346 CLIMATE STATE OF SOCIETY. 



extent are not exempt from its attacks, but is thought to arise 

 from the miasms of decaying vegetation ; and the rich bot 

 toms, covered with rank vegetation, on the banks of rivers are 

 the most unhealthy situations. While journeying over the 

 prairies of Illinios after nightfall in autumn, when vegeta 

 tion was decaying, the smell of fermenting grasses was un 

 pleasantly strong, and reminded me of the odour of a sweating 

 hay-stack in Scotland. In almost every part of the world 

 where the earth s surface is uncultivated and well clothed with 

 vegetation, fever and ague prevails, and is found to abate as 

 cultivation is introduced. Thus bountiful nature at once re 

 wards the enterprising farmer with her fruits and a more 

 salubrious atmosphere. What incentives to industry ! 



The climate of North America is remarkable for variations 

 of temperature, and most situations seem alike in this respect. 

 But the duration of winter increases, and length of summer 

 decreases, with the latitude of the situation. The region of 

 North America is not so congenial to human life as Britain, 

 but far more so than the East and West Indies and many 

 other parts of the world. In such a vast continent cultivation 

 is alone wanting to render it healthy. 



The state of society in America is very different from what 

 it is in Britain, there being less refinement and fewer of the 

 elegancies of life enjoyed. I am satisfied, however, from 

 experience, that much of what is known by, and appreciated 

 as, the comforts of life, arises from fashion and force of habit, 

 and that a few weeks residence will reconcile a reasonable 

 person to the change. Throughout the greater part of the 

 country, fashion has not established her empire, and there is 

 little vicing amongst the inhabitants. The handsome bound 

 volumes which adorn the drawing-rooms of Britain, are not 

 more instructive or amusing in consequence of their showy 

 exterior ; and the meagre furnishings of American log-houses, 

 in the remote districts, meet the wishes of the inhabitants, and 

 are found as useful as the most gaudy. Plain furniture is not 

 despised where fine is never met with. In taverns, luxuries 

 and refinements are common, and wealth may obtain them 

 almost any where. Of the state of domestic society I am not 

 qualified to speak from personal observation, farther than that 



