrought l)y nuiehinery, througli tho various operations of ])laning, grooving, morticing, and shamfering of the edLi-es. Each of these sovoral parts boini;- of uniibrm ehape, ciin be -warehoused, and afterwards sent away in execution of orders. % WASHINOTOX. populatioi 10 eveniuf.r fore us wa Column, in dofeuc OS in 1814. , probably ^ the inbabi- This city is not only tho seat of govornment, but the G feet bigli. great centre of political existence in the United States. Americai. Our visit occurred upon the expiration of tlie official term IVo tbougli: of Tresidont rearce, and before tho inauguration of Mr. prevailiug Buehanan, when the legislators, the planters, merchants, and others of the most stirring people of the conntry Mecbanics'^^ ^^i'^ present. Tiio opportunity thus affoi-ded enabled ic principalJP to enjoy a most acceptable range of intercourse, as w^dl ely engagof'JBi for obscrvi)ig and forming an estimate of the social, ittiral oiitlera|vil, and political aspect of this metropolis of the States. pally nnde: 1j|revious to tlie year 1790, Congress bad been accus- 24. A TOUR IN THK '111 toiiK'd to assemble at riiiladclpliia. At tlio suggestion of ^x[ Guiicral Wasliingtoii, a territory t)t' one Imiidred square |isli miles in extent, was appropriated as the future seat of Jhik government. Tlie design of tlio city was executed imdor clia the direction of Washington himself: the streets appear out unnecessarily wide — they radiate from two central points, infii and take tlieir names from the various states of the kno Union. The "(\xpitol" or Houses of Parliament, is an inst: immense mass of building of white marble, and when the feud enlargement now in progress has been completed, tht' oolk (3ntir(^ edifice will cover four acres of ground, and will Oelel be tlie most magnificent public building in the United from Stat(^s. Tn the centre is the Rotunda, of ninety-six portr feet diameter, and in the panels which surround the mark basenu'nt storey, there are four bas-relievos of historical thou^ subjects of great interest to that country, such as Penn's Were Treaty with the Indians; the Landing of the Pilgrims, Oeive &c. Sec. Office Tiiere are several other public buildings which are tjle noble specinunis of architecture, such as the Treasury for the Patent Olliee, the Post Oflice, and the "White House,' hihiU the residence of the President. The public monument- Wens of General Washington and of Jeiferson are interestiii:: mter( objects ; and the Observatory also, which is in charge c ttanu Lieutenant IMainy, the well-known author of a work c Slgna i;:reat merit on the " Currents of the Ocean." been The Smithsonian Institution is a very largo moder Ui Lo building, ornamented with towers in the Romanesqii \v T style of architecture. This institution owes its existence ^jjfvvid to an English gentleman, who, having led a life of retin". 0lfy i and studious habits, Lft a hirge sum of niouey to L %ief UNITED STATES. 2; ;) ggestion of Ired squaro ;ure scat of 3utcd under eots appear itral points, ates of tlie ment, is iui d when the iplotcd, thv id, and wil! the United : ninety-six lUTOund tlio of historical ph as Penn'j le Pilgrims, s which are 10 Treasury, hito House," monunieut- intereatinc ill charge c of a work c arge moder Romanesq^i its oxistene life of retiroi money to I' expended at Washington, for the founchng of an " Estah- lishment for the increase and (hfinsion of knowdedge limong men." Thf professors and thos(^ who luivo charge of it, are making rapid progress in carrying out tliis enhghtened design, and already a henelicial influence has been derived by the diffusion of scientifu' knowledge, aniuially distributed amongst the literary institutions of every country. One of the subjects of leading interest with tlio executive council, has been tlu^ collection of portraits of Indian Chiefs, and otliers of celebrity of tliat race who are now fast disappearing from the comitrv. We saw a o-allerv of about a hundred portraits. Many (4' the chaiacteis were strongly marked by nature, and bore tho indications of a rude, tiboughtful kind of intelligence ; but their lineaments were miserably defaced by the decoration, as they con- ceived, of tatooing. Tlie architecture of the Patent Office is after tho celebrated Pantheon. Tho object of tte building is to afford tlio necessary accommodation fiw patented inventions. Model representations arc cx- Mbited in great numbers, and there arc also some speci- mens of natural history, &,c. ; but amongst tho most interesting of tho articles we saw, was tho original manuscript Declaration of Independence, with all tho signatures attached; and tho prhiting press which had been worked by Franklin at the time of his first residence in London. ^,^ The associations of Washington became suggestive of ddely dillerent and more important study than that of ty architecture, Taking a comprehensive survey of tho ief and successful career of tho United States, it 2G A TOUR IN THE appears noccssiiry tliat W(' s'lould cnnipvoliend tlin politica % Q organisation Avliicli lias Joundod and sustained an oxt' i. jjrros of national and individual jn'ospcrity liitlicrto nnoxani])lcr ^ cc Tlio recognition of llio "Sovereignly oi' the Teoph' ]|y ll seems to have formed tlu; basis of all American institiv fives tions. Tlu! founders having s[)rung i'roni one dead level to p^ it has l)Con their policy to cstablisli an electoral powei' > eigld the widest range, and thereby to uphold the self-respei annu: as well fis the authority of the citizens, by placing cntin'i; rj.j in their hands the d(^terndn;iiion of (ilness oJ' ever candidate for oliicial a])pointnunt, whetlier in the towi ship, the city, the county, the state, tlio federal legi~ lature, the appointment of \]u) judgrs who admhii^;' tlie laws, or ih(>: I'resident of the I'nion. TJie frecpienr of cdectoi-al appeals a])pears to have fi sustaining elfci upon the ind(>pendent character of electors. They all ' them insist upon being eonsidei'od "citizens," and iv "subjects,'" of tliG state; and so jealous are they of the: independence, that they make constant display of it in tl. everyday concerns of life, and to an extent that bordt : Wftrlik upon rudeness. gWiei Each state is an independent republic, having a Lx ftt fi character in its functions, and a representative characti ©nded in returning!: its senators to the h^nislature. Congre-*"©? t)i consists of a Senate and a House of Representative'^^' <^^ The Senate is composed of two members frcun each stat^* ^^itc chosen as before staled bv the le^'Islatures of the sevei ^•'^'^^ states, for the term of six years, ono-lhird of whom l^®* ^^ out biennially. The senators nnist be thirty years of a;.; • ^1 nine years citizens of the states, and iiduibiting i:/*!^^ t state for wdiich they are returned. The regular numlj;*^^ P Tl I Til Aii 1 Til Th In c TlJ I UNITED STATES. 27 tliopolitica 4 62; and ilie Vico-rresidont of tlio rnitod States i.s lI an cxtn. president of the Senate. The House of rte])ivseui:ativei^ iiiexamplci" || composed of members from tlie several states, elect(,'d lie Peoplt ify the people for the term of two years. The rcjn-esenta- iean institr fives arc apportioned among the diffei'ent states, according dead level II population. The present number is 234, besides ral -[(ower < eight delegates rt.'turned by Oregon and other recent self-respci annexations, who are allowed to speak, but not to \ot(\ jing entire; -j;];^ annual sulary ui' tlic Piosiiloni is £r,,UW SS of (!V<'i I That of tlio Vict^-President and seven fitliovs of the I-]xe- ciiti\c JJcpartiuent ^vho I'oriu tlic C'al)ini.'t, cac'ii lJl,GUO '^ The conii)L'iisati(rii alloWLil to niciuhers (luiiug alteiid- ederal le"> - ancu in Congress, is (per day) 8 sul- They all ' diers, was £3,:38!),63'.) ,, 1 In the navv department the number of the men is not riS, ana ir given, Imt the cost is £2,Sir),UtM) diey of thr. IV of it in ii Tho legislature allov/s of no pensions ; and if any ^]j.^^ j-y^)!',], ■ warlike emergency should arise, they contract with g<^erals and other oflicers ibr a given ])eriod of service, ■aviu'^" a hu ** ^^ fixed rati^ of payment; and when the servic-o is ftvo characti ©nd^-^l, the parties so engaging again retire iiito private Conf^'ro-^^®* or resume some profession or pursuit, as other citizens )resentative-^o. Our introductory letters brought us into a wide range m i'aeli stat-^^ intercourse with the leading oflicials, and with many f tlio sever ^^'^^^^^'^ of the two Houses of Congress, which we deemed of whom '-*'•' ^^^^y '^ r^'ivilege, but a soiu'cc of enjoyment. vearr, of au ^ '^^^^ Senators appeared older and more d( liberativc; men ihabitinf^ tiWn those of the lower house. An in(piiry was at that nrlor numb^^ pending in which the parties concerned, who were 28 A TOTTll IN THE it( members of tl»e lower liouse, v/orc (.'liargcd with corruj practices. Tlii.-j inquiry, and the proceedings oi' tl: IfTf Congress, were interesting to a stranger, and tlierefui we may relate some portion of wliat occurred. One of tl. representatives introduced ns into ihv, body of tlie liuiif tibif and before the business commenced, v,(; liad an agreeall tftk- conversation with the Speaker. V0t« Wlien the Speaker had taken In"s scat, a vererahl gftg looking old man immediately ros(% and proceeded • wa\ invoke a blessing upon tlie dcdibcn-ations of the da •A^if We remarked to om- friend the meud)er, that thuir Cv. Diet gross, tinlike our Parliament, allowed the chaplain of r! u* - house to enter their presence unadonied with jmy offici 0» ^' gown or sacerdotal dress. He replied, " You will not s. P^^i any finery here, — neither the S])eaker nor any other offic; 8®i'' is distinguishable by any outward badge of servitud ©qu The old gentleman, the chajdain, as 3'ou are pleased : S^^'* designate him, is one of the few remaining office **'^^' who served his country in the War of Independenc ^'P*^^ he is now 94 years of age, rjid is not well provided f therefore he is willing to accept a small simi annuali not as a pension (you know that pensioners wo ha none), but by way of compensation for coming on ^^^ a day to ask a blessing upon what we are doing." Ev( *"® member has a writing desk before him, and nearly evi '•*^^^ one appeared absorbed in giving attention to his conv ^ ^^ pondence ; and very few took any notice of the procef "'^'^ ings of the house. It was very common for a meml '■®P^ to be seen addressing the lumse under consideralW^ excitement, whilst those who were sitting close at lia'W.^^ would be coolly engagtjd in writing letters or turiii.'^' rXlTKl) STATKS. 20 with coiTui #^''' '^^'^^ ^'^' l»''l"'i''^7 -'"^ looking quitp r:;.i:.ipassioned. (liims oi" tl W^' ()1)S('VV(hI an instaiieo of iirogniliirity and v/ant of tiiul tliurelni fttto'ition in taking tlio votos. A mombor wlioso name 1 One of tl y?*'^ called ovor aiiswcrcd " Aye.'' Soni<> time afterwards of the huii> i3bi''^gf'ntlenianap]»eared to discover that he had made a mis- 1 an a^n'oeuli take, and recpiested pennission of the Sjx'aker to have his votentversed, alleging, as his reason, that he had been en- ver'vn'ahl ga^''''^ '^^ ^'^^ desk, and liad inadvertently voted the wrong iiroeeeded • way. licavc was given, and tlic vote was reversed, of the da Anotlicr instance was one; nf anniseineiit ; it was that of a hat their Co; incti<»n lor a grant of money 1o explore tlie river Niger dnDlain of t! ^ Afrit a ; ;>nd Ihe i-lerk at the tal)le, in i(^ading the form vith anv offui ^ resolution, fidl into th(^ very nndersttuidahle error of ou will not Si proposing a grant of money fcr exploring the river "Nig- mv other ofTic; S®^"'" 'Inhere were otlier ])roeeedings which wonld be of servitad equally (>p<'n to remark, as indicating a legislative disre- 'ire T)leased • S*^"'^ "^" ^^'''^ dignity wliieli wonld be becoming of an riininf*' office ^^^'^'^'^^'l^' n]ton v.liom there is resting no weighty a re- Indeirendenc sponsibility. 1 provided f y i SLAVERY. snm anmuili « toners we ha Ihscnssions of a party political character were frecpient, r cominf>* ei; ^^^ ^^'' *^'^^ ^'-^^ ^'^^^ ^*' notice that the snbjects npon which doinf** " Ey( *^® parties appeared most confident, often proved to be id nearly evi *^°^^^ npon wliich, in reality, they were most nervous. to his com-^^^ instance, slavery Wiis hi everybody's month. Those of the procee ^^**^^^ ^'"^' north wonld exclaim against the sin and the for a meml "^P^*^^^^^ which rested n])0]i their country by reason of er considerai*^ proceedings of the sonth, — ever making i)arade of close at lu:'^'^^'' "^^'" example in having liberated the slaves which tters or turni ."'^^ belonged to themsrdves. The southerners were not 30 A TOLll 1^ Till:: -'t^ty slow to romiiifl tlioBO of tlio iiortli that tlicy had takri litr'i caro to liold i)osso.ssion oi' their shives until they liad /^- • jp''' a sulTlcioiit Hup})ly of wliito cinigTam.s, from Ireland ai. Ir'" irDiii Germany, whom ihey greatly ])rererred to terv ^''■■ •' them; ainl it was thcn^ and nut before, that tliey In ^ ''i sold oil!, their slaves to tlie south, or had turned thei *^'"' adrift nn"' luiving- eailed upon the rest of the worh] \ ^^'^ ' extol Their philantJu'opy, theyluiii thrown re])roach upt P^^' '' tlie soiuiiernors, who Hiey well knew had no wiiite em; **i^^'*' grants to fall haek upon. Incidental remarks bearin. ^'■'^' upon the subject wciv <.)ften l)cing bandied about. TL ^^-^^ southerners would jippcal to the northern men, wlietli' i thev had ever known an instance in which a mem1)' -m (»f an American family liad become a domestic; servair ,; ^^ and the answer uniformly given was, that such a case; w ■^*^^'^'^ unknown. Upon this admission, the cas" against tl.^^^ ' northern poojdo was deemed coneliisivo, namely, that tl whilst ;c]T northern peo|)le who r('(juir(H.l such servants would h;i'^^® ' retained to this day the sLives they held, if tlie emigrai.P^*-'-^' frr)i 11 Europe liad not, in so convenient a manner, su]iiP^^'^'' seded the necessity of their retaining possession of tln;^!^**^!' any longer. It '\\'as remarked of the negro race, that those states wliere they had Ikhui liberated from slaver'' ' tlioy had not only not increased as the wdiit(^ populati' ' liad done, but that they had g)';idually diminislicd . -"^ numbers, ehieily by reason of their want of forethoug'! the neglect of their children in infancy, and the improv ' X)urse. dent and reprehensil'le courses which they pursued. A gentleman from riiiladelphia, an eminent meiclia:4if"' one of the visiting directors Ox a largo philanthropic : ' stitution, and who was by no means iavoui'able to elftver (> I'NIT^'D MATKS. 31 te|>r^'S^;o(I lil^i sorrow and vogrot llmt w itliin u milt' of his 0.^v;! city vesitlciice lu' couLl 'ind, in ll) '^ dwoUiiiga of tlio !((■.' l)l;u;k.s, a ;^TC:iifi- extciit ci" (.listi'oss, sf[ualor, and |^i>c'rv, tluiii ('"iild }' ■olmljly bo ioaud iii any otlicr place ill tlio world. Tlicso remark,-^ may survo to iiidit'at(3 tlio g|ai>' "T pariy rcclin-j,-, and llio spirit in wliicli lliu .subject 1 11 . was Ijcinii' discus,-;cd in Vv'asliim''ioii. Tlio northern iicd- ho world \ 'r ^ '^ ^ _ 1 Me iL'ol soro, and cxnro.ss thouiselvcs stron,''-]v as boiiuj," proach iip" *r . 1 -^ fiBfihonom'od 1)V tlio slave rv of iho south, iiud the south- ( white oiir T^ - ' _ ftiors complain o'.' ilw oratorical! and maddcmnc^- oxcito- Int kept u]) by the uor.Ii. had taker cy had ?.;■ [rclaud ai. ]{\ to Borv it they h ;urnod th< i. r\rks beari'.i. about. Tl. non, \Yhotli' ch a meml A M J ; . : 10 A ^ >'> :i A il T X K s s. Y'ou have no d.oubt heard oi' the "smartness'*' of the ;ssioii stic sovvan: _ Aibericans. An in; 'an.;^ of iliis kind of sharp in'actioo oh a case; \v _ _ . . , ,imav serve ili.' liJiri/^si, ol' illustration. One niornin;'', r ag-ainst tl. ■^ \ \ _ '-^' -,' il X .Li whilst we were loii:onn£r about in the entranoo hall of the >ly, that tl . ^ . . . 11 1 hSSJel, an errand 1 ov inn-viv: ;{ '.[ ]io miffht feteh a news- would hu\*^ ' , .: ■ . . PwPer fi'om tiie o'lice, next door. Ilavinn- bnum-ht the vo enngrai.''?* _ ' ^ . PjHper, I'.nd received a live cent lueoe, ho called out inner, sup^^^i^ _ , . , , ,. ji sharnlv, "It is all ri<]:,'ht, sir," and M'as walkhm- awav. OI tin-. ^ * ' _ ^ o . ,, , Rcrferrin':" to the cost of tht; paper, wliicli was only two race, that. • . . , \ , 3ents, ve remonstrated; and hc^ insisted tha"* his claim as from slaver , , it ^^ . ■, i • , . nessonu'rr was throe cents ! He tnen turned round ni a popuiati , , T auntv way and hold in 2" up tl 10 live cent pieee, called out nished ^ , ' . . . ,' Here's the monov, and if you think niv <.'liarfre too f forethou^'i': . * , ^ ' , " -, , auoh, voii can give mo back the paiier, and iotcli one Uheimprov ' ^__ ^ i i ' -'oursolt. nirsucd. hm • i • j- "a j •> i i . ^lius description oi "smartness would appear to mieiit meiclia:«. ^, ... n , . iBi^'*-' encouragement, ii wo may ludgo irom iho. remarks ilantliropic rjl . . w i' ' x i .• r. mK^ American traveller, lately returned irom Liu'ope, He to Blaver1||^ > ^ i ? imi •:s 32 A TOUK IN THE who was iloscribiug iho English hotels, cab-drivers, por ters, &c., and with an air of exultation he remarked tlu; lie had boon better cheated in the tlirce weeks since li; return to America, than during the whole eleven montl, of his absence in England. We do not in any unfriendly spirit remark upr ^j the political and other occurrences at Washington : indoi it would appear imgcnorous not to acknowledge ti very acceptable manner in which wo were received 1 ,ja^.^^ families residing in the city, and by great numbers ■-!£ o visitors from all parts of the imion. g^j • Leaving Washington, we descended the Potom i^fj^ Kiver by steamer, passing the mansion of Mount Veriir d|fl^,u which will ever bo memorable as the residence ;|||.j;jIj General Washington. Landing at Aquia Creek, v;^^ ^ joined the railway, and proceeded to Charleston, « ment distance of 650 miles, without leaving tho carriages. T nQj.f], time occupied was forty-eight houi's ; the journey v Jxqh^^ harrassing, and there was not any midway station wL: |(|i.^(3| afforded the appearance of comfort. The principal | shachl of the way was through pine forests ; the country v dfiout thinly inhabited, and the population were mostly empl(« ocdouj in procuring turpentine from the trees. ^ On our way through Eichmond, the train receiorie-iiJ about fifty negro slaves, as passengers to New Orleahere rj About one-half of these were men, and the rest wolTJjq and children. They were well dressed, and appeatone less painfully impressed with their condition than depar should liave expected. One of the conductors infoifeif exi us they had carried about G,000 in tho previous I^j weeks. 1804, .;ai UNITED STATES. ;33 SECOND IjECTUI^E. (' H A U I, K S T ( » X — s O U T II CAROL! X A . rivcTH, poT narked i\a Uh since Iv. )ven montl emark w]}' gton: indof S .owledgo tl. ?t| 'j',11. (.jty jintl locality of Cliarlostoii iiitroduccd iis into received I ^at roi^ion wliicli constitutos iho party-political division b numbers j^f South ag-ainst North, and Nortli against South, and the tuhjoct of shivery caiiie iiioru iinnie(Uately under oui-ol^scr- the Potoni i|ation. Tliis city, like tho cities of New York and ]'hil- /[onnt VeriK ;j||cl(.lphia, is situated upon a neck of hind hetwixt two rivca's, residence ^^slieets of water, and stands in i'ront of a wi blocks, also rcseud)le the ;arriages. 1 northern cities ; but -svith this exception, that here the e journey v-'llpusos arc mostly composed of wood, and the sides of the station wlv//j||reets are lined with magnolias, palmettoes, and other principal i sliady trees, with ornamental gardens. The population is le country ' aliout 45,000, nearly one-halt" of whom are slaves, or free lostly emplo} eoloured. A consideralde portion of tlie inliabitants are of French train recei' origin, being the descendants of those who took rofugo New Orleahere at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, he rest woiThe people are franlc and hospitable, and the general and appoatone of society is rcihied and int(dligent. Tlie business dition tluni department of the city is princi[)ally that of receiving uctors infnr.j^ export and distribution tlie productions of South Caro- 10 previous ^^a, consisting mostly of cotton and rice. In tlie year 1804, the port of Charleston was allowed to be opened for ''If' 34 \ TOUn F\ TIIK I four years lor tlio iiii])ortation of Africans, and during- \\\.\ j^, time 202 vessels iirc icpcM-ted to Ikivo tuitered with slay, jjjj from that ronntry. Of these ^ 'riic imports in British .sliipn were, W,C)\\) t al Do. French sliips 1,78 14,G()5 ;?,44:3 ;58,77o risis was prodnrcd wliidi hicikicimI the stability of the 'iiiMii liv the llircateiif. il uuliilica'ioii nf its acts. }. I'lilil tliis fiiiH' till' idea of a dissMliit ion ol" tlio riiinn, |lltli()ii';l! it !iii,L!,'Iit liiNc l):'('n «M tiu'ci V('( I, liad not Ix'iMi oiit- Ipolvi'ii. 'I'Ik' tariir dis|)iito, ]io\v<'vor, invcsfcd that Question with all tho a|i])('aiMiii'i' of suhstantial reality. Till- I'oiitcsf assiuiii'il a hold ]iosition, and this jireinedita- t(:>d dissolution ol" iho Union hy the ]»arti('S of the South, I'll* Htatoiiici Was s]iee(lily I'ollowcil hy ii ])rej)ai'ation ("or collision, miiortcd AVf South ('aroliiia raise(l mid anncd her troo])S, and tliey werc^ aiutriciS whi ISein^;' iiiarclicd ;iiid (hilled ia si,L;'ht ol" the F(3deral forces. It dewci'v At IfUL^'tl!, however, the pendiu'j,- evil ^\■as avertod hy a iterP^t iii ' Coninroiiiise. The s])ii'ir ol" Fj'ee-trade still survi\'os in tho veai* 1!^ Chaileston, and it was (juite aniniatiiie; to receive the coii- wliol*^ of Sol. gjratulatioiis of ( harieston upon the success of our free- ado uiov'.nu' trade iirocccMJings in England. avowed y 'I'^'O locality of South Carolina and Georc>'ia Avill ever 'stablislni^eiAt possess a.n interest with those who are eno'ao-(>d in tin* At tliat ti spinnine; and niaiuii"acture oT S(>a Islands cotton. The of ra^v cot* factories of IV.lton ai-e s'dd to eonsnnie a ,c;-r(niter quantity 'fore sbe wf *^ ^I'j'^ cotton than those of any oilier phice ; tlierefore, - of the pro'^*^ subject of its growth luay be deein(Ml of souie con- , ^ ^ ^ ^^ pi^.ot siderable intert'si, from its being so intimately conueeted n couSUli'F ^*^^ om- local inchisti'y. Tonsil ily those who have been vers whov®^S^V-i''<^ "^ ^'"' o;)eratioiis of spiinii-.ig Sea. Fslauds cotton, She also ^^y ^"*^ ^"^'^'^" considered how huge an amount of em])loy- ■v resulted {^^^^ ^'^^'3' ^^'^^'^ afford(Ml to those engaged in tlie manufoc- itercsts of *"^® of light and beautiful fabvies. as wdl as lace, at lav of niilr^*^^"'-^'^^'^"^' l^eieester, and Derby. Tho finest specimens the v;^ ^^^^^ ^"'^^^' cotton arc sold for as much as lour shiUings upon lere iloy a poli'W pouii^- A single pound of it has been extended by I„ "^ 'M\ A Toi II IN rm: spiiiniii;:; to llif Inif;;!]! dl' 1,000 miles ; iiiid when iiiiimi.|B)Ic i'?i(;tiir('(l into luce it liiis even bccoiuc of flic v;ilii(> of £2uil^«{|( It would, tlu'rcfon', lie (lilHciilt to liud jniv otlicr r;r l|pii)i luiitoriid, — tlio precious uietids seiiieely ex|)octe(l, — fur |ju' iiisliin_2; so larg'o an exleut ol" eiri|»lo_viiu'iit as is now e;{)i ifJtoi !)](» of lu-iuo- su}i)>!ieil by llie iiifiuipulatioii of liiis kind BDati cotton. laiid.> Accordin,!:;" to Mr. Kliiott, one of the ohh-st jOautcrs plicii S(>a Tshmds cotton, iu Ids "Address to the rni[)erial Aui BHid, culiund Society el' France,'' in IS,)'), the scimI of tl H^e h phmt was hrouulit fn )ii) tlie IJidiiinia Ishual-; to the st,t- -piosi of (fcoiv^'ia, l»et \v( "U tlie yens l7Sr>anil 171HI: and ah' Hjcsj), wai'd.s it <\'as introtlnci'ii into Soiitli (';irolIn;i, tlu! st;;' WCed.-: wdiicli is now the 1;ii\l:,'i'S1 pro.hieei'. ll is n])oii tiie mii iWinu iwhnids of these states, whieli ;u'i' Wiitei'ed hy tlu; tides But, i tlie Atlantic, lh;it ih'-'. e n;nn(^-< will 1" !;uni]i;irlv kn(>wn to i I chairman, and to -fher cotton sj)inners now present, sr«6ftde as Elliott, To\\ nsend, Scubrtiok, ]Mikel, and others: an' Wl^ t is to the j)olit(^i!ess of lliesc gentlemen that we are indf.''*^''^ ed for tho infoimation w(^ ])ossess iqion the cultivatioi:-'"-*^'"' this delicate jilanl. The growlh of Sea Islands, in "'° ^ than any other kind of cotton, is inihienced hv climate. -^^6^' the composition of the soil, a.nd hy the state of the atiii'^*''"'^^ plierc. The plant is extrenjely sensitive of the cifect^w^^oc air and VJtpour; hence, in some favoured localities. PB^''^; (piality of the production improves, and. in others nnrffiP^^h distant it degenerates. The lands which are most favt;*^> ^'^ n i TNITKh STATKS. :r vlic'ii liiair; is iMiw vwy- il>lo loi li.- tiiliivalioii, art' ilic huihIhiIi'Ss hiiiiiII islands ||M('ii:liii,:;' i'lxii.^^ :!:" :-t':i cnnsl, ujmI divitlcd oin^ from i^iotlici' by iijiiii'W c'li cks, uliich n'ccivc lidal ^vat('l•s ficm fjit' st'ii ; and ulsw tlir livcr waters descending lidiii tlie ijltoii*'!' of the coimtry, loaded as tiiey are with alhivial lids kind' Iftatte)', wliieli lorius a deposit. 'I'liese islands, and tlio lirnds lynig adjaeenl, wliieli pa'iaice i'roely (u'a valine atnios- •;t planters jji^-'i't', IiaviiiL;- a dry soil that admits of a dressing of sea iiDorial Aui ll^i'^ i'^ wliieli silex lue vails, are the fa veined grounds for j(mm1 of t'. ^^ ^^^^^^ "^ ^^^*'' l»lanl<'i- in raisini;' the elKueest of his crops. ^ to the st,i' ^i"'"^" lands which ai<' lying more f the atiii'^*^'"^^^^^^^ ^y I'iiisiiig "P ^ I'dvor of soil Ijy the i)lough oi- if the ei'fect^''i^® hoe. In August, tho bolls are so far liponed that tho h)calities. 'PP^^^S ^^' harvesting is commenced, and for several thers notlBP^^^'^ afterwards all hands arc busied in gathering, sort- re most favc^» ^.'leaning, ginning, and packing the cotton. The pro- um 38 A TOUll IX TTTE duct varies from 1 20 to 1 50 lbs. of cleaiiod cotton to tlio acn and from llircr U) i]vo nf'os! nn^- ]y.> riiUivit;"l l>y '>;;. liaiul. 'J'lio (lUiuitily of seels wiiicli ai'c raised in [irop* i- tion to the cotton, ;ip[)e;irs very considerable ; and in liii cottons ii i'roquently liapjtens tliat only one pound of clca: cotton is derived from live pounds of the ripened poil- whieh have been gathered. The plant is liable to rcceiv And •PI' Wer WQV oi 0n) or 1> severe injury from the visits of a great niunber of insect- ftb — and more }iarticularly iVoni a caterpillar which feei; OiVei upon the leaves and unri[)(! pods, sometimes destroying ; Kiat nnich as thrce-fourtlis of the entire crop. Tlie incursie of the caterpillar are not annual, but})eriodical: sometim they arc not seen for four or live years in successin The Sea Island plant has now been introduced into t: W^y state of Florida, and a]>])ears to promise an agreeal plji'i amount of success. 'I'he (piality of the cotton hither liold raised in Florida has been inferior to tliat of (xcorgia a: *® ' South Candina, but it is verv useful h)r the c'cneralitv ^^'^ purposes. The annual crop of 8ea Islands is al)i 45,000 bags. There has recently been introduced an iraprov machine, called the " Macarthy (rin," for separating: cotton from tlu; great mass of seeds by which it is s rounded in the pod. It performs a nnich larger quant of work than {lie i-oller gin ])reviouslv in use : and n'^; hensions have Ix^en raised that this new process wi injure the staple, but hitherto it had not been ascertai: to have had any pernicious etiect. Any injury, ho\\' slight, would be greatlv to be dreaded In- the plan' and on several of the jdantations wo found that altln the Macarthy giu was regularly employed iu cleanin ^S' and •epc KOlv l^e «Vo son fore gene dwe whrt #ls^ ^\ UNITED STATUS, 39 n to tlio aero, ^ommoiipi- kinds of cottons, tlio roller i^iu was still resorted (1 ill propiii-^ 111 travelling' llivfiu^li tliesjo isbuids, mnny of tlicm ;uul in liu Sppeured lo be ovcrllowed bv the tidal waters, and tanks )iind of clea: lir^'^'^ formed for collecting- deposits of mml. 'I'hose which i-i])ened poi!- -^ero uncultivated were covered with long grass, reeds, jle to rccciv #nd bulruslms, and wo saw that alli.gators wore moving ler of insect- ibouf upon tliem. All this moisture so widely distributed which feeii '^ver tlic country, togelher with the decayed vegetable destrovin"' a Ittatter lying (\\'[)i)sod to ji scorcliing sun, a})peared to ^lie incursin: ll^^'^'^'d evciy cK'niciit for llie ci-cation of those malignant iho sea coast during the summer, whilst to the negro luced into t: ^f^^y arc harmless vapours. Tlic estate of a cotton ;in a ? . . 1 ., lliiom are too old to labour, others too vouim' : some of mjury, Ikanv -^ . f-^ \i 1 , . IpcMi Nvilliiiu', and itli'U's unwillini;- to wor!c : some iiuar- •v the plant W ■ i 1 tl ■ t Ithc '* '^'""^'' '*^"''*"'^ ^'*^^^f'^iit<--d ; and evexy one running to him .1 ino- il^ whatever they may have need of, whctlier in health oi- 111 .•^ 40 A TOUR IN THE m sickness. Hospitals, witli well-trained nurses in at- glav( tcnuanec, aiv jvgiilarly provided }>y the planters; indeed, mr.ir if no higher motive existed than their pecuniary value, it ||un] would ho of iniportanco that the slaves should he sus- ^e tained in health. It was, however, very obvious that the IThe proper feelings of humanity did predominate. One geii- i^ou tleman, whom we remarked looking careworn and ex- •^e i haustod, informed us that for six weeks he had been giving mann personal atiention — night and day — to the nursing of sixty ^fpas i of the children of his slaves, wlio had been having the of on measles; that the occasion for his continued presence had miBt, been, not alone to administer the medicines, but to pre- was a serve the children from unsuitable treatment, even froiL bst t] their parents. whicL The labour on the plantations is mostly conducted ol tion o^ a system of piece-work, which the labourers can easily ber of perform in six or eight hours ; and afterwards they have Episc the command of overtime for cultivating their own littli laargei patches of ground, or for raising their fowls and pigs forSootla their own individual profit. As it is more than fifty yeanOiroli since any of the negroes were im])orted from Africa, thos'Said of the coloured r.ace of America, altliough of AfricaLjwfein* blood, are now, in effect, the naturalised population of tkpoftmi country. On some of the principal ''states the removalicotirsc have not been frecjuent; and in these cases the ties iStill re local and social attachment are said to be strong. Bein^slavei upon Edisto xsland on a Sunday, we attended one of tliftmong chapels, which belonged to the Presbyterian body. TlitfaeJan^ congregation was large, probably as man}^ as GOO \veil|pBt present, of whom there might be about 200 white and 40'J^|^ w coloured persons. The coloured people were all of theclPBre UNITED STATES. 41 rscs in at- Paves; lliey appeared comfortable, well-dressed, and r,s : indeed «aiiy dl' iliciii ratlioi' tdinwv. It was tlie ilay of Com- try value, it punion, and at tlie close of the sermon, about eighty of Lild be sus- j|ie whites partook the ministration of the iSacrainent. Dus that tlic "liThen they had retired, the table was surroinided by One gen- i|bout 120 of the coloured people, and we observed that rn and ex- iSke minister, elders, and deacons again oificiated in like been giving n|anner, and the same degree of solemnity and decorum ;ing of sixty tifts manifested by the coloured recipients. We inquired having the of one of the ministers in attendance, whom we afterwar Jls )resenco had lo^t, whether this religious service that wo had observed , but to jn-e- "Was at all unusual? and he informed us that it was not, ;, even froa bit that on the contrary, there was upon John's Island, which is adjoining to Edisto Island, and in tho congrega- jonducted oi. tion over which he had charge, a mucli larger than this num- s can easily ber of coloured communicants ; and in tho Methodist and ds they havt Episcopalian bodies there, the number was considerably iir own littL laarger than in his. This gentleman was or.ginally from and pigs fo: Scotland, and as he had resided seventeen years in South m fifty yeai:Oi^olina, he had become attached to the country. He Africa, thoHisaid he could relate a great deal that would appear sur- 1 of AfricaLprffiing, of the religious feeling and very becoming de- dation of tliportment which had come under his notice in his inter- the removalicourse with the coloured population. That although he s the ties iStill retained many of his early impressions in relation to fong. BeiniBlavery, yet the many painful scenes ho had witnessed 3d one of tliomongst the poor dependent classes in Great Britain and 1 body, Tliilreland, had not passed away from his remembrance. as COO weil^t he often contrasted these recollections of his etirly vhite and 40'Mi|» with the state of things around him in South Carolina, •e all of thet^^fcro the negro had to incur the loss of his liberty ; and !i.- 42 A TOUR IN THE lie felt convinced tliat, on the whole, the negro was yraincr in llio amount of cu'c and aitontion which \v: C3 gin I daily exercised by lii.s employer for his welfare, and in tL ^ • greater amount of domestic comfort he was enjoying, ; compared with the peasantry of places which he cou! name withhi the British Isles. ^ Upon our return to CJiarleston we remained some dav ^^^ amongst our friends, ])efore setting sail for Cuba; ai. j|jp^, this time was very agreeabl}' spent in social intercou]■^ gj^^^.^ and in our observation of whatever might be interestii. mtLf;o] about the city. Ik^fore the rapid rise of the cotton gruv ^^, ^ ing states on the Mississippi, the state of South Carolii ^ j.^ was the chief producer of short-stapled eottcms, sudi aff tin we now receive from New Orleans. A considerable qua: '^ |], tity of this ciass of cotton is still produced in South Cai j^^ofi lina and the adjoining states, which is shipped dailv Charleston; but tlic nnexhausted soils of the ^V. That have attracted many of the planters from South Carolii ^eei and, therefore, the export trade of Charleston has not. ''||^ij late years, increased in the same extent as tluit of K- '^n] Orleans or of Mobile. The bay of Charleston is iner: g^^ moded with sand, which obstructs the navigation ; and Tha found that an ingenious mechanist there had invents: ©r^ai dredging machine to clear the accumulations of sand, of tl adopting the principle of exhaustion or suction. Tlic were vention appeared ((uite new, and the success of tliC' any periinent was very cheering, so much so that the invoii thev was ready enough to insist that he could make it tear eai'tl the pavement of the streets. We also saw a ma chin ^n. , rope making, for the binding of cotton bales. The stia 'jj^jj,., forming the several parts of the rope were brought Ujj^^ ^ € UNITED STATES. 43 cgro was ^etlior, not l)y elongation in a ropowalk, Imt hy winding ^vlucll w;.. ;m,.iii v.ji.ui lioM.ii!?. iiiwl twisting tliom togotlior npon tlic [>, and in tli .'^i,,eiple of the bobbin and flyer nsed in cotton macliineiy. enjoying, ;, Ch lie COUi.-H THE SLAVERY QUESTION. ^ Our presence as British snljjects in Charleston, and id some day ^id^^t so largo a nnnil)er of persons in every grade of : Cnba ; ai. ^^ y^.\^^y ^v^.l.^^ qi^. r^^^^\ .j] identified with the system of 1 intercoms Javery, necessarily had the etlect of bringing out in dis- >o interestii. ^ssion whatever could bo said in defence on either side of cotton gruv 11^^ question: it is tlicruforo only just and reasonable that outh CJaroli! || relating whatever \vc heard upon the subject, the case tt(ms, suf.'h ^the pro-slavery ]»arty should be stated. The substance iderable f|ua'. || \]iq arguments amounted to this, — that the universally- u South Car f^cognised necessity of sugar and of cotton to supply the ; shipped 'daily wants of civilised life prevailed in every country, of the ^^'"^hat the growth of these articles was utterly impossible luth Carolii ^cepting npon lands which are bordering on the tropics, on has not. '||nidst swamps, and in those climates where the white man s that ot Ts 'ciinniot labour, and tlie black man can ; therefore, if tliese ston is incf'. HHicles are grown at all, the black man must grow tbom. ation; and' 5*hat by nature tlic blacks were unable of themselves to ad inventeii orgjunse any system of lab(nn-, and they required the aid His of sand, of the white man to direct their proceedings. That liiey ction. Till' were also unable to arfiLniiilatc large cajntal, or to inv-nt cess of tlic any operation of inochai ism. TJiat it was with difficulty lat the iiivc'i. they could be taught to construct; and that nowhere on make it tear ff|ai-th could there bo found any architectural or other trac- - a niachiiu' jSig ov record of their pr3vious existence as a race. That ;. The striv:.^pii('e there was a propriety, as well as necessiLV, pre brought iiat they should itill undarthe cai-o and supervision of the 44 A TOUR JX TFIK :!!■ ill! iii:i|i I ; ! ; I wliito man, Tor certain purposes of iisel'iilncss in the en a. tion. That the holderK oF ^liive:-; had (llviiu,- as well ;;■ liuman authority for liohhiig their feUow-nien in a ntat of hondage, inasmneh as in tlie same book (the hook . Leviticus) tlio Hebrews were instructed "to buy tl ^^] cliildrcn of the stranger, and to hold the inheritance ' J^] them as a possession for ever:" and this was found siii .i/f^^, J)y side "with the divine injiniction to *'love their neigl. ^]^ hours as themselves." That the existence of shivery ; ^^ the United States had been of Britisii origin, and had eui. }^^] tinued to bo nourished by British ship[»ing as long i; || ^^ America would consent to receive the slaves of Afrir m|q. That the slave owners of tlie present day were often pai: ^oi; fully reflected upon by those of other classes ; but tin; glQ-^ considered themselves to be clear of any guilt in the ma y(f^[ ter. That slavery in the United States was a state ins; tution, of remote origin, and that in many instances tl. ject, present proprietors were the descendants of the slav jjn^j^j owners of a former period, holding their plantations ai. 4 t their slaves, not from am- choice of their own, but fro ^ inheritance. They denied the allegation so often reito: otiie ated, that the condition of slavery was a " trafiic in liuma Mlcl souls;" and, as masters, they disclaimed the holding grea any property in the "rational, moral, and innnortal," 1/ it m in the right of labour only. they We drew attention to the fact — as we supposed it to 1 having so often heard it asserted in this country and not cc jret tradicted — that by some recent enactment it was deem marl a penal offence for any one to teach a negro to read. lnWai this remark one of our friends replied, that there was ui' titey the statute book a law to that effect, — not a recent ena' # tl m UNITED STATES. 45 iS in the crca.^Bjf.jjf i^^t iin nnropcalod statute onaotod liy the British lu; ;is WL'll umrhoii tlio country was a colony ; but tliat in cifcct this ion in a stai J|^^,Y ^vas now no law at all, as its provisions had long since c (the hook 1 ieascd to bo regarded. Tliat the little "niggers," as ho "to buy tl. etillod them, could any day be seen running to and from inheritance > |ic1i(m»1, carrying their books in straps. He then named ,vas found si'i ^-o oi- three young ladies, tlie daughters of a plantei-, at e their neigi. tfhose liouse we had recently l)een as visitors ; and stated of slavery : (Ji;.t lie had liiniself been present on Sundays, wlion ho 1, and bad cui Jjftd seen tliose yomig ladies teaching the neg-ro chihlren iig us long ;, tB> read, and afterwards reading sermons to the older [X'o- ives of Afrie; jle; ad'ling, eiiipliatically — ''Do j'ou think tliat \]iGy •ere often pal wouhl continue to bestow tliis attention to their father's sses ; but tlu j^ves, if they hud Jiny dread that it was an offence for ailt in the ma Whicli they were liable next d:;y to bo imprisoned? fis a state ins: Finally, the ap]ieal against myself, as a British sub- y instances tl. ject, was urged in the ioUowing graphic terms: — If the of the sliu iaising of cotton and sugar by slave labour does constitute -)lantations ai. ^'theft, as the J'higlish abolitionists have insisted, surely own, but hi ^2 receiving of goods so stolen, wliether by purchase or ■io often reiti-: o^erwise, nnist constitute a participation in the crime ; traffic in hum;i gjld in this case the British [!Cople tliemsolvTS were tlie the holding greatest of moralists, and tlie greatest of sinner.^! and innnortal," It it might be added, that .is consumers of cotton and sngar, they must make iip their minds either to sin or starve, pposcdittol We may liave had the worst of it in tlie discussion, itry and note*.; yet wo do not hesitate to give the substance of tlie re- tit was deem BWrks whicli we heard, as we lial not b'cen ]u-eviously TO to read, '^wtai'o that the slave owners liad any other plea tlian tliat there was u}' tifey had a law, and that by their law they held possession a recent tnai tlHtheir slaves after the manner of property. There were t(> A TOUR IN THK ■I ill tliroe if not four distinct phases ol' slavery eanie ntidii our notice, each of wliicli will lie l)roiip;lit nnder ol)sen:| Koii ill the order ni which we found them in tliose parts the conntry to which they severally IfcLm,!;-; — that of Soi;; (Carolina being the most advanced towards a state of int' ligence and (Jhristian ]il>erty. As before remarked, iia: than fifty years have oIa[)sed since tlie last importatiuL from Africa; conserpiontly, those now on tlie idantatid!.-; are natives of the countrv, trained to habits of industr from early childhood, and, in fact, might ];e callcnl citizoiil They reside in small communities on the i)lantatioii and, judging by the social aspect which they preseiiM amongst themselves, there was ahvavs goinu,' on amoni: ' them a cheerful, animated sort of village gossip, wlii.ji would impress a stranger very favourably of their d tentment, if he could for the moment Ibrget the two woi " liberty" and " slavery." | PROCEEDING SOUTIIW AR J». 1^. p.aii ^lu s i\\X\ ie f lerg cli si ^he ip; r Imu ibe ia\'c Toil nv( luri e o\ tui lO Our next proceeding was by the steamer Isabel Havana, calling at Key West, in Florida, which is most southerly point of the United States. In approa ing these latitudes, wo found it necessary to cast off, (i by day, some portion of th(Mvarm clothing wo had |':'*^ip vided for winter. Passing iilong the coast of Florida, : « duri hundreds of miles wo nevej- saw either man or beast, \. -- the i anything like a house or dwelling. The country, as:;#«Tbe^ as could be judged of its appearance, resembled the swaii:p|lad cotton lands of Georgia and South Carolina. Key \s is the largest settlement in Florida, and contains (il| about 2,300 inhabitants, who are mainly engaged in wreu| UNITED STATES. 47 ^•; — .seeing tiuit ii[)()U this con„st tlion; is eoiisidorablo iiii^'cr to slii})piiig' from tlic prevalence cf eoial I'eulH. he coral is one of tliusc; animals wliicli resembb^ a plant, snl)-inarine plant of great hardness, ami of a stony uture, and forming reefs, or sinall inlands, wliieh often e snbnierged in the sea, and are very dangerons to niari- ers. The wi'cekers of Key West are, hnnianly speaking, class of '' stormy pe+rels," who su])sist u[)0ii disasters shipping, and rejoice at the [)resencoof a fog or a storm. hero are laws and regnlations to piijvido against any nproper advantage; in the name of salvage.- The state of Floridn, having heen one of the n.-eent iTinexations, is still inhabited to sonjc extent hv the Indian ibes. who have sometimes fallen npon those settlers who ave iiiiido unwelcome inenrsions npon their hunting rounds; therefore, tin; government of the LJnit(!d States ave plaeed at Key West a garrison of soldiers for the impose of destroying or of expelling the Indians ; and at W|fce time of our visit, the governor informed lis that on the mer Isabel :^^fc'ovious evening a party of troo])ers from the garrison had , ^vhieh is ; "t^turned after an ahsenee of a month in search of Indians In approa' Swiunigst tlu^ swam[)S and thickets, to cast oif, (1 -# Some idea mav bo formed of the character and hard- g wo had }':^'%lhip of the soldiers' mission, from the fact that they had of Florida. :'< during their absence been exposed to the weather, and to m or beast, i the uncertainties of finding their necessary supplies of food, country, as;;^«Tliey had been unable to meet with a single Indian, and ed the swaii^ljad not a shoe on their feet, nor a thread of clothing a. Key AVJ y came und mder observ those parts —t bat of Son state <*f int' I ^marked, \\\^-}\ it importatiuii he ])lantati(i! ts of indLi>;: •ailed citizci:- L' ])lantatio!y hey present' ig on amoiiL gossip, wlii. { of their ci the two wei contains ('i| jaged in wreo * Diu-in^' tlie fourteen years preceediiig 1858, tlioie wore. 6,')5 vessels recked or disabled at this jioint, the Vidue of which, witli tlie cargoes, was 5,000,000 ; the expenses inciUTed were Jt;500,000. fif kS A TOUR IN TIIK below tho kiioos, ami had been upwards of thirty hourl without tasting food. CUIJA. Having taken our leave of tho wintry north, wo felt enjoyable emotion in our approach to tho land where t orange, tlio palm, and tho myrtle abound. It was at sir' rise, luider tho balmy infhumces of one of tliose love', mornings such as in this (country wo have about mij sunnnor, when we entered tho beautiful harbour of Havai, and placed our little steamer among the crowd of sliippir. and tho waving ilags of almost every country. Upon t! sloping sides of a hill, the broad white outlines of the ci Avere lying stretched before us; and it was indeed an i livening scene of novelty and beauty such as we ha seldom If )( iked upon. The bay is entered by a chanii about 500 yards in width, guarded on one side by i celebrated Moro Castle, and on tho other by a fort call the Tiuita. Upon a rock adjoining tho castlo is modern built lighthouse of 205 feet in height, witli d revolving lantern, of French construction, which alio light, in favourable weather, as far as thirty miles out ^ sea. f^ru Cuba is called the " Queen of the Antilles," and 4i ., situated within the tropics ; it is 700 miles long, by i averacro of about fifty in breadth, beinc: rather over 30," , scpiare miles in extent. It is a Spanish possessi' governed on the antiquated colonial system of Sp;'. which in these times, may be called semi-barbarous ; ' authority being vested in an officer called the " Capta: -,^ ^, . General," who is accustomed to exercise his power iii^Jj[,'jjj UNITED STATKS. 41) mirty nour J^j.y dospotic manner. 'I'lio i^jpulatioii of the island, cordinj^ to estimate, is 7r)(),()(H) slaves, 100,000 free co- rned, r)20,000 wliiN's; total, l,;570,OU().''" TIk; industry th(! country is cmi»loy(!d in the crdtivation of antiwar, bacco, and coll(je ; by fur tln^ lari^est (ixttsnt luung in g-ar. The annual revenue derived to Spain is supposed hi' one million sterling, besides the sums expended for e government of the island, and uj)on the end)assies of ain in the adjoining countries of the United States and exico. The city of Havana is of the IMoorish style of arehi- cture, the liouses an; of a ciistellated form and tlat roofed, e outer walls painted and decorated in lines of very udy colours, so skilfully blended as to produce by their mixture, a mellowing effect, which alleviates the eye, subduing the ojtpressive character of the glare and at. The entrance to one of these magnificent houses is an ar(;hway leading from the main street. Within the ntrc area of tlu^ building is a scpiaro or court, open to e top, surrounded by stairs and covered galleries for con- nienco of approach to the various apartments. This ^ ' ^ fficlosiire is decorated with fountains, vases, flowering llirubs, &c. &e. The upper rooms are occupied by the fomily, and on the ground floor are the warehouses, coach- es long, „ house, and stabling. The ])roprietors are by no means ler over 6 , exclusive in the selection of building sites, but allow the ish possess! jjjjjj^j^gj(^j^ ^^ stand side by side -with the hovel, without tern 01 ^1*' 'j^gard to appearance. The window openings are un- barbarous; ;' the "Captaii •th, we felt a|| ind where tli It was at sii; : those lovt. about mi. )ur of Havai. vdof shippi:. :y. Upon \: nes of the cr ; indeed an ( h as we ha bv a chanii e side by i. jy a fort call: 10 castlo is leight, witli which aii'oi .tilles," audi. lis power * Mr. Crawfonl, the British minister, states that in 1S5S, 17,000 slaves re imported into Cuba, ;;(»,000 in 185!), and 40 to 50,000 in 1860, besides inanien. The last sugar croii was estimated at 500,000 tons. D ii 50 A TOUR fN THE ID J on i.l iiilii .1. 11 t ilMi wi I r- I g-lll ^t\V • t! d-fi 1; gliizod, and, l»y way of idutcctinn, arc i'onco(l "witli an ()|)c l.ntti('o-\v(>rl< nj' ii-on rods, in-csciiliiir;- \o tlio sliaii'^-c' a v|K'iir lo liav no divad' boint^ under obHcrvalion : tln^ I'cinak'S aic for tlic iii'- part, uncniployod, or cnga^-i'd only in swinging to and ti in looking (diairs, placM^l in doid)lo inies facing vAvh otlic for convonioncc of convci'sation. Tho principal rosidenls ari> the wi^altliy jdantors, — 1],| territorial ])rinros oftlio island, — chiollyof Spanish origii who usually spend tluMi' wiiitoi" nionllis in (Ik; ('njt)ynici: of a roinid of gai(»^y in this nu-'tidpolis of the islaiii. Thoy Jiavo a very largo theatre and other places of annis nient; the character of the jirevailing cutcrtaiiuncnts gross rather than costly; and bnll-lighting and oori: fighting ar(^ those which thoy mostly prefer to indnl: in oil Sundays. The ladies and the elite of the citv cnj' their grandoiu' of dis]')lay in e(iui]iagef; tnd attondaii' They have public promenades, one of wliich, the " Pass' ||k ,| do Isabel," is of oonsiderablo length, and is lined on hot ^,| sides with groves of lofty palms, forming the 2>i"iiiciiv Aid! promenade, or the "Hyde Park" of the citizona. It is i qj^ ,,,) the evening only, after the heat has subsided, that tl. j^j^^, scene is brilliant. The gentlemen are moving about i jikfck- liorseback, and the ladies in open vehicles called " Volai expei tes," in which they usually sit three abreast, the midd T one foremost ; they are without bonnets, their dresses a: Span of gauze of light fancy colours, with skirts flying in tl: glj^ht breeze : the atmosphere is mild and balmy, free from chil ||n,ec and the setting sun renders the scone most delightfulh'-iiBB < splendid. At a later hour in the evening, the " Plaza limpioAi Armas" is the focus of fashion. It is a large square i: Jipami \n]( 1 UNITED STATKS, 51 M'ith an i)|k (> no (Irciul for tlio iii'i^i out of tlio mansion of tlio Cuptiiin-rionornl, t.istofully lid down Avitli llowci'ini;- slirul>M surnionntc)! witli royal dins, forniinii; a ]>ro;iioi'''di', "nd >•■'■'■ ''villianlly illumina- d. Tlic bunds f^-ivf out llicir music, I In- ladies uppoar in nn" to and 11 H^H ^|,.(>m^^ j]„3 o-ontlcnioii ci'M'.vd aiioiit ii^aginpj in (•liit-» It; and altoi^otlici', ('ond)ininii; \n produro a Rccno of ilarity and niiith so Oriental and Ihiiy-Iiko a'i almost to wilder European cyos 1o look upon. DnriuL;' tlie iniddh; of flic d;iy, in the month of I\Iarch • lli"rmonictii- in tli'' shade w;is staiulin;^- at tipwards o( g'lily decrees ; lliorcfoi'c most i)crsons avoided being out twixl the hours of ten and lliroo oNdock. Tho volante, Hk the vehicle which is so miudi in use, is formed like' an d-fashioned l']nf»;lish j^'iij,', having- a movealde liead inclin- p; backwards. TIk; wheels are about scn'cn feet high ; e shafts very Iotil;* ;nid elastic; and tho length of tho fhole, ineludin;^; tho Ik rse, is 24 feet. Tlie volanto may tho " Passi H^ drawn by one or two horses. Tho hair of their tails is lined ou hot JL,| Jn ^i fanciful manner, and the ])oint fastened to tho the princir'r jlddle. Tho driv.n-, or "ealeshero," as ho is called, rides 3ns. It is i M one of tho horses ; they generally employ a negro, who ided, that tl: |j|mounted in tawdry livery, with his legs deeply cased in hig about I' jiik-boots; and the whole affair is mostly bedizened witli ailed " Vola! expensive silver ornaments. t, the midd: The catluMlral is a lino old building of the Moresco- ir dresses a: Spanish style of architeoturc. It is one of tho leadin"* Hying in tl. sights of Havana, and is celebrated as the last resting ree from cliii ]^ce of the bones of Cohnubus. The lirst interment of t delightful!; •Bb discoverer was in his native country, Spain; thenco he '' Plaza ilafcioved to Hayti; afterwards, upon the expulsion of the go square i i|amards from Hayti, they carried away his remains, and <>: eat-'h otlh )1 miters, — fli -^ panish origir H! enjtnniei. )[ the islaii ices of anni> irtainments ig and coc! I'r U) indul: the citv cnji 1 attendair A TOUR IN THK had them depositod Avlicro tliey now repose, lii the walJclia approaching the altar tlien^ is a small tablet which servo«Hp,.li to mark the spot; bnt, taken as a specimen of a mouu ment, the attem])t thns to record the memory and tlia greatness of Colnmbns is (hshon(»nring* even to Spair.l The existcnc(! of a cathe(h-al, and about tliirty otlici^ churches in this city, is calculated to lead to the impres- sion that the great purpose of religion is lk)urishing i:; the island : on the contrary, snch a conclnsion woidd I r a great mistake. 'J'here is onlv one church in the lariic citv of Matanza,> very few in any other piirt of tlie country : and none hx: the Koman Catliolic form of worsliip is permitted. TL congregational artcndance at tlu^ churches was very slei. der, excepting only wlien there was "military mass: the service was not impressive, and those in attendaiu were mostly priests, sohliL'rs, and woukmi. The concern of the state ro'i;.'! mi .'iro allnweMl to repose nnik^r the pre,; siding authority of a. l)ishop. Our interesi in the affair of this personage was not a little increased by finding tliii' the bishop's lionse was a roolless ruin. The reason i\> signed for this dilapidati'd stite of the premises, was tl reduction of the salary, on the jn-esent a]>pointment, fr 100,000 dollars a-year, to 10,000. It came out in ex[)li nation of this serious reduction, that the present hold migl of the bifeiiopric had lent himself, contrary to law, to ai ft ga comjdish the marriage of Clu-istina, the Queen of Spair fjpi'o\\ to Munos, wlio was a connuoncr. His reward was tl bisliopric, and his penalty i'or the offence was this redii' :»o i tion of his stii)en(l. We felt cm ions to ascertciin liow 1 W^^'c had sustained this bereavement, — whether it had beenwi' m^^^ rar ala fg ucl fleal ayf OIIS ;he 1 ;lie ] !!in nlti !opo lop; [owr oil, nc( ill irin^ owe ecL e 1 TNITKO STATES. 53 III the wulHelifiraftciistic; liiiinilit y, and as attovdiiii;' an example of whicli servoflBpcir-dciiyiiip: i)u'e]:iiess. Wo were mid that, on the eon- 11 of a niouiiMRnu-v, he had not made up his mind to his loss, but that urv and tliMhc had Jiln-adv reeitvuicd nearly the former amount of n\ to Spair.MBtUary enjoyed, and liad derived the money from sdurces thirty otlu: Jof gain whieh had been undiscovered by his predecessors, ucli, for instance, as the sales of permissions for open [Icaling in siiops, and for tlie coaling of steamers, on Sun- ays ; together with some other moral delinquencies of oiisiderahle pecuniary value. The rootless condition of he residence ol" tlie former bishops, adbrds an instance of hi) rapidity with which the natural fertility of the country an obliterate any tracings of the previous existence of ultivation and taste. The sccmIs of large [)lants had been eposited by the wind u[)on the battlements on the house- rOp; and in a few years these had sent out their roots .ownwards through tlie walls in (u-cry direction, and split em asunder. The roof had dropped in, and the pre- nce of these bulky trees, now luxuriating on the walls, ill one day, when shaken by a gab' of wind, probably ring the whole fabiie to the ground. TIk! terraces of the ower garden wovq just visible amongst the growth of eeds, ;i:id tlh' siKinl;i:r'oi!s riiMtion of th(^ soil had raised Ihe largest bamboo canes wo had ever seen. Indeed, it resent hold might truly be said that this was the place *' where once to law, to ai ft garden smiled," Imt now " where many a garden flower een of Spair tfi"<^^»ws wild." vard was tli. ^ Havana is the great port and emporium of commerce of as this rediK^Jpe island, (hi both sides of the harbour there are large ertain how 1 Warehouses for the storage of sugar received li'om the had been wit plantations, one of which will contain 400,000 boxes. the impres (iourishing i: ion would 1 of Matanza> and none hr mitted. Tl. •as very slei itary mass; n attendaiu riie concciT. imler the pre| in the aifair V finding tli;. he reason a^ lises, was tl intment, i'va out in exi)li: d4 A TOUR IN THE In such a city there arc a considerable niiniber of Euro- pean merchants, witli wliose families wo had groat plea- sure in becoming acquainted. In their evening " recc|i- tious," the doors and windows of their houses were opened to their gardens and pleasure grounds, affording ti. the guests an animating entertaiiunent ; the scene itseli.| the moon and the stars arrayed in all the tropical gloryi and the Southern Cross (a constellation which is never seen away from the tropics), rendered the enjoyment alti)-| gether very delightiul. Their amusements were varied but the favourite and most successful were tlic " tableam^ordi vivants," admirably performed. The fisli market Havana is a remarkable sight. Upon the marble benchc?| there is a display of the oddest -looking fisli imaginable! We saw nianv hundreds, and were told that sometimes a; many as 1,200 specimens miglit be found exliilnted fo: sale. They were of every form, and the colours inter mingled with sliades, stripes, and spots, exceedingly brilliant and interesting to look upon. Some of the fisl? we found delicate as food, but most oi' them were of a suft| inferior kind, and much less solid than the salmon o? tli sole tish, which freqnent the colder waters of the north. The most valuable of the contributions of nature t the inhabitants of Cuba, arc the presence of a perpetiia || T summer, and a climate f[uite as productive as it is enchani ^^ derived from the juice of it. The plant is the north. Arennial, — tlie stalk dying oft' when the fruit-bearing is of nature t- ^er. ' a perpetiia ^ The jKilm tree, in about thirty varieties, aboinids it is enchant aver the country. The royal and the cocoa nut palms are jles reguhirl} the linest trees, often rising to the height of GO or 80 feet, les, and witl|piil sometimes to as high as 100 lect or upwards. The nrely attitude of tliese trees aftbrds a constant delip'ht to lok upon ; indeed they are described by Linnasus as " the iuces of the vegetable world, surpassing all others in the andour and majesty of their port." market o; rble benche? imaginablos sometimes a- cxhibited fi: olours inter exceedingly of the fisl lo avail wa;^ where e^H'^ r experie!K'e| VG little or D' 56 A TOT'lt IN THK ^.■i i| 71ie caoutchouc, or iiidiarubbcr tree, grows to a consi- derable height, and possesses an ornamental look. TlJ olive is in great variety. The guava plant is much culti- vated, and affords a iinely-ilavoured jelly. The citron, tlia mango tree, which so nmch resembles our horse chesnmJ is trained into groves aud shades, which afford sheltei from the scorching sun. The bamboo, the pittis-frorum cj 18 feet in lieiglit, the frondosa Africana, the araucaria'jBral ziliensis, of 20 feet high, the copaiba tree, the mahogani tree, which is very common, the pimento, the niglitl blooming cereus, grown as a covering for arbours, the aloi and the cactus, grown as garden fences, the mango friii'J the kiameta, the sapota, the cupidoa, an hybiscus with roi blossoms, very showy, tlie niammea, sugar apple, tlir^tora t gourd or calabasli tree, the verbena, six feet high, the logl|B'here wood tree, tlie citron, trrdned to cover arbours, the cedar|| used for cigar boxes, and the ceiba tree, which often risell to the heiglit of 50 or 60 feet before throwing off a singly branch. We frequently noticed that this large tree becao^ a prey to the destructive power of an air plant called tli^^urinj "jaquey." The seed of the jaquey, carried by the windi^pigar and lodged in the branches of one of these trees, strike-! root into the bark, and throws out a delicate network c roots, which, as they gradually expand, encircle the tree.?; and descend down the tnndv until at length they take roa in the soil at the bottom. The increase of sustenance tliu'ppeniii obtained, enables these sti'aggled roots to Ixx/dme incorp^rece rated one into another, until at length the}' embrace tliiPecha whole tree, and destroy the trunk. In this manner tli:^)w tc deadly jaquey has been known to expand its feelers tS grer other adjoining trees, incorporating into one mass as man^^Bpara UNITED STATES. ■U s six trees standing near together. It has been remarked ;hat ingratitude does not usually apply to the proceedings if plants, but in this instance the jaqney repays with estruction and death its first and greatest benefactor. on Francisco Sauvalle, an eminent planter, has succeeded describing and taking drawings of 700 of the trees of uba, exclusive of shrubs ; and ho sees no immediate irospect of the termination of his labours. The attention of the cultivator is almost wholly ab- rbed by the sugar cane, the coffee, and tobacco plants. lie cultivation of the sugar cane is by drill husbandry; e plant is perennial, the shoots rise to the height of ten twelve feet, and after cutting, another crop ascends om the roots year by year for twenty years in succession. igli, the loL' *yhere is no other plant which possesses the same luxuri- the ceda: Ipce of character, yielding as it does annually as much as OOOlbs. of sugar to the acre. The crop becomes matured out the end of October; the period of cutting and har- sting extends over six months, from November to May. uring this period the labour of the plantation and the 3y the wini^gar manufacture is very toilsome indeed. The canes rees, strikr»e crushed by the sugar mill, formed of three massive network tellers revolving one upon another. The caucus when ex- cle the tr(H Hausted are dried for fuel, the syrup is boiled and placed ey take ro in email conical vessels covered with clay, having an tenance thi; opening at the taper end for the escape of molasses. By mc iiic(np • recent invention, combining an ingenious application of embrjice ti. Ijieclianism and chemistry, this antiquated process has manner tl; ww to some extent been superseded. It not only effects s feelers i JJ great saving of manual labour, but more completely ass as manrlBparates the sugar from the molasses ; and again by a to a consi look. Til.; much culti 3 citron, tin se chesnut, ford shelte: is-fronim c LUcaria'jBra e mahogan the night' iirs, the alo' nango friii cus with re apple, til h often riscij off a singl| tree becanil t called tl 58 A TOUR IN THE ■Mi" Ir!;' subsequent process, converts tlie molasses into sugail leaving only a worthless residiuni. The utensils con.sisi of largo cauldrons made of copper, inside of each of whiclj a circidar agitator is made to revolve at the speed of l,O0i times per minute. The engineering was mostly from tliil country, and the copper utensils from France. In one (I the establislnnents which wo visited, tlie premises aiil plant used for this manufacture, were said to have cost tlJ proprietors upwards of £40,000. i The coffee plant resembles the myrtle, and looks likl a hardy evergreen of five or six feet high ; tlie blossoiul are white, the berries ripen in September ; and it is lui until the third or foiu'th year that it produces fruit to aii-i profitable extent. A single tree yields from half-a-pounl to one pound of berries, and an acre about G00ll)S. as ;rj average cro]). The (toffee plant luxuriates in tlio shadi.| and the banana is usually planted on the same groundsi for the purpose of shelter. The labour required il lighter, and the plantations look more (Ornamental, thai those of sugar. I Tobacco, next to sugar, is the most important souivi of wealth to the island. Tlio planting is performed in til winter months; and when we saw the plants, they wci| only just abov(^ the ground. The manul'acture of ti.J Havana cigars is a large trade, and is mostly carried o||| in the cities. Indian corn is extensively raised, and coi.p sumed as fodder for cattle; and the same land raises twj crops in a year. The pine apple is a lield crop, cultivaUi as turnips are in this country ; and we saw this fragrai.l and delicious fruit regularly brought to market by striii:'| of horses, with loaded panniers. UNITED STATES. 59 into KUgarJ isils consis; xcli of v.'liicll eecl of 1,001. tly from tlii' . Ill one c CUIIAN SLAVERY. We liavo purposely rosorved tlic labour question to last. It is an awliil sulijoct to approach, involving rliaps the blackest liistory of crime and cruelty ever licted by one portion of ^lie hu.iiiin race upon another, he slaves of Cuba have not been born in the country, as ose of South (*arolina and Georgia have, but have been nted down in Africa, and brought to Cuba for sale, ey are therefore not lixmiliar with field labour, or the e of implements of husbandry; audit was often very iuful to see these poor creatures toiling in gangs, hand- g their tools awkwardly, exposed to the severity of a iver who was standing over them armed with a whip, a JOOlbs. as ;: lirord, and perhaps a revolver. The annual mortality the bluid' liaongst the slaves is excessive, and as the planters do t import females, nor raise families of negroes upon their ates, as in America, the deficiency of labourers is filled by increased importations. The " working out " of the ve, as it is familiarly termed, is caused principally by labour of the night. After the slaves have worked elve hours in cane cutting, the hibour of four hou vs in night at the sugar mill is superadded, and laese itional four hours of exhaustion cause the vigour of the ly carried .negroes to become wasted, and they die off. By the me- ed, and cdi.ifeftnism now adopted in the sugar manufacture, this id raises t\v|||ptem of night-working may be dimini'^died, if not irely superseded ; ami we heard discussions of the stion deliberately entertained, whether the economy manufacture lay on the side of investing capital in hinery, or in the exhausting of men. ireinises an- lave cost tluj d looks liki the blossom md it is 11' fruit to ai. half-a-pouii ,me grouiiih required i mental, tha. Ditaiit souvi formed in tl, s, they woi acture of tii^ Dp, cultivati this fragrai.i et by striui;'! 60 A TOUR IN THE Tlic first sugar plantation wv visited was the verj worst specimen of tlio Cuban system we ever met \\\\\ Wo were conveyed to this plantation by mistake, a: found the slaves were returning to the liomestead \vi;| bundles of canes on their sliouldcrs ; and as they move along, having their clothes hanging loosely upon \h backs, they sometimes, inadvertently, disclosed the miulj of the whip. Many of them betrayed the unsubdued look recent captives from Africa, and as they ]iapi)enGd to cod upon us unawares, some of them jippeared startled ^ij alarm, or abhorrence, at the unexpected presence white people. During the time that wo were the guests of some the largo planters, wo observed that they did not bi^tii the same sort of nervousness that the American plantol appeared to feel regarding the moral aspect of the questij of slavery ; on the contrary, they seemed to take it granted that the institution of slavery was recognisej along with commerce, as a pursuit which was equalj indispensable in common lil'e, and alike commendable] its character. Many of them were gentlemen in tlit| demeanour, and were possessed of the estimable qualirij which are usually found in social life amongst intellii and well-bred persons. Their sb.ves were well atteiidjj to, and there was nothing observable of the repulsij character we had met with in the ilibL premises we hi seen on the island. Not a few of the slaves wore rcpyj sented as being possessed of money savings, and wore . outward show of comfort ; but it must, however, be bod in mind, that there doubtless must be many others Avij at times feel deeply the smart of separation from t| UNITED STATUS. (il vas the veij or mot wit] inistako, a:.; nestcaJ \vi;| ; they inovc| y upon tli; led the iiiaii^ bducd look )encd to coiJ startled w^ presence its of some [id not belli rican plantc f the questi to take itf ,s recognise was equal mmendable men in tlie lable qualiti ;^"st intelligt well attend; the repulsi jmises we 1 ^ wore reiv }, and won 3ver, be bor ly others ^^ tion from t; idcarments of their childliood, and their native homos. ^ossiljly it niig-ht bo on tliis acconnt, but, from s*me cause otlicr, it was ovidontlv considered noeossarv even for lose wlio miglit 1)0 suppos^'d to stand well with tlioir ^avos, not jdlow themselves or their principal servants go about unprovided with weapons. Tlioy usually had )y>\\l lli(! [)iomisos a number of bloodhounds for the K'ovory of the runaway slaves, and some of the dogs k'le greatly (.'xtollodfor the sagacity thoyhad mauilested the chase, especndly in their pursuit across rivers. H IW a provision of the Spanish law, a slave may pur- jjliaso his froodom, and hav<^ the price determined by Magisterial authority. ]\Iany of thom do buy th iir own jcdom; whilst there were others who possessed as much [(;ney as would buyout their freedom, who still remained the plantations, after having negotiated for some wtial exeinpti(jn from laboui'. AVo heard of some of those ho h;ul become free, who had done well in small trades ; liist others had fallen into dissolute habits. CHINE?;!': LABOURERS, Since the year 1847, there have been imported into ba 13,576 men, and 7 Avomen; and the introduction this class of labour is on the increase. Upon thciir wrival they are disposed of to the planters at 300 dollars i|ach, for a servitude of eight years, npon wages of four dollars per month, besides clothing and food. They are 4||id to perform their work very creditably; they do not issoss the physical strength of the negroes, but they Icol the negroes in all employments rccpiiring the rcise of skill- Some of the planters treated the China- C2 A TOUll IN THK iiK.'ii as tlioy would trout liio iiogro laco, with Rovoiit' l)))t tli(\v soon found tliat this would not answer. Otlur who followed a more judieious and eoiilidiii,^' trcatiiici. snooecdod much hotter. One ,i>-ontlenian, six'akin^- oi" tH capahilities oi' tlio (Miinanien in coinniirison with ;: necci'oos, stated tluit if ho "were to i>iv( them insti'iicli' to (Wjj; a trench of 100 yards long, two feet wide, iind W loot deep, they wonld mako if straight an^l perlect ; wlii':j the negroes, having the same insh'nctions, would mal\;> very crooked trench, and woidd disregard llioir moasur altogether. The first importation of tho (l)hiese have nci served their eight years, and arc released; but they h; preferred to take employment as porters, or in some otlij way, and have not demanded that they should he retm-ni to China, as they might luivo done, Imt have remained the island as freo labourers. GENERAL KEMAItKS. It is supposed that not ono-foiu'tli of tlu^ island ]:1 been brought imder cultivation, in consequence of i. scarcity of labour. Cuba is probably enjoying a lar^j extent of prosperity than any com 'trj: in tho world. ^' were informed that there were hi; udreds of planters who w< making a profit of £10,000 a-yoar each, and that in ot!; cases tho profits were much larger, some of them exec ing £100,000. With a measure of pros})ority like this.j appears vain to expect that the African slave trade can extinguished by our upholding a largo expenditure iii t: employment of cruisers on the West Coast of Africa, ai around the coast of Cuba. A slaving adventure is eai?:| got up. Those of every class in ^Havana, ladies as v;M UNITKH STATKS. 03 .",.^V•J. ■world. ^ ntcrs wlio ^v I that ill otlH tlioiii exec ity like tliis. 'G trade can iiidituro ill I ; of Africa, a; nturo is eai^ ladios as w ,R gontlomcn, hoconio sul)srril)ors accdrdiriL;" to tlicir cans; and tlioy often rcnlise .'»()() \>i'v cent, [)f(>fif, and cct no sort (if eoneo.alnicnt in i'cLj;'aril to tlioir siicccsw. lie I'ritisli Govcrnmeni ]v,i\r tried, l)y vaiioiis iHcans, to it down tliis trivffic, and liavo ontcn'od into a treaty w itli )ain for tlu' snni of l'-lO(),0(M) to estaldisli a "mixed iiiinission," sitting in Havana, anil haviiit;' tlie oltieials iiiinated ioinllv l>v Gn-at Britain and S])ain, for the jn'olionsion and trial of offenders. According' to a rocont repoi't of tlds coniniission, dressed to Lord Clarendon, " The slave tradi; continuos be carried on not oidv extensivelv, hut with iinnnnitv." e country is infested Avith rohher:-} and hrirj^ands ; and, it knowinj^' of this, we were Kometinies surprise*! to find t our fri(Mids would insist upon havin<;- us accompanied an armed escort. We had iiever conceived the idea of ger, and merely imagined that this attendance was le sort of idle display on th(5 j^art of these wealthy aniards. Afterwards w(! ascertained that on one of the ds wo had travelled, there had been a robberv durina' previous week of a lady and gentleman, who had n de[>iived of their money, their luggage, and part of iir clothing. MATANZAS. Tlie city which stands next in importance to iravaiui JUatan/as, about seventy miles distant. The interest ur visit was not the city ah)ne, but the attractions of renowned scenery of the " Combre '' and the uuiuri," which lie adjacent to the city. Wo were con- oid to the hill of the Combre iu the volaute of one of our jt -Mx^^i.>jtJtd>,^,k^. CA A TOUR IN THE friends, and in passing wo saw many pictnresquo nooks cj clioicost liindscapc, some of wliicli were adorned witli tli- mansions and pleasure grounds of'tlu; wealthy citizens. On reacliing tlio suimuit, the city lay on ono side, a!i^ the glittering surface of the bay on the other; wliihj appan.'ntly below our I'cet thore was the cidebrated valL j of the " Yumuri," having a flallened plateau of obloiJ form, under sugar culture, and so encircled by the hills the " C'Ombre " as to convev the idea of an earthen basii surrounded \vilh fluted grooves. Some considerable po!! tions of the slopes of these hills are covered with impoii^ trable jungles of lofty trees, with myriads of closeM twining plants intermingling witii each other, displayi: a grotes(pie admixture cf foliage and flowers, so closely i:| terlaced as to be utterly impossiiJe even for a wild beaJ to penetrate. On our way through this valley, the charl of the scene was not a little enlivened by the prismiij effect of a tropical sunset, and wlien the evening becaij darkened, l)y the presence of the fire-fly and the gin worm. Passing through a naiTOW gorge in the hills, came to a wild romantic chasm, which has been renderj memorable by a legendary story. When the Spaniarj got possession of the island, and had hunted down t! aboriginal people, the last remnant of the race was m sacred near this place : hence the name of " Matanza:fP which means "butchery." The chieftain, indignanri the brutality of the Spaniards, ascended this rock aHl plunged into the river below, exclaiming, with his breath, " Yo maori" (I die). The melancholy interes; this event has supplied to the valley and the river iioi which they will retain for ever. UNITED STATES. 65 GOVERNMENT AUTIIOUITY. It is attributed to llio <>;ovoniin,i^ anthoritios, that thoy c cniTupt from the head downwards, and that tliey sharo e spoil with the shivers. 'J'he (lovurnor, or (^aptain- iicral, as ho is caUod, is invested witli the power of a spot; lie appears to exereiso it witli severity, and witli ery stron<^ liand. lie may expo] any one from the and ; and a meeting of three persons he may eonsitler unh'iwi'ul assemby. A gentleman of wealth and sta- n inlormcd us of tlie manner in wliich lie had been do to writhe under the powers of the government, for offenee of having, with ninety others, signed a memo- 1 for the gradual exllnetionof slavery! A few years since, a memorable instance occurred in case of Signor Kainon Pinto, a merchant, a man of lit, aged, having a largo family, whose residence ad- od tlie governor's garden, and who became an object olitical suspicion. His garden was dug ii by order the governor, and his premises were subjected to a rching examination, but nothing was found that could deemed criminal, and it was believed by all well- rmed persons that there never was any credible evi- ce raised against him. Notwithstanding this, ho was irehended, and publicly garotted — or rather assassina- in the name of political justice. It would be desponding, indeed, if we could yield to supposition that ono of the finest regions of tho earth destined to remain for ever the abode of despotism, that the resources of its wealth were to continue to rung by oppression from the negro race. Tlie day of »teibution will assuredly come, though its dawn may for J 66 A TOUR IN THE the present he ohscurod in tliick darkness. The means |iy| which the social and political changes which are necessar to ho accomplished shall he hrought about, are hid frnd our immediate vision ; hut it will bo admitted that thnsJ clianges which the patriot and the philanthropist woiiL desire, ought to come of the progressive intelligence d the Cubans themselves. Unhappily, the tropics, althongs fertile in all the productions of the eartli re not large! j creative oimind; and the lethargy which clin^ato appcar| to induce, is unfavourable to the development of tli resistless action amongst the people which would teruiij nate in the triumph of the sacred cause of liberty. In thirty years there have been raised, on Cuban BoiJ at least three men who have left on record indubitiilj evidence that they knew and felt the degraded conditio of their country and their countrymen : these men alJ possessed the dignity of mind, and the heroism of clw] acter, which induced them boldly to declare it. TL were Heredia, Milanes, and Placido. Painful, howev' has been the record of their history. The result of tkj efforts has been exile or martyrdom. Heredia was a ros of birth and position, whoso patriotism forced hini ir.j exile. Milanes was of humble life : his ina])ility struggle with the wrongs he saw and felt, at length ove powered his reason. The third was Placido, a comlmiakJ a man of scanty education, who no sooner made himsJ consi)icious than he fell a victim, and was publicly sli(| Honour to Cuba, tiiat such men should have lived I Of Heredia, the ([uulity of his character will bo apj ciated in the following plaintive extract from one of poems. UNITED STATES. G\ THE EX 1 1, F.' 8 TTYMN. Fair larnl of Cuba I on tliy shores are seen Life's fair extremes of noble and of mean ; — The world of sense in match Icsr, beauty dressed. And nameless h.>rr.)rs liid within iliy breast : Ordained (if Heaven the fairest llower of earth, False ti) tliy ^mIIs, and reckless of tliy liirth ! Tile tyrant's cla'iiour, and the slave's sad cry, With the sharjt lash in insolent re])ly, — ?^uch are the suunds that echo on thy jilains, \/i:ile virtue faints, and vice unblushing reigns. Rise, and t>) power a daring heart oppose ! CniilVoid with death those worse than death-like woe3. Unfailing valour chains the tiying fate ; Wlio dares to die shall win the conqueror's state ! * * It » Fearest thou blood ! O, bettor in the strife, From patriot wounds to pour the gushing lii'e. Than let it creep inglorious through the veins. Benumbed by sin^ and agony, and eli;uns ! Thy blood, thy treasure, poured like tropic rain, By tyrant hands to feeil the soil of Spain. What hast thou Cuban .' Life itself resign, — The vt;ry grave is insecurely thine I * • * * Cuba ! thou still shalt rise, as ]inre — as bright. As thy free air, — as full of living light ; Free as thy waves that foam around thy strands, Kissing thy shores, and curling o'er thy sands. riacido was rlmigrd witli conspiracy; and .although le iiiliiiii"'! liis iiiiiocciicv of ilic olTonci', lio was d(M,'larod bo guilty, and sontoncod to he sliot. During liis ini- risounient, and \v]til(^ prcpiirhig i'( dcaih, lie composed lioautiful poem, liis •* Prayer to God," I'rum which tho [»llowiug has been oxtraeted: — Go'\' r.ibimny, U-t Thine arm ot might my fanu- red*'em ! Wipe Thou this \'n\\\ dii' 'W, Witli whicU the world huth sought to stump il now. mmmmmmmm 68 A TOUR IN THE Merciful God ! hoAV should T Thee deceive? Let Thy eternal wisdoin search iny soul, Bowed down to earth by falsehood's iiast^ control ; Her stainless wings not now the air may cleave. Send forth Thine hosts of tnith, ;.nd set her free ; Stay Thou, Lord, the oppressors victory ! * ♦ * * But if this lot Thy love ordains to me— To yield to foes most cruel and unjust, To die and leave my poor and senseless dust The scoff and sport of their weak enmity,-- Speak Thou, and then Thy purposes fulfd ; Lord of my life, work out Thy peifect will ! It scones hardly poBsible to omit one other extract, tliaj of his last farewell to his mother :• — The appointed lot Ir > 'ue upon me, n\other. The niournfnl endii.., of my years ui strife ; This changing worhl I leave, and to another, In blood and terror, goes my spirit's life. But thou, grief-smitten, cease thy mtulal weeping, And let thy soul her wonted peace regain : I fall for right,— -and thoughts of thee ure sweeping Across my lyre^ to wake its dying strain— A strain of joy and gladness, free, unfailing, All-glorious and holy, pure, divine. And innocent, imcouscious aa the wailin*-^' I uttered at m- birth ; and ' resign. Even now, iny life : even now, 'lescendiug .slowly, Faith's mantle fokis me to my slumbers hoi*-. Mother, farewell ! God keep tlnee, and for ever ! UNITED STATES. 09 THIHD rjECTUHE. L\ taking our loavo of Cuba, wo retained a vivid recol- lection of tlio joys and the sorrows which liad impressed )ur feelings with extreme interest, not to say solicitude for the future of that lovely island. It did indeed appear rery lamentable, that one of the choicest possessions of he earth, rich in all those products of nature which indi- cate the most munificent of the gifts of Providence to lau, should have been vouchsafed to the enjoyment of a }eople who are unblest with that happiness so generally Attaching to human existence. It would bo utterly vain look for any reform or improvement from within, so long Lb the upper classes crouch beneath the iron rule of Spain, Ind allow themselves to dose in the stupor of outward |>rosperity. The whole fabric of society is sustained by le most barbarous form of slavery, and the conducting of le system of slavery does not appear to have been jndered less harrassing by tlie ameliorating effects which 3ually attend upon human progress. THE GULP OP MEXICO. For three or four days our ship v/as tossed about upon lose deep waters of the gulf, whence (according to the leory of Lieutenant Maury) the ocean cuiTcnts of the topics proceed to the Atlantic and thence to the Northern Jas. We enjoyed veiy beautiful weather, and were 70 A TOUR IX THE aumsed witli iLe B})oiiivo luK'.ciaonts of tlic fl}iiii^' fi-' and otlior incidents oi' llio voyuii'o. Ilaviiiu' ciitored ui: of the branches ol'thc Mi.s.sissi[)pi m a d(,'nse log, our Kliil got upon a sand bank, an-^ rcuuiiined there twenty-fod hours. This disappointment induced a current of observal tion by no moans uninstructivc. Wo were surroiuided at the })ar of tho river by no Icsl than seventy or eighty ships, freiglited with cotton froi| New Orleans, and mostly bound for Liverpool This itself was an enlivening mercantile siglit : tho presence oj these ships became suggestive of the remarkable fact tbaj it was only seventy years before, that not a single bale cJ cotton had ever floated on that river, and that now tbej were coming down by millions of bales in every year. MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. The principal region of our cotton supply, is in tlij fertility of the Mississippi valley, which we are noij approaching. You may, perhaps, find that the details this subject may appear somewhat dry ; and we cannci promise that it will afford you any amusement : never! theless, it is becoming an affair of interest, which vol may, one day, study witli profit. Lot us refer to the maij and try to acquaint ourselves with the marvellous exteirl and the unbounded resources of this valley, more pail ticularly with that portion of it — that comparatively sinal speck of the earth'n surflicc, upon whicli we are so dcpeij dent from year to year for our supply of cotton ; — or, ij other words, for the material resources of our prosperitvj The extent of this valley may bo measured by a dire(^ lino from th© 29th to tho 47th degrees of north latitude UNITED STATES. 71 Lxtending from tlic Gulf of Mexico on the Boutli, to the horJers of the British Cauadiaii provinces on the north ; LnJ iu its breadth extending from the Alleghany mount- ins on the east, to the Rocky mountains on the west ; Embodying an area which has been estimated at ten times ic surface of the British Isles. Within the range of this ralley may bo found every diversity of climate, every rariety of soil, and every useful mineral. The principal products are cotton, sugar, tobacco, hemp, flax, silk, idian corn; every species of grain and grasses, with ittle and live stock in great abundance. Indeed the jlendid gifts of nature have been so largely concentrated rithin this region, that, according to Do Toqueville, it is ' tlio most magnificent habitation that God ever designed )r man." The river Mississippi and its innumerable tributaries re equally remarkable in their adaptation to every pur- )se of utility for such a country/ They permeate every icinity of production, transmit the produce raised upon 10 soil, they remove surface waters, and furnish navigable ^ghways for the service of the inhabitants. The extent steam navigation on these rivers has been estimated by Jolonel Long, the topographical engineer, as follows : — ^he Mississippi and branches, 7,097 miles : the Ohio and ranches, 3,292 miles ; the Missomi and branches, 2,055 liles ; the Red River and branches, 3,630 miles : total, lG,7G4 miles. By other authorities the river navigation iha been estimated to comprise a line oi im much a.s p,000 miles of country, indirect communicai'>u with New )rleaus. When we investigate the history of this largo Jiritory, our knowledge of it appears of very recent mmmmmmmnmm 72 A TOUR IN TTIE (late. How long it may have been since the Gull" Mexico retired from its surface, or for wliat lengthoiioil period it may have been occupied as the hunting groun; of the Indian tribes, we know not. There is no data t: whicli we can refer, and the only tracings of habitat io;.| left by tlie Indians are tlie mounds of earth where thevj buried thoir dead after battle, and the heaps of oystcl shells denoting where they have lived. It is howeve: evident that the valley must have been in existence manvl thousands of years before it was made to yield any pro| ducts to the labour of man. It is but little over two centuries since a few Spanish and French priests firs:| floated upon this river, and founded some small settlementi upon its banks. This inroad upon them so provokeJ the Indian tribes, that they made war upon the settlcrJ and checked their progress. It has, therefore, ordy bee; within the last three-quarters of a century that tlie peoplj living east of the Alleghany mountains have seen tliii wondrous land. Following their discovery and posscssif of the country, its solid character as a colony has becouiJ established upon a durable footing, by tlio onward tide cj emigration of the Anglo-Saxon race, numbering at tliJ present time, including slaves, a population of nearlj twelve millions ; and judging from its present appearance] its progress may become twelve times twelve millions, before the fertility and wealth of the country shall havj been explored and liusbanded in their fullest exiont. THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. This river emerges from Lake Itasca, which is situatJ in the most northerly point of the United States. In ita UNITED STATKS. 73 w'.iv towards the Gulf of Mexico, it takes awiiuling eonrso of about 0,600 miles, and its volume as it moves alon;^ boooracs immensely increased by a pjreat many lar^'o rivers and tributary streams flowinj^ into it, all of whieb it swallows up one after anotber, witliout in any degree incroasinc^ its breadtb, but bytbo deepening of its cliaTmel, — a peculiarity wliicb is of tbe greatest importance to llio navigation in seasons of drougbt. In February, tbe tloods begin to rise, and tbe river continues bigli till tlio month of June. Tliis increase of bei;>:lit amounts to neailv 00 feet at the junction of the Obio; lower down, at Natcbez, it is I about 40 feet; and at New Orleans not more tban 10 or 12 feet. The deptb of tbe middle of tbe river varies from 100 to 250 feet, and at tbe sides it is usually about 40 I feet. In its ap>proacli to tbe sea, tbe bed of tbe river gradually becomes raised, from its extreme deptb, in order to effect tbe discbarge of the waters ; and as it becomes more shallow, the width is expanded, and forms a number of branches, the deepest of which is al)out 20 feet, or only mist of navigable deptb. The water is loaded with yellow liiiud, and its appearance is very unattractive to tlu; eye, jtliough not nnpleasant to the taste ; it is regularly served lat table, and is used for all culinary purposes without Ifiltration. This admixture of earthy matter must be very Iconsiderable, inasmuch as, when out at sea, we had lobserved that the waters of the Gulf wrre discoloured by jlhe river long before we came within sight of the land. Tiiere is a vastness and grandeur which we could not fail to notice in the aspect of this river ; the current is rapid, being from three to four and a-half miles an hour ; 74 A TOUR IN THE the BiirCiicc looky li'()ul)lL'd, and is constaiilly apjilatod hy somo comijiotiou be-low, by wliicli IIks wiiter i'orms a succession oi' largo boils or swells, heaving up to the surface, rolling about, rendering the naTigation of tlio stream very dangerous ; and in the case of any one falling overboard, the body disappears at once, is sucked down, as it were, and the recovery of it is next to impossible. STEAMERS. The steamers are very numerous ; probably there may be as many as 2,000 of them on the river ; a few are of great magnitude, and their appearance is very unlike any other steamers afloat. The sides overhang that portion which enters the water as a boat ; and in their construc- tion they resemble a block of houses of two or three j storeys in height. The lower part is used for the storage of cotton bales and other merchandise, and the upper deck I forms the saloon for passengers. The usual speed of travelling is from ten to twelve miles an hour against the stream. Two of these boats were pointed out as having] conveyed from 5,200 to 5,G00 bales of cotton in each, besides their passengers; and another steamer. The Eclipse^ was described as being of 3G5 feet in length, and 40 feetl in breadth. The length of her saloon was 300 feet; sbe could accommodate 200 passengers besides her crew, and carry 6,000 bales of cotton, or 1,800 tons. In all these boate the saloon is handsomely furnished. The ladies occupy aj portion at one end separated from the rest by folding doors; along both sides and throughout the whole length arel sleeping apartments, each one communicating inside with the saloon, and outside with a covered gallery whiclil UNITED STATES. 76 sun'OiimlH tlio lu.;ii. 'I'ho boat is sunuonutuil hy uu ormimeiitL'd cujiola, wjiicli servos as a cabin lur tho pilot, nail afVorJs him a wide rani^'c of obsorvaliou on the river. From this elevation ho has command ot" wires and bells which communicate with the engineers and other ollicers who have charge of the uu »ving power and of the steering. Along the banks there are immense piles of firewood laid down, in measures which they call "cords," in readi- ness for sale ; and as the steamers consume largo quantities of it, tliey have frequently to stop for "wooding," as it is termed. The steam boilers are placed I under a publicly-authorised supervision; certificates are granted stating what is the amount of steam-pressuro allowed, and the certificates so obtained are Lung up within the observation of the passengers. In one of the boats we observed that the pressure allowed was 1301bs. jto the square inch, and by way of preventing any excess, Itlioy had a steam gauge composed of an amalgam of Imotals, which becomes fused at a point of heat a litilo [beyond that of the pressure allowed. Notwithstanding those precautions, numerous accidents occur every year from boiler explosions, from the vessels getting on fiio, md frequently from tlieir becoming disabled by collision igaiust trunks of trees, or " snags," as they arc called, diich lie imbedded in the river. One peculiarity of this lavigation, is the large number of rafts which are being loated down from the upper country, often from a distance )f 2,000 miles: they are loaded with farm produce and )^her articles; are of rude construction, — a mere frame- i^ork of balks and planks of timber, and are guided down the Btream by the plying of long oars. Somo of these 76 A TOUR IN THK rafts wcro said to convey IVoiglit^^ of tlio value of £2,000; and wliun disciliargcd, tliey arc not taken up the river, l)ut aro sold lor whatever they may fetch as the value ot timber, and if buyers are not found, the owners allow them to float down to the sea as worthless material. Of the passengers wo can say but little that would be acceptable to dwell upon. There were always to be found a number of well-to-do people, wlio were very com- panionable ; tliere were also a considerable number, even of those of rough exterior, who possessed a groat deal ofj intelligence, and who were extremely desirous, not to say determined, to become acquainted with tlie other pas- sengers around them, especially with those who weif foreigners. But, in reference to another class of travellers, they might, without an}' great stretch of imagination, represent those of whom it might be said tliat they I " neither fear God nor regard man." NEW ORLEANS. The city of New Orleans is situated upon a circular bend of the river. From this circumstance it has acquired the name of the " Crescent City." It is the metropolis ot the south-western states, and derives its importance from the commanding position it holds for conducting a large amount of inland as well as export trade. It is placed very advantageously for communicating with a vast extent of country of inexhaustible fertility. The groat mass of the products raised within the Mississipj)i tenitory find their way hither, for sale and distribution to all parte of the world. The great store-room they have provided for merchandise, is the Quay, or "Levee," which adjoins the FN IT F.I) STATES. 77 citv, aiulcxtondfl altontflvo iiiilos filonQ- tlio river. Duriiiir the liusiiiCKS season, which is ironi Novemhor to June, tlioro nro not unfnMiiiontly from 1,000 to l,r)0O steam b(iats. Hat boats, and roroi«^n slii])?, constantly arriviricciii)ied with a succession of other bu})plies. In the winter montli.^, the merchants and agents from abroad arrive here; and at the same time the jdanters of the interior CMin*' down to (1is])ose of their ])roducc. During tliese few montlis, business is stimulated and conductGd with unexampled vigour. The magnitude of the sale transactions, and the pecuniary vaUic of the bills drawn in lifpiidation, almost exceed belief. The affairs of com- iiiorcc bring together a largo number of active and enter- prising people, and afford the opportunity for pleasure- taking also. Indeed it is lemarked by strangers that the se;ison of gaietv in New Orleans is seldom exceeded in any other place. There is an unfortunate peculiarity, though perhaps an unavoidable one, in the site chosen for the city. It is lying at the depth of six or eight feet below the surface of the river, and the peril to the inhabitants by inundation 78 A TOUU IN THE is ])i'nvi(lo(l {ip;ainst ])y an oni])ankmotit of earthwork, raised to form tlio " Lovoc." Tlio f^roiuid upon wliich tlie city is l)uiU is uii alluvial (lt'|)OKit, rondorod solid f^r biiildiji.i^ j)ur]>oHOH by a I'onndaiiou oi'ijilca Mi';^!iin and Halo ; t1ii> floors of many ol' tlio houses aro throo or four stops iihovo the roadway, to prevent the inflnwin;:^ of the water when tlio rain has rondorod the approach more easy for hoats tlian for wheel oarria;j^eR. Society as it is existing* tliere is composed of a mf)st hetoi-oonnieons mixture of people of all races and countries. The natives inhahitants are called "Creoles;" thev assnme a diq-nified exclusion towards others, and aro said to he remarkably cautious in tlieir intercourse with stranc!^(U'S. There ere upwards of twenty newspaper publications, twelve of which ;iro daily ; and jBOveral of them are in the French aiid tli(» (icrman LuiG^iiaj^es. Jud.jr^iuj^ of the ordinary aspect of the city, r.Tid the o-onerab'^y of the people wo saw in the streets, it Ihocanio impossible to form any other than a V(U'y low lestimato of the state of common life. 'J'lioy are a strange Iniass of people, and we could not hear of any indication Ithat mental or moral inqirovcment was to 1)0 attempted, or Iwould be rapid if it began. Some years ago, an associa- Ition of young men tried to establish a library, and tliey JBucceodod in the organisation of one consisting of 4,000 Ito 5,000 volumes, but it lingered only for a time, and inally the eifects were sold out by the sheriff Tliefts rero of common occurrence : one of our friends had his )oots stolen from outside the door of his bedroom ; and JBuch is the necessity for watchfulness, that printed notices Iwero posted in the bodrooms, advising tho guests of the 80 A T(JL'li IN TllK m liotols to "bolt, tlio door to prcvont loss." Fires woro so iVc(|uont tli;it wa t]i.)ii;j;lit it not unusual to hoar tlie alaini of tilt' lifo-]»(,'li twico or ihrico of a ni^^lit. Indeed, iu cvciy part oT llio United States wo wen; surprised by tlif i!;reat number of dostructive fires wliieli were uonstautly oecurrin^-. Tlio puoplo aro extremely careless in tlii<; lospect, and wlioii liglilini^ the j^as they would throw tlio buruii.'i; li^'litcr ou th(3 thjor, re^^ardloss of (•onsecpienees. The di'inkin^c;' saloons v/erc lai',i;'<' and munorous, am g'entlemcii, or persons of a superior elsiss, mii2;ht Lej observed in these plaei^s al all hours of th(3 day, remainiriL' theio I'oi" cf)nversation, and for ^lie eniovment of the vari- ous iced compoiuids familiar^.y termed "cook tails, niiii!! jule[)S, slierry eobhu's," on the visit 3f a i^urchasor, the negroes would enter into a «!lis[day of their physical appearance, and description *4 tlieir capa- )ilities, with as much apparent earnestness to rronmiand a ligh price, as though they were about to share the pur- chase money of their own value as chattels. We attended )ne auction of negroes in the rotunda of a large hotel, rhey were regularly called upon, and were submitted to ^ho bidders for examination in regard to j)hysical jlomishes. Amongst them were to 1)0 seen old and young, lalo and female, and each of tliem in succession stood forward and heard themselves described in relation to their ppability for the various employments they A^ere fitted to )iusue, as well as in relation to their individual character. ^0 were surprised to observe that they did not a])pear ^smayed, but on the contrary, tried to show oil' to the best nlvantage, and to enjoy a spirited bidding. The spectacle fdi» a very humiliating one, but it was evident we were le only persons present who thought it was so. Tlie ^^ctioneer was very guarded in his expressions, often 3ferring to his notes; and no doubt he felt the importance [f his guarantee in reference to personal l)lemishes, as rell as to the possession of skill, ability, and character; $2 A TOFR IN THE but in those cases in wliicli liis inRtnictioiis were nnlimited, his oncomiunis wore so unbounded, that one might have felt proud to have heard him speaking of one's own soiif..! The prices ranged variously from 800 to 1,500 dollars, oil from £160 to £300 sterling. A large business is carried on in the piOosmg of cottoiJ bales. The bales are usually brought down the river iiiaj loose state, and on their arrival at New Orleans are sul I jected to a sc'ero pressure to reduce the bulk, and thusl diminish the cost of freight in shipping. At one of tliosJ establishments which we visited, they were pressing ai many as 1,500 bales per day by three presses, eniployinj fourteen negroes to work each press. We also paid a visii to a manufactory of oil made from cotton seeds. Tlirl seeds are laid down at ten dollars per ton. The shell rubbed off by a pair of millstones. The kernel is groiinj into pulji, and is subjected to hydraulic pressure, and tU oil thus expressed is afterwards clarified, and sold at oj dollar per gallon. The residuum is formed into cakes whicij are disposed of as food for the fattening of cattle. bii climate which is so very warm, it is found that miilel sustain the heat better than horses, and therefcu-e they arj preferred, especially for draught purposes. There ar many thousands of mules employed ; most of them arl fifteen hands or upwards in height; they move aloD| very rapidly, and ilraw immense loads. They are raiso: in the Northern states, chiefly in Kentucky, are brouglij down in great numbers, and are sold for as much as £'df\ sometimes even as high as £70 each. UNITED STATES. 83 RIVER TRAVELLIXr;, AND Til K COUNTRY OP THE >riSMSSIPPI. When wo entered upon boat lilo on tlio Mississippi, tliat " Fat] ler of Waters," tlie adventure' was one of no common iiiter(!st; nor was it, as wo conceived, unmixed with hazard I from tho dangers to wliicli we have referred. Having before described the construction of the steamers, we may proceed to the incidents of our travel, tho ai)pearance of the coimtry, and tlie ever-changing variety of our fellow passengers. Tho first 200 miles was through a fertile |anrformanco was jiisj commencing, and wo could liear some portions of tlio en tertainment. It appears tliat tlio stage lias become nii] of the regular appurtenances of tlio rivei', undertaken a company of porloi-mois wlio ])urc]ias(» a cast-off bo;ij have the saloon comnKMlioiisly seated, ami witli movonl scenery got up in due order for theatrical performanc Thus the boat and tlie company of performei'S move ah('i:j from place to place upon the river, and its various tril* taricM, for the amusement of the inhabitants of all t:.| adjoining districts. Wo also found that commercial traders in like manii^ formed themselves into companies, ilttcd up their floalii. warehouses, and liad them moved about upon the rivi visiting the different localities, for tlie sale of such articlij of merchandise as the people of the country niiglit likely to require. Tiio theatricals and tlie " merchaiitsl make public announcement beforeliand of their ap\)roid to any station, and their emissaries advertise in the ii UNITED STATES. 85 Iterior oi' tbo country tlie various attractions they aro Lfferiug, whetiior m pleasure-taking, or in tlic more sub- [gtantial cliaracler of farming-tools, clothing, or the rarious requirements of the household. The place of our lestiuation, as visitors, was near Lake Washington, about )00 miles up the river; and upon our arrival wo found )ursolvcs welcomed by some of the oldest and most jminent of the cotton planters. It was very cheering us, as strangers, to be received by them with such con- rratulations upon our visit. They deemed it a very noticeable event ; as wo were the first of the British manu- icturing class whom they had ever known to visit tho )ttou grounds of tho Mississippi. Before entering upon IV iuvceigation of the subject of cotton planting, let us Igain contemplate the world-wide importance of this re- riou of cotton culture of the United Stuues, hitherto so [ttle seen of European eyes. No one who is acquainted with tho manufactures and )mmurce of our own country, will hesitate to make tho jknowlodgment tliat the plot of ground we then trod has jcome indispensable in its productions to all the civilised krkl. U[)()n these plantations, 000,000 negro slaves ivo \ii:\V) tli:^ i>0(»plu ol' ;ill ]i!.Lion^ become tributaries their power, and almost wliolly reliant upon their annual iccess in the gio vth of a cotton crop. Upon this hand- Ill of coloured people, our manufacturers mainly depend ir a vegetable product which emploj-s tlio hands, fills tho loutlis, and clothes the bodies of millir)ns of the human Ice, \\]u) might otlicrwi.se yo half naked, or half fed. If rci'er to the domain of connnerce, the extreme impor- ico of cotton and of tho cotton manufacture in all its 86 A TOUR IN THE branches cannot be overlooked, or scarcely over-estimated, Free- trade has unfettered the energies of the people;! and, from day to day, increasing numbers are becoming j more and more identified with cotton as nn article of com- merce. The refinements of wealth, no less than the wants I of common life, are daily multiplying our necessities forj this raw material : hence there is not another article, ex- cepting that of food, which is of greater interest to ail classes than the annual supplies of tho cotton crop. IcI this country tho rate of our manufacturing coi: sumption j has outstepped its production, and wo have become ner- vously sensitive upon tho raising o'^ any alarm on thej state of the weather, the presence of a worm, an insect] an early frost, or any sort of accident which may occi to the growing crop ; well knowing that a scarcity of cotl ton in this country is most intimately connected with starl vation, and, perhaps, revolt. Never before in the histoni of tho world has so large and perilous a dependence beeij found to rest ujion so small a portion of the human racJ( or upon a peoplo so lightly esteemed as the negroes us;i| ally are. The res})onsibility of conducting tho afi'airs cl these important hands, and all the other operations rolat] ing to cotton culture, must necessarily rest upon a vc small number of employers. Indeed, they hold possessiorj of a control of incalculable import to the welfare (^f tlil rest of the world ; and perhaps there could not be fuuii| another class of men who have higher duties to perforc than those which are involved in the exercise of flii authority. Although the planter has the entire mastery ovoi his own affairs, he is so circumstanced that from policy, ii| less than £i-om duty, ho is daily and hourly called upon UNITED STATES. 87 lexercise the virtues of forbearance, mercy, generosity, and iustice. Perhaps he may consiJer it in the light of a lisfortune that ho has to encounter the obloquy which attaches to his pursuit as a slaveowner, to receive the re- sroaches of the philanthropist, and ])ecome the butt of the )olitical rancour which prevails in the exciting struggle 3etwixt the parties of the North and the South. COTTON LANDS AND CULTURE. It is a remarkable occurrence, — perhaps an event in the n'doring of Providence, — that almost sinmltaneously with kho mechanical discoveries of Arkwright and others, in gotten manufacturing machines, this field of cotton pro- luction became disclosed to American enterprise. The range of the cotton district may bo said to com- leiice on the Atlantic coast in South Carolina, and to ^xtcnd in a westerly direction to the Mississippi, run- ling principally within 33 to 34^ degrees of north ititude; afterwards its course becomes bent to the koutli, following the ci'cuit of the Gulf of Mexico, Kid passing through the Texas to tlio 28tli degree. 'his may be considered the acknowledged locality ^f cottou culture, though it is well known that cotton is liscd both north and south of this nan-ow range. TJiat rhieh is grown north of this line is coarse in quality, tho [>lunt is feeble, and the climate more exi)osed to frost ; whilst in tiie country more south, particularly in Louisiana, |i'liore the sugar cane is extensively grown, the cotton ^liuit flouiislies, but the cro}) is liable to fre(|uent and IcridUR iiiiuvv from tho attacks of insects. Tho usual Jrtility of tliis cotton range is attributed not alone to the 88 A TOUR IN THE soil, which is an alluvial deposit of great depth, but also | to its proximity to that great basin of sea water intlifll Gulf of Mexico, lying under a tropical sun. The evapora- tions which are thus given out, being attracted to the I mountainous region of the north, become condensed into showers which nourish and invigorate the plant. These resources of nature, namely, a rich alluvial soil, combined! with alternate heat and moisture, give vigour to the plant, and productiveness to the crop. Proximity to the Mississippi gives command of cheap! water conveyance to carry the cotton bales to market, and| the planter has thus been afforded the incalculable advan- tage of an economy of production, and with great power uil enlargement, from year to year, of our supplies of this great! article of necessity. We were informed that the cost di conveyance of a bale of cotton from Memphis to Newl Orleans, a distance of nearly 1,000 miles, was sometimejj as low as one dollar. Hence the rapid rate of extensiuLj of cotton culture will be creative of little surprise! Without commencing our observations so far back as thej period of its introduction, we will content ourselves bvj tracing the current of its nu^re recent progress. )U crop of 1S20-21, was . .. 430,000 bales. Do. 1826-27, .. 957,281 „ Do. 1837-38, .. 1,301,497 „ Do. 1839-40, ..2,177,835 „ Do. 1850-51, .. 2,755,2.'->7 „ Do. 18.^2-53, .. 3,262,882 ,, Do. 1853-54, .. 2,950,027 „ Do. 1854-55, .. 3,118,839 „ Do. 1 855-56, .3,527,845 „ Showing that in a period of 36 year.s the increase of pro- iho rate of consunipl duction has been about eightfold. ITNITED STATES. 89 jtion latterly has boon steadily gaining upon tlio growth ; land this is important, seeing tliat our consumption of cot- ton fabrics still holds out the promise of being largely progressive. The increase of cotton culture does not lepend upon the extent of the soil, but upon the number )f slaves at the command of the planter. Therefore, in forming any estimate of production, reference must be hud ilmost exclusively to the cumerical increase of the slave jopulation. We find, that in 1840 the slave population ras 2,487,455; and in 1850, 3,204,313 :— showing, in round numbers, an increase in ten years of 30 per cent. Jut it must be borne in mind that there has been, in idJition to natural increase, a gradual transfer of slaves rom the grain districts of North Carolina, Virginia, Mary- iiid, Kentucky, and Delaware, to the cotton districts ^hich border upon the Mexican Gulf. PLANTATION LIFE IN THE COTTON FIELDS. « As before noticed, the introduction of the cotton plant )ok place in the eastern states of South Carolina and reorgia. We now find that in the course of sixty years hese lands have gradually become exhausted of their jlertility, and many of the planters liavc left them, uud fone westward to the Mississippi cotmtry, taking with lem their families, their slaves, and all that tWy had. Jpon their arrival in the west, they usualh enter upon 3rest lands, burn down the trees, scratch tlio surlace ^itli a mule plougli, and deposit the seeds. The i^rinripal )ortion of the i)hinters have very little money ; they buy lieir land on credit, and obtain advances of cash from leir factors at New Orleans, at rates of interest which, 00 A TOUR IN THE with attciidjint fxix'tisos, amount to iioarly 20 por cent per annum. Tlio planter who tlius makes liis ])urc]ia!^A| of an estate, never cousiderR it in the light of a peniaaninit possession, but looks forward to leave it when it becomes run out. On this account they do not build expensive mansions, but eroet a i)lain dwelling-house of wood, having it conveniently surrounded by a garden, a stable, a shed, and other premises for the picking and ginning of cotton, and about lifty or sixty wood cabins lor the negroes. Eventually, perhaps, in the course of twenty or thirtjl years, they look out for some mnv settlement, presenting tlio attractions of a virgin soil, with commodious acces-ij to somo navigable river; and having found what tliov desired, the}' are by no means reluctant to suiTender tliej property they have so long held, together with whateverj friendly associations th(;y may have formed in the coun- try. Bigger crops are held to outweigh all other coiisij derations. This desire for newer and better land, insteaijl of imjiroving that which they possess, may require to h\ accoinited for. We know that the farmers of this countryl have it in their power to increase the fertility of their land! by the consuriiption of hay, turnips, cKrc, which tliey raisel for their cattle. This facility of improvement is not inj the power of the cotton planter : the cotton which lie| raises on his land does not admit of being converted into manure, as is the case with hay and turnips ; it is! carried away for otiier uses, and therefore an entii'i exhaustion of the soil is the conseijuence, f )llowed l)y i\ description of weed whit h they call China weed, or nii' gi'ass. So notoriously destructive of fertlity is this wcoJJ that when the planter removes from any place where it| UNITED STATES. 91 Lrovails, lio hixH the liools of liis liorsca, his cattlo, find jtvcn liis iitciiHils, very (\'irt'fully \viis]ie(l, lost they kIiouM Iconvoy the seeds with tluMii. The only eottoTi lunds wliieli do admit of being rur- taiiu'd in permanent eidtivation, are those we have boloro referred to, on the sea coasts of Georgia and South Caro- iiia, where deposits of saline mud arc obtainable. Tlicy lo not usually plant thn cotton hocmIs before the Isl of Li)ril; but in the present year [1857] they wore indueed to eommrnce planting during line weather about the mid- lu ot" March, and tlu' plant Avas destroyed by frost. Tli(»y reckon upon the cultivation of twelve acres of cotton land, )esiiles some portion of corn land, by one hand ; and in sxtrenie cases, in such plentiful years as that of 1855, a single hand has been known to gather as much as sixteen eighteen l)ales, — and in one instance twenty-two balefl )i' cotton, in a single season. Taking into account Iho iil'erior lands of the older cotton states, the average i»o- hioe may bo calculated at not more than six bales ]ier lead; and according to this estimate, for 600,000 slav(>s, he crop would make 3,000,000 bales, or a little over tlio 5rop of 1855, which was 3,527,845 bales. The productiou |b very variable : tliore are parts of the same plantation, nclding in some cases one bale, and in others one and a- lalf to two bales of cotton to the acre. Wo were shown )ne plantation of 100 acres, which in 1855 produced the jxtraordinary crop of 211 bales of 5001bs. each. SLAVERY. We now come to another aspect of slavery, one which las been more recently established than that of South ^ #. .0^:%*^ V # IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) k A :/ .< « ^ 1.0 !f «- IM I.I l-IM lilM •^ 1^ III 2.2 L^ lifi "III— jif |;£ IIJIJZO 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 4 6" ► V] <^ /] "^ ;> ^;. '/ /A Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ■9 ^ 6^ 92 A TOUR IN THE Carolina. The period is comi^aratively sliort since tlic- principal part of the Mississi2")pi country has been broiiglu I under cultivation. On this account the planters, as well as the slaves, may bo considered as the occapiers of a thinly-peopled country, where the local institutions are eitlier not completely organised, or of very recent origin, The slaves were regarded with the same sort of attention I as in South Carolina ; the hospitals and other arrange- ments for the sick were provided in tlie same manner;! and the slaves had tlieir garden plots, their poultry, and their pigs, whereby they could realise a little money. It was evident that, altliough materially well cared for, tlieyl had not as yet become equally advanced in social life, We never saw any deadly weapon in the liands of any fii the American planters, or of their servants : the drivcrl would carry a whip, but the whips did not appear very frightful to look upon. Often we strolled among the negroes, mixing with the groups of their funny-lookiiigl little children, with black curly hair, as full of mirth and playfulness as cliildren under any circumstances usuallyj are. There were amongst them a considerable number oil superannuated people, those wliom they called "loafer,'-" — a term wliich signifies no longer able to work. These old people are employed to feed the poultry, collect theirl eggs, and engage in anything they may find to do in tlii.j stables, the garden, or other premises of their niastcr. One of these whom "vve saw, and who was upwards of seventy years of age, had been brought from Africa aboiJ fifty years before. His countenance ^brightened wlien we spoke to him of his early homo ; but his recollections UNITED STATES. 98 wcro very faint, and it did not weem desirable to awaken j those emotions whicli, in liis enfeebled state, might liavo IbecoiMc painful. Ho was pleased to tell us of his allow- jance of rations, — how mnch pork, liow much bread, and otlur prticles he daily received. We inquired if ho know [in wliat manner the old people were jn-ovided for in liis own country. Tl)e poor fellow, witli a loud langli, and jknowing- look, exclaimed "No pork there, IMassa!" Tlio negro dwellings were ranged two tog(!ther, formed lof boards upon foundations of brick ; and when formed in this w;>v would cost £130. The lionses of the overseers Icnst about £lM)0. The Mississippi is liable to oviu'flow [its banks, break down the "levees," and lay the country luncler water : on this account they er(>ct their dwellings |f)f brickwork to the height of six feet, and thus elevate jtho floors beyond tlie reach of disasters by Hooding. The ;'ost of building is greater than might bo supposed, as tlic expense is gretitly increased by the scarcity and dear- loss of every kind of building labour. Their bricks are iiiadc of common earth, by working it in a wood box, with 111 agitator 1urne})S. Tlie care of his plantation and shivcks nor bolts iqion the doors or windows of his inuse ; that he did not allow any one to carry arms ; and tliat ho had never sold a slave, excepting for misconduct, jimilar lepreseiAtations we heard from (Jiher phuiters. Plantation life presents no sort of attraction to the Iciihes : indeed, from the accounts wo heard of the priva- pons of some of them, they were very much to bo felt for. They are often placey \\;i v nf illiish'iitioii, we iiiiiy inMucc t jiauic iA (MIC (if .su|)<'i'ior oi'dci' — ("dlniicl Wndc llaiiii^ii Ilo was (l('sc«'ii(l('\' the Hrsi S' th'i'M ill lh(; stale ol' South (Carolina, wlio lixcil tiiei'e \vl the eountry ^va,s exi>ose(l to lh(,' maiauiUiip; inciirsi(>ii> the J'ccl ]u(li;iiis. In iia; year 177!), eleven Jiienil)f!> this lainily were murdered l)vlliesc s'',\;e''e trihes. \n ancestry liis name wiis ein.stdy idciilified a\ ith llie ])aiii ism of hi.s country, and with those wlm had aided to wi it from tlie. hands of tlie savages, and who iiad aftcrwaiJ nhared in ilie overthrow of l]ie IJritisli autliority, and est,; lished the consolidated power of the liepublie, whieh ,J Americans now so fondly churisli. The lather of Colonel Hampton, linding liimself lil ated f]-om njilitary service, became a cotton planter ; au in 179G lie was the first phmtci' who raised a crop of i'A acres. Col. Wade Hampton discovered that Ids fatk:| partiality had induced liim to beijueath ihe grea.t 'hulk Lis property to hinrself ; and lie at once destroyed IJ father's will, and accepted his 0(pial share with the oti.j mcniLers of tlu.^ fanul}^, his stcjpmother included. ll I now about tliirty years since he perceived it to be iJ interest to remove from South Carolina, to the more feiuJ lands of Lake Washington, in the state of Mississippi The evidence of material success which has followed removal, is afforded on every hanil ; and his unceiisiLl attention to the comfort and happiness of the negro ract UNITED STATES. 90 is a(1rnitt(Hl to liavo betMi most oxoinplarv. In the ovou- liiiT"^, >vlii'ii tlio l()r>; \V!is 1. lazing' on the licartli, the com- )aiiv of lliis I'ciiiai'kalilc man, wcatcil in his ciisv chair, MS Very ciilivt'iiiii^-. He was lull ot" rcminisi-cuccs (\\' th<> )l(icM riiiio, — reiuindiiii;- tlic viniiu' AiiiciiciUnS lutw huh!) cv dwcd 1(> tIic inllcxiidc will ami I'uVdtt'il patriotism of |li(ist' who liad j,r('cedo(l them. SLAVE I. A HOI' It, K((iNoMY () V I' R (» [i r (T 1 U M, AM» Ff I r i; K MTPii i;s. Tlioso poi'soiis who luivc witnessed tlio constantly •(■urving occasions of excitement arisinp^ out of the con- licting' statements amr.ially issned regarding th(; pros- ^eits of tlie cotton crop, cannot fail to ho desin^ns for iformation rchiting to our dependence npon the United tatcs, in so hirgo an extent, for this raw material of our lauufacture. Wo may rest assured tliat the cotton hinds the United States are siifticient to n])hoh:l, for centuries come, the supply of as much cotton as almost any in- rease of our consumption 'would require. It has already ien shown that it is the negro crop (so to speak) which [etormines the extent of the cotton cro]); and that the )mDiand of negro labour is confined wdthin the narrow )uuds of tlie numerical increase of the negro race horn ^ithin the United States. Tlie cotton crop is therefore ibject to tlie influence of an economic law which is but lightly variable in its operation. The increase of the race estimated at three per cent. In addition to this rate of itural increase, the emigration from the north is about i\'0 per cent., making together five per cent, of annual icrease of labour. Therefore, setting aside the variations 100 .v TdUii IN Tin: of BoasoiiK, this five per cent, added to cotton culture, imJ bo considered to represent tUe ratio of annual increase i the cotton crops. 'I'lie cutting off of this migrutkj of "hands," would of itself occasion a ■wide-spnJ inconvenienc^c ; ' and a revolt among tlio Hlavos wouij seriously interrupt tlu; national prosperity of GroJ Britain. Possibly no one would undertake to say tliattll effects of either of these changes are innnediately inipi'iil ing; but no one who has visited tlie United States mJ be induced to believe that the Northerners intend til existence of slavery to be permanent. [ With such an emergency impending, liowever distarl there is a duty devolving upon every British subject J consider tho capabilities of India and other countries,! which we might place confidence for future supplies. Tl West Indian Islands have at one time supplied us largfJ with cotton, and there is no valid reason wliy they micJ not do so again. "Africa," as Dr. Livingstone infer J us, " is the very territory for cotton," and we liaJ sufficient evidence that tho growth of cotton there, coiil be profitably conducted, and the negro population retainl to labour on the soil of their birth, inst(\ad of being carriJ away, as they now are, for sale as animals. With relati I to India, it may with still greater reason be inquired \\\m is it that has hindered our success in cotton culture ? ail how has it happened that the producing power of Iiidl has been defeated in competition by the planters of tfl United States? So far as we are informed, it has* nil been by reason of any inferiority of soil or climate, til these are considered equal to those of America. Neitlil will it be contended that it is owing to any inferiority I VNITKI) STATES. 101 lor couiitrie iltour, for tlio froo labour oi tlic Ilinddo is known to bo )tli clioapor and better tliiin tlio slavo labonr of tlio fnited States. Tlio disailvantago, so far as hitherto dis- }vcrc'd, consists in nothing more than in the requisite Conomy of carrying the cotton to market. The American faiitor has the boats of the Mississippi ; India lias her rcrs, but not hor boats, and in the absence of boat ^cninniodation, the Hindoo pLantor carries his cotton to irket, at enormous cost, on the backs of bullocks. Tlie expense of cultivation in the United States, as [nipared with that of Indiii, may bo considered very dear. 10 interest of borrowed money is high. Slaves are Btly, and the labour they perform is not largo nor skil- ly done. Hence the growth of American cotton may I put down at three-pence i)er pound, but it can bo con- ned to market at a mere fraction of a permy per pound ; ilst in India the Hindoo can raise his cotton at one-half money, say at throe -half-pence per pound ; but lie has incur a charge of two-pence per pound in conveying it the seaboard for sale. It is also no slight increase to other disadvantages of tlie Hindoo planter, that by son of his extreme poverty, and the money loans which finds it necessary to })rocure, his cotton, which is jrior to American, has sometimes to pass through the ids of two or three intermediate dealers, by whom it is lucntly adulterated with earthy matter. These and |er hindrances to his prosperity are very overpowering; thus wo see cotton of India brought to Liverpool, ior disadvantages of quality, to take its chance of sale inst the better cotton of the United States. 102 A TOUR IN TITE FOUIiTII LECTXJllE. fill MIHSISSIPPI TRAVELLING. Upon loaving tlio cotton pliiiitations, wo rosnmod course nortliwardM, npoii tlui sj)loiHli(l l)ut povilous Mis^iv eippi. Tt was at midniglit on tlio 17th of April, tliat v embarked in the Southern Ikllc steamer, for Moniplii. The distance was 300 miles, aiid onr faros were only t. dollars each, or a little over Irid. })or mile for travolliti; our lodging and meals being include*!. The ship ^v-i crowded to excess, hn.ving 180 passengers. The saloon was elegantly fm-nished, and the comrai sariat department was as well conducted as in most of \{ hotels of the country. The scenery on the river hei: flat and woody, soon became monotonous ; — all the win ings and turnings, as we approached them, disclosii: another succession of broken, sloping banks. Hero a: there, at the distance of some miles from one anotli: there would be an open space which had been clear; out of the forest for a cotton plantation, having in a she! tered nook the planter's residence, and the cabins of li slaves around him. The principal timber of these foi'o> is called the cotton -wood tree; it is indigenous, rislE; up with great rapidity, even upon the strand which tl river has but recentlv deserted ; and when cut down it split up, and sold as faggots at 15d. per cubic yard. UNfTKI) STATUS. {)l\ As sonn !i« the iiit«M'(\^t wo Imd \\\\ in i1m' scoruTy •^aii t" ll'',^'i "I'r curiosity lit'cmiK" ci'uli'icil ujton tlu^ iii\t'»1 ;iss(.'iul»lii;^'<' of pussoiigci's hy wIkuii \vi' U'<'r(» .snr- uiitliMl. It was cviiliMit that tiicv I floiiijfcd to a nfrnat luioty ot" tradiiiL;* pursuits', and, Ix'ili'j,- (U'cusfoiiKMl to tbo [driL!; iuiu;o of distancos iisu;il in sl(>aiu LoiH tia\(dlinu;, !iil iii'UMi dotaiiicd toi^ctlu'i' for days or works, their in- kercoinvo willi cmc aiiollicr hocamc froo and srx-ial. iiuongst f ueli a j^'roiip thcrt! would b(^ tlioso who were k'^idini;' in very distant parts of the Unii-»n, pcrliaps tlion- tiuiils (if luilos away from ono anotiioi. I'lvory ono would IV to talu' easto as ;i trader or a])laut(.;r, or as having hcforo liiii sonio important pursuit, and uof on any account an [iller or man of leisure, llu would ho (juito free to con- ircrsc upon his own individual coiiconis, and ocpially in- •ut upon makiu;:,' out tlie purposes and puvt^^uits of others. 'here W(M'i' some few who evidently hclonijccd lo the more iltivated classes : many others htolvcd like .-(idenf stiiiu;- fliiii;' men, of shi'ewd intelli-jjence, l)ut mostly ill-hred; luking an inflated dis[ilay, and utterly regardless of any koiiveiitional rest rain t. They were most nnder oljserva- ion ill the area of a (;overeil gallery which surrounds the |lii|); and when lonnii'ino* at ease it was a fnnnv slLi-ht to lee them sitting, or rather lying extended at lull length, bving theii" bodies vesting on one chair an not considoi'ate enough to ari'ango them- [elves in lines to t;u'i!it;ite the passing of olhei' -[lei'sous lleiig the gallery ; on the (>ontvary, they have the space nlly crowded by lolUng in the most awkw.ard ])0stures. Aery one smokes tobacco, and most of them use the weed lOI- A TOUR I\ TnR ill a ruore offensive luanrior, as indicated by the streaks of lobacco jiiico radiating from tlieir lips to the distance of four or five feet on the surrounding iioor. Wo Avcro amused to observe that wlienever a ladv entered their presence, in moving along, the occupant of his couple of chairs would start up as if electrified, and, ■witli grciit sliow of condescension, would make way for her, Not HO, liowever, if a gentleman was desirous to obtain the favour; they would allow him to wind about in tlie best way ho could, and not one of the parties woulJ di'aw in a single inch. The assemblage of such a group adbi'ded an amusing study. Each one shared the enjoyj mentof the smoke, and tlio posture of indulgent ease, evi- dently coupled with the desire to impress upon his a.- sociates the idea that there was an nnmistakalde imporj tance atl aching to his own individual position. Tliisl doscription of vanity was sometimes olfensively conspicu- ous, and it was but too obvious that, despite their eflbrtsj to conceal it, nianv of them l)etraved an absence of thail trancpiillity which adorns the face of true happiness. Th sanu^ expression of severity has become so universal that the portrait painters convey this feature in the linea-| nients even of tlieir great worthies. It is well known that in the United States, the wav-j ward career of young children is allowed to go unchecked;! they have not been inured to the constraining eftect o;| filial \,)b('dleiice. A cas'j of childish riccdoiu hnppciKJ to present itself, and as it was more amusing than illj natured, we mav notice it by wav of examide. An English passenger was accosted with unusual fa-i niiliarity by a smart-looking little fellow of about eigli- UNITED STATES. 105 Ivears of age. "Well, sir," said tlu^ boy, "I take it you will be a Britisber?" "Yes," replied tbe gentleman; " and what of tbat, my boy ?" The boy then proceeded to inquire — "And I guess you will bo a soldier?" "Yes," Isaid the gentleman, "you are quite right; I belong to the British army." "I thought so," retorted the lad; "and jl was just wondering whether you had forgot the licking |wo gied you at New Orleans." The lad's parents were )resent, looking on and listening ; but they did not consi- lor it necessary to offer any apology : on the contrary, tliey appeared to enjoy the amusement thus created. As we proceeded northward, in the month of April, the itmospheric changes were exactly the reverse of those we lad witnessed when approaching the south, in the month )f February. In the course of a very few weeks we had )assed from the severe winter of New York, to the sum- ler heat of the Island of Cuba. We were now returning ip the current of the Mississippi, leaving behind us the lild and genial region of New Orleans. The course of he tlierniometer was daily descending ; the open foliage ^f the south gradually disapi)earing ; and at length we )un(l ourselves in the leafless forest. One of our passengers was a small trader from Califor- ia. He had joined a j^arty of adventurers who left the Jnited States some years before, and had travelled in a 3uplo of waggons the whole distance of 3,000 miles from pliicago, and had boon four months, or 120 days, in per- )rming this arduous journey. They had passed the lorraon settlement at Salt Lake, and he gave some account the disgusting social tyranny which was being exer- ised over the settlers. 106 A TOUR IN THE Referriiif^ to a period as far back as 1848, Californi;'. was comparatively an unknown country. An accidentul discovery of ^'old (sausod many thousands of adventuicr> to be attracted to " TIio Digins." In such a comnmniiv there wouhl bo found tlio most reckless of every countrv, living under no sort of restraint or observance of Liw or order. The; productions of the soil coidd not sustain tli j people ; and they were dependent for almost every arti( of necessity upon importations from abroad. There vra>| no system of credit; .]io oiu-. could go upon trust ; tliei sup[)lies were sometimiis miming short ; food would bo a'| famine prices ; and tin; confusion and distress impossilil- to describe. This man had with him a boy of four yam of age, the child of a red ludiiui, whom he had bouuk of the mother in excluiTige for half a l)arrel of Hour and \ couple of bLinkets. There was an expression of shaiT- ness and a wild look about the lad ; he was ])layful, aiij would oiten ])retend to be hiding himself in some sort fi fancied concealment. He said he had been induced t purchase the lad in tlu; expectation that by taking char::i of him at so early an age, he could train him to Sdii: useful purpose ; and he was the more confident lie conll do tlds, because his brother had succeeded in a siniil. instsince. In describinii; the counii'v of Caliibrnia, the man iv marked upon the gi'owth of veiy large trees, and hi! account of them would have appeared incredible, had ^v| not in this country the evidence of ;i specimen which \m been brought over, and the trunk erected in the ('rysiiij Palace. This " mannnoth tree" measures at the base o\\ feet in diameter, is 3G3 feet in height, and the bark is UNITED STATES. 107 inclics in tliickness. Those immense trees are met with in c'onsiflorable numbers, growing in sheltered places amongst the mountains, nearly 5,000 feet above the level of tlie sea. They have tlie appearance of a new genus, resembling the cedars of Lebanon ; and according to tlie usual estimates formed by botanists, this one must be upwards of 3,000 years old. The sight of a grove of sucli trees must impress tlie mind with an enlarged idea of tlie mivgnifu'ence of nature ; and more especially with the remarkable fact, if such data is correct, tliat there are groves of trees not having yet matured their growth, filthough when striplings they might have been contem- poraries with Moses and the prophets. MEMPHIS AND TENNESSEE. We landed at Mei nhis, the most considerable city on [the river betwixt New Jrleans and St. Ijouis. From this ]»laco we availed ourselves of a railway conmiiuiication recently opened across the country, through the state of I Tennessee, and proceeded to tlio city of Nashvino. Tennessee is a cotton growing state, but that porliiui hif it through wliich we passed, being from 3a to 3() de- grees parallel of latitude, is too far north for successlul cultivation of cotton. We noticed that the cotton plants appeared dwarfish; and many of the plantations were sn.all. Tlie returns for 1850 reported that there were in the whole of that state as many as 4,000 cotton }»lantt'rs, raising variously from as low as three and fimr bales up to ms [inany as 1,000 bales each; and altogether 101,000 bales. We also learnt that in this state theri* was some extent [of cotton cultivation done by white labour. This was a i 108 A TOUR IN THE snrprisG to ns, and we felt curious to investigate the sub- ject, seeing that in our previous observations we had not heard of any instance in which the attempt to raise cotton by white labour had ever been successfully made. It had always been represented to us, that the white race were unable to endure the heat of the sun, and the annoyance occasioned by mosquitoes and other insects, w^liich the negro race disregarded, — the mid-day sun inspiring them with mirth and enjoyment. An agent who was procuring supplies of free labour cotton for the English market, informed us that he mostly procured it from small farmers in the northern parts of j Tennessee, and in some of the other states which in like manner were bordering upon the range of cotton culture ; that it was grown upon small patches of sheltered ground, yielding three or four bales a-year, and that this quantity was as much as the generality of farmers had a sufficiency of hands- to pick. The picking of the pods was under- taken by the females of the household : they could not stand the employment throughout the day, as the negroes did, but commenced picking when the dew of the morn- ing had disappeared, covering their heads with sun bon- nets : they ceased operations in the middle of the day, and resumed them in the evenings till sundown. As these were the only parties to supply the free-labour cotton, tlie agent seldom found more than four bales in any one hand, and the trouble involved was considerable, whilst the quantity obtained was very small. In order to appreciate the difficulty of cotton culture by white people in that portion of the United States, which may be called the cotton region, the following illustration will suffice. It UNITED STATES. 109 lias been extracted from the letter of a lady, dated June, 185H, and Avas expressive of disappointment that the family should liavo been prevented from leaving the loinitry at the usual time in the month of May, by reason of the Hooding of tlui Mississippi, and the consequent disasters sustained on tlio plantations. The writer says, " This place is nearly submerged from the overflow of the I river. Not a bale of cotton will bo made this year upon either of our plantations. Apart from the immerous inconveniences attendant upon the loss of river stations and our island position, we arc rendered uncomfortablo by the intense heat, and the swarms of troublesome insects. Indeed, an entomologist would find his paradise in thisro- [gion in the dog days ; for the rare specimens of animated liiature are marvellous to behold. I am obliged to sit inder a ' bar' all the day, as well as to sleep mider one at light; and it is truly a 'iar' sinister to all free circulation )i' air; for by a ' bar' you must know that I mean a thick jlosc net of lace, used solely in compliment to the crcep- ng and crawling plagues which infest these swamps, and jting us into an almost fever of impatience. Thus you see it is high time for us to seek for cooler and dryer jHmes." How humiliating is the fact, that so largo a portion )f the human family, hastening onward as they are in he race of civilization, should continue to be de2">cndent pY clothing upon a region so uncongenial to the white )opulation, and to tlio industry of 700,000 of the negro ice. As wo passed along towards tlio north, it was evident hat hour by hour we were leaving the cotton culture, 110 A TOUR IN THE and ontorinp^ upon tlio linHbandry of ^-rain. T1j(> nlav oabins wore passinpj out of nij^-lit, and tlic country was I).- coming stud(loassengoi'S would iM'cive a familiar inxitation tV()m tlie eonehman to get (Uit liid take a walk. — a description of treat which woidd have 11 ;ill th(! iiK.ti'e Welcome, had th ; snow storms been jDiiiewhat less severe. There was one \'ery familiar d of tla^ tiiniks )t' trees lying crosswise, which we thought conveyi'd very appropj'iate meaning, iiamely, '' cordm'oy.' We liscertained that not more than (Mi(^-lifth of this lad had ever luM'ii metalled, or had received any fevering of stone. Nearly (lu^ whole of our way (US slightly fenced, or not I'enced at all; and in the ab- 3Tiee of l)ridges, our conveyanco was placed on raits, and loved across the rivers. There were other occasions of kir exjiei'ience of "stage" tr;iV(dling, but it v.ill be umeeossary again to remark upon the difticulty, or the itigue occasioned to ])assengers. Do not suppose that even the; jolting of this machinti nild suppress the native- cuiiosity, or ]>revent the, con- K-rsational intercotu'se of the passengers. On tlie con- I'arv, an ugly jolt Avould arouse an apology foi- the crush- ig oi' your hat, or some other nasadventure, and thus |itrud(i an intercourse, and assume the character of a for- lal introduction, or lead to u travelling accpiuiutance. 112 A TOUR IN THE In tliis way, bcinf^ subjected to the converKation of a "Ktago" for iiinetoeii lioiirs, tlioro would necessarily traii- spire soinothiiig whioli iiiiglit deserve to be remeiuberHl; purliaps some feature of American character, wliichmiglnj serve to amuse. One of the 2)assengers was an Illinois farmer, and nf I doubt a good specimen of that class (jf men. He was mv rustic, but simple, and his remarks were often shrewil He soon betrfijxnl thc! usual desire of all American peo-l pie, to acquaint himself with whatever could be gleancdl in the way of intelligence, and seeing that wo were strain gers in the countr}^, he was evidently impatient to ]iim\ something of us. We had long since discovered that was our best policy to relieve and not to torture the cuii| osity of our fellow-travellers ; and finding tliemselvt treated with coniidence, they reciprocate and are equalll ready to disclose whatever information they possesJ After relating the narrative of our alreadv extended rout'] and having informed him of our j)rospects of visitiij other parts of the United States and Canada, the fariiiij was in great astonishment, and could not understaii] what should induce well-to-do people to leave their coiil fortable homes in England for the mere sight of the wiij forests and naked prairies of America. However, he l\ trayed a warm interest in whatever concerned the "olij country," as he called it, and his manner altogether ^va more pleasing than intrusive. He soon made us acquainted with the history of liimj self, and with the knowledge of what belonged to liil pursuits on the prairies of Illinois. It appeared that was "located" in the vicinity of the Illinois Centra ITNITEJ) STATES. 113 ,ailwfiv ; tliat ho bad y^ot liis Ijuul uiiilor g'ood IniHbaiuliv, rrowiii"" large crops of" wlicai, inaizc, l)urk'y, oats, Scv. and that he was aniuially raisin/j:; and tattcniiiii; a, rroat many hogs. Tliat by means (»t' tlic railway lu; liad itiiand of three good markets lor his prodtiee, namely, he ll(> hieago. Xew Orleans, and X(!\v Voik am 1 til lis uld easily dispose of everything he could raise. lo>-cribed his hind as a h>vtd eonntry, IVce IVem tre(»s, or nil aiiv of the stinkips of trees; and Ik^ eoiisidci'ed that was worth forty dollars })oi' a'-'e. In the absence labourers to reap his harvest, he had made ]>urchase of j reaping maohmc, for 180 dollars, which would i'ea]» from itdvo to twenty acr 'S of grain per day. This machine k[uired two horses and an attendant to w(uk it; and hen he had finished bis own reaping, he loaned it ou( to L' neighbouring farmers at the rate of half-a-doUar per liv. Ho told ns that the hogs he raised W(U'e jiiclcled and rrellcd for the negroes on the plantations. The barrid pork weighs 200 pounds, and is sold variously at from to 23 dollars. The information which he thus commn- jated relating to the prairies, and the extensive? land fes which were then making to emigrants, assumed an expected importance from the fact that a young man io was a fellow-passenger, and who had been listening the farmer's conversation, was himself i)ersonally ?rested as an intended settler. This adventurous character was a native of jMassa- isetts, and had received his edncation at the public lools and universities of the state. At a recent exami- iou through which he had passed, ho had been held H Mi X Toru IN rnK competent to the proibssion (A' tlic liiAV ; but as his ponJ iiiary voKourcos wore Hcuiity, he liiul turned out in scnr of it spceuliitiou — prr)l)a!>ly <>iit^ iii liind, iiitcudiii^- in tj. coui'se of :i r<'\v years to I'ciilisc his S,0()0 or l!).ii" doUars, and return to .Massaelius<'tts, wIku'c he couM i- invest his money, enter upon Ids jjrofession, and - married. In tins nnri'serveil mamier lie at once diseli- wiiat iu^ eonsidei'ed to relate to his loi-ecast ol" the ruiir Krom advertisements wldeh he had seen, it had 1m passing' in liis mind that lie could hny from l]i(( lllii Central Railway Company a ti'act of jirairie land \\\ cre(lit, at I'roni live to eii^'ht dolhiis })ei' acre, tliey ;dhi\vi:j him to liold tlie hmd from y(Mr to year, upon pavi interest upon tlie amount of th(^ [)urcl)ase money at 'l rate of seven ]»er cent. ]ter ainnim. 'Iliat eventually, means of accumulated pi'f^lits and improvements on !J farm, he? could i-e-sell, and tluis carry out the idtcii object he had in view. Tlui op[)ort unity thus afforded conversiuf^ with a practical farmer, the young man sei^'j with great avidity. His interrogatories were incessfi:.] and altogeth(>r so unpractical that the farmer's patioi. became tried ; and at length he gave tlu^ young man j understtuid, that as an Illinois farmer he would have ii'; of otluu- knowledge bi^sides that which he had ac(|iiir:j from the study of books. In substance, the farmer told him that the prairie wJ a flat countrv, clear of timber, covered with louir coari grass, and would yield good wheat crops in every altcrnaj year; but that it would 1»(^ nc^cessary for intermedia] crops of other grain to follow wheat, in order to prevea the land from getting foul with weeds. The "stage" UNITED STATES. 115 len^tli uiTivtMl affile Tlirrc F(^i'ks Tavorii ; wo j^ot ro- h(\is('<1 fntiii our iiiqtri^oiiiiK'iif, iiiid fiansf'crrod fo flio llnxiirv of ji ('(iinforfiildc fire of Avood, a i-n^) of fen, and Irf'iiosf' for flic niglif. ^r A ^f M O T Tf C A V F, , The cave waH cin-lif miles om the most ii'ie-an- scale; not only in her rivers and hei- lakes, buf in all llii' hroad features of creafir*!!, not even oniiffiug the liuiunoth Cav(,' of Keufueky : and, indeed, it would bo ijiessible to impress upon the mind of" ;i stranger any :('unifo conception of this marvellous cavern. The visitoi' finds himstdf overjiowered with a sense of Iwo of the i»;randenr and sublimitv of this under£j:round briiKitiou, which exf(Uids over a eii'euit of fiftc(>n miles, id n'(pures several days fully to exploi'e. The chasms openings assume a very varied (diaracfer, and the guide 3oks have classified them as consisting of 22G avenues, |7 domes, 8 cataracts, and 23 pits. Without entering ?iy minutely into particulars, we may ci^nfent ourselvea Hth describing some of the objects we most admired. Many of the caverns are enormonsi\ large and lofty ; id, from the accidental character of their construction, bey sometimes present appearances which look striking UG A TOUU IN TlIK and Hingnlar; and some of'tlKiiii aro rendered increaKingly intereHting by fbruiatioiis of stidactitc, prodneed after thJ manner of icieles, from droj)]>iii^s falling i'roni tlie rootj containing limo and enrtliy matter, wliieh ])ecouio eon- solidated in iho. moHt amiining forms imaginable. Tliei combined effect of tlicHe eliasmn, clothed in their variciil decorations, have awiikened the imagination of guides an; visitors, and given rise to names of objec^ts and places tol which they wore supposed to bear analogy. For instant , I ono cavern is called tlu^^Star ('liand)('r." It reseiiiMiJ a magnificent hall, with rocky sides, and an imagiuiuj array of arches : the dark surftice of tlie ceiling lias siijj gested the name, from its being studded over with pani cles of mica, or of some metallic substance, which givHJ out a sparkUng effect most inimitably resembling tl, starry firmament. The cavern called the " Church" is liJ feet in diameter, with a roof G3 feet from the groiuJ composed of one solid mass ol' rock. In order to coiJ plcte the appropriateness of its ecclesiastical chariictti the contrivance of a pulpit and a recess for the organ ar.l choristers have been arranged, by the grouping of til scattered masses of rock and stalactite which were lyir] within the area of the place. The "Pensico Avenue " also suggestive of the idea of a sacred edifice. The iv is lofty, and appears to be supported by a series of land arches. The architectural look of the place, althouq formed without the aid of human art, was invested with > much of the Gothic and cathedral character that, it ^vJ said, a sense of devotional feeling was sometimes almoi irresistibly inspired in awe of its appearance. Tl^ " Grand Gallery" resembles an immense tunnel of mai]| ITNITF.I) STATKS. 117 Liili's ill l«'n.):>-tli. Tlic '' Anduhon Avcimo" is 50 to (JO It'ft witli', about tlio saiuo in hcif^lit, and cxti'iidK to ono niilt' in k'ligtli. Tlio "(h-oss Jloom'' lias a ceiling of 170 Ifoet spun, Hustainud without any column or othtT apparent iBupport. The Mammoth Dome is 280 foot over head, and rhon illuminated, pnjsonts a very impressive spectacle. indeed, there would ai)pear no end of domes and caves, lor any limit of fancied rosemblancciH. Wo remarked ^]i;it the stalactite of this cave presents fewer interesting )bjccts than we have seen in the cave of Adelberg, in Lustria ; and we felt regret that the cave itself was not exhibited with adequate ol'fect. It was not sufficiently ghted to disclose its true grandeur, and left an impres- kioii upon the visitors which was far too sombre. In the depths there were pools and streams of water, jooking over the sides of a deep precipi<^e, there was a irk-looking sheet of water, called the "Dead Sea." A treaui was called the "River Styx.'' Another pool of )nsidorable dimensions had a boat ujoon it, which coii- |eyed us through the interior of a frightful-looking recess, tliese waters there was an extraordinary kind of fish illed the "White Eyeless;" and we were assured that lere was nothing- like an eye had ever been discovered the anatomists who had experimented upon them. [bout nine miles within the cave, and at the termination an avenue, there was an awful looking pit called the I Maelstrom." Thousands have long gazed upon it with feelings of road, but no one had been daring enough to explore it itil last summer, when a visitor, Mr. Trentice, of Louis- He, allowed himself to be let down by a rope. During 118 A TOUK IN THE his (losoont, lio RiiflbrtMl iiiconvonioiice fniin the Hplasliini; of water, gushing iroin the cataracts on the sick'S, and li,. | felt some alarm from th(; Tailing of hxxse stones which Ik displacetl in passing ; but he arrived at tlie bottom uiiiii.l jured, at tlie deptli of 190 IVict, and found that the tiour was about 18 feet in diameter, and covered with blail; At the unpropitious hour of ten at night, wo resunieii our seats in the stage for l^ouisville ; and at two o'cloLij the following day we had comjiletcd our 54 miles in tlii course of IG hours; tlie toil of the remaining distance of oij miles, was acceptably relieved by railway accommodati(iL| It may be remarked, that although the general wants <: the travelling community may be well served with raiij ways and steam boats, it is obvious that the interior of tli: country is ill -provided with that indisjieusable necessirj of civilisation — the conunon highway. It may be presumed that when the urgency has hcc: sufficiently felt, the requisite highways will be providi'd but to our sur[)rise, those who understood the country anJ the disposition of the inhabitants, did not appear sangub in their expectations of this result ; at all events for soiiiij considerable period of time. This absmice of publi: spirit uvdj be accounted for by the fact that the whole J the country is in the occupation of settlers who do \\ii look upon themselves as settled inhabitants. And, accorJ] ing to the information we received, it is the understoo| policy of nearly every one who comes into the country, remain there only S(.> long as may be necessary to accoitl plish the exhaustion of the soil he has purchastnl There is no chosen spot of earth presents any abidiiiJ UNITED STATES. 119 lattracliou to i\io farmers of Kentucky ; and when they Iniove, tliey prefer the new and fertile lands of the ^vest, iiid disregard tlie cultivation ol' lla; lands they have got. Hcucc they are unwilling to incur any expense for public 3(iK'tit, bv the construction of n ads. Indeed, their utter fentUtfeieuce to local attachment appeared not only strange )ut iMd])able. We wen; assured that it was by no means iiiusuid for a farmer to sell out, and go hundreds ol miles ,-rstw;ii'd, not only regai'dless oi' the friendly associations ic liiul acquired in the country he was leaving, but also »]ipaieutly unmindful oi' the no less than sacred ties iivulved in the remendaance of the t(>ml» he had placed II SOUK! retired nook in his garden, in which he had seen itj.)usited tlie remains of a deceased wife, and perhaps a liiiiiher of his children. The emiy,'rants who are the buyers of land in this state ii; mostly from Germany. The usual terujs of j^fiyii't-'iit 10 ou(i-i'oui'th or one-third in cash, and the remainder in km; to four years, or in some cases the jjurchases are made itiri'ly on credit, and for longer periods of time. They le industrious and economic, and almost invariably suc- ked. The agricultural j»i'odncts of this state are very irge, consisting of maize, wheat, barley, oats, hemp, and )bacco ; and it is also celebrated for horses, nudes, and itde : Kentucky is also one of those northern states which ro HO hirgely engaged in raising slaves for the southern larkets. CITY OF LOLTISVII.LE. Louisville, the chief city upon the Ohio river, takes ite from about the year 1800, when the inhabitants did 120 A TOT'Pw TX TIIF, not exceed 500. At llio jnesont time, the population havj become 60,000 ; and as a specimen of a western city, j- might reasonably excite one's cnriosity to ascertain tliel local policy adopted in establishing its social and civi:| progress. The attention given to the education of the yound has formed a leading feature in the advancement of tli-l people, and Avc were informed that this city is now expeiidJ ing upon scliools the sum of £10,000 a-year, raised intlij usual wnv, bv local taxation. The bovs leave sclio vjii'iously from fourteen to sixtc^en, and there are some fc4 who remain till eigliteen years of age; whilst those \\\\ intend to follow the learned professions, attend the hii'ti schools and the imivcn'sities for a longer period, to ronj l>h'to their classical and ju'ofessional studies. The Suii(la-j schools arc such as we have before described; neml' (lycyy place of worship has a school, which is sustaiiii] ])\ its own members, for the religious teaching of tL children of their fellow-professors, and, in some instaiictJ tlu^v receive the children of those who are unconnected will any religious profession. In a few of the schools we ibmj that reading and writing were tauglit; but in the greij majority the instruction was confined solely to matti relating to religion. Upon leaving the public schools, tL^ boys find an easy introduction into all the common ha craft trades of the city. Some few take to agricultnr'J and a good manv become clerks or salesmen in the storH The wage of a labourer is one dollar a-day, and tliati an artizan or mechanic as much as ten dollars a week. From Louisville we proceeded by steamer to Clincirj natti. The arrangements of the boat were admirable, n"! UNITED STATFS. 121 I the fiireH remarkably low, l)einj>- only two and a-lialf I dollars for 120 miles, or at the rate of one penny per mile for travelling, including bed and board by the way. (!incinnatti has been designated the Queen of the West. It is 850 miles from New York, and is the largest capital of the Ohio and Mississippi country, having a [population of nearly 200,000. It is placed in a rich Idistrict of agriculture, and derivt^s its importance as the jgieat depot for receiving and distributing the merchandise jof that extensive region. The landing shore of the river alongside the city is above three miles in length ; and not infrequently there may be seen from 50 to 100 large river gteamers loading and unloading. The grain and pork rades are enormously large ; they form the chief source )f ihe exchangeable wealth of the district, and the returns )f the value of exports for the year 1856, had exceeded ifty millions of dollars, or ten millions sterling, which is large sum for a river port situated so far in the interior jf the country. The impression of ilia city itscdf, is at pee surprising and gratifying. If there is not magni- icence, there is something bordering upon it in the lisplay of public buildings, and around the city there is ill undulating and picturesque country, with mansions 11(1 other elegant residences of the wealthy class, which reatly adorn the suburbs. The chief pursuits of the inhabitants arise out of the ■)llorting and marketing of the natural products of the ountiy. To enumerate or even to classify these pursuits Knild be difficult, but the recital of a few of them may itcrost or amuse, from their singularity and extent. The Jading trade is that of the sale of grain. The distilling 122 A TOUR IN THE oi' grain iiilo wliiskcy is impfntant, and tlicro is anf)tli(r| trade somewhat analaguus U) it in the manufactiu'e of wii, from grapes. The cidtivation of the vinr has he; introduced by the German settlers, and it has now arrivedl at a state of prosperity. Tlicy are trained npon rais^j terraces of earthwork, and impai't an agreeable interest tJ the landseajje. The " sparkling Catawba" is very mucii enjoyed by the Americans, and maybe termed tlie "hoiuJ bre\ved" champagne of tlie United States. The trade iJ hogs and barrelled pork affords a very graphic illustratinj of one of those vast resources of tlui country, which ar at till! command of the cultivator. The young hogs, raised about the homestead of tiiij farmer, are turned loo;-:e into the woods to earn their ow. livelihood, and mature tlieir growth upon acorns, or wbaij ever they can gather. Tiiey are then coaxed or collect together, and brought again to the homestead, to be lai] tened upon Indian corn; and when the rotundity of tbtiJ bodies has been completed, they are disposed of to tli| buyers of Cincinnatti. Some idea of the importance this trade may be gathered froui the fact, that during tlj season as many as oU0,000 hogs are driven into the citvj and ar(3 slaughtered at the rate of 20,000 in a day. llJ pork is pickled, packed in barrels, and shipped away m the merchants to New Orleans, to be consumed upon tl: plantations. Tliere is a trade of almost incredible extent in M manufacture of household furniture. According to a reporl of the Chamber of Commerce, for the year 1856, thm were sixty-seven establishments engaged in this braiiili and the value of the fui-niture mauufactured was 3,356,0Ui| UNITED STATES. 123 lollavs, or £671,200 .sterling. There are nine of tlieso Liicerns which are upon a more extensive scale than the [est, oiich of them employing from 200 to 350 hands. We isited several of these mamifaetories, and were surprised )l)serve the .systematic character of tlieir varied opora- iuiis. One proprietor was making chairs at the rate of Logo to 0,000 per week, and at prices varying I'rom |b. 8d. to 13s. 4(1. each. Another was making bedsteads It the rate of 1,000 per wcjek, and at prices as low as Gs. [r iis .ligh as X12 each. The component parts of these rticles were of turned work, made to one uniform gauge .screw into one another, and in all respects su handy (leal with, that when warehoused the stock might be tsposed of in large quantities, carried to remote places ; id so accurately joined as to fit into each other without )ii.straint. The commercial report proceeds to remark the growing iportance of this trade in supplying the demands (jf )tels, steamboats, and families of emigrants who are con- mtly proceeding towards the states of the west. The line to the city of this branch of business, may be com- ited from the fact that the raw material is a h(-ine rndiict ; that its value is immensely increased by labi.ur, ^e timber or raw material being described as lumbei-, id worth only from 1} to 3 dollars per 100 cubic feet. Coach making was also an extensive business ; and [e saw an assortment of elegant and expcnsivii vehicles, id hundreds of useful and well-contrived conveyances f>f rery imaginable shape to comprise utility and comfort in I veiling through such a country. One proprietor stated lat his annual returns were from £30,000 to £40,000, a 124 A TOUR IN THE suTii which probably exceeds tliat of tlie great bulk c/\ C'oachmakers, even in London. We have remarked upon the carelessness of servantj and the frequency of destructive fires in all the cities oil the United States. The fire engine department is ono iJ which a considerable amount of interest is felt ; and iij Cincinnatti they had an extinguishing apparatus, wtll a locomotive steam engine attached to it for working til pumps, and so easy of application that it could be fitteij up and set to work in eight minutas. SLAVERY. In this state, the State of Ohio, we have passed tliJ northern boundaries of the slave states of Kentucky, Yir ginia, and Maryland. The states are situated betwixt 31 and 40 degrees north latitude, consequently too far nortl for the cultivation of cotton. They are very fertile, aiii possess a climate which is salubrious, and well adapted t:J the personal comfort of the white man. They are never] thelcss slave states, and it is probable that in the infancj of their growth and settlement, recourse has been had \\ slave labour, in order to bring out cultivation with tlirj utmost rapidity. It is uni/ersally admitted that for the mere purposel of husbandry the negro race is not needed ; and the conj tinued existence of slavery in these states is accountel for, not by reason of the cheapness of slave labour, m slave labour is not cheap labour, but by the advantage t(| be derived from sale of tlie offspring of slaves to tb planters of the south. This practice is very justly hell in abhorrence, especially by the citizens of those statea UiMTED STATES. 125 iss of servants,] 11 the cities ,]ir1i have liberated their own slaves. On this account lit (U(l not occasion any surprise to us that a feeling of rtstkh.s impatience and remonstrance was very prevalent in Ciucinnatti. This was not carried to the extent of a border feud;" tlie chagrin expends itself in another k'ay? ^y ^^^^ game of intrigue with the slaves, leading to Ihm' clandestine escape and conveyance to Canada. It was not long before we became introduced to a cha- \'acter in this way, a member of the Society of Friends, 3110 who might very allowably be identified as the "Simeon lalli'lay" or the " Phincas Fletcher," who figure amongst he heroes of I\Irs. Stowe. Tliis man had become widely iiown for liis indomitable energy in the cause of negro rocdom, as well as for liis skill in efiecting his object ; so inch so as to have acquired the soubriquet of " The President of the Underground Railway." He had fre- l[uently got into trouble for his unlawful proceedings in Ihis way ; and his expcrtiiess in extricating himself from difficulty was rather amusing. He had been ai)pre- ^ended and brought into court upon charge of having ided in the escape of some negro slaves. The case [gainst him was strong, but not positive ; and one of the lao-istrates attempted to gain an admission by assuming peremptory demeanour towards him. He at once made le admission that the negroes themselves had told l.'im lat they were slaves, but that 7io other person had told iim so ; and, in his own quaint and characteristic manner, proceeded to remind this indiscreet justice of the peace lat according to law the evidence of the negro race was H received even upon oath ; therefore, having no authority but theirs, he had not felt called upon to give credit to 126 A TOUU IN THE what they had said, and had felt ik^ indisposition to cnul ply with wliat they had wanted him to do. Havir made this statement, ho thought it would be quite as coil venient, and quite as consistent with the province of tb court, if tliey would allow the case to be proved from \[\ other side, and not by seeking admissions from liii:| This they failed to do, and the charge was dropped. 1 ';' I t: UNITED STATES. 127 FIFTH lfctttii:e. Prom Cincinuatti to Chicago tlio dislnnro by railway |ls ,'il)nnt 300 milos, passing tlirono-h tlio states of Oliio nnd biliaiia. Til tlio western parf ,,r Iii.lii.na we entered upon prairie country, very thinly inliabite.l ; but wo eonld creoive tliat since tlie opening of tlio railway tliere bad 3(>rn erected many little dwellings and boniesteads of set- |lors, surrounded by small plots of newly-enclosed land ; Li an abundance of unoccupied ground was lying iii [o;i(line.>;s to rc^ceive a succession of emigrant "setters rhcnever they might arrive. CHICAGO. Any attempt to describe this wondei-ful growth of a [ity, would be incomplete if it did not also comprise some Dcount of the unpropitious character of its origin, and its ahsequent progress, in little over twenty years, from a plage of wooden shanties, to a splendid city of 110,000 'labitants. It is situated upon a river on the south- lestern shore of Lake IMichigan, liaving in its foreground pvel plain of many hundreds of miles, str(>tching along V^ prairies of lUinois, and upon a well-selected site, as b great trading metropolis of the west. A variety of )iicinTent circumstances have favourcnl the creation of ich a city, mainly arising out of these immeasureable 128 A TOUR IN THE prairio lands, brimful of fLTtility, and commorpially tribntar-l to CliioaG^o as tlu^ ontlot. Tlio roquisito facilities for traflJ liavo ])eon afforded by the (ionfliKnioc of tho rivor and til lake ; bnt to those have since been added canal navigatij and railways, to meet tho urgent requirings of common. A hirgely-increased demand for grain, especially for t!! supply of the Englisli market, hiis doubtless contril)iiti [ an untold amount of prosperity, to Cliicago, and to tli: wliolo of that country. Wlu^n we compare tlie growth rl this modern citv witli that of the (;ities of the old world. what shall be tlio measure of our astonishment? T', cities of ancient date liavo required centuries to estahlis them, and centuries following of enlargement, before tlif attained the proportions or the eminence of this, whioli i scarcely a quarter of a century old. Referring also t modern times, tho progress of European cities is slow] and favoured as our own country lias been for the advancf ment of mercantile ports, tho progress of Fleetwood f: Grimsby is utterly insignificant in comparison with Chi] cago. The history of this place no one has taken tliJ trouble to write ; therefore any historical account wliictl we present, must be received as scattered reminiscencei| collected from loose accounts and traffic returns. Beginning with the year 1804, the government of tlisl United States erected a fort for the occupation of tliiil locality against tho Red Indians. For nearly twentvl years following, the only white man besides the military| who made any approach to this settlement, was Mr. Joliil Kinzie, who availed himself of the fort as a trading poiiiil for the purchase of furs and skins from the surroundingj tribes of Indians. UNITED STATKS. 12!) Up to a period an rocont as the year 1812, the whole of lo Illinois country lyinu^ beyond tlio state of Oliio w;is Itirely in possession of the Indians. At leni^tli live K'llings were erected outside the fort; and tlie Indians Lame so indignant at this encroachment, that they fell )ii the place with great fury, destroyed the fort, niassa- }(l the soldiers and other inluibitants, sparing only their juling friend, John Kin/.ie, and his family. Altliough fort wari re-establisiie(l, the extension of the seltle- jiit was held in check by the dread of the; IncHans ; and to the year 1831 there were only twelve families, be- L'rf the soldiers, who had ventured to occupy tlie placi;. impression of incre ised S(!curity began lo [)r(;vail, and sulking post was established. A half-breed Indian was Bpatclu'd oncc-a-week to Niles, in Michigan, where he looted either verbal accounts of news, or nowspa[)ers, [ether new or old ; and his return at the week's end was levent of no common interest to the inhabitants. The following year, 1832, the Indians again assembled reat numbers, committing groat outrage and murder ; at length it was found necessary to bring about by ity a right of occupation, whereby the Indians agreed [•clinquish all their territorial claims as far westward as m, and engaged that themselves, and all that they had, Juld be removed out of the country to the western side he river Mississippi. During the next year, 1833, no than 7,000 Indians presented themselves in Chicago ; forty-six teams of oxen were engaged in conveying last remnant of them upon a journey of forty days, to land of promise wliich had been bargained for and Hted to them. I I no A T(»UU FN Tin; During- tlio follnvvini^; yoar, tH31, fhoro wjih a foiiKidfl n\)\o iiinva'^c <>!' vit;ilily in Cliica^o. A gnuit of .£*,'.(J was allowod l»y ('()nL;T(!ss Cor tli'^ cn'clir.ri of n liitilxnn I sliippiiifi; ; aiiti*'-liors(» triiiil was Hiihstitiitofl I'or J walkiiiiL;" post. I)iit tli'^ pca'^-frnl occiipalion of tlic r I was aa'iiln fo !»?• f'(l. The Red liidiiuis Mmv ' I ■ barffainnd oft' uiul convovcd awny: but 11h> dfrii/ciiv I tlic forest tlu'V had not yet d(\dt uilli, and llic iiiaraiidl habits of the bear and tlic wolf they coidd no longer I (luro. Tlio forcsfs itrHnodiat(dy adjoinini^ tlic cilv v I tlio resort (►f larHt ])ri- Lny o-rain port in the world, liavinp^ in the last year MSoO) [ported S,;i;^7,420 hushels of wheat ; 1 IJ'JiljWiS ImsladH linliiin corn; l,()lil,lHS huslnls of oats, ry(-, and harley; jiiin; a total of '21 ,r)S;»,"221 hnsluds of fj^rain exported. The lie.i^' tra'le is i-ajiidly advaneinj^-, and the returns the year of live and dressed lioo-s itHK.ainted to 320 lbs. weight. .RAILWAYS. TTalf-a-dozen years ago, Chicago had only a single Irnad of twenty miles long entei'ing the city. Now U>(i) there are thirteen I'ailroads centre here, and 100 [ins of passenger ears arriving and departing daily. fifth annual report (1850) of the trades of the city, imerates thirty descriptions oi' trades and manufactures ing employment to 10,000 hands ; tlie most important rig those connected with agricultural implements. We ited the extensive works of Mr. McCormick, whoso icipal business is the manufacture of rea[)ing and mow- machinef'j. He informed us that the demand is so ]:\'2 A TOUJl IN THE extcusivo, lliat ho Lad liiiiiself sent out 1,500 of tlie.vj miichiiios last year, and expected to sell 3,000 this year, We have already indicated in wluit manner Chica.-j has been raised ; and let us not overlook the conlinu.] and bustling operations of its tliriving progress. T!.- wood buildings in the central parts of the city are disij poaring, to raakt; way for the erection of houses, sIki and warehouses, chiefly of marble. The magnitude a: architectui'al appearance of many of these, would vie wj the stately modern erections of Manchester. The wumii houses of the original city were being carried away to] rei)laced in the suburbs; and occasionally we had singular pleasure of meeting a dwelling-house travolliii along the streets. It might be inhabited or uninhabit- but it was evidently being hurried away, and perhaps i..j some adjoining and less populous parish. We were m:j amused to observe the advantage which was being tdii hy the people, to convert a locomotive dwelling iiiti' advertising van, and have it plastered over with all s of placards. Churches and schools were provide!. great numbers. The streets were neglected ; indeed i\ appeared not to have been formed, except by a coverJ of planks, which had now become loose, uneven, and tiij gerous. It was said that large fortunes had been iii;. and with great rapidity ; but this remark was accompaii:: with animadversions upon the slippery mercantile ir\ tices of the place. I'KAIRIK COUNTRY. The prairies, so long neglected, liave in recent tirj disclosed an unexpected amount of fertility. The t UNITED STATES. 183 Settlers in tlio United States adhered to an improRsion that lie "•rowth of hirgo trees was an acknowledged test of rood land ; and spent perliaps half their lives in hewing iown lui? trees, in order to clear the ground and prepare for grain crops. The supposed infertility of the prairies IS hecn a mistake, and their extent is almost incalcula- ble. Tlie surface is rpiito level, covered with long coarso rass, and without either tree or shrub. Tho railway roprit'tors, in advertising tho land sales, assert that tho top of a single year has amounted to tho first cost of tho 11(1. At all events, the natural resources of the prairies Illinois arc so (enormous, that they contribute io render it state one of the most important in the Union. Tho bsi'nco of timber as well as stone is inconvenient to the jttlers, on account of the absolute necessity for field fen- |s, farm buildings, and dwelling-houses. This necessity II serve in some extent to explain the amazing amount trade in "lumber" which is being carried on betwixt licago and the Northern Lakes. These lakes are numo- is ; and in describing tlieir magnitude, we were assured It one of them would be large enough to receive e litorial extent of Old England, and leave plenty of )iii to sail round her as an island. The navigation of jso lakes aftbrds easy access to those immense forests ^ch supply the vast shipments of lumber so much requi- in Illinois. The people of Chicago are ever ready to accommodate wants of the emigrant, and to enable him to determine )u the desirability of some plot of land, to complete his rchase, and to proceed with the recpiisite arrangements immediate occupation. A contractor in tho lumber ma 134 A TOUR IN THE trade will propose to supply him with farm promis«j They have always on hand eitlior ready-niado houses .;; drawings of them, and any number of doors and windowij ready for use. In this manner wood-framed houses n- be supplied to any approved pattern, at any price from i{ to >£200 each, with the recpiisite outbuildings ; and t!:] same may be erected for permanent occupation in h than one month. The articles of furniture which IiavJ been supplied from Cincinnatti, will present their varirr. attractions; and in a very few weeks the emigrant im become a landed proprietor and a citizen, having \m J mily located, his team of bullocks at th(; plough ; and less than a year his grain crops may have been i-ais- and shipped away fi-om Chicago. In illustration of tij growth of industry upon the prairies, we may refer fi^ letter addressed to the "Illustrated London News," fr: Fairbur}', Illinois, and headed "Growth of a Village in the Far West. — Last Novonr- tliore was but one house here ; now tliere are 40 dwellings, 7 stori-. warehouses, a churcli, a school-house, a railway depot, a steam iii. and other buildings, all erected within eleven months." Another instance of progress is related by a corresp dent of the "Cliicago Tribune," wlio says — "Being in Rock County, Illinois, one day last wecl-: (about •: middle of August), I went to the top of a hill called Mount Zion, miles from Janesville, ami counted on the surrounding plain loU 1 horse })ower reaping machin(>s, busily cutting down wheat. Ti. were 1,000 men, women, and ' oys following, binding and shoclciii:- the golden sheaves, it was a sight worth seeing, to behold tlio falling and being gathered up at the rate of 200 acres an liour." Mr. Caird, M.P., in his "Notes on the Prairies," sta that "England and Illinois are nearly equal in size; tii T'NITED STATES, 13" .) d by a corrGsp'l [Illinois is an mivrv against a revolving shaper of the required form, and this ])ocaiiKi ic guide of the cutting tool: a continued succession oi lechanical contrivances completed the work, so that in tiK? jourse of twenty-two minutes the various parts could he )r()ught into their places, and united together as an eii- tirt; umsket. Notwithstanding our aftectation of reluctance to adopt Linerieanisms, we were informed that our government had lade purchase of this machinery from the inventor, i'ov fche iirmoury at Enfield. The American superintendent, ipeakhig of the relative merits of the English and vVmeri- Jau workmen, remarked that he liked his own couutrymon 140 A TOUR IN THE most, bocauRG tlioy posscssod intoUigenco, {uicl had hipjhor aims : that tho Enfield men coukl do their work will enough, but they were low-bred, and just filled up their time betwixt the workshop and the beorshop. Having reached a warmer atmosphere, we felt incliiioii i to luxuriate, and indulge in social intercourse with friends in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York, before w.| again made approach to the north. Our visit extendi i over a considerable portion of the New England states; but our observations were principally directed to the stat^ of Massachusetts, which is accounted the most wealtliy and prosperous of any in the Union. Within this star I are situated the eminent mercantile city of Boston, tl; manufacturing city of Lowell, together with the towns oil Lawrence, Manchester, Holyoke, and many other thriviiif; places, of great population and industry. It may also lie added, that the indications of British origin appeaiiJ more marked in this than in any other state we visited. PILGRIM FATHERS. As a leading characteristic of this state, it would bd deemed unpardonable not to refer to the remarkable histoj rical events in the career of the "Pilgrim Fathers," wh first founded it. Those who are familiar with our Englislij history, will be aware that in the early part of the 17t!i century, the dominant portion of the religious communityj were in a state of angry excitement, and the Nonconform- ists were groaning under oppression and persecution. Tliel exercise of despotic power over the minds of men, appea- red to be the order of the day, and disobedience to tliel authority of a state religion was deemed disaffection. Tlie UNITED STATKS. 141 thin this star | sitirit of tlio i\ii;ii appeared to insisi tliat the combined jiutlioritv of ('hiii'ch and State were entitled to exereiso (lominiua over the Kouls as well as llic bodies of men ; and tlic king rerpiired of them an entire siibuiission of their reason and conscience. The assumption of such authority u;is an outrage for British freemen to endure ; and a con- llict of the fiercest character arose betwixt tliosu who feared 110 authority but God alone, and the pretensions of royal anil clerical authority. Amidst a series of changes, the L'pclosiastical opinions which at lengtli had been adopted lythe bishops, must needs be enforced upon all other persons; and those who chose to dissent, miglit be said to have been deliberately hunted down. Tlieir books wen; j seized and pnblicly burnt; themselves imprisoned by thousands; and many pious, inoffensive Christian people [endured as martyrs the extreme penalties of the law. Some of the leaders of the body of English Inde})en- Idiuts made tlieir escape into Holland ; but, owing to their jfcelings being so intensely English, they became unhappy, and disliked the idea of allowing their families to intcr- niarry, and thus become Dutch. In this dilenmia they agreed that some portion of them should sail for America, land prepare a way for the others to follow in succe.ision ; land with this view they obtained a document, securing to Itliemselves, as emigrants, liberty of worship in that [colony. It was upon the 5th of August, in the year 1620, that labout 120 of them embarked a,t Southampton, in that [notable barque, the Mayflower ; but, owing to delays in jtheir progress, it was the Gth of September ])efore they [got clear from Plymouth. After having been at sea nine 142 A TOUR IN THE wooks, tlioy made discovery of land, and found that it was inliiil»it(Ml ])y trilx'S of Indian liiintcrH. One oC tli(^ })il. ,<:^iini })f»rty wliilst loaniint? al)our, was cnKiiiired in a ti;i| vvliich tlio Indians had laid lor the capture; of door, li liad o))S('rv('d tliat the jxiint of a yonnij^ tr<'c liad hiti. ])ont Id ihc ii,'r()und, iind in iii;i!;in'.': his ri|)[)nn>f]i i'. ■' .. cover the (h'vicc, tlif point, suddenly s})runiL;' IVoin i:< fastening, tucked him uj) l)y tlie lie(d, and h(dd Ins ImmIv sns]>ended in tlie air. Of course liis friends h)st no tin; in liaving liini extricated from liis perih)ns position; In;- it may easily be supposed tliat sucli aji incident conl'l liardly occur witliout aflording nomv. amnseniont even so grave a company. From a place so unpromising tliey very soon withdn.Ml re-entered the ship, and continued to move about on tli coast until tlie Tlth December, when thev discovercll jiioro tempting spot, one which tliey adojited as a settl- ment, and gave to it the n;inie of N(>w riymoutli, i: gratefid memory of the port from which they had set sail from Old England. On their arrival, nearly the whole them were guttering from fevers, coughs, and general sickness, and a considerable nund)er were too far prostrate ever to recover. Indeed, tlie inroad of disease among>i tlie party became so severe, that before winter was ove:j there remained only 50 of the lOt settlers ; and such Ma: the prevailing debility, that at one time they had oiil'j seven persons who were competent to the burial of tl dead. So large a number of victims from disease, mud have been deeply prostrating to the spirits of the surj vivors ; but there were other troubles in store wliieJ also proved very disheartening. Their supplies of foocl UNITED STATUS. 143 lif-eaino so Hcaiity, ILmI lor h\x monllis tlioy had in snlisisl iiUmi liiiir rations; mid even diirinp; the lliird year, their (li'srituliou w;is r,o severe, that at one time they di'idt out tlicif l;)st pint of corn at tiie rute ol" live p,-rains a niaii. Tlii.s aj>pears to liiive l)eo!i tlio last, extremity of their jpcrsouai suiVeriiiL^'S. Tliey tlion discovorod tliattlicir distress liad arisen irom till' ndnptidii of a policy which had ])iove(l I'ar inoi'c aiiii- liili!*' than wise, namely, the social or common ]ii'operty h\st<'iii ; ;nid wlieii ihey Imd ascerliiinod thnt the eilcet hi;i(l liceii to jirotraet their siil'rcrinj»'s, they abandoned [this iirrangenicnt (»!' niutnal iiit'Tests, and adopted the [iiioro soHd foundation of imlividnal property. Tliey very 80011 found tliat a Ntinndiis liad heen i:^iven to the c^oneral lartivity and contontmont of th<' ]ieople, and in a very shert time they were raising a snrplns of coi'u as an ivtiele of nierehiindise. As a community of settlers, they iound it nerjossary to jtVcct a treaty with the Indian trihes, and h;ivin,2,' attained nil possession of the province, they prociecded to estahlish loiia ol' government which should ])e po})alar, and in ill rcspoots heooniing- the champions of freedom. The (dements of character, and the mission of those ^tnrdy " rilgrim Fathers," will ever be honoured: they lad heeonie willinGr exiles from their na.tive land in order hat they might thems(>lves enjoy, aiid afterwards be- liieath to their descendants, the inestinable treasure of ;hristian libertv. Passing from the other ehccpiered events which at- Midod their course, before the success of their original Jesign had become permanently established, we may re- IH A TOUR IN THE mark upon tho woakiioHs wliicli afterwards betrayed thom into error. Fhidiiif^ IliemselveH, as tliey suppoKutl, sc. I curely invested with an array of ixijitieal [)Ower, whiclj rendered tlieir authority absolute, lliey very uii/^iiardcdlv forgot tlieniselves, and allowed tlie attaehnient they h-M for their own form of religion, to outweigh the aflV'etio!.! they had previously professed for tho sacred cause A (Christian lib(!rty. I Twenty-fivo years had scarcely passed over their liPml,! Imforo tho imprefisiv(» lamentations of their fathers (ivi:| the persecutions they had suffered from the I'^nglisl.l bishops had not oidy been forgotten, but they had fiilli!.! into the like example, atid in an evil hour had theinselvt.,J become tho persecnitors of (others. No doubt that in tliJ first formation of their laws they aimed at social ocpialityj they strove* to direct tho energies and purify the moraljl of the people ; they wisely avoided tho errors of the feiiJ dal or aristocratic system, and the primogeniture laws r:l the mother country ; but how often are wo reminded, tkl *' to err is human." And, despite the knowledge tliojl possessed, they were unable to resist tho desire to "Inril it" over the consciences of otlior men. They enacted M law to establish uniformity of religious belief, and thus a;! once adopted the intolerant and persecuting spirit wliiclB had driven them into exile. I In like manner they undertook, in the authority of tliei:H own law, the seizure and burning of obnoxious books;B then, step by step, they proceeded to the infliction of torH ture, and the maiming of the person of offenders ; thoiic?B followed imprisonment, and at length their atrocititiH reached the department of the gallows, just as the EngB L'MTKI) STATKS. I I ') lish l).i()n lat high aud holy cause which had been intrusted into Ihcir hands to exalt and establish : persecution was abo- i8l)0(l,and the spirit ol" enliglitened freedom which anima- >(l that little cargo of fugitives in the Maj/Jlon'rv, has since ilargcd her proportions and I'onnded her empire in Xew Jiigland. Passing onwards, there is tlie evidenc(^ of material rno-rcss on every hand. No one visiting ]\Iassachusetts ui fail to observe the incalcuhd)le advantages which have scrued from such indomital)le peoples In no other [)art the United States did we find education so universal, or le social and intellectual condition of the people so Manifestly progressive, — where devoteduess to industry [as so marked, — where inventive genius was so prevalent, -or where the spirit of manufacturing and coirimercial iterprise was existing in such healthy activity. Amongst ie native inhabitants we did not hear of a single case of )wnright ignorance, nor of the alloy of pauperism : in- 9ed, it would seem that there is not in any other part of ke world a country in which the elements of human hap- K 1^ 146 A TOUR IN TITK piness are more amply diffusofl amongst all classes of the people. BOSTON. Tlie mercantile city of Boston is not formed in straight lines of streets, as most of tlie other cities of the Union; and in this respect it resembles an English city. There was architectural taste disjdayed, but this was not so stri- king as to re(|uire special notice. We may record our visit to the very plain mf)numental erection over the tomb of Franklin; and this was the onlv instance in wliich "vvr remember to have met with any public recognition of that very eminent character. The mercantile i-eputation of the city is known in every country. The inhabitants have been d(^scril)ed as rpriescent and persevering. The su- Imrbs, although not situated in the most fertile country Ave had seen, presented a good deal of varied natural beauty; and i'.i the course of a morning's drive afforded agreea1ile| interest. In th(! vicinity of Ih'ookline, ('and)ridge, Dnr- Chester, and other surrounding places, there was a highly- creditable array of mansions, villas, and other genteel re- i3idences. The cemetery of Moimt Auburn is of great I extent, the surface nndulatcd, the landscape adorned witli trees and shrubs ; the character of the design, the inolo- sures around familv vaults, and the monuments, altotcetlierl afford the evidence of a commendable taste and feehnfr. We passed the residence of the poet TiOngfellow ; and ir. the distance we observed the monument on Bunker's Hill which reminded us of the struggle for independence, andj the In'storical associations of 17 7. 5. Within this state have been originated many ingenioiisl inventions of great importance to the world at large ; and UNITED STATES. 147 the seats of manufactimA which are diffused throughout tlie oountiy, attest the existence of a vast extent of capi- tal and industry. To enumerate tliese inventions, and to offer any remarks upon more than a few of them, would be beyond the limits of a lecture. The card-making ma- chine for the manufacture of mill cards for wool, cotton, and silk, was the discovery of a citizen of Boston, and is now used almost universally. The sewing machine was also from this state ; and referring to the " Song of the Shirt," and the lamentable condition of the sempstress, we may rejoice that more than one hundred of these machines are now being employed by one house in London ; that 900 of them are already at work in Glasgow ; and that their introduction into the trade of shoeiiiaking is creating something like a revolution amongst the hands engaged in that sedentary and unwholesome employment. The invention before noticed for the manufacture of fire-arms, is also from Springfield, in this state. Indeed, it would be impossible to enumerate all the mechanical inventions received from the United States. We may, however, proceed to notice the manifold printing press, which has afforded such important aid in the success of cheap newspapers and other publications. The machine which Mr. Piatt, of Oldham, has recently received, for the I manufacture of bricks; the washing machine, and the re- volver, are also American : and let us not forget the horse I tamer. Eeferring to the examples of manufacturing in- dustry, the following may serve to indicate the cha- |racter of their progress. The premises of the New England Screw Company, I Providence, Rhode Island, are extensive, and well-arranged U8 A TUUU IN TJIK for the miinufaoturo of kwcwk, priiicipuUy those required for carpenters' work. The invention is one of great merit, and the machine performs a variety of operations of con- siderable delicacy. The wire, when properly annealed, is cut into the requisite lengtlis, and proceeds from one machine to another ; first to form and nick tlie head, then to turn and worm the shank, and lastly to give the sorcw the advantage of a gimlet point. Mr. Henry Burden, of Troy, a native of Dumblane, in Scotland, has invented a machine for the manufacture of horse-shoes, at the rate of sixty per minute ; Avhilst in the ordinary process two men can forge only sixty per day. M ANUFACTUllKS UF (U)TT(>N, WOOLLEN, ETC. Massachusetts is pre-eminentfor its mill manufactiues. In this state there are streams of water too sliallow for navigation, which have been converted into mill streams, and a great number of manufacturing establishments liavo been erected upon them ; — the largest of these being {it Lowell, and at Lawrence, on the j\Ierrimack river. The latter place was the one we first visited ; and from the elevated ground of our approach, it was almost astounding to discover at one view large factories extending nearly u mile, alongside a broad river, and beliind these nearly a square mile of ground, covered with dwelling-liousot!, shops, and all the other re^juirements for a population of 17,000 inhabitants, most of whom liad been attracted tlii- thei during the ten years of tlie growth of the mills. "We found that these mills were emi)loyed in tlie various pro- cesses of s])inning, weaving, bleaching, dyeing, and print' ing of cotton. Those to whieli our attent.Af»n was more T^Nl'llOD STATRS. 14! I required eat inevit, IS of con- mealed, is from 01 lu lead, thou the screw mblane, in iifacture of lilst in tin; per tlay. inc. iiufactures. shallow lor lU streams, inents have 5e being at L'iver. The 1(1 from the astomidiug 11 g nearly a se nearly a ling-honses, opulation of ttracted thi- mills. We various pro- ^•, and print- li was mole immediately directed, w ere the mills ^ of " The Atlantic Company." Tliey have fonr large water wheels of 1,750 horses power; their machinery consisted of 80,000 spin- dles (mule and tlirostle), and 1,100 power looms. This company manufactures about 1,000 bales of cotton per month, affording employment to 1,100 workpeople, the proportions being 350 males, and 750 females. The young "hands" are received at twelve years of age, and attend at school one quarter of each year until the age of fifteen. The liours of working are eleven per day, or 66 for the week, as they allow no indulgence for Saturdays. Not- withstanding the completeness of these works, the shares of this company were selling at a disc(nint of 40 per cent. The mills of "The Pacific Company'' were also engaged in cotton manufactures ; but in addition to the departments for spinning and weaving, they had also other works for bleaching and calico printing. The extent of their machi- nery was not complete in every department ; but the mag- nitude of the works may bo estimated from the presence (•f no less than thirty-two steam boilers at work, all under one roof. Their bleaching was upon the recently-impro- ved process of tlio bleachers of Lancashire. In one room we saw twelve printing machines; some of them were working upon seven or eight colours, and every machine was turned by its own little steam engine. The printing room was very commodious and well-lighted ; the ma- cliines were arranged in a very systematic manner; and two-thirds of the workmen were English. In connection with tliese works, the pn^prietors iiave appropriated a large building for popular entertainments. The public room will accommodate one thousand persons ; and during 150 A TOUR IN THE llie previous winter, six concerts had been held, and seven lectures delivered. The discount upon the shares of this company, was 75 per cent. In all parts of the country we found public schools ; and in those of the Lawrence Mills there were present as many as 600 children and young persons, some of whom were more than twenty years of age. We had the curio- sity to test the pursuits of the scholars, by requesting those to stand up whose families belonged to the factory ; and we found that they amounted to one-half. The greatest portion of the factory workers were fe- males from distant parts of the country, and as they had to be provided with lodgings, the proprietors have public- lodging-houses erected for their accommodation. The one which we visited was under the presiding authority of a matron, who showed us through the house, and informed us that she was able to provide for sixty " young ladies." The drawing room was respectably — not to say genteelly furnished : we noticed the marble chimney pieces, the carpeted floor, latge mirrors, the piano, music books, and the various little work tables, and other appurtenances, intended to contribute to the enjoyment of the inmates. Entering the dining room, we found that three tables had been spread for the dinner : the table service was plain, and complete in every respect. The cooking range and other apparatus for the kitchen, was very commodious ; joints of meat were roasting, and an abundance of other food was being prepared for the table. The lodging rooms have two plain bedsteads, such as those made at Cin- cinnatti ; also dressing glass, toilet, and wardrobe. We noticed that books, magazines, and other periodi* UNITED STATES. 151 and seven ires of this ic schools ; present as e of whom I the curio- requesting :he factory ; rs were fe- as they had liave public 1. The one thority of a id informed mg ladies." ly genteelly pieces, the ; books, and 3urtenances, the inmates, tables had was plain, range and ommodious ; ince of other idging rooms ade at Cin- robe. her periodi- cals, were lying about ; and altogether there seemed an air of comfort and cleanliness, such as might indicate that every department was well ordered. These factory girls — as in this country we are accustomed to designate them, or the "young ladies," under American delinition — are mostly the daughters of small farmers, traders, or labour- ers, from distant parts of the country, ^vllose services aro not required in their own families. Every one of these would be unwilling to enter into other families as domestic servants, but they are glad to avail themselves of em- ployment in the factories, in order that they uiay realise a few dollars of money savings l^efore they marry. They can all read and write ; and in the evenings they employ themselves in needlework or in reading ; and at ten o'clock the door is closed for the night. LOWELL. Lowell has taken the lead as a factory city. The vigour of its early career was derived from the war of 1812 between Great Britain and the United States, when the importation of all kinds of labvics was closed. Public attention was at that time directed to the encouragement of manufactures ; fiscal duties and other regulations, by way of bounty, were enacted by Congress ; and in a very short time the Merrimack river was dannned up by weirs, and converted into a propeller of machinery. At that time Lowell took a start of activity, and in 18*26 was incorporated as a town. From that period its prosperity became more ftdly established ; and in 1854 the population had reached 37,000. The available waterfall of 33 feet in height, with a supply of 36,000 cubic feet of water per second of time, I.'^ A TOni [\ THK being', aocuriling- to tli<* usual calculation ut' eugmeeiw, ntiarly 9,000 horses power, is now fully occupied ; and uo fewer tlian twelve great manufacturing corporations liad risen into exitstenco, having in operation fifty factories, mostly employed upon cotton, possessing 400,000 spin- dles, 12,000 power looms, and representing a capital of betwixt two and three millions sterling. Tliero is ample evidence that mental activity has kept pace with industrial progress ; as upwards of forty public journals have been started. Several of these have gone down ; but the journal most extensively known, is the " Lowell On'ering," a monthly periodical published from the year 1810 to 1815, and devoted mainly to the effusions of the young ladies employed in the mills. The principal nujver was Miss Harriet Farley, an operative, and the daughter of a clergyman at Amesbury. Many of the essays evinced respectable talent and correct taste, and some of them have since been collected and published in a volume entitled " Mind among the Spindles." There are now published in Lowell, three daily and five weekly newspapers of considerable circulation. In regard to the mechanical construction and the other arrangements of the mills of liowell, they resemble those we have already described. The machinery was well made, and the machine makers, 'whose works we saw, were not only keep- ing pace with every improvement effected in England, but themselves were possessed of great inventive genius, and appeared ever on the stretch to excel in new discoveries. The command of water power derived from the Tvlerrimack having now become exhausted by the mills already in existence, the pressure for an increase of power has in- mtr rKTTEP STATKK. 1 r>n iigineerri, ; and no tions liad factories, [)00 spin- capital of ' has kept »rty public bave gone wn, is the 3(1 from the effusions of G principal c, and the any of the taste, and mblished in ^ " There ive weekly ard to the nents of the tve already and the tonlykeep- ngland, but o'onins, and discoveries. Tvlerrimack already in wer has in- -'» Jnced .some tit' the pro}>netors to adctpt the tuil»iijo in ])laeo of tlio Imokot \>ater wheel. The turbine wheel is ])ased upon the model of the " Barker's Mill," which is the most ancient appliance of water, and by dint of modern mech- anism it has been made to yield more power from the same supply of water than the bucket wheel will give. The consumption of cotton by the manufacturers of the United States has continued to enlarge, aril has now reached about one -third of the consumption of this coun- try. The enjoyment of a protective policy, together with charges upon imports, atfords to the American manufac- turer a large gain in addition to his profit on the manufac- ture ; and wo were informed by the parties themselves, that during the last twenty years their profits had been enormous. But we were also informed that it would be a mistake to suppose that they had been fortunate in money making ; that they had to incur very heavy expenses in conducting their concerns ; and the advantages to the proprietary, as measured by the protection they enjoyed, were by no means realised. Their ill-success in this re- spect may require to be accounted for. I'he proprietor of a factory in this country resides near the spot, undertakes the discharge of his own duties as an employer, conducts his own marketing, and feels himself the master of his position as a capitalist. In the case of a Joint- Stock Company in the United States, this is utterly imprac- ticable. The generality of these companies are got up in New York or Boston by some agent, who expects to be intrusted with the conducting of the business. Thus the proprietors enter the scheme knowing that they shall be charged with commissions upon every article bought or 154 A TOUR IN THE sold ; also with heavy expenses attendant upon the system of long credits, and bill transactions. Having heard of the celebrity of Lowell, we observed with great interest every feature in relation to the opera- tive class. In the streets, we saw nothing like abject poverty, nor any indication of rude or coarse behaviour ; but, on the contrary, the evidence of an orderly, intelli- gent people, sober, sedate, and persevering. The most pleasing feature was the superiority of the young females. Being chiefly from the country, they were mostly well grown, and in personal appearance superior to the gene- rality of other females in the United States ; and in their demeanour they manifested a degree of self-respect very much in advance of any similar class we have seen in this country. The cultivation of refinement amongst them is studiously promoted by the proprietors. They are provi- ded with dressing apartments adjoining the spinning rooms, having all tlie requisite accommodations for wash- ing, and for changing their dress. Traits of character deserving of admiration were frequently commimicated to us ; that amongst the thousands of New England females leaving their rural homes, and entering the mills, great numbers of them have by their frugality acquired ample means to assist their parents, elevate their families, and endow with money savings the homes of their husbands, when married. UNITED STATES. 155 e system observed ho opera- kc abject ehaviour ; .y, intelli- The moBt X females, ostly well tlio gene- id in tlieir spect very een in this st them is are provi- spinning for wash- • character Linicated to md females nills, great lired ample milies, and husbands, BIXTH LEOTURE. Throughout our vipit to the New England States, everything we met with was looking so very English, and we became so familiar with the people, that at length it was needful to become aroused to the pursuit of our next object of interest. Having reached Utica, we concluded to make a detour to the Trenton Falls, as a minor sight preparatory to the grandeur of the Falls of Niagara. They are approached through a deep ravine, under the sloping sides of a forest ; and the places ap- pointed for observation are mostly difficult of access. There is a considerable volume of water precipitated over a rocky bed of the river, forming a variety of beautiful cascades ; and the effect is rendered very picturesque by the scenery of the siurounding woods. We noticed how utterly valueless the timber appeared ; we saw immense trees lying where they had fallen, in a state of decay ; whilst abundance of young ones were starting up to fill their places. The day following, as we passed along by railway, we were amused to observe how very many little modern towns were honoured with names of antiquity, such as Palmyra, Syracuse, Eome, and other cities of the old world. In Canada there was none of this pretension : on the contrary, the Canadian people have contented them- selves with the original, and often more sonorous Indian names, such as that of Toronto. At length we approached 1 r>r> A Torn IN TITK the p^roat wonder f>f croation ; and at tlio Rtopiiing' stations wcro impatient to lioar llic lirst sound ol' tlio cataract. Wliilst crossing tlio stn[)endons iron itridgn over tlic Niagara river, wo got a'passing gliiu[)SO of tlio Falls, but the evening was too far advanced for observation. The ever-present roar of the cataract was reverl:erating in our ears, though by no means obstructing our conversation. The window frames and the floor were in a constant tre- mor. The following morning revealed the great oT)jeet of our impatient desires ; but the falls did not at iirst occa- sion a degree of surprise so overpowering as wo had ex- pected. Tlie sight was, indeed, sublime and. terrific, far beyond our immediate comprehension to realise; and whilst dwelling with intense interest upon the scene, communing in the stillness of our own thoughts, wo were often irresistibly held to the spot, quite overcome with mingled feelings of astonisliment, admiration, and delight, unutterable in words. The cataract immediately before us was the great Canadian or Horse-shoe Falls, 1,900 feet in breadth, and 160 feet in height ; and ujDon our left there was another cataract of sniidler dimensions, upon the American side of the river. For several days we wandered about in contemplative amazement, following the course of the stream, and visit- ing the whirlpool below. The sight which we found the most impressive in its effect, was obtained from the sum- mit of a tower overlooking the Horse-shoe Fall, and dis- closing at once that terrific chasm into which all this water was being tumbled headlong. The current, as it glides over the cataract, looks delightfully smooth and graceful ; and when it has reached the bottom, it rolls about, appa- I'NITKU .STATKS. 1.57 ; siiitions cataiiict. Dvor tlu> oil. Tlio urr in (mv vorsatioii. stant trc- : object ol' first occa- had ex- cirific, far liso ; aiul be scene, , \\Q were come 'svith id deliglit, ely before 1,900 feet II our left ions, npon emplativ(^ and visit- found the Q tlie sum- 1, and dis- this water is it glides 1 graceful ; )0ut, appa- rently fiithoniiiip,* tlio de})tlis of ilio pool, and trying to icsi.st tlu; iiiipiilso of an omvard nioveniont. The scene was ol'ten obscured by rising clouds of mist; and an occa- sional sunboaui would onlivon the efloct, ])y presenting before us a rainjjow in all its prismatic beauty. This mny serve as a brief description of Niagara; but the following accoii*ut affords a fjir more graphic expression of the effect usually produced upon a stranger. The correspondent of the "Times" says — " NowluTc (»u tills |iliiii('t (Iocs suoli u mass of water mako such a Irap. Thr Niaf^Mia drains ir)0,0(iO s([uar(' iiiili's of tlio iiortlioni i-oiili- iiriil ilir()u;^]i lilt' rcscrvoiis nC till- uii|H'r lakes; — not lioeli Lonionds and AVindcrnK'ri's, Imt iidand sons, lu which Knj^land, Scotland, and Wales, nil,L,dit hr suhincr^'cd, and leave nothing; visible hnt tlio tops of ;i iViW mountains to dot the surface as islands. Ten of these oceans and their feedii's — more than a hundred rivers — jiour their waters at last through this ono channel of the Niaffara ; and the intense ooni- i»ressiou of these collected floods in the narrow bed of the torrent, jient for miles between stee]) walls of rock, and driven throu,i,di a 'hasni not hall' a ^ v.-jde jis tln' Hliiiie, j,nves a better measure of the immensity of the Falls, than can be made liy the eye alone. fJreat as •■ire the dimensions of the cataract, neither their heif^ht nor the extent ef .surfiice visible, tills all the tale. To the first ^dance tliey are even ^;)ineAvhat disai»poiiitin;^' : it is only by degrees the giganti(> j)ower at work is ajtprociated. Xor is th(> noise so loud aswoidd be anticipated. It does not 'thunder :' it is a low, deep, and continued roar ; and ynu may converse on the very edg-e of the Fall without raising the voice, though the concussion shakes the rock under your feet. "The flood as it turns over the preei[»ice is smooth and glassy, but it has the green tinge given by great depths, and under the smooth- ness of surface is a force that would sweep away anything made by Imnds. * *■ A condemned steamer, the Detroit, drawing 18 feut ftf water, was earrieil over the Falls as lightly as a cork. She never touchetl the rocks with hev keel, until she was preeiiiitated, still sliitytely and beautiful, a hundred and fifty feet bidow ; and then down —down — no one knows, or ever will know, how many fathoms into a lower deep, SL'L»o[)cd out by the incessant action of the Falls, to re- 15S A TOUK IN THE appear a fnw minntfis afterwards a chaotic and unconnocted mass of beams, spars, and floating timbers. "For many days I lingered in the purlieus of Niagara. 1 ofton walked from tlu^ suspension bridge along the Canadian sliore, getting at every turn a new glim]»so of loveliness ; and on other occasions have sat for hours on Pntspect Tower, with no companion but a book of favourite poems, and the eternal music of the Falls. In storm, in shine, in moonlight, and in mist, in all weathers and hours, — T have feasted upon the beauty and tranerati(nis of "lumbering," as the forest pursuits are usually termed. From this part are annually supplied about twenty-five millions cubic feet of pine timber, for the markets of Europe ; and largo as tins supply may appear, there is a regiou of forests almost unexplored, which is estimated to be sufficient to continue this supply for IfiO years to come, independently of the growth which in the meantime may be maturing. A contractor for "lumber" secures a district of forest country of fifty or a hundred square miles in extent. He clears enough ground for a farm to svipply his stores of provisions, erects dwellings for his workmen, and has them placed in "gangs" for operation upon the most marketable timber. He constructs temporary bridges, and opens out avenues leading to the nearest navigable rivers. His arrangements comprise an outfit of every article necessary for a staff of about seventy persons. The first fall of snow levels the inequalities of the ground, and forms the basis of a sort of natural railroad for the conveyance of his timber ; and the balks are then formed into rafts, for float- ing down the rivers to Montreal or Quebec. 100 A TOUll IN THE The cliiiial(3 is severe, yet eminently salubrious ; the summer season is short and liot, and brings forward the crops with singular rapidity. The winter commences early, witli a brilliant sky, a keen frost, and pure elastic uir, — continuing about eight months of the year. The farmer raises a stock of fat cattle, preserves the meat by freezing ; and the live stock which he retains, require to b(5 provided with a large supply of hay during the seven months' absence of grass. There are no coals or manu- factures. The timber they exi)ort pays for *ho imports of the colony. The colonial affairs of most countries are often mis- managed, perhaps because they are little understood by the ruling powors ; and therefore it is no wonder that our North American provinces have had to pass through manifold troubles, — sucli, for instance, as the disturbances betwixt the French and English Canadians, in the year isas. I'ho discontent wliieh at one time prevailed, did not escape th(^ notice of Lord Durham when he was governor of the colony, and he restored tran proposal for the endowment of an Established Church was finally abandoned. (/anada, no doubt, is rising ; but th^ resources of tho country are overpowered with ex})enditurf^ and debt. THE RAPIDS. Parties leaving Toronto for Montreal and Quebeo, lo'->k upon the affair of navigation witli some exciti-ment, as well as interest. In the first instance, wo had a lart:'"' steamer down Lake Ontario to the entrance of tlie riv> St. Lawrence, at Ogdensburgh. At this place we took a UNITED STATES. lt)3 smaller !)oat, to glide clown tlio Kapids. The river scenery is perhaps unsiiri)asse(l for variety and beauty. Tn the course of the first forty or fifty miles, we had a deliglitfiili^' meandering sail through the "Thousand Is- lands" stuilded about in the river, manv of them most beantifully adorned in the wildness of nature, and in most picturesque groups. The width of this river is over vary- ing : in one place it would be ten miles across, and in iMiothei' only a mile. Occasionally there is a narrow gorge having n ntcky bottom. Above this, a swell of water would bo collected, and \Nould descend wiih a violent s\\'(^ep, fonuing the well-known " rapids," so full of interest to the j;)assenger. The safety of the boat is more or less imperill'Ml as it shoots like a dart through some narrow I'ur-enl betwixt the sunlcen rocks. The danger appears frightfii!. au'l all on boai-d are intensely observant, and (|uitc ali^•e to the fact that one false move, or one touch upon the rocks, and the boat woidd be shivered to atoms. Passing through tins critical part of the river, a red Indian WHK takon on board as pilot and steersman. He was a fino nianlv specimen, evidently partaking an admixture of the whii'' race, ]iossesscd of good nerve, and his (piick eye was (>v*-i- tixed ahead upon tlie coiu'se of the river. This man*H »**rv'ices were considered necessary, on account of kis hatving acquired a thorough knowledge of the river long '.cfore steamers had ventured upon it. Another fea- ture ol" interest was tlie number as well as the magnitude " the rafts of timber, lloating down from the upper coun- r> Ibr shipment to Europe. We ol)served that one of the largest of these was provided with eleven masts, twenty- four men, and four dwellings for their accommodation. Hit A TOUll L\ TJIK MONTUEAL. Montreal is ooO milcH below Toronto, und 170 aLovo Quebec. Tho city has 60,000 inhabitants, find is the lar- ,2,-est seat of connnerco in Britisli Anierica. Tlic public buildings are massive and costly. Above the city ir a bold romantic; eminence called Mount Koyal, from whicli the citv is said to derive its name. On all sides it is fringed ^vith villas; iind commands a very extensive view- over the distant countiy. The great featiu'c of ■Montreal is tlie Victoria Bridge, wliich has recently l)een completed, and carries the Grand Trunk Raihvav across the St. Law- rcnce ; — a work of art which may bo considered one of the wonders of the age. Wo next visited the former capital of Canada — Quebec. The principal part of the city is on a rocky i)romontory, at the height of 30u feet above th(! river, and crowned by a Htrongly-fortitied citadel. It was neai' Quebec, and in the year 1759, that tlie military event took place which trans- ferred the possessit)n of Canada from the French to the English nation ; and u[)on tlie site of the battle-ground, now called the i'lains of Abraham, a monument has been erected to commemorate the event, bearing the inscription — "Here died Wolfe victorious." Tlie scenery around Quebec is somewhat romantic; and we had two or three agreeable excursions to visit the Canadian waterfalls, and other sights. Th(.' Montmorenci Fall is 240 feet in height, and has a river of GO feet wide falling over it in one broad sheet of billowy foam. This stream was worknig a saw mill having one hundred saws. UNITED STATES. 105 fO above * lliG Inr- ic public city ir a m whirli ides it is •;ivo view ^Montreal Diiipletod, St. Law- Diio of the —Quebec, oiitory, at rued by a iiul in the ich trans- ch to the e-grouud, has been nscriptiou 11 ilic; and visit tho )ntinorenci i'eet wide im. This ired saws. The macliinery was ingenious, and tlic piocess systematic. The proprietor showed us how rapidly one (jf those im- mense rafts could l)e converted into planks and boards ; and how important a part of their economy it was to work up the fragments of timber into water buckets, as they were then doing to the extent of thirty dozens per day. We took an excursion to an Indian village, so called, and were introduced to an old man, who was represented as tho chieftain. Wo heard it stated that tho rod man won't serve for wages, and that the females won't enter into domestic service, therefore they acquire but little know- ledge of civilization, and don't advance in life ; and that they never forgive an injury, and are barbarv an American writer, who gave a limciCul sketch ot " liil'e at Saratoga." llo says — " TIkj worthy iashionabies of every state ilock to the springs. This, of course, awakes enmlation between the eastern, luiddle, and southern states ; and every lady here- upon iinding heisi-lf charged in a manner with the weight of her country's dignity autl style, dresses, and dashes, and sparkles without mercy at her comj)etitors from every jDart of the Union." At Saratoga everyone ajipearcd bent upon enjoyment, in one form or jinotiier. At the next place we visited, the predonunating feature was stern self- denial. The Shaker Setth^mcnt of Watervliet, near Albany, is an establishment of singular interest, and is based upon religious soeiali?;m. Tiie household consists of ninety persons, all of whom conform to a costume in dress, and carry themselves with an air of religious soleuniity. The uniform adopted by the men, was a tight-fitting dress reaching nearly to the ground. The females wore a close- fitting dress suspended from the shoulders, and not con- tracted at the waist, — provoking the facetious reminder of "a walking razor strop." The princi[)al in(brmcd us that the founder of this religious order was Ann Lee, aided by a small number of fellow-protessors. Thai without the adoption of any par- ticular creed, they had i'ormed themselves into a religious union ; and by iadefutigtible nidustry had cleared tne forest and formed a settlement in this place. They en- tertain the belief that matrimony is a civil institution, HNITED STATUS. 171 which is propor for mankind in tlicir natural Htato, but that it docs not consort Avith the condition of thoso wlio concc'ivo iliat tlicy luv of that select number of the true followers of Chiust, wIkj are enjoined to "forsake the world, and to cruwily the llesh with all the allbctious and desires thereof." The leading peculiarity of their religious character consists in the exercise of tiieir devotions. When as- send)led for this ]>uri)ose, they become seized with a state of agitation of body and lind)s, and are seen running al)OUt under a variety of excited movements ; which, as they conceive, an- the outward signs of spiritual activity. Meanwhile, they are uttering solemn expressions, denounc- ing all ini(puty. The floor of the church is ajtpropriated for the exorcise of the devotional danio; a scene in which they are trip- ping about in a state of cxtacy ; their arms extended, their hands hanging down, expressing their joy for tlie victory over the power of darkness. They believe that tliis form of worship is in accordance with the timbrels and dances which were deemed to have been well-pleasing in the Divine sight. EMIGRATION. Wo found abundant evidence of the successful results of emigration from Great Britain, and from Irelai^d ; but we also met with three cases of disappointuKjut. A stoand)oat passenger on Lake (^'hamplain, who had left this country about thirty years ago, entered into a com- parison of the two countries, and referring to his own ex- perience of the comforts of lamilies, and the economy of 172 A TOUR IN THK livinp;', lio entortainod tlu; iiMpression tli.it in tlioso rospects ho liail not boon a gainer by tbo cliango bo liad made. In bis roniark.-; oonconiing bis own family, lie expressed liinisolf witli vory })ropor fooling, and obsirvcd, tliat in England tbo fatbcr is tbo aoknowlodgod bead of tbo family, roccivos duo doferoncc from its membors, and is addressed and listened to witb a feeling of lovo and do- votodncss. Ho bad found tbat in tbo families of most persons in America it was not so; parental autliority, if it existed at all, is greatly enfeebled. He complained tbat money did not go so far in making purciiases as in Eng- land, more especially in clotbing, and particularly in sboes. H(! also remarked upon llio det(?riorating eirect upon tbo constitutional vigour of tbo })eople. Referring to tbo tombstones in tlie cemeteries, be bad found tbat tbose wbo bad been born in England were mucb longer- lived tban tbe Americans were ; and in tbeir physical power tbo Americans were inferior in every way. Another case we met with was tbat of a station-master, a native of Berwick-upon-Tweed. He possessed the ajj- pearancc of a shrewd Scotchman, and remarked that the generality of emigrants did not realise all tbe advantages they had been led to expect. When a working man came over without any money, and looked upon tbo wages of a dollar a-day, bo concluded tbat such a sum would do great things for him ; and afterwards found he had been widely mistaken. Speaking of the hours and regulations of lab(mr, be said that in earning a dollar of wages a man had to labour harder and for longer hours tban ho did in England ; tliat in England the hours of labour were usually ten hours a day, but the Americans knew of no such regulation ; they UNllKD STATKS. 17a wore not oasily 8atistlo\c(»ptionid Of the aekn<>wl(Ml!L;^,()()(),(H)0 sterling to their ndatives in Ireland, t'^* erahlf! them t(» Ibllow." From Albany to New York by the Hudson river wo had a very beautifid sail, and conld sometimes see throngh the niunnngs into the distant valhn-s of the lofty (*at skill Mountains. We remained one night at West Point, a prominent iieadland or [»lateau overlooking the river. The scenery wr.! remarkably lino and bold : the site has been selected for the JVIilitarv Academy of the United States, and they liave 8,000 gradiuitos receiving!: education in every branch of the military art. Having reached New York, we employed thi> little time we had before siiiling, in re-cimsidering the varied scenes we had witnessed, and in noting our remarks upon the institutions of leading interest in the country. These we reserve for our conclud ing lecture. UNITED STATKS. /•> to ^oA lljr tllili LOO, thill (led live (]ecl'y. icideut in Mui grants rttato crop (.• to their river w<^ 1(> through Iv Cat skill Toint, a ,'or. Tho site haK ic United cilncation t;he(l New ,re sailini;', >sscd, and »r loading r L'onclud 8p:vi:nth: lt:otttrp:. Tt miglit with confidence he asserted, thai thrMiio-Jicmt tlio history of tlie woi-jd no (^rent has ever happein-d of a more i-emarkahle or cvcntfiri charneU'r, tlinn tlic diseoverj of tlie rontinent of Ann^ica hy ('!irisiOT)her Cohunhns, in tlie vear 1 102. Tt was a coinitrv «>f vast extent, ]»n'sent- ing a surface mainly consisting of ftrosts and swamps, swarming with insects, and, a« a Tiatiiral confieipienco, in- sahihrions. Tlie inhahitants were an ahoriginal laee, Hv'ng solelv on the wild animals thev ohtained from the chase. They wore constantly disputing for the ]v»ssession of ])roprietary riglits over immense d<^serts ; and it may ho supposed that tliero was an impossihility in fixing any recogniscil honndaries among those hordes of savage people, who, whilst they roamed from forest to forest in the pursuit of game, reckoned nothing of a hundred leagues of territory; the usages of the chase heing e{]ui- valent to the claims derived fr^ni culture. Taking a doliherate survey of that vast continent, and hearing in mind that although it was 3,000 years in arrear of the knowledge of human arts, no one could hesitate to coji- clude tlmt it had heen res(>rve(l to fulfil some assigned share in the duties of creation. There was a coast which was admirahly adapted for commerce ; there NNcrci rivers wide and deep for navigation ; and the wholo continent 170 A TOUPw IN THE hold out the promise of fertility as tho futnro abode of a great nation and a powerful community. It was r^cnerally allowed that tho ti^rritories should beloni^ to whatever I'iUropean nation was the lirst to make discovery of them; and in tliis scramldc for possession, the Ih-itish secured nearly the \vhole lino of North American coast. The power of the British in Europe had beconK; fj;reatly ex- alted ; and her dominions in America extended from the (Julf of Mexico to Hudson's Bay, and from the Atlantic Ocean to tlu! Mississipjii Kivov. No sooner had peaceful possession l)een concluded, tlinn th(^ British 'Parliament contrived a scheme of taxation. Tlic adoption of this arbitrary }»olicy required a standing army. It was therefore proposed that the,ex])enscs should be sustained by the c(»lonists; or, iu other words, ])y the parties whom the army was intended to overbear. The Secretary-at-War, IVlr. Willjorc Ellis, in biinging forward tlic^ estimates of tlie year, inebnled in his })roposi- tiim a standing army of twenty regiments for America, and stated, in exjdanation, that these n^giments wero to bo supported for the lirst year oidy ]»y tho British Exche- quer, and eve.' afterwards by the colonists themselves. The colonists demurred ; tlu> Britisli Ministry becanus exasperated, and declared that they would tolerate no fur- ther the disobedience to royal instructions, nor bear with the claim of tho lower "Ifouse^i of Assend)ly" in the colo- nies to the right of ileliberating on their vot''R of supjdy, like the Tarliament of tlio luutlier country. The judges and other public officers held their appointments at the King's pleasure, so that, in effect, there was a civil garrison in the authority of Great Britain holding the colonists i"niti:j) statks. 177 :)do of a cnorally t'hatover 1^ tliem; secured ;t. The •ally cx- from the Athintio peaceful !n-liaiiient tptioii of . It was sustained ties whom I Iniuging s projMisi- America, ] woro to h Exchc- iK'Uisi'lves. ' becauu! te no iiu-- l)car with tlie colo- )f supply, lie judges nts at the I garrison colonists under obodionco. Tlio inimedialo olijoct was to obtiiiii a colonial iX'Vcinu' wliidi should bo (Hsposed ol" l)y tlie Brilisli J\iiiii>iiy under llif .sigu-iuanuid of the Kii;g. It was, liowevcr, a settled purpose ol' ilif coNuiists, that no tax should l)e inipi > d ujiou the iuluibitiuits ol' a ihitit^h plantatioi'. it b-ythcir own Assenibiy us asscniing p.irli fS. rC;"" v>as it sui'prisin;;' that tli" \ bmsc c' ( 'onitiioiis should listen with coni[>laienc-y to a laiblary schciuc wliii-h, at ic Oi the expense ol" the colonics, shouM h.'M out ilu> hoj" twenty new a})pointnients as colonels, ijcsides oihcr otiiccs that might be su[)plied out of i ho fiunilifs of the nn'inbtus Thc! abseiice of any niH'cssit V I'oi' iiM those troops in time o >n, ai f [leaeo was l)Ut too obvious, e\ce}>t to ''nlorco ti.\:iti( id obi'dicnce to hiws whii-h i!io colonists h.id no N-nicc in cnac^ting; and this was lopugnant lo their id' 'as of IVimmIoH). The lirsl measui'.' to rajse rcx'enui' in the coloni' s, was a Stamp Act; aial loilowing thi»;, ihcre were oihcr (axes ses oi UiS ai'Uix' 111' (Iclllic- iinposed to deiVayth'' ex[»e!i rate c^haractor of thi'Sc proceedings was calenlaK d I<» alarm, if not to aiou>e ihe dis|tleasure even i.f ihe calmest t' the An.eiican statesmen. Tiiev considered it an ailack o on tl leir CO nstitutional riji-hts; and ihe liist niciiioi'abh opposition i-anu! iVoni tlie (h-neral Assenibly at N( w \oik. They ])leaded with the iving <''iiiciTning their couiis of law, th(! intluence of the governors, and the inicontrolled power exercised in the Cidony ; all of whicii had as.>unied an as|)ect of tenor, and the paities couhl not be impeacluMl. It wa.s the wish til* the coloiusts that the indepi'n(lenc(» of these courts of law shou!l b(^ established, uoi onl_\' on account of the security thus afi'ordcd to the rights and lil)erties of the sid>)eet, but also as conducive to tlie Imnour M 17H A TOLK IN THE of tlio drown. Tlio voice of the Assciiil)!}', '" snpplicat- ing with llie most rcsjxM-trul linniility/' was iillowcd to go uiili(H'(l<'(l. Litrd Xortli and llic Trcasui'v Hoard dt'cidod foiiliniiiitMrv of the cxcrcisf ol' tlu' Kinq-'s pleasure, not oidy ill llio ajtpoinliiients, Imt in llie sali'.i'ies also,, 'i'ho petition having" liccii disi'egarded, llio peo])le became in- crcaKingly discdiitciilcd, and entered into associations for preventing the iiiiportatien of Bi'itish niannraetnr(\s nntil the (»l>no\i<)Us Slam]» Act vn;is repialed; and at length it was i'ep('ale(l, amidst nniversal joy, and ti'ade was renewed on the most lihei-a! luoiing. li wonld, liowever, have; hcen a mistake to snp])ose thai in making tliis snrrcndcn', the British i*aiiiament were ahouf to relin(|uisli the idea of raisinti: reveinie in the colonies. The veav following thev ])assed an ad iiiijiosing a dnty on glass, tea, ]")aper, and printers' colours. This enaciment rekindled the exas{)era- tion of th(.' colonists, and <'Ncili'(l a g(Miei'al opposition, so that in the year 1770 these duties were icji-nded, excepting a chargeotod. ])er ])onnd ujjon tea. It will at oiu'che perceived liow intjexihle \\-ei'e the colonists intheii' determination not to admit the j>rinci]»le ot' taxation without rei»resentntion. 'i'lu' i'higlish ( io\ ernnicnl, linchng tliems(dves I'oiled in the tea duties, hatided oV(M' the scheme to tlie East India Company, who IVeightcd s<'veral shijis, and sent them Os'er. in charge oi' lactors to dispose of the cargoes. The Americans looked u]M»n this as au indirect modi; of taxa- tion: tlu'rer.tre thev pi'eveiiled the landing of the tea. and a innnl)er of jiersous hoarded the ships as they were lying- in Boston harhonr, and, without doing any other damage, ])roko o])en 'M2 chests of tea, and discharged their contents into the water. The P)ritish Parliament, acting under the UNITED STATEh. J 70 'il to go lire, iifit o,. Th(! •aiiic ill- tic ms iVir Lrcs until lou.u-tli it: rc'iu'WC'd lavi; !>eou ■lulcM', tlie L' iclfil of ving they laper, aiul cxaspora- isition, so ceitting'U perceived lation not K'litatioiK s t'oilod ill :;\^t India lioin over. es. The <> of tasa- e tcii. and vere lying r damage, r contents inider the exasperation of the moment, passed a law t(» diseontinno and put an end to the mercantile port of Boston. The Americans, in no way iniimidaled, hut, on the contrary, aroused with this repetition of tli^; arhitrary designs of LTovernirK ■nt, 1 •ecame oni ted m ,t more (lotermnie lot( ^df. orm ( f opposition. They appointed a ( 'ongress of I)e[)nties to meet at Philadelpjiiji, a.nd to e(Mi(-'ert iiiensTwes for the ]U'C- servation of theii' rights. Bodies of militi!) were speedily rais(Hl and trained to the use f»f arms ; powder manufae- tories were estahlished, and military stores procured. Without entering upon the manner in which the British Parliament undertook to (pudl tlx^ insurrectionary move- ment of the colonists, hy ]u-oehaiming martial law, we discover by the course of their proceedings that the first blood of the British army was shed at Lexington, in 1775. Here was 0]icned the first sc^ne of a wond^'rful drama, which severed the American ]")eo]>le from the dominion of the Ih'itish empire; — which, in the eoiu'se oi" its progress, exhibited the most illustrious characters and ovonts, and closed with a rovolution glorious foi' the actors, and espe- cially important in its consequences to mankind. In 1770 the congress of di^puties at Phil; o. Iphia pub- lished the "Declaration of Independence," Inch sepa- rated America from Oreat Britain, under the title of ''The United States." 'J'liis occurred 2X1 vears after the dis- coverv of America bv Columbus, IGG vc^irs from the first British settlement in Virginia, and 150 yeais from tho landing of the Pilgrim Fathers at IMymonth, Arassachnsetts. On the 8(ltli Xovemlx'i-, 17S'i, the provisional articles of peace and reconciliation between (irtat Jlriiain and the Anieriean !*^tates wer" si;i-ned at Pari>^, vvhcrrbv the forni'T IM) A Ti.'llt IN TIIK acknowlcdgfd tlic iiKlcjx'iidenco and sovereignty oi tlu^ United Statos of America. Tliese urtieles were ratified by a dennitiv(^ treaty September 3rd, 178.'}, aiifl tliiis ended a long and arduous (;onllict, in wliieli Great Jiritainexjuuided nearly on(^ hundred millions sterling, saeritieed one liun- dred thousand lives, and gained nothing. Ameriea cndunid very great eru(dty and distress i'rom her enemies, lost many iives and nineli treasure, but de- livered herself from foreign dominion and injustice, and established her raniv among the nations (»!' the ciirtii. From this, tlie starting ])oint of in r history, it w ill be ad- mitted that th(i deliberations of tli(! statesmen ol' the Union, and the measures ado}»ti'f the latter are elected every two years by tlie people, and tlie senators every six years l>y the State Fiegislaturc^s. The executive power is vested in a President, clioscn (ivery four vears. The coiistitution guarantees, for ever, IVeedom of speech and the liberty of tin press. In the eye ol' the hiw all the inhabitants are «'4ual. Ib'reditary titles and distinctions are prohibited. Tliere is no la\> to establish any paiiicular form of reli- gion, or to i>rev<'nt the free exercise of it ; and no religious test is required as a qualification for any office of public trust in tlie United States. Tiic s[)ec-tacle of a people founding a home, and de- signing a constitution, in the nnnoteness of the West, is one wliieh abounds in interest, not alone in relati(m to the develo[)ment (tf wealth, but in the establishing of all the institutitius and habits of the peo})l<>. It was obviously their design, in forming a comuunaty, to escape as far as ])ossil)le from the orrors which liad caused the expulsion of the I'ritish portion of thi-m from their i:ativ(> land. They studiously avoided class privileges, and allowed no su[)i'ema( y in religious sects. Democracy found favour in c\('ry department. Amongst the settlers in these thirteen States there could be no disparity in their circumstances. The land itself sustained them, and, although full of fer- 182 A TOUK IN THE tility, it could not iiplioM tin' two clfisscs, those of* pro- prietor and ()C('U])i('r; tlicrclorc tlic owner was liiniself the cultivator, and it inust liavc ])e«'n Iroiii this class mainlv that the h'gislators had to he procnrcMl. Tiicsc nu'n pos- sessed a strcfiiL;' sense of justice, with an ardent love ol" liberty ; and I heir |tioceedin;:;'s were seasoned with the spirit of relij^ion. They adojited universal sun'rae^e as their hasis ol i-epresentation, and under llie circviinstanees, it may he asked, AV'lioni could (lu'y liave exclude a,i;'(>. TIi' s;"»vs — llofted lirai'ti iiiorr •iVnd- li.lato .f the ■;, it i< )iovido iild 1)0 IV tli(^ o oiisy 111 tlio liat tlu> ivo tb*' ted tlie Kl'M'tidiH tnay si-'Hi th ■ iiiiivi'r-> i! ltii-;iiit'>'^, tln' \'>\>\'' au'l )>ii.ssion )!' lit !■ ; lull tli< iii'i', at l.a>i willi liiil I'rw iwci pi ii»ii.H, far lii'il (111 uith'tin any ii(ii-i)ai'Ii III' tiiiiiull , iii'|i'ii''.-'S, or iliior.l t : Inn-,.' wliirli 1 ll l])|l'll'il to -tr, WiTi' til'- must S 'lit'', llll i 111 [ll .siMllis I Jirn.'i'SSc.S I iMll iiiia;^iiii'. hi tli" iVr ■ Statfs, at l(';i>', tln' )u'm|i1i- at larj^i' licar an activi', ami I iiflicvi' nn the wliitlr, a usrtul pari in the I'oiii.'orns of iii- ttTiial j^MViTiiiiii'iit iiii'l |tractical d.iily lil'r." Speaking of til'' fiiii(litioii ol" i]i(> jx-oplc, lie also s'lid — "Til.' t'lMliii'r \vlii''li is ill" iiio.-,i n'lividiis, aii'l pi'Dlialily tlii' iiiii.>t inevitable, i> tln' irarly cnlirc ahsciiiT, cTt 'inly the appiaraiiii' ill a ;4i'('at (li'_:j,r. r, of l lie reality dI" |i:ivt rty. In ii" jmii kI' ilie world, I iinai^iiie, is llei-e -o nri' !i 'j;!:). ral eoinro, i aiiioii^>i th- -reit Imlk o^ the people ; iiil a;j;il.liiii^ aliun lanee stniek Ui" .t~> llle |(rriiiail"llt eliai'aetei' ol' tin laml. ' Addin;^', wiLli ids own ^cni-ioiis s\ in^iaijiy, the lemark — " it is iiol easy to ili >.riln' how i.ir t his eon--ili'i'aiion ^o.-, to liriLrhleii the lace of iialiir.', and to ;j,ive room lor ii> uiidi>liuljed eiijoyni'iil." \\ i- !i.i\"(' I'cinarkcd iquni the iiii'.'fiofitji' and tlic (MiTU|)t cliaractci' (d' some id' rlic i'c|)i<'seniali\'t's I'oi iiiikmI to tlio icgisiatinc ; iind ilific aic ilidsc in this conntry, wlio insist that this has ih-cii tin' r<'>iili oj" universal siLlVage and till' Itallol. i'd'haps tliis all('i;alii)n may in- inofe easily made t lian corris'tly asc'iiained. At that evcr.trnl jiei'ioil when AnuM'iea was srnigii^'lini;' [oestal)lisii iiei' posi- tion as a new jmlirical (>r,i»"anisati(m. a,nd as a nativ>ii, Lh».'rtj was ever iiM'seii! the icxtninlinjj;" id' a liiuh i-iui'd aj)j)ral to tli(> distingiushi'd ot' lief riti/A'n>. ainl the ni'ii wcf' loiuid who Were eijual to the eiiiefgeiiey. In ivc'iil i lines, the proo(;edin;4's of '^'on^•|•eys ha\i' a>simied a m I'eiiual mati'iiitudo ; and tho meinbors retnrued have bei'n conmiuu- ISI- A Tnri: IN THK l)l;i(<' iiKii. 'I'licv liiiVf Idwcrcd tlio ostiinnf ion dC tl 10 1 »li('(l, will louso ; ;iii(l llic i'iuhmIv, w liciu'vcr it nuiy be ui»i»li('(i, wil pnil);il»ly Im' coKjjtlctc, and hot o!' a |tartial or ]iron;;ri»ssiv(^ cliuraclci-. 11" so (iisapiiMintiii!^ a n-snll in tin; Unit('(l St,at('S lias Id'cii attriliiiial)l(' to nnivorsal siilVriiL^(! and tlif ])allot, lio\v shall u*- account lor tlic nnhiusliini;" corrnption in tlic " I.c,L;isla!ivc Asscini)ly" of the adjoinini!; ]»rovincc (>r Canada, hascd upon a £(> IVancldst! witii open voting? AVc liap|)c!icd to lie |)i('S('iiI when tlic snl)j('ct undci' dis- <'ussi(»n was the iMcor)»oral ion of tip' '"(firal SonthtTn liailway ( onipany" and the disclosures of ])ecnlation and jol)l)ii.L;' oil the pari (»!' the iiicmhers were so lla_^rant, that i't '''Iil;'!!! one of the juriuheis iiitei-]»oS('d, and ai>[K!al(.;d to till- house upon the '• saciV'd dutv" ol" ceasinj^' to ci'innnate one aiioth"!', if they eiiterjaiiied the hope of inducing the ca[iit;d!si--; of I'lurojic to alVord any I'liture aid in carrying out enterprises necessary I'oi' the ]iros}»erity of tli(.' }iro\ince. It is tlierefore ap[)ai'ent, that in the Tnited Stat(;s and Canada, and perlia.ps in all new countries, tlio organ- ised inaehiuery of legislatiiui, liuwe\'er ])orfect in itself, remains I'uv a lime iiiciipuhle ol" ditinsing all tlie hlessings of good go\-crnMi"nt, more esjieeially if unaided by ('((ni- })etent minds to hold the presiding anthoi'ity, and to give right direction to all those pui'poses winch minister to the well-being of a comminiitv. Xo dcjnbt that in botli these eoiinlries the misetlli'd !i:i!»i!s and pin'suits of th" peopl(>, and the impatient sci'anihle lor tin* ''Almiglity dollar," have taken the K'ad for a time, of csery eonsideration. M(!anwhile, great, irrognlai'ities are being committed and arc toUsrated, bc^causo the individual affairs of the gene- rXTTK!) STATK.S. ih:» of \\\v. mI, will ;r(»ssivo Unitcil iiul the Tuptiou nMvinci' votiiijj; ? (liT dis- loullicrn tioii iiiid mt, that )eaU!lied nearly ten-fold. The leading characteristic of the whole i)eoi)le is that of glowing patriotism and a buoyant exjxK'tation of a great future for their country. In inunerous instances we met with exhi- bitions of family prid(\ derived from their kindred with the lirst founders of the states ; and there were othei" instances in which the jnirties appeared vain-glorious, and cdaimed their descent from noble fauiilies in England. These are the leading features of change which have IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) A w <%^^ 1.0 I.I I2£ 1^ M 22 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 ^ 6" ► V] ^ m ^ %. ^ ^^' A y A W/ w Photographic Sciences Corporation s \ ,v •sj \\ "% .V 6^ <^ w^^ 'i?.^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 "" 186 A TOLTR IN THE come over a people descended from tlie same parentage as ourselves. They iiatnrally enoiig-li have tried to avoid what liave been our ciiois, and to im2)i'ovc upon oiii' exam])h\ Many of them left tliis eountrv when <»m' laws wcnj less liheral and tolerjuit than they now are, and tliey may havi; clierislied recollections somewliat unfriendlv; hut it is <]uit(! evirs in which the genei'at ions of their forefathers had been recorded; and do not Ibigel the heraldic distinc' tions which their families had claimed. They do not fail to reco<>-iiise tht^ progress of this counti'v ; thev acknow- ledg(i that the British are a gi'cat p(/o[ile, and hardly con- ceal their iealousv of l)eing cxcelleil in the great race of human advancement. It will be admitted that a period of fourscore years measures only a short s[»an in the ])ro- gress of a country, yet the American peo[)le c(.>nclude that, theoretically speaking, they have drawn out the best form of c(mstitution that human wisdom couM di^vise. Th(! Senate contains a large proportion of celebrated iJien, — they are the elect of the State (dt'ctions. Vet they arc not holding a j)osition so digniiiiid as to escapi' from imputati(jns. Of the House of Representatives, l)e Toci|ue- ville remarks, " (Jiic is struck by the vulgar demeanour of UNITED STATES. 187 )arontage hat liavo 0. Many ss liberal^ aav liavt; 1)ut it is there is a ot aiul do tlie more l)t, by (hj- s jnspireil •eh (lilt the 1 thoy had 1, tlie paro- loro fathers he distine- o not fail V aekiiow- ardly eon- at race ot* it a ]»orioil u the ])ro- •hi(hi thai, > Ijust ibrm eolebratecl Yet they -;eapi' tVoin )e Toei|ue- uieaiiour of that great assonil)ly;" and, as we have before remarked, there is but too miieli tnitJi in the venal eharacter of them as a body. J CDICIAL ADMINISTRATION. Their judieial courts are by no means free from re- proach, llavini;' reference to our own, the contrast will appear remarkable. In tlie wisdom and experience of ages tlie distinction of being selected as one of our court judges has beconie the acknowledged reward of the highest order of mind; and their painstaking and unswerving rectitude of conduct, together with the unimpeachabh! character of (lur juries, have established an indejiendence and moral excellence for our jurisprudenc(! such as is probably un- known els(nvhere. In the appointment of judges tor the supreme courts of the United States, the possession of office is held for life, and the salaries are about £1,000 a year; but the judges under the State constitutions are (dected by the pc^ojde for terms of years, and thus the judgment seat is held subordinate to the popular will. There is a want of dignity in many of the judges, their salaries arc very meagre, there is a disregard or want of respect for them prevailing among the jjcojde, and the courts do not jmssess their (lontidence. The common law of England is nominally adhered to as the basis of tlie legislation of the States, although every State makes its own laws ; and the juries sometimes undertake to decide not only the fact, but the law also. The jury system does not work well ; those who admit that they have forund opinions of the case, are ineligible ; and therefore cases sometimes occur in which hundreds may be struck off upon 188 A TOUU IN THi: tin's admission, wlio, liad tlioy Im-uu iillowod to remain, n)i,a,-]it liave been fit and ])ropcr ])ersons to docido the niso ill (jnostion. It is well known tliat jurors allow themsolvr-s to be oxposod to inflncnc'cs ; and ono oi' tlio jiid2;es liimscli' informed ns tliat a jury cmi)anellod for tlio duties of a dny would contrive to disagree, and nipoi-t tlieir disagreement, upoTi the first ease brought befon^ them, knowing that thereby they should get their release from the court. Tlic governors of individual states, in like maimer, are subject to the [)opular will, — they arc screwed down in their sala- ries till the official dignity, if not the authority, is starveil out of them. We had a conversation with one who was evidently too good for his salary of £S00 a-year, but by no means too good fcjr his place. The patriotism Avhich tlie American peoples i'eel, has relation to their country as a wdiole. Tliev have no idea of the exalted position derived from a family estate or ; territorial investment, such as a man of wealth in tin? country would h)ok upon with delight as a possession, or as an inheritance for his cliildren. They seek prosperity, power, and rex)utation ; almost all have a determination to rise, although but few have lofty or expansive views. Tin people are generally intellig(>nt, but they aitjiear to pos sess no recognised standard of cultivation or reiinement. There is great freedom, and but little etiquette ; an indc pendence which borders on rudeness amongst the inferioi class : and it may be said the states have made onl}^ i beginning in the cultivation of a taste for the line arts Tliere is amongst them an absence of pliysical exercisi which is very enervating ; they deem it a bore and a wast( of time to engage in bodily exercise of any kind, and d( not in] tar and if. dvv'i lliOI lleii rica uthi we In p Amc in it tors, inva iiiiiK .Stat( The afibr< volu] the ;i actio 1 posit trave regr(! desir( town night to vciiinin. do the oits(> tliemsclvrs [o-es liiniscir i(>s of a (lay sagrooiuoiit, inwinj^ that court . Tlu' ', arc Kill)] cot n tlieir sala- y, is starvoil mo who ^va^ year, but 1)\ iph^ fool, has havo no idcf y estate or a alth in this lossession, o\ k prosperity, •rniination to ■ views. Tht (pear to pos relincment to ; an inde- t the inferioi made only ic fine arts ieal exercist and a wast( kind, and d( UNITKD STATKS. 80 not find ph\TSure in the active employment of the muscles in hearty, wliolesome recreation. Th(3 hrain is set ai^oin^ ( urlv in lift; bv violent tlioujrhts of monev, how to make and increase it, and not how tJiey may healthfully enjoy it. Hence, as the American writers admit, the people are dwindling;- in stature, and every generation is weaker and more dwarfisli tlian its predecessor. i\Iiss Ijeeelier, an American lady, in her '' Letters on Health and ]Ia])pin('ss," says : — '' The liealth of tlie Ame- rican peo])le is perishing' at a fearfid ratio; and wliile other nations train tlieir children to be strong and healthy, we arc truiiiini;' oui's to be puny, sickly, and deformed." In proof of this she exhibits facts which shov, '' that of the American women born in this century, })r(jbably not twr) in ten have the vigour and health of their maternal ances- tors, while probably more tliini half of them are either invalids or very ilelicate." She is "unable to call to mind us many as ten man ied ladies, born in the United States, who are perfectly sound, healthy, and vigorous." The subject of religion and religious establishments woidd afibrd a wide field for observatioii. It is evident that the voluntary principle has done nobly in America, and afiurds the amplest illustration of soundness, r.s applied to humar. action in tbe highest concerns of man. The temperance movement occupies a very leading position in almost every part of the country; and whilst travelling through the States of Vermont and ]\Iaine, we regr(!tted not to have met with all the information we were desirous of obtaining regarding the Liquor Law. Li a town of considerabl(3 nmgnitude, in which we spent one night and part of the follo^ving day, we heard a good deal 190 A TOUR IN THP: of i-oiivorsation anioiig.st tlio p;ii()sts at the hotel, princi- pally Icadiiif^ to th(> coneliisiou that the Liquor Law was extensively evaded. The proprietor ol'tlic hotel intbriiUMl us that he had fnxpieiitly seen easks ot's])irifs opened iiii(| discharged into the street; tliat he liad often been tincd, hut tlial there was great moderation exercised by tlie antliorities, and that when he had paid about as inneh in penalties as l.e had formerly ])een nsed to pay for a licence, he had no fear of any furtlier inroad upon liim for tliat year at all events. At Albany, a temperance r-onvention was holding its sittings, which continned for S(>veral days ; they met in the eapitol of tlie State of New York, and deputies were in attendance from vei'V distant parts of the conntrv. We observed that their arguments were chietiy in favour of "moral suasion." SLAVKIIY, At the tinu^ of the revolution, tliere was a considerable number of negrc* slaves in several of the States, intro- duced from Africa during the colonial administration. The institution has now assumed the character of a vested in- terest, and the subject has occasioned much angry discus- sion 1)etwixt the Northern and the Southern States, thrcjitening the dismemberment of the Union. Many of the planters are holding by inheritance the; slaves they employ on their plantations, and the legislature of the Union has confirmed their right. The moral right Avliich is involved has been sought to Ije justified by the autho- rity of Scripture, and a prudential claim has been based on the plea that the negro belongs to an inferior race. By way of confirmation of this conclusion, the planters insist UNITED STATES. 191 otel, princi- or Law was ^el intbrnu'tl opened and been HiKul, S('(l by till' as imu'b in or a booncc, for tbat year vent ion was yoral days ; w York, and parts ol" th(> were cliioliy onsiderablc tatoR, intrn- atioii. The a vested in- nt(J('S, it mii^lil liavo been expected tlial tliore ^V()uId Lave lollowefl a ii(»('ili('a- tion of some iiit(M'(!Ht respecting tlic jjcriod, wlietlier near or remote wlien tliese objeets df liis solicitude jin\L!;lit !)»■ deeiiii'i' lu'ir own »j('(,'t his luclianan ! !l])S('ll(H! liol. Slo]) millions, .£:i()() or ^vllich is ■ir liboia- (T upposiu at £100 I millions ish their iniount of any one, ■ft, over effecting could be le down- 1 causes, Drld. society of "I think tin idisi'iviii;^ tfavfllfp in Aiiicrici, c.imioi Jail \n Im- struik witli iistoiii' liTiiciit tit tin' viist iiTimnnl of work that !i.is lircii ufhifVi'il, (if foicsts rh'aivd, of hind ivcl.'iinii'il, of rofids, railrond .. and • iinals constnirttd, and of citit's I'liilt hy u situfsc and SLaltcivd )iu|iiil,i- tiun, in tlic hrid pniod dl' tinif that Iia>. t hi|i.><'d .since liir t'usi prujdin;^ of thi' cuuntry. To I'nnnu'ratr only a I'cw of th^ niat'\ils of Aini'iiiMn proj^rcss, — that ^'ivat scion nf tin- Knf^lisli stock hasalinidy n\cr>]iivad a tf.Tvitory f'fjnal liiall laii'opc in extent ; ha.'.du.Lf.'jMiu mih-. nf can. ds, (Constructed 1G,0(M) niih',-, of iMilway, and huilt .-unie lialf-do/en towns wliieh ri\'al in Jiia^'niliccnce a like nuniliev of th" »M]»italH uf Kiiropi'. It has formed a niendianl navy, ii<»t inferior to our own. if the hike and river tonna^'c hn (as is only fair) iindndcd in ihe eoni|iaris(in ; it is bc^dnnin;^ to rival ns in fdnces a surplus of corn and provisions whitdi feeds the 'West Indies and the casti-rn coast of Soiitli America, bi'sidcs helping to maintain ourselvt s and several oi our colonies. These are great result-:, and are the ninre surprising when it is considered that tiiey Iiave hecu achieveil lieneatli a climat'' less fa- vourable to continuous exertion than our own, with summers whose relaxing heats unnerve the jdiysical ])Owers, and winters whi(di for long months together bind nature in impenetrable fohis of ice and snow. How, then, have these great results been accomplished ' how, but by the indomitable energies of that vigorous and ajirbitious rac:' of wliicli they arc an offshoot ( — energies which aie aiilcd )>}■ an iiiventiv(^ faculty of a high order, and guided by the strong practical common sense whi(di is their birthright. Place a peojile gifted with such jtowers as these on a territory so far severed from tln^ old world, with all its social and political entanglements, that it may have free scope to fulfil the btdiest of replenishing the earth, and subduing it : wIi-mv, nioreo\-er, its numbers maybe contimu^Uy recruited by the boldest, most hardy, and adventurous spirits of the oM world ; — and we need not wonder at tho results we witness." By way of conclusion, lot us Ibrm an estimate' of the relative position of our own country and tin- United States, and balance the advantages : — 198 A TOUR IN THE America has a negro population mostly in slavery, and not much public debt. We are carrying a heavy debt, but it is resting on the shoulders of a free people. Give us the latter, rather than the former; and we repeat emphatically — ** England, with all thy faults, we love thee still!" ivery, and resting on ; and we ; STILL !