22 MY DEAR UNCLE MY DEAR UNCLE 23 American States pub. in London, you will see in the conclusion I believe of the Preface settlement, a log hut and a few acres of cleared ground, surrounded by the Forest in an observation he made to a French Gentleman in Paris who expressed an intention all its natural beauties, is a subject for a landscape painter - and the Owner of this of writing on American Government, and no more just remark was ever made. The Forest is more obliged to you for settling on it, than you are for his permission. When education and habits of the Americans differ from that of all other Men. They have all this is considered, it is folly to conjecture that such a country should not be happy from the cradle, sentiments which the subject[s] of any Government in Europe are and prosperous. But such opinions have been very general in Europe. There was an either strangers to, particularly liberty, far beyond even the idea of an English Man, is opinion, in which I was with all the World fixed, that America cou'd not become a {or?} their Idol, but this independence contributes not to social pleasure. They (the Manufacturing Country for a great length of time, at least until she had a [redundent?] Mass I mean) are far from amiable. They are selfish, uncommunicative, and un- population. This, however, was merely a speculative axiom. The fact is otherwise. neighbourly. A Country Man does not know his neighbour, and affects, if you ask She is actually at this moment a manufacturing Country to an astonishing extent in all him, even not to know his name. And yet far West, their doors are open to the the useful articles most necessary for Man, and in many of the finer mechanic arts. Traveller, but curiosity is here to be gratified. I lament this, for I love the Country, of Mathematical Instrument Makers, Surgeons and Common Cutlers, Gold and Silver all the Earth. It is a Noble Country, and there are Men enough in it to engage your Smiths, Jewellers, Clock and Watch Makers, Painters Carvers &c. &c., follow their affections, whom you can select for yourself. We have expended fourteen thousand trades to great advantage. And the making of coarse linen, sheeting, broad cloths, pounds sterlg. in building an Edifice for the Meetings of Congress, (at the sole expence hats, sailcloth, also all the cotton works of Manchester with all their machines, and of this State,) which forms a principal ornament of our City. When both Houses are all works in Iron from an anchor to a common nail, with iron founderies &c., &c. is accommodated with a suitable dignity, and by this conveyance I send you the debates carried on to an incredible extent, when you consider it as a Country where these of the lower House, taken in short hand by a person who has permission to sit behind things were never to happen. But the culture of Silk surprises me more than any the Speaker's Chair and I shall continue to send them as they come out. other, I have seen [...]testring & other Silks for Women's wear, made in common linen looms, for want of other, which was allowed to be as good as any from Europe, 29 July even by Englishmen. And sewing silk of all kinds and colors the same. Mr. Aspinwall I intended the foregoing to have been sent by the first opportunity after Robert's who has the chief merit of reviving this Culture in the Eastern States and has with arrival, but missed the sailing of the Vessel. I have now the pleasure to tell you, that great labor led the people into it, I intimately know. They can raise a pound of silk Robert is well, and his conduct and attention to business, everything that we can and prepare it for the loom, or sewing by the same expenditure of labor &c., that they wish. His appetite is good, and light cloathing bears him thro' the summer as well as can a pound of common linen yarn. And a pound of this silk is worth six dollars. The a native, tho' we have had the thermometer some days at 88. cultivation of the Mulberry tree, he led them into by degrees - each man planted The residence of Congress and the President, who is certainly the most generally perhaps a dozen, and the family amused themselves with as many worms as these beloved Man of any this day on Earth, has had its effect on our Governor and his would sustain. From amusement it has become a business - whole plantations are Party. He has summoned the Legislature, and Senators have been elected to Congress, made, millions of trees are planted, and six dollars a pound for silk, has had more notwithstanding the hubbub they raised at the meeting of which I sent you the debates. weight, when once felt, than better oratory than his would have had without it. He The two Rascally States of Rhode Island and North Carolina must in the end come in. complains that the want of a collected body of laboring people, in one spot, impedes The new Government opperates gently so far, and I believe it is their object to make the rapidity of its progress. It is at present in the hands of farmers, who individually, its effects almost imperceptible. It is wonderful to observe the difference between a do just as they like with it. But in my opinion there is nothing can stop the current of Republic and a Monarchy. In the one, the Governors are obliged to creep submissively so advantagious a cultivation, and I shou'd not be surprised to find in my day, that its round the affections of the People. In the other "tel est mon plaisir" says the produce wou'd pay for half the imports of the Nation. Gentleman who rules the roost, and roasted ye may be, and be damned. We were at considerable expence last Season to improve our Works for cleaning When you imagine a Country nearly boundless in extent, where government is flaxseed, and we have the satisfaction to learn that our Brand was liked in Ireland. scarcely felt, and education pervading even the remotest parts, where the Lands This business is generally left to Porters. We do it ourselves. We shall keep Robert [crave?] the settlers and not the Men the Lands, where even in the first stage of right at it next winter. I am extremely pleased to learn you had some intention of