18223] 
As a prose writer, he has already 
acquired considerable celebrity by the 
** Annals of Ireland,” in three volumes, 
octavo, and several detached letters 
and pamphlets. The former is a work 
of research and labour, furnishing to 
the future historian many curious, 
‘though nielancholy, facts and anec- 
dotes, explanatory of the excesses 
which disgraced the religious contests 
of freland, particulariy during the re- 
bellion of 1641. But, instead of giving 
us the results of his enquiries merely 
in. “ Annals,” it would have tended 
much more to thé satisfaction of the 
reader, and to the increase of his own 
fame, to write the history of the period 
in question; a task for which, by pa- 
tient investigation, justness of remark, 
and perspicuity of style, he scems well 
fitted. 
Mr. Graham is a native of Longford, 
within a mile or two of the birth-place 
of Goldsmith, of whose family and early 
history he has collected many interest- 
ing particulars, which, with a critical 
essay on his life and writings, he has 
not yet fulfilled his promise of impart- 
ing to the literary world. 
OnE Q: 
— 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
HE following letters were lately 
; written to Mr. Hawyes, a farmer 
at Haddingham, in the Isle of Ely, by 
his brother, a shoe-maker, and first 
cousin to Mr. Robert Bloomfield, au- 
thor of ‘the Farmer’s Boy,” &c. 
W. 4H. Rein. 
LETTER I. 
Dear Brother,—I landed at New 
York, and after sojoarning in that 
eity several weeks, working at my 
trade (shoe-making), I walked to Phi- 
ladelphia. The city of New York is a 
fine place; its population, according 
to the last census, was 15,000 persons, 
and it is increasing. The dollar here 
is eight shillings, but a shilling is not 
above the value of 7d. English. The 
wages are as follows: — Making a 
pair of shoes, one dollar and a half; 
Cossack boots, five dollars and a half, 
the closing included. Carpenters’ 
wages are a dollar and a half per day. 
Day-labourers have a dollar per day, 
and some handy men have a quarter- 
dollar more. But brick-makers have 
the highest wages: they have fifty dol- 
lars per month, and some get more. 
In my journey from New York to 
2 
Letters on North Americas 
413 
Philadelphia, whichis ninety-six miles, 
I met with the greatest hospitality ; 
and frequently, on enquiring my road, 
I was invited into the house, and took 
refreshment gratis. As you approach 
Philadelphia, the houses appear to be 
covered with slate; but, upon a nearer 
view, the roofs will be found to be ce- 
dar, cut into the form of plain English 
tiles. A dollar here is only seven 
shillings. Boarding-houses at Phila- 
delphia are as common as_ public- 
houses in London, If board for three 
dollars a week, and there are eight 
other boarders in this house. House- 
rentisvery dear. Our house consists 
of eight govd rooms, for which our 
host pays 180 dollars per annem 
(about 401. English), But there are 
no taxes, rates, or tithes. There are 
few strangers here, and those that are 
past their labour are supported by 
voluntary contributions. The clergy 
in the old town are maintained by 
lands set apart for each town. Trus- 
tees are appcinted to receive the rents 
and pay the salaries, which are fron 
2 to 4001. per annum, and also firing. 
When there is a balance by the im- 
provement of lands, &c. the trustees 
endow another church. The clergy 
are removable at pleasure; that is, 
when they have lost the confidence of 
their hearers. 
My next start was to the town of 
Bedford, containing about 1,400 per- 
sons. This is about forty miles from 
Philadelphia. I went to work for a 
master shoe-maker; but he being a 
tanner, and I having some knowledge 
of that business when I Jived in Cam- 
bridgeshire, was enabled to improve 
his process and mode of tanning: 
After living with him some months, he 
made me the offer of becoming his 
partner ; but, not being willing to set- 
tle myself so soon, I declined his 
offer, though we siili lived together in 
the greatest friendship. In this hos- 
pitable house I wanted for nothing, 
and also enjoyed the friendship of 
almost every person in the town: and I 
could take the diversion of hunting or 
shooting at pleasure. Here are no 
labourers or journeymen in husbandry; 
all have lands, and two or three fami- 
lies join together to get in the harvest 
by turns, or in any other labour, ac+ 
cording to the season. 
Such is the happy state of the inte- 
rior of America: but, happy as T was, 
1 resolved to proceed ‘further; and, 
with this design, I left my valuable 
friends, 
