The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-09-09
HALLS TRAVELS

OaPt' Ou1h AAulj, Oh tIl6 DIlLlS0 Royal NAVY
well known in the literary word, as the author
of an account of the Loo Choo Islands, and
subsequently, of travels in Brazil, has recently
travelled through tho United States, and on
his return to England, has, as was expected
published an account of his tour. The book
which is just republished in this country, has
called forth considerable share of criticism on
both sides Of the Atlantic Capt Hall has evi.
IDENTIFY laboree to give fair and impartial &C.
count of his travels; one that should not be
liable to the obnoxious charges brought against
those of some others of his couHtrymen, and SO
far as relates to matters of fact, he appears to
have chronicled them with general accuracy
and fidelity. But in his reasoning he has shown
no great profundity of thought, and his conclu-
sions are such as must often provoke smile
The difficulty is, Capt. Hall sets out with the
assumption in his own mind, that the British
government and institutions are as near perfee.
ton, as human nature is capable of arriving at,
and then, in making an estimate of our man.
ners, customs, and institutions, makes a com.
v.
ing could be more unfortunate to him, as affect
ing his reputation for judgment and dscrim.
ination, or more unfair towards US, as setting
up a false standard by which we are TO be esti.
mated. The wide difference in the form of
government in the two countries, and in their
respective institutions-one being purely re.
publican, without any privileged orders, and
the other having hereditary sovereign and
nobility,-would naturally produce a cores
ponding difference in the manners and customs
of the people; each being adapted to its own
peculiar circumstances.
A fair specimen of Capt. Halls deductions,
is to be found in his account of his visit to the
Brighton Cattle Show. Seeing but four wo.
men among the vast crowd assembled there he
very graveV concludes that this fact furnishes
evidence that females do not hold the same
rank in society here that they do in England
The annexed notice of Capt. Hall is from the
Boston Palladium:
The scientific reputation of Capt. Hall
and his letters of introduction gave him an
easy access to the hospitality and the SER
vices Of the people of the United States
Every one was eager to facilitate his en-
quiries and designs, for the reason that he
had come among US with the avowed inten-
ton to acquaint himself with our institutions
and resources. His inquisitiveness, though
oftentimes trihing and troublesome, was
tolerated and gratified, with patient civil
ity, characteristic of no people so much as
of the Americans. Those gentlemen were
peculiarly unfortunate, whose lot it was to
act the c1csrone for this enQuiring, peeping,
and noting traveller. There is not one Of
them who will say that the Captain was not
adocided bore. Capt. Hal! has now laid be-
fore the public the result of his observations
on the United States, in some hundreds OF
octave pages: and one of the prominent
topics of the work is found to be the Vulgas
and impeachment ciUslty Of .4msricans. The
gallant Captain represents the obliging
courtesy which he every where experience
ed, as impertinent o6fciousmess. Il is no,
our object to retort upon Capt. Hall hie
churlish taunts as to his opinions, whether
favorable or unfavorable to US, we are to.
tally indifferent, for of the former we should
have no reason to be proud, and from the
latter we have nothing to apprehend. But
we wish to suggest to our countrymen, the
policy Of discriminating, with more severity
the characters of the many foreigners who
are pressed upon their notice, as men O
distinction. We would not wish them tC
be less civil than they are TO strangers, blu
to bestow their civitiy upon those who have
sense and candor for their proper apprecia
ton. Capt. Hall found one individual il
the United States who read him at a glance
and treated his annoying curiosity in tn,
manner which it meTited, and which, i
seems, Capt. Hall indirectly commends
AS the anecdote has never been published
we will give it, at the same time express
ing the hope, that it will find place, witt
suitable comments, in the American edi
ton of Capt Halls Travels.
"What stones are these /? said Cant. Hal
to a Pavier, who was very busy in layini
curb stones on one of the sidewalks lend
ing to the Capitol at Washington. Tn
Pavier looked up at the inquirer, and de
irving an unfavorable impression, as to hi
character, from the first glance at his fea
lures deliberately determined to quiz hin
instead of making a civil and satisfactor
reply. What stones are these repeated
Capt. Hall, impatiently. They are sue
stones, returned the Pavier, as we use 70
curb stones. Where do you get thes
stones, said the Capt. At Capt Folsom'l
was the reply. Who is Capt. Folsom? Cap
Folsom is the contractor for furnshn
stone. Where, said the Capt. in utter DIES
pair, does Capt. Folsom get the stones
Here the fellow, with SLY look of triumph
gravely replied, that's Capt. Fo!som's loo