Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-10-04
MISCELLANEOUS
"MEN AND MANNERS."


Mr. Hamiltcn's book on this country" Men and NJ an
ners in Amerca-was published last week by Messrs
Carey Lea s. Blanchard. OF Phadelphia and has proba
bly, already been perused by many OF readers IL is
lively, pquant production written ia tone and syl,
well calculated should think. please the high tory
party in England, and ell those the other side Of the
Atlantic, who view with modification and jealousy the
increasing greatness of this young republic. Mr. Ha.
milton writes the spirit Of ultra aristocra,, and with
degree of prejudice against all the institutions thi
country, religious literary, political, civil military and
cial, which should hardly have expected from mai
ly enjoyed unusual opportunities Of travel He informs
the world, in the outset Of his work, that he first in
tended that
skoad drag his common place book on the stage -
but finding ie Institutions and experience oil the United
States deliberately quoted in the reformed parliament as
aorling safe precedent for British egsaiion and learn
oil encouneIing merited derison were listened 10 with
patience and appreciation. by as ignorant them
selves, he suddenly concluded that another book
America wanted; and IL must be confessed that he
has furnished one, which, il full credit is 10 be given
its assertions and arguments by British statesmen, will
far to prevent any future quotations of the kind which
gave Mr.. Hamilton such offence.
prejudcec account OF this country has probably
been written In single respect is il treated
with toerable fairness The individuals who
MIR. Hamilton in the different places he visited alluded
with courtesy; but all the OF the nation is spoken
OF in the most disparagng terms He seems TO have
shores with an innate inbred feeling of ennty
towards every Thing American; and his book furnishes
abundant evidence that there way of pro.
vokng his Spleen than speak with praise oil any object
Of curiosity in this country. Thus, unlucky PhiIa-
dephan having diverted TO the chief lion Of his CITY, the
Fair. Mount Water Works as an object well worth the at
tenton OF traveller Mr. Hamilton is annoy by the
very natural and we'll deserved encomums the ngen-
and useful works Of that association that he forthwith
enters into solemn covenant with himself visit
them ALL To this resolution he says lie adhered wit
perDacity, and refers any reader socous Of becoming
acquainted with the principle of this remarkable piece Of
machinery, TO the pages OF other travellers"
II 10 not alone because Of Mr.. Hamitons prfjudices
against country that dissatisfied with his book
but account also Of It's exceeding IN matters
il
correct knowledge was aitaDable with perfect ease,
numerous and glsrog. But perhaps as ready a way
any Of showing the exceeding unairnes5 OF Mr. Hsm-
toms work will be to copy few passages from it.
Our first extract is the suffice, Of the climate Of this
I'LL. fated country.
judging from my own experience, | should certainly
pronounce the climate of the northern and central states
10 BIO only degree b. tier than that Of Nova Scotia,
which struck me-wheD there in Isl4-ss being the ve
ry worst in the world.
In the northern and central sistesor Of the climate Of
the southern states is unnecessary speakhe annual
range OF the thermometer exceeds hundred degrees-
The heat in summer il that OF Jsmsics the cold in win
is that Of Russia. Such vicsstudes must
necessarily impair the vigour Of the human frame and
when take into calculation the vast portion OF the
United States in which the atmosphere Is contaminated
by marshy exhaIouons, il will not be difficult, with the
auxiliary influences OF dram. drinking and tobacco chew
ing account for the squsd aud scky aspect OF the po
pulation. Among the peasantry, never lofid
and robust man, any distinguished by that tulnes
and roundy OF muscle, which every where meets tic
eye In England.
In many parts OF The State Of New York the appear.
was sucH a. 10
IN the Maremma Of Tuscany and the Campaigns OF Rome
had seen beings similar but scarcely more wretched
In the iil az they call II, intermittent fevers
regularly as the fruit season. During my journey made
inquiries at many cottages anil found Of them had
escaped the scourge. But inquiries were useless The
was generally too legble IN the connensnce Of
the witbered mother, and IN those Of her emscisled off
spring
II seems ridiculous to compare such a climate with
that Of England, and yet there nohing to which Anne
ncans az more addicted.
SO much TOR the northern and middle States The fol-
lowing passage relates 10 the climate Of Charleston:
In point OF climate, believe CbsIl ston is fully worse
than New Orleans. In the latter, creoles entirely
emP from Tie rsvsges Of the prevailing epidemic. But,
D Charleston, There is impuny for any class Even
native Caronians die Of fever well their neigbbors
The chances are, that il person from the country, how
ever sccnated, sleeps in Charleston even Tor night al
certain season OF the year. he catches the fever Should
person living IN TIE city pass day with HE friend in
the country, there s Doctor In the place ebo ON
Dis return, would not consider bin 10 Of peril In