A Ramble of Six Thousand Miles through the United States of America

nd, accompanied by B--, set out for St. Louis, in Missouri. We crossed the Wabash i

letting it to English or other emigrants. These two gentlemen were of the class called in England, "gentlemen farmers," and brought with them from that country very large capitals; a considerable portion of which, in addition to th

f the latter gentleman, a lad about fourteen years old, was killed in open day whilst walking in his father's garden, by a blow of an axe handle, which was flung at him across the fence. The evidence was clear against the murderer, and yet he was acquitted. Whilst I was at Vandalia, I saw in a list of lands for sale, amongst other lots to be sold for taxes, one of Mr. Flowers'. The fate of these gentlemen and their families should be a sufficient warning to persons of their class in England, not to attempt settling in the backwoods; or if they have that idea, to leave aside altogether refined notions, and never to bring with them either the feelings or the habits of a gentleman

was chosen secretary of state; and in that character he died, in 1825. He at last devoted himself entirely to gaining political influence, seeing that it was the duty of every man

, when our carriage, coming in contact with a stump that lay concealed beneath high grass, was pitched into a rut-it was upset-and before we could recover ourselves, away went the horse dashing through the woo

may make to rally one's spirits, still the heart of a European sickens at the sameness of the scene, and he cannot get rid of the idea of imprisonment, where the visible horizon is never more distant than five or six hundred yards. Yet this is the delight of an Indian or a backwoodsman, and the gloomy ferocity that characterizes these people is evidently engendered by the surrounding scenery, and may be considered as indigenous to the fo

ough Illinois lay over prairie ground, and the roads were so level, that without any extra

ouring the plains, and several "prairie wolves" skulking in the high grass-this animal is sometimes destructive to sheep. The size is about that of our fox. Most farmers keep three or four hounds, which are trained to combat the wolf. The training is thus-a dead wolf is first shewn to a young dog, when he is set on to tear it; t

uld provide us with every thing else. Having no alternative, we of course acceded to his proposal. There was then holding at his house what is termed an "inn fair," or the day after the wedding. The marriage takes place at the house of the bride's father, and the day following a party is given by the brid

contributed not a little to improve the state of society; for the inhabitants of these prairies,

loaks, and lay seventeen in a bed until morning, when we arose, and went out to "have a wash." The practice at all inns and boarding-houses throughout the western country, excepting at those in the more c

. Were it not for this circumstance, the difficulty of procuring wood for fuel and fencing, would

aring. There are two denominations of prairie: the upland, and the river or bottom prairie; the latter is more fertile than the former, having a greater body of alluvion, yet there are many of the upland prairies extremely rich, particularly those in the neighbourhood of the Wabash. The depth of the vegetable soil on

ompensation in lieu of our supper and lodging: he said he considered our lodging a thing not to be spoken of; and as to our supper-which by-the-by was a capital one-he had invited us to that. We merely paid for the horse, thanked him for his hospitality, and departed. During our

We required a new shaft: the smith walked deliberately out-cast his eye on a rail of

eachers, who migrate annually, in swarms, from the more thickly settled districts. There appeared to be a great lack of zeal among the denizens of Lebanon, as notwithstanding the energetic exhortations of the preachers, and their fulminating denunci

mmediately in front, lay a handsome wood. From the hills to the river is about six miles; and this space appears evidently to have been a lake at some former period, previous to the Mississippi's flowing through its present deep channel. Several stagnant ponds lay by our road; sufficient indications of the

rry-boat stationed at this point, (opposite St. Louis), the construction of which is rather singular. It is built nearly square, having in the mi

tin: from the opposite side it presents a very gay appearance. The ascent from the water's edge to the back of the town is considerable, but regular. The streets intersect each other at right angles, as do those of most American towns. They are much too

mouths of two noble rivers, the Missouri and the Illinois,[5] having at its back an immense tract of fertile country, and open and easy communication with the finest parts of the western and nort

cky mountains with Lewis; and also, two sods of good black turf, from the bogs of Allen, in Ireland. A sight which was quite exhilarating, and reminded me so strongly of the fine odour which exha

t: his countenance is expressive of anything but intelligence; and his celebrity is said to h

antities are imported annually from Louisville and Cincinnati. The principal lots of ground in and near the town are at the disposal of some five or six individuals, who, having thus created a monopoly, keep up the price. This, adde

ealthy. He bears the character of being a regular Yankee; and if the never giving a direct answer to a plain question constitutes a Yankee, he is one most decidedly. We had some intention of crossing to Santa Fé, in New Mexico, and we accordingly waited on him for the purpo

d. Teams for the transportation of merchandize and luggage are preparing, which is an accommodation never enjoyed before by trappers, as pack-horses have always hit

in exchange for dry goods and merchandize of every description, specie, principally; wh

les through the Indian country before they reach the Mexican boundary. These journeys are long and tedious, and require men of nerve and muscle to undertake them; the morasses and

antities of valuable merchandize procured from that country, specie to a very large amount is put in circulation, which to a new

into the Merrimac: a water transportation is thus effected to the Mississippi, eighteen miles below St. Louis. This, however, is only in the spring and fall, as at other seasons the Merrimac i

tates, and three or four Catholic and Protestant churches. The Catholic is the prevalent religion. Th

people I met with in the west. The more wealthy people generally spend some time in New Orlean

We passed many fine farms-through open woodlands, which have much the appearance of domains-and across large tracts of sumach, the leave

r descendants in Carondalet. Every Saturday night les garcons et les filles meet to dance quadrilles. The girls dance well, and on these occasions they dress tastefully. These villagers live well, dress well, and dance well, but have miserable-looking habitations; the house of a Frenchman being always a secondary consideration. At one of those balls I observed a very pretty girl su

o some other officers by our host, who united in his single person the triple capacity of squire, or magistrate, newspaper proprietor, and tavern-keeper. Th

t crime has been flogging; but Jackson declares now that shooting must be resorted to. The soldiers are obliged to be servilely respectful to the officers, pulling off the undress cap at their approach. This species of discipline may be pronounced inconsistent with the institutions of the country, yet when we come to consider the materials of which an American regular regiment is composed, we shall find the difficulty of producing order and regularity in such a body much greater than at first view might be apprehended. In this country any man who wishes to work may employ himself profitably, consequently all those who sell their liberty by enlisting must be

es lived in a hut, among the outhouses, about twelve feet square-men, women, and children; and in every respect were fully as miserable and degraded in condition as the unfortunate wretches who reside in the lanes and alleys of St. Giles' and Spitalfields, with

s the case in those situations. Large holes, called "sink-holes," are numerous along these banks; the shape of them is precisely that of an inverted cone, through the apex of which the water sinks, and works its way into

as they say at sea, "like a purser's shirt on a handspike," and looked for all the world like an inverted sack, with appropriate apertures cut for head and arms; she wore shoes, in compliment to her guests-her hair hung about her shoulders in true Indian style; and altogethe

their purchase, and that he was a slave-holder not from choice, but because it was the prevailing practice of t

s were shaven, with the exception of a small stripe, extending from the centre of the crown back to the organ of philoprogenitiveness-the gallant scalping-lock-which was decorated with feathers so as somewhat to resemble the crest of a Greek or Roman helmet. Their bodies were uncovered from the waist upwards, except when they wore blank

e direction, said, "If I had done that of which my white brother accuses me, I would not stand here now. The words of my red-headed father (General Clarke) have passed through both my ears, and I have remembered them. I am accused, and I am not guilty." (The interpreter translated each sentence as it was delivered, and gave it as nearly verbatim as possible-observe, the pronoun I is here used figuratively, for his party, and for the tribe). "I thought I would come down to see my red-headed father, to hold a talk with him.-I come across the line (boundary)-I see the cattle of my white brother dead-I see the Sauk kill them in great numbers-I said that there would be trouble-I turn to go to my village-I find I have no provisions-I say, let us go down to our white brother, and trade our powder and shot for a little-I do so, and again turn upon my tracks, until I reach my village."-He here paused, and looking sternly down the room, to where two Sauks sat, pointed his finger at them and said, "The Sauk, who always

nd lifting his eyes above the heads of the auditors, his lip curling a little, but resuming again, almost immediately, its natural position, he pronounced in a low but distinct guttural tone, the Indian word meaning "my son." His eye seemed fixed for a few seconds, and then, as if conscious of his weakness, and that the eyes of the great warriors of his tribe were upon him, he looked slowly round in a kind of solemn triumph, and resumed hi

spread their manly countenances, whilst their eyes bespoke that unquailing spirit which the habits and vicissitudes of a sylvan life are calculated rather to raise than depress. The Indians, when uncontam

was correct, and a few presents was then thought sufficient

uring the winter season, this gentleman, Mr. R--, was seized with rheumatic pains, and unable to proceed. His party, consisting only of a few men, had no provisions, nor had they any means of taking him with them, being completely exhausted themselves-he was left on the plains to die. An old Indian chief, of one of the hostile tribes, chanced to find him; he carried h

of what they have-they even will divide with you the last morsel they have, if they were starving themselves; and while you remain with them you are perfectly safe, as every individual of them would lose his life in your defence. This unfortunate portion of the human race has not been treated with that degree of justice and tenderness which people calling themselves Christians ought to have exercised towar

igrant, as the Indian will not be as dangerous to him as idle vagabonds that roam the wood

TNO

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of the Missouri, and thirty-s

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tion of masculine or feminine gender, bu

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ct for the aged, and in several instances a deference to their equals. The natural coldness of their temperament, admits of few outward demonstrations of civility. They are, however, affable in their mode, and are ever disposed to sho