54 Addrefs to the Society. 



do not remember that this fingular circumftance has been 

 obferved or accounted for. The fettlers of this country confifted 

 originally of emigrants from various parts of Europe, but 

 principally from the Britifh illes. Though their pradice 

 ihewed their preference, yet they could not diveft themfelves 

 of this prejudice in favour of their native country. And that 

 prejudice, as was natural, v^^as increafed by the diftance and 

 the hardiliips to which their change of fituation expofed them; 

 it was llimulated into exercife by the vanity of raifmg themfelves 

 above their neighbours, for every man fuppofes he borrows 

 a certain degree of confequence from the fuperiority of his 

 country. Thus an Irifh, a Dutch, and a Britifh emigrant, 

 fettled in the neighbourhood of each other, would boaft the 

 fuperiority of their refpe£tive countries ; would conceal their 

 defects, and exaggerate their advantages ; and difagreeing in 

 every thing elfe, would unite in admitting the inferiority of 

 America to Europe, that tie which conne£led them with each 

 other ; their children and neighbours having no means to 

 contradid exphcitly, credited thefe tales, and felt themfelves 

 inferior to thefe boafling natives of a diftant land ; their 

 defcendants endeavoured to fhare in the honour of their parents, 

 by recording their defcent from fuch illuftrious anceftors ; 

 and gloried in difleminating falfe ideas of countries of which 

 they had no other knowledge except through this fource, 

 and from other boafling and confequential travellers. — -It is 



