IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 // 
 
 X4^ 
 
 
 z, 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 M 125 
 
 ml 
 ■3.2 
 
 % 1^ I 
 
 ^ 1^ 12.0 
 
 IIIIIM 
 
 1.8 
 
 L25 111.4 IIIIIL6 
 
 <^ 
 
 7i 
 
 ^a 
 
 
 *.' <s 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sdences 
 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, NY. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
^ 
 
 ^\^ 
 
 ^^A^ 
 ^^%i 
 
 .^;^ 
 
 f/ 
 
 rf> 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 
 IV^'^rofiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 
 
 <\ 
 
Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniquns et bibliographiques 
 
 Th< 
 toi 
 
 The Institute has attempted to obtain the best 
 original copy available for filming. Features of this 
 copy which may be bibliographically 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 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couverturo de couleur 
 
 I I Covers damaged/ 
 
 Couverture endommag^fte 
 
 Covers restored and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture restaur^e et/ou pellicuiie 
 
 Cover title missing/ 
 
 Le titre de couverture manque 
 
 Coloured maps/ 
 
 Cartes giographiques en couleur 
 
 Coloured ink (i.e. other than b^ue or black)/ 
 Encre de couleur (i.e. autre quo bleue ou noire) 
 
 Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ 
 Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur 
 
 Bound with other material/ 
 Reli6 avec d'autres documents 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 La re iiure serr6e peuf causer de I'ombre ou de la 
 distortion le long de la marge int^rieure 
 
 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, iorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas 6t« film^es. 
 
 Additional comments:/ 
 Commentaires supplimentaires: 
 
 L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire 
 qu'il lui a At6 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 m^thode normale de filmage 
 sont indiquis ci-dessous. 
 
 D 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 
 B 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 
 Coloured pages/ 
 Pages de couleur 
 
 Pages damaged/ 
 Pages endommagies 
 
 Pages restored and/or laminated/ 
 Pages restaurdes et/ou pelliculdes 
 
 Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 Pages ddcolordes, tachetdes ou piqudes 
 
 Pages detached/ 
 Pages ddtachdes 
 
 Showthrough/ 
 Transparence 
 
 Quality of print varies/ 
 Quality inigaie de I'impression 
 
 Includes supplementary material/ 
 Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire 
 
 Only edition available/ 
 Seule Edition disponible 
 
 Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata 
 slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to 
 ensure the best possible image/ 
 Les pages totalement ou partieilement 
 obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, 
 etc., ont 6t6 filmdes d nouveau de facon d 
 obtenir la meilleure image possible. 
 
 Th« 
 poi 
 oft 
 filn 
 
 Ori( 
 bes 
 the 
 sioi 
 oth 
 firs 
 sioi 
 ori 
 
 The 
 sha 
 TIN 
 whi 
 
 Mai 
 difft 
 enti 
 begi 
 righ 
 reqi 
 met 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 Cs document est fiJmd au taux de reduction indiqu6 ci-dessous. 
 10X 14X 18X 22X 
 
 y 
 
 26X 
 
 30X 
 
 12X 
 
 16X 
 
 20X 
 
 24X 
 
 28X 
 
 32X 
 
The copy fitmad here has been reproduced thanks 
 to the generosity of: 
 
 HaroM CamplMn Vaughan Mamorial Library 
 Acadia Univenity 
 
 L'exemriaira film* fut reproduit grflce A la 
 g4n«rosit4 de: 
 
 Haroid Campbell Vaughan Memorial Library 
 
 Acadia University 
 
 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 prge 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- 
 TIIMUED"). 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 hund corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrams illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 Las images suivantes ont AtA reproduites avec le 
 plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et 
 de la nettet« de I'exemplaire film«, et en 
 conformity avec les conditions du contrat de 
 fllmage. 
 
 Les exemplaires origlnaux dont la couverture en 
 papier est imprimte sont filmto en commenpant 
 par la premier plat et en term!nant solt par la 
 derniire page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second 
 plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires 
 originaux sont filmts en commenpant par la 
 premiere 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 apparaHtra sur la 
 dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le 
 cas: le symbols — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le 
 symbols y signifie "FIN". 
 
 Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre 
 film6s a des taux de reduction diff«rents. 
 Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre 
 reproduit en un seul clichA, il est filmi A partir 
 de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche d droite, 
 et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre 
 d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants 
 ijlustrent la mAthode. 
 
 I 
 
 1 2 3 
 
 1 2 3 
 
 4 5 6 
 
"X 
 
 i.,- -■ 
 
 .1 
 
 (' 
 
 1 
 
 ■y 
 
 
 y 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 .JSML'- 
 
 -^i^v,. 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
A PEEP AT 
 
 
 B 
 
 © 
 
 
 3S) 
 
 © 
 
 3S1 
 
 li — u 
 
 ^^ 
 
 SAM'S FARM, 
 
 ^jUss 
 
 : P. TOCQUj;^ 
 
 "W.»NDERKirG THOUGHTS," Ac. 
 
 ySr.5Sni'*lA'r'". ^^™**y speaiing the WlLh , 
 
 -^Mof ffl! AfriJ*lf„5fH^*7 englnoafhit S" 
 k W wl.:^;!^ Africa, and the Ameilcaii contineot. 
 
 MKlteayg and wire bridges of tfaooght that shaJI be 
 I wodd'B extremes." —EuHg Btoriit' 
 
 BOSTOITt^ 
 CHAntES H. PEIRCE AND COMPAKY. 
 1851 » 
 
^teml, a<icordi.g to Act of Congre«, .„ theyei^ 1851 
 
 B. CHABLSS H. PEIRCE & CO 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Co»rfnf*K r.. 
 
 tttnct Court of the District of MMsachusett* 
 
 Gwrge C. Band & Co., Printers, 
 Ifo. 8 Cornhill, Boston. 
 

 f% 
 
 TO HIS EXCELLENCY 
 
 SIR JOHN aASPARD LE MARCHANT, 
 
 Knight, and Knight Commander of the Orders of St. Ferdinand 
 
 and of Charles the Third, of Spain, Governor and 
 
 Commander-in-Chief in and over the Island 
 
 of Newfoundland and its Dependencies, 
 
 &c., &c., &c., 
 
 THIS WORK 
 
 Is, with His Excellency's permission, most respectfully dedicated, 
 by his very faithful and obedient Servant, 
 
 PHILIP TOCQUB. 
 
 Woroesttr, MMSMhtuetts, U.S., March 1, 1861. 
 
 ftT a> D 6' 
 
( 
 
 \ 
 
 I- 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 In the preparation of this work, the Author has but 
 one object in view, namely — a desire to make the 
 inhabitants of his native country, Newfoundland, ac- 
 quainted with facts and -incidents which came under his 
 own personal observation, and more particularly those 
 persons whose information regarding America (a country 
 which is destined to be the greatest upon which the sun 
 ever shone) is somewhat limited. In collecting mate* 
 rials for this work, the Author availed himself of the 
 works of Mr. Hayward, the State Records, and local 
 pamphlets which fell in his way during his travels. He 
 has spared neither time nor labor to make it useful and 
 interestmg. It must, however, be regarded more as a 
 compilation than as containing any great amount of ori- 
 ginal matter. The Author has visited the principal 
 manufactories of the New England States, with the ex- 
 ception of Vermont, conversed with the superintendents 
 and most of the operatives employed in the mills, and in 
 
M 
 
 yi 
 
 PRSPACB. 
 
 vwited; to do so, would swell #k:« « i , 
 
 W^ Which Be i„.„<.U,H3;X; '""'""' 
 
 _ Owing to the Author residing at Woreesto, h. fc 
 
 J-aa....r.p.etoM.^hUtZr»:'„,^ 
 
 IT' ** "^^ '»■' <«"«'' « «'imp« of the .^„„lt„^* 
 oommercal, and indnatrial featnres of m ^Zr' 
 
 "OMtry, the Author's wishe, »l. k. i, . **^^'' 
 
 wishes wiU be abundantly gratified. 
 
 P. TOCQTJE. 
 
 W«re«i„, Mm., u.e, Mmm, 18B1. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 I 
 
 Anriv«l at Boston, * 
 
 Agricaltanl Betams, •* 
 
 Augaatm }JJ 
 
 Kennebec River, *■• 
 
 State House, '** 
 
 Arsenal, - »*• 
 
 ShipBuUding, .•••• "• 
 
 Army JJJ 
 
 Ameriam Antiquarian Society, .**• 
 
 Boots and Shoes, Manufacture of, ^ 
 
 Boston, " 
 
 Meeting of Old Friends, ' 
 
 Mr. Stevens, * 
 
 Statistics of Newfoundland, * 
 
 Climate, &&, • ** 
 
 Hon. Edward Everett, •* 
 
 Jianding of the Pilgrims, *■ 
 
 Harbor, &c.,* ^' 
 
 Churches, ** 
 
 Population, *■ 
 
 Emigrants • ** 
 
 Health, Ac., ^* 
 
 Shipping, • • *• 
 
 Imports and Exports • • • • ** 
 
 Bailways, •••• ^ 
 
 City Officers, • ^ 
 
 Courts, V ^ 
 
 Common, • ^ 
 
 Schools, &c., ^ 
 
*- . 
 
 viii 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Temperance, 
 
 Public Building.,' .' at 
 
 Novel Bridge, . . 43 
 
 Brighton Cattle Marked,*,*.*.".' 4» 
 
 Brother Jonathan, 163 
 
 Coal 186 
 
 ^2~ 
 
 Charleatown, .... 84 
 
 Navy Yard, ....■.*;; 49 
 
 Banker Hill Monument 60 
 
 ^ I^'Trade ' ai 
 
 Cars, Railroad, 5? 
 
 C-J'-fornia, ' ul 
 
 Cambridge * 2IS 
 
 Gigantic Chimney, 64 
 
 Washington Elm, 64 
 
 Harvard University, ...'.'.','.' ' 66 
 
 Cattle MaAet, 6$ 
 
 cna Xt^"'' ^""^ Boston ii;;kefc;;;; «« 
 
 Cod Fishery ' 70 
 
 Commerce of the United Staies' 96 
 
 Connecticut Kiver,. . 215 
 
 CattleMarket 178 
 
 Congress, qq 
 
 ChiId8,Mrs, ."."*.".'.".'.'.'.'.' 219 
 
 Denominations of Christians '" 
 
 Distilleries, ,[[[ 2i0 
 
 Exhibition of all Nations, ........'.".' ^^ 
 
 Ksheries, . . 135 
 
 tr . 
 
 Herring, 
 
 Whale ;;;;• sr 
 
 Salmon, 88 
 
 Cod, " " ■ 97 
 
 Mackerel, lOO 
 
 Newfoundland,... * * 97 
 
 ^gitive Slave Law,. ••• 102 
 
 Kllmore, Millard, ..'..'].* 1 92 
 
 189 
 
INDEX. 
 
 ix 
 
 • • t « 
 
 • • • • 
 
 • • • • 
 
 • • • f 
 « • • 
 
 • • • 
 
 • • • 
 
 St 
 
 4a 
 
 4ft 
 I6S 
 186 
 
 84 
 
 49 
 
 60 
 
 01 
 
 6^ 
 
 148 
 
 213 
 
 64 
 
 64 
 . 69 
 
 65 
 
 66 
 
 70 
 
 • 96 
 
 • 215 
 178 
 
 66 
 219 
 HI 
 
 2iO 
 36 
 
 135 
 
 97 
 
 89 
 
 97 
 lOO 
 
 97 
 102 
 192 
 189 
 
 Government of the United States, >l» 
 
 Grapes, Culture of, '• 
 
 Gold, *" 
 
 Hwtford, '** 
 
 Scttlementof, *W 
 
 Population, &c., ^^ 
 
 Public Buildings, **• 
 
 Charter Oak, IW 
 
 Tom Thumb, 1** 
 
 Death of General Taylor, 186. 
 
 Imports and Exports of the United States, 217 
 
 Iron, 85. 
 
 Jenny Lind, '^'^ 
 
 Lexington, t • • . 75 
 
 First Blood shed in the Bevolution, , . . . 75 
 
 Monument, 75 
 
 Lynn 86 
 
 Population, 87 
 
 Manufactures, 87 
 
 Pisheries • • 8t 
 
 Lowell Ift^ 
 
 Population, &C., 158 
 
 Manufactures, 158 
 
 Harriet Farley 16* 
 
 Spindles, 161 
 
 Cotton, 162 
 
 Lakes, Commerce and Extent of, '212 
 
 Light Houses, 117" 
 
 Massachusetts Betums, S& 
 
 Mount Auburn, 7't 
 
 Cemetery, 71 
 
 . Dr. Webster, 7» 
 
 Capital Punishment, * 7» 
 
Harblehead 
 
 Ksherieg, Ac., ' 9^ 
 
 Maine, Inhabitants of.. " ' * »6 
 
 Militia ' •* 119 
 
 Mackerel Fisheiy, .....,..* • 133 
 
 Mississippi, Commerce ofj..' 97 
 
 Mint, United States, ' • 204 
 
 Meteorology, * ' 214 
 
 „ ^ •• 156 ^ 
 
 Wewbnr7port, 
 
 Population,. *" 102 
 
 Fisheries and Shipping^.' **." 108 
 
 Rev. George Whitefield,'. ^^ 
 
 Navy, ^^"' 106 
 
 IJewton Comer, " •" 133 
 
 Dr. Tenlon, . . . ! ! i .* 1 64 
 
 Eliot, .........;;;;; m 
 
 Monnmeiit, [ 165 
 
 Geoige Copway, ...........' ^'* 
 
 Ifcwfonndland, [ * 166 
 
 „ • 102 
 
 IV>rtsmonth, 
 
 Nary Yard ........]. ' * ^'5 
 
 First Line-of-Battle Ship,. *•• "* 
 
 Wnting, first in America. "5 
 
 IVwIand, ^ 65 
 
 P« Manufacture, .*.**' 115 
 
 Providence, ' ' * 179 
 
 Population, "^^ 
 
 l^nufactnres, ' 1?* 
 
 Brown University, 173 
 
 Boger Williams, ...'. ' 17a 
 
 Arcade, 173 
 
 Constitution, [][ 172 
 
 Presidents of the United Statis ^ ^^ 
 
 PtostOffice, _ m 
 
 Produce of the Um'ted Statwj. ^^^ 
 
 ?iopuIation of the United States ' • * • • • 2I8 
 
 '"■ , 220 
 
INDEX. 
 
 XI 
 
 H 
 
 95 
 
 119 
 
 133 
 
 97 
 
 204 
 
 214 
 
 ..... 156 
 
 102 
 
 108 
 
 103 
 
 lOf 
 
 ' . . . 133 
 
 164 
 
 .... 164 
 
 ... 165 
 
 .... U'« 
 
 .... 1 66 
 
 " . . 102 
 
 ... 115 
 ... 115 
 ... 116 
 ... 65 
 ... 115 
 ... 179 
 ... 171 
 ... 17i 
 ■.. 173 
 .. 172 
 .. 173 
 .. 172 
 .. 174 
 
 . . m 
 
 .. 202 
 .. 218 
 . > 220 
 
 BaUroads, 137 
 
 Bevonae and Expenditare, 2M 
 
 Sodth Boston, 56 
 
 Bev. Mr. Clinch, « 56 
 
 Institution for the Blind, 57 
 
 Laura Bridgman, 57 
 
 Salem, 90 
 
 Dr. Bowditch, 80 
 
 Shipping, &c., .• 91 
 
 Museum, 91 
 
 Witches, 92 
 
 Fisheries, 92 
 
 Salt, Manufacture of, lOl 
 
 Ships huilt in the United States, 116 
 
 Seamen, number of, &c., '- 118 
 
 Sedgwick, Miss, 166 
 
 Schools, 145 
 
 Steamers, M5 
 
 Springfield, 174 
 
 Valuation, • 174 
 
 Beautiful Scenery, 176 
 
 United States Anenal, 175 
 
 Muskets, 175 
 
 Thunder Storms, ' 176 
 
 Fourth of July, 178 
 
 Slavery, 195 
 
 Steamship first crossedthe Atlantic, 206 
 
 Temperance, 32 
 
 Thompson, Greorge, 200 
 
 Tonnage, H6 
 
 Territory of the United States, 212 
 
 Taylor, General, 187 
 
 Taylor, Father, 3 
 
 Voyage from Newfoundland, 1 
 
 Vineyards, Cincinnati, 35 
 
■ i m i ui i j tn\ i.w w 
 
 xu 
 
 Whale Fishery, 
 
 Whale Candles, ^8 
 
 Wine Manufacture, * * • ' 00 
 
 Witches, ;; 92 
 
 Wages, rates of, 92 
 
 Women's Rights Convention,'.' '.'.'.*.*.'.'.'; * ' » »» 
 
 Worcester, ', 155 
 
 league of Brotherhood,... '.'.'.*.*.* ^^0 
 
 Olive Leaf Circles, . • . .' ' * ^20^ 
 
 Elihu Burritt, \ ' 120 
 
 Peace Congress, 1*9 
 
 Statistics of War, 122 
 
 Population, Churdies,&c !...'.".* ^^* 
 
 Lunatic Asylum, ' 186 
 
 Roman Catholic College ^*^ 
 
 Schools, ,,' 141 
 
 Medical College, '.!.'.*. "•• 1*4 
 
 Statistics^ &c., . .'. ,,[ 143 
 
 Dr.Dick, *^^ 
 
 Paine's Gas, 160 
 
 Witch Hazel Pointers, ^^* 
 
88 
 
 ....... 90 
 
 92 
 
 92 
 
 ...... 119 
 
 155 
 
 120 
 
 •••••• 120 ^ 
 
 120 
 
 149 
 
 122 
 
 125 
 
 136 
 
 142 
 
 141 
 
 144 
 
 148 
 
 .... 147 
 
 • . . . 160 
 .... 154 
 
 • • • • 223 
 
 'W^ 
 
 M-' 
 
'•''••WWW'BWHPSWWWBMMlli 
 
A PEEP AT UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 On the 5th of Nov., 1849, 1 left St. John's, New- 
 foundland, ibr Halifax, ^Nova Scotia, in the Royal 
 Mail Steamer " Falcon," Capt. Corbin. After touch- 
 ing at Sydney, C. B., for coal, we arrived in Halifax 
 on the lOth. Here I met with many friends whom 
 I had previously become acquainted with; among 
 others whom I visited was his Excellency Lieut. Gen- 
 eral Sir John Harvey, the Governor, from whom I 
 had received much kindness and attention during his 
 administration of the Government of Newfoundland, 
 as well as during my visit to Nova Scotia in 1847. . 
 I was received by Sir John with that courtesy and 
 cordiality which characterize the good old English 
 Gentleman. 
 
 On the 17th of Dec. I left Halifax in the- sailing 
 packet " Vixen," for Boston. I was glad to have asr 
 Captain my. old friend" and countryman, Richard 
 Magher, who h|J commanded the first mail steamer 
 
 
 ■Sh'V' 
 
# 
 
 s 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 ever employed in carrying the mail between Halifax 
 and Newfoundland, which extended from April, 1844 
 down to the period when he wag so unfortunate as to 
 have loat the steamer "Kestrel," at St. Shotts, «n 
 the Newfoundland coast, in the summer of 1849. SF. 
 Shotts has been the scene of a number of shipwrecks 
 comprising several of H. M. ships of war, as well as' 
 of merchant vessels. Th,y all appear to have been 
 carried there by a mysterious current. A highly in 
 Cresting and philosophic article has been wn°ten on 
 the probable causes of the shipwrecks at St. Shotts 
 by Mr. St. John of Harbor Grace, and published in' 
 bis paper, the « Conception Bay Herald." I was 
 grieved to find that Captain Magher was under the 
 impression that the remarks of Mr. St John did him a 
 great injury. I endeavored to remove this erroneous 
 impression. Capt. Magher took great exception to 
 the remark « guided by the rule of thumb." My in- 
 timate acquaintance with Mr. St. John led me to say 
 that he would be among the last men in the world U> 
 do or say any thing to injure another, particularly 
 Capt. Magher. Petitions from the merchants and* 
 other leading inhabitants of Newfoundland, had been 
 «ent to Mr. Cunard to reinstate Capt. Magher in the 
 command of the mail steamer, but apparently without 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FABM. 
 
 effect. Capt. Magher had not only commanded the 
 first mall steamer, but also the first mail sailing packet 
 up to the time of her being superseded by a steamer. 
 We arrived in Boston after a stormy and most dis- 
 agreeable passage of nine days. Among my fellow^ 
 passengers was Mrs. Haddon and family. (Mr. Hadr 
 don had previously gone on.) This gentleman had 
 been sent over to Newfoundland by the Board of Ord- 
 nance in London to superintend the erection of 
 Government House in St. John's, during the admim»> 
 tration of Sir Thomas Cochrane in 1825. It is said 
 to have cost the British Government upwards of 
 X50,000. Owing to adverse circumstances, Mt. 
 Haddon has been compelled to seek a home in the 
 great American Republic. Immediately on my Mr- 
 rival in Boston, I waited on my Newfoundland fiiends, 
 Messrs. Rice and Pearce. The next day I proceeded 
 to see the Rev. Edward T. Taylor, or, as he is gener- 
 ally called. Father Taylor. (The aged ministers of 
 every denomination are called Fathers in this country.) 
 Father Taylor is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and has been Pastor of the Bethel Church on 
 North Square from its commencement. It was 
 erecte d by the " Boston Port Society " in 1828, at a 
 cost of $28,000. The building is of brick, eighty-one 
 
A PEEP At 
 
 I7 filytlirco feet, and ,vill seat fifteen hundred per- 
 sons. 1 have received ihe greatest kindness from 
 Father Taylor and his hospitable family. He has 
 great oratorical powers. He is truly a great original. 
 He uses very quaint sayings in the pulpit. Some of 
 bis imagery and illustrations are beautiful. Very fre- 
 quently the same sermon makes the congregation 
 laugh and.ivcep. Father Taylor is a man of hi-h 
 respectability and great influence in Boston. He was 
 one of the Delegates selected to go in the Jamestown 
 with provisions tc the Irish in 1847. A few doors 
 from Father Taylor's residence, I found my country- 
 man. Dr. Molloy, who had been our family physician 
 lit Carbonoar, from my boyhood op to the time of his 
 leaving for Canada, fourteen years ago. Dr. Molloy 
 Btdl practises as a physician. His eldest son will re- 
 ceive his diploma to practice some time during the 
 year. Dr. Molloy frequently accompanied me in mv 
 wanderings through the great thoroughfares of Boston. 
 _ I next visited the Rev. Abel Stevens, A. M., who 
 IS the author of two or three works, and the t iitor of 
 Z.»n s Herald," the organ of the Methodist Epis- 
 <!opal Church for the New England States. He is a 
 man of great talent. The most eloquent speech I 
 ever heard was from Mr. Stevens, delivered at the 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 " Young Men'3 Missionary Meeting," at the Brom- 
 field street Church. His style and language was 
 much like Richard Watson's. I have on all occasions 
 received great kindness from Mr. Stevens. I was in- 
 troduced by Mr. Stevens to Bishop Janes, who was 
 then on a visit to Boston ; also to the Fev. Mr. Cran- 
 dall, Presiding Elder of the Boston district. I was 
 also introduced by Mr. Stevens to all the preachers, 
 who were then holding a weekly conference at the 
 Bromfield street Church. During my first interview 
 with Mr. Stevens, he asked me what they thought of 
 annexation in Newfoundland. I told him they thought 
 nothing about it ; that in this respect it was quite dif- 
 ferent from Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; 
 that many parts of those provinces were settled by 
 Lo}'alists at the time of ihe American Revolution; 
 that these countries were on the continent and joining 
 the United States, with which they had constant inter^ 
 course by land as well as by sea; consequently ft 
 great deal of the American habits, customs and maor 
 ners are diffused through the continental British proy- 
 inces ; but that Newfoundland was isolated and 
 separated from the continent by the Gulf of St. Law- 
 rence, and had nothing of the American character 
 diffused amongst her people, not & particle of symH 
 V 
 
6 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 pathy witli tho annexationists. As Mr. Stevens ap- 
 peared to know little or nothing of Newfoundland, I 
 gave him, so near as I can recollect, the following 
 information. Newfoundland is an island, 350 miles 
 long, and 200 broad. It is the last land near the 
 contment, on this side the Atlantic, and about 1900 
 miles distant from the nearest part of Ireland. Ifc 
 contains a population of 100,000, scattered along tho 
 sea-coast, the greater part of whom are engage°d in 
 the cod fishery. The population are wholly English, 
 Irish and Scotch, their descendants being the nadves! 
 One half the population are Roman Catholics. Tho 
 other half are Protestants, comprising the following 
 denominations : 35,000 Episcopalians, 14,000 Meth^ 
 odists, 400 Congregationalists, and 500 Presbyterians 
 of the Established and Free Church of Scotland. It 
 is the oldest colony of the British Crown in America, 
 having been discovered by Cabot on the 24th of June,' 
 1497. It has no interior settlements, and but few 
 roads leading more than eight or ten miles into the 
 interior. Almost every family has from one to twenty 
 acres of land surrounding their dwelling, from which 
 they raise their vegetables. The land, however is 
 very poor ; not a particle of loam is to be found in 
 the island. The forest consists of pine, larch, spruce 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 »• 
 
 fir, and birch, of a very scrubby, stunted growth. 
 Maple, oak, ash, beech, elm, or any other of thoso 
 beautiful trees that adorn the American landscape, 
 are not to be found in Newfoundland. Although bar- 
 ren and rocky, Newfoundland produces some of the 
 finest potatoes in the world. Last year (1848) it 
 produced 5,000 barrels of flour. Sir John Gaspard 
 Lo Marchant, the present Governor, is a man of 
 energy and enterprise, and has greatly facilitated 
 agriculture in Newfoundland. In 1842, an Agricul- 
 tural Society was formed under the auspices of Sir 
 John Harvey, the then Governor. This Society ha3 
 greatly increased in usefulness under the fostering 
 care of the present Governor. It awards premiums 
 for the best crops, &c. The principal annual agricul- 
 tural produce of Newfoundland is as follows : 
 
 Bushels of Potatoes, 1,300,000 
 Bushels of Grain, 11,695 
 
 Tons Ilay and Fodder, 12,000 
 
 In 1845, there were owned in the island 2,409 horses ; 
 8,135 cows and oxen ; 5,750 sheep ; 5,077 hogs, and 
 6,791 goats. The whole agricultural produce annually 
 has been estimated at £300,000, or 1,500,000 dol- 
 lars. Its annual imports amount to nearly £900,000, 
 and its exports to about the same sum, amounting to 
 
" A PEEP AT 
 
 4/00,000 .iolla™. Of the import,, ^230,000, or 
 1,1..0,000 dollu™ worth are from tl>o United States 
 «hU. t^,„ o.,port3 t„ !!,o Unit-d States amount to only 
 £-<i: ^0, or 100,000 dollars. Nearly the whole of 
 U«e export produco consists of fish and oil. Nevr- 
 foundland employs upwards of 800 vessels iu the seal 
 
 600,000. Taking into aeeount the fisheries and for- 
 eign and coasting trade, Newfoundland annually cm- 
 ploys about 2,500 sail of vessels. St. John's, the 
 cajntal of the island, contains a population of about 
 ^AOOO. It has been visited by three terrible eonfla- 
 grafons, by which, each time, nearly the whole town 
 was destroyed. The la^t occurred on the 9th of June 
 1846, when over 2,000 houses were destroyed, and 
 property to the amount of .£800,000, or 4,000 000 
 dollars, consumed. On the 12th of February, 1816 
 a most destructive fire desolated a great part of the' 
 town of St. John's. When the intelligence of this 
 oalaSitous event reached the city of Boston, a deep 
 and powerful sympathy was excited among her citfe-. , 
 for the destitution of 1500 human beings, Jeft ho" v 
 less md penniless amid the frosts and storms of * 
 >lewfoundland winter. Burying in oblivion the recoL 
 lection ,h,t the year previous the two countries were 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 hostile to each oth(3r, and regardless of tho disputed 
 riglit to fishing on tho Banks, winch rij^ht Amorica 
 wi^jhod to claim, but Britain was unwillin;': to concede, 
 the noble and di^iintcrested citizens of Boston only re- 
 membered the claims of their suffering fellow crea- 
 tufps upon tlioir hospitality. A vessel was immediately 
 loaded with provisions, which were sent to bo distrib- 
 i;ti3d gratuitously among tho distressed inhabitants of 
 St. John's, where she arrived in safety and delivered 
 her valuable cargo. It was considered a most daring 
 and hazardous enterprise for a vessel to bravo the 
 storms of a winter passage to Newfoundland at that 
 period. 
 
 The principal street of St. Juhn's is built of brick 
 and stone, and some of tho shops are equally as fine 
 as are to he found in the city of Boston. It is more 
 of an aristocratic place than any other of the Amer- 
 ican British colonies. Several partners in the mer- 
 cantile firms are members of tho British House of 
 Commons. A partner in one firm is one of* the 
 Directors of the Bank of England. St. John's is 
 lighted with ga^j, and has water-works, connected with 
 which are numerous fire plugs, to bo used in case of 
 fire, as well as for watering the streets. For the ex- 
 tent of population, it probably docs more business than 
 
10 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 any place in the world. It i, the principal market for 
 the agricultural produce and live stock of Prince Ed- 
 ward's Island, and the eastern part of Nova Scotia. 
 The island is divided into nine Districts, which return 
 fifteen members to the House of Assembly. The 
 Councd consists of nine members, who are Executive 
 and Legislative, and are appointed by the Crown. 
 The Ch-.ef Justice of the island, the Hon. Francis 
 Brady, ,3 an Irish gentleman, and a Koman Catholic. 
 The Collector of Her Majesty's Customs, John Kent, 
 Esq., IS an Irish gentleman, and a Roman Catholic. 
 There are also two of the Stipendiary Magistrates 
 Irish Roman Catholics. The other principal offices of 
 the Government are filled by Protestants. Mr. Kent, 
 the Collector, has been the leading politician of the 
 country. He is a great reformer, a good speaker, 
 and a man of considerable talent. 
 
 The carboniferous group of rocks abound on the 
 western part of the island, where there is a coal field 
 thirty miles long, and marble in abundance. Copper 
 iron and lead have been discovered in different part^ 
 ot the island. 
 
 Mr. Stevens appeared surprised at the resources 
 and trade, for so small a population, and said he won- 
 dered how people could live in so cold a country I 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 u 
 
 told him he was quite mistaken with regard to the 
 climate. I said the thermometer was very rarely four 
 or five degrees below zero in the winter season, and 
 during the coldest days not more than ten degrees. 
 During the summer the thermometer ranges from sev- 
 enty to eighty-five degrees. In Massachusetts, the 
 thermometer is from ten to twenty degrees below zero, 
 and more in the coldest days ; and in the summer the 
 mercury ranges from eighty to over one hundred de- 
 grees. Mr. Stevens said he had no idea Newfound- 
 land possessed such a climate. I told him it was per- 
 haps the healthiest climate in the world. No fevers 
 of any kind are generated in the country. Not a 
 frog, toad, lizard, snake, or any other venomous rep- 
 tile, has ever been found in the island. 
 
 In all my subsequent interviews with some of the 
 leading men of this country, I found that whenever 
 Newfoundland was the subject of conversation, they 
 invariably carried in their minds the idea that it formed 
 a part of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunsyvick. 
 I recollect, in a conversation with the Hon. Edward 
 Everett, on the meeting recently held in Portland for 
 the purpose of forming a railroad from the States 
 through the "British Provinces, Mr. Everett began to 
 Bpeak of the great advantages Newfoundland would 
 
12 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 derive from having the railroad running through it. 
 But when I called his attention to the fact of its bein* 
 an island, he said, - " I have cause to remember 
 Newfoundland ; I xvas near being shipwrecked on 
 Cape Race." I presented Mr. Everett with a copy 
 of the Newfoundland Almanac, containing the general 
 statistics of the island ; and in return received from 
 him a copj of his last Oiation, delivered at the 
 seventj-fifth annivei-sary of the battle of Bunker 
 Hill. I also presented His Excellency, Governor 
 Briggs, with a copy of the Newfoundland Almanac, 
 and al^o Hon. Millard Fillmore, President of tlie Uni- 
 ted States, who oxpresspd himself much pleased with 
 the amount of information Avhich it contained. . .. 
 One cannot visit Boston without being reminded 
 that he is in the home of the Pilgrim Fathers, who 
 fled from persecution in their own land, and braved 
 the storms of the Atlantic Ocean, that amidst the 
 "rocking pines of the forest" they might find for 
 themselves a burial, but for their children and princi- 
 ples a home. The landir.g of the Pilgrim Fathers, 
 from the Mayflower, on Plymouth Bock, took place 
 December 22nd, 1620, in the depth of winter, with 
 no place of abode, .mid frost and snow, and sur- 
 rounded ^^ith savages and wild beasts. The first 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FABM. 
 
 18 
 
 settlers of this State were men of learning, wealthj 
 and religion. Nursed in the lap of luxury at home, 
 they endured great privation and suffering on their 
 arrival in this country. They must have had great 
 courage and perseverance. They used to carry the 
 hoe in one hand and a musket in the other, to protect 
 themselves from the incursions of the Indians. The 
 landing of the Pilgrims is annually celebrated through- 
 out the New England States. It is called " Thanks- 
 givmg Day." Service is kept in all the churches, 
 and busmess of every kind suspended. Boston is the 
 capital of the State of Massachusetts, the metropolis 
 of New England, the Uterary emporium of the west- 
 em world, " the City of the Pilgrims," " the City of 
 Notions," the "Railroad City," "the old English 
 City." As the stranger for the first time paces the 
 narrow, crooked streets of Boston, the events of the 
 Revolution crowd upon his mind. Here it was, that, 
 in 1773, a number of citizens disguised themselves as 
 Indians, boarded some British ships loaded with tea, 
 and threw three hundred and forty-two chests of it 
 into the sea, rather than pay the tax imposed on them 
 by the British Government, which finaUy led to the 
 Independence of America. Boston took the most 
 important part in the struggle for Independence. It 
 2 
 
14 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 is emphaticaUy the birth-place of American freedom, 
 and up to the present hour has taken the lead in all 
 political and social reforms of any consequence. 
 Boston is situated on a peninsula, at the western ex- 
 tremity of Massachusetts Bay. It is about three 
 miles in length, and one in breadth. Its surface is 
 quite uneven, and rises into three eminences, from 
 which originates the name Tremont, or Tri-Mountain, 
 by which it was called by the first settlers. Its In- 
 dian name was Shawmut. It received its present 
 name on the 7th September, 1630, in honor of the 
 Rev. John Cotton, who was an emigrant from Boston 
 in England, and second mmister of the first church. 
 It was incorporated a city in 1822. The peninsula 
 on which Old Boston, or Boston proper, is built, ex- 
 tends from Roxbury to Winnisimmet Ferry, a great 
 part of which has been reclaimed from the sea. It 
 is surrounded by the waters of Boston harbor on the 
 east, and Charles river on tiie north and west. South 
 Boston was taken from Dorchester in 1804. It is 
 connected with Boston proper by two bridges. East 
 Boston, a few years ago, was called "Noddle's 
 Island." It is connected with Old Boston by a steam- 
 boat ferry, which starts from either side every five 
 minutes. 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FABM. 
 
 16 
 
 Boston harbor is one of the most commodious and 
 beautiful in the world, containing about seventy-five 
 square railes, in which the whole British Navy might 
 ride in safety, completely land-locked. The harbor is 
 perfectly free from sand-bars. The most important 
 part of the harbor is entered by a narrow pass, about 
 three miles below the city and Navy Yard, and is pro- 
 tected by two strong forta, Independence and Warren. 
 Boston harbor is bespangled with numerous beautiful 
 islands. The soft materials of which these islands 
 are composed are gradually yielding to the action of 
 the sea ; and where large herds of cattle were once 
 pastured the ocean billow now rolls. Boston harbor 
 is the reservoir of the Mystic, Charles, Neponset, 
 Manatiquot, and other small rivers. Boston is the 
 second commercial city in the Union, and fourth in 
 population. The whole length of the harbor is lined 
 with about two hundred docks' and wharves, more than 
 five miles in extent. Boston is called the " Athens of 
 America." Her citizens are considered more of a 
 literary people than any other community in the Uni- 
 ted States. There are over one hundred newspapers 
 and magazines printed in the city, and about one 
 hundred and forty charitable and literary societies. 
 
 In 1648, all the inhabitants assembled in one 
 
16 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 church ; now there are nearly one hundred. Some 
 of the churches of Boston are splendid. The Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Churcli on Hanover street, with its 
 buttresses, battlements, turrets, and pinnacles, pre- 
 sents a grand and imposing appearance. It is built 
 of freestone, in the Gothic style. The pews, pulpit, 
 organ, and gallery fronts, are of black walnut, richly 
 carved and ornamented. The spire is two hundred 
 and twenty-six feet in height above the level of the 
 ground. It formerly belonged to the Unitarians, and 
 was purchased by the Methodists for $90,000, or 
 ^18,000 sterling. The celebrated Rev. Dr. Cotton 
 Mather, and Rev. Dr. Increase Mather, were con- 
 nected with the first congregations of this church. 
 
 Every visitor of Boston feels a strong desire to visit 
 the « Old South Church." It belongs to the Congre- 
 gationalists, and stands at the corner of Washington 
 and Milk streets, and was one of the places of meet- 
 mg of the leaders of the Revolution. ' 
 
 " Here was delivered, in defiance of the threats of 
 authority, and in presence of marshalled soldiery, 
 Warren's fearless oration on the anniversary of thJ 
 Massacre of the 5th of March, 1770. Here was re- 
 peatedly held the meetings of oppressed freemen, 
 which called forth those peals of patriotic eloquence, 
 
 ij 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 17 
 
 which aroupod this whole country, and shook the 
 British throne." 
 
 The Brattle Street Church, once Congregationalist, 
 but now Unitarian, has a cannon ball embedded in the 
 brick in front ; the ball was fired by the American 
 Army, stationed in Cambridge, on the night previous 
 to the evacuation, March 17th, 1776. 
 
 Trinity Church, on Summer street, is the principal 
 church belonging to the Episcopalians. It is a splen- 
 did Gothic edifice, of granite. The organ of this 
 church is said to be one of the most costly m the 
 country. The Rt. Rev. Manton Eastburn, D. D., 
 Bishop of Massachusetts, preaches in this church. 
 From this gentleman I have on all occasions received 
 the greatest politeness and attention. The Bishop is 
 an Englishman ; he came to America, however, when 
 very young. He has visited England once or twice 
 since his elevation to the Episcopal Chair ; he is per- 
 sonally acquainted with the Archbishop of Canter- 
 bury, the Bishop of Worcester, and other leading Pre- 
 lates of the English Church. Mass was first cele- 
 brated in Boston, in an old French Church, Nov. 22, 
 1788, 
 
 The " Church of the Holy Cross," in FrankUn 
 street, is the prmcipal one belonging to the Roman 
 2** 
 
18 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 Catbolics in Boston; the present Bishop, the Rt. 
 Rev. J. B. Fitzpatrick, D. D., is a native of Boston. 
 There is but one Presbyterian Congregation at 
 present in Boston, who occupy one of the public halls 
 for worship. 
 
 The oldest church belonging to the Episcopalians, 
 is Christ Church, on Salem street. It was built in 
 1723, and is the only church in New England with a 
 chime of bells. It is built of brick, and has a steeple 
 one hundred and seventy-five feet high, in which are 
 eight beUs, which peal forth some beautiful tunes 
 every Sabbath. There are inscriptions on all the 
 bells, three of which are the following : « We are the 
 first ring of bells cast for the British Empire in North 
 America, A. R., 1744." "Abel Rudball, of Glou- 
 cester, cast us all. Anno, 1744." " God preserve 
 the Church of England. 1744." The present min- 
 ister, the Rev. John Woart, A. M., has been the rec- 
 tor of this church for the last ten years. Mr. Woart 
 is one of the most intimate friends I have in 
 America. 
 
 Federal Street Church (Unitarian) is the church 
 over which the celebrated Rev. Dr. Channing pre- 
 sided from 1803 to the time of his death, in 1842. 
 This church was first formed by Irish Presbyterians, 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 19 
 
 in 1827. It adopted the Congregational order in 
 1786, and finally became Socinian, or Unitarian. 
 The Unitarians, I believe, are the wealthiest people 
 in Boston ; at the same time they are amongst the 
 most liberal in the support of all benevolent institu- 
 tions in aid of the cause of humanity and religion. 
 
 Of the rich men of Boston in 1849, there were 
 eight who were taxed for over half a million of prop- 
 erty ; seven for between $100,000 and $500,000 ; 
 fourteen for between $300,000 and $400,000 ; twen- 
 ty-five for between $200,000 and $300,000; and 
 one hundred and twenty-five for between $100,000 
 and $200,000. The following are the names of those 
 taxed for over half a million: Abbott Lawrence, 
 $1,032,400; Robert G. Shaw, $829,400; David 
 Sears, $752,600 ; Jonathan Thilips, $688,000 ; Jo- 
 siah Quincy, Jr., $619,000 ; John Wells, $616,000 ; 
 Thomas Wigglesworth, $556,000; John Bryant, 
 $549,700. 
 
 The population of Boston proper, according to the 
 census of 1850, just taken, is as follows : 
 
 Native born, 75,459 
 
 Irish born, 52,960 
 
 Other Foreign, 10,359 
 
 Total, 
 
 138,778 
 
20 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 There are 2,112 colored people. But including 
 South and East Boston, Charlestown, Chelsea, Rox- 
 bury, and the neighboring towns of East, West, and 
 Old Cambridge, Dorchester, Maiden, Medford, Brigh- 
 ton and Brookline, which are component parts of Bos- 
 ton, and are as much associated with i as Westmins- 
 ter is with London, Magotty Cove with St. John's, 
 Newfoundland, or Portland with St. John, New 
 Brunswick, the population of Boston would be over 
 300,000. Boston is rapidly expanding itself into a 
 great city ; and in the course of a few years probably 
 will contain a population of over half a million. 
 Places which a few years ago « told of the stirring of 
 the ocean old," are now laid out in beautiful streets, 
 lined with fine buildings. The City Authorities are 
 now reclaiming, or rather making, a great quantity of 
 land at the " Neck," leading from Boston to Roxbuiy. 
 Two of the principal streets of Boston, Washington 
 and Tremont, lead straight on from the city to the 
 furthest extremity of Roxbury, a distance of about 
 seven miles. 
 
 The whole number of alien passengers which ar- 
 rived in Boston, for the quarter ending July 1, 1850, 
 was 15,559. The total number of emigrants which 
 arrived in the United States from April 1, 1848, to 
 April 1, 1849, was 247,500. 
 
UNOLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 21 
 
 Jut including 
 Chelsea, Rox- 
 it, West, and 
 idford, Brigh- 
 parts of Bos- 
 as Westmins- 
 St. John's, 
 John, New 
 •uld be over 
 itself into a 
 ars probably 
 P a million, 
 le stirring of 
 tiful streets, 
 thorities are 
 ) quantity of 
 to Roxbuiy. 
 Washington 
 city to the 
 Be of about 
 
 I which ar- 
 ly 1, 1850, 
 •ants which 
 1, 1848, to 
 
 The sacrifice is very great indeed in becoming ex- 
 patriated from one's country. I cannot describe the 
 painful emotions I felt, when for the last time I saw 
 the shadowy outlines of my native land die away in 
 the distance. A thousand fond recollections clustered 
 around my heart, of home, and kindred, and friends, 
 perhaps never to see again on earth. Thousands 
 have been disappointed in coming to America. Many 
 persons imagine that by coming to this country they 
 will at once be placed in comfortable, if not affluent 
 ciiciimstances, without toil. This is a great mistake ; 
 every body must work here, and " go ahead ; " their 
 constant course must be — onward and upward. 
 
 The following important table exhibits at a single 
 view the number of emigrants from the British 
 Islands, in the last eleven years, and the chief 
 places of their destination. 
 
 
 
 North 
 
 United 
 
 Australia 
 Colonies 
 
 All other 
 
 iw^i^l 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 American 
 Colonies. 
 
 States. 
 
 and New 
 Zealand. 
 
 Places. 
 
 TotaL 
 
 
 1839 
 
 12,658 
 
 33,536 
 
 15,786 
 
 227 
 
 62,207 
 
 '^^^^1 
 
 1840 
 
 32,293 
 
 40,642 
 
 15,850 
 
 1,958 
 
 90,743 
 
 ^^^1 
 
 1841 
 
 38,164 
 
 45,017 
 
 32,625 
 
 2,785 
 
 118,592 
 
 
 1842 
 
 54,123 
 
 63,852 
 
 8,534 
 
 1,835 
 
 128,344 
 
 
 1843 
 
 23,518 
 
 28,335 
 
 3,478 
 
 1,881 
 
 57,212 
 
 
 1844 
 
 22,924 
 
 43,660 
 
 2,229 
 
 r,873 
 
 70,686 
 
 
 1845 
 
 31,803 
 
 58,538 
 
 830 
 
 2,330 
 
 93,501 
 
 
 1846 
 
 43,439 
 
 82,239 
 
 2,347 
 
 1,826 
 
 129,851 
 
 
 1847 
 
 109,680 
 
 142,154 
 
 4,949 
 
 1,487 
 
 258,270 
 
 
 1848 
 
 31,065 
 
 188,233 
 
 23,904 
 
 4,387 
 
 248,089 
 
 ^^H 
 
 1849 
 
 41,367 
 
 21 9,450 
 
 32,091 
 
 6,590 
 
 299,498 
 
 
 Total, 
 
 441,034 
 
 945,656 
 
 142,623 
 
 27,680 
 
 1,553,993 
 
22 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 A large number of British emigrants arc brought 
 to this country by funds gratuitously provided by rela- 
 tives already in the United States. A writer in the 
 London Chronicle, July 15th, after learning the 
 amount of bills negotiated in this way by five houses 
 in Liverpool, estimates that the sum of one million 
 sterling, or nearly $5,000,000, is thus sent over 
 every year. 
 
 The number of paupers in the State of Massa- 
 chusetts in 1849 was 24,892. Of this number 9,128 
 were from England and Ireland ; the cost of supporting 
 which amounted to |441,675, or upwards of X88,. 
 000. The value of labor performed by paupers in 
 Alms House, $17,000, or about X3,500. 
 
 It is. estimated that there are 200,000 Canadians 
 residing in the United States. Boston is the healthiest 
 city in the Union, standing higher in this respect than 
 all the larger cities. The weekly mortality of Boston 
 is from 60 to 80 deaths. According to a table kept 
 m the City Registrar's office in Boston, the Ameri- 
 cans present a much higher standard of longevity 
 than do the foreigners ; and foreign children's diseases 
 also prove much more extensively fatal than do those 
 of the children of natives. 
 
 Diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, typhus, and other 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FABi.. 
 
 fevers prevail very extensively. More die of con- 
 sumption, however, than of any other disease. Three 
 things operate very powerfully against the health of the 
 American people : — First, close stoves; air-tight stoves 
 are every where, in the kitchen, the parlor, the cham- 
 ber, the counting-room, and the workshop. Secondly, 
 the constantly eating sweetmeats and confectionary^ 
 morning, noon and night ; thus the digestive organs are 
 constantly kept in action, when they should be at 
 rest ; and thirdly, fast eating, the wearing of tldn 
 hoots and shoes, and the want of exercise hy walking. 
 No one will think of walking half a mile while be 
 is able to pay for a cab. 
 
 Boston is the capital of the State of Massachusetts. 
 The State contains 7,250 square miles ; 321 cities 
 and towns; and has a population of 973,715. It 
 sends ten members to Congress. The number of 
 State Senators (which correspond to the Council in 
 the British colonies) is 40, and the number of State 
 Representatives (corresponding to the House of 
 Assembly) is 356. The present Governor of Massa- 
 chusetts His Excellency George N. Briggs LL. D. ; 
 belongs to the Baptist denomination. Lieutenant 
 Governor, His Honor John Reed, LL. D. The 
 Governor receives a salary of $2,500 per annum, or 
 
u 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 .£500 sterling. Boston has railroads branching ofif 
 in almost every direction, thus connecting it with the 
 remotest parts of the country. It is the great depot 
 for all the manufactures of the New England States ; 
 all contributing thus to make it a city of great com- 
 merce. The following is the number of vessels arriv- 
 ing at the port of Boston for the past six years : — 
 
 Year. 
 
 1844 
 1845 
 1846 
 
 1847 
 1848 
 1849 
 
 Foreign. 
 
 2,174 
 2,305 
 2,090 
 2,740 
 3,009 
 3,111 
 
 Coastwise. 
 
 5,009 
 
 Duties 
 
 on Foreign 
 
 Merchandise. 
 
 $5,956,962 
 5,259,441 
 4,780,186 
 7,004 5,448,361 
 
 4,908,927 
 5,031,994 
 
 Besides the above, a great number of vessels are 
 employed in the fisheries, wood carrying, &c. It is 
 computed that altogether over 12,000 vessels annually 
 enter the port of Boston. In arrivals from foreign 
 ports in 1844, New York excelled Boston by only 
 thirty-four vessels. 
 
 The following are a few of the principal articles 
 of import during the undermentioned years : — 
 
 midsof 
 Molasses. 
 
 Year. Bales of Cotton. Molasses. Bbls. Flour. Bush. Com. 
 
 1843 151,090 61,774 610,964 1,540,306 
 
 1844 175,529 77,426 686,586 1,960,663 
 1847 197,824 82,219 1,036,783 2,601,424 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 26 
 
 The exports were : — 
 
 Tear. 
 
 1843 
 1844 
 
 Bbls of Flour. 
 
 94,675 
 
 107,862 
 
 Bales of Cotton. 
 
 1,876 
 6,000 
 
 The value of the domestics exported (principallj 
 cotton goods) in 1844, amounted to $1,2-34,458. 
 
 In 1847, 518,800 barrels flour came into Boston 
 b^ the Western Railroad. In 1845, the freight of a 
 barrel of flour from Albany to Boston, 200 miles, was 
 25 cents ; from Buffalo to Boston, 521 miles, 85 
 cents ; from Detroit, 848 miles, 105 cents j and from 
 Chicago to the same place, 1,563 miles, 125 cents. 
 The average price of flour in Boston for the previous 
 ten years, up to 1814, was $6,80. The British 
 reader will bear in mind that 100 cents make a dollar, 
 and five dollars make one pound sterlinf^. 
 
 The following is an extract from the ioaugural 
 address of Mr. Quincy, the Major of Boston in 184G : 
 « A few jears ago Boston had no facilities for com- 
 municating with the interior ; and when the West 
 and the North began to develop their vast resources, 
 and to become at once the consumers of our manufao-' 
 tures and the producers of our food, our easiest com- 
 munication with them was through our sister cities. 
 To them our manufactured articles went; to them our 
 8 
 
26 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 merchants resorted ; our oitj was shut out from the 
 advantages of the fertilizing tide that was flowing 
 between the Old World and the New, and we were 
 almost stationary while other cities progressed. But 
 the railroad has changed all this, and given us a new 
 facility for, the transaction of our old business ; has 
 created and developed new and incalculable resources, 
 and given, perhaps, a greater impulse to our city 
 than to any other in the world. Five years ago, 
 Boston had comparatively no back country; now, 
 nine hundred miles of New England railroads centre 
 here, and as many more within New England are in 
 the process of construction. These render Boston 
 emphatically her capital. Considered in this light 
 alone, the position of Boston is one of present power, 
 with a certainty of rapid advancement. But her 
 connections already stretch far beyond New England. 
 She is on the high road between Europe and the 
 West ; and that vast country has become tributary to 
 her increase. The car that leaves our city this morn- 
 ing nay deposit its merchandise in thirty-six hours on 
 the shores of Lake Erie, five hundred miles from the 
 place of its departure ; from thence, inland seas, 
 navigable by vessels of the largest class, stretch away 
 for hundreds of miles along shores fertile for agricul- 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 ture, or rich in minerals. Canals already connect 
 these lakes with the valley of the Mississippi, and 
 with the navigable waters of her tributaries, which, 
 extending twenty thousand miles, communicate with' 
 forty thousand miles of shores unrivalled in fertility. 
 But more rapid modes of communication will this year 
 be opened. The railroad from Cincinnati to Sandus- 
 ky, built by the aid of the citizens of Boston, will 
 bring the Ohio within a journey of three days ; 
 enabling the traveller to reach Boston from Cincin- 
 nati in twelve hours less time than he can Baltimore, 
 although the latter place is three hundred miles the 
 nearest. 
 
 "But these are but a small part of the railways 
 that are to increase the prosperity of Boston. There 
 are already in process of construction roads stretch- 
 ing towards Montreal, Burlington, Ogdensburg ; roads 
 branching from Albany will reach Kingston, and 
 extend thence through Canada West ; others running 
 from Buflfalo to Detroit on both sides of Lake Erie, 
 will ere long reach the upper sources of the Missis- 
 sippi ; and the child is now born who will see them 
 terminate at the Pacific. The time may come when 
 the expectation that led Columbus i» seek a passage 
 to India from Europe by proceeding west, will be 
 
28 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 realized, and the direct communication between those 
 points may pass through the city of Boston." 
 
 There are in the city of Boston twenty-seven 
 banks, with a capital of $19,280,000, and out of 
 . Boston ninety-two banks, with a capital of $7,320,- 
 000 ; making a total of one hundred and nineteen 
 banks for the State of Massachusetts, besides which 
 there are forty-two institutions for savings in the 
 State. 
 
 The officers of the city of Boston are a Mayor, 
 eight Aldermen, forty-eight Common Council-men, 
 twelve Overseers of the Poor, and twenty-four School 
 Committee-men. They are chosen annually. 
 
 The Major and Aldermen are elected. The Mayor 
 only receives pay. The Common Council are elected 
 by the wards, but receive no pay. The two branches 
 of the city Government usually act separately. In 
 their collective capacity they are called the City 
 Council, who appoint the city, officers, and fix their 
 compensation, &c. 
 
 The following is the number of Courts held in 
 Boston : — 
 
 Circuit Court of the United States. This Court is 
 holden at Boston ^vice a year. 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 29 
 
 District Court of the United States. This Court 
 is holden at Boston four times a year. 
 
 Supreme Court of Massachusetts, for the counties 
 of Suffolk and Nantucket. Law Term, in Boston, in 
 March. Nisi Prius Term, in Boston, in Septemher. 
 Adjourned Nisi Prius Terms of the Supreme Court 
 in other counties are frequently holden in Boston. 
 
 Court of Common Pleas. A term of this Court is 
 holden in Boston quarterly. 
 
 Municipal Court. This Court is holden every 
 month, for the trial of criminal actions, for the city of 
 Boston. The judges of the Court of Common Pleas 
 preside alteniately. 
 
 The Police Court of the City, for the trial of crim- , 
 inal cases, is a court of similar, but inferior, jurisdic- 
 tion to the Municipal Court. It sits daily. Three 
 Justices preside alternately in this Court. There is 
 no jury. An appeal lies to the Municipal Court. 
 
 Justices' Court. This is a Court for the trial of 
 civil suits, under twenty dollars. The Justices who 
 preside in the Police Court alternately preside here. 
 There is no jury. An appeal lies to the Court of 
 Common Pleas. This Court sits twice a week. It is 
 a Court of Record, and much of the minor business 
 of the city is transacted here. 
 3* 
 
80 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 The Probate Court is liolden at the Probate Office 
 once a month. 
 
 All the above-mentioned Courts, excepting the 
 Probate Court, are holiien in the Court House, a spar 
 cious and elegant granite building in Court street. 
 
 The Supreme Court of the United States is held in 
 Washington, and has but one session annually. It 
 consists of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Jus- 
 tices, who reside in different States. The Chief Jus- 
 tice, the Hon. Roger B. Taney, of Maryland, receives 
 a salary of $5,000 per annum, and the Associate 
 Judges $4,500 each. 
 
 The United States are also divided into nine 
 Judicial Circuits, in each of which a Circuit Court is 
 held semi-annually, by a Justice of the Supreme 
 Court, and the District Judge of the State or district 
 in which the Court sits. The United States are also 
 divided into forty-three districts, in which District 
 Courts are held by thirty-five judges. 
 
 The educational institutions of Massachusetts are 
 not surpassed by those of any other country in the 
 .world. There are now in Boston 197 schools with 
 20,000 pupils in attendance. These schools are sus- 
 tained at the public charge. The following sums 
 were paid from the City Treasury in support of these 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 81 
 
 schools during the past year, (1849.) For instruction 
 the sum of §176,930 ; for repairs, fuel, and other 
 expenses of school-houses, |57j695 ; for new school- 
 houses, $99,489; making a total of $334,114. 
 There are about 2,000 children attending private 
 schools not educated at the public expense. 
 
 Manufactures of almost every description are carried 
 on at Boston ; the whole in 1845 amounted to $10,- 
 648,153. 
 
 The Mayor, in his inaugural address in 1850, says : 
 " The city debt, exclusive of that contracted for water, 
 (which is $4,540,000,) amounted on the 31st day of 
 December to $1,623,863. It is estimated by the 
 Auditor that the debt, even if no anticipated expen- 
 diture shall be authorized, will amount at the close of 
 the financial year (30th April) to the sum of $1,726,- 
 803. To meet this sum we have bonds and mortgages, 
 $242,000 ; balance to credit of Committee on Reduc- 
 tion of Debt, $28,000; City Wharf, valued at $600,- 
 000 ; all amounting to $770,000 : besides the Mar- 
 ket, (yielding over $30,000 per annum,) many other 
 public buildings, the Public Garden, and nearly ten 
 millions of feet of upland and flats in the 11th and 
 12th wards. The specific appropriations for the cur- 
 rent financial year were $1,415,600. The Auditor 
 
32 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 estimates that the total amount of expenditures for 
 the year will not be less than $1,729,300. The 
 increase is caused mainly by appropriations ; — for 
 filling up the flats, (of which I have already spoken) 
 $100,000 ; for carrying on construction of new jail, 
 $123,000; and for additional paving, $70,000. The 
 city tax assessed for the year was $1,174,715." 
 
 According to law no liquors are allowed to be 
 retailed in the State of Massachusetts. Yet we find 
 Boston well supplied with oyster saloons and bar- 
 rooms, where a great quantity of liquors of every 
 description are vended ; probably a greater quantity 
 of spirits is sold in this way than if they had to pay 
 for licenses. I do not remember, however, to have 
 seen but one or two drunken men during the three 
 months which I remained at Boston, 
 
 The city is well supplied with Temperance So- 
 cieties. There are 42 Divisions of the " Sons of 
 Temperance," with 3,000 members ; besides which 
 there are ten or a dozen other Temperance Societies. 
 I heard Gov. Briggs deliver an address at a meeting 
 of the « Cadets of Temperance » in the Samaritan 
 Hall. I also heard Mr. Gough lecture at the Tremonfc 
 Temple, who is said to be one of the most popular 
 lecturers on temperance in the country. The lecture 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 88 
 
 was good, but did not come up to my expectation. 
 Father Malhew is now visiting the South. 
 
 The Rev. Paul Denton, a Methodist minister in 
 Texas, lately advertised a barbacue, with better liquor 
 than usually furnished. When the people were 
 assembled, a desperado in the crowd cried out: "Mr. 
 Paul Denton, your reverence has lied. You promised 
 not only a good barbacue, but better liquor. Where's 
 the liquor ? " 
 
 " There ! " answered the missionary, in tones of 
 thunder, and pointing his motionless finger at the 
 matchless double spring, gushing up in two strong 
 columns, with a sound like a shout of joy from the 
 bosom of the earth. " There ! " he repeated, with a 
 look terrible as lightning, while his enemy actually 
 trembled at his feet ; " there is the liquor which God 
 the eternal brews for all his children. 
 
 "Not in the simmering still, over smoky fires, 
 choked with poisonous gases, and surrounded with the 
 stench of sickening odors and rank corruptions, doth 
 your Father in heaven prepare the precious essence 
 of life, the pure cold water. But in the green glade 
 and grassy dell, where the red deer wanders, and the 
 child loves to play, there God brews it ; and down, 
 low down in the deepest valleys, where the fountain 
 
84 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 murmurs and the rills sing; and high up in the moun- 
 tain tops, where the naked granite glitters like gold in 
 the sun, where the storm-cloud broods and the thun- 
 der-storms crash, and away far out on the wide wild 
 sea, where the hurricane howls music, and the big 
 
 wave rolls the chorus, sweeping the march of God 
 
 there He brews it, that beverage of life, health-giving 
 water. And every where it is a thing of beauty ; 
 gleaming in the dew-drop; singing in the summer 
 rain ; shining in the ice-gem, till the trees all seem 
 turned to living jewels, spreading a golden veil over 
 the setting sun, or a white gauze around the midnight 
 moon ; sporting in the cataract ; sleeping in the glar 
 cier ; dancing in the hail shower, folding its bright 
 snow curtains softly about the wintry world; and 
 weaving the many-colored iris, that seraph's zone of 
 the sky, whose warp is in the rain-drop of earth, 
 whose woof is the sunbeam of heaven, all checked 
 over with celestial flowers, by the mystic hand of re- 
 fraction. Still always it is beautiful — that blessed 
 life-water ! no poison bubbles on its brink ; its foam 
 brings not madness and murder ; no blood stains its 
 liquid glass ; pale widows and starving orphans weep 
 not burning tears in its depths ; no drunkard's shrink- 
 ing ghost from the grave curses it in words of eternal 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 85 
 
 despair ! Speak out, my friends, would you exchange 
 it for the demon's drink, alcohol ? " 
 
 A shout like the roar of a tempest, answered 
 «No!'» 
 
 It is estimated that the annual cost of Intemperance 
 is, in France, ^^260,000,000; in Great Britain, 
 8105,000,000; in Sweden, $65,000,000 ; and in the 
 United States, $40,000,000; besides the cost of 
 prisons, police, asylums, work-houses, &c., which is in 
 a great measure attributable to intoxicating drinks. 
 
 A great quantity of wine is now manufactured in 
 the United St&ies,- Several cargoes, I believe, have 
 been shipped from New York to Europe. In Cincin- 
 nati, the capital of the State of Ohio, the " Queen 
 City of the West," grapes are cultivated to a great 
 extent. Within twenty miles of the city there are 
 743 acres of vineyard culture. The average produce 
 per acre in 1848, (a good season,) was 300 gallons. 
 In 1849, (the worst year ever known,) it was 100 
 gallons. New Catawba wine, at the press, brings 75 
 cents a gallon. When ready for sale, it is sold at 
 $1,25 per gallon. The product of the Catawba per 
 acre is considerably more than that of the wine grape 
 in France. The following is a calculation of the coat 
 and profit of a vineyard on the Ohio river : — 
 
86 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 Cost of a vineyard per acre, say $250 ; 
 
 interest per annum, $15,00 
 
 Coat of attending, per acre, 60,00 
 
 Cost of making tho wine, 25,00 
 
 Probable average annual product, 200 
 
 gallons, at $1,00 per gallon, 200,00 
 
 Supposed profit per acre, $100,00 
 
 Considerable quantities of tho wild grape of Mas- 
 sachusetts are being manufactured into wine. A 
 farmer of Princeton a few days ago informed mo that 
 he made 65 barrels of wine during the past year. 
 The number of distilleries at present in Massachusetts 
 is 43. 
 
 The following arc the principal distilleries and 
 breweries of New York. 
 
 Messrs. Cogswell, Crane & Co. have an immense 
 distillery situated in Williamsburgh. Thj various 
 buildings occupy seventy-five lots of ground' in all, 
 valued at 150,000. At this extensive distillery, there 
 are manufactured vast quantities of saleratus, whiskey, 
 alcohol, New England rum, and domestic liquors of 
 all kinds, and the work is done with steam-power, by 
 three engines, from ten to nineteen horse-power, and 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 £7 
 
 a number of boilers. The above firm givea constant 
 employment to upwards of seventy-five men, and the 
 following materials are consumed annually at their 
 factory : — 300,000 bushels of grain ; 7,500 hhds. of 
 molasses ; and 5,000 tons of Lackawana coal. The 
 establishment has been in operation ten years. 
 
 Messrs. Nathan C. Ely & Co. have a very extensive 
 distillery at Williamaburgh. The buildings (con- 
 structed of brick) cover twelve entire lots of ground, 
 and cost $30,000. They have two steam engines, of 
 fifteen horse-power, also two large boilers. With this 
 steam power a vast quantity of salcratus, N. E. rum, 
 and other kinds of domestic liquors for exporting and 
 this market, are manufactured. Messrs. Ely & Co. 
 consume annually, 7,000 ho^shc^ds of molasses; 
 800,000 gallons of whiskey, and 2,000 tons of coal. 
 They have been in operation about eighteen years, 
 and at present give employment to some forty men in 
 the various departments of their establishment. 
 
 Messrs. H. Havens & Son have a large distillery, 
 where they manufacture great quantities of rum, gin, 
 brandy, alcohol, pure spirits and saleratus. The 
 buildings cover five lots of ground, and the establish- 
 ment has been in operation over thirty year!=! ; and with 
 their apparatus the distillery is capable of manufao- 
 
I '. 
 
 88 
 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 turing 20 hogsheads of liquor per day, and 200 casks 
 of saleratus per month. 
 
 Miles' Brewery. — This Brewery, owned and con- 
 clucted by Messrs. W. B. & J. Miles, occupies five 
 lots of ground. It has been in operation for the past 
 27 years. When first started it was a very small es- 
 tablishment, the building was about 20 by 80 feet ; 
 but now it is one of the largest in the city. 
 
 The article of pale and amber ale manufactured 
 here, is very choice, and brings from $5 to $8 per 
 cask ; and even at these rates, notwithstanding the im- 
 mense quantity of the article manufactured, being 
 i generally about 10,000 or 11,000 casks yearly, their 
 houses of storage are seldom burdened. 
 
 At this brewery is made a quality of ale equal to 
 any brewed in England or Scotland, and the bottling 
 of this article is an important part of the business. 
 
 In order to manufacture a sufficient quantity of ale 
 to supply their customers, Messrs. W. B. & J. Miles 
 have now in course of erection an additional building 
 in the rear of those they now occupy. The building 
 will be of brick, six stories in height, and 60 feet long 
 by 34 wide. All of the building will be used for 
 brewing purposes, except the two upper stories, which 
 ture intended for public halls. 
 
md 200 casks 
 
 rned and con- 
 occupies five 
 n for the past 
 very small es- 
 by 30 feet ; 
 
 manufactured 
 |5 to $8 per 
 nding the im- 
 ;tured, being 
 yearly, their 
 
 f ale equal to 
 i the bottling 
 e business, 
 aantity of ale 
 i. & J. Miles 
 onal building 
 The building 
 i 60 feet long 
 be used for 
 stories, ^hich 
 
 UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 39 
 
 The Empire Brewery, belonging to Messrs. Nash 
 & Beadleston, covers about twelve lots, and has been 
 established since 1845. They employ 20 hands, and 
 use a steam engine of six horse-power. Beer and 
 amber ale are the articles manufactured. 
 
 Messrs. Pernie & Co.'s Brewery. The building is 
 large. They have been in operation but one year, 
 and during that time upwards of 7000 barrels of pale 
 and amber ale have been manufactured by them. 
 This brewery is one of the best regulated and con- 
 structed of any in the city. The machinery is all 
 driven by one engine of six horse-power. The num- 
 ber of men employed here, on an average, is about 
 forty. 
 
 Adjoining the above extensive establishment is a 
 large rectifying distillery, owned and conducted by 
 Messrs. P. B. & H. Pernie, who rectify all kinds of 
 liquors and cordials, and occupy several buildings 
 in the rear for the storage of the same. This estab- 
 lishment has been in successful operation for nearly 
 forty years. 
 
 Messrs. Rogers & Crane are large manufacturers 
 of alcohol, (various proofs) and all kinds of domestic 
 liquors, and are also extensively engaged in rectifying 
 domestic whiskey. Their establishment, consisting of 
 
jipgrrr- -'- 
 
 i> 
 
 r 
 
 1: 
 
 40 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 various sized buildings, covers eight lots of ground, 
 and cost upwards of $50,000. The factory has been 
 in operation nearly a quarter of a century, during 
 which time it was in the hands of James Waterburv 
 & Co. for about twelve years, and since then Messrs. 
 Rogers & Crane have been the proprietors. The 
 above firm give constant employment to a large num- 
 ber of men, and transact a vast amount of business 
 annually. 
 
 Messrs. Johnson & Lazarus are extensively engaged 
 in rectifying whiskey and converting it into domestic 
 liquors. Besides a large amount of charcoal, 300 
 tons of Lackawana coal are used during the year. 
 
 The distillery of Blair, Bates & Co., which has 
 been about two years established, consumes 600 bush- 
 els of grain per day, employs 20 hands, and uses a 
 steam engine of 20 horse-power. 
 
 The rectifying distillery of Messrs. Hunter & Man- 
 ley covers five lots of ground, and employs twelve 
 men. They have a steam engine of six horse-power 
 in operation. It has been established about ten 
 years. 
 
 The distillery of Swede, Schenck & Co. is one of 
 the largest on Long Island, and together with the rec- 
 tifying department and lofty grain stores, covers about 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 41 
 
 40 lots. It has been established about 25 years, and 
 employs on an average between 40 and 45 men. The 
 machinery is driven by a steam engine of 50 horse- 
 power. The quantity of grain consumed each day is 
 1200 bushels, and about 2,800 tons of coal are used 
 during the year. The value of the whole property is 
 estimated at $100,000. This firm are also engaged 
 in the manufacture of N. E. rum and saleratus. 
 
 IN BROOKLYN. 
 
 The re- 'png distillery of Bach, Sons.& Co. covers 
 six lots, xi was established in the year 1811, nearly 
 40 years ago. They employ about a dozen men. 
 The business is entirely confined to the r?^.^'fying of 
 alcohol, Cologne spirit, gin, brandy, an,: pure rye 
 whiskey. About 3,600 gallons of spirit undergoes 
 this operation per day. A small steam engine of six 
 horse-power is used in the establishment, for the pur- 
 pose of pulverizing charcoal, 1,800 bushels of which 
 are consumed during the year; also, for pumping 
 whiskey and other purposes. 
 
 In Wallabout a new grain distillery has just been 
 
 established by Messrs. Tower & Dingleburgh, and 
 
 though only a short time in operation, does a large 
 
 amount of business. They employ about sixteen men, 
 
 4* 
 
 \; 
 
42 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 and consume 600 bushels of grain per day. Their 
 machinery is y.rked by an en^-ine of forty horse- 
 power. 
 
 In Skillman Street, near Flushing Avenue, East 
 Brooklyn, are two distilleries adjoining each other, 
 one belonging to Charles Wilson, and the other to J. 
 J. Wood & Co. Mr. Wilson's establishment has been 
 in operation about 17 years, and, together with the 
 stables attached, in which are stalls for 800 cows, oc- 
 cupies the whole block from Franklin to Skillman 
 streets. It employs from sixteen to eighteen hands, 
 and consumes 800 bushels of grain per day. A steam 
 engine of 20 horse-power drives the machinery. 
 
 The distillery of Messrs. Wood & Co. is on the 
 same scale as the preceding one ; they consume about 
 100 bushels of grain per day. The buildings are 
 constructed in the most substantial manner, of brick. 
 The whiskey they manufacture is principally used for 
 burning fluid, after undergoing the necessary processes 
 in the establishment. 
 
 At the corner of Jay and Pearl streets a new 
 brewery has been recently established by Mr. John- 
 sbn, who for the last 31 years has been engaged in the 
 business in this city. Eight men are employed, and 
 a small steam engine is in use for washing the grain. 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 43 
 
 At present they consume at the rate of 20,000 bush- 
 els of grain per season in the maniifacture of beer. 
 
 The distillery of Manlej & Embury, at the corner 
 of Tillary and Gold streets, covers an extensive area 
 of ground. It has been established about seventeen 
 years, and employs fifty men. The machinery is 
 driven by a large steam engine of fifty horse-power, 
 which is supplied by several boilers. About three 
 thousand gallons of whiskey are made each day. 
 The principal public buildings of Boston are : — 
 The State House, which is situated on Beacon 
 street, fronting the Common. Its length is one hundred 
 and seventy-three feet, breadth sixty-one feet. It was 
 commenced in 1795, and finished in 1798. It cost 
 $133,333. In the month of May I paid a visit to 
 the top of the State House, accompanied by my/riend 
 Emmett from Newfoundland, the view from which is 
 exceedingly interesting and beautiful. It is a splendid 
 panorama, embracing a circumference of sixty or sev- 
 enty miles. Immediately beneath the spectator is the 
 . city, wiih its numerous spires and crooked streets. 
 On the east appears the ocean, covered with ships in 
 all directions ; and in every other direction appears 
 hill and de, farms and villas, towns and cities, the 
 "whole presenting one of the grandest pictures of na- 
 
w- 
 
 44 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 ture and art that can well be imagined. The first time 
 I visited the State House, I heard the Hon. Amasa 
 Walker (to whom I had been introduced by my friend 
 Elihu Burritt) deliver an eloquent and telling speech 
 in the Senate, in condemnation of the Hon. Daniel 
 Webster's speech delivered in Congress on the slavery 
 questian. 
 
 The Custom House is located on India street, be- 
 tween two of the principal wharves. It is in the form 
 of a cross, built of granite, and cost upwards of a 
 million dollars.' It is one of the most beautiful and 
 substantial buildings in the United States. 
 
 Faneuil Hall Market, or, as it is generally called, 
 " Quincy Market," is one of the finest in the United 
 States. It is built of hewn granite. It was com- 
 menced in 1824, and finished in 1827, while Hon. 
 Josiah Quincy was at the head of the city govern- 
 ment. It is nearly 600 feet in length, and 50 feet 
 wide. The ground floor is divided into 129 stalls, 
 each furnished with beautiful polished white marble 
 slabs. The centre part of the building is 77 feet 
 high, capped with a beautiful dome. In the second 
 story is " Quincy Hall." The land upon which this 
 building stands was reclaimed from the sea. The en- 
 tire cost of the building was over one million dollars. 
 The market yields over J30,000 per annum. 
 
 r. 
 
Srst time 
 . Amasa 
 iy friend 
 ; speech 
 Daniel 
 ■ slavery 
 
 eet, be- 
 he form 
 ds of a 
 iful and 
 
 called,. 
 United 
 s com- 
 3 Hon. 
 govern- 
 so feet 
 ' stalls, 
 marble 
 7 feet 
 second 
 ch this 
 he en- 
 ollars. 
 
v^ 
 
 UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 46 
 
 A short distance from the Market is Faneuil Hall. 
 It was built in 1740, bv Peter Faneuil, a citizen of 
 Boston, and presented to the city. It is three stories 
 high. The lower story is used as shops ; the second 
 story is the Hall, which is seventy-six feet square, 
 twenty-eight feet high, and has deep galleries on three 
 sides. It will hold upwards of 5,000 persons. Its 
 walls are ornamented with paintings of patriots, war- 
 riors and statesmen. The third story contains the 
 armories of the diflferent military companies of the 
 city. It is renowned in the history of Massachusetts 
 as the place where the fathers of the Revolution used 
 to meet. It is called the "Cradle of Liberty." 
 During the past autumn a *' Mechanics' Fair " was 
 held in Faneuil and Quincy Halls, consisting of a 
 rare exhibition of the mechanical genius of this coun- 
 try. A unique bridge was thrown across the street 
 from one hall to the other. This bridge has received 
 the unqualified praise of the Bostonians, for strength, 
 novelty and elegance. The inventor of this novel 
 bridge, Mr. Lanergan, is a native of Port-aux Swax, 
 . on the western coast of Newfoundland ; he was my 
 fellow passenger from Halifax to Boston on his way 
 from St. John's, Newfoundland, and is one of the 
 most interesting and intelligent persons I ever 
 
46 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 travelled with. Mr. Lanergan is a Pyrotechnist, and 
 made the fireworks which were to have been exhibited 
 on Boston common on the 4th of July, but were 
 delayed in consequence of rain to a later period. 
 The fireworks were quite a grand display for design, 
 color and brilliancy. 
 
 The Boston Museum is situated on Tremont street. 
 It is an immense granite building, la the Venetian 
 style of Architecture. It was erected in 1846 at a 
 cost of upwards of $200,000. The collection com- 
 prises nearly half a million objects of interest, em- 
 bracing almost every variety of birds, quadrupeds, 
 reptiles, insects, shells, minerals and fossils, an oxteA- 
 sive gallery of costly paintings, engravings and 
 statuary, together with a great variety of curious 
 specimens of nature and art from all parts of the 
 world. Its usefulness as a Museum is in a great 
 measure destroyed, owing to the rear of the building 
 being occupied as a theatre ; a theatrical performance 
 is considered par*; of the exhibition at the Museum. 
 The charge for visiting the Museum is twenty-five 
 cents, including the theatre. 
 
 The Athenaeum is a large and beautiful sandstone 
 building on Beacon street ; it contains a library of 
 
 r 
 I, 
 
■**:■ 
 
 i.,it»i'KL.''i.i;'i; .Sr.' \ 
 
• 
 
 i\ 
 
 M 
 
 V 
 
UNCLK SAM'S FARM. 
 
 47 
 
 nearly 40,000 volumes, beside pictures and statuary 
 to the valuo of about ^50,000. 
 
 The Merchants' Exchange, which was erected in 
 1841, is a magnificent structure, built of granite and 
 brick, and laid with hydraulic cement. *' Its fronton 
 State street is seventy-six feet ; its height, seventy 
 feet ; its depth to Lindall street, two hundred and 
 fifty feet ; covering thirteen f .lousai.^ feet of land. 
 The front is entirely of Quir i^} gvan :e, with four 
 pilasters and two antes, being for fivo feet in height, 
 weighing on the average fifty-five tons each. Up- 
 wards of one million six hundred thousand bricks 
 have been used. The roof is constructed of wrought 
 iron, and covered with galvanized sheet iron ; and all 
 the principal staircases are of iron and stone, and of 
 course fire-proof. The front is occupied by banks, 
 insurance offices, and places of business ; the roar is 
 an hotel ; the basement is occupied by bath rooms, 
 and the top as a telegraph station. 
 
 *' The great centre hall is the Merchants' Exchange 
 and reading room. Its dimensions, fifty-eight by 
 eighty feet, having eighteen columns, twenty feet in 
 length, in imitation of Sienna marble, with Corinthian 
 capitals. The most finished and highly ornamented 
 work m the structure, is the enamelled skylight of 
 
 .■^■j 
 
r^tJi m Mff 
 
 "•m'xrmmmm 
 
 48 
 
 :*■ 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 |[ h 
 
 I i\ 
 
 colored glass, in the centre of the dome of the great 
 hall-; and a more splendid crown to the noble edifice 
 cannot be imagined, for it seems to be composed of 
 every brilliant that the richest fancy could conceive. 
 The centre of the basement storj is occupied bj the 
 Post Office, and is thirty-six by ninety-nine feet. It 
 has entrances from State, Congress and Lindall 
 streets, through a spacious lobby of twenty by eighty 
 feet. This story has a vaulted ceiling, which supports 
 the principal floor, and is entirely fire-proof, the win- 
 dows being provided with wrought iron shutters 
 of superior construction. The total cost of the 
 building, exclusive of land, was $175,000.'* ^ 
 
 Boston is well supplied with large and elegant 
 hotels. Amongst the prinoipal are the Reverejeouse, 
 Tremont House, Adams House, and United* States 
 Hotel, each containing from 150 to about 400 rooms. 
 Frequently in front of these hotels are to be seen a 
 line of boarders, sitting in the true Yankee fashion, 
 with their legs thrown either across the arms of the 
 chair upon which they sit, or the back of another 
 chair, puffing a cigar. At the Marlboro' Hotel for 
 the first time I saw the celebrated and world-renowned 
 American philanthropist, Elihu Burritt, Esq., A. M., 
 who from that hour became my most intimate and 
 
IfBilii 
 
 u 
 
UNCLE Airs FABM. 
 
 49 
 
 best friend. I also saw Frederika Bremer, whose 
 reputation is so well known as a distinguished writer. 
 In front of the State House is the Common, a 
 dehghtful promenade, containing about seyenty-five 
 acres of land, beautifuUy laid out in walks intersect- 
 ing each other m every direction, and shaded with 
 upwards of one thousand trees, consisting of maple, 
 ash, lime, horn-beam, button-wood, English and 
 American elm, with a jingo, (a native of Java:) 
 the whole of which is enclosed with an iron paling 
 one mile two hundred and seventeen yards in len^*.' 
 About the centre of the Common is a small 1, 
 which contains two fountains, capable of throwing 
 the water into a variety of fantastic shapes to th^ 
 height of about one hundred feet. Near this spot 
 stands a majestic elm, which has withstood the storms 
 of more than a hmidred winteiB. Ife branches 
 spread more than eighty feet, (which are now sup- 
 ported by iron braces) it is sixty-five feet high, and 
 ite g.rth near the ground nearly twenty-two feet 
 
 Charlestown is connoeted with Boston by a bridge 
 SIX thousand one hmidred and ninety feet in lengft 
 which cost upwards of $76,000. The first time I 
 2^ Charlestown, I spent the day going through 
 the Navy Yard, and visitmg the Bunker Hill Menu- 
 6 
 
60 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 ment. The Navy Yard is about one mile long, and 
 contains one hundred acres. On the side nearest the 
 town, the Yard is enclosed by a stone wall sixteen 
 feet high, and on the water side a wall extends the 
 whole length of the Yard, embracing several wharves 
 and a dry dock. This dock was commenced in 1827, 
 and opened for the reception of vessels in 1833. It 
 is constructed entirely of beautifully hewn granite, 
 and will contain a ship of the largest class ; it is three 
 Hundred and !forty-one feet long, eighty feet wide, and 
 thurty deep, and cost about 675,000 dollars. In 
 this Yard is a rope-walk, built of granite, which is said 
 to be the longest and most perfect in the world. It is 
 one thousand three hundred and fifty feet in length. 
 All thu cordage used in the United States Navy is 
 manufactured here by machinery. In this Yard are 
 two lineo-f-battle ships, the Virginia and Vermont, on 
 the stocks, the former of which was built during the 
 last war. Within the yard are ship-houses, various 
 machine shops, carpenters' shops, stores, dwelling- 
 houses for the officers, and n irine barracks. In the 
 en^e-house are the pumps tor pumpmg out the dry 
 dock; these pumps are so capacious that twelve 
 hogsheads of water are said to be thrown off at one 
 stroke, and the time occupied in pumping out the 
 dock is about six hours. 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 6X 
 
 The Bunker Hill Monument is two hundred and 
 twenty-one feet high. The hill on which the monu- 
 ment stands is called Breed's Hill ; the hill a little 
 beyond is Bunker Hill. Orders were given to fortify 
 Bunker Hill, but Breed's Hill was fortified, and the 
 battle fought thereon the 17th of June, 1775. The 
 redoubts and entrenchments which sheltered the men 
 of that sanguinary conflict are now levelled with the 
 dust. On that bloody day four hundred and forty- 
 nine Americans, and one thousand and fifty-five 
 British soldiers, were slain. The town was burnt by 
 the British on the same day. 
 
 The monument is composed of granite, and has 
 been erected to point out the spot where was fought 
 the most memorable battle during the whole struggle 
 for independence. The comer stone of this obelisk 
 was laid on the 17th of June, 1825, by the illustrious 
 Frenchman La Fayette ; for want of funds, however, 
 the building was not completed till 1842. On the 
 17th of June, 1843, a celebration in honor of its com- 
 pletion was held, upon which occasion the President 
 of the United States (John Tyler) and all his 
 Cabinet were present. The Hon. Daniel Webster 
 delivered an address to the great assemblage. The 
 following is the inscription upon the two guns in the 
 
I '< 
 
 52 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 i^ 
 
 top of the monument — the " Hancock " and 
 "Adams": — ^ 
 
 ^Sacred to Liberty. 
 
 Thia is oxio of four cannons whicls constituted 
 
 The whole train of field A r j; .'ery 
 
 Possessed by the British Colonies of 
 
 Nortli An'flrica, 
 
 At tho comment oment of the 
 
 War, 
 
 On tljie I'Mi ov: April, 1776. 
 
 '.i* tr..; caation 
 
 Ani^ Its fellow, 
 
 Belonging to a number of Citizens of 
 
 Boston, 
 
 Ti'^cre used in many engagements 
 
 During the War. 
 
 The other two, the property of the 
 
 Government of Massachusetts, 
 
 "Were taken by the enemy. 
 
 By order of the United States, 
 
 In Congress assembled, 
 
 May 19th, 1788. 
 
 " Let that be/* F^id Elihu Burritt, pointing to the 
 monument, " the grave-stone of all American war." 
 
 The town of Charlestown and Charles ri\er are 
 so called in honor of Charles I., the reigning sovereign 
 of England at the tune of ii; settlement. Accort>Iii!» 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FABM. 
 
 58 
 
 to the census of 1860, it contains a population of 
 iilieen thousand eight hundred. It is a place of 
 considerable Vade and manufactures. 
 
 At Charlestown, a large business is done in the ice 
 trade, which first commenced at this place in 1803. 
 Cargoes of this export are sent to the Southern 
 States, the West Indies, South Am^^rica, and to 
 England and the East Indies. In 1850, the exports 
 amounted to 55,000 tons; the value of the ice 
 exported from the United States in 1849 was $95,- 
 000. About 15,000 tons of ice are annually used 
 in Boston and its vicinity. This ice is brought to 
 Charlestown by railroad, from ponds at Cambridge, 
 Watertown, and Lexington, towns in the vicinity of 
 Boston. At Watertown, large brick buildings are 
 erected near the pond for storing the ice. The ice is 
 cut and taken from the pond by machinery ; three 
 hundred horses, and a greater number of men, are 
 employed about it. A great quantity of ice is also 
 exported from Salem, where it is brought from 
 Wenham, a town which formerly formed part of 
 Salem. The following is a short account of the man- 
 ner of cutting and preserving the ice at this place for 
 exportation : — 
 
 " The ice-house is built of wood, with double walls 
 6* 
 
54 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 all around, the space between which is filled with 
 saw-dust, thus interposing a medium that is a non- 
 conductor of heat between the ice and the external 
 air ; the consequence of which is, that the ice is 
 entirely unaffected by any condition or temperature 
 of the external atmosphere, and can be preserved 
 without waste for any indefinite time. 
 
 " The machinery employed for cutting the ice is 
 very curious, and is worked by men and horses, in the 
 following manner : From the tin\e when the ice first 
 forms, it is carefully kept free from snow until it is 
 thick enough to cut ; that process commences when 
 the ice is a foot thick. A surface of some two acres 
 is then selected, which, at that thickness, will furnish 
 about two thousand tons ; and a straight line is drawn 
 through its centre from side to side each way. A 
 small hand-plough is pushed along one of those lines, 
 until the groove is about three inches deep, and a 
 quarter of an inch in width, when the * marker ' is 
 introduced. This instrument is drawn by two horses. 
 And makes two new grooves, parallel with the first, 
 from twenty to forty inches apart, the gauge remain- 
 ing in the original groove. The marker is then 
 shifted to the outside groove, and makes two more. 
 Having drawn these lines over the whole surface in 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 65 
 
 one direction, the same process is repeated in a trans- 
 verse direction, marking all the ice out into squares. 
 In the mean time, the * plough,' drawn by a single 
 horse, is following in these grooves, cutting the ice to 
 a depth of six inches. One entire range of blocks is 
 then sawn out, and the remainder are split off toward 
 the opening thus made with an iron bar. The bar is 
 shaped like a spade, and of a wedge-like form. When 
 it is dropped into the groove the block splits oiF, a 
 very slight blow being sufficient to produce that effect, 
 especially in very cold weather. The labor of 
 * splitting * is light or otherwise, according to the 
 temperature of the atmosphere. * Platforms,' or 
 low tables of frame-work, are placed near the opening 
 made in the ice, with iron slides extending into the 
 water, and a man stands on each side of this slide, 
 armed with an ice-hook. With this hook the ice is 
 caught, and by a sudden jerk thrown up the filide on 
 to the platform. In a cold day every thing is speedily 
 covered with ice, by the freezing of the water on the 
 platforms, slides, &c. ; and the enormous blocks of ice, 
 weighing, some of them, more than three hundred 
 pounds, are hurled along these slippery surfaces as if 
 they were without weight. Forty men and twelve 
 horses will cut and stow away four hundred tons 
 
56 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 i 
 
 a day ; in favorable weathe , one hundred men are 
 sometimes employed at once . ^ thaw or a fall 
 
 of rain occurs, it entirely aiitits Liie *ce for market, by 
 rendering it opaque and : I'ous; and occasionally snow 
 is immediately folio we by rain, and that again by 
 frost, forming snow-ice, which is valueless, unu zmitt 
 be removed by the * plane.' The operation of 
 planing is similar io that of cutting. 
 
 " In addition to filling their ice-houses at the lake 
 and in the lap^o towns, the company fill a large num- 
 ber of private ice-houses during the winter, all the ice 
 for these purposes be'iDg transported by railway. It 
 will easily be believed that the expense < t providing 
 tools, building houses, furnishing labor, and construct- 
 ing and keeping up tht rjdlway is very great ; but the 
 traffic is so extensive, and the management of the 
 trade so good, that the ice can be furbished at a vei ^ 
 trifling expense." 
 
 At South Boston, for th( <irst t-'^ae, I f ' my friond 
 and talented countryman, the Rev. Jc eph H. Clinch, 
 A. M., Rector of St. Matthe ni Church ; ^ e is one '' 
 the most eminent ministera belonging to the Episcopal 
 Church in America. Mr. Clinch i*' at ^^resent en- 
 gaged in writing on the origin of lai;« '^ig , a work 
 involving immense labor and researck. vn© of the 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 m 
 
 most interesting inp*itutions I ever visited was the 
 Institution for the Blind, at South Boston. On the 
 elevation where this huilding stands, Gen. Washington 
 <itationed his troops immediately preceding the evacu- 
 ation of Boston hy the British ; some of the fortifica- 
 tions are still seen near the asylum. I was quite 
 delighted by what I saw and heard at tins institution. 
 It was truly astonishing to see and hear girls and boys, 
 perfectly blind, reading, wnting, cyphering, playing 
 musical in struments, and accr .ely describing the 
 most wonderful discoveries of science. In this insti- 
 tution I iw Laura Bridgman, who is dectf, dumb and 
 blind. Her sensibilities y/ere deeply moved when the 
 account of the Irish famine in 1847 was communica. 
 ted tf> her he set to work immediately, and plied 
 her f^ri >m uigU and day, until she finishod a pieOQ 
 <4 h duuful mb^ idery, which was sold for a barrel 
 of flour, ai... ha* barrel of flour was shipped on 
 hoard the " Jameitown," to assist the famishing 
 
 Ir.dh in 1847. 
 
 *' She was boi a in Hano^ New Hampshire, T><^^> 
 21st, 1829, and is descri^ I as having been a 
 s| ightly and pretty child j bt during her infancy sh(^ 
 was deprived by a violent stroke i disease at once of 
 sight and hearing * nor was it intu four yeai of age 
 
58 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 that her bodily health seemed restored, so that she 
 
 was able <^o enter upon her apprenticeship of life and 
 
 the world. She grew up in the siuiplo mountain 
 
 home where she was born, '^ til she was nearly eight 
 
 years old, when her case reached the ears of Dr. 
 
 Howe, the director of the institution for the blind, in 
 
 Boston, who immediately hastened to Hanover to see 
 
 her. He found her with a well-formed figure, a 
 
 strongly marked nervous-sanguine temperament, a 
 
 well shaped head, and with the whole system in 
 
 healthy action. Her parents were easily induced to 
 
 consent to her coming to Boston, because she was 
 
 growing unmanageable, and because they could not 
 
 make her understand their wishes or her duties ; and 
 
 in 1837 they brought her to the institutiun. It was 
 
 ascertained bey )nd the possibility of doubt that she 
 
 could not see a ray of light, could not hear the least 
 
 sound, and never exercised her sense of smell, if she 
 
 had any. No instruction had been given her, nor had 
 
 anybody conceived the practicability of penetrating 
 
 within the dark cell which enclosed her mind, for 
 
 there was no case upon the records of history where 
 
 the attempt had been successful ; but on the contrary, 
 
 the vain case of Julia Bruce, at the institution of the 
 
 deaf and dumb, in Hartford, seemed to make it hope- 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FABM. 
 
 69 
 
 less. It is impossible, in our brief space, to describe 
 the humane and persevering care, inspired by the 
 I ghest genius, which has since presided over her edu- 
 cation, and gradually opened to her mind, through her 
 solitary sense of touch, the light of knowledge. She 
 has been taught the manual alphabet of the deaf 
 mutes, and now converses by these signs with wonder- 
 ful rapidity. She receives the communications of 
 others on the palm of her hand, while her own words 
 seem to fly from the points of her fingers like electri- 
 cal sparks. She now reads with fluency the books 
 printed in the raised character for the blind, and 
 writes with ease." 
 
 The following is an extract from the last report of 
 Dr. Howe : — 
 
 1>R0GRBSS OP LAURA BRIDGMAN. 
 
 " Her progress has been a curious and an interest- 
 ing spectacle. She has come into .human society 
 with a sort of triumphal march ; her course has been 
 a perpetual ovation. Thousands have been watching 
 her with eager eyes, and applauding each successful 
 step, while she, all unconscious of their gaze, holding 
 on to the slender thread, and feeling her way along, 
 has advanced with fjuth and courage towards those 
 
60 
 
 A PEKP AT 
 
 wbo awaited her with trembling hope. Nothing 
 shows more than her case the importance which, 
 despite their useless waste of human life and human 
 capacity, men really attach to a human soul. They 
 owe to her something for furnishing an opportunity of 
 showing how much of goodness there is m them ; for 
 surely the way in which she has been reorarded is 
 creditable to humanity. Perhaps there are not three 
 living women whose names are more widely known 
 than her's ; and there is not one who has excited so 
 much sympathy and interest. There are thousands 
 of women in the world who are striving to attract its 
 notice and gain its admiration.— cjome by the natural 
 magic of beauty and grace, some by the high nobility 
 of talent, some by the lower nobility of rank and title, 
 some by the vulgar show of wealth ; but none of them 
 has done it so effectually as tins poor blind, deaf, and 
 dumb girl, by the silent show of her misfortunes, and 
 her successful efforts to surmount them. 
 
 " The treatment she has recei . 3d shows something 
 of human progress, too ; for the time was when a child, 
 bereaved of senses, as she is, would have been regard- 
 ed as a monster, and treated as a burden and a curse^ 
 even among the most civilized people of the world ; 
 she would, perhaps, have been thrown into the river, 
 
UNCLE SAM'b 1)"ABM. 
 
 61 
 
 or exposed upon tho mountain to wild beasts. But 
 now there are millions of people by whom it is recog- 
 nized as a duty and esteemed as a privilege to protect 
 and cherish her, or any one in the like situation. 
 
 " There is something, perhaps, in the rarity of such 
 cases of manifold bereavement — something in the fact 
 that she is the first person who ever came out of 
 such a dark and silent prison to tell us plainly of its 
 condition ^ — something of pride in the proof which she 
 gives of the native power of the human soul ; but still, 
 bating all this, the amount of tender sympathy in her 
 misfortunes, and of the real attempt to lighten them, 
 which has been shown by thousands of sensitive hearts, 
 is mos*i gratifying to reflect upon. 
 
 " Laura's present state. 
 
 " At the period when the last mention was made of 
 her in our Annual Report, she had gained a sufficient 
 knowledge of language to converse freely by means of 
 the finger alphabet, on all top' , > which would be under- 
 stood by girls generally of twelve years old. She had 
 begun to come into relation with a variety of persons ; 
 with the teachers and pupils in the school for the 
 blind, all of whom could converse rapidly and easy 
 with her. She had become intimate with several 
 6 
 
 m 
 
\ 
 
 62 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 ) ! 
 
 inbtructed deaf mutes, and had formed quite an exten- 
 sive circle of acquaintance, with ladies for the most 
 part, who had taken pains to learn the manual alpha- 
 bet, and with whom she was very fond of talking. 
 
 " These influences were found to be favorable to 
 the development of her character, and she was left to 
 them. I thought it better to pursue this course than 
 keep her as strictly under the influence of her teach- 
 er's mind as she had been in the early period of her 
 instruction. She needed, however, and has continued 
 to have, special instruction. Miss Sarah White has 
 continued to give all her time and attention to her 
 education. She has been to her a constant com- 
 panion, friend, teacher and exemplar. She has 
 devoted herself to Laura for years, by day and by 
 night, in health and in sickness, in joy and in sorrow, 
 with zeal, patience, and discretion, and has had a 
 wholesome influence upon her mmd, heart and 
 character. 
 
 "I can claim no other credit for the improvement 
 which Laura has made in latter years than that of 
 securing for her such a teacher. If she is short- 
 coming of any natural qualification for the task which 
 she undertook at my urgent request, I can only say, 
 on the other hand, it wculd be very hard to find any 
 
UNCLE SAM'b FARM. 
 
 6S 
 
 one who possesses so many natural and acquired qual- 
 ifications for so novel and arduous an undertaking. 
 Her success has been great. She has done far better 
 than I could have done. Her gentleness and equa- 
 nimity of temper have tended to keep her pupil in that 
 happy mean between excesses of feeling, to which 
 persons .of her temperament are constitutionally 
 disposed. 
 
 " Laura loves her and respects her, and makes no 
 severer criticism upon her than the playful one in the 
 following extract from her little diary : — 
 
 " * I had a very pleasant day. I have been very 
 hilarious. I could not help laughing incessantly. My 
 mind is very full of drollery and mirthfulness. I wish 
 that my dear teacher would have a little share of my 
 mirthfulness. She does not like fun as well as I do 
 —I love fun so much, 
 
 " * As I was very busily engaged at eleren o'clock, 
 I was agreeably interrupted by some circumstances 
 which occurred so unexpectedly. It was [the 
 entrance of] one of my dear friends, Miss E. R., the 
 sister of my old teacher. She took my dirty right 
 hand, greeting me very warmly — who wore gloves. 
 
 "*I asked her how she liked our sur iy home ; 
 she said she admired it very much. She surveyed it 
 
64 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 with much interest. She asked mc whose the boquet 
 of flowers were. I assuredly told her that they 
 belonged to Miss W. She returned that they smelt 
 very fragrantly and delicious. E. altered her mind 
 at length, as she could not stay as long as she [had] 
 hoped.* 
 
 " The words included between brackets are added ; 
 the rest is an exact coipy fpunctuatim et literatim^ from 
 her diary, which she writes in a legible hand." 
 
 I have visited Cambridge twice. Cambridge com- 
 prises, Cambridge Port, Old Cambridge, West Cam- 
 bridge, and East Cambridge, which are connected with 
 Boston by several bridges. When I was crossing the 
 bridge to East Cambridge, in the month of August 
 last, I observed the American flag flying at the top of 
 a gigantic chimney, belonging to the Cambridge 
 glass works, which had just been finished. It is 240 
 feet high, which is twenty feet higher than the Bunker 
 Hill monument ; its form is an octagon, and erected of 
 brick, upon a massive granite foundation of thirty feet 
 in diameter. It was two u^a a half months in process 
 of erection ; 800,000 bricks and 100 cubic yards of 
 granite were used in its erection ; it is said to be the 
 tallest chimney in the United States. 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 66 
 
 Cambridge is a celebrated: place in American His- 
 tory ; it was called Newton in 1630, and in 1638 it was 
 called Cambridge in honor of the principal inhabitants, 
 most of whom were from Cambridge in England. In 
 this town "Washington became commander-in-chief. It 
 was the head-quarters of the American army during 
 the Revolution. On Cambridge common is the 
 Washington elm, under which Washington is said to 
 have stood while his commission was proclaimed to 
 the army of twenty thousand men. The original 
 external appearance of the " Craigie House " is still 
 preserved, which Washington occupied. In this town 
 the first printing press was established in America by 
 Stephen Day, in 1639. A great variety of manufac- 
 tures are carried on in the various parts of Cambridge. 
 
 Old Cambridge is the seat of Harvard University, 
 which is the oldest in the United States. It was 
 incorporated in 1638, and named Harvard College, in 
 honor of the Rev. John Harvard, its principal founder. 
 The principal College Buildings are : University Hall, 
 built of granite, contaming a chapel, lecture rooms, 
 dining halls, &c. ; Harvard Hall, a brick edifice, con- 
 taining a library, philosophical apparatus, and minera- 
 logical cabinet; six oih-^- hjge brick buildings, each 
 four stories high, an*! the JUbrary, an elegant granite 
 6* 
 
 I 
 
66 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 1 1 
 
 edifice. The library is the largest in the Union, and 
 contains more than 57,000 volumes, besides pamphlets, 
 newspapers, and maps. The Law Library contains 
 18,000 volumes ; the Divinity School Library, 8000 
 volumes; the Medical Library, 1200. Different 
 societies connected with the College have libraries 
 amounting ta^bout 10,000 volumes. The president, 
 ihe Hon. Jared Sparks, LL. D., very kindly oiFered 
 me the use of any volume which the library contained. 
 In the library I saw several old works on Newfound- 
 land, written by Whiteburn and others. Cambridge 
 is about three miles from Boston, and contains a 
 population of upwards of 14,000. 
 
 West Cambridge is a great market for cattle from 
 the interior country. The following is the number for 
 sale in the market on Wednesday, October 2d, 1850 : 
 
 At market 3361 cattle — about 1361 beeves and 
 2000 stores — consisting of working oxen, cows and 
 calves, yearlings, twc and three years old. 
 
 Prices : Market Beef— extra $6.12 1-2 per cwt. 
 
 first quality $5.37 — second ditto, $5.50 — third ditto 
 $6 — ordinary, $3 to $4.50. 
 
 HMes, $5 per cwt. — Tallow, $5.50. 
 
 Stores— Working 0-en, $63, |T0, $85 to $97. 
 
 Cows md Calves, $18, $27 to $35. 
 
 
 \> 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 67 
 
 Yearlings, $7, $10 to $12. 
 
 Two years old, $10, $15 to $22. 
 
 Three years old, $16, $20, $28 to $30. 
 
 Sheep and lambs — 4630 at market, nearly all sold. 
 Prices: extra, $3, $4 to $6. By lot, $1.50, 
 $1.75, $2.25 to $2.75. 
 
 Swine — retail, $5 to $6. 
 
 Seventy-six cars came over the Fitchburg railroad, 
 and eighty-four over the Boston and Lowell railroad, 
 loaded with cattle, sheep, horses, swine, and fowls. 
 Number from each State : — 
 
 Sheep and 
 
 Maine, 
 
 New Hampshire, 
 
 Vermont, 
 
 Massachusetts, 
 
 New York, 
 
 Canada, 
 
 Total, 
 
 Cattle. 
 
 Lambs. 
 
 Swine. 
 
 Horses. 
 
 1987 
 
 635 
 
 6i^ 
 
 95 
 
 
 
 
 2300 
 
 1685 
 
 645 
 
 
 
 
 16 
 12 
 
 25 
 
 
 
 180 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 30 
 
 
 3361 4630 
 
 155 
 
 67 
 
 There have been at this market during the year 
 ending October 22d, 1850, 56,144 cattle, of which 
 about 28,814 were beeves, and 27,330 were stores ; 
 consisting of working oxen, cows and calves, yearlings, 
 two and three years old. There have also been at 
 
y \ 
 
 68 
 
 i I 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 market 168,204 sheep and lambs, 7,678 swme, 1,246 
 horses, and a large number of fowls and veal calves, 
 not numerically calculated. 
 
 Since the first of last January (less than ten 
 months) 2,843 cars have come over the Fitchburg 
 railroad, and 1,447 over the Boston and Lowell 
 railroad, loaded with cattle, sheep, horses, swine and 
 fowls. Number from each State, during the year: — 
 
 
 Cattle. 
 
 Sheep 
 and Lambs. 
 
 Swine. Horses. 
 
 Maine, 
 
 17,233 
 
 14,066 
 
 24 
 
 New Hampshire, 
 
 13,411 
 
 48,371 
 
 16 69 
 
 Vermont, 
 
 17,914 
 
 88,446 
 
 1381 418 
 
 Massachussetts, 
 
 5,749 
 
 14,667 
 
 431 237 
 
 New York, 
 
 611 
 
 1,043 
 
 6733 16 
 
 Canada, 
 
 1,326 
 
 1,686 
 
 482 
 
 Ohio, 
 
 
 
 118 
 
 Total. 
 
 56,144 168,204 7678 1246 
 
 The Market is situated within four miles of Bos- 
 ton. Operations were commenced about one year 
 ago ; since which time it has increased in business 
 and importance with unexampled rapidity. It con- 
 tains one hundred and eighty-eight yards for the 
 accommodation of cattle and sheep, one hundred and 
 thirty-seven of which have been built the present 
 
 %P 
 
 "%} 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 69 
 
 season, with convenient lanes leading to all of them ; 
 the whole covering an a* of twelve or fourteen 
 acres. The yards are ali free, no charge ever having 
 been made for the use of any of them. The Fitch- 
 burg Railroad, which connects with the Vermont and 
 Massachusetts, the Cheshire, the Rutland and Bur- 
 lington, the Sullivan, Central, Ogdensburg, and the 
 Connecticut and Passumpsic Railroads, passes through 
 these yards. By means of these roads, cattle, &c., 
 are brought from Canada, New York, all parts of 
 Vermont, from New Ham ^shire, and Massachusetts, 
 and landed from the cars direct into the yards. The 
 Fitchburg Railroad Corporation have now nearly 
 completed two side tracks for the accommodation of 
 the cattle trains, where they will be able to run off 
 the main track about ninety cars, which can remain 
 there until wanted. 
 
 The Boston and Lowell Railroad, which connects 
 with the Northern and several other railroads, lead- 
 ing through the different sections of New Hampshire, 
 has a spacious cattle depot at Somerville, within two 
 hundred rods of the market, with an extensive "'de 
 track for running off the caHle trains from the main 
 track ; and all other requisite conveniences for land- 
 ing and yarding the cattle, sheep, &c. 
 
 II 
 
70 
 
 A PEEi* AT 
 
 Great quantities of ^cmt ana vegetables are culti- 
 vated at W st Cambridge for the Boston market. 
 George Pierce has nineteen acres of his farm devoted 
 to the raising of vegetables expressly for the Boston 
 market. Mr. Pierce's average weekly sales of vege- 
 tables for nine mouths in 1849, were as follows : — 
 
 March, {49 
 
 April, 50 
 
 May, 80 
 
 June, 90 
 
 July, 140 
 
 August, 139 
 
 September, 
 
 October, 
 
 November, 
 
 140 
 
 180 
 
 39 
 
 The total cash rot -^'pt^j for the sale of fruits and 
 vegetablos for 1849, were as follows ; — 
 
 Peaches, 
 
 Porter Apples, 
 
 Pears, 
 
 Greening Apples, 
 
 Baldwin do. (windfalls,) 
 
 80 bbls. do. (picked,) 
 
 IJ691 
 149 
 2 
 
 12 
 
 ^6 
 
 186 
 
 $997 
 Total vegetables of all kinds, 2,629 
 
ulti- 
 ket. 
 )ted 
 Bton 
 3ge- 
 
 and 
 
 UNrLE SAM'S FARM. ^ 
 
 The farmers of Massachusetts in general pi er 
 cultivar ig Indian corn instead of wheat, as the corn 
 gives a greater i rofit. Ii.dian corn will yield from 
 fifty to one hundred bushels to the acre, besides a 
 large amount of fodder for cattle j when it gf^en, as 
 many as twelve tons to the acre of the best focier for 
 cattle has been obtained. 
 
 About one mile west of Cambridge U .oity is 
 Mount Auburn Cemetery — the magnifit monu- 
 
 mtal "city of the dead." The Cemetery com- 
 prises 110 aci and was consecrated in 1831. It 
 is enclosed witu a massive iron fence about ten feet 
 high. In the centre is a lofty entrance-gate con- 
 structed of granite, which cost upwards of $10,000. 
 It is beautifully laid out in gravel walks, shaded with 
 almost every variety of trees and flowers. Lots of 
 ground are laid out as family burial places at equal 
 distances, between which are beautiful pathways 
 fringed with flowers. Numerous costly marble pillars 
 and monuments burst upon the view ^i every direc- 
 tion amid the foliage, which add * the beauty and 
 grandeur of the scene. The avenues and paths are 
 named thus, '' Willow Avenue," <' Myrtle Path," &c. 
 
 In front of ** Central Square " is a monument 
 
 
 '^^1 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 ^H 
 
 
 H 
 
 
 ^^1 
 
 
 1 
 
 -■-,-.■> 
 
 8 
 
 f 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 ^^1 
 
 
 ^^^^H 
 
 
 i^^B 
 
 _^_^ 
 
 ^1 
 

 t> 
 
 e> 
 
 ^Q -v^i^ 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 // 
 
 # .^ ."^t^. 
 
 ^.<^^ 
 
 
 (a 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 11.25 
 
 l^|2^ 12.5 
 2.2 
 
 1^1 
 
 1^ IlilO 
 
 14. 11.6 
 
 V] 
 
 <? 
 
 /^ 
 
 ^/). 
 
 % •> 
 
 
 
 /A 
 
 Hiotographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
 .- '^,X 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 
A<^ 
 
 
72 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 bearing the siirple inscription of Hannah Adams, 
 " first tenant of Mount Auburn." 
 
 The Cemetery has a beautiful granite chapel in the 
 Gothic style of architecture, measuring sixty-six feet 
 by forty, and about eighty feet high. The exterior 
 is surrounded with a row of octagonal buttresses and 
 pinnacles. All the windows are of stamed glass, 
 with emblematic designs. The first and only time 
 that I visited this Cemetery was a few days after 
 the interment of the unfortunate Dr. Webster, who 
 was executed in Boston on the 30th of August last, 
 for the murder of Dr. George Parkman. 
 
 The following is the inscription upon the monument 
 on the lot owned by Prof. John W. Webster, on the 
 Narcissus Path, Mount Auburn : — 
 
 " Angel of death ! did no presaging signs 
 
 Announce thy coming, and thy way prepare ? 
 No warning voice, no harbinger was thine — 
 
 Danger and fear seemed past — hut thou wer't there ! 
 Prophetic sounds along the earthquake's path — 
 
 Foretell the hour of Nature's awful throes ; 
 And the volcano, ere it bursts in wrath. 
 
 Sends forth some herald from its dread repose ; 
 But thou, dark Spirit ! swift and unforeseen, 
 Cam'st like the lightning's flash, when heaven was all serene." 
 
 A cold shiver came over me as I passed the jail- 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 78 
 
 yard while the people were assembling to witness the 
 execution of Professor Webster. Who can contemr 
 plate it without a shudder, to think of a fellow-being 
 sent into the eternal world, in the full possession of 
 his physical and mental energies, for the awful crime 
 of murder ? Very able arguments have been adduced 
 for and against Capital Punishments ; my own views 
 are decidedly against Capital Punishments. In the 
 State of Michigan the abolition of the Death Penalty 
 works well where it has been tried for several years ; 
 and in the convention which was held during the past 
 year for revising the Constitution, there was nearly a 
 unanimous opinion in favor of the law as it stands, 
 which has abolished the gallows. The trial of Dr. 
 Webster excited a deeper interest in the public mind 
 than any trial which has taken place in the United 
 States for many years. The following brief sketch 
 of Professor Webster is taken from one of the Boston 
 newspapers published on the morning of hi? execu- 
 tion. 
 
 " John W. Webster was the son of Dr.-Kedford 
 Webster, at one time a member of our State Legis- 
 lature ; he was a man of considerable wealth and 
 great respectability. John W. was bom in this city, 
 about the year 1788. He rec i/ed a most liberal 
 7 
 
 i 
 
74 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 education, and adopted the profession of medicine, 
 but finally devoted his studies and time to subjects 
 more congenial to his tastes — geology, mineralogy, 
 philosophy and the arts. In 1823, or *24, he trav- 
 elled in England and Scotland, in company with Fro> 
 fessor Boue, of Paris ; then visited the gay metrop- 
 olis of France, and afterwards went to the Azores. 
 At the latter place he resided for some considerable 
 time, and on his return home published an interest- 
 ing and valuable work on the geology of the Azore 
 Islands. A valuable collection of minerals, which 
 he had procured in his travels, he sold to Harvard 
 College for eight thousand dollars. He edited, for 
 a time, the Boston Journal of Philosophy and Arts. 
 "In 1837 he was elected Erving Professor of 
 Chemistry, Natural Philosophy, Mineralogy ftnd Geol- 
 ogy, in the Umversity at Cambridge. This honor- 
 able post he obtained, it is said, through some peculiar 
 partiality shown him ; and he was indebted much to 
 the friendship and assistance of Br. George Park- 
 man. The same year he delivered his first course 
 of lectures before the Medical Class of the XJniver- 
 dty, at the institution m .llason street, in this city, 
 at which time he succeeded the late celebrated Pro- 
 fessor Gerham. Professor "Webster's salary was 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 T6 
 
 
 fixed at nineteen hundred dollars per annum. In 
 this position he commenced that awful epoch in his 
 life which has this day closed with his death. 
 
 " By the decease of his father, in 1834, Professor 
 Webster inherited a fortune of about $40,000 ; but 
 this has gradually been wasted, until his family are 
 now left with but a comparatively small income. 
 Extravagant in his habits — generous to his family — 
 wishing to maintain a brilliant position in society — 
 he threw his fortune heedlessly away into the vortex 
 of fashionable life. Money went; and debts came ; 
 pecuniary troubles accumulated thick and fast ; his 
 was not the calculating economy that could avert 
 impending ruin. Old friends became ruthless cred- 
 itors — poverty and the jail stared him i- 'tying in 
 the face — at first he practised fraud, a! : finally, 
 when disgraceful exposure of some kind must come, 
 he meditated the violent death of his most persecuting 
 creditor. The world knows the rest." 
 
 The town of Lexington was formerly a part of 
 Cambridge ; here it was that the first blood was shed 
 in the cause of the Revolution, and on the spot a 
 monument is erected bearing the following inscrip- 
 tion : — 
 
 ■ 
 
\^i/miy 
 
 76 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 Sacred to Liberty and the Rights of Mankind! 
 
 The freedom and independence of America, 
 
 Sealed and defended with the blood of her sona. 
 
 This monument is erected 
 
 By the inhabitants of Lexington, 
 
 Under the patronage and at the expense of 
 
 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 
 
 To the memory of their fellow-citizens, 
 
 Ensign Robert Monroe, Messrs Jonas Parker, 
 
 Samuel Hadley, Jonathan Harrington, Jun., 
 
 Isaac Muzzy, Caleb Harrington, and John Brown, 
 
 Of Lexington, and Ashael Porter, of Wobum, 
 
 Who fell on this field, the first victims to the 
 
 Sword of British tyranny and oppression. 
 
 On the ever memorable 
 
 Nineteenth of April, An. Dom. 1775. 
 
 The die was cast ! 
 
 The blood of these martyrs. 
 
 In the cause of God and their country. 
 
 Was the cement of the Union of these States, then 
 
 Colonies, and gave the spring to the spirit, firmness 
 
 And resolution of their fellow-citizens. 
 
 They rose as one man to revenge their brethren's 
 
 Blood, and at the point of the sword to assist and 
 
 Defend their native rights. 
 
 They nobly dared to be free! 
 
 The contest was long, bloody and aff'ecting. 
 
 Righteous Heaven approved the solemn appeal ; 
 
 Victory crowned their arms ; 
 
 And the peace, liberty, and independence of the 
 
 United States of America was their glorious reward. 
 
 Built the year 1799. 
 
 f 
 
 t; 
 I 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 77 
 
 The last time I visited Boston, Jenny Lind, the 
 " Swedish nightingale,'* was holding her nightly con- 
 certs. IJ6OO was paid for a single ticket. 
 
 Jenny Lind gave in the Tremont Temple in Boston 
 her first charity concert in this country, the pro- 
 ceeds of which rere $7,255,09, and appropriated as 
 follows: — 
 
 Boston Port Society, $1,000 
 
 Association for Aged and Indigent Temales, 1,000 
 
 Masical Fund Society, 1,000 
 
 Farm School for Indigent Boys, 500 
 
 Charitable Orthopedic Association, 500 
 
 Boston Female Asylum, 500 
 
 Howard Benevolent Society, 500 
 
 Young Men's Benevolent Society, 500 
 
 Society for Prevention of Pauperism, 500 
 
 Parent Washington Total Abstinence Society, 500 
 To Messrs. Charles & J. M. Spear, to be appropriated to 
 
 the Beformation of the Prisoner, 255 
 To a poor Swedish woman, the mothe^of nine children, 100 
 
 To a poor woman of Boston, loo 
 
 Total, 
 
 $7,255 
 
 Jenny Lind also contributed large sums of money 
 for benevolent objects in the other American cities 
 which she visited. 
 
 It is said Jenny Lind pays ^4,500 annually under 
 the English Income Tax. She has invested m the 
 British three per cents, about $760,000. Her 
 
78 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 annual income, from that source alone, is. about jJ22,- 
 000. She has given awajr in charity about £84,000 ; 
 $400,000, as nearly as can be estimated. £2T,000 
 <af this was given in England ; .£5,000 in Edinburgh. 
 The entire amount of her European wealth is esti- 
 mated at $1,000,000. The Eev. George Scott, 
 Methodist minister, who for several years was sta-, 
 vtioned at Stockholm, says : — 
 
 " Strange as it may appear, it is nevertheless true, 
 that Jenny Lind has contributed not a little to 
 increase the present religious excitement. We know 
 that this celebrated cantatrice had not been received 
 in the capital of her country with the enthusiasm 
 which might have been expected; the reasons are 
 before me, though I am not at liberty to make them 
 all public ; —thus much is, however, known, that the 
 amiable songstress not only positively refused to 
 appear on the stage as an actress, but on many occa- 
 sions openly declared that the ungodliness of her 
 fatherland filled her with alarm, and in her regular 
 attendance on public' worship selected those churches 
 the pastors of which were known to be spiritually 
 minded. The fire now broke loose ; all the papers, 
 with the exception of two, boiled over with the 
 bitterest invectives against the pietists, who not only 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 79 
 
 started the Home Mission, but had, worst of all, taken 
 captive the « Swedish Nightingale.' " 
 
 The following account of Jenny Lind is from the 
 pen of Hans Christian Anderson, one of the most 
 distinguished literary men of Sweden, and of whom 
 an interesting sketch has been written by Mary 
 Howitt : — 
 
 " One day in my hotel at Copenhagen, in the year 
 1840^ I saw the name of Jenny Lind among those of 
 the Swedish strangers. That same year I had been 
 in the neighboring country, and had been received 
 with much honor and kindness. It would not, there- 
 fore, be an unbecoming thing on my part, were I to 
 visit the young artist. At this time she was almost 
 entirely unknown out of Sweden ; even in Copen- 
 hagen her name was known to but few. She received 
 me with great courtesy, but distantly and 'oldly. 
 She was, as she said, on a journey with her father to 
 South Sweden, and was merely come over to Copen- 
 hagen to see the city. We shortly after separated, 
 and I had the impressioa left upon me of a very ordi- 
 nary character. It soon, however, passed away, and 
 I had forgotten Jenny Lind. In the Autumn of 
 1843, Jenny Lind again came to Copenhagen. 
 Boumonville, the ballet master, one of my friends, 
 
80 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 had married a Swedish lady, a friend of the fair 
 singer. He informed me of her arrival, and told mo 
 that she remembered me very kindly, and had now 
 read most of my writings. He entreated me to go 
 m^h him and make a call upon her. I did so. I 
 was no longer received as a stranger. She cordially 
 extended her hand. She spoke of my writings, and 
 of her friend. Miss Frederika Bremer. The conver- 
 sation then turned upon her appearance in Copen- 
 hagen. * I have never made my appearance out of 
 Sweden,' she said. < Every body in my own land is 
 so affectionate and loving to me. If I made my 
 appearance here, and should be hissed ! I dare not 
 venture on it.' I said that I, it was true, could not 
 pass judgment upon her, having never heard her 
 sing; but that, nevertheless, I felt convinced that 
 such was then the disposition in Copenhagen, that she 
 was certain to be successful. Boumonville's persua- 
 sion eventually gained for the Copenhageners the 
 greatest enjoyment they ever had. Jenny made her 
 first appearance in the part of Alice. It was a 
 new revelation of the realms of art. The fresh 
 young voice found its way into every heart. Here 
 truth and nature reigned. Every thing was full of 
 meaning and intelligence. At one concert she sung 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 81 
 
 her Swedish songs. They were so peculiar and so 
 bewitching, that, uttered by such a purely feminine 
 being, they exercised an omnipotent sway. The 
 whole of Copenhagen was enraptured. The first 
 artist to whom the Danish students gave a serenade 
 was Jenny Lind. Torches blazed around the villa 
 where the serenade was given. She came out and 
 expressed her thanks by singing one of her Swedish 
 songs. I saw her then hasten into the darkest comer 
 of the room we were in, and weep from emotion. 
 
 * Yes, yes,' she said, * I will exert myself. You shall 
 see that I will be bettor qualified when I again visit 
 Copenhagen.' 
 
 " In her public exhibitions she is the great artist 
 who rises above all that are around her. In her own 
 chamber she is a young and sensitive girl, possessed 
 with all the humility and piety of a child. In Copen- 
 hagen her advent made an epoch in the history of our 
 opera. She showe . our art in all its sanctity. I 
 had beheld one of its vestals. She returned to 
 Stockholm. Thence Frederika Bremer wrote to me i 
 
 * We are both of us agreed as to Jenny Lind as a 
 singer. She stands as high as any artist of our time 
 well can stand. But as yet you do not know her in 
 her real greatness. Speak to her of art, and you 
 
82 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 will wonder at the expansion of her mind. Her 
 countenance is lighted with inspiration. Converse 
 with her upon God, and of the holiness of religion, 
 tears will spring from those innocent eyes. She is a 
 great artist, but she is still greater in the pure hu- 
 manity of her existence.* Indeed, nothing can les- 
 sen tho impression made by Jenny Lind's greatness 
 on the stage, save her personal character in her own 
 house. Her intelligent and child-like disposition here 
 excites a singular power. She is happy, belonging 
 no longer to the world. Yet she loves art with her 
 whole soul. She feels her vocation. Her noble and 
 pious disposition cannot be spoiled by homage. On 
 one occasion only, in my bearing, did she express joy 
 and self-consciousness in her talent. It was during 
 her last stay at Copenhagen. Every evening she ap- 
 pealed either at the concerts or in the opera. She 
 heard of a society, the object of which was to take 
 unfortunate children out of the hands of their pa- 
 rents, by whom they were compelled to beg or steal, 
 and place them in better circumstances. Benevolent 
 people subscribed annually for their support, yet the 
 means for this excellent purpose were but small. < I 
 have an evening disengaged,' said she; « I will give 
 a performance for these poor childr.en, but we must 
 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 88 
 
 performance 
 
 have double prices.' Sue) 
 
 and returned large proceeds. When she heard the 
 amount, her countenance lit up, and tears filled her 
 eyes. « It is beautiful; said she, < that I can sing 
 
 » >» 
 
 so. 
 
 According to the Assessor's returns, for the State 
 of Massachusetts, for 1850, we have the following 
 results : — 
 
 " Since 1840 at least 800 miles of railway have 
 been finished in the State, and many lines of stages 
 displaced ; but the horses in Massachusetts have in- 
 creased from 60,000, in 1840, to 74,060, in 1850. 
 In the same period cattle have increased from 278,- 
 737 to 299,600, while sheep have declined from 
 343,390 to 179,537. The product of wheat has de- 
 clined from 101,178 bushels to 28,487, and Indian 
 corn increased from 1,775,073 bushels to 2,295,856. 
 While cotton and woollen spindles have doubled in 
 number, distilleries have decreased from 78 to 43. 
 
 Number of Houses in Mass., 
 " Barns «' 
 
 Superficial feet of Wharf, 
 
 Number of Cotton Spindles in Mass., 
 " Woollen « " 
 
 " Bleacheries « 
 
 " Paper Mills «< 
 
 tons of Shipping 
 
 1850. 
 
 134,041 
 
 74,765 
 
 14,834,350 
 
 1,220 
 
 208,848 
 
 2S 
 
 114 
 
 628,770 
 
 1840. 
 
 96,560 
 
 63,806 
 
 8,402,886 
 
 624,540 
 
 113,457 
 
 10 
 
 98 
 
 498,057 
 
84 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 " The Railways in the same period have increased 
 nearly 600 per cent." 
 
 Massachusetts annually produces over 1,000,000 
 bushels of fruit, valued at $800,000; 600,000 
 pounds of Maple Sugar, 8,000,000 pounds of butter, 
 and about 8,000,000 pounds of cheese. 
 
 Massachusetts is the greatest manufacturing State 
 in the Union. There are about 480 Tanneries 
 throughout the State, which manufacture annually 
 about 2,000,000 hides of leather, and employ up- 
 wards of 2,000 hands. The number of boots and 
 shoes made is over 22,000,000 pairs, which give em- 
 ployment to 27,000 males and 19,000 females ; be- 
 sides which almost every description of manufacture 
 is carried on. - 
 
 Immense quantities of Iron and Coal are raised in 
 the United States. The quantity of anthracite and 
 bituminous coal raised throughout the Union in 1847, 
 is estimated at 5,000,000 tons, the average value of 
 which, at the place of consumption, is estimated at 
 $20,000,000, or $4 per ton. The greater part of 
 this coal was from Pennsylvania. The number of 
 furnaces in the United States is estimated to be 640, 
 yielding 486,000 tons of Pig Iron ; 954 bloomeries, 
 forges, rolling mills, &c., yielding 291,600 tons of 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 85 
 
 bar, hoop, sh^et, boiler, and other wrought iron, 30,- 
 000 tons of blooms, and 122,000 tons of castings ; 
 the whole valued at $42,000,000. Pennsylvania 
 alone is said to produce 250,000 tons of iron an- 
 nually. 
 
 Some idea of the extent of the iron trade inland 
 may be formed from the quantities carried on the 
 canals. In 1847, there came to the Hudson, on the 
 New lork canals, Pi.sc Iron 21,608,000 pounds; 
 bloom and bar, 26,348, . , pounds ; Iron-ware 3,014,- 
 000 pounds ; 340 tons Iron and Iron-ware cleared 
 on the canals at Buffalo and Oswego ; St. Lawrence 
 Co., N. Y., shipped 515 tons of pig, a surplus made 
 there ; 7,716 tons of pig Iron reached Buffalo, via 
 Lake Erie, and 1,256 kegs of nails; 15,103,565 
 pounds of Iron and nails arrived at Cleveland, via the 
 Ohio Canal, and 4,085 tons of Iron and 12,537 kegs 
 of nails were shipped from Cleveland coastwise. 
 There cleared at Portsmouth, Chillicothe, Massillon, 
 and Akron, in 1847, about 5,713 tons of Iron; 
 5,269,055 pounds of nails were shipped at Akron. 
 The trade in Coal and Iron on the Western rivers and 
 lakes is \ery large. 
 
 The Coal trade of Pennsylvania is now probably- 
 greater than the Iron ; both employ the canals and 
 8 
 
86 
 
 i 1 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 railroads, and require thousands of canal boats and 
 railroad cars for transportation. A ton of pig Iron is 
 made with two and a half tons each of ore and coal, 
 and a ton of limestone ; also, say for labor and pro- 
 visions while smelting the ore, and contingences, }6 
 — in all $20 ; other $40, chiefly for labor, coal and 
 provisions, are required to convert pig into a ton of 
 bar. Iron canal boats were in common use in Wales 
 thirty years ago — they are beginning to be made 
 here ; also war steamers. Fences, and even porches 
 to houses, are often of iron. The pipes for the Cro- 
 ton water in New York required many thousand tons. 
 The annual value of 150,000 tons of iron ore of Ma- 
 ryland is worth $600,000 at Baltimore. A single 
 foundry in Tennessee sold, in 1844, of sugar-kettles, 
 $60,000 worth. 
 
 In the month of April I made a tour through the 
 States of New Hampshire and Maine. The first 
 place which I visited was — 
 
 Lynn, which was first settled in 1629. It received 
 its name from a town in England. Its Indian name 
 y(i& Sa^'gust. It is about six miles in length, and is 
 almost surrounded by water. The river Saugus 
 flows on the West, the harbor on the South, the ocean 
 on the Southeast, and a chain of Ponds, called the 
 " Lynn Lakes," on the north. The town has broad 
 
UNCLE SAM'S PABM. 
 
 87 
 
 and pleasant streets. It is one of the most thriving 
 towns of New England, containing a population, in 
 1850, of 13,613. In the northern part of Lynn is a 
 Mineral Spring, which is a place of great resort. It 
 is one of the most celebrated places in the country 
 for the manufacture of shoes. It was noted for this 
 manufacture before the Revolutionary war. There 
 are about 3,000,000 pairs of women's and girls' (or, 
 as the Yankee would say, misses') shoes annually 
 made here, valued at $2,000,000, or .£400,000 
 sterling. The manufacture of calico amounts to 
 $T0,000, and of Morocco, $34,000. There are va- 
 rious other manufactures, too numerous to detail, 
 besides agricultural produce. The value of fresh 
 fish taken amounts to $13,950. In 1849, Lynn em- 
 ployed sixteen vessels in the Cod and Mackerel fish- 
 eries, and two in the Whale fishery. 
 
 The following is the quantity and value of the 
 Whale Oil produced in the United States in 1845: 
 
 Gallons of Sperm Oil, 
 Value of Sperm Oil, 
 Gallons of Whale Oil, 
 Value of Whale Oil, 
 Gallons of other Oil, 
 Value of other Oil, 
 Pounds of Whalebone, 
 Value of Whalebone, 
 Capital Invested, 
 
 6,704,716 
 
 $6,233,276 
 
 9,572,990 
 
 $2,961,619 
 
 72,409 
 
 ■ $28,764 
 
 2,937,509 
 
 $1,147,518 
 
 $11,805,910 
 
88 
 
 1 1 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 It will be seen that the value of the Whale Fishery 
 alone, amounts to the enoimou^sum of jC 2,074,233 
 sterling ; whereas the total quantity of Seal and Cod 
 Oil of Newfoundland does not amount to more than 
 ^300,000 per annum. 
 
 The greatest quantity of Whale Oil exported from 
 Newfoundland was in the years 1830 and 1834, which 
 was about 200 tons ; valued at ^30 per ton, amounts 
 to £5,000. There were also 117 hundred weight 
 Whalebone; valued at £4 per hundred weight, 
 amounts to £470. Previous to the last war between 
 America and Great Britain, ten or twelve vessels 
 belonging to Massachusetts frequented the Wes^tem 
 Coast of Newfoundland in pursuit of Whales, and 
 were very successful ; but after the war broke out, 
 the Whale Fishery on the Newfoundland Coast by 
 the Americans was abandoned. 
 
 The following is the number of vessels employed in 
 the Whale Fishery in the United States during the 
 years 1848 and 1849 : — 
 
 Vears. 
 
 Ships and Barques. 
 
 Brigs. 
 
 Schooners. 
 
 Tonnage. 
 
 1848 
 
 581 
 
 21. 
 
 12 
 
 196,110 
 
 1849 
 
 510 
 
 20 
 
 13 
 
 171,483 
 
 The falling off in the outfit for the Whale Fishery is 
 attributed to the emigration to California. The ves- 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 89 
 
 sels employed in the Whale Fishery belong princi- 
 pally to New Bedford, Fairhaven, Westport, Nan- 
 tucket, Warren, Stonington, Mystic, New London, 
 Sag Harbor, and Greenport. They have generally a 
 crew of twenty.five men each, which makes an aggre- 
 gate of 12,750 men. Taking into the account those 
 employed in carrying the oil, &c., to market, we and 
 it takes about 860 vessels of various tonnage, navi- 
 gated by 12,000 seamen — about one tenth of the 
 whole mercantile marine of the United States. It is 
 estimated that the expense of manufactories, wharfs, 
 stores, and other expenses connected with it, amount 
 to no less a sum than ^70,000,000, or upwards' of 
 £14,000,000 sterling, and that more than 70,000 per- 
 sons are employed in it. In the prosecution of this 
 business, there are consumed 46,000 barrels of flour, 
 36,000 barrels of beef and pork, 900,000 pounds of - 
 copper and copper nails, 1,500,000 barrels, 2,600 
 tons of iron hoops, &c. 
 
 The following are the imports of Sperm and Whale 
 Oil, and Whalebone, into the United States, for the 
 week ending January 7th, 1850. 
 
 Ships. 
 
 3 
 
 Bbltr. Sperm. 
 
 3,780 
 8* 
 
 BWi. Whalo. 
 
 300 
 
 Pounds Bone. 
 
 1,400 
 
90 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 Most of the common Whale Oil is exported from 
 the United States to Northern Europe. Most of the 
 Whalebone is also exported. The product of the 
 Spermaceti Whale is used as lamp oil, making can- 
 dles, and various other purposes. The quantity of 
 Spermaceti candles annually made is over 3,000,000 
 pounds. By a chemical process these candles can be 
 tinged with any color. Candles from Nantucket are 
 often sold for pure wax. 
 
 From Lynn I proceeded to Salem, which is fifteen 
 miles east of Boston, and contains a population of 
 nearly 19,000, and in point of wealth and commerce 
 it has always ranked as the second town in New Eng- 
 land. It was first settled in 1626, and the earlier 
 inhabitants thought of making it the capital inste?^d of 
 Boston. Here the celebrated John Endicott resided 
 for some time after his arrival ♦from England, and who 
 was the first Governor of Massachusetts under the 
 First Charter. Here was born the great American 
 Mathematician and Astronomer, Dr. Bowditch, one 
 of the most remarkable men of his day. Salem took 
 an important part in the struggle for independence. 
 About sixty armed vessels were fitted out from this 
 place during the Revolution. It has a commodious 
 harbor and good anchorage, and is more extensively 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 91 
 
 known for its East India trade than any port in the 
 United States ; but it has greatly declined in commer- 
 cial importance, most of the shipping having been 
 removed to Boston, although continuing to be owned 
 in Salem. The following are the number of vessels 
 belonging to Salem in 1850 : — 
 
 20 Ships, 
 
 
 9,953 Tons. 
 
 84 Barques, 
 
 
 8,500 
 
 (( 
 
 42 Brigs, 
 
 
 6,782 
 
 u 
 
 8 Yachts, 
 
 
 185 
 
 it 
 
 Coasting and fishing 
 
 vessels, 
 
 16,000 
 
 « 
 
 Total, 
 
 41,420 
 
 Chestnut street is one of the principal streets of the 
 city, has rows of trees on either side, and contains 
 many beautiful buildings. The East India Marine 
 Hall was erected in 1825, and cost $25,000. It is 
 100 feet by 45, built of granite. In this hall is a 
 very fine Museum, consisting of upwards of 5,000 
 specimens of natural and artificial curiosities collected 
 from all parts of the world, amongst which is a model 
 of the first ship sent from Salem to the East Indies, 
 in 1784. One of the most interesting specimens I 
 have ever seen is in the possession of an old gentle- 
 man, consisting not only of animals, fossils, &c., but 
 
n 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 also some of the most curious pieces of machinery, 
 invented hy himself. 
 
 The value of the manufactures of Salem amounts to 
 upwards of 1^2,000,000, consisting of leather, boots 
 and shoes, cordage, cabinet ware, tobacco, alum, ves- 
 sels, &c., &c. The value of the cod, whale, and 
 mackerel fisheries amounts to about $300,000. Here 
 there is a large steam cotton factory, employing up- 
 wards of 500 hands. 
 
 Salem is celebrated in the history of America on 
 account of its Witches ; although the delusion ap- 
 peared in other places before Salem. In 1692, nine- 
 teen persons were tried and hanged here as Witches. 
 At this time laws were in force in England against 
 Witchcraft, which received the sanction of the re- 
 nowned Sir Matthew Hale. The Rev. George Bur- 
 roughs was executed in 1692 on Gallows Hill, in Sa- 
 lem, for Witchcraft. The following is in the hand- 
 writing, on the church record, of the Rev. Samuel 
 Parris, who was born in London, and settled at Dan- 
 vers in 1689, a town adjoining Salem. In 1692 
 Witchcraft first made its appearance in America, in 
 the family of Mr. Parris. 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 98 
 
 I 
 
 " 27tii March, Sab., 1692. 
 Sacrament Bay. 
 " After the common auditory were dismissed, and 
 before the church communion of the Lord's Table, 
 the following Testimony against the Error of our sis- 
 ter Mary Sibley, who had given direction to my In 
 dian man in an unwarrantable way to find out witches, 
 was read by the Pastor. It is altogether undeniable 
 that our great and blessed God hath suffered many 
 persons, in several Families of this little village, to be 
 grievously vexed and tortured in body, and to be 
 deeply tempted, to the endangering of the destruc- 
 tion of their souls, and all these amazing facts (well 
 known to many of us) to be done by Witchcraft and 
 Diabolical operations. It is also well known that 
 when these calamities first began, which was in my 
 own family, the affliction was several weeks before 
 such hellish operations as witchcraft was suspected. 
 Nay, it never broke forth to any considerable light 
 until diabolical means was used by the making of a 
 cake by my Indian man, who had his directions from 
 this our sister Mary Sibley, since which operations 
 have been plenty, and exceeding much mischief hath 
 followed. But by this means it seems the Devil hath 
 
94 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 been raised amongst us, and his rage is vehement and 
 terrible, and when he shall be silenced the Lord only 
 knows." 
 
 From Salem I proceeded to Marblehead, the sterile 
 appearance of which reminded me of my own native 
 land. Marblehead is Newfoundland in miniature. 
 On the barren rocks which for the most part surround 
 the harbor, are erected fish-flakes, for the purpose of 
 curing fish on. What would a Newfoundland fisher- 
 man think of seeing fish-flakes only three feet high, 
 six or eight feet wide, and from ten to twenty feet 
 long, built of narrow strips of board, and so frail as 
 to be incapable of bearing a person to walk on them ! 
 I am sure he would laugh at such an affair. Such, 
 however, are the fish-flakes of Marblehead. From 
 the first settlement of the country to the present time, 
 Marblehead has been celebrated for its enterprise in 
 the fisheries. At the commencement of the war 
 between Great Britian and America, this was the 
 second important town in the colony of Massachusetts. 
 It is distant from Boston sixteen miles, and contains 
 a population of 8,000. The number of vessels be- 
 longing to this place is about 100, which are employ- 
 ed at the Banks, and in the Labrador Cod Fishery 
 
UNCtK SAM'S FABM. 
 
 96 
 
 and Mackerel Fishery. The annual value of the Cod 
 and Mackerel Fishery is about $170,000, or ^35,. 
 000. The various manufactures of the place are said 
 to amount to $400,000 annually, or £80,000. A 
 steam Cotton Mill was erected hero five years ago, 
 the statistics of which I have not been able to obtain. 
 The land near the sea is very hilly and rocky. When 
 the celebrated Whitefield first visited Marblehead, he 
 asked where they used to bury their dead. Notwith^ 
 standing its rocky appearance, the land surroundin^r 
 the town is very fertile, the Agricultural Society hav! 
 mg awarded premiums for the largest quantity of 
 hay, barley, and corn, obtained here from an acre. 
 This town produced in one year 1,500 bushels of 
 gram, 2,000 bushels of fruit, 17,525 bushels of ve^re- 
 tables, 550 tons of hay, and 1,295 pounds of butter. 
 When I sat down to breakfast at the neat, homely 
 hotel of Marblehead, I fancied myself sitting at the 
 hospitable table of Newman & Co., at Harbor Briton, 
 m Fortune Bay, Newfoundland. The first dish which 
 appeared on the table was a nice dish of fine fried 
 halibut. The whole place has a Newfoundland-like 
 appearance. The barren, naked rocks skirting the 
 water, covered with fish-flakes, the fishermen moving 
 about, the schooners preparing for the fishery, and 
 
'^ 
 
 A PEEr AT 
 
 ifi 
 
 tho ocean billows in all their wildness dashmg without 
 (be harbor, w/^pping the rocks in sheets of spray and 
 foam, all strongly remL led me of my native home. 
 S^'he Cod fishery in New England first commenced 
 at Dorchester, about five miles distant from Boston, 
 in tho year 1633. Tho following will show tho value 
 of the Cod fishery for tlie State of Massachusetts in 
 the year 1844. 
 
 Vessels employed, 
 
 Tonnage, 
 
 Barrels of Mackerel, 
 
 Value of Mackerel, 
 
 Quintals of Cod fish. 
 
 Value of Cod fish. 
 
 Value of other fish and Lobsters, 
 
 Bushels of Salt consumed, 
 
 Capital invested, 
 
 Hands employed, 
 
 967 
 
 61,796 
 
 86,628 
 
 ^637,052 
 
 334,901 
 
 $746,263 
 
 $100,822 
 
 491,064 
 
 $1,238,640 
 
 7,866 
 

 UNCUS SAW'S FARM. 
 
 W 
 
 Annual Retuhn of the amount of mackerel and 
 
 from the Sprovtcer^^^^ "^ ^^^'^^^^ 
 
 MACKEREL. 
 
 p-; ; . JMs. No, 
 
 Boston, (ro-inspe^ted) . . . "rFm^ 
 Boston, (inspeetod) .\ .: : ,%« 
 
 « 
 
 n 
 
 II 
 
 11 
 
 i< 
 
 II 
 
 II 
 
 II 
 
 II 
 
 II 
 
 II 
 
 II 
 
 II 
 
 Mnrblchead, 
 Beverly, 
 
 Manchester 
 
 Gloucester, 
 
 Itockport, 
 
 Newburyport," 
 
 Hingham, 
 
 Cohaaset, 
 
 Scituate, 
 
 Plymouth, 
 
 Yarmouth, 
 
 Westport, 
 
 Egertown, 
 
 Dennis, 
 
 Barnstable, 
 
 Harwich, 
 
 Chatham, 
 
 Wellfleet, 
 
 Truro, 
 
 Provincetown " M^^ 
 
 Nantucket, 
 
 88 
 60 
 60 
 27 
 14,636 
 1,459 
 4,148 
 4,147 
 8,229 
 892 
 76 
 1,487 
 24 
 163 
 2,629 
 2,035 
 5,039 
 1,627 
 5,604 
 
 7,080 
 106 
 
 l|Bls^.; 
 
 12,886 
 6,327 
 82 
 46 
 97 
 178 
 19,822 
 2,106 
 5,818 
 4,681 
 5,207 
 577 
 213 
 1,821 
 48 
 188 
 4,181 
 2,066 
 5,401 
 1,361 
 7,726 
 4,666 
 9,256 
 106 
 
 2,126 
 
 4,014 
 
 9 
 80 
 82 
 11,121 
 822 
 6,914 
 4,666 
 6,869 
 442 
 277 
 2,624 
 73 
 25 
 4,275 
 2,111 
 4,165 
 869 
 6,819 
 8,861 
 7,010 
 218 
 
 22,906 
 14,441 
 116 
 104 
 187 
 28r 
 45,679 
 4,886 
 16,880 
 13,424 
 '5,29» 
 1,411 
 666 
 ' 802 
 146 
 3aft 
 11,1 86 
 6,212 
 14,6 '6 
 8,8-t5 
 18,649 
 11,86 ' 
 23,34: 
 480 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 Mackerel 2ai ««« 
 
 Salmon . . ' ^ .'!!? 
 
 Shad . : -. ^.821 
 
 ?r"rg . . : : : : : H'. 
 
 Alewives 
 Cod . . . 
 
 Menhaden 
 
 872 
 
 2,189 
 
 97 
 
 18 
 
 Sword Fish . . uta 
 
 Tongues and Sounds 
 Halibut Fins . . . . 
 Salmon Trout . , 
 Blue Fish ... 
 
 Torm ^ r. '' *°*^^ 288,49& 
 
 ^""^ ^'"i'^fto^ OJice, Boston, January 7th, 1850 
 
98 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 Statement of the tonnage and men employed in the 
 Bank or Cod Fishery of the United States, the 
 product of the same, and the amount of allowances 
 paid to the owners of vessels engaged in the Fish- 
 eries, during the year ending 30th June, 1848 : — 
 
 Vessels 
 
 Number. Tonnage. Men. Boys. 
 , 1,597 86,069 8,495 484 
 
 Quantity. Value. 
 
 Codfish (cwt.) 558,640 «1,566,919 
 
 Fish Oil (gallons) 165,210 73,654 
 
 Tongues and Sounds (bbls.) 607 8,870 
 
 Halibut, Hake, and Pollock (cwt.) . 44,933 99,491 
 
 Total value $1,743,434 
 
 Amount of allowances paid, $243,432. 
 
 Statement of the quantity of Pickled Fish exported 
 from the United States, the bounty paid on export- 
 ation, and the amount of allowances paid to the 
 owners of vessels employed in the Bank or Cod 
 Fishery, from 1843 to 1848, inclusive : — 
 
 
 Pickled Fish exported 
 
 Allow, to 
 
 Fishing 
 
 Vessels. 
 
 Total 
 
 Years. 
 
 Barrels. 
 
 Bate 
 per barrel. 
 
 Bounty. 
 
 Bounty & 
 Allow. 
 
 1843 
 1844 
 1845 
 1846 
 1847 
 1848 
 
 17,575 
 83,318 
 20,871 
 27,703 
 32,441 
 29,915 
 
 20 cents 
 « 
 
 (( 
 
 u 
 2i cents. 
 
 $3,515 
 6,663 
 4,174 
 5,541 
 6,488 
 748 
 
 $165,932 
 249,074 
 289,840 
 274,942 
 276,429 
 243,432 
 
 $173,247 
 255,737 
 294,014 
 280,483 
 282,917 
 244,180 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 99 
 
 . . . .f 
 
 jn jjt^ io bs M 
 
 > > .. ^ D 
 
 - " " - O, 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 O 
 
 00 00 00 
 X^ )tk CO 
 03 b9 to 
 
 o> 
 
 & 
 
 
 •=1 s i- s 
 
 cr" <B 1^ "^ 
 
 CO 
 
 S^ 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 ** 
 
 •* 
 
 s :: g. 
 
 M 
 
 to 
 
 M 
 
 M to H^ 
 
 00 
 
 © 
 
 O 
 
 cn O © 
 
 M^ 
 
 t3 
 
 © 
 
 © O © 
 
 CO 
 
 « 
 
 
 •rJ >c) 
 
 
 
 
 ffi fD 
 
 
 
 
 •^ >-« 
 
 t> 
 
 H 
 
 
 •* 
 
 "CO 
 
 H 
 
 Sl4 
 
 
 K- i 
 
 Tj 
 
 § 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 ? 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 iz! 
 
 o> 1^ CO to hd 
 
 
 ?^ 
 
 M M h- M M 
 
 
 «1 
 
 Op 00 00 00 00 
 
 
 <e 
 
 *; If. CO CO to 
 
 
 p 
 
 00 CO 00 M «5 
 
 
 • 
 
 in 
 
 
 
 J-" to K-l 
 
 o 
 
 
 QO M ■© "cO Kk 
 
 % 
 
 o 
 
 to 00 t-l Ox S 
 
 3. 
 
 OS 00 cn CO to 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 
 to 
 
 w 
 
 jy to i_i ^ 
 
 c 
 
 s- 
 
 en M "© "co tfk. 
 
 S-. 
 
 cr 
 
 05 00 h.4 W 05 
 
 a> 
 
 • 
 
 © 00 o» « to 
 
 01 
 
 
 J-T to CO to 
 
 p 
 
 
 « © -^ "Ju CO 
 
 1 
 
 CO 
 
 
 M Jk CO © S 
 © O © (fk Jo 
 
 CO 
 
 E. 
 B 
 
 
 
 J35 ^O, _~» rfi. ^ 
 
 J-J to "en "to "co 
 
 
 P 
 
 00 00 00 © CO 
 
 CD 
 
 
 W © © 00 S 
 
 
 to M 
 
 td 
 
 
 to to 
 
 p 
 
 
 Cn -T l-« 
 
 q 
 
 ^ 
 
 W CO 00 CO CO 
 
 3 
 
 !»>. CO to to S 
 
 CA 
 
 p 
 
 
 
 CD 
 3 
 
 1-1 
 
 
 © l-t 
 
 ■2 -'^ €e 
 
 p 
 
 o © to ^ 
 
 S". 
 
 • 
 
 M © ^ rf^ J; 
 
 
 
 05 © CO 00 CO 
 
 CO 
 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 
 CO )-l CO 
 
 n 
 
 
 >^ CO to 05 to 
 
 CD 
 
 •*>■ t- f rf^ to 
 
 CD 
 
 CD 
 
 
 
 rf^ t-" CO „ 
 
 
 
 CO CO ox to ^-i 
 
 
 
 S" CO to <^ E 
 
 en 1- M g K 
 
 OS 
 
 ^ 
 
 OS to k< .£« 
 
 _CO jsx J» cn to 
 
 i-J ~co "co "oo 1^ 
 
 CO en 00 ^ to 
 
 © CO CO CO Si 
 
 00 
 
 CO CO to ^ 
 
 H* CO QO ot 
 
 _Cn ^ _co 00 
 03 "oi "to "en "oo 
 
 «" CO to *: S 
 
 a- 2. 
 
 A p 
 
 (D & 
 
 2 i ® 
 
 O 
 
 c» 
 
 00 D 
 
 00 
 
 P- 
 m 
 
 
 P 
 et- 
 
 CO g: 
 
 
 i-j QO t3- 
 » g O 
 
 CD 
 
 00 
 00 
 
 <x> 
 
 p p 
 
 53- p^ 
 
 o 
 
 04 
 
 p 
 
 o 
 
 p- 
 
100 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 RETURN FROM THE BRITISH ^ARGE D'AFFAIRES AT 
 
 AVASHINGTON. 
 
 A statement of the amount of Bounties on salted Fish 
 exported, and of allowances to Vessels employed in 
 the Bank and Cod Fisheries annually, for the years 
 ending 30th June, 1844, M5, '46, '47, and '48 : — 
 
 1844, 
 1845, 
 1846, 
 1847, 
 1848 
 
 Bounties on Pickled 
 Pish sxported. 
 
 $6,663.60 
 
 4,174.20 
 
 2,540.60 
 
 6,488.20 
 
 747.80 
 
 Allow, to vesBels employed in 
 Bank & Cod Fisheries. 
 
 $249,074.26 
 289,840.07 
 274,942.98 
 276,429.38 
 243,432.23 
 
 Tonnage of Vessels enrolled and licensed for the 
 Mackerel and Cod Fisheries from 1844 to 1848, 
 inclusive. 
 
 Mackerel fishery. Cod Fishery. 
 
 Tons. Tons. 
 
 1844, 16,171 75,179 
 
 1845, 21,413 69,826 
 
 1846, 36,463 72,516 
 
 1847, 31,451 70,178 
 
 1848, 43,539 82,632 
 
 Rate of allowance to Vessels in the Cod Fishery :— 
 If 5 tons and not above 30 tons, per ton $3.50 
 
 If above 30 tons, per ton, 4.00 
 
 If above 30 tons, and having a crew of 10 persons, 
 and employed at sea for 3^ months at least, but 
 less than 4 months, 4.00 
 
 Allowance to any vessel not to exceed 360.00 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 101 
 
 TOTAL VALUE OP THE AMERICAN FISHERIES IN 1848. 
 
 Qoantitj. 
 Codfish (quintals) 558,640 
 Fish Oil (gallons) 165,210 
 
 Tongues and Sounds, 
 
 (barrels) 607 
 
 Halibut, Hake, and 
 
 Pollock (quintals) 44,933 
 Mackerel (barrels) 173,256 
 Shad, Herring, Ale- 
 
 wives,Bluefish,Lob- 
 
 sters, &c. 
 
 Value. PoundB sterling 
 $1,566,919 
 73,654 
 
 3,370 
 
 99,491 
 1,274,104 
 
 150,000 
 
 ^633,507 
 
 Value of the Whale Oil in 1845 :— 
 
 Sperm Oil, 
 Whale Oil, 
 Other Oil, 
 Whalebone, 
 
 $6,223,276 
 
 2,961,619 
 
 28,754 
 
 1,147,518 
 
 Total, 
 
 £2,074,233 
 ^62,707,740 
 
 The value of the Fresh Fish consumed in the 
 United States must be enormous ; probabljr much more 
 than the above. 
 
 A great quantity of salt is manufactured in the 
 United States, which is used in the Fisheries, as well 
 as for other purposes. The first salt produced by 
 solar evaporation in America was made in the town of 
 Dennis, near Cape Cod, in the year 1776. In the 
 
102 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 towns about Cape Cod, there were manufactured in 
 1837, 669,064 bushels of salt, valued at $219,870. 
 Great quantities of salt, however, are manufactured in 
 other parts of the States. 
 
 irOTAL VALUE 
 
 -Codfish, quintals 
 Oil. Seal and Cod, tuns 
 Seal skins, number 
 Salmon, tierces 
 Herring, barrels 
 
 OF THE NEWFOUNDLAND 
 IN 1847. 
 Quantity. 
 837,973 
 8,670 
 436,831 
 4,917 
 20,908 
 
 FISHERIES, 
 
 Value. 
 £596,990 
 243,646 
 46,280 
 12,794 
 11,234 
 
 Total, 
 
 910,954 
 
 About the same quantity as the above is taken by 
 the French and American fishermen on the Banks and 
 along the shores of Newfoundland. 
 
 The exports from Newfoundland in the year 1814 
 were 1,200,000 quintals of codfish, valued at £2 per 
 quintal ; 20,000 quintals of pickled fish, in barrels ; 
 6,000 tuns of cod oil, at ^32 per tun; 156,000 seal 
 skins, at 5». each; 4,666 tuns seal oil, at ^36 per 
 tun ; besides salmon, mackerel, furs and berries to the 
 amount of .£10,000 ; the whole amounting to no less 
 a sum than X 2,828,976. 
 
 Newburyport is considered as one of the most 
 beautiful towns of New England. It is situated on 
 gently rising ground, on the south bank of the mouth 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 103 
 
 of the Merrimac river. Ifc is distant from Boston 
 thirty-four miles, and contains a population of about 
 10,000. Many years ago it was a place of great 
 commerce. As many as ninety ships have been in 
 process of construction here at one time. In 1808 
 the tonnage of this place was 30,000 tons. Ifc has 
 several times been visited with severe commercial 
 depressions, as well as a conflagration which destroyed 
 the most valuable portion of the town. It is now, 
 however, recovering its former prosperity. The num- 
 ber of vessels now belonging to this port is as follows : 
 —24 ships, 17 brigs, 9 barques, 96 schooners and 1 
 steamer : total tonnage, 23,962 tons. There are 
 several cotton mUls in operation here, the annual pro- 
 duce of which is, one million five hundred thousand 
 yards of printed cotton, and four million yards of the 
 finest cotton manufactured in the country. They 
 consume about one million four hundred thousand 
 pounds of cotton, ten thousand gallons of oil, and three 
 thousand tons of coal. These mills employ about one 
 thousand operatives. In addition to cotton goods 
 there are other manufactures of almost every descrip- 
 tion. Newbury is connected with Newburyport ; it 
 was once three miles distant, but the buildings now 
 extend from one town to the other. Newbury was 
 
104 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 
 first settled bj persons from England in 1633. It was 
 called by the Indians Quassacumcow. The quantity 
 of fruit annually raised in the two places is 51,997 
 bushels, valued at $41,000, or ^8,000. The number 
 of vessels employed in the cod and mackerel fishery, 
 at Newburyport, is 57, and at Newbury 18. Having 
 heard of a family residing here from Newfoundland, 
 we sought out their residence. They emigrated a 
 year ago from Carbonear in Newfoundland. True as 
 the needle to the pole, my heart beat warm towards 
 this family. They were all born within three rods of 
 me. I thought of the beautiful lines of James 
 Montgomery : — 
 
 " There is a spot of earth supremely blest, 
 A dear, a sweeter spot than all the rest ; 
 Where shall that land, that spot of earth be found ? 
 Art thou a man, a patriot, look around. 
 Oh, thou shalt find, howe'er thy footsteps roam. 
 That land thy country, and that spot thy home ! " 
 
 We spent a couple of hours very pleasantly wan- 
 dering through the beautiful cemetery. It is inter- 
 spersed with venerable oak and elm trees, and on all 
 sides magnificent monuments are to be seen, the whole 
 forming one of the most elegant cemeteries I have yet 
 seen in the country. In High Street, near the Court 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 105 
 
 House, is a fine pond of about six acres, which is 
 embellished with a mall and terraced promenade, a 
 delightful place of resort in the summer. About half 
 a mile from this, on the same street, are tlie remains 
 of the residence of the celebrated Lord Timothy 
 Dexter, so called. He was a rich, but most eccentric 
 man. I have heard a great deal of his eccentricities 
 from the good people of Newburjport ; one or two 
 incidents, however, will suffice. The whole front of 
 his dwelling, which was a very large house, was orna- 
 mented with about a hundred figures of men, beasts, 
 and birds, a couple of which were still standing when 
 I visited it. He at one time bought a cargo of warm- 
 ing pans, and shipped them to the West Indies, where, 
 quite unexpectedly, they were bought for either 
 straining or dipping molasses. This strange specular 
 tion turned out a most profitable one. A few years 
 previous to his death, he had a tomb erected in his 
 garden, had a coffin made, and then had his funeral 
 ceremonies performed on a certain day, while he him- 
 self stood at a distance as an observer. 
 
 Newbury and Newburjport have been the birth- 
 places of some of the most celebrated men America 
 has produced. Among other distinguished men born 
 here were Theophilus Parsons, LL. D., an eminent 
 
I I ii 
 
 11 
 
 106 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 jurist, Judge Bradbury, Judge Jackson, Hon. Wm. 
 Bartlett, and Moses Brown, two of the merchant 
 princes of America ; the distinguished mechanician, 
 Jacob Perkins, who pursued his inventions here till 
 fifty years of age, and then went to England. Here 
 John Quincy Adams, one of the Presidents of the 
 United States, resided during his early days, pursu- 
 ing his legal studies, under Mr. Parsons. It has also 
 been the birth-place of many eminent ministers of 
 various denominations. Here I saw the remains of the 
 celebrated George Whitefield. They are deposited in 
 the First Presbyterian Church. I descended to the 
 vault with the sexton, who carried a lamp. I cannot 
 describe my feelings when I laid my hand upon the 
 naked skull of this eminent and devoted servant of 
 God. The bones are very little decayed. The coffin 
 is made of hard wood, and perfectly sound. It has a 
 door at the head about seven or eight inches square, 
 as have all the coffins of this country. There is a 
 painted inscription on the coffin stating the time of his 
 death and age. Immediately beneath the pulpit of 
 the church is a marble tablet with the following 
 inscription: — 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 Under this Pulpit 
 are deposited 
 The Eemains 
 of 
 THE REV. GEO. WHITEFIELD, 
 and 
 THE REV. JONATHAN PARSONS, 
 The first Pastor of this Church, 
 whodied July 19th, I77(>; 
 also 
 OP THE REV. JOSEPH PRINCE, 
 Who died 1791. 
 
 lOT 
 
 On the right of the Pulpit is a beautiful marble 
 cenotaph, with the following inscription : — 
 
 This Cenotaph 
 is erected with affectionate veneration 
 to the memory of 
 THE REV. GEORGE WHITEFIELD, 
 bom at Gloucester, Eng., Dec. 16th, 1714 ; 
 educated at Oxford University; ordained 1736. 
 In a ministry of 34 years 
 he crossed the Atlantic 13 times, 
 and preached more than 18,000 sermons. 
 As a soldier of the cross, humble, devout, ardent, he put on the 
 whole armor of God, 
 preferring the honor of Christ 
 to his own interest, repose, reputation or life. 
 As a Christian orator, his deep piety, disinterested zeal, and vivid 
 imagination, gave unexampled energy to his look, action and utter- 
 
108 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 ance,-bold, fervent, pungent and popular in his eloquence; no 
 other uninspired man over preached to so large assemblies, or 
 enforced the simple truths of the Gospel by motives so persuasive 
 and awful, and with an influence so powerful on the hearts of his 
 hearers. 
 
 lie died of Asthma, Sept. iOth, 1770; 
 
 suddenly exchanging his life of unparalleled labors 
 
 for his eternal rest. 
 
 There are two other coffins in the same vault with 
 Mr. WhiteBeld's, one the Rev. Jonathan Parson's, and 
 the other a poor blind man's, who had a strong desire 
 to be buried with Mr. Whitefield. I have visited the 
 house where Mr. Whitefield died ; a:.^. while I trod 
 the very floor of the room in which he breathed his 
 last, I seemed to be walking on holy ground. The 
 house has undergone some considerable repairs, but 
 the old room is still preserved ; the chair in which 
 Mr. Whitefield died is in the Boston Library. One of 
 the principal bones of Whitefield's right arm had been 
 missing from among the remains for a number of 
 years -until last summer, (1849) when the minister 
 of the church, the Rev. Jonathan F. Stearns, received 
 a letter from a gentleman in England, from which the 
 following is an extract : — 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 109 
 
 ^P ■ w/^ 
 
 "Somo years ago, a brother clergyman was 
 requested to obtain an original letter of the dear and 
 honored Whitefield for me, which he thought he could 
 easily do. He failed, however, in the attempt, but, to 
 my great surprise and mortification, sent me what he 
 called a precious relic of the holy man of God, one of 
 his bones ! and precious it io, but it was of too sacred 
 a nature to expose to the public eye, and I have pre- 
 served it, hoping to restore it to its proper place with 
 my own hands. This I must now entrust to you, and 
 shall be happy to learn from you that it has been 
 done." 
 
 Mr. Stearns had the memorable relic conveyed to 
 the vault where its kindred remains lie, on the 27th 
 of September, 1849, after having twice crossed the 
 Atlantic, and performed a pilgrimage of at least a 
 quarter of a century. 
 
 The Rev. George Whitefield was one of the earliest 
 and latest friends of the Wesleys,-one of that little 
 band of faithful men who were called Methodists at 
 Oxford, more than a hundred years ago, whose names 
 will live through all generations. Whitefield first 
 arrived in this country in the year 1738. He landed 
 in Savannah, Georgia, and laid the foundation of an 
 orphan house a few miles from Savannali, and after- 
 10 
 
110 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 wards finished it at a great expense. He returned to 
 England the same year. While preaching in aid of 
 the Orphan House Charity, one of his hearers had 
 gone resolved that he would give nothing ; but after 
 hearing the preacher a little, ho determined to give 
 what copper money he had. Another stroke of the 
 preacher's eloquence made him ashamed of that 
 intention, and he determined to give his silver ; but so 
 completely was he won over by the admirable conclu- 
 sion of the sermon, that when the collector's plate 
 came round, he emptied his pockets of copper, silver, 
 gold, and all. In 1739, Whitefield visited America 
 again; he landed at Philadelphia, and began to preach 
 in different churches. In this and his subsequent 
 visits to America, he visited most of the principal 
 places. Immense numbers flocked to hear him where- 
 ever he preached. Such was the eagerness of the 
 multitude in Philadelphia to listen to spiritual instruc- 
 tion, that there was public worship regularly twice a 
 day for a year, and on the Lord's day it was celebra- 
 ted three or four times. During his visit to Philadel- 
 phia, he preached frequently after night from the 
 gallery of the Court House. So loud was his voice at 
 that time that it was distinctly heard on the Jersey 
 shore, a mile distant. ^Vhitefield was devoid of the 
 
UNCLt; SAM'S FARM. 
 
 Ill 
 
 spirit of sectarianism ; his only object being to 
 " preaca Christ and him crucified." The following 
 striking description of Whitefield is given by Mrs. 
 Childs, an American lady of great talent, now living 
 at Brookline, in the vicinity of Boston : — 
 
 '' There was nothing in the appearance of this 
 extraordinary man which would lead you to suppose 
 that a Felix would tremble before him. Ho was 
 something above the middle stature, well proportioned, 
 and remarkable for a native gracefulness of manner. 
 His complexion was very fair, his features regular, 
 and his dark blue eyes small and lively ; in recover- 
 ing from the measles, he had contracted a squint with 
 one of them, but this peculia,rity rather rendered the 
 expression of his countenance more rememberable, 
 than in any degree lessened the effect of its uncom- 
 mon sweetness. His voice excelled, both in melody 
 and compass ; and its fine modulations were happily 
 accompanied by that grace of action which he pos- 
 sessed in an eminent degree, and which is said to be 
 the chief requisite of an orator. To have seeu him 
 when he first commenced, one would have thought 
 him anything but enthusiastic and glowing ; but as he 
 proceeded, his heart warmed with his subject, and his 
 manner became impetuous and animated, till, forget- 
 
 ''C * 
 
 *:W 
 
11^ 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 ful of every thing around him^ he seemed to kneel at 
 the throne of Jehovah, and to beseech in agony for 
 his fellow-beings. 
 
 " After he had finished his prayer, he knelt for a 
 long time in profound silence ; and so powerfully had 
 it affected the most heartless of his audience, that a 
 stillness like that of the tomb pervaded the whole 
 house. 
 
 "Before he commenced his sermon, long, darkening 
 columns crowded the bright sunny sky of the morn- 
 ing, and swept their dull shadows over the building, 
 in fearful augury of the storm. 
 
 " His text was : * Strive to enter in at the strait 
 gate ; for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, 
 and shall not be able.* 
 
 " * See that emblem of human life,' said he, as he 
 pointed to a shadow that flitted across the floor. * It 
 passed for a moment and concealed the brightness of 
 Heaven from our view — but it is gone. And where 
 will ye be, my hearers, when your lives have passed 
 away like that dark cloud ? Ob, my dear friends, I 
 see thousands sitting attentive, with their eyes fixed 
 on the poor, unworthy preacher. In a few days, we 
 shall all meet at the judgment-seat of Christ. We 
 shall form a part of that vast assembly which will 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 113 
 
 # 
 
 gather before his throne ; and every eje will behold 
 the Judge. With a voice whose call you must abide 
 and answer, he will inquire whether on earth ye 
 strove to enter in at the strait gate — whether you 
 were supremely devoted to God — whether your 
 hearts were absorbed in Him. My blood runs cold 
 • when I think how many of you will then seek to enter 
 in and shall not be able. Oh, what plea can you 
 make before the Judge of the whole earth ? Can you 
 say it has been your whole endeavor to mortify the 
 flesh, with its affections and lusts ? That your life 
 has been one long effort to do the will of God ? No ! 
 you must answer, I made myself easy in the world, 
 by flattering myself that all would end well ; but X 
 have deceived my own soul, and am lost. 
 
 " * You, oh, false and hollow Christian — of what 
 avail will it be that you have done many things — 
 read much in the sacred Word — that you have made 
 long prayers — that you have attended religious 
 duties, and appeared holy in the eyes of men ? 
 What will all this be, if, instead of loving Him 
 supremely, you have been supposing you should exalt 
 yourself to Heaven, by acts really polluted and 
 unholy ? 
 
 " * And you, rich man, wherefore do you hoard 
 10* 
 
114 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 your silver ? Wherefore count the price you have 
 received for him whom you every day crucify in your 
 love of gain ? Why, that when you are too poor 
 to buy a drop of cold water, your beloved son may be 
 rolled to hell in his chariot pillowed and cushioned 
 about him.' 
 
 " His eye gradually lighted up as he proceeded, till 
 towards the close, it seemed to sparkle with celestial 
 fire. 
 
 " * Oh, sinners ! ' he exclaimed, * by all your 
 hopes of happiness, I beseech you to repent. Let 
 not the wrath of God be awakened ! Let not the 
 fires of eternity be kindled against you ! See there ! ' 
 said he, pointing to the lightning which played on the 
 comer of the pulpit. V'Tis a glance from the angry 
 eye of Jehovah ! Hark! ' continued he, raising his 
 finger in a listening attitude, as the distant thunder 
 grew louder and louder, and broke in one tremendous 
 crash over the building. * It was the voice of the 
 Almighty, as he passed by in his anger ! ' 
 
 " As the sound died away, he covered his face, and 
 knelt beside the pulpit, apparently lost in inward and 
 intense prayer. The storm passed rapidly by, and 
 the sun, bursting forth in his might, threw across the 
 heavens a magnificent arch -of peace. Rising, and 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 115 
 
 pointing to the beautiful object, he exclaimed, * Look 
 upon the rainbow, and praise him that made it. Very 
 beautiful it is, in the brightness thereof. It compass- 
 eth the heavens about with glory ; and the hands of 
 the Most High have bended it ! ' " 
 The effect was irresistible. 
 
 From Newburyport I proceeded to Portsmouth, 
 New Hampshire, which is the principal town in the 
 State, although Concord is the seat of government. 
 Portsmouth contains a population of about 15,000. 
 Here there is one of the United States Navy Yards. 
 The North America, the first line-of-battlo ship 
 launched in America, was built here during the revo- 
 lution. From Portsmouth I proceeded to Portland, 
 visiting all the intermediate towns as far as Augusta, 
 which is the capital of the State of Maine. It is dis- 
 tant from Boston 165 miles, and situated at the head 
 of navigation on the Kennebec river, forty-three 
 miles from the sea. It lies on both sides of the river, 
 connected by a bridge 520 feet long ; a short distance 
 above the town, a dam has been constructed across 
 the river, at a cost of $300,000, forming a 
 very extensive water power. The State House 
 is a spacious and elegant structure, built of white 
 
lie 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 granite, located upon a Jbeautiful eminence, and 
 surrounded with trees. On the east bank of the 
 river, stands one of the United States arsenals, a very 
 fine building, a short distance from which is the State 
 Insane Hospital; it is a splendid granite edifice, 
 occupying a plat of 70 acres. It is one of the finest 
 buildings of the kind I have seen in the country. 
 Ship-building is carried on more extensively in this 
 State than any other in the Union. The following is 
 the number of ships built in the United States during 
 the years 1849 and 1850 : — 
 
 
 In 1849 
 
 In 1850 
 
 Ships, 
 
 128 
 
 247 
 
 Brigs, 
 
 184 
 
 117 
 
 Scliooners, 
 
 623 
 
 547 
 
 Sloops and Canal Boats, 547 
 
 290 
 
 Steamers, 
 
 175 
 
 159 
 
 Total, 
 
 1547 
 
 1360 
 
 Tonnage, 
 
 256,577-47 
 
 272,218.84 
 
 Of the 247 ships built in 185C, Maine constructed 
 127 ; of the 117 brigs, she built 75 ; and of the 547 
 schooners, 115. 
 
 The total amount of tonnage employed in the 
 United States in 1849, was 3,334,015 tons. 
 
 A ship is now building at New York, said to be the 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 117 
 
 largest merchant ship in the world. She is 230 feet 
 in length, 42 breadth of beam, 25 1-2 depth of hold, 
 and clipper built ; she will be 25 feet longer than any 
 merchant vessel sailing from that port. All the prin- 
 cipal pieces are to be of live oak, and, what is alto- 
 gether novel in the construction of American merchant- 
 men, a system of iron lattice-work, or diagonal iron 
 bracing, is to be introduced, with a view to secure the 
 greatest practicable degree of strength. She is to 
 be finished in about six months, and will run from 
 New York to Canton, via California, and thence 
 home, completing the circuit of the globe with each 
 trip. She will measure near 2,500 tons. 
 
 The number of light-houses in the United States is 
 288, and 32 floating-lights; 61 of which are on the 
 northern lakes. 
 
 The Secretary of State has communicated to the 
 two Houses a list of the number of seamen registered 
 in the United States for the past fiscal year, of which 
 the subjoined is a recapitulation : — 
 
118 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 
 
 State. 
 
 Natives. Naturaliaed. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Maine, 
 
 1058 
 
 16 
 
 1074 
 
 New Hampshire, 
 
 69 
 
 __ 
 
 69 
 
 Massachusetts, 
 
 4062 
 
 120 
 
 4182 
 
 Rhode Island, 
 
 576 
 
 6 
 
 582 
 
 Connecticut, 
 
 38 
 
 1 
 
 39 
 
 New York, 
 
 2011 
 
 1 
 
 2012 
 
 New Jeriey 
 
 4 
 
 __ 
 
 4 
 
 Delaware, 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 Maryland, 
 
 711 
 
 23 
 
 734 
 
 District of Columbia, 
 
 4 
 
 — 
 
 4 
 
 Virginia, 
 
 431 
 
 _„ 
 
 431 
 
 North Carolina, 
 
 22 
 
 N-va 
 
 22 
 
 Georgia, 
 
 134 
 
 5 
 
 139 
 
 Louisiana, 
 
 664 
 
 56 
 
 720 
 
 Florida, 
 
 53 
 
 12 
 
 65 
 
 Aggregate totals, 9843 
 
 241 
 
 10,084 
 
 It is calculated that the division of the occupations 
 of men in the United States is nearly in the following 
 proportions : — 
 
 Number engaged 
 
 in internal navigation, 
 
 33,076 
 
 « u 
 
 on the ocean, 
 
 56,021 
 
 it u 
 
 in the learned professions. 
 
 65,255 
 
 l( (C 
 
 commerce. 
 
 119,607 
 
 K l( 
 
 manufactures. 
 
 791,749 
 
 (( C( 
 
 agriculture, 
 
 3,719,951 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 119 
 
 'I 
 
 ions 
 ving 
 
 Thus it will be seen that those who are engaged in 
 agriculture are three and a half times greater in num- 
 ber than those in all the other divisions. 
 
 The inhabitants of the State of Maine I found a 
 very hospitable and generous-hearted people. The 
 manners of the American people generally are very 
 cold and reserved, and there is a great want of that 
 politeness which is exhibited among the English 
 people. That open-hearted, unreserved social inter- 
 course, to which the people of Newfoundland are 
 accustomed, is almost unknown in this country. 
 
 The American people, generally, are a moral and 
 highly intelligent people ; in this respect, superior to 
 the masses of Europe. Book pedlars, newspaper 
 agents, tract distributors, and colporters, are to be 
 found every where, going from house to house. In 
 this way, a vast amount of useful information and 
 general literature is scattered broadcast over the 
 country, and brought within the reach of those who 
 otherwise probably would have never become possessed 
 of it. 
 
 The following are the rates of wages in the New 
 England States : Day-laborers get one dollar per day ; 
 servant-girls from two to four dollars per week; 
 tradesmen from one to two dollars per day ; clerks 
 
r' 
 
 120 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 H 
 
 
 from $150 to $400 per annum ; book-keepers from 
 $400 to $1,200 per annum. Ministers of every 
 denomination are paid by their respective congrega- 
 tions from $200 to $3000 per annum. Dry goods 
 and provisions are at a lower price than in any of the 
 British Colonies. 
 
 The first week in May I spent in the city of 
 Worcester, attending the annual meeting of the 
 " League of Universal Brotherhood," preparatory to 
 Elihu Burritt's departure for London to attend the 
 great Peace Bazaar. The bazaar was opened in the 
 Hall of Commerce, London, on the 30th May, and 
 continued three. days. This demonstration far ex- 
 ceeded the expectations of its best friends. Stalls for 
 the sale of the various articles were appropriated 
 to different countries. Thus there were English 
 stalls, Scottish stalls, American, French, German and 
 Belgian stalls. Most of the articles contributed for 
 the American stalls were given by the Ladies' 
 " Olive Leaf Circles." Ladies' <' Olive Leaf Circles" 
 have been formed in all the principal towns of 
 England, Scotland, and America. The object of 
 these societies is to raise funds to circulate a little 
 book called the " Olive Leaf," written by Elihu 
 Burritt, containing information on peace, in the 
 
 1^ 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 I 
 
 121 
 
 French and German languages, as well as to open a 
 correspondence with each other. These raessengera 
 of peace are now being circulated hy thousands Tver 
 the continent of Europe. 
 
 The « League of Universal Brotherhood" origina- 
 ted with Elihu Burritt. The following is the pledge 
 of Universal Brotherhood, which was drawn up by 
 Elihu Burritt during his visit to EnMand in 
 1846: — 
 
 PLEDGE. 
 
 " Believing all war to be inconsistent with the spirit of Christianity, 
 and destructive of the best interests of mankind, I do hereby pledge 
 myself never to enlist or enter into any army or navy, or tc yield 
 any voluntary support or sanction to the preparation for or pro- 
 secution of any war, by whomsoever, or for whatsoever proposed, 
 declared, or waged. And I do hereby associate myself with all 
 persons, of whatever country, condition, or color, who have signed 
 or shall hereafter sign this pledge, in a 'LEAGUE OF UNI 
 VERSAL BROTHERHOOD,' whose object shall be to employ, 
 all legitimate and moral means for the abolition of all war, and all 
 the spirit and all the manifestations of war, throughout the world ;' 
 for the abolition of all restrictions upon international correrpond- 
 ence and friendly intercourse, and of whatever else tends to make 
 enemies of nations, or prevents their fusion into one peaceful 
 brotherhood ; for the abolition of all institutions and customs which 
 do not recognize and respect the image of God and a human bro- 
 ther in every man, of whatever clime, color, or condition of 
 humanity." 
 
 11 
 

 122 
 
 .A PEEP AT 
 
 i. 
 
 Upwards of 30,000 persons have signed the pledge 
 in the United States. Leagues have been formed in 
 all the principal towns of Great Britain, France, 
 Germany, and America, and addresses on the subject 
 passed between each other. The first peace congress 
 met in London, in 1846 ; the second peace congress 
 met in Brussels, in 1847 ; and in the month of 
 August, 1849, the third congress met in Paris. 
 France, Germany, Belgium, England and the United 
 States were there represented by large numbers of 
 men, eminent in business, in politics, in literature, in 
 religion, and in philanthropy ; the Catholic archbishop 
 of Paris, and the eloquent protestant preacher, M. 
 Cocquerel ; Michael Chevalier, Horace Say, and F. 
 Basteat, distinguished political economists ; Emile de 
 Girardin, the most important political editor of 
 France ; Yictor Hugo, illustrious in her literature ; 
 Bicbard Cobden, the well-known British statesman; 
 Elihu Burritt, the renowned American linguist and 
 philanthropist; anl the celebrated Lamartine. The 
 fourth and last peace congress met at Frankfort-on- 
 the-Maine, in Germany, on the 22d of August last, 
 (185C.) M. Jaub, ex-minister of the State of Darm- 
 stadt was appointed president of the congress. Among 
 other eminent men who were present from Great 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARJf. 
 
 128 
 
 Britain, were Richard Cobdon, C. Hindloj, and 
 J. B. Smith, members of the British Parliament; 
 Joseph Sturgo, Rev. J. Burnet, E. Miall, editor of 
 the Nonconformist, G. Dawson, &c., &c. From 
 America there were Professor Ilitshcock, the eminent 
 geologist. Dr. Puller, Professor Cleveland, Rev. Mark 
 Trafton, Methodist minister, the world-renowned Eliha 
 Burrifc, Rev. G. Garnett, a colored man, Rev. G. 
 Copwaj, (Kah-Ge-Ga-Gah-Bowh) one of the red 
 Indians of America, whose appearance in the congress, 
 attired in his costume as a chief, excited great 
 interest, and many others. From France there were 
 M. Emile de Girardin, J. Gamier, M. Guillaumin, 
 and others. From Brussels, M. Visschers. From 
 Amsterdam, M. Suringar, and M. Druka. Pro- 
 fessor Liebig, the celebrated chemist, was at the 
 meeting. A very interesting letter was also read 
 from the Catholic archbishop of Paris, giving his 
 cordial approval of the object of the congress. 
 The most unexpected visitor to the peace congress 
 was General Ilaynau, the " Austrian butcher,' °who 
 listened to several speeches. During the third sitting 
 of the congress, a proposition was made by Schles- 
 wig-Holstein to appoint a committee to decide the 
 merits of their present dispute with Denmark, and 
 
124 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 lift 
 
 ' 
 
 offering to submit to the arbitration of the congress. 
 The committee, however, decided that in consequence 
 of the proposition coming from only one party, they 
 could not interfere. But that if Denmark and Ilol- 
 btein were to unite in such a proposal, the congress 
 -would engage to find an arbitrator. After the 
 termination of the peace congress, Elihu Bunitt, 
 Joseph Sturgc, and Frederick Wheeler visited the 
 two governments of Schlcswig-IIolstcin and Denmark, 
 by whom they Avero received in the most courteous 
 manner. Denmark could not exactly comply with 
 the terms of arbitration proposed by Schleswig-Hol- 
 stein, and so the matter rests. There is no doubt, 
 however, but that the object of the visit of these bene- 
 volent men would have been accomplished but for the 
 interference of the great powers of Europe. 
 
 At the peaco congr ;ss at Frankfort, Mr. Cobden 
 read a letter from Baron Von Be den, one of the most 
 eminent statistical authorities in Europe, in which he 
 estimates the armed force of the European States, 
 including all persons who are paid out of the appro- 
 priations to the army and navy, in numbers about 
 4,000,000 men. Assuming the whole population of 
 Europe to have been, in 1840, 257,000,000, then, 
 according to elaborate investigation, he estimates the 
 
WCIE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 125 
 
 males of this number at 128,120,000, of which 
 10,678,000 are between twenty and thirtythree. 
 lloel^oning one-third of these as incapable of service, 
 7,118,000 would remain, more than half of which 
 number are actually enrolled. The labor of a man 
 for a year is worth, on an average, 60 thalers. Thus 
 the withdrawal of 400,000 young men from labor i. 
 an actual loss of 240,000,000 thalers per annum. The 
 annual expenditure of the European States upon their 
 land and sea forces and fortiBcations, he says, is, in 
 ordmary times, something over -541,188,000 thalers • 
 which, added to the loss of 240,000,000 in labor' 
 amounts to 881,000,000, or a sum equal to the value 
 of the annual product of all the mines in Europe. 
 The whole . ' .. expenditure, during thirty years of 
 peace, ha been 16,230,000,000 thalers. One third 
 of this sum would have constructed 15,028 miles of 
 raalwav, or from thirteen to fourteen times as man, «a 
 are now completed in Germany. 
 
 A French paper publishes a statement of loss 
 of life and the cost of wars of Europe in 1849 
 remarking that the calculation is beLw the cost, and 
 that It does not include the Schleswig war, which was 
 both bloody and expensive, but concerning which 
 there is insufficient data to estimate correctly. The 
 11* 
 
1126 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 loss of life is set down at' 151,812, of which 62,000 
 
 was in the Hungarian war, 31,023 in the Italian, and 
 
 23,000 in Naples and Sicily. 
 The cost in money was ^^336,400,000, of which 
 
 Austria incurred $125,400,000 ; France $85,800,- 
 
 000 ; and Russia $100,000,000. 
 
 It is estimated that all the agricultural labor done 
 
 in England, in 1848, cost ^£18,200,000. Official 
 
 letters show that the cost of her army establishment 
 for the same year, was £18,500,000. That is, 
 £800,000, or a million and a half of dollars, more are 
 paid for preparations for consuming and impoverishing 
 war, than for all her golden harvests, and to the 
 700,000 laborers who produce them. 
 
 Elihu Burrit says — " Look at the fortunes which 
 
 nations have squandered away in the sanguinary 
 
 litigation of the sword. Take Great Britain for 
 
 instance. Her wars with the neighboring nations, 
 
 from 1688 to 1815, cost her £3,383,022,500, 
 
 including the interest she has paid on money borrowed 
 
 for the work of human slaughter. How can we 
 
 measure this vast amount thus wasted? Let us 
 
 weigh it in pure gold, and we shall find it weighs 
 
 73,543,967 pounds troy. It would require 36,770 
 
 able-bodied men to carry it from the mint, each 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 127 
 
 2,000 
 1, and 
 
 which 
 ,800,- ' 
 
 r done 
 3fficial 
 3hment 
 hat is. 
 Die are 
 rishing 
 to the 
 
 1 which 
 quinary 
 ain for 
 nations, 
 22,600, 
 arrowed 
 can we 
 
 Let us 
 C weighs 
 
 36,770 
 Lt, each 
 
 having 200 pounds, or 9200 sovereigns in his sack. 
 Placed in a line of sovereigns, each touching the 
 other, and averaging three-fourths of an inch in 
 diameter, they would reach 484,330 miles, or twenty 
 times around the globe at the equator. It would 
 require 313 men to count it in a year, each counting 
 at sixty sovereigns a second, working ten hours a day, 
 and 300 days in a year. The wages of laborers 
 in Great Britain, including old and young, women 
 and children, will not average over 10«. a week. 
 Then, at this rate of wages, it would take 13,011,621 
 laborers ten years to earn what Great Britain 
 expended in the litigation of the battle-field from 1688 
 to 1815. It would require 620 ships to convey that 
 amount in silver, each freighted with 1000 tons 
 of that precious metal. Surely, war is the consum- 
 mation of all human follies, waste and profligacy. 
 
 " Here are a few of the reminiscences of war 
 entirely shorn of poetry. They are bloody witnesses, 
 and let them testify. In the periodical butcheries in 
 the human family, the following hecatombs have been 
 offered up to that god of battles which Christians and 
 Pagans have worshipped with the same devotion : — 
 
128 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 r 
 
 l\ 
 
 
 Loss of life in the Jewish Wars, 
 
 25,000,000 
 
 By wars in the time of Sesostris, 
 
 15,000,000 
 
 By those of Serairamis, Cyrus, & Alexander, 
 
 30,000,000 
 
 By Alexander's successors. 
 
 20,000,OQP 
 
 Grecian Wars, 
 
 15,000,000 
 
 Wars of the twelve Caesars, 
 
 30,000,000 
 
 Roman wars before Julius Caesar, 
 
 60,000,000 
 
 Wars of the Roman Empire, Turks and 
 
 
 Saracens, 
 
 180,000,000 
 
 Wars of the Reformation, 
 
 30,000,000 
 
 Wars of the middle ages, and nine crusades. 
 
 80,000,000 
 
 Tartar and African Wars, 
 
 180,000,000 
 
 American Indians destroyed by the 
 
 
 Spaniards, 
 
 12,000,000 
 
 Wars of Napoleon, 
 
 6,000,000 
 
 
 683,000,000 
 
 " The above is a mere extract from the bloody 
 statistics of glorious war ; one chapter in the annals 
 of the violence, crime, and misery that have followed 
 in the foot-prints of the great destroyer. The loss of 
 souls is entered where human eyes may not read the 
 list. Dr. Dick estimates the number of those who 
 have perished directly and indirectly by war at four- 
 teen thousand millions, or about one-tenth of the 
 human race. Edmund Burke placed the number at 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 129 
 
 thirty-five thousand millions. Taking the estimate of 
 ^r. Dick, and assuming the average quantity of 
 blood in a common-sized person, the veins of these 
 14,000,000,000 would fill a circular lake of more than 
 seventeen miles in circumference, ten feet deep, in 
 which all the navies of the world might float ! Sup- 
 posing these slaughtered millions to average each 
 four feet in length, if placed in a row they would 
 reach nearly 422 times around the earth, and four times 
 around the sun. Supposing they average 130 pounds 
 •^^ii, then they would form a globe of human flesh 
 ot nearly a mile in diameter, weighing 1,820,000,- 
 000,000 pounds — fourteen times more than all the 
 human beings now living on tL. -Icoe. 
 ^ What a spectacle to the eyes of Him, with whom 
 time and eternity, things present, past, and to come, 
 are one omnipresent Now ! with whom all the actions 
 and conditions of his creatures are not matters of 
 memory, or prescience, but of clear and consentaneous 
 vision ! Not a drop of that sea of blood has evaporated 
 from the sight of that all-seeing eye. Its red, putrid, 
 vapor is still going up into the nostrils of the God 
 of peace. Before him that solid globe of human flesh 
 revolves, in its crimson atmosphere, a horrid satellite 
 around the green earth he made for man. Oh, 
 
ssss 
 
 130 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 Christian ! disciple of the tiieek and lowly Jesus, look 
 at 'hat blood-dripping planet ! It is the flesh of the 
 tenth part of your race. Shall its purple surface 
 swell with more butcheries of God's human children ? 
 Look into that dead sea of blood ; shall it be deepened 
 and widened from the veins of more victims to the 
 destroyer of mankind ? If not, say so. Say it in the 
 majesty of your Master's spirit. Let the Christians 
 of Christendom say to the world, that all war is a vast 
 and unmitigated violation of the spirit and pre- 
 cepts of the gospel, and the principalities and the 
 powers of the earth would soon bow to the name of 
 Jesus, and nations learn war no more. 
 
 " During the last century or two, there have been 
 twenty-four wars between England and France, twelve 
 between England and Scotland, eight between Eng- 
 land and Spain, seven between England and other 
 nations — in all 51. The ascertained amount, though 
 doubtless far below the actual amount of British 
 money expended during the last six great wars, was 
 as follows : — 
 
 1. War ending 1697, 
 
 2. War ending 1712, 
 
 3. War ending 1737, 
 
 4. War ending 1756, 
 
 5. American war of 1775, 
 
 6. War from 1793 to 1815, 
 
 £21,500,000 
 
 48,000,000 
 
 46,000,000 
 
 111,000,000 
 
 139,000,000 
 
 850,000,000 
 

 UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 131 
 
 These wars have also cost other nations much. The 
 last one, besides burthening Britain to the amount of 
 .£850,000,000, cost France £690,000,000, Austria 
 £220,000,000, the rest of Europe £1,012,000,000, 
 the United States of America £27,000,000 ; total' 
 £2,799,000,000 ; a sum which probably falU consid- 
 erably below the actual cost of those wars ; nor should 
 we over-estimate their cost by putting it (reckoning 
 one pound sterling five dollars, or a little less ) at 
 $15,000,000,000, all wasted, worse than wasted, by 
 men calling themselves Christians, for the purpose of 
 plundermg and destroying other Christians. Since 
 the great religious Reformation Great Britain has 
 spent sixty-five years in war, and sixtytwo in peace. 
 She ben-owed in seven wars, which occupied the 
 sixlyfive years, £834,000,000. In the same time 
 she raised by taxes £1,189,000,000, thus forming a 
 total expenditure of $8,982,120,000. This cnor 
 mous sum, extorted from the strained sinews of labor 
 would have constructed fifteen railways around 
 the globe, allowing $25,000 per mile ! To raise 
 another such sum would require a tax of $10 on 
 every human being on the globe. The interest of this 
 t 1 for one month at 5 per cent, exceeds the amount 
 contributed by the whole Christian world for preach 
 
132 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 r •[ 
 
 i^fi I 
 
 ing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the heathen for the 
 last thousand years." Macaulay says : In 1684, the 
 whole non-effective charge, military and naval, of 
 Great Britain, can scarcely have exceeded X10,000 
 a year. It now exceeds £10,000 a day; and ^ 
 Charles Sumner, the eloquent author of the " Grand- 
 eur of Nations," says : — 
 
 <' By a table of the expenditures of the United 
 States, exclusive of payments on account of the public 
 debt, it appears that, in the fifty-three years from the 
 formation of our present Government, in 1789, down 
 to 1843, there have been jf246,620,055 spent for 
 civil purposes, comprehending the expenses of the 
 executive, the legislative, the judiciary, the post- 
 office, light-houses, and intercourse with foreign 
 governments. During this same period there have 
 been $368,526,594 devoted to the military establish- 
 ment, and 1170,437,685 to the naval establishment ; 
 the two forming an aggregate of $538,964,278. 
 Deducting from this sum the appropriations during 
 three years of war, and we shall find that more than 
 four hundred millions were absorbed by vain prepara- 
 tions in time of peace for war. Add to this amount 
 a moderate sum for the expenses of the militia during 
 the same period, which a candid and able writer 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 138 
 
 places at present at ^50,000,000 a year ; for the 
 past years we may take an average of $25,000,000, 
 and we shall have the enormous sum of $1, 335,000,- 
 000 to be added to the $400,000,000; the whole 
 amounting to seventeen hundred and th' ty-five mil- 
 lions of dollars, a sum beyond the conception of 
 human faculties, sunk under the sanction of the Gov- 
 ernment of the United States in mere peaceful pre- 
 parations for war ; more than seven times as much as 
 was dedicated by the Government during the same 
 period to all other purposes whatsoever." 
 
 The number of militia in the United States in 
 1850, was 1,914,101 ; regular army, 12,326, includ- 
 ing officers. Of these, 7,696 are undo? orders for 
 Texas, New Mexico, California, and Oregon, thus 
 leaving but 4,530 in all the rest of the States and 
 Territories. 
 
 According to the report of the Secretary of the 
 Navy, the navy of the United States now consists 
 of: — 
 
 Ships-of-the-liae, 
 
 Razee, 
 
 Frigates, 
 
 Sloops-of-war, 
 
 Brigs, 
 
 Schooners, 
 
 12 
 
 7 
 
 I 
 
 12 
 
 21 
 
 4 
 2 
 
Hi 
 
 134 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 Steam-frigates, 5 
 
 Steamers, of the first-class, 3 
 
 Steamers, less than first-class, 6 
 
 Store-ships, 
 
 Of these there are in commission : — 
 
 Razee, 
 
 Frigates, 
 
 Sloops-of-war, 
 
 Brigs, 
 
 Schooners, (coast survey) 
 
 Steam-frigates, 
 
 Steamer of the first-class. 
 
 Steamers, less than the first-class, 
 
 Ships-of-the-line, (as receiving ships) 
 
 Steamer, " 
 
 Sloop, „ « 
 
 There are also on the stocks four ships-of-the-line and 
 two frigates. 
 
 There is also a contingent naval force of vessels, 
 owned by individuals, but built by contracts with the 
 Government, and employed in the transportation of 
 the mail, and liable to be taken in any emergency at 
 valuation, and converted into vessels of war» Thia 
 force, comprising four steamers of the first class, is 
 employed on the line between New York and Liver- 
 pool. A fifth is contracted for, but not constructed. 
 One steamer of the first class between New York and 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 15 
 4 
 2 
 2 
 1 
 3 
 3 
 1 
 1 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FABM. 
 
 lad 
 
 Panama. A second steamer on this line has been 
 brought into use, but has not been finished so as to 
 undergo inspection and be received. The contract on 
 this line, as on that to Liverpool, provides for five 
 steamships. 
 
 The Secretary recommends the appointment of two 
 rear-admirals, in order that the officers of the Ameri- 
 can navy may rank with the naval officers of the 
 other maritime powers. 
 
 The peace question is making great progress in 
 America ; some of the leading men of the country 
 are advocating it. At the public meeting held in the 
 month of May last, in Boston, for the purpose of 
 selecting delegates to represent the State of Massa- 
 chusetts, his excellency Governor Briggs presided, 
 and delivered an effective and eloquent speech ; and 
 I attended a peace meeting in the city of Roxbury 
 with Elihu Burritt, where General Dearborn took the 
 chair, and made a noble speech, denouncing all war. 
 Elihu Burritt is now in Hamburgh, still absorbed with 
 his one idea, his big thought, Universal Peace and 
 Brotherhood. The next peace congress is to be held 
 in the city-world of London, during the great 
 " Exhibition of all Nations." The American Govern- 
 ment have decided to freight the " Pennsylvania," 
 
186 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 the largest ship in the American navy, with the pro- 
 ducts of American genius and manufacture, for the 
 Exhibition of all Nations, in London. This great 
 man-of-war was built some years ago at Philadelphia, 
 and cost about $800,000. She has ncVcr yet made 
 a voyage. Her first voyage, then, will not be to 
 produce desolation and death, but to exhibit the arts 
 of peaceful and happy industry of the country to 
 which she belongs. 
 
 My home for the present is the city of Worcester, 
 which is situated in the heart of the State of Massa- 
 chusetts. It is called the ^* Heart of the Common- 
 wealth," and contains a population of over 17,000 
 inhabitants. It is the centre of a great inland trade, 
 and of an important railroad communication ; which 
 makes it one of the greatest thoroughfares in the 
 country, and contributes much to its growth and pros- 
 perity. It has railroads diverging from it in almost 
 every point of the compass. 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 187 
 
 iJfisSSBiSSSSSiSgg 
 
 h-tiocatou M 
 
 to* 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 r 
 r 
 
 S "J 5 ^' 
 
 ,^ ,-/ en >-4 (n 1^ < 
 
 s »• 
 
 s 8S ^llll 5; g $11 
 
 •"""■ "^ *£ W 1— ' to in JJ 
 
 
 )C;i ( 
 
 *-^^ — >-toooi-i«H5S5e; 
 
 a 
 o 
 
 P 
 
 )-• (9 Ut >«t en w ,» CO ft.- ^ 
 
 9 rd so^ w S" ••' ♦i)"*^^ 00 to 
 8¥s¥S2S888 
 
 p 
 
 9 
 
 MO 
 
 ll'=¥olg tibial 
 
 o 
 
 p 
 
 9)-^ CO -• UO> ( 
 
 &8 
 
 s 
 
 teqauBiq 
 '3DI 'qi^uaq 
 
 B pD g a" 
 n :; 8 i 
 
 S3.|g 
 
 ■5 ^ 
 3 S 
 
 o 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 M 
 O 
 M 
 
 H 
 
 
 1 a 
 
 CO hD 
 
 2 p !:5 d S jfe JS g 8 jg S gJ 
 
 SSi' 
 
 _iS42jes32tsgSi' 
 
 B S 
 
 Si 
 
 Cnto o_5p J». oa CO o CO to So .-4 
 _ . CO hs lo •-* wTZjjo" 
 
 8:j£§93yg;t8Sg^ 
 S Sls'^ £ g g £"fe gJ f| £ 
 
 OP — O O l-t 01 C n O <D O do O 
 
 12* 
 
 
 n 
 
 M 
 
 •I) 
 H 
 
 IS 
 
 < 
 O 
 
 s 
 
 
 fed 
 3 
 
 CO 
 
188 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 The following is the number of miles of railroad laid 
 out in the Umted States : — 
 
 New England States. 
 
 Massachusetts, 
 
 1049 
 
 New Hampshire, 
 
 416 
 
 Rhode Island, 
 
 64 
 
 Connecticut, 
 
 446 
 
 Vermont, 
 
 287 
 
 Maine, 
 
 202 
 
 \ 
 
 2464 
 
 Middle States. 
 
 New York, 
 
 1306 
 
 Pennsylvania, 
 
 613 
 
 Delaware, 
 
 39 
 
 Maryland, 
 
 316 
 
 New Jersey, 
 
 236 
 
 2510 
 
 
 Southern States. 
 
 
 Georgia, 
 
 
 665 
 
 "Virginia, 
 
 
 336 
 
 North Carolina, 
 
 
 264 
 
 South Carolina, 
 
 
 226 
 
 Alabama, 
 
 
 68 
 
 1549 
 
UNCLE SAMS FARM. 
 
 189 
 
 Ohio, 
 
 Michigan, 
 
 Illinois, 
 
 Indiana, 
 
 Louisiana, 
 
 Western States. 
 
 KcntucLy, 
 Tennessee, 
 
 390 
 
 343 
 
 105 
 
 IDS 
 
 70 
 
 70 
 
 M 
 
 10 
 
 1 144 
 
 Total number .( ^nih^ f railroad in the United States, 7677 • 
 
 A wrifcer in the Mobile Hei aid and Tribune makes 
 use of the following statement, as showing the bene- 
 ficial result of combining capital with labor :— 
 
 Georgia has 640 miles railroad, costing $11,500,> 
 000 — 138 miles of which were built by the State at 
 a cost of $3,500,000 ; South Carolina has 244 miles 
 costing $65,000,000 ; Virginia has 473 miles, cost- 
 ing «T,000,000, and a general law authorizing the 
 subscription on the part of the State of two-fifths of 
 any railroad chartered and built within the State • 
 Maryland 571 miles, built and building, at a coct of 
 $22,000,000, upwards of $5,000,000 of which the 
 State has finished by the loan of State bonds ; Penn- 
 sylvania 1,050 miles, costing $35,000,000 — 82 miles 
 of it were built by the State, at a cost of $4,225,000 ; 
 
140 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 ill 
 
 M 
 
 si 
 
 ] y 
 
 : ,' 
 
 I i! ill 
 
 New Jersey, 206 miles, costing $6,800,000; New 
 York, 1,009 miles, costing $35,637,000, of which the 
 State has finished, by loans and gift, over $4,000,000 ; 
 Massachusetts, 954 miles, costing $46,700,000, of 
 which nearly $6,000,000 have been furnished by the 
 State, $1,000,000 in stock subscription, and $5,000,- 
 000 by a loan of the State bonds ; New Hampshire, 
 212 miles, costing $7,700,000 ; Ohio, 429 miles, 
 built and building, at a cost of $8,400,000 ; Michi- 
 gan, 355 miles, at a cost of $8,100,000, about $6,- 
 000,000 of which were furnished by the State ; — 
 making together in eleven States, 6,042 miles of rail- 
 road, upon which there are daily at work 750 locomo- 
 tive engines and about 24,000 men, doing an amount 
 of work which, if it were possible to be done in twice 
 the time by horses and men, would require 1,400,000 
 horses, and 350,000 men. The labor performed by 
 these 750 engines and 24,000 men, in one year costs 
 the United States $36,600,000, all of it being done 
 in time totally impracticable by any other mode. But 
 suppose the year's work was done in the old way by 
 horses and men in five years, requiring 100,000 horses 
 and 25,000 men constantly at work, then the cost 
 would be $95,000,000, or $58,400,000 more than 
 the existing railroads in four-fifths less time. This 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 141 
 
 «58,400,000 is all of it the indirect advantage to the 
 public for which nothing is asked or paid. The capital 
 employed in building.the roads, assumed at an average 
 of $30,000 per mile, and amounting in the aggregat*e, 
 for 6,042 miles, to $181,260,000, is fully compen- 
 sated, and all expenses of transportation, repairs, and 
 wear and tear, paid in the sum of $36,600,000, 
 a<5tually charged and paid for the work done. Thus 
 showing the annual public gain to be, through the 
 labor-saving capacity of railroads, over thirty per cent, 
 of the capital invested, or, in other terms, $9,664 
 per mile. 
 
 The city of Worcester is pleasantly situated in a 
 valley, surrounded by hills of slight acclivity. It 
 is abundantly supplied with water, brought through 
 an aqueduct from the neighboring hills. The most 
 important street is called Main Street, one hundred 
 feet wide, shaded on either side with chestnut, elm, 
 maple, oak, and a variety of other trees ; it is two 
 mUes long, lined with elegant brick and stone build- 
 ings. There is one Episcopal Church, two Metho- 
 dist, one Roman Catholic, and four Congregation- 
 alist; besides which, there are a number of churches 
 belonging to other denominations. The CathoHc 
 College of the Holy Cross was founded by the late 
 
^^nm^^^mmK^ 
 
 142 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 111 
 
 Bishop Fenwick, of Boston. It is under the care 
 of the Fathers of the Society of Jesus, and de- 
 signed for the education of young men for an eccle- 
 siastical or professional course of life. It is beauti- 
 fully situated on the slope of a hill, about a half mile 
 from the city. A farm of ninety acres is attached to 
 it. The Roman Catholic population of Massachusetts, 
 according to the census of 1850, is 180,000. The 
 Diocese of Boston comprises Maine, New Hamp- 
 shire, Massachusetts, and Vermont. It was created 
 in 1808. 
 
 Worcester is one of the most beautiful towns in New 
 England. As many of my distant readers may not 
 know what is meant by New England, I must inform 
 them that New England comprises six States, viz. : 
 Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, 
 Connecticut, and Vermont. The State Lunatic 
 Asylum, at Worcester, is one of the best institutions 
 in the United States. It is built of brick, and con- 
 sists of centre buildings, 76 feet long and 40 wide, 
 and four stories high. At each end of the wings are 
 two other buildings, 134 feet long and 34 feet wide, 
 •forming, with the main building, three sides of a spa- 
 cious square. It will accommodate 450 patients. 
 The present number of patients is 234 males and 
 
UNCLE SABI'S FARM. 
 
 343 
 
 229 females. The Medical College is situated on the 
 outskirts of the cit^r. It is a large and elegant struc- 
 ture of brick and granite. The fee for a full course 
 of lectures is $60 in advance, with a matriculation 
 tee of $3. There are several fine halls and other 
 pubhc buildings in Worcester. The American Anti- 
 quarian Society, at this place, was founded in 1812 
 by Isaiah Thomas, LL. D., who published the first 
 newspaper in Worcester, in 1775, and, a few year^ 
 after, the first English Bible in America. The hall of 
 the society is a large and elegant building, 104 feet 
 long and two stories high, in w :^ is a library of 
 12,000 volumes, a valuable cabinet of antiquities, and 
 many interesting specimens of early printing. Wor- 
 cester is well supplied with schools, some of which are 
 splendid buildings. The school at which three of 
 my children attend, is built of brick, fifty by fifty- 
 eight feet, three stories high, and crowned with a 
 cupola. It cost «11,000. In the lower story is a 
 smk-room, play-room, ward-room, and committee- 
 room ; on the second floor are two Infant school-rooms, 
 each accommodating one hundred scholars, with 
 spacious recitation rooms adjoining. The third floor 
 is a Primary school-room, with two recitation rooms, 
 and will seat one hundred and sixty scholars. The 
 
mtm 
 
 III 
 
 144 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 visitor is forcibly struck with the order, beauty, and 
 cleanliness which reigns throughout the whole. Each 
 of the children sits in an arm chair fastened to an iron 
 post, in front of which is a polished mahogany desk, 
 about two feet long, for each. There are in Worcester 
 nine Infant schools, six Primary, three Grammar, one 
 for colored children, and the Classical and High 
 school. The latter is open for the children of the 
 whole city, as soon as they are qualified for admission. 
 There is also, during the winter months, a school for 
 apprentices, and three evening schools for all, whether 
 children or adults, who wish to learn, and cannot 
 attend school during the day. The above schools are 
 all free. In addition to these schools, there are nu- 
 merous private schools. The appropriations for 
 support of schools for 1850, was $18,000, besides 
 about $10,000 for building new school-houses. The 
 Educational Institutions of Massachusetts are not 
 surpassed by any country in the world. It is a hard 
 thing to find an ignorant Yankee. The following are 
 the appropriations voted by the City Council of Wor- 
 cester, for 1851 : — 
 
 For Schools, ^18,000 
 
 « New School-Houses, 8,400 
 
 ■ Additional for Sammit St. School-House, ^»^00 
 
 Total for Schools and School-Houses $27,500 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 146 
 
 For Interest on City Debt, 
 
 " Uepairs of Roads and Bridges, 
 
 " Paving Main and Front streets, 
 
 " Common Sewers in Main street, 
 
 " Salaries of City Officers, 
 
 " City Watch, 
 
 " Lighting streets, 
 
 " Fire Department, 
 
 " Ringing Bells, &c., 
 
 " Funerals properly chargeable to the City, 
 
 " Book printing, &c., 
 
 " Support of Poor, in addition to allowance from 
 
 the State, 
 " Board of Health, 
 " Discount on Taxes, 
 " Contingent Expenses, 
 " Iron Lamps, posts and fixtures, 
 
 New Engines, in addition to the amount to be 
 received for the old. 
 
 $3,350 
 
 6,800 
 
 10,500 
 
 1,500 
 
 4,125 
 
 2,100 
 
 1,500 
 
 3,300 
 
 150 
 
 350 
 
 800 
 
 3,300 
 500 
 5,000 
 5,000 
 1,000 
 
 1,600 
 
 $78,375 
 
 The following statistics are taken from tlie abstract 
 of school returns for the State of Massachusetts, for 
 1848-9: 
 
 Number of towns in the Commonwealth which have made 
 returns, 
 
 Valuation, 
 
 Number of Public Sdiools, 
 
 313 
 
 $299,878,325* 
 3,749 
 
 18 
 
146 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 hi 
 
 ill 
 
 I iii ' 
 
 Number of scholars, of all ages, in all the schoolfi : - 
 
 In Snmmer, 
 
 In Winter, 
 
 Number oi" Male Teachers, 
 
 Numb'jr of Female Teachers, 
 
 Average wages paid per montls, including viJue of board, 
 Males, 
 
 Average value oi board per month, MBka, 
 
 Average w.i.-es paid per month, includi/.g vdue of board, 
 
 F^'iaales, 
 .'' M ra^e ynVaa of board per month for Females, 
 Amount ol money raised by taxes for support of schools, 
 
 incAU'liig only the wages of Teachers, bounl and fuel, 
 An^omt of board and fuel, if any, contributed for Public 
 
 SCbools, 
 
 Number of Incorporated Academies, 
 
 Average number of scholars, 
 
 Aggregate paid for tuition, 
 
 Number of unincorporated Academies, Private schools, 
 
 and schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 
 Average number of scholars, 
 Aggregate paid for tuition. 
 Amount of Local Funds, 
 Income from same, 
 
 Income of Surplus Revenue, appropriated to schools, 
 Xhere are three Normal Schools for training Teachers. 
 
 i73,65'i> 
 191,7:2 
 
 5,737 
 
 $34,02 
 $9,00 
 
 ^14,19 
 $6,17 
 
 $830,577 
 
 $35,281 
 
 64 
 
 3,834 
 
 $61,694 
 
 1,047 
 
 27,583 
 
 $240,786 
 
 $354,620 
 
 $21,584 
 
 $5,483 
 
 Among the School-masters employed at Worcester 
 was John Adams, the second President of the United 
 States. Here, also, the American r.^^ojopher, Ben- 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 147 
 
 jamin Franklin, worked in his early days as a journey- 
 man printer. There are five Banks in Worcester, 
 with an aggregate capital of $650,000. There is 
 also a Savings Bank, with a deposit of $1,124,000. 
 Besides these, there i.re five Insurance Companies, 
 Life Assurance, and various other Associations. The 
 valuation of the property of Worcester in 1850, was 
 $11,082,501. Almost every kind of manufacture is 
 carried on at Worcester. The following is the value 
 of some of them in 1846 : — 
 
 Cotton goods, $45,184; Woollen goods, $194,040; 
 Ironware, $134,500; Machinery, $310,000 ; Card 
 wire, $110,000 ; Ploughs, $48,000; Paper, $3,- 
 000; Hats and Caps, $24,752; Cards, $22,OOoV 
 Cars and other carriages, $221,100 ; Chairs and 
 Cabinet-ware, $27,500 ; Tin-ware, $38,500 ; Boots 
 and Shoes, $288,550; Straw bonnets and hats, $10,- 
 000; Bricks, $28,000 ; Cotton Carpeting, $26,000; 
 Building stone, $23,500 ; Mechanics' tools, $12,000 • 
 Presses, $25,500 ; Boor and other Carpentry, $16,- 
 500. Fruit raised, 27,604 bushels — value $9,20l'; 
 Butter made, 97,300 pounds — value, $16,217. ' The 
 value of grain produced in the town was $24,897 • 
 of Vegetables, $25,980 ; and of Hay, (5,100 tons ^ 
 $51,000. '^ 
 
148 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 i 
 
 Worcester is distant from Boston forty-five miles ; 
 from Albany one hundred and fifty-six ; from New 
 York one hundred and ninety-four, via Norwich, and 
 from Providence forty-five miles. The whistling steed 
 is seen prancing about Worcester in all directions, and 
 though a fiery fellow, yet he is not hostile, but carry- 
 ing peace and prosperity in his train. Seven passen- 
 ger trains pass over the road from Worcester to 
 Boston each way daily, besides freight trains. Some- 
 times over two thousand passengers go in one train. 
 Each passenger car is windowed throughout with 
 Venetian blinds. The cars are about forty feet long 
 and seven feet high, and will seat about eighty per- 
 sons. They cost from $2,000 to $2,500 each. The 
 interior of a car is a spacious and elegant saloon, with 
 an aisle down the middle. The seats are of polished 
 mahogany, (as is also the whole interior, with looking 
 glasses and gilding,) lined and cushioned with velvet. 
 Eich car has a stove in cold weather. The time oc- 
 cupied in going from Worcester to Boston is one hour 
 and a half. The Worcester Common is a beautiful 
 place ; it is surrounded by a railing, outside of which 
 are wide streets lined by handsome buildings. It is 
 shaded with trees of various kinds, and gravelled 
 walks extend in different directions through the whole. 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 149 
 
 The Norwich Railroad passes through the centre. 
 Worcester is the residence of several celebrated men, 
 among some of whom are two Ex-Governors of Mas- 
 sachusetts, Senators, Judges, Lawyers, &c., and the 
 celebrated EUhu Burritt, who is the proprietor and 
 Senior Editor of the « Christian Citizen.'' His 
 aflsociate Editors are Thomas Drew and James B. 
 Sjme, a Scotchman. Mr. Burritt is the author of 
 several books ; he understands fiftj-three languages. 
 One of the most interesting Memoirs which I have 
 read of Mr. Burritt was written by Maiy Howitt, 
 and published in the « People's Journal " in London' 
 in 1846. ' 
 
 " Among the many remarkable men," says Mary 
 Howitt, " of this remarkable age, most of whom we 
 hope to present to our readers, no one seems to us 
 more worthy of notice than Elihu Burritt. Elihu 
 Burritt is not merely remarkable for his knowledge of 
 languages — a knowledge which is perfectly stupen- 
 dous, and which, having been acquired under circum- 
 stances which at first sight would seem to present 
 insuperable barriers to any thing beyond the most 
 ordinary acquirements, may naturally excite our sur- 
 prise and admiration — but he is remarkable in a high 
 moral degree ; and this it is, combined with his great 
 13* 
 
160 
 
 A PELi' AT 
 
 learning, wK^Vh ^--titles him to our hve and reverence. 
 His in«Tij -jaii^'uh^ed head is wedded to a large and 
 bene^ol'.nt heart, every throb of which is a sentiment 
 of biotherhood to all mankind." 
 
 During the past winfAr. Mr. Burritt greatly in- 
 terested himself for the Rev. Thomas Dick, LL. D., 
 whose name and fame as a writer are so well known. 
 A benevolent gentleman of Philadelphia published the 
 whole of Dr. Dick's works for sale at a reduced price, 
 and transmitted him nearly the whole of the proceeds 
 of the sale. 
 
 The following letters, written by Dr. Dick to Mr. 
 Burritt, will show the circumstances in v'.Luh he is 
 placed, after having contributed so iruch by liis 
 writings towards the moral and intellectual reformation 
 of the world ; -r- 
 
 I was favored with y arkind note of February 5th, 
 accompaL <A with a 'nU of exchange for twenty poi Is 
 nine shillinf^^s. which has come to hand without the 
 least charge or expense. 
 
 I feel almost unable ^ express my sense oi the 
 obligations I feel f -ov lisinterester' kinaness, ad 
 for all the trouble t m a you have een subjected 
 on my account, and to promote my im rests. May 
 
 it u 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 151 
 
 He who is the Original Source of all happiness recom- 
 pense you a thousand fold, and enrich you with those 
 blessings which shall endure for ever. 
 
 I wrote you a letter about the 18th January, en- 
 closing one to Messrs. Thomas Campbell and J. Meston, 
 Boston, and another to Mr. W. T. Stone. I also' 
 wrote you a pretty long letter on the 30th January, 
 all of which I trn^t came duly to hand. I am happy tJ 
 say that, with th^ exception of some slight colds, I have 
 enjoyed tolerably good health during the bye-past part 
 of this- winter. Mrs. Dick, though sometimes a little 
 delicate, has likewise, on the whole, enjoyed good 
 health. Mr. Milae has been very feeble, though 
 generally able to move about the house after mid-day; 
 and all our young friends are well. 
 
 I )rd John Russell has again been reminded of the 
 -ne- .orial which was formerly presented to Mm, and 
 has boen frequently spoken to of late by several mem- 
 bers of Parliament, but all the answer he has hitherto 
 been pleased .o ^ive, is « that he wax tak >he matter 
 intoconsiderati /> which may, perhaps, b. considered 
 as amounti g to litf^ more than a polite denial. The 
 extravagance, hnwe .r, which ^ tg been displayed in 
 pei -ons to the aristocracy, an i in expenditure for 
 
 I 
 
162 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 fleets and armies, palaces, royal jaclits, &c., is be- 
 yond what is found in any other nation. 
 
 I am g1"^ to see that the cause of Universal Peace 
 is still continuing its progress, and acquiring new 
 supporters. 
 
 I consider the tribute I have received from your 
 friends in America as conferring a greater degree of 
 honor and respect than if the British Government had 
 conferred upon me a large pension similar to that 
 which was given to Mrs. Dr. Chalmers, who stood in 
 no need of it. 
 
 Hoping you will excuse this short epistle, and wish- 
 ing all happiness, and much success in your editorial 
 labors, I am, my dear friend. 
 
 Yours, most sincerely, 
 
 Thomas Dick. 
 
 Broughty Ferry, near Bundee, Feb. 25, 1850. 
 
 1 
 
 About three years ago, I was advised by certain re- 
 spectable gentlemen in Dundee to apply by memorial 
 to Lord John Russell for a pension from the fund 
 allotted to authors, which was accompanied with 
 recommendations from Lord Kinnaird, Lord Duncan, 
 and about a dozen other oflScial gentlemen ; but no 
 answer was ever returned to it. Some gentlemen 
 
UNCLE SAMS FARM. 
 
 168 
 
 havin- lately got a copy of this memorial, inserted 
 certain paragraphs into some of the London journals 
 and newspapers, which tended to convey the idea, to 
 ivhich you allude, that I was approaching to a state of 
 destitution. To such an idea I never gave the least 
 sanction. The sentiments contained in the paragraphs 
 alluded to, are the inferences my kind friends have 
 deduced from the representations made in the memorial 
 to Lord John Russell. Except in this instance, I never 
 uttered a complaint to the British Public, except to a 
 private friend. 
 
 And here, my dear friend, I may use the liberty of 
 stating to you more particularly and unreservedly the 
 items of my income. I have an annuity of £20 from 
 an educational establishment I formerly occupied. I 
 derive about X23 from rentals, subject to deductions 
 for pew duty, poor's rates, duty on windows, &c. I 
 have a few pounds in the bank, which are gradually 
 melting down, and which serve to supply the deficiency 
 of regular income. By dint of the most rigid economy, 
 I and Mrs. Dick have been enabled to move onward— 
 though without some of those comforts we could have 
 wished— notwithstanding many difficulties and encum- 
 brances. Wfl now keep no servants, give no social 
 dinners -we walk short journeys when we are able, or 
 
164 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 rli 
 
 !'i 
 
 take the lowest priced railway carriages ; and in this 
 way we have endeavored to keep ourselves from being 
 involved in serious debts. 
 
 I have spent a good deal of money on books and 
 instruments for the illustration of some parts of my 
 writings, and erected an observatory for the same 
 purpose ; and if my writings be of any value, the pub- 
 lic have partly derived the benefit of such expendi- 
 ture. In consequence cf repeated attacks of illness, 
 I have written nothing for the press for two or three 
 years past, ibout two months ago, I had to undergo 
 a severe surgical operation on my breast, from which 
 a large tumor was extracted ; but the wound is now 
 healed, and, thanks to God, I enjoy at present good 
 health c^nd spirits. You have somewhat mistaken my 
 age. Though I am a few years beyond seventy, I am 
 not yet on the verge of eighty. 
 
 With the most grateful acknowledgements for all 
 your kind attcLtions, I am, my dear Sir, 
 
 Yours, most sincerely, 
 Thomas Dick. 
 
 Mr. Henry M. Paine, of Worcester, a machinist, 
 has succeeded in evolving oxygen and hydrogen gases 
 from water, through the agency of electricity. 
 
TOCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 155 
 
 The electricity employed ia generated by phUo- 
 sopbcal apparatus. The gases are to be used for 
 light, heat, and motive power. 
 
 The light is extremely cheap. One cubic foot of 
 i^ater wiU yield 2,100 feet of gas. The apparatus is 
 simple and convenient. Mr. Paine's gas is considered 
 one of the most important discoveries of the age. Mr 
 Pame has just obtained patents for his discovery, both 
 in this country and in Europe. 
 
 During the summer Worcester was visited by 
 Female Delegates from all the principal States of the 
 Union, who for several days held a "Woman's 
 Bights Convention," the object of which was. that 
 Women should be placed on a perfect equality with 
 Men, ,n the exercise of the franchise, the pulpit, the 
 bar, and the Senate. These ladie^ delivered eloquent 
 atones in behalf of their " Rights," and were 
 listened to with profound attention by crowded 
 audiences. 
 
 Massachusetts and other States have Female 
 Medical Colleges, where Females are trained for the 
 Medical Profession, &c. 
 
 I felt great pleasure in hearing Mrs. Brown preach 
 at the City Hall in Worcester; she graduated at 
 Oberhn College, Ohio. 
 
156 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 The following is taken from a Meteorological Journal, 
 kept by the Superintendent of the Lunatic Hospital 
 at Worcester, for five years. Worcester stands at 
 an elevation of 483 feet above the level of the sea. 
 
 Fair days 
 
 Cloudy days 
 
 Days on which rain fell 
 snow fell 
 
 (( 
 {( 
 t( 
 u 
 (( 
 » 
 
 a 
 
 C( 
 
 i( 
 (I 
 
 (( 
 (( 
 {( 
 (( 
 (( 
 (I 
 (( 
 
 (I 
 
 Inches of rain- 
 
 halos of moon seen 
 
 aurora borealis seen 
 
 north wind prevailed 
 
 north-west 
 
 west 
 
 south-west 
 
 south 
 
 south-east 
 
 east 
 
 north-east 
 
 « 
 
 K 
 (C 
 (( 
 
 snow 
 
 1841 
 
 255 
 
 110 
 92 
 40 
 10 
 19 
 28 
 
 107 
 13 
 82 
 24 
 17 
 2 
 56 
 
 42.94 
 82 
 
 1842 
 
 242 
 
 123 
 
 107 
 32 
 4 
 12 
 27 
 83 
 24 
 
 134 
 
 5 
 
 11 
 
 41 
 
 40.78 
 40 
 
 1843 
 
 246 
 
 119 
 
 89 
 
 45 
 
 5 
 
 7 
 
 26 
 
 90 
 
 46 
 
 79 
 
 12 
 
 17 
 
 1 
 
 43 
 
 48.67 
 
 91 
 
 1844 
 
 230 
 
 136 
 
 93 
 
 30 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 113 
 
 29 
 
 102 
 
 1 
 
 23 
 
 2 
 
 61 
 
 37.85 
 
 57 
 
 1845 
 
 248 
 
 117 
 
 93 
 
 29 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 120 
 
 29 
 
 107 
 
 2 
 
 15 
 
 1 
 
 57 
 
 42.49 
 
 59 
 
 Apple trees flowered May 24, 1841, May 9, '42, May 14, '43, 
 May 8, '44, May 2, '45. First frost averages from the 20th Septem- 
 ber to the 20th October. 
 
 In the early part of the month of May, at Worces- 
 ter, I mounted the iron horse, -who puffed, snorted, 
 and rushed away at the rate of twenty-five miles an 
 hour. The sun hid his burning brow behind a misty 
 cloud, which for some time obstructed the view of the 
 picturesque and beautiful country through which the 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 157 
 
 4 
 
 1845 
 
 5 
 
 248 
 
 117 
 
 93 
 
 29 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 120 
 
 29 
 
 107 
 
 2 
 
 15 
 
 1 
 
 57 
 
 42.49 
 
 59 
 
 Steam horse bore us. As we approached the Merri- 
 mac River, however, the mist cleared away, and 
 piles of fleecy clouds were distinctly mirrored in the 
 waters of the beautiful river, along the banks of which 
 we now passed, through smiUng towns and villages, 
 until the bell and loud steam whistle announced that 
 we were approaching the Lowell depot. Lowell is 
 the Manchester of America, the manufacturing empo- 
 rium of the Western world. Forty years ago it was 
 an unsettled territory. It is now covered with mills, 
 churches, hotels, stores; and the hum of business 
 amid streets of beautiful houses, the prosperous homes 
 of thirty-five thousand people. Lowell is twenty-five 
 miles from Boston, and is the second city in popula- 
 tion in the " Old Bay State." 
 
 Lowell derives its name in honor of Francis Cabot 
 Lowell, who was the founder of the manufactories. 
 It is situated at the confluence of the Merrimac and 
 Concord rivers. The spot where Lowell now stands, 
 about 200 years ago was the headquarters of one of 
 the five great tribes of Indians which were found 
 in New England, numbering 12,000. This place 
 was highly valued by the L dians on account of the 
 vast quantities of salmon, shad, alewives, and sturgeon 
 with which the river abounded. The abundance of 
 14 
 
158 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 t ji' 
 
 \l ! I 
 
 the latter fish gave the name " Merrimac " to the 
 river so called, the meaning of that word being 
 " sturgeon " in the Indian tongue. Here, as early 
 as 1663, John Eliot, the celebrated " Apostle to the 
 Indians," came, spending many days, and preaching 
 to the natives. Here courts were held annually, in 
 the month of May, by an English Magistrate, assisted 
 by some Indian chiefs. I have seen the spot where 
 the log church stood which Eliot used to preach in. 
 But Eliot and these sons of the forest havo all passed 
 away, and are now in the far off land of the Great 
 Spirit. 
 
 The population of Lowell in 1828 was 3,532. It 
 is now estimated at 35,000. There are fifty mills at 
 work here, managed by twelve corporations, whose 
 capital is $13,210,000, which keep in operation 
 319,946 spindles, and 9,885 looms. The number of 
 yards ma^'e per week is as follows : 2,110,000 cotton ; 
 20,477 woollen ; 12,000 carpets ; 40 rugs. In the 
 manufacture of woollen, are consumed 69,000 pounds 
 of wc 1 per week ; of the cotton, per week, 653,000 
 jK)unds. 345,000 yards are printed ; 3,615,000 dyed. 
 The kinds of goods manufactured are the following : 
 Prints, sheetings, shirtings, drillings, flannels, broad- 
 cloth, cassimere, plain and fancy woollen goods. 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 169 
 
 carpets and rugs. Besides these are machinerj, 
 locomotives, steam engines, machinists' tools, and 
 mill-work. 27,620 tons of anthracite coal are used 
 per annum, and of charcoal, 35,903 bushels ; 2,390 
 cords of wood ; 82,917 gallons of oil ; 35,000 pounds 
 of lard ; 1,380,000 pounds of starch ; 1,365 barrels 
 of flour. These buildings are built of brick, and 
 warmed by steam. The mills employ 8,260 females, 
 and 8,744 males. The average wages of females^ 
 clear of board, per week, is $2 ; and the average 
 wages of males, clear of board, is $5 per week, 
 which is paid in money every month. Price of board 
 $1,37 1-2 per week at the boarding-houses. These 
 boarding-houses are built by the owners of the mills, 
 for the use of the operatives. The Middlesex Com- 
 pany make ase annually of 6,000,000 teasels, 1,716,^ 
 000 pounds fine wool, 80,000 pounds glue, |60,000 
 worth dye stuffs, and $17,000 worth of soap! They 
 also own the Wamesit Carpet Mill, where are con- 
 sumed, annually, 93,600 pounds coarse wool, and 
 36,400 pounds of worsted yarn, producing 91,000 
 yards Ingrain Carpeting. 
 
 ^ The severi manufacturing companies have estab- 
 lishec &n li ospital for the convenience and comfort of 
 persons employed by them respectively when sick. 
 
160 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 which is under the superintendence of a physician. 
 Other manufactures are produced in the city than 
 those which I have specified, of the value of $1,500,- 
 000, employing a capital of $400,000, and about 
 1,500 persons. 
 
 Thert are also Powder Mills, Paper and Batting 
 Mills, and Saw Mills belonging to private individuals. 
 There are two institutions for Savings — the "Lowell" 
 acd the '• City." The Lowell had on deposit in 1849, 
 from 4^650 depositors, $792,291. The City, at the 
 same time, had on deposit, from 615 depositors, 
 $75,970. The operatives in the mills are the prin- 
 cipal depositors in the above banks. There are 
 several other banks beside these established in the 
 city. There is a valuable Library of 7,000 volumes 
 belonging to the city, to which any one can have 
 access by paying fifty cents per annum. Railroads, 
 ga works, magnetic telegraphs and water works inter- 
 sect uhe city in every direction. 
 
 It is almost suifocating to a stranger to enter 
 a cotton mill ; it i.i intensely hot, and the windows 
 are closed so as not to admit the slightest air ; added 
 to -rhich is the smell of oil, and the atmosphere of 
 the room filled with fibres of cotton and other small 
 particles, which one would think would be highly 
 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 161 
 
 prejudicial to health, although very few of the opera- 
 tives complained of their health. Several of the 
 young ladies informed me that they would prefer 
 working in the mills to any other employment. 
 America is fast becoming a great manufacturing 
 country, and bids fair to outrival old England. 
 
 In Lowell I saw Harriet Farley, who is the editor 
 and publisher of the "New England Offering," a 
 very popular magazine. Miss Farley informed me 
 that the articles in the magazme were written by 
 female operatives employed in the mills. 
 
 During the destitution in Ireland, in 1846, the 
 factory giris of Lowell sent over 1,000 garments for 
 the io! tf of the distressed. 
 
 The number of spindles at work throughout the 
 United States (where coctcii !?piuning was fiist com- 
 menced in 1821,) i , £,^00,000. 
 
 The number of spirul^ea throughout the worid, in 
 1849, was as follows : — 
 
 Great Britain, 
 France, 
 United States, 
 Austria, 
 ZoUe-Yerein, 
 14* 
 
 17,50^,000 
 
 4,300,000 
 
 2,500,000 
 
 1,500,000 
 
 815,000 
 
2 
 
 A PKEP 
 
 AT 
 
 
 Russia, 
 
 . 
 
 
 700,000 
 
 SwitBorland, 
 
 
 
 050,000 
 
 Belgium, 
 
 
 
 420,000 
 
 Spain, 
 
 
 
 800,000 
 
 Italy, 
 
 
 
 800,000 
 
 Total, 
 
 28,085,000 
 
 In 1790 America did not export a single pound of 
 cotton. In 1840, out of 407,850,274 pounds im- 
 ported into Groat Britain, 401,040,898 came from 
 the United States. The total amount exported from 
 the United States in 1849, was 5,718,209 bales. 
 The amount consraned in manufactures in the United 
 States in 1849, was 628,089 bales. 
 
 Numerous towns and villages are situated upon the 
 road between Boston and Worcester. The view from 
 some points is exceedingly picturesque and beautiful. 
 Brighton is distant from Boston five miles, and is cel- 
 ebrated as being the largest Cattle Market in New 
 England. There are largo paved yards, sheds, bams, 
 and stables for the convenience and sale of live stock 
 of every description. There are extensive slaughter- 
 ing establishments, where largo numbers are weekly 
 slaughtered for the Boston market. The market day 
 
UNOLK HAM'H I-'AflM. 
 
 108 
 
 ii Thursdr*' of each wook, wlioii throngs of pcrwons 
 moot to tralfio. Tho followiiiK \h tho number of cattio 
 at market Thursday, Oct. 8d, IHAO : — 
 
 1480 Boof Cattio, 2100 Stores, 22 pairs Working 
 Oxon, 78 Cows and Calves, 000 Shoop and Lambs, 
 and 1050 Swino. 
 
 Tricos. Beef Cattio — Kxtra; JO; 1st quality, 
 $5,75 ; 2d do., ji>5 ; U do., $i to 4,50. 
 
 Stores — Yearlings, ||;7, p ; Two years old, J|12 to 
 17 J Three years old, |;20, 27. 
 
 Working Oxen— $05, CO, 7^}, 85, 100. 
 
 Cows and Calves — <$18, 20, 24, 27, 81, 88. 
 
 Shoop and Lambs— )|1,50, 1,02, 1,75, 2, 3. 
 
 Swino — 4 to 5c. ; retail, 4 1-2 to Oc. Old Hogs, 
 4 l-lOo. 
 
 Sales of cattle at Brighton Market in 1843 and 
 1844 : — 
 
 1843. 
 
 Beef Cattle, 
 
 22,916 
 
 Stores, 
 
 19,605 
 
 Sheep, 
 
 98,829 
 
 Swine, 
 
 43,060 
 
 Sales estimated at jf 2,120,644. 
 
 
tS3^ 
 
 164 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 1844. 
 
 Beef Cattle, ^7,610 
 
 Stores, 4,186 
 
 Sheep, 02,274 
 
 Swine, 62,740 
 Sales estimated at $1,689,874. 
 
 Average prices of live stock in 1846 : — 
 
 Neat Cattle, $19 26 
 
 Horses, 62,94 
 
 Sheep, ^ 1,67 
 
 Swine, . ' 8,7-^ 
 
 A short distar je from Brighton, on the bank of the 
 Chares river, stands one of the United States 
 afB^enda, where are every day seen flying the stars 
 and stripes. The arsenal occupies forty acres of 
 ground, and contains a large amount of the munitions 
 of war. 
 
 At Newton Corner, I called to see Dr. W. F. 
 Teulon, who formerly lived in Newfoundland. He is 
 now a Universalist minister, and also practises as a 
 physician. This place was called Nbnantum by the 
 Indians. Here the red men first heard of Christian- 
 ity from the puritan apostle Eliot, in 1646, and here 
 was erected their first house of prayer. 
 
UNCLE SAM'S A 
 
 166 
 
 A school was soon establishea among them, and 
 the general court gave the neighboring Indians a 
 tract of highland, and furnish d them with various 
 implements of husbandry. The liidians, manj of 
 them, professed Christianity, and the whole in the 
 vicinity became settled ' ^ acted their affairs 
 
 with prudence and industi hey erected a house 
 
 of worship for themselves ey adopted the customs 
 of their English neighbois; made laws, and had 
 magistrates of their own. The increase of the Indian 
 1 verts was such, that they found the place too strait 
 for them, and there was a removal of the tribe to 
 Natick, about ten miles southwest. The first organ- 
 ized church, purely Indian, was at Natick. The 
 ardor and zeal of Eliot and others was crowned with 
 such success, that in 1660 there were ten towns of 
 Indians in Massachusetts who were converted to the 
 Christian religion." 
 
 The Ojibwa, or Chippeway, nation, in Canada and 
 the United States, n^ nbers over 30,000, who inhabit 
 all the northern p. a of Michigan, or the south shore 
 of Lake Huron, for 800 miles, the upper part of 
 the Mississippi river, &c. Numerous other tribes of 
 Indians inhabit the Western and Southern States. 
 Mr. Eliot translated the whole Bible into the 
 
I '^^'^ 
 
IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 // 
 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 11.25 
 
 us 
 
 IM 
 
 1.4 
 
 2.5 
 2.2 
 
 IZO 
 
 1.6 
 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 ^ 
 
 a? 
 
 \ 
 
 4^ 
 
 :\ 
 
 \ 
 
 
 ^q> 
 
 V 
 
 ^* 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
 
 0^ 
 

 
166 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 Natick (or Nipmuc) dialect. This Bible was printed 
 at Cambridge, in 1663, and was the first Bible printed 
 in America. Owing to sickness, and other causes so 
 fatal to the race, the red men have now become entirely 
 extinct in Massachusetts. A monument is now 
 being erected at Roxbury to mark the spot where 
 rest the ashes of the Puritan, Pilgrim, and Apostolic 
 Eliot, who tamed the ferocity of the red man by the 
 proclamation of a plain, old-fashioned gospel. Thus, 
 after the lapse of 160 years, a Corinthian column is 
 to remind the traveller of the " Apostle to the 
 Indians." The first name on the list of subscribers 
 to the monument is Kah-Ge-Ga-Gah-Bowh, (George 
 Copway) the Indian chief, who recently attended the 
 peace congress in Germany; he subscribed J26. 
 Mr. Eliot settled in Roxbury in 1632. He died in 
 1690, aged 86 years. There are many other places 
 of great interest on the road between Boston and 
 Worcester, but to speak of every place would swell 
 this volume beyond the limits which I intend for it. 
 On the Western Railroad are places of surpassing 
 beauty and loveliness. The following is written by 
 Miss Sedgwick, a native of Stockbridge, Berkshire 
 County, Massachusetts. Speaking of Berkshire, she 
 says : — 
 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 167 
 
 " Thifl county, until recently, has, from its seques- 
 tered position, remained in obscuritj. Its communica- 
 tion with its own capital, even, has been impeded by 
 the high and rugged hills that enclose it. But now 
 tfie hills are brought low, and the rough places are 
 made smooth. Man has chained to his car a steed 
 fleeter than the reindeer, and stronger than the 
 elephant, and we glide through our mountain-passes 
 with a velocity more like the swiftness of lovers' 
 thoughts than any material thing to which we can 
 liken it. 
 
 " That sect:on of the western railroad which tra- 
 verses the wild hills of Berkshire is a work of 
 immense labor, and a wonderful achievement of art. 
 The pleasure of our citizens in surveying it is not 
 impaired by the galling consciousness that there is 
 yet a forei^ debt to pay for it, or doubtful credit 
 involved in it. 
 
 "Berkshire lies midway between the Connecticut 
 and the Hudson. After leaving the wide meadows of 
 the Connecticut, basking in their rich inheritance of 
 alluvial soil and unimpeded sunshine, you wind 
 through the narrow valleys of the Westfield river, 
 with masses of mountains before you, and woodland 
 heights crowding in upon you, so that at every puff of 
 
168 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 the engine, the passage visibly contracts. The 
 Alpine character of the river strikes you. The huge 
 stones in its wide channel, which have been torn up 
 and rolled down by the sweeping torrents of spring 
 and autumn, lie bared and whitening in the summer'js 
 sun. You cross and recross it, as in its deviations it 
 leaves space on one side or the other, for a practicable 
 road. 
 
 " At * Chester Factories ' you begin your ascent of 
 eighty feet in a mile, for thirteen miles ! The stream 
 between you and the precipitous hill side, cramped 
 into its rocky bed, is the Pontoosne, one of the tribu- 
 taries of the Westfield river. As you trace this 
 stream to its mountain-home, it dashes along beside 
 you with the recklessness of childhood. It leaps 
 down precipices, runs forth laughing in the dimpling 
 sunshine, and then, shy as a mountain nymph, it 
 dodges behind a knotty copse of evergreens. In 
 approaching the * summit level ' you travel bridges 
 built a hundred feet above other mountain streams^ 
 tearing along their deep-worn beds; and at the 
 * deep-cut ' ycur pasi*. j? is hewn through solid rocks, 
 whose mighty walls frown over you. 
 
 " Mountain scenery changes with every changing 
 season — we might almost say with every change 
 
UNCLE SAM'S PABM. 
 
 169 
 
 of atmosphere. In the spring, while the skirts of 
 winter still hang over this h:gh cold re^on, and the 
 trees seem afraid to put on their buds, the Pontoosne 
 breaks forth from ite icy bars, and leaps and rushes 
 on as if with conscious joy for its recovered liberty. 
 It is the first sound that breaks upon the wemsome 
 lingering of winter, and ite music strikes upon ttio 
 ear like the sweetest of human sounds, the morning 
 song of a child waking one from a dreary dream. 
 
 " In summer, as there is little on these jjavage 
 hills of what is pecuHar to ujimer, flowerfii and 
 fruitfulness, it is a happy chance to make this pass 
 when piles of clouds hide the hot sun, and the lain is 
 pouring down in sheete, when every littk dropping 
 rill that has dried away m the summer's i,iu «id- 
 denly swelled into a waterfaU, and over the banks and 
 down the difis tiiey come pouring and leafang, 
 reminding one of that wild fable of German, iinag- 
 ining Undine and aU her clan of wate^spirit8 doing 
 their whimsical feats. 
 
 "In autumn, the beeches and maples on the ibiil- 
 
 sidos are glowing with a metallic brightness, softened. 
 
 and set off most exquisitely by the evergreen of the 
 
 towering pines, th« massive cones of the Norway fiw* 
 
 15 
 
170 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 lu 
 
 and the graceful, plomj hemlocks that intersperse 
 them. 
 
 "In "winter, the art that sends you swiftly and 
 securely through these stem solitudoa is most grate- 
 fully felt. The trees bend creaking before the howl* 
 ing blast, the snow is driving and drifting, here it is 
 piled on either side in solid walls above your car, and 
 there the hideous roots of the upturned stumps are 
 bare. Even the hardy mountain children have 
 shrunk from the biting blast, and the whimpering dog 
 has begged an inside berth. You see no little tow- 
 head, with its curious eyes peering at you through the 
 icy window ; you hear not even the salute of a bark. 
 On you glide, by the aid of the most recent discover- 
 ies and ingenious contrivances of art, through a coun- 
 try whose face is still marked with the savage grand- 
 eur of its primeval condition. To give the transition 
 to the smiling valleys below the full force of contrast, 
 it should be made in summer. Then you slide down 
 amid green pastures, meadows and orchards. Tou 
 glance at Hnsdale and Dalton, and enter Pittsfield, 
 famous for its lofty elm, the last veteran of the origj- 
 nal forest, (now, alas! a dymg veteran,) for its 
 annual furs, its thriving medical institution, and for 
 its rural wealth, possessing, as it does within the limits 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FABM. 
 
 171 
 
 of its township, perhaps more cultivable land than any 
 other equal district in Massachusetts. 
 
 " We have entered Berkshire by a road far supe- 
 rior to the Appian Tvay. On every side are rich 
 valleys and smiling hill-sides, and, deep-set in their 
 hollows, lovely lakes sparkle like gems. From one of 
 these, a modest sheet of water in Lanesborough, flows 
 out the Housatonic, the minister of God's bounty, 
 bringing to the meadows along its course a yeasty 
 renewal of fertility, and the ever changing, ever 
 present beauty that marks God's choicest works. It 
 is the most judicious of rivers ; like a discreet rural 
 beauty, it bears its burdens and does its work out of 
 sight; its water privileges for nulls, furnaces, and 
 factories, are aside from the villages. When it comes 
 near to them, a^i in Stockbridge, it Ungers like a 
 lover, turns and returns, and when fairly off, flies past 
 rolling wheels and dinning factories, till, reaching the 
 lovely meadows of Barrington, it again disports itself 
 at leisure." 
 
 In June I visited Providence, which is the Capital 
 of the State of Rhode Island. It is the second city 
 in New England, being next to Boston in population 
 and trade. It is forty-two miles from Boston, and 
 contains a population of forty-two thousand. The 
 
172 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 city is at the head of Karraganset Bay, ^;hera it 
 receives the Mooshasuck River. It occup'es both 
 sides of the river, connected by two bridgos, which 
 have been thrown over the river near the head of the 
 tide-waters, which is thirty-five miles from the ocean. 
 On the east side are three principal streets running 
 parallel with the river. On these streets are a num- 
 ber of public buildings, and many elegant private 
 residences. On this side of the river the land rises 
 abruptly, and the cross streets have a stoep ascent. 
 On the hill overlooking the city is Brown ' Jniversity, 
 a Baptist Institution, established in 1770. From this 
 place is an extensive view of the surrounding country. 
 On the west side of the river is Westminster streeti 
 The finest shops in the city are in this street ; here 
 also is one of the fronts of the Arcade, one of the 
 finest buildings of the kind in America. It is biult of 
 hewn granite and fronts two streets, eighty feet wide, 
 presenting colonnades of the Doric style, of six columns 
 each. These columns are twenty-five feet in height, 
 the shafts being twenty-two feet in length. This 
 building is two hundred and twenty-five feet long, 
 eighty feet broad, and seventy-two feet high, divided 
 into three stories, containing upwards of eighty shops; 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FABM. 
 
 178 
 
 the whole lighted by a glass roof. It was finished in 
 1828, at an expense of $130,000. 
 
 Among the public buildings are a State House, 
 City Hall, Hospital, Jail, State Prison, Custom House, 
 Athenaeum, &c., and a number of Churches. There 
 are several mills here ; the manufactures consist 
 chiefly of cotton goods, steam-en^nes, machinery, 
 and copper, brass, and iron. There is probably more 
 jewelry manufactured here than in any other place in 
 the United States. 
 
 The State Legislature is held alternately at Provi- 
 dence and Newport. Providence is memorable as the 
 place of retreat of Roger WilUams. The first settle- 
 ment of the town was made by WilUams and five 
 others in 1636. Roger Williams was persecuted in 
 Massachusetts for his religious sentiments, ar-^ was 
 eventually banished from the State by the Congr ga- 
 tionalists in 1635, when he took up his residence in 
 Providence. He is represented as an eccentric and 
 self-opinionated man, but smcere and pious, — he was 
 a minister of the Baptist persuasion. He in turn for 
 a short time persecuted the Quakers who settled in 
 Providence. In 1644 Williams visited England and 
 obtained a charter. A new charter was granted to 
 Rhode Island by Charles II. I have read this docu- 
 16* 
 
174 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 ment •— it was full too centuries in advance of the 
 policy of the British Go7ernment. So exceedingly 
 liberal was this instrument, that the State Govem- 
 ment of Rhode Island continued it as the basis of their 
 government, till it was^superseded by the adoption of 
 a Constitution in 1843. 
 
 One of the most beautiful places which I have 
 visited in America is the lovely village of Springfield, 
 the " Queen Village " of New England. Springfield 
 was first settled in 1635, and for forty years after 
 lived at peace with the Indians. During the cele- 
 brated " King Philip's War," however, this village 
 suiTered with other settlements. The manufactures 
 of Springfield consist of railroad cars, carriages, 
 leather, boots and shoes, brooms, bricks, tobacco, 
 cotton, paper, building stone, &c., &c. The valuation 
 of Springfield, as ascertained by the Assessors in 
 1860, is, 
 
 Real Estate, 
 Personal, 
 
 Total, 
 
 $4,230,973 
 2,081,093 
 
 $6,312,030 
 
 , It contains a population of upwards of 11,000, 
 situated upon the east bank of the beautiful Connecti- 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 175 
 
 cut River. It is the centre of a large inland and 
 river traffic, as well aa of railroad communication. It 
 is ninetj-eight miles from Boston, and a hundred and 
 forty-two from New York city. The principal street 
 of the village is called Main Street, and extends about 
 two miles, running parallel with the river, shaded on 
 either side with trees of various kinds clothed with the 
 richest foliage. The buildings are of wood, brick, 
 and stone, some of which are elegant. There are 
 several fine Halls, Churches and other public buUdings. 
 One of the United States Armories is kept here, and 
 is the most extensive in the country. I have been all 
 through this arsenal. It stands on an elevated plain. 
 The buildings, which are nearly all of brick, are 
 arranged around a square of about twenty acres, pre- 
 senting a handsome appearance. A cupola on one of 
 them aflfords a deUghtfd view of the River and sur- 
 rounding country. TI ^ Store House is an immense 
 brick structure, having a dome and lantern on which 
 is every day seen flying the national flag. There are 
 about three hundred men employed in the arsenal. 
 About 15,000 muskets are annually made here, and 
 150,000 are stored in the building connected with the 
 establishment. When shall the time come when these 
 
176 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 warlike instruments shall be converted into implements 
 of husbandry, and men shall learn "war no more ? 
 
 The scenery around Springfield is extremely beauti- 
 ftil. A few minutes' walk, and you pass smiling fields 
 decked with verdure, and beautiful gardens containing 
 almost every variety of fruit grown in a tropical 
 climate. You still walk on, admiring the lovely 
 plumage and listening to the sweet notes of the 
 warblers of the grove, until you find yourself on the 
 brink of the Connecticut river, where you behold the 
 finny tribes frisking and sporting on its sparkling 
 waters. A walk in another direction brings you to 
 what is called the Hill ; this is the most beautiful part 
 of the place. Here you enter a broad and elegant 
 street lined with private residences, in front of some 
 of which is a spacious lawn, in the centre of which is 
 a fountain with its waters in full play. The lawn is 
 laid out with gravel walks, shaded with trees of the 
 most magnificent foliage, interspersed with rose trees, 
 and other flowering plants. 
 
 Last night (July 5th,) was the most awful and 
 terrific night I ever witnessed. At six o'clock it 
 commenced thundering and lightning ; the lightning 
 was in the zig-zag form — a form in which it is nevier 
 seen in Newfoundland. About nine o'clock it was 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 177 
 
 truly terrible ; the rain poured in perfect torrents ; it 
 was preceded bjr a hurricane whirlwind, which tore 
 up trees by the roots and did considerable damage to 
 houses, &o. While the storm was at its height, be- 
 tween 10 and 11 o'clock, the lightning .truck a bam 
 and dwelling house, both of which were consumed, 
 although the Firemen exerted themselves to put it out. 
 The storm lasted till one o'clock. Steamboats on the 
 river ran ashore and waited until the storm was over, 
 afraid to proceed on their voyage. No one living at 
 Springfield had ever seen the like before. The light- 
 ning was incessant, and circled the whole heavens. 
 The whole concave of the firmament appeared one 
 mass of fire, in one place appearing as " sheet light- 
 ning," and in anotljer place assuming the zig-zag 
 form — appearing in both forms at once. It was not 
 a flash and then a pause, but a continuous unceasing 
 fire over the entire heavens for three hours. It was 
 like as if the worid was on fire, and the end of all 
 things at hand. The Rev. Mr. Conklin, Congregational 
 minister, and myself, paced the room in the greatest 
 anxiety. Every one was solemnly impressed with the 
 awful grandeur of the scene. The lightning appeared 
 blue, white, and red. 
 
 m 
 
178 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 Thunder storms in America are terrible. Lightning 
 conductors line the houses every where. 
 
 At Springfield I witnessed the annual celebration 
 of the Fourth of July, — being the seventy-fifth year 
 of t'ae Independence of the United States. Upwards 
 of twenty thousand persons assembled to see the fire- 
 works. 
 
 At Springfield I went on board a Steamboat and 
 proceeded down the Connecticut river as far as Hart- 
 ford, distant tvirenty-seven miles. The Connecticut is 
 a beautiful river. It was called the Qmnehtacf by 
 the Indians, which is said to signify Long Biver, or 
 the Miver of Pines. After fornung the boundary line 
 between New Hampshire and Vermont, it crosses the 
 western part of Massachusetts, passes the State of 
 Connecticut, nearly in its centre, and empties itself 
 into Long Island Sound. Both sides of the Connecti- 
 cut are lined with rich farms, dotted with beautaful 
 white painted houses with green Venetian blinds. The 
 principal villages between Springfield and Hartford 
 are Longmeadow, Thompsonville, and Windsor. 
 Thompsonville is a place of importance in the manu- 
 facture of Carpetings. A short distance below this 
 place the Connecticut river is divided by a large 
 island. The river on both sides, at this place, during 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FABM. 
 
 179 
 
 the summer is very shallow, owing to Enfield Falls. 
 Boats pass these faUs through a canal eight miles long, 
 mth numerous locks. The steamer passes through 
 Windsor Locks, where Paper Mills and other manu- 
 factories extend along the river for a considerable 
 distance. 
 
 The manufactures of Connecticut are too numerous 
 to mention. At W^.tervillo. a capital of $125,000 is 
 employed in making poc^ .; cutlery; two hundred 
 hands are employed in the establishment. At Water- 
 bury, the American Pin Company employ 80 hands, 
 who make one thousand packs of pins per day, of 
 tw**lve papers per pack ; also make two thousand gross 
 of hooka and eyes daily. There are also at this place 
 various button manafactories, some of which employ 
 two hundred hands, and turn out $350,000 worth of 
 goods annually, &c., &c. 
 
 Windsor, six miles distant, is one of the oldest towns 
 in Connecticut, and rich in meadow land ; the scenery 
 is very beautiful. The Connecticut river passes 
 through a valley of twelve thousand square miles, em- 
 beUished with towns and villages in every direction, 
 presenting to the eye a lovely landscape of nature and 
 art. Salmon formerly were very plentiful in this 
 
180 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 river, but have now entirely disappeared. Large 
 quantities of shad, however, are still taken. 
 
 The city of Hartford is the principal city in the 
 State of Connecticut ; it is situated on the west bank 
 of Connecticut river, fifty miles from its mouth. It 
 contains a population of 17,000. Its Indian name 
 was Suckiag. 
 
 A company of Dutch traders settled at Hartford in 
 1633, who opposed the first English Settlement, but 
 afterwards relinquished their claim. Hartford was 
 first settled by the English in 1635, by John Steel and 
 his associates, from Newtown (now Cambridge) Mas- 
 sachusetts. The main body of the first settlers, with 
 the Rev. Mr. Hooker at their head, arrived at Hart- 
 ford from Newtown the following year. The emigrants 
 numbered about one hundred, men, women and 
 children, who pushed their way over mountains, 
 through forests, swamps, and rivers, with one hundred 
 and sixty head of cattle. They subsisted chiefly by 
 the way on the milk of their cows. Many of those 
 persons .7ere entire strangers to fatigue and danger, 
 having lived in England in honor, affluence, and 
 luxury. 
 
 Hartford was incorporated in 1784. It is one hun- 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 181 
 
 dred miles from Boston, and one hundred and fi%, 
 three from New York, by which it is connected witih 
 hnes of Steamboate and Railroads. Bj means of 
 C*n&!s and other improvements the Connecticut has 
 been made navigable for boats nearly two hundred 
 and fifty mUes above Hartford. A covered bridge, 
 one thousand feet long, and which cost |100,OOo' 
 connecte the City with East Hartford. The compact 
 part of Hartford is more than a mUe in length and 
 three-quarters of a mUe wide. The ground rises 
 gradually from the river, which shows the City to ad- 
 vantage. Main street is the principal street of tiie 
 City, and contains many fine shops and houses. Little 
 River, which crosses the south part of the City, is 
 crossed in tiiis street by a stone bridge one hundred 
 feet wide, of a single arch of one hundred and four 
 feet span. Little River furnishes valuable water 
 power for the manufactories of the City, which are 
 numerous. 
 
 The aggregate School Fund of Connecticut for 
 1849, was $2,076,602. The number of children 
 returned, 90,700. 
 
 Among the PubHc Buildings and Listitutions is the 
 State House, a large and handsome building sur- 
 mounted by a cupola. It stands upon the public square 
 
182 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 fronting Main street, and is enclosed with an iron 
 railing, shaded with trees. In this building are the 
 public offices of the State. The Le^lature meet 
 here and at New Haven alternately. The City Hall 
 is a large and commodious building, of the Doric order 
 of architecture. Trimty College is situated m the 
 west part of the City. It was founded in 1824, and 
 belongs to the Episcopalians. The President intro- 
 duced me to the library and presented me with the 
 last report of the College. The College consists of 
 two edifices of free-stone, one a hundred and forty- 
 eight feet long by forty-three feet wide, and four 
 stories high, containing forty-eight rooms ; the other 
 eighty-seven feet by fifty-five, and three stories high, 
 containing the Chapel, Library, Mineralogical Cabinet, 
 Philosophical Chamber, Laboratory, and Recitation 
 rooms. There are 6,000 volumes in the College 
 library, and 2,600 in the libraries of the different 
 Societies. A complete philosophical apparatus, cabi- 
 net of minerals, and botamcal garden and green-house, 
 belong to the Institution. The Faculty consists of a 
 President, six Professors, and two Tutors. There are 
 one hundred and thirty students in the Institution. 
 
 The American Asylum for the instruction of the 
 Deaf and Dumb was the first establishment of the 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 188 
 
 kind in the United States. It was opened in 1BI7. 
 It has spacious buildings, with a large tract of land 
 attached. All instruction here is communicated by 
 means of signs. I saw several pupils say their lessons, 
 and work sums in arithmetic on the black board. 
 The Retreat for the Insane is a beautiful stone build- 
 ing, opened in 1824. 
 
 ^ One of the most interesting Institutions which I 
 visited was Wadsworth Athenseum. The site of this 
 buildmg was a donation from Daniel Wadsworth, and 
 the building was erected in 1844, by the voluntary 
 contributions of the citizens ; the entu-e cost of which 
 was over {50,000. It is a granite structure of the 
 caateUated style of architecture, one hundred feet in 
 length and eighty feet in depth. It is appropriated 
 to four distinct Societies, viz : —Young Men*s In- 
 stitute, for a reading-room, quarterly and other 
 meetings, and for their library of 10,000 volumes ; 
 the Connecticut Historical Society, for the use of their 
 books and other collections ; the Natural History 
 Society, for the use of their collections; and a gallery 
 of splendid Paintings, some of which are eighteen feet 
 long. There are also some beautiful Statuary. 
 Among the paintings is the Battle of Bunker HiU ; 
 Declaration of Independence ; Assault of Quebec ; 
 
184 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 also a full length portrait of Benjamin West, by Sir 
 Thomas Lawrence; a portrait by Raebum; a St. 
 John, by Spagnolletto ; the Children of Reubens, and 
 many other beautiful pictures. The Rev. Dr. Rob- 
 bins, Congregational Minister, presented the Histori- 
 cal Society with a valuable library of books. This 
 venerable old gentleman is a library in himself, and is 
 greatly respected by all the citizens of Hartford. The 
 finest and most beautiful Churches I have seen in 
 America are at Hartford. The first Church estab- 
 lished in this city was of the Congregational order. 
 The first Episcopal Church was established in 1762 ; 
 the first Baptist, in 1789 ; the first Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church in 1820 ; and the first Roman Catholic, 
 in 1881. The city contains sixteen Churches, viz : -*• 
 Four Congregational, and one African Congrega- 
 tional ; two Episcopalian ; two Baptist ; one Advent; 
 two Methodist, and one African Methodist ; one 
 Roman Catholic ; one tJniversalist, and one Unitarian. 
 While at Hartford I went to see the " Charter Oak," 
 so celebrated in the History of Connecticut. It stands 
 in a field near Charter street, at the south part of 
 Main street. The trunk of this famous tree is 
 twenty-one feet in circumference. The cavity which 
 was the asylum of the Charter was near the roots, and 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FABM. 
 
 185 
 
 large enough to admit a child, which in the course of 
 years closed up. There is now a large orifice near 
 the roots, which is closed by a door. It was locked 
 at the time of my visit. The history of the Charter 
 Oak is as follows :— Sir Edmund Andros, being ap- 
 pointed the first Governor General of New England, 
 arrived in Boston in December, 1686, from whence 
 he wrote to the Colony of Connecticut to resign their 
 Charter ; they, however, did not comply with this 
 request, but continued to meet in Legislative Session 
 as heretofore. Sir Edmund, with his suite and a body 
 of troops, visited Hartford while the Assembly were 
 in session, and demanded the Charter, and declared 
 the Government under it to be dissolved. The 
 Assembly, however, were very slow to pass any 
 resolution to give up the Charter. The tradition is, 
 that Governor Treat strongly represented the great 
 hardship and expense he and his fellow-colonists 
 endured in defending the Colony, both against the 
 Indians and foreigners. The matter was debated and 
 kept in suspense until evening, when the Charter was 
 brought and laid upon the table where the Assembly 
 were sitting; the lights were instantly extinguished, 
 when Captain Wadsworth, silently and secretly, 
 carried off the Charter and hid it in a large hollow 
 16* 
 
186 
 
 A PBEP AT 
 
 tree. The people all appeared quiet and orderly. 
 The candles were relighted, but the Charter was gone, 
 and no discovery could be made of it, or the person 
 who carried it away. Sir Edmund Andres, however, 
 assumed the Government. 
 
 Connecticut is the State of which Jonathan Trum- 
 bull was Governor, from whom originated the epithet 
 '* Brother Jonathan," as applied to Americans. It is 
 said that General Washington was accustomed to 
 consult Governor Trumbull on all matters of im- 
 portance, and would generally say, when things of 
 importance were under consideration, " I nrast seek 
 the advice of Brother Jonathan." 
 
 At Hartford I first saw the famous General Tom 
 Thumb, together with his ponies and carriage, pre- 
 sented to him by Queen Victoria ; and also other 
 valuable ^fts from the crowned heads of Europe. 
 While I was at Hartford, the news of the death of 
 General Taylor, President of the United . States, 
 reached that city. The President's death was 
 announced by the firing of sixty-six minute guns --- 
 sixty-six years being the age of the President. The 
 funeral at Washington is said to have cost over $100,- 
 000. Some time afber the funeral obsequies in Wash- 
 ington, mock funerals took place at Boston, New 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 187 
 
 York, and all the principal cities of the Union, 
 attended with great expense. I was surprised to see 
 so intelligent a people as the Americans engage in so 
 foolish and meaningless a display to 
 
 " Mimic sorrow, when the heart's not sad." 
 
 General Taylor was a slave-holder, and is said to 
 have had upwards of three hundred slaves ; he ap^ 
 peared, however, opposed to the extension of Slavery, 
 to the compromise of Messrs. Clay, Foote, Wehster, 
 and others, and to the encroachment of Texas on 
 New Mexico. 
 
 The following is a brief sketch of the principal 
 events in the life of the deceased President, and also 
 of the Hon. Millard Fillmore, now President of the 
 United States: — 
 
 General Zachary Taylor was born in Orange 
 County, Virginia,, in 1790. His father. Colonel 
 Taylor, served in the war of the Revolution, and in 
 1790 emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky, where 
 he bore a conspicuous part in the labors and struggles 
 of the early settlers. 
 
 In May, 1808, Zachary Taylor was commissioned 
 as a Lieutenant in the 7th Regiment of U. S. In 
 fantry, In 1812 he was made Captain, and placed in 
 
188 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 command of Fort Harrison, on the Wabash. When 
 the war with Great Britain commenced, the Fort was 
 attacked by four hundred Indians, and for his success- 
 ful defence of it he was brevetted Major. After that 
 war he received the rank of Colonel, and during the 
 Black Hawk war, in 1832, distinguished himself at 
 the battle of Bad-axe, which resulted in the capture 
 of Black Hawk and the Prophet. 
 
 In 1836 he was ordered to Florida, in command of 
 a separate column, and in December, 1837, fought at 
 the battle of Okee-cho-bee, which resulted in the total 
 defeat of a large body of the Indians. In May, 
 1845, Texas was annexed to the Union, and in August 
 following, General Taylor, then in command of the 
 first department of the army, proceeded with a portion 
 of his troops to Corpus Christi. On the 11th of 
 March, 1846, he took up his line of march for the 
 Rio Grande, where he arrived on the 28th. On the 
 12th of April he was summoned by the Mexican 
 General to evacuate his posts on the river, which he 
 refused to do. On the 1st of May he left his in- 
 trenchments opposite Matamoras to open the com- 
 munication with Point Isabel. On the 8th of May, 
 on his return to relieve Fort Brown, which was bom- 
 barded by the Mexicans, he was encountered by 6000 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 189 
 
 of the enemy at Palo Alto, whom he defeated. His 
 own force consisted of 2100 men. The next day, 
 the 9th, he again met them at Resaca de la Palma, 
 and after a hard fought battle routed them with great 
 slaughter, and took possession of Matamoras. These 
 two signal victories, obtained with such disparity of 
 force, produced an enthusiastic admiration of General 
 Taylor, and of his gallant companions in arms. On 
 the 21st and 22d of September he assaulted Monte- 
 rey, a fortified city in Mexico, which, after a desperate 
 resistance, capitulated. On the 22d February, 1847, 
 with a force consisting of five thousand men, (General 
 Wool being second in command, ) he encountered the 
 Mexicans at Buena Vista, under Santa Anna, twenty 
 thousand strong, and totally defeated them. On the 
 14th February, 1849, on an examination of the elec- 
 toral votes for President and Vice President, he was 
 declared duly elected President of the United States, 
 and was inaugurated the 4th of March following. 
 
 Hon. Millard Fillmore was born in Summer 
 Hill, Cayuga county, New York, January 7th, 1800. 
 His father, Nathaniel Fillmore, is a farmer, still living 
 in Erie county. New York. Mr. Fillmore spent four 
 years, in early life, in working at the clothier's trade, 
 and during that time devoted all his leisure hours to 
 
100 
 
 A PEEr AT 
 
 reading and stu/^y. At the ago of nineteen he 
 f« fir" ''ted the notice of J idge Wood, of Cayuga 
 count)* who took him into his office. In 1821 he 
 removed to Buffalo, and entered a law office, teaching 
 for his maintenance until tho year 1823, when he was 
 licensed to practice in the Court of Common Pleas. 
 In 1827 he was admitted an Attorney in tho Supreme 
 Court of the State of New York. In 1829 he was 
 elected a member of the Assembly from Erie county, 
 and was twice re-elected. He was elected to Con- 
 gress in the fall of 1882, and after the expiration of 
 his term resumed the practice of his profession. In 
 1886 ho was again sent to Congress, and was subse- 
 quently re-elected for another term. During this 
 Session he was placed at the head of the Committee 
 of ways and means. In 1844 he was nominated by 
 the Whig party as their candidate for Governor. In 
 
 1847 he was elected Comptroller of the State. In 
 
 1848 he was elected Vice President of the United 
 States, and on the fourth of March, 1849, ho entered 
 upon the duties of the office. 
 
 It is a singular fact, remarks the Philadelphia 
 Bulletin, that within a space of a little over nine years 
 thert \iv9 been six Presidents of the United States : 
 Tan ]3i . n. Wiv,rch 3d, 1841 ; Harrison, from March 
 
UNCLE SAM'S i^ ARM. 
 
 191 
 
 4th to April 4th, 1841 ; Tyler, from April 4th, 1841, 
 to March 4th, 1845 ; Polk, from xvlarch 4tb, 1845, to 
 March 4th, 1849 ; Tajlor, from March 4th, 1849, to 
 July 9th, 1850, and on the 10th of July, 1850, Mil- 
 lard I'illmore succeeded to the office. Previous to 
 *>.at time there had been but eight occupants of the 
 office during a period of fifty-two years. The periods 
 of service, age, &c., of the various Presidents, from 
 Washington to Taylor, inclusive, are given below : - 
 
 James K. Polk was the youngest of the Presidents 
 at the time of his inauguration, being but forty-nine 
 years and four months old. Mr. Fillmore is the next 
 
 
 
 
 
 Afeat 
 
 Afe at 
 
 ^M 
 
 
 Service. 
 
 Botii'd. 
 
 Died. 
 
 Retire't. 
 
 D«&tb. 
 
 ^^H 
 
 Washington, 
 
 8 years 
 
 1797 
 
 1799 
 
 66 
 
 68 
 
 Hj 
 
 John Adams, 
 
 4 years 
 
 1801 
 
 1826 
 
 66 
 
 90 
 
 ^ wM 
 
 Jefferson, 
 
 8 years 
 
 1809 
 
 1826 
 
 66 
 
 84 
 
 11 
 
 Madison, 
 
 8 years 
 
 1817 
 
 1836 
 
 66 
 
 86 
 
 1 
 
 Monroe, 
 
 8 years 
 
 1825 
 
 1831 
 
 66 
 
 72 
 
 B| 
 
 J. Q. Adams, 
 
 4 years 
 
 1829 
 
 1848 
 
 62 
 
 81 
 
 Bi 
 
 Jackson, 
 
 8 years 
 
 1838 
 
 1845 
 
 70 
 
 78 
 
 ■H 
 
 Van Baren, 
 
 4 years 
 
 1841 
 
 
 59 
 
 
 ^H 
 
 Harrison, 
 
 1 month 
 
 
 1841 
 
 
 69 
 
 ^H 
 
 Tyler, 
 
 3 yrs. 1 1 
 
 mo. 1845 
 
 
 55 
 
 
 n 
 
 lolk. 
 
 4 years 
 
 1849 
 
 1849 
 
 54 
 
 54 
 
 ^s 
 
 Taylor, 
 
 1 year 1 1 
 
 mo. 
 
 1850 
 
 
 66 
 
 MB 
 
192 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 youngest, being at the present time fifty years old. 
 Jackson was the oldest of the Presidents at the time 
 of his retirement, and John Adams was the oldest at 
 the time of his death. The youngest of the Presi- 
 dents, at the time of his retirement and his death, 
 was James K. Polk. 
 
 Great excitement at present prevails in all the 
 Northern States against the "Fugitive Slave Law," 
 which the Government recently passed. This law 
 disregards all the ordinary securities of personal 
 liberty ; tramples on the Constitution by its denial of 
 the rights of trial by jury, Habeas CorpuSf and ap- 
 peal ; and which enacts, that any person who shall 
 harbor or conceal a fugitive slave shall be subject to 
 a fine of one thousand dollars and imprisonment for 
 six months. Public meetings are being held through- 
 out the Free States, in condemnation of this iniquitous 
 law. In Worcester a Committee of Vigilance has 
 been appointed, numbering forty persons, who are to 
 look out for the appearance of slave-catchers, and to 
 request them, as soon as known, to leave the city. 
 One of the resolutions passed at the pubUc meeting 
 held at the City Hall, is as follows : — 
 
 " That as God is our helper, we will not suffer any 
 person, charged with being a fugitive from labor, to be 
 
DNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 193 
 
 taken from among u3 ; and to this resolve we pledge 
 our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." 
 
 The Constitution of the United Slates, (Art 4 
 See 2) provides that "No person, held to service 
 or labor in one State, under the laws thereof, escaping 
 into another, shall, in consequence of any law or 
 regulation therein, be discharged from such service or 
 labor ; but shall be delivered up on claim of the party 
 to whom such service or labor may be due. " This is 
 the only clause which provides for the return of 
 persons held to service or labor. Some contend that 
 It refers to apprentices and servants generally, and 
 not particularly to slaves. The Constitution of the 
 United States, however, provides for a fw- and im- 
 partial trial by jury, which right is denied by the 
 infamous Fugitive Slave Law. 
 
 One could hardly believe that in America, « the 
 home of the brave, and the land of the free " he 
 would read in the New Orleans papers advertisements 
 of Sheriifi' sales of property, among which are four 
 lote of slaves : -one lot containing one hundred and 
 seventy-eight slaves, men, women and children, rang- 
 ing from two years old to mature age ; to be sold 
 with the estates on which they work, without reserve 
 to the highest bidder in the New Orleans market. ' 
 17 
 
194 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 Donng the summer, Box Brown was exhibiting at 
 Worcester a Panorama of Southern Slavery. At the 
 exhibition I heard him give the following account of 
 himself. A few months ago a gentleman in Kentucky 
 managed to open a correspondence with a gentleman 
 in Philadelphia, with a view to efifect his escape from 
 bondage. Having arranged ever^ thing, the gentle- 
 man paid a person $40 to box him up, and mark him 
 '^ This side up, with care,'' and take him to the ex- 
 press office, consigned to his friend at Philadelphia. 
 On the passage, being on board of a steamboat, he 
 was accidentally turned head downwards, and almost 
 died with the flow of blood to his head. At the next 
 change of transportation, however, he was turned 
 right side up again ; and after a passage of twenty- 
 six hours arrived safely at his destination. On receiv- 
 ing the box, the gentleman at Philadelphia began to 
 doubt whether he should find him alive. He tapped 
 lightly on the box, inquiring, " All right ? " and was 
 answered, "All right, sir." Poor Brown was in- 
 stantly liberated from his " living death." 
 
 The number of slaves in the Umted States is about 
 three millions. The following is taken from the " Al- 
 bany Evemng Journal : " — 
 
 " The progress of the Free and Slave States is in- 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 195 
 
 iTicative of the merits of their respective political and 
 social systems. In this view the following comparison 
 IS of great value : 
 
 Free 
 States. 
 
 Slare 
 Statea. Uai. 
 
 30 
 43 
 63 
 
 78 
 89 
 99 
 88 
 
 5 
 9 
 13 
 25 
 34 
 42 
 47 
 
 Bjr the 2d section, article 1, of 
 tho Constitution, the repre- 
 sentation in the House stood, 35 
 By the 1st census, 57 
 By the 2d census, 75 
 By the 3d census, 1Q3 
 By the 4th census, 123 
 By the 5th census, X41 
 By the 6th census, (1840,) 135 
 
 « It must be remarked that since the last census, 
 Wisconsin, with three members, Iowa, with two, Flor- 
 Ida, with one, and Texas, with two, have been admit- 
 ted, thus making the majority of the Free States 49. 
 The present census will no doubt largely increase the 
 disparity. The admission of California will of itself 
 increase the majority to fifty-one." 
 
 The following is an extract from a speech of Hon. 
 C. E. Clarke, of New York, in the house of Repre- 
 sentatives, during the session of 1850 : — 
 
 ^'The area of Virginia is 61,352 square miles. 
 
196 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 The area of New York is 46,000. If the states of 
 Vermont and Massachusetts were added to New York, 
 their joint area would be 72 square miles less than 
 that of Virginia alone. The soil of Virginia is nat- 
 urally as fertile as that of New York, her resources 
 of the forest as great, her mineral resources at least 
 equal, her fisheries vastly more valuable, her hydraulic 
 power as great, her position for commerce and her 
 natural channels for commerce better, her climate is 
 immeasurably superior. 
 
 "In 1790, the population of Virginia was 748,308, 
 of which 203,427 were slaves. The population of 
 New York, 340,120, of which 21,324 were slaves. 
 Virginia had 226,085 more white inhabitants than 
 New York, and 182,103 more slaves. In short, Vir- 
 ginia, in 1790, had 408,188 more inhabitants than 
 New York. 
 
 " In New York the number of slaves gradually di- 
 minished till 1820, when slavery became extinct. 
 
 " In Virginia, slaves rapidly increased, till in 1840 
 they numbered 448,987, and her white population 
 numbered 790,510. In all, bond and free, 1 ,239,- 
 797 ; while the free white population of New York 
 had increased to 2,428,921 — a difference in the in- 
 crease of the whole number of 1,597,312, and a dif- 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 197 
 
 ference in the increase of the free white inhabitante 
 of 1,864,191 in fifty years. 
 
 "la that period Virginia has ma^e 381 mfles of 
 raUroad; New York about 1,000. Virginia has 
 n^e about 182 miles of canal; New York about 
 ooO miles. 
 
 The School Fund in New York is *- .„, ^nV 
 
 That of Virginia U^fiOi 
 
 The proactive Pnblic Property of New York, is 3^1 
 
 The pHHiaCve Public Property of Vi^nia. is 6.107 364 
 The Domestic Produce exported by New York in 1848 
 
 amounted to ' 
 
 38 77l 904 
 
 Exported by Tirginia the same year, amounted to 3.679'^ 
 
 New Yoric exported of Foreign Produce U579w« 
 
 Virginia exported of Foreign Produce * ,'«! 
 
 " Virginia, the mother of the Presidents, the Old 
 . Dominion, larger and of greater natural capacity than 
 New York, Vermont, and Massachusette, combined, 
 exported, in the year of grace, 1848, to the atnazing 
 amount of $1,554 - about the ratio of 100 to 1 000 - 
 000. V * 
 
 " The registered and enrolled tonnage of Virginia in 
 1848 was 128,364 tons; that of New York 845,742 
 tons — 717,378 tons difference. The State of New 
 York paid to this Government for postage, in ihe year 
 ending June 30th, 1849, $694,532.81. The Stete 
 17* 
 
198 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 of Virginia paid in the same year for postage ^109,- 
 301.93. The transportation of the mail in New 
 York cost the Government, in the same year, $238,- 
 680; in Virginia, 166,180. New York pays in 
 postage $456,002 more than it costs to transport the 
 mail in that State. Vir^nia pays in postage $56,- 
 838 less than it costs to transport the mail in Virginia 
 — a diflference between these two States of $512,- 
 835 in one year. Virginia does not pay for the 
 transportation of the mail within $56,833. There 
 are but three Slave States — Delaware, Missouri, and 
 Louisiana — that do pay their own postage. It costs 
 this Government to transport the mail in the Slave 
 States $519,438.15 more than those States pay in 
 postage. There are twelve States in the Union from 
 which bounty lands have been distributed for service 
 in the Mexican war — Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Mis- 
 souri, Alabama, Iowa, Mississippi, Louisiana, Michi- 
 gan, Arkansas, Wisconsin, and Florida. Six of these 
 are free, six slaveholding. The area of the six slave- 
 holding States ie 323,146, that of the six free States 
 is 290,259 square miles — 32,887 square miles more 
 in the six slave than in the six free States. These 
 six slave States have a better climate, and are better 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 199 
 
 located, are as fertile, and have greater natural advan- 
 tages than the six free States. 
 
 " There have been located in those States for military 
 services in the Mexican war, up to March 28th, 1850, 
 41,780 land warrants, of which 34,434 have been 
 located in the six free States, and only 7,346 in the 
 slave States ~ about six to one. The soldier who 
 locates his land with the view of being a freeholder, 
 and having a farm and a home, the speculator who 
 buys to sell again, rush, full gallop, to the free State 
 — they flee from the slave State as they would from 
 the Cholera." 
 
 At the time of the declaration of Independence in 
 1776, the whole number of slaves in the colonies was 
 estimated at 500,000, and they were divided among 
 them as follows : — 
 
 Massachusetts, 3 ^qq 
 
 Rhode Island, 4 370 
 
 Connecticut, ^ qqq 
 
 New Hnmpshire, ^39 
 
 New York, i^qq^^ 
 
 New Jersey, >^^qqq 
 
 Pennsylvania, io,000 
 
 Delaware, 9 ^^^ 
 
 Maryland, qq^qqq 
 
200 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 Virginia, 
 North Carolina, 
 South Carolina, 
 Georgia, 
 
 165,000 
 75,000 
 
 110,000 
 16,000 
 
 Total, 602,144 
 
 In August, 1620, the first slaves ever brought to 
 this country were landed on James river, in the 
 colony of Virginia, from a Dutch ship-of-war. 
 
 From 1776 to 1790 the slave population in the 
 United States increased about 39 per cent. The cen- 
 sus of 1800 exhibited a slave population of 893,041 ; 
 that of 1810, 1,104,364; of 1820, 1,638,964; of 
 1830, 2,009,031 ; of 1840, 2,486,355 ; and of 1850, 
 2,959,137. 
 
 I very recently had the pleasure of hearing George 
 Thompson, M. '^. for the Tower Hamlets of London, 
 the largest constituency in England, deliver an elo- 
 quent and powerful speech in the City Hall of Wor- 
 cester. Speaking of the political institutions of Eng- 
 land, Mr. Thompson said : 
 
 " Our system is a fetid dunghill, out of which 
 springs, with frightful luxuriance, under the warm sun 
 of every general election, all kinds of rank weeds 
 and poisonous plants. It is a stagnant reservoir of 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 201 
 
 putrid water, breeding from year to year every perni- 
 C.0U8 exhalation, and all sorts of noxious reptiles, to 
 find their way at every election into the regions of 
 pollution and iniquity, and which are always to be 
 traced by the filthy slime they leave behind them.'* 
 
 He referred t« Massachusetts, and his advocacy of 
 slavery emancipation, as follows :— 
 
 *' Massachusetts has not forgotten the God that 
 guided the Mayflower to Plymouth rock - and though 
 the peerless intellect of Massachusetts may suffer 
 from the stroke of a Southern sun, the heart of the 
 old Bay State is sound, and still beats responsive to 
 the instincts of nature, the dictates of humanity, and 
 the claims of the trembling outcast who a^ks a shelter 
 on her soil. 
 
 " If it be imputed to me that I have identified my- 
 self with those who are held in slavery on this soil, 
 and have sought to promulgate the doctrines of eman- 
 cipation, I acknowledge the justice of the impeach- 
 ment, and plead guilty. My offence reaches far be- 
 yond the limits of the United States. My aspirations 
 for freedom are as wide as the soil polluted by the 
 footprints of a tyrant. In advocating the rights of 
 humanity I know of no geographical boundaries. I 
 walk upon God's earth, among God's children, and 
 
202 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 wherever I see one of them smitten down, I will de- 
 nounce the agjjressor, and demand the deliverance of 
 the captive." 
 
 I endeavored to give ^fr. Thompson some informa- 
 tion regarding the miserable blundering of the Colo- 
 nial Office, in regard to ruling the Colony of New- 
 foundland. Lord Boughing has announced his inten- 
 tion to visit America during the year. 
 
 A very important reduction has been made in the 
 rates of postage by the United States Government. 
 Previous to the law of 1845, under the old postage 
 rate, the letters decreased in number from 29,860,- 
 992 to 24,267,552, and remained nearly &i:!:.fcionary, 
 at 24,000,000, for several years. The Post Office 
 revenue, also, decreased about $700,000. In July, 
 1845, the law reducing the rates of postage to five 
 cents and ten cents (more than 50 per cent.) went 
 into operation. The result of this reduction has been 
 the increase of letters during the year 1850 to 62,- 
 000,000, with a corresponding revenue. The gross 
 revenue of the department, according to the Report 
 of the Postmaster General, for 1850, was $5,552,971, 
 of which $4,775,663 accrued from letters. The ex- 
 penses were $5,212,053, leaving an excess in favor 
 of the Department of $340,018, and making all of 
 
CNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 208 
 
 .t3 available fund, «1,132,026. Sixteen Mail Steam- 
 era are employed in communication between the At- 
 Unuc^d Pacific. The whole number ofPost Offices 
 « 18,64T. Different mail routes, 167,703 miles. It 
 
 of «800,000 are sent and received free through 
 the maU. This is owing to the franUn, privilege ; 
 membe.. of the legislature being allowed free 
 postage. 
 
 ^ The new postage law comes into operaUon on the 
 first of Jdy, 1851, when letters are to be carried 
 throughout the length and breadth of the United 
 States at a uniform, pre-paid rate, of three cents, aid 
 newspapers circulated free of postage within a circuit 
 of 30 miles from the place where they are printed ; 
 half a cent within 100 miles, and one cent for all dis^ 
 tanoes beyond. In order to make the postal system 
 complete, the ocean postage should be reduced to one 
 penny We hope this great desideratum will soon be 
 conceded. 
 
 ^ In Great Britain, under the penny postage system, 
 the letters increased from seven.y-six millions, under 
 «.e d system, to 359,000,000, being nearly a mil- ' 
 lion letters a day; besides this, there were issued 
 Within the year no less than 4,203,727 money orders 
 
204 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 or receipts for money paid at one office and to be re- 
 paid at another, to the amount of $40,756,475. The 
 gross receipts of the British Post Office for 1849 were 
 $10,962,390 ; expenditures, $6,984,265 ; net rev- 
 enue, $3,702,145. 
 
 America is the largest country in the world, pos- 
 sessing a greater extent of territory than any nation 
 either in ancient or modem times. 
 
 The commerce of the Valley of the Mississippi 
 alone is estimated at the value of J 439,000,000 ; be- 
 ing double the amount of the whole foreign commerce 
 of the United States. The number of steamboats on 
 the " Father of waters," the Mississippi, in 1848, 
 was 572; tonnage, 118,655 ; valued at $5,189,979. 
 
 Previous to the year 1800, some eight or ten keel 
 boats performed all the carrying trade between Cin- 
 cinnati and Pittsburg. In 1802, the first Govern- 
 ment vessel appeared on Lake Erie. In 1811, the 
 first steamboat, the Orleans, was launched at Pitts- 
 burg. Previous to 1817, about twenty barges, aver- 
 aging one hundred tons burden, comprised all the 
 facilities for commercial transportation between New 
 Orleans and the country on the Ohio river as high up 
 as Louisville and Cincinnati. Each of these boats 
 made one trip down and back, between those two 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 205 
 
 places and No.v Orleans, each year. On the upper 
 Ohio, from the falls to Pittsburg, some one hundred 
 and fifty keel boats wore employed about 1815 - '17. 
 The average size of these was about thirty tons ; and 
 they occupied from six to seven weeks in makin- tha 
 voyage both ways. ° 
 
 In the year 1818 the first steamboat, the Walk-in. 
 the-water, was built on Lake Erie. In 1819 this boat 
 appeared in two or three trips on Lake Huron. It 
 was not, however, until the year 1826 that the waters 
 of the Michigan were first plowed by the keel of a 
 steamboat ; a pleasure trip from Bufialo to Green 
 Bay having been planned and executed in the sum- 
 mer of this year. In 1832 the first steamboat ap~ 
 peared in Chicago. In 1833 nearly the entire trade 
 of the Upper Lakes -Erie, Huron, and Michigan -> 
 was carried on by eleven small steamboats. So much 
 for a beginning. , 
 
 In the year 1845, there were upon the Upper 
 Lakes sixty vessels, including propellers, moved bj 
 steam, and three hundred and twenty sailing vessels ; 
 the former measured twenty thousand tons in the ag« 
 gregate ; and some of the latter carrying one thou- 
 sand to twelve hundred tons each. In 1846, accord> 
 ing to the official statements exhibiting « the consoU- 
 18 
 
206 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 t 
 
 <#■ 
 
 dating returns of both exports and imports," the mo- 
 neyed value of the commerce of the harbors of Erie 
 was $49,142,750. The average annual increase, for 
 the five years previous, is shown by the same oflficial 
 document3 to have been eighteen per cent. Suppo- 
 sing it to have been ten per cent, per annum for the 
 four years since, it will give $68,799,850 as the pres- 
 ent net money value to the commerce of Erie and 
 Michigan. 
 
 In the year 1834 the number of steamboats on 
 the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, and their tributaries, 
 was ascertained to be two hundred and thirty, with 
 an aggregate carrying capacity equal to thirty-nine 
 thousand tons. At the present time the entire num- 
 ber of steamboats running on the Mississippi and 
 Ohio, and their tributaries, is probably over rather 
 than under six hundred ; the aggregate tonnage of 
 which is not short of one hundred and forty thousand 
 tons. In 1846, Col. Aberfc, from reliable data, esti- 
 mated the net value of the trade of the Western 
 rivers at $183,609,735 per year. In 1848, Judge 
 Hall stated it at $220,000,000, in his statistics; 
 while the United States have since ordered a docu- 
 ment to be printed which estimates it at $256,133,- 
 820, for the year 1849 ! The same document puts 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FABM. 
 
 207 
 
 the aggregate value of the vessels employed in this 
 commerce at $18,661,500. 
 
 A monster steamer, four hundred feet in length, 
 has been contracted for at Cincinnati, to run as a reg- 
 ular ten-day packet between Louisville and New Or- 
 leans. She will cost $240,000, and will be the most 
 splendid craft afloat at the West. 
 
 The following interesting account of the first steam, 
 ship that ever crossed the Atlantic is taken from the 
 " New York Journal of Commerce." 
 
 " To the American steamship Savannah, built by 
 Crocker & Fickitt, at Corlear's Hook, in this city, is 
 universally conceded the honor of being the first 
 steam propelled vessel that ever crossed the Atlantic 
 Ocean. From the memory of one of those who 
 formed her crew, (Mr. A. Thomas, then fireman,) 
 and believed to be, with one exception, the only sur- 
 vivor, we are enabled to give a succinct narrative of 
 her voyage. According to his understanding of the 
 facts, she was built by a company of gentlemen with 
 a view of selling her to the Emperor of Russia. This 
 company was organized through the agency of Capt. 
 Moses Rogers, afterwards her commander. The Sa- 
 vannah was a vessel of 380 tons, ship rigged, and was 
 
 "*,i 
 
208 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 furnished with a horizontal engine. This was placed 
 between decks — boilers in the lower hold. 
 
 " The Savannah sailed from New York, * in the sec- 
 ond year of the presidency of James Munroe/ to use 
 the words of our informant, or in the year 1819. 
 She first went to Savannah. The passage occupied 
 seven days, four of which she was under steam. 
 There she was chartered by the corporation, as an act 
 of courtesy, to proceed to Charleston for the purpose 
 - of affording President Munroe, who was then on a 
 travelling tour through the States, with a pleasure 
 excursion. For some reason he failed to go, and the 
 steamer returned to Savannah. While there, forming 
 an object of much attraction, she took out a pleasure 
 party to Tybee Light. From Savannah she proceeded 
 direct to Liverpool, where she arrived after a passage 
 of eighteen days, during seven of which she was under 
 steam. 
 
 " When about entering St. George's Channel, off 
 the city of Cork, she was descried by the commander of 
 the British fleet then lying at that city. Seeing a 
 huge mass of smoke ascending from the vessel, 
 enveloping her rigging, and overshadowing the sky, 
 he naturally inferred that a vessel was on fire and in 
 distress, and with commendable promptitude des- 
 
ONOLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 SOS 
 
 liatehed two outtera to her relief. After passing 
 near her a few times, taking a full survey, and 
 fimg a few guns across her stem, the steamer 
 was boarded. Finally, being satisfied that all was 
 nght, the cutters bore away. The news of her 
 approach having been telegraphed to Liverpool, 
 as she drew near the city, with her sails furled, and 
 the American colors flying, the pier-heads were 
 thronged by many thousand persons who greeted her 
 with the most enthusiastic cheers. 
 
 « Before she came t» anchor, the decks were so 
 /crowded that it was with difficulty that the men could 
 move from one part to another in the performance of 
 their duty. She was afterwards visited by many 
 persons of distinction, and departed for Elsinore, on 
 her way to St. Petersburg. She next touched at 
 Copenhagen, where she remained two weeks. During 
 her stay, Mr. Hughes, the American consul, went 
 out in her on a pleasure excursion, about fourteen 
 miles, accompanied by the king and other noted 
 personages. From Copenhagen she went to Croi^- 
 stadt and St. Petersburg. Not being able to get 
 over the bar, at the latter place, she lay opposite the 
 orty, six miles distant. Here, too, she was visited 
 by the American Consul, Mr. Campbell, and by the 
 18* 
 
-i '-r 
 
 210 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 Emperor. Here, as at other places, she \vaa an 
 object of much wonderment. She, however, was not 
 «old, as had been expected, and sailed for home, put- 
 ting into Erriugton, on the coast of Norway, on the 
 passage. From the latter place she was twentj-two 
 days in reaching Savannah. On account of the high 
 price of fuel, she carried no steam on the return 
 passage, and the wheels were taken off. A similar 
 course was adopted during a portion of the time 
 occupied by the passage out from the United States. 
 As it was nearly or quite impossible to carry suflScient 
 fuel for the voyage, during pleasant weather the 
 wheels were removed, and canvas substituted. On 
 nearing Liverpool, the more effectually to < astonish 
 the natives,* the wheels were restored. At the 
 completion of this voyage, the Savannah was pur- 
 chased by Captain Nat. Holdredge, divested of the 
 steam apparatus, and used as a packet between 
 Savannah and New York. She subsequently went 
 on shore on Long Island, and broke up. \ 
 
 " Although Captain Rodgers was offered $100,000 
 for her, by the King of Sweden, to be paid in hemp 
 and iron, delivered at New York, Philadelphia, and 
 Boston, the offer was not accepted — the cash being 
 wanted. It is said that $50,000 or $60,000 were 
 sunk in this transaction. 
 
 jCf 
 
ONCLE SAM'S FAKII. 
 
 211 
 
 Captain Eodger3, the commanderof the Savannah, 
 died a few years ago on the Pee D»e river, North 
 Carohna. He is believed to be the first man that 
 ran a steamboat either to Philadelphia or Baltimore. 
 The mate was named Stephen Rodgers, and now 
 resides at New London, Connecticut." " 
 
 It is but about half a century' since Robert Fulton 
 first apphed the wonderful agency of steam to the 
 propellmg of boats. Now it is stated that the entire 
 European capital in steamboats is $140,000,000. 
 Of the English 1,300 boats, not fewer than TOO are 
 sea boats. It is less than thirty years since the first 
 steamer navigated a German river. The steam 
 navgation of the Rhino did not begin till 1827, nor 
 hat of the Upper Elbe till 1837. How significantly 
 does the progress of society in the arts, and the 
 means of intercommunication, foreshadow the coming 
 of the day when " many shall run to and fro, and 
 knowledge shall be increased." Ours are tixes full of 
 the seeds of future wonders. How thoughtfully 
 should the influence which we may e.ert after we are 
 dead be put forth at such a time 
 
 The "Old Thirteen" United States, with Ver- 
 mont, contained 371,124 square miles. The thirty 
 States, now in the Union, include a territory of 
 
212 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 1,449,124 square miles. The following is the total 
 extent of territory over which the stars and stripes 
 wave, larger than the whole of Uurope. 
 
 Sq. miles. 
 Total surface of old territory, east of the Eocky 
 
 Mountains, 994,435 
 
 Total of new territory, west of the Rocky 
 
 Mountains, 807,741 
 
 Texas, in square miles, 325,520 
 
 Total north of 36' 30", 1,644,784 
 
 Total south of 36' 30", 545.012 
 
 Total, 
 
 4,377,492 
 
 Length of the United States sea-coast : — 
 
 Atlantic coast, 
 
 Gulf coast, 
 
 Pacific coast, 
 
 " Shore line," including bays, lakes, &c., 
 
 Miles. 
 1,900 
 1,600 
 1,620 
 33,063 
 
 The value of the American lake commerce, in 
 1847, was as follows : — 
 
 Lake Ontario, 
 Lake Erie, 
 Upper Lakes, 
 
 Importa. 
 $9,668,445 
 51,450,975 
 
 5,087,158 
 
 Exports. 
 $11,627,770 
 58,147,058 
 5,309,105 
 
 Total, 
 
 $66,226,618 
 
 $75,683,933 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FAR»f. 
 
 213 
 
 Extent of the groat lakes : — 
 
 Champlain, 
 
 St. Clair, 
 
 Ontario, 
 
 Erie, 
 
 Huron, 
 
 Michigan, 
 
 Superior, 
 
 Total 
 
 Len 
 m: 
 
 105 
 18 
 180 
 240 
 270 
 340 
 420 
 
 1,570 
 
 rtsth in Greatest Average Souar« 
 'lies. width, width. S 
 
 12 
 25 
 52 
 57 
 
 105 
 83 
 
 135 
 
 469 .326 
 
 Greatest 
 depth 
 
 282 
 44 
 
 591 
 
 270 
 2,800 
 1,013 
 
 940 
 
 It is estimated that there are 22,000 miles of mag- 
 netic telegraph throughout the United States. 
 
 The following is the number of emigrants who 
 went overland to California, in 1850, according to 
 the register kept at Fort Lawrence ; — 
 
 Men, 
 
 Women, 
 
 Children, 
 
 Total, 
 
 39,500 
 
 2,500 
 
 600 
 
 42,600 
 
 It is supposed that at least one-fifth did not enter 
 their names. The Mormon emigration is set down ,X 
 5000. The animals recorded are 23,000 horses 
 8,000 mules, 86,000 oxen, 7,000 cows. There was' 
 great suffering from scarcity, and it is supposed there 
 must be at least a thousand deaths between Mis- 
 souri and Sacramento. 
 
214 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 The whole number of vessels cleared from the 
 different ports of the United States for California, 
 in 1850, was 698. 
 
 It is estimated that California has sent into the 
 world, during the past two years, full one hundred 
 and fifty millions of dollars worth of geld dust, 
 which is said to have been distributed as follows : — 
 
 Shipped to the United States, 
 
 Taken to Oregon by miners, 
 
 Taken to Mexico by miners. 
 
 Taken to England, through Mexico, 
 
 Taken to England, via Panama, 
 
 Shipped to South America, 
 
 Shipped to Sandwich Islands, 
 
 Shipped direct to England, via Cape Horn, 
 
 Shipped to other parts of the world, 
 
 Total, 
 
 $20,000,000 
 10,000,000 
 20,000,000 
 15,000,000 
 20,000,000 
 25,000,000 
 6,000,000 
 10,000,000 
 15,000,000 
 
 $150,000,000 
 
 Deposits of gold at the United States mint and 
 branches in 1849 : — 
 
 From California, 
 " Virginia, 
 " North Carolina, 
 " Georgia, 
 " New Mexico, 
 ** Other sources. 
 
 Total, 
 
 $5,481,439 
 
 129,382 
 
 102,688 
 
 10,525 
 
 32,889 
 
 10,169 
 
 $5,767,092 
 
mmmmmmm 
 
 UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 215 
 
 FOREIGN COMMERCE OF THE UNITED 
 
 STATES. 
 
 Value of Exports of Domestic Produce, for the Year ending 
 
 June 30, 1849. 
 
 PRODUOTB OF TUB SKA. 
 
 rickfe?fl'8h, (herring, ^^^'^ 
 shad, salmon, maok- 
 
 WhalV and other fish ^^'^^ 
 
 oil. 
 
 Spermaceti, 
 Whalebone, 
 Sperm candles, 
 
 965,597 
 572,763 
 337.714 
 159,403 
 
 Indian meal, 
 
 Kye meal, 
 
 Rye, oats, pulse. &c., 
 
 Jrotatoes, 
 
 Apples, 
 
 Bice, 
 
 «1,169,625 
 
 218,824 
 
 139,733 
 
 83,313 
 
 93,904 
 
 2,569,362 
 
 $25,642,863 
 Other Agricultural Produce. 
 
 TBI FOBEST. 
 
 Skins and furs, 
 
 Ginseng, 
 
 Sl»ve8, hewn timber, 
 
 boards, shingles, 
 Other lumber. 
 Masts and spars. 
 Oak bark and other dye. 
 All manufac. of wood. 
 Tar, pitch, rosin and 
 
 turpentine. 
 Ashes, pot and pearl, 
 
 #2,547,654 
 
 656,228 
 182,966 
 
 1,776,749 
 60,344 
 87,720 
 95,892 
 
 1,697,828 
 
 845,164 
 515,603 
 
 Tobacco, 
 Cotton, 
 Hops, 
 
 Brown Sugar, 
 Hemp, &c., 
 
 AaniCULTURK 
 
 J^oducts of Animals : — 
 
 Beef, taIlow,hide8,horn- 
 
 ed cattle. 
 Butter and cheese, 
 rork.(t)ick.) bacon,lard, 
 
 live nogs. 
 Horses and mules, 
 Sheep, 
 Wool, 
 
 $5,917,994 
 
 2,058.958 
 1,654,157 
 
 9,245.885 
 96,982 
 16,305 
 81,016 
 
 $13,153,302 
 Vegetable Food, 
 
 ffiu?*' ^'7^6,848 
 
 Biscuit, or ship-bread, "ISiaiS 
 Indian own, 7,95^5 
 
 MANUPACTUBE8. 
 
 Soap and candles, 
 feather, boots, and 6lioes, 
 Household furniture. 
 Coaches and other car- 
 riages. 
 Hats, 
 Saddlery, 
 Wax, 
 
 Spirits from grain, 
 „ " ," molasses, 
 iieer, ale, porter, and 
 
 cider. 
 Snuff and tobacco, 
 Linseed oil and spirits 
 
 of turpentine. 
 Cordage, 
 
 Iron, pig bar and nails, 
 " castings, 
 " manufactures of. 
 Sugar, refined, ' 
 
 Chocolate, 
 Gunpowder, 
 
 5,804,207 
 
 66,396,967 
 
 29,123 
 
 24,906 
 
 8,511 
 
 $72,2631714 
 
 Copper and' brass, 
 Medicinal drugs, 
 
 627,280 
 161,774 
 237,842 
 
 95,928 
 64,967 
 87,276 
 
 121,720 
 67,129 
 
 288,452 
 
 51.320 
 613;044 
 
 148,056 
 41,636 
 
 149,858 
 60,175 
 
 886,689 
 
 129,001 
 1,941 
 
 181,297 
 66,203 
 
 220,694 
 
 $4,191,427 
 
*► 
 
 216 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 Foreign Commerce of the United States. — Continued. 
 
 Cotton Puce Goods. 
 
 Frfntcd and colored, $466,574 
 
 White, 3,966,117 
 
 Nankeen, 8,208 
 
 Twist, yarn and thread, 92,656 
 
 Qther cotton mauul'acturcs, 415,680 
 
 Flax and hemp manu- 
 factures, 
 
 Wearing apparel, 
 
 Combs and buttons, 
 
 Bruslies. 
 
 Umbrellas and parasols. 
 
 Leather and morocco 
 skins. 
 
 Printing presses and 
 
 Musfci ' 
 
 Musical instruments, 
 Books and ma^s. 
 Taper and stationery, 
 Faints and Varnish, 
 Vinegar, 
 
 Earthen and Stone ware, 
 Manufacture of Glass, 
 " Tin, 
 
 Of this 
 
 ^4,933,129 
 
 5,568 
 
 76,945 
 
 88,186 
 
 2,924 
 
 6,800 
 
 9,427 
 
 28.031 
 28,713 
 94,427 
 86,827 
 65,145 
 14,086 
 10.632 
 101,419 
 13,148 
 
 Manufacture of Tewter 
 and lead, 
 " Marble and 
 
 stone, 
 " Gold and 
 
 silver, 
 Gold and silver coin, 
 Artificial flowers and 
 
 Jewelry, 
 Molasses, 
 Trunks, 
 
 Bricks and lime, 
 Salt, 
 
 Coal, 
 
 Lead, 
 
 Ice, 
 
 Articles not enumerated : 
 
 Manufactured, 
 
 Other articles. 
 
 $13,196 
 
 20,282 
 
 4,602 
 956,874 
 
 8,567 
 7,442 
 6,009 
 8,671 
 82,973 
 
 «6,607^ 
 
 40,396 
 80,198 
 96,027 
 
 1,409,489 
 769,657 
 
 $2,177,885 
 
 Grand Total, $132,606,965 
 
 amount $88,574,063, or nearly two-thirds, were sent to 
 Great Britain and its Colonies. 
 
 VALUE OF IMPORTS DURING THE SAME PERIOD. 
 
 The gross amount of imports was $147,857,439, of which $13,088,- 
 865 was exported, making the net imports $134,768,574. The 
 amount from each country was us follows : 
 
 Great Britain. $61,154,538 
 
 British £. Indies, 2,086,254 
 
 British W. Indies, 997,866 
 
 Canada, 1,481,082 
 
 Other British Colonies, 1,728,244 
 
 France, 24,368,783 
 
 French Colonies, 94,886 
 
 Spain, 1,819,177 
 
 Cuba, 10,659,956 
 Other Spanish Colonies, 8,130,894 
 
 Portugal, 822.220 
 
 Portuguese Coloniei, 92,666 
 
 Holland, 1,601,648 
 
 Dutch Colonies, 866,908 
 
 Germany, 7,742,864 
 
 Belgium, 1,844.298 
 
 Russia, 840,288 
 
 Sweden and Norway, 781,846 
 
 Swedish W. Indies, 15,892 
 
 Denmark, 19,206 
 
 Danish W. Indies, 889,141 
 
 Prussia, $17,687 
 
 Italy, 1,660,896 
 
 Sicily, 630,24f. 
 
 : Sardinia, 42,688 
 
 I AuKtrian ports, 409,178 
 
 , Turkey, 876,064 
 
 China, 6,513,785 
 
 I Other parts of Asia, 209,669 
 
 Africa, 495,742 
 
 ' Hayti, 901,724 
 
 Mexico, 2,216,719 
 
 I Venezuela, 1,41.3,096 
 
 New Grenada, 168,960 
 
 Central Republic, 56,017 
 
 ! Brazil, 8,494,868 
 
 , Chili, 1,817,728 
 
 ! Argentine Republic, 1,709,827 
 
 i Peru, 446,968 
 
 Other parts of S. America, 96,088 
 
 j Sandwich Islands, 48,875 
 
 { South Sea Islands, 85,318 
 
 I 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 217 
 
 JO «j-i o> ^ ;^ 
 
 ¥ 
 
 Hrf ^^ ^^ ^^ ^9 
 
 CO CO Oi O «D S 
 JC K) p IC to J3 
 OS «0 OJ "J-i "ks -t . 
 
 MjiJ lO to JO M 
 
 CO — 00 tn "i^ — 
 M W C3 oj - ^ 
 
 o c» o b o 00 
 
 n; s !£ °° <=> «» 
 
 U' to o> Ul lO t« 
 
 "b>'«o 
 
 )*»• 00 
 
 1s 00 
 (O o 
 
 'i- 00 tnlc 
 O O) 00 ^- 
 O) Ui 4k, ,tk 
 
 W O 00 u» 
 4k o> ■— 00 1 
 
 19 
 
 fB 
 
 — 
 
 
 « 
 
 (D 
 
 
 O 
 
 X 
 
 ss'r) 
 
 3 ? 
 
 cS 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 s 
 
 D-K 
 
 n 
 
 0.5-I3I 
 
 5» 
 
 
 CD 
 
 
218 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 Aggregate value of breadstuffs and provisions, 
 exported each year, from 1846 to 1849, inclusive : ~ 
 
 In the year 1846, 
 " 1847, 
 •' 1848, 
 " 1849, 
 
 Total, 
 
 Value. 
 
 $27,701,121 
 
 68,701,921 
 
 37,472,751 
 
 38,155.507 
 
 $172,031,360 
 
 Annual products of United States industry, with 
 the export to England and the rest of the world : 
 
 Annual 
 Troduot. 
 
 Agriculture, $654,387,597 
 
 Manufactures, 239,836,224 
 
 Mining, 42,388,761 
 
 Forest, 16,835,060 
 
 Fisheries, 11,996,008 
 
 Exports :— 
 Total from Of which to 
 
 U. States. 
 
 $111,059,378 
 
 11,809,501 
 
 375,154 
 
 5,917,94 
 
 2,547,654 
 
 England. 
 
 $73,495,849 
 
 541,540 
 
 194 
 
 1,649,869 
 
 843,053 
 
 Total, $965,413,650 $131,710,081 $76,530,205 
 
 More than one-half of the whole export of Ameri- 
 can industry is to England, and of the remainder, 
 $12,043,858 is to her dependencies, leaving but 
 $48,136,000 as the value of exports to all the rest of 
 the world. Nearly the whole of these exports to 
 England, it will be observed, are raw products, which 
 go to the direct consumptioM, as food, which 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 219 
 
 amounted to $14,732,927, and raw material for 
 manufactures, that is to say, articles indispensable to 
 feed and employ the operatives of Groat Britain. 
 The British returns give the annual production at 
 ^247,000,000, and the exports to the United 
 States X 9,504,902. 
 
 The Government of the United States.— 
 Congress sits at Washington. The Senate is com- 
 posed of two members from each State, elected by 
 the Legislature for the term of six years. Their 
 terms are so arranged that one-third expires every 
 two years. There being thirty-one States, the num- 
 ber of Senators is nn^v sixty-two. The Vice- 
 President is Presidcu. of the Senate. Wm. R. King, 
 of Alabama, has been elected President of the 
 Senate, in consequence of Mr. Fillmore being exalted 
 to the Presidency by the death of General Taylor. 
 The House of Representatives consists of 231 mem- 
 bers, chosen from the several States, in the ratio of 
 1 to 70,680 persons. Their compensation is $8 per 
 day, and that of the Speaker $16 per day, during 
 the session, and $8 for every twenty miles travel in 
 going and returning. The pay of the Senators is the 
 same as that of the members of the House of Repre- 
 
220 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 sontativres. The salary of the President is $25,000 
 per annum; of the Vice-President, $5,000; of the 
 Secretaries and Postmaster General, $6,000 each ; 
 and of the Attorney-General, $4,000. 
 
 REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES OP GOVERNMENT FOR 
 THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1849. 
 
 Receipts. 
 From Customs, $28,346,738 
 
 Public Lands, 1,688,959 
 
 Miscellaneous sources, 1,038,649 
 Treasury Notes & Loans, 28,588,750 
 In Treasury, July 1, 1848, 153,534 
 
 Total Keceipts, $59,816,630 
 
 ExpendUures. 
 Cash, $46,798,667 
 
 Treasury Notes funded, 10,898,342 
 
 Total, 
 
 $57,697,009 
 
 Estimated receipts for the year ending June 30, 1850, $37,823,- 
 464; expenditures, $43,651,585. PubUc debt, December 1, 1849, 
 $64,704,693. 
 
 The population of the United States at the time of 
 the Declaration of Independence was about 2,500,- 
 000. In 1850, the population is estimated at 22,000,- 
 000, 3,000,000 of which are slaves. 
 
 The principal denominations of Christians, accord- 
 ing to the latest returns, are as follows : — 
 
 Communicants. 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, 663,310 
 
 " " *' South, 504,530 
 
 " Protestant and Wesleyan, 81,000 
 
 Not Com'ts. 
 
 Total of Methodists, 
 
 1,248,830 
 
 5,000,000 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 221 
 
 Baptists, regular, 
 
 Anti-mission, 
 Free-will, 
 Campbellite, 
 minor sects, 
 
 u 
 
 (i 
 
 Total of Baptists, 
 
 Presbyterian, Old School, 
 New School, 
 Associate, 
 
 " Reformed, 
 Reformed, 
 Cumberland, 
 others, 
 
 « 
 
 <( 
 
 u 
 
 IC 
 
 u 
 
 Total of Presbyterians, 
 
 Congregationalists, 
 
 Reformed Dutch, 
 
 German Reformed, 
 
 Protestant Episcopal, 
 
 Lutheran, 
 
 United Brethren, 
 ' EvangeUcal Association, (German) 
 Unitarian, 
 Roman Catholic, 
 Christian Connection, 
 Church of God, 
 Mennonites, 
 Friends or Quakers, Evangelical, 
 
 Hicksites, 
 Universalists, 
 Advents, 
 Jews, 
 Mormons. 
 
 19* 
 
 CommunicAntfi. 
 
 686,807 
 
 67,845 
 
 56,452 
 
 118,618 
 
 27,700 
 
 937,422 
 
 ji^ot Com'ts. 
 
 192,033 
 
 155,000 
 
 18,800 
 
 26,340 
 
 5,300 
 
 50,000 
 
 44,000 
 
 491,473 
 
 197,196 
 33,980 
 69,750 
 67,550 
 163,000 
 67,000 
 17,000 
 30,000 
 
 325,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 60,000 
 100,000 
 
 60,000 
 
 60,000 
 
 30,000 
 
 4,000,000 
 
 2,000,000 
 
 500,000 
 100,000 
 250,000 
 2,000,000 
 400,000 
 
 1,233,350 
 
A PEEP AT 
 
 There are said to be, in the United States, forty- 
 two theological schools. They are designated as 
 follows : — 
 
 Baptist, 
 
 Congregational, 
 , Dutch Bcformed, 
 Lutheran, 
 Methodist, 
 Episcopalian, 
 "Presbyterian, 
 Unitarian, 
 
 10 
 5 
 2 
 3 
 1 
 8 
 
 11 
 2 
 
 42 
 
 Of the 120 colleges, there were, in 1849, under the 
 
 Direction of the Methodists, 
 Baptists, 
 Episcopalians, 
 Roman Catholics, 
 
 II 
 II 
 
 (I 
 « 
 
 12 
 12 
 10 
 13 
 
 The remainder are divided between the Congregation- 
 alists and Presbyterians, &c. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Churches employ 8 bish- 
 ops, 5642 travelling preachers, and 8000 local preach- 
 ers ; the Protestant Episcopal, or Church of England, 
 have 30 bishops and 1467 ministers ; the Roman 
 Catholics have 6 archbishops, 28 bishops, 2 vicariates, 
 1109 priests, and 1073 churches. The Roman 
 Catholics are probably the poorest denomination, and 
 the Protestant Episcopalians the richest denomination, 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FAR^f. 
 
 in the United States. The bishops, ministers, priests, 
 and clergy of the above churches exceed in number 
 80,000. The religion, the blood, the laws, and insti- 
 tutions of Old England live in America. Thus that 
 wonderful Anglo-Saxon race that is diffusing itself 
 over the globe is rapidly absorbing all other races 
 in America. 
 
 I now close this volume with the following interest- 
 ing article from the pen of an educated and scientific 
 phys5 of Haverhill, Massachusetts. 
 
 Witch Hazel Pointers. — Singular Electri- 
 cal Phenomena. — It has been f. c.-mon belief 
 among a large class in the community for many 
 years, that springs of water beneath the earth's sur- 
 face were pointed out by the mysterious movements 
 of witch hazel rods, held in the hands of persons cap- 
 able of exercising this wizard power. 
 
 Statements made, time and again, by men of 
 much probity and intelligence, of the wonderful 
 accuracy of these witch hazel pointers in directing to 
 the proper locality for success in boring for water, 
 have attracted butt very little attention from men of 
 science. They have probably regarded them as 
 savoring too strongly of that vulgar necromancy, 
 
22i 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 which a portion of mankind manifest a strong aflSnity 
 for, to entiti ; them to serious consideration. 
 
 My attention has recently been called to this mat- 
 ter by witnessing experiments of a character anala- 
 gous to those alluded to above, and I am free to 
 confess that they have interested me much, and 
 shaken somewhat my previous incredulity in this 
 matter. 
 
 It has been ascertained that several kinds of 
 wood, of dense, compact fibre, answers the purpose 
 equally as well as hazel, and that rods of whalebone 
 .are still better than vegetable substances. 
 
 A few weeks since a highly intelligent and scien- 
 tific friend remarked that he had been very much 
 surprised and interested in observing the movements 
 of the whalebone in the hands of a guest of his, a 
 minister of high standing, from a distant town in our 
 State. His knowledge of the phenomenon was alto- 
 gether accidental, and when we consider his un- 
 doubted integrity of character, the suspicion of trick 
 or deception on his part is dispelled entirely. 
 
 He first observed the attraction of the rods down- 
 wards while workmen were engaged in excavating for 
 a well upon his premises, and directed the excavation 
 in accordance with the direction of the rods. Com- 
 
UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 
 
 225 
 
 plete success crowned the labor ; a fine, gushing 
 spring was reached, and a copious supply of water 
 obtained. It is worthy of remark, that repeated 
 attempts had been made before this, to find water 
 m this locality, but without success. He has since 
 tried the experiment upon the premises of his neigh- 
 bors and friends, and in every instance the rods ha^'ve 
 proved unerring guides. 
 
 The instrument is very simple, consisting of two 
 pieces of whalebone about 16 inches long, of a size 
 that will bend with tolerable facility. Those are 
 pointed at one end, and then tied firmly together with 
 a bit of twine. In experimenting, the two extremes 
 of the rod are grasped, one in each hand, and held 
 apart a few inches with the point vertical, describin<r 
 a figure like the letter V inverted. It is a singular 
 fact, and one that can be accounted for upon no 
 known principles of electrical science, that the exper- 
 iments fail, and the instrument remains quiet, unless 
 the thumb and fingers are turned outward in grasp- 
 ing the rods. This has proved true in the case of all 
 experimenters who have come under my observation, 
 and should be remembered by those who may here- 
 after be aesirous of testing the truthfulness of the 
 experiments described in this communication. 
 
226 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 The following is given as the results of some exper- 
 iments made at the suggestion of the writer of this 
 article, and which are deemed worthy of especial 
 notice. There being a small stream of water beneath 
 the cellar of his place of business, formed by the 
 waste from a fountain, he requested the clergyman 
 alluded to above to find its locality with rods. This 
 was done with surprising accuracy ; not only was the 
 commencement of the rill pointed out, but its some- 
 what serpentine course towards the river accurately 
 traced. When the operator stood over the stream, 
 the rods with a sudden impulse turned over and 
 pointed directly downward. So strong was the 
 attraction that the resistance was sensibly felt when 
 its movements were opposed by the finger. In trac- 
 ing the course of the stream, any deviation from the 
 true one was marked by the quick uprising of the 
 points. So delicate and accurate was this attraction, 
 that the deviation of an inch was indicated by the 
 instrument. These motions were as marked and de- 
 cisive when two floors interposed between the stream 
 and the operator. As corroborative of these experi- 
 ments, I must not forget to say that this stream has 
 since been detected by others entirely unacquainted 
 with its locality. Neither must I forget to mention 
 
TOOLE SAlrS FARM. 
 
 227 
 
 the fact that when passing the bridge over the Merri- 
 mao the rods turn downwards as soon as the edge of 
 the s,.eam is reached, and remain in this position 
 unhl the opposite shore is gained, when the poTn' re- 
 sames a vertical position once more. 
 
 Before alluding to some experiments to determine 
 the natare of this .'traction, I will say that experi- 
 ments similar to and equally as unequivocal and deci- 
 sive as those described have been tried upon grounds 
 belonging to the writer. Upon these grounds is a 
 well, recently excavated, and from careful observa- 
 r; '"'"'«. •^«™S ">« ^'^oavation, he was satis6ed 
 tha no spring or gush of water was reached by the 
 workmen. But as the side infiltrations were copious, 
 It was decided to depend upon them for a sup^y o 
 water, and suspend further boring. The rods held 
 over, and withm a radius of five feet on either side 
 he well, remained unaffected. Beyond that number 
 of feet westward the attraction is powerfully felt, and 
 the course of a stream across the garden pointed out. 
 Other streams, within a few feet of each other, have 
 been found, one of which was traced directly to the 
 well of a neighbor, who has an abundant supply of 
 pure, soft, water. '^^^ 
 
 There may be considered nothing very remarkable 
 
228 
 
 A PEEP AT 
 
 I: 
 
 or reliable in these experiments when shown only bv 
 
 one person. Bnt when others, knowing nothing of 
 
 previous experiments, are taken upon the ground, and 
 
 precisely the same attracting influences are found in 
 
 precisely the same places, the experiments then 
 
 mnme an importance which imperatively demands, 
 
 .nvesfgafon. Such has bee. the case in this in-' 
 
 stance, and each trial has been productive of precisely 
 
 the same results. "^ 
 
 Admitting, then, that the phenomenon described 
 be as stated, and that imposition on the part of the 
 oxpenmenters is impossible, are there any principles 
 of natural sconce which will explain it. It is obvious 
 to my own mind that it is owing to electrical influen- 
 ces, and that it may be found to act in obedience to 
 • ^own laws in electrical science. 
 
 To prove this, let the conducting medium be cut 
 o« by interposmg a silk handkerchief between the 
 pomt of the rod bent downwards and the stream or 
 attractmg .nfluence below, and the rods instantly fly 
 back agam. Remove the handkerchief, and the rods 
 pomt down as before. Insulate the operator, by pla- 
 cing him upon wax, or the insulating stool, and the 
 attraction mslantly ceases. Connect him with the 
 earth again by passing a chain from one foot to the 
 
UNCLE SAM'S PABM. 
 
 n only by 
 nothing of 
 >und, and 
 found in 
 ts then 
 demands 
 this in- 
 preciselj 
 
 escribed 
 t of the 
 'inciples 
 obvious 
 influen- 
 ence to 
 
 be cut 
 en the 
 Jam or 
 itly fly 
 le rods 
 5y pla- 
 ad the 
 h the 
 to the 
 
 229 
 
 ground, and the attracting influence is instaiitly felt. 
 I thepomtwhen bent down be connected ith a 
 dehcate galvanometer in such a way that the current 
 ^I pass across the needle, and it will be deflected 
 several degrees. Place in each hand a piece of oiled 
 silk so tha the hands may be insulated while in con- 
 tact with the instrument, and it will remain entirely 
 
 that the phenomenon is due to electrical excitation, 
 and t thas department of natural science are we to 
 ^ok for an explanation of this interesting matter. 
 
 In a future communication I wiU mention some other 
 exper n^ ,,, ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ 
 
 m explanation of this singular and unexplained phe- 
 nomenon. ^ 
 
f 
 
 CATALOGUE 
 
 OF 
 
 NEW AND VALUABLE BOOKS, 
 
 rUBUSUED BY 
 
 CHAS. H. PElKCE & CO., 
 
 NO. 5 COHNUILL, BOSTON. 
 
 DIVINE UNION. 
 
 BY T. C. UPHAM, D. D. 
 The present work is intended to finish the series, of which 
 Interior Life, and the Life of Faith, have already been pub- 
 lished. 12mo. Price f 1.00. 
 
 A Treatise on Divinb Union, designed to point out some 
 of the Intimate Relations between Gt ' and Man in the higher 
 forms of Religious Experience. Another book from Dr. Up- 
 ham, upon "the higher forms of religious experience," will 
 not be unwelcome to the religious public, and, we doubt not, 
 will share the deserved popularity of its predecessors. 
 
 Christian Advocate and Journal. 
 
 Upham on Divine Union. — Here is a truly good book. It 
 has its defects, some of them theological, am some, it may 
 be, practical, at least so far as inward practical devotion is 
 concerned; but it is full of the sterling gold of pure truth ; it 
 unveils the communion of the sanctified mind with God in the 
 inner sanctuary, and by a simple, direct course of teachmg, 
 leads the devout inquirer iiito the holiest of holies. Prof 
 Upham's works have all a tinge of the old mysticism about 
 them; but this, to our mind, is a very small objection amidst 
 their rare exceUences. They have done vast good ; the pre»- 
 
 4 
 
2 
 
 CHARLfiS H. PEIRCE u CO '«» P,rr.. 
 
 * CO. S PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 Zwn't Htrald. 
 
 THE YOUNG MAN'S COUNSELLOR 
 
 By RE/. DANIEL WISE. 
 
 „ m, ^'* Edition. 
 
 The Young Man's Counsellor • or Sk.f i 
 tions of the Duties and Dangers of y'^T"" ""^ ^"''"^^"^ 
 b« '^ guide to success in this Iyo ! Tl *^'°- ^««'«"-' ^ 
 
 12mo.. 265 pages. B<^ton vTi ^'''' ^- ^- ^ vol. 
 
 The excellent'pLtical advice whtuh^ '", "^ ^^ ^^•-•" 
 «0"voyed in a style .0 winnTn! ^ "" ''^^"'"^ <'<^nt»^i^« is 
 1- the interest Of a nl'e l^a t7""'"' ^'^^ ^''^ ^^ 
 effect of a good discourse ^b 1 '""^^ """^ *•>« "oral 
 tion. - Transcript. ^""'"^'"S °^ '^ ^de oiroma- 
 
 THE EMINENT DEAD; 
 
 _,„_ OR, 
 
 THE TRIUMPHS OF FAITH IN THE miM HOUR 
 
 BV BRADPOHD K. p^.^eE. 
 
 WITH AN INTRODUCTION Rv a a^^ 
 ..Trrv p ^- STEVENS. 
 
 iHB Eminent Dead" ia *k« *',ii „ 
 
 P" of Kev. B. K. Pet" luL •"' " "" «* *™ «■• 
 <ln>TO from n, jj^^ . '. .J^™"- ^.^^k^M ilInslratioM are 
 
 *»«■ They .re not merely dlri:!«?'^" *" "'"• °™ 
 
CHARLES H. PEIBCB k CO.'s PUBLICATIONS. 3 
 
 their deathg. SeTeral similar works are extant, but none m 
 aatisfactory as this. We commend it without hesitation. Ita 
 mechanical execution is quite commendable, also. The type 
 is liberal, the paper fine, and the binding neat. 
 
 Zion'i HtrcUtt. 
 
 THE GENIUS AND MISSION OF METHODISM, 
 
 WHAT IS I'ECULIAR IS DOCi.^INE, GOVERNMENTO 
 MODES CF W0«&; iV, ETC. ' 
 
 Bi' REV. W. »• S'fFU.KLAND, 
 Of the 01i(«, Conference. 
 Price 87^ cent;. 
 The author of the present volume has conceived that an 
 uncultivated province in our denominational literature invited 
 the labor of his mind and pen, in the subject which he has 
 presented to the reading public. 
 
 As a "hand-book" of Methodism, presenting the provi- 
 dential character of its origin and of the institution of its 
 various means for spiritual culture and growth, it will find 
 we trust, a welcome place on the shelves of the family library' 
 and in the reading of our people. . * 
 
 The want of a small portable volume, giving, in a popular 
 form a digest of our views of faith and forms of discipline 
 has been felt by our ministerial brethren. Such a volume 
 exhibiting, without controversy, the peculiarities which give us 
 a distmct existence among the various tribes of Israel, — the 
 object and importance of our religious institutions, and a con 
 nwted view of our eccle. tstical poUty, - has been considered 
 a desideratum to place in the hands of young converts, and 
 also for the perusal of maturer members of the church who 
 cannot afford the expense or time required for the purohase 
 W»a reading of more voluminous works. 
 
4 CHARLES H. PEIECE fc CO.'s PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 WISE'S QUESTKH^S ON ROMANS 
 
 aDDend.-T ««„♦„•• "^\P'*''^»«^ed. It w accompanied with an 
 S^'in th^r^/''^"'"^''^*^ "P''- the more diffic^ 
 CTth^ t^X \ ^^'*«ible^^^«. or the adultmem- 
 
 per dozen. Handsomely bound. $1.50 
 
 sch^iindt: ::rr::^,r *'^ r^ °^*^^ ^^^^^^^■ 
 
 be a si^cient waZTf^r *. !!!S^''*''^ '^ *'^*-^^' ^» 
 volume Th« r v7 f ^* *^ execution of the present 
 
 rfT!;^ !•""*' '^' °^ *^" "»««* interesting and import- 
 
 for st^ ",^' ''"^*'"^ ^^^°' -"^ -^^^ a valuable fieM 
 for study and discussion in the Bible class. - Zion', Herald, 
 
 CLEAVEUND'S VOYAGES. 
 
 ^ JVarrative of Voyages and Cmmercial Enterprises. 
 BY RICHARD J. CLEAVELAND. 
 
 EI^GANT -rsat ENGRAVINGS. 
 
 l2mo. Price #1.00. 
 
 co^r!? Tf '^" "^''^ ^*'^'*^« ^°^""^«« Of voyages and 
 ^mmercial adventures that ha. -^n issued from thfprr 
 
 work, and has been printedfrom new stereotype plates okLu 
 t»M paper, and is bound in the richest styS of the^ 
 
 Charl^H. Peirce, Boston, b.s issued an exceedingly inter- 
 esbng "Narrative of Voyages and Commercial Entelrir^ 
 perfbmed by RichaM J. Cleaveland. These voya^ Cm 
 jomeforty-five years since, and closed about twenfyfii^r 
 
 toiy of no httle importance, and are considerably more inter- 
 
CHARLES H. PEIRCE & CO.'s PUBLICATIONS. 5 
 
 esting than if thoy were more recent. The author \mt«s with 
 a good, pertinent style, and his volume is embelliahed by (ser- 
 eral fine engravings. — Zion's Herald. 
 
 I'i 
 
 THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL MELODIST 
 
 BY REV. A. D. MERRILL 
 
 The music, a large portion of which is original, has been 
 prepared expressly for the use of children in our Sabbath- 
 schools. Of the eminent qualifications of iH author, — so 
 well known and beloved in all our churches, — to prepare such 
 a work, those acquainted with the previous musical produc- 
 tions of Bro. Merrill will need no further guarantee, The 
 hymns have also been selected with great care, both in refer- 
 ence to securing a variety and as to their lyrical merits. 
 
 The publisher proposes to issue the volume at the lowest 
 price at which it can be afibrded, that it may enjoy a general 
 circulation in our schools. The following commendation of 
 the work, while passing through the press, was forwarded to 
 the publisher by the Secretary of the Preachers' Meeting : — 
 
 At a meeting of the Preachers of Boston and vicinity, held 
 at the Committee-room, No. 7 Cornhill, Boston, the following 
 resolution was unanimously adopted, and it was voted that a 
 copy of the same be presented by the President and Secretary 
 to Brother Charles H. Peirce : — 
 
 Resolved, That we cordially recommend the publication of 
 the book of music and hymns prepared for the use and benefit 
 of Sunday-schools, by our excellent father in the Gospel, Rev. 
 A. D. Merrill. Loranus Ceowell, President 
 
 LvMAN BoTDEN, Secretary. 
 
 w 
 
« CHARLES H. PEIRCE ^ CO.'s PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 REASONS FOR BECOMING A METHODIST. 
 
 BY REV. I. SMITH, 
 Of the Vermont Conference. 
 16mo. Price S7I^ cents. 
 
 PEACE IN BELIEVING. 
 
 EXEMPLIFIED IN 
 
 rASK,B.s WUGHTER CLEROVMAN-STOE, „OUS MOTHEH 
 
 AND DYING SAINT «lOTHER, 
 
 BEING THE MEMOIRS OF MRS. ANN EAST. 
 
 BY REV. JOHN EAST, A. M. 
 
 Third Edition, 18mo. Price 50 cents. 
 
 HY SAVIOUR; 
 
 OB, 
 1«» r ^^ ^^^- ^°"^ ^^ST, A.M. 
 
 The present is the sixteenth edition of this popular little 
 
CHARLES H. PEIRCE fc CO.'S PUBLICATIONS. 7 
 
 vanou* appeUation« and offices of our Lord and Saviour. 
 
 EVANGELISM 
 
 IN THE MIDDUB OF THjS 
 
 NINETEENTH CENTURY. 
 
 BY REV. C. ADAMS. 
 
 f^ dZn^^rs r • "' '"™'' ''•"-^ ^-^ «■• 
 
 Jli? •"""''". "iMoripaye and slatirtW, of the prMent 
 
 «.d „ .Itotratcd with ™p^ The «ve gr«.t divides 7l 
 
 Kligious tote giren. Then follows a seetion givi,., the nriT 
 
 «n tt. non-Protestant diviaions of the world. The .c^«^3 
 I«rce.ve at once the value of sueh a volume. It wufTd to 
 .te up th. general church In behalf of the evanJIuLton of 
 
 cievo «i much labor and research to his task, and has done 
 It with a master's skill. ® 
 
 SKETCHES PROM THE STUDY OF AN ITINERAliT 
 
 MMHOBISM, &0., &0. """>■"*" <» 
 
 ISmo. Price «2 «»(>. 
 A sew work, by Kev. A. Smms. The readers of the ore- 
 
 J^» to ,«„ke« th«r .ppeUte to a rem..! of a,e prj. 
 
8 
 
 CHABLES H. PEIRCE & CO.'s PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 MAHAN ON ROMANS IX. . 
 
 lectures, founded upon the 9th of Romans. This volume is 
 tftought. by good judges, to present the best exposition of this 
 important and difficult Scripture extant, and will be read, 
 especially by Armenian Christians, with peculiar satisfaction. 
 
 RAMBLES IN EUROPE. 
 
 BY REV. MARK TRAFTON, A. M. 
 
 th^V'"" '! *^? '^'^'^'' '^ * ^"*^ ^'^^^P^^'^ *°«r, composing 
 the present volume, have appeared in the Herald and Ladies' 
 Repository, which afford the public a fair promise of the rich 
 treat in store for them. 
 
 THE LAST WITNESS. 
 
 BY REV. O. C. BAKER. 
 
 Miniature, gilt. 
 
 col^^TT i"*"' ^''""'' P'^^«^*^^S, in instructive 
 c^^te, the final expressions of dying Christians and un- 
 
 TOKEN OP PRIENDSHIP. 
 
 A GIFT BOOK FOR THE HOLIDAYS. 
 
 EDITED BY BRADFORD K. PEIRCE. 
 
 Seven elegant engravings. Elegantly bound. Price $2 00 
 
 We referred to this work lately It is now before the pub- 
 
 K and will we doubt not, recei . a hearty welcome. The 
 
 Si^Jt TV ^"^P^^^-*-- -e haJ^ly admitt Jt 
 the test of criticism. Annuals redeem themselves from the 
 
 tnbnnal of the critic by an appeal to the eye. The^g^t 
 
CHAHLES H. PEn.CE ^ CO.'s PTBLICAT.ONS. 9 
 
 forty, ^i «>JtouL 2tZT ' r°""' "^ "«"" 
 
 including a profusilnrf^.l^ > •,''°^'' °' ""^ '™' «"™' 
 
 tained, bring out in elegant fnvrr. / ^ "' '^ ^"«- 
 
 The present volume has many attractions Its i«f fn 
 
 itom our best miters aZ'-lfc i° """'"' " "'"''^y 
 
 Abr<Aer« CArw^mn ^rfroca<«. 
 
 4:re:L=:ir:r^::trr^''----- 
 
 . ^''""<«''Mvccale and Journal. 
 
 This IS aaannnal, weU gotten up, and presenting ;„ .. 
 typographjr, binding. «„d engravLgs noZ?,^*« ^'■' 
 
 ^"r.t' -* - "-— " «":i:o,r:^Tr 
 
 graced with the presence of this interesting annual. 
 
 Richmond Advocate. 
 
 w 
 
 s. 
 
Mi