New-York....Inhabitants.... Amusements, &c;

inflamed to that degree, as if they had had the measles, In the city of NewYork, the climate is undoubtedly very healthy, notwithstanding the extremes of heat and cold to which it is fubject, in common with the reft of the United States; the air is pure and reviving, except during the fultry dog-days; but the fervid heat of the fummer and autumnal feafons is greatly mitigated by the refreshing wholefome fea-breeze, and the currents of air from either river. At all feafons the fky is generally ferene; on an average, I believe that nine months out of the year may be reckoned clear fair weather! confequently, to robuft conftitutions, able to endure fuch extremes of heat and cold, the American climate may be more defirable than our own gloomy, variable, and rainy atmosphere. The natives, however, do not appear to wear fo well as the English, and other northern people of Europe; to me they looked, in general, fuil ten years older than they actually were, and, feldom have that bloom fo common with

us.

Their premature lofs of teeth is almoft proverbial, which defect I attribute rather to their exceflive ufe of animal food, fpirituous liquors, and molaffes, than to any malignant or injurious quality of the climate. I have never feen handfomer men than feveral of the NewYork gentlemen and Long-Inland farmers; tall of stature, portly and wellmade, they evidently have not degenerated from their ancestors-but the ladies are puny, pale, or fallow, and foon look old; probably owing to their liftlefs, inactive life, and immoderate indulgence of tea, and thin chocolate, and fuch like enervating flops: they dread the approach of fummer, and well they may! for the thermometer ranges in the hade from May till October, ufually between and 80 and 90 degrees, fomecines higher, as I myself have obferved it in the months of July and Auguft: in the middle of May, at Philadelphia, I found it in the fhade at 86: at NewYork it was fome degrees lower-it not unfrequently falls or riies from 20 to 30 degrees, within 24 hours! fuch violent and fudden viciffitudes of temperature, must be exceedingly trying to delicate constitutions, and easily accounts for the premature old age, fo obfervable in the United States. Confumptions and fevers are the most prevalent diseases in NewYork: the latter might be obviated, by keeping the city fweeter near the water fide, and the former would, in all likeMONTHLY MAG. No. XXIX.

183

lihood, be rare, would the women use
more exercise, and a more generous diet.
To conclude with respect to climate, the
American authors themselves acknow-
ledge, that their winters may be com-
pared to the Norwegian, the spring to
that of England, fummer to Egypt, and
autumn to Italy. The ferry or Paulus-
Hook, at the Hudion's mouth, is con-
fiderably above a mile wide; fome gen-
tiemen's feats on that lide, interfperfed
among the rocks and woods, have a
very pretty effect, viewed in perspec
tive from the city and in winter, the
huge maffes of floating ice and congealed
now, flowing down the Hudson, have
a fingular and grand appearance. This
noble itream is navigable for hips of
confiderable tonnage, as far as the new
city of Hudion, 130 miles from its
mouth, and for finaller veffels up to Al-
bany. The flourishing trade and im
proving cultivation along its banks, am-
ply evince the growing profperity and
ftrength of the state. As the north-river
commands the trade and navigation of an
extenfive back-country in this and Ver-
mont States, does the eastern-channel
that of Connect: ut, Long-Illand, and
Rhode-Ifland, or Providence-lantation;
thus the city of New-York is alike ad-
mirably fituated for home and foreign
commerce, for calth and pleature,
gant and commodious packets continu
ally fail between Newport in Rhode-
Ifland, and this city. The fashionable
lounge in New-York, during the hot
fummer months, is on the battery, where
the reviving fea-breeze, and delicious
ice-creams, combine their exhilarating
powers to invigorate the languid ipirits
of the beaux and belles, after a fcorching
day; and a charming fight it is trom
thence, to contemplate the radiant fun
fetting in the glowing weft, or the pale
moom-beams quivering on the furiace of
the beauteous waters! To enhance the
variety of the evening fcene, fometimes
fhips are perceived crowding fail, almoft
clofe to the battery, outward or home-
ward bound, while the gaping and buzz-
ing multitude cheer the adventurous ma-
riners, or inhale the fort breathing ze-
phyrs, forgetting, for a while, the tails
and cares of the bufy day! I am unac-
quainted with a more charming prome-
nade, unleis, indeed, the Steyne at Brigh-
ton, on a fine fummer evening, may be
compared to it-each has its refpective
beauties.

e

The New-Yorkers, in their habits of life, partake of the English and Dutch Bb

manners,

1

184

New-York....Negro-Servants....Manners, &c.

manners, but the latter are faft wearing towns of the mother-country, of equal

away, like the language. The Quakers, of both fexes, ftrongly refemble their European brethren, and retain more of the English neatnefs and activity than the rest of their fellow-citizens-the fame obfervation forcibly occurred to me during my stay in Philadelphia. One fifth of the whole population of New-York is fuppofed to confift of negroes and people of colour-an hideous-looking race, pert and faucy, idle and lazy, fuch an odious and unnatural mixture of fociety is, in my opinion, the most unpleafant circumftance attending a refidence in the midland and fouthern Itates of AmericaWould it not be founder policy to fend thefe people into Georgia, and provide them with lands and implements of hufbandry, affording them protection, if neceffary, against the attacks of the favages and Spaniards? The fetid effluvia of the negroes, in warm weather, fcents an apartment worfe than afafoetida; the menial fervants being chiefly of that defcription, one can readily imagine the fragrant nofegay of an American dwell ing, during an Egyptian fummer!-but the natives are used to it, and heed it not. To obviate this, and other unpleafant confiderations of greater import, fuch as the vicious intercoufe between the whites and blacks, might not the New, Yorkers give encouragement to the poor Irish and Scotch emigrants, of both fexes, who annually vifit their hofpitable fhores the modern refuge of the perfecuted and diftreffed, the reftlefs and the wandering!-and thus totally do away the mungo and the tawney breeds? the town and fuburbs fwarm with both, How inconfiftent with the American republican doctrines of liberty and equality, to obferve in the papers, advertifements for the fale and purchafe of negroes and their children; like black cattle, and with as little ceremony, transferred from hand to hand! how diigraceful is fuch an indecent practice, to the acknowledged good fenf and patrictifin of the Anglo-Americans!-however, let us look at home, ere we cenfure them.

The police of the capital is good, at leaft, crimes of a dangerous kind are feldom heard of, and very rarely committed by the native-whites; not here alone, but throughout the United States: yet the morals of the populace, and the youth, as in most other fea-ports, are vicious in the extreine; more proftitutes, probably, abounding in New-York, Philadelphia, and Charl.ftown, than in any

fize. The merchants are industrious, and fedulously active and expert in their commercial tranfactions, emulating their neighbours in wealth and splendour, and extent of enterprize; and will, perhaps, ere long, outvie them all! for, New-York bids fair to become the grand emporium of commerce, of the Federal Republic, notwithstanding the fanguine expectations of the new city of Wathington on the Potomac. Their public amufements are fimilar to ours in England, viz. plays, aflemblies, concerts, billiards, balls, &c. but they have another, their favourite winter diverfion, which we are ftrangers to, and that is fleighing, or riding on fledges-a kind of carriage, drawn fwiftly by one or more horfes along the frozen furface of the fnow-the eafe and rapidity of the motion, the joyous hilarity of the parties on thele occafions, and the purity and ferenity of the air, can only be conceived by them who have experienced fuch a fingular and expeditious mode of travelling! in these feftive excurfions, the American fair throw of their ufual referve and fang-fraid, evincing as much gaiety and vivacity as their lovers and admirers can poflibly, defire! Confumptions are much attributed to thefe nocturnal frolics, from the fudden expofure to the keen, frofty air, after the exceffive fatigue of dancing; fuch parties ufually terminating with a dance, and tea or coffee, at fome of the numerous houfes of public entertaiment in the neighbourhood of the city. I fufpect, however, that Hymen derives as many votaries from thefe mirthful Laponian jaunts, as Efculapius! a warm fur drefs, on thefe occafions, is a requifite precaution: it is really amu fing, to obferve the extreme eagerness of the Americans for this darling exercife, and how anxioufly they wish for the long duration of froft and fnow.

Inland, at Hudson and Albany, for inftance, the weather is lets broken by fudden thaws than at New-York, were, from the vicinity of the fea, it is moifter and more variable. The New-Yorkers begin to encourage mufic, and the drama; but the arts and iciences are lefs attended to than among their more northern neighbours: at prefent, they appear totally abforbed in the purfuits of wealth and pleasure. Take them in general they are an acute, fhrew, high-ipirited people; fond of bulinefs and of good cheer; warm in their tempers and prejudices, but soclable and friendly, where their circum

stances

New-York....Occupations....Diet, &c.

tances admit. The country people refemble their neighbours of New-Jerfey and Penfylvania; a plodding, fober, hardy race; ftaunch republicans, but not fo active and intelligent as the New-Englanders or Virginians, though handfomer in feature and complexion than the latter. Many of the fettlers in this ftate are emigrants from New-England and Great Britain, and chiefly in the farming line; agriculture, next to commerce, being the moft lucrative employ. In the pericnal appearance of the Anglo-Americans, nothing is to friking as their height of ftature; probably being the tallet race of whites exiting with this difference among them, in the fouthern fates the inhabitants generally being of a lank, meagre habit of body, and fwarthy or fallow complexioned, and in the midland and northern much fouter and fairer. The Back Woodfmen, as the whites all along the interior line of the ftates are termed, are almoft gigantic. The Americans are remarkable alio for their ftraight, clean make; few of them having knock-knees or round-shoulders; and their countenances, in general, are more expreffive than the northern Europeans. The name of Friend, or Quaker, in the mother country, almost implies gravity and fedatenefs; but among their lefs methodical defcendants, across the Atlantic, merriment and conviviality are as eagerly pur fued as among other fectaries; neverthe-, Jefs, they are equally distinguished by the ufeful accompaniments of diligence, punctuality, fobriety, and other virtues: their women may wel be called the Fair Quakers! and may ferve as a pattern for their charming fex; for in every truly amiable quality they excel; in the mental and domeftic accomplishinents none exceed them: I found women amongst them of extraordinary fenfe and informa tion: the hours that frivolous women of fafhion and diffipation devote to idienes and folly, thefe lovelier females employing to very different purposes. As to the political tenets of the Quak.rs, who are very numerous in all the mid nd ftates, they are, unanimoufiy, decided republicans; yet hofpitable and well-difpofed to the British; although not of their religious perfuafion, I affociated much with them during my abode in America; therefore, in juice to their merits, I embrace this public acknowledgment of their many laudable quali

ties.

The American women are fond of drefs, and follow the London fathics, as eagerly as our provincial ladies: they are inodes and Leferved to fangels,

185

and are almoft idolized by the men, who defervedly pay them every respect and indulgence: a convincing proof with me, both of their morals and underftanding. In their matrimonial.con nections, both fexes, to their credit, apparently confult real affection and choice, more univerfally than we do. Wedlock with them is not a mercenary and fordid, but an honourable, difinte refted, and indifpenfable tie. The felfifh or vicious character of a rich old bachelor is, of courfe, rare among them: fo is the practice of giving portions with daughters; inftead whereof, it is customary for parents to furnish the houfe of the young couple, according to their fation in life, which is terined a "fetting off." Children inherit in the way of Gavelkind; parental affection and con.mon fenfe thus taking their due courfe, unfhackled by the arbitrary, unnatural, and proud diftinétions, that difgrace modern Europe, wherever aristocracy and hereditary rank hold their iron fway. This commendable practice effectually prevents the eldeft fon from beggaring his juniors; whilft it enfures that happy mediocrity of property and condition which pervades the Federal States of America. Rowing, failing, and bathing, are favourite diverfions with the New-Yorkers; and in thefe wholefome exercifes no people have a finer fcope to indulge. The markets are plentifully fupplied with all forts of excellent provifions-fifh, flesh, and fowl, &c.; feveral of the former I think much inferior in their refpective kinds to ours: viz. fkate, mackarel, and cod; however, they have others peculiar to their coaft; the heep's-head for inftance, and the black fifh. Their fruits, the apple excepted, are likewife greatly inferior in flavour to thofe of England; but the defect, I incline to imagine, lies in the want of attention to horticulture, not to climate and foil though the extreme feverity of their winters is perhaps unfa-, vourable to the production of the more delicate kinds of fruit.

The wines moft in ufe are Madeira and Claret, but Lisbon, Port, and Sherry, are not uncommon. Spirits and water, cyder, and London porter, are likewife the common beverage. Houfe rent is dear; fo is labour: in fact, NewYork, in confequence of the vaft increase of commerce and population, is become che of the deareft and molt expenfive towns to refide in upch the American Centiment: though on

Bb 2

186

Apotheosis of Milton not Johnson's....Mr. Stone's Benefactions.

Long Island, within a few miles of the capital, a family can live comfortably

with a moderate income.

The claffes of emigrants most likely to profper in America, are the induftrious, fober mechanic--the laborious farmerand the active trader; not the literary man-the lounging idler-or the fine gentleman.

Sincerely wifhing a long continuance of the invaluable bleffings of peace and civil tranquillity to United America, I conclude, Mr. Editor, with fubferibing myfelf, your humble fervant

J. S. DE CAMPOLIDE.

London, Feb. 1798.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

ton,

SIR,

N your Magazine for January laft, is a criticifin on the "Apotheofis of Mil," which is fpoken of as undoubtedly written by Dr. Johnfon. It is, indeed, printed in one of the latter of thofe volumes, which have been published as the works of Dr. Johnlon; but, from the internal evidence, I never believed it to be the production of Johnfon; and Mr. Bofwell's life of him contains fufficient evidence that it was not written by him.. Bofwell fays, "It has been erroneoully fuppofed, that an Effay published in the "Gentleman's Magazine for 1739,' was written by Johnfon; and, on that Suppofition, it has been improperly inferted in the edition of his works by the booksellers, after his decease. Were there no pofitive teftimony as to this point, the ftyle of the performance, and the name of Shakespeare not being mentioned in an eflay, profeffedly reviewing the principal English poets, would afcertain it not to be the production of John fon.

But there is here no occafion to refort to internal evidence; for my lord bishop of Salisbury (Dr. DOUGLAS) has that it was written by Guth

affured me,

rie.

the channel of your Magazine, whether there were not focieties in London, or other places, for the purpose of bestowing annual fums of money upon clergyinen poffeffed of benefices of small value; and, alfo, of the manner in which to proceed for obtaining fuch donations. Since my fending that lettes, which, either from your judging it not fuitable for your work, or from its being by fome accident loft, was never inferted; I have found that fomething of this nature is given annually by a Mr. Stone, but upon what conditions I know not. I have, therefore, to defire you will favour me fo far as to give this a place in fome future number, and as early as poffible, provided it be not contrary to the original defign of your repofitory; and, likewife, that fome of your readers will communicate what information they can upon the fubject.

When it is confidered that there are livings under twenty pounds per annum, much blame muft attach to the Governors of queen Anne's bounty; and efpecially if it be true, as has been afferted, that they might have augmented every living in the kingdom to the yearly value of one hundred pounds.

I would offer it to the confideration of your correfpondent B. G.* whether Bifhop Pearfon has not given a more perfect and complete illuftration of "the communion of faints," than that of Archbishop Secker. After explaining these words feverally, the Bifhop thus concludes: "I am fully perfuaded of this, as of a neceffary and infallible truth, that fuch perfons as are truly fanctified in Chrift, while they live among the crooked generations of men, and ftruggle with all the miseries of this world, have fellowship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghoft, as dwelling with them, and taking up their habitations in them that they partake of the care and kindness of the bleffed angels, who take delight in the miniftration for their benefit: that,befides the external fellowship which they have in the word and facraments with all the church, they have an intimate union and conjunction with all the faints on earth, as the living members of Chrift; nor is this union feparated by the death of any, but as Chrift, in whom they live, is the lamb flain from the foundation of the world, fo have they fellowship with all the faints, which, from the death of Abel, have ever departed in

Among the injurious attacks against Milton, may be numbered the parallel between Milton and Chatterton, pub lifhed in the life of the latter, in order members of the to aggrandize Chatterton. Milton, in that parallel, is treated with the moit grofs and fameful injustice.

March 13, 1798.

H.S.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

Wrote a letter fome time ago, requefting that one of your numerous correlpondents would inform me, through

:

In the Magazine for January laft, p. 28.

the

Mr. Robinfon on the Communion of Saints....Similes,

the true faith and fear of God, and now enjoy the prefence of the Father, and follow the lamb whitherfoever he goeth. And thus I believe the communion of faints * Lam, Sir, your's, & Ravenstone-dale.

As when a lion, that, with hunger bold,
Roams grimly round the fences of the fold,
Spies a tall goat, the chief of all the train,

•BROL SHOP ADU: Primissdoor beamy ftag, high stalking o'er the plain;
His horrid nane he fears, he runs, he flies,
Expands his jaws, and darts upon the prize;
The prize he rends with a tremendous roar,
And, growling, ages in à foam of gore.
bro song to egnido se

Magazine 130
SIMILES OF HOMER, VIRGIL, AND
MILTON, (CONTINUED.}

Moff fpirited reprefentation of a
Lion tearing his prey, is exhibited the falls

by Homer in the following fimile... OM
As when the mountain lion,{fierce in"
ftrength,

Amid the grazing herd the fairest head
Selects his prey, he firft the finewy neck
Breaks with strong teeth; then tearing wide

folds, as he meets with the

Stag or (for caprea is erroneously rendered goat) which are inhabitants of the foreft; in other refpects, the defcription is highly fpirited; in particular, the epithet given to the ftag "furgentem in cornua," rifing in antlers," is very poetical. The word beamy, borrowed by this tranflator, from Dryden, expreffes the fame image, though lefs forcibly that of high-fialking is foreign to the purpose; and the whole of the tranflation is much too diffufe.

grans, (Suadet enim vefana fames) fi forte fugacem Confpexit capream, aut furgentem in cornua...