side numerous manufactures for home consumption. The maple sugar has already been mentioned as an article of this kind, and it promises to become in time an object in foreign trade. Excellent wine has also been made on the banks of the Ohio; and few countries appear better adapted to the production of that commodity.* How far a manufacturing system may be beneficial to a country like the United States of America, where the population is yet so extremely inadequate to the cultivation of their extensive territory, is a curious problem, and has given rise to different opinions. Mr. Morse has discussed the subject at some length, and concludes decidedly in favour of manufactures.† The same remarks on this subject may be applied to America and to Russia. Both these countries are in this respect exactly in the same predicament.

Population. The population of this extensive territory was in 1790 numbered by order of Congress, and found to be 3,950,000. If, according to the general supposition, the number of inhabitants be doubled every twenty years, the present population cannot amount to less than nearly 7,000,000.

• Morse's Amer. Geog. p. 225, &c.

See article Russia, vol. 3. of this work.

† Ibid. p. 211, &c.

Janson remarks, that manu

factures are not successful in America. Travels, p. 194.

W

[The population of the United States, according to the census of 1810, was as follows, viz.

Political importance and relations.]-The political importance of the United States is at present very small in regard to Europe. In America it is much more extensive. In case of a war with England or Spain, they would prove dangerous neighbours to Canada and Mexico. The lowness of their finances, and the want of a navy, could prevent the execution of any designs which they might form. It is only at a future period, that the political importance of America will acquire that preponderancy, which will undoubtedly produce extraordinary consequences.x

Language. It is scarcely necessary to say, that the English is the prevailing language in the North American empire. "It is spoken," says Morse, with great purity, and pronounced with propriety in New England by persons of education; and excepting some corruptions in pronunciation, by all sorts of people. In the middle and southern states, where they have a great influx of strangers, the language, in many instances, is corrupted, especially in the pronunciation."'*

× [We pass this article with à reference merely to the population, character and resources of the U. States, and to the efforts which, for thirty years past, have been made by the two great rival powers in Europe, to secure their interest, each in its own support. If the "political importance of the United States is so very small in regard to Europe,” how are we to account for this struggle among European powers to obtain and secure their influence? AM. ED.]

Morse, p. 184. This writer also says, that a plan was in contemplation for establishing an uniformity of pronunciation throughout the United States; a most romantic and impracticable scheme !y

y [Not exactly so. This writer "" says, attempts are making to introduce an uniformity of pronunciation throughout the United States, which

Literature and polite arts.]—The books published in British America previous to the revolution, were mostly of the religious kind, and sufficiently replete with fanaticism." Frankiin, however, had become a distinguished name in the republic of letters. Since the revolution, many writers of considerable merit have risen. Rittenhouse may be ranked among the first of astronomers; and to use the words of Mr. Jefferson, America, though a child of yesterday, has given many hopeful proofs of genius. In the polite arts, she has. not yet afforded many splendid specimens: these must be the effect of future opulence. Utility has hitherto been the grand object of American pursuit.

Education....Universities.]-The great business of education is conducted with laudable care in numerous seminaries.* Harwood university,a in the state of Massachusetts, founded in 1638, has been regarded as the chief seminary in North

for political as well as other reasons, it is hoped will meet the approbation and encouragement of all literary and influential characters." Mr. B. may think this "a most romantic and impracticable scheme!" We must still think such attempts commendable, rational, and to a useful degree practicable. AM. ED.]

z [We have some knowledge of the books published in British America before the revolution. It is true the greater part of them, having been written by the clergy, are on religious subjects. But to characterize them as "replete with fanaticism,” i. e. of religious phrenzy, indicates either, such an ignorance of these books, as should have restrained Mr. B. from giving an opinion of them; or that he possesses such views of the christian scheme, as the great body of christians in this country and his own would disavow. This whole article is partial and defective; except the last sentence, which is strictly just. AM. ED.]

* Morse says, that there is not, perhaps, in the world, a place where the youth enjoy more fully the advantages of education than in Boston. Amer Geog. p. 329.

a [Harvard College, not Harwood University. The correct style is "the University of Cambridge."

Yale College was founded in 1700. It has now upwards of 300 students. The Catholics have two colleges in Maryland. The society mentioned in Tennessee has ceased; and in its place they have four chartered colleges.

There are more than thirty chartered colleges in the United States, and more than 100 academies, a part only incorporated. AM. ED.]

America. Yale college, in Connecticut, founded in 17.17, maintains about 130 students. New York college, founded by an act of the British parliament in 1754, and now called Colum-' bia college, is said to be frequented by more than 100, Georgia has an university at Louisville; and several other provinces can boast of colleges, or at least of considerable academies. The Catholics have a college in Maryland; and even in Tennessee there is a society for the promotion of useful knowledge. Pennsylvania, especially, boasts of many literary societies, particularly the American philosophical society, which was formed in 1769, and has already contributed to enlighten the world by the publication of its transactions. The university of Pennsylvania has been united with the college of Philadelphia, and is become an eminent seat of learning. Philadelphia may indeed be considered as the centre of North American literature.b

Popular education has been more attended to in America than in most countries of Europe. In order to promote so desirable an end as the instruction of the great mass of the people, the most judicious measures have been adopted in several of the provinces. It may in general terms be observed, that the Americans have done much towards the advancement of popular instruction; but the scattered situation of the country habitations is an insuperable obstacle to any general plan that can be devised for that purpose.†

Manners and customs.]—Amidst such a confluence of different nations, religions, and languages, it is evident that a great variety of manners must prevail; and in consequence of the continual influx of foreigners, this diversity must long be a distinguishing feature in the moral picture of the North American empire. In the large cities, especially Philadelphia, New York, and Charleston, the mixed population is in

For the various literary and scientific institutions, see Morse in the description of each province. Amer. Geog.

b[A citizen of New England could not admit the correctness of this remark; nor do we believe it would be contended for by the best informed Philadelphians themselves. AM. ED.]

† In New England, which is one of the most populous states, there is scarcely a person to be found that cannot both read and write. Morse, p. 277.

some measure amalgamated into a common mass, and the national distinctions seem to be almost worn out; but in many of the country settlements are colonies, consisting entirely of French, Germans, Dutch, and other nations, who adhere to their own manners, and speak their own language. This variety of divisions and mixtures renders it extremely difficult to exhibit any general view of American manners; and the diversified picture is best delineated in the various descriptions of travellers, who sometimes attend to local particularities. Some panegyrists have exhibited a brilliant representation of the general state of American society; while others, influenced by opposite prejudices, have painted it in very different colours. Travellers, however, who have been accustomed to the elegances and refinements of Europe, are generally dissatisfied at the want of urbanity even in the principal cities, and discover a coldness and reserve which renders society dull and melancholy. The case is, that in the United States of Ame rica, the middle, and even what may be called the higher classes, are intent upon business, and spare little time for pleasure; and the common people shew their independent spirit by surliness of behaviour.c Musical entertainments are held in higher estimation than the theatre, although the latter begins in some places to be frequented. The American populace in general are addicted to excess in drinking; and the pernicious effects of spirituous liquors are every where perceptible, proving in too many instances the bane of morals, and the ruin of families. This vice prevails through the whole of the united territory, and penetrates into its most distant regions. To drunkenness, the people of the southern states add other vices not less disgusting. To exhibit a general sketch of the state of American society, it may be observed, that the

с

e ["Surliness of behaviour." This epithet does not designate the common people of America. In general they are affable and obliging to all who treat them with civility.

What follows on the subject of the excessive use of spirituous liquors, is expressed in terms much too universal-The "American populace” (people is the proper word) are not "in general, addicted to excess in drinking."-This vice unhappily prevails to a lamentable extent, but is not peculiar to any class of people,-nor to this country. Aм. ED.]