The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1823-01-15
Philadelphia, Oct. 1919.
Continued from our last

Philadelphia, Oct. 1919.
Continued from our last.l
With regard to the uanity which il
charged upon them, this foible is adj
mitted by all their sensible men. who
are Disguised with the extrayagant pre-
tensions maintained in inflated language
in their publick prints. l have heard
some of them loosely say, that they
expect their countrymen will soon be-
gin to assert that they are not only the
most powerful and the most learned.
but the Oldest nation in the world.
In good society, however, have sell
dom witnessed this vanity in any re-
markable degree; and really think I
have seen more of it in the Americans
have met with in England, than in the
whole range OF my observation since |
landed in this country. When I have
made the concessions to which thought
the Americans fairly entitled, | have rot
often observed disposition to push their
claims foo far, but, on the contrary. q
readiness to suggest some point of COM
parison in which Great-Britain has OBJ
viously the advantage. And, without
attempting to defend an acknowledged
defect in their character, must confess
the Americans have some excuse for
their vanity. Descended (which of us
will dispute it , from most iIlustrious
ancestors, possessing territory perhaps
unequalled in extent and value. yictori-
Gus in the infancy of their history in =
struggle for their independence, and
rising with unprecedented rapidity in
the scale of nations, they must be more
than mortal if they were not elevated
with their condition; and if sometimes
they may appear to draw too heavily
on the future, and to regard America
rather as what she is to be. than what
she is, must own that never yet met
with an American who carried his views
OF her future greatness so far as should
be disposed to do if she we're nv coun-
try, and if | could be satisfied of the
Predominating influence of religious
"riR9eeiERJIe in her publick councils.
leans, do not think it has peethA Amer
aggerated. They certainly are, as they
profess to be. an inquiring people; and If
we may sometimes be disposed to dis
pute the claims of their love of knowing
10 the character of liberal curiosity
we muse at least admit that they make
a most liberal use of every means in
their power to CRAFTY it. have seI-
dom, however, had any difficulty in re-
pressing their home questions, if wish
ed it, and without offending them; but
more frequently amused myself by put
ting them on the rack; civilly, and APP
parently unconsciously, eluding their
inquiries for time, and then awaken
ing their gratitude by such discovery
of myself as might choose to make
Sometimes a man would place himself
at my side in the wilderness, and ride
for mile or two without the smallest
communication between us, except a
slight nod of the head He would
then, perhaps, make some grave re-
mark on the weather; and if | assented
in a monosyllable, he would stick to
my side for another mile or two, when
he would commence his attack. ~I
reckon, stranger, you do not belong to
these parts" No sir, l am not a nd
tiva of Alabama Il guess you ara
from the north" No, sir, am not
from the north 81 guess you found
the roads mighty muddy, and the creeks
swimming" No, not so very far; wa
have travelled few hundred miles
since we turned our faces Westward
|" guess you have seen Mr.. -, or
General -" mentioning the names
of some well-known individuals in the
middle and southern States, who were
to serve as guide-posts to direct our
route J but, 81 have not the pleasure
of knowing any of them;' or, II have
the pleasure Of knowing ALL equally
defeated his purpose, bat not his hopes.
81 reckon, stranger, you have had q
| good crop Of cotton this years. lam
told, sir, the crops have been unusually
abundant in Carolina and Georgia.
You grow tobacco, then, guess Go
track me 10 Virginia, No, do NOT
grow tobacco Here modest inouir-
er would give up in despair, and trust to
the chapter Of accidents to develop
my name and history but | generally
rewarded his modesty. and evc;ts,l NJ.