Part 8 (2/2)

Having reached hoone,lost health, and toldto add, except a few retrospective observations, su descriptions, opinions, and decisions, which throughout are frankly and fearlessly rendered, chiefly ainorant, and to abash the wicked ”But,” says the reader, ”to erate? That is the question!” It is easier to propound than to answer this inquiry To seek a refuge fro storm, is on the one hand in accordance with one of the first laws of nature; and on the other hand, it may be said, that to abandon our hearths, homes, and altars, because our country one, are now going, and will continue to go, is certain; for when there is a surplus population, and the hive swarms, what shall set bounds to the free-born? To those, then, who are inevitably destined to roae land, and to see their old, much-loved homes, and the to well-s Study, then, I {485} would say, by every attainable qualification, principle, and sentiment, to fortify your ht to be

Plague not yourselves nor the land of your adoption, by i perpetuity to homebred prejudices A nest you will find; but every where, like that of the nightingale, a thorn within it Learn, therefore, yourselves to forget, and as far as in you lies, teach your posterity also to forget, and to rein will be ever honourable in their heraldry

This is orth remembrance, and may they never stain, never dishonour it; but into whatsoever lands they wander, ood and peace they shall have peace theusts and moral and physical disabilities point theals to the house of their fathers, the broad Atlantic, in the words of the Hon J Q Adaone a process by which they shall, perhaps, learn the vast sulish homes and comforts

The old family quarrel has evidently made the natives of both countries somewhat incommiscible; else how is it that the French, Dutch, Gerers of any other land, are more acceptable to America than the children of the couished Aree, unless some rank and cancerous blerades blush not to own and call her h she is denounced by many, and it must be oith so since becoood policy to visit the sins of the fathers upon the children, froeneration Let both countries wisely learn to think correctly of their several governoodwill, in all their fruitful ra uineas to the other, than fire-shi+ps, torpedos, battles, blazing cities, and heroes covered with glory!

”Well! I guess, after all,” exclaiood land with suise” ”Yes, it is a good land,” rejoined another, in love with it at first sight, ”mine eyes have seen it for myself, and not another I am fascinated with it My return from it would be impossible, but for the adamantine chain which binds me to my country My heart tempts me, but my duty forbids me to break it” Hasty conclusions like hasty matches, are rarely happy, and so it ith our enthusiast; for in less than two years of patient trial and perpetual travel, he very gladly returned to his native country, joyfully repeating,

{487} ----”Whoe'er thou art, Cling to thy home If there the meanest shed Yield thee a hearth and shelter for thy head, And soetables stor'd, Be all that heav'n allots thee for thy board, Unsavoury bread, and herbs that scatter'd grow Wild on the river bank, or mountain brow, Yet ev'n this cheerless mansion shall provide More heart's repose than all the world beside”

Finally; were, however, America, of which I now perhaps takethat the purest patriotism could hty drawback, an almost insur of all, except the native red and black inal, and the unstained African, for whom alone this land of promise, this vast section of the earth, this new and better world, seeued, would noisome pestilence annually desolate its cities and districts, and every where unsparingly and prerave? In spite, however, of cliid, and of constitutional predisposition to sickness, health, physical and enerally supposed to be Te to labour, in free air, are the essential handh at doctors, and to withstand the effects of climate Hence, then, {488} in whatsoever climes, stations, or circumstances, my reader may be found, let him learn to think health worth a sacrifice To persons, whose fortune it erous and debilitating climate, I would especially say: Let ablutions and affusions of pure, cold spring water, becoe, let water be substituted for wine, whiskey, and alcohol in all its forms

Let milk supply the place of tea, coffee, and other stimulants; and let tobacco, snuff, and all the family of narcotics, be abandoned Surely health is ever, what a late venerable friend of his species was often wont to call her, _the Sugar of Life_ He who thinks and acts otherwise rarely finds health, and never deserves her

FOOTNOTES:

[104] Richard Daniel cae for one year (1819-20), and subsequently represented Gibson County in the legislature--ED

[105] Petersburg is fifteen ton Several fahborhood by 1817 Pike County being organized in that year, it was chosen as the county seat, and a town surveyed and platted It was incorporated in 1855--ED

[106] For the ”e Chambers, see Hulme's _Journal_, volume x of our series, notes 28, 29 For Corydon, see Flint's _Letters_, in our volume ix, note 136--ED

[107] The Silver Hills extend north froh Floyd and Clark counties, the twothe ”Haystack knobs,”

at Bennettsville; the principal ridge is from four hundred to five hundred feet above the valley--ED

[108] Uniontown is now Waverly, the naed when the Ohio-Scioto Canal was constructed through the village (1830), and it acquired the dignity of a post-town It is about twenty e, located near the falls of Paint Creek, eighteen miles south-west of Chillicothe, was platted by Nathaniel Massie in 1805 It contained three families the first year, and for two years thereafter received no additions; but at the ti-houses--ED

[110] For the early history of New Lancaster, see cu's _Tour_, volume iv of our series, note 145--ED

[111] A brief account of the Erie Canal es_, volume viii of our series, note 37--ED

[112] For the early history of Somerset, see Flint's _Letters_, volume ix of our series, note 35--ED

[113] Major Zachariah Sprigg was an inn-keeper at Wheeling as early as May 21, 1781; in 1783 he was major of militia for Ohio County Consult Draper MSS in Wisconsin Historical Library, 2 SS 8 and 5 NN 16--ED

[114] For thethis route, see Flint's _Letters_, in our volume ix, pp 64-79--ED

[115] John Randolph, of Roanoke (1773-1833), was elected to Congress in 1800, serving until his opposition to the War of 1812-15 cost him his seat He returned in 1815, and frohts attitude Faained a special reputation as a master of sarcasm and bitter invective See _ante_ (volume xi), note 34