Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/123

 mode." I conceive, as does Mr. Cocken, that English farmers, with skill and a little money, must do well, though not rise or fall so fast here as in England, things not being so changeable. What is here gotten is a man's own, it comes gradually, but surely. Dr. F. Dawes, and lady, late of Wisbeach, in the Isle of Ely, with whom I dined this day, wish, but are reluctant to return, seeming to stay here only to find fault with everything. "No body," says he, "is getting, or is able to raise any money." The man of whom Mr. C. speaks in his letters, as "getting money as fast as he can count it," is unable to raise 2,000 dollars for a farm, which he wants to buy near his own; and, if he were so rich, would he, think you, come to Washington, six or seven miles, with three lbs. of butter under his arm? As to Mr. Long, from Lincolnshire, he {106} has removed three times; is dissatisfied with all things, and thinks no man honest."

The history of a great number of emigrants in this country shews unprincipled looseness in morals, and but little or no real well founded integrity. Public offices and government clerkships are filled by men who really could be no longer tolerated in trade, many having cleared out, or as it is more commonly called, backed out, four times in a few years. Yet such are the most esteemed citizens, taking precedence of tradesmen, and ranking with the aristocracy of the city. Dirking, says my nameless friend, is a common unnoticed offence; a peccadillo which renders no man uncomfortable, but him whose body is the subject of it. We have too much liberty. Ours is a fine government in theory, but its laws are neither respected nor enforced. Military schools contain the seeds of death to American liberty. It is the pride and pleasure of Americans to get into debt, and then by avoiding payment,