From the Examiner. A Run through the United States, during the Autumn of 1840. By Lieut.-Colonel A. M. Maxwell, K. H. Two vols.-Colburn. Well-to begin with an approved Americanismhere is a book that will satisfy our Transatlantic friends, and lighten the troubles of Sir Robert Peel. If the news of the next packet should happen to be warlike, the Baronet and First Lord can do nothing better than coalesce with Mr. Colburn, for an enormous consignment of Colonel Maxwell's Run to the various booksellers of the Union. "I again repeat," says the gallant and goodhumoured Colonel (for about the fiftieth time in the course of his pleasant brace of volumes,) "I again repeat, and you must bear with the repetition, that a more agreeable, charming, communicative people, I have never met with than the Americans. Don't look for French grimace or kissing Italians; but have a little patience with them, be civil and undandified, and you will soon find yourself well received and comfortable. I grant there is a little huskiness about their first manner; but that wears off, and gives place to friendly communication and good fellowship. Also, I will again re-echo the assertion, that I have never seen a beggar nor a drunken man: and I have never beheld a rude or forward action." laughing, rosy-cheeked, broad-shouldered lad of oneand-twenty! Surely our gallant tars who have written travels could not object to this expression. "Be that as it may, I respectfully say to Messieurs and Mesdames who have written books on Yankeeland, and the accounts of whose travels I mean to peruse when I have concluded my own, that I never saw a more delightful country nor a more charming people. If it and they had nothing more to recommend them, I say it is enough; and I here repeat, no drunken men, no impertinent beggars, no insolent boys, no eaves-droppers, no looking after strangers, for all are occupied with their own affairs." The last observation, we should venture to interpose, is scarcely borne out by the volumes. But as they are themselves a corrective on that point, it needs not to be dwelt upon. There is another remark we find it more necessary to make: that the Colonel now and then, in his frank way, lets out more than his general case can very well bear. For example: and this, be it observed, with not the least intention of dispraise : "I have never read any modern travels in this country, consequently, except by hearsay, I have no notion of what may be the opinions of others better informed than myself; but this I know, that all, absolutely ALL, as if it were a mania lately and spontaneously sprung up, have either been recounting to me the deeds of their ancestors, as connected with The Colonel-we do not say it to limit or under- the mother country, or claiming and proving a direct value these kind expressions-only saw the New-descent from her. All-republican as they believe England and Middle States. He does not seem to themselves to be, I consider them the proudest and have run through any part of the Southern, or the most aristocratic people I ever beheld; detesting and South or North Western.-His style of writing at once exhibits the man to us, and we do not wonder turning up their noses at what they consider and stigmatize as parvenu and plebeian. No coterie of that the Americans liked him. Frank and unsus- old maids ever scrutinized birth, parentage, and prepicious; with a keen and cordial eye for what ap- tensions more fastidionsly than do the Americans. pears upon the surface of things, and a soldier-like Wealth is eagerly sought for by them, perhaps more disregard for what profound folks sometimes think eagerly than in many other countries, and great rethey find beneath; always cheerful, chatty and spect is shown to it occasionally, but it has no chance One liking good-tempered; he was a man to like. against descent-no, not the least." begets another, and two likings beget such a book as this. Never were the Americans so painted before, by native or foreign pencil. Commonly indeed, from both, their usage has been rather hard: but what the German calls the "rosy-coloured fate" has at last befallen them. The only thing Colonel Maxwell decidedly quarrels with is their fast eating. Every thing else he loves. They "guess" at him, "calculate" at him, “go-a-head" at him, and he loves them all the more. "I have said that all the American ladies are agreeable, and I'll maintain it; and well-bred too, although certainly I was a little startled this evening at the tea-table when a black-eyed, intelligent-looking lass from Philadelphia, who was describing Saratoga Springs, informed me that all the young dandies there were considerable humbugs, she guessed!' But she was very pretty and very young, and that made up for every thing.' Again: 99 "How expressive is 'pretty smart?' and what could depict kind-heartedness on the one side, and health, happiness, and prosperity on the other, better than the greeting which I overheard this morning between two friends, the old one saying to the young Then is there, after all, something rotten in that state of Denmark, which it would be well to look to in time. The good Colonel himself indeed sees it, though not after our fashion. He glories in the prospect of so noble a people trying their hands at a monarchy some day. So good a British soldier cannot bring himself to think that this republican Union will hold together long. When Colonel Maxwell hazards an opinion of this kind, however, he does not twist and contort into its service every thing he sees. He takes no pride in his theoretical notions. They may be prejudices, and we may so consider them: all we see clearly is, that when he has any thing to describe of what he has actually seen, it is very well described, with great sincerity, and no manner of selfishness. It contradicts an opinion very likely, and is not quite philosophical. But it is very pleasant; and this with the obvious circumstance of each impression having been actually put to paper at the time it was received-is the charm of Colonel Maxwell's book. We take the subject of the war department of the United States; rather interesting just now; on which his information will be thought of the greatest value. We should before have said that he was in command upon the Border, under the Governor of Newfoundland, during the Maine troubles; and that his successful exertions to preserve peace, had not only given him some of his best introductions to the chief men of the Union (and no previous travel ler has in that respect been so well provided,) but served to prepare the way for that kindly feeling of which these volumes are the fruit. This is his glimpse of two American ships of the line: "Thence we proceeded to visit two noble ships of the line, the Alabama and Vermont, both shut up in their waterproof preservers; as also the Concord and Columbia, and the Constellation frigate, fitting for China. Afterwards we went on board the Columbus, of eighty guns, a receiving ship, and were presented to the captain and officers, who took us through every part of this noble vessel. What breadth of beam! what fine high 'tween decks! the orlop one I could have danced in the sick bay and boys' school admirable! Captain and Mrs. Storer were amiable, quiet, well-bred people: the former a rigid disciplinarian, although with a mild eye and a meek brownot an unusual thing, as every military man knows." This, his sketch of Springfield, where American muskets are manufactured; particularly well worth noting on this side the Atlantic: barrels, stocks, &c., undergo the minutest examination; there being a chief inspector in each shop and for each article; thus every part may be taken at random, and will supply any deficiency that may occur. "They have no armourers with their regiments, but have depots in each state, so that when a soldier breaks or spoils any part of his firearm, his piece is immediately taken into store and replaced by another. It would, I conceive, be a better plan to furnish a certain number of each part to the quartermaster of every corps, and make him charge the soldier for such as are issued to him. Every thing we saw appeared to be of the best, and all forming part of a great whole. Their powder is also first-rate and beautifully glazed. "Why does not our Ordnance Board now and then take a hint from other countries-abolish contracts, and set up for itself? "We had enquired before we set out whether it was necessary to offer any fee: the answer was, that the Americans like themselves to see, and to show to strangers all that is going on in their public works without payment; and that the proffer of money would offend. "I pronounce this a pretty, rising, go-a-head place; where four roads meet, and where sixty muskets per diem are manufactured. Vive le guerre ! "Ye Tower Beef-eaters, hide your diminished Walking up a broad and beautiful street, heads! Ye well-tipped Swiss at St. Denis and we turned to the left amidst Dutch cottages with elsewhere, keep your well-greased palms for ever tastefully laid-out parterres, and thousands of sun- shut! and ye pampered lacqueys at England's flowers bending to the breeze; seeing all around us proud show-palaces, take a leaf out of John Ford's innumerable places of worship, with noble country-book-from whom we parted with mutual kind feelhouses in the distance. The streets were well wa-ings and gracious smiles; we thankful for the valua tered, with rows of majestic and graceful elm-trees ble information he had clearly and concisely given on each side; and were it not for the intense heat, us, and he delighted with our approbation of all we Springfield would be a perfect paradise. The hill had seen." we mounted is crowned by magnificent buildings filled with workshops. The armoury is situated apart, and contains 91,000 stand of arms, simply but neatly arranged. The average price of each musket is eleven dollars-fie upon England!-I mean Old England, that gives so much more niggardly a price. They are all in high order and with agate flints, the flat side uppermost-a plan which I cannot get my fellows to adopt. "This noble national establishment is calculated for 250 operatives when in full work at present only 140 are employed, earning from thirty-five to fifty dollars per month. Some work by the day, others by the piece. The shops are opened at the ringing of a bell at half-past four both in summer and winter. Those who work by the day must perform ten hours' labour, and no intemperance is permitted; for a man observed to be the least excited by liquor is instantly discharged. And here we have an American review, and other military details of considerable interest : "After breakfasting at Buffalo, we walked up to the barracks, a distance of about three-quarters of a mile, where we found Colonel Bankhead mounted on a fine old white charger, and saw him received with all the honours of a reviewing general. The line, with a half battery of artillery on its right, presented arms, &c.; and after he had ridden up and down it in the usual manner, it broke into open column right in front, but not by facing about, or wheeling backward, but by each company facing to its right, and then right-wheel round their respective markers, and then halt front. They next marched past in slow time, the officers saluting by dropping their swords, but not touching their caps; and 1 thought it had not so graceful and military an effect as our mode. "A most obliging and intelligent operative, who "The column was again halted on their original walked round with us, explained every thing: he ground, formed line, again broke into column as befirst showed us the barrel, stock, &c., piece-meal, and fore, and passed in quick time; the half battery galthen the musket complete. We went to the proving-loping past. They then performed a variety of house, very simply and well arranged, where fifty bar- parade movements. Their words of command are rels are proved at a time; the first charge is the six-prolix, and their style of movement not so compact teenth part of a pound, or one ounce; the second as ours, being generally file-marching; although I twenty-two drachms. Each barrel weighs four pounds admit they were well locked up. Their system is five ounces; the whole complete, with fixed bayonet, taken almost entirely from the French. The guns ten pounds and a half. The bayonet enters on a were admirably manoeuvred. pivot and is then turned, and all have brass pans. "I blushed when I thought of Brummagem jobbing and contracts: for here all, every, and each component part of a firelock are made according to pattern and in one mould. The stocks, all turned from the walnut by the same machine, and at the same time a spring is fixed for the ramrod; the locks are all tested in a steel guage; the hammers, pans, pins, "They then marched out to an open space in front of their barracks, and went through a variety of evolutions, covered by a brigade of guns. Their firings were steady and excellent, and the men were taught to level very low. "When they were dismissed, we accompanied the colonel round the barracks. Every thing appeared clean, comfortable, and admirably arranged. "Each company has a store-room, which is also the quarters of their colour-serjeant, and where every kind of necessary is kept. They dine in their mess-kitchens, which are clean, large, warm, well ventilated rooms. We tasted their soup, bread, and meat; each excellent of its kind. Their pay, clothing, and food, are all on the most liberal principle. Many of the companies had well-chosen libraries; and there was a sutler's store, where a soda fountain In a previous part of his book, Colonel Maxwell had described a troop of Bostonian Lancers as bearing comparison with the best Polish ones he ever saw. The militia-men, however, if another passage is to be believed, are not in every case formidable. The Americans themselves can afford to laugh at them: "The whole of this day we have been passing and other harmless luxuries are kept for the men, and through bands of warriors, and such drilling, such manœuvring, I have seldom before witnessed!where each man has the liberty of having a credit Here you see the drill-sergeant, in his smock-frock, account to a certain extent, which is paid by the pay- with a large cudgel in his hand, d-ing, swearing, master monthly: but this only under the proviso, that the officer in command of the company to which fugeling, throwing himself into the most grotesque he belongs has no charge against him for extra cloth-attitudes, and working himself up to a perfect military phrenzy, whilst his pupils seem to take it very ing or repair of arms, &c. coolly. "One dollar per month, is stopped from each private's pay for the first two or three years of his service: this operates as a great check on desertion. This accumulated sum is handed over to them when they obtain their discharge, even if they do not complete the prescribed period of service, which is five years. The commanding officer's power of punishment, without court-martial, is very limited but no disadvantage is found to result from this; and the most laborious and distressing part of his duty, in the shape of orderly-room legislation, is rendered easy, by having a daily court-martial, composed of the captain of the day, the officer on guard, and the next in waiting; the proceedings of which are submitted for approval to the commanding officer. The hospital also has every appearance of being well and systematically conducted. "As I have before remarked, the government of America treats her defenders most liberally, and takes the greatest care of them. The colonel commanding has extra pay and double rations, with forage for four horses; and each major has forage for three. I was introduced to all the officers, and received the greatest attention and civility from them. I afterwards accompanied Major Payne, the senior major, to the exercising ground: he was on the sick list, having lately returned from Florida. I found him a fine intelligent old soldier, and received from him much valuable information connected with the internal economy of his corps and the Florida war. "The United States regular army consists of two regiments of dragoons, four of artillery, and eight of infantry, making a grand total of 735 commissioned officers and 11,800 non-commissioned officers, and privates. With this force they have to garrison 64 military posts and arsenals! that is to say, in the eastern division, which extends over the immense tract of country I have already mentioned, there are 37 forts or castles, and three barracks or establishments not fortified; and in the western district, one range of barracks, nine forts, and fourteen arsenals! The eastern division is General Scott's command; and he has his head-quarters at Elizabeth Town. "You will say this is a somewhat small force for so respectable a slice of the habitable world as the United States. True, but then you must be pleased to add a few militia men to the number, viz. sixty seven thousand commissioned officers and one million three hundred and twenty thousand seven hundred and thirty-three non-commissioned officers and privates!! Union is strength, and this is strength with a vengeance!-twenty-six states and three territories, as they call them-but will it last? Free states and clave states, will they continue to pull together?" "The dresses of some of these militia heroes were most comical. On their plain coats they had sown two large lumps of white worsted, to represent epaulettes. Some had caps; but others round hats, in which they stuck most tremendously long white feathers. This playing at soldiers, as some of our facetious fellow-passengers styled it, procured us many amusing Yankee yarns. One fellow told us of a militia corps, formed by a Colonel Pluck, where the men had swords ten feet long, and a trumpet twelve. This troop was formed some years ago at Westpoint as a satire on the system." In connexion with all this, let us place some opinions of the first men of America, on the subject of friendly or hostile relations with England. At a celebration of Harvard University-in which the eloquence, the love of the classical authors of England, the scholarship, and even the remarkably pure English accent, all delighted the worthy Colonel-he had some pleasant experiences, and of some notable Americans: "I had a long and interesting conversation with my new acquaintances opposite, President Quincy and Judge Story, and we agreed that we belonged to the same great national family, and were bound to consider ourselves near relations. The Boundary question was brought forward, and they all seemed to be aware of the responsible part I had played in it. Other topics were introduced, all breathing respect, good feeling, and affection for our mutual fatherland. A General Sumner talked to Dearborne was warm in his expression of good feelme enthusiastically about England; and General well-informed person, with the frank and open bearing towards us. He appears a most talented and ing of a soldier. He touched on the sympathizers and their despicable deeds, on our late border feuds, and Sir John. Harvey, with some well-timed praises and on the friendship existing between General Scott of the latter. "I cannot recollect, nor, if I could, have I time or versed with; but all, both male and female, I again space to enumerate, one half of the persons I conrepeat, seemed anxious to make out a pedigree connecting them with Old England, towards which they universally expressed the warmest regard and attachday, I have not encountered a single disagreeable or ment and I can truly say that, during the entire vulgar person.” Somewhat later, he met the famous General Scott himself, "a very tall, handsome, well set-up, soldier-like personage," and the Commander-in-Chief of the American army, General Macomb. Both manifested an enthusiastic attachment to England: "On our road home the conversation turned upon the subject of peace or war, on which General Scott spoke in a noble and disinterested manner. He said he never could believe that any Englishmen would wish to see their country plunged in war for the chance of getting a ribbon or a star, nor would the greatest reward that his country could give induce him to desire it. "He then expatiated on the great loss that would be sustained by both countries; that America took annually seventeen millions of our manufactures; and that, although his country had the expectation this year of a most superabundant harvest, and many speculators expected England to have a bad one, yet still the idea that any advantage to America could result from a rupture with us was a mistaken one, for he considered the interests of the two nations to be so blended, that on the prosperity of England depended that of the United States, arguing from the great effect a dearth would have on the currency question. This he did clearly and forcibly, but I have neither time nor political economy enough at my fingers' ends to do his argument justice." Another eminent officer, stationed in the very thick of the Border excitement, strengthened the effect produced by such opinions as these on the mind of Colonel Maxwell : "On my return to the hotel, I spent the evening with Col. Bankhead, the colonel of the regiment, as well as the commandant of this frontier district; and a more straightforward, hearty, frank, intelligent soldier I have seldom met with. His beautiful and engaging daughter, with the whitest and smallest hand I ever beheld-a Georgian brunette-rendered this agreeable evening still more delightful by her presence; and good-humouredly permitted her honoured sire and myself to smoke cigars and suck mint juleps; whilst I listened to his manly and honourable opinions about Sir George Arthur, the acts of his own government, and the manner he had endeavoured to deal with the wretches whom he had detected trying to involve the two countries in war. I was greatly pleased to find that his opinions were an echo of what Gen. Scott had so repeatedly and emphatically stated to me. "Colonel Bankhead, who commands under the General, gave me most ample proof of the correctness of every thing he advanced; and of this I am firmly convinced, that so long as the military command is in the hands of men as honourable as the two I have named, we have nothing to apprehend from the ruffians and wretches who, whilst they call themselves patriots and sympathizers, are labouring only to stir up the evil passions of their deluded followers." With all this we need not wonder at the generous enthusiasm which animates the concluding passage of our traveller's letters: "There is, I assert it for the tenth time, a feeling of love and veneration for the land of their ancestors inherent in the breast of every American; and it is strongest with those who are the most eminent for talents and learning: it is their pride and their boast; and let but England meet these generous sentiments in the way they merit, and the union between the two nations must be indissoluble. territory. If she weather this, and continue to hold together, she must become one of the greatest and most powerful countries in the world: and England and America united, as they ought to be, with the same common lineage, the same language, and the same faith, might bid defiance to all the kingdoms of the earth!" So be it! Such a wish finds in England many millions of echoes. Go, if you can, and only judge for yourselves— ed anti-American prejudice. And then he tells us says Colonel Maxwell to every body that has imbibthe remark he addressed to a New York dinner party: "I myself was nursed and brought up to look upon you as nothing better than lucky rebels; and I came to this country prejudiced against the blood of my fatherland: and, as I have ventured to tell the men I have conversed with-nay, the women too-I thought before I landed on your shores, that I was coming amongst a parcel of uncouth, uncultivated savages!' Here roars of good-humoured laughter and applause interrupted me; and What do you think of us now?' was exclaimed from all quarters. sonal observation and other circumstances have "What do I think of you now? Why, that permade me (as I hope it will millions of my countrymen) change my tune. And I prophesy that America and England must and will be firm, steady, and close friends; and that the feelings of national pride, national industry, national independence, liberal institutions, international commerce, and enlightened minds, must make us respect and love each other; besides being drawn together both by birth and by language. "I added, I admire France, I love Italy, and I could willingly end my days, if necessary, in Germany,-in all of which countries I have spent many years,-I glory in England, Scotland is my own, my native land; but my visit to the United States has filled me with astonishment and enlarged my mind, and most heartily do I rejoice that I came here to judge for myself.”” So, at the close of his travels, he has to repeat the same thing: "Often and often was I told, before I started op this tour, Oh, you like respect and attention,-you are rather sensitive,-you'll be put out every instant : the levelling system won't suit you; you'll be daily and hourly annoyed by their vulgarity and want of refinement.' Now, in reply, I have only to declare, to make use of an American phrase, 'I have never yet had my dander up, my choler excited, or my bile disturbed: I never was where I found more to like and less to quarrel with." With some amusing miscellaneous extracts we shall now conclude; heartily commending this agreeable and good-natured Run. A BRIDEGROOM AT DINNER. "I sat directly opposite a newly-married pair. The bridegroom had, during the morning, been all fondness and attention, but the sight and smell of the viands changed at once the current of his feelings. What a knife and fork the fellow played! He was a perfect cormorant for fish, helping himself to every particle within his reach, and bellowing for more when that had disappeared. "Now, being a lover of the finny race myself, 1 ever. became rather nettled at this exclusive proceeding of | pen as it traces the short, the unobtrusive, the humhis, and ventured to give him a civil hint or two ble-looking words, Clam Soup! My dear friend, upon the subject, in the shape of congratulations, as one single table-spoonful of it is a payment in full of the astonishing effects of the lake breezes upon for all the trouble of a voyage across the Atlantic; his appetite. He winked his eye at me good-hu- one basinful of it would recompense a man for cirmouredly, as much as to say he understood what I cumnavigating the entire globe! They say it is meant, but continued to clear the dishes as fast as made of some sort of shell-fish, some mussel which When at length tired nature could no farther is in abundance here. I don't believe it! It must be go, he very deliberately turned round to his fair bride something sent down direct from the skies, to bless and resumed his billing and cooing, in a matter-of- and support the American ladies and oh, my dear fact, straight-forward manner, that diverted me ex- fellow to see, as I did to-day, thirty or forty of the cessively." dear, fair-haired, gentle-eyed, and pale-cheeked angels, looking so excessively lovely, and eating clam soup so excessively fast! such heaven-born food! such celestial feeders!-it is a sight, indeed! But feel that I dare not trust myself on either of the two subjects, still less on the two subjects combined. DELICACY OF NEW YORK CHAMBERMAIDS. I : Come and behold! come and eat!" POOR CAPTAIN ROBERTS! "This morning I requested one, whom I met in passing along the immense galleries in which are the dormitories, to fetch me a jug of water. She looked aghast at the request; but soon, with a smile of compassion at my ignorance, said she would tell one of the waiters to bring it. Soon after I accosted another, and, as it was very hot, requested her to re"We soon found ourselves on board this new move the counterpane from my bed. She said it wonder of the world [the British Queen.] Captain was morally impossible; that it would be as good Roberts, her commander, a thorough-going sailor, as her place was worth; but that a waiter should did the honours well; directing our attention to every come and do it. "I was vastly amused with this refinement of de- thing which was novel in her construction, and exlicacy in a class which, in other quarters of the globe, plaining her stupendous machinery with great clearis not always characterized by an excess of it; and ness and precision. He afterwards, with honest triumph, showed us silver speaking-trumpets, gold to investigate the subject still further, I attacked a snuff-boxes, diplomas, and all manner of other trothird young lady, whom I encountered; and asked her if she would do me the favour to sew a button phies accorded to him as having been the first to direct the powers of steam so far across old Neptune's on the collar of a shirt which I proffered to her. She bosom, and thus conquering the wide barrier that started back from the dilapidated vestment, dangled had so long separated the two countries, which, durher two hands from her wrists, looked aghast, and, uttering that universal word of American astonishing the evening, I heard repeatedly and emphatically ment, Lawk!' turned away, and told me she would termed 'mother and daughter.'' send a man for 'the thing.' If we might conclude with any thing in the least "In short, I soon found out that for a single gen-critical about so good-hearted a book, we should tleman to expect that a single chambermaid-and there are no double ones-would answer his bell, was an indecorum of the most atrocious sort." CLAM SOUP! protest against the abominably frequent recurrence of a word which every decent writer should abhortalented. Never was there such an execrable phrase. What would Colonel Maxwell say to our calling "Clam Soup! a thrill of admiration shakes my him, or one of his friends, a geniused man. |