Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-06-07
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.

| Sir Months IN america, is the title OF work
lately published in London, by G. I. Vigne,
ESQ Barrister at Law. The annexed criticism
| from the London Examiner Of April Goth, will
give some idea Of the style and acc uracy of this
enlightened Barrister.
Six Months in America! The best comment
on the book is the title. Thus 1t is that travel
lers survey nations, and the shorter the period OF
their observations, the more decided their OPT
Mons, and copious their commentaries. Had
Mr.. vigne resided as many years as he has been
months 10 America, the probability is, that he
could not have filled page with all his know
ledge of the country and its reculiarities. For
filling book first impressions are to be commit
ted to paper before large experience has brought
their business in question. Travellers who
write thus may be read according to cores
bonding law, and six minutes will be an ample
time to give six months in America; yet Mr..
Vigne would think himself unfairly trea ted were
his book Judged with careless haste, proportion
ate to that with which he has despatched his OPT
Mons on great nation.
OF all the tours in the Uni ted States we have
read this is the meagerest, and withal it is told
with a manner Of niaiserie which painfully re-
minds the reader Of the sin he is committing in
losing his time over such barren matter Every
one has been ten times told how fast the Ameri-
cans eat. how little they speak at meals. how abo-
nlraoly they spit, and how many questions they
ask. how careless are the innkeepe rs, and how
apt the beds are to be garrSOned with bugs
These, with steamboats,, vast rivers, and dark
woods, make the staple OF tOars in the United
States, Mr. Vigne has added the single and
important discovery, that the Americans are fon-
der of wearing their hats than is consistent with
good manners. This is perhaps talnt of their
British origin; and let beware, lest like the crab
led mother Of Fontane, we reproach our dau.h-
ter with the unga,nly ways she has acquired by
descent. Prince Pucker Muskan remarks upon
the delight which men seem to have in wearing
their hats in clubs, in which liberty 81 hat al
ways privilege, and one generously asserted.
Nothing indeed but the rsour Of good breeding
will keep the hat oil the British head in any
place; and in theatres the moment the curtain or
drop.scene falls. on 90 the hats in the PIT and the
upper boxes The reason of this habit, we have
never penetrated. aud perhaps 1t must remain
mystery, like that curious phenomnon, the red
bree ches of iustmen 1t may be that men Can
look surer in their hats tnan without them, --es-
pecial|y the bald. for badness is very benignant
and in assemblies. Englishmen OF all classes
find protection in surliness; it makes them. as
they think. respected, and DISCUSSES the bashiul-
ness at their too sensitive hearts. Thus man
about to do an impudent thing always ciaps his
hat on his head; aud those who have really lost
all shame. are remarkable for wearing their hats
as If they dld not care whether they were on or
off. But we are writing treatise on hats, IN.
stead of notice of Sir Months in america,
which is, however, as good subject for that as
for any other course of remark.-On the addlc-
ton of the Americans 10 the hat exceeding even
that OF the parent people, MI Figne makes this
curiously appositc remark, -
Il have heard that common sense is the charac-
teristic of the Americans, and think there IS
great truth in the remark; but do not like II
when it is so cery common"
This is perhaps intended for point; but it is on
" niaiserie Mr. Vigne has to learn what COM
mon sense is. before he attempts to be smart up
on it; and to know that abundance cannot dete-
riorate its quality. He might as reasonably sheer
at re,y common arithmetic, or very common &C.
ometry.
Mr.. Vigne is prodgious admirer Of primosc-
piture. inasmuch as it conduces to great country
houses and parks, and marble-fronted halls. none
of which he espies in the United States; and
though he sees every resource that can make life
agreeable, he is inconsolabe for want of palaces:
81 am gazing on view, as splendid as any
one of the same character, ever beheld in any
land.--I see before me noble river, winding its
way thro an exquisite landscape. Of hill and dale
and wood and verdure Astounding in every re-
source that could make country life agreeable;
but it is IN vain that my disappointed eye roves
over the scene. and rests on the most magnificent
situations for park and palace: where, thought /.
are the "stately homes of England?"-where is
the marble frontel hall, and the village church
beside it, with its spre pointing to the heavens?
The poweriess genius of establishment wanders
disconsolate along the beautiful banks Of the Sus.
quehannah. and bitterly complains that he is fet-
tered by the spirit of democracy"
Upon the last exquisite morsel of fine writing
we need not offer any comment of admiration;
butt
The grief so lively shown,
Makes us think upon our own,
and calls to mind the spoit genius Of embellish-
ment. who scampered mad with riot along the
banks of the st. James's canal, and rejoiced that
he had full swing under the spirit Of monarchy.
Oh, that we could fetter some of the geniuses who