The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-07-10
MISCELLANY.
From fhe .dloany Balance.
NATIONAL, PREJUDICE

printed by Mr. Sergeant, OF New-fork, find
an article entitled, History and Present
STATE Of .fmerica," which betrays such a
shameful want OF candour, or such gross ig-
norance of the real state Of this country. that
! am induced to take some notice of it. Tn.
der the pretence of reviewing Dr.. Holmes
American Annals" the writer's of the ar,i-
Gle have g.. en- us, in the compass of about IL
pages, this admirable t" history" taken not in
deed from Dr. Holmes Annals, (for these
they pronounce meagre and miserably i'm
perfectly but from the auikemick travels of
Ashe and Weld 1t is to be regretted that
TIC reviewers have not informed us TO what
part of America (they are speaking particu-
!ary Of the United States) the following de.
scription is intended to apply :--
There is both in the physical and intel
lcctual features of the Americans, a trace of
savage character, produced by the circum-
stance OF society and of external nature. 1t
Is only in the great cities and their immedi-
ate vicinity that the accompaniments OF civil
iization are found lin the new settlements
every thing paytakes more Of savage than OF
civilized life. The back settlers, useful MS
they arc when considered as the pioneers OF
civilization, are a worse race than the Indians,
upon whose border they trespass inasmuch
as they have been better taught, possess
greater power of doing mischief, and are with
out principle. The succeeding classes for
many steps upward, find themselves without
the priest, without the physician, and wi,hou,
any other law than serves for the purpose Of
litigation. The execution of Justice they
take into their own hands The man whose
horse is stolen pursues the thief, and frequent.
Iy kills him on the spot, to save the trouble
OF lodging him in prison"
Since these cases arc so frequent, it is sur
pri,ing that neither the reviewers, nor their
wonder-hun,ing travellers could quote us an
instance. However, this is but triilc COM
pared to wha, follows:
An Americans first play-thing is the
ra,tle-snake's tail il he strays out OF sight Of
his fathers door he is los, an accident
which Frequently happens: but hence like
the savage, he acquires an early habit Of trac-
ing his way by signs impcrcep,:blc to ano,h-
cr's eyes. As he grows up, he lays traps for
opossums, and shoots squirrels for his break
fast he cuts down tree OH which the wild
pigeons have built iheig nests, and picks up a
horse-load of young birds J"
viewers have the candour to acknowledge
that they DO not give full credit TO every thing
that Ashc has written but they assert that
50 hi. book contains few vaina6ie facts )"
and the following is probably given as spc-
cimcn
+" lie the American takes his pigeons
or bis pork 10 the nearest town sell them he
cannot The words buy and sell are nearly
unknown in the new settlements he rades
I'm, and takes in exchange, not what he
wants, but what be can get. | have known
d person. says Ashe, ask for pair OF shoes,
and receive Tor answer, that there were no
shoes in the store, but some tahiiaL gin that
could be recommended 10 him. have heard
mother ask for tife-gun, and be answered
that there were no rifles, bu, that he could be
accommodated with the best Dutch looking
glasses and German .Rutes IN the western
county. Another was directed by bis vile
10 bring her warming pan, smoothing irons
and scruLbing.brushes; but these were deni-
ed, and zvooden cutkoo-eiock, which the chill
drcn would not take week TO dcmolish, was
sent home in their stead"
Having copied few other /" valuable facts"
of this description from hshe, the reviewers
next give US some information On the author
ily Of Weld, whose travels, they gravely tell
US in note, contain but one gross cxaggc- |
ration" and that il" the story of tive musqui- |
tos that bit General Washington through his |
boots 20
Living in this scmi.sayage state, the
greater part of the Americans are so accus-
toned to dispense with the comforts of life
which they cannot obtain, that they have
learnt TO neglect even those deccncies which
are within ;her reach. This is not meant TO
alude TO the custom. Of ofbundiing, which preba-
bly, never was general, and which was not the
of any particular stage of socic-
ly but it applies to the dctcstable state of
lhcir inns, which arc as disgraceful to Amer
lea as they arc disgusting to the unlucky En-
glishman, whose fate it Is to travel there.