|
William Priest - Travels in the United States of America
An english gentleman, who emigrated to this country some years ago, built a small country seat
on the side of the race ground; this house is now in the possession of a colonel Rogers, and in the
centre street of Baltimore. The colonel has sold the wings for two thousand guineas to build upon,
and still retains the house.
But the improvements have not advanced in proportion to the buildings; there is scarcely a dozen lamps
in the whole town, which is badly paved, &c.
All the inhabitants agree as to the necessity of establishing a powerful, and energetic government, for the
regulation of the town, somewhere; but though frequent town meetings have been called, they
cannot agree about the means.
Something must soon be done, as the nuisances are every day increasing.
Yours sincerely, &c.
Since writing the above, the general assembly has ordered fifty thousand dollars be raised by lottery,
which are laid out in paving the town, and clearing the Basin. Two enormous machines have been
constructed on the dutch plan, to work with oxen, which make such progress in clearing the channel, that
it is expected in a few years it will be sufficiently deep, to admit the largest merchantmen to come up to
the wharfs of the town. And since my landing in England, my brother informs me, Baltimore is at last
incorporated; a vigorous police established; and improvements are going on with spirit.
* * * * *
Baltimore, November 27th, 1794.
DEAR SIR,
Yours of the 21st of August I received. - So I find you fall into the commonplace notion of the English,
that manufactories are forming here, which will in a short time render all importation of british goods
unnecessary. Take my word for it, you have nothing of that kind to fear, whilst the United States have so
few inhabitants, and so much of their best land uncultivated. It is not their interest to
engage in manufactories; and when the country is sufficiently populous, it will be easier to conquer
South America, and procure thence the means of purchasing commodities, than to go through
the drudgery of their fabrication: but at present such is the cheapness of land, and the
high price of wheat, and other produce, that it has raised the value of labour beyond the profits of almost
any manufacture. If they could be established with effect in any part of America, it would be in the
New England states, where the population is more than double those of the south; and provision
much cheaper; but the New Englanders, when they fancy themselves too populous, rather than engage in
a laborious trade, prefer emigration to the Genasee[Footnote: The Genasee is a rich tract of
country, a considerable distance west of New York, much resorted to by New England emigrants since
the peace with the Six Nations. Kentucky is at least one thousand miles from the nearest of the New
England states, two hundred of which are through a wilderness, which cannot be passed during an indian
war, without great danger.], or even Kentucky. The same restless, enterprising spirit, which brought their
ancestors from Europe, carries them to these remote western settlements; and I have no doubt their
descendants will continue the same in that direction; till the Pacific Ocean[Footnote: A distance of more
than two thousand miles from the most remote western settlement.] stops their further progress; unless,
as I before observed, lured by a golden bait, they go to the south: let the Spaniard look to
|
