AND MANNERS IN THE WESTERN STEAM-BOATS. 279 



by a string from the ceiling of the cabin. These utensils are 

 used by the whole body of the passengers, and their condition 

 the pen of Swift could alone adequately describe. There is no 

 tooth-brush, simply, I believe, because the article is entirely 

 unknown to the American toilet. A common towel, how 

 ever, passes from hand to hand, and suffices for the perfunc 

 tory ablutions of the whole party on board. It was often 

 with great difficulty that I procured the exclusive usufruct of 

 one, and it was evident that the demand was not only unusual 

 but disagreeable.&quot; 



There is so much discrepancy between this account and 

 what I experienced, that it may be difficult for some people to 

 believe the same part of the world is alluded to. The time 

 which elapsed between Mr Hamilton s visit and mine was a 

 little more than three years, and in course of that time the 

 manners and customs of the people must either have under 

 gone an extraordinary change, or we must have viewed things 

 through a different medium. It is far from my intention to 

 charge that gentleman with exaggeration or intentional mis 

 representation, but objects are so well known to be affected 

 by circumstances, that it may be worth while to enquire how 

 he was situated to enable him to see and judge impartially. 

 With his career in life and the place he occupied in British 

 society, I am utterly unacquainted, and unless he is something 

 immeasurably above ordinary humanity, both would influence 

 his opinions. But it appears to me unfortunate that a man 

 of such powers, as he has proved himself to be possessed of, 

 should have sought information regarding &quot; Men and Man 

 ners,&quot; in a part of the world, accompanied by a servant, where 

 he was ashamed to avail himself of his services. This circum 

 stance of itself was sufficient to sour him with all the coun 

 try contained, as well as to create in others an unfavourable 

 impression towards himself. It was surely an odd proceeding 

 to send &quot; for a bottle of champagne from the inn,&quot; when he 

 was on board a steam-boat. The reason assigned for having 

 done so &quot; tolerably tired of the poison called brandy&quot; per 

 haps accounts for much he has written regarding America 

 a potation of this liquid, followed by &quot; champagne,&quot; being one 

 of the most deceptious mediums which things can be viewed 



