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in the boat and those on land fill up the time. The boat glides on until it disappears behind a projecting part of the forest. Then the bugle, with which all these boats are provided, is sounded at a distance over the water. Such a scene has charms for the imagination, which are irresistibly alluring to the young, along the banks of these sublime rivers."

But we must turn from a portion of Mr. Stuart's travels, to which our attention has been first directed, solely for the purpose of shewing that it contains much interesting matter, and introduce the reader to his notes upon that part of America where he evidently feels most at home. The key to all the mistakes committed by Europeans, with regard to American society, is indicated in the following passage :—

"But here let me remind those into whose hands these pages may fall, as to my views in writing them. They are not meant to furnish details necessary for those who wish to learn how the exclusive class in the great American cities, or the elite of the society at Washington, live. That there is a class of people in the great towns of the United States, and at the seat of Legislation, who are entitled to the appellation of Exclusives, I have no doubt; but it is well-known that this class, in most cases in all countries, resemble each other much more closely in their artificial way of living, and in their artificial manners, than the other portions of society. The exclusive society of the United States, however, is far more trifling in number in relation to the po pulation, than in any other country, and they are, therefore, far less entitled to notice than in other countries, as well as because they can only maintain their separation from the mass of the people to a very limited extent. In their own houses they may live as they please, dine at London hours, and associate only with such persons as they choose; but in travelling, and appearing at places of public resort, they can command no different sort of treatment, in any respect, from that which is given to every person who conducts himself with propriety, and has enough of money to pay his share of the requisite travelling expenses.

“I had abundant opportunities of satisfying myself of the truth of this observation. Wealth in the metropolis of the British empire, when properly employed, confers all advantages. It not only enables the possessor to procure all the luxuries of life, but it bestows a status in society which is not otherwise attainable, and which may lead even to the acquisition of rank. In the United States, rank, respect, and consideration are given to talent alone, and to high office, which can only be obtained by the display of talent and industry.”

Upon which text, were we allowed to dilate a little, we should say something very like what follows:-In Europe there is a factitious dignity attaching to the name of an idle gentleman, or a soldier, or any other privileged person. On the other hand, there is an arbitrary association of the sentiment of mean and vulgar with the mere name of a mechanical profession. The consequence is, that the individuals belonging to either class affect in some measure the manners attributed to it by common consent. The aristocracy are at least externally polished, if not essentially refined; and the industrious classes of the community are but too apt to indulge in vulgar and petty habits of thought and sentiment. Hence the ridiculous contrast which we often find between the bearing of a retired tradesman and the place in society to which he aspires, or which the world, in respect of his wealth, is willing to concede to him. This theme has been enlarged upon again and again by essayists, novelists, and dramatists. Now, it so happens, that the bulk of mankind do not see what really lies before their noses, but only what they have been told is there. Accordingly, when a European goes to America, and finds a Judge keeping a store or hotel, and a Major driving the stage, he does not set himself to discover what these men really are; but he immediately recalls the stale jests to which he has been accustomed, about cits at St. James's and Almack's, and breaks out into a horse-laugh, as silly as it is offensive. The truth is, that as in America there is no conventional rank to elicit the hollow graces of our ex

clusives, so there is no association of meanness attaching to any industrious pursuit, to degrade its professors in their own eyes. The chival rous feelings of America are springs from a different soil, and display themselves under a modified form. The ground in which they have stricken deep and undying root is thus described and prefaced by Mr. Stuart :

"On one of the first days I walked out, I was joined by a seafaring person of the name of Sheaffe, with whom I had got acquainted in the course of my walks by the sea side, who lived in the neighbourhood, and had a small boat, and seemed to gain his livelihood by fishing, and ferrying over passengers to and from the island. After congratulating me on my recovery, he asked me if I was not in want of books. He had seen me occasionally bring books from Boston, before I had met with the accident before noticed. He mentioned various historical and philosophical books in his library, which were at my service; and also the London Examiner newspaper for several years. I caught at his offer, when he mentioned the Examiner, having been recently reading the American account of the battles on the Canada frontier in the wars of 1813 and 1814, and being anxious to compare them with the British Gazette accounts. I therefore accepted the Examiner, which he fortunately had at the period I wanted. I doubt whether such an occurrence as this could have happened anywhere else in the world. I found that Mr. Sheaffe, whose house is as humble-looking a wooden cottage as any one in the neighbourhood, had formerly been a seaman in a merchant ship, and had been in England; but the explanation is easy. Education is open to all in this country; and all, or almost all, are educated. It was lately ascertained by reports accurately taken, that, out of a population of about 60,000 persons in the State of Massachusetts, only 400 beyond the age of childhood could not read or write. And more especially, by returns from 131 towns presented to the legislature, that the number of scholars receiving instruction in those towns is 12,393; that the number of persons in those towns, between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one, who are unable to read and write, is fifty-eight; and that in one of those towns, the town of Hancock, there are only three persons unable to read or write,—and those three are mutes. The general plan of Education at the public free schools here is not confined to mere reading, writing, arithmetic, and book-keeping, and the ancient and modern languages; but comprehends grammar, mathematics, navigation, geography, history, logic, political economy, and rhetoric, moral and natural philosophy; these schools being, as stated in the printed regulations, intended to occupy the young people from the age of four to seventeen, and to form a system of education advancing from the lowest to the highest degree of in.provement, which can be derived from any literary seminaries inferior to colleges and universities; and to afford a practical and theoretical acquaintance with the various branches of a useful education.

"There are, at present, at Boston, sixty-eight free schools, besides twenty-three Sabbath schools; in all of which the poorest inhabitant of Boston may have his children educated, according to the system of education before specified, from the age of four to seventeen, without any expense whatever. The children of both sexes are freely admitted. The funds for these schools are derived from bequests and donations by individuals, and grants from the legislature and corporations; and enable the trustees, consisting of twelve citizens, annually elected by the inhabitants of each of the twelve wards of the city, with the mayor and eight aldermen, to give the teachers salaries, varying from 2500 to 800 dollars a-year. The assistant teachers have 600 dollars. The trustees elect the teachers, and vote their salaries yearly; and no preference is given on any principles but those of merit and skill. The teachers of the grammar schools must have been educated at college, and must have attained a degree of bachelor of arts. The morning and evening exercises of all the schools, commence with reading the Scriptures. A very strict system of supervision and regulation is established by the trustees.

"No expense whatever is incurred at those schools for the children except for books.

"The richer classes at Boston, formerly, very generally, patronized teachers of private schools, who were paid in theu sual way; but they now find that the best teachers are at the head of the public schools, and, in most cases, prefer them,-the children of the highest and lowest rank enjoying the privilege, altogether invaluable in a free state, of being educated together.

"In the adjoining State of Connecticut it has been ascertained by accurate reports, that one-third of the population, of about 275,000, attend the free schools. In the whole of the New England States, the population of which, including Massachusetts

and Connecticut, amounts to about two millions, it is unquestionable, that the entire population are educated, that is to say, can read and write, and that the exceptions, which do not at the utmost amount to 2000 persons, are composed of blacks and foreigners.

"The result of the recent inquiry into the state of Education in the State of New York, which adjoins New England, and is almost equal to it in population, and to which I have already alluded, is very much, though not entirely the same. It is proved by actual reports, that 499,434 children, out of a population of one million, nine hundred thousand, were at the same time attending the schools, that is, a fourth part of the whole population. Although the public funds of New York State are great, these schools are not entirely free, but free to all who apply for immunity from payment. The amount of the money paid to the teachers by private persons does not, however, amount to one-third of the whole annual expense, which is some. what less than a million of dollars.

"It is not, however, to be inferred, that education at free-schools is so general all over the United States, as in the four millions of inhabitants of New England and the State of New York; but the provision for public schools is admirable in all the populous states, Pensylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, &c.; and free education can everywhere be procured, even in the southern states, for whites, on applica tion being made for it. The appropriations of land for schools in the old states were formerly very much confined to the donations of individuals, many of which have now, however, become very valuable; but the appropriations for schools in the new states have been regulated by congress, and their extent is immense. Every township of the new lands is divided into thirty-six sections, each a mile square, and each containing 640 acres. One section of every township is appropriated for schools. In addition to this, great appropriations have been made in Ohio, Tennessee, Ken. tucky, and others of the western states, for seminaries of a higher order, to the extent of about one-fifth of those for schools. The land belonging to public schools in the new states and territories, in which appropriations have been made on the east side of the Mississippi, amounts to about eight millions of acres, and is of course advancing in value as the population increases. The extent of land, which will be appropriated to the same purpose when the land on the western side of the Mississippi is settled, must be prodigious,-at present not capable of being guessed at."

The consequence of this universal diffusion of intelligence is, that while poor men, like Mr. Sheaffe, are taught to feel as generously as the wealthy, the latter are prevented from associating any sense of disgrace with making themselves useful. This fact is strikingly illustrated by one of Mr. Stuart's most interesting anecdotes:

In the morning, I found a barouche, rather a better-looking one than usual, in all respects, already at the hotel door, when I appeared before the appointed hour, to give notice, that, on account of the indisposition of one of our party, it would be im possible to set out before nine o'clock. That will not suit me so well, said the dri ver, as, after hearing what I had said, he was driving from the door. Such a remark from him struck me at the moment as strange, but made of course no great impres sion. At nine we started. Soon afterwards, the driver leaned back from the driving. seat, which was not much above the level of the seats in the barouche, and addressed some general remarks to us as strangers; but the sunshine was at the time so overpowering, and one of our party still so much annoyed with headache, that he must have observed us indisposed to enter into conversation with him, and he afterwards contented himself with answering any questions which we put to him on our way. He showed us, however, that he had perfect knowledge of the country, and of the dreadful scenes, of which it had, in former times, been the theatre, and that he was a very different person, in point of education and information, from the coachmen of our own country; but he had taken the hint which he had conceived that we intended to give him, and now confined his answers pretty closely to our questions. The country is sandy and stony, but there are fine hills in the distance, and the prospect of the lake surrounded by mountains, is very beautiful, in descending from higher grounds on Caldwell, the village, or rather county town, at the southwestern edge of the lake. Caldwell has been but recently built, but it contains public buildings of all kinds,-a jail, being the county town of the county of Warren, a newspaper, and a great and charmingly situated hotel for strangers coming to see the lake or to fish. Having arrived at Caldwell, we hired a small boat to take us out on the lake, and directed our charioteer to have the carriage ready for us as soon as a signal, which we arranged, should appear from our boat. The lake

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very much resembles the lakes of Westmoreland, and some of the Scotch lakes. Hilly country (mountains it is called here, though none of it is above 1500 feet high,) surrounds the lake on all sides. The shores are finely broken, and the lake itself sprinkled with a great number of beautiful islands, on one of which, where we landed, there is a tea-house. The waters of the lake are deep, and most transparent; and fish, espe cially red trout, is excellent, and most abundant. The lake is about thirty-six miles long, and of various breadth, nowhere exceeding four miles. On coming to the shore from the lake, the money which I had agreed to pay for the boat was refused. The sum promised, we were told, was for the boat itself, but not for navigating it. There was no redress, and we submitted without much grumbling to what we considered an imposition, remarking, that this was the first time the Yankees had come Yorkshire over us. This settled, we were even more at a loss, for our driver was nowhere to be found, and we were ready to set out. Our signal from the boat had never been noticed. We did not know how to proceed, when a bystander, taking pity on us, said, the driver is probably in the jail, pointing out the way to it. We set off in that direc tion, and met him coming from it. He made no excuse or apology, but set about preparing our conveyance. As soon as it was ready, we got into it, but the driver shewed no symptoms of setting out. We asked the cause. He was waiting, he said, for the little boy whom he had brought out with him on the driving-seat, and who would presently be with us. We began to think that the driver was disposed to treat us rather cavalierly; and I had almost asked him, whether he looked to the boy, for whom he was waiting, or to us, for the hire of the conveyance; but I recollected in time, that all altercation with the natives ought, if possible, to be avoided by persons travelling in a foreign country, and that the trouble of obtaining redress, even in cases which required it more, made it much wiser to submit in silence to a little inconvenience. We therefore sat for some time longer, whether patiently or impatiently I need not say, when I notice, that we were all well again, with a good appetite, and dinner waiting for us at Glen's Falls. In the meanwhile, we applied to the driver to give us a little of the information he had volunteered in the morning, but we found him apparently not much disposed to be communicative. He had not, we presumed, forgot the reception we had given him in the morning. This was provok ing, as Caldwell and its neighbourhood comprehend the grounds on which the dreadful combats between the French and British, between the years 1750 and 1760 were fought. We succeeded, however, at last, by being more than usually communicative ourselves, in satisfying the driver that we were not saucy travellers, and he got into good humour with us. The weary boy made his appearance, and we were off. The driver soon shewed himself so well informed, that all anxiety about our dinner left us, and we stopped and stopped again to have pointed out to us, on the spot, the scenes of those battles, which he described almost as if he had been an eye-witness.

As soon as

But

"At length we approached the door of our hotel, and all of us felt regret at the idea of so soon being deprived of the agreeable society of our charioteer. we got out of the carriage, when we were within hearing of each other, I applied for, and had the sanction of my fellow-travellers, to beg him to favour us with his com pany at dinner, and to take a glass of wine with us. I hastened to the bar-room, where I found him smoking a cigar. I preferred my request in the most civil terms I could think of. He looked at me for a moment, and then expressed great surprise, that a foreigner should have asked his driver to dine with him. I urged our anxiety to have a little more of his agreeable company, and promised that we should endeavour to impart to him all the information we could give, relative to the institutions of our own country, in return for the valuable communications he had made to us. he finally declined, with perfect civility, though, at the same time, with that sort of manner which prevented any attempt to press him. 'His family,' he said, 'expected him, and he must go home. Perhaps, sir,' he added, you was not aware that the High Sheriff of the County was your driver to-day. We are very neighbourly here. The horses expected for you this morning had not come in, and I could not refuse my neighbour, (mentioning his name,) when he applied to me. I have good horses, and would have been sorry to disappoint a stranger.' Having finished his cigar, Mr. Spencer took leave of me with a shake of the hand. We found, on inquiry, that he was a general merchant in the village, and had mills and a store. His neigh bours had singled him out, not on account of his education, which was not superior to that of his fellow-citizens, but on account of his shrewdness and good character, to make him a justice of peace, which confers the title of judge. As justice of peace, he gave so great satisfaction that they promoted him to be their high sheriff. In the latter capacity he had business this morning to transact at Caldwell, the 2 X

NO. XI. VOL. II,

county town, and where the jail committed to his charge is situated. This explains the anxiety he expressed to be off early. The little boy on the driving seat was the son of a prisoner in the jail, to whom he was carrying linens. Ne sutor ultra crepidum, let the cobbler stick to his last,' has no part in the republican character of America."

We quote another instance of the perfect compatibility in America of the combination of the character of a perfect gentleman with an employment deemed irreconcilable with it in our own country. We have been influenced in selecting this passage by the tribute to the ladies of America with which it concludes:

"A few miles further on we stopped at the hotel of Mr. Sloat for the night. This is one of the most comfortable of the country hotels which we have yet seen in this country, quiet and retired, not unlike an English parsonage-house on a small scale. The proprietor of this hotel, which has long been used as such, has very valuable landed property surrounding it, but although he still gives accommodation to pas. sengers, he does not allow the stage to stop at it, so that it is quite as free from bustle as a private house. Mr. Sloat himself is of Dutch extraction, and speaks Dutch as well as English, which is the case with most of the Dutch farmers on both sides of the Hudson. He was married to a lady of Polish extraction. When we reached the house, Mr. Sloat had just come in from a drill of the militia cavalry of light-horse. His dress is very much like the Windsor uniform, in which, being a handsome man, with a good horse, and well accoutred, he had more of the military air than most gentlemen connected with the army in this country whom I have seen. Service in the militia light-horse for fifteen years, exempts from militia service altogether. The whole expense of uniform and equipments is borne by the individuals, but they are seldom in training for more than three days in the year. Mr. Sloat has about 1400 acres of land, great part of which is well cleared. His grandfather was the original proprietor. Wood-land is here very valuable, on account of the iron-foundery and cotton works in the neighbourhood. Mr. Sloat has lately sold 200 acres of wood-land, which he had bought from the States in 1801, for fifty cents. per acre, at an immense advance. He keeps three pairs of horses, and two pairs of We were greatly pleased with the whole family, who were well-informed, and agreeable in conversation, and as anxious to get information respecting British customs and manners, as we were to become acquainted with theirs, and to see their domestic economy. We were, therefore, very glad to find, that we were, according to the custom of the house, to live in the family rooms with the family. Mr. Sloat's eldest daughter is a very pretty girl of eighteen. She remained chatting with us after the rest of the family had retired; and, afterwards, when she saw my wife to her bed-room, it did not occur to her, in her guileless nature, to be necessary that she too should withdraw; on the contrary, she would have thought that she was guilty of a want of courtesy, if she had not returned to bear me company, until the time had come for my leaving the parlour. I am firmly persuaded that the young women of this rank in life of the United States are quite equal to those of Great Britain in education, and undoubtedly their manners are far more unembarrassed

oxen.

and artless."

The following incident exemplifies one of the least amiable features of American society :

"While we were at New Rochelle, Mr Dennys, an itinerant lecturer on astronomy and the popular branches of Natural philosophy, became an inmate of the house. A strange incident, as it appeared to us, happened at the beginning of one of his lectures. A man of colour, perfectly well apparelled, entered the room, and was coming forward with a view to hear the lecture, which had commenced. Mr Dennys addressing him, told him to go out, saying, we want no people of colour here; they are very well in their own way, but we don't mean to make them astronomers.' The poor fellow was obliged to comply. After the lecture, I ventured to remonstrate with Mr Dennys upon the gross impropriety of his conduct; but his answer was quite satisfactory, as far as he was concerned, the fact being, as he stated, that he had no alternative. The people connected with the schools, and his audience generally, would have left the room if he had allowed a man of colour to remain. Nothing can be more disgraceful to the people of the United States, nor more inconsistent with their professed principles of equality, than their treatment of the free

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