51 8
 
 REMARKS 
 
 o N 
 
 THE AMERICAN 
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 BY J. 
 
 PRINTED AT THE 3poH0 $&, IN BOSTON, 
 
 BY BELKNAP AND HALL, 
 Sold at their Office, No. 8, Dock Square. 1793.
 
 REMARKS, &c. 
 
 JLJL. NEW edition of Mr. Morfe's Geogra- 
 phy has lately been publimed, under the title of The 
 American Univerfal Geography ; in which the author 
 profefles to fupply the deficiencies, to correct the errours, 
 and to meliorate the offenfive pafiages, of the former 
 edition. Relying upon the author's promife, I eagerly 
 purchased the work. I have read it with attention ; but 
 I confefs, I am difappointed in my expectations. Though 
 there are in it many things, which are entitled to praife; 
 and it is undoubtedly an improvement upon the Ameri- 
 can Geography ; yet truth compels me to fjy, that it is 
 Hill, in feveral refpetts, inaccurate, hafty, and partial. 
 
 With pleafure I fpecify the improvements which h<ive 
 been made ; and they are principally the following. 
 The Introduction is enlarged, and appears to have been 
 revifed with care. Some ufeful additions have been 
 made to the General Defcription of America. The 
 Natural Hiftory of the United States is greatly improved. 
 Since the publication cf the American Geography, fev- 
 eral valuable topographical works have appeared : among 
 which ought to be particularly mentioned, Dr. Belknap's 
 third volume of the Hiftory of New-Hampfhire; a de- 
 fcription of the ftate of Delaware by Mr. Miller ; Mr. 

 
 4 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 W.'s defcription of Cape Cod ; Mr. T.'s, of the county 
 of EfTex ; and Mr. Apthorp's, of Surrinam. Thefe 
 works have enabled Mr. M. to give more correft ac- 
 counts of the feveral countries which theydefcribe. He 
 has alio received many private communications, {ome of 
 which are important. It is no more than juflice to the 
 American Geographer to allow, that though his work 
 cannot always be depended upon as a fafe guide, yet that 
 it is frequently inftruclive, and generally entertaining. 
 Mr. M. deferves commendation, not only for his addi- 
 tions, but alfo for fome of his omiffions. The plan of 
 omitting the hiflory of the feparate ftates, appears to me 
 judicious. Within the limits of a geographical gram- 
 mar, it is impoffible to communicate to the reader any 
 thing more, than a very imperfect idea of the hiflory of 
 a ilate. Mr. M. therefore, in general, very properly 
 refeis to thofe authors, from whom, in his opinion, the 
 mofl complete information can be obtained. 
 
 I could applaud many other things in Mr. M.'s book, 
 if I conceived that it would be of any benefit to ilie 
 publick. But of praife, as well from Englifh leviewers, 
 as from his own countrymen, the author has already re- 
 ceived a very liberal portion. The rapid fale of at leaft 
 fix editions of his Geography* in various forms, affords 
 the moft fubflantial proof, that the work has met with a 
 favourable reception. It is not in my power, if it were 
 in my intention, to impede its circulation, or to injure 
 the reputation of its author. The publick rcu ft be the 
 beft judge of the merit of a book ; and to its decifions I 
 am difpofed to fubmit. 
 
 To me it appears a more ufeful, though a lefs pleafing 
 tafk, to point out theerrcurs, than to extol theex.cellen-
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 5 
 
 ces, of the Univesfal Geography. Without profeflir.g 
 much acquaintance with the geography of America, I 
 will venture to make a few obfervations ; which, I hope, 
 will induce thofe who pofiefs better information, to enter 
 into a more complete examination of the fubjecl. Such 
 an examination will enable Mr. M. to render the future 
 editions of his work more correct and per feel: ; and with 
 this the author himfeH ought not to be difpleafed. 
 
 The objections which 1 have to make againft Mr. 
 M.'s Geography, are the following: A want of uni- 
 formity in his method and plan Inconfiftencies and 
 contradictions Inaccurate maps Want of judgment in 
 felecling his materials and authorities Local, profef- 
 fional, and religious prejudices Appearances of hafte 
 and careleflhefs Miilakes and omiffions. 
 
 Some geographers, in defcribing countries, begin at 
 the north ; and others, at the fouth. Mr. M. adopts 
 the former method ; but he does not (hiftly adhere to 
 it. Cape Breton, St. John's, and Nova Scotia, are plac- 
 ed before Newfoundland ; Vermont, before New Hamp- 
 fhire ; and New Karnpfhire, before the diflricl of Maine. 
 Some may think this of little importance ; but when a 
 correcl arrangement requires no more pains than a con- 
 fufed one, it ought to be obferved. 
 
 Another part of his plan is adopting Philadelphia as 
 his fir ft meiidian. It is to be regretted, that Mr. M. 
 (hould rejecl the Royal Obfervatory at Greenwich, with 
 which moft men of fcicnce in America are familiar. His 
 intention may be to compliment the capital of the Unit- 
 ed States. But whilft Philadelphia continues the firft 
 city in America lor popv.loufnefs and wealth, it can de- 
 rive little honour from being the beginning of longitude. 
 An innovation here is like an inncvstion in language:
 
 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 It is of no confequence where the firft meridian is, pro- 
 vided it be fixed and in general ufe. A firft meridian 
 ought to be a precife point. But Philadelphia is an ex- 
 tenfive city ; and Mr. M. has not informed as, irom what 
 part of it he reckons. Add to this, that it is convenient 
 to have the beginning of longitude, either to the eaft or 
 weft of every part of America ; for by this means many 
 fuperfluous words are faved. But whether Mr. M.'s 
 plan be good or not, he frequently deviates from it. For 
 befide Philadelphia, he has three other firft meridians ; 
 Wafhington, London, and the Obfervatory at Green- 
 wich. 
 
 I have commended Mr. M. for omitting the particular 
 hiftory of the ftates. But in this he is not uniform. He 
 has detailed the affairs of Connecticut and Pennfylvania, 
 becaufe there are no printed hiftories to which he can re- 
 fer. But of Rhode Ifland, a very good account can be 
 found in the Century Sermon of Mr. Callender; a name 
 entitled to a place in Mr. M.'s catalogue of eminent men. 
 The Geographer appears to have borrowed fome things 
 from this fermon, but without acknowledging his obliga- 
 tions. 
 
 Lifts of governours may very properly be admitted 
 into a geographical work. I thank Mr. M. for thofe 
 which he has given ; and hope that in his next edition, 
 he will endeavour to collecl the names of the governours 
 of the ftates, which he has omitted. This can eafily be 
 done with refpecl to New Hampfhire, MafTachufetts, 
 and Rhode Ifland, as lifts of the governours of thefe 
 itates have frequently been publiftied. As he has feen 
 fit to infert the governours of New Haven, perhaps he 
 may think proper to add thofe of Plymouth. If he 
 would avoid the charge of partiality, he ought alfo to
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 7 
 
 give the names of the prefidents of other colleges in the 
 United States, as well as thofe of Yale and Naflau. 
 
 In defcribing countries, it appears to be Mr. M.'s plan, 
 in his firft volume, to give as the length and breadth of 
 any ftate, two numbers, which, multiplied together, pro- 
 duce the contents. Thefe numbers are either obtained 
 by calculation, or arbitrarily a {Turned ; and for the moft 
 part are very erroneous. Thus he fays, that the length of 
 Connecticut is eighty two miles, which, according to his 
 own account, cannot be true ; for its length muft be 
 either its north or fouth line, neither of which is eighty 
 two miles. The breadth of a ftate, upon his plan, is the 
 quotient of the number of fquare miles divided by the 
 length. Thus he fays, that the breadth of Connecticut 
 is fifty feven miles, which cannot be the breadth except 
 in one part of the ftate. What geographers mean by the 
 length and breadth of a country, is the longeft and broad- 
 eft part. This method, which appears to me the beft, is 
 not intended to convey a perfect idea of the dimenfions 
 of a territory, which is done by fpecifying the number 
 of fquare miles. The form of a ftate may be made 
 known by a more particular defcription, which need not 
 employ many words. Mr. M.'s plan, however, excep- 
 tionable as it is, would be lefs confufed, if he uniformly 
 adhered to it. But he frequently deviates from it, with- 
 out giving notice to the reader. The length of Mafla- 
 chufetts, he fays, is a hundred and twenty five miles; 
 and the breadth, fifty ; and the fquare miles, fix thoufand, 
 two hundred, and fifty. " Rhode Ifland is in length, fix- 
 ty eight miles ; and in breadth, forty ;" the product of 
 which is two thoufand, feven hundred, and twenty fquare 
 miles. The uninftrucled reader therefore would fup- 
 pofe, that Rhode Ifland is above three fevenths of the
 
 8 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 fize of Maflachufetts ; when the fal is, that it is not as 
 large as the county of Worcefter. In New York and 
 moft of the flates fouth of it, it is not eafy to fay, what 
 plan Mr. M. has followed. 
 
 Mr. M.'s American Geography contained two maps. 
 They have been increafed, he fays, in the prefent edition, 
 " from two to eleven :" ten, he means, for I cannot 
 find more in both his volumes. Of thefe maps, four 
 only are of the United States. The two larger maps, 
 which are fcarcely legible, appear to be printed from the 
 worn out plates of the former edition. " The map of 
 the Southern States, Mr. M. afTerts, is the moft accu- 
 rate yet publifhed refpefcling that country, on fo final I a 
 fcale."* I fhall not prefume to contradicl him. But 
 the map of the Northern and Middle States is one of the 
 mod inaccurate, which has ever been publifhed upon 
 any fcale. To mention fome of its blunders by way of, 
 fpecimen : The Sandy Point of Nantucket almoft touch- 
 es the Sandy Point of Chatham. Blackftone river rifes 
 near the fouth line of New Hampfhire, many miles north 
 of Worcefter. Cambridge is fouth weft from Bofton. 
 New Hampfhire extends no further than the latitude 45. 
 Falmouth is at a great diftance fouth weft from Cafco 
 bay, which appears to be nothing but the mouth of Roy- 
 al's river. This river is longer than Saco river. Cape 
 Elizabeth does not form the fouth point of Cafco bay, 
 but is placed above forty miles fouth weft from it. The 
 river Amerifcoggin rifes in the county of Cumberland, 
 about the latitude 46, and runs nearly a fouth courfe. 
 Penobfcot bay is laid down in the latitude 45. 
 
 The map of the diftricl: of Maine is more correftly 
 drawn. But it is defective, in laying down no iflands 
 
 * Am. Geog. Pref. p. vii.
 
 in Cafco bay, and in omitting feveral rivers, which there 
 is room to infert. Of Falmouth river, which, according 
 to the map, runs into Cafco bay, I have never before 
 heard. The true name of this river is Prefumfcut, 
 which appears by the map to be the name of a town. 
 Prefumfcut river originates from Sebacook lake, and 
 not from Tobago pond, which has no exiftence. Seba- 
 cook lake, according to Mr. M. is the fource of a river 
 which runs into the Amerifcoggin. 
 
 Both in this map, and in that of Pennfylvania, the 
 rivers are made difproportionably wide; and there are 
 few. names of places. In the latter map, there are fome 
 (hades, which are probably intended for mountains, but 
 they bear a much greater refemblance to meadows. 
 The degrees of latitude are irregularly placed ; fo as not 
 to correfpond with each other on the oppofite fides of 
 the map. And the fcale of miles is fo inaccurate, that, 
 meafuring by it, Pennfylvania is above four hundred 
 miles in length, and above two hundred, in breadth. 
 
 Upon the whole, Mr. M.'s four maps do no honour 
 to his work, nor to the country in which it is publifhed. 
 The profit which he derived from the fale of his Geogra- 
 phy, gave the publick a right to expeft, that he mould, 
 in his new edition, furnifh at leaft eight maps of the 
 different parts of the United States. 
 
 Another thing in which Mr. M. is peculiarly unfor- 
 tunate, is his want of judgment in fele&ing his materials 
 and authorities. It would be endlefs to point out the 
 miftakes, into which this has led him. He feems in 
 general, to adopt the accounts of his correfpondents and 
 living authorities, without further inquiry, or critical 
 difcrimi nation. Of deceafed authors, Douglafs appears 
 to be one, upon whom he greatly depends. But every 
 B
 
 1O REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 man, who is acquainted with Douglafs's writings, knows 
 that he is not an authority. Not to mention that he 
 wrote at a time, when the geography of the Britifh col- 
 onies was imperfeftly undei flood, he was too carelefs 
 and impatient, and too full of prejudice and difdain, to 
 be impartial and correcl. There are undoubtedly many 
 truths in his two volumes ; but they are lo blended with 
 falfehoods, that it is a laborious talk to feparate them; 
 and it can feldom be done, without having recourfe to 
 other authors. Governour Hutchinfon, in his Hiftory 
 of Maffachufetts, has pointed out many miftakes in 
 Douglafs's Summary : and Dr. May hew, if I rnillake 
 not, once made a publick apology, for quoting him as 
 an authentick writer. 
 
 An author, who like Mr. M. folicits information from 
 all quarters, will probably receive many trifling and er- 
 roneous accounts. But uninfluenced by the motives of 
 complaifance and gratitude to the waters, his duty to 
 the publick requires that he fhould reject them. To this 
 obligation, I believe, Mr. M. has not paid much atten- 
 tion. Frotn other glaring examples, I will felecl the 
 character that he has given of the inhabitants of Bermu- 
 das ; which, he fays, was fent to him by an intelligent 
 gentleman, who had refided there a number of years. 
 The Bermudians have been characterized by thofe who 
 have vifited them, as a fimple, artlefs, and indullrious 
 people, unpolifhed in their manners, uncontarninated in 
 general with the vices which prevail in large focieties, 
 hofpitable to ftrangers, and humane to their flaves. But 
 fee in what a ridiculous light Mr. M.'s correfpondent en- 
 deavours to place them. (Vol. I, p. 676.) " However 
 induftrious the men are abroad, at home they are indo- 
 lent ; much given, particularly of late, to gaming and
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. II 
 
 luxury. The women -are generally handfome and come- 
 ly ; they love their hufbands, their children, and their 
 drefs. Dancing is their favourite amufement. The 
 men muft be equipped in tafle, when they appear in 
 company, mould they not have a dollar in the pound to 
 pay their creditors ; the women muft array themfelves 
 like the belles of Paris, (hould they not have a morfel ot 
 bread to preferve their blooming complexion. They 
 are thoroughly acquainted with one another's families, 
 and from their tea tables, as from their almofphere, arifej 
 conftant gufts of fcandal and detraction. To Jtrangers 
 they are kind, but among themfelves are quarrelfome. 
 Their Jriendty intercourfe is too much confined within a 
 narrow circle, bounded by con/ins or fecond coujins." 
 
 Is this a candid defci iption, or is it a dull and illiberal 
 fatire ? I would afk Mr. M. whether it pofle fifes any 
 difcriminating features? Are not the men and women 
 of other climes fond of drefs, and additled to fcanda! ? 
 In all fmall towns, the inhabitants are '.veil acquainted 
 with one another's families. In every pan of the worlu, 
 where the women are handfome, they are generally 
 comely. Why then did not Ivlr. M.'s correfpondent 
 fay at once, that the people of Bermudas are human be- 
 ings ? As it is not my defign to cruicife errours of flyle, 
 I forbear to remark upon the properties attributed to the 
 atmofphere of Bermudas," from which " arifej conftant 
 gufts of fcandal and detraction." Nor do I fay, that 
 thofe who confine their friendly intercourfe to their near 
 relations, cannot be quarrelfome among themfelves, or 
 kind to ftrangers. Our Geographer, in this and in ma- 
 ny other parts of his work, feerr.s to have forgotten the 
 obfervation of Mr. Young, which is quoted with appro- 
 bation in his fecond volume, page 167. "It is but an
 
 12 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 illiberal bufinefs for a traveller, who defigns to publifh 
 remarks upon a country, to fit down cooly in his clofet 
 and write a fatire on the inhabitants. Severity of that 
 fort muft be enlivened with an uncommon fhare of wit 
 and ridicule, to pleafe. Where very grofs abfurclities 
 are found, it is fair and manly to note them; but to enter 
 into character and difpofition is generally uncandid, fince 
 there are no people but might be better than they are 
 found, and none but have virtues which deferve atten- 
 tion, at leaft as much as their failings." It is to be la- 
 mented, that Mr. M. is incapable of imitating the can- 
 dour which he approves. Had he imbibed more of the 
 fpirit of Mr. Young, he would never have written his 
 .illiberal inveftives againft the inhabitants of Rhode 
 Ifland, Maryland, North Carolina, and the fouthem Hates 
 in general. 
 
 Next to depending upon trifling authorities, is the 
 fault of adopting the errours of writers, who are really 
 refpeftabie. A univerfal geographer ought to receive 
 nothing implicitly, efpecially ii it be incredible. It is 
 incredible that the peccary (hould " have its navel on 
 the back," as Mr. M. aflcrts (vol. I, p. 661) upon the 
 authority of Mr. Apthorp, who has given thepublick an 
 ingenious, and (as I have been informed by other gen- 
 tlemen, who have refided in the country] accurate def- 
 cription of the colony of Surrinam. Further inquiry 
 would have taught Mr. M. that more than two centuries 
 have elapfed, fince anaiomifls have evinced, that the 
 cavity on the back of the peccary is not its navel.* 
 
 Upon the authority of the Abbe Clavigero, Mr. M. 
 has placed lipns and tigers in Mexico (vol. I, p. 638.) 
 
 * See Buffon's Nat. Hift. of the Peccary, and Clavigcro's Hift. of 
 Mexico. Vol. I, p. 38.
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 13 
 
 But whether this be done with propriety, may be difpu- 
 ted. There are, I confefs, in Mexico and South Amer- 
 ica, animals which bear fome refemblance to the tiger ; 
 and a beaft without a mane, in Mexico, called themiztli, 
 which Clavigero will have to be a lion.* But other 
 natural hiftorians of reputation teach, that the genuine 
 lion and tiger are not to be found, except in the eaftern 
 continent ; and that it is confounding names and diftinc- 
 tions, to apply thefe denominations to any animals in 
 America. 
 
 The other objections which I have urged, will, I flat- 
 ter myfelt, be juftified, by pointing out fome particular 
 miftakes in the firft volume of the American Univerfal 
 Geography, iollowing the order of the pages. 
 
 I have commended the Introduction ; but there are a 
 few inaccuracies in it, probably the effetl of hafte, which, 
 as the work is defigned for fchools and colleges, ought 
 to be corrected. 
 
 P. 30. " The earth is fomething in the form of a flat 
 turnip." This will convey a falfe idea to the mind of a 
 learner. A turnip of the common form is very oblate. 
 But zjlat turnip, if the epithet have any meaning, muft 
 be more like a pancuke than the earth. 
 
 P. 31. " Were tfce earth a perfecl plane, the fun would 
 appear to be vertical in every part of it." Not unlefs 
 tills plane were turned dire&ly to the fun ; or, in other 
 words, unlefs it were perpendicular to a line drawn to 
 the fun's centre. In every other pofition of the plane, 
 the fun would appear vertical on no part of it. 
 
 P. 33. The ecliptick " makes an angle with the equator 
 of 23 30'." This is not confident with the Table, p. 20, 
 in which it is afferted, that the axis of the earth is in- 
 clined to us orbit 23 29'. 
 
 * Hirt. of Mexico. Vo!. T, p. 37.
 
 14 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 P. 49. Prop. ix. " All the inhabitants of the earth en- 
 joy the fun's light an equal length of time." This, I believe, 
 is not true. As the orbit of the earth is not a circle, 
 but an ellipfis, it is a longer time in revolving from the 
 vernal to the autumnal equinox, than from the autumnal 
 to the vernal. Confequently the northern hemifphere 
 enjoys more of the fun's light, than the fouthern ; and 
 the day at the fouth pole, is fhorter than that at the north. 
 
 P. ,56. Monfoons are very obfcurely accounted for. 
 
 P. 75. Mr. M. attempts to prove that the number of 
 inhabitants in America mufl be " confidtrably lefs than 
 fixty millions, feven hundred, and fifty thoufand." His 
 arguments, I doubt not, will appear conclufive to all his 
 readers. But yet, ftrange as it may be thought, they 
 do not convince himfelf. For in p. 82, he fays, " We 
 reckon the number of the Americans at about fixty mil- 
 lions." 
 
 When, and in what manner, was America peopled, 
 are queftioris, which have long agitated the minds of in- 
 quifitive men. Various hypothefes have been framed, 
 none of which are perfectly fatisfaclory. It is the bufi- 
 nefs of a geographer to ftate thofe which are the mofl 
 ingenious ; but it is imprudent to adopt any one in par- 
 ticular, left, when called upon, he fhould be unable to 
 defend it. Mr. M. rejecting the hypothefis of Dr. Rob- 
 ertfon, which, he fays, " for want of information, is in 
 feveral refpecls inaccurate and without foundation," em- 
 braces the opinion of the Abbe Clavigero. P. 77. 
 The Abbe thinks it probable, that America was peopled 
 foon after the flood, and by families difperfed by the con- 
 fufion of tongues. Some of them parted from the moil 
 eaftern parts of Afia ; others, from the north weft parts 
 of Europe ; but the anceftors of the nations of South
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 15 
 
 America, he conjectures, went thither from Africa ; 
 not by water, but over an ifthmus, which formerly con* 
 neftcd the two continents, and which has fince been funk 
 by a fucceffion of earthquakes. Thus does the Abbe 
 
 cut the knot, which others have in vain attempted to 
 untie. 
 
 It is not my intention to enter into a controverfy with 
 Mr. M. upon this queflion. But among many objec- 
 tions, which might be forcibly urged againft the hypoth- 
 efis, there is one which, I fuppofe, ought to have great 
 weight in his mind. He admits, that all the inhabitants 
 of the globe are defcended from one man. If this be a 
 truth, as I have no doubt that it is, the difference of com- 
 plexion among mankind muft proceed from difference 
 of climate, and from other phyfical caufes.* Thefe 
 caufes operate very flowly, requiring many centuries 
 probably, to produce any vifible effeft. Now Dr. Rob- 
 ertfon and many other authors maintain, and Mr. M. 
 has not denied it, that the Indians of America, except the 
 Efquimaux, are fimilar to each other in the colour of 
 their {kins. But Mr. M. himfelf allows, p. 71, that 
 " America has all the varieties of climate which the 
 earth affords." In the eaftern continent is found a great 
 variety of complexions, correfponding with remarkable 
 exa&nefs to the differences of climate, and other phyfi- 
 cal caufes, exifling in the feveral parts of it.t Is it not 
 then highly probable, that the weftern continent has 
 been recently peopled ? 
 
 * There is another hypothecs, that the varieties of complexion a- 
 monj mankind were fupernaturally produced foon after the flood. 
 But as this fuppofes a miraculous interpofition, where there feems to 
 be no neceffity for it, I take it for granted, that it is not adopted by 
 Mr. M. 
 
 f See Buffon's Nat. Hift. vol. I, 410. edit.
 
 l6 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 P. 85. Mr. M. in his character of the Mexicans, mix- 
 es together qualities, which, I believe, are not often 
 found aflbciated in the fame human being. " They are 
 patient of injuries" but " anxious to punifh crimes." 
 "Good faith is not fo much refpecled as it deferves to 
 be ;" but, at the fame time, " generofity and perfect 
 difmtereflednefs are linking traits in their character." 
 
 P. 99. Our Geographer gives an account of the new 
 difcoveries on the north weft coaft of America. But it 
 contains feveral errours. Among others which might 
 be mentioned, he fays " Nootka Sound is (ituated in north 
 latitude 40 30':" and that Captain Cook landed at a 
 place on the coaft of New Albion, " fnuated in north lat- 
 itude 74 33'." P. joi. 
 
 Mr. M. informs his readers in his fecond volume, 
 p. 422, that the emperor of China, a century ago, " lev- 
 elled the churches [of chriftiansj with the ground, and 
 prohibited the exercife of their religion; fince which 
 time chriftianity has made no progrefs in China." But 
 in his firft volume, p. 107, there is a very different ac- 
 count. He here fuggefts, that chriftianity has been re- 
 flored, and thatpublick worfliip is conduced with fplen- 
 dour, the Chinefe chriftians being permitted to burn 
 fandle wood in their churches. 
 
 P. 109. "This year (154849) king Henry VII. 
 granted a penfion for life to Sabaftian Cabot." Henry 
 VII. died forty years before this period. It fhould be 
 Edward VI. who began his reign 1547. 
 
 P. 124. Mr. M, is fond of the marvellous. Witnefs 
 his defcription of the cold of Greenland ; where he 
 fays, that " the ice and hoar froft reaches through the 
 chimney to the ftove's mouth, without being thawed by 
 the fire in the day time." But though fire has no heat
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. IJT 
 
 in Greenland, yet it feems fraoke is not entirely defti- 
 tute of it. For that has power to thaw fmall holes through 
 the arch of frofl, which is formed over the chimney. 
 
 P. 133. " Captain Chriftopher attempted further dif- 
 coveries [in the northern parts of America] in 1361." 
 That is, a hundred and thirty one years before the voyage 
 of Columbus. 
 
 Mr. M.'s defcription of Canada contains feveral mif- 
 takes. In his American Geography there is a fhort ac- 
 count, which is more correft. Had he not been in too 
 much hafte, he would not probably have deviated from 
 it in his prefent edition. 
 
 P. 135. " Upper and Lower Canada comprehend the 
 territory heretofore called Canada, or the Province of 
 Quebec." Canada is a vaft country, of which the old 
 province of Quebec, limited by acl: of parliament, is a 
 part only. 
 
 " Length, fix hundred miles ; breadth, five hundred 
 and fitly : fituated between 61 and 81, weft longitude 
 from London." The limits of Canada to the weft, are 
 not defined ; but it extends at Jeaft as far as the longi- 
 tude 96, from London. Its length is above fourteen 
 hundred miles ; but its breadth, in the wideft part, is 
 mort of five hundred miles. 
 
 " Bounded eaft, by part of the province of New Brunf- 
 wick." It is bounded fouth by New Brunfwick, as Mr. 
 M. himfelf fays in the next paragraph. Canada is bound- 
 ed eaft, by New Britain and the gulf of St. Lawrence. 
 
 " The river St. Lawrence, below Quebec, is of fuffi- 
 
 cient depth for (hips of war. It falls into the ocean at 
 
 Cape Rofieres by a mouth ninety miles broad." This 
 
 river is of fufficient depth for mips of war, many miles, 
 
 C
 
 l8 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 above Quebec. It falls into the gulf of St. Lawrence, 
 by a mouth above a hundred miles broad.* 
 
 P. 136. " Quebec is covered with a citadel, in which 
 the governour refides." The governour ot Quebec does 
 not refide in the citadel. 
 
 "The number of inhabitants is computed at about 
 fifteen thoufand." In the year 1784, according to the 
 American Geography, Quebec contained fix thoufand, 
 four hundred, and feventy two inhabitants. At prefent 
 the number is fomewhat more. 
 
 " The haven is about five fathoms deep." It is from 
 five to twenty five fathoms deep. 
 
 " The harbour is flanked by two baftions." The har- 
 bour of Quebec is not flanked by baftions. 
 
 P. 137. " The town called Trois Rivieres has its name 
 from three rivers which join their currents here, and tall 
 into the river St. Lawrence." There is not but one 
 river at Trois Rivieres. This river has three channels, 
 which are formed by two fmall iflands lying at its mouth. 
 " The fortifications [of Montreal] have been much 
 improved by the Englifh." The fortifications of Mont- 
 real are going to decay, and have never been repaired by 
 the Englilh. 
 
 Under the article, Government, Mr. M. omits the 
 moft diftinguiihing feature of the conftitution of the two 
 provinces ; which is, that tlve king may annex to heredi- 
 tary titles of honour, the right of being fummoned to 
 the legiflative council. 
 
 * In this and many of the following correftions of the Univerfal 
 Geography, I rely upon the Charts publifiisd by Des Earres, for the 
 ufc of the Royal Navy of Great Britain. The reputation of thefe 
 chart; is fo well eftablifhed, that it is unnecefliiry to urge any thing in 
 t'.ioir commendation.
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 19 
 
 P. 139. " Cape Breton lies between the latitudes 45 
 and 47, north; and between 59 and 60, weft longi- 
 tude from London. It is about a hundred miles in length, 
 and fifty in breadth." Cape Breton is fituated between 
 4,5 28' and 47 2 ', north latitude; and between 59 44' 
 and 61 29', weft longitude trom London. The length 
 is a hundred and nine miles ; and the breadth, eighty 
 four miles. In the narroweft part, it is about twenty 
 miles. 
 
 " Except in the hilly parts, the furface of the country 
 has but little folidity, being every where covered with a 
 light mofs and with water. The foil is unfit for agricul- 
 ture." I have feen a late account which fays, that there 
 is a great proportion of arable land on this ifland. 
 
 P. 140. " A great quantity of foft wood was found 
 there, fit for firing, andjbme that might be ufed for tim- 
 ber." Cape Breton abounds in timber. See 1. 36, and p. 
 141,1.5. 
 
 Mr. M.'s account of Cape Breton, is rather a defcrip- 
 tion ot what it was under the French, than what it is at 
 prefent. 
 
 P. 141. " Nova Scotia [including New Brunfwick.] 
 Length, four hundred miles ; breadth, three hundred ; 
 fituated between 43 30' and 49, north latitude ; and 
 between 60 and 67, eaft longitude from London." 
 Nova Scotia (including New Brunfwick) is in length, 
 three hundred and feventeen miles; and in breadth, two 
 hundred and fifty four ; and is fituated between 43 30' 
 and 48 4', north latitude; and between 61 and 67, 
 aft longitude from London. 
 
 " Bounded on the north, by the river St. Lawrence." 
 It is bounded on the north, by Lower Canada, from 
 which it is feparated in part, by the bay of Chaleurs, and 
 the river Refligouche, which Mr. M. calls Rifgonche.
 
 2O REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 P. 143. " St. John's river is navigable for veffels of 
 fifty tons, fixty miles." It is navigable for floops to 
 Frederick town, which is ninety miles. 
 
 " The bay ot Verte is feparated from the bay of Fun- 
 dy by a narrow ifthmus ot about eighteen miles wide." 
 This ifthmus is fifteen miles wide. 
 
 Gafpee bay is not in New Brunfwick, where Mr. M. 
 places it, but in Lower Canada. Several important bays 
 are omitted : among which are, Miramichi, in New 
 Brunfwick; and Frederick, George, Torbay, Charlotte, 
 Kiflg's, Barrington, Townfhend,* St. Mary, Annapolis 
 Royal, and the bafin of Mines, in Nova Scotia. 
 
 P. 144. " Halifax is faid to contain fifteen or fixteen 
 thoufand inhabitants." Halifax contains tour thoufand 
 inhabitants. 
 
 " Frederick town is the capital ot the province of 
 New Brunfwick." St. John's is the capital of New 
 Brunfwick. 
 
 " During a great part ot the year, the atmofphere is 
 clouded with thick fog, which renders it unhealthy for 
 the inhabitants." Thofe who have lived in Nova Sco- 
 tia, affirm, that the climate is remarkably healthful. 
 The climate of this country cannot differ much from 
 that of Cape Breton ; and ot the latter Mr. M. has fpok- 
 en in the following terms, p. 139. " The dampnefj of 
 the foil is exhaled in fogs, without rendering the air un- 
 wholefome." Can oppofite effects arife from the fame 
 caufe? Mr. M. has miftaken the origin of the fog, 
 which is not from the land, but the fea. 
 
 The American Geographer has given too unfavourable 
 a defci jpdon of the foil of this country. In New Brunf- 
 wick, there are extenfive trafts of excellent land. And 
 even in the peninfula of Nova Scotia, there are many
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 21 
 
 large and well cultivated farms. The inhabitants have 
 lately made great improvements in hufbandry, for the 
 encouragement of which an agricultural fociety has been 
 inftituted.* 
 
 P. 145. " The ifland of St. John's is about fixty miles 
 long." It is a hundred and three miles long, and from 
 ten to thirty five miles broad. 
 
 P. 146. "Newfoundland is fituated between 46 and 
 2 degrees of north latitude ; and between ,53 and ^o, 
 degrees, weft longitude : being five hundred and fifty 
 miles long; and two hundred, broad." Newfoundland 
 is fituated between 46 45' and 51 46', north latitude ; 
 and between 52 31' and 59 40', weft longitude from 
 the Obfervatory at Greenwich ; which according to 
 Mr. M.'s Table, at the end of his fecond volume, is 
 5' 3?"> ea ft rrorn St. Paul's, London. The length, 
 from north \veft to fouih eaft, is three hundred and eighty 
 one miles : the greateft breadth, two hundred and eighty 
 feven miles; and the breadth, in the narrowed part, about 
 forty miles. 
 
 Mr. M. omits the other iflands which are in the gulf 
 of St. Lawrence. The moft remarkable are Anticofti, 
 the Magdalen Ifles, and Ifle Percee. 
 
 Amicofti lies near the mouth of the river St. Law- 
 rence ; and is a hundred and twenty fix miles long, and 
 thirty two miles broad. It has no good harbours, and is 
 uninhabited. 
 
 The Magdalen Ifles are a firing of iflands, lying in 
 longitude 61 40', weft from the Obfervatory at Green- 
 wich, and extending from 47 13' 1047 42', north lat- 
 itude. They are inhabited by a few fifhermen. Thefe 
 
 * See the valuable pamphlet juft published by the Truftees of the 
 Mafiachufetts Agricultural Society, p. 35 45.
 
 22 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 iflands were formerly the haunts of fea cows ; which are 
 now nearly exterminated. Though Mr. M. enumerates 
 the fea cow among the animals of the United States ; 
 yet I have been informed by a gentleman, who is well 
 acquainted with its hiftory, that it is not found further 
 fouth than Louifbourg. 
 
 Ifle Percee, which lies about five leagues fouth of Cape 
 Gafpee, is very fmall ; but it deferves to be mentione d 
 as a curiofity. It is a perpendicular rock, and is pierced 
 with two natural arches, through which the fea flows. 
 One of thefe arches is fufficiently high, to admit a large 
 boat to pafs freely through it. 
 
 P. 148. In defcribing the part of the United States, 
 which is " to be difpofed of by order of Congrefs, when 
 purchafed of the Indians," Mr. M. is not very clear. Its 
 northern boundary, he fays, " extends from the river 
 St. Croix to the Lake of the Woods." Congrefs has 
 now no lands to difpofe of, eail of Lake Erie. He 
 fhould therefore fay, that the northern boundary of this 
 territory extends from the Lake of the Woods, to the 
 north weft corner ot Pennfylvania. 
 
 P. 151. " A fmall river, juft before it enters the lake, 
 [Superiour] has a perpendicular fall from the top of a 
 mountain, of more than a hundred feet." Carver dcf- 
 ciibes this fall as fix hundred feet high. 
 
 P. 154. " The falls of Niagara are a hundred and fifty 
 feet perpendicular." The height has frequently been 
 meafured, and found to be lefs than a hundred and fifty 
 feel. When exaft numbers have been afcertained, 
 round numbers ought not to be ufed. 
 
 P. 162. In his account of the bays of the United States, 
 the American Geographer is very far from being correft. 
 Many important bays are omitted, to make room for 

 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 23 
 
 " the gulf of St. Lawrence, Chedabukto and Chebukto 
 bays, in Nova Scotia, and the bay of Fundy ;" none of 
 which are within the limits of the United States. 
 
 " Long Ifland found is about one hundred and forty 
 miles long, extending the whole length of the ifland." 
 The Sound does not extend the whole length of Long Ifl- 
 and ; and is not much more than a hundred miles long. 
 P. 163. " The Chefapeek is one of the largeft bays 
 in the known world. It extends two hundred and fev- 
 enty miles to the northward, dividing Virginia and 
 Maryland." There are many bays in America and oth- 
 er parts of the world, larger than the Chefapeek ; which 
 does not extend two hundred miles to the northward. It 
 is noteafy to determine, what Mr. M. intends by "divid- 
 ing Virginia and Maryland." If his meaning be, that 
 the whole of Maryland is on one fide of the bay ; and 
 the whole of Virginia, on the other ; this is not true. If 
 his meaning be, that the Chefapeek divides them, as 
 Connecticut river divides Maflachufetts and Connecti- 
 cut, by running through them ; he has exprefled himielf 
 with great obfcurity. 
 
 P. 233. Under the head of Commerce, Mr. M. has 
 very properly introduced the Abftraftot goods exported 
 from the United States, from the ift of Oftober, 1790,10 
 the 3oth of September, 1791. The amount is, feventeen 
 millions, five hundred and feventy one thoufand, five 
 hundred and fifty one dollars, and forty five cents. The 
 reader would be enabled to form a more complete idea 
 of the commerce of the United States, if the amount of 
 exports for the year preceding, had alfo been inferted. 
 It appears from an Abftraclof Exports, publifhed in Mr. 
 Fenno's Gazette, that, from the commencement of the 
 cuflom houfes in the feveral ftates, which was at differ-
 
 24 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 ent times in Auguft, 1789, to the 3oth of September, 
 1790, there were exported goods and merchandize, 
 amounting to the value of twenty millions, four hundred 
 and fifteen thoufand, nine hundred and fixty fix dollars, 
 and eighty four cents.* 
 
 P. 243. Mr. M. affigns as the principal caufe of the 
 increafing manufactures of the United States, " the pre- 
 vailing difpofmon among the European naiions, and par- 
 ticularly Great Britain, to reftrit and embarrafs their 
 external trade." This may be one caufe; but there are 
 feveral others, which are more operative. 
 
 P. 253. The degeneracy of the congregational church- 
 es from that order, fellowfhip, and harmony, in difci- 
 pline, doclrines, and friendly advice and affiftance in ec- 
 clefiaitical matters, which formerly fubfifted among them, 
 is matter of deep regret to many, not to fay moft people 
 of that denomination." That the congregational church- 
 es of- New England have degenerated from that harmo- 
 ny, which formerly fubfifted among them, if by harmo- 
 ny be meant fraternal affection, is not true. At no peri- 
 od has chrifti.an charity prevailed, more than at prefent. 
 Both minifters and people cheerfully mix with each oth- 
 er in fociety, regardlefs of difference oi fentiment. That 
 the congregational churches do not agree in doElnnes, 
 as much at prefent, as before the age of Edwards and 
 Mayhew, mult be allowed. This may be a matter of 
 deep regret to Mr. M. But I have the pleafure of be- 
 ing acquainted with many congregational minifters, who, 
 viewing it as the unavoidable effect of the fpirit of free 
 inquiry and zeal for truth, prevailing in New England, 
 
 * The exports for'the year, ending/he laft day of September, 1792, 
 amounted to the value of twenty millionf, five hundred and eighteen 
 thoufand, and fourteen dollars. See Columbian Centinel, No. 975.
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 25 
 
 rather rejoice than repine at it. But, if it be an evil, it 
 cannot be remedied except by that Being, who only has 
 power to harmonize the difcordant fentiments of man- 
 kind. A confociation of churches, which Mr. M. feems 
 to defire ; an examination of candidates for the miniftry, 
 as to their opinions ; a fubfa iption to articles of faith ; 
 and the other methods ufually praftifed by religious ef- 
 tablimments; would not, in the prefent ftate of manners 
 in New England, and under the free conflitutions of 
 government which the people happily enjoy, be follow- 
 ed by the effe&s which Mr. M. wifhes. So far from 
 producing a harmony in difcipline and, doftrine, thefe 
 caufes would fplit the congregational church into a num- 
 ber of diflinft fefts, and would deftroy that harmony of 
 affechon, which is its peculiar honour. 
 
 P. 261. Mr. M. gives the number of the Wefleian 
 methodifts in the United States ; but he has made a mif- 
 take in his arithmetick, which is a common fault with 
 him. 
 
 P. 265268. A very exceptionable part of Mr. M.'s 
 work, is his account of that clafs of univerfallifts, who 
 are the followers of Mr. Murray. The American Ge- 
 ographer here throws afide all appearances of candour. 
 Inftead of an impartial reprefentation of the fentiments 
 of this feft, he adopts the ftyle of controverfy. His at- 
 tack is ungenerous ; becaufe, according to his own af- 
 fertion, thefe univerfallifts are a very fmall body. It is 
 ungenerous; as they have not the power of defending 
 themfelves upon equal ground. Mr. M.'s Geography- 
 will probably circulate through every part of the United 
 States. It will be read in families, and taught in fchools 
 and colleges. The youth of America will be inftrucled 
 D
 
 26 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 by him, to look upon the univerfdllifts with contempt and 
 abhorrence. Whilft any defence which they may make 
 of themfelves, can be communicated by no other medi- 
 um, than newfpapers or other fugitive publications, 
 which, as foon as they are read, are thrown afide and for- 
 gotten. 
 
 Mr. M. afferts, that thefe univerfdllifts ' differ not on- 
 ly from ail other univerfallifts, and from each other, but 
 even trom themfelves at different times." He affirms, 
 that " their notions refpecling the ordinances are vague 
 and unfettled." He charges them with contradiction, 
 and want of grammatical propriety. And he fneers at 
 them, when they " profefs themfelves to be the advocates 
 of piety, religion, and morality." Though it may be 
 thought prefumption in me, to vindicate a feel, which the 
 American Geographer has condemned ; yet I will ven- 
 ture to fay, that his reprefentation is unfair and errone- 
 ous. Enjoying the happinefs of a large acquaintance 
 with this clafs of univerfallifts, having frequently heard 
 their preachers, and read many of their printed books 
 and letters in manufcript,* I will take the liberty to 
 give it as my opinion, that they are as uniform in their 
 religious creed, as moil other feels of chriftians. Their 
 fentiments and conducl refpecling the ordinances, ap. 
 pear to me to difcover a liberality, in what they fup- 
 pofe to be mere fiiadows, or things indifferent : and Mr. 
 M. himfelf ought to allow, that charity is better than 
 ordinances. In purity of morals, I do not perceive that 
 they are inferiour to other chriftians. Though they de- 
 
 * In the year 1777, I was favoured with the perufal of a long let- 
 ter, written by the head of this denomination, and expreiling fenti- 
 ments perfedtly confident with thofe contained in his Letter to a 
 Friend, printed, in the year 1791.
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 2/ 
 
 ny the do&rine of everlafting mifery, yet they have oth- 
 er motives to influence them to virtue. They inculcate 
 the neceffity of obeying the commands of God their fav- 
 iour. They reject with indignation, the licentious con- 
 fequences, which their enemies deduce from their prin- 
 ciples. 
 
 Mr. M. attacks with more caution the Chauncean 
 univerfallifts. But, by comparing one part of his book 
 with another, it is plain enough to be feen, that he would 
 cenfure them with as much harffinefs, as the other clafs 
 of univerfallifts, if he did not think them more formida- 
 ble for their number and abilities. He quotes with 
 much art the words of Mr. Murray, who calls them 
 " pharifaical univerfdllifts, who are willing to juftify them- 
 felves." In p. 264, he fays, " The open advocates of 
 this fcheme are few." But in p. 2,53, he affirms, " That 
 a number [of congregationallifts] have adoptedDr. Chaun- 
 cy's fcheme." Unlefs therefore, a few, and a number, 
 mean the fame thing, it muft be Mr. M.'s intention to 
 infinuate, that the difciples of Dr. Chauncy are diihoneft 
 men, who do not openly advocate, what they fecretiy be- 
 lieve. 
 
 In the Hiftory of the United States, M.-. M. has made 
 one or two miftakes. P. 277, he affirms, that about 
 feventeen perfons, in Boflon, deftroyed the Eaft India 
 Company's tea. Many perfons, well acquainted with 
 that tranfaftion, are ftill living. From them he might 
 have learned, that a much greater number were engaged. 
 
 P. 291. " Major Andre, aid to General Clinton." 
 Major Andre was adjutant general of the Britifli army.* 
 
 P. 29^. "The peace was negotiated on the part of 
 Great Britain by David Hartley." The peace was ne- 
 
 * Gordon's Hift. of Amer. Rev. vol. Ill, p. 481.
 
 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 gotiated by Mr. Ofwald.* The definitive treaty wa 
 fjgned by Mr. Hartley.t 
 
 P. 296'. " Enemies to the revolution multiply the 
 apprehenfions of people, and increafe the popular difcon- 
 tents." What right has Mr. M. to fay, that thefe per- 
 fons were enemies to the revolution ? Did they acknowl- 
 edge that they were ? On the contrary, however unjuf- 
 tifiable their conduft, did they not always profefs, that 
 they were friends to the liberty and independence of the 
 United States ? 
 
 An interefting article, which Mr. M. omits, is the 
 prefent (late of learning, and an account of the mod dif- 
 tinguiflied authors now flourifhing in the United States. 
 There are, it is_true, a few hints, fcattered aboytin differ- 
 ent parts of his work ; but he has not treated the fubje& 
 profeffedly. Though our country is {till in its infancy, 
 yet we car; already boaft of many good writers. What 
 an American geographer would have moft toguard againft, 
 is exaggerated applaufe. We cannot pretend to vie with 
 the Englifh, French, and fome other nations of Europe. 
 But our countrymen have afforded fufficient proofs, that 
 they are not deflitute of genius. 
 
 P. 310. "New England lies between 41 and 46 de- 
 grees, north latitude." According to Mr. M.'s own 
 maps, New England extends as far north as the latitude 
 48. The truth is, that its northern limits are not pie- 
 cifely known ; but they are probably not further north 
 than the latitude 47. 
 
 New England " curves to the eaftward, almoft to the 
 gulf ot St. Lawrence." It does not approach within a 
 hundred miles of the gulf of St. Lawrence. 
 
 * Ramfay's Hift. of Am. Rev. vol. II, p. 306. Gordon, vo!. 
 IV, p. 33Z 360. 
 f Gordon, vol. IV, p. 392.
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 29 
 
 P. 316. "The expreffion ot a wifh to be promoted 
 ["to an office of publick truft] is, in fome parts of New 
 England, the direft way to be difappointed." In New 
 England, it is accounted indecorous in thofe who afpire 
 alter publick offices, to propofe themfelves as candidates. 
 The general practice is to folicit them through the medi- 
 um of their friends ; and this is the moft ufual way of 
 obtaining them. 
 
 P. 322. " Vermont. Length, a hundred and fifty 
 miles; breadth, feventy : fuuated beetween 1 35' and 
 3 30', eaft longitude from Philadelphia." According 
 toBlodget's map, Vermont is fnuated between 1 44' and 
 ^0 nr^ eaft longitude from Philadelphia. The meridian 
 length is a hundred and fifty feven miles and a half; the 
 length ot the north line, feventy feven miles; and of the 
 fouth line, thirty eight miles. Prefident Langdon's map 
 makes the length of the fouth line, thirty fix miles. 
 
 P. 329. " New Hampfliire. Breadth, fixty miles." 
 The breadth of New Hampfhire, according to Mr. M.'s 
 plan, ought to be fifty fix miles, the quotient of the fquare 
 miles divided by the length. Dr. Belknap fays that the 
 greateft breadth of New Hampfliire is ninety miles'; and 
 that its breadth, on the 4Jth degree of latitude, is nine- 
 
 teen miles. 
 
 " Situated between 4 30' and 6 17', eaft longitude" 
 [from Philadelphia.] That is, the longitude of Phila- 
 delphia from the Obfervatory at Greenwich, is 76 57' or 
 ^8' ; for we are informed by Dr. Belknap, whofe author- 
 iiy in whatever relates to New Hampfhire muft be 
 viewed as decifive, that this ftate lies between 70 40' 
 and 72 28', weft from that meridian. It is impoffible 
 from the Univerfal Geography, to determine the longi- 
 iude of Philadelphia. In p. 139, Mr. M. fuggefts, that
 
 O REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 it is fituated 74, weft from London. In p. 484, he 
 makes the difference of longitude between thefe two me- 
 ridians, 75. But in the Table, at the end of his fecond 
 volume, he raifes it to 75 9'. The longitude of Phila- 
 delphia is 7,5 3' 8", weft from London, or 75 8' 45", 
 from the Obfervatory at Greenwich. Confequently 
 New Hampfhire is fituated between 2 41' and 4 29', 
 call longitude from Philadelphia. 
 
 P- 33- " Moofe hillock mountain." The name of 
 this mountain in Dr. Belknap's Hiftory, is Moofhelock. 
 
 P. 336. " A few miles from the entrance [of the 
 Winipifeogee branch of Merritnack river] into the 
 Pemigewaffet, is a place called the Wares, remarkable 
 for the number of falmon andfhad which are here caught." 
 Salmon do not pafs up Winipifeogee river. 
 
 P. 343. In the Table, at the end of his fecond vol- 
 ume, Mr. M. makes the longitude of Portfmouth7O 43', 
 weft from London. According to Dr. Belknap, it is 
 70 41', weft from the Obfervatory at Greenwich. 
 
 P. 345. " DiftricT; of Maine. Length, a hundred 
 and feventy miles : fituated between 4 and 9, eafi lon- 
 gitude ; and between 43 and 48, north latitude." The 
 American Geographer has forgotten, that he laid, p. 310, 
 that New England, of which Maine is the moft northern 
 part, extends no further than the latitude 46. The 
 fouth point of this diftrift is in the latitude 43 4'. A 
 part of the weftern line lies in the longitude 4^ n', eaft 
 from Philadelphia. The extent to the northward is 
 unknown. The eaftern limits are difputed. The fea 
 coaft, according to Mr. M. p, 347, is two hundred and 
 forty miles in extent. This I fuppofe to be near the 
 truth. The length of Maine therefore muft be at leaft
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. QI 
 
 two hundred and forty miles. According to Mr. M.'s 
 own map, it is about three hundred miles. 
 
 P. 346. " Portland ; latitude 43 43'." The lati- 
 tude of Portland is 43 39' i. 
 
 P- 347- " From the head of the tide, to the head of 
 the bay, to the fiteof old Fort Pownal, the river [Peiiob- 
 fcot] is remarkably ftraight. Faffing by Majabagadufe, 
 on the eaft, feven miles, and Owls head, twenty miles 
 further, on the weft, you enter the ocean." This is not 
 accurate. Penobfcot river, in the bed maps, does not 
 appear remarkably ftraight; and Owls head is above 
 twenty miles from Majabagadufe. 
 
 P. 348. " Nonefuch river receives its name from its 
 extraordinary irefhets." Nonefuch river, which is 
 nothing but a fmall creek, does not receive its name from 
 extraordinary freJJiets. 
 
 Mr. M. omits many important bays and rivers. 
 P. 349. " In the counties of York and Cumberland, 
 fruit is as plenty as in New Hampfhire." Fruit is not 
 plenty in thefe two counties. Cider is made by very 
 few, except in the townfhips near Portfmouth. In Cum- 
 berland, there are no orchards worth mentioning, except 
 in Faimouth, North Yarmouth, Gorham, and Scarbo- 
 rough. 
 
 P- 35- "Town fchools are very generally main- 
 tained in mofl of the towns that are able to defray the 
 expenfe." This is a great miftake. The neglect of the 
 inhabitants in providing fchool matters for their children, 
 is notorious. 
 
 " The inhabitants [of Portland] are largely concerned 
 in the fifhery." They have not more than two fchoon- 
 ers employed in this bufinefs. Fifh, it is true, are ex- 
 ported from Portland ; but they are purchafed in Bofton,
 
 32 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 and of the fhore fifliermen along the coaft ; principally 
 in the former place. 
 
 P. 351. " Hallowell is fituated in latitude 44 40'." 
 Hallowell is at leaft 23' fouth of this latitude. 
 
 It appears from Fleet's Regifter for 1793, which is 
 acknowledged to be a very authentick work, that there 
 are a hundred and fifty townfhips and plantations in the 
 diftricl of Maine; but not more than fifty five fettled 
 minifters : of whom thirty nine are congregationalifts ; 
 fourteen, baptifts; one, a prefbyterian ; and one, an 
 epifcopalian. In addition to thefe, there is a Roman 
 catholick miffionary at Paffamaquaddy. 
 
 " The remains of the Penobfcot tribe confift of about 
 a hundred families. The tribe is increafing, in confe- 
 quence of an obligation laid, by the fachems, on the 
 young people, to marry early." The Penobfcot tribe, at 
 prefent, confifts of lefs than three hundred perfoqs. It is 
 true that the young people marry early ; but notwith- 
 ftanding this, their numbers are decreafing.* 
 
 P, 353. " Maffachufetts. Length, a hundred and 
 twenty five miles ; breadth, fifty: fituated between i y 
 30' and ,5 40', eaft longitude; and between 41 30' 
 and 43, north latitude : contains fix thoufand, two 
 hundred, and fifty fquare miles." The fouth part of 
 the county of Barnftable is in the latitude of 41 30'. 
 But it the ifland of Nantucket be included, Maffachu- 
 fetts is fituated between 41 13' and 42 52', north lati- 
 
 * I am inJibted for this correction to a Topographical and Hiftor- 
 ical Account of the diftricl of Maine, written by the Attorney Gen- 
 eral of Maflachufetts. Having been indulged with a perufal of the 
 author's manufcript, it would be eafy to point out feveral other mif- 
 i,i Mi-. M.'s defcription of Maine : but as the work will be fyon 
 {Hiblilhed, it isunnecefcry.
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 tucle; and between 1 21' and 5 n', eaft longitude 
 from Philadelphia. The length of a line, drawn from the 
 north weft corner of the ftate, to Plumb Ifland, is a hun- 
 dred and twenty miles ; and from the fouth weft corner 
 of the ftate, to Marfhfield Point, a hundred and fifty 
 eight miles. If the latter be extended to the high land 
 of Truro, the length of Mafldchufetts will be a hun- 
 dred and eighty nine miles. The breadth of the ftate, 
 in the county of Berkfliire, is torty eight miles and a 
 half ; the breadth, in the wideft part, ninety miles. As 
 there has never been a complete furvey of the ftate, it is 
 impoffible to determine with exaclnefs, the number o 
 fquare miles. But from the beft materials which I have 
 been able to procure, I eftimate them in round numbers, 
 at nine thoufand. If this eftimate be juft, the population 
 for every fquare mile is forty two, and not fixty, as Mr. 
 M. fuppofes. 
 
 P. 354. Mr. M. is not accurate in defcribing the 
 courfe of Charles river. Sherbume and Natick are fit- 
 uated north weft ot it ; and Dover, fouth eaft. It does 
 not run " through Newton," but divides that townfhig, 
 from Needham, Wefton, and Waltham. 
 
 ^' 355- He omits feveral fmall rivers, which empty 
 themfelves into Buzzard's bay, and which are of as much 
 importance as Parker's or Neponfet river. 
 
 " The only capes ot note are Cape Ann and Cape 
 Cod." There are other capes well known to feamen : 
 viz. Cape Malabar, or Sandy Point, which extends ten 
 miles fouth from Chatham, toward Nantucket ; Cape 
 Poge, the north eaft point of Chappaquiddick ; and 
 Gay Head, the weft point of Martha's Vineyard. 
 
 The topographical defcription of the county of Barn- 
 
 ftable, publifhed in the third volume ot the Maflachufetts 
 E.
 
 34 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 Magazine, does great credit to its author, as well for its 
 accuracy in general, as for the elegant and fprightly man- 
 ner in which it is written. With part of this Mr. M. 
 has enriched his Geography : but, with his ufual hafte, 
 he has not thought proper to inquire, whether alterations 
 have not taken place fmce the year 1791 ; or whether 
 the defcription be in any part erroneous. 
 
 The county of Barnftable is a long and narrow penin- 
 fula, the whole ot which is commonly called Cape Cod, 
 though that name ought to be confined to the northern 
 point. The length of this peninfula is fixty three miles.* 
 The number of fquare miles is tour hundred ; and of in- 
 habitants, who have increafed fmce the year 1790, 
 about eighteen thoufand. The foil is in general fandy ; 
 and there are few ftones below Harwich. The eaflern 
 fhore is gradually wafting ; and the weflern more, gain- 
 ing upon the bay, at leaft in fome places. Cape Cod 
 harbour is capacious, and fafe, except a ftrong wind blows 
 from the fouth eaft, when veffels are expofed to drag their 
 anchors, the bottom being fandy. Povince town con- 
 tains a hundred and ten families, who employ twenty 
 eight fail of vefTels in the cod fifhery. Not more than 
 two of the houfes are fet upon piles : the reft have cel- 
 lars. The diftance from the village to Wood End is 
 two miles. The reader, by comparing thefe particulars 
 with Mr. M.'s defcription, p. 3,5,5 358, will perceive 
 in what refpefts he is fuppofed to be erroneous. 
 
 P. 3^8. There are other bays on the coaft of Muffa- 
 chufetts, befide thofe which Mr. M. has enumerated. 
 
 * See Collections of the MafTachufetts Hiftorical Society, vol. Ill, 
 p. 12. Mr. Mellen makes the length, as the road runs, fixty five 
 miles: but as meafured upon the charts ofDes Barres, from Buz- 
 zard's bay, through the middle of the land, the length is not more 
 tha fixty three miles.
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 35 
 
 " Nantucket fends one reprefentative to the general 
 affembly." A foreigner, in reading this, and what is 
 faid of Duke's County, p. 359, line 21, would fuppofe, 
 that the towns of Maflachufetts are, by law, unalterably 
 reftrifted in the number of their reprefentatives, without 
 regard to their population. The truth is, that " reprefen- 
 tatives are chofen by the feveral towns, according to 
 their numbers of rateable polls." P. 379. The inhab- 
 itants of Nantucket have at prefent a right to elel five 
 reprefentatives ; and they have frequently chofen more 
 than one. 
 
 Mr. M. feems not to know when Nantucket was fet- 
 tled. But if he would inquire of fome of the intelligent 
 inhabitants of the ifland, they could inform him, that 
 Nantucket was granted to Thomas Mayhew, by the earl 
 of Stirling, in the year 1641 ; and that the fettlementby 
 theEnglifh commenced in the year 1659. Many inter- 
 efling particulars refpefling Nantucket might be obtain- 
 ed, by taking fome pains. 
 
 P' 359- " Martha's Vineyard is about twenty one 
 miles in length." Martha's Vineyard, exclufive of the 
 iiland of Chappaquiddick, is nineteen miles in length. 
 
 " This and the neighbouring ifland conftitute Duke's 
 County, containing three thoufand, two hundred, and 
 fixty five inhabitants, between four and five hundred of 
 whom are Indians and mulattoes." Martha's Vineyard, 
 and the neighbouring ifland of Chappaquiddick, togeth- 
 er with Nomanfland, and the Elizabeth Iflands, confti- 
 tute Duke's County, containing between three and four 
 thoufand inhabitants, befide about four hundred and for- 
 ty Indians arid mulattoes. The Elizabeth Iflands, which 
 Mr. M. does not think of fufficient importance to be 
 mentioned, contain about fixteen thoufand, five hundred 
 acres. The foil in general is fertile, whilft that of Mar-
 
 g6 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 tha's Vineyard is fandy, gravelly, and for the moft part 
 barren. There is fome good land in it, as Mr. M. fug- 
 gefts ; but about two thirds of the ifland are fluub oak 
 plain. 
 
 " Chabaquidick is three miles long." Chappaquid- 
 dick, from Cape Poge to Wafque Point, is fix miles long. 
 
 " The other iflands of confideration are in Maffachu- 
 fetts bay." Maffachufeus bay is here confounded with 
 the harbour of Bofton. See p. 373, line 30. 
 
 A very imperfect idea is given of the foil and produc- 
 tions of MafTachufetts. To fay, that " all the varieties 
 of foil, from very good to very bad, are to be found," 
 without fpecifying, at lead in general terms, the propor- 
 tion of each, and defcribing more particularly the foil in 
 different parts of the ftate, is not fatisfafclory to a reader 
 of curiofity. 
 
 P. 360. " The ftaple commodities of this ftate are 
 fiih, beef, and lumber." Are no other articles which 
 are exported from MaiTachufetts, (laple commodities ? 
 
 P. 363. " In this flate are twelve paper mills." There 
 is a paper mill in Springfield, and perhaps others, which 
 Mr. M. has omit led. 
 
 P. 366. " Lynn beach may be reckoned a curiofity." 
 By none, except thofe who never faw any other "fmooth 
 and hard" beach on the fea coafl. A fbore of this na- 
 ture is too common in New England, to be confidered 
 as a curiofity. 
 
 P. 367. " Yellow and red ochre have been difcover- 
 ed at Martha's Vineyard." I add, and in other places. 
 
 " The American Academy has a committee, by the 
 name of the Agricultural Committee." This was once 
 true; but Mr. M.himfeif informs us, p. 369, that thi? 
 " committee is diffolved."
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 37 
 
 P. 368. In addition to the huts which Mr. M. enu- 
 merates, the Humane Society have creeled one at Stout's 
 Creek, near Cape Cod. 
 
 P. 369. Several focieties in Maflachufetts are omit- 
 ted. 
 
 P. 371, 372. Mr. M. has given an imperfefl and 
 confufed account of Harvard Univerfity. 
 
 " Effex bank, at Salem, was incorporated 1/92." Ef- 
 fex hank is not incorporated. 
 
 "Bofton lies in latitude 42 23', north." This is 
 near the truth ; but it does not correfpond with the lati- 
 tude afligned to Bofton in p. 41, which is there 42 25'. 
 The American Geographer has given three different lon- 
 gitudes to Bofton, none of which are right : p. 41, " 70^ 
 37', weft longitude from Greenwich ;" p. 39, " 70 25', 
 weft from London ;" vol. II, p. 522, " 71 4', weft" 
 from the fame meridian. 
 
 P. 373. " The buildings in the town cover about a 
 thoufand acres. It contains nearly two thoufand dwel- 
 ling houfes, and about twenty thoufand inhabitants." 
 The peninfula of Bofton does not contain more than fev- 
 en hundred acres ; and large fpots ot land are not cover- 
 ed with buildings. In the year 1790, there were two 
 thoufand, three hundred, and feventy fix houfes, and 
 eighteen thoufand and thirty eight inhabitants. Since 
 that time new houfes have been built, and the number ot 
 inhabitants has increafed. 
 
 " The harbour of Bofton is diverfified with forty Jfl- 
 ands, which afford rich pafturing, hay, and grain." Un- 
 lefs every rock and funken ifland be included, there are 
 not forty iflands in the harbour. Of thefe iflands, not 
 more than fifteen are ot much importance for their fize 
 or productions. The greateft number are fmall and of 
 little value.
 
 38 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 " Bo/Ion was fettled as early as the year 1631." Bof- 
 ton was fettled in 1630. 
 
 P. 376. Charleftown, according to the Table at the 
 end at the fecond volume, lies 32', eait from the meridi- 
 an of Bofton. Thefe two towns are under the fame me- 
 ridian. 
 
 P. 377. " Plymouth contains about three hundred 
 houfes." In the townmip of Plymouth, a tracl fifteen 
 raiies long, and five, broad, there are about three hundred 
 houfes. But the town confifts of lefs than two hundred. 
 What moft readers of the Univerfal Geography will un- 
 derftdnd by a town, is a collection of houfes. Some ot 
 Mr. M.'s New England towns hardly deferve the name 
 of villages. 
 
 " Courts are held in Hadley and Decrfield." They 
 are not held in thefe two places. 
 
 " Lenox [is one of] the principal towns in Berkfhire 
 county." Lenox is the (hire town of the county of 
 Berklhire ; but in wealth, it ranks the tenth townfhip, and 
 in population, the fourteenth. There is in it no collec- 
 tion of houfes, which is entitled to a more important 
 name than that ot a hamlet. 
 
 P. 378. The ftatement of the number of the feveral 
 religious denominations in MaflachuTetts is very errone- 
 ous, as well as inconfiflent with other parts of the Uni- 
 verfal Geography. " We reckon the number of inhab- 
 itants in the ftate at three hundred, and fifty eight thou- 
 iand, fevcn hundred, and ninety eight." Mr. M. knows 
 very well, that in the year 1790, there were, in Mafia, 
 chufetts and Maine, four hundred and feventy fivethou- 
 fand, three hundred, and twenty feven inhabitants. But 
 he has adopted his flatemcnt from a former edition ; and 
 is in too much hafle, to make it agree with the cenfus.
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 39 
 
 " Congregationaliits, four hundred congregations ; bap- 
 lifts, eighty four; prefbyterians, four ; univerfJifh, two." 
 In p. 252, he fays, that there are tour hundred i*id lortv 
 congregational focieties. In p. 257, he dates the biptifts 
 at. a hundred and feven churches. According to Fleet's 
 Regifter, there are five prefbyterian churches, and cq e 
 fociety of methodifts. Mr. M. is difpofed to Icffen tlu 
 number of the univerfalifts ; but they have at leaft fou; 
 congregations in MafTachufetts. He fuppofes " that each 
 religious fociety, of every denomination, is compofed of 
 an equal number of fouls :" and he fays, that his "ap- 
 portionment of the different fefts is perhaps as accurate, 
 as the nature of the fubjeft wi',1 allow." It is not as ac- 
 curate as he himfelf might have made it, with very little 
 pains. The epifcopalians are few, and their focieties, 
 except one in Bofton, bear no proportion to thofe of the 
 congregationaliils. The focieties of the baptifls, with 
 fome exceptions, are alfo fmall. If Mr. Afplund'3 fup. 
 pofuion (p. 257) be juft, the number ot this denomina- 
 tion is not more than twenty one thoufand, three hun- 
 dred, and forty eight. Making the moil liberal deduc- 
 tions for the other denominations, the number of con- 
 gregationalifts, in Maflachufetts and Maine, may be efti- 
 mated at four hundred and thirty four thoufand. Mr. 
 M. ftates it at two hu ndred and feventy feven thoufand, 
 fix hundred. 
 
 P. 379. " Taxes are levied on all males between 
 
 fixteen and fifty, except fuch as are exempted by law." 
 Poll taxes are levied on all males who are upwards of 
 fixteen, except fuch as are exempted by law, or who are 
 excufed by poverty, age, or infirmity. 
 
 " They [the general court] meet annually on the laft 
 Tuefday in May." This miftake is repeated from foimer 
 editions.
 
 4<D REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 P. 381. " Rhode Ifland, and Providence Plantations. 
 Length, fhty eight miles; breadth, forty miles : fituated 
 between 3 and 4, eaft longitude ; and between 41 
 and ^, north latitude." Rhode Ifland is fituated be- 
 tween 3 11' and 4 i', eaft longitude ; and between 41? 
 2^' and 42 2', north latitude. The fouth part of 
 Block Ifland is in the latitude of 41 8'. The length is 
 brty fix miles. The breadth, in the wideft part, is 
 thirty eight miles ; and in that part o the ftate which 
 /lies weft of Narraganfet bay, twenty three miles. The 
 / number of fquare miles is about thirteen hundred ; and 
 the population for every fquare mile, fifty three . 
 
 . 382. The ifland of " Rhode Ifland is thirteen 
 miles in length." From Common fence Point, to 
 Brenton's Point, in a flraight line, the diftance is fixteen 
 miles. The length of the ifland, on a meridian, is four- 
 teen miles and a half. 
 
 " Canonnicut Ifland is fix miles in length." Canon- 
 nicut Ifland is above eight miles in length. 
 
 " Prudence Ifland is nearly or quite as large as Ca- 
 nonnicut." Prudence IfiUnd, which is fix miles long, in a 
 flraight line, and near eight, following its curves, is about 
 one half the fize of Canonnicut. 
 
 P. 383. Mr. M. does not appear to be pleafed with 
 the ftate of rdigion in Rhode Ifland. The unlimited 
 toleration, which has always exifted in this ftate, has pro- 
 duced a variety of fels ; and this our Geographer con- 
 fiders as a very ferious evil. But this is not the worft 
 effecl. For " there is a confiderable number of the peo- 
 ple, who can be reduced to no particular denomination ;" 
 or, as Mr. M. exprefles it in a former edition, who " are, 
 as to religion, ftriclly nothingarians." And, " in many 
 towns, publick v/or[hip js too much neglecled by the
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 41 
 
 greater part of the inhabitants." Mr. M. ufes words in 
 fo loofe a fenfe, that it is not eafy to fay, what he means 
 by con/iderable number, many towns, and greater part. 
 Perhaps therefore, he will not charge me with contra- 
 di&ing him, when I aflert, upon the authority of: Tome 
 refpeftable gentlemen of Rhode Ifland, that there are a 
 few only of the people of this ftate, who do not clafs 
 themfelves with fome religious fe6l ; and that in few ot 
 the towns, publick worfhip is neglected by the greater 
 part of the inhabitants. In this negleft Rhode Ifland is 
 not peculiar ; for there are fome towns in Maffachufetts 
 (to fay nothing of other ftates) in which a majority of the 
 people do not attend publick worfhip. 
 
 This reproach againft Rhode Ifland is not new. For 
 the friends of religious eftablifhments have always view- 
 ed the people of this ftate with an evil eye ; and have 
 readily given credit to every flanderous report, which 
 has been raifed againft them. The'canduland excellent 
 Mr. Callender, above fifty years ago, obferved, that the 
 inhabitants of Rhode Ifland were " reprefented as living 
 without a publick worihip, and as ungofpelized planta- 
 tions." But he then aflerted, and it muft ilill be acknowl- 
 edged, ihat " notwithftanding the liberty and indulgence 
 allowed, the form of godlinefs was every where maintain- 
 ed."* It is true, that the " people pay no taxes for the 
 fupport of ecclefiafticks of any denomination :" but there 
 is no townfhip in the ftate, which has not one or more 
 religious focieties. The faft is, that the religious focie- 
 ties are numerous, in proportion to the population ; 
 there heing above eighty of various denominations. 
 Of thefe.not more than eighteen are deftitute of minifters, 
 There are, in proportion, as many vacant churches in 
 Maflachufetts. 
 
 * Century Sermon, p. 68. 
 
 F
 
 4-2 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 " A peculiarity which diftinguifhes this ftate from 
 every other proteftant country in the known world is, 
 that no co-ntraft formed by the miniller with his people, 
 for his falary, is valid in law. So that minifters are de- 
 pendent wholly on the integrity of the people for their 
 fupport, fmce their falaries are not recoverable by law." 
 It is not my intention to vindicate this regulation ; but 
 I would, on this occafion, adopt the words of Mr. Cal- 
 lender :* "That man, who will go about to juftify, or 
 condemn, a party, in the grofs, and without diftinftion, 
 fhall never be approved or imitated by me." It appears 
 to me, that the zeal of the inhabitants of Rhode Ifland 
 againft religious eftablifhrnents, honourable as it is to 
 them in general, has, in fome inftances, hurried them 
 into the oppofite extreme. Mr. M. however, in my 
 opinion, has exprefled himfelf with too much warmth. 
 For though the law is wrong, yet the people have fo 
 much integrity and generofity, that no bad effefts refult 
 from it. This the American Geographer is compelled 
 to acknowledge in his prefent edition. For he now 
 oblerves, what he ought to have known nine years ago, 
 "that the clergy in general are liberally maintained, and 
 none who merit it, have reafon to complain for want of 
 fupport." 
 
 Not fatisfied with reprefenting the inhabitants of 
 Rhode Ifland as irreligious, in the fame page, Mr. M. 
 reprefents them as an ignorant people. " The litera- 
 ture of this ftate is confined principally to the towns of 
 Newport and Providence. There are men of learning 
 and abilities fcattered though other towns, but they are 
 rare. The bulk of the inhabitants, in other parts of the 
 ftate, are involved in greater ignorance perhaps, than in 
 
 * Century Sermon, p. 52.
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 43 
 
 moft other parts of New England. An impartial hif- 
 tory of their tranfaclions fince the peace, would evince 
 the truth of the above obfei vations." Mr. M. qualifies 
 this inveftive with the words principally and perhaps, 
 which, in fome degree, blunt the edge of it. He may 
 think me too confident in afiertion, when I fay, that the 
 literature ot the ftate is not confined to Newport and 
 Providence ; and that though there may not be as many 
 men of learning, as in the two adjoining ftates, yet that 
 the inhabitants are not involved in greater ignorance, 
 than the inhabitants of many other parts of New Eng- 
 land. An impartial hiftory of fome tranfaftions of the 
 government of Rhode Ifland, fince the peace, I confefs, 
 would not be very honourable to thofe who were engag- 
 ed in them. But the people ought not, on account of 
 them, to be charged with ignorance. A few defigning 
 men may, for a time, lead even a well informed people, 
 into abfurd and difhoneft meafures. During this period, 
 as Mr. M. fays, p. 302, " the ftate was governed by a 
 facliun." Plaufib'c reafons were urged in favour of a 
 paper medium, by men who were more corrupt than ig- 
 norant; and thofe who oppofed this meafure, though 
 numerous and refpeftable, were out-voted. At the pref- 
 ent moment, the inhabitants of Rhode Ifland are as ju- 
 dicious in their conduct, and as firm in the fupport of 
 the federal government, as their neighbours. They 
 ought therefore to recover their reputation with the 
 American Geographer. 
 
 Mr. M. is offended with the people of Rhode Ifland, 
 for rejecting the federal conftitution in their town meet- 
 ings. (See p. 306.) But though this government has been 
 found, upon experiment, to promote the happinefs of 
 the people; yet Mr. M. may remember, that when i<
 
 44 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 was firft propofed, the minds of many good men, in oth- 
 er ftates, were alarmed with fears and jealoufies. The 
 majority oi the Rhode Ifland convention, which finally 
 adopted it, was indeed fmall. But it may beai'ked, which 
 is inoft honourable to a community, to examine a con- 
 {titution ot government with care; to hefitate for a 
 while ; to reject, hecaufe it was fuppofed imperfect ; but 
 at length, overcome by convincing evidence, as well as 
 by a lenfe ot intereft, to adopt, and when adopted, firm- 
 ly to fupport : or, to receive implicitly, and without in- 
 quiry and without debate, to vote, unanimoufly ? 
 
 If the tranfaclions of a legiflaturc muft fix the flamp 
 of knowledge or ignorance upon a people, Maifachufetts 
 came very near being involved in the fame reproach, 
 which Mr. M. has call upon Rhode Ifiand. A fmall 
 change in the general court, would have introduced a 
 paper cunency, which muft neceffarily have depreciated ; 
 and a trifling alteration in the convention of 1788, would 
 have enfured the rejection of the iedeial conftitution. 
 In five counties there was a majority of votes again/I it. 
 But no candid man, I prefume, will affirm, that thofe 
 counties are involved in greater ignorance, than fotne 
 counties, in which there was a majority in its favour. 
 
 In every edition of Mr. M.'s Geography, he repeats 
 the charge ot ignorance ugaind Rhode Uland. This 
 want of candour probably proceeds, in part,)from relig- 
 ious prejudice. For " the baptifls are the moft numer- 
 ous of any denomination in the date." Where the 
 baptifls predominate, there, in the American Geograph. 
 er's opinion, ignorance muft abound. That this is his 
 fentimentjhe has declared in fufficiently plain terms, inhis 
 Geography Made Eafy, New Haven, 1784. For in that 
 book, p. 32, he fpeaks of the baptifls of Mauachufetts in 
 the following manner : " The baptifls are a numerous,
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 45 
 
 growing, litigious, and illiterate fet of people." It is true 
 that Mr. M. omitted this paffage in his fubfequent edi- 
 tions. But whilft he fixes the ftigma of peculiar igno- 
 rance upon a (late, where the baptifts are the moil nu- 
 merous, it difcovers no want of candour to believe, that 
 he ftill retains the fame prejudice againft that worthy 
 body of chriftians. 
 
 It the baptifts be ignorant, as the American Geograph- 
 er infmuates, it is not owing to their not taking pains to 
 obtain knowledge ; nor can they be juilly charged with 
 being hoftile to learning. Chiefly through their patron- 
 age, a college has been founded in Rhode Ifland, and is 
 now in a flourifhing ftate. Ignorant men are frequently 
 illiberal. But the college of Rhode Ifland is upon a re- 
 markably liberal plan, and does great credit to its found- 
 ers. In conferring literaiy honours, and in the choice 
 of inftruftors, ihe rellows and truftees have been guided 
 by the mod generous and catholick fpirit ; and have paid 
 no regard to diftinclions of fefts, or difference of fenti- 
 ment. 
 
 In a word, many thing? may be urged in favour of 
 Rhode Ifland, by a writer difpofed to do juflice to the 
 ilatc. This happy fpot can boaft the diftinguilhed hon- 
 our, of being the firft in fetting the example of an unlim- 
 ited toleration ;* an example which has fmce been fol- 
 lowed by every other flate in the union. Except in a 
 few dark intervals, the civil and religious freedom which 
 it has enjoyed, has rendered its fuuation peaceable and 
 happy. At prefent, it is in a very profpercus condition. 
 
 * " It is much to the honour of the government of RhoJe Ifland, 
 that there never was an inftance of pcrfecuticu for conference fake 
 countenanced byt!:em." B?!!:n:>r'r Hifl.i: flure, vol. I, 
 
 p. 89.
 
 46 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 In proportion to its extent, it is the moft populous of 
 any of the United States. In proportion to its popula- 
 tion, it is the moft commercial ; if we may form our 
 judgment from its exports, which laft year, amounted 
 to the value of fix. hundred, and ninety eight thoufand, 
 and eighty four dollars. Its merchants areenterprifing ; 
 and the people in general, induftrious. The manners 
 and virtues which render fociety pleafing, are as often 
 difplayed in this, as in any other ftate.* The fathers 
 of the colony, Williams and Coddington, were not inle> 
 riour in merit to the founders of the other North Amer- 
 ican colonies. Nor has the ftate, in any period, been 
 deftitute of eminent men, who have done honour to 
 their country by their abilities and virtue. 
 
 P. 387. " Newport lies in latitude 41 35'." The 
 latitude of Newport is 41 30', and the longitude, weft 
 from London 71 12', and not 71 6', as Mr. M. fays, 
 vol. II,' p. 528. 
 
 P. 389. " Briftol is about fixteen miles north of New- 
 port." The diftance between thefe towns is thirteen 
 miles. 
 
 P. 391. "As the original inhabitants of this ftate 
 were perfecuted, at hajl in their own opinion, for the 
 fake of confcience, a moft liberal and free toleration was 
 eftablifhed by them." Is it Mr. M.'s opinion, that the 
 fettlers of Rhode Hand were not perfecuted ? " So lit- 
 tle has the civil authority to do with religion here, that, 
 as has been already hinted, no contract between a min- 
 ifrcr and a fociety funlefs incorporated for that purpofe) 
 is of any force. It is probably for the/e reafons, that fo 
 
 * " Benevolence anil hofpitality remarkably characterize the peo- 
 ple of Rhode I/IanJ." Conftitutions of the United State?, p. 51, zl 
 euit. Boilon, 1784.
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 4/ 
 
 many different fefts have ever been found here ; and 
 that the fabbath and all religious inftitutions, have ever 
 been more neglefted in this, than in any other of the 
 New England dates." It muft afford pleafure to the 
 candid reader to contraft thefe hints, againft a free toler- 
 ation, and in favour of the civil authority's interfering 
 in religion, with the manly and chriftian fentiments of 
 the baptifl Callender, expreffed in the following extract 
 from his Century Sermon, p. 103 109. 
 
 "Liberty of confcience was the bafis of this colony. 
 Our fathers thought it jufl and neceffary to allow each 
 other mutually to worihip God, as their confciences were 
 refpeftively perfuaded. They thought no man had pow- 
 er over the fpirit of God ; and that the duty of the mag- 
 iftrate was to leave every man to follow the light of his 
 confcience. They were willing to exhibit to the world 
 an inftance, that liberty of confcience was confident with 
 the publick peace, and the flourifhing of a civil com- 
 monwealth ; as well as that chriftianitv could fubfift 
 without compulfion ; and that bearing each other's bur- 
 dens, was the way to fulfil the law of Chrift. 
 
 "The experiment has fully anfwered, and even 
 
 beyond what might have been expecled, from the Jirjl 
 attempt. The civil (late has flourifhed as we'!, as if fe- 
 cured by ever fo many penal laws, and an inquifition to 
 put them in execution. Our civil officers have been 
 chofen out of every religious fociety ; and the publick 
 peace has been as well preferved, and the publick coun- 
 cils as well conducted, as we could have expected, had 
 we been affifted by ever fo may religious tefls. 
 
 " AH profanenefs and immorality are punifhed by 
 the laws made to fupprefs them ; and while thefe laws are 
 we!! executed, fpccuiative opinions, or modes of worfhip.
 
 48 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 can never difturb or injure the peace of a ftate, that al- 
 lows all its fubjefts an equal liberty of confcience. In- 
 deed it is not variety of opinions, or Reparation in wor- 
 fliip, that makes diforders and coniufions in government : 
 It is the unjuft, unnatural, and abi'urd attempt to force all 
 to be of one opinion, or to feign and diflemble that they 
 are. 
 
 " Liberty of confcience was never more fully enjoy- 
 ed in any place, than here : and this colony, with fome 
 fince formed on the fame model, have proved that the 
 terrible fears, that barbarity would break in, where no 
 particular forms of worfhip or difcipline are eftablifhed 
 by the civil power, are really vain and groundlefs ; and 
 that chriftianity can fubfift without a national church, 
 or vifible head ; and without being incorporated into the 
 ftate. It fubfilted fo for the firft three hundred years; 
 yea, in oppofition and defiance to all the powers of hell 
 and earth." 
 
 P. 392. "Connecticut. Length, eighty two miles ; 
 breadth, fifty feven : fituated between i,5o' and 3 20', 
 eaft longitude." The difference ot longitude, between 
 the north eaft. corner of Thompfon.and the north weft cor- 
 ner ot Greenwich, is as much as 1 56'. Mr. M. makes 
 the difference of longitude, between the eaftern and wef- 
 tern extremities of the ftate, no more than 1 30'. 
 
 P. 393. " The divifional line between Connecticut 
 and Maffachufetts, as fettled in 1713, was found to be 
 about fevcnty two miles in length. The fea coaft, from 
 the mouth of Paukatuk river, to the mouth of Byram 
 river, is reckoned at about ninety miles." According 
 to Blodget's map, the north line of Connecticut is nine- 
 ty four miles in length; and the diftance between the 
 mouth of Paukatuk river, and the mouth of Byram riv-
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 49 
 
 er, a hundred and three miles. Of Blodget's map I 
 have heard this character, from the firft authority, that 
 it is the bed which has hitherto been published ; that it 
 is erroneous in feveral minute parts, but that the outlines 
 of the ftate are accurate. It is one confirmation of it, that 
 it correfponds exactly with Holland's correft chart of the 
 fea coaft, publifhed in 1787. This map therefore appears 
 to me a better authority than Douglafs's Summary, from 
 which Mr. M. has borrowed his. lines.* The length of 
 Counefticut.from the north weft corner of Greenwich, on 
 a due eaft line, to the longitude of Paukatuk river, is about 
 a hundred miles. The breadth, in the wideft part, is v 
 above feventy two miles, if, as I conjecture, the north 
 weft corner of the ftate is fituated further north than the 
 latitude 42 2'. The line dividing Connecticut from 
 Rhode Ifland, is, as Mr. M. ftates it, forty five miles.t 
 The contents of the ftate are about five thoufand, four 
 hundred fquare miles ; and the population for every 
 fquare mile, forty four. According to Mr. M," Connec- 
 ticut contains about four thoufand, fix liundred,and feven- 
 ty four fquare miles; equal to about two millions, fix 
 hundred, and forty thoufand acres." He has here made 
 another miftake in his arithmetick. 
 
 P. 398. " Connecticut is the moft populous, in pro- 
 portion to its extent, of any of the thirteen ftates." Rhode 
 Ifland is the moft populous of any of the fifteen ftates. 
 If we muft believe Mr. M. however, in another part of 
 his work, Mafllichufetts, exclufive of Maine, is the moft 
 populous part of the United States. See p. 353. 
 
 Under the head of the Character of the inhabitants of 
 Connecticut, the American Geographer has an oppor- 
 
 * See Dougl. Sum. vol. I, p. 416, and vol." II, p. 161. 
 f A point of Rhode Ifland extends about a mile furf c. 
 
 G
 
 O REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 tunity of difcovering his prejudice againft lawyers. He 
 feems to confider it as an evil, that there is " a numerous 
 body" of them in the ftate. In another part of his work, 
 he triumphs in the idea, that a lawyer cannot live with- 
 in fixty miles of the county of Cape May, in Newjerfey. 
 See p. 466. But thefe facls prove no more, than mat 
 Connecticut is a rich and populous ftate; and that the 
 fouthern part of New Jerfey is a barren country, and 
 thinly fettled. In the firft edition of his Geography, he 
 fpoke in much plainer terms againft the gentlemen of 
 the bar :* " Lawyers have united here, [in South Ca- 
 rolina,] as well as in moft other ftates, the (kill and dex- 
 terity of the fcribe with the power and ambition of the 
 prince : who can tell where this may lead in a future 
 day ? The nature of our laws, and the fpirit of freedom, 
 which often tends to make us litigious, muft neceflarily 
 throw the greatefl part of the property of the United 
 States into the hands of thefc gentlemen. In another 
 century, the law will poffefs in the north, what now the 
 church poffeffes in Peru and Mexico." It muft, in juf- 
 tice to the American Geographer, be acknowledged, 
 that he has become more candid, fince he wrote, or rath- 
 er copied, this inveftive. For in his prefent edition, he 
 defcribes lawyers as a harmlefs fort of animals, which, 
 like rattlefnakes, never bite thofe who do not come within 
 their reach. See p. 466. " Many of the people here, 
 [in New Jerfey,] as in other ftates, think (becaufe per- 
 haps they are inftruments in obliging them to pay their 
 debts) that the lawyers know too much. But their 
 knowledge will not injure thofe who are innocent, and 
 who will let them alone." 
 
 * Geography Made Eafy, p. Si-
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 5! 
 
 "Religion. Such as is happily adapted to a republi- 
 can government. As to the mode of exercifing church 
 government and difcipline, it might not improperly be 
 called a republican religion." Mr. M. probably intends 
 here the congregational religion. But no fatisfaftory 
 reafon. can be given, why it is more happily adapted to 
 a republican government, than many other religions ia 
 the United States. 
 
 Republican, hoxvever, as the congregational religion 
 is, yet, it fcems, the minifters of it are ariflocrats. For 
 in the paragraph preceding that which I have juft quot- 
 ed, Mr. M. fays, " The clergy, who are numerous, and, as 
 id body, very refpeBable, have hitherto preferved a kind 
 of ariftrocratical balance in the very democratical gov- 
 ernment of the ftate ; which has happily operated as a 
 check upon the overbearing fpirit of republicanifm." 
 That the miniilers of Connecticut are a very refpefta- 
 b!e body of men, I fully believe. And that they have 
 always defervedly enjoyed a large fhare of influence in 
 the (late, I alfo allow. But it appears to rne nothing 
 better than an abufe of words, to ftyle this an ariftocrai- 
 ical influence. The minifters of Connecticut are chol- 
 en by the people, and are dependent upon them tor their 
 fupport. Their falaries are fmall, and are not fufficient 
 to raife them above their parifhioners. They are affable 
 in converfation, hofpiiable to ftrangers. pure in their mor- 
 als, and of exemphry piety. As they are laborious in 
 the duties of their profeflion, attentive in difcharging 
 the offices of humanity, the friends and the fathers ot 
 their flocks, it is not to be wondered at, that their influ- 
 ence mould be great among an intelligent and religious 
 people. In Connecticut, as Mr. M. fnggefts, knowl- 
 edge is more generally diffufed, than in any other part
 
 52 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 of America. In every parifh are to be found men of 
 liberal education, lawyers, phyficians, and others, who 
 are generally the firmeft fupports of an enlightened min- 
 iflry. i Inflead therefore of denominating the influence 
 of the clergy of Connecticut, an ariftocratical influence ; 
 it ought rather to be denominated the influence of \vif- 
 tloin, virtue and, piety. 
 
 P. 401. "A fair is held [at Wcthersfield] twice a 
 year." I have been informed, that a fair is not now 
 held at Wethersfield. 
 
 To conclude my remarks upon the defcription of Con- 
 neclicut, I am ready to acknowledge, that it is wiitten 
 vviih more care, and is probably more accurate, than any 
 Cther defciipiion which is propejly Mr. M.'s own. 
 Some readers rr-av charge him \vith being paitial to his 
 native itate. But to me it appears, not that he has done 
 Connecticut more, but that he has done other dates lefs, 
 than juftice. 
 
 As I polfcfs very little knowledge of the middle and 
 foiuhern ftatey, it is not in my power to make many re- 
 marks upon the remaining part of the full volume. I 
 {hail, however, note a tew errours, and fome prejudices. 
 P. 417. " New York is fuuuted between 40 40' and 
 .j,5 , north latitude ; and between z t weft, and 1 30', 
 call longitude." Including Long Idand, New York is 
 fuuated between 40 30' and 45, north latitude; and 
 the flaie extends as far eafl as 3 6', eaft longitude. 
 Long Jiland ought undoubtedly to be included, as it is 
 feparated from York Ifland by a river only, which, in 
 the narrowed part, is Icfs than half a mile in breadth. 
 
 P. 431. "An inquirer, who would wilh to acquaint 
 himfelf with the (late of the people of New York, their 
 manners and government, would naturally aflc the citizens
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 53 
 
 for their focieties for the encouragement of fciences, 
 arts, manufactures, &c ? For their publick libraries? For 
 their patrons of literature ? Their well regulated acade- 
 mies ? For their female academy for inftrufting young 
 ladies in geography, hiftory, belles Ifettres, &c ? Such in- 
 quiries might be made with propriety, but could not at 
 prefent be anfwered fatisfdclorily." When this pafTage 
 was mil written, there might be fome propriety in it. 
 But it ought not to have been admitted into the prefent 
 edition. For Mr. M. informs the publick, p. 439, that 
 there are in the city of New-York, a " fociety for pro- 
 moting ufeful knowledge, upon an eftablifhment fimilar 
 to other philofophica! focieties in Europe and America ; 
 a fociety lor the manumiffion of flaves ; a marine focie- 
 ty ; a fociety for the relief of poor debtors confined in 
 jail ; a manufacturing fociety ; an agricultural fociety ; 
 and a medical fociety." To thefe he might add the St. 
 Tammany Society, the objetls of which are fimilar to 
 thofe of the Hiftorical Society of MafTachufetts. Befide 
 thefe focieties, there is a college in the city of New York, 
 and eight incorporated academies in different parts of the 
 {late. A New York inquirer, in return, mighuafk Mr. 
 M. for thephilofophical focieties of fome of his favourite 
 dates. But fuch inquiries could not at prefent be an- 
 fwered fdiisf.6tori!y. The truth, however, is, that the 
 learning of a country cannot always be determined from 
 the number of its literary focieties. Confpici quam pro- 
 df/fe, ought in general to be the motto of fuch inftitutions. 
 Their moft important labours are commonly performed 
 in the infancy of their exiftence. But after a few years, the 
 majority of members fatisfy themielves wi;h annexing 
 to their names the empty title of an F. R. S. and leave
 
 54 REMARKS' ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 the improvement of the arts and Icietaces to the literary 
 induftry of individuals, who are no academicians. 
 
 P. 443. " In all debates on great queftions, the houfe 
 of affembly] refolves itfelf into a committee of the 
 whole." This is not peculiar to New York. 
 
 P. 450. " Long Ifland extends a hundred and forty 
 miles." Long liland extends a hundred and eighteen 
 miles. 
 
 P. 451. " Staten Ifland is about eighteen miles in 
 length." Staten Ifland is about thirteen miles and a halt 
 in length. 
 
 P. 466. " It is remarkable tbat in the county of Cape 
 May, [in New Jerfey,] no regular phyfician has ever 
 found fupport." This wonderful county of Cape May, 
 in which the vermin of the learned profeffions can find 
 no fupport, is " thirty miles Jong, and nine, broad. The 
 foil isa fandy barren, unfit in many parts for cultivation ;" 
 and the inhabitants are no more than five hundred and 
 feventy one. Province town in Maflachufetts, defcribed 
 by Mr. M. p. 3,5,5, contains nearly as many inhabitants 
 as the county of Cape May. No regular phyfician has 
 yet ventured to approach this favoured fpot ; and what 
 is ftill more to its honour, a lawyer cannot live within 
 forty miles of it. 
 
 p. 473. " Buffalo Swamp is in the north weflern 
 parts of Northumberland county," [Pennfylvania.] if 
 this fwamp exift any where, it rnuft be in the Hate of 
 New York ; where indeed Mr. M. places it in one of his 
 
 maps. 
 
 In p. 522. Mr. M. begins to difcov^r his prejudices 
 againft the fouthern Hates. He gives a long character 
 of the inhabitants of Maryland, and defcrihes them as 
 negligent in drefs, flothful, and ignorant. " Thefe obfer-
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 55 
 
 vations, however, (he adds) muft in juftice be limited to 
 the peopte in the country, and to thofe particularly, 
 whofe poverty or parfimony prevents their fpending a 
 part of their time in populous towns, or otherwife ming- 
 ling with the world. And with thefe limitations, they 
 will apply equally to all the fouthern ftates." 
 
 In his American Geography, p. 353, Mr. M. fpoke 
 of the inhabitants of Baltimore in the following terms : 
 "There are many very refpeftable families in Baltimore, 
 who live genteelj', are hofpitable to flrangers, and main- 
 tain a friendly and improving intercourfe with each 
 other; but the bulk of the inhabitants, recently collected 
 from almofl all quarters of the world, bent on the purfuit 
 of wealth, varying in their habits, their manners, and 
 their religions, if they have any, are unfocial, unimprov- 
 ed, and inhofpitable." This is one of the offenfive paf- 
 fages, which the American Geographer has undertaken 
 to meliorate ; and the manner in which he has acquitted 
 himfelf, proves how unwilling he is to give up any pre- 
 judice which he has once imbibed. In the prefent edition, 
 he expreffes himfelf thus : " There are many very re- 
 fpeftable families in Baltimore, who live genteel^, are 
 hofpitable to Grangers, and maintain a friendly and im- 
 pr.oving intercourfe with each other; but the bulk of 
 the inhabitants, recently collected from almoft all quart- 
 ers of the world, bent on the purfuit of wealth, varying 
 in their habits, their manners, and their religions, have 
 yet their general charader to form." The pafTage, as it 
 now ftands, either means nothing ; or it means, that the 
 bulk of the inhabitants of Baltimore aro not hofpitable to 
 flranger.% and do not maintain a friendly and improving 
 intercourfe with each other; or, as was before faid, tha*. 
 they are unfociai, unimproved, and inhofpitable.
 
 56 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 The defcription of Virginia is borrowed principally 
 from Mr. Jefferfon's Notes : Mr. M. has added little 
 elfethan feme illiberal cenfur.es on the inhabitants. 
 
 P. ^1. " Every thing in Williamfburgh appears dull, 
 forfaken, and melancholy no trade no amufements, 
 but the infamous one of gaming no induftry, and very 
 little appearance of religion." Thus minutely does the 
 Geographer from New England defcribe the character 
 of a handful of people ; and thus inhumanly does he in- 
 fult the falling. 
 
 P. 54, " Virginia prides itfeH in being The Ancient 
 Dominion." Such an obfervaiion as this, though tri- 
 fling, may be characieriftick of a people; and if made 
 with good humour, cannot give any reafonable offence. 
 A Virginian would not be fufpefted of ridiculing the in- 
 habitants of New England, if he fhould obferve, That 
 they pride themfelves in fpeaking the Englifh language 
 with greater purity, and pronouncing it with more pro- 
 priety, than the H s, the J s, the M s, the 
 
 R s, the S s, and the W s, of the middle and 
 
 fouthern ftates. See p. 212, 314. 
 
 P. frbd' " The government, though nominally repub- 
 lican, is, in faft, oligarcha/ or ariftrocratical." 
 
 " The Virginians, who are rick, are in general fenfiblc, 
 polite, and hofpitable, and of an independent fpirit. The 
 poor are ignorant and abject and are all of an inquifi- 
 tive turn. A confiderable proportion of the people are 
 much addifted to gaming, drinking, fwearing, horfe rac- 
 ing, cock fighting, and moft kinds of diffipation." This 
 I believe, fron the beft information which I have had 
 an opportunity of obtaining, is much too general a cen- 
 fure.
 
 3 t 
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 57 
 
 "The native inhabitants are too generally unacquaint- 
 ed with bufinefs, owing to their pride and falfe notions 
 of greatnefs." 
 
 " The two houfes of alterably have the appointment 
 of delegates to Congrefs." When Mr. JefFerfon wrote 
 his Notes, this was true ; but fince that time, the confti- 
 tution of the United States has been eftablifhed. 
 
 P. 562. " Kentucky contains five thoufand fquare 
 miles." This, and every other errour of the prefs, 
 ought to be acknowledged in a table of errata. 
 
 " Kentucky is bounded fouth by North Carolina." 
 Kentucky is bounded fouth by the Tenneflee Govern- 
 ment. See p. 584. 
 
 P. 563. " Cumberland river, in about half its courfe, 
 paffes through North Carolina." This is not confident 
 with what is laid of this river, p. 587. 
 
 P. ,57,5. " Edenton has a brick church for cpifcopali- 
 ans, -which for many years has been much neglefted, 
 and ferves only to {how that the people once had a re- 
 gard, at leafr, for the externals of religion." 
 
 P. 578, ,579. " The weftern parts of this ftate, [North- 
 Carolina,] are chiefly inhabited by preibyterians, and are 
 exceedingly attached to the doctrine, difcipline, and u- 
 fages of the church of Scotland. They are a regular, in- 
 duftrious people ; and are in general well fupplied with 
 a fenfible and learned miniftry. The inhabitants oiE 
 Wilmington, Newbern, Edenton, and Halifax diftrifts, 
 making about three fifths of the ftate, once profefiecl 
 themfelves of the epifcopal church." But they *' feem 
 now to be making the experiment, whether chriflianity 
 can exift long in a country, where there is no vifible chrif- 
 tian church." This reflexion upon the epifcopalians is 
 H
 
 58 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 copied from the former edition. I have been informed 
 by a New England gentleman, who has lived many years 
 in Newbern, that it is as erroneous, as it is ungenerous. 
 
 " There is a very numerous body of people, in this, 
 and in all the fouthern flates, who cannot properly be, 
 claffed with any fe6l of chriftians, having never made 
 any profeffion of chriftianity." 
 
 P. 581. " The general topicks of converfation among 
 the men, when cards, the bottle, and occurrences of the 
 day do not intervene, are negroes, the prices of indigo, 
 rice, tobacco, &c." In other parts of the United States, 
 the general topicks of converfation among the men, are 
 alfo pleafure, news, and bufinefs. 
 
 " Temperance and induftry are not to be reckoned 
 among the virtues of the North Carolinians." Mr. M. 
 knows that drunkennefs is a common vice in many parts 
 of New England. 
 
 " The time which they wafte in drinking, idling, and 
 gambling, leaves them very little opportunity to improve 
 their plantations or their minds. The improvement of 
 the former is left to their overfeers and negroes ; the im- 
 provement of the latter is too often negle&ed." 
 
 " The citizens of North Carolina, who are not better 
 employed, fpend their time in drinking, or gaming at 
 cards and dice, in cock fighting or horfe racing." The 
 citizens of other dates, when they are not better employ- 
 ed, fpend their time in idlenefs and diffipation. 
 
 Mr. M. is more fparing in his cenfures upon the in- 
 habitants of South Carolina and Georgia. Left I mould 
 be thought too fevere, I fhall omit the character which 
 he formerly gave of the people of the latter flate. It is 
 evident from the paflages which I have quoted, that his 
 Hiind is not free from local prejudice. He does ev-
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 59 
 
 cry thing in his power to raife the character of the eaft- 
 ern flates, Rhode Ifland excepted, and to deprefs that of 
 the fouthern ftates. Should any perfon at the fouthward 
 undertake a new American Geography, I hope the fpirit 
 of retaliation will not lead him to paint our faults in too 
 glowing colours. We fupplicate for mercy. Our 
 fellow citizens may be aflured, that there are many per- 
 fons in New-England, who are as much difgufted as they 
 can be, with Mr. M.'s illiberality andgrofs mifreprefent- 
 ations. 
 
 P. 613. Mr. M. relates, an idle ftory of a fairy ifland, 
 inhabited by a race of beautiful and hofpitable women, 
 the daughters of the fun, whofe hufbands are fierce men 
 and cruel to flrangers. Thofe who endeavour to ap- 
 proach this ifland, are involved in perpetual labyrinths ; 
 and, like enchanted land, ftill as they imagine they have 
 juft gained it, it feems to fly before them. Surely fuch 
 a fiftion as this ought not to be admitted int(^a book of a 
 geography. 
 
 P. 61,5. " Fredericais thejSV/? town that was built in 
 Georgia." P. 622. " Mr. Oglethorpe, accompanied 
 by William Bull,fhortly after his arrival [at Charlefton] 
 vifited Georgia, and after reconnoitering the country, 
 marked the fpot on which Savannah now ftands, as the 
 fitteft to begin a fettlement. Here they accordingly 
 began" 
 
 It is not my intention at prefent, to make any other 
 remarks on the firfl volume of the American Univerfal 
 Geography. 
 
 The fecond volume is taken from Guthrie's Geograph- 
 ical Grammar, with additions from Zimmerman's Polit- 
 ical Survey, and from other works. In fome refpefts, 
 particularly in the account of Ireland, it is an improve-
 
 REMARKS ON THE AMERICAN 
 
 ment upon the London editions of Guthrie. But it ap- 
 pears to have been compiled in a very hafty manner, 
 lor there are many miftakes in arrangement, in arith- 
 metic!;, chronology, and geography. Some of thefe mif- 
 takes muft be charged to Guthrie ; and others, to Mr. 
 M. In this volume there are three maps only, upon a 
 very fmall fcale. As particular maps, therefore, are fo 
 cflential to a geographical grammar, Mr. M. cannot rea- 
 fonably expea that his compilation mould fuperfede the 
 original work. 
 
 The Geographical Table, at the end of the volume, is 
 inconfiftcnt, imperfecl, and inaccurate. Many impor- 
 tant places are omitted ; and the latitudes and longitudes 
 cf thofe which are inferted, are frequently wrong. Mr. 
 M. ought not to have t rutted to Guthrie; but he ought 
 to have taken time to compare this table carefully, with 
 the moft authentick maps which can be procured. 
 
 The catalogue of Men of Learning and Genius is a 
 very imperfect lift of the literati of Europe and Ameri- 
 ca. Sufficient honour is done to Rofcommon, Creech, 
 Whitehead, and other minor poets and trifling authors, 
 whofe writings have contributed very little to the knowl- 
 edge or happinefs of mankind : v/hilft no notice is taken 
 of fuch men as Grotius, Le Clerc, Lardner, Price, Wol- 
 lafton, Bentley, Jortin, Pearcc, and innumerable others, 
 \vho have diftinguifhed themfelves in the caufe of vir- 
 tue and religion. The names of the four latter are in 
 Guthrie's catalogue. The American Geographer mutt- 
 have fome reafon for omitting them ; but I am unable 
 to conjecture what it can be. 
 
 Mr. M. has added a few American authors to Guth- 
 rie's lift. But the firft, whom he has thought worthy of 
 being aflbciated with the " learned and eminent men" of
 
 UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY. 6l 
 
 Europe, died no longer ago than the year 1747. For 
 his neglecl of the worthies who flourifhed before that 
 period, as well as of fome good writers who have appeared 
 fince, no other apology can be made, than that he drew 
 up his lift in fuch hafte, that he had not time to refleft 
 or to inquire. This apology may latisfy his own mind, 
 but it will not fatisfy the publick. 
 
 Though I have freely cenfured fo many parts of Mr. 
 M's woik, yet refpecl for him obliges me to fay, before I 
 conclude, that he does not want abilities, and that he ap- 
 pears to be a friend to religion. He is zealous againit 
 vice, as well as errour. Bat hi? zeal is. too credulous 
 and hafty, and is frequently ill timed and mifplaced. 
 In a work of another kind, Mr. M. might very prop- 
 erly declaim againft drunkennefs, gaming, and even 
 herefy. But to lii^en to every exaggerated account of the 
 faults of a town or Hate, and then to publifh it in a fyf- 
 tem of geography, may demonftrate his hatred of vice, 
 but it affords no proof of his judgment or candour. 
 With the talents which Mr. M. poffefres, it is in his pow- 
 er to render his work much more complete than it is at 
 prefent. But for this purpofe, he muft employ time and 
 pain;!, without which nothing excellent can ever be pro- 
 duced. 
 
 THE END.
 
 ADDITION and CORRECTIONS. 
 
 Page 13. after line 18, infert the following : 
 
 P. 20, Note. " Herfchel is about eighty times larger 
 than the earth, which would make its diameter fix hun- 
 dred and thirty feven thoufand, fix hundred miles." 
 The diameter of the earth being feven thoufand, nine 
 hundred, and feventy miles, if the diameter of Herfchel 
 be fix hundred and thirty feven thoufand, fix hundred 
 miles, it muft be five hundred and twelve thoufand times 
 larger than the earth. 
 
 P. 16, /. 8, from hot. read Sebaftian. 
 
 P. 25, and in other places, r. univerfalifts. 
 
 P. 27, /. 17, r. congregationalifls.
 
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