In no part is cultivation so finished as to exhibit all the charms of which it is susceptible; hence, where nature has not been liberal, travelling, as far as external appearances contribute to enjoyment, is little interesting, especially, as there are no large houses of tasteful architecture surrounded by lawns and woods of regular formation. Ornamental gardening is seldom seen; picturesque gardening totally unknown. It may have been these things which led an American author to say of his country, that it is the land of dull realities. The pleasure I experienced in surveying many different spots where grandeur reigns triumphant, and in tracing the minute beauties of others, as the banks of the Brandywine and Schuylkill, which though different from each other are both rich in attractions, forbid my concurring in this remark. The proportion of land incapable of being made arable is small, consequently absolute barrenness seldom displeases the eye. Even in swampy ground all is not desolate. The Dismal Swamp in Virginia and North Carolina is covered with juniper and cedar trees. And on the whole it may be said, that if art has done comparatively little in improving nature, nature in many instances is on a scale so large as to need scarcely any of her assistance. I ought not here to omit mentioning that the sun sets in America with a radiance so surpassing, that it filled me with wonder and delight. How often have I stopped in my evening rambles to feast my eyes with the glorious prospect! The sky seemed in flame, as bright as an iron furnace when the liquid metal flows from it into the moulds. In my walks through the country, especially when traversing the native forest, I was forcibly struck with the general silence of nature. How little was there to please compared with the melody of our groves! Frequently, nothing was to be heard but the woodpecker striking his bill against a tree. At other times I heard a chorus of frogs chirping rather than croaking. In the evening, I have stopped to listen to the plaintive but tiresome note of the whipperwill, a bird, named like the cuckow from its unvarying voice. But the lark springing upward to the sky, and making every thing resound with its lively, inspiriting strain; or the blackbird with its clear whistle; or the nightingale with its full, rich, voluptuous swell and fall;-these are not to be heard in America, to say nothing of the linnet, the thrush, or the whole tribe of finches. They have indeed birds called by these names, but they are quite different from ours, Some how ever they have of very pleasant song, which may be heard at daybreak, and for an hour or two after. I cannot speak of the mocking-bird, for I was not fortunate enough to hear it; but I heard several whose names I have forgotten, which made the woods vocal in an enchanting manner. But no sooner does the sun gain considerable power, than a silence like the grave supervenes, except in the ponds and bogs, where the frogs and toads have fixed their abode. In many parts you may listen in vain to hear any sound at all. In the words of Dr. Young, "Listening ear no object finds; Creation sleeps. 'Tis as the general pulse CHAPTER II. CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES. As the place where I first landed in America was New York, I shall begin by giving some account of that city. Standing like Constantinople on a point of land, it is nearly encompassed by water, and appears at a little distance as if afloat. Ships of the largest burden can approach it at all times of the year, and obtain secure anchorage in its harbour. It unites the advantages of a port on the sea-board, with those of a port like London or Hamburg, without the delays incident to a long river navigation. So important is this felt to be, that it is common for persons from Baltimore, Philadelphia, Montreal and Quebec to come to New York to take ship for Europe. That fine river the Hudson, after running longitudinally for upwards of three hundred miles, empties itself into New York bay. By means of canals now in progress, the city will soon be able to transport its merchandise into the western regions as well as the northern. Lakes Erie, Ontario, and Champlain will directly communicate with it, and contribute to its pros perity. On the whole continent of North America, New Orleans is the only one rivalling it in commercial advantages; and from the insalubrity of its climate, that city will not probably, for centuries to come, equal New York in population, enterprise, and capital. New York, like Liverpool, Petersburg, and Calcutta, has risen into eminence in a comparatively short period. It is still increasing in magnitude and importance, and will continue to do so for a long time to come; but the idea which the Americans en•tertain, that in another century it will equal London needs only to be mentioned to show its absurdity; yet this idea is not confined to the vulgar; a gentleman, formerly a member of congress, and of high reputation for talents and learning, gravely insisted when in conversation with me on its probability! The reader will probably commend my judgment for not attempting to argue the point with him: it seemed to be so much a favourite with him, that his happiness might have been diminished by breaking the illusion, New York viewed from a distance at which the eye can take in its full length, from Hoboken for instance, or the heights of Brooklyn, has the air of a metropolis. The long line of shipping before the wharfs, the numerous lofty |