|
William Priest - Travels in the United States of America
loaded with duties. Men can always be had to go on shares, which is by far the most profitable way, both
to the employer and fisherman. The fishing banks are an inexhaustible source of wealth; and the fishing
business is a most excellent nursery for seamen; it therefore deserves every encouragement and
indulgence from an enlightened and rational legislature."
Boston, March 4th, 1797.
DEAR FRIEND,
Being very busy in making preparation for my voyage to England, I have not leisure to write you a long
epistle, but enclose you one I sent to an american friend in the south. - Farewell.
This will most likely be the last letter you will receive from me on this side of the Atlantic. The French
have already taken two hundred sail of american vessels. I hope my next may not be dated from
Brest.
To Mr. - - - - ,
State of - - - - .
DEAR SIR,
In consequence of my promise at parting, I sit down to give you some account of Yankee Land.
You were perfectly right in telling me I should find the New England states very different from your part
of America.
The first object that would strike you is the population of the country. In one day's journey through
Connecticut, I saw as many towns, villages, and houses, as I ever remember seeing, when travelling the
same distance in England; a prospect you Buck-skins can have no idea of.
The next is the beauty of the women, (I beg their pardon; that would be the first object that would
strike you!) Their great superiority in that respect may be accounted for, from their being of
engllsh descent. Your women have not all that advantage, ('True english prejudice this!'
methinks I hear you mutter): great part are of dutch, or german descent. The close iron
stoves they have introduced among you are terrible enemies to beauty. Why you so obstinately persist in
a custom so prejudicial to health, I cannot imagine. Your plea, that the coldness of the climate makes
them indispensable, I can-not admit of; you know, that we are here three degrees to the north of you, and
that the present is the coldest winter since the year 1780-81; and yet I have not seen a close stove since I
left New York. The tavern bills in these states are near one hundred per cent under yours. The exorbitant
charges of your tavern-keepers are a disgrace to the country: I could never account for your submitting so
quietly to their impositions.
Whether it be owing to the abolition of negro slavery, and the sale of irish, and german redemptioners,
(which, by the by, is nearly as bad, and ought not to be tolerated in a free country,) or to the great
population, or to the produce of the land being of less value than in the south: I say whether it be owing
to any, or to all of these causes, I know not; but certain it is, a greater strain of industry runs through all
ranks of people than with you; and it is equally certain, that the lower order of citizens receive a better
education, and of course are more intelligent, and better informed. This you will not wonder at, when I
tell you there are seven free schools in Boston, containing about nine hundred scholars, and that in the
country schools are in a still greater proportion. They are maintained by a tax on every class of citizens,
|
