198 Manners, Customs, AND [Part II. 



England four hundred years ago ; and this, with thd 

 polish of modern times added, is now the state of the 

 Americans. Their forefathers brought the " English 

 HospitaHty " with . them ; for when they left the coun- 

 try, the infernal Boroughmonger Funding system had 

 not begun. The Stuarts were religious and prero- 

 gative tyrants : but they were not, like their successors, 

 the Boroughmongers, taxing, plundering tyrants. Their 

 quarrels with their subjects were about mere words: 

 with the Boroughmongers it is a question of purees and 

 j^trong-boxes, of goods and chattels, lands and tene- 

 ments. ^*^ Confiscation" is their word ;• and you must 

 submit, be hanged, or flee. They take away men's 

 property at their pleasure, tvithotit any appeal to any 

 tribunal. They appoint Commissionei's to seize what 

 they choose. There is, in fact, no law of property 

 left. The bishop-begotten and hell-born system of 

 Funding has stripped England of every vestige of 

 what was her ancient character. Her hospitality along 

 with her freedom have crossed the Atlantic ; and 

 here they are to shame our ruffian tyrants, if they were 

 sensible of shame, and to give shelter to those who may 

 be disposed to deal them distant blows. 



353. It is not with a little bit of dry toast, so neatly 

 put in a rack : a bit of butter so round and small ; a 

 little milk-pot so pretty and so empty ; an egg for you, 

 the host and hostess 7iot liking eggs. It is not with 

 looks that seem to say, " don't eat too much, for the 

 *' tax-gatherer is coming." It is not thus that you are 

 received in America. You are not much asked, not 

 much pressed, to eat and drink ; but, such an abun- 

 dance is spread before you, and so hearty and so cor- 

 dial is your reception, that you instantly lose all 

 restraint," and are tempted to feast whether you be 

 hungry or not. And, though the manner and styh are 

 widely different in different houses, the abundance 

 every where prevails. This is the strength of the 

 government: a happy people: and no government 

 ought to have any other strength. 



354. But, you may say, perhaps, that plenty, how- 

 ever great, is not all that is wanted. Very true ; for 

 the mind is of more account than the carcass. But, 



