"Our system of public elementary instruction is eclectic, and is, to a

considerable extent, derived from four sources. The conclusions at

which the present head of the department arrived during his

observations and investigations of 1845, were, firstly: That the

machinery, or law part of the system, in the State of New York, was

the best upon the whole, appearing, however, defective in the

intricacy of some of its details, in the absence of an efficient

provision for the visitation and inspection of schools, the

examination of teachers, religious instruction, and uniform text-books

for the schools. Secondly. That the principle of supporting schools in

the State of Massachusetts was the best, supporting them all according

to property, and opening them to all without distinction; but that the

application of this principle should not be made by the requirements

of state or provincial statute, but at the discretion and by the

action, from year to year, of the inhabitants in each school

municipality--thus avoiding the objection which might be made against

an uniform coercive law on this point, and the possible indifference

which might in some instances be induced by the provisions of such a

law--independent of local choice and action. Thirdly: That the series

of elementary text-books, prepared by experienced teachers, and

revised and published under the sanction of the National Board of

Education in Ireland, were, as a whole, the best adapted to schools in

Upper Canada--having long been tested, having been translated into

several languages of the continent of Europe, and having been

introduced more extensively than any other series of text-books into

the schools of England and Scotland. Fourthly: That the system of

normal-school training of teachers, and the principles and modes of

teaching which were found to exist in Germany, and which have been

largely introduced into other countries, were incomparably the

best--the system which makes school-teaching a profession, which, at

every stage, and in every branch of knowledge, teaches things and not

merely words, which unfolds and illustrates the principles of rules,

rather than assuming and resting upon their verbal authority, which

develops all the mental faculties instead of only cultivating and

loading the memory--a system which is solid rather than showy,

practical rather than ostentatious, which prompts to independent

thinking and action rather than to servile imitation.

"Such are the sources from which the principal features of the school

system in Upper Canada have been derived, though the application of

each of them has been modified by the local circumstances of our

country. There is another feature, or rather cardinal principle of it,

which is rather indigenous than exotic, which is wanting in the

educational systems of some countries, and which is made the occasion

and instrument of invidious distinctions and unnatural proscriptions

in other countries; we mean the principle of not only making

Christianity the basis of the system, and the pervading element of all

its parts, but of recognising and combining in their official

character, all the clergy of the land, with their people, in its

practical operations--maintaining absolute parental supremacy in the

religious instruction of their children, and upon this principle

providing for it according to the circumstances, and under the

auspices of the elected trustee-representatives of each school

municipality. The clergy of the country have access to each of its

schools; and we know of no instance in which the school has been made

the place of religious discord; but many instances, especially on

occasions of quarterly public examinations, in which the school has

witnessed the assemblage and friendly intercourse of clergy of various

religious persuasions, and thus become the radiating centre of a

spirit of Christian charity and potent co-operation in the primary

work of a people's civilization and happiness."

With reference to religious instruction at the normal schools, Dr.

Ryerson has kindly furnished me with the following statement:--"A part

of each Friday afternoon is set apart for this purpose, and a room

allowed for the minister of each of the religious persuasions of the

students, to give instruction to the members of his church, who are

required to attend, as also to attend the service of such church at

least once every Sunday. Hitherto we have found no difficulty,

reluctance, or neglect, in giving full effect to this system."

The only difficulty in these matters that I have heard of, is a long

dispute with the Roman Catholic bishop of Toronto; but such an event one

must be prepared for when dealing with a church which claims

infallibility. I have no doubt the tact and moderation of Dr. Ryerson

have ere this thrown oil on the troubled waters, and restored the

harmony which existed between the former Roman bishop and the reverend

doctor. To those who take an interest in education, the report of the

system used in Canada, drawn up by Dr. Ryerson, and printed by order of

the Legislative Assembly, will afford much pleasure and information. It

is, of course, far too large a subject to enter upon in these pages,

containing, as it does, so vast an amount of matter worthy of serious

reflection. I will, however, indulge such of my friends as were taught

to read in the last century, with a quotation from page 67, which will

probably astonish them.

Mr. Horace Mann, so long the able Secretary of the Board of Education in

Massachusetts, after pointing out the absurdity of worrying a child's

life out, in teaching the A B C, &c., and their doubtful and

often-varying sounds utterly destitute of meaning, instead of words

which have distinct sounds and distinct meaning, thus winds

up:--"Learning his letters, therefore, gives him no new sound; it even

restricts his attention to a small number of those he already knows. So

far, then, the learning of his letters contracts his practice; and were

it not for keeping up his former habits of speaking, at home and in the

playground, the teacher, during the six months or year in which he

confines him to the twenty-six sounds of the alphabet, would pretty near

deprive him of the faculty of speech."

This extract, from the pen of one who has devoted so much talent and

patient investigation to the subject of education, entitles it to the

serious consideration of all those who are in any way connected with the

same subject in this country, where the old A B C cramming all but

universally prevails.--But to return to Upper Canada and its schools.

Some estimate of the value of its scholastic establishments may be

formed from the fact, that while its sphere of usefulness is rapidly

extending, it has already reached the following honourable position: The

population of Upper Canada is close upon 1,000,000; the number of

children between the ages of 5 and 16 is 263,000; the number of children

on the rolls of the common school establishments is 179,587; and the

grand total of money available for these glorious purposes, is

170,000l. I feel conscious that I have by no means done full justice

to this important subject; but the limits of a work like this render it

impossible so to do. Let it suffice to say, that Upper Canada is

inferior to none of its neighbouring rivals, as regards the quality of

instruction given; and that it is rapidly treading on the heels of the

most liberal of them, as regards the amount raised for its support. The

normal school, I conceive to be a model as nearly perfect as human

agency has yet achieved; and the chemical and agricultural lectures

there given, and practically illustrated on the small farm adjoining the

building, cannot fail to produce most useful and important results in a

young uncultivated country possessing the richest soil imaginable. The

Governor-General and the Government deserve every credit for the support

and encouragement they have given to education; but, if I may draw a

comparison without being invidious, I would repeat, that it is to the

unusual zeal and energy of Dr. Ryerson, to his great powers of

discriminating and selecting what he found most valuable in the

countless methods he examined, and to his combination and adaptation of

them, that the colony is mainly indebted for its present admirable

system. Well may Upper Canada be proud of her educational achievements,

and in her past exertions read a hopeful earnest of a yet more noble

future.[AT]

But it is not in education alone that Canada has been shadowing forth a

noble career. Emancipated from maternal apron-strings by a

constitutional self-government, and aided by the superior administrative

powers of the Earl of Elgin, she has exhibited an innate vitality which

had so long been smothered by Imperial misrule as to cause a doubt of

its existence; and if she has not shown it by the birth of populous

cities, she has proved it by a more general and diffusive prosperity. A

revenue quadrupled in four years needs no Chicagos or Buffalos to

endorse the colony's claims to energy and progress. Internal

improvements have also been undertaken on a large scale: railways are

threading their iron bands through waste and forest, and connecting in

one link all the North American colonies; the tubular bridge at Montreal

will be the most stupendous work yet undertaken by engineering skill;

canals are making a safe way for commerce, where a year or two back the

roaring rapid threw its angry barrier. Population, especially in Upper

Canada, is marching forward with hasty strides; the value of property is

fast increasing; loyalty has supplanted discontent and rebellion; an

imperial baby has become a princely colony, with as national an

existence as any kingdom of the Old World.[AU] These are facts upon

which the colonists may, and do, look with feelings of both pride and

satisfaction; and none can more justly contemplate them with such

emotions, than those through whose administrative talents these

prosperous results have been produced, out of a state of chaos, in eight

short years. Dissatisfied men there ever will be among a large

community, and therefore questions of independence and annexation will

be mooted from time to time; but it seems hardly probable that a colony

which enjoys an almost independent nationality would ever be disposed to

resign that proud position, and to swamp her individuality among the

thirty-three free and slave States of the adjoining Republic. At all

events, the colony, by her conduct with reference to the present war,

has shown that she is filled with a spirit of loyalty, devotion, and

sympathy as true, as fervent, and as deep as those which animate all the

other subjects of our beloved Sovereign.

Farewell, Canada! May the sun of prosperity, which has been rising upon

you steadily for eight years, rise higher and higher, and never know

either a cloud or a meridian! Canada, adieu!

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote AR: My observations at various schools in the United States

satisfied me that no attention is paid by the teachers to the tone of

voice in which the boys give their answers.]

[Footnote AS: The females are regularly taught calisthenics, and the

boys gymnastics, by a professor.]

[Footnote AT: These remarks were made in 1853. The report for the year

1854 is now lying before me, by which I find that the attendance has

increased to 194,376; and the money raised has also increased in a

similar ratio, being at that date 199,674l.]

[Footnote AU:

Population of Canada 1841, 1,156,139 } Increase,

Ditto ditto 1851, 1,842,265 } 59.34 percent.

Population of Upper Canada 1841, 405,357 } Increase,

Ditto ditto 1851, 952,004 } 104.57 percent

The increase of the United States from 1840 to 1850 was only 37.77

percent.

Wheat crop, Upper Canada 1841, 3,221,991 bushels.

Ditto ditto 1851, 12,692,852 ditto,

Wheat crop, Lower Canada 1841, 1,021,405 bushels.

Ditto ditto 1851, 3,326,190 ditto.

This table is taken from an able statement sent by the Governor-General

to the Colonial Office, dated Quebec, Dec. 22, 1852.]

CHAPTER XXI.

_A Cataract and a Celebration_.

The convulsive efforts of the truant steam, echoing across the harbour,

told me I had little time to lose: so, bidding farewell to friends, I

hurried down to the quay, and was soon bowling over a lake as smooth and

polished as the bald head of age. The pat of every float in the wheel,

as it struck in the water, echoed with individual distinctness, and the

hubbub created thereby, in the otherwise unruffled lake, left its trace

visible on the mirrory surface for so great a distance as to justify a

disputatious man in questioning whether the term "trackless way" was

applicable to the course a vessel had passed over. Here we are, steaming

away merrily for Niagara.

There is nothing interesting in scenery until you come to the entrance

of the river, on the opposite sides of which stand Lewistown and

Queenstown, and above the latter the ruthlessly mutilated remains of the

monument to the gallant Brock. The miscreant who perpetrated the vile

act in 1841, has since fallen into the clutches of the law, and has

done--and, for aught I know, is now doing--penance in the New York

State Prison at Auburn. I believe the Government are at last repairing

it;--better late than never. The precipitous banks on either side

clearly indicate they are the silent and persevering work of the

ever-rolling stream, and leave no doubt upon any reflecting mind that

they must lead to some fall or cataract, though no reflection can fully

realize the giant cataract of Niagara.

There are several country places on the banks, and the whole appearance

bespeaks comfort and civilization. Far away in the distance is to be

seen the suspension-bridge, high in mid-air, and straight as the arrow's

flight. On either bank rival railroads are in progress; that on the

Canada side is protected from the yawning abyss by a wall calculated to

defy the power of steam. The boat touches at Queenstown, and thence

proceeds to Lewistown, where a stage is waiting for Niagara City. No

botherations of custom-house--what a blessing! The distance to ride is

seven miles, and the time one hour; but in the United States, you are

aware, every chap will "do as he best pleases;" consequently, there is a

little information to be obtained from the fresh arrival, a cock-tail

with a friend or two, a quiet piling on of luggage, &c.; all this takes

a long half-hour, and away we go with four tough little nags. A

tremendous long hill warms their hides and cools their mettle, though by

no means expending it. On we go, merrily; Jehu, a free-and-easy,

well-informed companion, guessing at certainties and calculating on

facts.

At last we reach a spring by the roadside, the steam rising from the

flanks of the team like mist from a marsh. What do I see? Number one nag

with a pailful of water, swigging away like a Glasgow baillie at a bowl

of punch. He drains it dry with a rapidity which says "More, more!" and

sure enough they keep on giving pail after pail, till he has taken in

enough to burst the tough hide of a rhinoceros. I naturally concluded

the horse was an invalid, or a culprit who had got drunk, and that they

were mixing the liquor "black list" fashion, to save his intestines and

to improve his manners; but no--round goes the pailman to every nag,

drenching each to the bursting point.

"Ain't you afraid," I said, "of killing the poor beasts by giving them

such a lot of water?"

"I guess if I was, I shouldn't give it 'em," was the terse reply.

Upon making further inquiries into this mysterious treatment, he told me

that it was a sulphur spring, and that all tired horses having exhibited

an avidity for it far greater than for common water, the instinct of the

animal had been given a fair trial, and subsequent experience had so

ratified that instinct that it had become a "known fact." An intelligent

American, sitting at the feet of a quadruped Gamaliel, humbly learning

from his instincts, should teach the bigots of every class and clime to

let their prejudices hang more loosely upon them. But half an hour has

passed, and Jehu is again on the box, the nags as fresh as daisies, and

as full as a corncob. Half an hour more lands us at Niagara. Avoiding

the hum of men, I took refuge for the night in a snug little cottage

handy to the railway, and, having deposited my traps, started on a

moonlight trip. I need scarce say whither.

Men of the highest and loftiest minds, men of the humblest and simplest

minds, the poet and the philosopher, the shepherd and the Christian,

have alike borne testimony to the fact, that the solitude of night tends

to solemnize and elevate the thoughts. How greatly must this effect be

increased when aided by the contemplation of so grand a work of nature

as Niagara! In the broad blaze of a noonday sun, the power of such

contemplation is weakened by the forced admixture of the earthly

element, interspersed as the scene is with the habitations and works of

man. But, in the hushed repose of night, man stands, as it were, more

alone with his Maker. The mere admirer of the picturesque or the grand

will find much to interest and charm him; but may there not arise in the

Christian's mind far deeper and higher thoughts to feed his

contemplation? In the cataract's mighty roar may he not hear a voice

proclaiming the anger of an unreconciled God? May not the soft beams of

the silvery moon above awaken thoughts of the mercies of a pardoning

God? And as he views those beams, veiled, as it wore, in tears by the

rising spray, may he not think of Him and his tears, through whom alone

those mercies flow to man? May not yon mist rising heavenward recal his

glorious hopes through an ascended Saviour; and as it falls again

perpetually and imperceptibly, may it not typify the dew of the Holy

Spirit--ever invisible, ever descending--the blessed fruit of that Holy

Ascension? And if the mind be thus insensibly led into such a train of

thought, may not the deep and rugged cliff, worn away by centuries

unnumbered by man, shadow forth to him ideas of that past Eternity,

compared to which they are but as a span; and may not the rolling

stream, sweeping onward in rapid and unceasing flight into the abyss

beneath his feet, fill his soul with the contemplation of Time's flight,

which, alike rapid and continuous, is ever bearing him nearer and nearer

to the brink of that future Eternity in which all his highest and

brightest hopes will be more than realized in the enjoyment of a

happiness such as "eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither hath it

entered into the heart of man to conceive." Say, then, reader, is not

every element of thought which can arise between a Christian and his

Creator symbolled forth here in equal beauty and grandeur? One, indeed,

is wanting, which, alas! none of Nature's works but man can supply--that

sad element, which those who search their own hearts the deepest will

feel the most.--I feel I have departed from the legitimate subject of

travels; let the majesty of the scene plead my excuse.

Adieu, Niagara.

Early next morning I put myself into a railway car, and in due time

reached Batavia. On my arrival, being rather hungry, I made a modest

request for a little brandy and some biscuits; fancy my astonishment

when the "help" said, "I guess we only give meals at the fixed hours."

As I disapproved very much of such an unreasonable and ridiculous

refusal, I sought out the chief, and, preferring my modest request to

him, was readily supplied with my simple luncheon. In the meantime a

light fly had been prepared, and off I started for Geneseo. The road

presented the usual features of rich cultivated land, a dash of wild

forest, a bit of bog, and ruts like drains; and each hamlet or village

exhibited a permanent or an ambulating daguerreotype shop. Four hours

housed me with my kind and hospitable friends at Geneseo.

As the chances of travel had brought me to a small country village at

the time of the annual celebration of the 4th of July, I was unable to

witness the ceremony on the grand scale in which it is conducted in the

large cities of the Union; and, as I think it is frequently accompanied

with circumstances which are entitled to some consideration, I shall

revert, in a subsequent chapter, to those points which appear to me

calculated to act upon the national character. On the present occasion I

was delighted to find that, although people all "liquored" freely, there

was scarcely any drunkenness; at all events, they had their little bit

of fun, such as we see at fairs at home. By way of enabling those who

have a turn for the facetious to share in their jokes, I insert a couple

of specimens:--

"ORDER OF THE DAY.

"The vast multitude will be assembled on the Public Square, in rear of

the Candy Factory, under the direction of Marshal JOHN A. DITTO, where

they will be formed in procession in the following order:

"1. Officers of the Day, in their stocking feet.

"2. Revolutionary Relics, under the direction of the venerable G.W.S.

Mattocks.

"3. Soldiers of the last War, looking for Bounty Land Warrants.

"4. The Mayor and Common Council, drawn in a Willow Wagon, by the

Force of Habit.

"5. Officers of the Hoodoos, drawn by 13 Shanghai Chickens, and driven

by Joe Garlinghouse's Shanghai Quail.

"6. The Bologna Guards, in new dress, counting their money.

"7. The Ancient Fire Company expecting their treasurer to chuck 42$ 50

under their windows.

"The procession will then march to the grove in rear of Smith

Scovell's barn, where the following exercises will take place:--

"1. The reading of the Declaration of Independence--by the Tinker,

Dan.

"2. Oration--by Bill Garrison.

"3. Hymn--There was three Crows sit on a Tree--by the Hoodo Choir.

"4. Benediction--by Elder Bibbins.

"After which the multitude will repair to Charley Babcock's old stand

for Refreshments.

"_Bill of Fare.--_1. Mud Turtle Soup. 2. Boiled Eggs, hard. 3.

Pea-nuts. 4. Boiled Eggs, soft. 5. More Pea-nuts.

"_Dessert._--Scotch Herring, dried. 2. Do. do., dead. 3. Do., done

brown. 4. Sardines, by special request.

"_Wines and Liquors_.--Hugh Doty's Rattle-Belly Pop. 2.

Hide-and-go-Seek (a new brand).

"Precisely at 4 o'clock, P.M., the Double Oven Air Calorie Engine,

attached to a splendidly decorated Wheel barrow, will make an

excursion, on the

_Conhocton Valley Switch_,

to the old Hemp Factory and back. It is expected that the President

and Directors will go over the Road, and they are to have the first

chance, strictly under the direction of the '_Rolling Stock_.'

"Hail, ye freeborn Sons of Happy America. 'Arouse, Git up, and Git!'

_Music_--Loud Fifing during the day.

"June, 1853.

"By Order of COMMITTEE."

* * * * *

"CLEAR THE TRACK FOR THE LIGHTNING LINE OF MALE AND FEMALE STAGES!!!

"From Perry to Geneseo and back in a Flash.

"BAGGAGE, PERSONS, AND EYESIGHT AT RISK OF OWNERS, AND NO QUESTIONS

ANSWERED.

"--Having bought out the valuable rights of young Master James Howard

in this Line, the subscriber will streak it daily between Perry and

Geneseo, for the conveyance of Uncle Sam's Mails and Family; leaving

Perry before the Crows wake up in the morning, and arriving at the

first house on this side Geneseo about the same time; returning,

leave Geneseo after the Crows have gone to roost, and reach Perry in

time to join them. Passengers will please to keep their mouths shut

for fear they should lose their teeth. No Smoking allowed for fear of

fretting the Horses; no Talking lest it wake the Driver. Fare to suit

passengers.

"The public's very much obliged servant, &c. &c."

A quiet and simple stage of rough wood was put up at one end of the

village, close to the Court-house, from whence the Declaration of

Independence was read, after which a flowery orator--summoned for the

occasion, and who travels about to different villages in different years

with his well-digested oration--addressed the multitude. Of course

similes and figures of rhetoric were lugged in by the heels in every

sentence, as is the all but universal practice on such occasions in

every part of the world. The moral of his speech was in the main

decidedly good, and he urged upon his audience strongly, "the undying

advantages of cultivating pluck and education" in preference to "dollars

and shrewdness." All went off in a very orderly manner, and in the

evening there were fireworks and a village ball. It was at once a wild

and interesting sight during the fireworks; the mixture of men, women,

and children, some walking, some carried, some riding, some driving;

empty buggies, some with horses, some without, tied all round; stray

dogs looking for masters as hopelessly as old maids seeking for their

spectacles when raised above their eyes and forgotten. Fire companies

parading ready for any emergency; the son of mine host tugging away at

the rope of the engine in his red shirt, like a juvenile Atlas, as proud

as Lucifer, as pleased as Punch. All busy, all excited, all happy; no

glimpse of poverty to mar the scene; all come with one voice and one

heart to celebrate the glorious anniversary of the birth of a nation,

whose past gigantic strides, unparalleled though they be, are

insufficient to enable any mind to realize what future is in store for

her, if she only prove true to herself.

Leave-takings do not interest the public, so the reader will be

satisfied to know that two days after found me in an open carriage on my

way to Rochester. The road lay entirely through cultivated land, and had

no peculiar features. The only thing I saw worth noticing, was two men

in a light four-wheel one-horse shay, attached to which were at least a

dozen others, some on two wheels, some on four. I of course thought

they were some country productions going to a city manufacturer. What

was my astonishment at finding upon inquiry, that it was merely an

American phase of hawking. The driver told me that these people will go

away from home for weeks together, trying to sell their novel ware at

hamlet, village, farm-house, &c., and that some of the shrewdest of

them, the genuine Sam Slick breed, manage to make a good thing of it.

The shades of evening closed in upon me as I alighted at a very

comfortable hotel at Rochester. The amiable Morpheus soon claimed me as

his own, nor was I well pleased when ruthlessly dragged from his soft

embrace at 6-1/2 A.M. the following morning; but railways will not wait

for Morpheus or any other deity of fancy or fiction; so, making the best

use I could of a tub of water and a beefsteak, and calming my temper

with a fragrant weed, I was soon ensconced in one of their cars, a

passenger to New York.

On reaching Albany, we crossed the river and threw ourselves into the

cars of the Hudson River Railway, which, running close to the margin

nearly all the way, gives you an ever-varying view of the charming

scenery of this magnificent stream. Yankee industry was most

disagreeably prominent at several of the stations, in the shape of a

bevy of unwashed urchins parading the cars with baskets of the eternal

pea-nut and various varieties of lollipop, lemonade, &c., all crying out

their wares, and finding as ready a sale for them as they would at any

school in England. The baiting-place was not very tempting; we all

huddled into one room, where everything was hurry and confusion: besides

which, the appetite was not strengthened by the sight of hands--whose

owners seemed to have "registered a vow in heaven," to forego the use of

soap--turning over the sandwiches, one after another, until they had

made their selection. However, the majority approve of the system; and

as no thought is given to the minority, "if you don't like it, you may

lump it."

But the more permanent inconvenience of this railroad is one for which

the majority cannot be held responsible, i.e., it runs three-fourths

of the way over a bed of granite, and often between cuts in the solid

granite rock, the noise therefore is perfectly stunning; and when to

this you add the echoing nature of their long wooden cars, destitute of

anything to check the vibrations of sound, except the human cargo and

the cushions they sit upon, and when you add further the eternal

slamming of the doors at each end by the superintending conductor and

the inquisitive portion of the passengers, you may well conceive that

this combination is enough to rouse the slumbers of the dead, and rack

the brains of the living. At the same time, I must allow that this line

runs the best pace and keeps the best time of any in the Union.

On reaching the outskirts of New York, I asked, "Is this the proper

place for me to get out at?" And being answered in the affirmative, I

alighted, and found myself in a broad open street. Scarce had I set my

foot on the ground, when I saw the train going on again, and therefore

asked for my luggage. After a few questions and answers, I ascertained

it had gone on in the train about three miles further; and the only

consolation I got, was being told, "I guess you'd best have gone on

too." However, all troubles must have an end; so getting into a hackney,

I drove to my hospitable friend Phelps' house, where, under the

influence of glorious old Madeira--P. had just finished dinner--and most

undeniable claret, the past was soon buried in the present; and by the

time I had knocked the first ash off one of his best "_prensados_," the

stray luggage returned from the involuntary trip it had made on its own

account. What a goodly cheery thing is hospitality, when it flows pure

from a warm heart; nor does it lose aught in my estimation when viewed

through the medium of a first-rate cellar and the social "Havana."

Time progresses--small hours approach--the front door shuts behind some

of the guests--six-foot-two of animal life may be seen going up-stairs

with a bed-candle; the latter is soon out, and your humble servant is

snug in the former.--Reader, good-night!

CHAPTER XXII.

_Education, Civil and Military_.

Having said so much of education in other cities, I will only observe,

that in regard to common schools, New York is on a par with most of her

rivals in this noble strife for superiority; but I must ask those who

are interested in the subject to give me their attention while I enter

into a few details connected with their admirable Free Academy. The

object of this institution is to combine--under one system and under one

roof--high school, academy, polytechnic, and college, and to furnish as

good an education as can be obtained by passing through each of those

places of instruction separately. All this free of cost!

A sum of 10,000l. was authorized for the building, and 4000l.

annually for its support. The course of instruction is divided into

thirteen departments, with a professor at the head of each, aided by

tutors where necessary; the whole under a principal, with a salary of

500l. a year, who is at the same time professor of moral,

intellectual, and political philosophy. The salaries of the other

professors average 300l. a year, those of the tutors 100l. The

course of study embraces all that is taught at the four different places

of education before-named. The student is allowed to make his selection

between the classical languages and the modern--French, Spanish, and

German. The whole course occupies five years. The requisites for

admission are, that the applicant be thirteen years old, living in the

city of New York, and have attended the common schools for eighteen

months; besides which he is required to pass a moderate examination. The

number of students at present is about 350, but they will doubtless

increase. If to the annual expenses of the institution be added the

interest at six per cent, on the outlay, the instruction given will be

found to cost the inconceivably small sum of 13l. 5s. per scholar,

including books, stationery, and etceteras.

Mr. S.B. Ruggles was kind enough to introduce me to Mr. Horace Webster,

by whom I was shown over the whole establishment. The cleanliness and

good ventilation certainly exceeded that of any other similar

establishment which I had visited in the United States. There is a very

good library containing 3000 volumes, besides 8000 which are used as

text-books, or books of reference. Many publishers supplied the

requisite books at reduced prices, which, as long as they retain the

ignominious position of the literary pirates of the world, I suppose

they can afford to do without inconvenience. There is also a fine

studio, full of casts from the best models, and copies of the Elgin

marbles presented by Mr. Leap. Instruments of the best quality abound

for the explanation of all the sciences taught.

In one of the rooms which I entered there was an examination going on.

The subject was astronomy, and it was the first class. I was

particularly struck with the very clear manner in which the lad under

examination replied to the questions put to him, and I began to suspect

it was merely something he had learnt by rote; but the professor dodged

him about in such a heartless manner with his "whys" and his

"wherefores," his "how do you knows" and "how do you proves," that I

quite trembled for the victim. Vain fears on my part; nothing could put

him out; he seemed as much at home as the professor, and answered all

the questions propounded to him in language as clear and simple as that

which the great Faraday employs to instruct his eager listeners at the

Royal Institution. Not once could the professor make him trip during the

long half-hour of his searching examination. Having remarked that the

appearance of the student was rather that of a labouring than of a

wealthy stock, I asked the principal who he was. "That, sir," replied

Mr. Webster, "is one of our best students, and he is the son of a poor

journeyman blacksmith."

New York may point with just pride to her Free Academy, and say, "In

our city the struggling efforts of genius are never cramped by the chill

blast of poverty, for within those walls the avenues to the highest

branches of literature and science are opened without charge to the

humblest and most destitute of our citizens." I spent several hours in

this most admirable and interesting institution, so ably presided over

by Mr. Horace Webster, through whose kindness I was provided with the

full details of all its workings. It would seem that the best class of

schools for young ladies are not very numerous, for the papers announced

the other day that Mrs. Okill had realized 250,000 dollars by her

establishment, which could hardly have been the case in the face of good

opposition.

A few days afterwards Mr. Ruggles offered to accompany me in a visit I

wished to make to the National Military College of West Point. I gladly

accepted his proffered kindness, and in due time we were rattling away

over the granite-bottomed railroad, along the banks of the Hudson. Close

to the station we found a small ferry-boat, ready to take us across to

the southern bank. On landing at West Point, "my pipe was immediately

put out" by a summary order from a sentry on the wharf. Dropping a tear

of sorrow through a parting whiff, and hurling the precious stump into

the still waters of the little bay, I followed my cicerone up the hill,

and soon found myself in the presence of one of the professors, through

whose assistance we were enabled thoroughly to lionize every department.

As many of my military friends who have visited West Point have spoken

to me in terms of the highest admiration of the institution, I propose

entering more into detail than I otherwise might have thought requisite;

and I trust that, as military education is engaging a great deal of

public interest, the following observations may be found worthy of

attention.

The candidates for admission are nominated by the members of Congress,

one for each congressional district, in addition to which the President

of the United States has the nomination of forty from the Republic at

large.[AV] The requisites for admission are--the passing a very easy

examination, being a bachelor between the ages of sixteen and

twenty-one, and having no physical defect. The pay of each cadet is

about five pounds a month, of which his board takes two pounds, and

8s. 6d. is laid aside monthly, whereby to form a fund to assist him

in the expenses of equipment upon leaving. The balance provides for his

dress and other expenses, and a treasurer is appointed to superintend

and keep the accounts. The routine of duty prescribed is the

following:--Rise at 5 A.M. in summer, and 5-1/2 in winter; double up bed

and mattress, &c., and study till 7; then fall in and go to breakfast;

at 7-1/2, guard-mounting--twenty-four cadets are on guard every day; at

8, study; at 1 o'clock, break up, fall in, and go to dinner, which they

rise from at the word of command, and are then free till 2. From 2 P.M.

to 4, study; at 4, drill for one hour and a half, after which they are

free till sunset; at sunset, parade in front of the barracks, and

delinquents' names called over; then follows supper, after which the

cadets are free till 8, at which time there is a call to quarters, and

every cadet is required to retire to his own room and study till 9-1/2,

when the tattoo is beat; at 10, there is a roll of the drum, at sound

whereof every light must be out and every student in bed.

The cadets are organized into a battalion of four companies; the

officers and non-commissioned officers are all appointed by the

superintendent, from a list submitted to him by the commandant of

cadets, the selection being made from those most advanced in their

studies and most exemplary in their conduct; they perform in every

particular the same duties as those of the officers and privates of a

regiment; they have divisions and sub-divisions, with superintendent

cadets attached to each, regular orderlies who sweep and clean out the

room, furniture, &c.: guards are regularly mounted, an officer of the

day duly appointed, and all the duties of a regular barrack punctually

performed, even to the sentinels being supplied with ball-cartridge at

night. Their uniform is of grey cloth, and their hair is kept a close

crop; neither whiskers nor moustache are tolerated, and liquor and

tobacco are strictly prohibited. The punishments consist of privation of

recreation, extra duty, reprimand, arrest or confinement to room or

tent, confinement to light or dark prison, dismission with privilege of

resigning, and public dismission; the former of these are at the will of

the superintendent--confinement to prison and dismission are by sentence

of a court-martial.

The course of studies pursued are classed under twelve heads:--1.

Infantry tactics and military police; 2. Mathematics; 3. French; 4.

Drawing; 5. Chemistry, mineralogy, and geology; 6. Natural and

experimental philosophy; 7. Artillery tactics, science of gunnery, and

the duties of the military laboratory; 8. Cavalry tactics; 9. The use

of the sword; 10. Practical military engineering; 11. Grammar,

geography, ethics, &c.; 12. Military and civil engineering, and the

science of war.

In the preceding pages we have seen that ten hours are daily devoted to

study, besides an hour and a half to drill; and thus, while the brain is

severely taxed, but little leisure is left to get into those minor

scrapes so prevalent at most public schools.

There is a most minute system of merit and demerit established;

everything good and everything bad has a specific value in numbers and

decimals, which is accurately recorded against the owners thereof in the

reports made for each year. The cadet appears to be expected to improve

in conduct as well as knowledge; for, according to the rules, after his

first year is completed, the number expressing his absolute demerit is

increased by one-sixth during the second year, by one-third during the

third year, and by one-half during the fourth year. Thus, suppose a

certain number of faults to be represented by the sum of 36, if faults

which those figures represent are committed during the second year of

the cadet's course, one-sixth would be added, and his name appear on the

demerit list with 42 against it; if in the third year, one-third would

be added to the 36, and 48 would be placed against his name; and if

during the fourth year, one-half would be added, and 54 would appear

against it. It will thus be seen that, supposing offences of equal value

to be committed by the cadet in his first year and by another in his

fourth year, the figures of demerit against the latter would be one-half

more than those placed against the name of the cadet in his first year.

A demerit conduct roll is made out each year, and a copy sent to the War

Department.

There is also a general merit roll of proficiency and good conduct sent

to the same department, an abstract whereof, with demerit added, is sent

to the parents or guardians in a printed book containing the names of

all the cadets, by which they can at once see the relative position of

their son or ward. The following tables will explain the system adopted

for ascertaining the merit, demerit, and qualifications of the

students:--

DEMERIT.

_Degree of Criminality of Offences, arranged in Classes_.

1. Mutinous conduct 10

2. Disobedience of orders of military superior 8

3. Visiting in study hours 5

4. Absence from drill 4

5. Idleness in academy 3

6. Inattention under arms 2

7. Late at roll call 1

_Form of Conduct Roll made up for the yearly examination_.

The column marked "Class" indicates number of years student has been in

the academy.

Name. Class. Demerit.

H.L. 1 5

C.P. 3 10

W.K.M. 2 192

_A particular case to exemplify the manner of obtaining the numbers in

the column of demerit_:--

Cadet W.K.M. was charged with 48 delinquencies, to wit:

of the second class of offences, 2, which being multiplied

by 8, the number expressing the degree of criminality

of an offence of that class, is 16

Of the 3rd class 3 multiplied by 5 15

4th " 13 " 4 52

5th " 10 " 3 30

6th " 11 " 2 22

7th " 9 " 1 9

----

144

The Cadet being a member of the

2nd class, add 1/3 48

----

Total demerit 192

The following list of Cadets is attached to the Army Register in

conformity with a regulation for the Government of the United States

Military Academy, requiring the names of the most distinguished Cadets,

not exceeding five in each class, to be reported for this purpose at

each annual examination:--

_Reported at the Examination in June_, 18--.

No. Names. Appointed Science and Art in which each Cadet

from particularly excels.

1 First Class. Mass. Civil and Military Engineering, Ethics,

G.L.A. Mineralogy and Geology, Infantry

Tactics, Artillery, Natural and

Experimental Philosophy, Chemistry,

Drawing, Mathematics, French and

English Studies.

2 J.St.C.M. Pa. Civil and Military Engineering, Ethics,

Mineralogy and Geology, Infantry

Tactics, Artillery, Natural and

Experimental Philosophy, Chemistry,

Drawing, Mathematics, and French.

_"General Merit Roll," sent also to the War Office._

Names A B C

Mathematics 300.0 295.3 276.7

French 98.7 97.5 69.1

English Studies 100.0 89.5 98.9

Philosophy 300.0 295.6 278.2

Chemistry 150.0 147.5 145.1

Drawing 91.3 100.0 94.2

Engineering 300.0 285.3 290.2

Ethics 200.0 193.4 186.9

Mineralogy &

Geology 100.0 96.7 98.2

Infantry Tactics 150.0 147.5 137.8

Artillery 158.0 145.1 147.5

Conduct 297.3 293.8 294.5

General Merit 2237.3 2187.2 2117.3

_"Official Register of the Cadets" at West Point, printed yearly._

Order of general merit 1 2 3

Names T.L.C. N.C.A. G.H.M.

State At large Tenn. Pa.

Date of Admission July 1, 1848 do. do.

Age at date of admission

Years / Months 17 / 1 18 / 7 16 / 8

Order of merit in their

respective Studies

Engineering 1 2 3

Ethics 3 4 2

Mineral. & Geol. 1 2 4

Infantry Tactics 1 2 5

Artillery 2 1 3

Demerit of the Year 39 18 73

A board with the marks of demerit is always publicly hung up, so that

each cadet may know the exact length of his tether, for if the numbers

amount to 200 he is dismissed. I have dwelt very lengthily upon the

system adopted of recording and publishing the merit and demerit of the

students, because I was informed of the admirable effect produced by it.

As far as I can judge, it certainly appears not only an admirable means

of enabling the War-office to estimate character, but the great

publicity given to it must act as a powerful stimulus to exertion and

good conduct.

A portion of the cadets are instructed every day in fencing and riding.

When well advanced in the latter, they are taught spearing rings or

stuffed heads at the gallop, and the same with the sword. The

riding-school is perfectly abominable, being dark, full of pillars, and

most completely out of harmony with all the rest of the establishment,

which is excellent in every detail. On Sundays all the cadets attend

church, unless excused on conscientious motives, and with the approval

of their parents. The minister is selected by the President, and may be

of any denomination. I was told that an Episcopalian had been most

frequently chosen. The present minister is, I believe, a Presbyterian.

During the months of July and August the cadets all turn out of their

barracks, pitch their tents, and live regular camp life--only going to

the barracks to eat their meals. During the time they are tented, the

education is exclusively military practice; the same hours are kept as

in the barracks; the tents are boarded, and two cadets sleep in each.

They are all pitched with scrupulous accuracy, and they are obliged to

keep their camp as clean as a new pin--performing among themselves every

duty of a complete regiment--cleaning their own shoes, fetching their

own water, &c. They were all in tents at the time of my visit, and I

fear not particularly comfortable, for there had been two days and

nights' hard rain, and the wet mattresses were courting the warm rays of

the afternoon sun. Whatever jobbery is attempted in the selection of

candidates for admission to the Academy, is soon corrected by the

Academy itself; for, though the entrance examination is simple to a

degree, the subsequent examinations are very severe, and those who

cannot come up to the mark get notice to quit; and the unerring

tell-tale column of demerit soon obliges the turbulent to "clear out."

The result of this system is, that when I saw them under arms, their

soldierlike appearance struck me very much; and the effect produced upon

them by discipline was very marked. You might almost guess the time they

had been there by their gentlemanly bearing, a quality which they do not

readily lose; for the officers of the American army who have been

educated at West Point, enjoy a universal reputation for intelligence

and gentlemanly bearing wherever they are to be met with.

The discipline here is no fiction; they do not play at soldiers; they

all work their way up from the ranks, performing every duty of each

rank, and the most rigid obedience is exacted. In the calculations for

demerit, while idleness in the Academy obtains a mark of three,

disobedience to a superior officer is marked eight. There is no bullying

thought of here; the captain of his company would as soon think of

bullying the cadet private as a captain of a regiment of the line would

of bullying any private under his command. An officer who had been for

many years connected with West Point, told me that among all the duels

which unfortunately are so prevalent in the United States, he had never

either known or heard of one between any two gentlemen who had received

their education at this Academy--tricks, of course, are sometimes

played, but nothing oppressive is ever thought of.

I did hear a story of a cadet, who, by way of a joke, came and tried to

take away the musket of a wiry young Kentuckian, who was planted sentry

for the first time; but he found a military ardour he had little

anticipated; for the novice sentry gave him a crack on the side of the

head that turned him round, and before he could recover himself, he felt

a couple of inches of cold steel running into the bank situated at the

juncture of the hips and the back-bone; and thus not only did he suffer

total defeat and an ignominious wound, but he earned a large figure on

the demerit roll. From the way the story was told to me, I imagine it is

a solitary instance of such an outrage being attempted; for one of the

first things they seek to inculcate is a military spirit, and the young

Kentuckian at all events proved that he had caught the spirit; nor can

it be denied that the method he took to impress it upon his assailant,

as a fundamental principle of action, was equally sharp and striking.

Happening to be on the ground at the hour of dinner, I saw them all

marched off to their great dining-ball, where the table was well

supplied with meat, vegetables, and pudding; it was all substantial and

good, but the _tout-ensemble_ was decidedly very rough. If the intention

is to complete the soldier life by making them live like well-fed

privates of the line, the object is attained; but I should be disposed

to think, they might dispense with a good deal of the roughness of the

style with great advantage; though doubtless, where the general

arrangements are so good, they have their own reasons for keeping it as

it is. I paid a visit in the course of the afternoon to the

fencing-room; but being the hour of recreation, I found about thirty

lusty cadets, votaries to Terpsichore, all waltzing and polking merrily

to a fiddle, ably wielded by their instructor: as their capabilities

were various, the confusion was great, and the master bewildered; but

they all seemed heartily enjoying themselves.

The professors and military instructors, &c., have each a small

comfortable house with garden attached, and in the immediate vicinity of

the Academy. There is a comfortable hotel, which in the summer months is

constantly filled with the friends and relatives of the cadets; and

occasionally they get permission to give a little _soirée dansante_ in

the fencing-room. The hotel is prohibited from selling any spirituous

liquors, wines, &c.

The Government property at West Point consists of about three thousand

acres: the Academy, professors' houses, hotel, &c., are built upon a

large plateau, commanding a magnificent view of the Hudson both ways.

The day I was there, the scene was quite lovely; the noble stream was as

smooth as a mirror; a fleet of rakish schooners lay helpless, their

snow-white sails hanging listlessly in the calm; and, as the clear

waters reflected everything with unerring truthfulness, another fleet

appeared beneath, lying keel to keel with those that floated on the

surface. With such beautiful scenery, and so far removed from the bustle

and strife of cities, I cannot conceive any situation better adapted

for health and study, pleasure and exercise.

The great day of the year is that of the annual review of the cadets by

a board of gentlemen belonging to the different States of the Union, and

appointed by the Secretary of War; it takes place early in June, I

believe, and consequently before the cadets take the tented field. The

examination goes on in the library hall, which is a very fine room, and

hung with portraits of some of their leading men; the library is a very

fair one, and the cadets have always easy access to it, to assist them

in their studies. I could have spent many more hours here with much

pleasure, but the setting sun warned us no time was to be lost if we

wished to save the train; so, bidding adieu, to the friends who had so

kindly afforded me every assistance in accomplishing the object of my

visit, I returned to the great Babylon, after one of the most

interesting and gratifying days I had spent in America.[AW]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote AV: By the published class-list the numbers at present are

224.]

[Footnote AW: An account of a visit to this Academy, from the pen of Sir

J. Alexander, is published in Golburn's _United Service Magazine,_

September, 1854.]

CHAPTER XXIII.

_Watery Highways and Metallic Intercourse._

There is perhaps scarcely any feature in which the United States differ

more from the nations of the Old World, than in the unlimited extent of

their navigable waters, the value of which has been incalculably

increased by the introduction of steam. By massing these waters

together, we shall be the better able to appreciate their importance;

but in endeavouring to do this, I can only offer an approximation as to

the size of the lakes, from the want of any official information, in the

absence of which I am forced to take my data from authorities that

sometimes differ widely. I trust the following statement will be found

sufficiently accurate to convey a tolerably correct idea.

The seaboard on each ocean may be estimated at 1500 miles; the

Mississippi and its tributaries, at 17,000 miles; Lake Ontario, at 190

miles by 50; Lake Erie, at 260 miles by 60; Lake Huron, at 200 miles by

70; the Georgian Bay, at 160 miles, one half whereof is about 50 broad;

Lake Michigan, at 350 miles by 60; and Lake Superior, at 400 miles by

160, containing 32,000 square miles, and almost capable of floating

England, if its soil were as buoyant as its credit. All the lakes

combined contain about 100,000 square miles. The rate at which the

tonnage upon them is increasing, appears quite fabulous. In 1840 it

amounted to 75,000 tons, from which it had risen in 1850 to 216,000

tons. Besides the foregoing, there are the eastern rivers, and the deep

bays on the ocean board. Leaving, however, these latter out of the

question, let us endeavour to realize in one sum the extent of soil

benefited by this bountiful provision of Providence; to do which it is

necessary to calculate both sides of the rivers and the shores of the

lakes, which, of course, must be of greater extent than double the

length of the lakes: nevertheless, if we estimate them at only double,

we shall find that there are 40,120 miles washed by their navigable

waters; and by the constitution of the Union these waters are declared

to be "common property, for ever free, without any tax, duty, or impost

whatever."

The Americans are not free from the infirmities of human nature; and

having got a "good thing" among them, in process of time it became a

bone of contention, which it still remains: the Whigs contending that

the navigable waters having been declared by the constitution "for ever

free," are national waters, and as such, entitled to have all necessary

improvements made at the expense of the Union; their opponents

asserting, that rivers and harbours are not national, but local, and

that their improvements should be exclusively committed to the

respective States. This latter opinion sounds strange indeed, when it is

remembered that the Mississippi and its tributaries bathe the shores of

some thirteen States, carrying on their bosoms produce annually valued

at 55,000,000l. sterling, of which 500,000l. is utterly destroyed

from the want of any sufficient steps to remove the dangers of

navigation.[AX]

Mr. Ruggles has always been a bold and able advocate of the Whig

doctrine of nationality; and, in a lecture delivered by him upon the

subject, he states that during the recent struggle to pass the River and

Harbour Bill through the Senate, Mr. Douglas, a popular democrat from

Illinois, offered as a substitute an amendment giving the consent of

Congress "to the levy of local tonnage dues, not only by each of the

separate States, but even by the authorities of any city or town." One

can hardly conceive any man of the most ordinary intellect deliberately

proposing to inflict upon his country the curse of an unlimited legion

of custom-houses, arresting commerce in every bend of the river and in

every bay of the sea; yet such was the case, though happily the

proposition was not carried. How inferior does the narrow mind which

made the above proposition in 1848 appear, when placed beside the

prescient mind which in 1787 proposed and carried, "That navigable

waters should be for ever free from any tax or impost whatever!"

One of the most extraordinary instances of routine folly which I ever

read or heard of, and which, among so practical and unroutiney a

people as the Americans, appears all but incredible, is the

following:--Congress having resisted the Harbour Improvement Bill, but

acknowledged its duties as to certain lights and beacons, "Ordered, that

a beacon should be placed on a rock in the harbour of New Haven. The

engineer reported, that the cost of removing the rock would be less than

the cost of erecting the beacon; but the President was firm--a great

party doctrine was involved, and the rock remains to uphold the

beacon--a naked pole, with an empty barrel at its head--a suitable type

of the whole class of constitutional obstructions."[AY]

The State of New York may fairly claim the credit of having executed one

of the most--if not the most--valuable public works in the Union--the

Erie Canal. At the time of its first proposal, it received the most

stubborn opposition, especially from that portion of the democratic

party known by the appellation of "Barn-burners," whose creed is thus

described in a pamphlet before me:--"All accumulations of wealth or

power, whether in associations, corporate bodies, public works, or in

the state itself, are anti-democratic and dangerous.... The construction

of public works tends to engender a race of demagogues, who are sure to

lead the people into debt and difficulty," &c. The origin of their name

I have not ascertained.

Another party, possessing the equally euphonical name of "Old Hunkers,"

are thus described:--"Standing midway between this wing of the Democracy

and the Whig party, is that portion who have taken upon themselves the

comfortable title of 'Old Hunkers.' The etymological origin of this

epithet is already lost in obscurity. They embrace a considerable

portion of our citizens who are engaged in banking and other active

business, but at the same time decided lovers of political place and

power. At heart they believe in progress, and are in favour of a liberal

prosecution of works of improvement, but most generally disguise it, in

order to win the Barn-burners' votes. They are by no means deficient

in intelligence or private worth, but are deeply skilled in political

tactics; and their creed, if it is rightly understood, is that public

works ought to be 'judiciously' prosecuted, provided they themselves can

fill all the offices of profit or honour connected with their

administration."[AZ]

Such is the description given of these two parties by the pen of a

political opponent, who found in them the greatest obstacles to the

enlargement of the canal.

The name of De Witt Clinton will ever be associated with this great and

useful work, by which the whole commerce of the ocean lakes is poured

into the Hudson, and thence to the Atlantic. After eight years' hard

struggle, and the insane but undivided opposition of the city of New

York, the law for the construction of the canal was passed in the year

1817. One opponent to the undertaking, when the difficulty of supplying

water was started as an objection, assisted his friend by the

observation, "Give yourself no trouble--the tears of our constituents

will fill it." Many others opposed the act on the ground that, by

bringing the produce of the States on the lake shores so easily to New

York, the property of the State would be depreciated; which appears to

me, in other words, to be--they opposed it on the ground of its utility.

Others again grounded their objections on the doubt that the revenue

raised by the tolls would be sufficient to justify the expense.

Fortunately, however, the act was carried; and in seven years, the

canal, though not quite completed, was receiving tolls to the amount of

upwards of 50,000l. In 1836 the canal debt was paid, and produce

valued at 13,000,000l.--of which 10,000,000l. belonged to the State

of New York--was carried through it; the tolls had risen to 320,000l.

per annum, and 80,000l. of that sum was voted to be appropriated to

the general purposes of the State, the total cost having been under one

and a half million sterling.

One might imagine that such triumphant success would have made the State

ready to vote any reasonable sum of money to enlarge it if required;

but the old opponents took the field in force when the proposition was

made. Even after a certain sum had been granted, and a contract entered

into, they rescinded the grant and paid a forfeit to the contractor of

15,000l. It was in vain that the injury to commerce, resulting from

the small dimensions of the canal,[BA] was represented to them; it was

in vain that statistics were laid before them, showing that the

7,000,000 miles traversed by the 4500 canal-boats might, if the proposed

enlargement took place, reduce the distance traversed to two millions of

miles, and the boats employed to 1500; Barn-burners triumphed, and it

was decided that the enlargements should only be made out of the surplus

proceeds of the tolls and freight; by which arrangement this vast

commercial advantage will be delayed for many years, unless the fruits

of the canal increase more rapidly than even their present wonderful

strides can lead one to anticipate, although amounting at this present

day to upwards of 1,000,000l. yearly.[BB] Such is a short epitome of a

canal through which, when the Sault St. Marie Channel between Lakes

Superior and Huron is completed, an unbroken watery highway will bear

the rich produce of the West from beyond the 90° meridian of longitude

to the Atlantic Ocean.[BC]

Although the Erie is perhaps the canal which bears the most valuable

freight, it is by no means the greatest undertaking of the kind in the

Union. The Chesapeake and Ohio canal, uniting Washington and Pittsburg,

has nearly 400 locks, and is tunnelled four miles through the

Alleghanies; and the Pennsylvania canal, as we have already seen in a

former chapter, runs to the foot of the same ridge, and being unable to

tunnel, uses boats in compartments, and drags them by stationary engines

across the mountains. Nothing daunts American energy. If the people are

once set upon having a canal, go ahead it must; "can't" is an unknown

expression.[BD]

However important the works we have been considering may be to the

United States, there can be no doubt that railways are infinitely more

so; I therefore trust the following remarks upon them may have some

interest.

By the statement of the last Census, it appears that there are no less

than 13,266 miles of railroad in operation, and 12,681 in progress,

giving a total of nearly 26,000 miles; the cost of those which are

completed amounts to a little less than 75,000,000l., and the estimate

for those in progress is a little above 44,000,000l. We thus see that

the United States will possess 26,000 miles of railroad, at the cost of

about 120,000,000l. In England we have 8068 miles of railway, and the

cost of these amounts to 273,860,000l., or at the rate of 34,020l.

per mile. This extraordinary difference between the results produced and

the expenses incurred requires some little explanation. By the Census

report, I learn that the average expense of the railways varies in

different parts of the Union; those in the northern, or New England

States, costing 9250l. per mile; those in the middle States, 8000l.;

and those in the southern and western States, 4000l. per mile. The

railway from Charleston to Augusta, on the Savannah River, only cost

1350l. per mile. From the above we see clearly that the expenses of

their railways are materially affected by density of population and the

consequent value of land, by the comparative absence of forest to supply

material, and by the value of labour. If these three causes produce such

material differences in a country comparatively unoccupied like the

United States, it is but natural to expect that they should be felt with

infinitely more force in England. Moreover, as it has been well observed

by Captain D. Galton, R.E.,[BE] "railways originated in England, and

therefore the experience which is always required to perfect a new

system has been chiefly acquired in this country, and has increased the

cost of our own railways for the benefit of our neighbours."--Some

conception may be formed of the irregular nature of the expense on the

lines in England from the statement subjoined, also taken from the same

paper, viz.:--

Name of Railway. Land and Total Cost

Compensation. Works. Rails. per Mile.

£ £ £ £

London }

and } 113,500 98,000 1,000 253,000[BF]

Blackwall }

Leicester }

and } 1,000 5,700 700 8,700[BF]

Swannington }

From the table on the opposite page, it will be seen that the cost of

construction and engineering expenses amounted to 35,526,535l. out of

45,051,217l. Taking the railways quoted as representing a fair average

of the whole, we ascertain that more than one-fourth of the expense of

our railways is incurred for extras comparatively unknown in the United

States. At a general meeting of the London and North Western, in 1854,

Mr. Glyn mentioned as a fact, that a chairman of a certain line, in

giving evidence, had stated that a competition for the privilege of

making 28 miles of railway had cost 250,000l. Such an item of

expenditure can hardly enter into the cost of a railway in a country as

thinly populated as the Republic. There are also two other important

facts which are apt to be overlooked: first, that a great portion of the

railways in the United States are single lines; and secondly, that the

labour performed is of a far less solid and enduring character. A most

competent civil engineer told me that the slovenly and insecure nature

of many of the railway works in the United States was perfectly

inconceivable, and most unquestionably would not stand the inspection

required in England. A friend of mine has travelled upon a railway in

America, between Washington and Virginia, of which a great portion was

composed of merely a wooden rail with a bar of iron screwed on to the

surface.[BG] The carriages are also far less expensive and comfortable;

a carriage in the United States, which carries fifty people, weighs

twelve tons, and costs 450l.; in England it may be fairly asserted,

that for every fifty people in a mixed train there is a carriage weight

of eighteen tons, at a cost of 1500l.

The following Table, extracted from a Return moved for by Lord

Brougham, may help to give a better general idea of the reason why our

Railroads have been so costly:--

Name of London & Great Midland, South Eastern Total

Railway. North Western, and 12 and 6

Western, and 3 branches branches

and 12 branches

branches

Length/Miles 433 215-3/4 449-1/4 198-1/2 1296-1/2

Cost of Con-

struction. £ 13,302,313 6,961,011 9,064,089 5,375,366 34,702,779

Conveyance

and Law

Charges. £ 143,479 105,269 119,344 138,034 506,128

Cost of

Land. £ 3,153,226 1,132,964 1,764,582 1,458,627 7,509,399

Parliamentary

Expenses. £ 555,698 245,139 287,853 420,467 1,509,157

Engineering

and Sur-

veying. £ 289,698 201,909 216,110 116,039 823,756

Total

Cost. £ 17,444,414 8,646,292 11,451,978 7,508,533 45,051,217

When all the foregoing facts are taken into consideration, it must

appear clear to the reader, that until the efficiency of the work done,

the actual number of miles of rail laid down, and the comfort enjoyed

are ascertained, any comparison of the relative expenses of the

respective railways must be alike useless and erroneous; at the same

time, it can scarcely be denied that it is impossible to give the

Republic too much credit for the energy, engineering skill, and economy

with which they have railway-netted the whole continent. Much remains

for them to do in the way of organizing the corps of officials, and in

the erection of proper stations, sufficient at all events, to protect

travellers from the weather, for which too common neglect the abundance

of wood and their admirable machinery leave them without excuse; not

that we are without sin ourselves in this last particular. The uncovered

station at Warrington is a disgrace to the wealthy London and North

Western Company, and the inconveniences for changing trains at Gretna

junction is even more disreputable; but these form the rare exceptions,

and as a general rule, there cannot be the slightest comparison between

the admirably arranged corps of railway servants in England, and the

same class of men in the States; nor between the excellent stations in

this country, and the wretched counterpart thereof in the Republic.

Increased intercourse with Europe will, it is to be hoped, gradually

modify these defects; but as long as they continue the absurd system of

running only one class of carriage, the incongruous hustling together of

humanities must totally prevent the travelling in America being as

comfortable as that in the Old World.

Let us now turn from that which carries our bodies at the rate of

forty miles an hour, to that last giant stride of science by which our

words are carried quick as thought itself--the Telegraph. The Americans

soon discovered that this invention was calculated to be peculiarly

useful to them, owing to their enormous extent of territory; and having

come to this conclusion, their energy soon stretched the electric

messenger throughout the length and breadth of the land, and by the last

Census the telegraphic lines extend 16,735 miles, and the length of

wires employed amounts to 23,281. _The Seventh Census_ gives the expense

of construction as 30l. per mile.[BH] The systems in use are Morse's,

House's, and Bain's; the two former of American invention, the latter

imported from this country. Of these three the system most generally

employed is Morse's, the others being only worked upon about 2000 miles

each. It would be out of place to enter into any scientific explanation

of their different methods in these pages; suffice it to say, that all

three record their messages on ribands of paper; Morse employing a kind

of short-hand symbol which indents the paper; Bain, a set of symbols

which by chemical agency discolour the paper instead of indenting it;

and House printing Roman letters in full by the discolouring process.

Those who wish for details and explanations, will find them in the works

of Dr. Lardner and others on the Telegraph.

The following anecdote will give some idea of the rapidity with which

they work. A house in New York expected a synopsis of commercial news by

the steamer from Liverpool. A swift boat was sent down to wait for the

steamer at the quarantine ground. Immediately the steamer arrived, the

synopsis was thrown into the boat, and away she went as fast as oars and

sails could carry her to New York. The news was immediately telegraphed

to New Orleans and its receipt acknowledged back in three hours and five

minutes, and before the steamer that brought it was lashed alongside her

wharf. The distance to New Orleans by telegraph is about 2000 miles. The

most extensive purchases are frequently made at a thousand miles

distance by the medium of the telegraph. Some brokers in Wall-street

average from six to ten messages per day throughout the year. I remember

hearing of a young officer, at Niagara Falls, who, finding himself low

in the purse, telegraphed to New York for credit, and before he had

finished his breakfast the money was brought to him. Cypher is very

generally used for two reasons; first, to obtain the secrecy which is

frequently essential to commercial affairs; and secondly, that by

well-organized cypher a few words are sufficient to convey a long

sentence.

Among other proposed improvements is one to transmit the signature of

individuals, maps and plans, and even the outlines of the human face, so

as to aid in the apprehension of rogues, &c. By a table of precedence,

Government messages, and messages for the furtherance of justice and

detection of criminals, are first attended to; then follow notices of

death, or calls to a dying bed; after which, is the Press, if the news

be important; if not, it takes its turn with the general, commercial,

and other news. The wires in America scorn the railway apron-strings in

which they are led about in this country. They thread their independent

course through forests, along highways and byways, through streets, over

roofs of houses,--everybody welcomes them,--appearance bows down at the

shrine of utility, and in the smallest villages these winged messengers

are seen dropping their communicative wires into the post-office, or

into some grocer's shop where a 'cute lad picks up all the passing

information--which is not in cypher--and probably retails it with an

amount of compound interest commensurate with the trouble he has taken

to obtain it. There is no doubt that many of these village stations are

not sure means of communication, partly perhaps from carelessness, and

partly from the trunk arteries having more important matter to transmit,

and elbowing their weaker neighbours out of the field. Their gradual

increase is, however, a sufficient proof that the population find them

useful, despite the disadvantages they labour under. In some instances,

they have shown a zeal without discretion, for a friend of mine, lately

arrived from the Far West, informs me, that in many places the wires may

be seen broken, and the poles tumbling down for miles and miles

together, the use of the telegraph not being sufficient even to pay for

the keeping up. This fact should be borne in mind when we give them the

full benefit of the 16,735 miles according to their own statement in

_The Seventh Census_.

The very low tariff of charge renders the use of the telegraph universal

throughout the Union. In Messrs. Whitworth's and Wallis's report, they

mention an instance of a manufacturer in New York, who had his office in

one part of the town and his works in an opposite direction, and who, to

keep up a direct communication between the two, erected a telegraph at

his own expense, obtaining leave to carry it along over the tops of the

intervening houses without any difficulty. The tariff alluded to above

will of course vary according to the extent of the useful pressure of

competition. I subjoin two of their charges as an example. From

Washington to Baltimore is forty miles, and the charge is 10d. for ten

words. From New York to New Orleans is two thousand miles, and the

charge for ten words is ten shillings. It must be remembered that these

ten words are exclusive of the names and addresses of the parties

sending and receiving the message.

The extent to which the telegraph is used in the United States, induced

those interested in the matter in England to send over for the most

competent and practical person that could be obtained, with the view of

ascertaining how far any portion of the system employed by them might be

beneficially introduced into our country. The American system is that of

the complete circuit, and therefore requiring only one wire; and the

patent of Bain was the one experimented with, as requiring the slightest

intensity of current. After considerable expense incurred in trials, the

American system was found decidedly inferior to our own, solely owing to

the humidity of our climate, which, after repeated trials, has been

found to require a far more perfect insulation than is necessary either

in the United States or on the Continent, and therefore requiring a

greater outlay of capital in bringing the telegraphic wire into a

practical working state; 260 miles is the greatest length that a battery

is equal to working in this country in the worst weather.

Bain's system was formerly not sufficiently perfected to work

satisfactorily in our climate; recent improvements are removing those

objections, and the employment of it is now rapidly increasing. The

advantages that Bain's possesses over Morse's are twofold: first, the

intensity of current required to work it is lighter; and secondly, the

discoloration it produces is far more easily read than the indentations

of Morse's. The advantage Morse's possesses over Bain's is, that the

latter requires damp paper to be always ready for working, which the

former does not. The advantage Cook and Wheatstone's[BI] possesses over

both the former is, that it does not demand the same skilled hands to

wind and adjust the machine and prepare the paper; it is always ready at

hand, and only needs attention at long intervals, for which reasons it

is more generally employed at all minor and intermediate stations; its

disadvantages are, that it does not trace the message, and consequently

leaves no telegraphic record for reference, and it requires two wires,

while Bain's or Morse's employs but one; the intensity of the current

required to work it is the same as Bain's, and rather less than Morse's.

All three admit of messages going the whole length of the line being

read at all intermediate stations. The proportion of work capable of

being done by Bain's, as compared with Cook and Wheatstone's, is: Bain's

and one wire = 3; Cook and Wheatstone's and two wires = 5. But if Bain's

had a second wire, a second set of clerks would be requisite to attend

to it. The errors from the tracing telegraph are less than those from

the magnetic needle; but the difference is very trifling. No extra clerk

is wanted by Cook and Wheatstone's, as all messages are written out by a

manifold writer. Every message sent by telegraph in England has a

duplicate copy sent by rail to the "Clearing Office," at Lothbury, to be

compared with the original; thanks to which precaution, clerks keep

their eyes open, and the public are efficiently protected from errors.

How strange it is, that with the manifest utility of the telegraph in

case of fire, and the ease with which it could be adapted to that

purpose--as it has now been for some years in Boston--the authorities

take no steps to obtain its invaluable services. The alarm of fire can

be transmitted to every district of London at the small cost of 350l.

a-year. The most competent parties are ready to undertake the contract;

but it is too large a sum for a poor little village, with only 2,500,000

of inhabitants, and not losing more than 500,000l. annually by fires,

to expend. The sums spent at St. Stephen's in giving old gentlemen

colds, and in making those of all ages sneeze from underfoot snuff--in

other words, the attempt at ventilation, which is totally useless--has

cost the country more than would be necessary to supply this vast

metropolis with telegraphic wire communication for a century.

In conclusion, I must state that in this country several establishments

and individuals have their own private telegraphs, in a similar manner

to that referred to at New York, and many more would do the same, did

not vested interests interfere.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote AX: _Vide_ observations on this subject in Chapter X.]

[Footnote AY: Extract from lecture delivered by S.B. Ruggles, at New

York, October, 1852.]

[Footnote AZ: This extract is from a lecture by S.B. Ruggles to the

citizens of Rochester, October, 1849.]

[Footnote BA: The neighbouring colony "whips" the Republic in canals.

Vessels from 350 to 400 tons can pass the St. Lawrence and Welland

Canals. Nothing above 75 tons can use the Erie Canal.]

[Footnote BB: The governor of the State, in his annual message, 1854,

calls attention to the fact, that the toll on the canals is rapidly

decreasing, and will be seriously imperilled if steps are not taken to

enlarge it.]

[Footnote BC: By the Illinois and Michigan Canal the ocean lakes

communicate with the Mississippi; and when the channel is made by Lake

Nipissing, there will be an unbroken watercourse between New Orleans,

New York, Bytown, and Quebec.]

[Footnote BD: There are upwards of 5000 miles of canal in America.]

[Footnote BE: _Vide_ an able paper on railways, written by that officer

and published in that valuable work, _Aide Mémoire to the Military

Sciences_; or for fuller particulars the reader is referred to Report on

the Railways of the United States, by Capt. Douglas Galton, R.N.,

recently issued.]

[Footnote BF: This is without the expenses arising from law and

parliamentary proceedings.]

[Footnote BG: I believe the railway from Charleston to Savannah was

entirely laid down on this plan.]

[Footnote BH: Mr. Jones, in his _Historical Sketch of the Electric

Telegraph_, makes the calculation 40l. a mile, and estimates that, to

erect them durably, would cost 100l. a mile.]

[Footnote BI: Having alluded in the text to the systems of Morse, Bain,

and House, I must apologize for omitting to add, that the system of Cook

and Wheatstone consists simply of a deflecting needle--or needles--which

being acted upon by the currents, are, according to the manipulations of

the operator, made to indicate the required letters by a certain number

of ticks to the right or left.]

CHAPTER XXIV.

_America's Press and England's Censor._

In treating of a free country, the Press must ever be considered as

occupying too important an influence to be passed over in silence. I

therefore propose dedicating a few pages to the subject. The following

Table, arranged from information given in the Census Report of 1850, is

the latest account within my reach:--

_Newspapers Published._

Daily Tri-Weekly Semi-Weekly Weekly

254 115 31 1902

Printed Printed Printed Printed

Annually Annually Annually Annually

235,119,966 11,811,140 5,565,176 153,120,708

Semi-Monthly Monthly Quarterly

95 100 19

Printed Printed Printed

Annually Annually Annually

11,703,480 8,887,803 103,500

_General Classification._

Literary and Neutral and Political Religious Scientific

Miscellaneous Independent

568 88 1630 191 53

Printed Printed Printed Printed Printed

Annually Annually Annually Annually Annually

77,877,276 88,023,953 221,844,133 33,645,484 4,893,932

Total number of newspapers and periodicals, 2526; and copies printed

annually, 426,409,978.

The minute accuracy of the number of copies issued annually is a piece

of startling information: the Republic is most famous for statistics,

but how, without any stamp to test the accuracy of the issues, they have

ascertained the units while dealing with hundreds of millions is a

statistical prodigy that throws the calculating genius of a Babbage and

the miraculous powers of Herr Döbler and Anderson into the shade. I can

therefore no more pretend to explain the method they employ for

statistics, than I can the system adopted by Herr Döbler to mend plates

by firing pistols at them. The exact quantity of reliance that can be

placed upon them, I must leave to my reader's judgment.

As a general rule, it may be said that the literary, religious, and

scientific portions of the Press are printed on good paper, and provided

with useful matter, reflecting credit on the projectors and

contributors. I wish I could say the same of the political Press; but

truth compels me to give a far different account of their publications:

they certainly partake more of the "cheap and nasty" style. The paper is

generally abominable, the type is so small as to be painful to the eyes,

and would almost lead one to suppose it had been adopted at the

suggestion of a conclave of 'cute oculists: the style of language in

attacking adversaries is very low: the terms employed are painfully

coarse, and there is a total absence of dignity; besides which they are

profuse caterers to the vanity of the nation. I do not say there are no

exceptions; I merely speak generally, and as they came under my own eye,

while travelling through the whole length of the States. At the same

time, in justice, it must be stated, that they contain a great deal of

commercial information for the very small price they cost, some of them

being as low as one halfpenny in price.

I do not endorse the following extract, nor do I give it as the opinion

which editors entertain generally of each other, but rather to show the

language in which adverse opinions are expressed. It is taken from the

columns of the _The Liberator_:--"We have been in the editorial harness

for more than a quarter of a century, and, during that period, have had

every facility to ascertain the character of the American Press, in

regard to every form that has struggled for the ascendency during that

period; and we soberly aver, as our conviction, that a majority of the

proprietors and editors of public journals more justly deserve a place

in the penitentiaries of the land than the inmates of those places

generally. No felons are more lost to shame, no liars are so

unscrupulous, no calumniators are so malignant and satanic."--The

language of the foregoing is doubtless unmistakeably clear, but I think

the style can hardly be thought defensible. On general topics of

interest, if nothing occurs to stir the writer's bile, or if the theme

be not calculated to excite the vanity of their countrymen, the language

usually employed is perhaps a little metaphorical, but is at the same

time grammatical and sufficiently clear; and, I believe, that as a

general principle they expend liberally for information, and

consequently the whole Republic may be said to be kept well informed on

all passing events of interest.

If we turn for a moment from considering the American Press, to take a

slight glimpse at our own, how startling does the difference appear!

Great Britain, Ireland, and the Channel Islands, with a population

exceeding that of the United States, and with wealth immeasurably

greater, produce 624 papers, and of these comparatively few are daily;

only 180 issue above 100,000 copies annually, only 32 circulate above

500,000, and only 12 above 1,000,000. It has further been stated, that

there are 75 towns returning 115 members, and representing 1,500,000 of

the population, without any local paper at all.

The information respecting the Press in England is derived from _The

Sixth Annual Report of the Association for promoting the Repeal of the

Taxes on Knowledge_, and _The Newspaper Press Directory_. The issues

subjoined are taken from the Return ordered by the House of Commons, of

newspaper stamps, which is "_A Return of the Number of Newspaper Stamps

at one penny, issued to Newspapers in England, Wales, Scotland and

Ireland, for the year_ 1854."

_In England._

The Times 15,975,739

The News of the World 5,673,525

Illustrated London News 5,627,866

Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper 5,572,897

Weekly Times 3,902,169

Reynold's Weekly 2,496,256

Morning Advertiser 2,392,780

Weekly Dispatch 1,982,933

Daily News 1,485,099

Bell's Life in London 1,161,000

Morning Herald 1,159,000

Manchester Guardian 1,066,575

Liverpool Mercury 912,000

Morning Chronicle 873,500

The Globe 850,000

The Express 841,342

Morning Post 832,500

The Sun 825,000

Evening Mail 800,000

Leeds Mercury 735,500

Stamford Mercury 689,000

Birmingham Journal 650,750

Shipping Gazette 628,000

Weekly Messenger 625,500

_In Scotland._

North British Advertiser 802,000

Glasgow Saturday Post 727,000

North British Mail 565,000

Glasgow Herald 541,000

_In Ireland._

The Telegraph 959,000

Saunders's News Letter 756,000

Daily Express 748,000

General Advertiser 598,000

Various reasons may be given for this great difference between the Press

of the two countries. Many are disposed to attribute it, very naturally,

to the Government stamp, and the securities which are required; some, to

the machinery of Government of this country being necessarily so

complicated by ancient rights and privileges, and the difficulties of

raising a revenue, whereof the item of interest on the national debt

alone amounts to nearly 30,000,000l.; while others, again planting one

foot of the Press compass in London, show that a half circle with a

radius of five hundred miles brings nearly the whole community within

twenty-four hours' post of the metropolis, in which the best information

and the most able writers are to be found, thereby rendering it

questionable if local papers, in any numbers, would obtain sufficient

circulation to enable the editors to retain the services of men of

talent, or to procure valuable general information, without wholesale

plagiarism from their giant metropolitan rivals. Besides, it must he

remembered that in America, each State, being independent, requires a

separate press of its own, while the union of all the States renders it

necessary that the proceedings in each of the others should be known, in

order that the constitutional limits within which they are permitted to

exercise their independence, may be constantly and jealously watched;

from which cause it will be seen that there is a very simple reason for

the Republic requiring comparatively far more papers than this country,

though by no means accounting for the very great disproportion existing.

While, however, I readily admit that the newspapers of Great Britain

are greatly inferior in numbers, I am bound in justice to add, that they

are decidedly superior in tone and character. I am not defending the

wholesale manner in which, when it suits their purpose, they drag an

unfortunate individual before the public, and crucify him on the

anonymous editorial WE, which is at one and the same time their

deadliest weapon and their surest shield. Such acts all honest men must

alike deplore and condemn; but it must be admitted that the language

they employ is more in accordance with the courtesies of civilized life,

than that used by the Press of the Republic under similar circumstances;

and if, in a time of excitement and hope, they do sometimes cater for

the vanity of John Bull, they more generally employ their powers to

"take him down a peg;" and every newspaper which has sought for

popularity in the muddy waters of scurrility, has--to use an Oriental

proverb--"eaten its own dirt, and died a putrid death."

Let me now turn from the Press to the literature of the United States.

Of the higher order of publications, it is needless to say anything in

these pages. Irving, Prescott, Ticknor, Stephens, Longfellow, Hawthorne,

and writers of that stamp, are an honour to any country, and are as well

known in England as they are in America, consequently any encomium from

my pen is as unnecessary as it would be presumptuous.

The literature on which I propose to comment, is that which I may

reasonably presume to be the popular literature of the masses, because

it is the staple commodity for sale on all railways and steamboats. I

need not refer again to the most objectionable works, inasmuch as the

very fact of their being sold by stealth proves that, however numerous

their purchasers, they are at all events an outrage on public opinion. I

made a point of always purchasing whatever books appeared to me to be

selling most freely among my fellow-travellers, and I am sorry to say

that the mass of trash I thus became possessed of was perfectly

inconceivable, and the most vulgar abuse of this country was decidedly

at a premium. But their language was of itself so penny-a-liny, that

they might have lain for weeks on the book-shelf at an ordinary

railway-station in England--price, _gratis_--and nobody but a trunkmaker

or a grocer would have been at the trouble of removing them.

Not content, however, with writing trash, they do not scruple to

deceive the public in the most barefaced way by deliberate falsehood. I

have in my possession two of these specimens of honesty, purchased

solely from seeing my brother's name as the author, which of course I

knew perfectly well to be false, and which they doubtless put there

because the American public had received favourably the volumes he

really had written. Of the contents of these works attributed to him I

will only say, the rubbish was worthy of the robber. I would not convey

the idea that all the books offered for sale are of this calibre; there

are also magazines and other works, some of which are both interesting

and well-written. If I found no quick sale going on, I generally

selected some work treating of either England or the English, so as to

ascertain the popular shape in which my countrymen were represented.

One work which I got hold of, called _Northwood_, amused me much: I

there found the Englishman living under a belief that the Americans were

little better than savages and Pagans, and quite overcome at the

extraordinary scene of a household meeting together for domestic

worship, which of course was never heard of in England. This little

scene affords a charming opportunity for "buttering up" New England

piety at the cheap expense of a libel upon the old country. He then is

taken to hear a sermon, where for his special benefit, I suppose, the

preacher expatiates on the glorious field of Bunker's Hill, foretells

England's decline, and generously promises our countrymen a home in

America when they are quite "used up." The Englishman is quite overcome

with the eloquence and sympathy of the Church militant preacher, whose

discourse being composed by the authoress, I may fairly conclude is

given as a model of New England oratory in her estimation. Justice

requires I should add, that the sermons I heard during my stay in those

States were on religious topics, and not on revolutionary war.

Perhaps it may be said that _Northwood_ was written some years ago, I

will therefore pass from it to what at the present day appears to be

considered a _chef d'oeuvre_ among the popular style of works of which I

have been speaking. I ground my opinion of the high estimation in which

it is held from the flattering encomiums passed upon it by the Press

throughout the whole Republic from Boston to New Orleans. Boston styles

it a "_vigorous volume;"_ Philadelphia, a "_delightful treat;"_ New

York, "_interesting and instructive;"_ Albany admires the Author's

"_keen discriminating powers;"_ Detroit, "a _lively and racy style;" The

Christian Advocate_ styles it "_a skinning operation"_ and then adds, it

is a "_retort courteous"_ to Uncle Tommyism; Rochester honours the

author with the appellation of "_the most chivalrous American that ever

crossed the Atlantic."_ New Orleans winds up a long paragraph with the

following magnificent burst of editorial eloquence:--"_The work is

essentially American. It is the type, the representative,_ THE AGGREGATE

OUTBURST OF THE GREAT AMERICAN HEART, _so well expressed, so admirably

revealing the sentiment of our whole people_--_with the exception of

some puling lovers he speaks of-_--_that it will find sympathy in the

mind of every true son of the soil."_ The work thus heralded over the

Republic with such perfect _e pluribus unum_ concord is entitled

_English Items;_ and the embodiment of the "_aggregate outburst of the

great American heart"_ is a Mr. Matthew F. Ward, whose work is sent

forth to the public from one of the most respectable publishers in New

York--D. Appleton and Co., Broadway.

Before I present the reader specimens of ore from this valuable mine I

must make a few observations. The author is the son of one of the

wealthiest families in Kentucky, a man of education and travel, and has

appeared before the public in a work entitled _The Three Continents:_ I

have given extracts from the opinions of the Press at greater length

than I otherwise should have done, because I think after the reader has

followed me through a short review of _English Items,_ he will see what

strong internal testimony they bear to the truth of my previous

observations. I would also remark that I am not at all thin-skinned as

to travellers giving vent to their true feelings with regard to my own

country. All countries have their weaknesses, their follies, and their

wickednesses. Public opinion in England, taken as a whole, is decidedly

good, and therefore the more the wrong is laid bare the more hope for

its correction; but, while admitting this right in its fullest extent,

it is under two conditions: one that the author speak the truth, the

other that his language be not an outrage on decency or good manners.

Now then, come forth, _thou aggregate outburst of the great American

heart_![BJ] Speak for thyself--let the public be thy judge.

The following extracts are from the chapter on "Our Individual Relations

with England," the chaste style whereof must gratify the reader:--"I am

sorry to observe that it is becoming more and more the fashion,

especially among travelled Americans, to pet the British beast; ...

instead of treating him like other refractory brutes, they

pusillanimously strive to soothe him by a forbearance he cannot

appreciate; ... beasts are ruled through fear, not kindness: they

submissively lick the hand that wields the lash." Then follow

instructions for his treatment, so terrible as to make future tourists

to America tremble:--"Seize him fearlessly by the throat, and once

strangle him into involuntary silence, and the British lion will

hereafter be as fawning as he has been hitherto spiteful." He then

informs his countrymen that the English "cannot appreciate the retiring

nature of true gentility ... nor can they realize how a nation can fail

to be blustering except from cowardice." Towards the conclusion of the

chapter he explains that "hard blows are the only logic the English

understand;" and then, lest the important fact should be forgotten, he

clothes the sentiment in the following burst of genuine _American_

eloquence:--"To affect their understandings, we must punch their heads."

So much for the chapter on "Our Individual Relations with England,"

which promise to be of so friendly a nature that future travellers had

better take with them a supply of bandages, lint, and diachylon plaster,

so as to be ready for the new _genuine American_ process of intellectual

expansion.

Another chapter is dedicated to "Sixpenny Miracles in England," which is

chiefly composed of _réchauffées_ from our own press, and with which the

reader is probably familiar; but there are some passages sufficiently

amusing for quotation:--"English officials are invariably impertinent,

from the policeman at the corner to the minister in Downing-street ...

a stranger might suppose them paid to insult, rather than to oblige ...

from the clerk at the railway depôt to the secretary of the office where

a man is compelled to go about passports, the same laconic rudeness is

observable." How the _American mind_ must have been galled, when a

cabinet minister said, "not at home" to a free and enlightened citizen,

who, on a levee day at the White House, can follow his own

hackney-coachman into the august presence of the President elect.

Conceive him strolling up Charing Cross, then suddenly stopping in the

middle of the pavement, wrapt in thought as to whether he should cowhide

the insulting minister, or give him a chance at twenty yards with a

revolving carbine. Ere the knotty point is settled in his mind, a voice

from beneath a hat with an oilskin top sounds in his ear, "Move on, sir,

don't stop the pathway!" Imagine the sensations of a sovereign citizen

of a sovereign state, being subject to such indignities from stipendiary

ministers and paid police. Who can wonder that he conceives it the duty

of government so to regulate public offices, &c., "as to protect not

only its own subjects, but strangers, from the insults of these

impertinent hirelings." The bile of the author rises with his subject,

and a few pages further on he throws it off in the following beautiful

sentence:--"Better would it be for the honour of the English nation if

they had been born in the degradation, as they are endued with the

propensities, of the modern Egyptians."

At last, among other "sixpenny miracles," he arrives at the Zoological

Gardens,--the beauty of arrangement, the grandness of the scale, &c.,

strike him forcibly; but his keen inquiring mind, and his accurately

recording pen, have enabled him to afford his countrymen information

which most of my co-members in the said Society were previously

unconscious of. He tells them, "It is under control of the English

Government, and subject to the same degradation as Westminster, St.

Paul's, &c."--Starting from this basis, which only wants truth to make

it solid, he complains of "the meanness of reducing the nation to the

condition of a common showman;" the trifling mistake of confounding

public and private property moves his democratic _chivalry_, and he

takes up the cudgels for the masses. I almost fear to give the sentence

publicity, lest it should shake the Ministry, and be a rallying-point

for Filibustero Chartists. My anticipation of but a moderate circulation

for this work must plead my excuse for not withholding it. "The

Government basely use, without permission, the authority of the people's

name, to make them sharers in a disgrace for which they alone are

responsible. A stranger, in paying his shilling for admission into an

exhibition, which has been dubbed nation (by whom?) in contradistinction

from another in the Surrey Gardens, very naturally suspects that the

people are partners in this contemptible transaction.... The English

people are compelled to pay for the ignominy with which their despotic

rulers have loaded them." Having got his foot into this mare's nest, he

finds an egg a little further on, which he thus hatches for the American

public: "Englishmen not only regard eating as the most inestimable

blessing of life, when they enjoy it themselves, but they are always

intensely delighted to see it going on. The Government charge an extra

shilling at the Zoological Gardens on the days that the animals are fed

in public; but, as much as an Englishman dislikes spending money, the

extraordinary attraction never fails to draw," &c.