II & RAR.Y
OF THE
UNIVERSITY
OF ILLINOIS
974,8
I .H.S.
NOTICE
AFTER CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF THE
INNER MARGIN AND TYPE OF MATERIAL
WE HAVE SEWN THIS VOLUME BY HAND
SO IT CAN BE MORE EASILY OPENED
AND READ.
,
&BTTER8
FROM
THE BRITISH SETTLEMENT
IN
PENNSYLVANIA:
To which are added,
fi CONSTITUTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND
OF PENNSYLVANIA; AND EXTRACTS FROM THE
LAWS RESPECTING ALIENS AND
NATURALIZED CITIZENS.
BY C. B. JOHNSON, M. D.
SontJon:
PRINTED FOR JOHN MILLER, BURLINGTON ARCADE,
PICCADILLY^ AND FOR II. HALL, PHILADELPHIA.
1819.
Printed \>j W. SMITH, King Street, Seven Dials.
3. \
THE
BRITISH EMIGRANT SOCIETY
TO
THEIR COUNTRYMEN.
The British Emigrant Society t established in Sus-
quehanna county, have read with much attention
the following Letters, from one of their members.
They have carefully examined the statements con-
tained in them, and fully concur in opinion as to
their correctness.
The object of the Society has been to secure an
eligible situation for their countrymen ; and by ob-
taining a large tract of land, to enable them to set-
tle together, and, at the same time, to procure the
land at a low price. In this, they have been met
by the liberality of the proprietor, who was pleased
687983
V PREFACE.
with their intentions, and desirous of promoting
them. As the Society disclaim all speculations,
they invite their countrymen to the spot, which
they have selected, on the terms of their contract ;
requiring only, as a claim to the privileges>hich it
ofFers, that those who come, shall bring with them
a good moral character.
From the following work it will be seen, that in
Susquehanna county the first crop usually pays
more than all the expenses of clearing and fencing
the land, and of sowing, harvesting, and threshing
the grain. Consequently the clearing of land is a
profitable business. That land encreases rapidly
in value. That the difference or saving of expense
of a family of seven persons, young and old, which
together with the sundry articles taken with them,
should weigh a ton and an half, going to Susque-
hanna county ; and the same family going to the
state of Illinois, in the western part of the United
States, is sufficient to purchase one hundred and
twenty acres of land in Susquehanna county, under
the Society's contract.
That the saving of a mechanic, with a family of
common site, bttweeu the expense of maintaining
PREFACE. T
it in Philadelphia, or in Susquehanna county, will
in one year, purchase an hundred acres of land.
That the produce of the farmer in Susquehanna
county would sell for double the amount it will
bring in the Western states.
That the work of the mechanic is proportionally
more valuable.
That all imported articles are cheaper than in
the Western states.
That the settlement is removed from all danger,
in case of war.
That it has the advantage of provisions, already
raised within itself.
That materials for building, and for furniture,
are abundant and cheap.
That taxes are scarcely worth naming, and that
there are no poor.
That the situation is particularly eligible, from its
vicinity to good markets ; the soil of a good quality,
the water excellent, and the climate healthy.
The Society have laid off ground for a town, on
one of the turnpikes, which pass through their pur-
chase- A half acre lot on the turnpike, cleared,
will be given, free of all expense, to each of the first
A2
Yi PREFACE,
fifty mechanics who shall build a house on the same
and commence his trade. Every person in the
town is at liberty to build his house or shop on such
a plan, and of such a size, as may best suit his con-
venience or his purse ; but as a handsome house
may be built at as small an expense as an homely
one, the Society require that the fronts of all the
houses and shops, &c. erected in the town, shall be
built on the designs furnished by their architect,
who wjll be careful to accommodate them to the
sum which each person may be desirous of invest-
ing in his buildings. The front must be painted.
The sides, back and interior, may be finished, or
not, as the person concerned shall desire. By this
regulation, the Society hope to unite utility and
beauty in their establishments. Ground has been
given for the situation of public buildings, and a
fund appropriated for them, which it is believed
will be sufficient for their erection.
It is the wish of the Society to introduce a suffi-
cient number of good farmers, to cultivate the
ground in the manner which English farmers are
accustomed to, and to settle industrious mechanics
ic towns, iu numbers sufficient to consume the far-
PREFACE. Tii
mer's produce. Factors will be established in the
cities of Philadelphia and New York, to whom
waggons will be regularly sent with such of the ma-
nufactured articles as it may be desirable to sell m
those places ; and for the purpose of bringing back
such imported articles as shall be necessary for
their consumption. The advantages of such an
arrangement for both farmers and mechanics, must
be very apparent. Many of those articles of light
carriage, on which thousands of mechanics and
manufacturers are employed in the metropolis, can
be made at the Society's establishment, sent to the
city, and sold at a less price than they can be af-
forded by those who make them there. The supe-
rior comforts of the mechanic, who has his own
bouse, his own garden, pasture, and wood lots, over
him wko is pent up in the city throughout the year,
and lives at great expense for house rent, fuel, &c.
are very obvious. The manufactured articles dis
posed of in the country are generally sold at
higher price than they bring in the city. But in case
of the country being overstocked, the Society con-
template an arrangement with their factors, which
will enable them to make advances, if the article*'
Viii PREFACE.
sent to them shall arrive at any time when the mar
kets are dull, so that the members of the Society
will have a further advantage in thpir sales, over
those who manufacture the same articles in the city.
It will be readily seen, that the result of this ar-
rangement must be a good market in the farmer's
neighbourhood for all his produce, and the profit-
able sale of all the result of the mechanic's labour*
Instead, therefore, of the necessity of taking to the
cities such heavy articles as flour, beef, butter and
cheese, they will appear there, metamorphosed
into some of the light effects of the mechanic's skill.
If the affairs of the Society shall be conducted
with a well-ordered exactness, and if the spirit of
harmony shall preside over the conduct of their
members, as there is good reason to hope, the
Society may look forward with confident expecta-
ion to a British settlement of unexampled pros-
\vJrity, where the farmer's industry, stimulated by
i exemption from his former burthen of taxes
,jid tythes, shall be rewarded by encreasing com-
forts, and the consciousness of being able to bring
up his children with a good education, and to
leave them with ample possessions; and where
PREFACE. IX
each mechanic, surrounded by his garden, his
pasture and wood lots, may rival the prosperity
and ease of the farmer.
The Society wish sedulously to guard their coun-
trymen from coming to them with the absurd hope
of finding a place where idleness may repose itself,
while the earth shall produce its fruits spontane-
ously. They know that many have been led to the
United States by such visionary expectations ; but
such persons they do not wish to see, and would
not receive as their associates; the happiness and
prosperity of the Society must depend on the in-
dustry and general good conduct of all its members.
CONTENTS.
LETTER I.
Arrival in the United States Settlers returning from
the West Cobbett's " Year's .Residence" Advanta-
ges of settling near a market Favourable accounts
of Susquehanna county Makes a large purchase-
Terms 1321
LETTER II.
Objects in selecting a settlement Comparison between
the prices of produce in Illinois and Susquehanna
Manners of the Western people Proneness to quar-
rel Security of the British Settlement The port-
folio Erratic disposition of the Americans Grist
mills and saw mills Price of farms 21 31
LETTER III.
Boundaries of Susquehanna county Face of the coun-
try Soil Forest trees Bushes Maple sugar
Beer Fruit Salt Iron Population 32 39
LETTER IV.
Rivers Valley of Wyoming ^-Campbell's Poem Fish-
ingWalton, the angler Lakes Canals 39 42
LETTER V.
Game Deer Bears Wolves- Elks Foxes Phea-
sants Ducks Teal Game Laws 42 44
CONTENTS.
LETTER VI.
Manner of clearing land Rapid increase of value
Prosperity of settlers Cultivation Philadelphia So-
ciety for promoting Agriculture Expense of cultiva-
tion Profits on crops Rent, taxes, stock,&c. of a faim
in England, compared with the purchate of the same
property in Susquehanna county Mr. King's speech
4458
LETTER VII.
Houses Barns Mills Fences Hedges 58 62
LETTER VIII.
Cattle Sheep Mr. B irkbeck Corn Oats Buck
wheat Potatoes Carelessness of American farmers
Rise of value The policy of Pennsylvania Go-
vernor's speech 63 73
LETTER IX.
Price of labour Expense of living in Philadelphia com-
pared with the cost at the British Settlement Castle
of Indolence Mechanics 73 79
LETTER X.
Roads Road to the British SettlementLetters, how
to be addressed 7983
LETTER XI.
No STATE TAXES in Pennsylvania American coins
No poor New York The Courier Labourers En-
glish revenue 8386
Xii CONTENTS.
LETTER XII.
Climate ArthurYoung Cobbett Mortality Musqui-
toes Brissot Diseases of the Western Country
Volney, Latham, Schultz, & Breckenridge 86 97
LETTER XIII.
Manners Literature Public Library Partiality for
England Yankee Marriage Education Religion
Slavery Robbery MendicityIndians Idleues-
Politics The navy The army American andBri-
tish Sailors Versatality of the Americans Netf
Orleans General Jackson Mr. Ames's speech *
General Packenham Mutual interest of Great Bri-
tain and the United States British manufactures
ElectionsCaucusStability and extent of the Unioi<
97_ -iir,
LETTER XIV.
Remarks on Birkbeck's Letters Price of Land Law-
yersTurbulent Character Moss Troopers Con
tempt of Religion Unhealthiness Parching heat-
Expense of travelling Conclusion 116121)
Extract from the Village Record 132136
APPENDIX.
The Constitution of the United States 1 3T
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Penn-
sylvania 167
Act of Assembly enabling Aliens to hold lands 180
Directions to persons who with to become citizens ih.
LETTERS, &c.
LETTER I.
British Settkment, Sutquehanna County, Pennsylvania^
MY DEAR FRIEND,
MY last letter was dated at Philadelphia, a
short time after my arrival there, and detailed the
few occurrences of my voyage, and the favourable
impressions which were made by the appearance
of that city. You will have seen by that letter, that
my intentions with regard to a settlement in the
western part of the United States, were much af-
fected by the unfavourable accounts which I had
received from some of our countrymen, who had
returned from thence, after a journey of nearly
three thousand miles, (going and coming) by land.
I was, indeed, so disheartened by these representa-
tions, that I was almost tempted to commence the
practice of my profession in Philadelphia, and give
up all thoughts of the country. You will, however,
be surprised to find this letter dated from Susque-
hanna county, in Pennsylvania, instead of Phila-
delphia, Illinois, or Indiana.
B
14 PRELIMINARY ENQUIRIES.
This intention of encountering so toilsome a
journey, in order to judge for myself of the " Wes-
tern Country," as it is here called, was formed
very much on the principles of " Hobson's choice ;"
for in some way, which is to me now unac-
countable, we had been led into an opinion, that
the only part of the United States for an English-
man to go to, was the western wilderness. Of the
error of this opinion I was convinced in a short time
after my arrival, by an inspection of the farms in
the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, and a reflection
on the great advantages of vicinity to markets; ad-
vantages which I readily saw a farmer must relin-
quish, who settles in any part of the United States^
beyond the mountains. At this period, I met with
a little work published by Mr. Cobbett, since his
last visit to this country, called, "The. First Part of
a Year's Residence in the United States of America"
which I send you with this. You will find in it a
diary of the weather; together with many useful
practical observations, detailed in a plain and easy
manner. Mr. Cobbett has shown the advantage of
farming on this side of the mountains ; and while I
felt a growing disposition to avoid the prairies, or
flats, of the Illinois, our friend S mentioned to
me, that the lands of Susquehanua county, in this
state, and within a short distance of Philadelphia
and New-York, had been very favourably spoken
of by Mr. V , a highly respected gentleman of
Philadelphia, of whose philanthropy and benevo-
lence most of the Englishmen who arrive there can
PRELIMINARY ENQUIRIES. 15
bear witness. Mr. S ~ directed me to a Mr.
Young, an Englishman, then in Philadelphia, who
had been to what he called Mr. Rose's settlement,
in Susquehanna county, and who could therefore
give me correct information about it. I called on
Mr. Young, and found his account to be very fa-
vourable respecting the soil and climate , and that
he intended to settle there. Mr. Y. described the
land as being of a good quality, the country healthy,
the water plentiful and excellent, and the timber of
great variety : that there were about five hundred
families, mostly from the New England States, on
Mr. R.'s tract ; a number of grist and saw mills,
and four post-offices on it : that Montrose, the seat
of justice for the county, was 170 miles from Phila-
delphia, and, by a turnpike now making, it would
be about 130 miles from New- York : that mea-
sures have been also taken for making another
turnpike in nearly a due south direction to Phila-
delphia, which will lessen considerably the pre-
sent distance : that the Susquehanna river was na-
vigable from the vicinity of the tract to Baltimore :
the price of the lands on the turnpikes was six dol-
lars, and for those back from them, five dollars
per acre ; that the title was indisputable, and a
deed of general warranty given : that several of
the settlers on the tract, who were desirous of get-
ting their neighbours to settle near them, and who
were, doubtless, good judges of land, had given a
statement of the quality, from which he bad, when
on the spot, copied the following :
16 PRELIMINARY ENQUIRIES.
" We, the subscribers, have purchased farms on
the lands of Robert H. Rose. The soil is, gene-
rally, of a good quality, deep, and lasting; and the
situation very favourable, on account of a market
for our produce. (Signed by)
Daniel Gaige, Alpheus Finch, Isaac Howard,
Mortimer Gaige, Abraham Gaige, Joseph
Whipple, Philip GrifFeth, Peleg Butts, Charles
Davies, Christian Shillop, Nathan Brewster,
John Griffiths, Jonathan Ellsworth, Henry
Ellsworth, Jacob Bump, George Bump, Bela
More, Joseph Addison, Charles Chalker.
Daniel Chalker, Seth Baldwyn, Richard
Daniels, Ephraim Fancher, Zephania Cornell,
Benjamin Fancher, Caleb Bush, Asa Bald-
wyn, Samuel Baldwyn, Thurston Carr, Isaac
Soule, Hiel Tupper, Jabez A. Birchard, David
Owen, Jeremiah Glover, Albert Camp, H. P.
Corbiu, D. Taylor, Lemuel Walbridge, Leman
Turrel, Camfield Stone, Philo Bostwick, Sal.
inon Bradshaw, Billings Babcock, Robinson
Bolles, Zenas Bliss, Jon. C. Sherman, Philo
Morehouse, Reuben Faxen, Darius Bixby,
Asahel Southwell, Asa Brown, Edward Cox,
Peter Brown, Daniel Chamberlain."
All this seemed to be good authority, and as there
were at that time in Philadelphia, many of our
countrymen, whose object was, like our own, the
selection of an eligible spot for their abode, it was
thought prudent to call them together, and unite
the information we had received of various places,
PRELIMINARY ENQUIRIES. 17
in the hope of being able to choose that one which
would be best for a tc British settlement," and in
which could be combined advantages for both far-
mers and mechanics.
For this purpose, a number of persons interested,
met at the Chester and Montgomery hotel, in Phi-
ladelphia, a house kept by Mr. Davis, an English-
man. The impressions amongst all who met, ap-
peared to be very unfavourable to a settlement in
the Western States, in consequence of the various
information that had been received, from different
sources, as well as from several of our own country-
men, who had returned dissatisfied with the priva-
tions of society, and the loss of many comforts to
which they had been accustomed, which they found
they would be compelled to endure in a settlement
there.
At this meeting, it was deemed to be of great im-
portance to find a suitable situation for the contem-
plated establishment, on the eastern side of the
mountains, and within a reasonable distance from
some of the sea-ports, in which all the surplus pro-
duce of the mechanic's labour might be vended,
where the toil of the farmer would be rewarded
by a good price for his produce, and where, in
consequence of the country not being filled with
settlers, land might yet be had at a low price.
I found the favourable impression I had of Sus-
quehanna county, corroborated by the information
which several who attended this meeting had re-
ceived of it ; aud it was resolved unanimously, that
B2
18 PRELIMINARY ENQUIRIES.
a letter should be written to Mr. Rose, to ascertain
the terms on which he would sell his lands to a so-
ciety of British emigrants. The time that elapsed
before the receipt of his answer, was spent by me
in endeavouring to add to the information I had
acquired of the United States generally, and parti-
cularly, in reading the journals of different persons
who had travelled over the western parts of them,
on the waters of the Ohio and Mississippi, to which
my attention had been directed previous to my lear-
iug England. I found these, generally, to repre-
sent those portions of the country in terms very
different from the language of Mr. Birkbeck, whose
" Notes" had been, in some degree, the occasion of
my voyage across the ocean. On receiving an
answer from Mr. Rose to our communications, a
meeting of the British emigrants was again con-
vened, and it was determined that a committee of
five, (of whom I was one,) should immediately
proceed to Susquehanna county, and examine the
lands carefully, ascertain the quantity which could
be procured, and on their return, make a report
of the situation, soil, water, &c. and of the various
advantages, or disadvantages, which it would offer
to the contemplated settlement. In pursuance of
this resolution, we came here, and diligently and
carefully investigated the different objects to wh'ch
our-attention had been directed, and which, as you
will have perceived, v. ere precisely the same as
those on which my instructions had been founded,
before I left my native land. The result of th
SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY. 19
investigation by the committee was, an unanimous
opinion in favour of this place, as affording all the
essential requisites for a British settlement.
We were treated with much kindness lay Mr.
Rose, who was pleased with our objects, which he
thought would be very useful to the county, and
even'to the state ; and with this view he gave us a
contract for his lands, at a price much below what
he had sold for some time past, and lower than any
other land is selling in the county. Since his set-
tlement in this county, he has made it a rule to sell
to none but actual settlers, and in his contract with
us, he has enjoined a perseverance in the same rule,
and the obligation, that for twelve months from the
date of our contract, we shall keep the land open,
on the same terms we received it, for any of our
own countrymen who may be desirous of joining us,
and who shall bring good moral characters with
them. These were precisely the intentions of the
meeting in Philadelphia, which in seeking a place of
settlement for British emigrants, disclaimed all ob-
jects of speculation, and sought only to procure an
eligible situation, in all the benefits of which their
countrymen might participate. The committee were,
therefore, much pleased that Mr. Rose had taken
the same view of the subject, and advised the mea-
sures on which they had previously resolved.
The following are the terms of our contract,
made 15th Nov. 1818, in distinct propositions, with
a view either to the whole or a part of the lands,
about forty thousand acres, as shall be found most
convenient to the society.
20 PRICE OF LAND,
For the whole
1st. Four dollars per acre, [13 shil. stg.] one
tenth part paid, and the remainder with interest,
in nine equal annual instalments ; or, 2d. Three dol-
lars fifty certs per acre, one fifth part paid, and the
remainder in four equal annual instalments ; or, 3d.
Three dollars per acre, to be paid within one year.
Or, in parts to suit individual settlers
The lots on the turnpikes, five dollars per acre :
the lots back from the turnpikes, four dollars per
acre. Interest to commence at this date, one eighth
part of the principal to be paid within twelve months,
and an eighth part annually afterwards. If the
whole of the price of any lot be paid for within the
first year, an abatement of one dollar per acre to be
made. The society to proceed to settle their mem-
bers on the latter terms ; but to have the privilege
of closing the contract for the whole, should they be
desirous of doing so, according to either of the three
first propositions; provided their desire be ex-
pressed to that effect within twelve months.
It should be particularly noticed in this negotia-
tion, that we sought the proprietor, and that he
neither laid in wait for us, nor did he allure us by
captivating accounts of Elysian fields. We found
in him a gentleman of elegant manners and known
integrity ; who offered the best recommendation of
his lands in the simple fact that he had built an
elegant mansion in the midst of them, and had re-
sided there for several years.
I shall now proceed to lay before you all the in-
SELECTION OP SETTLEMENT. 21
formation that I have acquired respecting the soil,
climate, manners, &c. of this interesting section of
the United States.
LETTER II.
Selection of Settlement, fyc.
IN the selection of a place of residence in a new
country, it is very important to take into view the
ultimate market for the farmer's produce. While
the country is settling, there will be no difficulty on
this score; for the encreasing population will de-
mand all the supplies that can be raised. But the
prudent settler will look beyond that period, and
consider what he is to do, when every one shall
raise more grain than he will be able to consume.
In that case, vicinity to market, and facility of
transportation, are all important. The immense
distance which grain has to be sent from the wes-
tern states, occasions the expense to be so great, as
to reduce extremely the profits of the farmer.
This is particularly the case in all articles of much
weight, and all the farmer's produce comes withi'
that description ; so much so, indeed, that on
bushel of wheat here, is worth one and a half i
the western part of this state, and two, or more,
22 VALUE OF PRODUCE.
the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois; the only
important market for those states is New Orleans ;
the distance to which is upwards of one thousand
miles from the nearest part of Illinois, and still fur-
ther from Indiana and Ohio. The value of the
different articles in Susquehanna and in the Illinois,
will be more easily seen by the following statement
of the prices. Those of the Illinois I collect from
Mr. Bhkbeck's " Notes" on that country.
SUSQUEHANNA.
D. C.
Wheat per bushel 1 60
Indian Corn do. 1 00
Oats do. 50
Hay per ton 7 .00
Butter per lb. 15
Cheese per Ib. 10
Fowls per couple 25
ILLINOIS.
D. C.
Wheat per bushel 75
Indian Corn do. 21
Oats do. 31
Hay per ton, 7 80
Butter per lb. 11
Cheese per lb. 25
Fowls per couple 20
The same cause which tends to lessen the value
of the articles, which the farmer raises in the wes-
tern states, and which he has for sale, operates
equally to increase the dearness of those which are
imported, and which he has to purchase. The
shop-keeper, who is at a great distance from the
place, where the articles he deals in are procured,
will add to the price, when he disposes of them, the
additional expense of bringing, and the time lost in
procuring them. To him, who is obliged to take a
journey of a thousand miles to procure the articles
that are to fill his warehouse, the cost and the
trouble must be very great; and that cost and
VALUE OP PRODUCE. 23
trouble he expects to be paid for, by the consumer.
The journey which he is annually compelled to take,
is a very serious one, compared to that of the shop-
keeper of Susquehanna county, who can go to New-
York and back again in four days. The latter, in
consequence of his situation,can trade with a smaller
capital than the former ; because he can, at any
time procure a supply of those articles of which he
is in immediate need ; while the former can lay in
a supply only once a year. All these difficulties are
to be paid for by the farmers and mechanics, who
consume the articles imported ; and the difference
to them, in the course of a twelvemonth, by re-
ceiving less for the articles they sell, and paying
more for t/iose which they purchase, will be found to
be very great. It is not merely the quantum he
shall raise, but the sum he shall get for it, which
constitutes the farmer's advantage. It is not sim-
ply to get enough to eat and drink, that is to bound
the desires of the farmer; it is to procure the
means of converting his log cabin into a handsome
and convenient house ; to erect a large barn for
his grain, and suitable buildings for his cattle ; to
educate his children, and, as he grows old, to enjoy
the satisfaction of rinding that his industry has
supplied the comforts of life, and enabled him to
satisfy the wants of society wants to which we
are indebted for the amelioration of mankind.
Perhaps it is even worse for the morals of the set-
tier, distant from a market where he can exchange
the articles in which he abounds, for those of
24 VALUE OF PRODUCE*
which he is in want, that he is placed upon a fertile
soil. The fertility gives him abundance ; and he
cannot dispose of his surplus. The consequence*
is, a want of stimulus to industry, He finds, that
the labour of three days in the week, will support
his family, and he will not work six ; for the pro-
duce of the other three will be of no service to
him. He cannot build his house, his bam, nor
his granary with it. Hence, he becomes idle. He
finds neighbours like himself. He takes his gun,
and goes into the woods to hunt, or to some neigh-
bouring log house at which whiskey is sold, and
where lie is sure to find persons in his own situa-
tion, led there by the same feelings which govern
him ; with those he consumes his time, shooting at
marks, or matching his miserable horse to run
against some other miserable horse ; and thus the
day, that in more fortunate situations would have
been spent in healthful industry, is squandered in
riot and intemperance. It is reasonable to expect
such consequences to flow from the situations I have
mentioned; and such, I have been assured by
intelligent travellers, is the case. I do not rest on
the narration of our own countrymen, who have re-
turned dissatisfied with the western wilderness.
American travellers themselves are obliged to ac-
knowledge the universal prevalence of these ruinous
habits. That we should find a proneness to quarrel
in minds that have shaken off the salutary restraints
of society, is to be expected. Even Mr. Birkbeck,
who has been so fortunate as to find quarrelling
WESTERN MANNERS. 25
rare, mentions the case of a member of a religious
community, who/* on being brought before the spi-
ritual court, for indulging a propensity to boxing,
and hearing all the arguments derived from texts
of Scripture, which oppose that unchristian
practice, declared that he should not like to live
longer than he had a right to knock down any
man who told him he lied." Mr. Schultz, in
his description of the country near St. Louis, on the
Mississippi, ia the immediate neighbourhood of
Illinois, mentions that " it is a very unpleasant
" place of residence, as the continual broils and
" quarrels amongst the workmen, as well as the
*' proprietors, keep up a constant scene of warfare.
" You would certainly feel yourself in very suspici-
" ous company, were you to discover that most of
" those amongst whom you were, wore a concealed
" dagger, and sometimes even two, one in the bosom,
" and another under the coat ; whilst others carried
" a brace of pistols in the girdle behind the back.
" I have heard of a number of quarrels since I have
" been here, and of two or three being wounded
" by pistol shot, but no lives were lost; which has
*' rather been owing to a precipitancy of firings rhari
want of inclination to kill. It is not always that
an honourable challenge takes place on account
of an affront or difference of opinion ; but an in-
stantaneous plunge of the dirk, or a pistol to your
face, is the first signal of war. They have however
become so naturalized to these ideal dangers, that
of three shots made within two yards of the object,
C
26 WESTERN MANNERS.
" none was followed by any thing more serious than
" the loss of three fingers on one hand, and a hole
" through the lower part of the crown of a hat,
" grazing the skin and hair. This bad, or good
" luck, is owing to the activity of the antagonist,
" who is generally aware of his opponent's inteu-
" tion, and prepared to knock his pistol up with his
" own, as soon as it is presented. Rifle barrelled
" pistols are altogether used at this place, and
" likewise at Genevieve ; and pistol shooting at a
" mark for wagers, seems to be a very general kind
" of amusement among the people."
Much more of this kind might be quoted from
American authors, and I should prefer quoting
from them ; for we cannot suspect them of having
any intention to deceive, especially when they speak
against the habits of their own countrymen, in par-
ticular places ; but I have already adduced enough
to convince you that the western part of theUnitec
States is a pface, if report speak correctly of it,
that would promise nearly as much work for a sur-
geon as a physician. At any rate these representa-
tions from so many sources, were sufficient to in-
duce *ne to set my face another way, and to make
me seek to discover a place, where a husbandman
might find sufficient inducements to call forth his
industry,
" and hear
At distance safe, the human tempest roar,
Wrapt close in conscious peace."
SECURITY OF SETTLEMENT 27
This is completely the case in Susquehanna county,
where, I am informed, that during the late war be-
tween the United States and Great Britain, " its
disturbances were known only by the arrival of the
mail."* How different is this from the frontier situa-
tion of the western states, whose infant settlements
are always exposed to the scalping knife of the
savages ! In ruy estimation of the advantages which
different places might offer to settlers, security
would be a most important consideration. That de-
sideratum is, I think, possessed in the greatest pos-
sible degree by this place, which is equally remote
from dangers by sea and by land ; being surrounded
on all sides by countries thickly populated. A per-
fect wilderness should be avoided by an English-
man. The Americans alone appear calculated to
commence a settlement. They make excellent pio-
neers.and overcome difficulties in the "wild woods,"
which an Englishman could not encounter. A jour-
ney of two or three days to a mill, is nothing to
them ; even a journey of a thousand miles, is but as
* This remark is quoted from a description of Mr.
Rose's possessions in this county, with an engraved
view of his mansion, which appeared in " the Port
Folio," for June, 1816. This miscellany, published
monthly, is edited by J. E. Hall, Esq. and was com-
menced in the year 1801. It may be procured in London,
of the publisher of theseLetter*,and it deserves the atten-
tion of an emigrant, on account of its sketches of life and
manners and other particulars respecting this country.
28 ERRATIC DISPOSITION.
a step to visit a friend. It is fortunate for a country,
possessing such a boundless territory, the arm of one
of whose rivers extends to a distance as great as
from my native place to the one in which I am now
writing, that her children are of so erratic a dispo-
sition, as to consider her amplitude as a narrow
limit. But although all this is extremely well for an
American, it is much better for English settlers to
confine themselves to a reasonable distance from
the sea ports ; and to endeavour to procure a situa-
tion in a country, in which the toils of a first settle-
ment have already been encountered and overcome.
For this reason it is, that my selection has been
made of lands interspersed in all directions, with
improvements, where good roads are already made,
and where grist and saw mills, and other machi-
nery, are erected.
In the immediate neighbourhood, for which the
company have contracted, there are five grist mills,
and thirteen saw mills. The great advantage of
these, and of the roads, which are made in all di-
rections through the lands, I need not mention.
The English farmer having been accustomed to
good roads at home, can ill brook those which he
will find in any wilderness. Here are turnpike
roads leading to the two most important cities of
the United States, laid out and much labour done
on them; and there is every prospect that they
will be completed in another season.
There is a point of time in the settling of new
countries, in which purchases by such a company
SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY. 2&
as ours, can be best made. To;a perfect wilderness
there is an objection, in the difficulty and uncer-
tainty of forming a settlement ; and many would find
it very unpleasant to endure the privations which
must necessarily be experienced by a residence
there. When nearly all the land is settled, the
small remainder is held at a high price ; but at an
intermediate point of time, when a considerable
part of the land is occupied, the quality of the soil,
and the real value of the country ascertained, the
difficulties of the first improvements overcome,
grain raised, mills built, roads made, and the n^ces-
saries, and many of the comforts of life to be ob-
tained this is, undoubtedly, the most eligible time
for a man to pitch his tent ; for the land which has
not yet been appropriated, may generally be had
at a price very low, in proportion to its real worth,
estimated by the farmer's profit, which is its in-
trinsic value.
I have mentioned the settlements or improve-
ments, with which the lands contracted for by the
society are interspersed. The greater part of these
can be purchased, at a fair price, from the present
occupants who, being paid for what they have done,
are ready to commence anew. It may be better for
many emigrants to purchase these improvements,
than to take new lands. They can be had in farms
of various sizes, from twenty to an hundred acres
of cleared land, with a house and barn t These
buildings are, in general, made of logs, and wheD
30 PRICE OF FARMS.
that is the case, are of little value ; but in some in-
stances they are of a better kind, being made of
framed timber, and boarded.
The sum at which improvements are estimated,
depends upon the care with which the lands are
cleared, and the kind of house and barn on them,
in addition to the price of the land. As a general
rate, a farm of one huudred acres of land, one half
of it cleared, with a common log house and barn on
it, would be estimated at from 225J. to 270/. or from
one thousand to twelve hundred dollars. This
however may alter very soon ; and will be likely
to increase rapidly, in consequence of our settle-
ment, and the money which will be brought into the
country by us. Such is the price at which impro-
ved lots (of which I have made several purchases)
are at present sold. By the purchase of an improve-
ment, an emigrant will be at once able to keep his
cattle and horses ; he will have pasture, meadow,
and plough land ; and can purchase new lands ad-
joining, and increase his clearings to what size he
pleases. In this manner he may commence bis
farming with very little of the inconvenience, and
all the advantage of a new settler ; and the new
lands which he can purchase on the terms of the
society's contract will answer for the establishment
of his family around him. I have devoted, and shall
continue to devote, much of my time to the acqui-
sition of a thorough knowledge of the extent,
quality and value of these improved lots, amounting
to several hundreds, in order to point out to those
PRICE OP FARMS. *1
of our countrymen who prefer making purchases
of that kind of property, such as will best suit their
different tastes ; so that each one may be accom-
modated in the way he prefers ; and I shall spare
no pains in the business, for I have the welfare of
the settlement very much at heart, which derives the
more interest from its being the first BRITISH
SETTLEMENT, attempted on a large scale, in the
United States. It will therefore be useful for all
those who are desirous of purchasing improvements,
to make their applications either through the society
at Philadelphia, or directly to me at this place. I
can then make the desired purchases for them, or
provisional contracts, to be ratified within a rea-
sonable length of time, after the applicants shall
have seen and approved of the lots.
32 BOUNDARIES.
LETTER III.
Boundaries Face of the country - Soil ~ Forest
trees Bushes Cultivated fruits Minerals, fyc.
SUSQUEHANNA county is situated in the 42c
degree of north latitude,, on the line which divide:
Pennsylvania from the state of New York. It com
mences about six miles from the Delaware river
and runs west thirty-four miles, and south twenty
four miles. On the north it is bounded by the stat<
of New York ; on the south by Luzerne county ; 01
the east by Wayne county ; and on the west ty
Bradford county.
The face of the country is very picturesque
There is no fiat land ; it is all in undulations. Rivu
lets and springs are in the greatest abundance.-
There is no farm and scarcely a field, without s
stream or spring in it of excellent water, and a:
clear as crystal. There are no stagnant waters
DO swamps, nor marshes, nor musquitoes, whicl
abound so much in many other parts of the Unitec
States.
The soil is deep that is, generally, from one t<
two feet ; in some places, three or four feet. Be
SOIL, CULTURE. S3
neath this, there is an inferior stratum, or sub-soil,
composed of clay and extremely fine silicious sand,
intimately commingled. By us it would be called
stony ; but the stones lie almost entirely on the
surface, are easily removed, and will be very useful
for buildings and walls. I have taken particular
notice where trees have been taken out by the
root, and at the sides of the turnpike roads where
the ditches are dug, that it is rare to find any stones
beneath the surface. I am told that some of the
settlers from the eastern states, who have been ac-
customed to stone walls round their fields, say that
there are not stones enough ; I should be satisfied
with less. Of the fertility of the soil, the usual crops
offer a strong evidence ; for if a farmer in England
was to put his grain into the ground, in the manner
it is generally done here, I should calculate upon
his having a very diminutive harvest. In this coun-
try there is little or no alluvial soil deposited by the
overflowing of the rivers or brooks. It is a common
remark, and it accords with my own observations,
that the soil is deeper on the tops of the hills than
in thevallies. As it does not wash off, the hills re-
tain all their native fertility. You see no traces, or
furrows, worn by the waters. In the western part of
the United States, where extensive flats of alluvial
soil are formed on the rivers, the hills are propor-
tionably poor, being robbed of the soil, which is de-
posited on the flat, or bottom. In most of the waters
of the western states, during floods or freshets, there
is a reflux, or eddy, formed at the margin of the usual
34 WESTERN RIVERS, TREES.
water courses, aiid the soil brought down from the
hiils i deposited in the greates oundance on the
bank, which usually confines the current ; conse-
quently, the bank is higher than the land back from
the river, where the bottom joins the hill. The re-
sult is, that when the river retires within its banks,
an extensive, but narrow, pond is left along the has*
of the hill ; and as the hot weather gradually dries
it up, a pestilential miasma is formed, which pro
duces bilious and intermittent fevers, and all then
train of horrors. In Susquehanna county nothing oi
that kind is found. I cannot learn of a single in-
stance of fever and ague having occurred within it,
I see no sallow, sickly looking complexions. Everj
log hut abounds with children, whose brown faces
indicate health and hardihood. This is a bad place
you will say for my profession. I am very happy thai
it is so. I came to seek for land ; and shall be more
pleased to practice farming than phlebotomy. I do
not however, intend to give up my profession till one
of my son^ shall be able to take it off my hands ; foi
physicians are necessary evils in all countries.
I have measured many of the forest trees, in
order to be exact as to their height. It is, in gene-
ral, about eighty feet. Many are much higher ; but
that is the common altitude. The white, or silver
pine overtops all the other timber, and grows to the
height of one hundred and fifty feet, and from six
to twelve feet in circumference. The hemlock
spruce also grows to a large size ; but not so high
as the pine. The diameter of the beech is from one
TREES, BUSHES 85
> two feet ; the birch, larger. Chesnut is found
:arly twenty feet in circumference, very straight,
id sixty feet to the lowest limbs. White oak,
;arly as large. The wild cherry grows large, and
rnifure is made from it resembling mahogany.
he curled maple affords also a beautiful wood for
rniture, of the fine and silky appearance of satin
aod. I have observed the following kinds of tim-
:r, viz. beech of two or three varieties ; sugar
aple (acer saccharinum) and several other species
5 the acer Pennsylvanicum, rubrum, 3fc.) ; hem-
ck spruce (pinus abies Americana) ; chesnut,
fferent from the English, the nuts small, but very
>od ; cherry of two kinds (prunus cerasus Vir~
niana et montana) ; white and black ash ; oak ;
lite pine ; linden (tilia) ; elm ; button wood (pla-
nus occidental^ : cucumber tree (magnolia acu-
\nata) ; crab apple, dog wood (cornus Florida);
ckory (juglans alba ovata) ; black walnut ( jug-
fis nigva) ; butternut (juglans oblo?iga alba) ;
rnbeam (caprinus ostrya) ; locust (robinid) ; wild
um ; poplar; tulip treQ(liriodendrori); sassafras ;
d service tree (sorbus Americana). Among the
ishes are blackberries of several kinds, currants,
oseberries, raspberries, elder, hawthorn, laurel,
ither wood, (dirca palustris] ; hazlenut, sumach
two kinds, and the rose. You will observe that
e currants, gooseberries, and raspberries all grow
Id in the woods. There is also a small grape
lich ripens late, and is acid : perhaps those of a
ore generous kind would flourish if they were
86 TIMBEfi, SUGAR MAPLE.
cultivated. The bills in this country are all covered
with timber. You see none bare. Along the Sus-
quehanna river, there is a belt of oak timber which
extends back from it for three or four miles ; you
then pass into what are called the beech woods, which
are composed of various kinds of timber, but take
their name from that which predominates. In the
latter the soil is much superior to the former, both
as to depth and quality ; the oak lands having a
thin and gravelly soil, while the beech timber grows <
in a deep loam. From the ashes formed by burning
the timber in their clearings, the new settlers might
derive a handsome profit, by the manufacture of
pot and pearl ashes ; but this is neglected, and the
ashes are suffered to be blown away by the winds,
or washed off by theTains. Great profit mightalso
be made by the manufacture of sugar, from the sap
of the sugar maple ;* and it is now made to an ex-
tent equal to the wants of the country ; but it might
be manufactured for exportation. There is a great
abundance of the sugar maple in this country, and
HI HoweH's large map of Pennsylvania, this part
i* designated as abounding in that valuable trte. It
is one of the most beautiful of the forest. But not-
withstanding its great usefulness, it is cut dowa in-
discriminately with the others. A proof of the ad-
vantage that may be derived from it, was exempli-
fied by one of our countrymen whom we found set-
* See the process in Evelyn'a " Sylva," vol. 1. p. 188.
SUGAR MAPLE, FRUIT. 37
tied here. He purchased of Mr. Rose a lot of
eighty-four acres, and before he began his work of
clearing, he tapped a number of the sugar maple
trees on the lot ; and the price of the sugar which
he made in three weeks, amounted to two thirds of
the price he was to pay for the whole lot. This
you will observe was done before a tree had been cut
down on the lot, except what was necessary to boil
the sugar. Maple sugar is much like that pro-
duced from the cane ; but for many purposes I
think it pleasanter; and the person who uses it
has the satisfaction of knowing that it is clean,
which, it is probable, is frequently far from being
the case with that which is made by the slaves of
the West Indies ; or indeed, by slaves any where.
The usual time of making it is at the breaking up
of winter, when cold nights are succeeded by warm
days ; a season when there is but little to occupy
the farmer. It is not unusual for a family to make
half a ton in two or three weeks. The sugar mak-
ing season seldom lasts longer than that time. One
of the first things a settler should do is to plant
an orchard, and in a very short time he may eat
his own fruit, and drink his own cider.
In all the old settled parts of the United States,
fruit is in such great abundance that the traveller
is permitted to take, without ceremony, whatever
he pleases.
Beer is seldom made or used in the country parts
of the United States. We shall, doubtless, intro-
duce it ; which may be easily done ; for good bar-
D
38 STONES, HALT, IRON.
ley is raised here, and hops grow wild. Apples
pears, plums and cherries thrive well. Peaches
are not so good as in the southern states, although
the trees last longer. Perhaps the inferiority of
the fruit may in some degree be in consequence of
want of care respecting the kind ; for I do not
find any grafted. The trees are all raised from the
stones. However, as this tree was originally
brought from a southern climate (mala Ptrsica),
the presumption is that it finds in Maryland or
Virginia a more congenial situation. Susquehanna
is in the secondary formation. The stone is prin-
cipally grej or reddish shistose sandstone, and
clay slate, in some instances mingled with a small
proportion of calcareous earth ; but I believe none
has been found in which the latter predominates.
On some of the branches of Wyal using, one of
the streams of this county, there is an appearance
of salt ; and a small quantity has been made very
pure and white. It is supposed, that it might be
manufactured extensively and profitably. Some
persons are now at work, in digging a well for it
on the waters of Silver Creek. The salt at pre-
sent used here, is brought from the salt works in
the state of New.York, a distance of eighty miles
to the north of this, where it is made in great
quantities, and sold at half a dollar per bushel.
Small specimens of iron ore have been shown to
me, and there is reason to believe that jnore might
be found if search were made below the surface.
In one place, for more than a mile in extent, the
COAL, RIVERS. 39
needle of the surveyor's compass cannot be made
to traverse ; yet no one has been at the trouble to
search for the cause. I do not know of any coal
in this county ; but near the southern boundary of
it, coal resembling the Welch culm, or Kilkenny
coal, is found in great abundance.
Susquehanna was formed into a county in 1812,
and there are now within its limits, one thousand
eight hundred and ninety-seven taxables ; which,
at a computation of five and one third inhabitants
to each taxable, and which I am informed is a com-
mon one, give ten thousand one hundred and se-
venteen inhabitants within the limits of the county.
From this statement you will see, that you are
not invited to a wilderness.
LETTER IV.
llivers, Streams, and Lakes.
THE Susquehanna river rises in the state of
New-York, and runs nearly a south course, till it
passes the Pennsylvania line, about twelve miles
from the Delaware river. It then turns to the
west, and repasses the state line, near the twentieth
milestone ; and after receiving the Chenango and
40 RIVERS, STREAMS, LAKES.
Owego rivers, it turns again to the south, and en-
tering Pennsylvania near the fifty-seventh mile-
stone, continues a general south course, passing
Harrisburg, the seat of government in Pennsyl-
vania, till it enters into the Chesapeake Bay. In
its course it receives several other rivers as tribu-
taries. It is a clear and beautiful river, but rather
too shallow when the waters are low. In the
spring and autumn, immense quantities of grain,
boards, timber, salt, and gypsum, are sent down it
to market. There are many flourishing villages
on its banks. One of these, called Wilkesbarre,
is beautifully situated in the valley of Wyoming,
which has been immortalized in the song of one of
our poets. But
" On Susquehanna's side, fair Wyoming, 1 *
is now so safe from Indian, or any other warfare,
that perhaps there is not an inhabitant of the val-
ley, who could be induced to believe that all the
powers in the pay of the allied sovereigns could
reach it, if the attempt were made in hostile array.
On looking at the map, you will perceive that the
Susquehanna makes a large bend round this coun-
ty, from which the streams flow into it in all direc-
tions. From a field within half a mile of me, the
eye can trace the line of hills the whole extent of
this great sweep, which on the north is twelve
miles, on the west thirty, and the same distance on
the south. The small streams are very abundant;
RIVERS, STREAMS, LAKES. 41
and there are a number of beautiful little lakes, of
various sizes, from half a mile to a mile long.
These are generally at the heads of the streams ;
where the hills, sloping gradually, form a kind of
basin. Their waters are extremely pure, and
abound with fish of different sorts, as the trout,
perch, pike, sunfish, chub, mullet, catfish, and eel.
The rivulets, or brooks, are in the United States
called creeks ; and in this county their waters are
as pure as the springs. Trout abound in them, as
may be best seen by the result of a day's fishing
with the rod and line, in the outlet of Silver Lake,
by two gentlemen, at three different times. The
first time, they caught twenty-seven dozen ; the
second time, twenty dozen ; and the third time,
thirty-five dozen and an half. If old Walton were
alive, this would be enough to bring him to Sus-
quehanna. There is no hard water here ; every
stream will wash ; and the thirsty traveller may
drink pleasantly of every brook or lake.
It is considered to be of immense advantage to
Philadelphia, to draw the produce of the lands
watered by the Susquehanna to that city ; and dif-
ferent companies have been incorporated by the
legislature for the purpose of uniting that river
with the Delaware and Schuylkill, which flow by
the wharves of Philadelphia. Much labour has
been done on a canal, intended to connect their
branches ; and companies are now engaged in im-
proving the Schuylkill, Lehigh, and different rivers
D 2
42 GAME.
on the rout, by darns and locks ; which promise to
be very successful in their result.
It is not, therefore, by our own labour alone, that
we are likely to be benefited ; the legislature, as
well as individuals, are actually employed in faci-
litating the means of transporting our produce to
the sea side, from which our distance is now but
a ride of two or three days.
LETTER V.
Game.
DEER are very numerous in the woods, and
frequently commit depredations on the young
grain. Venison, indeed, is so abundant, as to be
the cheapest meat here. You will get the best
haunches for two pence per pound. Deer are
commonly shot with a rifle ball, or chased by dogs ;
in which case, it is usual, in order to avoid their
pursuers, to betake themselves to seme stream or
lake. In the latter case, they are easily overtaken
by means of a boat. There appears to be a great
certainty in talung them, whenever they are wanted,
in this way ; for I heard a hunter, whom Mr.
Rose sometimes employs, say, that he brought his
dog to Silver Lake, twelve times last fall, and each
GAME. 43
time caught a deer. There is a good deal of
amusement for a sportsman in this watery chase ;
but I cannot say I have felt that spirit of" sublime
elevation of soul'* which we are told, in the Guide
to the Lakes of Killarney, induces a thorough
bred sportsman there " in his raptures and ecsta-
cies, so far to forget himself, as to jump out of the
[boat." I am assured that the deer are as abun-
[daut now, as they were at the first settlement of
the county ; and this is attributed to the disappear-
ance of their enemies, the wolves. Deer usually
have two fawns at a time ; and these are so easily
tamed, that on being caught when very young,
and carried a few hundred yards, they will imme-
diately follow you. The facility with which they
are tamed, 1 should not have credited, had I not
derived my information from unquestionable au-
thority.
Bears and wolves, which once were numerous
in this part of Pennsylvania, are now seldom heard
of. They have retired before the population ; so
have also the elks, which once inhabited these
woods, as is proved by their immense horns being
sometimes found. Foxes are in great numbers,
and, as at home, are frequent marauders in the hen
roosts.
Pheasaqts, different from and smaller than ours,
are plenty ; partridges are scarce. Wild pigeons
commonly visit this place in the spring and autumn,
when their numbers are truly astonishing. Flocks
of them are sometimes seen, so large as to contain
44 CLEARING OF LAND.
millions ; their flesh is dark, and when fat, very
good. Ducks and teal, at particular seasons, fre-
quent the Jakes. Woodcocks are in abundance
amongst the bushes. As to hunting, shooting, and
fishing, I suppose I need not tell you that they are
free to all ; and that the man would be called a
great churl, who should forbid any one to catch
game on his grounds, or fish in his waters*
LETTER VI.
Clearing of Land, fyc.
THE common mode of clearing land in this
place, is by first cutting the underwood, or brush,
close to the ground. The timber is then cut
down, as much as possible in one direction, and
into lengths of about twelve feet. A few months
after, sometimes immediately after, fire is set to
the collected mass, which generally burns up all
the limbs and small stuff, leaving the logs. Two
or three men then go with a pair of oxen, and
haul the logs which ar left, into piles. They are
again set on fire, and in this second burning con-
sumed. When the timber is cut down, ready for
burning, it is called a fallow. The piling of the
logs is done during the day, and they are set on
CLEARING OF LAND. 45
fire towards evening, and generally suffered to
burn unattended during the night ; at which time
the burning piles on several acres, present a very
t>rilliant spectacle ; and when seen with the con-
sciousness of this being the first step in the con-
version of the wild into cultivated fields, the re-
flection is attended with no small share of interest
in the scenery.
I am surprised to see so little taste shown in
clearing land here. No reservation, or selection, is
made of groves to serve hereafter, as shelter from
the sun, for both man and beast. These beautiful
woods are indiscriminately hewn down and cast
into the fire ; and it is left to another generation to
find out the inconvenience of this general destruc-
tion of the timber. With a little care in the com-
mencement of an improvement, the most delight-
ful groves could be left, interspersed with the fields ;
nothing is requisite but to leave them. What a
treat it would be to a landscape gardener in Eng-
land, to have such cutting and carving ! What
would not Price, Gilpin, Repton, or Capability
Brown have given for such materials to work with,
instead of being obliged to plant saplings for other
ages to admire as trees; or what would even your
burgesses and freeholders give for such logs of fine
timber as are here consumed, to cleave into posts
and rails to divide their lands at the enclosure of
their hills. The very refuse of an acre would be
worth more than is paid for hundreds of acres of
the land here.
46 CLEARING OF LAND.
Besides the beauty of what 1 mention, much ad-
vantage would he derived to the farmer from the
practice of leaving groves interspersed with his
fields, for the time when timber shall become
scarce, as it must in a few years ; and the wood be
considered valuable as fuel. What delightful ave-
nues might be formed, what vistas cut by the hand
of taste ! Some traveller describes an American,
who, on landing on a part of England or Ireland,
which was remarkably destitute of trees, exclaimed,
if What a charming country this is, without any
woods to intercept one's view !** and from what I
see, I am induced t think the story a very true one ;
for I am sure there are many here that would cry,
** how charming the country, if there were no woods
in it!" To a new settler the sound of the axe is the
cheering indication of comfort and competence ; and
if idleness, or a fondness for hunting, as is too fre-
quentlv the case with this class of men, seduces
them from their business, in a way which the indus-
trious habits of an English farmer would not allow,
it is only one of the many proofs before my eyes, of
the ease with which every man may support his
family here. The close calculations which an
English farmer is obliged to make of the probable
result of his labour, appear to these people to be in-
credible; and they cannot conceive a state of things,
in which it is necessary to ascertain the price which
grain is likely to bringat the ensuing harvest, in or-
der to know how much rent, per acre, he can afford
to give for his farm. Indeed, accuracy of calcula-
INCREASE OF PROPERTY. 47
tion is little thought of. A common way of purchas-
ing a farm here is this; a person goes to the owner
and makes a contract for a lot of one or two hun-
dred acres, to be paid for in a certain number of an-
nual instalments. He has no money, perhaps no
kind of property ; he goes to work for a few days in
the neighbourhood, and with the profit of this he
purchases an axe and some provisions. He then
begins to cut down the trees on his own lot ; and
so either becomes the owner of a good farm, if
industrious, by gradually converting the forests
into fields, and his log hut into a comfortable
house and barn, or if idle and a hunter, after a
few years, he gives place to one of more application,
who performs on the lot that which the first ought
to have done. Wherever industry is found here,
it appears to be attended with success. I have
been particular in asking, as a general question, do
you know any industrious, prudent man, whose
circumstances are not improving, and I can hear of
none.
A few days ago, two men came into Mr. Rose's
office. He said to me, " Here are two of my in-
dustrious settlers ; ask them how they have made
out." I did so. One had come into the country
three years before ; he brought with him about
five hundred dollars worth of property, not money,
but cattle, furniture, &c. : his farm of two hundred
acres, which he has paid for by his industry, and
his stock, are now worth three thousand dollars.
The other came into the country eight years ago ;
48 INCREASE OF PROPERTY.
he brought with him property worth six hundred
dollars ; he has also paid for two hundred acres of
land, and is now worth five thousand dollars.
They had scarcely gone, before a very decent
looking man came on some business with Mr. Rose.
After it was done, Mr. R. said to him, " Squire
Bosworth," (for he had been a magistrate,) " this
gentleman is desirous of procuring all the infor-
mation he can, respecting this county; I believe
your circumstances are very comfortable; I pre-
sume you were worth but little when you came,
and 1 know you have so much good sense as not
to be ashamed of it ; tell him how you have pros-
pered here." " You say right," replied the other,
" I am not ashamed of having been poor ; there
is no disgrace in that, when poverty is not attended
with bad conduct. I served some time with a black-
smith, before I came here. When I arrived, I had
a knapsack on my back, with some clothes in it,
and twenty-seven dollars in my pocket. I was in-
dustrious, and moderately careful. I have lived
very comfortably, and have never denied myself,
or my family, any thing in reason. When my cir-
cumstances permitted it, I put others into my shop,
and attended to my farm and other business. I do
not know what my property is worth, but I believe
I should not over rate it, to say ten or twelve
thousand dollars." I am not surprised that these
men, and others like them, should so rapidly im-
prove their circumstances ; but that, in this county,
INCREASE OF PROPERTY. 49
many should be found with such confirmed ha-
bits of improvidence, that if the miracle of the
manna were repeated, they would scarcely take
the trouble of gathering it from beneath their feet.
This disregard of the things around them, which
is very conspicuous in the characters of many
Americans, who appear strongly impressed with
the notion of letting the things of to-morrow take
care of themselves, is a cause of much surprise to
an Englishman, who has found it necessary to exert
his faculties at all times to the utmost, to avoid
becoming a burthen to the parish. The only
difference, therefore, to him, is between having
enough to eat and drink, and more than enough
between being above want, and being far above
it ; and he is disposed to join with the enchanter
in the Castle of Indolence, and exclaim,
" O grievous folly, to heap up estate,
" Losing the days you see beneath the sun.'*
However, this is not to be considered as a general
character of the people ; and I believe it is less
seen in the old settlements than in the new. In the
former, there is a pride of property, which does
not appear to be much felt in the latter. This
feeling stimulates to exertion, and serves in the
place of that pressure, that vis a tergo, which we
receive in Great Britain from our taxes and tythes.
I believe there are few who would not think the
former the most agreeable. The quantity of land in
the farmer's occupation, even in the older settled
E
50 CULTURE.
parts of the United States, and in the vicinity of
the cities, and the higli rate of labour, prevent
that garden -like appearance, so frequently met
with in England ; where a man will sometimes pay
as much for the manure he puts on his farm, as he
could purchase a farm of the same size for in the
United States. The culture here is unsightly ; but
if a foreigner objects to it, the defence of an
American is, look at our exports. These, indeed,
loudly proclaim the opulence of his soil, and the
rewards of his industry ; and perhaps his state-
ment may be true, that the labour bestowed by
their farmers will produce more than if expended
in the minute culture of England. Here, a man
runs over an hundred acres, in what he calls cul-
tivation, while an English farmer is getting over
ten ; while one is hoeing his crop carefully, the
other passes over it rapidly with the plough ; while
one is attentively drilling his rows, tne other scat-
ters his seed broadcast. To a certain extent, this
may be good. It is difficult to say where liberty
degenerates into licentiousness; but when I see a
woodsman here, extending his clearings beyond
his power to keep them in subjection ; when he
is cutting down trees on the one side of his farm,
while he is suifering the bushes to grow up on the
other ; then, I think, the liberty has grown into
licentiousness, and that the plan pursued has
ceased to be a proper one. It has been remarked
by many, and I think by Dr. Franklin amongst
them, that in most of the settlements, in the United
SETTLERS. 51
States, there are two or three occupants before a
permanent settler is> found. The first is entirely
without property ; he comes, builds a log house,
clears a dozen acres, and is ready to sell his situa-
tion for a trifle, to any one that shall desire it.
Such a person at length purchases, makes an ad-
dition to his house, builds a barn, and increases
the improvement to fifty or sixty acres. Then
comes the last, who builds a substantial house, in-
creases the size of the barn and clearings, and
leaves them an inheritance of his children. I be-
lieve there will be fewer of these changes in this
county than common. This will be, in some degree,
owing to a better population than is usual in new
countries, and to much forbearance on the part of
the land owners. Mr. R. has upwards of five
hundred families on his lands, very few of whom
have paid him any thing ; yet he has never brought
a suit against any one, however delinquent ; and I
have been myself a witness of his disposition to
find excuses for those who go off in his debt.
I have related the common mode of clearing, by
burning the timber in its green stale. This is the
most expensive way, and generally costs about
twelve dollars per acre ; which expense, together
with all others of sowing, harvesting, &c. is usually
more than repaid by the first crop, which is raised
in this place without the trouble of ploughing; the
grain being merely sowed on the newly cleared
ground, and harrowed in. It is surprising to me
that the ground, treated in this way, and with all
52 PROFIT OF CLEARING.
the roots and stumps left in it, produces such
crops as are mentioned here. It surely would
produce double what it does now, if it were com-
pletely cleared, well ploughed, and cultivated by
a good English farmer, in the manner he has been
accustomed to at home. The clearing and sowing
of new lands is found to be very profitable. In
the third volume of the Memoirs of the Philadelphia
Society for Promoting Agriculture, is a paper on
the breeding of sheep in Susquehanna county, from
which I shall 6opy a part which relates to the
clearing of lands here, and in which results of the
clearing, by some of the settlers, are given. The
calculation is made on the principle, that every
part of the clearing, harvesting, &c. is paid for,
and not done by the farmer.
Dolls. C.
" It is calculated with us that clearing
and fencing cost per acre 12 00
One bushel of wheat sowed on ditto- 1 50
Harrowing (we don't plough) ditto- 3 00
Harvesting ditto- 2 00
Threshing ditto" 3 75
22 25
The crop may be estimated at 20 bush-
els of wheat, per acre, which at Idoll.
50c. the price it commonly sells for, be-
tween spring and harvest, is 30 00
PROFIT OF CLEARING. 58
Dolls. C.
Which leaves a profit (besides paying the
above expenses) of per acre ........ 7 75
I. Swan, I. Hiscock, and A. Pearce had the pre-
sent season 25 bushels of wheat, per acre. W. Ladd
bad 33 bushels of rye, L. Moore had 33 bushels of
wheat
Dollt. C.
Swan, Hiscock, and Pearce's crops, 25
bushels at I doll. 50c. would be 37 50
Deduct for clearing ditto 22 25
And they had a profit per acre of 15 25
W. Ladd's erop of rye, 33 bush, at Idoll. 33 00
Deduct as aforesaid 22 25
And his profit per acre, was ........ 10 75
L. Moore's crop of wheat, 33 bushels at
Udott. 55c 49 50
Deduct for clearing, &c. 22 26
And bis profit per acre, was 27 25
The foregoing statements I hare copied, as I
have mentioned, from the Agricultural Society's
Transactions ; and from my enquiries here, I am
satisfied of their accuracy. It will be seen from
2
54 PROFIT OF CLEARING.
these, that the profits on clearing land are very
great; for, according to the least of those men-
tioned, the profits on clearing an hundred acres,
would be one thousand and seventy-five dollars, in-
dependant of the additional value given to the land,
by the clearing of it, which would be twelve hun-
dred dollars more, making together the sum of
two thousand two hundred and seventy-five dollars,
on an investment of two thousand two hundred and
twenty-five dollars, which sum was returned in the
crop. So that this would give, were it continued
with equal success, an annual income of an hun-
dred per cent, on the capital employed. This is a
fact with which every settler here appears to be
acquainted, and it is the source of their prosperity ;
and of the great increase in the value of the land
in new countries, where the soil is of a good qua-
lity, and the situation favourable for the sale of
the articles raised.
These calculations are made on the most expen-
sive mode of clearing, which is by burning the
timber whilst it is green. A great saving of ex.
pense may be made, by cutting down the timber
two or three years before it is burnt ; in conse-
quence of which it becomes dry, and one half of
the labour of burning is saved.
I believe the rent, taxes, tythes, manure, and
stock of a farm of one hundred acres, in our part
of England, mil purchase double the quantity of
land in this country, with one hundred acres of it
cleared , and put the same stock upon it. I have made
COMPARISON. 55
the estimate very carefully, so far as it respects the
American side of the water : you must be a judge,
whether it is so on the English side. I submit both
to your deliberate reflection.
Rent, Taxes, Stock, fyc.for 100 acres in England.
. s. d. Dolls.
Rent, 200 or 889
Taxes and poor rates, 50 00 222
Tythes, 20 88
Manure,* 20 00 88
12 Cows, 156 693
60 Sheep, 67 10 300
4Horses, 100 00 444
6 young Cattle, 40 00 176
Waggon and Cart, .50 00 222
Ploughs and Harrows, 10 00 44
Geering,&c. 18 00 80
4 Hogs, e ... 9 00 40
740 10 3286
56 COMPARISON.
Two hundred acres of land, one half cleared, with
a farm house and buildings on it, would in Sus-
quthanna county,
Dolls. . t.d.
64
27
63
18
50
10
18
900
. 999
Sur
3106
plus 180
699
41 10
3286 740 10
Leaving a difference in favour of the Susquehanna
farm of forty one pounds ten shillings, or one
hundred and eighty dollars. I have omitted the
fractions of the dollar in this estimate. I have con-
sulted three English farmers who are here, and who
have had opportunities of examining the cattle, and
various kinds of stock ; and drawing a comparison
of the prices of those of the same quality in Eng-
land. The poor rates and tythcs will differ in dif-
crent parishes. But the best way for you is to
MR. KING'S SPEECH. 57
draw up for yourself, a statement of the expenses
of the English farm : I will be answerable for the
American estimate.
At the beginning of the next year, and every suc-
ceeding year of his life, our English farmer has to
go over the same weary round of his rent, taxes,
tythcs, and poor rates ; while here, the land would
be his own. Here he would be the proprietor of a
valuable estate, sufficient to maintain him in comfort
and competence in his old age, and enable him to
establish his children handsomely about him. You
will probably be amused at the American tone I al-
ready assume ; and, indeed, lam somewhat surpri-
sed to find myself speaking and writing with such
feelings, as I might be supposed to entertain had I
resided here for ten years past. But why should I
uot feel thus ? I am among a people essentially
English English in their language and their laws,
both, perhaps, a little purer than is common in the
mother country. Some of these people, it is true,
indulge themselves in bitter feelings against our na-
tion, but you may rely upon, it that the best men
in this country entertain no such sentiments.
On this subject I need only quote the lan-
guage in which Mr. King, formerly ambassa-
dor to the court of Great Britain, concluded a
most powerful and eloquent speech in the Senate
of the United States, on the American navigation
act.
" England," said this high-minded statesman,
" is a great and illustrious nation, having attained
58 HOUSES.
to this pre-eminence by generous and successful
efforts, in breaking down the civil and religious
bondage of former ages. Her patriots, her scholars,
and her statesmen have adorned her history, and
offer models for the imitation of others. We are 1
the powerful descendants of England, desiring
perpetual friendship, and the uninterrupted inter-
change of kind offices, and reciprocal benefits.
We have demonstrated, in circumstances the most
critical, constant and persevering evidence of this?
disposition. We still desire the impartial adjust-
ment of our mutual intercourse, and the establish-
ment of some equitable regulations, by which our
personal and maritime rights may be secure from
arbitrary violation. A settlement that, instead of
endless collision and dispute, may be productive
of concord, good humour and friendship : and it
depends on her whether such is to be the relation
between us/'
LETTER VII.
Houses, Bams, Mills, Fences.
THE first thing that is done by a settler in the
woods, is to put Up a log house. For this purpose
he cuts down trees of a suitable size, and of a
length in proportion to the dimensions he intends
BARNS, MILLS. 59
his house to be. His neighbours assemble and
raise it for him, by laying the logs in a square form
with the ends notched so as to interlock with one
another; by which means the whole are secured
and bound together. The spaces for the doors
and windows are then cut through, and the inter-
stices of the logs filled with earth or inoss ; the
boards are laid for the floor, and the chimney built.
A house of this kind is made at a very trifling
expense. Whea time and circumstances admit,
a better one is erected with framed timber, covered
neatly with boards planed and painted. Window-
glass is made in a neighbouring county, and costs
here about fourteen ^dollars per hundred square
feet.
Barns are usually made of framed timber, and
the sides covered with rough boards. A good
barn of this kind, fifty feet long by forty wide, and
finished with stables, can be built, including the
cast of the materials, for two hundred and fifty
dollars. The expense of the house will depend on
its size, and the work employed on it. The ma-
terials cost less than the labour.
Grist mills usually cost from one to two thou-
sand dollars. The stones used are of the kind
called pudding stone, which is much inferior to the
French burr, or the common English mill stones.
Saw mills, which are extremely important in all
settlements, cost from three to six hundred dollars.
They are set in motion by water, and use a single
60 BOARDS, FENCES.
saw, which cuts from one to two thousand feet of
boards in a day.
Pine boards sell at the mill for from six to ten
dollars a thousand square feet ; boards made of the
hemlock spruce^about one fifth less; cherry boards,
nearly equal to mahogany, sell for fifteen dollars
per thousand feet.
All buildings here are covered with shingles.
These are made of the white pine, and are laid on
the roof so as to lap over each other, like tiles. A
thousand of them, which cover somewhat less than
two hundred square feet, sell for two dollars. They
form a roof which is very close and impenetrable
to rain, but is much exposed to fire. They may, in
some degree, be preserved from that element by
thick coats of a composition, which is sometimes
applied to them.
Fences are usually made, when the land is just
cleared, with logs of about twelve feet long, placed
in a zig-zag manner, with their ends resting on
each other, to the height of five feet. This forms
a sufficient fence for a few years, and, at the same
time, saves the trouble of burning the logs used
for this purpose ; but it has a very rude appearance.
Those settlers who are somewhat neater in their
clearings, split the logs into rails, and lay them up
in the same manner as the other, with stakes set at
the angles, on which a heavy rail rests to bind the
fence together. Even this kind of fence has a
very slovenly appearance, and occupies much
HEDGES. 61
ground. A better kind is called post and rail, and
is made in the same manner as in our country. All
these fences have a very bad effect, in comparison
with' walls or hedges. But they are quickly made,
and if at any time it should be desirable to alter the
shape or extent of the field, they can be easily re-
moved. There are materials, however, in sufficient
abundance to make the most beautiful hedges.
When I cast my eyes on the bushes of the hemlock
spruce, it immediately struck me, that they would
be the very thing for hedges.
On this subject an American writer makes the
following observations : " While my attention was
" turned to live fences on a great scale for our
" fields, it occurred to me that I had some of the
4< best specimens of hedges in my garden. These
' have been planted at least sixty years ; I have
" some planted about six years, they are composed
' of the hemlock spruce of our forests. The old
" hedges are now as vigorous as they could have
" been in the first years of their being set out.
" They are close, strong, and impervious ; and
' never like the cedar, die at bottom. They have
" out-grown the dimensions in which I formerly
" wished to confine them ; being about six feet in
" thickness, and five feet in height. These hedges
" bear plashing, cutting, and clipping, without
" injury ; and nothing of the kind can be neater
" than their appearance, when newly clipped.
" They retain their verdure through the winter,
" far beyond most of the resinous tribe ; none
F
62 HEDGES,
' whereof are subject to be eaten by mice or other
*' vermin, or browsed by cattle, as the deciduous
" trees or shrubs. They were planted in a single
" rew ; the stalks about a foot from each other.
" They permit wearing or training in any way ;
" being hardy, pliant, and tough. They can be
" raised with little trouble from the cones. I
" never saw any other ever-green hedge equal to
" one of hemlock spruce ; when in blossom, it is
" the handsomest of all its tribe, the limbs are
" horizontal ; layers will strike out and fill the
" bottom."*
The white thorn is a native of this countrv, and
easily procured. Mr. Cobbett speaks 01 some
white thorn brought from England, which he saw
growing near Philadelphia, and observes, that they
clearly proved that the white thorn would, with lets
care, make as good hedges as they do at Farnham,
in Surry.
* See a letter from the HON. RICHARD PE'/EHS, in
the Transactions qf the Philadelphia Agricultural Society.
GRASS. 63
LETTER VIII.
Cattle, Grain, fyc.
SUSQUEHANNA county is peculiarly well
adapted to the raising and fattening of cattle. The
grass which is sown, grows abundantly ; but the
settlers are not careful to procure the best kinds.
Almost the only one raised here is timothy, which
is of little worth for pasture. Red clover, where it
is sowed, grows luxuriantly. The white clover ap-
pears to be a natural grass of the country ; for al-
though never sowed, it covers every field and road
side, where the land has been neglected. No care
is taken of the meadows ; or rather, no selection of
ground ; any field, which the cattle are kejrt from
in the summer, becomes a meadow, and will pro-
duce about a ton and a half of timothy per acre,
at a mowing. It must be observed, that the slo-
venly mode called clearing, in which neither root
nor stone is removed from the surface, (and the
beech timber throws its roots over the surface)
prevents the mower from cutting more than two
thirds of the crop on the ground. But this he
cares little about ; for he says, the cattle will eat
the rest ; but the cattle will not eat the strawey stems
of the timothy in the summer time ; and the part
left, is lost. The cattle here are greatly neglected ;
but I suppose this must be the case in all new
settlements. The cows are seldom put under any
shelter during the winter ; and it frequently occurs,
64 CATTLE.
the first winter after a man has commenced his im-
provement, that his cattle are fed principally with
the branches of trees, which he cuts down for that
purpose, and which they appear to relish tolerably
well ; this is called browsing.
There appears to be but little difference made
between the price of a good and a bad cow. The
consequence must be, indifferent and small cattle
generally. And yet, here are some fine large oxen,
that convince me nothing is wanting but care in the
breed, to raise as fine cattle here as in any part of
the world. In a newspaper which I picked up yes-
terday, I saw an account of a cattle fair, in one of
the states to the north of this, in which is mentioned
the weight of nine oxen, the average of which is
2283lbs. ; the heaviest weighed 2784lbs. He who
is not satisfied with these weights must be desirous
of introducing elephants. Grazing would undoubt-
edly be very profitable her, if pursued in a proper
manner. Large droves of cattle, raised in the
northern parts of the state of New York, are driven
through this country to Philadelphia, where they
are sold to the graziers, and fattened on farms in
the neighbourhood of that city ; and many of the
cattle thus fattened, are sent to the market of New
York ; where, from that circumstance, I presume
they bring a higher price than at Philadelphia.
The farms in the neighbourhood of the latter city,
sell for one hundred dollars and upwards per acre ;
and some of the grazing farms on the margin of the
Delaware, below Philadelphia, I was assured, had
SHEEP. 65
sold as high as three hundred dollars per acre.
Now, as the soil of this country is peculiarly well
calculated for grazing, and as a farm here may be
purchased for less than the cost of manuring one
near Philadelphia, I am persuaded that great pro-
fits may be made by the farmer here, following the
example of the grazier there, and fattening cattle
for the New York market. There can be no doubt
of his being able to undersell any rival, in conse-
quence of the cheapness of the land. The settlers
here are not yet sufficiently aware of the advan-
tages of their situation , but these must become
more apparent as the improvements increase.
In speaking of the sheep of the western country,
Mr. Birkbeck says that " there is not a district,
" and scarcely a spot that he has travelled over,
" where a flock of fine wooled sheep could be kept
" with any prospect of advantage, provided there
" were even a market for the carcase." This cir-
cumstance, which is owing to the flatness of the
country, he must have found very inconvenient to
an English palate. We, you know, are so fond of
mutton, that the phrase " take your mutton with
me," has become synonymous with an invitation to
dinner. This difficulty cannot be complained of
here ; for I kave eaten as fine mutton in this coun-
ty as is to be found in any part of England. On
praising a quarter of mutton, of which I was par-
taking a few days ago, I was informed, that the
sheep had been taken from among the flock, that
usually ran in the woods or roads, without any par-
F2
G6 INDIAN CORN.
ticular feeding; and, that the value of the tallow
was equal to the whole price paid for the sheep.
This, I was assured, was frequently the case.
There is an Essay on the advantage of raising
sheep in Susquehanna county, inserted in the Phi-
ladelphia Agricultural Society's Transactions, but
the limits of my communication to you will prevent
my quoting it ; however, you shall see it when you
arrive amongst us, aad eat your mutton with me ;
which I hope you will relish as much as any essay
on the subject. In this place are raised the differ-
ent kinds of grain which we are accustomed to in
England, together with the Indian corn, or maize,
which we have not. When corn is spoken of here,
this kind is always understood to be meant: Other
grain is called by its specific name. Indian corn
is planted in hills, about three feet apart, some-
thing like our hop yards. Two or three stalks
grow in each hill, to the height of six, eight, or ten
feet, and bear on their sides, each, three or four
ears, nearly a foot long and as thick as a man's
wrist, enveloped in a husk. The top of the stalk is
surmounted with a tassel, and the plant, when
growing, has a very rich and beautiful appearance.
The hills are ploughed or hoed. When the ears
are in a milky state, before the grain is ripe, they
are boiled, and the green corn eaten with butter
and salt, is considered as a great delicacy. When
ripe, it is ground, and made into bread or cakes ;
and by some the, meal is mixed with rye, and made
into bread. Many are fond of the meal boiled to
GRAIN, POTATOES. 67
the consistency of a hasty pudding, and eaten
with milk, or molasses and butter. The grain is
sometimes ground very coarsely, so as to break it
into three or four parts, and used in soups. In this
state it is called hominy ; or the hull or bran is
taken off, by steeping it in a lie of wood ashes. If
an American was suffered to preserve only one
kind of grain, it would be Indian corn. The stalk
and leaves afford an excellent fodder for cattle.
Oats, I believe, are never used here as a food
for man. The grain is generally smaller than the
English oats; but I have heard of upwards of sixty
bushels being raised per acre. I should observe,
that the acre here is the same as the statute acre
of England, and contains one hundred and sixty
perches, of five and a half yards square.
Buck wheat, or French wheat, as it is called in
England, is raised on the river hills, where the
timber is oak ; but the soil in the beech woods is
considered too rich for it. The flour is made into
thin cakes.
Potatoes are very good here, and considered a
certain crop. This root is destroyed by the hot
summers of the southern states, and the most fari-
nacious kinds, when taken there, become viscous
and watery. A very usual way of raising them
here is this, after the timber has been burnt off, a
slight hole is made with a stroke of a hoe in the
ground, which has never been ploughed ; into this
a potatoe is dropped, and the earth turned back
upon it, la that way it is left to take its chance,
68 CARELESSNESS.
without further notice, till it is time to gather the
crop. " What a strange mode of culture !" you
exclaim. But an American woodsman would be
as much surprised at the nice cultivation of an En-
glish farmer, as the latter at the want of care in
the former. Our fields would be American gar-
dens. Even Mr. R.'s farm, where one might ex-
pect to see more care than is usually found here,
has never had a plough in it, until since 1 came
here, when ploughing was commenced by an En-
glish farmer, whom he has employed to take charge
of his grounds. If this man works the ground in
the manner, and with the care, he must have done
at home, I think the farm will bring very different
crops from any thing it yet has done.
There are three barns on the farm, one of which
had been deserted by the former tenant, who found
himself unable to get into it, in consequence of the
great quantity of dung about it, which had been
accumulating since the commencement of the im-
provement. The first thing that the new farmer
did, was to get the dung thrown into heaps. This
labour appeared to excite much curiosity in the
neighbourhood. " What are you doing that lor?"
was asked b\ almost every one who passed. And
on his replying, that he intended to put it on the
fields, the usual observation was " Why, now, I
suppose that would be worth something if you
had it in England."
Notwithstanding all this waste, the American
farmer grows rich. Indeed it appears as if all that
VALUE OF LAND. 69
a man has to do in order to become so, is to go to a
new settlement, where the soil is of a good quality.
. In that situation, if he can purchase and pay for an
hundred acres of land, while it is cheap, and be
almost quiescent, merely maintain himself on it,
j the rapid rise in value of his land, will, in a few
i years, make him wealthy. This rise of value in
jland is truly astonishing; and if good selections of
j situation are made, it appears to be as certain as
; rapid. Mr. R. sold one hundred acres of land,
where Montrose now stands, for one hundred and
.'fifty dollars, and the person to whom he sold it,
before the time expired in which he was allowed
to pay for it, sold half an acre of the same ground
for five hundred dollars. This, to be sure, was a
village ; but farms rise in value astonishingly. One
i lot I saw, which Mr. R. sold to a young man for
one hundred and fifty dollars, and gave him seve-
ral years to pay it in. The person who bought it,
and who had little or no property, went to work,
and by his industry cleared a part, and built a log
house and frame-barn on it ; and before he had
paid any thing for k, sold it for two thousand dol-
lars. I could mention many other instances of
this kind, which are very common to those who are
industrious and careful. And is it wonderful that
such a country should improve and settle fast!
What a blessing it would be for the industrious
poor of England if they could be transported hither,
where there is room for them all and ample rewards
for their industry ! How cheerfully would they
70 POLICY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
toil for a competency, when they should find
" O'er their labour, liberty and law
Impartial watch,"
while, instead of their former state of vassalage,
they became the independent proprietors of the
soil ; and that in a country which is emphatically
the land of freedom.
It is peculiarly pleasing to see the enlightened
policy of Pennsylvania, which has ever been consi -
dered as one of the most important states of the
union, and which instead of squandering its wealth
in the destruction of mankind, is solicitous only for
the welfare of its citizens ; and directs its revenue
and resources to the improvement of its roads, the
making of canals, the erection of bridges, and the
improvement of the various means of facilitating
the intercourse between all its parts. In a pampklet
on the internal improvement of Pennsylvania, lately
published, the author shows that this state alone
has expended on roads, bridges, canals, rivers, and
schools, upwards of eleven millions of dollars, and
the continuance of the same wise policy is recom-
mended by the present governor. In his address to
the legislature now in session, he says " The reve-
*' nues will be sufficient to defray the expenses of
" the government, sustain the plighted faith of the
" commonwealth, liberally patronize agriculture
" and education, and aid internal improvements."
Instead of addresses to the Lords and Cbmuion.s,
calling upon his Majesty's dutiful subjects for new
supplies of millions, we find the chief magistrate
GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. 71
of this Commonwealth saying to his fellow citi-
zens, who have been elected members of the
legislature by the free choice of the people, " As
" agriculture and manufactures are the great
" sources of wealth, and the only solid foundation
" of owr comforts and independence, they areparti-
" culiarly entitled to the fostering care of govern-
" ment. The power of cherishing and protecting
" manufactures, on an extended scale, or beyond
** those of the household, directly connected with
" agriculture, belongs more immediately to the
*' general, than the state government. Agriculture,
" the basis of manufactures, and the most essen-
*' tial of all the arts to the general welfare, is fully
* within the scope of our constitutional powers to
' aid and encourage, and has a strong claim to
" legislative patronage. Pennsylvania, from the
' free principles of her political institutions, her
" genial climate, the fertility of her soil, and the
*' enterprise of her citizens, without having received
*' any direct support from the government, more
" than the common protection afforded to labour
and property, deservedly suitains the character
' of an agricultural state. The knowledge, how-
' ever, of the art of husbandry may be improved ;
and it is not only the interest, but should be the
' pride of the representatives of au agricultural
" people to promote its advancement. Though
" the art may be enlightened and assisted by
" science, it is not from speculations and theories
" alone ; but from various and repeated experi-
" ments, together with close observations, that a
72 GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.
" proper knowledge of it is to be obtained. The
" expense of making those experiments, frequently
'* uncertain in their results, few individuals have
*' the ability or inclination to encounter. It might
" therefore be advantageous, if the commonwealth
44 were to purchase within her limits, several saiall
44 farms, embracing various qualities of soil, and
" place them under boards of managers, or voluntary
44 societies, formed for the purpose, (with directions
44 respectively to make experiments of the effects of
" the native manure ; of the differentmodes of tillage ;
" of the cultivation of grains and grasses ; of breed-
" ing domestic animals ; of rearing fruit trees ; of
44 the preservation of fruits , of the utility of newly
" invented implements of husbandry, intended to
" facilitate or abridge labour; of the cheapest and
"most durable mode of fencing; and whatever
" else may be connected with agriculture; andpe-
" riodically to publish the result, with observations
44 thereon. The expenses of such establishments
44 would be trivial, when compared with the know-
" ledge that might be thereby acquired and dif-
' fused, on a subject in which every citizen is
" deeply interested. To encourage and stimulate
" industry, the great spring of the improvement
" and extension of agriculture, easy and safe
44 channels of transportation for the products of
41 the soil to a certain market are indispensable,
44 By the bounty of former legislatures, and
44 the meritorious exertions of companies in-
44 corporated for the purpose, about nine hun-
" dred aiid eighty miles of turnpike road have
PRICE OF LABOUR. 73
fi been completed, and numerous elegant and sub-
" stantial bridges erected across our principal
" streams."
How praise worthy, and yet how unusal, to see
the governor of a powerful state directing his ef-
forts to promote the blessings of peace, and the
enjoyments of domestic comforts; and instead of
a pompous harangue on the destrution of armies, to
rind him simply observing, " that in witnessing the
protection which every worthy man enjoys in his
person, his religion, his labour and his property ;
and in tracing tbe rapid progress of the improve-
ments in the state, a fair occasion is presented
to us for mutual congratulations.'*
LETTER IX.
Price of Labour.
A LABOURER gets from three quarters of a dollar
to a dollar per day ; a carpenter, or mason, from
one dollar and a quarter to one dollar and three
quarters per day. A dollar will purchase twenty
pounds of beef, or sixteen pounds of mutton or
veal, or one bushel of rye or Indian corn, or two
thirds of a bushel of wheat. Thus, three or four
days' works of a common labourer, will supply
G
74 PRICE OF LABOUR.
liiin with provisions for a month. Hence it is,
that the poorer classes of the Americans live bet-
ter, and consume more animal food, than any other
people of the same description. An English la-
bourer may sing about the roast beef of Old Eng-
land, but it is a dainty which he is rarely permitted
to taste. An American labourer may dine on roast
beef every day in the year, unless he prefers some
other dish. The agricultural exports from Europe,
are in general what the persons employed in rearing
them cannot afford to eat : in America they con-
sist of the surplus beyond what they can consume ;
and the quantity would be immense, if the labour-
ing part of the community here would be satisfied to
put up with the same kind of fare, which millions
of his Majesty's subjects would be glad to obtain.
With you, it is only a privileged class who are
born to live on the fat of the land -frvges con-
sumere nati; here the phrase extends to every
class. Indeed, this is carried to a very improper
and wasteful profusion. I am told that there is
not at family in this county, that would use a sheep's
head ; and of a bullock's the only parts used are
the tongue and lower jaw ; the rest is thrown away,
as is the case with the liver, heart, and feet of all
animals. One of our countrymen observed to me
the other day, these people are the greatest eaters,
and the least workers that I ever saw ; I have been
in {bur houses to-day, and I found the men all sit-
ting quietly within, instead of being on their farms
at work ; and yesterday, when I went to purchase
OST OF LIVING. 75
some meat, I found a man who had just killed five
fat hogs, and on my offering to purchase some of
them, he said, I have none to sell, I want to buy
some myself: his family consisted of himself,
his wife, and three small children.
As it is of importance to the mechanics who
wish to settle here, to make an estimate of the ad-
vantages of the situation, I have endeavoured to
do it with all the care in my power. Here are two
of our countrymen, one a mechanic, the other a
farmer, both have large families, and are men of
good judgment. They say that a family may be
maintained in provision much better than they
were accustomed to live on at home, at an expense
of one dollar per week for each grown person ; or
rating children in a proper proportion. One of
these (the farmer) has his wife, two sons grown up,
and four other children, rating the latter as two
grown persons, they are altogether equal to six.
On these I have made the estimate, and the cost
of the same number in Philadelphia.
Dolls.
Rent of a small house in Philadelphia, fit for
a mechanic with the above named family 200
Cost of provision on an estimate of two dol-
lars per head per week, for one year 624
Extra cost of clothing, 10 dollars each 60
10 cords of fire wood at 6 dollars per cord* -60
Dolk. 944
76 COST OP LIVING.
Dolls.
Amount brought forward Dolls. 944
House rent in Susquehanna county* 24
Maintenance of family at 1 dollar
per week each - 312
20 cords of wood 15
351
Difference, or annual saving Dolls. 593
A very comfortable house may be built in Sus-
quehanna county for 400 dollars. I have, there-
fore, rated the rent at the interest of the principal
employed in it ; but it must be observed, that in a
new and thriving country, all the houses are occu-
pied, and you find none to be rented. You must
build for joarself. Supposing the above state-
ment, which I have been careful in making, to be
over-rated, then form it on the supposition of a
small family, or throw off, in the calculation, one
third of the supposed saving, and there remains
enough to pay for one hundred acres of land under
the society's contract ; and that land in three years
will be worth double the price we are to pay for it.
A few years' settings, without saying any thing of
profits, appropriated in this way, would ensure to
the mechanic a valuable farm, and a comfortable
retirement from the toils of his business in his old
age. Even the author of the Castle of Indolence,
who speaks in such a contemptuous tone of the
" scoundrel maxim" that % a penny saved is a penny
got," might be disposed to view the annual saving
MECHANICS. 77
of one hundred acres of good laud as a very dif-
ferent affair. It is certainly one of great impor-
tance in the calculations of the industrious artisan,
upon whose labour the comforts of his wife and
children are to depend.
The society in their selection of land for a set-
tlement, have had in view the advantages of me-
chanics, as well as farmers. They have seen the
disadvantages which many of the former labour
under in the cities of America, where house rent
and fire wood are very expensive ; and the advan-
tages which would be derived from a situation such
as has been chosen, where the country round can
be supplied with the work of the mechanics ; and
any surplus may be sent, at small expense, to fac-
tors established in the cities of Philadelphia or
New-York. If the work be intended entirely for
those cities, when the articles are not bulky, they
can be sent from Susquehanna county at a very
trifling expense. Let the tanner, for instance,
make his estimate at what he can afford to sell lea-
ther when he tans it in a place where he may h#ve
his bark for the trouble of taking it off the* trees,
and where the materials for his establishment are
all to be had on the lowest terms. Let the shoe-
maker, who manufactures the leather, estimate the
advantage to him, when he gets a higher price for
his shoes here than he does in the cities, and if he
wanted to send them there, to be sold by whole-
sale, he can do it, at an expense of perhaps a half-
penny per pair. Letthetawer or leather dresser,
G 2
78 MECHANICS.
and the glover, calculate upon the advantages of
establishing these trades where the skins of deer
are procured at from three quarters of a dollar to
a dollar each, and where, at present, sheep skins
are thrown away. Let every mechanic, and espe-
cially those who manufacture the lighter articles to
be sold at wholesale, calculate for himself the
cheapness at which they can be made here, and the
trifling expense of carriage, if even they are to be
sent to the cities, and he will see the advantages of
the establishment which we contemplate.
The intention of the society is to lay off a suffi-
ciency of ground, on one of the turnpikes, for a
handsome village, and to g\ve,Jreeofall expense, a
half acre lot, cleared, to each of the first fifty me-
chanics who shall build a house thereon, and com-
mence their trade. And, in order to ensure a sale
for all articles manufactured, they will establish a
factor in Philadelphia, and another in New-York,
to receive and sell, on the most advantageous
terms, all articles sent to them. For this purpose
regular waggons will be employed to ply between
those cities and the society's establishment. In ad-
dition to the half acre lot, given to the mechanics,
and others, lots of from five to ten acres, already
cleared, sufficieut to keep some cows and a horse
if needed ; and also wood lots for firewood, will
be laid out, and sold at very low rates. And the
general .arrangement of the village, and the erec-
tion of schools and other public buildings, will be
placed under the care of the inhabitants of the
ROADS. 79
village, to be managed in such manner as they
shall deem best ; the object of the society being
merely to make arrangements for the general good,
in the commencement of the establishment.
LETTER X.
Roads, 4*c.
THERE are several important turnpike roads in
the county of Susquehanna, of which one is finish-
ed, and the others have a ftir prospect of being
so, the next season. The one finished is from
Newburg, on the Hudson river, to the Susque-
hanna. On this road the stage passes daily. From
the city of New- York to Newburgh, the commu-
nication is by a steam boat. In forty-eight hours
by this route, a passenger arrives in Susquehanna
from the city of New-York. Another road, called
the Milford and Owego turnpike, passes diagon-
ally through the county. At Milford, on the De~
laware river, it unites with three turnpikes, all lead-
ing to the city of New- York, by different routes.
On the west it is connected at Owego, with a turn-
pike which leads to the great lakes. The greater
80 ROADS.
part of this road is finished, and when completed,
it will form the most extensive and important con-
nexion of turnpike roads in the United States ;
opening the way for the trade and travel of rich
and populous districts, with the city of New-York.
Another turnpike, which will be connected with
roads leading to Sacket's harbour, on lake Ontario,
and the St. Lawrence river, is laid out, and partly
made, from the 28th mile stone, on the state line,
to Wilkesbarre ; from which place, there is one
finished to Easton, on the way to Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia and New-York turnpikes in-
tersect each other at Montrose. The state of Penn-
sylvania has been very liberal in its grants of
money to the making of roads. There are two
other turnpikes laid out, but on which the com-
pany have not yet commenced their work. The
one is from the Newburgh turnpike to Wilkes-
barre ; the other a short one to connect the New-
burgh and Owego turnpikes. Besides these, the
state has opened a road which commences in Sus-
quehanua, and extends through all the counties on
its northern line. From this statement, you will
see how rapidly improvements are made in this
place; and as the public attention appears to be
much given to these objects of national importance,
the connexion by roads and canals, of the differ-
ent parts of the republic with each other, will be
persevered in, till the national enterprise, inge-
nuity and perseverance, shall have made it but as
a step to pass from one extremity of this widely
ROADS. 81
extended empire to the other. It is readily per-
ceivedi that this facility of communication adds
greatly to the strength of the nation ; and this
government is too wise not take advantage of the
means which nature has placed in its hands, to
render the country powerful at home, as well as
respected abroad.
The common or private roads, made by the
settlers, are in general very bad. They are made
by cutting down the trees close to the ground,
leaving the roots in, which makes them very un-
pleasant for a horse or waggon ; hi addition to
which, the depth of the soil renders them very
dirty on being much used. But when the roots
have remained long enough to be in some mea-
sure decayed, it is found to be easy to make good
roads, by ploughing a furrow or ditch on the out-
sides and throwing the earth out of it into the mid-
dle of the roads. The labour necessary for this,
would however be thought too great by Americans,
on their first settlement, whose object it is to cut
down the trees in order to get scope enough to
raise grain for their families, and who are contented
with any road that will enable them to get about,
until they find the means of support springing from
their industry. It is not till the settler begins to feel
his abundance, that he cares for the improvement
of his roads. The turnpikes which I have men-
tioned, will open good roads to the cities of Phila-
delphia and New York ; from the former of which
pla^e to Montrose, the capital of this county, it is
82 ROADS.
one hundred and seventy miles ; and from New-
York, one hundred aud thirty miles. The Susque-
hanna river, which nearly surrounds this county,
offers a conveyance by water to Baltimore ; which
is one of the best markets in the United States, for
the produce of the dairy. Between the Society's
settlement and Baltimore all the land carriage is
from ten to twenty miles.
It xvill be useful here to mention the roads by
which settlers had better come to this county from
Philadelphia or New York, which are the usual
landing places for emigrants, one of which you will
endeavour to arrive at. From Philadelphia the
road is by Bethlehem and Wilkesbarre, unless you
take the stage, in which case you go by Easton.
From New-York, the best way is to go by steam-
boat or other vessel, to Newburgh, from thence by
a turnpike, which is finished, you come to within
ten miles of Montrose.
In the winter, if the steam boats are prevented
from passing by the ice, the best way is to come
from New- York by Easton and Wilkesbarre, to
Montrose. The stages now come to within ten
miles on the north, and twenty miles on the
south, and I expect by next season, they will pass
by Montrose in all directions.
The society have desired me to answer all let-
ters that shall be written to me on the subject of
the settlement, which I will do very cheerfully, as
well as give every aid in my power to all our de-
serving countrymen, who wish to join us. Letters
TAXES. 83-
should be directed to me at Silver Lake, Susquc-
luinna county, Pennsylvania.
LETTER XI.
Taxes.
THERE are no state taxes in Pennsylvania.
Tiie funds of the government are sufficient, not
only to pay all the expenses of her legislation,
judges, &c. but to enable her to contribute largely
to the making of canals, roads and bridges, the
erection of colleges and academies, and various
other improvements throughout the state. The
only taxes paid here are two ; a county and a road
tax. The former is raised for the purpose of pay-
ing the fees of juries, the expenses of laying out
roads, and some other trifling county expenses,
and seldom exceeds one dollar on an hundred
acres of land.
You will observe that the coins used here, are
dollars and cents, the dollar being equal to four
shillings and six-pence sterling, and the cent a
small copper coin, one hundred of which are equal
to one dollar; each cent therefore is about an
halfpenny. The road tax is for the purpose of
opening and improving the common roads, and is
84 TAXES*
about the same in amount as the connty tax. The
county tax is levied by three commissioners ap-
pointed by the people to superintend the affairs
of the county, one of whom is chosen annually.
They each serve three years. Is is their duty to
estimate the probable expense of the county for
the ensuing year and to levy a tax accordingly.
The roads are under the inspection of two super-
visors, chosen annually by the people of each
township. Their duty is to open the roads, and
to keep them in repair; and for this purpose they
have the power of levying the tax which I have
mentioned. This tax is paid by labour, and is so
far from its imposing any burthen, that in some
townships the settlers have voluntarily doubled the
amount of labour which the law permitted to be
imposed upon them.
I have mentioned these as being the only taxes ;
an act of assembly provides that overseers of the
poor shall be annually elected in the respective
townships and boroughs ; but this is useless where
there are no poor. I say no poor, for Mr.^ R. who
is the largest proprietor "in the county, and whose
lands extend into eight different townships, in
forms me, that all the poor tax assessed on him
during the nine years which he has resided here,
amounts to but six dollars and ninety eight cents,
and this was for the purpose of conveying a person,
not an inhabitant of this county, home. When
you look over your list of taxes, how many will
you find omitted Iiere4 What a glorious country
V
LABOURERS. 5
this would be for some of your financiers to com-
mence their operations in ! What a crop they
might reap, if the American citizen would suffer
them to put their sickles into the harvest !
The people here listen as to a romance, when I
tell them of our tythes, poor rates, window tax,
horse duty, dog tax, game Jaws, excise laws, &G.&C.
Or when I say that a farmer in England is not suf-
fered to make his own soap and candles, distill his
own spirits, make his own malt, or grow his own
hops, without being taxed for it.
And yet the editor of the Courier tells the peo-
ple of England, " the thinking people of England"
that America is heavily taxed ; that New-York is
full of distressed poor, &c. There are doubtless
poor in New-York, ys there must be in all cities,
but as long as a man able to work, can earn one
dollar per day, and obtain a bushel of rye, or
Indian corn, or 20 pounds of beef, for that dollar,
I ask how can that man be poor. A labourer in
this country can always have six days' work in the
week, for which he will receive six dollars: in
England propably he cannot obtain more than two
or three days' work in the week, and he receives
perhaps Is. 6d. per day. How great the contrast !
Would an industrious English labourer complain
of poverty, if he could earn twenty-seven shillings
per week ; and buy his provisions at the above
prices, and that in a country where he conld buy
good land at or under a pound per acre ! would he
complain? No. The question is, how long he
II
86 CLIMATE.
would continue a labourer. He would soon be-
come a proprietor ; he and his family would be
rendered comfortable in his old sge, without the
unpleasant reflection of becoming a burthen to
the parish.
This same newspaper tells c ' the people of Eng-
land" that the revenue has increased three millions
sterling, this last quarter. How many poor
wretches have suffered for this increase, 1 leave
you to judge, who are in the centre of taxation.
LETTER XII.
Climate.
THE winter here is cold, keen, and dry. This
last particular is a great advantage, both for health
and labour; nothing is more disagreeable than that
kind of weather, in which snow, sleet, and rain are
all mingled. Here the winter snows usually com-
mence about Christmas, or New Year, and con-
tinue on the ground till the beginning of March ;
forming an excellent defence for the roots of the
grain and grass. Little or no rain falls during
that time ; and then it is that the farmer threshes
out his grain, and takes it to market. This is
usually done in sleds or sleighs, which are much
CLIMATE. 87
easier for the horse, and pleasanter to the rider,
than waggons. It is also the time of visitation and
hilarity. People then visit their distant friends or
relations ; and a sleighing frolic is highly delight-
ful to the younger part of the community. You
are driven along like the liquid lapse of a boat
down the stream, or the transition of Milton's
Angels, " smooth sliding without step;" at least
so it is described to me, who have not yet had
an opportunity of enjoying its pleasures. The sum-
mer is much warmer than in England, or there
would be no Indian corn, or maize ; a most impor-
tant grain, the growth of which Arthur Young con-
siders the test of a good climate. It is not, how-
ever, so hot here as, at Philadelphia; and still less
so than in the unsheltered plains, or flats, of the
south western states. I am told, that no day is too
hot here for a man to work in the harvest fields ;
and if so, I am sure I shall never object to the
sun-beams on my hay or corn.
In consequence of the southern latitude of this
place, the difference in the length of the winter and
summer day, is not so great as in England. The
summer day, being here, one hour and forty
minutes shorter, and the winter day one hour and
thirty minutes longer than in England.
In Mr. Cobbett's publication, which I send, you
will see his diary of the weather during the last
year. The weather you will find mentioned there,
is, 1 have reason to think, very much like what is
experienced here. You will remark, that he pre.
CLIMATE.
fers the weather of this country to that of Great
Britain. It has been observed in all countries that
the winter becomes milder as the forests are cleared
away. Virgil, Horace, Pliny, and Juvenal, all
speak of the ice in Italy in their day ; and the
rivers of ancient Gaul were as much frozen iu the
time of Julius Caesar, as the American rivers are
now. From the enquiries which I have made, I
believe the length of time the farmers fodder their
cattle here, to be much about the usual time we
have for the same business in England. The spring
commences sooner in England than it does here ;
but the gra^s grows with more rapidity in this
country than in that, when the winter is gone,
From an examination of meteorological tables,
long kept, it appears that more rain falls in the
United States, in a year, than in Europe, during the
same time; but there are not so many rainy days
here; in other words, less of mist and vapour.
The spring much resembles our English spring,
where in spite of all that is said or sung by our
Poets, it very frequently happens, that
" Winter lingering chills the lap of May."
When the spring commences here, the influence
of the sun, in consequence of the more southern
situation, is more decisive than in England. The
American autumn is much finer than in our island ;
and there is none of that misty, foggy, raining,
soul-subduing weather, over which all the blue
demons hover, like an assemblage of Fuseli's night-
mares ; and to which some Frenchman alludes,
SALUBRITY. 89
when he begins his romance with, " It was in the
" gloomy month of November, when Englishmen
' hang themselves." Here the sun is bright and
beaming, and the November which I have passed
here, was as fine as an English September.
I was desirous of procuring a statement of all the
births and deaths which had occurred in this town-
ship (Silver Lake) since its first settlement , but as
no such record had been kept, and as the early set-
tlers are little careful to remember these events, I
found this impossible. My next attempt was to
learn who amongst all the heads of families had
died within that time ; and in this I was more suc-
cessful. Mr. Bliss, the near neighbour of Mr. R.,
a vej y respectable man, and a magistrate, was the
earliest settler, after him, in the township. He as-
sures me, that among the heads of families only
one had died since the first settlement, which was
nine years ago. There are now seventy families,
or one hundred and forty heads of families, settled
in the township. As the increase of settlement has
been pretty regular, it would be fair to suppose
this equal to the residence of half that number for
the whole time; or seventy multiplied by nine,
which would give 630 for one year. Now, it is
calculated in Europe, that of one thousand persons
living in large cities, thirty-five or thirty* six die
annually; and in country places, twenty -eight or
thirty die out of that number, in the same space
of time ; while, according to the above statement,
the deaths in this township have been only as one
H 2
90 SALUBRITY, MUSQUITOES.
in six hundred and thirty. If it be said, that in
this estimate of from twenty-eight to thirty deaths
happening in a thousand, it is meant to be extended
to young and old, of whom, indiscriminately, more
would die than of heads of families, taken at the
most vigorous period of life ; then, let us make
an estimate on that ground, and take thirty as the
age to make the calculation on. A person if thirty
will, probably, live thirty-two years ; divide six
hundred and thirty by thirty-two, and we find the
chance is, that twenty will die in a twelve month
out of that number. According to Dr. Price's
calculations of life, the chance of a person thirty
years, old is twenty-three years and six months ;
which would give nearly twenty-seven deaths in
six hundred and thirty ; while here there has been
hut one death. This is a very surprising statement ;
but I am well satisfied of its correctness. Indeed
the aspect of the country gives promise of its
healthiness :
The fountain's fall, the rivers flow,
The woody vallies, warm and low,
The windy summit wild and high,
all so opposite to the stagnant waters, and dead
levels of the western " prairies," indicate the purity
of its streams, and the salubrity of its air.
Its exemption from musquitoes, is indicated by its
freedom from the " green mantle of the standing
" pool," so common in the western countries, whose
MUSQUITOES, BRISSOT. 91
musquitoes and frogs chase sleep from the eyes of
many a weary traveller.
" Mali culices ranaeque palustres avertunt sonmos,"
unless they are grossly misrepresented by many of
our disappointed countrymen, who, " through
" brake, through bog, through bush, and through
' brier," have plodded to those distant regions,
in search of a new Utopia, and who, on their re-
turn, spoke of the musquitoe's buz in a tone
which would justify the exclamation of the poet,
Hark, his shrill horn its fearful larum flings !
I wake in horror, and dare sleep no more !
But though this tormentor is diminutive, he is not
the less to be dreaded ; besides his buz and bite,
his presence indicates the neighbourhood of the
pestilential marsh, from which he sprang. The
number of musquitoes, that I was assured 1 should
meet on the western waters, was a strong induce-
ment for me to turn my course to a higher and
drier country, in which I and my friends might
hope to forget the toils of the day in tranquil re*
pose.
In the commencement of the French Revolution,
Brissot was sent to the United States by some of
his co-patriots, to select a body of land for them
to settle on, if they should be so fortunate as to
keep their necks from under the national axe.
92 BRISSOT, DISEASES OF THE WEST.
They desired him to be particularly careful to avoid
every place where there were musquitoes. However
visionary they were in some of their instructions,
there was much sound sense in this caution. I do
not know whether Brissot found what he sought.
Instead of remaining here in safety, he returned
to France, and was sent to the guillotine, by the
sanguinary demon who "rode in the whirlwind, and
directed the storm" of the revolution, at its most
desolating period. Alas ! the sound of the toscin
was worse than even the buz of the niusquitoe,
and the axe's edge sharper than its bite. A
strongly marked passage in the letter of instruc-
tions given to me by my friends in England is
" LET NO CONSIDERATION TEMPT YOU TO
" SELECT AN UNHEALTHY SITUATION.'*
This appears to me to be decisive against a flat
and low country.
Volney, who travelled through them, speaking
of the flat countries in the western parts of Ame-
rica, says, " Autumnal intcrmittents prevail to a
" degree scarcely credible. In a journey of seven
" hundred miles, I scarcely found twenty houses
" free from agues and fevers. Ail the banks of the
" Ohio, and a great part of Kentucky, of Lake
ft Erie, the Genesee country, and its lakes and
" rivers, are annually infested with them. In a
" journey of two hundred and fifty miles, from
" Cincinnati to Detroit, began on the eighth of
" September, in a company of twenty-five persons,
" we did not encamp one night without one, at
DISEASES OF THE WEST. 93
" the least, of the party being seized with a peri'
" oclical fever. At Greenville three hundred per-
" sons, out of three hundred and seventy, were
" sick of fevers. On arriving at Detroit, only three
*' of our party were in health; and on the ensuing
" day, our commander, Major Swan, and myself
" were both seized with a malignant fever. This
" fever annually visits the garrison of Miami Fort,
" where it has more than once assumed the form
" of yellow fever." Those who are most inter-
ested in giving a favourable report of the western
country, cannot avoid its uuhealthiness being dis-
covered. I have before me a publication by a
Mr. Latham, who keeps an office for the sale of
land in Chilicothe, in the state of Ohio, dated on
the 2nd of November last. He is anxious to in-
duce settlers to purchase lauds there, and, conse-
quently, may be supposed to be inclined to think
as favourable as he can of the climate, and to
speak as favourably as he thinks. At least he who
acts as an auctioneer, will not display the worst
side of his goods. Mr. Latham says, " If we have
" any diseases which we may consider endemical,
" they are those of a bilious and febrile character.
-*' In the first settlement of this country bilious and
" intermitting fevers are not unfrequent. The
" cause is obvious: the people in most instances
" locate themselves on the borders of the streams,
" often subject to inundations, and perhaps in the
' immediate vicinity of stagnant ponds of water,
" pr wet marshy ground, and they mostly lived in
94 DISEASES OF THE WEST.
" open cabins, exposed to the damp night air.
" In such situations, and under such circumstan-
" ces, it was hardly possible to escape a ' season-
" ing.* On the contrary, when emigrants have
" selected scites for their dwelling on eminences,
" or on high and dry land, removed from the in-
" undated bottoms, from ponds of stagnant waters,
" and from wet marshy ground ; and have not
" unnecessarily exposed themselves to the damp of
" the evening air : during the summer season there
" are but very few (if any) instances which are
" referable to climate."
The bilious and febrile diseases which Mr. L.
mentions as endemic, are those to be most sedu-
lously avoided. They are, necessarily, attendants
on those situations which border on the streams
subject to inundations; or those which are in the
vicinity of stagnant ponds and marshy grounds.
These are so common in the western states, that a
" seasoning" is spoken of as such a matter of
course, that to have any chance of avoiding if, it
is necessary to seek out particular situations, and
even then the poor settler must be careful to avoid
exposure to the " damp of the evening air during
" the summer season." Is it expected, that in
the most healthy parts of Ohio, a settler, must,
after dusk, confine himself to the house? If so,
the condition of the inhabitants of that part of the
country must be very deplorable. And if Ameri-
cans themselves are so likely to undergo the " sea-
" soiling," what might not an Englishman dread !
DISEASES OF THE WEST. 95
But this exposure to bilious fevers is far from
being confined to the lands watered by the Ohio;
it extends, with few intermissions, along the Mis-
sissipi to its entrance into the Gulf streams, in
consequence of the flat and marshy state of the
country on its banks. Mr. Schultz, a very intelli-
gent traveller, himself an American, speaking of the
Walnut Hills, says, " the men generally had a sickly
" appearance, but the women and girls looked fresh
" and sprightly. From their own account, bow-
" ever, they considered the situation as unhealthy.
" If this is the case, it is my opinion that there is
" flot a spot on the whole Mississipi, below the
" /nouthof the Ohio, fit for the residence of man."
And in a late work on Louisiana, by Mr. Brecken-
ridge, of the Maryland legislature, this gentleman
observes : " The settlements of this territory have,
" in some measure, attained the character of being
" unhealthy. It is a prevailing notion, that to be
" sick the first summer is what every settler must
" expect. In some parts of the territory, this
" seasoning is severely paid ; but in other parts of
*' the territory, I can say with confidence, that
" not more than one tenth undergo it. From the
" first of August to the last of September, is con-
" sidered the most unhealthy. The last season
" was uncommonly unhealthy throughout the wes-
" tern country, and this territory experienced it
" in a degree not much less than many other places.
" The natives and the oldest inhabitants were at-
" tacked, as well as strangers* This season did
96 FIRST QUESTIONS OF AN EMIGRANT.
" great injury to the commencing emigration to
" this country. Many who had suffered retired
" from it; and others who had determined to
" come, changed their minds." What must we
think of a situation where an apologist for the
territory is obliged to concede, that in the most
healthy parts of it, one tenth of its settlers have
to undergo what he very ominously calls a season-
ing! somewhat more serious than that of Cole-
man's ' fat single gentleman." If the natives of
the western states, and even those born in the
*' western country," experience the ill effects of
the unhealthiness of the climate, how much more
are they to be apprehended by a foreigner. But
in some parts of the United States, idleness is
considered so great a blessing, that I am not sure if
many would not purchase it at the expense of a
bilious or intermitting fever. How strange it is,
that the father of a family will take that family to
a situation where he knows they will be exposed
to an enemy, against whom here can be no pro-
tection ! One would suppose that such a person
must believe firmly in the fatalism of the Turks
which induces them to die of the plague by thou-
sands, rather than use the salutary precautions o
their Frank neighbours. Is the country healthy ?
should be the first question of an English settler
when about to establish his habitation. Is the
water good? should be his second. Wherever the
eountfy is flat, the water must be stagnant, ant
consequently impure. Wherever the water is im
MANNERS, RELIGION, POLITICS. 97*
pure, the country must be unhealthy. If the pain
of sickness could be disregarded, the advantages
of health are all important to the farmer. Of
what use is the greatest fertility of soil, if he is
too ill to sow his grain ! Of what advantage is
the most abundant crop, if his debility prevents
his taking hold of the sickle! And yet, his own
sickness is but a part of his sufferings : his wife
and children have also to participate iu the dan-
gers and diseases that pervade his abode.
In the country in which we have fixed ourselves,
we have a good soil, pure water, and a climate
which accords well with an English constitution.
We have therefore only to use that industry, which
English farmers boast of possessing at home, and
we shall hope to contribute in some degree to the
abundance of the country of which we have become
citixens, and by doing so to give a stimulus to some
of the many shuttles and hammers of old England!
LETTER XIII.
Manners, Religion, Politics.
You will expect me to say something of the so-
ciety and manners of the people among whom you
are invited to reside. This is a more difficult task
than that of analysing the quality of the soil, or
classing the varieties of the timber. Many of our
08 LITERATURE, EDUCATION.
countrymen ridicule the manners of the higher
classes of the people of the United States, with a
view I believe of having it supposed that they
moved in a superior station at home. For my
part, 1 have experienced much politeness and
urbanity ; and so far as my testimony will go, it
is in favour of the frank and courteous demeanour
of the gentlemen of this country ; among whom
there is to be found an abundant share of good
sense and liberal feelings.* As to the * very
learned,' they are not to be expected to abound
here, as in Europe, where learning is a trade,
which numbers are brought up to. The Americans
suffer us to manufacture books for them, as well
as the cutlery and cottons which they consume.
But although they write little on general topics,
they read much ; and you see no house without
books in it. 1 was pleased to find in this new town-
ship a public library, which was commenced by a
donation of books from Mr. R. and some of his
friends, and is supported by a small annual contri-
bution from those who enjoy its advantages. An
institution of this nature is peculiarly advantage-
ous to youth, among whom I have always obser-
* In corroboration of this remark, Mr. Hall, whom
I have already mentioned, permits me to extract the
following passage from a letter which he received from
Lord Selkirk, dated Huntingdon, 8th June, 1810 : " It
is truly gratifying to a Briton to find that the most
estimable part of your nation are those who are the
most partial to the land of thtir auqestors.''
LITERATURE, EDUCATION. 99
ved that a taste for reading is very generally at-
tended with propriety of behaviour and sound
morals.
I had formed an erroneous opinion of a woods-
man. I expected to find rude manners ; but the
people here behave with great civility and propri-
ety. I have not heard a single instance of profane
language, or indecent expression, in this settle-
ment. An air of comfort pervades the habitations
of the humblest kind ; and in general, the demea-
nour of the wife shews her to have her full share
of the family controul. These people are almost
all from the New England states; by which name
is designated the section of country north and
east of New York, which has always been re-
marked for the enterprise and good moral conduct
of its citizens. To the inhabitants of this section
of the United States, who ' are also distinguished
by their shrewdness, the term Yankee is applied ;
and not as it is understood in England, to all the
states a Yankee, therefore, means a native of
New England. The civility of disposition in which
they are educated at home, is taken abroad with
them ; and they are said to form a class of settlers
far superior to those who emigrate from the
southern states to the western wilderness.
As the means of supporting a family are within
the reach of every one; people here marry young,
and look out for habitations afterwards. They dis-
play a very commendable attention to the education
of their children, and as soon as half a dozen houses
100 EDUCATION, RELIGION.
are built in a new settlement, a school js established,
where, in the summer, the younger children arc
taught by a girl ; and in winter those that are
somewhat older by one of the settlers, who takes
upon himself the task of school-master. All ciu
read, write and cypher. The equality of rights
which they possess, naturally produces an equality,
or similarity of manners ; and as they enjoy the
same latitude in religion as in political opinions,
there is, so far as I have observed, very little dis-
cord between the various sects. What a happiness
it would be to the world, if all who read the ex-
hortation of the apostle, to Faith, Hope, and
Charity, would impress upon their minds his de-
claration, that the greatest of these is Charity ;
and the necessity of " avoiding foolish questions
" and genealogies, and, contentions and strivings
" about the law ; for they are unprofitable and
" vain !" and yet, although this is said by one of
the greatest of the apostles to a bishop of the
church, I fear it has often been overlooked, and
its meek and Christian spirit neglected.
In this township there is no minister yet estab-
lished. It is customary for the settlers to assemble
on Sundays : prayers are said by some one, with
much apparent devotion ; a hymn or psalm is sung
in parts, for most of them have been taught
psalmody, accompanied by instrumental music, as
a violincello, flutes, &c. A sermon from some ap-
proved divine is read ; and I must say, that this
simple family worship has effects upon me, as
powerful as a discourse in a cathedral.
SLAVERY, ROBBERIES, &C. 101
No slavery is permitted in Pennsylvania; the
toleration of which in the southern states, is of in-
calculable mischief; and it is an evil which it is
extremely difficult to get rid of; for even those
who are opposed to slavery, dread the effects of an
universal emancipation of the blacks. A society
has been established by some of the most dis-
tinguished men in the United States for colonizing
them, from whose efforts much may be hoped.
In the country robberies are almost unheard
of; and when they occur in the cities, they are
generally found to be committed by some abandoned
outcast from Europe, whom justice has driven from
her shores. It is a fact, that of the criminals in
American courts of justice, a very great proportion
are foreigners. Indeed, an American to whom the
means of support are abundant, has no excuse for
being a knave.
Mendicity is so rare in this state, that from my
landing at Philadelphia to the present time, I have
not seen a beggar. Perhaps no better proof can be
given of the general prosperity of its inhabitants.
The native Indians of this country are said to
have a great capability of action, but to be much
addicted to idleness. I cannot help thinking this a
part of the character of the people whom lam among.
I find a man, whose enterprise has led him from the
home of his parents, many hundred miles into the
forests, to make a home for himself ; but after cut-
ting down a few trees, that he may enjoy the rays
12
102 IDLENESS, POLITICS.
of the sun, he contents himself with the exertions
he has made, and sits down to bask in its beams.
Here are persons capable of any thing, but the
steady plodding labour, so necessary for the pros-
perity of the farmer, or mechanic. This may in a
great degree, arise from the want of an early appli-
cation to one particular pursuit. Every one chooses
his own occupation, and is any thing, or nothing,
just as it happens, or inclination leads. The result,
however, of this laxity of discipline, is a far greater
degree of general knowledge, than can be found
among the same class of society, in any other
country.
On the subject of politics but little is heard out
of the large cities. In all popular governments
there must be some who are striving to get into
place, and others who are endeavouring to retain
it. There will, therefore, be collisions ; and where
the press is free, we may expect altercation between
adverse parties. Of this we have abundant evi-
dence at home. While Buonaparte swayed the
French sceptre, the parties in the United States
were violent, and ranged themselves under the
name of federalists and democrats ; the one being
stigmatised as an English, the other as a French
faction. They are, however, both Republicans,
and differ only in a slight degree in their opinions
on the administration of the government. The
federalist advocated a navy, for the support of the
pommerce of the country ; a small body of troops,
to garrison the forts on the frontiers, as a security
NAVY. 103
against Indian incursions ; and a direct tax, com-
petent to sustain the expences which these es-
tablishments require. The democratic party op-
posed these. Bat the late unfortunate war between
our country aud the United States, destroyed all
political differences and harmonized the parties.
All now appear to be convinced of the necessity
of a navy, as a guard for the ocean frontier; and
of a body of troops, as a barrier against the^
Indian depredations, on the side of the woods. It
was found that calling a farmer from his plough,
and making him inarch to the frontier, was a most
expensive and oppressive mode of defence ; and
against an enemy invading on the sea side, the
militia of the country could be of litlle service,
A thousand regular troops conveyed in transports,
that one day could make their attack in one place,
and in a week's time could attack in another, a
thousand miles off, could keep an hundred thou-
sand militia in employ, at an enormous expense to
the government. I believe all parties unite now
in one sentiment, as to the best modes of offence
and defence ; and that there is no back-woods-
man to be found, who is not aware, that it is
cheaper and better for him to pay his proportion
of the expense of a sailor's maintenance, than to
turn out with his rifle, to defend the sea board
against the attack of line of battle ships. The
perfection to which the Americans have brought
their naval armament, has been seen with surprise
by all the nations of Europe, and is a necessary
104 AMERICAN TARS.
consequence of their activity and extended com-
merce.
The success of most of their different combats
against our vessels of war, has also tended to make
the navy a favourite with the people ; and the
merits of their victorious officers have been in-
dustriously proclaimed by public dinners and en-
tertainments, songs, speeches, &c. Their portraits
adorn the public offices, splendid swords and
medals incite their emulation, and the freedom of
the city, immortalizes their achievements. You
will remember the mortification we used to feel,
at reading the accounts of the capture of our ships
of war, and the great unwillingness with which we
gave credit to the facts , but 1 can now readily see
the causes of our defeats, and should be surprised
if such had not been the result of the different
actions. The American ships are larger than ours
of the same grade ; in most instances they have
had a greater number of guns ; and in all cases,
were manned with selected crews. Many of the
sailors on board American ships are British sub-
jects, and of whatever country they may be, they
have all gone on board voluntarily for in this
country our disgraceful system of impressment is
unknown. We opposed all these advantages, by
ships of a less size, fewer guns, and smaller crews ;
and even those in most instances, were composed,
in great part, of persons who had been compelled
to serve. In such cases the result must ever be as
it was. Wars are always unfortunate, and disaste-
AMERICAN TARS. 106
rous ; but they are particularly so when they occur
between nations ot the same language, religion,
habits and morals. The Americans deserve great
credit for the urbanity and kindness which they
displayed after victory' ; and this was not confined
to the officers, but extended to the rough tars,
whose hearts melted at the sufferings of their foe.
When the Peacock was sunk by the Hornet, and
the crew of the former vessel escaped witb nothing
but their clothes, the sailors of the Hornet pre-
sented each man with another suit from their
purser's stores, Wiieri the captured crews were
landed on the shores of the United States, they
were in many instances, permitted to mingle as
they pleased with the citizens, and to become
citizens themselves. The crew of the Guerrier,
captured by the Constitution, was landed at New
London, and many of them proceeded immediately
into the country, and became farmers or labourers
of different kinds. A gentleman who was at
New London at the time they were landed, met a
dozen of them some miles out of town, proceeding
merrily along, with their bundles on their backs ;
he asked them where they were going: " to see
our uncles," said one of them laughing. Indeed,
I fancy they found more " uncles" in this country,
if hospitality could create a relationship, than (jhey
Jeft behind them in Old England. Is it any wonder,
therefore, that our sailors should not fight with
their accustomed spirit against such a country as
this ; when they felt that a defeat might bestow
106 VERSATILITY OF THE AMERICANS.
upon them an invaluable blessing, by placing!
them on a soil which is emphatically the hind of
freedom ?
The versatility of disposition and facility \vilh
which an American passes from one thing to anotherj
lias been remarked by every one who has visited;-
their country. The pioughboy becomes a lawyer ;,
the doctor, a divine ; the mechanic, a member off
Congress; the school- master, a statesman; the|
merchant, an ambassador. This versatility is very''
conspicuous in their naval officers. Captain
'M'Donongb, who took the British fleet on Lake
Champlain, was a merchant ; Capt. Lawrence,
who in the sloop Hornet sunk the Peacock, was a,
lawyer; Capt. Jones, who in the Wasp took the
Frolic, was a doctor; and probably, most of the
others commenced with some business or profes-
sion equally discordant to their present pursuit.
If this occurs in the navy, you may readily ex-
pect to find the same thing taking place in the
army. The most decisive action in the late war,
and the one that we had the most signal cause to
lament, was the battle of New Orleans, in which
the Americans were commanded by General
Jackson, who was a judge, and who left the;
beifch to assume the General's truncheon.
What would be thought of one of our judges,
throwing ofF his robes and wig, and offering
to head an army? When the frontier inhabitants
were scalped and tomahawked by the savages,
of whose merciless ravages an Englishman can
GENERAL JACKSON. 107
form , no idea, unless he will imagine his own
family exposed to a troop of wolves or tygers, infu-
riated by hunger, Judge Jackson took the com.
mand of a hastily raised troop of militia, with
which, together with a few regular troops, he
marched against the Indian towns ; and in a cam-
paign, which rather resembled a triumphal march
across the country, he put an end to the war. He
has been accused of unnecessary severity ; but
I'hat can be called unnecessary severity, against
n enemy whose mode of warfare is an indiscri-
ninate massacre of every age, and to whom the
nother and the infant plead alike in vain. Speak-
ng of this savage ferocity, it has been said by an
minent American Statesman, who was distinguish-
d as a friend to Great Britain, as well as to his
Avn country, " On this theme my emotions are
inutterabie. If I could find words for them, if
ny powers bore any proportion to ray zeal, I
vould swell my voice to such a note of remon-
trance, that it should reach every log house be-
'oud the mountains. I would say to the inhabi-
ants, wake from your security, your cruel danger,
our more cruel apprehensions are soon to be re-
lewed ! The wounds yet unhealed, are to be torn
>pen again ! In the day time your path through
he woods will be ambushed; the darkness of
nidnight will glitter with the blaze of your dvvel-
ings ! Are you a Father 1 The blood of your
ons shall fatten your corq fields. Are you a mother ?
he war whoop shall waken the sleep of the cradle I"
108 GENERAL JACKSON.
Jackson, 'tis true, retaliated severely ; but his ven-
geance fell on the warriors alone ; no woman or
child was touched ; and had he ordered otherwise,
no American militia man could have been found
to execute his commands
\Vhen General Packenham led the flower of the
British Army ngainst New-Orleans, as to a certain
conquest ; a place without walls, troops, or can-
non, Jackson was sent there. He found a few
militia, hastily collected ; more were expected. In
the scattered state of population, some had to
come above a thousand miles. These were mostly
volunteers, without skill or tactics, unable to forii
or to march by rule ; but marksmen, whose aim
was almost a fatal certainty. In this situation,
which called for the most prompt decision, ii
when it .was more than suspected, that there wer<
persons in the city deeply in the Bristish interest
Jackson did the only thing which could have save(
the place; he seized the power of the bench, am
placed the town under military law. At this mo
ment the advance of the British army was land!
ing, accompanied by custom-house and policJ
officers, already arranged to organize a government
of the place, in the good old way to which they liaJ
been accustomed in their warfare with other enel
mies.
Without giving them time to pitch their tents!
Jackson attacked them at night with the few troopl
he had. Our officers were surprised by such a rel
ceptioDj at a place where they had expected n<|
GENERAL JACKSON. 109
resistance, and they halted till the rest of our
troops joined them ; by which time numbers of
the militia had arrived. The cotton bags were
taken from the warehouses, and placed round the
town as a rampart. How this would have been
ridiculed by a Cohorn or a Vauban ! and proba-
bly it was equally ridiculed by our officers, accus-
tomed to the entrenchments on the European con-
tinent. They led on their troops with the valour
of British officers, under a heavy cannonade, and
with clouds of rockets.
Who could believe that the result should be,
the defeat of our troops, with the loss of nearly
three thousand men killed, wounded, and prisoners;
and that the raw militia, behind the ramparts of
cotton bags, should have only thirteen men killed
and wounded ! Yet so it appears to have been.
Our troops retreated to the swamps, by which
New Orleans is surrounded, where they had ano-
ther enemy to encounter, the diseases attendant on
such a situation. When they were gone, Jackson
restored to the judges their suspended power (ce-
dunt arma tog<e\ and was called before them and
fined for suspending it. Before he could leave the
court house, the grateful citizens had paid the fine
for their deliverer. He, has been again lately
called into activity. The Indians on the Florida
frontier had begun their massacres. Jackson
inarched against them ; they fled into the Spanish
province ; he followed them there ; he found them
protected ; he did not hesitate, but attacked and
K
110 BRITAIN AND AMERICA.
captured the Spanish forts, and sent the governor
and garrison off in transports, which he hired to
receive them. At the same time he told the go-
vernor that when the king of Spain should send
a sufficient force to quell the Indians, and keep
them in subjection, the province should be restored
to him.
Fortunately our situation is far removed from
Indian, or any other warfare. I have been led
into a long disgression in showing that a peaceful
citizen may at the same time be a good soldier. It
has been observed by Talleyrand, that there was a
natural connexion between England and America,
which must operate in favour of the former, and
against France. This I believe to be strictly the
case j and wars between Great Britain and Ame-
rica can only arise, from an astonishing ignorance
in the British ministry of the feelings and habits
of this country. The more I see of America, the
more I am convinced, that instead of an absurd jea-
lousy of the growing power of this country, we
ought rather to promote it. It has been very cor-
rectly observed, by one of our statesmen, " that
not an axe falls in an American forest which does
not put in motion some shuttle, hammer, or wheel,
in England." This is truly the case. The amount
of British manufactures consumed even in this
place, so lately established, is wonderful. In the
village of Montrose are already six or eight shop-
keepers. One of these lately sent off nine wag-
gons to bring in goods from one of the maritime
BRITISH MANUFACTURES. Ill
cities : and these goods are principally of British
manufacture, and to be consumed by back-woods-
men ! It is usual for the store-keepers to supply
themselves twice a year, spring and autumn ;
therefore, it is probable that this storekeeper sells
eighteen loads of goods in a year. Multiply eighteen
by six, and you have one hundred and eight loads
of goods sold in the village of Montrose alone ;
besides shops in other parts of the country. In-
stead of prohibiting the emigration of farmers and
mechanics to this country, an enlightened ministry
would urge it. A man who for want of employ-
ment with you, is a burthen to the parish, here pur-
chases a lot of new lands ; his labour supplies his
family with food and raiment, and the latter is
principally British manufacture. As his children
increase, his wealth increases, and his demand on the
shops, or, as they are here called, stores, increases
with it. These stores are supplied from Great Bri-
taain with the articles he consumes. The result is
obvious ; the man who is a weight on his fellow sub-
jects at home, when abroad, becomes one of those
who enhance the prosperity of his native country,
by the consumption of its manufactures. These
things are too plain to be mistaken; aad a British
minister must shut both his eyes and ears, who
does not perceive that the increase of population
here, is of the utmost importance to the interest
of the mother country. The concourse of idle
and expensive paupers in England, if sent to this
country, would become a fountain of wealth,
BRITAIN AND AMERICA.
pouring its fertilizing stream on yon from a lavish
urn. It is mortifying to know, that these sources
of prosperity should have been prevented from
flowing upon our country by the sneering letters
of Canning, or the unbending pride of Castle-
reagh, and a host of others of the same cha-
racter.
When the French decrees denationalized the
vessels of America, for suffering the search of a
British cruiser, what a fortunate time it would
have been for our country, had our minister been
sufficiently wise to have seen that his true policy
should have led him to protect and guard the
American vessel ; to do every act of kindness, and
to afford every protection in his power, while our
enemy was absurdly provoking the hostility of the
nation, whose agriculture was at the very moment
affording him the most important aid. What
would have been the result of such conduct? Un-
doubtedly a war between France and America ; and
a league between the latter and Great Britain ;
between the parent and the child, as it ought to
have been. In monarchical governments, if an in.
jury is done by one to another, a calculation may
be made coolly and deliberately, of the sum neces-
sary to quiet all animosity. This is not the case
in a government of the people. Here their voice
is heard ; it is all powerful : and if such a case had
happened, as 1 have supposed, the people would
have compelled the government to declare war
against France. The flow of the heart of these
FREEDOM OF ELECTION. 113
people is naturally towards their English relations.
An Englishman, if he behaves himself, has a thou-
sand advantages, which no other countryman pos
sesses ; and if he is conscious of proper feeling
towards the country of his adoption, he may at
once consider himself at home among its citizens ;
by whom he will be received with every attention
which cordiality and kindness can bestow.
In Pennsylvania the freedom of election is ex-
tended to all citizens who have paid the trifling
county tax. In some other states the regulation is
different. It is not necessary to enter into the ques-
tion of the expediency, or inexpediency, of univer-
sal suffrage; nor how far it would be useful to
have property represented in a political body ; it
is sufficient to know, that it is protected here by
fair and equal laws. There are no rotton bo-
roughs in the United States ; and the bribery and
corruption common at English elections are here
unknown. It must be confessed, however, that a
system is suffered to prevail which the good sense of
the citizens should long since have banished ; and
which tends to preserve and perpetuate power in
the hands of a few leaders of a dominant party;
and who, instead of being actuated by "that first
paternal virtue, public zeal," are perhaps held toge-
ther-by the thirst of wealth, or the pride of office. It
is common for half a dozen men who possess a lit-
tle influence, to assemble in a county, and nomi-
nate certain persons to represent it in the state le-
gislature, and in the congress of the United State*;
K 2
114 ELECTIONS.
th nommation of these self-created leaders fe
usually followed by the voters at the election. The
persons named are elected. The members of the
state assembly, before they return to their homes,
meet in caucus, (as a private political meeting is
here termed,) and name some one as a candidate for
the chair of government. An agreement is entered
into, previous to a vote being taken, that he who
shall have the majority shall be supported by all
present ; and it would be considered as the great-
est proof of political apostacy to act contrary to
the opinion of the majority of this meeting. The
same thing is done by the members of the con-
gress, in the selection of a person for the prece-
dency; a measure calculated to give undue influ-
ence to persons, who may ill deserve the public
confidence. This is almost equivalent to giving
the president or governor the power of appointing
his successor, in consequence of the influence
which, during the sessions of the legislature, he 4
may obtain over those who take it upon themselves
to select, or nominate to .the public, the candi-
dates for those offices ; and who, from the ramifi-
cations of political influence, have it in their power
to render their candidate successful. In this way,
the power of party becomes, in fact, the power of
the leaders of it ; and may be very dangerous to
the freedom of election, and destructive of equal
representation. I have seen so much evil from the
borough-rnongering system of England, that I
shrink with dread from any thing which may be
ELECTIONS. 115
supposed to endanger the fair and full expression
of the public will, as must be the case when the
right of nomination is assumed by a few political
leaders, instead of being most carefully preserved
by the whole of the people. In the present in-
stance, the danger may be more imaginary than
real, at least while property is so generally pos-
sessed, and so equally divided in these states ; but
in this country, the only asylum of freedom in the
world, whatever may be supposed to endanger her
safety, should be guarded against or averted, with
the most jealous care ; and we should remember
how often the liberty of the people has been de-
stroyed by those who assumed the character of its
most devoted supporters. In this country there
appears to be no danger from any open attack. It
is not the impulse of the battering-ram, but the
insidious approach of the miner that is to be
f , feared.
Politicians have apprehended much danger to
f the permanency of the general government of this
t country, from the jealousy and power of the indi-
t^idual states composing the confederacy ; but this
I is lessened every day, by the rapidity with which
[ new states are formed, and added to the Union,
and which have the effect of rendering the whole
more and more powerful in proportion to the num-
ber of its fractional parts. Among any consider-
able number of these it is not easy to form a coali-
tion of interests in opposition to the rest. The
danger of disunion is passed. The eastern states,
REMARKS ON
which formerly exhibited some instances of local
jealousies, in opposition to the general government,
appear now to be willing to place their pride in the
combined strength of the whole, and to view the
increase of states, which I think amount to twenty-
one, as an augmentation of their individual secu-
rity. In proportion to the number of parts of
which the Union is composed, will the danger of
opposition from any of them be lessened ; and it
is probable, that this march to power will be
bounded only by the Pacific Ocean, on the shores
of which a colony is already planted, and a line
of connexion, by a chain of strong military posts
across the continent, about to be established.
Should not Great Britain look with exultation at
the gigantic growth of her offspring at the extent
to which her language and her code of laws are car-
ried by Anglo-Americans!
LETTER XIV.
Remarks on Birkbeck's Letters.
SINCE writing my last, I have seen a late work
by Mr. Birkbeck, entitled " Letters from Illinois: 1
I have read it with attention, and find much in it to
confirm the satisfaction with which I contemplate
our settlement.
BIRKBECK'S LETTERS. 117
There appears to be a great inequality of fer-
tility in the western states, a natural consequence
of what I have mentioned, the washing of the. rains
robbing the hills of their soil, and depositing it on
the river flats. He says, " We found nothing at-
" tractive on the eastern side of Indiana ; the situ-
" ations to the south, on the Ohio river, bounding
" that state, were so well culled, as to be in the
" predicament above described ; offering no room
" for us, without great sacrifices of money and so-
" ciety. The western side of Indiana, on the banks
" of the Wa*bash, is liable to the same and other
" objections. The northern part of Indiana is
" still in possession of the Indians." And in the
state of Ohio, he observes, " We must have paid
" from twenty to fifty dollars per acre for land,
41 which is technically called, improved; but is in
' fact deteriorated ; or have purchased at an ad-
'* vance of 1,000, or 1,500 per cent, unimproved
' land from speculators ; and in either case, should
" have laboured under the inconvenience of set-
" tling detached from society of our own choice,
and without the advantage of choice as to soil
or situation. We saw many eligible scites and
fine tracks of country ; but these were precisely
the tracks which had secured the attachment of
their possessors."
These circumstances, therefore, which appear to
be of sufficient weight, induced Mr. B. to seek a
settlement still further west, to which the white in-
habitants had not yet been attracted. I have no
118 REMARKS ON
doubt that they will soon be round him there ; but
a frontier position had certainly be better left en-
tirely to the Americans, and avoided by English-
men. I do not wonder at some of his countrymen,
in his own words, " wanting faith, thinking they
" should never reach an abode so far west." Ac-
cording to the distance given it appears to be
From Philadelphia to Pittsburgh 320 miles.
From the Pittsburgh, down the Ohio,
to Shawanoe town 1,200
From Shawanoe town to Birkbeck's
Settlement 50
1,570 miles.
The extensive settlement of Englishmen, in his
neighbourhood, which Mr. B. at first contemplated
appears to be given up ; as he has not been able to
procure the land according to his original wishes. 1
He observes, " I am therefore going on steadily*
" with my own settlement, without reference to
" that plan." That large plan thought of by Mr.
B. alone, so far oft' as Illinois, will, I trust, be
carried into effect by the British Emigrant Society
here; in a country much more congenial to a
British constitution.
These letters seem to have been principally writ-
ten at Princeton, in the state of Indiana ; where, it j
is probable, Mr. B. was obliged to reside until he
could have some accommodations made at his set- !
tlement in Illinois ; from which it appears, by the ;
map, to be about twenty-five or thirty miles distant. !
BIRKBECK'S LETTERS. 119
If the state of society, and the inconvenience of
travelling, are to be taken from Mr. B.'s account,
they are, to say the least, quite as bad as what may
be gathered from other travellers. The following
are his vords :
^ " In the early state of society, where the couii-
" try is savage, and many of the people just emer-
" ging from that condition, much intrepidity of
" mind, and hardihood of body, are indispensable
" requisites in the administration of justice. Brass
" for the face wont suffice ; there must be steel
" from head to foot. Your military, or fox hunting
" experience, has, I dare say, furnished adventures
" similar to those which are constantly occurring
" here to the gentlemen of the long robe, on their
" progress from court to court. The judge and
" the bar are now working their way to the next
" county seat, through trackless woods, over snow
" and ice, with the thermometer about Zero. In
" last November circuit, the judge swam his horse,
" I think, seven times in one day, and how often in
" the whole circuit, is not on record. What would
" our English lawyers say to seven such ablutions
" in one November day ? and then to dry their
" clothes on their back by turning round and
" round before a blazing fire, preparatory to a
" night'* lodging on a cabin floor, wrapped in their
" blankets ; which, by the bye, are the only robes
" used by the profession here."
Why, I believe the English lawyers would not
be surprised, in such a situation, to be told (p. 69)
120 REMARKS ON
of an enraged barrister, with a hand-whip or cow-
hide, cutting to ribbons the jacket of the foreman
of the grand jury : or of a judge shooting a no.
torious offender, while on horseback in the street,
with a pistol ball through the body.
I have alluded to the turbulent character, given
by travellers, of some of the western settlers.
This character however cannot be considered a ge-
neral one; and it would be very unjust to give it
that application; doubtless there must be many es-
timable characters there, and we. should be aware
that the deformity of moral evil, like the depth of
shade in a picture, is calculated to make a first and
powerful impression. This impression is not les-
sened by the letters in question, and when we are
told, that " tbe decision of character which pre-
" vails among the new settlers, renders their soci-
" ety very interesting, and there is a spirit of fear-
" less enterprise, that raises even the v icious above
" contempt; not a family, scarce an individual,
" whose adventures would not highly amuse and
" astonish the groups assembled round the fire sid*
" of our old country."
We see the anxiety and dangers which are ne-
cessarily connected with advanced settlements, ex
posed to savage inroads, and which it may be mud
pleasanter to hear recounted, by the fire-side,
than to participate in. And it is unfortunate, that
even when the situation of affairs change, the cha-
racter acquired by Indian warfare and intercourse,
is too apt to continue. The state of those persona
BIRKBECK'S LETTERS. 121
who live in such a condition, much resembles that
of the ancient borderers between England and
Scotland ; and many an American frontier settler,
not only resembles Watt Tinlinn in appearance,
Who was of stature passing tall,
But sparely formed, and lean withal:
But after an Indian inroad, might exclaim with
him,
" Thy crossed at the curfew hour,
And burned my little lonely tower;
The fiend receive their souls therefore!
It had not bten burned this year and more.
Barn yard and dwelling, blazing bright,^
Served to light me in my flight;
But I was chased the live long night." )
Walter Scott would experience no want of " Stark
" moss troopers" there.
Mr. B. says, " There is nothing I anticipate with
" so much satisfaction and security, as the rapid
" development of society in our new country. Its
" elements are rude, certainly, and heterogeneous.
" The first settlers, unprotected and unassisted,
" amid dangers and difficulties, have been accus-
" tomed, from early youth, to rely on their own
" powers ; and they surrender with reluctance, and
49 only by halves, their right of defence against
*' every aggression, even to the laws which tr ey
*' themselves have constituted. They have been
" anxiously studious of mildness in the forming of
Iw
fli
122 REMARKS ON
" these laws ; and when in practice they seem in-
" efficient, they too frequently proceed, with In-
" dian perseverance, to acts of vengeance incon-
" sistent with the duty or forbearance essential to
" social man. Hence, deeds of savage and even
" ferocious violence are too common to be viewed
" with the abhorrence due to them. This dispo-
" sition is evinced continually, and acted on with-
" out any feeling of private or personal animosity.
" If a man, whom the public voice has proclaimed
" a thief, or a swindler, escape from justice, for
" want of legal proof of his guilt, though the law
" and a jury of his fellow citizens hare acquitted
<c him, ten to one but he is met with before he can
" quit the neighbourhood, and, tied up to a sapling,
" receives a scourging that marks him for the rest
" of his life."
Such a state of society needs no comment. An
Englishman, accustomed to the administration of
the laws, will suspect that Mr. B. has a mind to
deter, instead of invite, his countrymen to adven-
ture " so far west," to a country, where, when
a prejudice is raised against one, it is not uncom-
mon for a riotous assemblage to become judges
and executioners, and scourge, so as to mark for
the rest of his life, him who has been declared in-
nocent by a jury.
I regret to see in Mr. B.'s letters an aversion to
religion, which is calculated not only to injure his
reputation, but most of those who may follow him.
He mentions, v.ith the tone of commendation, that
BIRKBECK'S LETTERS. 123
where he is, " children are not baptized, or [not]
" subjected to any superstitious rite ; parents name
" them, and that is all ; and the last act of the
" drama is as simple as the first. There is no con-
" secrated burial or funeral service. The body is
" enclosed in the plainest coffin, the family of 'the
" deceased convey the corpse to the woods ; some
" of the party are provided with axes and some
" with spades ; a grave is formed and the body
" placed quietly in it; then trees are felled over
" the grave to protect it from the wild beasts.
" These simple monuments of mortality are not un-
" frequent in the ivoods."
Surely this is not a desirable situation to live in.
If Mr. B. has no belief in religion, still his observa-
tions must have convinced him how important its
observances are to the tranquillity and peace which
we must suppose him desirous of enjoying in this
world. In vain will he fly to the solitude of his
prairie, if that solitude may be interrupted by
those who have shaken off all the restraints that
withhold mankind from violence and rapine. He
should consider the injury which his example may
do to society, when he declares of the church, that
he does " not believe in its doctrines;" and sneer-
ingly asks his correspondent, " when we shall have
" settled ourselves in our cabins, and fixed our-
" selves to our minds as to this world, what sort
" of garb think you we shall assume as candidates
' for the next?" With Mr. B.'s religious or irre-
ligious opinions I have nothing to do ; this govern-
124 REMARKS ON
ment wisely suffers every man to choose his own
path, and lie may walk in any direction he pleases,
however eccentric, provided he does not jostle
too rudely against the decorums of society: but I
fear that the rapid development of society, which
Mr. B. says he anticipates with so much " satis-
" faction and security," may not be of the most
desirable kind, if it is matured under such auspi-
ces. Mr. B. should be aware of the slight assu-
rance which the safety of himself and his family
depends on, in the exposed situation in which
they are placed ; and it is worse than rashness in
him to be careless of the salutary restraints of
law and religion.
The alleged insalubrity of the climate appears
to derive confirmation from the frequent mention
which is made in these letters of the necessity of
a settler bringing medicines with him; This appears
to be considered as the staff of life in Illinois.
" The English of both sexes," Mr. B. says, " and
' strangers in general are liable to bilious attacks
on their first arrival. These complaints seem,
however, simple and not difficult to manage, if
taken in time." In another part he observes, " that
clothing, bedding, household linen, and simple
medicine of the best quality, and sundry small ar-
ticles of cutlery and light tools, are the best
things for a settler to bring.out with him." And
again : " a few simple medicines of the best quality,
" are indispensable ; such as calomel, bark in pow-
*' der, castor oil, calcined magnesia and laudanum.
BTRKBECK'S LETTERS. 125
*' They may be of the greatest importance on the
" voyage and journey, as well as after your arri-
" val."
From these passages, which indicate a necessity
for every settler to bring his own apothecary shop
with him, and account sufficiently for the simple
monuments, so frequent in the woods of Illinois,
you will think, that in following the instructions of
my friends, to " let no consideration tempt me to se-
et lect an unhealthy situation" I kould have little
prospect of fixing them comfortably in Mr. B/s
neighbourhood; and that, waving all other objec-
jections, there was in this enough to deter me from
going so far west.
I had been told of the parching heat of the wes-
tern prairies ; but had not heard much of their
winters. Mr. Schultz, indeed, says, in a letter
from St. Genevieve, in the immediate vicinity of
Illinois, and dated in February : " From the expe-
" rience I have had, I assure you, that the cold
" for six weeks past, has been every way as severe as
" in the city of New- York." Mr. B. says " extreme
" cold does not seem to belong to us ; but we have
*' some very severe paroxysms of it, when the wind
" sets from the north west, the thermometer falling
" rapidly to 7 a 8 below Zero ;" and in another
part he says, " we have had an unusual severe
" winter. The mercury has once been 12 below
w Zero, and several times approaching that ex-
*' treme." This is a degree of cold that might
not have been expected in that latitude ; and is to
L 2
REMARKS ON
be accounted for only by the flat, unsheltered
situation of the country, which receives the
piercing north west wind, in its full force, and
with all its collected cold, from the icy mountains,
at the heads of the Mississippi and Missouri.
These extremes of heat and cold,
" Extremes by change more fierce,'*
to which the inhabitants are exposed, must, un-
doubtedly, be one cause of the unhealthiness of
the country.
Ill the 8th letter it is observed, ' there are no
<f very good mill seats on the streams in our neigh-
" bourhood, but our prairie affords an eligible site
" for a wind-mill." A want of mill seats on the
streams, must be the casein all flat countries, and
it is extremely inconvenient to the settler, not only
as it occasions much difficulty and delay, in the
grinding of grain ; but as, without falls of water
for saw mills, he is unable to procure boards for
his buildings, unless at prices which he can ill
afford to pay.
The difference of expense in going from Phila-
delphia or. New- York to Illinois, or in coming
here, from either of those cities, is an object
worthy of consideration. One of our party, Mr.
Lee, has just arrived from Philadelphia, with his
family, consisting of seven persons, and thirty
hundred weight of goods. The carriage of his
goods cost him three dollars per hundred, delivered
BIRKBECK'S LETTERS. 127
here. His family came in the same wajrgon, and
their expenses on the road were twenty-four dol-
lars, in all one hundred and fourteen dollars.
The cost of carriage to Pittsburg, is eight dollars
per hundred, which would be on the above load
240 dollars, and supposing the expenses on the
road double, or forty eight dollars, then the sum
expended in getting to Pittsburg, would be 288
dollars. From Pittsburg it is by water, 1200
miles to Shawanoe town ; and by land fifty miles
further to the prairie at Mr. B's." In going down
the river, it would be necessary to purchase an
ark, or boat, and to hire hands who are acquainted
with the channels of the river, who must be paid
not only for going down with the family, but for
returning. Supposing all these expenses to amount
to two thirds of the expense of the journey to
Pittsburg, or 192 dollars, this makes altogether
480 dollars, besides the loss of time in going to Illi-
nois ; or three hundred and sixty-six dollars more
than will be expended in coming here. This 366
dollars will procure, under the Society's contract,
122 acres of land. So that, climate and markets
out of the question, a British emigrant of the
above description, will come here, and pay for
one hundred and twenty-two acres of land, for
what it will cost him to go to the Illinois, at the
most favourable season of the year. But in the
winter, when the Ohio river is frozen, to get a
family and furniture from Pittsburg or Illinois, is,
I conceive, beyond the power of any British emi-
grant
128 REMARKS, &C.
The cost of a voyage from New-Orleans up the
Mississippi and Ohio, to Illinois, is three times that
of a voyage from England to the United States.
The following are the rates charged from New
Orleans to Illinois: For a grown person, twenty-
eight pounds, two shillings, and sixpence: children
fiom two to ten years old, half price; those under
two, one fourth; servants, half price; way passen-
gers, sixpence a mile.
In travelling by land to Pittsburg, and then des-
cending the Ohio, to reach the Western Country,
the emigrant must make his calculations for the
expenses of a delay which may take place at
Pittsburg, by want of water in the river. The
family of a Mr. G , who lately removed thither
from Philadelphia, was detained one month at
Pittsburg, and another month was spent on the
water before they arrived at Shawanoe town.
To the traveller who is detained at Pittsburgh,
it is no slight alleviation to reflect, that he is at
the very abode of hospitality ; but to most of the
emigrants, this " availeth little," in comparison
with the consequences of an expensive journey.
I have marked many places for your observation
in Mr. B/s work, which I send you. I shall also
transmit an extract from the foliage Record, a
very ably conducted newspaper, published at
West Chester, near Philadelphia, by Mr. Miner,
lately a member of the Legislature of this Com-
monwealth.
129
CONCLUSION.
IN the preceding statement, I have endeavoured
to guard my expressions, in such a waj, that they
should not raise extravagant expectations of the
country in which we have placed our settlement.
I believe it will answer your wishes ; for I think
our opinions on this subject will agree, as they do
in most others. But 1 wish every one who reads
the description which I have given, to consider it
with the same deliberation with which it has been
written. I believe I see, very clearly, the difficul-
ties which every person has to encounter, who
settles in a new country ; for they are before my
eyes, wherever I turn : but I see that where industry
is applied, first competency and then abundance
follows. An Englishman, by coming here, may
shake from his heavily laden shoulders, the immense
burthen of his taxes ; but he must not expect to
lay aside his industrious habits, and to indulge in
indolence, unless he brings a fortune with him.
This I wish to impress upon the mind of every
one. You who are happily blessed with a com-
petency, will find a pleasure in looking over the
improvements of your farm, or amusing yourself
in rural sports. It will be better for many English-
men, to purchase an improvement, than to begin
in the woods, as the phrase is, for a commencing
improvement. This will enable him immediately
L30 CONCLUSION.
to keep his cattle, and he may add such quantity
of land as his circumstances shall render proper,
and extend his clearing and improvements accord-
ing to his industry or his purse. All his clearings,
if he is careful, will doubly repay the toil and ex-
pense of making. Still, however, at first, he must
not expect to see the smooth surface of his native
island, where the cheapness and abundance of
labour enables the farmer to till his fields with
more care than is used here in a garden. Here
are the materials of beauty, as well as happiness;
but they must be fashioned and shaped into order
and symmetry. He who has not exertion to do
this, had better stop and slumber at home. The
idle should not come here, but to the industrious
man, every thing necessary for his comfort is
offered. With pure air, and excellent water, he
may count upon health. With a fertile soil, and
good markets, and the blessings of Providence,
which usually follow the use of proper means, he
may calculate on prosperity ; while, to crown and
preserve all, he is blessed with
" Kind, equal rule, the government of laws,
And all protecting FREEDOM, which alone
Sustains the Dame and dignity of man."
It just occurs to me to add that no female can
be arrested or imprisoned for debt, in this com-
monwealth.
In order that you may be able to judge for your-
self of the excellence of the government of which
CONCLUSION. 131
we arc invited to become citizens, I shall transmit
along with these sheets, the Constitution of the
United States, and of the state of Pennsylvania,
which is among the most powerful of the Union in
wealth and resources. I shall add also an abstract
of the laws respecting naturalization, and the act
to enable aliens to hold lands in this common-
wealth.
I remain, my dear friend, with many wishes for
the happy arrival of yourself and the rest of our
party, &c.
C. B. JOHNSON.
132 REMARKS ON
From the Village Recorder of 18th Nov. 1818.
NOTICE OF MR. BIRKBECK'S LETTERS.
WE have before noticed Mr. Birkbeck's letters
from Illinois. His calculations, showing the rapidity
with which independence may be obtained, and
even wealth accumulated, are well contrived to
lead the sanguine in flocks to his neighbourhood.-
"Whether all who go will realize the happiness and
prosperity which their fancies have pictured, our
deliberate judgment leads us much to question.
That the prairies of which he speaks are rich in
soil, and will be prolific of produce, we entertain no
doubt ; but fine land and good crops are not the
only considerations which a prudent man will take
into the account, when be is about to remove his
family, and to settle in a new situation. Health is
better than riches ; and the finest prairie in Illinois
would poorly compensate for the sacrifice of half
his family, and the reduction of the rest to debility
and disease.
New countries are generally healthy. When
they are not so, when diseases make their appear-
ance with the first settlers, the climate must be
radically bad, and the situation extremely insalu-
brious. These observations have arisen from an
impression left upon my mind by Mr. Birkbeck's
book. In letter fourth, h speaks of
MR. BIRKBECK'S LETTERS. 133
right enough, deaths take place every where but
when he adds, " These simple monuments of mor-
" tality, [graves over which trees have been felled]
" are not'wifrequent in the woods," it strikes me as
quite unusual, and indicates a sicklincss of climate
justly alarming. To this when it 13 added that he
enjoins it on his friends again and again, as a thing
of much importance, pressing from its necessity,
constantly upon his mind, that they should bring
with them calomel and bark Physic, physic, phy-
s j c l I must confess that I am quite willing to give
up all claim to his prairies, aud to be content with
lain Pennsylvania hills and valleys, uplands and
bottoms, that will yield fifty bushels of corn, or twenty
of wheat, to the acre.
Another thing in Mr. Birkbeck's letters impressed
me with no very favourable idea of his situation.
He speaks of erecting a wind-mill on his prairie !
What ! arc there no mill seats in Illinois ? Is the
land so low ; are the waters so sluggish, that fall
enough cannot be found to turn a mill ? Such we
have reason to think is the fact. Is it then to be
wondered at, if fevers and ague bilious fever-
yellow fever, and fifty other diseases, should bo
rife where the lands are low and the waters stag-
nant.
For my own part perhaps it is the effect of pre-
judice, but I can't help it I prefer the running
stream the pure, sweet, lively water that gushes
from the hill side, and the occasional cataract, all
foaming and bounding, like a flock of white sheep
from the mountain, imparting cheerfulness and health.
I wish I had room to extract from a late work enti-
tled " Rambles in Italy," a description of a spot,
the uiost beautiful to the eye, but fatal to the occu-
II
134 REMARKS ON
pant. The summer and autumn it was abandonedj
for the miasma that rose from its putrid waters?
blighted human life as the frost withers the leavea
of the forest. Such, I apprehend, will be the future^
description of many a fair promising prairie in tho.
west.
Well, there is one consolation : There are new
lands enough nearer home excellent in soil, having*
pure water, and advantageously situated. How apt
we are to look at a great distance for happiness^
overlooking the advantages near us ! Nearly ono
half of Pennsylvania is yet uncultivated. From jjj
point, beginning a few miles north of Easton, run ;t\
line longitudinally so as to intersect the western!
line of the state, passing a few miles north ofl
Pittsburg, we divide Pennsylvania into two equal!
parts. South of this line 83 members of Assembly
reside; north of it 15. Suppose the state to contaiiij
900,000 inhabitants 750,000 live in the south half,;
and only 150,000 in the North. Yet the north part
will admit a population greater than that which now
exists in the south. There is ample room, therefore,!
for 600,000 inhabitants, or 100,000 families to settle^
in Pennsylvania, and lands can be obtained on terms
quite as reasonable as in the west.
Some parts of this territory are settling wifh
great rapidity. Of Susquehanna county I can speak \
from personal knowledge, having been one among
the first who made a settlement near where the^
present seat of justice, (Montrose,) is established.
It was, 18 years ago, a wilderness ; there was no
road within eight miles of the spot which is now a
handsome town. It has not, it is true, like some of
the Alabama towns, increased 200 houses in a
season ; such places, of unnatural growth, will go !
MR. BIRKBECK'S LETTERS. 135
I line Jonah's gourd, as suddenly as they came ; I have
! no confidence in them. But the growth of Montrose
and the settlement of the country in the neighbour-
hood, have been natural and healthful. This county,
lying within two days journey of the Hudson, and
| three of Philadelphia, and being nearly in a direc-
tion between those cities and the fine and flourishing
5 Genessce country, rendered it an object deserving
attention. Robert H. Rose, Esq. took an active
1 part in its settlement. Enterprising, liberal, and
intelligent, he has, with the aid of several other
gentlemen, produced an astonishing revolution in
those forests. Various turnpikes extend through
the county. At the seat of justice are erected very
: handsome public buildings; a Eank of superior
[ credit, which has been some time in operation, is
I there established, and at the last election, they
polled upwards of 200 votes at Montrose.
The soil is of an excellent quality, favourable for
. all sorts of grain: and particularly productive of
[. grass, promising to be one of the finest grazing
!. countries in the Union. The timber is chiefly Su-
| gar Maple, Beech, Ash, Hemlock and Birch. In
r its hills and valleys the land lies much like that of
5 Chester county; the water abundant, lively, and
clear. In this fine county, lands may be bought
on the turnpikes for five dollars per acre ; or at a less
I price some distance from them. Mill seats are
1 numerous and excellent; and, above all, in point of
t health it cannot be surpassed. With the advantages
1 of good roads, schools, and society, and land at
a moderate price so near ; what thinking man
would remove, with a pack load of calomel and
jalap at his back, to the fever prairies of Illinois ?
I have spoken particularly of Susquehanna county;
136 REMARKS, &C.
but the description, as it respects soil, products,
timber, water, &c. will apply to all the counties
on the north line of the state. But I have no
more room at present. This subject must be re-
sumed. The settlement of this great extent of
territory is a subject of the highest importance to
the state, and ought to engage its most serious
attention.
APPENDIX.
THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
WE, the People of the United States, in order to
form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, in-
sure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common
Defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure
the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Pos-
terity, Do ordain and establish this Constitution for
the United States of America.
ARTICLE I.
SECTION I. All legislative powers, herein granted,
shall be vested in a CONGRESS of the United
States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of
Representatives.
SECT. II. 1. The House of Representatives shall
be composed of members chosen every second
year, by the people of the several states ; and the
electors in each state shall have the qualifications
requisite for electors of the most numerous branch
of the state legislature.
M2
138 CONSTITUTION OF
2. No person shall be a Representative who shall
not have attained to the age of twenty-five years,
and been seven years a citizen of the United States,
and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of
that state in which he shall be chosen.
3. Representatives and direct taxes shall be ap-
portioned among the several states which may be
included within this Union, according to their re-
spective numbers, which shall be determined by
adding to the whole number of free persons, includ-
ing those bound to service for a term of years, and
excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other
persons. The actual enumeration shall be made
within three years after the first meeting of the
Congress of the United States, and within every
subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as
they shall by law direct. The number of Repre-
sentatives shall not exceed one for every thirty
thousand, but each state shall have at least one re-
presentative ; and until such enumeration shall be
made, the state of New Hampshire shall be en-
titled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode
Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut
five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania
eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten,
North-Carolina five, South-Carolina five, and Georgia
three.
4. When vacancies happen in the representation
from any state, the executive authority thereof shall
issue writs of election, to fill such vacancies.
5. The House of Representatives shall choose
their Speaker, and other officers, and shall have the
sole power of impeachment.
SECT. Ill, l. The Senate of the United States
shall be composed of two Senators from each state,
THE UNITED STATES. 139
chosen by the legislature thereof for six years ; and
each .Senator shall have one vote.
2. Immediately after they shall be assembled, in
consequence of the first election, they shall be di-
vided, as equally as may be, into three classes
The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be
vacated at the expiration of the second year ; of the
second class at the expiration of the fourth year ;
and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth
} ear ; so that one third may be chosen every second
3 7 ear ; and if vacancies happen b} r resignation, or
otherwise, during the recess of the legislature of any
state, the executive thereof may make temporary ap-
pointments, until the next meeting of the legislature,
which shall then fill such vacancies.
3. No person shall be a Senator, who shall not
have attained to the age of thirty years, and been
nine years a citizen of the United States, and who
Shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that
state for \vhich he shall be chosen.
4. The Vice-President of the United States shall
be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote,
unless they be equally divided.
5. The Senate shall choose their other officers, and
also a President pro (empore, in the absence of the
Vice-President, or when he shall exercise the office
of President of the United States.
6. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all
impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they
shah 1 be on oath or affirmation. When the President
of the United states is tried, the Chief Justice shall
preside. And no person shall be convicted, with-
out the concurrence of two-thirds of the members
present
r. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not
140 CONSTITUTION OF
extend further than to removal from office, an J dis- j
qualification to hold and enjoy any office of honour,
trust, or profit, under the United States ; but the ;
party convicted shall, nevertheless, be liable and j
subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punish-
ment, according to law.
SECT. IV. 1. The times, places, and manner of '
holding elections for Senators and Representatives,
shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature
thereof ; but the Congress may at any time, by law,
make or alter such regulations, except as to the
places of choosing Senators.
2, The Congress shall assemble at least once in
every year, and such meeting shall be on the lirst
Monday in December, unless they shall, by law, ap-
point a different day.
SECT. V. 1. Each House shall be the judge of the
elections, returns and qualifications of its own mem-
bers, and a majority of each shall constitute a quo-
rum to do business ; but a smaller number may ad-
journ from day to day, and may be authorised to
compel the attendance of absent members, in such
manner, and under such penalties, as each House
may provide.
2. Each House may determine the rules of its
proceedings, punish its members for disorderly be-
haviour, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds,
expel a member.
3. Each House shall keep a journal of its pro-
ceedings, and from time to time publish the same,
excepting such parts as may in their judgment re-
quire secrecy ; and the yeas and nays of the mem-
bers of either House on any question shall, at the
desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered on
the journal.
THE UNITED STATES. 141
I 4. Neither House, during: the session of Congress,
shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for
more than three days, nor to any other place, than
that in which the two Houses shall be sitting 1 .
SECT. VI. 1. The Senators and Representatives
shall receive a compensation for their services, to
be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury
of the United States. They shall in all cases, ex-
cept treason, felony, and breach of the peace, be
privileged from arrest during their attendance at
the session of their respective Houses, and in going
to, and returning form, the same; and for any
speech or debate in either House, they shall not be
questioned in any other place.
2. No Senator or Representative shall, during
the time for which he was elected, be appointed to
any civil office under the authority of the United
Slates, which shall have been created, or the emo-
luments whereof shall have been increased, during
such time ; and no person holding any office under
the United States shall be a member of either House,
during his continuance in office.
SECT. VII. 1. All bills for raising revenue shall
originate in the House of Representatives ; but the
-Senate 'may propose or concur with amendments, as
on other bills.
2. Every bill, which shall have passed the House
of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it
become a law, be presented to the President of the
United States; if he approve, he shall sign it; but
if not, he shall return it, with his objections, to that
House in which it shall have originated, who shall
enter the objections at large on their journal, and
prooceed to re-consider it. If, after such re-consi-
deration, two-thirds of that House shall ngreo to
142 CONSTITUTION OF
pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the obJ
jections, to the other House, by which it shall liked
wise be re-considered, and, if approved by t\voi
thirds of that House, it shall become a law. But
in all such cases, the votes of both Houses, shall be
determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the]
persons voting for and against the bill shall be en*j
tered on the journal of each House, respectively*
If any bill shall not be returned by the President
within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall
have been presented to him, the same shall be a
law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless
the Congress, by their adjournment, prevent its re-
turn, in which case it shall not be a law.
3. Every order, resolution or vote, to which the
concurrence of the Senate and House of Represerir
tatives may bo necessary (except on a question of
adjournment) shall be presented to the President of
the United States, and, before the same shall take
effect, shall be approved by him, or, being disap-
proved by him, shall be re-passed by two-thirds of
the Senate and House of Representives, according
to the rules and limitations prescribed in the case
of a bill.
SECT. VIII. The Congress shall have power
1. To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and
excises, to pay the debts, and provide for the com-
mon defence and general welfare of the United
States; but all duties, imposts, and excises shall be
uniform throughout the United States ;
2. To borrow money on the credit of the United
State* ;
3' To regulate commerce with foreign nations,
and. among the several states, and with the Indian
tribes ;
THE UNITED STATES. 143
4. To establish an uniform rule of naturalization
ind uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies,
throughout the United States;
i 5. To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and
of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and
measures ;
' 6. To provide for the punishment of counter-
feiting the securities and current coin of the United
States ;
' 7. To establish post-offices and post roads ;
8. To promote the progress of science and useful
arts, by securing for limited times, to authors and
inventors, the exclusive right to their respective
writings and discoveries ;
9. To constitute tribunals inferior to the supreme
court ; To define and punish piracies and felonies
committed on the high seas, and offences against
the law of nations ;
10. To declare war, grant letters of marque and
reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land
and water ;
11. To raise and support armies; but no appro-
priation of money to that use shall be for a longer
term than two years ;
12. To provide and maintain a navy;
13. To make rules for the government and regu-
lation of the land and naval forces ;
14. To provide for calling forth the militia to exe-
cute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections,
and repel invasions ;
13. To provide for organizing, arming and disci-
plining the militia, and for governing such part of
them as may be employed in the service of the United
States, reserving to the states, respectively, the ap-
pointment of the officers, and the authority of training
144 CONSTITUTION OP
the militia according to the discipline prescribed by
Congress.
16. To exercise exclusive legislation, in all casea
whatsoever, over such district (not exceeding tem
miles square) as may, by cession of particular
siates, and the acceptance of Congress, become the
seat of the governmeHt of the United States, and
to exercise like authority over all places, purchased
by the consent of the legislature of the state in
which the same shall be, for the erection of forts,
magazines, arsenals, dock-yards, and other needful
buildings ; and
17. Te mako all laws which shall be necessary
and proper, for carrying into execution the fore-*
going powers, and all other powers vested by this
constitution in the government of the United States,]
or in any department or office thereof.
SECT. IX. 1. The migration or importation or
such persons, as any of the states now existing shall
think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited bv the
Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hun-
dred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed!
on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for*
each person.
2. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus!
hall not be suspended, unless when in cases of re-)
bellion, or invasion, the public safety may require itj
3. No bill of attainder, or ex post facto law, shali
be passed.
4. No capitation, or other direct tax, shall be laid,'
unless in proportion to the census, or enumeration,!
herein before directed to be taken.
5. No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported!
from any state. No preference shall be given, byf
any regulation of commerce or rctenue, to the porti |
THE UNITED STATES. 145
of one state over those of another ; nor shall vessels
bound to or from one state he obliged to enter, clear,
or pay duties, in another.
6. .No money shall be drawn from the treasury,
but in consequence of appropriations made by law ;
and a regular statement and account of the receipts
and expenditures of all public money shall be pub-
lished from time to time.
7. No title of nobility shall be granted by the
United States ; and no person, holding any office of
profit or trust under them, shall, without the eon-
stnt of the Congress, accept of any present, emo-
lument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from
any king, prince, or foreign state.
SECT. X. 1. No state shall enter into any treaty,
alliance or confederation ; grant letters of marque
and reprisal ; coin money ; emit bills of credit ;
make any thing but gold and silver coin a tender in
payment of debts ; pass any bill of attainder, ex-
post facto law, or law impairing' the obligation of
contracts ; or grant any title of nobility.
2. No state shall, without the consent of the Con-
gress, lay any imposts or duties 011 imports or ex-
ports, except what may be absolutely necessary for
executing its inspection laws; and the net produce
of alt duties and imposts, laid by any state on im-
ports, or exports, shall be for the use of the treasury
of the United States; and all such Jaws shall be sub-
ject to the revision and controul of the Congress.
No state shall, without the consent of Congress,
lay any duty of tonnage, keep troops or ships of war
in time, of peace, enter into any agreement or com-
pact with another state, or with a foreign power,
or engage in war, unless actually invadwl, or in such
imminent danger as will not admit of delay.
N
146 CONSTITUTION OP
ARTICLE II.
SECT. I. 1. The executive power shall be vested
in a President of the United Slates of America. He
shall hold his office during the term of four years,
and, together with the Vice-President, chosen for
the same term, be elected as follows:
2. Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the
legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors,
equal to the whole number of Senators and Repre-
sentatives to which the state may be entitled in the
Congress; but no Senator or Representative, or
person holding an office of trust or profit under the
United States, shall be appointed an elector.
3. The Congress may determine the time of
choosing the electors, and the day on which they
shall give their votes, which day shall be the same
throughout the United States.
4. No person, except a natural born citizen, or a
citizen of the United States at the time of the adop-
tion of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the
office of President ; neither shall any person be eli-
gible to that office, who shall not have attained to the
ge of thirty-five years, and been fourteen year's a
resident within the United Slates.
5. In case of the removal of the President from
office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to dis-
charge the powers and duties of the said office, the
same shall devolve on the Vicc-President, and the
Congress may, by law, provide for the case of re-
moval, death, resignation, or inability, both of the
President and Vice-President, declaring what officer
shall then act as President, and such officer shall
act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or
a President shall be elected.
THE UNITED STATES. 147
6. The President shall, at stated times, receive for
his services a compensation, which shall neither be
increased nor diminished during the period for
which he shall have been elected; and Ue shall not
receive, within that period, any other emolument
from the United States, or any of them.
7. Before he enter on the execution of his office,
Le shall take the following oath or affirmation :
" / do solemnly swear (or affirm) that f willfaith-
" fully execute the office of President of the United
" States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve
" protect, and defend the Constitution of the United
" States."
SECT. II. 1. The President shall be commander
in chief of the army and nary of the United States,
and of the militia of the several states, when called
into the actual service of the United States ; he
may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal
officer in each of the executive departments, upon
any subject relating to the duties of their respective
offices ; and he shall have power to grant reprieves
and pardons for offences against the United States,
except in cases of impeachment.
2. He shall have power, by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provi-
ded two thirds of the Senators present concur ; and
he shall nominate, and, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors,
other public ministers and consuls, judges of the su-
preme court, and all other officers of the United
States, whose appointments are not herein other-
wise provided for, and which shall be. established by
law. But the Congress may, by law, vest the ap-
pointment of such inferior officers as they think pro*
148 CONSTITUTION OF
per in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in
the hads of departments.
3. The President shall have power to fill up all
Vttcancies that may happen during the recess of the
Senate, by granting commissions, which shall expire
at the end of their next session.
SECT. III. He shall, from time to time, give to the
Congress information of the state of the Union, and
recommend to their consideration such measures, as
Ate shall judge necessary and expedient j he may, on
Extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or
either of them, and, in case of disagreement between
them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he
may adjourn them to such time as he shall think
proper ; he shall receive ambassadors and other
public ministers ; he shall bike care that the laws be
faithfully executed, and shall commission all the
officers of the United States.
SECT. IV. The President, Vice-President, and all
civil officers of the United States, shall be re-
moved from office on impeachment for, and convic-
tion of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and
misdemeanors.
ARTICLE III.
SECT. I. The judicial power of the United States,
shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such
inferior courts as the Congress may, from time to
time, ordain and establish. The judges, both of the
supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices
during good behaviour, and shall, at stated times, re-
ceive for their services a compensation, which shall
not be diminished during their continuance in office.
THE UNITED STATES. 149
SECT. II. 1. The judicial power shall extend to all
eases in law and equity, arising under this Consti-
tution, the laws of the United States, and treaties
made, or which shall be made, under their autho-
rity ; to all cases affecting ambassadors, or other
public ministers and consuls; to all cases of admi-
ralty and maritime jurisdiction ; to controversies to
which the United States shall be a party; to con-
troversies between two or more states, between a
state and citizens of another state, between citizens
of different states, between citizens of the same
state claiming lands under grants of different states,
and between a state, or the citizens thereof, and
foreign states, citizens, or subjects.
2. In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public
ministers and consuls, and those in which a state
shall be party, the supreme court shall have original
jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned
the supreme court shall have appellate jurisdiction
both as to law and fact, with such exception,
and under such regulations, as the Congress shall
make.
3. The trial of all crimes, except in oases of im-
peachment, shall be by jury ; and such trial shall be
held in the state where the said crimes shall have
been committed ; but when not committed within
any state, the trial shall be at such place or places as
the Congress may by law have directed.
SECT. III. 1. Treason against the United States
shall consist only in levying war against them, or in
adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and com-
fort. No person shall be convicted of treason, unless
on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt
act, or on confession in open court.
N2
150 CONSTITUTION OF
2. The Congress shall have power to decfcire th
punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason
shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, except
during the life of the person attainted.
ARTICLE IV.
SECT. I. Full faith and credit shall be given in
each state to the public acts, records, and judicial
proceedings of every other state. And the Congress,
may, by general laws, prescribe the manner in vrhich
such acts, records and proceedings shall be proved,
and the effects thereof.
SECT. II. 1. The citizens of each state shall be
entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens
in the several states.
2. A person charged in any state with treason,
feJony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice,
and be found in another state, shall on demand of
the executive authority of the state from which he
fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the state,
having jurisdiction of the crime.
3. No person held to service or labour in one
stale, under the laws thereof, escaping into another,
shall, in consequence of any law or regulation there-
in, be discharged from such service or labour, but
shall be delivered up, on claim of the party to whom
such service or labour may be due.
SECT. III. 1. New states may be admitted by the
Congress into this Union; but no new state shall be
formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any
other state, nor any state be formed by the junction
of two or more states, or parts of states, without
the consent of the legislatures of the states con-
cerned as Mell as of the Congress.
THE UNITED STATES. 151
'>. The Congress shall have power to dispose of
and make all needful rules and regulations respect-
ing the territory, or other property, belonging: to Ihe
United States ; and nothing hi this Constitution
shall be so construed, as to prejudice any claims of
the United States, or of any particular state.
SECT. IV. The United States shall guarantee to
every state in this Union a republican form of go-
vernment, and shall protect each of them against
invasion ; and, on application of the legislature, or
of the executive (when the legislature cannot be
convened) against domestic violence.
ARTICLE V.
The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses
shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments
to this Constitution, or, on the application of the
legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, shall
call a Convention for proposing amendments, which,
in either case, shall be valid, to all intents and pur-
poses, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by
the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states,
or by Conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the
one or the other mode of ratification may be propo-
sed by the Congress: provided that no amendment,
which muy be made prior to the year one thousand
eight hundred and eight, shall in any manner affect
Ihe first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of
the first Article ; and that no state without its con-
sent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the
Senate.
ARTICLE VI.
1. All debts contracted, and engagements entered
into, before the adoption of this Constitution, shall
152 CONSTITUTION OF
be as valid against the United States under this Con-
stitution, as under the Confederation.
2. This Constitution, and the laws of the United
States which shall he made in pursuance thereof,
and all treaties made, or which shall he made, un-
der the authority of the United States, shall be the
supreme law of the land ; and the judges in every
state shall b bound thereby, any th np in the Con-
stitution or laws of any state to the contrary not.
withstanding.
3. The Senators and Representatives before men-
tioned, and the members of the several state legis-
latures, and all executive and judicial officers, both
of the United States and of the several states, shall
be bound, by oath or affirmation, to support this Con-
stitution ; but no religious test shall ever be required
as a qualification to any office, or public trust, under
the United States.
ARTICLE VII.
The ratification of the Conventions of nine states
shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Con-
stitution, between the states so ratifying the same.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
Article the First.
Congress shall make no law respecting an estab-
lishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of
the press ; or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the government for a re-
dress of grievances.
THE UNITED STATES. 153
(Article the Second.
A well regulated militia being: necessary to the
security of a free state, the right of the people to
keep and bear arms shall not t*e infringed.
Article the Third.
No soldier shall in time of peace be quartered in
any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in
time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by
law.
Article the Fourth.
The right of the people to be secure in their per-
sons, houses, papers and effects, against unreason-
'able searches and seizures, shall not be violated ; and
too warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause sup-
Jorted b} T oath .or affirmatiou r and particularly de-
scribing the place to be searched, and the persons
or things to be seized.
Article the Fifth.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or
(otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment
or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising
in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when
in actual service in time of war or public danger :
nor shall any person be subject for the same offence,
to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb ; nor
shall be compelled, in any criminal case, to be a
witness against himself; nor be deprived of life, li-
berty, or propert}', without due process of law ; nor
shall private property be taken for public use, with-
out just compensation.
154 CONSTITUTION,^
Article the Sixth.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall en-
joy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an im-
partial jury of the state and district wherein the
crime shall have been committed, which district
shall have been previously ascertained by law ; and
to be informed of the nature and cause of the accu-
sation to be confronted with the witnesses against
him ; to have compulsory process for obtaining wit-
nesses in his favour, and to have the assistance of
counsel for his defence.
Article the Seventh.
In suits at common law, where the value in con-
troversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of
trial by jury shall be preserved ; and no fact tried
by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any
court of the United States, than according to the^
rules of the common law.
Article the Eighth.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor exces-;
sive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punish*
incuts inflicted.
Article the Ninth.
The enumeration in the Constitution of certain
rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage ,
others retained by the people.
Article the Tenth.
The powers not delegated to the United States by
the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states,
are reserved to the states respectively, or to the
people.
THE UNITED STATES. 155
Article the Eleventh.
The Judicial Power of the United States shall not
be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity,
commenced or prosecuted against one of the United
States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or
subjects of any foreign state.
Article the Twelfth.
1. The electors shall meet in their respective
states, [and vote by ballot for President and Vice-
president, one of whom, at least, shall not be an in-
habitant of the same state with themselves ; they
shall name in their ballots the person voted for as
President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for
as Vice-President ; and they shall make distinct
lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all
persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the
number of votes for each, which lists they shall
sign and certify, and transmit, sealed, to the seat of
the government of the United States, directed to
the President of the Senate ; the President of the
Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and
House of Representatives, open all the certificates,
and the votes shall then be counted ; the person
having the greatest number of votes for President,
if such number be a majority of the whole number
of electors appointed ; and if no person have such
majority, then from the persons having the highest
numbers, not exceeding three, on the list of those
voted for as President, the House of Representa-
tives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the Presi-
dent. But in choosing the President, the votes shall
be taken by states, the representation of each state
having one vote ; a quorum for this purpose shall
156 CONSTITUTION, &C.
consist of a member, or members from tvro-tbirds of
the states, and a majority of all the states shall b
necessary to a choice. And if the House of Repre-
sentatives shall not choose a President whenever
the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before
the fourth day of March next, following, then lm
Vice -President shall act as President, as in the easb
of the death, or other constitutional disability of the
President.
2. The person having the greatest number
YOtes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-PresH
dent, if such number be a majority of the \\ holt :
number of electors appointed; and if no person have
a majority, then from the two highest numbers o|
the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-Presidenl|
a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two tliirdi
f the whole number of Senators, and a majority of*
he whole number shall be necessary to a choice.
3. But no person constitutionally ineligible to th*
>ffice of President, shall be eligible to that of Yicet
President of the United States.
Article the Thirteenth.
If any citizen of the United States, shall accepfl
claim, receive, or retain any title of nobility or ijJ
nour, or shall, without the consent of Congress, acl
cept and retain any present, pension, office, OB
emolument of any kind whatever, from any Kmpoi
ror. King, Prince, or foreign power, such person!
shall cease to be a citizen of the United States, ami
shall be incapable of holding any office of trust, od
profit, under them, or cilher of them.
[N.B. This article has been ratified by some oil
the Slates, but not by a number sufficient to make
t a part of the Constitution, ireb. 1319.]
157
THE CONSTITUTION
COMMONWEALTH of PENNSYLVANIA.
\
WE, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl-
vania, ordain and establish this Constitution for its
Government.
ARTICLE I.
SECTION I. The legislative power of this com-
monwealth shall be vested in a General Assembly,
which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Re-
presentatives.
SECT. It. The Representatives shall be chosen
annually, by the citizens ef the city of Philadelphia,
and of each county respectively, on the second
Tuesday of October.
SECT. III. No person shall be a Representative,
who shall not have attained the nge of twenty-one
years, and have been a citizen and inhabitant of the
state three years next preceding his election, and
the last year thereof an inhabitant of the city or
county in which he shall be chosen; unless he shall
have been absent on the public business of the
O
158 CONSTITUTION OP
United States, or of this state. No person, residing
within any city, town or borough, which shall be
entitled to a separate representation, shall be elected
a member for any county ; nor shall any person, re-
siding without the limits of any such city, town, or
borough, be elected a member thereof.
SECT. IV. Within three years after the first meet-
ting of the General Assembly, and within every
subsequent term of seven years, an enumeration of
the taxable inhabitants shall be made, in such man-
ner as shall be directed by law. The number of
Representatives shall, at the several periods of ma-
king such enumeration, be fixed by the legislature,
and apportioned among the city of Philadelphia and
the several counties, according to the number of
taxable inhabitants in each ; and shall never be less
than sixty, nor greater than one hundred. Each
county shall have, at least, one Representative ; but
no county, hereafter erected, shall be entitled to a
separate representation, until a sufficient number of
taxable inhabitants shall .be contained within it, to
entitle them to one Representative, agreeably to the
ratio which shall then be established.
SECT. V. The Senators shall be chosen, for four
years, by the citizens of Philadelphia, and of the
several counties, at the same time, in the same man-
ner, at the same places, where they shall vote for
Representatives.
SECT. VI. The number of Senators shall, at the
several periods of making the enumeration before-
rncntioned,. be fixed by the legislature, and appor-
tioned among the districts, formed as hereinafter di-
rected, according to the number of taxable inhabi-
tants In each; and styall never be less than one
four- h, nor greater than one third, of the number of
Representatives.
PENNSYLVANIA. 159
SECT. VII. The Senators shall be chosen in dis-
tricts, to be formed by the legislature, each district
containing such a number of taxable inhabitants as
shall be entitled to elect not more than four Sena-
tors. When a district shall be composed of two or
mere counties, they shall be adjoining:. Neither the
city of Philadelphia nor any county shall be divided,
in forming a district.
SECT. VIII. No person shall be a Senator, who
shall not have attained the age of twenty-five years,
and have been a citizen and inhabitant of the state
four years next before his election, and the last year
thereof an inhabitant of the district for which he
shall be chosen ; unless he shall hare been absent
on the public business of the United States, or of
this state.
SECT. IX. Immediately after the Senators shall
be assembled, in consequence of the first election,
subsequent to the first enumeration, they shall be
divided, by lot, as equally as may be, into four
classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class
shall be vacated at the expiration of the first year,
of the second class at the expiration of the second
year, of the third class at the expiration of the third
year, and of the fourth class at the expiration of the
fourth year; so that one fourth may be chosen every
year.
SECT. X. The General Assembly shall meet on
the first Tuesday of December in every year, unless
sooner convened by the Governor.
SECT. XI. Each house shall choose its Speaker
and other Officers ; and the Senate shall also choose
a Speaker, pro tempore, when the Speaker shall
exercise the office of Governor.
160 CONSTITUTION OF
SECT. XII. Each House shall judge of the quali-
fications of its members. Contested elections shall
be determined by a committee, to be selected,
formed, and regulated in such a manner, as shall be
directed by law. A majority of each House shall
constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller
number may adjourn from day to day, and may be
authorised, by law, to "compel the attendance of
absent members, in such manner, and under such
penalties, as may be provided.
SECT. XIII. Each House may determine the rules
of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly
behaviour, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds,
expel a member; but not a second time for the same
cause ; and shall have all other powers necessary for
a branch bf the legislature of a free state.
SECT. XIV. Each House shall keep a journal of
its proceedings, and publish them weekly, except
such parts as may require secrecy : And the yeas and
nays of the members on any question shall, at the
desire of any two of them, be entered on the jour-
nals.
SECT- XV. The doors of each House, and of com-
mittees of the whole, shall be open, unless when the
business shall be such as ought to be kept secret.
SECT. XVI. Neither House shall, without the con-
sent of the other, adjourn fur more than three days,
nr to any other place, than that in which the two
Houses shall be sitting.
SECT. XVII. The Senators and Representatives
shall receive a compensation for their services, to
be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury
of the commonwealth. They shall, in all cases, ex-
cept treason, felony, aad breach or surety (if the
PENNSYLVANIA. 161
peace, be privileged from arrest during their attend-
ance at the session of the respective Houses, and in
going to and returning from the same: And for
any speech or debate in either House they shall not
be questioned in any other place.
SECT. XVIII. No Senator or Representative shall,
during the time for which he shall have been elected,
be appointed to any civil office under this common-
wealth, which shall have been created, or the emolu-
mcnts of which shall have been encreased, during
such time; and no member of Congress, or other
person holding any office (except of attorney at law
and in the militia) under the United States, or this
commonwealth, shall be a member of either House
during his continuance in Congress, or in office.
SECT. XIX. When vacancies happen in either
House, the Speaker shall issue writs of election to
fill such vacancies.
SECT. XX. A 11 bills for raising revenue shall ori-
ginate in the House of Representatives, but the
Senate may propose amendments, as in other bills.
SECT. XXI. No money shall be drawn from the
treasury, bit in consequence of appropriations made
by law.
SECT. XXII. Every bill, which shall have passed
both Houses, shall be presented to the Governor:
If he approve, he shall sign it ; but if he shall not
approve, he shall return it, with his objections, to
the House in which it shall have originated, who
shall enter the objections at large upon their jour-
nals, and proceed to re-consider it: If, after such
re-consideration, two-thirds of that House shall
agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, with the ob-
jections, to the other House, by which likewise it
shall be re-considered; and if approved by two-
O 3
162 CONSTITUTION OP
thirds of that House, it shall be a law. Bat in such
cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined
by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons
voting for or against the bill shall be entered on the
journals of each House respectively. If any bill
shall not be returned by the Governor within ten
days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been
presented to him, it shall be a law, in like manner
as if he had signed it, unless the General Assembly,
by their adjournment, prevent its return ; in which
ease it shall be a law, unless sent back within three
da}'s after their next meeting.
SECT. XXIII. Every order, resolution, or vote,
to which the concurrence of both Houses may be
necessary (except on a question of adjournment)
shall be presented to the Governor, and, before it
shall take effect, be approved by him, or, being dis-
approved, shall be re-passed by two-thirds of both
Houses, according to the rules and limitations pre-
scribed in case of a bill.
ARTICLE II.
.
SECTION I. The Supreme Executive power of
this commonwealth shall be vested in a Governor.
SECT. II. The Governor shall be chosen on the
second Tuesday of October, by the citizens of the
commonwealth, at the place* where they shall res-
pectively vote for Representatives. The returns of
every election for Governor shall be sealed up, and
transmitted to the seat of government, directed to
the Speaker of the Senate, who shall open and pnb-
lish them in the presence of the members of both
Houses of the Legislature. The person having the
PENNSYLVANIA. 163
highest number of votes shall be Governor. But if
two or more shall be equal and highest in votes, one
of them shall be chosen Governor by the joint vote
of the members of both Houses. Contested elec-
tions shall be determined by a committee, to be
selected from both Houses of the Legislature, and
formed and regulated iii such manner as shall be
directed by law.
SECT. III. The Governor shall hold his office du-
ring three years from the third Tuesday of December
next ensuing his election, and shall not be capable of
holding it longer than nine in any term of twelve
years.
SECT. IV. He shall be, at least, thirty years of
age, and have been a citizen and inhabitant of this
state seven years next before his election ; unless he
shall have been absent on the public business of the
United States, or of this state.
SECT. V. No member of Congress, or person
holding any office under the United States, or this
state, shall exercise the office of Governor.
SECT. VI. The Governor shall, at stated times,
receive, for his services, a compensation, which
shall be neither increased nor diminished during the
period for which he shall have been elected.
SECT. VII. He shall be coramander-in-chief of the
army and navy of this commonwealth, and of the
militia ; except when they shall be called into the
actual service of the United States.
SECT. VIII. He shall appoint all officers, whose
offices are established by this Constitution, or shall
be established by law, and whose appointments are
not herein otherwise provided for ; but no person
shall be appointed to an office within any county,
who shall not have been a citizen and inhabitant
164 CONSTITUTION OF
therein one year next before his appointment, if the
county shall have been so long erected ; but if it
shall not have been so long erected, then within -the
limits of the county or counties out of which it shall
have been taken. No member of Congress from
this state, nor any person holding or exercising any
office of trust or profit under the United States, shall,
at .the same time, hold or exercise the office of
Judge, Secretary, Treasurer, Prothonotary, Register
of Wills, Recorder of Deeds, Sheriff, or any office in
this state, to which a salary is by law annexed, or
any other office, which future legislatures shall de-
clare incompatible with offices or appointment*
under the United States .
SECT. IX. He shall have power to remit fines and
forfeitures, and grant reprieves and pardons, except
in cases of impeachment.
SECT. X. He may require information, in writing,
from the officers in the executive department, upon
any subject relating to the duties of their respective
offices.
SECT. XI. He shall from time to time, give to
the General Assembly information of the state of the
commonwealth, and recommend to their consi-
deration such measures as he shall judge expedient.
SECT. XII. He may, on extraordinary occasions,
convene the General Assembly ; and in case of dis-
agreement between the two Houses, with respect
to the time o *' adjournment, adjourn them to such
*ime as Ke shall think proper, not exceeding four
months.
SECT. XIII. He shall take care that the laws be
faithfully executed.
SECT. XIV. In case of the death or resignation of
the Goyernor, or of his removal from office, the
PENNSYLVANIA. 165
Speaker of the Senate shall exercise the office of
Governor, until another Governor shall be duly qua-
lified. And if the trial of a contested election shall
continue longer than until the third Tuesday in De-
cember next ensuing the election of a Governor, the
Governor of the last year, or the Speaker of the
Senate, who may be in the exercise of the exe-
cutive authority, shall continue therein until the de-
termination of such contested election, and until a
Governor shall be qualified as aforesaid.
SECT. XV. A Secretary shall be appointed and
commissioned during the Governor's continuance in
oflice, if he shall so long behave himself well. He
shall keep a fair register of all the official acts and
proceedings of the Governor, and shall, when re-
quired, lay the same, and all papers, minutes, and
vouchers, relative thereto, before either branch of
the legislature, and shall perform such other duties
as shall be enjoined him by law.
ARTICLE III.
SECTION I. In elections by the citizens, every
freeman of the age of twenty-one years, having re-
sided in the state two years next before the election,
and within that time paid a state or county tax,
which shall have been assessed at least six months
before the election, shall enjoy the rights of an elec-
tor : Provided, that the sons of persons qualified as
aforesaid, between the ages of twenty-one and twen-
t3 r -two years, shall be entitled to vote, although they
shall not have paid taxes.
SECT. II. All elections shall be by ballot, except
those by persons in their representative capacities,
who shall vote viva voce.
166 CONSTITUTION OF
SECT. III. Electors shall, in all cases, except
treason, felony, and breach or surety of the peace,
be privileged from arrest during their attendance on
elections, and in going to and returning from them.
ARTICLE IV.
SECTION I. The Honse of Representatives shall
have the sole power of impeaching.
SECT. II. All impeachments shall be tried by the
Senate : When sitting for that purpose, the Senators
shall be upon oath or affirmation. No person shall
be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds
of the members present.
SECT III. The Governor and all other civil officers,
under this commonwealth, shall be liable to impeach-
ment fur any misdemeanor in office : But judgment,
in such cases, shall not extend further than to re-
moval from office, and disqualification to hold any
office of honour, trust, or profit, under this common-
wealth : The party whether convicted or acquitted,
shall nevertheless be liable to indictment, trial, judg-
ment, and punishment, according to law,
ARTICLE V.
SECT. I. The Judicial power of this common-
wealth shall be vested in a Supreme Court, in Courts
Oyer and Terraiuer and General Gaol Delivery, in a
Court of Common Pleas, Orphan's Court, Register's
Court, and a Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace
for each county, in Justices of the Peace, and in
such other Courts as the legislature may, from time
to time, establish.
SECT. II. The Judges of the Supreme Court and
PENNSYLVANIA. 167
of the several Courts of Common Pleas, shall hold
their offices during good behaviour : But for any
reasonable cause, which shall not be sufficient
ground of impeachment, the Governor may remove
any of them, on the address of two-thirds of each
branch of the legislature. The Judges of the Su-
preme Court and the Presidents of the several Courts
of Common Pleas shall, at stated times, receive, for
their services, an adequate compensation, to be
fixed by law, which shall not be diminished during
their continuance in office ; but they shall receive no
fees or perquisites of office, nor hold any other office
of profit under this commonwealth.
SECT. III. The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
shall extend over the state, and the Judges thereof
shall, by virtue of their offices, be Justices of Oyer
and Terminer and General Gaol Delivery in the
several counties.
SECT. IV. Until it shall be otherwise directed by
law, the several Courts of Common Pleas shall be
established in the following manner. The Gover-
nor shall appoint, in each county, not fewer than
three, nor more than four, Judges, who, during their
continuance in office, shall reside in such county :
The state shall be divided by law into circuits, none
of which shall include more than six, nor fewer than
three counties : A president shall be appointed of
the Courts in each circuit, who, during his con-
tinuance in office shall reside therein : The Presi-
dent and Judges, any two of whom shall be a quorum,
shall compose the respective Courts of Common
Pleas.
SECT V. The Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas in each county, shall, by virtue of their offices,
be Justices of Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol
168 CONSTITUTION OF
Delivery, for the trial of capital and other offenders
therein : Any two of the said Judges, the President
being one, shall be a quorum ; but they shall not
hold a Court of Oyer and Terminer or Gaol De-
liver} 7 in any county, when the Judges of the Su-
preme Court or any of them, shall be sitting in the
same county. The party accused, as well as the
commonwealth, may, under such regulations as shal!
be prescribed by law, remove the indictment and
proceedings, or a transcript thereof, into the Su-
preme Court.
SECT. VI; The Supreme Court and the several
Courts of Common Pleas shall, beside the powers
heretofore usually exercised by them, have the
power of a Court of Chancery, so far as relates to
the perpetuating of testimony* the obtaining of evi-
dence from places not within the state, and the care
of the persons and estates of those, who are non
compotes mentis: And the legislature shall vest in
the saW courts such other powers to grant relief in
equity, as shall be found necessary ; and may, from
time to time, enlarge or diminish those powers, or
vest them in such other courts, as they shall judge
proper tor the due administration of justice.
SECT VII. The Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas of each county, any two of whom shall be a
quorum, shall compose the Court of Quarter Ses-
sions of the Peace and Orphan's Court thereof; and
the Register of Wills, together with the said Judges,
or any two of them, shall compose the Register's
Court of each county.
SECT. VIII. The Judges of the Courts of Com-
mon Pleas shall, within their respective counties,
have the like powers with the Judges of the Su-
preme Court, to issue writs of Certiorari to the Jus-
PENNSYLVANIA. 169
licesof the Peace, and to cause their proceedings to
be brought before them, and the like right and justice
to bo done.
SECT IX. The President of the Courts in each
circuit, within such circuit, and the Judges of the
Court of Common Pleas, within their respective
counties, shall be Justices of the Peace, so far as
relates to criminal matters.
SECT.X. The Governor shall appoint a compe-
tent number of Justices of the Peace, in such con-
venient districts, in each county, as are or shall be
directed by law : They shall be commissioned du-
ring good behaviour, but may be removed on con-
viction of misbehaviour in office, or of any infa-
mous crime, or on the address of both Houses of the
legislature.
SECT. XI. A Register's office for the probate of
wills and granting letters of administration, and an
office for the recording of deeds, shall be kept in each
county.
SECT. XII. The style of all process shall be, The
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; all prosecutions
shall be carried on in the name and by the authority
of the coramonuealth of Pennsylvania, and conclude,
ayainst the peace and the dignity of the same.
ARTICLE VI.
SECTION I. Sheriffs and Coroners shall, at the
times and places of election of Representatives, be
chosen by the citizens of each county : Two persons
shall be chosen for each office, one of whom for each
respectively shall be appointed by the Governor.
They shall hold their offices for three years, if they
shall so long behave themselves well, and until a suc-
P
170 CONSTITUTION OF
cessor be duly qualified ; hut no person shall be twice
chosen or appointed Sheriff in any term of six
years. Vacancies, in either of the said offices, shall
be filled by a new appointment, to be made by the
Governor, to continue until the next general elec-
tion, and until a successor shall be chosen arid qua-
lified as aforesaid.
SECT. II. The freemen of this commonwealth
shall be armed and disciplined for its defence.
Those, who conscientiously scruple to bear arms,
shall not be compelled to do so ; but shall pay an
equivalent for personal service. The militia officers
shall be appointed in such manner, and for such
time, as shall be directed by law.
SECT. III. Prothonotaries, Clerks of the Peace and
Orphan's Courts, Recorders of Deeds, Registers of
Wills and Sheriffs, shall keep their offices in the
county town of the county in which they respec-
tively shall be officers, unless when the Governor
shall, for special reasons, dispense therewith for any
term, not exceeding five years after the county shall
have been erected.
SECT. IV. All commissions shall be in the name
and by the authority of the commonwealth of Penn-
sylvania, and be sealed with the state seal, and
signed by the Governor.
SECT. V. The State Treasurer shall be appointed
annually, by the joint vote of the members of both
Houses. All other officers in the treasury depart-
ment, attorneys at law, election officers, officers re-
lating to taxes, to the poor and highways, constable*,
and other township officers shall be appointed, in
such manner as is or shall be directed by law.
PENNSYLVANIA. 171
ARTICLE VII.
SECTION I. The Legislature shall, as soon as con-
veniently may be, provide, by law, for the establish-
ment of schools throughout the state, in such manner
that the poor may be taught gratis.
SECT. II. The arts and sciences shall be promoted
in one or more seminaries of learning.
SECT III. The rights, privileges, immunities, and
estates of religious societies and corporate bodies
shall remain, as if the constitution of this state had
not been altered and amended.
ARTICLE VIII.
Members of the General Assembly, and all offi-
cers, executive and judicial, shall be bound, by oath
or affirmation, to support the Constitution of this
coin nit -nwealth, and to perform the duties of their
respective offices with fidelity.
ARTICLE IX.
That t/ic general, great, and essential Principles of
Liberty and free Government may be recognized
and unalterably established, we declare,
SECTION I. That all men are born equally free
find independent, and have certain inherent and in-
defeasible rights, among which are those of enjoying
and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, posses-
sing, and protecting property and reputation, and of
pursuing their own happiness.
172 CONSTITUTION OF
SECT. II. That all power is inherent in the people,
and all free governments are founded on their autho-
rity, and instituted for their peace, safety, and hap-
piness: For the advancement of those ends they
have, at all times, an unalienable and indefeasible
right to alter, reform, or abolish their government,
in such manner as they may think proper,
SECT. III. That all men have a natural and inde-
feasible right to worship Almighty God according to
the dictates of their own consciences ; that no man
can of right be compelled to attend, erect or support
any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry
against his consent; that no human authority can,
in any case whatever, controul or interfere with the
rights of conscience ; and that no preference shall
ever be given, by law, to any religious establish-
ments or modes of worship.
SECT. IV. That no person, who acknowledges the
being of a God and a future state of rewards and
punishments, shall, on account of his religious sen-
timents, be disqualified to hold any office or place of
trust or profit under this commonwealth.
SECT. V. That elections shall be free and equal.
SECT. VI. That trial by jury shall be as heretofore,
and the right thereof remain inviolate.
SECT. VII. That the printing presses shall be free
to every person who undertakes to examine the
proceedings of the legislature, or any branch of go-
vernment : And no law shall ever be made to re-
strain the ri& ht thereof. The free communication of
thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights
of man ; and every citizen may freely speak, write,
and print, on any subject, being responsible for the
abuse of that liberty. In prosecutions for the publi-
cation of papers investigating the official conduct
PENNSYLVANIA. 173
of officers, or men in a public capacity, or where the
matter published is proper for public information,
the truth thereof may be given in evidence ; and, in
all indictments for libels, the jury shall have aright
to determine the law and the facts, under the direc-
tion of the court as in other cases.
SECT. VIII. That the people shall be secure in
their persons, houses, papers, and possessions, from
unreasonable searches and seizures: And that no
warrant to search any place, or to seize any person
or things, shall issue, without describing them as
nearly as may be, nor without- probable cause sup-
ported by oath or affirmation.
SECT. IX. That, in all criminal prosecutions, the
accused hath a right to be heard by himself and his
council, to demand the nature and cause of the accu-
sation against him, to meet the witnesses face to face,
to hnve compulsory process for obtaining witnesses
in his favour, and, in prosecutions by indictment or
information, a speedy public trial, by an impartial
jury of the vicinage : That he cannot be compelled to
give evidence against himself, nor can he be deprived
of his life, liberty, or property, unless by the judg-
ment of his peers, or the law of the land.
SJECT.X. That no person shall for any indictable
offence, be proceeded against criminally by informa-
tion, except in cases arising in the land or naval
forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in
time of war or public danger, or by leave of the court,
for oppression and misdemeanour in office. No
person shall, for the same offence, be twice put in
jeopardy of life or limb ; nor shall any man's pro-
perty be taken or applied to public use, without the
consent of his representatives, and without just com-
pensation being made.
P2
]74 CONSTITUTION OF
SECT. XI. That all courts shall he open, and every
man, for an injury done him in his lands, goods, per-
son, or reputation, shall have remedy hy the due
course of law, and right and justice administered,
without sale, denial, or delay. Suits may be brought
against the commonwealth in such manner, in such
courts, and in such cases, as the legislature may by
law direct.
SECT. XII. That no power of suspending laws
shall be exercised, unless by the legislature, or its
authority.
SECT. XIII. That excessive bail shall not be re-
quired, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel pu-
nishments inflicted.
SECT. XIV. That all prisoners shall be bailable by
sufficient sureties, unless for capital offences, when
the proof is evident or presumption great ; and the
privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be
suspended, unless when, in cases of rebellion or in-
vasion, the public safety may require it.
SECT. XV. That no commission of Oyer and Ter-
miner, or Gaol Delivery shall be issued.
SECT. XVI. That the person of a debtor, where
there is not strong presumption of fraud, shall not be
continued in prison, after delivering up his estate
for the benefit of his creditors, in such manner as
shall be prescribed by law.
SECT. XVII. That no ex post facto law, nor any
law impairing contracts shall be made.
SECT. XVIII. That no person shall be attainted
of treason or felony by the legislature.
SECT. XIX. That no attainder shall work corrup-
tion of blood, nor, except during the life of the offen-
der, forfeiture of estate to the commonwealth : that
the estates of such persons as shall destroy their own
PENNSYLVANIA. 175
lives shall descend or vest as in case of natural
death ; and if any person shall be killed by casuality,
there shall be no forfeiture by reason thereof.
SECT. XX. That the citizens have right, in a
peaceable manner, to assemble together for their
common good, and to apply to those invested with
the powers of government for redress of grievances,
or other proper purposes, by petition, address, or
remonstrance.
SECT. XXI. That the right of citizens to bear
arms, in defence of themselves aud the state, shall
not be questioned.
SECT. XXII. That no standing army shall, in
time of peace, be kept up without the consent of the
legislature, and the military shall, in all cases, and
at all times, be in strict subordination to the civil
power,
SECT. XXIII. That no soldier shall, iu time of
peace, be quartered in any house, without the con-
sent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a man-
ner to be prescribed by law.
SECT. XXIV. That the legislature shall not grant
any title of nobility or hereditary distinction, nor
create any office, the appointment of which shall be
for a longer term than during good behaviour.
SECT. XXV. That emigration from the state shall
not be prohibited.
SECT. XXVI, To guard against transgressions of
the high powers which we have delegated, n-e de-
clare, That every thing in this article is exceptcd
out of the general powers of government, and shall
for ever remain inviolate.
176 CONSTITUTION OF
SCHEDULE.
That no Inconvenience may arise from the Alterations
and Amendments in the Constitution of this Com-
monwealth, and in order to carry the same into com-
plete operation, it is hereby declared and ordained t
I. That all laws of this commonwealth, in force
at the time of making the said alterations and aniejid-
ments in the said Constitution, and not inconsistent
therewith, and all rights, actions, prosecutions,
claims and contracts, as well of individuals as of
bodies corporate, shall continue as if the said altera-
tions and amendments had not been made.
II. That the President and Supreme Executive
Council shall continue to exercise the executive
authority of this commonwealth, as heretofore, until
the Third Tuesday of December next ; but no inter-
mediate vacancies in th Council shall be supplied
by new elections.
III. That all officers in the appointment of the
executive department shall continue in the exercise
of the duties of their respective offices until the first
day of September, one thousand seven hundred and
ninety-one, unless their commissions shall sooner
expire by their own limitations, or the said offices
become vacant by death or resignation, and no
longer, unless reappointed and commissioned by the
Governor; except that the judges of the supreme
court shall hold their offices for the terms in their
commissions respectively expressed.
IV. That justice shall be administered in the se-
veral counties of the state, until the period aforesaid,
by tie same justices, in the same courts, and in the
name manner, 05 heretofore.
"ENNSYLVAN1A. 177
V. That no person now in commission as sheriff
shall be eligible at the next election for a longer
term than will, with the time which he shall have
served in the said olfice, complete the term of three
years.
VI. That, until the first enumeration shall be made,
as directed in the fourth section of the first article
of the Constitution, established by this Convention,
the city of Philadelphia and the several counties
shall be respectively entitled tt> elect the same num-
ber of Representatives as is now prescribed by
law.
VII. That the first Senate shall consist of eighteen
members, to be chosen in districts formed as follows,
to wit: The city of Philadelphia and the counties of
Philadelphia and Delaware shall be a district, and
elect three Senators: The County of Chester shall
be a district, and shall elect one Senator: The county
of, Bucks shall be a district, and shall elect one
Senator: The county of Montgomery shall be a
district, and shall elect one Senator: The county of
Northampton shall be a district, and shall elect one
Senator: The counties of Lancaster and York shall
be a district, and shall elect three Senators: The.
counties of Berks and Dauphin shall bfr a district,
and shall elect two Senators: The counties of Cum
berland and Miftlin shall be a district, and shall
elect one Senator: The counties of Northumberland,
Luzerne, arid Huntingdon, shall be a district, and
shall elect one Senator: The counties of Bedford
and Franklin sliall be a district, and shall elect
one Senator: The counties of Westmoreland and
Allegheney shall be a district, and shall elect oue
Senator: And the counties of Washington and
1'ayetle shall be a district, and shall elect two Sena-
178 CONSTITUTION OF
tors; Which Senators shall serve until the first enu-
meration before mentioned shall be made, and the
representation in both Houses of the legislature shall
be established by law, and chosen as in the Consti-
tution is directed. Any vacancies which shall hap-
pen in the Senate, within the said time, shall be sup-
plied as prescribed in the nineteenth section of the
fiist article.
VIII. That the elections of Senators shall be con-
ducted, and the returns thereof made to the Senate,
in the same manner as is prescribed by the election
laws of the state, for conducting and making return
of the election of Representatives. In those dis-
tricts, which consist of more than one county, the
judges of the district elections within each county,
after having formed a return of the whole election
within that county, in such manner as is directed by
law, shall send the same, by one or more of their
number, to the place hereinafter mentioned within
the district, of which such county is a part, where the
judges so met shall compare and cast up the several
county returns, and execute, under their hands and
seals, one general and true return for the whole dis-
trict, that is to say ; the judges of the district com-
posed of the city of Philadelphia; and the counties of
Philadelphia and Delaware shall meet in the state-
house in the city of Philadelphia, the judges of the
district composed of the counties of Lancaster and
York shall meet at the court-house in the count) of
Lancaster ; the judges of the district composed of
the counties of Berks and Dauphin shall meet atMid-
dletown, in the county of Berks; the judges of
the district composed of the counties of Cumber-
land and Mifflin shall meet in Greenwood township,
county of Cumberland, at the house now occupied
PENNSYLVANIA. 179
by David Miller ; the judges of the district com-
posed of the counties of Northumberland, Luzerne,
and Huntingdon, shall meet in the town of Sunbury;
the judges of the district composed of the counties
of" Bedford and Franklin shall meet at the house now-
occupied by John Dickey, in Air township, Bedford
county ; the judges of the district composed of the
counties of Westmoreland and Allegheney shall
meet in Westmoreland county, at the court-house
in the town of Greensborough \ and the judges of
(he district composed of the counties of Washing-
ton and Fayette shall meet at the court-house in
tbe town of Washington, in Washington county, on
the third Tuesday in October, respectively, for the
purposes aforesaid.
IX. That the election of the Governor shall be
conducted in the several counties, in the manner
prescribed by the laws of the state for the election
of Representatives ; and the returns in each county
hall be sealed by the judges of the elections, and
transmitted to the President of the Supreme Exe-
cutive Council, directed to the Speaker of the Se-
nate, as soon after the election as may be.
180
Extract from an Act to enable Aliens to purchase and hold
Real Estates, within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
pushed '24th March, 1818.
SECT.]. From and after the passing of this act, it
shall and may be lawful for all and every foreigner and
foreigners, alien or aliens, not being the subject or
subjects of some sovereign state or power which is or
shall be at the time or times of such purchase or pur-
chases at var with the United States of America, to
purchase lands, tenements, and hereditaments within
this Commonwealth, not exceeding five thousand acres,
and to have and to hold the same to them, iheir heirs
and assigns for ever, as fully to all intents and pur-
poses as any natural born citizen or citizens may or
can do.
INSTRUCTIONS TO ALIENS,
arriving in the Untied States, vhr may be desirous of becom-
ing citizens thereof.
Three things are indispensable to the naturalization
of an alien, namely ;
1. A repoit of himself on his arrival in the United
States.
2. A declaration of lona fide intention to become a
citizen.
3. A declaration, upon oath or affirmation, to support
the constitution of the United States, and a renunciation j
of all foreign allegiance.
first A report of himself, if of the age of twenty-]
one-years ; or, if under that age, the report to be made
for him by his parent, guardian, muster, or mistress Itj
must be made to the clerk of the district court of thej
district where the alien arrives, or to some other court|
of the United States, or of either of the territorial dis-
tricts, or of a particular state.
INSTRUCTIONS TO ALIENS. 181
No. 1. Form qf Report.
4)
13
c>
C ^J
1
8
"S*s
-^ C
Name.
M
1
I
rt
?!
M
1
a
fc
I
S'
j!
James Alvin.
Cork,
40
Ireland.
King of G.
Britain and
Eng
Bait
Ireland.
Sarah Alvin,
Tyrone,
35
do.
do.
do.
do.
Joseph Alvin,
Cork,
10
do.
do.
do.
do.
Mary Alvin,
do.
9
do.
do.
do.
do.
John Alvin
Dublin,
7
do.
do.
do.
do.
Tho. Jones, }
a parent. \
Armagh,
45
do.
do.
do.
do.
at the place of arriral, or qf > TAMFS AT VTNT
, icAen f At report u anadt, 5 J S ALVIN
for himself and family.
The foregoing is an example of a report for a whole
family. Individuals of twenty-one years of age, having
no family, may, of course, report themselves separately,
observing the same form. In the case of a minor ar-
riving alone, and having no parent, guardian, master,
or mistress, he should be reported by some adult friend,
residing in the United States. The clerk will receive
and register the report; and his fee, for so doing, is
fifty cents.
Secondly. Two years after the date of the preceding
report, (but no sooner,) the aliens mentioned therein
may proceed to take the second preparatory step, which
Q
182 INSTRUCTIONS TO ALIENS.
is a declaration oflonafide intention to become citizens,
and must be made before the supreme superior district,
or circuit court of some of the states, or of the ter-
ritorial districts of the United States, or a circuit
or district court of the United States, in the following
form :
2V, . 2. Form of a declaration of bonafide intention to become*
a citizen.
I, JAMES ALVIN, a native of Cork, in Ireland, of the
age of 42 years, and now or lately owing allegiance to j
his Majesty the Ring of the United Kingdom of Great 3
Britain and Ireland, do hereby declare, that it is oona
fide my intention to become a citizen of the UnitecR
States, and to renounce, for ever, all allegiance and
fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or
sovereignty whatever ; and particularly to renounce,^
for ever, all allegiance and fidelity to his said Majesty^
the King of the United Kingdom of Great Biitain and!
Ireland.
JAMES ALVIN. ;
Sworn to, or affirmed, in open court.
Thirdly. Declaration, upon oath, or affirmation, to]
support the constitution, and renunciation of foreign!
allegiance. This is the final step. It may be made
three years after the declaration, (No. 2 ; ) but no sooner.;]
When ihe alien is about to make it, he must apply to
the clerk of the court with whom he filed his report,
(No. ],) who will furnish him with a certificate thereof,'
for a fee of fifty cents j and also to the clerk of the!
court wherein his declaration (No.2,) has been made]
and recorded, from whom he may likewise procure ai
certificate of such declaration having been made. The
alien must then apply to a supreme superior district,!
or circuit court of some one of the state.*, or of
*he territorial districts of the United States ; or a circuij
INSTRUCTIONS TO ALIENS. 183
or district court of the United States ; and with the two
certificates mentioned, present the following applica-
tion :
No. 3. Form of the Application.
To the honourable the district court of the United States
for the district of Pennsylvania, now sitting in the
city of Philadelphia.
The application of James Alvin respectfully sheweth:
The said applicant has made report, and caused
registry to be made of himself, with a view to his natu-
ralization, according to the law of the United States in
that case enacted ; a certificate of which report and
registry, is herewith exhibited ; and has, moreover,
made the declaration of his bonafide intention to become
a citizen of the United States, as required by law, of
which a certificate is likewise herewith presented
Wherefore the said applicant respectfully prays the
honourable the court that he may, in the usual form, be
admitted a citizen of the United States.
JAMES ALVIN,
Upon this application the court must be satisfied
1st. That the alien has resided within the United
States five years at least.
2d. That he has resided within the state or territory,
where the court is at the time held, one year at least.
3d. That, during the five years, the alien has behaved
as a man of good moral character attached to the
principles of the constitution of the United States, and
well disposed to the good order and happiness of the
same.
The oath of the applicant will in no case be allowed
to prove his residence.
Upon being satisfied upon these points, the court will
admit the alien to citizenship, upon his making thf
following declaration :
184 INSTRUCTIONS TO ALIENS.
No. 4. Form of the final declaration.
I, JAMES ALVIN, do hereby declare, that I will sup*
port the constitution of the United States, and that I do
absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegi-
ance and fidelity to every foreign Prince, Potentate,
State, or Sovereignty whatever ; and particularly I da
hereby absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all
allegiance and fidelity to the King of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
JAMES ALVIN.
Sworn to, or affirmed, in open court.
If the alien, applying for admission, has borne any
hereditary title, or been of any of the orders of nobility,
he must add to the next preceding declaration as
follows : And, furthermore, I do hereby expressly renounce
all claim to any hertditary title, or order of nobility, and es-
pecially to the title of Viscount, Earl, or Marquis, (as the case
may be,) which I have heretofore borne.
The clerk of the court will record all these proceed-
ings, and will furnish, on application, a certificate of.
citizenship, which will be evidence that the alien has
been duly naturalized.
General Observations.
Every court of record, in any individual state, having
common law jurisdiction, and a seal, and clerk or
prothonotary, is considered as a district court, within
the meaning of the act concerning: naturalization.
The provisions of the act respecting naturalization
have reference to free white aliens only.
Aliens residing within the limits and under the juris-
diction of the United States, between the 18th day of
June, 1798, and the 14th day of April, 1802, and who
have continued so to reside, may be admitted citizens
without a compliance with that provision of the law
require! a declaration of bona fide intention.
INSTRUCTIONS TO ALIENS. 185
Any alien who has made report on his arrival in the
United States, (as in No. 1,) and who has made a declara-
tion (as in No. 2,) ofbonafide intention, dying before he
is actually naturalized, his widow and children are con-
sidered as citizens, and will be entitled to all rights and
privileges as such upon taking the oath prescribed by
law, (as in No. 4.)
The children of persons duly naturalized under any
of the laws of the United States ; or who previously to
the passing of any law on that subject by the govern-
ment of the United States, [i. e. previously to the 26th
of March, 1790,] may have become citizens of any one
the states, under the laws thereof, being under the age
of 21 at the time of their parent's being naturalized,
are, if dwelling in the United States, considered
citizens.
London, October, 1810.
A
CATALOGUE
OF
AMERICAN BOOKS,
IMPORTED AND FOR SALE, BY
JOHN MILLER,
BURLINGTON ARCADE, PICCADILLY.
LETTERS from the BRITISH SETTLEMENT in
PENNSYLVANIA, to which are added, The Consti-
tution of the United States and of Pennsylvania ;
and Extracts from the Laws respecting Aliens and
Naturalized Citizens, by C. B. JOHNSON, M. D.
Preceded by an Address from the British Emigrant
Society to their Countrymen, 4*. 6d. boards.
ORIGINAL LETTERS from the Rev. JOHN NEW-
TON, A. M. late Kector of St. Mary Wolnoth,
Lombard Street, to the Rev. W. Barlass, late Minis-
ter of the Gospel in New-York, 4*. Gd. boards.
2 American Books,
TRANSACTIONS of the HISTORICAL and LITE-
RARY COMMITTEE of the AMERICAN PHI-
LOSOPHICAL SOCIETY for promoting Useful
Knowledge, vol.1. 11. 4s. boards.
A VOCABULARY, or Collection of Words and
Phrases, which have been supposed to be peculiar
to the United States of America ; to which is pre-
fixed, an Essay on the Present State of the En-
glish Language in the United States, by JOHN
PICKERING, 10*. Cd. boards.
C. CORNELII TACITI OPERA ex Recensione IO
AUGUSTI ERNESTI, Denuo Curavit, J. J.
OBERLINUS, cum notis Sclectis. Bostoniae, 3 vol.
21. 2s. boards.
KNICKERBOCKER'S HISTORY of NEW-YORK,
a new edition in 2 handsome volumes, post 8vo. with
plates, from designs, By ALLSTON and LESLIE
18s. boards.
An ANNIVERSARY DISCOURSE delivered before
the New-York Historical Society, December the 7th,
1819, by GULIAK C. VERPLANCK, Esq. price
10s. 6d. bound.
HALL's DISTILLER, adapted to the use of Far-
mer's, &c. &c. with plates, 18s. bound.
LIFE OF Mrs. HARRIET NEWELL, by LEO-
NARD WOODS, D. D. 7th edition, 6s. bound.
DENNIE's LAY PREACHER, collected and arrant
ged by JOHN E. HALL, Esq. 7s. bound.
Imported by John Miller. 3
EMIGRANTS' GUIDE, or Pocket Geography, 6*.
bound.
CONVERSATIONS on the BIBLE, by a Lady, with
plates, 6s. 6d. bound.
PHILADELPHIA REGISTER and National Re-
corder, vol. 1, 7s.
A DISCOURSE, delivered at the Consecration of the
Synagogue, in the City of New-York, on Friday,
the 10th of Nisan, 5578, by MORDECAI M.
NOAH, Esq. 3s.
POEMS, by Dr. FARMER, 10s. 6d. bound.
BARLOW's COLUMBIAD,with superb engravings.
4to. 61. 6s. elegantly bound.
LETTERS from the SOUTH. By the Author of
John Bull and Brother Jonathan, 2 vol. 12mo.
10s. Gd. boards.
SALMAGUNDI ; or the Whim Whams and Opinions
of Lanncelot Langstaff, Esq. and others, 2 vol. 18mo.
10s. 6d. boards.
SALMAGUNDI, Second Series, Nos. 1 to 5, 2*. each.
LIFE of ROBERT FULTON, by C. D. COLDEN,
8vo. with portrait, price 14s. boards.
PITKIN's STATISTICAL VIEW of the COM-
MERCE of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA ;
its Connection with Agriculture and Manufactures,
and an Account of the Public Debt, Revenues,
and Expenditure : accompanied with Tables illus-
trative of the Principles and Object of the Work,
Bvo. 18s. boards.
4 American Books,
CUVIER's THEORY of the EARTH; to which
is added, Observations on the Geology of North
America: illustrated by the Description of various
Organic Remains found in that Part of the World,
by SAMUEL L. MITCHEL, 8vo. 18.
SANSOM's SKETCHES of LOWER CANADA,
Historical and Descriptive, with the Author's Re-
collections of the Soil and Aspect, the Morals,
Habits, and Religious Institutions of that Isolated
Country, and a View of Quebec, 12mo. 6*. boards.
BRACKENRIDGE's HISTORY of the LATE WAR
BETWEEN the UNITED STATES and GREAT
BRITAIN; containing a Minute Account of the
various Military and Naval Operations, illustrated
with plates, 12mo. 7s. 6d. boards.
DARBY'S EMIGRANT'S GUIDE to the WEST-
ERN and SOUTH WESTERN STATES and
TERRITORIES ; accompanied by a Map of the
United States of America, including Louisiana, en-
graved expressly for this Work, 8vo. 12*.
BROWN'S WESTERN GAZETTEER,or Emigrant's
Directory, containing a Geographical Description
of the States of Kentucky, Indiana, Lousiana, Ohio,
Tenessee, and Mississippi, and the Territories of
Illinois, Missouri, Alabama, Michigan, and North-
Western j with Directions to Emigrants, Svo. 10s. 6d.
boards.
Imported by John Miller. 5
HUNT'S HISTORY of the LATE WAR BE-
TWEEN the UNITED STATES and GREAT
BRITAIN containing also a Sketch of the late
Algerine War, and the Treaty concluded with the
Dey of Algiers, embellished with portraits of Gen.
Jackson and Commodore Decatur, and other en-
gravings, 12mo. 8s. boards.
LETTERS from the Hon: DAVID HUMPHREYS,
F. R. S. to the Right Hon. Sir JOSEPH BANKS,
containing some Account of the Serpent of the
Ocean frequently seen in Gloucester Bay, 12mo.
3s. 6d. boards.
Dr. RAMSAY's HISTORY of SOUTH CARO-
LINA, from its first Settlement to the Year 1808,
in 2 large volumes, 8vo. with a Map, II. 8s. bound.
OFFICIAL REPORTS of the CANAL COMMIS-
SIONERS of the STATE of NEW-YORK, and
the Acts of the Legislature respecting Navigable
Communications between the Great Western and
Northern Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean ; with
Maps and Profiles, 8vo. 12s. boards.
DE WITT CLINTON'S INTRODUCTORY DIS-
COURSE, delivered before the Literary and Phi.
losophical Society of New York, 8vo. 6s. 6d.
boards.
HANNAH ADAMS's DICTIONARY of all RELI-
GIONS and RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS,
Ancient and Modern, 6vo. 12s. boards.
<> Ammcan Books,
The WORKS of FISHER AMES :*to which are pre-
fixed, Notices of his Life and Character, and a
portrait, 8vo. 18s. boards.
The BRIDAL of VAUMOND ; a Metrical Romance,
inscribed to Washington Irving, Esq. ISmo. 5s.
boards.
The YEAR ; a Poem in three Cantos, by W. L.
PIERCE, 18mo. 5*. 6d. boards.
FRENEAU's POEMS, 2 vol. I8mo. 9*. boards.
DABNEY's POEMS, Original and Translated, 18mo.
4s. 6d. boards.
The PROGRESS of SOCIETY ; a Poem, in three
parts, 18mo. 3*.
Dr. WHARTON's CONCISE VIEW of the PRIN-
CIPAL POINTS of CONTROVERSY BE
TWEEN the PROTESTANT and ROMAN
CHURCHES, 8vo. II. bound.
BRACKENRIDGE's VIEWS of LOUISIANA, JBs.
bound.
The WORKS in Prose and Verse of the late ROBERT
TREAT PAINE, Esq.; with Sketches of his Life,
Character, and Writings, 8vo. 11. bound.
WHELPLEY's LECTURES on ANCIENT HIS-
TORY ; with an Allegory on Genius and Taste,
12mo. 7s. bound.
Dr. WILSON'S ESSAY on GRAMMAR, 8vo. 12*.
bound.
THOMAS'S HISTORY of PRINTING in AME-
RICA, with Biography of Printers, and an account
of Newspapers, 2 vol. 8vo. II. 8s. boards.
Imported by John Miller. 7
CRYSTALINA, a Fairy Tale, 12mo. Ss. 6d. boards.
The LIFE of Dr. SAMUEL JOHNSON, the First
President of King's College in New-York; to which
is added, an Appendix, containing many Original
Letters from Bishop Berkeley, Archbishop
Seeker, Bishop Lowth, and others, 12mo. 105. Gd.
boards.
A GENERAL HISTORY of the UNITED STATES
of AMERICA, from the Discovery in 1492 to 1792
by Dr. BENJAMIN TRUMBULL, in 3 vol. 8vo.
21. 2s. boards.
LECTURES on MORAL and POLITICAL PHI-
LOSOPHY, delivered in the College of New
Jersey, by the RCY. SAMUEL STANHOPE
SMITH, D. D. LL. D. 2 vols. 8vo. 11. 4s. boards.
WILLIAMS's NATURAL and CIVIL HISTORY.
of VERMONT. Second Edition, 2 vol. 8vo.lf.ll*. 6d,
BELKNAP's HISTORY of NEW HAMPSHIRE,
with a Geographical Description of the State, 3 vol.
8vo. 11. 16s. boards.
BRECK's SKETCH of the INTERNAL IMPROV.
MENTS ALREADY MADE in PENNSYLVANIA
illustrated by a Map of the State, 8vo. 6*. boards.
MELLISH's DESCRIPTION of EAST and WEST
FLORIDA, and the Bahama Islands, with large
Map, Svo. 7s.
A SYSTEM of SPECULATIVE MASONRY; being
a Course of Lectures exhibited before the Grand
Chapter of the State of New-York, by SALEM
TOWN, A.M. 12s. bound.
8 American Books, fyc.
Th COURT of NEPTUNE and the CURSE of
LIBERTY ; with other Poems, 18mo. 4*. 6d. boards
DELAPLAINE's REPOSITORY of the LIVES and
PORTRAITS of DISTINGUISHED AMERI-
CANS, parts 1 to 3, 4to. 1Z. 4s. each.
PERIODICAL WORKS.
The AMERICAN JOURNAL of SCIENCE, more
especially of Mineralogy, Geology, and the other
Branches of Natural History. Conducted by
BENJAMIN SILLIMAN, Professor of Chamistry,
Mineralogy, &c. in Vale College. Nos. 1 to 4, 5s.
each.
The ANALECTIC MAGAZINE and Naval Chron-
icle, from the commencement, 3s. each.
The AMERICAN MONTHLY MAGAZINE and
Critical Review, 3s. each.
The PORTFOLIO, complete to the present time,
3s. each.
The EVANGELICAL GUARDIAN and REVIEW,
by an Association of Clergymen in New York, 2.
each.
MAPS.
EDDY'S MAP of the STATE of NEW YORK, on
Four Sheets. The laiett and most correct Map (/that
state publisJied. 11. \ Is. Qd.
LONG WORTH'S MAP and PLAN of the CITY of
NEW YORK ; with Viewg of the Principal Bnild-
ingi, &c. 10. Od. bound.
BOOKS
RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY
JOHN MILLER,
BURLINGTON ARCADE, PICCADILLY.
NARRATIVE of a VOYAGE to the SPANISH
MAIN, in the Ship, " Two Friends." The occu-
pation of Amelia Island, by M'GREGOR Sketches
of the Province of East Florida, and Anecdotes
Illustrative of the Habits and Manners of the Semi-
nole Indians; with an Appendix, containing a
Detail of the Seminole War, and the Execution of
Arbuthnot and Ambrister, 8vo. 9s boards.
" We owe to him, (the Author,) the only
*' true and correct history which has yet been given
" of the views and conduct of M'Gregor in this
tl invasion. He has also given some very important
(t information relative to the policy of the United
' States with respect to Spain."
Edinburgh Monthly Review, for September
TWO PAPERS, a Theatrical Critique ; and an Essay
(being No. 999 of the Pretender) on Sonnet Writing
and Sonnet Writers in general ; including a Sonnet
on Myself. Attributed to the Editor of the Ex-m r,
preceded by proofs of their Authenticity, founded
on the Authority of the Internal Evidence. 8vo. 2s.
" None but himself can be his parallel.*'
MISANTHROPY, and other Poems, by JOSEPH
SNOW, foolscap 8vo. 6*. bound.
A POETICAL EPISTLE to Lord Byron, 8vo. Is. 6d.
" There is certainly an energy and a point in this
Epistle, which shews it to be the work of no com-
10 Books published by John Miller.
mon hand. The author gives every credit that is
due to the genius of Lord Byron ; he appears to
esteem him as a poet higher, perhaps, than we do
ourselves. It is the misapplication of those
powers, which is the object of this animadversion,
which is conceived with justice, and is expressed
with spirit." Vide British C> itic.
TRIBUTARY LINES to the Memory of H, R. H.
the Princess Charlotte of Wales ; by the Author of
a Poetical Epistle to Lord Byron, Svo. Is. Crf.
" Beloved of Heav'n, these humble lines forgive,
" That sing of THEE, and thug aspire to live."
CRABBE.
A LETTER to WILLIAM GIFFORD, Esq. from
WILLIAM HAZLITT, Esq. Svo. 3s.
" Fit pugil, et inedicum urget.'*
The PROSE WORKS of JOHN MILTON, con-
taining his principal Political and Ecclesiastical
Pieces, with New Translations and an Introduction,
By GEORGE BURNETT, A.M. formerly of
Baliol College, Oxford ; Author of " Specimens of
English Prose Writers," &c. &c. in 2 thick volumes f
12mo. 18s. boards.
LIFE of PILL GARLICK, (Second Edition), 12mo.
8s. boards.
MEMOIRS OF MYSELF, by PILL GARLICK,
12mo. 7s. bound.
OVID's METAMORPHOSES; translated by THO-
MAS ORGER, with the Latin Text, Svo. II. is.
boards.
A TRACT ON SAVING BANKS, to which is
added a Short and Practical Plan, consisting of
Twelve Regulations, easily applicable to the circum-
stances of any District ; by HORACE TWISS, Esq.
Svo. Is.
PLAYS,
RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY
JOHN MILLER,
BURLINGTON ARCADE, PICCADILLY*
The GNOME KING; or the Giant Mountains: a
Dramatic Legend, in Two Acts, as performed at
the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, 2*.
The MARRIAGE of FIGARO, a Comic Opera,
in Three Acts, by HENRY R. BISHOP, Esq. as
performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden,
2s. 6d.
SWEDISH PATRIOTISM, or the Signal Fire;
a Melo-Drama, in Two Acts, by WILLIAM AB-
BOTT, Esq. as performed at the Theatre Royal,
Covent Garden, 2*.
MELO-DRAME MAD, or the Siege of Troy, a new
Comic Melange, by THOMAS DIBDIN, Esq.
as performed at the Surrey Theatre, Is.
DON GIOVANNI, or a Spectre on Horseback; a
Comic Extravaganza, in Two Acts, by THOMAS
DIBDIN, Esq. as performed at the Surrey Theatre,
1*. 6d.
A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER, a Farce, in Two
Acts, by THOMAS MORTON, Esq. a* performed
at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, 2*.
ROB ROY MACGREGOR, or Auld Lang Syne, a
Musical Drama, in Three Acts, by ISAAC PO-
COCK, Esq. as performed at the Theatre Royal,
Covent Garden, (Second Edition,) 35.
12 Plays published by John Miller.
GUY MANNERING, or the Gypsey'a Prophecy; a
Musical Play, in Three Acts, by DANIEL TERRY,
as performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden.
(Fourth Edition), 2s. 6rf.
PERCY'S MASQUE, a Drama, in five acts, foolscap
Svo. 4s. fid. bound
THE SLAVE ; a Musical Play, in Three Acts, by
THOMAS MORTON, Esq. as performed at the
Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, (Second Edition,)
2*. 6d.
An AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE of Mr. KEMBLE's
Retirement from the Stage, with a Biographical and
Critical Essay, Farewell Address, Copy of Orna-
mented Scroll, Anecdotes Criticisms, Tribute to a
departed Actor, by James Smith, Esq. Ode on the
Retirement of Mr. Kemble, Account of the Dinner,
Inscription for the Vase, List of the Company
present at the Dinner, Mr. Campbell's Ode, Mr.
Kemble's Speech, &c. General Observations, Mr.
Kemble's Literary Productions, Poetical Address,
by Walter Scott, Esq.
PLATES.
Portrait of Mr. Kemble, from a Drawing made for the
Work, by Sir Thomas Lawrence Fac-Simiie of Mr.
Ramble's Hand-writing Dinner ticket and Medal.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA
974.8J631L C001
LETTERS FROM THE BRITISH SETTLEMENT IN P
30112025263176
