of freedom independence and equality. These mystic and magic words are there on every one's tongue. I shall hereafter give my opinion of how they apply to this favoured land-a land after which my soul had panted many years; and the government of which my imagination had painted as perfection itself.

The first business we had to attend to on landing, was seeking lodgings. For two rooms, badly furnished, three meals a day, and water to drink, I paid twenty-one dollars a week. Myself, my wife, and two children, with a servant, constituted the members of my family. Fire and candles cost us four dollars a week; and would have cost double that sum had we continued longer at the same house. Our landlady informed us that, from the price of fuel, shecould not supply us with fire for less than one dollar a day. We had but one fire-place, which, had we submitted to such exaction, would have cost, in four months, nearly £25 sterling.

We afterwards rented unfurnished apartments, which allowed us to be more private than any boarding-house in New-York admits of. It was our intention at first to take an entire house; but on finding that one of any respectability, would cost from one to two hundred pounds a year, we contented ourselves with lodgings. For unfurnished lodgings, in most parts of the city, more is demanded than for furnished lodgings in many parts of London. It required some time to arrange things necessary for our convenience, which imposed more exertion and less comfort than we had been accustomed to. Our servant in the mean time left us. She had been ascertaining the value of a dollar, and how many made a pound; and most probably conceived that she could obtain more elsewhere. On making inquiries at the house where we had previously boarded, we found that the mistress of it had seduced her from us. This is so universally the practice as to be no matter of surprise. But as the former, with three of her family

and domestics, died of cholera, and our servant returned to England six months before ourselves, I shall make no further animadversions. The servant appeared to be dissatisfied with America and its people.

The person at whose house we had taken lodgings, was an Englishman a painter, who informed me that he had lived some years in Liverpool; but from the heavy weight of rates, tithes, and taxes, he had not been able to gain a living. He still had a shop there, and intended to return if the Reform Bill should pass. He so often spoke with contempt and bitterness of kings, nobility, priests, and taxes, that it was evident at once under what denomination he might be classed. He was a radical, a gambler, a frequenter of Tammany Hall,* and of the lowest society. I blushed to think that such a person and myself should have entertained similar sentiments on such a subject. He had gone to America to improve his condition, but had not found that improvement realized. He hated, and cordially rallied at, the American people, their manners, and the prejudices they entertained against the English. His wife, a most worthy and industrious woman, told us, that had her husband been industrious and careful, they might have saved money, and been independent, but that they could, with the same means, have been much more comfortable in Liverpool.

After we were somewhat settled, I found time to look around me, and consider what was passing. It seemed to me probable, that there was as much distress in New-York, in proportion to the population, as in London. We saw and relieved several beggars in the streets of that city. The number, also, of paupers who were relieved by charity, was very great. I think the excessive charges for house-rent and fuel must be

* A place where the lower and more restless orders meet to discuss political and religious questions, and not a few of whose frequenters, as I was informed are professed Atheists.

B*

severely felt by persons of slender means. There must be a great want of capital among coal and wood merchants, or a total absence of proper regulations. Sufficient fuel had not been provided to supply the regular consumption of the city; and its value became so enhanced in consequence, as to be almost out of the reach of the poor. The coals we consumed were double the price of what coals had cost in the summer. The coal-merchants had promised, before the winter commenced, that they would supply the people at summer prices. But promises are slight obligations, when put into competition with interest. We paid for coal at the rate of seventeen dollars a ton. While in England, we thought forty shillings a chaldron a high price; but in New-York they were twice that sum.

As my object in going to the States was to be professionally employed, my proper interest required that I should lose no time in gaining every necessary information. For the sake of all inquirers on the same subject, I will, at some length, explain the prospects, which English clergymen in general will have before them in these States. Some of the gentlemen with whom my letters of introduction brought me into contact, possess considerable distinction. I was introduced to the Catholic and Episcopal Bishops, to Dr. Milnor, Dr. Wainwright, Dr. Hossack, some of the professors of Columbia College, and several other gentlemen of all professions.

The intercourse I had with Americans was often confined to short calls and occasional confabulations. This, perhaps, arose from the circumstance, that I had illness in my family almost all winter; and also from the clergy, with whom I associated more than with any other class, being much engaged in sacred ministrations among the sick, the dying and the dead. There were, according to the statements of some clergymen, more sickness and mortality in New-York, and more calls on their time for private visitation and prayers, than they had ever known in any preceding

winter. There was a great mortality among all ranks and much sickness prevailed. I myself had an attack of quinsy. Having known previously its troublesome and dangerous nature, I took every means for my recovery, and suffered the less in consequence. This whole winter we suffered much illness and hardship. I think the prevalence of sickness and death in New-York, arising probably from severity of climate and extreme changeableness of weather, might be greatly counteracted, could skilful physicians be induced to settle there. But the depressed state of professions is striking to an Englishman, accustomed to see them in their high state in his own country. This arises from a want of classification in society, a want of aristocracy, independent of sordid interest, and consequently a want of due encouragement of literature and science. In that vast assemblage of people, there is no person able to promote the object of a stranger, nor to take him by the hand. High recommendations from England are a man's greatest detriment. The Americans, confident that no respectable professional man will leave England for their shores, unless engaged beforehand, look upon such recommendations as English lies, intended to impose a worthless wretch on their notice. This was hinted to me by several; and, among others, by the rector of one of the principal churches in the city. "Many," said he, "come to our country with flaming pretensions; but Americans are not too easy to be caught by such artifices." Englishmen will, hereafter, know better than to enter America in pursuit of respectable employment. If they will stoop to menial offices, these they may obtain.

I made several inquiries respecting professorships in colleges throughout the United States, and was candidly informed by many persons capable of giving correct information, that no man, whatever be his worth or acquirements, has much chance of obtaining either collegiate or clerical promotion there, unless

he have personal influence with a majority of the electors. A stranger is entirely excluded by such a system. The only thing open to an English clergyman, in a regular way, is the employment of a common schoolmaster; or a situation far back in the country, where an educated American will not go. An English clergyman of great oratorical powers may receive a call from some congregation to be their pastor; but this is mere chance, and depends much upon the degree of his servility. He must entirely abandon every thing like English refinement, and submit to things never heard of in his native country.

I had no letters from England to any of the episcopal clergy in New-York, or indeed in the States. A gentleman, to whom the king's physician in London gave me a letter of introduction, took me, on the morning I delivered it, to Dr. Milnor, an episcopal minister of great celebrity. He inquired if I had any papers with me by which he might be satisfied of my being a clergyman. These I had left at my lodgings; but I shewed him letters to persons of distinction, in New-York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington. After some conversation on various subjects, he desired me to call again with my clerical papers; promising that he would, on the following day, introduce me to their bishop, should my papers be satisfactory. Before we parted, he had recollected that none of the letters I had shown him were addressed to clergymen, and inquired if I had brought any such. My answer was in the negative; but that the letters I had produced before him must be as respectable as if from clergymen. He replied, the clergy of America will think differently. I then told him, that among those clergymen in England with whom I was more intimately acquainted, there was no one personally known to any of our profession in the States, nor indeed to any respectable person settled there. He remarked, such testimony will here be considered as indispensable. I must mention, in justice to myself, that I had with me a