MU11AT ON AMERICA. 415 



side to the ford. The full moon was reflected in the water, the 

 brightness of whose surface was only interrupted by the long dark line 

 of troops, marching in single files." 



te In this state we continued for upwards of six weeks, on horseback all 

 day, and encamped in the woods during the night. We did not fall in 

 with the Indians "more than three or four times, but it was easy to see 

 from their traces that they were swarming in our immediate neighbour- 

 hood, and that we were, in fact, constantly surrounded by them. One 

 night they attacked our camp, and in the attempt lost two of their men. 

 Another day they disputed a ford with us, and lost three of their party 

 in the skirmish. At another time seven were taken prisoners on a 

 small island at the mouth of a river, and were brought to trial, but ac- 

 quitted by the jury. The original cause of this war was the massacre 

 of a white family in my neighbourhood, under circumstances of un- 

 paralleled atrocity. Six white children, from two to twelve years of 

 age, had been burnt alive, and their father not less horribly butchered. 

 It was to arrest the murderers, to compel the other Indians to retire 

 within their own boundaries, to secure the tranquillity of the neigh- 

 bourhood, and protect it against a general massacre, that we took up 

 arms on this occasion, and I may add, that our eiforts were attended 

 with success." 



The manners of the Americans are spoken of by M. Murat in a very 

 different tone from that of Mrs. Trollope. " It is the spirit of in- 

 dependence," he says, " produced by their form of government, which 

 chiefly distinguishes them from the English; for physically and ex- 

 ternally they are very much alike. If you go, for instance, into what 

 is called the best society of New York, you will find very little 

 difference between them and the corresponding classes in London. At 

 New York this circle is composed of merchants who have just reached 

 the top of the wheel, where in all probability they will not long 

 remain. They avail themselves of their day of prosperity to make 

 a parade of as much luxury and folly as their means can command. 

 They have all made a voyage to Europe, and endeavour to ape 

 the exclusive manners of which they have been the victims on the other 

 side of the Atlantic ; affect to imitate whatever is foreign, and to regard 

 America as a barbarous country, where nothing elegant has ever been 

 invented, not even the gallopade, or sleeves en gigot de Mouton. The 

 first European swindler who takes the trouble to pass himself off as a 

 Duke or a Marquis is sure to be received with open arms, until 

 he begins to dip too deeply into their purses. In this class of society 

 there is also an affectation of avoiding politics, at least in conversation, 

 because it is supposed to be bad taste ' in London.' " Their great object 

 is to teach what M. Murat calls the nullity of London conversation, and 

 in general he assures us that they are tolerably successful. 



Among the merchants of New York, however, there are many who 

 make no attempt to copy our European manners, and who, with 

 the lawyers, the physicians, and the local magistracy, may be regarded 

 as truly American, although it cannot be doubted that the whole mass of 

 society in the city of New York is more deeply tinged with the manners 

 of the old country than any other part of the Union, just because their 

 intercourse with Europe is more constant, and the number of foreign 

 residents among them more considerable. 



The proverbial tranquillity of Philadelphia has not escaped the 



