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ful in the selection of my words. But it sometimes happened, that I inadvertently used such as are considered unwarrantable. To apologise for them would only have added to the error; I was therefore several times obliged to hint, that different practices prevailed in the two countries in reference to the use of words. With all the care I used, I may sometimes have transgressed. What Englishman for example, would have an idea of there being an impropriety in remarking of a lady, that she has a well-shaped ancle? Yet this would be too gross for American ears; while to say that she had a handsome leg, would be intolerable. Even to make mention of a shirt is enough to subject a person to the charge of vulgarity and indelicacy. It is however to be noted, that it is principally in the southern States, that so much squeamishness is apparent. The Scotchman whom I just mentioned, gave me some specimens of this sort of squeamishness so exceedingly ludicrous, that I should like to repeat them, if real delicacy did not forbid. Several nearly equal to them, were shown in different companies where I was present, but they must not be put into print. What would Dean Swift have said to such things? A little observation may satisfy any one, that the most fastidious are not always the most refined.

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Swift was neither the one nor the other. His pleasure was to revile human nature, by representing man as fond of grossness as a hog of wallowing in mire; yet his satiric shaft sometimes aimed at the opposite extreme. He would have found fine quarry in the fashionable circles of Virginia and Carolina.

As the strictness which I have mentioned must be observed in conversation, so must it be attended to in reading to a company from any popular author. I unwittingly subjected myself once or twice to a glance of surprise, for reading passages perfectly unexceptionable. I believe that no difficulty would be felt in an English circle with any of Walter Scott's poems, but there are several passages in Marmion and the Lady of the Lake which it would be unadvisable to read to American ladies. The animated stanza in Burns's Vision beginning,

"Down flowed her robe, a tartan sheen,"

is one which I was obliged to skip lest I should be guilty of offending. I cannot believe that any necessity exists for the upholding of so much. scrupulosity, though I should be exceedingly reluctant to forego the advantages of that seemly delicacy, without which conversation becomes

offensive, leaving like the slime of the snail the track of impurity.

But whatever may be the defects and errors of American conversation, it would be unjust to deny it the praise of decorum. Great care is taken to avoid hurting the feelings of any one. When a dissentient opinion is expressed, it is done with mildness. That bold and decisive opposition, which has been supposed part of the national character of the English, is rejected as being too rude for civilization. Ispeak of the educated part of the community, but with some qualification it applies to the whole. In no country probably, taking the people in their collective capacity, is there more decorum in conversation, than in the United States.

CHAPTER VIII.

INTELLIGENCE.

THE Americans have a current saying, that they are the most enlightened people on earth, and Congress actually passed a resolution to that ef fect many years ago! What a people assert of themselves is entitled to attention. Let us therefore examine how far we may yield credence to this assertion.

That the Americans in proportion to their numbers, have not so many learned and scientific men as several European countries, is a position that will scarcely be 'disputed, even by themselves. Their meaning therefore must be, either, that the mass of people have more information diffused among them, than the mass of other nations, or, that there is in the lower and middling classes, a greater proportion of enlightened minds, than is to be found in other lands. To ascertain the correctness of these opinions, we must know the extent and state of education. In the northern and middle States, the rudiments of learning are communicated to most of the poor; but in Virginia, Maryland and North

Carolina, different indeed is the state of things; for ignorance prevails to a lamentable extent. Even in Pennsylvania, where great attention has been given to the education of the poor, instruction is not given to all. This I learnt from the Report for the present year 1823, of the controllers of one of the school districts in that State. But supposing that education were more general than it is, it would not prove the Americans to be a more enlightened people than the Germans or the Scotch, as the proper criterion is, how the little acquired at school, is improved afterwards. Children may be taught to read and write; but unless they use their attainments, the benefit is nearly nugatory. In New York and Philadelphia, possibly in one or two other places, there are libraries for the special use of Apprentices. I examined one of them, and was pleased to find a very judicious selection from practical and standard English authors. But in villages and small towns, almost the only book read is the Bible. The newspapers circulated are however exceedingly numerous; so that I believe the poor are generally well informed on subjects of domestic policy. From their migratory habits, they are also tolerably well acquainted with the geography of the country. But on other subjects, they are as ignorant as the poor of Spain

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