MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND 



&quot; English Hospitality &quot; with them ; for, when they left the 

 country, the infernal Boroughmonger Funding system had not 

 begun. The STUARTS were religious and prerogative 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 purses and strong-boxes, of goods and chattels, lands and 

 tenements. &quot; Confiscation &quot; is their word ; and you must submit, 

 be hanged, or flee. They take away men s property at their 

 pleasure, without any appeal to any tribunal. They appoint 

 Commissioners 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 not 

 liking eggs. It is not with looks that seem to say, &quot; don t eat too 

 much, for the taxgatherer is coming.&quot; 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 abundance is spread before you, 

 and so hearty and so cordial 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 style 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, however great, 

 is not all that is wanted. Very true : for the mind is of more 

 account than the carcass. But, here is mind too. These repasts, 

 amongst people of any figure, come forth under the super- 

 intendance of industrious and accomplished house-wifes, or 

 their daughters, who all read a great deal, and in whom that gentle 

 treatment from parents and husbands, which arises from an 

 absence of racking anxiety, has created an habitual, and even an 

 hereditary good humour. These ladies can converse with you 

 upon almost any subject, and the ease and gracefulness of their 

 behaviour are surpassed by those of none of even our best- 

 tempered English women. They fade at an earlier age than in 

 England ; but, till then, they are as beautiful as the women in 

 Cornwall, which contains, to my thinking, the prettiest women 

 in our country. However, young or old, blooming or fading, 

 well or ill, rich or poor, they still preserve their good humour. 



156 



