large. 'We regard a general system of education (said an American orator) as a wise and liberal system of policy, by which property, and life, and the peace of society are secured. We seek to prevent in some measure the extension of the Penal Code, by giving sound and scriptural knowledge at an early age; and we hope for a security beyond the law, and above the law, in the prevalence of enlightened and well-principled moral sentiment.' Nor is the education of the Indians neglected. It appears by an official statement, that 'The American Government appropriates the sum of ten thousand dollars annually for their civilization, which is producing very beneficial effects, by improving the condition of the various Tribes in the United States; already thirty-two Schools are established in the Indian nations, and for the most part are well-conducted, in which, during the past year, nine hundred and sixteen youths of both sexes, have been instructed in reading, writing, arithmetic, and all the ordinary occupations of life. So large a body of well-instructed youths, of whom several hundred will annually return to their homes, cannot fail to effect a beneficial change in the condition of this unhappy race.'

The climate of New York is variable in the

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extremes of heat and cold, and must in a degree affect the constitution from the sudden transitions of the weather. The direct heat of the sun at the time of my arrival, was unusually great, and very oppressive. The thermometer stood at 97, and 98, in the shade, and ranged from 120, to 130, in the sun. In consequence of this excessive heat, a greater mortality prevailed, than ever ordinarily happened in the city in one week before. Nearly sixty sudden deaths occurred-thirty-three principally among the Irish labourers from drinking cold water, and others from apoplexy, and inflamation of the brain. So vast a country as America, extending on each side of the equator nearly from the north to the southern pole, must necessarily have every variation of soil, as of climate. From the richness of its natural productions, it has been justly called A treasury of nature,' holding out every encouragement to industry, and all that can engage the enterprize of man. Should the people of this immense continent be formed eventually into great Independent States, they promise to become, in union, the most powerful and happy people in the world. The • The eyes of the oppressed are even now turning wistfully (says an able writer on the advancement

of society) to this land of freedom, and the kings of the continent already regard with awe and disquietude the new Rome rising in the west, the foreshadows of whose greatness yet to be, are extending dark and heavy over their dominions, and obscuring the lustre of their thrones.'

Leaving New York, I proceeded on my way to Boston, the cradle of the revolutionary war, and the head quarters of Unitarianism,' a sentiment that prevails not only in this capital, but also in many towns in New England. The city, like that of New York, presents a flourishing population, and the style of buildings, manners, customs, and dress of the citizens indicate a refined and happy state of society. Boston, however, has much more the appearance of an English town, than New York; and the park, called the Mall,' consisting of more than forty acres, adds much to the beauty of the city, and the comfort of the inhabitants. There is an independent air, and coldness of manner, which at first prejudices travellers; but the kindness and hospitality, with the good sense and intelligence, I generally met with, led me to conclude that some of my countrymen had not stated correctly the American character. There is one peculiarity however

in American habits, which is particularly offensive to strangers, that of spitting, from the use of tobacco. This nauseous custom is not confined to one class of persons, but is practised by those, who, in every other respect, are gentlemen. Travellers may also be annoyed at times, with the national foible of gasconading, which has led some of their acute and sensible men, to say jocosely, 'that they expect their countrymen will soon begin to assert, that they are not only the most powerful, and the most learned, but the oldest nation in the world.'

The roads from Boston are as good as the turnpike roads of England, and such was the prevailing spirit of opposition among the coach proprietors, that we travelled some stages nearly at the rate of ten miles an hour. In passing through Salem, on my way to Portland, the capital of the State of Maine, the town recalled to my mind, the intolerant and persecuting spirit of the Puritans, towards their countrymen, who accompanied them as exiles to the shores of America, from the unrelenting severity and persecution of Archbishop Laud, and the troublous times of Charles the First. These refugees crossed the Atlantic for the sake of liberty of conscience in matters of religion; but no sooner did some

of them obtain power in legislative assembly, than, by a strange infatuation, they denied to their brethren in the wilderness, the same indefeasible right and privilege. They renewed, in the bigotry and narrow prejudices of their minds, the persecutions and tortures, which the primitive Christians had to endure; and blindly supposed to effect that by cruelty and death, which their own experience should have convinced them could only be reached by persuasion, and altered by conviction. At the same time, numbers were tortured, hung, and exposed on gibbets, and many burnt to death, for the supposed crime of witchcraft; till at length, the minds of these deluded fanatics were seized with remorse, and a chain of events followed, which gave to the inhabitants of New England, the blessings of a diffusive education, and a full enjoyment of the freedom of religious opinion. Such indeed is the facility of instruction now afforded to every branch of the community, through the means of district or parochial schools, that it is a rare circumstance to meet an individual who cannot read and write, and converse in an intelligent manner on all common subjects; or a driver of a stage, who will not 'guess' and calculate' politics admirably. It is seldom that you hear