George Washington Flowers Memorial Collection DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ESTABLISHED BY THE FAMILY OF COLONEL FLOWERS m' 4 / « ( /, )■ )' ^ ' ‘r' ■ -i- ■; K • V / I LETTERS, Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Duke University Libraries \ https://ar, chive. org/details/letterswrittenduOOdray LETTERS WR'ITTBN DURIKQ A T O U R THROU GH THE NORTHERN and EASTERN STATES O F AMERICA; By JOHN DRAYTON. The fcenes of Bufinefs tell us — “ What are Men The fcenes of Pkafure— »-•“ What is ail befide.” Young’s Night Thoughti. CHARLESTON: SOUTH-CAPvOLlNA, Frimtbd by HARRISON ahd S O V/ S >i5,DCC,RGr>r« :' .r- /i,— .; a ^ r'- :V Tr.T^- ■m.’S PREFACE. — < ^ ^ 4 ' 4 * 4 * 4 * ^ — N OTHING is more common, at the firft commencement of a young author’s career, than to follcit the public favor ; and if poflible, thereby to fupport a work, perhaps unworthy of their patronage. But however that cuilom may have been in ufe, I cannot in juftice to my own feelings, or confiftently with the ref- ped which I owe the fubfcribers to this work in particular, and the public in general, do otherwife, than prefent it to them liable to any liberal criticifm, which its incorredions may occafion. When ( ii ) PREFACE. When I firll began, the letters which com. pofc it ; their publication was the fartheft from my thoughts. My then inducement, was as much the tribute of friendfhip to an abfent ac. quaintance, as a fource of pleafure to myfelf ; In thus filling up, the many leifure moments of a traveller’s time, which are otherwife thrown, away upon the p-5rc'?fln=c of q mwn^ or tbp, rum of a gaming table. I had no plan ; but free- ly wrote from the impulfe of the moment, as circumftances permitted, or fubjeds were oc- cafionally afforded me. Hence, thofe who exped a critical and exad defcription of per- fons, places and things will be difappointcd. For it was not a catalogue of things, or a journal of daily occurrences, which I commit- ted to paper j it was the images imprelTed on m# C “i ) PREFACE, me refpeding public occurrences, which I wilh- cd to preferve. I therefore noted them ; as well for the refrelhment of my own memory, as to afford me in fome meafure an honorable acquittal as to the ufe of my time, to thofe of- my friends, who had favored ras with letters of introdudion. The delay of publiOiing this work, renders fome excufe neceffary. Unqueftionably, I ought to have given it to the world fooner : it was my duty to have done fo — and, had it de- pended only upon me ; in this, no difappoint- ment would have taken place. But fo great was the fcarcity of paper, that for a length of time every endeavor to obtain it, was rendered ineffedual. Nor is that which is now ufed, as C iv ) PREFACE. good as was intended ; all that can be fald ia its favor is, that it is the bell which could be ob- tained. As Mr. Genet is now recalled, and another minifter fubhituted in his place ; the ftridures refpefting him would have been omitted, could that have been done with confiitency. But, as the public were promifed this conclufion to the work, they (hall not be difappointed : however mal a propos -it may come forward at tnis late day. And, except the addition of fome fe^y notes ; the text is prefented fuch as was intend- ed for publication in November laft. Charlejlon^ Oclohcr 6, T 1 o i. OF A. Vv^iliiara Anderfon, of Cambridge. Cnai'ies J^ames Aii» David Alexander, two copies. Oliver Alden. B, John Bull, Francis Eremar. Samuel Brailsford. James Burn, of Sc. Jame’s Santee* John. Beale. Thomas vY- Bacot. James Bulgin, two copies. William Elacklcck. T. E. Bowen, two copies. William Brailsford. Benjamin Bayley, Malcom Brown. John Eounetheau. Elihu Flail Bay, one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas. SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. C. Charles B. Cochran. Archibald Campbell. John Cockle. E. Coffin. John Crawford. Samuel Corbett. James Charles. William Carfon. H. Courtney George Chifolm. D. Ifaac Motte Dart. Jacob Drayton. William Allen Deas, two copies., Thomas Doughty. Henry Deas. Edward Darrell, jun. J. Deveaux, Jun. E. John Edwards, tw'o copies. Robert Ellifon, of Cheraws. F. Lewis Fogartie. V\/’illiam Falconer, of Cheraws. Peter Freneau, two copies. SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. James Frafer. . George For reft. ^ Thomas Hunter Forreft.' James Futerell. V/alter Forfyth. Go Alexander Garden: William Hafell Gibbcs. Hary Grant. John Geyer. Adam Gilchrift. Robert Gibfon. Thomas Gibfon. FI, John Huger. William Hort, two copies. D. L. Huger, John James Haig, of Orangeburgh diftrid, Richard Hutfon. George Henderfon. James Hickey. Mrs. Sarah Hopton, Dominick Auguftine Hall. Joftma Hargreaves, tv/o copies, E. Horry. Elias Lynch Horry. SUBSCRIBERS N A Isl E S. O James O’Hear. I^athaniel V\fm. Otis P Charles C'.otefworth Pinckney, major-gene- ral, two copies Jofeph Peace. Richard Henry Peyton, r.zckiel Pickens. John Parker, fen. of Goofe-creek. Wm. M. Parker. Samuel Prioleau, jun. two copies. Thomas Parker. John Price, two copies. William Price, two copies. William Preilman. H. Purcell. 'R. Edward Rutledge, major, two copies. David Ramfay. James B. Richardfon of Camden diltrict. Edward Rutledge, jun. two copies. John Rutledge, jun. Uatbaniel Ruflell, two conies. Alexander Pv-ofs. Hugh Rofe, two copies. SUBSCRIBERS NAMES- !Peter Roberts. William Roufe. S. Rev. Robert Smith, General Benjamin Smith, of Belvedere. B. B. Smith. Thomas Somarfal, two conies. William Scott, jun. Thomas R. Smith two copies. James Shoolbred. Thomas Stewart, four copies. William Simpfon, two copies. Alexander Shivas. James Scot ’ , William ShirtliiT. E. Smerdon James Smith. David Sarzedas. Thomas Wm. Sattertliwaite, two copies, Wm, S Smith Jervis H. Stevens T. Anthony Toomer, two copies. Simeon I'hsus. Lewis Trezevar.t. John Taylor, of Columbia. SUBSCRIBERS N AMES. Fs.ul Irapier, of Georgetown. James The'is, t\vo copies. Adam Tunno, four copies. George Taylor, two copies. E. Thayer. Alaxander Tweed. V. Arnoldus Vanderhorf!:, lieut. col. ~ W. John Ward, twelve copies. Felix War ley, ' Daniel Ward. Thomas Waring, of St. George’s Parifli. Samuel Warren, of St. James’s, Santee; Samuel Wigfail, of do. Eliilra Woodard, of Cheraw hill. T. V'L Weft, two copies. Thomas Waties, one of the judges of the court of Common Fleas. ■.E,^ R R A T A. Page. Line. S. I. tlie one the one on the ngiit. 12 . 2. -For Rout, read Route. 6o. lo. Which, Whom. 86. 9 Fcr Earth, read Caftle. Io6. 85 . Eor Inforced, Enforced. 12 8. 19. Aw Ivlajic, rfW Magic. A I _ . T d U R, LETTER 1. ^ defcripilon of th\ entrance to New-Tork ^ in which mention is made of Mr. Bingham’s seuntry feat, fiew-Tork, June 15, Uy dear sir,* Although feparated from you by coun- tries, which prefeilt a change of climate and of manners, yet believe me^ I ftill indulge the moil pleafing remembrance of an abfent friend: and with tranfport do I reflect, that writing af- fords me an opportunity of flill enjoying your A fentimentSj ( 4 ) fendments, and of informing you of mind With' fat'ofatlion, fhall fome of my hours be devoted to this fv/eet tribute of friendfhip ; and ivhen joy fhall fmile around my dwelling, or melancholy bend mv head in penfive thought ; I will not forget him, v'-ith whom I have beea accullomed to lhare them both. I HAVE at length, arrived at this place } where, the firfl thing which poffeffes my mindj is with foft regret to remember thofe from whom I am now feparated. Affections, or friendfhips, are never fo tried, as when abfence removes from the fight thofe, who are their objed. Then, and not until then, is every paffion ajive ; and each interview, recalled with fond remembrance to the imagination. And, while the heart throbs with pleafure at former blifs ; it heaves wdth fearful anxiety 5 leff fomc untoward accident fliould fink the foul with forrow, or follow the complaining pen wdth unavailing tears. But thank heaven, I have nothing to inform you which can be the caufe of pain : matters, which have hare made a pleafmg impreffion upon me fine© my departure, ihall alone at prefent be the fub» jed of recita'. I will inform you, that after feven days agreeable failing, we made the land, in the neighbourhood of the inlet to this city. It was the Jerf^y fiore, to the fouthward of Sandy-Hook ; and foon after we came in view of the high land of Never-fink. Prefenting a variety of profpect, which with a Carolinean. accudomed to a level countryj was particularly ^leafing;. Imagine to yourfelf the Atlantic bounded on the left, by a yellow and bold beach, as you. are failing immediately for the entrance into New-York; where, the hills rife immediately from the fhore to a confiderable height ; ima« gine the vallies, and hills, in fpots cleared by the hand of indullry ; feme parts of which, where the vegetation was brought forward, pre= fented to the eye a beautiful carpet of different- Ey coloured greens ; while others, newly turned, tip by the plough were tinged with a beautiful brown ; e ^ ) brown t and you will have fome idea of a profs pe£t, which is ftill frcfh in my memory. Im* mediately in view of the high eft part of the high lands, and within afmall diftance of them, is a feat of Mr. Bingham’s : which affords a beautia ful profpeft ' It is retired about a mile from the fhore,; from its high fituation overlooks the lands before it, and is bounded only by the dift tant horifon. On its right, ’.the Jerfey fhore exa tends as far as the eye can fee; wooded with oak and hickory ; and on the left are the high lands of Never-fink, riftng high above the waters ill gentle majefty. Within mufket fhot of this beautiful fhore did we fail, without any danger of accidents. For no breakers foaming over flioals, here terfify the fight : but deep water, and a fhore where the fea barely murmured along its bound, feemed to invite us near this agreeable fojounic. NOTE, • Within fight of thi» place, the engagement wa| fought bj the Ambufeade and Boftoa frigates. From the bafe of thefe high lands a neck of land called Sandy-hook, runs out into the fea, for about half a mile, making an obtufe angle’; and forming within its embrace on one fide, and Staten ifland on the other a beautiful bay- It is very narrow ; and upon it ah handfome light- houfe is built, for the direction of veffels. Crof» fmg this bay, we arrived at the entrance to New York : formed by Staten-ifland on the fouthj and by Long-ifland on the north. Where, on ei- ther ifland, hill and valley, meadows and farms prefent themfelves to the enraptured fight, Soon, v/e paflTed the narrows- — Called fo, be- caufe the high lands of Staten and Long-iflands, approach each other fo much as to make the paflfage’ way not more than a mile wide. Here, during the American war forts were conftrudled; whofe guns could (hoot with certainty, from fhore, to fhore. And now, at the diilance of four leagues, the city of New- York ftretches |nto fight, • ‘ Before arriving at it, we pafled three fmall Iflands j which chequer the profped with beau- tiful ( 8 ) tiful variety. The one the right, contains a- bout thirty acres of ground ; has foine hand, fome elevations upon it, as well as fome hou- fes ; it is called the governor’s ifland ; cuftoin having given him the privilege of receiving the rents accruing from it. The other two if- lands, are on the left. The firli of them, con- tains about fifteen acres of ground, rifmg gi*a- dually frorn the water to a beautiful elevation, in the centre ; it is covered with verdure, and, crowned with an handfome villa fhaded by a few trees. The other, is a fmall ifland ; upon which, there are feveral houfes : which, from the lownefs of the land, feem almoll to bs built in the water. After palling thefe iflands, we came op- pofite the battery ; which is at the extreme point of the town : and is fituated much like that, which was at White Point at Charlef. ton. It has no merlons, or embrafures ; but the guns 'which are thirteen in number) are placed upon carriages on a ftone platform en barbette, fome few feet above the level of the water. ( 9 ) water. Between the guns, and the water h ^ public walk ; made by a gentle decline from the platform : and going round the ground up- on which the battery is placed. Some little diftance behind the guns, two rows of elm trees are planted ; which in a Ihort time will afford an agreeable fhade. The flag ftaff rif* es from the midfl of a (lone tower, and is de- corated on the top with a golden ball : and the back part of the ground is laid out in fmail- er walks, terraces, and a bowling green.— Immediately behind this, and overlooking it, is the government houfe ; built at the expence of the flate. Then in the baclt, ground, was the city of New- York, crowded with excel- lent buildings : and its wharves lined with fhipping, and with people. For the day being Sunday, the inhabitants were naturally invited to the waters edge ; as well for pleafure, as ex» cited by curiofity. Judge then, v/hat were my fenfations in fail- ing up to this city^where^ nature, population, and ( , and art, had ■W’ith a generous hand fpread fo great a colledion of beauties before the eye* I was enraptured with the fcene. And would you believe me when I fay, a wifh efcaped from me, that I had lived at New- York? It did t But I foon recalled the wanderer home, and flew in imagination to Carolina : there, to throw in my fmill exertions for my coun- try’ s good : to which, however imperceptible the thread which binds me niay be, my aflions for its profperity fliall ever tend. And I truftg as long as nature fpeeds the blood warm from my heart, fhall make me true to her interells in politics, and attached to her by undivided affedlion. For, within her embrace are con- tained, almoft all v/hich is dear to me in this life. 1 et my hopes, which are but moderate, but which are pure ; ^ be fmiled upon by favor- ing heaven. Let me enjoy the friendfhip with you, which chance has formed, but which re- fledion has approved— and I Ihall have reafoa to blefs my native land. And with encircling friends at my return take plcafure to fmile away ( ” ) / away the day, fatisfied with the jii.endiau, Carolina? LETTER 4 ' ' ei ( 12 } letter I?.‘ An account cf the City of Ne’w-Tork. Its cm- merce and public buildings. Its library and mu* feura. Its public amujenients. The happy fitii* ation of the Jiale of hsew-Tork refpehling taxes, contrajied icith that of South -Carolina. New-Tork, June 25, 1793. T- O-MORROW, I prcpofe leaving this place, on my rout foi Boflon : and my ftay here, con- trary to miy original determination, gives me a leflbn of v/hich I fhall be mindful in future. V/hich is, never to refolve to leave a place at a certain time ; where, the hofpitality of its in- habitants may perfuade one to the contrary. That, has been my cafe. Having met with un- expected attentions from families and perfcns, to Mdrom, I had no letters ; and whofe acquain- tance \tas not to be obtained but .by a fhort flay. This, was my reafon for not purfuing my deili nation : it ; , not through a ficklenefs of C 13 ) of difpofidon, or in a wild purfuit of pleafure. And this flay, furniflies me with the means, as well as the opportunity, of once more addrelT- ing you before nay departure : and of giving fome account of the city of New-York. Firft premdfing, that you mull not expedt more par- ticulars, than you naay imagine in the courfe of a fortnight, with reafonable enquiries and ob- fervations, I may have obtained. It claims a fuperiority of htuation as a com- mercial city, to any on the continent. Retir- ed, about eight leagues from the fea ; in half a tide, veifels from thence may be moored at its wharves. It is built at the extreme end of New-York ifland, at the confluence of tfie Hud- vfon and Eafl: rivers : and in pofition is much like that of Cha/lefton. On the fouth of it, runs the Hudfon, fome hundred n .lies ; thro* the flates of New-York, New-Jerfey, and at the back of Conncclicut and Vermont; until it wafles itfelf in the country between the lakes Ontario, and Champlain. ' It is the boundary bs^we^n the hates of Jerfey and New-York; and, ( 14 ) and the channel of great wealth to that citya Up this river, Britilh forty gun fliips have fai]« ed fome diftance. Upon the border of it, was Arnold’s and Andre’s plot carried on : and its bofom (which had it been fenfible,' would have fhrunk from fuch a weight of infamy) received the traitor in his efcape to New- York. On the northern fide, is Eaft river ; famous for hav- ing hell-gate on it. We ftiall pafs it to-mor- row. No Sibyl guiding our courfe as Alneas had ■,'* however, I hope not to be lefs fortu- nate. This river communicates with the found, running between Long-Ifland and the ftate of Connedticut : and leads much of the commerce of Rhode-Ifland and Connecticut to this city. The greater part of its wharv^es, are built upon Eaft river : and there, the trade of the city is principally carried on. It is faid to con- tain, U o T E. * Ilant ohfcurt fold fiib no8e per vmhram, JPerque domos Dltis vacuas, et tnanla re^na. tain thirty thoufand inhabitants ; and is cro\vd-» ed with (lores and (hops : the mod of which are in the retail line, though many of them are in the wholefale bufmefs. Quite like an Euro- pean town, there are few articles which may not be here obtained : and that cheaper, than in. Carolina. How to account for this, I am at a lofs : but believe it may in fome meafure be owing, to property in veffels, more punfluality in payments, and (hotter credits. Almod eve- ry merchant, has a property in Hiipping ; hence, in proportion as he gains by the freight, he can afford to reduce the price of his goods. And is not driven to the necedity of putting- an additional advance upon them, in order to compenfate for the expenfe of freight ; una- voidably incurred by the employ of a foreign bot- tom. The common time of crediting the far- mers, is fix months. Added to this, people in a bufy line of life, are fatisfied to live com- fortably : and do not endeavour to equal their neighbours in (how, whofe good fortune it is to enjoy more eafy circumdances. Thus, having fewer wants to gratify, they can afford to fell cheap : and although fometimes they may be ' (low C ) flow in amaffing a fortune, yet In the end they are more fare of enjoying a comfortable and, independent living. Induflry, appears as the leading charafter among the catalogue of their virtues. It directs them, to purfuits, where an harmony of aftion adds happinefs to the indi- vidual ; and rejoices him to fee founded there- on, the ftrength of his country. In honeffc oc- cupations perhaps no Americans are more at= tentive : whether we view them as relating to pcrfeverance, or ingenuity. i^nd I never faw the latter more tried, than in a conteft betw’een two public vendue criers : which, one day, ar- reded my attention in the flreetSi Besides having a flag, denoting it to be auc- tion day, the vendue maflers employ public cri- ers : for the exprefs purpofe of perfuading people to attend the fale. They walk before the door of the audlion room, and drive by all the power of their elccpuence, - to catch the attention of the pading crowd. Seeing two of thefe dreet ora- tors, from oppofite fides of the dreet endeavour- ing to rally perfens around their refpedivc colours 5 (17 ) colours ; the contrail of perfon obfervable ra them induced me to flop for a moment, and obferve the eifedl which it produced. The oncj appeared to be a cold, phlegmatic charadter ; the other, a lively, good looking perfon. The firll, had a routine of language, which he dealt out mechanically, and with much vociferation. The other, ^*ith a brilk lively deportment, while he informed the public w'hat was going pn within doors, loH no opportunity of mixing the dulce cum utile. He fpared his lungs, W’hen he perceived no body coming that way : but when any advances w’ere made towards him, he fpoke, he fang, he looked pleafant, he laughed af his opponent ; and in many cafes, finally carried his point. Whether it were that his auction room were in better requefl, or that his mode of invitation were more agreea- ble ; certain it is, that he attradled a greater number of cullomers, than his unmoving rival. And fuch an advantage, will lively and fenfible charadlers ever have over thofc, who want elaf- ticity in their compofition. d hey catch the public attention, by their manners j and per- fuade ( i8 ) . luade the mind to notice the fubjecl of difcuf^ fioh. < Fr,om eleven to two o’clock, the merchantSg brokers, &c. meet at the Tontine coffee-houfe, in Wall-ftreet ; where, they tranfacl all their concerns in a large way, and where, the poli- tics of the day are confidered. This, is a molt convenient, and large building ; having an ele- gant fuit of rooms, bath, and other conveni- encies. Here, the infurance offices are kept ; blank checks on the different banks, are ready for thofe who m.ay want therri, and every thing in the bufy line tranfacled. When the Ambuf- cade frigate was here, there was a vail throng in this houfe, every evening. It confided of two parties, and was produftive of much op- pofition of fentiment ; which, I believe would ere long have brought them to extremities, had not the cap of liberty, with a motto on it of ^^Sacred to Liberty ” been fixed up in the cof- fee room ; where, it now is. This, quieted the minds as well of the one party, as the other ; and fent to attend upon their family concerns ( 19 ) concerns many men, who were better employ^ ed at home, than in the difcuflion of politics. The flreets of the city are all paved with round (tones, except on the Tides : where, they are generally paved with brick, .or fiat flones. They are irregular. Some, of them being ftraight ; fome, forming almofl a bend of half a circle j others, cutting them acutely ; others, forking, and making a triangular area of houfes. One part of a.flreet, may be wide enough for feveral carriages to pafs ; while another part of it, admits only two with difficulty. The bed ftreets in it are Broad-way, Broad-ftreet, Queen-flreet, and^Wall-flreet. But not withflahding this irre- gularity, there is fomething extremely agreeable in the appearance of the town. The irregula- rities themfelves, ■ tend to make it fo ; particu- lar! y the curves in fome of the ftreetS;: which, confequently do not give the full profpecl at once ; but by degrees unfold it to the view. It is in this way, that Federal-hall opens to the fight, as ©ne walks up Broad-flreet. G At ( 20 ) At the lower end of Broad- way, is the batte« i*y, and public parade ; of which, I have al- ready given you fome account* ^ and I now prefent you with a Iketch of it, as feen from this fpot. While I was taking it, the Ambuf- cade failed by, having a liberty cap oh the fore*' top-gallant-maH; head. I drew it with pleafure, hoping that it would be an ornament to the pi ece : as I trufb every thing, which brings to the mind ideas of focial liberty, and good go- vernment, will be. Overlooking this profpecl, is the governc ment houfe ; placed upon aii handfome eleva- tion, and fronting Broad-'V'ay t having before it an elegant ilhptical approach, round an area of near an acre of ground, enclofed by an iron railing. In the midll of this is a pedellal, which formerly was prefled by a leaden equef- trian flatue of the king of Great-Britain : but having been difmantled of that, for the ufe of the NOTE, * See Page 8 , ( 21 ) the continental army, it now remains ready, in due time I hope, to receive the flatue of the Prefident of the United States of America. , When that period {hall arrive, in addition to the many daily occurrences which lead the mind of the paffenger to penfive refleftion ; this monument of his country’s gratitude fliall call his attention : and while deeds of former times, fliall pafs in fweet review before him, the tear, fliall lament the iofs of an hero — but the heart collected within itfelf, fliall urge him by fo bright an example, to call forth his poi^- crs, and to purfue the fleps of virtue, and of fionor*® A VAST number of houfes have been built in this city, fmce the war j fome of which are extremely o T E. * Sed tamen, ex omnibus pramus virtutis fi ejfet hahendet rafio presmiorum, amplijftmum ejfs pramium gloriam : ejfe hanc tinam, qua Irevitatem vita pojlerltath memorla confolaretur : qua sjiceret, at ahferites adejfemus, mortiil vlverlmus : hanc dsniQue eje, ctijus gradlhus etlam homines in calum vldeantur 0.jcenders^ Cic. 1 ( 22 ) extremely ornamental : and none mors fo, thajj the government houfe. It is tv/o ftories high. Projecting before it is a portico, covered by a pediment : upon which is fuperbly carved in balfo relievo the arms of the ftate, fupported by juilice and liberty, as large as life. The arms and figures are white, placed in a blue field : and the pediment is fupported by four white pib lars of the Ionic order, which are the height of both (lories. Federal-hall, is biiilt upon Wall-flreetj and fronts Broad-flreet, in the fame manner, as the government houfe does Broad- way. This, IS an elegant and grand building ; well adapted for a fenatorial prefence. Flere, I faw portraits of the prefident, of the fecretary of the treafu- ry, and of the prefent governor of this date ; executed by colonel Trumbull as large as life and as far as I could judge good likeneffes. The back ground of the prefident’ s portrait, repre- fents a part of New-York ; and the Britifh fleet failing up the narrows. Here, are alfo a mufe- iim, and library. The library contams about five 23 five thoufand volumes. The mufeum, was fliewn to the word advantage ; being but par- tially expofed, and that, in a very fmail room.*^ At the upper end of Broad-way, fronting an area of three or four acres of ground (which are laid out in public walks, and planted with trees) t NOTE. The mufeum has been fince moved from Federal hall ta the exchange, at the foot of Broad llreet : where, it offers a more cxtenfive gratification to the fpeftator. Among its prefent curiofities is the model (in clay) defigned, and executed by the celebrated Italian artifl in flatuary, Mr. Ceracchl, for perpetuating the memory of American liber- ty. It is made upon a fcale proportioned to one hundred feet in length, and as many feet in height : and fur gran- deur, and emblematical device, is fuppofed would^ furpafg any. thing of the kind, whether ancient or modern. Noth- ing, but the expence attending the execution of it, has impeded its progrefs : that being eftimated at forty thou- fand guineas. — Perhaps, at fome future day, (Itould Mr. Ceracchi be then living, the finances of America may af- fift the completion of fo happy a defign. Here alfo is to ^e feen Mr. Bowen’s wax-work, in the middle of the rnu- ftum. ( 24 ) trees) are fome public buildings ; confiding of % bridewell, a poor houfe, and jail : with its at« tendant the gallows. The criminal is here part- ly hidden by a lattice work ; which, I am led to believe may have a good tendency : as whether the culprit dies bravely or like a coward, thofe around are ignorant of it. The mob goes away, not enlarging upon the fortitude of his death : but commenting upon the certainty of his punifliinent. And thence, drawing inilrudion. for N O T S. feuni. Among which, are thofe of Alexander Hamilton fecrctary of the treafury of the United States, Dr. Frank- lin, and John Hancock, late governor of the common- wealth of Maffachufetts. Thefe, with the reft of the col- leftion, are now placed with an happy tafte in a room fixty feet, by thirty : with an arched ceiling of twenty feet high. The building in which this mufeum is kept, was for- Bierly the public relort of merchants ; and has been long built. It is fupported on arcades, and is ornamented with a cupola ; on the top of which in regal times a crown wa» placed. But that now lies negledlcd, and almoft unnoticed in a corner of the mufeum ; giving way to the’ more plea- fing decoration of a liberty cap. for a moral conduft j not encouragement in a. Ticious one. Near thefe buildings is an hofpital, capable of containing a large number of invalids ; and fome little dillance from it is the college ; where about eighty Undents are at prefent. They have their Undies in the college, but are board- ed out in the city. In addition to the improve- ment acquired . here common to the clalTes of a college, leftures upon anatomy, chymiftry, and other branches appertaining to furgery and phy- fic, are delivered under the direftion of the college ; and I am informed there are about thirty ftudents who now attend them. ScARCEi.Y out of the city, is a very good fliip-yard, fituated upon Eaft river. Y elterday, a Ihip capable of carrying nine hundred bar- rels of rice, was launched from it : and feve- ral more are upon the flocks, one of which is to be an Indiaman. While fpeaking of fhip- ping permit me to mention, that lee-boards are very much m ufe at this place, with all the fmall floops, and other light boats ; particularly with thofe navigating the Hudfon, and attend- ing the ferries. They are a great affillance to them, in failing clofe upon the wind ; and feem by their ufe, much to meet the public approba- tion, I JUST arrived here time enough to be at their concerts, and plays. Their band which is good, has the great addition of Mrs. Pow- nal’s voice ; whom I have heard fmg at the play, the concert, and at Trinity church (St. John’s day.) She may with truth, be confid- ered as a good performer. And although the reverend divine at church, feemed to deliver himfelf with much earneflnefs ; yet fuch was the crowd, that thfe voice of Mrs. Pownal a- lone, arrefted attention ; and claimed the privi- lege of being heard. She is advanced in years; came over from England laft fall ; and ftill re- tains vaft powers in vocal mufic. The com- pany of adfors acquit therafelves very well, and do not Hand in need of much prompting 5 - which- ( 27 ) V/hicli, IS an advantage they have over many in the fame line of life. Good hackney-coaches, phaetons or other car- riages may now be hired at New-York; itis necef- fary however to give fome little previous notice, as they are kept at no public (land ; but only at the houfes of their refpeftive owners. The rides in the neighbourhood of the'city, are for miles beautiful. Every elevation of ground, prefenting fome handfome country feat. — ^With what pleafare, have I often viewed them. They w^ere as much mine at thofe mo- ments, as the real pofTefibrs’. I enjoyed each beauty, as much as they could do : and there was nothing wanting to render my happinefs complete, but the company of thofe who are dear to me. The (late of New-York, is certainly in its prefent fituation enviable j for there are fcarce- P iy f 25 ) ly any taxes levied in it. The flate has fo much money in the funds, that the interefl of it, after paying the expences of government, leaves a balance in its favour*. It derives this principally from the confifcations and amerce- ments, which took place in confequence of the /imerican war. How different, is the fituation of Carolina! • — In fome inflances, the Hate has been obliged to refund the monies received from the fales of confifeated property : in others, to pay the va. lue of the eftates fold. Hence, an addition to the exigencies of government. While her ci- tizens, difpiiited with their e^etrsme lofs of in- indeats j w o T E. * Since the period when the above letter was writ- ten, the accounts of the United States with the individual flates have been adjufted ; by which it appears, that the Hate of New. York is irdebted to the United States in the fum of 2,074,8^6 dollars. And that ihe United htatei are ind>.bted to the ftate of South-Caroliua, ia the fum of doUai'g. ( 29 ) dents ; are ftill oblige 1 to raife tlie enormous annual tax, of forty thoufand pounds Ilciiing; as yet hopelef§ of any redudioii^o A CONTRAST of this nature, fo much to her difadvantage : fo much agaialt the profperity of a country ftanding high in the page of hifto’y, for fufferings during the American war ; throws fuch a gloeni upon n.e, as here to let the cur- tain fall. I'hough not without fiiAl alluring you of my fmcere retneiubrance, N o T r. * The tax levied in S uuh Carolina for tlie year 1790, was* about £ 24,000 ilciiiitgo > 79 U 36,000 40,0 jO 40,009 LETTE?^. ( 3 '^ ) JL E T T E R UL A Vifit to Frejh-Pond. Bojlon, July 3, 1793, ■? I HAVE been led into thefe expreflions, by making an excurficn this afternoon to a plac? called Freih-Pond : being about five miles froci hence. Where, nature has fpread both land and water in foft perfpeftive to delight the eye; and to charm the imagination with improve- ments which might be made on it. It was there, that I faw and converfed with a maid, whofe age, perfon and manners were as much like one who bears the name of , as you may pofllbly conceive. She went and picked a water-lilly and gave it to me ; fweet pledge ( 3 ^ ) pledge of attention ! It now lays on As table before me. Would that I could. nouiidi thee forever, thou bed emblem of innocence. For, how many foft ideas have fwept over my fond imagination, fince I firfc received thee to my 'protection. But, how are tliofe fenfations re- called, quick to a painful point ; when I reileA that the faired forms in nature, and the mod beautiful fioveers of the field, mud die. It lan- guiflies, it dies— And like it die all the fublu- nary profpefts of man 5 leaving not a wreck behind. - It it late; and I am to rife at five to-mor- row, for the purpofe of hearing a poem deli- vered at fix, in honor of the day : which, I make no doubt you will join me in celebrating. May refrefliing tepofe prepare us to hail with ' decent fedivity, and affedionate remembrance, an anniverfary ; w'hich, has placed America on a rank with nations : and caufes her to be ref. peded by the fovereigns of the woiid, LETTER C 32 ) LETTER IV. The Tourih Day of fuly- — how celebrated ai , Bojion. Bofon, July 7, 1793, J BID not go to hear the poem on the fourth inftant, an accident difappointed me. How- ever, at twelve o’clock of that day, I had the pleafure of hearing an oration delivered in com- memoration of the anniverfary of American in- dependence i which, aiforded, jne ample coins Remarkable for the omimon of nothing tending continually to keep alive, pri.iciples of. patriotifm and knowledge ; the inhabitants of Bofton do not fo much celebrate this day by noife, riot, and feailing, as by bringing to the recolleftion of the old, and fpreading to 'the minds of the young, its collefted happinefs. The old, are pabliely called upon to witnefs the penfatioiio ( 33 ) tbe opprelHon, which was the caufe of the A» merican revolution. They, are invited to con- trail the prefent fituation of the country, with former times ; and by a bright countenance, and joyful alfent, to acknowledge how much the change is for the better. 1 he young, are learned the obligations which they owe their parents ; who have been inftrumental in their prefent happinefs. 1 hey, become fired with a love of their country, and enthuhafls in the caufe of foeial liberty. *' Thosr of you my countrymen (faid John * Quincy Adams,* who delivered the oration * uoon that occafion) thofe of you, who were * aflors in thofe interehing fcenes, will beft * know, how feeble and impotent is the Ian- ® guageof this defcription, to exprefs the im- * paffioned emotions of the foul, with which you NOTE. * This gentleman lias been fince appointed minifter rcG- dent from tbe United States of America, to their high anightiiiefles the ftaus general of the United Netherlands, •( 34 } ‘ you were then agitated : yet, it were injuftioe ‘ to conclude from thence, or from the greater prevalence of private, or perfonal motives in * theie days of cal n feyrenity, that your fons ‘ have degenerated from the virtues of their fa- ‘ thers. -Let it rather be a fubiect of pleahng: re= ‘ flection to you, that the generous and difln- ‘ terefled energies, which you were furamoned * to difplay, are permitted by the bountiful in- ‘ dulgence of Heaven to remain latent in the * bofoms of your children. From the prefent ‘ profperous aopearance of our public affairs, ‘ we may admit a rational hope that our coun- ‘ try will have no occaflon to require of us ‘ thofe extraordinary, and heroic exertions, ‘ which it was your fortune to exhibit. But ‘ from the common verfatility of all human def- ‘ tiny, flrould the profpect hereafter darken, ‘ and the clouds of public misfortune thicken, ‘ to a teirmefl; ; fhould the voice of our coun- ‘ try's calamity ever call us to her relief, we ‘ fwear by the precious memory of the fages ‘ who ti iled, and of the heroes who bled in ‘ her defence, that we will prove ourfelves not 3 uiijvorthy of the prize, which they fo dearly purchafed ^ C 3 5 )' • purchafed ; that we will a6t as the faithful dif* ‘ doles of thofe who fo maq-nanimoullv taught A O w O ‘ US the inftrudive ieflbn of republican virtue/* Such, were the fentirtients that day diflem= itiated among an approving audience, by a young man, chofen by the townfmen for that particular occafion. Such, have been the fenti« ments, which for twenty-two years* have annual- ly roufed the citizens to a knowledge of their fitu- ation. And fuch, will be the fentiments, which for times to come fhall I hope arreft their atten- tion ; and imprefs them with the duties of their feveral ftations. Should we trace the medium of patriotifm, , through all its different flages ; and follow it, from the hordes of favageS who roam the wildi unreftrained by the fetters of law, to where, we * Orations have heeri annually deliverei^ in MafTichu- fctt upon the fubjeii of liberty and gjveniment, liaec year 1771. ' ( 3 ^ ) we meet focieties of politenefs and civilization ; we will find, that nothing is better calculated to imprefs this ardor patrise, than the voice of recital and perfuafion, in the face of one’s country. The favage, fings the deeds of his fathers : and round the facred fire, encites the young men to glory. In focieties, games, an- niverfaries and orations, recal continually to re- membrance, the happinefs of the (late, and the virtues of its deferving citizens. Sweet ef- fence of every noble acfion, it is to thee. Fame, that virtuous exertions tend. If man were to die, and be forgotten ; life, would oftentimes be purchafed, w'ith the lofs of honor. “ I v/ill not ‘ blot and defile that which is pafl (fays the illuf- ‘ trious Sidney) by endeavouring to provide for ‘ the future. I have ever had in my mind, that ‘ when God Ihould call: me into fuch a condi- ‘ tion, as that I cannot fave my life, but by doing ‘ an indecent thin? : he fliows me, that the ‘ time is come, wherein I fliould refign it.” Is there a man, who upon thefe public oc- cafions, when every generous emotion is called forth ( 37 ) forth, whofe heart doth not glow wltli feelinp-s too great to tell ? Is there one, who doth not then feel the blood fpeed from his heart ; fpread- ing an applauding blufh over his face : while at times, a chill (hoots like lightning over every part of his body : and an honed pride, fits trembling on his eye ?•— If there be fuch ; he is not born to live with his equals upon earth, ills heart, callous to feeling, is fit ojily to be in the bread of a tyrant~or to vegetate with the continual drudgery of a Have.* LETTER , H O T E. . s- hie niger eft ; hunc tu Komane caveto. Hon, ( 3S ) LETTER V, ^ctjjage frcm New-T'ork to Newport. A^eotmi of that town. Ihe ftiuation of its commerch. Its public amufements. A ride through the [[land: affording ah account of the face of the country. Paffage from Newport, to Pro- vidence. Defeription of the town. Its com- merce. fourney from thence to Bojlon ; and the hofpitality of its inhabitants. ‘ ' Bojlon, July 9, 1793. Mr being in fo complaining an humour when I wrote to you on the third inflant, hindered me from giving any account of what occurred during my coming hither. Such a difpofitioa at that moment, was the caufe of much ego- tifm, which is at no time common with me ; but in which I may indulge, when I can trull it to the bofom of a friend. For, herein con- fifts the eifence, and happinefs of friendlhip. It is in this communication of fentiments, of pleafures and of pains j of profpecls of happi- nefs, ( 39 0 nefs, or impending dorms of misfortune, tha^ an heart rejoices in an union of fouls. By the commerce of friendihip, every fv/eetnefs in life is appretiated : while its foft accents fmooth its uaeafy raggidnefs, mciicrate the bitterneis of misfortune. I WENT from New-Tork to Newport in the 'ihate of Rhode-iiland, by the way of the found ; tvhich, runs between Long-idand and the main, almofl the whole of the way : through the ex- tent of one hundred and fifty miles. Theprof- pedts which every where meet the eye, during this jaunt, are very agreeable. The uneaven- nefs of the illand, alternately rifing into hills, or finking into vailies ; crov/ned with woods or opening fields of agriculture ; are what I am perfuaded would have given you pleafure to have feen. They would have brought to your recol- Jeftlon the place, which it has been my happi- nefs to name, and your politenefs to call “ the Profp:hl and which, I hope now prefents you with an harved flattering to your widies. Thers ( 40 ) TfigRE is lo great an intercourfe between the fever al towns upon this found, and the city of New-York, that it is confequently crowded with veffels : of which, we generally had in fight fifteen or twenty. Before entering upon the found, we paffed through Hell-gate ; ferv- ing to ftrengthen an opinion I had long formed; that obilacles, and dangers in travelling were found always lefs upon trial, than from the re- lations of a traveller. Inllead of much danger and fublimity of fcene, I faw nothing but a tlrong tide, and rocks fcattered along the paf- fage, over which the water rippled. After a fail of twenty-fix hours, we arrived at the town of Newport : fituated on an ifland in Nar- raganfet bay : and having before it a quiet and deep harbour, quite protefted from winds by a fmall ifland w'hich is before the town ; upon which there has been a large fort, for its pro- teftion. At prefent, nothing gives it a military appearance, but the flag : the fort, having been entirely difinantled. The town, is faid to contain about feven thoufand inhabitants. And I am afraid, is ra- th®i' ( 4i ) ther in decline, than in profperity. The wrath of kings, fell upon it during the American war ; and it felt fo feverely the fc’ourge olT their armies and fleets ; that it will be long ere it fliall recover its former profperity. Befides, it has a more ferious difficulty to contend with, in be- ing rivalled of its commerce by the town of Providence ; fituated about ten leagues farther up the country. The inhabitants have lately fitted up a room in the form of a theatre, capable of containing about two hundred perfons : much in the flyle of what Harfiiony-hall was with us. They have a rope-dancer attached to the company, by the name of Placide. I faw him, and his wife, who is an handfome woman, about twenty -two years of age, dance an allemande upon the flage : in which, their bodies were thrown into a variety of pofitions. Some, wherein the fancy might almofl; rage free of controul : others, wherein every elegance of form, was difplayed to an ad- miring aflemblage of fpedlators. They feemed to move by mechanifm, fo eafy were their atti- tudes i, c 4^ y tudes ; and fo fine, the union of aJcftion which feemed to produce them. At this place, is a library houfe : I wifn I could fay a library. But that alas ! has been taken away, by the pilfering hand of the Bri- tilh. Who in this, as well as in other iriflan- ces, carried on war not only againll men, but againfl learning. And like the Goths and Van- dals, fwept every thing before them, which they could poffihly do.' I TOOK a ride through the extent of the ifland, which is about twelve miles long. It is parcelled out every way into fmall farmSj which are divided, and laid out in all directions, by Hone walls. There is not much variety in the fcene. The eye, is thrown around for trees; but in vain. The zephyrs, have no foliage here, upon which they may dance. For the troops of Britain, like the locults of Afric, have withered each tree upon this once happy iiland : and when they departed, left the inha^ bitants ( 43 ) feitants no fhriibs, under whofe fnade, they might reft themfelves in peace. But their in- duftry begins to raife up fome trees, to defend them from the fummer fun ; thouQ;h at a gfeat 'DO expencej as they have them all to buy. And they have need of them. For never did the liliy and the rofe, call for more protedlion; than in this fmall idand. Such complexions are here, as you can only in imagination form ; for, you have never feen any thing like them. It is here, that the fenfualift in beauty muft come, to obtain a gratification of his wifii- es. It is here, that the painter muft diredt his courfe, to copy the greateft excellence of na- ture. Happy ifland ! Happy in holding within your fond embrace, not the leaft perfedt of A-> mei'ican beauty. Let the winds howl over thy lands, too much unprotected from their merci- lefs ravages. Let the fun pour down his moft faturated rays, upon your not the lefs fertile • glebe. Let the fogs, impervious even to the fight, hide occafionally the fruit which Pomona offers to your harvefts. Still, wilt thou have this confolation ; that here Venus arifes from the fea. F ( 44 ) fea^, to rejoice the wondering eyes of mei* Here, file inahes the feat of love ; and here fmiles away the inconveniencies of the day. After flaying at Newport two days, I took my pafiage on board of a packet for Providence; where, I arrived in three hours and an half. And never in a worfe time for ubfervations as a traveller ; it being infafferably hot : and the fi- tuation of the town rather encreaflng it, than orherwife. It is fituated on each fiiore of a nar- row river, along the fide of the hills dowm to the waters edge. Vvhere, the fummer breezes may blow over it in vain ; ferving cnly to tantalize the citizens, with what they cannot enjoy. It is however a fiourifiiing town, and is the pre- fent feat of government : having a bapiifl church with one of the- tallefi: and handfomefl fteeples in Ameiica. It is faid to be two hun dred and twenty feet high. The church is built of wood, and is elegantly fmifhcd in the inhde ; N O T 7 .. * Orta falo, fafeepta folo, patre edita Ccslo. A us. c- 45 ) infide : being illuininated at night by a fu.per& glafs chandelier. The church has been lately repaired and painted at the expence of a Mifs B n ; whofe fo] tune furniflied her with the means, while her inclination prompted her here to return a portion of thofe riches,, which hea- ven had given her. And fweet mull her feel- ings be, when Ihe refledls on this good appro- priation of what is of no value, but as it aiTiils the pleafures of an honell and well-fpent life- E\ch part of the town, is connected by a bridge thrown acrofs the river, the whole width of the fhreet. There are foot way-s on, each fide of it, in which three perfons may walk a- breall t and the carriage way is wide enough for as many carriages to pafs at one time. At night it is illuminated by three lamps on each fide- Upon an eminence within the town, and' tverlookihg it, is an handfome and commodi- ous ( 4 ^ ) ous brick college ;* where at prefent numbers of youth are educated. I had not time to go into it, or opportunities of making any parti- cular enquiries refpeding it. The town is faid to contain fix thoufand in- habitants : four thoufand lefs than Charleflon. And yet it fends three or four Ihips to India in each year ! would to heaven, that we were as much advanced in commerce. In comparifon with the trading towns of the northern and eallern kates, pardon the exprellion when I fay, thofe of the fouthern are but in leading firings. It is a melancholy truth, but neverthelefs pro- per to be known ; becaufe, the know^ledge of a wnaknefs is the firft flep towards the taking meafures, for the encreafe of our ftrength. But it may be faid, do we not enjoy every fweet arifing from agriculture ? Does it not aftord the means of every enjoyment of life ? It af- fords that, w'hich will obtain them ; but with an N e T I. RLode-Ifland college. ( 47 ) •an advance upon goods, which dire£l; importa- tion would fave. And that advance not bring- ing an extra benefit to the merchant ; while it lays on an extra expence, upon the planter. One of the bed principles in government, is to favor agriculture as the firft fource of wealth. To favor commerce in fuch manner, as that while it be nourifhed by agriculture, it fhall not throw unneceiTary buidens upon it. If the fcuthern dates then, have riches and men to fpare, why diould not their veffels ride the ocean, making it fubfervient to their profperity in as great a degree, as their northern neigh- bours ? Does it require an iron bound foil, or northern latitude, to give birth to extenfive commerce ? Believe me, it does not. Noth- ing more is neceiTary than indudry and enter- prife, to enable them to draw treafures from the Indies, and commodities from all parts of the world. It is this, which when united with agriculture, v.'ill make Carolina truly indepen- dent, and place her in a fituation enviable a- mong nations. From Providence to Bodon is a journey of forty miles, and the travelling eafy j owing to the C 48 ) the convenlency of ftage coaches. . At the lat- ter place I am arrived ; where hofpitality feems. to be a national virtue. 1 have been here, fince the fecond day of July, and have never dined at home but twice : and foniedmes, have even breakfafled abroad. I YESTEP-DAY dined with the felect-men of the towm, at Faneuil-hall ; but ihall defer in- forming you upon what occahon, until my next letter : this, I make no doubt being fuffi- ciently tirefome. t herefore, fnall take my leavet at prefent, continuing my wilhcs for your health, and happinefs. LETTER C 49 ) 1 E T T E R Vi„ An account of the public fchools at Bojlon. A defcant upon the blejjhigs which attend patri- ot if ni and religion when rightly enjoyed . . A -contrajl between the date of information polfeff- id by the inhabitants of the commonwealib of Blaffuchufetts, and ihofe of S. Carolina. Bojlen^ July lo, 1793. I MENTIONED in my lafi letter, that I dined with the felecl men of the town, on the ^th inllant. It is my intention at prefent to inform you upon what cccahon it was, and what were the occurrences of the day. You mud then know, that I had been previouily invited by them, to attend the vifitation of their public fchools on that day. Once, every year, they are vihted in this public mannerj befides, being attended at ocher times by a committee; and happy was it for me, that their vifitation took place at that aufpicious mcnient. I ][ enjoyed thereby a pieafure, which perhaps I may never receive again in this place. It is to the honor of BoHon, that its youth are almoil entirely educated in a public man- ner ; and at the public expence. For this purpofe, a proportionate tax is laid upon the citizens fufficient to fapport fchools : where, the poor as well as the rich, have an equal claim to the mailer’s attention, and the benefit of the inllitution : without any additional ex- pence*. They are here cfi'ered by their natu- ral, to their political parent, for the purpofe of being educated ; not, as may fuit the whim of their relations, but, as may tend moll to their country’s good. To view thefe fources of knowledge,’ to encourage the exertions of the fcholars, and to obferve the attention of their MOTE. * I HAVE been informed that the expences attending each fchool in Boilon, exclufive of paper* ink and books, are, Head mailer, 20c that money £-^55 ° Ulher, 100 77 15 6 ( 50 their mailers, was the end of our vifitation. A „caafe, grateful to the feelings of every one who arteuded them. Never, never, were my feel- ings more excited, or my ade6;ioiis and plea* fures more awakened, than upon this occafionL Often, did the tear, that witnefs of fenffoility fpread itfelf like lightning over rxiine eyes ; and fain would I have indulged fo fweet a plea* fure : did it not betray a weaknefs, which, up* on public occafions it were better to avoid. Wrapt up in extacy of thought, I forgot that I was young : my affeclion like that of a parent, embraced all the little ones before me ; while my belt wiihes were offered up for their prof* perltyj The proceliion began at 3 o'^clock, A. RL and confided of the felefl men of the town, the lieutenant governor’**^, and other public olh* cers of the commonwealth ; The vice-prefident of NOTE. * T ri S governor Was too ill to attend. G ( ) of the United States of America : the clergy: confuls of foreign powers ; refpeclable gentle- men of the town ; and ftrangers who had been invited: making I fuppofe near one hundred in number. Our vihts were fcarcely finiilied by 3 o’clock P. M. for we went to feven ditferent fchoois. — Six, for the attainment of ufeful A- merican knowledge j and the feventh, for that of the daffies. The fchool rooms are built at the public ex- pence ; large enough to accommodate two hundred fcholars ; and are oblong. The feats are difpofed along the length of the room, five rows deep on each fide ; rifing one above ano- ther, and leaving a paffiage way in the middle. Each bench is capable of accommodating five fcholars : hence, with a glance of the eye, one may make a tolerably good guefs, at the num- ber which may be prefent. There are generally two of thefe rooms under the fame roof j one below, and the other, above flairs. The one in the firfl floor, is for the education of girls ; and the upper one, is for that of boys. Be not ( 53 ) not furprized, at my mentioning that girls are educated in this public manner. It is the pride, of the citizens, that it is Jo done. They glory in that principle of equality, v/hich directs them here to place their daugh<‘ers. They rededb with fweet fatisfafliion, that here, their youth are trained up to induftry, and focial affedLion and are perfuaded that when they grow up, they will never forget thofe early obligations, receiv* ed from the foilering hands of their country. Sweet fchool for every public virtue !— -It was thus, that Greece fowed thofe feeds of patrio- tifm, which long made her Urine unrivalled, in the hiftory of nations. The acquilition of im- provement was encouraged, by prefenting pre-. miupis and conferring honorary diftindlions up- on thofe who excelled. To gain a prize in the Olympic, Nemean, or Iflihrriian games, was what not only individuals, but kings contended for ; and upon him in whofe favor the decree was given, not only honor was conferred, but his whole family partook of the glory*. Ano N ® T Pott. Antiq. Vol. jift, page 440. C 54 ) And fliould I be allowed to hazard an opi- nion refpecLing American education, I would fay, let the youth grov/ up amidft annual fefti- vals, commemorative of the events of the A- merican war ; and facred to the memory of the worthies, who were fnarevs of its troubles, and have left the llage of life. “ Let them learn to ^ weep over their tombs : to blefs, and to imi- * tate their virtues. Let them know, what hav- ‘ ing thus learned, they never can forget ; .that * the pride of a free man braves all dangers ; ‘ but never ch/iurbs the public order that hu- ^ man blood ought to be lavifhed for liberty, ‘ but ought to flow for no other eaufe ; that war ‘ is horrible, if it be unneceflary : that it is the ‘ repioach of the mercinary, who fells his life ‘ for gold, or for the deteflable honor of cool * barbarity ; but that it configns to immorta- ‘ lity the patriot hero v ho devotes his life for ‘ his NOTE. * In tnuiqullloj tempcftatem auverfam optare, eft. oemer.tis Cic. ( 55 ) his country*.” When education hath enlight^ ened their minds, and this amor pa^rim hath been fully imprinted on their hearts, then, and not until then, may thofe v/hofe circumftances permit, vifit foreign countries. Their connex- ions, will by that time be formed ; and foreign prejudices will not be likely to aiTeft their judg- ments. Departing, not ignorant of their coun,- try’s intereds, they will be prepared by juil contrails of manners, government and poli- tics, to render it fcrvices at their return, and ta heap honors upon themfelves. Children are not admilTible into the pub- lic fchools at Boflon, until feven years old : and they are there educated, the girls until they be twelve, and the boys until they arrive at the age of fourteen. At which time, the poor boys are fumcieiitly acquainted with the necelTary parts of education, to be put out to fome trade ; while the girls, can follow nurluits becoming their diixerent ilations in life. N o 'i‘ E. * D?lcEj ct dcccrara eli, pro patria mon. Hor, C 5^' ) The fchools for the girls, are entirely under the direckions of mafters ; and if I be not mif- trfsen, under thofe who have graduated at fome college. They are here by jufc degrees inftrucl- cd in all the folid parts of an American educa- tion, becoming their fex. I heard the dialogue between Syphax and Juba in the tragedy of Cato, read by feveral of them in the di&rent fchools ; with a propriety and elegance com- manding my greatcil admiration. Poetry and profe, equally call their attention. Whether to foUov/ Pope in his moral eifays on man, or to eonverfe with each other, in the inftructivc reading of dialogues, they exhibited a proficien- cy, which in girls between feven and twelve years of age was lurprifing. Writing and a- rithmetic, claim aifo a portion of their time. And a knowledge of grammar, early imprelTed upon their minds, diredfo the.n to a proper uft of their own language. The bovs were examined in grammar, arith- metic, and geography ; much to their honor and my gratincaticn. They are inltruCfed in aa ( 57 ) ail accurate knowledge of their own countrf^ as well . as in the grand outlines of the United States : and I believe are made acquainted with navigation, and furveying. They excell in beautiful writing. I have feme pieces of their performance in that way, which were prefented to me; and I hope they will be grateful to you al my return. When anyboy difeovers a brightnefs of abilities, and defire of literary knov^ledge^ he is removed to the Latin and Greek fchool t from whence, if he continue to merit the good opinion of his parents, he at a proper time is advanced to Cambridge college. There, to re^ ceive an education, flill at the public expence, as far as relates to tuition. Thus we find, that the paths of Icnowledge are equally open here to the poor, as well as to the rich. Merit, like a beautiful flower, claims attention where- cver found ; is led through all the mazes of early life, to burfl; fortlr in full bloom, and to fpread its beauties upon the great carpet of na- ture. One part of the necelTary education wdilch the children receive, is in the particular care paid C si ) paid to the pronunciation cf their language. That the fcbools in America generally teach the pronunciadon, is true ; but I have never Icnown any to expofe the fiiults Ox^ pronunciation, in fo- forcible a manner aa thofs, which are the fabjeft of the prefent letter. The mailers have for this purpofe, felcfted, by way of illuftra- tion, a number of words generally mifcalled : with which the children are inhruTed to be well acquainted. They are examined upon them, from time to time, and are taught to pronounce tire word firh in its proper way, and then to contrail it with the mode in wdiich it is mifcall- ed. As for exampl 1 i ^ 1^5 Boil, is called Boil, and not Bile. Could, Cou’d, Cciild. Cucumber, Cucumber, Cowcu/iibsr. Certain, Certain, Sartlr. Merchant, Merchant, Marchant. I'Tolalfes, hlclaffes, LaD'es< Onions, Onions, Inions. Oil, Oil, He. Point, Point, Pi'/it. Steady, Steady, Study. It is by fuch means as thefe, which akhotigh iimple * C 59 ) fimple In thenifelves, yet by the forcible light In which the underflandin^ is thereby ftruck, fires in the memory of youth a jufi pronunciation of their language : which, in all probability will ever afterwards attend them through life. We fhould not only be acquainted with the. fmooth feas, but fhould know where Scylla and Charyb- dis lie, that we may avoid them. For depend upon this truth, that although it be a good thing to know the proprieties of life, yet, it is alfo ufeful to be fo much acquainted with the improprieties of that flation, as to enable us by a juft contraft, and film conviclion, to em- brace the one, while we rejed the other. From the examination of the Englilh fchools we paffed to that of the Latin, and Greek; confifting of about fifty fcholars. Before the examinationbegan, a falutatory oration in Latin, was delivered by a young gentleman of the fe- nior clafs. After which, an examination took place, upon the Latin and Greek grammars,. Clarke’s introdudion, Virgil, Horace and Ho- mer. Then, a dialogue in Latin, was deli- H vered ( ) s'C'red by tbe fenlor clafs. After which a vale- diclory oration in Englifh was pronounced by one of that clafs, who bids fair to rife in lite- rature. He is the fon of a biackfmith, educa- ted at the public expence : and defervedly ri- nng, from meriting the favor of his country- men*. ' May he continue to do fo. And ne- ver abufe the confidence of his fellow citizens, which from time to time he may enjoy. The number of children which we faw at the different fchools, inclufively amounted to ele- ven hundred. I am informed, that there are about fourteen hundred educated at the public expence in this place. Many of them are chil- dren of genteel families ", but by far the greater part, are poor children. The examination at every fchool, ended with an etihorlatioji^ and a prayer ; delivered by two gentlemen N O T E. - * I underftood t!iat in confideration of his talents, the LhiJh-ir.en had preiented him with a fmall annuity ; to ccatiuuc duiing his cuHegiate term of education. ( 6i } i|entlemeii ot the clergy facceffively^ tiow great -rci influence theie had upon the hearers, !s not for me to lay. But for niyfeif, I enjoyed a piearure' of devotion and patriotifm, v/hich tannot be defcribed. S-veet aiTeinbiage of two of the greaLeil bieuings to man, vhen- righdy erdiOped ! But ddien abufed, the greateil curfe which can befall him> How often, have thofe fpringS of action, mu" ufed, fwept, as with a broom of deflrudion, nations from the face of the earth ? At this raO'^ ment, Europe is foaken, and deluged with, blood Sovving from the oppohtldn of palllonS unredrained, and pointed with all the feverity of malice, and revenge. Devoted to tln da- ted Cape-Francoii. ( 63 ) tvlll obferve, that public ones, are not -confined to the town of Bofton alone ; they are extend- ed throughout the commonwealth of PvfafTachu" fetts. Equally careful of the morals, as well as of the education of youth ; religion and tui- tion, go hand in hand throughout its extenL The commonwealth is divided into townlhipg, •which are fimilar to our parifhes, and counties’ and each townfhip confiding of fifty houfe holders or upwards, is obliged to have and fup- port a minifter of the proteftant religion, and a fchool IT. after. And when they have one hun- dred families or houfe holders, they are obliged to have a grammar fchool for the acquifition of the languages : under a penalty recoverable at the court of quarter feffions, in cafe of default*. The N O T Ei * The hw refpeamg this fuhjea, may Ic 'usorth the rea^ der s conjlderation ; it is as Jailors : Laws of Maffachufett’s Bay. 4th year of William and Mary. Chap. X. page i 7. At?, jor the fettlement and fupport of minijlers and fchool* maflers. Be it otdaired, &c. that the Inhabitants of each town Within this province ftiall take due care from time to time. C 64 ) The corTequcncc is, that; a’tliough in this coun- try every body be not learned ; yet nobody is ignorant, and fevr are idle.- They are trained t.? N' O T F. C O N T i N U E D. to be conftnn'c'y provided of an able, iearrled, orthodox mi- irider, or miniUers, of good conveiT.cron, to difnenoe tbe word of God to them ; which minifttr or minifters Hiail be faitnbly encouvrged, and fuihcier.tiy' fupperted and main- tained by the inhabitants of fueii town. And all contracts a'rreements, and orders heretofore made, or that (liall here- after be made by the inhabitants of any town ’ ithin this province, refpefting their miniitersor febool mafters, as to their fcttlement, or maintenance, i!itants of fuch town refpeftivcly, ihalitake efFeclual care, to make due provifion for the fettlement and maiiitenanye of fuch fchool-mafter and mailers. And if any town, qunlif.ed as before exprefied, fliall ncg- kdt the due obfervance of this aft, for the procuring and fet- tling of any fuch lehool-mafttr as aforefald, by llie fpacc of one year : every fuch defcAIve tov. a fnall incur the penalty cf ten pounds, for every corivifhlon of fuch ncgledt : itpon complaint made to their nerjefties’ jrillices in quarter felfions, for the fame county In which fuch defective town lieth; which cenalty ftiall be towards the fiipport of fuch fchool or fchoois within the fame county, wheie there may be malh need, at the diferetion of the judices In quarter feSona : to be levied by w anant from the fald court of feiTions, in proportion, upon the inhabitants of fuch defedhive town, as other public charges and to be paid unto the county treafurer. ( n ) that they generally devote thofe days to reading- religious books, the public laws, and the newf- papers*. Do you think it an eafy matter to eri- have fuch a people ? or to abufe public trulls with impunity ? Whoever does, muH be as much mified, as were the Britiih mlniftry ; w'ho under God’s bleffing, were the mean of breaking our fubjedion to Great-Britain. \ With fuch inhabitants, a country is really ftrong. Taught to know their own rights, they are indignant of injin'y ; and are ever on the watch, to detecl mal-adminifcration in go- vernment. Property, reputation, and life, are fafe in a country like this : for none but well informed juries can give judgment refpecling them. Not fuch as you, and I, have feen — None of whom could write ; and the foreman barely able to fet his miaik to a general ‘vcrdid. I biufn, for the fituation of tbofe^ Vv^hich has enabled NOTE. * It is fiippofed that at lead th.irty thoiifand Newfpapers are circulated each week throughout the New-Englaud dates. ' Morss. I enabled me to fay this. But it is too true. And that it may fpeedily change for the better j that they may become more induflrious, and better informed ; that both religion and edu- cation may -walk the round in Carolina, pro- ducing as happy elfecls as they have done in Maffachufetts ; is the fincere Vvifh of your af- fectionate friend. C 69 ) LETTER VII. Arrival at Portfmouth, in ths State of New- Ham.pjhire. A defcription of the town. Re- commended as an agreeable abode, during the fummer months. A fowling and fifhing party. A converfation refpehling the connexion between the Southern mid Eajlern States. Mention ?nade of Dartmouth College, and a linen and cambrick manufactory. A fimilar one recom- mended to he ejlablifned at Winnfoorough in the State of South-Car olina. Account of the road between Bofon and Portfmouth : leading to a defcription of a bridge ovl r the Merrimack Ri- ver. Portfmouth, fuly 2o,_ 1793.' T HAVE been here fince lad Monday, and fliall return to-morrow to Bofton. V/Iiat.a contraft do I experience in being af the latter place, and at this. There, a continued clatter is kept up throughout the day, by carriages roiling upon the paved ftreets : here, a calm, and quiet reigns, inviting one to every mental gratification. ( 70 ) gratilication. At this moment, while I ar* writing, do I enjoy the mufic Ox^ two hemp birds : undillurbed by a noify town. At one time, they feem to hold converfe with each other ; at another timm, they feem to ftrive Vvhich can fmg loudeft, and with the greatell: variety of notes. How much like two friends travelling together in the path of human life. Alternately, enjoying the fweets of friendfliip ; or, following the impulfe of a well directed 'ambition. Tins, though a fmall town, contains about hve thoufand inhabitants. Its ftreets are not ' paved, except occafionally on the fides. Its harbour, is one of the belt in the United States: for although not large, yet it can boaft of a great depth of water. Ships of any burden, may lie at its wharves, protected from wind by the belt landdocked harbour, which I have feen. The town is retired about a league from the fea, and is fituated upon Pifcataqua River J which may be more than a quarter of a mile wide. And from its occalional windings among the 4 ( 7^ ) the hdghts, and the extreme force of the tide, running at the rate of feven knots an hour, and forming very ftrong eddies, becomes extremely difficult of accefs to a belligerent fleet. In fo much, ' that although many of the Britifir firips during the American war were occafionally at the mouth of the river ; yet, none of them dared attempt the paffage to the town. The tide here rifes about fifteen feet,’ which is the caufe of the great velocity with which it runs. And its quicknefs, why it is never frozen up ia winter : which gives an evident advantage over fome ports in the northern and eaftern ftates of America. The harbour, is quite defiitute of ffiipping' at prefent ; there being not more, than three or four fail in it. All their vefiels and failors being engaged at this time either on freight, or in the filliing trade. Thirty fail have been in- vited from hence fouthv/ardly, by the high freights given in confecuence of the prefent European war. And this vafl demand which is at prefent for ffiipping, is one reafon, why dierq ( r- ) tiiere reigns here, fo great a calm ; and why fuch a vah number of women are feen, entire- ly difproportionate to the men. At this place during our flruggle for inde- pendence, a feventy-four gun fhip called ‘ The America^ was built ; and prefented by Congrefs to the king of France. She is now in the French navy : and has been lately in aftive fervice in the Well -Indies. For the building of this fliip, the public w^ere indebted to the fpirited exer- tions of John Langdon* ; whofe unceahng. perfeverance overcame difficulties, w'hich en- tirely fruflrated the attempts of others, in ft- milar cafes. Here, bleffed with a fine fummer climate, one may enjoy a facial retirement ; very fimi- iar to that of a country life. A genteel houfe, with note. * Now a fenator from the ftate of N. Hampihire, ia the Congrefs of the United States. ( 73 ) with a garden, carriage houfe and appurtenan- ces may be had at the rate of thirty pounds fterling per annum. A large frcflr cod-filli ca- pable of dining four or five peffons, may be bought for as many coppers. A fat turkey for a quarter dollar, and meats upon as cheap a fcale. Indeed, I have neyer met with a place, where fo many circumllanccs combined to form an a- greeable retreat. Should filhing, or fowling fometimes be an object of recreation, by going to the mouth of the river, one is furnilhed with both. The other day, I went down to an ifland with a fowling party ; and by jufi; fianding up- on one fpot, and {hooting at pidgeons as they flev/ over our heads, we killed many dozen. Sometimes, •! would defeend from the hill up- on which I was placed, into the valley ; in or- der to fee fame men catch pidgeons with a fpring net. This is very amufing ; and equal- ly fuccefsful. I will endeavor to deferibe to you the manner, by which they are taken. Two or three men, after having . provided thcmTelves with a proper net, two or three flut- ter ( 7-4 ) ter j iJ^eons, and one or two fliers, arrive at die proper ground before day ; where, they prepare for adion. For this purpofe, they firiL erect a fmall fln-een of bufne^in a circular form. '1 hen, they fet the net : which by lines commu- nicates to the fnreen. d'hey then place under the fw?ep of the net, but upon the ground, the flutter pidgeons ; (fo called from being fixed to a flutter flick, which by reafon of a ftring com- rnunicating to the flereen, they raife up and down, whdi the pidgeons are flying over) and have the flier pidgeon ready on a roofl, tied to the flereen by a long firing : the eyes of all ihefe decoy pidgeons, being firfl fewed up. As foon as the men perceive a flock of pidgeons coming ever, they immediately throw up the flier : which flies to the extent of the ftring, and then falls down. This, draws the attention of the pidgeons, and they immediately light within the fweep of the net ; enticed there, by the decoy flutter pidgeons. The fpiing line is then drawn; and they are covered with the net. And in this way, as many as thirty do- zen have been caught at once. Aftls. ( 75 ) After aniuling ourfelves in this niannfer from five to eight o’clock in the morning, we went a fiftiing. And although our lines were In bad order, we in the courfe of an hour c;aught two fine codfiPn, and between one and two hundred other fifii. When the Prefident of the United States was here, inftead of w^ed* ding the fea as the Doge of Venice does, he may be faid to have received a tribute from it j for, I am informed, he caught a coifirh him- felf, when indulging in orie of thefe parties. The connexion between the individual llates of the union, formed the other day a fubjeft of converfation in a company, where I was pre~ fent. Many, were the opinions delivered ref- pecting it : but none more Wmrthy of remark than what an efteemed political character, whofe acquaintance I have the honor to enjoy, faid upon that occafion. “ I told my friends ‘ B r, and I d, what they would not ‘ then, but now begin to believe ; that the fouth- * ern ftates were clofely connefted in interefts * with the eafiern. The one has a great deal of K ‘ firippingj ( 76 ) ® dipping ; the other, a quantity of produce. ® Hence, they are mutually dependent ; the one, * for fnips : and the other, for freight. Parti- * cularly at this time, when, owing to the pre- * fent European war, American velfels enjoy ‘ much of the carrying trade. We are in a fi- - * tuation, which enables us to build Ihips cheap- ‘ er, than can be done in the fouthern ftates. ‘ And is it then an objeft of no importance to ‘ be on a friendly footing with a country capa- * ble of fupplying a want of velfels, at a fhort ‘ notice, and upon reafonable terms ? Is it an ob- ‘ jedt of no importance, to be carelefs about ‘ the produce of a country, w'hich gives life ‘ and fpirit to navigation ? Or, can the interclls ‘ of the fouthern Hates in that particular fuffer; ‘ without materially injuring thofe of the eall- ‘ 'Em r’ He fpoke truth. Try the probable adtions of men in all ages, by this tell ; and one can draw a juft conclufion. They have fchools in this ftatc fimilar to thofe in Malfachufetts ; and alfo a college*, NOTE. * Dartmouth College. fituatcd C 77 ) fituated on Connecticut river , a.t tne extreme interior part of the ftate : winch, is now rifing into refpedability.. At Londonderry, a town retired about forty- miles from the fea, is a tolerably extend ve linem and cambrick manufaftoryj where much of thofe fluffs are made ; and of a tolerable fmcn nefs. For this, they are indebted, to fome Irifh who fettled it : and who, wherever they go, generally carry this ufeful knowledge with them. Why, cannot we have fuch a manufac- tory at Winnfborough ? Its lands are fuited to the culture of flax ; and its country peopled by a vadt number of Iriflr inhabitants. Let but fome perfon of enterprife and fortune, aflifl the attempt ; and I am deceived, if the farmers thereabouts, will not find it more to their ad- vantage, than their prefent purfuits in agricul- ture. By this mean, their flrength will be call- ed forth ; and even their children when- a little advanced in years, will aSbrd them an artonifh- ing affiflance. While, exclufive of the flax for the manufaflory, their annual income in money, wiM C /S ) will be e;ncre^fed by the fale of the feed. Need I fay that the community at large, would be thereby benefited? No one who ever in- dulged a thought refpeding exportation, and manufaclures, can do otherwife than approve the encreafing of both the one, and the other. The whole w^ay from Bofton tO Portfraoath, is a thickly populated, and w'ell cultivated coun- try ; the road is perhaps one of the fiuefl; in the United States. You pafs from farm to farm, from village to village, and from town to town, in quick fucceffion. Some few miles from Bof- ton is a fmall village called Lynn ; celebrated for the vad quantities of (lioes made there for exportation. The fhoe-makers Ihops, are al- mofl equal to the number of dwelling houfes in the town. The road leads through the town of Salem, Beverly, and Newbury-port : which, for riches and commerce, have a right to be confidered as feme of the mod refpeftable towns in America. Two or three miles beyond Newbury-port, is ^''i-' . ■ ^ \ '*■' ■ ■„ . '. -I ■ '.t ■i '>1 ' ■■ '.■' „ jr< ( 79 ; Is a beautiful wpoden bridge of one arch, throvra acrofs the Merriinack river ; whafe length, is pfie hundred and fixty feet ; and whofe height, is forty feet, above the ieyel of high water. For beauty and ilrength, it has certainly no equal in America : and I doubt whether as a wooden bridge, there be any to coinpare with it elle- where. The ilrength of the bridge is much cncreafed above the common mode in ufe, by- pieces of timber placed upon it, and Ihouldered into each other, They run upon the bridge, in three lines j parrallel with the length of the bridge, and with each other ; fo as to make two diilintt paifage-ways for carriages, 'i hefe bra-> ces, are fo me feet in height, and are connedled on the top by crofs pieces . affording fuiHcient room for carriages to pafs underneath, without inconvenience. It is faid, that the upper work has as great a tendency to fupport the weight of the bridge ; as the ileepers, upon which it is built. I had not time to flay there longer than five minutes ; fo muil be excufed in a fixetch which I have taken of it: and that was not done upon the foot, but only by recolleflion. li in fo doing, I ihoul J perfuade others to en- quire^ r ) quire more pardcularly refpcctlng It ; anJ to adopt what may be good in its mechanifm ; my objeQ; will be gratified. The river, over which I it is built, is fubjecl to freflies : it is therefore Ifigh from the general current of the water : ■ and as being proper for that, I apprehend would not be unfuitable to fimilar rivers in Carolina. L E T T E R C 8i ) LETTER Vm. Account of the liumane Society at Bcjlon, fsr ihg relief of Jhip-'vjrecked perfons. The Society vifii the huts upon the {/lands. Character of the clergy. A defer iption of Ca/ile-William. Con- •vids fent there to labor: not benefiting their morals* JCefcription of Bojlon. Taxes, Hac k- my coaches. Trades and manufactures. Ibe Mall. The Column. The to^n of Cambridge^ end Harnsard College. The tivo bVidges over Cbarles-River. Bojlon., Augufl 4, 1793* I DOUBT whether there be any country, where the wants of the unfortunate are more refpecled, than in the commonwealth of Malla- chufetts. Ker. foftering hand leads the youth into life ; and is afterwards ready to be extend- ed, when any unfortunate emergency may offer- Of their inftitutions for the relief of misfortune, there is none which affords me more fatisfaclion than one for the affiftance of ffip-wrecked peo^ plej C S2 ) pie ; called the Lluinane Society, It is fcrrhed by fome of die raofl refpectable men of the town, its well clergy, as laity. From whofe fund, fmall huts are built upon the iflands mod expo- fed to lliip- wreck, for the relief of thofe, whofe good fortune may bring them to laud, efcaped from the dangers of the fea. \ These huts, m‘e generally placed upon un- inhabited iflands : and are furnifhed wit r blan- kets, wood, tinder-box, candles, fait provifi- ons, bifcuit, and fuch other things, which al- though not the luxuries, are yet the necelfaries of life. They are vifited once every year, by the fociety, and fuch gentlemen as they may choofe to invite : for the purpofe of feeing whe- ther the hut, and necelfaries placed in them, are in good order. It was my good fortune to be of the party, which went down the harbour upon that occaficn. We were in number about forty ; and failed in a packet, attended by a handfome twelve oared bar2[e. Such is the re- fpedf paid to this fociety by the government, that upon ihefe occafions it is always honored by ( S3 ) by a federal falute of cannon, from the caflle; as well when going, as when returning. This we had the pleafure of receiving j in addition to the fweet approbation of an honeff heart, and well directed purfuit. And believe me, w'hen I conhder it as one of the moll rational days, paiTed fince I left you. I am informed that thefe huts have already been the means of having to the commonwealth, the lives of many of its ci- tizens ; W'hiie the fociety judicioufy diifributes rewards to thofe, whofe enerllons have ferved the difiirefledi It was upon this occalion, that I became ac- quainted with feme of the mofe refpedtabie cler- gymen of the town. Men, whofe liberality of fentinlent, and refpedability of manners wen hiy efteem. I have -ever drawn near v/hen op- portunities allowed, to men of erudition •, and particularly to thofe cloathed in the garment of religion. And when I found them pleafed to difeourie upon fubiefls which might afford me information, I ioff not the opportunity of at- tending to them. It was my happinefs to be L thus ( ) thus fituated. Inflead of exhibitingr countenan- ces, which feemed to frown over the vanities, and even amufements of life ; and to defpife every thing, which wore not the forbidding and felf-denying afpeft of puritanical religion ; they appeared gentle in manners, and focial in com- pany : without defcending from that dignity of deportment, in which their calling direbts them to move. It is with fuch monitors, fuch CL'in- panions as thefe, that I would gatner the flow- ers of religion : and that 1 would pafs through the meads of life, with grateful thanks to a bountiful God. While the fanatic fhall weep through the misfortunes of life, let me, confci- ous that the fmiles of creation are more accept- able to heaven than its tears, offer up my thanks tvith a grateful, but not the lefs fmiling adora- tion. Satisfied, that as the fields enameled with flowers, afford more pleafure, than when they are covered with fnow ; fo a cheerful, and con- tented mind, is befl fuited for the thanks, which either the illiterate or learned can pay. I D!D not omit paying a vifit to Cafflc-Wil- liam. It is fituated in the harbour of BofloUj a league ( 85 ) a league below the town : upon an iflanJ con- taining about thirty acres of land. There is a beautiful archipelago of hlands in this harbour^ in number, amounting to about forty ; all of which, have high grounds upon them. Upon the height of one of thefe iflands, the caftle is placed. In fome parts of it, there is a hone foundation ; but in others, the height of the land is only aiShed with ramparts,, and merlons of turf. I am informed, it was formerly fur- Hifned with three tier of cannon. The nrh conhhing of heavy ones, placed at the waters edge ; and the other two upon platforms at the K embrafures. But now, they are placed upon the muddle battery, except thirteen fmail ones, wTucli being round the flag-haft en barbette, ferve for the purpofe of faluting. The cahie is very much out of order at prefent ; the plat- forms and carriages for guns, being much in- jured by the weather. However, even in its prefent htuation it is very reipedlabie : and is. well provided with mortars, cannon, bombs, ball, and clonble-headed fliot. f rom its near htuation to the channel, its guns can flioot with much ehect, upon velTtls pafling to, or from the ( 8P ) the tov/n. Here, I faw an eighteen pounder, tvhich the Britifh had difabled of its trunnions, re-mounted and fit for fervice, upon a carriage, invented for that particular purpofe. It is made of white oak, and is fmd to anfwer very well. There are now v.dthln the caftle, barracks edual to the lodgement of a thoufand men ; be-, fides many buildings upon the ifland, without its gates. The ground- within the earth, is in- terfected at proper diftances by covered ways: and the magazine is protected from accidents. Here, are now mounted about thirty pieces of heavy cannon, befides feme fmaller ones. It is, gairifoned by a company of infantry upon pay, at the expence of the commonwealth ; who alfo guard the convicts here fent, conviicted of crimes deferring puniPnment lefs than death. They are condemned to labour for a certain term of years, or for life : of whom, feventy are now on the iiland, chiefly employed in the nail ma- nufactory. I WENT into the blachfmiths fnop, which is a long hQ-: " V. . 1 . ■ . .7 V.. -J ■;>.•.>"• •. , ' ' "i '••. ( \y.*^ • ( 8 ? ) long building, with feveral forges in it ; but, I aifure you I was foon glad to leave it : for never was I atracked by fuch a fet of importunate fturdy beggars in my life. I had no opportuni- ty of making any obfervatlons, or alking any quellioris ; fo inceffantly did their fhamelefs de- mands wring in mine ears. I haltened from a place, where I faw there was nothing to be gained ; and much, to be loft. For, although it be a pleafure to me in' refledling, that I have never in my life withholden aftiftance from the unfortunate ; yet it is alio my fatisfaflioa to avoid throwing it away upon the undeierving. In the midft of fuch a confufion of tongues, of entreaties, and of oaths ; it was impofiible to make any difcrimination. While fome were begging, others, were as earneft, that nothing fltould be given them: charging the, : with being unworthy of charity — Dilguftc' at the fcene, I left them to the punifhmenr which their crimes had defervedly brought du vn, up- on their heads. This, is the effedl of the humane la s of this country; puniihing few crimes tv death. One ( S8 ; One would imagine that Mr. Howard’s plan of punifirment, were the original, from whence they w^ere copied ; fo much, do they coincide with it. “ I would w'i/h (fays he) that no per- fons might fufFer capitally, but for murder^ for fettivg houfes on jire^ for hoiife breakings “ attended with acls cruelty . The highway- man— -the foot-pad — the habitual thief, and ** people of this clan : fliould end their days in ‘‘ a penetentiary houfe, rather than on the “ gallows.” * The manner in which the convicts are kept at the cahle, may be polidcally right : but, it certainly is morally v/rong. For placed in this public manner to an ignominious fiavery, under no controul but that necelfary for their imme- diate fafety ; they become callous to every prin- ciple of fliame : while their greateft pleafure is to boad of the feats they have performed ; claiming N O T . E. Howard’s State ofPrifons, p. 42. C 89 ) claiming pre-eminence among their fellow fuf- ferers in proportion to the rafcality of their for- mer lives. I know a gentleman of this town, whofe houfe was robbed at mid-day of feventy guineas, by one of thefe fellows : and being fome time afterwards at the caftle he was accoft- ed by the fellow, and alked, “ Whether he had “ ever known who had ftolen the money ?’* Upon the gentleman’s anfwering in the nega- tive, he faid “ He had done it and then re** lated with much fatisfaftion the manner in which he had performed fo gallant an aftion. Can thefe men, ever be of fervice to fociety a** gain ? Can principles of honor, fhame or fear^ ever reftrain within proper bounds their licenti- ous aCtions ? Reafon, feems to revolt at the idea. They are publilhed to the world as vil- lains, know themfelves as fuch : and are even ambitious of deferving the charafteti They cannot then be placed here to benefit their morals, and recall them back to a virtuous life : for it is evident, their fituation has a con- tsrary tendency. Ihe old^ here glory in their villainy 5 C ) Viuainy ; and the young, in being mixed with them, are only fent to be inftrudled in vice. It muft therefore be juftified upon policy ; and that can only properly relate to thofe, who are condemned to be there for life. They muft be confidered as having forfeited all claims of protection from fociety ; which, fnould be fcreened from their further depredations. Not, by inflicting death : for as I have faid before, their laws do not require it. But by con- fining them from opportunities of doing farther mifchief ; and making that confinement bene- ficial to the community, which, they hare injured. A Stranger at Boftori, foon remarks the induifry of its inhabitants ; and their attention to bufmefs. While, he laments that fo noted a town in the page of hillory, \vere not regu- lated by a better police. It is under the con- tro'ul of feleCl-men, as indeed all the other towns of the commonwealth are ; but their powers, are too much abridged by reafon of their town meetings, to undertake any thing of ( 3 ^ ) of efScIency, without having recourfe to the opinions of a multifarious affenibly. Few lamps afiifl the paffenger through the llreets by night, and if ever they were neCelTary in any place, they certainly are in this. For the llreets are crooked, and nairow ; paved from fide to fide with round Hones, extrem.ely difagreeable, and inconvenient to thofe who walk them ; and for this reafon, llrangers are more apt to ride about this, than any other town on the continents In many llreets there are no railings or polls, to defend one from the carriages, which are incef- fantly traverfing them. Carts, waggons, drays, trucks, wheel -barrows, and porters, are conti- nually obflrufling the paflage in thefe llreets : While, the people concerned in this kind of bufmefs, are not apt to put themfelves out of the way, for the pleafure of conferring favors. They feein fo confcious that all men are equal, that they take a pride in Ihewing their know- ledge of this principle upon every cccafion, ’without adverting to its ufs, I have feen a por- ter with a little hind cart purfuing his dcHina- tion in the llreet, with the utmoH nnconcern ; at the rilk of being crippled, or having his cart M crulhed ( 92 ) cruilied to pieces by a carriage which was thun« dering in his ears. And having efcaped mif- fortune, he reviled the coachman, and alked him if he did not fee him ? The fame queilion might have been retorted in anfwer, with the addition of ‘ did not you hear me ?’ Nothing, but the moftfullen and unaccommodating difpo- fition, could have hindered him from giving way to a carriage ; which could turn afide lef* eafily, than he might have done. There cannot be a greater nulfance in any town, and particularly in this, than the allow- ance of huckfters, to occupy part of the ftreets, during the day. Either the overfeers of the markets and ftreets, are not invefted with fuffi- cient powers to remedy the evil ; or fome rea- fon, of which, I am uninformed, forbids their putting them in force. One would imagine, that with fuch heavy taxes as the Boftonians la- bour under, much more, might be done for their convenience. It may truly be faid, that they arc taxed, not by what they are worth : but by what their appearances in life arc. Hence, C 93 ) Hence, the reafon, why fome monied men among them, make no fhow ; and are without noife continually amafling wealth, and confin- ing it within their immediate grafp, to the dif- advantage of the fociety at large. "While others of more generous difpofitions, are called upon to pay a much larger tax, than they fliould in juilice do. The taxes are impofed by affeffors upon their eflate, ftock in trade, and in the funds : and unlefs the citizens prove to their fa- tisfaflion, that they do not polTefs a fortune e- qual to their affeffment, they are obliged to pay the tax. This publication they are unwilling to make, particularly mercantile men : who deem it improper that perfons might thus be inform- ed of their private circumllances. Hence, fome refpedable and rich citizens have left the town : an example, which may be followed by others, fhould this fyftem of taxation not be al- tered. No place in America is perhaps equal to Bof- ton, for excellent hackney coaches. From nine o’clock in the morning, to the fame hour in the evening. C 94 ) evenmg, they are cn the fiancl in State*ftreet and are ready at a moment’s warning. All kinds of trades, flourifh in this induC; trious place. Among their manufadlureSj there are none more worthy of being noticed, than that of glafs, wopl-cards, fail-duck, and fiiliing-hooks. The machines for the making ' of the wool-cards, is extremely ingenious ; and faid to be invented by an inhabitant of the town. It is fuppofed to be fuperior to any thing of the kind in Europe. Every piece of the wooden work, is falhioned out by a parti- cular machine ; fo that the utmoff uniformity is obfervable among the different parts of the wooden work. The wires, are cut and bent, at the fame time ; which is confidered as a great and expeditious improvement. The duck ma- nufadory carries on a vaft deal of bufinefs 5 and fupplies much of the flipping with fails. It employs three hundred and fixty perfons ; fe- venty of whom are girls ; and works twenU*- feven looms. The importation of fail cloth has been greatly reduced, fiuce thus manufac- ture ( 95 ) ture has been eftablilhed ; in fo much, that a gentleman who had been in the habit of annually importing four thcufand pieces of fail cloth from Ruffia, informed me, he now only imports two thoufand, from that place. Exclusive of the pleafure arifing, from fee- ing the profperity of individuals, a fatisfadion. is enjoyed, when viewing thefe public benefits. They, fhould ever be encouraged by the public favor, as being intimately connefled with a country’s independence. It is time, that we fliould begin to throw off the Ihackles, of a too long monopolized commerce. The United States, within their embrace hold every thing, \^ich the neceffaries of mankind, or even fome of their luxuries demand. They only wait to be brought forth, by proper means. It is their policy, to encreafe the articles of exportation ; and to reduce thofe of importation. Thus, the balance of trade will be in their favor j and that not in goods, but in money. It ( 9 ^ ) Iris not the flatefman, -who fupinely pafling life away, and barely leading forth adventitious fources of aggrandizement to a (late, that de- ferves its praife. It is he, whofe daring and penetrating fpirit, o’er leaps the bounds of op- pofition : that merits the plaudits of his coun- tyvmen. It is to the exertions of fuch m-en, that countries may arife to that knowledge, flrength, and importance in a fhort time ; •Vfbich, in the common courfe of things, muH; wait for the return of centuries to obtain. Hap- py for America, Ihould fuch men come forward in her fervice. Still happier, lliould party fpi- Tit, or low minded jealoufy, not check or era- barxafs their patriotic exertions. There is a public walk in Eoflon, called the mall : which is very agreeable. It is up- wards of half a mile long, and offers to your choice both a gravel, and a turf walk ; {haded by beautiful elm trees. A ilreet runs parallel with it on one fide ; and on the other a large common ; where hundreds of cattle feed during the day. This common on the further fide, ( 97 ) tifes up to a confiderable height. At one end of the walk is a profpeft of a large bafon of water, Roxbury town, and Charles river : at the other, the town of Bofton, and column upon Beacon hill. This column has been lately ercfled, in commemoration of remarkable events which took place, during the American war : and in honor of its prefent efficient government. It is about fixty feet high : crowned on the top with a golden eagle Handing upon a globe, and overlooking the arms of the United States. This fpot, is the highefl elevation about Bofton. From it, may be feen over the tops of all the houfes, the iflands in the harbour, the light houfe, many leagues at fea, and a vaft diftance into the country.. Bunker’s hill, here heaves into view. It was there, that Americans per- ceived their own ftrength ; and that BritiHi hirelings expofed their own weaknefs. It is now, in fields of agriculture. How different to what it was, when meffengers of death, were hurled over its land ! Well, are Americans ad- monifhed C 98 ) moniilied from an infcripilon on the bafe of the column ; that while the profpecls of agricul- ture and commerce prefent themfelves to the fight, where, war was accultomed to found the difeordant clarion ; they lliould not be forgetful of thofe, who were affiiling to their now happy fituation. Who, taught them their rights ; and learned them, how they were to be defend- ed. From hence, is feen the town of Cambridge, at three miles didance. Celebrated as being the place, where General Walliington took the command of the continental army *, and alfo for the inftitution of Harvard college : provided with the bed appointment of philofophical ap- paratus that I have met with. Among which is a complete and elegant orrery, condrufted by Mr. Pope ; without his ever having feen one. The college, is furnidred with a library ef N O T I. * Ranvfay’s Amc. F.ev. VoL I. p. 220. ( 99 3 of fo’jrteeu Aoufand volutnes, feleftad with learning and tafle : and affording an ample fund both of antient, and modern information Hss-E, if a young man will but purfue the intent of his dsilination; rriuch knowledge may be acquired in the courfe of three or four years. The collese being: under the direftion of a pre- fident and profeiTors of learning and integrity, leads him to every avenue of improvement ; while the enpence which is not more than two hun- dred pounds flerling, throws in his way, no unneceffary obflacle. The number of iludents at this college are from one hundred and fifty to two hundred. On the fecond Wednefdayin July, they receive degrees. This day, is the moil brilliant in the calendar of the common- wealth ; being made fo, by the policy of go- vernment for the encouragement of education. The public officers, the civil, the military, and the reli gious, ail join upon this great occahon to form a proceffion in honor of the' day. I was at the commencement, and affiffed ffneere- i ( lOO ) ly in offering up my beft wiihes for the profpe^ rity of the inftitution : for the advancement of learning and morality within its walls, and the extenfion of its fame, through all the country round. IFrom this hill, alfo is feen the bridge over Charles river, connefting Bofton with Charlef- town : and another partly finilhed, opening a more eafy communication wdth Cambridge. The firff is about a quarter of a mile long ; the latter will be more than twice its length. They have each of them fide ways, for foot paffengers. arc illuminated at night by lamps, and arc built of wood ; which, in all probability, will lad Fong without repair ; as the worm does not bite in thefe northern latitudes. Would to Heaven that we were not vifitcd by thefe plagues, to every nautical enterprize. But why Ihould I repine ? Is not nature lavifh with her bounties ^ Though Ihe docs not ftrew all her different kinds of flowers over every part of the globe, yet there is fcarcely the clime, where a bouquet may ( lOI ) may rwt be made up for the objeft of one^s alFcdtions ; or where, happinefs may not be obtained, when mankind arc direded by induf- try and prudence^ The Jhuddering tenant of the frigid zone Boldly proclaims that happieji fpot his ovony Extols the treafures of his Jlormy feasy ^nd his long night of revelry and eafe ; The naked favage, panting at the linCy^ Beajis of his golden fandsy and palmy wine, Bafks in the glare, or Jiems the tepid wave. And thanks his Gods, for all the good they gave o Nor lefs the patriot s boajl where'er we roam. His firfty beft country, ever is, at home. And yet perhaps, if countries we compare. And eflimate the blejjlngs which they fhare j Though patriots flatter, fill fhall wifdom find An equal portion dealt to all mankind ; As different good, by art or nature given To different nations, makes their blejftngs even. Goldsmith’s Traveller. LETTER ( 102 } LETTER IX. '^Journey from Bojlon, to Now-Haven. Defcrip^ tion of Sprhigfeld : where the federal arfenal . for the Eajicrn States is kept. Defcription of Hartford j and Middletown. Of Durham : a trifie fejour on Sundays for travellers. Def- cription of New-Haven ; and fate of Tale col- lege, Manufadures. Divorces obtained in Connedicut. The opinion which a traveller is likely to form in pojfing through the Eafern States. New-Tcrk, Augvft 31, 1793. I ARRIVED at this city on Thnrfday morn- ing, having left Bofton the Friday before. The greatefii part of the way I came by land, in or- der to fee a part of Conncfticut Rate. Upon this route while travelling in the (late of Maifa- chufetts, we early the fecond morning, burft from an high fandy pine barren, upon the heights of Springfield. Here, the federal arfe- nal for the Eaftern flates is kept ; confifting cf federal ( *°3 ) feveral thoufand (land of arms, and other mili- tary {lores. At the time of Shay's rebellion, his party endeavoured to obtain pofTedion of it. But here, his imaginary laurels, withered on his brow ; and himfelf and hopes funk into the fliade of oblivion. The town is fituated about feventy miles weflward of Bodon, in a thickly populated country upon Connedlicut river. The view from thefe heights is pleafmg ; particularly as coming fo fuddenly to the fight. From thern, the traveller looks down upon the town at their feet : fees farms fcattered every where round the country : overlooks the river, aad ends his profpeCl with the didant heights. Immediately below this, we croiTed the river ; being there about three hundred yards wide. It is the prettied one in the Eadern dates ; running through Connedlicut and Maf- fachufetts, and lofing itfelf in the dates of New- Hampddre and Vermont ; traverfing in its courfe, a vad extent of country. Down this river much of the exports of the upper dates are j ( 104 ; ^X'Z carried to Connefticut : bj which mean, her exports, are nominally greater, while thofe of MalTachufetts and New-Hampfhire are pro^ portionably fmaller. At the melting of the fnows, the river comes down in all its majefty ; rifing about fifteen feet perpendicular; and over- fiowing the land on either fide. The lands which are overflowed are called intervale^ are ufed as meadows, and occafionally fown with hemp and grain. On each fide of the river a tolerable quantity of this land, extremely productive : and the up lands along the courfe of the river are alfo good, and of a clayey tex- ture. We paffed through Hartford in the courfc of the day, it is fituated on Connecticut river, is a town of much profperity and affluence; and contains many genteel buildings. Towards the evening we came in fight of Middletown, fitu- ated upon the fame river. And never was I more mortified, than in the knowledge that I had neither time or ability, to fketch fo com- plicated ( ) plicated a fcene; dcfcription can never equal it. Not only, becaufe it can never be perfect ; but alfo, on account of the neceffary length of a defeription of profpedt ; which, by reafon of its tedioufnefs can never bring the collected idea of perfpedive full to the imagination. All, that can be imagined of a country fituation, may be conceived of this. We faw it, from in height at the diflance of three miles, juft at the bend of the river : which led down to it, in aftraight direftion, and with a gentle current. It was juft at the time, when the fetting fun gilds with delightful brightnefs the fpiry ftcc- plcs ; v/hen “ it tips the mountains brow, The cottage roof, and glimmers o’er the Tale it was juft at this time, that we faw it, con- trafted with the beautiful fliades of verdure, led on by the evening hours. The eye, with joy viewed the country round ; and faw it rifmg in, fweet luxuriance of autumnal drefs, to a dif- tance of many miles. Such, and much more, than I can deferibe, is the profpeft about Mid- dletown : which, not to have feen, would have been 106 ) been unpardonable in any perfon tcavellnig through that country for pleafure, or informa- tion. On Saturday night, we arrived at Durham, a fmall village in Connecticut ftate ; and twenty miles from New-Haven. A trifle fejour on Sundays for travellers, whofe misfortune brings them there the evening before. Nothing: could perfuade the driver to carry us on toNew-Ha- ven on Sunday. It feems this reluctance to j travel on that day, is in obedience to a law of the ftate ; impofing a penalty upon thofe who do. This, is the only mark of bigotry, which I have met with in the eaflern ftates : and that only in the flate of Connecticut. I am inform- ed that in fome parts of it, the law is not in- forced : however, I was forry to find it would be enforced any where, in the fiate, at this peri- od of time. Liberality of lentlment is now fo ge- MU\ ift throughout America ; that I iaitif fnyMf the legiflature of tnat flate will fipeal a law, which cafts no nonor upon ( ^<=^7 ) { . . . file code of fo fefpectable a Comrtilinity. Ai ten o’clock on Sunday, the landlord waited on. my companioil and myfelf, to afn lis to meet- ing. You may imagine we did not accept his invitation. We were chagtined fufticienLly, in thus being atrefted on our jotirney ; without ftill further fubjefting ourfelves to the mortifica- tion, of being publicly espofed to the view of ii large congregation. However, to beguile the tedious hours, we requeded fonic books ; and he was condefcending enough to favor us with fome claiTical ones ; (for it feems he was a fcholar) among which, I was happy in finding an Horace : wherein, the iter Br-anddiian^ and other pieces applicable to our then fituation, in. fome meafure made us amends for this eacroach-i ’ ment on our liberty. We however arrived at New-Havenon Mon- day ; from whence, I propofed to proceed to New-York by water. This town, and Hart- ford, are occanonally the feats of government of this (late. It is fituated at the head of a O bsyb ( io8 bay, which opens into the found, running be- tween Long-Tiland and the Main : and is an a- grceable retreat, being quiet and airy. To Yale College in this town, many eminent cha- radlers in America owe their education. I am informed there are generally one hundred and fifty ftudents at it. Their library is but fmall, having only 2,700 volumes in it: and thofe, principally antient. While their philo- fophical apparatus is on a confined fcale, in con- traft with thofe, of other American feminaries. This town, is faid to have been the retreat of thi'ee of the regicides of Charles the firft — = ' Their names were, lieutenant general Edward Whalley, major general William Goff, and co- lonel John Dixwell ; who at the reftoration in ^ the year 1660 fled to America, and vrer’e fe- creted in Maffachufetts and Connedicut for near thirty years. They are faid to have lived a part of that time in a cave, at Weil Rock ; four miles from the town. Dixwell’s tomb flone was flicwn me, which, if I be not miflaken, mentionsj ( 109 ) mentions him to be there buried in the year 1688; his name is not carved at length upon it, but on- ly y. D. E/^uire. It is much injureddsy the vreather, and fomewhat reduced in fize by the attentions of Engliih travellers and antiquaries, who break oft' pieces from it, to carry away with them. Mr. Styles, preftdent of the cob lege, has written their hiftory ; rvhich will no doubt when publifticd afford entertainment to the curious^ There are two metal button rnanufaftorles in this place ; where, I faw them made with diligence, and dilpatch ; and by no means infe- rior to thofe of a fimilar kind imported from England. In this ftate, divorces may be obtained. It has been the policy of fome countries, and of our own, not to allow them : as leading to a greater levity of condude and uiihappinefs in the married ftate, v/hen they can thus eafely get fid S. C JEIO ) S-id of it; than when, although feparated from each other, they are interdifted from forming new connexions. But nature, place, and cir- cumftances, have different influences: and what may be allowable in one country, may be im-* proper in another. Throughout the New-Tnfy]and flates, the traveller is pleafed in obferving the decent and refpeftful attention which he meets with from, the youth of both fexes. Wherever he goes, he will not be dilappcinted iri’receiving their fa- lutes. They are attentive in the obfervance of this etiquette : which they learn in their public fchools nev^r to omit. Nothing can be more pieafingly oflered to the mind, as a mark of the civilization of a people, than this mode ; of early inftrucling their little ones in due prin- ciples of fuboidination, and refpect to their el- ders. It becomes a fource of real happinefs, in private families ; and as they advance in years, tends to make them citizens obedient to the Iqw^ of their country. They have many things ;c ( III ) ,.to make them fo, and nothing more than the freedom and impartiality with which members for the different legiflatures are elected. To canvafs for votes, is effeflually to cruih the ex- pectations of a candidate. Hence, men are elected whofe characters lead them to the ap^ pointment ; and who confequently enjoy the confidence of the citizens. And for the fame reafon, it is rare to fee young men filling public ftations, or turning out tried fervants of the public, by dint of electioneering influence. That, is only the cafe in countries; where, no- velty eriters deeply into the national character ; or where, a long train of corruption in man- pers has firft paved the way for it. With the New-Englandmen, this is not to be found ; for they may truly be faid to be in- dependent both in circumflances and principles, Independent, in circumflances, as being always induftrious •, and not panting after unattainable enjoyments. In principles, as not being of ^efperate fortunes, they are in the habit of en- joying ( II2 ) joylag their own opinions, without fubjecting themfelves to the defigns of others. ThuSj preferving a Heady courfe, as well in private ae in public life, they poliefs a character jealous of liberty ; and indignant of every attempt, which would feduce them from their own immediate interefts : or make them fwerve from that of their country’s good. Hence, faction finds no refting place amongH them, to corrode with the fourneis of her leaven, their domeftic hap- pinefs. Chafed away, by the knowledge of a well informed people ; file flies to where, igno- rance and idlenefs. mould the people for her views, and fubjedt them to the dcftru^tive rava- ges of her empire. letter C 113* ) LETTER X. Mobs at Ne’W-Tork. The caufe of them, with confiderations thereon., Sicknefs at FhiladeU phia. New-Tork, Odoher i 6 , 1703. Since lail Monday, this city has been dif- quieted at night by mobs ; who, not content with patroling the ftreets, have been the caufe of fome mischief. The occalicn of it, was this. ‘During the lad week a caufe was tried, wherein a young man was indifted of a r — -ej and was regularly acquitted. This gave great umbrage to a particular clafs of citizens ; who were decidedly of opinion that he fliould have been hanged. They fpoke warmly againft him in different companies, and upon different, oc- cafions ; until by fuch rneans encreafing the fermentation of their paffions, they broke out into the cxtrat^agancies of a licentious mob. Tks C 114 ) The firfl thing upon v/hich this torrent burfl was Mrs. Carey’s houfe : it was faid that Ihe had been his friend upon the occahoft, and that her houfe had been ufeful to him. They attacked it ; and levelled it with the ground. They af- terwards directed their flrength againfl fimilar houfes in the city, dedroying every thing in. them ; leaving nothing but the bare walls. Nor, was the young marl unfaught for. He, was obliged to fly from a place, whpfe court of juflice had upon a liberal trial, acquitted him of the charge. Had he been taken, he certainly could hot have filifered long Under their tor- tures ; for death would have put an end to his pains. The governor, mayor, and public offi- cers of the city, have been active upon the oc- cafion ; a troop of horfe Was called out, and all good citizens invited to rally round the llandard of the laws. The mob has fubfided. But not before the mifchief was done, which they intended to effect. \That a larhentablc thing it is, that this fcourge will fometimcs arife, to the terror of all ( lij ) aU good citizens ; in the open defiance of latvs, and fhakiiig the foundations of life, and of pro- perty. They are in government xirnilar to the cenvullive throws of nature, which fpread ail imiverfal alarm. Were the actors in thefe feenes, confeious of the injury which they do themfelves, and their families, wavins;' that which is done the community at large ; they would fhud Jer at the part which they had tak- en, when they refleched upon the eitample which had been given. They would perceive that the affillance which they had rendered in committing adfs of enormity againft others ; ’was the difedt way of expofing thenifelves to a like retaliation. They would perceive, that in thofe violences, they had broken the bonds of government ; and reduced themfelves to a ftate of nature. Where, life, liberty and proper- ty^ are only fecure, in proportion to the firengtli of him who is attacked, and the weaknefs of his opponent. Nothing is more volatile, no- thing more fudden or more violent in their ope- rations, than the progrefs of the human paf- fions. They are like fire, which begins with a fpark P ( 11 ^ ) fpark : but neglefted, rolls over our heads in a flame. And what can be worfe, than the paf- fions of an unreftrained mob ? They, may be directed to as many different objedts, as there are individuals, . who compofe it. Each one has his revenge, or enmity to gratify ; rebelli- ous to the laws, to the peace of their country, they flep forth, unreftrained by any thing but an overmatch of power. And in this, are too often the inftruments of defigning m.en, of bad characters, and more defperate fortunes. Can they anfwer for the iffue of their enter- prize ? Can they fay, thus far thou troubled fea, flralt thou go j and no farther ? Alas ! they are deceived. And are not brought to a fenfe of their fituation, until perhaps ruin flares them in the face ; and tyranny and defpotifm, tram- ple upon their liberties. Is a government bad ? Let it be amended. Arc public officers unjufl, or diffionefl ? Let them ( 1^7 ) them be removed, and better ones fubftituted in their place. Are juries partial ? Try them and punilh them. Are citizens aggrieved ? Let them feek redrefs, according to the laws of their country. Let reafon, and remonftrance be the fprings of attion on the occahon ; and not paf- fion, malice or revenge. The effed; will be happy. It will give fatisfadlion to the difcon- tented, and pleafure to the hearts of reflexion. I HAVE been hindered from making my in- tended expedition from hence to. the lakes, which I regret exceedingly : having thereby loll the fight of fome of the finefl country in the world. Nor, has that been my only mortifica- tion. I have been deprived of going to' Phila- delphia, and of meeting there with charaflers, whom it was my dehgn to know. Of once more feeing the man, who is the favorite of A- merica. Believe me, the fcourge of Heaven has been upon that unfortunate city>: twenty thoufand of its inhabitants are faid to have left it ; ( liS ) it : and too many, have taken an eternal adieu 1 1 here, “ — : — . The fiiUen door. Tet unmfeded, on its cautious hinge Fearing to turn, abhors Socidy i Dependants, friends, relations, love himfelf Savaged by forget the tender tie. The fvjeet engagement of the feeling heart. But vain their felffh care : the circling Jky, J he vjtde enlivening air, is full of fate : And, ft ruck by turns, in folltary pangs dhey fall, unblefs' d, untended, and unmourn* dd' But I am informed the diforder decreafes : And the citizens begin to recall their exiled con- fidence. The approach of winter, feems alrea- dy to correcl the influence of the difeafe and to prefent them with brighter profpecls. Com- merce, with cautious approaches, begins to refume her fway : and the hopes of returning health, to chafe away their fears. .4 LETTER ( ”9 ) LETTER XL The public mind jniich agitated^ in covfequence cj Mr. Genet's proceedings. StriStures upon hh- conducf. JTew-Tork, Novetnber 4.th, 1793.' r~|ri X HE public min 4 has been kept here in conti- nual agitation fmce the 2 2d of the hfh month, by the conduct of the French minifter : who feeras determined, that if we do not with a good appetite partake of the dilh of politics which he fets before us he will from his pure regard to our interefts, cram them down the throats of American, citizens. From the time of his departure from Phila- delphia in Augulf laft, and the publications which about that period took place, refpedincr the appeal which it was faid he threatened making to the people from the Prefident’s deci- fions. Sons, he had been tolerably quiet. It was to file receipt of a letter from general Tvloultrie requeuing an explanation of that bufinefs, that he was indebted for the opportunity of ftepping forth immediately into aclion ; an occafion he did not fail to improve. Accordingly, a letter which perhaps had only been intended as a pri- vate correfpondence with him ; came forth to the public view, as an official requifition from the governor of South-Carolina ; accompanied at the faqie time, with his official anfwer< This, immediately became the fubjcdl of conlideration. With the knowm friends of A- merica, who had braved the hardffiips of the late w'ar in confpicuous hations, and flill enjoy- ed the confidence of government; Mr. Ge- net’s anfvver received univerfal reprehenfiom It w'as approved of, or apologized for by none, but thofe, whofe hearts led them to favor the French revolution ; while they did not deve- lope the artifces, contained in all the minillers proceedings: Or by thofe perfons, whofe greatell ( 121 ) greateft pleafure is when obloquy can be call: hpon the federal government : becaufe intereft, difappointment, and in many inifances delufi- on, have principled them againll it. And that there are fuch men, eager to catch every con- Vulhon of government, and to improve it for their own private advantage, under the cloak of the public good j is what the page of hifto- ry often {hews us ; and what experience in the prefent times, clearly fpreads to our view. The public ferment had not yet fubfided, when another produftion of Mr. Genet’s mif- chievous compofition appeared in print : ferv- ing no other purpofe than to roufe the public indignation againft his improper interference- It was his anfwer to the Prefident’s proclama- tion of the loth of October, difmiffing the Sieur Antoine Charbonet Duplaine, from the funaions, powers, and privileges of vice- vice-conful of the French republic. He having under color of his office commit- ted fundry encroachments and infraaions on the « . ( 1^-2 ) the laws of the land : and particularly iiav lag caufed a veflel to be refeued with an arin- ed force out of the cuflody of an officer of juflicej who had arrefled the fame by pro- “ cefs from his court’”* By wtiich anfw’er in his letter to the fecretary of date, he faid, He haftened to declare he did not aclcnow- ledge its validity. Becaufe the conflitution of NOTE. * I WAS at Boston when the veffel was rcfcueci out of the ciillody of the tnarthal, the cafe was nearly this. A veflel had been brought into that port as a prize by a fmal! French pi lvateer, which was fuppofed to be an illegal one ; according to the conftrudhion of the ‘ Rides adopted by the Frefldent of the United States,* tranfmitted to the different colleftors by the fecretary of the treafury. The marfltal was therefore diredled to fer/e a procefs upon her, but was oppofed ; and the vcffel was ordered under the guns of the Concorde frigate, then lying in the harbour. And al- though remon (trances were earncftly made to the conful, it v/as not until feveral days thereafter, that (he was given up to the marfhal. Perhaps it would not have been then done, had not capt. Van Dogen deemed it r.ecelfary to fail from Bofton in the Concorde : thereby no longer aifording pro- \ citlon to the vefTcl. ( ) bf the United States had not given the Prefl- dent the right, which he now appears defi- roas to excrcife.” Such, was the ground work of his anfwer, or we may call it his counter- proclamation. These productions of Mr. Genet, may be viewed as epitomes of his political principles : and may be confidered under two heads. Firfl, a fmcere defire which he has, of mak- ing us take an aCtive part with France, againft the combined powers of Europe ; wmether it fhould be for our interefhs or not. And in cafe - he fhould fail to effeCtuate that immediately, with the confent of the federal government ; he fecondly, is inceflantly in all his publications playing upon the paffions and prejudices of the people at large ; thereby fowing a jealoufy a- mongfl; them with regard to our public officers, to weaken the finews of government, and indi- reftly effeCiuate thofe plans, which have openly been defeated. They, have been the refult of reflection no doubt j although I cannot fay of cool C 124 ) cool refledion. In them, we find wrltincrs Wound up with moO: artful cunnin;^ ; where fophidry, fentiinents of liberty, enthufiafm, oblique attacks againfl public olhcers, and even againil government, fill up a picture ; where, the lights and fnades are fo nicely blended, as neither to fliew where the one ends, or the other begins. 1 his, is the line of conduct of a man fent over here, as minider of a beloved and refpedted nation ! For whofe fuccefs in the prefent flruggle for liberty, willies are daily olfered up to Heaven from all Ame- rica. VvARM from France as a republican, he landed on our peaceful lliores ; welcomed by the plaudits of their inhabitants. Their hearts, ignorant of court politics or intriguing machi- nations, directed them to lead him by the hand of friendiFiip to their abodes, h hey loved him, becaufc they loved his country. And every where, they indulged the elfulions of thfcir patriotiun. Such, were the fentiinents univerfally _ ( 125 ) univerfally entertained refpefting Him ; which ha I he but known in what manner to have ufed, he would dill have enjoyed. But buoyed up with the addreiTes to him, which announced the good wifnes of the people to the caufe in which he was engaged : he forgot what fliould have been the object of his miffion, as refpefting itmerica. He forgot, that it was her frienddiip which he was to infure : while, he was led away with the hope of involving her in a war. The tendency of this line of conduft, and of thefe fentiments diffeminated through the medium of a prefs ; at length, appeared with alarming fymptoms. For although the people themfelves had not been appealed to in onpofi- tion againil the government; yet the appeal had been made to their gratitude, to their ge- nerofity, and to their fears. Or why was the Gorrelpondence of a foreigner obtruded upon the public . and that\n fome indances, before the letters written by him could have reached thfcis ( 126 ) their dcflination ?* It muli have been for the ex- prefs purpofe of having an influence with Ame- rican citizens, tending to favor the defigus which he nouriflied. And an influence it cer- tainly had : for privateers were fitted out under French commiffions, in American harbours : and many American citizens, fetting at nought the Prefident’s proclamation enjoining a neutra* lity, openly enliited in the fervice of France. The judicial power was exerted, to flop the growing evil. Henfield was tried, and acquit- ted : and cards of invitation were fent by the minifter to individuals, inviting them to dinner with citizen Henfield. No one can believe that this pointed attention to a man who had been charged for a difobedience to the laws of his country, could proceed from perfonal regard : it NOTE. * In his correfpondcncc with Gen. Moultricj hi* let- ter in an f veer, bears date the ^5th October 1793. And the whole of the correfpondeace was publilhed at Ncw- York, Odober 2 2d, 1793. ( 127 ) it was an unbecoming joy. and triumph, which at that moment brought him forward in diredt oppofition to the wiihes of the federal govern- ment. i^nd which from that moment, com- pletely forfeited the confidence and eftecm w^hich had been extended towards him, by A- merican citizens. For from that time, we may date the retrogade of his career ; and follow him in the derelidlion of the favor of govern- ment.! And here, vre are at a lofs wFich moil to ©bferve, his ig^norance of the charafiers with whom he had to contend ; or his effrontery in oppofing himfelf to a phalanx of cool decided oppofition. For to one of thefe caufes, mufi: be note. f Mr- jefferfon’s letter as fecretary" of Hate, to Mr. ^Torris the American minifter in France, nterefts of both nations, ‘ By a very remarkable contrail, while thole who fent him. ‘ to America perfeciited at Paris the popular focieties, and ‘ denounced as anarchifis the Jacobins cou-ageouHy flrug. ‘ gling againll tyranny : Genet, at Phdadelphia, made himielf C 133 ; Is there one Aineiican v/ho doth not feel his foul roufed in jail indignation againl this meddlei' in our councils, and ftranjer to our foil ? Is there one, enjoying the rights of man, who does not feel his liberties encroached up- on ; and that by foreign influence ? Bold e- nouerh to interfere with the branches of po- O O vernment, and to didate what they fnould pb- ferve ! Without at once malting liim know the ground, upon which he (lands ; and the ten- dernefs, with which he (hould tread. With- out bringing quickly to his recolledion, the refped which he owes to a country, equally Ib- vereign Vvrith his own ; and equally jealous cf her rights and privileges. And in fine, with- out offering up every wifli, and making every iionefl ererdon fwv the recall of one, whofe enthaffafin «hi’.vA;f the chiei of a club there, and never ceaW to ‘ make and excite motions equally injurious anc perplexing ‘ to o’overnmer.L.’ Citizen Robefpierre’s repu;t in tl.£ *■ O j;.-.rne of the committee of publ'c \v. If ire. to the nau i:..-.’ eonvention of France, refpccling the pokr.cal fi'.ur.ttcn if t.be republic In November 5703. ( ^37 ) cntaufiafin has broken the reins of reafob and of prudence ; and whofe afiiions are conti- nually affronting a government v/ith infaltSj with which, his nation willies to be in the ttria- eft amity ? If thefe were not the true opirdcns to be entertained refpefling his meafures, in vain have we fought for liberty and indepen- dciiCG* We may purfue them : but like phan- toms they will elude, and for ever difappoint our expeflations. Shackled by the politics of others, and led away bv the gaudy colors which they fpread, we cannot be faid to be free or in- dependent. For power of ‘ivillznda^ion is cf- lential to the being fo. Without them, we are but the mere Inilruments of others clefigns: or the unfortunate dupes, of our own credulity. Persons are too apt, not to difcriminate be- tween and iJ/ings. A^, the love which A- mericans had for France, was at once transfer- red to her rninifter 5 fo, if he doth not halle to aft with prudence, or his country doili notin> mediately recai him; the diihke which is now • entertained 133 ) entsrtgiiicd riuA, in?.,v be; trarisferrei ij iij'S c 0 jt 6 ijiicty" iiOi. \v itix vl * -i wiij n.i- lil after Jbe haa fnartef u;r.Ier its ebbrti. Jr is thus, that the human pafTions proceed ; svhicii, ■when wou'nd up t.) an hi^^h tone, eaibrace all counecceJ to the principal uith the love or ha- tred, which, is entertadned for him. When tntiT i.> axTc aid t^ie fubjcct is fairip brought, abfohately to be confidered, what part fhall be taken by America ; (lie mud lean to the fide of liberty : for fie acknowledges no other iniluence upon earth. Jd'ut until that hap- pens, I apprehrad it is the part of every citizen to refoefl his own utuation : to attend li ihs iniere/is of his counfry. Firm, in thk hne of conduft, he will be unlhakcn by the arts of fa&ioii ; and unavved by the threats of power. Reafon, will have a julh afcendency over his actions ; and happineis, in all probability will crown tiis purfuits. F ' 5 . I N ] ■\ f V' ■ / /-i r ■ % I t . j} ' ■ -v^ r'-' 'j : f , -V, V.. . ^ r ; ' ‘-I ■ J K'. j ■■•-' 'J • V.i. / .'"V r 1