New-York daily tribune., 1842-11-10
VOL. III. NO. Ess.

with those Of this proves that his object in coming
hither was, not to spy out the nakeeness Of cur
land, but to gather motives and means for the iH-
proyement of his own. He examined carefully the
charitable institutions of all the principal cities
which he visited, and gives the marked preference
in all respects to those Of Boston In the Iunalic
Asylum, the Aims House, the Long Island Jail,
and the Tombs Of our own City he saw much to
censurc-their uncleanness, their lack of suitable
ventilation, and above ALL the madness with which
their care is made dependent upon the strife OF
party politics. Still he does not forget the pecn-
liar difficulties under which New-Yorls, the
largest Commercial City the Continent, un-
avoidakly laLors. The systen of solitary impris-
onment practiced in Philadelphia he most elo-
quenty condemns. He paints most vividly the
mental horrors which hang around these gloomy
cells, and expresses censure of the system in the
following conclusive paragraph:
My firm conviction is, that, independent Of the
mental anguish ii occasions--an anguish so acute
and 50 tremendous, that all Imagination of it must
fall far short of the reality-it the mind into
morbid state, which renders it unfit for the rough
contact and busy action OF the world. tits my fixed
opinion that those who have undergone this punish
ment. MUST pass into society again morally un-
healthy and diseased. There are many instances
on record, of men who have chosen, or have been
condemned, to lives of perfect solitude, but
scarcely remember one, even among sages OF strong
and vigorous intellect where its effect has not be-
come apparent, r some disordered train of thought,
or some gloomy halucination. What monstrous
phantoms, bred of despondency and doubt, and
born and reared in solitude have stalked upon the
earth making creation ugly, and darkening the
face of HeaveH!
=" 1t seems to me that the objection that nothing
wholesome or good has ever had its growth in such
unnatural solitude, and that dog, or any OF
the more intelligent among beasts, would pine, and
nope, and rust away beneath its influence, would
be In itself sufficient argument against this sys-
tenn. But wheR we recollect, in addition, how
very cruel and severe it is and that solitary life is
always liable to peculiar and distinct objections OF
a most deplorable nature, which have arisen here;
and call to mind, moreover. that tue choice is not
between this system and bad or ill-consdered
one, but between it and another which has worked
we'll, and is, in its whole design and practice,
cellent there is surely than sufficient reason
for abandoning mode of punishment attended by
so little hope of promise, and fraught, beyond dis
pute, with such host of evils.
OF Lowell and its manufacturing establishments
he speaks in terms of unqualified admiration. OF
the Lowell Offering, monthly published by the
factory girls he says, that putting entirely out
of sight the fact of the articles having been written
afterthe arduous abors of the day it will compare
advantageousy with great many English An
nuals" The cheerful happiness, the thrift indus
try and intelligence which ne saw there could not
fail remind him of similar establishments in his
own land; and of the contrast between the two ht
thus speaks:
The contrast would be a strong one, for it
would be between the Good and Evil, the living
light and deepest shadow. | abstain from it, be-
cause | deem it Just to do so But | only the
more earnestly abjure all those whose eyes may
res, on these pages, to pause and reflect upon the
difference between ,histown and those great haunts
of desperate misery to call to mind, if they can
in the midst of party strife and squabbe, the efforts
that must be made TO purge them of their suffer
ing and danger; and last and foremost, to remem-
Der how the precious Time is rushing by"
Is this the language of man who takes delight
only in denouncing all Institutions bu. his own p
The defects of Colleges and higher Seminaries of
learning in this Country have been standing
theme for exaggeration and abuse by foreigners;
how nobly does the following paragraph coatrast
with their blind and needless denunciation;
"There is no doubt that much of the inteectu-
al refinement and superiority Of Boston is refera-
bic to the quiet influence Of the University Of
Cambridge, which is within three or four miles of
the city. The resident professors of that universi-
ty are gentlemen of learning and varied attain
men,s; and are, without one exception that can
call TO mind, men who would she's grace upon,
and do honor to, any society in the civlsed world.
Many Of the resident gentry IN Boston and It's
neghborhood, and think am not mistaken in add
ing large ma aiority of those who are attached
to the liberal professions there, have been educated
at this same school Whatever the defects of Ame-
rican universities may be, theydisseminaen pre-
judices; rcarno higots; dig up The buried ashes of
old supersttions; never nterpose between the
people and their improvement; exclude no man
because of his religious opinions above ALL in
their whole course of study and instruction, recog
nise World, broed one too, lying beyond the
college walls 1t was 4 source of inexpressible
pleasure to me to observe the almost stimperceptible
but not less certain effect, wrought by this insttu
tioa among the small community of Boston; and
TO note at every turn the humanizing tastes and
desires ii has engendered; the afectiona;e friend
ships TO which it has given rise; the amount CT
vanity aud pre- iadice it has dispelled The golden
calf they worship at Boston is pismy compared
with the gan, efiigies set up in other parts of that
vast counting house whchlies beyond The Atlantic;
and the almighty dollar sinks into something COM
para.ively insignificant amidst whole Pantheon
of better gods"
We have not space to follow Boz in his ttavsls
throegh the Country, to refer 10 the many
occasions for applause, or the fewer for censure,
Il u ! E,;1
nor does any English traveller who has ever been