EMIGRANTS SITUATION AND CHARACTER. 409 



Sabbath was chiefly spent in shooting, and many Scotsmen 

 did so who lived in the vicinity of a church. Every new 

 settler is liable to be beset by all the knaves and cheats of the 

 district on his first arrival. If he defeat their first attempt 

 they seldom make a second, and he may afterwards transact 

 business without much risk of being imposed on. Too much 

 caution cannot, however, be exercised at first settlement, 

 more especially towards old countrymen, who can make 

 advances under more favourable circumstances than a native 

 American, and are equally prone to take advantage. 



The greedy and dishonest intercourse which takes place in 

 many parts of North America must be repugnant to honour 

 able feeling, and emigrants ought to guard against being led 

 into the system. But however unpleasant such a state of 

 society may be, the people of Britain need not shun the New 

 World on such grounds. Your experience in life, my dear 

 brother, has not been extensive, but from your knowledge 

 of, and intercourse with, the people of East Lothian, you must 

 be aware that amongst the peers of the realm, their law agents 

 and factors, the tenantry and dealers in horses, cattle, and 

 corn, there are individuals who lay aside morality when trans 

 acting business, and are alone guided by the letter of the 

 laws. Their conversation is as little to be depended on as 

 the passing wind, and their writings are sometimes worded 

 with intent to deceive. In short, there are bad characters in 

 every part of the world, and whoever is capable of transact 

 ing business with the Yankees of Britain need not be afraid 



o 



to encounter those in America. I admit the degree of mer 

 cantile honour and morality may be higher in Britain than in 

 America, and imposition less frequent, but contend there are 

 cheats in both countries, and the same caution which is 

 necessary to meet the plans of one knave in Britain will 

 defeat the tricks of twenty in America. 



The situation of an emigrant on reaching America must be 

 very different from what it was at home. In the midst of a 

 people whose manners and customs are in some measure new 

 to him, he is an isolated being, without any one in whom he 

 can confide for advice and assistance. If he cannot think for 

 himself, and rely on his own resources in transacting business, 



