Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/141

 *tic, while America, you see, is retrograding and quite unable of herself to achieve any thing grand. Whatever she does is by instruction and foreign aid, without which she cannot advance. If A, B, C, be taught her, she cannot teach herself D; yet she possesses the boasting, vain-*glorious egotism of all-knowing Europe, although of and in herself, knowing nothing. Almost all Americans are boys in every thing but vice and folly! In their eyes Uncle Sam is a right slick, mighty fine, smart, big man."

Great evil results to emigrants from not coupling good and evil statements relating to America. Not half the number would come if they were but {127} properly informed and enlightened. Under such impressions, those who would then come would be generally of the right sort.

In October, at the fairs in Pennsylvania all is fine, mighty fine, and dashy flashy. The Dutch women then shine and look gay; but at home are like slaves, living hard, and ploughing all day in the hot fields. "More robberies and murders," says Mr. Perry, "are committed in Virginia, than in all England. Whole families are murdered at once, and buried in a hole in the woods, and three or four slaves are wantonly shot and buried at once, when not useful nor marketable. But all this seldom excites any notice, or is much known, in or beyond the neighbourhood. It is indeed good policy to conceal it, as the making it known, it is said, might and does increase the evil. Human life is little valued in America."

In conformity with my resolution to give an impartial account of all I meet with, I have mentioned Mr. Perry's statements and impressions, which must, however, I am informed, be received with much caution and qualification;