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and when I was giving him an account of its present state, he begged me to desist, as he was afraid that his interest would be so much excited as to make him wish to return to it. He held a long argument with me on the cause of the variety of colour in the human species, a subject, which, reasoning on the assumption of the truth of the Mosaic account of the creation, is exceedingly puzzling. I do not know that either convinced the other, but we were quite interested in the discussion. At his house, a number of young ladies meet weekly as a benevolent society. I was admitted into the room where they were sitting at work with their needles and thread, and had some lively chat with them. It was an interesting scene to observe so many devote their time to the benefit of the poor. The Doctor's sensible conversation and his warm-heartedness made my visit to him one of the pleasantest I paid in America. With several of the clergy at Washington both Episcopalian and Presbyterian, I spent some improving hours. Three or four of the members of Congress to whom also I had letters, were ready to give me information and assistance. In fine, the hospitality shown to me was joined to so much more devotedness of attention than I had any reason to expect, that my heart was thoroughly warmed. America is certainly the land of kind dispositions.

CHAPTER XI.

POLITENESS.

In the preceding chapter there are various instances of politeness; and yet I doubt whether the Americans can properly be called a polite people. The first class are indeed very polite; but the middling and lower classes, though not rude as some have asserted, are deficient in that sort of minute observance of respectful address so conspicuous in the French. I suspect that those travellers who have complained of the rudeness of the Americans, must have demeaned themselves in an arrogant or otherwise unpleasant manner; for the instances of rudeness that I met with were so rare, and those of civility so general, that the former must in all fairness be regarded as exceptions to the general rule. My object in the present chapter is to exhibit the politeness of the upper class. This object will I think be best attained by a few particulars. As there is not in America any considerable body of persons living independent of business, and constituting an order of gentry, I include in the upper class, merchants, lawyers, and clergymen, with all those of whatever pro

fession whose property or education gives them influence in their respective neighbourhoods.

On entering the Senate of the Pennsylvanian Assembly, one of the members with whom I had had some previous conversation, came as soon as he observed me, and invited me to a seat below the bar; an act of courtesy to a stranger that I could not but admire. In the lower house, I had a similar invitation. One of the members who lodged at a private house, introduced me to the family, with whom I spent an evening. The Judge of the county court, who was in the town in the exercise of his functions, took me into the State record-chamber, and showed me the original charter granted by Charles II. to Penn for forming the colony; and on my visiting the court where he presided, he requested me to take a seat at the counsellors' table. Several of the members of Assembly who were at the tavern where I stopped, were of very gentlemanly behaviour. Their politeness to me will not soon be forgotten.

When at Providence in Rhode Island, I walked to Brown's University, and enquiring of one of the students if there was any thing worth the notice of a stranger, he conducted me to his

room, and after a little conversation, went and informed his tutor of my being there. He returned with a message from him, inviting me to accompany him through the building. This I did, gaining from him the information that I wanted, and receiving that pleasing attention which in a foreign land endears the inhabitants to the traveller.

I met with a person at a tavern at Schenectady in New York, who was one of the surveyors of the Erie canal. He was of liberal sentiments as it respects other nations and governments, manifesting none of that bigoted disposition to extol to the skies whatever was American, though he had a rational attachment to his country. After a long, desultory discourse with him, I told him that I thought of calling at Union College in that town. He said he was acquainted with the Professor of Chemistry, and would give me a note to him. The Professor, a young man of pleasing manners, showed me every thing worth the notice of a stranger and introduced me to another of the tutors who accompanied us over part of the College. They very pressingly invited me to stay and dine with them; but as the note I took was from a casual ac

quaintance, and not one of a stamp conferring a

degree of freedom in the bearer, I returned to my quarters to dinner, though I would gladly

have had more conversation with two such characters as they appeared to be. If I had had no introduction to them, I might perhaps have accepted their invitation; but I could not reconcile the idea of encroaching on kindness, when my only claim to their notice was a note from a stranger at a tavern. I never myself gave a letter under such a circumstance, and I believe I never shall; but I thought I might not improperly use the one I had, for the simple purpose of gaining information. I have no reason to regret having done so, as my object in visiting the College was accomplished more easily, than would in all likelihood have been the case without any introduction, and I met with two polite gentlemen.

Being one day at a private house in New York, I mentioned my intention of visiting the Lancastrian Female School, on which a lady present, said that she should take a pleasure in showing it to me. I was glad to avail myself of her offer, and fixed a time for the visit. On entering the school, she came forward to meet me, offered me her hand in the most courteous manner, and gave me all the needful information

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