The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-06-19

OUR CoUNTRY.-The following paragraph,
from recent number Of the New York Lii
terary Gazette, has been travelling the circuit
Of the press these six weeks
"A cockney sportsman, who had read with
delight Mr.. Hoffinans new work on the wild
sports Of America, took passage IN a Lon
don packet, and arrived here during the
present week in search of wild game. He
brought letters to highly respectable mer.
chant with whom we are well acquainted, and
desired, after delivering them, 10 be directed
to the best hunting grounds without delay, Us
he could only remain here few DAYS, pur-
posing to return in the Great Western. He
said that he came to New York principally to
shoot bears. Our mercantile friend, satisfy.
ing himself that his new acquaintance was per-
fectly serious, informed him that the sport had
been greatly cut up here, and recommended
him to proceed TO Philadelphia. He departs
for that city this day; and we call upon our
friends there to extend to the distinguished
stranger their usual hospitality"
There is doubtless somewhat of exaggera-
ton in the statement, and yet it is very true
that the ignorance Of our country. in England,
is much more extensive and profound than
would be supposed. For example, some time
ago, we received letter from ain English cor
respondent, making inquiries respecting some
unofficial person living in the neighborhood Of
Natchez-the writer evidently supposing that
he must be q neghbor of ours! Even this
however, is not quite up to another instance
within our knowledge. A friend being on a
visit To England few years since, was asked
if he knew Mr.. Dobbs, from Newcastle-upon-
Tyne. "No, sir, do not" was the reply.
"Why, you must know him, l am sure" re-
Joined the other, "for he has lived in America
three years."
But these are not the illustrations which we
quoted the above paragraph Tor the purpose of
making. Our design was to relate the follow
ing incident: One clear, bracing morning
last autumn, as we were stepping into the
Schenectady cars at Albany, whom should we
meet but New York friend, in his shooting
jacket, accoutred with pouch and gun, in the
act of placing his dogs in an adjoining COM
partment.
$50 no, friend Whittier are you bound :"
we inquired.
Il am only going for few days. shooting
in the county,"
1Where?"
"Upon fine prairie in Michigan-only
about three hundred miles from Detroit.
am told there is fine shooting there"
This single incident, which is literally true,
speaks volumes upon the extent of our coun-
try, the spirit and habits of our people, and
the facilities every where enjoyed for inter-
communication. Detroit is eight hundred
miles from New York, and our friend was
bound for the prairies long way beyond.
And yet he was starting forth for shooting
excursion, with as little care of the distance as
an English fox-hunter would experience in
going upon chase in neighboring county.
Our friend had fine sport during his ex-
curson, as we happen to know, as one Of our
firm, who was himself wandering the prairics
at the same time, fell in with him in the hev-
day Of his frolic. The sportsman informed
us the other day that, having procured the best
'fy" that he ever saw, be was going down to
the Kennebec for day or two on fishing ex-
cursion!
Nor is this spirit Of dashing enterprise an
exclusive characteristic Of Americans. Fo-
reigaers coming hither soon have their ideas
expanded by the broad expanse Of our coun-
try, elevated by the height Of our mountains,
and inspirited by the chase of bears and bufIa-
loes. For instance, in the case Of SIR Will
LIAM STUART, whose pictures of bear and
buffalo hunts amid the stupendous peaks and
gens ofthe Rocky Mountains have been ex-
hbited for few days at the Apollo Gallery
the Baronet, we are told, having spent five
years among the scenes described, started on
his return TO England, and reached New York
on his way. Lingering here few days, his
mind reverted to the wild sports Of the West.
III was asking too much TO leave them so soon.
so PACK ne started, twenty-five hundred miles
INTO tne wilderness, for the pleasure of one
more buffalo chase betoreh he should finally en-
bark Tor The shores OF Albion. He went. and
plunged again into the wild pleasures Of the
Snake Indians, and hunted buffaloes and oriz.
ely bears for another two years, and is now
once more on his way to his own land.-.N
Y. Com .4dr.