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frying pan, there is no harm in pushing him into the fire; that a little more misery-a little more infamya few more links are of no sort of consequence in a prison-life. If this monstrous style of reasoning extended to hospitals as well as prisons, there would be no harm in breaking the small bone of a man's leg,because the large one was fractured, or in peppering with small shot a person who was wounded with a cannon-ball. The principle is, because a man is very wretched there is no harm in making him a little more so. The steady answer to all this is, that a man is imprisoned before trial, solely for the purpose of securing his appearance at his trial; and that no punishment nor privation, not clearly and candidly necessary for that purpose, should be inflicted upon him. I keep you in prison, because criminal justice would be defeated by your flight, if I did not but criminal justice can go on very well without degrading you to hard and infamous labour, or denying you any reasonable gratification. For these reasons, the first of those acts is just, the rest are mere tyranny.

Mr. Nicoll, in his opinion, tells us, that he has no doubt Parliament would amend the bill, if the omission was stated to them. We, on the contrary, have no manner of doubt that Parliament would treat such a petition with the contempt it deserved. Mr. Peel is too much enlightened and sensible to give any countenance to such a great and glaring erro. In this case, -and we wish it were a more frequent one-the wisdom comes from within, and the error from without the walls of Parliament.

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THERE is a set of miserable persons in England, who are dreadfully afraid of America and every thing American-whose great delight is to see that country ridi. culed and vilified-and who appear to imagine that all the abuses which exist in this country acquire additional vigour and chance of duration from every book of travels which pours forth its venom and falsehood on the United States. We shall from time to time call the attention of the public to this subject, not from any party spirit, but because we love the truth, and praise excellence wherever we find it; and because we think the example of America, will in many instances tend to open the eyes of Englishmen to their true interests.

The economy of America is a great and important object for our imitation. The salary of Mr. Bagot, our late ambassador, was, we believe, rather higher than that of the President of the United States. The vicepresident receives rather less than the second clerk of the House of Commons; and all salaries civil and mibetter served than America! Mr. Hume has at last persuaded the English people to look into their accounts, and see how sadly they are plundered. But we ought to suspend our contempt for America, and consider whether we have not a very momentous lesson to learn from this wise and cautious people on the subject of economy.

A prisoner before trial who can support himself,litary, are upon the same scale; and yet no country is ought to be allowed every fair and rational enjoyment which he can purchase, not incompatible with prison discipline. He should be allowed to buy ale or wine in moderation,-to use tobacco, or any thing else he can pay for within the above-mentioned limits. If he cannot support himself, and declines work, then he should be supported upon a very plain, but still a plentiful diet (something better we think than bread and water); and all prisoners before trial should be allowed to work. By a liberal share of earnings (or rather by rewards, for there would be no earnings); and also by an improved diet, and in the hands of humane magistrates, there would soon appear to be no necessity for appealing to the treadmill till trial was over.

A lesson upon the importance of religious toleration, we are determined, it would seem, not to learn,-either from America or any other quarter of the globe. The High Sheriff of New York last year was a Jew. It was with the utmost difficulty that a bill was carried this year to allow the first Duke of England to carry a gold stick before the king-because he was a Catholic! This treadmill, after trial, is certainly a very excel- -and yet we think ourselves entitled to indulge in imlent method of punishment, as far as we are yet ac- pertinent sneers at America, as if civilization did not quainted with its effects. We think, at present, how-depend more upon making wise laws for the promotion ever, it is a little absurd; and hereafter it is our of humau happiness, than in having good inns, and intention to express our opinion upon the limits to post-horses, and civil waiters. The circumstances of which it ought to be confined. Upon this point, how-the Dissenters' marriage bill are such as would excite ever, we do not much differ from Mr. Headlam; the contempt of a Choctaw or Cherokee, if he could be although, in his remarks on the treatment of prisoners brought to understand them. A certain class of Disbefore trial, we think he has made a very serious mis-senters beg they may not be compelled to say that take, and has attempted (without knowing what he they marry in the name of the Trinity, because they was doing, and meaning, we are persuaded, nothing do not believe in the Trinity. Never mind, say the but what was honest and just) to pluck up one of the corruptionists, you must go on saying you marry in the ancient landmarks of human justice.t

* All magistrates should remember that nothing is more easy to a person intrusted with power than to convince himself it is his duty to treat his fellow-creatures with severity and rigour, -and then to persuade himself that he is doing it very reluctantly, and contrary to his real feeling.

We hope this article will conciliate our old friend, Mr. Roscoe who is very angry with us for some of our former lucubrations on prison discipline,-and, above all, because we are not grave enough for him. The difference is thus stated: -Six ducks are stolen. Mr. Roscoe would commit the man to prison for six weeks, perhaps,-reason with him, argue with him, give him tracts, send clergymen to him, work him gently at some useful trade, and try to turn him from the habit of stealing poultry. We would keep him hard at work twelve hours every day at the treadmill, feed him only so as not to impair his health, and then give him as much of Mr. Roscoe's system as was compatible with our own; and we think our method would diminish the number of duck-stealers more effectually than that of the historian of Leo X. The primary duck-stealer would, we think, be as effectually deterred from repeating the offence by the terror of our imprisonment, as by the excellence of Mr. Roscoe's education-and, what is of infinitely greater consequence, innumerable duck-stealers would be prevented. Because punishment does not annihilate crime, it is folly to say it does not lessen it. It did not stop the murder of Mrs. Donatty; but how many Mrs. Donattys has it kept

alive! When we recommend severity, we recommend, of course, that degree of severity which will not excite compassion for the sufferer, and lessen the horror of the crime. This is why we do not recommend torture and amputation of limbs. When a man has been proved to have committed a crime, it is expedient that society should make use of that man for the diminution of crime: he belongs to them for that purpose, Our primary duty, in such a case, is so to treat the culprit that many other persons may be rendered better, or prevented from being worse by dread of the same treatment; and, making this the principal object, to combine with it as much as possible the improvement of the individual. The ruffian who killed Mr. Mumford was hung within forty-eight hours. Upon Mr. Roscoe's principles, this was wrong; for it certainly was not the way to reclaim the man :-We say, on the contrary, the object was to do anything with the man which would render murders less frequent, and that the conversion of the man was a mere trifle compared to this. His death probably prevented the necessity of reclaiming a dozen murderers. That death will not, indeed, prevent all murders in that ecunty; but many who have seen it, and many who have heard of it, will swallow their revenge from the dread of being hanged. Mr. Roscoe is very severe upon our style; but poor dear Mr. Roscoe should remember that men have different tastes, and different methods of going to work. We feel these matters as deeply as he does. But why so cross upon this or any other 'subject?

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name of the Trinity, whether you believe in it or not. We know that such a protestation from you will be false but, unless you make it, your wives shall be concubines, and your children illegitimate. Is it possible to conceive a greater or more useless tyranny than this?

most justly characterized as a very religious people: but they are devout without being unjust (the great problem in religion); an higher proot of civilization than painted tea-cups, water-proof leather, or broad. cloth at two guineas a yard.

America is exempted by its very newness as a nation, from many of the evils of the old governments of Europe. It has no mischievous remains of feudal institutions, and no violations of political economy sanc. tioned by time, and older than the age of reason. If a man finds a partridge upon his ground eating his com, in any part of Kentucky or Indiana, he may kill it, even if his father is not a doctor of divinity. The Americans do not exclude their own citizens from any branch of commerce which they leave open to all the rest of the world.

In the religious freedom which America enjoys, I see a more unquestioned superiority. In Britain we enjoy toleration, but here they enjoy liberty. If government has a right to grant toleration to any particular set of religious opinions, it has also a right to take it away; and such a right with regard to opinions exclusively religious I would deny in all cases, because totally inconsistent with the nature of religion, in the proper meaning of the word, and equally irreconcilable with civil liberty, rightly so called. God has given to each of us his inspired word, and a rational mind to which that word is addressed. He has also made known to us, that each for himself must answer at his tribunal for his principles and conduct. What man, then, or body of men, has a right to tell me, "You do not think aright on religious subjects, but we will tolerate your error?" The answer is a most obvious one, "Who gave you authority to dictate?-or what exclusive claim have you to infallibility?" If my sentiments do not lead me into conduct inconsistent with the welfare of my fellow-England, it is of course very expensive; and therefore the creatures, the question as to their accuracy or fallacy is one between God and my own conscience; and, though a fair subject for argument, is none for compulsion.

The Inquisition undertook to regulate astronomical science, and kings and parliaments have with equal propriety presumed to legislate upon questions of theology, The world has outgrown the former, and it will one day be ashamed that it has been so long of outgrowing the latter. The founders of the American republic saw the absurdity of employing the attorney-general to refute deism and infidelity, or of attempting to influence opinion on abstract subjects by penal enactment; they saw also the injustice of taking the whole to support the religious opinions of the few, and have set an example which older governments will one day or other be compelled to follow.

'One of them said, that he was well acquainted with a British subject, residing at Newark, Upper Canada, who annually smuggled from 500 to 1000 chests of tea into that province from the United States. He mentioned the name of this man, who he said was growing very rich in consequence; and he stated the manner in which the fraud was managed. Now, as all the tea ought to be brought from Canadian tea dealers, after buying one or two chests at Montreal or elsewhere, which have the custom-house mark upon them, fill them up ever afterwards with tea brought from the United States. It is calculated that near 10,000 chests are annually consumed in the Canadas, of which not more than 2000 or 3000 come from Europe. Indeed, when I had myself entered Canada, I was told that of every fifteen pounds of tea sold there, thirteen were smuggled. The profit upon smuggling this article is from 50 to 100 per cent., and with an extensive and wild frontier like Canada, cannot be prevented. Indeed it every year increases, and is brought to a more perfect system. But I suppose that the English government, which is the perfection of wisdom, will never allow the Canadian merchants to trade direct to China, in order that (from pure charity) the whole profit of the tea trade may be given up to the United States.'-Ezcursion, pp. 394, 395.

In America the question is not, What is his creed?-but, what is his conduct? Jews have all the privileges of Christians; Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Independents, meet You will readily conceive, that it is with no small mortion common ground. No religious test is required to qualify fication that I hear these American merchants talk of sendfor public office, except in some cases a mere verbal assenting their ships to London and Liverpool, to take in goods to the truth of the Christian religion; and in every court or specie, with which to purchase tea for the supply of throughout the country, it is optional whether you give European ports, almost within sight of our own shores. your affirmation or your oath.'-Duncan's Travels, II.325-They often taunt me, asking me what our government can 330.

In fact, it is hardly possible for any nation to show a greater superiority over another than the Americans, in this particular, have done over this country. They have fairly, completely, and probably for ever, extinguished that spirit of religious persecution which has been the employment and curse of mankind for four or five centuries, not only that persecution which imprisons and scourges for religious opinions, but the tyranny of incapacitation, which, by disqualifying from civil offices, and cutting a man off from the lawful objects of ambition, endeavours to strangle religious freedom in silence, and to enjoy all the advantages without the blood, and noise, and fire of persecution. What passes in the mind of one mean blockhead is the general history of all persecution. This man pretends to know better than me-I cannot subdue him by argument; but I will take care he shall never be mayor or alderman of

the town in which he lives; I will never consent to the

possibly mean by prohibiting us from engaging in a profitable trade, which is open to them and to all the world? or where can be our boasted liberties, while we tamely submit to the infraction of our natural rights, to supply a monopoly as absurd as it is unjust, and to humour the caprice of s company who exclude their fellow-subjects from a branch of commerce which they do not pursue themselves, but On such occasions I can only reply, that both our governleave to the enterprise of foreigners, or commercial rivals? ment and people are growing wiser; and that if the charter of the East India Company be renewed, when it next expires, I will allow them to infer, that the people of England have little influence in the administration of their own affairs.'-Hodgson's Letters, II. 128, 129.

they are in many cases much more amalgamated than Though America is a confederation of republics, the various parts of Great Britain. If a citizen of the United States can make a shoe, he is at liberty to make a shoe any where between Lake Ontario and New Orleans, he may sole on the Mississippi-heel

on the Missouri-measure Mr. Birkbeck on the little repeal of the test act or to Catholic emancipation; I Wabash, or take (which our best politicians do not will teach the fellow to differ from me in religious find an easy matter), the length of Munroe's foot on opinions! So says the Episcopalian to the Catholic the banks of the Potomac. But wo to the cobbler, and so the Catholic says to the Protestant. But the who, having made Hessian boots for the aldermen of wisdom of America keeps them all down-secures to Newcastle, should venture to invest with these coria them all their just rights-gives to each of them their ceous integuments the leg of a liege subject at York. separate pews, and bells, and steeples-makes them A yellow ant in a nest of red ants-a butcher's dog in all aldermen in their turns-and quietly extinguishes a fox-kennel-a mouse in a bee-hive,—all feel the ef the faggots which each is preparing for the combustion fects of untimely intrusion;-but far preferable their of the other. Nor is this indifference to religious sub-fate to that of the misguided artisan, who, misled by jects in the American people, but pure civilization-a sixpenny histories of England, and conceiving his thorough comprehension of what is best calculated to country to have been united at the Heptarchy, goes secure the public happiness and peace-and a determi- forth from his native town to stich freely within the nation that this happiness and peace shall not be vio- sea-girt limits of Albion. Him the mayor, him the Jated by the insolence of any human being, in the garb, alderman, him the recorder, him the quarter sessions and under the sanction, of religion. In this particular, would worry. Him the justices before trial would long to get into the treadmill ;* and would lament that, by di d d d

the Americans are at the head of all the nations of the world and at the same time they are, especially in the Eastern and Midland States, so far from being indifferent on subjects of religion, that they may be

This puts us in mind of our friend Mr. Headlam, who, we hear, has written an answer to our Observations on the

a recent act, they could not do so, even with the intruding tradesman's consent; but the moment he was tried, they would push him in with redoubled energy, and leave him to tread himself into a conviction of the barbarous institutions of his corporation-divided country.

Too much praise cannot be given to the Americans for their great attention to the subject of education.All the public lands are surveyed according to the direction of Congress. They are divided into townships of six miles square, by lines running with the cardinal points, and consequently crossing each other at right angles. Every township is divided into 36 sections, each a mile square, and containg 640 acres. One section in each township is reserved, and given in perpetuity for the benefit of common schools. In addition to this, the states of Tennessee and Ohio have received grants for the support of colleges and academies. The appropriation generally in the new states for seminaries of the higher orders, amounts to onefifth of those for common schools. It appears from Seybert's Statistical Annals. that the land in the states and territories on the east side of the Mississippi, in which appropriations have been made, amounts to 237,300 acres; and according to the ratio above mentioned, the aggregate on the east side of the Mississippi is 7,900,000. The same system of appropriation applied to the west, will make, for schools and colle. ges, 6,600,000; and the total appropriation for literary purposes, in the new states and territories, 14,500,000 acres, which, at two dollars per acre, would be 29,000,000 dollars. These facts are very properly quoted by Mr. Hodgson; and it is impossible to speak too highly of their value and importance. They quite put in the back ground every thing which has been done in the Old World for the improvement of the lower orders, and confer deservedly upon the Americans the character of a wise, a reflecting, and a virtuous people.

It is rather surprising that such a people, spreading rapidly over so vast a portion of the earth, and cultivating all the liberal and useful arts so successfully, should be so extremely sensitive and touchy as the Americans are said to be. We really thought at one time they would have fitted out an armament against the Edinburgh and Quarterly Reviews, and burnt down Mr. Murray's and Mr. Constable's shops, as we did the American Capitol. We, however, remember no other anti-American crime of which we were guilty, than a preference of Shakspeare and Milton over Joel Barlow and Timothy Dwight. That opinion we must still take the liberty of retaining. There is nothing in Dwight comparable to the finest passages of Paradise Lost, nor is Mr. Barlow ever so humorous or pathetic, as the great bard of the English stage is humorous or pathetic. We have always been strenuous advocates

for, and admirers of, America-not taking our ideas from the overweening vanity of the weaker part of the Americans themselves, but from what we have observed of their real energy or wisdom. It is very natural that we Scotch, who live in a little shabby scraggy corner of a remote island, with a climate which cannot ripen an apple, should be jealous of the aggressive pleasantry of more favoured people; but that Americans, who have done so much for themselves, and received so much from nature, should be flung into such convulsions by English reviews and magazines, is really a bad specimen of Columbian juvenili ty. We hardly dare to quote the following account of an American route, for fear of having our motives misrepresented, and strongly suspect that there are but few Americans who could be brought to admit that a Philadelphia or Boston concern of this nature is not quite equal to the most brilliant assemblies of London or Paris.

'A tea party is a serious thing in this country; and some of where, have been on a very large scale. In the modern houses those at which I have been present in New York and elsethe two principal apartments are on the first floor, and communicated by large folding doors, which on gala days throw wide their ample portais, converting the two apartments into one. At the largest party which I have seen, there were about thirty young ladies present, and more than as many gentlemen. Every sofa, chair, and footstool were occupied by the ladies, all. The gentlemen were obliged to be content with walking and little enough room some of them appeared to have after up and down, talking now with one lady, now with another. Tea was brought in by a couple of blacks, carrying large trays, one covered with cups, the other with cake. Slowly making the round, and retiring at intervals for additional supplies, the ladies were gradually gone over; and after much patience the gentlemen began to enjoy the beverage "which cheers but wall, with the cup and saucer in their hand. not inebriates;" still walking about, or leaning against the

As soon as the first course was over, the hospitable trays again entered, bearing a chaos of preserves-peaches, pineapples, ginger, oranges, citrons, pears, &c. in tempting display. A few of the young gentlemen now accompanied the revolution of the trays, and sedulously attended to the pleasure of the the commencement and the termination of the round was suffiladies. The party was so numerous that the period between cient to justify a new solicitation: and so the ceremony continued, with very little intermission, during the whole evening. Wine succeeded the preserves, and dried fruit followed the wine, which, in its turn, was supported by sandwiches, in name of supper, and a forlorn hope of confectionary and frostwork. I pitied the poor blacks who, like Tantalus, had such a profusion of dainties the whole evening at their finger-ends, and dancing gave variety to the scene,-which, to some of us, without the possibility of partaking of them. A little music was a source of considerable satisfaction; for when a number of ladies were on the floor, those who cared not for the dance had the pleasure of getting a seat. About eleven o'clock I did myself the honour of escorting a lady home, and was well pleased to have an excuse for escaping.'-Duncan's Travels, II. 279, 280.

lection. The great inconvenience of American inns, however, in the eyes of all Englishmen, is one which more sociable travellers must feel less acutely-we mean the impossibility of being alone, of having a room separate from the rest of the company. There is nothing which an Englishman enjoys more than the pleasure of sulkiness,-of not being forced to hear a word from any body which may occasion to him the necessity of replying. It is not so much that Mr. Bull disdains to talk, as that Mr. Bull has nothing to say. His forefathers have been out of spirits for six or seven hundred years, and, seeing nothing but fog and vapour, he is out of spirits too; and when there is no

The coaches must be given up; so must the roads, Treadmill, before Trial. It would have been a very easy and so must the inns. They are of course what these thing for us to have hung Mr. Headlam up as a spectacle to accommodations are in all new countries, and much the United Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, like what English great-grandfathers talk about as exthe principality of Wales, and the town of Berwick-onTweed; but we have no wish to make a worthy and resisting in this country at the first period of their recolpectable man ridiculous. For these reasons we have not even looked at his pamphlet, and we decline entering into a controversy upon a point, where, among men of sense and humanity (who have not heated themselves in the dispute,) there cannot possibly be any difference of opinion. All members of both houses of Parliament were unanimous in their condemnation of the odious and nonsensical practice of working prisoners in the treadmill before trial. It had not one single advocate. Mr. Headlam and the magistrates of the North Riding, in their eagerness to save a relic of their prison system, forgot themselves so far as to be entrusted with the power of putting prisoners to work before trial, with their own consent-the legislature was, We will not trust you,'-the severest practical rebuke ever received by any public body. We will leave it to others to determine whether it was deserved. We have no doubt the great body of magistrates meant well. They must have meant well-but they have been sadly misled, and have thrown odium on the subordinate administration of justice, which it is far from deserving on other occasions, in their hands. This strange piece of nonsense is, how-sort of wish to pull down an excellent house, strong, warm and ever, now well ended-Requiescat in pace!

* Ancient women, whether in or out of breeches, will of course imagine that we are the enemies of the institutions of our country, because we are the admirers of the institutions of

America: but circumstances differ. American institutions are too new,-English institutions are ready to our hands. If we were to build the house afresh, we might perhaps avail ourselves of the improvements of a new plan; but we have have no comfortable, because, upon second trial, we might be able to alter and amend it,-a principle which would perpetuate demolition and destruction. Our plan, where circumstances are tolerable, is to sit down and enjoy ourselves.

selling or buying, or no business to settle, he prefers country?"-"Well, my friend, you have guessed right at last, being alone and looking at the fire. If any gentleman and I am sure you deserve something for your perseverance; was in distress, he would willingly lend an helping and now I suppose it will save us both trouble if I proceed to hand; but he thinks it no part of neighbourhood to the second part of the story, and tell you where I am going. I am going to New Orleans." This is really no exaggerated talk to a person because he happens to be near him, picture: dialogues, not indeed in these very words, but to this In short, with many excellent qualities, it must be ac-effect, occurred continually; and some of them more minute knowledged, that the English are the most disagree and extended than I can venture upon in a letter. I ought, able of all the nations of Europe,-more surly and mo- however, to say, that many questions lose much of their famil"Where are you rose, with less disposition to please, to exert them-iarity when travelling in the wilderness. selves for the good of society, to make small sacrifices, and to put themselves out of their way. They are content with Magna Charta and trial by jury; and think they are not bound to excel the rest of the world in small behaviour, if they are superior to them in great institutions.

We are terribly afraid that some Americans spit up. on the floor, even when that floor is covered by good carpets. Now, all claims to civilization are suspended till this secretion is otherwise disposed of. No English gentleman has spit upon the floor since the Heptarchy.

The curiosity for which the Americans are so much laughed at, is not only venial, but laudable. Where men live in woods or forests, as is the case, of course, in remote American settlements, it is the duty of every man to gratify the inhabitants by telling them his name, place, age, office, virtues, crimes, children, fortune, and remarks; and with fellow-travellers, it seems to be almost a matter of necessity to do so. When men ride together for 300 or 400 miles through the woods and prairies, it is of the greatest importance that they should be able to guess at subjects most agreeable to each other, and to multiply their common topics. Without knowing who your companion is, it is difficult to know both what to say and what to avoid. You may talk of honour and virtue to an attor. ney, or contend with a Virginian planter that men of a fair colour have no right to buy and sell men of a dusky colour. The following is a lively description of the rights of interrogation, as understood and practised in America.

from?" and "whither are you bound?" do not appear imperfound myself making inquiries which I should have thought very free and easy at home.--Hodgson's Letters, II. 32-35.

tinent interrogations at sea; and often in the western wilds I

In all new and distant settlements the forms of law must, of course, be very limited. No justice's warrant is current in the dismal swamp; constables are exceedingly puzzled in the neighbourhood of the Mississippi; and there is no treadmill, either before or after trial, on the little Wabash. The consequence of this is, that the settlers take the law into their own hands, and give notice to a justice-proof delinquent to quit the territory; if this notice is disobeyed, they assemble and whip the culprit, and this failing, on the second visit, they cut off his ears. In short, Captain Rock has his descendants in America. Mankind cannot live together without some approximation to justice; and if the actual government will not govern well, or cannot govern well, is too wicked or too weak to do so-then men prefer Rock to anarchy. The fol lowing is the best account we have seen of this system of irregular justice;

tice.

After leaving Carlyle, I took the Shawneetown road, that branches off to the S. E., and passed the Walnut Hills, and Moore's Prairie. These two places had a year or two before been infested by a notorious gang of robbers and forgers, who had fixed themselves in these wild parts in order to avoid jusAs the country became more settled, these desperadoes became more and more troublesome. The inhabitants, therefore, took that method of getting rid of them that had been adopted not many years ago in Hopkinson and Henderson counties, Kentucky, and which is absolutely necessary in new and thinly settled districts, where it is almost impossible to punish a criminal according to legal forms,

'On such occasions, therefore, all the quiet and industrious men of a district form themselves into companies, under the name of "Regulators." They appoint officers, put themselves under their orders, and bind themselves to assist and stand by each other. The first step they then take is to send notice to any notorious vagabonds, desiring them to quit the state in a certain number of days, under the penalty of receiving a domiciliary visit. Should the person who receives the notice refuse to comply, they suddenly assemble, and when unexpected, go in the night time to the rogue's house, take him out, tie him to a tree, and give him a severe whipping every one of the party striking him a certain number of times.

This discipline is generally sufficient to drive off the eulhimself of another warning, the Regulators pay him a second visit, inflict a still severer whipping, with the addition probably of cutting off both his ears. No culprit has been known to remain after a second visit. For instance, an old man, the father of a family, all of whom he educated as robbers, fixed himself at Moore's Prairie, and committed numerous thefts, &c. &c. He was hardy enough to remain after the first visit, when both he and his sons received a severe whipping. At the second visit the Regulators punished him very severely, and cut off his ears. This drove him off, together with his whole gang; and travellers can now pass in perfect safety where it was once dangerous to travel alone.

'As for the inquisitiveness of the Americans, I do not think it has been at all exaggerated.-They certainly are, they profess to be, a very inquiring people; and if we may sometimes be disposed to dispute the claims of their love of knowing to to the character of a liberal curiosity, we must at least admit that they make a most liberal use of every means in their power to gratify it. I have seldom, however, had any difficulty in repressing their home questions, if I wished it, and without offending them; but I more frequently amused myself by putting them on the rack, civilly, and apparently unconsciously, eluded their inquiries for a time, and than awakening their gratitude by such a discovery of myself as I might choose to make. Sometimes a man would place himself at my side in the wilderness, and ride for a mile or two without the small-prit; but should he continue obstinate, and refuse to avail est communication between us, except a slight nod of the head. He would then, perhaps, make some grave remark on the weather, and if I assented, in a monosyllable, he would stick to my side for another mile or two, when he would commence his attack. "I reckon, stranger, you do not belong to these parts?"-"No, sir; I am not of Alabama."-"I guess you are from the north?"-No, sir; I am not from the north."-"I guess you found the roads mighty muddy, and the creeks swimming. You are come a long way, I guess ?"—" No, not so very far; we have travelled a few hundred miles since we turned our faces westward."-" I guess you have seen Mr. ——, or General?" (mentioning the names of some well-known individuals in the middle and southern states, who were to serve as guide-posts to detect our route); but, "I have not the pleasure of knowing any of them," or, "I have the pleasure of knowing all," equally defeated his purpose, but not his hopes. "I reckon, stranger, you have had a good crop of cotton this year?"-"I am told, sir, the crops have been unusually abundant in Carolina and Georgia."-" You grow tobacco, then, I guess?" (to track me to Virginia.) "No; I do not grow tobacco." Here a modest inquirer would give up in despair, and trust to the chapter of accidents to develope my name and history; but I generally rewarded his modesty, and excited his gratitude, by telling him I would torment him no longer.

There is also a company of Regulators near Vincennes, who have broken up a notorious gang of coiners and thieves who had fixed themselves near that place. These rascals, before they were driven off, had parties settled at different distances in the woods, and thus held communication and passed horses and stolen goods from one to another, from the Ohio to Lake Erie, and from thence into Canada or the New England States. Thus it was next to impossible to detect the robbers, or to recover the stolen property.

This practice of Regulating seems very strange to an Esropean. I have talked with some of the chief men of the Regulators, who all lamented the necessity of such a system. They very sensibly remarked, that when the country became more The courage of a thorough-bred Yankee* would rise with thickly settled, there would no longer be any necessity for his difficulties; and after a decent interval, he would resume: such proceedings, and that they should all be delighted at "I hope no offence, sir; but you know we Yankees lose noth-being able to obtain justice in a more formal manner. I forgot ing for want of asking. I guess, stranger, you are from the old to mention, that the rascals punished, have sometimes prosecuted the Regulators for an assault. The juries, however, knowing the bad character of the prosecutors, would give but trifling damages, which, divided among so many, amounted to next to nothing for each individual.'-Excursion, pp. 233–236.

In America, the term Yankee is applied to the natives of New England only, and is generally used with an air of pleasantry.'

The same traveller mentions his having met at ta- | from it. It does, however, seem ominous of evil, that so little ble three or four American ex-kings-presidents who ceremony is at present used with the constitutions of the varihad served their time, and had retired into private ous states. The people of Connecticut, not contented with life; he observes also upon the effect of a democrati-having prospered abundantly under their old system, have cal government in preventing mobs. Mobs are created lately assembled a convention, composed of delegates from all by opposition to the wishes of the people: but when the wishes of the people are consulted so completely as they are consulted in America, all motives for the agency of mobs are done away.

'It is, indeed, entirely a government of opinion. Whatever the people wish is done. If they want any alterations of laws, tariffs, &c., they inform their representatives, and if there be a majority that wish it, the alteration is made at once. In most European countries there is a portion of the population denominated the mob, who, not being acquainted with real liberty, give themselves up to occasional fits of licentiousness. But in the United States there is no mob, for every man feels himself free. At the time of Burr's conspiracy, Mr. Jefferson said, that there was little to be apprehended from it, as every man felt himself a part of the general sovereignty. The event proved the truth of this assertion; and Burr, who in any other country would have been hanged, drawn, and quartered, is at present leading an obscure life in the city of New York, despised by every one.'-Excursion, p. 70.

It is a real blessing for America to be exempted from that vast burthen of taxes, the consequences of a long series of foolish, just, and necessary wars, carried on to please kings and queens, or the waiting maids and waiting lords and gentlemen, who have always governed kings and queens of the Old World. The Americans owe this good to the newness of their government; and though there are few classical associations, or historical recollections in the United States, this barrenness is well purchased by the absence of all the feudal nonsense, inveterate abuses, and profligate debts of an old country.

'The good effects of a free government are visible throughout the whole country. There are no tithes, no poor-rates, no excise, no heavy internal taxes, no commercial monopolies, An American can make candles if he have tallow, can distil brandy if he have grapes or peaches, and can make beer if he have malt and hops, without asking leave of any one, and much less with any fear of incurring punishment. How would a farmer's wife there be astonished, if told that it was contrary to law for her to make soap out of the potass obtained on the farm, and of the grease she herself had saved! When an American has made these articles, he may build his little vessel, and take them without hindrance to any part of the world; for there is no rich company of merchants that can say to him, "You shall not trade to India; and you shall not buy a pound of tea of the Chinese; as, by doing so, you would infringe upon our privileges." In consequence of this freedom, all the seas are covered with their vessels, and the people at home are active and independent. I never saw a beggar in any part of the United States; nor was I ever asked for charity but once -and that was by an Irishman.'-Excursion, pp. 70, 71.

parts of the country, in which the former order of things has been condemned entirely, and a completely new constitution manufactured; which, among other things, provides for the same process being again gone through, as soon as the profanum vulgus takes it into his head to desire it.* A sorry legacy the British Constitution would be to us, if it were at the mercy of a meeting of delegates, to be summoned whenever a majority of the people took a fancy for a new one; and I am afraid that if the Americans continue to cherish a fondness for such repairs, the Highlandman's pistol, with its new stock, lock, and barrel, will bear a close resemblance to what is ultimately produced.'-Duncan's Travels, II. 335, 336.

In the Excursion there is a list of the American navy, which, in conjunction with the navy of France, will one day or another, we fear, settle the Catholic question in a way not quite agreeable to the Earl of Liverpool for the time being, nor very creditable to the wisdom of those ancestors of whom we hear, and from whom we suffer so much. The regulations of the American navy seem to be admirable. The states are making great exertions to increase this navy; and since the capture of so many English ships, it has become the favourite science of the people at large. Their flotillas on the lakes completely defeated ours during the last war.

Fanaticism of every description seems to rage and flourish in America, which has no establishment, in about the same degree which it does here under the nose of an established church; they have their prophets and prophetesses, their preaching encampments, female preachers, and every variety of noise, folly, and nonsense, like ourselves. Among the most singular of these fanatics, are the Harmonites. Rapp, their founder, was a dissenter from, the Lutheran church, and therefore, of course, the Lutheran clergy of Stutgard (near to which he lived) began to put Mr. Rapp in white sheets, to prove him guilty of theft, parricide, treason, and all the usual crimes of which men dissenting from established churches are so often guilty; and delicate hints were given respecting faggots! Stutgard abounds with underwood and clergy; andaway went Mr. Rapp to the United States, and, with. a great multitude of followers, settled about twentyfour miles from our countryman Mr. Birkbeck. His people have here built a farge town, and planted a vineyard, where they make very agreeable wine. They carry on also a very extensive system of husbandry, and are the masters of many flocks and herds. They have a distillery, brewery, tannery, make hats, shoes, cotton and woollen cloth, and every thing necessary to the comfort of life. Every one belongs to America is so differently situated from the old go- some particular trade. But in bad weather, when there vernments of Europe, that the United States afford no is danger of losing their crops, Rapp blows a horn, and political precedents that are exactly applicable to our calls them all together. Over every trade there is a old governments. There is no idle and discontented head man, who receives the money and gives a receipt, population. When they have peopled themselves up to signed by Rapp, to whom all the money collected is the Mississippi, they cross to the Missouri, and will transmitted. When any of these workmen wants a go on until they are stopped by the Western Ocean; hat or a coat, Rapp signs him an order for the garand then, when there are a number of persons who have nothing to do, and nothing to gain, no hope for ment, for which he goes to the store and is fitted. They have one large store where these manufactures lawful industry and great interest in promoting changare deposited. This store is much resorted to by the es, we may consider their situation as somewhat si- neighbourhood, on account of the goodness and the milar to our own, and their example as touching us cheapness of the articles. They have built an excelmore nearly. The changes in the constitution of lent house for their founder, Rapp-as it might have the particular states seem to be very frequent, very been predicted they would have done. The Harmoradical, and to us very alarming-they seem, how nites profess equality, community of goods, and celiever, to be thought very little of in that country, and to be very little heard of in Europe. Mr. Duncan, in bacy; for the men and women (let Mr. Malthus hear this) the following passage, speaks of them with European intercourse." live separately, and are not allowed the slightest In order to keep up their numbers, they feelings. have once or twice sent over for a supply of Germans, as they admit no Americans, of any intercourse with whom they are very jealous. Harmonites dress and live plainly. It is a part of their creed that they should do so. Rapp, however, and the head men have no such particular creed for themselves; and indulge in wine, beer, grocery, and other irreligious diet. Rapp

"The other great obstacle to the prosperity of the American nation, universal suffrage,* will not exhibit the full extent of its evil tendency for a long time to come; and it is possible that ere that time some antidote may be discovered, to prevent or alleviate the mischief which we might naturally expect *In the greater number of the States, every white person, 21 years of age, who has paid taxes for one year, is a voter; in others, some additional qualifications are required, but they sre not such as materially to limit the privilege,

*The people of the State of New York have subsequently taken a similar fancy to clout the cauldron. (1822)

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