Part 17 (2/2)

_Sunday_ 12th In thehandsomely decorated withinside: near the pulpit, which was placed within the altar, sat a Bishop in his lawn sleeves, &c supported in a chair of state of carved wood, thethe back;--he took no part in the service, but I understood he would officiate in the cere minister In the middle of the service, otherwise conducted with decency, a man with a money box came into every pew to levy contributions for the support of the church In the evening went to the Presbyterian church, where we heardstick was thrust into every pew for contributions: thisfunds for whatever purpose is an aboh soeneral they o before the Mayor, a Justice, or as they are called here a 'Squire, and declaring their resolution to take each other for isters I understand they are very inaccurately kept, if at all in s, or burials, which must occasion most profitable confusion for the lawyers

Went withto one of the ame usually played is the four balls, two red and thite This see the table-keeper, as froa home my companion proposed to dive into one of the Oyster Cellars, to which agreeing we vanished in a trice, and entering the infernal abode, the heat of which was at least that of a hot-house, we found a rooed like our coffee-houses, except that the partitions were carried to the ceiling and the addition of curtains in front--We supped well upon stewed oysters brought upon a chaffing dish, and a sallad of finely shredded raw cabbage and celery, which I found very palatable; for these with beer we paid half a dollar, and again rose to encounter the keen air of a {168} frosty night It is I apprehend these constant sudden changes of temperature, and not severity of climate, which destroy the constitutions of many here, and render the use of flannel next the skin indispensable

No one will again say that this country is free from paupers when he learns that there are subscriptions for the support of public soup establishhout the winter

'Tis true the poor here seem to bethe other day objected to soood cold meat offered to her, because it was too cold for her stoiver pleased

_Sunday_ 26th Went withto a Roman Catholic church: the altar very handsome, but the architecture and decorations more calculated for a temple dedicated to Venus, than for the sanctity of a christian church Between the pillars of corinthian order which supported the altar was a view of the Holy City and the Tee as life the Crucifixion, the first viehich sight of horror,is, and renders devotion grounded upon it a mere ceremony, as the ”nods and becks and wreathed {169} s the prayers plainly proved The priest on his entrance, being finely enrobed in a scarlet velvet and worked muslin petticoat, commenced his operations by a very hearty and plentiful use of his pocket handkerchief, which ”I thought to ht as well have been done before his entree; he then with a voice like a bull-frog began prayers, but after soation and in very fae said he was too hoarse to preach, but would, as I understood, give the prayers took sudden occasion to re week, and then finished the orisons;--the priest's voice was very pleasingly relieved by the singing froan-loft, it was fine and ione through and then we departed, the organ playing very well but not very apropos ”_Adeste fideles_”

An affair occurred last week at New York which caused a considerable sensation,--a young ry malice stabbed another in the open street with a concealed cane dirk He fled, but was pursued and taken: when brought before the istrates twenty thousand dollars were offered as bail for his appearance, which {170} has not been in this case accepted; though I am told it is not at all uncohter to speak technically No wonder then that duels of that assassin character are of so frequent occurrence It is coe, and I believe rifle-barrelled pistols have been used; if after this a o free

31st After a long continuance of fine mild weather, in the mid-day sometimes even hot, winter co, ushered in by as fine and gentle a rain as ever fell in autumn; the snow is already a foot deep, and sleds, or as they are called here sleighs, are es are not only applied to the useful purposes of life at this season, but they also afford an aed in by all who can afford it;--there are sleighs of various sizes drawn by froes are of a forh, and handsomely covered within by the rich furry skins of the Bear and Buffalo; the horses wear belts of bells round their necks and bodies, and also soulation intended to give notice of their approach, and thus to prevent accidents, {171} is rendered an affair of orna nicely assorted to harmonize, and affixed to handsoe parties forhs to some place of public resort at a distance, where when arrived, the dance is struck up, hot wines are drunk as a refreshood supper, wrapped in furs and huddled together, they drive helter skelter hoht of the inality of invention by a quick perception and adoption of whatever is useful in other nations; without owning that they do so, they servilely copy us in every thing; for exareat extent

Lotteries are of as frequent occurrence as with us; sche, and without any other difference than the substitution of dollars for pounds; head prize, 20,000 dollars, second 10,000, and so on down to 10 and 5 The state of pauperised them to adopt the before-mentioned soup institutions, which are now in daily action at each quarter of the city, besides other places where bread, and at soiven away to proper objects of the charity; rants {172} out of employ[60] The newspapers indeed are full of advertiselishrants to where their services may be wanted; but I am infor hands are just now but feould be plentiful, but , meanwhile Penitentiaries and prisons and poor-houses are full! This does not forrant

Writers on the United States have toowhich is; consequently I entered the country with ied by actual observation We have been told that suits at law are here quickly heard and as quickly deterentle, and surprisedat law the possession of theed in a lawsuit of , and of which she knows not the probable termination Whether these evils are some for which they , as a wise nation should have remedied them when it formed for itself a Constitution; but in this and many other instances they still suffer under many of the evils of which we corievances drawn up by a Grand Jury at a late county assize in Pensilvania, it is complained that improper persons are put into the commission of the peace, and of the iistracy: it also contains a strong re the tried and untried culprits together: the bringing before the Grand Jury causes of a petty nature, and which therefore should have been tried in inferior courts, is also objected to

The ner, towards whom they are a vexatious tax A residence in the country of, I believe, only six months renders him liable to be called out, and enrolled, or to pay a fine for absence; yet were a war to take place with the governer is subject, he is sent up the country, instead of accepting of his lish ere resident here during the last war, to the great detrienerally submits to pay the fine rather than be {174} subject to the demand of a military duty so unjust towards hi substitutes, should be gaining ground a off from the republican spirit I have somewhere met with the remark that the Athenians were so wholly devoted to public life that they neglected the private virtues: the moderns on the contrary, and the remark may be applicable equally elsewhere as here, lect their public interests in a constant attention to their private affairs; when this is the case, parties e, journalists may snarl at each other, but all will not preserve the liberties of a people who have ceased to be true to themselves, when, from whatever cause, they shall hold back from their public duties, more especially those which are military; they then soon sink into effeminacy, lose that ive theain, let their liberties sooner or later becoh its evolutions so quick and exact as a standing army--the latter is also a fine spectacle on a field-day, when the sun shi+nes--it is likewise, itto indolence to be able to sit at home and nurse ”its dainty {175} sy its battles; but the Republic that would long preserve its freedo-tree, must keep the sword belted to its own side; must kno to use it, and suby to itsarmy and disarmed population is the awful lever ith despotism and crooked policy have everywhere overturned the te etful that I am where true liberty is unknown, or where the Goddess has only deigned to shed the rays of her intelligence on the favoured head of a Washi+ngton, a Franklin and a few others; while a spirit totally irreconcileable with the noble, disinterested, high ain--sordid gain is the predo room for vanity; which shews itself not only in a fir the nations of the earth hold the palm in Arts, Arms, and Science, but also in the i the person Reader--know, that the tailor, hatter, bootive to our modern Republican his rank; and by the cut of his habiliments is known the circle in which he moves, and in which he {176}an order of aristocracy exists here as in any old court of Europe; and if an unfortunate individual is known ever to have appeared in an inferior circle, the ostracism banishes him for ever from the double refined society of this upper order of store keepers

_January_ 31st, 1820 Went last evening to attend service at the African Church: a charity sermon was preached and the whole very decently conducted Conte however the sable countenances around us, the observation that the black forain occurred; 'tis true the former seems capable of all the common mental exertions, so nearly equal with the white man that it must be confessed he treads close upon his heels, yet notwithstanding, perhaps the result of a close exaht shew as much difference between them as may be observed in the features of the countenance On whichever side the truth of the question eneral opinion in those States which have formally and publicly called the men of colour ”Men and Brothers” is pretty clearly shewn in various ways--separate churches--civil disabilities, besides such co; which I copy from the Aurora[61] of Friday, 25th March, 1820:--

{177} BAKER'S

EXCHANGE AND INTELLIGENCE-OFFICE

For SALE:--A black girl 20 years old, and 8 to serve

Ditto 17 and 11 ditto

Ditto 13 and 15 ditto, from the country

Ditto 18 and 10 ditto

Ditto 13 and 15 ditto

A black boy 16 and 15 ditto, &c &c

To BIND:--White boys 11, 12, 13, &c years of age

White girls 8, 11, 12, &c

Thus in free Pensilvania are blacks positively sold for a lih the law does not allow the purchaser the power of life and death over this sort of slave, yet to all other intents and purposes he is in as coinia or Kentucky

We have lately attended service at the churches of the Anabaptists, the Swedenborgians, &c--Conteion in the United States,to their private senti to the places of worshi+p belonging to their several persuasions, without the least symptom of disrespect or rancorous spirit towards each other; thus forlobe--Whether such a state of religion will long continue, or whether, professing the sath unite in the saion, time only will demonstrate: there are indeed people who seeion at all; and I h theoretically it is certainly pleasing to conte before his God as his unbiassed conscience shall dictate, yet, as religion ought to influence men's conduct in the world, and ”a tree is known by its fruit,” it would be satisfactory to perceive, as the result of such religious liberty, s between man and man than I have witnessed in the United States While they talk of the ious principle; of true liberty, honesty, &c their actions belie their words, and make them appear a nation of unprincipled atheists; by the bye, a description of people perhaps ht be inclined to allow; people, who outwardly profess belief in a Creator and future Judge of our actions, yet whose daily acts contradict their professions

But to return to Arity is at so low an ebb at present, that the nearest relative or friend can scarcely be safely trusted One instance of baseness and ingratitude, ao became insolvent--_retired_ for the {179} usual period of five or six weeks, during which tinatures of release from his creditors, and came out ashed: one would naturally suppose that at least towards these ratitude as well as ofit; for one of theot into difficulties,--and what followed--the scoundrel seized the occasion by the help of chicanery to turn his foroods! Can either a religious or s are _cooverns pass as clever strokes of practice, and the most successful swindler is praised as the _smartest_ fellow?