satisfactory state of suspense, from which you are strongly tempted to relieve yourself by jumping to a conclusion, I can only assure you, that I am often in the same predicament, and would gladly relieve us both by some bouncing assertions, if 1 could do it with sincerity; but there have been bounces enough on the subject of America already.

The state of morals differs so much in different parts of America, that no general description would be applicable to the whole. Indeed, one might almost as well attempt to include in any general description the various countries of Europe as the United States of America; for although a uniform system of government produces many prominent features of a common character in all the members of this great confederation, yet the wide range of climate embraced by its extensive limits, the great variety of habits, objects, and feelings, and especially of political and religious sentiments, which prevailed among the first settlers of the different States, the diversified pursuits and occupations of the present inhabitants, the admission or proscription of slavery, and a thousand other circumstances, have contributed to establish the most marked distinctions, and often to present the most striking contrasts, between the several sections of the Union. All this must render any general account of American morals a little prolix and perplexed. I will rely, therefore, on your indulgence, and will commence with what has long been considered a crying sin throughout the Union-intemperance.

The habitual use of ardent spirits is indeed very general. Even in the Eastern States it is

not uncommon; but in the Middle, and still more in the Southern States, it prevails to a lamentable extent. Under the denominations of anti-fogmatics, mint julep, and gin sling, copious libations are poured out on the altars of Bacchus, by votaries who often commence their sacrifices at an early hour in the morning, and renew them at intervals during the day; and yet I have not seen six instances of brutal intoxication since I landed in America,-nor, except among the poor corrupted frontier Indians, twenty cases in which I had reason to believe the faculties were in any degree disordered. The decanters of brandy which are placed on the dinner tables at the inns for the guests to help themselves, without additional charge, I have never seen used but with moderation; and, on the whole, I would say decidedly that, taking America generally from Maine to Louisiana, (you know that I have seen few of the Western States,) the sin of drinking to excess, prevails less extensively there than in England—that, whatever may be the injury to the constitution from the common use of spirits instead of malt liquor, there is less derangement of the faculties, less waste of time, and perhaps of money, and far less misery entailed on suffering families from intemperate drinking in this country than in our own. There is, indeed, a far more dreadful squandering of time in bar-rooms in many parts of America; but it is in cigar-smoking, and is not generally attended with pinching effects, or a deserted wife, or hungry children.

Drams are taken, as it were, "en passant," solitary, and in a parenthesis; not in a social circle

round a blazing fire, where I at this moment see John Bull sitting in an old arm chair, a three-legged deal table before him, his heart expanding as his blood warms, one hand on the knee of his next neighbour, or patting him on the back, the other pushing round the common tankard, the bond of good fellowship, which after a few more circuits will too probably convert this exhibition of rude enjoyment, into a melancholy scene of intoxication, in which man defaces the image of his Maker, and degrades himself to a level with the brutes.

In the higher classes, there is great moderation in the pleasures of the table, in the Eastern and Middle States at least: and as far as my experience goes, in the highest circles in the South. In Boston, New-York, and Philadelphia, even parties seldom dine later than three o'clock, (there are some exceptions,) and they usually disperse, after taking two or three glasses of wine. What may be the case at the parties of dissipated young men, or at public dinners; whether there is a Madeira guage for Republicanism, as we measure loyalty by Port, I do not know. At a public agricultural dinner, at which I was present, where there were one or two hundred persons in the company, there was the greatest order and moderation: and all rose to return home in about an hour after dinner.

With regard to some other immoralities, if they exist in the same degree as with us, which I am disposed, from the prevalence of early marriages, to question, it is under the shade of secrecy; for the cities, except New-Orleans, present nothing of the disgusting effrontery and unblushing profli

gacy which the streets of our large towns exhibit after dark; and in the country, as you may have observed in my letters, the female manners are distinguished by a very remarkable degree of propriety. Indeed, I hardly know any thing which has struck me more in America than the respectable demeanor of the females of all ranks of life, and the evident attention in the domestic economy even of taverns or inns to exclude them from situations in which they might be exposed to insult. In New-Orleans, indeed, the picture is almost totally reversed. It must not be forgotten, however, that New-Orleans is still in many respects rather a French or Spanish, than an American city, and that it is improving just in proportion as it becomes American. The French inhabitants have still an ascendancy in the councils of the city; and the effect is no less conspicuous in the dirty streets and tainted air, than in its moral pollution. Before long, I trust, its streets will be cleansed by conduits from the Mississippi, for which it is admirably situated, and its moral atmosphere purified by the benign influence of religion, which the Christians in the Eastern States, with their accustomed activity, are exerting themselves to extend.

Pilfering, house-breaking, highway robbery. and murder, are far less common here than with us: the last three, indeed, are very uncommon, although I have heard of the mail being robbed at least twice since I have been here, and once (in the wild parts of the country, where it is carried on a horse,) with murder, and aggravated circum

stances of cruelty. Duelling, except in the Eastern States, is more common, and more deadly.

The bribery of subordinate custom-house officers, so disgracefully common in England (not indeed to defraud the revenue, but to obtain des. patch) is very rare here. I have been informed by active respectable merchants in New-York and Philadelphia, that they never knew an instance, and should be extremely surprised to hear of one; that in the only case in which they had known of it ever being offered, the officer considered himself insulted, and knocked the offender down. In Boston, I omitted to inquire on this subject; but in point of morals there is every reason to infer that it stands at least as high as New-York and Philadelphia.

To what extent smuggling, slave-trading, and privateering, under Spanish colours, are carried on, I found it difficult to learn; since these practices, though by no means uncommon, are considered as disreputable as with us, and shun the light. The instances of breaches of trust in responsible situations, especially in banks, of which I have heard in the last twelve months, are dis

gracefully numerous. This I attribute principally to the wretched system of the insolvent laws in this country, and the laxity of morals in pecuniary matters which they are calculated to produce. For the particulars of this system, so repugnant to the general intelligence and morality of the country, I refer you to your commercial friends. It is a perfect anomaly, and cannot long exist. Indeed, the Bankrupt Bill has already passed the Senate; and although other business may interrupt its pro