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dissipation and laziness are taught as a trade, and thousands become morally rotten before they are ripe. The number of tippling shops is prodigious; and there is perhaps no part of the world where a worthless being may have the privilege of getting drunk so cheap as in the United States. Licenses are obtained with great facility; for it is not the main question whether a political measure is good or bad. The crafty leaders know, that topers can vote as well as drink, and that it would be unpopular to raise their spirits. Office and salary, in possession, are greatly preferred to fame in prospect. Fabricius, who remained a poor man after handling the national purse of Rome, and who though poor refused the royal bribe of Pyrrhus, would be thought a bad calculator by some of the politicians of this refined age. The Americans ought not to be censured for not understanding this branch of political

economy.

But though the Americans generally put a low estimate on mental and moral excellence, and seem to lose public spirit in proportion as their public privileges are increased, there may be found in some of the States, a few highly honourable exceptions from this sordidness of character. It gives me pleasure to credit them for their good deeds, and I most sincerely wish I knew more in their fa

vour.

One gentleman in the new state of Ohio, Gen. Gano, whose name ought to stand high on the roll of literary patrons, gave between two and three thousand pounds sterling to a university in At Middlebury, a village in Vermont, a flourishing college is established and well maintained, by individual subscription. The Hon. Gamaliel Painter, one of their judges, was the chief contributor. A very respectable permanent academy was established at Colchester, in Connecticut, about 30 years since, by a gentleman of the name of Bacon. The venerable Judge Boudinott, of whom you have heard, has immortalized his name by his generous donation of 10,000 dollars to the Bible society. Philadelphia has been tolerably liberal in subscriptions for some laudable purposes, particularly an institution about forming for the instruction of the deaf and dumb. Some years ago, when New-York was poor, Joseph Murray, Esq. gave £10,000 sterling to King'sCollege; but since its name has been changed to Columbia College, whether from that circumstance I cannot say, the wealthy inhabitants have found other uses for their money. Fortune, rather than bounty, has favoured many institutions of learning in this country. States, in several instances, granted them wild lands which were worth very little and for which they had no other use; but by the increase of population and improvement, they have risen in value, and produce a handsome income. Connecticut in this way has a great fund, which happening to fall into the hands of statesmen whose minds were sufficiently elevated to comprehend

its importance, has become vastly valuable: but this little state is at present engaged in religious disputes about toleration; and after being perhaps the most enlightened state in the union, appears to be going back to the days of round heads and blue skins. The state of Massachusetts, in personal donations to promote learning, has done more than all the rest of the states put together, and seems to have been hitherto the only part of America where literary talent is respected, or seconded, by public opinion. The "North American Review" is becoming, in its kind, one of the best productions of the age; but you may think it singular that it is not so well patronised as the foreign Reviews that are reprinted entire in this country. This is very gratifying to British national pride, though it does not present a high claim to respect.

Amidst the dissipation of the wealthy English there are some remains of noble pride in the performance of generous actions, which is so far from being fashionable here, that the American nobility seem not to think of devoting to laudable objects the surplus fund which their follies and vices might spare. Instead of feeling an interest in the community where they dwell, they seem as indifferent to the public reputation of their own city, as to that of Smyrna or Tombuctoo. Among the persons depending on professions of art and skill, perhaps no class is better supported than jugglers and mountebanks. Several, who might be spared from Saddler's Wells, would do well by changing the crown for the cap of liberty.

In one of my walks, I accidentally found at a stone cutter's shop, a young man by the name of Frazee, who is perhaps one of the finest native geniuses in sculpture that any country has produced. In my opinion, with the same advantages, he is equal to Chantry. Yet in speaking to several persons of distinction respecting his skill, by which I had been so struck, I found they knew nothing of the existence of such a man in the city.

I have become partially acquainted with the celebrated Doctor M. Like our great men at home, he has his share of the whims and foibles incident to our nature; but his knowledge is much more extensive than I had been prepared to expect. He is plain in his manners, and carelessly familiar, though always instructive, in his conversation. Living frugally on a handsome competence, he pursues science with great ardour, from the double motive of laudable pride, and sincere attachment: while with the most pleasant good nature he passes over the carping of his countrymen, who, from their general character, are more inclined to magnify his errors than to respect him for his unfashionable usefulness. I have no recollection of seeing him in England, though he spent some time at Oxford, and became acquainted with several inmates of Brazen Nose and Pembroke. His diversified attainments, his extensive acquaintance at home and correspondence abroad, give

him the means of drawing together, with surprising facility, the treasures of knowledge from all parts of the world: Yet, he is a standing evidence of the stupid satisfaction which the stylish Americans take in decrying, rather than promoting, every thing connected with the scientific or literary character of their country.

The present is considered a time of distress,—a species of famine -with greater danger of nakedness,-proceeding from a most singular and unforeseen cause. The Chinese, whom they hire to make their wives' gowns, must have dollars in payment. The Spaniards refuse to barter their silver for American produce; and France and Britain are too unneighbourly to negotiate the exchange by way of accommodation.

The ladies-whose influence, good or bad, is always great in civilized society-are here very fond of outside show, partial to almost every thing foreign, and much more likely to patronise the makers of fine looking glasses and fine shawls, than the authors of superior works of genius, learning, and taste.

The Edinburgh Review for February is just received, containing a slight censure of the American character and literature,-indeed some wholesome truths, if they would rightly receive them. A few of their professed scholars pretend to be offended at it; but there is no danger that the greater part will consider themselves slandered, if our critics do not accuse them of deficiency in the art of getting money. To talk to the thick-headed misers here of intellectual and moral wealth, and of public spirit, would be truly casting pearls before swine. One might as well speak with them in Arabic as in plain English on these subjects. These remarks apply more or less to the whole country, though I think this place particularly the unfaithful servant burying in a rag ten talents instead of one. The Americans at large deserve no allowance from Europe. They are a nation of traitors if they fail to make their freedom glorious.

If, my dear sir, you have on the whole a bad story, it is a direct and plain answer to your inquiry. You may show it if you please to our friends at Gilbert's; for, as we say here, my letters are too lengthy to be needlessly multiplied.

You may probably expect before long, a sketch of three important subjects which I have been at some pains to investigate: American political economy; manufactures; and agriculture. The state of the first is very laughable; the second, serious; the third, with some collateral branches, will allow me the pleasure of writing more favourably.

I have been some time among these people and noted them well. With all their July boasting about America and its independence, their enemies may smile to see how little sincere regard there is for either. A lurking but absolute preference of

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