In 1632, a priest of the order of the Jesuits accompanied the early sett.ers to Maryland, and since that time the Catholic population have been supplied with instructers of their own persuasion from England. A see was constituted, and a bishop consecrated, in 1790. In 1810, it became an archiepiscopal see, and four new suffragan dioceses were established, viz: in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Bardstown, in Kentucky, to which some more have since been added, in New Orleans, Charleston, Richmond, and Cincinnati, &c. Regular missions are also established all over the country, and it would seem, from the zeal of the missionaries, as well as by the language of the pope, that very great importance is attached to the future religious faith of America by the court of Rome. Nor have the devoted exertions of the priests failed of much success, for it has been computed that half a million of the people of the United States are Roman Catholics, of which not less than ten thousand are in the city of Boston, being one sixth of its population. It is stated that bishop England, of Baltimore, is an officer of the Inquisition!

Europeans govern it, by calling in the aid of a standing army, or by going on, as we have begun, taking off or bats to peri priests, and saying to these minions of his holiness, Please, gentlemen, do not let your people cut our throats! We comb that our American blood boils at the thought of such humiliation.

And who are these miserable creatures, that set our laws at defiance, and how came they here? They are the most ignorant and turbulent people of Europe, whom we have imported to dig our canals and make our rail-reads, to hew our werd and ta draw our water. They have nearly all come over within the last twenty years. In 1775 there were hat five Catholic famCars in Boston. In New York, within the memory of men now living, all the male heads of Catholic families were collected at me time in one small parlor; and in Philadelphia, at no remote period, their number, we presume, was equally small. They begi to come over in large numbers in 1817, and since that time the torrent has been continually swelling, until now it is pouring a upon us at the rate of from seventy to one hundred thousand annually. Already they constitute nearly one-fourth part of the population of our five largest cities, and they are scattering themselves in immense numbers over all our interior.

We shall soon have more papists in the north than they have slaves in the south. And who would not prefer two mes of slaves, under the control of two million of masters, owners of the soil, and prompted by every consideration of daty and lacerist t promote the peace and prosperity of our country, to two million of papists, under the control of two thousand priests, educand in the schools of Austria and Ireland-two thousand bachelors, bound to the country by no tie of increst or affection-two thrusend emissaries of a foreign prince, whose supremacy they acknowledge, and who is our natural enemy, because our progrning a working the rain of his despotism 7 Is it probable that we shall long continue to enjoy tranquillity with such a popolaren maining among us in all the ignorance to which their masters would doom them? Will the Holy Alliance of despotic sovereits in Europe consent that the examples of peace and prosperity in this free republic should continually endanger the sultiny of their thrones, when one word from the pope would give them security, by carrying riot and uproar through all our borders! We are happy to find that the friends of liberty in all parts of the north and west are opening their eyes to the dangers that menace us from the progress of popery. The following remarks of the Boston Recorder on the threat of the superior of the convent at Charlestown, in relation to the ten thousand Irishmen, are very pointed and foreible.

THE BISHOP OF BOSTON.'- Mr. Cutter told me he was afraid the mob would destroy the convent, and then I told him that if they did, "the right reverend bishop's influence over ten thousand brave. Irishmen might lead to the destruction of his (5. Cutter's) property, and that of others also.""

Such is the testimony, given under oath, in open court, by Mary Anne Ursula Moffat, alias Mary Edmond St. George, superer of the Ursuline community at Charlestown. In all important particulars it agrees with Mr. Cutter's statements. Ithey sustains the most important points-the bishop's influence over the ten thousand brave Irishmen,' and the reasonableness of ex pecting that he will use that influence in a certain way. She adds, I said this without much thought.' It was so story, de liberately made up for the occasion, for the purpose of frightening Mr. Cutter with imaginary dangers. It was the real truth, well known to her, and uttered without premeditation. It is true, he did not wield this power for the destruction of Mr. Cutters property. He told his ten thousand brave Irishmen' to keep still, and they obeyed him; and he and they were praised for it Here we have a government, wielding a physical force according to its pleasure, for the protection of its subjects. The superior wished Mr. Cutter to be in fear of it. She placed some reliance on its existence, and on the terror it might inspire, for her eva safety, and the safety of her community. It is a government which may operate for the defence of its subjects, or for the part ment of those who injure them by the destruction of the property of our citizens The officer who wields this power is not know to our constitution. He is not elected by our freemen. He is not officially responsible to the United States, or to the E wealth of Massachusetts. He is not even elected by those whom he governs. He is appointed by a foreign state, to which be still retains his allegiance, and by which he is liable to be removed from office, whenever his official acts shall not be such as the rulers of that state approve. One of his predecessors has been removed from this office to another by that foreign power. He conduct had pleased his superiors, and he was promoted. Bishop Fenwick is equally liable to be promoted, if his conduct rim, or deposed, if it displeases. We invite attention to the fact, that we have among us a body of ten thousand brave Irishmen, ready to destroy our property at the bidding of an oficer who holds his office at the will of a foreign government. On thị destruction of the convent, many of them came together to receive his orders. He told them not to destroy the property of sa citizens, and they obeyed. But whether this was any thing more than an adjournment of vengeance, is doubtful. The spera who has better means of knowing the bishop's intentions than any Protestant, cannot answer' that Mr Cutter's property * yet safe from those under the right reverend bishop's influence. It does not become us to be confident while she is in coule In reference to the testimony quoted above, and to documents which have been published in the Boston papers, the Recorder rs

marks:

What, then, is the amount of her testimony? We think it establishes the following points: viz.

1. That there is, within the limits of bishop Fenwick's diocese, a large Roman Catholic force which he can command. 2 That, if he signifies his pleasure, this Roman Catholic force will destroy the property of our citizens.

3. That he may be expected to use this Roman Catholic force in this manner, whenever it shall seem expedient, for the protection of Roman Catholic interests.

4. That some well-informed Roman Catholics do rely upon him to protect them and theirs in that way. And,

5. That the danger of a Roman Catholic mob, which shall destroy the property of Protestants, at the bishop's bidding, 'retaliation' for the burning of the convent, is not yet over. The superior, at the date of her letter published last week, 'could not answer, that Mr. Cutter's property would not be destroyed.'

That these things are so, is proved, be it remembered, by the testimony of the superior, who from her situation must be presunied to know.

Now, if there is a power established among us, having its regular government, to which government its subjects look for pro tection of personal property, and which may be expected to issue orders for their protection by physical force, which orders will be obeyed-if this be a fact, does it not deserve the attention of all our citizens ? Does it deserve attention any the less because that power pretends to be spiritual? If it really exists as a civil government for the protection of the persons and property of subjects, armed, or able to arm itself at will, with a military force, whether in the shape of a militia or a mob, do its spiritual claims render it an affair of no consequence? And if it is known to avow, as a fundamental principle of its existence, a spiritual allegiance to a foreign power, which foreign power is known to be civil and military as well as spiritual, does not this fact aise deserve notice?

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CHAPTER XIII.-MANNERS AND AMUSEMENTS.

THE dispositions and feelings of the inhabitants of the different portions of the United States have been modified by a great variety of circumstances. Difference of descent has operated with its usual power. The stern Puritan, the open-hearted and honest Dutchman, the light-hearted and easy Frenchman, the German, the Spaniard, the Catholic, the Huguenot, all have their representatives in various portions of the country. The distinctive national peculiarities have in some measure been worn off, and the varying elements have been amalgamated by constant intercourse, intermarriage, removals from one part to another, and the gradual effects of time. Still the national character is very distinct in distinct sections of the country, and in the following account of the various manners and customs, we have uniformly followed what we consider the best authority. The people of New England are grave, though they are not without humor; many of their amusements are of a reflecting kind, and their conversation tends rather to useful than to light or gay subjects. They are moral and pious, and the descendants of the Puritans retain much of the strictness of their fathers. If not ardent, they are to a great degree persevering, and though inquisitive, they are equally communicative. They are shrewd and calculating, yet not deceitful. They are no 'granters of propositions; with them almost all things are subjects for discussion, in which they manifest much ingenuity. They have a caution that prevails in all things, and they seldom answer directly an abrupt question, without knowing why it is asked. They have the impress of Franklin; Poor Richard's maxims of thrift fall upon a congenial soil, and no proverbs are oftener quoted, or more followed. They are like Franklin, to a great degree inventive in practical things, and far the greater number of inventions in the patent office are from New England. It is peculiar to these people, that they are seldom found without a pocket knife, which they use with dexterity; and boys at school are frequently seen whittling, or cutting wood into some shape, for a wind-mill or other toy. It is a universal trait, and it is said that a gentleman in Havana, who invited a large company to dine, gave each man from New England a shingle to cut, that they might not carve his furniture.

One of the first traits developed in the New England character is, if not a love of gain, at least a disposition to traffic. It commences at an early age, and children at school not only exchange or swap' knives, and other things, but make lotteries, in which the prizes are paid in gingerbread and raisins, and which leave a little profit to the manager and proprietor. farmers too, though not the most industrious kind, sometimes bring up horses and cattle for a 'swap' to the village inn; and the tin pedlars, whose wheels are in every road in the United States, are to a man from New England:

The

Another trai of character is the readiness with which the people of New

England admit the equality of all men with themselves, and the steadiness with which they deny, both in theory and practice, that any are superior. It would raise a tempest in the breast even of a female domestic, to ask for her mistress, nor would she be satisfied to be called a servant, or even a domestic. Help is the word by which servants reconcile their pride with their interest or employment, as it denotes, that though the assistants, they are the equals of their employers. A foreigner probably finds some ground for dissatisfaction on the score of domestics, for among house-wives it is a subject of universal complaint at home; the best servants are English, who have been more familiar with the distinction of classes.

The people of New England are distinguished for their celebrations. They are interlocked with each other by innumerable societies and associations, and one man is a member of many. These have their anniversaries, which, with the national and other holidays, make a great many processions, public dinners, and addresses. It is also usual to offer public dinners to those who have done acceptable services in high public stations.

A town meeting is perhaps the best place wherein to see the self-control of the people, when highly excited on questions of general or local interest. Every town is within certain limits a pure democracy, and its doings are attended with perfect decorum under the moderator, who is chosen, as the word implies, to mollify any over-zealous excitement. If, on these occasions, any citizen becomes turbulent, or abusive in language, the sense of the assembly is so strongly expressed against him, that he is at once reduced to order. Generally speaking, there are no mobs or riotous assemblies. The interference of a few constables, or the reading of the riot act by a magistrate, is sufficient to disperse any tumultuous throng. A tumuk at a town meeting or election, is a thing unheard of among us.

Some of the most peculiar manners and customs of New England are found in the island of Nantucket, and the neighboring part of the continent. Nantucket is a happy settlement; not that it has precious metals in its bosom, or fertility in its soil, but because the people are simple, innocent, and contented. The sea is their patrimony, and they gather its bounties in the most distant ports. The whale fishery in New England was commenced by six persons in Nantucket; one watched on an eminence for the spouting of the whale, and when he discovered it, all would pursue in a small boat, and they seldom failed to tow the leviathan ashore. Gains extended the adventure, ships were fitted out, and the whale was chased from the temperate regions to the arctic seas, and followed to the remotest shores of the Pacific ocean.

Among the people, there are none idle, and few destitute. The vices of commercial places are hardly known, and it is admitted all over New England to be a great presumption in favor of a man's honesty, that he comes from Nantucket. The Friends or Quakers give to the language a simplicity of diction truly Doric, and though they take some liberties with the commonwealth's English, yet in a person brought up with them, to speak in a more classic manner would be held to savor of affectation and pretension. The various relationships, and the kindly feelings, have introduced the custom of calling elderly people uncle or aunt, and the younger, cousin. Even a stranger soon falls into this habit. The people generally marry young, and few live in celibacy. They are social to a great degree, and are eminently distinguished for their frequent visitings, to sup at each

other's houses. They live more as though they made a large family, than a small community.

The following tribute to the New England character is from Captain Hall, whom no one can accuse of a desire to overpraise what he saw in this country. I had, however, many sharp amicable discussions with my friends at Boston, on the thousand and one topics that arose between us, but I must do them the justice to say, that I never met a more good-natured, or perhaps I should say, good-tempered people; for, during the whole course of my journey, though I never disguised my sentiments, even when opposed to the avowed favorite opinions of the company, I never yet saw an American out of temper. I fear I cannot say half so much for myself, for I was often a good deal harassed by these national discussions, when the company and I took our station on the opposite poles of the question. But it is pleasant to have it in my power to say that I cannot recall a single instance in which any thing captious, or personally uncivil, was ever said to me, though I repeated openly, and in all companies, every thing I have written in these volumes, and a great deal more than upon cool reflection I choose to say again.'

cha

In general, the amusements are of a thoughtful rather than a gay racter, and games of skill are preferred to those of chance. The character of the Puritans has given some tone to the amusements and holidays. Theatres are seldom even fashionably attended, and there are many who hold it unlawful to enter them. There are places, too, in the country, where dancing is considered to be a vain, idle, and sinful amuse

ment.'

6

The active sports are principally games of ball, and sometimes running and wrestling; formerly, different towns and parishes had their champions in wrestling, to try their superiority by matches, in which several fatal accidents occurred; but the sport is now almost entirely disused. Boxing, which is so universal in England, is almost unknown, and horseracing and cock-fighting are seldom seen. In winter, when there are delightful moonlight nights, sleigh-rides are a favorite amusement. Parties

of both sexes sit in large sleighs, as closely as they can be packed, and sometimes in each others' laps, scour over several miles at a rapid rate, and at some hotel, find not only a supper but a fiddler in attendance, whose gans are much enhanced in the season of sleighing. There are several holidays, but none that are observed in England. Election day is that on which the governor is declared to be elected, and has heretofore been one of the most time-honored' days in the calendar. On this day, the young men often take sides, in what is called a 'bird shoot,' to destroy the birds most mischievous to crops, and the party bringing in the least number of heads is vanquished, and gives a dinner to the other.

Fast day is an observance that has descended from the pilgrims, and is kept with a decent solemnity. The governors appoint one day in the year, in all the New England states, for fasting, humiliation, and prayer;' there is little business transacted, and the people generally attend in the churches, which are called more generally, from an old dislike to Episcopacy, meeting-houses. Thanksgiving is also a day appointed by the same authorities, and the intent of the edict or proclamation is carried into full effect by the disposition of the people. It is always appointed in the fall

or autumn, after the harvests, when the garners are full; and poor indeed is the inmate of the hovel that has not on that day plenty and luxury on his board. The preparations for thanksgiving continue several days, and for many more the prepared viands are not exhausted. It is the day for family incetings, and it is then that members of the same family often come hundreds of miles to meet again, to renew the bands of affinity and affection under the paternal roof. It is at this feast that the simplicity and patriarchal character of a New England grandsire is pre-eminent.

Before and after thanksgiving, there are held all over the country 'shooting matches,' which are announced by printed placards, headed sportsmen attend,' and which set forth that geese, turkeys, and fowls, will be set up for marksmen. They are shot at, generally after they are killed, with rifles, at certain distances, and rates are paid for every shot. If they are hit, the marksman has the game. These sports are commonly held in some retired spot, or at some deserted house, by which there is little passing, and where a day or two is spent as in an encampment. A bear or deer is sometimes shot at in the same way.

Autumn also brings other holiday observances, one of which is husk ing,' when the men of a neighborhood meet to husk the Indian corn of one of the number, that is, to separate it from the sheaf. A good supper, and sometimes a dance, ensues. The females have also similar meetings, called quilting bees,' when many assemble to work for one, in padding or quilting bed coverings or comforters. Militia musters or reviews collect many people, but they are happily growing out of date; they generally display the most repulsive traits of the New England character. An ordination of a clergyman over a society discloses better characteristics. It is a time when every house in the society is invitingly open, when the master generally provides' for more guests than he has the good fortune to secure; and when he may be seen forestalling his neighbors, by asking visiters to dine, before they arrive at the church. Persons of all creeds and conditions are pressed, nothing loath, to the feasts that smoke upon a hundred tables.

Ploughing matches and cattle shows are held only in autumn; they at tract many people, and give a favorable impulse to the interests of agricul ture. The celebration of the fourth of July, or, as it is called, Independence. is not peculiar to New England; it is the great national holiday, honored by salutes of cannon, fireworks, processions, addresses, dinners, in all cities, and in the most secluded corners of the republic.

In the middle states there is little general or peculiar character. In Pennsylvania, society takes a tone from the Friends, particularly in Philadelphia and some other towns; in the interior, German influence is equally perceptible. New York has the air and character of all great commercial cities. One abominable custom deserves to be mentioned with reprobation. Swine are by law permitted to range at large, and these quadruped scavengers are, of course, intolerable nuisances. Philadelphia and Baltimore seem to have escaped, in some measure, from the moral evils which appear almost inseparable from great cities. In these places, the manner of life is far more quiet and domestic than in New York, and in the former city the arts and sciences meet with a more assiduous cultivation. The Wistar parties of this citv. assemblies held at gentlemen's houses, where the con