America, Historical, Statistic, and Descriptive

CONTENTS

THE FIRST VOLUME.

CHAPTER 1.

Motives for visiting the United States.-Intercourse with various Classes of Society.-

Extensive geographical Range of the Country traversed.-Names of the several

States and Territories examined.- Form of Narrative adopted in Description.--His-

torical and statistical Sketches blepded with this.-General Topics chiefly divelt on

in Cities and States.- Pictures of Manners and Customs in public and private Life

Page 13

CHAPTER II.

Departure from England. - Arrival at New York. --Address to the American Public is-

sued on Landing.- Different Courses of Lectures delivered in the City.- Attendance

at Public Meetings for Benevolent Objects.-New York State Temperance Society:-

New York Peace Society.-Meeting on the Subject of Public Education.-New-

York City Tract Society.--Total Abstinence Society.- Ladies Meeting for the Or.

phan Asylum.--Meeling of the Friends of Sailors' Homes - Visit to one of the Es-

tablishments of this Institution. - Admirable Arrangement for the Comforts of Sea-

men.-- Political Excursion to Newark with the Hon. Dan. Webster.- Visit to Polling.

places at the Time of Election.-Legal and Clerical Parties.- Intellectual Soirées 19

CHAPTER III.

History of New-York from 1609 to 1838.-Topography and Plan of the City and its

Environs.-Astonishing Rapidity of the Increase of Population.—Comparison of its

Shipping at different Periods.- Augmentation of its Revenue and Foreign Commerce.

- Admirable Situation chosen for the City.-Great Advantage of extensive Water-

margin.-Outline of the Plan, and general Form of the City.- Public Squares and

open Spaces in New-York.—Public Buildings : City Hall, Custom-house, Exchange.

---Churches, and Style of Architecture in general Use.—Hotels, and general Accom-

modation in them.-- Private Dwellings: Interior, Style, Furniture.-Streets, and their

Peculiarities compared with ours.-Appearance of the principal Shops or Stores.-

Number of elegantly dressed Ladies in Broadway.--Absence of the splendid Equi-

pages of England .

CHAPTER IV.

Population of New-York.-Strangers, Residents, Merchants, Traders.- Public Convey-

ances, Omnibuses, Hackney-coaches. - Private Equipages, Carriages, Servants. ---

Male and Female Society, Differences between them. - Private Parties, Balls, and

Suppers.- Comparison between English and American Soirées.-Expensive and pro-

fuse Entertainments given.-Condition of the humbler Classes in America. - Political

Parties, Conservatives, Reformers, Radicals, Americans, Whigs, Democrats, Loco-

focos, Politics of the wealthy Mercantile Classes.-Causes of the recent Panic or

Embarrassment.-Extravagant Habits engendered by the Credit System.-Effects of

this on all Classes of Society.-Loss of $20,000,000 by the great Fire at New York. --

Newspapers of New York. -Organs of Parties.- Penny Newspapers, Character and

Influence.- Proceedings of the Election for State Legislature. - Public Meetings to

support Candidates for Office.-State of Political Parties.- Deadly reciprocal Hostil.

ity.-Gross Misrepresentations of the Motives and Ends of each.-Difficulty of ex-

tracting Truth froin such conflicting Statements. - Attendance at the Polls during the

Election.-Deficiency of a us Registration of Voters.-Vote by Ballot, not se-

cret voting generally.-- Reasons why this is not necessary in America. - Success of

the Whigs in the New-York Election. Intoxication of Joy in the triumphant Party.

-Extravagant Projects of Political Demonstration.-National Character and Taste

exhibited in this

CHAPTER V.

Deep-rooted Prejudices on the Subject of Slavery:- Murder of Mr. Lovejoy, the Abo

litionist, at Alton.-Conduct of the New York Press and People on this Subject.-

Imperfect Views of the Value of a Free Press.-Sentiments of leading Men in Con-

gress on this Act.-Resoluyons of Legislatures refused Reception by the Senate.

Rejection of all Petitions on the Subject by the House of Representatives.- Deserv.

edly bitter Reproach of Thomas Moore the Poet.-Contrast between Democracy and
Slavery in the United States.-Threats of Senators to hang up abolitionists by Law.

-State of Slavery and the Slave.trade at Washington.-Resolutions of Episcopal-

Methodist Clergy in Georgia. -Meeting of Democrats in favour of the Canadian

Rebels.-Mr. O'Connell denounced at the Meeting as an Abolitionist.-Letter com-

plaining of Coloured People sitting with White Men.- Prejudice of Colour not ex-

tended to Indian Tribes.-Mr. Catlin's Lectures on the American Indians . Page 62

CHAPTER VI.

Mr. Catlin's Museum of Indian Costumes, Weapons, and Paintings.- Course of Lec-

tures on the Indian Tribes. -Names of Indians in Mr. Catlin's Gallery of Portraits.-

Hunting Excursions among the Indians.-Skilful Management of the Horse by them.

-Indian Games of Amusement.-Dances.--Horrid Character of their War-dances.-

Scalp.dance of the Sioux Tribe of Indians.-Bloody Scalps of their Enemies sus-

pended by Women.- Dog.dance of the same Tribe. - Heart and Flesh eaten raw-

Flesh of Dogs served as Food at their greatest Festivals

CHAPTER VII.

Personal Visit to some Indian Chiefs at New York. --The Sauks and Foxes, Sioux and

Ioway Tribes.-Anecdotes of Conversation with the Indian Chiefs. - Offering of

Presents to the Wife and Children of Kee-o-kuk.--Stoical Indifference manifested

by each.--Black Hawk, the celebrated Warrior, and his Son.-Pantomimic Conver-

sation of Mr. Vandenhoff with an Indian.-Invitation to visit their Camps in the Far

West.--Anecdotes of Lise among the Indians.- Arrival of a third Tribe of Indians in

New-York.- Reply of Indian Chief to General Fox.— Anecdotes of Indians respect-

ing Interest of Money.--Belief that the Indians are descended from the Jews.-Facts

and Arguments of Major Noah and others.--Striking Similarity of many of their

Customs to Jewish Rites.- Retention of some of the identical Expressions of the

Hebrews. --Authority of Mr. Catlin in support of this Resemblance

CHAPTER VIII.

Benevolent Institutions of the Americans.-This a very prominent Feature of the Na.

tional Policy.-Almshouse for the Poor at Bellevue. - Dutch Farm for charitable La-

bour on Long Island. - House of Refuge for destitute Boys and Girls.- Asylum for the

* Insane at Bloomingdale.--Instances of ferocious Manners in the Western States.-

Indifference of the American Editors to such things.-Murder of a Member of the

Legislature by the Speaker.-Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at New-York.- Visit

of the Indians to this Institution.-Benevolent Institutions for Seamen.-Quarantine

Hospital on Staten Island. -Seaman's Retreat supported by the Funds of the State.

-Seaman's Snug Harbour, for the Merchant Service. --Benevolent Institutions for

Seamen continued.- Asylum for the Blind at Bellevue.- American Seaman's Friend

Society, in Foreign Ports. - Sailor's Magazine, and Sailor's Library supplied. –

Seaman's Savings Bank, Mariner's Church, Bethel Society.--Institution for the Sup-

port and Instruction of the Blind.--Origin, Progress, and present Condition of this

Establishment.-Asylum for Lying-in Women, and Dispensary.-Society for the ref-

ormation of Juvenile Delinquents

CHAPTER IX.

Misery and Crime among the poorer Classes. --Levity of the public Journals in record

ing this. - Bennett's slanderous Paper, the Morning Herald.--Bodies of dead Negroes)

salted for Exportation.-Deaths from Want and Destitution.-American Importation

of foreign Grain.-Reversion of the Order of Nature in this.--Causes which led to

this singular State of Things.--Instances of Robbery, Murder, and Fraud. -Occupa-

tions for the Members of the Law.- Highwaymen in the Suburbs of New York. - De.

pravity of Morals in the Country.--Intemperance and Wretchedness in the Towns.-

Authentic Proofs of this from public Records. - Opinions as to the Causes of so much

Depravity.- Exposition of the Progress of American Embarrassment.- Effects of

these Causes on the general Condition of Society. ---Party Misrepresentations of the

public Press.- Taste of the Populace for Shows and Sights.-Celebration of the An-

niversary of Evacuation-day.-Description of this Festival from an American Pen

Page 109

CHAPTER X.

The Courts of Law held in the City Hall.-Chancery, Common Pleas, Superior and

Supreme Courts.-Qualifications of Barristers and Attorneys.-Nomination or Ap-

pointment of Judges.-Style of Pleading and Judginent, Official Costume.-Scale of

Remuneration for the Bar and the Bench.-Character of the Medical Profession in

the City.-Clergy and Ministers of Religion in New-York.-Churches, Interior Ar-

rangements, Comfort.-Service, Singing, Absence of Pulpits and Clerks.-General

Character for Learning and Piety of the Clergy.-Benevolent Efforts of the Volun.

tary System.--Extensive Field of Missionary Labour in Foreign Lands

. 127

CHAPTER XI.

State of Literature and the Arts in the City.-Common Schools.-Statistics of Edu.

cation.-Newspapers and Periodical Publications. - The Knickerbocker.-Monthly

Magazine.--New-York Review, by Dr. Hawks.-Superiority of the Common-school

Assistant.- Model worthy of imitation in England.-Music and Painting -Mr. Cole's

Pictures.--- Architecture and the Fine Arts.- NewYork Churches.-- University. -

-Astor House.-House of Detention.-Building in Egyptian Style.-Columns of the

Portico, after a Teinple at Philoë.- Defect in the want of Elevation for its Site.

Striking Effect of the Massiveness of the whole

139

CHAPTER XII.

Peculiarities in the Manners and Customs of New York.-Visits between Residents

and Strangers.-Carriages, Servants, Liveries, &c. -Want of Lamps, Numbers of

Houses.--Naming of Streets, Bell-hangers and Locksmiths.—Song of Chimney.

sweeps in their Rounds. - Excellent Mode of observing Newyear's Day.-Love of

Quaintness and Singularity of Expression.-Examples in Announcements and edito-

rial Paragraphs.- Visit to Newark with Mr. Webster.-Instances of Wit, Cheerful.

ness, and Humour.-Anecdote of Mr. Webster and coloured People.- Memorial of

coloured People against mixed Races.-Boarding-house Life, its Advantages and Dis.

advantages.-Peculiarity of Expression, Phrases, &c.

• 150

CHAPTER XIII.

Climate, Weather, Snows, severe Cold.-Sleighing, private Sleighs, Omnibuses, Carts.

- Peculiarities of American Winters.-Supposed Periods of ten Years for each Se-

ries.-Series of severe and Series of mild Winters. The present Winter of 1837 re-

garded as a mild one.-Supposed Cominencement of a mild Series with this.-Ships,

Packets, Steamboats, comparison with English.-Naval Expedition destined for the

Polar Seas.--- Environs of New York, Brooklyn, Long Island.-Staten Island, New

Brighton.-Asbestos Quarries.- Jersey City, Hoboken Ferry, excellent Boats.-Pag-

sengers in Carriages conveyed without alighting.-Separate Apartments for Ladies

and Gentlemen.--Good Fires and comfortable Accommodations for all. Last Day of

our Stay in New-York.-Farewell Lectures, and parting with Friends.-Visit to the

Public School with the Mayor.- Proficiency of the Pupils in their Exercises.- Vol.

untary Society for Moral and Mental Improvement.- Preparations for leaving New-

York.-Friendly parting with our Fellow-boarders.-Mutually strong Attachments, on

solid Grounds

163

CHAPTER XIV.

Voyage from New-York to Amboy by Steamboat.- Journey from Amboy to Camden

by Railroad. --Crossing the Delaware in Ice-boat to Philadelphia.- Visit to the Penn-

sylvanian Convention, then sitting.--Nature, Object, and Proceedings of Conventions.

-Temperance Festival at the Arch-street Theatre, given as a Public Welcome to

myself

and Family.- Preparations and Arrangements for the Entertainment.-Opin-

ions of the Press on the Temperance Festival.-Departure from Philadelphia by

Railroad for Baltimore.-Halt at Wilmington.–Deputation headed by Judge Hall. -

Passing from the Free into the Slave States.- Arrival at Baltimore.-Temperance

Meeting there.—Joumey by Railroad to Washington .

174

CHAPTER XV.

Stay at Washington.-Funeral of a Member of Congress who had been shot in a Duel.

- Visit to the House of Representatives. - Funeral Service.--Impressiveness of the

Scene.- Effect on the Auditors. - Publication of an Address to both Houses on Du-

elling.-State Temperance Meeting of Members of Congress. -Specch in the Hall of

Representatives.-- Vote of Thanks, and Resolution to publish the same.-Commence-

ment of Lectures in Washington.- Letter on the subject of Slave Abolition. -Adver-

tised Rewards for runaway Slaves.-Offer of Purchase by Slave-dealers.-Prejudice

of native Americans against Foreigners - Illustration of this in an Editor at Wash-

ington.- Visit to the first Drawing-room of the President -Description and Charac-

ter of that Entertainment. - All Classes, without distinction, freely admitted.-Re.

markable Order and Decorum of so mixed an Assemblage .

Page 184

CHAPTER XVI.

History of the City of Washington.-Formation of the District of Columbia.-Seat of

Government established there by Law.-Choice of the Position for the new City.-

Plan and Design of General Washington.-Topography and Details of the Streets,

&c.- Public Buildings. The Capitol.-Scale of the Edifice.-Style of Architecture.

-Sculptured Subjects in the Rotunda.-Description of the Senate Chamber.- Ar-

rangement and Modes of doing Business.- Description of the Hall of Representa.

tives. — Regulation of taking Seats by Members.-- General Order and Decorum of

their Proceedings.--Great Advantage of Day-sittings over Night-meetings.—Hall of

the Supreine Court of Justice.-Library of the Capitol, History and Present Condi-

tion.– The President's House, Size, Style, and Character.–Public Offices of Gov.

ernment near the President's.-State Department.- Original Declaration of Inde-

pendence.- War Department.-- Portraits of Indian Chiefs.- Treasury Department.

-Standard Weights and Measures.- Arsenal. - Navy.yard, and General Postoffice.

- Indian Department.- Land Department.--Patent Office.- Destruction of Models

and Records.- Places of Public Worship in Washington.--Anecdote of the Congres-

sional Chaplains.- Colleges, Banks, Hoteis, and Boarding houses. - Theatres. - Mr.

Forrest, the American Actor. - Anecdote of Southern Sensitiveness on Slavery.-

Play of Othello and of the Gladiator Proscribed.- Exclusion of Coloured Persons

from the Representations.-Private Buildings of the City, Style and Character.-

Population of Washington.--City Government.-Revenue, Taxes, Licenses, Debt,

and appropriation.- Regulations respecting the Coloured Population. --Restrictions

as to the Heights of Houses in Building

196

CHAPTER XVII.

Diversity of Character in the Population.—Proportion of the black to white Inhabitants.

-Residents, Members, Strangers, and Visiters.- Members of the Senate, Appear.

ance, Manners.-Great Speeches of Mr. Calhoun, Clay, and Preston.-Opinions of

the Newspapers on these Efforts.—Two Days' Speech of Mr. Webster on the Treas.

ury Bill.- Opinions of the Press on this great Speech.-Opinions of Mr. Webster's

great Speech. Anecdote of Mr. Webster's Physiognomy.--- Anecdote of General

Washington's Temper.-Character of the House of Representatives.-Remarkable

Members.-- John Quincy Adams.- Quorum of the Houses.-No counting out.- Pub-

lic Funerals of the Members of Congress.-Specimen of an Oration on such Occa-

sions.--Pay of the Members.-- Privilege of franking.--State of the general and fash.

ionable Society at Washington.—Madame Caradori Allan's Concert.- Anecdote of

Mrs. Wood.-Hotels of Washington.-Boarding houses. --Inferiority of both to those

of New York.-Domestic Attendants.-Style of Apartments.- Manner of living: -

Hurry at Meals.-Inattention to Comfort.-Coarseness of Fare.-Coldness and Self-

ishness of Manners

. 217

CHAPTER XVIII.

Private Friends in Washington. --Judge White.-Quaker Deputation from Philadelphia.

-Attempted Fraud on the Seneca Indians.-- Practices of Land-speculators towards

these people.- Peculiar and remarkable Personages in Washington-Mr. Fox, Rela-

tive of Lord Holland, the British Minister.--Mrs. Madison, Widow of the late ex-

President.- Privilege of franking conferred on her by Congress.- English Gentlemen

arriving in Washington.-Practice of wearing Arms. -Recklessness of Character.-

Instances of Profligacy.-Women and Gamblers.-Influence of Slavery in producing

this State of Things. - Anecdote of Life on the Western Waters.-Shameful Indifer-

ence and Silence of the Clergy.-Demoralizing Effect of Slavery on Social Life 23

CHAPTER XIX.

Environs of Washington, Scenery and Views.-Georgetown older in Date than Wash-

ington.-Climate of Washington extremely variable.-Captain Smith's and Jefferson's

Account of the Climate.-- Last Survey of Washington in an Excursion round it.-

Visit to the Arsenal, and Description of it.- Visit to the Navy-yard of Washington.-

Description of its Resources and Works.-Return to the City of the Capitol.-- Bat.

tles of the Giants and the Pigmies.- Last Sunday passed at ihe Service in the Cap-

itol.--Admirable Sermon of the Rev. Dr. Fisk.- Excursion to Alexandria across the

Potomac.- Embryo City of Jackson, near Washington.-Sale of Lands for non-pay.

ment of Taxes.-Singular names of new-settled Estates.- History and Description

of Alexandria.-Museum and Relics of General Washington.-Mount Vernon, the

family Seat and Tomb.-Disinterment of General Washington's Corpse. - Veneration

for Washington and Lafayette.- Native Indians seen at Washington.-Farewell Vis-

its on leaving the City . .

Page 240

CHAPTER XX.

Stay at Baltimore, and agreeable Intercourse there.- History of the First Foundation

of Maryland.-Character of Lord Baltimore, a Catholic Peer.-Settlement of the

Colony by his Son.-Followed by Roman Catholics of Rank and Fortune.--Religious

Toleration the Principle of these Settlers.-Kind Treatment and Gratitude of the

Indians.- Foundation of St. Mary's and Annapolis.-Early Existence of Negro Sla-

very in the Colony.-Origin and Cause of the First Indian War.- Progressive Pros-

perity of Maryland as a State.—First Foundation of the Town of Baltimore.-Eleva.

tion to the Dignity of a City in 1796.—Effects of the Revolution on its Prosperity 255

CHAPTER XXI.

Topographical Situation of Baltimore.— Finest Points of View in the Panorama.–Form

and Plan of the City.- Private Residences and public Buildings. - Exchange, Cus-

tom house, City Hall.-Courthouse, Jail, and Penitentiary.-Separation of the Sexes

in the latter. - Night-cells open to constant Supervision.-Workshops for the daily

Labour of the Convicts.- Produce of their work sustains the Institution.—Plan of

Government and internal Economy:- Places of public Worship in Baltimore.-The

Catholic Cathedral, Beauties and Defects.-- Pictures of the Interior, presented by

France.- Unitarian Church, Exterior and Interior.-Episcopalian, Presbyterian, and

Baptist Churches.-Medical College for Students.- Benevolent Institutions of Balti-

more.- Asylum at Calverton, Plan and Condition.-- The Hospital under the Catholic

Sisters of Charity.-The Infirmary, Illustration of Catholic Zeal.-Dispensary, Or-

phan Asylum, Marine Society.- Penitent Female Refuge Society, and others. -Bal.

timore characterized as the “Monumental City."- Washington Monument, Column

and Statue.-The Battle Monument, in Monument Square.-The Armistead Monu-

ment, near the City Spring.-Fountains or enclosed Springs in Baltimore.- The City

Spring.–The Western Fountain. The Eastern Fountain, the Centre Fountain.

Places of public Amusement.-Theatre, Circus, Concert and Ball Room.-Museum,

public Gardens, Racecourse.-Municipal Government, Commerce, and Shipping:-

Capacities for Trade, Banks, and Insurance-offices

263

CHAPTER XXII.

Population of Baltimore, white and coloured Races.-Position of Maryland as a Slave-

state.- Maryland Colonization Society.-Severity of the Law against rescuing Slaves.

- Vigilance of the Postoffice on Abolition Publications.-General Liberality of Sen-

timent.--Education of Coloured Children.-Negro Preachers. - Religious Sects and

their Proportions.- Benefits

of the Voluntary System of Support.-Institutions for the

Promotion of Education Death of the Member of Congress for Baltimore.- Public

Funeral, and marks of general Respect. -- Eulogium on the Character of the deceased

Member.– Newspapers in Baltimore.--Party and Neutral Remarks on the Partisan-

ship of Political Writers.- Editorial Taste for Quaintness and Singularity.—Literary

Institutions.-Lectures and Library

284

CHAPTER XXIII.

Classification of the varied Population of the City.-General Characteristics.-State of

Society and Manners.-Supposed Causes of the Refinement of Baltimore.-Coexist-

ence of depraved and abandoned Classes.- Instances of recent Outrage and Cruelty.

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America, Historical, Statistic, and Descriptive, Band 1