were the population of this immensely extended republic proportioned only to that of Great Britain, instead of five or six millions, it ought to contain two hundred and thirty-nine millions of inhabitants.

Notwithstanding this vast disproportion between the population and the territory of the United States, the Americans are still farther extending their limits Considering the opposite interests of the nor thern and southern states, it is surprising that the federal constitution has so long maintained itself, and triumphed over contending parties, Some of the best informed men are, however, of opinion, that the compact will not hold much longer, and that the next election of a president will sever the states, and leave New York or Pennsylvania the boundary between them. The northern states are firm federalists that is, of Washington's system: in the south, they are violent democrats, bawlers for liberty in the very midst of slavery. The latter have twice elected Mr. Jefferson as president; and it is conjectured that, should the federals fail in their majority at the next election, it will be the tocsin of disunion.'

To the climate of America, which experiences the extreme of degrees of heat and cold, the author particularly objects; and if we decide on this head by the rule of our voluptuous monarch Charles II. viz. "that that country is the best to live in, in which a man may be most days of the year and most hours of the day in the open air," England is decidedly preferable to any State of the Union.-Of the Province of Maine, now subject to the State of Massachusets, the author affords a favourable picture: but even here the climate is not on the whole inviting:

It is, at this time, a flourishing country, abounding with the best timber, of which large quantities are exported to the British dominions. The climate, however, like almost every other part of the United States, is unfavorable to the English constitution. To stran gers, the heat in the summer is almost insupportable, while the severity of winter is scarcely to be endured. The spring and autumn are, certainly, delightful; the month of November, which is proverbially fatal to Englishmen, is, in America, one of the most delightful in the year. The sun has then declined to such a point, that his rays diffuse a most comfortable temperature, the frosts of winter being no farther advanced than to act as a bracer to the relaxed constitution. In this month, I could, without the least inconvenience, pass the whole day, from morning until sun-set, either in the active sports of the field, or seated upon the rocks, angling for the various species of fish, with which the coast of New England abounds.'

The extent and productions of this district are particularly described:

The growing importance of Maine will soon produce a political separation from Massachusets; when it will, in all probability, raise itself to the rank of an independent state. It is three hundred miles long, and two hundred and four miles in breadth, lying between 43

and

and 46 degrees, north latitude, and extending to the British dominions. The climate is healthy to the natives, but subject to extremes of heat and cold. The inhabitants often live to a great age. The land produces Indian corn, rye, barley, oats, pease, beans, potatoes in astonishing quantities; and of fruit, apples, pears, plumbs, peaches, cherries, &c. The butter made here is said to excel that of every other part of New England, owing to the sweetness of the grass. This is a wonderful country for timber, abounding in stately and extensive forests, and the lumber trade is consequently very lucrative. The numerous rivers afford abundance of salmon, and the sea coast furnishes such quantities of cod, that their fisheries are very extensive and profitable. The country produces deer of various kinds, beayers, otters, sables, bears, wolves, rabbits, mountain cats, porcupines, aud other animals. The sportsman may find sufficient amusement among the partridges, squirrels, and an infinite variety of water fowl. There are no venomous serpents to the eastward of Kennebeck river. The people, as in every other part of New England, are very inquisitive to strangers.

The principal town in the province of Maine, is Portland. It has grown into consequence within a few years; being till 1786, a part of Falmouth. The town of Portland is beautifully situated on a neck of land, at high water nearly insulated by the sea, which ren ders it healthy and pleasant. I have not met with a more agreeable place in America, and have ever thought this town claimed a preference, in many respects, to all others which I have visited on this vast continent. The harbour is always open, very commodious, and the trade and inhabitants rapidly encreasing. A spirit of enterprise and industry prevails in Portland, which cannot fail, with its natural advantages, to render it a populous and wealthy place.'

Nature is known to exhibit her usual features on a grand scale, on the continent of America; and the traveller must unavoidably be struck with the magnitude of her lakes and mountains. Mr. J. notices Lakes Superior and Huron as the largest bodies of fresh water in the world; and in speaking of the Straits which connect the American Lakes, he mentions a very singular circumstance. It is remarkable that although there' is no diurnal flood or ebb to be perceived in the waters of these streights, yet from an exact attention to their state, a periodical alteration has been discovered. It has been observed that they rise by gradual, but imperceptible degrees, till in seven years and a half they have reached the height of about three feet; and in the same space of time they gradually fall away to their former state, so that in fifteen years they complete this inexplicable revolution.' Whenever the author adverts to the state of religion in America, he places it in no favourable point of view; and he particu. larly reports that it is at a very low ebb in the Carolinas. Charleston (says he) they make some shew of religion on the sabbath, but, perhaps, with as little devotion as in the other

At

parts

parts of the state. Of Georgia, I cannot, from my own ob◄ servation, say much; but there is every reason to believe that, with respect to religion, it is nearly on a par with the CaroJinas; gouging being in equal vogue in the four southern states.' In a subsequent page, he informs us that the marriage ceremony is performed by the justice of the peace, who hiccups over a few lines,' and that the baptism and burial services are dispensed with.' In other places, however, we read of the ridiculous strictness with which the sabbath is observed; the ranting methodists have their Lord's Anointed; and though there be no particular Establishment in America, and of course no privileged clergy, he disputes Dr. Currie's assertion, which is strictly correct," that there are no ecclesiatical orders in that country." To ridicule the Baptists, he tells the following idle story:

A spectator declared, that one of his relations, an elderly man, had suddenly become a frequenter of the Baptist meetings, and offered himself a candidate for a place among the elect. The penance neces sary to endure is severe, and the probation arduous, before the repentant sinner can pass the ordeal of the ministers and elders. The old man had, it seems, obtained the blessed sanction, and a distant day was appointed for his regeneration by baptism. Upon reflection, finding that it would happen in the greatest severity of winter, at the next mecting he petitioned that the ceremony might take place in warmer weather; alledging, that it would certainly prove his death to be put under water in time of frost and snow. The congregation murmured, while the priest, without a reply, read his sentence of excommunication, with the most severe anathemas on his head as an unbeliever, possessing neither faith nor the holy spirit; and never could he recover the effects of his indiscretion, or be again admitted into the number of the elect.'

Among the anecdotes of the American war, the history of the amiable Lady Harriet Acland is detailed in an affecting manner but this has been frequently presented to the British reader.

At Philadelphia, Mr. Janson appears to have passed a considerable time; and of this city we have not only an ample description, but also a plan, and several views. It is stated to be well built, and to contain nearly 80,000 inhabitants; which amount, notwithstanding the ravages of the yellow fever*,

is

The author experienced this malady, and he thus describes its effects:

The yellow fever was then raging, and I was at that moment under its baleful influence. To describe the misery of the sufferer afflicted with this horrible disease, is impossible. The symptoms by

is double the extent of its population at the declaration of independence. Of its market, which is the boast of the Philadelphians, we shall insert Mr. J.'s account:

It is a covered building, 420 of my steps, in length, exclusive of the intersections of streets, and I calculated my step to be a yard; but only five (qu. fifteen) feet in breadth, including the butchers' benches and blocks. It is well supplied; and its regularity and cleanliness indicate good living and wholesome regulations. No article can be offered for sale here without first being submitted to the inspection of one of the clerks of the market, who seizes unwholesome articles, and a fine is inflicted upon the owner. The fish-market, from its distance to the sea, is but indifferently supplied, though much pains is taken to procure a regular supply. Light carts are constantly coming in from New York, and Burlington in New Jersey, with the most deliwhich I was attacked were sudden. I had supped with an appetite, slept as well as the heat would permit, and was rising at my usual time in the morning, when I felt a most singular sensation, accompanied by a chill. I lay down again, and soon felt a nausea at my stomach, which produced vomiting of bile, in color and quantity which astonished me. This relieved me so much, that I ascribed the cause of my sickness to a foul stomach, and had dressed myself before I perceived new symptoms. A lassitude hung about me, and was accompanied with a depression of my faculties, an acute pain at the back of the head, and an aching through my limbs. Medical assistance was now procured, but on the third day I felt so weary that I could not remain a minute in the same posture; a sensation not to be cescribed-worse to be endured than acute pain, and more irk some than the smart of a festering wound. During this time the fever had made great progress, and the thirst it occasioned could not be appeased, though I drank large quantities of the jnice of limes, with water, which was permitted by my physician. My stomach, however, soon refused the grateful beverage; the vomiting continued often so long, and with such violence, that I was exhausted, and found a temporary relief in the deprivation of my mental faculties In this state I suffered several days, the greatest part of which I was insensible of my situation, and the intervals of reason were horrible. My bones felt as if they were disjointed; a burning pain was seated in the spine, while the throbbing and tormenting sensation in my head. drove me again into a state of delirium. The treatment of my physician was judicious; by his aid, and that of a good constitution, I struggled through the dreadful disorder. I was copiously bled in the first instance, and blisters were applied to my legs, my feet, and the back of my neck. This regimen, with the good effect produced by strong doses of calomel, and afterwards of bark, effected my cure. During this severe trial, in my intervals of reason I readily complied with the prescriptions of my doctor, and the directions of my black nurse: but was informed, that in my delirium I was most refractory, and evinced great bodily strength in attempting to escape from the chamber-a common symptom in the yellow fever.'

Cate

cate fish of the ocean, and packed in ice during the summer. The beef is good, but the mutton and veal far inferior to that of England and Ireland. Butter and poultry are excellent; and there is a profusion of vegetables. Butchers' meat, on an average, is ten to twelve cents (5d to бd.) per pound; but poultry is not one-third of the London price, and of a superior quality Fowls of all kinds are within the compass of the purchase of the labourer. A turkey of sixteen pounds weight may often be bought in hiladelphia for a dolJar, but I have seen them sold of this size, both in New England and in Virginia, for three shillings, and even still less, British money. Wild turkies are sometimes brought to market of the enormous weight of twenty-five pounds and upwards; but these birds retire from the country as it becomes more settled. Geese, ducks, fowls, rabbits, (there are no hares in the United States) are of a proportionate price. Quails, which they call partridges, are brought alive in Jarge quantities, and sold for about two and sixpence per dozen. Negroes, and sometimes white people, bring opossums, which could not readily be distinguished from roast pig, when dressed in the same manner; squirrels, which are by many preferred to the rabbit, and sometimes racoons. The latter I never could be prevailed upon to taste; indeed, it is not held in any estimation, partaking too much of the species of the fox, though, I believe it is not carnivorous. Excellent butter is supplied by the German settlers, at about an English shilling per pound, and eggs at sixpence per dozen The pork throughout the United States is excellent, and, from the quantity of mast, it is raised in abundance. Large herds of swine, which ran off at my approach, have often suddenly surprised me when on a shooting party in the woods. They range at large, and stray sometimes many miles from their owner, who, however, is anxious to accustom them to resort to his plantation. To effect this, he blows the conch, shell, which may be heard at a great distance. At this signal the hogs that are well trained set off at full speed; and, from its being sounded at one particular spot, the animals soon appear, and are ewarded with Indian-corn, which they prefer to all other food. About the end of November begins the pork season Neighbour. ing planters and farmers unite, and form a large party in quest of the herds of swine, that are entirely wild, which they pursue and shoot with a single ball in the head. Each person knows his hogs by marks which are given them when young. This pork, by the quantity, is generally in price from five to six dollars per hundred weight. It is very fat, but the flesh is not firm, from the animal feeding chiefly upon the acorn; this they call mast fed pork.'

With this large provision for the body, Philadelphia enjoys also abundant literary food. The library and museum are on Jespectable foundations.

If on some subjects the Americans may profit by the example of the mother-country, on others the parent may learn from her children. In the article of Criminal Punishments, the conduct of the American Government is highly judicious, and merits universal adoption. It is a common complaint with

us