1792. statistical notices of N. America. 231 
of the. country, and the degree of population, as it 
really does, but from the ignorance of the Ameri~ 
cans. This, you may be sure, an American will 
not admit ; and there are some plausible reasons a- 
gainst it. America was settled by Europeans, whe 
came hither with all their native habits and ideas ; 
and yet, from them, are derived our present man- 
ners and state of society: and the Europeans whe 
now come among us, in general, presently fall into 
our customs and modes of living. This universal 
effect can arise only from certain causes ; the most 
powerful and fundamental of which seems to be the 
easinefs of acquiring lands, and of working a com- 
fortable subsistence out of the soil. These causes 
sway all persons of the most different occupations 
who come hither. Except merchants, blacksmiths, 
Masons, carpenters, and a very few others, they all 
become hufbandmen ; not manufacturers. One proof 
of the imperfection of mechanic arts here, and of 
the small number of artizans that the country in its 
present state will maintain, is, that several trades 
are frequently exercised by one man ; because other- 
wise he could not find employment for the whole of 
his time. For instance, a blacksmith is often a2 
whitesmith at the same time, a carpenter a joiner, 
a mason 2 bricklayer, plaisterer, and white-wather ; 
and, if you will allow me to put physicians in such 
gompany, they are generally physicians, surgeons, 
dentists, apothecaries, tfc. all in one. We have 
_ not that division of the arts that is necefsary to their 
perfection ; beeause the price of labour in America, 
genders it much cheaper to import, than to make any 
