Excursion through the slave states, from Washington on the Potomac, to the frontier of Mexico; with sketches of popular manners and geological notices

Contents

tTTRODUCTioN Page 5

Chapter I

Barnum's Hotel at Baltimore — Canvas-back Ducks — Soft Cr:il)s ; the Process of changing their Shells — Railroad to Fredericton in Maryland — Iniiiositions practised upon Travellers — Notices of the Geology of the Country — Harper's-ferry ; the Shenandoah Valley — Nationality of

the Gernianico-Aniericans 11

Chapter II

Ascent of the first Alleghany Ridges— A dandy Rattlesnake — M;ignificent View across the AUeghanies from Warm Springs Mountain — Affecting Reception at the

Hotel of the Warm Springs 15

Chapter III

A Virginia Hotel in the Mountains— A dancing Landlord — Incomparable Beauty of the Warm Baths — Their gaseous and solid Contents— The Hot Springs— Cav'xous Effect produced upon them by an Earth()uake— Geological Structure of the Ridges — View of the AUeghanies

and the Warm Springs Valley 17

Chapter IV

The celebrated White Sulphur Springs — Mr. Anderson, a Character — Description of this Watering Pl.^e — Beauty of the Alleu'hany Mountain — Our various A^entures at a Blacksmith's Boarding-house and Alabama Row — An old Lady makes a double Somerset — Our Removal to

Compulsion Row ' . 21

Chapter V

State of Society at ConipuUion Row — Fine Flavour of the Oysters at New Orleans. — Priv.ite.Cabins at the Springs — A Cyclopean Kitchen — Merciful Plan of Killing Bullocks with the Rifle — Extr lordinary Performances at Dinner — Mr. Wright's Shanty in the Woods — Generals who have never been Soldiers — The Ferryman and the

Traveller without a Title 25

Chapter VI

The System of Alleghiny Ridges cau.«ed by an Upheaval from below, and the White Sulphur Springs a Consequence of the Movement — Gaseous Contents of the Waters — White Rock Mountains — Horizontal Fossiliferous Strata in place . . ... 29

CHAPTER VIL

Paying beforehand as bad as not p'lying all — Joiuney to the Sweet Springs — Beiutv of the Country — Gaseous and solid Contents of the Waters— Remarkable Dam formed of Travertine — Ancient Travertine 350 feet above the Level of the present Springs, probably derived from them before the Valley existed — Proofs of the ancient Surface

being lowered 31

CHAPTER VOL

Depart on foot across the Mountains to Fincastle — Deciduous and evergreen Trees alternating with the Soil— Fincastle, a Virginia Town — Mr. Jefferson the Confucius of the LTniled States— Free-lhinkinfe and Universal SuftVase h's grand No<trums for good Government — A patriotic Proposition to blow Virginia " sky-high" to save its ( 'onstilution — Botetourt Sprinss — A Camp of Negio Slave-drivers— The Cotfle of SI ives crosses New Rivi r m.iiacled and fettered — The Necro drivers in mourning . 34 CHAPTER IX.

Cause of some Confusion in the Designation of the Alleghajiy Ridses explained— .\ Duck shootine Landlord- Arrive at Abingdon— Account of Saltville— Geologv of thev Valley and surrounding Coimlrv — Visit to King's Cove^a singular basin in Clinch Mountain, the residence of nnvOutlaw— His account of the Panthers and Wild Cat Ac&pucheurs— Strata of the Clinch Mountain . 39 CHAPTER X.

i nleisHfjt Piirtyin a Stage Coach— Arrive at Blountsville .1 the State of Tennessee- Fists versus Dirks and Pistols— KnoxviUe—jyieet President Jackson . . 43 CHAPTER XL

A Negro-driver In mourning for a great Patriot— IiTeverence of a Negro to a White Man's Ghost— Bivouac of a Gang of chained Slaves— An agreeable and lively fellow-passenger— Cross the Cumberland Mountains— Arrive at Sparti — A Driver killed — Hickory Vallev — Mounds and Graves of the Indians that formerly dvvelt here— Imaginary Pigmy Race 46

CHAPTER XIL

Indian Practice of burning the Underwood to enable the Natives to pursue the Game — The Aboriginal Races t» be traced by their Mounds — General Jackson's Plantation, the Hermitage — His Character by a Neighbour —

Arrival at Nashville Page 44

CHAPTER Xni.

Description of Nashville— The College— Professor Tronst — The Baptist Preacher and the Rattlesnakes — A' lity betwixt certain Mexican Idols and others foir i m Sequatchee Valley in Tennessee — Public Spirit of the leading Men of Tennessee — Mr. Ridley, one of the earliest Settlers— His Adventures — Indian Attack upon a stock aded Fort — Heroic conduct of Mr. Ridley's Daughter — Murder of White Children by the Savages, and uninitigable Hatred of the Whites to them . . . .51 CHAPTER XIV.

The religious Sect of the Campbellites— Order of Priesthood confined to handsome young Fellows — Geology of this part of Tennessee — Section of the Country made by the Cumberland River for 300 miles— Reraiirkable an cient Bed of broken Shells — Harpeth Ridge — Unios of

the Western Waters 55

CHAPTER XV.

Leave Nashville— The Barrens of Kentucky— The Mami.'.oth Cave — First View of the Ohio River — Arrival at Louisville -Falls of the Ohio — Henry Clay, his great Popularity— Captain Jack of the Citizen Steamer, a most catawauipous Navigator — Public Indifference to the loss of Life in new Countries — Explanation of "a Sin to

Crockett" 58

CHAPTER XVI.

Leave Louisville, and take to the Siage-Coach again — Difference betwixt the Manners of Slave and Free States — Vincennes in the State of lllinoi-; — Old Race of French Canadians there — Beauty of the Prairies — Horizontal Coal Seams in the Bmks of the Rivers — Grouse — Ancient Bed of the Mississippi seven miles broad — The Town of St. Louis in the Stale of Missoiu-i- Col. Smith of the British Army—" Rum ing a Negro" explained— Jefliirson Barracks; admirable Management of a regimental Fund — Viiide Poche and Pain Court — A group

of thirty Barrows 63

CHAPTER XVIL

A remarkable Barrow — The monuments of the Ancient Red People analogous to those of the Old Races in Europe — Proljable Cause of the Diversity in Indi.in Dialects—A petiitii'il Forest — Society at St. Louis — More Boliins; at the Talile d'fldte — Fur-trappers of the Rocky Mountains — Excellent Markets at St. Louis — Money the

real Object of Life 66

CHAPTER XVIH.

Piircn;;s<> a Waggon— Old French Town of St. Charles on Ih, .Missouri — Linden Grove — Origin of the Mounds —

Customsof the 0.<age Indians 69

CHAPTER XIX.

Departure from St. Louis — The Comforts of an Indian Matrimonial Alliance — Tame Buffiloes — Herculaneum in America — Immense flocks of Cranes — History of Mrs.

GiiUatin- Valine's Mines 71

CHAPTER XX.

Taplitt and Perry's Lead Mines — Geology a( the Lead District — System of Galeaiferou- Veins — Their Structure antilogous to the Trap Ve'v.s at T'ofernish in Scotland — Farmington — Visit '.o the Iron Mountain . 75

CHAPrnu XXI.

Mine la Motte — Veins of G;ilena disturbed bv elertrie Matter— Eiirthqifike at New Madrid i i 181 1— Frederictown — A Judge's Encoiniain on the Mis iiri Bar — P.uither Stories — Greenville— F;i re at mu opulent Missouri Finner's— Life of ti S<|Maiier — How to ' brine np" the Soverei'in People — Bear Oil Currency — Scene in a Couit

of Justice 78

CHAPTER XXH.

Big Black River— First Appeira'ice of Pjirroqiiei-ts— Elk .and Buffalo- Little Black River — A Disaster, and a Nighs in the Woods— [vory billed wooH peckers, a u/ one of the Sovereign people un.-ilile to hold the renis ofG-iVernment— A Forest on Fiie— The Ciurant River f!2

IV

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXIII.

The " Military Road"— Eleven-aiile Point River— Obliging Conduct of Widow Newland — The Advanttiges of "camping out"— Our front and hind Wlieels quarrel; the hind Wlieels turn back — Mr. and Mrs. Meriwether —Two suspicious Travellers— Murder of Mr. Childers— Extraordinary Spectacle produced by wild Pigeons- Bury the remains of Mr. Childers . . . Page 80 CHAPTER XXIV.

Description of White River— Judge Tucker's Cabin; his Account of the Murderof Childers— Account of the first Judge Lynch, and the state of Legal Practice in his Court — A successful Speculation in Lead — Clock Pedlars insinuating Persons — White River Mountain — A

Ruffian of the first order 88

CHAPTER XXV.

Little Red River— A distressed Family of Emigrants— A new kind of Grist-mill— Black Wolves— A wild American Scene — Reach the Arkansas River — A Tavern at

LitUeRock 92

CHAPTER XXVI.

State of Society at Little Rock— Don Jonathan— The Reverend Mr. Stevenson— Newspapers versus the Bible— aovernor Pope and his Lady— The Laws of Honour at Little Rock— A Duel in the Dark— A Bully killed-A College of Faro and Rouge et Noir— Arkansas Legislators—The Speaker murders a Member in the body of

the House— His Trial 94

CHAPTER XXVII.

Apology for the Manners of Arkansas— Manner of living at Little Ruck — Aversion to Shutting the Doors — Tertiary Deposit- Alluvial Bottoms, awd the Species of Plants growing there— Visit to the Maramelles— German Eniiiriants- Geolo>;v of the Mammelle Mountain— Enter aniiiiniense Swampy Plain— Danger of travelling without a Guide — Some apprehension of being obliged treat the Wolves— Reach a House . . CHAPTER XXVIIL

A Concert of Wolves— Ancient Bed of the Arkansas— An Arkansas Honeymoon — Method of crossing a Bayou — Depart from Little Rock for the Hot Springs of the Washita— Explanation of a "Turn-out"— Stop at the hest Hotel on the Road—" Nisby" and her " Missus"— Stump Handle and Company— A fastidious Judge— Governor Shannon's Hotel— -A Jury de circumstantibus 102 CHAPTER XXIX.

Arrive at Magnet Cove— An interesting Mineral Locality— Strange effects of a Hurricane— Reach the Hot Springs — Wluttington without his Cat-Rare Accommodations —Description of the Springs— Fishes in Hot Water- Temperature and Gaseous Contents of the Hot Springs —The Travertine presents different Constituents below

the Smface ^"'

CHAPTER XXX.

Curious and beautiful Mineral Structure of the adjacent Country — Locality whence tlie Indians procured the Mineral for their Arrow Heads— An unsophisticated "Bar-hunter" — Panthers fond of Buffalo Tongues — Strange single Combat betwixt a Hunter and a male Buffafo- Reasoning Power of the Animal— State of the Hunter's Nerves after the Battle . . ■ ■ H" CHAPTER XXXL l^ave the Hot Springs— Regain the " Militaty Road," and cross the Washita— How to drink Coffee made ot Acorns —The Caddo River— Mrs. Barkman, her extraordinary Accomplishmpnts— A Hunter's House and Family— Tertiary Deposits— A travelling Courthouse — A Knot of Gamblers— A Paddy going to Texas . . .113 CHAPTER XXXII. 3ear-hunting— Approach a subcietaceous Country— Judge Crose—iavspiited Territory betwixt Mexico and the Unifo,t q.^t„< A Prairie Country and subretaceous Fossils llGen'Mallhnrston-F'ot to wrest Texas from Mexico —Beauty of the Country . < • • • • ^^" CHAPTER XXXI 15.

Probable Origin of Prairie^Land most attractive vvhen to be obtained without paying for- Mr Prior-Great Abuse of the Government Land Sales- An Oasis in the W^ilderness-(;ontrast between the educated and uneducated Chisses— Two patriotic Members of the Sovereign

CHAPTER XXXIV. .

Mr Williams; his Adventures— Blunder of the Mexican Government-Reach Red River-Cross Into the Me.v.can Province of Texas-Lost Prairie, a l^f " '^'i' "^' "^ Land-Surprising Crop of Cotton m a field of f^O »='^,^ -The Abolition of Slavery a hopeless Case-The futme

—Wild Muscadel Grape '■'^•'

CHAPTER XXXV. _, ^ ,

Course and ancient Channels of Red River-The Great

Raft — Method adopted of cutting it out — Danger to which New Orleans is exposed — Fight betwixt a Man and a Panther — Tragical Story of a Hunter — Comical Relation of a Solo played by a Negro to a Gang of Wolves— Fossil Oysters in the Saline .... Page 125 CHAPTER XXXVL Reach Little Rock again — A pleasant Christmas Eve — Embark in a Steamer for New Orleans — A painful Moment — Structure of the Banks of the Arkansas — Snags and Sawers explained — Frequent Change of the Channel of the River — Cotton Plantations — Cause of the Variegated Structure of the Banks explained . . 128 CHAPTER XXXVH.

Approximative Method suggested of calculating the Age of Fluviitile Deposits— brutal Conduct of the Passengers—The Quapaw Indians a Tribe of the Osages — Monsieur Baraqu6, his Adventures — A young Vagabond — Post of Arkansas — Monsieur Notr<ibe — The River en

croaching upon the Country 132

CHAPTER XXXVIH.

The Steamer boarded by Swindlers — Pandemonium afloat —Day and Night Orgies— A Mysterious Lady— Printed Rules to Decoy Passengers— White River— Reach the Mississippi— Arrive at Vicksburg— Mr. Vick and his brother Gentlemen — W^orse and worse — Compliments to the Captain of a Steamer by the Gentry of Vicksburg — A View of the Grand Gulf^Reach Natchez — A happy Deliverance of the Swindlers — Judge Lynch in the State of Mississippi — Arrive at New Orleans . . 135 CHAPTER XXXIX.

The Delta of the Mississippi— Shiftings of the Channel of the River — Formation of new Land at its Mouth — Visit the Cemeteries— M<ide of contriving dry Graves — Piratical-looking Population — Green Peas out of doors, Jan. 1 — Li:era^ie and the Sciences — New Orleans Americanised — Sunday Evening Meetings — Faro the principal Business transaced in New Orleans — The Legislature

in Segsion — Good Theatres 139

CHAPTER XL.

Quadroon young Ladies, their hard fate — Liaisons of a Bal de Societe— An amiable Father of several Families — Good Prospect for the Anglo-Episcopal Cliiirch — .Spanish Cathedral — Depart from New Orleans — A Uailroad — Embark in a Steamer fur Moiiile- A Sioi m — A Bisho]) on Board — Come to an anchor— The Cay and River of ^ Mobile — Tokens of Commercial Activity — Beauty and Cleanliness of the town of Mobile — Spanish Creoles —

The Bolero 141

CHAPTER XLL Embark in a Steamer, and ascend the Mobile and Alabama — Tertiary Deposits at Fort Claiborne — Great Fertility of the State of Alabama — Aptitude of the Creek Indians for Labour — Reach Montgomery, in Alabama — Filthiness of the "principal" Hotel — Engage a carriage to cross the Indian Territory — Country inundated — Cross the Oakfuskee and enter the Creek Nation . 144

CHAPTER XLH.

Description of the Mnscogee or Creek People — Their Sachem, M'GiUivray— Their Treaties with the American Government — The Chiefs Corrupted by the Georgians — Weatheifoid, the Sachem of the Lower Creeks, attacks and massacres the Garrison at Fort Minims — General Jackson takes the Field — Fatal Battle of Tohopeka, or the Horse Shoe — Weatherford's Heroic Conduct — M'lntosh betrays his Countrymen, .ind is shot — The Creeks compelled to cede all their Country— Apology for the Whites 146

CHAPTER XLIII.

The Ruins of a Nation— Kateebee Swamp— A Turkey unplumis — Emigrants with their Slaves — Phlebotomy — Diamond Rattle Snakes — Reach Columbus, in Georgia —Falls of the Chatahixichie- Leave Columbus— Observations upon the Family of Naiades— Arrive at Augusta — Railroad to Charlesion, in South Carolina — Reach

Columbia, in South Carolina 151

CHAPTER XLIV.

The Gentlemen of America— The Tariff and Nullification —Wise Conduct of Mr. Clay and Mr. Calhoun— Warlike Propensities of an Octoganarian philosopher— A black animal chained on the roof of a Stage-coach— The character of the White Man elevated by the Slavery of the

Black one ^^^

CHAPTER XLV.

Inside and Outside Passengers in Chains— Bob Chatwood and the Game of All Fours— A social Bottle— An Overturn in the dark— Reach Charlotte, in North Carolina- Description of the Gold Region in North Carolina and Virginia— Richmond, in Virginia— The Chesterfield Co^ field— Speculations respecting it . • • • 15o

CoNCLCDiNQ Chapter

Introduction

The River Potomac, from its source to its moutli, in the great Bay of Chesapeake, divides the Atlantic frontier of the tjnited States of America into two unequal parts ; and being-, with the exception of the State of Maryland, the boundary betwixt the southern slave-holding states and the free states to the north, may be said to form a hne of demarcation betwixt their industrial pursuits, their laws, and their manners.

To that portion which lies to the south of this line the attenion of travellers has been much less drawn than to that extensive division of the American Republic which lies to the north and west ; and it is to supply, to a certain extent, the want of information which exists respecting some portions of the southern states, that the author has drawn up the following pages.

It was during an interesting tour in 1834—1835 from the city of Washington to the frontier of Mexico, and whilst in one of the unfrequented and wild parts of the territory of Arkansas, that he communicated some account of those remote countries, and the manners of the frontier settlers, to a distinguished scientific friend in London, which not long after led to the announcement, by the late Mr. John Murray, of a work substantially the same as the present publication. But the author, who was at that time residing in the United States, had scarcely prepared it for the press, when he was induced, upon the advice of some American friends of great respectability, to reconsider his intention of publishing. It was remarked to him, that however sincerely he might wish to avoid giving umbrage in any quarter, yet that the work contained some opinions, and the relation of some incidents, which could not at that time fail to irritate a powerful interest in the United- States, and might set him at variance with many esteemed friends. As this counsel came from a friendly and judicious quarter, he determined rather to suppress the work for a season, than to expunge the passages objected to ; and he was the less reluctant to make this sacrifice, because, intending to return to his native country, he could look forward to a period when he could express with perfect freedom any opinions that were on the side of humanity, of rational liberty, and the moral government of mankind.

On his return to England in the spring of 1839, his intention of devoting a portion of his time to the recording of a few of the incidents of a somewhat adventurous life, thirty-six years of which had been passed in various countries abroad, was again postponed. Within two months after his arrival he was honoured by Her Majesty's government with the appointment of Commissioner on the then existing boundarydispute betwixt Gi'eat Britain and the United States of America — an appointment, the official duties of which, if they had not engrossed all his attention, would, from obvious considerations, have rendered it at ; that time unadvisable to act upon his first intentions.

Freed, at length, from that restraint, the author has again taken up his manuscript, •and having well considered the incidents and sentiments contained in it, and finding nothing there that can be deemed objectionable by those who are only desirous to have the truth placed before them, he has at length resolved upon its publication ; assuring his readers that it is a faithful and almost literal transcription from his original journals, the incidents of the tour having always been noted from day to day, and the journal having been regularly written up at least once a week.

That some of the opinions these incfdents elicited at the time may not be received with the same favour by all those under whose notice they may come, is very likely to be the case ; for, in our day, the field of English literature embraces an extensive and populous region of America, where sentiments are cherished respecting the rights of men, both black and white, that are diametrically opposed to them. The author, nevertheless, ventures to submit to the candour of those transatlantic readers he may not have the good fortune to please, that in all countries where freedom of opinion is not an illusion, but is real and substantial, there are acknowledged privileges which every fair writer can claim to enjoy, amongst the plainest of which are the describing truly what he sees, and the expressing freely, but not presumptuously, his opinions of what he has seen.

Of the enterprise and industry of the people of the United States, of the wonderful progress they have made in material civilization, of the great beauty of their coun^ try, and of the many desirable things to be there admired and enjoyed, no one is disposed to bear more favourable testimony than the author : yet, however heartily an Englishman may be disposed to commend

INTRODUCTION.

tliese excellencies, so national and sensitive are the inhabitants of that young- country, that if he ventures upon the invidious task of pointing out those peculiarities in the laws and nlanners of Republican America which he cannot be brought to admire, he feels that he may not escape the imputation of intending to offend, even when he •would express in the most temperate language his opinions of what neither his taste nor his judgment can approve. This extreme sensitiveness — which is never awakened in America by the remarks of French or German writers— had its origin perhaps, with our transatlantic kinsmen, in their anxiety about an ideal perfection, of which, in virtue of their affinity to the mother-country, her laws, literature, and religion, that flattei-ed themselves they had attained the enjoyment. Looking at the delusion from that point, we can only regret that it ishould have deceived a people endowed with many eminent qualities, into a confirmed habit of placing an estimate upon themselves, which has yet to receive the sanction of mankind. Sensible and amiable as many of the Americans are, the favourable impression they make upon those who visit their country, is too soon overpowered by the characteristic illiberality of others who assume for it an excellence which admits of no criticism ; and so exacting is the tyranny of self-adulation, that, except in the most select society, the stranger is often compelled to be either a hypocrite or a mute.

If we were to condemn the American who visits England for denying that the superior civilization he witnesses there is to be attributed to our monarchy, our distinctions in society, and the high moral examples which are the result of our social institutions, he might with some reason consider us ill-bred and illiberal. Obvious as these truths might be to ourselves, he could not with propriety be asked to admit these consequences, since it would be to require him tacitly to condemn the country which nursed him, and where he imbibed all his cherished opinions. In the United States, however, it is not an imcommon thing for an Englishman to be told that his government is superannuated, cor- Tupt, and profligate ; and, indeed, the same sentiments are too often expressed in a 3nore offensive manner even in the Congress.* Greatly as these extravagancies are to be deplored, and deserving of cen-

* Vide Mr. Archer's speech, March 18, 1844. in the Senmte of the United States. "Mr. Archer repeated that he felt grieved and humiliated at the temper and the tone in ■which gentlemen permitted themselves to speak hereof the Government of Great Britain. Mr. A. was not here tn vindicate that Government, but still less was he here to pour out upon it all the oblonuy and vituperation which our language could express, as the vilest and most faithless Government under heaven. The nanie of England seemed as if it could never be uttered or referred to without some terms of obloquy or reproach." — National Intelligencer.

sure as they are, yet they do not justify us in cherishing an undiscriminating dislike towards the inhabitants of the country where they are uttered, although they suggest many reflections upon the causes which have made the descendants of common ancestors so dissimilar to each other.

It is not to be concealed, nevertheless, that this frequent expression of aversion to the mother-country, added to the late notorious violations of the most solemn engagements from the same quarter, have raised a strong and deep-rooted prejudice on this side of the Atlantic, which, although natural, is to a certain extent unjust, because there is little or no discrimination observed in it. The United States have not always deserved the reproaches they have now drawn upon themselves ; in the early part of the history of their government public decorum was highly valued and universally practised, and American credit only eight years ago stood as high all over the world as the credit of any other countpy. The change has been a great and an unhappy one both for America and for Europe, and if this were an occasion for tracing its causes step by step, the author, who has long watched its progress, would not despair of accomplishing the task. Suffice it to observe, at this time, that the sad degradation has been gradually produced through the arts of demagogues operating in tfie different States, rather than by the action of the federal government, which, although the constant object of political intrigue, has generally been administered with prudence and dignity.

To trace all the incidents that characterise the Americans at the present time to their remote sources, we should have to look, amongst other things, to their geographical position, and to the period when their colonies were planted ; for all communities of men are distinguished from each other by peculiarities derived, more or less, from those institutions of government which local situation as well as origin have imposed upon them. The Americans, though descended from them, are very dissimilar to the English, and the descendants of our settlers in New Zealand will be far from resembling the Americans. In the early part of the seventeenth century the exclusive object of the mother-country in colonizing foreign countries, was to open sources of wealth without reference to those principles which make them permanently conducive to human happiness ; but in our own days the acquisition of that which constitutes real wealth is largely understood to depend upon just laws and good government both at home and abroad : in forming the character, therefore, of a colonial people with a view to bind them in interests and in affection to the mother-country, everything now seems to depend

INTRODUCTION.

upon the early establishment of wise laws for the protection of the best interests of society, and upon rehgious education. Where these blessings prevail, true liberty and tranquil enjoyment of life are most sure to be found ; and where they do not, and human liberty is left to itself, unrestrained by religious feeling, an insolent and bombastic nature is liable to be generated, which makes a people the tools of their own blind passions, and obliterates all reverence for the great objects which good men believe to be the true end of existence. It is this abuse of liberty which has so greatly changed the character of a people eminently fitted for greatness by their natural qualities ; has led them to trample under foot the wise precepts of the most illustrious founders of their republic, to reject many of the lessons of rational freedom which have been ever before them, to barter their invaluable privileges with a demagogical despotism, for the magniloquent, but empty, designation of " Sovereign People," and to prepare a future for their country which seems to baffle conjecture.

Those in America who are so proverbially sensitive at every expression which appears to criticise in the slightest degree the country they love, or which tends to abate the pretensions — long set up, and acquiesced in by so many— of its " never being in the wrong," are always dissatisfied with any thing short of unqualified eulogium upon themselves and their country, and are not apt to pardon the truth. This would be matter of some regret to the author, if he did not know that the good and the wise of their own country are united in the condemnation of what he has animadverted upon : amongst them are many to whom he would be very averse to give offence : painful indeed would it be to him if any of those excellent persons, whose friendship he was proud of during a thirty years' residence amongst them as an Englishman, should imagine that he is capable, now or at any time, of passing an indiscriminate censure upon their nation, and of uniting with others in the condemnation of all, for that which has been conspicuous only with a portion of their countrymen.

This too general prejudice, however, does unfortunately exist in Europe, and has grown to a fearful height in consequence of the violation of those pecuniary engagements which have been already alluded to ; delinquencies which, either from want of information or from resentment, have created a strong prejudice against the whole frame of American society. But let us be just! Reprehensible as these .acts are, there are exceptions to them which deserve the highest praise, and which in the general indignation have been almost entirely overlooked. The world, it is true, has seen the opulent free State of Pennsylvania, and the productive slave State of Mississippi, two commonwealths arrogating to themselves the lofty distinction of " enlightened Sovereign States," declining in one instance to provide the interest of the moneys they have borrowed from their confiding creditors, and refusing in the other even to acknowledge their responsibilities ; not from inability, but because there is no human law to compel them to be honest. Yet when the just scorn of mankind is expressed against them, it ought not to be forgotten that Massachusetts, New York, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and other indebted States, have resolutely maintained their credit under the most difficult circumstances, and have placed themselves in honourable contradistinction to their unscrupulous neighbours.

These violations of the confidence which the so-called securities of the fraudulent States had acquired in Europe, in consequence of the known resources of these last, and of the specious circumstances under which the first had been palmed upon the unsuspecting, were preceded by the plunder and waste of the whole resources of the Bank of the United States, incorporated by the legislature of Pennsylvania with a capital of thirty-five millions of dollars, a great portion of which was owned in Great Britain. Then came Repudiation, or the doctrine that the acts of one legislature, and even of one generation, are not binding upon the next ; a doctrine which, though it had its origin with Mr. Jefferson, was first promulgated in Pennsylvania.* Precedents so pernicious, coming from one of the oldest and most opulent States in the Union, unfortunately tei^hpted other members of the Federal Union possessing fewer resources, to follow in the same disreputable course ; and thus was compromised in the end the reputation of the whole republic.