CONTENTdm
Voyage dans les États-Unis d'Amérique, fait en 1795, 1796 et 1797
British Columbia Historical Books Collection
Travels through the United States
[Neuman, Henry, active 1798-1799]
La Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, François-Alexandre-Frédéric, duc de, 1747-1827
"Translated by Henry Neuman 'who omits some passages and fails to reproduce the author's literary style': - T.P.L." -- Strathern, G. M., & Edwards, M. H. (1970). Navigations, traffiques & discoveries, 1774-1848: A guide to publications relating to the area now British Columbia. Victoria, BC: University of Victoria, p. 165.
686 pages : maps (folded), tables (folded), advertisements ; 28 cm
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Jii'biiiii iiiiiiiiuniiHiTTiiimniiinn iniiiiiimTrnmnT •j<? so 30 40 50 do fo. 1 Mirnii'minm niimiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiimiiiiiMmiiiiimi 0- 44 4i 40 39 10 Riujcll Junior sculp* TRAVELS THROUGH THE UNITED STATES OF NORTH AMERICA, THE il^iS.W COUNTRY OF THE IROQUOIS, AND UPPER CANADA, IN THE YEARS 1795, 1796, AND 1797; WITH AN AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT OF LOWER CANADA. BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. VOL. II. CONTAINING THE TOUR THROUGH VIRGINIA, PENNSYLVANIA, THE JERSEYS, AND- NEW-YORK, A GENERAL VIEW OF THE COMMERCE, POLITICS, AND MANNERS, OF'THE UNITED STATES j WITH TWO MAPS, AND FOUR LARGE TABLES.- aioniscm: PRINTED FOR R. PHILLIPS, NO. Jl, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARDJ BY T. DAVISON, LOMBARD-STREET, FLEET-STREET; SOLD BY T. HURST AND J. WALLIS, PATERNOSTER-ROW, AND BY CARPENTER, AND CO. OLD BOND-STREET. 1799* ma TRAVELS.- THROUGH The United States of North America^ Canada^ &c* IN THE YEARS 1795, 179$, ANp 1/97, f^p PASSAGE FROM CHARLESTON TO NORFOLK. THERE do not frequently occur opportunities of obtaining a paffage from Charlefton to Norfolk: the feafon was too far advanced to admit of travelling on horfeback through North-Carolina, and making in that ftate a fufficiently long ftay to acquire good information. After having waited a week for a veffel to convey .me to Virginia, I had engaged a birth in a floop : but my Charlefton friends thought it top much ^gignbered with paffengers to allow of my being conveniently, accommodated on board, befides its being indifferently equipped -y and Mr. Grant, one of thofe gentlemen from whom I had experienced the greateft civilities at Charlefton, invited me to give the preference to a fmall veffel that was consigned to him, which belonged to one of his friends at Norfolk, and which, was to fail in two days. This veffel was not to be laden, to carry no other paffengers than the owner's nephew and myfelf, and to take us in three days to Norfolk. Although I.difliked the veffel on account of her fmall fize, as me was but .of twenty-nine tons burden, yet the advantage of the other circumftances counterbalanced that objection, and I thankfully accepted the offer: but, inftead of failing at the expiration of two days, fhe was delayed fix days longer; inftead of having no cargpj fhe was laden with cafks of rice even to the very cabin : inftead of a fingle fellow-paffenger, there were four: inftead of being a Vol. IL B good > W*^^i TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, good failer, fhe was as flow as a Dutch dogger: the captain was ignorant, lazy, carelefs, and unacquainted with the difficult coaft of North Carolina. At length, after having encountered the moft ferious dangers on the fhoals of Cape Fear and Cape Lookout, which we ought to have left at the diftance of thirty miles ; after having had one of our mafts four times fhattered by the feverity of the weather; after having run aground' during the night on a bank in Chefapeak Bay, from which we extricated ourfelves with difficulty at the expence of four hours' fevere labour; after having efcaped from feveral other perils to which the ignorance and neglecl: of our captain had expofed us; and after a moft unpleafant,voyage of eleven days, we arrived at Norfolk on the 2Qth of May. Thus it often happens that the event is far from correfponding with the meafures planned by prudent forefight: but inconveniences and dangers are nothing when they are paffed j and thofe attached to fea- voyages leave a lefs ftrong impreffiori on the mind than any other. Befides, on fea, danger does not fubjecl: the paffenger to any laborious exertions : for in that fituation, beyond all others, he is compelled to acknowledge himfelf fubjed to the fway of uncontrollable neceffity. His condition, however, is not on that account the more agreeable j far from it: but it affords a fort of melancholy confolation to a man already fatigued with untoward events, and predifpofed to bear with patifenW thofe further croffes of which he is deftined to be the fport. On my paffage I learned that our little veffel belonged to Colonel H * * * *, the Britifh conful, and principal of one of the moft opulent commercial houfes in Norfolk, which, however, does not bear his name, but that of his nephew, Thomas H**** : for by the laws of England, and thofe of every nation who wifh that the duty of their envoy fhould be the primary obje£t of his attention, a conful is not allowed to carry onany fpecies of commerce in the country where he is employee^'* But Colonel H * * * *f like fo many others, thus eludes that regulation, and employs his capital on his own account under the firm of his nephew, which he directs BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 3 directs as completely as if he were the avowed principal iathe bufinefs.. It was with Mr. Morgan—who is not the colonel's relative as Mr. Grant had informed me, but one of the perfaas^employed under him for .the affairs of the confulate—that I failed : and from his converfation I had a new opportunity of obferving how uniformly all thofe who are employed by the * * * * miniftry^ and all fuch as have imbibed their principles, fpeak of the Americans with averfion and contempt. Such a dif- pofition on their part feems as little likely to furnifh motives that fhould render palatable the late treaty of amity and commerce, as the articles of A^treaty itfelf. Since the revolution, * * * * has nominated, for her confuls in the United States, Americans who had been profcribed in their native country for having taken part in oppofition to the caufe of independence ; fhe has fent thither, as her minifters, men the moft violent in their opinions, and in their difcourfes againft the American nation. In the midft of peace fhe feizes her fhips, and preffes her failors ; fhe renews thefe outrages with additional violence at the very moment of concluding the treaty of alliance; and the American government teftifies no refentment of fuch proceedings. When we fee, as is the cafe at the prefent period, that morality and honefty are utterly difregarded in politics, it is eafy to account for the conduct of * * * * in this particular ; but that of the xA.merican rulers is-"wholly unaccountable. In failing out of Charlefton Bay, we croffed the bar by the north paffage, near Sullivan's Ifland : this is the narroweft and fhalloweft of all the paffages ; but it was more than fufficiently deep for our purpofe : We had a good pilot on board : and thus with-perfect fafety we abridged our courfe by a dozen of miles. A few days before, a fhip from Jamaica, a valuable prize taken by a French privateer, had been loft through the mifmanagement of a drunken pilot, who ran her aground in conducting her through the middle paffage, which is the deepeft of" all. The nature of the fand which compofes the bank is fuch, that in a few hours, it fwallows up whatever touches upon it, and that the fhip in k^vJMMir iTSAVELS IN NOKEH AMERICA, in queftion, from which onlyaf ew bales of coffee could be faved, totally difappeared in twelve hours, hull and mafts, fo that not a veftige of her was any longer to be difcovered. ENTRANCE INTO ELIZABETH RIVER. Thofe veffels which, as was the cafe with ours, are bound for Norfolk, fleer to the left after they have paffed between Cape Henry and Cape Charles, which form the entrance of the Chefapeak. On Cape Henry is ere&ed a fort which is feen from a great diftance. , Behind it, and oppofite to the. entrance of this, vaft bay, and a little to the left, is Hampton Road. We approached within fight of it in order to gain Elizabeth River, after having paffed by the mouths of James and Nan- femond Rivers* STATE OF VIRGINIA.—NORFOLK AND PORTSMOUTH. Norfolk is built on Elizabeth River, at nine miles from the fpot where it difcharges its waters into the bay. In the intervening fpace there are few houfes, and thofe few almoft all prefent a wretched appearance. An almoft uninterrupted fueceffion of pines are th& only object' which meets the voyager's eye. Erancy Ifland lies nearly in the middle of the river at a fhort diftance above its mouth. Two points of land, which approach within a quarter of a mile of each other in front of Norfolk, are ftrengthened with forts which are capable of fuccefsfully defending the entrance. That on the Norfolk fide is in better condition than the other, which, however, might be fpeedily repaired, and at no great expence. The town of Norfolk was entirely burned at the commencement of the war, by order of Lord Dunmore, who was at that time governor of Virginia for the king of England. Not a fingle houfe remained ftanding : and the damage was eftimated at a million and half of dollars. The Englifh. who now inhabit the town, afhamed of that act of barbarity, affert BY THE PU&E DE LA RGCHEFOUGAULT LIANCOURT. 5 .affert that Lord Dunmore gave orders only for the burning of the wares- 3^ftife on the wha^'ij for the purpofe of fat&ating the defence of the pfeee, and that it^nifcs1 the Amirtfe^k themfelves who- burned the remainder of the towia by order of the1 committee of fafety of the legiflature of Virginia. *iMs hot forgotten how a few yea#Sago the Jacobins in France faid tMtfftkfc ailftocrats were thenlfeJves the perfons who fet fire to their own chateaux. Party-animofity prompts men to advance the grofleft abfurdities^aiid caufes them to be believed even by thofe who relate them.—Maa&Si&iare "fctfery 'Where the fame :—an obfervatiofil^dC iwhi£h the truth is^fifiiv&fiiSy' ackno'wjfedged. '\ Portfmouth, a wtititL affeniMage of houfes on the oppofite fide of the river, •dl9[%tt?wH!!fe£ki the ^oaflagration of Norfolk. From its -^Hiafibn it feemed entitled to expert all the commerce of Elizabeth River : at its quays the greateflndepth of water* -k found : at the higheft tides, it is there twelve feet deep, whereas it is only fix at Norfolk : the- pump-1^t^af7tBFlbffft€Fplaee is not brackifh, as at the latter : the foil *&#3$Bich the town isbfcjfe is more* dry, and the air more ifebrious. But, at the! eiWKliSfien of the peadfc, the kiaafeafafits being incei^di againft the Englifh, reiiife^ttf^^aftbiffiaftL^--merchant of that nation, or any new-comer whofe ffefifacal prmejples were liable to fufpicion. To this raaedrous difpfottfion was attributed a political motive of a lefs generotiS lerncf—a» apprehenfion on the part of the American merchants Svho had remained*a^ Portfmieilill§Teft-the new traders who might come to fettle among them. flofaM^Sy the -afhfantage cf briagkig in greater ^iSi^Ms than they themfelves pofleffed, be enabled to outdo them in. the. line of commerce. However this-may be, the confecfiSEence has been, that the iat&bkants have removed to the oppofite fide ; that Norfolk has been rebuilt, and. that its trade is twenty times more confiderable tfea-fl that of 'PtiQnMith'::. nay, thte'ftew merchants who ftill refide in the latter towi*, purchafe at Norfolk almoft all the articles that conftitute their cargoes, and fome ©£ them even have their eompting-ho&^'^sforllP5 Portfmouth,, which, in a very great fpace, contkiiis at prefent only about. AVELS IN NORTH AM-ERi£A>,; ;. about a hundred houfes, and whole ftreets run in very, jfoaight jjjggg,' •wears the appearance rather of a,t$jp$g ^e^ently traced out than of one already built. A ifpp^l market is held there,D^^il^-i%^i^^b^^tly fupplied : there is alio an epifcopali^n^h^rjc^^'a tolera^^^^|^@i^e[j^l47 irig, in which, as in all the churches of Georgia, Carolina, and Virginia, a peculiar ftation is allotted to the-aegroes> who are not allowed to mingle with the whites.. !*&&■&%?&$ i%^M.r At the clofe of the year eighty-three there were not yet twelve houfes rebuilt at Norfolk : at prefent the number is between feven and eight hundred. It is one of the .uglieft, moft irregular, and moft filthy towns that can any-where be found. The houfes are low and unfi^tly^ almoft all conftrU&ed of wood, and erected witfco^tr^ijjfoatt^^prL^tp make them; regularly line with each other; not twenty of them arejlg^t of brick. The .ftreets are unpaved : the town is fujrrajujdef! by fwamps: the naftinefs and flench which prevail in it are exceffive, and add tQ^iJj^ > natural .infalubrity of the fituation, and of the climate which is extremely hot. The magijbrates, it is faid^'have fometimes attemp^^tp, introduce into the place a greater degree of order,; and efpecially of cleanlinefs: but thefe regulations have not been attended _ to,j and nobody is any longer willing to a£t as magiftrate. From thefe concurrent fources of unhealthinefs it refi4{^$^.difeafes are habitual, at Norfolk in fummer and autumn, and^f^at ■ malignant epidemics are there frequent. Laft year the yellow fever is faid to have carried off there five hundred perfons from a population of^fpm- thou- famd. Three hundred died at the time the diftemper prevailed ^yg^ others, fell victims to its confequences. The inhabitants of Norfolk, even thofe among them who are the moft opulent, fancy that the ufe of - a/s^ne-tand ftrong liquors furnifhes them with a prefervative againft the infalubrity of the climate ; and they make liberal ufe of the reme^. Previous to the war, the town is faid to have contained eight thoufand inhabitants. Norfolk carries on a confiderable trade with Europe, the Antilles, and the Nor^e|^^§|S.^.Her exj^t|&^.ei.whea||uftftp^.|Indian corn, timber BY THE PU'EtE PE LA> ROCHEFOUCA^JLT LIANCOURT. 7 tirolfe" of every kind, particUtMjf pteks, ftaves, and fhiagles, fait meat and fifh, iron, lead, flax-feed, tobacco, tar, turpentine, hemp. All thefe artfcfes are tn&^Jfroduce of V&^riia, or of North Carolina, Whiefc • latter ft JK£ having no fea-ports, or none that are good, makes her exfoliations principally through thofe of Virginia. Norfolk's the only port for the fouthera part of this extenfive ftate: for, as no veffels above the burden of a hundred or a huadred and tU&i@f tons can go up to Peterfburg or Richmond, the produce of the back country Which is brought to thofe places by land, is for the moft part fent down in lighters to Norfolk, whence it is exported. Thus, this port almoft fingly carries on all the commerce of that part of VitglfiHt which lies fouth of the Rappahannoc, and of North Carolina far beyond the Roanoke. They are at prefent forming a canal, which, pafling through the Difmal-Swamp, is to unite the waters of the fouth brantfi^bf Elizabeth- 18^$", or rather of Dup-Creek which falls into it, with Albemafflfe-Sound^ fry*£lfe river Pafkotank, and which will thus confiderably fhorten and f&cTOate the^^Bmmunication between North-Carolina and Norfolk. This canal, to which the two legiflatures of North-Carolina and Virginia have feverally given their faaclion, is carried on by fubfcription : it is three years fince it was begun ; and in three years more it is expected to be finifhed. It is to be twenty-eight miles in length, and to run through a foil which is faid to be very favourable for the purpofe, aad eafily worked. Five miles of it are already dug on the Virginia fide, which11 examined with fome care, and thought very well executed: the fame length is alfo dug on the fide of North-Carolina. The Difmal- Swamp has lefs folidity than any other which I have ever yet feen : but the earth which is dug for the paffage of the canal, hardens in the air, and makes an excellent dike. What muft appear very furprifmg, is, that, for this caaal which already feems ia fuch a ftate of forwardaefs, ao levels have beea taken.•'&$%&. not yet known what number of locks may be neceffary, and even fcs&eM: ther any will be requifite : confequ&ttly it is impoffiUe to afcdSain what may >rU»j£flH&-- & :^.«|TSIAVELS IN NOfl&fl AMERICA, may be the expence of completing it, or evenj^bether the fucc^-of the undertaking can be depend on. It is tlfcus almoft all the pu;blijntyOTks. are carried on in Africa, where there is a total j*faa£pf men of talents an the arts, and where;/p .many able mea, wjigrare perhaps at. this moment unemployed in, Europe, might to a certainty make theirsff$* tunes at the fame time $#t: they were jea-dering effential fervice tQf$L& ■country.' wS$i The exportation from Norfolk amountedj^n 1791, to 1,028,789 dollars—in 1792, to 1,147,414—-in 17Q3, to i,o^S25-r--in 179^r-to 1,687,194—in 1795, to 1,934,827—and'already to 1,088-105 dollars for the firft quarter of the current year.(lf96). When we confider the increafe in the exports for fome years back, we muft reco%ct that the difference is much more confiderable in the value than in the quan- titv. The neceffities of Europe have more than doubled the price : and although it be certainly a fa^jfl^at the clearing of new grounds augments the quantum of produce,-that augmentation^^^rs no proportion to the difference of value prefented by the tables for three years back, fent ia from the different cuftoinvhoufes. Ia giviag a combined view of the details of the exportation of the three principal articles-of the produce of the country for the laft five years, I furnifh an additional proof of my affertion. QUANTITIES. YEARS. m 1 1791- 1792- - Jt-7p8. 1794. •--1795- Barrels of Flour y^fcjp*.. . . . Bufhels of Indian'Clo^n . . . Caiks of Naval Stores' .||&iQF a 35>°7r 341.984 29,376 486,834 44,665 258,735 26,753 78,981 23,286 442,075 j i4>7Q4 VALUE OF THOSE AR^fclSk. . L *Blfflars. * Dollars. 104977 62,631 296,41$; 154,264 45,014 Dollars. 436,352 105,661 " Qwraf 3? 1 629,384 ; 1^2,499 33,iq - Indian Corn Naval Stores 120,733 5*>333 Thus we fee that a barrel of flour^; whofe mediuftij;vriiue in 1791 was five dollars ^4r^jyjsfee cents, in liT^fefi-verdoil^^ajj^ three eents, la.-1.793 five dollars and fifteea,cdat% m 17D4 five doHais-asd fifty-fix '?&&■ cents, BV THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAUET LIANCOURT. 9 cents, rofe ia 1795 to aine dollars aad thirty-five cents; aad that Indian cora, which is aa article of oaly fecoadary demaad, was at thirty-feven ceats the bufhel ia 179], at fifty-four ia 1792, at fixty-one in 1793, at fifty-one ia 17Q4, aad at fixty-fix ia ] 795. The comparative table of the prices of timber for the five preceding- years exhibits the fame augmentation of price. Hogfhead Staves Barrel Staves, Heading, Boards, Shingles, ' Square . timber, . Years. White Oak, j Red Oak, per per hundred feet. per per per per thoufand. j thoufand. per thoufand. .. thoufand. thoufand.. hundred,.. . feet. Doll. Cents. iDoll. Cents. 1 Doll. Cents. Doll. Cents. Doll. Cents. Doll. Cents. Doll. Cents. 1791. 16. 66 ir. 66 p 33 20. ,, 1. 50 2. » 12. ,, 1792. 16. 56 13. 50 IO. „ 20. „ 1. 50 2. „ 12. )> 1793- 16. 66 15- » m .» 20. „ 1. 50 2. ,, 12. „ 1794. 20. „ 15. ,, 10. „ 20. „ 2. „ 2. 5° 12. „ l795- 20. 15 1 14. 50 IO- „ 2> v 2. 50 3* *» 13- » With refpect to the naval ftores, as they confift of various articles ex- tremely different in value, and as I am not furnifhed with the particulars, I cannot fubjeft the amount of the general eftimates to the fame com-_ parifon as thofe of the wheat, Indian corn, and timber. Exclufive of the flour exported from Norfolk, there is dr$wn from the ftate, through that and other ports, a great quantity of wheat, which is takea by the merchants of Philadelphia and New-York, or the millers of Brandiwine, who manufa&ure it into flour wh^ch they export to Europe. Good mills are not very common in Virginia; and the want of capitals to erect a fufficient number of them does not allow the Virginians to enjoy the great advantages arifing from the maanfad:ure of flour, which they have hitherto refigned to the other ftates. The high price of wheat this year, and the hope thgnt would rife ftill highgf^ have kept in Virginia a confiderable quantity of that commodity: and, in confequence of this fpeculation, which the prefent ftate of the market"; fhews to have been ill-founded, the planters and the millers have on hand a greater flock of the article than they have ever had in the preceding years at the fame feafon. Vol. II. C The 10 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, The fame is the cafe with refped to the tonnage of the different American ports; its increafe is in great meafure owing to the circum- ftaaces of the war, which render the American bottoms the only vehicles that afford any tolerable fecurity for the tranfportation of thofe articles of American produce of which Europe and the colonies ftaad in need, and confine in their own ports the merchant fhips of France, England, Holland, &c. until the return of peace. Ten years ago, Norfolk could not reckon ten large veffels of her own ; whereas at prefent fhe poffeffes fifty of that defcription, exclufive of fifty others of fmaller fize particularly employed in the trade to the Antilles. Under the name of Norfolk are to be underftood Norfolk and Portfmouth; for thofe two places, though otherwife diftind, conftitute but a fingle port of entry, and are both fubject to the fame cuftom-houfe. The prefent tonnage of Norfolk is 15,507 tons, exclufive of the veffels employed in the coafting trade. The danger;%ffmuggling which might be carried on by veffels coming from foreign countries, and difcharging their cargoes in James or York river, induced the congrefs to enact a law prohibiting veffels bound to Richmond, Peterfburg, or York-town, from entering thofe rivers without having on board" a cuftom-houfe-officer, whom the captain comes or fends for to^Morfolk. This precaution, which operates as- a partial check on that illicit trade, does not however entirely reprefs it; a^-I* have been affured that it is carried on to a confiderable amount along the fhores of the Chefapeak, notwithftanding the vigilance of two fmall veffels belonging to the government of the Union, which are conftantly cruifing with a view to prevent it. The exportation of tobacco from Norfolk has, by the dimiaiatioa of the culture of that article in Virginia, been reduced above one third within the laft five years, In 1793, it amounted to 15,002 hogfheads— in 1794, to 11,052—and in 1795, to 9,968. I have not been able to procure an accurate ftatement of the quantities exported in 1791 and: 1792. JMany Englifh commercial houfes are eftablifhed at Norfolk; and the ^Sj$& -merchants BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 11 fl|©,chants of that nation hate the Americans here as well as throughout almoft the whole of the United States. They break out into invectisresj and are lavifh of contemptuous expreffibns, againft the country which . enriches them. . We ought never to wonder at the effects of prejudice andpaffion: yet, in order to account for this, prepofterous conduct, it is neceffary to recollect that the generaKSjfrof thofe merchants, who are but the agents of different houfes in England, are men utterly deM&ite of education: for the better fort of Englifh merchants eftabjifhed in America are aot guilty of fuch blameable conduct. The animofity of the Englifh merchants rending at Norfolk is further exafperated by the^fefence of a conful who is a native of America, a loyalift, who bore arms againft his country during the war befcwfeefa the colonies and Britain, and who, in addition to the politics of the Briti% cabinet, feels the fpur of perfonal refenhnonfc Jbr the con- fifcations he has fuflfered. Public opinion however-is unanimous in his favour with refpect to his conduct in the war, whk&iwas very differeat from that of feveral officers who fo ftrikmgly derogated from the honourable character whigb the Enghfli nation is generally allowed to poffefs. This year England procured from Vfii^inia a number of horfes to mount the cavalry which fhe propofed to fend to the French iflands; and thofe fupplies, which at every former period had always been confidered as warlike ftores, were by the American miniftry accounted ordinary merchandize : confequently their exportation was authorized by law, notwithftanding the remonftrances of the French conful. But fortune has not proved fo favourable to the Britifh plans as the council of the United States : for, of four hundred horfes already fhipped off, only one hundred and fifty lived to reach the place of their deftination, and arrived there in bad condition. A veflel iBrhibh had about a hundred on board did not preferve a fingle one of the number. The precautions* taken for the tranfportatian of three hundred more that yet remain at Norfolk, being the fame as thofe adopted with refpe& to the former, the fame refult muft inevitably enfue; and the fame will probably C2 be TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, be the fate of five hundred others now purchafing in North-Carolina. If the circle of Englifh merchants and the creatures of the conful at Norfolk jndulge in angry invective againft the Americans and the party attached to France, the merchants and other members of the community wha have embraced the contrary party, fupport it with equal warmth : fo that nought but divifion reigns at Norfolk in confequence. But the prevailing opinion there is in favour of the French. This warmth of animofity, as much as the unhealthinefs of the climate, retards tfte^ricreafe of Norfolk, where few new merchants come to fettle, notwithstanding its advantageous fituation for commerce. It cannot however be doubted that the temptation held out by the hope of making a fortune will fooner or later counterbalance thofe inconveniences, as it has, in the cafe of thofe merchants who are already fettled there, prevailed over the probability of difeafes.—I ikave every-where heard the Prefident of the United States mentioned with greatf«e%ifdfc03 In all,Virginia there is but a fingle bank eftablifhed—that of Alexandria, whicKsisonfequently affords to the commerce of Norfolk no other aid than that of its paper, which in every part of the ftate is accepted as cafh, when indorfed with.a good name. In Norfolk there are not many opulent houfes, very few whofe commercial enterprizes are of confiderable magnitude, but feveral that carry on trade to a more limited extent. Agriculture can hardly be faid to exift in Norfolk county, or in that of Princefs Ann, which borders on it. Thefe two counties do indeed produce fome Indian corn : but the lands would, from their nature, require great attention and labour to render them productive of good crops, efpecially along the borders of the Chefapeak and the fea-coaft. The landed property is much divided; and the inhabitants, who in general areiiiot in very eafy circumftances, devote themfelves rather to th%4<!$$ of timber than to the cultivation of the foil. Scarcely does the fize of their gardens exceed half a fcore perches : they cut down trees on their own lands and wherever elfe they find them of any value ; and BY THE DUKE DE< LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 1$ and they fquander their whole earjahggs on ftrong liquors, as ia the practice with all thofe who lead that kind of life. Yet they are in the habit of gaining above a dollar per day, deduction being made for the conveyance of the timber to the^vere-fidBt^ and the expence of this tranfport- ation is about one half of theorkhie of thearticle thusvtranfported. This timber is purefcsafed by merchants at Norfolk, who derive a confiderable profit either from the employment or resale of it. The plantations: m the interior parts of thefe counties, being fome- whalrj better cultivated than the borders of the fea or of the rhseraf furnifh the Norfolk market with fait beef and pork in fufficient qwt&tfcp even for'exportation. ff$t*fe In all thefe parts, land is fold at from fix to feven dollars per atiWiy and often-the value of theitimber which it offers for the axe amounts to four or five times the priceof the <t8%inat purchafe. noF^tom eighfijFi^femety vefiels of different dimenfions are annually built at Norfolk. The price of holding is, for the hull on coming from the hands of the carpenter, twenty-four dollars per tofi.i&* thofe of above a hundred and twenty tons. Ready for fea, they coft from forty-feven to fifty* dbfiaas -per ton. The prices have rh%i above one fourth during the laftodbree years. The fhipwright's wages are two dollars and three quarters per day.—Veffels of inferior dimenfions are much cheaper. A considerable number of them are fold at Philadelphia, and to great advantage.—Thefe fmall veffels are conftructed for quick fe&tgag: but this port, in commomHviBlf almoft all thofe of the Chefapeak, labours under the incoaveaieace of worms which attack the veflek from Juae to September, aad do them material injury. The vicinity of Norfolk is abundantly productive of workmen of every kind—of faik>rs, of fea captains—and Virginia is not in this refpect dependent on the Northern ftates, as are C&bftna and Georgia. There is at Norfolk a tolerably good fchool for boys, • but it is lately eftablifhed : it is what is commonly called' a- grammar-fchool. Forty dollars per annum is the fum paid for each pupil. There is no fchool for girlsj except thofe where they learn to read : and fuch parents as H TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, as wifh to give their daughters any further education, fend them to Williamfburg or Baltimore..' Mm n The courts of the juftices of the peace for the police of the city and its environs are held at Norfolk; the county-court is held at Suffolk, another, town about eight miles diftant from the former. The prifons are fmall, and ill conducted :>]$iere is no walk for the prifoners : they are fed by the jailor, who receives for each a fhilling per day. The market at Norfolk is held every day, but it is not well furnifhed. The beef, however, is better here than at Charlefton : it cofts ten pence the pound ; mutton, veal, &c. a fhilling ; flour, fourteen dollars the barrel. A common workman is paid a dollar per day, befides his board. The cord of fire-wood cofts three dollars ; hickory-wood, half a dollar additional. The hire of a negso is from eight to ten dollars per month. The medium rate of houfe-rent is t%m> ihundrofend thirty dollars. The price of lots in the town is from nine to Un dollars the foot in front, on a depth of feventy feet. Fifh is ve$$ abundanf ia the river and the bay. The Virginia currency is fix fhillings to the dollar, ten dollars making three pounds. Mr. Plume, a native of Ireland, an active and intelligent man, wfei fettled at Norfolk before the American war, conducts there a ta.uw^t aad rope*>walk, ia which he employs as workmea his, owa aegroes. He manufactures to a large amount, furnifhes a great part of the cordage confumed in the port, and fends his leather to every part of America. He procures almoft all his hemp from the back parts of Virginia; the remainder he derives from Ruflia. The latter, without being ftronger than that of Virginia, is more eafily wrought, and more readily receives the dreffing. The country fupplies Mr. Plume nearly with all the hides he has occafion for: he neverthelefs gets fome from the heretofore Spanifh part of Saint-Domingo. . It was intended that Norfolk fhould build one of the fix frigates of which the United States had determined to compofe their marine : but, fubfequent confiderations having influeaaiced the Congrefs to adopt the refolution of reducing the number to three inftead of fix that were voted two BT THE DUJtE^DE LA ROCHET'OUCAULT LIANCOUET. 15 two years ago, the other three»frigates have been countermanded. That which was to have been built at Norfolk f is among the number of the latter: it- was begun at Gofport, a fmall dependency of Portfmouth, Tssheie there are dock-yards for the coaftsoction of the largeft veflels* I have feen the beginning of the iritended conftrudtion : only the keel and fome of the principal ribs are put together.: but the timber neeeflary for completing the work is almoft entirely collected on the fpot, where it lies without workmen and without protection. It is confidently af- ferted that this collection of fine timber, which has hot been procured without confiderable trouble, and efpecially an enormous expence, is going to be fold. It might, one would think, be much more advan*. tageoufly preferved for the ufe of the United States, who appear, by this order for its fale, difpofed to preclude themfelves from even the poffi- bility of reverting to their former refolution. The communication between Norfolk and Portfmouth is continual: it is carried on by fix row-boats belonging to a company, and by three fcows in which horfes and carriages are conveniently ferried over. The fare for each paffenger is one-fixteenth of a dollar: but, on paying fix dollars, a perfon may become free of the paffage for twelve months. Thefe boats are managed by negroes belonging to the company. It is not an uninterefting obfervation to remark that oae of thofe aegreos* aamed Semes, aged from thirty to five aad thirty years, has learned to read and write by his owaiafeaided exertions. His converfation an- nounces*4$hd good fenfe, together! with an earneft defire of inftro&ion : and, after having feen him, it is not eafy to adopt the opinion of thofe who refufe to allow the negro race any confiderable portion of intellect. All the country about Norfolk is level, without any elevation. The width and beautiful forms of Elhsifceth-River—■ijielittle town of Portfmouth on the oppofite fhore—the great number of fhipping, fome at anchor, fome at the wharfs, fome under repair, fome building, enliven the profpect, and render it tolerably pleafing : but, without thefe acceffaries, it would be dull and infipid. The navigation of fifteen-miles, which muft be performed in order to reach -the' beginning of the Difmal-Swamp canal, lies through 16 TRAVELS*]^ NORTH AMERICA, through a country equally flat, where the houfes are thinly fcattered, fmall and mean in appearance, and fituate each in the centre of a fmall patch of cleared ground not exceeding two or three actes* All along Elizabeth River and the creeks whioh>flow into it, are, built great numbers of fmall veffels, which are almoft all Intended for fale at Philadelphia. The temperature of the .air.a^Norfolk is conftantly vatizifbi§£3afs is the cafe in many other parts of America. It frequently happens that in the fame day the diverfity of two or three feafons is experienced* The eafterly and north-eafteriy winds render die&weather cold^even in fummer : from every other point the wind is Mdompanied with burning heat. At Norfolk, as in almoft every other part of America, fpring is unknown. The heat begins to be felt at an early feafon; and at the commencement of April, peafe, beans, thorn-bufhes, and even rofe- trees, are in bloom. In every part of America through which I have hitherto <$»avelled, the obliging civitt%8f?i>lisave experienced have inva&Siably proved how falfe and groundlefs are thofe prejudices;^hich**he French and Englifh fo obftinately entertain to the difadvantage of the Amei&$ns. WeSe^P in this inftance to form my ideas from my own perfonal experience alone, t^ey alfo might in like manner be branded with the appellation of prejnditles^ibiit I have found my opinion corroborated by that of every traveller whom I have had an opportunity of feeing, and who thought proper to judge for himfelf, uninfluenced by pj8$lality. The friendly reception given to travellers in^merica, efpecially by thofe to whom they come recommended, is not confined to a di^feer—the ufual X&mm fox letters of introduction : it is common to meet men, even men of little leifure, who devote to you as great a portion of their time as you think proper to engrofs—who feek for the means of rendfci&ig your ftay agreeable—and this without compliment, with an appearance of fincerity and fatisfa£tion which faves you §psa' being embarraffed by their complaifatece, and makes you feel it each moment more and more agreeable. As to me, who think myfelf by no means addi&ed to*$ltfe aggeration, and who am far from being an admirer of every thing I fee in America,: I confefs that I feldom quit a place where I have made any ftay, BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. ftay, without thinking and aeknowledgiag myfelf bound to entertain a fenfe of gratitude, of which I carry awayiWith me a refolution of fooner or later proving the fincerity. Major William Lindfey, Commiffioner of the Cuftom-houfe, is, of all the inhabiiants of Norfolk, the indivkhiat v ith-whom I have the moft particular reafon to be fatisfied. He is a man recommended by fimplicity of manners and goodnefs of heart, and is held in univerfal efteem. I am perfonally indebted to him for information on a variety of fubje£ts ; and to his amiable difpofition toward me I am further indebted for the opportunities of acquiring fuch information as he could not himfelf furnifh me with. There are three churches in Norfolk: one, Proteftant-epifeepalian, which, like all the others of that feet in Virginia, is fubject to the in- fpe£tion of the Bifhop of Williamfburg : another belongs to the Roman Catholics, and the clergyman derives his powers from Mr. Carrol, Bifhop of Maryland : the third is a Methodift church, in which, as in- all Others of that denomination, there is an abundance of grimaces, bowlings, and contortions. To the port of Norfolk, above any other in the United States, came the greateft number of colonifts efcaped from Saint-Domingo at the coiatnencement of their troubles. The principal caufe of that choice was the eircumftance that the convoy which failed from Cape Francais aflSiCthe conflagration of the town, put into Hampton-Road. Norfolk lies twenty miles from the road : and the warmth of the climate, the flavery of the negroes which left it in the power of the refugee colonifts to employ thofe whom they had been able to bring off with them, and the kind receptioa which the inhabitants gave to the ilbjfeted fugitives,.; fixed them on the fpot. Private fubferiptions raifed in all the towns of Virginia, together with further fums voted by the ftate legiflature and by Congrefs, afforded the unfortunate French inconts&able proofs of the' benevolence and generofity of the Americans. The people of Norfolk fhowed themlelves very warm advocates of the French caiife; and, among feveral teftimonles which they difplayed of that difpofition, the Vol. II. D following m?m Travels in north America,. following deferves to be quoted. The French convoy was' preparing- to quit the Chefapfeak in ©Jider to proceed to the northern part of Amerism j a report was circulated that the friends of * * * * intended to fend', a pilot-boat to Halifax to give intelligence of their departure to the Englifh fleet; and that very night all the pilot-boats were unrigged- iVrTj^e number of French refident at Norfolk has confidefaldijr: dhninifhk ed. They have difperfed through the other parts b£ America, where there is* hardly a town that does not reckon fome of their number among its inhabitants. I had great pleafure in meeting at Norfolk my friend. Monfieur Guillemard whom I had left fick at Philadelphia; but we are once more to feparate, and to meet again at Richmond. HAMPTON. A wherry, employed in tranfporting the mail from NorfolkitJO^Hamp- ton, whence it is forwarded by land to Richmond, is the ufual conveyance for paffengers who intend to purfue that route. In good weather, the paffage, which is about eighteen miles, is performed; in two hours : we were ten hours in croffing, for want of wind : and as the tide was low when we arrived at Hampton, on the fecond of June, our negro fai$efGS;miffed the narrow channel which leads to the town, ansbfo com- iletely ftranded us.on a bar which choaks up the entrance of the creek, that we were obliged to gain Hampton in a boat. This place is a fmall village, which the difficult entrance of its creek will prevent from ever becoming more confiderable. Hampton, is the only place where, on proceeding from Norfolk, a perfon can debark who propofes to travel by land through this part of Virginia. The arrival of the Richmond ftage three times a week, and the refidence of a few pilots who were induced to choofe this fpot for the place of their abode on account of its proximity to the entrance of the Chefapeak, give to this petty village fome little fhare of activity^ though BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURt. W though indeed it is very little. The inn here is deteftable,_and we could find in it but two fmall beds to accommodate five paffengers of us wh6 arrived together. It is faid to be in contemplation to ere£t a more convenient one : fo much the better for thofe'foho may come after us. Fortunately we were to quWfiiis abominable^feSgin^ at two o'clock in the morning; and it was already eleven: hence this uncomfortable night was foon paft. But there was not a fingle morfel of bread to be expected previous to our departure; and I flood in very great need of fome. Heretofore there was a cuftom-houfe eftablifhed at Hampton. The exportations amounted, in 1791, to 1,393 dollars—in 1792, to 4,961 — in 1793, to 11,789—in 1791, to 41,947. In 1795, this cuftom-houfe was united with that of Norfolk. YORK-TOWN. The road from Hampton to York-Town runs all along through woods: The patches of cleared land are yet rare and incOrdltter^ble in this'^ft^ rflSfcSfc'-- One meets however'with fome fields of Iniffian corn, meadowsy crops of rye. Spots of feveral acres are feen inclofed with fen?8i% which are even fometimes well executed by means of a mound of earth a couple of feet in height, forming a kind of wall, on which are planted flakes that are afterwards interwoven with pine-branches. But in tra- verfing America the traveller cannot refrain from afking in his own mind why the people do not plant quick hedges, which afford a b€f&e35 feetrrity, and are at the fame time an ornament to the lands. The foil, in the whole of this trad:, appears not bad, though by no means of the firft quality. The moft comittafll-trees ififitlie woods are the pine, the oak, the beech, and the hiefey. I have feSntfdme <>f !#6i&* fiderable height. The country is fiat. The ground however is thirty feet higher than the river at York^Towm : yeP^e road, ^Midi the exception of two or three fmall rifings, has to the view -all the inconveniences of an abfolutely level plain. D 2 York- TRAVELS IN NO^TH AMERICA, York-3jk>wn is the place where terminated the American war—where the French effectually aided the Americans to fhake off the yoke of England—and where Britifh. pride was a fecond time feverely humbled. I have gone over the part of the country that had been occupied by the encampments and the works of the, allied armies : it wras quite fami^a^, to me from the plans of it wmich I had often examined. It is now difficult to difcover any veftiges of the batteries, of the parallels, even of the two redoubts fo brilliantly carried by the American and French grenadiers under the command of Meflieurs de la Fayette and de Vio- mefnil,, ^he earth has preferred the traces of them no better than many American heads would nowr wifh to retain the remembrance. Some .of. the;Britifh intrenchjgients in front of the town are more diftinctly recognizable. But the only really exifting monument of that memorable fiege is General Nelfon's houfe, the moft confiderable edifice in the whole town, and which, until a few days after the commencement of the fiege, was Lord Cornwallis's head-quarters. That great houfe, which is built of brick, and which at that period had been recently erected, is pierced in every direction with cannon-fhot, and bomb-fhells ; and the furrounding fpot of ground every-where difplays ftrong traces of their ravages* That houfe, which General Nelfon neglected to have fpeedily repaired aJtejPfthe fiege^ has, fince his death, devolved, together with the reft of Jiis property, to his three fons ; and they not agreeing as to the difpofal of the houfe, it remains unrepaired. This confequence which is detrimental t^rthe interefts of his family, is, in my opinion, very advantageous to the town, inafmuch asrit preferves there a curious monument of an event which proved decifive in favour of American independence, and which at any period would be honourable to any nation. After the furrender of York-Town, the Congrefs, in paffing a vote of thanks to the American and French armies which had thus, brought the wafcttaka con- clufion, gave orders for the erection of a monument to perpetuate the memory of that tranfaction. The monument is not even yet begur^: Such negligence is inconceivable, fhameful, and unaccountable. The prefent difpofition of the American government toward England does- not BY THE DUJt£'©£ LA ROCHEPOVCAULT EMIfCOURT. £1 not admit of a fuppofition that they have at this time" any thought of eredtihg that monument. York-Town, where -we- arrived On the third of June, does not prefent any other object df 6tiH#fity. It is a fmall and tolerably well buuftartfci lage, where the Sftglifh, co$S&fry to their ufual practice during the American Wrar/deftroyed no houfes except fuch as impeded their defence. Its population confifts of eight hundred perfons, of whorn two thirds are negroes. It is'agreeably fituated, commanding a fine profpect of the majeftic ftream of York-filter, whidfepGloucefter-Point/that lies oppofite, narrows here to two thirds of a mile, but which above and below the towm is two miles wide. York-Town carries on no trade: but the inhabitants fay that forty years back It was the emporium of all Virginia. It fupplied with European commodities all the fhops and ftores of the mOrBsdlftant towns ; and it was the port where the planters, who at that time fold their tobacco directly to the Englifh merchants, were accuftomed to fhip it. Before the commencement of the reVotS&bnary war, there were ftill fix or leven fhips annually loaded there for England. Since that period its commerce has been uniformly on the decline; and it has now dwindled to nothing. Norfolk and Baltimore export all the produce of York-River, and furnifh the town with Europeaa goods. The inhabitants are of courfe defHtute of employment: fome of the number retail fpirituous liquors and a few fluffs : others call themfelves lawyers and juftices of the peace. In general they have at fome diftance from the town fmall farms to which they every morning pay a vifit. But thefe occupations not engroffing much of their attention or their time, the inhabitants of York-Town, whsIlSve together on terms of the greateft harmony, much more affiduoufly employ both the one and the other in dining together, drinking punch, and playing at billiards. To give a fomewhat higher zeft to this monotonous round of life, they often change the place of their meetings. On the oppofite fide of the river, in Gloucefter-County, are annually built a confiderable number of veffels. York- 2& TRAVELS IN NORTH ■■AMERICA, York-Town is the capital of York-County, which confaias a population of about fix thoufand inhabitants, of whom above one half are flaves. The town, not^thftanding the decay oj^lts coma^ce, has a cuftom- houfe, to which are fubjed: feveral little poii§,tefhe vicinity. The value of its exportations was 99,811 dollars ul^e year 1791—15 4,400 in 1792—34,992 in 1793—7,579 in 1794—aad 3,060 in 1795. I dined with the greater number. jrf; thofe who compofe the fociety of l^rfc^Town, at thl iboufe of Mr. Clarkfton, to whom I had?fifetters of introduction. Do&or Griffin, to whom I had alfo a lett#, was abfent from town. He is faid to be a man of information. I found in Mr. Clarkfton and all the others a very obliging difpofition, a great defire to doieyery thing which they could conceive likely to prove agreeable to me; in fhort I obferved in them all the characteristics of an honeft, ^BPtple, and frank hofpitality. Every individual among them prefects! jgtjhonourable remembrance of the French troops, on accoutettwof their exemplary conduct as well during the fiege aaTduring the fpaCffrof^Mner months which intear^ened between the termination of the fiege and their departure for Etance. The name of Maj^chal Rochambeau. is here "heM- in high veneratioltci^ There is no regular market at York-Town : each perfon fumifltes* hiiitfelf with meat ;jfct#he beft maaaer he caa ; and they are feldom "^fc^1 fuppliedr with it. Beef cofts from three to four pence the pound ; mutton and veal fix pence ; other artiHes in propo^i^riHtlFifh is here^ abundant, and almoft for nothing. The higheft rents iir^he town are from eighty to a hundred dollars. Flour, an article which it is difficult to procure, cofts at prefent fifteen dollars. Although the al^w1 thisfs.place be infinitely more fahibrious than that of Norfolk, the inhabitants neverfch&efs frequently exjfeiHence intermittent fevers in autumn. WILLIAMS- BY THE DUKE USE-LA R0CHEF$UCA#&P1tlANC0URT. m WftdfclAitfSBURG. The inhabitants of Yo^^Town being precluded by the narfowtssfe-of their circumftaaces from keeping horfes, of which however they oftea ftaad in nee4, one or twro perfons have fome foc^ire in that little town, confifting of only about fifty houfes. I there had an opportunity of procuring one to convey me to Williamfburg, where I arrived oa the fourth of June. The road from York-Town to Williamfburg is in many parts agreeable: the country is fomewhat more.hilly; and cultivation is a little more common. New fettlements are feen which are tolerably well' begun ; and the pieces of new-cleared land are in almoft every inftance fur- rounded with ditches well made and well fodded: but the houfes uniformly exhibit a mean appearance, and their inhabstal^ls betray ftrong fymptoms of poverty. A long tract of woodland is here alftlcjb be: paffed, where no cultivation is {qqii ; bttt where the oak, the hickory, the lyipidambar, the faffafras tree, grfw with vigour, and feem to indicate a good foil. The cattle here, as in Carolina, are conftantly in the woods : they are poor and ill-favoured, and of a bad breed. They are fed in the ftable during a few weeks previous to their being kiHed.—In all this tract, land is fold at four or five dottars the acre. Williamfburg is fituate in a plain five m^es from York-River, and at the fame diftance from James-River. Two creeks, which empty themfelves into thofe great rivers, approach withfp^two miie£ of the towa oa t '^M each fide, and are there navigable. It is by means-of thefe creef& that the commodates of Europe arrive from Richmond, Norfolk, and fometimes Baltimore, to furnifh the ftores in the town, which are in general indifferently fupplied. Before the revolution, Williamfburg was the capital of Virginia : but at that period the legiflature chofe Richmond for the place of their meeting, as being more.diftant from the fea-coaft:"■; and they have fince eftablifhed themfelves there. This removal has reduced Williamfburg- to i 34 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, to a village. Every perfoa who was coaaected with governmeat has followed the legiflature to Richmond, aad the number of inhabitants is annually decreafing at Williamfburg in the fame manner as at York- Town. ^Ehe prefent population is about twelve or thirteen hundred fouls, of whom above one half are negro flaves. A ftate-houfe, of which one part ferves for the fittings of the diftrid- court, bearscfkername of " the Capitol." It is a tolerably handfome brick building, but is falling to ruin. A marble ftatue of Lord Botetourt, one of the governors of Virginia under the former fyftem, whofe con- dud had entitled him to the refpect and attachment of the Virginians, ftands in the periftyle of this Capitol: but it is in a disfigured ftate. The lower clafs of the inhabitants of Williamfburg, aduated by revolutionary aniriiofity, confidered as an ad of homage to liberty every infult offered to that monument ereded by gratitude in honour of a former lord ; and in confequence they fhamefully mutilated it. The infcription engraven on the pedeftal, expreffing the gratefpl fenfe of the people ^Virginia, and which the populace did not deftroy, forms a ftriking contraft with the indignities Avhich the ftatue has experienced, and honourably vindicates the memory of Lord Botetourt. This Capitol terminates a ftreet of a hundred and fixty feet in breadth, and three quarters of a mile in length, at the oppofite end of which ftands the college. This eftablifhment, founded in the reign of William v$j|p£^Iary, ftill bears their names. Its income, before the revolution, was from feventeen to eighteen thoufand dollars : at prefent it is reduced to three thoufand five hundred. It arofe partly from duties on the exportation of tobacco and feveral other commodities, and partly from land. The duties fell to nothing in confequence of the unlimited freedom of the export trade : the twenty thoufand acres of land have alone remained jj thefe are let out on long leafes of two or three lives, and are- all in a ftate of cultivation. Another fmall duty, on the furveying of land, concurs with the rent arifmg from thole twenty thoufand acres in compofmg that fcanty income of three thoufand five fiundred dollars, which the legiflature does not feem inclined to augment. ^ — Mathematics, BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEF0UC AU LT LI-ANCOURT. 25 3 TVfathematics, natural and moral philofophy, natural and civil law* with the modern languages, conftitute the whole round of inftrudioa given in this college. The pupils are not fent thither before the age of fifteen, and generally fpend two years in purfuing the different courfes of ftudy. One is aftonifhed to learn that not one of them lives in ghofe vaft buiUlfngs deftined for their reception, but that they are difperfed through the different boarding-houfes in the town, at a diftance from all infpedion. Bifhop Madifon who is prefident of this feminary, and the other profeffors, who together with him definitively make all the regulations refpeding the internal police of the college, affert that it has been proved by experience, that good order, peace, and even the fuccefs of their ftudies, are more effectually promoted by this feparation of the ftudents, than by their being united together within the fame walls, as the common effeds of fuch union were frequent quarrels and precon- ^ft«fl mutinies. On hearing their reafonings, one would be tempted to think that they have paid greater regard to their own eafe than to the intereft of the youth entrufted to their, care, whom ftrid watchfulnefs, good management, and attentions proportioned to their age, would have as effectually kept in good order at Williamfburg as in every^tfier college in the world. The ftudents pay fourteen dollars to each profeffor whofe courfe of leffoas they attead : their board and lodging coft them from a hundred to a hundred and twenty dollars : confequently the expence to their parents amounts to about a hundred and fixty or a hundred and feventy dollars a year. E#ti&five of thefe emoluments, each profeffor receives the annual fum of four hundred dollars from the funds of the eftablifh- ment. Bifhop Madifon occupies the chair of natural and moral phir lofophy, and has, in addition to his profefforial fatary, two hundred dollars more, as prefident. The internal adririlhiftration of the college is eatrufted to the care of the proleflbrs, who are nominated by a board of eighteen vifitots chofen throughout the whole fiatoe. The houfe—like the generality of thofe in Williamfburg, York-Tow&, and evemNeffifolk—is kept'in very indif&renj: Vol. II. E condition. m TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, condition. The college is not fufficiently opulent to make the requifite anaual repairs ; and whenever it becomes neceffary to undertake fuch as are in any wife confiderable, it is aided by the legiflature. It poffeffes a library tolerably well furnifhed with claffical books : it confifts almoft etstoly of old books, except two hundred volumes of the fineft aad beft French productions fent as a prefent by Louis XVI. at the termination of the American wrar, but which a merchant at Richmond, who was com- mimoned to -forward them to the college, fuffered to lie forgottea ia his cellars amid hogfheads of fugar and cafks of oil, until, when at length Jie did forward them, they were totally fpoiled. The funds of the college do not allow any addition to their library, which moreover is very ill kept in point of order and cleanlinefs. The legiflature of Virginia is faid to entertain the defign of founding a new college in a more central part of the ftate : but it is not known whether that of Williamfburg is to be taken as the ground-work of the intended eftablifhment, or fuffered to continue on its prefent footing and left to its own fcanty refources, while the new college fhould be liberally endowed. There is befides at Williamfburg an hofpital for lunacies, which is fupported from the public treafury. It is a fine building ; but in it the unfortunate maniacs are rather abandoned to their wretched ftate than fubjeded to any treatment which might tend to their recovery. From the obfervations made ia Virgiaia oa maaiacal complaiats, the priacipal caufes affigaed for them are eathufiaftic devotioa aad fpirituous liquors ; aad it appears that fuch as arife from the latter of thefe caufes are Jefs difficult of cure than thofe which owe their origia to the former. There are oaly fifteen lunatics of both fexes in this hofpital, which is capable of containing thirty. The foil in the vicinity of Williamfburg is tolerably well cultivated : but here, as in other parts of Virginia, each proprietor poffeffes fo great an extent of land, that he cultivates but a fmall portion efjt. The ordinary rotation of culture here is—Indian corn—next wheat or other graia-^-then three or four .years in fallow, during whicbrJthe crops of grafs BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEF0UCAULT LTANCOURT. m ^rafs futnSh the cattle with good fuftenaace. After this reft of three or four years, the grouad is again cultivated ia the fame manner. The lands thus managed yield from eight to twelve bufhels of wheat per acre, or from twelve to fourteen of Indian corn. Thofe few fpots J&ttt are manured with dung produce double that quantity. In theiibffl^ mediate environs of the town, the land in general is indifferent; it fells for feven or eight dollars the acre. The beft fpots, efpecially thofe •which are fituate near creeks, bear a higher price, as far as twelve dollars : but it is wrorthy of remark, that while, ia almoft every other part of America, the price of kad has encreafed three and four fold, in thefe lower parts of Virginia it has received no augmentation during the laft twenty years. At WHBamfburg a regular market is held, and the prices are the fame as at York-Town. A pair of oxen fit for the plough are fold forisafc|r dollars. They are fmall «a*&-iiti£ifferent. Sheep are in tolerable pleat^ but they are of an inferior and ugly breed. Their wool is valued at about a quarter-dollar the pound. The difference in the demand, rather thaa ia the quality, fometimes caufes a fmall variatioa in the price. The ftate taxes are aot cottf^erable. I fhall fpeak of them more at large, whea I have had fufficient opportunities of procuring more complete iaformatioa on the fubjed- The town-rates are nothing.-; there being neither pavemeats, aor public buddings, nor bridges, to be kept in repair : the heavieft rate is that for the fuftenance of the poor. Each hetife-keeper contributes^ for himfelf and for each of his negroes above the age of fixteen years, half a dollar for thattparpofe. Thefja® total of thefe contributions is diftributed by the overfeers of the poor, under the infpection of the juftices of the peace, to fuch famiKeg as are deemed to ftand ia aeed of affiftaace. Thefe receive from twelve to ffiSH^fix dollars per anlnBm, according toth^tr- yet remam&ajjability to work or their tetti^sp&ca^acity for labour. In a country where it is ea#pJt» proxaii&a 'iasbfift^afce and to make fome referve for old age—in a cdun&y where population, being ex* iFeJii&ty produdive^ gonftaatlyoft^piies eachi^iiiajfy with fome young E 2 branch HUMi ■ TRAVELS IN N0E.TH AMERICA, branch capable of fupporting it—one can hardly feel inclined to beftow his approbation on a tax whofe inevitable tendency is to perpetuate and even to create idlenefs-and improvidence: and it might perhaps with reafon be faid, that, in this pretended charity, there is a greater portion of vanity and indolent inattention than of genuine beneficence and enlightened policy. It was firft introduced into Virginia becaufe it was eftablifhed in "England: it has maintained its ground here becaufe a tax of this kind is not eafily reformed—becaufe it is fupported by habit—and becaufe, moreover, in a;e®s*ntry where flavery prevails, and where the.poffeffion of the foil is vefted klfo few hands, that clafs of whites who do not poffefs landed property are more indigent than elfewhere.—The negroes have no fhare in this public charity. Mr. Andrews; mathematical profeffor in the college, and Bifhop Madifon, did me the honours of the town with that obliging polite- nefs which I have been habitually accuftomed to experience in America. With the former of thefe gentlemen I had become acquainted at Norfolk; to the Bifhop I had letters. In the two days which I fpent at Williamfburg, they introduced me to the chief part of the fociety of the place, which appears very much united, and to confift of well-informed men. Bifhop Madifon is himfelf a man of confiderable knowledge in natural philofophy, chymiftry, and even polite literature. His library, much lefs numerous than that of the college, confifts of .a more choice feledion of books, efpecially of thofe relating to the fciences. He annually augments his colledion by the addition of the moft efteemed fcientific and new publications. To^bim the public are indebted for meteorological obfervations very accurately made in different parts of Virginia, and to which he has devoted much time. The inhabitants of Williamfburg, if we except the profeffors and the judges, have not much more opulence or employment than thofe of York-Town : they have as frequent meetings as the others : but it appears that they live lefs " freely," as the country phrafe expreffes it— that is to fay, they drink lefs wine and fpirits. All the remarks I have hitherto heard on the fubjed of politics in Virginia BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 29 Virginia are in dired oppofition to the idea t&at had been given me on that head in the northern ftates. The general opinion, it is true, is evidently agai&ft the treaty : people would have wifhed that it had never taken place, or at leaft that it had been made on better terms— that the prefident's inftrudions had been more faithfully followed— that he, yielding to what appears to have been his firft impulfe, had fent it back to England without communicating it to the fenate :^jte¥ is it thought here that a war would have been the confequence of fuch a ftep. But, from the then exifting ftate of the bufinefs, it would have been matter of confiderable regret to them that the opinion of the oppofition-party iifehe late congrefs had prevailed refped- ing the non-appropriation of the funds neceffary for carrying it into execution ; and they feem fatisfied that the long debates, which leave no doubt of the difapprobation with which the treaty was received, have terminated in the manner that they did. As I advance farther into the country, I fhall become better acquainted with the general opinion. I have great pleafure in obferving that the French army is here remembered with veneration; it rjiiF^F remained here for feveral months ; and each individual recolle&^feib. intereft: and gratitude the particular officer with whom he was acquainted. Above all the others, moafieur de Rochambeau and the baron de Viomefnii have left an honourable remembrance of them*- felves in thetfn£ifchKbf the inhabitants : and whenever the codverfation |piH&nally turns on the individuals of that army—whether genertlh^ commaan4ers of corps, or aides-de-camp—it appears that the judgement which has beea formed of them here was didated by great beaevolence, fagacity, and juftice.. JOURNEY TO RICHMOND. Of all the inconveniences attending the public carriages in America —■and the number of thofe inconveniences is great—one of the moft mortifying wKm 30 TRAVELS '.«n? -WORTH AMERICA, mortifying is that they almoft invariably run over the very worft parts of the country through which they travel. The roads are generally, and with good reafon, laid out in the drieft foils, confequently in the fpots which are the leaft adapted for cultivation. In the fpace of fixty miles which I yefterday travelled from Williamfburg to Richmond, I did not fee twenty houfes; and fuch as I faw were mean and wretched. A few fields of Indian corn occafionally met my fight, and fome new-cleared grounds of confiderable extent, but not a fingle field that was tolerably well cultivated; whereas I am affured, that, within four miles on each fide k>£ the road, the lands are good and the plantations numerous. A few hills, however, occur on the way : and when a traveller's eye has, like mine, been near three months fatigued by that unvarying uniformity of flat fands and ftagnant marfheSj a hill proves a fource of enjoyment: he excufes its aridity in confidera- tion of its being a hill: and when, with the diversity and-* a&jflitttfeit *#Mi this change in the face of the country gives to the profped, he combines the idea that he has now reached the boundaries'>:6f that mephitic ftagnation which engenders and propagates all fpecies of maladies with fuch fatal rapMity, his enjoyments^alre not confined to the eye alone. * Crowded in the ftage by ten paffengers and their baggage, we did not arrive at Richmond before eDeven o'clock at night, though we had fet out from Williamfburg at eight in the moriNb&g; the rain, which has been abunda&t during the laft two days, having rendered the roads'very bad. TOWN OF RICHMOND. The pofition of Richmond is truly agreeable. The lower town, which is fituate along the bank of James-River, lies between that river and a tolerably high hill: but the greater part of the houfes— thofe indeed of alf^ft every perfon who is not engaged in trade— are built on the h^k which comiB&ids ft profpe^-oi the river, and whence BY THE DUKE DE XA fcOCHEfOUCAjOffcT LIANCOURT. 31 whence the view embraces at once the iflands formed by its waters, the extenfive valley through which it flows, and the numerous^falls by which its ftream is broken. On the oppofite fide of the river, the country rifes in a gentle accliv&yj and the little but well-built town of Manchefter, environed by cultivated fields which are ornamented by an infinite aumber of trees and dotted with fcattered houfes, embellifhes the fweet, variegated, agredable, and romantic perfpective. The Capitol is ereded on a point of this hill which conamafcfcfe Ihte'town. This edifice, which is exremely vaft, is conftruded on the plan of the " Makon Quarree" at NMnes, button a much more extenfive fcale* The attics of the Maifbi£aQuarree have undergone an alteration in the Capitol, to fuit them for the convenience of the public offices of every denomination, which,- thus perfedly fecure againft all accidents from fire, lie within reach of the tribunals, the executive couacil, the goveraor, the general aflembly, who all fit in the Capitol* and draw to it a great afrlu& of people. This building* which is eatirely of brick, is not yet coated with plafter : the columns, the pilafters, are deftitute of bafes and; capitals : but the interior and exterior coraices are finifhed,- and are well executed* The reft: will be completed with more or lefs fpeed : but, even in its prefent unfinMhed ftate, this building is, beyond com- parifoa, the fiaeft, the moft noble, aad the greateft, in all America. The internal diftribution of its parts is extremely well adapted to the purpofes for which it is deftiaed. It was Mr. Jefferfon who,i ^d\jrt»ln§i his embafly in France, feat the model of m Alrea<}y it is faid to have coft a hundred and feveMy thoufand^ dollars; and fifteen thoufand more are the eftimated fum requifite for completing- it and remedying fome defeds which have been obferved in the con- ftrudion. Ia the great ceatral veftibuley which is lighted by a kind of dome, contained in the thicknefs of the roof, has lately been placed a ftatue of George Wafhington, voted, ten years fince,., by the general affembly TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, bly of Virginia. In addition to the fentiments of gratitude which they felt in common with the reft of America, that body entertained more-." over a particular affedion for him, together with the pride of having him for their countryman. Since that period the prefident has acquired new claims to the general approbation and efteem. Jf he be chargeable with fome errors in adminiftration, as I think he is, never- thelefs"Ms devotion to the public weal and the purity of his intentions cannot even be fufpeded : yet it is doubtful whether at the prefent moment the affembly of Virginia would be inclined to vote him fuch an honour : at leaft it is certain that the fame unanimity would not prevail on the occafiom This ftatue was executed by Houdon, one of the firft fculptors in France. He undertook a voyage to America five or fix years fince for the exprefs purpofe of making a bull: of the prefident from the life. Although the ftatue be beautiful, and difplay even a noblenefs in the compofition and a likenefs in the fea- Isfcfe, it does not bear the marks of Hoiidon's talent: one cannot trace in it the hand of him who produced the celeftial Diana which confti- tutes the chief part of that artift's reputation. Near this ftatue of the prefident ftands a marble buft of monfieur de la Fayette, voted at the fame time by the affembly of Virginia, and alfo carved by Houdon, but with greater difplay of ability. The population of Richmond amounts to fix thoufand perfons, of whom about one third are negroes. This town has prodigioufly inereafed during the years which have elapfed fince the legiflature chofe it for the place of their fittings : but within the Ia$rtwo or three years it has remained ftationary. A few years back, a conflagration confumed almoft all the lower part of the town. This accident induced the inhabitants to rebuild in brick not only the houfes confumed, which had been of wood, but alfo feveral others which the owners' fears wifhed to preferve from the fame calamity. At prefent there are few wooden houfes at Richmond.. The trade of this town confifts in the purchafe of the country pro- dudions., the number of which is confined to wheat, Indian corn, lli and BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAU LT LIANCOURT. S3 and tobacco—-and in felling at fecond hand the articles of domeftic eon fum prion* which are generally procured from England. The number of merchants who carry on a dired commerce with Europe is inconfiderable : they keep their fhips at Norfolk; the river not being navigable for thofe of large fize higher up than City-Point, at the diftance, by water, of fixty-fix- miles below Richmond. They therefore fend the produce of the country in fmaller veffels to Norfolk, where they eafily find opportunities of completing their cargo, if needful. The generality of <thefe merchants are only the agents or partners of Englifh houfes: the others hardly carry on any other than the commiffion trade,, which may be confidered as the real bufinefs of theplace. It is from the merchants of Richmond or Peterfburg that thofe of Norfolk moft commonly purchafe the grain, flour, and tobacco, which the latter export, and which the former have purchafed at firft hand. The country produce is paid for by the merchants in ready money or at fhort credit : they even frequently obtain it on cheaper terms by furnifhing the planters with an advance of money on their crop. The Richmond merchants fupply all the ftores through an extenfive trad of back country. As they have a very long credit from England, they can allow a fimilar indulgence of fix, nine, or twelve months to the fhopkeepers whom they fupply, and from whom they always derive a confiderable profit, which is ftill further inereafed when they exad payment in country produce. . Almoft all the merchants of Richmond have fhops for the retail- trade. They all deal in bills of exchange on Europe ; a trade which often proves extrenste&y profitable to them. There are few opulent merchants at Richmond ; ftill fewer in eafy circumftances ; aadit is no difficult matter to find good notes at four and five per cent per mdnth. But people have not here, as in th'e principal towns of America, the refource of putting thefe notes into the banjy^ccordingly this kind of traffic is here much more lucrative. The legaJ in'tereft of money, which is only five per cent per annum, Vol. IL F together Klfc UgL - 34 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMRICA, together with the fcarcity of fpecie and the general want of confidence, render it difficult to obtain money on loan. RICHMOND CANAL. The falls of James-River, which obftruded its navigation from the diftance of feven miles above Richmond, heretofore impofed a neceffity of employing land-carriage for that fpace. At prefent a canal, running parallel with the courfe of the river for thofe feven miles, conneds the communication by water, and opens a navigation which extends without interruption two hundred miles above Richmond. This canal, already nearly finifhed, will be entirely completed during the prefent year, excepting the bafin, which the diredors propofe to form at the entrance of the town, and of a much greater fize than feems neceffary for the trade of Richmond on any reafonable fuppofition of its future encreafe. The locks at the opening of the canal are ereded :. they are fimple, and the gates are eafily managed by one or two men,, but might be rendered ftill more eafy in their movement. Thefe, being three in clofe fucceffion, raife the boats to an elevation of feven- teen feet. Others will be required, if it be intended to carry the canal as far as Rocket, a mile below the town, beyond which point veffels of forty tons cannot come up on the Richmond fide : on the other fide veffels even of greater burden can come up almoft oppofite to the town. The extenfion-^EHrhe canal to Rockfethas for its objed to facilitate the dired tranfportation of the back-country produce to'0£r$- . Point, and fo on to Norfolk. By this mean, thofe commodities, which otherwife would find no market except at Richmond, might reach Norfolk, and, by exciting a competition between the mei^fants of both towns, might probably caufe an encreafe of pfpit to the planters. But the expence of thefe additional locks would be very confiderable. The fund of two hundred and forty thoufand dollars, "8&fed by a fubfcription -of 4fevei^^iun3red fhares, is already exhauft^: and a loan ....... of BY THE DUKE DE tA &0 GTI-EFOUCAUL£ LIANCOURT. g5 of twenty-oue thoufand dollars, made by the truftees of the canal under the authority of the ftate, and fecured by a mortgage of the tolls that have already begun to be received on the part which is finifhed,, has been proved fcarcely fufficient to complete the execution of the original plan. It appears that the great expsence which would attend the addition furnifhes the holders of the canal fhares with a pretext for oppofing it, and that the Richmond merchants ufe that as a cloke to cover their wifh to remain the fole purchafers of the produce of the back country, which is the real motive of their oppofition to the further ex- tenfion of the canal. INSPECTION OF MERCHANDIZE. The culture of tobacco is not carried on in the vicinity of Richmond, at leaft not on an extenfive fcale. There are neverthelefs three houfes of infpedion in this town i fimilar eftablifhments are to be found in every diftrid of Virginia where tobacco is cultivated, and in all the commercial towns. Thefe infpe£ik>ns, whofe objed is to enfure to foreign purchafers the quality of the commodity for which they contrad, are ordered by the ftate for tobacco* flour, and other articles. They are eftablifhed in like manner in all the ftates which produce thefe articles. But the infpedion of the tobacco in Virginia, and efpecially on James-River, is efteemed to be conduded with a degree of exad-> nefs and feverity which contributes as much as the real fuperiority of the article itfelf to keep up its price in the market. Every tobacco- planter who intends his crop for exportation packifir up in hogfheads, and thus fends it to one of the houfes of utfpedion. There the tobacco is taken from its cafe, which is opened for the purpofe ; it is jammed in every direction and in every part, in order to afcertain its quality, its homogeneity, its purity; it is rejeded as unfit for exp^J^f tion if any defect is perceived in it; or, if no o^ldion appgfir, it is pronounced to be exportable. It is then re-packed in its hogfhcad, which is branded with a hot iron, marking the place of infpedion and Fa the m tf^ 3^ TRAVELS ]fN NORTH AMERICA, the quality of the contents; after which, it is lodged in the ftorehoufes- of the infpedion, there to await the difpofal of the planter, who receives a certificate of the particulars, ferving at the fame time as an- acknowledgefh&nt of the depofit. It is by felling this • tobacco-note"' to the merchant that the planter fells his tobacco. - The purchafer, on viewing the note, is as well acquainted with the article as if he had himfelf infpeded it: and he has only to fend the note and transfer to the ftore where the tobacco lies, and it is immediately delivered out to his order. The tobacco is often fent by the planter himfelf to the ware houfes of a different infpedion from that where he has it infpeded, either becaufe he thinks them more convenient to the market, or for other private reafons. This happens at the warehoufes of the Richmond infpedion, which annually receive numbers of hogfheads that have been infpeded elfewhere. The infpedors—for there are two in each infpedion—receive as in- fpedion-fee a dollar and half per hogfhead : from the fums hence arifing they receive their falaries, which vary from a hundred to-two. hundred and fifty dollars per annum, according to the importance of the office where they are employed. The refidue of the infpedjon- fees conftitutes a part of the revenues of the ftate. • Every other fpecies of produce deftined for exportation is alfo fubjed to infpedion, as flour, hemp, tar; but thefe articles do not feera to undergo the fame fevere fcrutiny as the tobacco. For, at Philadelphia, for inftance, the Virginia flour, notwithftanding its being branded with the mark of " fuperfine," is fubjeded to a new infpedion. The merchants of Virginia attribute this re-infpedion to commercial jealoufy on the part of Philadelphia : but there exifts in reality fo prodigious a difference between the flour hitherto manu- fadured at Richmond, and that from the mills of Pennfylvania and Delaware, that the former is conftantly taken in the courfe of trade at half a dollar, and fometimes even at a dollar and half, lower than the latter. ftAf MILLS. §Y THE PUKE PE LA ROCHEFQUCAULT HANCO\TRT, 37 MILLS, I have feen one of the two mills at Richmond : it ftands below the fells of the river, receives a great power of water, and turns fix pair of ftones. It is a fine mill, and unites the aStfantages of all the new inventions : but it is ill conftruded : the cogs of the wheels are clum- fily executed : it is moreover not fufficicntly roomy. It neverthelefs cofts a yearly rent of near fix thoufand dollars to monfieur Chevalier, a Frenchman from Rochefort, heretofore diredor of the French paquets fo America, and now fettled in Virginia. This mill is generally employed in private manufadure, and feldom works for the public; when the latter is the cafe, the terms for grinding are five bufhels for each barrel of flour. Monfieur Chevalier and his partners are in the conftant habit of f^ecuiating on the moment when they fhall fend their flour to market. Their fpeculations have hitherto proved very advantageous to them : but they have reafon to apprehend a material- lofs from a late fpeculation which determined them two months fince to refufe the offer of thirteen dollars per barrel, in hopes of obtaining a ftill better price. At the piefent moment they could not find a pur-- ehafer at above ten dollars* MANNERS AND LAWS.L *^Sotiety here difplays the charaderiftics of fimplicity and honefty : neverthelefs it is not linked in the bond of unity. The men who be- Ibno- to oppofite parties feldom vifit each other : but, when they happen to meet, they treat each other with ailthe politenefs and civility of well-bred people. The party oppofed to government—that is to fay, the party wifhing for a change in the exifting conftitution, a reftridion in the executive power—has here many zealous adherents. This party would prefer to their own the new French conf&teeftion, fuch as it is: and, from the permanency TRAVELS- IN NORTH AMERICA, permanency of that conftitution in France, they derive encourage* ment to effed a change in the conftitution of the United States. The party in the Englifh intereft confider the fupport of the Eng* fh conftitution, even with all its exifting abufes, as the mean of overthrowing the prefent conftitution of Fraa$j§, and fubftituting in its ftead a monarchy ; and alfo as a eircumftance calculated to gratify the defire which they- evidently manifeft of conferring a great additional ftrength on the executive power of the United States—-as well'as tbe defire,' not lefs real though lefs openly avowed, of feeing a hereditary monarchy eftablifhed in this country. . Between thefe two extremes there is an inter-mediate; clafs whofe fentiments are marked with moderation. There are alfo fonae eMit^ vagant enthi*frafk..who blindly etpifesace the French or the Englifh party without any ulterior political confide ration, and merely through intereft or paflion. The commerpiajjt body, for inftance, at Richmond, as almoft every-where elfe, are exsjfljftvely attached to England,vfef$ caufe it is. wTith her they have all their dealings, and have no pro* fped of credit or profit except by her means: and at Richmond, as in nearly all the trading towns, the commercial body enjoys a certain degree of fuperiority. During the late difcuffion of the treaty in Congrefs, the majority of this town informed their reprefentati^^ in the national legiflature that they wifhed them to vote for its ratification. I have feen all forts of company, and n^none have I heard the prefident mentioned otherwife than in terms of refped. Mr. Edmond Randolph, heretofore fecretary of ftate to t&&Union> and become fo famous in confequence of monfieur Fauchet's letter, follows here the profeffion of a lawyer, to which he h$j|7 devoted all that part of his life that was not employed in public a^airs^e l&hsk great pradice, and ftands in that refped nearly on a par with Mr. J. Marfhall, the moft efteemed and celebrated counfello|™jn this town. The profeffion of a lawyer is here, as in every other part^dt America, one of the moft profitaWe^j^^' though the employment be here tittuis more BY THE DUELE DE LA R0CHEFd#fcAUW,4ft*IfceOURT.. 59 more conftant than in Carolina, the pr*a£fittbuer's emoluments are very faf from being equally confiderable. Mr.. Marfhall does not from his pradice derive above four or five thoufand dollars per annum, and not even that fum every year. Inl¥Wginia rafelawyers ufually take care to irifift on payment before they proceed in a fuit: and this cuftom is juf- tified by the general difpofition of the inhabitants to pay as little and as feldom as poffible. I have heard phyficians declare Ihfat they do not annually receive one-third of what is due to them for their attendance;, that they have fome of thefe debts of five and twenty years^ ftanding; that their claims are frequently ddrrred i -and that, in order to recover payment, they are obliged to fend writs, carry on law-fuits, &c. &c. &c. The derangement of affairs occafioned by expences exceeding the bounds of income, and efpecially by gaming-^Nlnd, above all, the want of delicacy refulting from that derangement and from the habit of thinking lightly of debts—are the caufes of this immoral order of things; and it is in fome degree encouraged by the laws of the ftate, which do not allow the feizure of lands or other immovable property for the payment of debts. This law, which the Virginians fay they originally derived from England, has been preferved by them inall the reforms which they have made in their legal code, and has been preferved by them alone. Slaves and movable property are *ieti£rii?^ 'but whoever is -acquainted with the manners of the country mav Teadily conceive how great the faculty of making a feigned fale^m them : and then, by holding them as hired,, they are placed beyondJthe reach of feizure. Gamift]|4s the I'tfflxig paflioa of the ^ffginians : at pharo, dice, billiards, at every imaginable game of hazard, they lofe confiderable 'films. 16r5ming-tables are publicly kept in almoft every town, and particularly'a^HRichmond. Yet a law of lthe ftate, enaded no longfer ago than in December 1792, exprefsly piffH^ypa^l games of hazard, all wagers at horfe-races or cock-fights,, of which the Virginians are paffionately fond—-forb$Hs '-the lofing of more than t^ft&y dollars at cards wfffiin four and twenty hours-^Paees aU'^lSMo^ders of banks on* **a mit 40 - TRAVELS -THROU-GH N0R-TH AMERICA. on the footing of vagabonds-—orders the juftices of the peace, on theft ighteft information, to enter the places where they are held., to break the tables, feize the money, &c. &c. Neverthelefs, to the prefent hour, the greater number of thofe whoipnaded that law—of the prefent legiflators, the juftices of the peace, and the other magiftrates— are affiduous in their attendance at thofe feats of gambling. The bank-holders are every-where received and acknowledged as " gentlemen ;" and their profelpon is envied, as being a very lucrative one. The part of this law which is faid to be the moft pundually executed is that which cancels thf ajjehts contraded at the gaming-table, and pro- hl|tift$tthe payment of them. It is not uncommon to witnefs feenes of bloodfhed at thefe gaming- ■houfes. Since my arrival here, a young man, of a family of confe- "lSP§fi£e in Virginia, fancying, in his impatient heat at a billiard-party, that he had reafon to be fejjfogbpfc^ with the behaviour of a marker wihgirBlhesthpught defici^tiift\d3Jfo.^eiped to him,—after difcharging a volley of abufe on the manj '#ho with much difficulty bore it—thrufr, .him through the body with a kind of eutlafs which he wore by his,ft4% The marker did not die in confequence of the wound : but, even if he had, the^oung man would have equally efcaped profecution. The latter has quitted, the town for a few days., and will fhortly reappear, and re- fume his ufual purfuits, as if he had been abfent only on account of ill health; although nobody denies the commiffion of that public ad, ^i^^tempts to palliate j^i^fj The law againftiinoculation is more rigidly enforced. It prohjfeks jm&enf3p£rfon from havjl^faw&felf or an^^^s^pp^iiijstoi^ulated ,:V^»^a out permiffion obtained from all the juftices of.:4b«u(5|aia.ty, who, on his petitjian, are to aifemble^^ad enquire into the- mpty«^t$f ;h^^fi> queft, its neceffity, its sp&afjjjffiya^pKithey acquiefce,v;^i^!tt|||xitfi^',. «^|^i; is to be-giveQiuswri^j^Jis ftill of no ayail: that$^&rtJj$ Otfighr hours for two milesiTcsuTtai is moLejG^e£j^j£v%^ iingle one prevents.-the inoculatida.u ■Any.=;!3^^4l9febwhQ:ifef§|liJd(presume to inoculate without thefe- precautions, .wcwikjvfoe puniflaedljbyia :tlt@Ia -II .joVfine ?*■ fj Grvai / Fort Ghcinnntits Miamiijis^utn^t/m^^^ /J.ii/tr Miami 1 Ju/wurv Jtufo/ljhtfpf BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LLANCOURT. 41 fine of ten thoufand dollars. Whoever is accideft^ily attacked by the ftnall-pox is carried to a lonely houte in the middle of the woods, aad there he receives medical affiftance. If> tjhe village, the town, the di- ftrid, to whieh he belongs, catch the infedion, thefe places are cut off from all commuri&ation with the reft of the country, and are permitted to have recourfe to inoculation: otherwfe it is never allowed.; for it is eafy to perceive that the faculty of obtaining permiffion for the purpofe by the unanimous vote of the magiftrates of the county and the general confent of the neighbours, in a country where prejudices receive fuch additional ftreagth from the law, is a mere illufkai.^* People are often heard to murmur againft t§|fe*bfuTd law : yetit is pundually obeyed : and nobody can allege as a pretext for this pre$u-> dice, that the Virginians are afraid of " tempting God,*' as was the cant of our priefts in France, who, in this inftance as in many others, have done all the mifcnfe€ in their power. Thofe who are afked a reafon for fuch a regulation adduce the fear of propagating a dangerous difeafe with which they affert that Virginia has never been other-J wife than partially and accidentally infeded. They repeat the affer-- tions which in Europe had long proved a bar to the eattfenfion of that admirable difcovery. They fay that the practice of inoculation, by rendering the difeafe more common, increafes the number of its vidims far beyond what nature intfciided ; that inoculation is itfelf full of dangers; that the attendant expences, which are confiderable, do not lie within the ability of the poor (for, in Virginia, as elfbwhere, feme popular reafon muft be given), &c. &c. &c. One is aftonifhed to hear frefogJthe mouths of enlightened men thefe arguments which the old women of Europe have long ceafed to repeat. Population does nofci fuffer a greater decFeafe in Pennfylvania or the other American ftates where inoculation is permitted, than in Virginia where it is prohibited : on the contrary, it dailj^tacreafes. This entire ifolation of the place where the fmall-pox breaks out, fuch as the laws of Vii^thaa prefcribe,, cannot be carried into effed with all the conditions neceffary to render, it falutary. May not the infedion be conveyed by , Jbe- phyficians, Vol. II. G whom 42 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, i whom the law does not fubjed to quarantingi And might not ths* neceffary expences of inoculation, which are known to be fo mo* ^eioafce, be c.0pfined by the provip*e£t attention of governrnfat to a fum which no family fhojuld feel burdenfome ? To all thefe palpable truths, norfoliel ianfv^e&sgiyen : yet the advocateship inoctu^tjon are fatfifrpm baviflg&aynhope of being able to effed an alteration in the l&ftjtf.:-~i#jU|i§| I have heard alleged, as the real mot^ for the regulation, the fear enter tatoedffof she planters of being obliged to inoculate the^jif^r^f^ if the pradice of inoculation fhould become fo general as to render $*a# precaution neceffary to preferve them from the danger of it? repi- demic ravages. It is difficult to credit fuch a reafon, when the^i^ tpmi30\is fo trifling, when the procefs is fo eafy, and when belles they a-eetia the habit of ;not paying their phyficia^|. The moft probable caufes are heedleflasfe, want of refledion, and cuftom. Yet the,^^g right> of man, that of preferving his own life, is prohibite^^y this, Qefchifc iltegiflation. Political fyftems too often referable fyftems of religion : each man, according to his private intereft, |f%mes one for himfelf, which is compofed of the.groffeft abfurdities and the moft glaring contradidie^s; and his CQ&fcience becomes gradually accustomed and reconciled to it. The civil laws of Virgt^la have ftruck me as wifely ordained. Xb^ which relates to perfons dying inteftate, divides the property equally among dbeicfeilidtfSftifraffigns to the mother one third of the whole— and conduds with great forejjgfelj^d juftice thejfeifion of the fortune of the deceafed injidefault .^fe-children, wi^, father, mother* brother, fifter, &c. But the freedom of teftamentary devife is allowed taliaibfift. in unbounded latitude ; an4 the manners oj^fee country almoft univerfally incline the teHators ra&bf-r to follow the ancient cuftoms,, than to regard the inteatioas of the more recent law : tl^^gaf^qnence of whicj^iha^'the eldeft fp®j$aherits almoft the wM&iiflB^y* anc^ the males are provided with fbrftj.n$*#t the expence of the females.-^ The ilave-laws are much milder here than in any of the other coun- i itu?ies BY THE DU#I f^'^l*.:~§&G3£Ef8&G£:$£ffc" ttANCOUB^. 4f tl^$m>ughLifciS3*#I have hffl&rto travelled. Juftice, I gfttfr?-£ft if& the fame for the mafter as re¥iJthe flave, for the white man and rM black. Legfflftion is af##ys partial^ this inHaTfce ; bvfe ifiiat parf&Stfyp is a cruel and almoft unavoidable confequence of the admftfion of ffavery; and this truth ought alone to be fufficient to ocCafion its abolition among an enlightened people who retain any idea of morality The Virginians have gone farther in reforming the blfirbarity of the- ancient laws refpeSihg flavery, than any other people of the LMiietl States—perhaps than any other nation upon eardfcfwhere flavery prev Vails in full force. In 1772 the legiftatur$N8F llfrfgi#IK? petitioned the kiigftdf^I&igland to authorize the governor to give4&^^$y»MJo a law ^^i$l^g^a££ further importation of negroes into the province: and his refufhlfifcift grant their requeft is one of the grievances on Which the moft fcit8Si*i complafotsHare made againft his Bfeiim(to#jt£fy in the preamble to the new conftitution framed in 1776. Accordingly an adli^fefrbiddiB^'-Sl^" future importation of negroes into the ftate was one of the firft>!b&s paffed by th^fegiflature after the adoption of the^n^K conftitution. A negro who raife his hand againft a white man is acqttkft^Slpiiifc be proved that he has done it in felf-defence ; otherw§f& he receives thirty laflies. The flave is judged by five j«fti6es of the peao4« Whttfk unanimous voice is requifite to pafs fentence of death. &JN&'%&t.} called upon to give evidence on the t^ferfs of othfert flaves in cririitnlkih cadfe; but they are cautioned by the judged*tfe*^i^f^4hfe'ir teftimony be proved falfe, tBfeirears will be cut off. No mah^MS^a&'in the ffi^nteft degree interefted eitlftS^for or againft a neg£o^fsfrarlowe<$ to fit in judgement on or grW^^eace againft M&i If juftitfe.fdif!pefoo£ the perfon of a negro, the owner is paH^ttie full value of his fla^0tfer regulation which renders the mafters lei§4nclined to fcifea their flaves from the feverity of the laws. The courtsloFjuftice in Virginia are infsemenable. The cofl&of law a^twll.wlifiderable : afcftf'in confequence liMga*iil»\ffli#e^iient. Bx&& . for the^fS^^fybf debts occupy abote one tt^M^A^Slfe-allotted for Wtitf O2 the 44 ^RAVELS IN N0RIH AMERICA, the feflions. The beft proved debt cannot be recovered within a fhorter period than eighteen months : and it often happens that fe^K ral years are not fufficient to put the creditor in poffeffion of his rigj&g The natural averfion to the payment of debts finds in chicjaex^. &. thoufand means of gratifying itfelf: and on that head, here as .well as in every other country, the manners of the people aid and ftrengthen the refources of chica^&g^jgjt Difputes refpeding the title to lands are alfo one of the moft frequent caufes of law-fuits. tlliff jijirt The criminal code is nearly the fame here as in the other ftates. yjhich have not followed the laudable example of Pennfylvania : it is even fomewhat milder, afeis with pain, however, that one obferves^ that the jjfs^eigner who indents himfelf as a fervant is liable to tb|L punifhment of the whip for various offences, even thofe which only concern his mafter's fervice. The other punifhments are, as elfe- where, hanging, whipping, burning in the hand, Sec. * The ftate of Virginia has no pubjip debt, except a hundred thoufand^.. dollars in whichjfhe was found debtor to the Union on the fettlement of the accounts of the ftates with the general go^nment—and a claim of between three and four millions of livres, madeyan the part of France, by Monfieur de Beaumarchais, for arms and military ftqrjg- of every kind, furnifhed to her during the war. The people here h^m the juftice to ajl&w the goodnefs of thofe fupplies, and rlt^fffrfgfeitfefc, neceffity of them at the time when they were fent: they even acknoag*-.; ledge the. jjgaeater part of the debt ^neverthelefs they do^not feem difpofed to give any formal deed of acknowledgement; t^fefc^giigfer as little inclined to th^payment of debts as the individuals who com- pofe it, * Since the writing of this journal, the legiflature of Virginia, on the 22(1 of December 1796, paffed a law, that now lies before me, by which the punifhment of dektlfts-NCWM^H confined to cafes of premeditated murder. AH other crimes, even that of high- treajpp, are punilhaHe only by confinement for a fhorter or a longer term.. At length the Pennfylvania fyftem, refpe&ing the penal code and the management of prifons, is now eftablifhed in Virginia. 1 The BY THE DtJKE DE LA ROCHEFOtJCAULT ElAlfCOUBT. 45 The ftate even poffeffes a capitar^which is eftimated at above Jfix?JH thdufaiid dollars. Btfr&frs capital, ifi&kh is daily encreafi^^^TOt* from a fource that muft fooner or later be produdive of cfin^ffci?&e^? it is the grants of land.^PurfuanWo* ail exifting law, the ftate difj^oW of vacant lands at the rate of two cents per acre, or tWcfify doifa,re£i§&L> a thoufand acres; which is the ufual proportion of thofe grahts.^v*TT6u obtain fuch grants, it is fufficient to declare that the lands for' wliicE-J application is made, and of which the boundaries are defcribed':'m--the petition, have no owner: whereupon the ftate—that is to fay, the ' land-office, which in this inftance reprefents the ftate—grants a warrant, or an order for a furvey. The grantee has his grant 'furvey'cd by the ftate furveyor: it is regiftered; and a very moderate aftrfoM3 tax which he pays for his land, fecures to him the poffeffion^ of it. But it frequently happens that fuccelfive applications are made by feveral H perfons for the fame laud—not precifely for the fame trad boundUPBJ*3 the fame limits—but for a trad, frhich, havdig different BWfi^telSy* infefttdes a greater or leffer part of that already granted ; of' fllmch the remainder is included in another fimilar application. T?5fi£fe agai^mf1- under others of the fame kind in endlefs fucceffion; fo that the fame identical acres are often claimed by five or fix grantees, or even ih^Pe^ The ftate does not warrant to the grantee that the land^ iSttf^norc already been granted ; it is his bufinefs to acquire fuch informatidn^aV fhall fecure to him the future poffeffion of the property. But, in an uninhabited country, with a fila^fle office, where lands belon|Jn*j to the ftate at large (without any fubdivifions into townfhips Hteountie^) UW'J granted, it is im poffible to acquire the neceffary information ; and men of the moft upright intentions are often deceived on the occafion. The fpeculators find their account in this obfcurity: and in this J$ridc of fpeculation, which is very prevalent in Virginia, the inhabitants of I?GkQj*^l#3iiia and the other northern ftates take a deep fhare. The ftate aJfe^derives a profit from thefe double or triple fales, by the money thence accruing. But, befides that it is the duty of a government to preferve*«ft? governed from impofition, and ftill more to abftaia - 4,6 STWAYELS ISP WOSTH AftHEMCA,. abftaia fco^iftfrotfcijsi^ir 'im the fraud—i$$» eafy t& forefee that a time will come, when the gra^ees of thofe lar^ds, moftiied &fr- feeatsg themfelves thus duped, and incenfed by a refiafal on thte|fJ§rt of govST*** ment to refund their money,^Hl carry into that count!}* a new germ of difcontent, and confequcarijjr of difturbance. This ftate of affairs is generally known at ptnefent y and accordingly Virginian lands are fallen into difcredit. The quantity is iro- menfe : the courfe of annual migration tends rather to diminifh thas* increafe the population of Virginia: thus the period when the uncultivated lands, of which there are very extenfive trads, fhall come to JMiMI<babited, is much farther diftant there than in any other ftate of the Union. Meanwhile pretty numerous demands are already made to the court which is appointed to take cognizabee of fuch affairs $ bnis that court, barely deciding in favour of the oldeft titles, pronouitices the money to be abfolutely loft which the fecoisd or third grantees have paid to the ftate for their lands, and to the furveyors for the expences of furveying. Thefe laft fums amount to double the prfe;of the purchafe, that-i$4&taytalM> four cents per acre. From the addition of the finances of the ftate of Virginia, it follows that the kltsdens impofed on the citizens are, as I have already re- markedluife no means; heavy. The duty on the infpedion of tobacco. tends to render them ftill lighter. They confift of five fhillings on' esses^r hundred poua?<fe eftimated value of lands, divided into four claffes (and the lands are always eftimated below their real value)*— two dollars and ojm twelfth on every three hundred and thirty-three dollars eftimated value in city-lots—one fhilMag and eight pence on-easfe* (lave below * the age of twelve years, except thofe who are easempted fi^fWlt^^tion by the corporation of the place on accou«fcof theif'infirmities—a fum on each ftallion, whether horfe or afs, equal to the price demanded %ft(hts»fQO¥ering^bur pence for eveiafWAther horfe, r%»ae,-vor mule—forty fhillings for every ordinary lideMfee^fifty dollars * du-defwjg^th.z French. 1$ it $ofe a fault of print for m-^kjfttsy above ? for BY THE PUKE D£ U- »©eHEFOUCAV*.Y MANCOURT, 47 for eactehi^id)-tahle?-p-fix fhillings per wheel on every four-wheeled carriage, except phaetons and waggons, which pay but four-—and ten fhillings per wheel on tervc^iftwo-wheeled carriage. Such are the taxes: voted in the laft feffion for the expences of 17Q6. They vary in proportion to the greater or leffer amount of public expenditure ordered. Independentjof thefe taxes, there are duties impofed on proceedings in the fupreme court—on tiafisfers of certificates of the furveys of land—on certificates and contrads drawn by notaries—on certificates given bpthe county "courts or thofe of the towns—and* finally, on certificates paffihgethe great feal of the ftate. The valuation of the lands was made in 1781 and 17 82*«and is permanent. Lands recently granted by the ftate are fubjed to the tax. The fheriffk in the different ^counties are, by vifrttfe of their office^ eolledors of all the taxes. They are annual^ aominated by the governor of the ftate, from a lift of three jaJj^ces of the peace, drawn up by the county-courts. They cannot be continued in office above two years. They m&k givfe fewky to the amount of thirty thoufand dollars. They receive a commiffion of five per Gent on the fkmsv by them eoUeded. The commiffioneifs (generally two kj^45&|$|, county) who affefs the taxes, receive a dollar per day during the time they devote to that bufinefs. The duties on judicial proceffes are received; bigs the county clerks, ajnd by the officers who iflbe them.^- Every immigrant artifan who arrivesin the ftate enjoys ducting five, years an exern^tioafrom every other tax except that on land, if he follows a trade^rfThe taxes being li^fc.are well paid in Virgiaku The feizure of movable property, and even of flaves, enfures the regular eastern of all the funds^e-The expences of the government of Vir- ginia annually amount to a hundred and fixt^Ara&nd dollarf- • The coufttiemknpofe no taxes u&lefs. when thejffaaljfe tfridg§Sf }Sriii>n§,, or court4io*Ues^ to build. In fuch cafes the lands at thfe^fee eftimated for the ftate-taxes, and the negroes, are taken as data l^whic^i to regulate the temporary wr^nfitiofis wfefch are deemed ne<3effar$|f--5 have. already • TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, already remarked that the roads are made and repaired by the labour of the inhabitants. ^^Ke town-taxes are in general £#p^e*|f£«l? thofe for the fupport of the poor. Afl*Richmond they embrace a variety of objeds : they are impofed on carriages, and the lettHlg of houfes j they comprize mora* over an impofition of two fhiilingijsper head on negroes above fix&fftj&i years of age, &c. but they do not in any particular wear the features: of an arbitrary capitation-tax, from which feveral of the other ftates are not exeMfB*** The ftate of Virginia, like moft of the other'ffcates oft the Union, is ^jffj>rc?vided With arms for h&piMWitfa, and canncii?l^fd|errjffirtite^ The' late affembly has ordered a yearly provifion to be made of four irfcfafand ftand of arms with military accoutrements, and ten pieces of cannon. Each artuWy company is to ha^one. The magazine for their reception is appointed to be at Point-of-Fork on James- Uf$£f"; and the arms are fabricated at New-London ia;Bsdfprd- Couaty. A wn%%w of Virginia, intended to ad on the eledons:as a ftimulus to attend the numerous eledions held in this ftate, fubjeds to a double tax all thofe who abfent themfelves on fuch occafions, unlefs they can plead ilMBalth as their apology. fpW^ There has not for a confiderable time been any eftablifhmej^rof free fehools"HrVirginia. Every thing remained to be doue in that refped —the divifion of counties into fchool-diftrids—organization of their adminiftration—eredion of fchool-houfes, &c. A law of the twenty- fecond of December 1776, has provided for all thefe objeds with prudence, for£fi|fht, and confummate judgement. Some yearsfafwever muft yetekpfe before fuch eftablifhments can take place in every part of the ftate : but the foundations are already laid : and we may anticipate the period when the fyftem of gratuitous pubJao^dwc^tie<t^v»8i& flourifh in Virginia for the *&feites, as it does in MaQachoietis and Conned&cut for aH*ihe inhabitants. The conftitution of Virginia, framed in 1770, eftablim^tfeftme divifion BY THE DUKfE DE LA R0€S»y8ffC&ULT LtANCOURT. 49 divifion of powers as the conftitutionS fcf the ethHSF-Elates. Each of the counties, which are e4gb|y*iight ia numbfc?,4ends two members to. fhe home of delegates : Norfolk, Williamfburg^ and Richmond, which are privileged towns, fend one each. They are eleded annually. The qualificattotts for eligibility are, that the Candidate poftefs the irtghtsof a c&feen of Virginia^-at^haye^ attained the age of twenty-" oneyears. • The fenate is compofed of twenty-four members—two for each *ftft*i&; the ftate being, for this fingfejpurpofe, divided iifig* twelve Jtttagthary diftrids. The fenators are eleded for>Jjgjr years; and one quarter of their number annual^%acate their feats. The age of tfwentyjfive years is required for electa into the^Jfeate. The electors muft poffe& a<&fefcdred acres of unctdtjjfcated land, or twenty-* =five aeres undefiijfiijBirttt^n> or a houfe or lot in a town. The goveflfiifa5, the executivecoune^^^ithout svhofe Co^feUrrence he can do nothing), the judges of the fiipreme cour«£*ffce attorney- general, the treafurer, the diredor of the land-office, and the commander in cWfrOf the militia, are cho%a,|*y ballot by both houfes. The governor is eleded for one year, and cannot contimigjUj* office above three years in feven. The exe^Jtive council is compofed of eight members, two of whom are rejfe^ed every three years-by a ballot of both houfes, and are not re-^gihle during the three years next enfttiag. The prefident of the executive couficil, who is eleded by the council fciilf^ads as goverasifiirof the ftate in cafe of the death* incapacity, or abfence, of the governor. The judges continue in office during good behaviour.—The treafurer is appointed W&y for one year, but is ro-*%Jigible. The juftidi&wMae peace are propofed hy tae^#^$jy£courts to the *^©vetubfpuwho appoints them without the power of rejedion. The • fubordinafe officers of juftice are nominated by the courts to which they belong, and the conftables hffi&te juftigfjSrof the^f^pe. •The-' g^fehhii}«aal«3if f give • his opi n ion Ofl *^tfi e j J a ws :, h e can n o t *g*W4tha pardoWWithout the confent of his council. Of all the ftates r Vol. II. H of M IN'NOR#jH AMERICA, the Union,. VkginimM $*H M which the governor poffeffes the leaft power, and the fairies of office a&K$be low eft. ^^iif^yiCg^ijia^o^a^ ries her$&m$]$&. very flender rem&f^aljions.: and accof^igly.employments are .hahatually re-iifed byl&fa'**&#. tnen who are beft qualify to hold them, but who^j^i accepting them, woujshlofe a cq^ji^emble portion of theincome which they can deri^ffj^a;j-their profeffions, and who thus could lay up no referve for the eftablifhment^g^^^jg families. rf&Mil ^fpkjjfi^ilftitution, frisj$e4 during the war with the nj^ther-country, i%i*pfeceded by a preamble enumerating the grievances with which Virginia fo juftly reproached the * * * * govfggment. The organisation of the judicial fyfte^^is more complex in Virginia than elfewhere. Each county has alm^fcWy court: four or five counties conftitute a diftrid,- where are held the circuit-courts, the general court, orp'aajn,s, court, chancellor's court,/$&c..&c. The$f§fi-j gi®ians are i&j^nimous in afferting that the feats of judges are, with a few exceptions, very ill filled : and among the!.iexceptionsjt!}ey mer^api; the poft of chancellor, held by Mr. Whyte, who enjoys the general efteem. Thofe who are better qualified to fill the places of judges refine them becaufe they are laborious and produdjsie of little profit. | Perfed freedom of religion is allowed by the laws of Virginia : but few nations are lefs addided to religious pradice^Hjan the Virginians. At Richmond-there is no church. Prayers are fometimes read in the Capitol, in one of f$*e> halls deftined for the legiflature : and then they are read by an epifcopalian clergyman, becaufe thofe who call themfelves members of that profeffion are more numerous than the others. Meetings of anabaptifts, methodifts, and even quakers, are more regularly held, but in private houfes, as none of thofe feds have any public building appropriated to the pradice of their.?j1^§|ff$^$fl ?||§jje colonization of Virginia, or rather its firft fe£|j$Jnent, dates from the year 1584, at which period Queen Elizabeth granted to Sir Walter Raleigh the property^.? all the lands he could discover beyond the feas, uninhabited by any Chriftian nation. This property extended J$ to BY THE DUKE DE LA ROGHEFOUCAULT MANCOURT. 5£ the diftance of two hundred leagues from any hkbat^ons^hich theJ new colony might eftablifh within fix years. The queen referved for herielf only a fifth part of the produce of any gold or filver mines which might be di^fevered. It was in the ifiegof Roanoke, wluehttdeaf: conftitaie&a part of North-Carolina, that the new ^tte^fia^danded:' and henceiitfafgeaileiward proceeded to Hatoraffoioethe bay of Chela- peak. This eftablifhment, which .was not aided by any public affiftance from Ehgl&nd, already coft Sir Walter Raleigh forty thoufand pounds fterling. He was therefore obliged to form a partnarihipiil^tfta Thomas Smitlraad other adv^tottej^tii^iioiaQ, in return for considerable fums of .money received from -them,3rheegranted an unlimited freedom of trade and a fhare hi}|j|ip^oprie4drflHpi".. I^t J^stoGrtxs ISirj Walter was arretted by order of the Englifh court;.- and.it hteynesflsr' fince been known what became of thedmaft number of colonifts at that time fettlsd. in his immenlel grant. From the misf<^" nes.of Sir Walter Raleigh fome rich proprifefeOE-g and merchants of London, who were jealous of his poffeffion* con-i ceived the idea that he ha«iviio longer any claim to it: and this opinion received:confirmation fnsn^the condud of kingxajaoaes, who, by letters patent, granted to Sir ThomaEsiQwt^»the Earl ofcrSalifbury,, and fome others, for themfelees and their heirs, all the lai|£$k>f Virginia, to the extent of two sbundred initesi north and fouth of Point Comfort, together with the adjacent iflands within a hundred miles of the coaft, &£<ti&c. This company was incorporated under* the name of " treafurers and company of adventurers as-diplantem^f the ci^i^ London for the firft colony in Virginia." ^B^Jpatentviffife^iml6.Q9ir granted and%aJfcwedtifiieedQiBuofi «30B*MFnfiiEBt%dtib England; lexfimption fssfcpr&ll-taxes, andthec"^hts of arii&a^ifhiiifiijed, to evarJB jaermnth^nfj ia the new colony.'.-j The coumd9^b»diH»*f^^ the-- d«e^o^fpf the eritierprize, wasichofeQi^the nomination of the company. Never was patent granted in fuch extenfive latitude. | jg£| .. ,The:. Indians, as, ;ina every other inftance, a-ffifted the rifing colony.^ they had.fhown themfelves equally kind and hofpitable to Sir Walter: H2 Raleigh,: s& •TRAVELS IN 1f0»5#f! 'AMERICA, Ra^igjbfcri iws&ihfltfe alfo, ^.evqqw\*js&j?e elle, they i^ife Qadi '&&&&&: objeds of perfecution ; and wars between, them and the colonifts fhook. aad-darftistrbed the new fettlement. In 1621, a fort-o0ic^^itia>ti(Wjiih^vhe£n given to the colgnjf-jhgp-tftfli? company who were its proprietors. This conftitution appeiaited an: annual afifecffiMy compofed of two reprefentatav.es from each town,, plantation, or hundred-^a priscy council/nominated-by the company*9f| and a governor, alfo of their nomiriation, who poffeffed a negatnasfic&u the laws propofed by the affembly. In 1G22, Charles the Firft, diffatis$ed with the condud of the company, took the government of the colony into his own hands, in violation of the charter granted by his •predeceffoai^ which deprived him of t&lfcright. This;§bange of mafte*8r#ihowever, did not afifed .either the rights;©* the opinions of the colonifts. It wasiunder the reign of Charles the-Fttfti fehte Lords Baltimore- and;! Fairfax obtained aiqlifmemberment of .tbftrgauif&didan*. gowerinr ment, and territory of Virginia* *t&;$ft5<V3&9tf the depofition.of thatpimce, the Engiiihr parliament fJE^l4fidfcher3p|e»8&5 to carry)too.angBammmerce witk foreign nations*: ans&ll&to^as*the- firft ftep in.that prohibitory fyfbsorvof which the fupport and the confequences have fince been attended with the lofs to Englaad of hm oofa&i&a.jm North Amesif&itjaf The ■colony of Vh^Lni&for fome time refufed to acknowledge the au~) thority of Cromwell and the republican parliament: but in, 1651 the co-> loaifts,laid down their arms, aad receivedifrom parliamenfci&new charter. , oonfirmifi^them lifethe enjoymeadtiC^a^the^aisoaerjrights, except the poffeffion- of that portion of theijstcoit®ry)antecedei«^.gKanted to Lords Baltimore and Fairfax*, sjftut, after the reftoration of royalty in England, the fucceedi»g;.kings paid no greater refped to this charter tftftft..- CH*r*ks<*fee Firft had fhown to the former. The affembly waaVdttlife divided into two houfes : appeals were carried from the triisteials of Virginia to London : the prohibition of foreign trade wis again en- ^SaP forcedw ikJM wmm wm BY THE DUKE' TS& £A ROCHErOUKSJUEEir-LtANCOURT. »t> forced—the' territory of Virginia-' dii-Brnifhett^-the? fcftabitants of the cofany throwsiHHiM prii^^ &c. &c. Virginia, ttbinfomg'herfelf more feecely aggrieved by*>E&glbnd. than any other of tittr American coionies, wa^ene of the firibta taker, svptot in**ne-revolufcresi.: and no one of the fttes? imade more'-Vjjprous efi&rfs; expended greater fans, or difplayed asose.fignaB eaerjrjcj4& accor»plifh that hajipy'objed. DEPARTURE FROM RICHMOND-MANCHESTER.—JOURNEY TO PETERSBtTRG^ The bridge that unites Richmond to^ft^nchefter is one of t&eiwarfb and: moft dangerous of all poffible: bridges. In .its length it ftcdjvicfed by two iflands : but, from one end* to the other, it is nothing better than an irregular affemblage of uigaUaedunfaftened planks laid upon joifts which bend in coideipiencee£rtiteiTrlengthj and which themfelves reft on piers, partly of wood partly of ftone, the tottfering remains of a fbmewhafe better bridge that was deftroyed a few years'fittee by an extraordinary fwiell of theiiver. Thefe remnanfeof die formeirpiers are moreover of unequal height, fo that this bridge poffefles evefyin£$^$na«^ ble charaderiftic of infbhdity. It is called a temporary bridge, becaufe the people talk of building another: bu$ the fame thing has been faid for the laft five or fix years, during whi(^ period the paffage has cqfttbiwed in its prefent ftate. There are not even any funds pointed' e&bfjoj that objed ; and it would reapiire confiderable fuifiS to ered the intended bridge in fuch manner as to fecure it againft thofe annual frefhes which are very powerful, and which acquire addkfenal violence ii^^fyigY^l^<falls, at the foot of which the bridge ftiflds. Thofe yearly fwell^ofdferiver, particularly atithe clofe of Wia«lJ0rifetfrb«^' <W§fttyB$ye to thirjysfeet in height.—Iraja&titidfe-Jtedits other defeds, tjgs^wretched bridge is&iiiprovided with rails or parapets: and not?& year paffes without ■ witn.effing fome melancholy accidents in confeV (pence. Manchefter 54 TRAVELS IN NORjTH : AMERICA, Manchefter is a very neat lftle-village, well built, and ftanding on a very gentle declivity. Gardens and trees abound *pUiin it, and it pTe- fents, as I ha"\fe%efore obferved, a beautiful profped from Richmond. But the country over which a traveller paffes on his way from Manchefter to Peterfburg, is fiat, and for the moft part barren: very little culture appears; but an almoft uninterrupted fuccefiion of woods, broken however by here and there fome fields which yield four, or five spiels of wheat per acre, or from eight to ten of Indian corn. Thefe fields are never manured ; hardly even are they ploughed ; and it feldom happens that their owners for two fucceffive years exad from them thefe fcanty crops. Ofborne's, at the diftance of fifteen miles from Richmond, is the only village on the road. It is fituate on the bank of a river which winds in numerous meanders. From Ofborne's to Peterfburg, the face of the country continues the fame : it prefents indeed a fomewhat greater number of log-houfes, but every where exhibits the features of lazinefs,. of ignorance, and confequently of poverty. Although a great-part of thefe lands be naturally bad, neverthelefs, with greater induftry and more judicious management, they might be cultivated to advantage ; for they produce trees of tolerable height and goocj quality. ^i§I PETERSBURG. Peterfburg is built on the x\ppomattox. At the town and ten miles below it, this river is but four or five feet deep. The veffels therefore which can come up to Peterfburg are ftill inferior in point of tonnage to thofe which can go up^|^ Richmond. Broad-bay, eight miles below Peterfburg, is the place where the veffels are loaded. The trade of Peterfburg is fimilar to that of Richmond : but, as this town lies nearer to North-Carolina, it receives a greater quantity, than the other, of the produce of that ftate, fuch as wheat, tobacco, fait provifions, and fome hemp. Its exportations are for the fame reafon BY THE DUBS- DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. reafon mere dofcfiderable than thofe of Richmond, although, generally fpeaking, the produce it receives is inf^idr in quality. Tobacco, for inftanee$mRhiehffells at Richmond for fix or feven dollars fcfefeJfhundred weight, does not fetch quite five at Peterftenrg. The caufe of this difference is the fuperiority of the foil, and it is faid alfo of the culti- vation, in the lands on the banks of James-River and to the right of it, where grows the tobacco that is almoft exclufively carried to Rich- fflote. The price of tobacco has experienced a rife of two fifths with— IflrfBfe laft two or three years, becaufe the inereafed price of wheat.has induced the planters to appropriate to the culture of that grain confiderable trads of land which were before devoted to the railing of tobacco, and the two laft crops of this pfarMtiave moreover been very indifferent. ys?v Flour-Bills are more numerous.at Peterfburg and in its vicinity than at Richmond : but, if we may judge of the flour that is exported, by that of which they make the bread that is eaten iri the beft houfes and even at the tables of the mill-owners, it muft be very far inferior to that of Philadelphia. It is not white ; and the millers fay that good wheat is difficult to be procured. The grain which I have feen of the prefent crop—for the harveft is every-where nearly finifhed—is fmall and light. Neverthelefs the flour fells at thirteen and even fourteen dollars ; and the millers of Peterfburg, expeding a further encreafe in the price, paid, two months fince, fo high as two dollars and a half per bufhel for wheat, even for very confiderable quantities. The intelligence from Europe, however, threatens them with a prodigious difcount on the expeded profits of their fpecula- tion j fince there has lately arrived at Bofton a veffel which had failed from Norfolk in February, and which has brought back to America her cargo of three thoufand barrels of flour, for which fhe could not obtain above eight dollars per barrel either in France or England. That article has recently been fold for feven and half at Alexandria, and Norfolk. At Peterfburg, as well as at Richmond, the mills are upon a good conftrudion. 56 TRAVELS* IN NORT&tf AMEBIC Ay conftrudion. Five bufhels of wheat yield a barrel of firft flour : fix are required to produce a bafcrfeii^&f fuperfine flom^. exclufive of the fecond flour, the pollard, and bran. The miSteV^cilaam is one eighth; fometimes, when bufinefs is dull with him, he contents himfelf withm tenth. By the wa§41 & appears that the dexterity of the Virginiaa;asul« lers in making the moft of their grift is in no wife inferior to that of the millers in Europe. Peterfburg is a tolerably neat little terWflu built along the river-fide, only two ftreets deep, and a mile and fhalf in extent, on a hill of pretty rapid elevation. Blandford, whleWs' now United with Peterfburg into one corporation, is the part which is more remarkable for elegant and WelL-huilt houfes. Society at Peterfburg appears polite, obliging, and hofpitable. Poli-. tical opinion, divided here as every-where elfe, is by a great majority in favour of oppofition. This-differenCe of fentiments however is lefs productive here, than at Richmond, of difunioja.:between the ia^\$bljsif5 of oppofite parties. Colonel Peachy, Dodor Stone, Mr. Euftis, brother to my friend Dodor Euftis of Bofton, Major Gibbon, Mr. Campbell, are the perfons in whofe company I have ofteneft been du^ng my fhort ftay in this town. The laft-menticed gentleman has lately married Mademoifelle de la Porte, a French lady, niece to Monfieur de Tubeju& who, after having fettled about three years fince in the back country of Virginia, was there murdered by two Irifhmen, who fuppofed fiim to be poffeffed of a great dtW of money. The prices of the neceffaries of life are nearly the fame here as at Richmond : and Peterfburg is equally deftitute of churches. PRESQU'ILE, Mr. DA VIES RANDOLPH'S PLANT ATION. At Peterfburg I had met Mr. Davies Randolph, for whom I had a letter ; and, in confequence of his invitation, I went to his houfe and there fpent a day. He lives at City-Point or Bermuda-Hundred, the place where the river Appomattox difcharges its ftream into James- River. BY THE DUEET DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 57 River. Here the water is fufficiently deep to admit fhips of any tonnage : and this in the place where, the larger-veffels difcharge their cargoes:into lighters,'and thus forward to Richmond and Peterfburg the merchandize which they have brought. City-Point is the fpot where •the cuftom-houfe is eftahlifhed for thofe two places. If the towns of ^Richmond and Peterfburg had beoav ereded at City-Point, their com- therce would haveheen more confiderable, their intercourse with Europe more dired, and Norfolk would not, as now is the cafe, have en- gjroffed almoft the entire trade of that part of Virginia. But City- Point Mes low, and is furrounded by fwamps. The air in the vicinity is not falubriblfe; and, in all probability, the detrimen&which the in- habitants muft have fuffered in point of health would have been fufficient to counterbalance the advantage of fuperior opulence. At aiwftf-mile from the cuftom-houfe ftands the habitation of Mr. Davies Randolph, in one of thofe long windings which James-River ^fistrms iit£his part#*feom which eircumftance it is that this plantation bears the name of Prefiju'ile (or Peninfula). Mr. Davies Randolph is fully entitled to the reputation which he •enjoys of being the beftfansser in the whole country. He poffeffes feven hundred and fifty acres of land, of which three hundred and fifty are at pn&fent fufceptible of cultivation ; the reft are all fwampy ^ounisr;2which may probably be drained at a confiderable expence, but which have not yet undergone that procefs. Light negroes (of whom two are little better tha&^children), two hoi^fe, and four oxen, cultivate thofe three hundred and fifty *£re%which4ie has divided into fields f$f forty acres inclofed. Of thofe three hunted and fifty acres, only &rty*which are fujjd&vided ifltso file portions, are alternately dungedj the remainder never has been fo* /The common rotation of cukrirje da the country is, Indian qprn, ■ wheat, fallow, and thus again, in regular fucceffion. The lands pro- duce from five to eight bufhels pfrwheat per acre, and from twelve to fifteen of Indian corn, according to their mjaUfcy*-Mri- Randolph has deviated from this fyftesi of culture on his eftate : that--which he purfues ;. Vol. II... ¥ I U 58 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, is as follows—Indian corn, oats, wheat, rye, fallow; and he raifes from ten to twelve bufhels of wheat per acre, and from eighteen to twenty-five of Indian corn. The rife in the price of wheat has induced him to vary the rotation of his crops, and to fuhftitute that of wheat, oats or rye, wheat, two years' fallow. By purfuing this method, he reaps from thirteen to fixteen bufhels of wheat. He fepa- rately cultivates the Indian corn in one or two fields according to his former rotation. He has proved by experience that manuring with dung triples the-produce. His lands are good ; and, compared with the reft of the country, they are kept in very excellent condition, though very indifferently in comparifon with the moft ordinary husbandry of Europe. He keeps no cows except for the purpofes of the dairy, and to furnifh him with calves for his own confumption. His cows are very fine, and of his own rearing. His labouring oxen are of a fmall breed ; and it is thought in the country that thofe of larger fize could not ftand the heat. He purchafes thofe labouring oxen at thirty dollars the pair. Mr. Randolph feeds thirty fheep, but merely for the fupply of his own table. He declares that each of his negroes laft year produced to him, after all expences paid, a net fum of thfee hundred dollars, although he fold his wheat for no more than a dollar the bufhel. He expeded that they would this year have cleared him four hundred dollars each :. but the fall in the prices of produce will difappoint his hopes. The fituation of his houfe gives him alfo the means of annually'^0" ing eight or nine hundred dollars' worth of fifh—fturgeon, fhad, and herrings, which he falts. His fwampy grounds fupply him with abundance of timber for fuel and fences: but they produce a ftill greater abundance of noxious exhalations which prove a fource of frequent and dangerous difeafes. Mr. Randolph is himfelf very fickly ; and his young and amiable wife has not enjoyed one month of good health fince fhe firft came to live on this plantation; Accordingly Mr. Randolph intends to quit it, and remove to Richmond, where moreover he has frequent bufinefs in confequence £Y THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. iS9 confequence of his office, which is that of marfhal to the ftate. He wifhes to fell this plantation, which, in the worft years, has brought him in eighteen hundred dollars, and which, for the laft two years, has yielded him three thoufand five hundred. It is in very good condition : but he cannot find a purchafer for it at the fum of twenty thoufand dollars, which he demands. This fad furnifhes a proper idea of the low price of land in Virginia. I have been affined, that, although fome of the lands have doubled their value during the laft twenty years, a much greater portion have fallen in their price. BERMUDA-HUNDRED —EXPORTATIONS FROM RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG. During my ftay at the houfe of Mr. Davies Randolph I had an opportunity of learning, with fome degree of minutenefs, the amount and value of the exports from Bermuda-Hundred or City-Point, the emporium and cuftom-houfe of the two towns of Richmond and Peterfburg. I received the details of particulars from Mr. Helt, the col- ledor of the cuftoms at that place. Statement of the Exportations from Bermuda-Hundred or City-Point. Years. flour. Indian corn, | including meal. Wheat. Toba Quantity.! ceo. Other articles. Total value. Quantity. Value. r ^ i Quantity.! Value. Quantity.! Value. Value. Value. Barrels. Dollars. Bufhels. 1 Dollars. ] Bufhels. 1 Dollars. Hogfhds. | Dollars. Dollars. Dollars/ 1791. 1792. *793- 1794- *795- firft fix ' months of 1796. 10,090 10,706 38,877 5.853 8,102 3, 00 48,125 54>653 164,018 30,904 81,753 48,488 21,180 ; 47,7*2 262 2,097 33>358 6,354 14,316 *33 i,i53 33>3°* 165,635 75>H6 88,115 31,212 13 7>47 7 67,382 99,783 32,252 29,994 ' 27,660 *5,°43 n,995 9,475 4,473 1,029,876 w 5,447 • 556,584 443,828 375,826 293,456 41,293 24>77i 25,000 l3>3l7 16,365 13,704 t,263,i26 1,236571 845,620 . 521,456 507,306 354,65o I 2 REMARKS m SPRAVEES IN NORTH AMERICA, REMARKS dQN THE FOREGOING TABLE. In the column of flour, the feconds and even the pollards aro£fe£i^Mif with that of the firft quality. From the different ftatements included in the above table, it refolds, 1°. That, during the laft five years and half, the feveral articles havs individually rifen more or lefs m price, but all in general very con* fiderably. 2°. That the exportation of tobacco has undergone a diminution of one half, in point of quantity; but that the article has doubled in value. %i«f$s That the quantity of flour has exceffively dim in ifhed, at leaft: fo far as regards the direct exportation: for it is certain that the greateft '.^iSfiantity is exported by the way of Baltimore. 4°. That the exportation of wheat has dwindled to nothing : a eircumftance which, exclufive of .the fame common caufe that has contributed to diminifh the exportation of flour, has moreover for its particular reafon the number of mills which are daily - erected in Virginia. RETURN TO RICHMOND — FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THAT TOWN. " Monfieur Guillemard had accompanied me to Pref^sa^He; and we returned together by the fame road which we had travelled on the preceding day. Mr. Hopkins, commiflioner of the loan-office of the United States ♦—Monfieur Chevalier, his brother-in-law, of whom I have already made mention—-Dodor Macrae, a native of Scotland, a phyfician of higb repute, and a well-informed man—Governor Brooke—-Mr. John MarmaM—Mr, Campbell—Doctor Foulchie^ with whom the affairs of BY THE PU0SSE EA ROCBEEOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 61 one of my fiiends hroiight me acquainted—Meffrs. Brown and Burton, Englifh merchants—are the perfcass witavwhom I was moft frequently in company at^ Richmond. The political opinions of thofe feveral gentlemen are I extremely different: but in the focial circle there prevails among them a degree of politenefs which wou4d prevent a ftranger from perceiving that difference if he were not previoufly apprized of it. There are no doubt at Richmond, as in every other part of Virginia, a certain number of individuals,, who, diffatisfied with the commercial treaty, carry their refentment of it to an exceffive length, and would wifh for fuch a change in the conftitution of the United States as fhould render it more democratic: b$£$ have never heard even the moft violent of that clafs exprefs a wifh for feparation or difunion :• and indeed it muft be confeffed,. that, under the prefent mediocrity of wealth in the ftate of Virginia, the paucity of her population in ^jAS! portion to her extent, and her backwardness in poin^f agricultural improvement, the inhabitants could not reafonably^ehtertain a deflfi^olP fuch an event.' Mr. J. Marfhall, confpicuoufly eminent: as a profeffor of the la tar,. is-- beyond all doubt one of thofe who rank higheft in the public opinion at Richmond. He is what is termed a federalift, and perhaps at times fomewhat warm in fupport of his opinions,, but never exceeding the- bounds of propriety, which a man of his goodnefs and prudence and knowledge is incapable of tranfgreffing.. He may be confidered as a diftinguifhed character in the United States, His political enemies allow him to poffefs great talents, but accufe*him of ambition., I know not whether the charge be well or ill grounded, or whether that ambition might ever be able to impel him to a dereliction of his principles—a conduct of which I am inclined to difbelieve the poffibility -on his part. He has already refufed feveral emjfeyments under t£ie general government, preferring the income dejas^d irom his pro- fef&onal labours, (which is more, than fuflfcieiit for his moderate fyftem ;<te TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, of economy), together with a life of tranquil eafe in the midft of his • family and in bis native town. Even by his friends he is taxed with fome little propenfity to indolence; but even if this reproach were well founded, he neverthelefs difpl&fs great fuperiority in his profeffion when he applies4iis mind to bufinefs, DEPARTURE FROM RICHMOND FOR THE MOUNTAINS. DOVER COAL-MINE. On the 20th of June, Mr. Guillemard and myfelf fet out for. the mountains; Monticello, the habitation of Mr. JefFerfon, was the object of this part of our journey. Meffrs. Graham and Havans, merchants of Richmond, and owners of a coal-mine, were fo kind as to '*£fl^u6t us thither. This mine is fcarcely wrought. Several pits have been funk, and relinquifhed again, in hopes of difcovering coals of a fuperior quality, and in greater abundance, in other places. It appears to be very rich, and to form a part of the fame bed which is found in the environs, and has been worked for many years on the weft fide of the river. But thefe gentlemen, who are neither chemifts nor mechanicians, are content to grope their way without applying Jpr-advice to more enlightened men; for there is not one perfon throughout America verfed in the art of working mines *. This is one of the objects, in regard to which literary focieties might render themfelves extremely ufeful in the United States. They might eafily infert In the public papers extracts of the beft works, written in Englifh, French, and German, on this fcience, which has been brought to fuch perfection in Europe. Nor would it be an arduous tafk to hold on this head., as on all fubjects of univerfal utility, a correfpondence with men of letters in Europe. The publication of this correfpond- * The Duke muft apply this obfervation to the natives-, for many Europeans, {killed .in thfi working of mines, have certainly emigrated to America. Tranjlator. ence, BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEFOUCAULT LIANCOUKT. 1 ence, would introduce into America a knowledge of the progrefs and difcoveries made in the fcience of mines, and all the unpleafant trouble and ruinous expence of fruitlefs experiments would be prevented. Meffrs. Graham and Havans employ about five hundred negroes in t\\is mine, and the bufinefs of the farm, in the province of whidi it is fituated. In the loweft ground the vein runs one hundred and twenty feet below the furface, and is, in general, twenty-four feet thick. The ground from the furface down to the vein confifts of a good red anrJ yellow clay, interfperfed with ftone, eafily reducible to duft. The vein is enveloped in a fmall layer of imperfect flate, and refts on a bed of granite ; a eircumftance* which, in the opinion of my friend, Mr, Guillemard, muft puzzle all the naturalifts of-Europe. The coals of this mine, and indeed of all thofe whichMSave hitherto been opened in this country, are very«je»|^iand the moft folid' pieces which can be obtained crumble into duft at the flighteft fhock,. fo that they are more adapted to be ufed in the forges of ftniths, than to be bul^qt in grates. Some veins, it is fuppofed, contain more folid coals ; if this fhould be the cafe, the mine would prove far more profitable for the owners : but this fuppofition remains as yet a matter of mere conjecture, ^wi This farm, compofed of three- hundred and fifty acres ofland-, which is for the molt part of the very beft quality, and containing a mine, the exiftence of which w7as not unknown to the vender, brought three" years ago no more than five thoufand three hundred and thirty-three dollars, which makes about eighteen dollars per acre. The farm is managed in the common ftyle of the country, that is, very badly ; but as it chiefly confifts of low grounds, the crops are in general better than on other eftates, where the culture of the foil i& equally neg- lected. The road from Richmond to Dover (this is the name of the place where the mine is found), lies through woods of a middling quality; the foil is poor, and partly cultivated,: though in a veryjtndirTerent manner, 9 fH TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, manner.;,-v, The houfes are fmall, bad, and • not numerous*. I. They arc inhabit|^by white people, who do . not feem to be in eafy circum- .ftances. , On paffing the creek of Fuckehoe, you quit the county of Henrico, in which Richmond is fituated, and enter that of Goochland. GOOCHLAND COURT-HOUSE. The country between Dover and Goochland court-houfe, where AMB^ftopped at night, is more variegated than before; you find there more heights, and fome fine prqfpe&s, efpecially on Mount Pleatot, which commands a wide extenfive vale, entirely cleared, and full of houfes, and clurngs'^of trees, which have been left-ftanding near the .habitations and iQjJbg^g^dle of the fields. This day was a court-day at Goochland, --^Bse juftices of $j*e, peace [^pf^efCountvjn^et here every mor^afor the adminiftra&gn of juftice. ^Jn^ffionja&mbles here, befides the neighbour*^ judges, *lawMp$& '^j^l^-parties whofe caufes are to be tried, numbers of idle people-s^o come le^from a defire to learn what is going forwards than to drink together. riKiiil It was near nine o'clock at night when I arrived, before Mr. Guillemard. The company was about to *}$reak up; the accounts were fettled; every, one had already mounted his horfe, and nothing prevented their feparation but Jjh^ irrefolution and prattle common to drunken people, and the ufual attachment betwef^^j^m^ when they meet to;.^et intox^g§ied together. By my manner of t^^^^ggpgl^h to. the landlord, the company eafil^ifcerned that-|ggg;&s a Frenchman, Immediately^lUg^y jumped all off their?^J$prfes, pulled me down fro^n j^^e* clafped m^*JD^gj^;;arms, and exclaimed—'* You are a Frenchman—well, you are our friend, our dear friend ; we would all of us die foriff$$$xy Frej^man; we, are good republicans, we would§<j£§ll. all the EngHQfcJBr.-that''would be anexcel^f#&pg, would not it ? Oh5 38ite^iend, our dear friend !"—•".He is a Ffe$$bman,5' they faid to each /-...;.-'• fa ofher« "BY THE DUB®" DE LA ROCIJ$JF0VCAULT LIANCOtJBT. 65 other, " the brave dear gent]$gaan is a Frenchman ! But as you are a Frenchman, you muft:dfi®k.fome grog with us."—They embraced me, pulled me about in every direction, and fhook me by the hand.—" Do pray tell us what we can do for you; you are our broker." I was osiefwhelmed by their number and careffes to fuch a degree, that I was hardly able to bring my foot to the ground. Although their Sunken profeflions were rather of too fentimental a complexion, yet I could not be difpleafed with their purpofe and intention ; on the contrary, in. this reject they gave me great fatasft^on. I anfwered then* as well as.circumftances would admit: but my anfwer, as may be eafily conceived, was drowned in the noife of their joyful profeflions. During this time arrived a large bowl of grog, and we drank one after another, toafting the French, France, America, Virginia, and M. de la Fayette,: whofe name they mentioned withe.nthufia£m, Xlt ipite of my little difpofition for drinking, I was obliged two or three times to drink in my turn ; for it was abfblutely neceffary to empty the bowl. It was with great difficulty I prevented the arrival of a fecond; and the inn-keeper, having told them that the Frenchman (fpeaking of me) had made a long journey, and confequently wanted repofe, I was at length able to difengage myfelf from the officious hands of thefe good people, who would all take me home, ten, fifteen, or twenty miles di~ ftant from the place of our meeting. Another eircumftance which favoured our feparation, was the tragic return of one of the guefts, who had left the company before my ar~ rival to fight another drunkard. This poor young man, who arrived in his battle-array, that is, quite naked, was covered with blood from a blow which tore away a part of his ear, and from another on his eye, which feemed ftarting out of his head. The tender arTe&ions of my friends were now turned towards thek wounded companion, and I rejoined Mr. Guillemard, who had arrived during the feftive reception which I experienced; but hearing that the Englifh were rather feverely treated, did not think it convenient to join us. In Virginia, where the villages are lefs numerous than in other Vol, II, K parts, 66 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, ^1 1 parts, and inns very fcarce, there is generally one adjoining the Court* Houfe, without which the juftices, lawyers, and parties, would have no means to procure either a bed or food. We were very well lodged in the houfe deftined for the judges, where we fhared the parlour with three counfellors, very civil and fober men, and good companions* Their fentiments in favour of France and her fucceffes, clothed in language more fenfible than that of my firft acquaintances in the place, bore a ftrong appearance of fincerity and candour. They told us, that, by what they had learned, France had demanded of America twenty thoufand troops to affift her in the prefervation of her colonies in the Weft Indies, and they entertained no doubt but that America, mindful of her obligations to France, would readily comply with the demand. It is evident that thefe good gentlemen were by ho means poffeffed of correct information relative to the difpofition of their government, and over-rated the extent of national" gratitude. However this may be, |%&!near in Virginia the fame language expreffive of attachment to France, of hatred and efpecially of diftruft in regard to England, and of affection for M. de la Fayette, which you meet with in every other part of the United States that is not fituated in the immediate vicinity of great towns, and places abforbed in mercantile fpeculations. In general, the inhabitants of the country, and thofe of large towns— thofe who live at a confiderable diftance from the fea-coaft, and thofe who belong to trading places—are two defcriptions of people altogether diftintt from each other in point of manners and opinions. The truth of this remark, which is obvious in all countries, is more ftrikingly fo in America, where the people are only divided into the two claries of traders and cultivators, where trade and commerce, which are alirioif, entirely in the hands of England* naturally find their interefts interwoven with thofe of that kingdom, and where the merchants and traders actino- upon this principle, and poffefled of that powerful influence which is generally derived from fuperior wealth, form, as it were, a differ nation within a nation ; while, on the other hand, the country people, attached by their own interefts to the profperi§|/ of that country only BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 67 only which they inhabit, defire it fincerely and exclufively, and are merely liable to thofe errors into which ignorance may betray their good difpofition. M.-DERIEUX. BIRD-ORDINARY. The road grows ftill duller after you leave Goochland Court- Houfe. It is every where furrounded with woods, and the eye difcerns no difference of hills and dales but that of the road, from its rifes and falls. The plantations become conftantly lefs frequent, and lefs extenfive; and cultivation is ftill more confined. Inns are very fcarce on this road -, the next is nearly feventeen miles diftant from that where we paffed the night. I went a mile farther on to flop at one which I knew was kept by a Frenchman, whofe houfe, I had alfo learned, was lately deftroyed by fire. Th£siErencb> man formerly kept a ftore at Charlotte-Vilie. Having there ex*, perienced misfortunes not occafioned by mifconduct, he eftabhfed himfelf where he now is, on the ftrength of an affurance which had been given him, that, from the general diflitlsfaction expreffed at the management of the neighbouring inn, his houfe would be muchfre- quented by travellers. In this he has not been deceived; they all put up at his inn. The unfortunate fire, in which he loft all his furmtja^p and ftock in trade, which he eftimates at upwards of fifteen hundred dollars, is attributed to his great fuccefs, and the jealoufy excited by it in the breaft of the miftrefs of the rival neighbouring inn. His name is Plumard de Rieux, and he is a native of Nantes. If he belongs, as he fays, to me family of Rieux, which however appears not to be the ,i§Knrom his name Plumard, he would appertain to one of thofe to which ancient opinions affigned the firft rank in France. He is brother of a lieutenant^Tn the navy, who, fharing the political fentiments of the ancient navy, has refufed to ferve fince the beginning of the revolution. M. de Rieux married in America the daughter of Mr. Mazzei an'W3ian, who had fettled on that continent, and who during the revolution acted the part of a zealous republican, but after- K 2 wards £8 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, wards returned to Europe, where, from his reputation of being a fxffififl^ of liberty, he was appointed charge' d1 affaires at Paris by the King and the Republic of Poland.—He has fince, it is faid, retired to Pifa. Madame de Rieux is young and amiable, and poffeffes a well-informed mind. M. de Rieux is beloved and refpected byt.all who know him $ he fupports with courage and gaiety all the misfortunes which have.^happened to him. A very confiderable inheritance has been lately left to him by an aunt, who remained in France and enjoyed his eftates. He hopes to obtain this inheritance, yet he is at the fame time aware, that under the preflMtt circumftances there is as much probability againft as in favour of his wifh, although he left France long before the revolution. I felt at M. de Rieux's what I always experience on meeting with good, honeft, and fenfible Frenchmen, a fatisfaction and intereft which I never feel in America under any other circumftances. Is it prejudice, is it weaknefs ? It may be fo, but it is what I conftantlyjb^, perience, what I have always experienced in foreign countries, everi previously to the calamitous events of the revolution, and what I feel difpofed alfo to experience in future. Ah ! how cOnfoling would it prove on meeting with an honeft and Unfortunate countryman, fur- roan^ed by^wife and numerous family, to promote by a loan of fome value tlf§ reftoration of his profperity, without wounding the delicacy, of his feelings. The lofs of an enjoyment of tkitfjnature is ncM" $^g, leaft painful refult of fftpfere misfortunes 31$ point of property t|a$$j wealth. M. de Rieux only tenants the houfe which fye^nhabits, and^fe^j three hundred and fifty acres of land that belong to it, af^pays for the whole a yeatlyfcarent of fl^ety-eight dollars. This affords an additio$f$ proof of the ^modet^Mse value of land in Virginia, as that which heic$|^ tivates is very good. After having fpent nearly the whole day at M, de Rieux's, we .Ufciilk ten mites fether on to $ird-ordinary, where we ftoppe4f$br the nighfc. Plantations tec<gi^;$^w lefs frequent and poors&tyet all thefe ^liSfffif planters, BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. & planters, however wretched:l«eir condition, havlf fell of them one or two negroes. Thefe flaves, who are in general well treated in Virginia, are upon the whole much more fo by thefe poor farmers, who fhare with them the toils of the fields, and who, although .t$ey do not clothe and feed them well, yet treat them, in this refpect, as well as they do themfelves: wllUe on the plantations of wealthy colonifts the negroes are allowed meat but fix times a-year, and fubfift entirely on Indian corn, and fometimes on butter-milk. MILFORD; A very fmall village, built within thefe few years on the Rivanna, a rivulet which empties itfelf into James-River. Before you reach the village you crofs Melhaneck-Creek, which flows into the Rivanna. They are both ford able, but the fords are frequently arendereaTyeip dangerous, nay impaffable, by a fudden rife of the waters, at leaft for fome hours; for the inclination of their beds is fo confiderable, that in lefs than half a day they return to theirufual depth, which is only three feet. MONTICEM^. MR. JEFFERSON; HIS AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM COMPARED WITH THAT 0 THE COUNTRY. Monticello is fituated four miles from Milford, in that chain of mountain^ which fetches from James's-River to the Rappahannock, twenty*e^ght miles in front of Ipb Blue-Ridg^J ;tmd in a direction parallel to thofe mountains. This chain, which runs uninterrupted in i^TOat§es^fe»lr%fiBthes fucceflively the names of the Weft, South, and Green Mountains. ^^Bi9S:We paft- known by the name of the South-JM$u~ntains that m6feticello is fituated. The/feioufe ftands on the fumrn^bf the mountain, and the tafte and arts of Europe have been confu^d in the for- mation of its plan. Mr. Jefferfon hft; commenced its conftrudtion before the America revolution ; fince thaffSjpocha his life has been conftantly engaged in public affairs, and he Kir; not been able to complete ;yo TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA; plete the execution to the WhSwwftent of the project which it feems he had at firft conceived. That part-of the building-whiddS^W' finifhed has fufferetT from the fufpenfion of the work, and Mr. Jeffer- fon, who two years fince refumed the-hsfeits and leifure of private life, is now employed in repairing the darria|^o$uklloned by this interruption, and ftill more by his abfence^he continues his original plan^1^^ even improves oil f§vby giving to his buildings more elevation and extent. He intends that they>ill)Uld cofifift: only of one ftory, evati$MflL wkH baluftrades; and a dome is to be conftrudled in the centre of the ftructure. The apartments will be large aim convenient; the deco- fefen, both outfide~and infide, firhple, yet regular and elegant. Mon- ticello, according to.itsfSlrft plan, was infinitely fuperior to all other houfes in America, in point of tafte and convenience ; but &$W0fciiW& Mr. Jefferfon'had ftudied tafte and the fine arts in books only. His travels in Europe have fupplied .him with models ; he has appropriated them to,his defign^ andWsnew plan,.the execution of which is already much advanced, will be accomplifhed before the .end of next year, and >then his houfe will certainly deferve to be ranked with the moft pleasant manfions in France and England. Mr. Jefferfon's houfe comma|ids one of the moft extenfive profpedts you can meet with. On the eaft fide, the front of the Building, the eye is not checked by any object, fince the^tountain on which the houfe is feated, commands all the-neighbouring heights as far as the Chefapeak. The Atlantic might be feen were it not for the greatnefs of the diftance, which renders that profpect impoffible. OS -the right and left the eye commands me extenfive vajley that feparates the Green, Sdratlfc and Weft; Mountains from the Blue-Ridge, and-has no other bounds but thefe high maintains, of which, ^>n a clear'-d$y^-you difcern the ;chain on the right^^^wards of a hundred miles, -faikbeyond^farnes's- .River ; and on the left as f&$m Maryland, on the other fide of^sIP Potowmack. ^Through fome intervals, formed by the regular fum- jnits of the Blue-Mountains, you-oucbver the Peaked-Ridge, a chain of mountains placed between the Blue and North Mountairfe^lmother-• iiHP^f'^- more- BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEEQUCAULT LIANCOURT. 71 more diftant ridge. But in the back part the profpect is foon interrupted by a mountajb more elevated than that on which the houfe ia feated. The bounds of the view on this point, at fb finall;a,diftance, form a pleafant re&ing-place ; as the immenfity of profpect it enjoys is, perhaps, already too vaft. A confiderable number of cultivated fields, houfes, and barns, enliven and variegate the extenfive landfcape, ftill more embellifhed by the beautiful and diverfified forms of mountains, in the whole chain of which not one refembles another. The aid of fancy is, however, required to complete the enjoyment of this magnificent view 5 and fhe muft pidhire to us thofe plains and mountains fuch as population and culture will render them in a greater or fmaller number of years. The proportion of cultivated land to that covered with forefts, as ancient as the world, is as yet too great; and if even this difproportion fhall difappear, the eye will perhaps defire a large river, or a fheet of water, devoid of which the moft magnificent and extenfive view is ftill deftitute of what can render it completely beautiful. On this mountain^and in the furrounding valleys, on both banks of the Rivanna, are fituated the five thoufand acres of land which Mr, Jefferfon poffeffes in this part of Virginia. Eleven hundred and twenty only are cultivated. Theland left to the care of ftewards has fuffered as well as the buildings fmm the long abfence of the mafter ; according to the cuftom,^£.the country it has been exhaufted by fucceffive culture, ipts fituation on declivities of hills and mountains renders a careful cultivation more neceffary than is requifite in lands fituated in a flat and even country ; the comrgjon routine is more pernicious, and more judgment and mature thought are required, than in a different foil. This forms^4Mp$pnt the chief employment of Mr. Jefferfon. But little accuftomed to agricultural purfuits, he has drawn the principles of culture either from works which treat on this fubject, or from converfation. Knowledge thus acquired often mifleads, and is at all times infufEcient in a country where agriculture is well under flood; yet it ia^^ferable to mere practical knowledge, in a country where a bad m. TRA\2mjS8; IN NORTH A&:ErRfi£ftii bad practice prevails, and where it is dangerous to follow the routine, from vvhdch it is fo difficult to depart. ■» Above all, much good may be expected, if aoEOratempJttfive mind, like ;that of Mr. J&fkifon, .whi&k takes the theory for its guide, watches its application wiifor$i$^r,am£#£, and re&ifies it according to the peculiar circumftances and.spahire of this country^ climate and foil, and conformably to the experience which he daiiy^acquires. PurfualaS to the ancihktr notation itobacco was cultivated four or five fucceffiveripears; the land wasthenjfiasffered to lie fallow, and then agalteifijcceeded craips of tobacco. The cult&baof tobacco being npw almoft ei^i^ly^eli^wiifhld-in this part of Virginia, the common rotation begi&sJ'iWifch wheat, followed by Indian corn, .and then again wheat, until the e&haofted foii lofes every productive power.; the.field is,ti&jen abandoned, and 'thet^iaMvator proceeds to another, which? las 'treats and abandoiisitfitfhe'fame manner, uift^fehe returns to the firft* which fbasun the mea**irne recovered fome of its productive facu}|J8$. The difproportion between the quantity of land which belongs to the iplafcibers and-t&e4 hands -tlhejy can employ in its culture, dimia^iies the inconveniences of fthis'd&teftable method. The land, which never receives the lea^l manure, fuppoilJs a longer or fhorter time this alternate cultivation of wheat and Indian corn, according to its nsafpre and -^Bafction, and regains, according^the fame circumftances, moHir iefs fpefe&ily' the power of producing new crops. If in the interval it be covered wafMneath and wee^?it frequently is again fit for cultivation at the end of eight or ten years; if not, a .{pace of tyspBg^. years is not fufficient to render it capable-of production. Planters who are not poffeffed of a fufficient quantity of land to let fo much of it remain unprodu#ive for fuch a length of time, fallow it in a yeajatjir two after it has borne -wheat and Indian corn, during «iMch^ftfP .the fields ferve as pafture, and are hereupon again cultivated in the fame manner, fak either cafe the land produces from fivegto fix bufhels -of wheat, or from ten to fifteen bufhels^l* Indian corn, the acre. To the produce of Ind&n^rnmuft ail© be added one hundred pounds of leaves BY THE. DUKE LA R6CHEF0UCAULT LIANCOURT. leaves to every five bufhels; of-each barrel, of grain. Thifedeaves are giv$£Sas fodder to the cattle. Itf Was m thfekttfm»er that =M& T^ft%rfbn's land had always been cultivated, and iti*fcqH|a!fyftem which he has very wifely relinqmffted. He has divided a^m&lfe&i' under etifcufe into four farms, and every farm into fix fieldatof forty acres. Each farm confifts, therefore, of two hundred and eighty acres. HMfyftem of rotalfeon embraeeSri^fi^en yearsj and thi4$S the report? whv each farm hasBeen divided into feven fields. In the fiMrof thefe feven years wheat is ddftH&d&i-m. the fecond, Indian corn; in the third, peafe or potatoes ;*$& the fourth, vefcifiii*$«Hfei the fifth, wheat; and in the fixth and fev£iitti$ clovfer^t^F&us each of his fields yields fome produce every year, and his rotafkm of luccefij^tulture, while it prepares the fotMbr the 'Mfta#ing'crop, increafes its produce. The abundance of CldV^*, potatoes, peafe, &c. will enable hwriw !&$ef> fufficient cattle for manuring his laiid^'fsUtifefe&t prefent receives hardly any dung at-aBlV Independently of the great profit whii|iitfeWift in future derive from tfiiHale of h&lcattle. Each farm, under the direction of a particular ftewafdt^or^fefflafflf; is cultivated by four negroes, four negreffes, four 02fen, and four horfes. The baiH$s, Who in general manage their fkfnas feparatdy, affift each other ilutfng the harveft, as well as at any other time, when there ts any preffing labour* The great declivity of therfiflds, which Would render it extremely troublefome and tedious to carry the produce, even of each farm, to one common central point, has inducOTHMr. jefiferfrjni IS^fceilftrudr. on each field a barri, fufficiently capactcfusMiiP^ol^^ifJ produced igft&fii ; the produce in forage is alfo houfed there, but thi^ is genefalfy To great, that it becomes neefena^r*^)' make ftacks near the barnsi ^Wie- latter are conftrudled of ^fetks of trees, and the floors afe febaMe^-^Qrhe forefts and fla'OTlt'educe the ei&pfchce of thefe buildings to a mere trifle. v^a£ i|j|aj ''jpifft^jfl iijtt Mr. Jefferfon poffeffes one of thofe^ei&eHent threftift*-1l£aciiines, ^Mch a few yearssfince were invente&srHf^eotland, and are alf'ea^ f^common in Bngfewf.- This ma£hfte, the WxOle of \#h^fr\!oW : Vol. II. L ^ not * ■7* TRAVELS*^ NORTH AMERICA*, not weigh two thoufand poun|J§," is conveyed from one barn to another in a waggon, and threfhes from one hundred and twenty to one hundred*gn^££ty bufhels a day. A worm, whofe eggs are almoft conftanti^depofited in$j|e ear of the grain, renders it neceffary to threfh. the corn a fhort time after the harveft ; in this cafe the heat, occaiioned by the mixture of grain with its envelope, from which it is difengaged, but with which it continues mixed, deftroys the vital principle ofjte^eggs 3;fui protects the corn from the inconveniences of its being hatched. If the grain continued in the ears, without bg^g fpeedily beaten, it would be deftroyed by the worm, which would be excluded from the eggs. This fcourge, however, fpreads no farther northwards than the Potowmack, and is boy^jed to the weft by the BhtgMnnnfnins. A few weeks after the corn has be^g^eaten, it is free from all danger, winnowed and fent to market. Th^r Virginia nlanters have generally their corn trodden out by horfes ; but this way is flow, and there is no country in the world where this operation requires more difpatch than in this part of Virginia. Befides the ftraw is bruifed by the treading of horfes. Mr. Jefferfon hopes that his machintjjM,which has already found fome imitators among his neighbour^,, will be generally adopted in Virginia. In a country where all the inhabitants poffefs plenty of wood, this machine may be made at a very trifling expence. Mr. Jefferfon rates the average produce of an acre of land, in the prefent ftate of hisifarm, at eight tafhels of wheat^^ighteen bufhejjs. of, Indian corn, and twenty hundred weight QjSgcJover. r^fter the land tba^Jbeen duly manured, he may expect a produce twice, nay three times more confiderable. But his land will never be.dunged as much as in Europe. Black cattle and pigs, which in our country are either cojp$antly kept on the farm., ^;.at leaft return^thither ,,every even$*g| and whofe dung is carefully gathered and preferved either feparate or mixed,( jgcording to circumftances, are here>lf$: grazing inf${j£ woods the whole jear roun,d» Mrf^rJerfon keeps no more fheep than are. neceffary for the jC||u%mption of his own table. He..puts his c^$$$$. but BY fhE DUKE DE LA ROCIIEFOUCAUTTM.IANCOURT. but twice each feafon, and does not fuffer his cattle to graze in his fields. The quantity of his dung is' tHf refore in proportion to the number of cattle-which he can keep with his own fodder, and which he intends to buy at the beginning of winter to fell them again in fpring; and the cattle kept in the vicinity of the barns where the forage is houfed, will furnifh manure only for the adjacent fields. From an opinion entertained by**!!®?'jefferfon, that, the heat of the fun deftroys, or at leaft dries up in a great meafure, the nutritious iuices of the earth, he judges is neceffary that it fhould be always covered. In order therefore to preferve his fields, as well as to multiply'their produce, they never HSrfaliow. On the fame principle he cuts his clove?*Dut twio£*;afr-rafon, does not let the cattle feed on the grafs,. nor inclofes his fields," wmch are merely divided by a fingle row of peach trees. *'-A long experience would be required to form a correct judgrriemf ^ftdllrer the lofs of dung which this fyftem occafions in his farms, and the known advantage of fields enclofed with ditches, efpecially in a declivous fituation, where the earth from the higher grounds is conftantly wafhed down by the rain, are fully com pen fated by the vegetative powers which he means thus to preferve in his fields. His fyftem is ehfirefy^fenfined to himfelf; it is cenfured by fome of his neighbours, who are alfo employed in improving their culture with ability and fkill, but he adhafeb to it, and thinks it is founded on juft obfervations. Wheat, as has already been obferved^Ty^e^mlppDJect of cultfrai tion innnis country. The rife, which within thefe two jftars has taken proee%ff^lhe price of this article, has engagedc!»§ {peculations w^wS^^lfeters, a^r well as the merchants. The population of vir- jfroSa* '\vhich is fo inconfiderable in proportion ro its extent, and fb lSft#35&Iefcted in towns, would offer but a very precarious market for large numbers of cattle. Every planter has as many of them in the woods, as are required for the confiimption of his family. The flegrbes, who form a confiderable part of the population, eat but nftie meat, and tHfs* little is porkP^Some farmers tmttvate rye aBf"oats,' L2 but 76 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, but they are few in number. Corn is fold here to thfeperchaut^^ )^^oM^4y^arlotte-Ville, who ftjfil^t for ^cln^nd^ where it fetches a fhilling more M&jtoiQiel than m other places^ Speculari^:. or a preffing want of money maj|i| times ogQaJor^ variations in this mannefraf fale, but it is certainly the moft common rar Money is very fcarce In^this diftrict, and, l^k*d^^b^$^ is chiefly^oneA^^^ff barter; the merchant, w^a^ganyes the grain, returns ;j&.Jmlj£ in fuch commodjtiesas|&,venderJfcinds in,r^^ of. Mr. Jefferfer^f0^ bis wheat laft year for two dollars and a half per b&(J|el. He contends, that it is in this diftrict whiteri:than in the environs of Richmond, ancLjdjr^tbp r low county^Sj^and tha^gUtfi bufhel, which weighs there^only fro.n^.&fty-fivetto ^fty-eight poutojL^ weighs onlui^arm from fixtagtoj^ty-five. In addition to the eleven hundred and twenty acres of land, divided into four* farms, Mr. Jefferfon fow4$,a,few acres with turnips, fuccogg,, ^Hd^ofher feeds. Before I leave his farm, I fhall not fosg§t to mei^ion, thaO have feen here a drilling-machine, the nao|S of which cannot be^anflated into French but by [| machine a femer en paquets." By Mfv Jefferfon's accoua^^-has been invented in his neighbourhood. If this machLiei fully anfwers the good opinion whkji'he entmains of it, the Jx*ven tion is the more fortunate, as by Arthur Young's afrertioii^m£jQBe>go^l^ drilling-machine is to be found in England. This ^£|C&H^j|jjElaQ?d, on a fort of ploush^carriage, carries an iron, wh^h-gently open&jheA. furrow as deeply as is required. Behind this iron, andL^J^! upper ^ajfa^^|ae:i machine, is a fj^ajl troughl. containing• the gr^dg^igjtebi.v isjSfcended to be fown. This grain is*token out of the troughf]ti^t,? row of fmall receivers, fewed on. aybather band, or ribboQ^M^^ifeqw ing round two pivots placed above each other a£Ah^ diftance of frjgrja|\ feven to eight inches. The fmaJJLjieceivers take the^rj^Jfom the trqwgh, and turn it over into a fmall conduit, ^J^ch convejs^dnJB^ the furrow made h»:the iron. The diftance of one nffjtbflfexJtfct' ce^ver4v%?m another determines that of the piares|. Wf%WfJfeiJ|^' **&&# grain* vSaSSJPBBBgESg BY THE^DUKE DE' LA ROCHEEOUCAULT LIANCOURT. grain is depofited in the ground ; and a harrow, fixed on* the machine behind, the conduits through which the feed falls into th<* furrow, covers it again. The endlefi'Uhmn of the receivers, which forms the merit of the machine, may be compared with that which is ufed for drawing water from a great depth, or ftill more property with a heaver of flour in Evans's mills. It is put in moSby»^^^ light wheel, which moves along the ground as the machine advances, and is fixed in &&&£ manner thiPtit is not obftrnded in its movements by the inequalities of the ground, nor «Ven by the ftones which it may find in its4#fcy. If-'tlHi* ttiaohine fesiHy anfwers the intended purpofe, it i^lliificmt to co#seive why it fhould not have been m~ vented before, as it is extremely fi&ii^le, compofed of mte^ements well known, and of powers frequ&Mjr employed. In my opiaon it admits, however, of great improvements. My readers will undoubtedly find that I beftow jje&aliar at$&ti&& &&} '- agriculture, by fpeaking of Mr. Jefferfon as a farmer,- before I mention him in any other point of view. They muft be vcfr^'ignorant of the hfllory of America, who know not that Mr. Jeiielfch fhared withvGeorge Wafllington, Franklin, jf#^tf'ildaims, Mr. Jay, and a few others, the t$i& and dangers of the revoluti^^'in all its different ftages ; that in the famous con- g$il&£whichf guided and confoliffeted it, he delayed a bold^feft and firmnefs of character, a fund of talents and knowledge, and a ites&dfeefs of principles, whiehwill hand down hfe name to pofterity I^HH-1 glory, and enfure to him for ever the reject and gratilfcfSldSN' ©H'to friend* of "Bberty. It was he, who in that fantodus Congrefs' fo refpectable, and fo much refpedted—in that congrefs, ever in- aGfcfcftible to the fedtfdtion, fear, and apparent weaknefs of the people1—-wlfeP jointly with Mr. Lee, another deputy of Virginia^ propofed tfie1 declaration of independence. It-was he, who, fupported pfiifeipally t^John Adams, prefied the deliberaSSoh on the fubject^ : and earned it, bearing down the wary prudence of feme of his col*:] leagues, poffefied of an eqUaFfhare of ffiHffioffito, but lefs courage?-' te • wa& 78 TRAVELS IN NQI^I| AMERICA, was he, who was charged with drawing^np this mafter-piece ofr^g^ nified wifdom, and pat^^^gfj^^. It was he, who being afterwards appointed governor of Virginia at|?tfee period, of the invafion of Arnold and Cornwallis, acquired a peculiar claim on the gratitude of his fellow-qi$gje;ns. i It was he, who, as the firft ambafTador of the United States in France, filled at that momentous epocha.that diftinguifhed poft to.tfee fatisfadlion of both nations. In fine, it was he^ who as Secretary of State in 1792, when the ridiculous and difbrga- nizing pretentions of Mr. Genet, and the lofty arrogance of the *. * * m$*ifl:er, endeavoured alternately to abufe the political weakn$&-f|£ the United States, induced his government to fpeak a noble and independent language, whicba^ould have done credit to the moft formidable power. TkR&lpng correfpondence carried^l^ with thefe two defigning agents would, from its juft, profound, and able reafoning, be alone fufficient to confer on its author the reputation of an accomplished ftatefmaii*va5^c 'WH^ Since the beginning of 17Q4, Mr. Jefferfon has withdrawn from public affairs. This was the time when the malevolent fentiments of ***** * Were difplayed againft the United States in the ftrong- eft man^r^, and when her unjuft proceedings were refented with the utmoft indignation from one end of America to the other. This was the moft important epocha of the policy of the United-SjUfcej- becaufe they propofed'. to act with energy and vigour. The pre- ffijgflce which under thofe fcgjj-cximftances the Pf$|ident was accuf- tomed to give to the adg^ojsof Mr.^amilton^l^hich cc^^uaJ^^fygjj^ along with it the opinion not only of General Knox, .b^gy^^l^^, Randolph, then attorney-ge#0al of the Union, over .^0 of Mr^jj^j,. ferfon, caufed him to embra£e^rfi§^foiution^ ftep, Mr, Jefferfon was confidered by the ruling party^^c]^ leader of Oppofition ; he was fufgected of revolutionary vie^g|jj^^^accufed of an inJJe^^u^LO overtij|n, the conftit^on of tl^gtep^d Statef€i>^f being the enemy of his country, and of a wifh to become a tribune of the people. It,^fuj^yg^jgpr kgpw thsj^ Mt^s&fefenis a man ^mhiiivi of BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 79 of fenfe, to feel the afefordity of thefe fcandalous imputations; and whoever is acquainted with his virtue, muft be aftonifhed at their havino1 ever been preferred againft him. His fpeeches are thofe of a man firmly attached to the mainteti§i$fe4 of the Union, of the prefent conftitution, and of the independence of the United States. He is the declared enemy of every new fyftem the introduction of which might be attempted, but he is a greater enemy of a kingly form of government than of any other. He is cleaHy of opinion, that the . jSNfeht conftitution fhould be careftsHy preferved, and defended againft al! infringements arifing from an exteifftdn-of the prerogatives of the executive power. It was framed and accepted on republican principles, and it is his wifh that tfUfeould remain a repsa^Ucan conftitution. On feveral occafions I have heard him fpeak with great refpect of the virtues of the Prefident, and in terms of efteem of his found and un- er$ng judgement. But the fpirit of party is carried to excefs in America; men who embrace the opinion of Mr. Jefferfon, attack their opponents with imputations, no doubt, equally unfounded. In all party-proceedings. neither reafon nor juftice can be expected from either fide, and very feldom ftrict morality with refpect to the means employed t6*.fe¥ve the favouritii&aufe ; one caufe alone appears good ; every thing befides is deemed bad, nay criminal, and probity itfelf ferves to miflead probity. Perfeinal refentments affume the colo«r of public fpirit, and frequently, when the moft odious acts of injuftice have been committed, and the moft atrocious calumnies fpread, but few members of the party are in the fecret, and know^ibjat they are the effufions of injuftice and falfe representation. t/Uhe truth ofThefe obfervations being evident to all i»fen who have lived amidft parties, fhould lead to mutual toleration and forbearance. ^w^rivate life Mr. Jefferfon difplays a mild, eafy and obliging temper, though::l£ti$s- fomewhat cold and referved. His converfation is of the moft agreeable kind, and he poffeffes a ftock of information^ii^ inferior, *cr> that of any other man. In Europe he would hold a diftinguifhed 80 TRAVELS IN NiDRTH ■AMERICA, ftingufhed rank-among men of letters, and as fuch he ;:has already apu peared there; at prefent he W emplt^fcd with adrivity and perfeve- ranee in the mariagement of his faftr>s: and buildings; and he orders, directs*, and purf&tfrin the minuteft detail evefy branch of bsUnefs re- lltive to them. I found him in twf^midft of the harveft, from which the fcorching heat of the fun docs not prevent his attendance^-ofiHii" iMr,i*6es are nourifhed, clothed, and treated as well as white fervants could be. As he cannot expect any Afliftance from thetwb fmall neighbouring towns, every article is made on his farm; his negroes are ^CaB'rtet-makers, carpenters, maforis, bricklayers, fmithe, &c. The cflrMreii hera?|floy$ in a nail^Rianufadlory, which yields already a confiderable profit. The young and old negrefles'fpin for^tea*clothing of the reft. He animates them by rewards and diftindlions ; &i"fine, his ftiperior mind directs the management of his domeftic concerns with the fame abilities, activity, an$l regularity, which bJstpinced in the 'tMttidt of pub'lif^ affairs, and which he is calculated to difplay in every fituation of life. In the fuperoRtendence of his houfehold he is affifted byl^sHtwo daughters, Mrs. Randolph artd-Mifs Mary, who are handfome, modeft, and amiable women. They have been educated in France. Their father went often with' them to the houfe of Madame w Envi/le, my dear and refpedlable aunt, where they be*' cam%' acquainted with my family, and as th&'iiames of many of .my friends are not unknown to them, we *vere able to converfe of them t5#efher. It Will be eafily conceived, that fctiiFtfdfcld not but excite in my mind ^^feng fe&f&tions, and recollections, fometimes painful,, yet generally f&eet. FiftetftPkundred leagued from our natii$$i®3fia*'j try, in another world, Snd frequeiklyi||ftstimp to meIa.n^teolyr we fancy ourfelves reftored to exiftence, and adfrottter ftrangers to happinefs, when we hear our family and our friends mentioned by perfons who have knOWn themy 'who repeat their names, defefibe their perfons, and exprefs themfelvts^on f@ hfcterfcftiag a fubject in terms of kMrteis and>tefeftevolence. Mr. Randolph is proprietor of a coafiderable plantation, contiguous to BY THE DUKE" DE EA ROCHEE0UCAULT ErANCOURT. 81 to that of Mr. Jefferfori's ; he conftantly fpends the fummer with him, and, from the affection he bears him, he feems to be his fon rather than his fon-in-law. Mifs Maria conftantly refides with her father; but as fhe is feventeen years old, and is remarkably hand- feme, fhe will, doubtlefs, foon find' that there are duties which it is dUHvfweeter to perform than thofe of a daughter. Mr. Jefferfon's philofophic turn of mind, his love of ftudy, his excellent library,, which fupplies him with the means of fatisfying it, and his friends, will undoubtedly help him to endure this lofs, which moreover is not likely to become an abfolute privation, as the. fecond fon-in-law of Mr. Jefi&rfon may, like Mr. Randolph, refide.in the vicinity of Monti- celioj and, if he be worthy of Mils Maria,- will not be able to find any company more defirable than that of Mr. Jefferioni The fituation of Monticello exempts this- place from the peftilential effluvia which produce fo* many diieafes in the lower countries. From,its great elevation it enjoys the pureft air; and the fea-breeze, wfhieh is felt on fhore about eight or nine o'clock in the morning, reaches Mon^ello at one osiiaatGj&ithe afternoon, and fomewhat re- irefhes the atmofphere, but the fun i|j§otolerable from its fcorching heat; as indeed it is in all the fouthjaann States. The places that enjoy fome advantage over others are thofe which, like Monticello, are expofed to its direct rays, without experiencing their reflection from more elevated moimta^iliil^nsighbourincr.buaildings. Mr. Jefferfon, in common with all landholders in Americaj imagines that his habitation is;more healthy than any other; that it is as healthfufeaa xany. in the fineft parts of France; and that neither the' ague, nor any other bilious diftempers are ever obferved at Monticello. This is undoubtedly true, becaufe he affei|%fc it, in regard to- himfelf^q, his family,'tamd his negroes, none of whom is attacked by thefe maladies;' : but I am, neverthelefs, of opinion, that an European, who during this feafon fhould expofe himfelf too much to the air- from nine in the morning until fix at night, would not Jong| Vol. II. M enjoy m ^.TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, isfifc^r/a good ftate of health. During the feven days I contin^eteb there, not one paffed without fome moments of rain, and yet the intensity of the heat was not in the leaft abated by it. In Virginia mongrel negroes are found in greater number than in ©aMdisa and Georgia ; and I have even feen, efpecially at Mr. Jefferfon's, flaves, who, neither in point of colour nor features, fhewed the leaft trace of their original defeent; but their mothers being flaves, they retain, of confequence, the fame condition. This fuperior number of people of colour is owing to the fuperior antiquity of the fettlement of Virginia, and to the clafs of ftewards or bailiffs, who are accufed of producing this mongrel breed. They are liable to temptation, becaufe they are young, and conftantly amidft their flaves ; and they enjoy the power of gratifying their paffions, becaufe they are defpots. But the public opinion is fo much againft this in- tercourfe between the white people and the black, that it is always by ftealth, and tranficntly, the former fatisfy their defires, as no white man is known to live regularly with a black woman. Before I clofe this article I muft fay, that during my refidence at Monticello Iwitneffed the indignarioiprfe&eited in all the planters of the neighbourhood by the cruel conduct of a matter to his flave, whom he had flogged to fuch a degree as to leave him almoft dead on the fpot. Juftice purfues this barbarous mailer, and all the other planters declared loudly their wifh, that he may be feverely punifhed, which feems not to admit of any doubt. But it is time to take leave of Mr. Jefferfon, whofe kind reception has perfectly anfwered What I had a right to expe& from hisleivility, from ouivformer acquaintance? in France, and from his particular connection with my relations and friends. Mr. Jefferfon is invited by the republican^party, named, astb-fedea-alhtp, to fucceed George Wafh- mgton^tli^Frefident^ehair of the United States, the latter having publicly declared, that he will not continue in this place, although he fhould be re-elected by the majority of the people of the United States. The BY THE DUKET.DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. m The other party is defirous of naifing John Adams to that ftation, whofe pair fervices, and diftinguifhed conduct in the caufe of liberty, together with his place of Vice-Prefident, give him alfo, no doubt, very powerful claims. In the prefent fituation of the United States, divided as they are between two parties, which mutually accufe each other of perfidy and treafon, and involved in political meafures which it is equally difficult to retract and to purfue, this exalted ftation is fur- rounded with dangerous rocks ; probity, a zealous attachment to the public caufe, and the moft eminent abilities, will not be fufficient to fteer clear of them all. There exifts no more in the United States a man in a fituation fimilar to that of George Wafhington. On-his firft election, the confidence and gratitude of all America were concent trated in him. Such a man cannot exift in the prefent conjuncture of circumftances, and the next prefident of the United States will be only the prefident of a party. Without being- the enemy of one of the pretenders, one cannot, therefore, concur in the wifh which he may entertain of being elevated to that eminent poft. The fleeting en+ joyment of tllgf^anity °f him, who fhall be elected prefident, may, perhaps, be followed by the kneeneft pangs of grief in his remaining days. The two fmall towns of Charlotte-Ville and Milford trade in fche produce of the CQuntry fituSPed .between them and the mountains. They alfo form a fort of depot for the commodities of more diftant parts ' of the country; efpeciall^Milford, where the navigation begins, and does not experience any farther interruption froni(Hbi$ point to Richmond, The water-carriage of merchandize and ceffgmaodities coftsotwd&ird of a dollar per hundred weight. The trade, whiehvin a fmall degree is alfo carried on with money, is chiefly-managed by barter, becaufe money is fcarce,_ and notes are not readily received. The .price of land is from four to five dollars per acnejvand the quantity, of land to be fold is very confiderable. Meat, that is, aJMifeton, veal and lamb, fetches fourpence a pound ; beef cannot be had but in winter. The wages of white workmen, fuch as raafons, carpeotex^efcb^et^makers, and fmiths, amount to from one and a half doUar to two dollars M 2 a day, 84 'TRAVELS .i'HMHfcltTH AMERICA, a day, according as they are fcarce in the country. During the prefent feafoh ma fons obtain the higheft pay; there are not four ftone- 'mafons in the whole/county of Albemarle, where MontRsSflb is fituated, which I left on the 29th of JttMPflj AtS^'WOODS-TAVERN. CULTURE OF TOBACCO. The road to Woods-tavern, which runs along Jekney-creek, and through woods, is tolerably good and even. The plantations continue to be thinly fcattered, and the proprietors cultivate as much tobacco as they can employ negroes. But here, as on Jamer-River, and in' fact -throughout Virginia, tobacco is yearly replaced by wheat, which becomes gradually almoft the general object of culture ; and the prefent fall in the price of wheat does not feem to render the planters lefs attached to this change in their fyftem of cultivation. The culture of tobacco is difficult, troublefome, and uncertain. It is fown in the month of March, in a fat and rather moift ground. Before the fowing time the land is covered with fmall branches of trees, which are burnt for the purpofe of deftroying the herbs and roots, that might injure the growth of the plant, and alfo in order to increafe the fertility of the foil by their afhes. The tobacco is thickly fown on a bed in the moft fheltered corner of the field. This bed is covered with branches, left the froft fhould hinder the • unfolding of the feed, and prevent the fprouting of the plants. When they are three or I four inches high, they are transplanted into a field, which has been well manured and prepared for their reception. A negro heaps earth around the plants, which are fet four feet diftant from each other oa all fides. The ground is conftantly kept clean of weeds, and all the leaves are taken from the,plant,' which it is thought might injure its perfect growth, beginning always with thofe that are next the ground, and which might be affected by the wet. More earth is heaped around the ftalk ; and its head bruifed with the nail, to prevent its running up too high; all the fprouts which fhoot forth below the leaves are cut away* JKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LI AN COURT. away, and all the leaves fucceffively torn off, except eight or nine, which alone are left on the ftalk. At laft when the plant is fuppofed to. be ripe, which happens in the month of Auguft, it is cut, left feveral days in the field to dry in the fun, and then carried into the barns, where every plant is ieparately fufpended by its undermoft: part. In this pofition the leaves attain by deficcation the laft degree of maturity, but not all of them at the fame time ; for this deficcation, which in regard to fome is completed within two days, takes with refpect to others feveral weeks. When the leaves are perfectly dry, they are taken from the ftalk, and laid one upon another in fmall parcels. The moft perfect leaves muft be put together, and thofe of an inferior quality; feparated into different claffes; this is, at leaft, the method followed by fuch planters as pay moft. attention to the fabrication of their tobacco. Thefe fmall parcels of leaves, tied together by their tails, are then brought under the prefs, and afterwards preffed down into.-hajg^f heads. This procefs varies more or lefs in the different plantations, but the variations are not by any means confiderable. The forts of tobacco, cultivated in Virginia, are the fweet-fcented, the moft efteemed of all; the big and little, which follow next; then the Frederick; and, laftiy, the one-and-all, the largeft of all, and which yields moft in point of quantity. The tobacco produced in thefe parts is fold either at Milford or Richmond. The price is the fame, and fo is the freight, which amounts to one third of a dollar per hundred weight; this is alfo the cafe in regard to other articles of merchandize. This year it has been fold for fix dollars and two thirds per hundred weight. Three years ago it brought no more than from, three to four dollars. A negro can cultivate two acres and a half, and as each acre yields, upon an average, one thoufand pounds of tobacco, each negro can, confequently, produce two thoufand five hundred pounds. But the culture of this plant is, as has already been ftated, extremely troublefome; it is expofed to a great variety of accidents, which cannot always be avoided, and which deftroy many ftalks, or fpoil at leaft many leaves : 1 ft. After the plant has been 'tranfplanted, 80 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, tranfplanted, the root is frequently attacked^ a fmall worm, which caufes the leaf to turn yellow, and which muft be taken out of the ground with the fingers, to fave the plant; 2d. humidity comnftwhi* cates the rot to the plant, that is, covers it with red fpots, which caufe it to moulder away, and the ftalk is loft; 3d. violent winds break the ftalk ; 4th. when the leaves are at the point of attaining their maturity, horn-worms neftle in them, attack them, and completely deftroy the plant, unlefs they can be torn off; 5th. when the tobacco is cut and fpread on the ground to dry, the wet impairs its quality. The feed for the next year is obtained from forty to fifty ftalks per acre, which the cultivator lets run up as high as they will grow, without bruifing their heads. Mr. Wood cultivates no tobacco on the farm where he keeps his inn, but on another, feven miles farther diftant, and the only fort he attends to is one-and-all. Near his inn he cultivates wheat and Indian corn, like all the other farmers of the diftridt; but he dungs his fields nOw and then, and thus prolongs the term of their fertility. He frequently obtains thirty bufhels of wheat per acre, and all his produce in wheat as well as tobacco is fold at Milford. The price of land is in this diftrict the fame as in the vicinity of Mr. Jefferfon. Mr. Wood's inn is fo good and cleanly—he, his wife, and whole family, are fo kindly officious and obliging, that 1 cannot forbear mentioning thofe circumftances with pleafure. Mr. Wood isW lively, agreeable, old man ; thirty-five years ago he fettled in this part of Virginia, where he arrived from Ireland, and has amaffed a confiderable fortune. NORTH-GARDEN-MOUNTAINS. A few miles beyond Mr. Wood's inn, you pafs by the North- garden-Mountains. This is a fmall circle of mountains, almoft entirely- clofed, which contains about ten thoufand acres of the very beft land.' The BY THE DUKE- BE. LA R0CHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. The richnefs of the foil, and the variety of fituations, which fits it for all fpecies of culture, have obtained for this diftridt the name it bears. A planter has made there within thefe few years a fuccefsful trial with the vine; he puts into his wine brandy and fugar, and imagines that the wine is made in the fame manner in all countries whence it is exported in large quantities. He does not as yet produce wine enough for fale, but the Virginians who have tafted it allow it to be excellent, and he will, of courfe, find a ready market when he fhall be able to make a fufficient quantity. ROCKFISH. During the wnole journey, until you reach the foot of the 'Rockf.fi, you continually afeend and defcend, but the ground rifes all along by fenfible degrees; the plantations are more numerous, but the buildings confift of fmall miferable log-houfes, although the cultivated fields which furround them are tolerably extenfive. The nearer you approach the mountains the more the tobacco-fields grow fcarce, and you at laft fee nothing but wheat and Indian corn. Among all the farmers I have met with, I found but one who was not diffatisfied with the fall in the price of wheat, and who expreffed himfelf on this fubject with moderation and judgement; all the reft perceive in the de- creafe of the value of their commodities their approaching ruin, and lament it with the utmoft grief. At length you reach the foot of the Blue-Mountains, which you afeend by a road two miles in length, that has a gentle rife, and is well cut. A fmall additional expence would have rendered it completely good by turning off feveral fprings, which fpoil it in different places. From this mountain-you enjoy an extenfive profpect over all the heights you have juft traverfed ; but the country is covered with wood to fuch a degree, that their tops only can be difcerned. On the fum mit of Rockfifh-Mountain you find a few miferable houfes, the moft confiderable of which is an abominable inn, full of bugs, fleas, and all kinds of ordure. I flopped thefe, for TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, for I had no choice. All the inhabitants of the place meet here, as they generally do in the fmall inns in America, to fmoke their pipes, to drink whifky, and relate the toils of the day : politics take up but little of their converfation. Newsfpapers do not reach Rockfifh, and the number of families is too fmall to fupply matter for the " chronique fcandaleufe;" but fegars and whifky fatisfy ■ thefe good people, who thus fpend in a quarter of an hour in the evening the earnings of the whole day. The landlord of the inn has alfo a diftillery of whifky, which he diftills from Indian corn and wheat, mixed in equal proportion, and thus increafes its ftrength. This whifky fetches eight fhillings per gallon. The addition of Indian corn augments, in my opinion, the unwholefomenefs of this liquor; but this is immaterial for the inn-keeper, whofe only care is to difpofe of it at a profitable rate. A ftore, eftablifhed on the top of the mountain, buys the produce of the adjoining country, which is offered there for fale, and retails the mer- kjha^dize drawn from Richmond by the way of Milford. The ftore- keeper tranfmits alfo to'Milford the commodities of the country, if they are not fent by direct conveyance to Richmond. The carriage to Milford cofts two thirds of a dollar.per hundred weight. All the goods fold at this ftore are feventy-five per cent dearer than in Philadelphia. The land, even on the fummit of the mountain, is tolerably good ; it is fown with wheat, and produces from eight to twelve bufhels per acre. The culture of tobacco terminates at the foot of this chain of mountains ; on the other fide not a leaf is produced, neither th^^l^ nor climate being fit for it. It is alfo here that ftill more fortunately the feourge entirely flops, known under the name of widles^^iid that the grain can be preferved as long as it fuits the convenience of the owner, without being threfhed. The laft farmer I converfed with, before 1 reached the foot of the mountain, told me, that his grain was infected with that infect. JOURNEY BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LIANCOlJRT. JOURNEY FROM ROCKFISH TO STAUNTON. The mountain, whofe fummit cannot be reached from the other fide till after afcending two miles, is defcended by a road which, at moft, is only three quarters of a mile in length, though it Hopes as gently as the former, a eircumftance which proves how much the ground rifes from one ridge to another in this feries of mountains, which contains rott?afuch ftages. The country, as far as Staunton, is thus conftantly rifing. The habitations are in this mm-ict more numerous than on the other fide of the Blue-Mountains, but the houfes are miferable ; mean fmall log-houfes, inhabited by families which fwarm with children. There exifts here the fame appearance of mifery as in the back parts of Pennfylvania. The inhabitants are moft of them emigrants from the county of Lancafter, from Maryland, and the environs of Reading and Carlifle. They purchafe land in thefe back parts of Virginia at a cheaper "rate than they fold that which they quitted. They clear an additional portion of land, and fell it again on the firft opportunity, \ii|< order to remove into Kentucky, or Teneffee. Thefe are the main points of direction for the emigration from Virginia, where moft of tne families* from" Pennfylvahia%nd Maryland fettle only •JraBfc certain time.' HSome of the ancient mfta&utants of Virginia emigrate alia to the weftern parts, and it is^a certanSSalSt, that the ftate --InesLy.early more than it gains by emigration.10ln the county of Auguftal-^which is entered after, palling the Btue^Ridge, the price :i«r3ate(j is higher trnjA mjme^^^ntjr of Albemarle. It is difficumio account for tm»!l^ i£s^ reflffleji^ IrVate iSSiEewKat cheaper, although the" lnerearcjff expeaco^or ralror^riage to market s^hld^iti^feem^V^m^ its p>i«.s^-jLflqd' cofts from ten to twelve dollars tne acre. All fpecie&oFgmih, hemp, .'ana-flax, are cultivated here^ mi-"with a§.littleAkilf, as mtae preceding counu^^kJ thepe are no rich^lanters iirtMb ailrxiC|j ty«fflBcrof negroes^fn- confiderAlej'jit- alb^thefe pettjiferaanters* noweveir t>oor and*wrerc^ea they apparently are,Jiave one flave wnoinares in tlieif toils aiiqmilrera. Vol.IL N STAUNTON. 90 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, STAUNTON, AND THE fltlNCIPAL MINERAL SPRINGS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. ^Jin defcending the Blue-Mountains, the South-River, or'%5|bcx& branch of the Shenandoah, is crofted; and, before Staunton is reached, the creeks Chriftian and Lewis are paffed, which, at a few milei <$ir ftance from that fpot, empty themfelves into the Shenandoah. 2 Jkaunton is the capital of the county of Augufta. From itajfeing in tije^entre of a group of hills, ujs one of the places in Virginia where the heat is moft intenfe, and, above all, moft oppreffive and intolerable. Some houfes conftructed on the heights enjoy a little more air, but they are commanded by other neighbouring mountains, which frequently prevent, the air from reaching them, ami vefyTeldom fuffer i&pto ^circulate. The land jfcthe neighbourhood is not remarkably fruitful. It would be difficult to account for this fp^t having been 4gg?>£n for the fite of a town in preference to others, but for the numerous fprings of excellent water, and a rivulet, which DufMng. from a ml&mpar the town, turns tyvb mills, and nngnt turn many more if there were money enough to eftablifh them, and a fufficient quantity of corn to be ground. Tne fmall rivulet forms the Middle-River, which empties itfelf into the Shenandoah. .^gwoft frequented^ road to the fweet, ^Wt, and hot Jkr.iriji& at Greenbriar, and from thence, to^ Kentucky, paffes through".SSaunton, and makes itjbconfiderable tjliroughfare. Eight inns areaeftablifhed there, three of which are large, and frequently fujL^^gne^<im and iofJprings ar^in the county of Augufta, towards the fource of James- ^ ,'rltfil.tf'tef i ^^fiip^t mitsk giftant from ^gach other* J^f^ronSfy ifftpjregnated with fulpMy The temperature \>f the warmjffiring is ninety-two degrees of Fahrenheit, which are^qurfto twenty^fixj||- grees and two thirds of Reauhnur; that of the &£/brings one hundred anJLtW|fak degrees of Fahrerdieit, equal to thirty,-fixf3fe«^es anjl Ij-yafeinths offieaumur. Thefe two fprings are confidered tcrbe very efficaciousin rheumatic complaints, and in all cafes wliere it is neceffary BY THE DUK£ DE LA ROCH'EFOUCAULT IfrANCOUftT. 9\ fary to purify the blood. The fweet fprings are in ther^lfunty of Bote~ tourt, ^^y^iaSes from the others, and near anoth^f Ibufce of James- River. They are quite cold. The accommodations are not remarkably good in any of thefe three places, although they are much frequented. Staunton contains about eighf4lundred inhalttatts, a fourth of whom are negroes. The houfes are tolerably wel. built. Frbril fifteen to eighteen ftores receive the produce of the back country, which chiefly confifts in wheat, Indian corn, rye, hemp, lirifeeriVwaB^ and honey. Pretty large quantities of bear-fkins and beaver-fkins are alfo carried thither, as well as ox^Sdes, for the fupply rf'3 tan-yard, which has been eftablifhed in the place. The goods fodd^sy.the ftorekeepers are brought directly from BalthftoTe, yet more frequently from Philadelphia, as the fmall capital^ of the merchants of RitfjhtRGtfrd do not allow them to give as loftg credit as the StaifafcdH'Irefers can obtain in thofe two large cities, where they alfo find a cheaper market. The trade of Stauntoni'm^ eUicVeafed of latety^kfs o# account of 1th© eftablifhment of feveral fmall toWf|$lH^4?lli kox&bfywsi ©ifeedbrfefv «^ the ftore-keepers in thofe placCSf* buy up %titife (if tifeiComttoti&k}G$ which were formerly brought to StauttttHQ-anil fa'^ly thfrfefflepank of the country with articles of merchandize^p^^el^eillpt^tiii^efopi. plied by Staunton. Two market-days are weekly kept i$ the toW^g^&tft'lheV^^i^ih is badly fgjhifhed with provifions. 'Meat fells at fix* j&$$e a po^lid; 'M&tir fetches about eleven dollars the barrel'^tis fine aneNiftftfe, arid of a tafte infinitely fuperior to that on the otfei^vnde of l(Jb*Blue- Mountains. The price of a town-lot of one acrirwries according to its pofition, from fixty to a hundred dollars. This cou&Syas nOtffi^e from bilious fevers™ autumn, yet they are lefs frequtfiiPl^^^^iftl^ low countries. Four phyficians are eftablifhed in tMlfifrnall tdttti; whofe pradlice is very extenfive. A rlwipaper is publifhed at Staunton twice a-week, and aiijg^iwisf received there every week from Winchefter. THte-^paperiJ^l^p^l^ N 2 -"^ -are 9a TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, are rather warm in defence of the French caufe, yet they are written with moderation, and never attack directly or indirectly the govern- ment of the United States. As far as I am able to judge, thery are but little read. irtlifead a cor^erable Elimination in^ifoy eyes, which increafef}* «*f fuch a degree, that on my arrival at Staunton I was abfolutely blind. In order to get rid of it, I was obliged to have fib^ourfe to blee<|yi|ft pbyfie, and blifters, and to remain four days in that fmajltftown. \%j$f diftemper, which I caught at Monticello, is very common throughout this country in the hotteft part of the feafon, efpecially with thofe who expofe themfelves to the fun. During my ftay at the inn where I lodged, I faw great numbers of travellers pafs by, who were either merchants or fellers of land, g$ji|£|£ to Greenbriar and Carolina, or perfons on their way to the medicinal fprings for relief from, rheumatic pains, or other maladies, which they had contracted in the low countries. .The political opinions they de- livered in the courfe of ccfny^ffation were remarkably gp|j*|f The declaration made by the Prefident, that he will not be a candidate at the next election, was the common topic; and while they unanimoufly declared that Mr. Jefferfon fhould be his fucceffor, they were at the fame time clearly of opinion that nothing could repair his lofs. A prefbyterian church has been built at Staunton ; titHS well frequented jevery Sunday by the followers of that feet, asfjljfllas by perfons of different religious perfuafions. A Bap^^preache^delivers norland then a fermon in this church, which does not, however, make the leaft;^t^^4^|P6\*be compofition of the audience. The<frimbitants of Staunto$$| like the generality of Y^ginianjS, are fond of gambling and betting. 1/^kneffed there tv^o miferable horfe- races. The beftlbferfe was not worth fixty doj^s, and the bets arn^imted to three or four hundred. ;§fift as mon^ is by no means plentiful;they lay knives, watches, &e. &c. vrf$ffhave feeiijflwelve watches depofited in the hands of^^ fame umpire, With refpect to the >m BY THE DUKEe'DE LA R0CHEFO-UC AULT LIANCOURT. 93 .^^jci^rigers of the people here, they are-in general muchjiike thofe ^wfelteP^^SLnor are they^jK^uated by a fuperior defire to difcharge .the debts which they»contract. SOUR FROM STAUMTQN TO WINCHESTER. KEYSSEL-TOWN. The road frpmsStaunton to Winchefter runs into two directions, ten miles from the former place, but the tY^roaa& thus formed join again thirty miles farther on. We had been advifed to flpke into the old road, as being the beft, and we preferred it accordingly ; 13ky, we, for Mr^GHiUemard na^ rejoined me. The road as far as that fork, and «yen far Jfap.8<l it, offers no-jnterefting objects ; it is good, but, tpfjrudge from the nature of the ground, it muft be almoftimpaffable in winter. Rocks are very numerous ; the habitations do not ftand at a great diftance from the road, but they have a jnean appearance*. i^ulaiLMm Fourteen miles from Staunton, a woman who keeps anMpn, or at leaft who affumed the title in an advertifement s&fier her door, jwa&fjJGt^able to furnj$hr us a breakfafi in her hut, the moft i^fthyd: and.nafty I have hitherto met with throughout AmerieaA SafiN^;; miles farther&p9 we were ajyxmfiderahje,pains to obtamone, which fell much fhort of fatisfying the calls of hf!Qg)9Cii|l^|^ StB$M^Qf$^»^f$>*&Q$es °^ Sett*ng a dinner at Snap's (this is the na|ae o£jtn&n^fter of mis fecond inn), we were^pmpelled to fi^a^o the intolerable heat of ~Mp^iomi-tide fun, and tabfiroceed four miles fart^er/^3,_ to KeyffelrTow^^lo^ft^which, though only twenty years old, is already falling into decay. , It is an affemblage of about twenty miferable houfes* J&jtr p£ Hbjch ar.e Jtehifa-hpi]ifeL'**?3W6Je land is genecaUjg^ood, and fetches upon an average from fifteenr&^feven- teen dojljyr.^..the.a&r^Jtttf&&f$h%^ Sill ^or £oll%or ^ve* Keyffel- T.own ifefciyi^fe|4S^FfJ?^^^7^^unta^ns4^l r^ge ^Sjf^1 firetches, ^|th^ut. ^%i^& dfii^^B^^^^ the. northern branch of the Shenandoah to ^ew^vtbat is, about fixty miles in a direction parallel > •<,«{ tO m TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, to the Blue-Mountains, which are fifteen miles diftant. This chain is, in fact, only a continuation of the fame mountain ; for the fummit forms throughout its whole extent a ftraight line, Uri$#t$rri^ted by flight differences in point of form. The ftate of culture is here much the fame as in all the preceding diftridts; large quantities of land in poffeffion of the fame owner, and put into cultivation u$Ml they are completely exbftufted. Her§p/ which grows very fine, is cultivated throughout the whole of this country, b\it~$$i£ is merely attended to on account of the feed. The number of1 cattle is very confiderable, but they are conftantly kept in tfc&ffi$$$^-i^lciere are ff[uttv, ry ^ew farmers who ftall them, even in winter-^tlthough the j^olfes for three months very fevere : they then ftrew a few handfuls ^fjqacl hay before the doofV?which m£fe poor-lean animals c^fe; to eat ; and this muft laft until the next day,' when theyhfeturn for *ttj^fiame fcanty fupply. Dung ff^Onfequently little valu^dP'in this country. Although this is the general method, yet there are fome exceptions for the better. fWtyfrtneJourney rrom SmtPffton to Keyffel-Towii ffl& pafs the northern Wanch of the Shenandoah, and the( Middje-Creek. Twoprif ficft[hs and four inn-keepers conftitute the principal population of Keyffel-Td#lf. {J^e.fGj^^e phyfidiaipis alfo mauSHof an inhftrie otfrei^k German by bjrtli,'formerly employed in the Dutch fervice^4|PiB^b&^ lK#p| of Goo^ilope in the hofpitals, enjoy^^mgaid, fome reputation in thef^pntry. We were told that peo^i&t freque^j^-^1^ forty miles to comffl%«j|h. His name;^ Dr. H£&; we faw.aM^ he feen^s^l^TOo^Sfscikiore knowledgev t^00^^^3^B^^W^t§k ■ynPPPnt^ no peculiar gpdfmW^jil^||& This ^opdr, who arriVeain America fourteei^jeiSteiigo, has'lScFceffivelfmiS. ^^a-injj|}ie ftate of New-York, Jerfey, and different parts offl^Jfl. ^mia^GrJ|§di^^^M^fi:aricehe quitted the weftern mountajfc/: three -y|min^^s^rot|le& Keyffel-Town; he fold for fifteenStindred dollars ofujely icfwmi^if, and a Bdu^e, wh&Jf^wo yeafeAfore he had pur- .c^tlai^tWo buried and forty, and w&toit he had actaaU^*niBil^^d% improvements. eppppp BY THE DUKS DE LA ROCHElWeAULT LIANCOURT. M ^improvements. I mention this fact, becaufe inftances of a fimilar , kind feldom happen in thisllibuntry.' ilJFhey depend undoubtedly on peculiar circumftafejsese; for, as has already been obferved, the in- <jjPe*fe of the price of land in Virginia is far from keeping pace wife the rapid progreffion it experiences in the northern 'States, and which iRfms to commence in South-Carolina. Meat is fold fofethree pence a pound, and frefh pork for;fft>m four to five. Some inhabitants of thefe parts buy up fait pork in Greenbriar-Qekniy, and retail it here. They purchafe it for five Jjence, and fell it forikme. We faw at Mr. Snap's a waggon loaded with thirty hundred weight of this article, which ftt& to be fold in the en^ftoiis of FrederickflbiHg; The foil Cofififts in geseral of calcareous earth, and the uppermoft^layer is clay, which is frequelffjyfo red, that you would fuppofe it to be of a*iferfugindus nature. The habitations are pretty numerous, but mean and poor. Some mills on the creek do not look quite fo wretched; but th*ljPis not one good houfe, not one good ftable, and not-tttk£ good barn, even on the eftates of the moft confiderablenfsarmers. FREY. The houfe of one Pickering* twelve njiles from Keyffel-Town, had been pointed out to us as a comfortable manfion. We didj^ot find Pickering there, but FrefimQpsman, tafwhom the forafcerfold it laft yeari and who had eftablifhed himfelf here fome weeks before our arrival. The' houfe was in fo wretched a ftate as to be feen thrbngbu on all fides ; tfjpre wa»dotting to eat either for man or horfe, nor was ^jQpe.any drink to he got but whifky. We were/4bwever, obliged to content ourie?i?& wkfa this hat; for it Was night, and we fhould have been obliged to travel four miles more in fearch of another inn, which perhaps might notdfeafve been better. We accordingly accommodated ourfe&fcs to circwmfiances, and were informed that this Frey, the foaoof a German}' Sabafe* laft year from Reading, and paid three hundred and tweiagj dttUiws for hjMoufe, two diftilleries, whicha izimmskssi'-i^t- belong TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, belongyto it, and fixty-two a&Fes of good land. T^ms tradl of country is peopldP by one^fScl the farngftfept of ernigrants, who come from Lancafter and Reading, good fubjeSfc, honeft people,' JmddHo^0ulti- 'Mfcioks; but awkward, rude, uninformed, and dirty«ro'3BjraS q&ajities a!^l inconveniences fiaracterize all tfiel&tjielrS'in America who are Gjfp mans, or fons iO^Germaft^i** ^^ol^^Vl^hgftS^ The air here is fo iiilfeafely hot, aJff^thetra|^<jfrBie^ftin beat w«& fuch violence^ 4a t this \£&&mhrifctiMu year, t^aiftou^ejsspi- traveling during the day at all tolerable|ifelshiffleceffi^:|E^i^paJt nvdn'before day- p4;; and to reft^om fevenfM- eight" in the moriiing till five in the evening ; when the traveller muft ^ifor^^ardiagbM, to make a moderate day's journey before the arrival ofrOBghl;;o With;thefe hourS'ione; can feldom proceed mou6 *han five and itwenty miles a day i fofp^^ neceffary, both to the rider and his hoirl&jsi fieiTravel at an eafy pace.: " The fun beginsato fcorch: as foon as it rifes ;.a* fiife in the naming the beat is already inconvenient.; in t<he^enih^^.#goefilw£^ and even longWf8Eghe^£m is down^J Ibesgicofendand alls^^^ggfjfend- ing objects are impregnated with heat, and continuento reflect itatopon the traveller. But after all, thou|;li$thTe air is fultry through the whole day, I have always fuffered lefs from it than from the burning-rays of the fun, whifciftto- me were terribfey^ And Ti£es)& ofteii^fQi&fdefpight of the management! havfefl^kedaof/^tife: traveller fcifeQjthe advant^ge^o^ part of Ih&^precarilieiis,ifr©thrtfoe w^ffeti^ims^^daveyriiiedt- <Jifliaai8s^ being compelled, whatever he May endu^rtd ADcfeed &f thefjfltttdiSil^ morning than eight o'clock, and to begin his j&j^^a^iidektliehitltetv fhse/ in the ra^eMiigia^pl^^ to us^%efterda3^jf^ioli!l^«^ the 5th of July. WeicouldWhd.no placet (i0o^^^$^ih^W:t^h^ were obliged to fet out agais^t four, itid peach* Wr Mft&Me&tffiibj* the time night began to fall. Travelling in^Siis maitt$e£'defeats'i&s' intention of one who travels from curiitf^o^f(Ji?^8^deii^kP%eid^rfftr lafogej^itff {falling fick, he arrives atithe endofiihii^a^fs^ditrtfteyifoiffap iigupdb/as to^b&jincapable of^aWofi^andf^nfiticfta^Liei^, ^dHetd&H i$a»fc©iy go tssffeiky) paces from his. inn, to ^csaaii? bbject>iWOi4hy of being vifited ; and has barely ftrength to fupport a languid exiftence. Newmarket i BY THE DUKE DE LA ROOHEFOUCAUJJLpLIANCOURT, 97 Newmarket .was the firft place whe re we ^flopped ; it is eight ^miles 4#rant froni^bur wretch©^ flight-quarter^ frcfm which we were *0. able to £^4>ufe#s foon as we could h&V£ -wifhed. Tb^ij^e^t nf*& fheli&urftry lobes not offer the leant variety of views. On forme farms M ^e now, and^EeiiTee barns, better flocked then they generally are in this •''part of the couatrjEj but the dwellings are alj^fmall log- #oufes, and the culture is bad. Between Frey'^inn and ^Newmarket the two branchef^of the road^goin again into one. jSlewmarket is a more confijllrable place thaauf£eyifel-Town ; the bupjjings are much *$|lie fame conto^ction, ?frj$tiii. a,better condition. It is alfo fituated in a more extenfive plain than we have feen in our travels between the mountains. As to the price of commodities, the manners of the inhabitants, and the culture of the foil, the difference j§}$p very trifling, as not tOgdeferve any notice. MoraiFALLEY AND RIVER SHENANDOAH. PEATON. Ilk $lftef*5m up and down hill journey of five milat farther on a road &l^iwifliilDofi^ftones, we entered the valley or Shenandoah, where meadows become more frequent. The heat of the 4ayndid not allow us to proceed farther than Peaton's houfe, where, contrary to what we had been 4e4 to expect, we found the beft accommodation we have met with fince we left Staunton. Peaton .kejgb formerly an inn, but havingfidbought, a twelvemonth fince, a pretty confiderable eftate at the foot of the^Blue Mountains, this new acqui- fition engroffes alimfrft his whole time and attention. His wife and #nMtentl^teaBie, however, in his aneignt habitation* where he has taken down the fign, but continues to receive travellers who choofe to flop at his houfe. The difference between thefe hosfe}, which are jpJs^Bto^merous in Virginia, and inns, or owiffizries as they are called •fit ghis State, is, that in the latter all perfons. are admitted without diftindlion, but in the former none are received but travellers. Thep Vol, II. O are *l p... W- 9% m 'i^ytyELs IN NORTH AMERICA, are th|^xempted>i(pa'noife, c^nkenjjllfrrels, bad p^ment,^fcfcffi%)|| Charges fora licene^aPor fuch houfes, therefore, if%*y are w^llknown^ it is a clear profit td*$ake down the fign. But the innkeepers look I upon them with a jealous eye, and do not point thgdgbut to travel lers ; and but for the heat of the fun, which forced m t&feek fhel- *ter where4lfer wjljioped we might be able to obtain^S/-«we fhould rigs have flopped ajMiPeaton's. We were very well treated there, and if we had not been fortunate enough to have ftoppelf we moid^^nave been obliged to go ten miles farther to find even a bad inn. Befides, it was high time for us to flop ; foftifcfelt already the fymptoms of a fever, wrhich prevented me from proceeding any farther in the evening air. Wheat is cultivated in this part of th&eountry, as in all the preceding diftridls. The harveft has but juft begun, although tb^wheat is over-ripe. It is much infected with the rot, arm mowedowith the *B£kIe as in Europe. On the other fide of the Blue MouaMins, prejudices, ignorance, ancFme habits of the negroes, oppofjb the introduction of the ficllL although fome farmers, who are aware that the ufual mode of mowing with the fcythe caufes a cof§iderable lafs of grain, wifh to introduce it. But moft of them are iifeapabl^ of ob- fervatfoh^or reflection. Mowing with the fcythe being the ufual way, they think, in common with the negroes, that it is#:he beft. But here, where the white people work themfelves with the negroes, and vmb^e a great number of hufbandmen arrive from countries where the fickle is made ufe of, they find no difficulty in mowing with the fickle. The price of land is here much the fame as in Keyffel-Town ; it is confequently twice as dear lis land of the fame quality on the other fide of the Blue Mountains. | We meet frequently in the road heavy waggons, covered with ftrong linen, and fometimes alfo with bear-fkins, drawn ^jj;t>four or fix horfes. It is in fuch waggons that the produce of the country of Teneffee, Kentucky, and the back parts of Virginia, as well as fkins and i ■00 H||y the DUKE DE%A ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 99 r and hijpfs, are cqfcyeyed to the ports of Alexandria^it mope freayentlv to tjioSMof Baltimfcfe and Ph&aqelpnia, and thdjftyang back in return the productions of JjSijrope and the colonies. JOURJf^f TO STRASBURGH. Wfe^quarter of a mile from Peaton's houfe we crofs the river Shenandoah, which W rather narrewy, but very clear there, and flows in a deep bed, often obftrudted by rocks. The banks bf it are, in fome inftances, covered with fine natural grafs. The country we traverfe, asijar as Woodjlock, has but few hills, is tolerably inhabited, and is, more open than before ; bjjfcthe houfes gain nothing eithefiin point of convenience or outwardspppearance. Woodftock is the capital of the eoungt of Shenandoah.JsgThis town chiefly confifts of log-houfes, atad coniams from leventy to eighty houfes, a court-houfe, and a bad prifon, W^e all the towns of the county. It was formerly named Millers-ffoiMi after the name of the proprietf&*of the ground on which it was built; but the legiflatare of Vir^|aia^gprh^§ feveral years ago had changed tjp? fyftem of nomenclature, has given it the prefent name. «£feme faddlers, carpenters, fmiths, hatters, and even watchmakers, have eftablifhed themfelves in this fmall town, which is inhabited by Geifwans, as, in fad!, are all the other places in this parJi|flf Virginia. Negroes are not numerous, and only to be found in large families ; there are no more than five hundred of them.ia^this county, and theM^hole populafeioh amount£%early to 12,000 inhabitants. • Between Woodftock and Strajburgh, formerly Stovers-Town, the ground is extremely fhira^Tand the habitations are very few. A mile oq this fide of Strafburgh the fpecies of wood fhews that the foil is better; the whole fcene is changed, the country opens, the chain of Peaked Mountains terminates, and we defcend into what maybe called the valley of Shenandoah; for it is on this point where it really begins, at leaft for the travejfcr. Meadows well furnifhed with timothv- grafs and clover are interfperfed with fields of wheat and Indian 8H " O 2 corn, 100 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERtCSfcfc corn, and with orchards, which abound with:apple-^e&ln ^g^di-- ftridl. Land cofts here from eighteen M^Wfe^rneight dollars the acre, and there is but little to be fold in this town, which is entirely inhabited either by Germans, or children of Germans. The fieldfare manured, and produce from fifteen to twe^HjNLve bufhels of wheat per acre. They plough with horfes, none of \jhich can be bought under oftllP'hundred and f$%nty de#fe#s?though the recent fall im the price of flour has alfo leffened their value, as well as that of all cdmfh^ dities. The farmers finxPiho difficulty in*if>rocuring whig© labourers* whom, they pay at the rate of fin:'dollard^Bbi months orattalirak'daft^l per day, and fou¥ftiillings during the harveBl ^ghe ;ci8wm&r®$&f;y.fine, they, alte Jjffl^°in the country, and fold* fi&yr tpfeflftjv dollars.. C«MN§derable ifUmBCT^f cattle are reared, an# ^i^j^articadaarlyfAltened?m} tfeft jmftiif^^Rf^^lhen, as well as the fheep and p%sr, which- are alfo Wr^tMiktrous, fif&^to* the markets of Baltimore and Philadelphia. 'Kir wool, not ufed in familleJP for manufaetmn^g neceffary^o„^ittt^.e ferves to fupport fome hat-manufa<^i^s^-wMeh nave been eftabl^hed? in the country. Shme merchM^of* the town punchufe of fmall farmers the whole produce of their1 land, but the rich landholders fend it themfelves to Philadelphia. Flour fetches, at this momenfc#£>^t feven dollars peT-barrei at Strafburgh, and meat three peace a pound. Sta?$£f burgh contains two churches; tiff Angttea% whiefesis eaj|edthe Wgfc church in thisf country, and a Pre^^lerto-meeting.- Before we reached the town, we found in the woods feveral fnakfi$ near the road; among others,, a Mack ferpenfy. -tfeakt^iilong, and- which glides wTOi. great fi^fftnefs, and the* afhake known by the .name of the glafs-fhake, from its being as tranfpanettfc and buifcfcfe-as glafs. They were about two or three feCtTo^v^n^tielther. of them venomous* NEW- BY THE DUKE D2- BA mctc-j h fe*?N COU RT. 101 N£W»1N. The count*^ continues beautiful and open as far as New-Town, but is lefs inhabited than. I expected from what I had read and heard. One or two handfome houfes of planters are feen from the road ; they sP&inore numerous, it is faid, on the ba»ks of th%^iver Sbgnandoah, from wfeich- we confhantly removed to a greater diftance, after we had paffed PeatoiWiioufe, fifteen miles diftant from New-Town. The IfcitS is good, and its culture and produce are mpsh the fame as in t$e?yieMty of Strafburgh. i Ne\&Town, formerly name$£tev£njpuzgfr is a fmall town, fomewhat lefs confiderable than Strafburgh. It contains five hundred ipbabitan^ and is |jeopled, like the whole country by German families. Whja|fc labourers are procured there as eauflfas. at Strafburgh, and receive nearly the fame wages; yet during theJMja harveft they refufed to work for lefs than, a bufhel of wheat per day, which the farmers ^re obliged to giv%; left: they fhould lofe their harveft. The market-price at Alexandria, wMther all the flour of the country is carried, fixes that of New-Town, with the difi^rensBof. two dollars and a half, whi^h are deducted for freight. Laft year a barrel of flour brought as much aa twelve dollars and a hal£#£ New- Town; but at this^tkne it cofts no more than fix dollars. Great planters only hav&at New-To\fflfc as in evejjfc other part of the valley, a confiderable number of negroes; fmall farmers keep*|fil£ one or two, and Wor&AlMMg with t»em. There is no church at New-Town ; we feldom meet with anj^jiL 'IPtfginia where divine fervi<s$ is performed; frpra time to time we fee indeed old buildings called meeting-places^ but no fermons are delivered there, no prayers read, and they do not of couj^ deferve the name of church. At New-Town we took leave of Mr. Dandridge, who flept at Pea- ton's the fame night we did, and in whofe company we travelled the laft two days. Mr. Dandridge was fecretary to the Prefident, and left 102 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, left him twcHt three months ago. Taffe circur$||ince that the Prefident had appointed another fecretary in his room was recorded in the chronique fcandaleufe of Philadelphia, with a Vafiety of comments and fpeculationsiHon the motives of this feparation; in fhort, this do- meftic tranfadlion t*i the houfe of the Prefident wasjpanvaffed with all the curiofity, ignorance, and loquacity, of enlarge fociety of^dlers; and the nfcwfpapers re-echoed this empty noife of fuppojkion and conjecture^vhich are apparently without an^ground. However this maybe, Mr. Dandridge was returning from the county of Greenbriar, where he had infpected fome eftates belonging to the PretiBeHit, and# was now going to rejoin him at Mont-V^cnon. We found in hini a ver^pleafant companion, and he feemed as much concerned at hk parriflig from us as we were tolfcave MajF He is a mat^of a very re-, ipfigcSaole character. WINCHESTER. The plantations U^eafe both in number and fize, as we approach Winchefter, which lies but eight miles from New-Town. It is the capital of Frederick-County, contains upwards of two thoufand in- I habitants, and is built tolerably well, in the midft of rocks, which eircumftance, however, does not prevent many of the inhabitants from buildin^lioufes of wooda^fe is ve& difficult to conceive the motives thawed to the^on^truction of a town on ^^Ppot, where only as much water is found as is required for the ufe ofLAe houfes, and which is upwards of twenty miles diftant from all navigation; it would have been far more advantageoufly fituated on the banks of the Shenandoah. The rivulet which fupplies the families of ^^jjnehefter with water in abundance, i^tfye fource of Opeckan-Creek, that empties itfelf in a north-eaft direction into the Potowmak. Winchefter carrie$j5n a confiderable trade for its inland pofitiohy in the midft of a country which is, as yet, fo thinly inhabited. It fends to- Alexandria the whole produce of the upper country, and draws BY THE DUKE DE LA RQCHEFOUCAULT EI AN COURT; 1U3 draws from BaltiS^e, but especially from Philadelp™, all forts of dry goods : the traffic, both in buyflfj* and felling, iHcarried on with ready money. The^reference^jylticliL.isViven here to Philadelphia over Alexandria, in regard to the purchWe of dry goods, refts o# the fame grounds as it 4^es in otnet places of this upper part of Virginia. From the greater wealtj^ptfflefled by the merchants or" that city, irlty are able to give longer credit; tfisy^eceive the goods from the firfthands, and confequlRdy can fell them cheaper; their warehoufes being plentifully ^ftockea wi3i merchandizephe buyers gaftalfo fuit themfUves better— circumftances, none of which take place at Alexandria, and whic& being lefs combined at Balumore than at Philadelphia, cau$* the |»Stt£r fo be* reforted to in preference lb the former, notwithftanding its greater diftance : it is bjjjjanfl that all thefe productions and com- modities are conveyed to&Alexandria, and arrive from Philadelphia. Tfj£ carriage from Philadelphia to Winchefter cofts from four to five dollars per hundred v««ght; and from Winchefter to Alexandria, two dollars and a half, as it does from New-Town. Uleavy merchandize, fuch as grocery, is at times fent by fea fromjjjjuladelphia to Alexandria, whence it is convejAd to Winchefter in waggons, which, if not obliged to go back empty from want of a load, are paid at the rate of one dollar and a half per hundred weight. The produce fent from Winchefter confifts <^£iefly of flour. The environs of this place, as well as the back country, whence it draws the neceffary fupplies\ of provifions, abound in wheat; mills are very numerous in that di-\ ftridl; hemp, fome linfeed, hats and hardware, great qualities of which are manufactured in Frederick-County, are alfo productions of this country. Upwards of thirty well-ftocked ftores, or fhops, have been opened at WinchefteFffthe value bffiSuropean goods \^iich it yearly draws from Philadelphia, or Baltimore, is eftimated at two hundred thoufand pounds, or fix hundred fixty-fix thoufand fix hundred and fixty-fix dollars ; they fell at Winchefter thirty per cent dearer than in the former places. The 104 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, The profffnon of a lawyer, iat as lucrative m^yinchafter as in all the other paftHlffihgrnk. More than*twenty of them find conftant practice, and are in thriving circumftances. Me^lpic^ere fouhdjm -&&t£ndance ; ma a coach-make%fiand fepral watch-makers, bave fettled there. Fk^e churches have been built at ffifinchefter j a Roman Catholic, an Andean, a PrefbyteriSfc, aJSrerman Ifcttheran church, €Jhd a MethodnT meeting-houfe, but without any minifters ibeing :pe<Buliarly atfg^Ked to them. The Engliffafnin^er refides on -^toother fide of the Blue Ridgfe, and only comes from timp to tin?®. The RomarFC&tholic curat^Pwho lives W Maryland, vifits this place alfo when he choofes; and 1b do thejirejjfc. The methodift me^tin%- houfe excepted, divine fervice is thus performed here by itinerant •^figjte, who are not in the hUbit of travelling much in Virginia* mt^ ^the1 purpofe of propagating religious trilfts. But, on the other hand, '£$$feertain that the number of gamingjjjables has of late muc%4n- creafed in this town, a$&*they are all of them alfiduoufly frequei^ed. s'JFH'is'is a fort of %d"rfhip,^fh the obfervance of which but few Vrirgi«- !f*fif$ins incur the chargfl of infidelity. Befides an indiffejfent prifon, and a very decent court-houfe, '-tyV^c^efter contains a fine building ^jlftined for the ;poor. The expence of this houfe, which is kept but very-cafelefsly, is^&lfed$fy a poll-tax on white people and negroes. The poor, however, doifiRft derive all the advanta^ it might afford if '^e-^ubiieiinoney were hufbandtSl with more economy. I have not bsen able to procure much minute information rdl^lve to the management of this houfe, but I have feen enough of it, to induce me not to wifh for further par- mulars. Befides my opinion on this fpWcts of eftgbiifhments is fixed. They afford in a bad and imperfect manner the affiftance which the poor have a^fight to claim frormfociety. &he care of old and infirm 'people, fupportcd by the public,^ould be far more ufeifolly entrufted to private families for a reafonable compensation ; and thus public charity would be confined to the fole clafs of the^pocftfTSbo >r«£ally de- ferve it. Alms-houfes for the indigent are foupces of poverty; for they muft BY THE DUltE DE LA SOCHEFOUCAULT LIANCQURT, tOS muft be imtabited^and even filled.- l^The idler confiderfHthem as uu- bailing refources, and is thus encouraged hi his idlenels ; while a wicked fdt$*ft€&n them a certain retreat for his father and mother, whichjaardens him in hiss guilty difpofition not to affi#,them injdiftrefs, . &c. &c. wPW^mi old ftates, v^Sich are extremely populous and gangrened Irotfi mifery and vice, the eftablifhment oLhofpitals far the poor Should be deemed ufeful, their number ougnl'at leaft tohe tronfined within the bounds of indifpenfable neceffity. Now this neceffity exifts **not, nor can it exift, in arrmfant counil^ like America, Which abounds W j|he means of fubfitt^Pe, ^placed within the reach of every body $ N^here every family may eafily fupport fuch of its members as are ■*%educed to penury by old age'or inifmities ; where the number of thofe who have no relations to retreat to in fuch a fituation, if there (S!fmild exift any, is at lea&^yery fmall; a#d where private charity is excited by the very fcarcity of thofe who need alms. It is a painful duty to acknowledge t&at poor-houfes are far more frequently the refults of the vanity of cities, and of the indolence of thofe who ought to attend to the relief of thejsoor, than the effects of true humanity. The impqgfance of enacting wife laws with refpect to mendicants is not yet fufficiently felt: the talk is,'indeed, difficult; but they are intimately connected with the profperity of a great nation, ■and with the happinefs of all its members, I Two or three pitiful fehools" form all the refources of the inhabitants of Winchefter for the education of their children. The town contains ten or twelve inns, large and fmall, which are often full. It lies in the way of all travellers who proceed to the back parts of Virginia, to Teneffee, or'to the mineral fprings in the counties ef Augufta and Berkley. Mirny famili^J^^cg^ire emigratifigC into the new countries alfo pafs trough/^Winchefter. ^'fh the coufd, . of laft year upwards of four thoufand perfons paffed through the place, Wvno wereig^iiig to fettle in Teneffee'or Kentucky. 'i3pSjS A well-flocked ; market is held-there7 t^ice-a weeki'^^The price of a -Vbir H. P • meat - Mil %Q6, TRAVELS IK .%QIUCB AMERICA, meat is five pence a pound; a pair of fowls cofts from two to three fhillings* and butter eleven pence a pound. Every inhabitant has a garden, which produces the neceffary vegetables for' fcfl^j^ofu rapt ion,. Board and lodging coft five dollars a week. Negroes are very numerous in Winchefter; but white labourers are not eafily procured, and receive higher-wages than- in moft places of the neighbouring counties. The population of the county amounts to above twenty-one thoufand fouls, four thoufand five hundred of whom are negro flaves., BERKLEY-COUNTY. CHARLESTOWN. Although dwelling-houfes and plantations are tolerably numerous, between Winchefter and Charleftown, yet the country is ftill covered with wood to fuch a degree, that the eye does not enjoy any of the pleafant views which this fine tract of land, bounded on the right, and left by the beautiful chaihfaof the Blue and North Mountains, would offer, if it were well cleared. A few miles from the town the rpad takes - a^rth-eaft-ib. e.ct-ion towards the Potowmack. Alongntjia firft par^ of this road only fmall and wretched habitations are to be. feen ; and it is. not until we enter the county of Berkley, eleven miles from j^^nchefter, that the plantations become more confiderable^ the fields more extenfive, and better cultivated,; and that the,, whole: landfcape affumes an appearance of wealth. The dwelling-houfes are,, ill general, better built,, and fome which belong-to rich planters have a handfome appearance: but woods-predominate ftill too much, and more gftetynd lies uncleared than would fuffice fro fupport a population thirty times more numerous than it is at prefelu* . • Charleftown is a fmall place, built within thefe ten or twelve years, confifting of aboujt^forty houfes. The-inhabitants of this place. and its environs are- moftly emigrants from the lower parts of Virginia. A few of them came from, Pennfylvania, and thefe are«#ll Germans. This diftrifl: is inhabited, by more opulenjt planters than any other of t§£>3#Ufcy wq have hitherto traverfed. The, nunaj^ex. of negroes is .consequently BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. m fecraently confiderable ; and white labourers are fcarce in proportion : it is with great difficulty that any of the latter can be procured during the harveft atrae rate of two dollars per day. The difficulty of finding labourers at that important period obliges the farmer to have his wheat cut with the fcythe, although he is fully aware of the inconvenience which attends this operation, and which*is more confiderable here than elfewhere, for the thicknefs of the crops obftrudls the action of the fcythe, and a greater quantity of corn is accordingly fhaken out by the additional force required in mowing it down. Landed property for fome miles round Charleftown is more divided, perhaps, than in any other part of Virginia. Very few of the planters poffefs more than tW6 thoufand acres of land, and few even fo much. The culture is better, the fields are better ploughed, better hufbanded, and are even a little dunged. An acre produces from twenty to twenty-five bufhels of wheat; oats are cultivated in abundance ; numbers of cattle are kept in the meadows. The whole produce is difpofed of in the fame manner as that of the environs of Winchefter, Strafburgh, &c. &c. But it is from Winchefter that the ftores or fhops of, Charleftown receive their fupplies : none of the fhop-keepers is fuf- ciently rich to draw merchandize directly from the fea-ports. Two tolerably good fehools, one for Englifh, and another for Latin, rafeVf/eftablifhed at Charleftown, to which children are frequently fent from Winchefter. The price of inftrudtion for each pupil at thefe fehools amounts to five dollars for Englifh, and feventeen for Latin, The corporation is building a houfe in which thefe two fehools are to be united, and is defirous that a native of France would fix himfelf here as teacher of the French language. A Prefbyterian and a Methodift church have alfo been erected in this fmall town, and the Epifcopalians have built another two miles farther. Thefe three churches have minifters, fupported. by voluntary contributions; but their allowance is not fufficient to relieve them from the neceffity of being alfei ham" by other congregations, fo that divffi^elftice is performed at Charleftown every fortnight P 2 only, tw q^AV$&JN NOIg^pr-yfuWTBftl-CA, only, and it is faid that even on" thefe days the churches are but littl* frequented.. JKM& W$M No. market having been as yet eftablifhed in Charleftown, every one fupplies himfelf with provisions as well as he cam Meat cofts fix pence a pound, butter nine pence, and fowls two fhillings a pair. This town is increafmg every year,, and many new houfes are building. The inhabitants affured us, as in fadl they did every-where,, that the air is extremely falubrious ; and, to judge from the afpect of the country, nothing feems here to contradict the affertion. The culture of wheat extends five or fix miles beyond Charleftown,. The fields.are all of a vaft extent, and the crops of Indian corn are. remarkably fine. The meadows are alfo very rich,, but they are few in number.. PASSAGE OF THE POTOWMACK THROUGH THE BLUE-MGUN* TAINS. HARPER'S FERRY. Two or three miles from Potowmack you find, a ledge of fmall: heights, which always precede and follow the high chains of mountains ; they are ftony,.and but little cleared of woodland the roads are dreadful. At laft. we reach the celebrated,point, fo much extolled by travellers, and the celebrity, of which has been greatly inereafed by Mr. fef- ferfon's Notes.—the point where, the Potowmack, on receiving the Shenandoah, feems to have broken through the Blue Ridge,; to open for its waters a, paffage acrofs this, grand obftacle, by which nature intended to obftrudl its courfe. The view is beautiful and.-majeftic* The Shenandoah- fweeps in a fouth-eaft direction along the Blue Mountains, and feems deftined thus to^ prolong its rapid courfe all along this ridge, when the Potowmack, which flows fmooth and ftill from weft to eaft, encounters it at a right angle, and increafmg the impetus and rapidity of the Shenandoah, araRefts the natural direction of the latter, and carries it along acrofs thefe high : J"; -".a :: • '': ■ mountains^ BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 109. mountains, which feem to open for the fole purpofe of letting them pafs. The fcens is grand ; it deferves to be viewed, and is worthy of the admiration of travellers who delight in the magnificent operations of nature. But, however I was pleafed with the fight, it did not excite in me thofe emotions of enthufiafm which I expected, which I have feveral times experienced in the courfe of my life, and which laft year affected me fo ftrongly at the view of the falls of Niagara. The flight impreffion made upon my mind by the fudden encounter of the Potowmack and Shenandoah, and by their paffage through the Blue- Ridges, is it to be afcribed to the idea I had preconceived, and to the high expectations raifed in my mind by the accounts I had heard and read on this fubject ? But I arrived laft year with firm" lar, nay ftronger, preconceptions at the ftupendous cataract of Niagara, and my aftonifhment and admiration were not diminifhed ; on the contrary,- they grew ftronger and ftronger every moment, whileT was contemplating this wonder of nature, which engaged, as it were, every power of my foul ; and the emotions it excited are ftill prefent" to my mind. Is the want of enthufiaftic feeling, perhaps, owing to my actual difpofition, which renders me lefs fufceptible of the charms of enchantment ? This may be ; my foul has fince laft year undoubtedly fuftained fome lofs in this refpedt; yet I am not become abfblutely cold and infenfible to the beauties of nature ; and I indulge in a belief, that I fhall not ftand unfupported in my opinion on this grand and b^tltiful fcene, which I have viewed with admiration and delight, but which appeared to me inferior to the defcriptions given of it. 1 muft here obferve, by way of a remark on the climate of America, that a very hot day was fucceeded, at Harper s Ferry, by an evening fo exceffively cold, that I was obliged to put on my great coat to be able for fome time to remain in the open air, and ihat 1 was foon obliged to ft&|J>tttto the houfe and (hut fome of the windows. This temperature of the air is not,, however, common in this place ; and the inhabitants were as ftrangely and difagreeably affected by it as myfelf. The beautiful valley of Shenandoah, which has alfo been more extolled, in my opinion, than it deferves, terminates "at this point. It is a fine* MP TRAVELS IN NXMmi ^Z&ICA* fine country, inhabited by an induftrious and active people; a country, formed by nature to be rich, and which we do not expert tq^od between thefe two chains of mountains, at leaft n©|in Virginia- $i£}$f having travelled through other parts of that State, where fo much activity and induftry are Confidered as things utterly impoffible; yet it is but thinly inhabited in proportion to its extent, and to the length of time fince it firft began to be fettled. Scarcely any part of it is cultivated with careful attention and fkill; the price of land is very low, improvements proceed but flowly ; and if we call to recollection the plains on the Mohawk-River in the north of the State of New- York, we muft allow, that the valley of Shenandoah deferves the praife of being the fineft part of Virginia, but not of all America, as is frequently afferted in written and verbal accounts of this valley. It is from a fort of fpirit of juftice that I thus exprefs myfelf, on^iis part of the country, in a manner different from that of many others, whofe opinion may, undoubtedly, have more weight than mine; but I have, neverthelefs, paffed through this valley with fatisfadtion and pleafe|$a and I wifh, for the happinefs of the Virginians, that many other parts of their State refembles this, y The want of population would foon. be fupplied, and none of the prefent inhabitants would emigrate into Other States. In the valley of Shenandoah are many home-manufactories, which is rarely the cafe in any other part of Virginia. The richeft counties in this plain are thofe of Shenandoah, Frederick, and Berkley, efpecially the latter. Pigs are bred here in great numbers; they run now and then into the woods, as they do in other parts of Virg^a, but they return home almoft every day, aneLgre fed there. A confiderable trade in fait por]^j§ carried on in this valley. The pop^tion of Berkley-County amounts nearly to twenty-three thoufand inhabitants three thoufand of whom are flaves. In this county, near the Potowmack, is fituated the moft frequented medicinal fpring in the United States. Although it pofteffes lefs powerful qualities than the-^rino-s in the county of Augufta, and is lefs hot; yet the beauty cf the country, and its vicini^y^Sjtge maritime piovinces, which are the moft populous, BY THE DUKE DE LA ftOtrHEEOUCAUET rTANCOVRT. in lews, the neighbourhood of fome fmall towns, tolerably inhabited, and the great variety of accommodations which the village that furrounds the fpringoffers to the guefts, induce the majority of patients to prefer it to the other fprings. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON VIRGINIA. On croffing the Potowmack we enter the ftate of Maryland. But hefore I bid a laft farewel to-Virginia, I cannot forbear making fome general obfej^ttions on this State, which is fo highly interefting on account of its vaft extent, the great number of reprefentatives it fends to^Coifgfirefe, the influence wflfreh it is fuppofed to have oVer the Union in general, and over the fouthern States in particular; and, laftly, on abattoir of the difference of opinion entertained by its partifans and fain*1 * \$tttfure has done much for Virginia, perhaps more than for any otfadr ftafc^of the Union. The foil is, in general, good, and extremely varied ; the climate, no doubt, is rather hot in fummer ; the heat, howevd£|§i£ ©u* little troublefome, for the inhabitants are eafily accu- Jrk^tnetf^eft; on approaching or paffing the mountains it becomes more moderate, and tolerable even in the midft of fummer : vegetation is wdnde™Ky powerful in Virginia, and the climate favours the culture of almo#a*H known productions. Virginia, it is true, has no port on the Atlantic ; but fhe pofteffes- a multiplicity of harbours on her numerous and beautiful rivers, the navigation of which admits of failing upwery higlvto receive the produce of remote diftridts; and, as has befeu already obferved, the fituation of North-Carolina is fuch, that the overplus of the produce in grain of that extenfive State muft in a gp©» meafure pafs through the hands of the merchants of Virginia. The want of fea-porfs, which i^ not attended with any inconvenience for Virginia, is, on the other hand, p«oductive of the great advantage of being- fecu.e in time of war from the iniuits of the enemy, who, in order to bum its towns or plunder the-eountry, would be obliged either to T.l£ TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, totand in another State, or to venture into the Chefapeak. Thefe Im-. menfe advantages are incontrovertibly poffeffed by y\f0m$q whofe lower parts,;ilfhough unhealthful, yet are not more fo than thofe of Maryland, of fome diftridls of Pennfylvania, and of the State of New- York, and are certainly more falubriou.s than the lower parts of the two Carolinas and Georgia. Virginia alfo enjoys the great additfoliai advantage of being almoft entirely free from all dangerous animals. The rattle-fnake is uncommon to fuch a degree, that a'great many inhabitants who live in the woods never heard it mentioned. Let us now confider, whether Virginia has improved thefe great advantages •by her conftitution, laws, and civil relations ; what is her real ftrength, her ftrength in relation to the 4o¥ner ftates, and what are her refources. The conftitution of Virginia was formed the firft ppany of the United States; it is likewife the moft imperfect. Reprefentation, the firft bafis -<clr eve^^mocratical conftitution, is unequal in this ftate. Each county fends two reprefentatives to the legiflature : but thefe counties vary in ^f!p.of population fo very much, that fome furnifh only one company W^flmitia, while others raife four battalions. Thus the proportional difference of reprefentation between the counties is as one to fixteen. The organization of the fenate is, in this point of view, equally defective. In regard to the election of fenators the State is divided into twelve diftricW,^ which are compofed of an unequal number of counties. Ten of thej^fftr^ls lie between the fea and the Blue-Ridge, and two only are fituated beyond the mountains. In this latter part of the State the population is not fo great as in that which is called Old Virginia : but it will foon become equal to it, becaufe many of the in- habitan.t^bf the old fettlements emigrate either into the weftern diftridls, ;M, beyonaNthe. mountains; at prefent ewh^'#ls>rmlfe than half that of the other. TheM^s, then, a ftriking inequarky likew$$l%i the reprefentation of the fenate^vhich is not d^^TOo^^R.^tfiit of the fenate of the Union, and of fomet6^mrSik^^^jx€wi^ftS) 4>fferertp}Erorn thofe of'H'fe houfef^{p|^efentari^^^^^e go^S^Skrc* is BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 113 is a mere fhadow of authority, he has not the power of performing any act but by the advice of his executive council, compofed of eight perfons, two only of whom go out every year, according to the choice of the legiflature. Thus the pojpbility that ma»y of the members will hold their feats in the council for life gives them confiderable influence,, and adds a total want of authority to the impoffi- bility of acting in. which the governor is placed by the conftitStjon. This conftitution is alfo objected to on the ground of its not heing the work of a convention appointed ad hoc, but having Jbeea made by the legiflature which exifted under the Englifh dominion, and which, after haying fhaken off the Britifh yoke, modelled the conftitution, without having been eleated and a&sbled for that purpofe, as in the . other ftates. This reproach might have had fome foundation, although the circuapsftances in which the legiflature was placed at that time reduce it almoft to nothing; but at this time it is altogether -uiifair, becaufe the conjjifcution, made by an %{£eva&Ay whether competent or other- wife, has been adopted by the whole ftate, and followed th$ifc4wenty years paft without the leaft objection. Whatever, therefore, may be its advantages or inconveniences, its origin fhould not be nowamatter of reproach* ;^>uch as it is, it meets with much cenfure in the ftate ; and the number of thofe who loudly demand, an alteration, although from different m§|©res, is very eohfideratile. The law which places landed property out of the reach of creditors in the recovery of debts would be immoral in any country, and under any government whatever, utecountries where ariftocracy forms the leading principle of government, and it is intended to have a rich nobility and a fuccef- fion of opulent families, that principle is fuppohted by fiduciary fiib- f£^a|£on. For family eftates beg^g; there confidered as permanent property jtt is held,^at the title of their prefent pccu£JS$t$<is confined to a mere ufufruct. This law, unjuft as it is under ariftocratic governments as any-where elfe, is t&^Lat leaft a politic meafure, in the fenfe W^b unde=|||bis fort of ggitfnment is attached to that term, and is moreover confined to the property of fome families. But inniu Vol. IL Q^ country 114 TRAVELS-IN N0.RTH.r AMERICA, c^nfry where democracy forms the bafis of government, and whofe conftitu&on is preceded by a declaration of the rights of man^^iis law, ^i^^^(.ejSeW^s£: a pretexi^g|jfeexpofed/i)pt?^all the difgraceful nakednefs €^JtoU$l&iy.e immorality. The law which goes fo ftrong againft gambling is undoubtedly very morafciand goqd|i;but fo far from being duly enforced, it is publicly violatedevery day; gaming being no-where mpj^ppaj^iifed^ or prodn$i;t<§ a©f greater diforders, than in Virginia* It woul&i therefore, be much better for the ftate. were gambling au- ti&l^ed by law ;. jggBtiof all diforders, that of a public contempt 0$J%1%: l^j&k'is the,m^li.^fft:ructive to a civilized ftate. Another great dif- Q£$i^&iJ&e flate of Virginia^^t^^habituai want of punctuality in the payn$en&$|-sdebts; for, independently of the immoraJ|tyM^hif>^ait^. ofcj%$,ilB$*lic manners, this bad habit,, whichaenriches not even thofe who do notrf>ay$ feprives the public^Wealth o^fnany refources, and in- W^^JliftfitSi^Jmprovements. The refources of chicanery afford in Virginia, as they do. every-where elfe, a ftrong fupport fcrijijhis difpofition oflflafr)Vit^bi^\pedplei)fi«ic^)Jthe definitive fentence of paym«at'in re- gai'd/^thl^^gareft and moft/incontro\erjtifife? debt may be retarded full five years. |&gJi| As to trade and commerce^JVirginia, althougfKV&ry advantag^ltiCly^ fituated for the moft exifce&five commercial operations, "-fit1 carries on but a very in$Qf$dgiriaBle trade. .■•Tihe merchanta#e^neif£her poffeffed of the fame capitals, nor enjoy the fame-credit, as^^th^^ol^^^i^diftg- ftates of North Amerio^y^^^r are they fr,§m fupplying with pro- vifionsi^^a^ parts;0|^ie ftate, that theater draw them directly from Baltimorerai^'Philadelphia^||^| The total>a^6jofot|pfexf)orts of fhj^$©rent ports of Virginia■• amountf^n theiy£aiL]f|||p, to 3,131,803 dollars ; iM^^^M^^42,823 ; in 17Q3 to 2,987,097; in 1794 to 3,320,030; an&4h*l?^}&S,<4Q0,043, dollars. Ufm$ The popu^^on of Virgii^ihould feerril|e#fy confi^e?&f^}Hfiiwj&' re^^^^^^aPafeEfends tw^ty-one-^#nab^r#to^ the Ifs^a^^^^Uihe, population off]©a^h?«ate ihould%%g81at^l,&e niifff-- BY THE DUKE "DE LA RGCHEFGUCAULT LIA^TCOURT. rils ber offMjreprefentati^§^l*th?at general coXmeil. But this |HBjittlation, -vvhich by the d£nfus of f^T amtftf&sPte^feven htiftfdfed and forty- feven^M^lttfe1*B^-hundiW; and ten £e*#ns, com^firi^^stwo httftFS dred and ninety-feven thoufand fix hundred and ttfJHRfy-feven flaves. The area of the ftate cofrfa&Sra fe^elfaf thou^Hd fquare miles; this makes per fquaVe'mile about ten! wWHtrds of inhabksmit&^^fhree feverfl^^or fahom are n^^rfe^lS^^The pq£ttlatllM!;of the whites, whic$P*ts iindouB&^^^fflfiHNifed by reprote^ldHj^^^Jms-lfb^rill^^^ rmgration ; for no Vtl^nftill^^flll deny, that tUe-ftate is'*ibill^^iiOfJy» yWR-:So¥e by the emigra^yn'^wti^TOfebltants thstti^t obtaiti#^emi- grants from other ftates f fo that this population, if We# d&tatt&a^ is, perhaps, inferior to' that of any other flafter of the Union. In a great part of Virginia the heat of the clrolate, and the ufe of flaves, rerf^e¥'that clafs of meh^icfte and averfe to laSfour, who in the other ftates, under differeflt3ieircumftances, are fpurred on to-ittferflry and act^^^!?S^ligence'aiM wain t. We find$fc#Pdifig§^that a lefs cffiafntity ofIlfti^HI^Nm:tVate-dI^tfl^t^> proporifeti to the extejtiCrand population of the cdutfti^, tha3MkV>ther':i&[ws, and ntharfbiik very few* branches of induftry have gained ground in Virginia, although• thdRK emrntry is fitted for all thofe whiofi* tK##*been eftablifhed in otfter • partsWhhe United States. There is no ftate fo erltrrely deftitute of a*R*means of public education as V^mia; and it may be fairly faid, that the only college fhe poffefl^% the moft imperfect in point of in- ftrudtion, and the worft managed of anyv#£ $h^*X3Mp&i On a candfifi confederation of thefe circumftaT^$$#$3 impOifMe to pr&fe with any degree of juftice the pD;w¥rwMfefcte of Virginia. The power of a ftate^ilrthe refult of its real ftrength : VTirginia, as has already beemWferved,"i£^h^di^^ by^ft^ffetto becbf8|? the moft powetl^; or one of the moft powerful, of tfeW$fi»6n. But in- order to attain this end, bWfaiws muft be fupei^bfled by^ood ones ; the manners muft be ci&nre&ed, induftry enCCHlfaged, aiftl'vfcljE bountiesadf natunPmrned'&^flvantage. TfrdfiPHfe the'^fources of Virginia, wMnraturfty ^!^n^aXF^^KH|^{'^r«'g^lia contains fome men of public fpirit and extenfive information, occupied with the welfare of Qj the H6 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA* t|Wifcountry and defirous of effe&uatkig it, and as the legiflature itfelf feems to pay much attention jt# this poiftt, the time of impr-qyement may be nea$|?ibut it is not yet come, and my obfervations rne^e^g. apply to the prefent ftate of things. ?|fj^f VirgigftR influences at this moment the political pinion ofg£?eofgia a^d^North-Carolina ; the fimMar manner in whif^-thefe three ftates vote at the c^grefs, at leaft warrants this opinion. But Georgia is Wobble ftate, from her pofition as welb^s population^^|ri(d, were fhe even more coim4er«ble under th®^f®|®$$ of view tliafgtfhe adlually is, yet the *ftaHe of diforder wht<%ff«e.$ails there would reduce her ftrength to #ithing. North-Carolin^it^ «ot in the fame ftate of diforde^fifeut poffeffes no ftrength. Men of talents are mj^vfcarce there than in any of the other l^gf&B^iand if fhe fhould obtain an^3i§, would probably be tired of the ftate of dependence wherein fhe is:l^gs£v by her incapacity. ^if?5%ginia does not rely on South-Carolina, which may coincide with ligifh point of polrta&al opinion, yet defires to have an^inion of her own, and fcorns to acknowledge the fuperiority or influence of another #ate. She ranks among her friends the ftate of Kentucky, which was dif- ftkfcSbered from Virginia, and Teneifee, whofe interefts perfectly concur ^th hers. She fancies aW^ fhe may rely on a part of I^QfUfr. fylvania^'But all4hefe calculations are more than doubtful; and were they founded, thej^teave no permanent groungsfj they m$jpbe ufefu^kto carry a motion in Congrefs; but they dom^i^fcreafe the re§^^|j;e$g£}i of Virginia, nor t^frefources of a polilacal body adling^^ ^jj^^^ act, independently of the Union. The reproach frequentfyipaeferred againft Virgijp^, that fh$ ^fign£ l^iMticiHlie.Southern States|lCKwithdraw from the Union, j^j^Uuidy unfounded. Not one of the other ftate^^, perhaps, more aj£a#l^{Lu> jhe federal government, tha^^rgftaia. TOkft^ V^rg^ni4|^i*?|Q|Jft^^ Jiftfi&in this opinion, and even reprGafhiMe.Northern States with an intention of o^redmff^^MwWi^ yet tb|^ihope,, ^a^^emifyl- vania, BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 117 vania, or at leaft that part ^h^hsisfiltuated on the left of the Sajiqgffr hannah, would affift them in defeating any attempt, in Congre^|ji^y| bring on fuch a rupture. -^jBp The Virginians generally enjoy a character for hospitality, which they truly deferve ; they are fond ofortreospany; their hoijjttality is fincere, and may, perh^i^be the reafifciriif fcbeir fpending-dWffe than they Should do; for, in general, they are not rich, efpecially in clear income. You find, therefore, ve#p«lirequently a table well.&rved, and covered with plate, in a room where half the windows, have been broken for ten years part, and will probably remain fo ten years longer/;*frut feW: fiSufes are in a tolerable ftate of repair, and no part of theirlflffidiiags is better kept thaflkthe ftahles, becaufe the Virginians are fond of races, hunting, in fhgjfeti of all pleafures and amufements which render it neceffaSf to take peculiar care of horfes, as they are the fafhion of the day. ffllf The Virginians are good hufbands^ and good fathers; but, from a love of diffipation, they keep lefs at home than the inhabitants of many ^fl£H*ftates. I have heard ladies reproach them with being luhje^^g jealoufy. This may be the cafe : in every country under the fu% diffipated hufbands are jealous. The women are amiable, and -^fcijoy the reputation of fulfilling their duty with the fame exactnefs as in other parts of America, where the hufbands pafs more time with their 3$f$£s^ They are more fprigbtly and agreeable than in the Eaftern States, but no¥<b much fo as in South-Carolina ; nor are they fo pretty as in PhMSH^aSa. I have, however, feen Virgi^jfem ladies who are filler to none in perfonal charms and graceful manners. Virginia has, fince the revolution, produced moregaeto of diftinguifhed talents than^f&rhaps, any other ftate of rheUmon. Fejj|jka> the inha- 'f&afif-s are of^ifl1pation,a tafte for reading is more prevajfca.t amon^jutl^e Jfewfref^ei^of the firft clafs than in any other part ofAmerica; but the common peopHfare, perhaps, more ignorant ^jfej^ti^fcwhere. During the war of tl#flg¥fcitttion, the Ykginian tropps were equally diftinguifhed for- their valour and love of liberty ; and the la^f^^iqpgie^,*^^ tremblingly :rlp TRAVELS IN NORTH A»ER:ICA, tremblingly alive among all claffes of the people. The c$$traft it forms with the maintenance of-(laVery is truly ftriking; and fpeeches on liberty and independence found rather ftrgngely from tJigoHftfi-tif mafters of flaves.* U^he Virginians'are moft of them aware of th^n- conveniences refulting from flavery, even with-refpect to7t$jfir own interefts ; but the means of> f&fe&it&iiig it are liabjfe^o numb§rlfeis difficulties in a country where the number of flaves is fo confiderajb4i$g| in Virginia. Yet, on the other hand, it muft be allow^ci^fet tbe#g>§£4 means, the execution of which, if undertaken with' $$gnimity and ^rjt, would be lefs dangerous than many Virginians feem to flflfllTtJi hend., J^hall fpeak more fully on this fubject aftg^^jvjfit to Maryland. The V|r$bfcbns are, in general, good mafters ; the fentiments of fjihiianthropy, which have not yet gained fufficient grou^d|i^^j^|)ginj^ ?6agaE£pare the emancipation of; flakes, have however laad influence enough to caufe them to be better treated and fed. It is generally felt in Virginia, that abfolute flavery cannot continue;^ng; men of fenfe, at leaft, are conyj$£edof the truth of this remark. Let us indulge in the hope, that thisf^^ipi^^on will infenfibly lead to fome generous refolution, which will prove as beneficial to the mafters as the flaves. MINERALOGICAL OBSIWATIONS. The dept^ #£, the layer of fand prevents any ftone from being perceived in the vicinity of N^gfqlk, yet at a fhort diftance from that place quarries are found and worked. The ftones employed in ^uHcU. ing are quart^ feldfpar, and fteatites. On the fea-fhore the ground confifts of a fine fand, dry a^-light, but is in feveral inftances pierced by rocks of granite. In Difmal-Swamp the fame fragments of trees are found buried and preferved under the vegetable earth, in different degrees of depth, as in the plains which rife in the form of a terrace near the bed of the river Connecticut. s£||sfe fragments are ftill more abundant thanjb. when dug out of the ground they are alfo in a foft BY THE DUES DE LA ROCHEEOUCAULT LIANCDURT. 119 ffef$ftate, but grow hard when expofed'ifrthe aii*/*1 From the mouth of Jani&#River, as far as the Blue Mountafty? the fame minerals are found a§*ifl the reft of America. Near Chefapeak-Bajf ^6^1 meet with irregular maffes of granite, which farther on are replaced by regular layers of quftrlfe', feldipars, fchoerl, and an slfMHaceous fhiftus. This fucceflion of minefttls- is found two or three times in the tract of country whi^fPHs wafhed by James-River. Near York and Williamfburg you find large beds of oyfter-fhells, four or five feet m depth, which fometimes appear above the furface of the ground; you alfo fee ftones compofed of conglomerations of granite, and which feem to be a fpecies of imperfect pudding-ftone. The5f8|les wafhed by the rapids of JahH^River at Richmond are a fpecies of granite. On making an excavation at Roquette, large quantities of copperas-ftone, enveloped in a bluifh and very refitler earth, were found. Thefe ftones contain much copper; they.are alfo faid to*roHraa% a tolerable quantity of filver, but the prefence of this metal has not yet been aroeVtained by any proper experiment, and much lefs its proportion. At DtffleTr, where the coal-mines which we vifited are fituated, the foil cdrfflfe chiefly of a fand-ftone, interfperfed with fragments of granite, which when broken preferve the original texture of the ftone. WMffih thefe layers that the coal is found in immediate contact with ftone of a fandy or argillaceous compofition, and with a blue clay. That part of the country which contain^ the coal-mines is about ten miles in breadth, but its length is not yet afcertained; it croffes James-Rivef!ffFThe ftrata of coal are in general thicker at the extremities and where they lie neareft to the furface of the ground; their' direction, which IsrYrffrnweft to eaft, forms with the horizon a very obtufe angle.'*^As foon as you leave th* Tfiftridt, you meet again with granite;^which now fies in layers, is interfperfed with mica, and feems in feveral inftances to be a real cryftallization. The foil is a hard clay. Some miles from Milton, at the foot of the South Mountains, there is a vein of lime-ftone, formed like fhiftus, and placed between layers of perfect flate. When calcined, it yields excellent lime. This A 26 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, "This vein runs in a fouth-weft direction as far as the river Roanoke in J^orth-Carolina, that is, one.ipndred and forty miles, and upwards of 'fixty miles towards the north-eaft. It is in no inftances more than ten feety$bick, and frequently lefs. In all the furrounding fields are found large detached maffes of white quartZf&giUng on layers of blue *ihiftus; and likewife ftrata of a greenifh grey colour. Maffes of gltanite are likewife very common in the vicinity of the South Mountains. .There is alfo to be found a grey undulated rock, which eafily feparates into fheets, that contain a confiderable quantity of magnefia. The foil whicfc. covers this fmall chain of mountains (Eaft, Green,, and South Mountains) is of a reddifh c$|our, and extremely fruitful,. Between this ridge and the Blue Mountains the ground contains much ochre, and fulphureous mundick is found there in great quantities. The valley between the Blue and North Mountains abounds with layers offJ#ne-ftone, feveral of which form an angle with the horizon. Near Keyffel-Town, twenty-five mile* from Staunton, they drop nearly perpendicularly, and are generally covered with a reddifh earth, and fometimes with granite of a yellow colour. Lime-ftone is alfo found near Winchefter; but further on it foon difappears, and is replaced by a fhiftous and quartzous flate. Granite is only feen in a few detached maffes on the road from Winchefter to Harper's Ferry; and in progreffive fucceffion we meet with layers of yellow fhift, which eafily feparates into thin fheets, and is interfperfed with brilliant particles, refembling mica, of a yellow flate and of lime-ftone. The rocks in the Blue Mountains confift near Harper's Ferry, as they do throughout this whole chain, chiefly of granite ; but we alfo meet with free-ftone and feldfpar. Near Frederick-Town, lime-ftonjei^again feen; but free-ftone, fhift, and a fpecies of micaceous, fand in the road to Ellicofs-Mill, are alfo found. The rocks which bound in this place the river Potapfco are calcareous ftones* TREES. M BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEF0UCAULT LlANCOURT.- 121 TREES. Among the numberlefs fpecies of trees which grow in Virginia, are diftinguifhed the fiWw-leaved maple, the afh-lea>fced maple, the climbing trumpet flower, the catalpa tree, the Carolinian allfpice, the iudas tree, the Virghiian mefpiius (of which I have feen fome twenty- five feet in height) ; cornel trees of different forts; the perfimon, the nickar tree, the triancanthus, Walnut, various fpecies of cedars, fweet bay, benjamin tree, and another laurel of which I do not know .the; name; the maple-leaved lft|u$deambar, the evergreen laafrdl-leaved tulip tree, the fwamp pilfer and many others ; the black and Carolina poplar, various fpecies of oak, the fmooth fumach, pfeudo-acaefeiG<tiH§^£L tree, &fc?SPbut many of them, the tulip tree for inftance, do not attain the fame height in Virginia as in South^ife^titia and Cfeorgia. Although Virginia does not produce fome trees, which grow only under a higheP<legree of latitude, yet it contains in my opinion a greater variety of fpecies than any othe^Hate. There is alfo a great multiplicity of plants, but they are lefs fragrant than in South-Carol in a. Wfp ROADS AND CANA£&^ /Tme Virginian legiflature applies itfelf tfffh'-peculuV-care to the improvement of mratid navigation. Several canals are either made, commence, or prtfjedted, in places where the ri*J&3¥avigation is intercepted by rapic&^wit^ks in the reft of theMKFnited States, art^foliilt fufficiently attendee!^6 in their conftruettoh. Works of thisafeind are carriediOTIWithout previoufly confiderin^the beft means of completing them;'whence®it is that they are 6$m& more imperfect, and always more expenfive, than they other wi$Rn ight* be. The roads are in general good throughout this ftate ; and although iSae mns are fometimes bad, yet upon the wfeolb>they are better than Vol. IL R | is& TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, in the other ftates. Thofe in the back country, where I have travelled, are preferable to the inns in many of the moft inhabited parts of New- England. JOURNEY TO FREDERICK-TOWN. A boat takes up the travellers in Virginia, and laj^js them in Maryland. The Potowmack forms the limjj|$£ the two ftates. You crofs it twenty toifes from its confluence with the Shenandoah, and on doffing over yon^t^py this grand fpedtacle as well as from any other pbintui^phe mountains through which the Potowmack paffes lc4eL^B|, Maryland the name of the Blue-Ridge|g^id affume that of the South Mountains. The narrow road which leads to Baltimore, and which tor four or five miles is an uninterrupted feries of ft!ji£Fv$iftmg ftones, runs along the bajis of thofe mountains, and the Potowmack, the bed of which is not grown wider from having received the aj»gsSr nandoah. It flows amidft fragments of rocks, which render its courfe uneven and noify. Six miles farther on you leave theoj^itowmack to afeend the Coofoofky Mountains, a chain of fmall extent, from which the view of the Blue-Ridge, of the North Mountains, and the preceding fmall heights, a part of which is cultivated, efpecially in ^Maryland, and laftly of the Potowmack, which you fee a mile beyond the Blue-Ridge, forms a grand and delightful profpect. The South Mountains feparate the counties of Wafhingtqn and Frederick. On purfuing the road which I travelled, you only touch Wafhington-County, one of the moft healthy and fruitful par^fegf Maryland. It fursifhes all fpecies of grain for the export trade of Baltimore, and alfo wrought-iron : it abounds with iron mines. The population of the county amounts to about fifteen thoufand ]&$($. eighteen hundred of whom are negro flaves. Weft ^^aj^pon- County is that of Alleghany, the^ft of the ftates of Maryland hvtfeis direction. The ^ttlement of the country between Harper's Ferry and the Coofottiky BY THE DUKE DE' LA ROCHEF0UCAU-LT"-EIANCOURT. 12J Coofoofky Mountains is juft beginning. You meet with a few fmall habitations, moft of Wtra^fi have beeft^illilt within thefe three years; they are miferable log-houfes, with about twenty acres of cleared ground. The new fettlers arrive moftly from the environs of Lancafter, and the county of Dauphin in PennfylvaS^j many come alfo from the lower parts of Maryland, and fome from Ireland. Thefe families appear to be an active and induftrious kind of people. In this part of the country land fetches from eight to ten dollars the acre, and yet it is not better than on the other fide of the river in Virginia, where it is fold for four or five, and where the habitations are very fearce; yet the difeafe of the grain, called widle, is here unknown^ The Potowmack forms on the. north fide the limit of th©;fcourge, as the Blue Mountains do on the eaft. No Heffian flies are feen here, and twiot occurs but very feldom. The harveft is this year very plentiful, as in fact it is in all other parts; and thofe farmers in Maryland who do not fpecufeteaik>:graiaii> rejoice at the falfiilHts price. But many others, who have plunged into (peculations of this nature, will fuftain confiderable lefles from this fudden fall. May this difaftrous experience render them more cautious and prudent for the future ! A fpirit of commercial fpecu- lation in a farmer is the ruin of agriculture; his means are far in- $MSaBP:in. extent to thofe of a merchant in town, who makes up the lofs of one fpeculation by the fuccefs of another. But the farmer who lofes the value of his commodities, or is badly paid for them, *raftfra£ls debtfe, tikifchrates his land with lefs care, is obliged to fell his ^gatUe^ his cr8j& are lefs plentiful, and the whole of foc&ty thus fhares his lo^^li^^fee^profperl^-of cultivators is more intimately connected ^wfth the general welfare thai&that of any other induftrious ekfe of the people. ll&£mCoofoofky Mountains are tolerably tfgtttYated ; fome of them are fo up to their very feMmits. Farther on in the country habitations iABftale in number, culture expands, and the corn-fields grow large*: land fetches in thefe mOBfcfafta#From twelve to fifteen dollars the acre, R 2 and tS4 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, and this price continues much the fame until we reach the environs of Frederick-Town. Meadows are there more frequent, and the abundance of water enables the farmers to water their grafs-lands, which is executed by fome of them with a Confiderable fhare o£--J$$jty The water is conducted through wooden pipes, which communicating from one height to another, frequently diftant feveral hundred toifes, traverfe the fmall dale which feparates them. Timothy grafs and iw€lover form the artificial meadows of the country. White clover grows naturally pretty thick and fine. Culture increafes, the land grows better, and the meadows augment in number, iir%he vicinity of Frederick-Town. Land is fold there for from twenty*!we%bthirty dollars the acre; and grafs-^fetfef^i^S^^^i FREDERICK-TOWN, THE CAPITAL OF FREDERICK-COUNTY. This town, fituated oh ithfe>*4reek Carolle, a branch of the. river, Monacafy, is very w#l built. The greater number of ;l|oi$frjS fire.J^G^ bladings; the town-hai%iipoor-houfe, and court-houfe, are ver>y^w|e ftrudlures. The population of Frederick-Town amounjt$|$:Q about;t$f9, thoufand fouls, a fourth of whom are negroes. It carrieSjOn a confiderable trade with the back country, which it fupplies with merchandize drawn.fwfei Baltimore, and tranfmits to the latter placejgj^^larn the produce of the back country, which is ri^ fruitful, and thickly fett|^|J$o in general, induftry is beyond comparifon morejj^dfive there than in Virginia. A glafs manufadlory had been eftablifhed fome miL^jfe<PlEaF|^<fa3^f3fe^ - Town. But, whether through the mifconduct or the misfortunes of the proprietor^, who came from Bremen in Germany, from want of money, or perhaps from a coincidence of all thefe caufes, tha&aaoianu- fadture has fhared the fate of almoft all firft eftablifhme»t^^:gifei$t nature, and is fo near its deftrudlion, that the latter may be confidered - as complete. The raw materials, I have been aborted, arftjfe;great abundance near the fpot where it is fitmiedmoM dSbisbe adfcually the ^3h cafe, ll.„ BY THE DUXE, DE LA . RCCH EF 0 U C A"p ET LIANCOURT. 125 cafe, it will be relieved either by the prefent managers or others, which is immaterial in a public point of view ; bait it is of great importance for the country to poffefs a glafs-manufactory, that may leffen the quantity of this for^of,imports. Jfom England; which their fragility- renders fo profitable to the vender, and fo indifpenfibly neceffary to the buyer. Majg^and abounds in iron, and iron works are vervjiume- a^^fcSfe^tig^ftl Afe? {feffsaP^itefecarries on a confiderable jftade in wrouoht-iron. .Many §&i,U»em are eftablifhed in the envimns^g Frederick-Town, i^atr jjtfafgrtjp^i Frede§^-Count# ^^gJaius about thkj^Tone thoufand inhabitants, four thoufand of jyhom are negrg^s. SijMg^/Ql, the y^ear when the cenfiit^as takgn^ the pojpgglation of Frederick-Couitf^ has beenieoii- fidera]pl(y incgsafed l^|1t^efremigration of ^milies.&om other parts. The4i|Mfcjfe|£P. general, good, and produces wheat, rye, barley, and Indian cor^in confiderable quantities forr^g.export trade of Baltimore, and alfo fome hemp^n^ $££- Mujjj^flour isfr|jikewife font to Bal&- saare out of the coun|yr;. where the number 0f»wJbjS|-yery confidera^- ble. The country between Frederick-Town and Bakffi^afa confift§j|£^ a continual fuccefiion of fi^al^JI^, and t^g.road is very feldom even for a mile together. Although the country be upon the whole tolerably Jfeiftll&l^vyet there are many parts-.^g|bich are but third^inhabited, and thefe are even more extenfive thanjjjjie reft. The natureijflfc the wood indicates a fruitful j^t^* .Tobacco was formerlygCttUJSfted in |jrfeat quantities; but this^eycies of culture, which has as much 4f$fc- jcreafed in Maryland as in all the other Southern States, is here alrma^f reduced to nothing. Itebasbeen fuperfeded every-where by the cul- ftlfS ^fe^^at, although; the latter labours here under the fame imper- fedtions as in other places^^Fhey pjoug^^l^o or three inches deep: ;i&£ffields are but feldom manured; and what little dung they gather -^allotted to the grafs land. From this carelefs conduct in regard to the prefervation | and augmentation of manure, it fhould feem that iheyfftrei*MNt fe^fible of its value. POPLAR- TI6 ^$*ATOI&"!n$~$roRTH AMERICA, POPLAR-SPRING On the 12th of July I fpent the hotteft part of the day at Poplar- ISpring. Although this part of the country has been long fettled, yet "J&fifc&umber of new colonifts far exceeds that of the ancient inhabitants. The price of land in the neighbourhood is from ten to twelve dollars the acre. The procefs of clearing is much the fame^fhere as in all the other parts of America. Indian corn is fown the firft year, then follows wheat, frequently from fix to feven years without interruption, or as long as the foil will liear any; afterwards it lies fallowoj#ii$ another part of the ground, which in the mean time ba&abeen cleared, is alfo exhaufted in its turn. As it demands more labour and care to convert woodland into meadows, much ground is left uncleared, which would make excellent grafs-land. Its turn will doubtlefs come, for tne (Country is in an improving ftate ; but fo much lan#§fc yet covered with wood, that many years will elapfe before a fkilful and extended ftate of cultivatioh*%h be eftablifhed. The ground is throughout the^jhole cdiifltry tilled with horfes, ^Slch coft from one hundred and thirty to one hundred and forty dollars. The cows are fine, and worth from twenty-five to thirty dollars. Wheat is cut witli\lfeeffeklc, but oats and rye with the fcythe; la- TOurers are eafily procured, and paid ^ the rate of one dollar a day during the harveft ; at other times they recipe three fhillings a day (money of Maryland, which is of the fame value as that of Penfi$$te. vania), or eight ^dollars a month. Cattle fattened either ii&Ahe fine meadows near Frederick-Town, or in other ie^^OT^aftures, are #Hfc to Baltimore or Philadelphia. The inhabitants biiy flour ofetfee waggoners, who convey it to Baltimore, and pay nearly the fame prie^/ife in this town. It fetches at this time eight dollars per barrel; btlpill the courfe ot laft January it was fold for foidt&n. During my ftay at the inn I heard feveral?^-mers exprefs their fatisfadlion at&lp&fall of the price of grain, on account of its being likely to occafion farces SY THE DUKE BE LA ROGH^FOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 127 among the merchants of Baltimore. " Thefe people," faid they, " have gained from us all they could, and carried it to France; and now they carry both our money and that of France to England : if they fail, it is what they deferve." They who doubt the difpofition of the American people in favour of France, if not wedded to their erroneous opinions, have but to travel among the country people, and they will find them full of miftruft, animofity, and hatred againft England, and well-difpofed in favour of the French nflfjpn. They will find the death of Louis XVI. and the crimes ^feich fucceeded it, as much detefted as they are in England; but they will alfo meet with as many zealous partizanf&( the caufe of France, and of that of true liberty, as pcfefons to converfe with on thefe topics : to cherifh and commiferate Fayette feems a fort of religious duty in this country. They will alfo find, that the Prefident is uni- verfally refpedted, and that nobody is inclined to impute to him the Ifjfitfcous ftipulation of the treaty of commerce, which is generally dif- liked. Let me repeat it once more, that I wifh to be underftood as alluding to fuch people only as from principle, and a fenfe of their own intereft, difdain all connection with England, and who may be juftly called the true and real American people. I haye_divefted myfelf to fuch a degree of national prejudices and preconceived perfonal opinions on this fubject, that I am fure my obfervations on this head are founded in truth. They who are determined to differ from me in opinion may yet affert, that my prejudices have deceived me in Ipite of myfelf, or that the country people are a fet of ignorant, ftupid, and deluded perfons, and that the facujjwft of fair and candid difcuffion are concentrated in the cities, "^j^ggipns fo ftrange and illiberal I fhall not reply; for why fhould I argue with thofe who are determined not to change their opinion ? ELLICOT'S-MILL. SSwh Poplar-Spring a road has been cut within a few years, which abridges by fome miles the road to Baltimore. Jt is bad, and being quite w TRAVELS' FN NO'RTH'A.HEltTCA, quite new it paffes but by very few habitations: about fifteen miles- from Baltimore yfcif^erceive the maniion of Mr. Carrol, about anaile diftant from ^fe toad. From the muMplicity of buildiftgs tntlited in his fettlement, it has rather the appearance of a village, than of the. habitation of a»p??Mate gentleman. Mr. Carrol has united feveral ef- tabliflmients'oif this fpot; he poffeffes an extenfive farm, and a great number of negroes, but Wot having been in his plantation, I am not able to give/a detailed accotffff of it. EllicotVMill is a fmatfvillage, the pMrdipal eflabK'fhment of whfeftf is a large grift-mill belongifrg-w MH^Hfc^'lOT^NWn^d after him; 3!|5Q^v3as fix paTf of mill-ftones, and is conftrudled as well as any of the mills of;Brahdywine,^^^wmCh it poffeffes all the perfedfcid^ii Tnenituation of this pMfere^STCW^'by mountains, is truly £en&£a*i(tf l^P wMs* is^ ; a$eFT could have wifhed to enjoy one day longer nKsWrwJ w^ncfr, being rather gloomy, was Well adapted to my prefent fnffieWlhind; but the fcorching heat forced jneio nroceed to a more temperate part of the country. I fhall relate nere, wi^Mifh'umnity, what happened to me with three^rencnmeh of the We^moW^Iflands^wWSf^^ftfend at the inn, and one"pi whom I '^^mgon %fll^^rds wk^^fr^^Jmjteas, late French Conful at Baltimord, and am)fl^^^"m?yffclan, whc^attended him to tneUSetkley waters; Although1! ^ddrefl'ea^rhem in bm^ftli?tR% fpeech, mey conceiV^^^m^ly mbWw^ of tf£^mn§,*Wffl^aT!i^n ©Binfon of me, tna^One^^^^ved^ io fleep ^F^t^^r\iWe^nt^>¥o^h wku:^cpntained only two beds, than to mtWr ^^p^^vu^^B *tite$n an appearance W^JpTe mtne fame rotro ^WWIPoT^Mraff^^rafe declaration, which was not mane With tne intention n$IPr^n^!B h^$r it, was overheard "by me in a COTn'er of ^neg^ne^7wmM^^lrl4rn$Kfrfg my fegar. As the obfervation concemea%nrp^^ I did not think myfelf bound to take it£Ug^^Tupped alone, and laid down on the floor on a mattrefs, which the miftrefs of the houfe had pla^dfm me/fecoiOT^onn^^N^mefe^he coachitlStf^^lfefef^fceSflfemen pad taken pbluemonof a goonWctP^I laugne^bl^l^l^^gtya^to^^e time mMJ^k BY' THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANeOUBT. W9 time when the haughty Mr. Thomas would not have dreaded my eompany quite fo much; and my fleep was~fts found as if I had been called to the honour of fleeping in the fame room with Mr. Thomas himfelf. BALTIMORE. The road continues as mountainous, difficult, and covered with fand and fragments of rocks, as before, until four or five miles from Baltimore. During the whole of this journey you fee neither good nor numerous habitations ^tfee land is but of a middling quality, in a great meafure uncultivated, and the reft in a very indifferent ftate of improvement. Four or five miles from Baltimore the ground grows even, the habitations become more numerous, and affume a better appearance. In proportion as you draw nearer the town, the dwelling- houfes befpeak more and more the wealth of its inhabitants, and the profperity of its -commerce. The criminal jurifprudence of Maryland has not yet experienced any alteration in its ancient form, proceedings, or practice. The convicts work at the Toads, loaded with irons.*—What little work they perform is badly done, amPtjhey frequently effedt their efcape. This fyftem is not hy any- means productive of more beneficial refults in Maryland than it was in Pennfylvania, where it has been abolifhed. It will undoubtedly undergo a change.—But. at what time ?—And why has itfi^bfbeen yet fuppreffed ? Baltimore is, after Philadelphia and New-York, the moft important trading port in America; at leaft, it difputes this rank with Charleftown and Bofton. Being fituated nearer to the rivers Youghic- geny and Mocongahel, which empty themfelves into the Ohio by Pittfburg and Philadelphia, Baltimore poffeffes a part of the trade of the back country of Pennfylvania, fupplies moft of the ftores which furnifh the weftern territories with merchandize, and receives in return a partpfatheir produce. It contains at prefent from four to five Vol. II. S thoufand 130 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, thoufand houfes, and has been almoft entirely built fince the peace of 17(33. It has ftill more rapidly inereafed fince 1783, and efpecially fince the beginning of the prefent war. The inn-keeper at Poplar- Spring told me, that in 1749, when he landed at Baltimore on his arrival from Germany, the whole place confifted of nine miferable log- houfes, and now it is one of the fineft towns on the Continent, as it contains no old houfes, and moft of the prefent have been conftrudled of late years; they are all built on good principles, and moftly of bricks. The numerous churches of all religious perfuafions, as well as the public buildings, are conftrudled in a fimple and elegant ftyle. The town, which increafes in every direction, gaiiisain extent, particularly on the bay, where ftreets are paved and formed on a ground wreftedTJrpm the fea, and where a few years fince veffels were afloat. This fort of work, to which the infpectors of the town have affigned certain limits, extends daily. Ships of burthen cannot proceed higher up the river than FettiSrPoint, at which place they load and unload. No bufinefs, however, is tranfadled at Fe/l's-Point; every thing being done at Baltimore, which is feparated from it by a flat and open fpace Joygground about a mile in extent. The merchants' counting-houfes and principal warehoufes are at Baltimore ; there being at FeWs-Point only a few inconfiderable warehoufes, which fome of the merchants have for temporary purpofes. If the trade of this city continues to increafe as hitherto, the fpace of ground lying between Baltimore and FellVBdjkt will be covered with buildings, and the two places will form but one town. At prefent new houfes are building in every ffieet;, andihe town fpreads every day towards the harbour, and qu^the weftvifide upon the grounds belonging to Colonel Howard, the value of which from this circum&nce increafes continually. The lands of this wealthy proprietor a^e,. for the moft part, let upon building-leafes, which I imagine to be owing to fcarcity of money among the fpeculators in thefe buildings; for otherwife it is to be fuppofed he would prefer the felling of the grounds, which would enable him to difpofe of his property as ciric^mfences and his own judgement 1 BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT 131 judgement might point out. He never fails to fell parcels of the ground, where he has an opportunity; and feveral of them having been bought and fold again, have made the fortunes of two or-three fpeculators. About a mile from the town, at the extremity of his lands, Colonel Howard has a handfome houfe, furrounded with lofty and venerable .iSfeK'" The ground, indeed, is a kind of park formed by nature. The houfe is delightfully fituated upon an eminence, commanding a view of the city and the bay as far as the Chefapeak, and on the right and left a great extent of highly-cultivated ground. This place (which is called Belvedere) is the ufual refidence of Colonel Howard, who is univerfally efteemed for his courage and military talents, and beloved for his private virtues! *;fte was formerly governor of the ftate of Maryland. He married Mifs Chew, daughter of my valuable friend Mr. Chew, of Philadelphia, whofe talents and accomplifhments render her deferving of the honour of belonging to that amiable family. I made but a fhort ftay at Baltimore; and the greater part of the time I paffed at Colonel Howard's. I had not, therefore, fufficient opportunity to gain all the information I defired refpecting this town and the State of Maryland; but I hope to procure*'it in my next Journey. ANNAPOLIS. Annapolis, thefe at of the government of Maryland, is the ufual refidence of the great officers of ftatea* /and, the fupreme court of juftice holding its fittings there, it is the refidence alfo of moft of the principal lawyers. The firft clafs of inhabitants at Baltimore is, of courfe, chiefly compofed of merchants ; more fo, indeed, than at Philadelphia. Many mercantile houfes in this country are likely to be affected by the fall ip. the price of provifions in Europe. At prefent, however, they keep up the ; price of flour at ten dollars ; but this is mere fpeculation, as there is no foreign demand fdr*fe nor would there be at a much lower price, the plenty or apparent plenty of corn is fo great H Europe. S2 \ The mm TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERJC&Si.: The public buildings are by no means magnificent. They are, however, tolerable. The town has twelve churches belonging to the different fects. JOURNEY TO PHILADELPHIA. My horfe being lame, I refolved to go in the flage to Philadelphia. The ftage is a miferable mode of conveyance in America;. the roads being very rough, and the carriages in a wretched condition. The coaches fet out in the middle of the night, and no time is given to recover a little by repofe from the terrible ftate into which one is put by the jolting of the carriage, by too many paffengers being crowded together, and the trunks and parcels which are thruft into the. infide of thefe vehicles bruifing one's legs, that have not room to be ftretched. ; out if thefe packages were not in the way. Bu^jl had no other means of proceeding to Philadelphia, at leaft for fome time ; and I contrived to make this journey as little inconvenient as could be for a flage-coach, by going in that which carries the mail, and which, being obliged to proceed more quickly, takes only fix paffengers, is provided with better horfes, and is, in all refpedts, better conducted. I had fortunately no fellow-travellers but the family of Mr. fames Barre, a merchant of Baltimore, from whom I had received many civilities during my fhort ftay in that town ; and although we were feven, inftead of fix, I had no reafon to complain. But it is not in a ftage that the traveller can , purfue his enquiries; he fcarcely fees any thing agfthe cou^ry, and frequently cannot even learn the names^ff the villages and creeks he paffes. As I hope to make this journey on horfeba?Gfe^I fhall, till then, poftpone the greater part of what I have to fay refpecting thjLsj^aJ^j^ At Havre de Grace we crofted the Sufquehannah, near the place where it falls into the Chefapeak. The country, which rifes on each fide of,theariver, is not ill cultivated; and has a fufficient number of dwellings to form a very plgafing profpect. The Sufquehannah in this place is above a mile and. a quarts in breadth. Three or four - a fmall BY THE DUKE J3E LA ROCnEFOUCAULT rLTANCOURT. J;S3 fmall iflands, both above and below the ferry, have a good effect; and this view, although not grand, is one of the moft beautiful I have feen in America. The Sufquehannah cuts Maryland into two parts.; one of which is called the Weflern Shore, and the other the Eaftern Shore. The latter extends along the Chefapeak, to the two counties of Virginia; -and is feparated from Delaware-Bay by the State of Delaware. We paffed through feveral fmall and neat towns, belonging to the State of Maryland ; fuch as Charles-Town*^ ffi&fTtiwn, &c. After wMfch- we entered the State of Delaware, and cp&fifed the towns of Chrijiiana an# J^Vto^- ton ; the latter of which is only twenty miles from Philadelphia. RESIDENCE AT PHILADELPHIA. We fet out from Baltij^ibre at four o'clock on Monday morning, and arrived at Philadelphia on Tuefdaygjbly 20th, at eight in the morning, having flopped five or fijchours*at Wilmingtefli. which time was defHn- ed to fleep, bufc was entirely .given to the bugs and fleas that fwarm there. The heat o£fhfeftmmer being by no means fo intenfe a$is-ufual here, I was not fo much incommoded hpHbas I expected. Having got my letters, and informed myfelf of the ftate of Euroj&b, I was in hafte to quit Philadelphia. The price of flour in Philadelphia has not fallea-a-fb much as might be expected. The mef£ft$bt&keep it up at twelve dollars; but they can fell only to bakers who wanted money or forefight to lay in a ftock or purdiltfe it in. the count!|p$fi; The warehoufes are filled; With thisitil^^5 and a fall in the price muft be haftened by the great plenty ;e$s$he prefemfeiharveft. IPIl^ilft^'not omit to mentiott a very greafc natuitailkidaidonty* that I faw on my jotairjfey to Philadelphia-*—a negro of Virginia, whofe parentsiwere both negroes; and who, gradually changing his native hue, became white. This man continued black tiJHtetWas:^pElyyears of age, when the fkin of his fingers,, near the nitokv began at firft to affume a ©98k lighter 134 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, fa lighter colour, and continued to grow lighter and lighter till it was perfectly white. The procefs was the fame in almoft all the different parts of hir. body. His legs, thighs, arms, and hands, are white, with the exception of a few fpots of different fizes, which are brown, fome of a deeper fliade than others, but all being lighter towards the edges. His neck and fhoulders are of the fame complexion as thefkin of people with reitirMr; and is freckled in the fame manner. Straight and fmooth ■hi^is partially fubftituted for his natural wool. On his breaft there remain tufts of the wool;. but they fall off daily, and are lucceeded by black or grey hairs. His face is white from the hair to the loweft extremity of his forehead ; his nofe is black; the reft of his face a kind of brown, deepeft toward the nofe, and gradually growing light as it approaches the white part. His head, all of which is black, is ftill covered with wool ; except at the crown, where hair has dif- ipiricedrthe wool. His private parts, he fays, are lefs advanced ir$£M& progrefs, althoughqfc change is begun in them. By his own account, a fenfible progrefs has been made in this metamorphofis of his perfon during the time he has been travelling, which has been for the laft three months; and there is no doubt but in a fhort time he will be- come>eii&rely white. He is, at prefent, one and forty yeari^if age. To form a diftindt idea ofdWs metamorphofis, the white colour of the fkin is not to be underftood to refemble that of an Albino, but to be the real comple&jfm of white people, or, to fpeak more particularly ftill, of white people with red hair. There is no reafon to queftion the extraction of this negro ; he hav- 4i^ ferved the whole of laft war in a corps of pioneers^ftand is befides well known in Virginia, where he has generally refided, and furn^SieS with certificates fufficient to fatisfy perfons difpofed to queftion the fact. The-change has not been attended with any fifeirnefs. * 1PSII man travels about the country to fhew himfelf for money. It is to be obferved, that there have been feveral inftances in America of negroes either Mulattos or Indians, changing their colour ; fome after illnefs and others in a perfect ftate of health; but there is no inftance of the change being as complete as this. SECOND BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEF0UCAU LT LIANCOURT. 135 WmECOND TOUR TO THE NORTH. JOURNEY FROM PHILADELPHIA TO NEW-YORK. -H.AVING determined to employ the remainder of the year in a 4eeond journey to the North, I fet out in a ftage from Philadelphia for New-York; I was defirous of lofing no time on the road, and the heat of the weather made it very fatiguing and inconvenient to travel on horfeback. 1 had an opportunity of feeing feveral of my friends duriqga ftay of twenty-four hours at Trenton, What information I could prdenre there I propofe to blend with the refidt of the enquiries I fhalLmalae in a longer vifit to Jerfey. What I collected at New-York, during the fhort time I ftaid there, fhall ^flfo be hereafter noticed -£itb£ I had too little opportunity to make my account as copious and perfe6|>ascj[ could wifh. Lett#Wrom Europe, to which I was compelled to pay great attention, engaged much of my time ; and not without reafon. The fatigue of four fucceffive months employed in collecting infoisiia.- tion had, I confefs, inclined me to take my eafe ; with which temper I was unwilling to quarrel, having determined to fet afide feveral weeks before my departure from America to acquire a competent knowledge of that interefting city. I learned, however, that fpecu- lations in corn and flour have greatly deranged the affairs of feveral mercantile houfes at New-York ; that one of the firft houfes has failed from the fame caufe ; andft&iat others are on the eve of following it. e^*J§ie merchants of that city, either 4efs wealthy or lefs adventurous than thofe of Philadelphia, have lowered the price of flour to ten dollars, wmcfe is a third lefs than it was fix months fince; but even thisrprice is greatly higher than itMftight to be, from the de- •mand-for American flour in Europe. PASSAGE 136 TRAVELS IN NOI&KH .AM£RI PASSAGE FROM NEW-YORK TO PROVIDENCE. As I was already wejl ao^^inted with the Bofton road by land, I embarked on board the Clementina, one of the pacquets that fail conftantly to Providence. Mr. Guillemar, whom I had met at Trenton, had loft his way ; and having joined me again at New-York, he took h&ijpaffage with me in the fame pacquet. For the firft eighteen hours the wind was very favourable ; but theft fuddenly changed, and being in our teeth, and there being every appearance of an approaching florm, the captain judged it prudent to make for a fecure harbour. We therefore quitted our track, and landed at Stonning-Town, where we remained thirty-fix hours. STONNING-TO#$f; ITS TRADE; AGRICULTUR£%Il THE NEIGHBOURHOOD; AND PRICES OF ITS PRODUCTIONS. Ml Stonning-Town is a fmall fea-port of Connecticut. It takes its name Jp^nithe fir^^roprietor of the lands which form the townfhip. ,ajS§p name, however, is corrupted to Stones-Town; which feems to be natural enough, for the rocks project into the ftreets in every quarter. The principal ftreet is cleared with great expence and labour ; but the reft are fo encumbered, that it is with difficulty, and not without danger, a perfon walks along them at night. The townfhip is fifteen miles in length, and eignt-in breadth. The town contains from twelve to thirteen hundred fouls. The land islc^iefly employed in pafturage ; on whiq^a confiderable quantity of cattle is reared ; but the chief produce is cheefe, which is made in great abundance, an^-is in great requeft throughout America. Four hundred thoufand pounds of cheefe are yearly exported from Stonning-Town to the different portsrofthe United States ; but chiefly to Bofton, Ne^feork, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. The price at thefe places is about eight pence half-penny per pound. This commerce is carried on partly by veffels that come purpofely #5t to BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEF0UCAULT L1ANCOURT. 137 to purchafe cheefe at Stonning-Town, and partly by fmall floops belonging to the p©?#*vhich fail for the different ports of the States, as the wind happens to ferve. I vifited a farm befk>ngi«g to an old Quaker, named jfoha Frifh, \ where from fourteen to fifteen thoufand pounds of cheefe are made annually. This farmer keeps from forty to fifty £Qws. The price he gets from the merchants"fer his cheefe is about i|^^ncefc(|£f-penny per pound. He alio f&tens fpom twelve to fifteen oxen yearly;, and raifes rye, oat§» Indian c«#*, flax, and potatoessand might, with a Httle more knowledge of his bufinefs, eonfiderably increafe the produce of his farm. His cows and oxen wander at pleafure over thse land; which although manured by tfejiftneans, does not receive *the benefit it would if the manure were dtftftbuted more flril&My. Heiwows his meadows. but once a yeste; and they^prodttce ah&sfc forty hundred weight of hay per acre. Tlas fyftem of farming is general here ; and the produce is nearly the fame throughout. Meadows properly manured, and. mowed three times, yield eighty handled weight of hay per acre. John Frifh has one hundred acres in cultivation. tttl&^iitt-' The land kittfee towafliip of Stonning-Town is tolerably goo^/ik< yields fefetrty bufhels of IndiaiNJfiebri* per acre ; eighteen^a^tetor oats; and often double this quantity when the fields are manured. Upon the whole, little wheat is produced in this townfhip, or the adjoining one of Connecticut. Some fields* are fown with it on the frontiers, and land which is properly manuued, yields*afosty bufhels. per acre. lLahou*er4>arejeaiyy procured in the neighbonribood of Steauorog-Town ; their ordanary wages are three fourths of a dollar per dayr or n'wseL^B^ri tars per mewth, but they are as m^ch again during*the harveftL g The price of land here is from ten to forty dollars per acre^gspfeS has^mitS^fen of late years* in the fame degree asm many other parts. of America. Tbiity-three years ago John Si^^Mtephafed his Iaiiita* the rate of fixteen-dollars per acre, and could ^fctiSQW get naiore than Vol, II. T thirty- 138 TRAVELS INaTfiORTH AMERICA, I thirty-two for it. Moft of the inhabitants of Stonning-Town, as Well,as a thofe of the reft of Connecticut^ and of Maffachufetts, poffefs lands in the back parts of the States of Vermont and. New-Hampfh^|^Y^oJif: they pusieiiafed very cheap, and whereglhey eftablifh their children as they grow up, unlefs they meet with an opportunity of fettling them more advantageoufly at home. A few veffels belonging to Stonni^g*Town are employed in the cod- fifhery on the coaft of ConSafdiicut and Rhode-lfland : but as this fifh apfH&rs in abundance only in the fpring, the fifhery here forms but a sfoSfy inconfiflerable branch of trade. The fifh are cured in Stonningl.Town, and fold att^arate of five dollars for one hundre^l^jr twenty-eight pounds. A fmall mug&ber ofik$pS are alfo employed in the fifhery at the Great Bank ; but they cure their fifh at NewfoujJ^ laaosi, and frequently carry them to Bofton, or other ports. Black-fifh, bafs, and crab, being in great abundance on this coaft, a confiderable number of fmall craft fsifngaged in that fifhery. The fifh are kept in ponds along the fhore, and are generally carried to N^-York. At Stonning-Totifti they fell for two pence half-penny per pound. *$jiMwty veffels of different burthen, but moftly fmall, belong to this place, which area^tisJeijtaWy employed in th;^8aiM«^-trade^^Jnftead of fixteen fhips, formerly engaged in the fifhery, at prefent four only carry on that trade. Some fail to the Weft-Indies, and even ,tg||£urope. The only three-routed fhip belonging to Stonn.H%-Town is at^ty$j tjgxtfein France. She is the property of Mr. Smith, who keeps a ftore in>tMs town, and of a merchant of New-York, who owns ha]£ efe$j|$; veffel. The^feips which trade to the Weft^|^pi*parry thithee^qa producej^f the townfhip and the^gpintry in its vicinity, and bring commonly in return the commodities of the iflands ; which are afterwards conveyed from Stonning-Town to New-York, where moft of the fhips that fail for Europe take in their cargoes. They-jO^i, eeed chiefly to France, whence they bring in return brandy and v^f^ The produce^ Stonn§f>g-Town, like that of the whole State of Connecticut, BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. M9 nedticut, confifts of fait beef and pork, pot and pearl afhes, neat cattle and flax-feed. |jppp As the port of Stonning-Town, with refpect to the cuftoms, is comprized!* 1)0 the diftridt of New-London, its exports are not exactly fenown. Although Stonning-Town is fituated in Connecticut, yet it has no public fehools, that is to fay, no tax is levied inlk> townfhip appropriated to the fuppbrt of free-fchools. But as this townfhip pays to the ftate a tax of two and«a>half per cent for thefe fehools, it follows that the expence of fchooling amounts for fuch iiihabitaiftevas fend their chillren to the public fehools to a fourth only of what they would have to pay without that general tax. Mine- pence a week is ♦pailfcfor a child. vj?*$&i-. Every perfon I have had an opportunity of converting with in Ston- *ti|lgJSHirown fp6a:ks with ent&ufiafm of tfee3galiantry difplayed by the -Flinch troops, whofe valour and fuccefs have gained.Ff^tteeaiume^. rous friends in America. The atrocious deeds,'A the remembrance of which poftefiSpdSWill ftand aghaft, are, notwithftamSli^, detefted by them : but you meet with many people who either forbear mentioning them at»i§» or confidering them as the ref^lts of a tranfient phrenfy, impHt£ibeas*§U&t chiefly to Robefpierre, whom they hold in execration, and acquit the&JreiJKi? nation at large. They .generally conclu€e$b^Miiying—I But^KSRv the French fight! they are Ijowfifi" • I^is^e^rtaHy.among €tjx&&tep*peop}e, and perfons of the^edond rank, I hear tb&ianguage; and thefe form the bulk of the nation ; who, as -I haveiaiready frequeE$jf**obferve<§£feeing lefs influenced by polSii|al views, and lefs fwayed by the fp#it"?of party, than the ibigher, claffes of fociety, are more ftrenuoufly attached to France, th$Mtfi«ee%efls not beiii&^aierwotperi #s£h the fuccefferof Great BritfAsipM NEWPORT. 140 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, NEWPORT. m . Impatience, rather than a favourable change of wind, I^&nig induced our captain to fet fail from Stonning-Town,we arrived at Newport on the 15th of Auguft, after a paffage of ten hours. We fhould havehad -asfikvourable an opportunity the preceding day. .4s|»fe-. Guillemard proceeded to PuBSfidence by land. A bar of rocks, about half a mile in extent, lies at the mouth of the fmall bay at the bottom of which Stonning-Town is situated. Great care is therefore required to jftecr clear of it, efpecially in ftormy weather ; hawing, cleaned it, we- failed in the courfe generally purfued by fhips bound from New-York to NflAffifttffcafe - We paffed between the fhore and Block-J/land, an ifland famous, like Stonnftjg** Town, for its cheefe, yet >Wk, more fo for its fifhefy^and the hu£ -bandry ofrits inhabitants. It forms a part of the State of Rhode- lfland. The Providence packets have generally parcels and letters fam Newport. We flopped there from nine at night to nine in the morning* It^ave me pleafure to fee once more, J33#j$bas dttlljow tov^, but its «ovi^Sje%fefe form a charming landfcape, and^wce, as well as the whole iiand, one of th& moft healthy parts of America. Several families of Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, come to refide here every year>fco*&«W9id the dreadful heat and infalubrity of their own coun8iy> Newport alfo unites the advantage of a low price J|pdl the neceffaries of life with that of not offering any means, nor holding out any temptation, for expences foreign to the necefufies of exiftengiifi& The falutwr^of the town of NewpoiifcfgSfr no do^ilusproduced by the Hfeniiefs of the air; yet this often proves, htfrtful to the inhabitants in their youth, andathe number of young people, #$pffi€ially:gi#ls, who die of complaints in the luttg^ is very confide»&hle. It is a circfit*. ftance vjfcirthy of remark, that tfafeiinfc rip tion on the tomb-ftones mention only aiuMhood, youth, or old age ; they record the deaths of few BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEEOUCAULT LIANCOURT. I4i few perfons between twenty and feventy years old, but a confiderable number beyond the latter age. PROVIDENCE.—STATE OF RHODE-ISLAND. The religions perfecuttefis in England gave rife to the different colonies which by their union compofed the ftate of Maffachufetts* Religious perfecution in Maffachtiletts gave birth to the ftate of Rhode- Roger Williams, a miaifter of the goipel at Plymouth, was firft feanifhed thence to Salem on account of certain opinions ^Baich his brethren of Plymouth would not tolerate in him* Although much beloved by the inhabitants of this new place of jefidenos, yet, as his principles did not accortl witfe thofe of the church of Bofton, the in-* Huence of the Boftoniaia minifters prevailed againft him even in his retreat. Among the varitfus articles of*%is dodlrine which She fynod of Bofton confidered as erroneous arid dangerous, that which, above all "^fe^hers, moft violently clafhed with the maxims and Sj|brefls of the fynod, was his declaration If that punifhment inflicted for matters of confcience was perfecotion." -^pjfgl The iHiHgues of the priefts prevailed over $he atta^bnaa^i of his fellow-inhabitants, and he was a fecond time banifhed. This event took place itf71636 ; and he retired to the fouthern part of the ftate to live among the Nawarrgara favages, at a place by them called Mofhawfick, but to whigfo he gave the appellation of Prmuknce, in grateful acknowledgem^fi*of the,^Jr!um he foufid tte|(&3itef»ali the perfecutions to which he had been expofed. A few friends followed him, aifft?*together with him founded that part o£ the ftate of Rhode- lfland known by the name of Pr<widmcp-Plabfaikbk\ff The fame or a fimilar caufe gave rife to the other fettlements of "ftno^te-Iffend. Ad$o&or Coddington, a natiVe ef Lancafhire, and one of the firft fettlers in the colony of Salem, was, in J$36, called to account XkZ TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, count for his religious principle|^rThe accufation brought againft him was only a pretext to cloke the jealoufy entertained of his influence by Governor Winthrop and others : but that pretext was an effectual mean of accomplifhing their views; and Coddington, being banifhed from Bofton, retired with a few friends to the ifland called by the Indians Aquidneck, and fince known by the name of Rhode- lfland. From a tribe dependent on the _ Indian§ta|f Nawangara he purchafed this ifle, and all the others which, with the part of the continent bounded by Connecticut, now form the Rhode-lfland Plan- t at ion. The Quakers and Anabaptifts who were perfecuted in New-England, flocked to Rhode-lfland, and .raifed the colony to a flourifhing ftate, notwit^ftan^*^ the wars with the Indians. The need in which the inhabitants flood of protection^nfpired them with a wifh to unite with the other colonies of New-England : but the latter refufed to accede to the propofed union,; and, in 1602, Charles the Second, at the requeft of the former, granted them a charter which united the two plantations into one flate, and conferred on them the privileges and the conftitUj^j^ft which they, like the ftate of Connecticut, have ftill preferved notwithstanding the revolution. That which is peculiar to the ftate of Rhode Ifland is compofed of the fame elements as all the others. The lcj|jflative affembly confifts of an upper and a lower houfe. The former is compofed of the go- *$&&x$r *(who:ij$^Ht^dent), a deputy-governor, and ten affiftants, who are chofen by annual election. The governor poffeffes but a fingle vote\ki the enactment of laws. The treafurer and the fecretary of ftate are alfo>;$nnually appointed.—The lower houfe confifts of the reprefentatives of the different townfhips. Newport fends fis^LProvidence, Portfmouth on the ifland, and Warwick, each four; and two are fent by each of the other towns in the ftate. Thefe delegates are elected twice in the year, and thus have two feflions.—The judges and the executive officers are elected once a-year by the legiflative body, who alfo no#sk»ate the military officers, but for an indefinite term.— The BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCH£>OUCAULT LIANCOURT. 1*3 The judicial power in thfs*j%tle ftate is vefted in a fup*eme court, confining of five j«dges, and fitting twice in the year, at Providence and Newport alternately. Tl|e ijjferior courts are held twice a-year in each CQj6p$y. The fupreme cour| is their court of appeal. The trade of Providence, employs a hundred and forty-two veffels oelonging to that port; and very little of it is fhared by foreign (hips, even by thofe of the other ftates. That trade, as I think I remarked laft year, confifts in the exportation of oxen, live tjw$gs, fait pork, butter and cheefe, barley, timber, onions, rum, whifkey, gin, flax-feed, wrought iron, and the commodities imported from the Eaft and Weft Ih4*#s« The greater part of the cheefe, bowever, is confumed: jn- the United States, to which the port of Providence ' alfo fen4ft£.gf$j|f$- quantities of lime-ftone, and fome iron. All the native articles above enumerated are principally derived from thofe parts of Connecticut and Maffachufetts which lie within the diftance of twenty or thirty miles from Rhode-lfland. The iron is forged witfajft^hc ftafc$£ at the falls of Potofky, round which lies a very risj^^ine. >Q|n$itfisi and anchors are there fabricated ; of the latter of which a pretty confiderable number are exported to the Indies. The value of the exports from Pro^|fence was—in 1790, from the month of June, one hundred and thirteen thoufand, two hundred and thirty-gggtdollars—■ in 1791, three hundred and feventy-nine thoufaad, four lymdred and thirty—in 1792, three hundred and fi^ta>ffeven thoufand, nine hundred and nine—in 17#f»^foiftr hundred and tbirt%*f>pe thoufand, five hundr^i and eighteen^—in 1794, fix hundred and twenty-three thoufand, two hundred and.fixty-one—u^jj!#95, one million forty thoufand and five —and, for the firft fix months of 1796, four hundred and thirteen thoufand, nine hundred and twenty-four. This great increafe in the value of the exports is not here, any more than elfewhere, a true criterion of their quantities; for, although I have not had tincjfcjo take from the cuftom-houfe books an abftracl of the different articles year by year, and to compare their eftimated values, TRAVELS IN N0«*RK AMERICA, values, I know that the tonnaf£ef the port of Providence has kfetfeafed only in a very fmall proportion ; fince it amounted;,In 1792 to eleven thoufand two hundred tons, and d#es«not at prefent exceed &$$&$& thoufand five hundred. 'jlNs true, that, during the laft yeacf ^ fhip- ping of that port fuffered loffes to.^he amount of eleven or twelve hundred tons by Shipwreck, captures, &c. The commerce of ProvMenee is carried oft with the Eaft and Weft BJ&% Denmark, the north of Chfmany, and the coafts of Afripa* Some of her veffels trade to France ; but the dumber of thefe^is very fmall. Theyfuftially carry t&g&er tobacco and train*gj|^ during the two laft years they carried ride^ meal, fait beef, i#f? t&des, and fhoes for the army.—Ptt^felence ari#,Newport carry on 3*®«lrade with England: whatever Britifh commodities they want, they purchafe at New- ^^WH^and Boffcott. To the" value of the exports from Providence may be added about eight hundred thoufand dollars in fpecie^hich are annually fent otft^br the trade with Ine^and Chiaae; fince that money may truly be ea#ed the produce, inafinwch as it is they*fruit of the prodiiee, of the ftate. U Thre laws of Rhode-lfland are not colledted into a reg«li^ieode. >^a|il underftand4#rat a law was enacte#fome yea^lii|ii%pr^iM»ting the importation of" negro flaves into the ftate—declaring free^aH fuch as fhould be liro^gj^l into it by perfons coming from other parts, together with the- children who might thereafter he bom, as well as thofe already borm*#rhen they fhould have1 attaifeedtffoe age of twejaiJN one years—but at the fame time confirming theflawery of fuck negroes as were flaves at the time of the promulgation of the law. The ppneiples on which ar& grounded the affeflmenra^Tevyin$>of the taxesin the ftate of Rhode-lfland are effentia#fathe fame as they were at the period of the firft feUtfem^febf the colony. Thi&$anges which have fince been introduced^ the mode of collection, are flight; Thofe taxes are a capitation, a tax on real and perfonal property, from a#fcj|ft:a law of 1795 excepts, as untaxable articles, aUf f^ftiU^pe (not including plate), implements of agriculture, workmen's tools, and a quarter BY THE DUKE, DE LA ROCHEEOUCAULT LIANCOURT, .14a quarter of the-capital employed in trade on fea. The raifing of the taxes refts with each town or townfhip, which is,refponf&fe to the ftate-treaiurer for the proportion of the taxes alfijgned to it by the legiflature. The ratio is regj^Jated by a general valuation made from time to^time, at thofe perio4*«,fd(^jdie wealth of the ftate is fuppofed to have been augmented to a certain degree, either by an increafe in the population, or by improvements in agriculture, or by the profits of fuccefsfsd commerce. The laft three valuations took place in 1767, 1778, and 1795. On the firft of thofe occafions the taxable property was valued at.feve^Hp^Uftns three hundred and feventy-one thoufand one hun4re/jl and eighty-fix dollars ; on the fecond, at ten millions nine hundred and fixty-feven thoufandjaine hundred and nine dollars ; and, in 1795, at fifteen millions five hundred thoufand dollars. It appears tha*vtM^aui£mentation in the quantum of taxable property jsattributa- ble to the in&reafe of the ^af^tals employed in trade, more than to any other caufe. i^^'^^fej^flgH^j^'1^ Each town or townfhip nominates three or five commiffioners, whofe duty it is to make the eftima$$fpf the property therein contaj^^.a&r having received the declarations of the inhabitants. The legiflature jiominates ten fuperior commifiioners, who are to vifit the towns and townfhips, to receive and examiagjthe eftimates of thofe fudfementioned officers, and, after fuch examination, to determine the portion of the general tax impofed by the ftptr, Jpfeigfch-tftfe paid by each plagor. ^ke ^Wfi®!7*^8 preqawit^ns againft falfe declarations or tfreyre* fufai to make any, .and alfo againft fuch towns a^^iay either refufe or 'delay the payment. fejjfrijUJiMAfI'l^lil^'I1'lU^A The capitation->t£Bp is fettled in the proportion of fix-pence for every 3|j|g»fand. pounds rated to the ftate, ^.fijlg&ftwns may nevertheje&rfet .afide this tax, provided $isy cont^Jjute th^^/^aj^^ard fatis^gg e^ppjj|>ublic demand in fome othejj^ode. r$M$e town of P^vidence, for inftfance, lestie^ her proporrioj$j$f it only on movable and immova* ble eftates. L|ij^N^|f^f^yjitrjl ' iitA^tL&RJ^tVt^t Afleffors, chofen by the inhabitants, afterward determine the par- giukVoL. II. U ticular 148 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, ticular fum to be paid by each individual who is liable to the tax ; which is collected by an officer chofen in the fame manner. The towns defray the charges of affeffment and colledtion. The affeffor receives one and three fourths per cent on the fums affeffed: the collector heretofore received five per cent: but fome towns contract with the latter on lower terms ; and there are inftances in which he is paid no more than two and a haW per cent. The taxes of the ftate of Rhode-lfland, as I have already obferved, amount only to fix thoufand pounds, or twenty-thoufand dollars, and are regularly paid. The expence of the ciyrf lift is but five thoufand dollars. For feveral fucceffive years an annual fum of eight thoufand five hundred dollars has been expended on the erection of a prifon and a houfe for the firatigs of the legiflative body. The ftate owes a§oit ninety4ftfgi^ftic>ufand dollars, and has, for the difcharge of that fum, no other refource than taxation'/^By the decifion of the com- ifjfeffloners appointed to fettle the accounts between the United States and the individual ftates, Rhode-lfland is creditor to the Union to the amount of two hundred and eighty-nine thoufaw' fix hufrB^d and eleven dollars. PROVIDERS* 11 The town of Providence, though inWneral.healthy, is not however exempt from bilious fevers toward the end of fummer and in autumn ; but thefe complai&§~ are ufually unattended with danger* Confumptions in youthful habits are as common here as at Newport; and many individuals fall victims to them before the age of thirty. ^We—-for I have again joined company with Monfieur Guillemard —We have paffed thefcfiW part of the time that we fpent in Pi<WjP& dence, at the houfe of Mr. Tha^er'J^rB^Sfeht of this town, with Whom I had been acqtlfSinted at Charlefton, .where he has lono- refided, and carried on with prodigious fuccefs a very extenfive and rich tHKki He conducted his great coMnifef^lf^elrprizes with a fufficient degree I BY THE DUKE! DE LA ROCHElfOUeAULT HANCOURT. W£ decree of prudence to avoid thofe fpeculations fo common among the merchants of America ; yet that caution has not faved him from experiencing the greateft reveries in his fortune. He had indorfed to a confiderable amount the notes of a houfe at New-York, one of j^e moft opulent and refpedtable in that city. But the houfein queftion had fo deeply fpeculated on the high prices of flour and rice'afefejjjfeii rope, that it has flopped payment, and the refpnnfibilijty falls on Mr. Thayer. He 'will not be ruineifcJijs this evstnt: in all probabilj^jfo even his affairs will be fettled ; for the houfe at New-York wiUjfc^Jifc) carry on bufinefs, and he himfelf, by his own i|^le exertions, woii|i* at his prefent ftage of life, be capable of reliving his fortune ifj&k were totally ruined. But his credit and his delicacy fuffer feverfj^ on the occafion. Hetineverthelefs fiipports his dialer with a calm fortitude, and a confidence in the return of fortune, which at once furnifh his friends-with a ground of hope, and himfelf with the means of fuccefs. His^6£fcme is fo implicated in this unfortunate bufinefs, that he has made, to thofe who hold the notes of that houfe endonfg$r by him, an offer of forty thoufand pounds fterling on condition of their cancelling his name. Mr. Thayer is otherwife rich, being heir to a confiderable family eftate which is in the hands of his mother. He is defcended in a direct line from Roger Williams, the founder of Providence Plantation. Mr. Thayer's houfe is built on the fame fpot where that founder, his progenitor, cut down the fitft tree, and erected the firft hut. I have learned here that the bridge which had been erected laft year over the Eaft-Paffage to open a wagfji&^iBihode-Ifland, and of which the^^idity appeared doubtful, was carried away laft winter by the floods, #jsbas fince been rehfrUt; and hopes are now entertained that this new conftrudtion is on a better plan than the former. ROUTE m Travels in tfty&wi america, ROUTE TO BOSTON.—PATUXEHT. I -■ Again the ftage from Providence to Bofton ! The journey is only forty*-&yfe •■ miles : yet, with, the fingle exception of Mr, Robram, a native of Prufiia, but fince become more t^afjb ?ba]lf a Frenchman by, a refidance of fix and twentjfeqjiears at Bordeauxnas a mefcj^ant, the company* was fuch as ftrongJ^ confirmed me in my averfipn to ftage- coaches. •Mfeftiixent bridge, at the diftance of five miles from Providence, is the boundary of the ftate of Rhode-lfland. Here are eftablifhed C^ifti-works which feem to fucceed: better thanbany other mauu- facture^rlftt-herto eftablifhed in America--r-aachor-forges---i4'e>underies for cahiSdn and other heavy articlerin iron. The river Patuxent, alfo called Blackftone, gives motion to all the machines ufedijSbthefe various wi^Sle^ll^Jteltfes its rife in the ftate of MaflaJchufetts, and ffdls into Ivlni^^ftfee-Bay near Providenee4>'orFe<f|85f Patuxent Jo its mouth it is • navigable for veffels of the largeft fize. On his way to Bofton, the traveller paffes through Briftol-County, containing a population of thirty-four thoufand foals in an extent of ttelfeen hundred and forty-four fquare miles. — Norfolk-County, whofe fuperficial extent is nine hundred- and fixteen fquare rmilesj: containing twenty-five thoufand inhabitants—and the towns of Taiwan*, ton and Durham, each the capital of a county of fimilar name. JMisdi \m6fc4s the place df%?fidence of Mr. Ames, a wel&dniforrned member of^ft&ngrefs, a warm federalift, a voluble and copious fpeakerj, aa> honeft man moreover, but whofe talents and pqhlical meri|ifere exaggerated by party-zeal perhaps beyond thei|K?|lafc#alue, and funici* ently fo to call folrt&rafeverity of judgement on him even from impartial perfons who, but for that exaggeration, might have been dif- pofed to feel a propoffeffion in his favour. He ftands at this moment in great celebrity for a fpeech that he delivered at the clofe of the laft feffion of Congrefs, recommending to the houfe of reprefentatives to. vote BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 140 vote the neceffary fums for carrying into execution the commercial treaty with England: and that fpeech is, by the men of his party from. one end of the continent to the other, extolled as a piece of eloquence which Demofthenes or Cicero would have found it difficult to equal. Now the difcourle in queftion, which the feeble health of the fpeaker did not allow him to extend to fuch length as would have been neceffary for the ditcuffion of the principles and their application to the fubject in debate, is addreffed rather to the paffions than to the understanding. At the moment when it was pronounced, that was perhaps the beft direction that it could poflibly take, efpecially as coming from the mouth of Mr. Ames, an eiteemed and eftimable man, who, labouring as he then did under indifpofition, feemed to endanger his health in fupport of what his party termed the falvation of the commonwealth, and derived an additional degree of intereft from the very eircumftance of that indifpofition. Thofe people, therefore, who would have wifhed to find in that difcourfe greater depth and folidity, and even a greater portion of reafoning, cannot deny him the merit— which is no inconfiderable one—of having well underftood the temper of men's minds, together with the influence of exifting circumftances, and taken a dextrous advantage of both. This is, no doubt, a very material part of the art of oratory, though it is the moft de- lufive. That affair of the treaty is now at end. The Britifh and American commifEoners have met for the purpofe of carrying it into execution : but it is now hardly any longer the topic of converfation. The pasSMans of the treaty, however, affect to extol the ftridl pundluality with which the Englifh have given up the polls ; as if that evacuation of pofts, which was an article of the treaty of 1783, and renewed in this latter treaty as a fundamental article and independent of every other, had been confidered, even by its fupporters, as a doubtful evenffjfana as if England conferred an extraordinary honour on America in obferving any one of her engagements to the latter. MM it 150 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, It is not uncommon for weak people lightly to impute to the more powerful certain motives of affection and regard: and this difpofition will not be miftaken by any one for a refinement in gratitude, but will certainly be deemed a refinement in vanity. That furrender of the pofts was no doubt a matter of importance to the United .States. The poffeffion of them places the American navigation on the lakes beyond the control of Great Britain ; it frees the .country from the prefence of Englifh troops, and leaves the Americans mafters of -one or two great eftablifhments; but thofe who have fufficient prudence to fee that peace is the greateft bleffing which .America can defire, vcannot confider the furrender of the pofts as wholly unattended with danger. When one is acquainted with the -active difpofition of the Englifh commandants—the fpirit of refent- ment too generally harboured by their nation againft the United States -of America—the opinion with which long and fole poffeffion has in- fpired the Englifh that they had an exclufive right to the navigation f of the lakes—and when, on the other hand, one is acquainted with the enterprizing fpirit of the Americans in commerce, particularly in a new branch of commerce—their jealoufy, their indifpofition toward the Englifh (I fpeak of that clafs of-men who are to dwell on the borders of thefe lakes, and of the officers and foldiers who are to garrifon the forts)—one cannot but apprehend that this vicinity, this continual clafhing of the interefts of the two ftates, will furnifh new fubjects^pf difpute in addition to thofe which arife in every country from the too near approximation of the troops of different powers. To guard againft fuch confequences as may reafonably be anticipated, would require fuch prudence and conciliatory difpofitions in the commanding officers on both fides, fuch conftant vigilance on the part of both governments, fo eminent a fpirit of juftice and pacification, that one caunot venture to hope forfo extraordinary a combination of fortunate circumftances. But, whether hoftilities break out between England and America in that or in any other quarter, it is at all events more B? THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCQURT. 151 more than probable that a war will be the refult of that treaty at fome future period, more or lefs diftant, according as England fhall feel more or lefs confidence in her own ftrength. J find the minds of the people here changed in favour of France. Succefs has ever great influence on popular opinion, and for more than one reafon. But let us quit politics, a fubject to which I am frequently induced to return by that unvarying regard for the interefts of France, which purfues me as it were in fpite of me. May that nation be as happy and well-regulated as it is great ! may it make a prudent and moderate ufe of its immenfe and aftonifhing fucceffes ! may good laws, genuine public fpirit, and a fincere abjuration of party- animofities, cement its conftitution, reftore induftry within its boundaries, and kindle in every bofom the love of liberty 1 Thefe are the moft defirable of its conquefts, HISTORY, CONSTITUTION, LAWS, AND COMMERCE, OF THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS. The foundation of the ftate of Maffachufetts was the confequence of religious perfecution. The Prefbyterians being perfecuted in England about the year 1608, a Mr. Robinfon, minifter of one of their churches, went over to Holland—to Amfterdam in the firft inftance, afterward to Leiden—to enjoy the liberty of profeffing the religion of *his-feet. Several families followed him thither; but after a refidence of fix years in that country, being diffatisfied with the manners of the inhabitants, and abandoned by their children who engaged as foldiers or failors in the Dutch fervice—at the fame time receiving from navigators an advantageous defcription of the coafts of North- America—thofe emigrants determined to feek in the weftern world an afylum were they might reft kcure from all perfecution. After fruitlefs endeavours to obtain grants of land from the Virginia company, who, by patent from -the king of England, were proprietors of almoft the entire coaft of North-America—and after equally un* fuccefsfuL- iH TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, fuccefsful applications to king James the Firft to give his, confent to their intended fettlement—they would have been at length compelled to relinquifh their project, if Mr. Werton, a rich London merchant, had not facilitated to them the means of carrying it into execution, by forming a company for the purpofe. It was in July 16.20 that the little colony embarked at Southampton in England. Untoward accidents reduced to a "fingle veffel the armament which was to have confifted of two: and the emigrants, inftead of reaching the vicinity of Hudfon's-River according to their original plan, were driven to Cape-Cod-Harbour, where they landed firft on one of the iflands-near the cape, and afterward on the continent, at the place to which they gave the name of Plymouth. This firft expedition infpired numerous other mal-contents in England with a wifh to emigrate to America. Accordingly, in 1622, another colony paffed over, and fettled at the place now called Hingham. Inal624 a third, under the conduct of Captain Wollaftqn, eftablifhed themfelves at Braintree. Among the* names of thefe firft fettlers is found that of Thomas Adams, anceftor of the prefent Vice- Prefident of the United States, who ftill poffeffes fhseffame lands which were at that time granted to his family. In 1624, a fourth fettle'E$$f*t was formed at Cape-Ann. Finally, in 1629, a numerous colony came to Salem, under the conduct of John Winthrop. Coura^^feldom forfakes thofe who flee from perfecution : and its aid was highly neceffary to thefe firft fettlers, to enable them to endure the privation^, and difficulties and obflacles of every kind, which they had to encounter. They overcame them all. But foon thefe new-comers, who had themfelv&^feeen the objects of perfecution, became perfecutors in turn. Tfit$Iridians had given *&em a friendly reception, had aided them with t&e&#-means, had v^u^ftfc$y .granted them lands. The colonifts were not content withffcit|fltl)the newly-arrived white man fancied himfelf entitled to the fo^ellority of a mailer over the native 'liidian: and oppreffion foon began to be tlSercifed by the European fettlers. | The BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 153 The Indians, naturally kind, are alfo naturally vindictive. Repri- fals were made on their part: and in Maffachufetts, as in the iflands of the gulf of Florida, the white people, defending in a body the crimes of fome individuals of their number, faw themfelves involved in open war with their benefactors, drove them to as .great a diftance «j$£hey could, and thus commenced that feries of encroachments which has never fince been difcontinued, and of which it is impoffible to fore- fee the end. . Their quarrels with the^Jndians were not the only difputes that difturbed the peace of thefe infant colonies. Driven, as they had been, from England by the fpirit of intolerance and religious perfecution, they fuffered the fame fpirit of intolerance and religious perfecution to grow up among themfelves. Liberty of confcience was the fundamental condition of the new fettlements: but the Prefbyterians, finding themfelves more numerous than the other fects, violated that principle; thereby proving to the world, that, like many others before and fince their time, they wifhed to referve the liberty entirely to themfelves—and that, although they were enemies to all power which oppreffed them, they were not equally averfe to that which enabled them to exercife oppreffion over others. The Quakers and Anabaptifts were perfecuted, imprifoned, banifhed, put to deaih. Some members of the community were found to profefs the tenets of the church of England : they alfo were perfecuted. A fchifm took place among the Prefbyterians, and gave birth to violent quarrels. The events which diigraced the early period of thefe colonies furnifh an additional proof of that inconteftable axiom in politics, that— although a religion be neceffary in every government, not only for the internal comfort of the individuals, but alfo the more ftrongly to attach them to their duty as citizens—the word of all governments is that in which a fyftem of religion is the main fpring, and which is either *eqnducted or influenced by the minifters of that religion. The hiftory of Maffachufetts alfo prefents multiplied inftances of that barbarous ignorance, which, united with the fame fuperftitious Vol. II. X notions, 134 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA* m notions, has in every part of Europe, and particularly'irfflngland, put to death fo many pretended forcerers, m&^lwomen, and children. Hutchinfon relates, that in 1692, the governor and judges of Salem, being highly exafpCrated againft forcerers, and finding no law againft Ipim in theiifrfiew code, but wifhing to have their difpofition to feverity fandlioned by the opinion of the priefthood, applied to the principal minifters of Bofton for their advice refpecting the fleps to be taken m thofe cafes. He adds that the minifters concluded their tedious and dilrlfe anfwer by the following feMence—" We cannot but recommend to the government to adopt the moft fummary and vigorous modes of proceeding, and fuch as have been found the moft efficaci$fct% purfuant to the diredtions found in the laws of God, and in the wholeW fome flatutekiOf the Englifh nation, for the abolition of witchcraft.'* 'Vrrplie new colonies, thus retarded in their growtffifcy thofe religious perfections which kept at a diftatifteeor drove from among them Owfefy the moft active and ufeful citizens, had moreover fome wars to fuftaifii? againft the little French colonies to the north of Penobfcot. At length, the Indians being driven to Canada, king Willi&m the Third incorporated by charter, under the name of the Province of the Cokftftc& or Maffachufetts, all the countries extending from Acadia and Nova- Scotia to the fpot now occupied by New-Bedford, including the ifle of Nantucket and all other iflands within ten leagues of the coaftui^^a: this patent the king referved to himfelf the nomination ofethe governor, deputy-governor, and fecretary. The general affembly, which was authorized to frame laws provided they were not contrary to thofe of England, was compofed of the governor, the council, and the reprefelSk* . tives, whofe number could not exceed two for eacfi'town or village, and who were required to poffefs an annual income of twenty fhflhngs, or perfonal property to the amount of fifty pouiM&'fterlingv Th$*general affembly was empowered to elect twenty counfellors,viz. ten for the province of Maffachufetts, fix for that of Plymouth, three for that of Maine, orid-Wr Sagadahock, and two at its own option. The governor had a negative over their proceedings. The general affembly nominated the judges BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LZANCOURT. U6 judges. if|j|pivil and criminal caufes; fuch of the former as exceeded the fum of three hundred pounds fterijijg were removable by appeal to Englfiad. All trees meafuring above twenty-four inches in diameter, whi«fe,were growing on the lauds yet unfold, were to be referved for the ufe of the royal navy, and all gold and filver miafcsjfrr the treafury. Such nearly was the {yftera of government given to the ftate of Maffachufetts by William III. and which cod^kiued till the revolution. Uj§£ The new conftitution of Maffachufetts was framed in 1780, The .government, under the name of Commonwealth or Republic of Maffachufetts,, exhibits the fame ^general distribution that prevails in the Other ftates. The fenate is compofed of thirty-one members elected for twelve months by the freeholders. The ftate is divided, for the election of fenators^ffinto diftridts, each of which, in proportion to the quota it pays of the general contribution, elects a greater or leffer number of members, but can in no cafe nominate more than fix. With a view to this limitation,,-the legiflature has a power to change the boundaries of the diftridts, and to increafe their number, in proportion as any jC|^derable augBgientation may have taken f$lace in the property of their inhabitants. The diftridts muft never be fewer than thirteen. -—Exclufive of the thiis^pne fenators who lit in^f^iio^fe, there are nine others feledted by the jbgate itfelf tq conftitute the governor's council; wherefore the election o£fe9§a#®J$ in tbe.-di$fci#s muft furnifh fcfg^members. A new election is held every year, on tfea*fii-ft of Auguft. The qualifications requifite for a fenator are—to pofle^-within the ffcat£j.anc£ftate of at leaft fcfefree hun^g&d pounds' *iseatjie, or perfonal-pf o^ perty to the amount ofrfl#t lefs tjifri-fix hundred—tOihave been an inhabitant of the flate during five years previous to the election—and to be an actual refident in the diftridt for which he ij&ghofen. T,he * The dollar ia New-England pafTes. for fix ihU^igsja lent to three dollars and one ffek^^Z^ I'tiaL X2 nfequently the pound is equiva- Select- 156 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, Select-Men of each town (a kind of municipal magistrates, of whom I fliall elfewhere have occafion to fpeak) prefide at tlfefe elections, count the votes, which are given in writing, and fend them to the fecretary of ftate, who with the governor and five counfellors examine them, and convoke the fenators elect for the day of their meeting. The houfe of reprefentatives confifts of one member from each town or townfhip containing a hundred and fifty inhabitants who pay taxes—- of two for three hundred—three for fix hundred—and thus iffifne Pra~ greffion of an additional member for each furplus of two hundred and twenty-five taxable inhabitants. Tjfe conditions required toqfftlify for aiSSfin the houfe of reprefematives are—-that the candidate haveiflWBy in the townfhip for one year immediately preceding the time of election, •gflfid^at he poffefs an eftate of a hundred pounds' value, or property of another defcription to the amfount of two hundred. 3TBfe^6%ernor is annually elected in the beginning of April, in the fame manner as the fenators. The votes are fent by the Select-Men to the fheriff of the county, and by him forwarded to the two branenel of the legiflature in conjuncttfjfS|: who declare as governor the candidate/ wM has the majority of votes. If none of the candidates has a rrJajo* rity, the houfe of reprefentatives choofe two by ballolfflfcm the four who have the greateft numbers; and the fenate, in the fame mode, elect one of the two voted by the reprefentatives. The qualifications for governor and deputy-governor are the fame, viz. a refidence of at leaft feven\y##s in the ftate, and property to the afiftunt of four thoufand pounds, or thirteen thoufand three hundred and thirty-tfiiSe dollars. An indifpenfable qualification for all public fundtion^^the ftate of Maffachufetts is the profeffion of the Christian ri&giOn. The nine members who compofe the governor's council Srethofen,: from amon£p*he fenators by the Wnt votes of bcfch houfes given by ballot. The fecretary of ftate, the treafurer, the receiver-general, the com- 'riritt^gcneral, tlieSftiHc notaries, and the officers o^the port, are annually BY THE DUKiRanEALA ROCILRfOUCAULT LIANCOURT, 157 iStqHftUy chofen by the two houfes in conjunction. The treafurer and the rece^er-general caottot be continued in office .above^^pa The qualifications for an e^eetor are confined to refidence insthe ftate, and an income of ten dollars* oc a real property of the value of two hundred. Jjj0& |f||^Mpd The governor is command^ in chief of the fea and land forflaesi and the confi$ftjtk>n arms* him with fufficient authori*^ in cafe of hoftile attack or domeftic difturbance. He nomioateM|Rthe officers of juftice, the attorney-gene^ of the ftate, all the sheriffs, and coroners : and he can, with the advice of his council, pardon a condemned criminal, except in -.cafes of impeachmenlcor treafoaon His refufal (accompanied by his^eafons for refusing) to fanction a law paffed by the two j^oftfes, renders it neceffary to re-confider fuch law, which, to do away this.-kjnd of fu%en&v»$ negative, muft now be fupported by a majority of two thirds in each houfe. Pfftte The ofEcei^^ftijyitia are elected either by th^privates or byilfae officers, according to tbj§-4mportaJaee, of their grade. All the powers of the officers of juftice, of what kind foever, are confined in duration to feven years, w^spfcfet^jjaf? tf"9fl£449h This conftitution is preceded by a long declaration of righfifc-^gbick difcovers neither that precifioj&nor that generality of principles, which feem to be requiref^n an act of this nature. It fpeaks, for inftance, of the right poffeffed by the people of the republi$j$o lay taxaaTor the fupport of public worfhip and fckpels, to infpedl thofe fehools, &c. particulars very proper indeed to be inferted in a law, but which cannot bejfcuft into a declaration of rights except by clerical influence. By virtue,of this article, every citizen of the ftate ofo^faffachufetts is fubject to the payment of a tax for the fupport of a ieiigion of fome kind. He is perfectly unreftraine^n his choice : but when the number of thofe in a townfhip who wifli to pra&ife the fame religion is not fufficient for .^^maintenance of a minifter of their feet, or there is no worfhip of the fame kind in the neighbouring townfhips, the tax is us TRW^EW^If^lfOHTH AMERICA, is neverthelefs demanded: the inhabitant, however, has the libet^'W dbooiing' ^o^^fejch of t&e' religions followed in his neighbourhood he will prefer that his payment be applied; This tax is generally very moderate. It is reg©ki4dii^^^*ifaiffi^^incipies as aM>**h@# payable to the ftate. In the greafcat&wns it' is commonly not demanded ; and the income of the clergy in thofe places arifes chtfefly from the letting fflfcfche featS^b^a^Mdfttnesji Mi^erfon is compelled to hire a ^tfl^hufti tHe^fpirit of'idevfil£bnr whiclf^^fBCSy -general through the ibdie^«i3iifpedt fom^§^$&nd-k^4&^%i^ tofthe laW-*^$*ft*«Qtakes it appoint of the oskifM^ul^S^fdi^iofes each perfoS$*tS#fel?e them : and no -fooner is a pewipeftgn§d2&Jr%nt4&&#ly, than it is engaged by another. The nominationoaifi^e^e4lrilf€i#ho are to^jkoofe the pre-ftdieMf^ftftd vics*i^j||ftdeii^|#%B&^Syited St-aitelHs I madiffttfi <Maffft£lrai€w£^ by the fame electors who>i)(0*ntna*3 $W'i^#efea£at4^^ each diftridt furnifhes one. The two, who are to be named in. addition, to complet€>+tl»i^rt^^^lrt*en, which cohftiitttes tl^f^S^ frfel^ritationtsf^fil^e^M^illidc^gfel^^^zr^ ^^Ween repr^?nwi^s™d two fenators), are nomigat^h^Me^legiflafetH'^^ \ The Select-Men of e&fch^&wftlflii&p p'rende!a%4hefe efe$3§iB'ff*ia"sj at all others. Thefe are men chofen*^^^^3'^WHfhip,'*TOF conduct its ijajsblifc «fe4i^aiefs. They;fc#ise$lbtJ management of the^t^ffergy^^f the rtownihip whebat poffeffes a<|!y3*athey are oVe^e$&gJf the pocj^1,3T6iP^fe iibhooia^^Mi^AhBards-$hhe$*ibMft9$fai^e&$gy^$%me?lttB8b$$m$$ #ft£n they think, thema^iede^ki^-ei^nhey re%^iw1 njy felary except for the days when they are employed^iibroad in tra^^l^iHg :-¥he affk?r$A$$*ftiV townfhip; and thehiiiw:'ftiall34*iteiMi©& S&^'Mollar anOTi^f per*<1$£]&i They are electedioo^%l45C>^[**4^^ but are o&£h*$#$feued dti'ffifV reputationyLjandf beft qualified for t^^ai¥a<^er&efrt of b$ffiyfs; andtfib office :e«mfe^^t«fepoffeff^^ a confiderable'^fapi^l^r^l^etability and influence. This,kind of pat^iasoMU^giftracy, whfch is common to all Ne^fegland, was eftatlSfii4#&32gf$6i|^ from Old England, and has been.fi^e^n^inued i$P^r&l^&$W£dffion. EXPORTS, fell BY THE DUKE DE LA ftOCBEFOUCADLT LIANCC tsgi EXPORTS, IMPORTS, AND NAVIGATION, OF THE PORT OF BOSTON. l&iriv In fpeafeig laft year of the tonnage of the port of Bofton, I omi$ed£\ for want of fufficient inform§iypsaafifeiftate the amount of the ex^dfiHSb In the year l7Qi> they amounted to one million one hundred and fifty-nine thoufand and four dollars—in 1792, to one million three hundreftaifed fifty-five thoufand an4j£&t^^a£H«* 1793, to onefm&? liinnieigBib^undre^isind thii;tpf&ur thoufejid five mandred an^fcrty-w in 1794#$P two millions five hnii(foed and-nthid$fifaur thoufand two hugdred and three—1&-&&Q5, to fda^naaMions two hundred and fifty- five thoufand.fix. hundred and eighi^^i^-^©?raSd/jfe the firft quarter of Jthe preferityejtp 37$6, to,one million two hundred and twenty4ij£ thoufand fix hundred and twenty-five. The increafe. in the value of the exports is lefs attributable at Boftdajthan elfewhere to the rife in the price of produce : for, if we except fait fifh, which Bofton expojfcsPin abundance, and olHwjhich the priced has confiderablyiiaareafed within the laft three yeai*£lno rifenhasa takeh place on the produce of the country, inch as beef, ialt pork, pot-afh, timber ; and the commodities from the Weft-Jhsij^ which the:?tradetcof Bofton re-expoii&ra large quantities, have rifen very little within the laft three or four years. With refpedt to the flour wfiicjfithe Boston jeeffids; exjpdrt, #qcpfcjit*ti& of,it isfurnifhed by Bofiondtfelf $$JtifederiYsdi€rom the isnrthern ftates: and whatever quantity of it aavbrnnght to Boston for re-exportatkao^fis never taken except to complete the affortment of a cargo, and confequently is not very r nfi li i ill ' ^JjUjflfi ifr The duties on imports paid at the port of Bofton were, in 1793, fix hundred and ninety-fix thoufand nine hundred and. forty dollars—in 1794, one million five thoufand four hundred. and feven—in 1795, one million four hundred ai^^hf$f£lwHfa^ ftximndred and ftvek-^and, in the-afirft two quarters o£<i4|$iaj^1feven hundred and eighty-feven thoufand fix hundred and for ty - ei ght» -ooT.be facility with which thefe general 160 TRAVELS IN NORTft AMERICA, general flatements are procured from the cuftom-houfe books induced me to copy them here, although I am aware that no conclusion can be drawn from them refpedling the impositions of the different articles, fince each is fubject to its own particular duty, fome paying five per cent, others ten, fifteen, &c.—and that the draw-backs are not de- dudled from thefe fums total of the receipts. I have learned alfo, that, in 1749, th4*ttumber of veffels that made their entry in the port was four hundred and eighty-nine: in 1773, it was five hundred and feventeeh : in 1793, t&e number of thofe from &«*ei|m partsWone amounted to four hundred and four, of whkh $£!ijMwere three-mafted veffels-—-«feU794, to four hundred and fixty- four, of which feventy-eight were three-mafted—and in 1795, to eight hundred and twenty-five, of which ninefe^ix were three~maile$L Sii^hundred and feven veffels, of whichfeventy-five were three-mafted^ failed from ttekhport during the fame year 1795, on the foreign trade alone. The produce of a part of Connecticut, of New-Hampfhire, of Vermont, supplies the trade^DfioBofton, together^a#h the exchange of the European articles neceffary to thofe conhtfies. Thefe advantages are in a greater or a leffer degree participated by the other fea-ports of the li^iftof Maffachufetts. No other part of the Union can produce a fet of men fo adlive, fo indu^rio^ fo enterprizing in navigation, as the people of this ftate. Dating my ftay at Bofton, two veffels, a fhip and a large brig,^Iailed for Nootka-Sound and China, and two "others are preparing to fail on a similar voyage. BANKS. ii i£g$$Ehere are at prefect l^*faisiftat»ithreei>anks at Bofton^ one at Sal^m, and one^&-New bury-Port. Thefe banks, eftablifhed onii&ei&me principles as every otherjin Amerfca, are all, except that of Salem, ine*M*-» porated by acts of the legiflature. They difcount notes endorfed withiwo good names, at one half per cent per month. The facility fhown in ^ this BY THE DUKE DE fLA .R.O.CHEFO^UQAULT , LIANCOURT. I6k fte& partiealar-by the directors o^tj^^hajajksjias great influence^!,thet Commerciakt£aa&$ions carried on in the ftate. The bank of Maffachufetts has exi,ft^MiBoftonvJnce the yeciv.lljk* Its charter prefcribes no limited term for its duration. Eight hundred fliares, at fiYi^hundred dollars each,fCon^tote for it a capitalsjgf four handred thoufand dollars, whi^fe.has greatly inereafed fincejAfejfirft efta^$J|ment. The dividends on thafe fhares are from eight to nine per qeM, and the price of its ftock is only; one fifth more than tbffc original value. f^JSJBte^Jfai The bank of the United States has a branch at Bofton, eftablifhed itifiijQS. The-gjiblic is unacquainte4^ith its capital, which is regu- lated at difcretift^hy the bank eftab&aQhed in Philadelphia: but it is though^to be five hundred thoajand dollars. As it is a dependency of the bank of the United States, it might receive afliftance from that quarter in cafe of need. It yields rf|gj£ame dividends as the bank of Maffachufetts; and the price of its fhares, which, as in all the other branches, was originally f?ji^)|^p|^ed)^^aj is now five hundred. The bank known by the name of the Union Bank is the third of tfejofe established in Bofton.^tjJjgi^as erected in 17g^aa.nd its charter ?ia^S&r^fn years. A hundred thjgufand fhares, at. eight dollars each, form for it a capital of eigjht h^ked thoufand dollars. fj|v^|fe))fields a dividend of eight ot^JB^f^r cent, and the price ofjitft fhares has rifen- to nine dollars and half. This bank ^Jiound to accommodate the ftat£' with a loan of a hundred thoufand dollars at five per cent, whenever called q$pt&fos that ^jrrpofe: but its loans a5£jnever to exceed that fom^if^gif^ij^li^f^j o-.The bank of Salem, which bears the appellation of the Effex Bank, not being incorporated, the amount of its capital is a fqqgt; but it is known to be-&| a flourifl^n-g ft3^^^^^ -, The banks of Nantucket and of Merrimack, or of New bury-Port, incorporated in 1795, are eftablifhed for the private convenience of the trade of thofe places. The capitsjfcpf the fpf%&£iiMff9§&y.thoufan^ dollars—that of the latter, feventy-five thoufand. They dp not vet Vol. II. Y yield 'TO® TRAVEWIN NORTH AMERICA, ^ei^^^^JWiiend. The price of their flock has not varied : the fhares are a^iiuhdred dollars each. * An examination of this fltfifeh of the ftate of the banks in Maffachufetts difccWers a capital of above two millions of dollars?'among them all : and, as the intereft on difcounts is fix per cent, and the dividends only eight or nin'e7*fhe result muft be a circulation of cafh or credit to the amount^ at leaft three1 millions of dollars, which extends 't#%he neignnouring ftates in af^fffoportion deplaning on their trade, and which it is difficult to afcertain, but which is eftimat^^af^ between fix and feven hundred thoufeiKFabllars. Several other banks are about to be eftablifhed in this ftate, where the avidity and eiflSrprizing fpirit of commercial men, and the general eagernefs to embark in trade, make people overlook the dang^W* being driven by fWfrIxceffive number of fuch inftitutions IH^an extension of commerce difproportioned to the capitals employed. PUBLW SCHOOLS* e^ One of the moft remarkable laws of the ftate of ^Falfechufetts is that which ordakHathe eftabliffirn&it of fehools for • gratuitous in- ftrudtion. It was enacted in June 1789. I flightly mentioned it in my journal of laft yeafSifeut it deferves to be more particularly noticed in detail. Its principal articles are as follow— lQ. Each towrtitt^ townfhip coma'ining fifty families d&j&titfi&$§& -^S|id¥t^rovide at&hool-mafter of good character to infract the c£0&*> ren in the Englifh language, reading, writing, arithmetic, orthography^ and the principles of good rubral conduct. This'fchowJaF to be npen fix months incite year. The towns or tos&nfhips of a hundred families are to have fehools of the fame kind, which are to be open durim|-the whole year. Thofe of a hundred and fiffe^ families are to have two fchc!$$f!l||^ for twelve months and one for fix'.f8pp|| M^NP^'- Xbofe of two hundred Phillies or meiei are bdiAd^ltf^addition to P&bi thefe BY THE DUKE DE LA R OC HE F OU C AU ET. HHAN COURT. 163 thefe fibools, to fupport one, under the name of a grammab-fchool, in which the Greek, Latin; and Englifh languages are to be taught grammatically. Chilllifil? who camsAread are not to be fent to the gram- irfar-fchool.—The hdafes being often widely) fcattered over the country, the militants of the towns, in public affembly, have the power£#" iftp&rmining the bouncfaridf the fehool-diftricts. 2°. An injunction is laid on the inftructors of youth, from thofe in the nniverfity at Cambridge down to thofe in the lowest fehools, to icr^£3ei»thei miids of their pupi^iwith " the principles of piety, juftice, fincerity, love of their country, frugality, induftry, attachment to the federal contention and th^feiof the ftate," &c. The m!^fte^§gre- Hgion^and the Select-Men are bound to do every'thing in their pov^fc to induce the children to attend the fehools. Q^ft^No applicant for the o^Bc^fefe^ea&her in the grammar-fe^ojs can be acfeiifeted to enter his name on the lift of candidates, unlef. provided with a certificate figned by two clergymen attesting that he is capable of teaching the Greek and Latins andfftbat he is a man of good moralsJoaThis latter part of the certifi©i^Hfcay!bbj^ven bylhc SeledkMen. The mafters of the fiiflhiwentioncd fehools cannot be chofemwitbpnt producing a certificate from the Select-Men, or from the commi|j§g appointed for the inflection?©f.the fehools, or from a clergyman. Whoever fhould keep a fchool Without complyiiaftiwith thefe-conditions, would be condemned to pay a fine of tmj&nty pouridsjSa&iSfety*: fix dollars and two-thirds—one half i§^ the benefit of the ichool^ths. other to beegiaffe©f*p the poor.-.vjBtji 4°. The fchg{efe'^rg)to be fupported by a rate levied on the. inhabitants of the: diftrjets where they are eftablifhed. Thefe rates are impofed by the annual to^^teemeelings on the taxable property within their t£ig ritory.a^^isi 5°. Such towns as fhould neglect to fupport fehools in conformity to the conditions prefeibed by the. jfei&^articles of fftia law, would be fiibjedted to the foRdwng fines, viz. thofe ofiJBty family wouldjbg Y 2 condemned mm TR AVTELSa LN 5N QRTH AJtfEltiVif^* condemned to pay* thirty-three dollars—thofe of a hundred famiJietej fixty-fix dollars—thofe of a hundredfaaflffifty families,?^^^re&d*>k lars. Thefe fines are ordered by the fupreme court.'ofHhe ftatejBijr by the general) court, oni c^aiplainfejlafld before them. Theyrjflbie to be paid into the ftate-treafuS^d&ibe apphfid' to the^reiief of thofe fehools in the fame county which mayfftknd in need of fuch aid. The gjEand juries are tG'feaforce the paymeiltiii Oij^^j^ iinuffii ^l^||P^ a This law is tolerably;well executed, and the mafters aredngeneiM qualified to give the inftru&iftiiiesxpe^dqofothem. In foiae?atal**tt* fliips, however, fymptoms oiilnegligence areodifcoverahlcr;! inftead of mafters, indifferent miftreffess&fre employed^Jin fome places, .mafters wholly unqualified; in otheics^>ieJrfefiat all: ba^Msi^MaaftaBicefeL-aTe rare. The fault lies with the Sdb^iiMen^ wrhdJoooaotaekBrbth^m&i^ea to eiaj^ce-theita^g towhic^ a rigrftetna appeal. The falaries biefcafofflsafters in the lower fchools:2itai"e.fjnom twelve to e^ht^ff{^ollars per'tnoitiai^ain the grammaij^fchoolsi the teacheriirecei've from' kwe&ty-iive to thirty-!fi^fii^l^^^ *i»livis painful to ofefeive that ah-none of th^esifflbols is thefMftpiy of the late revolution taught; that the youth are not informdd eidie£ of it caufes, or of the important events which have heed its elife- quences ; that they are not made acquainted withefehe names of thofe who, by thewod&tikMs, theiriW^Bef^Jtheir blood, havb,;ih fBlfteaadft of fo frM&yf dangers and efpeesklly lb "many obftacles, - €&e6ted)or fup- ported:$riait independence which ^e< count!^irnoweeiijbys. Tfifs^ neverthelefs, would be the moft effectual mode of perpetuating in the breafts of the riling generation the love of liberty, which, among a free people and pait&tsi&rfyea ^edjite^recently becc*BfelS®&JaS the grand boa&^^|5ttMi%2SAM 3te#'©f the principal bafes of private, moraJiir^^ B#8 t^iloWd^wiiteirt^^i^feebly felt in the towns : atttNfe is the>i«l|ltB habitants of the towns, or thofe whofe chief concerns are centred in the towns, who compofe the ^giflaturfclfMhold all the public offices, and have a general infiu^&8l%vcV the gc^fei^6nW^The love of |j&iiF' is the pWttilJ^l^el^^lii^iftate& over every other; it prtfvfetfts the & *?■-" mind BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHE*OUCAUtr XIANCOURT. 165 %aind from ififlnlging in more H^rol conceptions: and if any man were to fuggeft to them the idea of a courfe of inftrudlion fo beneficial to the caufe of liberty, their calculations would no doubt impel them to reject it: for that kind of inftrudlion would, by the remembrance wSbmhit would preferve of past events, ftill tend to fofteSr in the minds of the Americans an unfavourable difpofition toward England ; and it is from England chiefly that thofe gentlemen expect the means of making their fortunes. The fame fpirit of apathy for liberty and of propenfity to England procrastinates the erection of the intended monuments in the different places where the arms of America gained important advantages over thofe of Britain. Neverthelefs the bulk of the nation, all thofe who are not inhabitants of the towns, are proud, and even jealous, of their liberty. I *#rall in another place have occafion to fpeak with greater particularity of this ftate of things, and of its confequences. ^~^a ABOLITION OF SLAVERY. There are no flaves in the commonwealth of Maflachufetts ; and: this is the only flate in the Union that is entirely exempt from the difgrace of flavery. It is not unintereftn^l&'give the particulars of the manner in which it was abolifhed. No antecedent law of New-England had pofitively afferted the exiftence of flavery, which neverthelefs prevailed under the fah&ibft. of cuftom and public opinion. Several laws indeed feemed to pre- fuppofe it, inafmuch as they authorized the reclaiming of negroes who quired their mafters, enjoined the neceffity of reftoring them, and . prohibited th^Hnter marriage of blacks with free people. Still howejver no law had exprefsly enacted the eftablifhment of flavery: and feveral caufes between mafters and negroes on fubjects relating to flavery had been decided in favour of the latter. ISphe new confutation of Maflachufetts, like thofe of all the other states*, 166 k&PM&gl&JH' FORTH AMERICA, $ta&es, declared an eqj^fffciflff.-rights for all mc^^ a|n,j 1731, fome; negroes, prompted by private fuggeftion, maintained that they were not flaves : they found advocates, among whom was Mr. Sedgwick, now a member of the fenate of the United States ; and the caufe was carried before the fupreme court. Their counfel pleaded, 1°. That iispntecedent law had eftablifhedpfeyery, ,aj»£L that the laws which feemed to fuppofe it were the offspring of error in the legiflators, who had no authority to enact them:—2°. That fuch laws, even if thsg had-exifted, were annulled by the new conftitution. They gained the caufe under both afpedts : and the folution of this firft queftion that was brought forward fet the negroes entirely at lii^gtyj, and at the fame time precluded their pretended owner^Q|b?m all claim to indemnification, fince they were proved to have poffeffed and. held them in flavery without any right. As there were only few flaves in Maffachufetts, the decifion pasted without oppofition^jand banifhed all further idea of flavery. Under fimilar laws and in similar circumftances, different decifions were given in Connecticut, Rhode-lfland, and even New-Hampfhire. But the profperity and tranquillity of Maffachufetts, which has ex* *$edfenced no difagreeable confequences from that general liberty, will, to the eyes of every rational and benevolent obferver, afford fufficient ground for condemnation of the other ftates of New-England who have not imitated fo glorious an example. . It is to be obferved, that, in 177S^^e general cenfus of Maffachufetts included eighteen thoufand flaves, whe$f&s the fubfeqji£B£ cenfus of 1790 exhibits a$ly fix thoufand blacks, It appears fromnlJjf moft minute information that I have been able to acquire, that a -great proportion of the emancipated negroes went to thej|giwns, where, making an indifcreet ufe of their newly-acquired liberty,-£d©g.ny °i them addicted themfelves to the intemperate ufe ^l^jfei^f^ijfe^quors, and died in confequence ; others engaged^^i^^^tM^^^ti^f^ foreign fhips. The generality of thofe who have not difappeared are iervantst$!fome area^radefmen, or even farmers ;&f|njl a pr||^; large number, BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEF0UCAULT LIANCOUHT. 167 number, if we confider the bad education of that clafs of men and the habits of flavery, live in the enjoyment of a comfortable independence, ^f^^individuals of their colour have not fallen under the lafh of juftice in any greater proportion than the whites. From thefe well-authenticated fadls refults a convincing proof that the negroes, as well as the white men, are capable of living honest and free ; but that thofe nations which are fo unfortunate as to poffefs great numbers of flaves, ought, by fome previous education, to prepare them for, and furnifh them with the means of making an advantageous ufe of, their liberty. Slaves from other ftates, taking fhelter in Maffachufetts, may be reclaimed. But the general fenfe of the people is fo decidedly adverfe to flavery, that it would be very rare if thofe fugitive flaves did not find means to efcape from their owners' pursuit. PUBLIC DEBT. That part of the debt of the ftate of Maffachufetts for which the Union did not undertake to be refponfible amounted to two,|j§illjj|t|s fix hundred and ninety-eight thoufand two hundred and eighty dolla$§» In 1791 the legiflature ordered a loan in which every kind of paper iffued by tih€^ftate was receivable. They confolidated the debts due for the pay of the troops during the war and for the purchafe of provisions, by^tes bearing an intereft of five per cent: they inereafed the taxes to pay the intereft of this confolidated debt, and provided that the fums due $# ftate lands already fold, as well as the moneys arising from future fales, fhould be appropriated to the payment of the capital. ^-IPhe prefent debt of the state is two milj^ns three hundred and !tftj$Bt&fand dollars, which, at five per cent, pay a yearly intereft of a hundred and feventeen thoufand five hundred dollars. The annual expences of government amount to one hundred and twenty thoufand dollars. To meet thefe demands, the government has an intereft of tlfey thoufand doMafs/aperoing from moneys depofited in the bank of the- *m 'TTO&VMS*^ ^NORTH AMERICA* ! the United State, and fifiy*feventy thoufandrfive hundred art4 eighteen dt&rafs paid by the treafurer of the Unieiuas intereft onithe debt of the United States. To thefe fums it adds a hundred and foEty-hilie thouflm^j fix hundred and twenty-two dollars arifing from taxes, ni 1 The produce of the fafes of land belonging to thej ftate is lodged in the hands of comrrmfioners, to' be applied to the extinction of the ftate- f.cre8ty of wffi<5fl5-three hundred thoufand dollars' have already beeft £#-?; deemedtStf fefifa^ manner.—The town and county taxks rife much more rapidly-than tbofe impofed by the ftate. .v^$j& *3^0BLIC REVENUES. \M *:rThe ftate-taxes bear upon every kind of property, even uponin/fcft cultivated lands. A new vaMtion of property is to take place every ten years. With this view, the affeffors of the different townfhips annually fend to the fecretary of ftate a fchedule of all territorial property, with all the details neceffary to fhew of what nature it is, and in what ftate of cultivation : 2dly, a ftatement of all the kinds of property, houfes, fums embarked in commerce, fums depofited in the banks, even ready money, and furniture of e^fery kind : 3dly, a lift of all the inhabitants above the age of fixteen years. This information refp^fting the different fpecies of property has for its object the procurement of as exact a knowledge as poffible of the wealth and iri^meof the entire flate, and a clue to ferve as a guide in apportioning the taxes among the different counties and townfhips. Proprietors refufing to deliver in a written lift of their :ta*able property are fubjedt to an arbitrary valuation by the afjfefibrs. The laft general valuation, made in 170^38xftifeited a mafs of taxable property toTEhe amount of nine hundred and« thirty-feven thoufand fix hundred and ninety-eight poutwr^ l^fesMifetts currency,, or three rasHlions one hundred and twenty-five thoufand fit hundred and fixt^? dollars. In this valuation5 a^fffceies of pgaperty are ratfed^t fix per cent on;fete^ m^pofed real value, except uncultivated lands* winJ&fatoioiijl^^te^gt two; BY THE DUKE DE LA ROGHEFOUCAULT WANCOURT. 169 two j and by it the taxes of the different townfhips are apportioned in the ratio of fo much for every thoufand pounds, and the individual quotas are regulated in the fame proportion. ^*fi^fhis apportionment is indudeii the poll-tax, which is only a halfpenny for each pctrfoa* liable to the tax. The nja^aber of thefe was, in 1792, found to be a hundred and fix thoufand one hundred and fixty- feven. The fta^eMrOafarer fends to the different towns a fchedule of the fums to be levied in each fo* the ufe of the ftate -, and the taxes, thus apportioned, are to be affeffed on the individual inhabitants by afleffors chofen in each town, or, in default of them, by the Select- Men. If the duty were not performed by either, the court of juftices of the peace w%ifld appoint affeffors who would affefs on the town guilty of fuch neglect an additional rate, from one hundred dollars to three hundred and thirty-three and two thirds. The affeffors chofen by the towns receive four ftiiflings per day, thofe nominated by the juftices, ten. The affeffors charge the town-collectors with the levying of thefe taxes; arwHie latter are bound, within a given teraar, to pay the amount into the hands of the town-treafurer. I§#he taxes be not paid within the fpace of five months, the ftatcitfceafurer fends an order to the fheriff to enforce payment by felling a fufficient quantity of the property belonging to the to%fi in arrear. % Means are provided by the law to infure the collection, and to punifh negiect, of whatever kind or degree, either in the officers, or in the perfons failing to make payment. The general court of juftices of the peace can give red-rets in cafes of over-charge. The collectors are nominated'fey ^ the towns: in default of collectors, the taxes' are levied by:-the .constables, or, in default of constables, by the fheriff. -The towns agree with the collectors refpecting the rate of commiffion allowed to them for the levying of the taxes : it is %¥e per cent when the t!B8^#le#sed by the fheriff or his deputies, exclufive of the ki^idental charges oceafioned by their abfence from hom^P* The balance dra#ft}ffy^ecommiffioners appointed to fettle the ac- 1 counts -between the United States and the individual ftates makes the Vol. II. Z ftate 170 TRAVELS ISTrftoRTH AMERICA, ftate of Maffachufetts creditor to the.^nion in -Jigj&lutn of two millions two hundred and forty-eight thoufand eight hundred and one dollars. The ftate of Maffachufetts is divided into feventeen counties, and about three hundred and eighty towns or townfhips, fubject to fepa- rate taxation. The taxes, however, notwithftanding all the regulations of which I have fpoken, are not very punctually paid in Maffachufetts. Of a tax of one hundred and fifty thoufand dollars impofed in Juneia^94, and which ought to have been paid into the treafury on the firft of April 1795, about fourteen thoufand were paid within the term prefcribed—four thoufand more within the enfuing three months—feventeen thoufand within the next three months—in three months more, nineteen thoufand—and twenty-two thoufand within the three following months, that is to fay, twelve months '^i^^hfe time prefcribed : finally, the remainder, with the exception of three or four thoufand dollars, was paid within the next quarter after the lapfe of the firft year. : POLICE AND LAWS. A law of the ftate ordains that no inoculations fhall take place except in the hofpitals eftablifhed for that purpofe. It prefcribes wife precautions in cafe the natural fmall-pox fhould break out in any diftridt with a certain degree of violence : and although it be, in my opinion, better to encourage inoculation by allowing perfect freedom in that refpect, no blame can attach to thefe precaution%>Which, however ftridt, are very far from operating as^e prohibitory fyftem of Virginia. The laws againft debtors are at once mild^and energetic : they fe- cure, as far as poffible, the rights of the creditor. The influence of the clergy procured in 1794 the enactment of a law prohibiting on fundays every kind of amufement, walking for pleafure, travelling, fifhing, under the penalty of a confiderable fine. The BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANOOURT. 171- Tfae preamble to this law is a complete piece of puritanical rant; and its various clauf^are in perfedt unifon with the-preamble." Men of fenfe, when fpoken to refpecting it, acknowledge its abfurdity, but aftert that this new act, in fuperfeding the former laws on the fubject, has removed a great number of regulations ftill more abfurd and fevere, and that it is a neceffary progreffion to another that will foon be enacted, by which the prohibitions on Sundays will be confined to the opening of fhops and public houfes. The legiflatiwe meanwhile bestows its attention on various improvements, roads, canals, ufeful eftabliftments. The majority of the members of that body are not very enlightened in the fcience of administration-—a deficiency which is common to them with all the legiflatures of the Union, and which ought not to appear furprizing in a country yet fo new : but they are commendable for the goodnefs of their intentions, their moral integrity, and their benevolence. The legislative body of Maffachufetts has not, like the affemblies of feveral of the other ftates, been accufed of corruption in money-matters: fome of its members, however, have not efcaped fufpicion: and indeed the manner in which certain laws are carried may well afford room for fuch furmifes. All the acts muft be read three times in each houfe before they pafs : but the cafe is different with refolu- tions, which require only a fingle reading previous to their acquiring the force of laws. No article of the conftitution, no posterior act, has drawn the line of diftindtion between what fhall be prefented as a law and what may be introduced under the form of a refblution. Cuftom indeed has eftablifhed the practice of bringing forward under the fhape of laws whatever concerns taxation, public institutions, &c. and making matters of inferior importance, fuch as private demands and claims, the fubjects of refolutions. But, as there exifts no fixed rule in that refpect, it often happens that objects of general intereft, and materially important to the ftate, are introduced in the fhape of refolutions : fuch, for inftance, was the fale to Robert Morris of the right of pre-emption of a quantity of Z 2 land 372 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, If land in Maffachufetts at the rate of five pence per acre, andf that of an enormous^ tradl in the diftridt of Maine to Mr; Bingham and feveral others, alfo at a very low price. A member of either houfe can find no difficulty in prefenting fuch a refolutftmf at the moment when he finds himfelf unrestrained by the prefence of thofe from whom he may apprehend oppofition, and thus carrying it. It was under fuch circumftances as thefe that fofpicions arofe againft certain members who at the time were poffeffed of influence; but no proof has been difcovered to confirm them. •MlC^s aftonifhing that^PSf^.^ing, whether nearly or remotely, connected with finance is not itftatfably fubjedted^b three readings. It is true, the governor's fa'n^Mon is required for refolutions|*%s well as for laws that have undergone a longer difcuffion: but a prudent governor would if8^®frture to pafs h&*flegative $#a refolution of botH1 houfes, unlefs he had convincy^-evidence of its being ftrongly prejudicial to the intereft of the ftate. In either houfe of the legiflature there are^^w influential members ; or it may even be faid that there are none, and that tSil-influence of thofe who poffefs a greater fhare of it than the others is fo temporary that not one of them is fore of carrying a motion when'1 he makes it. There are here, as elfewhere, preparatory committees and petty intrigues which are fometimes fuccefsful, but oftener otherwife. The lawyers in Maffachufetts have greater influence than any other body of men on the public opinion ; and next to them the priefts : but none oftthem poftefs more than a moderate fhare of it: nor is there to be found here, as in feveral other ftates, any perfoU'who, by his own perfonal influence or that of his friends, is able to govern the public opinion, the deliberations, the elections. T^rfg intereft, even of 'tMt* who fland higheft in that refpect, does not extend beyond their own diftria. The anti-federal party, of whfgff fo much is faid, and whrefi^ft5 branded with the moft odious epithets^that can be devifed, ddi^^t^ exist in Maffachufetts, in the true fenfe of the ajjj&flation, more than «MI!li m BY THE D0KE SE LA ROCHEftHfOitVET LIANCOURT. 173 ift^any other part of the United States. This truth being once acknowledged as it ought to be, the anti-federalifts muft, in the eyes of every impartial obferver, be reduced to a fimple bppofition-party, which, however-,-will be equally far from pleafing thofe who cannot brook oppofition of any kind. The oppofition-party here are labouring to prevent the gdflscpiihenTHe from acquiring addi«io^al ftrength, becaufe they think the executive bfcaiach is already too ftrong, and efpecially that it aims at the ex- tenfion of its prerogatives. They difcourage the affection for England, and entertain naore favourable difpofitions toward France: and, like every other party in the world, they act as a party; that is to fay, they fometimes exceed the bounds of reafon and juftice. I thirik$ then, that the other party do nota#edt to talk fo loudly of the oppofition with .any other view than that of requiring for themfelves a greater number of partifans and fupporters ; for they cannot ferioraly confider the efforts of their opponent as an obftacle to them in any-iaaea^ure of real utility. On both fides are feeh men of great vniae, men 'wanmody attached-' to their country, and animated by a sincere fove of good- order. ROADS. The roads in the ftate j3f Maffachufettsaare kepfcda.repair at theif$-» pence of the townfhips through whtt&jthey pafs. From this regulation, which at firft fight appears fo equitable, it remits that in the lefs opulent townfhips the roads are in bad repair, and thus the expence incurred by thofe which are more wealthy does not .completely anfwer the intendegil^nilipofe of faoiUiatingt4^e.confwe- nieiice of communication. This difedviantage is fometimes removed by grants #9m the legiflatare to paplkular townfhips for that objefttjl fometimes alfo by fubfcriptions raifed in the neighbouring townfhips wJjh the fame view. Butn&efe extraordinary aids; are rare ; and tbi invariable ■asm TRAVELSjd$T NORff %^3g»R1jeAi< iiteriable confequence is that in the poorer townfhips the roads are in worfe condition. ,_; ,. •• ADMINISTRATION OF THE POOR. The poor are alfo relieved by taxes on the townfhips, which, like thofe for the roads, are laid on by the county-feffions, whenever the rates propofed by the Select-Men do not meet the approbation of the townfhip—an event which feldom happens. But a pauper is not maintained.at the public expence except when he has no relative in a direct line afcending or defcending, who is capable of fupporting him. If he had any, and theyjurefufed to afford him a maintenance, they would be compelkl^to it by the feffions. Cafes alfo occur, when, a relative in line direct nojfe being in fufficiently eafy circumftances, the Se&ct-Meri enter into an agreement with him that he fhall pay at leaft a part of the annual fum neceffary for the fupport of his indigent kinf- man. Agreements of this nature are made on an amicable footing, and on equitable terms: no perfon refufes to accede to them : and if a refufal were given, the feffion would award the payment of a fum probably more confiderable than that demanded by the Select-Men; in addition to which, the family would alfo have to pay the cofts of fuit. The Select-Men are bound to take care that poor travellers receive due affiftance in cafe of ficknefs. The ftate re-imburfes to them the expences incurred on fuch oeca$ons. MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT. Seventy-nine regiments of infantry, eleven of cavalry, and eight of artillery, compofe the militia of the ftate of Maffachufetts, and together form an aggregate of fifty-five thoufand men. Beyond the age of forty years a citizen is not fubject to militia-duty; hu%, until fixty, he is liable to be called upon in urgent cafes. Citizens of the latter defcription BY THE Duke -de la rocheeou c. au lt liancourt. 1/5 tion conftitute what is called the referved corps, which fu^|^hes an additional force of above twenty-five thoufand men. GENERAL SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE. Although the greater number of the rich inhabitants of Bofton are merchants, that clafs is not here, as at Philadelphia, the predominating clafs j nor do they, as at Charlefton, hold the fecond rank in fociety. They are precifely what they ought to be—they stand on a footing of equality with their neighbours, and enjoy no superiority over any other body of men. Independent of the ordinary trade of the merchants of all countries, they indulge very much in fpeculation ; and fpeculation is the favourite paffion of the inhabitants of New-England, who generally feel a more active defire than the people of the South to acquire large and rapid fortunes; whether that difpofition be, or not, the confequence of their more enterprizing character. fj^'fiiiii't But their {peculations are not always fuccefsful: and at this moment confiderable fums are about to be loft at Bofton by the f^Je of the Yazzow lands in Georgia, which the late legiflature of that ftate have thought it their duty to annul. From the following circumftances fome idea may be formed of the extravagance with which the New- England fpeculators, and particularly thofe of Bofton, engaged in that bufinefs. The. original price of thofe lands, as I have before remarked, was about one cent, or a hundredth part of a dollar, per acre; and they have been fold at Bofton fo high as twelve, and I believe even higher. Two or three agents of two of the four companies who had obtained thofe lands from the ftate came to Bofton with their title-deeds empowering them to fell. They opened a kind of office, to which purchafers flocked in fuch crowds, that thofe gentlemen, taking advantage of this inconceivable infatuation, raifed the price each day, often twice in the day, for the purpofe of more ftrongly exciting the general eagernefs and taking away all time for reflection. 170 TRAVELS Itf 9NOTLTH AMERICA, ' ftn^SSriOtt. 'Thfere were falfe#^nd fub*faftsf%*ithout nurfifeer : fome of them were fecured by a ftiptfl&ram of refponffl^iffjr &n the part o#fc&e fellers, who engaged to give poffeffion of the lands: but few of the numerous bargains were attended with this claufe ; almoft all being concluded on the bare fecurity of the titles, without any power of coming upon' t'hb venders. In rriany"'-mftaiices" the purchafes were made pMupwwiiAt%my money, and in all cafes with notes payable at differenV periods. Thefe notes were dextroufly put into circulation by the venders • and the purchafers now find themfelves difappointed of the lands, while a greai-*jp&rt of their notes are gone out of the poffeffion of thofe to whom they had given them. EveryXclafS of men, eWtfWatch-makers, haflNdreffers, and mechanics of all defcrip- tions, el^Bfly ran after'tfiirs deception M Whi€h Bofton has funk above two millions of dbltarli^Some of the buyers dec1a¥fr that they will not releafe their notes, and have even announced their intention in the public papers: but this is nothing moreaman a menace refulting from anger and.indignation. The notes have, in great pair, paffed into xffner hands: they have been received by perfons wholly unconnected with that fpeculation, and who cannot be excluded from payment withoiif a rn'oil glaring adl of inj'Cnxide which muft materially impair Tnfrcredit of rh^fe whomf^rnany gave the notes. The courts of juftice moreover "Would decide agllnft them : ano^xfiius,1 after confiderable trouble, theymufl at laft make good the payments anflP$fe content to remain deflitute of lanair! Many of the pufchafers, whofe hoxes were not gone out of the hands of the "Venders, have com promifed matters wnh them^^'^mfcbunting the notes at half their value, but mteady money, and retaking their "claim to the lands -fo far as the1ieflers carTrnake it good : but this amounts to a nullity : for the original agreement will never be confirmed ; it being'a*^!M^^f^ranfadllom .and 'Comprizing millions of acres that did not belong to^e^tilte of Georgia which fold them. Thus many fpeculatoi#fh Bofton aho^t1ier'pa'fl^WTCt??l8§ffiSi have been either utterly ruined or at least materially injured in iMSr ■ fortunes BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LLANCOURT. 177 fortunes by that fpeculation. If one could without regret behold the ruin of fo many honeft men who fell victims to their own credulity, one might enjoy this difappointment of a fet of fpeculators who were fofficiently greedy to purchafe, without examination, without reflection, and with the fole view of exorbitant gains in Europe, tracts of land at- the diftance of nine hundred miles from their home, while their own: country prefented them with more honourable and efpecially more; fimple means of acquiring a fortune, or increasing that which they already poffeffed. But it is intolerably mortifying to fee that the four land-companies of Georgia, who bear the entire guilt of the iniquitous bargain, are enriched by their villany; and that their perfidious dexterity in this train of corruption and deceit has thus thrown into their hands feveral millions of dollars, for which they neither have given nor are capable of giving any equivalent to thofe of whofe folly they have taken advantage. EXPORTS. In my journal of laft year I noticed the value, for the laft five years, of the exports from the different ports of Maffachufetts which I had vifited. To thofe details I now add the total amount of the exports from the entire ftate during the fame period, including even that of the prefent year. In 1791, it was two millions five hundred and nineteen thoufand fix hundred and forty dollars—in 1792, two millions eight hundred and eighty-eight thoufand one hundred and three—in I.793, three millions feven hundred and fifty-feven thoufand three hundred and fifty-five—in 1794, five millions two hundred and ninety- two thoufand two hundred and forty-four—in 1795, feven millions two hundred and eighteen thoufand nine hundred and eight—in 1796, nine j millions nine hundred and forty-nine thoufand three hundred and forty- five.—In 1 787, the value of the exports from the different ports of the ftate amounted to no more than one million fiye hundred and eighty- eight thoufand feven hundred and ninety-three dollars. Vol. IL A a AN TRAVELS IN N0R1TH AMERICA, AN ACCIDENT. Previous to my departure from Bofton where contrary winds detained me a week longer than I bad propofed to ftay, I efcaped, in common wj.^ytwelve hundred other perfons, from a danger to which it might have been expected that a great number of us would ^ jail probability have fallen victims. A Frenchman well fkilledian horfemanfhip, who had a few weeks before arrived in the town, erected a circus for his exhibitions. The agility, the perfection, the gracefulnefs, with which he achieved on ha^f^jback feveral feats that no man of his profeffion had ever before attempted, together with the richnefs and tafteful elegance of drefs difplayed by himfelf and his company, attracted to each performance a great number of fpedtators, although there was another exhibition of the fame nature in the town. Upward of twelve hundred perfons were there affembled on Monday the fifth of September, when the roof—loaded with above a hundred boys, who, notwithftanding fuch prohibition and watchfulnefs as could be expected from the imperfect police of the town, had clambered up to enjoy the fight through the .<$in?ks left between the boards—fell in fuddenly at once in every part. As the boards which formed that pyramidal roof were faftened to the fmall roofs that covered the boxes by which the circus was furrounded, fome of thofe leffer roofs were involved in its fall: but they fell fuccef- fively, and in fuch manner as rather to clofe the bpxes on the infide than to crufh them. Net oneftof the number experienced the latter fate : not a fingle fpedtator was hurt; and, thanks, to the extraordinary calmnefs difplayed by each individual during this alarming incident, there was not even any thronging on the flair-cafes by which the chief part of'the fpedtators retted : fome let themfelves down into the area by Hiding along the fallen roofs; others defcended from a window. A fingle one of the boys who were on the roof ftruck his head fo vio- ntly againft a plank in his fall that his life was for a long time in danger. BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. I/O danger. At leaft forty others, who fell from the fame height with him, were not even hurt. It is impoffible to conceive how fo great an accident fhould have been attended with no greater mifehfef: it is one of thofe singular events which might not again occur with all the fame eir<|«jftiftances during the courfe of many centuries, and in whiirh a man is not forry to have been a party concerned^&tien he has fo fortunately efcaped from the danger. SECOND VISIT TO THOMASTOWN.—FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THE DISTRICT OF MAINE. I went by fea from Bofton to Thomaftown, for the fecond time, on the twelfth of September. The family of General Knox is one of thofe in America to which I am the moft warmly attached. I therefore experienced a sincere pleafure on feeing myfelf once more among them j and the pleafure feemed to be mutual. The general's fettlement affumes conquerable liability. A part of his ufeful projects be"gi*i to be realised; and the popularity which he derives from his pleafing manner toward all thofe who have any bufinefs to tranfact with him, as well as his geWfle and frank mode of proceeding with the unlicenfed fettlers on his lands, confirm all his profpedts of fuccefs. Me is bufify employed in cleafjjjK^ forests, making lime and bricks, erecting mills, buying veffels, improving his lands, and forming an excellent nurfery for cattle on Brigadier Ifland. His friends, blame him for expending large fums of money: and perhaps it may be afferted with truth that his works coft hiq# more than, with greater regularity and watchfulnefs, they ought to coft hi&». But he cannot himfelf beflow that watchful attention with the nettefc'- fary affiduity; he undertakes too many things at onej&to be able each day to infpedt them all with fufficient care. Trusty agents, who are rare in every country, are more rarely to be found in America than elfewhere, and ftill more fo in a country fo thinfy;inhabited: as the di- Aa? ftridl 180 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, ftridl of Maine. But this flight want of order and economy in the general's undertakings, though it will no doubt diminifh his profit, will however not prevent it from being ftill very confiderable. Among the direct profits of his enterprizes he may reckon one of a more important nature that he will derive from the inereafed value of • lands, which will be the confequence of that activity and thofe improvements. His example excites and encourages induftry in many of his neighbours, and the induftry of his neighbours further enhances the value of his lands. Thus his calculations are juft : and while he obferves in his undertakings all the economy and regularity which surrounding circumftances will admit, he cannot indl&t* the cenfure of any except greedy mifers, or men who have not fufficient difcernment to anticipate all the probable confequences of his?enterprizes. - Timber has rifen in price fince laft year, but fire-wood in a higher proportion than any other: the cord of the latter was fold laft year for a dollar at the water-fide ; it is now atfa^dollar and half; and there is not found a fufficiency for the fupply of Bofton, where the price is at prefent five dollars, and will be from feven to nine within two months. Lime has fallen in price in confequence of the number of kilns that have been erected. The barrel of fifty gallons was laft year fold for ten fhillings and nine pence; at prefent the price is from eight to nine fhillings. Hay has rifen one tenth, but merely on account of the drought of the feafon. - The price of cattle, however, has rifen one feventh : a eircumftance which indicates fome little increafe of wealth in the country. The1 number of veffels now on the flocks is alfo more confiderable. In Saint-George'saHiver alone, eleven have been built fince laft year. The price of the workmanfhi|>lhas likewife rifen from three to five dollars per ton : the Carpentaria who was paid ten dollars per month laft year, now receives eleven. But BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEF0UCAULT LIANCOURT. im But thefe Symptoms of increafing wealth, together with the aug-» mentation in the price of lands7 are obfervable only on thefea-coaft or the borders of navigable rivers, and in the thick-fettled parts of the co&a&F**** The number of new inhabitants is by no means confiderable: and e^^ffiin*^ that 1 fee and hear at prefent ftill further confirms me in the opinion I laft year entertained that immigration to this country cannot take place to any great extent unlefs it be excited by powerful 'inducements/'By great eftablifhments, by large and judicioUgi^Xpendi- tures on the part of the great land-holders who are interefted in encouraging thofe new fettlements. The attractions of the country, the nature of the §^k\ would not alone be fufficient to invite new fettlers: and the diftrict of Maine will yet long continue in many parts a defert, unlefs, by a fucceffion of means duly adapted to all the circumftances, its population be accelerated and multiplied beyond the extent of its natural means and of the annual increafe it de^i'vfes from immigrations. Thofe gentlemen who fpeculate upon 'Change do not enter into all thefe calculations. They prefer' the certain profpect of two or .three per cent per month to the probability of doubling or decupling their fortune by expences which would for a while divert a part of their cafh from thofe fpeculations : and they expect from the unaided operafioki of time an increafe in the value of their lands, which, however, will not by that flow procefs ever take place in thofe northern countries. Such is faid to be the plan intended to be purfued by Mr. Bingham; who, after having fold to Mr. Baring for fixty thoufand pounds sterling one half of the twelve hundred thoufand acres of land which he poffeffes at the head of Penobfcot-River, continues to hold the entire tract in conjunction with him as partner upon equal terms. He befides ov/ns three millions more of acres in other parts of the diftrict. of Maine. So much the worfe for hlmfc< He isttot or at leaft he cannot long be certain of quietly keepftftg in his hands fuch extenfive tracts of land: and Mr. Bingham's popularity will not fcreen him from the inconveniences 182 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, conveniences which, in a country like this, may attend the poffeffion of fo large a portion of the foil kept idle and unproductive in the hope of an exorbitant gain. a^bfeh^ If great and judicious difburfements were laft year neceffary, as I think tf$j$ were, to create a demand for, and confequently to enhance the value of, thofe immenfe tracts of land engroffed by a few rich proprietors, the neceffity has this year derived additional urgency from the treaty with Spain, which, by throwing open the navigation of the Miffifippi, excites a predilection in favour of the weftern lands, and fo. far diminifhes that which might have been entertained for thofe of the diftridt of Maine. The lands themfelves, as well as their great produce of timber, will yet farther fi-afeotp value, if Spain cedes to France the poffeffion of Louifiana, which, in the h^fds °i an active and induftrious nation, will furnifh the means of vending a much larger quantity of timber, befides holding out to new fettlers the allurement of a milder climate in add-on to that of excellent lands which will no doubt long continue at a much lower price than thofe of the dhjr^ of Maine. Spain can herfelf create the fame advantages as France could in Louifiana, if fhe choofes to retain it in her own poffeffion. It is therefore matter of urgent neceffity that the owners of eftates in this part of the Union fhould take meafures for the fale of their lands, and confent to make difburfements which, however heavy in the firft inftance, will be repaid to them with ample intereft, provided they be foon and judicioufly made. Otherwife the fpeculating proprietors will experience fevere loffes. In the diftridl of Maine the queftion is at prefent agitated, whether, taking advantage of the right which it derives from its population, it fhall feparate from-the commonwealth of Maffachufetts, and eredl itfelf into an independent flate. Meetings have been called on. the fubject, and various petitions, have been drawn up: and, to determine the queftion of feparation, nothing more is required than to afeertain the wilh of the. majority of the inhabitants of the ftate, who will be SaBy consulted BY THE DUKEDE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. . 183 &0Efftj!ted next year. Their opinion was already taken on the fubject four years fince, and they declared againft the meafure. It is thought that on the prefent occafion the decision will be different; becaufe the incfeafe of population in the interior parts of the country has augmented the number of thofe*wlit), not being connected with Bofton by any ties of dniedt intereft, anticipate none but beneficial confequences from having the feat of their government nearer to their own homes. But the plan of feparation wifr experience a powerful opposition from the influence of the proprietors of thofe immenfe tradls of land. Taxed as the diftridt of Maine now is by the flate of Maffachufetts, it has but a very moderate burden of taxation to bear, becaufe it is confidered as an infant province, as not yet having called forth into activity its flender refources, and as containing extenfive tracts of unproductive land which the ftate of Maffachufetts herfelf has recently fold to the great fpeculators above mentioned. Thofe vaft poffeflions are therefore very lightly taxed at prefent. But the cafe will be different if the diftridt of Maine be erected into a feparate ftate: for, in the firft place, the public expences will be inereafed ; and, on the other hand, the jealousy entertained by.the laborious and indigent clafs of proprietors againft the poffeffors of immenfe tracts—who, enjoying opulence in other ftates, fu'ffer their lands in this quarter to lie unimproved, in expectation of the time when they may be enabled to fell them at a higher rate to thofe fame petty proprietors—will caufe a confiderable augmentation in the taxes on that fpecies of property. It is known that thofe lands have been purchafed from the ftate of Maffachufetts at a very low price : and the new ftate of Maine will find her advantage in augmenting the tax upon them, inafmuch as it will compel the great proprietors to divide and fell thofe lands without delay, and confequently will increafe the number of inhabitants and the quantity of produce. Above one half of the diftrict of Maine is owned by fuch proprietors i the principal of whom are—General Knox for the Waldo-patent, the Plymouth company, the company of tne twenty townfhips, "Ge-" nerai ISA TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, \neral Lincoln, Mr. Charles Vaughan, and particularly Mr. Bingham who poffeffes there from three to four millions of acres. i Thefe fimple fadls fufficiently fhew what great obftacles will be op- pofed to the formation of the new ftate : but thofe obftacles will pro- .bably be removed, fince it is a meafure which juftice and the intereft of the people demand. . RETURN TO BOSTON. After twelve days Spent at General Knox's habitation, I quitted the idiftridl of Maine, and returned by fea to Bofton. I had gone by land :in the preceding year j and nothing now remained to gratify my curiofity in the courfe of fo long and difficult a journey. The veffels that fail from the diftridt of Maine are fo heavily laden with cumbrous articles that no fpace is left open on the deck beyond what is neceffary for the management of the helm -, confequently there is no poffibility of walking ; and a paffenger muft either confine himfelf to the cabin or fit on the cargo. That of the fchooner in which I failed was fifty cords of fire-wood. Fortunately the weather was fine—the cabin new and neat—the mafter, whofe name is Kelleran, a very civil good-natured man—and my paffage of only thirty-fix hours' duration. On the day preceding my arrival at Bofton, the president's proclamation was received there, in which he announces his firm determination of retiring from public life. It is in the month of March next that the four years of his fecond presidency will expire ; and in December of the prefent year the elections will be held for the choice of a perfon to be placed at the head of the federal government. It was therefore time that 'he fhould announce his refolution, which 1 cannot Otherwife confider than as a ferious misfortune for the United States : for the office of prefident is not fo well provided with the means of execution as not to require fome acceffion of ftrength from the popularity of the man who holds it, and from the confidence repofed in him by his fellow-citizens. Now, ift all the United States, no individual poffeffes fo BY THE DUKE DE LA RQC'HEEOUC A U ttTf7LIANCQUUT. 185 fo many claims to the general confidence as George Washington, nor does arijqindividual enjoy it in fo high a degree. That proclamation of the pcefident, befides what relates to his resignation, contains alfo political counfels to the citizens of the United States.—No man entertains a higher refpect than I do for the president's merit and virtues j none is more firmly convinced that the fole object of his conduct has invariably been the good of his country; but when a man is a native of France, he muft have that, opinion eftablifhed on very ftrong grounds indeed, if he do not, in one part of the proclamation, difcOyer a marked antipathy to France, and a predilection for England, which bear a much ftronger refemblance to party-fpirit than to the Spirit of juftice, or even, I will venture to fay, to found policy. idaiBteabmean that any.blame can attach to him for the advice which he gives to his countrymen not.to become dependent on any other nation: but it appears that this counfel, delivered fimply and in general terms, would piie|erve all its force, its propriety, its juftice ; whereas, offered as it is in fuch ample extent, and with the chasa^fcrs which accompany its development, one cannot be fufprized that the prefident's enemies find in it a fubjedt for cenfure : and among thofe who efteem and refpedt afefejip'tues without feeliiagpthe influence of party-fpirit, there are few, I believe, who would not have wifhed that this over-long article had been treated in a different maimer. Even the other parts of the. pror. clamation, wd§j&h are not liable to the reproach of impropriety or parjgfk fpirit, are juftly taxable with difTufenefs and unneceffary length. All the principles indeed are true, and the counfels good : but they would have been equally fo, and would have appeared more fo, if they had been delivereddwith concifenefs and fimptigity. I have further-heard it <§t$||rved thatcthe advices cdhtain^iiginthat proclamation are unfeafoh- ably given, ti^^s (fay thofe who cenfure it) in vacating the chair after the expiration of his term,, that, his adieux would have come at their proper time : but they are premature when the man who thus takes his leave of the public has yet fix months to exercife his fundtionjfena That proclamation, as.may reafonably be expecte^jg^ets.Jfrith ad- Vot. IL B b '"""miters 1®6 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, mirers who extol j|£ very parts which moft defervc, cenfure, as welt as cenfurers who condemn in it what is entitled to nought but praife. This resignation of the prefident, which was doubted through all America a fortnight ago, feems however to produce no fenfation at Bofton ; it engrofies no greater fhare of the general attention than any other article of intelligence ; and after the firft day it ceafed to be a topic of converfation. The defects and the merits of the proclamation are equally buried in silence. Does this ^difference with which fo important an event is viewed at J3ofton arife from the eircumftance of the peon pie's minds being wholly engroffed by interested purfuits, fo as to leave no room for any other object ? or is it the offspring of conftitutional apathy ? Thefe are questions which I fhall be better able to determine when I have feen a greater number of people and vifited different places. In the mean time I am not the lefs furprized at what I here obferve. During my fhort abfence from Bofton, a fever, in which the phy- ficians who were confulted difcovered the characteristics of the yellow fever, broke out in a clofe narrow part of the town enjo^kig^hifctle circulation of air, and inhabited by poor families. Almoft every one who was attacked by it died within three days; and thofe who approached the fick caught the infection. A hint of the danger of^this contagion, prudently fuggefted to the Select-Men, though without pronouncing the name of " yellow fever," was productive of the falutary meafure of causing the families who either were themfelves actually infedled or had had communication with thofe who were, to be removed from the town, their beds to be burned, and their houfes purified and fuffered to ftand empty, c^fchout alarming any one with a name which carries terror $£t|yit through every part of America. In confequence of tjlsfe precautions the difeafe difappeared. Few of the fick perfons who were removed fell vidiims to it; no individual of their families caught tb&#|$r fection; and Bofton, which loft by this fever eight or ten of its inhabitants, now enjoys perfect falubrity. | 3The fortifications of Caft-lej^fland have fince laft year been put into .i .fomewhat BY THE DUKE "DE LA RO.CHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 187 fomewhat better condition. The parapets are raifed, and within their inelofure are placed a fcore of cannons, forty-two-pounders, taken from the Englifh during the laft war. Thefe cannons are mounted on coast-carriages, in a kind of imitation of our French coaft-batteries fo fkrlfully contrived by Monfieur de Gribeauval; but the imitation is very imperfect: the carriages are heavy and clumfily made j the platforms are deficient in foSdity, and the parapets fo little elevated that all the men fen&ug the pieces would remain expofed to the fire of the enemy's fhips that might attempt to enter. It is at the expence of the commonwealth of Maffachufetts that Caftle-Ifland has been put into this petty ftate of defence,, which is perhaps fomewhat worfe than nothing, fince it is incapable of anfwering any good purpofe, and at the fame time infpires a vain confidence. The legiflature have positively refufed to cede this ifland to the general government, which, as I have obferved in the journal of my firft tour, had allotted funds to put it into a ftate of complete defence. PORTSMOUTH. In gokig to PorH&fouth I went over the fame ground that I had travelled laft year in coming from it. The fever which carried off during'fbfe fummer about foisfiy perfons at Newbury-Port, has now fubfided. Epidemic difeafes generally ceafe in every part of America at the commencement of the cold weather. The malady at NeWburysfiroT had, according to the affertion of the' jSifyifijinife, the characteristics of the yellow fever : but, fince ifi&'ilivages caufed&jy that distemper at Philadelphia- three years ag©^$he appellation is too lightly beftowed OH. aH epidemic bilious fevers, which, it muft be owned, poffefs on-this continent a confiderable degree of malignity, and in the treatment of wteeh the phyficians do not feem to difplay much (kill. Although thefe fevers ha*re hlthefto broken out only in the fea-ports, B b 2 many w TRAVELS IN NORTlt AMERICA, ni any medical men do not now, as in the beginning, think them imported from the Weft-Indies, but conceive them, like almost all other epidemic difeafesjftfo' have originated in the country; )H|That which prevailed at Newbury had its principal focus in aquarter contiguous to the port; but it alfo fpread to feveral otherparts of the town. It was not very destructive, fince. in three months it carried off only about forty perfons from a population of five thoufand inhabitants. The physicians affert, that, notwithftanding the ravages of that diforder,-fewer p&fehs have fallen victims this year at Newbury-Port thanauKially die at the fame feafon, which is always fickly in a greater or letter degree. If this affertion be well founded, the fact muft be confidered-as extraordinary. CONSTITUTION, LAWSjafcND C^idMERCE, OF N®$$# HAMPSHIRE. if During fix days which I fpent at Portfmouth, I procured fome information refpecting the ftatei^New-Hampfhire, which the fhortnefs of mv flay there laft year had not allowed me to acquire. The new conftitution of this ftate, framed in 1782, underwent a re- vifion in 1/Q2. In its principal features it refembles thofe of all the other ftates. Here follows a fhort abstract of it. All the public functionaries, except thofe of the judicial department, are. eledted-®»ly for one year. The electors for all offices are the fame j and the only condf^ons re- • quired to qualify an elector are the payment of a tax, the age of twentyesae years, and the profeffion of the proteffej^^igion. This laft intdfeatt^&pndition, which is faid to have experienced great oppofition as well in the original formation of the^nftitution in 1782 as in its revifion in 17Q2, is required for all the offices in the flate. The fenators are'elected by diftridts; and for this>fjurpofe an imaoi- nary.divifiQn^baS been made;of:'the ftate into tw^^t^tf^^riearly equal BV THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEEOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 185 equal in point of taxation. The fenators are twelve in number, and choofe from their own body a prefident, who performs the functions of lieutenant-governor whenever occafion fo requires. The legiflature can alter the boundaries of the diftridts according to the changes which may take place in their relative wealth. The qualifications for eligibility as a fenator are, that the candidate have attained the age of thirty years, have refided in the ftate during {even years, and during one year in the diftrict where he is chofen, and that he poffefs a landed property to the amount of eight hundred dollars. The reprefentatives muft be at leaft one and twenty years old,, have refided in the ftate during two years, be at the time of their election inhabitants of the townfhip by which they are chofen, and poffefs an eftate of four hundred dollars, of which two hundred muft be in landed property in their own right. Each town or parifh containing a hundred and fifty inhabitants who- pay taxes fends one reprefentative, and an additional one for every three hundred and fifty more. Such parifhes as do not come up to the former number are joined together or united with others that are more populous, according to local circumftances. The fame conditions which qualify for a feat in the fenate are fufficient qualifications for the office of governor ; with only this difference, that, in the latter cafe, the poffeffion of an eftate of two thoufand dollars is required. The governor is elected by townfhips, and muft have an abfolute majority of votes : in cafe none of the candidates* fhould have fuch majority, the two houfes of the legiflatuFe elect by ballot one of the two who have had the greateft number of suffrages. The ftate is divided into five counties, each of which elects in the fame manner a member of the executive council. The power and the functions of »*fee two houfes are the fame as in: the-other ftates. The governor has a right to refufe his signature to bills which have paffed through both houfes : but he is bound to do it within five days after if 4k 190 ^USEVFLS "IN NORTH AMERICA, after they have been prefented to him; and, after hisrefu'fal, a majority ■ of two thirds-in each houfe can compel him to affix his signature.- He nominates the judges, the fheriffs, the general officers, the militia ftaff; he is commander in chief of the troops, and can grant pardons;■ but all this muft be done by the advice of his council. In cafes of nomination, the governor and they have the power of a mutual negative over each other.—The judges are appointed during good behaviour ; but none of their number can remain in office after the age of feventy years. The legiflature of New-Hampfliire fits twice a year. In their laft feffion the legiflature have regulated the mode of choof- •iug the fix electors who are to vote for a prefident and v|#-preiident of the United States. Thofe electors are to be appointed, in like manner as the governor of the ftate, by the electors of each townfhip. The votes are to be tranfmitted by the Select-Men to the fecretary of ftate : they are next to be examined by both houfes of the legiflature, who will then declare the fix electors. The perfons thus chofen are to meet on the firft Wednefday in December* The laws of New-Hampfhire allow the utmoft latitude of testamentary devife: but in cafes of inteftacy one third of the property is assigned to the furviving hufband or wife, and the remainder divided in equal portions among the children. The criminal code, which is only a mitigation of the Englifh code, ftill inflicts the punlmment of death in numerous cafes. a-ff^hipping and ^fife jsillory are the fecond gradation of punifhment, and are appointed for a very confiderable number of offences. In many cafes the corporal p^iifhment may be avoided on payment of a fine. Stealers of horfes or other cattle, after having ftood expofed in the pillory, are marked in the face with feveral black lines which time alone can obliterate. Thieves of every other kind are condemned to the fame punifhment in cafe.of a repetition of their crinlev^ The law refpedting Sunday, lefs tindtured with puerile superstition than that of Maffachufetts, confines its promotions to bodily labour and am^fements. The BY THE DUKE PE LA ROCHE*OUCAULT LIANCOURT. 191 The finances of the flate are in good order. At the conclusion of the wa^jts general debt amounted to about five hundred thoufand dollars, of which three hundred thoufand have beg^affumed by the Union, which allows for them, as elfewhere, an intereft of fix per cent until they be reimburfed. The other two hundred thoufand, that remained as a debt on the ftate, have been paid off by fales of land and other fpecial means; New-Hampfhire has at prefent in hand a fund of two hundred and fifty thoufand dollars, part in fecurities of the United States, part in the bank. The commiffioners appointed to fettle the accounts between the United States and the individual ftates have declared New-Hampfhire creditor in the fum of feventy-five thoufand and fixty-five dollars.—1 The expences of the government are ordinarily about twenty-eight thoufand fix hundred dollajjft: they are fometimes higher according to circumftances. In that fum are not included the purchafes of arms and ammunition required to fafgftfh the magazines to the extent pre**- fcribed by the law. Slavery is not abolifhed here by an exprefs law, as in Maffachufetts.. The firft article of the New-Hampfhire declaration of rights pija*- nounces that all men are born equal and independent: but private intereft has fuggefied an interpretation of that article which reftridls its benefit^ to thofe born after the promulgation of the conftitution-^here are however no iales of flaves : the public authority is not exerted for the feizure of thofe who run away; and the few flaves who are in the ^f£ are in all refpedts treated on the fame footing with other fervants. Their chi^^n are educated at the fame fehools. The real evil,, therefore, the degradation of flavery, does not exift in New-Hampfhire; and the name of flave is hardly known in the ftate. No better plan could be adopted by a people who flopped fhort of total emanciga$ipn. For fome years back the ftate has impofed no taxes. The legiflature neverthelefs make it a rule to exercife occasionally the fight of taxation, for the purpofe of keeping the inhabitants accustomed to fuch contributions, and alfo of increafing the public refourcf^ The laft. c^itW film 192 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, m fum demanded was twenty-four thoufand dollars. Lands, movable property, cattle, even money in the funds, are fubject to the tax :• and the fcale of proportion between the different articles taxed by the ftate ferves as a bafis for all the ccraHiy and town rates, which, though more confiderable than thofe impofed by the ftate, are yet very wM mm In the general affeffment of the taxes, each county, and each townfhip in each county, has its particular quota afiigned to it by the law, which may however vary in confequence of any*important changes taking place in the wealth of thofe townfhips or counties. 'The mode of affeftingand levying the taxes is nearly the fame in New- Hampfhire as in Mafiachufet«li The valuation of all taxable property is to be made every fifth year at fartheft. The poll-tax, to which all men from the age of eighteen years to that of feventy are fubject, is eight fhillings per head. The total aJhdual amount of taxable property, according to the laft valuation made in. 1794, is forty-two thoufand and ninety pounds, or a hundred and forty thoufand three hundred dollars. The poll-tax payable by twenty-eight thoufand eight hundred and thirteen inhabitants makes a part of that fu$|ta The Select-Men are the affeffors of the taxes in the different townfhips; and it is to them that the flate-treafurer fends the fchedule of the apportionment of the taxes. They are in confequence authorized to demand of each inhabitant a yearly written declaration of his property. In cafe of deception in thofe declarations, the Select-Men af- fiefs the tranfgreffor to four times the amount of the fum at which he was rated. The inhabitants have the power of appointing the collectors ; but the appointment is generally left tO'tteaSeledt-Men, who agree with the inhabitants for the expence of collection, which is from four to five per cent. The taxes are to be levied and remitted to the treafurer during the courfe of the year; and they are in general *pftril^ually paid. The law provides means for calling to account the Select-Men, collectors, treafurers, &c. who are guilty of neglect or difhonefty. The BY THE DCOKE aEffi\ L$A;*©£HZFCttlCAfUJrt LIANCOURT. S9& The ftate debt, bf whichT have not beeneable to learn the precife amount, is far from cbnftderables^nd probably will within a very fliort period*^©T«i[olly>e&tjnguifhed. |y<j^W' The roads, and the fkger-poiffe^^iola^eilajw requires to be erected on them, are kept in repair by the townfhips,ithat is toiayjafeyithe^er- fonal^ilalsour of each inhabitant, .oi$^pie annlafcy commutation; in its ftead. The rate for the maintenanic^^fJthB poor is alfba tdwnirate. Sevetfafafofcefes are eftablifhed for their reception in different iparts of the ftate, and are in general as ill kept as fuch eftabliftmaents ans every-where elfe. A§t^ P^^IIMNpHlflrf^R a Portfmouth is the only port of entry in the .commonwealth of New- Htttti|»mi*3etg Exeter and Dover, fituate in the;iimer parteaf^etfame te&fr and to which fome veffels of inferior tonnage go up, carry mt no commeirgg&exdept through jf^imedlum of Portfmouth, aand have no cuftom-houfe. The exportataons tframiBartftnouth amounted, in f 790, to one hnndred anafc^iarty^four thon&iidlhree hundned and nine dollars—4j^gpi$$to one hundred and fifty-ocfeftthilB&nd mat hundtfe^l and twenty-^SYte—in 179-2, to one hundred and eightyrone thoufand three hundred and fixty-eight-^inal793, to oneijandred and fil^jflty-feSlfeoufand and JSJ^Ir^athree—4a 3$Q4, to one hundred and fixty-four thoufand two hundred and feiraenteen—in 17Q5, to two- Mildred and foi$^fix thonfeiid: three hundiffid and fixtyj-fourr—and, in the firft fi-x months of the.prefent year 179$, fiHwo hundred.and fixty- two thoufand three hundred and fifty-o»e. •, The confiderable increafe i«*the prefent year was ;Octsafioned by the extraordinary circurriflance of feveral fhips coming from the Weft* Indies,-which, though'jjon&gned to other ports, were obliged to di£* charge their cargoes here. The produce of the cuftona-houfe duties on imported articles amounted, in 1/90, to fixteen thoufand &ye hundred and fe#enty«*june doliains—in I7gi, to thiRty-oue thoufand feven hundred and ili^-four—in 17031^*e&tty-five thoufand four hundred and ninety-nit^—in 1793, to fifty-*Hie thooaifand feven hutfe dred and fifty-eight—in 1£94, to fifty-one thoufand eight hundred and Vol. IL C c three— ip TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, three—and, in 1705, to^ty-ninea^oufand fix hundred and fifty-eight. JP1&& principal articles of thoferimportations are the productions of the Weft-India iflands—wine, foap, oil, and hemp, from Eurcpe<—and manufactured goods. It is with the French iflands that New-Hampfhire carries on the chief pa^of her Weft-India trade, and with Holland and Germany of her European. Iti|jLmoft: commonly through the medium of Bofton that fhe receives her fuppl«£s of Britifh goods. The veffels belonging to Portfmouth that vifit England, feldom touch there except on their return from .Germany. The productions of New-Hampfhire are Indian corn, wheat, barley, rye, black cattle, goats,' fheep, hogs, horfes, mules, poultry, flax, hemp, pot-afh, pearl-afh, timbes^,every kind and in great quantities. Thefe furnifh matter for her exportation : but the local fituation of the country, which removes from the vicinity of the fea a j&efijf number of its inhabitants, and places them nearer tQ^e Con- 4>g#icut and the North-River, caufes a great portion of the<pwpduce to pafs through Albany, New-York, and the towns of Connecticut.— New-Hampfhire re-exports moreover a great quantity^commo^|i^ imported frqraethe Weft-Indies. Lr^JbeT^al amount of the tonnage employed by this ftate in foreign trade was, in 1793, eleven Ibaufand feven hundred and nine tons—in 1794, twelve thoufand and eleven—in 1795, twelvejjjipufand nine hundred and feventy :—in the prefent year I790,ai^is thirteen thousand five Jmndred and forty. In addition to this, the&onnage employed in the coafting trade and fifheries was, in 1793, one thoufand two hundredfold, fifty-five '<tag|$—in 1794, one thoufand four hunted and t^v^ty-eighf^in 1795, one thoufand four hundred and forty-fix:— and it now amounts, in 179O, to one thoufandii^ur hundred and The population of New-Hampfhire confifts of about a hundred and ninety thoufand fouls. Although almoft all the townfhips, which are generally of fix fquare miles, have been granted by the flate, fome are yet wholly deftitute of inhabitants, and many others contain very few. BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFO.UCAULT LIANCOURT. 1$5 few. It is only from its own population that this ftate can expect any confiderable increafe ; for there is no immigratlbtlj to it from other parts. The laws of New-England had long prohibited the admission of any emigrants from Europe, except Englifhmen, who are not eafily induced to quit their native country. Since thofe prohibitory laws have ceafed to be enforced, foreign immigra&ts areidgfa more numerous in New-Hampfhire than at former periods ; . becaufe, in the firft place, Connecticut, Rhode-lfland, and Maffachufetts, have at prefent nearly their due quantum of population; and, in the fecond place, becaufe the tide of foreign immigration, haviug long fince taken its courfe toward the ftates <lP:New-York, PennfylvatiSii &c. will, for a long time to come; flow in the fame channels, at- tradled by motives of confanguinity, and the various relations exifting between the new immigrants and the ofafl' Such Emigrations from thofe three populous ftates of New-England, as do not taxB a western direction, incline toward Vermont in preference to New-Hampfhire, becaufe in Vermont the lands are cheaper. The ftate of Vermont, moreover, at the time of its formation, paffed a law, unjMf: in itfelf, but favourable to a fpeedy increafe/V^ipopulation in the country. A great part of its lands had been granted in the mafs to the inhabitants of NewrHampfhire by the governors of that state, of which Vermont then constituted a part. When erected into a feparate commonwealth, the legiflature of Vermont declared that every perfon taking poffeffion of the uninhabited lands, by whomfoever owned, fhould enjoy them unmolefted during the space cWfeven years. Allured by this invitation, outcafts, debtors, needy adventurers, flocked thither from all quarfew?' The inhabitants of New-Hampfhire, who were the proprietors of thofe lands, fearing to.fee themfelves entirely deprived of them, concluded bargains with the new-comers on whatever terms thelMfcter were pleafed to allow\ In confequence of thefe tranfadlions, the population of Vermont received fo rapid an increafe, that, although ten years fince it hardly contained forty thoufand inhabitants,^, it now reckons above a hundred thoufand; and land ftill C c 2 continues 196 travels *rsr Nmrnr amuerica; i #7 ^Httftuesthefe^tsar-Itower price tharrnn New-Hampfhifep where fj?§*m ©neito five <|feifej^3*re paid per acnBMi.tbe interior part of the country, ffccordiiig toiitkenumfiekadF inhabitants already fettled in the townfhip rwhere theiptntthafe is made. .~^wB8*npW - Free fchooleiare fupported at the publfc charge in New-Hampfhire, ^:inw:Man%dmfett8 5'witht tjfcddlfefendev however, that in none of them do chlldrou receive) the /firft leuoiis in reading. The pupils are inftrudled in writiUJfaind ai&thdseri&—in ISktan, as far as Vitg$Haiaj& CJlcerti—fin Gneek,afo . faroBmy as to tranflafcebtlie Teftamenfr«*and in jifeiprinciples of the Englifh language. AnSlfoademy at Exsfter pur* fcs'the courfes of educatMn^ a little farther, and gives fome tincture of the fciencesiart^fisB: univerfiry' of jNervvsHampfhirerisfat BaVtrfidothcai Coinie6lic!atijKSv!er. The p&rentsaof the children are' boandi fo?Befe# them taught?*Aread. The want of gratuitous instruction iri tfasMiB. ftage isW^aWy a bar tb the general diflfa&ination of knowledge throiipr:tM ftalSIro Sf^f ,3.*!S$w rWote feJOT^Mm%li8^fpthe more firmly.'am I convinced that theunderftahdingffidf.rthe peojde are every-where good. The inhabit t&nts are induftrious reach faiqis}oha"siiiscd6m^ftic manufaliftoniies/Wbere ;t^rneceffary brritlisMiefethihgaare fabricatfedaarid died:.yet few families refrain from, purchasing at the retailer's ftore fomei Euro|iJean ftufis or ribands, that: they may not, atrilfc meeting o&dimdaypappear lefs fine /than, their neighbors*:: . The militia, of New-Hampfh;ire,i&divided into twenty-eigMiti&gjk mfertts, and amounts to; twentyT£^hlr;Jth^aifaiM iraen, of whom twci thoufand are-^valry, and fix hhndred-aildillerifts^lW^7 i^l&wliS^li r Notwithftanding the claMe'&'iherJc«kdlituti6n whichifareijuiiassfifc profeffion of the protefB^-^eligiah^a^ia tqbalificat^mafor 'everyepmbt&r elide, unbounded religious fbsedaraiif^mlseM zvery feet of Christians have'here-public placesof worff&pi w ;'^fitee. moft .ancient fettlements; iK'New-HarnpftncEra^emf Mated foon aftaftfbofe of" Maflacbufeiets^al jPortfihonth and Boveiiareftib places where: the firft eftablifhments were^amade; That rii^rfcancea *W^Wrt*:I IflSiSf1*! • havin £ BY THE DUKE*'DE* L'A^^£hEF0UCAU3§#.^$X»C0URT. 197 having arifen in this province, and introduced a ftate of anarchy which became in^lerable to the majbl^fW|ft|e inhabitants, they put them- felvd^i&ier the protection of tfie Colony of Maffachufetts which was in a much more flourifhing condition, and where a more regular ^ffefn of lawS^Has^ followed. They incorporated themfelves with Maflachufetts in 1642: but the province of New-Hampfhire becoming more populous, and fome difcon$e$f£s 'having broken out on eccafi&ry-^of the71^OT&?i^ Vnich MUfia^E^Btts affumed over it-—and thefe difcontentsf heing moreover embittered by quarrels on the fubject of religion—the inhabitants petitioned the Englifh court that their colony might, again become a feparate provkicejjj and accordingly, by an e<l^riiflfe^i^:IJ9j?'^J1CIfi^&iles the Sedoiid grahtHFf$OTi|!e^e^ and created New-Hampfhire a diftindt and royal province. One of the fix frigates voted fv^o ^y*f#9ffree0B^fCongrefs was to have been built hereto but, like thofe of Portfmouth in Virginia and of New-York, it is amon#4he three of \v*ffich the national legiflature *.ftj#their laft fefSofi connie^nlandecP ffie ^otSlfcy^ibn. The timfJSj which coft fo much money, remains in the dock-yard half-wrougtfj and, notwithftanding all the care which, people fay, will be taken for its prefervation, a very fmall portion of it will after a few years be fit for. fervice. In a dock-yard adjoining to that Where^ihis frigate was begun, the fame workmen who were empKed upon it are now building one intended to ^rarry thirty-two'"guns, which was firft laid on the flocks a month fince, and is to be finifhed by next fpring. It is a prefent demantjealof the United States by the dey of Algiers, as M inducement to bis faithfulfojpivance of the treaty he.has concluded witlithem.. It is affer|ea tharathis condition, which the ejgfe.- cutiVe power of the United" States is eager tp^edily to comply witn* is the result of a fupplemental treaty which will remain unknown SB the riext feffion of Congrefs Ijmi that there can e^i^-Ju'Q doubt that iiecefft^witi oblige them' to^rati^ fix frigates were voted for tbe'.purpofe of tepreffing the piracies of. the Algerines—when we read the treaty since concluded,, and fee a frigate given 198 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA*;, u given to thofe fame Algerines as a prefent from America—we might reafbnably bgi^iirprized if the power of the United States, and the confiftency of their political fyftem, were held in high repute at AU giers. In going to Portfmouth, I purfued the fame track as laft year, through^Salem, Newbury, Hampton. I have therefore no new information tp^gffer, exc^gt.that almoft every article is rifen in price, and that fhip-building is carried on in all the creeks; with ftill greater activity than during the laft year,y^, if trade were always to be carried on in Amer^anahottoms to the fame extent. But the war cannot endure for-ever : and, on the return of peace, many of the fhip-. o$$ners willwjtfcoyer that they might have employed their money to greater advantage. o.j^.feturned from Portfmouth by the upper road. It was at the diftance oj^yeral rn^leg from the fea, and it is not longer than the other ; but it is lefs agreeable^a,nd more diffiq^t^ inafmuch as it croffes mountains aj^^ajd^and efj^ecjally as it lies tjtfjough a^e^beautiful and lefs cj^l^^ vated country. h£#fri| tak&dfrwkHii ^^i EXgJgpl. flffiis town, Fourteen miles diftant from Portfmouth, is the feat of the government .OT^ew-Hampfhire, and fituate in the county of Rockingham, on the river Surampfcot, at the head of the bay of Pifcataqua. It contains about three hundred and fifty houfes, and from fixteen to feventeen hundred inhabitants. The houfes are tolerably nea'f; and the place receives a goopfhare of adlivity from feveral mills for .corn, paper, fulling, tobacco, chocolate, and fawing, and from fome iron-works. " "I have obferved.that there was an academy in this town. It was incorporated in 1781 by an adl of the legiflature, under the name of jT? Ps's Exefjer "Academy," from the name of a Mr. Phillips, a minister of Exeter,'who was the principal donor to it.—Before^tle* F5P5 revolution, BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHBF-tf&C&D-LT LIANCOURT. 199 revolutiojt^nand at the time when Portfmontfc$9$rifedf?o»la£extetifiVei Commerce, many veffels were'r^splt; at Exeter : but, fince the decline of the trade of Portfmouth, the^tfiiip-builximg at £s|gfeirahaa.^dwiiidled almoft to nothing; not more thft&two or three veffels being annually built there, and thefe being only floops. No veffels above the burden of twenty tons can go up to that town, a |^^j^'%^fli«i^^^^|^fp Under the heaxfi^S^§finouth I forgot to notice a particulafSir^e whiciwJRojuld tlMMe: have been more properly placed than .under the head of Exeter^i&Jthough the fame fadl exifts here alfo. It is, that injkhat confiderable town, where all the houfes except one or%*o are built of wood, the only mode practife^ for clearimgrl^dihmaheys is to {eg) thema€¥|£;;fire. That operation is perfQri]hed^^iai^v#eather9» that the roofs, which are covered with fbingles,f may .bestfiie tefs ex- pofed^tol catch fi^.-from the flying fparks. There is not an inftance on record of any mr&j^ef hayia§*been caufed by tlps^ingular procefs of cleaning thejf^amneys. ifffhe wwg0$0§kimney-fm&epers firft gaSfe^ rife toyfeis pradlice, which is at length fo thoroughly eftabHfhed by habit^f^ to be now employed in preference.to,any other, even whgfl1 fweeps happen to pafs through the town. ii,The fame cuftom alm^fe* univerfally prevails in all the fmall towns or villages of New-JBagland, and alfo in many other parts of Anae'rica. ..!D4)kSgfe HAVER-HILL. From Exeter to Haver-hill, the country wears the appearance of a defert; prefenting to the view an almoft uninterrupted fucceffion of woods of the poorest kind and of the fmalleft growth—here and there a/jew acres cultivated—but bad land, bad culture, indifferent houfes: —the traveller fancies himfelf at the diftance of a hundred miles from any inhabited country. Within a fewyniles from Hayer-hill the country affumes^^more pleafing afpect; the land is better, the cultivation more regular, and the houfeajamore lightly. Haver-hill is in the ftate of Maffachufetts, and lituatepn the Merrimack, the fame river m affRiAry®j*»r.;i!)!fjKoairHAAMBRseA^ fiver ^tricfoBfiwonfe^©^ tUis fthhkm&s- bulj^l 1794 a tolerably haLiHfomejhSd^^lbiDnfifti^ ia^h;ia\hbad»edoa^b£^^tUvo'reet inahrea^h^and fupf^rtedr$y ftone |f$&ssna*nd :jbnittrefl^.av 3E?h&tkud^^a not fuijjife^tly light 1% its wpf&p pateniiinsd-ias^thei Hgtervals betwe^irl^as^fies are not raifed to a level with the tops of the vaults, thenevis: a defcent from each to fhe plat- fotiife^©fthreqpfer^:iatid: art afcgiaaato theaneact> fo as!toi#ender«'thepaflage urfpleafkirt. ::Bdit oBdil^chitedtureehasTneityet made fun^'ieist>a,d.va^#6^' to knproXaementaiftldaisinew country t6 admit ofailtention being paid; ta^tie coney enfertefeaoftravell&rsifH A conitdBrable number ofadfips are annuallyilh^itevat-Haver-hill— Q^^irti^^iiEfijsey. ho(TO^»^reatesr >ni»flrib©ras§|'them 'iike# the fdutteirn aftati^|^Qeily^l^ii?Mffels are ownedabysitt merchants^xf ihh port, andf&iipiryed in' t<he Weftflndian arid even in thejJIiaiopean trade :;b^f^tey<like.^ffceir cargoes to Bofton, whence are -procured the fofe*%n (^mmo^^ the ^^diamption and tragfegof *l^fe-hill,Wh^li^Saf)p^s nialliy townfliipisi%yie hack^^iit0,^^j^ ft&PeS here are numerotiis and WeH$ flocked : and the ^naanufactories' that claim more particular'notice-are a prett<^iM|onfiderable one-of v$^«dtoth, and fome daftflleries.' Alth&ugh hemp is produced -bofik in New-Hampfhire and* Maffad$^^t^$&y(£ of Rufttafi growth is- alone ufed in this fail-cloth-manufadtory ; and it. is procured from Bofton. I have been affured that veffels of a hundred tons burden can come up toffifli^r^fitl in the higlrtieles. This town, which contains between two and "three thoufand inhabitants, is moreoveVfin a ftate of increafe : and a" great number of handforne houfes are now a-building Xri'ii^c,t^fne price ^fcWland in its fifehlty is a hundred dollars the acre : at fome diftance, it is only thirty. The agriculture in its immediate environs is almoft"OT«ly'confined to Indian corn and meadow. It is eary here to pis&iife Workmen; and their wages are four fhillings and nine pence per day, and feven dollars per month. A mafon can earn feven ffeiflings, a houfe-carpenter nine fhillings, and a fhip-carpenter two BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LtANCOURT. ^ 201 •two dollars. Philadelphia flour now fells here at thirteen dollars the , barrel, that of the country produce at fix or feven. This enormous difference arifes not only from the difference in the beauty of the grain and in the goddneis of the mills, but alfo from the adulteration of the country flour, which*, xiot being fubjedt to any inspection, is mixed with the flour of peas, beans, and potatoes, and thus is inferior in quality even to good Indian meal. RETURN TO BOSTON; Beyond Haver-hill bridge *fhe traveller enters the townfhip of Brentford,- which is a part of the county of Effex, and where the land ftill prefents the fame appearance. In this townfhip is a confiderable manafadture of men's fhoes for exportation. The number daily produced by^the workmen of this little place is eftimated at two hundred pair. Thefe fhoes, which are ©f good materials and well made, are fold at four fhillings and tikie |>ence halfpenny the pair. The leather employed in making them comeatfrom the Spanifh part of Saint-Domingo. From Haver-hill to Bofton the country is quite rich, abounding in good houfes and beautiful farms. The townfhip of Andover in particular is remarkable for its charming meadows, and the numerous herds of fine cattle with which they are flocked. On this little journey I chatted, according to my cuftom, with every one whom I found diipufed for converfation : an$ it is not very common in America to find perfons who are averfe to it, efpecially among thofe who do not rank among the firft clafs of fociety. I every-where ob- feved a fenfe of refpect for the prefidoitf, but an indifference on the fubject of his resignation. " He is old; and men cannot laft for ever:'* fuch is the general remark. Befides, lefs importance is attached to the choice of his fucceffor than I fhould have expected. In this part of the country indeed the votes will be pretty generally in favour of John Adams. 8 He is a good man," faid to me a Colonel Beverley who Vol. II. D d keeps &03 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, keeps a tavern : g Jefferfon is alfo a good man : we cannot fail to find good men in America." The general fpirit and opinion of the people are the fame here as throughout all New-England, and indeed in almoft every part of America—a heart-felt recollection of the fervices rendered by France, and of the evils inflidled by England. Neither the new pol^cal fub- tilities refpecting the real motives of thofe fervices, nor the documents of national ingratitude which are the refult of them, have yet impaired the friendly dispositions entertained by the people of America toward France. They remember that fhe aided them in the hour of need : they wifh her profperity, take an in^|eft%in her fucceffes, and .gnjoy^ them with delight. They equally remember t^iat England burned; and deftroyed their houfes, and did them all the mifchief in her power. They would not however on that account join wi^gFrance to wage war againft England : they ftill equally continue to fupply their ^£a& with the articles of Bri|^L^manufadlure (^fiich eircumftance, be it obferved en paffant, affoi^s a juft i]a]$edt of animadversion pjy^ie want of fkilful management in the former French government); but they, pour forth their ardent prayers for the welfare of France. The attachment to La Fayette, fo perceptibly diminifhed in the great towns even fince my arrival in America, has fuffered no abatement in the other parts of the continent; and numbers of honeft fouls are everywhere found who declare that a general tax, impofed for the fole pur-, pofe of railing for him a confiderable property, would be paid with the greateft chearfulnefs throughout the whole extent of America. THIRD VISIT TO BOSTOmT , This time I found Bofton in a ftate of confiderable agitation. The caufe is fomething of a much more ferious nature than the refignation of the prefident: it is the intelligence of the refolution announced by France of caufing her fhips of war and privateers to feize every neutral veffel laden with goods of Britifh manufacture. Already, I believe, in this BY THE. DUKE DE LA ROCHET OU C AU LT LTANCOURT. 203 this journal, I have mentioned fuch an event as likely to take place— as being a juft and perhaps over-tardy retaliation for the capture of American fhips laden with provifions for France—as a meafure which, confidered in a commercial view, inflicts a deeper wound on Britain than on America, fihce-two thirds of the cargoes exported from or imported into America are the property^of Englifh houfes—and which, in fhort, even if it wfere to prove fevere in its operation on the American commerce, finds its apology in the late treaty concluded between England and America, in the adtiv^^jlfirt wmch the American merchants took in that treaty, and in the facility with which they delivered up to the Englifh without remtance or reclamation the veffels ^adeti for France. I do not think I am blinded by my affection for my country when I thus juftify the step lately taken by her governors, and pronounce this fevere meafure to be within tbte bounds of that justice which is confiftent with the dreadful right of war. I am convinced that every honeft man, wnt> ts unbiaffed by private intereft and abfettlte matter of his own opinion, will think as I do on #tfc fufejedt: but he could not, any more than I, flatter himfelf with the hope of bringing over the commercial houfes of America to his fentiments : " a lofing gamester cannot fmile," fays the old proverb ; and it is beyond all doubt that this decifive act of the French government, the object 6*f which is to ruin the manufa<*ttlres and trade of Englaliaf Will be deeply felt by the commercial fortunes of this continent. Accordingly the merchants of Bofton, or at least a part of them, exclaim against it as fraught wirfi injuftice, EBrfror, treachery, and openly ex- prefs their wifhes that America fhould declare war against France. Thefe puerile wifhes fhew wlM lofs they fear, and how far their •fenfibility of it influences their judgement. That intelligence w7as the fole topic of converfation in Bofton at the time of my arrival: neverthelefs it found apologifts among the inhabitants, even among thofe engaged in trade. Since the more recent news that a Frenfch fleet is on its way to Hafifax, people talk lefs* loudly againft that declaration : for fear, as well as intereft, has its in- D d 2 fluence, 204 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA,, fluence. If France, while fhe does fome little injury to the commerce of America, fhows that fhe has it in her power to do ftill greater, fhe will find fo many friends in all that clafs of the Americans who now declare againft her. Such is the mode that has been purfued by England ; and, however painful it may be to make the remark, it is a good and effectual mode. With refpedt to myfelf, it is with pleafure I confider the meafure ' adopted by France as a mean of compelling England to a fpeedy peace ■—an event which will prove a bleffing to the Britifh nation, and a ftill greater bleffing to the inhabitants of France : for peace will more than any thjf^elfe contribute to give Stability to thpr liberty and conftitution, whereas they are both expofed to conftant danger by the war. Let us then hope that a durable ^peace will reftprje to Europe that tranquillity and jfecurity of which fhe fo greatly ftands in need, and that France, capable ^oJLfupporting the trying burden of profperity, will fhow herfelf as great and generous at the moment of fheathing the fword as fhe has been terrible while fhe wielded it : let us hope that fuch a peace will foon,o$nfer on the French people all that plenitude or happinefs which they cannot fail to enjoy under a governrnent who fhall have leifure to devote their thoughts to a good fyftem of administration. After a third refidence of a week at Bofton, I finally quitted it to proceed toward Philadelphia. It w*a,s not without regret that I parted from feveral perfons who had continued to fhow me the fame multiplied marks of friendly intereft and obliging attention which they had lavifhed on me in the preceding year. At the hea4 of the lift I will place Doctor Euftis, a man as really good as he is agreeable, prudiait^ enlightened in his opinions, liberal in his fentiments and conduct, ef- fentially amiable and estimable, and endowed with an independence of character whi# fecures all thofe qual^%s^n a firm bafis. I have conceived for him a sincere friendfhip, which feparation or diftance Will never prevent me from cultivating. MARL- BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 205 MARLBOROUGH, AND THE WILLIAMS FAMILY. The first night of my journey, October 13, I fpent at Marlborough in the houfe of the fame Williamses where I had been fick laft year, and had experifenaed fuch remarkable attentions from the family. I would not on any account have paffed their door without flopping. They received me with cordiaLxfemonftrations of pleafure. People delight in feeing thofe to whom they^fiave rendered fervice ; and I felt a fincere fatisfadtion in again beholding thofe to whom I felt fo many obligations. Honeft Williams's crops have been good this feafon in ■ every department of hts hufbandry. n^Sis farm, which I perambulated in compan^a^Mfim, is in excellent condition : he plendfelly dungs his land ; and in confequence ln#^neadows yield him from fix to eight thoufand weight of hay per acre. He reaps $j|jfc-. fifty to fixty bufhels of Indian corn per acre; and, the Indian corn bearing a price of feven or eight fhillings the bufhel, each acre thus produces him*abfeut feventy dillars. The wages of his* workmen are incaeate^: laft year they were ten dollars per month; this year they are twelve ;'lStd, at the time of the hay-making, he was obliged in fome inftances to pay fo high as twenty dollars. The lands of his farm would not, in their 'prefent ftate, be fold, for lefs than three hundred dollars per acre: he lets fome near his own habitation at a rent proportioned to the value of a hundred and fifty. *§w)* This country of Maffaiihufetts, however mountainous, is in a general ftate of go^d cultivation : fent although in fome towpfiips large quantities of wheat are produced, the principal objects of culture are Indian corn, potatoes, and meadow. The^oiif ical opinions of .old WHHanis have undergone no change : he ftill continues#zealous%dmirer of the prefident, ftill hates the Englifh. Speaking to me of the presidents refignatory #ddrefs, " Does it not," faid he, " contain great truths ? But what does he mean by that fondnefs and that antipathy which he does not wifh the Ameri- I cans 2D6 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, /7 cans to entertain ? It is faid that he alludes to the French and Englifh : I fhould not be over pleafed with that: but the old man knows more of the matter than we ; and no doubt he has good reafons for what he fays." BROOKFIELD. From Marlborough to Brookfield where ended my fecond day's journey, the face of the country continues the fame, and the fame cultivation prevails. In the e-iflftrons of*BrooMeld are raifed wheat, barley, rye, a little Indian corn, and a great quantity of potatoes. Grounds kept in good order yield two hundred bufhels of the latter per acre, which being fold at two fhillings the^Wfhel, each acre yields of courfe a product of fixty-fix dollars. However abundant the crops of potatoes may prove, a ready fale is found for them at that-price. In the vicinity of this place are reared great numbers of cattle, which are ^quickly taken off as foon as they are fit for the market. Exclufive of the consumption in <ne town, which is not inconfiderable, large quantities of beef are here falted for exportation. Some horfes artf^amb reared. The lands are dunged, but not near fo w|ll as in the neighbourhood of Bofton. The meadows in good condition produce neverthelefs fix thoufand' weight of hay per acre. Indian corn bears no higher price here than nine pence the bufhel. The lands in the central and moft populous part of the townfhijPftll for two hundred and thirty dollars the acre; fomewhat farther back, and in large parcels, for no more than thirty-four: a few acres of picked land would be rated at feventy. A pair of oxen fit for the yoke coft from feventy to a hundred dollars $ good milch-cows from twenty-five to thirty. In thefe prices fome augmentatilfeihas taken place fince laft"yea#faT In the election of the future prefident, the votes of this diftneti as of by far the greater part of New-England,'will be in favour of John Adams : but it appears, though to my very great aftonifhment, that the nomination to that high office occupies only a very moderate fhare of the public attention. PALMER. ( BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LlANCOURT. 207 PALMER. From Brookfield to Palmer the country is more hilly, and the tops of the hills are lefs cultivated : cultivation however extends to a certain height up their fides, as well as over the valleys. The meadows" are covered with numerous herds of cattle, and of a good breed. Here the traveller has to pafs throughmore woods than he had yet met with fince his departure from Pnftjp Pliil id Iplii i flour, which had fallen two months fince to ten dollars, has rifen in the country parts to thirteen and fourteen. That of domeftic growth cofts only nine dollars : but, notwithftaniftg this difference, the Philadelphia flour is preferred whenever it can be procured. SPRINGFIELDrf^:HE ARSENAL, &c. As far as Springfield .{jrajcountry exhibits ftiti lefs appearance of cultivation -, and at fix or feven miles from that tow%& is no better than a parchedLtract of fand where grow fome diminutive pines. The foil is alfo very fandy at Springfield : but the proximity of Connedticut- River, and more careful culture, reader it more productive. Rye, Indian corn, potatoes, and meadow, .a^g^the moft frequent objects of cultivation. Some farmers fowjg^eat, particularly on the new grounds: but of ten wheat crops hardly nne is even tolerable, as the land is extremely ill manured in this diftrict. In the town,*land may be purchafed for fixty-fix dollars the acre : in the centre, however, and near the river, there are acres which would coft two hundred; but they are few : farther back, the value is from eight to fixteen. The prices of the country produce and of jabour are nearly the fame here as at Palmer and Brookfield, or perhaps fomewhat lower. It is eafy to find workmen at four or five fhillings per day, without food, and for nine dollars per month. L Springfield is a neat and tolerably well-built village containing a population 203 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, 1 #7 population of eighteen hundred inhabitants. Here is eftablifhed one of the arfenals of the United States, where mufkets are fabricated, cannons and howitzers eaft, gun-carriages conftructed, &c«. but in fmall number. The magazines do not contain above ten thoufand mufkets, of which feven thoufand are French, and of the old make of 1763. That model, which has long fince been reformed iftviFrance, is the one which is followed in America ; and the imitation is yet imperfect. It Mnil; however be faid that thofe mufkets are Bj|if: their chief defect is that of being too heavy at the extremity. J^Sfairty pieces of cannon, of whiah twenty are French, are alfo contained in thefe magazines. Thofe of American foundery feemed to me to be well made : the carriages are fo likewife : but their number and their fpecies do not correfpond with the cannons and howitzers. In every particular, there appears tc&me a want of intelligence in the general direction of thetai*fnance in America. Befides, the quantities of arms provided do not amount to one twentieth part of what would be requifite to pU'tttth'e country into a reafonable ftate of defence.—* The magazines are in good order, and very well kept: the mufkets are furnifhed by a contractor, from whom the directors receive them ; and he receives from the United States eleven dollars for each mufket. Another contractor supplies the cannon;: but, as he was abfent on bufinefs, I could not learn any particulars refpecting the price of thefe. It would be ufelefs for me to enter into any further details concerning this arfenal, which, though one of the principal in the United ftates, adds nothing to their strength. A Frenchman, Monfieur Pourchereffe Bourguignon, formerly an officer in the royal Swedifh regiment in the French fervice, is an affift- ant to the director. He feems to be as good a man as he is unfortunate. He has a wife and children, and poffeffes no other means of fupporting himfelf and them than the falary of his office, which is only three hundred and fixty dollars per anlfum. But he has the good fenfe to be fatisfied with the Americans, to live on friendly terms with them, to enjoy their esteem and affection, and to fhew him- ' felf BY THE DUKE DE; fcA .ROCIIEfQUgAULT LIANGOURT 2.ogt felf grateful toward dxofe who have rendered him fervice. His wife, yet in the years of youtb^afe'interefting, by her figure, her misfortunes, and her fortitude. They both have merited and gained the general efteem and intereft of all th^linhabitants of Springfield. There are befides at Springfield a good difljUery, a paper-mill, and a tannery: there was alfo a tolerably extenfive manufadtory of fell- cloth : but it has fallen to decay in confequence of the exceffive price of labour in that branch, together with^the diffiealty of preeUEmg? workmen or inducing them to ftl|p^Let mfc further obferve that *Sj|*fngfield, whofe first fettlement dates from the year loSG, has during the laft twenty years received no accefSaaaof new inhabitants. Mr. Lyman, a memWIvff Congrefs, for whom Irhad a letter from my friend Colonel Burr whom I had cafually met at Bofton, appeared to me temperate in his opinions, moderate and gentle in his difpofitioiw He is, like the majority of th* ftate VJlbich he reprefents, a federafift in 'fifepolitics, but more tolerant than many others for thofe who think differ^fitfy from him, and whom he neverthelefs continues to efteem and love. The general temper of the people here, as in the other parts of the co$ti0f which I have traverfed, ia^hat of refpect for the prefident, attachment to the conftitution, averfion to war, and an ar« dently favourable chfpofili©n toward the French. Exclufive of the fmaller manufadtoriMf which I have mentioned as «xlfting in Springfield townfhip, thesis alfo a manufadtory of eaft iron, belongkig to an affectation of feveral pa&h^rs, of whom one of the principal is a Colonel Smith, who keeps a fhop in the town.. The ore wfiieh is employed in it is dug up from a fwamp at the diftance of a mile from the foundery, which is itfelf four miles diftant from Spririgfield. This manufactory produces coarfe heavy works, principally pots for maple-fugar,* with which all the inhabitants of the back country prt&ide themfelves: k likewife fnrnifhes common pots, andirons, &c, For fome time after its firft eftahlifhment it did a confiderable deal of work: but it has experienced a material diminution from the operation of the feme caufes which Impede the fuccefs of Vol. II. E e everv 210 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, every kind of manufacture in America ; and it now hardly does more than fupply the demand of the townfhip. CANAL OF HADLEY. At the diftance of eight miles from Springfield, at a place calledr Hadley, are the falls of Connecticut-River. To avoid them,, a little canal of twoxinailes has been dug, which thus extends the navigation.. fixty or eighty miles farther. This canal is raifed above twenty feet higher than the bed of the river: the boats are raifed to and lowered. from it without ^ aid of water, by means of an inclined plane.. They are placed in a kind of cradle fo frameo&as to fit their fhape, and then drawn up from the river to the canal, or let down from the canal to the river,, by the working of a capftern, that is turned by a wheel which the ftream of the river puts in motion. The boats are not unloaded -fou/this operation.. I had feen in France the plan, of a similar projedl,,of which Monfieur Brule claimed the invention.. Time alone, can afcertain whether, as was apprehended in France, the durability of the boats wiHtxri^paired hyShis procefs : I am inclined to fear that it will. WEST-SPRINGFiELD AND WESTFIELD: On quitting Springfield you. pafs- Connedticut-River in a. tolerably good boat, whofe edges^»however, you would wifh to fee fomewhat higher : for, in their prefent low ftate, they would not be fafe with unquiet horfes. Beyond the river, you entefjjthe townfhip of WeftU Springfield, one of the richeft and moft populous in the ftate of Maffa-: ehufetts. On this fide of the river the lands are considerably better than on the Springfield fide ; and many of the inhabitants of the latter place are proprietors of them :. they are principally laid out in meadows, where cattle of every kind, are reared in great numbers. The townfhip of Weftfield, which is contiguous 4^il^^efs happy in rich- nefs BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEEOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 211 tiefs of foil, and ftill far inferior in population : accordingly many tracts of land, which* Would be capable of producing good crops, remain uncultivated. Weitfield, fituate on a river bearing the fame name, is a neat well-built little village, ftanding in the middle of a plain. The foil is a rich fandy earth, and the principal mode of cultivation here, as elfe- where in the adjoining tracts, is meadow. The new grounds are fown with wheat, as is the practice with all the new-cleared lands which are not of the firft quality. The labourer is paid from eight to sine dollars per month : wheat is fold at nine fhillings the bufhel, e£$a*an corn at five, oats at two ; and a pair of good oxen coft feventy dollars. The price of new lands is from three to ten dollars per acre, according to their quality and fituation; and, in farm-lots, twenty or t^^ty. dollars. ^^TOCKBRIDGE. In proceeding from Weftfield to Stockbridge, the traveller fuccef- fively paffes through the townfhips of Brentford, London, Bethlehem, Ruffel, and Kyrningham, occupying the wiiole breadth of the Green Mountains, of which the ridge is above twenty miles broad,,and^ as I think I have elfewhere obferved, begins at Newhaven, whence, traverf- ing the ftates of Connecticut, Maflachufetts, and Vermont, it reaches to the River Saint-Laurence in Canada. The land in thefe townfhips is indifferent, and very thinly peopled : in travelling through them, one fancies himfelf in the diftridt of Maine, or in tlje back part of the Geneffee country: one fees patches of .new-cleared ground ia^Ji^j^ different ftages of progreffive improvement: but fuch fights are very far from numerous. The price of land here is from.tea*to fifteen fhillings. One might be aftonifhed, that, fituate as this country is fo near to the great marts for produce, the emigrations from Connecticut, and even from the over-populous parts of Maffachufetts, do not take their ^courf^L this direction rather thanaj^vard Vermont or the (3^ge|fee £&***%■ E e 2 country. %m TRAVELS IN NORTH A3IEHTCA, country. But, in emigrating, the Am&rfean gives a prefercttBtejJtbove-:- every thing elfe, to%he lan&Wfeich he ^dfriks the beft, and is not withheld by any Confederation of proximity to his family or connexions, or by the greatnefs of the diftance wMch he will have to traverfe in queft of it : and the uncleared lands of Maffachufetts are far from equal to thofe of the Geneffee, the Ohio, Teneffee, &c I fhall in future fay nothing of my converfations with the people with whom I fall' into company. They are all in the fame strain;. and I aril convinced that the idea I have already given of them in this journal is precifely accurate. Stockbridge is one of the richeft townfhips in the ftate of Maffachufetts. All i#%nd is cftMvated, except a very fmall portion, which will foon in it's turn receive culture like the reft. No timber is here preferved beyond what is requisite for fuel. This townfhip is for the moft pa5#fituate in a valley, but extends alfo upon fome hills of no great elevation. d$he foil is excellent, and almoft all laid down in meadow. The cattle, Ibtitter, cheefe, and fuch other productions as are not confumed on the fpot, are generally fea* to New-York. Sometimes the certainty of obtaining a higher price at Bofton induce$$£fen- farmer to give a preference to the latter place, with which however the communication is difficult, becaufe of the diftance, and of the mdfpttainous country that is to be traverfed. In fuch cafes, all the other articles, except the cattle, are fent down to New-York by the Knrm-River which paffes within twenty miles of Stockbridge, and tranfported from New-York to Bofton by fea. There are likewife fonife forges and eaft-iron-works in this townfhip : but the higb^ate of workmen's wages, and the fcantinefs of the mine which begins to be exhaufteoj&ftave fotWfrme years past caufed a confiderable dtntinutiont^^feeif labours. The eaJjiieircumftances enjoyed by the inhabitants render workmen fcarce, and high in their demands. The^ages at prefent paid to them are from Umateem to. fifteen dbfiSt per month.#tFhe pride ktf wheat is two dollars the buftrel* of Indian corn, one dollar; of #ts, two-Mlings. A pair of oxen#$f. j) from BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEF0CWAULT LIANCOURT. 213 from ninety to a hundred and ten dollars. Land bears the price of from fifieen to twenty dollars the acre, in farm-lots. i$ft|H I have here feen Mr. Sedgwick, with whom I was acquainted at Philadelphia, and by whom 1 have been very hofpitably entertained. In all the private relations of fociety he is an excellent man i but in his politics he is fomewhat warm, and not a little intolerant. He had long been a member of the houfe of reprefentatives in Congrefs, where he was a frequent fpeaker: he has lately been appointed a fenator. Mr. Sedgwick exerts all his influence to carry the election of a member to fill the feat which he has vacated,, in favour of Mr.. Williams, his pupil and friend, who feems even a hotter zealot than himfelf in Englifh politics. Mr. Williams has for competitor general Skinner, a man of the age of fixty yea^s* who has all his life been ho- iionrahly employed in public offices, and who, when he had it in his power to rival Mr. Sedgwick in his election fome years fince, voluntarily withdrew his name on a promife from the latter of procuring Me-him the votes of his friends to fill the firft vacancy. But Mr. 'Sfcbmer was once heard to fay in a public houfe laft year, that he did not approve of the treaty with England r and, fuch is the toleration of the oppofite party, that no one can in their opinion be an honest man without approving of that treaty. Mr. Sedgwick in confequence oppofes him, and gives to Mr. Williams all his influence,, which is pretty confiderable in thefe parts. Such is the account which I have received of this affair from federal perfons. The Stock- bridge gazette is full of thofe fcandalous quarrels, and may very well, in that particular, vie with thofe of Georgia. In it General Skinner is branded as an antifederalift, and as " no good man,'* becaufe he diflikes the treaty j and he is accufed of entertaining a predilection for France and an averfioit to England. Mr. Williams -is. abafed on the oppofite ground. At the diftance of thirty miles from- Stockbridge, and in William townfhip, is a college whidh -confers the different degrees inferior to that of doctor. It is faid-to be a tolerably good feminary. In 214 TRAVELS .IN NORTH AMERICA, In a walk which I took with Mr. Sedgwick to Great-Barring^fy I faw a continued, tract of beautiful country, fine land, well cultivated, all in meadow, and a. moft excellent foiL .As far as New-York the land is faid to be of the fame quality. CHARACTER OF THE INHABITANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. €1 m Before I quit Maffachufetts, I muft add fome fhort remarks to what I have already had occasion to fay refpecting the character of its inhabitants. They are perhaps a more unmixed people than any other in the United States, except thofe of Connecticut, who are equally fo, and .for the fame reafons. Such of them as are not of Englifh birth are natives of America, who have fettled in Maffachufetts after a previous eftablifhment in fome of the other ftates. The number of Europeans is therefore fmall in thefe two flates; and their inhabitants ■difplay in confequence more ftriking marks of a common character and a national fpirit, than thofe of the other parts of the U^|^ whom they likewife unqueftionably furpafs_hxinduftry, adtivity, and enterprife. Their univerfal and predominating paffion is the defire of gain: it is openly avowed ; and thofe people, under an appearance of frank bluntnefs, conceal no fmall portion of fhrewdnefs and §|yg&. ning. Hence it is a common faying in the other ftates that " the Yankeys are honeft according to the letter o^fy^^w.^ I know not how far it may be confiftent with juftice to confine within thofe toinds the praife due to their probity ; for I have had no bufinefs to tranfadl in this country : but, from every thing which I have feen, I prefume that it is equally fafe to deal with them as with any other people in the United States, or, I believe, in the whole world. The fpirit of liberty is here rigid, and carried even to distrust. Although the majority of the reprefentatives of this ftate in Congrefs be of that fedt in politics who are confidered as attached to Britain, I believe there do not exift in the United States a body of people who, taken in the aggregate, prefeaji^a deeper and more painful recolle^^L Of BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 215 of the evils inflidled on America by England, or who more ftrongly dread an intimate union with the latter. Their manners are extremely simple; and knowledge, at leaft in its firft degrees, is very ex- tenfively diffufed. Not a houfe is to be found in the moft remote corners of the country, where a newspaper is not read; and there are few townfhips which do not poffefs little libraries formed and fupported by fubfcription. The confiderable fortunes acquired by the commerce which is carried on in the numerous ports of the ftate prevent the general manners of the people from being fo ftridlly republican here as in* Connecticut r but, for the fame reafon, lefs jealoufy prevails, lefs intolerance, lefs puritanifm. The fpirit. of equality is carried as far as is confiftent with order in a great fociety* The man who is poffeffed of the greateft wealth, and the moft happily circumftanced in every refpedt, fhakes hands with the workman whom he meets on his way,, converfes with him, not under the idea of doing him an honour, as is often the notion elfe- where—but from a confcioufnefs,. in the first instance, that he may at fome future time fland in need of his afliftance—afterward, without any fuch. interested confideration, but merely through habit, and the force of education, and becaufe he fees in him his fellow-man, only placed in a different fituation, to whom he is the lefs tempted to think himfelf fuperior, as it often happens that the now rich man has himfelf once been in a lefs enviable fituation. This natural homage paid to the character of man poffeffes a certain charm which is truly pleafing to an independent foul, efpecially* when experience proves that the different functions of fociety are not the lefs fcrupuloufly refpedted ijp^feonfequence of it, and that no individual is thereby fubject to any greater reftridlion in the exercife of his own liberty. A diminution of the influence of the priefthood is an object much to be defired in Maffachufetts : for, though it be lefs here than in Conne&icv&lrit is ftill too great. The priefts form a body in the ftate: they are exclusively placed at the head of the colleges, and do not fuffer any perfons to be admitted as teachersf-except thofe of their own 21 o TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, own cloth, their own fedt, and their own opinions in every particular. This influence will no;H§tibt at length ceafe, and perhaps in confe- quenceWthe contrary excefs. It is not impoffible that an indifference to religious matters may become general through this country, where its germ is already developed $ and I am not of the number of thofe who think fuch an event advantageous to a nation. KINDERHOOK-LANDING. At the diftance of nine miles from Stockbridge, the traveller enters the ftate of New-York ; and, after having traverfed two or three townfhips, he arrives at Kinderhook. In the country which he now traverfes, each townfhip "prefents the fame kind of foil, of culture, confequently of produce and of bufinefs, as the preceding. Above one half of the population of Kinderhook are Low Dutch or defcendents of Low Dutch. Thefe people are not hafty to change old habits for new; accordingly they till and cultivate the landfet^ie fame manner-now as they did a htiftdred years fince. It appears manifestly evident that the farmers of New-England have a confiderable advantage over them in point of prOiiuce : yet the conviction of evidence is not fufficient to make them deviate from their old track, j They fow large quantities of grain, efpecially of Indian corn, exhaufl their lands, and have fmall crops. Few of them keep extenfive meadows, as is the general practice of the farmers come from New-England—a mode of cultivation, befides, to which the foil feems beft adapted, and which is the moft certain and moft folidly advantageous to the judicious farmer who purfues in. Land in the townfhip of Kinderhook is worth twenty dollars the acre in fine farms. Workmen are fcarce, and are paid from twelve to fifteen dollars per montl^b Five miles farther, we arrive at Kinderhook-landing,athe place to which the productions of all the lands on this fide the Green Mountains are conveyed for 4^ar%ation on the North River, fuch asPfalt jtl meat,' BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEF0UCAULT LIANCOURT. £17 meat, wheat, Indian corn, cider, cheefe, butter, potatoes, pot-afh, flax-feed, &c. All this produce is brought down in light waggons which travel rapidly, and is embarked in floops which here take in their entire lading, or fupply what is wanted to the cargoes which they were unable to complete at Albany. The different articles are generally purchafed in the country where they were raifed, by merchants of New-York or even of the vicinity : but it fometimes alfo happens that the farmers themfelves, expecting to find a more advantageous market at Kinderhook, convey their commodities hither, and either fell them here or fend them on their own account to New-York, jfe^ing the freight. The village of Kinderhook-landing is a petty affemblage of fmall and mean-looking houfes. Six or feven floops belong to this place. Salt beef is here infpedted, and certified to be fit for exportation : that of prime quality cofts fix dollars the hundred weight. Flax-feed is fold for eighteetf^Sftllings the bufhel, but requires to be again cleaned and freed from its duft before it be deemed fit for exportation. The wheat of the countryj which is of beautiful quality, does not at prefent bear a greater price than thirteen fhillings the bufhel; in confequence of w!»3#, fine flour fells no higher than eight dollars and one fhilling per barrel. A fortnight fince, the price was a quarter more : but the caufes of fo material a difference are here unknown. HUDSON. The country between Kinderhook and Hudfon is beautiful: it is fomewhat hilly; but thofe inequalities- in the ground are only fmall eminences, all well cultivated. Here, as in every other part of the country, the majority of the inhabitants are Dutch, defeended from the firft colonifts who fettled in thefe parts In 1636: the remainder are emigrants from New-England. The town of Hudfon was begun in 1784, and now contains above four hundred houfes, all neat and well-built. Its population amounts Vol. II. F f to sis TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, ID m :taQ$early three thoufand fouls, of whom about two hundred are flaves. Few to^yns in the ftate of New-York have experienced fo rapid an increafe : but during the laft tv/o years that increafe feems to have been {topped in its progrefs. The town rifes about a hundred feet above the river: ita^lreets ujggriedt each other at^ght angles, according to t^SfglaJUadopted in the new towns. Of all thofe which are built on the N^fgfe* River, this is the only one which carries on a .direct foreign trade. Veffels of every fize can come to its wharfs, while the ob- ftrndtionsin the courfe of the river at the diftance of twenty miles higher..d^gevent veffels of more than eighty tons from going up to Albany. The trade of Hudfon confifts in the produce of the foil, the MQO^^pns of tanneries, of forges,, of a very fine rum-diftillery—in -_f|ahjg?oil (four veffels, belonging to the merchants of this place, being employed in the whale-fifhery)—and, finally, in the re-exportation of Weft-Indian commodities. Sixteeg||>r eighteen veffels oj^.differenjtff^res are employed in foreign commerce ; and five or fix floops are conifoj&tly engaged in tbjp.-,]j|pg meftic trade between Hudfon and New-York, and convey to the latter the country produce which is not directly exported from Hudfon to foreign countries. The town is inhabited by families from New- England, of whom a confiderable number are from Rhode-Iflan^*3I. had letters for Mr. Jenkins here, a quak^sfrom Nantucket, and one of the founders of the town, of which the foil was purchafed by a company of thirty perfons. He alone poffeffes five fhares in that company, of which few of the other partners have above two, and feveral only the half or quarter of a fhare. The politics of this place, and particularly of the qpakers, are univerfally anti-britifh. The prefent price of fhip-building at Hudfon is twenty dollars per tomancluding the timber and workmanfhip ; ready for fea, fifty dollars per ton. The timber comes from the upper part of the river, and is excellent white oak. The purchafe of town-lots, which are fifty feet in front and a hundred and twenty in depth, is from three hundred BY THE DUKA "*f>ft?ffl R0(fH#t,CW^A#l,,fAlFANCOURT. $1§ hundred and forty to thirteen hundred and thirty dollars, according to their fituation. The adjoining lands, in farm-lots above half-cleared, may be bought for ten dollars the acre, and are gobcN&iL Workmen are ft&f^e, and muft be paid fourtee#tfelfars per month. The price of wheat is here regulated by that which it bears at Albany and New- York : at prefent it is thirteen fhillings in the former of fchbfe towns, and fourteen in the latter. Hudfon is a port of entry, and has a collector of cuftoms fince 1795. But, to guard against fraud, veffels coming from foreign pai% are obliged to flop and make their mamfbft at New - York, wf*Sfe the collector fends an officer on board if he think proper. Tliufc the manifefts are principally made at the New-York cuftom-hori^ The value of the exports from Hudfon, as regiftered at the cuftom- houfe of that place, was, in 1/9$, only three thoufand five hundred dollars. A bank is eftablifhed at Hudfon, under the name of Columbia. Its capital, which, by the law for its incorporation, is reftridled to a hundred and fixty thoufand dollars, confifts of four hundred fhares, of four hundred doIlaSFeach. t?SraRANZA.—FREEHOLD.—MAJOR PREVOST—MONSIEUR ROUERE. On the oppofite fide of the North-River ftands' the new town of Lambfburg, to which its founders have alfo given the modeft name of Speranza (Hope). This town, which for a number of years had contained but a fingle and pitiful houfe, cannot really date its origin beyond laft year. At prefent there are fifty houfes erected in it: fhops are opened ; merchants are eftablifhed, A brig is already built, and employed m trade between Speranza and New-York. This infant town will, beyond all dougt,' experience a confiderable increafe : it enjoys, in common with all the other towns built on the weftern bank of that beautiful river, the advantage of an extenfive nack F f 2 country, 220 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, country, which, in proportion as it becomes cultivated, will furnifh immenfe quantities of produce, that cannot find any more convenient or certain vent than the North-River. But thofe countries are yet for the greater part defert wilderneffes, where the houfes are few and difperfed. This is a commo^Obftacle which operates againft all the towns, and for the prefent prevents any extraordinary profperity of their commerce. But, in addition to it, Speranza will moreover have to conquer the habit in which the farmers have been of carrying their produce to the neighbouring towns that have been longer eftablifhed. The owners of the town-lands are now engaged in the formation of a road, which, joining at the diftance of twenty miles the road that leads from Geneflee, will render the communication with Speranza more eafy than that with the other towns, and muft, when finifhed,,caufe a preference to be given to the former: the work is in great forwardnefs. The proprietors are the meffieurs Livingftons of New-York. The town-lots, each containing a quarter of an acre, already bear the price of two hundred dollars. Colonel Burr had given me a letter to Major Prevoft, who lives in the townfhip of Freehold, fixteen miles diftant from Hudfon. Above one half of the journey is performed on the new road, which is the fineft part of it: the remainder of the way is over mountains, rocks, fwamps ; in fhort, it is fuch as the generality of the roads are in the new countries of America. In this tract the number.of fettlements is very fcanty ; and thefe are of the meanest appearance, and abfolutely in their infancy. Few houfes have above twenty acres of ground cleared around them ; and many have much lefs. They are all log- houfes: the majority of the-new fettlers (and they are the better clafs) have immigrated from Connecticut. Major Prevoft has a neat little houfe built on a tract of nine thoufand acres, which belongs to him. He is fon of that General Prevoft, employed in the Britifh fervice, who diftinguifhed himfelf by the defence of Savannah, and difgraced his character by the burningtof many American towns. Previous to the revolution, he had received from the PFIIMs.. fcY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOt&ftAULT LIANCOURT. £21 the king of England a grant, to himfelf and his fon, of about forty thoufand acres of land in different provinces of America. That fon has during thirty-fix years been a conftant refident in the United States. Before the commencement of the war, he had married a young lady of Philadelphia; and he lived a confiderable time in Pennsylvania, on a farm which he turned to good account. But a part of his property became involved in confequence of debts contracted by his father-in-law and himfelf: he had a numerous family to provide for, and was unable to recover a confiderable portion of the lands to which he was entitled: he therefore adopted the refolution of retiring to that part to which his claim was the leaft contefted, there to live with economy, and patiently await the moment when, recovering his other poffeflions, he fhould be certain of leaving a decent fortune to his children. He has loft his firft wife, and married a fecond at Katfkill, by whom he already has three children. He has fix others by the former marriage, of whom two have long been and ftill continue in the Britifh fervice. His prefence has confiderably enhanced the value of his lands, of which he has fold all that he did not choofe to retain in his own poffeffion. The price is from three to fix dollars the acre, according to their situation. The foil is in general good. He has erected a corn-mill, a faw-mill, and one for grinding tanner's bark. Thefe he keeps in his own hands; and he feems to conduct his affairs with a confiderable portion of intelligence. Major Prevoft, a native of Switzerland, has all the franknefs of an honeft Switzer and of a genuine honeft Englifhman. He appears to be an excellent father ; of which his prefent mode of life is a proof. He is beloved by his neighbours, feems juft and impartial in his opinions, fpeaks well of the American government, and is a good-natured and agreeable man. He has difplayed a noble inftance of generosity and fenfibility in the notice he has taken of a diftreffed Frenchman, a monfieur Rouere, whom he difcovered at Hudfon in extreme poverty. This Frenchman. tm m S.|| TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, man, formerly a marechal-des-logis in the king's body-jgjprd, and now fixty years of age, has acted like a man of honour and delicacy, and, far from trefpaffing on the generous difpofition of IVfcfjPrevoft, de4 clines his kindneffes as far as he can. Three hundred dollars re-? ceived from his family, together with a fum raifed by the fale of fome watches and articles of jewellery which he had brought with him, have enabled him to purchafe a fmall farm of thirty acres, of y|^ch only fifteen are cleared. Here he labours from morn to nigjgjfike a y#u*|p man, contents himfelf with the fuftenance of milk and potatoes, forgets his misfortunes* and renders himfelf worthy of the efteem of all thofe who fet any value on delicacy of fentiment. The late treaty with England has infpired M&JPrevoft with the hope of regaining poffeffion of alJLthe lands to which his title is disputed by the i|ates in which they lie, or by different individuals who have ufurped them under various pretexts, and hold them without any real right. But this will require a fucceffion of fteady exertions continued during feveral years : it will be neceffary to attend the various tribunals before which l&ofe claims will be brought under difcufSon, and to urge the fpeed of lawyers who are heavily laden^ith bufinefs. Many of his opponents, who have taken poffeffion of his lands, are in^ fluential men : he is the fon of a Britifh general, and has himfelf borne arms. irjfjAmerica in oppofition to the revolution : he has two fons in the fervice of England : all thefe fadls, I grant, do not in the least impair the justice of Mr. Preyoft's claims, which to me appear incontrovertible : but juftice is what people often finj^:. jc^jft difficult to obtain from the minifters of juftice, efpecially in this country when the queftion relates to lands ; and Major Prevoft muft unavoidably have . to encounter numerous prejudices and prepoffeffions operating to his. difadvantage. During my flay at Freehold there was no mention of politics. ] I could eafily guefs the political fentiments of the major and his family : but, if I had entertained any doubt on the fubject, it would have, r^i&rftt been BY THE DU.KEDE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. £23 been completely, reftioved by obfe^*»g the. avidity with which they read Peter Porcupine *. On the whole, it is impossible to experience any-where greater civilities than I received from Major Prevoft and.his family, accompanied by great simplicity, and by that pleafing -manner which renders fuch behaviour ftill more agreeable. My flay,with them was prolonged by a flight indifpofition, which afffbrded me a new proof of the intereft that Monfieur Guillemard feels for me. At this time he was at Albany, where being informed of my illnefs, he haliened to me with a friendly kindnefs which in him is invariable ; for he fhews greater conflancy in his affections than in his projedts. This little ficknefs was only a tertian fever, of which I have experienced feveral attacks during the courfe of my travels, and from which, on this as on former occasions, I was relieved by ftrong dofes of Jefuits' bark. KATSKILL. The road from Freehold to Katfkill is all bordered with habitations more or lefs recent, but all of very late date. Land however is fold at pretty high prices in this tract. At Singlekill, where We dined on the 3lft of October, on our way from Freehold to Katfkill, the price of uncleared ground is from fix to feven dollars the acre; farms, having one fourth cleared, are fold at ten or twelve. IntermittentTevers are very common in thefe par^s in the autumnal feafon ; and it is even afferted that during the laft three years they have been more than ufually frequent. They had been very prevalent at the commencement of the fettlement, and had become lefs fo for fome years ,back. As the inhabitants can affign no reafon for this return of * A Philadelphia paper conducted by an Englishman, which firft made its appearance during, the laft year, and in which, amid a torrent of outrages and calumnies promifcuoufly poured out, with fome wit but much vulgarity, againft every individual who is not enrolled under the Englifh banner, it is laid down as an axiom of political do&rine that America cannot do better than to place herfelf in a ftate of dependence on the cabinet of Saint James's. infalubrity, 224- TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, Initfuferity, they attribute it to " fomething in the air." But what happens here is very ufual in new €o%htries, which, until they be entirely or in great meafure cleared, become more unhealthy, probably in confequence of the exhalations -from the putrid fubftances with Wlfeh the earth is covered, and from the stagnant waters, to which the action of the fun is admitted by the partial clearance of the foil. Monfieur Guillemard and I—for we now travel together—had a letter from Major Prevoft to Mr. Bogardus, his father-in-law. The latter is alfo an old American royalift, an enthufiaftic admirer of Peter Porcupine, and impreffed with a belief that America would be much more rich and profperous and happy if fhe ftill enjoyed the honour of belonging to his majefty George the Third. But, confidered in every other light, he is a-generous and excellent man, extremely hofpitable, and one with whofe behaviour we have the greateft reafon to be fatis- fied. He inhabits a fmall houfe on the oppofite bank of the creek to that on which ftands the little town of llatfkili. To this houfe is attached a farm of three hundred acres. He purchafed the whole for three thoufand dollars fix years fince, and could now fell the property for ten thoufand. It is true he has .made confiderable improvements on the fpot: at the time of his purchafe there were only eight houfes in the town, whereas at prefent it contains about a hundred^^Wfrcfi fome have a good appearance. Seven veffels, moftly floops, belong to this little town, and are conftantly paffing and repaffing between Katfkill and New-York. A fingle brig, of a hundred and fifty tons' burden, is employed during the winter in the Weft-India trade, and even goes to Europe : it is owned by Mr. Jenkins, of Hudfon. Katfkill, like all the other towns similarly fituated, receives the produce of the back country : but a natural gap in the Blue Mountains, which obliquely feparate the countries watered by the Sufquehannah at the commencement of its courfe from thofe watered by the North- River between Albany and Katfkill, renders the comnftinication 4$fth this latter place more eafy. We BY THE DUKEDEwLA ROCHEFOUCAUVE.'fSIANCOURT. '225 We have been informed that pot and pear$ lafh^fwhich -are a con-? fiderable article in the trade of new countries? under clearance^-fart brought to Katfkill fromal^ diftanketif aboven hundred ?md fifty miles. The pot-afhisjfeld at prefent ^^*feundred and}fetaenty-five doUar^|^# ton. The ufual price is a hundred. To produce a ton of pot-afh, are rer quired from five to feven hundred bufhels of afhes, aoording to their quality : and, in aft the parts which I have lately traveflfed, the afhes are fold at one fhilling the bufhel. The pot-afh is infpected before it be admitted to exportation : yet, whether through want of fki&jtiaf: want of ftridlnefs in the infpecfor, it is often found to contaiaflime. It is diftinguifhed into firft and fecond quality. Salt heef is dif^ijftgui&ed into prime, fecond, and ordinary j pork, into prime, and ordinA$£?$gtjft& Katfkill is built on a little hill which feparatesj Katfkill. creek from, the North-River, .into which the former difcharges. its Areata at the extremity of the?k£Bj The majority of the houfes are fituate on the fide next^he creek, where the embarkations take Jplace j feme how« ever are ontjjd&inext the greaj: rivei\ The property of it^eigrcaindt^li. which the town ftands is difputed by three claimants; but the poffefe iion is held by one of the parties^Gterfcand company,$ by virtue of an old patent that he has purchafed, and on which thc^ilthers ground their claim. Meantime the inhabitants hold their lot under Clark* iwhom they confider as the lawful proprietor. But t^stexafting dif- pute, which the others are inaridTha/te to bring to a deeifton, preveaite many perfbna^rnm comarig forward as pud&hafers. The .{ints, howl- ever, produc^aigood price, whenever they are'e$p§fedjtrQ. fale: they contain each half a rood, and are fold fo high as three ^hundred and feventy-five dollars. The.mouth of the a^ekciiaiiiathfnore than a quarter of a mile diftant from the town. jjl'j. %f>, Il IM!IWi ^1* Katfkill ftands at the diftance of a hittrdred andsttpenty miles from New*YoJ^j and the waters, whfch'dang^lth^yrevalekoi^of-the f&bng foutherly winds become abfolutelysilatt,3are at aty times...-of the; yeat itefackifh. The ti$4*goes up as far^s Hudfon. i. i^^^^S^0 Workmen at Katfkill are ifSd thbteen 4©lla(P« per month, arid/are Vol. II, G g not 4$$ TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, not eafily procured. Here is a regular market, where beef is fold at eight pence the pound. Along the North-RivffcJs carried on a great trade in planks: but here, as in Maffachufetts and the diftrict of Maine, the planks do not contain twice the thicknefs of the boards : their dimensions vary in different places :. they are.an inch and half thick at Albany, an inch and quarter at Katfkill. It is on thefe dimenfions that all bargains are made which do not particularly fpecify otherwife. The boards are an Jfich thick, and; of fuch dimenfion, are fold at ten dollars per thoufand l&et; planks, fixteen dollars and two fhillings; fhingles, feven dollars and half per thoufand ; bacrel-ftaves, feventeen dollars and half. The ftaves are of oak ; all the «£& of yellow fir. Hemlock-bark, of which iargev3|aantities are alfo pu$phafed for the tanneries of the^eountry and thofe of New-York, is fold at four dollars the cord. At Katfkill are built the floops employed in the trade, between that place and New- York. At prefent their price is from forty-three to forty-five dollars per ton, readyi^r fea: they are generally of from feventy to ninety^jajus' burden^^i Horfe-races are common in the ftate of New-York. There, was one beyond the river on the day that we flopped at Katfkill. . jAfL ga/v though it was but an indifferent race, and this part of the country is no^%iKabited by wealthy people, the bets made on the occafion exceedad the fum of four thoufand dollars. The beft races are faid to be at Poughkeepfie, at the di$anee of §te rajles lower down: ti»ey take jriacg^oii regularly ftated days, and I have been affured that the wagers fometimes amount to eight thoufand dollars. The horfes that run there are ufed for no other purpofe jj and their price is from twelve to fixteen hundred dollars. We have alfo been informed that the ftridteft honour does not prevail at thofe races. g|$|ij|tlkill, fo denominated by the Dutch who made the firft fettlement on the fpot, was, by the Indians, called Katfketed, which in their language signified "a fortified place.'* No foundation for that name can be discovered in the appearance of the country: and it is more- BV THE DUKE DE LA ^tTCraFbUC^UL'f TSlANCOURT. h&ff "^JWr well iS^yyn that the Indians, el^&M^W fhar^mr^dre&Sd1 nb fortifications. The great quantity of human bones^namn$f^itra££ hawks, and arrows, found buried iirfne earth^affo^d^2riK^spit)ve at leaft that this place formerly was the principal feat of fome coriffi derarjle" tribe. The djfiivation of the foil^rerthe vicifift^^*38SnlM*ltf indifferent; the lands do not, on an average of years, produce above twelve bufhels of wheat per ac^ rhough the foil is tolerably good. Thofe belong!^; to Mr. Bogardus, having greater attention bellowed on them, yield him from thirty to thirty-five. There has occurred this year on a part of his eftate a pretty remarkable phenomenon. All this tract of cotnfcfy is a fucceffion^m little hills, or rather fmall elevations, detached from eacWither, and only connected a little at the bafes. One of thofe hills, the neareftPfo Katfkill-creek, and elevated about a hundred feet above the level of the creek, fuddenly fuffered a finking of more than one half of'as necTlvity. It might have meafured about a huiidfStJ and fif^'Teet from its fommit to the extremity of its bafe, foliowffif^ the lirtbTaF^BM ^SSiation. A breadfhKof about eighty fathoms fell in, beginning at yfflbut three or four fathoms from the top. The funken part gave way all on a fudden, and fell fo perpendicular!^ ftrat a flock of fheep, feeding on "the fpot, went down with it without being overturned. The trunks of trees that remained on $*fti a half-rotrenrftate were neither unrooted nor even inclined from their former directK$§flaiJcf now stand at the bolM$tW^this chafm of aboVb foW*acres in extent:, in the fame perpendicmar pofitfoa^NiSd on the fame foil. However,' as there was not fufficient fpace for all this body of earth, wfii6h before had laitrin a Hope, to place itfelf horizontally between the two parts of the hill that have not quitted their flation, fome parts are cracked and as it were furrowed. 'l&dPfmore ftrilSrjS' cnWHmance is, that the lower part of the hill, which^has preferved its former fhape^mas been pufhed and throTOP*!$r*Ward by the finking part making itfelf room—that its bafe nlS^advan^cMilPtyr fix fathoms t8Bjrond a fmall rivulet which before flowed at the diftance b£5above G?2 ten 228 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, h ■ m ten fathoms from it—and that it has even entirely flopped the courfe o|bi$_ , ftream. The greateft elevation of the chafm is aboa$pfifty or fixty fe^tain its fides it has difcovered a blue earth exhibiting all the characteristics of marl, and which, from the different e^jf^Ime'nts that Mr. Bogkrdus has made with it in feveral parts of his eftate, feems to poffefs all its virtues.^In fome of the ftrata of this marl is found fulphat of lime in minute cryftals. ' i It is not known what may have been the caufe of this event, which the people here attribute to the operation of water, without well knowing why; for the inhabitants of Katfkill are neither deep-read, nor yerfjpjdrin natural philofophy, nor addidled to obfervation. This. Asking took place on the firft of June df]|the prefent year, pnalt^hidld* pya.any noife,.<at leaft by any that was fufificiently loud to be heard either at Mr* Bogardus's houfe which is but three hundred fathoms tliftant from the fpot, or in the town, which isfeparated from it only by the narrow ftream of the creek. . Mr. Bogardus does not bestow on his neighbours' fo favourable a character as I have heard given to the inhabitafftfsfiof the country in every other part of America: he defcribes them as mifchie^ous and thievifh j I know not whether ^ upon good grounds, or whether he does not extend to the v$P*>fe neighbourhood this general acciiiltion of thievifhnefs in confequence of a few apples and peaches that have been flolen ||om him-~$r whether his predilection for. Enjtland may »fj^yhave pefiittially expofed him to fome unpleafant treatment. One fadt however may be adduced in fupport of Mr. Bogardus's oj4$k>n. A bridge over a creek at tw^jfciles from Katfkill has lately been burned ^%nd the country people think the deed was perpetrated with a view of promoting the private?intereft of a particular inn. KINGSTON. A wifh to avoid the inconvenience of twice more croffing the NorthT#^^%iduced us to prefer the weftern road, though lefs frequented than the other. Between Katfkill and Kingfton the road all PlitfJ along BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEP0UCAULT LIANCOURT. 2§§- along-^uns between that,beautiful river to wh^ the traveller often ' approaches, and the Katfkill timtxm&mffiwhich are feveral miles diftant. As far as Sagodus-cfiefcfcV the countyi^fflffekly inhabited : in many places the farms are ofMjj&ftfiderable efcfeht: the banksHiff the river are almost everjfifyhere l&M W§£in meadows; the landsf$h*ther diftant are appropriated to the production of grain of everyl&nd. You &eq**3fifcly difcover very beautiful profpedts —■ extenfive, agreeable, rich, on the fide towar^fljb river—feriotis^ romantic, magnificent, toWard the mountains, whofe forms are gran;rJI«rsd variegatedS^You pafs Sagodi^c^k-ifi^Jn indifferent boat, ancREnter a forest of white pines growing on a fandy plain, from wfircfi you do not emerge^fUfc within'two miles of jKmgfton, that it to^la^'for the fpace of feven or eight miles^^l^ ^HBU (Kt|^gfife$ - King^M^-formerly catted Efopus, a name ftill ufed by tW-iloMw^ people—is the chieftfeWn of Ulfter bounty, and butltAon a creeiB^R* that name (the fame- which at fome diftance affiimcs the appellation of Sagodus, and*which we had paffed irir]8ifc: morning) in a Blfantfl&r little plain bounded- 4>ri -the weft- by that fame mali* of maintains which here too are ftill called the Katfkill ^mountains. The^Mee of embarkation is two miles lower <§owiv, near¥the North-River, at the mouth of Redout-creek. jfflHttr$bwn was burned on the sixteenth of October 1777 by general Vaughan, who had no other motive' for his conduct than the lust of devastation. At that time it contained a hundred and forty houfes : nor did more than a fingle barn efcape from the -effedts of his infernal barbarity. Tfeat expedition, whiffer none of the inhabitants had expected, deprived them of every article contained in their houfes; and they we^^xabfable?'fSRfave any thing except their lives. In the courfe of the fame autumn two or three houfe&were already rebuilt, and the remainder were restored in the following fummer. As they w$f$ almoftflfl ftone houfes, the former walls had remained itanmh^^nd fa^ftrtated this fpeedy renovation of the town. It now confifts of about a htMted and fifty houfes, and carri#$on the fame kind of trade as d&^&tffepHowns fituated, like it, 230 TRAVIS-IN NORTH AMERICA, m -^ffgaathe wefterrijbank of the North-Riverfe^ut not |j§felg ft conve- n$ea$ly circumftanced'ya^foy^ill for comn^uttication witb>c$*e back cotnai^^ts commerce is lefs extenfive; though this will be confidl^. ablv inereafed by the natural operation of time in fpreading popialafeioaik through thofe tracts, which are now for the greater part un-inhabited. Six floops belong to the town, which are employed in carryiagdtlh New-York the produce that it receives, fome articles of which, as timber, beef, pork, corn, d^not come from a great^diftance than between thirty ap^thirty-five miles. Flax-feed is brought from the banks of the^eaftern branch of Delaware, that is to fay from the diftance of feventy miles. As far as the mountains, the lands which environ ilte|fown, and are cal^h Fiats, are of thej|>^j|uajity, and are fold for ninety dollars the acre; thofe which lie toward the centre of the Flats, from five to thirty-five dollarg. The inhabitants of the town being for the moft part of Dutch 4e^^^dfefi^y^^Sutah language is more familiarf^ere than the Englifh.ajqgpiere is no regular markg$gjft» this town, though it contain a fchool, i»j^;academy, a court-houfe, a, nri|ij|n, and a Dutch-Lutheran church^ipWhen beef can be procured, it cofts fix pence .the po^^^; We had letters to Mr. Van Grofbeck, one of the principal fhop- keepetg^avthe town, ans^-formerly a member of Congrefs. To thofe letters we were indebte$$for an invitation to tea, the fmoking of fome fegars, a few glaffes of wine, and a great potion of eo^nplaifance in anfwering our queftions: but this part of the country furnifhes few xtojgQs' of in^jhiry. Mr. Van Grofbeck feems a?*§©od kind of man, and ver^emperate iii his politics, which appear to interest him 4$&- than the concerns of his fhop. An old phyfician, on the contrary, whomip^met ata^s houfe, beftows more^jtention on politics than, on medicine; i>He is kijdecjdex& publican, whofe fufpicious diftruft feems incapai^.;a&B%iBg|bai^Byed. He beajIS^a nameisMaich isaj$ej^'y brated in the annals ofajjtberty—that of De Witt—and fays he is do- fcended from the famous Jo^'De Witt. UftfiJ Jto Van Grofbeck, in prkajaiple a federalift, but very tolerant inpSuY; Jjjgjw politics, BV THE DUKE -D&-XA ROCHEFOUCAULT lIANCOURT. 831 politics, is the intimate frien<Hof Coloafel Burr, whofe portrait, executed by a lad of the town, he has hanging over dais chimney-piece. Mr. Burr, having difcovered in that youth a .great difpofition for ♦Jointing, procured for him fuch leffoHj^an the art as America was capable of affording, and has, at his own expeafe^^tely fent him to ^France and Italy to ftudy the great models and repeive^thebeft instructions. The life of Colonel Burr is markedawifchafimilar traits of bentf- ficence and generosity. From our windows we difeover, though above feven miles diftant, the light of a conHagratiompf the woods, which has already lafted eight days. Such accidents are vea^f frequent in the clearing of lands by the aid of fire. The flighteft inattentioniuifers the blaze to fpread beyond the intended bdbhds: in which cafe it is impoffible to ex- ^te^aifh it, efpeciaHIp at this time \^hen the drought and the falling of the leaves furnifh it with the means of rapidly extending its r&- -vages, *?#jtia^B!*frequendydiappens tha*3Niaflagratie«s are caufed in the woods by the hunters, who, for the purpofeiaMamore certainly killing the deer, furround with fire the places where they fuppofe them to be. Some of thefe lines* bf fire are feveral1 ^ftiiles in circumference: their breadth is inconfiderable; foBphowever narrow they may teethe deer -never crofs them. The hunters generally adopt the neceffary precautions to prevent the flame from comm^^cating : but fometimes thofe precautions are neglected: fometimes alfo, although they have been 'obferved, a fudden wind fpreads the fire, Htft&ch often confumes the entire inclofure, and e^plagreat tracts beyond its bounds, involving in the conflagration all thi|*fettlements and* houfes it meets i#2$ts way, and thus reducing masjr, families to roiav1 i^Bfene-ftone is very common in this part: the inhabitants have already begun to burn large parcels of it9 and fend it to the-neighbouring iflands. At Poughkeepfte is burned a great quantity, which is fold at New-York for a iKBling the bufhel. This circumstance, which is highly advantageous to the country, may pofftbly elafh wkh Generai Kiiox's fpeculations on his lime Jfroaa the diftrictof Maine.-— The ■$m r TRAVELS IN ;NQRTH /AMf&X6kif ,The freight of gocn.from: Kingfton to New-York %J$X Pen^|j$||*-: bufhel; to Albaij^^j§»iton pence. l-'^MIC' A co-ipj^&akle trafficji^^y^ifejte carried on at Kingftojg The ^fe^lk^ay<ine^#he landingtplace faf iM^jJI^the fiftigj^of fhad, herrings, a^afcfalmon, whie||$g$m& up H^ja^^iver ni abundan§g$in the ''4%titig feafottiif^witfto the catching of which the inhabitants o£|£bgs tract are more attentivsyj^ilhofe of $fiy other part on the ban^,gf that river. io#a*.m»lf£l NEW-PA-^g^iy We were, jnfiiimed :g|^ingfton, thajyan purfujnj^^road whic}i runs at the gpea^&dJftaftiBet fmnaf.tli^rivea:. we fhould have no cr$eJgB to pafs,. t§nd .fhould find gqodfinn& Wjp^^^>, however, t£|v:i§^l4Sr xreek,*wjijfcfej££e were obliged -tpb&fofs inf^jj^oat fo*J5^*jfe^£§K, that, iKitisythstanding our caution, we were Qp^pei|e4*te^l»^^:^Pffe- ,4>^fe5^||I^A§epaffage : and, inft^4 of good ingg^we founj? only a wretched tippling-houfe. The road approaches the fame mafs,. of ^c&n^J*fe1$ttt^ ^ f^^ °i t^e Katfkill mountains, but which here are called by that of Changung. The country in general confifts of beautiful and fertile plains, but fometimes interfperfed with fandy tradtsy and woods of little value. , w^Hpfe , The-Walkill is the fame creek which at Kingfton bears the appellation of Redout-kill.. In the Low-Dutch language, kill fignifies creek ; and, as the Dutch were the first fettlers of the flate of New-York, and more particularly afterward of the western bank of the North- River, fuch towns, mountainsgftnd ere^^gs ]aa#£$|ot preferred their original Indian names,; have for the moft part received Dutch appel- s lat ions.• w The cou n t ryf bordering on the Walkill is, to a con fiderable diftancevb^^^ftu^^rfnjfe^e^\^fea,utumnal int0fmitt©n£fj£evers. .^ewrJPitftz is ^lmofl^j^^^l^j^^hifeeiiby family of French extraction, whofe anceftors, having quitted France on account of their religion, took refuge firft in Holland* then paffed over to. America, 'MT -'-^0 and BV THE DURE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 233 and eftablifhed themfelves at Pattz, a very old fettlement founded by a Dutch colony. About forty years fince, thofe families quitted. Pattz, and took up their refidence a few miles farther, in a diftridt to which they have "grVen the appellation of New-Pattz. They now preferve no other citifracteriftics of their Gallic origin than a traditional recol- ledtioh of, and a fond attachment to, the land that gave birth to their progenitors. Their names, ftill remaining the feme, are written and pronowfeed after the Dutch manner. Thefe people do not underftand a word of French, but fpeak bad Dutch and bad Englifh: there is nothing in their manners by which an obferver may be reminded of the country whence they have originated: they are dull torpid Hollanders, as favage as all the other inhabitants of the country whom we have met fince our paffage of the North-River. Their religion is the Dutch reformed. Each of'thefe families, in fome inftances even the poorest, has one or two negroes or negrefles; flavery being as strictly maintained in the ftate of New-York as in4nat of Virginia; with this difference, however, that, as flaves are lefs numerous here, they are much better treated. The price at which they are fold is four hundred dollars for a full-grown man; half that price for girls. Thefe flaves are not baptifed or inftrudted in religion, but are in that refpect kept in the lowest ftate of degradation. The quakers and anabaptifts who conftitute a part of the population of new Pattz, have no flaves. The lands in the neighbourhood are good; and theifc .price is from fixteen t6 twenty dollars the acre. Their produce i$ conveyed to Kingfton, but oftener to New-York. They are for the greater part laid downij|i meadows, and feed abundance of cattle. The meadow hufbandry does not continue longer than three years, after which fucceeds a crop of grain. The culture of the grain is bad, and the lands do not produce above ten or twelve bufhels per acre, or twenty- five bufhels of Indian corn. The price of grain here is regulated by that in the New-York market: it is at prefent thirteen (hillings the bufhel: Indian coria&is at a dollar and half. Duriiig the laft fpring, hay was Vol. II. jrlh fold 234 TRAVELS -IN NORTH AMERICA, fold at five dollars per thoufand-weight: its ufual price is from three to four. Workmen are not eafily procured here ; becaufe, as foon as they have been able to amafs a little money, they go to the new countries and become farmers themfelves. They muft be paid from ten to twelve dollars per month, and fometimes two dollars a day in the harvest-time. The greater part of the immigration to thefe new countries is from beyond the river, and from the ftate of New-York itfelf Complaints are made here, as in every other place through which we have paffed, of the extreme drought, which dries up all the waters, and reduces the greater number of the mills to a ftate of inactivity. NEWBURG AND NEW-Wm||§OR. The rOad from New-Pattz to Newburg is a continued fucceffion of inequalities. It croffes all tl^, hills wl^h feparate this part of the country from the North-River. The country is thickly peopled, and exhibits pretty confiderable farms, and vaft barns, almoft univerfally furrounded with ricks of hay. The lands are for the moft part kept in meadows : but, each farm containing within^s boundaries different eJSpofures of high and low land, a portion is always as regularly devoted totjie plough. Such is the practice in the generality of the farn|jUM| the weft fide of the river, and to fome diftance back. ; Newburg, which alfo lies in Ulfter county, is built on the bank of the river, and fituate at the diftance of four miles below the extremity of the Highlands. The back countries of which thi^y|gwn receives the produce being more thickly inhabited than t)io{e that fupply the other towns through which we have hitherto paffed^^&s trade a^h New-York is more extenfive than 4|*eirs. Yet only fi# floops belong to Newburg: but thofe floops, on account of the fmall diftance of New-York, perform almoft twice as many voyages as thofi^even of Katfkill,,which lies only fixty miles higher. The produce from the ti'y banks BY THE DUKE BE LA R0CH«FOUCi«JLT LIANCOURf. 235 banks of the western branch of Delaware comes alfo to Newburg by roads which are faid to be very good. It is averred that abovpted thoufand calks of butter are annually fhipped at Newburg and New- Windfor. 'Fhe'' quantity has even been greater this year, and muft receive a further increafe from the eatfenfion of the fettlements and the improvements in agriculture. New-Windfor neverthelefs is in a ftate of decreafe; a great bar, which renders the approach to it tedious and diflfeult, caufing a preference to be given to Newburg, which will, it, is probable, entirely abforb the trade of the former place. Notwithftanding this difadvan- tage, New-Winder ftill has two or three floops employed in conftant voyages to and from New-York. That town, fituate in Orange- county and two miles below Newburg, confifts only of about forty houfes; whereas Newburg contains at leaft four times that number, almoft all buitt fince the war. There were not twenty erected on the fpot when General Wafhington made it his head quarters in 177Q« The profpect here is grand. To the left, the eye follows through an extenfive fpace the majeftfc co%rfe of this beautiful river, bordered in its whole length by little hills of variegated forms and all well cultivated :—in front it commands a view of the river two miles in breadth, and of the hil^ ori the other fide, well cultivated likewife and thickly inhabited : behind thefe, rife the mountains which a little farther form the*^^h1ands, and which, though very eievafed^ are alfo covered with farms, houfes, and %#tivation :—-more to the, right, the eye penetrates the narrow channel whioh the fiver has formed for its paffage through thefe lofty and beaftfciful mountains, and di$ covers the fort^H^bhs of Weft-Point: farther to the right, the view, is intercepted by that fame chain of mountains which recede in waning perfpective to the weft, where they join the Alleghany ridge. . The inhabitants of Newburg are almoft univerfally immigrates, from New- England. We are informed hererthat Orange-county is people^by Irifti and Germans, who are all induftrious and good^fermers. At NeMr-York a houfe is building for the College cailei^life academy. H h 2 The s$$ * TRAVElW IN NORTH* AMERICA, I The expenfefis defrayed by the prefbyterians, who, having for this purpofe obtained the endowment of an extenfive tradt of land grajg$gj|^ to the epifcopalians in the time of the Britifh government, thus fulfil the condition annexed to that donation. This academy receives moreover the annual fum of four or five hundred dollars from the funds destined by the ftate of^i^ew-York for the fupport and encouragenafcntx: of fehools. The price of every article has rifen here; as in all other^arts of America, fince the commencement of the war. Workmen are fearce ; an^their wages are from twelve to fifteen dollars per month. Beef cofts eight pence the pound; a pair of oxen, from eigh^to a hundred dollars; a good cow, twenty-five. ^% had a letter from Mr. Van Grofbeck of Kingfton for 1$$Seight, a lawyer of Newburg, from whom we experienced mor^rvilities than fervices; for he could not in fix-and-thirty hours procure us a fmall boaSPto convey us to Weft-Point, whither we had fent our horlaiT acrofs the mountains. We were obliged to wait for the garrifon's boat, which was fent to us bj^he commanding officer when he found that we did not arrive^:$P PASSAGE OF THE NORTH-RIVER IN THE HIGHLANI*^ The navigation from Newburg to Weft-Point prefents one of the moft grand and majestic views that cart be feen in any part of the world. The river, exceeding two miles in width, narrows its ftream to pafs between the mountains, in a channel whofe breadth is not more than half a mife.*J^The mountains through wha^k forces its wawthough not very lofty, exhibit the moft beautiful, the moft variegated, and the mdfl^majeftic form§|FIn fome places we behold roaffesa oftock towering in perpendicipar altitiitfi^ and tBtea-teniog each moment to crufh in their falWlftfever paa^beneath their feet.?$$&&&tii parts their fc^ftP&lere inclined : but here they are lefs naked, and bear a few oaks, a few pines, a few ced&f^ #txtch grow on the rofl$%^ though BY THE DU^E„il*iLAi>a^CHEF0Uei^LT:«LIANCOURT. 23? though the eye cannot difeover the earth which nourilhes them. Again, thefe great mountains recede from each other, and fthfiir place on the banks of the ftream is ocQuafed by little hills, of fertite^pil, and in many parts cukj«ated. The river inceffantly winds through thefe different mountains: and the profpect here is incomparably more beautify than that of the juai^on of the Potowmack and the Shenan- doah.iiy^ie Blue-Ridge. Weft-Point is in thejjarroweft part of this paffage, which is eighteen miles in length. wjfcMs a promontory which advances a confiderable way into the natural bed of the river, and forces the ftream in a forward dictation, where another mountain on the oppofite fhore prefents to it an obftacle equally unfurmountable, and drives it back to the fide which it had quitted ; fo that the water abfolutely furrounds this fpot, which, by its pofition, commands the naviga^Qg of that great river. Its channel at Weft-Point does not exceed a quarter of a mile in breadth. This Is the poft that General Arnold^ptended to betray. .;QfeGeneral Clinton. The former .^tibatrfime commanded the advanced guard of the American army; and the accomplifhment of his fcheme.would for a long time have retarded the termination of the war. I have feen the houfe in which the interviews took place between that traitor and the unfortunate major Andre : it was that where Arnold had his head-quarters ; it ftands at the diftance of a mile from Weft-Point, and on the oppofite bank»^ WEST-POINT. This poft is nearly jp the fame ftate at prefent in which, it was during the war. Fort-Putnam—which ftands on the fummit of the mountain, and of which the object was to cut off all approach to Weft- Point from behind, as well as to fupport fome ftill farther advanced intrenchments on the neighbouring mountains—-had been begun in mafon's work by the celebrated and unfortunate Kofciufko, at that time employed as an engineer in the American army. That fortification AvvCmIj was 238 TRA^EE^til^bRTH AMERICA, was continued two years-fince by Monfieur Vincent, a French en^ gineer, and upon an excellertf^lan. But thirty-five thoufand dollars expended on it by Monfieur Vincent have bee^fho better than a ufelefs expenditure, fince the further fum of forty-five thoufand, requifite for the completion of that great and interesting Work, has been refufed—and the fine erections in ftone which are half finifhed, together witmTO? - cafemates which are only commenced, remain expofed to the inclemencies of the fevere <JBmters of this climate, which will fpeedily destroy thofe walls unlets Congress will grant the money neceffary for at leaft covering them. In eve%y* other inftance the American government fhow the fame inattention to all the grand objects of primkrjplh?]lb'rtance : they*&8£ play great zeal and laiinch forth*Into gffeat and fometimes exceffive expenfeWu'ring the firft year, and afterward totally flop the fupplies. Hence we fee confiderable fums lavifhed without advantage, exhibiting moft evident proofs of imprtfMSlm&f'and ficklenefs in the government. WWMete is no other fortification at Weft-Point, where indeed the hand of natu*#$fas already done fo much, that, in cafe of emergency, it might foon be put into a refpectable 'ffefte of defence. D\irin£mRe- war, this part of the country, on both fides of um river, was tinxS?-J- fown to fmall forts, of which the vestiges are ftill to be feen, and wftfcn, when once th^JLmblieans had eftablifhed them, the Englifh never ventured to approach. Weft-Point is the station of the corps of engineers and artillerists of the United States, which confifts of four batallions of two hundred and fifty men eacrl^and furmlhes detachments for all the pofts where the Uimed States entertain a military force; befides an entire batai- lion at prefent with the army of ^nei^Wayiie in the'Weftern Terri- :eJ«jryi 3afghis corps fingly constitutes above one fourth paftnf the Ameritiw ftanding army, of wl%;We; total number is cSv three STOufand foutfnuhdred men ; and^nall as that minimis, it canhw ^colSDletrafir'JSo eafy and comfortable are the £i?cumftanc|l $Hfne people'^Americwn&nd focft* t&eir independence drfpirit, that—notwithftanding BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHJEFOyCAULX .IJANCOURT. 23£ withftemeUng all the temptations^ liberal pay, extreme fa.dJjjgK.ift, Q.\fe taining furloughs, and indulgences of every kind granted to the fol- djflgfc together with the gentlenefs of the difcipline and the fhortnefs of the engagements—it is found difficult to recruit that little arjaygij yet, although the law of the United States ordains that none be ad- mitted into the military body except natives of America, Englifh deferters are enlisted," Germans, Irifhmen newly arrived, in fhort every one who prefents himfelf; and, after all, the ranks are not filled to their due complement. I fhall fpeak elfewhere of the pay of the American troops. The fault to which they are moft addicted is drunkennefs, which is fo habitual that it efcapes punifhment. Theft is very rare among the fol- diery, as indeed in the country in general: but to filch proviiions or liquor is not confidered as theft: it is a fort of customary privilege at which the officers are obliged to connive, but which neverthelefs does not extend to the flealhig of live poultry, flieep, or other animals $ although it would not be quite fafe to leave thofe fame animals expofed, when dead and hanging up ready for ufe. Defertions fometimes happen, but in no confiderable number. Tike term of fjjrrice was heretofore three years j it is now extended to five ; and the bounty for ^jjjiftment is fourteen dollars. One muft not expect to find the American troops well trained or remarkable for neatnefs: a European eye is fhocked by their want of cleanlinefs and the^^ifoldierl&e.:^p|>earance. But thefe are defects arising from the nature of the country ; and tha recruiting fervice would proceed ftill more flowly, if greater ftridlnefs were ufed ^kffSs medy thgm. This corps is exercifed as the other troops, but with no greater |$ecefs. They are alfo t^nffht to fire pannon and mor&rs* and this is the branch to which the chjg^£|t£ggtion is paid. The^nlBf cer, however, knows little more of the bufinefs than the private foldier : and the government does not adopt any meafures to pr&#ide that none but fkilful oilggers be acjjja^tted, which indeed it would be difficult to accomplifh in this country—nor even to have them inftructed after their 24(5 TRAVELS IX NORTH AMERICA, their admiflion, which would be an eafier tafk. The corps of officers, firft eftablifhed about two years fince, is compofed of men of all countries. Such of them as we have feen are men of advantageous appearance, and feemed to be very good company: but thefe were only ten in number; and we have been informed that all the others do not in thefe particulars refemble them. The officers are paid from thirty-five to feventy dollars per month, with the addition of a greater or fmaller number of rations according to their grade. They are lodged in fmall houfes irregularly built on an extenfive efplanade at the foot of the mountains, where they have better accommodations than the French officers ever have had in barracks. The commanding officer is Monfieur de Rochefontaine, who ferved in the army of the United States during the entire period of the war. He has fince been in the French fer- vice^wand he poffeffes much greater knowledge and fkill than any of his officers. I know not why the little army of the United States, confifting of three thoufand four hundred men, is not exclusively compofed of ar- tillerifts, and, efpecially, provided with a greater number of officers. In time of peace, thofe artillerifts might occupy the frontier pofts as ufefully as any other troops : they would even be more ferviceable, fince the occupation of thofe pofts is entirely a fervice of defence, and ^•^a fmall detachment of artillery is stationed in each. The place of the ^regiments now on foot, which are not artillery, would be completely fupplied in war-time by the militia or continental troops which then muft be raifed or affembled; and thus the United States woull at leaft 'fodefs an effedtiV#;,fbrce of three thoufand four hundred artillerifts, ^Ifefe pay would not coft them more than thit'of the other regiments. But---ag;ain be it remarked—the American government be#ay the utmoft Hmprovidence, earetefmefs, and ignorance^^ every branch, and efpecially in what concerns th% military department. It is a frivolous excufe to fay that the executive power is cramped by the Congrefs: "ttSrhi^ indeed be the cafe with refpect to the expenfes required for *1ffi'^^f^t'#f^^wlmerous army, ~or even for the er&Gkj0i&tfrid maintenance BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCKEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. mi maintenance of the neceffary fortifications : but it is not, it cannot be, true with refpect to the moft ufeful mode of employing the fums granted. There is alfo at Weft-Point a fmall arfenal containing between fix and feven thoufand ftand of arms. It is kept in much worfe order than that of Springfield. Forty pieces of cannon, of all fi4^» and about the fame number of carriages, many of which were not made ft&tthe pieces, are kept at Weft-Point, partly in the ftores, partly planted in various places for the defence of this and the furrounding pofts, which would require above a hundred. Probably a time may come when more capable men will be placed at the head of the different departments, and when thefe objects of primary importance will engage more ferious confideration. But meanwhile much valuable time is loft, and nearly all the expenfe incurred is fruitlefs. It may be deemed furprizing that the military fyftem of England is that which is followed in this little handful of an army. In the firft place^i&is in itfelf a moft wretched model for imitation : and befides it Would have been both proper and ufeful for the American government to break through the Englifh habits, in this inftance in particular, and efpecially for the purpofe of adopting fomething better. The army is alfo dreffed in Englifh cloth ; and, what is ftill more remarkable, the mufkets which the contractors have undertaken to furnifh, and which are made after the ancient French model of 1703, are imported from England in pieces ready made, as locks, hammers, cocks, bayonets, &c. The con tractor Jfeicls bris advantage in this management on aceoiint of the high price of wotkmanfhip in America ; and he is fuffered to follow his own plan. VERPLANCK-POIN2\ Monfieur de Rochefontaine, after having given Monfieur Guillemard and me a very frien<JJy reception^ infilled on conveying us in his barge beyond the boundaries of the Highlands. This was a good^4$r- Vol, II. I i portunity -.243 .TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERTeA,- portunity of completing our examination of the whole of that intereft* ing part of the North-River ; and with pleafure we accepted his obliging offer. Mr. Lowel, adjutant-general of the corps, and friend of a rich inhabitant who refided at the place where our navigation terminated, propofed to conduct us to his friend's houfe, affuring us that we fhould be joyfully received, t,_We were not difappointed of the pleafure >we had promifed ourfelves from our little voyage; yet this part of the Highlands is much lefs beautiful than that which is paffed in going to Weft-Point. The mountains are here lefs elevated; their forms lefs bold; the bed of the river lefs narrow: the whole, notwithftanding, exhibits a grand and beautiful fcene, which the eye enjoys with rap* ture, and of which the mind long retains the remembrance. On our way we paffed. under the remains of Fort-Montgomery, carried by the Englifh during the laft war. Farther on, and at the mouth cf a little creek, we faw a flour-mill, erected two years fince. The miller who built it was condemned by all his neighbours for the choice he had made of a fituation : they,affined him that the ftream was not fufficiently powerful, and that the water would often fail. Thefe re- prefentations only encouraged him the more in the profecution of his plan : he knew the extent of his refources much better than his ad- vifers, to whofe remonftrances he made.no other anfwer than that of giving ^tpg his mill the name of faira. xAecordingly, the mill continues in motion, is conftantly employed, does a great deal of work, and produces a confiderable profit to the owner, who i&f a -native of New-England. As to the good reception with which Mr.gJLowel had flattered us, we found ourfelves greatly difappointed inbur expectations on that fcore; for Mr. Verplanck could hardly have given us a worfe, unlefs he had ab- folutely turned us out of doors. This is the firft time in the courfe of my travels in America that I ever failed to experience a hofpitable reception. But Mr. Verplanck had not invited us; and it of courfe was quite natural that he fhould have been difpleafed with our vifit: it was even candid in him thus to make us acquainted with his difpofition. Verplanck-* BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 243 Verplanck-Point is on the eaftern bank of the North-River. It was in the extenfive plain behind it that the junction was formed between the American and French armies in 1781, previous to their marcrnog into Virginia. On the other fide of the river, and oppofite to Verplanck-Point, is Stony-Point, which General Wayne took from the Englifh at the point of the bayonet. His van was commanded by MonMiir Dupleffis, a French officer, whofe valour and intelligence are not forgotten in America. ARRIVAL AT NEW-YORK. From Verplanck-Point to New7-York we conftantly proceeded along the eaftern bank of the North-River : and travelling over very mountainous roads, much embarraffed with rocks, and confequently often "bad, we hardly ever loft fight of that beautiful river, which in every point of view prefents interesting profpedts : of thefe, the moft beautiful in this part is the Tappan-fea, fo called becaufe here the bed of the river, for the length of ten or twelve miles, extends to fuch a width as to refemble rather a great-lake than even the greateft river. At length we arrived by King's-Bridge in the ifland of New-York, where the foil, which is in general bad, is yet covered with indifferent woods in the parts moft diftant from fhe city. There are, however,4nW merous farms, and particularly country-feats, in all the tract which lies within fix or feven miles of it, and in the parts bordering x>n the North-River, and on the .arm of the fea which feparates this ifle from Long-Ifland-. M1NERALOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. American mineralogy, as I have already more than once remarked, offers few varieties for obfervation. The great mountains—that is to fay, the moft elevated—are generally formed of granite; as, for inftance, in my laft tour, the mountains of New Hampfhire, the Green I i 2 Mountains, •24.4 TRAVELS IN NORTH.AMERICA, Hi i Mountains, and the Highlands. Thofe of inferior altitude fucceffively exhibit fchiftus more or lefs perfect, flate, feldt-fpath, calcareous ftone, and fome fand-ftones of extreme hardnefs, and in a ftate of great perfection. At the diftance of eight or ten miles from New-York is a pretty rich copper-mine : the ore is irregularly fcattered through a kind of fandy-ftone often refembling grit and fometimes the pudding-ftone. It yields from fixty to feventy pounds of fine copper per hundred weight. Previous to the revolution it ufed to be carried to England, where it bore a higher price than any other ore of the fame metal. The mine has been federal times wrought, abandoned, and refumed. At prefent there are workmen employed in it, who are for the moft part Germans, brought over from Europe for the purpofe, and paid from fifteen- to twenty dollars per month. However excellent the copper, the company cannot fell it in pigs, and are now erecting mills to roll it into fheets, and manufadture it into various houfehold articles. The fleam- engine for pumping off the water is very ill contrived, and the defect in its conftrudtion extends its influence to the working of the mine. There is reafon- to apprehend, that, through the want of a good method and of fkilful men to direct the works, this excellent mine will not prove advantageous to the company. TREES. Among the trees of various fpecies, but fimilar to thofe which 1 had before feen elfewhere, I have diftinguifhed the kalmia, the liquidam- bar, the acacia triacanthos, the blq£k walnut, and the tulipier * which does not grow to any confiderable fize in a higher northern latitude than that of forty-two degrees. W&B& * I cannot learn the proper Englifh name of fhe tree here defignated by the French Jjppel- iution of tulipier or tulip-tree. T. JOURNEY BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEF0UCAULT LfANCOURT; 245 JOURNEY TO FEDERAL-CITY IN THE YEAR ifjffl TOUR FROM PHILADELPHIA TO CHESTER AND WILMING- •^fer TON. ENNUI and melancholy drive me from Philadelphia, and impel me to feek tranquillity, or at leaft amufement, in a courfe of activity-—My prefent deftination is Federal-City. This excurfion is ftill more foli- tary than my laft year's journies, for I had then the company of my poor faithful dog Cartouche, who is now too old and infirm to accompany me; thus the fources of confolation vanifh at the moment when we need them moft. I fet out the 26th of March 17Q7. Wilmington road leaves the city of Philadelphia by thofe long ftreets which William Penn laid down in his defign for uniting the Delaware and the Skuylkill; which, however, are not yet built upon to more than a third of their intended length. Thefe ftreets are uniformly railed, and the cultivated ground, whether farms or gardens, is alfo enclofed with railing. Though the foil here is of an indifferent quality, eftates are valuable ', as the vicinity of the city enables the occupier to manure his land plentifully, and enfures him the fale of his pro-? duce at the beft price. Dung is fold by the cart-load at Philadelphia, at about a dollar per ton : the farmers ufe it much too frefh. You pafs the Skuylkill at Gray's-Ferry, the road to which runs be>- low Woodlands, the feat of Mr. William Hamilton : it ftands high, and is feen upon an eminence from the oppofite fide of the river. It commands an excellent profpect, but is not to be admired for any thing elfe. The houfe is fmall and ill-conftrucled, very much out of repair, and badly furnifhed. The garden, which is fmall, is neglect*, ed; but in an adjoining hot-houfe Mr. Hamilton rears plants procured at a great expence from all parts of the world. He is proprietor of from three to four hundred acres of the furrouncfeng country, which with fome pains and expence might be converted into a lucrative and ^46* ^TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA* .and pleafant farm. His houfe and gardens would receive as great em- bellifhment from me neighbourhood of a good tenantry, as he would himfelf derive emolument from their labour; but either from indiffer- 'ence, or from -a want of-the neceffary funds to defray the firft .expences of clearing the land, it remains uncultivated, and his houfe feems furrounded by a defert. No man, however, is happier to receive his friends, or entertains them better, than Mr. William Hamilton : heis a chearful man, a moil excellent companion, and is in every Tefpedf the gentleman. Gray's-Ferry itfelf prefents a moft pleafing view. The toll-houfe, fituated a midft large points of rock, which here fkirtthe fouth bank ■of the Skuylkill,-the trees fcattered here and there amongft them, and a confiderable-number of failing veffels belonging, to an adjoining inn, 'form together a-truly interefting fcene. This inn is a place of general refort forparties of pleafure in the fummer, and is frequently vifit- -ed in the winter by the young people of Philadelphia, who travel there In'fledges, dine, and fometimes pafs the night there in dancing. From this fpot to Chester, however, .there is not one agreeable pro- 'fpedt. The country is -flat without being fmooth ; the floods render it uneven in fome places, but the ridges of the banks which they form are all of one fhape and level. The whole of the land is in a ftate of cultivation, and woods are only found in clumps. Cultivation however is neglected. Several houfes built withpieces of <rock, cemented with a mortar of-earth-; a few, which are the neatest, built with bricks; and a great number of block-houfes-; are the only objedts to be met with. Huts formed of logs and^lanks of wood, as miferable as any that are to'be feen in the pooreft parts of France, cover the country. The inhabitant here is proprietor and cultivator: that he lives as he pleafes, muft be admitted ; hut in the moft remote and uninhabited parts of America -that i have vifited, I have never feen a greater proportion of-wretched habitations. The men and women who are feen iffuing from their huts are badly clothed, and bear every mark of poverty. The-childrenare in rags, and almoft naked. The prefent mo- v^Mji ment BY THE DUKE DE LA SO'CH EF 0 U C A U ET L IAN COURT, 247 tnent however is by no means favourable to the appearance of the country. Nothing yet appears above the ground, except the corn, of which there is but a fmall quantity in this part of the country. The water of the creeks, which we crofs, and that of the Delaware, which is frequently in fight, is muddy, and of the fame yellow colour.as the banks which confine it; and the eternal wooden enclofures, which of themfelves are fufficient to throw a gloom over the moft delightful landfcape, add to the drearinefs of this, and to the tints of melancholy with which the feafon of the year colours the fcene. A fmall creek near Chester fupplies Philadelphia, from its banks, with ftones which are ufed for paving their ftreets: they are carried to within a mile of the mouth of the creek into the Delaware in floops, which are conftantly failing to and from the city. Chefter is the chief city of the county of the fame name in the ftate of Pennfylvania. The court of common pleas and the quarter feffions of the juftices are held here. This place is celebrated in the annals of Pennfylvania as the fpot where the fiift colonial affembly was held, in . the December of the year 1682. Chefter contains about fixty houfes tolerably well built; of which five or fix are good inns, very much frequented by travellers, and often by parties of pleafure, befides the stages, which are inereafed upon the Baltimore road, and in the eaftern part of Maryland. They are alfo frequented by paffengers from vef- * fels, who difembark there in preference to pursuing their voyage up the Delaware to Philadelphia, which is frequently tedious when the tide is unfavourable. Chefter is admired for its profpect, which is certainly extenfive, as the city, built upon a rifing ground fomewhat elevated above the fur- rounding country, commands for a confiderable diftance to the right and left the plain below, and in front the Delaware with the country of Jerfey beyond; yet the eye,' in running over this extenfive view, fees nothing but a tirefome uniformity, the.fields are flat, and without thofe clumps of trees, which, in Europe, give them fuch a pleafing appearance. The borders of Jerfey are likewife flat. A few mean log- houfes iA§ TRAVELS IN NORTH'AMERICA, houfes are juft difcernible at a very great diftance, which being fur- rounded by two or three acres of cleared land are loft in the forefts behind-them. During the two hours which we fpent at the inn we faw a great variety of travellers, the generality of whom were a civil, converfable, good fort of people. Throughout the whole of my extenfive travels in America I have feldom met with any other fort, but have always been confirmed in my opinion, that the Americans are in general a well- difpofed people. It muft be underflood that I do not allude to the inhabitants, efpecially the wealthy inhabitants, of the chief cities. The population of Chefter amounts to about thirty thoufand fouls ; is about fifty miles in length, and forty-five in width. There are feveral iron mines, which however, at prefent, fupply only feven or eight forges. A few miles beyond Chefter we enter the fmall ftate of Delaware, which is diftinguifhed by the bad flate of the roads, and by the bridges, which are almoft all conftructed of wood. The country becomes more mountainous ; it is covered with rocks, which are not even removed from the highway, although with little labour they might be broken into pieces, which would render the roads excellent and durable. Cultivation appears to be ftill more neglected here than in the vicinity of Pennfylvania. The land is badly ploughed, t,he furrows are not even strait. The grounds in general are under water, though they might be drained with very little trouble. The houfes are even worfe than the lands* From fome parts of the road, in clear weather, may be feen the city of Philadelphia, and the capes of the Delaware. ^Half-way from Chefter to Wilmington ftands an inn, where the ftage generally flops. It was kept about three years - ago by an Eng- lifhman, a diffenter, who, in the fpirit of a demagogue, had a fign painted sreprefenting a decapitated female, the head lying by the fide of the bleeding trunk; underneath which was this infeription, " The guillotined ff^ueen of France." No authority poffeffed the power of compelling him to take down this horrible fign, at the light of which every body revolt- Jed ; and as it was the only inn, within" five miles either way, it could not be BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAOTT'XIANCOURT. &4§. be abandoned. However, that which the laws could not effedl, the public voice accomptjfhed. The horror excited by this infamous picture was fo general, and fo loudly proclaimed, that the brutal innkeeper was obliged to change his fign, or at leaft to alter it. He was unw!f$ ling,; however,*:%otf.relinquifh the «j^a OJ^ffrely. The female ftill remained without a head, but erect, without any trace of blood, or implements of execution ; and the infciijiabfir was altered to " Tln^S$(||8* ''Woman" Such wasfihe public reparation whSth this man partially made, but he continued to be defpifed : his inn was, however, ftill fre- <|t*ented, becaufe} as I have^efore obft^yed, it'?8M$¥he only one. Since that period other taverns have been eftdbftfhed ; another innkeeper has fucceeded the Dilfeflter, and has exchanged the fign of'the S$8k£ Woman for that of the Practical Farmer. • I have beheld a figl^tij-aay which, happily, is very uncormifbn in the United States: two women left their houfes when the ftage arrived, to feltbadfapjjJ^to the paffengers; they did not beg for money, but they received it. Among thefe was a woman* y*$to has fourteen children, all by different#atf?*ers; fhSfVfas never married, and is unable to fay pre£ifely who is the-father of any of her children. Such an*JI£** ftandbiwould be men%K>ned as infamous, even in our European ftates ; but this poor woman by her owrr labour, and a few dollars procured from the charity of paffen^cs, has brought up thefe fourteen children, without becoming burthenfome to the ftate, and without the leaft affiftance from the fathers of thefe x&iftlren, wnorn fhe does not even know. This commendable attachment is fome^ little extenuation of the licentious tne "which fhe has made of her uncommon fruitfulnels. Brandy wine Creek fepatates the-hundred of Brandywfee from the ltfc&Mles of Wilmington.: "iFhefe hundreds are'ldsfotee- of the American' ftatJeS1, as in En^&ti^^tfiVmtm'df^^ of Dela- warewi]£Ttfhii& divided. They do not contain precifely' one hundred parifhes, as their namefeems^o^tnpl/>-but they form, more than thofe" of3li*gi8n#ra part of tf^^dm^ffiat^Ve hierarchy of the ftate of Dela-' $a¥eyjWM2&% $$vli^rin^ rofeities and bruflsli'eds. Each $$jMreu .uW&L, II; Kk has mm £50 TRAVELS IN ;NQRIH AMEUfCAv I jb^f'its own officers chofen by itfelf, A proportion of the national taxes and the county rates is levied upon each hundred, and that fum, added to the expences of the officers of the hundred, is defrayed by an affeffment upon each individual. Some cities obtain from the affembly the title of hundred, and hajyh a magiftracy of their own : the ^^fliction of cities however is not confined within the limits of their own walls, as in Europe, but rather refembles that>pi[ the prefent municipalities of France, extending, according to circumftances, to a greater or lefs diftance. Wilmington, though no^the capital of the ftate of Delaware, or of the county of Newcastle in which it is fituated, is the moft popu- jj^gk-xity in that ftate. The population is eftimated at about four thoufand five hundred inhabitants, exclufive of the French, who have arrived from the different iflands, and have inereafed the porfctk tion within thefe three years by three or four hundred. Wilmington, like Philadelphia, and many other towns in America,ad$es not cover all the ground marked out for it; the houfes^ough almoft s&.-jjpuilt in ftreets, do not join each other; on the contrary, there are i&eRs of a confiderable fize betwixt feveral of them. They are, in general, fondfome fubftanriaj[ brick buildings, and are almoft all of them built in the ^Englifh ftyle. The town contains about four fquare miles, exclufeye, of a tradt of land not yet built upon. BRANDYWINE MILLS. At the entrance of Wilmington is fituated Brandywine, a place which contains the greateft part of the houfes belonging to the hundred of Brandywine. This village, or rather this hundred, takes its name from the creek which runs through it, and whofe fource is forty miles Ijromthe Delaware in the mountains of Pennfylvania. It is fufficiently? rapid, and contains water enough to turn, in its courfe, from fixty to eighty mills, almoft all of differentjffeferiptions, fuch as paper, powder, tobacco, fawMlg' fulling, and flour, mills, the latter of which are^o^ numerous. BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEF(WCAtfLTrxiANCOURT. ^31 numerotjlv The princijHU ones are finratfed near the bridge over the creek. All the operations of the'mffla- a^e performed by water, from the unlatfnig the floops'wmREawJng the corn, to the complete finifhing Wine flour. Thus tne facks are hoiftecrinto the granary, the flour is sifted, is ground, and bolted, witnoht the leaft manual labour. -TEne wififflsaare fimi^'to inare at London bridge in England, and thofe ^vmcn the brothers Perrier have conftrudled at Paris near the Gros- xcdtub%. The latter are firft fet in mbnoti by a fleam engine, but as the fecondary motion isutbe principal, the mills of London and Paris give a fufficiently exact idea of thefe of Brandywine. There is, how- eray in the procefs from the grinning to the bolting, a dintrench In favour of the former. At London and Paris the flour when gtdq^ft "laps into troupns, and is aft^fwards conveyed by the labourer to another jSatx'Jrjf the*TBBBB^Rrbere it is fpread, and turned by the hafra^ 'cOo™'before it is taken to be bolted: fuch at leaft was flHr'procefs Wfteh I left Europe. ^¥c Brandy wine the flour falls as^t is ground upon a wooden roller, armed with little detached wings, which a'tc^o arranged as to form a iprewY This roller, fixed in a trough, is*Xnclined towards a bin in fuch a * mariner that it ferves as a conductor to the flour, which would defcend too rapiaryif it fell perpendicularly, and too flowly and at intervals if it were merely conducted by a fimple hrcRned plane. A chain of fmall troughs, about three or four cubic inches long, drjxfinto the bin, which receives the flour. This chain is mclofed in long perpendicular wooden cafes. It turns upon two pivots ; one"of which is placed in the bin where the little troughs fill themfelves with the flour wmch is depofited there 5 and the other on tHe^^^fm1 floor, where the fame fTpftrc troughs empty themfelves, and thence defeasa empty to recommence their perpetual operations;-flpSr The flour, conveyed above by^rn^fe troughs, falls on an incflneef circular floor, in the centre of $ffiieS'$fe feveral holes; it is there fpread about by a rake as large as the^nribr, the teeth of which are fo placed as to conduct the flour towards the holes, thfmi&h which it K k 2 falls, 252 TRAVEL IN NORTH AMERSkS^., .falls,,cooled, into the bolters.., - Thefe bolters are alfo- different from thofe ufed in France and England, a8{4jhe. fluff which covers them., and through which the flour paffes, is a fine filk, very clofely woven. The millers affert, that notwithstanding jjftey pay fix dollars an ell for J&jpffkuff, it is cheaper than the common bolting cloth, to which it is likewifjisifo; be preferre^for • giving a more beautiful colour totft^S* flour. Thefe bolters will laft fiy;e;,year& in-conita.nt ufe. without any JSftffek: about twelve ells of fluff is £ufi}efeat to cover therrjy-tf^ff^therto the fluff has been brought fljomf Htalland ; but a naanufadlorv of it is about to be eftablifhed at Wilmington. Each j^r of m^M\ is fu-r- nifhed with its winged'i|cjljer, itsuehain and troughs, its inclaied circular floor,.and.its bolters. This mechanifm for conveying the flour from the mill-ftone to the bolter ^scas invented five years ago by Mr. Evans of Philadelphia, who obtained a patent forjifemvent&BLwhich bears his name, Thereimre three pair ofeipflls, in this place, ^fftp that which we have vifited, that is to fay, fix mills and twelve mill- flones. I explain myfelf thus minuteMto prevent miflakes. There are fome parts of the machinery of thefe mills, however, fuch as the wheels, the trundle-heads, &c. which are .^Ggv fo weM exec^d;p^fc thofe of^*urope. |f^K Ww^t The..jprnprietor.;^£, the mill which,,Mparticularly examined is a quakes,, .of .jt^^namp of Ta.tna&±u. His fon-in-law, Thomas Lea, took,upon himfelf the tro$hkLo£ fhewing me the whole ofritlw, He is alfo a q-uaker, about thirty years of age : he is a handfome, cbearfuto active, man. Like a true American patriot, he perfuades himjitl£ that no.-where is any undertaking executed fo well, or with fo much ingenuity, as in America; that the fpirit, invention, and geniu^jj» Europe, are in a>4|a*e of decrepitude (thefe are his words)^j^ilft the genius of America, full of vigour, is arriving at perfection. a^Jpiefe opinions are not ma^h to be wondered at in Thomas Lea, who is merely a good miller; they ought rather to excite pleafure as the ebullitionjSinf a patriotic^enthufiafm, the indulgence of which is not likely to be prejudicial Ijo^m^^as. it does not prevent him from «ei3f adopting BY THE DUKE; DE- LA R0CHEFOVC£trjS*,Jto^C0T?RT. 25T adoptip§...all the good inventions of Europe, by which he may improve his mill. The fame error, however, is difcoverable in almoft all the Americans—in legiflators and magiftrates, in whom it is more baneful —as well as in millersv Thomas Lea is a moft candid and obliging man ; he anfwered all my queftions with great politenefs, and voluntarily imparted much information, for which I could not have taken the liberty to afk. He is in partnerfhip with his father-in-law : their mill is not employed for the public, but folely in their own private. fervice. It is catted a flour manufadtory. They purchafe their corn in Virginia, Maryland, and in the ftate of New- York, wrhich is brought from thence in two of their own fhips ; they convert it into flour; and the fame floops carry* it back again to Philadelphia, where it is fold for exportation. They grind about one hundred thoufand bufhels of corn yearly.^vpfhe whole labour of the mill is performed by fix men only; whofe chief employment is to place the flour in barrels : their wages are from fix to eight dollars per month, with wafhing, board, and clothing. There are,, befides, tv^njy-four men employed by this manufadtory for working the veffels, and maki$g;the barrels. The coopers work by the piece ; they can earn a dollar per day, but board and clothe themfeLve^f Tatnall does not employ any ?j|egroes, as they do not work with the i^kes ; but are flow, and bad workmen. The laws of the ftate of Delaware permit flavery, but the quavers, as is well kno^n^^O* not. make ufe of the permiffion. Almoft. all the labourers; employed in thefe $ij$ls are foreigners, the greatest, part of whom are Engliflidr Irifh. The millers complain. of their drunkennefs, and indolence, and would prefer Frenchmen as more, induftrious and fober, if they could be procured; which they very much defire. The corn trade is y§ 9 more flourift^ng state at prefent than it has e$ffi been; at lea$ ¥$$£%$§fches a higher price. The common price, p^a bufhel of wheat, in time of peaoe, is feven fhillings. ui^ January 17Q5 it rofe from ten to ten and fixpenge* and during the «g^teen,>%^Jing months, fven as M$l as thirt&sjbfcr -a. ... fourteen 2J4 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, fourteen fhillings. It has fince fallen^wESt to nothing near itsf former level. ; The buflieTweighs fixty pounds. Five bufhels yield a barrel of fine flour, containing a hundred and ninety-fix pounds, befides three other inferior forts of meal. The price of the fineft flour is eight dollars and a half; or le fecond quality,, eight dollars ; of the third, feven 88!|K^4lSKi of the fourth, five dollars. The bran is fold at one eighth of a dollar per bufhel, containing thirty-five pounds: it is fent to Philadelphia. The ioftowing is a ftafemeninf the produce of one hundred bufhels of wheat as^given me by Thomas Lea :—nineteen barrels of fine flour ; two"barrels of flour of the fecond quality ; three barrels of the tfti«f quality.; and thirty bufhels of bran. Total; five thoufand nine hundred and ten pounds : wafte ninety pounds. The wheat of the eaftern part of Maryland produces the fineft flour, on account of the goodnefs of the foil aSPthe quicknefs of its growth : but this flour is not fo heavy as that of other parts; that of New-York for inftance, though inferior in quality, is good, and is heavier, becaufe the grain is longer in ripening. The corn of the province of Delaware is nearly of the fame quality as that of Maryland. Large quantities of Indian corn are likewife ground in thefe mills, of which they make bread and cakes : in feveral parts of the United States they ufe no other fort of bread ; in fome parts it is even preferred without any motives of ©economy, as it is efteemed by the faculty as the moft whole feme. ?wrjfe? is ufed .#8"-"fatten poultry and cattle, and is exported in great quantities to the Weft-Indies. As this grain contains more moifture than other bread corn, it is dried in a kiln before Wli fent to the mill. A bufhel cofts at prefent five fhillings; it weighs fifty-fix pounds, and ijroouces fifty-four pounds of flour; - The procefs of bolting feparates tnen£ne frbmtfte inferior fort of maize-flour, but the latter is reground anti mixed w&h the other. One third of a barrel fells tot three dollars. The 'branV;wnich is in very fmall quantities, is'nSot taken from the Hour. This information I received from the worthy Thomas Lea. There BY THE EIUKE »* LA R0CHEF0UCAULT LTAlfCdU*T. t6$ There are eleven other mills near his; four of them are very large, the others much fmaller. The ice in this river fometimes flops the mills for two months, at other times only three weeks, according to the feverity of the winter. At this time the millers fettle their yearly accounts; which is eafily done, as wherever their fadlors buy their corn they pay for it in ready money, and wherever they fell their flour they are paid for it on delivery by a bill at fixty or ninety days fight, which they immediately difcount with the bank. During this period they employ no labourers, whofe pay whilft in employ is fo high, that they experience no difficulty in fupporting themfelyes during its fufpenfion: in general, after a few years' fervice, they are enabledto purchafe lands in thexnewly-inhabited parts of the country. Another miller, who is likewife a quaker, and who has as large a mill as Mr. Tathall, has eftablifhed, about a year fince, a manufadlory for prii^iag Jinens; the tubs, preffes, &c. of which are worked by the machinery of a mill. This manufadlory, though fo lately eftablifhed, employs from twelve to fifteen hands at the laths, befides about a dozen young girls, who work at home to fill up thofe parts of the pattern with a brufh which have efcaped in the printing, or which cannot be otherwife finifhed. Almoft all the workmen are Englifh or Irifh ; their wages are a dollar a day, without any provifion. The work appeared to be well done; almoft all the linens which they print are brought from India, and are refold to the merchants of Philadelphia. A cotton manufadlory is nomeftablifhing at Wilmington. The implements and workmen are already provided ; the whole of the machinery Jor carding, fpinning, &c. is conftrudled on Arkwright's plan. This eftablifhment is carried on by one of the richei|._ men in the town. The number of workmen is at prefent only fifteen, but fifty more are expected i|hey are all Englifhmen. The implements appear to be very well made. I likewife vifited the manufadlory for ina&ing bolting Jilk. .'.aST labourers %6B TRAVELS IN" : NOF-TH ' AMERICA;,-" 5 % labourers are Iri(hmen ; as well as the proprietor. This manufactory employs at prefent only three workmen : the filks are made to fuil|gti§9.% different qualities of flour. | pj| Though th»fe%ianufadlory has only been eftablifhed a year, it is a f^Stable concern, and when more exteufively known, it will be m*$ctl more fo/as thefe filks are cheaper thantBiffe fent from Holland, and last longer, as thofe millers 1*lho4i# them have experienced. In a country like America where there are fo many mills{M:he advantages of thefe 'fcbllfcrs muft be very great ; in fadt, almoft all the miller! ufe them in preference totfHhen cloths for bolting, as well as-18tjemas Lea. They are fo ufeful, that^an a#^»f parliament has been made in England, to permit the impoit.t^%ion of them into that coun»t#y. The filk is brought ^ohlP(§3btgia : if the Americans would plant mulberry trees,.and raife filk-w6#&s, this fpecies of manufadlure w$]^yil*a fource of great riches to me country *. MR. GILPIN'S PAPER MILL, I have faid that Brandy wine-creek, in its fcrt courfe of feven or i^^^t!*^^ ^l*oi6gh^he ftate of Delaware, turns about fixty mills, of wJilfbrent forts. Among thefe I have vifiee^tfe^paper mill .q£gN$r, Gilpin, a refpedlable merchant at Philadelphia, and with whom 1 an^j««t «timately acquainted. This mill ia^]tuated at the diftajaxfe of twP<foifc^ •and a half from Wilmington, on a truly romantic fpot; for the word romantic appears to me't^onvey the beft idea of a view rather glovc$py, y$\& ;a^t<an^&feii^ate4, ^et pleafiqgi Such is the fi^||^||yof this mill, and efpfe&ially of '^(^^pft^|J^eJ^4enoe.. The creek at this |>lace paffes between-1wo very highimountains,idmo^feovered with wood, and al thou jg^fo%Ganfc^efi#^ of wheels * It is doubtful whether the rearing of {ilk-worms can be profitable to America .fcffJbffi£ time to come, for reafons which the author himfelf has mentioned, on many otke^occafions : fuchf a prbcoiV rfetjuires much' manual "labour, ancf too many hands For a1e^itrywneiJ€me populations fmall, and labour confequently dear.—TranJlator. I without BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOUBff. 257 without sm>y noife : its breadth is about fixty fathoms. Its courfe is ti»pQ$led -by a great number of rocks, few of which appear above the furface. Parts of the mountains are alfo covered with rocks, which Spring up amidft the wood. Thefe rocks are of the fame nature as thofe which are feen throughout the country, particularly about Chefter: they are formed of a ftone like that found in the foreft of Fontainbleau. Some acres of land about the houfe are cleared, and laid out in meadows. The houfe is fituated fufficiently high to command a view of the creek of Brandywine for five hundred fathoms, when it is loft among the trees, and is again vifible at the diftance of three miles, where it joins the river Chriftiana, which empties itfelf immediately into the Delaware. This view, which is wild and rugged in fome parts, contrafted with a pleafing foftnefs in others, muft be ftill more pleafing in fummer: it is, however, inferior to thofe that are to be feen in the Vo{ges ; to fay nothing of thofe of the Alps, The paper mill is below the houfe. There are two warehoufes adjoining, where many labourers are conftantly employed. The rags are pounded by vertical wheels, the bands of which are about fix inches wide, armed with fharp blades of iron, which drive the rags againft ftx other blades, placed lengthways at the bottom of the great vat in which the wheel turns. I have defcribed thus much of the procefs, as it is performed m another manner both in France and Holland. The other parts are performed nearly in the fame manner as in thofe countries, but the manufadlory is not yet brought to an equal perfection. The rags are not brought to the mill as in France, by people who collect them in the neighbourhood, as the fmall population of America will not admit of fuch induftry. They are bought up by agents in the moft populous towns, as* far as three hundred miles diftant, and are fent by water to Wilmington ; from whence they are brought in carts to the mill, as Brandywine creek ceafes to be navigable above the bridge which leads to Wilmington. The confumption of rags in Mr. Gilpin's mill is one hundred thoufand pounds weight a year, which makes .one thoufand xeams of different forts of pafgr. The Vol. II. L1 price 255 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, price of rags is from three to nine dollars the hundred weight, according to the quality ; the average price is about four dollars and a third. The rags are divided into nine different forts at the manufadlory, of which are made various papers, from vellum to coarfe brown., The vellum letter-paper is fold for four'dollars a ream; it is neither fo white nor fo well moulded as the fine European vellum paper; it is* however, a beautiful and good paper. The large paper for merchants' account books, though not vellum', fells as high as thirteen dollars a ream. Mr. Gilpin's partner, Mr* Gifin, who was fo polite as to fhow me the manufactb^" is an Irifh— man, and fuperintends the bufinefs himfelf, being well acquainted with the whole procefs. The mill, employs conftantly twenty-fix or twenty-||ven hands. Seven of the beft workmen are employed at the vat, and the mould; their pay' iSwfffom four, to feven dollars a week. They are all Irifhmen. The other interior workmen earn three dollars, and the women one dollar, a week. Notwithftanding there are five other paper mills in the ftate of Delaware, and from eighty to ninety in the province of Pennfylvania ; yet Mr. GiMffaflured me there was not much difficulty in procuring workmen : though an f^lRman himfelf, he complains af^nuch of a want of fobrfffey in his- countrymen as. the millers of Brandywine. This manufadlory ~i8$$fjb'= doubt, very lucrative, as Mr. Gilpin intends to build a new paper miM clfuout three hundred fathoms below the other.' The paper manufactured here is fent in great quantities to Philadelphia, and retailed. to the merchants there. The fmall mills difpofe of theirwpaper in another manner ; tney'fend it to Philadelphia in carts, and" fell it about :*3Prsfreets in quires or reams. DOCTOR WARTON, AND HIS FARM. From the mill I crofted the river and the woods to dine with D^dr Warton, who refides about a mile from Wilmington, on the road to Philadelphia. The moft common trees in thefe woods are the oak,, ^W*x H "' . .m¥. the, BV THE DUKE DE LA ROC'HEEOUCAULT ^LIANCOUR'I 1259 the chefnut, and the hiccory. Cedars* known in Europe by the name > of Virginian are likewife found-. in&tnfatoice ; alfo Scotch pine trees, Lord's piites, and firs. The?.cedar wood is commonly ufed for fup- porters to the rails wrthwhich the fields are enclofetUv The houfes are alfo covered with planks of cedar. Doctor Warton, who was ^educated with the jefuits of St. Omer in France, but has "fince become a minifter of the Englifh church, is a very worthy -man. He fpent fome years in England, from whence he bcotight much agricultural knowledge, with a fmatklanxture of prejudice. He fpeaks French, he is very obliging, and is much efteemed by his neighbours. He occupies a farm, which he has taken foriifteen years, ten of which are unexpired. There were eight of us at dinner: every thing-which w'diifed'was the produce of his own farm; even the table cloth, whichwastabrada^d jof tfe#ll£X^grfrWn on his own grounds, and the table, which was made of a very beautiful wood, cut on his own eftate, as fmooth and as finely veined as mahogany. I obtad&eff the greater part of my agricultural information of thft$fe©fintry fromaBfc&tor Walrton. He rents a farm of one hundred and fifty acres at two hnMdfed and fctedollars ; he lets off fifty acres at one hundred andtSthirty dollars, and thus retains the &&fe(Mmfelf at eighty dollars. He infermqd me that he had. gained ctlilfi^ear feven hundred and forty^fix dollars, including thofe ar&eles ^l^ofe he had ufed^feand which he muft*o£feerwiiie have^bought.J| -He ifee^oUr oxen,'wbKl$f are fuffiscient for tbeawhole work ofcthe?&rm. He 3N&3l&3M£rht coW&nanjl'tWG horfes for his carriage. Three ^aegproes are conftantly employed in his farm and ftablefe. He doa$axsti&tike< additional lab^CfersOabove twad&3s£&ve daysu iQri^h$n$fetf?\' He has §0&&i8^ey^plffio^fiw}£bm are eift^Ioyed in the houfe, the other two i^^^lifttolite&aad.eloth^ and work-in the?ifi£}d wherntfeis neceflh?fii T^iff negroes and dEH^re^ftsi eat 'bread made of MEan- corn5: at* noon* they^ar&Tatlowed 'feme meat; fcbtrtfittti tiie- whole receive ,fefs nourifh-' nS^itba^ w^l^'be^iquifiterflBo whitei pec^fe^^1rh^?countfryril»Kiji} are therefor&>nMci$iDfifld AsmdBfcheaper. /Tthl[jdodtQrri^^gi^^t*ilWs.T as Well fptisfied withftheirfwork as hecnsafebbe with that of the wh^sh SPP?^ I/l 2 which £60 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, if) km which are to be found here. He dungs his lands tolerably wellbwlfe. about two huaadred fmall cart loads of dung obtained yearly frofift$&&r own cattle. He dungsrtiis grounds in general before he fows maize ; which he fows in trenches eight feet diftant one way, and ona foot the other, contrary to the general practice of the country. He alfo &\0&b up the larger intervals with the plough, and the fmaller with the hoe: the latter work is*done by the negreffes. He frequently fo/wk maize two following years: after the maize, corn, and clover after the corn, in the fpring. The clover remains for twoj thatee, or even fouav years: after clover he fows maize again, and fo on in sfeceffion. Th^aiAsCl his general practice, though it is fometimes variesfcw The neighbouring farmers*^: not fblfoew as reguksmvfyftem as Doctor Warton, the feaadity of labourers being a .great obftacle to the efkfeliftiment of a good fyftem of agrtedtnre in thfeountry, wholes i#$w tofisiprinciples are u^meta. The farms are in general fmall and ill- cultivated p-'lAsjr receive little or no manure, and are in every refpedt badly managed. Some Englrftnfarinais have reoently^ttled i&Aiftt neighbourhoxi^ and have taken forms upora long leafes. They will dilb8ife#ilmake eoafiderable improvements in agriculture. Within fki^*£vfe§*years feveral perfons have 6&lledted the weeds from the eA&fes wfsieh flow through their land, have mixed them; wilb dung, and thus make a mamaitep'Mbich, thcragfothey do not allow it^fiflf^ fi&Sbht time to roi before they ufestE|e eonfiderably improvesthpj&vid* Turnips, carrots, and cabbages, are grown.etoly* in gardenjSftttaerely ieCv the kitchen. \i§m:- Doctor Walton, who underftand^ the cultivation and*]a3anagemenfc> d^nt&ize, prefers it to the above artieles, as a more cettw$ppgG&vt&G:$. tM&fiaves; gralHfW*dry, are fodder? for the ca*tle,hand the corn wjaent gld&ttd into flour is, h&^lays, motelfattening tJsaii?fr»$y other aft>©dv * T3fl^ opinion, hovvevesi^ffi'not founded upon experience and corner parifon,^ut rather appears to he the offtpring of a prejudice for a particular fyftem of agriculture, and the natural indolence of a man ill difpofed to all#§fations,'"^conceive it is very easy to pro^fl$ithat a more BY THE DURE DE LA ROCHEEOUCAULT LIANCOURT. £61 fti4$& fkilful fyftem would yield more dung, and would be more productive, without any additional labour. Eight hundred perches fqnare of maize produce a ton weight of leaves, -and two ton of tops. Every hundred perches fquare, not dunged, yields from twelve to eighteen bufhels of stain ; if well dung*, ed, it yields thirty-five : I fpeak of this part of the country, and of thofe farms which are generally cultivated in this manner, efpecially that of Doctor Warton. He plants potatoes between the rows of mai«e, and gathers by this means two hundredjb»#fjBls: they are ufually fold at three fhillings and fix pence per bufhel, but this year fetched from five fhillings to five fhilfibgs and fix pence. He fattens yearly £it^*id^& *weli*er ©sen fcp#e. As he brews his ow^beer, makes his own^ider, and manufactures his own lin^Hy.one part o£(g^rfarm is fown with flax, otheis-are planted with hops, and others with apple trees* Such is the cuftom of the country, and fo much do the farmers pride? tfterisfef^ttpon its prefervatbn, that they will not purchafe any thing for the ufe of their families, whieb?fchey can make themfelves. Pride, is the beft colour which they can give to the impoffitality of dctinge ot&Oirwife ; off any other ground the fpeculation is a bad one, as by multiplying in this manner their plantations, and the labours of the houfehold, the divided profits are co^ft<|a€litly fmaller, and theiff average lefs advantageous. Time will redtify this prejudice. The fheep of thwMEfeuntry produce good Wool, fine and fhort, but the fleece feldom weighs more than three pounds : it is tiF-orth a dollar and a half. The fheep have long legs, and very large hones. The breed might be much improved hgMtefittle attention, of which it is well deferving. Some proprietors, who do not tenant their own farms, let them for a fhare of the produce. The ufual method is to let them for half the proits, if the former and proj&fetor furi$$jM$fegly the cattle and feed; or ~§&t> a third, if no flock is advanced. This proportion fometimes variesaaaoOrdw^- to the Itffchae of the ground, or the addrefs of the pro- prietor or farmer. Doctor Warton obfervedi^rat at W$|nftu*gton any . man, who knows how to purchafe, might make fix per cent in cafh of his TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, 1 his capital, by letting' his lands as foon as he buys them. The cattle are very foon fattened with the maize flour ; from eight to ten bufhels are fufficient to fatten an ox. I faw a pig at one of the mills on the Brandywine, which the miller affured me was of an ordinary breed, and which was fed entirely upon maize, that weighed feven hundred weight. The land near the Delaware coafts of rich meadows, with a good foil to the depth of thirty feet; it lets as high as fix dollars and a half per acre, and fells as high as one hundred and fixty dollars per acre. The hay is depofited^-barns. The farmers are ignorant of the. method of making flacks, they therefore fay that the rain penetrates them and fpoils the hay ; though lefs rain falls here, even including the'fhow, than in any part of England. $gme farmers, however, heap up their crops into very imperfect flacks, by which means they are certainly often fpoiled. Such is the fubftance of the information which I obtained from Doctor Warton. The details which 1 have entered into relative to the state of manufacture and agriculture are not interesting bf them.fel&fs^tb an European, yet, confidering£%em as connected with the flate of population,ig^yilization, and all the other circumftances of tlf^ country, all£J as affording a comparifon witfethe old world, they poffibly will not be found un interesting. BRA^J)YWINE*RIVER, AND WILMINGTON. I have ah3$ady noticed Brandywine^ its fitUja^on is -d^ghtfuL There are akcgrt fifty houfes built near the. rj$^^|^ich rufj>e.% rapidly over large fragments of rock ; and fwelling into many chan^Is turns mills of all d^cs-iiptions in every direction. The.banks ofy#|^s river, both above and below&lltie village, chiefly laid out in mea$ows, and covered with cattle; a-bridge, over which travellers are-dt^afta$tl}<b paffing ; the continual buftle of the manufadlories, with houfefisijifc various forms and materials, built on different parts of two hills, whi^ka bound the river;—render this view extremely pleafa%$i$igj The BV THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. Z63 The port of Wilmington is upon the Chriftiana : there are three or &ur veffels built there every year, either for fale or for the trade that is carried on there, which employs twelve or thirteen fhips of various sizes. This port is two miles from the Delaware. Several floops are conftantly employed in the coafting trade carried on with Philadelphia. Wilmington market is fupplied with provifions from the neighbourhood. It is,held twice a-week:-it is lefs than that at Philadelphia, which it refembles in its maji&et-place, in the nature of its regulations, and in the fpecies of prov^Sons fold there. Every neceffary is to be procured there, and no-where elfe in this part of the country. Freedom of reli^gfti is as unreftrained in the ftate of Delaware-as iccfthat of Penqfpjtania. The expences of public worfhip are paid by thofe who approve if£§t-The letting of pews is one principal fource of the church revenue, and, with fome cj^aations of land by individuals, is fuflfeeaMlto defray all expences, including the minifter's falary. T,J*£ prefbyiarians are th^moft numerous fedt; and next to them, the quakers: the wifdomus&the latter, who being the richest haye the moft influence, oppofed the eftajWifhment of a democratic fociety at Wil- EBtington. There is one, however, at-Newcaftle, chiefly compofed of the inhabitants of Wilmington. This town is at prefent the afylum of about forty families from the colonies of St. Domingo, moft of whom have faved fomething from tho wreck of their fortunes, but whom misfortune has not inftrudled eithei in polpfes or domeftic ceconomy. On their arrival ?. fubfcription was opened fo^^epaoft needy of them, and a confiderable fum was raifed, when it was difcovered by the complaints of thofe whofe diftreffes entitled them to relief, that fome men known to be in good o^pimftan^s^^ had applied for a fhare. The eyes of the fubferibers being thus opened, the fubfcription was flopped and the French name difgraced. - General Dikison, a rich inhabitant of Wilmington, formerly governor of Pen n- fyivaaia*; depofited four hundred dollars with Mr. Thoufard, to be diftributed among thjyaaoft needy of the fufferers., It c^pd not taj|fc* itifKr been 264 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, Been placed in better hands; notwithftanding which, jealoufy excited ^Mfie. unj'uft murmurs agaiMhim, wfei$h though treated with con- "^Ipit by himfelf, have not failed to promote fome fcandal. Several ;-*IW&e St. Domingo families who have preferred large fortunse, think that Mr. Dikifon is not sufficiently generous; yet wilLaiWt themfelves give one farthing to their diftreffed countrymen. Among thofe who have efcaped the difafters of St. Domingo, there are fome, who, revolting at the idea of receivfe^ gliftuitous aid, labour with great induftry to obtain a bare fubfiftence: but it muft be con- feffed, that almo#*aIl thefe belong to Old France, and have not long fettled in the colony. The neceffaries of life are cheaper by two fifths at Wilmington than at Philadelphia: a family may live here very wiftupon eight hundred dollars a year. Hfclfe plots of ground allotted for building houfes contain nearly two acres ; and let at from four to fix dollars a year. With a little dunging they will produce forty hundred weight of hay in two crops. The cows are turned in after the fecond crop till winter. In fummer they are driven on the road-fide to graze, and are fetched home twice a day to be milked* The breed of cattle, although not fo fine as that of New-England, is good and large; but rather too long in the body and legs: a Ai&le care would perfect the breed, and render the cattle «of a fhape and fize ' proper for fattening. The poor-houfe of Wilmington is built on au eminetsie% it is a very large and handfome building: the poor of the county of Newcaftle only are received there; who are extremely ; !wBJrtreated. According to a moderate calculation the number of poor conftantly maintained there amounts to fixty. The expences of the houfe are eftimated at about fix thoufand dollars; the expence of each pauper'Wconfequently^we hundred dollars: upon one half of which fum he might fupport himfelf. In almoft every part of England, as well as of America, the poor-houfes are an object of pride and ostentation to the people. They doubtlefs 'relievewifce overfeers of the poor from much of that trouble wh«5&i they would otherwife have in distributing relief wHffrjuftice and difereittf'to the poor BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 266 poor at their own homes. Yet thefe eftablifhments by no means conflict© the beft method of affifting the poor, whether they are confidered in a political or moral point of viewf; or as they refpect the principles of economy or real benevolence. The boundaries of eftates in this fmall ftate are perhaps the fource of more lawffitts than any-where elfe, as in the lands formerly given to the Penn family, and to Lord Baltimore ; the boundaries are not precifely afcertained, nor are the deeds of gift clearly worded. Mr. Vining informed me, that his feat in Congrefs depriveshim of at leaft three thoufand dollars, which he might gain by his profeffion as an advocate, notwSthifem^hng he undertakes fome bufinefs even during the fitting of Congrefs, which the vicinity of Philadelphia enable^him to tranfa'Q: with eafe. The advantageous fituaBaon of the ftate of Delaware for commerce, agriculture, and manufiESfoires, ought naturally to increafe its popalav tion. Half the ground- however is not yet cleared : four-fifths of the county<o$4iiflfe»^4?he moft fouthern of the three, remains yet uncleared. The woods are certainly in fome places filled with water, but with little pains and expence nearly the whole of thefe grounds might be drained, and doubtlefs would be very productive ; as all thofe that have been drained yield great crops. The want of hands is an ob- ftacle which prevents any attempts of this nature in this country of flavery ; and induces a number of proprietors of woods to believe that their ground is more profitable to them in its prefent ftate. They ftrip their woods to fupply Philadelphia ; and as there are in this fpot many pine-trees and cedars, they fell them at a large profit, efpecially as they have the advantage of conveying them by water. Mr, Well, member of the legiflature, and proprietor of twenty thoufand acres of wood on the borders of the county %£ Suffex, boafted in my prefence of the revenue arifing from his eftate, which is about five thoufand four hundred dollars a year. Of thefe twenty thoufand acres, only ten thsaifand are planted with cedars. I demonftrated to him, that allowing all this profit to arife entirely from the ten thoufand acres of cedars, even in that cafe, each acre is worth Vol. II. Mm" only 266 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, only half a dollar a year ; which is nearly the fame value to which the falt-tax, and the uncultivated ftate of the land, reduced feveral of the forefts of Lorraine about ten years ago. He was ftruck with the calculation, which he could not contradict; but as his neighbours do not draw fo much wealtl^Srom their woods as he does from his, he is fatisfied with that difference. In every fenfe this fyftem is pernicious ; it destroys the growth of the woods, and it would reduc^^.- moderate income in the courfe of forty or fifty years to nothing, if it were not to be fuppofed, that before that period the population of the ftate will increafe, the proprietors grow wifer, and cultivation in confe« quence become more general. MMHI WithiMthefe fifteen months a bank has been eftablifhed at Wilmington, and incorporated by an act of the legiflature of the ftate. The capital is two huridted^houfand dollai^in one thoufand f^i^se of two hundred dollars each. The legiflature has referved the power of adding two hundred and fifty fhares more. This bank appears to be of no real utility, at leaft there is no apparent necessity for it—except to the Brandywine millers—the flour-trade being the only braa^i of commerce that is carried on to any extent in this ftate.g^It will, however, have the fame effects as all the fmall banks jutablifhed on the continent; it will increafe the means of fpeculating flock-jobbers and adventurers ; and will fooner or later, like moft others, prove pernicious to the caufe of morality, and deftrudfcive to thofe whofe fpe<- culations are at prefent aided by its difcount-s and the §>aper-money which it iffues. Tllb dividend on the two laft half year# was fix per cent, that is to fay, twelve per e$ii£ per annum : this was the firft dividend made. STATE OF DELAWARE, ITS CONSTITUTION AND LAWS. The ftate of Delaware is the fmalleft of all the Lftilred States, as its greateft length is only ninety-two miles, and breadtntrdnr^hirteen to thirty miles: it was colonized in 1028 by the Swedes, and formed part BV THE BVKE, D£- LA R0CHEF0UCAULT LIANCOURT. 267 part of New-: Sweden, which is now called New-Jerfey. The Dutch took it in ldS§. After it was conquered by the Duke of York, in 1683, he fold to WiHiam - Penn, founder of Pennfylvania, the town of Newcaftle, and twelve luarles of the fufrounding country. William Penn afterward added to this the country- which extends as far was. Gape'Hex/open. It was then divided, as it is at prefent, intojii^je '%o*inties ; Newcaftle, Kent, and Suffex j and became part of Petffir dfyivania. In 1/01 William Penn ceded them to Edward Shippen, Phineas Ptmbkton, Samml Carpenter, Griffiths Owen, Caleb Puifey*§®& Thomas Story, who of courfe became the .proprietors : wh§n> js®W- •jever, this part of the country, though under the governor of Pennlyl- :vania, obtained the priyi&ege of a feparate affembly, jfigaok the name of the three counties of the Delaware. When the trebles in Ame- lafica^ibroke out, the three counties of the Delaware feparafed themfelves entirely from the ftate of Pennfylvania, and affumed the name of the ftate of the Delaware. It was only in 1770 that aJLjbe limits of the ftates of Dela\W&|££ and Maryland werejfea^:rfe^ig4 by the .|a»pdtetOTS &£ the Delaware, and LordJialtimore proprietor of Maryr land ; whofe de termination was not fanctioned by an adt of legiflf£\tf$ till 1775. -Mi The new co^ftitoi^on of the ftate of Delaware was named in 177O, and revifed in 17Q0. It divides the legiflafeye power between two houfes of parliament. Thest^ihoufe of reprej^tefetyes is cqjnjpofed of tWSfltyrone members; feven for each county ; who* are elected an* nually. The ^ualifica^efes neceffk^jfelbr a member are ;—that he must be twenty-four years of age, muft poffbfst-an independent income, muft have refided in the ftate three yeai$*.and in the .county.for which he is elected, one year. The number of fenators is nine ; three for each county : the fenators muft be tw.enty-feven years old ; in pojfefsjon of . an independent, ineome of twio bjaa^dred acres, or a fortune known to amount-^|iphe thoufand pounds: fterling. . The fame>fipnditions a^d-0 refidence are required of them as of the members of the houfe of reprefentatives. The fenators are elected for three years; one of whom M m 2 retires £68 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, retires every year by rotation. The qualifications of an elector are, a refidence of two years in the county, and the payment of taxes for at leaft fix months. Money-bills may be brought in to either houfe. A/ majority of two thirds ^-the reprefentatives may impeach any of the officers of the ftate, and a majority of two thirds of the fenate may in fuch cafes pronounce judgment. The general affembly have the power of increasing the number of reprefentatives and fenators, whenever two thirds of each houfe agree that it is neceffary ; but the number of fenators muft never be lefs than one-third of the reprefentatives, nor greater than one-half. The governor of the ftate is chofen by the fame electors, who choofe the fenate and houfe of reprefentatives. Heifs elected for three years, and cannot be re-chofen until after the expiration of that term. He has the appointment of all officers excepting thofe of Meafurery fheriffs, and coroners, who are nominated by the affembly. He has the privilege of pardoning offences, except^where the feisttence has been pronounced in confeqnence of impeachment. He muft be above thirty years of age, muft have refided in the United Statesani&re than twelve years; and in that particular ftate more than fix. He is a£» fisted in his government by the fpeaker of the fenate, or in his abfence by the fpeaker of the hoMe of reprefentatives. The judicial power is compofed of a court of chancery, and feveral inferior tribunals. The judges are nominated by the governor, and retain their places during good behaviour : they are fubject to impeachment, whenever two thirds of the houfe of reprefentatives and two thirds of the fenate deem it neceffary, agreeable to the forms already noticed. ^HS^B^Stf^ where there is not fufficient grounds for an impeachment, the governor may difplace them on the reprefentation of two thirds of each houfe. The juftices of the peace are appointed by the governor for feven years. The legiflative affembly in the ftate of the Delaware vote for the election of prefident and vice-president of the United States. The population of the ftate of Delaware was eftimatedcin the ^W* ¥»**fr year BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEF0UCAULT LIANCOURT. &69 year 1 790 at only fifty thoufand and ninety-four inhabitants, of which number eight thoufand eight hundred and eighty-feven were flaves; and in confequence the ftate fends but one member to the Congrefs of the -United States. There is no doubt but at the next numeration there will be more than a fufficient number of inhabitants f£>entitle it to fend two members to Congrefs. The militia of the flate is formed of one brigade from each county : each brigade is compofed of three regiments. The Prefbyterians are the moft numerous and powerful fedt in the ftate : they have twenty- four churches. The Epifcopalians have fourteen ; the Anabaptifts feven : befides which, there are a great number-of Quakers and Methodifts throughout the country, efpecially in the counties of Kent and Suffex. The exports of the ftate of Delaware amounted in 17Q1 to the fum of one hundred and ninety thoufand eight hundred and feventy-eight dollars*—in 17Q2, to one hundred and thirty-three thoufand nine hundred and feventy-two—in 1793, to ninety-three thoufand five hundred and fifty-nine—in 1794, to two hundred and feven thoufand nine hundred and eighty-five—in 1795, to one hundred and fifty-eight thoufand and forty-one—and in 179O, to two hundred and one thoufand one hundred and forty-two dollars. The commerce of the ftate of Delaware is chiefly in corn and wood. The only cuftom- houfe in this diftridt is at Wilmington. The greateft part of the flour made there is bought by the merchants of Philadelphia, for exports ation. The taxes in the ftate of Delaware have hitherto been rather improperly levied. The total amount of the fum neceffary for the exigencies of the ftate was divided into twenty-one parts : the county of Newcaftle paid eight; Kent feven; and Suffex fix. The counties are divided into hundreds. Each townfhip elected annually a collector ; who being furnifhed with a lift of perfons liable to be taxed, affeffed them according to the vague eftimation of their incomes, without paying any regard to the nature of fuch incomes. Uncleared land, perfons under the I age of twenty-one, thofe who had juft finifhed an ap- prenticefhip, 270 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, prenticefhip, and flaves who had juft obtained their freedom were exempted from taxes. Poor people having many children were taxed in a fmaller proportion ; but their incomes were always estimated at twenty dollars. Bachelors, whether they had or had not an^,knpw^i property,-^ere taxed as having an income from twenty-four to forty* eight dollars. A court of appeal, elected for three years, onfc-third of which was changed every year, decided upon the complaints of fuch as thought themfelves furcharged. 1?fee commiffioners wlm com^; pofed this court received a dollar and one third for every day on which they were employed. The collectors received feven and a half per cent on the fum collected. As the amount of all the ftate taxes for the counties and hundreds of the ftate of Delaware did not exceed one or two per cent on the fortunes of each individual,j no body murmured ; but this mode of affeffment was not the lefs difgraceful to a free country, for it was arbitrary. During the laft feffions the affembly attempted to wipe away this flain : it was accordingly decreed, " that in future the affeffors fhould make out a ftatement of all the taxable property in each hundred ; thai 'i&&4&pital arifing from land fhould be eftimated at one hundfi^kpounds value for every eight pounds of rent; that the capital arifing from houfes or eftates in towns or villages fhould be eftimated at one hun* dred pounds for every twelve pounds of rent; and that the^egEts both in town and country fhould be taken a^|heir real value : " That flaves of both fexes, from the age of eight to fourteen years, fhould be valued at from twelve to fourteen pounds; and male flaves from the age of fourteen to thirty-fix at from fifteen to thirty-five pounds: " That flaves under eight years of age,,male flaves above forty-five, afld-iemales above thirty-fix, fhould^be taxed in leffer proportions ; but the male slaves who are artifans always in proportionJa^Ahe value of their labour: " And, thaij-nJ^tevihorffcl be:>ei(fe%a;ted. at eight flyings and fixpence pie* ounce ; Mdjtlljfftp!tk&£ stiptber .perfonal property not exprefsly IdllHfrCF exempted ET THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 271 exempted from .taxation, fhould be affeffed in proportion to its value in ready money, according to the opinion of the affeffors." This new mode of taxation, which fixes the principles on. which the affeffment is to be made, ftill leaves too much to the difcretion of the affeffors : it is not yet carried into effedt. The antual amount of the taxes varies very little in the ftate of Delaware; it averages from thirteen to fifteen thoufand dollars. The ftate has no furplus treafure, but is free from debt. On the general divifion of the expences of the war, made by the commifitoners of which I have fo often spoken-, the ftate of Delaware was indebted to the United States fix hundred and twelve, thoufand four hundred and twenty-eight dollars. This fum is much more than they are willing or able to pay ; in fadl, this-fpecies of debt will never be paid by any of the ftates upon which it has been impofed. The ihaaU extent of theaftate of Delaware enfefreiy prevents it from enlarging; ite refources ; and it has already been propofed by the fenate to unite it to a part of the ftate of Maryland in. the eaft of theChefepeak. This propofition, which has not yet been agreed to by the houfe of repre- i^l|rtiyes, will no doubt be objected to by the ftate of Maryland, which will not wiliingly difmember itfelf to add to the liability of the ftate of Delaware ; Whilft on the other hand,, the latter wojuM not be defirous of finking entirely into the ftate of Maryland. This meafure would alfo meet fome oppofition from the fmaller |tates, who at nre- fent are compenfated for the inferiority of the number of their members in the houfe of reprefentatives by the equal number of reprefen*- . tatives they fend to congrefs, of which compenfation fehj*;4meafure would deprive them. A motion was made in the legiflative affembly this year, to declare all the children of flaves born after this period free, and to give freedom to all flaves now under the age of twenty-eight, when they ajstajji that age; and that all above that age fhould remain flaves for life. The motion was carried in the houfe of reprefentatives, but as the majority of the people of the country evinced great difapprobation of the meafure. mt £72 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, meafure, it is expedled that it y$t&flfci&WW& out li^aft*. year by the fenate; and that flavery, which every one condemns here, will remain precifely as iyfe^even wt^ejHjwy #J!eparatory act towards, itgprgjsafdual abolition. OffH^Tltl"lljli t1iP' • M****? bi^Ffee.gi^llnefs of the ftat'e^j^ftaiftiwiftity to Philadelphia}, itfclituatftofaL on the edge;4>4^,he bay, or the river Delaware, affords the negroes very eafy meaj|s of running away from their mafters ; whichdis&tn told they jSlg^yfrequently do. The laws relative to flaves are very humane in-M&foe ftate of Dela- ffi8$&- Every mafter whoytyfjfs, his flaves cruelly is fined,>fe-atnd the murder of a negro is $g|nifhed with death. If a wh^iTpsfihftoy^efli negro, who is not his flave, the mafter of that negro may bring the offender to juftice, and punifh him by a fine. Till within thefe two years the flaves were, for all offences, tried by two j uft^ff.of the peace and fi^ijjgreeholders ; they are at prefent tried by the ordinary judges, and by a jury if the offence is capital. They are in every other refpedt well treated, and wel^ fed. The price of a good negro is two hundred and feven|^^ollars.r1|^.^ The,^ri|gia^flaw is that ojy£ngland, with a very few alterations. The feat of government is at prefent at Dover, the moft central town of the fmall ftate of Delaware; until 17Q4, it was at Wilmington. A collection of the laws of the ftate of Delaware is now printing; this is the more neceffary, as there are many ufeful laws, w^ch have never appeared in printe ^The^Enmi^.^uring the war plundered the town-houfes of this ftate, as well as every othe^.; and fent the orkhaM^ records to the governor-general,at^New-York. After the war it was agreed that they fhould be returned; but many of them were previoufly destroyed. ROAD iSY THE DUItE DE LA ROCHEEOUCAULT ttANCOU&T* 2?3 ROAD TO NEWCASTLE j A*» NEWCASTLE* Half a mile from Wilmington, you cro&the Chriftianar^i a very fmall fe&ry*boat, which, however, carries over feveral stages every day- The two fore^horfes are taken off and placed behind, which fHfc the^ihole boat^tfee fides of whieh are not fix inches high. Every thfrig in this country difplay* great %aiit of fore-fight j ftagesamd ferry-boats, as well as politics, are made for the moment. A prudent man forefees many dangers, which the^^fcahitants-o^thisfee&teitry are prevented by habit Md carelefltief* f>om feeing. Whenever, therefore, an accident happens " no&odj^is-'prepared for^it; every one is agitated and alarmed, but? no remedy^is applied. The country ori* this fide of Newcaftle is- a continued flat; it is, ho#*evei«§4>*tter' effltrvated than that on the ^^sbrafiie of Wilmington* The foil appears to be fight. The land is laid out in meadows, a few corn fields, and feveral fields of maize, wliieh are all enclofedJSK there is very little wood land, and very few good trees* The houfes are rather better than the land; fome* of themare veryhandfome. New* caftle is compofed of feventy houfSsi'fome of whielfj a*f e> of brick, and are built adjacent to each other 1 fhe wide ftreets and the grafs plots IJHteit? the appearance of an Englifh village* Being the Coua^ town, it contains the feftlons*houfe and the prifon* The town is built on the Delaware ; it does not, however, carry on any direct foreign trade, but confines itfelf to the coafting trade with Philadel|^i8&#fe Newcaftle, when in the poffeffion of the Swedes, was called $TeW~ Stockholm. When the Dutch conquered it, they called it New- Amfterdam ; and when the Duke of York took poffeffion of it he gave it the name which it has fince retained* It is the oldeft*ckyi^li3ife ffate. j j ffU)^)^^'^ A fund having been raifed by wray of lottery, fandbioned by: the ftate* for the purpofe of building quays at Newcaftle, that place new. affords Von. II. N n fhelter w$* l maftSEXiSOLN fNORTH AMERCgAii N fhelter to veffels in the winter, and begins to rife from the ftate of decay into which it had funk. yE^i^£H&&ML -©'Fu^ftBjtSt-iii Oak is fold at Newcaftle for five dollars a cord, and hiccory for nearly feven dollars. Thergpcq&ularion of the G«*»tty$&f! Newcaftle amounts to about eighteenajfebaufand free people, and three^^pufan4 fiavc3-ic(f)7ibe freq^nt;|Qomiipanication between Philadelphia and Esajjfc timore, and the fgfgajt-traffic betwe^a the two cities, .< haved^^6°fie4 the eftafelifhment of a more speedy means of|f$onveyance of gppdsiaj&d paffengers, than by the ordinary land and water e&rMage. t$£pq&ur fmall floops conftantly faitdto and from Newcaftle and Philadelphia. Regular fftages convey the paffengers to French-Townj§g$ft the Elk&vu&v> about, $velve miles diftant ' tMJm Newgale. Q^Q|}f are carried there in carts. Other floops fail down the jJJfe-River, ■yvniah-empties itfelf imft^Jhe Chefapeai^ eighteen miles from French- Town, from whence they proceed to Baltimore. The expence of the paffage from Philadelphia to Newjpaftle is three ^rqarters of^k^fdiaj^ three quarters of a dollar by the ftage to French-T$j^,$aBd one dollar -tittkflto Quarter from Fifeafch-Town to Baltimore. Tl^^route isTB^fw paffable during the? three or four winter months, at which jt^me the lasyer Delaware is generally frozen. Newcaftle is the true poiUgjfgpjjB yvsfeieh, all the PhiladelphianJtihi£S take tbejfi^departure. When theyif#re laden$3|£hey drop down, thither »^hiA^iri;|ttlot> and take in their poultry and vegetans, where-the erijstains who remain ^f^hH^cJeJplna to fettle their accoun^at the cuftom-houfej$pjn them by land, and from wfeence they faikgyijth the firft fair wind. i^nh^ A ROAD TO^WARWICK.~TH|*rai LlON.-^^pLETON. All the country is exfefl&nely flat until you arrivehwfeitiijeaRed Lion, an inn much frequented by flages and travetes^lphe fields are very cxtenft#tt fome wheat^s$#&Ahere, which is beginning to fhoot; but its© general produce is matzift? there are fome meadows ifown with s>UimlQverd BY THE DUKE. DE LA ROCHEFOUCAIULT LI AN COURT. %7$ ,Move%!'= and-a■• finail fhare of tinAothy^gr afs. A few qiiickfet hedges are here andMiktere to be feen, but theyiaSerely eviiface. to andBuropean t%'.poffibility of-thus.enclofing the fields in this country. Such is the manner in - which- they are here planted and kept, that they ferve. -merely to relieve -the. eye, -'fatigued with the" gloomy encIofur.es] of dead wood. They feldom dig a^^to^Pat the foot of the bank acta.; Which the quiekfet is-planted, or if they do, they cut it fo narrow and perpendicular, that it is incapable of carrying off the fmallefl current of water. The thorns are planted in fingle rows; when greewna^bey are lopped at the bottom, and becoB&evitaall trees, which areesafely- broken down and overthrown by*tthe cattle. Timevjjaill no doubt teach the^inhabitants of America the great advantage of this fort of hedges,yJ£|fei§hHwould faH^an enormous quaiSfeifcy of wood, in a country where its fcarcity begai$&o be already feitssflfeey will learn that the firft expence of jtf^NitegPa'nd preler5|4lligi<|I»s^ would be afcaradantl^ repaid by their duration through; an endlefs period, in whickr no further care n&$s%>ence would be required* WMs% This^4$|l certainly be the cafe fome day or other; hhti^?is aftonifli- ing, tl^,MS8^pitfeftanding foi^aany farmers are: continually arriving from Europe^dnd particularly from . England,, where the utility of quiekfet^fcedges and the method of raifing them are fo w«lbknown, the people ofi£his coUfili*yhave not yet profited by their experience. Indolence, ari&sJiwant of fufficientfiunds, are, withontBdoabl^iheilJf»o ^Ifiai&pal cau#» Jfllfefieh retard fo neceflaiiy an improvemetite$i«i5fhe woods of the ftate of Delawarenawd the edftern fhore of Maryland abound with thorns fimilar to our hawthorns, of which excellent and agreeable hedges might be made, ¥^E^^"^^|iW|(fcwi The road froni •'Wilmington, through "Newcaftle, divideailtfelf at the Red Lion inn : one road leads to Dov er, and to the fout&ytfJlthe ftate of Delaware, the other toCHBSTEli-xowiJifanj^wto^Oifonlii^ 'the ftate of Maryland : we have chofen the latter route- y—I fay -sue, for I travel in company with Mr. Guillemard, who is fo.kind, as to .accompany me the-feW firft days'i§# ^s^lklie^jtjarttey.ailXnd^inoilihe [.Wrowaa N n 2 neighbourhood $7$ ?t&m TRAVKt^tll.KORTa AH|p«CA, neighbourhood»Sdk&h.et fte^ at about twe^y, dollars.an acre; the foilf^jratheitJigh^ but good. This inn is furnifhed with all forts ofap(PO,ui%ns from Newcaftle, from which it is.def.ren or eight ftales diftant. Thenoad^napt the Red Lion to^ssai&wicK runs through*|^e few fort of flat ill-cultiwa&ed country. The foil, however, becomes ftro^^r and better. Some large farm-houfes are to be feen on the right and left of the road; they are furrounded with little huts for the negroes, fromwhich eircumftance it may be fuppofed a confiderable number of them are deployed h#re. ■|»0^i^Lf^i®^^ the only village between Warwick and Newcaftle, is compofed of about twenty houfes, fome of which are of brick ; it is the lafevillage int&he ftate of ^Wb8»^arej«i#iich, however, extends to with|ftb,a mile of Warwiiok, that is to fay, three miles beyond 4ifi£leton. 6 WARWICK—CULTIVATION AND DISUSES OF CORN. ]ittiWe croffed fome fn&aHacreeks to day, which l^ii a few mills and fome[forges. They faii|?fbto the Delaware eithe^fdirectl.y^r^in con- 'iuw&son with oth^Sf)'which.they meet in their cour^i . The fmall ^feek of Bohemia, near Warwick is the firft which we hav^^atet o»^tforihra% runs as far a^sthe Chefapeak. The village of Warwick comprizes ©nly five or fix houfes ; it is S^the ftate of Maryland, and in kim county'o#rfSi#y.jr/)»;^Bhe farmers complain muchr;pf the ♦ir^irj4one ate^theiisaoFn by the. Hefljgn fly. As this dif^^^^r^|^mmon 4a^ae eaft of Maraud, I fhfjj^defer a moj^^ull defcriptipji^of it until I have araseived fome better information on the fubjedl. J I, fhall only e^fe»i^i»tt|)Refejit^^at from the converfatip]i|f^$i^f8#^ alfaw at theis#«r:'ib appears to me that the Hen^n/^^kffl^: attacks -fuch coin as grows-on a poor foil, and that feveral veins of earth in the fame fields, which are of a better quality than the reft, are free from them. Thefe farmers were of opinion> that if the lands were well ?.Aa dunged^ BY THE DU1TE T3E LA ROCHEF0UOAULT LIANC0UB1*. &77 dunged, and kerftit&gctod order, they Would not be liable to the difeafe. Jfcl$feHaffertiWfthay be depended upon, it fhould have induced them to attend to cuiml^ili^but this opinidn, as yet, has not made one farmer more attentive. The corn of this counlty.'is alfo fubjedt Ufcthe ruft,3and to a difeafe called the ftal^tfGii&iDhreddens a part ofcihe ear, arrcbdcftroys the graiite^ The obfervations of the inhabitants, who are neither profound nor perfe^rtt^in their refearches, have not afcertained the caufe of this laft difeafe of the'corn, nor eve mitt* nature. They think, however, that the damp arift&g from fogs is one ofe-t^BUprincipal .caufes. The corn is fometimes fown here mixed with ^fetfter-of-Pax^sPOiMftl^ afhes, but they do not cleanfe it before lowing, which iagspparently one caufe of the various difeafes to whict^M^Cfift>jedl. Land is fold her(^tbwrdiii^^4K~qi»a^^, from* fifteen to forty dollars an acre. The laborious part of cultivation is generally performed by negro flaves. Ttie'jpfce of fuch as are good workmen, is at prefent from three to four hundred dollars a neg^.: they may be hired of thofe matter^f;<fHho do not employ them£3lut let tliem out at fixty dollars a year. Labourers are alfo to be proeured among the White ?fen^*&hofe wages are from one hundred to one :fetfndred -and ten dollars a year. Thefe latter are al#ays betti£*'fed thatf^g^iiegroes. The farmers, moft of whom have their own negroes, or hirtfkhem of flave owners, Hfetdom employ^lHStte men, exeUjfc>in the time of harveft, when they ply^them ardMlar and%:™lf%- day, and find them iaJ^jg)- ?!Ymori§^ aPhe landlord of the^tf^rhere we flopped, f$ft> is a farmer, and who hires negroes, hot havH^'a fuffidibh^mhsmber of his own, r ap*ef^s them'dWKftfe'nien ; 'Be^fi&irfes^^^y #ill wofckafc W^llfif piio- perly looked after ; and that ftfeWhftes require as much^pli&^lte^ijK&is refpedt as the negroes. He obferved, howeidS^' f hat thofe whites who confented to work #Sth the l^acks were of the loweft kind. He has a laTgli field of clover before hii^lfoufe, every acre of Whfteh produces him yearly fixty ttlfklred w^eigl^W^tillte^lh three %re£|£.*$,Ie has not held thU^ferm more than one year: ittfeifl^^1ltf^t#©hundred acres; only fixty o^fUlch are good land. As •8^ As there is nO sbarketaatWarwick,: meat is only to be' procured of the farmers*jawfoo, bef@k& they fepiitffJf^&feJoxen, calves, or fheep, en- 1 fee■ a-^afeafbt-itheman'^t^^ffli^tetiifehood. During this dayctfJourney we have metixfeith'gbodiifey^r^ads; Thofe whieh we .travelie&yefter- rifli^ljSfce^B-r^^^ to pieces by carriage-wheels. The ' 'Weath^i$«Kc!ay>i6^^ European fpring day; com- :>fetob%iiwarm and pleafentJ The leaves of the willow trees begin to expand ; the turtler-doves wbd*their mates ; and tbe-rbirds warble their ' longs. | Blackbirds are more common$i%Mhefe parts than any other fpecies. w'rW&WijfiMl CHESTER-TOWIl^i^liiD.THE MANNER^#te^ik%USTICE IS ■^WMMW^Wm THERfcr-.OBSERyAJ^^^ON SLAVE5p# -%&$&&£$& ifflwwi&k and George-Tojysj|j^ouj'pafs the fmall ct^gfc >cji3|gi$ Ileadfg^'Saffq/k^&d^^l1^ fiea_d of :^ri§r creek are fome rM^J which are turned by its water, collected in a large pond; the natural -declivity of r.tjlie creek{ being' very inconfiderable, •■ This fmall qreek has | feveral branches,; which. - we have paffed2 and which j unite together five or fix houfes at.the head of each- Neither thefe nor two or thre^^l^ ^SSte-iWili^fe^Wfe1^ before j^roffed, flo^$^$g^f&I^ lies,, but through hollows;, which do not alter the appearance of the grouri4j2^)|;:-interrupt t-h/gh ^if^^l^f^ljfeftS) f\irfe%$&$M\xhe land in this neighbourhood is of a rich, and fertile foil. The fields are ftill >M§t&lff^ftQ$8$$$^ifch°fe which we faw yef|er-day; the generality of "^M|Ii3^;J^rger^saB4itfe^:aPPear#^'e °f the country is better::.|Sp§ ^e conftantly meet with proofs, of the little attention beflowed -on .cultivation. - The colour of the foil, in many places, indicates that it coh- ■ tains tron ; which, fettlesjn,the ponds, and on the furface of the earth. i^%on^^b^ ff^^^^J^jffea^l of SaJJafras,there are fome iron-mills. ? . The road t° Chefter, prefents little variety ;; it is a continual fiat, ,and;thej6elds are, %jp£ed.oftheir trecs, as; a,re.a 111hofe. wh^ch, we have feen. fince we left Philadelphia. , j^/a- froon ■ <>i. fh:;?^* aa T-},,a „.\r.f A Chefter, BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 279 CtefteiVt-wbere we arrj^ed .on the thi^leientho^Man^^feiiafcrfd^ a valley, much larger than any we have yet feen. The college, which iaaa large ■ building, on the fummit of a hill, com mands a view of this * little town. This building is in a deplorable state- of decay, although it is not yet finifhed. Thej^is no glafs feany of the-windows ; the wajls have fallen down in.many places, ;a#d the doors are without fteps^jjel, this is the fecond college of the 'ftate, .49^Inch tfy&fe are only.two. Thjsjeftablifhment is endowe^^ith thr$?;tthoufand thnfft. liiuirlred and thijtor. dollars a year. It maintains, axf^gfident an^^bree mafters ; the number of fcholars, however, is not more than forty or. fifty, though fp^i$i|£§n dollars ali^^e branches of learning which are taught there may be acquired. Boarders pay eighty or ninety dollars for their board. Twelve or fifteen hundred dollars have already been expended on this building. ^J^^iqonftrudled on a plan Lyjj^e||pugh to receive five hundred, fcholars. Funds are wanting to complete it, and like almoft all the. puh^p buildings in America;^. will be in ruins.before it is finifhed. There are no free-fchools in this ftate, but fe|ig|da^^:hools, and ftill fewTer grammar-fchools,- where people in eafy cireumftances can fend their children. A proposition, wa^s made at t^ajjaft meeting of the legiflafljjfe affembly, l^efta- blifh a grammar-fchool in each county, faf^rthe public expen^^ but this propoj|jk>n, wfy&^ba^SjHot yet been del^gna^i^jupon, will not be carried, becaufe irj^e^yfft place nobody feels, or appears to fe^fc the advantages of a fuperior educal^B-; fecondly,^fejcaufe the fmall number of thofe who are fenfible of thofe advantages do not^foppofe ife&SP-k S00if^^ refult from a fi§jgle fchool in eacr^tfiunty; and laftly, becaufe ^gifir^pofed eftablifhmfnt does not includb any pro- ^^|^yr.-the education of the peop^5a^lfa^|a|'for thagpart of the peopJ^,^<^|tre unable to pay for it; and who, doubtlefs, are entitled to fhare with the other members of the community in disadvantages of an education purchafed. with the public treafure. Chefter contains about one hundred ^^lli^lttljft ^J^l^ff'^fr Mil «8ff *t*AflPW^S8P'*lMHtf?H AMERIQA, l E ^ft^htfttfes^ *feoftaM)uilt in oneftceetj a feW-of them are brick hojt&s, 'fetf£%he greater part are«9$$\fl#Gid3 among the latter are fen^^ather h^d- fome, W&fl'p&wted, and largeW*3ErlN£ principal1 flkbet—and, as I havefaidj there is fcari^^more than ©*ie—-is built on a geti$e declivityr flbgit^ towards tHe river. About the middl&$£<fhis ftreet, built on a large-'fiftej? of ground, ftands^a tehurch ; the v^niftM^'aM'-Vtyllip: alls of which are rife£ ma much betlfep^i&ndition thafe&thofe of the college. A minifies is ftSffitained by ful^HjMon, ^ho-receives about three hundred dollars: as he &;Mfoprefidein$ e#lfhe college, -with -aP&sS^^ eight hundred. dBllal^-wfides a refiderJiB,< he m^ hve very comfortably: the con- ttffl&Htofc'ef his parifhiotters would not afford him a fubfiftence. Near 'tlfe'fame fpot ftands the hall<Mjuftice. Chefter, as the chief* town of the county of Kent,^ the feat of juftice : cou?B^are helcWiete twice a year, as well as all the courts of common pleas for the ftate of Maryland ; they are held by a chief judge, ' 6¥'adjudgebfQm&Wmidl, wHP|fo*efides fucceffivesy^a- similar courts in the four counties','^which the diftridt is compofed; and by two af- 'lfiBnF*}8i%es, who only fit in th^county-court.- Mr. Samikl Chew, the brother of my refpedtable fnbiid Berfjafnin Chew, of Philadelphia, is one of the afliftant judges. Ic1#aited upon him-mt his hbn^i and as he w&Hhen in court, I went thfther to him. This building is by no means tdMreadmirel^pfcifher for its^xterior, which-^'falling K^ift&ay, like all the public buildings of thts^rity, or for the decorations of the hall of juftice, which l^ttot in a better ftate of repair than the outfide orlSli^Bllfifi!!^.'«**w & But here, as every-whet^e^^^ftie inftitution of juries infpires one 'wftfiireverert^PfttfS^^rpnen here£la*ppear'attentive, and anxious to de- firafe foith eqifijy. Whereveflmfe benevolent inftitution is eftablifhed, we exult fo'^?1^*!SWISri!^TOe honour, the lives of men committed to the charge ''W'rafiii^qpWis; whom paflion does not blind;, whom the partial knowledge of l6Bl^et#Hxatiites a6es^orw«JOTice-; who, Jjfrfr* ing^nmf^ro^pPolrolilffli^OTi$S§fflrereftoF m<9/Teijuife 'Wo^dther guide wianthe didlates or common itnfe, of which few men, specially few plain BV THE nu^E'^H^A^ROCmE^tyueA^^fHEiANCOURT. 281 ^IsfiRfftnetl, are deftmite. The fopmS-Of juftice herdSiaberieife^fatia than in England ;t Where the judge himfelf holes down the depofitksas I of the!1vmneffesi:^te the principal arguments %fstlie dwirifel(Iers^^a4Jn\ repeats them to the jury before they*f>W&nounee thei*&iitjsdit% care- full v difengaging the fimple fadMft^tffPliich theythaire^pidfecidei^lrhma every thing irrelevant. The judges here do not tak^JShafctifcrouble ; - which is generally more neceflkr||hfcre> as the counfellors are* gat*n rulous, ignorant, and full of ein^anery. Yet ftill the juries feldom $xa» nounce an unjuft verdiSW and, as one proof at leaft of their zeal and axftVition in the difcharge of their duty, I muft remarkji&frit duringrmy fhort ftay in this-^fy, a jury has beea-iafelofed tisp&^£xir hours before they agreed in their verdict on a ciiulb the iffue of whiefc$i£,<ttBet involve mof'dNlfcan fift^dollars. ThaWproceedings of theii$©urt at Chefter appeared to me to be conducted with more decorum than in Philadelphia, or any of the American ftates wfc£ch I have vifited. All the attendants are uncoverecMMence is^egferved : and the only indecorum is occafioned by the counfello*s>who wrangle, interrupt, and often abufe each other ; and appear here, as almoft every-where elle, calculated rather to perplex than elucidate the queftions wfciqhiti*ey; argue, '^fteufe robMfies are very^^j^h^'^ll^i^la^^l five or fix trials for this offerJ^nDSSdtfr almoft every feffionsi^ Murders are very rare. The judges attribute the mftkip^H^ of -rofefberies to the free negroes, who are numeroi^fe. the ftate of Maryland : IMljjfpe heard the fame' accufation preferred againft them^fri all the ftates where flavery is permitted. SuchHaScharge is conleqUefttift^y^otfg. argument with the flave-holders againft the abolition of- flavery $ but the evil, if it exifts, as I aflfified to believe it doeajfll^l, to be ajH#ibuted to the.fta£ei of flavery, inJ$hich thefe n6$jj|^freed men have \dteiprevi&^ kept, and from which they have been emancipated witmlt any preparation for a ftate of freedom. ^^^^iWfipM^ \&&B&;.iJ&'-$&. •TOs natural to fuppof^Cthat a flave,- haraffedj>^eontinual- labour, ven by the'feourge totoi Vol. II. i| the open fields whether hei^|pp"ai$hy. O o 1 mm TRAVELS SN. :NOR'J)H; AMERICA, 01^4^1 ce»iifi|^*S)-liibeii$|l mPE^^&$fc$)ga& from , labour. ,,^.1^0^ was a: flave, food of fo me fort or other was always■ provided for h i no,, without the leaft: care :t on his part;; finee he. was? aware vtfiat, no kk$ duftry, or .attention of his, would. .-procure, fhicrv,- jeitj^ejj fetter food of ( clothing. Laibour thereforef brought nothing faut. fatigue, and he be-. came of courfe indolent and ca.relefs. The firft moments of his liberty are enjoyed in a ceffation of toil ;for the lafh no longer .refouncjs in. his ears :. he feelsjf the wants of nature $ no education, has been tbe- . ftfowed. onah^ibut tbfet^itfey^gfe whicb^teg^^^i^^to .cjbeat,. to, fleal, to. lie; and he fatisfies thofe wants, for which induftry has, not provided,71 by pil fering -the corn or provilions of his. neighbours, and beoomes the receiy^sriijf^oods ftolgtjj^y05fee ^ave,?f> itktfB&i&i ^T^^hsfachare th©-aQQ<?$ffajry conffq^s^es,r^ ^^°M^^mMt\ flowed i*pona flave^rhey fhoit$di]^fl^|-$§an/sj c^£a^|jr^av^rjM thofe who are defirous of the gradual emancipation of the negroes ; who conceive that by a careful and. liberal preparation for fuch a benevolent meafure,. adapted to th^fiii^l^ff^negroey^thefi€S^^^;^ and many other ejr&imftances, the Zr5tft&$!i&fi£* 'tS. tfa*,SB-lS:i^fer^T^ may be avoided, and may at length be entirely prevented,, ifJiot in the prefent, at leaft in the future generation. But ho^ll^|i|^M^& for fo general a fpirit of philanthropy among men. who look only to their prefent inters&kiJQfi wr^^.j^f^^S^gifl'2 j| dejfattftiye -? In the ftate of Mary la n d,., fl'a yes •■ aire ■ t ried i u • the. fame, cou rts as th e whites ; they have alfo the.;privilege of trial by juries. The punifh- mj^ts for the blacks 'as£3$FJt4Nft?ft&itou .f the manners, of the peogle^ are mild, at leaft in that part of Maryland where I. am at prefent, arid prevail over the rigour ofthe laws. I was witnefs to a fadl which proves the humanity of the judges, and their defire to render equal juftice to the accufed, whether whites or flaves. A female negro is now in prifon accufed of having poifoned a child, and of having attempted to poifon her miftrefs. Her m^refs, who is her aeenfer., being aawoman of .confiderable con feqUence . ;i n, t he cou n t ry, a nd. all ied, to, a fa m ily -. of great influence in the comity, the judges, jealous of the effedts; of that n-.ih -influence BTv THE DUK fe } bW %& #S^KfEtFdWcl#tit,*flFANCOURT. ?$8&" 38Hf^nce^^'t,ll6,Ji^f^ of the power they pof- *fefi of^^lf^gf^h^Wili1^^^ of th^tli^^cl^^niiSfiffer -li^^ite^ mil^'ifmm^ ^jfte&e of a^fai£'^ln$4mjtertial trilHL11^***^*!?*. 'No: rri«Hirres hffiifffilrsbeen adopted^m MaryMnd«"flft*^4hfe*^t%dttetl freedom of the flaves : fo^§*%NH*tta^aWligf1men hSj^'t^^Had the at- T*6hti6ft 4^!!MtgiglMt\if^li#^ ffiorttfTO^fe^^fe^^:, but"fl|83bpfr« nion of the^'iOT&fta^feems by no means favorable:1!!^^!*6^ Pflw- ^sfftfe'1£ws-of MaVyfehd empower'^he judges to alter the fenterl6e of deathifdto a milder punifKment; which i^tfeat of fending the convMb. to labour for i. Jfeager or a fhorter time in the public worlbsaat BaW^ moref&'I am not of their' 'opititltfATOto ad mift $tifcf<pft3$fflon of the lawSJ*W|8if§y'on the cofiffaVy, appears '^S^TO^feSlrilfti^s figpfeihen- fible, as JPraay, and often must, renderti^^u4g^^Riat^##*ii^%yes ^i£fthe pubfflr^'whereSiJ^iii eveiyk%ell-regulated flatepho judge fhouM merely be the paffive organ of the law. In the ftate of Maryland liSwEe^mly may eaCn^jttS^^7in admiiy^^rfei^Wfwe^ifi^ii^Wn county, 'Xf&^iWarfed by his natuml'dtl^c^iori?*^ ^^^tjuaintance wltih the famiH6§tipf the d&ilffn&ls, or by a momentary fnlpulfe of paffioiPj .at leatf^tiow4iaMe^w*he to be fufpedted of fluSh partial^l#S£'$The jw$|£#8f-the diftiN^^4fce#yW^ul*flll!#red dollars a year; the affitent judges ohl^inree doll&& a day during the feflions. The JOffeS and the ^^d^e^i^^vve one dollar and a thir^^Oayi^' UpRIPIl tif^MK^fcri ^iNrar the juftice-hall ftands^ie prifbW-wIH is a fmaH£fM^*bi$kf&g,'' wMielfi4tes not yet even a ftailifeftftfifoffihere i^&^^d^i^.l^Mii^S&fe intended the prifoners fhould walk for the bene&t of the air^Mgii Ate walls of it are fo lowf^that the^Kftri^rs are p¥ofiift5ted frbmf^iftia]g~ there, as-fKfy might eafily efeape. Debto^ are confined*!^$$epjt&&6 apartment of the fame pri'fiMlV The other prifoners are kept together^ arid in irons: there were but four there when I faw tr^|tf&l§li£;One 0*Fwhich was a negro, who, in attempting to efcaj($Mfi^iJr the win£ doWi"1#adlured his leg in fudF% manner, as to^i^felner am$9&tat«wk ttS^e^r^^M^^tered this 'j&ft&h, and vifited the Wh^*i$te#r\Df '$r& O o 2 the "E-5** ^iippi&yttABt&P'PhS> -IN- -NO-R3P4J *&U#$ IC A, 'dlf^gatlding with^t the gaoler^pjio was abfent, and who ha*|i$^| the keys in the doors, in fuch a manner, that we, or any other perfons who had come to the pr^ai, might have release} all the prifo$j?rg#; This careleffnefs, this negligences^; generally fpeaking, characte$j^|i|?> Of the^f$i#$f^lf^ff<he gaoler receives eighteenpence^a,.day for the maintenasg^of each prifoner; the whole of which pittance ought *e#dta^^$© -be applied to that object jlg^it.is to be fufpedted, ajad*inr deed we were affured, that this is not very fcrua$|oufly done. At Chefter, as almoft every-where elfe in America, the burial-place $&&fa the middle of the town ; here, however, to|*jgfae danger of contagion, always great in warrni^slimates, is addedr■•jpj^ecency ; for the burial-groundiftun the high ftreet, near thekgjj^j|BJkJ.t p wi^^^j wallsyor any other incjfftjre to conceal it; and is^o^^i^nguifhedby any marks, which might infpire the refpect due to every place fet apart for the burial of the dead. The fadne^ which this ij^^^^c^|jy|b|£ ne^fioned me, will perhaps be afcribejdi,}|g;prejudice; but where is the fon, or the hufband, who could behold without shuddering the gra$fi;j. of the father, or it^ae wife that he loved*#ra-mpled on by beafts ? Reverence for the afhes of the dead appears to me a§|patural as refpedt for the aged ; which perhaps fome may alfo denominate a pre-* judice 's'3¥$0t?£$4& a Prejudice of wbif}||ij%^^§hink, wouhljliave fufficient energy to diveft themfelves, though they^ay ftife?*$jj?|fois£»£t ruption of the understanding, and of morals, energy, whjch^^g||^iU off all reftraint, which fpurns the ferments ?$$*.nature, and renounces every ans^fit feeling and opinion merely on accoiui^f^e^i? antiquity. {*f^#&ilj$ift#rtifcwi A poor-boi$$^ for the coug^-is eftablifhed at Chefter. I have already repeated, that my opines is uniaflapurable to the e$^j^q$§$| | of this fort of houfes. This, however, is kept in as good order as any : private houfe. T^i^poor are well fed, and have the appearance*jgj^ # being v&^h#?fohy. The buying of the houfe coft about f^^o^^i fand fix hundred dolla|§8^ The -annual expence for eighty-two pau- ©eji^old and youngs is four t3a*s>ufand dollars, whk& is about fqi^>;; fix BY THE pUJt'E OE EA ROCHEFOUtfAULT LIANCOURT, 285 fix dollars and a third per head. The overfeers of the poor in each i hundred Of the couatyrrJltve the power of adm^feig into the poor- houfefuob perfoii^ia-. they deem proper objects. The children are put '.oafcajjfprentices when they are of a proper age; and as they are bound to remain with their mafters till the age of twenty-one, no money is advanced by the houfe to the-mafters. Hitherto the negroes have obe&n^iefctiuded from' the poor-houie : which is certaialfsa juft exclu- fion, as far as it refpects flaves, as their mafters ought to take care of . them ; but which ought not to be extended to free negroes, negrqfies, and their children. It was faid by the governors of the. poor, that if they admitted the claims of thefe people, their houfe would be filkd by theH^ias their improvidence is greater than the whites. It is diffieult to admit this reafoning of economy as an exfcaie for fo inhuman a refufal. Prejudice against the negroes, and particularly againft the free negroes, is the true caufe of this unjuft decifion ; which reduce^ftie old, mft#m£negroes, and their children*.^ fubfift upon private charity, and in faille, of that precarious fource, fre- aqtt&B&ly expofes them to the utmoijfc want and loweft ftate of wretch- ednefs. The poors'-rates in the ftateofMaryland are levied upon ifcaefof.county. Every county has<>*?a|Ot a poor-houfe. In feveral they adtufaiifter relief toufche poor at their own houfes, but every-where the fame regulations are adopted rela$$f£«to the diftributions of the public idoiifcgtil>rj Cheftet>is-built on a river }<af the fame name, which rifes in the ftate ofTDelaware. This river is about three quakes of a mile wide, and is navigable-in boats ten mile&^af|^.the town; -.jty^ter which it becomes»stiftnallcreek, the ftream of whffgjiis barely fufficient to turn a mill. Chefter is thirteen miles in a direct line from the Chefapeak; but the land is fo flat, that the river bse|»re it reaches its mouth runs L a izfig-zag cou^je^ ©&thirty-fiv#$miles.. It is ,na»rigable to Chefter for fhips of from eighty tofcfcniiety tons. One veffel of tl$Siburthen belongs to this port, and is employed in the Commerce of the Weft- Indies ; I fa?#*a|fe fome^finaller fhips, and feme boats without decks, which M6 TRA*V*ft&' IN TS&&SA IVteEMRMCf °#hicft ap^employed in* *be navigation of the bay, and particularly In voyaged to' HaltJsidHe^hii^l tiS^o^nS^l^l^reifit?tiate^*on tfoafsifcek's f^Wlfe fPatl into the Chfe&ap.eak effii|^^NiAHar vefiels$*tli^4iil|^ which have been great^^il&ipafed withMtk^£^M^ ;;a^(teeh was formerly carried <#way by t&S&Hlill^ilflpnian mercbaftfls,c<or by the Brandty-wine millers,4$£ at prefect fent to Baltimore,, where lately-^efral g661$%nills have been l^fifl^i^glyi^^tllfeewafe-font to :35feTown. Corn is raffed in large quantkl^ fft -this part^'llf Maryland: it is esteemed the^Bffll^Hid heavl^^W'^wp^Ml^il^ ft*grown&ttatoee United States, but, as I.ha4e"before obfeifv^l^'^flibject'l^the atta^kf-dforfle Heffian fly, which offeii^^Ugjys halfMtl#';lfarveft. • il&feems fovfaie univerfally admitted he^^ as well as in Warwick, that fuch corn-as is fown in foils^ffi«f%aturaltpfiCTf^Emade fo by dunging, is £3J^pMft^ fftfj^^is yifeafe, 'dWhe blade fhoofe f$fe &htl&ecomes very foon ftrons, and impenetrable^to*lhe aftt^^lSi^fe^sf-deftfu^-l^^ftl&'sfly. Befides. the ruft and the flab, ISil^ewf)^ Tpi^ltw^y, kntf^^m^irginia ^fl^name of WMes, which^enders; 1fwfS?£ffary to thrSflfeit imrd^i^^#^s^^^^ubthd^llfeafe is by no 'SRttt fo general here as inatfie lower- f$ffi&0. Virginia, thoagh'ft^ss: not lon§%nce they hav$$tffered by it in this j^art of Maryland, .where* - however, they have as yet kie^lected tHi^recaution of «ffter£^afoiga the corn as foon as it is cut. The conviction of the advantage of .enrich* fn^tealalld. has not induc$Mfce ^wrwr^^i^bift^wsiJii^i-e i duffgdri^On; ' tSSPmet^if^^Sch land a& 'fP^ultivated in'f4We uftia4?/v^a^lReduces fefifpfeom fr$Fto fix bufhell^t^feiaan ac#$£odr ftoEmii%gte;bi )t»n Bfflfels of maize1; *^W fix orfeveij. tS^'riSWPiR^Wwr is, befides,-l^fs*fubject't^^t}#y from ithe damps *ffl$:the form^f^'WiS, howe¥ef^Wt'he human tjb«ie9*that theaCJW^ iSfin^^ffijJs of thi^&feggy and &aP§6l!k$tY' are riio^^^efnie-joasf)4^»J fdfjfsfflirra*^ jbarripuH 11 la^wn^ftus'. • Bilious -and* iMftwfefittent fi^i^^'-a^^r^ii^i^ib iii.^ i?&B^nf%tid'attack more tMiy3Si^%ighth tlPlfe^ w^MtWhl^itants* 4i««Q Mteiy . BT THE. Dt/KE DE- f^/,||iflfEPOU€AUiiT LOhANSOURT. $m "-Many people firik undtli* thefe diforders, the general effects of which muft.be deftrudlive, as ifi$ Sallel to.find an inhabitant who has at- taiiwdfjifeber: age of fi%y-five. The negroes are lefs affedled by thefe diforders. than the whites, arid in general live longer.- The preformation of their health is attributed to their -'.conftantly fleeping in the. kftiitens, where they, are prefempd from the,damps,. whi<^.^a|it^(^ ii^jlaiflr^rtiefh^ffes, evea^hua|% the moft-unpldafiafc heat. Chefter has-a market regularly twice a week, which is wrell fupplied WM^Fbvdf^^^^^4«aattOI!4 and vea^teraftst'fein fix to etgbfc pence per pcajfeil.' Tfo&ttenfr o^^efNft^hyjriCcs^a Chefter does no#$x@eed one htfodfjfdk tfj#§ttr»' a nd tttftai^fe general is cheaper there by one half . than at Philadelphiai>1#&* mPi^6^^^ $%J ofjjfekre are about fourteen or fifteen ftores sj|<-Chefter^|>ne of which is<%epti^*$f£. J^ha|fChew, another brother of .my. friend at Phila-. delphia¥^The goods at?e«fe%©aefal brought from PhiladH^Wssi.where- they are obtained* chehper than at Baltiaaora*. not#!thftandiag the ex- petf&e% Hfelfafajge, which amounts to nearly one per cent. They are fold cit ISfilM&^r twenty-five pet^ifefifc above the price of $foe$iops in l-Kala^elphia^Whenia k^knowttthat the greateft part of the>iter£n Meepers at Chefte¥^4fej|jifehtly bu^fcfceir goods at a half, and always a quarter, below the market price, it. muft be fuppofed ^^;thougf^$lij^, ttBB*ft%fi^ttle bufinefs they make great profits Free negroes for agrienltural labour are?* easily profited at eighty dollars a year ; flaves may be hired at fifty dollars. Some planters pfeilb valfite labourers and fee* negroes lb flaves, as lefs troubfefem^ aili&more profitable. A cow is fold here 4br fifteen or twenty dollars ; an ox, for forty; and a horfe for labour, for —ftWsnnrlrrrl tf^fcirrijirn horfes often coft fix hundred dollars therpai^|i* The county of Kent, of which Chefter is the chief!place, contains thirteen thoufand inhabitants, of which five thoufand fix hundred are flaves ; it furnifhes but few cattle for the markets of Baltimore and Philadelphia, as almoft all its produce is confumed within itfelf. Pig* COLONEL 28S n TRAVELS IN NORtH AMtltUSA, COLONS^, TBt^LI#AN. Havin^lroffed theTftrer, we entered Queenl|nn*^emitytf^hich - affords no AcTfe variefjjp&n the nature of its fml ofi&s cultiv^iojji^ ?™|i thofe jPiave paffed!^ I was informed that I was in the worft paiof the county, and that the m%e diftant^rts are*pMle and pro- df^jgreat quantities of^iorn, whieh lisnlla^uced to beHeye, as every -bocsy tjl'ee^tj^ the report aii^^t^^ifell known that the county exports*% lfffe quan$fljy 6fs*cortf, £J!$i fends a great many cattl^Wjgo -l^tinferifeafk^t^fc Isiflfell the Itfhtji wiick lies near the road twenty- ^c^rjfflfes"oh*^iOTel|feolonel ThyllBptfs iyocfcfefrfelbarren, which is *atti|^vfted to'^ having been drained*&y We lillip^growth of tobacao here previous to.a^e almoft total relinquif3pa,g the cultn^jtoijif that plant in this part of Maryland. Thefe forts of foil produce |fbmf ^four^lftiifix bufhels%f corn an acre, when the^flp-.e not infeftet-^ith either tfte^flfeflian fljifrvyith fmut, by the ftah,fnofil'y the widle. '"'roe. *%#ufes by tlilFfiile of tne roads aras!o#the m$ft miferabh^kind, and the ^«|tial$&nts appear byWheir exterkmrf&s poor as th£j!£ lands. Thejfagf 4S&bit&tions confift of bad log-houfes, a%-frn^^s thofe which are met wV^^^l^h^tmi^ft-of the moft diftant 'vW^D^Wi Ilp?litfcie village of Ghmch-hill, containing a dqjaen old houfes, and ^tc^ld^^iil^rches^ttr^one epifco^a^^tid the^ewer rs%hodiftical, is the only one^?t>e met with on this fid^CenterviIl&0^e4^ig£?t®fjyii j3^;the count^^&is'-place-Wfituated upon a fmall elevatjgfe above Corftcmcreek.: Tne ccfthiBp built the feffions-houfe and the -pf^fon;. thUe aie fome othe$fiabita*ions here, confiftingrprincipal^ifii^taiij^S; | andv 4vlflrehoufes, making^k^the whole abouUWenty houjeg; tole^My'Z well binfiS%f brick, but at a confiderable diftance frornaeach OtjJJlS * without ha^fcig any cultivated fields near them : there if.a;na^l of "'i^^teerable^ize, built upon the creek... A little furth#|f|fttLthe cou^y tnEre rs*an epifcopal^nurch, which tl^imha&ftauts in^Jie,Heig^t^NM* hooMwho are in eafy circumftances attend regularslwpl lpve^. feeiir$ ki$^h&$M$ and carriage .attending at the door. As to Churchill, * mm & ' Wh&mm* the ♦ BY THE DUM BE LA^^CflEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 289 t&ft fmall village wfejch'jp paffed, the epifcopal churcn there is but thinly attended, almoft all the in^Proitauts frequent that of the methodifts. *•&&&&* fca^t[)iT| .ro£^J6%^SentervirWjto Colonel Thylqp^n'i^ie foil feen&kto be a little jyfer; there are fome farm§|&vhich appear to be for the moft pact the habitations of„pkin#rs ; but thofe poor little houfes are much more numerous* i The whole coug^y is covered with cattle of a very poor condition, which are always, during winter and fummer, left in the •J^ds*an4iin the woodsj(||hey are of a very fmall fpecies. Hogs a£e more abundant in Queen Ann^s-County than in ffce county of Kent, and more fcattered about in the roads and ,jg$the fields. Sheep are alfoeoniideraJWy pl^ii^fuH^tht^part of Maryland, bi^'they are fmall and lcasg-legged j Jafcgeneral they produce only two pounds of wool* which fells %|wo fchellmgs a pound. The houfe of Cc#8»el Thylman is upon the river Chefter ; it is in. m ijfey -flat fituation^ from whence a great mafs of water. JNfeen, which is, however, only the bay of the river Chefter parted fby the ifles.nf Eaftern, Neck, and Kent-iflan^. &?fl£ Colonel Thylman has a property of three thoufand acres of land contiguous, of which he ufes about one thoufand for grewingrfjjfcfg: and maize, and for meadow ground. He appears to-Jtnow aj£'tfafe faults of the agriculture of his country, a#l to be convinced of tneiifi* vantage refulting from a change, but he fees fo many difficulties afctencfcpg it, that the amendnignts he i^akes are only partial and few, though .well informed, by the reading t|^ glfod^ngHfl&ibooks, of all that is necefiary to be done in order^&ftablifh a good anj^rich tillage. Cuftom almpft every T^feere prevails over light and knf wledge; people will not, they dare not, act contralto others : and infegb^finefe of agric^ture, where this cuftom has a greater empire perhaps than ^y^where elfe, the i§r#atexpenoesxiw^kh are neeeflary to the introduction of a^jpat change for the better, aid this general da%ofition to follow the common routine. odsLloSi&w ^Vol.IL # PP GENERAL * Ml Mil '|90 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERlM, GENERAL OBSERVATIONS UPQpi THE POPULATION^!®* ig^VER MARlifeAND. *#|phe--populationJj|f white people i|k*>tfee eaft parfci||f Maryland, - din^nifhes inftead of augmenting. In axoufllty abounding in flaves, the whiles'-do not apply much to labour. Their^mEg|ion ^SO^fifts in ^iyB||feegroes; tl^yf-b^l^en|^^4# tl|& fiflft film o^mbfteytlfeey get, ajgdwhen thlJjMhave two of them thej$ leaifti^&flf working themf^idjpife this fmall num^jfetfifs not fufficient to v§eej|HJfeeir lanel&in- good order according to the ti^ge of the count^>':bBfEj£fes ifcfHt&y be. JThe fmall i&fmers am6df)PJftt$idtfo:hites,: thus leaving; off labour augment-their exes'* O o p&iCesj^and their affai#|ijP|||rfoon in a bad condition. Thfefe, and th«fewho had never been able to purc^fe negroes, find^jjiemfelves in &n-in$0£>r fi^atiorjlb their neighbours who hawmany- flaves INmf-' |>I(^fe^^^^e^j^y|jtoy they foon think q^ftabl^in^ifeem^felv^fbt aCc^fi^5l/whfere la^l^cheaper, and Where they fhall not be fo much furpaf^l^; by proptetofflPfo difpior^rjggnably richer than themffilte^) Sa^th^atl" thefe frft&ll farmsy the fupp[<&3ing of av#fech becomes every year meats -eharg<kl£ie, becaufe the wood i&AHa&ing £fre.e-£e©ees for enclofure is more fcarce, and hand-labour at a higher price, are put to fale, and are bought by rich planters* and thofe who have fold them goto eftabli^Mthfmfel-sj^n Kentucky, in Tenef^r,ria<38fd j§/|jfcita^a%ie£^ the weft. fB^.f^lfthe province does not ga%^& agfisal^atal im^roy^ ments what it lofes in population ; its lands are not better managed; their produce is not inereafed but often diminifhed, becaufe the pur-* chafer of them- looks rather at a good foundation for his■ property* that is to^j^J^'a fure£&&gihelMatiOft ££$?&p§£ty thasL^^5to^a^e- ®p revenue. r^W$$- ^^7i^4B?N l3£$|jk '*■■ -oHfefe, as in other piaceS,' foggfflnf%$fe- |it#litpiig£ life^nQ' &aarer fo- tlWI kitdtfts && the maf^a^^ifij^ ment $&£very other kifi^of labour, it will be found tMWli t0bM$ll has none. The old"men ^d, women, children, and pregnant females, jftp-H^* Sh?:' 'Jt '<P^a: ^iw^V'*klci)raP # BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT ^JfANCEURT. 291 OTtft be fed and clothed, and feken care of in ficknefs. Nothing is mt£e« common thaiv.^^Sff^Kfi' proprietor of eighty flaves unj|Lhle to bring thirty to work in th&neld at the fame time. Ten workmen, hired l%lhe fflB*/will perfornj^at leaft as much labour £s thefe thirty flaves, and the mafter has notli|»^to <lo but to pay ther^j$ji&tieWt& Wfeixty a greatenian/Snafters aware-^rthis calculation, and many perceM£l»e inconvenience of flaves, who, aS^ hara faid, caufe all the-?= white Mbourers -'toquitme countrj$^yho %ould appl^ffcemfelves to -4^r!sP%l^here were no ftav^i^ -Ma^i"^^r«(P|||^arraffed '^rhv their negroes, the popujjtion of Jrotn would otfiterwife augment in the I^S^erni^tieffiifethe farn^^rb^wr^icin as that, of the ^Utrtes 4& other parts of America; Sit wmle t!fe^*%U per^pve the inconvetuengy e£ flavery, they are the firft to oppofe trj«£*|^Mire of the legiil&tuM's making a laflMuajrfJie gradual abolition of flavery. *j|Sfe proprietors oFnegroes com plaite already thaTfince «ieir j$|rfWatieii has iiHiLH!lSfi*they arelISs fubmiflive and more turbuK&t Ihai^dhif Were before. Thefe fympto1|fs ought to teaw them the tl^flSffir^^ doing fometmhg-'^Bedily tl^ftrtls p^WSng an end to this'.ftate of flavery, which will. be^Iooner or later very dangerous tothe'n^affcBflsfj but they fall afleep over thiswas they do over other danger!^ atid hi 'fmig^afe, as iri all otheff^p^ acknow^fetfflff jthat forefi^lt fs"tfe|i ana void among ifie people of America. The fielda^re in all tms part of Maryland ofte# of the extent-©f fromWy to eighty acrteH Thofe who^ki4ei$and good tillage know how much tl?fP^reat:fffil-of fields mftt oe*d«#miental ^^tt^MfeflL country where neither the h®rrc's, the beafts,^br the fwine, are kept in the'yaras, and- where confeqttemly dung cartnot^e^tee4i^difor fields of four acres, much lefs for fields of fiach3*^§fct extbnt, which even wtsP'plenty of dung caimever be regula^jl a&l well dunged. So that the harvefts, '^Ven in the better foil, are poor. d^SspHarerl here wisJO^edt to dung a^hj^fe<with flaves; they |>erceiyeUiic advantage'of ufing it in the fame manner aSrthey perceive the inifcSi** Pp2 veniency 292 TRAVm$P&&4&0RTH AMERICA, I vie^jjency of keeping negroesljfeut the conviction of what is beft has^fco more effedMilHhe one cafe jmn jfr thither. Some fillers juftify the largenefs of their fields by the dearnefs of material^QEyfencinp- th^a It is*true that five panes or fojrares of tMs- fefpijjg^will take rather more than a cord of wood, an^^at five f|^pferes will reiice .jj|| more than about fixty feet, and,that they ought jfeNNkjs renewed every three years. When it is ccjn^ffl^d fiha|a cord of oak cofts at Chefter four djpars ^SaJWhalf^nd alfo that every farmer who makes o^fe%hree hundrecLfquares of fencingjftvhix^ is but Jfefe fince it is only an extent lt§ffeven hundred and twenty-two fathor^||ior4332>|(fit nearly, andgjjpt he^^&ld i^tehis wqad fo employed for fixtjfcdollars, ..jttpvi-U then not be furptff h\|£ to fee^fo many fe#cej||in a l||p scpiditiory^ir that fo^many^Qall farmers arej|j|j$jjyk pleafed with-their poffeffions oti accoun^M th^'^pence^lone. e*]?}}!^ ^afeelation ilfcade wery-where^all theeworld Klfeys the advantage o£dtoed|^^f*fences, every body fees fome^|f them ivt^^'jajg^ntry ; .the thorn is in every wood, and there are living fences without being regular]^ planted. Befides, wood fenfibly diminifhes in this part of ^aa&rica as *ti$b$q& other. It is^Rit down every-where^nd made nfe*|of by ^Vjdry body; it is every-where wafteo^and no-where replanted; ev^ the tree^^at have been cu^^^Jfe^ermitted to bud and grow again, becautSthe cattle are fuffejred to runner and deftroy them;-4(jj§^| MR ^a^@m^ailils4Uounty contains afeOut fifteen thoufand inhabitants, of S^feom fevert- thbufand a^l^ll ifjjfc: the ^ifegaber of free*negroes is-wzvy* confiderable. Wfe'cfi A®3^e^nty ^T^bo^*^|^e» fouth ^that of Queen Aa^"4s fertile, and produces plenty^of corn*&jpl cattle, thi^-^a^jgonveyed-.Ij^BaP! Chefapeak-bay by the river Chefapeak. The marinlr of tilfjige is the Pfame. &;:wl|^^|j||' ^k ; J^jjijfl ^I^W^e^hities of Do|$hefter, Somerfi^^^i^p^inokefler, afford alfo foi^^Corn, b^tk$|§reateft part of them is covered with wood, w-ipirticularly BY TfHE tHIKSiVE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIAJTCOUR-T. % particularly with cedars and pines, the carriage of which is effected by the riveryfe^tikoke,.^^omekp, and Pokomeko, and* is* in every re- efgg^f like to that of the woods of the county of Suffex, ^f wjnch 1 have fpokei^tt^the ftate of Delajvare^^: 1 ^ijigaro^^^pijnty, fituated between that of Tallffi and^^tejjate^ Efclaware, isf the rnpft flerile of.tbe^^ght counties oj^his part of Maryland- ppu£ mdlfe -*8 A plan of a canaAJs indignation, \*$h§ch is propofed to take place in the wfflfcrs oij*he riyer.Chaptank; unorder to j|^*-tbe Delaware and the Chefapeak. It is at prefent on|y a projectf^t^ijathe legiflatur&Jias or- de£|kLan account of the pttj^to-.be taken. It is faid, that the opinion^ *^tnsfeti the moft acquainted-awi#hed|efe affairs is favou«^)leat^y|tsexe-f cution, and it is hoped that it will be accomplifhed. The divifion of the waters of thi^pagiku'ula, w§ich run either into tr^J&elaware or into t^^ahefape^kf^ is maay%yiiifcrange of marfhesjphighJj reach through, tne whole extent of the ftate of Delaware, and of which the pofition is a-^t-Js more elevated.jfen the reft mmhe country. It is remarked, that the foil J|fc$hefe marfhes is more fam^L and of an inferior quad^ to that of the irej^^f^fce peninfula ; ^a that^e? bufhjqft and fhrubs which are commonly found upon the higheft mountain are alfo .to be met with i^this^matfhy gounliry&i| The inhabitant in eafy circumftances of the eaft part of Maryland are polite and hofpit^le. Mr. Chew treHed me in the moft kind and ^^iigi^am^BJpr, and had a frigatjfhip for me wkjg|| this excellent femily have coj§|inued to ]|pfl|five du^ag the whole.; time I have ^en:i|^|America^^^,he people of this country are ao0 gentle f&an/r ners; it is towards^he intejieft^^fh^.farms^at'fceir care&..and attentions are geQeraj^toiip^^B^the fale of the produce of the foil is the only commerce to which they apply. 4fr^& In poli^al opinionaJjto are federal^, bufewithout any odUff pre- diledlion for England, than that which proceeds,from the great attachment which'rhjH have here for the arij^ut prefitjfnt, who^hg.the last ye^ETef hisfeminiftrariolptraced thft" nat^iyith credit.. The people 294. TBAVMm^m*t^mi$nrK AMERIC A> amufe themfetes with the writin^of Fenno and Porf&ftine;, but they fay already fflRfc ^e latter is dtfmack-guard, who wifhes to deliver Am|y^av|Rinto the hlftds of the En^ifh. There is wb ^gf&at advancement made in politics any-where. The: young men are much taken up with fox-hunting and racing. ■ftSLE OF KENT.—PASSAGE OF THE CHg|iPEAK. After pafling a day agreeaBIpjat the houfe of Colonel Sfeylman, one $&the moft amiable and polite men, and of the beft company^yhich I Jjpprff ft*• n$fi with m America, I proceeded%n*j^$j^ay towa^id^Kbfc/k J^OT^.^iere l^^mofed to embark for Annapbll|||t*The cq|mtf3^aevery« v^e^pbJI^ a||rthe land has been m^gh^^d.i^^h^^i^^ation oft%, b|fep, whi^ha^fep^ abandoned : the houfesype miferalilj^r Twelve miles from tlb colonel's,.aj||r ha»g Puffed through a meaaU|t^le vil- lage, confifting of fix orfeven houfes, honoured with the name of C^ieen'^fcTown, I paffed the Kent&dc&row in a fmail^r^feboat, and I ^tefti^effed feven Jffles further in the fla^Jjija^f !Kent, where the land Aas of tfa& fame hajure as thatwjnfch >Jjnad juft left. Th^hhabitan^ >^I8|faPlF*"«to &%fl9* .isporer. Captain Calvert keeps a toleralbi^ g(|^y#n^^h^g^of-^^,j|iand, anditg&o goe#fmall floops for the paflage*I/.But thefe floops cannot approach nearer ffe^Pf fhoreJoian ^ithii&&aff a milejsi It wa^snecefitok^ take my horfe with me in a boat abfoluteiyjjitt, fro^whence he was hoifted into this lititlj|rveifek' The. aak.tBaTq^p^d^the negro failors and of the caggpn in this ^fair* made uSjthink that thejj$3Drfe and we fhould havesjaftour lsvl|^>n.th^l,: oeca^on^iHtappily we came^ff with h&ili$Qm$h'ry* In^aftei-a fifr fage oHJff an hour and sl8|Ujyiter over twelw^yles,^theibread^aji^^ Chefapeak-bay at^is place, I andeaay horfe aa;m?|dfafe at Annapqlgfc the 3d*of April, ^y'-"jte^ ^ML3mh^M^%^i^t The paffage for a man and his horfe coils two dollars, when there a^jno other^affengersi^hen there are mai^ifche priB^df the paffage i'ia- 9^^J^^lar and a ^f»^Thislittle voyage is commcw|jtferisf med, • #F * '*£-£ m # JBV THE DfcfelS im LA'ROtfBEFOUCAVLir LIANCOURT. $95 in two hours'1: We wi6li#*i& mirable. e becSu-Cirthe weanrcr W& ad- ANNAPOEfSf The profpect of Annapohs^fs extremely agreeable u^on'armifg there fmm/lihe bay. Tbi§^ty«*J*4>t$t upon^lj^' fide of the Severfri. upori^tlittle hill, whtch^wdthout^belftg much eledfatfcd, comlS&nds a sg. tftltle of the flat country *#l»ch furrots^ds it. AnnapoiisuWas formerly dhe jSJwicipelf city of Mat^tehd, andtnWe1was fome cofttiwe^6ei%afried a&i;±here.J*r3$nce the revolutio|^^*HlfflSS*thetiattie of the metropolis of the ftate, and cor^^ues to be the^ffcat of tfa<#g§$6tomelat, but Battt^ "^stu^nlhas dra^H^ftl^Mt^iilQ^ie fram |fesi)pF$r*£ capitallits, or thofe who would beconse fuch^lwe quitted it t&tg*rarid refident- -Baltmore; andlfie inha&itatfts ^KSf^^eneraWami!Tl^?iri^'%J^^Pbum^ance^who have property-in the nei^hliwroood, ofSfers of the government, and gentlemen of*t§*# ^ai^fettradletpftj^pervl^ity of the co^Bm Wij&8&&. The popipla^nMaf^is" town dea^nifhes every ^ear ; the houfes are fw: the dj$& part! bmf&of brick, a*ta fdre fpad^"^!i!^n^«r^he^ri afe vfcry large, and have-^nfe gardenS^in beTt^Por^e&Jte^flj^y ^r 5lfc^ 7et ^P in Amerifctt/^ ip;%Pi |g*is^jijp The ftaie-houfe iir%iii*Mf* the largeft pubnc bu;ilding^^^ne^j®ted States y i8fft|jjl$'fl!*feS[^] &^ fe^^oT6|^i|5i^%fi& mtifh e d,: J$f%&b$i&Pfifc , ii&kbyi^lali i$%t.-f>refentIe3ft<*lji|$l'J«^l&t^%^tfre^*#%l^^^ll^fe^ "^Wft-one hundred and thfi^TOalJ^dv doII^^: tyi^^reibably^^^uire frofxrfifteeg to twenty th6u3MiJ*m©re-b£Rpg it is competed'Jy£ftfch it >teil! foon be, as the legiflature graiftdf^ery-^sar1 this^jirpj^/** Jfc*cerra the -&9ftifcaia, foWhe; alferri- hliesmf $^ne executi4^ e$#^ty^ttid!rooi^ffi^tl^pffieipal dmcefStyf the ftaffe,^except fcjf^jjfe^goverfh^l^-^ftd-has a houfl£btrilt by thewftate. "ilit nas a large cupola with.fa lantern at the topi, wfefok is<afeefto5p by a commodi^u8*^$|ircafe, 'andefrom vm^iicW^t^^^rprofpect7 :ai fa^ppfc the A'tlai#&"t)^orid the iSselapealpibf the peninn8^f^eiawaJI:,^^^ andof the f itile- -pliaMr^HHey, Which fej^at^ lt%r<^^inap^lis. ''%&& The J* 4b* #« ■396 • TRAVELS IN .*Sr€&BT» .AMERIG/j, ■m T$t©. eollegei'iisgmiother^^ry, '-Qti^4&£&j4$fewkli$ig*:«-;ltjr}>Mtl|^fin- dowpMent^f^lve tboufani dollars, which is raifed by certMavd|jj&te§ j|jf the ftate, ffth as licences, fines ,j&e.;-$>Jdlt/*>f the weft part of Maryland $h04ily. There are a hundred wfeholars there,..?ia#d it is -fal$lflMtlthe mafters of k are very good* The Englifh, the learned languages, the % French, the mathematics as far as^aftronomy,fome philofophy, and iome Common law,, are taught there, (/$&.; //>4&^wJ|i>f$>s&*^,i$ vffpi ,. j§?ehjgrel&iJarge enough. #f^|staini|hl,efiM*mes the^aSgriber oinihaka- *; ftantsin Annapolis fhews^jlpl^atijthe time it was ab^iljfeere was.rjg^ fufpicion of the prefent depopulation of the city, which does not contain mere Jjhan two thoufand inhalants. tfetfrshfadfedi ;}<,i&)pLp9$Dm i^rjiowever, &&^^0^m^^0^^0^}§tb' moft agreeable j ®kjjj]0fef the United .Statf^dPfetofpitality, aftdfan obliging^ilifcrerity, are - ^wHBi^part; f^fgeil^ii«sall^lh^P^i^P^un^e%^d a ftranf^er, always well received among -ti&ff&u foon S^ds ft^^fe|& i$$$§§f%there. aa^lfilifd a lett^.^fe^.ift(|fe»>W^ the m^^^lt^Sf0*tounfellors t^the.ftate. H^figS^emed ^{$^0>&J^$e who jfeite the greateft *£^jnt|p* goodnjp^^ He is faid to poffefs £hat delicacy in his prc^^^, which^g|i^|ays appearedA^me to be necejfc^^make^ that of a councilor the principal, and the moft re- ipHpble.of all-ojjers. He never undertakes a doub$|g-l cafe; and his fortune permits;^iflg^j}pjfa^4fi^^n juft>fpufes without-^molument, to thofe^lien^fwho are^#rf^^fttuajtoi to pay him. §fei| fhare be, for a man of talents and^orality^gj^ption i^ffe pre^ratle to thaffi^" ^(vays the adyoeatlr of juftice, labouring withoutjgeafing to have it ^^rs^ifteredjfiiiv'the rather fuch>^:3ear and virj^us.c^pfeience fees ife^g^TOJot^plovment oflifej can -££[-G^tiglft-jta th.is»^^tferel point ajfthe fpeculators irivlands, in ,^^^1^^! ^d upon the ruin of Others, &c. &c—call me a fool for avowing it..fofc e^g^fcjCarrol, onejuOfvX^teicJ^ft inhabit|fc||*ff the..'United States?Sai3# ^a^^jfe^ at An^m^, and many otfagwjpthe ftfjfe** he nit^ifi general-the? favourable opinion of the^People. Mr. Coo%$$fiii$i duce^m^^Mr. Og|^to^be houfe of PWMu]|$y, arlff to many %f$r others. m" BV THE DUKE DE LA ttOCHEPOUCAULT LIA3TCOURT. 297 others. All that I have feen of the men and women of this city leads me to th!nf#%t one of the plaOfipfrhidi a ftraift*|r would be moft in- clined to choofe, if he did not catch the difeafe* th'e counefy^fHe thirft for fpe&n'ation. ' Publics are here'vHafij^they &f&in that $&bt of Maryland I have juft ^fetted. At prefent the peoplefiffere are held in admiration by the iuc- ceffes of Buonaparte, and lam imy glad to have arrived at this period, •in a city whrch is rathe? dilpofed to Engliftr^pinionsTrodn to favourable ones of my country. A fepa$#fc peace with the emperor Is wifhed for, which would com- peLifeat of England.'^W is by far the dea-reft of my wrfhes'; 'but lotjbs hop&and fpeak of ^btnething elfe. The inhabitants of Annaf&l&&p, •*$fc&t-the fit&tid!f*r§%e&lthful, yet they cOnfefs that*they"are fubject to feVerslRr antumn. The cxfSntry has not the Appearance of being. foffftheaMf as that of the oth%Wde of the ba^Mp-but it is too<arf¥t«h furrotind&d by Water'a^fd creeks of a flow current, to be depended upon 1 s a faiutary 'abode. *SJ(fc '^00 ^JM* -' The county of Ann Arundel, of which AwTapolis is alfo the chief place, is peopled wkft^about thirteen thoufand freemen, ana eleven thoufand flaves. Wheat, mafee, oats, and tobacco, are cultivated hdte. sights found, and three or four forges and furnaces for *'g^|ii^yorks have been eftablifhedhere during fome yeaft. - A cord of oak wood cofts at Annapolis four dollars and a half, that of hi^orjpnw and a half. V&ginia^ coals have been burnt here about two years. *4gg r Iroe market*4fcre is very t^ffijr provi&£WdVit>is v^ often wifhfotit ^ef ^Iwi^hef^^any it fells at eight pen£§la pound, and mutton and %ealtat^ten pefiges Fifh, and efpeciall^ ^perch, rockfifh, anclgftiads, abounds the proper feafon for them. I learnt at Annapolis that Mr. Carroll in his largfTplantation nea^8|& list's mill had attempted to cultivate the viae, without fuccefs, though he had etopiayed viiSPdreffers whom he had expreffly fent for from Vol. IL Q^q |pft| France* $9$ TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, J*liP^raPJf rom this they conclude here that the vine cannot pf^j^^ .^B^WMi'ifrfc wine cann^jbe good.ajiThis proves that the natnsae:oiat|*e\ ibiL^nd of tjtj!|iteliifpite require fome particular care and attenqon,;fijL which good obfervation, and longer experience, may lead to the #$&¥% very of&ke fecre&iMJKUvit.is impofEole to fuppofe that the foil of Mary- land is incapableao^ij^odqcing good grapes. THE.m8TQBY,f^M^^ LAA¥S OF MARYLA$|| Annapolis being the feat of government, it appears td-?jgge proper to place here what I have to fay of .tjpe^biftory and conftitution of Maryland. .... ^ J»' i&'&P nortneHLftates of Americj^owe their eftablifhment to the perfections whieJ^Jjihe Prefbyterians fuffered in England. Cecjjjjj^Calvert, Baron of Bal|^|^^^ia,jQ^tholic, red^ved aH&$j£~' requeft in 1033 a charter f;:$m Charles|the First, who gave to\%$ft and to his heirs the progeny of the countries to the north of the Po- towmacl^^'HJRS. ehaRjjgjt ^|*-|i|^^p Cecilius Calvert endowed him >)dlh|the power and authority of making laws both civil and criminal, ojjraifing taxes, and gra^dng honours. The, enacting claufe of t^cjb.arter .ftated an intention of extending the^j||i$ftian reli^pn^;, Charles the Fip$ ^therein engages for himfelf and his heirs, never to lay upon the inhabitants of thefe new .commies, any interior tax by an exterior ^giftatur%\^^^ \ The firft colony, compofed of. about two hundred gentlemen of fortune and rank, and the ■ fame number ' of their partizans or domelli^^^Qatholics^d^ded in the beginning; p£ii.63&$gie.ar to the mon$rj of the Potowmack, ||fa^!hefap^^-bay. They gavjafrgHf- their eftablifhment the name of Maryland, fome fay in honour of the virgin, O^erstbat it was^j^honour of Queen Mary, wife of Charles the Firft. ^j^|rmade their eftablifhqiegg&gg&cert with -fcti^l-ndians; of whSl&J they hought lands, an^jgpith w-^n,, theya%ed in gi$&t< cordiality. :,':«,:? |jj|ij|dp^ j They BY THE DUSE BE LA ROCHEFQUCaULT LIaNCOUX m They received for: a their ^ablifhrnent-'inore aitieco^rs* from - thefe fayages .than.tJhey:aCQuldeex.pficl'; j they provided attorn wi^h^ga'r^j and the. Indian women taught them misv^toaisakeabread-rdf maise, &e." ff* Lord. Bajtjbnore. eftablifhed his colony upon laws of entire-tolerafi tionafor every afectwof the chriftiand religion;,? without- *pf eferfcfiea" Ifor, any/- and alfo upon thofe of ci^ikfart$ggj§$!^ ceffiyeJy ..many new emigrations frt^a- Europe and a Stoftfidefabfe number of puri^jpis;whom theJadvs of Virginia dr©VeP&o^1tp8^£tl% ■- fant fettlement, in confequence of which it inereafed very much. An aflembly off£$ggaen. formed in 1038, in concert with Lor^Bal- ^kgore, a kind of conftitution for the^o^^a&on^^Jir&s $?h$eh fhould not be enforced till after they had received the fanction of two houfel| and the approbation o£ithe.governor. In tbeggfeidft of theje;wife eftabl^teli^k^tpainf^iifcPfeafnV^tha^ flavery took root in this colony§pj»»its infancy,*l|yH8&f^$*ift&dd By an affembly of freemen, in gbsahg a delation, of 'the- people, proHfteilfe^i that they confifted of all} the: inhabitants, the flaves* exempted. This colony was difiagfoed fuceepively by 'trftfwfifif "which ^eW quick^yjasppeafed by Lord Baltimore, of whom it appears that prudence and excellent conducts atLiijuations never failed him. After the death of Charles the Firft affairs changed, -"©rpmwelf was acknowledged by this province, which was then dependent upon England.^;j&ord Baltimore was obliged to $a4|&':refuge in Virginia* Therjpsttholic religion was excluded.s^%r the EKg^^lHligion was efta- ^^^e4>by law. In fhort, after many vleijj|tade&, and after the^iftk ftor^^n of Cha^Jes the Second, Lord Baltimd# was re-lfeblifhed in the property of the ftate of Maryland, "ftiaere his heirs wet^ftxed till the laft revolution,, in which a part of their poffeffions was con- fifcated. The conftitution of 1638 was revifed in l650yia^nnderwSritfome change^* was fufpended d3i^ng the troubles, but-after thofe were blown over it was reftored to futafigour, and rerii^iied fom&\77<), when the prefent conftitutioh was made. ^40} &g£& Q^q 2 4M^r^'i^J By 30Q TRAVELS IN NO-RT^.'AMERICA, By this conftitution t^fjgeneral affembly is compofed of &&%&Qmo delegates, and a fenate. Each county choofes fite members of the houfe of delegates: there are feventeen counties, and th#$ritics of Annapolis and Baltimore nominate two each. The houfe of delegates i$vsenewed every year. The conditions required to ||8#&$$fevap member are to be twenty-p^ae, years of age, a citize^of the ftate, a refident of the county of one year ftanding, and to be poffeCed of a property of the value of thirteen hundred and thirty dollars. The eledtors of the reprefentatives are required to be twenty-one years of age, and to be freemen, poffeffing. a perfonal property of eighty dollars, or fifty acres of land.a:^here are fifteen fenators who are chofen for five yCMS* by two electors for each county, chofen by the electors who choofe the reprefentatives. Seven fenators out,$£ithe fifteen are re- quired-npu|3e of the eaftern part of the ftate, and eight of the weftern part; their functions all cea^ppgether. In order^}. become a fei^a^i^f it jbk required to be twenty-five years of age, forjpye been a refi4W5t of the ftate during the three years preceding, and.t&^aave a property of two thoufand fix hundred and fixty-two dollars. The executive power confifts of a gov^aor and five counfellors; they -ajgMinofen by the majority pf$Jpe two houfes united. The fame con- ditiQn^:jS(|uired to become a fenator are required to become a epj&ijff The governor is required to be twenty-five years of age at leaft, to be poffeffed of property to the amount^ thirteen thoufa$*d> two hun-. dred an&$8$$tr"two dollars, and to have been a refident of the ftate during the five preceding years. The govern^ ,wkh the advice of the council, appoints to all places, except to thofe of fherislg^treafurers, and coroners. He. has the power of expelling thofe from office who are in, except the judges. He annuls orn^ga^gs fentenees, and is miUta^chief by land and fea : he is ekflft^f ^f6°^ ycav> Q$¥% aud can only beg^efe^d for three .yqititag in feven,;vlHis pla^4s filled in cafe of abfence or death,, by the coun-. fello^fy|i^ol^eft ftanding. Every perfon before he enter$a|j||tp any „_i|wJll|i, ttit'li official BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCIIEFOUCAtJLT LIANCOURT. 3m official-$W&J&£& is required to take an oath that he is of the Christian religion. i^fVkh very ^W exceptions, very reaforMble and of fmall extent, all property in Maryland is fubject to taxation. The legiflature has made a valuation of the lands in each county, and according to different§ rates, which vary from half a dollar to four arid* a half. -Slaves are vatiled according to their age and fox, from as low as forty dollars up to one hundred and twenty. The lots-in towns are valued in proportion to their rent; a hundred dollars when the rent is eight r the houfes at a hundred dollars for every fixteen of rent. Independently of thefe general taxesfeVery advocate at the time of his admifilon into a court pays eight dollars, andH$for every year he Continues his profession. The licences for keeping taverns pay eight dollars ; thofe for felling fpirituous liquors fixteen. Every marriage-- licence pays a tax of a dollar and twd^fiiirds. There are befides^hefe a great many other taxes, upon legal proceedings, upon judgments, upon decisions of the court of chancery, and' «pon thofe of the judge of the office of lands, &c. &c. When the ftate has an occafion for taxes, the legiflature which votes theSP'appoints in the fame bill five commiffioners for the county. I^&^fe'^ommiffioners affemble, divide the county into diftridts for taxation, and appoint an affeffor for each of thefe diftridts. It is the duty of thefe affeffors to make ufe of all legal means to know the taxable property of every individual. Falfe returns made by proprietors are pMlfeed" by an- augmentation of the tax, to the double,, or triple, according to the nature of the cafe. The bffc£l&for the valuation of lands, and other property-mentioned: above, direct the affeffors in afcertaining the quota-of the tax to be paid by each individual, Their labour is fubmitted" to the five Gom- mimoners of the county, who afterwards appoint the collectors;. thefe defeat? the money they colledt into the trcafur^lfiest of one of the two parts of the ftate, according to the fituation of the county where the tax is raifed, for the more ready execution of their duty, under the: pl^ inflections 302 TRAVELS--LN NORTH -AMERICA, infpe&kggspT the*"'^^b^rjin%ners: the codlledlOrs. are. required to gife I fecurity^rU'.The goods, movab&aqafei immovable, of taxabljelfpssfSons may-bei#i2ted by the collectocsi in defa-y^of payments 3m4$k$fc alfo of the collectors are liable to feizure^ for neglige>ric4i$* their collection* ^^.r-ge^mi^fipers rec§|f?e a dollars and a half for every day they are employed. They fix the fala3$es of the affeffors, which cannot exceed fixty-fix dollars: the collectors are rewarded with four per cent of what they receive. The flate has not laid a "tax jfece 178f>; i# amounted in that year..t|0^|two hundred and eighty-four thoufand dollars, and- the expence of collection was only two and a half per cent, The taxes upon the profeffion of an advocate, and upon licences joined to thofe which are produced by legal proceffes, by fines, &c. with the increafe of the interefts of the capitals of the ftate, have been fufficient to pay all the expences of government, which are eftimated from feventy to eighty thoufand dollars, per annum. Tte^Rte has no debts except that of a hundred and fifty-one thoufand dollars by the Union, eftimated by the commiftionerswhom l^ave fo often mentioned. 1% has in the Englifh funds fifty thoufand pounds fterling, which were placed there before the revolution, of which England acknowledges the claim, and to which even the Englifh minifter has given coua£e*f nance ; but Mary landers not yet been able to obtain payment fern the bank in which thefe fums are placed. The ftate is deprived of this income by particular reafons of ftate, and by the negligence or bad conduct of its agentg^a- England. So this capital of fifty thoufand Infills fterling has bes||wincreafing by accumulated intereft during thirty years. The taxes for every county are not the fame, but they #p#tt£xed at the mean fate of a dollar and a half for two hundred and feven-feven dollaisionii^tflate of all taxable .property. The towns have alfo $*eir partieijj&r taxes, according to their wan$#& that of Baltimore amotii^ataibur dollars Tor *®te3gr$two hundred,and* fejfesi^Nft?enj do^ifS'of taxafosfevproperty. Every one acquis -the arights of a eitizm of the fta*te>of Maryland,, by only makki^ oath before a pubfe, officer of his pr®f$$on of nsi&$d.fu Christianity, DT THE DUKE nE""LA ROSHEEOUCAULT LIANCOURT. $0$ Christianity, and of allegiance to the laws, and to the ftafefc. The pOwer of poffeffinji^eVery fpecies of property* and of enjoying all the advantages of a native citizen of the- ftate, is the immediate confe- quence of tM^'oath,' except the right of perfuming public funct^ofei* Foreigners are exempt by the law frori#5$&Sti6n for two years, and during four years lf&ky-bc traders, workmen, or manofadlurers. «iii'jcas*|i0i^)e^k at an^^tepgfh Of the fyftem of the laws of £$aryland, becaufe I have not been able to procure a collection of them, notwithftanding the obligingnefs of the perfons to whom I applied. I have ipoken in anotherj4ace of thofe of which I had a knowledge as far as I could obtainfilipip The importation of negroes from Africa prohibited by the*$|fe«£fceafed there in 17O3. The in#ridudtion of negroes from other flates is forbidden by a recent law, with the neceffary reftridlion for the ^iaaigrants* who J&hsg them as domeftics. SMMRK gl$M^ ROAD^S&DERAL CITY. The company of Mr. Yates, an Englifh merchant, whom I had feen in the fociety at Annapolis, and who went to Upper Marlborough^ induced me to prefer this road, notwkhfta^diilg the iiiconveniency of three paffages over rivers, which I could have avoided by taking that e$ <Bt®denJburg. The country from Annajwlfeto South-river rifes a little; at leaft it is divi«fe&*by fmall elevations, ^i^Jh are not much more than banks, fimillSjpto the other fide- of the bay The landfcape- %3*^ilh$iea|£lii^^ country-houfes, and with farm-hoa^J almoft all o|£briek, Whi#h are more frequent here. The lands are niiWiftrippedie^ trees, li^&thofe on the other fidfer and as at this feafon t^afraitiifcfceoife^^ *tfeeyare more di^^^>^Ja^le]l^jftefe, colours than at any other time of the year. Tbe !aa»d£?a$r£ar as SonttW rived^ara/Cultivated-for corn, which is grown almoft every-where; for maiue^ whash is.seat planted fo eari^itod ti»3%&]&4AidM&ifQMto mea- d.ni v dows. 304 TRAVELS IN NORTH AJMERLCAj E&A •daws. In other fefo^dls, there is every-where the fame negligence of tillage, wooden fences, and what is mQj|aclifagreeable and fatiguing, to a...traveller, a great number of gatggjto open. South-River is paffed by, a very good ferry-boat, at about twftniiles from its moi^ljn theH$&$& v the paffage is a league, the breadth of. the river more than a mile, and its navigation doe&not extend three miles farther. At the head of the navigation there is an inflection or excife office for tobacco, which is carried on by the fame means as in Virginia, but with lefs care than upon James-River. The profpect in pasting the South-River is .rich and agreeable; the ground rifes and falls irjjbrentle undula&on^ and is well furnifhed with trees. The nature of the country beyond the jiver is the fame, and much more variegated than on this fide. At prefent they are preparing the lands for the planting of tobacco. After having worked the land it is thrown into fmall hillocks : this is the mode of their actual labour in the fields. During that time the tobacco fown upon beds prepared for that purpofe, as 1 have obferved in fpeaking of Virginia, begins to rife up. In fome fields it is kept covered under leaves, or dry branches of trees. In others where the fields are Clofer, or where there is a natural floping inijg&e land in a good fituation, it is not covered. The cultivation of tobacco, which had been very much negledtjfi.during feveral years, is more followed .this year on account o£J^e high price it bears in Europe ; but the foil has been fo long worked with this exhausting produce, and is fa badly manured (for manure is abfolutely neceffary for tobacco when the foil is not newly broken up)*yj||a.t it is riot capable of producing good crops. The corn is here very feldom attacked by the Heffian. fly, and the cultivators of this fide of the bay are equally yaad*i quainted with the caufe of their being exempt from them as thofe en the other fide are with.'Jjjggi reafon why|tjaey are tormented with them.. During the laft three days the weather has been what would be- called ygfg hot in fummer, and*£kpr£ have been four days, during which BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEEOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 305 whidftit was fo cold as to require "a great coat to r'^fe-'tn. Thefe sudden and irregular variatiffean the temperature are extremely incommodious. The woods upon the road are but few, and thefe few which remain are cutting down to make room for the fowing of tobacco. NeMPlknd that is tolerably good wilUprOduce two crops of it following each other fuCWRyely plMf|if'after that it would be incapable of producing any thing without manure. In every place upon my journey (Ihave obfersfed the greateft quantity of land, which I have feen to be in an exhauftesi3$ate : never any ti&hure, no reftorative tillage, no change in the produfSlions, nor any of thofe simple proceffes in agB& culture which tend to invigorate the foiL1. • Independently of the expences of making,, and the cuftoms to be overcome in eftablifhing an order of things fo efle&fttally ufeful, the planters give as a reafon for ctiSKhfa^%vtheir bad fyftem of culture, the necessity there is of iSpt ilming large crops of maize for the provifion of their numerous flaves. This reafiW^whifflttWt arife only from want of reflection, or from rakinefs, may fervfe to prove howev^ihat the inhabitants of Maryland' begin to feel fome«iflfebonvenience from their negroes. The river of Potakent, whldfeis paffed at Mount-Pleafant-ferry, is but about a hundred fathoms wide there, but this point is feventy-five miles from its mouth in the bay, ancWfis only five miles from Mount- pleafgftt; whetl3ill*«eafes to be navigable for veffels of two hundred tons burden.. Green trees, of which there are but few to be feen in the eaft part of Maryland, at leaft in the counties which I have paffed through, are much more abundant on this fide; but not fo much foa^in many other ftates. The cedar, the Scotch-pine, the cyprefs, and the fpruce-tree, are the moft common. There are alfo fome pines called pins du Lord, but their number is but fmall. Upper-Marlborough is threetiniles from Mount-Pleafant-ferry : it is the chief place of Prince Geor^s^.cfifanty. The C(iu$W^$&^was sitting on the day 1 paffed there ; and, the only innof this fmall village Vol. II. R r contains, 3» i "TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA contains, of entertains, all thofe whom bufinefs or curiofity always draws? to a court. It was theiMctowded^aBd the certainty that it would be fo> had taken Mr. Cook from Annapolis, for the purpofe of engaging me not to stop tillllacame to the houfefof Mr. ■©ixes, five miles furtffia^v' for whonaahe had given md aaletter.e:flnhi63raode is very much ppiiaf tifed in Maryland and Virginia, where hofpilality is the general character; and the delicacy of an-European, which at firft feems backward in profiting freely; by this hofpitality, -foon becomes reconciled to i^Mien he fees how finale and natural ittis, and how the mafters bf houfes who .Uftid'a traveller with kindnefs'fetem to be pleafed jw;ith; him for having given them an opportunity of treating him in that manner. All agree in faying that this difpofition is more gerresiai) inaMar^nd and Virginia than tny-where elfe; but it is myadut^? to repeat that I have found it common throUg&b-ut Americaio a fc^Pft -Embracing the favour of Mr. Cook's letter, I weart.to.MnnBixe's ;:. a.young woman carried it to him, and in a. .little time afteg-fcwj|SliiSfef- trodiiced into the parlour of an old man who; couldrlhafdly vmMs.; but' he; received me in&the beft: manner. . He is not: the..mafter o£rt&8l houfe ; it belongs to the widow, of his brotheB^rwitfer whom he lodged atid tta whomil^4s^^ffi€diatelyrprefe'nfed. ./S^e^ac/woman/of -about ff^ijtiyears of'age, of very agreeable manners, with the deportdsfult. and tone of the beft company* i^M#as recommended to the otdygteiasii^i hferihawn ftate feemed to cla&ajHmy moft hffiduous'jattwntion;- itaisagafq him then which I have the moft to obferve. This good oldafnari, ofa niaMy years of age, fpoke ,v\z$ith great animation, and pajftseula^ly agakift Frasilse^i Lie is a catholic, a prieft, and^ahji^ll^i^haife'-titleS' afierfiertarnly fufficient to juftify.twfjpafnon with which he exprefl&L himfelf upon everyatbi^$£&a*ive to' tls^$"iCountry,^except fM prmfisfi afid^Be lability, who^'faid hey.deferve to have'<&$a bode > in another couTHryitm " I was reading," faid he, " a French book when you,caid^.-in,,arid one. of the: best .i^tfbur langi&atge; though I deteft.ydur country, peopW' longfince wMii&theifts and .y^lains, I like.its language, for there are here and there gdodfeench worfe,lbetter than finTanyvother language^" ':Atniii%iff!.^a-- ?9Nl' " M J-was BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCH-Ef OUCAULT - LI AN COURT. I .was curious to know what my good old hoft regarded as the mafter-- piece of- French literature. It was -the mandate- of the archbifhop Christapher, ;of-- Beaumont against the decree of the parliament of Paris for the profc'riptioii of the Jefuits. '* Oh ! fir," added he, " your people.are the dregs of nations, a race of mifcrea-nts. It-is- for the punifhment of their fins that God has permitted the prefent revaluation ; it is a fcofffge" which'-" he has in -his- hand to;chaftife that infidel people., -eaifd -which.he will never "lay-"down till his wrath shall" be appealed, and that will probably be a long time firft, for he has a great many -fi-ns.to- punifo-."-'- "it was not my intention to hurt ■ the feelings' of this old jefuit, who all this time offered me wine, aiked me--m4l!t£ moft cordial manner"to dine With him, and engaged me to pais feveral days at his houfe. 1 only rep^efented to him, in a gentle manner, wM it appeared to me that the wrath of God would not be confined to the ehaflifement ofa tfaei^rench^pieple ; and that the^Blfeight alfo be confide red.h*ae;; a fcourge X#Hich God would make uffetfcf to punifh fome other powers, fuc?Wais the erffperor forrexample, upon whom the late ae^feaies of BuonapartdUfell, and our holycfather the Pope, who at that time wa&fin fuch danger, and who neverthelefs was finely not a ^M^hr. "Oil fir," rep^fedhe, " all thii§fe8&4y>'a temporary evil to our holy father ; God Will declaa®*&ifilfel^iifcfclsi favour wh&whe thhSi^pft-. a proper feafon for that purpofe : but he will never pardoiiMl^fflrajIfe of atheifts ahd'rafcals-; and youUtf!fl§ febh fee them difjffcrfed and annihilated, unlefs that God will fikfij^i^ietn to be recalled to the faith and practice of thefr£u£ffcr-s: but I fea£that the gdbdn'efs of God&SiL not go xforifar towards at people who have fo long conQ^Sd*"^ alf^fe fuch enormous crimes upon their heads. " In fhort," continued t*hi#e3|- af^eratej&feld man;f£f|ifcryifa defire to kndft?the tru&ea^fe of^fefi^I^rtch revolution ? A great number of our bda^ catholics here feeMlt^tlsshfe writings ofa^oltaire and^R^uffeau ; but I think otherwi&NMFtfef were doubtl§fsMi€&ty worthlefs men,-"foftHitfMbHtihgsr-ha^I fjlria>di$Ne%t bad principles, but that is not thefi^fufe of the FPSh&h revolution <; • it R r 2 arofe 80$ TKA+QWsX&SWmXM AMERICA, arofe entkely from the iMI&ruction of the fociety of Jefuits. ^^people who has committe&iftich a crime was a foolifh and abominable race, and who would deftroy of courfe all power, all property, and over- t)*0$&r all the laws, fince they had destroyed an order of men fo ufeful, f&tfkm'ed, and fo obvioufly the favourites of God." I was fcrupulous of contradictii^ge my aged hoft, otherwife fo obliging, who^J^fhould have fo4$ttle con\5«ned, and whom my opinion would have fo badly recompenfed for a good reception.^ft was neceffary to deplore a little with him the deftru&ion of fuch a holy fociety, the defection of the principle of all virtue, and of all order, and to acknowledge that the true catyfeyof the French revolution was in the ab^^ien of the Jefuits, where, till then, I confefledd^iad been fo little enlightened as not to have fought for it. I had alfo to attend to a young baflfcfer of a prieft, who was not willing to grant thajEi*jhe deftruction of the Jefuits was the moft^ide°us and the moft unpardonable of crimes. In this man* ner I pleafedijfeay-old Jefiiit, .and^^jl^. myfelf by contradicting the young pedant, until dinner-time, ft was Wednefday in paffioa W£S#fr : the dinner was thek^l^^il^li^^^ifig, quite catholic, and confer quently not very restorative to a traveller. I do not kn#\p?^yh ether my friers will excufe me for biasing fuch a long article of this dotard )£feliit at leaft it will be an additional proof to thi? indubitable and wefljfenown truth,.^hf||^i»fereft and the f aifions are the fpe^lacJes through which men view tj^gt^»ts# events, ijiaireel faw the interest df^Jkjngde.mjsvand the great fecret of diplomacy^© the art of dancing, in its propagation, andi&^&e f&id in ajaHauet; and the old Rev. Mr. Dixes faw the French revolaU^&'i© the deftruction of the Jefuits. <I|iS'^^febj^|J the manner of trea^g;$fe$$iyuries of my coujRjb&y excepted, it &Limpoffible to have fhewn m^re:fei^dni^fs forme than ^eMlMr. Dixes did, an^^tcl^ye^eeja sajpret^ibljgijjg andwjpn&re civil than Mrs. Dixes, his fifter-in-law, who is really amiable, and appears fy&ktb altogether a veryagpod woman, r^^| I had Br THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEF©UCAULT LIANCOURT. 309 I had met inpafrrlg over Mount-Pleafantiltky a young man, who tafiS&ftanding that I Infended to go to Federal-City, propofed that we fhould travel together, and promifed to meet me at the houfe of the old jefuit. He was faithful to his appointment. Two other inhabitants of Federal-City were with him, fo that by their company I was eafed of the inquietude common to ftrangers travelliflg>i$b Maryland, left they fhould lofe their way, for there are no direction pofts by the road fide to point out the true way, and the houfes are fo thinly feattered, that a traveller may wander about a great deaUwithout having an opportuflS^ of being informed of the right road. The rxdititSs^f my new travelling companions were very different from thofe of the houfe I had juft quitted. " Is it true," faid one of tfrem1 to me, " that France has declared war againft America ?" "I believe nothing of it," anfwered I; " France loves America sincerely ; fhe has a little quarrel ^^llli the government, but fhe wifhes for nothing more than the happiggfi and profperity of the people of America." P Thefe reports of a declaration of war are falfe, and-lpread by thp. merchants who wifh to raife the price of their commodities, or by the^ 'fSffiigflni who wifh the Americans to hate the French." " Ah ! fir, they will fiever fucceed in ttiWf£ and fhould France be in the wrong, fhe has rendered us fervices fufficifht not to be treated fo jpiggofoufty ; and as for me, if this ct&rrtry fhould go to war with France* I would go over to the fide of the French, and take my friends with me." " And I alfo"—"And I alfo," faid the other two^Jl*;' If an American were to fight againft a Frenchman," faid they in the courfe of their converfation, in which I took part only for the fake of fupporting it, *' that would be like fig^rang againft his^latfoer." " And worfe ftill," faid another, " for our father has only given us life, and it very often happens that he does not give us any money. Franc^has given us liberty, advanced us millions when our paper currency was in great difcredit, and that at a time when fhe was not &te that we fhould- £fci be able to repay it j and fhe has lent us troops and fhips. Thefe viilanous - ': TRAVELS. LN NORTH AMERICA, villanous Englifh-merchants wifh us to forget all this, that they in ay- fell us their merchandize the dearer, but they will not fucceed in- their -design."e: \ ■ The affection which thefe brave fellows fo plainly manifested to have for France was united with an attachment for the unfortunate M. de la Fayette ; and it is remarked, that it is the fame throughout America, an'&jbbat the fentiment of hatred for France, and indifference about la Fayette, are alfo found united in the oppofite party. " Is it not fhameful," faid my fellow travellers, " that the United-States fhould have done nothing for that brave man who has rendered us fo many fervices ? If the prefident had demanded him from the Emperor, it is certain he would have g9$&$tA^$V'Up to us, for he belongs to us." Xi Without doubt," added they, " the prefident thought that he did well in not demanding him, but he would have done better if he had, .and alfo if he had not madqjfcfeat infamous treaty; and be affined, fir, that we are very numerous in every part of America who think the fame." I I detail this converfatiflft,' to which I affirm that I add. n^^png., in the firft place, perhapSyi§#gaA3fe it gave me pleafure, and then becaufe it is, whatever the Englifh may fay of^i^^^fexpreffion of the fentiments of a great majority of the people of America ; fentiments which France ought carefully to majfftain without abufisngjjjthem, and which, in the mean time, fhe would put an end to by alienating them, if fhe "were not to conduct'herjfe££ with juftice and liberality towards America'—if fhe does not ij>se4£ly put a flop to all the.piracies whijiil are exercifed at this time by her commiflioners in the Weft Indies, at which every honeft Fre:iipl)|ipp|Me^lts who is a friend to his -cotig&ry, under whatever denqmination*her,may come, i ,.I could every day recount "similar examples, for .there are but few asa\serns at which I stop, where I do not hear the fame expreffions of attachment, frorn>Hffoich I become eye^day more perfuaded of the iiieceifity of fpreaidiiiig>0|g8^i%|gQ^|fy wif^ gnd moderate writipygs, which fl^MJii^ of .France withf&p- &00€$$§¥»% United BY THE DUKE UE LA R0CHEF0UCAULT LEANCOURT. United States, and fhfew that fhe is the friend of America, and that it is her intereft al^ftf^s to be fo*. The country from Upper Marlborough to Eaftern-branch rifes fuc- ceiliveTy, and every- where prefe'nts' the fame range of barren land'bad cultivated lands. From the-tops of the mountains whichcborder npi&t the Eaftern-branch, the river Potowmack is feen far beyond George- Town, and as far as Alexandria. The Eaftern-branch is alfo feen in its courfe for five or fix miles; and, in fhort, there is a profpect of the who4e site of the new city, the public and private buildings of which may she diftinguifhed as they rife : this view is fublime and: beautiful,^ but iufiiciently confined by the heights beyond the Potowmack. to enable the eye to embrace the various objeds of it without being loft> in its immensity. The county of Prince George, of which-Upper-Marlborough is the- chief place, is peopled by about twenty-two thoufand inhabitants, of wfj&ehhl&elve thoufad are negro flaves. Tobacco is cultivated here in a considerably large quantity, and is reckoned the beft in Maryland.- It may be remarked, that in this county, as in almoft all the others- igfl$tf§?llhte, the old towns or villages are built at the place where, the-- riftste begin to be navigable, becaufe tobacco being formerly the only-; article of exportation, it was neceffary that the warehoufes for infpect-- ing it fhould be pMeed in fuch fituations-, and they! have ferved as a; pattern to other houfes. The Eaftern-branch is paffed5 in a tolerably good boat," a little too~> fkt, and a great deal too fmall for the quantity of5 horfes which are taken'in to if. T paffed hi this boat with ten horfes and a carriage, and was uneafy till I'arrived on the other fide. The paffage oven this: river is-'from' three quarters of i. mile- to a league. After having croffedrit.' you- enter into Federal-City, that is to fay, in its fire, for at prefent-. there are only a few houfes to be feen in this capital of the UnitedJ States—in this metropolis of North America. But as' Federal-City is by its deft-ination, or atl#aikby the project of- its destination, a: principal point in the- territory, as well as in the interior^ 312 TRAVELS IN* NORTH AMERICA, terior policy of the United States, I fliall fpeak of it at fome length; and in fuch a manner that the hiftory of this great project may be well comprehended; and of the means employed for its execution, of its fituation, actual and defigned, as well as a mature examination of all the circumftances enable me to forefee. FEDERAL-CITY* A little time after the conftitution of the United States was made, its partizans*—and no one was then accufed of not being fo—faw, that to make the fyftem of confederation complete it was neceffary to eftabHfh a general feat of government in a central point of the United States, independent of every particular ftate, and of which the fovereignty mould belong to the Union* As the general government exercifed a 'fidmal authority apart from that of the feveral ftates, the vicinity of its tribunals to thofe of a particular ftate, which, having a j&fjfe? prudence of its own, might infli<5t a different pui^hment from that of the Unkan for the^fame crime, and even on the fame fpot, was a great iaconveaaence, and was to be remedied. The advantages refulting from the residence of the general government in a particular ftate *»%ht be the occafion of jealoufy among the ftates, and caufe the diffo- lntion of the Union ; and this fource of difeontent it was neceffary to remove: neither Philadelphia nor New-York was placed in the centre of the ftates ; and the deputies of the fouthern ftates being removed at a greater diftance from the feat of the government than thofe of the north, this eircumftance might be a caufe of difTatisfa6lion to the former, and interrupt that harmony it was fo important to preferve. To conclude ; the fovereign government having fomething of a fiction in its exiftence, its eftablifhment in a territory belonging folely to the a||tebn, and in which it could exercife all acts of fovereignty with®^ any mixture of other fovereign authority, would give it a greater appearance of ideality : fuch were the principal reafons which were in fad plasi&lgfc ff>r adopting the fcheme of placing the r,ff|4ence 0f the general BY THE DUKE DE LA R0OHEE0UCAULT LIANCOURT. 315 general gcA^i^iHh^flfrin a terriQ3*y abfohitaty :c«ded to the Udian. In July lj*$&the Congrefs paffed a law to this effect, in whitibrtfcirfQfo lowing are the principal provisions : 3ft. To authorize the" general government to accept, for the perma*- nent- feat of its refidence, a territory which fhall not exceed ten miles fquare, at the confluence of the Potowmack and the Eaftern-branch, or Connogecheque; but with a refervation to the ftate in whofe limits" theh territory at- prefent is, of the exercife- of its fovereignty without im-* : peachment by this- law, till the actual eftablifhment of the general government in-fuch- territory, unlefs the Congrefs fliall-provide otherwife by a fubfequent law. 2d. To authorize the prefident of the United States to appoint, and- continue' witfia-falaries.,' three- -eqmmifiioirers to furveyv meafure, and" deferibe the; limits,of inch di;ftri6l,;.w-ith the limitations above provided; the fai9§£iitati*ffioners to act under the direction and control of the prefident of the United States.—Two of the three, at leaft, agreeing to each act. 3d. To authorize the faid commilfkwers to purchafe or receive the ceflion of fuch.lands on the eaft.bank of the Potowmack- as the prefident of the United States fhall judge proper for the ufe of the genera^^oH^ernment; and-to enjoin the faid commiflioners to have in preparation onthe4i£ft Monday in December 1SOO the buildings neoef- fary for the reception of the €Jse&M*refs, the presfident, and other officers of the- United States; the whole fo be elected upon plans adopted by the prefident. 4th. To authorize and enjoin the prefident;to accept donations of money, which may be contributed towards the delrarying. the expences of fuch acquifitions and buildings. 5th. To declare, that on the firft Monday of December 1800 the government of the United States fhall be transferred to fuch dif- tri& and place as is before mentioned. To require, that the feve^aj offices attached to the government mall, in like manner, be tfanf- Vol. II. ffipl S s ferred ST* TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, ferred.to the fame place, under the' fuperintendance of thofe who. at the time being fliall be at the head of fuch offices; and that thenceforth the bufinefs of fuch offices fliall be tranfa&ed only in the faid place : and to assign for the payment of the expences occasioned by fuch removal the duties on importation and tonnage to the extent neceffary. This law,, which paffed while the Congrefs fat at New York, provided alfo, that the government of the United States fhould be removed to Philadelphia, to remain thereflill the firft Monday of December 1800, the period of its installation in its permanent refidence. The Congrefs had been previoufly affined of the favourable difpofition of the States of Virginia and Maryland towards this plan ; both one and the other having, in preceding fittings of their leg Matures,, offered to cede the part of their territory neceffary to its completion*. The feat of the government certainly could not be better chofen : it was not only central, but was at a diftance from all danger of being disturbed by a foreign power, in any cafe of war ; and was a fituation favourable for the erection of a great commercial city, with ample means of being furnifhed with provisions, and in a fine and healthy fpot. As the ftates of Virginia and Maryland had an evident advantage,™, the eftablifhment of the government in the place chofen by this law, they were active to forward the execution of the fcheme, towards which .Virginia gave the union the fum of a hundred and twenty thoufand dollars, and Maryland, feventy-two thoufand dollars. The proprietors of lands on the fpot chofen foifthe new city had an intereft ftill more immediate in the plan. They gave the union the abfolute property of the half of the lots of which the city was to be compofed. They alfo gratuitously ceded all the ground neceffary for ftreets.and fepares, with a refervation of eighty dollars to be paid for every acre employed in forming public gardens. The lots remaining in the hands of individual proprietors, and thofe that became the property of the federal *Y THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEEOUCAULT LIANCOURT. pip •federal government, were. totJbe fo diftributed that individuals and the government fhould equally divide the advantage and inconvenience of the refpective fituations of the feveral lots. In March 1796 the jSongKfi.^fflred a law, by which the commif- fioners were empowered to borrow, with the fan6lion of the prefident of the United States, the fum of three hundred thoufand dollars, to defray the expences of the eftablifhment ordered by the law of 1790, with provifoes, that they fhould not borrow more than two hundred thoufand dollars in the fame year, nor pay more than fix per cent for the loan; that the fums bctfjowed fhould be redeemable in 1803; and that the lots in the city belonging to the government, not fold, and destined to be fo, fhould be the pledge for the loan, and the means of its re-payment, the United States undertaking to make good the deficiency, if there fhould be any. The fame law enjoined the com- miffioners to make a return every fix months to the fecretary of the itreafhry of expenditures of the fums thus borrowed. The commiffioners, therefore, had at their difpofition a hundred and ninety-two thoufand dollars, the donations of Virginia and Maryland ; and three hundred thoufand dollars, the loan authorized by the Congrefs, independent of the produce of the fale of lots, the property of the general government, which they were empowered to fell, with certain reftri<5lions impofed by the prefident of the United States, The navigation of the Potowmack was interrupted in many places below Cumberland, to the diftance of a hundred and ninety-two miles from the feat of the new city; but more efpecially at fifteen miles above George-Town, where there was a great fall, and at a place fix miles nearer, where there was a lefs confiderable fall A company had been incorporated by the ftates of Virginia and Maryland, in 1784, by the name of the Potowmack Company; with a grant of tolls on different canals they had undertaken. The adoption of the fcheme of eftablifhing the general government on the "banks of the Potowmack, gave new activity t^|hefe undertakings, which had begun to ianguifh, In 1795 the Ihares of this company, which at its eftablifliment - ■•>:■ * S s 2 amounted m TRAVELS IN "NORTH AJfc^te&p amounted to five hundred, at four hundred'and forty-four dollarsie$jli were inereafed to fix hundred ; and thti&the company had the difipo*mr of two hundred and fevent^%oufand four hundred dollars to.-fijilij^r prove the navigation of the Potowmack. The ftates of Virgfmia and Maryland were moreover particularly interested in the fuccefs of the l^flbfbny, by being proprietors of a great number of its fhares. When the undertakings of this company fhall be finifhed, the jpro* duce of an immenfe extent of Country, which at prefent is conveyed by land to Philadelphia and Baltimore, will find a more ample, ready, and lefs expensive market through the means of this great river; and lifo&dejfal-City will acquire new refources both for its .confumption and its commerce, adding greajtlyto the natural advantages of its fitu* ation. - The point of land which feparates the Potowmack from the east branch, and Which is within the fite of the new city, is, at different times of the year, not only difficult, but dangerous to double : and the East-branch prefent in g the greatest depth of water, and the fafeft anchorage for fhips, it became an object of importance to join the Potowmack to that branch by a canal; befides, that fuch a canal Wj®&4 be of great advantage to the new city. Two lotteries Hvere authorized by the ftate of Maryland, in J 798, for the forming fuch a canal; each lottery confifting of a hundred and feventy-five thoufand1 dollars, of which a profit of fifteen per cent, that is to fay, twenty-fix thoufand two hundred and fifty thoufand dollars was granted to the canal. Such were the means employed for the eftablifhment of Federal- City, whofe fite extends more than three miles along the banks of the Potowmack, and the Eaft-branch ; and includes four thoufand one hundred and twenty-four acres fquare. _ In America, where, more than'ln any other country in the worldr. a defire for wealth is the prevailing paffion, there are few fchemes which are not made the means of extenfive fpeeulations ; and that of the erecting of Federal-City prefented irresistible temptations, which were not in fad neglected* Mr, BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHESOUCAULT LJANCOURT. Mr. iMorris was among the firft to perceive the probab'iljt&_64f immenfe. gain in fpeculatioris in that quarter; and,-^ conjunction with Meffrs. Nicholfon and Greenleaf, a very fliort time after the adoption of the plah purchafed every lot he could lay hold on, either from the ' commissioners or individual proprietors; that is to fay, every lot that either one or the other would fell'at that period. Of the CotsShiSfW^-.. ers he bought fix thoufand lots at the price of eighty dollars per lot, each containing five thoufand two hundred and fixt.y-five fquare feet. The conditions of his bargain with the commiffioners, which was concluded in 1/93, were, that fifteen hundred of the lots fhould be chofen- by him in the north-east quarter of the city, and the remaining four thoufand five hundred wherever Mr. Morris and his partners* chofe to felect them ; that he fhould erect an hundred and twenty houfes of brick, and -with two stories, on thefe lots within the fpace of feven years; that-he fhould not fell any lot before the first of January 1796, nor without the like condition of building; and finally, that the -payment for the lots fhould be completed within feven years, to ,<§$*$£- mence on the lit of May 1791; a ieventh part to be paid annually— that is to fay, about fixty-eight thoufand dollars yearly, the purchafe money for the whole, being four hundred and eighty thoufand dollars. The lots purchafed by Mr. Morris from individuals amounted to nearly the fame number, and were bought at the fame prieeC The periods for payment varied with the different proprietors, and are not of importance in this general hiftory of FederalsCity- The fale made to Mr.. Morris was the only one of. like extent made either by the commiffioners or individuals. Expecting a higher price,, jhe commiffioners waited for a time when demands for habitations, would be more numerous. The private proprietors acted on the fame principle, and both one and the other,, in the fale-made to Mr. Morrisy confidered it chiefly as the means: of haftening the completion of.the- city,, by'the inducement he w©md have to fell partHof his lots,, and fo augment the number of perfons mtereftedin the rapid progrefs of the- 3J8 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, ^^aenndertaking. Mr. Morris, in fa£t, fold about a thoufand of his tots within eighteen months of his purchafe. Tneuiulding of a houfe Jor the prefident, and a t>lace for the fittings of the Congrefs, excited, Jn the purchafers of lots, the hope of a new influx of fpeculations. The public papers were nlled with exaggerated praifes of the new idty; aeeounts of the rapidity of its progrefs towards completion, fa V-i word, with all the artifices which trading people in every part of the •world areaccuftomed to employ in the difpofal of their wares, and which are perfe&ly known, and amply practifed in this new world. Mr. Law and Mr. Dickinfon, two gentlemen that had lately arrived from India, and both with great wealth, General Howard, General Lee, and two or three wealthy Dutch merchants, were the perfons who bought the greateft number of lots lpf!iMr. Morris; but none smore than Mr. Law, who purchafed four hundred and forty-five lots. Tlie loweft tney -gave was two hundred and ninety-three dollars per Jot—or rather five pence for each fquare foot, of Maryland money i aror^l t^lojts" were notlabfolutely of the fame extent. Many of the iotjJpld for ifx, eight, and ten pence per fquafe foot; the laft c8iSr8w* conftantly paying a higher price, and the fituation of the lots alfo making a difference in their value. Some of the more recent purchafers, in order to have one or more of the entire fquares ihW which the whole was divided,bor for other purpofesof their fpeculations, made their purchafers of the commiffioners, paying at the fame rate for them. The bargains were all clogged with the fame conditions to build as that of Mr. Morris.. The number of lots fold in this manner amounted to fix hundred.. Each of the purchafers chofe his ground .accorduS^tb the opinion he had of its general advantages, and of its Being in a"neighbourhood that would'the moft readrly be filled with Jioufes. The neighbourhood of the president's houfe, of the Capitol* ,of George-Town, the banks of the Potowmack, the Point, and the banks of the Eau-pranSh^ were the places emefly chofen by the firft purchafers.. . 1 '' :'i: m^mt The BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEEOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 219 The opinion that the ground marked out for the whole city would foon be filled was fo general, and the prefident of the United States and the commiffioners were fo much of the fame opinion, that in their regulations they prohibited the cultivating any portion of the ground otberwife than for gardens ; or to build houfes with lefs than two ftories, or even to build houfes of wood. Thefe regulations were, however, fpeedily afterwards withdrawn ; and the Original proprietors had liberty to inclofe and cultivate at their pleafure the ground they had not difpofed of Mr. Blodget, one of,the moft confiderable and intelligent fpeculators- of Philadelphia, having purchafed a large quantity of lots, under the pretence of forwarding the building of the city, but more probably with the real motive of difpofing moft fecurely and advantageoufly of his acquisitions, made two lotteries for the difpofal of them. /jp&S^ principal lot of the first was a handfome tavern, built between the capitol and the Prefident's houfe, valued at fifty thoufand dollars ; the three principal lots of the fecond were three houfes to be'erected near the capitol, of the refpective value of twenty-five thoufand, fifteen' thoufand, and ten thoufand, dollars. Thefe lotteries were made before the prohibition of the ftate of Maryland to make private lotteries, without the authority of the legiflature. They were powerfully patronized by the commiffioners, who confidered them as the means of advancing the building of the city. It appears that thefe lotteries- were attended with the effect propofed to himfell by Mr..Blodget, that of gaining a large profit on the difpofal of his lots, and that he was the only perfon not deceived in the tranfadtion. The fpeculations of Mr. Morris, and the fucceeding purchafers, had not the fame rapid fuccefs. After the plan of the city had been for a while admired for its beauty and magnificence, people began to perceive that it was too extenfive, too gigantic, for the actual circumftances of the United States, and even for thofe which muft follow for a feries of years, admitting that no intervening accidents arrefled the progrefs of their profperity. It was difcovered that the immenfe extent MQ TRAVELS IN NOJ^TH AMERICA,, extent of ground marked out for the city would not be fo fpeedjly covered with houfes as was expected ; and every proprietor of lots intrigued to get the neighbourhood of his lots first inhabited. Ijfii^n, that inftant the common interest ceafed, and the proprietors became. ■*igi$a4<*. Each began to build in his own quarter, with^the hone^i drawing thither the new-comers. Each vaunted of the advantages of that fide of the city where his property lay, and depreciated others. The public papers were no longer filled with the excellencies.- of Federal-City,-but with thofe of one or other of its quarters. The commiffioners were not altogether clear from this-venal con- teft. Two of them poffefTed lets near George-Town r; and, if that had not been the cafe, their habits and prejudices relative to the- city would have determined their opinion as to,the advantage of beginning to build hjfcfiMie quarter or another, and would not have perrnk|jsd them to remain indifferent fpedtators of the emulation of the feveral, gjto- prietors. There were fourrprincipal quarters to wh^h different interests had drawn the greateft number of houfes. The inhabitants.of George- Town, who had purchafed a great, many lots in their neiglfoourh^cj* maintained that a fmall town already built was. fj)e. proper fpot.to h^giH.the new city, by facilitatingaand augmenting:itSfri?four£^ They boafted^ the port of George-Town, and reprefented tie^pminerce already belonging to the place as a favourable opening to the general commerce of the ^tojM? The proprietors^! lots ne^jthe Point declared that situation to be the most airy, healthy, and beay^ul in the city; advantageous to commerce, as it lay along the banks of both rivers, and as being a central fituation between the cagitpl and the President's houfe, from each of which it was equally diftant. ,, . The propr^:§^oj^h^gafl~branch contemned the.nmtof George- Town, and the ba$&s ^fd^ Pot^v^gack, wl^cjh^are not fecure in. ,win,?v ter froflft$ioals of ice ; they,degried the Point, which, placedJbetvveen 'ila&ilsW.Q rivers, was f^r from, being-able completely to enjoy the advantage BY THE DUKE DE LA ROC-HEFOUCAULT XlANCOURT. *3£1 vantage of either; and boafted of their own port, becaufe of its great depth, aiid its fecufiiy from ice, and from the moft prevailing winds. They vaunted of their vkanity to the capitol,^whsctfmuft be the common centre of affairs, it beimgothe place oileib^littftigs of the Congrefs, and in which all the members muft meet,ia$deaft once in the day, and fromiwhich their difta*eer^as not more tjiaiiaihree quarters of a mile. The proprietors in the neighbourhood of the capitol contended, that Federal*»(2«ty*was not necefla*$y a commerciaWnwa; that the effential point was to raife a city for the eftablifhment of tb^iEongrefts^d government; that the natural progrefstswat,.firft to'build houfesround the capitol, and then to extdnd them towards the PretntenS^s houfe, ■which, although of a fecondary confideration, was nev&-thelefs~1iiwfct in importance to theto&pitol; andltliat every effort fhould be made, for the convenience of Congrefs and the fac8i^ll|&gp of -public affairs, to unite, by a continuation of ftreets and buildiiJ^piliefe: two principal points of the government. Thus each proprietor supportedaw4th his arguments the irilterefts of the quarter where the mafs of bis |l*bperty lay ; but he built"Hotwith- ftahdm^ with great caution, and with a constant fear of fome of the oppofitfHnterests presetting. SWS| The commiiKoners, to whom waV entrusted the ere^jKon of puhlic edifices, were accufed by the proprietors that lay at a diftance from ■GreOTge-Towa^bf paying an undue attention to the completacta of the Irlrafident's houfe,^iliiich was in theft* neighbourhadd; of defigning to eftablifh the paHic-offices there, and, eanfeqplhitly, to neglect the capitol ; in a word, of being paafM to George-Town to therinjury of the three other quarters of the townv | Each of thefe opinioaSrarfatwo^tef the fpot at whioh: ikhf ikbuld begin to'build, the city pftgb^find advocates,^eiaen? among difidterefted people^ regarding only the putihe advahtagapbut the ;pub£itf advantage iwas>no motive of atsy of theriwd parlaaB^J^m Thisiilate of things contifta^Woprefent. The Prefident*s houfe Vol. II. *Tt is M»w .' TRAVELS OTJ: NORTH AMERICA,3 \ is fufficiently advanced to be covered in this year ; that win^of the ,e^pi^3i>:^iliich is at preignfc begun (for the plan of that edi&ce is fo extenfive, tt^tirthe execution of two thirds of it has been abandoned to an indefinite period);i|iiay, perhaps, be covefjedin during the^nacoeed'-* ing yea^fi and about a.hundred and fifty houfes are fcattered over the vaft furfsceriffed out for the city, each oftfjw&jfour contenHil>g quarters having from frkintiy to forty, for the moft part very diftant from each other. The pu'bHci'ty.; of thefe: circumftances is no doubt one of the principal; hindrances of an acceffion'of new adventurers. The fame eailfe tha-ve^ahecked the efforts of the prefent proprietors ; among whom .Meflfts.- Morris, NilfeWiaai, and Greenleaf, are moreover embarraffed by the ftate of their affairs, hasiing pledged their property for the payment ofc^feairudebts, and being in fa6l difabled from makk^athe ne- ,ceiIa^ad5^pE^.t^iiietrieve their affairs, or even-toajalnl the condititti^' [©f^thijii^eoontra^iti^liuilding. Laft year they built, or began, forty houfes of brick, in different parts of the city. Frornpithe concurrence of thefe circumftances, it is to be expected that few houfesdWifeB be begun this year. This at leaft is the general sap^Sehenfion of the perfonSjixjoft interefted in the growth of the city. Few lots are at prefent fold ; there is more public fear, but efpetfS^^ more jealoufifcamong the proprietor than any other difpofition; and rite&tare.not favorable to the profperity of the new eftabliftimenb. 'FederaiaCiiyihas alfo enemksmn' the #afe of Pe&alpMnia> who re- rmQanftJynfee the.-^Sangrefsxitothe eve of departing. fronaLrftom; and -a^eniiiWftahy parts of the ftates of Vi^Wiasand Maryland, who regret th$j@£ims which.the -public expenditure will draw to this point* each being eager more immediately to partake of the advantage.. He wfe& contemplates the fubject, without intereft and pafHahv hav- lkj^fi|tt%^b<gj5feeover the lirt&Al\o£ thisjgsoeat plan foF&f&ty, need not o&ttJ^info the partiesta&jrcumftances that aggravate tbeievily to augur unfavourably on the promptitude of the executiofirfthe plan, or even of its praotidaaility. . The idea of forming a city for. the feat of tha^e- yjteNI - '-- -:-:* ,w ..; a bneral BY THE DURE DE LA ROCHEEOUCAULT LIANCOURT. neral government, having no dependence on any of the ftates^f^rg| once grand and delightful. The fite of the city, as I have already obferved,'is well chofen ; if indeed it had not been more politic*© place the Coast-safe at a diftance from a maritime city, to preferip;^ from the real danger of the direct>i«auence of commerce on its delibe- *a^©nssjer«Ehe plan of the city is both judicious and noble ; but it is in fact the grandeur and magnificence of the plan which renders the conception no better than a dream. The plan of the city, I have already stated, includes four thoufand miebjhuadeed and twenty-four aojpQS. Of thefe, feven hundred and twelve are allotted to fixteen ftreets, fcverally bearing the names of the fixteen states; to other ftreets of lefs ./magnitude, fquares, and public gardens. The three thoufand four hundred and twelvea*ifc|Bes? which remain, beiijg the property of the original proprietors and the ^Iniqn, contain twenty-three thoufand lots of houfes, exclufive of three thoufand feet of lots fet afide for quays, whofe price the comfaHJioners have fixed at fixteen pence per foot, in the front, with about eighty a^fe^n depth, fome of which, but very few in number, being already fold. The capitol is at the diftance of one mile and a half from the Pre- &l!®ti'$ihpufe ; and three quarters of a mile, at least, fromtj|€|neareft part of that quarter on the banks of the river^i^rhere th%*»tereftst of commerce will draw merchants, if ever they eftablifh themfelves Uftiawipftmber in this city, together with the differed defcriptioris of perffc*^.depending on them. Exclave of the inffflMfj^jrinnrp of the great distance between the place wher<$^he Congrefs hold^jf^ f^$gs, and the Presidents houfe, which will be every day. more felt,, it will require more than three hundred houfes to fill the interval, witfeput extending the buildings on either fide. Houfes muft alfo be built round the capitol, and round the President's houfe, to fupply the necefiaries of thefe^eftablifhments. Tfapgi to eftiaasate the houfes to n&ake the junction between thefe two points at five -hundred, would bs . Tt2 to SiP -TRAVELS, IN NORTH' j£ME«lteJj» to make the computatiOn^too low ; anid^a€ter all, this would form only a fingle ftreet, of which there is not even&tifeagle houfe buiitiiitife^ptj This quartm^ no doukBf is a convenient refidence for the members of Congrefs, and a fit place for the building a few fhops a'adaiaverns; vbm^t is not the fpot on which eitfep people of bufinefiaaff general, or thofe who prefer^tlMf^ftHrffe-"agreeable fig®ation, will be drawn. It is befide the q^lflWer where the prefent proprietors have the leaft inducement to build, the greater part of their lots being fituated at a diftanc^^i#^the interval ^inot filled, the communication between thefe two''important points will be impracticable in winter ; for it is M^thWyHy be fuppofed that the government will pave and light the ftreets at'theireown g^fPMteilfet^ Two thoufand houfes would not fill one of the other quarters of this vaft city, fo as to connect it with either of the two principal points, the capitSt1, or the President's houfe ; and; if even any one of the quarters wa&0Hled up, the other quarters,^hich the pre&tit- poffeffd&(l0& lots are deepf^j^r-efted in completing alfo, would be deftitute of habitations, or would be fo feparated from the quarter that fhould be completed, a&2to be nothing better than fo many villages perfectly cut off from the tov^PS Cities have, indeed, 1# 'general ©\£mmenced with a fmall number of houfes/^^Kyhich'^hers have been fucceffively added j but here there are two centres, at the diftance of a mile and a half from each other; 'Arid itfWgb be confidered tb$# this cit^.S>ught to be already formed for the reception of the Congrefs, the Prefident, and the foreign minifters. It ought to be completed Unfar as to afford thef#e.-public characters the accommodations to which they are entitled ; and which they will be the lefs difpofed to facrifice, as they have been accuftomed to enjoy ther#tnifIlwladelphia to -tfatj1 whole extent of which America ifflifceptible. WhetPit is faid, as I hear ifttefitinually repeated here, that the actual refidenetFof the government will promptly draw after it all the acta wmmodations BY THE DUKE BE -LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. *3Q& eednmodations neceflary, it ^forgotten that>*h©fe who are the members of this government, and their dependants,->fi£$e takeftt-With the idea of thisvbsy-ftone of the arch of federalifm, will not patiently fee themfelves deprived, even for a while, of the moft simple conveniences of life. And when peff$os, payih^dittle regard to the convenience of thefe public characters, rely on the faith of Congrefs, and expect to fee the government transferred to Federal-City in 1800, they do not Eeafon.aeath more foresight; for, even if that fhould happen, whtolnl expect, but which many .doubt, that the government of the United States will be eftablifhed in Federal-City in 1800, to difcharge the engagements of the Congrefs, and in fome degree to juftify the public expenditure of money there, the general difcontent of thofe who com* pofe the govel^iment would render this merely a temporary meafure, which w&iuld be fucceeded by ftill more difaftrOUs effects tha^ the con- tkmation of the feat of the government where it is. There is lefs , public fpilit in this part of the world than in Europe ; or at leaft of that fpecies of public fpirit which facrifices particular interefts to the general welfare, or even to the vain-glory of accomplishing a great national work. What are called convenience, eafe, tnd comfort, are not perhaps exactly the fame things that receive thofe names in Europe ; but whatever extent the Americans give to thefe things, they eagerly embrace them, cleave to them, and will poffefs them at any price : and it muft be acknowledged, it would not be greatly exaggerat- ingfthe idea of comfort, to Ndefire to be in faiety from being plungecji in the mud for w7ant of pavements, or breaking ose's neck for. want of lamps. And thefe muft be wanting in Federal-City for many yearefto come* from the too great extent of the plan* and the diftance between the two centres of public affairs. Ufually, in the eftablifhment of a city, the firft proprietors and the firft inhabitants heartily concur in the fuccefs of the entefprize. In this place all the ftrengflt'bf the community is loft. There is no common effort, becaufe the inter^fts-of the feveral individuals are really different* Thofe who purchafed lots of the commiffioners with a condition of $N§6** building, 326* TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, building* endeavour to relieve themfelves from the condition. The unfortunate fituation of the affairs of Meffrs. Morris, Nicholfon, and Greenleaf, has, in fa6l, relieved them from it. Thofe who purchafed ftiares from them avail themfelyeijjpf their incapability to fue them, a^^aeglect the condition of which thofe unfortunate men are guarantees to the government. The commiffioners act with more or le% Hfttt dulgep.ee to the proprietors of jots, fometimes waving, and fometimes enforcing the obligation to build. They perceived, that if evem^m conditions were ilri£ily executed in the fix or feven hundred lots.they had fold, they would not yield more than the fame number of brick houfeSyi$gjhich being feattered through the great extqnfe?of the'-g^fa would contribute in noJmpo|tfint degree to its eoH&pIetion. In the cafe of a town growing in the fame fpot from motives of commerce, it would naturally commence -,jjg($ithe quarter most con- Stttffciant to trade, and w.^uj^^lfireafe with more or lefs rapidity in proportion as ifg ^dvantag^i were felt. Each of the new inhabitants, having a complete intereft in the improvement of the place, and coming with an entire free will, would cheerfully fubmit to the inconveniences of a new-formed eftablifhment, with a conviction, that one by one they would difappear, fince the natural advantages the fituation afforded to commerce, being the basis of the eftablifhment, it could not faifefef. fuccefs, and meanwhile the increasing gain of the individuals would contribute to their patience. In Federal-City the cafe is quite otherwife. It has no other bafe than the Union of the feveral ft#tt§$; and ife$his foundation is n/?|falready deflroyed, it cannot be denied, that it is at leaft Iha.ken in that degree to excite diflruft in all fpeculations that muft reft on its folidity for their fuccefs. Commerce is no more than a fecondary object in this city, and fuch of its inhabitants as are engage-in commerce, are, for the moft part, at fuch a distance from the $Wft»"ter. thftfojg the f§^§^^^jgovernment, that two: or three large towns might ftand in the fpace between them. The majority of the members of Congrefs will come to this city with a f^fe. ^y&tfttptoia the|^au, and a difpofition to decry and exaggerate its defects. BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFGUCAULT LIANCOURT. *327 ctefdcts. Such among them as we may fiippofe to be inimical to the federal government, and cbn-fequently-16 the eftablifliment of this place, will find in the enormous public"' expeii-ees already • -■incurred here, and thofe ftill greater that mult -hereafter be incurred, an ample- field for their oppofition • which will gain accefllon of number-spfrom the inconvenience to which all* will be iu'bje#j It is im poffible to- overlook the influence which in eve^y country in the world the tempers and views of individuals have on public- affairs ; or if overlooked, it is miferably to mifunderftand human nature. There are, moreover, a multitude of powerful reafons that give' probability' to the dpinionj that the Union -will not remaitiJJ$ftbtFobestr for a great ntftiifcer of years. There are fo manyldyifrptoms of its dif- fb-lution, that it is idle to imagine that^Federal-City wM$ arrive at the- execution of the tenth part of its plan, before that event, whiGte*Q^ l^tond cireWlfta^ees mayihftften, fhall takpjblace. The prevalent of thefe reafons with many Americans, who dwell on them elites; fWB&-'an apprehenfion of their MW&y, or a defire of their being^Hittfitf tied, is in itfelf an obftaele to the growth of the city,: without thofe: difficulties it otlreMvife mu#*€ttcoun'ter. *&ff%m this combination of circumftances, which I have entl^voured. to detaiPlis briefly as poffible, no perfon can conclude, that Federal-^ -0H^iaid out and even begun as it is, will everfd&eh that degree of improvement to render it even a tolerable abode for the kind of per- fbite for whdlfttit was defigned*- We are not to be iurppizod that the- authors of tBe plan gave it fo< great an extern^-' for it is probable it belonged t#**tfe dignity of theirr project to deftfebe a vaft plan which they left to time Infill up. But i^8NSftf>affible to eonfider wJdfePtoo much aftMiiftiment the conduct" of thofe who prefided ©ver the commencement of the city, which was of a nature to render impraetteatHe a plan that time might foone^st? later hasfe forward**^ if polkfeM events*4iad not interpofedfcin oppo- mStt^ We canndPftlffik^ently wonder, that they did not apply*thte»M efforts to one point; fol#ihftancej. that they did not prated and#Je'a# courage: ssa*< TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, courage the firft-buildings by the natural aid of George-Town, which, had they commenced in its vicinity, fmall as it is, would have been an important motive to an influx of adventurers. But if the poor vanity of commencing Federals-City independent of the refources of George-t Town, ought^o-have prevented the commencement of buildings clofe to that town, no one place has been chofen for the commencement with probability of fuccefs. At prefent the mifchief appears to me irreparable; at leaft, fatal to the objects which firft gave birth to this eftablifhment. Five h'undr^b thoufand do%^§ have already been expended on the part of the public, and nothing is erected but the-jsy&Jls, timber**, and ftaircafesjj ^f a wing of the capitol, and the president's houfe. To complete thefe two buildings, and to erect osiers for the different departments of the administration, fix hundred thoufand dollars are ftill wanting, on the computation of the commiffioners themfelves; and even then there will be no courts of juftice, prifons, churches, pavements, lamps, fountains, or public gardens. *#iPb doubt it is poffible, it is even probable, that fome parts of the bank of the Potowmack, and of,the East-branch, will draw inhabitants for the purpofes of>Mfnmerce, and that one or mo$|atowns will be eftablifhed on thofe rivers;,and thisaj^ofpect may be a compenfation for the purchafenijpf lots in thofe quarters, but it is nothing to Federal-City. In collecting the information I have g|$S£n my reader on this fubject, and the little that I have to fay further refpecting it, and in impartially obferving the paffiorts and prejudices of the majority of thofe from whom I made my enquiries, I was led more than once to the cora- parifon between the man who employs his property and time in clearing and fettling a large tract of lap^ and the perfon who is engaged with others in the eftabl^iment of a new city. The former canjjj'g*^ ceed only byjjfcUecting round him a number of families to whon%.jff ig his intereft to fell his lands at a low price, and to whofe profperity of ecadrfe he contributes. The pooreft man is for his purpofes a good ©ceu^ier of his grounds^ p|£| confp^x§®g benefits on others, he increafes BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. *329 his own welfare and happinefs ; he multiplies three-fold, nay ten-fold, the value of the lands that he holds ftill in his own poffeffion, by the neighbourhood of the inhabitants he has drawn around him. The happinefs of others is the proper element of his fuccefs. If he is of a humane difpofition, he finds a multiplicity of occafions to do good without injury to himfelf. It is indeed his intereft to be benevolent. Every inftance of his expenditure is alio turned to the public advantage ; it is a fervice he renders, a pleafure he affords, to his colony; and . no expence judicibufly applie^ m prejudicial to his fortune ; on the contrary, it inceflantly augments his wealth : as his colony increafes, more wealthy fettlers prefent themfelves, and his lands fell at a price he could not have procured without the previous ex®Hafe of his benevolence. When his colony has made a ftill greater progrefs, the produce of lands formerly wafte, is a:§£W;at|d'real fource of wealth to the flate to which it is fubject, and a new mafs of productions for merchants and coofifmers. His condition is at or#$$noble and delightful. He lives in the midft of hufbandmen, confequently among men of the purest manners and difpofitions, the furthest removed from vice of any among the human ^pfeeies; He is beloved and efteemed. And all thefe.enjoyments he commands in a fhort peripdvd&time*' and owes them all to himfelf. If before thatcommencement ofc^sfenterprize he was virtuous* abewis become better by the very means he employed to enlargeJa&safortune. . His heart! is improved simply by the contemplation of the good he has effected. In a word, he is more happy than. ever, vBfeere are many examples of this kind in America, and among the moft eminent of them is Captain Williamfon of Genefee, who by an undertaking of this/ nature has augmented his fortune as greatly as he has inereafed the efteem in which he was held. He, on the contrary, who is engaged in the eftabliihfrafeat, of a new city,-can rarely confine to himfelf the conduct of the enterprize. If he is not counteracted in the whole o&jpis views, he is fore to be fo in the greater part of them. The poorer inhabitants.that he receives on his eftate are of no advantage to him. They Are even burthenfome,, as Vol. II. K ■ *U u they 330* TRAVELS IN KQfl$et*-&W&iLICA, they occupy the fpace that he wifhes to fill with others, whofe wealth may advance his fortune. Benevolence is -banifhed from bis fyftem^ by the neceffary calculations of his.intereft. If thofe calculations induce him to expend fums for buildings, it is to erect taverns, fhops, to open billiard-tables, and to create lotteries ; in a word, to furnifh the means of diffipation and pleafure—-that is to fay, the means of prodigality and vice. It is fuch objects as thefe that draw crowds of inhabitants to cities, and without them cities, will never be extenfive. When this adventurer fees his city fat%foffijX$'iHik ipopulati^jfo, it is only to fee a conflict of interefts, to contemplatoftjtaloufies daily fifing, and ennj£flifl$£ making good their footings ~ And when, at length, after years of innu- " merable vexations and incefl*fit> anxiety, he has gathered inhabitants***®- ■ the extent he propofed, he h^Only drawn round him rivals and opp#- - nents; #tfile he ha^'done nothing'for the real welfare of fociety. He may have inereafed his wealth, but he will not have added one to the number of his benevolent .fenttttHSSts; an&k0&&$ffch -as he migfct : have had before the commencement of his undertaking will be defaced by the fpectacle to*Was obliged to witnefs, and-Mnfe injuftice to which he was fubjected. If his mind is notwholly ^corrupted, it will be the refidence of remorfe ; but more probably mseifeeart will -be hardened. It is to be feared$*$hat fome ofwdy friends will lau^jp#iJ my mode of viewing thefe things^ -4o#8§hey have my fentiments in their native colours. If, in the -e$mparifon I havselitaawn, I had contemplated the founders ofcfetleral-Gi!^'my picture of a new city would have -iftifen more difgufting, but would not have been.theTefsE juft. I have fomething^fllteifp to add relative to Federal-City, although what I have faid on the fubject has already run to too great a length. The number of its inhabitants is at prefent very inconfiderable, and they are fo fcattered, that if they were lefs occupied with their fpeculations, rivalry, and hatreds, they could ftill form no fociety. They viilifike people in the country, $&Sng at a ^fiance. from each other. The tradefmen and lab0u#e¥S for the rnoftipart^efide at George-Town, I where BY THE DUKE DE LA R0OHEF0VCAULT ,-XLANCOURT. *351 where the. inhabitants of the other quarters are obliged to fend for almoft all neceffaries. The few fhops that are in the heart of Federal- City are miferably provided, and exceffively dear ; and the workmen are the very refufe of that clafs, and neverthelefs very high in .their demands. Prov-ilions are furnished almoft by chance; and this is fo abfolutely the cafe with refpect to butchers' meat, efpecially beef, that during laes^JSsf^days I paffed there I never once few any. EggS$S5§b brought from time to time from the country, but sieithef conftaj|$&- nor often. In fhort, I have not been in any of the obscurest parts of America, where I found provifions fo badly furnifhed. The ftone of which the capitol and president's houfe are built is extremely white, and the workraanihip is excellent ; but I do not ad- *^ii|^fchtMaMhtlecture of thofe buiiNtings. The ftone is a fpecie^iftf granite, and is ftrong, yet not fufficiently fo to refift the fever eft kind of froft ; it is taken from a quarry near the Potowmack, at thirty miles below the-city. At the fame diftance above the city are quarries of fine whito marble, and of a red marble with veins; and alfo a quarry of flate. Lime-ftone is found*£ear the Potowmack, but at theidiftance of fixty miles abov«&¥ffe$ity. i The interior navigation, from the Potowmack to the East-branch, for the formingNoft which the firft lottery is at prefent drawing, is not yet begun; but the Workmen have orders to affemble for its commencemeiitKin a month. Two fmall creeks -*£us.<through. tjfte&SijfQ the wa*er from which may be conveyed to any part. One, which is called Tyberucfeek, has its fource at fome miles diftance from the city ; above which it is elevatdd feventy-eight feet, and may therefore be carried to any height that may be wanted in any of the buildings. GEORGETOWN. This fmall town, which is feparated from the new city by a creek called Rovk^l£-fir&&>}{fokids upon feve"*|fmall hills, which render its afpect pleafing ; but ;the communi^tions-betwee^iats, feveral parts are U u 2 difficult. 332* TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA*. difficult. Some years 'fince the commerce of this place was confider* able, but at prefent it is much diminifhed. IfiM^I In 1791 the total value of. its exportat^^ amounted to 314,864 .dollars; in 1792, to 348,539 dollars; in 1793, to 364,537 dollars; in 1794, to 128,924 dollars; in 1795, to 196,790 dollars ; and in 1796, . to 159,868 dollars. Tobacco, corn, and feeds, form the chie£*#rricles of exportation from George-Town ; it re-exports ^jfectly a very fmall quantity of foreign articles, and is even compeiU^,to fend to other ports that are better markets much of the merchandize brought from Europe in its veffels. Its import%have alfo decreafed : in 1792 the value of them amounted to 99,873 dollars; in 1973, to 87,400 dollars; in 1794, to 139,961 dollars; in 1795, to 153,584 dollars; and in 1796, to 29,193 dollars. The fhipping it employs in i^gforeigii trade* irat prefent about 2,500 tons ; and in its coafting trade nearly a thoufand tons. The diminution of the culture of tobacco is one of the caufes of the decay of its commerce : in 1 792 it exported 9,444 hogfheads ; and in 1796 no mOrei^han 2,4®&#' But fpeculations in the lots of Federal-City is a more powerful caufe of that decay^gjphey have turned a great part of the capital of the merchants into that channel, and confequently diverted it from the trade of the place. Share^n-the bank of this town, which were held by many of thofe merchants, have falj$aathrough the fame, caufes from forty dollars, their ,<apginal price, to thirty. This: bank, eftablifhed by the name o£&Columbia Bank, had originally a capital of 400,000 dollars, divided into ten thoufand fhares. Its capital was augmented with 150,000 dollars, by an a<5l of the legiflature of Maryland in its laft feffion : it is employed in the fame fer^e^*| as all the other banks of America. The notes it has in circulation are for the moft part of the value of a dollar, and they are current at Alexandria, and all the western parts of Maryland as far as Baltimore*. Jiitirhe ftores of George-Town are ufually furnifhed from Baltimore;. it is at that port that the fhips belonging to George-Town generally difpofe of their cargoes in returning ftQ$q*$i$fege~ The merchants, of this jsr THE nUHWDE LA ROCHEEOUCAULT LIANCOURT, *333 v ft^'place expect to fee their trade revive, from the completion of the two canals of the large and little falls of the Potowmack, the remainder of the navigation of that river being cleared from obftacles. They then expect to be the medium of exporting' the produce of the countries watered by the Potowmack and the rivers that fall into it, which at prefent can be conveyed to George-Town only by land, at as high a~ price as the conveyance of them to Baltimore, which from its fituation has the advantage of the towns on the banks of the Potowmack;. where the price of the carriage of flour by land is three dollars per barrel, it will be only eight fhillings and fix pence by water. This* advantage will be communicated alfo to the Eaft-branch in. Federal- City, and Alexandria.. The merchants of George-Town persuade themfelves that they will reap the greater part of the benefit of thefe navigations. Being placed the firft on the route of thofe who will bring their produce from- the countries above the city, and being provided with warehoufes to receive goods, it w&Jl'be a facing of money and time, in veffels coming down'the river, to difpofe of their cargoes at George-Town. They afiert, that the port of this place, that is to fay, the part of the river that may be converted to that purpofe, will hold a jgreat number of veffels with fecurity ; and the danger from fhoals of ice, which they do not deny to exift during two months, they obferve, may be avoided, by veffels using the Eaft-branch for that period. The inhabitants of the banks of the Eaft-branch truft to the depth and fecurity of their river, tc? draw all the commerce of the place to themfelves;; and they do not doubt, that even the merchants of George-Town will foon find the advantage, and remove there.. They are fecure from the ice ;: and the interior canal between the Potowmack and them will, they imagine, directly afford them all the advantages- of that great river. The inhabitants of Alexandria pretend, that participating in like manner of the advantages of the navigation of the Potowmack. through tjie canalt^tkey have, moreover, the advantage of a. commerce, long; eftablifhed: 334* TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, eftablifhed, and that is daily increasing—an- advantage that is not to be counterbalanced by the difference of five miles more of failing, which cannot deter veffels from proceeding to the market where ^jfioyf can both fell and buy to greater advantage. Time will fhew which of thefe three places argues with the greateft truth. I think the argument is in favour of Alexandria. At George-Town there is a very handfome fmall Catholic college, maintained by private donations and fubfcriptions. FALLS OF THE POTOWMACK. An excurfion that I made to the falls gave, me an opportunity of feeing the canals, which are forming for the purpofe of avoiding them, and are the undertaking of the Potowmack Company. The canal of the fmaller falls is entirely finifhed ; it is a mile and a half in length : four locks ten feet high, placed at its upper extremity, convey veffels down the river. The fmaller falls are not ftrktly fuch; but thijwater is fufficiently checked and disturbed in its courfe to render the navigation impracticable, and the noife it makes is confiderable. Above the fmaller falls, at a place where the Potowmack is confined to a narrow paffage between mountains, a bridge has been lately erected, of the fame kind as the bridge of Merrymack, near Newbury-port, in Maffachufetts : the fame architect was employed in both. The bridge over the Potowmack is one hundred and twenty feet in the fpan; it is much admired here, becaufe the people in this place have no knowledge of the arts, but is indeed difgufting for its heavinefs, having an immenfe quantity of timber and iron \vafteifc>n it, that would have been fpared in Europe, and with it a great part of the expence. . The canal of the great falls is alfo finifhed, excepting the locks* which are to be ten in number. The height of the falls themfelves is feventy-eight feet, and the defcent from the upper end of the canal to the lower end is about ninety feet. To make fome ufe of the canal in restsffprefent ftate, till the locks can be conftructed, large maffes^of earth are BV THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. *53S are left to check the rapidity of the water ; veffels proceed to Jthe place where thefe are, and the barrels of flour, and hogfhe/ads of tobacco, which are the principal articles brought down the river, are rolled down an inclined plane made of wood (for this temporary ufe), to veffels that wait for them below. The great fall of the Potowmack is beautiful, and deferves to be vifited by all who arrive in this neighbourhood ; but if the traveller has feen that of Niagara, he will not be ready to compare any other with that fublime cataract. The fall of the Potowmack is about half a mile acrofs; it prefents a very fine fight; and the effect of the rocks, with which the country everywhere abounds, adds greatly to its beauty. The inhabitants of its vicinity employ fragments of thefe rocks for the foundation of their houfes, fome of which indeed are entirely built of them. On the other fide of the Potowmack, from the fmaller to the great falls, the banks, though not very well cultivated, are pleafing, and abound with fine fituations. The ftate of Maryland is at prefent making a road along the banks of the river from George-Town to the bridge. This road is made in a very excellent manner, and will be pleafant when finifhed ; it however appeared to me to be a little too narrow. The workmen employed in it are paid eleven dollars per month with their board; they are white men, and generally Irifhmen, and new comers. Almost every year a veffel filled with Irifh labourers arrives at George-Town. Bricks are made at George-Town and Federal-City, and are fold for fix dollars per thoufand. Lime is at prefent fold for four dollars per barrel; as lime-ftone is found in abundance, it is expected that when the navigation fhall be entirely open, the price of lime will be seduced to one half. George-Town is the county town of Montgomery in Maryland. The population of this county amounts to eighteen thoufand fouls; of which there are more than fix thoufand flaves. It is feparated from the county of Prince George by Rock-creek. Thus all the new part of the city belongs to this latter county, and, by the provisions of the law relative $56* TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, relative to this fubject, will continue to belong to it till the government of the United States is actually eftablifhed at Federal-City. MR. LAW. I i All the time that I paffed at Federal-City I refided with Mr. Law. Laft year he very much inereafed his domestic felicity by marrying an amiable woman, who unites accomplifhments, fweetnefs of manner, and a charming figure, to a found underftanding," and all the qualities that contribute to make the married life happy. I cannot, however, felicitate Mr. Law on the fpeculation which induced him to purchafe a number of lots in this new city, and to choofe it for the place of his refidence. It appears to me, that he might have made a more prudent and fortunate ufe of the great property he amaffed by many years toil in India. He enters every day more deeply into the concerns of this city, without being able sincerely to predict his fuccefs. His fortune is fuperior to the greateft fortunes in America, and he might have lived on his own revenues with fplendour, happy himfelf, and making others fo. His temper, which is sincere, humane, and generous, qualified him for that mode of life; notwithftanding which, he has wilfully plunged himfelf into an abyfs of cares, and all the contentions of this diftra&ed city, which not only prevent the enjoyment of his fortune, but even endanger it. He is not himfelf very confident of fuccefs, and he is far from being avaricious ; but his ardent temper is continually deceiving him concerning the iffue of the unfavourable circumftances which he cannot overlook ; and every day his obstinacy on this fubject increafes, continually leading him to new expences in this vexatious fpeculation. I fear he will not be fo fortunate as he deferves to be. ALEXANDRIA. I went by water from Federal-City to Alexandria, which is a dif- tance m<M4 BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEEOUCAULT LIANCOURT, *3S7 ftance only of fix miles. The Potowmack, the whole-wagjr from one place to the other, is two miles in breadth; and its banks are well cultivated, and covered with a confiderab$fe%unaber of houfes. The Maryland fide being more elevated prefents a finer afpe6l. A fuccefnon of fmall hills and beautiful vallies, interfered with ftreams, and having clumps of trees, and even pleafure-grounds, feattered up and down, - give it a very lively appearance. The opposite fide belonging to Virginia is not abfolutely flat, but the ground does not rife except at a diftance from the river, and not in the fame degree as on the Maryland fide. It however does not want profpedts which are charming. It is in going from Alexandria to Federal-City that the traveller has the -beft view of this country. The eye is not loft, as in the other*route, in the immenfe extent of the Potowmack; which, continually enlarging, leaves nothing to be feen at length but the horizon. In this paffage the country clofes till the profpect is bounded by the chain of mountains whi£hr,£©rm the falls at fifteen miles diftance j and in the intervening fpace, the eye rests on the floping ground destined for theftte of Federal-City, and where already there is aftifficienfcniumber of houfes to ornament the fcene. The mountains Mi)the fide of Maryland.and Virginia, which decreafe in approaching the Chefapeak, confeqnen^" 4nlfe and en&r-ge on the v^ew in proceeding -the other way. The divifion of the waters of the Potowmack and the Baft-fcferich, made fey the pi$$rt: of land which is the fite of Federal-City, is'an objtxft that arrefts the attention, and whofe grandeur dedu£ls^ nothing from its be&uty. It is imquetoxnably among the fineft views that are to be feen on any river. It does not, however, make me forget thofe of NbrW^iver^ in the ftate of New- York, which in my opinion are even preferable ; without fpeaking of that moft delightful fcene of the pa#£*ge on that river in the highlands. This is at prefent the feafon when fhoals of herrings appear on the coafts of America, and in the rivers communica&isg wkhthe fea. I have conftantly feen at every creek a number of people emjrioybdinafefhing for them wirjh long nets, which they drag for a while and then draw :"%<>l.IL *Xx the 3j# TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, the extremities together. There is feldom a draught at which they do not take thoufands. The greater part of them are inftantly cured. There is an immenfe confumption in every part of America of this fpecies of food. Frelh herrings fell here for four dollars a thoufand. Sturgeon is alfo very plentiful in the rivers of this country, but I do not think it is as good as the sturgeon in Europe. Alexandria is, beyond all cbmparifon, the handfomeft town in Virginia, and indeed is among the fineft of the United States. It stands on a fmall plain, elevated however a few feet above the river, and fo as not to be incommoded with the water. This town, which was begun about thirty years fince, is built on a regular plan. Streets fufficiently wide interfect each other at right angles ; and fpacious fquares add to its beauty, convenience, and falubrity. Almoft all the houfes and warehoufes are of brick. Although all the buildings have not an appearance of magnificence, all are* convenient and neat; and the houfes are of two stories. The quays are large and commodiois^and extend along the river every day. jffpflpl JTUaPtiis town increafes very rapidly, owing to the flourifhing ftate of its commerce, which, no doubt, will be ftill improved by the opening of the navigation of the Potowmack. It is maintained by many of the inhabitants of Federal-City that the quays of Alexandria are not fo fafe for fhipping as thofe of the Eaft-branch, being more expofed to fhoals of ice; and that fmall veffels, defcending the Potowmack, and paffing through the canal, will not venture again into the Potowmack as far as Alexandria. This opinion is not that of the merchants of iUexandria; who, befide, would very little raife the price of flour, which boats would bring down the Potowr mack, if they were even obliged to reload them in larger veffels at the canal. Hitherto they have received the produce of the upper parts of Virginia by land, and the carts which bring them conftantly arrive in great numbers. j Alexandria carries on a constant trade with the Weft-India iflands ; and alfo fome with Europe. The price of flour here at prefent is fix *■$&$$& dollars RT THE DUXE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. **SS9 • dollars and a half per barrel. The population of this town amounts to nearly five thoufand fouls, of which there are about eight hundred •.black flaves. It is fituated at the diftance of a hundred miles from the mouth of the Potowmack, in the bay of Chefapeak. The value of the exportation of Alexandria amounted in 1791 to 381,242 dollars; in 1792, to 535,5Q2 dollars ; in 1793, to 8l2|8|^rc dollars; in 1795, to Q48,46o dollars; and in 1796, to more than 1,100,000 dollars. There is a bank at Alexandria, and it is the only one in Virginia. It was eftablifhed in December I/92 by an act of the legiflature. Its original capital was 150,000 dollars, divided into 750 fhares, of 200 dollars each. By a law paffed in December 1795 it was authorized to augment its capital by the addition of 350,000 dollars, divided into 1 750 new fhares. This bank, which was eftablifhed on the fame principles, and for the fame purpofe, as all the other banks of America, makes a dividend from four and a half to five per cent half yearly. It iffucs notes to the value of a dollar, which are current throughout all Virginia, at George-Town, and even for the moft part in Maryland. The eftablifhment of a bank at Richmond was authorized by the fegiflature of Virginia in December 1792. Its capital was to confift of 400,000 dollars, in fhares of 200 dollars each ; but the fubforiptions not filling, it does not exift. JOURNEY FROM FEDERAL-CITY TO BALTIMORE. s The country from Federal-City to Bladenfburg is beautiful; that is to fay, nature defigned it to be fuch, by the form, and multiplicity of the fmall hills with which it is covered. The ground is poor, and as ilf cultivated as in most other places. Bladenfburg is a fmall village decently built, where there is a place for infpecting of tobacco, little ufed at prefent; and a fchool of confiderable reputation in the country. Bladenfburg is ftttgBSgd on the upper part of the Eaft-branch, at .me X x 2 fpot V $#* •TRAVELS IN NORTH AMBRIG&ft* fpot where ilfte&gins to be navigable. Not far from one of the streams which fall int# that rivere»is a fine fpring of. mmeaial water, which is feparated from the bed of the stream only by a flip of land foai GSrfivfe feet in breadth. From Bladenfburg to Bal$Jttiore the country is every-where hilly, and often not unpleafing to the fight. It is filled with woods, but of a very fmall5 kind; and which is permifei&ed to remain only for want of hands to clear the ground, or rather for want of capitals to enable the •proprietors to emplby the negroes on it. It is Md that the: g¥#und is better a&flbme miles? d&^sttece from the road. At Van*Kltektie price;■<§£ lbnd is^romi fbr to* twelve dollars per acre. It produces from feven to height! bu^he&s of corn ; from twelve to fifteen^ of Indian whe&&; from t$rrtd Swtflve, ©jfr&arley; and twenty of oats, becaufe this laft kind of grain is fown on tfee beft land. I re- ^^^w^t^irt^rJIlSlibfliait 8pufcries>- twenty-five miles farther on. ''*At eight or ten utiles from Vaiwille I paffed- tte two*branchesti£ the Potukent, which are thete very n&ttiow, and over which are <<ftftDWm wooden bridges, the worst and most dartgerous 1 ea^eiE fewv The wefterii-^lsil^l^leparates the county of PrJa®e George fern that of Ann Arundel. Not far from thefe two streams are the iron-WAfks of Snowden, and a flitting mill. The country abouhdisi withoi-es^ i^hich is found on the furface, as well as in the bowels of the earth* and in all the streams. The Patapfko, whikh ties-hetwee^iSpurries and Baltimore, at eight miles from the laft place, is not more than thirty toifes in breadth. I pa»fled it in an excellent ferry-boat, which is dragged over by the help of a rope. At this ferry the Patapfko ceafes to be navigable; and here, confequently, according to the cuftom of the country, there is a place for the inflection of tobafcfco. It has a fmall village built around it, which is called Elferidg&*l&tding, It is on the Patapfko that Baltimore ifca^iilt, or rather on an arm of that river. The mouth of the harbour is not more than two fyutodrid foifes acrofs, and-Ui^0^kpently eafy to defend. A fort-is erected on a fmall eminence at the point of land y^hich feparates* the h&vhem I^N% from BY THE DURE DE LA ROCHEFOaUeAULT LIANCOURT. *341 from the river. It is, like all works of the kind in America, poorly constructed ; but a little labour and expence would render it what it ought to be. ^^ISiJN^M BALTIMORE. I found. Baltimore larger than when | was- here laft year. Several quays whlgh Were only begun, and fome everi-no more than projected, were entirely finifhed ; and large and handfome warehoufes of brick entirely built from the ground. In every quarter of the town build* ings increafe; and there is an air of bufinefs andn^enty throughout the whole. There are no veffels built at prefent at Baltimore, for the feme Eeafbns that put a flop to the building of veffels in other pstfts of Maryland and Virginia. Baltimore has, notwithftanding, lo&»ft the courfe of the year a great many ffeip& at fea. ^His port continues |o trade to the Weft- ^ad^es; and^i@feR|e of the- merchants engaged inathaiicommerce have not been un fuccefsful/-: The value of the exports-of Baltimore in 1791 amounted to 1,5 76,588 dollars; in 1 T-$Q, to 1,843,225 dollars; in 1793, to 3,084*545 dollars; in 1794, to 5,312,209 dollars; in 1795, to 5,542,051 dol- tas*' and uvlf^i to more than .8,500,O<39 dollars. But that this aftenimirig-ite-eafe init&e exportation* btfthis port may not be exag- .Eg«#a*ed, the augmentation in the price of the produce of the Weft- Jndia iflands -muft here, as in every other part of America, be deducted -from the value of the export. There are no merchants here •as rich as thofe of Phife^elphia. The fortunes of this- town are in their iafoneyl?:n:Luxury is not only lefs in individuals, but is lefs general. I am told that the number of corn-mills built wifiifin ten miles round Baltimore exceed fixty. Some that I faw near the town were as handfome, upon as large a fcale, and as complete as any at Br^g^jp wine. There u 342* TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, There are two banks ^^Ba^rp^^^ i|Pne *s a branch of the bank of the United States; the other is a bank belonging to the 'tg.™^.. which was incorporated in 1791, by a law of this flate, with a capital of three hundred thoufand dollars. The ftores of Baltimore partake with Philadelphia in fupplying thofe of Kentucky, the territory of the weft, and Teneffee. Philadelphia, however, would not enter into this competition with. Baltimore,! were, not its commerce more extenfive, and its flock and capital larg§i& lb that purchafers find a greate&fjEjjj'.;. riety of affortments of every kind there. It is faid alfo that the fpi- •rituous liquors fold at Bf^timore are more adulterated than even thofe ioffl|by the merchants of Philadelphia. The merchants of Baltimore allow the traders of Kentucky from twenty to five-and-twenty per cent profit on their artieles, and give a twelvemonth's credit. Baltimore, however, may expect to lofe feme of the branches of its i©ommerce from the following caufes : ■••fil«£ The entire opening of the navigation of the Potowmack, by bringing down the corn. andgpther prpj^ice of the parts of Virginia and Maryland watered by that river and others whigjggftow into it, will give that branch of commerce to George-Town, Alexandria, and Federal-City; Baltimore being obliged to procure thefe articles by land- carriage. 2d, A fchemeis undertaken for joining the Potowmack above Cumberland with one of the branches of the Monongahela, which fallsi:ir^«v the Ohio; which, if it fucceed, will take from Baltimore the market of Kentucky, and even of Pittfburg, as articles will then be carried to thofe places by water through .Alexandria and George-Town. 3dj If the fcheme of uniting the Chefapeak-bay with the Delaware-bay by a canal pasting through the eaft of Maryland is completed, which appears to be probable, the corn of that part of the eaft, and even of the weft> which at prefent is carried to Baltimore, would be carried to Philadelphia and Brandywine, where they would find an ample market^and the, more fo, as flour generally fells at Philadelphia for a dollar, or a dollar and a half, per barrel more than at Baltimore. ' The BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT' LIANCOURT. *345 The merchants of Baltimore, who are aware, of thefe confequences, expert that at the fame time the Sufquehannah will be made entirely navigable ;• and in that imagine they/will have a complete compen- fation. But it appears to me that they deceive themfelves in thefe expectations ; for the articles which are brought down the Sufquehannah will probably take the route of the canal that will join the two bays when it is finifhed; and as Philadelphia is extremely in- terefted in the completion of that canal^it is certain that the legiflature of Pennfylvania will never confent to the works neceffary to render the Sufquehannah navigable—that river flowing chiefly through its territory—until the legiflature of Maryland fhall confent to the opening of the canal between the two bays, whf'gheis at prefent obstinately oppofed by the .merchants of Baltimore. From thefe obfervations it follows, that Baltimore is ill fituated for commerce ; owing its prefent fuccefs merely to the want of other ports in the Che fa peak, and to the obstructions to navigation on all the interior rivers. The commerce of Baltimore was raifed from the funds of the mer-. chants of Philadelphia, who in that place faw a convenient entrepot between themfelves and the back countries. It has fince inereafed by the capitals gained by the merchants, who at firft were only fa<5lors to thofe of Philadelphia; but the decreafe of its commerce is not therefore the lefs probable. I went to fee one of the frigates of the United States here, and which is one of thofe that have been ordered to be finifhed : fhe will be launched in Auguft. I thought her too much encumbered with wood-work within, but in other refpects fhe is a fine veffel, being built of thofe beautiful kinds of wood, the ever-green oak and cedar; fhe is pierced for thirty-fix guns. An inhabitant of Baltimore has erected an obfervatory on a fmall hill on the other fide of the port, from which, with a telefcope, one fees to the diftance of thirty-five miles into the bay. A flag is hoifted on the obfervatory, to announce the arrival of veffels. This little eftablifhment TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, . tablifhment is not only very grat#ul to the merchants, but in fome degree ufeful, and is already encouraged with many fubfcriptions. A public library is erecting by fubfcription at Baltimore : two thoufand volumes, fome good and fome bad, are already colle6ted for it. This is the only public library throughout Maryland. Baltimore has afforded great affiftance to the unfortunate Frenchmen who fled from the difaftrous ftate of St. Domingo; individuals having considerably added by fubfcriptions to the donations made by the legiflature of the ftate.. BUSIjp|)WN. The ground between Baltimore and Bufh-Town is ftill worfe, if poffible, than that between Federai«City and Baltimore: the Heffian fly, which to the fouth-weft of the town attacks the corn very lit$te,rtlays it Wafteift^^is quat#6$; verylifgle corn is therefore fown. Small grain, Indian wheat, and paftu#e, includes the hufbandry of the country. It is befide very much filled with woods of a very ufelefs kind, and very mean appearance. At fifteen miles ftom Baltimore, at a place where I Wedkfafted wiih a farmer named Webfter, 133*$ fells from ei&lk to fifteen dollars per acre ; there is very little that ext^tM'^^iPpi^^e, aed'^gs is pafture- 'g&jited, improved by fome years manuring. ^Webffcseirhas a fmall flock of fheep, whofe wool he fells partly to neighbouring faWers, and partly to the hitters of-Baltimore, at four ffin$n|*S per pound. His houfe ftands at a little diftance from Btrd-RivW, which appears to be rather an arm of the bay than a river. | A mill not-far from Webfter's houfe grinds the little corn thiifft& grown in ^M^art; anU'the flour i&fent to BaltimorevM'" Bird-River is navigable for fmall veffels to a place about a mile from Webfter's houfe y a%Out a quarter of a mile abo^e which it k not more than &tik toifes in-weadth, and is eafily £&i<M: This^&a ufual cafe with the feveral creeks and rivers of the country, and they are tfe^numeroas. I gaffed the Long-Cane, ot'^&reai Gunpowder',- -mxer& there BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. *34$ there was water enough at that time to reach the girth of my horfe; the Little Gunpowder, which I paffed on a very miferable wooden bridge : this river fupplies fome iron-works and^tSaing-mills, known by the name of Oniort's-works ; the Wittier* s-Run, a fmall creek ; and the Bufh-River, which, like^&frd-River, is only four toifes acrofs, and is not more than a foot in depth, at a place not more than a quarter bf a mile from the fpot where it is twelve feet in depth, and a mile in breadth. There is a handfome and large corn-mill on Bufh-River, to which corn is brought fromr#^reat diftance, the proprietors being rich and active. The flour is fent to Baltimore. The Little Gunpowder creek feparates the county of Baltimore from that of Hartford. The county of Baltimore, exclufive of the city, contains twenty-five thoufand inhabitants, of which ten thoufand are flaves. The population of the town of Baltimore amounts to fifteen thoufand white men, and from fix to feven thoufand flaves. This road has a mournful appearance, and is very thinly inhabited. The road is tolerably good for a horfe ; but almoft impaflable for carriages. Notwjthfftanding which, there are four stages that pafs it every day ; and it lies between two of the moft confiderable places for trade in America. At the diftance of a mile beforel^arrived at BuftVTown I paffed through Abington, a fmall and poor village, which is remarkable for nothing but for the remains of a very handfome college, built by the Methodifts, and which was burned down about two years fince. It is afferted here, that this fire was occafioned wilfully; and when it is known that the Methodifts, as well as the Qdakers, exhort to the emancipation of the flaves, we cannot be furprized that they fhould be hated and perfecuted in a country where the inhabitants are attached to the fyftem of keeping flaves, by their Education, habits, and a narrow view of their interefts. It muft be allowed that theffeis a great deal of rathnftafm among the Methodifts; and I am inclined to believe that they are too general in their plans for the abolition of flavery, even to - VoLVi^Sf';» * Y v guard 3-i6* TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, guard fufficiently the interefts of the flaves themfelves. Nor are they very. difcreet in their fermons. But from all I have been able to gather concerning this feet, I am perfuaded it includes many worthy and virtuous men, and even maja$* men of talents^.None of the Methodifts poffefs flaves. Many before they were of that perfusion were proprietors of flaves, and freed them. There have been fome who have freed three hundred negroes at a time ; binding the children to mafters, with the condition of their teaching them to read, . write, and cypher, and of their ferving only to the age of eighteen or twenty, when they were to be entirely at their own difpofal. Bufh- Town is in the county of Hartford, which contains fifteen thoufand inhabitants, five thoufand of which are flaves. Belair has been the county town of Hartford for fome years past, but hitherto contains only the town-houfe, a prifon, and a fmall number of wooden houfes. It was made the county town for its central fituation. Bufli-Town^^" formerly the county town, and was at that time called Hartford. JOURNEY FROM BUSH-TOWN TO HAVRE-DE-GRACE. v 1 The country till I reached the Sufquehannah was of the fame kind as that through which I had already paffed. In travelling twelve miles, I did not fee more than four houfes that were not miferable huts; and yet the farms are tolerably large, the ground being partly fown with Indian corn, and the remainder immenfe fields very rarely manured. The land is in general fandy and poor. From.ten to twelve bufhels of Indian wheat per acre is; the ufual produce, and from five to fix ojycorn (where that is fown), when the Heffian fly does not infeft the grain, it being as common in this part of Maryland as the on the other fideojjethe Chefapeak. Some meadows, efpecially thofe that lie nearest the bay, yield forty hundred weight of hay per acre. There is fome ground to be met with fuperior in quality,, the produce of whiciys a third more than what I have name.d»r£^||iL Throughout BY THE' DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAUL-T LIANCOURT. *347 - Throughout the whole of this journey, I found that lands generally fell as at Bufh-Town, from ten to twenty dollars per acre.' Near the * Sufquehannah fome rich meadovrinlbll for th^fy-five dollars per acre. The rain which fell inceffantly for two days, and detained me at Bufh-Town, fwelled the creeks fo much, that at many places we paffed, where the water is generally no more than four or five inches in depth, it was then more than four feet. The ftage that goes between •Philadelphia and Baltimore was compelled to remain four-and-twenty hours at Bufh-Town; the Winter s-Run, which is ufually no more than two feet in depth, having rifen to fifteen feet, and there being no bridge over that river. The Swan-river is the only one of any confequence between Bufh- Town and the Sufquehannah. It is of the fame kind as the reft ; that is to fay, very narrow at a quarter of a mile from the fpot where it is two or three miles across. The land is tolerably good in the bottoms, and is fold for thirty- four dollars per acre; that on the heights fells only for ten and twelve dollars per acre. The wages of labourers are from eight to nine dollars per month, for the fummer feafon, or ninety-two dollars by the year; and three fhillings and nine pence per day when there is nothing particular to do, and a dollar and a half in harvest-time. They make a demand of half a dollar extraordinary for mowing. iiinci. HAVRE-DE-GRACE. j A few houfes that fland together on the weft banks of the Sufque- Jajanah. bear.the name of Hdvre^de-Grace. A company confifting of 4Jf$*t-perfons prcje&ed the eftab^fhment of a town there. A plan was dqjjfen out, the ground was measured and bounded, and the fliR^sli^aid out. The lite .included a thoufand acres, divided into ,-tfe|jjsi&$||Oiifend fix hundred lots of houfes. The projectors already en-: joyed their town. completed in imagination ; or affected to do ib.- l3&k£l 1>2 Their 348* TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, Their reafons for supposing it would be peopled with rapidit^^yere the following : lft, That the produce of the Sufquehannah, navigable in both its branches for three hundred miles above Havre-de-Grace, could have no other outlet, at leaft for timber, which abounds along its banks as well as along the banks of the rivers that fall into it. 2d, That Chefapeak-bay, which commences at this fpot, has at that place fourteen feet water without a rock or fand-bank beneath it; and that, therefore, veffels of a confiderable burthen might there eafily take in fuch articles as could not venture into the bay in the fmall craft that brings them down the river. 3d, Tjmt the road of Havre-de-Grace, being in that part of the town which lies upon the bay, would be fecur^^^^n the fhoals eliieal* and in other refpects perfectly fafe. Thus the proprietors of the ground of this new city imagined tha£ the commerce of Baltimore, and even that of Philadelphia, would in part be transferred to Havre-de-Grace. j The navigation of the Sufquehannah, however, although practical ble, with great care, for fmall veffels and tirnj>er rafts, is not without danger, and does not admit of any larger veffels. It flows through the ftate of Pennfylvania, except for the last twenty miles of its courfe : and as the legiflature of Pennfylvania entertains the project of joining the Sufquehannah and the Schuylkill, by a canal which is already begun at Sweetara; and as this plan has no other intention than to give Philadelphia the means of receiving directly the corn that the Sufquehannah brings as far as Middleton; it is to be expected that even if this canal is not completed (which the inhabitants of Havre-de- Grace believe to be impracticable), the ftate of Pennfylvania will never employ funds to facilitate a navigation the profit of which will wholly belong to a neighbouring ftate. The depth of the canal that comes up to Havre-de-Grace is not, even below Point-Concord, confiderable enough to admit veffels of great burthen; and confequently . . not BT T&E DUKE DE LA ROnCHEFOUCAUXf LIANCOURT. *349 not directly to carry on foreign commerce with advantage. I take this project therefore to be another dream, at leaft as to the extent given to it. This town, wfiirihr may very well become an entrepot, where the merchants of Philadelphia and Baltimore may eftablifh agerits, does not appear to be calculated for any higher destiny. Pamphlets are however circulated to praife the advantages of its fituation, and confequently to atract adventurers. The company have fent ah agent to 'Europe to fell their lots, the price of which is from a hundred to a hundred and fifty dollars, according to their fituations. Notwithftanding the activity of thefe meafures, and even the probability that this place will become an entrepot, I am persuaded the tenth part of the fite of Havre-de-Grace will never be covered with houfes ; or, to fay the least, not for a great number of years. Many people affert that the fituation is far from being healthy. There are obstructions in the navigation of the Sufquehannah eight miles above Havre-de-Grace, and within the territory of the ftate of Maryland. A canal which will remedy the evil is almoft finifhed.. The funds for defraying' the expences of this canal were raifed by fubfcriptions of individuals and the ftate of Maryland. The tide flows fix miles^above Havre-de-Grace; and herrings abound there as in the Potowmack^There are ten different fifheries eftablifhed within tleatipace on the weft banks of the Sufquehannah, where Ine flioals are the greateft ; and five on the other fide. The herrings are taken in large nets, from a hundred and eighty to two hundred fathoms in length, and from four to fix fathoms in breadth. The nets are fpread acrofs the river by boats, a rope at one end being faftened to the fhore, and the other end conveyed by the boat to a certain diftance ; and they are drawn by the help of a capftan. There is no other fifh here but herrings and fhad-fifh; and the latter are found in very fmall quantities. The moment the herring^pare taken, they are thrown into large cafks with fait. The fifhermen do not clean tnteL^ nor take off the heads, as on the Potowmack. Having been left five : days in thefe cafks, they are taken out, and packed in barrels, which at iff 350* TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, at each end have a layer of fait; and then, they are-fit for fale. /3^f&v fifheries, the curing the herring, and the packing them in barrels, employ from fourteen to fifteen men in each fifhery, who'have each fifteen dollars per month, with their provisions. Every barrel contains about five hundred herrings, and requires a bufhel and a half of fait, which cofts five fhillings per '/bufhel; the barrel itfelf cofts five fhiUings and fix pence: the nets laft three or four, feafons, and-cofta from two hsindred to three hundred dollars, according to their dimensions. That part of the river where the fifhery is" eftablifhed is taken of the proprietor of the adjoining land ; and from thirty to fifty dollars annually are paid for a fifhery, according.to its situation ; -for the difference of a point in the land, or of the nearnefs of the current to the fhore, makes a great difference in the fize and quantity of the fhoals. The feafon for fifhing continues five or fix weeks, during, which the ten fifheries in the neighbourhood of Havre-de-Grace take about 12,000 barrels of herrings: they are fent-as far as Baltimore:' fome are fold frefh to the inhabitants, who cure them themfelves. A barrel of cured herrings is ibid for five dollars and a half: frefh herrings are four dollars per thoufand, which is the fame price as on the Potowmack. Small veffels of about forty tons carry the cured herrings to Baltimore ; they are generally built at Havre-de-Grace, and coft twenty dollars per ton for the hull, which makes them amount to thirty-five or thirty-fix dollars per ton when they are ready for fea. While;x was visiting one of thefe fifheries J fav( a net drawn, with an immenfe quantity of fifh; enough, it was computed, to fill two hundred barrels: the fifhermen calculate the medium quantity of a draught to be about forty barrels. J9jpK JOURNEY FROM'HAVRE-DE-GRACE TO ELKVTOWN. I have fpoken in:;my journal.of laft year of the beauty of the banks of the Sufquehannah at its mouth ; thefe banks are lofty, diversified in their appearance, Afte^l cultivated, and.covered With dwellings: } At the entrance of the pad the profpect extends as far as the fight can reach-; SS*a ten BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEF0UCAULT LIANCOURT. *3ol ten miles higher up, on the fide of Philadelphia, noble mountains of various beautiful forms bound the profpect. In this part of the Sufquehannah are immenfe flocks of wild ducks, known by the name of canvas-back ducks, and are efleemed delicious eating. This fowl, which in fummer haunts the more northern lakes of the Continent, visits the Sufquehannah towards, the month of December, and remaining there till the frofts fets in, at that feafon proceeds to the Potowmack ; when the ice difappears, it returns again to. the Sufquehannah for a week or two, and then departs for its fummer haunts. |S^cf Having croffed the Sufquehannah, I found myfelf in the county of Cecil, through the fouthern part of which I had travelled three weeks before from Warwick to a river called the Safafras. It was my intention to pay a vifit for a day to Philip Thomas, one of the richest proprietors in this part of the country, and a partner in the Havre-de- Grace company. I was even on my road to his houfe, when I learned that he had been two days at Philadelphia; I therefore abandoned my defign, and took the road to Philadelphia, through a country a little more pleafant, better cultivated, and better inhabited, than that between Baltimore and the Sufquehannah ; but by no means either rich or well peopled. A fmall creek called Principio, which is no more than four toifes in breadth in one fpot, after a fall among rocks of about thirty feet# fpreads fo a mile in breadth, and continues to widen till it falls into the bay. Juft below this fall is a cannon foundery belonging to Colonel Touth, one of the partners of the Havre-de-Grace company; this foundery is. at prefent entirely employed in casting cannon for the frigates building by the United States : a hundred and twenty dollars for every twenty hundred weight of metal is-the price the colonel receives for all cannon that are proof, which amounts to about three hundred dollars for a-cannon of tWSnryifour pounds caliberjjj^^oolonel procures his ore from the;i$fghbourh$?M of the place where Webfter refides, at a little diftance<TttHft%ird-crbek ; if is brlS%ht to Princip**in _f_a a^_f_ boats. 352* TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, boats. This ore does not yiejd more when melted than two fifths of its weight of iron; and the metal, on the mere infpection of it, did not appear to me to be good. The great number of cannon that burft in the proof, with the fragments of which the ground is covered, confirmed me in this opinion : the cannons however appear to be eaft with confiderable fkill, and great care. This is the fecond cannon foundery in the United States : there is, as I have faid before, another fituated in the f|ate of Rhode-lfland, and i thefe are the only ones. They have been eftablifhed by French founders, fent by the French government for that purpofe about ten or twelve years ago: thus, for every thing that contributes to their fafety, the United States are indebted to France. Colonel Youth's foundery confifts of a furnace with bellows, and a reverberating one. When he is not employed in cafting cannon he ma- oufa<5lure^ pots, chimney backs, and other large works. The number of workmen at prefent amount&to fifty,$pfip are paid from ten to twenty dollars a month. ■_.., ' The view of the fall is extremely picturefque and beautiful. The fmall veffels of from forty to fifty tons, which bring the ore, approach it within fifty fathom. From feveral elevated points of the road from Elk-Town the bay of Ghefapeak may be feen: - you approach it even at Charles-Town, and at Nordwaift, a little village built on Nordwaift-River; which, like the others, is only a continuation of the bay. The fmall creeks, however, which we pafs at the ford are innumerable. It is probable, that in a dry feafon they are not to be perceived, but after the'heavy rains, which have fallen for fome days past, they are almoft all wide and deep. ^SfELK-TOWN. This fmall town is the capital of CecikCounty, and contains about 100 houfes, almoft all built in one ftreet, which leads to Philadelphia. Elk^River is navigable only a mile below the town, and at which point BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. *353 point there is alfo an affemblage of houfes and warehoufes, which may be confidered as a part of the town. Elk-Town has a pretty good trade in corn with Philadelphia, which is brought particularly from the eaftern part of Maryland. From £lk- Town it is fent by land to Chriftiana-bridge, a village at the diftance of twelve miles ; and from thence conveyed on the Christiana to Brandywine and Philadelphia. It is afferted that 300,000 bufhels are fent annually from Elk-Town by this route. The price of carriage to Brandywine is nine pence per bufhel, and to Philadelphia eleven pence halfpenny. One of the plans for joining the Chefapeak and the Delaware, by inland navigation, is to join the Elk-River to that of the Christiana. Another has for .its object to join the Bohemia to the Apoquimini. A third is to make a communication between the river Chefter and Duck-River; and the fourth would join the Chop tank to Jones-River. Each of thefe plans is favoured by the inhabitants of the part of the county which it would pafs through. It is afferted that the ftate of Delaware oppofes almoft all, becaufe a great number of horfes belonging to the inhabitants are conftantly and ufefully employed in carrying corn from Elk-Town to Chriftiana- bridge. I can hardly believe that fo trifling an intereft can miflead the inhabitants, and efpecially the legiflature of Delaware, in opposition to the important interefts of the ftate. The commercial interefts of Baltimore, as I have before faid, oppofe this junction. To judge which of thefe four plans ought to be preferred,' we fhould know the plan of the engineers, and the nature of the ground.and the obftacles. If the difficulties were equal, that which would join the Bohemia to the Apoquimini appears the best* as being higher in the river Delaware. The fmall fpace of ground to be cut through to join the two rivers fhould likewife be taken into confideration, as rendering its execution quicker, and lefs expensive. As the part to be cut through is entirely in the ftate of Delaware, the acquiefce&cc of the legiflaturcof Maryland is unneceffary. 1 Vol. IL *Zz A general S54* TRAVELS IN NORTH AlIEWlfMfy A general obftacle exifts againft all thefe projects;—which" is, the difference in the height of the waters of the Delaware and of the Chefapeak. This difference is occafioned by the rapid influx from the Gulph of Mexico, which, on account of the direction of the currents, and the narrownefs of the bafon, rufhes with more force on the waters of t]ae Delaware than on thofe of the Chefapeak, mixes with them fooner, and raifes them higher ; whilst on the other handafter having paffed the capes of the Chefapeak, it immediately turns into a vaft bafon, and thus lqfing- its force renders the reft of the bay from two to three feet lower than the Delaware. But this variation in the height of the water of thefe two bays might be remedied by fluices at the points where the rivers would unite. About a mile from Elk-Town is the ba^ttdary of the ftates of Maryland and Delaware. There are in the neighbourhood fome meadows* which are kept in good order; ftfejaated in a jgood bottom, and fowed with clover and tknothy-grarfe, which yields in two crops from eighty to one hundred weight of hay an acre. Ten hundred weight of hay fellsHiere for fix dollars and a half. Thefe excellent meadows do not, however, fell for more than thirty dollars per acre: the price of other land is from ten to fifteen dollars. Labourers are paid here fix f^i^ngs a day, or eleven dollars a month''Jiihe greater part of them are negroes let out by their mafters. In harveft time they pay them a dollar a day. BJfeHwer as well as the other rivers abounds in herr^a^s and ducks: this abundance is a g^ fcqfource for poor families, who may procure by their own pai&Sk Gr at a verycjgpv price, their food for |$moft all the year in thefe two fqjfg of provision* %J3ome hogs, whofe feed cofts th.eim nothing, aSjiflfcty- let them run in the woods, provide the reft; but the confequence. of this-. ea*fy method of proejjging food in abundance is, that, unlefs they have the intention of emigrating, they ' become indolent. Three weeks' work in harveft time* $$&$he fale of BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. *3&$ ©f the ducks which thigpkill, procure them as much money as they want: one ,or two acres of maize which they cultivate furnifh them with bread; and a great number of them are therefore idle all the year. GENERAL^OBSERVATIONS ON MARYLAND. All that I have feen of theh^lJIiErf'a Maryland—and I have travelled through the greateft part of it during this year and the laft—induces me to believe th&£ its fituation in many parts is inferior to almoft all the other ftates of America. a^J3fe)rery, which gives a very great advantage^l the eaftern ftates over the foutta*n, in refpect to they&ultivation of the ground, and fuch ^^afa£tures as the ftate of population in this new world permits, produces ftilljpOre evilj|j|i Maryland than in Virginia and the Caroli- nas, as Maryland is lefs extenfive than the three other ftates, and does not produce, like them, fine and rich crops of rice, cotton, and tobacco s added to whioft^ the number of flaves in thofe ftates is greater in proportion than elfewhere. All the land, as I have before obferved, is exhaajfted by the crops of tobacco which have been contiaiy^ drawn from it fince this ftate has been inhabited. The impofftbi-* lity of olpljaining more crops, at leaft from the greater part of the land, has reduced the cultivation of this^lant to nothing ; and the cultivation of jl^ii^e, wJsJ£&is carried on in tfooie parts which cannot produce any more tobacco, completely delays them, 'JJ^egreat number of flaves, however, who are to be maintained renders the cultivation in fome degree indifpe&fable ; and the Hefljaln fly with which the wheat has latterly been attacked, likewife encourages the cultivation of maize : the leaves of this plant are very good food for horfes; thus the advantages of its,cultivation induces the planter to forget the damages which it occafions to the foil already irreparably destroyed, as well as the portii^i of labour which it requheagfiaim the time of fowing to that of harveft. itMgj& Zz2 He 356* TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, He fees, however, his crops of maize diminifh annually; yet his negroes muft be provided with food; and if he feels the, neceffityi|pp improving his land by a proper cultivation, and particularly by.manuring it abundantly, he is prevented fo doing by the preponderating^ neceffity of providing food, and by the want of the money neceffary for thefe improvements. Onatbe other hand, the inhabitant whofe exiftence depends on his labour, blufhes to work as a negro. If he has a fmall property, which he might by induftry improve, he haftens, as I have before obferved, to dilpofe of it, that he may purchafe a fe#te-- ment in fome part of the country where he may obta&Ht at a-lOW* price, and where, by labouring himfelf, he will not be liable to be1; confidered as an> inferior being. This property is then bought by fome rich planter, who fuffers it to lie uncultivated, having already* more land than he can cultivate. The white who feafe *no property labours until he has faved fufficient to enable him to fettle elfewhere,, which he may foon accomplifh, as he can eafily earn from a hundred to a hundred and twenty dollars a year, befides his food. j $£me quit1 the country even before they have faved any property, and if they are- good workmen,']find an~ opportunity of eftablifhing themfelves- with, credit in a country where their feelings are not conftantly wounded- by lowering themfelves to ah equality with flaves. This- is precifely the ftate of things in the eaftern part of Maryland, and.even in feme of the weftern parts, - fffMi . There are a few places in the weft of this state wl*erer it is otherwife;-; fuch as. in the counties of Frederick, Wafhington, and the Alleganys,:. wn<a*e the proportion of flaves is very fmalL The land there is fertile,, and has not yet been drained ; as they are new feifliments, and'as-ther temperature of the air will not permit the cultivation of. tobacco.-. Thefe three counties, where alfo the climate^! healthful, are peopled*- with emigrants from other ftates as well as from Maryland. Some planters on; both fides of this flate have lately begun«to improve-their meadows, and alfo to cultivate large quantities of landre**They manure' the ground; and. this first, ftep towards improvement is doubtlefs-ufeful,. BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. W firl, and well defigned, as preparatory to a more complete fyftem ; but their beafts are always, winter and fummer, in the woods, and are leaner than any I have feen ; but the means of fattening them does not appear to occupy their attention, nor do they take any pains to abolifh*. even at a future period, that fcourge—flavery—which, humanity and' morality out of the queftion, is an infurmountable obftacle to the im-^ provement of their lands, and confequently their fortunes ; and whicb- is a fource of imminent danger to themfelves and to the general tranquillity of their country. I have faid that in Maryland and Virgirtra^^ahd^ even in Carolina, many planters are convinced of thofe dangers, and are defirous of having their fields cultivated and:tfle#*t$$meflic fervices performed by freemen? rather than by flaves ; but this* conviction is not fufficiently ftrong to lead them to 3tie refolution, w-hien mould operate as-a pre-- liminary to the deftrudtionof the evil; There are publications even in Virginia in favour of the emancipation of the negroes; they have, however, produced no more effect there than in thofe flates of the fouth, where the great number of flaves and° finaJ4apr6pot$ffc& of whites render- every meafure againft flavery ex-~ tfemely difficult*. They talk here of transporting all the^negroes out of the country atz once,: either to Africa or to the fouthern parts of America, in order to^ found a •colony. This • meafure would be fo * full: of difficulties • in -its > execution, and would be attended with fo • many unpleafant" confe-- quences, that it cannot poffibly be- carried - into effect; The plan 'is*- fopported: by the fear which manifefts-itfelf in thofe who efpoufe it,, that a. mixture in the blood■would take place if■ the negroes-were: emancipated,. oi* fuffered to remain^m- the country : " in future gene-- rations,"'fay they, " there would not be-a countenance to be feen without more or lefs of the black colour.'* This inconvenience would-* doubtlefs be; great if it were--certain ; but it by no means appears-fo-to • me: wife laws ml|pt prevent this mixturefftyr render it?very rare,c Without any. further abridgment of the rights of individuals than is already 35->* TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA,; ! already made by many other laws, which, for the good of fociety, re- flrain the exercife of individual rights; nor would fuch a law be-any evil to the negro race. Choice alone would for a length of time give a decided fuperiority to the white colour, even in the eyes of the blacks; and the preference would of itfelf prevent mixed marriages; the law, therefore, which fhould enforce this preference, would be eafily carried into execution. But it appears to me to be an error, to propofe the emancipating all the flaves at one time. The refpect due to the prefert^^ the mafters of thefe ftaveSghitherto acknowledged by the law, and to the maintenance of order in fociety, demands that this great work fhould "be pro- greffive. The objects of a law to free the flaves, are th^well being of fociety, and the happinefs of the flaves themfelves ; and ISfthefe are not attained, the abolition of the flave trade is the dream of a miftakei$*f#jtfN lanthropy. The great danger a flave has to encounter after his emancipation is, that of not being able to provide for his wrants; and it is the natural confequence of the averfion to labour contracted by every flave, and the habit he has of feeing himfelf fed and clothed, without directly occupying himfelf with that care. But would not both the danger to the flave, and the injury to the mafter, be avoided by a law with the following provifions: ift, To fix a price, that fhould be moderate and equitable, on the liberty to be given to a flave: 2d, To enjoin the proprietors of flaves to permit them to work twoadays in each week for their own emolument; and to furnifh them with land, to raife crops that fhould be their own property; or where the mafter fhould have oc- cafion for their labour on the days fet afide for their own ufe, to pay them at the fame rate as other workmen: 3d, To declare ei*§&ry flave, on paying the price at whiph he is valued by the law, inftantly free: 4j$&$io declare all children of flaves, born after the date of the law-f£fl{|g| and all children exifting at the time of the law, free at the age of twenty- one ; with a claufe, to compel the mafters to provide foar^tiie education of the latter? The emancipation of flaves being thus&ke refult of their owntabour, $$$$$'* they BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAU ET L1ANCOURT. *359 they will in fome degree have acquired the habit efiiahour; and will no longer be ftrangers, as they now are, to the prudence and forefight neceffary to their exiftence; nor will fociety have any thing to fear on that fide firom then* emancipation. Being treated as other labourers, having the privileges of whke men, what particular inducement can they have to injure fociety ? I am not aware that I deceive myfelf; yet I believe that a law of this nature would render the emancipation of flaves a benefit to every clafs of fociety, efpecially in a country where the population of white men exceeds that of flaves; and I do not think the proprietors, of flaves would have any reafon to complain of fuch a law. The population of the ftate of Maryland, according to a return made in 1790, amounted to 319,728 inhabitants; of which 103,036 were flavep. People here, who are the beft informed, aflfert that the population of whke men is not inereafed; but that the population of flaves is,. on the contrary, greatly inereafed. It is impoffible to fee, without aftonifhment, and indeed fome degree 4§ indignation, the ruinous ftate of the roads and bridges in Maryland.. In the moft remote parts of America, roads and bridges are not worfe j. and indeed in many of thofe parts of the country are even better. The negligence of the government of Maryland in this refped: is an unpardonable injury, not only to the convenience, but to the fecurity of the public. rFhe canals feem to be a Iitde more attended to; at leaft, companies and individuals engaged in carrying them on are more favoured by the legiflature. Befide which, the number of navigable rivers with wtiich Maryland is interfered, renders the carriage from one to another extremely fhort, and affords means of fale for the produce of this flate that are at once eafy and cheap; and an improvement in the general fyftem of culture would increafe the produce of this ftate to an immenfe extent. Maryland boafts of having a particular fpecies of white corn; and a particular kind of tobaeco, known by the name of kite-foot; both of 1 which 360* Travels in north America, which are originally natives of America, and eyen of that part of this continent which at prefent forms the ftate of Maryland. The white corn .grows in the more fouthern part of the eaftern fide of the ftate, -■where, however, it degenerates. The kite-foot is cultivated not far from ;the Potapfko; and is in great request, it is faid, in Europe. The religious fects of Maryland are as numerous as in the other ftates ■of the union. There are more Roman Catholics in Maryland than in .any other part of America, the firft fettlers of this ftate being of that per- fuafion; but the Prefbyterians, and still more the Methodifts, are ingre$|gfe numbers. A. Roman Catholic bifhop refides at Baltimore ; in which city and its neighbourhood, and in Prince George's-Country, Queen's- County, and Charles's-County, itk^hat the^Rgman Catholics abound most. The Catholic Religion is rigidly obferved by its profeflbrs here; and makes very few profelytes. In general, the fpirit of religion i§ not more prevalent in Maryland than in any of the other ftates. The inhabitants are mild, obliging, and hospitable. Wherever a traveller goes he is well received; and is always prefled to make a longer ftay in every houfe he visits. I have met with many perfons of the upper clafs of •excellent difpofiitions; and alfo many of the inferior clafs, efpecially in parts remote from towns. It is afferted that the inhabitants of Baltimore are as felfifh and inhof- pitable as thofe of Philadelphia; and I think that is prqba^Iy the cafe, .as the fame caufes every-where produce the fame effect. I cannot, however, fpeak of the truth of this affertion from.my own experience ; and indeed I have reafon to fpeak with refpect of all thofe whomykjiad oc* cafion to vifit. i^&tfi ^The P0^tical fentiments that prevail in the upper clafles of Maryland are in favour of what is called federalifm ; .j^jti'-they are by no means violent. The former prefident of thes|inl|:ed ftates is in high eftima- „tion here ; notwithftanding which, the acts of his adminiftratiga»are not indifcriminately approved. There are fome zealous partifans of the anti- •federalifts in Maryland.; and they .are to^e met with even among the merchants BY THE Duke DE EA 'ROCI-IEF'OUCASSET LIANCO-UU.'l. *38t merchants of Baltimore. But politics do not feem much to occupy the country people of tlSs ftate. * Newfpapers are neither fo many in number, nor circulated to the fame extent, as in Pennfylvania or New-York. RETURN FR6#MLK-T^N TO PHILADELPHIA. A ftorm of rain and fnow, with violent gufts of wTind, once more detained me a whole day at an inn in Elk-Town. I had the pleafure, however, of paffing a part of the time With Mr. Philip Thomas, whom I had not found at home when I went to pay him a vifit on the preceding evening, and wTho was then returning from Philadelphia. Mr. Thomas is one of thofe plain and kind people that a traveller is glad to meet with. I took my leave of him, writh a promife that rw6uld pafs fome time at his houfe as foon as it fhould be in my power; and perfectly convinced that he was defiropf of my vifit. The country that lies between ElkVrown and Christiana is nearly the fame as that through which I paffe<rjon my route from Havre-de- Grace to Elk-Town. Chriftiana-bridge is the only confiderable place on this road. It is at this,place that the corn that comes by land-carriage is put on board veffels for Philadelphia* *'^Vt the diftance of fix or feven miles is a fmalftown called Newport, uroated alfo on the Qirit tiana; which enjoys, a commerce of the fame kind, but lefs confiderable, and merely to fupply that part of the ftate of Efefaware which lies nearer to Newport than Chriftiana bridge. At five miles further lies Wilmington. There are fome parts of this road running along the Delawrare and Chriftiana (that falls into it after running through a fmall plain tolerably well c&ftrvated), which prefent a very fine profpect". * Having in the beginning of my account oralis part of my journey fpoken at length of Wilmington, and the road between that town and Philadelphia, I have not any thing to add on that fubject, except that the heavy rains which. Ea^ fallen ffi feveral days had rendered thefe roads, tnal are always bad enough, almost impaffable, * 3 A During If&f TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, During this little excnsfion, I obfer-ved transitions from- exceuive heat to cold, fometimes. with the interval of a day,, b*#. very often in the. courfe of the fame day. OBSERVATIONS RESPECTING THE.MIj^BALOCY-05 THE COUNTRY. In puifuanog* of the plan 'tjfaid down for myfelf, of* concmmhg the account of eacn of* my* journeys1 with "a general ^outline' ^Jfce mineralogy of the countries through whicll naffed, as far as the little knowledge I have vo|..that fubjedt extends';,! have a few "words to addon that topic. The neighbourhood of P^ua^tjPAi|L iO the foui&juid well, prefents the famejfand and earth as on, the k^C&lS^^ ever, and on the fpot wmpn f|fo&fates it fiQW^M^^^^J1^^^^^^^ &^ river falls into the Delawar^^obuna' black earth .of V gr^aoep|n^P.d ^oyered with vegetatioa^aj^wlncn, if ^evident,"has beenrecentlv left by the waief; _ Itt^s all the c^ais^er of "S^J^f^^Y ^Sfea^^f MvJ^i fcarcely failed'from the bed of tfie'river, ♦ J8t J§ cohnaptly mo^^^^n}*K frequently overflowed hy the^^^^^^^^^^isidS^for .meadowy ancOs in great eftimation.' Tt is acknowledged,ifi3^fvJjrt*|%llRi^^. tremely.unhealthy. Bet|ce^n Aat and V^mi'ngtonwtne quatitk of the ftone is quartz^cfle ;' ochre is af&tp b^toundsn anjnmerfect fiat;e: and iron-ore is perceptible in moft of th.evftoo^ that a^efliind onftne roadT Every appearance of $h>| peninfula,'that paTOvneTojneSrto donate p{ Delaware, and partly to the eaftern fide of Majnlbuidj, a,lfo proves thatit is land left bylne watery and that at a peri^np^ftntpaft: among, thefe are the quality of "'jge tod,,,its. level, and its conftant and extreme humidity. ** In this part of jylaryland there are few ftones found on.'u^ Iandy fon 6f* the country. The trenching of the ground,.or fome natural ac- gltStfr, has in places, however. fjthrown,up a species ot ftrong aMyef; in !reSPf! others LS. DE/ L* R-OC-'KE'EaurCA-^'^T;£IANCOUET. *3J$3 others a foft argillaceous fchiftus, and in others a ftone mixed with iron- ore. One of the mod remarkable features of this peninfula is, that the rivers are- divided- fey a> frieceflion- of fw'anapSy from* which.. the water runs to - ward the Delaware or the Chefapeak, aMiofighc the ground: deesenotrap- pear to* the eyer t o be more dbvated than-tke reft of the" country.. There isaa-mother fact—MIT- more: : extraordinary---the -bnlhes;- and4 plaMsi-whkkv grow itt thefe isorafies are of tfte femekind as - iihofer wMigkare5 feuoB en the highest mountains. Ifotke-weftern-part of Maryland, fmall round iron-ftbhes a*e fowrid in considerable qualities. The fc4&is for the moft psm^fyp^, which ce^rs< a compa&Glay.' As one approaches Fedet&lNtityHhe cotortttfiHii not fo ftit^'the hills are more diverfified, and^js^^lfe^dl^^^ier. On the fite of Fedgpa^-^3ity the banks and beds of the ftream are coite^ed ^t^^a^ll#,'^OT4'19^^tders of the Pofowfftaek. The rocte&at oc- &mijfe the falfe*a£ tile* ^otowaaaiek a#g free^ftotfek' [' ^^fee fcaajfcst- 3$ ds? iPpt-owaaack, befowi thfciTfeflg,! and efpeclafl^ from ©fei^^'owH to a fpot near Alexandria, exhibit the fame appearaiiS& ©f fuceefitve terraces as- thofeinf-C&rtnfecl&Uty ©f* wtllghti^have al*ead^ f^oke» ^iMttBc^aft^ether fb^htmarkabfe. T%& ^vfeOns oi>Me&Mi&&st aife filfetf-W&k feifls^wfeffge oyfter-f&e$S£4iife3$^*ttS'&t a^fe^fltei}if3j$^ .^&i^ in Lower ^IrgfflUir- Between'Fedfei^^a^alad BaMaa^eA^I ground*ti-feequentPpfell^^feibre. Near the' Sftbl&Vew-wor&Q are rocks among which are fometimes found pieces of granite and feld-fpath. In the neighbourhood of Baltimore the ground is fand %ith clay; and gravel is found confiderably strong. Between Baltimore and Havre-de-Grace is found argillaceous fchiftus, and the foil is of clay and of a red colour. On the banks of rivers and creeks and on the fides of mountains are manes of ftone. NATURE $6i* **ftAV>£L$ IN' N0RTI«sJHilE||80^.W NATURE OF THE WOQDS.. The woods in the ftates of Delaware and Maryland produce no other trees than thofe that are found in Pennfylvania and Virginia. Oaks of every fpecies abound in them, many of which are large and compact in the graisiw^a They are ufed in carpenters' work, and furnifh a great,^^ cle of exportation. The black walnut-tree, which alfo abounds in thefe woods, is much ufed by cabinet-makers; and makes beautiful furniture. Every other kind of walnut-tree is found in the country, the fruit of which, as well as the acorn, feeds an immenfe quantity of hogs that run in the woods, the flefh of which being falted forms one of the moft important articles of the exportation of thefe two ftates. The cypress and cedar cover the marfhy land; where they grow very large. Almoft all the differed kinds of wood that are in great request in Europe are to be found in this latitu<k*&but more efpecially in^fke weftern part of Maryland. I have in palrticular noticed the tulip-tree, of a great height near FederahQify; and remarably fine kiiftffln latiftora, from twenty to five-and-twenty feet in height, between Federal-City and Baltimore. I alfo faw fome of the latter near the Patapfko, whofe bloom, of a beautiful pale red, was beginning to appear. The wood of the kalmi$±$$fca$$ been told is ufed for the axle-trees of carts, foi&j$fe handfefr&f tools, and #^te, Purpofes fojP:i?#^fe wood of the hardeft kind is preferred. RESIDENCE BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. RESIDENCE AT PHILADELPHIA. ACCOUNT OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. AS I am now on the eve of my departure from Philadelphia, and as it is not probable that I fliall be here again before my departure for Europe, I fhall fet down whatever information I have been able to collect, refpecting the city of Philadelphia and the ftate of Pennfylvania, in the feveral vifits I have paid to this part of the United States. ORIGIN OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. This colony was founded 1681, by the celebrated William Penn, from whom it derives its name; and to the genius with which that ^eat man conceived the plan of its government, and the wifdom andjwftlee of his administration, is to be afcribed the rapid progrefs it made to a happy and flourifhing condition. The Englifh government had given Admiral PEjjS:feafon to expect the ceffion of this country to him, in payment of a confiderable fum due to him from the public. The Admiral died kefore any thing was done in the affair ; and the petition prefented by William Penn, after his death, to claim the execution of the promife, was long qppofed by the agents of Lord Baltimore, proprietor of Maryland. It was not till towards the conclusion of the year 1681, that Charles the Second aligned William Penn's charter. At this time feveral fpots on the banks of the Delaware were inhabited. They were at firft part of the province of New York occupied • Vol. II. Sf hy 322 TBA-VEES- Stf NORTH AMERICA, by Dutch fettlers, and afterwards were in the poffeffion of the Swedes; till, in lQQ4, they were finally united to the crown of England. The motives mentioned in the preamble of the patent granted to William Penn are, the fervices of Admiral Penn, and the laudable intentions of his fon to add to the grandeur of the Britifh empire, by cultivating^ fuch branches of commerce in the territories ceded to him as would enrich Great Britain, and by civilifing the favage nations of the country. The limits of the lands ceded by Charles Second to William Penn, were, on the eaft, the Delaware, from a fpot twelve miles to the north of'Newcastle, to the fortieth degree of latitude, in cafe, the words of the patent are,'the river fhall extend thus far to the north; from this point a itraight line drawn to the weft, at right angles with the Delaware; and from that point, another line drawn to the fouth; and finally, a line drawn parallel to that of the north,- and making the boundary on the fouth. The patent gave William Penn, and his heirs, the entire property of the province, fubject to the fupreme authority of the crown of England ; it ceded alfo the power of making laws, eftablifhing a government, granting lands, and raiting taxes. The commerce of the new province was to be subject to the regulations of the -Britifh legiflature, and was to be carried on only with England; WilliarflTPfcnn was obliged to appoint an agent in London, to anfwer to the crown for any violations of the laws regulating Britifh commerce ; but it was provided, that in all difputes between William Penn, or his heirs, or the merchants of the colony, and the crown, the construction of the laws fhould be favourable to the former, and the King's minifters were enjoined to give them all poffible aid and protection. William Penn arrived at the banks of the Delaware in 1082, having with him a great many families of the people called Quakers. As he did not fuppofe, with the greater part of the founders of European colonies, that the place of his birth and the grant of his king were authorities for taking poffeffion of the territories of favage people, without their confent, he treated with the natives for the W$$ti with fuch equity, that he not BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT X-IANeOURT. 323 not only concluded his negociations without obftacles, and acquired, the friendfhip and confidence of the Indians, but alfo conciliated the minds of the Dutch and Swedes already eftablifhed in the country. The conduct of the Quakers, who accompanied Penn, was of the fame equitable character; fo that the new fettlers, far from being difturbed by the Indians, received every.aid thofe poor people could give them. And fo deeply rooted was the veneration of the Indian tribes for William Penn, that to this-day, when thofe unhappy. victims of European policy are daily driven from their habitations farther back into the wilds of the country, and have too often to complain of other acts of injjiftke, they are accuftomed to quote the tradition handed down to them of William Penn's humane and equitable conduct. Nor do they ever place an entire confidence in any treatiestwith Pennfylvania, or any other ftate, or even the Unioiiy unlefs fome Quakers are prefent at the conference;— <c the descendants of William Penn," they fay, " wSl never permit us to be deceived." In 1683, William Penn began to lay the foundations of Philadelphia, at which $ime he formed a plan for the building, of that city, which has fince been followed with great exactnefs. The country lying along the Delaware to the fouth of Newcaftle, was a little time afterwards granted by the crown to Willian Penn; and the county of Newcastle was ceded to him by the Duke of York. The inhabitants of this new colony amounted, in 1684, to no more than four thoufand. In 1685, ninety veffels arriving from Europe, writh emigrants from France, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Denmark, Scotland, Ireland, and England, the population was eafipafed to fixty-fix thoufand, of which nearly the half were Englifh* j The wifdom of the admkiifatiDn, but ftill more entire liber^^ isivil and relig&us matters, brought a great influx of inhabitants, even from other parts of America, to Philadelphia; and the city was ttty$f&, ther inereafed in growth, by conditional grants of gtound,.and other poli- tical aids given to adventurers. Sf 2 In •TRAVELS-IN NORTH AMERICA, - In 1682, William Penn affembled the inhabitants of this nefev* colony at Chefter; with the concurrence of whom he framed a conftitatita|jr that vefled the legiflation of the ftate in the governor, affifled with a provincial council and a general affembly. The council was compofed of feventy members, chofen by the people. The governor or his depu&p prefided in the council, and had three voices. A third of the council was re-elected annually. The general affembly was at firft compofed of all the inhabitants, but was foon reduced to two hundred, and it was provided that it fhould never exceed five hundred. In the difcourfe pronounced by William Penn on this occafion, he laid down a maxim, whofe truth ought to be inceffantly in the contemplar, tion of every free people;—~" Whatever," he faid, " be the form of a government, the people always are free when they fhare in the legiflative powerf iral are governed only by the laws. In thefe two circumftances is the fecurity of all freedom; Without them, there can be nothing but defpotifm or anarchy. The legitimate objects of government are, the peopleVrefpect for the laws, and their fecurity againft the abufe of power, On thefe principles it is, that the people are free, even in obedience, and the magiftrates honoured and refpectable, for the impartiality of their administration and their own fubmission to the laws." In 1683, William Penn offered a new constitution to the inhabitants- of Pennfylvania, of which they accepted. The number of reprefentatives was now diminifhed; and the prerogative of putting a negative upon laws paffed by the affembly, given to the governor. Some difputes between Lord Baltimore and William Penn, concern-c ing their refpective property, obliged the latter to go to England.%?!$$: his abfence, the adminiftration of the government was committed to a council, who abufed their power, and excited difcontents, that Penn, #$tlle he remained in Europe, could neither prevent nor allay. The crown therefore resumed the government of the province, whichivdaai Comnakted to the care of the governor of New York. About this period a new conftitution was eftablifhed in Pennsylvania,, differing; BY THE DUKE DE LA ROOHEPGUCAULT LIANCOURT. 3&S difiering«rt&om. the former chiefly in this—that the general affembly were now annually elected. In 1699, ^l&iliam Penn arrived from England, and again took the. reins ofgovernment; and it was in 1701, when he was about to embark once more for England, that the confutation of this pi$gjnee was eftablifhed on the footing on which it refted till the revolution of America. The three counties of Newcaftle, Kent, and Suffex, (which at that time were knovro by the name of the three lower eountiei), refufing to accept this new conftitution, William Penn granted his right in them to Edmund Shippen, and five others, and thefe counties wrere erected into a feparate government. They had an affembly distinct from that of Pennsylvania, in which, howe^ggthe governor of Pennfylvania pre- fided ^ and thefe three countiegeftt prefent form the State of Delaware. William Penn purchafed from the Indians, by fucceffive treaties, the country as far cas- the Sufquehanna, and even beyond, and all that tract of land extending from Duck Creek to the mountains. He died in 1/18, efteemed, beloved, and regretted, by every one who had occafion at any time to have dealings with him. After his death his heirs, the proprietors and-governors of the province, endeavoured to extend their power,. and foon began to claim exemptions from taxes for the lands the family of Penn had referved for itfelf. The houfe of reprefentatives oppofed thefe pretentions with unremitting fteadinefs; and the hiftory of Pennfylvania, from that period to the late revolution in America, is nothing, more than a record of difputes between the governors and the houfe of reprefentatives. Every queftion that came before t-he affembly was the occafion of a difpute; and the mutual jealoufy of thefe authorities prevented the eftablifhment of neceffary regulations, which the reprefentatives of the people had not leifure to propofe, or were unwilling to &^~ k& to the governor's negative- mm*aA CONSTITUTION 3§9* "TRAVELS IN NORTH AMEIlXCAj - -.CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA AFTER THE REVOLUTION. At the time of the revolution in America, the conftitution of Pennfylvania was changed. The proprietors were then abfent; and the - people, by their reprefentatives, eftablifhed a-constitution, in the following manner. The legiflative .authority was delegated to a houfe of reprefentatives, chofen annually by the feveral counties. To become an elector, it was neceffary to be an inhabitant, a defcendant of Europeans, and free—£0 have arrived at the age of twenty-one, and to have refided a year in Pennfylvania. The number of the reprefentatives was to be proportioned to the population of each county ; the only qualification to be a candidate for re- prefentative Was, a refidence for the two laft years in the fame county, but no reprefentative was eligible to be re-elected tifcfter an interval of four years. Every reprefentative, before he took his feat^ was obliged to read and fign the following declaration—That he believed in one God, wk& created the univerfe, and governs it by his providence, and who rewards the good andpunifhes the wicked; and that he acknowledged the Old and New Teftaments to have been written by divine infpiration. The houfe of reprefentatives had the power of making laws confistenfc with the fpirit of the conftitution. - All a^s were to be paffed by a majority of at least two-thirds of the members prefent; and laws vifeie not to be in force till the expiration of one year from the time of their passing. During that interval they were to be publifhed in the gazettes, thaSI^ people might have opportunity to know their nature, and that the public opinion might be made known refpecting neceffary amendments. The number of reprefentatives in 178-9 were feventy-two. The executive power was placed in the fupreme council of Pennfylvania, compofed of a prefident, vice-prefident, and fifteen members chofen by the people, one in each county. This council was chofen for .three years, and a third was renewed annually by an election. The prefident BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANGOURT. 327 fident and vice-prefident were annually chofen, by an. affembly compofed oft the houfe of reprefentatives and the supreme council; but they were chofen among the members of the fupreme council. Another council compleated the political body of this ftate; it was called the,council of cenfirs, and was compofed of two members from each county, chofen annually by the people. The members could not be reelected till after an interval of feven years. Their functions were, to guard the rights of the conftitution; to enquire into ufurpations of the legiflature, or the fupreme council; to enquire whether the taxes were equitably impofed, faithfully levied, and expended with economy; in a word, to fee the laws juftly adminiftered. They had the power to fum- mon any individual before them; to fufpend the delifegpatipns of the legiflature; to examine its acts, and to recommend the annulling of fuch as appeared to them inconfiftemt'with the conftitution. They had, befide, the power of calling a convention to change the conftitution •&* which they had authority to propofe fuch reforms as they fhould deem neceffary. lathe cafe of their calling a convention, they were enjoined to give notice of it in the gazettes, during fix months previous to its meeting. As democratic as this conftitution was/; there were manyv#ho ftill wifhed for further innovation; and while it was in exiftence, the State of Pennfylvania was divided by two fad ions, one of which was called the cofiftitutionalifts, and the other republicans. The latter demanded two houfes, on the plan of the majority of the United States. The con- teft for power was eager; and the public intereft, as is too often the cafe, was facrificed to the interefts of -parties. Finally the republicans prevailed ; and in 1790, the conftitution at prefent in force was framed by a convention. THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION OF PENNSYLVANIA. The conftitution of Pennsylvania, 3&ke thofe of all the other United States, feparates the executive from the legiflative power. The legislature is compofed of a houfe of reprefentatives and fa fenate. The 32-8 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, The members of the houfe of reprefentatives are chofen in each -County by the electors, with the exception of thofe who are returned by sthe citizens of Philadelphia. The number of reprefentatives for a county is in proportion to the population, but each county returns at leaft one. To keep the number in each county correfpondent with the population, an accou$$ of the inhabitants is taken every feven years, according to which the legiflature declares the number that each county fhall return. The number of reprefentatives is never to exceed a hundred. The houfe of reprefentatives is elected annually. The qualifications for members are,—the arrival at the age of twenty-one ; the right of citizenfhip, acquired three years previous to the election; and a previous refidence of three years in the county. The fenate is elected for four years; but a fourth of the fenators is renovated annu^y# *2 The fenators are elected by districts, formed by feveral counties, according to their population; but no diftrift is permitted to returnmore than four fenators. The number of the fenators is never to be lefs than the fourth part of the houfe of reprefentatives, nor ever exceed the third. The qualifications for a fenator are,—the arrival at the age of twenty- one ; the right of citizenfhip ; refidence for four years in the ftate ; and a refidence of the year preceding the election in the diftrida • The governor is elected for three years> and is not eligible to continue in office more than nine years in twelve. The qualifications for the candidate for the office of governor, are—the arrival at the age of thirty; and the right of citizenfhip of feven years ftanding, and feven years refidence in the state. The qualification of refidence in the ftate is not neceffary to a candidate for the office of governor, or member of either of the houfes of legiflature, when he has been abfent on the fervice of the Union or the The fame ck&ors chufe the governor and the two houfes of the legiflature. BY THE DUKE DE \LSJl ROCHEPGUCAULT-:LI AX COURT. 3$§ lature. The qualifications of an elector arc,—the arrival at the age of twenty-one; two years refidence in the ftate previous to the election-; and the payment of taxes for the laft fix monj&s. The fons of inhabitants paying taxes are exempt from the laft qualification. Laws for the impofition of taxes muft originate in the houfe of reprefentatives ; but the fenate may make amendments in them. The trealferer of the ftate is annually appointed by the legiflature. All other places under the government, civil and military, are filled hy the governor; who appoints alfo the fheriffs and coroner in each county, from two candidates prefented to him by the electors. The governor has the prerogative of granting pardon to convicts, or of mitigating their fentence. The acts of the legiflature muft receive his fignature, to have the force of a law, which fignature is to be affixed to the act within ten days of its being prefented to him; except in the cafe of his refufing his afleat, ^teliliis r^fufal is to be accompanied with a declaration of his motives. The motives of refufal are to be taken into confideration by the two houfes; and if two-thirds of each perfifl in pasting the a6l, the governor is to place his fignature to it, notw^hftandiag his objections. It thenceforth becomes law, and he is to provide for its exeatj*ioa. The judicature is divided into five tribunals; 1. the Supreme Court, compofed of a chief-juftice and four other judges. This court holds its fittings at Philadelphia, in January, -April, and Septem^%; in the firft of which months, the fittings laft for three weeks, and in the two others for fifteen days. 2. The Cd&t£s of Qyeraad Terminer, compofed x>f one of the judges of the fupreme court, and judges of the diftjei€l, the county being divided into five diftridts for the purpofes of thisjurifdi&ion. The judges make the circuit of the diftrict, and take-cognizance of both civil ;^and ■criminal caufes. - ~re 3. The Court of Common Pleas, compofed of a prefident who is one x5f the judges of the diftrict:, and juftices of the peace in the county. -.Vox. II. T t This 330 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, This court is held in the county, and takes cognizance only of civil: caufes. 4. The Court of Quarter Seffi'ons, compofed only of juftices of the peace, and held every three months in the county. 5. The Court of Errors and Appeal, compofed of a prefident who feas no other function, and the judges,, who are prefidents of the feveral courts of common pleas. This court is held every year at Philadelphia, beginning its sittings on the first of July. The Supreme Court, and the Courts of Circuit,, have, the powers of the Court of Chancery vetted in them,. The refpectivejudges are appointed by the governor, and cannot-be. difplaced but by a. fentence. of the fenate, upon an. accufation from the houfe of reprefentatives; or, where the accufation is not of a criminal, nature, by the governor, on the requifition. of .two-thirds, of each of the two houfes of the legiflature,.. The concluding chapter of the conftitution of Pennsylvania contains a declaration-of.rights> eftablifhed on. the purest principles of civil and religious liberty. No. test is required from perfons holding public offices, except a- declaration to uphold.and defend the conftitution. No profeffion relative tQ religion is demanded of them. The declaration is made upon, oath, or iimp.le affirmation, according to the pleafure of the perfon making it.; and this feems a neceffary. provifion in a ftate in which Quakers are as numerous.as in that of Pennsylvania.-.. Votes at an election are given in. writing ; and the judges who preside, before they .receive a vote, are to make an entry of the name and qualification of the.voter,, that the fame perfon may not vote.twice, or vote, without the right of suffrage.: The tranquillity of Pennfylvania has been undifturbed fince, the eftar blifhment of this conftitution, except in the inftance of a partial infur- re&ion in 179*> of which I fhall have occafion to fpeak hereafter. This'flate is blefled with a. high degree of profperity. Population increafes BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEE0UCAULT LIANCOuRT. 33T Creafes in an aflonifhing progreffion. Commerce is more flourifhihg than in any of the other ftates ; and every corner of it is peopling with emigrations from Europe, or from the other ftates of the Union. THE LAWS IN GENERAL. By the grant of Charles Second to William Penn, it was provided, that the law^s of England relative to property, and alfo the law^s relative to crimes, fhould be in force in Pennfylvania, till others fhould be formally lubftituted by himfelf, and the freetnen of the new province, or their deputies, nh^ In the eftablifhment of this colony, the common law of England, and feveral of its ftatute laws, were naturally adopted ; but many of thefe not being found in any written code of Pennfylvania, they are to be regarded indifcriminately as the common law of Pennfylvania. When the revolution took place, thefe laws ceafed to be obligatory, by the connection with England being deftroyed. But they wore confirmed in the firft independent legiflature by an exprefs law, till they -fhould be repealed by fucceeding acts of the legiflature. This wife meafure was neceffary hi the agitation of a revolution, that fcarcely affords the coohiefs and leifure required for the formation of a new code of laws, or even the careful revifion of an ancient fyftem. Many of the laws fince that period have been repealed, or amended; thofe which are at prefent in force have been lately collected and publifhed by Mr. Dallas, fecretary of the ftate of Pennfylvania, a lawyer of great eminence, and who is allowed, even by men of oppofite fentiments in politics, to ^poffefs a clear judgment, and a profound knowledge 5in the laws. THE CODE OF CIVIL LAWS, IN PARTICULAR. 1 fhall fpeak onfji#£ the moft interesting of the code of civil laws, and in the firft place, of that which regulates the property of perfons dying inteftate. This law, which was paffed in 1794, -revokes all preceding laws on the fame fubject, the laft of which was paffed in 17 04. T t 2 By zm TRAVELS IN NORTH AMEMCA>"! By the exifting law, the widow of a perfon dying inteftate takes a third of all his perfonal property and an intereft for life in the real eftatir* The other two-thirds are divided equally among the legitimate- children, already born or posthumous; and after the death of the widow, the third of the real eftate in which fhe had a life-intereft, is equally divided among the children. When the perfon dying inteftate leaves no widow, the whole of the property is equally divided among the children. When a perfon dying inteftate leaves a widow without children, the widow takes half the perfonal property, and a life-intereft in half the real eftate; the remainder is divided among the neareft relations of the deceafed ; to whom alfo defcends, at the death of the widow, the half of the real eftate enjoyed by her during her life. This law determines the preference to be given to the degrees of rela- tionfhip; and regulates the manner of valuing, felling, and . dividing the property among the co-heirs. The abolifhed law of 1764, had given to the eldeft of the fons of the perfon dying inteftate, a fhare of the property equal to two of the other children. The common-law of England is followed in Pennfylvania, in the di£- pofition of the property of a woman dying inteftate \ the whole of the perfonal property belongs to the hufband, and alfo the enjoyment of the real eftate during his life. If there are children of the marriage, or their reprefentatives, they divide the property of the mother after the death of the father. The liberty of difpofing of property by will, without leaving any par*t to children, is entire in Pennfylvania, and is confidered as a fecurity for the good behaviour of children. It is very uncommon to find a parent making a bad ufe of this liberty; which appears, however, to be greater than a juft man would defire. It is not unufual for a parent to leave his eldeft fon a double portion of his property, but public opinion-Condemns every difpofition in which the eldeft fon fa favoured beyond that proportion. By BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. By a law paffed in 1780, no divorce can be adjudged but in the following cafes;—1. For inability in the hufband, or incapacity of the wife to hear children. SfHfff 2. For a preceding marriage of one of the parties, the former wife or hufband being ftill alive, when the fecond marriage took place. 3. For adultery, proved by one of the parties. 4. For the voluntary abfence of either of the parties, without reafbn- able caufe, from the houfe of the married parties, during four fucceed-r- ing years. In each of thefe cafes the fupreme court has the power cf pronouncing a fentence of divorce. The forms of proceeding are prefcribed by the. law; and it is provided, that they cannot be refbrted to, by any hufband or wife, except where the parties have refided. one year at leaft in the ftate.. When a married perfon, on the report of the death of the hufband or wife, after an abfence. of two years, marries again, fuch perfon-is not to be judged guiky of adultery ; but the hufiband or wife who has been |pnjS" reported dead, may, on his or her return, claim the diflblution of the marriage made during his or her abfence, and the reftitution of the-wife or hufband, provided the claim, is made within a year after the return of fuch perfon. A hufband who confents to his wife's adultery is- not- intitled to a divorce ; and where a divorce is obtained for adultery, the party convicted of the crime is not at liberty to marry with the perfon who was-his or her gaftner in the guilt. The law grants a feparation, when the wife, proves that, fhe has been ^-treated by her hufband; and compels the hufband to afford a maintenance to the. wife after the feparation, not exceeding-the third of his revenue; but every fentence of feparation is to be revifed by the.high court of errors and appeals, if either of the parties chufes to appeal .■- By a law paffed;|gf|1780, the children of flaves born .after- that period are declared free; but^g^are liable to ferve the mafters of their parents till the age of twenty-e^ht. The-fame law ordained the regiftering, in -:i£gft the the public books of certain ofiscersy-the aia'me-s of the flaves'"tlreii Sefiding in the ftate; and fuch flaves5 as were not To regiftered were declared to be free. It provided that all flaves fhould be tried by the fame tribunals* and with the fame forms, as other - citizen^ of the ftate ; but it prohibited the teftimony of a flave.againft a freeman. The proprietors of -flaves were compelled by this law to provide for their fubfiftence, even in the cafe of their not being regiftered •; and the manner was prefcribed for the recovery of-a flave who had efcaped from his mafter. It was forbidden to engage any negro or mulatto above the age of twenty-one to be bound for any longer term 'than feven years. A law that was paffed in May 1 788 explained and amended the law of 1780. Every flaVe brought info the State of Pennfylvania, 4lft$ier by an inhabitant of the ftate or any-perfon coming-to refide there, was declared free as foon as he entered on the territories of the ftate. No perfon could take with him, or fend away to another ftate, a flave engaged OnljI'Nfor a term, without the confent of the flave officially declared be - fore a juftice Of the 'peace. A fine of one hundred and fixty dollars is to be paid for every offence againft this provifion 8f the law. The children of flaves born after the firft of March 1780, who were fubjedt to fervi tude till the age of twenty-eight,-were to be enregifter-ed -in the books of the proper officers, in default of which they were declared free. The trading in negroes was prohibited, under the penalty of the confiscation of the veffel employed in or deflined to that traffic, and a fine of two thoufand two hundred and fifty dollars. Every mafter of a flave, whether during his life or for a term of years, was prohibited, under the penalty of one hundred and twelve dollars, to remove hufband and wife, or parents and -their children, to the diftance of more than twelve miles from each other, without their previous confent. Whef-e violence is ufed by the mafter, or perfecution or falfe pretences to effed: the feparation contrary to this law, the fine is doubled, and the offender to be •imprifoned for -fix*el*fcwelve months. The granting liberty to a flave, whether he is fo for life or a term of years, requires no other formal^ ■$hanthe fignatutfi VM the mafter declaring him to be free. !fe'' The BY THE'DUK-E DE LA ROCHE^OUCAFLT LIANCOURT. The common law of England is ftill in force in Pennfylvania, relative" to the ihiring of domeftics, and the taking of apprentices. Parents may therefore engage their children as apprentices and domeftics up to the age" of twenty-one ; and after that age young people may make agreements for.-themfelves till they are twenty-eight. Proviflons are made by the law merely to prevent, abufes in. thefe engagements. Among the reft are—- the declaration before juftices of the peace of the perfon engaged to be a fervant or apprentice, that he engages himfelf voluntarily; a prohibition'- to every mafter to fend fervants or apprentices out of the flate.; and a fine; impofed upon all perfons offending, againft1 that claufe, or- retaining the -perfons fo engaged btyond theeterm of the. contract.. The law alfo authorifes the engagement, for a limited period, of perfons arriving from Europe, who cannot, otherwife difeharge-the debts they have contracted with the matters of veffels for their paffage. . £ The overfeers of the poor may make, engagements for the children of the poor as apprentices, but not for any term exceeding their arrival at the age of twenty-one ;. and provifions are made-for the proper treatment of fuch apprentices and domefticsby: their mafters. It is under the fan&ion of the forms of this law that emigrants, arriving here from the French colonies fince theTrench Revolution, have been able to retain their flaves. Having. conduced them before magiftrates, . they engage, them till the time when they fhall attain the age of twenty- - one, or -twenty-eight; but the confent of the negro to thiseftect is ne^- ceslary, without which they are declared free. - There is no law in Pennfylvania, directly enacted by the legiflature of - the ftate, relative to bankruptcies ; on this fubject the law-of England is * followed. That which relates to the infolvent debtors is encumbered with the inconveniences which foefi laws feldom avoid. It provides that infolvent perfons, imprifoned for debt, fhall be. difeharged and freed from.-; fiarther purfuit, on a declaration made by them of the amount of their property and the relinquifhment of it to their creditors. But if the debtor afterwards acquires other property, he may be again fued. It will be felt, that the-debtor,, being, once enlarged, may fecrete his new acquifitions from s 330 TRAVELS "IN SOP,Til AMERICA, from his creditor, of that he may be difhoneft in his declaration concerning his property ; but if will alfo be felt, that it is lefs difficult to raife objections to this mild provifion of the law, than^i^ubftitute one that would protect the honeft and unfortunate debtor, while it fecured the creditor from frauds. The decay of morals in Pennfylvania renders 0. provifion for this laft-mentioned object neceffary; and the legiflature is engaged in framing a law for that purpofe. It was propofed in the laft feffion to abolifh arrests for debt, and to leave to the money-lender and the merchant the talk of enquiring into the folidity of the funds for their repayment. The propofition was fup- ported by a great number of the members; but wTas oppofed by a majority, and thrown out. WWII Chicane will find means to prolong the term of nine months, which is "fhe^erm confumed by the regular forms in the recovery of a debt; and it is not'-unusual to fee it thus employed in'Pennsylvania. By a law of Pennfylvania, cognizance is given to juftices of the peace of all actions for debt not exceeding fifty-three dollars. The object of the legiflature in this law was, to fave expence in the moft frequent actions for debt, and in which the parties wrere the ieafr! capable of defraying it; but an appeal to the fuperior tribunals is given to the defendant. This law met with much oppofition before it paffed, and chiefly from lawyers who imagined it would effect fhe,k^?1s^^#|^%ut experience has fhewn the wifciom of the provifion. There is fcarcely an inftance of an appeal from the deciiions of the juftices of the peace; and the expences of recovering debts before them are' twenty times lefs than before the fuperior tribunals with the aid of advocates. THE CRIMINAL LAW^S.—PRISONS. It is on the fubject of criminal laws that philofephy has had the moft noble and ufeful influence in Pennsylvania; and in this refpect the government may juftly ferve for a model to the reft of the world. I cannot proceed with this fubject without repeating part of what I have faid in another work, published with this titled On the Prifons of Philadelphia; BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LI AN COURT. 337 Philadelphia ; to which I will refer fuch of my readers as require a mom particular detail on this interesting fubject. Since the year. 1793, no crime but wilful murder is puniflied with' death. Other crimes are puniflied with imprifbnment, for more or lefs time, and with circumftances of greater or lefs feverity, according to the nature of the offence ; the Governor in all cafes having the prerogative to mitigate the punifhment; for although it has appeared to the wife legifla- tors of this ftate, that the certainty with which punifhment follows crimes will greatly diminifh them, the hope of obtaining pardon by fub- fequent good conduct has no lefs appeared to them a motive of fubftan- tial reform-in criminals. They very properly thought that all punifhment fhould have the amendment of the offender for its object, and ought even .to furnifh him with the means of reform ; and this valuable maxim is the bafis of the policy of the prifons in Philadelphia. The adminiftrators of the prifons have added this truly wife principle; .that the imprifonment of a criminal being a reparation to fociety, it ought as little as poffible ti> be a burden on its finances. They have propofed, therefore, the following objects in their regulations : - lft. That the economy of the prifons fhould, as much as poffible, tend to detach the prifoners from their former habits, and lead them to reflections on their condition, and confequently to amendment. 2d. That all arbitrary proceedings, and cruelty, and injuftice in the jailors, fhould be carefully excluded, fince they difpofe the mind of the prifoner to malice and revenge, inftead of begetting fentiments of contrition. 3d. That the prifoner fhould be conftantly employed in fome profitable labour, to wean him from habits of idlenefs, to defray the expences of the prifon, and to provide fome refource for the time when he returns again to fociety. j The convicts in the prifons are divided into two clafies; the first are fuch as are convicted of crimes formerly punifhed with death, and their fentence always includes folitary confinement for part of the time of their Vol. II. Uu imprifonment. 338 TRAVELS iN NORTH AMERICA, imprifonment. The quantity of folitary confinement is at the (Jiforetion of the judge, within thefe boi#*ds—-that it fhall not exceed half of the time of the imprifofi-ment, nor be fcfs than the twelfth part. The other clafs of convicts are fuch as are fentenced for inferior offences; and who are not confequently condemned to folitary confinement. The cells for folitary confinement are eight §0L by fix, and nine in height. They are always on the firft or fecond floor of the prifon, are vaulted* and detached from the reft of the building. They are warmed by a ifepe which ftands in the corridor facing the cells. The convict, fhut in by two doors of iron and grated, receives the benefit of the fire ,|Spj$hout being able to convert it to mifchevious purpofes. The cell is lighted by the doors leading to the corridor, and more immediately by a window. It has a water-clofet, through which frefh water can be always turned at the pleafure of the prifoner. No precaution for cleanlinefs or health is forgotten. The cells, as well as every part of the prifon, is "llhite-wafhed twpe a year. The prifoner fleeps on a mattrafs, and-j$ well furnifhed with covering. Thus delivered over to folitude, anjd the bittenefs of reflection and re- morfe, the convict has no communication with human beings; except that once a day t|ie turnkey brings him a coarfe pudding made of Indian wheat. It is not till alter the qo&yi£t has paffed fome time in this feclufion from fociety tha^e obtains peri^jflion to read, or to be furnifhed with fuch employment as hi$itri& confinement will admit of. The c<8^yi6t never quits his cell during the term for which he is condemned to folitary confinement, not even to w7alk in the corridor,, except in the cafe of fickne$. It is left to the inspectors of the prifons to fay .i^-what part of the whole term of the imprifftQunent the time of the folitary confinement fhall take place; provided the prifoner actually fuffers the quantity of folitaiji confinement name^^i the fentence. It is ufually inflicted when |&e convict enters the prifon; becaufe the fevereft part of-the fentence ought in jjSjjftice,, as. quickly as pof&ble, to follow the (jyajne; becaufe the rigour BY THE DtfXE DE LA ROCHE FOUCAtrMT'EIANCOURT. 339 tigotir^ irafe ^clufion would be unjuftly inereafed if the prifoner had alreadya^oyed the common liberty of the prifon; becaufe the feclufion $tob& ideiety is defigried to lead the prifoner to reflection on the crimes *ivhofe-£tirfefhment falls fo heavily on him; and, becailfe the fudden and abfolute change of food affects the temperament of the prifoner and inclines him to the difpofition that precedes repentance. The infpeetofs of the pJ^ons place great confidence in the abftinence /they impofe on the convict condemned to folifaty confinement; regarding it as the fiireft means of his amendment, by the change it effects in his ideas and temper. This notion feems to have influenced the founders of fuch religions as enjoin fails and abftinence; and he who reflects on the power of our organs over the qualities of our^rj&tnd will not fail to applaud the infpectors of the "jkifons in PhiladelphaVfbr the fagacity of their fyftem. A convict who ISfilB^ferrfjenced to folitary confinement is, on his en- ^tranbe mtoa the prifon, put into a common room with others. His clothes are taken off, and in fome cafes burnt; and a drefs common to all the "jarifohers given to him. He is inftrudled in the regulations of the prifon, and examined respecting the fpecies of labour he is capable of pursuing. The cr*H officer who condu<5ts the convict to prifon, delivers to the inspectors a paper containing an account of his offence; the circum- dfiances by which it is heightened or extenuated; the fa$8*$iat appeared on his trial; the tmtifix&tof which he has in any former time been ac- cufed; in a word, the entire character and hiftory of the man as far as it can be gathered. The document is tranfmitted by the court that pro- 'jaoimced the fentence ; and enables the infpectors to form an opinion of the prifoner, and to conduct themfelv^ toward him as the cafe re- The labour allotted to prifoners is proportioned to their ftrength, and - profie&riejjr4i*?the employment. In the prifons there are looms; car- - penters' benches; and fhops fitted up for fhoe-makers and taylors. Con- ~«ri$Sthat cannot avail tfee*mfelves of any^jfc thefe, are employed in faw- ing, or polhtotg tnaihlet $&^a£ing the cedar for pencils; grinding2pfai$et Uu 2 of 340 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, of Paris; combing wool; or beating hemp. The infpectors have lately added a manufacture of nails, which employs a great many hands, and produces a large prosit to the prifon. Convicts that are unable to endure hard labour, and are little expert at any thing, are employed in forting wool, horfe-hair, and flax. The bargain for the labour of the prifoners is made between the jailor and the tradefmen of the city, in the prefence of the convict. Out of his earnings, the convict pays for his board, his portion of the common expences of the houfe, and the ufe and wear of his tools; the rate of payment for thefe things, being neceffarily governed by circumftances, is fixed by the injectors four times in every year; it is at prefent fifteen pence per day, and an old man, who can do nothing but pick hemp, is able to gain one and twenty or two and twenty pence per day. There are convicts who earn more than a dollar per day. Befides the money which the convict pays to the prifon from his earnings, the law compells him to reimburfe the ftate the expences of his trial, and to pay a fine which is always part of the fentence. The fine includes a fum to be paid into the treafury of the ftate ; and in cafe of theft, a fum fufficient to pay for the stolen property. The money to be .paid into the treafury is frequenly remittor but never the expencei'bf the trial, nor the reflitution of the flolen property?-*? The county advances the money for the expences of the trial; and is repaid from the labour of the convict, if his family or friends do not pay it for him. The women are employed $a$#fpinning, fewing, combing wool, and wafhing for the prifon. fyjjjjfhey pay feven-pence per day for their board; and they can earn more than that if they are induftrious. As their labour is not fo hard as that of the men Mr food is lefs expenfive* The jailor does not here, as is too frequently the practice4*^ other places, levy contributions on misfortune and mifery. Nothing i^^fe^ manded on the prifoner's entrance into prifon, or on H&-' quitting it; nothing for particular indulgences to the individual. The fmallnefs of the falary of certain fituations in Europe feems to authorife thofe who fill them in the exactions by which they increafe their revenue; BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEF0UCAULT LIANCOURT, 341 revenue; and. it is difficult for perfons of higher rank, whofe office it is to fuperintend their conduct, to make rigid enquiries wrhere they know the fubaltern has not the falary to provide the neceffaries of life. The rapacious exactions to wahich I allude, are exercifed by perfons of the vileft condition in. fociety ; and they are often levied as an indemnity for the contempt and hatred which thofe perfons encounter. But here, where no prifoner is ever put in irons; where blows and and even ill language is ftrictly forbidden to all perfons who approach them ; where the whole economy of the prifon tends to make it a fcene of reform ; the office of jailor never wounds the delicay of the moft honourable characters. The falaries are very fufficient, even of the under jailors ; the daily visits of the infpectors are a complete check upon the jailors, and not only excludes all exaction, but produces conftant evidence that none can exift in the prifons. Every prifoner has a fmall book in which are entered the bargains made in his prefence for his labour, and the amount of the produce; and againft this, his debts for the expences of his trial, the fine to which he is condemned, the Sum to be paid for the ufe and deftruction of his tools, his clothes, and his board ; and the account is audited and paffed every three months in the prefence of the infpectors. A copy of the account is entered in a general regifter; and is alfo paffed every three months. The produce of the labour is paid into the treafury of the county, which thus becomes the banker of the prifoner, to prevent the fufpicions that would arife if the jailor held the money in his hands. The jailor, in fact, is no more than the agent between the convict and his employer ; and the price of labour in the prifon is the fame as out of doors; and the infpectors take care that no fraud is pradlifed upon the convicts. The jailor purchafes the provifions in the prefence of the infpectors. A certain quantity is allowed to each prifoner, and is weighed out before the cook, who is himfelf a convict, and is paid by his fellow prifoners for his labour. To thefe precautions of inceffant infpection, and of the ample falary of the jailors, which removes the temptation to fraud on their part, is joined S42 TRAVELS IN NORTft AMERICA, joined the powerful controul of pubiicaopinion. Tbe humanity «aalll|l* flexible probity of the infpectors is fo manifeft, their desire of the welfare of the convicts is fo unequivocal, and their care that no injteSrice be done them fo conftant, that to rob them would appear in the public eye a more detestable crime than any other fpecies of robbery. The rooms in which the prifoners fleep are on the firft floor; each room contains ten or twelve bedfteads, furnifhed with m-attraffes, fheets, and a fufficiency of covering; and every prifoner has a bed to himfelf. Each room is well aired and well lighted. The prifoners quit their chambers at day-break, and do not returrvf^H the hour of going to bed. They are then fhut up without light. When the weather is fevere, arMttle fire is allowed them; the whole of the building being vaulted, there is no danger of their burning it down ; and if they fhould be tempted to fet fire to their beds, they would do no more than fiahject themfelves to perifh, and if they efcaped would be obliged to pay for the mifchief done. Every morning, before the convicts go to work, they are obliged to wafh their hands and face. In fummer they bathe twice a month, ajjra*>&° bath made for that ufe in the midd^tof the court. They are regulady ifhaved twice a week ; and ,fhe barber, who is alfo a convict, is paid out oft^he, fifteen pence per day deducted out of each prifoner's laboifjiF Their linen is changed twice a week. All heavy work is done in the courts; and light trades are followed in rooms on the fame floor with their chambers, but in a feperate part of the building. They are not fhut in while they work; but each is under the fuperintendance of the reft. There are feldom^more than five or fix in one of thefe fhops. The under jailors, of whom there are four to each prifon, are obliged to be continually in the courts, chambers, or corridors; infine, among the prifoners. ^^^ All converfation is prohited the prifoners, beyond what neceffarily arifes in the pa^fuit of their occupations. They are forbidden to reproach each other with their crimes, or even to fpeak of the caufe of their imprifonment. The fame filence is impofed upon them at table. Their breakfaft BY THE DUJ&3 &E LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. breakfaitand flipper is a pudding of flour made from Indian corn, with which ifaey eat treacle. At dinner, each is ferved with half a pound of meat, half a pound of bread, and vegetables. Their drink is always* water. Newr, on any pretence, are they permitted to tafte fermented liquors, not even fmall beer. All fuch liquors are prohibited; and the. prohibition is religioufly obferved. The excitement produced by fermented liquors is momentary, and deceitfol; and as it would heat the juicea of the convict, would confequently interfere with the fyftem of temperance through which it is intended to effect a change in his difpofition. The healthy vigour wfeich is neceffary for him, will be derived from the fubftantkl but moderate fboilfhat is- given him.- PealsW laughter, fongs, and fhouts, are prohibited; not only as they would be inconvenient and difagreeable in the prifon, but becaufe they diftuib the tranquillity which is to be cultivated and encrcafedin the prifoner's temper. When a convict violates a regulationsof the prifon, he is admonifhed*- fea: the hrft offence by the infpector, thecjafior, or the under jailor. If he repeats his offence, he is fent'lato folitfey confinement. This is a punifhment which the jailor may himfelf infli&lp %ut in every fuch cafe he isebliged inftantly to fend an account of it to ^fe infpector. Whertta ernivi^afeldle, and will *Hifc work, he is fent into fcliistry confinement; ant£ t^&punifhment is the greater, becaufe he muft redeem ^le^time-he has fcift: when.he returns- to labour, as the expences of the houfe are charged againft him even for the time of his folitary confinement. Tho-four under jaifors* are all the ii%ht on duty; two of whom are in the room fet apart for the infpectors, and the other-two walk continually B8>the corridors?. When there is any extraordinary noife, they waken the jaikM^with whom-they proceed to the chamber whence the noife comes, and conduil the offenders to the folitary cells. Such cafes are very rare. It perhaps does not happen four times a year that a prifoner is puafifhed ; and no other punifhment is inflicted in the prroartnit foHtaty confinement. The TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, The jailors and under-jailors are not permitted to have either arm's or dogs. They are even forbidden to carry a fmall flick, leaft in a moment of anger they fhould ftrike a prifoner, and the tranquillity fo much cultivated, and from which fo much is expected, be difturbed. An under jailor who is found drunk, or who treats a.prifoner a fecond time with unprovoked rigour, is immediately difeharged. The infpectors take occafion to converfe with the prifoners ; they endeavour to become acquainted with them ; they give them advice and confolation, and labour to reconcile them to their own confciences. Thefe converfations are not too frequent, left they fhould produce the lefs effect. The appearance of the prifoners is generally calm and ferious; it has nothing of that hard infolence, or the malignant fcowl, or the mean fervility, that we find in the prifoners of Europe. A prifoner here is at once referved and respectful. The female convicts are in a wing feparated from the dwelling of the gne^ They are fuffered to mingle with women that are prifoners for 'debt—an indulgence that is never granted the men. It is fuppofed that the example ©jf^yomen of a better order will tend to correct the manners of the depraved ; and this is true; for in that fex modefty and an honeft fhame have always an influence which men, when they are once perverted, do not feel. Wafhing is the only labour carried on in the court belonging to the women, of which they otherwife make ufe at their pleafure. The number of female convicts feldom exceeds five or fix. Silence is lefs rigidly exacted from them; and they are not fo ftrictly guarded as the men. One of them cooks for the reft; and they wait on each other in ficknefs; but ficknefs is rare among them. The new economy introduced into the prifons has made a material change relatsj^to difeafes. Formerly there were from two hundred and fixty to three hundred and twenty patients, affli<5led with the itch, in one quarter; and in the fame interval, under^gjfce new fyftem, they do not amount to forty. This aftonifhing difference is folely to be attributed to the change of economy. Formerly the licence that reigned .in the prifons BY THE DUXE DE LA" RO CHEF 0 U C AULT Ll AN COD ET. priions was the conftant occafion of fiithinefs, drunkenness, quarrels, and difgufting difeafes. At prefent there are no patieS§8$ in the prifons, but fome afflidled with the rheumatifm, or the effect of accidents. In the four laft years, only two prifoners have died, and they died of the fmall- pox. If the diforder is not contagious, the patient is attended in his chamber; but if contagion is apprehended, he is put in a room by^Bialfelf. Every Sunday morning the prifoners attend a fermon, preached by a minifter, whofe zeal leads him to the priUla; nor is it inquired to what fe& he belongs. Liberty of confidence is as unreftri<5led in the prifons as it is throughout Pennfylvania. Yet as the inhabitants of the^ate are almoft all of them Christians) a chapter is read to the prifoners from the Bible. The fermons in general turn more on morality than doctrinal points, and are applicable to the fituation of the convicts. All the prifoners, of every kind and both fexes, attend the fervice, excepting thofe who are condemned to folitarpconfinement. In the evening there is another fertoon; and pious books are given to thofe who requeft ha The fuperintendance of the administration of the prifon is committed to twelve infpectors. Six of thefe are replaced by a new election etf&ry ikt-months, and the election is made by the infpedors themfelves. The elections are thus frequent, that the duty, which is very painful in its nature, may not fall too heavily on individuals. But an infpector maybe continued in office beyond his term, with his own confent* The infpectors meet every week; and two of them, who have the additional title of vifitors, are obliged at leaft to make two vifits in eight days to the prifons. There is feareely a day paffes fei which they do not make their Vifir; and frequently fome who are not on that duty do the feme. The infpectors are for the moft part Quakers; and it is not to be forgotten, that it is to the fociety of Quakers that the public is indllftjed for the eftablifhment, protection, and fuccefs of the new" Syfteirr. To one of thefe people, whofe name is Caleb LoWStes, is to be given the largeft fhare of the honour of this great reform. The opinions of Beccaria and Howard eafily took root in his humane heart* It Vol. II. X x was TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, was he who animated his brethren with zeal for the enlightened fyfte^m of thefe great men ; it was he who exhorted a change-in the prifons— who propofed to fubflitute humanity, joined to firmnefs, for fetters .-and ftripes—who fuffered himfelf to be treated as a wild visionary, without being turned afide from his pursuit, perfectly confiding in the fiaceefs of his labour. It was he whofe unwearied zeal gained over to his caufe whoever was neceffary to its protection; who obtained from the legiftav ture thofe laws, I will not only fay that humanity claimed, but that juftice and an enlarged policy demanded. In a word, it is he' who confents at every election to be an infpector, and is indeed the principal agent of that great work of reafon and humanity. May God fhower his bleffings- on the head of this benefactor of the human race ! The judges at first oppofed this reform ; except one among them, who, younger than the reft, and defpairing lefs of the human character, embraced the reform with ardour.. He affociated' himfelf to the labours of Caleb Lownes, aiding him with the advice of a man verfed in jurisprudence ; and, having fhared the difficulties,- he deferved -||#dfeare in the glories of the undertaking. The name of this- judge was Wj-xxiam" radford. He was at that time the attorney-general of Pennsylvania, and was afterwards the attorney-general of the United States. He died lately, honoured with the univerfal efteem- and love of his fellow-* citizens. This is an homage which I render the more readily to hk/memory, as it includes no cenfure on the other judges. While they withheld their iandtion from the reform1, they were influenced by doubts of its efficacy ; and they were prompt in aiding the plan when they were convinced of their miftake; nor were they to be deterred by the opinion they had pre- vioufly given;—a conduct that will not be thought little of, by thofe who' have had occafion to contemplate the operations of felf-love. The prifons, under the new regulations, are subject to the foperin<- tendance of the mayor of Philadelphia, and judges appointed for that^su*- pofe. They form a committee, whofe duty it is to vifit the prifons once hM every quarter. The fame duty kifenpofed upon the governor of the tee ,jyi BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LtANGOURT. ftate of Pennsylvania, the judges of the feveral fuperior courts, and the grand jmjies^ Thefe numerous vifits are ordained by the legiflature^ to aSfure*4l^ fuccefs of this humane-'pla^, by Watching <HK&iliie interior economy Of the prifons, if it were even poffible for the zeal of €^4n^pal<5tors to i€lax. They have proved, however, a reeompence for the trouble they have oc- cafioned; they demonstrated the value of the liew-fyftem ; and induced the friends of humanity to overcome the obftacles> that in eve^eOuntry are thrown in the wray of men who devote themfelves -to ^the overthrowing of abufes. |pj*f. The infpectors have "the right to prefent petitions to the governor, for the pardon of criminals; which they never fail to ufe, wheA * they are convinced of the amendment of the convict, and of his having --acquired a capital by his labour, or of having means of fubfiftence among his friends. The governor of Pennsylvania never refufes a pardon, on the petition of the infpectors; even a murderer may Ifope to obtain it, although, in that cafe, it is never graj&fed, unlefs the petition is Kigned by the relations and friends of the perfon murdered. The infpe&ors feldom prefent ^ti- tions in behalf of convi&s of that clafs ; they even ufe their prerogative tpltil'nioderati'on for all others; but every prifoner knows that it may be employed for him, and his hearty warmed by hope> feels an intereft in his becoming a better man. Who that is without hope, and without fear, was ever happily influenced in his conduct ? When prifoners are difcharged, they receive the amount of the favirfg^ of their labour in money, if the infpectors are pervaded that they will make a good ufe of it, or in clothes, when the infpectors have not that confidence. Sometimes convi&s difpofe of the favings of their labour, while they are ftill in prifon, in the maintaining their farbilies. Such is the admirable effects of the new fyftem^ that of a-^fendred convicts difcharged, either i»«ppifequence of pardons, or at the expiration of the term of their fentence, there are not two committed for new crimes; binder the ancient t^ftem, the prifons were filled with old and known of- X x 2 fender?* 3A8> TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, fenders,- who* like the criminals in Europe, left their prifons every time with newly acquired vices, and availed themfelves of their liberty only to commit new depredations, and were again led back to prifon, till they terminated their wretched lives on the fcaffold. >tl^pll fiere give a table of the number and claffes of convicts for the four laft years of the ancient fyftem, and the four, firft of the new. It would: be a very defireable thing to add a table of the crimes commits, and the fentences paffed, in the four years immediately preceding; the amelioration.of^he penal code; but the regiflers of the prifons were carried off by the perfon who at that time had the-cuftody of them. It was not till the year 1790; that the law was paffed that gave the new fyftem to the prifons; and it was not till 17Q1, that it was put'-4#p execution. f.„ a TABLE BV THE BVKE DE LA ROCHEFOOXIAtfl/ff t^ANtrOURT. 340 m r3 ^ **1 n 1 | •''■'-•'- IN « -J -v* b* 1 "1 <T> 1 I *mwm 3 9 9 go ° a3 S3 fe»*h|j o o •? O tn ON w w O 0\ On-j If s ; »i Mum m fill 3 S 3 » 2 |- 2---« 2 -a M " ~5 ^ "5 ^i EE3tn3 % « « « ^ w "^ ^ ^> M *> •§ ' | £ j E t £ $ I3 j I Is 1 i "u3j\t1 _,, ^jjjjjjjl., u s SflLSpS l* |3 S oS 1 -u^o^jpufeo^u^ c?* S> |-O ~*5vo -o j--oo cs oo ! • wbjs'«M4 4" si.rej .wipo ojojj -o-U «*- I wmm 3 [ o, j| „ „ ^ „ j j j^aSaeis-u^ re, j „ ^ HS 1 ^ o o, -o-f •" * * ' * ' Xi3qqo-ffifeiyvi|SiH Sv 1 « W « K> ^ 1 ow£ o 1 ' !-\? a"-* • •■-■ •.-aA.iE|3.uig S3 1 3v 'j +• w +■ +■ ^ i £ s5^ s i 5m ^-i O 1 o* V. m i i • *■"*■«>* 2 L* 1 N « « oUu i .>££ V • • Stisuio 3 1 u | m 4-1 h k> | -aa-'Saayi ? .- 3^ - 1 ^ I w +-• cn 1 -aa-iSaa P* > 1 « l- on 1 vr« no -^ 1 -awSsaui ? -spooo L* | K 2 N> - ■STif'w'" 1 -awSaapzi i»|og SHHMWjf ..o-i.^.--^ 1 Su!l^93J-l^[ JT* ! w J - W ^> . _ | «• | XflfgsVg ^ ov | ^ « | • warn ^ ^ " ^ *»• O U» »w-| S3Jt»H /.[ISpiOTtg ^ •oo 1 WWW PpSueh i | ^* 1 » i *> -o | ^ » « w sTsiqoig^o psi'Q K | 1 pj-lBIlO E Ut p3j{J3f i g 1 >-n +;" O ' • ^ uojuj-U33[o.iq *?* | VO | B „ „ |! $ | 5 S^ 1 • • • •• p^«fi 5* -S te s i 1 | £ -££- I paaopjEj f 8! K« 1 $ i ^Nd^"^5^-9^^*u^s.^^i^ 3 55 i n to J. A^fr^Sj to PinOH »|Joj 3u;g 0» N w j JO TiOpipuOQ HO pa^JEipTtfX 1 ovi on ! 1 - i — mM •j3'4^^.o1 l^j . - j [ j"' S3J'nNjs;^fdjoH „,," s 1 "§ | K^* I ! !•■••• uqjuj ui Suiureun^ p- [j gjgjg - ^H NO OO.VO 1 . . . .T. . . . . 2 •EjuBAtAjuiiaj jo 7 ' J a ' S SUEDI.I3U.IV 1 ^ 1 5 1 « vlf^l 1 » ( « Mh O 1 ^ I^US- 1 5 1 . -^ I" -uHO^mv? ,. .^ ISU.oco |JT| S^voS I" -sjMiSpjo^ " "-N ^i 1 £ j| w 5 5 1 S 1 5 * cv^ 1 ■ • * • ' ' UMomtun louno- | j .£ | o, o\ o\ <x '| «5 j ciu m- S> j • • • sj.c»AN03 io ivaoj, j 3(50 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, m OBSERVATIONS ON THE FOREGOING TABLE. 1. In the four firft of the eight years named in the table, criminals were committed to thex prifons of Philadelphia, only from the county and city of Philadelphia; in the four laft years, criminals were fent from every part of Pennfylvania to the prifons of Philadelphia. -2. Of the three hundred and twenty-one eomvi&s that were foreigners and white men in the firft period of four years, -one hundred and thirty- one were Irifh, and eighty-four Englifh or Scotch. In the laft period of ;four years, of one hundred and thirty-five convicts that were white men* ninety-two were Irifh, and nineteen Englifh or Scotch. The Irifh, therefore, in both periods, were more than two-thirds of the foreigners, and nearly the half of the whole number of prifoners; and part of the prifoners concealing the name of their country, it is reafonable to fuppofe. there were more Irifh than were entered as fuch in the reg'i'fler. 3. In the firft period of four years, feventy-three criminals were convicted of new crimes, lafter having been 4ifoharged, and fome of ttftafej even for the fifth and fixth time; while five only, belonging to the laft period of.four years, were convicted of new crimes after being dif- charged. 4. Under'both the 'old and the new fyftemf cM-mes have been multiplied in Philadel|5tiii^^nd its environs, in a proportion greatly exceeding that of all the reft of the ftate of Pennfylvania. In the four years, therefore, of the new fyftefti, more than two hundred have been reflored as'ufefi! perfons to fociety, who, under the old fyftem, and under a penal code of laws refembling that of almoft every ftate of Europe, were deftined either to be the fcourge of their fellow ^creatures, or to be -kept fecluded from them, or to be delivered--over-te, violent deaths. Criminals were not only rendered more ufeful, but were in reality more ^R8^etyput«ftjed. The greater fpart of them would have readily, in the firft inftance, preferred death to folitary confinement; and all were infinitely mor^^tisfied with the diforder and vice of the old prifons, than with BY THE I>U*EaDE LA ROCHAFOUCAULT LIANCOUET. 351 with the humane and juft, but uniform and fteady adminiftration of the ReWi It is in defpite of themfelves that they are reftored to fbciety; but how much reafon have they and their families to be grateful to the legislature that has hatched them ifom their miftaaes ? I refer fiich of my readers as would know more of this interesting fubject: to my former work, from which I have been able at prefent to give a very incompetent extract:-. LAWS RELATIVE TO THE POLICE. The laft law relative to the regulation of the poor was pafted in the year 1771. It appoints overfeers cf the poor, both in Philadelphia and other cities of the ftate. It ordains the levying of taxes for their-provifion; recommends the eftablifhment of houfes of ind^try; and regulates the manner of removing poor families who become burthenfome, and have not acquired the right of being relieved m the-citxf#iiere they refide. The. right of being relieved is acquired by a yearV refidence; and payment, during that time, of the-poor ralfest' Domeities and apprentices acquire the right limply by a year's refidence, All perfons who have not acquired the right, and are dedare^l^ the overfeers of the poor to Be in danger of becoming chargeable to the city, are conveyed to the place of their birth ; the overfeers of the poor of 'which place are to reim- burfe the city that has thus conveyed them the expences of the journey. Every father or mother, grandfather or grandmother, or child, of poor perfons not able to gain-their lrveliehood, is obliged to provide for them, if they have the means, on the penalty of five dollars and a half for etmy month that they neglect this facred duty. An appeal is allowed to the court of juftices of the peace, from the fentence of the overfeer of the poor, who, in the firft inftance, decides in fuch cafes: A law of Pennfylvania, paffed in 1789, gave every foreigner, although not a refident in America, the right of ae<|uiring and poflefling every ^e*" cies of property, as if he were a member of tifete^ftate. This law, which was to be in force only for two years, was renewed at the end of that period, and no doubt will continue to be renewed till it is declared permanent. 35-2 : TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, fa j nent. This law deferves to be placed among the moft enlighteiied.and politic of the ftate of Pennfylvania, and will, no doubt, induce foreigners to fettle in that fine country, in preference-to every other. The laws relative to the Indian natives, that were paffed by the affem- blies of Pennfylvania, were characterifed by the forefight and -equity which governed William Penn in all his Iranfat&ions with, thofe people-; but by the federal conftitution, the^congrefs only can pafs laws relative to the commerce of the feveral ftates with foreign nations, in which defcription the Indians are. comprifed. Pennfylvania, therefore, fince it ■was independent, has no particular law on that fubject:. Liberty of confcienceis more compleat in.Pennfylvania thanajg|sany of the other ftates. It was fo in thehirth-of the colony ; yet, by a law of • 1705, the inhabitants were compelled to, profefs a belief in Jefus Chrift, in the Holy Ghoft, and the Scriptures. This profeffion was neceffary to place an inhabitant .of the. ftate out of the -reach of perfecution. The conftitution .adopted a||gfee beginning -of the-revolution gave wider limits to liberty of confidence ;.and finally, the conftitution made in 17Q0 .declares, ".thatevery man has a -natural right, of which he cannot be juftly deprived, to worfhjp*God according to the dictates of his own(Mi- ficience; that. no man can juftly be compelled to obferve any form of worfhip,-or to incur any expence for public worfhip; that no human authority can, on any pretence, force the confidences of men.; and that no preference-can be given by law.to any particular form of worfhip." It adds, "that ,every man, acknowledging the exiftence of God, and a future ftate of rewards and puniihments, may hold any office in the republic of Pennfylvania,n ■In fa6t, there is no ftate in the Union in which religion and its minifters have lefs influence than in this ftate; its minifters here, as everywhere elfe, are willing enough to erect: themfelves into a body, and to influence the public opinion, but the number that favour their preteniirai? is fo fmall, that it can fcarcely be faid to exift. The laws' that enjoin the obfervation of Sunday, are more regarded in Pennfylvania than in any of the northern^Jates, becaufe they are more readable BY THE DUKE DE LA S.0CHEFOJJCAULT LIANCOTJRT* 353 reafonable and moderate. They prohibit merely the felling of goods in an open fhop, or in the markets; following the chace; or attending any public diverfion. The law which prohibits games of hazard, and the fighting of game-cocks, are punctually obeyed, becaufe! Ws agreeable to the manners and tafte of the people; but that wharib impofes a penalty of three quarters of a dollar for drunkenness is far from being fo ftri&iy obferved. LAWS RELATIVE TO THE MILITARY. The law regulating the militia was paffed in 1793. Rvety male, from the age of eighteen to that of forty-five, is in fact a foldier of the ftate. The captain of the company in the diftrict enrolls every young man who attains the age of eighteen : a notice, which is ferved upohiiim by afub- altern of the company, is the only form required to enter him in the mi- litia, in which he remains till he is five and forty. The profeflions which exempt males from this&rvice are nearly the fame as thofe that give the fame exemption in the other ftates. White men who are do- ttteftics hired for a term, and apprenticei>*fare exempt during the term of their engagement, except in the cafe of an actual invaftom&&The militia is compofed of divifions, brigades, regiments, battalions, and companies. The brigades are formed of regiments, and never exceed eight, nor are lefs than two; regiments are compofed of two battalions; and each "battalion of four companies, which, accoiUng to the population of the canton, may be compofed of any number, from forty to eighty men. Every battalion has a company of grenaefifepg, and another of rifle-men. A company Q£artiHery> and a body of cavalry are attached to every divifion. A' divifion comprifes the militia of two or three counties, according to their population; and each county forms one brigade or more, as it is more or lefs populous. A divifieoris commanded by a major- general; a brigade, by a brigadier-general;- a-t^giment, by a lieutenant- colonel; a battalion, by a major; and a company, by a captain, lieutenant, and enfign. Befide the ftafF-officers of the regiments, aAtogadier- general infpe&s the divifions. The general officers are appdfcijjj£:by the Vol* II. Yy governor; TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, governor; the lieutenant-colonels appoint their own majors; they are themfelves, as well as the captains, lieutenant and enfigns, chofen by the foldiers, and non-commifiioned officers of the regiment, battalion, or company, in which the vacancy happens. The commiflion of the officers is only for feven years. Everyman enrolledi3S#the militia, officer or private, trooper or foot-foldier, muft provide himfelf with arms and equipage, under the penalty of a fine. When the commanding officer of a regiment declares a man not to Jbe in a condition to comply with this requifition, he is fupplied with arms by the ftate. The militia afi- fembies twice in the yeaft^iaither by companies or regiments. The other articles of this voluminous law regulate the manner in which the fer«ice of thei(f0fai&im>M'be performed; its pay, when employed byrrthe ftate b$°the union, which pay is fix dollars per month for each foldier. *$1ihey determine the fines for every fpecies of offence$ti$ti& manner in wlBbecrfrrts martial are to be compofed and fummoned. They apportion relief to eyibry officer and foidier wounded in the fervice, and to the widows and children of the flain. When the militia is employed in the fervice of the union, it is fubject: to the laws of the Congrefs; but offences committed ^.individuals are taken cognifance of by courts martial compofed of its own body. The ftate of Pennfylvania includes twenty-three counties, and the mili~ tia is computed at a hundred or a hundred and ten thoufand men. LAWS RELATIV3|. TO Tip;' ADMINISTRATION. Although the int^for navigation of the Stat^spf Pennfylvania has not made fuch progrefs as that of New York, it is not for want of wifdom and forefight in the governmefi^^ A law of 1778 declares the rivers Suf- quehannah and Delaware, and all the rivers and creeks falling into them, to be public and free navigations, and places them under the guardian^ fhip and prote<6lion^Frthe government. It prohibits the creating any newobftacle to navigation, and enjoiste the removal of all old ones. Thaw fame regulations were made fucceffively for the rivers Monongahela and Youghiogany, and a^I others in the State of Pennfylvaoia. Commiffioners were BV THE DUKE-DE LA ROCHEFOJJCAULT LIANCOURT. - 355 Were appointed to enquire and make reports concerning the means of removing all obstructions to the interior navigation, and to make communication by canals between the great rivers or lakes. The feveral companies who undertook to facilitate the navigation on the rivers, or to cut canals, were raifed into corporations, and aided either by premiums from the ftate, or by an authority to eftablifh tolls on the navigations or canals they formed; fometimes the ftate even gave them permiffion to raiie money by lottery. In many of thefe undertakings the fums granted by tjie legiflature were expended with util$g££o the ftate, by compleating the work. In others, they were mifemployed ; fchemes being adopted without a fufficient examination of their obftacles. But the legiflature caufes an annual return to be made to them of the conation and progrefs of thefe works ; and it is not to be doubted that in a few years the interior navigation of Pennfylvania will be carried to the higheft degree of perfection. We may reafonably expect: to fee Lake Erie and the River Ohio communicate with the Sufquehannah and the Delaware. The nunatberilrfBand-carriages that would ftill, from invincible obftacles to navigation, in fome parts be neceffary wrould in fad: be few, and their length greatly diminilhed. The numberlefs creeks of Pennfylvania, cleared of the obftacles to navigati^i^would afford for all the productions of the interior part of the country a fure, fpeedy, and cheap conveyance to the great rivers and lakes of the ftate. The roads are made and kept in repair by a levy on the townfhips. A furveyor of the roads is chofen by the townfhip. When a new road is to be made, the furveyors of the feveral tbwnfhips, through which it is to be carried, fuperintend its completion, and they have authority to levy a tax for this purpofe on the lands. The tax muft not exceed fix fhillings and fix-pence in the pound of the annual income of the land, according to the valuation made for the levying of other taxes. Before the taxes for the roads can be raifed, they are to receive the fan&ion of two juftices j&f the peace of the county; and the general court of juftiejes 6f the peace take cognizance of all difputes that arife on the fubject of this tax. TJie furveyors are^chofen annually; and receive five per cent on the f y2 tax. & 356 TRAVELS IN" NORTH' AMERICA, tax, and are paid befides eighteen dollars per day when they are actually- employed in the duties of their office. They hire labourers for the- roads; for the law which regulates this matter difpenfed with all perfonal fervice on the high roads. They buy all the materials for making and repairing the roads; and their accounts are audited and figned every year by four commiffioners chofen by the electors of the townfhip. This law, the principal provifions of which took place in 1772, was made only for feven years, but has fince been conftantly renewed at its expiration. Some^pth#^a®Tes. have from time to time been altered ; the modifications however are included in the above ftatement. -'JiililS The roads of Pennfylvania are in general better than thofe of the other ftates; efpecially the roads between the moft populous towns. The bridges are alfo conftructed inafe^lmore folid manner. The road from Philadelphia to Lancafter, made by an incorporais&eompany, is not indeed fo good as the turnpike >r<$ads of England, bit it is in very good condition; and, although the tolls are fo high that a broad-wheeled? waggon pays nearly- two dollars and a half between thftfe two cities, which is a diftanee^^fl&ty-fix miles, no complaint is made, bei^^Mltlt$l waggonsl¥equire only half the horfes!tl®^?did before the road was made a't&fmpifce; and perform the journey in half the time. The company that cdriflructed this road is very flourifhiftg; the fhares, which at the firft. fubfcription coft three hundred dollars each, produce between eight and nine per cent, and bear a premium in their price. ^IHM* 1111- -■mm ■ LAWS RELATIJ^.TO Fll^y^g^ ^OT& law which Regulates taxes was paffed in 1795. ' 3&nce the year 1789 no new taxes have^feign^fllifed in Pennfylvania for the ftate, there being nootfiefc^han taxes levied for theiktGrior ufe$ &£ the cottnties and cities; but the principles on which the county rates are dete#^fte$%ii# levied, would in ail probability be followed in any <&& that it might be neceffary to levy for the ftate. Ml$l The«fti|^bitants of every county elect *tfe*&&-G&rUmMfiO&ets, who'*6^ main three yeafJfin offitfy^&e^-th&Xkbne goes out e^vSfy yeat^tfjnfbtation, $%» and BY THE DTJKE X>£ LA ROCHEFOUCAVLT' LXANCOTJRT, Sof and a new commifBoner fucceeds htm. The inhabitants of every townfhip elect, every three years, an affeffor and two. affiftants, to apportion the rates impofed on the townfhip. The affeffors make a return every three years to the commiuioners of the county, of the names and dwellings (where ifeisrpoffible) of the proprietors of lands, occupied or not occupied, and of the lands not yet cleared, and of the houfes and fpots of ground belonging to the town; of all the inhabitants of the townfhip, marking their feveral employments, profeflions, or conditions; and alfo a lift of all horfes and horned cattle above four years old,, with a valuation of them ; and finally,, an eftimate of the proportion of the tax that may be laid reflectively on all owners of perfonal and real property The commiflioners of the c&unty examine and compare all the lifts ; and have authoritpifo make alterations in the taxes, provided they do not alter the relative valuations, of the feveral properties in the fame townfhip. The affeflme»te©xade in confequence ©Fathefe returns by the commiffioners, forms the rule for the levying the taxes for the three fucceeding years. The commiffioners are never to lay more on the land than one per cent of their computed value. When they are obliged to carry the tax okr land to the full extent of one per cent, they are to levy the following-taxeMfeMieu every freeman, without apparent employment, from half a dollar to ten dollars; on every labourer, a fum not exceeding two dollars ; on every vintner, fhopkeeper; QDTetailer of goods, from half a dollar to five dollars ; on every brokers banker, merchant, lawyer, and phyfician, from one dollar to ten ; on all other profeflions, from one quarter of a dollar to eight dollars ; on every proprietor, of flaves, a dollar for each flave. All the taxes that are no* laid on land are regulated by that tax, and confequently dihwiifh in proportion as the tax on land falls fhort.of osae per cent, which is its maximum. The quantity of taxes being determined, the commiffioners i&ae an order to the afleffors to apportion andievy them on the iadm3uals; but an appeal lies to the commiffioners from their* afleftment. The tenants of the land are xefponfible for the tax on land, but are authetene&'to de- thact-k from the renfca Lands not -dieted ate- fobje&>-tothe fg&p and if jtorf the 333 b Travels in north A&£ifi&i$4B0PV i the proprietor is not to be found, or does not pay the tax during three- fucceffive years, the commiffioners may order as much of the. land to be fold as is neceffary for the payment of the arrears. The commiffioners of the county appoint the receivers of the county, and the collectors of the townfhips. Each commiffioner is paid- one. dollar and a third for every day that he is actually employed in his office ; the affeffors one dollar. The expence of the affeffment and collection for the whole ftate is eftimated at ten thoufand dollars. The collectors are generally paid five per cent on the collection. The treafurer of the committee is paid a dollar for every hundred pounds which he receives and pays. The law has provifions for the exact levying of the taxes; and impofes refponfibility on the collectors and other officers; and impofes fines for neglect or fraud in the difcharge of their duty. The ftate, as I have obferved, levies no new taxes. Its old duties are— 8&imarriages, taverns, and public fales by authority, amounting annually from twelve to thirteen thoufand dollars. The legiflature fuppreffed, in 1795, the tax on carriages, and fome other taxes, which were formerly impofed for the fervice of the ftate. - The annual expenditure of the ftate amounts to about an hundred and thirty thoufand dollars; it confifts of the falary of the governor, the fecretary and other officers of ftate, and of the 'judges; the expence of ^fe courts of circuit; the falary of the treafurer and his clerks; the ex- pence of the office for the fale of lands; the appointments of the members of the fenate, and the houfe of reprefentatives ; the falaries of fome other civi officers; and the pay of fome militia officers. The revenues which, with the old duties, enable the ftate to provide for its expenditure without additional taxes, confift in the intereft of a capital accruing from the fale of lands, for the moft part placed in the banks. This capitaL amounts at prefent to Ij^pe million five hundred thoufand dollars; a million of which is in the bank of Pennfylvania, and five hundred thoufand in that of the United States. Thefe fums bear a^intereft according to the dividends of the refpe&ive banks; BY THE DU.BLE DE LA ROCHiBI»©*JCAULT LIANCOURT, 359 banks; but it may be ftated to be from nine to ten per cent. Arrears of duties, and arrears of purchafe-money for the public lands, form another branch of the revenue of the ftate. The arrears of every kind come in very flowly. Several contradictory laws ferve as an excufe to the creditors of the ftate for default of payment. Thefe are alfo protected by- members of the legiflature, who have a perfonal intereft in the delay.. The government of Pennfylvania is indeed unwilling to employ its force* efpecially for the recovery of arrears. There are two inftances which will fiifficiently fhow the backwardnefs of the government to compel the payment of the impofts. There are ten auctioneers eftablifhed at Philadelphia for public fales. Six of thefe have punctually paid the duties impofed upon fuch fales; the other four have not even condefcended to give an account of their fales. The law enjoins every man of eighteen years of age to ferve as a militia-man; and impofes a fine of a dollar every time that he is abfent fiaiiEuthe meeting of his regiment, and a fine of twelve dollars per month for all the time that he is abfent when his regi-» ment is on fervice. The defaulters are fo numerous, that no other fund but the fines due for offences are fet afide for the expence of the militia; and the fines are fo ill paid, that at prefent there is a deficiency of more than one hundred;tj^ufand dollars. It is to be expected, however, that the ftate will in future be more rigorous in the collection of its revenues; the neceffity of this rigour begins to be felt, and circumftances are more favourable than heretofore for its exercife. The debts due to the ftate, from individuals, for arrears, and from the Union for certain films advanced, and for which the Union is refpon- fible, amounted, in the beginning of 1797, by the ftatement of the treafury, to nine hundred and twenty-four thoufand five hundred and forty-four dollars feven -tenths**; Pennfylvania has alfo feveral other claims on the treafury of the l^ted States, for expences incurred on behalf of the;fljpion. By the balance ftruck by the commiffioners of the congrefs, the ftate of Pennfylvania is debtor for the fum of feven thoufand feven hundred and nine iHhr iiV*finii'iiftii(.i'li|i.i'"^iiji; ^iMl re.re, . Certain :sdo TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, Certain duties, that were formerly the perquifite of the fecretary of ftate and other public officers, have been purchafed by the legiflature, and are become part of the public revenue. There are other duties attached as perquifites to other officers, which the legiflature will gradually, and by the fame means, reftore to the public treafury. LAWS RESPECTING THE SALE OF PUBLIC LANDS. The laws that regulate the fale of public lands are deemed better in Pennfylvania than in any other of the ftates. Before the revolution, the property of the lands belonged to the governor; that is to fay, to the family of William Penn. The congrefs of Pennfylvania paffed a law in 1779? which transferred the property to the ftate, giving the family of Penn, for indemnity, the fum of a hundred and thirty thoufand pounds fterling, and leaving them in poffeffion of the lands they pofTeffed as their own proper eftates. The lands which became the property of the ftate were immenfe. They were various enormous tracts that William Penn and his heirs had purchafed of the Indians; parcels of which they fold for their own profit. A law in 1781, which eftablifhed an office called the land-office, enjoined the poffeffors of warrants (which were orders from the furveyor-general of the ftate to his deputy, to meafure out a certain tract of land, and were a kind of e^t'dence of the purchafe of the eftate), obtained under the old government, to bring them to the land-office, where they were annulled, if the purchafe-money had not been paid. In 1783, the affembly fet afide a large tract of land in the weft of its territory, and to the noAh of the Ohio, to be difpofed of, for certain billets which the troops of PemdyP Tania had received during the war for their pay, and whofe current value was greatly below the fums for which they were iffued. The billets were to be taken in payment for the lands at their nominal value; and thefe lands were called, and indeed contiaaae to be known by the name of, ^depreciation lands. The affembly alfo fet afide another tract of land, to the north of thofe I have juft named, called donation lands, becaufe they were BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LrANCOURT. 361 were to be given as a reward to the officers and foldiers of the militia of Pennfylvania, in certain portions, according to their rank. It was not, however, till 1785, that thefe lands were actually put up to fale ; and then they were put up fucceffively, in various parcels, at different prices, and on different conditions. The acquifitions made from the Indians in 1788 were, by the nature of the lands, divided into two claffes—thofe to the weft of the Allegany mountains were offered to fale for ten pounds for a hundred acres; thofe to the eaft of the mountains, being inferior in quality, for three pounds ten fhillings. The quantity of lands offered to fale, and the fcarcity or plenty of money, taken relatively, caufed the price the affembly of Pennfylvania put upon the land and even the conditions of fale to fluctuate, independently of the quality of the land. Lots at one time amounted only to two hundred acres, while a prohibition exifted to demand a warrant for more than two fuch lots; afterwards lots were extended to a thoufand acres, without any reftriction on the number that an individual might acquire. The price has varied, from fourteen dollars for an hundred acres to twenty-fix and fifty-three. In certain pur- chafes, the billets of the flate were received in payment; in others, and particularly fince the year 1793, they were not fo. The laft fales to the north of the Ohio, and to the Weft of the Allegany Mountains, were clogged with a condition, that the purchafer fhould clear the land, and en- clofe and cultivate it, in the proportion of one acre for a hundred; erect a dwelling-houfe, and eftablifh a family, who fhould refide five fucceeding years there; and the quantity to be purchafed by an individual was re- ftri6ted to four hundred acres. If, on fpots of the vaft tracts of lands bought of the Indians, there happened to be inhabitants, the law gave them the option of purchafing the lots on which they dwelt. It was not till 1792, that the ftate concluded the purchafe of all the lands within its boundaries. In 178(5, the ftate purchafed the country extending from the Mountains of Allegany to the Ohio, reaching as far as the forty-firft degree. It ftill remained to acquire the lands on its northern boundary; and that purchafe was concluded in 1792. Vol. II. Z z In TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA^, In 1794, the legiflature finding that immenfe portions of the public lands had been fold without their precife boundaries being defcribed, and that the lands which remained in the hands of the ftate were not accurately known, fufpended the fales. And this law reflects great honour on the affembly of Pennfylvania ; becaufe it guarantees individuals from the injury which the avidity for the accjuifition of land made too common ; becaufe the uncertainty of the bounds of the lands that remained undifpofed of, often gave an opportunity of felling the lands of the ftate twice, and thereby inereafed its revenue; and it is known, that the le- giflatures of the other ftates have not acted with the fame delicacy in the fame circumftances. Although the laws of Pennfylvania refpecting the fale of lands have' been in general framed with equity and wifdom, abufes relative to that fubject have neverthelefs been great and numerous, perhaps indeed more fo than in any of the other ftates, on account of the immenfe quantity of lands on fale. Speculations on the fales of land- bought from the public afford a fubject of gaming, common in almoft all the flates. The wealth and rapacity of many of the inhabitants of Philadelphia inflamed this; diforder in a particular manner in this ftate. Men of fortune and influence, acquainted with the proceedings of Congrefs for the payment of the paper currency, confpired to diminifh the value of that paper, and afterwards bought it up and gave it in payment for public lands, at a profit of ten hundred and fometimes thirty hundred per cent. The depreciation and the donation lands were fertile fubjeffts of their fpeculation. The titles of individuals to lands bought from the public^ are more fe- cure in Pennfylvania than in any other of the ftates, both becaufe the firft. purchafes have been carefully recognifed, and becaufe the land-office has developed all that relates to the titles to the public lands, with a degree of care, and a fpirit of equity, no where elfe to be found. Complaints have been made within thefe laft two or three yews, that the affairs of the land-office are not conducted with fo much attenjhon and regularity as formerly ;!fat the members of the legiflature have never been BY THE DUEE DE LA ROCHEFOTJCAULT LIANCOURT. been reproached, as fome other of the ftates have been, for laws relative to the fale of lands and their confequent raifchiefs. In the courfe of my journal, I have fpoken of difputes that long exift- ed between the ftates of Pennfylvania and Connecticut, concerning the property of confiderable tracts of land on the Sufquehannah, between Wilkfbarre and Tioga. Thefe lands were finally adjudged to the ftate of Pennfylvania ; and all appeal prohibited the ftate of Connecticut. But thefe lands are filled with inhabitants who hold them by titles from Connecticut, either by purchafe, or fimply by poffeflion ; notwithftanding which they are fold like the other public lands by the ftate of Penn^t* vania. Among the perfons who hold thefe lands from Connecticut* many acquired them regularly, have been long in poffeffion, and, by the fums given for them, and the labour expended on them, have made good their title, at leaft in equity ; but a much greater number hold thefe lands by lefs fetourable titles. For three years paft, the legiflature of Pennfylvania has been backward to execute the judgments of the courts, ejecting the poflefFots of thefe la&§&; and every day the number of ufurpa-- tions augments; ancient claims are multiplied, till the judgments of the courts can no longer be enforced without military aid. In the laft ieflldn; the houfe of reprefentatives paffed a vote, authofifing the governor to employ the militia in that fervice; but the fenate negatived the proportion* The motives of their negative are not very apparent, fince, in the end, this meafore muft be adopted; and although, no doubt, it will create many difcontents, yet, carried into execution with the juftice and moderation from which the legiflature will not depart, it will remove a leaven that continually affects the ftate. The difputes in that quarter are not the only difputes of the kind that have difturbed Pennfylvania. There are others on the borders of the Ohio, which may occafion confiderable diforders, without fhe prudent and timely interference of the legiflature. Ia?f 792, the itate of Pennfylvania paffed a law, to put up to fale the lands to the north-weft of the ^hlo, in confequence of which they were divided into lots of fouf hundred acres. Patents neceffary to give a title to thefe lots, were to be Z z 2 obtained. 36A :'JSH|AfFELS IN NORTH AMERICA, obtained in two different ways;—firft, by an engagement to fettle immediately on the lot—-and in this manner many poor families acquired lots $ and feeondly, by an obligation to clear eight acres of the lot in two years 'r and many lots were bought by fpeculators on thefe laft terms. The price of the lot was eighty dollars in both cafes. In the firft, it was to be paid in ten years, with intereft, at the rate of fix per cent, after the firft year; in the fecondjgjl was to be paid within two years. In default of clearing eight acres within two years, the purchafers on thofe terms forfeited their title, and their lots were declared vacant, except in the cafe where the Indians, who were not in amity, with the United States, prevented the clearing of the lands. The majority of fpeculators who. bought lots on thefe terms did not clear the lands ; and three thoufand poor families eftablifhed themfelves at different periods upon thefe lands which t^.law had declared vacant. The fpeculators, availing themfelves of the war which took place with the Indians, although no incur-r fions were made on the lands in queftion, at prefent affert their right to them, and fue for the ejectment of the poor families who took poffeffion on the faith of the law. Thefe poor people have come to a.refolu- tion to maintain the poffeffion by force. This is int^tfelf an important eircumftance; and 1 fpeak of ^Jxefide, as a proof of the opinion I-(JMgg£. frequently gi^ga in this journaj^that the increafe of the population in the United States renders it every day more difficult to the fpeculators in land to preferve their titles to the immenfe tracts they poffefs, without clearing and cultivating them. Mlfti THE GENERAL COMMERCE OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND THAT OF PHILADELPHIA IN PARTICULAR. There is no ftate in the union that has fo extenfive a commerce as that of Pennfylvania. This ftate furnifhes productions for exportation in greater abundance than any other; and its exports, moreover, part of the productions of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Jerfey, and New York. There^are, however, fome of the productions of Pennfylvania which BY T«E DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUC AU-LT LIANCOURT. 365 which are exported through Baltimore, by the Sufquehannah; but the canal that will unite the Chefapeak and the Delaware, and which cannot fail to be compleated, will reftore that commerce to Philadelphia,, and with it a great portion of the produce *>f the eaft part of Maryland. ;a The exportation of Philadelphia, which is the only port of this ftate, derived^ from Pennfylvania and the adjoining ftates, are—-charcoal, potafh, beer, cyder, falt-meat and fifh, butter, cheefe, Indian corn, flour made from Indian corn, wheat flour, bifcuits, tallow, candles, linfeed,. linfeed oil, foap, potatoes, timber for building, flaves, hides, the fkins ofi deers and beavers, bark, and pigs of iron. Moft of thefe articles are brought to Philadelphia, down the Delaware,, or by land-carriage. There are very few brought down the Sufquehannah ; for the fettlements on its banks are very recent, and coniume nearly the whole of their produce ; but when that country, and the lands lying behind it, are more generally inhabited and cultivated, that large river,* freed from obftacles which at prefent injure its navigation, will- greatly increafe the commerce of Philadelphia; and there is no doubt this im^ portant change will fpeedily be effected. The produce of the country, however, forms a very fmall part of the exportation of Philadelphia; which, trading with the whole world, reexports, in immenfe quantities, the produce and merchandize of foreign countries. The following is a table of the amount of the exports from PhiladeB* phia, for the years 1791,. 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, and 17$6. Dollars. 1*791, 3,436,092. 1792,— 3,820,652. 1/93,— 6,958,336. 1794,— 6,643,890. 1795,—11,518,260. 1796,—17,549,141. I fcarcely think it neceffary to repeat, that the immenfe increafe in the value of the exportation is principally owing to the inereafed. value of 366 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, of the articles; and to the war in Europe, which has caufed a much greater portion of the productions of the colonies to be pafs thro«^# America, than formerly. The difference in the value cf the barrels of flour, one of the principal articles of the exportation of Philadelphia during the laft fix years, will fhew how .fallacious it is to judge of the quantity of the article exported by the amount of its value. The price of the barrel of fuperfine flour in 1790, was fix dollars twelve-thirteenths; in 1791-, five dollars two- thirteenths; in 1792, five dollars two-thirteenths; in 1793, fix dollars two-thirteenths; in 1794, fix dollars ten thirteenths; in 1 795, twelve dollars ; and in 1796, ten dollars. The price of the fecond flour is two fhillings or half a crown lefs per barrel. It is to be obferved, that the price of the fuperfine flour varied in the fame year as much as two and three dollars. I have' given the medium price of the year. Philadelphia, which in 1796 exported one hundred and ninety-five thoufand, one hundred and fifty-feven barrels of flour, (that is to fay, nearly the fourth part of the exportation of the whole union) ; exported two hundred and ninety-four thoufand and eleven barrels, in 1795 ; two hundred and ninety-nine thoufand two hundred and eighty-feven barrels, in 1794; four hundred and fixteen thoufand fix hundred and twenty-one barrels, in 1793; four hundred and thirty-three thoufand nine hundred and fixty-eight barrels, in 1792 ; three hundred and fifteen thoufand feven hundred and eighty-five barrels, in 1791. Thefe were barrels of fuperfine flour; the exportation of the fecond flour never exceeded five thoufand barrels; in 1796, the exportation of fecond flour amounted only to one thoufand feven hundred and ninety-eight barrels. I have taken thefe details from the books of the furveyor. In 1765, the exportation of fuperfine flour was one hundred and forty- eight thoufand eight hundred and eighty-feven barrels; two hundred and fifty-two thoufand feven hundred and fourty-four barrels, in 1771; two hundred and eighty-four thoufand eight hundred and feventy-two barrels, in 1772; two hundred and fixty-five thoufand nine hundred and fixty-feven barrels, in 1773 ; two hundred and one thoufand three hundred BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. hundred and five barrels, in 1784; one hundred and ninety-three thoufand &vien hundred and twenty barrels, in 1787;—from which ftatement it Will be feen, that the exportation of flour was not greatly inereafed during twenty-two years. The exportation of wheat has even greatly diminifhed, owing to the number of mills erected in Penttfyl* vania and the neighbouring ftates, and there has been no material increafe of the exportation of Indian-corn or bifcuits, bringing it down even" to the two laft years- ||f To give a more compleat idea of the commerce of Philadelphia, I will here fubjoin a table of the principal articles, both foreign and the produceof the country, of it* exportation in 179^,_.and the different ports to which they were configned. This ftatement is taken from the cuftom-houfe books. I would gladly have given the computed value of every article; but that would have required the examination of a multitude of entries, and more time than could be fpared by the perfon to whom I am indebted for thefe details- Table of the principal Articles exported from Philadelphia-in l"j Articles of Merchandize. Quantities. Charcoal * (Kp^l tons i^l 10 Beer, cyder, and porter, in barrels gallons iS^jfi 1-4,0 IO Ditto, in bottles ^M^ dozens liSl M,545 Beef ~ - barrels f ditto !wte§B 6,860 ■■ :.VBF*8!&& Bifcuit \fmalf ditto- ?#$& 6,010 Butter - WtJ pounds §31 157,470 Bricks ■> h$B£$ number J±m 109,400 Indian-corn » p'JfS^ bufhels m 179,094 €heefe » JSP** pounds- W¥ 243,332 Candles ~ WM$ ditto « 338,374 Flour- - §V% barrels PPI 195,157/ Hams 1 ISfE pounds - 1,082,690 Pork: 368 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, . Articles of Merchandize. Quantities Pork jiMi §kwM barrels '-^Mi 12,029 Rye flour ppl ipp ditto - 50,614 Flour of Indian-corn i$$k .$*&?* ditto '*$ii§t 223,064 Potatoes tSpl SSiki bufhels ^Pl 9,004 Bice iSi ttw tierces sMAk 6,265 Linfeed oil p^i ^M gallons liSM! 762 Train oil yiiii Hiiiii ditto I .; 3-7,726'] Spermaceti oil- wBl fc%$f| ditto i&l^i 7,782 Furs i^S ttill value in dollars 47,713 Tallow %4i ft^f pounds ^M 383,850 Snuff g|g^| few ln&ij ditto fri^-i 251,134 Tobacco Mifii Miii hogfheads 3,437 Timber $h&J - - $y^&N 2,459,616 Staves, heads of barrels, &c. H^$j $t%**4% ftlMti 1,262,150 Planks i^m 'llJill <^ipi M^y 1,628,516 Bark %MM $$$% value in dollars 106,969 Coffee ggy ^igg pounds M^i 21,002,300 Cocoa if|i %wre ditto fartSs* 161,120 Cotton tjggg l^tgi ditto ii^W 911,325 Indigo fcN* S**feji ditto #§|r||| 99,200 Wrought iron and fteel ^tiii value in dollars 36,240 Sundry merchandize §.#8 f^» ditto L^f4^ 2,822,800 Pepper mi$ i&J pounds ^#| 244,552 Spice y^ f .i# value in dollars 116,086 Spirituous liquors Mli 1&.J gallons &&i 170,889 Sugar Wfak $4% pounds f^jS 12,9^9,910 Salt &&$ ¥%?m bufhels ^§■11 4,496 Bohea tea wB Ljj^J pounds |$Hii 2,260 Fine green tea - 8881 Spll ditto - 3,130 Common ditto ditto ifii lilll ditto - 16,210 Wine 3feii life! gallons W^M 612,883 Ditto in bottles mfy Nif^ dozens - 29,225 Names BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEF0UCAULT LIANCOURT, 369 Names of the Places to which the Articles exported from Philadelphia in 1796 were conjigned, together with the Value in Dollars of the whole Exportation for the Year to each Place. Dollars. Sweden and St. Barthelemy M^? 411,408 Denmark, and the Danifh Antilles |ite 737,287 United Provinces IP 1,824,275 Dutch Antilles Hif 184,825 England - w^ 4,109,011 Ireland - ^^ 236,544 ■^ftglifh Antilles - n^ 760,274 Englifh Colonies in North America Hi 49,380 Gibraltar - - 33,365 Newfoundland - ill 21,505 Hamburg, Bremen, and the Hanfeatic C ities, 2,981,232 France - - ilk 913,880 French Antilles - fcfgjt> 3,250,584 Iflands of France and of Bourbon Mi 20,967 Spain - iife 66,974 Spanifh Antilles - - 916,985 Florida and Louifiana §t# 280,651 Portugal - Sre 12,892 Fayal 14,070 Madeira - *'#¥ 111,528 Teneriffe - Tg* 861 Ports of Italy - - 4 j?3 521,964 Eaft Indies - - 42,932 China - ~ 40,747 1 ~,549,141 Vol. II. 3 A The 370 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, The following is a ftatement of the duties paid at the cuftom-houfe of Philadelphia, during five years preceding the date of the table. 1791,— 780,141 dollars. 1792,—1,139,613 ditto. 1793,t—1,928,052 ditto. ii&b 3794>—2,001,226 ditto. 1795^r-2,96l,204 ditto. And for the two firft quarters of 1796,—-1,886,691 ditto. This ftatement will not give a perfect idea of the value bf the importations, becaufe the duties vary in every fpecies of merchandize; but when we find in the report of the fecretary of the treafury of the United States, that the total receipt of the duties on tonnage, and the taxes on importation and exportation, for the year 1795, amounted to five million fix hundred and feventy-nine thoufand four hundred and eighteen dollars; and fee that thofe of the port of Philadelphia alone, for the fame year, amounted to two million nine hundred and fixty-one thoufand two hundred and four dollars, an idea may be formed of the im-- menfe fhare Philadelphia has in the commerce of the United States. The following is a ftatement of the veffel&lllat arrived at, and failed) from the port of Philadelphia, for the laft year^-1796. Arrived at Philadelphia. Sailed from Philadelphia. Veffels of three mafts 199! 184 Brigs- ,..-£$■ - 436' 484 Shalops 594 633 Sloops 396 382 Total 1625 The number of veffels that arrived at Philadelphia in 1795, was lefs by fifty, than in 1796; but the number that failed from that port in. 1795, was more by fixty-fix. This difference was owing to the capture of American veffels by privateers from the Weft India Iflands. In BV THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 371 In 1788, the veffels that arrived at Philadelphia were nokiore than fix hundred and fifty-three, of which only ninety-three were veffels of three mails. The articles of importation at Philadelphia are fpread, not only through Pennfylvania, and the flates which furnifh the articles of its ex- portation, but alfo through Kentucky, the back fettlements of Virginia, and North Carolina, although thefe countries do not fend- any of their produce to Philadelphia. I refer my reader to what I have faid on this fubject in the account of my journey through the Southern States. Freights at Philadelphia are from eighteen to twenty-two dollars per ton, for^moft of the articles fent to Europe. They are from one to two dollars higher for coffee, fugar, and cotton. Freights to India are from • twenty-two to forty-four dollars, becaufe the cargo is chiefly fpecie ; from India, they are from eighty-fix to eighty-eight dollars. Freights to and from the Ifle of France are forty dollars. Thefe are the prices of the current year; and vary as freights are more or lefs plentiful. At prefent they are from two to three-per cent higher than they were three years fince, becaufe there has been a decreafe in the fhipping. I fhall conclude what I have to fay relative to the commerce of Philadelphia, by the following table of the rate of infurance at that port for the years 1 795, 1796, and 1797. 3 A: Rate 373 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, Rate oflnfurance, in the Port of Philadelphia, for the Years 17Q5, 1 796, andl 797. k m a:n." o o o >c 3 To Hamburg, Bremen, anc other neutral Ports, not being in the Baltic, or the Mediterranean ; alfo to Holland Englifh Ports in the Channel Ditto Weftern Ports, the Route to the North of Ireland Ports in the South-Eaft of Ireland Ditto Welt and North, on the Route to the North Frgncfi Ports in theAtlantic Ditto in the Mediterranean Portuguefe and Spanifh Ports, in the Atlantic .. Ifles of France and Bourbon Cape of Good Hope .... Batavia Canton, in China Calcutta Jamaica Other Englifh Ports in the Weft India Ifles . . French Ports in the Weft- Indies Neutral Ports in the Weft Indies Havannah New Orleans Nova Scotia Ports of the United States; according to their diftance, and the difficulties of the paffage.. .. 71 to 12 m 3 <~rv i? to 8 to 71 to 10 to 10- to 10 7i 71 10 71 to 10 10 10 15 to 15 to 20 to 15 o 6 4 to 5 4 to 5 4 to 3 § to 4 to m to 4 to 3\ to 5 4 to 5 5 5 3| to 3 to 4 to 3 to 4 4 to 4 1| to 2f \\ to 2 A\ to 6 34 to 4f 3| to 4 3\ to 4 31 to 4 5 to 6 6 to 7\ 31 to ,5 5 to 6 4 A\ to 5 5 5 3i to A\ 3 to 4 5 to 6 3 to, A\ 3 to 4 31 to ftg 11 to 2 a, LJ 3 C to 3f 31 3 to 31 31 31 21 H to 2 BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 37$ Thefe rates of infurance are for neutral veffels, bound from Philadelphia, and configned only to one port. They are calculated for the voyage out merely, and are generally the fame for the voyage home; except when the veffel is infured at the fame time both going and returning,) when fome abatement is made. The rate is higher, of courfe, when the "isfiel has to touch at feveral ports, becaufe of the additional rifk. It is higher alfo in voyages to the Baltic, and ports of the north, during win-. ter; and, for the fame reafon, in voyages to the Weft India Iflands, from the firft of Auguft to the firft of November. It is higher alfo for veffels which would not, on a fcrutiny, by their papers, and the nature of theb cargoes, prove to be neu|$al. Towards the end of 1793, and in 1794, the rate of infurance was? higher f^pj* in 1?95 and 1796, becaufe American veffels were at that time captured by the Englifh. It wa§'lowered by the fubfequent treaty with England ; and has again rifen,'tince the French in their turn captured American veffels ; fg$d parti dearly in voyages to the Weft Indies r becaufe captures there are frequent, and are authorifed by the governments of the. fevenJ iflands, wljile it is believed that the few American veffels captured by the French in European feas, are taken without the authority of the French Government. The rate of infurance is nearly the fame in the different ports of the United States. The building of a veffel at Philadelphia cofts, according to its tonnage, from eighteen to twenty-two dollars per ton at the time fhe is launched. The price is inereafed in proportion as there is more holm-oak or cedar put into the veffel. The fails and rigging of a veffel of three hundred ^j^will coft at/put forty dollars per ton. Thefe prices, however, have rifen thirty per cent within the laft three years. It is univerfally acknowledged, that veffels built at Philadelphia are better than thofe of any other port of the United States. They are more found, better finifhed, and the ornaments are handfomer; and they will laft, upon an average, from four to five years longer than the veffels of the notth. Moft of the 488$ TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, the large veffels built at Philadelphia have their principal timber of holm- oak. Afpi The quality of flour, pet-afh, and in fa£t of all articles defigned for exportation, is here more carefully attended to than at any other port. In a word, although Philadelphia is at the diftance of one hundred and fifty miles from the fea, and the navigation of the Delaware interrupted for one month or two months, and fometimes more, in every year, it may be reckoned as the moft confiderable port of the United States. It contains the greateft number of wealthy merchants, and affords the moft ready market for the fale of productions. As to the manner in which commerce is conducted by. the merchants of Philadelphia, what I have to fay of the general commerce of the United States will be applicable to it, and#ferhapsin a particular manner, becaufe the commerce of PhilftGKlfA^a is on a larger fcale, fpeculations are more extenfive, the mode of living more extravagant; |"td the paffion for acquiring fudden wealth" greater#bere .th^al*n: any other of the American markets. BkNKjk-AT PHILADELPHIA. There are three banks at Philadelphia; the firft is the bank of the United States, which, by its conftitution,-^ obliged*#►-follow the feat of government. I fliall enter into fome detail on this bank when I come to fpeak generally of the United States. The other two are—the bank of . Pennfylvania, and that of North America. The bank of Pennfylvania was incorporated in 1 793, by a law of the ftate. Its capital is three millions of dollars, divided into feven thoufand five hundred fhares of four hundred dollars each. The fhares were bought by individuals, or companies, the ftate not referving any fhare, or the power of acquiring any, except by fubfcription in the manner of individuals. This bank receives depofits; and difcounfcs at one-half per cent per month. It cannot fell any thi4ftg but the public funds, or effects that have fallen into its hands for advances. It cannot buy any thing but gold \ BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCACJLT LIANCOURT. .-or filver in bullion; or the fhares of its own corporation, which it muft never buy below par, nor in a greater quantity than fifty at a time. It cannot lend to the government of the United States more than fifty thoufand dollars. No greater loan can be made but in confequence of an exprefs law. It cannot circulate, either by its own notes, or by dif- count, or other wife,- more than three millions of dollars. The law incorporating this bank, enjoins all the receipts of the ftate to be depofited in it. Of twenty-five directors that form its adminiftration,. fix are nominated by the legiflature, and the other nineteen by the proprietors of its flock. . Eleven go out annually by rotation. A return of the general fituation of the bank is to' be made annually to the legiflature, to be fiibmitted to its examination ; but the legiflature cannot demand an infpection of- the accounts of individuals; and the lktle dependence this bank has on the government, and the fidelity of its tranf- aclions, have placed it high in the public confidence. Its dividends are from eight to nine per cent, although a confiderable furplus is prudently accumulated. Shares in this, bank bear at prefent a premium, of twenty- five and thirty per cent. The bank of North America is of an- older date, the act under which it was incorporated having paffed in 1.787. It was at firft eftablifhed in '1782, but was .diffol'ved in 1784. This bank may extend its capital to t wo, millions of dollars; and has the privilege of making laws, by a court of its own proprietors and its twelve directors, for its adminiftration. But it is bound by the fame rules in its fales and purchases as the bank of Pennsylvania. As the legislature, however, has placed no other reftric- tion on this bank, and it is ftill more independent of the government tha»the Bank of Peottlylvania, its character is very great.. It is called The Quakers Bank, becaufe the greater part of its original fubfcribers were Quakers;. its directors are in general of the fame body; and it is the bank atvvhieh thofe people generally keep their cafh. Its dividends are from feven to eight per cent. The price of original fhares, which was a-. hundred dollars for each, bears a premium of forty-five per cent; and it is very feldom that a fhare is to be fold. In 1791; this bank lent one hundred! $n5 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, hundred and fixty thoufand dollars to the ftate of Pennfylvania, on the fecurity of its public funds, and for one year only;* the fum was punctually repaid. THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA—ITS HOSPITALS, MARKETS, &c'. Philadelphia is not only the fineft city of the United States, but may indeed be deemed one of the moft beautiful cities in the world. It certainly is not ornamented with noble and antique edifices, like many of the cities of Europe; nor are the public buildings, with the exception of the ftate-houfe, remarkable either for the beauty of their architecture or their magnitude; but the houfes are all built of fine bxggj^and have a pleafing, appearance of fimplicity and neatnefs. Many of them are decorated at their bafe, and round their windows, with a white marble Jj^jbydy veined, which is found a few miles from the city, near the Schuylkill, and have flights of fteps of the fame marble. The ftreets are wide, and are generally planted with trees, and have very commodious pavements. The fountains that fupply the city with water are in great Mti$$* bers, and indeed exceed any think of that nature in Europe. We have nothing to regret here but the want of noble fquares ; nor any confiderable nuifance to complain of but the burial places, which^e: often in the moft crowded parts of the city. This nuifance is indeed a very ferious evil;- and it cannot be doubted, is the caufe of much ficknefs in a city, where the heat of the rummer is fo great for three months as at Philadelphia. It has been in agitation to prohibit burial places in the city; but the matter has never been treated with the decifionthat the importance of the fubject requires. The narrownefs of the quays is another caufe of the unhealthinefs of this city, and is one which it will be more difficult to remove than the former. This defect cannot be remedied, but at the expence of an entire ftreet extending along the river, and crowded with the counting-houfes and warehoufes of the merchants. This ftreet is not to be found in the plan traced by Penn, which was exactly followed as far as it extended. Butythe City is inereafed on the borders of the Delaware, both to the right and left. BY THE DUKE BE LA R.OCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 377 left. The buildings at firft extended beyond the ground which he marked out between the Delaware and the Schuylkill; but the increafe of commerce gave a new direction to buildings of late years; fo that the city, although large, does not occupy half the ground between the two rivers, and it is not probable that it will extend farther towards the Schuylkill. The prefent population of Philadelphia amounts to feventy thoufand inhabitants, aa I fhall endeavour to avoid the repeat ng or circumltances relative to this-city that are known to every one. Its prifons are the only public eftablifhments which are fuperior to the fame kind in France and England; its hofpitals, libraries, colleges, literary and.philofophical focieties, are inferior to thofe of the old world, and indeed muft long continue to be fo ; but if we confider how few years have paffed fince this city was founded, and how ftill fhorter the fpace of time is fince Pennsylvania! "with the other ftates, became free, and was therefore able to employ all its refources, we fhall be furprifed at the degree of improvement we find in Philadelphia; and it ought not to be concealed, that the difpofition of the inhabitants tends to facilitate the progrefs of the arts and fciences; which, however, with every advantage, demand time to bring them to .perfection. Neither ought it to be overlooked, that the Quakers are, in every part of the ftate, the moft fteady and zealous promoters of every plan for the public happinefs. Their influence at Philadelphia is greater than in other parts, becaufe of their numbers. They, are calculated to •amount from one thoufand fix hundred to one thoufand feven hundred iamilies in that city. The majority of the governors of the hofpital of Pennfylvania are ^Quakers. The economy of this hofpital is not,- however, fo perfect as we fhould expert. The patients are too much mingled together. There are fix of the phyficians of Philadelphia who attend the hofpital gratui- toufly. Two of thefe attend together, and make but two vifits in the week. They take this office by turns, two being changed every two months. There are two pupils refiding in the houfe, who fee the pre- Vol. II. 3 B icriptions TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, fcriptions adminiftered; and it is very feldom. that any of the fick have" the aid of the phyficians, except on the vifiting days. 1 fpeak of poor patients, who are admitted gratis; for the funds of this hofpital are fo fmall, that many of the patients are obliged to pay the phyfician, and thefe the phyfieians vifit when fent for. In 1775, the hofpital received feventy patients gratis; but, although its revenues are not diminifhed fince that period, the increafe of the price ©f provifions, and of the wages of the perfons employed in the hofpital, is fo great, that at prefent it can take no more than thirty patients gratis. The reft, to the number of fixty-one, pay to be admitted in the following proportions—from three to four dollars per week for a place in. the common room; fix dollars for a room with more than one bed; and eight dollars for a room apart from others ; the two laft claffes moreover pay the phyfician. Infane perfons are taken into this hofpital. They were formerly kept in apartments under ground ; but at prefent they are in a new building, which is fpacious and airy. The degree of liberty they are allowed, and thtefeanlinefs of their apartments, daily increafes the number of thofe who leave the hofpital cured. The economy of this parti^f the hofpital is indeed admirable; two years fince it was a fubject of difguft. Dr. Rush, one of the phyficians of whom I made inquiries concerning the caufes which brought patients of this kind to the hofpital, attributed one half to the exceffive drinking of fpiritous liquors; a fourth to devotion ; and a fmaller portion to love. It is to be fuppofed that thefe ob- . fervations were accurate, as they were made from an examination of the books of the hofpital. That part which concerns the exceffive drinking of fpiritous liquors is confirmed by daily experience. It is a .common cafe, for a man, after fuch an excefs, to be feveral days fucceffivcly in a ftate of infanity; which very rarely happens from exceffive drinking of wine. The madnefs occafioned by religion is moft frequent amongft fects whofe dogmas are extravagant, and who affect their difciples more with terror than with hope. The derangement proceeding; from love h a- re more BY THE DUKE DE;LA ;R0CHAFOUGAULT LIANC0T7RT. -more'frequent with the women than the men ; and the patients of that clafs are chiefly girls betrayed or deferted by their lovers. The number of infane patients, the laft time I vifited the hofpital, was forty-five. Dr. Kufhis one of the moft celebrated phyficians in Philadelphia. He is reproached with an extreme partiality for bleeding; and it is certain that he is by no means fparing of the practice. He is alfo accufed of being wedded to fyftem; but this reproach, is more likely to proceed front the envy common in. Philadelphia, as in other places,, than any other caufe. Dr. Rufh has certainly more practice than any other phyfician in Philadelphia; he is a man of talent, and one of the beft informed men in America.. I3.qth his writings' and actions prove that he has -the welfare of the human race at heart. His zeal and courage during the prevalence of the yellow fever,, were not to be fubdued by danger or difficulty. In 1792, he nearly fell a victim to that terrible fcourge. A work which he wrote on that difeafe met with many opponents,, efpecially among perfons of his own profeffion.. Dr. Rufh. published a letter :*ikl£90, recommending the fuppreffing of the punifhment of death; and the happy refidt. of the change in that refpe^^the criminal cede of Pennfylvania) is fufficient proof of the wifdom of his fpeculation. There are other political papers of Dr. Rufh, abounding with beneficent, and valuable fentjiq&ents.. The alms "houfe is as little to be commended for the nature of its raa^ nagement as the hofpital; Its economy is not influenced by thofe ex- - tenfive yiews,. which in a great ftate. ought.tohave a principal .fhare in.the aid given to the poor... The. principal market of Philadelphia, excises the attention of- every? foreigner. It.is a long building,.: conftrudled of brick, and fupported by- j .pillars .of brick. The alleys are paved. It ftands in the.large.ftreebwhich; feparates the north.and fouth Quarterof the. city* a Here are to-be found ; all forts of provifions; butcher-meat, poultry, vegetables, .&c,—flowers* roots,., and,- trees are,'alfo. fola^ in tbis: rnarketv, As -provifions are fold.no where but in, this*; and three or -four markets in other parts of &ie zity, this- marketis greatly crowded} for three or four hours in the. morning ; but &&?4'. 3 B 2. althoueh: -TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, although the-paffages..fometimes are almoft choked up with people, the noife is very inconfiderable. Every one makes his market with little or no difpute; provifions are fo abundant, and the venders fo numerous, that the purchafer who is diltatisficd has but a ftep or two to1 make to confult his caprice, or to endeavour to make a better bargain. The prodigious quantity of provifions of all forts in this market begets no offensive fmell; the tables are fcraped and wafhed every day, and the paffages are kept thoroughly clean. One is at firft aftonifhed to fee fuch perfect clcanlinefs, where there are fo many almoft unavoidable caufes of filth. A great quantity of the provifions fold at Philadelphia is brought fixty -miles; i$$a conveyed in covered waggons that arrive in the night. The horfes are unharneffed, and fland round the carts, wftn hay before them, which the farmer always brings with him, to fave expences at the inns. Sometimes there are more than a hundred of thefe waggons ftanding at the upper part of the ftreet in which the great market is fituated. Sometimes the farmers retail tMr provifions themfelves, from their £&#%: wThich bring veal, pork, poultry, game, butter,aafid cheefe, as Well MJMjr' tides of agriculture, and even the products of indufl^^ Jerfey furnifhes the markets of Philadelphia wiAmany alleles, partidi* Iarly hams, poultry, butter, and vegetables. It is a pleafing object, to fee the perfect order that prevails in the markets; and it is wSiftfey of regard, that the whole proceeds from the difpofition of the people, for the public police never has oeeaSion to interfere in thefe places.iltf am compelled to own, however, that having paffed three winters in Philadelphia, I have . perceived a gradual change taking place in this refpect, and alfo in the tranquillity tha£'formerly reigned at night in the ftreets. In 1794, it was uncommon to encounter any body at night, and ftill more to hear any noife after eleven o'clock. The noife in the ftreets contiflties now iMl & - much later hour. Philadelphia is* fiideed, departing very widely fa&k^ Simplicity of manners. This city, being at a great diftance from the}s$fcii&i& ill provided with fifh. Rockfifi, which is a l6ng fifh with very iw&ite flefh, and does Bfct refemble any fifh of Europe that Tknow, is dktionly one that is to be found BY THE SFOU CAULT L-TAN CO! found throughoutthe year at Philadelphia. The epieures, however, caufe a variety .of fifh to be brought from New York. The rent of the. fhops in the market-place is one of the revenues of the city,-.and produces about eight thoufand dollars. The other revenues- of the city are—a tax upon taverns, a tax upon quays, and a tax on property of the fame kind as that laid in the counties. The amount of thefe taxes varies with circumftances; the principal foiirce of their increafe is the conftru6tion of public buildings. The taxes of the city of Philadelphia in 1790, amounted to fixteen thoufand eight hundred dollars; in 1 793, to twenty thoufand three hundred and thirty- two dollars; in 1*794, to twenty-.nine thoufand five hundred dollars.; in J. 7.95, to twenty-eight thoufand fix hundred dollars. They were lefs in 17:96 and in 1797 > but Ldo not know the exact amount oihthefe years. Some judgment may be formed of the immenfe increafe of wealthiia Phiiadelphia by the rapid increafe of the computed value of articles -&b». ject to taxation. In 1790, it amounted to niaely-eight million fix hundred and feventy-four thoufand and fixty dollars ; and in 1/95, to one hundred million five hundred and thirty thoufand feven hundred and thirteen dollars. In 1797* ifc exceeded that computation by more than two millions of dollars ;—the computation being throughout made upon the fame principles. The quantity of articles fubjetft to taxation increasing rapidly in this city, as it alfo does throughout the whole ftate, and the expences of the city continually decreasing, becaufe they have been heretofore greatly augmented by rthe conftrudion of public edifices^ bridges, &c. the impo£bs> already low, muft necefBaily decreafe. There is no^eity of the United States where articles of confumpffkatfc are to be found in fuch great abundance as at Philadelphia, even to almoft all articles of luxury. Many fhops are as well furnifhed as thofe of Paris or London. The tradefmen are polite and obliging; and not at all prefixing for their money, when they are affured of the folvency of their ' cuftomers, vat leaft I have found it fo. The workmen are expert; but, as they-'Can: earn a great deal, they do not labour with the fame constancy as workmen in Europe, and frequently make a purchafer wait long ®m a ELS IN NORTH AMERICA*. ; for the execution of an order. Every thing in America, more particularly at Philadelphia, is much dearer than in Europe. A workman j hired by the day, receives a dollar per day, befides his board; the wages of-ordinary domeftics, who are for the moft part negroes, are from ten io twelve dollars per month, befides board and wafhing. A female fervant, of the moft ordinary kind, has a dollar per week. Board is from eight to twelve dollars per weekj without wine, fire, or candles. The rent of the fmalleft houfe, in a remote part of the city, is three hundred dollars per annum ; the rent of large houfes, in good fituations, is from two thoufand five hundred to three thoufand dollars. Beef cofts from ten to thirteen pence per pound ; and a couple of fowls^often more than a dollar. Other things are in the fame proportion. The value of the ground in Philadelphia differs according to its.ia£uation ; it is fold by the feet in front, according to its depth. A piece of ground of one hundred and fifty feet depth, in the moft frequented part of the city, brings from one hundred and eigh^fdollars to two hundred and fixty per foot. At the end of ftreets not compleated, they afk only from twenty- four to thirty dollars per foot; and betwen thefe extreme fituations the medium price is from one hundred to one hundred and twenty dollars. Of the lands in the vicinity of Philadelphia, thofe in the plain are fandy and fieri!, the hills near the Schuylkill are fandy and full of ftones, although a little ftronger. But the badnefs of the lands does not prevent their felling for a high price, as they are almoft entirely cngroffed for country houfes by the wealthy inhabitants of the city* Their price is from one hundred and fifty to one thoufand two hundred dollars per acre, including the buildings, according to their fituation and other circumftances. To the fouth of the. city the land, lying between, the Delaware and the SchuyHaBiy having been formerly co^- vered with vutfet, is a fine foil from twenty to. twenty-five feet in depth, but always very wet. It produces a natural grafs of the beft quality, in great abundance, being enriched by the mud left from the. ov«erflowinffi BY THE DU£E DE 'LA EGCHEFOUC AU.LT HA3TCOU&T. 338 Overflowing of the rivers; and might be greatly improved by being ^drained, but this is not done for the want of hands. It is feldom that eftates are to be fold in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, the proprietors being tempted to keep them in their hands by their conftant encreafe in value ; and they are very rarely let to tenants for more than a year or two years. The grafs-lands are generally ufed to fatten oxen ; their rent is from twenty-four to twenty-eight .dollars per acre. Lands that bear Indian corn, grain, and potatoes, are let at the fame price. . MANNERS OF THE PEOPLE OF PHILADELPHIA. Philadelphia is univerfally accufed of poflefling lefs hofpitality than any other city in the United States; and it may be allowed to deferve this reproach. The excufe of the inhabitants is, the great concourfb there is always here of ftrangers, who would too greatly occupy the time of their hofts if too much encouragement were given to vifits. The true reafon is, the inceffant attention that is paid in Philadelphia, more than in any other part of the world, to the accumulation of wealth; which paftion is not diminished even by the poffeffion of the greateft: fortune. To mend his circumftances is. the predominant idea of every man in this country. This mercantile notion, of neceffity, confines within himfelf the man whom it influences; and gives him no time nor tafte for the pleafures of fociety. What is juftly called fociety does not exift in this city. The vanity of wealth is common enough. The rich man loves to fhew the ftranger his fplendid furniture, his fine Englifh glafs, and exquifite china. But when the ftranger has once viewed the parade in a ceremonious dinner, he is difmiffed for fome other newcomer, who has not yet feen the magnificence of the houfe nor tafted the old madeira that has been twice or thrice to the Eaft Indies. And then, a new face is always more welcome than an old one to him who has little to fay to either. The real ftate of fociety at Philadelphia is included in invitations to TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, great dinners, and tea, to all who arrive from Europe—Englifh, French, inhabitants of every country, men of every clafs and of every kind of character, philofophers, priefts, literati, princes, dentifts, wits, and idiots. And the next day the idolized ftranger is not known in the ftreet, except he be wealthy, efpecially in money; when, indeed, the politenefs of the citizens of Philadelphia continues to exift as long as the ftranger can purchafe eftates, and even beyond that term, for the homage paid to wealth is a worfhip in which all fects unite. To the ordinary defects of fociety in Philadelphia, is to be added the "intemperance of politics. The Englifh influence prevails in the firft circles; and prevails with great intolerance. Perfons of wealth here, who carefled the agents of Robefpierre, when that monfter extirpated all the worth his power could reach, are the avowed enemies of France, now that her government inclines to mild- nefs and humanity. It is not to be denied that the American commerce has fuffered greatly from French privateers; and we cannot therefore be furprized, either at the ill humour of the merchants of Philadelphia, or their mode of exprefling it. Having given this fketch of the temper of the people of Philadelphia, I am compelled to fay, however correct it may be, that many families are to be found who form exceptions, and are neither tainted with the general vices of this place nor inflamed with the prefent fpirit of party. What 1 have faid is without ill will. I have no perfonal complaint to make. But I fpeak without referve : for why fhould I write, if it were not to Communicate truth ? Before all thofe to whom I feel myfelf indebted for their kindnefs, I have to place the family of Chew. Benjamin Chew, the head of this refpectable family, who is a man in years, unites to an underftandmik naturally penetrating and lively, great information, an amiable temper, a boble generofity, and the fimpleft of manners. His large family is uni- ^erfaliy efteemed; and in no quarter of the world is there any one more feltimable. I was received by him as a brother ; and my heart is filled with fentiments of efteem, gratitude, and love for him, that will go with me BY THE.DUKE DE LA ROCHEPQUCAULT. LIANCOURT. 385 me to the grave * and I hope he will pardon my expreflion of thofe fen- timents in this place. To name every one from whom I have received offices of kindnefs would be to trefpafs too much on my reader; and I muft be fatisfied with indulging myfelf with a remembrance of their friendfhip. I Notwitbftanding the defective flate of fociety in Philadelphia, this city- is perhaps the moft agreeable of the United States for a foreigner. The refidence of the members of Congrefs will enable him to gather informal tion on the different parts of this interefting country; and, in fad, to travel through its different ftates with great advantage to his enquiries. Although in Philadelphia, as throughout America, no one is fufficiently free from employment to give himfelf wtiolly to letters or the fciences, this city contains, more than any other, perfons who cultivate them, and whofe fociety is extremely interefting when thofe fubjects are difcuffed. There is a philofophical fociety here, and a large and valuable library. There is alfo a mufeum which has an almoft: complete collection of ^^pinerals and animals of North America.- This fine collection is the property of Mr. Peale. His intelligence, and indefatigable induftry for twenty years in the forming this collection, have fupplied the want of means that a more ample fortune would have readily ftftiiiihed, and entitle him to aid in his undertaking from the go- ¥e**iment. The profufion and luxury of Philadelphia, on great days, at the tables of the wealthy, in their equipages, and the dreffes of their wives and daughters, are, as I have obferved, extreme. I have feen balls on the Prefident's birth-day where the fplendor of the rooms, and the yariety and ~ ftehnefs of the drefles did not fuffer in comparifbn with Europe ; and it muft be acknowledged, that the beauty of the American ladies has the advantage in the compaafon. The young women of Philadelphia are accomplifhed in different degrees, but beauty is general with them. They want the eafe and fafhion of French women; but the brilliancy, of their complexion is infinitely fuperior. Even when they grow old they are ftill handfome ; and it would be no exaggeration to fay, in thenu- Vol. II. 3C merous 386 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA^ naerous affemblies of Philadelphia it is impoffible to meet with what is called a plain woman. As to the young men, they for the moft part feem to belong to another fpecies. Wealth makes all the diftin&ion of claffes in Philadelphia. The great merchants, and the lawyers who are at the head of their profeffion, hold the firft rank. Different claffes very rarely mingle together. The Quakers live among themfelves, and in a retired manner. But gay colours pleafe the young Quaker-ladies ; and are indeed great enemies of the feet. The toilette is the fubject of much uneafinefs to the old people, whether proJu~ bited or tolerated by them. But whether prohibited or not, the young and handfome Quaker-girls will facrifice to the toilette, and call themfelves Half-quakers ; and, it muft be confeffed, they are the greateft favourites with our fex. The young men among the Quakers, who would make themfelves agreeable to the female deferters, powder and fhape their drefs accordingly ; and the feet is continually lofing fome of thofe that fh^i^ be its pillars by the effect of a ribband or^pwn. Profufion is not confined to the higher ranks, fefpreads among the fervants; and even reaches the negroes. Both one and the other give their balls, which are deftitute of the charming umplicity of the fetes of our peafants. Variety of refrefhments, good fuppers, and fine dreffes, diftinguifh them. A female negro fervant, whofe wages are one dollar per week, will, at thefe balls, have a drefs that cofts fixty dollars. They never go. but in coaches to thefe balls, which are very frequent. On Sundays the public-houfes in the environs of the ei^p are crouded with labourers and little fhopkeepers., who frequently come in a chair, with their whole family, and will expend from three to four dollars for the day's entertainment. It is not to hoard that the Americans are rapacious; their improvidence ha&^ll all the character of colonifts. There is a theatre at Phiiadelphia, in defpight of the many and vehement petitions, prefented againft it by the Quakers and diffentingr-jraai" nifters. It is generally crouded ; not that the actors are good, but it is a place where people can aflemble and exhibit themfelves. There are from BY THE DUKE DE LA PvOCHEFOUCAULT" LIANCOURT, 387 from twtnty to twenty-five ftage-coaches, that either go from or arrive at Philadelphia every day. They are mean and incommodious carriages; but are light, and travel very quickly. The horfes are good in Pennfylvania ; and there are fets belonging to fome of the ftage-coaches that are not furpaffed by any in Europe. The inhabitants of Philadelphia, like thofe of the whole State of Pennfylvania, are a mixture of all the nations of Europe. The Englifh are in the greateft number. The counties of Pennfylvania, beyond the Sufquehannah, and at a greater diftance from Philadelphia than the reft, are little influenced by the political opinions of the capital, which, as I have faid, are in favor of England. There are a great many newfpapers publifhed in Philadelphia; wtience they are fpread through all the ftate. ; Twenty-eight places of worfhip hold ike different fects of Philadelphia. The Quakers have fix.. One of thefe belongs to the Free-quaiers; a body expelled from the reft, for having, carried arms, and accepted offices under the: government of the State, or that of the Union, during the ftruggle for Independence. This body does not differ from the feet, except in a relaxation of ecclefiaftical discipline. There is a place of worfhip called the African Church, fet apart for the negroes; who go, jaofcwithftanding, to the other churches at their pleafure. The clergyman of the African church is himfolf a negroe. He is joined to the clergy on all occafions where they affemble in a body. The Quakers have eftablifhed here two charity fehools for the negroes, . where they are taught to read, write, and eaft accounts. But among the wife and beneficent: laws of the State of Pennsylvania, one fees -with pain- that no provifion is yet made for the erecting of fehools for the education of children at the public expence, like thofe of New England. The legiflature, indeed, is engaged on a plan of this nature. The Quakers, it is faid, oppofe thefe foundations,, becaufe they have fehools of their own,r being unwilling to mingle their children with the children- of other perfuafions -f and becaufe thfty would either-be compelled to abandon this 3 C 2 policy TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, policy or maintain their own fehools at an exclufive expencey while they would pay a. general tax to thofe of the public. I cannot fuppofe this oppofition to be real;: or, if fo, that it can continue long.. The ftate that feels the importance of public fehools will, in the end, gain the victory ; and, no doubt, the Quakers themfelves will not be backward in acknowledging the injuftice and mifchievous effects of their preten- fions. I cannot conclude what I have to fay of Philadelphia without obferv- ing, that here, and almoft in every other part of America through which I have paffed, I have frequently heard the name of M. de la Roche- foucault pronounced, with a profound veneration for his memory, and fincere forrow for his. fate. Although he never vifited the United States, he was known as a Frenchman who fhewed the flrongeft attachment to their independence.~ They named him their friend; and my connection with him by blood procured me in more than one family the kindeft and moft diftinguifhed reception- Having no other paffion than that of doing good, and poflfefling at once the private virtues, as welt as thofe that fit us to ferve the public, he had a modefty, approaching to' a diffidence'of himfelf, that inereafed the luflre.- of all his great qualities. His mind was noble, and independent ; and he worfhipped liberty long before her name was openly pronounced in France. Without mixture in his views, as without ftain in his conduct, he is perhaps the only example of an eminent man in the French' Revolution whofe character calumny did not impeach. Yet was this, man murdered !—'murdered in the prefence of the tendereft of mothers, and the moft amiable of vv€v«s; by wretches calling themfelves patriots, hired by monfters more deteftable than thofe, and who alfo called themfelves patriots! France fhuddered-at this crime, when it was committed-; and, evenrin thofe fatal times,, when: terror compelled men. to belie their confeiences, no one was found to fay, that his death was not a public misfortune. I have no doubt, when, tho reprefentatives of the French nation fhall be at liberty to decree the homage: BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOtJCAULT EIANCOURT; 3QQ homage of public regret to the memory of juft .citizens that intrigue; and cruelty fnatehed from their country, the name of M. de la Roche— foucault will be among the firft that will be heard. Such a decree will do honour to the French nation; and I fhall be pardoned, I hope* for pouring forth my foul on this fubject. To. be proud of my neap connection, by blood, and by the tieO^isKybrtiinate friendship,, with one of the moft virtuous men of the age, wiU not give offence to thofe. who* know what it is to love virtue. JOURNEY 3.9Q . JJBA Y'EiS.'XN'. NORTH AMERICA^, JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM, AND IN THE: JERSEYS, IN i;....; a. a." [ .. ,re aea. :.aa:JBNE I797. .^9^^^:3^lmk^^ THE ROAD TO GERMANTOWN. Ionce more quitted Philadelphia with pleafure, the oppreffive and burning heat rendering that city difagreeable at this feafon; and as the fittings of Congrefs, which had induced me to remain there till now, prefented nothing to fatisfy curiofity, I proceeded towards Bethlehem. On leaving the city, I went a little out of the way to take leave of my friend Mr. Nicklen, a good and worthy Englifhman, from whom I had, during my ftay in America, received many teftimonies of attention, and who had married one of the daughters of the refpectable family of Chew. He occupies, during the fummer, one of the handfomeft country-feats in the environs of Philadelphia, built on one of the hills of Schuylkill. This villa, which is called Hill, enjoys one of the moft delightful profpects in the world. Mr. Nicklin purchafed this houfe, and nineteen acres of ground attached to it, at the price of twenty-two thoufand dollars, which price may give an idea of the value of fuch feats in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia. The road to Germ an town is upon the afcent, the fummit of the hill on which that little town is built being two hundred feet higher than the foed of the Delaware, although the diftance is only feven miles. The Sands, though not of the firft quality, are fufficiently produ6live ; the vicinity to Philadelphia making it eafy to get manure, while the high price of provifions in that city encourages the farmer to lay out fuch expences &s may infure the beft and moft abundant returns. All / BY THE DLfKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT ElANCOURT. 3QI All the way to Germantown the houfes are very clofe together, the properties being fo valuable as to prevent them from being very extenfive: there are few of the farms which exceed two hundred acres. Stone abounds in this diftridt, and is found at a very fmall depth; it is uniformly micacious free ftone. Of this all the houfes are built. Thefe buildings would not be reckoned handfome in Europe. They are good fmall houfes, without elegance and without ornament; but in point of fize, as well as diftribution of the apartments, they afford their proprietors every thing that comes under the denomination of convenience and comfort. Moft of them are country houfes for the relaxation of the inhabitants of Philadelphia. GERMANTOWN. Germantown is a long village, near two miles and an half in extent. The houfes, to the number of about three hundred, are all built on the fide of the highway, and are erected pretty clofe to each other. The lands in all thisdiftrid: coft from an hundred and fixty to two hundred dollars the acre in whole farms; fome particular acres, fituated on the road-fide, fell for from four to five hundred dollars. I was even told that it is not eafy to procure it at that price ; and I was fhewn a field of a dozen of acres, the proprietor of which eftimates it at eight hundred dofl^sthe acre. The culture of this part of the country is better attended to, than in thofe parts which are at a diftance from large towns; but it is far from being in that ftate of cultivation which it would be in Europe, near fo good a market as that of Philadelphia. They rgife a good deal of wheat, and ftill more Indian-corn, but very little rye or oats. All the produce which is not confumed in the farmer's family, is carried to the market at Philadelphia, in confequence of which provifions are as dear at Germantown as in the city, to thofe who are obliged to purchafe them. Nay, they are often even dearer; as the farmers who go to Philadelphia, where they are fure of getting quit of all their commodities, frequently refufe to fell any part of them on the road. Beef, for example, which is feldomf higher at Philadelphia than eleven pence, cofts fifteen pence at German- 3.9% TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, Germantown. | All this country, and for a confiderable way farther, is inhabited principally by Germans, and defcendants of Germans. The inhabitants are by no means intelligent, and they are particularly averfe .to leave their old cuftoms for a new method which might be better; but they are induftrious, and their affiduity to labour counteracts, in fome meafure, their repugnance to all improvement. They manufacture in their families at Germantown a great quantity of wollen, cotton, and thread ftockings, which the farmers carry to market at Philadelphia with their provifions, and which are reckoned very durable. There are alfo fome tan-works at Germantown. We find here a Lutheran and a Prefbyterian church, befides a third for the Quakers ; an academy, and two other fehools of confiderable repute. I flopped at the houfe of my excellent and refpected friend Mr. Chew. Ttisilioufe is celebrated as an important fcene of action in the battle of Germantown in 1777. Two hundred Englifh of the advance-guard of the army, repulfed by the Americans, were inclofed in this place; and refitted the efforts of General Wafhington, who endeavoured to gee the better of them with the affiftence of his artillery, and who, after the lofs of four or five hundred men killed or wounded, was obliged to retreat, not being able to follow up the advantage which hif right had obtained, in penetrating to the middle of this village. General Wafhington was blamed at the time for perfifting fo much in carrying this houfe, which did not contain fuch a number of Englifh as could at all have difconcerted him had he left it behind, and which wouldhage.fallen into his hands without a blow, had he joined the troops with which he made this unfuccefsful attack to thofe who were before him, and fucceeded in driving the enemy out of the village. This houfe, entirely built of the country ftone, bears on its walls marks of the American cannon balls and mufket bullets, a great number of which had penetrated into the chambers by the windows. Thefe bullets and balls are ftill flicking in the partitions, the holes which contain them being only covered with plafter. Mr. Chew was as at that time proprietor of this houfe, which was built by him. He fold it ^^1779, with forty acres of land belonging to it, for ^*h- - about BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 393 about nine thoufand dollars, and laft fpring he repurchafed it, at the price of twenty-five thoufand dollars, without any improvement having been made on it. Labourers receive, in the environs of Germantown, a dollar a day of wages, during hay-making and harveft. The women employed to turn the hay are paid half a dollar a day, all befides their diet, which is equal to half a dollar more. This diet confifts of coffee or chocolate, with ham to breakfafl; frefh meat and vegetables to dinner; tea and ham for fupper, and a pint of rum during the day. This is the manner in which labourers are fed in America ; and if this diet appear expeniive to thofe who employ them, if this expence prevent them from being able to employ a great number, it is gratifying to fee how well a clafs of men, reckoned the foweft in Europe, is treated in this country, the only one where a man, whatever be his profeffion, is treated with refpect; where all ranks are confidered as men. We may be told, that were our European labourers fed with coffee and frefh meat, they would not work better, or be better content. It is, in the firft place, not true, that they would not work better and be more happy, if they were better fed; and it is ftill more certkin, that were they treated with more refpect, and more attention, they would confider themfelves lefs debafed, they would become better, they would feel with pride that they were a more noble branch of fociety, and confequently would be more interefted in its pre- fervation. Let us hope that the French revolution may, in this refpect, operate a happy change in the lot of the laborious clafs of mankind. Without this, liberty would be only a word without meaning, a pretext for diforder. A cord of oak wood cofts fix, and a cord of hickory from eight to ten dollars, at Germantown. Thus, the lands covered with wood, which in the more diftant parts are of much lefs value than other grounds, are here the moft valuable. The wood from hence is carried to Philadelphia principally in the winter time; the river not being navigable, it could not be conveyed by it. - Vol. If. THE m* TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERK^L,; THE ROAD TO CLEMENT'S TAVERN.—SPRINGHOUSE. Germantown is in the county of Philadelphia, which the Bethlehem road does not get out of till five or fix miles farther on, at Chefnut-hill, a pretty village, where there are eftablifhed a number of butchers, who carry to the market at Philadelphia the beef which they kill, and alfo fupply the neighbourhood. A little beyond Chefnut-hill we enter Montgomery county. The road, all the way to Clement's Tavern, is a fucceffion of little hills and valleys, more or lefs extenfive, all in a good ftate of cultivation. The lands at Springhoufe are worth from forty to forty-five dollars the acre; the labourers receive here one or two fhillings lefs than at Germantown. The country abounds in oak; and the great con- fumption of wood in lime-kilns keeps always up the price of a cord of oak to three dollars, and of hickory to five, although the lands under culture are here lefs in proportion to the wood-lands than near Philadelphia. Springhoufe is diftant from thence eighteen miles. Stone becoming lefs abundant, and every where deeper in the earth, after leaving Springhoufe houfes of ftone are lefs numerous, and thofe of wood confequently more common. The country to Clement's Tavern continues to be of the fame defcription. This tavern, feven miles from Springhoufe, is fituated exactly on the boundaries of Montgomery and Buck's counties. The lands here fell for from thirty-two to fixty dollars the acre. Labourers' wages are the fame as at Springhoufe. Farm horfes coft from a hundred to a hundred and twenty dollars; cattle eighty dollars the pair; cows thirty dollars. As there is no oak in this neighbourhood, although the woods are ftill more numerous than at Springhoufe, the cord of hickory cofts here only four dollars. The country is all along peopled in a great meafure with German and Dutch families. Clements is of Dutch defcent. His grandfather, who was a rich merchant, engaged in the Eaft India trade, came to America in 1707. The lofs of feveral veffels having ruined his fortune, he collected the wreck of it to carry to Pennfylvania. His grandfon, the tavern- keeper, : A BY THE DUKE DE LA ROeHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 395 keeper, is one of the beft men I have met with. He fhews, with a kind of fatisfa<5ti.on, an old andiron, which his grandfather brought from Holland, and which, a hundred years before that time, had made part of the furniture of his-father's houfe. Clements fees in this old piece of furni ture, which is difplayed in his kitchen, a family monument, which makes him trace two hundred years of his genealogy, and in dilating upon that he exhibits a confiderable fire, quite the reverfe of his amiable fimplicity. QUAKERSTOWN, AND THE ROAD TO BETHLEHEM. The country becomes more mountainous as we proceed on from Clement's houfe; the valleys confequently are extenfive, and we find no longer granite but free-ftone, at leaft in the courfe of twenty miles. The country is moftly covered with wood, although in feveral places the houfes are pretty clofe, and the lands well cultivated. Quakerftown is a fmall village, the chief place of a fettlement of Quakers fpread through the townfhips of Upper and Lower Milford. Thefe townlkijis were given to the Quakers about eighty years ago by William Penn. All the inhabitants, however, are not Quakers ; feveral of the families which were firft fettled having quitted it, and been fuc- ceeded by others. The number of thefe at prefent is about three hundred ; and a number of other families alfo people the two townfhips, which are inhabited and well cultivated. If one may judge by the converfation of the Quaker who keeps the tavern where I flopped, the religion of that feet is the article which leaft occupies the Quakers eflabliflated in this townfhip. Their farm is the conftant object of their thought. They are faid to be very good farmers. They lay out the greateft part of their grounds in meadow, and they carry their butter, cheefe, calves, poultry, and the articles mamarerctured in their families, fuch as floCk- ings, linen, Si^to Philadelphia, near forty miles diftant. The frequency of their journies to Philadelphia is regulated bv the extent of their farms, and the confequent'quantity of their provifions. 3 D 2 Some 3Q6 TRAVELS'IN NORTH AMERICA, Some of them go only once a fortnight, others every ten days ; others, again, once a week; and there is one individual who goes every market- day, that is twice a week. The quantity of provifions they carry alfo determines the manner of carriage, namely, whether on horfeback, in a cart with two horfes, or in a waggon with four horfes. They fet out on the evening, to reach Philadelphia by break of day, and return when they have fold all their goods; which they never fail to do, even if they are obliged to lower their price as the day advances. Their horfes ftand unyoked near the carts all the market time, the oats with which they feed them being brought from the farm with the provifions. This is the" practice of all the farmers from Germantown to Quakerftown, and con- fiderably farther. They reckon that one cow yields five pounds of butter a week, that is to fay, to carry to market; for they only fell what is over the confumption of their own families, and none of them deny tjusmfelves either butter, milk, cream, or fowls. I met on the road fome girls of eighteen on horfeback, travelling to Philadelphia,and carrying forty pounds weight of butter, with fome cheefe and poultry. Some of them travel alone; and their youth and beauty, for the greater part of them are very pretty, gives them no difturbance in a journey fo long, fo often repeated, and the greateft part of whieha4s made in the night time: no perfon thinks of injuring them. This particular of American morals is truly admirable. The lands about Quakerftown are wrorth from thirty-two to fixty dollars; the wages,fg|f the labourers the fame as at Clement's Tavern. The culture of grain is here the fame as elfewhere in America, a good deal of maize, corn, and rye ; but the lands are either not at all or very badly manured: the dung is laid upon the grafs grounds. From Quakerftown to Bethlehem the country is ftill more mountainous; we meet however frequently with extremely fertile valleys. Moft of the houfes are built of ftone; a good many of them, however, are conftructed of fquare beams of wood, and the interftices filled up with ftone. The barns are large, and moftly of wood. All this country, from Philadelphia to within a mile of Wilkfbarrej formed BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEF0UCAULT 1IANCOURT. 397 formed part of the firft purchafe made from the Indians by William Penn, and has been long cultivated and inhabited. We fee here few of thofe trunks of trees which 'remain often under foot fo long after the commencement of the operation of grubbing, and the country is almoft throughout as much cleared of wood as the generality of Europe. The mountains known- under the name of the Lehigh Mountains, are, properly fpeaking, the firft chain which we meet from Philadelphia, the preceding ones being rather detached hills than mountains. This chain, which croffes the Sufquehannah near Harrifburg, lofes its name at the Delaware near Eafton, and continues through Jerfey under another name. On the other fide of that mountain ftands Bethlehem, built on the conflux of the river Lehigh, which falls into the Delaware near Eafton, and of the creek Manokify, which falls immediately at Bethlehem into the river Lehigh. BETHLEHEM.—DETAILS RESPECTING THE MORAVIANS.. Bethlehem is inhabited by the Moravian brethren. It is the firft and moft: confiderable of their fettlements in America, and has thence acquired much celebrity. I have read in books of travels fo many different recitals refpecting the internal government of their fociety, their commur nity of goods, their children being even taken away from the authority and fuperintendance of their parents, as belonging to the fociety at large, and refpecting feveral other points of their government, that I was defirous to judge myfelf of the truth of thefe affertions; and I have found at Bethlehem frefh reafon not to credit, without proof, the recitals of travellers^ This indifputable truth is, however,- rather delicate, to be avowed by one who is writing travels. I fhall not go back to the origki of the Moravians, which their hifto<- rians fix at the year 1424 ; to their perfecution in Europe; to the almoft total diffolution of their fociety at the commencement of the feventeenth century; nor to their reunion in 1722, under the aufpices of Count Zin- zendorff. I fhall fay nothing of their doctrines; all thefe facts are unconnected with their temporal government at Bethlehem, which is the only f 3 3Q8 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, Ii only point I wifhed to know, and which I think is at this time interefting. In 1740, the Count Zinzendorff purchafed from Mr. Allan, who held it of Willam Penn, the diftrict now called Bethlehem, with the view of there forming an eftablifhment for the fociety of the Moravians. Although fome trees were cut down in 1741, it was not till 1742 that the fettlement was begun. One hundred and forty Moravian brethren and filters arrived from Germany, and fettled there. Thefe families were poor, had nd other dependence than their labour, and every thing was to be done to form a fettlement in this defert. They lived then in one general community, contrary to the rules and ufage of their fociety, but only from the neceffity of circumftances, which would have rendered the general progrefs of their fociety more flow, and the fituation of the individual families more inconvenient, if their labours and productions had been divided. This deviation from the conftitution of the Unity (for thus they call their whole fociety) was prefcribed by the fynod, ifdiich makes and alters the laws of all the Moravian people. Thus, un- ■cbe* the order of the chiefs of the congregation eftablifhed at Bethlehem, they cleared the woods, made roads, and cultivated the lands; the women fpan, wove, made their cloaths, and prepared their victuals. One fingle will animated the whole, and the product of each individuals' labour ferved indifcriraainately to the fupport of the whole brother and fifterhood. The fathers and mothers being conftantly employed in labour, could not, without inconvenience to the community, give their attentions to their children. The fociety therefore appointed fome of the filters to take care of the whole ; the authority, however, and the fuper- intendence of the parents, was neither taken away nor diminished. At that time even, notwithftanding their community of goods, the brethren who received any money frontttkeir families or friends had the free difpofal of it. If any of them veiled their property in the common flock it was vahiittarily, and the effect of a zeal and difintereftednefs of which there were but few examples. The brethren poffeffed of any private property, had frequently tfeeixhi&Pihlren with tb»m; they clothed them better; BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. better; mid the care which they took of them in infancy, a charge confidered a relief to the fociety, was a proof that at Bethlehem the children were not, as has been alleged, the property of the community, and that it was no part of the inftitution to make the members renounce all private property. In proportion as the fettlement advanced, and their labour became lefs urgent, the fociety of Bethlehem faw the inconveniences attending a community of labour,-produce, and enjoyment. The paffions, the vices, and the virtues of man, have every where nearly the fame character. .The active brethren killed themfelves with work, while the idle took little trouble. Thofe who reflected difcovered, that whatever' fatigue they endured, their fituation was no wife ameliorated ; and that induftry, the indifputable property of every man, afforded them not a fingle advantage. Reflection then had the fame effect on the induftrious, as their natural difpofition had on the idle; the ardour for labour no longer continued ; the fociety did not profper, and the moft of its members were difoontented. Thefejbint confiderations induced them, in 1762, to change the fyftem of the community. The fociety of Bethlehem was now eftablifhed on the rules of the focieties in Europe, and recalled to the true conftitution of the fociety at large ; it is under this fyftem that it has been regulated fince that epoch, as well as all the other Moravian congregations eftablifhed elfewhere in America. By the prefent ordonnances, the communion of property is done away in favour of the individuals; it only continues as to the government of the fociety, and it exifts partially. The territorial property, as well as. the profits of the tavern, the ftore, the farm, the faw-mills, oil-mills, corn-mills, and fulfing-mills, the tannery, and the dyeing manufa&ory,. belong to the fociety, which from thefe funds is enabled to provide for the poor, for the payment of debts, and of the public taxes. In all other refpects every brother enjoys the abfolute property of whatever he can earn by his labour, be it what it may, and of the gifts which he may receive. The government of the fociety is veiled in the bifhop, the minifter,. the 400 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, the intendant, and the infpectors, male and female, of the different dtvi- fions of the fociety, which are five in number;—the young men unmarried ; the unmarried fifters ; the widows ; the married brethren and fillers, and the fehools. The intendant has the exclufive adminiftration i of the property of the fociety; but he muft advife with, a committee, compofed of from eight to ten members, and chofen by the brethren at large. In the name of the intendant they.carry on all their tranfactions, grant leafes of houfes and lands, fecurities for borrowed money, discharges, &c. All the houfes, however, erected in the town of Bethlehem, and the four thoufand acres belonging to it, are not the property of the fociety, nor even the greater part of them ; they belong to brethren, who have built upon land for which they pay rent to the fociety. The amount of this rent is two-pence the foot in front, by twenty feet in depth. The houfe built by the brother is his abfolute property ; he can leave it to his wife or his children, in the fame way as he can his other effects, or he can fell it; only he cannot convey it but to a brother, who has obtained from the directory permiffion to purchafe it, with the burthen of the rent attached to it, and which perpetually remains. . The directors having the government of the fociety, muft admit into their territory thofe only who they think will not difturb the fociety. In the contracts of leafe made by the intendant, with the advice of the committee, to thofe intending to build a houfe, or to thofe who purchafe a houfe, it is always flipulated, that if the proprietor fhall be defirous of quitting it, and cannot find a purchafer who may be agreeable to the fociety, the~fociety is to purchafe it at a price declared by a law, which alfo fixes the terms of payment. Garden ground, or land in the country, is let at fix fhillings the acre. Befides the government farm appropriated to the benefit of the fociety, there are fix or feven fmaller farms belonging to it. Thefe are let to tenants who pay a third part of their produce, and who alfo pay fix flail lings of rent for their garden grounds. Thefe tenants are 'all at prefent Moravians; but this condition is nowife indifpcnfable. Sometimes the farms are let to other perfons, only the fociety muft be fatisfied as to their character and behaviour: BY THE DUKE DE LA R 0 CHEF 0 UC AULT tlANCOURT. 40V our; and they will not receive as tenants tliofe of whom they have not received a fa-tisfactory1 account. The fociety could eafily procure a higher price, and might at once clear two thoufand five hundred acres, which ftill remain in wood, if they would admit ftrangers, or at leaft not referve to themfelves this choice of thofe who offer to take their farms; but they are defirous beyond every thing of preferring what they call good order, union, and morality ; and to this they facrifice the augmentation of their revenues. The town of BetMehem is inhabited by between five and fix hundred perfons, all of trie brother or fifterhood. They have workmen of every kind; but thefe cannot fettle there without the permiffion of the directors, who fuffer no workmen of the fame bufinefs, but as far as they are neceffary for the inhabitants. If more were to be permitted, they could not live by their trade. At the fame time, the price of all kinds of work is fixed, to prevent the want of rivalfhip from putting it in the power of the workmen to make exorbitant demands; but the prices of the country around regulate thofe of the town. Beyond-that the workmen are independent of the fociety in conducting their bufinefs. They purchafe with their money what articles they have occafion for; they fell them as they think proper; the profits belong to them, without their accounting to the fociety, or even paying any tax. The only tax indeed which is levied, and which is common to all the inhabitants of the town, is for keeping up the roads, lamps, feats in the church, pumps, and refervoirs. This tax is ^yery four or five years impofed upon each family by name, according to the ojMjaion of the committee of his means; but it is fo moderate, that the families confidered the richefl in the town do not pay above thirty fhillings or. four dollars a year. This tax is paid every fix months; and if it happen that, at the end of the year, the committee find that the money raifed is not fufficient to cover the expences, they . demand double or treble of the laft payment; and on the other hand, they demand nothing, when the expence is not fo great as the tax fixed. As to the public taxes, which in Pennfylvania, as I have already repeatedly obferved, are only the taxes of the county, the fociety pays thefe out Vol. IL 3 E of of its funds. 'Thefe funds proceed fromthe lands, mid the profits of the referved branches ©f manufa<turc-s or commerce. Each of the brethren put at the head of thefe different eftablifhments receives a falary from the fociety, to which he pays in the profits, after the expence of his own and'family's- living and eloafehmg. The committee requires no detailed, account of his management: he has. received fo much money—-there remains fo much in his hands. Such is the account given in by the tavern- keeper, the farmer, the miller, the ftore-keeper, &c. When the directors are told of the poffibility of fuch perfons cheating the fociety, they will riot admit it; becaufe, fay they, all their characters are known to us; their actions are fo j^biic, that if they were difhoneft they could not be fo long without being dife&vetfed, and they would then be difmiffed. They confider that unlimited confidence as benevolence, brotherly charity, &c. They add to the defence of this motive—that a man narrowly watched is more excufable in ro&Mng, than one in whom con* fidene^^^lte^M^ and th^ailifcm, that $ktj never have had reafotf"'^. repent o$f this rule of confidence. It appears, however, that their differ-* tmt branches bring them in very little. The fociety does not draw a dollar an acre free from their farms. Th&ll&ie^Jextremely well fupplied, WMch fells a great deal in the neighbourhood, does not produce annually above eight hundred dollars. The tavern, although it has a great deal of cuftom, does not clear more than fourfcore dot&rs; and the fame is the cafe with kefpeft to all the other branched in their hands. Induftry is naturally flackened, when it is not excited by intereft. The whole of the fev&nie^of the fociety of Bethlehem does not amount to eight thou^ fand dollars ayear-^on an average, and their expences are neatly equal to that income. In the firft phce, they have to pay to the direction of the Unit^ refident in America,, one-fixteenth part of their revenues, to contribute to the expenses of the miffiOharies employed by the Unity among the Indians of N^rth America, and a penfio#%'them when for perfconuated. Five othe# fiafttfinths pay the ii&efeH^f the fums borrowed ifo&ffehe purchafe of lands and improvements; finally, tihtb. Claries are to be paid, The fo^t^gf&unts to a gettifr&l college, which tranf- BY THE fJUKE DE LA UOCHEFOUCAULT t-IASfCOURT-. a&s the bufinefs.of the Unity, the neat foms remaining* after payment of all expences; and the college have the power of determining what part of it fhall be fent to them, in order to contribute to |ffee railing of a fund €& feventy-two thoufand dollars, which Ahe Unifcyifias granted to th$ three daughters of Count Zinzendorff, and of tebieh they pay; the infce^ reft, until they fhall be able to difefctf^e,the:principal to them or thek defcendants. ^Ktt a That partja6($ie revenues of the particular :&eieiies fent;!© the general -coliegei is alfo meant to contribute to the other general expences of the Unity.. The.college has pofsccr to call for what.portion of the revenue they think proper,;that they never demand above a fmall .part, beeaufe the particular focietJes have each of them debts, which it is necefiary for them to liquidate; befides, thefe focieties, and particularly {feat of Bethlehem, fettle in mortmain fome part of-their revenues every year. It likewife fometimes happens, that the revenues of the year are not equal tso the neceffary expenditure; in which cafe the intendant is authori&d by the committee to make a loan. A great part of the fum borrowed is lent by the brethren, 'who receive intereft generally at the rate of five per cerd£ aand are repaid their principal at any time upon fix months previous demand. The fociety's treafurer is therefore at the fame time the bank of the brethren, but. who may place their money otherwiafe at their pleafure. Sometime* the intendant borrows from ftrangers; in that cafe he is obliged to pay-the legal intereft of the ftate, which in Pennfylvania is fix per cent. Before going farther into this account of the efiabh^iment of Bethlehem, it may he neceffary to explain the natusBeaof the general college, the fynod, and the general directory of the Moravians, of which I have occafion to fpeak. - ftfek. "uTKri The fociety of the Moravians is an oligarchioafcospublic. Each of the eftablifhments in Europe and America names one or more deputies to the fynod, fuch deputy or deputies being elected by the brethren at large. The particular dire<S:ory of each fociety is alfo entitled to appoint one deputy,- The great expence-*'4JN$cavcUing, which »>i^lifrayed by the fo- &tf(fe 3 E 2 cieties 404 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, cie-tnes' who :fend the deputies, induces the directories of the American j focieties to delegate their powci^^ifehofe named by the brethren. The bifhbps are entitled, if they think proper, to attend the fynod, independent of the other deputies of the fociety to which they belong. In the fynod, when affembled, | is veiled the fovereignty. They alone have a"fi^htto alter the regulations, as wellij^itual as temporal; etfeey confirm or annul the appointment of the principal officers made .during their recefs ; and finally, they receive the accounts of all the general concerns, and decide thereon ultimately;—they are convened every feven years, and remain affembl@d for two or three months; they name a college,, compofed of thirteen members, who, during their recefs, manage the general affairs of the Unity, appoint the principal officers, direct the mif- fions, regulate the affairs, intereft, difcipline, &c. a|||^ta%i:ings of the college are held a league from Hernutt in Upper Lufatiaije their fiaafe^: tions continue during the recefs of the fynod.. Onithe meeting of the fynod tfa^repowerstfpeafe, and theysfif&t re-eftablifhed by.t&pjfynod at the end of their feffion, either from among the former members, or new ones are appointed, according to the cwill of the. fynod. J$ctf 9* As to the general directory of America, thehtfunctions aresgiKwatch over the interefts of the Unity in-J^brth America, and particularly to direct the miffions in that part of the world. Ittscompofed of two agents of the general college, fent to fuperintend the management of the property belonging to the Unity, fuch as certain farmsa©r< tra&s of> laaada in different parts of America, and particularlyithe^teen thoufand acres granted by tlmiUnited States, beyond the Ohio* on the Mufkingum, to the Moravian miffionaries. The bifhopsaof America, the preacher of Nazareth, and the minifler of Bethlehem, are. alfo.members.. The direc- . tory names to certain functions in the American congregational^ which i urgency requires tocbe filled up before -theageneral college can be con- fulted, as the intendant, tha^iH^i^ the minsters, &c. Except this* the directory has no authority as a body over the affairs of the focietatesjsL- which, as I have mentioned| abovey have each its directory and com* "mittee. The bifhop. ordains the bifhops,,. preachers, and priefts.; -thp^a • BY THE DUKE-DE LA R.DCHEFQUCAULT LFANCOURT, 405 laft may alfo be ordained by each other. The bifhops have very inconfiderable falaries, as may be judged from the bifhop of Bethlehem, Mr. EsfEttEiftf, a rnan of fourfcore, who hasaao-other domeftic fervant than his own daughter, and who I found baking cakes, which* <ke?fftl&' to increafe his* living. His falary is two hundred and thirty doliassj befides- being fupplied with wood and lodging. The higheft falaries paid by the .'Unity do not exceed three hundred dollars. . £$63 I have already mentioned, that the Bethlehem fociety is diiwided into-, five departments, each under the direction of an infpector or infpeetrefs ;:, s and in this office we find the temporal adminiftration of the fociety in- fome degree mixed with its difeipline. The unmarried brethren live together inMkrfeparate houfe, that is, they eat and fleep there, but they do- nofetwork there, if they can find work elfewhere. Molt of them are apprentices or journeymen in the fhops of the fociety, or to the artificers in the town. The money whichithey earn is their own, only they muft payufor their <board, and for keepa^iup the building where they lodge, as well as their portion of the tax impofed upon-that houferfor the public expences of the town. All thefe expences, including their cloathing> may amount at prefent to forfcysfive dollars, while their earnings marythye from a hundred to a hundred and ten. Thofe who, for want of workout of doors, are employed in the houfe, are paid for their labour- hy. the. infpector, who'employs them, the amount of their,.-.board, and their other contributions to the common expences being firft dedu<5led. Thus the brethren of this houfe coft the fociety nothing,. The fame is the cafe with regard to the unmarried filters, fome ofwhomage employed in the hou4gsj»of the town as fervants and cook^maidsa Thefe have their, board and lodging in the families where they are employed, and pay. to the houfe four or five dollars a year towards the common expences* This contribution preferves to them the right, of ente ring into that houfe when they pleafe The greater part of them, however, are employeil^. the houfe in fewing andembroidery.; they are paid for their work by the.;iufpe(tre%>3yho. felteaikis>r |he .benefit of the houfe. s^fhe profit of thefe works contributes to maintain thopoor, who are not numerous^.. 4©& fttttAYJgLS ■!»<*TOK?H AMERICA, The girls, from the price they receive for their work from the infpec- trefs, pay their board and their portion of the charges of the houfe, which amounts to the fame:fum aso^aispaid by the brethren. Thus this>ide-»- partmcrdbis no longer an expence Upon the fociety ; on the contraiy^iti relieves the.fociety from the maintenance of a great part, and often the whole of Ithe poor. The unmarried fitters tie their flat bonnets under their chin with a red ribbon; the married. women tie theirs, with a blue, and the widows theirs with a white ribbon. £l -. Itais not however eompulfory, upon either the young'.men or women, to refide in thefe common houfes; thete relations may take the lORtkfiet difpofal of them—keep them at home, or fend them to other fehools, as they think proper. The brethren of eafy fortunes, for example, feldom; fend their daughters to the fifters houfe; and there are alfo lifters at the houfe of Bethlehem who belong to Moravian families not refidentia/tiae? •town, and who often come from very diftant parts. As to the widows houfe, it is fupported by the fociety; and all the work they can do goes to the benefit of the houfe, when it is not fuffi-. cient t&defray their expences. There has, for about fifteen years, been inftituted among the Moravian brethren a fort of voluntary fociety in favour of widows, i^^lie members contribute each fifteen or twenty pounds, or from forty £& fifty dollars. *£kte*intereft of that fum4s fettled upon the widows of the contributors, and betters their UAg&Miey refide? in the widows houfe, or is pakfcitor them to -£^BIfe?&tir own fc^ufe^bt^|ftn^, if they live by themfelvek iflCfaii fociety is not confined to Bethlehem. The brethren of any of the efta- blifhments in America may become members ; and the capitalheing depofited at Bethlehem, the intereft is paid at the arefp&ftive places of-4S&-* dence of the widows of the contrife"a*ors. This fociety has alfo it&Jp&r- ticular regulations ; one, for example, by which a brother in a dangerous flate of health cannot be admitted to fubferibe. The fehools are under the direction of an infpector and infpectrefs. There is an academy for the reception of young ladies from other parts, ivho receive there the ufual education of females, even maijfife. The daughters BY THE DUKE DE LA ROeHEFOUCAtKLT~!JrANCOUR.T. 407 daughters of the brethren are likewife received there. This eftablifhment fupports itfelf in refpect to itsTprivate expence^. the keeping up the buildings, and the contribution to the'public charges. The board is forty-five dollars a year, and fix dollars more for fuch of them as are taught mufic. The .daughters of the fociety may be fent to this fchool, but their board muft be paid by their relations. The fociety pays fcaf the daughters of thofe who receive a falary from them, and alfo for the children of the poor. The daughters of the brethren not being boarders, the expence of their education is lefs. There are at this day ifo&y-fix of the boarders, who are flfraagefs; from different parts of tfitsfifeited States and the Antilles. This academy is in great reputation*, The govemeffes appear to me to be attentive* and fome of the fcholars have made confiderable profici&nsyain drawing, writing, and embroidery, and play tolev rably upon the piano. At the fame time, as the miftreffes are never chofen but from among the ftfterhood, and as: few of them have hade any iedueation other than-at this fchool, it is not to be expected that all of them can be always ^ofi&fncient abiliigHai A new building, added four ot five yearfe ago to the eftablifhment, has been erected, by means of a fum of money borrowed for that purpofe, the intereft oi*which is paidi byathe fchool. There is alfo^&tfSetfitehem, under the direction of the minifter, a fmall fchool for boys, /where they are 'taught merely to read and write, and the firft rules of arithmetic. The laft department, namely, that of th#'4S$fe$lt*6tti»a%id fifters, is wholly a department of difcipline. The married people befide in their own houfes, and tli£fi»fpe£lors and infpe&reffes have no concern with them, but to give advice when their conduct has been imprope^*iasi friends, as neighbours, and as divines. They have no farther influence (^/feperiaitendance of their anions or their concerns. The Moravian, is a religious foeifety. Religion, the- exact m&iafte&J nabce of the creeda of!^tl^^cfoiftrines, tli^:^^rfhip, and their manners- and cuftoms,- which they confider neceflary to the exact obfervance of that creed, and which, they -believe to be-alone prefcribed hy the gofpel^: %m rSAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, is the fole end of ..their regulations, their difcipline, and even their relations in point of temporal -intereft. With this religious intention-is eftabliilied theexact fuperintendance of the directory of the fociety over ,the conduct of its members, and the care not to allow ftrangers to fettle among them. They are in this refpect monks, but tolerant and mild monks, although feveral articles of their difcipline would be thought fevere, and even ridiculous, according to the received ideas in other countries. Eor example, there is no communication allowed between the young ■men and women. When a young man means to marry, he fignifies his wifh to the infpector, and mentions the girl he is defirous of making his wife,-but to whom he has never fpoken. The infpector applies to the infpectrefs of the girls, who, if fhe judges that the character of the young woman is not incompatible with the character given of the youth by the infpector, propofes it to her; the girl may refufe, but is not allowed to fay whom fhe would prefer. The parents are confulted; and the directory give their fan<5tion, or reject the propofal of the marriage thus far advanced, if they think that the youth will not be able, by his labour, to maintain his wife and children, or if they fee in it any other danger likely to accrue to the good order of the fociety;—but thefe refufals are rare. The regulation by which the man is not allowed to converfe with the woman before his having afked and obtained her in marriage, has, in the opinion of the Moravians, the advantage of preventing all kind of feduction, and confequently, fay they, all danger of improper conduct. Marriage is, according to them, a fpiritual<>nnion: the brethren and filters being filled with the Holy Spirit, live more cordially together; their union is more durable, than if it were founded on a choice of their hearts, which might deceive them. They even regard the affection which precedes marriage as a difpofition contrary to the fan<tity of marriage; and they carry this opinion fo far, that when it happens, which is not without examples, though they are extremely rare, that a brother and a fifter had privately a too intimate connection, thefe cannot afterwards be married together. The crime is kept private with the infpectors and the directory. BY THE DUKE SE LA ROCREFOUCAULT LIANCgUrT. AQg torya • ~ The;gM is 'reprimanded, but with mildnefs; kept /with the reft if fhefeem to repent; and married to another young- man, if afked by ahyeorie/t)ut never to her favourite, at leaft unlefs both of them renounce -the. fociety. jjffifTfi Wsti aa^Mairiage, takes place, not only between the youth of the fame fociety * bbtibetween thofe of different Moravian focieties. When a man or a woman wifhes to marry a perfon of another religion, they are not pre* vented^ ifidiey pedi&in their refolution, in fpite of the advice of ;^^p infpectors and the directory, it being the principle of the Mw^g^lgf ciety, never to compel.ajsy t^perfons to €j^®tinue in it againft their i&c£if nation ; but they are thanacg&fidered to beloi%&o longer to the fociety, and muft quit it. Examples of this fomeia^s happen, as the girls, whofe relatives live at a diftance, have permtftion to vifit their family, and occasionally meet young men whom they prefer to the Moravian brethren propofed to them by theiifi|ifpe<3:refles. The:^rls in thehoufe sof the filters are not jkept ihut up ; they have liberty to go out; but, as the fociety is fmall, the practice of watching them is fo univerfal, that all their actions are known; and the fpirit of (the religion in which they are educated; and kept, prevents them from ieveryiaft, however innocent, f^fekfe £he focj$$$; ,oonfi<fe*B{irregular-—as, -for example, to fpeak to a young man. This fpirit of watchfulnefs and of religion is alike extended to thofe of the fitters who are employed as domeftics in families, and are thus lefs under the immediate and con- ftant eye of the infpectrefs £and this fyftem ;e^eg5^ towards the young men and women of other religions, employed in the different eftablifh- ments of tiie fociety. iEhe fligHteit converfation-j$fith an unmarried woman is a ground to expel the offender from the precincts of the fociety; and as this rigid law is, Jtnown toifespgers before $£sy enter into -the fervice, it is very rarely infringed. The directors informed me, that this law to prevent all commerce between the unmarried of the two fexes, originated in the fervour of the young females, Hit the time of the reftoration of the fociety jin Vol.. H. 3F 1722 j 410 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, 1722 ; that they eftablifhed it among themfelves, and it thence became Ifflrftential article of difcipline of the fociety. The fociety, however, is defirous of encouraging marriage; and with juftice, if they wifh their perpetuity, as they would receive little addition from ftrangers, were they even willing to admit them, i But, as I have already faid, their grand^bject is to preferve ■ tUte* doctrines, their difci- pline, and their fundamental cuftoms, which prefent confiderable obftacles to marriage. A young man will not marry, who does not fee how he is to gain his bread, and maintain his family comfortably. He careailljF be an artizan ; and the number of thefe is circumfcribed in Bethlehem* as well as in all the other Moravian focieties. The beft fhoemaker, fbaMn or other perfon, cannot fet up in hks trade, while the very confined num*» her of artifans of the fame bufinefs is full. The fociety have a fufficieEit quantity of land in Wood to clear, which a number of young people would be difpofed to rei^ but fliltithey would not be fodmmediateBy, ^PS;\*vifhed, under the eye of the directoi§^ they might perhapsfcrelax in their religion, in-the feverity of manners exacted as the means =G^keeping ]iOTf^ and on thefe grounds the fociety have refufed them ; whence it follows, that ISairriages are by no means frequent, and that there are to be found in the houfe of£llStPiH$&rs, unmarried women as fax: advan^alriBa life as among the widows. Thus, notwithftanding the American fecundity, of which the married fillers have their fhare, the fociety diminifhes rather than increafes. iW^e Moravian brethren andR^ewreteeive no dowry from the focaeisy *e*Hrateeir marriage, but they erj^o^ the favings whichlti^^tsay have made in a flate of »cMtbacy. Befides? every brother may poffefs jSrbperty out of the pre$licts of the foeW&f. There is one of-them who has fpeculated largely in land, and isP^oprietor of feveral thoufand acres, not-{mikp- • in different parts, of Pennfylvania, but afe in the^tfeer ftates. How- *#$^#i^oc%«^ation of augm^Mng his forftine is cotofidered as<a kind of relaxation of principle, "*Mt is not contrary to any of ther ftatedsaof the --4b$ftl^%M4t$l&Ri£M0fm5 their fpirit;<1d|ey do not forbid it, butMto- imkiffl>i®t&'> not- RY THE nU&E DE LA ROCH-EEOUC-A-ULT- LIANCOURT. 411 not approved of by xjg^?^f3yfeg}& A Moravian brother has erected a woodegi bridge over the river Lehigh, built by a fubfcription, to which -a number of the other bj$i£hj8ej^fhave contributed. . I haye:already obferved, that ftangers may be received into the Mora- »$i^ii>^efeyaiisfcrethren: the condition of their admifiion is—that they ^hail-live for*,&me months under the ey& $£ the fociety, conformably to "iy^iffarit, doctrines, and principles; and finally, their confent to follow the rules ofthe fociety is declared by tj^gffi fignature. Every Moravian ferother alfo, upon his. marriage, o£ &tting up houfekeeping, muft fub- feribe to the ftatutes. One of their rules is, that they fhall not apply- to courts of law to fettle any difputes among them, whether of a «<3flf«ybor criminal- nature; the committee, which is the intendant's coun- cil, is the tribunal appointed to fettle their differences, by way of arbitration. Their judgment has no force, except as it is given by the confent of parties, who ftilj have it in their power to appeal to the courts of juf- tice of the country ; but their doing fo excludes them from the fociety. The difputes between the brethren and ftrangers are determined by the ordinary tribunals, without the %M$ti^fe.the fociety being thereby affected. It is^the fame with any difputes which the fociety itfel£ as a .iproprietor, may have with neighbours, merchants, or others. As to the practice of worfhip, it confifts in prayers and fermons twice a viraek, which;all the members of the fociety muft attend, unlefs they have very good reafons for abfence; and prayers every morning and evening, at which the young brethren and fitters affift, the two foxes being ieated in different fides of the church. ^&iiltie Moravian brethren and fitters are all Germans, or defcendants of Germans, and thus German is th^i common language at Bethlehem, many of the inhabitants not fpeaking any other. They have all a fin^gig, agreeable, and tranquil mein. The directors fay that they are very happy; but fo fay alfo the heads of convents in refpect of their monks and nuns. It would be neceflary to remain fome time with them to difcover the truth. Nothing fhews itfelf in their countenances, either of great-fatif- faction or diicontent; they are cold, flow, and want external expreffion. 3 F 2 The ikV% fi-Y^r- TRAVEL^1^MO&T» AlWfeERICA, * The Bethlehem- iW^^S independent of the others in refpeft to masters of intereft and property, as the others are of it; but all are und#r the fame fyftem, and all depend alike upon the general coftedg and the. fynod. When the college wifhes to make a new eftablifhment in America, they intruft it to the geneMfc'chreltory of tti&lMifty in America, who communicate the matted ^ the different focie®$$. - Thefe lend money for ^^undertaking, and propofe tos^ke brethren to go and become members ofWmnew eftablifhr^ent. Trt^ethren may refufe, bulvlCtiiy rarely do; arid on thefe occafionsii i&that marriages are moft numerous. An eftablifhment is at prefent propofed near the river Mufkingum, beyond thy-Qffr2£>>*; In this manner was fotf£ted?%&&-eftablifhment of Salem in North Carolina, in 1754, where the prefent bifhop of Bethlefe^a, then a frcfople minifter, told me he cut the firft tree; another near Lancafter, in Pennfylvania, and another^ twenty years ago, in the county of Suffex in^JSrfey, at Mount Hope. I here conclude this long defeail of the fociety of Bethleheflitel*! ovtfe my acknowledgments to the Bifhop, to the Intenckn^^^fefti^s^rsaio the poflmaft8f^%^rBfti of fenfe, and miM efleemed in the fotiiqty; and to Mr. Cunow, one of the members of the general directory df^tfete Unity in America, fent about a year ago from Europe' tf@&fill this office, after being a. member of the fynod, and for feven'$&&&:> fqcs&a&f -ttM&fea general college. He is an enlightetfedand fe^fifele man, and^n*i>#hofe converfation difcovers great fincerity and purity of hea$&ho NAZARETH, CHRISTIAN-BROWN, AND GtSfATJjENTHAL. Mr. Cunow wifhed t&$teftdu4l me tolNaiffiJifcli) ancffih&rMoravian fo- fSreip, fix miles diftant from Be^ehet^-J^fl^ch *^iiftablifhed fo late as 'i^^^ahd is peopled with about t^o hundred perfons/tkicluding the academy, where the brethren are ktfl^Ucted irj^tMsmetie^Mcs.w'iRg, tetxh fie, mathematics^ and tfel<'li^®ihL3Sfid Englifh languages. A icbnfider- able number o^^upils come fi^ftroth^partft jftaithis feminafy, which fcas fome reputation; but the matittW a^pearwfc© me ver^mdiflc^ntM^Wft fBfes *** ■ BY THE DU#B; »0B ;LA ROCHEPOUCA15Vll^WANCOURT. 4l£ in refpect of drawing, mufic, and French, which thfgf cannot fpeakj $nd which they appear to able only to read, but not t© pronounce. They j feem to be much inferior to the fillers academy at Bethlehem. Hence the ftrangers who come to ftudy J\efe$, are not from the United States, but moftly from the iflands crfftfefrhom^Sj^t^^^Xj ^d Antigua, where the Moja^an brethren have niiflionaries. Thefboarcl* including the ex- pence ojjeq|oathing, amounts to near tw$ hundred dollars a year. The ;^rerihren P&y for their children, and the different Moray&n focieties oil America pay for the young brsfchten whom they .fend, whin^eir pareafes cannot afford it, and for thofe whom the directory confider of diftirr- .guifhed talents. In other refpe&s the fyftem of the fodiefl|r- ©ii^fazareth is the fame as that of Bethlehem, and all the-others. Near Nazareth there" isf$£^fehe£. little Moravian ibck^t/i^oafifting'of .^ij^tjtjboufes. Independent of thefe, there are alfo a numberi©£n Moravians fp|^4ilfeS9l^1']^mong j^ejfnvirons of Bethfeh^iR>ffMfeftrd^afcareth, as well agfin other :f>arts of America; but thefeaaj|§.o|^|^^tft^^iwhat l^eyrcall the communion, and are not members of the focie&Jfej Nazareth is&tpated in a beautiful valley, of greater ex.t^l^aiii^hdtjoi* Beth- lehem, aiad more pleafant;. but the wfeLehigh and Mandkify-ereelL give to the appearance and fitH3£ion of Bethlehem an agreeable jiehnefs, . which is altogether wanting at Nazareth. Before arriving at this place, we paffed two farms, Chriftian-brown and Gnadenthal, belonging to the Moravian Unity, and thus out of the direction of the focieties of Bethlehem and Nazareth. They are under the fuperintendance of two directors appointed by the general .college, and of thefe Mr. Cunow, with wh$n|-J was,isiCBifii n Thefe farms comprehend two thoufand five hundred acres, of which only eight hundred and ten are cleared. They are very well fituated, and the lands excellent—they bear from twenty-five ^j&rfcjryive bufhels of coraytbe acre: thofe in meadow-j£?|d in proportion, and yefcitiiey do not bring the revenue a clear pro^t^^fi^^iKii^^caielse;! t^eak of the'laridsii^oafi^l The wantjof hands, and th^^ijfiat esspence of thofe that can berg©$4s made an excufe for this bad order of things, but it appears to me rather the %:l'4 »-'--T-RAVELS IN N0&TH AMER'ICA, the fruit of -ignorance -and ^negligence.- -Some-farms -are- let to teii8f&#, •who pay as reftt'One-half of their w^^/lalid one-third of their fummfcr ^produce ; and thefe briJUg more profit to th6%M$j|WP^ - Mr. Cunow appSSpid fenfible of the improprie^e^ftp1 -prefent bad ■management of t&fcfe farms, arid was employed in reforming it. - In commendingVv*#-ith him, the Zeal of thenM§ya?vkns to propagate the gofpel ana^g the In&l&ns, I fpoke to*llim of the benefit it would be to propagate in Aralrica a good method of'^efelture, which woultN^b eafy to themr*i$:the eftablifhment of their farms. They might employ fome Englifh Moravian farmers, and form in thei$#farms a fchool of ia|p[€Ulture, where a number of young American farmers might be in- ftrudted at once. Such an eftablifhment would undoubtedly, from the high price of labour, increafe their expences for fome yeaiSff but that in- ^afc^feni'anJce, which might probably be an invincible obftatte to an M$f^ , wktel> could not be fo to a fociety. It would foon be repaid an hundred :*fold by^ their produce, and the benefit which fuch an^fftablifhment would render to the county*1 would be an everlafting honour to this benevolent and beneficent focteft Mr. Cunow appeared to me not to be infen- flble ©Ji^kis idea, the realifation of whifili: would produce innumerable happy conferences to the I$i£ted Stafts^ftKte pff%f THE ROAD TO EASTONr-EASTON. The country from Bethlehem to Nazareth, and fro A Nazareth to Eafton, is a fucceffion of little hills and vallies more or lefs extenfive. -jfcfany.fl&uations on this road afford very agreeable profpects. The houfes i38&numerous, and have the air of comfoit^- The price of land in alfNfKIs tract is from twenty-four to forty-eight doila^rf&e acre. Eafton&s built on the conflux of the rivers Lehigh and Delaware.^^ is the capital of the county of Northampton, which^s twenty-fix ^5® il^bmhabitants. The land .wfeichjiil^filr^fl^^ the toti^is about^fSft? efeuji^red acresiina extent, lying coiAlP^^i^betweei^fcthe rite$^!f#*iSte mountains; it is noting but fand and pebbles, and the n^tetains v^Mi ySltefe furround £Y THE DUEE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAU^E^IANCOURT. 415 furround it are compofed of calcareous ftong^p The fituation of this ground, its compofition, and a comparifon of it with other lanjjs-around,, leave no doubt that it muft have formerly been the bed. of the rivers, which have changed their courfer This city, confifting of one hundred and fifty houfes, moftly of ftone, contains the public buildings of the county. The inhabitants are moftly Germans, or their defcendents. The city was begun to be built in l?5ij£and has grad$Gpily inereafed. Almoft the whole of the land,, as well as a great part oCt&e land in the neighbourhood, belonged to the family of Penm . At the time of the revolution, a great number of perfons .feized upon it uidajsr&illy; and it was not till 1794 that the Penn family were reftored to their right, upon a fettlement with^j^fpoffeffors, and received from them a price not equal to the prefent value, but confiderably irate* than it was wortj^alli the time of the ufurpation. Thofe who refufed were compelled by I Eaftorkhas a confiderable trade in cornj|$$ith Philadelphia. There belong to this, city, and ftand within feven miles round it, eleven good mills, upon the fame conftruction as thofe of Brandywine. They fend annually thirty-five thoufand barrels of flour to tJieiRjiladelphia market. Apart of Jerfey, in the neighbourhood of the Delaware,o*a*xd which enjoys no creek capable of turning mills, fend their corn to the mills about Eafton, as do-all the county of Northampton. The Delaware is navigable * for veffels of a confiderable burthen a hundred miles higher than Eafton. The veffels from. Eafton to PhiMdMplna canyi&ven hundred barrels of. flour. N^pL^grl The town lots, which ate. twenty feet in front and two hundred in < depth, are fold at from two hundred and forty)to: five hundred dollars, according to their fituation. The lands in theiiaeighbourhoad.are worth -4t3myfcwenty-five to an hundred dollars the acre,- This.4^ntry, like all the reft: of Pennfylvania, is covered.with^Sne orchards. Theyfeem to begin to know fonaalhmgofd^ of trees, and the advantage of grafting. The labourers are paiillkorn four to five fhillki^ j a, dayin the country about Eafton. Mafons and carpenters receive in* the •arRAVELB-'IN- NORTH A-MER-ICA, the town a dollar a-M a quarter. - Meat bafts-fife- pence a pomid> aadaa* in: great abundance. Boardv-g#!fe'j&$&$hree doUar^j^oweek, and houfes let at fbi%^!five dollars, $f THE ROAD TO BELVIDERE.—iBE'LVflDERE ^^e river Delaware* is teoughout the feqfendary between the ftate of Pennfylvania and that of New-*Jerfey. ItEsmarrow at Eafton, and there are now G©Hfe6^%*-wood to erect a bri^e over it, the abutments of which fei^i^Bif^d^^efia%eady built: lia&i it be ^pppfhed, the ( river is eroffed in a very g&©d"4fefeppboat. Being defirous of viewing the banks of this river, I went fo far out of my road to follow them. The road to Belvidere, which I took, is all along through the Scotch Mountains, and the little}^^sr^fepeli^|K-|?his' tract almoft uniformly border the river, l^ja^ft an agreeable fuccefffon of large vallies, from three^|%^|plr feven ^•^lailes in extent^ The country is filled with weflelsoilt houfes, pi^y ,<igi^ together. The lands are>©f a good quality, and in a ftate of high &$$tiyation; even fome of the declivities*^ the mouaata^afe.are cleared, ^a^-are very-gi^wlu^^s^i^rhe whole ^|J|ih^dad prefmts a fucceffion of rpto^eifts;. i&sfc extenfive, but ri&b and agreeably* aJnathree or four places ,-we*lofe intir^Jy4Jf^vdittdieihills which border .the Delaware, and enjoy a view towards Philadelphia, thfcough ..vallies K&Kih more extenfive, ftill 4$$&t^cuMvate^ and which istor- ~$^hs&e*$ %>*&e^Blue Mountains. Thefe profpe&sare rich, varied^fcjd delightful. The Pifquefi-creek, which empties itfelf into the Delaware at'Belvidere, is the only water ito be &fund in the tract from iMton, .^hieh is more than foaiteehiniiles, and the teem of all that diftri^iis carried to the Eafton mills. This creek, which has a courfe of thirty miles, is at Belvidere broad and rapid. Two fucceffive falls, of from fifteen to twenty feetiemh, ituin corn and ?6pw^Si8#^^||«^rh>riafe^i4d -j£helrtnomto^aiiade^yia, and.srcJ&ppli&'wxtfrlgrain in,tfeie<tt^hb©ur- hood, where it is produced in great quantities.' This traffic is carried on by the Delaware; but the navigation of that river, although it is open ' for BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHAP0UCAULT LlANC©Ul?r. 417 "fofs^SH hundred and fift^Mlriles higher, is rendered difficult and dangerous, from the very ftrong currents, and the number of rocks in feveral parts of it. There are two or three of thefe rapids between Belvidere and Eafton, two of them two miles from Belvidere, called the Little and Great Falls: at the latter, in three quaflftjrs of a mflb'Ofits courfe, the river has a fall of twenty-nine feet. The navigable canal is near the fhore of Philadelphia, and is not above fix toifes or fathoms broad. Beyond that the river is full of rocks, a very little depth under water, and fometimes appearing above its furface. I was informed, that notwithftanding the rapidity of this current, which carries veffels at the rate of a mile in two minutes, and the number of rocks in its Courfe, the boats are in no danger when the boatmen are attentive; but it often happens that they are not fo, but get drunk, which produces frequent accidents; for if the boat be allowed to go the httA&o one fide, and be not kept earefuiy&iir-the ftream, it is inevitably driven either agiinft the rocks or the bank. The rrfin^; and falling of the waters?increafe the danger; and befides this, the ice uniformly flops the navigation during the winter: it is often impracticable in the fpring, and even to the middle of fummer. The navigation from Belvidere to Philadelphia is made in twenty- four hours, and it takes five or fix days to go up the river from Philadelphia to Belvidere. Hence a hundred-weight, which cofts only the fifth of a dollar to be carried to Philadelphia, cofts t&ree quarter dollars to be fent to Belvidere. The fame applies to the whole navigation of the Delaware, with the difference of the freight, according to their diftance. The batteaux, which come down from Belvidere, carry fevonty barrels of flour. By thefe the ftores at Belvidere are fupplied with dry goods and liquors from Philadelphia, with which they, in their turn, fupply that part of the country which furnifhes the corn to the4HHls. The price of goods at Behridere is about tfeirty per cent, higher than at Philadelphia. There are at prefefi#Hwo ftores at Belvidere, which are faid to be in a prosperous fituation. Belvidere confiflSSHf about twenty houfes, but the number of inhabitants is annually increafing^ and the neighbourhood is very populous. It Vol. II. 3 G is 418 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, is one of the pleafanteft fituations which I have hitherto feen in America. The view is not ver^. extenfive, but it embraces a great number of gentle elevations ;on both fides of the river, and filled: with houfes. It follows the Delaware for two miles and to the head of the Great Falls, and is bounded, at the diftance of three or four miles, by the chain of the Scotch mountains, along the fide of which the road runs towards Eafton. The lands in the neighbourhood of Belvidere are fold at from forty to forty- eight, dollars the acre. The town-lots, which are a quarter of an acre, bring at prefent from a hundred to a hundred and twenty-five dollars. The lands fome m^Qs-farther are fold for from thix4grit& thirty-five dollars the acre, and thofe in Pennfylvania at the fame diftance are always three or four dollars dearer, although not of better quality than thofe in Jerfey. This proceeds from the fuperior excellence of the Pennfylvania laws, the more flourifhing ftate of the finances, which requires lefs taxes than in Jerfey for the expences of government; and, finally, from the dependence of that^^arfcs&the ftate of Jerfey upon Philadelphia for its fales and Thefe motives, ho#f ever, do not appear fufficient to" occafion fo great a difference of price between lands c&Ahe fame qua!itpf*and;in the fame fituation. This difference however does exift, and the Pennfylvania fide is by far the more populous. Although negro flavery be countenanced by theisms of Jegfey, the number of flaves is not there fo confiderable as to prevent the neceffity of the labour of whites. Labourers are fcarce &!tfa£ free negroe#l$ho hire themfelyes out, receive, $fc&other labourers, half a dollar a day and their board. . Jfeffijjl I- had a letter from Mr. Drayton, fpeaker of the Houfe of Reprefentatives of Congrefs, to Major H.o»E, one of the inhabitants of Belvidere. He was formerly proprietor of alt ^e land on whixih the town is a^e^tniilt, and of fourteen or fifteen hundred acresJaEQuiid it, which he purchafed thirty years ago, for four dollars an acre. At that time fLvsaq in a defefcl ftate. He has retained only three -hundred aer#s0fti8yWkabh is bfjilfc a pre^^jPfbnfe yery fmall houfe that he dgsGupies. He received me I with BY THE UpKE BE LA R0CHEFOUCAULT LIANCOUBT. •with that cordial poiitenefs and fimplicity which I have found all through America, and would; have had me flay with him a week, affuring me that it would put him to no trouble or inconvenienCe. j I departed however after having paffed half a day with him. This country, as Well as all the way I travelled from Philadelphia, is full of little birds of the fize and kind of a blacktop fliey are black, but their head is of the moft brilliant plumage. They fly from branch to brangfcl^ and on the ihclofiftes round the fields, and do not feem to be frightened at the approach of travellers. The moft common trees in the woods are the cephalantus* the black and white walnut, the Canada beech, the funiach,. the rhus toxicodendron, the laurel, thehenjamin and the faffafras. HACKETSTOWN. A fucceflion of hills, preceding the chain of the ScoijCfa<mountain^ leads to Hacketftown, where I flept the 25th of June. We meet then conftantly mountains and defcents through a very rocky country ; although, fometimes, th& road runs for; a mile or two through valleys* This road prefents nothing agreeable to the view. Except thefe firft hills neareft the Delaware, all the reft is thinly inhabited, and of courfe poorly cultivated. The houfes are rudely built of trunks of trees, and have a miferable appearance. Occafionally we mefetj?rkh buildings fomewhat better, but thefe are few. We fee alfo meadows of confiderable extent. This indeed is the moft ufual kind of agriculture in thefe mountains ; where, however, we find alfo fome rye, corn, and maize, which is little cultivated on the Jerfey fide of the banks of the Delaware. Apple orchards are likewife very common. Five miles from Belvidere is Oxford-forge, fo c^Ued from the name of the townfhip in which it is fiteated. This work had been given up for fome years, and was lately renewed by Mr. Roberdeau, and Mr. Campbell, with whom I dined at the houfe of Major Hope : it is not yet carried on wijfe-Spirit. -Five mUcj&?|arther is Mintfmilfe& 3 G 2 called 420 TRAVELS fS^SORTH AMERICA, called from the name'of the proprietor. The river is croffed b^the bank ogfitfee^mill, which is very narrow, and a foot deep of water when the mill is not going : the water then falls about twelve feet, and is twenty fathoms wide. AiMttle canoe, which was lying by the bank, frightened my horfe, who, to fave himfelf, leaped into the canoe, which he ovefifet>a but, although I run a great rifk, he carried me out fafely, and better than he would have been able to do from the cafcade into which we muft have fallen, but for this ridiculous leap. This is the fame Creek Pif- queffi which I paffed before on a bridge four miles higher. The lands are indifferent in all this tract; they fell for fix or feven dollars an acre. The generality of the inhabitants are Germans or fons of Germans; there are alfo a number of Irifh, and people from New England. Hack- etftown is a long paltry village, thinly and badly inhabited. lilies half a mile from the Scotch mountains, which are called Cooly, or the Muf- kinigunk Mountains. The water is bracMifh and very bad. Feverd arjQrl alfo frequent here in autumn, which is the cafe in all parts of Jerfey; particuMy. thofe to the north and the middle of the ftate«N#fThe lands at a^d^t>e^^Hacketftown %M fold at from fix to nine dollars an acre, and are generally kept in meadow. The produce which is not confumed in the country, and all the articles of iron manufactured at the forge, are carried to New York, or rather to Elizabeth town, from whence they^tm! fhipped for New York. 'IfSPour thoufand pounds of hay is the general produce of an acre, and eighteen or twen^biifhels of rye, or Indian corn;. in the lands under that cultural Labourers are found rather eafier this year than in the two preceding ones, trade being lefs quick at New York. They are paid at Hacketftown three quartern-dollars a day, if they board themfelves, or the half of that furrWifch the&ttfaird. The country abounds in iron mines, which are faid to- be very rich, and are found at a very fmall depth. Three miles from Hacketftown there is a fpring of ferruginous mineral water, pretty much frequented in fummer, an#nt would be flili more^flfa if better fitted up, but the fp*&||£ is fcarcely covered. An old cafk, ftanH- £^£?i£*f&8topen- afe^Ilfid covered nfcitha a bunch of willows, is the common mi BY THE DUKE DE LA BOCHEF0UCAULT LIANCOURT. 4^J^ mon bathing place£<^i*wis no other : and as there^is no houfe built at the^place, thofe who co6#ll to drink the waters are obliged to lodge in the iteigh%#iMng farm-houfes>, and if they wifh to drink wine they muft carry itfSWith them. The property of the ground tnfjvtfhich the fpring is fituated being under difpute between two perfons, there is no faying when this place, which would produce great profits to one that-j^lQsjiSKt. arrange it conveniently, will recerls£.any melioration. ^^. About two miles before reaching Hacketftown, at the foot of a mountain which I afcended on foot, I perceived in the wood, fixty or feventy feet from the road, fomething of co»fiderable fize, the form of which I could not diftinguifh, hut it feemed to hang on a tree : this was towards evening. I went up to it, and it appeared to be a dead af&mal, but having touched itwith my whip, it leaped to the ground; it went flowly into the wood, emitting a foetid fmell. It was an opoffum, of which I had feen a great many at Philadelphia, but had not before fouit«|athem in the woods. This one muft ha^e been a foot and an half long, inclufiuigxi the tail, which was about half a foot. The tail, is flat and covered with a kind of rough fcales, which enables it to fufpend itfelf from the trees. They are very common in Jerfey, Pennfylvania, and Maryland. The remarkable peculiarity of this animal is a kind of bag, which the females have under thei* belly, where they keep their young from the time they are brought forth, and wThere they remain till they are able to run. Thefe amma4i&#&on fruit, flefh, and on birds, when they can catch them. There are alfo in Jerfey rate .and racoons. The fkin of the racoon fejj^at Philadelphia for two or three fhillings. The hatters mix the hair of it with beaver and rabbits hair to make hats. Some perfons confid^R racoon, a delicate morfel; to me it was execrable, although I ate it more readily than 1 did young bear/which I found excellent. THE ROAD TO MORRISTOWN.—REYNHARD, In traveihrtg from Hacketftown we crofs fcbe Creek. Muflanigunb,, which falls into the Delawaraefive. or fix miles below,: and thefe are the: laft: rRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, laft waters that take this courfe; the Scotch, Goofyg or Muifej.i^g^ak mountains, thtohvifigathem the other way. This eh#in -of mountains, as I have already mentioned, is a continuation of the Lehigh mountains. The creeks beyond them^run either into the Bay of New York or the North River ; but thofe only that are in the northern part of the ftate take this courfe. Thefe mountains are not very high,- but are the higheft in Jerfey. They are about a mile broad:. I The lands are very ind^ef- ent and thinly inhabited ; and the few -M$*foabitants are talking 3^*$^^ grating towards the. w-eftern territory-, or to Teneffee. Great part of them are Germans.. At the foot of thefe mountains we crofs 'one of the fources of the Rariton, a river by which is carried on the navigation between Brunfwick and New York. Here we quitted the county of Suffex, which contains nineteen thoufand free inhabitant^. and a hundred and fifty flaves. My horfe was fo hurttjgjrjih the faddle that I was obliged to flop at the firft taigarn' I found. I happily fell upon the houfe of one of the worthieft and moft obliging men living, Reynh^i, of Gerrn^t ejBfcradfcio^y- who took charge of my horfe till |i^$iould be healed, which «*jght take a fortnight, and who lent me one to go to Morriftown, where I could find the means of getting to New York. He is proprietor of a . farm of three hundred and forty acres, for which he paid, two years ago, five dollafrsatt acre, being the commbngifioe in the country. The ftate of culture and the prices are prettyrteuch the fame as on thetaO|her fide of the mountains ; the lands are howevaerijbetter. I-QEhey hayei|fg>wn no corn fince four or five years ago, when the Heflian fly deflroyed two fuc- ceffive crops. Theyiparopofe to recommence that culture next year,, thefe flies appearing to have quitted Jerfey. The townfhip where Mr. Rfypfr hard's tavernifesfituated is called Flanders. It is in a great meajmegfaQr pled with Irifh, or emigrants from New'iJSh^land. There are two churches in the neighbourhood, one of Methodifts, and the other Prefbyterians. In Jerfey, as well as Pennfylvania, the expence of worfhip is defrayed -by vohintary fubfcrijftion. Ni&perfon pays who dbe&^&fc elujjSWa^i ^pere are many who contribute nothing. 4$fK Mr. ■ BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEPOUCAULT LlANCOURT. 423 | Mr. Reynhard alfo keeps a ftore. The price of carriage from his houfe to ElizabeditoiiSTi, thirty-two miles diftance, is three dollars and {tn#!e quarters die thoufand weight. -The price of ftores is here five and twenty per cent dearer than at New York; but a perfon muft be both -fkilful and fortunate to clear half the profit of what fo high a price feems to pro- mife. ; The greateft fale is of liquors, and the number of neighbours who come to drink without paying is confiderably greater than of thofe who do pay. It is, therefore, neceffary to follow the practice of courts ; the one half of the money of thofe wTho pay remains here, as elfewhere, in the hands of juftice. A ftore-keeper, who fhould refufe to give credit; would here fell nothing : fo at leaft I was told by the worthy Reynhard. Other<artifclesipay bett&^&ut do not make a quick return. Althou^ft-fBe legal CuTRfricy of the flate of Jerfe^iS the fame with that of PenHf^ vania, namely, feven fhillings and fixpence the dollar, the great traffic H*i«h*New York makes the NeW^York currency (eight fhillings the dollar) moreaCommolPtti tlMtypaMOf Jerfey, wtiere this commerce is carried on ; and in that currency they mafe? their markets and "ftate their accounts. THKROAD FROM REYNHARD'S TJ3SBRN TO MORRISTOW&— MORRISTOWN,b n.&diwM^m The country";-after leaving Flanders, is:every where mountainous; they become R^wer andJoWer as we proceed, but we do not entirely lofe them till within a-few miles of Morriftowriv: Ait this way the houfes are ve#j*fkidMerent, and ver^-thinly fcattered. The lands feem to be fomewhat better. The moft' common crops'are"graft, rye, and Indian corn, ^hifc-bread ufed in this part of Jerfey is moftiytF^ as bread of Irani}! corn is mefi common in New England. - ' '*~ Mbmftown, the capital of Morris county, which we enter on crofting a branch of the Rariton, is a pretty village, confifting of a hundred feoufesy difpeffed over the hillocks-around. Here is the" *dotift" of jiiftice^ a-Prefbyterian church, and the great fquare laid Out. for the" Centre of the town,, but which can never be regular from, the'fituation of'the grounds. Befides, 424 V TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, Befides the Prefbyterian church, which is tolerably handfome, there is another belonging to the Anabaptifts, and an academy, well built and refpectably conducted; The fcholars fent away from this are fit for the fecond clafs in the college of Princetown. All the houfes in Morriftown are of wood, neat and well painted. The town-lots coft from eighty to a hundred and twenty dollars. Here, as in all this part of Jerfey, moft of the ground is in grafs and Indian- corn. They rear a good many cattle, which they fend to Philadelphia and New York. The fear of the Heffian fly has prevented the farmers here from returning the culture of corn; fome of them, however, mean to attempt it next year. There is at Morriftown a fmall " Society for the encouragement of Agriculture and ufeful Arts.'VatFrom what loould learn of fome of the moft zealous of its members, ^^^a«only the title-** it does nothing: the fubfcription of the member&itfurnifhes a library, which at prefent confifts of no more than two hundred volumes, and in which, according to the fenfible inftitution of the founders, there are to be no books either of law or divinity. CHATHAM AND NEWARK. Chatham, lying eight miles from Morriftown, is the firft village we find on the New York road. Here the plain commences, and afterwards the ground becomes uneven as far as Newark.a^he agriculture and vCnt for the produce, all the way to Newark, is nearly the fame as at Morriftown. The country is ftill -more covered with orchards of apples, cherries, and peaches. They complain in Jerfey of a fmall worm, whichj4#r finuates itfelf into the roots of the peach trees, and kills the tree in a year or two after it has attacked it. They have not been able to difcover either the caufe of this worm, or a method to deftroy it. Peach-brandy is neverthelefs nearly as confiderable an article of commerce in Jerfey as cyder-brandy. The inhabitants of Jerfey, beft informed upon that fubject, told me, that thfe^export more of thefe two kinds of brandy than they export of rum, wine-brandy, gin, and wine. Their export muft therefore be great, BY THE DUKE DE LA EOCH:£i-'OUeAULir LiANCOURT. asatheaeoiifumptidn of foreign fpirks- is not f4Hfe« 'confiderable in Jerfey ithaii'aelfewhere. a: The fed fruit, - of which there are feveral kinds unknown iri Europe., abounds iri the county of Effex; bounded by the - river Paffaik, a mile from Chatham, which contains feventeen thoufand free inhabitants, and ."thirteen -hundred flaves. Lands fell-at; Chatham, and at Springfield (four miles beyond Newark), at from thirty, to forty-five dollars the acre. The foil is good ; the -houfes increafe- in nuro&#£\and become better as wc approach Newark/ which is itfelf one of the fineft Villages in America, in point of extent* plan, the great number of good -houfes,-; and the wideriefs-ef the ftreets, which-are-covered -generally with "turf, arid planted with trees. The people of Jerfey feem to be'very-much divided in thJ&giolftfcal .opinions. N© body, or at leaft very few, now fpeaks of George? Wafh-1- ■ington. The new Prefident feems 4iOT«tp^infpire the fame confM^nd&fe's his predeeeffor did. Tft&p dread aJWa%«H^6**fi*ance. They corn«»#^ afk any traveller coming from Philadelphia whom they meet, and who appears to be a Frenchman, whether they are to have a war with France; and, ifo&Kqueftion is generally accompanied ^ff^^wlent marks of dif- Ipprobatiori of the party which- is thought to incline to that war. I '•lirieerelyhope no fuch event will take place. It wTould be a great mif- fortune to this countryyi'Jtfhere the people • are virtuous, tranquil, and happy, and which will require yet a long duration of the bleflings of •fseaee to confirm its profperity, to cement its union, to fweeten the ill blood of parties, and to infure its -real independence. It Would alfo be'a ferious misfortune to France,'while it wduld occafioii ■ great joy to England,--and would give pleafure to all the enemies of liberty and free con^ ffitutioris. • "> A*$£®H HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE STATE OF JERSEY. The firft eftabliihments made in New -Jerfey were by the Dutkhy fhortly after their arrival at'the5 north"'river) under the conduct of Admi* tairH-UDSoxa The fettlements- were made along the river - Wtlcgmtikf Vol. II. 3H and 426 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, and were abandoned by the fame Dutchmen in irjl4. They were, in 162Q, taken poffeffion of by the Swedes, who, advifed by William TIseling, a rich merchant of that Jringdom, of the beauty and fertility of the lands, formed a ^company. King Gustavus Adolphus, the nobility and clergy, and a number of individuals in Sweden, furnifhed money to the company, who fent to North America, in feven or eight veffels, a confiderable number of Swedifh and Finlander colonifts. They -arrived at Cape Henlepon in 1O26, and the company's agents purchafed from the Indians all the lands fituated between that cape, at the mouth of the Delaware, and the falls of that river, lying under the forty-firft degree of latitude. The colony there formed fettlements, built forts along the river, and called the country New Sweden; but were intirely difpoffeffed and driven off in 1655, by the Dutch, who fent to Holland all the agents, officers, and principal Swedifh inhabitants, as prifoners of war; put the country under the Dutch government, and gave it the name of New Albi©n. The Dutch were themfelves expelled by the Englifh, in the reign of Charles the Second; and this territory was, in 1672, granted by the king to his brother the Duke of York. It was foon after fold by him to Lord Berkley and Sir George Carteret, who gave it the name of New Jerfey, and eftablifhed at^izabethtown the feat of government of the colony. The colony of New Jerfey made part of the province of New York till 1O8O, when the proprietors eftablifhed it as a feparate province. A confiderable number of-Quakers from London and York came here to fettle, and laid the foundation of the little town of Burlington, having purchafed the territory from the Indians. That on the eaft fide of the Delaware was purchafed by William Penn, who was one of the company known under the name of The Twelve Proprietors, and is the diftrict which afterwards formed the ftate of Delaware. The quarrels which took place between the proprietors of New Jerfey. and the inhabitants, from the avidity of the former, determined both pa$$ej« to put the government of the colony under the fovereignty of the crown of England, It was then united to the government of New York, and SB&r continued BY THE DUKE DE LA RGCHEPOUCiyULT EIAVCOUPar. ATJ- continued'fo till 1736, when its population having -greatly me'feaiedreit was once more erected into a feparate ftate. In ly-/6, 'New' Jerfey formed its new conftitution, which it has retained without any altera- tion fince that period. THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF NEW JERSEY. The legiflature is compofed of a general affembly and a legiflative' etehaifbil. Each county, of which there are in New Jerfey thirteen, names three members of the general aflembly, and one of the legiflative council. - The qualifications to be a member of the general affembly are—a refidence in the county for at leaft a year, and a property of five hundred poumS^d^fcSrteen hundred and thirty-three dollars and one-third. &> Tfee qualifications of a member of the legiflative body are—a fimilar refidence, and a property, real or perfonal, of one thoufand pounds. The qualifications of an elector are—to be twenty-one years of age, to be refident for a year in the county, and to poffefs a fortune of fifty pounds. The legiflative council, as well as the affembly, can propofe and modify any laws, except thofe relative to the finances, which they have the power merely of confirming or rejecting. The governor is elected by the legiflature; and the conftitution pre- fcribes no qualification of age, fortune, or any other, for that office^r^ft fimply fays, that #fe legiflature fhall elect a proper perfon to fill it. The duration of fh#f&$Srions of the two houfes of the legiflature, and d#the governor, is one year. The fame perfon may be elected governor as often as the legiflature chufes to appetnt him. The legiflative courtCSPis the governor's executive council; three members form a fufficient rifembe^R) exercife with him the executive functions. The ■governor unites the functions of prefident of the ex-' &&S$tve council, chancellor, and commander of the forcesrne can, with* the-advice of the executive ^council, grant pardons, even of high treafori.' 3H2 .-The 436* TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, The council is alfo a court of appeal from the deeifions of the courts, of law; but the council muft, in this cafe, confift of at leaft fevemmembers* with the governor. The nomination of the judges, the fuperior officers of the militia, the juftices of the peace, the attorney-general, and the fecretary of ftate, is made by the council. All other officers are elected by the counties- except the officers of militia, who are chofen by their companies! The judiciary ftate confifts of a fupreme court, a court of common pleas, and juftices of the peace. The judges of the fupreme court are chofen for feven years'; the others for five; and they may be re-elected. An impeachment againft them is made by the legiflature, and judged by the council. Uncontrouled liberty of confeience is granted by the conftitution; which even declares, that no tax can be impofed for fupporting.. public worfhip, repairing churches, &c. The conftitution .gives the accufed the fame privilege of producing teftimony in his favour, as is allowed to the accufer againft him. .. The conftitution declares, that the property of filicides is not forfeited to the ftate, but ought to pafs to their heirs, as in cafes of natural death ; nor does the inftrument by which the death was inflicted become, as in England, the property of the ftate. In general it confirms the Englifh: laws, where they are not revoked. Full liberty of bequeathing is given; and in refpect of wills there is no alteration of the Englifh law,' except the addition- of fome fimple form?* required to conftitute their validity. The property of perfons dying inteftate is divided into three parts; one-third to the widow, and the other two divided equally among the Children, or their reprefentatives;—in default of chjyyteen, the widow e»b joys one half, and the other half is diftributed among the neareft relations, if a perfon die inteftate after the death of hi^father, and leave no widow or child, his fortune is divided equally between his. brothers, his filters, and his mother. According to a Jaw of J#£2, marriages may be performed by a mini-; :allp ftcr BY TttE DUKE DS LA ROOHEPO¥C IdWANCOURT. 429 fter of "the church, or by a juftice - of'-peaee3 ■ iixathe: option of the parties.- The marriage iriftrumentniuit be fen£ to the fecretary of the^ County, and registered in a book,;which is evidence in the courts.-re^ 1B Divorces, which formerly were granted by the legiflature, are now pronounced by the court of chancery, in virtue' of a law of 1701. They are granted in cafes of adultery-—-repeated bad treatment—defertion for fevCn years—-and alfo in cafes where the marriage has been contracted between perfons- within the degrees.of propinquity prohibited by the laws of the ftate. 1 ' — - - Every imprifoned debtor may,why a law paffed in I79S, be fet at liberty by the court of common pleas, upoti hisfurrendering all his property, according to a declaration made by him before that court, except fome very trifling furniture for him and his wife. If his .declaration be proved falfe, he is puniflied with the pains of perjury. If, after his fentence of liberation, it can be proved, that in his declaration he has concealed; any part of his, effects, fuch effects are to be made, over to his creditors, befides his being punifhed. But the property which he may acquire after his difcharge is riot .fubject to be claimed by his* creditors. - By the criminal code, reviled in ] 796, the punifhment of death is j®fp& fined to perfons convicted of hightreafon, premeditated :mnrder, and attempts to frefcue from prifon thofe accufed of capital crimes "* All other crimes are ponifhed by greater or lefs finev and ai longer or fhorter efolkary cor^mement. It aisJi&.Jegiflation o&$Pqri£f|d.¥ania a little foftened. Aa>te#; of the laft ^fion has directed the erection of a prifon, on the model of that of Philadelphia, where, ffmilar works are to be eftablifhed. The negro flaves are fubject to the fame laws, andvtried before the fame tribunals. The courts may order them-jfoibe whippefk>i»ffcead of being imprifoned.- The pain of death is- riot inflicted: on a mafter fortfie murder of his flave; but' in that cafe^or where he woundshiji&|8¥©felyJ2fa&*i£) puniftied by fine and imprifonment. ThereistoiiOireflricliwIwpfcn,flavery. in the. ftate of Jerfey, nor is there? any dayr"yet made to put an end^fcjy^, but a law of 1/88 directs, that all flaves under the age of twentyione 430 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, years be taught to read, charges their mafters with this duty, illif*je6tirig them, in cafe of neglecting/it, to a fine of twelve dollars and a third. The introduction into the ftate of other flaves is forbidden, by a claufe in the fame law. The highways are repaired in this ftate by the labour of the inhabitants, but may, in theitf^Opiioli, be converted into money. The ftage coaches belonging to Philadelphia and New York, are Abject to a duty to the ftate of Jerfey, for the repairs of the roads through which they pafs. The poor-laws are the fame as in moft of the other ftates. Poor- houfes are eftablifhed in feveral counties, and relief is alfo given to paupers at their houfes, under the direction of infpectors of the poor. The law for the obfentece of Sunday is here equally ftrict as in New J^ngJand. Every inhabitant has a right to arreft a traveller who is going any where but to a place of worfhip, and carry him before the officersfiHi. juftice. The ftage coaches are not to travel upon a Sunday, under pain of being feized; but this law, although of a recent date, is only executed in the other ftates where it is promulgated. They travel through Jerfey on Sunday, in the fame manner as on other days; and even tfepublic ftages, which do not travel during the morning fervice, are not interrupted du- rifcg^the reft of the day, more than if this prohibitory law did not exift. The fame is the cafe in refpect to the laws againft gaming and drunken- nefs. Laftly, there has been paffed, in the beginning of this year, an act againft horfe-racing; whieh" in all probability will be put in execution no more than the other two, as it would clafti too much with the habits of the people; and becaufe, were the public officers even to be moft ftri<5tly watchful, there would be fo many ways to evade their vigilance. Wifi men never then leave off making impracticable laws, or allowing laws not executed to be in force ! Governments do not fikfe- ciently confider^i&at >there cannot be a more certain way of deftroying the^ morals of a people ; for the firft point of morality, efpecially among a a free people, is an entire obedienceto the law, and to all the laws. The ftate of\ Jerfey encourages thofe works which have for their ob- HM& He m BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. ject the facilitating communication by inland navigation and bridges, and alfo for the erection of the college ; and foisthefe they allow lotteries, -y^g^b are ©thprwife pro&feited in the ftate. Every inhabitant who pur- chafes a ticket in a lottery not fanctioned by a law of the ftate, and even in the lotteries of other ftates, may be carried before the magifirates, and puniflied by a fine. A law of New Jerfey, paffed in 3 7Q4, authorifes. any fomagner, belongr ing to a power at peace with the United States, to acquire and poftefs property in the ftate; as if he were a citizen. This privilege ceafes at the end of 17QQ, but it will undoubtedly be renewed.. The laws of the ftate impofe taxes on lands cultivated and unculti1- vated; houfes, and the lots on which they are built, not. exceeding ten acres; forges, furnaces, mills of every kind, tan-works, paflage-boats, fhips, fifheries, horfes, and cattle; and laftly, merchants .keeping fhops, and batchelors, either keeping, horfes and flaves or not. Carriages of every kind were alfo taxed before the beginning of the prefent year, when a law was made to abolifh that duty. All thefe objects of taxation are valued from time to time at a celaftai*!1 rate by the legiflature; the lands by a fcale of degree according to their fertility and fituation. The valuation is every whjpfc low. An affeffor, appointed annually by each townfhip, demands of $v#W inhabitant a declaration of his taxable property, and makes up a ftatement of it. Any perfon refufing to give fiich declaration, or giving^ »i falfe one, may be charged by the affeffor double what he efliiaates may be the tax of the perfon refu^g,^ Horfes and cattle are taxed at the fame rate thr^ghput all the fte$®4 The taxes upon licences, flaves, &c. never vary, and are called fpecific taxes. |M On a day appointed, all the afleffors for the county msset, and bring Ta^jghthem the ftatemej^gfcshe taxable property of thdr f&rteafc to^n^ fhips. The amount of the fpecific taxeaipayable jgufche couHt^ is then calculating;and the difference between thefe and thtofiim reqt%ed: from tfcg^unty is affefled jf*©n the djf&itat^wnfhips, according to the opinion 1W TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, a opinion of the' majority- of the affeffors? The detailed ftatement of thefe affeffments, figned by each affeffor, is trarifmitted to the collector for the county. Ipjpp Each affeffor theu*ijf^%> the collector of the townfhip a ftate of the .fums he is to collect. A fimilar lift is fentto the ^collector foriiirlounty, to be by him laid before the legiflature. Three proprietors, named by the general alterably of each townmip, are the judges of appeal to whom the "perfons taxed have a right1 to apply. If the collector do not receive the tax in the courfe of a month after demanding iwf^he makes a complaint to a juftice of the '^er^epwho grants a warrant to fell the defaulter's goods, to the amount of the tax and charges^ The collector for the townfhip pays the amount of the money received by him into the collector for the county, who pays into the treafurer of the ftate the amount of the money received from all the collectors of townfhips in the county. The law has provided againft the negligence and difhonefty of the collectors, by making the townfhips and counties who cnufe them, refpon- fible for the mOnies received by them. The affeffors receive for their trouble one ana mree»quan:ers per cent of the fums they affefs: the collectors folfTOwlmiip^liave the^fiame allowance. This three and a half per cent isMfmelh wnff taxes of the townfhip. The commiffioners of appeal are paid a dollar for e¥ery day they are employed. The collectors for the counties receive a penny in the pomrn,:or th© two hundred and fortieth part of the fums they pay. into the treafury of the ftate, and fix-p'ence a mile for travelling expences. They are paid by the treafurer. The taxable articles, according to the ld\^aluation of the particulars by the legiflature, amounted, in 1794, to tjmree^miuions four hundred and fourteen thoufand eight hundred a'nu Eighty two dollars. The taxes arc paid regularly and promptly in the ftate of Jerfey. The expence of government amounts yearly to" about twenty-feven' I^P., thoufand BY THE DUKE DE LA ROOHEPOUCAULT LIANCOTJRT. 433 4 tlibufand dollars. - In. ] 796 thetftate ftill owed one hundred and twenty thoufand dollars, but from the additional taxes and fome other refources, this debt will probably be entirely extinguished in four years. According to a ftatement of the balance of the debts bet-ween the different ftates by the commiflioners of Congrefs, the-State of. New Jerfey is a creditor to the Union;in forty-nine thoufand .dollars. The articles on - which the county taxes" are raifed are. the fame as for. the ftate taxes. M§^ POPULATION AND INSTRUCTION. The population of the State of New Jerfey was* -according to an enu- ! meration made in 4791, one hundred and -eighty-four thoufand one hundred and thirty inhabitants, including eleven thoufand four"hundred and twenty-three flaves. Its extent is calculated at about dight thoufand four hundred miles fquare, which gives fomewhat more than twenty-two inhabitants to the mile fquare. The increafe of population in this ftate is inconfiderable, there being a good deal of emigration. Habit more than neceffity induces this, for the quantity of uncultivated land is yet confiderable ; it is in general capable of raifing good crops, and the price is not high. We may perhaps confider as one great caufe of this emigration, that New Jerfey is peopled from all nations, SWKhee-there is among the inhabitants lefs of a national ^rit towards the flate, if I may fo exprefs myfelf, than in any other part of the United States. Befides, thefe people of different nations, fettled in Jerfey, live more in feparate diftridts than in any ©t|her of the ftates ; and when there is any emigration from a particular diftrict, it generally confifts of a number of families. There can be n© where lefs attention paid to education than there is in Jerfey. The legiflature of the ftate have never yet-taken it into their confidcration. Some fehools are'"kept in certain townfhips at the expence of fuch of the inhabitants as chufe to contribute to them: lT& number of thefe is not confiderable. They pav poor "falaries to the "mailer, who of courfe is ignorant' and negligent, Thus no -people""iri-lthe4 Vol. II. 3 I United 434 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, United States appear to me more ignorant than the inhabitants of Jerfey; and, although the ftate has, as I have already mentioned, a good college at Princetown, and fome of the inhabitants are men of merit and under- ftanding, the proportion of perfons of education is much lefs here than in any other of the ftates. Toleration in religion being unbounded in New Jerfey, all forts of fects are:eftablifhed, and have places for worfhip ; but the Prefbyterians are by far the moft numerous. Few of the families in Jerfey make cloth or linen for their ufe; they purchafe- almoft all they want. The facility with which they can procure foreign goods from New York and Philadelphia contributes, no doubt, to this defect: of domeftic economy in the people of the ftate. COMMERCE. Although ing-Jerfey iiyfihiated Amboy, one of the beft ports in the United States, acceffible from the fea, and by a fingle tide to all forts of veffels,, it has no foreign trade. Its vicinity to NewriYork and Philadelphia induces its inhabitants to get every thing from thefe cities. The communication with them is at once eafy and fecure. The fale of their produce is more certain aud. quick, the price better, the choice of returns greater, and the credit longer ; and, laffjaL old cuftoms : fuch arej^fte reafons which, have always rendered fruitlefs the attemps of the legiflature of Jerfey to attract merchan&uto Amboy and enlarge its trade. The country furnifhes corn of all kinds, plenty of wood, lintfeed, iron,, leather, fait-meat,, and is particularly famous for hams.. In the neighbourhood of New York and Philadelphia are raifed much poultry,, and they cultivate a great quantity of pulfe ; but a very fmall portion of all thefe articles of produce is exported from Amboy. A number of the veffels loaded with it defcend the Rariton,, pafs before Amboy, and proceed, with their cargoes to New York. The value 01 the exports from Amboy, in 1791., was feventeen thou- fand four hundred and three dollars; in 1792, it was nineteen thoufand !&silflT-$ - feven BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LIANCOUR.T. feven hundred and twelve dollars; in 17Q3, it was forty-nine thoufand fix hundred and feventy*$hree dollars; in 1794, it was fif^-eight thoufand one hundred and fifty-four dollars; in 1795, it was one hundred and thirty thodfahd fiveHiiindred and f^tighteen dollars; and, in 17c it was fifty-feven thoufand fix hundred and thirty-nine dollars. The ftate has three other fmall ports where there are cuftom-houfes; Burlington, on the River Delaware ; Bridgetown, on the bay of that name ; and Great Egg Harbour, on the fea coaft; but none of them has any thing of what may be called trade. ^i0ften happens that in a whole year there does n<£t fail from them one foreign veffel. This may be feen from the total exports of New Jerfey, in which are included thofe of Amboy, whereof I have given the amount. The whole of thefe exports amounted, in 1791> to twenty-fix thoufand nine hundred dollars ; in 1792, to twenty-three thoufand four i^mdred and five dolkftPg in 1793, to fifty-four thoufand one hundred and feventy-eight dollars (the three fmall ports exported nothing); in 1795, to one hundred and thirty thoufand eight hundred and fourteen dollars; and, in 1796, to fifty-nine thoufand two hundred and twenty-feven dollars. PATERSON FALL. The fall of the River Paffaik, about twenty miles from New York, is one of the moft noted in North America. It fhould be vifited by all thofe who admire natural curiofities. The eourfe of that river through rocks, which it has rent in precipitating itfelf from a height of fixty-fix feet, prefents a grand fpectacle. From the appearance of the foil there feems formerly to have been two courfes, but which by fome convulfion in nature have fallen into one. At the fall it is from twenty to twenty-five feet wide. On the day I vifited it the fun flione bright; the weather was hot, the wind pretty high ; all which circumftances combined to give great beauty to this magnificent fcene. There is an agreeable view from the upper part of the fall over a tolerably well cultivated plain. The little town of Paterfon is built at the foot of the falfe^ It corJttpiila 3 I 2 a variety 4Sfg, i TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA,- | afc$$ft©ty °^ ti?p£hinery, but all in a ftate of decay. In 17Q1 a com- p^l^iWM/iy1^^ &#v'tjieir eftablifhment, but its funds: were foondon^r fomed;:j|ftif£$lj?e-fore they were completed, .-^'lottery w?aa-'granted by , t|®r$1|atj§iofJerfeyM(0i%M, but wfe&n<4te$ttended with fucceife They talk of new efforts.^f0ertainly no fftufcriod e&rfabe bettensa^a^^ for all kinds of machinery. wttf/ml This town was called Paterfon, after William PaTEKSONy formerly g^^fnor of New York, and who is a&> this- day one of the judges of the fupreme court of the United States.; He is one of the moft refpect-' able and enlightened men in the country. He was appointed by the legiflature of New Jerfey to revive arMpublifh their code of laws. The law which conferred up©»ehim the coihmnlfion, gave !him even a power to alter the criminal laws, aM to him is owing the reform in the penal code vfhfie-h 1 have mentioned. The ftones that fern the bafon in^ which the ris^fc falls are moftLy fandy. There is a kind of hard granite very common in all the plain, l^jngpna compact bed t©S^ba^les. Thenfliafefcjkbat are foiki^im4foe bottom of the fall, bei^ fcfr^|}a4lu#es of the rocksia$>ove, are of the fame nature. The river below the fall runs through a flat and marfhy country, and in confequence its courfe is very flow and undulating. I waited upon Mr. Paterfon at New York, where I remained a con- £derajbfci tome. In then following, book I fliall egife the obfervations which I collected refpecting that great flate, the fecond of the Union for slches, for the! fphrit with which it is cultivated, and fot! the extent of it#4ommetce- STAY BY THE DUKS^aBn&AritOCHEFOUCAULT XIANCOURT. 437 STAY AT NEW YORK, IN AUGUST 1797. DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.. SUCCINCT HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF NEW YORK. THE ftate of New York belonged originally to the Dutch. It is true, that before that fome plans were formed to colonife this country, but they were very vague. Elizabeth, <5$teen of England, had, in 1584, granted to Sir Walter Raleigh, a patent to occupy, under the fovereignty of the crovfai of England, all the country of North America, not in the poffeffion of any other Chriftian Prince. James the Firft, difregardlefs of that patent, divided thisfimmenfe poffeffion, then known under the name of Virginia, and which extended from Carolina to Nova Scotia, between two companies. To the former, called The Company of Londoti Adventurers, he granted-the right to eftablifh colonies, from the thirty-fourth to the forty firft degree of latil&ie^- and to the other, The Plymouth Company, a fimilar privilege, from the forty-firft to the forty-fifth degree. -But the la$fc& thus granted.; and1^^!^ their coafts, were then in a great meafure unknown. Henry Hudson, in a veffel belonging to the Dutch India Company, firft difcovered Long Iffend, and afeended the great northern river, t© which he gave his name. The Dutch, ignorant of the grants made of thefe countries to the two companies, and paying no- regard, to- it, declared themfelves- the fovereigns; MWi4 they fent there a colony, which built 4 438 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA* built the towns of Fort Orange and New Amfterdam, calling the country itfelf New Holland. James the Firft having fent fome forces to lay wafte the new fettlements, the Dutch proprietors preferred to a hopelefs refiftance the more fafe and prudent meafure of acknowledging the Englifh fovereignty, thus preferving their ppffeffions, on payment of a tribute to England. The troubles of that kingdom, during the latter part of the reign of Charles the Firft, enabled the Hollanders to fhake off the Englifh yoke, which indeed they had repeatedly before attempted. They fucceeded .alfo in deftroying a Swedifh colony, fettled upon the Delaware. But aftewards Charles the Second fent troops from Europe, who without difficulty feized New Holland, and expelled from thence the Dutch, who on their part proceeded to invade Surinam. Charles the Second, having thus got peaceable poffeffion of this vaft territory of the continent of -j^gffjl. America, granted the weftern part of it to his brother the Duke of York, and New Holland got the name of New York, New Amfterdam alfo changing its name for that of New York; and this extenfive province reached from the banks of the river St. Laurence to the mouth of Hudfon's River, without encroaching upon the limits of the Plymouth Company. Such is briefly the hiftory of the province of New York, up to the late revolution. THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. This province was much longer than any of the other colonies in beginning their oppofition to England. Its great commercial connections with that kingdom, and the eircumftance of Englifh troops being conftantly ftationed in the town of New York, fupported a fpirit of arifto- cracy and dependence. At length it followed the example of the other flates; and its legiflature, affembled at Kingfton, formed, in 1.777, a conftitution, upon the fame principles with thofe of the other ftates. . This conftitution is neither introduced nor followed up by any declara- -4lM'"': Nion BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LIANCODRT. 439 tion of rights; and its preamble, which recites the different acts of the general congrefs, feems to be rather an excufe for that conftitution, than the effervefcence of lilserty and refentment, which appear to have dictated almoft all the others. Each county names one or more members of the affembly of reprefentatives. The conftitution fixes their prefent number at feventy.; it alfo determines provifionaliy the number 1o be elected by each county. A new enumeration is to be made every feven years; and when the number of electors is in any county inereafed one-fevei§t€en£h part, fuch county is to. return an additional deputy. The whole number is never to exceed three hundred; and precautions are taken in that event to proportion the number, of members of each county to the excefs of population. The members of the affembly are chofen for one year. The electors muft be twenty-one years of age—muft poffefs a clear property of twenty pounds, or fifty dollars; or rent property in the - county to the amount of forty fhillings, or five dollars a year at leaft—muff- pay taxes to the ftate, and refide in the county. The fenate, by the conftitution, is compofed of twenty-four members; but this number is only fixed temporally, like that of the members of the houfe of affembly. The members-of the fenate are chofen by diffricts, the ftate being in this view divided into four. The number of fenators which each of thefe diftridts is to elecft, is alfo determined by the conftitution. When on the new enumeration there is found an increafe of a twenty-fourth part1 in. the population: of the diftrict,. fuch diftrict is-to appoint one more fenator, and fo on, till the fenate eonfifts of one hundred members-, which numf- ber it is never to exceed. The fenators are elected^ for four years; and a; fourth part of them.is annually renewed.. The electors for the fenators muft be freeholders;, and poffefs a clear; property of the value of a hundred pounds, or two. hundred and fifty dollars.. The lift of e^ftors of both claffes amounted, in 1795, to-uaftSr four thoufand and feventeen. The electors, who have the.qualification required for voting for merrr- - bers TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, bers of the fenate, 'alfo elect the governor and lieutenant-governor; but ygg$ thefe elections they vote by counties. The legiflature affembles annually the firft Tuefday in January ; but it may be called together oftener by the governor, and it can adjourn itfelf. The governor and 1 ieutenan t-governor are chofen for three years. The governor is commander of the forces both military and naval : he -may grant pardons of every fentence, except in capital cafes, where he can only rfufpend the execution, until the matter be finally determined by ikfee-Jegiflature. The nominations to offices, civil and military, are made iife^lfcbe council of appointment, at which the governor prefides. This council is compofed of four members of the fenate, one from each diftrict ; they are appointed every year by the affembly, and cannot be yarned two years fucceffively. If the governor fhould be abfent on any account, the lieutenant-governor takes his place : he is prefident of the fenate. The chancellor, the judges of the fupreme court, and the chief judge of every county, are named by the council of appointment. They continue in office during their good behaviour, but never after they are fixty M|gy-s of age. The fheriffs and coroners are appointed annually, and cannot continue in office more than four years. The military commiflions are revocable at pleafure. The governor has power to refufe his confent to laws, with the advice of the council of revifion, which is compofed of the chancellor and the judges of the fupreme court. But fuch refufal muft be given in the courfe of fix days; and the bill muft be fent back, accompanied with the reafons of refufal, figned by the members of the council. The bill, notwithftanding this refufal, becomes a law, if two-thirds of each houfe perfift ingit. The bills approved by the council are returned to the houfe from which they proceeded, with the fubfcription of the governor ' only. The BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPODCAULT LIANCODRT. '441 The members of the council of revifion receive no falary nor allowance for that function. Their fittings muft be during the feffion of the legiflature. The treafurer of the ftate and of the counties are appointed by the legiflature. The conftitution guarantees the grants of land made by the kings of England previous to the month of October 1775, and annuls all thofe made fince that period. The electors for the nomination of the prefident and vice-prefident of the United States, are, by a law of the 12th of April 1792, chofen in the ftate of New York by the two houfes of the legiflature. TAXES. The taxes in the ftate of New York are impofed in the grofs by the legiflature, and afterwards affeffed by it upon the different counties, ac* cording to the value of the properties refpectively contained in them. That firft divifion being made, the infpectors of each townfhip meet by counties, and determine, after the fame rule, the part to be raifed by each townfhip. The infpectors and the affeffors make in each townfhip a fimilar divifion among the individuals; and for this purpofe, they are by law directed to inform themfelves of the amount of the property, moveable and immoveable, of every perfon. The taxes being thus affeffed, they are levied by the collectors, and remitted by them to the treafurer of the county, who pays the fame to the treafurer of the ftate. No object of taxation is fpecified in the laws ; no principle prefcribed for valuing property; no means taken to obtain from the individuals a declaration of their property; whence the affeffment of the taxes by''flate legiflature, the infpectors and the affeffors^ can be determined only by an arbitrary eftimate of the general and relative riches of corporations and individuals. The following is the manner in which they annually proceed to make the affeffment. M||El8R Vol. lire 3 K $$£& In 442 TRAVELS IN K©ft$ir,4MSRK!A> In the month of April every year the inhabitants of the different town- ~^dps elect an infpector, from three to feven affeffors, and one or more collectors. Every inhabitant chofen to thefe functions muft accept of them, or pay a fine. The affeffors meet, after having taken an oath for the faithful difcharge of their duty; they make an eftimate of the property of each inhabitant, diftinguifhing real from perfonal property, and fet down fuch eftimate in a lift, which is figned by the majority of them, and tranfmitted to the infpectors before the end of May, under the penalty of a fine of twenty-five pounds, or fixty-two.dollars and a half, to the ufe of the county. The infpectors of each county meet the laft Thurfday in May, and from that eftimate of the affeffors they affefs the tax upon the different townfhips, adding to the tax of the ftate that neceflary for the expences of the county, and the maintenance of the poor in every town. The flatements are fent by the infpectors to the collectors of every^ivifion, with an order to levy the taxes conformably to them. From the firft of the money raifed, the amount of the. fums ordered for the fupport of the poor is paid to the infpectors of the poor of each town; and the remainder, including the part required for the taxes of the ftate, is paid into the hands of the treafurer of the county. The county treafurers are appointed by the infpectors of taxes, and muft gjvfe f|^rity. The orders for levying fent by the infpectors to the collectors, authorife them to fell the effects of the perfons taxed in cafe of non-payment; and in default of moveable property, the produce of their lands. When the collector is i^afrears, the treafurer of the county directs an order to the fheriff to fell his property, real and perfonal, to the amount of the value of the taxes unaccounted for. He is however acquitted of this penaj^yon fatisfying the treafurer of the county, upon oatjjk of his hot having been able to obtain the payments. When the ftate has impofed taxes for its ufe, the treafu^js of counties are, before the end of March, to fend the amount of this part of the taxes to BY THE fiUfefe DE LA ROCfiEEOUCAULT U.ANCOURT. 443 to the treafurer of the ftate, With the reafons for any deficiency in the levy, in default of which the fame fteps are to be purfued as againft col- ltt$&rs in arrear. tN&Nte the duty of the cdunty infpectors, at their annual meeting, to examine the deficiency in the lety of taxes impofed the preceding year; and if, notwithflanding the report of theTCollectors, the infpectors are of opinion, that the perfons who have not made good their payments are able to do fo, they are intitled to direct anew fuGh levy. If they approve of the reports of the colleiftor, or if they are fatisfied of the infobency of the cofteetof himfelf, they add an additional fum to the amount of the deficiency, for the townfhip which has not made good its payment, and the fums. firft levied the year following are appropriated to make up fuch deficiencies in the former year's taxes. The allowances made to the infpectors and their clerks, and to the af* feflbrs, ate irichaied in the annual county rates. The coheftori are inrSled to deduct five per cent from the amount of their collection. The fheriff receives two and an half per cent of the fiims he levies upon the collectors in default. The treafurer of the ctJunty has a commaiEon of three quarters per cent on the fums received. The total expence for the affeffment and coIJc6iaa of taxes in the ftate of New York, is eftimated at from fifteen to twenty per cent of the fums lervied. There has been no tax for the flatcilnce 1788 ; it was tftat year fifty thoufand dollars, three fourths of which was paid into the treafury the firft year; the reft was hot completely paid in two years. As to the taxes neceffary for the expences of the counties, they are annually fixed at a meeting of all the infpectors of each townfhip and town, and are impofed, upon the fame principle with thofe of the ftate> at fo much a pound of the eftimated value. The poors rate is regulated at the fame meeting, on the report of the infpectors of the poor named by the inhabitants; but each town fupports its own ; and the ftate has, in order to prefent the fettlement of the poor in their territory, or their change of refidence from ohe^town to another; 3 K 2 enacted Ui TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, enacted laws, which are in fome meafure, but not entirely$$ree from the faults of the Englifh poor-laws. The few poor there are in the ftate are to be found chiefly at New York, which, like all great towns in the different parts of the worldjHconi tains at once more riches and more wretchednefs than towns lefs populous and commercial, and ftill more fo than in the country. THE CIVIL LAWS. The laws relative to inteltates at New York, as in all the other ftates of America, divide the property equally among the children, after allow* ing a third to the widow; but the liberty of bequeathing^' in this ftate, as well as the others, referved entire; and the manners, efpecially in the great cities, and among the rich, are not in this refpect fo republican as the laws. The roads are made altogether by the labour of the inhabitants of the townfhip through which they pafs. Every individual is obliged annually to contribute twenty days labour, or more, on the roads. The commiffioners are directed to proportion juftly the number of days, according to the circumftances of the perfons who are to contribute. Perfonal labour is commutable for money, at the rate of half a dollar a day. The ufe of a carriage and horfes is received as an equivalent for three days labour. The juftices of the peace are the head infpectors of the highways, and determine queftions refpecting them. Individuals who make roads at their own expence, and for their own ufe, may erect gates on them. The townfhips are divided into highway diftricts, for the more eafy execution of this law, which was made in 1784. In certain cafes where there is an extraordinary public advantage, or any particular difficulty in forming roads, as well as in other circumftances, the ftate gives fome affiftance. In fpite of thefe laws, the roads in general are very bad in this ftate. There are in the ftate of New York no bankrupt laws; but there is a law refpecting infolvent debtors, which is nearly the fame thing. This law was made in 17&8, and has fince received fome trifling and immaterial alterations. Every BY THE DVEB DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LIANCOURT. Every debtor, who cannot or will not pay his debts, may be imprifoned by the courts of juftice; and he cannot be liberated from prifon, but upon a petition of three-fourths of his creditors to the court of chancery, the fupreme court, or other court in the ftate. Thofe of his creditors whofe debts are fecured by any mortgage, cannot concur in fuch petition. The court to which the petiti^a. is ad- dreffed may decree the prifoner's difcharge, upon taking his oath that he has given- a juft account of his effects and debts, and thatyhis petitioning credit©rst$|aim no more than the exact amount of the debts due to them. In the prifoners declaration of his property real and perfonal, and th© releafe he executes of it, are comprifedj{j(|effects which he may fucceed to by inh^itance; but the judgment pronounced of his liberation, discharges from all claim the property which he may thereafter other wife acquire. 33t>£H There are great complaints in the ftate of New York of this law, as very unjuft. An honeft debtor, who has become infolvent from mif- fortune, remake for a feries of years, oft^jtall his lift^ii prifon; he is not liberated, but perhaps from the neglect of his Creditors to pay his fubfiftence, and then he is in a ftate of wretchednefs; while the fraudulent debtor gives a falfe ftatement of his property, conceals part of his dif- pofable effects, and falfely putting down as creditors his friends, who are made to form the three-fourths of his creditors, he prefents a petition for his enlargement, obtains it, and then freely enjoys that part of his fortune of which he has defrauded his real creditors. The law, it is true, appoints punifhment by fine, for perfons appearing falfely as creditors ; but that proof is never to be got. Unfortunately, in this, as in other cafes, a debtor who is a rafcal is better off than one who is honeft and unfortunate. .re They talk much of amending this law; but it ftill e^ftg,* and is ex- tremely- injurious to trade, morality, and virtue. The laws of New York do not allow foreigners to acquire landed pro-. perty; for this it is neceffary to be a citizen of the ftate, or of the United States. The legiflature however grants, without much difficulty, ex- i ceptions 4 44(5 TRAVELS IN NORTH.'AMERICA, fc^fttions to this general $iohibiti©n, and there*are few feftions in whieH fuch grants are nofejftade to foreigners. In other rcfpe&$ the right of djti^enfliqx^kieafily acquired. THE CRIMINAL LAW. The crimia^l ju^fprudence of th© ftate of liSeW York was, unriyaflb . $pB$$j^iIkiglim law in all its rigour. The example' of PennfyhiiBMfc has, however, prevailed over ancient cuftom; and in the laft feffion the legiflature has reformed it, after the mild and reafonable code of that ftate. ^JP$bmeditated murders, and l&blfces commitfed in Cheches, are at prefent the only crimes punifhable ^kh death. The latter part of this law affords rather a painful consideration— that in «*i$ate which allow* aflitfligions to be equal, where every one is at liberty to contribute or not as he thinks proper, to the fupport of any kind of worfl^, and whferei robberies, even made with an armed force in dwelling-houfes, were only punifhable by imprifonment, this great additional fe verity fhould have been made againft robbery in churcnes. A remnant of the barbarous prejudice, which proves the influence of priefts, could alone rank this: fpecies of robbery with premeditated murder. Had reafon been con^J^i ed, it could only have been claffed with ordinary robbery in a dwelling- houfe; indeed it is undoubtedly lefs dangerous in all its confequenees^f than a robbery in an inhabited houfe, there being nothing to fteal in churches but benches and prayer-books. But in the ftate of New York, as effewhere, opinion is more powerful than law; and the confequence is, that criminals guilty of this kind of robbery are generally acquitted by the juries, who think iti&eir duty to be more juft than the act, whi©t$ .'id thus rendered a dead letter; all refpedt due to the law is thus taken attf&y, which proves its impropriety. There are fome other laws of this ftate to which fimilat obferyarioiitf i^ilhapply. Such, for example, is that paffed in 1788, that condemns every perfon iwfft)gets drC^Sf to pay a fine of thfi^^biMd^^nd to ftand" iiti^be pillory for t^ihoftacs> and inflicts a fine of fix fhiUings for every '''{£&$,** oath; BY THE DV&E *>E LA ROCHEPOUCAVCTXIANCOURT. 44? oath; another law of the fame date, which forbids*-tt^eHing on Sunday; under a like penalty of fix fhnfitigs; and laftly, an act: of the fame year, wftieh*iflfltfts a penalty of five times the fum loft on every perfon -lofing at play more than twenty-five dollars in the fpace of twenty-four hours. An old eftablifhed government might find fome pretext for not revolting obfolete laws, which are not and cannot be executed, but there is n© excufe for a legiflature to make new laws of that defcription. Governments are yet too little pe*fuaded that public order can reft only on the moft: abfolute obedience to the law. A fingle law allowed to remain unexecuted, gives a great fhock to refpect for the laws, and when its not being executed proceeds from its execution being impoffible, from the manners, opimems, and other circumftances, it is the legiflators wh© are to blame, that the law lofes the veneration ^decenary to it in a well-efta- blifhed order of fociety. The new criminal code of the ftate of New York, enacted in 1796, directs that two ftate prifons mall be built, one at New York and the other at Albany, and prefcrihes their regulations, which are neari^■Jtile• fame as thofe of the prifon of Philadelphia. The expence of erecting and ftipporting them is to be defrayed by the flate. SCHOOLS. The legiflature of New York has aft©, in 1 795, made a ftep towards the eftafelifiiment of free fehools in its territory; but little has yet been done, nor does there appear any c^taflity* that they ever will "be eftablifhed. I Twenty thoinand pounds, o#^fty thoufan&*didfSai*s> are annually appropriated to the funds of the ftate, " to enoodrage and fupport, in the different towns and townfhips of the ftate of New York, ffebools in which children fliall be inftracfted in -the Engtilh language* and grammar; in arithmetic, mathematics, and other moft neceflary and ufeful branches of ' knowledge, fo as to furmfh a complete Englifh education." ■- ?Each county, according to itfe -known population,-receives-a^paijtofvthish fum, 448 ' t TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, fiim, in the proportion regulated by the legiflature. The infpectors of each county fubdivide among the different towns the proportion allotted to the county. Each town muft add, for the fame purpofe, from a tax raifed among themfelves, a fum equal to half of what it receives from the ftate. The mayors, aldermen, and municipalities of the towns of New York, Albany, and Hudfon, are the head infpectors of their towns, and may, as they judge moft proper, apply the fums collected to this purpofe, either in fupporting the fehools already eftablifhed, or the charity-fehools, or in 4he eftablifhment of new fehools. The fame powers are given in the townfhips to the head infpectors of the fehools, who are elected by the freeholders. Two commiffioners for each fchool, chofen in the fame manner as the infpectors^; are to fuperintend the management of the fehools, the appointment of mafters, &c. This fum of twenty thoufand pounds given annually, is only for five years. The eftablifhment of free-fchools is not prefcribed by the law ; and the admiffion of negro children, or thofe of colour, even in the cha- j rity-fehools, is left to the difcretion of the head infpectors. The eftablifhment of free-fchools through all the ftate, an object fo truly defirable, and the advantage of which is inconteftibly proved by the example of Maffachufetts, is not then a neceffary confequence of this liberal donation of the legiflature of New York. Some are eftablifhed; elfewhere the fums are applied to the improvement of the fehools already exifting, and which are of no utility but to thofe in eafy circumftances; laftly, the children of flaves, and even of free negroes, have not a right to that education, which would be the firft ftcp towards their folid, their ufeful emancipation. This law then is far from uniting all the advantages to be expected from a great ftate, engaged in the important object of the education of youth, and making facrifices to that object. What a difference between this law and that of New England upon the fame fubject ! Another law of 179O, which, like that refpecting fehools, is meant to ■B^'h facilitate BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFCriJCAULT LIANCOUHT.. **J facilitate public education, incorporates the focieties formed in different counties and towns jgbr the eftahlifhment of public libraries. This |aw gives the legiflative fanction t© fuch eftablifhments, but does not grant one fhilling of the ftate's money to promote them.. SLAVERY. The ftate of New York is not one of thofe which appear to have the moft liberal ideas as to flavery. It is therefore natural, that the laws, which in every country follow more or lefs the public opinion, fhould alfo in this refpect be rather illiberal. . It is eafy to conceive -why* in the fouthern ftates, the great number of flaves render their emar*ei|>atiQn difl&cult, and why this difficulty gives a pretence for the opinion of the neceffity of fevere laws againft flaves; but in the ftate of New York, where in a population of more than four hundred thoufand fouls, there are not twenty thoufand negroes, it is impoflible to conceive what fo great obftacles there can be to the emancipation, and upon what they can found their opinion, that on account of this trhting number of negroes there is a neceffity for more rigorous laws againft: them than agahrft perfons of another colour. Be this as it may, a law, fo late as 1788, confirms "the ftate of flavery in every negro, mulatto, and meftee, who was a flave at the time of its enactment; declares every child born, or to be born of a female flave, t© be a flave; authorises the fale of flaves, and fubjects them for petty crimes to be tried by juftices of the peace, who may fentence them to imprifonment or whipping. One claufe of the act fubjects them to this trial, and to this kind of punifhment, for ftriking a white perfon, without any exception in the cafe where the white man is the aggreffor. The privilege of a trial by jury is, however, allowed to a flave, if the crime of which he is accufed be capital. He is alfo permitted to adduce evidence in criminal cafes, where other negroes are implicated. The new criminal code, founded in general on principles of humanity and juftice, does away none of the truly unjuft and barbarous enactment* Vol. II. 3h of ^50 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, of-that law. At the fame time, flaves are generally treated with greater *aat^nefs by their mafters in the ftate of New York, and lefs oppreffed with labour, titan they are in the fouthern ftates. The manners, in this refpect, prevail over the rigour of the laws; but the manners are here, as in many of the other American ftates, impregnated with avidity and avarice. This difpofition alone prevents the abolition of flavery. It has been frequently propofed in the legiflature; but hitherto every meafure, even of a preparatory nature, has been rejected. Although the disproportion of free men to flaves is fo great, that the greater part of the inhabitants of New York poffefs no flaves, the fmall number of thofe who do poffefs them are the richeft and greateft proprietors; and in the ftate of New York, as elfewhere, fuch perfons have the principal influence. The refpect due to property is the arms with which every propofal for their enfranchifement is combated. I have heard one of their moft enlightened lawyers, a gentleman who in all other refpects entertains the moft liberal opinions, infift, " that it would be an attack upon property, to declare even the children of female flaves free; for (faid he) the mafters who have purchafed or inherited flaves, poffefs-tbem. under the idea that their iffiie fhall be their property, which they can employ or dif- pofe of." Thus, while in Virginia they affert, " that it is impoffible to abolifh flavery, without exporting at once all the negroes in the ftate,"—in New York they fay, " that it cannot be thought of to abolifh flavery, or take any fteps with that view, without paying to every proprietor of a flave the prefent value of their negroes, young and old, and the eftimated price of their expected defcendants." This is Certainly throwing every poffible obftacle in the way of the abolition of flavery, and fhewing themfelves fairly inimical to fueh a meafure. The obftacle prefented by the citizens of New York is the leaft difficult to conquer. Admitting the principle of the neceffityi©f an indemnification to the mafters for their negroes,, on their being made free, and valuing each negro at one hundred and thirty dollars, the whole amount would BY THE DUICE DE LA ROCHEFOuCA! would be only three millions of dollars. This price would ftill bear Auction, from the powerful motives of public intereft and honour, which every member of fociety muft make facrifices. The queftion of the property of children unborn would not take a quarter of an hour to difcufe, if it were agitated in the legiflature; laftr^, this enfrunchifemeni^af made as it ought to be, by degrees, would coft the ftate much lefs facrifices; and being done in fucceflion, it would be al- molt imperceptible in their finances, which, befides, could certainly not be more worthily employed. At New York, as elfe where, the enfranchifement of the negroes ought to have for its end the advantage of the flafel^Hts good order, and the benefit even of the negroes to be made free. Were this meafure too quickly and fuddenly general, it would fail as to different objects of the firft: neceffity. I fhall not here repeat what I have obferved in another place in that refpect, and what fo many others have faid before me. The ex- pence to the ftate then would be reduced to a very fmall fum, in com- parifon to the utility and the duty of the meafure. But while the ftate of New York, furrounded with the examples of Connecticut, Maflachu- fetts, and Pennfylvania, does nothing towards this liberation, but feems to approve of the permanence of flavery by the filence or the refufal of its legiflature, it leaves its conftitution and its laws ftained with a blot which, without exaggeration, may be called difhonourable, as it cannot be excufed, or even palliated, by any circumftances exifting in that flate. The exportation of foreign flaves into the flate of New York is prohibited by the fame law which confirms the flavery of thofe who were in the ftate at the time of its enactment. This difpofition therefore in that law, and the mild manner in which the flaves are here generally treated, is a confirmation of the opinion, that pecuniary intereft, more than a real approbation of flavery, prevents the legiflature from proceeding in this refpect with that juftice and judgment with which their other deliberata^ns are for the moft f»3*t conducted. 3 L2 THE IN NORTH AMERICA, THE MILITIA. A Taw of 1/93, paffed in confequence of the militia law of the United States, rft^alates the formation and the government of the militia of the itate of New York. It is diftributed in four divifions, one for ea%U of the grandrd-iflricts of the ftate. Each of thefe divifions is commanded by a majoj^geiieiaJyfand fubdivided into different brigades, each brigade tfife dinerehtiiitt^lmMts, and thefe again into companies. The number of thefe corps is left at the difcretion of the commander in chief (the governor of the flate), who is guided in this refpect by the population of the dihfe&nt diftricfts and counties. A company of artillery and a troop of cavalry is attached to each brigade. The militia are tc^&ffemble fcforee times in the year; twice by companies) and once in their regiments. The companies of artillery and cavalry are embodied on the orders of the major-general of the divifion. v^SSurts martial, for the cognizance of military offences, are ordered by the governor, the general officers, and the major generals of the divifions, and alfo by the field officers&of regiments, &c. according to the rank of the aceufed. A fine is the moft ufual punifhment for neglect of duty,. &c. and fueh fine cannot exceed twenty-five dollars for the firft: fault, nor a hundred and twenty for any fubfequent offence. Difmiffal is the higheft punifhment which a court martial can inflict on an officer, and in this cafe the fentence of the court martial muft. be approved of by the commander in chief. I In the cafe of fines, the fentence muft be approved by the coraraan- dants of divifion or brigade,, according tgpt&e rank of the officer, and of the commander in chiefsifithe officer convicted be a commandant of divifion. The fubaftems and privates are fentenced to a fine by a" council of officers of their regiment or brigade. Thefe fines are appropriated to the general expences of the regiment, fuch as the purchafe ©^colours, drums, Sic. Befides the perfons excepted fr©i&. public duty by the general: law of the United States, the following exemptions are made by the law of the ftate of New York, namely,; the governor, the members of BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD LXAXCOURT. of the legiflature, and their officers, the chancellor, the judges, the fecretary, the treafurer, the auditor, the attorney general, the chief furveyor, all the inferior officers of juftice, in eluding jailors, two boatmen for each paflage-boat, where the roads crofs rivers, all the clergy, phyficians*£&& furgeons, (except in fo far as their profefiLl&nal fervices are required) pro- feflbrs and ftudents, fchool-maflers engaged in that profeffion for three months or more, perfons belonging to the poft-office, one man for each; corn mill, all the firemen belonging to infurance companies, and the perfons employed in iron works and glafs works;.. Every other free man, from eighteen to forty-five, is fubject : to militia duty, except Quakers, who are relieved upon payment of three dollars annually. The governor, in his character of commander in. chief, may call out the militia in: cafe of invafion, or in any other particular emergency. THE FINANCES. The ftate of New York is rich. Its annual revenue, proceeding from the intereft of money, lodged moftly in the banks of the ftate, and in that of the United States, is two hundred and thirty-four thoufand two hundred and eighteen dollars. There has not, as already mentioned,., beenany^general tax for the ftate impofed fince the year 1788. The annual expence of the civil lift is about fevent^|B||fef1^p^^Kii dollars, and the money expended by the public treafury upon the. unU verfity, the college, the hofpital, fehools, and^gfealties, exceeds this^&»,,.. The ftate ftill owes two hundred and twenty-five thoufand: dollars, moftly treafury-bills grgntgd during the war. Jn this fum is not included the debt due to the United States, which the cemm^bnlps of accounts have afcertained to be two mill^ra^j^nty-four thoufand eight- .hundred and forty-fix dollars; and it. appears that the State of*JNew- York, is lefs difjgpfed to pay than any other, of the United States debtors. TRADE. Of all the towns on the continent, New York, is beft fituated for traae.. It is the only port in the ftate, and. is one of the greateft and moft flourifhmgf m America^ All 45& TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, All the produce of the ftate is brought to New York by water-carriage, as well by the river as by canals, which the legiflature are unremittingly employed in completing, and which will eftablifh a free communicatit^jbetween Lake Ontario and this port. Another intended canal is to run from Lake Champlain and Hudfon's River, by which the productions of Lower Canada will be conveyed directly to New York. The length of this canal will not exceed eighteen miles; itHs to terminate at South Bay, which communicates with Lake Champlain. New York alfo receives, by its noble river, all the productions of that part of Maffachufetts, fituated on the weft of,ti&e Green Mountains, and of that part of the ftate of Vermont, which is in the fame tract. The impoffibility which the State of Connecticut finds of extending its commerce for the want of a fufficient capital and good ports, adds to the trade of New York all that of Connecticut. New York is alfo the place of exportation of moft of the provifions from New Jerfey, as well as of the importation neceffary for this ftate, which, as we have already feen, carries on little or no trade at its fine port of Amboy. None of the flates* is more rapidly increafing than New York. All its new lands, to the weft of Albany, along and behind the Mohawk River, which were not formerly inhabited, are peopling very faft. The immenfe country, extending from the Mohawk River by the Wood Creek, as far as Lake Ontario, and which has, at different times back, been purchafed by companies on fpeculation, begins to be divided and cleared. In that ftill larger tract, which runs to the fouth of Lake Oneida, as far as the boundaries of Pennfylvania, there are a number of fettlements ftill farther advanced. Gefieffee, which was in a manner a defert four years ago, is peopling beyond every expectation; and all the immenfe territory of the State of New York is now inhabited, except a tract between the river Geneffee and that of Niagara, which was acquired from the Indians only laft month, and a fmall part ftill retained by the Indians, which they will foon be obliged to difpofe of to fpeculators. Thefe lands will be foon inhabited; they are good, fome of them of the firft quality; and the flats of the Geneffee, which I fpoke ofj^my journey BYVTHE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAUtT LIANCOURT. journey in the year 1795, are at leaft equal to the German flats along the Mohawk River, which has been confidered the richeft land in America. This country will be peopled by the inhabitants of New England, the moft induftrious, active, and enterprifing of all the United States; and if, as is expected, the obftructions in the navigation of the River Ofwego and Wood Creek were removed; if the canals projected', and already begun, to join Wood Creek and Mohawk River; and the canal to make Mohawk River, navigable as far as Albany, were completed ; and if the fand bank in Hudfon's River, fix miles below this town, in the midft of the iflands called Overflaugh, which at prefent prevents large veflefs from going up to Albany, were, as it is thought practicable, cleared away, New York would enjoy a great part of the fur trade. This year two fmall floops have already made this voyage from Niagara. But what was to them a matter of labour, will undoubtedly be foon ma<^ eafy for larger veffels, and will add much to the profperity of all the ftates of New York, and particularly its capital. New York is, next to Philadelphia, the place of the greateft trade in ■&e*itjnited States. The amount of its exports in 1791 was two million four hundred and ninety-one thoufand and fifty-four dollars; in 1792 it was two million five hundred and twenty-eight thoufand and ninety- five dollars; in 1793 it was two million nine hundred and eighteen thoufand three hundred and three dollars ; in 1794 it was five million four hundred and thirty-five thoufand four hundred and twenty dollars; in 1795 it was ten million three hundred thoufand fix hundred and forty- two dollars ; and in 1796 it wTas twelve million two hundred and eighty- eight thoufand and twenty-feven dollars. The articles of commerce are the^fame as in the other principal ports of the United States; and thefe, as well as in all the others, the re-exportation of the produce of the Antilles makes a great part of their exports. I have not been able to procure equally fatisfa&ory details in refpect ©f the imports, exports, and tonnage of this great poft as I obtained in fevejftl others; for having requefted from Mr. Wolcott, fe- eretary 450 TRAVELS. IN N0RTU AMERICA, xretary of the treafury, a letter to the collector of the cuftoms, by whieli means alone I could get the information, he faid that in the prefent political fituation of-the United States with France, fuch compliance to a Frenchman was impoffible : and although I faw in this the perfonal difpofition of the fecretary iof the treafury, and that this flatefman did not wifh to difclofe what he confidered political .fecrets to one whom he looked upon in fome degree as an enemy, I was obliged to fufymit to his harfli anfwer. The value of the exports from the State of New York in 1788, was one million nine hundred and twenty-five thoufand dollars. Potafhes are more exported from New York than from any other port of the United States. That commodity is here, as in all the other ftates, fubjected to inflection, and it is the only article that is always fold for ready money. All the other articles of produce fubject to.be infpectcd in the other ftates are fo in this. The examination of flour, althojsgh more ftrict than in the fouthern ftates, is lefs fo than at Philadelphia. THE CITY OF NEW YORK. New York is, next to Philadelphia, the largeft and beft town in the United States. Thefe two cities rival each other almoft in every refpect. Philadelphia has hitherto had the advantage, but from the fine fituajf|en of New York there is reafon to expect that fooner or later it wit| gain the fuperiority. It is calculated that this city contains at prefent upwards of fifty thoufand inhabitants. There have been no lefs than four hundredand fifty new houfes built here in this prefent year. It is inereafed and beautified with unheard of quicknefs; a eircumftance owing, no doubt, in a great meafure, to the immenfe benefit its trade has derived for thefe two or three years from the prefent ftate of Europe. But if peace diminifh, as it certainly will, their exceffive profits, the extenfion of the cultivated lands and fetdeiijjjgnts ina£l|is vaft territory, the produce of which will find, directly or indirectly, a vent by Hudfon's River, will infure a folid founds^ tion, independently of all foreign circumftances, for the increasing profperity of the trade of New York. To all thefe advantages New York adds BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOU1 457 adds that of lying more to the eaftward, and nearer to the fea than any port in America, except Bofton; and it is never choaked up with ice, although that part of the bay, .which is formed by the mouth of-the river and the fea, is fometimes frozen fo hard as to make an eafy communication on the ice between the city and the iflands called Governor's and Staten Iflands. - New York is.built at the extremity of the ifland of Manhattan, now generally-known by the name of New York Ifland. This ifland, which is fifteen miles long, and three broad at the wideft. part, is formed by Hudfon's River and Eaft River, improperly fo called, it being nothing elfe than an arm of the fea, which feparates Long Ifland from New York Ifland and the continent. The firft houfes of New York, then New Amfterdam, were built-in l6l4 by the Dutch. The Englifh made themfelves mafters of it in 1(384, and retained it till 1783. It was the laft town on the continent which they quitted. In 1775, when it was evacuated by the American troops, the belt part of the town, and that fituated next the fort, was, as the Americans fay, burnt by the Englifh, and, according to the Englifh, by the Americans. This quarter of the city has been rebuilt fince the peace, and is now one of the handfomeft parts in it. The town had formerly been built without any regular plan, whence every where almoft, except what has been rebuilt in confequence of the fire, the ftreets are fmall and crooked ; the foot-paths, where there are any, narrow, and interrupted by the flairs from the houfes, which makes the walking on them extremely inconvenient. Some good brick houfes are fituated in thefe narrow ftreets; but in general the houfes are mean, fmall, and low, built of wood, and a great many .of them yet bear the marks of Dutch, tafte. The new part of the city built adjoining to Hudfon's River, and parallel with its courfe, i is-infinitely more handfome; the ftreets there being generally flrarght, broad, interfecting each other at right angles, and the houfes much better built. There is not in any city in the world a finer ftreet than Broad- l^tspferitis near a mile in length, and is meant to be ftill farther extended.: it.isamore than a hundred feet wide from one end to the other. 6-Yol. IL 3M Moft 4 . TSA.TE.LS IN NORTH;. AMERICA,, a; Moft. part, of the houfes are of brick,, and a number of them, extremely handfome. From its elevated fituation, its pofition on the river* and the: elegance of the buildings, it is naturally the. place of xe£idesm^.o£. the moft opulent inhabitants,. Broadway is terminated,, at one end, by a handfome: fquare, in the front of which is the governor's houf^built in a very good ilile of architecture, upon the fpot where the fort, flood before the revolution. The demolition, of this fort has alfo. left, between the governor's houfe and the river a large fpace, which has been, formed into, a public walk, upon the banks of Hudfon's River, and from thence round to Eaft River, commands a view as far as the narrows at the entrance of the. roadftead. Thus, in this promenade, the eye embraces at ©nee all the outlets of this great^port, and fees all its fhipping come in and go: out. This walk, which is called the Battery, might undoubtedly be. kept in better order, and be made more agreeable to the ufe it is in-s fended for, by planting fome trees,, ^j$cr..t>ut as it is, its fituation makes it incomparably the: moft delightful public walk any where to be found. The fortifications erected upon Governors Ifland, to defend the entrance of the harbour, are partly of brick and partly of earth; they are in a. refpectabf'e ftate of defence. The works were begun three years ago,, upon a. very good plan, by M. ViNCENT^|^French engineer, and eighty thoufand dollars granted by Congrefs have been already expended upon them ; but it will take a great deal more to complete them; and this muft be expended regularly, and without delay, which is feldom the cafe* with, works of this kind in the United States. It appears, however, evident to me, that to fortify the heights of Long Ifland, would be alone an effectual" defence of the harbour of New York ; at leaft. that it would be an indifpenfable addition, to its fecurity, as there is: nothing to prevent- an. enemy from landing in fome places in that ifland; and having pof- feffed themfelves of thefe heights, they might foon become mafters of New York, which they could eafily deftroy by their artillery. New York was, till laft year, the feat of the legiflature of the -flate,- which has been fince that time transferred to Albany. The building in ■which the- legiflature held its fittings, and which contains alfo the courts of. BY THE DUKE BE LA ROCHEFQUCAULT MAN COURT, 45Q of juftice, is one of the moft elegant, or, at leaft, the moft fpacious in the city. It is, however, much inferior to the defcriptions given of it in all the American GazettJesisti^ f; There are here nineteen places of worfhip, belonging to different ^54 gionsil*^Of thefe the Trinity Chwrch and St. Paul's are the largeft and moft elegant. St. Paul's is the epifcopal church. The bifhop, the minifters, and the rector are paid from its revenues, which there, as in all the others in America, are inereafed by letting out the pews. The monument erected by order of Congrefs to the memory of General Montgomery, who was killed at the fiege of Quebec, in 1795, ftands againft: one of the outfide walls of St. Paul's Church. There are three markets at New York, but all of them fmall and narrow, very much inferior to thofe of Philadelphia, both in fize, and in neatnefs, and regularity. They are fupplied from Jerfey, and, in a great meafure- from Long Ifland. The nearnefs of the'fea makes the fifh- market be better fupplied here than at Philadelphia. All the trade of confequence is carried on by Eaft River, where likewife come the veffels from Connecticut. It is only the veffels belonging to Hudfon's north river that land their cargoes at the keys upon that river. ! The water is, in general, bad at New York, although in fome quarters it is lefs fo than in others. There is a pump placed at the extremity of the city, where thofe families that are not fatisfied with the wells and common pumps, get their water. The fpring which fupplies this pump belongs to one of the inhabitants, and is by him let for twelve hundred dollars, to a perfon who is faid to fell daily from fifteen to twenty thoufand gaBons, and fometimes more. This water is known in the town by tiie name of tea water. But I have faid enough of this city. All the accounts which 1 could give of it would not equal the defcriptions to be found in moft of the American almanacks, I fhall therefore confine myfelf to a few w©rds ocu its public eftablifhments. 3 M 2 HOSPITALS ■ife. ■ TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, HOSPITALS AND PUBLIC CHARITIES. An hofpital fit to contain a hundred and fifty patients, is fupported at New York at the expence of the ftate. In this hofpital are admitted all the poor inhabitants of New York, and even ftrangers. An order, figned by one of the directors, is all that is. ^[tilred; and from the number of patieiiis, which feldom exceed fixty,, it appears that this facility of admiffion is not abufed. Thofe patients who can afford it, pay to the inftitution two dollars and a half weekly for their expences. A fleilful phyfician vifits the patients regularly once|i&i day ; and a young phyfician and an apothecary live in the houfe. The ftudents who attend the phyfician in his vifits, pay, as at Philadelphia, a fmall fum towards forming a library. More attention feems to be paid here to the patients than at Philadelphia; or, at leaft, the hofpital is regulated fo as to be of more benefit in the inftruction of thepiipils, and even of the phyficians. A very correct journal is kept of the different difeafes„ tft^ir management, the effect-of the medicines, &c. Upon the whole this hofpital feems to be well managed, but the patients labouring under different diforders are not kept fufficiently apart, which is principally owing to the fmall number of the fick. Thetis? pital having been burnt during the war, it has &©dri rebuilt partly by fubfcription, and partly by the public money. It is at this time fupported altogether by the ftate, who have endowed it ^with: the fum of twelve thoufand five hundred dollars paid annually by the treafurer. The directors have applied for an augmentation of this fum, which is required for the additions and ameliorations as well of the buildings as of the ground furrounding it. They will obtain this augmentation from the wife liberality of the legiflature, which never refufes ufeful and be-, -meficial expences, although they migfafc&^metimes employ them with more advantage and judgment than they have done~ The poor's-houfe is fupported by a poor's-rate raifed among the inhabitants of the city, and is under the direction of infpectors of the poor. There BY THE DURE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. A6l There are generally from fix to eight hundred paupers kept in this houfe, befides fix hundred more who received afliftance from it during winter. The building was erected laft year, and coft twenty-five thoufand pounds, or an hundred and thirty thoufand dollars. It is kept remarkably neat, and the poor well treated. A great number of thefe are infirm, decayed, and children, fothat the only labour that can be expected from them is the kitchen-work, wafhing, fewing, and working in the garden belonging to the houfe. $$0£$ The annual expence of each pauper is calculated at forty pounds, or an hundred and fifty dollars. The annual poors-rat© amounts to thirty thoufand dollars, and is in proportion to one third of the whole taxes raifed in the city in thofe years where there is no extraordinary expence. If a poor's-houfe be any where proper, it is undoubtedly in a great city,..but, in my opinion, it is feldom a good inltitution either in a political or charitable point of view. According to the acknowledgment of the infpectors of the poor at New York, the poor-houfe of New York produces paupers. It is aftonifhing, that we fee nowhere in America the eftablifhment of benefit-clubs, where the working clafs might, by contributing a fmall part of their earnings, fecure to themfelves, in their old age, a fupport arifingfrom their economy, which would prevent that kind of fhame ever attending the receipt of public charity, and would be, in its effects, as beneficial to the morals of the people as to the finances of the flate, and its true profperity. Such inftitutions fhould therefore receive every public encouragement. A numerous fociety, called the City Di/penfary, provides alfo, by fubfcription, for the relief of the indigent fick, in providing them with medicines. A phyfician, a furgeon, and an apothecary, are appointed and paid by the fociety to give their advice to the patients who attend there in virtue p£ an order from a member of the fociety. In cafes of neceffity. j they are alfo to vifit the poor at their own houfes, and to inoculate them if required. The fubfcription is five dollars a year, which gives the member a right to have two patients at all times on the lift; and a mem-. her. 4 402 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, ber may nominate more upon the additional payment of two dbW&s and a half for each; A fubfcription of fifty dollars is the qualification ; of a member for life. This fociety annually relieves from feven to eight hundred fick. It is a kind of inftitution common to all the large towns of the United States, and feems to be one of great utility. At New York, as in all the great trading towns on the continent, there are a great number of prifoners for debt. A fociety has been eftablifhed by voluntary fubfcription, which provides amply for the wants of thofe debtors who have no other recourfe to procure garments and bed clothes. The juries called in courts of law, who are allowed a fhilling a day each for their attendance, generally alfo give up this fmall falary to the above purpofe. The relief thus granted to the poor prifoners amounts annually to five or fix hundred dollars. There are feveral other charitable focieties eftablifhed at New York, all with a view of relieving the unfortunate, the fick, and of different de- fcriptions; each of which has its particular regulations. This is the proper place to mention the relief granted by the ftate and city of New York to the unfortunate colonifts who efcaped from St. Domingo, and which has been continued ever fince the year 1793, when it was begun. Immediately upon their arrival at New York, a fubfcription was quickly raifed for their relief, amounting to the fum of eleven thoufand fix hundred and twenty-four dollars, and fince that time eleven thoufand two hundred and fifty dollars more have been granted by the legiflature of the ftate for the emigrant colonifts. The ftate of New York has had alfo the diftribution of feventeen hundred and fifty dollars, as their proportion of fifteen thoufand dollars voted by Congrefs in 1794 with the fame intention; fo that the unfortunate colonifts of St. Domingo have received from the ftate of New York the fum of twenty-four thoufand fix hundred and twenty-four dollars, or an hundred and thirty-two ifi^fl^ fand nine hundred and feventy French livres. The benevolent fpirit which induced the fubfcription and vote for thefe fums has alfo prefided at the»' mftribution. Immediately on their -Bl^t^lfi^ arrival BTTHE DUitE DE LA RSemSFOUTCAIIL.T' ErANCOURTV 463 arrival houfes; were taken to receive thofe moft deftitute of refources; they were there fupplied with food, clothing,, and fewel; the lefs necef- fitous received a. fmall weekly allowance of from fix to twelve dollars, according to the number of their family. By degrees thefe fuccours became lefs neceffary.. France provided for the fupport of a great number. of families; a number of others, from time to time, returned to the colonies, or proceeded to "France; but the ftate of New York has never ceafed to exercife its benevolence, and there now are raifed funds to fe- cure. the French families in the city who are deftitute of refources, agamfi the wants and feverity of the approaching winter. The diftributors of thefe fuccourshave been La wn e n c e Em e r y and R i c ha rd La r je n e r , both Quakers, who deferve every praife, and the particular gratitude of all Frenchmen, for the goodnefs, the juftice, and the unremitting attention with which they have difcharged this honourable function. Richard Larasner is now the fole agent, Lawrence Emery having been dead for thefe two years. BANKS. There are two banks eftablifhed at New York ; one of thefe is a branch of the bank of the United States, and is conducted in the fame manner, and under the fame regulations, as the other branches of that bank; the other is the bank known by the name of the Nav York Bank. It was incorporated in 1791 ; its- capital is nine hundred and fifty thoufand dollars, in nineteen hundred fhares of five hundred dollars each. The rules and the bufinefs carried on by this bank are fimilar to thofe of the others eftablifhed in the United States, particularly in Pennfylvania. In its adminiftration, and in all its tranfactions, it is abfolutely independent of the ftate, which, by a particular regulation, may purchafe as far as a hundred fhares, but has no farther vote in the deliberations, than in proportion to its fhares as an ordinary proprietor. This bank deferyedry i enjoys the confidence of the public. Its dividends are about nine per cent per annum. The prefent; value of fhares is about twenty-five per ce^t above theh%£|i$^Bat* price. PRISONS. 404 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, PRISONS. I have before mentioned that the criminal jurifprudence has been reformed in the ftate of New York, and, with the exception of the crime of robbery in churches, has been made altogether fimilar to that of Pennfylvania : that new fyftem neceffarily produced the prefent regulation of prifons. The legiflature of New York have been anxioufly engaged in this particular, and in the conftruction of a prifon at New York for ftate convicts; and in the mean time, fince paffing the law, it has been ordered to delay building the prifon at Albany. The new prifon at New York is already nearly finifhed, and it is upon a very complete plan. Its walls inclofe four acres, and nothing is wanting in refpect of fecurity, extent, good air, divifion of the different claffes of prifoners, facility of fuperintendence, and every other eircumftance neceffary to this fort of inftitution, and Will, without doubt/ be one of the moft perfect buildings of its kind. It may give fome idea of the" liberality of the legiflature of New York in defraying expences for public utility, to ftate that this prifon will coft upwards of nine hundred thoufand dollars. It will not be entirely completed till the next year, but in the prefent year the chief of the lodging part will be finifhed, and the conincls arc to be removed thither in the courfe of a month. This prifon is intended for that clafs of prifoners only; prifoneis for debt, and thofe committed by the police; being confined in fepa- rate prifons. It were to be wiflied, that it had been built within the city, -from which it is about half a mile diftant, as it would in that cafe have been in lefs danger of being forced from without, and the perfons in confinement refcued. But the city of New York is extending fo rapidly on that fide, that in a very few years it is probable the prifon will nottae thus infulated: and even now it is not at fo great a diftance but afliftance may be eafily got when neceffary. The internal government of this prifon will be conducted, as at Philadelphia, under infpector-s, principally Quakers. One of thofe, Thomas Eddy, whofe philanthropy, virtue, and zeal, merit equally the efteem of BY THE DURE DE %A R<3CHEFOUCAUL-T KANCOUrT. 4@* of the public, will render this institution in no t dfpect inferior to that of Pennfylvania. He is one of the moft excellent of men, his firft with being to do good to others. In giving him this praife, I do not memt-'to detract from the merit of his coadjufeoas, who, he aflures me, are ani- #S$ted with the fame fentiments as hbniejbf; but, as I happen not to be acquainted with themrI cannot fpeak from my own knowledge. The convicts are at prefent confined hi the ordinary prifon, and ate well fuperintended: four or five of tbeni are in the fame apartment; but they are not made to work, tbe place not permitting it. In the fame range of fyuildkigs where the convictsiare kept, is the houfe of correction, for women confined by order of the police. It is the old fyftem of the SalpetriereakJh&ikz, ui-aft-'&s imperfections. I could not fee, without horror, two or three girls, twelve years of age, arretted as public profti- tutes; and one of them was there for the fecond time* The vices o£ large cities are every where alike. THE COUNTRY ABOUT NEW YOR16 The ifland of New York being the only place round the city that can be reached without crofting Water* the ground there has rifen to an enormous price. In thia place the moft opulent inhabitants of New York have their country feats. Among thefe, that of Mr. Olive is moft diftinguifhed for its fimplicity and tafte, and for its pleafure- grounds, planted with all the European trees, reared with an attention very uncommon in America, and which is fully recompenfed by its fuccefs. Mr. Olive's houfe is ftill more remarkable for the truly patriarchal and hofpitable life he there leads. He panes at this villa all the time he can fpare from his bufinefs as a merchant, and has the happinefs to be, Withone of the moft accompliflied of wives, furrounded by a charming family. He is of the firft rank among thofe Frenchmen Whom no private intereft could induce to make them forget that of their country. The Americans allow, that this difpofition is more common among the ; French, than among any ©the* people. r$3$& •Vol.11. 3N The 4(56 ■fX&LAYm$*m NORTH AMERICA, The foil is in general bad. in the ifland of New York; it fells howrtrj$£ higher than'any of the grounds in the environs of Philadelphia. c The land inLong-lfland, which is the dearer in proportion to its vicinity to -New York, is of a very inferior quality. In other refpects, however, that ifland is extremely agreeable. The land, although very indifferent, is well cultivated, the market of New York furnifhing a certain and profitable vent for their produce. Yet towards the middle of the ifland there is a good deal of ground, of a light and dry fand, that has been hitherto confidered as unfit for cultivation. Although I went through the whole of this ifland, I do not confider it fufficientfy interefting to enter into any details refpecting it, fuch as I have given of my other journies. In a fpace of four hundred miles fquare, Long-Ifland contains, according to an enumeration made in 1790, thirty-eight thoufand two hundred and nineteen inhabitants, including foui&^ouland eight hundred and thirty-nine flaves. THE MANNERS OF NEW YORK, AND NOTICES OF PERSONS INCIDENT TO THE SUBJECT. Every thing is ftill dearer at New Yoffe than at Philadelphia: the fhops are not fo well fupplied, and the fhopkeepers not fo civil and obliging. The manners are the fame at New York as in the other large towns in America, throughout all the different claffes of fociety. In point of hofpitality, the inhabitants hold a middle degree between thofe of Philadelphia and thofe of Bofton. Their political opinions were more favourable to England two years ago than they are now; and it is at prefent doubtful whether Mr. Jay, who owes his election as governor of the ftate. to that difpofition, will be re-elected the enfuing year. I had great pleafure in again meeting here Mr. Hamilton, who, as I have already mentioned, is one of the moft interefting characters in Arae* rica: he unites, to an enlarged underftanding, a great degree of courage and BY THE DUK and ftS$8nefs, with mild and extremely agreeable manners. It rally thought, and apparently with fome foundation, that he ftrongly influenced, and even directed the conduct of General Wafhington in the laft years of his prefidency. Mr.- Hamilton is, more than any other of the federalift party, expofed to the ill-will of the oppofite party: he is a very eminent Barrifter at New York, and his profeflional conduct is highly liberal. Born without a fortune, he quitted the office of fecretary of the treafury without a fortSine^;when the circumftances of the confb- lidation of the public debt, the extenfive fales of land, &c.gave him immenfe opportunities of becoming rich, without the rifk of public cenfure, if he had chofen to profit by them ; but a difintereflednefs in pecuniary matters, every where rare, but particularly fo in America,- is a univer- fally allowed trait in Mr. Hamifck's character; and I have been informed, by his clients, that their only conteft with him is refpecting the fmallnefs of the fees he requires. Colonel Burr, who is alfo one of the moft diftinguifhed characters in the United States, for the extent, precifion, and clearnefs of his judgment, for his acquired knowledge, and for the delicacy and generofity of his fentiments, and whofe friendfhip I have enjoyed for thefe two years, made me acquainted with the aged General Clinton, formerly governor of the ftate of New York, who is now as .ardent in his love of liberty as he was at the age of thirty ; and as he has devoted himfelf during the whole courfe of the revolution, and fince that period, to .eftablifh and preferve the liberty of his country, he alfo has. a number of enemies in the federalift party; but, from what I have feen, and from what I know of him, I confider him a man of the moft eftimable character. Another inhabitant of New York, whom-1 frequently-met during my laft flay there, where my intention of returning foon to; Europe induced me to keep little company, is Edmund Livingston, one of. the moft enlightened and eloquent members of the oppofition party in congrefs. When the American politics, coming round towards England, reftrained public expreffions of attachment to .the unfortunate'. Lafayette, whom they knew in fact more as the prifoner of George the Third, aiid under 3 N 2 the *t& TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, the influence of that monarch, ^han that of the Emperor, and prevented any attempts being mad®/j|© loofen $jis chains; Edward Livingftonn^^^h than once raifed his voio^jn congrefs, to engage them to take proper fteps towards the deliverance of that unfortunate but eftimable character, and to call the honourable attention of congrefs towards his- fon. Although Edward Livingfton is too young to have ferved with Lafayette in America, and could have no particular tie to him, -he faw in his caufe that of the friends of liberty, that of America, and he has fupported it with warmth. He has always been feconded by a number of his colleagues, and often by the majority; he would have been fo by the wholq,, in any other ftate of political difpofitions. I fhall be pardoned for adding the name of -Kosgiosk© to the lift which I delight in commemorating. There is no heart friendly to lit^^fo or an admirer of virtue and talent, in whom the name of-Kofciofko does not excite fentiments of intereft and refpect. The purity an^i^ator of his intentions, the boldnefs of his undertakings, the able manner in which he conducted them, and the misfortunes and atrocious cap|j^2f which have been their confequence, are too well known to require repetition. It is alfo well known, that Paul the Firft fignalifedthe commencement of his reign by the enlargement of this refpectable fufferer, whofe imprifonment and barbarous treatment made every generous mind condemn Catharine, if the whole life of that infamous woman, blackened with crimes and vices, could be fullied by an additional crime. In America, where he ferved with diflinction in the war of the revolution, has Kofciofko come to feek an afylum. He lodged, when I faw him, at the houfe of the brave General Gates, in whofe army he was employed at the memorable affair of Saratoga. The confequences of his wounds,, which ftill present him from the free ufe of one of his legs, and his: rigor ous confinement, have impaired his health, ;but it'^ow.bfgins 'to be ie- eftablifhed. Simple and modeft,. he • even flieds tears of gratitude,, and feems aftonifhed at the 'homage-he receives. He fees in. every mam.wSipx, % the friend of liberty and'of man, ajbrethkr. His- countenance, fpark- 4ing wMh &e,i$ifcQTers-* ^©ml whii?h'-«o*-c&GumftanGes-can render de- ^pfe531®[S - pendent,. BY THE DUKE DB LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 4()Q pendent, and expreffes the language of his heart, Shall I never then fight more for my country'? He fpeaks little, particularly on the- misfortunes of his country, although the thought of thefe occupy his whole foul. In a W^2||^||ei:ation of^^prnent, >gcandeur, fwe©tf|efs, force, goodnefs, all that commands refpect and homage, appear to me to be concentrated in this celebrated and interefting victim of misfortune and defpotifm. T have met few men whofe appearance fo much excited in me that effect. His young friend Niemcewicz, who was wounded in the fame battle with Kofciofko, and, like him, wra3,irnp;ri&ned in the dungeons of Catherine, has followed inni-to America, and devotes to him the fon deft attentions of friendfhip. Niemcewicz i^, from his noble fentim^n^^Mfc agreeablenefs of his manners, and the extent of hisj^nowledge, a perfon .particularly intereffing. He is faid t© hold the fixft rank among the poets of his country. After fhaving feen b©4h,yiefe great menasoften as I could, I left them, with a fincere wifli for the rhaj^jinefs of their country, which .was returned with an equal wifh on their part in behalf of mine* GENERAL WP TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE UNITED STATES. HAVING given a fketch of the conftitutions and principal laws of Inefflom I have now to fpeak of the federal government, which exercifes V fovereign power over the whole, and forms the bond which unites them together. The political? character of the times gives a degree of importance to this part of my work that belongs to no other; were it not, indeed, abfolutely neceffary to render the notions of my reader-|hore diffirllt and perfect refpecting the United States and their feveral governments. SITUATION OF THE UNITED STATES PREVIOUS TO THE YEAR 1787. Early in the American revolution, and in the midft of the dangers of • that war it occafioned, a congrefs was held of deputies from each of the ftates, who, fitting together in one chamber, formed the government of the union. The only bond which connected the feveral ftates, at this period, was the common caufe in which they were engaged; and the general confidence was the fole authority of the congrefs. But fo imperious were the circumftances in which they acted, andfo perfect the zeal of their conftituents, that the orders they iffued, many of which exceeded their authority, were promptly and fcrupuloufly obeyed. The congrefs thus ftrengthened with the public opinion accomplifhed many great objects; it levied armies; raifed extenfive loans; formed important alliances; maintained the war with vigour; and proclaimed the independence of the country. The BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEF0UCAULT EIANCOURT. 471 The articles of confederation which were not adopted till 178I, gave the congrefs a more extenfive authority; but one that "was ftill very limited, and, in many refpects, incomplete. By thofe articles it had authority to require of the different ftates the money neceffary for the war, and the expences of the union; but it was totally deftitute of all means of coercion on the ftates, or even individuals, who fhould refufe to bear their portion of the public burthens; and all regulations of commerce, however general, were left to the feveral ftates. At the peace, zeal and confidence abated with the abfence .of the dangers that gave them birth. The congrefs found the limits of its au thority too narrow; it was deftitute even of power to execute its own laws; and was, on that account, unwilling to pafs many that were neceffary. The inadequacy of the government to its object was felt in every direction ; the feveral ftates neglected to fulfil engagements made by the congrefs, in the name of the whole, to pay debts contracted for the war; the paper of the congrefs was depreciated; credit exifted no longer; and commerce languished. England laid heavy duties on the importation of the produce of the American flates. Some of the flates, it is true, impofed heavy duties on Englifh goods ; but that meafure was not general, and, in the condition of the country, the expedient was prejudicial to the ftates by whom it was adopted. It was in the midft of thefe and other calamities, and with a defign of applying a remedy to them, that the Convention of Annapolis, and afterwards that of Philadelphia, were convoked. This laft convention framed the conftitution which at this day exifts in the United States. Although it is already wTell known, I will here fet it down entire and in its own words. A conftitution is a thing of which a perfect idea is not formed from a mere abftract:; and a complete idea of the American conftitution is neceffary to comprehend what I have to fay concerning the debates on this conftitution, and the oppofition it had to encounter. CONSTI- m An Travels' in north asterica* CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. We, the people of the United States, in order to form a mote pCffedf union, eftablifh juftice, infure domeftic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and fecure the bleffmgp of liberty to ourfelves and our pofterity, do ordain and eftablifh this conftitution for the United States of America. Article I. Section iff. All legiflative powers herein granted fliall be yelled in * congrefs of the United States, which fhall conmt of a fenate and houfe of reprefentatives. Seel. 2d. The houfe of reprefentatives fliall be compofed of members chofen every fecond year by the people of the feveral ftates; and the electors in each ftate fhall have the qualifications requifite for electors of the moft numerous branch of the ftate legifl&turere-' . No perfon fhall be a reprefentative who fhall not have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been, feven years a citizen of the United States; and who fhall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that flate in which he fliall be chofen. Reprefentatives and direct taxes fhall be apportioned among fhe feveral ftates which may be included within this union, according to their re- fpective numbers, which fliall be determined by adding to the whole number of free perfons, including thofe bound to fervice for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other perfons. The actual enumeration fhall be made within three years after the firft meeting ■ of the congrefs of the United States, and within every fubfe- quent term of ten years, in fuch a manner as they fliall by law. direct. jH' number of reprefentatives fliall not exceed one for every thirty thoufand, but each ftate fhall have at leaft one reprefentative ; and until fuch «itn- meration fliall be made, the ftate of New Hampfhire fhall be entitled to choofe three, Maffachufetts eight, Rhode Ifland and Providence Plantation* BY THE DUKE DE LA RQCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. tions one, Connecticut five, New York fix, New Jerfey four, Pennfylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland fix, Virginia ten, Norf&Oarolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three. When vacancies happen in the reprefentation of any flStS> the elet?u* tive authority thereof fliall ifluerwrits of election to fill fuch vacancies. _ The houfe of reprefentatives fhall choofe their fpeaker and other officers, and fhall have the fole power of impeachment. Pf3f* Seel. 3d. The fenate of the United States fhall be compofed of two fenators from each flate, chorcf};by the legiflature thereof, foraflit years; and each fenator fhall have one vote. Immediately after they fhall be affembled, in confequence of thefirft election, they fliall B£ dTOded as equally as 'ffiSy be into three claffes. The feats of the fenators of tflt^ftrfl clafs fliall be Vacated at the expiration of the fecond year; of the fecond clafs at \ the eixftration of the fourth year; and of the third elafs at the expMtf^feof the fixth year ; fo that one-third may be chofen in every fecond year; and if vacancies happen by refignation, or otherwife, during the recefs of the legiflature of any ftate, the executive power thereof may make tempofary^ppoint- ments until the next meeting of the legiflature, wHi6faPflilflI then fill up fuch vacancies. :~r'WJ&$£i No perfon fhall be a fe^lttor who fhall not have attained to the k&t of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the Uri3£ed States; and who fhall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of the ftate for wfii$S he fhall be chofen. . The vice-^tfefMent of the United States fliall be prefident of the fenate; but fliall have no vote, unlefs they be equalry divided. The fenate fliall choofe their other officers, and alfo a prefident, pro tempore, in the abfence of the vice-prefident, or when he fhafl^sfes^fe f§fecoffiee of ptefident of the United States. - The fenate -fhalFltpVe the fole power to try all impeachments. W3*e*n fitting for that purpofe, they #LaH be on oath or afBfrjgi'Mon. When the prefident of the*United- States is tried!- the-c'Mef juftice fliall preftde; •Vol. II. 3 O and 474 TRAVELS IN NORTH ,?AtMERICA, and no perfon fliall be convicted without the concufisnce of two-thirds of the members prefent. Judgment, in cafes of impeachment, fliall not extend further than to a removal from office, and a difqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honour, truft, or profit under the United States ; but the party convicted fhall be neverthelefs fubject to indictment, trial, judgment, and punifhment, according to law. Seel. 4th. The times, places, and manner of holding election for fenators and reprefentatives, fliall be prefcribed in each ftate by the legiflature thereof; but the congrefs may at any time by law, make or alter fuch regulations, except as to the place of choofmg fenators. The congrefs fliall affemble at leaft once every ^aj^. and fi$||L meetings fhall be on the firft Monday of December, unlefs they fhall by law appoint a different day. Seel. 5th. Each houfe fhall be the judge of the elections^ returns, and t^gpl^&cations for its own members, and a majority,]&£. each fhall constitute a quorum to do bufinefs ; but a fmaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of abfent members, in fuch a manner, and under fuch penalties as each houfe may provide. Each houfe may determine the rules of its proceedings, punifh its members for diforderly behaviour, and, with the concurrence of tap-thirds, expel a member. Each houfe fhall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publifh the fame, excepting fuch parts as in their judgment may require fecrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members of either houfe, ©n any queftion,. fhall, at the^^ure of one-fifth, of tjiofe prefent, be entered on the journal. Neither houfe, during the feffion of congrefs, fhall, without, the,cgnT fent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houfes fhall be fitting. Seel. 6th. The fenators an<|hfeprefentatives fhall receive a compenfaT. |i<i^ Q ;. tion BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPGUCAULT LIANCOURT. *n tion for their fervice s, to be afcertained by law, and paid out of the treafury of the United States. They fhall, in all cafes, except treafon, felony, and the breach of peace, be privileged from arreft during their attendance at the feffion of their refpective houfes, and in going to and returning from the fame; and for any Ipeech or debate in either houfe, "^fy'fliall not be queftioned in any other place. No fenator or reprefentative fhall, during the time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the United States, wiiich fliall have been created, or the emoluments whereof fhall have been encreafed during fuch time; and no perfon holding any office under -the United States fliall be a member of either houfe during his continuance in office. Seel. 7th. All bills for raifing revenue fliall originate in the houfe of reprefentatives; but the fenate may propofe or concur with amendments, as on any other bills. ^*P^ Every bill which fhall have paffed in the houfe of reprefentatives, and the fenate, fhall, before it becomes a law, be prefented to the prefident of the United States ; and if he approve, he fliall fign it, but if not he fhall return it, with his objections, to that houfe in which it originated, who fhall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconfider it. If, after fuch re-confideration, two-thirds of that houfe fliall agree to pafs the bill, it fhall be fent, together with the objeetieStl/ to the other houfe, by which it fhall alfo be re-confidered, and, if approved by two-thirds of that houfe, it fliall become a iaw. But in all fuch cafes the votes of both houfes fhall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the perfons voting for and againfl^fhe bill fliall be entered on the journal of each houfe refpeJ&vely. If any bill-fhall not be returned by the prefident within ten days, Sundays excepted, after it fhall 'ha,?e?lbeen prefented to him, the fame fhall be a law, in like manner as if he had figned it, uftlefs the congrefs, by theirfi^tjournments, prevent its return, in which cafeitr fhall not be a law. a . Every order> refolution, or vote, to which the concurrence of the fenate and houfe of reprefentatives, may be neceflary, except on a queftion 3 0 2 of TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, of adjournment, fliall be offered to the prefident of the United States; and before the fame fhall take effect, fliall be approved by him, or, being* difapproved by him, fliall be repaffed by two-thirds of the fenate and houfe of reprefentatives, according to the rules and limitations prefcribed in the cafe of a bill. Seel. 8th. The congrefs* fhall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, impofts, and excifes; to pay the debts, and provide for the common defence and the general welfare of the United States; but all duties, impofts, and excifes, fliall be uniform throughout the United States; .To borrow money on the credit of the United States; To regulate commerce with^feeign nations, and among the feveral ftates, and with the Indian tribes ; To ef^lifh the uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the fubject ©£typ^w0$gs throughoutitl|e United States; To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and jjfe^he flandard of weights aja<|fjp|^Ures; ■ To provide for the punifhment of counterfeiting the fecurities and current coin of t^©United States; To eftablifh poft offices and pofl^^ds ; To promote the progrefs of fciences and ufeful arts, by fecurjng^&tf-' limited times, to authors and inventors, the exclufive right to their re- fpective writings and difeveries j To coj^Jitute tribunals inferior t© the fiipreme court; To define and punifli, piracies and felonies committed on the high feas, $.%$> offences comrfostted againft the laws of nations; To declarei$a$, grant letters of marque, and reprifal, and make niifes concerning captures on land and water; !jwjlte-.raife and fupport armies; but no appropriation of money for that ufe fliall be for a longer term than two years; To provide and maintain a navy; To make rules for the government and regulation of the land andrnaval- forces; &m*& $A To BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEPQUCAULT.-LIAN COURT, A77 To provide for the calling forth the militia to execute the laws, of the union, fupprefs infurrections, and repel invafions; To provide for organizing, arming, and difciplining the militia; and for governing fuch part of them as may be employed in the fervice of the United States, referving to the flates refpectively the appointment of the officers, and the authority of trainingthe militia according to the dtf^ cipline prefcribed by congrefs ; %S© To exercife exclufive legiflation in all cafes- whatfoever, over fuch diftrict:, not exceeding ten miles fquare, as may by ceffion of particular ftates, and the acceptance of congrefs,: become the feat of government of the United States ; and to exercife like authority over all places- purchafed by the confent of the legiflature of the ftate in which the fame fhall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arfenals, doek^jNi^cai&fc other needful buildings: and to make all laws which fhall be neceffary fei» canty ?fo>to execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vetted by this conftitution in the government of the United-States, or in any deparfaiitmt thereof. Seel. '9th. The migration or importation of fuch perfons, as any of the ifefc^now exifMngmairthink proper to admit, fhall not be prombrile\§ by the congrefs->prior to the year 1 808 ; but a tax or duty may be impofed on fuch importation, not exceeding teft'cfaftlJtE'&r each perfon. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus fhall not be fufpended, unlefs in cafes of rebellion or invafion, or when the public fafety may require it. No bill of* attainder or ex pofifaelo law fliall be paffed. No capitation or other direct tax fliall be laid, urdels in proportion to the cenfus or enumeration herein before directed to be taken. No tax-or ds&ty fhall be laid on articles exported from any ftate.—No preference fliall be given by any regulation of commerce.or--revenue to the ports of one ftate over thofe of another ; nor fha^veffi^s bound to or from one ftate, be olihged to enter, clear, or pay duties in anothetei*' No money fhall be drawn from the treafury, but in confequenceof "ap-v- propriations made by law; and a regular ftatement and account of the receipts #$> alWISORTH AMERICA, ; receipts and expenditures of all public money fhall be publifhed from time to time. No title of nobility fliall be granted by the United States; and no perfon holding any office of profit or truft under them fhall, without the confent of congrefs, accept of any prefent, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign ftate. Seel. 10th. No ftate fhall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation ; grant letters of marque and reprifal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make any thing but gold and filver coin a tender in payment of debts; pafs any <feill of attainder, ex pofl faclo law, or law impairing the obligations of contracts, or grant any title of nobility. No ftate fhall, without the confent of congrefs, lay any impofts or duties on imports or exports, except what may be abfolutely neceffary for executing its inflection laws ; and the net produce of all duties and impoft-s>^.d by any ftate on imports or exports, fliall be for the ufe of the treafury of^thel^ftiited States; and all fuch laws fliall be fubject to the revifion and controul of the congrefs.—No ftate fhall, without the confent of congrefs, lay duty on tonnage keep troops, or fhips of war, in time of peace; enter into any engagement or compact with another ftate, or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unlefs actually invaded, or in fuch imminent danger as will not admit delay. Article II. Seel. 1 ft. The executive power fliall be veiled in a prefident of the United States of America : he fliall hold his office during the term of four years, and, together with the vice-prefident chofen for the fame term, be elected as follows. Each ftate fliall appoint, in fuch manner as the legiflature thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole number of fenators and reprefentatives to which the ftate may be intitled in the congrefs: but no fenator or reprefentative, or perfon holding an office of truft or profit under the United States, fhall be appointed elector. The electors fhall meet in th^refpective ftates, and vote by %dlot for two BY THE DUKE BE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LIANCOURT* two; perfons-, of whom one at leaft fhall not be an inhabitantof the fame ftate with themfelves. And they fhall make a lift of all perfons^ voted for, and the number, of votes for each ; which lift they fhall fign, certify,- and tranfmit, foaled, to the feat of government of the United States,, [directed to the prefident of the Senate. The prefident of the fenate fhalf, in the prefence of the fenate and houfe of reprefentatives, open all the cer* ' tificates, and the votes fliall then be counted. The perfon having the greateft number of votes-fhall be the prefident, if fuch a number be a majority of electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have fuch majority, and have an equal number of votes, then the houfe of reprefentatives fliall immediately choofe, by baU lot, one of them for prefident;. and if no perfon have a majority then from the five higheft on the lift, the faid houfe fliall, in the like manned choofe the prefident. But in choofmg the prefident the votes fhaSrsrfee taken by- ftat^tthe reprefenfeatiens from each ftate having one vote ; a quorum for this purpofe fliall confift of a member- or membersrfasoni two thirds of the flat©s;$spd a majesty of all the ftates fhall be neceffary to a choice. In every cafe, after the choice of the prefident, the perfon having the greateft number of votes of the electors fhall be the vice-prefident. But if there fhould remain two or more who have equal votes, the fenate fhall clioofe from themrby ballot, the vice-prefident.. The congrefs may determine the time of choofing the electors, and the day on which they fhall give their votes; which day fhall be the fame throughout the United States. No-perfon except a-natural-born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of $iis conftitution, fhall be. eligible t© the office of prefident; neither fhall any g^rfon be eligible to that office who fhall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a refident within the. United States.. In cafe of the rejmcftval of the prefident from office, or of his death,, refignation, or inability t© difcharge the powers and duties \©i|the faid office, the fame fhall devolve on the vice-prefident, and the congrefsffpaay by law provide for the cafe of removal, death, refignation, or inability, both. 480 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, both of the prefident and vice-prefident, declaring what officer fhall then act as prefident, and fuch officer fliall act accordingly, until the difability be removed, or a prefident fhall be elected. PJRJ The prefident fliall, at flated times, receive for his fervices, a compen- fation, which fliall neither be inereafed or diminifhed during that period for which he fliall have been elected, and he fhall not receive within that period any other emolument from the United States, or any of them. Before he enters on the execution of his office, he fhall take the following oath or affirmation : <( I do folemnly fwear, or affirm, that I will faithfully execute-- -£h-e • office of prefident of the United States, and will, to the beft of my ability, preferve, protect, and defend the conftitution of the United States." '-.'ff ■ Seel. 2d. The prefident fliall be commander in chief of the army and navy of the United States, and of the militia' of the feveral ftates; Wh©n called into the actual fervice of the United States, he may require the opinion, in Wrllfng, of the principal of&fflfj&fyttih of the exe£rMve departments, upon a#jp;-fubject relating t#*lh^iteties of their re'fpective offices, and he fhall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences aa^infl the United States, ©Mfcpt in cafes of impeachment. He fliall have power, by and with the advice and confent of the-fenate, to make treaties, provided two*%hirds of the fenators prefent concur; and he fliall nominate, aiid by and with the advice and confent of the fenate fhall appoint ambafladors, other public minifters, and confute judges of the fupreme court, and all other offi^f's of the United States, whofe appointments are not herein otherwife provided for, and which fliall be eftablifhed by law. But the congrefs may, by law, veft the appointment of fuch inferifor officers, as they think proper, in the prefident alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of the departments. The prefident fhall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recefs of'tflfe-fenate, by gri&rting commiffions which fliall 'e^^&ifc-at 'fhe end of their next feffion. Seel. 3d. He fliall, from tithe1 to time, give to the congrefs 'information BY THE BUKfEDE LA R6CHESO_LTC AULT .-MANCC tk>n ofathe. ftate of the union, and recommend to their consideration fuch meafures as he fhall judge neceffary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary occafions, convene both houfes, or either of them, and in cafe of difagreement between them, with refpect to the timeof adjournment, he may adjourn them to fuch time -as he fhall think proper; he fhall receive ambaffadors, and other .public minifters; he fhall take care a that the laws be faithfully executed, and .fhall cpmmiffion all the officers, of the .United States. I Seel. 4th. The prefident, vice-.prefident, and all civil officers of the United States, 4M$bbe removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of treafon, bribery, or other high crimes andmifdemeanors.. Article III. Seel. lit. The judicial power of the United States fliall be veiled in one fupreme court, and in fuch infiariiic^^^^^ithe congrefs may, from time to time, ordain and eftablifh. The judges, both of the fupreme and inferior courts, fhall hold their offices during good behaviour, and fhall, atftated times, receive for. their fervices, a compenfation, which* fhall not be diminifhed during their continuance in office. SeSl. 2d. The judicial power fliall extend to all cafes in law and equity, arifing under this conftitution, the laws of the United StaJ^s and treaties made, or which fhall be made, under thskk'$$&©rity; to all cafes affecting ambaffadors, other public minifters and confuls; to all cafes of ad*- miralty and mari^pte jurifdiction; to d^pi^gs. to which the United States fliall be a party ; to difputes between two Or more ftates; between a ftate and eifeens of another ftate; bei^gen citizens-of-the fame ftate claiming lands under ggpits of d^F©rent ftates; and between a ftate or the citizens thereof and. foreign -flates, citizens or fubjects. In all cafes affedingambafladors, other public minifters, and confuls, and thofe in which a ftate fhall be party, the-fupreme court fliall have original^^^uJ^ion. In all the other cafes before megjt^ae^lf the fupreme court fhall have appellate jurifdiction, both as . to law and fact, .- reV.ox. II. 3 P .with TRAVEL'S-' IN' NORTH ASTERI© Ay \ with fuch exceptions, and under fuch. regulations as the congrefs fhall' make. «40Si^it The trials of all crimes, except in. cafes of impeachment, fliall be by fury; and fuch trrai^fhwl)© held m the ftate where the faid crimes fhall have been committed; but when not* committed within any of the iWmfcal Slates, the trials mall be at fuchr|>Iace or places as the congrefs* may by law have directed. Se£l. 3d. Treafon againft the United States fliall confift ©nljiih levying war againft them, or in adhering t& tkei^^^imm,^tm£ them aid and comfort. No perf©"® fl£Sficbe convftted of treafon, unlefs on the teftimony of two witneffes to the fame overt act,, or on confeftion in> open court. The congrefs fhall have power to declare the punifhment of treafon; ';Nfa£$Qattainder of treaf©^ fhall work corruption of blood, or forfe^^e^. Except during th&'Mfe of the perfon attainted.. Ar^tcl-e: IV. trrfifrrfi i^ttSSbiEI Seel. iff. Full faith an#e"e(i$t fhaEb be giyei*^ each f|a§g to the public acts, reeord$|and judicial proeeedihgsiof every other ftate^iJLnd the congrefs may ..by gene^*liaws prefodhe then&atfner in which^ich acts, records, and proceedl^^yShalL be pfso^ed^iapfd the effect thereof. SeSl. 2d.. The ei^g&l&sf meh ftate jf^ajll^eD^a^led to all privileges- and immunities of citizens in each of the feveral ftates. A perfon charged in any ftateew^tife treafon^ felony, or other crime, who fhall flee from: jufti||g> and be found in another ftate, fliall, on demand of the.^iicilij^e authority of the ftate from which he has fled, be delivered Up; to be removed tot^lh^ffea^ No perfon. jH$ld to ferarke or labour in: one ftate, *$$!&er the laws thereof* {©1eaping into another, fhall, in confequence of any law br regu- IMlbn^ therein, be difchargcki froma^ch fervice or labour, but fliall be de- a'flfeeifcd up on claim.Jf the. party t^^hcaiiifiich .fer^jgg& or labour m$${$e:: '8ui&a,; ,\ ... fk& BY THE DUEE 0>E LA ROOHEPOUCAULT LIAWCOURT. ' Set??. 3d.- 'New ftates may be -admitted by the - congrefs into - this- union, but-no new ^fete fhall be formed or erected within the jurifdiction of any other ftate; nor any ftate be formed :by the junction of two or more ftates,- or parts-of ftates, without -the confent of the legislatures of the -flates c§3fl£erned,' asawelf as ©£ t|i©*e©iigrefs. The congrefs fhall have power to difpofe of and make aH needful rules and Regulations ref^ctin^l^eiteiatitMry, or other property belonging to the>tWted^tfctes; -and nothing in itlpi^iCQnftitution'diiall be fo con- ftrued as to pJBJudice anyadaims ©$Mfe#i3»ited States, or of any paiti- ^iteijhftate. Sell. 4th. ThelSaited States fhafl * guarantee to every-ftate in this union a republican form of government, and fliall protect: each of-them againft invafion; and on application of the legiflature, or of the executive power, when the legiflature cannot be comened, againft domeftic - violence. * *AA. $ii$&*m&iBB£ titip£$; Article' V. "^I^^Oi^d^/MieneveS^^o-thirds of both houfesafhall deem it necef- '^a^^fhSB^rop©^!- iMKenr'ments to this conftitution, or, on the application •^thfe le^flafttees^of two^lhirds of the feverfii ftates, fhall call a convention for propofing anien^aelE^P^h&lPlB^ither ^elifeafhall bei^alid to all intents -a^l^ljmrpofe3^^-part of this conftitution, when ratified by the legiflature s of three-fourths of^hetfeveral ftates, or by conventions of three- fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be pro* pofed by^the congr^5*!*^?Qvided, that no amenAli^flt which may be made prior to the year 1808, fhall in any manner affect the firft and fourth claufes in theninth fecM©n of the firft a^ldH^and that no ftate, without its confent, fhall be deprived of its equal fuftrage in the fenate. tffiriiwjl aifrf^- . Article VL .ihVliiMtfi All debts contracted,, and-engagements entered into, before the ad©p^, tion of this conftitution, fliall be as^valid againft the United States under this conftitution, as-uhd©r-the-confederation. 3-'P.2 This ^S4? JRA^-ELS- IN? NORTH AMERICA,- This conftitution, and the laws of the United States* which fhall be made in purfuance thereof; and all treaties? made, or which fhallbe made, under the: authority of the United States* fliall be the fupreme law of the land; and the judges in every ftate fhall be bound the^p'by, any thing in the conftitution or laws of any ftate to the contrary notwith* ftanding. The fenators and reprefentatives before mentioned, and the members of the feveralvflate legiflatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of th^ifeveral ftates, fliall be. bound by oath or affirmation to fupport this conftitution; but no religious teft fhall ever be required. as;a qualification to any office, or public truft under the United States.. S^tf jj^TICLE VIL The ratification of the convention of nine flates fhallbe fiifBcient for the eftablifhment of this COnlptifution, between the ftates fo ratifying the: fame. Done in the conventions by the unanimous-confent of the ftatesf^pf^ fent, the 17th day of September, in the year of our Lord 1787* and of the.independence of the United States of America th© twelfth. In wit- nefs whereof, we; have hereunto fubfcribed/our names* George Washington, prefident, and deputy of Virginia.. lih^u&e&ofi New HampfhireAWb: John Langdon. Nicolas Gilman. Maffachufetts. ^||Ka|haniel Gorham. Rufen.King.. Conneclicut.. William Samuel Johnfon* io Jloger Sherman. .jjrC- New Yorki Alexander Hamilton^ NewJerfey. William Livihgftom David Brearly. William Paterfon* Jonathan. Dayton*. Deputies BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LIANCOU.RT. JDeputies of Pennftfeania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolma^ Georgia, Attefted William Jackson, Secretary, Benjamin Franklin. Thomas Miflin. Robert Morris. George Elymer. Thomas Fitz-Simons. Jared Ingerfoll. James Wilfon. Governor Morris. George Reed. Gunning Bedford, jun. Richard Baffet. Jacob Brown. James Mac-Henry. Daniel St. Thomas Jonifer. Daniel Caroll. John Blair. I James Maddifon, jun. William Blount. Richard Dobbfpaight. Hugh Williamfon. John Rutledge. Charles Cotefworth Pinckney Charles Pinckney. Peter Buttler. William Feer. Abraham Baldwin. mo --TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA^ STATE OF PARTIES AT THE TIME OF PROPOSING THE NEW CONSTITUTION TO THE CONVENTION AT PHILADELPHIA. DEBATES IN THE CONVENTION. The conftitution did not pafs -without warm debates; but as the ftruggle was occafioned^w^much hykhe views and paffions of the different parties that a^a^ao l^ftMrica, as by the advantages or defects of the conftitution itfelf, Ltftftik it right, before I fp&ak of thefe debates, to fay a word of tfie'ffta^w^:fti©s-Wthat period. Although there was-a^^lHOC^aO^drd among the friends of the revolution during the war, '%^ttiy of-the Americans, and efpecially of the inhabitants of the~t¥wns, were not^^f that number. Many who oppofed the ftamp-al&^e^fgffed lefs ^tl^ftSgftance to the tea-act. There were many even of thofe wh©*<2$n£ii?red in the oppofition to that laft act:, who w7holly difapproved of the meafures -of defence for ^hich America prepared on the arrival«$Pefee*troops from England. Finally, there were opponents, both in and out of congrefs, to the'^\M4^a^*lsifeidependence, that great and I decMve meafure, Jiimteh alone formed the fafety of ^fe United States, by LfMcing theniPtn the neceffity of conquering, or giving up every thing for wm^h^they e©r&ended.-'<^i$a1^<&Mbhe- opponents of indepenifeh'fce threw thenrtfeives£1©&e> after another, into the arms of the Tories, who, undeiUhe influmfe'efiof England, were exerting all their powers to defeat the re^llS^B.^^Cfchers, although they could not oppofe the will of the majority of the country, gav&fay&yikery lukewarm fupport; and thefe latter, who ©affiled themfelves the moderate party, were viewed with equal diffatisfaction and miftruft by each of the other. two. $&§ip When the revolution was effected, its partifans, without difficulty, were reconciled to the moderate party, whom the fuccefs of the revolu- . tion had already brought over to them; and the Tories were for fome years the only objects of the hatred of the reconciled parties. Succefs begets clemency in a nation, as well as among individuals, and confequently BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LIANCOURT. Confequently a difdain of the oppofition of their enemies, which indeed is a fecond and not a mean triumph to the conquerors. The Tories were in time viewed with lefs diflike. In fome inftances their confiscated eftates were reflored to them; in others, they were permitted to enter on their eftates, on repaying the purchafe-money to the prefent poffef- fors, which in general was fmall: fk&fe who were banifhed were fuffered. to return to their country, and all thefe took the oath to maintain independence ; and thenceforth the diflentions of the revolution feemed to be for ever healed. The converfion, however, of many of thefe, was far from being fin-, cere; and, if among the converts fome have fteadily maintained the/in'r dependence of the United States, they certainly were not the majority. Peace was no fooner concluded, thasnihe United States fell into the greateft diftrefs. The debts due from the merchants to England, the payment of which had been prohibited by the congrefs during the war, were now impatiently demanded. The American., merchants were al- glf^^pi^sf^^cfued, and the remnant of their effects?ffeized, by the agents of Engttjfh houfes. To relieve thei*sdilb"efs, they proceeded againft the retailers, who had been unable to pay them-: during1 the war, an&. who,. at this time, had a§ i^ttle powpc ^flifcisfying their demands. The greater part gj^jhe merchants were ruined; and, beinj^aseompeUed to. abandorv.t&esfcQfimmercifcl concerns* fehey ga«e .place to new adventurers, who were chiefly Snglifh, and moft of them agents of the. Englifh creditors. So widely did this ruin jextend, that at this day^ there are not among the American; merchants one in .fifty who was engagedin.com- merce, even.;&fetej^r as the year 1783. »a The if yeralftates- had -themfelves contracted debts-for the- wars Some of thefe, willing to fund their debts, impofed taxes for the purpofe,. which were fo far beyond the meansaofthe inhabitants that they could not be levied withouta.extreme, rigour: merehandife, cattle,—in fine, all kinds of effects, were almoft univerfally feizedj- while very, fmall and ineffec^ tuaLlevies wereiobtained. The-extremkies.to which;: government .proV- eeeded; 4*88 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, ! ceeded in thefe cafes, occafioned general difcontents, and were the caufe of infurrections in Maffachufetts, New Hampfhire, and Rhode-lfland. : The .paper money, both of the Union and the feveral ftates, was depreciated to the lowefl point, and inundated America. The embarafl- meiits of commerce, and in fome cafes its utter ruin, the natural confequence of this ftate of things ; the inability of the laws to enforce the taxes of the different ftates, and even thofe of the congrefs; a fpirit of jealoufy and rivalry among the feveral ftates ; the incoherency of -their' feveral commercial regulations, and its deplorable confequences ; the inadequacy of the congrefs to produce unanimity, or to apply any remedy to thefe complicated evils—-produced fomething little fhort of anarchy in the United States. The partifans of the mother country, and that country itfelf, now made themfelves certain that this new born nation could not e&ifl without England, and would foon be compelled to return to its former condition. The difoontent was univerfifeba- The friends of freedom were alarmed.- They faw at once, that the drawing defer the ties of the Union, and the extenfion of the powers of the federal government, were the only things that could preferve the independence of the United States. Such were the dangers which gave rife to the convention of Annapolis. No -more than five ftates fent delegates to this affembly; and thefe had powers only to frame a general fyftem for the commerce of the Union, which, by advancing the interefts of the whole, fhould maintain a good uraderftanding among the feveral. ftates. • The delegates, perceiving how far.they fell fhort of a general reprefentation of the Union, and the inadequacy of their own powers to effect any important change, diffolved the convention, after drawing up an addrefs to all the flates, in which they urged the neceffity of eacfy of them fending deputies to a new con- -jgfclgp'n, with full powers to deliberate on the general fituation of the Union, aud to devifemeans to add folidity and force to th&a prefent con- flit urion,. indifpenfable as that was to the reftoration of their affairs; They concluded, by propofing the affembling of that conventi$& in the h^y^i'fiw following BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LIANCOURTr following May ; and they difpatched copies of the addrefs to the congrefs, and the executive branches of the feveral -ftates. The invitation of the delegates of Annapolis was accepted by every one of the ftates, but that of Rhode-lfland ; and was the parent of that great and memorable convention held at Philadelphia in 1787,' whence fprang. the prefent conftitution of the United States, a But the defigns of the different ftates, in deputing members to the convention, and the opinions of the delegates themfelves, were farafrom being of one kind. Even the feveral friends of liberty:, were not unanimous in their, plans. Few of the. flates gave their deputies power.to deliberate on a new conftitution ; they were all willing to give efficacy to the conftitution in exiftence, and to make a code of regulations for the- general commerce ; but few wilhed to advance further. The enlightened men of the time faw, that a confederation haftily made, in the moment of a revolution, and in the midft of the imminent dangemand imperious wants of the war, was not fuch a form of government .j&i&wineceffary for the durable prosperity of the Union. Each of them d&Ongly felt the neceffity of a new conftitution, but were far from being agreed as to the parts of which it was to be compofed. It was to be expected, that the Englifh conftitution would find-parti-. fans among the members of flates that were fo lat^'Englifh colonies ; that conftitution was familiar to them ; they had long been conducted by Ifi^principles; it was the moft free form of government .at that time known, and had bcenjp&iky ranked abovealia others; the vices of the Englifh government were independent of its confti^n&on; and the abufes which hadcas^t into the conftitution might with facility be feparated? in its adoption, from its better principles—every trial of a new fyftem was dangerous to a country; the advantages of the Englifh conftitution were pr^teed by experience ; England had reached the higheft degree bf profperity under its. aufpices—fuch reafonings as thefe were fuffici^^ powerful t© accQuntffor the conduct of thofe who propofed to adopt the EngMfh conftitution in the UiiHid States,-or to frame one approaching it as near as poffible, without feeking to di%iace them with motives of per- Vol. m 3 Q fonal TRAVELS IN -NORTH; £Jf BftICA* fonal intereft: and ambition. On the other hand, that fcb^^0sil^^0gi fail to find many opponents, precifely becaufe it was of Englifh extraction. A people who had fo recently bent their whole force to throw off J&mr dependence on the crowisi#f England, could fcarcely be fuppofed to look for the fecurity of their liberty, and the continuance of their independence, in a conftitution from which they had-derived fo many naif- fortunes. That conftitution, in whatever manner it might be modified, appeared to them to affect the equality of ranks exifting among alt-the inhabitants of the ftate, to which were ftrongly attached that immenfe number that had nothing to expect from the deftruction of equality* The public fentiaafrents were at that time almoft imiverfally republii$R*i£ and the Englifh conftitution woiildiffant feeds of ariftocracy,afSfe&fe«t was feared would grow up to fchenEatopatien of thofe of liberty. The EngHfla conftitution might be fiiitable. to a people grown old, powerful, and wealthy, and be very unfit for a people in a ftate ©fjififant weaknefs. In a word, the fervility of imitating the Englifh conftitH#on, feemedaffcoiMsa ftep towards the ©Malubjugation to England ; and the difpofition of the tbJMted States was greatly avetieato fuei&Mi* difgrace. Thefe reafonings raifed opponents to the adoption of the Englifh conftitutfi^ even amojag t&Ofewho acknowledged the neceffity of a change; and this, propSEfrly 4peahidg? is the era of the origin, of parties in^e:United States. Such Were the difpofirioiis of the two aa&nties, when the twelve delegates ariitechalarfitmfeielphia—Rhode-lfland not having fent any to the fdeiayentflcari. That affembly foon fplit into two pai&tges-r—one-i^e$rous of eftablifliing a form of government as monarchical -as poffible; in a w$*}dj> .on a bans, very different from that of the confederation;—the other determined t@5t>a&.e::tihe confederationrjfor their ground-work, clearing it from ^©Jtjcie&i|Bointed out by experience, andiifeerigtbening it on the fide of 'its power; nasierthelefs, in a manner coa&flent with the rigi^aeof the '<^jS$ent ftates, and on principles perfectly republican. -^tfclfefe afferted^ that fome of the leaders ofthoffirfk party had formed the project of amonarchy, on the.sexad: 'plana-of that of England, on the throneof which was to be placed the Bifhop of Qfhaburg, now Duke of m&m -"'^ifelork; BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LTANCOURT. 4QI York; and that on thefe terms the Englifli government hadapromifed the ceffion of Canada to the United States, and the gift of feveral veffels of the line and frigates. According to this plana perpetual offenfiveand defenfive treaty was to be made with England. There is no appearance, however, that fuch a project was ever entertained. laetters, in which, it was fketched out, were indeed circulated through different parts of the United States previous to the meeting of the convention; feveral perfons, whofe veracity I cannot difpute, have affined me that they have feen fuch letters; but in truth they might be circulated by the artift£&§&£ the republican partjj4 to prejudice the people, by.prefentm|jpthis extreme to their confideration, againft any. attempt of their opponents to deftroy the ground-work of the federal government. .a Whatett«r:Twerethe cafe, early in the fib&ttgs of the convention a plan was prefented^ which propofed the eftablifhment of a prefident for life, and fenators forilife, and exprefled a defire to make both one and the other of thefe functions hereditary, and to fubject the laws of the refpe&ive ftates to/tclse'ievifionof the general government. But this plan met with no fupport; and a committee was appointed, who laid the bafis on which the prefent conflift&ion ftands. re _ The republicani principle prevailed among the greater number of the deputies, and was even prevalent throughout the whole ftates ; but the delegates of the more powerful flates were defirous of giving thofe ftates more influence in the government tfaey were frafaij^^han to the. weaker; and a party more enlightened and more juft in their meyys, were equally determined to preferve the equality whi^Jail'the^latcs had nrfcbeorigi- nal confederation. The former of thefe two-parties* in moft difputes, ranged themfelves on the fide of the committee that framed the confti- >'ttififetlt from whom they hoped to gain better termsjthan from the purely republican party. The inequality in the general reprefentation, founded on the bafis of the population of fhe flates, 'was one of the advant&ges they gained by their policy^ habit wasnot even without long and violent debates.-—Another was, .the right given to Virginia, and the fou£he*n -ftates, to reckon in the population which formed the rati© of delegates 3 Q 2 of ' TRAVELS*£St 3RHWK AMERICA; o&feaeh ftate, three-fifths, of theifi&ves—-a conceflion that exhibited a de- jgfc^ble departure from tfa&f principles of a free people ; it was a concef- fion that gave to fome flates a degree of power and influence over the others, in proportion as the former violated, by the maintenance of flavery in their own ftates, the very principles of the Union; it was a conceflion which encouraged and encreafed the growth of flavei^-by the: natural operation of the political interefts of the ftates where that injuftice ftill exifts; and in a word, a. conceflion which was, wholly abfurd,; becaufe it gives, the privileges of freemen, in the electionsof the general government, to perfons who are regarded by the laws of the ftate in which they refide as part of the flock of the land, and are fold with other flock by its proprietors. a -. The delegates of the great ftates did not, however, obtain all they demanded. The po^c^sof the feveral ftates were not reftricted in the degree they defired ; the title of natidkfrl conflitution, which they propofed to be given to the new frame of governmentyStas rejected, and that of federal cofflflituthon adopted; the inequality of the reprefentation in the houfe of reprefentatives was not gained by them;, till tl$^3$ALagreed to the equality of reprefentation in the. fenate.—The accommodation in this article between the two 'parties was effected by Benjamin- ' Franklin. pjjjfj:- The deputies of the great ftates propofed, that the houfe of reprefentatives fhould be chofen for three years, and that of the fenate for feven; raid by the conftitution the former wras reftricted to two years, and the latter to fix. They propofed that the prefident fhould be elected by the . congrefs, and that the term of his continuing in office fhould be feven tyem&i the conftitution gave the power of chufing the prefident to the electors of the feveral flates, and reftricted the term ©f his remainij$igi$8L office to four years. Many, however, of the deputies of the powerful ftates, whenjthe par- ^tftefe'r interefts of their conftituents were no longer concerned, voted with the party purely republican, which indeed was-confiftent with their general principles. &t'*£fcjB£jJ In BY THE DUKE DE. LA ROQKEFaUCAULT LIAS COURT. In this convention the votes?were given by;flates ; and when the delegates of a ftate differed in opinion, the majority was reckoned the vote of the ftate. Some members of the republican party, which was then called the federalifts, difgufted with their want- of fuccefs^and convinced that their oppofition would not prevent the preponderance of the adverfe party ; believing alfo that the conftitution would not receive the fanction of the ftates, when it fhould be prefented for their acceptance, withdrew from the convention—many even a fhort time after the commencement of its fittings. It is affirmed, that feveral new articles were introduced into the conftitution during the laft twelve days of the fitting of the convention, when almoft the whole of the republican party, thinking it finifhed, had retired; and that even other articles, which had already paffed, were at the fame time modified* j^he obfeurity of fome of the articles has given rife to an opinion, that the intention of their authors was to acquire the power by this means of giving their own direction to the conftitution, without an open eftablifhment of their principles. It is to be noticed, that the fittings of the convention were never public; and to keep its debates, fecret, in one of its firft fittings, a refolution paffed, that no member fhould hold any correfpondence with perfons out of doors, on the objects of their difcuffion, nor fhould take notes of the debates, nor copies of their refolutions. This precaution was attributed to the fear of the ruling party, that its views would be oppofed by the majority of the ftates. To this day the journals of the convention have not been publiftied; and it is only to the notes of fome of its members, in defpight of its refolutions, that we are indebted for the account we have of the debates of that affembly. I cannot fin^. this article without gratifying myfelf with the pleafure of giving my reader the trulyi/^nterefted and patriotic fpeech of Benjamin Ff^^klin, in the debates on the queftion of the adoption of this conftitution by the convention. f Sir, AQA '^TRAVELS IN NORTH -AMERICA, il I am very ready to acknowledge that I do not, at this moment, entirely approve of the conftitution now offered to us; but I am not the lefs ready to own that I do not feel myfelf fore of my continuing in my prefent fentiments. In the long career I have already run, I have more than once been compelled, by fubfequent reflection, to abandon opinions I had openly maintained, and which I thought well founded from the deep confideration I had given them. As I grow older, I am more and more difpofed to queftion my own judgment, and to pay Refpect- to that of others. There are fome men, as well as fome religious fects, who imagine, that reafon is entirely on their fide, and that their opponents plunge deeper into error, in proportion as they depart from their opinions. Struck with thefe examples, which are but too common,-1 'accept of £hB conftitution, with all its faults, even fuppofmg I am not miftaken in my opinion of its faults; for I am perfuaded that a general government is neceffary to our fafety, and that no form of government that is wefladM miniftered is incapable of producing the happMefs of the people; and I think there is reafon to believe that this conftitution wiSNbe well admi- ftered for a number of years, and that it will not end, as too many other governments have done, in defpotifm, unlefs the American people fhall reach that degree of corruption in which at once, incapablefk>f being directed by a free conftitution, and unworthy of its bleffings, defpotlffjl becomes neceffary to their exiftence. I therefore give my vote for thiis conftitution, both becaufe in the prefent circumftances of this nation I cannot hope to fee one more perfect, and becaufe I am not fure thls>ris not as perfect as any it can have. I make a facrifice of the opinions I have expreffed of its defects to the public happinefs. I have never uttered my objections out of this houfe; here they had their-4^#, a&& jfee" I wifh them for ever to be buried. If every one of us who have oppofed the conftitution, when we return to our conftitucn%f^fcrfe;?t& unfold the motives of our oppofition, and i vour to gam parttzans^ our fide, perhaps we might prevent the unanimous a^i^bnilerf th©»4©iir ftitution; but by this we fhould only lofe the advantage which the ap* pearance BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEEDUCAULT LIANCOURT. 4Q5 .pearance of unanimity will give us with foreign nations, and indeed with om^pmn people. The general good opinion of a nation, refoejfting its government, is as neceffary as the wifdom and integrity of its adminiftration to the happinefs of its people. I truft, therefore, both for our own fafety, as members of the community, aad for the fake of our po- fterity, that we fliall be of one mind in recommending this conftitution wherever our influence reaches, and that afterwards our whole thoughts will be bent to its happy, adminiftration. I cannot forbear to form the 3siib*that fuch of us as ftill entertain objections to this conftrt^ytion will follow my example, and doubt a little of their infallibility, and fign this Constitutional act, that no queftion may be left of our unanimity/' -Franklin had not only fattened principles the moft purely democratic, Jp*jt*-had always openly declared for them. A fingle houfe of legrfla?- ture, and the executive part of the government extreme%alimited in its power with frequent elections of the perfons exeEchaig^its fun&iorMV formed, in his opinion, the only* definable conftitution. The iacrkfice he made of the Ojakiion of his whole life on the altar of his country, oQti$$^ great occafion, certainly deferves our moft?pmlound admiration; andjhs^ example is an ineflimable leffon to the prefent times. Who will flatter himfelf that there is noini£akein the moft rooted of his opinions ? Who will not hefitate to conclude, that even the experience of paft ages is inr feihhle to prove ithe fitnefs of any of the old forms of government for the farefent age ? Will not the prefent times, in like manner, belong to the experience of poflerity ? And the i-mmeufe changes that have been wrought: in fociety by the acknowledged vices of -governments, -a change incmanners, the detection of long prevailing errors, the recent difcovery of a variety of truths, and the extenfion of knowledge in almoft all its directions, do tiicdfe make the prefent time fo pei^ec^^milar to the paft,. that a reafonable man cannot hef^S^to fay, that evoy proportion relative to fbuns of government that was once true, c»ntaa#ei£4fell to be fo £ ^B^%a©t.fkfer to fay-wi^j^iE8akUn§f^t-there is no conftifciation, which*, •aiaamiftered by the gomtt^S0and obeyed by the people*with mH$qa| :iffifiWiS£"l attachment 406 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, attachment to the public welfare, is not capable of fecuring to the people the only true object of government ? And is it not true, that attachment to the public welfare is at once the duty of every citizen, and his own individual intereft ?—Oh my country ! may you learn this indubitable truth, in which alone will you find your fafety and happinefs ! DEBATES IN THE" CONVENTIONS OF THE SEVERAL STATES, ON THE QUESTION OP THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION. The reference of the conftitution to the feveral ftates, for' their adoption or:rejecti6n, occafioned ftill greater debates than thofe of the convention at Philadelphia. The feveral ftates formed the tribunal of appeal on that great queftion. A majority of nine ftates were to decide it irrevocably. Each of the parties now directed all their efforts to this point. Pamphlets poured from the prefs; the papers were .filled-H#it3ta dlfe^Mion ; " Public liberty is in danger rf the conftitution is accepted"— fuch was the language of the oppofition papers; while the papers on the other fide declared, that " the independence of the United States could be fecured only by its acceptance." The two opinions were re- fpectively fupported not only'by argument, but alfo by the exaggerations and other artifices of party. The greater number of the ftates went into an analyfis of the conftitution, in its provifions, its detail, and its confequences; but none of them in the fame degree as Pennfylvania, New York, Maffachufetts, and Virginia. The arguments of -the oppofition in the feveral ftates were much the fame. The following were their principal objections : 1 ft. That the convention was affembled only to revife and correct the articles of the original confederation, and not to frame a new conftitution. 2d. That the convention, had it been authored to frame a new conftitution, had exceefHMits powers, in declaring that the acceptance of the conftitution by nine of the ftates fhould make it law, and that the acceptation was to be without amendment—that this declaration was; on the one hand, contrary to the rights of the people, who alone were to judge of BY THE DUEfE DE LA R0CHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 497 of the form of the conftitution under which they were to live; and, on the other, to the rights of the feveral flates, who, being independent of each otirer,' could not be united in a political body by any deliberations hut their own.. (SHI 3d. That the conftitutiori^o^fight to have been preceded by a declaration of rights ; the people of the feveral ftates being, as the conftitution flood, no longer fecure of their own particular conftitutions; in^Smuch as "the laws of congrefs would in future bind all the fubjects of the union, and controul the laws of the feveral legislatures. - 4th-. ThattTO*ipeople of the union w^Sisot to be adequately repre- fented in the congrefs; becaufe the conftitution, While it declared that the number of reprefentatives fhould not exceed one for every thirty thoufand of the inhabitants, ^^rided that, til^ae number of the inhabi- .'$b&&$ in the union fhould be afcertained, the repreraftatives in congrefs fhould not exceed fi&ty-feven—whenceJij6was to Be feared, that the con- ^fefPi^elf would not hereafter permit tlfe^number of its members to be inereafed, according td^#l©*neceffi£y%P the occafion; and that, confe- *quig$tty, quefHdKsioMi^%i^CT: Xjk>lQ8Ak€ riCljght be deeised by eighteen voices, as thirty-four members prefent were declared to be fufficient to pafs ari^law. 5th. That the houfe of reprefentatives, bdrr^the on1|f*one in which the-people were feprefented, ought to have the^exblufive difpofal of the public purfe; and that the :pbWerl-giveh:to-th"earenate of making amendments in money bills/was contrary- to the- interefts aridafafety of the people—and alfo that other power, :of fixing the falaries of officers, which were to be nominated by theirr; in conjunction w5th th>ci^f^fldent. -6th. That no executiN^%CTO^3y%^lh^^^%o:3the prejfnent, as had been propofedy to confift oF'two-'membeH vffom:'-tlie°ribfthorn, two from! the fouthern, ■ and twb'from the inidl^^^lj^^^^o^rrfequence w^ald be, to aflbciatifc-^fcefIbfiate to the ex€efft§ffiyffffi*r in many of its functions ; and thus the fepa£a£ion of |)^TOte^lkrt^^^d to be an effential condition to every-'good goyernmeht,':was- departed ffom^that the fenate, becoming neceffariiyre omieeted1 with 'the - pfefident,- %y:its - concur'-! „ W^L. II. 3 R rent fl 498 i*M^ELS IN NORTH AMERICA, rent nomination to places, would be the more ready to join in impro^ per appointments, becaufe its members, being eligible for any appointment, their complacence to the prefident might be the price of their own advancement, and the public liberty thereby endangered—-that the in£e«* refts of the United States was even more affected by the power given to the prefident, to make treaties with the concurrence of two-thirds of the fenate, and;Without the intervention of theifloufe of reprefentatives. Mfc- 7th. That the jurifdiction given to the federal courts would be vexatious to the individuals of the feveral flates, -who.would?^inceflantly taken from their homes to appear to fuits inflituted in thofe courts, of which the tribunals of the feveral ftates were the natural judges—that thofe jurifdictions would draw to themfelves all the affairs of the tribunals of the feveral flates—that the want of precifion in the judgments of the federal tribunals, would be a fertile fource of new fuits, and afford new opportunities of enlarging their jurifdiction—and, finally, that the power given to thefe tribunals to pronounce judgment according.i/c? the fpirit as well as the letter of the coiutrtu|io^>i^ut)mitted the conJ&|$i$Q^ itfelf to their difcretion, by authorifing them to explain it according to their own caprice. 8th. That the prerogative given to the prefident to pardon: e'rin^als: fentenced for high treafon, endangered the public liberty, by enabling hjga? to fcree&vthofe whom he himfelf had employed to confpire againft it. 0th. That the power givem^he. congrefs to name the times and plapces^ in which election&ffor its members were to be held in the different flaste^ at once attacked the fovereignty of the feveral ftates, and exp©fed~$be electors to journies that might draw them to a greater diftance from home, and for a longer time, than was absolutely neceffary to the discharge of the duty of choofing, members of the legiflature. 10th. That the power given to-the congrefs to impofe all kinds of taxes, to apportion them among individuals, and t© caufe them to be levied, was vexatious—that it might take from the feveral ftates--jthe refources neceffary to their particular expences—and that, increasing the ex- pence of the cc^lectiff^si^ttgmented the - contribution of inc^iduals BY THE DUKE DIE LA ROCHEFO^CAULT LIAKCOURT. 499 without advantage t© the ftate ; an incofc#eaience that would eafily be avoided, if the congrefs* Satisfied with naming the fum to be raifed by each ftate, fhould leave to its legiflature the care of its collection, re- ferving only the power of lev^bg the taxes on a refufal of any ftate to pay them, or in the cafe of negl^einCe in collecting them. fr&jMfth. That a fimple majority of Voices in the congrefs heing fufficient f6r all laws relative to navigation and commerce, the fouthlBpt ftates, having a furplus of produce of a valuable nature, but being without -flipping for its exportation, would be fubject to the monopoly of the northern ftates, who had not an equal quantity of furplus of produce, and abounded in fmpjping; an evil that WGtald be remedied, by requiring a majority of two-thirds of voices for laws of that nature. (It will be readily enough underflood, that this objection was made only by the fouthern ftates.) 12th. That the trial of impeachments being committed folely to thfrffr. nate, connected in intereft with'the execufee power by the confti^t^fi" itfelf, would neither fecure the acquittal of the innocent, nor the condemnation of the guilty. 13th. That the prerogative given the prefident to confer app©int- fklMiPM*fe power on membe& of the two houfes of legiflature,-•vfepts a means of corruption, and an enemy to freedom of debate. 14th. That the function of prefident being eapabfertaff being indefinitely continued in the fame hands, might give an ambitious and politic man an influence dangerous to the congrefs, to indi^adaials, and even the conftitution We^f, which thrdtgh that defect might ceafe to become republican.- 15th. That the public liberty was endangered by the power given to congre'f§4d3mairitain a ftanding army mtda*es of peace. 10th. That the public liberty was endangered alfo, and the rights of individuals infringed, by the want of juries in* civil matters before the fe- &e$il tribunals. 17th. That the invariable and indifpenfable ufe of ju^es in criminal matters, was not declared with fufficient precfeSbn::re 18th. Finally, that nothing in the conftitution guaranteed the liberty 3 R 2 of Z2&A$!M&3t$l NORTHaAAjjEjHCJtft' of;the-prefs,; nor ii.berfcy of confcience—and that.no afllirance>was left to the feveral fta-tes>-tliat the. Congrefs would not fiicceffively affume the- f^f^ajt powC^|^§j$vfccli the conftitution did not at prefent demand the faerifice, and which were at once their right as independent flates, and the only fafeguard of their independence. Many of thefe objections were by no means forcible; and the ap||ife-*a henfions they expreffed were exaggerated, as has been fufficiently fhewn by the event. BuM^bme of thefe are to be afcribed to a fpirit of party, and to the defire of the feveral ftates to make as little faerifice as poffible of their own authority and powers to the general government, it is not the lefs true, that the greater part of the oppofition to the new conftitution had its fource in the fpirit of liberty which at that time animated-, •the citizens of the United States, the ftr^gle for the acquifition of liberty being then recent; and in that fear of ariftocracy and monarchy, to which it was thought there was a tendency in the new conftitution—in the republican temper which was then commoj&yp;all the United States—&j a|$yfinalry in the ftrong miftruft, which was the natural confequence of thefe circumftances. It is indeed certain that a very great majority of the people of the United States were averfe to the adoption of the conftitution; and that it had not a majority in the feveral conventions, but from a general conviction among its opponents of the inefficacy of the articles of confederation,- and the neceffity of giving greater power to the federal government; and from the fear they had of prolonging the anarchy in which- the country was at that time plunged, and of rendering that anarchy more incorrigible by the delay that muft be occafioned by the convoking a new affembly to frame another conftitution. #|Wf«| It is faid that thefe powerful motives were ftrengthened, in many of the adherents of the conftitution, by individual interefts, ambitious views, and, above all, by the profpect of lucrative fpeculations in the public- funds and in. the purchafe of public lands, which were ftated to be the inevitable refult of the new government. The fupport which was given to the conftitution was not, however, the fame in all of the conventions. In the ftates of Delaware, New Jerfey, and Georgia, its acceptance was unanimous. In Connecticut, Maryland, BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT £IANCQURT. Maryland, and Pennfylvania, a minority voted againft it; but it paffed without any amendment. In Pennfylvania, where the oppofition was the ftrongeft, the minority withdrew, and entered a proteft, accompanied with'the motives of their objection to the conftitution. South Carolina, Virginia, New York,-and Maffachufetts, accepted the conftitution, by a very fmall majority, and joined to their acceptance the proposition of feveral amendments, which they reprefented as indif- penfable to the public liberty and fafety; and declared, that their refolu- tion not to obftrud: the action oaf the government, and the hoj^e that a new congrOfewotdd yield to their reprefentations and demancfep^ere the only m@pes ott ""which they accepted the conftitution. New York was on the. eve of rejecting the conftitution, when intelligence ar- rwing tl^fcit was accepted by nine of the ftates, and proving the futility of further oppofition, it was accepted by that ftate. New Hampfhire ffcjparated without coming to a refolution; anMfRving aften$$fe affem- bled^'gave its affent, accompanied 4i&th propofitions for amendments* North Carolina propofed amendment and made them the conditions of its acceptance; but fome time afterwards accepted the conftituSllBli^ without referve. Rhode-lfland, inftead of caUkfg a convention, referred the conftitution te*the affemblies of the towns; by whom it was rejected, with the exception of Newport, Providence, and fome others, who declared themfelves incompetent to enter into the difcuffion- and propofed the convoking of a convention for the purpofe ; which, being afterwards called,, accepted thefSOnflkution. The following is a table of the periods whenthe feveral ftates accepted' the conftitution, and of the manner in which it paffed in the feveral conventions. State TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, States. Delaware Pennfylvania iNew Jerfey - - Georgia - - Connecticut Maffachufetts - Maryland - - £taa&h Carolina - New Hampfhire New ^OWf^,_..ru North Carolina- Rhode-lfland - Period of accepting the Conftitution. June 21. July 26^*-^—*" ^fef.^27. 1789 iffJffi&Q. 1790 Manner of palling it. Unanimoufly For, 46—Againft, 23 Unanimoufly Ditto For, 128—Againft, 40 — 187 -— 03 — 149 — 57. — 89 — 193 108 12 46 79 25 Maj.23 88 51 76 11 5 118 2 >!i38K? feveral amendments propofed by fome of the convention, without being precifely the fame, related to tl^'fame objects. The congrefs, jgfcggg£.£rft: f\%t}%^l0tet the acceptance of the conftitution, took them into confiderati®n; and from their purport, drew up twelve new articles, as a fupplement to the conftitution, which, in virtue of the fifth article of the conftitution, were fubmitted to the legiflatutes of the feveral ftates, for their ratification, in the following terms. Articles propofed to be added to the Conftitution, and fubmitted to the States for Ratification. " In Congrefs, 4th Ma$ti&&fl&jf&*- ■ "The conventions of certain of the ftates having, at the time of rateir adopting the confirmation, expreffed a defire in order to prevent*™!- conftruction orabufe of its powers, that further declaratory and reflrictive claufes fhould be added: and, as extending the ground of public confidence in the government will beft enfure the beneficent ends of its infti- tution, it was " Refolved by the fenate and houfe of reprefentatives of the United States of America,, in congrefs affembled, t wo-"$iirds of both houfes con- JtPt curring, BY THE DURE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 503 curriqg, that the following articles be propofed to the legiflatures of the feveral ftates, as amendments to the corm^t^jron of the United States; all or any of which articles, when ratified by three^Jtathsof t^faid le- giflatures, to be valid to all intents and purpoies^ as part of the faid conftitution. " Art. 1 ft. After the firft enumeration required by the firft article of the conflitntion, there fhall be one reprefentative for every thirty thoufand, until the number of reprefentatives fhall amount to one hundred; after which the proportions fhall be fo regulafcerf'by congrefs, that there fhall be not lefe than one hundred reprefentatives, nor more than one reprefentative for every forty thoufand perfons, until the number of reprefentatives fhall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion* foalf be fo regulated by congrefs, that there fhall not be lefs than two hundred reprefentatives, nor more than- one reprefentative for every fifty thoufand perfons. " Art. 2d. No law varying the compenfation for the fervices of the fenators and reprefentatives fhall take effect, until an election of reprefentatives fhall have intervened. " Art. 3d. Congrefs fhall make no law refpe&ing an eftablifhment of leligioB, or prohibitihg the free exercife thereof; or abridging the freedom of fpeech or of the prefs ; or the right of people peaceably to a£< femble, and to'pgbtion the government for a redrefs of grievances. m Art. 4th. A well regulated miKtia being neceffary to the fecurity of a free ftate, the right of the people to keep and bear arms fhall not be infringed. "Art. 5th. No foldier fhall, in time of peace, be quartered in any houfe without the confent of the owner, nor in time of war,, but in a' manner to be prefcribed by law. ** Art. 6th. Tb#$&ght crf^Ae people to be fecere in their- perfbns> houfes,. papers, and effects^ againft unreafonable fearches and- feizjires, fhall not be violated; and no warrants fhalt ifiue- but upon probable . caufe, fupported by oath or affirmation, and particularly defcribing the |>lace to be fearched, and the perfon or things to be feized. " Art, 504 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, u Art. 7th. No perfon fliall be held to anfwer for a capital or other- wife infamous crime, unlefs on a prefentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cafes arifing in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual fervice, in time of war or public danger; nor fliall be tried twice for the fame offence; nor fliall be compelled in any criminal cafe to be a Witnefs againft himfelf; nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due procefs of law; nor fhall private- property be taken for public ufe, wa#|i©ut juft compehfation. Art. 8th. In all criminal profecutions, the accufed fhall enjoy the right to a fpeedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the ftate and diftrict wherein the.crime fliall have been committed, which diftrict fhall have been previoufly afcertained by law ; and to be informed of the nature and caufe of the accufation ; to be confronted?. With the witnefles againft him ; to have compulfory procefs for obtaining witnefles in his favour; and to have the affiftance of counfel for his defence. W Art. 9th;fffei fuits at common law, where the valu^mcontroveriy fhall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury fhall be preferred; and no fact tried by a jury fliall be otherwife re-emrained in any court of the United "States, than according to the rules of the common law.: " Art. loth. Exceffive bail fhall not be required, nor exceffive'ffife impofed, nor cruel and uhufual punifhments inflicted. " Ari^ith: The enumeration in the conftitution of certain rights, fhall not be conifrued to deny or difparage others retained b^^rnt people. " Art. 12th. The powers not delegated to the United States by the conftitution, nor prohibited by it to the ftates, are referved to the ftates refpecfively, or to the people." The two firft of thefe twelve articles did not receive the ratification, required by law. ] The other ten being ratified, make part of the cW$$$ tution. GE^mtAL BY THE DUKE DE LA RGCHEFGUCAULT LIANCOURT. SOS. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. ON THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED #)1TES. • It is not my defign here to enter into a minute examination of the merits of the conftitution of the United States. The information I have gathered as to the fituation of affajrs, and the te/nper of parties, at the period of its adoption, induces me to believe that it is the beft which could at that time be Gjj|ried into execution. I fhall confine myfelf to fpeak of its principal and inherent defect:; which I regard as an obftacle to the public welfare in any conftitution where it is found. I confefs there is fome degree of boldnefs.j^fpeaking thus freely on this topic ; for what I confider to be a fundamental defectJut. the conftitution of the United States, is viewed by almoft every American as its molt valuable quality. I am alluding t© the federal form of the government. I admit the conception to be of a fublime nature* and calculated to de- 1 ight in theory. Sovereign ftates ceding to a general government part of their auJjfcodgra^br the p#bj^ Ipjnefit, prefents, in a more fafcinating way -thatnordinary, the image of men unitefijgi fociety, faking a faerifice of a portion of their .rights and liberties'for the fecure enjoyment of the reft, and. for the general pBofperity; bjilo^gggfjence w^ ftCM this.fchcme, >pleafing as.it is to the imagination, iUufc^y, ^j^: jncapa|»l^rpf execution, The propenfittt»i)£^yernmo^ts have a power, of a nature and extent Tseay differentfrom that of individuals; their apparent motives are much more plaufible ; and the fuppnffiSon of th^fB by force is much lefs prompt, and lefs eafy in the execution, than that of the paffions of individuals— meanwhile they inherently oppofib-th,©mfelves to the advantages that form the object of the compact, which is the general welfare of the union. Without purfuing the difcuffion of the pd^ciples and refults of a federal government, I will gtye two ftriking examples o£ its ferious evils in the United States. a JtaiyQJ, the old congrefcL«jc$mog to fettle the claims of the different ftates upon the general government, paffed a law, on the 7th of May, Vou B. 3 3 providing I 506 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, providing, that five commiffioners fhould be fent fucceffively into all the ftates, to receive the. accounts of each, for fums expended by them during the war, for the fervice of the Union, in virtue of orders of congrefs, or without fuch orders, where proofs of the expenditure fo applied could be given. The commiffioners were to examine the feveral claims ; to ftrike the balance of each ; returns of which balances they were to make to the treafurer of the Union, accompanied with the feveral. documents, for which they were to give acknowledgments to the ftates to which they refpectively belonged; and alfo with their remarks on the nature and validity of fuch documents; and the law enjoined the different ftates to furnifli fuch documents and, titles-M*|§he Commiffioners. within the fpace Of fix months, to be by them tranfnlkted to the treafury in the current year. It further provided, that, when the above returns fhould be made, the congrefs fhould name three other commiffioners to examine all accounts and documents, and finally to ftrike balances of the fevepal claims; acting on the opirilSft ®f$$ffl§^^coriimiffioners as to the vali&Ltpto&thh ■^ouafhents, where^m^P^re produced, and on the principles of eqarf£rpv where claims3v^&£9rfade for expences in the war not previoufly autho- rifed by orders of congrefs. This law declared the decifions of the ma- foWtf^bf the three commiffioners to be conclusive, and not fubject to appeal; and it finally enjoined the commiffioners to compleat the decifea '©^^afi fuch cli^miWMnn eight mbh^is. At the expiration of that term, thefe claims ftill remained unfettled, the public mind being ocCupi©d*$iy the prefentation - atidcadoption ©f^the new conftitution. A law was *tE8rWSii^paffed in^llie new congrefs %$lkfc$ff8; of AuguffeJf 7go, ajst$Mpt •Kihg the prefident of theMUnited ^a'^^appointsitlrfeefihew' cb^fifeif- -fiohers,.w#thathe fame powers as were delegateiWoi the formev/UiwkP: were, cft&ah exammatioiilhf^he^cM^stk^dltA^^ on'ftfi© one handf,fandip^f ^tht1 icvmn&of the^^fuii^of,fu,i^iad^nC©d by the^lfnion' to the feym®! ftates on the other hand,&&fymLei the fev^liMincfes^cand to mak&&©ii ftates creditors of the Union as fhould have es^etSwddd moreathami $f$k& 3re^CT^)ts from the trca^mrfylafa&'^WttAteS debtorMto. theti^oaok as. ■ fhould':hotiha-yeexpended the-furris-advanced tot&em;by theUfoian.:aThis- arjrmao-r? <, ;: ,U"ao Vlaw BY THE DUKE DE LA atOCHEEOUCABX laW fixed the iff of July, 179 fuch balances to be made. By a lawcpaffed 00 the laft day of February, 1792, the time for returning fuch,;balances was e&tended to the lft of July 1793. -.#%| The law which thus authorifed the prefident to appoint three commiffioners for this important fervice, paffed almoft unanimoufly; and Mr. Wafhington, the prefident, made choice of men of acknowledged integrity and informatifi^;—thefe were, William iRWiiife*.-John Kean, and Woodbury Langdon, whofe appointment gaae iani?ia^r#d fatisfa£lion in the ftates. Thefe commiffioners finifhed their labour within the time prefcribed; and the following is a table of the returns they made of their decifii|$saf» States, Creditors of the Union. Sums. New Hampfhire - ^T? ^^75,015 Dollar: Maffachufetts *jtSS£ - 1,248,$0J. ■'"", Rhode-lfland ^qfu! - 289,011 Connecticut - - 019,121 New Jerfey &mm - 49,030 South Carolina - '•Iz&l 1,205,978 Georgia g - ~ 19,888 States, Debtors to the Union. New York - - §|g§j 2,072,846 Pennfylvania *M# %mfe 70,709 - Delaware re a- . . M*m 612,428 Maryland 0**%i $*& 151,640 Virginia . .-ftfeggfe) - - 100,87Q North Carolina 4 0 . :0im 501,882 i|ite& It was not till towards the clofe of 1796, that the queftLaa was agitated Jagxgngrefs, of the means of bringing into the treafury of the Uniqn^^. fums due from the flates d^tjEpje debtors to it, which fums were def- iined to difcharge the debts due from the Union to the otjp: ftates; *3 S 2 and 508 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, and then it wasigfooiir demonftrated, by the turn the debates took in the question, that the ftates, debtors to the Union, had no intention of discharging their obligations, notwithftanding the diftrefs of the treafury of the Union, and the flourifMng condition of the finances of moft of thofe^ ftates, efpecia%.that of New York. A regard to the particular interefts of the feveral flates, .and a jealoufy of each other, wdt^iuiiiterfally mani- felted. The debates abounded with fophiftry,%ftd ill faith to the public. An attention to the concerns and interefts ©f the Uni©n was no where to beifoand m them. Although manyciittings were gi^t to the difcuflion, no refohki©ifc |>sfled on tfofceffobject j and no other refult was appar^flft1 than tfaafe'ch© ftates, debtors to the Union, or the greater part of them, \«b&idt never difchaige the debt, and that the Union was deftitute of meansatSoi^nforce payment—for an attempt to obtain the payment by arms, wact© provoke a civil war, and haflen the diffolution of the Union. J^HI^a&'tXi t&ei&eafury of the Union amounted to three millions feven hundred and-f^enteen thoufand five hundred and eighty-four dollars; o*^t£ert!&^#i&illions nine hundred and four thoufand three hundred aBdififty-one :3oBi#,including the intereft. The welfare of the Union was made a ready fecrifi^to the rapacity and injuftice of individuals, who oppofed the executil®^ of a lawfagainft which they had folemnly engaged, to make no appeal^ The object of the federal government was in this inflanees&itirely defeated. The other inftance I hav© to give of the^mconvenienoe*l&f the federal fyten, is re^itfe&t^&ifk&tifying of the harbours of the ftates. The conftiturioi^fite tte&k&ratide, and the eighth fection, provides, that the U^rp " ffia41$|BS&f&»fe exclufive legiflative authority over all places purchafed by the confent of the legiflattires of the feveral ftaS^ for the erection of forts^j^gaanes^a*&nal^^ dock-yards, and-OtlieiPiieedful buildings;" and by a law paffed in Dee&s&ber 1794, whole object *$!& to provide for expences incurred in ooe^fortification of fome places on the3fei$£ of the Up^ted States, it is declared, '* that the prefident fliall /&&£&? •^jfeu'-^he legtiatures of the different ftates the ceMA of theVmS&^jifc ceffary^i^SiMbrtifications, or fhall purchafe them, if tl$^^^ic#^te property BY THE DUKE DE LA RO.CHREOUCAULT. LIANCOURT. property of the ^ates." The greater part of the ftates refufed to cede the lands wanted for this purpofe, or toautfedrife ties prefident to acquire them by purchafe, in the cafe of their beisg the property of iiidiyiduals. They demanded fums of the Union, in aid of the fums they confented to expend from their own treafuries, in fortifioatJohs to be raifed on their own lands; hut the affiftance they gaveftjtelaw went no further. The confequence was, that the fortifications were contai&ed on the plasgu and according to the notions of individuals, the feveral ftates in which they were erected attending only fe> their owrtiji^rantage; that they were built on fordid principles, and in a very inadequate maunejfcithe refources of the fetfemi #ates not appearing competent iai0Qaiiru<£t them either in the extent or with the folidity the obj©4|d!fcJuk'£l§ Sgfcfe&fcthey are raifed in places where the expence of the erection would be lefs, rather than in fuch places as would be&cover the to-Riifeand add. iOrftbs general da* fence of the countiy. > -fe-.the laf^sfltting of tbfciate congrefs, in Febrtt* J&J&.97, very extraordinsuy debates were held on this ful>j©£t; in which it appeared, by the language of the depu&gS.of Maffachufetts, New York, and Sou^ Carolina, that thofe three powerful fta$€§,. poffeffing.the moft important ports of the country, wijtgprefolved not to cede to the Union the lands neceffary for the erection ©f fortifications; for the fafety of thofe ports. In the difo^ffion* the goyeiaiment of tb£ Unite&States wa* re* proache^pfey the deputies of Pennfylvania and Rhode-lfland, (which ftates had ceded to the Union t;bye lands demanded of them), with being lefs occupied withrt&e defence §&\£bfr03ti&$ who paid obedience t©i tbe law, than that of the ftates refufing to make any ceffion of their lands. And the depfuiaes ©f the refractory flates J9&& the: argument of the neglect of the government toward the ftates of Pennfylvania and Rhode Ifland, as an excufe, andaeven a fubject of praife to their ©wn ftates, for having refufed to cede their lands to the general government. Whatever might be the degree of j uft.ice with which thefe reproaches w ere call uponathe goverftme^jof tjbe ^teftfc.thf]ir^Sfei#^yj£ijfed as afpj«text for the refufal of the rg^j&ftory ftates to cede the lands in queftion, the real motive being the jealoufy conftantly exifting between the feveral fove* W$&%:1 reisn .5)0 CT«A*VELS JN.NORTH AMERICA, reign ftates of the Union and the general government—a jealoufy natural enough to man, but more'particularly prevailing among true republicans ; inafmuch as the general governmei*f> having citadels and troops in the midft of the feveral ftates, and in the moft important pofts, might be the more readily tempted to abridge or deftroy their independence. The refult of this ftate of things is, that the moft important points along the coafts of the United States are noti Citified, or are<i _s»a worfe ftate—for the confidence whidfeiis placed in incomplete and infufficient works, and which avail nothing to the fafety of the places they affect to cover, is a fatal error; befides, in an extenfive country, fortifications moft completely made, and placed with the greateft judgment for particular objects, contribute nothing to the general defence, if they are not connected with a fyftem, which,: having the general defence for its object, expends frequelntl^t^with the greateft utility, the largeft. fums on pofts that may be unimportant to the local interefts of the place, but are, notwithftanding the keys of the country. It is no exaggeration to fay, that the coasts of the United States are defencelefs; and that the fineft ^tndtricheft pS$fe|f 0e Union are not fecure even againft a coup de main. ^nj^his^^^5^il('ls?<ellt&rely occafioned by the refufal^ffome of the ^a^s^to1t*«fee^e lands neceffary to a plan of general defence. By thefe twc£txamples, we fee—-^at the derangement of the finances ^^e)tfe^lu-itates, aii$ the deftffifeelefs condition of their coafts, are !"$li®4e4luiFof(t^ deftructive of the end of the dtflifeh, but one thafe*i$ the neceffary confeq*!©1i&il&ofa 'fyftem which places the interefts and paffions of the feveral ftates in oppofition to the welfare •p^di^^Triio^^nd is deftructive of the unanimity, without which no go- ^er^amelrt^howevel^ccellent in its form, can affordMNSs fubjects the pro- ?to^c^^d^&efc-a#^ta?ge$&& which it is inftituted. And if thefe in- '&onif0hWnG4&W&a$%e^y'rfelt'yirt-4he4United Staie^f^h^k^^l^^^h fo drfproportioned to the extent of county wtj at will they not be with a great puliation, and a time far removed^om the oaagin of the Union ? STATE BY THE DUKE DE LA R0©HEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT-. STATE OF PARTIES FROM THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION TO THE PRESENT PERIOD. The opponents of the conftitution, both in congrefs and out of doors, fubmitted, on its being adopted by the feveral ftates, to its authority; but they neverthelefs formed a party in oppofition to the new government. The conftitution, although called a plan of confolidation by its opponents, becaufe its object was to make one body of the different ftates, by diminifhing in too great a degree, according to! their opinion, their refjkei-tive fovereignties, was in truth a federal conftitution. It had, indeed, the title, and all the properties of fuch a conftitlSSon. But although its opponents contended for no other purpofe but to eftablifh a conftitution more completely federal in its nature, they were by the other party named anti-federalifts—a name that by no means belonged to them ; but which, at that time,, being the moft odi&fis that coulcPRe given them,, it was natural their -adverMi^?rfhoul#J^fi^raSze them with it. The friends of the cortftittttion calle§ themfelves federattfls, a title af- fiimed t^giteJthem popularity "Thus the two parties, without haying changed opinions, objects, or policy, had fuddenly changed names'; and feacfc^anffnued to be diftin^lifhe^by'^^^which its advei$ai^"was known a ye^btlbtoSg&G&yfffl ^Q^m^S^ The anti-federalift&$for we:Wi#ufe the derioB&lrMis of the parties as thgyiare applied) had long repifoa^h£3^i^>6ther pareywith a'roEmiffioii to Endifli influence.'. I do iWt^rfb^^tM^^e'^^^^^^in^^e^^^ times of the new eonititutiOiiph:adibeta;'ciyed::ari'y;'other f\'m]itoms of. this influence, than the att^^gft?^^J^%^4nercH^W^e!on^ri^'to that jpaktj©tb did ^n^^S^&n&s^i^^^^a^tW^^^^ mffr^^m^^ -interefts- readily accounted for.-''' Afterwards the fenate, in 'which the fe- dfrdifis were* Very nitmeroitSp^gitateda cleiigir' ofrgiving"the titles' cf h'is •illuftrious highne/f: to th€:ptb^<^htr'of the"United1 States ;: of'rhlit honour- %$blh&® t^imbmbe^o^'^lre^efiate^ attH ^fdHonr^SW-^o-^e^onfiof2 reprefentatives ; sn WAVELS P ^©^ll-? AMERICA, 'preventatives.; but the fenate itfelf abandoned the project, the public opinion being evidently averfe toM^ and the houfe of reprefentatives dif- pofed to throw it out. About this time was difcuffed the fyftem of finance, which now exifts, • and which was vehemdhtly combated by the oppofition. Thfe -debate appears indeed*$he only one wffteh openly expofed the views of the two" parties^i^ffi^ie,period of the French revolution. ISliPi Some inconfiderable tumults that happened in feveral of the ftates, on the fubject of the excife, were not perhaps regarded with fo unlit* ■^iitfble an eye by the anti-federali/ls, as the other party; becaufe the former faw in then^rothihg more than the confequences they had £or6- ^©fd^©Wa%t,: unpopular mode of taxation, which indeed had beeri-^^c rejected by the congrefs, and was not finally adopted but with great difr ficulty, and in a fucceeding feffion. But if the two parties were marked by the difpofitions in which they fe- verally viewed thefe tufl&uits, it waf^^t fljghtly ; for no partizan of the anti-federali/ls gave his countenance to tfedifobedience ©f the law, and many of the party aidedjHn their feveral fianjflions, to reftore order. Thefe events, therefore, cannot UriSfy be corifidered as a fhock of the - parties. ^^Pl ftftl^J^feji^ySSi $|PS$ It was at the-neriod of the I^each revolution, or rather at r$*kfecond epoch of that revolution, that the two parties openly declared their re- fpective views. T^ federaHfts,' whofe objects were to ftrengthen the government ©f the Union; ttijencreafe the haHuence oj^lGfee executive power, and to carry the conftitution as far as poffible toward *8ffi&iw$ry, naturally beheM in the Englifh government a barrier againft the fyftem of French republicanifm. The anti-federali/ls as naturally*%ttrned to the fyftem eftablifhed by the fecond revolution in Frane^lbr aid in the plan they projected, of giving a purely republican direction to thfir conftitution of the ftates. From that period, the attachment of the parties to their feveral opinions, their defire of accomplifhing their re^e^ive vifewi; in a word, the intention of one to give a monarchical tendency, and of the BY THE DLIKE DE LA R0CHEBQU€*UX/3&*IAlJC0URT. 513 the other a [democratic tendency to the American government, gave them the appearance of being—the one Englifh; and the other French parties, in the country.. : , _re.c. The party, whofe defign it was to detach the United State§ from jprance, and .conned, them frrictly with England, received, no doubt, a great aoceffion- o^-itrength from, the horrible .crimes which the men in power in France feemed for two years to have.made the habitual admi- neral disorganization of other goveruments ■;-: from: the open attempts of -M. Genet, the French minifter in America,-to force the flates from their neutrality, which it .was their intereft as well as their right to maintain; and, in a word, frojo^rthe intggggies of that imprudent minkftetlEo fpread the principles of jacobinifm through the ftates, which at once were inimical to the interefts of Fraqggl'and contraqjjI^^e^i^teiffnatiaH^fi An abhorrencer9fjjthe crimes of the governing".party in France, and difguftvg^Ji the c^tdu^ of its agents in An^rjLcs&lKere mutually felt . by bothffhe parties^ the United States. The anti-fgdcraiifts, however, continued to regard the difor4ff£ they lamented as.tepaporary; while the other party imagup&<-£hey faw, or affected to fee, in the evils that laf*- flicted France, fofi^etbing that was permanent, or at leaft likely to be of fome duration. At this period was formed a confederacy of the kings of Europe againft France; and it was natural for the gots&smemt of the United States to fuppofe the confederacy could not. fail to be foaerdSiil ^Lgaxnft an anarchy, ftai|p|^|^pme wit^)t?ria3!?S and blood, affailed by the choiceft troops of Europe, and hayifi^jg&tfeing in appearance to oppofe to this force but new troops without experienced generals, and a J^^fiiry without any other currency than a difcredited paper. At the .fame period.England harraffed the commerce of the United States, bv .taking their yeffel^and preffigg; their J^ofj^.^fpd even menaced them .j^d^h-a direct war. ., Thus the danger of being involved in a war :$&(£& an enemy already powqtiggly and who fe#ned to be increaffhg£tip powers .gave, great uneafmcfs to.the.-Qqjjfted States; 5#ijfile their former all#,^4 r^fhom in other cii^mftance^£hey would have looked for aid, feemed on Vol. II. 3 T the ■8 ©'!& r&affll TKAVKCT IN NORTH Al^ftlflgjre < the point of becoming a prey to that enemy. And* if the fears' of the American government -were-exaggerated, we cannot be furprifed that its fyftem of policy threw it into the arms of the ftrongeft party, .-■eAlthough the uUtffkder-atfflP neither approved of the dif&fjg&nizmg jfyftem of Frai$Q&&$8£ the practices of her minifter in Ar$etka, they did BDtfajpprehbnd any dangeipfrom an^flMance with France to the interior traritailHkiyof the ftateip* which they deemed to be incapable of the extravagance of the anarch ills. The evils that afflicted France appeared Ifc^t&fi^'temporary; and the fpirit of liberty, they had no^d&i&t, would "eaa%leher to repel all her enemies. They were1 e^n- more attached t© an allifBtipcwitl^i&r^ce, when they faw England1 fo lofty in her pretentions. Their polidsp-was, to preferve the abfolute neutrality of the ftates, aiffld to avoid a war with England by every means that did not humble the ftates before heft^i If fatis^iction could not be obtained from England f&t*3:he affronts offered to the ftates, they pj^^rcd^he fequeftrati^li^f Mtg&ih property M^merica, afed an interruption of all commerce with her; in a word, war—if England was refc^v^cPc^a war. And this party fuppofdti^th^t'th^il^tjing of American privateers, a pro&IBition to carry provifions to the Bfigln3i iflands, and the feizing orf'Sanada, were $§!#&- 'feetiain means of inj^#i^ England, ^an any flie hadR^Mi which to make ^jNfeTals on the ftates. ■ Warm contefts were occaffoned in thelhfeufe of reprefentatives by this difference-of opinions "and views, when the queftion cami^'t© be debated concerning -the relative fituations of^^agfend'and the United States. The two partis oppofod^teh other with the greateft animofity.. The c^i^ feie^r*#qtep^|^:ated the people out of doors, v/Jfeoughout the whole extent of the United States; and although it. was the general wifh to pre- ferve peace and maintain neutrality, the complaints uttered againft the Engliffi were loud and allnOft univerfal; and the remembrance of the triumph of A&t&rica ov£? the Englifh arms, giving affurancc of fuccefs in a new cokitefi^Kiaade a war with England little the object of^fl^Wtt the populace. The difmii^Oil^ahout this time, of Mr. Jefferfofjftbm the office of fecretary of ftate, inereafed .'the difeontent of the anti-fed'erh$ff$. ISi' Mr.. BY THE DUX-E- SE LA RGCHEFOUC&U3LT -LIANCOURT. 5 I 5 Mr. Jefferfon was of that party, and had always avowed an attachment to pure republicanism. His party afcribed his diflnifflon to the politics he adopted in the preiident's council. They were perfuaded, however he might fear the ftates were in no condition at that moment to declare war againft England, and however refolved he might be to leave no reafon- able proportion -untried to reftore a good underftanding between the countries,; he was neverthelefs equally bent upon rejecting every ineafure that would- affect the honour and dignity of the flates. The wifhes of the/party wxre,.. not tor.challenge . England, but to fhew her how the .ftates .had been infulted. and - injured by her conduct; -to let her fee they were offended, and to.alet-her know they demanded reparation. They were not- ignorant^ tjiakj^. Jefferfon oppofed in the .cf^cil too clofe and intimate an union<w^ Ipngland,..whom he accufed of $pachery;> ftates from France, where anarchy a^^^^|!|gofequent cri$H|$ would foon give way to order, and where a regard to the interefts of the United States was evinced even in the midft of the worft difordera, that had difgraGed the revolutiom^Jphe fame party knewr alfo that it was Mr. Jefferfc^|j&rmnefs that defeated the dangerous pretentions and projects of M. Genet; and that he had been the caufe of that minifter's bemg?©- .called by France. And the recal of IMfe: Genet they confidered as a new an^ejUd proof of the good will and friendship of France toward the United States. In proportion asjti|# party complained of t|tf£$ifmiflion of Mr. Jeffer-, fon, thefeder^i^l^^effj^^^r^^^ph. Thefe latter faw, with extreme fg^kfactiort, that their view^pould be no longer thwarted in the prefident's council^jjjkere till then they did not think the Englifh government fufficiently favoured. It was inftantiy determined to fend Mr. Jay to England. It is univ^feUy believed that the igyftructions gjf?g$ to that minifter by the^ prefident, ggere framed with gge$& /fyifdom and moderation and that they formally enjoined Mr. Jay to refpect the engagements of the United States>fip|$h France in any newT treaty with j&jgjj&nd. However that were, it is certain the prefident was careful to 3 T 2 inform vm H^=NDRTH AMERICA^ 3iiferm the ^French - government, that- the fending an ambaffador extraordinary to England, had no other object than to avoid a war with that power, and to fettle the- differences between the two countries; and that the alliance with France" would be maintained, with the mofi perfect good-lakh on the part of the United States.. The elf§fce of Mr. JayTOf-the embaffy to England, gave great offence to the anti-fbB&alj/h. This minifter was eliS^juftice of the United States ; an office that feemed to-make his prefence-in the-country indif- 'j^hiSble, and therefore appeared mcompdtrble-with any foreign million. "'Ke*#as confidered as devoted to England by Wis general habits, but more W$e&kWff¥)y a blind zeal for the doctrines of the Englifh church1. -'^B&7- was known to have an old diflike to France; Wnich Was faid to have been excited by the maMfeft preference given by the French minifter and the whole VWhe^Nation to Benjamin; Franklin, whofe colleague he was at 'the maM^ bf the peace in 1783. When parties proceed to extremes-with each other, every thing ferves as food to their mutual hatred and injuftUSK7' AboutPthis time the'i&ftnu reef ion- at Pittfburg broke out. The federalijls accufed their adverfaries ^sw^f^lng the contrivers and authors of the kifurrection. They endea«- voured to implicate many of them l^^dually in i^^Mlt^^a^th^glbl^lfe accufation was never fupported wMi^'the fmalleff -proof: ^i^iat infurreo- tion wa^fie other than an explofion, of a very culpable nature^ no doubt, but perfectly forefeen, of the difcontents occafioned by the levying a tax on-private diftiHeries ; a meafure that never could b#oMried into effect: in that part of Pennfylvania, even. W&iS?f-previous to the e'ffabl^dteftient of the new conftitution, that tax made pMo'f the law of the ftate. About this- time alfo democratic clubs were formed in feveral towns in the United States; and the anti-federaU/ls were aeeufed of beino* the ' authors of this dangerous imitation of the Jaeobin-affo&iations that'had eaufed.fo many misfortunes to France. | It was alleged- agamfb them, that it was- their defign to ufe the clubs as ih^uments «<SN^isferowing the conftitution, by in-troducing- divifions among the ftates, and rending to piec^,^te%deral fyftem. As it-generally happens, thefe accufai$!©ns inereafed: BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LL4NCOURT. inereafed the -afperity, as well as of the party by whom they were advanced as thofe who were theobjects of them. In this-fituation of things, the treaty with England was concluded. It is not my intention to difcufs the merits of any particular parts of that treaty; nor do I affect to give its hiftory, much 'of which is known only to very few perfons. I propofe merely to take 'fome notice of its effect on the two parties. It is perfectly known, that the prefident perceived the treaty to be fo little conformable to the inftru£lions he had' given Mr. Jay, and fo little confiftent with what he thought the interefts of the United States, that it was long before he could prevail on himfelf to prefent it to-the fenate for its fanction—that this treaty occafioned violent debates in the fenate, which would"not have ended with its ratification, had not the majority of that affembly been previoufly determined to accept it, even.without knowing the articles it contained-—that, as foon as thetreaty was made public, addrefles for and againft its ratification crowded in from every town and corporation of the United States— that the queftion of its ratification or rejection begat the deepeft concern, and the warmeft difcuffions among the inhabitants of the northern ftates^—that the general confidence placed in the prefident tempered in the majority their:averfion to the treaty—and that, finally, when the' fums for carrying it into-execution came to be voted in the houfe of reprefentatives, along and violent .flruggle, relative to the merits of thetreaty itfelf, was the effect; although the right of that houfe to interfere - with its ratification was denied by the friends of the treaty, the letter of the conftitution having, as they faid-, withheld that privilege from them. It is to be obferved, that the reprefehtatives maintained the right of entering into the merits of the treaty, from- the very letter of the conftitution, fo little precifion is there in the wording of it.—The dread of involving the United States in a war with England, at length gained a~ majority in-the houfe for the treaty ; in the fame manner as that motive had influenced not only the prefident, but the majority of the inehre esiduals in the ftates, who finally adhered to the treaty, to the. latter, of whom'; ■! ME" TRAVELS IN NORTH AMjEEJtCA, whom all alliance with England, of whatever kind, was extremely obnoxious. iiijjiitT The old animofity of the two parties was further inflamed by thefe difcuffions. The debates in the congrefs, and the pamphlet^f&d writings in the papers, on the fubject, were loaded with pcrjfqnal abufe, and* mutual accusations. , The ,anii-federalifls were accufed of encouraging a :fpirit of diforganizatlon for dangerous purpofes, and frorny^he fordid mo-, tive of French gold. The other party was accufed of facrificing the na-> tionai honour.; of fhamefully humbling the ftates at the feet of England;. of violating their ancient engagements to F^a^ce; anc^oj": corruption, through the medium of ambition or gold. The moft fatal confequences were predicted to flow from the treaty, and afcribed 'ty&jite federalifts, .as injuries brought by them upon the co^mtry. The fpirit of party was. excluded from no clafs of fociety. JBpJ.itical intolerance proceeded to the extreme; even frequently in the fame dwelling, it waas found to be the greateft; and the moft difgraceful and hateful appellations were mutually given by the individuals of the parties to each other. The difpleafure which France expreffed at the treaty, widened the, breach between the parties. The anti-federali/ls having foretold it, confidered the expreffion of that difpleafure as the eulogium of their oppofi- tione; while the federalifts declared them to be the authors of the diffatif- faction of France. The latter even went fo far as to fay, that their opponents had, by underhand intrigues, engaged the government of France to complain of the treaty, when it was not difpofed to do fo; and thus, they openly denounced them as enemies of their country. The executive government cM"ykhe United States, the centre of the party of the federalifls, could not be ign©Jj|nt that their treaty with England placed Francejgiia gjuch lefs favourable fituation than formerly relative to America, and even in a lefs favourable fituation than England, efpecially in times of war; but whether they did not forefee the^J*£*i pleafure of France, or they braved the confequences, they affected to be furprifed and offended with the complaints of the French government; a&JjL and BY THE DUKS DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LlANCOURT. && and immediately, whether in purfuance of a lyftem they had projected, or from a fear of giving advantage to the oppofite party by reforting to open and frank means of reconciliation with the French, they feemed* in hafte to plunge into meafures calculated to heighten the difpleafure of the French government^SKid to ener^&fe, if poffible, the animofity of the anti-federaliflSf whom they no longer Iieiitated to denominate jacobins, and agents of France. Wlr Among the meafures with which the anti-federali/ls reproached the government as feeing inimical to France, was the fending of a new am- baflad'or to Paris> without powers to adjuft the differences between the eOf&tries, and without even authdtfiy to place France and England on a footing of equality with refpe"ct to the United States. They Certainly, without any injuftice, confidered among the meafures openly hoftile to France, a delay of eight months of the fecretary of ftate in anfweririg one- of the diljJatches ofNKe French minifter ; the infulting' SMwer that was' given, after fo exffiKirdkiary a delay; ^^3?h%^a#ing up a manifeflo^ under the title of inftrnclions to the American minuter in France, that was a libel on both the old arflNsew governments of France, and that did- rt©Ef£ruple to-attribute to pefffiiious defij*m, the fi^WP^m'ces rendered by France to the United States during t&dlt ftruggtSr ^^Jdepend^w?^^ ati^*afeove all, the lading thefe inftrutli^^before the congrefs, that they might be pubfi'ftied to the world, Wfiiicrtitlhe blame of this in^K'being,, in point of form,-ImputetPro them. In-the conduct of the government and the federalifts* their opponents pretenti^ to fe#a^htention of breaking -with France at all events, and of joining England, againft that faith— ffilally of the United States-; they imputed the conduct of the governing party, either to total ignorance of the interefts of America, or to~corruption ;—for, of the incurable hatred of England toward the States, and her feO^t^efolution to involve them in difficulties} and to detach them from a powerful ally, in order to have complete power over them for. the pUrpofesWher ambition, that party affected to have no manner: of doubt. The election.of a riew prefident afforded frefh aliment to thee animofity ©fF £ bao TRAVELS IN NORTH- ADtEftK^i of -.-the-parties. The leaders of the federalifts were defirous of-advariclng to the office of prefident Mr. Pinckney, who had lately been ambaffador in England, and who had made, the laft treaty with Spain, which gave general fatisfadtion in America; and had given his fanction, at 'leaft nominally, to the treaty with England. He was a man of acknowledged merit, of a family exceedingly refpected in South Carolina, and of a perfonal •character greatly valued. His fervices, however, did not procure him the firft: office in the Union. The vice-present, John Adams, feemed to be naturally called to that fituation. Eight years exercife of the office of vice-prefident, old and important fervices to the States, and a long life of eminent virtue, gave him a title that, in the opinion of perfons among the federalifts uninfluenced by intrigue or perfonal confiderations, was infinitely preferable to that of every other among nine ca^^dates for that high office. The leaders of that party, notwithftanding, confidered Mr. j^^dfpey as a man more likely to be directed by their influent" "They ^ffoeiated r^LS,name in the votes with John Adams, profeffing to the majority of their partifans, only to raife him to the office of vice-prefident.. They confidered it as probable, that he would have the fecond greateft number of votes in the north; and thatlH^the fouth, efpecially in Carolina and Georgia, where it was not expected John Adams would have any, he would have the majority, or at all events the fecond number, if Mr. Jefferfon fhould happen to have the majority; and tha£$£hus he would have a greater number of votes than any other candidate, and would confequently be prefident. The anti-federali/ls openly and unanimoufly fupported Mr. Jefferfon; and his title to the office, founded on his eminent talents, on the fhare he had in the declaration of independence, and on his fervices as fecre-t tary of ftate and as ambaffador in France, could not be queftioned, except by the prejudices of party, which are equal in power to moreyfe^d arguments. The two parties ftrained every nerve, and rejected no advantage that intrigue could furnifh. They mutually accufed each other of unfair proceedings, and even of tricks to invalidate votes, and of fraudsvifr' the returns ■m BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LIANCOURT. turns. The leaders of the federalifts were deceived in their expectation of fecretely gaining a majority for Mr. Pinckney. John Adams had, however, but one vote more than the majority required by law. He was declared prefident, and Mr. Jefferfon vice-prefident. The moft recent fhock of thefe parties, conftantly and vehemently excited againft each other/was occafioned by an extraordinary fitting of the congrefs, affembled by the prefident, to take into confideration the refufal of the French Directory to receive Mr. Pinckney as minifter from the United States. Although the federalifts had a majority in the congrefs, the opinions of their opponents frequently prevailed. Almoft every propofition for meafures of hoitility againft France was rejected; and -the fending of three ambaffadors, to demand an explanation from the French government,-was fcarcely followed by any preparations for a war. It is not a little remarkable, that in this conteft the orators of the federalifts held the:fame language which, three years before, had been employed againft them by their opponents ; when on the queftion of fending Mr. Jay to England, the a%0federalifts recommended vigorous meafures, to reftore the United States from the ruq||«s and humiKfljfeng condition to^latich theyMl^ere reduced by England—and that the anti- federali/ls, to crufh the hoftile fpk^^Sfk^ch. the other party expreffed againft France, advanced the fame arguments .^hich the governing party ufed on the former queftion, to recommend os^giiiatory meafures toward England. The members of the houfe of reprefentatives who, although generally voting with the federalifts, were not in the feerets of the party, on this occafion carried the votes of the congrefs toward conciliatory meafures.- The debates, hovsaafcer; were more violent than ever. They were more than ever filled with perfonal abufe, efpecially on the fide of the federalifts, who accufed their adverfaries of having advifed the infults that the ftates received from France, and of being engaged by the French government to faerifice the interefts of their country, and by this accufation endeavoured to fubject their opponents to'the ©dium of the people. The temper of the two parties continues' to be the fame at this time; ' -and fo inveterate is their mutual hatred, their refpective policy is fo m* Vol. II. 3 U widely i TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA,- widely afunder and fo rooted in their affections, and their reciprocal infults are-fo many and fo offenfive, that it is irhpoffible to hope for a reconciliation. It is the- bufinefs of the politician to enquire into the. final iffue of their ftrife. : I have here undertaken only to flate facts, in order to give an idea of the ftate of thefe parties. Yet I cannot but obferve, that the names of federalift and anti-federal'tft, by which they are moft eommmonly known, are as little conformable to the meaning of thefe words as the denominations Englifh adherents and French adherents, which they mutually give to each other. Their feveral objects are, to give the conftitution a monarchical or a republican tendency; and to find, in the ambiguity of parts of its text, an authority for their defigns, as' circumftances happen to favour one or the other. Both the parties are attached to the union; and I am perfuaded that the anti-federali/ls cannot, with the leaft juftice, be reproached with being lefs fo than their opponents. The one is the governing party, the other is in oppofition; and we know that when parties have long combated with each other, their original objects become fecondarjpi Their love of power, and their hatred of each other, are- motives continually acting upon them; and every occafion of gratifying their rage, jealoufy, and ambition, is mutually feized by them.. It is to be ignorant of the paffions of party, not to know, that they are as tumultuous as any that can agitate and torment individuals and fociety. The imputation of being adherents of France or England, is as- unfounded as the other. The leaders of one party look to England as the natural fupport of their power, efpecially fince France became a republic; but they do not wifh to fubjugate Arnica to Englifh influence.. It is faid, and not without the appearance of probability, that there are individuals among them who carry their attachment to England fome- thing further than this; having in contemplation, either the re-union of America to England, or the eftablifhment of a -monarchy with a houfe: of peers, that fhall be clofely and permanently allied to Great Britain., But if there are fuch, as will be readily enough believed, they are not the whole of thofe leaders, and they do not admit the reft into their fecret; for in that cafe they would foon fee the number of their adherents ;&Ml i diminifh BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LIANCGURT. diminifh. It is by exciting a hatred of fome of the meafures of France j and, by a common fraud, turning that hatred againft France herfelf, that thefe perfons endeavour to execute that project, while they conceal from their partizans their real defigns. - I cannot be perfuaded that the American government has entered into thefe defigns, which appear to me to be too far removed from common fenfe to be adopted by the government, and to be rather the views of individuals blinded by their interefts1 and paflions'. - Yet, if we look coolly at the conduct of the government3' trorn the time of concluding the treaty with England, if we confider how little .conciliatory meafures towards France have been ftudied in its public acts, how profufely its minifters- have laviflied infultson the French in their public difpatches, and how profound a refpect the fame minifters, at the very -fame time, expreffed - for the government-and the minifters of England, and, finally,-what rude language toward; France, equally removed from prudence arid decency, has been held by the immediate dependants of the government in both houfes of the legiflature, we fliall acknowledge, that it is hot without appearance the American government is accufed of a partiality for -England, which is not the genuine refult of an attention to the interefts of the United States. On the other hand, if it be recollected, that there is a neceffity, or, at leaft, that there is the habit in politics, as well as in private tranfactions, of following one falfe flep by another ftill more erroneous, to avoid aii acknowledgment of miftake, and, ftill more, the giving an advantage to the oppofite party—if we take into the account-that Mr. Pickering, the American . fecretary of ftate, who was the author of the difpatches I have alluded to, and the principal actor in the fcene, did-anot acquire his fituation (for which no intelligent perfon of his party deerorfed him qualifie6*J**l$ther by his talents, of *3^&:ipolitical experien8S^ hSt >aaa confequence of its being refufed by a more able man, to whom it had been offered by Mf. WaSfirigton, at that time prefide^c;a^ that the difficulty of finding another perfon to fill the office is as-great now as it wras then (for the offices of government are in little requeft-in Amerita^ which is unqueftionably a misfortune,- if it be not a vice proceedingftorn 3 U 2 the 524 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, the conftitution), and that the ma^nations of a party are employed in making the difficulty of finding Mr. Pickering a fucceflbr, appear greater than it really is—if we call to mind the reafonable difcontent of the American merchants at the piracies committed on their property by the privateers and the governments of the French iflands, and the general indignation of the people, although not immediately affected by thefe acts of piracy, Ave fliall perhaps give another interpretation to the preference whiclj^j given to England, than that of a determination to fub- jugate the American ftates to Englifh influence ; a meafure that wrould meet with the moft active oppofition among the federalifts themfelves, and which never can be carried into effect, unlefs France becomes an unnatural accomplice in the fcheme by acts toward America contrary to her intereft, her juftice, and the greatnefs of her character. ^!^ffeto a party confifting of adherents of France, it can with lefs truth be faid to e£rft$yn the United States than a party devoted to England. I confider it to be a natural thing, that men who have uniformly endeavoured to give a republican tendency to the American conftitution fhould lOefeip to the prefent conftitution of France as affording aid to their pretenfions; but I am perfuaded the anti federalifts entertain no defigns derogatoiyato the independence and interefts of the ftates. When the governing party affect to forget the fervices rendered by France to America, and boafl of it as part olpjsheir political fyfte{c|^|it is not furprifing that their opponents more warmly cherifh the remembrance of thofe fervices, and of the calamities inflicted by England, which latter fe.§^^" be forgotten by the government. The members of the legiflature, who form"the oppofition, betray no criminal attachment to France; nor exhibit any figns of voting through the influence of the French government ; nor have the appearance, in any refpect, of looking toward France with any other feelings than thofe that naturally fpring from the intereft the United States have in an alliance with her—chiefly to balance the Englifh influence, which they imagine they have too much reafon to fear. 1 am ftill perfuaded I am warranted in flaring, that there is really in America lefs of what may be called a French party than an Englifh BV THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 525 one. I do not know whether it is to be attributed to the mifconduct of France, or to the want of addrefs in her old or her new goverisg&ent, or to an indifference to the gaining a party here, but it is certain the French have no party in this country. Whoever will give himfelf the trouble to look fleadily at the politics of the country, will be convinced with me that this is fact. I am far from confidering this as a fubject of complaint; and I fhould be glad that it could be afcribed to the wifdom of the French government. The object of a government that forms a party in a foreign nation, is to influence its public acts, and to controul it by intrigue. The object is as deftitute of juftice as of magnanimity; it undermines the independence of the foreign ftate, and the rights of nations; and its means are of the mod odious nature, being no other than the fowing of corruption and domeftic diffenfions in the country. Where fuch purpofes can be obtained, by fuch means, deteftable as one and the other are, the fuccefs can be but temporary. They are foon countermined by the ufe of the fame means by the rival nation; and the only certain effect they leave behind is the depravity and confequent misfortunes of the people among whom they are practifed. Although I hazard the difgrace of being deemed romantic in my fentiments on this fubject, I am not the lefs willing to declare, that 1 confider generofity, good faith, and found morals as the means of fuccefs the moft efficacious and eafily applied, in politics as well as in private conduct. How much is the power of a nation augmented, in the character it acquires, that demands nothing that is not juft, and that gives in its treaties with other nations even more than is demanded. The intrigues of a rival nation with any of its allies will be more readily and perfectly defeated by a frank and plain conduct, than by an imitation of thofe intrigues, which, in truth, places.the nation that employs them in a ftate of real hoftility with that to whom it is even then, by its minifters, making profeflions of friendfliip. The reputation and importance of moft cabinets, and moft ambaffadors, no doubt, would be infinitely reduced, if they were compelled to renounce $$ggjji} intrigues; but the interefts of ftates, and the hafq^nefs of the people would 526 STOfiTH- AMERICA, woiild as certainly be greatly inereafed; and it is a matter that I canhof. queftion, that, if a regard to integrity is incapable of working a revolution in the policy of cabinets, fuch a revolution will inevitably be brought about by the natural progrefs of knowledge, which cannot fail to prove its utility. Although the elections for offices in the federal government, and thofe in the feveral ftates, are under the influence of party, my reader muft not conclude that the inhabitants of the United States univerfally range themfelves on the fide of one or other of the parties. Many are ignorant of their motives and objects; and a great number of others regard them with indifference, having no other intention than to return the candidate moft proper for the office, and permitting themfelves to be directed iri their votes by fuch as they deem to be better informed on the fubject than themfelves. The fecurity of liberty, the independence of the United States, and the prefervation of the prefent form of government, are the objects of their attachment; and, in general, they live in tne pleafing perfuafion that there can be no other fentiment in public affairs. A painful recollection of the calamities inflicted by England, durinr their ftruggles for independence, and a grateful remembrance of the fervices rendered them by France at the fame period, are the common fentiments of the country; and the partiality for France is, no doubt, inereafed by the reflection that fhe contends for liberty with the eiiemy that oppofed their independence; and by a perfuafion that it was in America that France was firft taught to lov^iberty. This preference, however, for the interefts of France is by no means fo obftinate as not to give way to a conviction, where it is excited, that France has defigns upon the irtde- • pendence of the United States ; and it '%0by engendering fufpicions of that nature, that the party in oppofition to the French interefts, and their writers, have endeavoured for%year paft to fnake the attachment of -the people to the French caufe. To this end calumnies on the French government, and falfe£%nd infidious conftructions of their con- ^§ttfti'-have been induftfio^flj^^read through America. Whatever'has come within my$#h obfervation, or I havi'^pthered . v*tP from ET THE DUKE DE LA EOCHEFGUCAULT LI AN COURT. 527 from others, convinces me that I have given a faithful picture of the mats of the inhabitants of the American States, and I cannot imagine that it will be. faid—that an affectionate remembrance of the • fhare which France had in the eftablifhment of American independence, and the re- folution not to fuffer herfelf to make the flightefl breach in that great work, erected as it was with fuch immenfe coft, are, either one or the other, fentiments difcreditable to the American .people. Mllf IEW STATES FORMED STNCE THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION.. At the time of the completion of the new conftitution in 17-87, and the firft fittings of the new congrefs in 173Q, the Union confifted of no more than thirteen ftates; but, fince that period, three have been added in the manner prefcribed in fuch cafes by the conftitution. Kentucky,, which was a diftridt dependent on the State of Virginia, was raifed into a ftate by an act of congrefs, of the fourth of February 17Q1 ;. and Vermont, which was a part of New Hampfhire, was erected into a ftate on the 18thof June in the fame year; and, on the ift of June 179$, Ten- neflee, formerly part of North Carolina, and after the acceptance of the conftitution voluntarily ceded by that ftate to the Union, under the name of The Government of the Territories on the South of the Ohio, was alfo declared an independent ftate. The province of Maine, part of the State of Maflachuffetts, has demanded to be erected into a feparate ftate ; and will probably be declared fuch in the firft or fecond feffion of the next congrefs, and it is to- be expected that the Union, if it preferves its independence, will at length confift of a greater number of ftates than at prefent, by portions of territory being difmembered from the ftates of the greateft extent, and erected into independent ftates. Befides the fixteen ftates which at prefent form the Union, there is an immenfe tract of land, bearing the name of TheTerritory on the North-Weft of the Ohio, wrhich is attached as a diftrict: to the fovereignty of the Union, and 526 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, and is under the immediate jurifdiction of the congrefs. The act which formed this territory into a diftrict under the old congrefs, on the lft of July 1787, was afterwards modified by the new conftitution. - A governor, a fecretary, and three judges, appointed by the prefident of the United States, the firft for three years and the others for four, compofe the provifional government of this territory; which, although it includes more than two hundred and fifty millions of acres, contains only four thoufand white people. The Indians form the greater part of its population ; but even their numbers are not great. By a law of-the old congrefs, of the 13th of July 1787, this territory was authorifed to chufe a '; legiflative affembly when its population of white people fhould amount to fifty thoufand. The fame law included other liberal regulations, affo- ttfcKrcmg the Territory on the North-Weft of the Ohio with the reft of America in the ri^Hs'-grahted by the conftitution. -~f t alfo enjoined the inhabitants to obferve a juft and friendly conduct towards the Indians. It prohibited the purchafe of lands from the Indians by individuals without the exprefs authority of congrefs ; and declared that this territory fhould bear its fhare in the expences of the federal government, and in the payment of the debts of the Union. ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT, AND THE VICE-PRESIDENT, OF THE UNITED STATES. t^;#fie| The election of the prefident of the United States being a fubject of the moft weighty importance in this country, andN it having happened that I was in America when an election to that high office took place, I am perfuaded there are many details relative to the fubject that will be given here with advantage. The conftitution, in the article on the executive power, having determined the conditions required for the office of prefident, and the extent and duration of its powers, enjoins the mode of election to the respective offices of prefident and'vice-prefident; but I will not again cite the text, which will be found in the firft fection of the fecond article of the conftitution. On BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. On the ]3th of September 1788, the old congrefs, having received the ratification of the conftitution from eleven flates, and the other forms |p|feribed for its ratification being complied with, declared the conftitu- iM&bfito be in force. It appointed the firft Wednefday of the following January, for the choofing the electors in the different ftates that had ratified the conftitution, which electors were to nominate the prefident; and the firft Wednefday in the February following, for the affembling of the electors in the feveral ftates, to chufe the prefident; and the firft Wednefday of March, for the affembling of the new congrefs at NeW York, (at that time the feat of the government), when the feveral branches of the government were to commence their proceedings under the new conftitution. "'2|lfifff ^'SP^ 'vJffilw'Tt George Wafhington was elected prefident, on the firft Wednefday iri February 1789 ; and entered on the exercife of his functions, with the other authorities on the firft Wednefday of the following March. He had been prefident of the convention; his name had refounded in every part of America; the gratitude and veneration of the public were not only his due, but eagerly accorded to him; and his election was without a diffehti^^jrCe. John Adams wras at the fame time elected vice- president. L'$fil9M The c^gflitution, in'furnifiang the legiflature with a general rule for the election of prefident and vice-prefident, had not provided for every ispS^^oancy that might occur, but had committed'lfet tafk to the legiflature; and I think it neceffary to give the law as it exifts at prefent ©n/ttiat fubject. fPllf! •I LAW.RELATIVE TO THE ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT AND -VICE- PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, PASSED IN CONGRESS ON THE FIRST1.QF MARCH 1/92, IN VIRTUE OF AN ARTICLE QF .THE, CONn stitutijonY IrW: '^HRS eb Se£i. iff. The cafe of the election of piefiden^^^abe-prefident or tfeeJJhited States before the "uffiaP^eriod t^^efection, whHjf ©8$£* is S Vol. II. 3 X hereinafter 530 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, hereinafter provided for, being excepted, the electors for the chuling the prefident and vice-prefident fhall be named within thirty-four days immediately preceding the firft Wednefday of December, 17.9.2; and thenceforth, within thirty-four days immediately preceding the firft Wednefday of December in the fourth year after the laft election. The faid electors fliall be equal in number to that of the fenators and reprefentatives in congrefs, of which the feveral ftates fliall have a right to compofe their deputation, at the time when the prefident and vice-prefi- flaal to be chofen fhall enter into office: provided that, if the new ap- M^^S^ °f reprefentatives, in virtue of the new enumeration of the mhahitants, fhall not take place before the period for chufmg the electors, then the number of electors fhall be proportioned to the r&g&ber of fenators and reprefenjatiajes of the prefent congrefs. Seel. 2d. The electors ffiali^a^femble and vote on the firft Wednef- tkirjQf December, in each ftate, at fuch place as fhall be named by$j$$@ ^riflature of the %|e,; and fliall draw up and fign three cet=te|eates of &j|k refpective votes, and fhall fold up and feal the fame feparately, and fhall indorfe upon the coggr of each packet a declaration, that it contains a lift, of the votes of the ftate for the prefident and vieer-prefident; and every elector, or the majority of electors, fhall appoint by ballot the perfon to whom they will entrufl one of the faid certificates, to be by him conveyed to the prefident of J^e, fenate, at the place of refidence of the government, before the firft Wednefday of the January following; and fliall addrefs another of theafaid certificates, by the poft, to the prefident of the fenate, at the place of refidence of the government; and fhall tranfmit the third of the faid certificates to the judge of the diftrict: in which their affembly fhall be held. Seel. 3d. The executive power in each ftate fliall caufe to be drawn up, and properly certified, three lifts of the names of the electors of the ftate, and fhall tranfmit the fame to the electors before the firft Wednefday of December; and the electors fhall add one of the faid lifts to each of the before-mentioned lifts of their votes. Seel. 4th. In the cafe of a lift of the votes of a flate not gapping at the BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCtfEFOUCAUfrT'LlANCOURT. the place of refidence of the government on the firft' Wednefday in January, the fee¥&ary of ftate fhall difpatch an exprefs to the judge of the diftridt- of fuch ftate, in whofe hands the third certificate fhall have been depofited, who fhall tranfmit it by the fame meffenger to the place of refidence of the government. Seel. 5th. The congrefs fhafl commence its fitthfgs on the fecond Wednefday of February, 17Q3 ; and thenceforth, on the fecond Wedr&fti^ of the February following each affembly of electors; and the certificates', or as many of them as fliaHJhave arrived, fliall be opened, the votes e^anfed, and names of the perfons eleetelhto fill the offi!^ of prefident and vice-prefident declared and proclaimed-, aeeonfifftg to the forms of the conftitution. SeSi. 6th. In the cafe of the prefident of the fenate not being prefent at the place of refidence of the government, on the arrival of perfons charged ^4fiH.m^lfifts-of the votes of the eie&ttfe, fuch perfOft^fiiall deliver the lilts to the fecretary of ftate, who fhall carefully preferve them, and remit them as foon as poffible to the prefident of tHfN&iate. Seel. 7th. The perfons appointed by the electors to convey the lifts t© the prefident of the fenate, fhall receive, at the time of delivering the faid lifts, fifteen pence per mile for the diftance, by the high road, from the place of eleclSfou to the refidence of the government. Seel. 8th. If any perfon, being appointed to convey the votes of the electors to the pre&ibftt of the fenate, and having accepted that truft, fliall neglect to difcharge the fame, he fhall incur a penalty of one thoufand doSafs;, ns Seel. 9th. In the cafe of the removal, death, refignation, or incapacity to fill his office, of the prefident or vice-prefident, the provisional prefident of the fenate, or, where no fuch officer has been appointed, the fpeaker of the houfe of reprefentatives, fliall fulfil the duties of prefident of the United States, or'l^fcfe.-prefident, until the prefident or vice-prefident fhall refume his functions, or a new election fhall take place. Seel. 10th. When the offices of prefident and vice-prefident fhall become vacant at the fame time, the fecretary of ftate fliall give notice of 3" X 2 the 3 532 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, tl^fame to the executiv^ygower of each ftate; and fhall publifh the ^$$j$, notice in one gazette at leaft.c^^ach ftate, in which it fhall be declared ^j^the electors for the prefident of the United States will be appointed or chofen in the feveral flates, within the thirty-four days immediately preceding the firft Wednefday of the month of December folio wing, provided a fpace of two months fhall intervene between the date of fuch notice, and the -firft Wednefday of the December following; but when the faid fpace of time fhall not fo intervene, or if the term for which the late prefident and vice-prefident were elected does not expire on the third day of March following, then the fecretary of ftate fhall declare in fuch nattiee- that the electors are to be appointed or chofen within the thirty-four days immediately preceding the firft Wednefday ^^Pecem- ber in the following year; and the electors fliall be appointed accordingly, and fliall profiled as is provided in this act. Seel, llth. The only evidence that fhall be required of the refufal to accept the ofSjpe of prefident or vice-prefident, or refignation of either of the faid offices, ffialLbe a* declaration in writing to that effect, figned by the perfon refuting to accept or refigning fuch office, which fhall be transmitted to and depofitedifikhe office of the fecretary of ftate. . rSeel. 12th. The term for which, the prefident and vice-prefident fhall be chofen fliall be four years; commencing, in all cafes, on the 4th of March following the.day of the election. iMsP^ : By the provifions of this law, as well as thofe of the conftitution, the fKXSTS^r of declaring the mannepof nominating the electors who were to choofe the prefident and vice-prefident, was left to the legiflatures of the feveral ftates; and the refult ia^s, that a uniform mode was not adopted. In fome of the ftates the people were left to nominate the. elefikogs* in the fame manner as .they voted for other offices; in others,.,tbajt power was confided to the legiflatures themfelves. The following is a ftatement fhe wing which of thefe modes was adopted by each ftate refpectively. States BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOOTIT. 533 States in which the Eledfofc for the Prefident and Vice-prefident of the United States are named by the People. ijpii Maffachufetts. Pennfylvania. Virginia. Teneffee. Kentucky. South Carolina. Georgia. "*$$a&$''ih which the Eleelors for the Prefident and Vice-preftdentiof^kst United Statt&tire named by the Legiflature. Vermont. New Hampfhire. i£#?M^ Connecticut. Rhode Ifland. New York. Delaware. Id New Jerfey. Maryland.-/ rfjdi^tJ North Carolina. It is certainly a eircumftance at which one can fcarcely exprefs too much furprife, that a public act, including an intereft fo weighty and general as that of the choice ©^prefident, fhould not be conducted on uniform principles throughout the ftates ; and that the privilege of nominating the eleelors fhould not univerfally refide in the people. The advocates for its refiding in the legiflatures contend, that the legiflatures, being chofen by the people, and for a fhort period, their nomination of electors is, in fact:, that of the people; and that the nomination of electors being always at a flated period, the people, when they choofe the legiflature, have it before their eyes that it has the electors to name, and therefore are called to vote for fuch members as they imagine may be en-r trufted with that function. Their opponents maintain, that the election, of the prefident and vice-prefident by the people, in an immediate and direct manner, is an inalienable right, and which it wTas the intention of the conftitution to ratify; that the conftitution, in leaving it to the feveral legiflatures to declare the manner of nominating the electors, had in view only the place and time of their affembling, and never meant to inr trench upon one of the moft facred rights of the people; and that, although .'TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, though the legiflatures are chofen for a fhort period, and the tiM&&£$$& urinating the electors is fixed, fo that' the people may always, in their choice of the members of the legiflature, keep in mind that particular truft, yet the functions of legiflator and of elector are fo abfolutely dif- tinct, that the man who is the mo{t proper for one may be extremely unfit for the other. Mr. Wafhingtcsni was a fecond time chofen prefident of the United States, on theafirit Wednefday in December 1792, but not unanimoufly, as in the formerainftanee> an oppofition already beginning to fliew itfelf in the Union. He had, however, a majority, which was the greater, becaufe many of thofe in oppofition perceiving that he would be chofen in defpite of the^efi@f»8SJj, did not declare openly againft him, while fome of that party even gave him their vote. John Adams was again elected vice-prefident, WiflHl a majority that greatly exceeded the votes of any of the other candidates. In the month-'of October 1796-, lW$i Wafhington publicly declare#fi?l'' ri$f#ution of retiring, orf'aeeount of infirmities of age, and requefted his friends and adherents not to nominate him. The ferutiny for prefident and vice-prefident was made in a fitting held for that purpofe, according to the terms of the law. The fenate having come down to the chamber occupied by the reprefentatives, took their feats on the right, ^£M|s the cuftom wheri-t&te two HSufes unite for particular objects. The vice-prefident, acting in his capacity of prefident of the fenate, was feated in a chair on the right of that occupied by the fpeaker of the houfe of reprefentatives. The chairs of the prefident of the fenate, and the fpeaker of the houfe of reprefentatives, flood upon a p!&$Sfm, elevated for the purpofe. One commiffioner, appointed by the fenate, and two by the other houfe, fat at a table at the foot of the platform; and the fecretaries of the two houfes were reflectively placed at tables, that of the fenate on the right, and the other on the left of the platform, and immediately below it. The fecretary of the fenate having read the law regulating the mode of opening the ferutiny, and the in- ftruments of the two houfes refpectively appointing the commiffioners, the BY THE DUKE BE LA ROCHEFOUCAUL'T- LIANCOURT. the vice-prefident fiicceffively drew from two boxes, which flood before him, the votes from the^sseral tfta#pbfor the nomination of prefident and vice-prefident of the United States. The votes, together with papers (relative to the election, were fea4©<t up in a packet from each ftate, agreeable to the law of the lfl of Maprch, 1792. The vice-prefident, having broken the feals, read the general return of the election of each ftate, certifying its validity ; after which, the fecretary of the fenate declared the feveral votes of the electors, and read their feveral.ffgnatures. All the papers were then, by order of the vice-prefident, handed to the commiffioners, who mutually examined and check«fH!he"whole, and feveifally! made entries of the votes for each candidate.. I Mr. Sedgwick, the commiffioner of the fenate, bavijng compared and checked his lift with thofe of Mr. Sitoreave and Mr. Parker, the commiffioners of the houfe of reprefentatives, read aloud the general fummary of the returns; in the order in which the feveral packets had been opened by the prefident. The following is a copy of the fummary. It Names 1 '*■ 53$ TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, Names of the ftates. > ■ p 3 5 o e-i 3 Pi CO > P 3 p rt- I*- i Q 3 rt- O 15 P 1 5 09 r+ O P i W o 3- *l&w ^HampMfeF^ 6 6 Maffachufetts 16 13 2 1 Rhode Ifland ir& 4 Connecticut' £ 0 4 5 Vermont ™j{ 4 4 New York f§ lJ New J&tjbL^., ( 7 7 Pennfy 1 vaniaj t^ranA ml ii 14 13 Delaware 3 3 'M^yland 7 4 *?f 3 2 Virginia *k 1 20 1 15 3 1 Kentucky 4 4 Teneffee 3 3 North Carolina l 1 1 1 6 1 South Carolina-^. 8 8 Georgia 4 4 Total 71 59 08 30 15 2 5 7 2 2 11 The vice-prefidengathen declared, that in virtue of the conftitutiorL, the candidate having the greateft number of ypj£s above an abfolute majority of the electors, was the perfon appointed to be prefident; and that the total number of electors being one hundred and thirty-nine, the candidate having feventy-one votes was in the prefent cafe duly elected. ftmwBlR As BY THE DUKE DE-XA-"--KGCHEPOUG§V&g LlANCOURT. j As the choice fell upon himfelf <*Sid by his prefent office it became hils? duty to proclaim hina^lf prefidtfit, he bet#&y*ed evident figns of em- barraffment; and did not recover from his agjtation till ^fe^^bme moments of filence; ifrifdi^'declared, thst John Adfims, having feventy- €8S& *©tes, a number bej^ftd 3SPfafefolUte majority required bf the confection, and no Candidate having more votegj John Adanls was elected and proclaimed prefident of the Unit&d States1 for four years—and that Thomas Jefferfon, havi£(A4i£E$M&ght W&es, and no other candidate having-the fame numfe^-wa^e>fe<&ed and proclaimed vice-prefident, for the fame teftnOf fo\&^(J0^Js§£Le concluded this Concife proclamation, bv befeeehing the Almighty to fwnir and protect the objects of the election. The ^functions of the new prefident- were not to commence till the 4th of March; aii&*{ldbft AtisHifc, in his qualify of ^^j^gfiden** %&£* tinued to be prefident of l&e^mate. Fift^el^ ^^^aftefwards, 14 ^quelled- that houfePfb? name a provifi<ih8Pfaefid©nt, that fee might employ the interva4*ifcrj§reparing for the fun$a8»i$©f his high, office. The fecretary of ftate, whofe duty it Was to inftj^ai Mr. Jeffetfofi s£ his nomination to the office of vice-prefidentj-f&nt an ex£*&fs to him for that purpofe, and at the fame time a du^Mteate of thfe^ (Switch by the regular poft. The prec^Utfc>i$bitted out to be lfS^sffary ; for th<g&xtraordi- igflrj^meffenger felrto- fuddenly and extremel^Ji^^«j^^^fence of forty mile3 from P^rfadelphia,'that he W&W$%&tn able to declare tfeg object of his difpatches; and it was by the poft th&-Mf. Jefftffon received the account of his nomi§£i$i©n. Mr. Jefferfon proceeded to Philadelphia, and on the 4th of March the new members of the eie&fitive authority entered on their functions. The houfe of te^i^fe^s^s^, 'Which b^^jie conftitution was diffolved on the 3d ©f'March of its fecond year, no longer exifted. Thg^tfiftitu- tion, in prefcribing to the new prefident the neceffity of taking the oath before he entered on th&HM&ift'- of his fun^^ft-s, had not declared at what time, or in-^^at manner, or before whom^ihe oath was to be taken. John Adams followed the example of his predeceflor; he re- - Vol. II. 3 Y paired 4 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, paired to the houfe of reprefentatives, preceded by the fherifts, marfhals, and other officers, and placed 'himfelf in the chair occupied by the fpeaker during the fittings of the houfe. Such members of the fenate as remained in the town, took their ordinary feats; the other feats were filled with fpeotators, amc$!g whom were many ladies. Mr. Jefferfon, the new vice-prefident, placed -.- himfelf at the foot of the platform on the right, and the late fpeaker of the houfe of reprefentatives on the left. In the front, and round a table, were four of the judges of the fupreme court of the United States, among whom was Mr. Els worth, the chief juftice. The galleries and. tribunes were crowded. The foreign, minifters, although not formally invited, attended without ceremony, and, with many others, flood behind the platform. The prefident, the fimplicity of whofe drefs was not diftinguifhed by any thing but a black cockade and a fword, pronounced a difcourfe, in which he declared his political faith ; after which, having defcended from the platform, he repeated, in a loud voice, the ufual oath, after the chief-juftice, and kiffed the book of the evangelifls, and then returned to the platform. In a- fhort time after, he retired, preceded by the officers who^accom- panied him on his entrance. . Nothing can be more fimple than the ceremony of th^cfinftallation; but this very Simplicity has fometbi^gjin it fo delightful, fo noble, and fo nearly refembling the grandeur of antiquity, that it commands our reverence, and feizes upon our worthieft affections. .Ir&pak at leaft of the effect it produced on my feelings. This change of the perfons exercifing the moft awful functions of the ftate, with fo little pomp, but with fo eat folemnity; and which places a man who, the evening before, was among the crowd of fimple citizens, at the head-^fathe government, while he who held the firft office of the ftate the preceding evening, is returned again to the clafs of fimple citizens:—is full of the qualities that, conftitute true greatnefs. The prefence of the late prefident, who mingled with the other fogo* tators of this fcene, added to its intereft, and compleated the greatnefs of its effect. ' Mr. WSBM RY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEF0UCAULf%aANCOURT. 53C) Mr. Jefferfon, having returned to the chamber of the fenate, took the oath, in prefence of the members and the fecretary; having firft pronounced a fhort difcourfe, full of talent and wifdom, and which reOftB&MI the approbation of all who did not attend with a refolution to be diffatif- fied with Mr. Jefrerfon's conduct. DEPARTMENTS OF THE EXECUTIVE POWER, IN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. There are three departments in the executive government—tlie"department of ftate, that of finances, and that of war. A perfon, who bears the title of fecretary of the department, is at the head of each ; they act under the authority of the prefident,- - wh©r'may avail himfelf of their councils w7hen he thinks proper, but i&.A&t' compelled to do fo. An a^lSfrfey-general of the United' States is»*!tlaehed to the exec%$$g. government; whofe functions are, to profecute in the fupreme court of the States, all fuits in which the government of^fte'-Union is interefted,and to give his opinion on matters relative to law to the prefident, when he. demands it; and to the heads of the feveral departments, in law matters concerning the department, when it is reqi&red of him. Laws that have paffed fince the creation of the office of att^roey^feneral of the United States, have appointed the perfbrf^#ho fills ;tit4fta office, one of the commiffioners of the fin%iftg fund, and fi^the reduMOn of the national debt. He is permitted, in common with the attornies-general of the feveral -ftates, to purfue his profeffion in the affairs of individuals. JUDICATURE. The judicature of the UnrrelF* States is compofed of courts of diftrict, courts of circuit, and a fupreme court; and thefe have exclufive jurifdiction.of all fuits that affect the interefts of the Union. The courts of diftrict are held in every flate four times ayear, by "a-judge appointed by the general government, and refiding -for; that purpofe "in-' %he. ftatev . BY 2 ' They fl 040 jStiH^.'- TRATPW-IN NORTH AMERIOA, They take cognizance of crimes and offences againlt the general laws of the Unlfca%,'8^inittfj£: fea withif|*vi$$jnrif- 6iBkm>:^b^i4-liStp^3^^il^0iMot cxce'§$:||hirty firipes, TRJgh a whip, or the payment of a hi£sy<Ired dollars; and. of. all cau:fe#$j^©nging to the admiralty, including feizures made in pnrfea&ce of th§ }j$^o£\ the gengrai government relative to imports, commerce, or navigation, when fuch leisures are made within theirijurifdiction. They have alfo cognizance, in conjunction with the courts of the particular ftate, and the courts of circuit, of caufes in which foreigners conaplain of wrongs done in violation of the law of nations, or in violation of any-treaty of the United States; and of all caufes to be determined by the common law, in which the general government is the plaintiff, and when theobjects in difpute do not exceed the value of a hund^fd dollaf^-The courts of d^t^^ K have alfo exclufive cognizance of fuits again&f £pnfuls and vice-confuls. s All caufes determinsed Isy.the courtfif$p£ diftrict, except thofe concerning the admiralty, are tried by jury. $&&$> The courts of circuit are held by ajud^-^fe^he fupreme court, and judges;$$4he diftrict. The United States are dividejint© three circuits; the eafteyn circuit, compiling the ftates on the eaft, ex^nding to, but fft3)rfive ©f New York; the midlan4 circuit, comprifing the ftates of New York, New Jerfey, Pennfylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Vir- ^S^M^^I^^<fouthern cire$|t^ comprifing the ftates to the fouth of liSKginia. C$prjts of ci^ggif:; are held t^gi^e a year«jygj each-ft$ea: they have cognizance, in conjunction with the courts of the different ftates, of all chri§&§fi£&& where the matter in difpute amounts to th^^lue of five hundred d©llaSl*i4S^[pendent of the exposes of the fuit, and in which the Union is interefted, or a foreigner is a party, or the difpute is between citizens of different, ftates; and an exclufive cognizance of all &pil&Qna\ matters committed againft the Union. They are alfo^so^rt^ of appeal j&oin the judgment of the cour^^f-diftrict. The fupreme court of the Union is compofed of a chief-juftice, and five judges, ^hich latter have rank among themfelves, according to the dates of their appcuffijUngifefe, jjt holds its $$ings twice a year, at the,0la,c£ which BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFGUCAULT. L7ANC0URT. which is the feat of the government; it has exclufive jurifdiction ov^alT civil caufes where any one of the ftates is a party, §i&ept where the ad- verfe party is a citizen of the fame ftate; and over all fuits inflituted againft foreign ambaffadors or envoys, or. their domeftics, confidently with the law of nations. Its jurifdiction extends alfo, but not exclu- fively, to fuits in which an ambaffador or other foreign minifter is plaintiff, pr in which confuls or yice-eonfuls are interefted. It is a general court of appeal from the judgment of the courts of circuit, or of the different tribunals of the feveral ftates. All the federal courts have authority to make rules to regulate proceedings before them, and to adminifter oaths. The attorney-general of the United States, who muft refide .at-the feat of govefi^ment, conducts the cauffS&rf the government in thmiupreme court; and a counfel appointed by the general government refides in each flate or diftrict, to conduct in the courts of diftridt and courts of circuit criminal and civil caufes on behalf of the government. The diftance of the ftates of Kentucky and Teneffee, and of the province of Maine, from the feat of the federal government, makmg'i%l«b' Convenient to hold courts of Aeuit in them, their courts of diftrict are authorifed to exercife the jurifdiction belonging to the courts of circuit, except jsf cafes of appeal, wilich are carried before the fuprettie> federal court. The islnie authority is given.'to the courts of diftrict in the territories of the north-weft, which as yet are not formed into a flate The juries that ferve in the federal courts are chofen according to the forms obferved in the refpective ftates where thefe courts happen to be held. ■i CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE. The crimes and offences of which the federal tribunals take cognizance, are only fuch as are commuted againffrthe Union, or committed jflfisatitories under the ireSnediate j urifdictfon of the Uniom In the firft clafs are—treafons; rebellions; refufala to pay impofts enjoined by the :Uajon; fmuggling ;ofrauds committed by officers of the revenue, in matters of revenue .5 in-a word, every offence againft laws paffed by the !&£& a congrefs. SimVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, congrefs. In the fecond clafs are—crimes and offences committed on the feas, or in forts or arfenals belonging to the Union; and, sjil'Cafe of the feat of government being removed to Federal-city, all crimes and offences, of what nature foever, committed in that city, or in a diftrict furrounding it often miles fquare. The crime of treafon, as it is defined by the conftitution ; wilful murders/committed in forts, arfenals, &c. belonging to the Unions or committed on board of American veffels in the open feas, or in the feveral roads; the treachery of mafters difpofihg of veflels or cargoes committed to their charge,- for their own profit, or. delivering fuch veffels to piraftes; a confpiracy of failors to prevent the mafter from defending himfelf againft pirates; piracies committed by citizens of the" United States, under foreign; colours, on the veffels or cargoes belonging to the Union, or to citizens, of :the Union ; forging of national fecurities; debafing of money by officers of the mint, or thefts committed by them, of gold or filver coin from the mint; theft of money or notes from letters, made by the letter- carriers of the poft offices; and the robbery or opening of the mail on the highways, or the robbery of them in the poft offices, or opening of them by perfons not authorifed-:—are crimes puniflied with death. Robbery, and the receiving of ftolen goods, are puniflied with whipping, which is never to exceed thirty-nine ftripcs ; and forging of bills of -lading, fhip's books, or regiflers, or other fuch documents, are puniflied with the pillory, and imprifonment not to exceed more than three years. All other crimes and offences againft the general government, including dealings in the flave trade, which the laws- of the Union prohibit, arc puniflied by fines and imprifonment of various degrees. Although the criminal jurifprudence of the Union cannot be charged with cruelty, when compared with that of moft ftates of Europe, efpe- -eiaJly England, one is not the lefs furprifed to fee, in a code abounding with th©>punifhments of whipping, the pillory, and death, that fine and imprifonment are the only punifhmcnts for the crimes of wilfully flitting the nofes, tongues, or ears of a human being. Ht^f J cannot prevail on myfelf to believe, that the congrefs will not, ere it be long, infufe into its jurifprudence the benign temper of the le|$fe- i <dtt>.'- - ture BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LIANCOURT. " 543 ture of Pennfylvania, whofe example has been followed by many other of the ftates. Independent of the great moral and political motives which recommend that conduct to the federal government, it muft at length be moved by the hard and cruel contrafl of punifhments inflicted in the fame place, and for the fame fpecies of crime, according as the fentence happens to be paffed by the tribunals of the federal government, or thofe of the refpective ftates—for the fentence of a federal Court is executed in the place where it is paffed. This contrafl is painful in an uncommon degree &t Phiiadelphia; where the Union having no prifon peculiar to itfelf, criminals fentenced by the federal courts to imprifonment are confined in the fame prifon with offenders fentenced by the courts of Pennfylvania, but are not permitted to partake of the benefits of the humane and falutary regulations of that flate in its prifons. CIVIL JURISPRUDENCE. The laws of the Union in civil matters, like thofe of the feveral flates, are for the moft part the Englifh laws, accompanied with all the delays and intricacies arifijig from complicated and difficult forms. It wOi^fl be a great benefit conferred on the American people, to fimplif^the proceedings, and even many of the principles of the law ; and it is a reform fometimes talked of, but the undertaking is great and difcouraging. The lawyers, educated in the principles of this embarraffed code, and accuf- tomed to its practices, would reluctantly change them for others; and it is to be fuppofed the greater part of them are fo perfuaded of the fuperior excellence of the fyftem, that they would oppofe the introduction of any other; and it is to be remembered that law fuits, although ruinous to clients, are the harveft of lawyers. This clafs of men compofes much more than half of the legiflature of the Union, as well as. of the legifig? tures of the different ftates; and thefe, I am afraid, are too powerful reafons to permit us to hope for any fpeedy reform in the law. One of the moft remarkable laws of the Union is that negative to flavery; but it may be confidered as fpringing from principles of policy, rather than enlightened reafons of jurifprudence. We have feen that the conftitution 544 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, conftitution permitted, //'// 1808, the importation, in the feveral flates, of ftteiiperfons as, till that period, the feveralflates-fhould judge it expedient io permit to be imported; and by this defcription the conftitution meant to -' defignatejlaves; which temporary countenance given to the flave trade the conftitution could not openly acknowledge,'without an abfurd contradiction of the liberal principles it had premifed; nor could it openly prohibit the flave trade, without a certainty of the taw being oppofed by the fouthernftates. By this Vague defighatioii the framers of the conftitution crept out of this embarraflment; and, however grofs the* "fubter- fuge may be, we can fcarcely blame them; fince, while they preferved the exiflence of the Union/at tifee difficult period when the cohftitution was framed, they named a term not far diftant:for the.extinction: of that deteftable traffic. In 3 796, the congrefs paffed a law, prohibiting American veffels to carry flaves, under the penalty of two thoufand dollars, and confifcation of'the flaves and veffels; and this l$K, althoiighrfcM&tfmes ehfded, is for the greater part rigoroufly enforced, of which I have feen many inffsififcts Iftiriog my ftay in America. It is even difficult and expenfive to elude it; forth© Quaker^ ptkfkte offenders aga-rnft this law with inedible activity and inveteracy. The merchants who make the attempt muft provide falfe billSs'of lading, and make oawfchat the cargo is the j^pkftf of foreign merchants, and employ others to take the fame oath; and all this is attended with great expence. A law of 1/93, prohibits the giving of an afylum to any perfon engaged to ferve another, ordaittlg a fine to be levied upon all offenders in this^ cSfe, and declaring, that the perfon who flics ftiom, his mafter fhall be liable f© be fent back to him. In this lawMeeongre^avoided the Ufe of the wot&fita&es, although it was to provide agaittft the flight or concealment of flaves that it was paffed, there being little reafon for apprehenfions a&eut domestics engaged for a term. ThejurifpcUjdence of tne tMo» relative to flaves, is confined to theiferW© articles. DEPARTMENT BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOUR DEPARTMENT OF STATE. The department of ftate is alfo that of foreign affairs, wiiich indeed form its., principal- bufinefs. The fecretary of ftate, who is at the head of this department, is the keeper of the feals of the Union. It is his office to countersign the laws, and to promulgate them; he has the cuftody of the papers of the old congrefs, and has other functions; but his principal employment is to tranfact affairs with foreign powers. The expences incurred for foreign affairs amounted, for the four firft .years after the ratification of the new conftitution, to no more than forty thoufand dollars annually. Since that period the number of the minifters and confuls of the Union in foreign countries being encreafed, the ordinary annual expences for foreign affairs^ have amounted to. fixty thoufand dollars; and the-expences attending the execution of the different treaties made by-the Union during the laft three years, have occafioned the granting of extra- ordinaries • greatly- exceeding the amount of ordinary expences. The treaty with Algief^&jepft the Union more than nine hundred thoufand dollars. The amount of expences, ordinary and extraordinary, for foreign affairs, from the year 1790 to this timex^j^rnore than two mil|ie|^ of dollars. iMfifj I am inclined to believe that the United States might have fpared a great part.of this expenCe, had their politics been directed with a little more wifdom. Nor. would the laving of money have been the greateft advantage they w7ould have reaped; it is probable they would have been able to limn the interior troubles, with which it is too plain they are now menaced ; to avoid the very delicate and embarraffing fituations in which they have more than once been plunged, and are nowr more than ever involved ; to preferve the bleffings of peace for many years; tofeeure the exiitence of the Union, which is the fource of their ftrength,, and which cannot be fhakentaut through their" .connection with foreign countries ; in a word, to place out.of the reach of danger that independence which they won with fo much glory to themfelves, the right to wiiich cannot be contefted, but which has no longer any real exiftence, except in the . :Yol. IL 3 Z mouths 5Aty TRAVELS IN NORTH AME^Cj^, mouths of their own declaimers. Proud with reafon of having thrown off the oppreffive yoke of England, the United States were too ready to' play a part among the nations of Europe.;, and to involve themfelves. in the interefts of foreign powers, from which nature had moft happily fe- parated them. They involved themfelves in thofe foreign interefts the moment they fent minifters to foreign courts, and received their minife^ in return; from that moment they expofed themfelves to the dangers that the weak are placed in relative to the ftrong, among nations as well as individuals; they reduced themfelves to the neceffity of practifmg (hj^fc city, an indifpenfable condition, when he who is weak allies himfelf to him who is ftrong; and the more indifpenfable in politics, inafmuc-h as juftice has been hitherto contemned: iin that art, jtfewill of the more powerful being the only law. In receiving foreign minifters, they gave rife to intrigues, the more dangerous, becaufe their matters-believed it to* be their intereft to difturb their tranquillity, and check their groping profperity. In a ftate where political concerns are as yet lk$g.complicated, the refidence of foreign minifters is more mifchievons than in others^, even when they have received no inftructions fromd^pir couftj^to cultivate intrigues, which is a cafe di^oaJk^© imagine. They are ready enough to render themfelves of importance, and to give confequen^^ their employments ;. if they fucceedjjn. fome underhand practice, if they corrupt a fecretary of ftate, or. fome member of the government, if ±ii^; pave the way for the influence and interefts of their courts, or feem to do fo, they are fure to win the favour of^teir mafters,.^^^fe<mrts will intrigue every where, and will have a party wrherever they can; and thus they pafs for men of talents and induftry; and while they fow the feeds of difcord inathe countries where they refide, they create a title to> rewards, and gain a ftep toward preferment. And thefe truths are the more alarming, in proportion as the cabinet that fends the ambaffador i& ftrong, and has an intereft in leffening the power pfijthe ftate where he refides, and in proportion as that contains in it circj^rnfiances dangerous to.ks unanimity; in a word, as it contains more or lefs of thofe circumr ftancpapsghofe combination, forms the exiftence of the United States.. 51* The- BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT X'lANCQURT. *W The ambaffadors of lefs powerful ftates act on the fame principles.; and the application-of them folely is different. They flatter the opinions of their cabinets, and lull them with ftatements in which truth is not flridty confulted; and thus they cultivate, in their refpective governments, opinions and: defigns mifchievous to their fubjects. If it happens that they belong to a party at home, their difpatches take the colour of the party. It is a univerfal paffion to be of importance in the world, but the agents of governments are the molt infected by it. They All their difpatches with hearfays, conVerfations, fufpicions uttered of fome, denunciations againft others, and reports fpringing from their prejudices only, from which they draw conclufions that fill the minds of their employers with perplexities, confirm them in their prejudices, and engage them in hafty^ftid impolitic meafures. When a mlfiifter is charged with a negociation, the danger is ftill more imminent. With whatever prudence and forefight his cabinet may draw up his imftructions, ftill they mufM^tlude fome latitude. The ambafta- dor's pr^ityyf|is*judgment, and his1 information, can be the only gussMiiJU tees of his conforming himfelf to hi#iti&r«cS:ions. He may even invohm- tarily exaggerate, in his correfpondence, the obftacles he has to encounter; lie may mifcalculate the ovefttifes that are made to him, on the part of the ftate with whom he treats; if he is to be corrupted, the miniifters with whom he has to deal will not fail to give him his price, and he will confent to a treaty which facrifices fome of the articles of his inftruc- tions, or includes articles not to be found in them. In a word, he will agree to fomething contrary to the intentions of his court. How many more topics ©Mb© fame kind might thefe obfervations include :—It is true the ratification of fuch a treaty is not inevitable; but the government of a ftate, already weak, is not in the fame condition to refill© 4£*e ratification of a treaty, figned by its ambaffador, that a powerful ftate is ; and the danger that may be incurred by the «$o3at gives great opportunity of intrigue for the ratification of fuch a treaty. A weak ftate* which fends and receives ambaffadors, and wrnddmingle in the concerns, of powerful ftates, can fcarcely avoid being drawn into 3 Z 2 a party; 548 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, a party; its ambition and vanity will often hurry it on in a direction contrary to its ufual policy ;. and it never belongs to" fuch a ftate to take a part in the differences of other governments, by which it only hazards its own profperity, and'fometimes endangers its exiftence. Had the United States, after the glorious war they had maintained for their independence, opened their ports to all nations with equal advantages, and permitted their merchants to trade wherever their intereft led them, and had been wife enough to abftain from all other foreign relations, they would have approached nearer than at prefent to the object: they defire, of being a powerful government. In the midft of internal tranquillity, they might have filled their arfenals, fortified their harbours, collected timber for the building fhips of wrar, which they need not have fent from their ports till they were ftrong enough to protect the American flag; they might have efcaped from their prefent fituation, in which they are torn by domeftic diffentions, fwayed by foreign influence, and, in truth, lefs independent than they were on the 4th of Juj^|]770-— which fituation is the entire refult of the politics of the government, for their population is doubled, their wealth inereafed, and their people induftrious, enterprifing, fagacious, and honeft. My opinion will," no doubt, find many opponents) and---Jg$$fe efpecialfy in America; but if it be well examined, I believe it will find alfo many partizans. As -to myfelf, I am fo penetrated with the conviction of its folidity, fince my refidence here has given me fome knowledge of the affairs of the country, that I do not hefitate to pronounce—that the in-. dependency of the ftates, and the tranquillity and happinefs of the people (a people fo worthy of repofe, and fo admirably placed by nature to poffefs a durable repofe), will never be enfured till the day in which the government deflroys all political ties with Europe. By that policy, it is not perhaps yet too late to fecure the profperity of America, although infinite mifchiefs have been occafioned by the foreign connections the government has cultivated during the laft fourteen years. -In exprefling my opinion on the dangers incurred by feeble flates in their connections with powerful, ones, it is America, and America in her prefent: BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEEOUCAULT LIANCOUET. 54Q prefent fituation, that I have had in view. If fmall ftates, fuch as Genoa or Geneva, fend ambaffadors to powerful nations, it is to folicit protection, and to acquire fubfidiea; they are deflined to be inferior; they can never be a grain in the political balance; they may, therefore, without danger to themfelves, indulge in diplomatic vanity. Does it belong to the United States, invited by nature and a concurrence of circumftances to become a powerful nation, but which can never ftand in that rank except through the medium of a long continued peace, to endanger that important event by a narrow policy ? Can they ever doubt, that they are objects of the hatred of their former mafters ?—A paffion that is not lefs real for being enveloped in the forms of amity. Do they doubt, that the high deftiny to which nature and the period of their birth called them, is an object of the jealoufy of the political forefight of Europe ? Have they not to fear their being the aliment of rivalry among the European powers, in the midft of whofe contefts they cannot remain neuter without entire paffivenefs } But, as if they had no knowledge of thefe truths, they have, without neceffity, and even wilfully, flaked all their advantages, and engendered maladies which already have tainted the flate and threaten to fpread to its ■ vitals, to gratify the. vanity of making a figure, while yet in infancy, on the political theatre, with the old and powerful ftates of Europe ! It is with nations as with individuals, the premature ufe of the genial powers is fucceeded by a life ©£ debility, and early decrepitude. finances of the united states; their history, and present situation ; taxes; revenues, &c. The new conftitution had been contemplated and was framed to, give the federal government a degree of power, the want of which, was.- daily experienced by the former congrefs. Its weaknefs was chiefly felt in the levying of taxes, and the contributions of the. feveral ftates toward the expences of the Union. The demands of the. war, too, greatly difpropor-- tfooed to the refources of the United. States, had not been completely fa- risfied TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, tisfied by the loans which France and their other allies furnifhed with a 'generOfity;th-afe now feems utterly forgotten. The congrefs, convinced as it was- of "the evils of a paper currency which had no exifting funds for its foundation, was neverthelefs forced into a prodigious emiffion of that currency, having no guarantee but the faith of a public deftitute of all means of repayment. The paper iffued by the feveral ftates was in fimilar abundance ; and through-out it was depreciated almoft to nothing. This "debt was to be urti4Wally provided for; funds were to be found for the €xpenc©¥$f the general governments'- the neceffity for the creating a fyftem of finance was apparent; and the old congrefs, feeling the importance of all thefe <efi$i&> by a direct declaration in 1783, pledged the ifegfesur of the United States for the payment of all the public creditors. The new congrefs;fa%the clofe of its firft feffion, in Septemb©i^78Q, or- ttete'd the fecretary of the treafury of the Union to lay before the legiflature, at the commencement of the enfuing feffion, a plan for the reftor- ing of public credit. I^^Hamilton, at that time the fecretary bMfie treafury, acquitted himfelf of this duty, in January 1790 ; and the con- ^i^^d^ang the plan laid before them, paffed a law, on the 4th of Auguft'4|^#ie fame year, whofe ©bfb$: was the payment of the national debt. aJPSis law funded the debt due to foreign nations, as well as to the creditors at home; adding to the debt, not only a long arrear of intereft, but intereft upon intereft. The debt due to foreign nations amounted to eleven millions nine hundred and eight thoufand one hundred and eighty- eight dollars;-and the domeftic. debt to forty millions nine hundred and five thoufand four hundred and eighty-five dollars; making together fifty-two millions eight hundred and thirteen thoufand fix hundred and feventy-three dollars. The prefident of the United States was authorized to borrow twelve - m-i-liio'iis of dollars,on the beft terms he could obtain, "to pay the foreign debt.- As to the loan to extinguifti the domeftic debt, the arrears of intereft, and certificates of intereft due, a paper then in cir- '-eulation, were received as part of' it, and funded at an intereft of three per cent. The capital of the debt, comprifing the paper money then iri circMati-on,■' was funded at an intereft of fix per cent; with a pro- 3nHfc£ vifion BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. vjifion that a third of the debt thus funded fhould not receive intereft till the expiration of ten years, that is to fay, till the year 1800, and this part of the debt was for that reafon funded under the name of the deferred- flock ; while two other funds were created, one of three percent, and one of fix per cent, to fulfil engagements of the ftate. The deferred'flock was to be redeemed by the treafury, in the proportion of eight per cent per annum, which provifion was regarded as a kind of compenfation for the fiifpenfion during ten years ©f the payment of the intereft. The different fun$s were redeemable alfo by the congrefs by annuities for twenty-three years, at eight per cent per annum, but which could n©t in that cafe be afterwards redeemed by any other fund. The fame law contained provifions to make the Union refponfible for the debts of the difjfrent ftates. It authorized a loan of twenty-one millions five hundred thoufand dollars ; and permitted to be received, as fubfcriptions to the loan, certificates of debts of the feveral ftates for military fervice, or farnifljjtng of nrpviftons during the war,Jfoniting the $|§qs which each ftate mig^:. fubfcribe iry£his manner. A third of thedebts thus funded bor^TgiEfci&j- tereft of three per cent; and the rema#$£$g ^©-^$ipcf^|g^ ^^ie^of fix -per cent, but one-half of the fix per cents was not to re^ye intereft till after the year 1800. The fubfcriptions- to this loan were to be made witftift£... certain timejjbut the period was afterwards extended. The:.3&^je law appointed commiffioners to refide in each ftate, to,^^^^^^^^f4ek^B^- ants, to give certificates, pay the intereft; in a word, to tranfaet^ajjbufinefs relative to this loan under the authority of the feggggary of the.trea-- fury. The holders of certificates of debts due from any of the ftajtes>;Who > were unwiflmg to fujWcjrjJbe to the loan, received an i^tj^feft of three per. cent on that paper. The plan of transferring the reiponfibility for the debts of tfo.feveral' ftates to the congrefs was not adopted without long debates. No oppofition was made to the funding of the foreign debt,, nor even that of the domeftic debt, but what fhould be admitted into the latter, and the manner of redeeming it, occafioned great.difputes,, Thofe wrho oppofed the funding of the debts of the feveral ftates argued, that the. claims were. almofta 552 'TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, almoft obfolete; that neither the intereft, nor any part of the principal, had been paid; that they had fallen to an eighth of their original value ; and that in all probability they would continue to fall till they fhould be extinct. A large portion of thefe debts had been incurred for neceffaries for the troops during the war, at a nominal price greatly above the value of the articles, owing to the fcarcity of money in the hands of the congrefs,- and the uncertainty of its future power of payment; and another confiderable portion accrued from paper given to the'military for a pay* The perfons who originally held both thefe fpecies of paper had fold them at a very low rate, fome being compelled to do fo by their own ne- ceffities, and others having loft all confidence in the paper. The prefent holders were fpeculators, who had acquired them for little or nothing from thofe "who, by their teal fervices, were perfons truly entitled to the amount of the debts. The oppofers of the plan therefore argued, that the difcharge of thofe debts in the hands of the prefent holders of that property, would be an injuftice to the contractors and foldiers, to whom they were in fact due; an infult to the diftrefs that compelled them to transfer their claims for very inferior compenfations, and an open protection given to public rapacity and jobbing, whofe ill effects were uniformly acknowledged. The propofition of the opponents of the fecretary"s plan was, that debts verified by the certificates of congrefs fhould be paid at their original nominal value; but that the holders of fuch certificates fhould receive no more than-a portion equivalent to the higheft price they had . borne in the market from'the time of their purchafe of them till the acceptance of the prefer||§ conftitution, and that the furplus fhould be paid to the original creditors of the ftate. . The partizans of the fecretary's plan appealed to the declarations of the old congrefs in the creation of the titles to this fpecies of debt. They had been given for claims of the original poffeffors, or perfons whom they had reprefented; the prefent holders had incurred the hazard of a ftill greater fall in the value of thefe certificates, and even of their annihilation, a danger to which the original poffeffors had preferred a-'iofs by the :. mare fale EY THE DtJIvE DE LA EOCItEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. fale of them; the market was open, and the certificates fold on the principle of other poffeffions, and the right of the prefent holders was not to-be infringed without a public injuftice. To thefe reafonings it was added, that the difficulties and delays that would attend the plan of the other party would render it impracticable. The two opinions were fupported with a great deal of moderation; but with pertinacity and plaufibility on both fides. Thofe who contended for limiting the payment of the prefent holders of the certificates to the higheft price they had borne in their poffeffion, and to pay the furplus to the original poffeffors, argued with moft equity; for it was known that the greateft bulk of the original poffeffors, moft of whom were foldiers, had been driven to fell their certificates, either by extreme diftrefs, or by the artifices of jobbers to excite alarms for the validity of thofe debts; and that the prefent poffeffors were fpeculators, w7ell informed of the intentions of leading men, and the real flate of things, and who dif- burfed only inconfiderable fums for thofe certificates, the lofs of the whole of which would little affect their fortunes; and that the greater part of thefe were foreigners, who had entered into thefe fpeculations for the purpofes of plunder. The partizans of the plan that was adopted had reafons of finance on their fide, forming a morality by no means equitable, but politic, and abfolutely neceffary to the reftoration of credit, on a#Mch object the congrefs was immediately employed. And it is to be obferved, that the confidence of the holders of certificates in the government for fome liberal funding of the debt was fuch, that this paper had rifen four hundred per cent, fince the adoption of the new conftitution. The refolution to which the congrefs came on the fubject fuddenly created immenfe fortunes. Speculators bought up the paper from one end of the United States to the other. At New York, where the congrefs then held its fittings, its price rofe and fell daily, as the fpeakers on one fide or the other feemed to gain the advantage. Many members of both houfes entered into this traffic. Mr. Hamilton, the author of the plan adopted by congrefs, wras univerfally acquitted of this diflionourable conduct, and univerfally received the tribute due to his integrity. Vol. IL 4 A The 554 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, The plan of the fecretary of the treafury for the adoption of the debts of the feveral ftates by the Union, was not finally accepted without fome modifications, nor till after it had been once rejected. The partizans of this plan argued, that the debts contracted by the feveral flates for their particular defence, was, notwithftanding, for the common caufe, ,and was in reality the debt of the Union—that the feveral ftates would encounter greater difficulties in raifmg taxes to difcharge their debts than the Union, the levying of various taxes being prohibited them by the conftitution; that fuch taxes as they could levy would only have a partial and inadequate effect, and in one ftate might be in prejudice to the means employed by other flates for the fame purpofe, while the Union might employ uniform means throughout the whole flates, without clafhing of interefts, and with a faving to the particular ftates, and with more perfect fecurity to the public creditors, who would all by that means be placed on an equal footing; that the offices eftablifhed hiy the Union in the feveral ftates for tije liquidation of the>Ssebt of the congrefs, might be charged with the liquidations of thefe debts, and a great faving made in that heavy but neceffary expence; and, laftly, that: this plan .would tend to confolidate the force of the federal government, :by allying the creditors of the feveral ftates to the interefts of the-Union. Their opponents maintained, that thefe debts "were neither known in their amount, nor their feveral kinds; that, previous to any difouffion on the utility of the plan, the nature and value of thefe.debts fhould be ascertained, and thofe contracted for the defence of the feveral ftates diffkaK guifhed from fuch as were occafioned by a neglect of levying the taxes,, and a report made by the commiffioners appointed for the purpofe of flriking the balances of the fums refpectively due from the Union to the feveral ftates, and from the ftates to the Union; that from thefe balances , would, refult the real debts of the feveral ftates, which the Union might afterward, if it were found advifeable, coE&folidate with its own debts, which meafure would otherwife be rafh, and without any knowledge of its extent and its operation; and that to augment the debt of the Union, by adding to it thofe of the feveral ftates, would deprefs the national, cre^ dit, BY THE DURE DE LA ROCHE! dit,:augment the paper in circulation, arid cherifh that fpirit of .public gambling, whofe evil confequences were already perceived and w hole. dangers were daily increaiing. The partisans of the plan replied, that the national credit could never be firmly eftablifhed without the confolidation of all the debts of the country; that.alf delay in the effecting fuch confolidation would intercept the benefits expected from the confolidation of the proper debts of the scongrefs, in the diminution of the intereft of money,, and the railing the value of the fends; and that returns of the balances- between the feveral ftates i and the Union -might be made with the fame promptnefs arid»pxe©iffon after .fuch confolidation as before. The reafonings of this party, as I have faid, prevailed. The debts of -the feverkl-ftates were calculated at twenty-five millions of dollars, and a loan of twenty-one millions "five dnmdred- -thoufand .dollars. >«aa.jautho- jrifedafey -the .congrefs. ■■-,./ It is to be obferved, that this financial operation was not effected without a fectret agreement among the deputies of cerfaj^a- flates, relative to ;the interefts of their cohfHtuents, The eaftern ftates,, co.mprffing New .York, -wejre the -pri$£jpal debtors. MaffachufeJIgfalone ©wr«^|mtminions -4*&ciallars. ;I|if4£87, an infuisig^ion took place in that flate, of which the levying; of taxes was the eajffe, or atsfc-aft the pretext; and that ftate was not willing again to hazard its tranquillity by the lejg^ng new taxes, which muft take place if it had its own debt to difc^byarge. Maffa- chufetts wastthetefore particuigtrly intercft^d in the adoption of the plan. The fouthern ftates, on the contrary, were all, with the exception of South Carolina, creditors of the Unions^Jjj&t it was .a favourite project with them, to draw thefeat of the federal government nearer to t&em; and Virginia was more eager in its* j&ofecu tion than the reft, .becaufe the place defigned for the future feat of the government was on ^territories, and Virgkua was the prii|®^afepublic creditor. On the other hand, the o^affsrn ftates had an iiiteceftria^refe5«ng the feat of the government at New York; but tbfeiferas :&ot - fuffiejent to weigh with the ii)|^ejy^ey had in the confolidation of the debts of the ftate. Their deputies, $$££- > ^iij 4 A 2 re * •; fore, 550 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, fore, made a compromife with thofe of the fouth ern ftates, agreeing to vote for the feat of the federal government being placed on the Potowmack, on condition of the others voting for the confolidation of the debts. The ftate of Pennfylvania, although among the debtors, was not embarraffed with its debt, having fufficient means of its extinction; but a promife was made to its deputies, that the provincial feat of the government fhould be at Philadelphia for ten years, and they were not without hopes of preferving it for a longer term, and therefore acceded to the fecret treaty. Thus the plan of confolidation paffed. It was provided, at the fame time, that the fums that appeared to be owing by the feveral ftates fhould be taken as fuch by the Union, without previous examination, and fhould be placed to the credit of fuch ftates in their accounts with the. Union; and that the balance which fhould appear, by the final accounts of the commiffioners, due to any of the ftates, fhould be funded in their favour by the Union, which was to remain creditor of fuch ftates as by the final account appeared to be debtors. The return of thi#^ommiffioners, as we have already feen, makes the balances due to certain ftates, namely, New Hampfhire, Maffachufetts, Rhode-lfland, Connecticut, New JerfejfffclSouth Carolina, and Georgia, amount to three millions five hundred and feventeen thoufand' five hundred and eighty-four dollars; and thofe due from the other ftates, namely, New York, Pennfylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Ca-. ~ rolina, to the fame fum. Mr. Gallatin, in a work of great reputation on the finances of the United States, which he publifhed in 1796, fpeaks in the following manner of this meafure. " The ftates, whofe debts amounted to the greateft fums, were, by the operation of this plan, found to be the moft confiderable creditors of the Union. And experience has fhewn, that this great addition of debt with which the Union has charged itfelf, far from giving ftrength to the federal government, has occafioned more difcontents than any other meafure ; not only by the impofition of new taxes to. pay the debts, but ftill more by an apprehenfion, that perfons in poweic^ill feek rather to augment and perpetuate the debt of the Union than to extin- guifh BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT MANCOU guifli or diminifhit; and from a general belief, that the fpeculations and interefts of individuals had more influence in the adoption of the plan than any other consideration. And although it may teem indifferent.,. whether the fums neceffary to difcharge thefe debts be levied on the people by the federal -government or by the feveral ftates, yet the difficulty the federal government finds in augmenting its revenues by the ex- cife, licenfes, &c.—the rapid progrefs which individual flates have made for the extinction of their refpe6tive debts, and the fituation of the ftates whofe debts were-not adopted by the Union, becaufe they were oniathe final account its debtors, are fufficient proofs, that a great part of the additional debt which now refts on the Union would at this day have been extinguifhed by the refources of the feveral ftates, if it had not been confolidated with that of the Union/' This writer adds—" That, had the confolidation of the debts of the feveral ftates with thofe of the Union been poftponed till thecfinal fettle?- ment of accounts by the commiffioners, the debt of the federal government would have amounted to no more than eleven millions fix hundred and nine thoufand two hundred and fifty-nine dollars, inftead cf twenty-two millions four hundred and ninety-two thoufand eighfchjiJI- dred and eighty-five dollars, which were acknowledged and funded by the Union; and that therefore the congrefs, by its precipitation, created. an unneceflary debt of ten millions eight hundred and eighty-three thoufand fix hundred and twenty-fix dollars." The law that confolidates thefe different fpecies of debts, pledges the public faith for the eftablifhment of funds for the payment of interefts granted on loans ; and it fets apart lands belonging to the Union, in the territories of the weft, to be fold, to create a finking fund for the extinction of the national debt. t-i0M A fum of a hundred and ninety-eight thoufand dollars was due to foreign officers, who ferved in the American army during the war;: and it was deflined to be paid out of the loans made in Europe, and has been faithfully difcharged as far as claims have been made, which have amounted to. alvundred and twenty-three thoufand. dollars.. Sinees TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, Since the.year 1/90, the congrefs has erected-an office for the reduction of the national debt, compofed of the prefident of the fenate, the chief-juftice, the fecretary of ftate, the fecretary of the treafury, and the. attorney-general of the Union. It authorifed four different loans for the reduction of the debt, by the redemption of feveral funds ; and, in f7Q6, authorifed the commiffioners of the finking fund further to borrow five millions of dollars, to pay certain fums and their interefts, which the government were engaged to difcharge that year. The bank of fhe United States was authorifed, by the fame law, to furnifli this loan, or fubferibe to it in part. The funds already in exiftence were received as fubfcriptions to the loan ; the commiffioners had a power to fell at their difcre- tion, the feveral forts of funds (three per cents, fix.per cents, or deferred flock) which they had in their hands, to difcharge the whole, or part of the fums and interefts that the loan was meant to extinguifh, provided that they did not fell more than one half of fuch funds at a price below par; they were alfo authorifed to fell the fhares of the bank which belonged to the Union. The new debt thus created by this loan, the rer ceipts for which bore an intereft of fix per cent, was not to be redeemed till the commencement of the year 1819. The congrefs had incorporated the bank of the United States;'arid that bank had afterwards advanced to the Union two millions of dollars, to which amount the Union had fubferibed in the formation of its capital, and thefe two millions were to be repaid in ten years, by equal payments. The congrefs afterwards authorifed that bank to advance the Union three millions more; and again, five millions, in 179^? as I have before obferved; and declared the revenues of the ftate to be fubject to the payment of the intereft of thefe loans, in the fame manner as to the other expences of the government; and deftined all furplus of the revenues to be a fund for the repayment of fuch loans. The debt of the United States, in 1790, amounted to feventy-two millions fix hundred and thirteen thoufand two hundred and fifty-four dollars; and in 1796, to feventy-eight millions fix hundred and ninety - feven thoufand four hundred and ten dollars. It has therefore inereafed ' by BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LIANCOURT. by the fum of fix millions eighty-four thoufand one hundred and fifty-fix dollars, although the office for the reduction of the national debt had ex- tinguifhed two millions three hundred and feven thoufand fix hundred •and fixty-one dollars, and although the United States have in that period enjoyed a profound peace, and have been favoured with circumftances which ufually enable a ftate to reftore order in its finances. A greater economy in the public expenditure, the fale of immenfe quantities .of lands belonging to the Union in the territories of the weft which is practicable, and a prudent increafe of impofts, are means that a, wife adminiftration would employ with effect to the fpeedy extinction of the national debt if war or fome great internal convulfion did not arreft their progrefs. The national debt, according to engagements made with the public creditors, and plans prefented to-the-congrefs and adopted by it, is to be entirely extinguifhed in 1823. The office for the reduction of the public debt had,, in its creation^ like all fuch meafures, the object of railing the public credit, by a profpect of the extinction of the debt. It was defigned to kfe strengthened, by the eftablifhment of the bank of the United States, asafeieh made part- .of the generalafyffem of finance propofed by the fecretary of the treafury.. This bank was incorporated in 1791,. with a capital of ten millions of dollars, two -millions of which were fubfcribed Jby the United States, who were not, however, compelled to make good the fubfcription at the period impofed on the other fubfcribers. The remaining eight millions- were furnifhed by the fubfcription of individuals; one-fourth part of which was payable in fpecie, and the other in certificates of debt. The commiffioners for the reduction of the national debt employed a million; of dollars in the extinction of this paper. Thus certificates of debt amounting to feven millions of dollars difappeared in the firft year. The price of the remainder was naturally inereafed; but the artifices of fpeculators carried them to a price which they could not long maintain. The following are the principal articles in. the conftitution. of the bank, of the United States.. Iff: 500 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, iff. The incorporation of the fubferibers, with certain privileges, till the year 1811. 2d. The power of extending their capital to ten millions of dollars. 3d. The power of holding poffeffions to the amount of fifteen millions of dollars, in perfonal or real eftates, including their original capital. 4th. Of eftablifhing, within the United States, fuch affiflant banks as the directors fhall judge expedient. 5th. The formation of an adminiftration for the bank, confifting of a prefident, twenty-five directors, and a cafhier. Oth. A prohibition to carry on any bufinefs but that properly belonging to the bank, to purchafe any part of the national debt, to take more than fix per cent for their loans and difcounts—-but with the privilege of felling the original fhares of the bank. 7th. A prohibition to contract, by loans, difcounts, or the emiffion of paper, a debt more than double thee fum exaftig in the coffers of the bank. 8th. A prohibition to lend, without an exprefs law of the¥®rfltfe$ States, more than a hundred thoufand dollars to the federal government, or more than fifty thoufand to any one of the flates, or to any foreign prince or power. gth. An obligation to lay before the fecretary of the treafury a ftatement of the actual fituation of the bank, whenever he fhould demand fuch ftatement, with a power given to that officer to check fuch accounts with the books jM the bank. I oth. A provifion to make the notes of the bank legal payment, in all the offices of the United States. II th. The pledge of the public faith, to eftablifh no other bank in the United States, during the term of the charter granted to this bank. Without entering into an examination of the nature of the fecurity of fhares in a bank, whofe original capital fhould be formed like that d£$lm bank of the United States, and which, placed immediately under the influence of government, might, in times of neceffity, be compelled, by a ...re. law BY THE BLUvEIBE-LA RQCHEFDUCAULT LI ANCOURT. 581 law; of-' eongrefs, to furnifb the' loans that circumftances rendered tie-.. ceffary, I fhall only obferfee the. danger...to which it expofes the finances of the Union, by the facility of the government to obtain large loans by a law o'f congrefs, and by the -power vetted in the bank of lending a hundred thoufand dollars:to the government, even without any new fan-ctioii of the congrefs. Thcprefent ftate of- the- national- debt is attributed to this eircumftance; without which, it is probable, the loans -would not have been fo multiplied,■ and a greater economy would have been prac- tifed in the expenditure of the government. The congrefs, perceiving the public expenditure exceed the public revenues, would have endeavoured to balance them by taxes which they only poftponed, and which at prefent they are obliged to levy in a degree that would not have been tjee^ary-had they been earlier convinced of the evils of loans-Maxes ^M*3h, however he«Vy, cannot even at prefenJb-iuperfede the neceffity of new loans for the redemption of former ones provided to be redeemed at fixed periods; as, for Example, thofe of the bank, and thofe for which the goveltidaefifc was obliged to grant an enormous intereft. >: It is not cert&&ly without great hentaJJBfltt'that I hazard my opihiiaa in matters of finance, refpecti^^Moh my inclination is by no means extenfive : and the more fo, as that opinion is in oppofition to many per- <^foH8>^ho are-efteemed able financiers. 1 fliall at prefent confine myfelf to the obfervii^gijf#hat,: although I am pepftnaded of the reat^aadiimportaitt utility of banks, when JEkfcjr.affairs &*e admiBH^fepWfrith prudence land equity, in aiding'thfc efforts O^^W^&M^rce, induftry, and agriculture, and adding by the credit to the wealth of a flate, and confeque&fcly to its caufes of proKp^Kty ; and al though^ o©ven acknowledge that thefe advantages have been derived ftiotig banks by the lO^tfed States yetthc riiif- -H3m£&j©f the fyftem on which banks are opiidlhf&ed appearto me greatly to exceed'their benefits. The>fed$^*vaSk~ which abufescxeqpdiiito thefe eflablifhments is fb|*reat, and thefe abufes are fo powerfully protected and encotiiaged, both by the neceftLtEbsaof governments and thearapacity of individiials; that it is ^iliWiffiflpoffible;:for the moft upri^itta)dE^ie perfons concerned in their management to exclude fuch abufes; Their Vol. II. 4 B evils 562 TRAVELS rN NORTH AMERICA, evils are the greater in a country where banks are numerous, fpecie fcarce, and the defire of accumulation the common defire of .:;{$* inhabitants, Inftead of£greating a currency double the amount of their real capitaH- banks create one ten. times, and even twenty times greater; and the illu- fion which fucceeds the firft moments of commercial profperity, that in a time of peace fprings from the facility of extending individuaj^eapitalsj is nothing more than a means of augmenting and precipitating the real calamities which muft follow. The ruin of individuals, and even that of ftates, muft fooner or later be the confequence; inafmuch as economy, and fedate views of the nature of enterprifes, are no longer things, that can be attended to. The prefent fyftem of banking is upheld by an opinion, that a ftate, far from being impoverifhed by its debts, has in 2hft0*medium. a new caufe of profperity, refulting from a new activity given to circulation, and an opportunity given to individuals to turn to profit the gradual>if$firings of the fmalleft revenues. This theory is no -better, I think, thantak abufe of ingenuity, employed in the aid of a def- perate ftate of finaiase-ai^ilitends to augment, without boun^. that mafs of debt fo fingularly metamorphofed, in the eyes of the vulgar, to the neceffary aimient of public credit and profperityb6i The moft ordinary^yar derftanding isfN^Kient to difcover, that there muft at leaft be a point beyond which the debts of a ftate ought not to extend;——and, where is the government who will thus confine itfelf when it can, almoft fecretly, and altogether without the murmurs of the people, increafe the means3 of its expenditure ? Where is the government that, intoxicated with this fyftem of indefinitely increafing its debt, is not daily haftening the nation it directs to inevitable ruin ? The period of reckoning mull at laft arrive, when the people will not and cannot pay taxes which are. n_£i|her employed in the defence nor any other fejivpe of the; nation, but are raifed merely tpfjpay interefts of loans, which economy, in the finan&§8j would have rendered unneceflary; and when things have attained this^ifis, the epoch is arrived which is the moft dangerous to the tranquillity of the nation, theftability of its government, and the happinefs of individuals. The bank of the United States, being by its charter- empowered to eftablifh. &Y THE DURE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LlANCOURT. 50 3 eftablifh affiftant banks in fuch parts of the United States as it fhould deem expedient, has already eftablifhed four—-one at New York, one at Bofton, one at BaMsiiore, and one at Charlefton; butthe-eapitals of th^fe? banks, known in America by the name of branch-banks, are not exclufive of its capital of ten millions of dollars. The following is a ftatement of the affairs of the bank of the United States, on the 3 lit December 1 796. SfrfJito Debtor. Capital *> Dutch loan Sums belonging to the government of the if||hited States* - Sums belonging to individuals Bank notes in circulation - &«?> Poft notes sjj . Balance of 179^^^ Intereft on loans made to the government Profits referved in hand, after payn^J of the e dividends Dollars. 16,000,000 750,000 431,242 873,238. 795,901 60.7,600 232,873 132,848 Creditor. Dollars. In the fix per cents 3,524,33If Difcounted bills 2,080,641 Due from the government of the United States - 4,000,000 Specie | 521,415 Trie capitals of the feverm^a^h-banki/imnifhed by tne bank- ofjra. umfeect' States, are as follow*: ^rj* ' *^^ ]>IewYbrk - 1,200,00p;aotjars. Baltimore- - 400^000 dollars. Bofton ^*re ^i^)Q,000hS'™^ * Charlefton 500^000 The patfacufaY accounts Wme branch-Wanks mate part ofrae geiie- maTCount offine bank ofrne united^States.^^This bank erected a nevv ls^ajn^in 1797, in which it has tranfa&ed bufinefs fince the lft of * Government keeps its dafh in the bank of the United States. } ft Bills drawn on the branch-banks. \ M I 4B2 July 5§4 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, fc July of the fame year: the. ground on which it ftands coft fourteen thott*- fand dollars; and the coft of the building will exceed a hundred thoufand. The dividends of this bank are eight per cent; and its fhares 'bear a premium from fifteen to eighteen per cent. The following is a ftatement of the prefent price of the public funds. Three per cents , .50 ., Six per cents . . — 8-2 Deferred flock - 05 The public engagements are difcharged in the UnitedSStes vtith the gl^a^ejj punctuality; and the loan granted bxJFrance was repaid before the period of its being.^ibi^a^t|ie defire of the French government. The prefent revenues of the finited States confift of the following articles:—lft, Duties on tonnage, and on the importation of foreign articles. 2d. Duties on fpirituous liquors diftilled in the Jinked States; on the manufacture of tobaceo^on refining of fugar; on pijhjjc . fales; on the retailing of wine, and foreign fpirituous liquors; and onxga|na||es* 3d. A profit on the poftage of letters. And -4th, D^idends of^Susie^he^c longing to the government in the bank of the United States^._ The duties on tonnage are about three pence halfpenny per tom#jJ[ American veffels, and half a dollar per tfl^on foreign veffels. The following is a table of the tonnage employed in tt^ej^ferent por^ST of the United States, during the laft fevem years. American Tonnage^ §g|ppL790, Tons. Coaf^inaveffels . r re.. 1 Ifljj&ic Veffels employed in the fifheries-feji|; - 26,522 Veffels employed in iO^re, reign trade - 'if2gB2B. sW^Wx' Foreign Ton%ag£\, Tons. ^n^hlM^ zsfjbjR ^iMjk&i Frenchre^i^' i'%'M ftff% J^utchr. tm r^& [0'idm sspanifli ntud± - Pmgm '$M&k Danifh, jfrufliam Ham- • .rlMjiCi; §m^ ■fro^iiif Total of American and &r^gn; tonnage for. thea?ye^i 7&fte£9.> .i^$i<\4wai era lo nw£ii>zttm tin IT THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFQUCAULT LIANCOURT. American Tonnage. In ifQl, Tons. GoafHngveffeb - 106,494 Englifh VeffelgSemployed in the flench fifheries - - 32,542 Other natiorts Veffels employed in foreign trade - - 363,854 502,890 Total for the year, 741,356V Coafting veffife "--ifer120^? Englifh VeWels. 'employed in the French infheifes - - 32,o62 Other nation^ Veffels employed in foreign trade - 414,629 567,688 Total for the year, 811,1 In 1795, Coafting veffels" - 141,63$ Englifh V^^semployed in.the . ^&^-iJ^§'^ik.' fifheries -~ 4^ jSfeiZl UtheT^na^onj Veflels employed in fo- ^iq^ trade -** ~ 438,864 618,686 Total for the year> 781 566 Ann In 1794, [ Coafting veffels Veffels . employed fifheries Veffels ^employed reign trade - TRAVELS IN NORTH AMVKltfA, Tonnage. Foreign Tonnage* Tons. 192,686 Englifh in the French 27,260 Other nations jq) - in fo- . - . ,^|| 527,19* mm& 37,058 11,249 34,667 82,974 747,140 J&jg Total for the year, 830,114. In 1795, Coafting veffels Veffels employed ^fhs5nesJ - - VlArels -employed in* foreign trade -, J !j*Sr 171,918 Englifh in the French (\ could not pro- ) cure an exact ftatemeht of the *T4£f02 Cmer nations/ ' amoiuifofeach F80-/277 d2;ooo 786,297 Total for the year7-848y2g7. In 1796, Coafting veffels 200,372 Englifh 19,660 Veffels employed in the French - 2,055 fifheries 38,920 Danifh -*' ^^cH^ Ve1a©& employed in £0- Swedifh 5,560 ' reign trade - -i . J^W^m Anfeap:© Cities 2 4,987 4^v$lMa^|$ Porfsor Italy Sfifc^Pl^^npiL-2 li* ^r,«r«-«b 913,338 Spain * - 24jF Portnguefe - S 637 :"'|3^|^(fs%c 301 47,846 Total for the year, Q02jl-S4, — re < The BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAUL? LIAHCOURT, The quantity ©f tonnage in the preceding table is, with refpect to American veffels, the quantity that failed from the feveral ports; and, with refpect to foreign veffels, that which entered the feveral ports; therefore, as moft of the veffels would return, we may take the total quantity of tonnage at nearly double the quantity named in the table. The duties on foreign articles- imported into the United States vary . according to the nature of the articles, from five to fift^five per cent. Some are paid in proportion to the computed value of the articles; and others by the quantity. Foreign articles, imported in foreign veffels, are fubject, fince the month of July 1792, to ten per cent more than when imported in American veffels. The amount of thefe duties is always added to the duty on tonnage in the returns made by the fecretary of the treafury. The amount of thefe confolidated duties, from the 1ft of Auguft 1789, to the end of 1291, was fix millions three hundred and thirty-four thoufand two hundred and fixty-three dollars. In yf$2., they -JsSSMed four millions feven hundred and thirty-one thoufand and thirty- two dollars. In 1/93, fix millions one hundred and fixty-two thoufand five hundred and fixty-four dollars. In 1794, fix millions feven hundred and twenty-five thoufand nine hundred and fifty-five dollars.. In 1/95,- . feven millions nine hundred and fifty-nine thoufand four hundred and . nine dollars; and in 1 796, fix millions five hundred and fixty-feven thoufand nine hundred and eighty-feven dollars. Thefe fums are the net amount of thefe duties after the following deductions—firft, drawbacks on foreign goods re-exported of the whole duty, except one per cent. Second,, drawbacks on fpirituous liquors dif- faEed4 fugars refined, and tobacco manufactured in the ftates,. when thefe articles are exported to foreign countries. Third, bounties given to the fifheries, which vary from a dollar and a half to two dollars and a half per ton, according to the. fize of the veffel employed, in.them.. There _k&a|fo a bounty on every barrel of fifh.afe.lted or fmoked, of about four pence halfpenny. Fourth, the expence of. collection, of the duties, which _g||igunts to about five per cent. Fines for fmuggling. foreign articles, into the ftates, of-attempts to de- ♦fiflfc-'-s fraud M TflAVWLjMEN NOHYH AMERICA, afrattfFthe revenue, are alfo thrown into the mafs of thefe receipts. But •fmuggling is far from confiderable in the United States, the duties in general being moderate. It is however to be obferved, that the produce of the duties on tea is decreafed nearly half within the two lait years, although the ufe of tea is far from being diminifhed. The fmuggling of •this article, for it muft be acknowledged to be fuch, is aJtfributed to the increafe of the tax, which is from eighteen to thirty per cent for teas coming from China, and higher ftill for thofe imported from Europe ; and alfo to the facility of fecretly landing that article. There are a few fmall veffels belonging to the United States whofe ' employment it is to prevent veffels, coming from foreign countries, unloading in places where there is no cuftom-houfe. The various expences of the revenue are paid by the colicctcafe^'Of each diftrict, and deducted from the general account of their receipts. The duties ©n fome articles of importation were augmented in the laft feffion, which ended in the month of March 1/97. The duties on fpirituous liquoi^oiftilled in the United States, were firft impofed in 1794. At that time they were fix pence halfpenny per gallon on fpirituous li- * tf&6rs made from molaffes, and five pence per gallon on thofe made from fruit or grain, the production of the country. In 1794 they were reduced to fix pence per gallon on the former, and four pence on the latter; but this reduction was only'on liquors of inferior quality, the duties on thofe of the firft quality being raifed to fifteen pence per gallon when made from molaffes, and ten pence halfpenny when made from productions of the doutitry. This tax, efpecially that part of it impofed on fpirituous liquors diftilled from home produce, has always been very unpopular. The law gave the option to the diftiller to pay either the precife duty for each gallon, or a com pofition of two fhilfings and eight pence per annum for every gallo^the ftills employed could cofftarn. The diftillers generally preferred the firft mode, becaufe they were uncertain of occupying their ftills the whole year, and becaufe there was greater opportunity to elude the payment of the duties in that mode, the diftilleries being fcattered at greal'diftances thfdu^Mu&ihe ftates, and not very vigilantly BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEEOUC AULT :LIANC OURTU 56g lantly watched by the officers of the excife. The public opini#i being averfe to this tax, it never was univerfally collected. Many parts of fome of the ftates, and even entire ftates, have refufed to this day to fubmit to this tax. Gongrefs therefore, in the laft feffion, thought proper to deprive the diftiller of the option the law formerly gave him as to the mode of paying the^ix, and enjoined every diftiller to pay a compofition in proportion to the fize of hislftills. The diftiller is, however, permitted to make the compofition only for two weeks, or for any term between that and fix months; the compofition for two weeks is three pence halfpenny per gallon, for fix months two fhillings and one penny halfpenny per gallon, and the compositions between thefe two terms are in the fame proportion, giving the advantage to thofe who fubfcribe for the longer term. By this regulation the number of excifemen is dimin^bed, the receipt is more productive, and the inquifitionsifcfcached to that fpecies of tax is narrowed as much as poffible. The tax is, notwifchftandirfg, a burthen on the apiculture and induftry of the gantry, and upon a branch of its induftry calculated to difrifiiifh'the employme*ft of foreigni»dufby and the confumption of foreign produce. J^d^Ffte diftilleries that make fpirituous liquors from naolaffes being chi@|Ly in fea ports, and but few in number, it is not eafy to elude the duty. Mr. Gallatin, in his examination of the receipts and expences of collection of the varioHfe' taxes of the United States, calculates the expence of collection on fpirituou^fftl&a diftilled from the produce of the country to amount to nearly thirty-four per cent, while thofe on fpirituous liquors diftilled from molaffes, known in America by the name of continental rum, amount only to fourteen and a half per cent. The quantity of molaffes imported into the United States for diftifli^ tion amounted, in the years 1790 and 1/91, on an average of the two years, to fix millions fix hundred and fixty thoufand gallons per annum. In 1796, it amounted only to three millions fix hundred and ninet^^s thoufand nine hundred and fix gallons; fi The joint net produce of the duties on thefe two forfcsof fpirituous liquors in the laft fix;months of l/Ql, was one hundred and fixty-four yteafrvx^ II. 4 C thoufand 111 TKAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, thoufand five hundred and ninety-feven dollars; in 1/92, four hundred and forty-fix thoufand four hundred and eighty-three dollars; in 1793, five hundred and thirty-nine thoufand nine hundred and feventy-five dollars; in 1794, three hundred fifty-three thoufand two hundred and twenty-five dollars; in 1795, one hundred and ninety-nine thoufand dollars ; and 1796, two hundred and thirty-eight thoufand dollars. It is neceffary to obferve here, that the importation of foreign fpirituous liquors confiderably encreafed from the year 1790 to the year 1705. In 1790, it amounted to three millions fix hundred feventy-eight thoufand one hundred and ninety-nine gallons; and in 1794, to five millions fix hundred and ninety-nine thoufand three hundred and fixty - nine gallons.. The importation of wine, exclufive of Madeira, in 1790, amounted to fix hundred feven thoufand feven hundred and fixty-one gallons; and in 1795, to four millions three hundred-and thirty-fix thoufand and feventy- fix gallons. The importation of ale arid porter in 1790, amounted to feventy thoufand five hundfe&i and fixty-four gallons; and in 1794, to three hundred and thirty-one thoufand three hundred and fifty-eight gallons. The great increafe in thefe importations is in part to be aferibed to the prefent war, which has inereafed the commerce of the United-States; but if we confider that a fmall portion of thefe articles is re-exported from America, part of the encreafe will be aferibed to other caufes—one of which is, a great decreafe in the importation of molaffes; the quantity imported in 1795 being no more than half the importation of that article in 1 790, and the fpirituous liquors diftilled from molaffes in the United States was reduced from two millions to one million of gallons, between the year 1790 and the year 1795—another caufe is the rife in the price of grain, which has* been fo great, that the diftilleries that ufe that article have been fcarcely able to maintain their ground. The following table will put this matter out of queftion. Duties BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 671 Duties paid for the importation of Wines, fpirituous Liquors, and malt Li- ' quors, into the United States, during the Years 1793, 1794, and 1795 ; and the Drawbacks for the Re-exportation of the fame Articles, during the fame Period. Madeira wines Other wines Spirituous liquors Ale, porter, &c. —1/93. I794. Dunes. Drawbacks. Duties. Drawbacks. 121,752 4,692 166,623 14,258 243,910 4,235 233,460 4,012 1,034,564 31,320 1,618,364 38,117 22,572 25,961 165 17c Du' JQfl ps. [Drawbacks. 842 5,952 464,893 11,433 1,492,492 59,181 29,375) 288 The drawbacks for the exportation of fpirituous liquors diftilled in the ftates, are a halfpenny per gallon for thofe made from the produce of the country; and two pence per gallon for thofe made from molafles> which difference is a compenfation for the duties paid on the importation of molaffes into the ftates. The law that impofes thefe taxes was paffed in March 17Q1 ; and tfeei? ^produce is appropriated to the payment of the interefts and capital of loans made and to be made for the extinction of the national debt; and it is provided, that thefe taxes fhall be continued to be levied till that event takes place. The duties on the importation of molaffes was inereafed one halfpenny per gallon in the feffion before laft; an§ the drawback for the exporta-^- tion c^jgentinental rum inereafed in the fame proportion. The mode of collecting the dutieson manufactured tobacco has undergone feveral alterations fince its eftablifhment, which was in 1794. At firft the duty was laid on the article at the rate of four pence halfpenny per pound, but the fmallnefs of the receipts being: attributed to frauds from the difficulty of knowing the quantity manufactured, the congrefs laid the tax on the mills, it being varied from one hundred and forty to two" hundred and forty dollars, according to the fize and kind of mill; and the produce of this^tax amounts now to more than three times the former receipts. The drawback, however, of three pence halfpenny per pound on 4 C 2 'the * TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, the exportation of that article having exceeded the produce of the tax, it was plain there was immenfe fraud in thefe exports; and the legiflature entirely fufpended that tax for one year, in the feffion of 1796. In the laft feffion but one they re-eftablifhed the tax; but its produce, which fhould it even continue to exift, will never be confiderable, cannot at prefent be placed on the fide of the receipts of the revenue. The law which laid a duty on the refining of fugars in the United1 States, paffed in the beginning of 1794 ; but the duty did not take place till the iff of October in the fame year. It is one penny per pound on the fugar, when, it is refined; and a drawback is allowed of two pence halfpenny per pound when it is exported, the additional one penny-halfpenny being the amount of the duty impofed on raw fugars. The fame law, with a view to encourage this branch of American commerce, impofes a duty of two- pence per pound on foreign refined fugars imported into the ftates, and no drawback is allowed on the re-exportation of fuch fugars. An addition of a farthing per pound has been lately laid on the importation of raw fugars, and an additional halfpenny per pound allowed for the exportation of raw fugars refined in the ftates. In 1795, this duty praeteed thirty-one thoufand nine hundred and fifteen dollars; and in 1796, thirty-eight thoufand dollars—the expences of collection, which amount to five per cent, being deducted. The law impofmg a duty on public fales alfo paffed in 1794. This duty varies from a quarter of a dollar to half a dollar on effects fold to the amount of a hundred dollars; in 1795 it produced thirty thoufand four hundred and fifteen dollars; and in 1796, thirty-three thoufand fix hundred and forty-five dollars—the expences of collection, which amount to two and a half per cent, being deducted. Notwithftanding the provifions made by the law for the payment of this duty, the integrity of the auctioneers, who arc obliged to take out a licence, is its only guarantee. The tax on retailers of wine and fpirituous liquors was alfo impofed by a law of 1 794 ; it is five dollars per annum for every retailer of wine in lefs quantities than thirty gallons, and of fpirituous liquors in lefs quantities BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LIANCOURT. ties than twenty gallons,. Public houfes are exempt from this tax. In 17Q5 it produced fifty-three thoufand five hiinidted and forty-feven dol- ars; and in 1796, more than fifty-eight thoufand dollars—independent of the expences of collection, which are two and a half per cent. The duty on carriages was alfo firft impofed in the fame year; it is from two to fifteen dollars per annum on each carriage, according to its kind; in 1795 it produced forty-one thoufand four hundred and twenty- one dollars ; and in 1796, fifty-three thW&nd two hundred dollars. The expences of collection amount to five per cent. In 1796 a caufe was determined in the fupreme court of the United States, on a queftion arifing out of this tax. The conftitution fays—that no capitation tax, nor dire el tax, fhall be impofed by congrefs, except fuch as may be impofed on the different flates in proportion to their federal number. A perfon refiding in Maryland refufed to pay the tax on carriages, on the ground that it was a direcl tax, becaufe it was levied directly on the article in. the poffeffion of the confumer; whereas to be indirect, it ought to be laid on the perfons dealing in that article.-^he counfel for the perfon appealing from the tax were Mr. Ingolson, attorney-general of the ftate of Pennfylvania, and Mr. Campbell, a barrifter of Virginia ; and the counfel for the government were, Mr. Hamilton, and Mr. Lee, attorney-general of the iMited States. The latter gentlemen maintained, that the tax wras indirect, inafmuch as it was liMied upon an article of the appellant's expenditure, and not on his revenue. |||^l{||j The term direct, ufed as it is in the paffage of the conftitution above cited, is fo vague,' and the writers on this fubject have given the term fuch oppofite interpretations, that the arguments on both fides were allowed to be of equal force. The fupreme court, being empowered by the conftitution to determine upon principles of equity as well as law, in all cafes refultiiig from different conftructions of the conftitution or the laws, gave judgment in favour of the tax, declaring the tax on carriages to be an indirect tax; and it was certainly reafonable, in the great doubt the judges muft feel on this nice queftion, they fhould be determined by the m -TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, the neceffity of making this branch of the revenue productive, efpecially as the tax affects only an article of luxurj«f^ The five laft of thefe taxes were impofed by laws that paffed nearly at the fame period, and are to ceafe in Auguft 1801. It is faid that the taxes on public fales, ancl;QQ retailers of wine and fpirituous liquors, would be difplaced with advantage to +t|ie country by a fmall increafe of the duties-.^ importation, and ort wine, and on the dtejHeri.es. It is maintained t^: the receipt would be greater, would be without additional coft, would be lefs vexatious, and would, notwithftanding, afleep |he perfons who pay the two taxes objectedto^,-a. Thefe five taxes are known by the name of the five new taxes, and are placed under the fame heads i%|he return? of the fecretary..of the trea- The poft office ifjfa the hands of the government, and its profits form a branch of the revenue. It was in 1794 the; l^fflaw wras paffed relative to the adminiftration of this department. From the lft of October, \ 789, to the 3J|jth of June, 1791, the revenue produced by the poft office amounted to four.t^ojifand one hundred and eighty-two dollars^&fpydys J ft of July 1 791 to the 3 lft ojyj©cember. 1 792, to fixteen thoufanp^f*fr hundred and one dollars; for the whole of the year .1793, to twenty-nine thoufand feven hundred and twenty-two dollars; for 1794, to tE^ggg^ - three thoufand feven hundred and twenty-eight dollars; for 1795, to thirty-eight thoufand feven hundred and fifty-five dollars; and for -4£fi& to feventy-two thoufand ninejjnindred and nine dqljpjjjg. ThisJ&anch of the revenue is ftill increafing; but the government, prudently extending the benefits of the poft to places at prefent very tele inhabited, the receipt in fuch places does not even pay the expences of conveying the letters to and from them. Miffcf'flttii Letters are carried here, as in England, in coache,s.;|Ma,diligences, wnich are at the fame time public carriages; fo that the government pays lefs for the conveyance of thee|Jetters. Jn^roads where ftage-coaches are not ■eftablifhed, the letters are conveyed on horfeback. f&idtf fcuLai The BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEPOUCAULT LI AN COURT. 575 The price of letters is three pence halfpenny for a diftance of thirty miles, and one and three pence for a diftance of four hundred and fifty miles. Double letters, and covers enclofing more than onetetter, pay at the fame rate for every letter. Packets weighing one ounce pay the price of four letters. Letters coming from abroad, and put into the poft office at the port where the veffel lands, pay two pence over and above the poftage, if fent to any other part of the United States. HSR- The number of fhares of the bank of the United States belonging to the federal government was five thoufand, whofe dividends produced a hundred and fixty thoufand dollars half yearly. Two thoufand two hundred and forty were fold during the laft fix months-of 1796, towards the difcharge of loans, whofe period of repayment was arrived. The return of the fecretary of the treafury malfe's the amount of the dividends for the laft half year of 1796, forty-five thoufand dolla^1^ Patents granted by the government for nev^inventions, and privileges to authorsafor an exclufive rightMoh their works, alfo produce a revenue to the United States, but the amoinrois never exceeded fixteen hundred dollars, and in 1796 was no more than twelve hundred and fixty. The return of the fecretary *$f "the treafury alfo contains the receipts, from the mint, of the coin of the United States; but the expences of that eftablifhment are placed on the otfhW tide, and greatly exceed the receipts. The produce of all the diififes, of which ^f^have given the detail^ amounted, in 1796, to feven millions one hundred and eighty-eight thoufand and one dollars. The folfowii&gis a ftatement of their refpective produce : fl Tonnage and impor Difti.lleries Refining of fugars Public fales Carried over Dollars; 3,567,987 238,000 38,000 33,045 . 6,877,032 •TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, Retailers of wine and fpirituous liquors Carriages Poft office - &^cNM Dividends on the fhares of the bank Patents -» , Brought forward Dollars^ 6,877,032 | 58,000 53,800 72,909 125,000 1,260 7,188,001* •Although it is probable that, at the conclufion ofthe prefent war, the importation of the produce of the Weft India iflands, deflined for reexportation, will be reduced, and consequently the duties on tonnage di- minifhed, it is neverthelefs to be expected that the total amount of the revenue ppil not be lefs, but that the encreafe of population will ad$k%0 the importation a quantity at leaft equal to what it wi^lofe by other circumftances^ But in the ftatement already made of the fituation of the finances of the UniteJ^tates, it appears that the revenues fall fhort of the expenditure, and that according to the loweft eftimation, it will require an annual augmentation of the revenues to balance the expenditure of nearly two milUoB^of dollars—that is to fay, if even the prefent duties do not fall off in their produce, and a war with an European power might reduce them almoft to nothing. New fources ^revenue muft therefore be explored, as well as rigid economy practifed; and no doubt the aid ofthe latter would be confiderable, if it was the refill t of an enlightened and comprehenfive fyftem. The congrefs, in the feffion which ended in the month of March laft, laid new duties, as I have before obferved, on the importation of raw fugars, bohea teas, molaffes, cottons, fugar-eandy, and cocoa, witf$$a addition of ten per cent on all thefe articles when imported in foreign » The fum of 7,188,001 dollars is the a&ual receipt ofthe year 1796 ; but the fecretary rof the treafury and the committee of finances in the houfe of reprefentatives, compute ithe annual revenue at no more than 6,200,600 dollars. veffels. BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEP0UGA.ULT LIANCOURT. veflels. It does not appear that thefe new duties are calculated to produce more than one hundred and thirty thoufand dollars, and they may be expected to fall fhort of that fum; for it is well knov&'that the increafe of this fort of taxes at once diminifhes confumptfdr§-fand gives encouragement to fmuggling. A duty on ftamps, wiiich was calculated to produce two hundred thoufand dollars, was impofed k^the laft feffioiff^d a loan of eight hundred thoufand dollars auf&$ff2fei^& Iflflre 4*ittfthe feffion before the laft, warm debates arofe on a prof^Niolliftl laying a direct tax upon lands. Independent of the neceffity there is at prefent of augmenting the revenues ofthe United States, nothing is more evident than the propriety of adopting a mode of taxation which refls upon folid foundations, whofe produce is capable of being extended acco&liiig to the demands of the flate, and is independent of the fluctuations to which merchandize is fubject; and no tax poffeffes thefe qualities in the fame degree as a tax on land. The feffion, !&%vever, paffed away without any tiling being done in this important fubject. To judge of the obftacles to which fuch a fcheme wdfcld be fubject, it is neceffary to take a view ofthe direct taxes which at prefent exift in America. The fecretary of the treafury, in a report made to the houfe of reprefentatives, at the clofe of the year 179C, on the practicability of railing a direct tax throughout the extent of $fe United States, gii^rffR following ftatement of the different modes of levying taxes in ufe in the feveral ftates: "lft. A uniform capitation tax, or a direct: tax on perfons, without difcrimination of their property, profeffion, or employment, is impofed in the flates of Vermont, New Hampfhire, Maffachufetts, Rhode Ifland} Connec*tl&it, North Carolina, and Georgia. !* The amount of thefe taxes in Vermont and Georgia is not known. In the five other ftates it is from two-ninths to four-ninths of the total produce of the taxes of thofe ftates. " In none of the other ftates is this fpecies of tax in ufe ; for the taxe3 on profeflions, on certain claffes of people, and on flaves, cannot'be deemed of that kind. Vol. II. 4 D «.2d.: % rff 578 -TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, X " 2d. 'In the ftates of Vermont, New Hampfhire, 'Maffachufetts, C©n- necticut, New Jerfey, Pennfylvania, and Kentucky^%>rfes and cattle are taxed, but with variations and exceptions. In Virginia horfes only are taxed. In the ftates of Rhode Ifland, New York, Delaware, and Maryland, capitals and farms are comprifed' in. the general computation■; of ' taxable property; in other ftates.--thefe are not fubject to any tax. "3d. In the ftates. Of New York, Rhode Ifland, Delaware, and Maryland, taxes are impofed on the general mafs of property, real or perfonal, with particular exceptions in each of thefe ftates; in the other ftates, taxes are impofed only upon fpecific articles of property. 1 4th. In all the ftates, excepting Vermont and Delaware, land is taxed, d§rfiprifing the lands lininclofed and uncultivated; and there is reafon to believe that the fame meafure will be adopted in the two latter ftates. #ffe$Nlf'- § In North Carolina lands are taxed by the quantity, without regard to theii^fial'ure or fpecies of ©Up&ure. In Kentucky'they are divided into three claffes, according to their quality, but each clafs is taxed uniformly. In South Carolina and Georgia the land is taxed uniformly by diftridts, cultivated or otherwife. In Virginia it is taxed according to a permanent computation. In Maryland and New Jerfey the relative value of the lands in the different counties and diftricts is determined by the law; and in thefe diftricts the^nd is taxed according to its value, never exceeding a certain rate. In Pennfylvania the land is taxed according to a valuation made every three years. In Connecticut all the lands, with the exception of fome in two^^the counties, are taxed according to the nature of their culture, or the kind of ftate they are in, and that uniformly, without regard to^their refpective value. Ij^f^Maffachufetts and New Hampfhire land is, taxed according to its produce, or the annual rent or profit it is fuppofed to bring. In the ftate of Vermont lands in- clofed and cultivated, with fome exceptions, are taxed uniformly, without regard to their value or produce. " 5th. Capitals employed in commerce or manufacture are taxed in different ftates according to the principles of each ftate, but in fome ftates they are not taxed. 1 Oth. BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCIIEP.OUCAULT-.LIlVNC " 6th. Tases: at the difcretion of the. affeffors on the computed property or revenues of individuals, are permitted in different.degrees and modifications in fome of the ftates; in others, all the taxes are ir upon precife objects, and at a certain rate." This fketch may give an idea of the difficulties which the Union would have to encounter, as wrell as the greater part of the individual, ftates, in laying a tax on land with equity and with fteadinefs in its collection. The impofitiom I of it .wTould -give offence, like all new taxes, efpecially of a direct nature ; but more efpecially among a people accutomed to pay very little in taxes. Different flates having different., m odes of taxing the land, and fome having no territorial, impofition, the legiflature of ths^|li©iisi$ placed between thefe twTo difficulties-^ri^lier to adopt for its collection in each flate accuftomed to the tax th© mode eftablifhed in thatjfyggfa and to eftablifh a new mode for thofe flatf&which at prefent have fr$$£Jb- tax, which would make the tax bear unequalfj^yor to eftablifh a uniform mode for all the ftateSy.T^fehlWng contrary to the hab&ag^d prejudices of many of them, would add to its unpopularity and render its produce ftill more uncert^i^f To which difficulties it is to be added, that the tax beingodeftined to the fervices of the general government, muft be collected by the officers of the Union, jw|^eh mode of collection would be attended with great expence. The committee of finances in the houfe of reprefentajtyps, who laid before the houfe the propofition for this tax, eftimates the expences of collection at twSB^jfigyen and a half per cent. It is to be obferved, that the popular party&A?& is to fay, the anti-fe- deralifts, in the houfe, gave tiftjit: fupport to the meafure, perching that the eftablifhment of a direct tax whofe wTeight fhould be immediately i#lt%y every citizen of the tjiy^ed States, would probably fug^fli fome check on the difpofition they afcribe to the goven^e^^jfquar^e^^ money in ufelefs expences. The f&j&$liifih opp©ff$ $he plan, and perhaps were not uninfluenced by the fame reafons. Aiy&e adhere^gt however, of the refpective parties did not vote with thejgjlgaders oj|^j^ occafion. Many members ofetjie houfe wxre guided by their own opinions of the tax; and thofe opinions, which,. no doubt floyyed pruyci- ...wwfv 4*D 2 pally TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, pally from a regard to the public welfare, were in fome inftances aferibed to private confiderations, according to the circumftances of the perfons voting. Before I conclude this article on the finances of the United States, I cannot forbear to touch on a point, connected with.the opinion I have already expreffed—that the ftates in their general legiflation are rather occupied with the means of forcing themfelves into the rank of great and powerful nations than thofe of confolidating their ftrength and inereafing their real power. Perhaps this error in their policy is the natural refult of the combination of circumftances which furround them; but whatever be the caufe, it retards their progrefs as a nation, which can be fecured only by their effectual independence. I have in view chiefly the duties on articles of importation, which 1 think were not calculated for the fituation in which America was at the time of their- being eftablifhed, nor are politic in her prefent fituation; ,and their ill effects are, I believe, already evident. If we look, without prejudice and with fufficient reflection, at the nature of thofe duties, we fee they are rather contrived to increafe the revenues ©fj$fo©> general g©.ve&te.: ment—no doubt a legitimate object of the taxes—than to add to the real welfare, or to cultivate the morals of the people, and confequently to add to the fecurity of the independence of the L|^>n—objects fiitrelyc not lefs neceffary th$8& a tax. The fyftem|t)f thefe taxes is evidently de- figned to give encouragement to the commerce and navigation of the United States; and for that object merely it is combined'Mith forefight. But commerce is only a fecondary object in an extenfipfek- continental nation, abounding with uncultivated lands. The more -important objects of its attention are-^the cultivation of its lands, the increafe o^ilfL OWa^raw produce, and the eftablifhment of manufactures, to make it independent of other nations for all the articles of the firft neceffity. Commerce is no more than the means of exchanging a furplus of produce for articles that a nation* cannot produce or manufacture. If it proceeds beyond tnat point, - especially in a nation' in its infancy, it collects in the places where it is carried'on -the^-^lft^^^^''^Bftek would otherwife fpread BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LfANCOURT. fpread generally, and which ought to be employed in making the country generally productive; while it tends to fill the country with foreign goods, and for a long time retards the eftablifhment of manufactures at home. Fortunes may be made by individuals in this courfe ; but it is a courfe that impedes the progrefs of a nation to independence and profperity. The duties on importation in fhe United States appear to me to place them in this fituation. They are no doubt very high ; but as there are few manufactures in the United States, the duties do not at all prevent the introduction of foreign merchandife, which turns all the difpofable labour, or the greater part of it, to navigation, for the introduction of foreign merchandife is the fupport of navigation, and enables it to afford wages for labour greatly exceeding wtiat can be given by agriciilffle?1 The dearnefs of labour alfo oppofes itfelf to the eftablifhment of manufactures, which are attended with difficulties and hazard, even" in countries where laboutf *il£cheap. The money of the United States, and the produce of their lands, enriches foreign nations, efpecially England, with whom their commerce is the moft confiderable, and indeed to whom it is almoft wholly confined. It is a real tax paid by America to England* Pa#t of M*fciis»%ieney, indeed-, remains-in the hands of the American merchants, and confequently returns to the cultivator of the lands, but the greater part enriches a foreign country. fsfrfe reader will be enabled to judge ofthe truth of thefe obfervations by the following comparative view of the amount of the importation of the produce'of the United States into England, and the importation of Englifh. merchandife into the United States, prefented in 1796,. to the houfe of commons in England. Imports 58$ TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, Imports of the feveral United States into England.. Years. ' ■\ States. 1792. 1793. 3/94. 1795. £. fterling. 2 1 £■ New England 101,610 88,701 40,401 154,013 New York 156,769 149,975 92,947 165,864 Pennfylvania 42,620 168,798 35,809 485,310 Maryland 118,490 102,198 35,388 78,741 Virginia 309,482 262,681 294,219 189,467 North. Carolina 44,656 28,000 8,012 19,340 South Carolina 219,839 167,625 104,055 230,849 Georgia 45,232 36,ri|>|j| 14,898 28,548 1,038,707 904,040 625,733 1,352,136 Imports of England into the feveral United States. Years. States. 1792. 1793. 1794. 1795. £. fterling. £■ £• £■ New England 614,363 435,825 517,445 672,337 New York 834,041 763,980 &%<& 1,997 1,346,634 Pennfylvania 781,074 855,206 708,832 1,307,736 Maryland 505,119 547,583 640,129 656,148 Virginia 846,517 549,032 662,160 771,487 North Carolina 38,157 25,512 9,293 15,768 South Carolina 575,266 311,274 227,588 570,429 Georgia 76,877 26,26.0 12,423 13,573 4,271,418 3,514,681 3,859,871 5^2$ 4,114 COMMERCE BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEF0UCAULT LIANCOURT. COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES, EXPORTATION, TONNAGE, &c The preceding article gives a good idea of the commerce of the United States, as far as a judgment can be formed from the entries made in the cuftom-houfe books. , Another way of judging of the advantage of a commercial intercourfe between two ftates, is the value of bills of exchange. Thofe of the United States drawn upon London, at fixty days fight, have always been at two per cent at leaft above par, except in the month of November 1792 only, when they were at par ; and fince they have been at fix, and even as much as nine per cent above par. The balance of trade may be fomewhat in favour of the United States in their dealings with other nations ; but that is a very infufficient com- penfation for the difadvantage they labour under in their commercial intercourfe with England, and that folely on account^of.the manufactured articles which they take from that country. This fyftem, fo ruinous to the fortunes of the American people, is ftill more prejudicial to its morals. The merchant in the ports of America, who receives manufactured goods from abroad, naturally endeavours to increafe the confumption of them, fince it increafes his.profit. Hethere- for<|.diffufes them in the interior, and as far as he can hope to find a fale; and a tafte for foreign commodities accompanies, their introduction into the moflAliftant provinces. There is no point ofthe United States, however remote, even in the woods, in which one ftore, and frequently more, may-not be found. There are eftablifhed warehoufes for foreign goods, which are emptied and filled again~twiee in the year, and of wdiich the proprietors make a rapid fortune. The home manufactures do not fuffice alone to fatisfy the tafte for luxury, which is infpired by the fight of articles more elegant, more fhowy, and more in fafhion in the great towns. ,.-,..-V . A woman, m 584 :TRAVELS IN NORTff AMERICA, A woman, or a young lad, would be afliamed to appear on a Sunday at church, without a gown, a waiftcoat, or a hat, manufactured in Europe, for which they pay as much as fixty per cent dearer than in the ihops of Philadelphia or New York. A tafte for luxury leads to expenfive habits, and confequently to imprudence. It is therefore an obftacle to the complete happinefs which this nation feems deftined by nature to enjoy. The introduction of thefe foreign commodities into the back-fettlements may be compared to the introduction of rum and whifky among the Indians. The motive is the fame, and produces the fame effects. The abundant importation of merchandife manufactured in England into the United States, naturally proceeds from thofe flates having been habituated, while Englifh colonies, to receive them from the mother country, of w hich it was the intereft to keep its manufactories conftantly at work, and wtiich, from its being the feat.of power, poffeffed all the means of forcing that^M-portation. It may be eafily conceived that, after the revolution, the opulent inhabitants of the American cities, muft naturally have retained their tafte for Englifh fluffs and furniture, and the habit of ufing them; and that it was the intereft of the Englifh merchants to encourage that habit; and this it was the more eafy for them to do, as the old American houfes having been almoft all difperfed by the revolution, the American merchants were in general little elfe at that time than the agents of Englifh houfes. This ftate of things is then what it could not fail to be, fince the legiflature has oppofed no obftacle to the prevalence of habit and individual intereft. With more wifdom and forefight, it feems that the government of the United States would have prohibited all articles of luxury manufactured abroad, or at leaft would have taxed them as high as circumftances would have permitted, without giving too great encouragement to fmug- Public fpirit effectually prohibited them, during the revolution ; and yet every one was then clothed, although many hands were taken away from UKE DE LA ROSHEPOUCAULT LIAKCOURT. 5S5 fern the loom by military fervice, and by the uneafinefs and misfortunes always attendant upon war ; -and the .population is now nearly double what it then was, Neceffity would immediately have extended domeftic manufactories, and would have led to the fpeedy eftablifhment of national ones. At the ©utfet their«productions would have been of a coarfe quality. People too nice to be contented with them, might then have procured foreign merchandize, by paying double or treble their real value; , but ninety-nine ©Ut of a hundred of the inhabitants would foon have aceuftomed themfelves to the mannfacturesof the country, fince it would not have been eafy for .them to procure the produce of other peoples' la? hour. The home manufactories would eonfequetitly have made a rapid advance towards perfeotk)%>^^i| Navigation -employing fewor hands, agriculture would have had more at its di§)!©fal. Tfe jgp^rgafe of-ca^le, now very fcmosifj^ Am<jp0» ymv/$ have been one ofthe confeqfiQftCes of keeping up the national, domestic, and otfeer manufactures. The Englifh, French, and ot^r artifans,iiow wrod^g in Europe upon jfcfee merchandize exported to America, would have broiajgjht their induftry into the United Sfca£e§y jflffeere they would have obtained a more •comfortable l^fgjihood. The United States would have reafon to fear, that; the prohibition of foreign merch$p$ij&e in their ports would have presented thei^flgra produce from finding an outlet. The prodi9«£jfejpns of the United States are articles of the firft neceffity; and fofjetal of them are to be found only •within their t§^ritory. i ff^yo^^^^^^mgation, their fisheries alone would$ave been a nurfery for mojjp feamen th^fc-tkey wi& foon have occafion for, it is to be hoped, 4n order to mgHg^rar veffels of war; and thefe. commerce would not have been therefore annihilated. No doubt, it would .have been lefs fcriJUBjit than we have feen it for fome-iyeais, but it would have been more folid. Ameipjfa^would have had tefe credk abroad; but that credit is her nusft Vol. II. 4 E ruin. §®§ TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, ruin. She ,#ould have had lefs fictitious riches; but would have pof- fefled more real wealth. Fewer emigrants from other countries would have come to her with a view of making fortunes; but fhe would have received a much greater proportion ofthe laborious claffes of the community. Thofe fortunes which give fuch fallacious indications of profperity, are all made at the expence of America; they carry away the money, and leave there nothing but European habits, Iliad almoft faid vices. The real balance of trade would have been in her favour; and it has been feen how much it is againft her. She would have had fewer fpeculations and fpeculators, but better morals; a lefs fplendid difplay of luxury, but more republican inftitutions. AWke intercourfe with foreign nations would have been lefs expenfive; but finding within herfelf the means of fupply ing all her wants, fhe would have been more independent. In a word, fhe would have acquired every year an increafe of fubftantial enbonpoint; whereas, that on which fhe boafts, and on which fhe is congratulated, is nothing but a bloated appearance of corpulence. No doubt the cuflomhoufe would have produced lefs to the national treafury, but direct taxes would eafily have fupplied the deficiency ; and if the United States had followed this fyftem from the time of the revolution, their own induftry would have been almoft adequate to their wants; whereas at prefent they cannot do without the affiftance of foreigners, except in the manufacturing of hats and leather, of wfc£&h the raw nfgsterials are the produce of their own counta^f^ They are dependent; and that dependence which arifes from-^^rr wants, and which will always increafe in proportion as luxury, already at a great height in America, fhall be carried higher ftill, may have an. influence upon the political determinations of the United States; and may lead them into great errors, and to the adoption of meafures fooner or later prejudicial to their intereft. Several manufactories of fail-cloth have been eftablifhed in the United States with tolerable fuccefs, but have been carried to no great extent. Every year alfo fome fpinning eftablifhments, and even cotton manu^ : ' factories, BY THB DUKE DfE LA ROCJfBEQUCAULT LIANCOURT. 5%7 factories, are attempted to be fet on foot; but the following year they are fiire to fall; for no other reafon than the high price of labour, which is itfelf a confequence of the general fyftem of taxations t I have fpoken of the exports of the different flates of the federal union, in proportion as my travels have carried me into thofe different flates, and more or lefs in detail, according to the nature of the information that I was able to procure. The exports ofthe general commerce of America are the refult of thofe of the particular flates. Here follow the totals, as prefented annually to the congrefs by the fecretary of the treafury. HilH It was only from the lft of September 1789, that an exact: amount was taken of them, that of the preceding years being imperfect. HMffl^Sfe counts of this fort, the year begins on the lft of October, and ends on the 30th of Septemb§i|>|£llowing. cit^jjj&j Amount ofthe Exports ofthe United States, 1791,— 19,012,040 dollapp ; Cj^<^j 1792,^20,753,097 1793?jt 26,109,572 1794, — 33,026,233 1795,— 47,989,472 1796, — 67,064,097 This ftatement exhibiter-a progreffive augmentation, fuch perhajl^6* never exifted in any country in fo fhort a fpace of time. But this is the place to repeat what I have faid as often as I have had an opportunity of fpeaking of the exports of differentiates, that any one would be grofsly deceived who fhould judge of the increafe of the produce and refources of the United States by this enormous augmentation of their exports. The exports confift, 1. Of the productions of the country, which, although inereafed in quantity to a certain degree, have rifen much more in value; fome forty per cent, others a hundred, twTo hundred, and even more. This is fatare&fc 4E2 owing 5-m- TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, owing to the wants of Europe, exhaufted by the war in which wthas been ' engaged. The value th<bli$pi£kefe exports, is far from being an exact re- prefentation of theneaia wealth ofthe country, which can only be the refill t of an increafe in the quantity of its produce. 2. The war, in which all the comm^rtMl:)j)®$$grs has&e* been engaged for five years more or lefs, keeps their trade in a flate of almoft total ftagnation. The United States are a kind of temporary depot- of the produce of all countries^} and of acagny of their colonies, where, before the war, American veffels had not, by a great deal, fo extenfive a permiffion to trade. Foreign produce is therefore brought into the ports ■ of the United Statesbin much greater quantities than their confumption requires, and ihl^&eh^reater quantities alfo than it would be if Europe were at peace. The commodities over arid above the confumption of the United States are re-exported, and fupply the different ftates of Europe and their colonies. c.-cH ,.. - This inereafed exportation is then, in this, point of view, a very uncertain indication ofthe real increafe ©f the wealth of the United States,, fince it does not depend upon the produce of their foil, and neither is nor can be lafting, A comparifon of the quantity of the produce of the- foil ofthe United States exported annually, during fix years, will furnifh: an inconteftible proof of the truth ofthe foregoing obfervations. It is, again, from the accounts prefented to congrefs by the fecretary ©£ the trea;fbfep>*th*it, fcdhaaafroaade ©ut.this ftatement. Account ET THE DUKE DE LA B.OCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. cO ! O OVO Q « . . "*- ^ -O » « C§ iA o" « a - I VO (JilOtoM e* O«.00 c^ fisj »0 vO vO -# f . -. « O P ■ fOS -i ^ H fl + ^" rh "1 0V\O H VJ1 J. I O *i3*sQ «** c* o t^. v- n OCT>OOr»^-^f< 5 0* "On ^*-vo ■«*ii^'C"< ' O O t^vO vo )i» Qt>mtr,Ol ■> t> :r^.W -Q*** (Xi -JD c» «* (GS<* ic>flO sffi l^W*Cft •"*" O 00 r^ — cl r>- mvO On O ■*" Ov r|- w-iw ii»mm iim. m o\c© so ■«*■ -*■ — « t^so-jr-kp -**• n+o>o o osn « -*j- -<}- o^ « co o o f> *rvO t^.OO sd* d" <» to VO O scToO \© rr^^oo M-jCO ©- N O.sfiP v*"^" CO «*> ■+■ <**£* JO O cT f* — tntsoo - ' 63 uito(?S fi vjVO "TO ""W CO n V)^.0\ff)fl (s i GO O 3 O ci_vr>. O < ^ ° °* Si05 i .-.-<»- o*«5 <&. 1 ^ ^H \cT ocToosO C\ B o i O vr, - tt « O O I O O vO - w sC VD « -O si ^feMi g I. ! ! 1 I 1 I 000^" O 30 o I 1 1 i 'SCO I I 9 1 1 1 y* I 3 & •Si fl «SKP^^w»-lS^^U»»»Aw.«f4WmU0KWJi;0»4XSi i I ill mrwi -590 TRAVELS IN NORTH'AMERICA, eUpon examining this ftatement with attention, it will be feen, 1. That the quantity of wheat exported from the United States is di- miniflied, and that the increafe in the .e^ortation of flour, proceeding from the great number of mills that have been fucceffively erected, and in that of fea-bifcuit, does not by a great deal compenfate the decreafe in the ^exportation of wheat. This decreafe, for which I have met with no one who could give me a reafon completely ^atisfa<tory, is owing, in part, to the ravages committed J3| feveral ftates by the Heffian fly, which has .made it neceffary to abandon the cultivation of wheat^^nd in part to the great quantity of land laid dov^} "*n p^flure. But I muft again repeat, that the differenci^lf the exportation of wheat is too" great to be explained in this manner, efpecially as in many new fettlements, c@i^ia;s cultivated at leaft duringjfche firft yegrs ; and ash in many parts of Virginia, Carolina, and Maryland, the cultivation of wheat has very generally fuperfeded that of tobacco and indigo. ^.|& ,jh JQ^^^plg^Elon may be inereafed in the great towns by the increafe of their population; and alfo M. fome of the back fettlemenlb^cwhere, owing to a want of corn-mills, the • ufe of wheatrflour was formerly almofty&iowii. But this increafe o^r.onfum^tspn cannot be v^ry great; for in almoft every part of Ihe United States where wheat is cultivated, the inhabitants live upon rye-bread, arid ftill more commonly upon maize or Indian-corm^M^ ^J^Tjj^the exportation of other corn, that Is&o fay, rye, barley, &c. is alfo diminifhed. Tl^di^ owing tolthe inereafed confumption!©f the diftilleries, which, though • checked of .late by the high price of grajin, has neverthelefs been 'very confiderable during the laft fix years. 3. It jpll be feen that the exportation of leaf tobacco is verymtkh a dimiriifhed, £nd.that ftiis diminution is inot compenfated by the grbat ■ ^%ipreafe of manufactured] tobacco • becaufe it is true, as I have obferved in my account ofthe fouthern ftates, that the cultivation:|oftobacco; is' exceedingly decrefefed, J ,#Jjh^ 4. Tl^tf the increase of culture has been directed to fb^t of vege- "^ Cables, onions^ind potatoes, aj^thffiAt is confiderable ; and that it pas a I ^klffza 0.11 greater turn towaids.aiti%^nieadc5#^t<ir^vh4t are called $&£&$* i$Ill Q%^mwAt%^^ Z% goring\ BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. m grazing farms. The enormous difference between the progreffive ex- port&from 17Q1 to 1796, of cheefe, butter, tallow, candles,-and manufactured fhoes, is a proof of it; alth©ugh it is true that the tanneri£$ie& the United States import a great quantity of raw hides from that part of St. Blemingo vHuch formerly belonged to the Spaniat8fcy# 5. It will alfo be remarked, that the produce of the fiflfiries is much inereafed in the laft fix years; but the greater part of this produc^lN^ .confiderably augmented in quantity, is in itfelf of little^vaiue, excepting the whajfe|j6fhery; and although the amount of itsd&hole value exceeds that of the value of produce diminifhed in quantity, the increafe is hartH?^ of any account in the immenfe progreffiofcrof the general value of the exports, which was eftimated at nineteeiHiirillipfts twelve thoufand and forty dollars in 1791, and at fixty-feven. millions fixty four thoufand and ninety feven dollars in llffji The following account of the exportation of foreign produce will prove how much of the increafe in the exports of the United States is owing to that branch of commerc^a^jliyji f Account ofthe Exports of the principal Articles ofF wcign Produce. Merchandize. YEARS. 1791- 1792. I 1793. | 1794. 1795. 1790. Coffee lbs 962,971 8,322 .74,504 62,385,117 928,107 Cocoa lbs 6,600 1,176,156 200,691 4,539,809 1,141,802 525,442 Undefined fugar lbs 17,563,811 21,99$*8&$ 34,848^644 Pimento and pepper, lbs 142,193 .351,675 128,616 60,9 59 j 543,664 989,358 Merchandize knovtfn. by the name of dry-goods, ""! JWft^of all for&, Aock?- ings, paper, 6cc. valuec in dollars. , 29,367 Eg . ~ " " 2,879,198 6,554,346 rMankee'nss ' pieces 1 7,072 12,340 10,972 40,751 i ' 186,526 349,000 Lfhafl; ##g TRAVELS; INaNORTH AMERICA,. - I fhall add to ;tlns;am; amount of the drawback upon the .Tefec^ortation i^rfgmi^j&Qd&ce imported i»6©Jthe Urafed States in the courfe ©Ctsiif rpe%mibT&&j VJ&ki 1795 ; Iwas not able to procure one of the two pre- £g$ng year^nor of the year 179O. I do not pretend to give, by fcfeif ftatement, a precife idea of $he con- fomptionr^fifo|}elgBi|>ii©duce in thefObited States,; becaufe goods b#ing aifetitled to the right of a drawback for a whole year after they have been entered in theacuflomhoufe books, it fometkB&es happens that urtidtes aftioxda:. have paid the difcricftistaB^-y^ included*-^ tlte iretfeipts of that year, are not re-exporisiii|£H the year afte*, $. j The foikiwibg account, howe^ey/spiill afford an ideaigeneratfy true, of the confluia^tijfifei of that produce; and it wiflaffa«i|$^at the confump- ferian^i2«l€^ial sCommOdtoss is little augmeistexiain^he Uni^l^ .States, while that of articles manufactured in England is cow^de^hyyi^ icirsafedi, fl^Ptl Account of the Duties paid upon certain Arlfatfes of foreign Produce, efflffvf the Drawbacks paid upon their re-exportation, for the years 1793, 1794, and 1795. s YEARS. Merchandize, 1793. 1794. 1795. Duties paid. Drawbacks. Duties paid. Drawbacks. Duties paid. Drawbacks. Dry goods, &c:*. <jj& 1,823,442 9,065 2,339,323 !yl$sSf6 3,5£3,44l- 85,780 Coffee: 1,396,652 169,928 1,680,163 1,141,523 2,694,902 1,946,226 Cocoa 29,182 6,201 54,542 19,246 73,576 46,884 Unrefined fugar 660,350 13,634 727,332 155,760 970,888 365,423 Pimento and pepper 32,fl40 3,814 68,768 5,362 70,240 39,134 * Nankeens, ^hich pay a duty of thirteen per cent upon importation, are included in this article; "*-"jEkr No N© doubt this increafe in the exports gives a great increafe of'actinfc^ to trade : no doubt, alfo the'-iife-of the-price of -commodities is another - augmentation of wealth; but it can enlyshe -Confidered as: temporary. This, perhaps, js the place to fay a few . words concerning the: -nature xend pofition of theicommerc-e'-of the United States.' As long as the <U nited States were Englifh- colonies," their ^trade: ssias regulated by the intereft and ambition of the motheraeoimtry, ':and:-xotM.d only be confidered as a branch of the Englifh commerce. This 4s "heady the cafe wit& Ilfeland at prefent. &$&& The accounts prefented to the Englifh Parliament, which will be found hereto annexed, of the imports and exports of the ftates of America, during the laft twelve years that they were Englifh colonies, will prove how great has been the increafe of the commerce of the United States fince that period. Yet if they be compared with an account of the commerce carried on between the United States and England, from 1792 to 1795, inferted in the preceding part of this volume, it will alfo prove how much the imports of the Englifh manufa&ures into the United States have augmented, fince the latter became independent. f Hence it appears, that the augmentation in the commerce of the United States, and confequently their independence, which may be confidered as the principal caufe of it, have been exceedingly advantageous to England, who neverthelefs confiders their emancipation as an injury, and would not be forry to have an opportunity of taking her re- ) venge. I am far from thinking, however, that France, on being made fenfible vc#f*tferis truth, ought to regret for a moment the efforts fhe made to affift North America in obtaining the acknowledgment of her independence. Thofe efforts, even though the United States may be in general forgetful of them at this moment, are nevertheiifs one of the moft honourable Hmtts of French generofity. Befides, France has had a fhare in the trade of the United States, which fhe Would never have had, if they had re- Vol. II. 4 F remained 5G4 •5E.&VEES JH FORTH AMERICA, mained fubject to England; a fhare which, with bett^P conduct, fhe might have rendered much greater ftill, and which, with rational principles, fhe may no doubt hereafter increafe. In a word, thefe great fervices rendered by France will, as long as there is any gratitude in the United States, leave in the minds of their inhabitants an inclination for the friendfhip and alliance of France, which all the intrigues of England can only fufpend for a time, Account "BY THE DUKE DE LA lieCKEPGUCAXTLT I/1ASTCQTJRT. &$s '1 CO o -*■ >a; o - O NOCS ^ i g | CO O «■» O c» O Mi** "*■ O Ovj II - cC -^ ^- ►. s^ ^ ^ jS g Ov vo! VO ,^4 6 OO N O ■<*- t^ oco o o O *£oo ",0 ? vj ■<?• &yo t^ocT Ov oo VO -• Ov *-« | r- -J- — go — o^ V ^ Cij m cTnO - rC < O — O Th"0 oo *»_■ ■* O -^ Gn ^ ChvO OO ^< ij-,00 wi o o JE] c^ •<1-M "O N Ov« rf <SI 61 vo^ "t*o. ©\ q ^ SnO^ w Jn ON o VO ! O 1^ eo o i +a NO id o\ | ^-0 O 0^00 m OO vo o\ -i *o ov vO w vO m t^oo oo t-» O0iv\0 « 00 q Vtf ** «^<3 ON « ^ CO K-vOOOO tJ-vq v«CO <* OvvO « O^ « N C<"* Ov 00 1 1 n J 1 J . . IE* 5Po g *a •8 V Oj O <*10O Q.Ol"J ^ N wa e» N o -*-V© t^ Ov rj ^8 •-• OV00 CO J ^r, <>O0 t»- u, . ■<f (^vfT j r-, w o vo c ^-^5- # ■*-w o cj-oo^vq^ c ■^- rj- t<» •«*• (i vO O\00 rh Ov « ^vO <S O ^^ r: "NO >-A OV« 4F2 S» S -a ^ ^ a E0^ Z~& 5§& ssravex-s nr NORTH AMETfrC^, It was at the peace by which England acknowledged their indbpere- dence, that the United States began to trade under their own colours*. _ But the great diftrefs in. which they were left by the war, and the weak- nefs of the confederacy, rendered their commerce ftill very precarious. Each ftate had its particular laws, prohibitions, and regulations. Some of them, fhut their ports againft certain foreign merchandize, to which others opened theirs. The laws and the cuftom-houfe rates changed every year, according to- momentary confiderations; and the moft natural refult of this order of things was, an active rivality and jealoufy between the different ftates. It is then, properly fpeaking, fince the adoption of the new constitution,, that the name ofthe commerce of the United States may be given to the commerce of the different ftates of North America. The firft caufe, however, of the inereafed commerce of the United States, may be carried as far back as the end of the year 1784. At that period, an order of the king of France in council, opened to their fhips three ports--in-. St. Domingo, whither they were allowed to carry fait fifh, upon paying a fmall duty. This order alfo authorifed the adminiftrators of the ifland to peiteitthe importation of their flou^fwhenever occafionr might require it. The Amerk&n fliips>.ilillj then, had only had permiffion to carry timber and live ffcock to St. Domingo, and that only into a- fingle port. They|#ere reftricted by the new order, as they were before,, from taking any thing in exchange exceptsfyrups and molaffes. According, then, to the letter of the edict, their returns could he of no great value; but the admiflion of American fhips into three ports of Sti*&$& mingo, gave a greater facility to fmuggling, of which they did not fail to avail themfelves. The Englifh, it is true, carried Jamaica fugar and coffee into the ports- of the United States.; but they were without.competitor and fold them: at a high price. ,. • The wstots of the United States required a much greater quantity than, they received from England, arid their intereft ftimulated them t© procure it in a direct way* Flour HY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LI AN COURT. Flour and dry goods were fraudulently introduced into the ifland. Raw fugar and coffee were fraudulently exported ; and the returns began to be of fome importance though ftill much restricted in quantity,' by the illegality ofthe means made ufe of to obtain them. But this traffic foon ceafed to be illicit. The violent fhock which the revolution gave to the manufactures and commerce of France, forced her to open the ports of her colonies to the veffels of neutral powers. From that moment the Americans engrofled all the commerce of the French colonies, which they were fo well fituated to carry on, and which promifed them fuch confiderable profits. The others powers of Europe which had alfo colonies in the Weft Indies, being almoft all ibeceflively engaged in the war, opened the ports, of their colonies in like manner to the Americans, or at leaft confiderably <Ste|fnifhed their prohibitive regulatkin&ai | Thus the commerce of the United Sta&is had the victualling ofcdk&r Weft India iflands, as well as an exclufi^se trade with the French and Dutch Goloaiesniot only in provificms, butial fauin.commodities <©£every kind. Their fhips were freighted to carry Weft India produce to Europe, and to bring back fflivretum the artieles neceffaty fbfcjbhe confump-* tion both ofthe United States, and of thofe fame colonies, a The new conftitution of the United States was eftablifhed at the moment when the French revolution began, and; fhortly after ithe new £$£rt tem of American finances was adopted. The confequent cfci^ttion of ftock of different kinds, the flitting up of land t&; fale, and the efta- blifhment of banks, opened a vaft field to fpeculation, and to commercial enterprife. The ftate of Europe favoured thofe enterprifes; they were: extended, and the commerce of the United States foon niched the fi^ft- Indies, China, and every part ofthe known, world. Its profits have been* confiderable.* Such is the brief hiftory of the rapid.and enormous mez'tfrfe of the trade of the United States;, but it is precisely trom the rapidity of that knmenfe increafe, tha£ we may prognofticate the fhortnefs ©f its #^^i tion. Iha TRAVELS M NORTH AMERICA, The profperity of a nation's commerce cannot be durable, unlefs it be founded upon a folid bafis; and the folid bafis of a nation's commerce is the produce of its foil, of its manufactures, and of its colonies, when it has any. Thefe are its only permanent riches, thofe of which it alone can diipofe ; its produce, and the commodities it receives in exchange, are the natural limits of its trade. If a nation by extraordinary circumftances, unconnected with its internal profperity, fuch, for inftance, as thofe occafioncd by the troubles and tranfient misfortunes of ©ther nations, take a flight far beyond its natural means, and much above the fituation in which it is placed by its own refources, its profperity cannot be of long duration. A change in external circumftances muft fpeedily bring it back to the ftate afligned to it by the extent or the mediocrity of its wealth. Such is the fituation of the trade of the United States of America, which the trouble&^©£ Europe have rendered flourifhing, but which the return of tranquillity will reduce to its priftiA^tate. If the European powers, engaged in a terrible war, forceda^pdevote all their means to it#Sncapable of going themfelves to fetch the arrij^s^ they fta&flifi need of from foreign ports, nay, even incapable of victualling their colonies, and of receiving the produce of then^fh a diree^vay; if the European powers have been under the neceffity of leaving to neutral flags the trade which they could not undertake themfelves, doesJfrfollow that they have abandoned it to them entirely ?t&igjjflfjiti$& certain that tfc^j will haften to refume, as foon as they are able, the trade which naturally belongs t© them, fince they have within themfelves the means ©parrying it on ? In matters of commerce a nation gives up to others only what it cannot undertake itfelf, and even fuppofmg that it grants them momentary advantages, it is folely with a view to its own intereft; it will withhold them', as foon as it perceives that its intereft is injured by this concefi^fil. Political confederations, or a friendly alliance can alone induce them t© act other wife.- • - We are not yet arrived at the period when nations, difcovering their own BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. own intereft in a greater generality of principles, will by general confent give abfolute and entire liberty to trade. That period, if ever it fliould arrive, is not yet at hand. It therefore cannot be doubted but that the European powers, according to their accuftomed fyftem, will lay prohi- tory reflections upon all trade that is not their own, and will thus reduce the United States of America to the limited commerce which they carried on before the troubles of Europe. I do not mean, however, that the United States are not fufceptible of an increafe in their commerce. 1 am far from thinking fo. The extent of their territory, the feiftflity of their foil, tia^nduftry of their inhabitants, their bold and enterprifing difpofition, their rapidly increafing por pulation, the great bays that penetrate into the country, the number of fine rivers that water it, the facility ©f cutting canals, in order to open.a Gommunication between them, and this to connect the great lakes-with the Atlantic Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico; all thefe circumftances promife them a degree of profperity, which muft in future ages render this part of the world the rival, and perhaps the fortunate rival, of Eu* xope. But then the United States will have a rich produce from their foil, extenfive manufactures, a great abundance of refources within themfelves and all this can only take place in confequence of a fucceflive progreflion of thofe refources, and after a long feries of years of peace and internal tranquillity ; in a word, by the gradualv$tgeiation of time. But it is of the prefent moment and, of the exifting circumftances of the United States that I am fpeaking, when I apply to the fudden increafe of their commerce this inconteftable political truth, that all profperity which is not.the refult of natural refources, and which depends fole-ly onextraorr dinary and foreign caufes^. can only be confidered as tranfient, and rather j£]p<p©fes than favours an increafe of wealth in the country that: exper riencesit. This truth, which holds good in regard to all nations, has a ftill ftrojiggF application to nation^ abfoiutely new, whofe commercialhoufes.arebafffc^pe eftablifhed*- OQO 'TRAVELS 'EN. NORTH AMERICA, ■eftablifhed, when thefe uncommonly favourable circumftances ©imble them to give a confiderable extenfion to their fpeculations. The misfortunes of individual- traders, from which they can only efcape by a degree of prudence, almoft fupernatural, adds much in fuch times to the danger ivhich the nation itfelf runs from the temporary inflation of its trade. Before the French revolution the capitals which kept alive the trade of the United States were inconfiderable, their commerce beingiV9j£^ much '.confined; and even part of thofe capitals were Englifh property, either directly, or in the fhape of credit, given by the Englifh houfes to th^American ones. If the American merehanSfathad been prudent enough to take, out of the enormous quantity of bufinefs which a hidden combihatifrn of • circumftances prefented to them, only fuch a part as was proportioned to their capitals, their enterprifes would hat*©- been much ldf^k%iiflve, and the appearance of their profperity lefs brifliant^$$$fcl 'th&Tt fuccefs would have been more folid and more certain. They fet, on the contfcafy; no bounds to theh^mbition^Mnd only confidered commercial aflM&with 4 Mlit^tfe-the enormous profits they feemed to afford. Speculations in land held out a new lure to theirJam* dity; and independendy^fef the gaiftr'they promifed themfettass from a* refale highly advantageous, they found in ■them alfo a foteee of credit, becaufe they had, for a long time, nothing-to pay for thek;2N^iMi©ftSf, and becaufe they hoped fpeedily to receive fome ready money from new purchafers loaded with capitals, whom they expected to fee driven in ^iwds acrofs the Atlantic by tifee flate of afFair^kiftt.rope. c-'liiafMy, the eftablifhm^ii of banks, and the quant^- of paper in circu<- lation, afforded them alfo new means of obtaitfdfng credit. Truftii^^m- all thefe hopes, they ventured* without referve, upon every fpeculation which held out the fmalleft--profpect of gain. HiSfefpirit of enterprife, and a boldnefs in the execution of their-plans, which fets- ail danger ■&%'*$&- fiance, are two remarkable characteriftics of the American people, isS^M moft all the fituations of life. Thefe arc, no doubt, the gerM*4i£ "great Ij^ia^ities, and may be the means >©f great irss^^%^i&^t^Spirit ©f2&^- MNjH^ *i '$&grife9 BY THE DUKE BQKJfc. icfprhe, and flris faoldnefs weperdine<ted by prfadetice,theyavould lead to a much fafer refult; whereas without it they tend to confequences fo much.tfeemore rmn©Us and inevitable, as they have not been fbrefeen. What happened to the American merchants ? &§|t<£ 1. Delays natural-to be expected iawbhe difpatching of their orders, and often tardy returns,- which thoiigb not hurtfoi-te commerce in general, arc hJg^p^asgudiciai to merchant a when fat from ^clbaniiig upon them,atfieyithink that they cannot take place, and enter into engage* ments in confequence of that flattering opinion. 2. The taking of a great mimber of their fhips, firft by Englandy-srbo, independently of her hoftile views towards France, gratified, by feiaiag them, the jealoufy which fhe felt at the comSifercial profperity of a nation, that fhe has never ceafed.to .©©nfider; as an affemblage of rebellious fubjects,v^ad afterwards by Frs^c^issflibtwasiddirouSy ahove all, of injuring the Englifh commerce; and, at the fame time, expreffed her dife©j*# tent at the advantage- gpten to^ngiand by her old ally America. 3. Hheafpeculations i» land prmfed erroneous. The number of. thofe who prefented themfelv«£as.j$afdk£fer& bore no proportion to the'number ^ifa^!fviift%rifhed to fell, and who were hard prafiecB^ifrasitaJ 4.^ The tsanka^ nrumerous asathey became, could not anfwer the de* mands>e(fedkcouiit,^i«eh came to themtftta«;alJ'4^iBS«&^ confequently they did not difcount all the bills which were prefented to them, and the iohgeftadaieaof thofe they ssctoedfdttl not exceed fostycdays,- 5, and laftly, the prices of commodities fell fpeedily in Europe very much .belowawhat'the Amefican; fpecuiators had ^paid fo# the fame art i- cles in the territory of the United States; and, in the mean time, the day «£ fulflhing'the engagements!they hadiiontra^ed, finorder to fend their fhips to fea* wasacoaiffciki±ly.£<>m thkapfc*f&$ offthoie en* Musi i$tt© npoa.thepurchafe of land, thoughifcimight fometiia^^Bpe- rience a little delay, was fine alfo to come at laft; the commodities^ which were .prevented from being fent to Europe by the towcprkes they fei£e-tJieroJwere alfd t© be paid foi$iiand iia any merchant bad received £i;lei». II. ' 4 G fums 602 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, m&Mof money in truft, which hadSmabled him to extend his concern^ with a little more folidity, he was obliged to refund;t&6fe fums upor^te firft.demand, which was neceflarily accelerated by the precariousaaild dangerous ftate of commerce. jIM^ 'Ihif^uch is the difagreeable fituation in which the American merchants were involved, and in wHieh they are ftill more deeply?iiSvolved every day; fuch of them, at leaft, as in their enterprifes were rather led away by their avidity than:fgwd$dt by prudence and reflection, and thefe are the greater numbers. i&&& It may be eafilyj&aihceived $$& the means by which they endeavour to extricate them£etves from thefe emtaraflments are very difficult, and re* 'iptire great facrifices. ^Mtt ; .auEfcofe in gefl*e£al employed are as follows: h$*$$t\jsii$jk i^ftjpfeft, a requeft made to fome friend for his credit for thirty or>flait$r days. Pf^$p IIMWI But it feldom happens that an American merchant does not fmobMs $&e40k&$xe farne^^e^Mfi They therefibielNi&eommodate each'<3ife©r with notes at fixty days fight,iJ^ii^gfed'eavour to get them difcounted at fome bank, which is often obliged to refufe, on account of the^g^Mdil£* proporti©n^b.etweei»4fefneansandthe great number of fimilar applications. Thefe note&&fei$jfch giveriM\an exchange broker, who, according to $§©!$ate ofthe money marked and the name ofthe indorfer,. fells tfeeftt at two, and tfepe, and fometimes four and five per jfi&nt per month dif- eount, ^H$tri Thefe notes are afterwards depofited at the hank by the purchafer, and it then becomes highly neceffary to pay them when due; for there is no more credit, no more p©ffibi|i$$ of difeount, for a merchant, whofe bill has been protefted al^©$©eabeing depofitedat the bank. They alfo endeavour to obtain others, of which they avail themfelves in the fame manner. dta&l E9lw£@ But it will not do to put too- many notes info? icirculation. v4Hftiirif#t- newal, too often repeated, might have a bad effect upon th4b&ifa&&kj !r# . ..a-i|i$p<which; BY THE DUKE DE LA ROC^BFOUCAVl#J&IANCGtmT. which iflffeimportant for them not entirely to lofe. They then buy bills of exchange upon London at a long date, and fell them for ready money below par. This is a frequent means of procuring cafli. Semetimes goods are taken upon the longeft credit that can be obtained, and fhipped for a foreign market; and, in this cafe, the American merchant draws according to his neceflities, the London merchants engaging to accept the configner's notes for two-thirds of the amount of the confignment, upon tranfmitting to them the bill ©f lading, and empowering them to make the infurance. If thefe means fail, the merchant whofe wants are urgent, fends his merchandife, if he have any, to a public aucttcg^or elfe he procures dry goods at a high price, and at five or fix months credit, aad-has them pub- alggjg^fcld, very often with the lofs of twenty-five or thirty per cent. Sometimes he endeavours by building houfes, or by fome other often- tatious expenfe, to create a falfe opinion ofthe ftate of his affairs, which are thergky:rendered much worfe. Such are, in pgffoathe burdenfome means which the merchant, deceived in his fpeculations, takes in ord©*afep. prolong, his commercial exigence. But thofe means only ferve to render his ruin more inevitable. At length he can no longer uphold his credit; and it often happens that a houfe which in the evening was thought worth three or four hundred thoufand dollars, offers in the,* morning four or five fhillings in the pound to its creditors. It is true that examples are not wanting of merchants, who, before they declared their bankruptcy, robbed their creditors of a great part of their money, by donations made to theaigfives and children, and by concealing .paper in their pockefc-bo©ks. There are alfo inftances of others, who, upon lofing their credit, fecretly buy upon 'change, with money kept in referve, their own bills, when at a difcount of perhaps fifty and fixty per cent. The latter, though real bankiup^i&and even fraudulent ones, avoid the name, siyisdo bufinefe|the next day wiij&jpore certain credit, in propor- kaAs 4 G 2 tion TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, tion as; their manoeuvre is better known, for they are then fuppofed to be poflefled. of property. As to him who has declared his bankruptcy, as foomas he has delivered the remains of his fortune to his creditors he is free by law ; and though in fome ftates the law givesjnjs :creditors a claim/upon his future fortame,. equal to the amount ofthe lofs upon their debts, he eafily evades the *$* g-iilation, by not difcoveriiig the profits he may derive from the fums he has withheld, _o.rby carrying on his new commercial operations under another name. All thefe fatal and fhameful, transactions are4he natural confequences of fpeculations undertaken and carried on without a propo$ij£mate capitah And thefe are not the only ones. An American /merchant's Waa3& $jf punctuality in his payments, no doubt, infpire||j^©fg wJwyjmay have oc- cafion to deal with him with $iflsrufi; but it does.nassfciproduce in himfelf afoy fentiment of fhame, and aflect^ J$b reputati©^fg^-}j*||r,. evem$§$fag affect it at all. y$l&$M# The merchant who has^^^p^nded his paymasats,a and whofei, bills are protefted, is equally, well recei^e^^P054 -Change, inafijojgfcy, akdf sy$ra oh* tains the moft diftingui^I^d^^ctJnapfeyments. He is gfenefraGMy confidesed as a man who has played bis-game ill, or who has met s^b a.bad run &£itick*. The frequency of thefe examples? >®ommomcm&ejefkr and the opinion generally entertained m America, tk&t:<w&: one can haree any th&g: more effential to do than to endeavour to get money, pif^3^&||c#riii.nc3fl fay this toleration, but Hits- total indifi$f$g^ in$he public mind. Thus, while the merchant in Europe is guided in his commearefel eons* *M&feMNSK?^ma^ integrifcy an^ the preservation of his hoiM&m,- of his cj^jfa, and of tfe roputatijwi!JQf fhis name, the America^ merchsflt^has no other refeamt than. Ms> own honefty, his felf-efieem, andihis sonfcienal^ and though that reftraint is doubtlefs the moft powerful-when it e&&5}> it muft unfortunatelyvbe acknowledged that it is not the moft. comttj$0!k o fl^aay therefore be fa£*fc$^ the met£hkn1^^i^AoMJm&, <wh#^i» -confequence of their pifydsnce and cai^i©mii#;tferifi&p^ m&fe BY THE DUKE DE LA-ROCHEPOUCAULT-LIANCOURT. 005 rate ufe of their credit, have conftantly been exact in their payments, and honourable in their tranfactions, are, on that account, deferying of particular efteem, fince they are an exception to the generaldepravity. It muft not, however, be thought that this exception is very uncommon. There are in America a great number of houfes, either American, Englifh, or French, which for folidity, prudence, punctuality, and delicacy In carrying on bufinefs, do not yield to any ofthe fo juftly famed houfes of Europe. If in this number I name that of Mr. Philip Niklyn, I do not pretend to give it a fuperiority over the others, by which that merchant's modefty, and that of Mr. Griffith his partner, would be hurt; but I fhall be excufed for feeking, by the mention of their names, to gratify a feeling of affection and gratitude for the Conftarit marks of friendfhip and kindnefs^ which I received from them during my ftay in America, and none of thofe who are acquainted with Philadelphia will reproach me wiffiP i^ing indulged' my feelings at the expenfe of truth. I muft once more repeat, that there are a great number of houfe^Wi; this kind in the"United States, but it is net the greater number; and it is the greater number that I am bound to confider, when I ami^fa'king of the ftate of commt^Se1 in America. Thefe good and fcrupulous hot^Kfe^ are afflicted at the fituation of the A^g^ii^lrade, by which their own intereft is often greatly a fufferer, nottf?Mf?anding their prudent Conduct. 33Mr defieacy, as well as their intereft, is hurt by it; but all they can do is to be upon their guard againft the fufpicious houfes, and to keep a watchful eye Over kit the others; the moft honourable merchants being. • obliged to meet1 upon 'change, and in almoft every houfe, and often to fee k^ictenfide^ytsiift' employs, men whom psHMite intereft, and public honour; ought to devote fo reprobation. This deplorable ftate of things cannot be natural • but I muft repeat it again-, it is the neceffary refult of enterprifes, and of fpeeulatidUS faflity hazarded/which- are themfelves the refult of a multiplicity of bufinefs of all kincb, that the fituation of Europe* and the Weft Indies has produced, and of the dangefrous facility afforded by the great dumber of banks. In almoft ait the great towns of the United States, and particularly of thofe i m TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, thofe to the northward of Baltimore, every body is a merchant; that is to fay, every body fpeculates, trades, and jobs in the ftocks. The judge, the advocate, the phyfician, and the minifter of divine worfhip, are all, or almoft all, more or lefs interefted in the fale of land, in the purchafe of goods, in that of bills of exchange, and in lending money at two or three per cent per month: few of them are contented with what they have. The merit of a man is rather too much eftimated in America by .the fortune which he is fuppofed to poffefs ; and no body lands in this new world without the project of making an ample and rapid fortune; examples of fuccefs being fo frequent, that they hold out a great encouragement to thefe projects. The means of executing them were alfo for a long whale great; but they are lefs fo at prefent, at leaftj^v this way; and avidity does not diminifh in the fame proportion. Here then are a great many fnares laid for delicacy; a great mm£ reafons explanatory of the ftate of commerce in the United States, and ±|*y|iithful a&g©unt that I have juft given of it, will leave no doubt of the truth of my affertion, that the brilliant appearancefojL|he trade of lfc,pmfgd States, and the increafe of its activity and ofM& exports, are no more than a tranfient gleam of profperity, rathej^|^4c|pus than ufe- ^[^oreal wealth, and to true national profperity. No doubt, in the midfiLof all- thefe evils, confiderable fortunes have ftarted up. Some of them have been made by prudence and induftry; others are the offspring of good fortune. The cities are grown infinitely larger, which, in my opinion^^of itfelf a great evil: they are embel- lifhed; but luxury has made its way from every quarter into the United States; and when the commerce of Europe refumes its level, and when peace fhall have reftored t© every power the enjoyment of its rights, it is much to be feared that nothing will remain to the United States of the aftonifhing and momentaneous increafe of their commercial activity, but a love of luxury, and the impoffibility of fatisfying it. That epoch will probably be alfo the moment of new misfortunes to more than one American houfe; but, as a friend to America, I beg leave to BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. t© fay, that if fhe profit by experience, it may alfo be the epoch of her certain improvement, of her real profperity, and of a folid increafe of her commerce. She is deftined by nature for a ftate of ftrength and greatnefs, which nothing can prevent her from attaining, but too hafly a pace, which might attempt to conduct her thither without patting through the neceffary gradations. Before I terminate this article concerning the trade of America, it remains to be faid, that all commercial caufes are fubmitted, in the United States, to the judgment of the ordinary tribunals, confequently to a courfe of law which the leaft fkilful advocate can protract to the length of eighteen months ; and with a little more ability he may fpin it out to two or three years. Thisifficonvenience is very great in commercial affairs, in which a difhoneft man may avfut himfelf of the delay, to keep for a long time in his hands a capital, really the property of another, which, by remaining unproductive the whole of that time, occafions a lofs not likely to be compenfated by the damages that may be awarded to him. This inconvenience, however great it may be iriftJregard to the merchants fettled in America, is much greater ftill with refpect to the foreign traders, who fend or carry cargoes, or make confignments thither. Th© alternative of a merchant's remaining feveral years in America, in order to enforce his claims, at a great expence; and of being thus kept at a diftance from the centre of hi^afTairs; or of being obliged to entruft the_ management of his caufe to another, adds much to the misfortune of feeing himfelf deprived, during a tedious law-fuit, of the ufe of his money, notwithftanding the clearnefs of his cafe. It is then, that he feverely feels the want of thofe commercial tribunals, of thofe confular jtiiiiuictories fo wifely eftablifhed in France, where the moft honourable and beflrinformed merchants are annually elected as judges; where the proceejlihgs are free from all poflibility of chicane, and do not coft more than fix dollars in expences; where the caufes apparently the moft complicated are decided in the fpace of three weeks, and where there are, I will not fay none, but very few examples at leaft, of judges accufed of partiality in their judgments, or of careleffnefe iJEl&e- invefHga^«^f fc&s; 6o$ TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA., fa£ts; and where, in cafe of an appeal to the fuperior courts* the $$rt§£ in whofe favour fentence has been pronounced, can obtain poffeffiegshff the fum awarded him, or ofthe efi^s which he claims, upon giving f§- curity to return them, in cafe of a contrary judgment being ^r4J#^n©j?4 by the court of appeal. \ ■-,■■ DEALINGS IN LAND. In fpeaking generally of the trade of the JJnifed- sStateSi I mentioned the traffic that is carried on in land as one of its elements. 'This^khtS of commerce is fo peculiar to North America, that it ib.deferving to be made known, at leaft in a fuccinct manner. The traffic in land, is founded upon the confiderable mafs.of lands in the terr^pyy ofthe 3Jjy.jtje^jStft$e$, in comparifon with thek^pfiafent population, and upon the probabijftjsfcflf $h§ augmentation of that populatimi; either by its own mfaais of reprodu^i^n? or hy foreign emigu?la$ns. This traffic is, like all the other branches of trade, and more than any jothes* a traffic of fpeculation. The wafte Ipids, and they amounted to more than fow*&fths of America, were found, at the end of the revolution, to belong to different ftates, which, as fovereigns, have inherited this property J&&m the fovereignty ofthe crown of England. Many of thefe lands were ftill occupied by Indian nations; but a part of thofe nations had, during the war, j©JaW3& the Engjifli troops againft the United S^es. It was neeefiajEjr then t© drive them b^fijk, or rather it was neceffary to drive back all th&.In^mosi whofe vicinage the United States bore \tfiih impatience. Here it may be proper to sjeffjarka that the< l^t^n na&Gm, who.wgre formerly thft fole proprietors of the American ©©ati$kn& £nd to whofe hofpit^sy^^QiM^h , yj|hment of the Europeans if f&Jely due, aroeonfidered by thei defcend- ants ofthe firft colonifts, as ufkrpers ofthe laridk which they ftill poflefs^ and as only holding it by yirftj© of .their good .wiHia&d pleafure. The lands granted, by, the cfeiags of England be&se l4&^J5,:ha"^Jw^ti| fefU§ve3§e(sptions, remained ioite'pafisffionb^tiiofe f© whom the grant was made; but the quantity of thefe was infinitely fmall, in proportion to BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEP0UCAULT LIANCOUR.T. ®%f to the mafs ofthe uncultivated land. The proportion of the quantities of thefe lands Was not even in the ratio of the extent of territory of each ftate. The fmall ftates, particularly thofe that lie near the fea, having been longer inhabited, poffeffed but a fmall portion ; ■ and fome had none at all; while the great ftates, thofe particularly whofe territory extended far into the interior of America, fuch as Georgia, the two Carolinas, Virginia, Pennfylvania, the ftate of New York, Maffachufetts and New Hampfhire, were in poffeffion of immenfe quantities.' It was neceffary" for thefe ftates to fell the wafte lands, in order both to afford their' grow- ing population eafier means of acquiring property, and to hold out a bait to foreign emigration. Laftly, the' ftates had debts refulting from the war, which it was neceffary to liquidate, without burdening the nation with new taxes. ' For af firft it was little able to bear them,'and it was even the ihtereft ofthe ftates to diminifh the exifting taxes as much as poffible, in order to'render fettling in their territory more advantageous and attractive. In the lands to be fold were comprifed the confifcated eftates of the Tories, who had ferved the Englifh. during the revolution." ~ The ftates cannot be accufed of having enforced this law of confifcatton v/ith too great feverity. In order to bring thefe lands to fale, the ftates openea land-offices, where perfons who meant to purchafe received warrants or commif- fions to have the lands they pointed out furveyed, by the furveyor bf the ftate; but they were not put in poffeffion of them, till it appeared that they had not yet been granted to any one, and were not to receive the title-deeds till they had paid the ftipulated price, and fulfilled the conditions impofed by the law. :'"":Tlie lauds occupied "by" the Indians were not "immediately fold ; but the ftates fold the right of pre-emption, that is to fay, the exclufive privilege of purchafing thofe lands, as foon as "the Indians fhould confent to . fell them•; and the ftate .undertook the negotiation, as foon as it 'fhould'*• .-deem it poffible -to fet It on- foot; !«Hj"iiWi.«* 4 h tt ■s u® aAVELS IN- NORTH AMERICA, l\ It is not my •intention to enter into a detail of the frequent alterations made by the ftates in their laws concerning the fale of land, and of the ftill more frequent departure from them by the land-offices themfelves;' of their conftant negligence in the examination of the meafurement, and of the greater or lefs validity of the titles | in a word, of the great abufes of every kind which have taken place in this branch of the adminiftation. To-do fo, it would be neceffary to write a pa^cjular hiftory ofthe laws and land-offices of each ftate. 4 Suffice it to fay, that there are few which have acted with the neceffary punctuality, few which have dealt fajijpls and honourably, and few which have fhewn the attention which we have a right to expect from every public adminiftration. The fe&ds were offered to fale to. any one who. wifhed to purchafe them. o&lfa&ertam quantity was given to the troops employed dicing the war- Seves^M^g^l^rge portions were put up to fale by the commiffioners. Families, either foreigners or Americans, bought fmall parcels, with a JSg$$F ©f fettling. But the ftates, more taken up with the defire of obtaining the money, of which they ftood in need, than of that of fpeedily covef^pg thofe lands with cultivators ; and thinking, befides, that great proprietors would be excited by their intereft to parcel them out with more pjgpiptitude than a ftate could do, readily confented to fell them in large maffes, in oppofition to the law which, in many of the ftates, limited the number of acres that would be fold to any one* perfjg>n to five or fix hundred. This regulation has been evaded in the ftates in which it e%$&d, by felling great quantities of land to the fame perfons under different names, and by making out as many contracts of fale, under thefe fictitious names,, as the quantity of land fold contained lots of the extent fpecifiecf in the law. Almoft all thefe contracts of fale alfo contained a claufe, by which the purchafer was required to cultivate, or caufe to be cultivated, a cert^pt ojia*#i£y e&acres per lot, within a given time; and the penalty of dif- pofieffion BY THE DUKE 5>TE LA RO'CHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. poffeffion was pronounced againft any one who fhould neglect to wffl this condition. It is eafy to conceive that this Condition, fo difficult to comply with in great bargains has been freq$$9dy evaded. It was then that the great fpecttHtti^is began, lad*!'being pu*dh*&ble t>f all the ftates at a very low price. The ftates wet© inundated with paper-money, peddKfefct to each, and all in a flate of depreciation. The periods of payment occurred at diftant intervals. The inereafe of population, emigration, and the cliprfihg of the land, promifed &:>g£ffist an€ fpeedy rife in the ^Sfue of thefe lands. The fpirit of fpeculS^n^pfefc laid hold of every clafs of the inhabitants of America. This was at the time of the new fyftem of finance, when fo many ^Swifiderable fomiftes were made by jobbing in the certificates of the American debt. The legiflatures of the ftate, fome of them at leaft, gave &M. greater efiegfe- Tagement to the fale of their lands, by dfHtbfing that certjai&'&i&ds of the 7d£|sffeciated paper fhould be taken in payment of the purchafe ; a re^da?- ■%to&"Which gave rife to confiderable malvetfati©Bs. The member§#wlife compofe thefe legiflatures, were often feen to confult their |)i£ifo#*lpk-r lierefts in thefe operations of finance. At that time, as I have juft faid, the ftates were inundated with paper money of different kinds, the fruit of the misfortunes of the war, and of the diftrefs which had been its confequence. They were fffi of them at a difcount. One day, for inftance, the legiflature declared, that after a -certain delay, generally very fhort, fuch paper would not be received in payment; and fome time after, a little before the expiration of that delay, it a&nOuSacfed the fale of a certain quantity of land, in payment of which the profcribed paper would have a right" to be prefented. The members who were in the fecret of this manoeuvre, or their friends, bought up this paper-money at the time of its profcription, that is to fey, at its loweft price. They then prefented themfelves at the fale as foon as it began, and very often in twenty-four hours the purchafe was "completed. By thefe means many fpeculators acquired land, with a real value of two or three cents or hundredth parts of a dollar per acre, payable in fix or 4 H 2 eight &l:2h TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, ■.fggjjfei years, with a difcount from the treafury of the ftate, according t© the value at which the land was rated b$|the law, in cafe the payments were made before they becan§bg-adue. The%malverfati©j^jdid not take |$a£e in all the ftates>jfaut in alliphe. purchafe of land> and of rights of pre-emptions, was made at a veryfcJoMft price, from the very firft moments ofthe opening ofthe land-offices. Thefe lands then became an article of trade. Agents were fenfe^z Europe to propofe the fale of them; and^purope was filled wit^the moft pompous defcriptions and the moft complete maps of lands which were, often unknown to their proprietor, and even to every one elfe. Several great fales, effected in England, upon advantageous terms, raifed the price of thefe lands, inereafed the corj^dence of the fpeculators, added to their numbers, and extended their fpeculations^|The opinion c$$0, imnf>£nfe migffttion, to which the FrencJ^evolution, and the fitua- .tg^^gga^te?Jgave rif^oenfpired to give confidence to thefe fpegg^, ajgtffis;.and every one engaged the more eagerly in this kind of fpeculation, as the periods ofthe payments to be made to the ftates were always long; as ftill longer delays were obtained without much difficulty; and as the lands in queftion were as yet exempt from all taxes. The fecond fellers frequently granted very advantageous conditions of payment, and yet fold at a tolerably low price. In the ftate of Pennfylvania, and in that of Maryland, every foreigner could buy and poftefs land as well as a citizen. In fome others, in which the law did not allow this privilege to foreigners, it gave the legiflature the right of permitting it; and that permiffion was eafily obtained. In all, a foreigner might hold land in the name of an inhabitant; and the great intereft that the ftates had in felling, and in bringing foreign capitals into their territory, gave great fecurity to this borrowed right of poffeffion. The United States were in the enjoyment of great commercial profperity. Nothing feemed likely to difturb their tranquillity : and a great number of Europeans, feduced by the fudden increafe of the value of American BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LE&NCOURT. American lands, faw, in the faerifice whfcMhey- made of a few thoufand dollars in the purchafe of thofe lands, a i&Jr-fold or ten-fold augmentation of their capitals in a vet^$$^®#Kr&er of years. The fpeculators in land who hold a great quantity, have different means of turning them to account. 1. By-felling them in large parcels to men of fortune in Europe, or America. 2. By felling them in fmall parcels to families, who mean to fettle upon them* a 3. By preferving them, till time, and a dim^^tion of the quantitJ^P this fort of merchandize, hav^^fed the value of it to a price anfwerable to their expectations. The firft of thefe means is that V^feich is moft generally defired: it is- that on account of which fo many agents were font to Europe jtftfe&r- great advantages held out to thofe who fhould jkd&iktr purchafers; and fo many fictitf^j^invented. &rgreat quantity of land was <ftft£$HMlNir' manner. In making bargains of this kind, as weSf^is in all other^fld1 buyer and feller endeavored to -make the moffcladvantageous conditions. The periods ©f payment are generally fhort; at leaft a large part of the purchafe-money is paid down at the conidufion-of the bargain. The conditions impofed by the ftates in the contracts of fale are binding upon the new purchafer; but^^i^^fie&ither old pusebafet* pemainsnB^>onfible, in cafe of their not being fulfilled by the -jsew one. The new purchafers become fpeculators themfelves; and in order to-turn their new property to account,^ have • recourfe to the fame means that were employed by thofe of whom, they bought it. • : - '* 'h-.'." Land is fold in fmaJl parcels in fever^^fays.' jj Either out and out for ready money; althougbthfs-mpde of fale-is not unfrequent, it is not the moft cqiBmom Or out and out, but to be paid foroby inftalments^ inrwhich cafe the latter does not deliver the. title-deeds'-tiil? after the purchafe-money is entirely paid ; and retains a right ©f ejecting;the new fettler fiom his land,a if the conditions of payment, and all others appertaining to the bargain, (which « ^"JfRAVELS IN NORTH AMERKM,^ ' (which generally confifts of an "obligation to clear." a certain number of ;a£l3e3) be not ^filled. Sometimes the feller only requires a fmall part ofthe price ofthe land iii*S?eady moiiby; and the land remain^'foibject to a perpetual rent, payable in money or in produce, which the purchafer is not always at liberty to redeem. Sometiiies he fells, o^JS^Q^r^efeaMeSftates, only for a certain number of years—for inftance, twelve or fifteen; and in moft of thefe bargains the purchafer binds himfeJ^ifi#^rfotm^i#%S^*tMn number of days' woriPhfca perfon, at the requeft of the feller; to clear annually a certain number of acres, or to build hof^^j^M^l^UefQirnprovements revert to the feller, when the term of years for which the bargain was made is expired?^!* fliall here remark, by the way, that this kind of fale for a limile^Htime, or for an annual rent, may give great proprietors an influence in the elections ofthe legiflattEB&, in a cotmtry as yet notf^ely rich, and where erorj^ body is an elector. It is accordingly acknowledged! *£Mt it does give fuch •influence, antfWis known th&fesfoch or fuch a^js&tfon ca#^$i^(^$:'©¥ &r many feats in t^eiegiflatufiy Jfhls ftate. As yet, homi08$&hefe examples are not frequent. Almoft all the great landed propritiHiEs endeavour^&^et fome purchafers of fmall lots to fettle upon their eftates _; becaufe, by clearing fome portiSilis of it they enhance.&Bcvaiueof the reft. The fhfrdf mean, that of w^ifeg fill time has raifed the price of land, is the refiairce of groat proprietors, who have not been able to employ the two others. With fomef h^#e$*et, it is a mere calculation; a Calculation fo much the more dangerous, as the ambition -of the proprietor increafes with the rife in the price, in cafe fuch a rife take pi#otf; and as that rife is far from being certain, and as there is already a number of examr^^Bf proprietors who, in the following year, would have been glad to fell at the price that they had refufed the year, before. They are, however, not the more inclined to take the price-lma#Wthen offered thlm, becaufe it is lower; they rather w£&?f^fSfta&t for the price wHSHfthey have refiS^®; This is the way in which every kind of fpeculation is in general con - ducted. A great profit does not fuffice, when we flatter ourfelves that we BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFQUGAULT LIANCOU we fhall obtain a greater ftill. We are but too apt to flatter ourfelves:; and it fometimes happens that at laft w?e obtain nothing at all. Speculations in land have been the means of making great fortunes if* America-; but they have alfo occafioned more diftrefs, tota} ruin, and great and difaftrous bankruptcies, than any. other kind. Of this there are fome remarkable examples, among an infinite number of others of lefs note, but not lefs certain. For prudence has no more been thcguide ©f thefe fpeculators than of others; nor are there any wThich have been more generally adopted, nor wThich have been a greater fource of deception. The lands in America are alfo the branch of trade gffeich has given. occafion to the greateft number of law-fuits ; as well on account of the titles as of the limits, and of the fulfilment ofthe conditions of fale. The moft certain, as well as the moft advantageous means of deriving, profit from a great extent of new land in America, is,_for the purchafer to begin clearing |Mjfji|imfelf; to attract inhabitants as fpeedily as poffilg^ by giving them, at a low rate, and even for nothing, if neeefjSiijft jft^ul^ ber of acres fufficient for the ineuntenance of their &E&ily; to erect mills, make bridges and saads; to build houfes even; and to encourage, in every way, the effoits of the new fettlers ; in fhort, to make confiderable- fmn* fices in the firft mftance. There is no example ofthMe&rRfsk^^ses, when made wHfcirtteslfe gence, and to a fumble extent, not having rapidly inereafed the value of the land referred by the wtaprietorj^id fpeedily enriched him, by attracts ing great numbers of emigrants from other countries. Many of -thefe b®fijiant fuccefles may be quoted ; and among them that of the Dutch company, whifch is fkilfujly directed by a Mr. Caseuore ; but no one's fuccefs has been more complete than that of CaptaajpfcWilliamfon. in the Geneffee. This honourable and fafe manner of deriving advantage from the po£» feffion of a great quantity of new land, requires indeed, a command .©£ money ; and there are very few fpeculators in land who have any. Tthrf&fe who have, are notrihxtined to withdraw it from the bufinefs ©&fi©ete* jejffcipg, from.which $hgy get a^Hftgarn three or four times a year, with great tit TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, great profits; but more commonly they have none. Very'often, indeed, thefe fpeculations are carried on without the fmalleft capital; or elfe by merchants, fhopkeepers, and workmen, who have occafion for their money in trade ; for, as I faid before, every body deals in land. ; Thefe^-Jftieans are, however," becoming more neceffary than they have been hitherto. The buying of land is no longer fo much the fafhion ; and the commodity abounds the more in the market, in proportion as commercial operations are lefs fuccefsful, and Activate fortunes arc decayed. The numerous deceptions -which the Europeans have experienced in the purchafe of American lands, have brought them- into' great difcredit in Europe. France advances much more rapidly than was fup- pofed-to be poffible, towards a ftate of complete tranquillity, which muft make it once more a comfortable abode. The derangement of many French fortunes by means of the revolution will bring a great number of eftates to fale. Commerce and the manufactures will alfo afford great and advantageous room for foreign capitals. It will be the fame fuccef- fively, with the < other European States, if they are doomed to experience the -mifchiefs of a revolution ; and if fome European capitalists fho^ldv think that a part of their fortt^ would be laid out with more fafety beyond the Atlantic than elfewhere, they would probably prefer the vetting of it in. the American funds to the purchafe of diftant lands. For every one in Europe muft now^t aware, that no man fhould now •buy land in America till it has been infpeeted by himfelf, or by fome of his particular friends. The quantity of land-upon faleln the United States is immenfe. Tranquillity is not fo completely eftablifhed there as it appeared to be two ye^kstago. Ifclis threatened on more fides than oi*e>toThe fpirit of democracy has made as great and as rapid progrefs in the country, as the fpirit of ariftocracy has in the towns. Although the proportion o#£p$^ prietors is incomparably greater thnaiiithan in any part of Europe,-^!^ , exifts a certain number of non-proprietors; and every body thinks he has a right to have' an eftate. The murmurs againft the poffeffors of jl great number, of acres, of land, which they keep in their .own''.bands, .a$6! ' till BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEF0UCAULT LLANCOURT. 6If till they think they can get a fufficient price, and thus put the purchafe of it beyond the reach of thefe non-proprietors, begin to be fomewhat violent; for every body knowTs the low price which thefe pofTeflbfs of great maffes of land originally paid for them. Many families fettle without title or permiffion upon thefe large properties, and their number fometimes renders it very difficult to eject them. The judgments of the tribunals which orders them off the land, cannot often be put in execu* tion, becaufe public opinion begins to be very ftrong againft the holding of fuch large tracts of land, which is already called a monopoly. I could quote feveral examples of this; but it is not my purpofe here to enter into particulars. Although many members of the legiflature are themfelves great landholders, the legiflatures can no longer prolong the periods of payment, and alter the conditions of fale. In many ftates, the un* cultivated land begins to be already fubject to taxes ; as yet indeed they are taxed very low ; but the time approaches when thofe taxes will increafe, and when the legiflatures, perceiving that it is the intereft of their ftate to attract thither a greater population, will find, perhaps, that it is good policy to raife the taxes even higher than that of the cultivated land, till a certain proportion of their extent at leaft. is cleared, in order to render the poffeflion of thefe lands burthenfome to thofe who keep too great a quantity in their hands, and thus to make it their own intereft fpeedily to parcel them out. All thefe circumftances render it more neceflary than ever for the great holders of land to take the fpeedieft means of turning it to account, and muft confequently tend to difcourage this kind of fpeculation. This ftate of things is, no doubt, an unfortunate one for the fpeculators in^fljd, and for thofe who poffefs great maffes of it. Hence probably many of them will find themfelves deceived in their calculations, and many of their fortunes will be deranged. But this is nothing in comparifon with the national profpetity that will refult from the clear- M&$nd occupying of the uncultivated and defert lands, whether the ijfpttjfas have bought them of the proprietors, or whether they have ufurped the poffeffion of them. fe'^M Vol. II. 41 The a.i-6 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMBBI% The land in^m erica; i^ii- general good, and only requires to be tilled; to afford an ample produce. The population increafes, as has already been feen, in an almoft incredible proportion ; and the people in America are not deterred from the clearing of wafte land, either by attachment to thei%f$|al foil, by the greatnefs of the diftance, or, in fhort, by any difficulty whatever. The federal government of the United States, or, more properly fpeaking, the Union, poffeffes alfo in the Wef~ tern Territory, north of the O^o, a quantity of land which is fuppofefj^fe: amount to ten or twelve millions of acres. The congrefs, in May ] 796, ordered thefe lands to be furveyed, and divided into townfhips of fix miles fquare each. One half of thefe townfhips are to be j^ernately divided into fections, containing each about fix hundred and forty acres; and then the whole is to be fold by townfhips or by fections. This fale is to be fuperiplended by the governor and fecretary of the weftern territory. HiM^-iiMi -^^ve.n rows of townfh^sj^t a little diftanc§^fe|^Bi|^^jrgh, in the ^|l^;territory, had been furveyed by order of the ol^^grifs, which had alfo ordered the fale of them; but it had only been effecte^n part. The c©ngref§ tjythe fame law of 179®, ordered this lanoWfb to be fold, under the direction of the fecretary ©JVjtie treafury, who fixed the towsfefsri^e at two dollars per acre. 1% was to be fold by auction ; ^^spofit of$$£t$ per cent was to be mad© within thirty days after the purchafe^ and the other fifty a year after, under t||^^nalty of difpolj^fion, in regard to fuch purchafers as did n^^J^l^hefe conditions, t .Jj^equirmg f© fpeedy a payment for thefe lands, and in keeping them at fo high a pric^ydtftfc intentions ©f the congrefs were to na$||er great fpeculatioij$|)pjj^ifncult. But, by a report the fecretary of the treafury made at the end ©f laft January, it appears that this condition, and the price fixed by the ^diatf grefs, kept away a great many purchafers, fince no more, th^asteforty-? nia^'thsriifand acres, out of aJbf^ut fix hundjred and eight$8il&QufftJ^d*fhad been, fdbtfcand the feven. rows of townfhips, with the f^jftsof which he \ 3H^ehargedx5^The congrefs, howe|i?eJV made no change, in. the law of the preceding year, except by allowing flock^'fee taken in payment ©f ,.";d M .a.atlefe BY THE DUKE DE LA R0CHEF0UCAULT LlANCOURT. QtQ thefe lands at its current value at the time of the- purchafe. But it did not diminiih the fixed price, nor enlarge the &Oie of payment; and it acted wifely. The finenefs'of the country, the goodnefs of the land, the mildnefs of the climate, and the facility of communication, leave n© doubt "But that they will be fettled iri'no greatfpace of time. The na- l^S!":emigratioii from the northern ftates, wHcti are the moft popt&esfc: of all, conftantly take a wetter n direction. I It is impoffible to afcertata what is :the annual number of emigrants who pafs the Alleghany Mountains; in fome years "It had amounted to thirty thoufand' fouls; and I feaVe heard- it-eftimated at an average at fifteen thoufand a year, but without any certain data being affigned. However this may „be, it is '^iiftderable, and wilt become much more fo, in proportion to the in- -cHafing;population ©f-tfe United States. The greater .dumber of thefoi.j^m^cah^ have hitherto direoteii theit fteps to Kentucky, and to the Tenneflee country; but fome always remain ittf^ennfyl\^anta, and a great many already proceed to the Wef- tern TOifBory, . where the land vtffS&kncreafe, in propoftion as the Indians are obliged^o^ntfeera^roaCl^sbf the whites^ ^©/cabandon the territory wlli^fe ^ley^fl^l' occupy, ta&d which the United States will not fail %&^irchafe. ^UMl It is poffible, and even probable, that-the congrefs will be obliged to give the purchafers of thefe lands m&r© time for payment. It wiMijjife. -&!feferce of gre-at importance for the dinkJnution of th© national debt, to ^^i^^ra^feev^cably doiSiiid^ and perhaps at a peiiod not very difta&fc, the Weftern Territory will be the moft populous, the beft%3&iitacd, and l*iJ|f[yr0f the nkH0L i*npe^Sitf-ftate^ctf^d^feiQiiy^©2 iti'.ii fl ^ MI^IT^^gSf ABLISHMENT OF THE UNITED STAT^ The ^flfiMitScWi v#&fe 'gives the prefident of the Ui&ie&*it^tes the fx^«F^mmandi of the fd^s^^te^tPaftd^^^^^rell as of theP&UI&a of ':iih£ dHfCTtSitJl^^^ien employl&^^t^^Mce*^f- the ^©albderacy, ^traBffe TO'tf!^d^gie^'Jffi^ powrer of making lam for-the adrmi£3&ili8ki 4 I 2 and 620 TRAVELS IN 5H0RTH AMSfcttfiSi i and difcipline of the forces by land and fea; that of employing the^il&S qe^ry means for the embodying of the militia;j fd#«the purpofe of putting in execution the laws of the Union; repreffing infurre^tions, and reeling incmrfions; has alfo the power of regulating the oii^feization> ayijgiag., andbdifoipline of the militia, and the conduct of fuch part ofthe militia as is employed in the fervice ofthe United States, leaving to each of the ftates the appointment of officers, and the training of thas* militia, in conformity to the rules of difcipline preferibed by the congrefs. A law of the 13th of May ] 796 has fixed the military^ftablifhment of the United States, and revoked all thofe prevfousij^made upon that fubject. It is compofed of a body of artillery and engineers, of two companies of light dragoons, who are to ferve on foot or on horfeback, aos&a^ii^to the will ofthe prefident, and of four regiments of infantry. The corps aot£a«ri$ery and of engineers, confifting of feven hundred and fixty-four men, is divided into four battalions, and each battalion into four companies. Each:,*$topany is commanded by a captain, two lieutenants, and two cadets ; gsteh battalion byc^sm&jor; and the whole corps by a lieutenant-colonel, who has an adjutant-general ufi&fchim. Each company of dragoons is compofed of fifty-two privates, eleven ferjeants, corporals, faddlers, farriers, and trumpeters; and is ©daSfmanded by a captain, two lieutenants/i#nd a cornet. I The flaff of each regiment of infantry is compofed of a lieutens^fete colonel, two majors, an adjutant, a pay-mafter, a quarter-mafter, a fur- geon, and twro affiftant-furgoc^jt^ Each company is commanded by a captain, a lieutenant, and an en- fign, and is compofed of fixty-two ferjeants, corporals, foldiers, and mu- ficians.T^^^^ The army confequently confifts of- two thoufand feven bundled and feventy-four ferjeants, ^pfe^^j^ldiers, dragoons, and artiMery-men. . According to the above law, the ftaff of the army was compofed of a major-general, with two aides-de-camp, a brigadier-general, and a major ;of brigade;" J?u|. this part of thq few was repealed o%fcfcse 3d i&$8f%y-- &&re 1797 >. BY THE DUKE D-E LA'R0CHEP0UCAULT LIAWCOURT. *797* and the ftaffiss reduced to a briga$|e?-general, a major of brigade, and an infpe^esr, both chofen by the bjrigiadier-general from among the captains, and other officers of the army; a judges-advocate ;oa?qrartei^ mafter,' and a paymafter-general; which laft, as well as the atds&fapu camp, is chofen by the brigadier-general from, among the officers of the army. i The pay of the army confifts of money and provifions. &iK*' The brigadier-general receives a hundred and four dollars per month, and twelve rations a day. The brigade-major,, the. infpector, the judge-advocate, the quauflei^ mafter, the treafurer, and the aids-de-camp, twenty-four dollars an&i&£&r* rations, befides their pay as officers in the line.. ^■f&e lieutenant-colonels commandant, fixty-five dollars and five ra~ &3|j|Cfcjji3Jprs of artillery, fffty.-jfive dolla$fcand five rations;. . 4ijcX^ie majors of infantpj^fifb^. dollars and five rations.. The captains, forty dollars and three radons. The lieutenants, thirty dollars;. the. enfigns and cornel^twenty^fiva- dollars; and each three rations.. irMt&u^l^J- The furgeons, forty-five dollars andijfehree rations. Theafliftant furgeons, thirty dollars and two rations, revive paymafters, quartermafters,. and adjutants of regiments, who may alfo be taken from among the officers of the line,: receive, independently of their pay as officers of the .fine, ten dollars a month. The brigadier-general, when, he is commander i^rflbief, and allft&g officerjs detachedia^alij-particular, commands, |goeive double, the rations- which are allowed for their rank when, they are not in cofjanand. 5$yp* The ferjeant-major, and the quartermafter.-ferjeant, receive eightjpfci^- .JjgpEper month. ^Ebe-mafter of the band, and.the other ferjeants,,feven.dollars, The corporals, fix. The muficia»s> five," j The privates,, four. vgg$2 ggjgyjj |j|||||fr|j| $Wii^ifKl$ eflSfe TRAVELS IN'NORTH AMERICA, I The*^rkmehjatta©hed to the regiment, nine. -:'■ 'The nurfes t© the hofpital"/ ■ eight. - -; : All receive only oneWfton. Thera$l$n confifts of a pound of beef,;lcPthree--quarters of a pouftll^ESf pork, a pound of H€i^w*Jflour, haffa gill oftarrr^lktndy, {6f Whifky; and of a quarter of a pound of fait, ;^a * quart of vinegar, two pounds of foap, and a poundW candles, to be diVraftTOBtWeen every hundred ra- The rations are either furnifhed in kind, or paid in m'oi^yy accdrfflS^- 'wwcommon price of the araeles in the country ^tf^ffaErie troops are quartered":- ' Hl$& i*9lt4Wl4&f|fiW Forage is alfo paid in monfey^fcb thofe' <m?cfers wH$^are enti^dPf^It *S^'$^w;^lut at a fixed price, whicS^fl^fl^en dollM^per lrroii^n^ror the brigadier-general; twelve for the quartermafter, infpector, treafurer, and lieutenant-coliB&ls; teif*lroB%^i^^?^:fe and aides-de-can^^^^ftt^t the captains of dragoons; fix fof^fe^^^-^^s and corriSiPf*'ten for' the furgeon; fixTpr the affiftariwhfgeons, adjutants, and quartermafter of The ferjeants, corporals, muficians, an¥pR^-t^?W?;independently of their pay and of the ration, each to be furnini^l^laOT^felly wit$rahat, a waiftcoat, four pai^Sfpantaloons (two of* w©folf£n, two of linen), four 1&lt bf fhoes,5?Sfil?'Hffi|^TO^I^^^^%laPEffi^Mngs^ a blanket, a ftock ^^^^^^^^^^JllP^liroe-buckles. They are enlifted for five years, ^fi&tfoey receive a bSfll^lfflxtdeh ^Bmlara, fchr of Wfcmfflly are p^i^them till th«yjom'1BR^lneTRi^** Office^ei^lB^ton the recruiting fervice receive^wferlMffars for every man they^ffflK^^^a *i04)y^8ei^rTaW^uailft^d by a fi^';oF5t^eflty'656flaH^W^Memned to ferve a new and complete term of enliftment from the dfplS^Tieit fentence. •f^i^sja^ro«^^^pfer conceal or afllft them in ^^flM^fe^ Ufe punifhable by a fine of thirty dollars, and brougli^P*ro^i^iFbefore the common courts of juftice. The military are tried by courts-martial, the feirWfife^8rWft<3i muft M be BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. be approved by the prefident of the United States. Every officer or foldier, on entering into the fervice, takes andugnsthe oath of allegiance to the United States, and of obedience to the prefident, and to his officers, according to the rules and difcipline of war, .ilafai^ The law, having for its object to eftablifh an uniform militia throughout the "whole extent of tjie United Stated, was. eha&ed in the month of May 1792. It declared every male and frees inhabitant of the United States, from the age of eighteen to that of forty-five, liable to ferve; excepting all public officers; _all perfons employed .in the fervice ofthe poft-office, a^Jjn that ofthe ferries acrofs ^tl^jrivers; feamen in adiive; feryice, and all thofe who may be exempted by the laws of particular. ftates. 3Jlfe23G dL'~ The fame law directs the militia to be forrried into divifions, brigades,, regiments, and companies. It regulates the number of officers in each jp^tj^efe diyifigBft;, prefcribes the formation of a company of grenadiers per battalion, and of one of artillery and another of cavalry per divJM&iK. Thefe tw© companies are to be compofed. iof. volunteers, clothed dnd mounted at their own expence. Each militia-man muft alfo be armed .^Vg^d^i^nk-general for every .eimttty .muft keep a roll of this militia, and of itfee-ftate of& equipment. i^Aft^4l^V^Lra^f^f^r An infpector forj^ery brigade is charged oyvgth> the" difcipline of the l^^taa-at th^>^i^rit..is^i®b^diGlj^feitthe whole as fubordinate to the goverporyof the flat©,; ■;t;tnic j Ln rerereauna. : .; .". . s&iiiij&BiitefJ called out f©n({>tee. feggiggaof £)ielft^fkk Jt includes .th©/expence of cloathlng, with which the mitj^rmen &m fuppofed to have-provided themfelves*. A ferjetafni^ ggUQ^hajs nine dollars ss SM»Eltha|g oorporal, s muficiaiu£or drummer, ei^^^doUars^^Y^^ie§i(^S[^ a/workman,-'eights dollars-; and a private, fix cfoliars fixtyrfix <ta^t The .officers, ' ferjeants, {and privates of the Ca- .y^teiiisiib^i fortj&^nts P^ fety'1 for Jtlfeaelimountrl^f" their horfegfjawi twenty-five ©e&tg for itsjkjeep. The rationsabfithe militia are the'ffi^Bfc •8 ®24 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, as thofe of the troops of the line. The officers of the militia receive the fame quantity, and have alfo the fame pay as officers in the line. Another law, ofthe 28th of February of the fame year, authorifes the prefident of the jlnited States, in cafe of a threatened invafion on the part of any foreign power, or ofthe Indians; or in cafe of an infurre£tion In the territory ofthe United States, or of a concerted difobedience to the laws of the Union, to xall out the militia of one or more ftates, in fuch proportion and number as he fhall think proper. In the firft of thefe cafes, the prefident fends his orders directly to the fuperior officers or individuals .commanding the militia corps that he wifhes to march. In the. o|3l©rs, he muft addrefs himfelf to the legiflature of the ftates, if they are affembled; or, if not, to their executive power. The militia called put into actual fervice on account of the United States, are fubject to the fame regulations as the army; but no individual can be compelled to ferve longer than three months from the day on which he prefented himfelf at the place of affembly. Courts-martial to try officers or foldiers of the militia muft be compofed of their:©$yn officers. Among the offences of which a militia-man may be guilty, is difobedience to the orders of the prefident, which is Dpiifhed by a fine, not exceeding a year ofthe delinquent's p^; nor. lefs than a month's. Confinement is the punifhment of non-payment of fines, which are the only penalties of breaches of difcipline. Although all the militia are bound by the law to provide themfelves with arms at their own expence, and though they are fubject to a fine if they, do not, the greater number is generally unprovided when the militia is to be affembled, and particularly when called out fuddenly upon actual fervice.'1 The. different ftates, therefore, are now taking meafures to have arms in ftpre for fuch men as want them at the moment when the fj&J^iltf^Dccafion for their fervices. But in fome ftates they have hardly begunfcqicprocure a fupply; in all they are tardy in doing fo; and in none is the iryhiber complete. The Union has alfo arfenals to fupply the de- jggiency of thofe Ipf^he ftates, when the militia is caU^f^^^upon its fervice. BY THE DUKE DE LA ItOCHltPmreAtj^gfeANCOi fervidei%:*Fhefe arfenals ought to contafeone hundred thoufand ftands of arms, but do not ccaxfiiUi fifteeilS&oufand fit for fervice. Every'year new ©lies are purchafed ; but every time alfo-that thefe arms are given to €fee3f8flttia-men, who ought to return .-'tB&nE-as foflfea^s the time of their fervice is expired, as well as the reft of their accoutrements, under penalty ©fa fine equal to the value of their arms, or of fuch part of them as may have been left, not a third of them is brought back to the arfenah The fortifications are- another branch of the war department; that is to fay, thofe erected by the Union; but it never erects any, except in plaees wfrere the land is entirely "given up to it byaffife ftate to which it: belongs. Many of the ftates, as has already been feen, are averfe to this ceffion * and in that cafe, if they?!wllh for foferifte^feas, they can only have them Sfciftheir own expence. Thofe which the Union erects and keeps up are ft^^a^Mrnoft all incomplete. Good engineers being fcarce, fhe Americans are'obliged: to employ fiich as they can get,'who are gene- raHy:&ragh&#Who do not half underftand their bufinefs, arid who'ar© ^«e¥fiR^«^e^'^entiit^^^^»w[n' intereft than that of tb&-United Stalest' Great pfansP&re drawn; the wo?ks are begffiSlat great expence ^ mlS^is a want of money the- fottafering' year ; and the-fcrifi^feions are e^Efi^Hi^ft^rt^lft^fi^^' or reduced to fo fmall a fcale, tha£.athey are eftrffer good.for ncrti&frg or at leaft defe&kye, fo th£ti die money fpent 1 precediri^^<^^a^'-he faid to be throw'n away/H^JS^ " . e' Portland, in the prov«^gAs$ Main ; Portfmouth, in New Hanapfliire ; tfflSfcefter, Salem, Marblehea^intheMaflachufets ; Newport, in Rhode f$fifet; New York, in the ftate of New York ; Mud-Ifland, near Phila^ delphia ; Baffi^Sore, in Maryland | NorlbU^,-in Virginia; Octecock and WlKiiington/%i^PB™ Carolina; (Morge-tow-n, in South Carolkia ; Sa* ^fflan^S^MS^'Mmrin Georgia, are the onjf pfai^» to be found in the lift ofthe fortificatiiSfe-oWAe United States; and he who has feen them ail with fiis1 own eyes, knows that very few of them are to remain there. "Tft^^^^Hland, near New York; 'Sullivan's Iflaiid; near Charlefton^ and "-Caftle Ifland, near Bofton, were to have been fortified by thd OTibU ^y-lMSt the -fetes to which -they belong refufe.to give up the foye* S"Y©L. IL 4 K reigntya TRAVELS IN NOireS AMERICA, Teignty--of the land; whenceit.happensthat places which it is of fo-i^itfli confequence to fortify, ":.«hft not fortified, or at leaft very incompletely. This is attended with danger, not only to the ftate which refufet the cef- fion of its" land, but alfo to 'the Union in general, fince the entrance of a principal point not being completely defended, its territory is laid open; and.fince it is evident that there are no fure means of defending^^pj^ try, except thofe whfidh.'are the refult of a whole fyftem, calculated to embrace Its totality as well as its feparate parts; now no fuch a fyftem exifts in the United States. The navy is alfo with them a branch of the War department. This navy has as yet no exiftence. In 17Q4, the commerce of the United States being attacked by the Algerines, the congrefs paffed a law* authorizing the prefident to purchafe or caufe to be built, four frigates of forty- four guns, and two of thirty-fix. It regulated the number-^loffieers, failors and foldiers, with which thefe frigates were tdSt^manned, and the pay.of their, crews. That of ^e failors, fays the law, is not to exceed twenty-feven dollars a month, independently.of their allowance, and this high pay was-neceffary on account ofthe ftill higher wages given at that time to failors employed in the merchantafe#!$te The congrefs granted the prefident fix hundred and eighty-eight thoufand eight hundred and eighty-eight dollars for the expences of the conftruction^e-purchafe of thefe. fhips. The fame law enacted, that if the UnifediStates made peace with the Algerinis^the armament was to inftantly ceafe. In 1796, peace being made with this pirati©$| power, another. law ©f the congrefs authorized the prefident to complete the conftmctiona oj*ly of two frigates of forty-four guns, and of one of thirty-fix, directing that the materials In ftore, which had been deftined for the construction of the three others, fhouldab& preferred, if it could be done without fear ©f their decaying, or otherwife* that they fliouldj&e fold. It applied to the completion of thefetiliree frigates, part of the fix hundred and eighty-eight thoufand eight hundred and eighty-eight dollars voted for the conftruction of the fix, and which had not yet been .expended, and eighty thoufand dollars more, alfo voted in 1796, at the time BY THE DUKE DE LA EOCHEFOUCAULT LXANCOURT. <52fc time when America was apprehensive of war with England, in ©rder to purchafeS and equip ten fmalLveffeJa&tfor the defence of the coafts of the United States!) 4 In/the laft feffion but one,and at the beginning of 1797* the congrefs again granted for this fame fervice one hundred and j feventy-two thoufand dollars,- and ten thoufand dollars more for the pay of the. captains. In. the laft JlHon, in May 1797> ©ne hundred and ninety-feven thou^ fand fix hundred-and thirty-fix.dollars were demanded, and granted, in order to complete this armament.. According, to. the eftimate of the fecretary at wrar, the value of the materials preferred of: the frigates that had been begun, and countermanded^ as well as<©£rthofe in ftore, amorpfted to one hundred and thirtg- five thoufand .eight hundred and feventy-four dollars; which, shakes the total expence of the conftrudtion and equiprnent of thefe- three frigates line mittito-£welve^$*>ufand fix hundred and fifty.dollars, or eight thou— fand one hiwadred and fixtyrfix dollars per gum. This enormrntirppce is owing: ?£&{$>« To the neceffity of going as far as Georgia to fell the. timber, for. which pufpofe the govemmenttthought it advifable to fend carpenters fromthe northern ftates* j^-l^^ the tardinefs *,.\\aifc:n,|dhich fupplies ©f it were provided,^ infomuch .$Js£Sfthe frigates being, laid down, materials were wanting to>go ondgpjjjfcfc; them* They were expected from day to day, and it was often-neceffary Ipsfy&eptheflnpvmghts for wtiole months, without their having any work;. fox it would have been difficult to procure othei^had thefe beemdifmiffed. And above :aU, to the :wa^ ^&conomy in the ufe of >the materials,- to * the want of fuperinfeindanee and forefight, which every.where.prevails in the expences -of- the^reau department of the United States; foritu is- evident, that with.more care and regularity, an^^etter management, the frigates might have beet^fpilt at more than .%tjurd lefs expence. The pay> the victualling and annual repairs of thefe three frigates are eftimated ^vtlsree hundred and fift^tthoufand dollars.. fepuft be confefled that it - 4Kj2, bs 628 TRAVELS IN NORT$f*Afc£ERICA, is a very expenfive piece of parade. For whatJg$ad--~of a navy ©f the Unioi* of fixteen ftati^rls that wrhich is compofed of only three frigates ? :re8n this enormous expence, of upwards of a million of dollars, for the conftruc5rSBn of thefeHtiree frigates, the e^^nCe occafioned by that ivWcH the United States glv&to the D$y M*M^iers, by a fecfi^article ofthe treaty, is not included. She \$l]. ©oft about a hundred thoufand dolt^fc, being only of thirty-two guns, not being built of cedar and live oak like the other three, a#8 being better attended to during her conftru&ifn&^ The department of the Indians is alfo one of the branches of the war department. It is with the fecretary at war, that the agents employed among the Indians correfpond, and it is by him that are tranfmitted the aid granted them, by virtue of a treaty with the tfftited States, or the prefents made them by the Union. Thefe expences, annuallj^teiount to a hundred thoufand dollars. The expences of the 'jfclfc&epartment are defrayed by fums whidftlff congrefs votes every year for that purpofe, according to the eftimate that is prefenced to them by the fecretary of the treafury, who himfelf receives it from the fecretary at war. Sometfinfes the grant of money for the expences of the war department, is made by a particular aid; fometimes it is included in the fame act which grants all the fums deemed neceffary for the total expence of the government.'^'ijftjit^fKe fums appropriated to the war departmfeit are always diftih^tly fpecified for each article of whicHf they are compofed; the pay of the troops, provifions, forage, clothing, equipment of the cavalry, purchafe of horfes, hofpitals, artillery, expence of offices, Indians, expence of the frontiers, falaries, military penfions, fupply of magazines, purcftafe of amnft&ifcion, naval armaments, &c. &c. ^Iffee fums deftined to tiSs^&S^artment were, 4$^ 78 9, oftMvundred ftrfd thirty-feven thoufand doMfc; in 1790, one hundred and nraray-four tfero* fand one hundred and forty-four; in 1791, fix hundred and fifteen thcfttfSn^l four hundred and twenty-one ; in i^JS, one million one hundred and feventeen thoufand five hundred and Jtwhty-fix^ in 1793/hW^m^dn one hundred BY THE DUJ&xB&vLA ROCI^E^W^j^yLT LIANCOUR.T. On }i^dred and fixty^ght thoufand three hundred and f^S^rftg^sJfl ££f)4y two |i$$$i$j|*dfiree hun^^dj.^d fixty-tw© tli^ifand one hundred §nd*hree ; japj*&7Q$,, ts^-^i^^in fix l^gglred and thirty-five thoufand fix hundred aafteigbty;^^^17Q5,^i^rmillion four hundred, aai;thirty- |jp|ag$^QUfand one hundred;' ar^in 1797> one million five hundred ajk^y^lyrffven thoufaj^jjnme ^ug^r^^jand thirty-$wo dollars. The great increafe of the war expetjep j©r the years 1794 and 17Q5, Irefiflted -feorn the Pittfburg expedition, of which I fhall fay a few words, and which coft* near twelve hundred thoufand dollars. tj&jii Cni&ffitfe*8 application of fiftee§kjihu'ndred and thirty-feven thoufand nine hundred and ^thirty-one- dollars to the expences of the war department, in 1797, upwards offfaQ0iillion were -dfiffiggt^fpr the-,jgaja and effective expences of the j^p^gf^at is to fay, pay, provifions, forage, purchafe of horfes, and hofpitals. The fotpj§£$$^ are eftimated at only twenty-four gk©*$fatid dolh^, and yet the army $>fompofed of only two thoufand feven hundred and feventy-four men. There are no corps of militia to be fupported; for thet6MPifi^§1^%i&<SNffi^jM^y ^effip^m c©nf$jji©nce of the feartjt&at were entertained of a war, are not comprehended in this eftimate ; nor even the falaries of the fe&efc&ry at war, and of his clerksj $$fjth are always^eluded among-jlffee expences of the civil lift. The know^t^§^ity-©f I^Lofe who have been placed at^he-head of this ^^fflmentjfa^^fig^^^^aj^of th©i%iftfidelity impofllb]%4i|ind befides, the manner in which the difburfemen.%^^ made^^fre formalities ^bt^yed in the iffue of the pu^ye money, which can only be drawn for by bills expreffive of the^g&fe to which it is to be applied, preclude all means of maiverfation, at leaft to any confiderable amount j But upon company the excejffive exper^^jof^^^i^^p^rtmcntaflp^:)! the ^fegjkp- nefs of the army, the bad ftate of the fortifications, and the fmall refult of thefe great difbg^gfbments, we cannofe&e aftonifhed at often hearing a great want of intelligence and order imputed to the war department. In congrefs the fecretaries of war have often been reproached with con- fidering the fums allotted to their department as a total.of which, they might difpofe for the different articles of expenditure, without limiting nnre-a the * 630 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, the expences of each of them to the fums fpeeiaily voted for that purpofe ; with expending, for inftance, more or lefs for the fortifications than the fum particularly deftined for 1$Mr erection or repair; wl$S applying td the hofpitals, ^Mlhing, victualling, or any other articlji^f this department, the furplus arifing fromt&g-tfavings made in the fortifications, or witl£*I^£ trenching from theNf!?-different articles the fums applied to the fortifica** tions bef&nd thofe prefcribed by the law. This reproach was particularly made wifh refpect to the expences of the Pittfburg expedition, for which the fecretary at war furnifhed the fums granted by Congrefs for the particular expences of his department, without being able to do fo, otherwife thani:^fufpending the different payments to which the fums voted were meant to be applied* It feems that thi^^>roach^tli^ugh, ftrictly fpeaking|%ot unfounde^% neverthelefs unjuft. If the expedition to Pittf&Ui'g were necefifey, if it were indifpenfable to conduct it with celerity, and to carry it to fo great an extent, and if there w^fce a real dang<§Sl.$H fufpending i^fll^fems de-*- voted to it were confequently the moft urgent part of the expenditure of the United States, fince the re-eftabl-ifhment of public orde#*depended upon that expedition. Every delay would then have bee$#.% great-Wftlfy and there was at that time no other means of finding mOrj^for it, 'eUti^l legal or even poffible. Befides, the fecretary at war. and the prefident- remained refponfible, in cafe the meafures-^ey deemed indifpenfable were difapproved by the cong^^^l Here I am naturally led to fpeak of this expediti©i^concerning wifttt. opinions were, and continue to be, much divided. It was at an end before I arrived in America?1 and my travels never carried me into that part of Pennfylvania where the infui^ction took plaeei I can tl^Wave no other information than that which is to be obtained by converfing with the two parties, and reading every thing that has been printed. upon the fubject. 4Rb£^ Nobody can doubt that there was then in-the countie^^^Sftmore- - land, La Fayette, Washington, and of the AJIeghanies, a formal oppofiHo%, t© the collection af*tft$>l^tipon dk&UMtilty- an oppofition which v$EW / ancient BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULDJ,fANCOURT. 631 ancient date, and fupported by force of arms; a combination and conspiracy t© prevent the payment of that excife duty; a known refolution to employ force againft all thofe who fhould either demand that tax, or even fubmit to pay it; every thing, in fhort, which characteii^s^an infurrection. It has been faid that Mr. Ham*l|j$n, then fecretary of the treafury, might have prevented this infurrection without prejudice to the revenue, by not keeping in place, contrary to the will of the country, excife officers, whofe characters, harfhnefs, and conduct were reprehenfible; and by inftituting in the early ftage of the bufinefs a. legal profecution againft the oppofers of the collection of the tax. His enemies attribute this fault to his defire of provoking a refiftance fo ftrong, that its repref- fion might give more force to this impoft, ofwlgich he was the promoter,- which cengrefs had confented to with great reluctance, and 3g|tich was generally difliked: they even aferibed to him the iij^ntion of grat^^g . his paflijgy^r jiatred againft fome of his perfonal enemies. Knowing the difpofition of Mr. HamiltojQ* as I think I know it, I cannot admit the poffibility of fuch a reproach; but even were it founded, it would not have been a fufficient reafon againft the expedition at the moment it was ordered, when the infurre&ion was unequivocal, extenfive, and might become formidable. It is only its neceffity, or its inutility, at that time, that is in queftion here^jUjggi A few years before, an infurrection, which was alfo caufed by the nonpayment of taxqs&had taken place in the ftate of Maflachufetts. '-qmafc It was important to put a ftop to thist^^rit of refiftance, fatal to the public treafury, ftil|fi#ore fatal to the conftitution, and for all thecbleffings which, in a well regulated government, refult from the exact obfervation ^rf'^fitawsa It w|etftherefore neceffary to act againft this infurrection, and to act with means fufficient to infure its repreflion, and to act fpee- dily; for the courfe of juftice began to^^ fufpended in thefe cantons; {he-heat of men's minds was daily increafing; the number of the in- furgjsuts was augmenting, and the coasiisiiflioners fent to them by the prefident had returned without producing the defired effect; andyet they were men highly efteemed. ^^ ^^%$$$G& :<#3& If fl to TRAVELS.*IN JSTORTH AMERECA, If the? diforder bade not then beenitifled at its birth, it .was not improbable that it wouldihfoye found^yjiitators in other parts of tied Tffwfa&k States; anditot'the Eitt5?urg infurrection itfelf would have grown movb. formidable, and haveibeen in the end the germ of feriouSai^Heilp^ diffen* tiohs, which migfct, perhaps, have occafioned a great effufksi. of blood be* fore they could have been terminated. «0?& To what degree-did Mr. Hamilton, for every body cori0iif§|%t©pinion that he directed thispoperation, to what degce^i fay, did he proportion tfoe^eans tdi^pd neceffil^f^ This is a point upon which 1 will not un^ dertake-^-decide, for the neceffity was in this cafe a compound of different elements. In the firft place it was neceflary to quiet the infurrection, it was alfo neceffary to uftei^ithe publicaopinion in the annihilation ofatfais difor*- der, and^y:$lpri:toe&ns to prevent its figure reproduction. That important object could not he better attained than by. the calling out of jkk& militia of theyj$fferent ftates. To employ the- different militia of the counties of Pennfylsaania adjacent tqy^doehc of infurrection, everc hod tbky jail ||3>f^a^mandmoufly difpofed to ferve in tht*i caufe,: aai tilling.' of whihhdoufciipB^^ entertained^ to employ them alone w©uidi lmve been wt^r^^l^fiivr|ng.the feeds of difegrd and of ha-» tred in this ftate; this danger was averted by calling out upon this^^fi?- vice the militia of the .other fta.tes^i|||^| It was befides a ^ifMifebkit^pelBt^^y^fef trying^^aprt \x£ the con* ftilte^ifc^th^ States to embody the milifci^laiiditfifb^ s^fs-the Ame^«&npe©ple to that conftituticaa.' o^wch 'a 3$ti$iC0uhi(J^t-^^vfedbs^ariaiie.under better aufpices than tie&ipidz&m&ftfif cGe^^aWkfhingitjQiivwh© af thajfetiine was highly populaces ,fioljaa"cai air .^[Jlrl ol ineebiibif cfii-;f;i dttivefic; oi . -.:; . 4^Ehat theprivate(jshii$ko^Jty©f Mr. Mi^^b^h^B^.iha^^t^ bnfo* nefs, as has been faid, mt^h^^^^^t^^^p^^mhj^im myfelf to bei$-$sijL his character; oppofes: fboboaJaiifqakiion^iiai^r^the powerfulLreafonsliw^ch were the motive of this expedition are alone a fufficient evidence of- its* neceffity. |> Is reieafh virgin naan siyrs. .Jt3 It RY THE DUKJ It is poffible, and I am inclined to believe, that this expedition, in which fifteen thoufand men were employed, would have been in every refpect equally fuccefsful with one-third of the force; and that, confequently, the immenfe expence which refuited from the march of this army acrofs a country very little inhabited, and from the fupplies of provifions which it Was neceffary to procure from Philadelphia, might have been considerably diminifhed.- The excefs of expences beyond exact neceffity is, no doubt, a great evil in every governments But ftill it may be faid, that the difplay of this great force, that the order given to the militia that did -not march, to hold themfelves in readinefs to do fo, to the number of eighty thoufand men, rendered the fubmiffion of the in- fiirgents more prompt and more complete. But whatever may "have- been the excefs in the expences, or-the hidden views of men of influence, the expedition had a defirable effect in regard to all good citizens; an adherence to the meafures of government, and an attachment to the conftitution, were generally exprefled; they were manifefted ftrongly and fincerely by the federalifts and anti-federalifts; and although the oppofite party accufed fome of the latter with being the promoters of the infurrection, not one among them could be found that was in the fmalleft degree implicated in it. Men of different political opinions marched as volunteers in the militia of their ftate, leaving their bufinefs and their families, in order to promote the public welfare. All proved that the maintenance of order and a refpect for the laws were unanimoufly confidered as the duty, as the intereft of every good citizen. Not a fingle drop of blood was fpilt, and the general good wifhes of the different parties in the United States, attended this expedition throughout its whole duration of four months. I had been a few days at Philadelphia, when the militia of that city marched in from this expedition; and I find in a journal that I then kept of the impreffions I received from all the new objects vehich ftruck me, that, which was caufed by the arrival of this militia. I infert it here. " The battalions did not come back from this expedition till the be- Yol. II. 4 L ginning 634 TRAVELS IN NORTH AmES-ICV^ .ginning of December; their return was a real fete for the city; not one of thofe fetes which we have often *ff^g& ordered in Europe by the governments, and which are fure to be attended with great expenci^tumult, and diforder; but of thofe which the pubic mind can alone give and receive, and perhaps only on a fimilarwcafion. " The day of their arrival was annoUU©£d; their brother foldiers, #fe had remained at Philadelphia, or had already returned from the expedition, went in a body to meet them, three miles without the city; almoft all the inhabitants came out of their houfes, either to go and meet-4W troops, or to place the&flllves where they were to pafs ; moft of them had fo fee a fon, a brotMi^a coufin, a friend, or fome interring perfon: all faw in them the defenders■ of the law, the object of public gratitude. The militia that had left the el$^in meeting the others, formed their advanced and rear guards; thofe who were coming back continued their march. The crowd that preffed upon them did not difturb their order; their battalions marched by columns in ranks at five or fix paces afunder. The men who compofed them were moftly young, had a good appearance and marched w^ell: they were clothed alike, and carried a large knapfack, with which none of them feemed fatigued. Their looks fought and received with fatisfaction thofe which affection and joy fent" them from all quarters; but they did not quit their ranks, and the regularity of their march was not interrupted. In this manner they crofted the city anaidft the acclamations ofthe public. *' The prefident, whofe houfe lay in f heir'way, came out, received their falutes, and joined-his applaufe to that of the other citizens; and this applaufe alone was more gratifying to the battalions than that of all the others. Being arrived before the ftate-houfe, they returned their colours, and were difbanded. ? Then' their relations and friends, both male and female, got hold of thefe foldiers who were reftored to themV The recollection of the'feaf that was entertained at their departure of the dangers they Were about to run, augmented the pleafure of feeing them again, although they had not BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT 635 not incurred any; they were hugged, killed, and led to their homes; * every one had about him a little groupe compofed.of perfons to whom he 'was the moft dear;. and thofe citizens, who feelingly exulted snathe peace .and happmels wiiich thefe children of the country were about to find again j.n the bofom of their families. Europeans or Americans, nobody was Infenfible to this fpectacle, wiiich. was equally affecting and fublime. Tears fell from- feveral eyes. j " SuchIs the exact account of ^^fete, where thofe who were prefent felt more happinefs than gaiety, and -where public welfare muft have received the aflurance of finding again, whenever there was a neceffity for it, the fame attachment as that which had -been thus recently rewarded." j^Mi CONNEXIONS WITH THE INDIANS. The law whofe object is to regulate the intercourfe between the citi« feens and the United States with the Indian tribes by whom they are fiurrounded, was enacted in May H79Q. -It is to continue in force during the fpace of only two years, as was the ■ cafe with the former laws on the fame fubject; hut it contains regulations..--more ftrongly marked with liberality and juftice, and more explicit^Jaid down, than any of -thofe. wfeich preceded it. :'.,., By this law it is provided that the prefident fliall caufe the^feounda- -ries between the territory of the United States and that occupied by the .different tribes bordering on them, to be afcertained and marked as ^clearly as poffible. All inhabitants of the United States are forbidden to hunt in or carry off cattle from any part ofthe territories acknowledged by the treaty as -the property or poffeffion of the Indians, on pain of a hundred dollars : fine and fix months' imprifonment. They are prohibited on pain of fifty dollars fine and fix months' im- . -prifonment, to enter the territory ofthe Indians fouth of the Ohio without a paffport from the governor, of fome one of the ftates, or from the : military commandant of fome of the pofts adjoining to that territory. 4 L, 2 E$eW 4 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, i Every robbery, fraud, or other crime of what nature foever|f$&fnmie- ted againft an Indian by an inhabitant of the^nited States and within the territory of the United States, is puniflied by a fine of a hundred- dollars and twelve months' imprifonment$&efides a reftitution of the property taken or deftroyed, or its value. 11 the delinquent be unable to pay the value, the United States become refponfible for it; provided however that the aggrieved Indian have not himfelf taken vengeance for the injury; in which cafe, the reftitution is not to be made. Any inhabitant of the United States who forms or endeavours to form a fettlement for himfelf in the Indian territory, is to be recalled from it by the prefident of the United States, to pay a fine of a thoufand dojfers, and-fuffer twelve months' imprifonment • Any inhabitant who kills in the Indian-territory an Indian belonging; to.any tribe in amity with the United States, is to fuffer capital punifhment. All trade with the Indians is prohibited without permiffion from^tf^ principal agent of the United States on the frontier of the Indian 40Ofa tory where j fuch - trade is to be carried on: and thofe who have%h* tained permiffion for that-purpofe, are forbidden^ to purchafe^fifen .the Indians any of the implements of houfehold economy, hunting or agriculture. :^M$ #:^* .They. muft. not; .either from the Indians or from any white.man refid- ing among them,, purchafe any.horfe, without exprefs permiffion from the principal agent. $fNMi$i This law.: fubjects the Indians-to the. fame prohibitions, wifh refpect to the white, people-, 9^Kt$ An Indian guilty of, any crime, may-be apprehended wsithin the territory of the United States. MM If he efcape, the inhabitant who has beenilinjured by him is to. lay his complaint, accompanied by a circumftantial detail of particulars, before the agent of the United States, who is to demand reparation of the nation or tribe to which the offending Indian belongs, and to acquaint gkfg prefident with the refult of his demand. If BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 03^ If reparation is not made, the injured party is indemnified from the treafury of the United States; and the fum thus applied is deducted ftom - the fubfidies granted by the United States to that tribe. The courts of the United Stsgiss, and alfo, when the caufe is not capital, the courts of the individual States, take cognizance of all thofe offences, even when they have been committed-within the territories belonging to the Indians. ■ The troops of the United States ftationed on the Indian fftaitier are bound to arreft delinquent white men even in the Indian territory ; and . fuch delinquents are to be apprehended in any part of the United States where they may be found; This law, which is wife and juft in its provifions, is far from being : punctually executed. The extremity of the United States bordering on. the territory of the Indians is inhabited by a fet of men-who are in hof- tility with them. Avidity, and the defire and intention of plundering them, are the motives which induced them to ch©ofe the frontier as the place of their fettlement^ and-the fources of that conftant enmity which they bear to the Indians. This clafs of inhabitants are, by the report of every individual who is not one ©f themfelves, the very worft fet of men in alt America, and perhaps in the whole univerfe. The fentiments and even the-very idea of honefty and humanity are unknown to them. They are alt plundering ferocious banditti ; and none but very flight fhades of difcrimin&ion - are obfervable * between them in this refpect: it therefore moft com- • monly happens that neither accufers nor witnefles nor juries can be found for the profecution of a white man guilty of a trefpafs or crime againft an Indian. The Americans, efpecially thofe on the frontier, no more confider an .. Indian as a man than certain-Weft-Indian planters believe a negro to belong to the human fpecies. The oppreffions, the ufurpa^ns, the crimes committed by the whites againft the Indians are therefore never puniflied : at leaft the^inftahees of punifhment are fo rare that it would be difficult to quote -even a fingle one. The. 4 s^3B TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, The Indian on the other hand, haraffed and plundered, contracts the habit of robbery and pillage of which.he fees the example and is himfelf the victim : and as, according to the practice among favages, he extends his vengeance to every individual of the fame colour with the perfon who lias injured him,—the whites, even if there were any lefs inclined'than .others to plunder and hatred ofthe Indians, would affume that difpofition through hatred, or as a meafure of fafety. The Indians likewife fay that it is the w@8$ -olafs ©f their, tribes who "habitually continue near ,the frontiers. The government of the United States does not poffefs fufficient :ftrength to reprefs thofe irregularities; the governments of the individual • ftates do not attend to them: every perfon fpeaks of this dreadful'ftate of things as principally and originally arifing from the lawlefs aggreffions of ■the whites.: but as the evil is habitual, and fo inveterate, that it is not eafy to difcover a"remedy for it, people fpeak of it without horror. Thus it is impoffible even to forefee any end to, the;cruel pppreffions • cxercifed over the Indians by the avidity of the American frontier fettlers. 1 muft add, that there are few Americans who do not entertain a wifh, and even the defign if they were able to accomplifh it, ©f driving the Indians acrofs the Miffiffippi, and even to the South Sea, which to the -unreflecting ambi,t^§^of many among them, appears the only boundary that ©ught to lin^the extent of the life^^j^tates. JijifftTij Another law, enacted in April of the fame year 1796, and whofe duration is in like manne%gpnfined to two years, eftablifhes a trade im&i the Indians in$he neighbourhood of the United States, under the authority of the prefident. A hundred and fifty thoufand dollars are appropriated to the trade, of -..whichthe objects are to furnifh the Indians with fuch fupplies and imple- , ments as their wants require, and to purchafe from them fkins and furs. The law directs that the prices of the articles fold to the Indians be fo regulated as barely to prevent the United States from lofing any part of their capital.;^|t reftrains the agents employed in this trade from traf- ^Jjfig directly ox indirectly-^fttlJheir own account; it forbids thtiRfr/jfeQ cheat BY THE DURE DE LA R0CHEP0UCAULT LI AN COURT. §3 $ > cheat the Indians; and fubjects them to fines of different magnitude in proportion to the nature of the offences by which they tranfgrefs thefe regulations. The diftrict courts ofthe ftates where the ftore^houfes are eft**- blifhed for their commerce, take cognizance of thefe offences. Whoever is acquainted with the temper of thofe who treat with the Indians, may be affined that the liberal provifions of this law are not punctually reduced to practice. Here a word may be faid concerning the civilization of the Indians j-- ,- Whether civilization be a good or an evil to thofe who live in the im-^ menfity of woods neceffary to their fubfiftence, is a- queftion- entirely, metaphyfical, which I have no intention to difcufs. But that Indians-defpoiled of nineteen parts out of twenty of theirter- . ritory, and confined amidft white people in k foil incapable of fupplying the wants of their favage life, fhould be civilized, is an inconteftible truth, i for in fuch a fituation it is neceffary either to attempt their civilization- or their deftruction, and the latter alternative cannot yet be-openly avowed. It is an eftablifhed opinion in America; even among thofe who appear the moft exempt'■from prejudices, that the Indians can never be civilized; that the ftricteft education, the moft affiduous and perfeveringa cares cannot deftroy their favage habits, to which they recur with the moft ardent paffion, from the tranquillity and from the manners of the white people; and an infinite number of examples are cited of Indians who, brought up at Philadelphia, at New York, and even in Europe,- never ceafed to figh after their tribe, and quitted every thing to go and rejoin it whenever a' favourable opportunity offered itfelf. So that examples, becomes a received truth. Ich can enforce the belief of this pretended its which are brought to fupport it are not The Indians whofe education has been readv paffed fome years of their life in the ; tranfported alone from their fpecies into the midft of white people different in language, habits and in colour, and affertion, fupported"by fo 1 Yet there is no reafonins truth, and the proofs of th of a nature to filence inqti attempted, or faid to be, ha tribe to which they belon 4 ' 045 IRA.VELS IN NORTH AMERICA, and- often even in■ clothing, they became as it were ifolated, they wefe 5;egarded by the whites as a different fpecies of men; they did not attempt even to make them forget that they were from a nation ftill exifting, whofe manners and habits had rivetted their firft attention and made the deepeft impreffion upon them; if when arrived at the age of manhood, they; fhould have imbibed for a white woman that affection which naturally created the defire of an union with her, the difference of colour became almoft an infurmo^ntable obftacle. Is it to be wondered then that thefe Indians fhould wifh to return to their tribe, of which they had ftill the moft lively memory, and where alone they w7ere able to find companions of fimilar manners to their own, and thofe pleafures which caufe in man an.attachment to life. The refult then of thefe examples fo often quoted is, that an Indian educated in an American college, three hundred miles from his native place, cannot but 7$jj$)jL difficulty throw off hist$©riginal habits and ceafe to have a preference for*|J^m > this is the whole deduction. There are in Connectioj^, in the State of New York, a confiderable number of Indians, both men and women, who ferve as domeftics in European families,, and in thofe who are become Americans, >who perform'tiieir duty as well and as faithfully as thofe of another fpecies. But this is nothing to the civilization of whole-nations, which is the only object from which any real advantage can be derived either to themfelves^,to fociety in general. The great difficulty which attends the reformation of the moft trifling habits of a polifhed people, ^^family, and even of an individual, fiifficiently demonftrates the obftacles which attend the civilization of a favage race; and yet in the midft of our great focieties, the lights furrounding a polifhed people, families and individuals, afford an ample and powerful aid to the bufinefs -of reform. It is only then by continual affiduities, applied according to^&ircum- ftances, and prolonged for many fucceffive generations, that this entire .civilization can be effected, and even then only gradually. The conviction ojphe utility of fuch a work is neceffary to the fur- mounting BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEVOUCAULT LIASCOURT. 641 mounting thflsili&acies which oppo££ it^ and to triumph with certaifttyi It neither belongs .-to, my fubject nor to the intention of thisi w©rk, to fliow the par^pjlar means by which this event may be accomplilhed; the* underftanding and courage ©flethe friends of humanity wilfea&ly point them out; but individuals and even focieties will ever be unable to Work this ufefutdbang£pBHlefe.the govermaieifllrof the territories w%ie& Indian tribes, inhabit will confer2bu^^^i« ilie$$iP])$Wer *° effect it. But this can only be the refultjof their firm convi$SiH*-©£-*fr§j 'advantages of fuch efforts, and hitherto none of the American governments have appeared to be penetrated with this conviction^«n the contrary, every one regards thes lands left to thefe poor Dadigttis as-a&aj^eridage of their own fovereignty, as .a kind of Iba** whicfe tbei*^feiHtfotfs "has mad^witf^'Uffe E^ifegable race; they are in their eyes oidy^KRjfelting ^e^s/^^Sefc ought not to rgmain a long risofiiintheir*esrit£fj« -jj^UfiitidesSjfRore or lefs: avowed, nurfed^%»W^»fe^:^6t ^ain, eaft at a diftance the project of civilization, and ^v^ conftftenceft8M&e prejudices o$po» lyfeeh the belkfsis founded, that it is intjJofftbte $^e$ra2?£tifiPI$t« dians^^^^.fe^gh-^'hf^iHfite***^^^ yi^ftY«f$h3te£dfcBte£iabo^ for''example, in the ftatei'of l^ewTSj^fcjr and fome others in Canada, are confideraWy 'Advanced towards a ftate ©f civi£ij8*t2WEfe; they labour, cultivate the earth> traffic, and ^jj^fifible o£gh£ neifefl^bfjci«yazatraa^^^he Quakers and Mora^hs carry the principles of reform among the fartheft tribes; but their re- fpectable efforts cannot be very ufeful, or at moft not Completely fo, without the. influence and dkectioalflof government; Ttfer civilization of thefe people ought to be the work o£ the legislature and general admini- fty^bjpns; it %aifcove the effort* of paa*ieufaii charityafid aflSffefifee. The beneficent focieties juft mentioned might be ufefully employed in it, hiding been for ages fufoeptible of longbpatienceand utiait&faWe* ^lftatge, lb neceffary to fuccefs; but, as was faid before, they can only be employed as inftruments for this purpofe. by enlightened governments, who, convinced that the civilization of the Indians living near the frontiers is '4 benefit to h^oapa^^ 3 means cf angmeflt»fl?gcth4 3Wfed«#ItfeeT j&c><ki€- . ,^ro^« II. A M tions 6*&i -TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, \ t^?|$i#&lkei^, territory, of increafing the riches4$& their citizens and th power of t&£*ftl$S£icwill unmeaningly purfue the means of accomplifhiftgl th^jfiudable^.<i#^ II I'JflTll ^1t&&i4&Mm ■'#ife'isi$^f#v©lution i& the: fpirit ofifehe.American ^cpmrnments*^hich is fo defirable, without which even a hope cannot be conceived th^tttfcgpg work,y\^x^reffected^i£ clafhes too mr^frwlth pi^iGM^c-intferefts, which,, contrary ^s^hey are to the general intereft, fpeak as loud, and are attended to as much. : ''gx.nwai a ■•;:i|j1| NATURALIZATION. The right; of a ci|jg:en, or naturalisation, which populous^ ftates, with narrow limits, may find it political to^gfanti%kii'diffi@klty, ough#>ro be obtained upon more eafy terms in a country of greaf>4i:te$i#ai^tiiinly inhabited, where the capitals and labour of ftrangers are nec^^si^Mlt In 17QQ the congrefs fig^t^ years refidence in the territories ofthe United States, ©ne of#yjiich to be in the fame ftate, as a'fufficient e§S^ dition to becom^a naturalized citi§sei|ba!jilfcec©athc made* before fome court of juftice to be faithful to the confUtution, and to defend it, wastffe only^^mula rdqtkjfced; and#iifei3afew@lizatiQi^<l^^ the f^etrightf£# fuch of his^cMidreft'as were under the age tf£tF#g*3£y2one |j^n the oath was takeJ^M^n<if they were born in a foreign country. j^J^^L.,793 the conditions were .made m*GbeMrfS&ult. 'I%d^Hfere^ibi* i^Pjfl^urg had:t#k§i£^l#e©fr little :lsti8&&itm$s$k;h the gov^MtfieMt*'af£i$- Ja$*t©$ &&l^^itrangerfer^etltl^aiiar^edi from Irelan^^-Wfe^>w ^vm^sk^ f§t8Q$&*the gre^St number of^ttemdiurgeiffcfe ^ltd-,who, fo readifjMto be milled by the fa^fe^tfheivet^ of appointing men to ^l^esj^l^llsad abuf^ai^!foi3firaddangerou%^^^ repofetf^i $?©&. b°$&l&W>id- ^hts^elF^ iatiuta^pe^itiwas though#n?ceffary to make the rigi^/^^^Sigat elej^jobsijaore difficult t^^^feliHed, which could only .be<>dgjie-. by racing the conditions of naturalisation !£#& the goi%ffif&0i partyxe^^e^^ei^p^ij^m party favoured-the fame mea^t&e, but from 4iffe^»fc£p©#ves. TJflifate ofliltil ¥renchi^p^kMoW^i^ $&t*£Jien'3M$#; i&^$^re&pfc@b&ble tfe&tgttQte than one European jftate was deftined to i&jfc't' iBl Wwf* undergo BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFQUCAULT LIANCOURT. 643 ufiderg© ifi^lutions. The richeft clafle^b "wfeiAdin Europe are called the moft ($£ipguiihed, jgrere, according to appearances, likely to become the victims of thefe revolutions; many^jg^jyid^al^^Quld in that cafe feglcajj afylum in America* and carr^jwith them whatever they could. fa^g. of their fortunes ; they would alfo bring with them their habits and«t£jpeij: prejudices, abfolutely contrary to UifgYej^l^ns^pi^vvhich.Tlhis party were, fo defirous to nurture and reanimate, but bearing a ftrong analogy to that ariltocratic fpirit ,whjch it accufed the other party of endeavouring to introduce. A higher price being put upon the right of naturalization, would render this danger more diftant, and probably diminifttthe number of emigrants of this clafsi ::i - Ujg^ftyi! f^ifeffifflyjfjjjflf IMfPf' The new "law of nat^irahia£k^ihei^&js$,> had its origia^Stt-the combination of the^pfei^M'^ro parties. It was good in inten^tfd^j^S^was .proved by the long and warm debates wly^itook place-upon-difcuftlng*lt in detail, and was defired by both fides. ; »^"frfr .j^fjfo^fr ^By this law, the time required for becoming a citizen of the United States is extended to five years refidence in their territory, of wThich one irtuft-^ave been in the ftaiiei where, the candidate for mtifenfhip had taken the oath. Three years,,at leaft, before he be admitted!to t^is definitive oath, he muft haveff>i*fifei£ed himfelf before one of the feda£i|yiitf£tsi6£ juftice, and have there declared^ajKHijo^thtthat he had a fmcere intention of becoming a citizen, of* the United States/; «a4J to renounce all dependence and fidelity upon any princej|f|sCe, or fovereigifcy. whatever,particularly up©n the prince, ftate, or fovereignty of which he was actually a fubject. His definitive oath, made alfo before a federal court, ought to exprefs the fame pofitions and renunciation. Helip^Ifo requited to re- nouncei^ig fc£fe$<©fnobiH^ifybeyhad belonged to that clafi&n. the e«ba- try where* he/was born, or from whence he arrivefo^ jMm f£jj^^,alfo required that he fhould take an oath of fidelit^lg^ifcrConfU^ tution of the United States. Thefe two oaths are regiftered in the courts where ffiby were t^^fe, ^^^^^^^0^^»^^M f- i-ijfrt&lmijbai In order to confer-th^^}e,i?fnnaturalization upon, the, children who itftewt^fcj 4 M 2 i tmm- *erc m 044 *rRAV<E&6^'*r0&#H *MSBRK&> were under <$bfejlgfr%f4fyG^*&®&y&Lm at tht.4iaturf0$&$t&ft'0f 33*e*r $th ther, the 4a?«S<^$$^^ui^ th^feoffyptyQi' - **j IfMs *$(£dence ofJSfrfi yea«fe .fi&^uMPedlay the fett&feffts 3#%ecome %#£»' tizen of*)${##?Jiiftted States-, is tiofcimposed- *tipen thofe -*s#io arrived.*** America before its Jfmi^lgpH&fa^MQh may become fo tsv^^gars a&ca> ^p&$s; but.4i$ftfoath re<ja»e€%y^he new ta^fej^#^>e^iSy necdfi^^! OF NUMBERING THE PEOPLE AlWlPOHJLATION. The American conftitution, when it ordained the .general enumeration ^f the inhabitants of the«J^iited States within the three years fiicceeding its acceptation, enacted alfo thatthe:fameenumerationShould be^enewxd ©very tomcats; an^eft it to tlie congrefs to make a 4a w for regulating the manner o^gcsf^ming it. A law was paffed for thisif^-pofe,. 0J94te firft of MarckjJrfQO. Wkl- The maiftaL^r every diftri$^j?^ #niered to fuperiiftend the enumeration of |he ftate where he exercifed his functions. In this work he was authorized to call in what aid and affiftance he might judge proper. He *^^j«ide^. to makeha return io^ttj^f refident of the United States* &£• tinguifhin^niaiihe ifeajble;<ifftopulaii©ii, the numberaoffeilr males under and over the age of fixteen years, the free women and girls of every age,; and the flaves. The Indians who might live in the diftricts were net to be included anthsrlifi: .of ^©iml^tiqiit^^p^i "- -t^S^^1 ■ *»6SAftf|t|fia0L 'jssLumexatiiig. --rfic- people ©ugh*;<j>efore h£^ji$^|eg£ account to the mafflial, to affix it in tw© or three of the moft frequented -|4ag£S of affettfiify within his tabids, tn&it may^mcpi^e^ke*^pp^f0tis -mh&h&hsik&iMtmts <ma^;!faggeft, ^BvflR^ian account ^>f £ke flsafens why they ought to be made. &eryahead of a^mily^ib^C^a^|»^v^r^Of * Thi%&&<&;&£&£ fame in the .couEjaL^j^ise of tl^ J^i|»«f^ltates as;tl|a£ ftffherifB in thofe of j^ftiet^rl^rel; the diftrift being confidered as nothing hut,a.ftate fuhje£t to judicial orders, it is the extent and bounds of a judge pf a diftrM^and we l&$f{ffim un** ^#^tfa^-orttid^e^f%^j^Krclaiotder, that there is x>ne of thtfeirirtffr^Mt£^?' ~r\mtttfir ^ik-- fj it lillWliltitf tiliifriiiili illi tiriifre tiifc BY THE PUKE 3H5 XA ROCHET©IfC«TET ifclAtf€09&$*- && theaffiftant, when:he is taking-Ms account,*the number of his oriieHb* jmfly, of ^tfes in an incensed one, incuts a £nc ®£ 'twenty dollaafe. The aSHtant/afemfelf, incurs a feieof fesf© hundred sddite&'ff iu&j&fcosmt be ancorre&,<osiM£ Was not returned t© the marfbal of tfciMdiM&at&fcfc *tkne required. I!be marthal- isipunifhed by a fineai^ eaghtliundred#sK- lars if he alters the accounts of his affiftants^ or omitsifending h&> own to< ■^ie prefident of the^Tutted fStates at fhefti$ie-appointed. ©werymar&al receives^ airewaard for his kbeiuv^rom^wo tsafwe tran- dred dollars, according to the extent-©!' his diftrht. Theafiiftant, for his particular trouble, receives a dollar for every hundred and fifty perfeifean^ ifoexxm&£y, and the fame forgery three thundred perfons in towns, the rahabkaBJfcs of which are contiguous. Sometimes he receivescthe fame for every fifty pet£5ig;'when the account is takgft-in places where the tn~ habitants are much fcattered. Tlte'^Jadges of the diftii&: .regulate the ium of thefe proportions by the adtkre, and at itfbe reqseft of the maifhaL "^^^very.ci^bfft«fecc0Uftt which the afEftant affixes^rpublsrin- ^pex^bE^a^is^|iaid tw<*d&H&i&: *' The whole of this enumei2tionttsugift"t&i!ie performed in nine months; JB^^itiejcpenGe *ofit is eftimated at foity thoufand do^aii^tv^iy time it is^ftade. The enumeration of the people ^l^W4f9^, l^^ftiie^tfiis lav?? r*n*fi3unced a population of three miiisett^Elitfe lit^dt^^ffi^tweritysnine fhottfend three hundred and twenty^fkit inhabitants, of 9tfi£ch three millions two hundred and thirty-one thoufand fix^}fdndredmMvti«!eD^^niiie were free; among whom were fifty-feven tft#$fknd feven hundred and 'feven negroes, r&r perfons of colour, aifd* <&fc hundred and ninety ftvem ^^u^fi&fik Irundred aitft ninety-one flaves. "IFhe^fcfiabitantS 3f the tet^t^y ofthe weft arer*ffe£$a$tidedirirfSs ©umber ; but the pojpiib&ibn there is fo inconfidei^te, -tbat if k ^were added, it would make no important difference in>fhe-*otaf 48*mber.. It ishe&eved^upon a feries ©f par6*l ©Mervatioris, *hatthe population *>f ^e^Jnitfed 13%aiestis;^teufeffed^ery fifteen years^fe«^i^lua^ i*Ttiii& •eftimation fhe tfM»groti©» from &tk>pe> which *mi$s annually, am^b'at prefent ■i ®M "TRAVELS DSTttORTH AMERICA, f>referit. much lefs than it was fome 'years fihee • but the exact number *$SlSh©t be known, becaufefthfeife^isno regiftet kept of them at the different places where they arrive at; tfaisf ©migration confifts principally of Irifh. .But not to exaggerate the increafe'of population! the United States, T •tfe&ifet fuppofe it is doubled in lefs than twenty yeaisi'that is five in the hundred every year. The population was in 1/Q1, four millions; in twenty years it will'iyfe -augmented to eight millions ; in forty years to fixteen ;' in fixftyyears to thirty-two ; in -eighty years to fixty-four; and in eighty-five years to f&$$y millions'; then the territory ofthe United States will be peopled in the fame proporticsi fhat France v^Ss^before the revolution. The extent aof the territory poffeffed by the United States, after the war, was fix hundtedahd forty millions of acres, from which fifty-one millions ought to be deducted for lakes and rivers, and then there will remain five hundred and eighty-nine millions of acres. Befides,n^he^have granted to the Indians, whofe rights they have acknowledged, two hundred and twenty milliortSj^which reduced their pof- . feffions to thstitt hundred andffl^t^Bnine millions. n But by the treaty^Brith Great. Britain in 1795, their territory has been inereafed twenty-three millions of acres; fo that their actual tcrfti6r)f$s t three .'hundred and eighty-two'millions of acres. S^Jftfthefe calculations I have neglected odd numberiRhe American geographers and la>nd-furveyors eftimate the extent of the territory at three hundred ©igkt^rtwo millions four hundred twenty-one thoufand feven hundred and fifty acres. France, wlfegffc the enumeration of the people was taken J^order of the conftituent affembly, contained twenty-feven millions one hundred and . fixty-nine thoufand inhabitants, and its extent was, at the fame time, {antefioft Jbo its. conquefts) twenty-fix thoufand nine hundred and fixty fquare leagues, at the rate of two thoufand two hundred •^d^gh^' toifes to a ieaguerto£#yhich the total is a H:t^<^q^@^d£,^%|^t^|a^^^oil- tltositwo hundred twenty-two thoufand :^drj^ety-fiye3^|^.^THer ex- u^it^fctprjitory was t07tk$£of theMi^e^^a^ as nine t© &$fnty-fix, Selbat -a-Sl?§li ©r BY THE DU£E BE £A ROCHES©UCAULT.-JiUNCOURT, §47 or very nearly. The United States, therefore, muft have a population of nearly eighty millions of inhabitants to be peopled in the fame proportion as France; and it has been fhewn, that ^according to the .feaft favourable calculations, they may arrive^4hat^3tai$n 1870.-^^^^, What an enosmous fond, a great and inexhaustible fource of profpe- rity muft fuch a population afford, particularly when deftined to be fpread over lands eafy to be made fertile, over a country watered by the fineft ri^gj^with the means of extending the" interior navigation to almoft every fpot. It is true that tljis increafing progreflion of population may be di- minifhed by feveral circumftances; and even that this progreflion may become lefs in proportion as population arrives to a great number; for then marriages will become lefs frequent, lefs early, and probably lefs fruitful- But it is not. neceffary for the United States to. arrive at this high degree of population before they profit by^jdie abundance and rich- nefs of their foil, maintain an a<tive induftry, and HQUorifh \rith their produce a &&& and rich commerce; and fhould thev never reach fo hi^h. as- to the two-thirds, or at leaft to one-half of the population fo which it appears by calculation they may attain in twenty-five years, thej* may be? more numerous than is neceffary for them to become arkji-and refpect- able nation. Bad lawrs, illiberal or weak principles in the legiflature or g^yegjimsnt, can alone oppofe the profperity and the greatnefs deftined £>r them. ■*&& &\ffli'Mlmf lii OF THE COIN OF THE UNITED STATE&1 ^ The^^jmted States have a mint; the law which ordered ite.dlablifl> ment was made in the month of April 1792.. It regulates the divifion,. Jhe^value, and the ftandard of the money of the United Stat|^^ ... The divifien and value of thefe monies ate as follow i. GOLB< u$ ' VSitf&itfta NORTlRMtfERICA, gggg. GOLD COI-N; | The eagle, value ten dollars. The half-eagle, value five dollars. KtitfA The quarter-eagle, value twet dallars and- a bd&'&t SILVER COIN.;jmj The dollar, value a hundred cents. 'IaL The half-dollar, value fifty cents. The quarter-dollar, value twenty-five cents. The tenth of a dollar, value twelve cents and a half. The half-tenth, value fix cents and a quarter. COPPER COIN. £$£§g The Wffl% wfe the hundrdd^part of a d'dffift?^0 The j^r^enK*^Afti^ the tT^Hnundredth of a dollar. The weight ©f tffefe is as folfows I The eagle ought'W ©ontain two hundred and forty-feven grains and U ftaSrttputt gold, w^<rJhundred and feventy grains'of ftatf^rd gold, iwtfm IrYnus Tegulated; eleven parts of pure gold in twelve, and a fc#eiKflx^ano$ m which nearly one-half ought to be of filv^Wl Trm half eagle ought t© contain one hundred and twenty-three grains afXaft^e-^tfrtWof* furi^gbid, or one hundred and thirty-five grains of alloy gold. Tfie quarter eagle ought to contain fixty-one grains of pure gold, or fixty-feven gi^^andhatffa^alloy'pifefv - ^PHe^dollar ought t© contain three hundred and feventy-one grains £tte« feurth ©f pui*e' fif^Bnf four hundred and fixteeri grains of alloy filver. \ The frSiidard of filver ;h> one thoufand four hundred and eighty^ff^ parts of Jiufe filverj^iH^fhundretf^ilfeventy-nh^r^afte ofyftk$,lWti0i is of pure c©pper.' The half dollar ought to contain a hundred and eighty-five grains and five-eighths of pure filver, or two hundred and eighty grains of ftandard filver,- A quartet BY THE BUH.B BAE-.T4. ^.5 . - A^quarter'rdollarjdughtatone^ntain ninety ~*w© grains thirieeneiixteenth^ of pure filver, or one hundred and four grains of ftandard filvejy|rij not c0 The leiith of a dollar em^tto.^ of pure filver, or fifty-two graijiS;of ftandard illver-.0.am eid />" re a; "re asaTO-ni ■-The half-tenth ©ughtsto • contain ^eighteen, grains bne-iixteenth ©&$&»? filver, or twenty-fix gya^cff^^idard; filver.. The cent ©u^ht - tOjContameleven penny weights of copper,, c: nre : fcr:s The half-cent ought to contain five and a half. The- gold and filver coin ought, according to law,, to bear on ©n/s fide an emblematical figutgLof Liberty, and upon the other the' eaglea,Iaf the United States, withJtie worda-5' United-States." Thp copper coins, infteacLof the American eagle, bear a^iift&Siption denominating their value. | gj ffBJJFIflET The proportionaLyalue between gold.-and filver wrheia ec.oised.3 Qzp the com ©f the UnitecLStates, isjdeterminecLby comparing one p©jypdjp£?the one to fifteen of the other; jthat is to. fay, one pound of coined gold is equal .t@di$g^ pounds of coined filver. __ &i^ This law .contains alfo all,other regulations neceffary for the eftablifh-- ment of the mint, and charges the prefident to order and overfee the expences of buildings, machines,e&c. , ...AH the counties of the United States are required to majkesfe ofittiefe coins. :«&*£*:« -.,_• . . ; ei^naaa«$tfpf&» The Spanifh dollar is the only piece of foreign c^|^^i§^isJCi|tfe|U: in the United States as money, all others, which had repe^^;giY|$s|^©n by the law, are only reqg.yied by jweight fince 1795. A report of a committee ore the houfe.Lof - reprefentatives ftate4,j gtafhe beginning of 17Q5, that.the mint, fince its eftabiifliment> hadfnotJtlruek off in copper coin more than one million eighty-feven thoufand. five tiundred-cents, equal in value to ten thoufand ei^t^unelred and fe- venty-five dollars; and in filver coin no more .^han thirty-four th©s^^| one hundred and fixty-five dollars. This paucity of the produce of the mint is attributed to different embarraflments and delays which it has ^experienced in the completion of its eftablifhment, of which the ex- ¥01- II. 4 N pences fl 650 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, pences then amounted t©'-fifty-eight thotfifand three;4itindred and ninety- four dollars. The director of the ttmtfet when he entered into offid$>a#ti$e end of the year 179-5, in his report of its ftate, at the beginning of his admi- ftiftfea^3^ia&ei?i^a^hing the regifter, r%p&rts, that the piecesw money which had been fabricated fince the foundation ©f the eftablimment, and fent to tte treafury of the Uftitfed States, on the lft of ©ecember, 1796, were a^fbllow: Half-eagles Quarter-eagles Dollars Half-dollars •Quaria^^dollars 1 3&ntfesd ^PaJsfetenths Cents 12r,106 6ty 272,941 n%^,135 96,64Q 258$rW Totat iMi^^^&f&^offi&rs 7.0 cents.. The greateft pautlrf this money was ftruck in the year 1796. This C^ahMfhmentf has hitherto been more expenfive than ufeful to the finances ^f >6&©>filnked Stai^l&M!p| After deducting the \&f&c of the money coined and fent t0m^Serti fury, it had coft, at the end of 1T96~, more than twenty-one thoumA^ dollar&fi48^4l.^e feeret^try of the treacly, in his^ftimation of the expences of the year-1797> reckoriigthofe of the riSaftfc to amount to fourteeniftHo&-' fand dollars^ u l^rc^'toq©^' r£x&m money in cfiBialation^ the United States is eftSafated at eight CJ&&W®&$>£dollars in value. A SHORT BY THE D UKE BE LA ROCHEBttUCA:'&fc*'!£lANCOUBT. 651 A SHORT ACC&JWF^'fHE CLIMATE AND MANNERS OF THE'ifl^ITEl^^ATES. The whole length of the territory of the United States si bifected by one chain ofrjq$untains, under different names: fome o£befi;fc^Uj(ifc&&W entwing a^en^^Jye^^^^it^is chai^gt; feveral po^^{in its extent, bi& , their bounds are not extenfive. The long chai^gjgshich divides the Unitqd States, runs from north-eaft to fouth-weft. The plains befiweeii thefe mountains and the fea are very narrow ia~4:he provinces of the north j, and the land there is -generally ftony, though very fruitful in many places^ r. From Penn§i^ania to North Carolinq^the plains becogie larger*, aortjl the foil is fat, fandy, clayey, and figgile; but they.$j|f.i|$^imueh more extenfive from South Carolina to Florida ; the land then become! low* flat, covered ^tii water, and appear to have been fitted by the fea at a period not vemdiftant. To tlie. weft of this long chain of mountainside vaft,country which epstends to the Miffifippi is of the greateft fertility, and watered by the fineft rijffi^^Jl^h flow either into this great river, or into the Ohio, which, after a courfe of$f|een hundred milesjp^^s into itfelf. It is t^^jong chain of mountains which divides the waters -v\rhic|i'**ia Into the Atlantic, from thofe which, th^^ing themfelwes into the Mif- ilfippi, and into the rivers whiphd&cfcarge themfcfesfe.there, gain the gulf of Mexico ; in the 1@fne manx^nfs the yellow mountains, at eight ©r nine hundred miles beyond the Miffifippi, divide the waters i^feich flow£4lfte ^kllVWjjT&ffi thofeevvhich^-fajyi ^to the South Sea. The great a$f©rence of latitude produces a proportional ©hange in the climates of differeqfcjtates. The fnow e#v§rs Vermont aftd-the proi^icje of Maine duria^g five or fix months of t^tft-year, and the winter there lafts feven; while ther©^J^aidly any itfj||ter in South Carolina, and ftill lefs in Georgf^; an^ $&fip44 an)^ ftPw &$■ *^^§sdi£l4$£!lj*H&t r^nain two days upon the ground, gSi'^^^a:B U N 2 The A &m TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA* The fiidden variations of the temperature is a common characteristic of the climate- of the different ftates. It is ufual-tq fee the thermometer fall o fcale have' • rife twenty-five degrees in twenty-four hours, according to the of Farenheit, equal to eleven degrees one-ninth of Reaumur. I feen it fall'Swpoften^lfe^^jSfl^litlArfy-in April 1796, in twelve •hours, from the twentieth degree of Reaumut£*fequal to the feventy-fe- ^m0fb£ Farenheit, to five of Reaumur, equal to forty-four and a half of "Fafenlieit'-; and this obfervation has'-been made- at-'Wilmington in Deia- 'Ware, and at Baltimore. * aFhe cold is incomparably' ftronger and more durable in America than in Euroj&Min the fame latitude, and the heat more intenfe, more opprefi- five, and more infupportable. It may be remarked, that in the different l&Stffdfes ofthe cdnfflHerA $f -North Ameri^lf, the heat differs more in its duration than in its power; in'1795 I hh^refeen, in Upper Canada, the thermometer of Farenheit rife&fri July to the ninety-fecond degre^^Kl €^I^Bb#^K^f Auguft in the fame ^IH^Ma^ '-feen it at ninety-fix at Albany. At Savannah, in Georgia, it feldom rifes beyond-Ij&t; and from Newark, iri U^pper Canada, or Alba$^ in the ftate°k>£ New 3^dr^ to Savannah, th^til'^' difference of fotirreeh degre¥s^bf latitude; but the-thermometer remains, during"1 a month or two at Savannah, at this height, and very feldom twwMys together in the northern -itatekala iffatfift&ik This*g?i&tJ *Bij$ilf©flfof clilttS^'MBff^CT^%ery;1fMflDly'the healfiS-bf the uihabitafitS'of the United States. People become old in Ameri&i -fooner than' in Europe; and it is more rare to fee men of a great age there, ^}5e©Mf^fyifi?e ftates'^efe^M'New England. The influence of -ffm Climate upon females is ftill more ferffibM. ;WhUi^pflrg fe^%^°prieMl^TCiitiful, and^hiore particularly fo at :BhtiM£4]$&'a i but after't&vi&ity yea&4of age they foon begin to lofe their #S$#£olour; at twentyiifte manyl8&them might be taken for Euro-, peans of forftpf*U:heir bloom is no more, and fe&feir form has already fuffered a fcfea&ge. T^tsfe^hiv^^revioufly been mothers, their alteration is ftill more premature g yet neither nightly revels, the abufe^f fpirituous liquors^ m Tennessee. 6t|i of February, 1796. Two branches, called the General Affembly: the fenate, eleven members j, the houfe of reprefentatives, ^twenty-two. The people. Senate and reprefcn-fs t}a°* tatives two years, ' ¥*****- JJorth-West Territory of the Ohio. 13^1 of July, 1787. The governor and the judges majte the laws. The prefident and the fenate ofthe United States appoint the governor and the judges. The governor for three years 5 but may be dilplaced by the prefident of the United States. The judges are during good conduct. No. I, - • ' THE LEGISLATIVE BODY. f - 1 EPOCH OF ACCEPTATION. NUMBER OF BRANCHES. MODE OF ELECTION. DURATION. CONDITIONS FOR BECOMING. MEMBERS. CONDITIONS OF BECOMING ELECTORS. PARTICULAR POWERS, GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. The United States. ' In Convention the 17th of Sep- [(jember, 1787. Began to aft the 4th pf March 17S9. - Two houfes: the fenate and the houfe of reprefentatives, called the Congrefs. The former, thirty-two members ; the latter, five hundred members. The fenate by the legiflatures of the Hates ; the reprefentatives by - the people. •Senate fix years. Going our every two years by thirds. Reprefentatives two years. Senate : to he citizens of nine years ftanding, and thirty y«ars of age. Reprefentatives: to have been citizens for feven years, and twenty-five years of age. No pecuniary qualification. For the reprefentatives the fame as for the moft numerous branch ot the legiflatures of States. The houfe of reprefentatives propofis the revenue- bills, and vote accusations. Two thirds are required for declaring the perfon accufed guilty. The fenate appoint the officers named by the prefident. New Hampshire. J79Z. Two branches : the fenate and houfe of reprefentatives, called the General Court. The firft, twelve members 5 the latter, from ©ne hundred and twenty to one hundred and thirty. The peopls. A year. To be freemen, poft effing real or perfonal property. To be twenty-one years of age, and paying taxes. The houfe of reprefentatives propofe the revenue- bills, and vote accusations. The fenate judge them. MABS/VCHySETTJ. adof Marcht 1780. Two branches : the fenate and houfe of reprefentatives, called the General Court. The firft, thirty-one members; the latter, three hundred and fifty-fix. The people ; But the vacancies of the fenate may by filled by the fenate ; and in the houfe of reprefentatives, among thole who were appointed by the voice of the people at the preceding election. A year. Senators to have a real property of 300I. or a perfonal fortune of 600I. Refidence of five years. The reprefentatives a real property of 100I. or perfonal of 200I. Free tenants of feven pounds rent, or fome property of fixty pounds. The houfe of reprefentatives emit money-bills, and vote accufations. The fenate judge them. Connecticut. The ancient charter of Charles II. breferved entire; except neceffary ■changes made hy the adoption of independence. Two branches: the general court; governor, lieutenant-governor, and twelve affiftants, forming the upper houfe or the council. The reprefentatives, or lowcfhoufe, confift of one hundred and feventy-nine members. The people. Governor, depnty- governor, or affiftants, one year. The reprefentatives fix months. Freemen. Freemen having a real property of 40 fhillings, or 40I. perfonal. The legiflature hears and judges certain caufes, and grant refpits and pardons. The governor, the prefident of the council, and fpeaker of the houfe, have each a vote, befides that for dividing it. Rhode Island. The ancient colonial charter of /Charles II. Two branches: general affembly; governor, deputy- governor, and ten alliitants ; reprefenting feventy members. The people. The council a year. Their reprefentativesfix■. months. A property of forty pounds, or an income of forty fhillings. Freemen having a property of 40I. or an income of 40 fhillings. New caufes are decided in the courts of juftice. Vermont. 4th of July, 1786. Revifed fince. One branch : reprefentatives of freemen, called the General Affembly; one hundred and forty-five members ; but the governor and council of twelve can luf- pend a law till the next feffion. The people. A year. Accufations. To raife a tax, two thirds of the members muft be prefent. £4ew York. toth of April, 1777. Two branches: the fenate, twenty-four members j lieutenant-governor prefident. Affembly feventy*mera- bers. The people. Senate four years ; one fourth to go out every year. The aflembly once a year. Elector* of the fenate to have a property of tool. Electors of reprefentatives, a property of sol. or an income of 40 millings. Two thirds of the affembly vote accufations. Two thirds of the fenate can pronounce convictions. The fenate is never to exceed one hund red ; nor the reprefentatives three hundred. The governor and re- vifional council can fufpend a law. The clergy are excluded. New Jersey. - id of July, 177$. —-Tw©^kranche»t-4ej*illative- couitcH,- thirteen members. Affembly, thirty-nine members. The people. A year. Counfellor of 1000I. property, moveable or Immoveable. Reprefentatives, 500I. of the fame. Electors, 50I. of property, moveable or in moveable. The council cannot prepare nor alter any money-bill. Pennsylvania. td of September, 1790. Two branches '. the fenate, twenty-three members; and the houfe of reprefentatives, feventy-nine members. The people. The fenate for four years-; one fourth going out every year. The reprefentatives for one year. Refidence of one year in the diftrift or county. Senators to be citizens of four years ftanding, and twenty- five years of age. Reprefentatives to be citizens of three years, and twenty-one years of age. - Twenty-one years of age; having refided two years in the State before cleftion, and during that time paid a tax laid fix months before the election. The fons of perfons thus qualified, between twenty-one and twenty- two years of age, may vote though they have not paid taxes. Revenue-bills commence in the houfe of reprefentatives. Accufations, by half of the reprefentatives ; to be judged by the fenate. Conviction, by two thirds of the members prefent. The judgment is only to be difmiffal from place, and incapacity to hold any other. The fenate can never be lefs than a fourth, and more than a third, of the reprefentatives. The reprefentatives are never lefs than fixty, nor more than a hun- ' dred. Delaware. 1790. Two branches, called the General Affembly: the fenate, nine members j houfe of reprefentatives, twenty- one members. The people. The fenate for three years ; one third to go out every year. Reprefentatives one year. i5» ->> c Senators to be twenty-feven years ot age 5 property of two hundred acres, or 1000I. Reprefentatives to be r Refidence of two years, and payment pf taxes affeffed twenty-four years of age, with property. Both to have at leaft fix months before the election. refided three years. Money-bills commence in the aflembly. Accufations by two thirds of the reprefentatives. Convictions by two thirds of the fenate. MARYLAND. J4th of Auguft, 1776, Two branches, called the General Affembly: the fenate, fifteen members 5, houfe of delegates, eighty members. By the electors chofen by the people. The delegates by the people. The fenate fill their vacancies by a ferutiny ia the houfe. Senators elefted for five years, withdut rotation. Delegates one year. Senators to have been refident three years, with a property moveable or immoveable of 1000I. Delegates the fame refidence, with a property ot 500I. Electors for the delegates, and for the electors, to have a property of fifty acres; or freemen with 30I. and having refidence in the county the whole year before the cleftion. Money-bills originate in the houfe of delegates, which ought not to include any other matter. The two houfes arreft for crimes and want of relpeft. The houfe of delegates name the treafurers for any term ' they think proper. The delegates and eleftors are chofen by word of ' mouth; but the eleftors vote by ballot, and make oath. There are particular rules for the freemen of Baltimore and Annapolis. The clergy are excluded. Kentucky, 1792. Two branches : the fenate, eleven members j houfe of reprefentatives, forty members. Senate by the electors, chofen by the people. The reprefentatives by the people. The fenate for four years. Their reprefentatives for one. Senators to be twenty-feven years of age. The reprefentatives twenty-four years.' Each to have been refident for two years. Inhabitants of the State of two years Handing, or of the county one year. Money-bills can be propofed by the reprefentatives only. The fenate may propofe amendments. The right of accufations is in the reprefentatives. The fenate judge. Two thirds are neceffary in thefe cafes. The fenate is to be compofed in fuch -a manner, that the number exceed one fourth of that of the reprefentatives. VIRGINIA. 5th of July, 1776. Two branches, called the General Affembly: fenate, twenty-four members; houfe of reprefentatives, from Qne hundred and fifty to one hundred and fixty members. The people. The fenateto be forty years of age; one fourth to go out every year. Delegates one year. No pecuniary conditions ; but the fenators and delegates muft be refident, and free tenants, in the difhift or county. Eleftors to be free tenants. All the laws originate in the houfe of delates. The fenate cannot alter the money-bills. The delegates vote accufations which are judged by the general court,, or by the court of appeal. 1 North Carolina. 12th of December, 1776. Two branches, the fenate and houfe of common?, called the General Aflembly. The firft, fixty members ; the fecond, one hundred and twenty members. The people. A year. Senate to have a property of three hundred acres, Commons, a property of one hundred acres. Electors of the fenate to have a property of 'fifty acres. Eleftors of the commons, paying taxes, and a 1 refidence in the county. The two houfes adjourn by ballot to any place or day. Accufations by the commons, judgments by the iupremk court; and, If the judges are accufed, they arc judged by a fpecial tribunal. Bills are required to be read three times in each houfe. The clergy are excluded. South Carolina. 3d of June, 1790. Two branches, called the General Affembly: the fenate, thirty-feyen members 5 the houfe of reprefea- - tatives, one hundred and twenty-four. The people. Senate four years; half of them go out every two years. Reprefentatives two years. • Senators, thirty years of age. Citizens, and refident in the State five years. If they refide in the diftrift, a property of 300I. otherwife free property in the diftrift of 1000I. Reprefentatives to be citizens, and refidents three years. If they refide, a property of three hundred acres and ten negroes, or a fortune of 150I. otherwife a property in the diftrift of 500I. Eleftors, citizens, and refident two years ; a property of fitty acres, or ,a lot in the town, or paying.a tax of three fhillings. Refidence of fix months in the diftrift before the cleftion. Imprifonment for want of refpect. Accufations by two thirds of the houfe of reprefentatives. Two thirds of the fenate judge. The reprefentatives propofe the bills for railing the revenue. • The bills are read three times on three different days in each houfe. A bill rejected cannot be prefented again till after fix days previous notice, and with permiffion. The clergy arc excluded. Georgia. May 1795. Two branches, called the General Aflembly: the fenate, twenty-three members; houfe of reprefentatives, fifty-one. The people. . A year. Senators, twenty-eight years of age, having inhabited the United States nine years. Citizens three years in Georgia. Refidence in the county fix months. Having two hundred and fifty acres, or property of 250I. " Reprefentatives, twenty-cne years of age. Citizens of the United States, feven years. Two years inhabitants of Georgia. Refident in the county, three ' months. Free of two hundred acres, or 150I. Eleftors, paying taxes and having refided fix months in the county. Accufations 1 a third forms a fufficient rmmbei in each branch for deliberation. Clergy excluded. A convention, to revife the con- 1 ftitution, was to be chofen in November 1797; it was to confift of three members of each county, and to affemble in May, 1798. Tennessee. 6tji of February, 1796. Two branches, called the General Affembly: the fenate, eleven members j, the houfe of reprefentatives, ^twenty-two. The people. Senate and reprefentatives two years. Refidence three years in the State, or one in the county. Being free, and having two hundred acres of land in the county. Electors, free of the county. Imprifonment for want of refpect. Accufations. Bills may begin in both houfes. Clergy excluded. The fenate is never lefs than a third, and never more than a half, of the reprefentatives. They are never more than forty. 1 JJorth-West Territory of the Ohio. »3fhof July, 1787. The governpr and the judges make the laws. The prefident and the fenate of the United States appoint the governor and the judges. The governor for three vears ; but may be difplaced by the prefident of the United- States. The judges are ' during good conduct. 3taS To adopt the laws exifting in the different States to which the territory is attached. Subject to the rcvi- fion ofthe Congrefs. No. II. THE TABLE OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY ABRIDGED. PERIODS OF DURATION OF THE FUNCTIONS. OF THE-SENATE. OF THE REPRESENTATIVES. CONDITIONS OF BECOMING MEMBERS. CONDITIONS OF BECOMING ELECTORS. ORDER IN WHICH THE SENATORS j GO OUT OF OFFICE. . United States . Maryland . . . New York . . Pennfylvania Virginia .... Kentucky . . . South Carolina . Delaware . . . Tenneflee . . . New Hampfhire.«. Maffachufetts ux years, five years. rfour years. three years, two years. Connedficut Rhode Ifland Vermont . , New Jerfey North Carolina . Georgia . . . '.. hj ear. United States South Carolina Tenneffee . . New Hampfhire Maffachufetts Vermont . . New York . New Jerfey Pennfylvania Delaware. . Maryland . Kentucky . Virginia . . North Carolina Georgia . . Connecticut RhodeIfland I -two years. }> a year. ■ fix months. RhodeIfland . New Jerfey Delaware. . . Virginia . . . North Carolina South Carolina Tenneffee. . . New Hampfhire Maffachufetts Maryland . Georgia United States Connecticut Vermont . . New York . Pennfylvania Kentucky . A portion of landed property is required. "\ Landed pro- f perty and a V fpecies of per- • fonal propy. Property not required. United States Rhode Ifland New York . . Virginia . . . North Carolina Maffachufetts Connecticut . New Jerfey . Maryland . . South Carolina New Hampfhire Vermont . . Pennfylvania Delaware. . Kentucky . Georgia . . Tenneffee . The fame as in the State where the elector refides. Landed property is neceffary. A portion of landed or of perfonal property is required. United States J By a third every i two years. New York . . . 1 By a fourth every year. Pennfylvania Virginia .... 1 South Carolina, fa ^lf every '# two years. t-, , C By a third every Delaware Maryland . . ..-v :ky ...(,, !By a thii year. Kentucky Tenneffee •j .so rotation. ■ ' .aWWwJ- ■ o. III. THE EXECUTIVE POWER. STATES* BY WHOM NAMED. DURATION. WHETHER IT BE RE-ELECTIVE. WHETHER THERE BE A COUNCIL. POWER OF NOMINATING TO CERTAIN PLACES. OTHER POWERS. CONDITIONS REQUIRED. WHETHER THERE BE A LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OR NOT. The United States. By the eleftors. Four years. Re-eledtive. No council. It names. The fenate approves. Fills the vacancies during the abfence i of the fenate. It pardons. Has a conditional negative, and receives foreign minifters. Citizen; fourteen years refident, and thirty-five years of age. The vice-prefident of the United States prefident of the fenate. New Hampshire. By the people. A year. Re-eledtive. Council of five members, chofen by the people. It names almoft all the officers, with the advice of the fenate. It pardons, and has a conditional negative. ' No lieutenant-governor. Massachusetts. By the people. A year. Re-eledtive. Council. It names, with fome exceptions. It pardons, and has a conditional negative. To have been an inhabitant feven years. ■ Lieutenant-governor, -who is a member and prefident of the council. Connecticut. Byihe people. A year. Re-eledtive. No executive council. It names with the afiiftants, and only the fheriffs. Is prefident of the council, and has a caftinT vote. o Li eutenant-governor, member of the council. Rhode Island. By the people. A year. Re-eledtive. No executive council. No important nomination. Pre fides at the council. Free tenant and freeman of a corporate town. Lieutenant-governor. Vermont. By the people. A year. Re-eledtive. The governor and the council can Lieutenant-governor, called in the charter deputy-governor. Deputy governor and council. It names fome officers. fufpend the laws till the following ief- fion. It pardons and judges accufations. New York. By the free tenants of 1001. fterling. Three years. Re-eledtive. No executive council but that of nomination and revifion. It names. The council of nomination confirms to all places, with a-few exceptions. Pardons. Has a conditional negative with the council of revifion. Lieutenant-governor, who is prefident of the fenate. New Jersey. By the legiflature. A year. Re-eledtive. The legiflative council acts as executive council. . Prefides at the council, and is chancellor. The governor and council are a court of appeal. Vice-prefident. Pennsylvania. By the people. Three years. Re-eledtive nine years in twelve. No council. It makes all nominations, except the fheriffs and coronets, who are named by the people; and the treafurer of the ftate by the legiflature ; the officers of militia, regiments and companies, by the regiments and the companies. It pardons, except in cafes of accufation for ftate crimes or prevarication. Has a conditional negative. Citizen, and inhabitant for feven years; thirty years of age. The vacancy of the office of governor is filled- in the interim by the fpeaker of the fenate. Delaware. By the people. Three years. Re-eledtive three years in fix. No council. It names, except the fheriffs, the coroners, and the treafurers. Pardons, except in cafes of ftate crimes or prevarication. Thirty years of age. Citizens ofthe United States~for twelve years, and of the State fix years. Maryland. By the legiflature. A year. Re-eledtive three years in feven. Council. It names with the advice of the fenate. Pardons. Lays embargoes.' Difplaces and fufpends officers, except thofe who remain in place during good behaviour. Five years refidence, and a property of 5,0001. i^t! Kentucky. By the electors. Four years. Re-eledtive. No conncil. Names with the advice ofthe fenate. Pardons, except in cafes of treafon or prevarication. Thirty years of age. Refidence of two years in the-ftate before the election. No lieutenant-governor. Virginia. 'By the legiflature. A year. Re-eledtive three years in feven. Council of ftate. Names with the council only the juftices of peace. It pardons. Thirty years of age. The prefident of the council adts as lieutenant-governor in cafe of the vacancy of a governor. North Carolina. By the legiflature.- A year. Re-eledtive three years in fix. Council of ftate. No nomination in the interim, till the feffion of the legiflature. Pardons and lays embargoes. Five years refidence, and property of 10001. No lieutenant-governor. South Carolina. By the legiflature. Two years. Connot be re-elected till four years after. No council. Names fome inferior officers. Pardons and lays embargoes. Citizen, and refidence Of ten years; property of 15001. Lieutenant-governor. Georgia. By the legiflature. Two years. Re-eledtive. No conncil. Names fome civil officers, and all the military. Pardons. Has a conditional negative. Twelve years a citizen ; fix years refidence; five hundred acres; or a property of 10001.. No. lieutenant-governor. Tennessee. By the people. Two years. Re-eledtive fix years in eight. o No council. No nomination if the legiflature be prefent, except the adjutant-general of militia. Pardons, and affembles the lesnfla- ture upon extraordinary occafions. Citizen, or inhabitant four years; property of five hundred acres; twenty- five years of age. Speaker of the fenate lieutenant- governor, as in Pennfylvania; 1 Torth-West Territory ot the Ohio. By the prefident and i fenate of the United States. Three years; but removeable at the will of the United States. Re-eledtive. No council* Names all the magiftrates and civil officers, except the adjutant-general of the militia. The governor and the judges make the laws for the territory. Refident in the territory, and property of one thoufand acres. The fecretary ofthe territory, named as governor, fills his place in bis abfence. « No. IV. THE TABLE OF THE EXECUTIVE POWER ABRIDGED. MANNER OF CHOOSING THEM. DURATION. WHEN RE-ELECTIVE. CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCILS. POWERS OF NOMINATING TO PLACES. RIGHT OF GIVING A NEGATIVE. United States - •* By the Kentucky "-} electors. New Hampfhire" Maffachufetts Connecticut - RhodeIfland Vermont - - - J. New York Pennfylvania Delaware - - - Tenneffee - - - New Jerfey - - Maryland — - Virginia - - - - North Carolina South Carolina Georgia - - - - By the people. K By the legiflature United States - "i Three Kentucky - - - ) years. New York Pennfylvania - /"Ditto. Delaware J >nu Two South Carolina Georgia - - - - Tenneflee - - - New Hampfhire Maffachufetts - Connecticut - - Rhode Ifland - Vermont - - - y New Jerfey - - Maryland - - - Virginia - - - - South Carolina ., A year. United States - New Hampfhire Maffachufetts - Connecticut - - Rhode Ifland - Vermont - - - New York- - - New Jerfey - - Kentucky - - - Georgia - - — ''Unlimited. Pennfylvania - Delaware - - ■ North Carolina f Nine years (_ in twelve. | T. J year hree in fix. Maryland j Three years ~J in feven. ,. 1 Two years arohna < J L in fix. \ Six years in L eight. Virginia South C Tenneffee - United States - Connecticut - - RhodeIfland - New York - - Pennfylvania - - Delaware - - - Kentucky - - - South Carolina Georgia - - - - Tenneflee . New Hampfhire^ Maffachufetts - Vermont - - - New Jerfey - - Maryland - - - Virginia - - - - North Carolina No confti- tutional Council. /-Council. United States - New Hampfhire Maffachufetts - Vermont - - - Nomination and right of fixing the New York — - > falaries Pennfylvania Delaware — - Maryland - - - Kentucky - - - Connecticut - -' Rhode Ifland - - New Jerfey - - Virginia - # - - North Carolina South Carolina Georgia - - i - Tenneffee » - - under certain regulations. No right to any >. important appointment. United States -' New Hampfhire' Maffachufetts - Vermont - - - New York - - j Pennfylvania - » Kentucky - - - Georgia - - - - Connecticut —i RhodeIfland ■ New Jerfey Delaware - ■ Maryland - - - Virginia - - - ■ North Carolina South Carolina Tenneffee - - ■ Negative power under certain modifications. No negative. = : -a 1 I. V. • THE JUDICIAL ORDER. STATES. MANNER OF NOMINATION. DURATION OF OFFICE. HOW DISMISSED. REMARKS, The United States. By the prefident with the approbation ofthe fenate. * During good behaviour. By accufation of the houfe of reprefentatives before the fenate. The falaries cannot be diminished during office. New Hampshire. By the governor and the council. The fuperior "judges during good behaviour. The juftices of peace for five years. By accufation of the houfe of reprefentavives, and upon the addrefs of the legiflature to the governor. ——_ ,_ Salaries fixed by the law. Massachusetts. By the governor and council. . The fuperior judges during good behaviour. The juftices of peace for feven years. By accufation of the houfe of ■reprefentatives, and by the governor and council at the requeft of the two houfes. Gives his opinion to the governor and the council upon folemn occafions, and to the legiflature in quef- tions of law. He pronounces divorces, 4 / Connecticut. By the Jegiflature. A year. Re-chofen in general while they are able, except - in cafes of mifbehaviour. The courts pronounce divorces. By the legiflature. JK.HODE ISLAND. * ■"• jydr- r c -/u v *• lhe courts lucfge cafes of divorce. cues or miibehaviour. J ° >»•»*.. Vermont. By the council and the affembly. A year, and lefs if neceflary. By accufation of the affembly, judged by the governor and the council. New York. By the governor and the council of nomination. During good behaviour. Cannot be chofen above the age of fixty. New Jersey. By the council and the affembly. The fuperior court re-eledtive every feven years'; the inferior every five years. By the accufation of the affembly and judgment of the council. Pennsylvania. By the governor. During the good behaviour of the judges. The governor has power of difmiffing from, at the requeft of two thirds of each houfe, even if there be . no ground of accufation. The falaries of the judges not to be diminifhed while in office. They are neither to receive fees nor hold any other place of profit. The fupreme court takes cognizance of divorces and penfions of widows; can fupply defects in titles occafioned by adts loft or abfent. No chancery. Delaware. By the governor. During the good behaviour of the judges. By accufation ofthe houfe of reprefentatives, found by a majority of two thirds. The governor can revoke at the requeft of two thirds of each houfe, even in cafes where there is no good ground of Accufation. Salaries not to be diminifhed while in office." Maryland. By the governor and the council. During the good behaviour of the judges. For bad conduct upon proof before a tribunal, and by the governor at the requeft of the affembly, by the : majority of two thirds of each houfe. Kentucky. ' By the governor and the fenate. During the good behaviour of the judges. By accufation, or at the requeft of two'thirds of each houfe of legiflature. Salaries not to be diminifhed during office. Virginia. By the legiflature. Duringthe good behaviour of the judges. By accufation of the houfe of delegates. The court of appeal judges officers Of the general court, and vice verfa. North Carolina. By the legiflature, but receive their commiffion from the "governor. During the good behaviour of the judges. By accufation of the aflembly or grand jury, judged by a fpecial tribunal. South Carolina. By the legiflature. During the good behaviour of the judges. By accufation of the aflembly, judged by the fenate. Salaries unchangeable during office. Georgia. By the legiflature. Re-eledtive every three years. By the accufation of the affembly, judged by the fenate. Salaries unchangeable during office. Tennessee. By the legiflature. During the the good behaviour ofthe judges. By the accufation of the aflembly. Cannot ad vile juries in matters of fadt, but can 1 give their opinion upon evidence, and declare the ' law. N orth-West Territory or the Ohio. By the prefident and the fenate of the United States. ^a5K> ■■ \ - a 1 Daring the good behaviour of the judges. By the accufation of the houfe of reprefentatives of the United States, judged by the fenate of the States. Salaries regulated by the congrefs. Some legiflative powers joined to the governor. No. VI. MANNER OF ELECTING THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN EACH STATE. STATES. &M&-SFNATORS REPRESENTATIVES. _ . .. — ' ....— — . -*'-'*■ Their Distribution and Number. Conditions of their Election. New Hampshire. By the feparate reiolution of the two houfes; the votes taken by ballot. Foftt membersi Chofen in the ftate in general. t— 1= ! '" ""'' ' ■ ' 'I M ... There muft be an abfolute majority in the firft place, other- wife a lift is made of thofe who have the moft votes, amounting to double the members to be chofen ; the plurality of this lift is fufficient to decide. If two have an equal number of - votes the governor has a calling vote. Massachusetts. By the feparate refolution of the two houfes, each houfe having a negative upon the propofition of the other. The votes taken by ballot. By the diftridt; in which they ought to refide. The ftate is divided into as many diftridts as members, and ought to furnifh fourteen of them. The majority is nececeffary, and after one trial the eledtors choofe from among-the candidates him who has the moft Votes. Connecticut. By the diftindt vote-of each houfe taken by ballot. Seven members taken from a preliminary nomination of dou- vr. • „,.■ ii*. • •. r ,,,, , , , , L , ' .Nomination, and the maionty of votes, ble the number made by the people. J • Rhode Island. By the ballot of the tvto houfes affembled. Two members in the whole ftate. The majority is neceffary.-. Vermont. At firft by the feparate fuffrages of the two houfes ; if they cannot agree, by the number of votes; and by ballot in both cafes. Two members, chofen each in a diftrict where they fhould have refided. The majority is neceffary in the firft effay, the plurality in the others. New York, At firft by the feparate 'fuffrages of the two houfes ; if they - do not agree, then by the ballot of them united. Ten members taken from as many diftridts, without regard to place of refidence. The plurality fuffices. New Jersey. By the fuffrages ; fometimes taken by ballot, and fometimes •viva voce. Five members chofen in the whole ftate: r The plurality. Pennsylvania. The manner is not yet determined by the law. Hitherto the eledtions have been made by feparate refolutions, and by their votes given viva voce. By tne conftitution of Pennfylvania- thefe eledtions are required to be made viva voce. Thirteen members for as many-diftridts, without regard to place of refidence. The firft election is made by the whole ftate ; the fecond by the diftridt; the third by the whole ftate; the fourth by diftridt; the fifth the fame. The plurality. Delaware. By a general ballot. One member. The plurality. Maryland. By a general ballot. One of the fenators muft be of the Eaft part, and the other of the Weft. Eight members for as many diftridts'. The plurality. Kentucky. By a general ballot; but the votes are taken and exammed in each houfe. The majority decides. Two members chofen in two diftridts, where they muft have ' been refidenfs. The plurality. Virginia. By general ballot. Seventeen members chofen .in as many diftridts, where they muft have been relidents. The plurality. North Carolina. By general ballot. Ten members chofen in as many diftridts, where they muft. have Tefided. The plurality. South Carolina. By general ballot. Six members fof as many diftridts, without regard to refidence. The-plurality. Georgia. By general ballot. Two members in the whole ftate. • The plurality. Tennessee. By general ballot. One member. The plurality. BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 653 liquors, the want of exercife, nor an excefs .of it, can be brought as a pretext for this early change. If in the eaftern ftates the period of their beauty'fhould be lengthened, it is but for a fhort time. The number of children which die in their infancy is proportionably much greater than in Europe. Colds, hooping-coughs, and diforders of the throat, take off a great quantity. The moft common difeafes in all the ftates are Sowings of the cheft, eonfumptions, and bilious and putrid fevers; I do not mention intermitting fevers, the moft frequent of all, becaufe they are not mortal, though they fometimes degenerate into bilious fevers. An epidemical difeafe, during feveral of the daft years, has made great ravages in the United States. From Bofton there is hardly a maritime town but: what hasfeltsits fatal effects during five or fix years. Philadelphia, in 1 7Q3, loft by this malady one-tenth of its population. At the moment I am quitting America, this city is ftill defolated by this fcourge ; and if the number of her victims be lefs confiderable than it has been during four years,; it is becaufe nine-tenths of the inhabitants took flight at the firft appearance of this-dreadful diforder; for among thofe who remained the proportion of death appears yet greater. This difeafe does not mani- feft itfelf till near the clofe of the fummer, and does not ceafe till the cold feafon fets in. I will not undertake to fpeak of its fymptoms, which appear to be very curious; nor of its treatment, upon which the opinions of almoft all the phyficians of the United States vary. Since 1793, a great number of writings upon this difeafe have appeared, which fome phyficians believe to have been imported from the Antilles, while fome contend, that it is indigenous ; fome ftate it to be .of the moft cbmmuni- cativeinfection, and others maintain that it is not even, epidemic ; and there are who fay, that it is only a malignant fever of a-ferious- fpecies. However it may be, the dread of this diforder is fuch, that it is often believed to have taken place when it has not, and that many fimple putrid fevers receive the name and the treatment of the yellow-fever. It is generally remarked, that this difeafe has not yet made its appear- -aitce-in any towns in the interior parts; that in the maritime towns where 054 ^^RA^ELS IN NORTH,AMERICA, N where it has raged fo cruelly, it has hardly ever extended heyonmtiffi fame quarters; and laftly, that of all the*^|fc^i|apts of thefe unfortunate places, the French are among thofe who have been the leaf&sa&tacked with-it.: only one of them died at Philadelphia in 1793? and only four this year, though no Frenchman quitted the city. The moite^reuiaas fpe6t ufe which they make of fpirituous liquors, is the reafon whidhnds given for the good fortune o£h^srjng efcaped from this danger, while it was almoft general to others. We read almoft every where, that the indigenous fpeei^s, men and animals, are Imalle-r^ in America than in the ancient continent. It is necefiary to have feen more animals than I have had-an opportunity-of feeing, and to have made more perfonal obfervations, to have formed.a firm opinion upon this great queftion. What I have feen of indigenous animals, bears, woiar£S*.,panthej^|.ibxes, &c. have certainly appeared lefs to me than thofesojf .fthe fame fpecies of the old world: it is alfo acknowledged, fjjfeat they have lefs ferocity in each ojfr^heir fpecies. Yet there are found, as I have already had an occafion to obfeJD^^o^e^W"hfck. appeared to belong to animals of much greater dimenfions than any known to exift at prefent. ■. •j&jjjfaj The domeftic animals imported from Europe lofe nerf&dng of fcliek. fize by becoming inhabitants of America, when they find the fame nou- rifhment, and the fame accommodations, which they revived in their native foil. I have feen in New England, and in many.i&ther paflsi&f* the United States, as fine cows as in any other part of the world; but they arc fcarce, becaufe the great pains l^jfeen in the different br&n^gS^ of agriculture are not fo well known and praclifed; and it is alfo^SS^e\\ that the milk given by thefe cows is nearly equal in quantity to that given by others in Europe, and yet produces a fourth part lefs butter; and that though the beef be as fine in America as in Europe* stsig' not fo fubftantial. This inconteftible truth extends to the vegetable productions;, and- it is acknowledge^, for example, that the beft Amerks&$ flour, ground in the beft mills, and made of tho->beft cot8$p$$&i&$B&ji * equal either in. quantity or in quality the European flour;.; j*a*ticularly ':'"*»&(&■ that DE LA fcOCHEFOUCATfl?r fcfJtftCOURT; 655 that known in commerce by the name of flour of moirfac, which for that reafbir qsialways dearer than American flour, and preferred to it by the inhabitants of the Antilles. As to the Indians, thofe whom I have feen, without being remarkably 4taii, are of an ordi^ity ftature, and appear to be ftrong, -awd of a good conftitution. The ufe of rum weafeetis and enervates them—brings on a premature old age, and death ; but this is not to be attributed to either nature or the climate. Travellers who have feen many more 'Indians than I, and particularly Indians at a greater diftance from the habitat tioiis ofsMfcifiawhave afliited me that they have found tribes of men. very tall, and always-like tike reft of mankind, ftronger in proportion to their fobriety. The vegetable kingdom, in America, is admirably rich and abundant; and particularly fb in the fouthern ftates, where the-plants, in great abundance, have a quick and ftrong growth; and in the more northern parts, where their growffeHs not fo fpeedy or their odour fo great, have generally an agreeable exhala^Sih. M. de CafHglioni, an Italian travel- ler, who appears to have feen America1 with a penetrating eye, and to have carried his profound refearches into the vegetable kingddfia' in par- ticular, fays, that the vegetables w&Jbft grow in the United States have a great refemHance to thofe which grow under the fame latitudes in the ancient continent. After the moft minute inquiry into the different natures of the foil, of the climates, of the various vegetable productions iit the United States,- it evidently appears, that there is- not. any produe- tigftf^xeept &gar, of which the foil of the tufted States is not capable ' 6f-pf«s>dticing, by the aid of an appropriate culture. Perhaps as. to fome of thenar, the country may not yet be i^Ste congenial '/.Wit the number of^flfefris, I believe, YUry inconfiderable. Ther^isia great variety of birds in America, and for« the- moft:part tfegjit^uma^^s exce^dttfgfejbn^fe ahd'l&tRiant.. There^^e but few of tben^which entird^ ramble thofe of the fame fpecies in Europe, if there be a fpecies m exiftence abfoluteljp'^tlike. Except the mocking- bfifef-which ooaisfcerfeits the 4ries of al^'-itte other birds, there are few of them 6b6 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, them which have a varied fong, or even a charming note; and on tin account a walk in the woods is much lefsfdelightful than in Europe.;,-'nee The ftriking difference there is between the animal and Vegetable productions of the two hemifpheres is. faii from being applicable to the mineral kingdom.. The, form:;of mountains, rocks, and beds of different minerals in.North America, are the fame as thofe of the old world. There are found there different fpecies of-granite, combined and varied as in the mountains of Europe ; innumerable kinds of fchiftes ; of limc- ftones,: 113ore or lefs perfect, and more or lefs fine ; and minerals of almoft every fpecies. Upon the eaft coaft of the Atlantic, from the bay of Penobfcot, as far as Georgia, and, I am affured, from thence as far as the mouth of the Miffifippi, there are not any ftones found of a feaafcw dary fpecies, or fuch of which any traces of the mode of their formation can be difcovercd ; they are all of the granite kind, containing in them veins of quartz, calp^rfeous sfpar, marble, and different forts of minerals ; but none of them fhew any traces of vegetable or animal productions enveloped in their beds.- The mountains of Canada, thofe " of Lakes George and Champlain, and ofthe Alleghanies excepted, the^immits of all the othesanare flat, and appear evidently to have been formed upon the jfa&ae horizontal level. In fhort, every thing in the mineral ,k&gdom exhibits figns of a country more recently quitted by the waters than the three other parts of the world. The characters of the inhabitants of the different ftates may be ex- pecled'to be as diffimilar to each other as the climates of the countries they inhabit are various. The climate itfelf, the original formation of thefe colonies, their ancient governments, and the diverfity of nations of which the population of the United States is compofed, has in reality impreffed this difference between them. The poffeffion and ufage of flaves alone muft have introduced a great difference in thelrijplinners. While paffing through the different ftates, I have tried to give a fketch of this diverfity. Yet there arc traits almoft common to all the inhabitants of the United States ; and the caufe of this parity may be found in BY THE BVKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. ®>7 in the:recent-origin of all thefe people, in thtea great difficulties which they experienced in their ■e-ftablifhments, and even in the actual conftitution of the United States. - imM0* The tfai^s of character common to all, are ardour for enterprise* courage, greedinefi, and an advantageous opinion of themfelves. The title of the mq/i enlightened- nation of the whole world? -which the committee of the. houfe of reprefentatives appointed to propofe the anfwer ofthe houfe to the addrefs of the prefident, in December 1796, has given to the peo- ■ple ofthe Uni^dStates^il^lbeof itfelf a proof of that good opinion they -have of themfelves, which I give as a common characteristic, efpecially if it be knowifep^ith wbafciabour, and after what long difcuffions, the houfe determined bo make the faerifice of this fuperlative, with which the-modefty ofthe majogigjcioijjsi&e United States had not been embar- raffed. I quote; this example as the moft ftrikiag and the moft national; but, to tell the truth, almoft all the books printed in America, and the individual conversions of the Americans,- furnifh proofs of it da#f» This character, which none of thofe, I believe, who have feen Ami|4e& will deny to be that of the United States, is an exaggeration proceeding from the newfiefs of their eftablifhments, and will wear out in time. Their courage will be more exceptionable ftiU^to thofe who have the flighteft knowledge of the war for independency. Habit$M8ted to fatigue from their ialaneyy having for the moft part made their fortune by their labour and their induftry, fatigue and labour are not yet become repugnant even to thofe in the moft eafy circusa$tances ; whi^^iey wifh to enjoy the eafe and fweets of life, they do not regard them as abfolute wants; they know how to difpenfe with them, and to quit them and travel in the woods whenever their intereft requires it; they can forget them, whenever a reverfe of fortune takes them away; and they know how to run after fortune when fhe efcapes them; for, as I have often faid before, the deL fire of riches is their ruling paffion, and indeed their only - pafiion. -l re The ridiculous affertion advanced by fome writers, that the new world could not produce genius and talents like the old, has been proved to be •abfurd by the.mere citation of the name of feme inhabitants of the I Vol. II. 4 O United i & 658 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, United States, whofe genius and brilliant talents would do. honour to any country whatever; and it may be fuppofed that fhe will produce others. Further, the American people are intelligent, eager to invefti- gate, and difpofed' to inftrudlion; and many examples of men may be mentioned, who, without education, have invented, and conftrudled works, particularly in mechanics, worthy of the. beft workmen, in Europei It is neverthelefs certain, that the number of men diftinguifhed for fcience and literature, there, is much,lefs than in the nations of Europe, though-, as Mr, Mor.fe. fays in. his Geography,, there muft be a reafon for'this difference : the means of inftruclion are. lefs complete, and not fo extenfive—■ doubtlefs this is one reafon; but I regard it as only, a fecondary. caufe; and that this ftate of imperfect ion.of the public educationls itfelf only the confequence of a caufe of more general influence, I mean, that con* tinual occupation of getting money, common to all orders and profef* fions.. The ftudy of the fciences and of letters requires,. to make much progrefs, that the mind fhould be difengaged from, all other predominant employments;. it demands the exertion of .all. our faculties; and it is known, that the paffion- for money is that, of all others, which keeps the moft conftant-poffeffion of the mind of him who is tainted with it, and that it renders, the mind lefs fufceptible of .all .diftra&ion,, at leaft from all other purfuits. In Europe, where the cultivation of the fbienees and of Jettersis the principal occupation of thofe who diftinguifh themfelves in them, and is, for that reafon, a particular order, it will ,be found that no profeffion has furnifhed fewer, learned and literary men than.thofe which employ the mind in calculations of lofs and gain :. and in America.it will be found, that thofe who have been, and thofe wh%£an now. be reckoned among learned men,., are. or were, by character or by fituation, the moft exempt from this common difpofition of their fellow citizens. A better and more complete fyftem of. inftruclion than that which is now generally followed in the colleges ofthe United States, would augment but little the number of men who give, themfelves up to the fciences and to letters, fo long as the manners of the people-, continue to direct BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOUET. m. direct the defires and thoughts towards the acquirement of wealth. The term of education in America is too fhort; a young man hardly arrives at the age of fixteen years, before his parents are defirous of placing him in the counting-houfe of a merchant, or in the office of a lawyer.., He has not yet been able to acquire at college that degree of inftrudlion which would give him the means of refigning himfelf to the fciences and fo letters, if he had a tafte for them. He foon lofes every other idea than thofe which can prepare the way and hurry him on to the acquifi- tion of a fortune ; he fees no other views in thofe around him, or in fociety ; he fees his profits, and his whole confideration is attached to fiic-; ceffes of this kind ; how can he preferve any other views ? It is therefore this general difpofition which oppofes the perfeliability of the public inftruction, which," of whatever kind it might have been, could not have prevailed over the impatience of parents to put their children into the road of acquiring riches, and over that exclufive paffion to follow^lisf career, which the latter imbibe with the milk from the breafts of their mothers. They complain in the United States, and doubtlefs with great reafon, that a confiderable number of American citizens, forgetful of the country to which they belong, are now arming privateers in France, for the purpofe of taking American fhips, which the French government deem -lawful prizes; and thefe -complaints are certainly well-founded, fince there are but few greater crimes of which a citizen can be guilty. But whence arofe the principles of this horrid crime, if not from that paffion fo openly avowed in America, of getting money, and becoming rich— a paffion which leads to an indifference about the means, when it "has become fo generalvt This is what makes fociety connive at unjuft payments, at fraudulent bankruptcies., and encourages the lending of money at an enormous intereft, which the law condemns. This difpofition is natural to a new people, placed in a foreign territory, and under circumftances which have afforded fo many means of greedinefs. But it has, neverthelefs, the moft pernicious effects; it is no lefs pregnant with the imminent danger of benumbing the love of 4 O 2 liberty. 660 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERJCA^ liberty;. #flpime will reduce it to its juft bounds, and the United States will certainly take among the ancient nations their rank in knowledge and in the fciences, as well as inpower. But it is indubitable, that the rapidity of the progrefs of thefe important improvements yet depends upon the fpeed with which a revolution fhall be made in this branch of the national manners. I have fpokeri of the infufficiency of the public inftrudlion in the United States for making men of fcience; and though I have pointed, -out the caufe of that infufficiency to be in the manners which enforce it, there is no impropriety in making the ftate of it known. The phyfical or natural part of the education of the Americans is excellent : left to themfelves from their tendereft age, they are expofed without preoption to the rigour of heat and cold, feet and legs bare, #it§holew clothes. The children of the rich are not brought$|p much fiS^f^-tenderl^/iahan thofe in lefs eafy carcumftances; in the country, they often go twice a day to fehools two or three miles diftant frcpaa home, and alone. There are few American children who cannot fwim boldly, . and at ten years of age manage a gun and hunt, without iapigeting with an accident; and not one who does not ride with great courage, nor any who fear fatigue; and the children in towns are not brought up with more delicacy. This liberty given to children teaches them to take care ■of themfelves; and, bold as: they -are, they have the prudence to avoid dangers, which children brought up with much greater care wouic|;J$$|' avoid. They become ftrong and enterprifing men, whom no difficulties difhearten, and produce a growing generation, which will be as invin* cible in its territory as that which?|ffl&ceded it proved itfelf to be. The inftrudlive part of education has not attained the fame perfection^ I have faid, that in New England the free-fchools Were open to all the children; and that the laws, as well as the manners ofthe country, im? pofed it upon the parents as a duty almoft indifpenfable, to profit by the advantages of this public inftitution. New England is ftill the only part of the United a States where ^Utefe excellent eftablifhments have taken place, 4fct the obftacles which hitherto and do ftill oppofe fimilar eftablifhments j BY THE DUKE DE UA. 'ROCKEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 66l felifhments In "the other ftates, will vanifh. All the legiflatures are already more or lefs ftruck wkh the neceffity of thefe inftituticins; they perceive that the liberty of the prefs, which feas the public inftrudlion for its object, lofes its advantages in proportion as fewer men are in a fituation to profit by it.; and that the fame fpirit which firft recognifed t^Mlfoerty ofthe prefs as alfacred right of the inhabitants ofthe United States, impofes upon her governments the duty of iricreafing, as much as poffible, the number of thofe to whom it may be ufeful. In the free fehools are taught reading, writing, and arithmetic, together with the, principles of religion and morality. Befides thefe, there are academies and colleges in various rpBrt&of ±he different ftates. The academies are what are:generally meanfe in France by boarding-fchools or fmall col-r leges ; and the colleges are what are fo called there, or-ngf&er what are called in Englanduniverfities. They are the laft ftage of educatio^jfcf^ iit4&lthefe colleges that what are called in America the higher foi^t$£ are taught, and degrees conferred, &c. The education of youth in America is modelled after that of Eng^ land ; and I have been told, by Wtflfeformed Englifhmen, that it is a bad copy of a bad original. In the American d&bools, Ae anftrudlion in Latin is feMom extended further than the firft claflic authors—Cordery^-fed^iiJ^O^, and fome orations of Cicero, are almoft aft the books which are read in them. Virgil and Horace ane>read instbe colleges, but a veryHetle of them. The Roman hiftorians, as Titus Livius, and Tacitus,, are feldom ufed there. ' Sueto- pta£l£«fei©pius, and Corae&us Nepos, are preferred, and the laft is one of the beft authors which are pKipinto the hands of'ybuth. Greek is but little taught; and the New Teftamen-t is generally the ne plus ^r^'of^^ructiottift^^fl^agtiagej^fHomer be excepted, wlfgfSl is read in the high claffes of fome colleges. ]&*£ the GrediHtxagedies, and the comedies of the celebrated Latin author Terence, and #ek the eafieft poets, and almoft as famous^ ^uch as Pindar, Anacreon, Hefiod, and Theocritus, are not .read ithere. As to more medefrn* &&hors, fuch as #-*jy . Plutarch, W« TRAVELS' IN NORTH AMERICA, Plutarch, Lucian, &c, the ftudents know nothing more of them than what curiofity and a love of inftrudlion, very rare among th'e$fe,omay enable them to know, by the tranflations of them which they procure. The Orations are the only work of Cicero taught in the academies or in the colleges, at leaft entirely, and in the original language. His Offices, his jifertaite^^is Dialogues,, his Tracts upon the Laws, upon Friendfhip,' and upon Oratory, are not read, or feldom fo at leaft, otherwife than by tranflations. The Elements of Euclid, and the Firft Principles of Conic Sections, are the complement of mathematical inftrudlion. The mechanics hydroftatics, and :.%^raulies, .are taught after the works of Nicholfon, c^§n$fc$$fe?r thofe ^Eerguffon, and the moft often after thofe of Enfield.. 3fe name,p^ewton is revered in America, and where can it not be fo ? But his works are little taught, ani&oo little time is allowed for them to be generally comprehended. The few practical inftrudlions .fsglfeh are given in fome particular fehools upon the manner of finding the height of the fun, forthe purpofe of knowing the longitude, excepted, there is hardly any other branch of this fpecies of information cultivated in any ofthe colleges of the United States; and the very fmall number of maeners who wifh to be inftruct- ed only in the practice of taking obfervations for computing the longitude, cannot find any means ,of doing it in America, and are induced to fearch for this information in England. Yet the tonnage of American veffels, navigating every fea in the world, may be eftittted for feme years paft at feven hundred thoufand tons annually ; and improverJliBflS* in navigation are the certain means of augmenting the profits arifing; irom the con$perce of the feas. There are in moft of the colleges feme philofophical inftruments, of various degrees of perfection; and the youth receive more inftrudlion in ^mmW^^l philofophy than in t^feaore fcxfa<& fciences. I do not believe that there is any particular profeffor in chemiftry in an0®ier colic^ than in thofe of New York, Prince's-town in New Jerfey, and at Jltifl Cambridge BY THE DUKSE DE LA ROCHEFOUC&UfcT LI AN COURT. 663 Cambridge in Maffachufetts. The little which Sataught of this feience in - other places, is by profeffors who teach philofophy and mathematics together. I will not take upon myfelf to decide upon medical infttudlion, but I have been informed that in many colleges'*ife& is excellent; and I be^ lieve it may not be doubted but that this excellence will Afeend over aH' America; and if we reflect, that in-a country where the love of money is fo predominant, the profeffion which procures the moft of it-by the extenfion of-acquaintance, which captivates wf&out abfbAfttig the itiikAe mind in ftudy, muft produce many weltN^tformed men; and-It wi!l$€? eafy from thence to deduce the reafons why the dfcfe of' medicine pro- duces in America more learned men of almoft all kinds than all the others, and why the feience of medic&iei4s better, longer, and-more completely taught. The ftudy of theology is very confined in the American colleges, but Ja^ijiot pretend, to reprefei^t^tfee total .wa3KB3i^ti^Si^inftrudlion as an injury.. But the;ftudy of common rigfol^Si^the municipal" laws,4 oi^fiibfe of particular ftates, or of the United States, make no part ofthe inftrudlion received in: the colleges. - This cfes&mftanCd^cxcites aftonifhment, in * a-* republie where each individual may afpire to become a legiflator, t and where every one, as^t elector, ougfct-^tso 4?e capable of judging himfelf the qualifications and conduct of the candidature adls and ordinances of government, and where;--above^lj.he ought to-know his duties^ . in order to fulfil t^B^>rl| It is not lefs extraordinary, that th®t/biftory of the United States, of their revolutions of the events which preceded and forca§*§P; of-tfe&S&fe**-- ftacles of-eveep,,nature whichf*t|iey had tx0$&f&&kne; of the- H&Mfices of eafe, of the money and blood, of--their feikw-citizeft^vhich't^ie^had to make; of the mutuaLfuccours which the different- ftates afforded in thefe important and perilous, circumftances, fhould not fei=p&ught in the col" leges or academies of America^where the hiftory of England is the only modern one. which thei youth, read. Liberty is dearer to thofe - who known 664 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, know how much it coft to obtain it; and in a free coul$j^ the love of ; liberty:, obedience to the laws,o^nd- refpect forotke conftitution, -are., the bafis of public morals. The hiftory of every people who have fought for their liberty, abounds in traits of devotednefs, of courage^ and of difin- tereftedqpfSi in which that of the Am^ioan war il^t^nfe^^^^b^ tranfmiffion to pofterity of thjet-jnames of thofe who have honoured the : American revolution^ not only in the higheft offices, but alfo in inferior ftations, is a facred duty of the governments^,-_ and that .ean;never befcom'-- - ^letely-fulfilled, but by inculcating it in the public fehools. Can it be feared, lefljfeakind of i^fudlion fhould have the effect of eternalizing the antipathy or preference of the American nation to fuch or fuch European Xtfttjion ? '$%3|fr&rWOuld only prolongj|:^^we^:is^®ieigri1^aia^of fsgjjj^jjicquifition of l\fef&y,i a&d ct&is remembr$8$f jjp tfee peculiaf^mpduty of youth, and of future ages^lThis remembrance is the hift^a^^fti^be ^?|$$|i|ed States; thejf*i&1g?fens cannot neglect in^fc^l^ .themfelv^ ^QlTliar >$BJ$i&'t&fi$8i great events withoj*t|gomrsitjti©g an injury,it.&aci, I wHklay, further,i^thout incurring the fhame ofj being ignorant of what it is the firft duty of every man belonging to a free people to knc^^'jftftt this remembrance cannot engage them in any fteps contrary to the duties of a moral and wife policy; it confirms them in the refolution of keeping themfelves for evend^dependent of any foreign nation ; and it leaves on the minds ofthe Americans impreffions of fatisfadlion and of pride, wbikfo, when they become^nited with a found and enlightened morality, are r*th$,embrios of priyate and public virtues. In the courfe of #ny journal I have had occafion to fpeak of learned focieties. They are fufficiently numerous in America; but, as I have MgJj^eKred, they are not directed in a manner which can make them of that degree of utility of which they are capable, and o£ i^feicli Ame^jpa ftands fo much in need. Thofe.focieties are not affiduoufly attended by their members, and this inconvenience belongs to that general caufe, that conftant application to gain fo dear to them, that & Ie9cftb.n0 leifiiEe for ..any other. There are feme medical focieties eftablifhed in Aimwc^imhmM^'-sre *mte more BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOUB.T. more diligently attended, where feme obfervations are ma$e, ihbiigh perhaps lefs perfect, and with lefs affiduity, than might be defined. The medical &ieiety of New H&k appears to be tha£ which applies itfelf with the greateft diligence to the cultivation of thofe branches of knowledge confonant to ks inftitution. JH|r fome time this fociety has continued to publ^b monthly a kind of jourmi.,- filled -*^i-:«feful and interefting tracts.. Befides; this there is not any ufeful journal or periodical work pub- lifhed in America of any importance; there was one publifhed during four years at Philadelphia, under the. title of the American Mufeiim^ really interefting, on ace^tfiit of fome pieces which k contkmed upon po- litics, literature, fome extracts from good Englifh works, and for the details which it gave of the principal matters ?*elajfehwe trifaemmerce and navigation, and ofthe adminiftration of the United Statefeev^^|*journal ceafed to appear in 1792, becaufe the fubfcriptions for it had ceafed to be abundant enough to reimburfe the editor'for the expences attending it. This was certainly for Amelia im& ©f-the moft interefting works wei^&y of fupport; but reading has^iierto been the oceupatkai of ibrdy afefar Americans, and that of {Political pamphlets, or ratfodr thofe of party, engages the attention of the greater pajrt of thofe few ; fo that lifkilsr there are in the cities, and even- in the Ullages of the United States, more printing offices in proportion than in anyVei|Jr in Europe, the preffes there are prinj^piajjy employed on fome books of religion, fermons, feme claffical books, fome geographical diclionaiaiS^fepon reprinting Englifli works, and, above all, upon a gicatfisflmber of newfpapers. Many works of merit, however, had their birth in America; fuch as the JEIiftory of the Revolution ofthe United States^and that of South Carolitt^hy Dr. Rams a y, of Charlefton; th© iiiftories of certain'.jfiafibes, among which that of New Hampfhire, bytlfet BELKifl.lr> of Bofton, holds a d^ft- guifhed rank; the American Encyclopedia, which, though partly ex- tradled from the Englifh Encyclopedia, has a great nuir&Sl^;of ori- ginal articles, and is a work of great utility; in fhort, there are many I other tradls, general:or particular, upon the United States, and doubtlefs Vol. IL 4 P many 666 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, many which, while I did not name, I did not intend to exclude, any farther than I was°^j|t acquainted with them, or which had efcapelt%i^ - memory. If I have not included in this^ptffc the DefenCe^f the American Conftitution, by John Adams; the Obfervations upon Virginia, by Mr. Jefferfon; the Lett^!te>f General Wafhington during the Wat^&k is becaufe I fpeak here only of the employment ofthe American preffes, and that thefe celebrated works were printed originally in Englandfeiii - Numerous as the newfpapers in America may be, they do-ti&t fupply the want of journals, or periodical publications. Few foreign political articles of moment find a place in them; indeed they are nothing more, at leaft, in the larger towns, than the Camp Lift, or the Common Advertifer, in which parties attack each other, and deal out feandal; and tW^Oe^M happens, when the parties arrive at a certain point of exaltation, the moft vehement are thofe who find the moft fubfcribers, even among thofe who blame them moft. In the debates of congrefs, fpeeches full of reafon, drawn frOft^a^ knowledge of things, and remarkable for good logic, areimf^M^eard; intffeS& there are but few men there who fpeak upon fubjects which they d$®% l underftand. It is alfo faid, but I am not capable of deciding, that the members there exprefs themfelves fH$the beft language. But prolixi1^§% in fome meafure, the common fault of American orator!>&who, like the writers of thediew world, are not defirous of leaving anf^MM^O be interpreted by the underftandings of their auditpll'or readers. The moft common vice of the inferior?elt#^if the American people, is drunkennefs. The ufe wh^M'they.make of fpirituous liquors, in preference to thofe of beei^Heyder, and wine, greatly aids this difpofitcibi& This excepted, there are, without doubt, fewer crimes committed in America than among an equal number of people in Europe; and the caufe of it may be found in the eafy cird$mff:ances of the people, theSiiii fource of the morality of naferMS. Affaffinations ar^iaot unknown there, but they are very rare; and thefts,4elpecially in the country, are not frequent, though puhlit confidence be the only fafeguard of property. 1|SN>f"' are, as in Europe, more frequent in cities, and for the fame rea^illitii u .o The 9b BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFGUCAULT LIANCOUR.T. G6> The crime of counterfeiting bank bills is pretty common, and becomea more fo every year. This offence is alfo frequent in thofe coun$gig& whose bank notes pafs as the current money; it is alfo, without doubt, the moft dangerous to the public confidence. On this account there are men in America, humane in other refpects,. who contend that the punifhment of death ought to be inflidled upon thofe who have been pronounced guilty of counterfeiting the legal currency. But independently of every consideration of eonveniency, or even of right, to infiidl the pain of death there is, in this opinion, more of political refentment than of exact juftice. If fevere laws were made, and rigoroufly executed, to prevent fraudulent tranfactions from beeotibing fo often the means of ac- esjiamlating riches, and which, at the fame time, fhould have a fufficient influenoeJapon the manners ofthe people, as to deftroy that, i^ipedl and high confideration, wThich is too often paid to men merely becaufe they are opulent, they would certainly reduce the number of crimes more than the fear of death, which experi&*ce pro^^lo have but little effect in this refpect. If I A^fipe been feverely ex^jkdn repreij&iting exceffive avidity of becoming rich, as the common cbaracteriftic of the American people, and efpecially in the inhabitants of cities, I fhall be as exactly juft in adding that thisi^pofition does not Iwurry them on to avarice. Without being profufe, or forgetting tte$&*ereft of their. fa^iUes, they know how to be at proper times expenfive, even with oftentation, and they do not refufe to affift the unfortunate, when proper opportunities for it occur. The unfortunate fufferers by the fires at Charlefton and Savannah, and by the dreadful difeafe wfeieh raged at Philadelphia and New York, &c. &c. have been relieved by the abundant fubfcriptions of the citizens of almoft all the American towns where thofe difafters did not take plaaet$i and ittfescertainly the duty of a Frenchman to do homage to that generofity fo liberally extended to the unfortunate inhabitants of the French iflands, whom biB^iingsiand the €t*reats of death had thrown deftitute upon the fnosiS' of America. Though I have taken great pains to procure a pabular account of the amount of thefe fuccours given by. 4 P 2 almoft 668 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, almoft all the American towaito thefe ^fortunate people, I have only been able to obtain it in part, and have aitofigned the account to the archives of the town where I have been aMe to collect them, and fhould have been glad to have been able to have prefented the ftate with t&i® grateful thanks of my countrymen. I do not doubt but the total of thefe benefadlions is more than two hundred thoufand dollars; and I do not include in this fum the relief afforded by individuals to individuals offered with fincerity, a feeling for misfortune, and, I may add, with fraternal a£»; fection. The wants of thefe French coloiiifts, driven from their country, and defpoiled by barbarity, were fooner felt, fooner fuccoured in the towns of the United States, where thefe unfortunate victims arrived, than ex- preffed by themfelves; and thefe fuccours have hardly had smy athes term applied to them than neceffaries; thefe fuffeier#&(|j$e.abide, and have continued to abide, in fome of the town^ftluring the laft four years. I know examples of whoifufafttiMesfeeing admitted for two years to the intimacy and comforts of American* fatMKes. I have alfo known fome to whom houfes have been let, of whioh$^*expenco&$i&ve been defeayedy and who would ftill receive the fanae;l)0f|>itality, if they CJ^ieinfelvfcs'diaA riot refufed to profit by thefe kindneffes asfaylonger. I know mafteiisicrf H&Bfe&ing houfes, who, learning that thefe French gueftsL quitted:iJp|fer houfes, becaufe the fmalk^s^%sli&^m of money whddhiithey were able to fave in theirvflight was not fufftcient to defrayixbbir expences, have cordially folicited thlsfc further&fo©de with them as friends, and have at length prevailed over their delicacy to accept the offered kindnefifcljiBli know Frenchmen who having had a great difi^oertffiJltimvel before they arrived at a convenient port, from whence they coaidii depart for their own country, have been with tfeek fafat^^ lodged and nourifhed gratui- toufly, becaufe they were Frenchmen and unfoEtofcaife©.: Similar examples abound, and certaifilyfo many of thefe facts are greatly honourable both to the nation and to the individuals to whofe beneficeiajce they belong. Every private* i«& vidua! i«> aft the United States ®£ America, has an tffttise liberty of 6&iS£ffafaieS; and almoft all the rcn^d$$$fcfflV(BX'm$!,&* rope arethofe of the fe<fta*Jesi (there. But there are fome $ates where the Conftitution BY THE DUKE3E XA EOCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 6% conftitution requires of every citizen entering upon the legiflative or exe>. c&tive fundlion, to fwear " that he baiieyes in one God, in the future rewards and punifhments of another life, in the holinefs of the Old and . New Teftament, and that he profeffes the Proteftant religion." In fhort, with individuals, and even with fome focieties, religion is one of the objects which occupies the leaft of the attention of the American people ; and it is affirmed that in thofe ftates where Prefbyterianifm has preferred the moft of appearance, of influence, and of rigidity, it is exerci&fhia general only for the fake of form. ££lN^ There are in almoft all thetowns of America, at leaft in the principal cities ofthe ftates, focieties for agriculturey focieties for the encouragement of arts, and for the formation and maintenance of public libraries; thefe laft excepted, few among them atfcaifc the end propofed, and but few of ther& can ever be able to attain it in the ppsgfeiit ftate of America. The expences which thefe Ml focietiesinear in fmall pamf^ets, are paid by voluntary fubfcription, in .^htch. tke inhabitants of the United States, in eafjr circumftances, are more liberal when thsspublic good is the objedt of them, than they are in beftowingfcbeirtime in reading them. There are alfo a confiderable number of dh^itable focieties, fome of which., are marine focieties, whofe purpofe is, in feme towns, to provide a fohfiftence for thfir wives and children of captains, or mafters, who die at fea mT or for providing affiftance to all veffels WKsefcedHpom their coafts. There are alfo focieties for the- affiftance of emigmi^g|j that is to fay, for afliftkig with advice and* fuccours thofe ftranger^sA&s&raiFve from Europe, wifik an intention of dftab&fhing themfelves in America. JG)thersr fbbfcribe for the fupport of hofpitai^and fchoolsyasd for the daftribntiott of proper mediciae^; there- are fome fo^^jtee purpofes of ameliorating the fituation of prifoners; feme alfo for the civilization of theTndiaosr; and, laftly, others unite themfelveS-fe the purpofe of accelerating- in Amcmca, the epoch of the deftfud&Ofi'Of flavery. In a$ thefe different charitable focieties,- Gompofed;of mes of alclaffesy of aiPprofelions, and of all reli- ' gions, there is not onef*ifl/ not to be found; they are the which fome of the people called Quakers, are. Jagmts of a great many of them, .and; of feme. 670 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, feme they are the promoters and almoft the only members; fuch as tho fe who have the liberty ofthe negroes for their object. Without becoming on this account an extravagant enthufiaft of the Quakers, it is impoffible not to remark, that in every place where any beneficent plan is formed for the good of humanity, there they are always ready vifitors. They are perhaps, as is faid oi&them, as much engaged in the occupation of amaffing riches, as thofe who do not belong-to their ' fociety; but granting it to be fo, this does not prevent them from ap- plying themfelves, upon every occafion, to acts of kindnefs and beneficence. Their tenets, their principles, and their laws, rigoroufly pref<Mbe this duty; and their conftant infpection over their focieties inures them- to it. And though.there may be hypocrites among them, which is un-; fair to prefume, this pretended hypocrify, which would be'a vice in thofe whom it might fway, ought yet to be refpedted/ fince the good, which may refult from it, may caufe it to benlMined to the public advantage, and would even become a credit to their fociety. There muft, without doubt, be found among the great number of members of their communion, foi^.e.&bad men, but they cannot be notoriously fo0without being excluded the fociety. If there be among the American citizens fome Quakers whom falfe or hazardous fpeculations have draviptaito proceedings which delicacy and equity condemn, their number is but fmall; and the quantity of Quakers engaged in commerce is nearly equal to that of the men who compofe their whole fociety. Their private manners are regular and pure, and the luxury of thofe who refign themfelves 'the moft to it, does not exceed the eafe and conveniences of life. The courts of juftice are never engaged in deciding the differences which take place among them, and the number of law-fuits between the Quakers and other citizens is but fmall, in comparifon of their multitude, and the quantity of their property. Submiffive to the laws of the country where, .th^Jive, no ftate, whatever its conftitution may b^tias more quiet and mole faithful fubjedls. 4||Their wifhes for the freedom of flaves, and their efforts to haften the period of its accomplishment, has ereated them vio- Jent*and irreconcileable enemies in every^prt of the world. It may be, that BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFQUCAULT LIANCOURT. 67 \ that the exalted zeal of fome individuals may have drawn them beyond the bounds of a juft convenience, and from a well digefted prudence, and thofe are certainly blameable. But have they ever been even accufed of having excited the negroes to rebellion ? It has been by pleading and petitioning for them, as unhappy beings and as men; it has been by rifing againft flavery that they have fhewn themfelves their friends; and the Quakers are not the firft men in whom a defire to diffipate errors and to procure redrefs for the injured has produced hatreds and even per- fecutions. Perhaps it may be delicate to difcufs the queftion of negro flavery, at a period when fo many crimes and fo many unparalleled atrocities have been committed under the pretext of their emancipation; whence fo many miferies, either irremediable, or at leaft difficult to repair, have refill ted to the ftate, ^proprietors, and to the negroes themfelves. This queftion however is foreign to my fubject. But the Quakers had no hand in caufing thefe calamities; and their adherence to the caufe of fuffering humanity, and their frequent petitions in favour ofthe negroes, do them honour, as well as their vigilance, as citizens, in executing the laws which are favourable to this clafs of men. How honourable to them are thofe perfevering cares and affiduous attentions to the hofpitals and prifons, in which they expofe themfelves to the danger of catching the dreadful yellow fever when it appears ! I am fpeaking of them as citizens, without any regard to their opinions, to their rules and orders, or to the aufterity of their manners; in this refpect, I believe that a nation which has really at heart the good of mankind, cannot have better or more ufeful fubjects. The inferior claffes of workmen, down to thofe who labour in the ports, do not appear to me to be fo ruftic in America as they generally do in the old world. The reafon of this is, without doubt, that they are treated with more civility, and confidered by thofe who employ them as free men witjh.whom they have contracted, rather than as workmen, whom they compel to labour. They are like the workmen of every clafs, both. in I 6/2 TRAVELS -tS- NORTH AMEklfcA, ' in town and-country, much better paid than in Europe, by which they are enabled to live well. There is not a family, even in the moft miferable hut in the midft of woods, who does not eat meat twice a/day at leaft,, «M Irink tea and coffee; and there is not one who drinks pure water; the proverbial wifh of having a chicken in the pot, is more than accom- pliflied in America. The fhdpkeeper and the artizan live much better here than in Europe; and the table of a family*" - in eafy. cirGumftanGes, livingupon their income, is not better ferved in England and France, than a great many of thofe of tailors, hair-dreffers, &c. of Phiiadelphia, of New York, or tjf all other large towns in America. Though there be no diftindli$ftS acknowledged by the law in the United States, forturi$Fand the nature of profeffion form different^iyrfes.nii'SM merchants, the lawyers, the land-owners>«$#ho do not cukiMte their land themfelves (alffl the number/ s#feich is fmall from the ftate of Delaware to the north, i-s great in the ftates of the fouth), the phyficians, and&ke feJefgl^ form the fif$Pelafs. Tfe inferio^me^Ohantsj Ae farmed and the $§8teh$, may be include^h the fee&nd; and the thmdM%f$ is conPf&Gm of workmenl^ho let the&ifelves by the day, fe^flthe month, &c. 5n^[^f%a}]s> concerts, and public atMilfements, thefe claffes do tlifcfr&&k&i and yet, except the labourer in porti$$9&d the Common failor, every one calls himfelf, and is called by others, a gentleman; a fmall fortune is fufficient for the affumption of this title, as it carries* men from oi^lAfk'%6 another. They deceive themfelves very much who^think that pure re* publican manners prevail in American 3 The white AmcMfe^fegra pride which cannot-Wfelamed, and which proceeds from the negroes bein^ generally employed in the fervice, is afhamed^^ti^Mii^On of a domeHifc; fo that there eatmbt be reckoned throughout the whole extent of the United States, twenty H&tive Americans in the fla#e of don*8ftifc fervants. The clafs of dos&ef&ics'in America is compofed of poor priefts, Germans, and of negroes and Kfeti- Jattoes; and as foon as the firft have acquired a little money, they quit that ftatton, regarded wiHia fort of contempt^ and- eftablifh themfelves upon BY THE DUKE" BE' LA ROCHEFOUCAULT-LIANCOUET. 673 iipioii. land, which they clear and till, or in a fmall trade. In fhort, they becomedndependentvof a mafter. Hence it may eafily be inferred, that cod fervants are not readily.fcnmdEn America. The prejudice .which caufes-the- men in An?£rica to have fo great a repugnance to the ftate of domeftic fen itudc, d^fluence the women -in the fame degree; nothing is more common than to fee young womea of good families,'in the fituation of fervants,; during the firft years oftheir youth. Even their parents engage them in this fituation without fliocking any idea. I have been told by M, deFAUBOJSNE, a Frenchman, formerly a captain in the regiment of Auvergne (and whom the pride of independence induced to take up the bufinefs of a gardener for the fupport of his family, though he was forty-fix years of age), that he had had in his fersice, as maid-fervant, the niece of the Mayor of the city of^j^y ?lfe^, a young woman very honeft, and well brought up. §ng^lar examples areu!^ip3Qommon. In a country which has belonged to England for a long time, of .which the moft numerous and neareft connections areye^^ith England, and which carries on with England almoft all its commerce, the manners of the people^nmft neceJasil^^s^mble, in a great degree, thofe of ^England. To the American manoejes particularly»^ofe relative to living are the fame as in the provinces of England.; *4&s to the drefs, the Englifh fafhions are as faithfully copied, as the fending of merchandife from England,.and,'the traditis^of taylifc^and mantua-makers will admit of. The diftribution of the apartments in their houfes is like that .of England, the furniture is -Englifh, the town carriages are either Eng- -lifh, or in the JEnglifh tafte; and it is no fmall merit among the fafhion- abie world toJbave a coach newly arrived from London, and of the newefl faffiion,tfdSiha#fx>kery is Englifh, and, as in England* after dinner, which is not very long, the ladies withdraw, and give place to 4ri$king of ^gjsge in full bumperssaifcmoft prominent pleafure of the day, and ^^h it is,\confequ£»tly, very natural to prolong as late as poffible. There are .^reat dinners, num^6jy& t}g$jg*arties, «l$§|ed a long ti*£g§|g|jt Vol. II. 4 Q advance, « €7* > TRAVELS IN NORTH* AMERICA, ., advance, but no focieties. So that thefe tea affemblies are every where $$£nd of amufement for the ladies. Balls and plays are much frequented. It is generally underftood that thefe kinds of diffipation belong only to thfer|pwns, and particularly to large cities. Luxury is very high there, efpecially at New York and Philadelphia, and makes a dangerous progrefs every year; but eafily to be conceived, fince luxury^, in fome degree, the reprefentation/ of riches, and that wealth there is the only dif- tindlion. There are feme perfons who furpafs their neighbours, already too far advanced, in iia&ury; thefe injure the manners ofthe country, but spfo|bt the people cenfure, they purfue thefe fedudlive paths; and frequent and fumptuous dinners are held in as high confideration^fL the new as in the old world; and this cuftom has its advantages very often. It has been feen that this confideration.has raifed to the place of temporary j^refident of the fenate of the United States, a mari who was not efteemed by any of thofewho elected him, or by anyOther, either for his talents, his qualities, or for his character, but he entertained his fjteds with fumptuous dinner In the other towns, and efpecially in the$©untry, luxury is lefs preyafijfji^i but it continually increafes, and often out of proportion with wealth. The women every where poffefs, in the higheft degree, the domeftic virtues, and all .others; they have more fweetnefs, more goodnefs, at leaft as much courage, but more fenfibility, than* Jfee~men. Good wieisv and good mothers, their hufbands and tbeiuiefcafdren engage their whole attention; and their houfehold affairs, occupy all th<fii$,£ime and all their cares; deftined by the manners of their- country-to this domestic life, their .education in other refpects is too much- neglected. They are amiai- ble hy their qualities and their natussat difpofidbss^ but there are very few : among them who «ig*efo from ar^^^a^ifd aceomplifhmentSi V£k&& they efteem to be virtue in wives isi^l^^^et^^^^hole :%3££ and if in the United States maiee.may throw out her fu^tcion upo&fefKeng^, there are certainly not above ten ofNibem who^atvbe a^tc^uf^^M^, and all the x^^kseak thefe with great rigour. I have heard- fomesstefbands 1 n^tlfll complain, BY THE DUEEODE'LA -EOCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 67& ■complain, that the urgency of their wives makes this irreproachable vir- tue coft them dear. But where in the world is there a place where evil is not found by the fide of good ? The young women here enjoy a liberty, wiiich- to French manners would appear diforderly; they go out alone, walk with young men, and depart with them from the reft of the company in large affemblies; in fhort, they enjoy the fame degree of liberty which married' women; do" in France, and which married women here do not take. But they are far from abufing it; they endeavour to pleafe, 0:1 d the unmarried worrien defire to obtain hufbands, and they know that they fliall not fiieee-ed if their conduct becomes fufpedted. Sometimes they are abujRS!J#M f|*e men who deceive them, but then they add not to the misfortune offSB^i ing engaged their hearts to a dhiel man the regret of defervtr^gife'which might give them remorfe. When fhey have obtained a hufband, they love him, becaufe he is their hufband, and becaufe they have not'an idea that they can do otherwife; they revere cuftom by a kind of flat-e^fta* gion, which never varies. I do not know wThether there be many badly managed families in America; but none appear fo, though indeed they do not beai^the image of the moft definable happinefs. In the inferior claffes of fociety, where the manners of the women'are as exempt from reproach as in the more elevated claffes, it^i^id that thofe, of the young women are more eafy. Yet according to all whf^p*-! have been able to collect, it is the il&jfioii of a marriage, which they believe to be decided, which engages them to i&vevftirthcr liberties than they otherwife would do without this falfe hope. The fault therefore lies entirely in the men who deceive the young womet^Slrithout it can be juft to accufe thofe of libertinage who have not the prudence to guard themfelves againft it. There formerly was a cuftom in New England, and particularly in Connecticut, which various American travellers, in their accounts, attribute to- vicious manners; -but who, I confefs, ought to accufe me of dul- nefs, becaufe it always appeared to me, on the contrary, to be the effect -of-.the nureit "maimers; I and the moft innocent intentions, A traveller ^se&l 4 Q 2 arrived ipp •■WAVllLSirN NORTH AMEHKJA,vl arrived at the houfe of a friend, and the beds of the family were en§£j$8&~ He was put to bed with the family—with the boys, if there were any, and with the girls, if there were no boys. It may be conceived, that it is eafier for Europeans to compofe pleafant tales, and to draw^^'erry inferences from this cufto^-than to examine it in its native fimplicity, and the beneficence of its intention. Hofpitality among this new people was one of the virtues the moft regarded as a duty, and the moft religioufly obferved^^^^fjir houfes were few and fmall. A traveller to whom an entrance into one bfftitefe had been denied at the end of thet^fay, was not able to find another lodging near; tMr hofpitable manners could not fuffer hitix°to be refufed; and tWf^i^t diforder did not enter the head of the parents, or that of their daughters, and the gueft was admitted mto the hofpitable roof; and it f$£!Fhot, remarked that he arrived inconveniently. The part of the cfef8ifc|p$hich was not thrown off, was rather a homage paid to the dif- f^Sfee of fexes than a ifeifeffary means of fecurity; and the next day the traveller departed, to find on the next cH€mng axK£&er' hofpitable lodging. This cuftom, known by the name of bondelage, cea&dyah proportion as houfes became larger, the roads more freque&t&tl; and taverns eftablifhed; but the day when the idea of modefty entered to make this #efcrm, the manners had loft theitiffrnocence. Wqr% I have heard it faid by men who; had been admitted to this fpecies of hofpitality, and whofe manners were cet^kih^hbt very fcrupulous, that the flighteft attempt which they had ever made to abufe thi$¥efeeption had been received H^Mfe violent repulfes, and had caufed them fometimes to be turned out of bed, and fomeifftffes even out of the houfe; and no one ever told me that he had ever fucceeded in attempting to take ad^ vantage of this cuftom ; but their delicacy had not prevented t§c£m from defiring it, and would not have hindered them from avowing it. There probably may have been examples to the contrary; but they could only be reckoned as exceptib^s|? and too few to have iwthorifed writing travellers to have! played fo much upon this cuftom, wl*fe|f» whene ft^ confident' at what' period it^ok place, and with what in- ■■ . - $■ tention BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 677 tention it was.eftablifhed, is a credit to the manners ofthe country, and to the ,-^gysgf Jjjtjwhich it was praaQifed. Be this as it may, the cujftoxai has ceafed long ago, fo that there is no more truth in the account of thofe writers who reprefent it to exift at prefent, than there is of juftneis and goodnefs in their judgment when they attack the morality of it, or pervert the intention. But the cuftom which exifts ftill, and which may fhock the manners of an European, is; that of being, admitted to fleep. uppn mattreflps. JjncL upon ManketSj. in the fame chambers where the hufband and .wife fleep.: in their bed, and the children.©f~the family, b5ys, and girls, in, theirs,^ This, cuftom is alfo to be attributed to- the fcarcertefs.jofi houfes, and their fmal-Inefis,- which is generally reduced to one chamber, which renders this pradlice neceffary in thofe .parts :of the-United Stateswhich are thinly inhabited. I h^jgg^mare than once fouf**|r$^felf in fuch a lodging, when I have been travelling alone, or with companions of- my journey, and when I hav<3-jB§ft-'H£$£i travellers to whom I was a ftranger. The cham^ bers are very ..final!; and men often fleep near- the.bed of young and handfomej^y^whole fimplicity is not fufficiently alarmed to make, any. change in their cuftom ary night drefs. If th^branger fo lodged has his fleep retarded or br^Len by the ideas fuggefted by a fituation to which he is fo little accuftomed,.it is neither the fault nor intention of his good and kind hofts. 3 As- to the large towns, and-- particularly commercial'ones, the means - of libertinifm there are perhaps more numerous than in Europe, ;and J hear fay^&ta great many hufbands make ufe of thefe means. As in Ei^ope, poverty a^\anity of drefs are the determininfj^daotive which lead th^p^tmen into the paths of proflqfja^ion;—fo it is in the ^great townsqf America:: and.among, the married women,othofeu. whom the long; abfence andif^t^^pn of their hufbands leave without fure means. , offubfi^pce, particularly the vyi^^^f fefa^^Tinen, are, ifnot abfp- 4ty|£%*the onl^&es,.the.$wft frequently accufed of this illkd%ggadlice. I-.ought-to add farther, that the condition of the girkfwhp are kept in. thehoufes fet apart for proftit^Qn, is viewed, by the lower orders of the American ($3 'RAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, American -'people with weaker prepoffeffions than in Europe,-' and is look* ed upon merely in the fame manner as every other trade:' there are many examples of this defcription of women, who leave thofe fituations, place themfelves askfevants, or are married, and make faithful domeftieS and honeft wives. The municipal police connives at this kind of houfes; but if the neighbours'complain of any exterior fcandal, they are inftantly fhut, and the inhabitants carried to the houfe of correction. The Americans marry young, efpecially in the country: the occafion vtf&titfl&flbyoung men, who generally eftablifh themfelves very^^ either in fome liew lands or in fome trade, have for a1 wife to affift them in their labours, conduces to thefe early marriages as much as the purity of manners. In the villages, marriages are lefs frequent and rtotHfo hafty, efpecially fince tl^itftiSrat^m^fof luxury reriders an acquired fortune more necef- 4te^i£iand tkeltyfyung men hardly feel the neceffity of loving, with the project of marriage, till ^^^M^M0kdy fathfied, or are in the way of J&tafclpng, th^^more imperious necefll^^^aining money. But however good the marriages may be, the wfiSMvho dies is readily replaced by another, Ufe the country fhe is, as in Europe, a neceffary IM$fid to the management of dome^ie-affairs—fhe is the foul ofthe family. In town fhe is fo too. She is an indifpenfable refource for domeftic affairs, while her hufband is engaged in his own affairs, as every one is in America; fhe is an affiduous ^©ajjf^liion, and a fociety ever ready to be found in a country where there are no other but that ofthe family, and where*£he chil- *fa£ifoon quit tl^r ^atonal abode. To th#$ketch which I have juft given ofthe manners of the people of the United States, I could add :-lfome fea#&res more, but which would augment but little«*§&e knowledge which I have ftitid'-to give of them 3§6l$43$tively, or of themh%&f$m$klf befides, I am preffed to finifh this ■itiMclc, which appears too long, afetfady. An European coming into the new^#ld, and bringing-Hifeh'him Jthe^leed ofit$£:ufiage o^dhe politer attentions of t-h^t which he has quitted; hfe£>a%».ffeiiiily -WM^^*il^^li^i|ffei;ifim the need of what we call in 4^^i^M France BY THE DUKE DE LA B.0CHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. §%Q France the charms of fociety, which we know fo well how to appreciate, of which we know how to participate,,and wh§dk affords us fo many mo- meats of happinefs,—fuch a man will nofe find himfelf Satisfied in America, and his recollections will be continually fprinkling his life with melancholy. He cannot, if his heart has an occafion for a > friend, hope to find there the fweetnefs of a conftant and avowed friendfhip. The inhabitants of the United States have been hitherto too much engaged in their refpective occupations for the enticements of polifhed fociety, to be able to withdraw-their attention from them; they have not leiiure to confecrate to friendfhip. Such an European ought to have for a long time forgotten Europe, in order to live quite happy in America. But if he can readily lofie-t-lie- remembrance of it, j or take with him there the deareft objects of his affection, he will lead in America a happy and tranquil life. He will there enjoy the bleffing of liberty in the gseateft extent wtiyfcch it is poffible to defire in any polifhed country. H&$?ill fee himfelf with an active people, eafy in their circumftances, and happy. Every day will bring him to obferve a new progrefs of this new country. He will fee k«-^s£ery day take a ftep towards that ftrength and greatnefs to which it is called; towards that real independence which is for a-nation the refult of ha^anrg. the means of fatisfying itfelf. Befides, every man of talents who fhall go to America; every fkilful workman. • and every man who, without any particular talent, fhall take with.hi-m-fttfficlen't courage" and refolution to labour hard, is fure to find there, in a fhort time, the means of making himfelf independent, a man of property, and fo'o-n-after to acquire an eafy and honeft competency. Some of the reflections with- which T have accompanied the account J have given in this laft part of my journal/ of the conftitution^ of the government, of the laws, of the commerce, and of the manners of the United States, may be accufed of feverity. What anfwer ought I to make to this reproach, if it be laid upon me * It was my duty to fay what I faw and what I thought. I have fpared no pains to come at the truth, and to keep my judgment free from the influence of all pre- Jfo re judice, vns 660 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, Judice, and from party fpirit; I am inwardly confcious of this. Doubtlefs nothing obliged me to write a journal; but nothing could make me confent, while I was writing it, to difguife, or even to weaken my opinions. It is ftill more probable that I fliall be accufed of having judged, the actual politics ofthe governing party in America with a French partiality n I will not attempt to exculpate myfelf from a ftrong attachment to my country, and to all its interefts; I believe I do not yield to any one in this fentiment, fo general among the French; it is in me, independent of all the governments which my nation can give herfelf, as it is of all the misfortunes of which I have been, and of which I may ftill be the victim. But I fhould have reproached myfelf for having yielded to be guided in my judgment by fentiments for which I honour myfelf; I fhould then have run the rifle of not feeing the truth; and it is the truth after which I have been fearching, and for the fake of which 1 wrote. I think, therefore, that I have preferved myfelf from the influence of national prejudice, and I hope that the majority of my readers will think the fame. May America, ftrengthened by all the advantages which nature'has bellowed upon her, and with thofe which a happy&Gpncurrence of circumftances has added to them, already rich in her own experience, enjoy with a long profperity ! May the .people of America employ, without remiffion^ll their .vigilance and all their firmnefs to preferve their liberty and independence, which they have fo glorioufly acquired ! None of her citizens wifhes this more fincerely than'I. In fh^fe^may France and the United States draw elofer the bonds of alliance and friendfhip, which it fo much interefts the two nations to ftrengthen and to invigorate ! ;^fay generofity and good faith be the bonds-J^j^^dfng them together!g^Jn political, as in private life,.thefe are the moft ufeful and the moft honourable. I.add BT THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 681 I add here a brief view of the refemblancexand differences between the conftitutions of the United States of North' America, of that ofthe Union, as well as of thofe of the different ftates which compofe it. I Thefe- tables are the literal tranflation of thofe publifhed laft year by Mr. William Smith, at that time member of congrefs for South Ckreiina, at prefent minifter of the United States. Tariff of the Duties which the various Articles of Merchandize imported into the United States pay, finoe the lft of July 1797 • 5s aiti. * 0 a Merchandize Imported. Upon American Bottoms. pon j reign toms. 1 Fire-arms and bayonets, not otherwife fpecified _ i o per cent of their value i6| Philofophical apparatus imported for the ufe of fehools, &c. - - - _ free - free Anifeed - / - s^yb^lj &&# 15 per cent of value Articles produced or manufactured in the U nited States,-liquors excepted - Si^Sl?' MP£ ¥fi§NP^« - free Anchors - . 'J&s£ 10 per cent of value - ir Starch - ^n* 15 ditto i6f Slate - d?%^ ' &$$ 15 ditto - i6| Steel - -- .. iisr^S too cents per quintal - no Beer, ale, and porter, in caflcs or in bottles J&2&- 8 cents per gallon i — upon the value of the bottles #&r£ 10 per cent of value - ir Bricks and tiles - "12*" 15 ditto n Bonnets, hats, and all kinds of head-drefles 4**^ 15 ditto - 164 Boots jiii«fe uyttgm j^^^l - 75 cents per pair 824 Buttons of all kinds - - 15 per cent of value - |P Buckles for {hoes, &c. - - 15 ditto - 164 Brulhes - -- v - - - - 10 ditto 11 Coin, or filver - i!2 free free Cambrick - -_ « _ - f;ttf& 10 per cent of value - 11 Stockings - - - ••ifct> 15 ditto - JriS* i6| Wax, and fpermaceti candles - 3Fv- 6 cents per pound 6|- Wood unwrought - - • %£-lr>' free free Wood wrought (except cabinet wares) - I2| per cent of value I3l Brafs cannon, and articles made of copper - 15 ditto 164 Coaches^ or parts of coaches - 20 ditto 22 Cards for gaming - - 25 cents per pack m Cards for cotton and wool - 50 cents per dozen 55 Vol. II. 4 R fl 082 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, 0 Merchandize imported; Cables and tarred cordage - Candles made of tallow - Spikes • - Capers - Canes and whips - ■ - Cinnamon, goofeberries* comfits, &c. Chintz, callicoes, muflins, and all merchandize of cotton and wool in colour - Cocoa-nut - Chocolate - Cofmetics - Coals - Colours - Copper wrought - — in fheets, pigs, and bars . _ Compofition for the teeth and gums Coffee - Cotton - - - - •— manufactured without die or colour CutlafTes and hangers, either whole or in pieces Hemp ^re- Leather tanned, and all manufactures of leather, or where the leather is the eflential article - Citrons ----- Nails - - Pafteboard and parchment - Types for printing - - Dates and figs - - O _ Drugs (of the apothecary) except thofe ufed in dyeing Drugs and wood (for dyeing) - Lace and lawns - - - Lace for edges, fringes, lacets, &c. ufed by coach- makers, faddlers, &c. - Malt. - ' .Cabinet ware - Efle-nces, powder, and perfumery Fans, whole or in parts - 7Tin, wrought - — old - - - Artificial flowers, feathers, and other ornaments for adies - Copper wire, &c. - - - Cheefe Fruits of all kinds - ^Jfcfyg, China ware Furs ujtwrought In American Bottoms. 180 cents per quintal • 2 cents per pound 1 ditto 15 per cent of value ■ 10 ditto 15 ditto - j 12 ditto - 2 cents per pound 3 ditto - 15 per cent of value ■ 5 cents per bufhel 15 per cent of value ■ 15 ditto - free 15 percent of value ■ 5 cents per pound 3 ditto 10.per cent of value 15 ditto - 100 cents per quintal 15 per cent of value 15 ditto - 2 cents per pound 10 per cent of value 10 ditto - 15 ditto 15 ditto - free 10 per cent of value 15 ditto - 10 cents per bufhel 15 per cent of value 15 ditto 15 ditto .- 15 ditto free 15 per cent of value free 7 cents per pound 15. per cent of value t$ ditto - free I P I93 164 11 8| i3l 3tV m 164 164 free i6f 5k m n 164 no m 164 2i- 164 free 164 II 164 164 164 free free 164 164 free BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUGAULT- LIANG OURT. 683 t30 hrj Merchandize imported. In Ameri car Bottoms. 3 OQ Iron wire _ _ free _ :..-.-.; . free Packthread - "•'!--? 400 cents per quintal rff"' 4-4--0 Gauze lire^ $*'$' 10 per cent 3f value isl 11 Ginger - -. ■^t**'j 15 ditto -,- L** 164 Girandoles, w hole or in pieces - - 2o ditto - jjagk 22 Gloves and mittens of all kinds J#p| 15 ditto. - T|e 164 Lace of gold or filver [Xil 15 ditto. - .-< M Glue . wS;^: 15 ditto - - I l6l Clothes ready made - ^*^a 10 ditto _ _ 11 — liveries, fin niture, and utenfils of profeffion, belong- ing to perfons coming to refide in the United States - free - _ free Oil - i<W* 15 per cent of value - m Indigo - • >&»£ 25 cents per ?ound - *lh Jewellery, and artificial ftones - - 15 per-cent af value - 164 Play-things for children, not otherways fpecified /4Ps 10 ditto - - 11 Blank books - -wai 10 ditto - - 11 Diftilled liquors from corn. — of the firft proof - - 28 cents p er gallon - m — fecond _ - 29 ditto _ S1^ — third - - 7%* 31 ditto - - 34t'* — fourth- - it!5$ 34 ditto - - 37t — fifth - _ - 40 ditto - - 44 — fixth - From other matters. 60 ditto 55 — firft proof -. " '"*"* 25 ditto - rfrlQ m. — fecond - 're^* 25 ditto p! >_" 27* — third - - - 28 ditto - -s 3°£ — fourth _ - 32 ditto - Cml 351 — fifth - - - 38 ditto - - 4J i — fixth - - - 46 ditto - "^ gf Liquors diftilled in the United States, imported in the fame veffels in^ which they have been exported from the United States, viz. From molafles. — firft proof . 'iii&i 13 ditto - - 13 —■ fecond . 14 ditto - - 14 — third - 1 i&k 15 ditto •-^? - 15 — fourth- _ *?**>: 17 ditto % - 17 — fifth - _ .- 21 ditto - - 21 — fixth - 4R2 1 28 ditto | - 28 TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, Merchandize imported. In American bottoms. S 0 0 3.5\ 3 as . Y> 0 From matters the produce ofthe United States. — firft-proof - - 7 cents per gallon | - i — fecond- - - 8 ditto - 8 •— third - - - _ 9 ditto - 9 — fourth - - . ii ditto - 11 — fifth - 4^*1 13 ditto - ■ I3' — fixth - - / _ 18 ditto — I 18 Wopl unwrought- - _ free W&MM& ■ free Woollen yarn 225 cents per quintal ■ 247^ 1 Watches and clocks, in whole or iri pieces - 15 per cent of value • P : Merchandife imported directly from-China, or from the Eaft Indies, in veffels which do not belong to the United States, (except tea, porcelain, and all other articles fubjecl: to the higher duties . - • 12| — which fliall be re-exported in the fame, fhips in of value which they have been-imported - free - >...,,wre< free — not fpecifically fpecified in this tariff - - 10 per cent of value - 11 Looking-glaffes - • - - - t^ 20-ditto ■ 22 Manufactures of tin, compofition, and copper _ 15 ditto- .-,.' ■ 36 — of iron and fteel, not otherwife fpecified Ni 15 ditto ■ m 164 — ofcopper - - -. - - 15 ditto- - - J^hii ■ — of lead - - - |y|f 1 cent per pound • I-To — of cotton and wool, dyed or coloured - _ 124 percent of value ■ iH — ditto, without-being dyed or coloured .-*- . 10 ditto - 11 Marble, flate, ftones, bricks, tiles, tables, mortars, and other utenfils of marble or flate, and in general all- work in ftone or pottery - %3m 15 ditto 0\ 164 164 Mace (a fort of fpicery} ! - - %*&< 15 ditto - - ■ Merchandifes of mode - tplliw^ *;■?** 15 ditto - i6§ Molaffes - - - Tm 4 cents per gallon - m Mufkets and fire-arms,' with bayonets, whole or in pieces - - - l||plifi 4*1 15 per-cent in value .— -161 — without bayonets, ditto - - .€-1 15 ditto - *H 164 Myftard in powder -- $f& 15 ditto- - - 164 Muffins dyed, coloured, &c. * - - - tfhk 124 ditto - - ir% fi| — without dye or colour ~ 10 ditto NS • 11 ™utmegs - - 15 ditto - 164 Goldfmiths' ware. - pjj|| 15 ditto Mi m ^ranges - - - - rS 15 ditto - , t^fpij 44 16I Olives - 'W^^S H^l 15 ditto - - 3| Porcelain- lM 15 ditto - jlfv-5^) - -162 Dolls for children ,f&£ 15 ditto - jgl Gun-powder - - 10 ditto - 11 Powder for the hair - ;;^y 15 ditto - .- 164 Raw hides - • | v * ^itt^ free - free BY THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEPOUCAULT LIANCOURT. 685 trl O ^ Merchandize imported. In-American Bottoms. 3 oo' Calaminare ftone | . _ free free Lead and bullets ^^s _ _ 1 cent per pound ItV Paper, painted for tapeflry reT4; 1BP1? _ 15 per cent of value - 164 — for writing and wrappery - Iglifjs - 10 ditto 11 — ftrong - 4s2^»^ _ 15 ditto 164 Plafter of Paris P@|| ^S**8 _ free free ■ Pepper - - ^^HlL - 6 cents per pound 6f Piftols, whole or in parts ^J-%3 ikyr-ri _ 15 per cent of value - 164 Paintaings and engravings WW*** - 10 ditto 11 Allfpice - sS'S^ wmm - 4 cents per pound 4i Prunes - ;.?**!§£'' . 15 per cent of value - 164 Naval provifions !«oP Hi^i ¥*&&: free pselilp free Wafers - ii^Mfi ^^pl _ 15 per cent of value - i6| Raifins - ^r^* lySIf . 15 ditto 164 Glauber's fait • '^jSt^ |@iff$ . 200 cents per quintal - 220 > Sakeweighing more than 56 bs. per bu (hei ***1S 12 cents for 65 pounds i3i — weighing 56 lbs. per buflael or lefs llfSre - 12 cents per bufhel l3 - Saltpetre "- - j^ftUfi 4>f|| free free Saddles, whole or in parts ifr.rfe ~4. £^^g ^isis 10 per cent of value - 11 Satin, and other filk fluffs *^1f? *~£ff|g§S; ISIS 10 ditto . - - 11 Shoes and pumps of filk, for women &#^| .$*««! 25 cents per pair M — for men or women iMl& i^-.^rt: ^1||| 15 ditto 164 Sabres and cutlaffes, in part or whole ||pt^ - 15 per cent of value - m Soap - • - i|f^H|* If!!!/! 2 cents per pound 2i Sulphur - - Ire^'lf? ^8^4 free free Sugar, brown iwlf ~ r'S%] ^^ 2 cents per pound 24 . white clayed - - - 3 ditto - ? Jy-"? O 3- — powdered W&%- _ VS^v 3 ditto 3*3° — all other refined, and in powder - ||j"3g|N 14 ditto - W^>* Iffr — (Linnpeugas)■ - S$M ^K 64 ditto - m' — in loaves - - - - 9 ditto .:£g^f|p 9a — refined "*H«"i*%g lyKip: ^S^ lljkil" 64 ditto - 7 — candy - i!u&&W Sffe 9 ditto 9A - Carpets and matts - <p^fs *-re*po '«>i0Z 15 per cent of value - 164 Tobacco in powder - Wtw*'- */v-:g| &**£ 22 cents per pound 24' j Sail cloth 'ssfi'A ?i&& - 10 per cent of value - ,11 Tea, China and Indian — bohea- * - - ^£r^f ffiji 12 cents per pound i?f ■" — fouchong and other black teas Wl^ -lli 18 ditto - -v 27 .— hyfon imperial §b*;fi'^ - - ^^S 32 ditto 50 ■—other green teas - J^*re^ Kfefl IP 20 ditto - 3° £8$ TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, Merchandize imported. ' In American Bottoms. S 0 1 2.'o* 3 era W 3 Tea coming from Europe. — bohea - P*l 14 ditto j*JJ i7t — fouchong, and other black teas }M 21 ditto - "!rfl 27 — hyfon imperial - rel 40 ditto pfj 5° — other green teas - n 24 ditto - 30 Tea coming from any other place. — bohea • - - - £iii 17 ditto - - jfll — fouchong - ill 27 ditto - 29 iS — hyfon imperial - .m 50 ditto m 55 — other green teas - W$ 30 ditto - -• S3 Tobacco manufactured (otherways than in powder) 1 10 cents per pound W! 11 Glafs. — black bottles, containing a quart WA 10 per cent of value - ir i—in panes - _ 15 ditto - . 164 — all other manufactures of glafs ij|* 20 ditto - 22 Velvet - 10 ditto - 11 Wine in barrels, bottles, or other veffels. — from London, Madeira of the firft quality - 5 cents per gallon -■ 6 if — London, or brought from Madeira - 49 ditto - .- 5*A .— other Madeira - - 40 ditto ~ 41- — Burguny and Champagne - - 40 ditto - 44- — Sherry - - - - 33 ditto - - 33T3ar — Saint Lucar - .- 30 ditto - 33 -— Lifbon and Oporto Iti 25 ditto - ~ 274 — TenerifF, Royal and Malaga - 20 ditto - Z2 The duties upon all other wines otight not to exceed 30 cents per gallon in American veffels, and 33 cents in foreign veffels : nor to be lefs than ten cents in American veffels, and eleven in foreign veffels 40 per cent of value ~ 44 Upon the value of the-bottles - - -" . *'&'., 10 ditto - - 11 All forts of fruits preferved in vinegar -.-."--; 15 ditto - *6| All other merchandife not otherwife fpecified %m 10 ditto - .1 11 1 Wl NI-S. INDEX TO THE SECOND VOLUME. ACCIDENTS, account of one at Bofton, 178 ; a conflagration in the woods near Kingfton, which lafted many days, 231. Adams, John, declared Prefident of the United States, 521. Agriculture, ftate of, in Norfolk county, 12"; Burmuda hundred, 57 ; near the Coofooky Mountains, 125; Maffachufetts, 205; Ken- derhook Landing, 216 ; near Welmington, 259; at Warwick, 2/7; at Colonel Thyl- . man's, 289. Alexandria, 336*. Alexandria, the only Bank in Virginia at, 12. America, inconvenience of public carriages in, 29 ; low price of land, 68 ; remarks on the treaty with Great Britain in 1/83, 149, 150; obfervation on letters, 659 ; moral and physical education in, 660 ; workmen, their me- of living in, 672. Americans, their civilities to travellers in general, 16 ; their attachment- to the French, 64 ; their general character, 667 ; few natives in domeftic fervice, 6/2 ; their manners iimilar to the Englifh, 673 ; their hofpitality, 677 ; marry young, 6/8. Ames, Mr. at Durham, his character, 148. Anabaptifts, raife a colony at Rhode Ifland, 142; their perfecutions, 453* Andover, townfhip of, 201. Andrews, Mr. mathematical profefib at Williamfburg college, 28. Annapolis, city of, 131 ; the refidence of the great officers of ftate of Maryland, ibid. ; its churches, 132; its fituation, 295; population, ibid. ; ftate-houfe, defcription of, ibid.; its coft, ibid.; the college, 296 ; its endowment, ibid.; fociety and hofpitality of the city, ibid. Ann Arundel, county of, 297 ; its population, ibid. ; its produce and market, ibid. Arfenals, of the United States, at Springfield, 208 ; at Weft Point, 241. B. Baltimore, defcription of its buildings, 130; its- trade, ibid.; its population, ibid. Banks, three at Bofton, one at Salem, one. at Newbury Point, 160; their capitals and di- vividends, 161 ; one at Hudfon, 219 ; one at Wilmington, 266; three at Pennfylvania, 274; their capitals and dividends, 375; two at New York, 463 ; their capitals and dividends, ibid. Beef, fait, price of at Kinderhook landing, 217., Belvidere, account of the town of, 417 ; its po— : pu'lation, ibid. ; price of land, 418. Bethlehem, townfhip of, 211; its population^ 401 ; revenues, 402. Beverley, Colonel, a tavern-keeper, 201. Bird, Ordinary, account of, 68. Block Ifland, famous for cheefe, 140. Bogardus, Mr. his character, 224 ; defcription of his houfe and farm, ibid. ; cultivation of" his land, 227 ; remarkable phenomenon on his eftate, ibid. Bofton, Port of, its exports, 159; imports, ib.; v number of veffels in the port, 160 ; Author's third vifit to,—remarks on the prefident's refignation, 201; remarks on the commerce of England and America, 203; author's final departure from, 204> M Botetourt, Lord, former Governor of Virginia, ftatue to his memory at Williamfburg, 24 ;. much disfigured, ibid. BourgignOn, M. Pourchereffe, character of, 208.. Bradford, William, Attorney-general of Penn-- fylvama, 346, Brandy-Wine, village of, 250 ; famous for its mills, ibid ; particular defcription of one, 251; labourers moftly Irifh and Englifh, 253 ; a manufad;ory for printing linens, .255. Jrentford, townfhip of, in the county, of Eflex, 201; a large manufactory of fhoes, ibid. Briftol County, its fize and population, 148. - Brookfield, near, a great quantity of-potatoes . are raifed, 206 ; numbers of cattie reared, ib.; general produce, ib. . Burr, Colonel, his friendfhip for the author, 467. .. Bwfli Town, 344*. I Caroline county, 293. ■ Carrol, Mr. defcription of his manfion near Elli-" cot's Mill, 128 ; at-Annapolis, 296. oCaftle Ifland, near Bofton, its fortifications, 186. Centerville, chief town-of Queen Ann's county, 288; its fituation, ib. ; population, ib. ; church and prifon, ib. : Charleftown, in.Vj'jgyfta, defcription of, 106; ; its inhabitants, ib.; its produce, 107; fehools, ib. ;•- price of learning, ib.; churches, ib. "Chatham^ village of, 424. , 1 Chofter, chief city of the county of the fame I : name,; 247 ; here the firft colonial affembly • was held, ib. ; its population, 248 ; its cultivation, ib. ► Chefter, chief town in the county of Kent, 279; a college, ib. ; its eftablifhment, ib.; houfes, 280; courts of judicature, ib.; manner of ad- 1 "riiiniftering juftice, 281 ; robberies very frequent, 231 ; the caufe afligned, ib. ; account of ks prifon, 283 ; poor-houfe for the county, 284 ; expence of, ib. ; regular market, 287- - Cheyalier, M. from Rochefort, account of his corn-mill at Richmond, 37. ' Chew, Benjamin, of Philadelphia, author's refpect for him and his family, 384 ; his houfe at Germantown the feat of an important action in 1777, 392. Child-bearing, uncommon inftanee of, 249. Chriftiana River, 257. - Chriftianbrown, farm account of, 413 ; its pro duce, ib. Church-hill, defcription ofthe village of£288 ; its churches, ib. Clement's Tavern, account of, 394. Coal-mine, account of Meffrs. Graham and Slavan's, 63. -.-Coddington, Dr. his banifhment for religious .tenets, 141; purchafed from the Indians Aquidneck, now called Rhode Ifland, 142. . ■ Cooke, Mr. at Annapolis, his character, 296. , Coofooky Mountains, their cultivation, 123 ; - price of land, ib. vCopper-mine, defcription of, 244. .Conftitutions ofthe Union, and of the various ij States, 652. ■ . Dandridge, Mr. travelling companion of the au- ; tte, noi. Deldware", State of, 266; its extent, ib. ; con-! ftitution and laws, 267 ; its population, 269 ; churches, ib. ; exports, ib. ; mode of taxa- ■ tion, 27O ; amount of taxes, 271. De Witt, a phyfician, defcendant of John De Witt, his character* 230. Dickifon, General, his large gift, 263. ' Difmal-Twamp, canal forming at, 7 ; its length, ib ; fragments of trees found here, 118. Dixes, Mr. 306. Dorchefter, county of„.292 ; its produce, ib. Dover, town of, feat of the government of the State of Delaware, 272.- Dover Coal-mine, defcription of. 63; the farm and purchafe, ib.; foil moftly fand-ftone, 119. Drunkennefs, the common vice of the inferior Americans, 666. Dupleffis, M. a French officer of valour, 243. Duties, Tariff of, 65.3. $ vfyt E. Eafton, city of, the capital of the county of Northampton, 414; its fituation, ibid; its ' population, 415 ; trade, ib. ; mills and produce, ib. Eddy, Thomas, at New York, his character, ■ 464, 465. Elk Town, 352*. Ellicot's Mill, account'of the village of, 128. Elizabeth's River, 4. Erancy Ifland, 4. Euftis, Dr. of Bofton, the Author's high opinion of, 204. Exeter, its fituation and buildings, 198 ; its inhabitants, ib.; an accademy, ib. Faubonne, M. de, account of, 673. Fayette, La, a marble buft erected to his memory at Richmond, 32. Fell's Point, 130. Federal City, origin, hiftory,,and defcription,312. Fever, the dreadful eft'eds ofthe yellow, at Norfolk, 6. * Fine on phyficians inoculating without the permiffion ofthe juftices, 40.' Franklin, Dr. Benjamin, his patriotic fpeech on i the adoption of the conftitution, 494. Fredericktown, the capital of Frederick county, 124; its fituation, ib.; population, .125; produce, ib. freehold, townfhip of, 520. Frey, Mr. a German, defcription of his inn, ■ land,-and purchafe, 96, 97. Frigates, expence of building, 627. Frifh, John, a Quaker, account o£hia farming, . 137; purchafes of his land, ib.; quantity and' price of his cheefe, ib. Fuckenhoe Creek, 64. Gallatin, Mr. his opinion ofthe finances of the United States, 556, 569- Gaming, the rulb|g^ paffion of the Virginians, 39; tables publicly kept, and particularly at Richmond, ib.; the profeffion of bank-holders envied, becaufe profitable, 40; murders frequently-enfue, ib. Genet, M. recalled by France, 545. Germantown, in the county of Philadelphia, defcription of the village ofe S9# I its extent and population, ib. ; its cultivation, ib.; -manufactory, churches, and fehools, 39&. Georgetown, 331. Gilpin, Mr. a refpectable merchant in Philadelphia, defcription of his.papet>miJfconBrandywine Creek, 256; of his houfe, 25ffj ■'?*£ method of working his ^mill, and quantity made, ib. Gloucefler River, 21. Gnadenthal Farm, account of, 413 ; its produce, ib. Goochland Court-houfe, account of, 64; defcription of a court-day, ib.; the attachment of the natives to the French, ib.; remarks on them in general, 65, 66. Grant, Mr. 1; on board his veffel the Author proceeds from Charleftown :to Norfolk, ib. ; particulars of the voyage, ib. Gray's Ferry and Toll-houfe, account of, 246. Guillemard, Mr. and the Author, meet at Norfolk, 18 ; at Richmond, 60 ; from thence go together to the mountains, 62,; he proceeds frbm Newport to providence by land, 140. • H. Hacketftown, defcription ofthe village of, 420; its population, ib. ; its produce, ib. Hadley, canal at, described, 210. Hamilton, Mr. a federalift and eminent barrifter at New York, character of, 467. Hampjton, mail from Norfolk to, the ufual conveyance of travellers, 18; bad accommodations, 19 ; its exports, ib. ; cuftom-houfe now united to that pf Norfolk, ib. Vol. Ii. Harper's-Ferry, 109 ? granite found' at,: l~2&. Haverhill, defcription of the town of, 2ffQre j fhip-building, ib. ; its population, ib. Havtcde Graces 347*. Helt, Mtf. his account of the exports froth Bermudas Hundred, or City PointV'^,'remanrks. on it, 60. Heffian Fly, damage done by the, 27ft, 286. Hope, Major, at Belvidere, his eftate, 418 ; formerly proprietor of all the land near there, ib.; price of his purchafe, ib. Horfes, great lofs of thofe fent from Virginiafrjr the Engftfh againft the French iflanSs, 11. Howard, Colonel, at Baltimore, his lands let on building leafes, 130 ; defcription of his houfe, 131 ; his character, ib. Hudfon, defcription of the town of, 217; its population moftly Dutch, ib.; its prodoiflseta^. tiadej and fhipping, 218 ; its exports, 219. I. Jefferfon, Mr. defcription of his beantijSFf&t at Monticello, 69> 70; the culture arid management of his land, 72, 73 ; its produce, 74 ; his character, 77 to 80 inclufive. Indian Corn, price of at Marlborough", 205 ; sear BVockfidd, 206; at Weftfield, 2ll; Stockbridge? 212; New Pattz, 233 f Brandywine Mife, 254. Iron, lingular acoonfetof an, between Chefter and Wilmington, 248. Inoculation, reafons of the Virgmsitts againft, 41. K. Katfkill, account of the town of, 224 ; its fitua-^ ation, 225 ; firft fettlers Dutch, 226 ; its cul* tivation, 227. Kent, county of, 287 ; its population, ib. Kent Ifland, defcription of, 294; its inhabitant, ib. Keyflel Town, account of, 93 ; its population, 94. Kinderhook, in the State of New York, 216 J • its inhabitants moftly Low Dutch, ib.; partial to their own habits, ib.; cultivation $f land,ib. Kinderhook landing, 216 ; defcription of the village of, 217. j Kingfton, chief town in Ulfter coanty, 229 ; its then population, ib.; rebuilt next year, &30^i burned by General'Vaughan in 1777, ib.; 230; inhabitant moftly Dutch, ib. ; its traffic, 232. Kingfbridge, in the Ifland of New York, £43. Knox, General, a friend of the Author's, his 4 S fecond fecond arrival' at- His eftate, with remarks thereon, 179» 180 ; quits it, and returns by I b fea to Bofton, 184. Kofciofko, General, employed in the army of General Gates at Saratoga, 468 ; Author's opinion of and friendfhip for, ib. Kyrningham, in the Green Mountain, townfhip of, 211. Labour, price of at Norfolk, 14; at Woodftock, 100; at Stonningtown, 137; near Haverhill, 200 ; at Marlborough, 205 ; Springfield, 207 ; Weftfield, 211 ; at Stockbridge, 212; at Kenderhook, 216 ; at Hudfon, 219; Katfkill, 225 ; New Pattz, 233 ; in Queen Ann's county, 288. Land, price of, at Norfolk, 13; at Williamfburg, 27 ; at Staunton, 89 ; at KeyfTeltown, 93 ; Shenandoah Valley, 98 ; at Woodftock, 100 ; near Harper's Ferry, 123 ; at Ston- ningtox^gii'137 ; near "Haverhill, 200 ; near Brookfield, 206; at Springfield, 207; at Kyrningham, 211 ; at Kinderkook, 216 ; at Sperenza, 220; near Katfkill, 223 ; at Kingf- . ton, 230 ; at New Pattz, 233. , produce of the, at Norfolk, 6, 7; at Williamfburg, 27; at Staunton, 89; at Fre- der'icktown, 125 ; at Stonningtown,;vl3?l??at ; Marlborough,-205 ; near Brookfield, 2.06; v.t Weftfield, 211 ; at. Kinderhook, 217 ; at iCatfkill, 227; at Chefter, 286; in Queen Ann's county, 288. Law, Mr. 336*. Laws, of the State of Virginia, againft gaming, 39.; againft inocuhtion, 40. Lea, Thomas, his opinion on working a corn- ;" mill, 253. "Lehigh Mountains, account of, 397, 422. : 1 .inae-ftone, value of, at New York, 231. T.indfey, Major, William, Commiffioner of Cuftom-houfe at Norfolk, 17 ; his- civilities to the Author, ib. Livingfton, Edmund;,.his character as' a politi- .ivingftons, Meffts. of New York, proprietors 'of the town of Sperenza, 220. London, in the Green Mountains, townfhip of, '211. Long Ifland, .defcription of, 466; its popula- Lowel, Adjutant-general, his conduct to the. Author, 242. , Lownes, Caleb, character of, 345, 34.6. Lynam, Mr. a- member of congrefs, his character, 20'9. M. Madifon, Bifhop, Prefident at the college at Williamfburg, 25.; occupies the chairor^r^ ral and natural philofophy, ib. ; his falary, ib_ Maine, province of, demands to be erected ittlo a feparate State, 527. • Manchefter, defcription ofthe village of,%4|''?-a Manners, delineation of Virginian, 37 to 40, in- clufiye. Marfhall, Mr. John, the moft celebrated coun- fellor at Richmond, account of his practice^ &c. 39 ; his character, 6l. Maryland, State of, honfe robberies frequent,. 281 j trials by jury, 282 ; poor's rates levied in each county of, 285 ; depopulation of white people, 290 ; the caufe affigned, ib. ; fields very large, 291 ; the reafon why, 292 ; political opinion" of its inhabitants, 293 ; hiftory of the ftate, 298, 299 ; why called Maryland, 298 ; its conftitution, 300 ; its taxes," 301 ; qualification for a cithc^i, 303. general obfervations onj 355*. 1 its mineralogy, 362*. Maffachufetts, religious perfections here gave birth to fhe State of Rhode Ifland, 141; foundation ofthe State, of Maffachufetts, 151 ; oppreffion of the Europeans, 152; caufe of quarrels between Indians and 'fettlers, 153; new conftitution 1780, 155 ; value of a dollar, ib. * qualifications of reprefentatives, 156; freedom of religion, 157 ; its public fehools,. 162 to 165 ; no flaves in this commonwealth, 165 ; flaves, in 1778, were 18,000; blacks, iir 1790, were 6,000, 166; its public debt, l67; public revenues, 168; its taxable property, ib. ; divided into counties, 170 ; police and laws, ib. ; precautions againft the fmall-pox, ib.; influence of the clergy, ib. ; attention ofthe legiflature, 171 ; power ofthe. lawyers, 17&; its roads, 173 ; adminiftration of the poor, 174; military eftablifh-' ments, ib.; general fpirit of the people, 175; . its exports, 177; character of its inhabitants, 214, 215, 216 ; account. of an infurrection,. 555. , Melhaneck Creek, 69. ! Merrimack River, 200; defcription of the bridge. over it, ib. Merchandize, ihfpc&ion of^ at Richmond, particularly tobacco, alfo on James River, 35 ; pot-afh.at Katfkill, 225. Middleton, village of, 276. Milford, 'account of the village of, 69 ; a depot- 1 for the coanmodities of diftant parts ofthe. country, 83.. Military Eftablifhment, of the United States, 61-9, 620 ; 619, 620; pay of artillery and engineers, 621; of militia, 623. Mills, in Virginia, not good-in general, 9 ; one atRichmond, turns fix pair of ftones,"and pays a rent of near 6,000 dollars, 37 ; feveral near Exeter, 198 ; three erected by Major Provoft in the townfhip of freehold, 221 ; fixtyjo | eighty at Brandywine, 250. Mineralogical obfervations, 118, 119, 243, 244. Montgomery Fort, 242. Monticello, the beautifnl feat of Mr. Jefferfon, 69t 70. Moravians, details refpecting them, 397 to 401; fettle at the town of Bethlehem, ib.; account of the fociety, 403 to 407 ; theft* religion, ib.; marriages, 408, 409, 410 ; all Germans or defcendants of Germans, 411. Morriftown, the capital of Morris county, 423 ; its population, 424 ; churches, ib. Murders, common at the gaming-houfes; which are publicly kept in Virginia, 39, 40. Muflriniguhk Creek, 421. rellSS Nazareth; a Moravian fociety, account of, 412; its population, ib. Negro, defcription of a white, 133, 134. Nelfon, General's houfe at Yorktown, headquarters of Lord Cornwallis, 20; remains' unrepaired, ib. Newark, defcrirition of the village of, 425. Newburg, in Ulfter county, its population and cultivation, 234; its afhipping, ib.; great quantity of butter fhipped from, 235. Newcaftle, town of, its houles, ib.; population, 274. New Hampfhire, its conftitution,~ laws, and commerce, 188 to 192, incluiive ; its taxes, 192; roads, 193; its produce, 194; its tonnage and population, ib.; its fehools, 196 ; militia, ib. New Jerfey, hiftorical account of, 425, 426 ; its conftitution and laws, 427 to 433, inclufive; its commerce 434, 435. Newmarket, defcription of, 97. New Pattz, inhabitants of French extraction, 232;'their religion, 233; flaves allowed, and price of flaves, ib. ; lands moftly meadow, iB. ; culture and produce, ib: ; fcarcity of water, 234. Newport, Author's arrival at; 140 ; falubrity of the air, ib.; tombftones, ib. Newfpapers, printed at Staunton and Winchefter, 91; numerous in America in general, 666. Newtown, defcription of, 101. New Windfor, in Orange county,'235 ; defcription of the-town of, ib. ; its houfes, i£.; head-quarters of General Wafhington in 1779 > ib. New York Ifland, a "college for Prefbyteriaris, 235. New York, Author's arrival at, 135 ; hiftory ofthe State of, 437 ; of the colony, 437, 438 ; its prefent conftitution, 438 to 441; its taxes, 441 to 444; its civil laws, 444 to 446; its ; criminal laws, 446, 447 ; its fehools, 447 to " 449 ; flavery, 449 to 451 ; its militia, 451, 452 ; its finances, 453 ; trade and commerce, 453 to 456 ; defcription of the city and its population, 456 to 459 ; its hofpitals and public charities, 460 to 463 ; its banks, 463 ; its prifons, 464, 465 ; defcription ef the country around, 465; political opinions, 466; - medical fociety, 665. Nicklin, Mr. defcription of his villa, 390 ; price of its purchafe, ib. Niemcewiez, a friend of the great Kofciofko, wounded in the memorable affair of Saratoga, 469 ; his character, ib. Norfolk County, its fize and population, 148. Norfolk, Author's arrival at the town of, 2 ; defcription of 4 ; burned by Lord Dunmore when Governor of Virginia, ib. ; damage in fo doing, ib. ; unhealthinefs of the town, 6 ; its great trade, ib. ; exports, 8; fmuggling partly prohibited, .10; animofities between the Englifh merchants and Conful, 11 ; prices of veffels, 13; grammar fehools, ib. ; courts of juftice, 14; tan-pit and rope-walk de- fcribed, ib. ; defcription of the country around, 15 ; its churches, 17 ; moft of the colonifts from St. Domingo fettled here, ib.; the caufe, ib.; generofity of the natives, ib. Northgarden Mountains, account of, 86; wine made at, 87- North River, account of, 236; Weft Point, its narroweft paffage, where General Arnold intended to betray General Clinton, 237 ; its" "ftrong fortifications, ib.; is the ftation ofthe corps of artillerifts and engineers ofthe United States, 238 : an arfenal, 241. O. Olive, Mr. defcripton of his villa and pleafure- grounds, 465. Opoflum, defcription of an, 421. Ofborne's, a village between Richmond and Peterfburg, 54. Oxen, price of a pair at Williamfburg, 27 ; Brookfield, 206; at Weftfield, 211; at Stock- bridge, 212; tit New Windfor, 236; at Springhoufe, 394, Oxfordforge, 4S2 419. p. Palmer, 207 ; its fituation and culture, ib. . Paffaik River ,i defcription of, 435. Patterfbn, William, one of the j udges- of the fupreme court, his character, 436. Patterfbn, town of, 435. Patuxent River, 143 ; the bridge, five miles from Providej*<p£„ is the-boundary of the State.of Rhode Ifland, ib,; its cotton-works, founde- ries, anchor-forges, &c. ib. Peale, Mr. his mufeum of minerals and animals, 385. Te»j0nl$ Inn, account of, 97. Penn, William, his. patent, 322; his arrival on the banks of the Delaware, ib. ; frames the conftitution in 1682, 324; again in 1683, ib..;. a difpute with.Lord Baltimore, and returns to England, ib. ; arrives in 1699, and refumeshis government, 325 ; in 1701, fixed the conftitution till the revolution, ib. Pennfylvania, State of, its origin, 321 to 325, inclufive; its. conftitution after the revolution, 226, 327 I the number of its reprefentatives in 1789, .326; the prefent conftitution of 4790, and its qualifications, 327, 328 ; its laws and courts of judicature, 329, 330, 331 ; code of civil laws, 331 to 336; its criminal - laws and prifons, 336 to 339: the labour and management of prifoners, 339-to 346; prions fubje<ft to a committee, 346 ; of whom conftituted, 347 ; table of the numbers and clafles of convicts, 349; obfervations thereon, 350; its police laws, 351, 352, 353 ; military laws,.353, 354; laws relative to the adminiftration, 354,355, 356; relative to finance, 356 , to 36Q ; refpedting the. ftate, of public lands,. 360 to 364; commerce of Pennfylvania, 364. Peterfburg, town of, 54; its produce, ib.; exports, ib. ; corn-mills, 55; no church, 56. Philadelphia, Author's arrival at the city of, 133; its foundation, 323 ; its population in 1684, ib. ; in 1685, ib.; its freedom of religion, ib. ; exports, 365 to 368 ; to where-exported, and their value, 369 ; duties paid at the cuftom-houfe, 370; account of veffels arrived and failed from the port, ib. ; price of freight, 371 ; rates of infurance, 372,-373; price of fhip-building, ib.; defcription of the city, its hofpitals, markets, &c. 376 to-381, inclufive; its taxqs, 381 ; price of labour, 382 ; manners of its inhabitants and amufe- ments, 383 to 386; places of worfhip, 387; fehools, ib.; Author quits this city, 390; account of the return of the militia from Pittfburg, 633, 634. Phyficians, in Virginia, badly paid, 39. Pifquefi Creek, 416,, 428=.. . Planks, price of, at Katfkill, 226. Plume, Mr. account of his rope-walk and fanf* pits, 14. Poor's Rate* firft introduced into Virginia from England, 28. Poplar Spring, 126. Portfmouth, defcription of the town of, 5 ; a fmall market and church, 6; communica'- tion from to Norfolk, 15 ; temperature of the air, 16; its exports, 193 ;-. iri^orts, ib. ;. houfes moftly of wood, 199- Potafh, price of, at Katfkill, 225. Poughkeepfie, famous for horfe-racihg; 220, Potomack, falls of, 334*. Prefqu'ile, the plantation of Mr. Davies Randolph, at City Point or Burmuda's hundred, 56; his dwelling-houfe, 57; his judicial management and cultivation, ib. his fale of fifh, 58 ; his price of the plantation, &c. which is- for fale, ib. Prevoft, Major, fon of thte-General, defcrij&S®t£ of his houfe and family, 220; has%ere6led three mills, 221. i Providence, town of, 146; its trade, 143 ; ex-, ports, ib. ; manufactory of cannons and anchors, ib; Providence Plantation, in Rhode Ifland, ftfc named by Roger Williams after his banifh- ment, 141 ; its trade and exports, 143-. Q. Quakers, raife a colony at Rhode Ifland, 142'; their perfecutions, 143 ; in no part of America retain flaves, Author's high opinion of, 670,671. Quakerftown,.account of the village of, 395 ;. its population, ib. ; its produce, ib. Queen Ann's County, its foil and ^oltivatioEu 288; its population, 292. Queenftown, defcription of, 294. ^M$ R. Raleigh, Sir Walter, his extenfive grants in Virginia, from Queen Elizabeth, 50; his misfortunes, and the lofs of his colonies, 51. . Randolph, Edmond, a counfellor at Richmond^ 38. Redout creek, 229. |Religious perfecutions, Roger Williams, 141 J Doctor Coddington, ib j Quakers and Anabaptifts, 142. Reynard, Mr. a tavern keeper, hiafarm, 422; his civility; &'; the Author, ib. KWde Rhode tftand, ftate of, ll§LJ its legiflative affembly, ti&i its laws, 144; its taxes, 144, 145; itspraon, 146. Richmond, dejfcription of the town of, 30; of the capitol, 31 jwc^ffc otjts-building, ib.; ftatue of General Wafhington, done by Houdon, a native of France, §&»} a. marble buft of Mohf. La Fayette, by the fame artifl, ib.; its populjCaon and trade, ib.; its merchants deal in bills of exchange, 33 ; great ufury, ib.; Author's departure from, 53 ; defcription of the bridge, ib. Richmond canal, defcription of, 34. Rieux, Plumard de, interefting account of, 67 ; price of his land, &c. 68. Roads, how repaired, in Virginia, 4&; in the ftate of Maffachufetts, 173; in the ftate of Pennfylvania, 355. Roanoke, ifle of> 51 • Rochefontaine, Monf. de, accommodates the Author and Mr. Guillemard with a barge, 241. Rockfifh mountain^ defcription of, 87 'r a bad . inn, ib. Rouere, Monf. a diftreffed Frenchman, relieved ;^.Major Prevoft, 221; purchafes a .fmall farm at Hudfon, and fettles there, 222; his ^character, ib. Rufh, Dr. of Philadelphia, character of, 379. Kufiel, in the green, mountains, townfhip of, 211. SO Sagodus creek, 229. Sedgwick, Mr. a member ofthe Dnited States,, counfel for flaves, 166 ; his plea, ib.; meets the Author at Stockbridge, 212. Seight, Mr-a lawyer at Newburg, his civilities to the Author, 236. Semes, a negro, 30 or 35 years of age, learned to write and read unaided, 15. Shenandoah, valley and river of, 97. Sheriffs, of allthe counties, collectors of all the taxes, 47 ; their fecurity and commiflion, ib. Ship-building, price of, at Norfolk, 13; at Haverhill, 200; at Hudfon^; 218-i at Katfhill,. 226; at Philadelphia, 373. SmithiColonel, a fhopkeeper at Springfield, account of his eaft iron manufactory, 209. Societies, account of the different, in America, 669. Somerfet, county of, 292; its produce, ib. Sperenza, account of the town of, 219; the property of Meff. Liyingftons, ib. Springs, mineral, in thejjieighbourhood ef Staunton, 90; fweet in the county of Bote tourt, 91;- quite cold at James river; ib.; mineral near Hacketftown, 420. Springfield, defcription of the village,of, 207?. its produce, ib.; an arfenal and magazines, . 208; its trade and manufactories, 209. Springfield, Weft, account of the townfhip" of,. 210; itspofaSatiori, ib.'; its produce^ib. Staunton, defcription of, 89 ; its houfes, 89 ;, -its population, 91J tan-yard and market,, ib.; Prefbft^r&n church, y2; its inhabitants fond .of gaming, ib.; manners of the people . fimilar to thofe of Richmond, 93. Stockbridge, defcription of the town of, 212;. its cultivation and produce, ib.; fervants' - wages, ib. Stonriingtown, a"fea-port iniGonnecticutr, 136; its extent and population, ib.; famous for" cheefe,'ib.; its land tolerably good, 137; its- produce, 138 ;. a fmall fifhery, ib.; tax for fehools, 139; admiration.of.the French, ib. Sony:,point, which General"Wayne took from- the Englifh at the point of the bayonet, 243*. Suffix, pOpuiatioEUof the county ofj 422. T. Talbot^ county of, 292; its produce, ibid. Taxes, account of the,- at Wrlliamfiburg, 27 ^ in Virginia,46; at Rhode-lfland, 144, 145^ in the State of Maflachufetts, 1-70; in the State of Delaware, 269 to 271 ; at Maryland,.: 301, 302; inthe State of Penfylvania,-356,. -357; Philadelphia, 381; at Bethlehem, 401; at New York, 441 to -444. Thayer, Mr. at Providence, a friend of the Authors, 146; his character, 14-7 ; a lineal descendant of Roger Williams therfounder- of Providence plantation^ 147 ; his houfe on the fame fpot that his progenitor cut down .the - firft free and erected the firft-hut, ibid. Thomas, Mr. late French Conful at-Baftjtjiore,--, anecdote of, 128. Thomaftown, in the -county of Lincoln, Au^ thor's fecond arrival a.t, 123. Thylman, Colonel, account of his houfe, 289 V- its fituation, ib.; cultivation <*f his land, ib.;; his charader, 294. Tobacco, culture of, at;W,#e>d-*s tavern, 84, 85,. 86; near Frederickftown, 125 ; near South—. Trade, comparifon of the, between Norfolk and Portfmouth, 5. Trees,-fpecies bf, at Yorktown, 19; at Wil: liamfbuig, 23; in Virginia, 121; on Dr. Warton's farm,. 2.59; in the county of Dorchefter, 293 ; .near Belvidere, 419- -Van: V. Van Grofbeck, Mr. his character, 230 ; an intimate friend of Colonel Barr'sJ 231. Vermont, its population, 195. Verplanck point, on the eaft fide of the North river, 243 ;' near this place the union of the French and American armies was formed in 1781, ib. Verplanck, Mr. at, Verplanck point, his unfriendly reception ofthe Author, 242. Virginia, flave laws milder than in other coun- ■tries, 43.; its >eburts of juftice, 43; public debt, 44; injudicious grants of lands, 45; unprovided with arms for its militia, 43 ; fehools about to be erected, ib.; qualifications of the candidates for the houfe of delegates, 49; governors, juftices of the peace, &c. 50.; religion, its freedom, ib.; extenfive .grant of Queen Elizabeth to Sir Walter Ra- Sleigh,Jb.; mongrel negroes in greater num- .bers than in Georgia :or Carolina, 82-; general ' obfervations, 111, 112; its exports, 114; its population, 115; its extent, ib.; character of its inhabitants, 117; its canals, 121; roads,ib. "Virginians, their veneration for the French army, 29; their politenefs and civility to each -other, 37; character of the, 117. ■United States, fituation of, previous'to the year 1787,-470, 471,. 472; its conftitution, 472 to 485 ; no religious teft required, ib.; debates in the convention of the feveral ftates on the adoption of the conftitution, 497 to 501; -table of the periods- when the feveral ftates accepted it,: and how it paffed the different conventions, 502; new articles propofed to .be ridded to the convention and fubmitted to • the ftates, 502, 503, 504; general obferva- vatiorison the conftitution, 505 to-510 inclufive ; ftate of parties,from the adoption of .the. conftitution to the jirefent period, 511 to 527; ftates added lince, 527 ; election of prefident and vice prefident, 523; 529; laws relative to that election, .529 to 532; including ftates iri which the electors are named by the people, 533 ; and by the legiflature, ib.; remarks on the fame, 533, 534, 535 ; fummary account of the choice of prefident, 536; of vice prefident, 537; the ceremony of, 538; departments ofthe executive power in the government, .539 ; it, judicature, 539, 540,541; its criminal Jurifprudence, .541 to 543-J it* civil jurifprudence, 543,.544; department of the ftate, 543 to 549; finances, their hiftory and prefent fituation, taxes, revenues, &c 549 to 559; its debts, 558 ; its banks, 559 to 564; Author's opinion of, 561 ; ftatement of the affairs of, 563 ; its dividends and prices of funds, 564; table of tonnage, 564,565, 566; its duties and drawbacks in general, h67; on wines and fpirits, 571; on v&rfoiis articles, 571 to 574; including exports and importsto England, 582, 595; its commerce, 583; exports in general, 587, 589; trade,- 597; remarks on its trade, 601 to 608;'^JIItO ings in land, 608 to 619; military eftablifhment, 619 ; of what it confifts, 620; pay of the, 621 ; pay of the militia and cavalry, 623-, 624; fortifications, 625; fums raifed for fhip building, 620, 627 ; expences ofthe war department, 628 ; its connections with the Indians, 635 to.638; the trade with them and capital employed, 638; civilization of the neighbouring Indians, 641 ; naturalization in the United States, 642 to 644; enumeration and population, 645 ; extent of its territory, 646 ; its coin and divifion of monies, 648,649; climate, 652: its effects on the inhabitants, ib.; common traits of character, 657; obfervations on the cultivation of letters, 659; education, 66.0, 661; obfervations by the Author, 663.. "Warwick, village of, 276. Warton, Doctor's farm, defcription of, 258 ; its trees, 2»9 ; his character, ib.; his agricultural fyftem, 260. - Wafhington, George, a ftatue in the capitol at Richmond, Well, Mr. account of his reven bee, 265. WTeftfieid,its-foil arid population, 211 ; its foil moftly meadow, ib. Wheat, produce of, at Stockbridge, 212; at Kinderhook landing, 217; at Hudfon, 219; at Brandywine mills, 253. Wheat, produce of, 100 bufhels, 254. Williams, Mr. a candidate as member of the houfe of reprefentatives, 213. Williams, Roger, a minifter of the gofpel, banifhed from Rhode Ifland to Salem for religious principled, 141 ; again from them to : to his memory, i from his tim- Mofhawick, ib. Williams, Mr. at Marlborough, account of his family and farm, 20.5 ; its produce, workmen s jg men*s wages, price of land and cultivation; ib.; his politics, 206. Williamfburg, defcription ofthe village of, 23 ; the capital of Virginia, before the revolution, ib.; its population*.24; defcription of the ftate houfe or capitol, ib.; the college, ib.; its income, ib.; price ofeducation, 25 ; hofpital for. lunatics, 26; culture of lands, ib.; its produce, 27; inattention to manuring the ; SfeHyib.-; market, ib. WjLDiamtownfhip, a college, 213. Wilmington, city of, 250; its population, ib. ; houfes, ib.; a. cotton manufactory eftablifh- ing, 255 ; alfo one for bolting.filk, 256; price of provifions, 264; poor houfe, ib. "Wilmington, port of, 263 ; its trade, ib-; its^ market, ib.; bank,.266. . Winchefter, the capitaLof^Frederick county, 102; its trade .and population, ib..; . its produce, 103; more-than 20 lawyers in this town, 104;: churches, prifon, and court houfe, ib.; market and price of meat, 105. Woodlands, the feat of William Hamilton, 245; ; defcription of the houfe and "gardens; ib7.; his- character, 246. Wood's tavern, 86. -Woodftock; account ofthe town of, 99; the ca-< pital of- the county of Shenandoah, ib; formerly called Miller's town, ib.; its trade, ib-;.. its produce, 100. fej Yates,- Mr. travelling companion of the Author, . 303. York county, its population, 22. York river, 21. York town, account of its foil,.19; its trees, ib.;.: the place where the American war. ended, 20; General Nelfon's houfe the head quarters of Lord Cornwallis, ib.; defcription. of the village of, 21 ; no trade, ib.; its population,, ib.; was formerly the emporium of all Virginia, ib.; its exports,,22; no regulac-«xar-•= ket, ib. DETECTIONS TO THE BINDER. Map ofthe Northern States to face the Title. . of the Southern States page 17. The fix Tables, together, at page 652. ' IS N. B; The Signatures 2 S, 2T, 2 U, 2 X, .2 Y, 2 Z, and 3 A, have Duplio and thofe follow which are marked with the *. T. Gilltf, Printer, Saiifhuiy- Square. F Interefting Booh pi R. PHILLIPS, No. 71. St, Paul's Chureh-Tard. \ TWO NEW AND IMPORTANT SCHOOL-BOOKS. This day was pubiifhed a Second Edition, price (A. 6d. bound, with the ufual allowance to Schools, cmbellifcedwitha beautiful Frontifpiece, B^?"' I. THE BRITISH NEPOS; or YOUTH'S MpBR: Being ftle&'Lives of illuftrious B^takis^ wfao-hbve been difthtguilhed by their idrtiifes* faferjts/ bfe*tearkarae^prt^refs in life/wfthittdddftaT and practical refle&ions. Written^fepdfefjrfor the ufe of Sq&oSlij ap^'catKfhlly adapted to the §txfaiiate$ and qapfey£ie&*«if: Youth, k&ej&f'i By WILLIAM MAVOR, LL. &/*^ Vicar of Hurley, Berkfhire, and GlramSifi!iftHn£ WH bf 0Um^eSi^",L' -Thefollowing Critical Approbations cannot faH to fatisfy Parents and Tutors, of the Propriety of placing Dr. Mavor's Britifh Nepos in the hands of their refpeSilitZ Children and Pupils. •'■''. " In prefenting this work to the Public, Dr. Mjavor has made a valuable and much wanted addition to the School library. To Britifh Hiftory, Chronology, and B%|¥aphy, the jj^eniipn ofthe Britifh Youth ought to be awakened; and while we give Dr. Mavor the praiSHknd credit which are due to him for his agreeable Biographical Manyal, we would recommend it to th^KSaffers of all our refpectable Schools. It is pleafingly written, and the reflections interfperfed are .cafaflated to inspire a love of pure and generous'wtnciples. Embracing the moft eventful and important perib3f;b£. Englifh Story, this rich variety of biographical matter muft prove acceptable to young readers, and to fuch as thirft for knowledge. The example of the good and wife has always been jrbnfidered as conduciveto virtue, and Dr. Mavor's mode of ftudying biography muft give ltr^culiar efficacy." Monthly Review, Jime. ■'' The Biography of illuftrious men deferves a more diftinguifhed rank than it has hitherto occupied in the fyftem of Britifh education. We think Dr. Mavor's Nepos has many advantages to recommend it to extenfive circulation. It is compendious, and includes thofe prominent characters -of Britifh excellence with which it is chiefly defirable for our Youth to be acquainted. The ftyle in ^vhich the Lives are written may juftly be corfimehded." Critical Review, April. From the plan and execution of this work, I am warranted in giving it a ftrong recommendation, As being moft admirably calculated to cherifli the beft and moft tried principles in young minds. The perfons whofe memojf^Tthis judicj$B£}I&ographer has fele^jdr&qtS^improvement and entertainment "of Young Perfons, are thofe mid4nave filled up the moft important ftations in Society* with the greateft glory to themfelves and advantage to the State. Th&aftions of thefe -great men are told in a plain and pleafing manner, and, what is no fmall difficulty in a work adapted for juvenile capacities, the incidental reflections fuggefted by particular circumftances or.traits of character, are fo naturally made, that the reader cannot but feel the effeft ofthe example," With a force equal to the pleafure exeked by the ftory." Chriftian Spectator, N~o. IX. Alfo by the SAME AUTHOR, and ofthe fame Size and Price, IL NATURAL HISTORY, for the.#& of Schools ; founded on the Linnsean Arrangement of Animals; with popular defcriptions in the manner of Goldfmitb and BufFon. ""J^W Illuftrated by Fortr-fix Copperplates, reprefenting One Hundred and Fifty of the moft curious Objeas. ■" Natural Hiftory is a ftudy particularly fuited to Children ; it cultivates their talents for obfervfc- tion, applies to objects within their reach, and to objects which are every day interefting to them.'* Edgeworth on Practical Education. " It is to be regretted that Buffon, with all his excellencies, is abfolutely inadmiffible into the library of a young Lady, both on account of his immodefty and his impiety. Goldfmhh's Hiftory of Animated Nature has many references to a'divine Author. It is to be wifhed that fome perfon would publifh a new Edition of this Work purified from the indelicate and offenfive parts." Mifs Moke's Striclures on Female Education. III. ROMULUS, or a.TRADITION OF ANCIENT TIMES. Tranflation from the German of AUGUSTUS LA FONTAINE, the moft efteemed of the modern German Novelifts; by the Rev. P. Will/ Minifter ofthe German Congregation, in the Savoy. In Two Volumes duodecimo. Price Eight Shilling in boards. \mmRwk
Page numbers 321-364 duplicated in print. Page 451 misnumbered as 45. Translator and alternative title from Strathern and Edwards (1970). English translation. Volume 2 of 2. Includes errata. Includes index. Other copies: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/938122502
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Original Format: University of British Columbia. Library. Rare Books and Special Collections. E164 .L32 1799
Slavery--United States
United States--Description and travel
Atlantic States--Description and travel
Canada, Eastern--Description and travel
Travels through the United States of North America, the country of the Iroquois and Upper Canada in the years I795, I796 and 1797; with an authentic account of Lower Canada, by the Duke de la Rochefoucault Liancourt. Vol. II
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