LETTER IV.

Lambert.

DEAR SIR;

I HAVE lately seen, Travels in Lower Canada and North-America, in the years 1806, 1807, and 1808, by John Lambert, a native of Great Britain, printed in London for Richard Phillips, 1810. On this book I will now make a number of observations.

Permit me to say, generally, that the writer is superior to most of his fellow travellers in candour and justice. He came to America, as he informs us, upon business. Unexpected disappointments having frustrated his design, he found himself at leisure to travel over several parts of this continent. The result of his observations and inquiries he has given us in three octavo volumes, and has in my view made a valuable present to the public. The information, which he has furnished concerning Canada, unless I am deceived, is to a considerable extent new and satisfactory. In the United States his opportunities of seeing the country and acquiring information were much fewer than I should have wished, and evidently much more limited than he himself wished. Yet he has the merit of having made the most of them. What he saw, he generally observed with accuracy and good sense, and told with truth; and it deserves to be recorded to his honour, that, with a victory over prejudice, not often achieved by Englishmen travelling in this country, he appears plainly to have been desirous of seeing every thing in its native light, and not with jaundiced eyes. For his information he was dependent, as every traveller must be, upon others; often he is well informed; at times he was undoubtedly led into error. He passed over several hundred miles in which I have travelled; and his accounts of what fell under his eye are just,

beyond what I should expect from a foreigner, to whom every object was new, and who had so little opportunity of examining with attention. Upon the whole, Mr. Lambert has claims to respect and to confidence, which cannot be challenged by any other native of Great Britain, who has appeared here as a traveller.

The following paragraph in the introduction to his work well deserves the attentive perusal of every Briton, who considers this country as meriting his regard.

"After residing a twelvemonth in Canada, I visited the United States, a country, whose real state is almost as little known in England as that of Canada; and the manners and dispositions of whose inhabitants are seldom viewed, but through the false medium of popular prejudice.

"Whatever truth there may have been in the accounts given of the United States by former writers; they present at this day but imperfect or distorted pictures of the country and its inhabitants. Those, who have not seen the United States for the last twenty years, would be astonished at the alteration that has taken place. No country, perhaps, ever increased in population and wealth, or rose into importance among other nations more rapidly, than the United States. Within the space of thirty years, they have emerged from the obscurity of colonies into the rank of independent states; governed by a constitution altogether novel in the present times; but which, whatever defects it may contain, has proved the source of all their prosperity. The people of England are too apt to hold the character of the Americans in trifling estimation; but when it is known, that their country is fast approaching to importance, that their imports and exports already amount to one half of those of Great Britain, while their annual expenditure is not a twentieth, and their national debt not a fortieth part of ours, we cannot avoid giving them our meed of admiration, whatever jealousy might suggest to the contrary. It is to be hoped, that the two nations will no longer give way to blind and acrimonious prejudices against each other, but endeavour to cultivate the blessings of peace instead of the horrors of war."

It would be well if some of your journalists were to learn a little truth from these observations of Mr. Lambert, and to

believe with him, that the travellers, whose malignant accounts they take a pleasure apparently not less malignant in quoting, have given only imperfect or distorted pictures of the country and its inhabitants. The blind and acrimonious prejudices, mentioned by this writer, have been indulged by no persons with greater spleen or grosser falshood, than by the authors of some of your reviews. Great Britain has no market of so much value to her as the United States; and no body of men in the world, equally numerous, so willing to be her steadfast friends upon reasonable principles, as a large part of their inhabitants. Why this body should be provoked and alienated, by the torrents of abuse so liberally poured out on your side of the Atlantic, the writers to whom I have referred are yet to explain.

Page 176. "From what cause the custom (of driving on the right side of the road) originated in America, I cannot say."

The cause is this: The drivers of loaded carts and waggons usually walk on the left side. If you take the right, the driver is of course between you and his own team. He is therefore able to see that he gives you sufficient room; which he could not do if you took the left side. Hence the law re

quires every carriage to go on the right.

Page 278. "The inhabitants of the shores of Nova-Scotia and the New-England states, who are enveloped in fogs more than one half the year, enjoy the same ruddy complexion as the English; while those, who live in the interior under a clear sky, are universally distinguished by sallow and swarthy complexions."

There are two errors in this sentence, so far as it respects New-England. Its shores generally enjoy a remarkably fine clear sky; and the inhabitants of the interior are rather more ruddy, so far as there is any difference, than those on the shore.

Page 354. On this and the following pages there are several unfortunate observations concerning religion, a subject which the writer has very imperfectly examined. I mention the fact, not as coming within the scope of these remarks; but merely that, after what I have said concerning the respectable character of Mr. Lambert, it might not be supposed from my

silence that I approved of these opinions. In the subsequent parts of the book there are other observations of a nature At the same time I acknowledge with Lambert appears to be respectful to re

generally similar. pleasure, that Mr. ligion and morality.

Page 435. “The rabbit was never found wild in any part of America."

Wild rabbits are considerably numerous in New-England. Vol. ii, page 128. "The Americans are so extremely captious on political subjects, that they can never speak of them without entering into a dispute; and disputes generally terminate in quarrels."

The Americans are without a doubt sufficiently inclined to dispute about political subjects, and are in my opinion at least sufficiently captious. New-England is believed to be as much interested in this controversy as any part of the American Union. Yet there are every day conversations on political subjects without disputes, and disputes without quarrels. These indeed must be very rare; for I do not remember that I have heard of half a dozen in New-England, during the twenty-five years which have elapsed since the establishment of the American constitution.

Page 129. "It (the American stage coach) is always drawn by four horses; which, in well settled parts of the United States, are as good as the generality of English stage horses."

Who could have expected this from an English traveller in America!

Page 132. "At the better sort of American taverns or hotels, very excellent dinners are provided, consisting of almost every thing in season."

Ibid. English breakfasts and teas are, generally speaking, meagre repasts, compared with those of America; and as far as I had an opportunity of observing, the people live, with respect to eating, in a much more luxurious manner than we do; particularly in the large towns, and in their neighbourhoods. But their meals, I think, are composed of too great a variety, and of too many things, to be conducive to health; and I have little doubt but that many of their diseases are engendered by gross diet, and the use of animal food at

every meal. Many private families live nearly in the same style as at these houses, and have as great a variety upon their tables."

I hope Mr. Lambert, since he is a Briton, will be considered as an unexceptionable witness to the fact, that the people of this country have something to eat and drink, both in private houses and in inns; the testimony of your former travellers to the contrary notwithstanding. I, who have known the whole subject by experience, can testify, that this has been the fact, with regard to both private houses and inns, from my earliest remembrance. Food in the richest variety has always abounded in this country, and has been within the reach of every man, possessed even of moderate property. The principal difference between the farmers and mechanics who are in easy circumstances, or are worth from five to ten thousand dollars, and the gentlemen (that is, when there is any difference), is, so far as the mode of living is concerned, found chiefly in the different modes of management, particularly in cookery. A farmer of my acquaintance, worth` perhaps from twenty to twenty-five thousand dollars, kept as good a table as any man whom I ever knew.

The best old-fashioned New-England inns were superior to any of the modern ones which I have seen. They were at less pains to furnish a great variety of food. Yet the variety was ample. The food was always of the best quality; the beds were excellent; the house and all its appendages were in the highest degree clean and neat; the cookery was remarkably good; and the stable was not less hospitable than the house. The family in the mean time were possessed of principle, and received you with the kindness and attention of friends. Your baggage was as safe as in your own house. If you were sick, you were nursed and befriended as in your own family. No tavern-haunters, gamblers, or loungers were admitted, any more than in a well ordered private habitation; and as little noise was allowed.

There was less bustle, less parade, less appearance of doing much to gratify your wishes, than at the reputable modern inns; but much more actually done, and much more comfort and enjoyment. In a word, you found in these inns the