79

REVIEW OF DUNCAN'S TRAVELS IN AMERICA. if our countrymen, impatient of the ticularly described by Mr. Duncan, are restraint in which they had been held New York, Boston, New Haven, Yale during the late twenty years of warfare, College, Princeton, Philadelphia, Balhad broken loose on the return of peace, timore, Washington, Alexandria, Mount and found one of their chiefest gratifi- Vernon, River Hudson, Albany, Buffalo, cations in exploring distant countries, Falls of Niagara, American Indians at examining what has been going on Lewiston, Niagara Town, Lake Ontario, during the period of their exclusion, and St. Lawrence, Montreal, Quebec, Lake communicating to us who remained at Champlain, &c. The whole is given in home, the result of their observations. a series of twenty letters, and the narAmerica has certainly come in for its rative is greatly enriched by copious due share of notice in this way; and as notes at the foot of the page, into which that country has been visited for very our Author has transferred such madifferent reasons, and with different ob- terials as, while they subserve the purjects in view, so the narratives that poses of illustration, could not have been have been made concerning it have incorporated in the text or body of his been exceedingly diversified and various. work, without rendering it, what many One of the principal objects of visiting books of travels are, diffuse and desulthe United States, has been to ascertain tory. Many of these notes, however, what facilities that extensive continent are uncommonly interesting to us, such afforded for providing means of subsis- for instance as that which occurs in tence for the overgrown population of Vol. I. p. 128-132, respecting the late our own country, and what inducements Professor Fisher, who found an untimely it held forth for emigration. Accordingly grave in the Bay of Kinsale, Ireland, on those who have travelled it with this the morning of the 22nd of April, 1822, object in view, have restricted their being one of about fifty persons who reports, in a great measure, to the agri- perished in the wreck of the Albion, of cultural state of the country; the nature, New York. He was Professor of Mathequalities and productiveness of its soil-matics and Natural Philosophy in Yale the terms on which tracts of land may be obtained the time and expence that would be necessary to clear and cultivate it-and the sacrifices that must be made, and the hardships endured, before the comforts of life could be obtained by a new settler. With publications of this cast we have rarely thought it worth while to trouble our readers; and had Mr. Duncan's volumes ranked under this class, we should have passed them by unnoticed, as being quite alien to the design of our Journal. But as the Author crossed the Atlantic with other objects in view than those to which we have adverted, so his publication is of a different description. That which constitutes the leading topic in his pages is MAN, in his moral and religious habits; and, after all that has been published relating to America, its customs, manners, state of society, seminaries of learning, public institutions, &c. &c. this work affords ample proof of what remained to be effected by an intelligent traveller, who visited the country with all his senses about him; with a mind sufficiently cultivated to examine and judge; and possessing sufficient impartiality to appreciate excellence wherever he found it.

The places visited, and more par

College, and was on his voyage to England, with the view of forming an acquaintance with the literati of Europe, examining the mode of communicating knowledge in our Universities, and obtaining such information as might ena ble him to aid more fully the scientific character of his country, and promote the usefulness and prosperity of his own college. We are told by one of his fellow-professors, that Mr. Fisher was the most extraordinary man of his years whom he had ever known. To his wonderful scientific attainments, he added the finish of classical and polite literature, derived from the best ancient as well as modern sources; his elegant taste embraced the fine arts in their extent and variety, and he was satisfied with nothing, even in the decorum and accommodation of private life, which was not adapted to the same elevated standard. His death, which took place at the age of twenty-eight, was "the extinction of genius, of virtue, and of bright hopes."

Except the Travels of President Dwight, which have lately been reprinted in this country, we have seen no work of the kind that comprises so much information respecting the existing state of American literature and the arts,

as

REVIEW OF DUNCAN'S TRAVELS.

Assessment. In some churches the more desirable pews, capable of accommodating six or eight sitters, will occasionally sell for as much as a thousand dollars, about £220; and the annual assessment is considerably higher than the usual amount of seat rents in Glasgow. The original purchase money goes to the erection and support of the building, the subsequent payments to the support of the minister.

"A part of the ministers' emoluments arises from marriages; on which happy occasions the clergyman is always compensated for his assistance with bank notes. The sum usually presented varies from five to twenty dollars, but those who can afford to be munificent sometimes go the length of one hundred, £22. 10s. Another item might perhaps be added, the linen scarfs which are presented at funerals, each of them will make a shirt, and some ministers get a great many every year. This, however, is in every respect a very censurable custom, and ought by all means to be discouraged.

"In country places the minister's salary is greatly lower; sometimes it is raised by penny a week associations; frequently it is paid in kind, and very often is of no stipulated amount, but depends entirely upon the state of the times, and the incumbent's popularity.

"During the time of public worship, it is quite common in the more narrow streets of New York to find a chain extended completely across from one post to another, to prevent the passage of carriages. This we should think with us a very glaring infringement on the liberty of the subject.

"The collections are usually made, not at the door of the church, but in plates which are handed into every pew, immediately on the conclusion of the sermon. This is a very efficient way of levying contributions from those who are not accustomed to the fashion, but frequent use renders people quite callous to the craving platter. In Philadelphia they use a little black velvet bag, projected at the end of a long pole; this is unceremoniously thrust out to every one in the pew; but it is so far convenient, that those who choose to be parsimonous escape detection, for it is impossible to discover the amount of their deposite.

81

America. Tea gardens are open here on
the Sabbath evening; and I have seen in
Broadway, opposite the entrance to one of
them, a large lantern suspended over the
foot-walk, inviting visitors; there are
however no pastry-cooks' shops open, as
in London and other parts of England.
With regard to the consistent observance
of the Sabbath among professedly religious
people, I scarcely know what general
statement to make. I have known some
individuals, whom in the judgment of
charity I could not but regard as Chris-
tians, who would yet spend the Sabbath
in travelling, when there was not, so far as
I could judge, any necessary occasion for
it; but I have also met with others, who
most scrupulously abstained from what
most would have considered works of
necessity or mercy, and most conscien-
tiously spent the whole day in the duties
of public and private devotion.
The
majority of the religious world, however,
I have reason to think might be said, as
among ourselves, to steer a middle course;
and while they acted under a conviction of
the duty of setting apart the first day of
the week to the worship of God and medi
tation on eternal things, were at the same
time not unmindful that the Sabbath was
made for man, and not man for the Sab-
bath.

66

"Evening sermons are numerous here; were I required to give my opinion on the subject, I should be inclined to say that there is perhaps an undue importance attached to them, and that many attend church who would be more usefully employed in the duties of family instruction. Perhaps, however, the circumstances in which I have happened to be placed, occasioned me to see more of the one than the other. A wayfaring man has not the best opportunity of correct information on subjects of a domestic nature.

"The efforts which are made by the inhabitants of this city to communicate religious instruction to their destitute fellow creatures, both among themselves and in distant regions, merit honourable mention. Bible, Missionary, Tract, and Sunday School Societies, are I think quite as numerous as among ourselves. Some of them indeed are comparatively of modern institution; but we have all been too "The Sabbath is, upon the whole, deco-remiss in such matters to be entitled to rously observed at New York. In large censure the conduct of others." cities, and particularly sea ports, there is always in a considerable proportion of the population, a great degree of indifference to the solemnities, and even to the quietness of the day of rest; but I do not think that in this respect New York would suffer much in a comparison with those of our native country. I must say, however, that what difference exists, is against

VOL. X.

readers may be interested in the subAs it may happen that some of our ject of Emigration, we shall lay before them Mr. Duncan's sentiments on that point.

"On the subject of emigration to America, and the eligibility of the country for a place of residence, much has been

M

already written, by those who have seen more of the interior than I have; yet it is a subject respecting which so much interest has been excited in my native country, that it should not perhaps be passed over in silence. The prudence or imprudence of emigration must of course depend upon individual and contingent circumstances, but a few general principles ought to regulate the decision. A kind of America-mania has possessed many of our countrymen; who seemed to think that the land flowed so abundantly with good things, that they needed only to open their mouths and let them have entrance. I need hardly say that this is a gross delusion. Whoever would prosper in America must work for it, and work hard too; and in many cases struggle with obstacles which are unknown at home.

"Some come out with the intention of clearing and cultivating land. To the difficulties with which these have to struggle, I have already alluded. If a man's mind, however, is made up to penetrate into the back woods, and fell trees, shoot bears and panthers, kill rattlesnakes, eat, sleep and die, a stranger to almost all the comforts of social life, but content to suffer every privation, if he can reasonably hope that his children or grand-children will be better off-the probability is, if his days are not cut short by the inseparable hardships of such a life, that he will attain the object of his ambition. The land is doubtless productive, and he will find no difficulty in ordinary seasons of raising plentiful crops; he may occasionally be unable, however, to procure a remunerating price for his produce; and many prevented for want of this from paying the purchase money of their lands, have seen them sold by a sheriff's warrant, after years of labour have been expended on them, and the whole proceeds swept off to the United States' treasury. I do not, however, mean to insinuate, that this is any thing else than an exception to the general rule; and doubtless, in many cases of its occurrence, indolence and dissipation have been as much its causes as unavoidable misfortune. "Others come out with the purpose of settling in the cities, to prosecute their various handicrafts and trades, by which perhaps they were able to live tolerably well at home, but not to get so speedily rich as they had desired; here they think there will be a wider field, and less competition. Let such think twice before starting. Americans are a shrewd, enterprizing, speculating race, and he would need to have both wit and industry, who enters into rivalry with them. Not many nooks will be found, in any of their considerable towns, where there is not as much competition as at home, in every

profitable branch of industry; and if the emigrant has not something better than this peradventure to depend upon, the chance is that he will be grievously disappointed.

"With some of both classes political discontent is the moving cause. The individual wishes to find himself in a country where he can hold up his head in haughty independence, and say,—“ My_rank is equal to that of any man around me, and there is not an office in the state to which I am precluded from aspiring.' To be sure in America he may say all this, at least his son may, if he is born in the country; but what the better is he?-not a carman in the street but may say the same, and he will find himself as far from the top of the tree as ever. If he has not taxes to pay in one shape, he will find that he will not escape from them in another; and let him growl as much and as loud as he pleases, he will find his individual influence, in getting the laws amended, to be quite as little in America as in Britain.

“In a word, my advice would be—If you are enjoying a moderate degree of prosperity at home, do not think of quitting it. Your success in America is at best problematical; while the difference of customs, manner of living, and climate, is what many will find it very difficult to endure. Of those who emigrate, there are certainly many who prosper, and some who accumulate fortunes; but how many are there at home who are equally successful, who have never stirred from their native city? Hundreds have come to America who bitterly lament their folly; and who have found, to their dear-bought experience, that gold neither paves the streets, nor grows upon the trees.

"There cannot be a doubt, however, that the United States are a rapidly rising nation. There is much in their political and social system that may need improvement; but there is also much in both from which the older hemisphere might profitably take instruction. They know nothing of the feudal barbarisms, which yet in a thousand ways obstruct the progress of knowledge and improvement even in Britain. There are no close corpórations to prevent an ingenious man from reaping the reward of his skill, in any branch to which he may direct it. At home, were I to discover an improved way of baking a loaf, or a more expeditions and durable way of constructing a shoe, I could not practise my invention. Both are chartered crafts; in the one of which I should have to purchase my freedom, and in the other I could not purchase it at all. No such exclusive privileges exist here.

“Discovery in arts and sciences have

PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE OF WM. COWPER, ESQ.

already made rapid progress in America, and in all probability will continue to do so. There is an elasticity in the national character, which makes them in some measure discontented with beaten tracks; all are aiming at something new; and when all are aiming, some must be successful.

"Of their future destiny and influence we can say nothing; but he is not a friend to his species, who does not wish well to the United States. A grand experiment in politics and religion is there going forward-an experiment which, if successful, will be productive of unestimated happiness to the human race; and whether successful or not, will, we know, be one in that chain of events, which is to issue in diffusing over the whole earth,

a liberty

Unsung by poets, and by senators unprais'd;

83

of late years as "the healer of the
breach," which the poet lamented. We
rejoice to perceive that the two coun-
and more sensible of the advantages
tries appear to become every year more
that must result to each of them, from
pursuing that line of conduct which has
a tendency to draw them closer together
in the bonds of amity and mutual re-
gard. It is certainly high time that the
irritation and ill blood excited by a war
which all must deplore, should subside,
and the best possible understanding be
cultivated on both sides; and the real
friends of each country must rejoice to
realized in this respect by recent facts.
see their fondest wishes begin to be
On the whole, the public are much in-
debted to Mr. Duncan for laying before

Which monarchs cannot grant, nor all the powers them the result of his observations and

Of earth and bell confederate take away!"

the

as

In taking leave of these volumes, we must be allowed to bear our testimony to the ability which the Author has displayed in the composition of them. The Americans themselves, we are persuaded, will bear testimony to his candour and impartiality. We have no caricatures for the purpose of exciting the reader's risibility on the one hand, nor any affected panegyrics upon glories of a democratical form of government. We believe he speaks of the country and its inhabitants just as they are; and he has furnished a fund of interesting information on a subject that can never be indifferent to a Briton. "I consider England and America," says the amiable poet Cowper,* once one country. They were so, in respect of interest, intercourse and affinity. A great earthquake has made a partition, and now the Atlantic ocean flows between them. He that can drain the ocean, and shove the two shores together, so as to make them aptly coincide, and meet each other in every part, can unite them again. But this is a work for Omnipotence, and nothing less than Omnipotence can heal the breach This dispensation is evidently a scourge to England; but is it a blessing to America?" It is out of our province to answer the Poet's question; but may we not be allowed to congratulate both England and America, that He who has the hearts of all men in his hand, and who turns them as the rivers of water, has manifestly appeared

between us.

enquiries during the two years he passed in the United States. He has evidently bestowed great care and pains upon the publication; and the typographical neatness with which the work is executed, renders it worthy of a place in every gentleman's library. As a specimen of correct and beautiful printing it does honour to the University Press of Glasgow, of which the Author is one of the proprietors.

Private Correspondence of William Cowper, Esq. with several of his most intimate Friends. Now first published from the Originals in the possession of his Kinsman, JOHN JOHNSON, L.L.D. Rector of Yaxham with Welborne in Norfolk. In 2 vols. with Portraits of Cowper and Mrs. Unwin. London, Colburn; and Simpkin and Marshall; pr. 28s. bds. 1824.

ABOUT twenty years ago, Mr. Hayley, the Painter, favoured the public with the Life and Letters of the amiable Cowper, in four octavo volumes, a work which has been universally read and admired. The plan which Mr. Hayley adopted in conducting the biography of his friend, was somewhat singular; for, instead of throwing the letters into an Appendix to the Life, as is customary, he chose to intersperse them throughout the narrative, classing them under each sucessive year. Mr. Hayley, no doubt was well aware, that had he presented us with all the Poet's letters which he had access to, the historical

* Private Correspondence, Vol. I. p. 201. See our next article.