284 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 



and the American indulges in the cigar. **De 

 gustibus non est disputandnm." 



Our western brother is in possession of a 

 couu/try replete with everything that can con- 

 tribute to the happiness and comfort of mankind. 

 His code of laws, purified by experience and com- 

 mon sense, has fully answered the expectations 

 of the public. By acting up to the true spirit 

 of this code, he has reaped immense advantages 

 from it. His advancement, as a nation, has been 

 rapid beyond all calculation; and, young as he 

 is, it may be remarked, without any impropriety, 

 that he is now actually reading a salutary lesson 

 to the rest of the civilized world. 



It is but some forty years ago, that he had the 

 dispute with his nurse about a dish of tea. She 

 wanted to force the boy to drink it according to her 

 own receipt. He said, he did not like it, and that 

 it absolutely made him ill. After a good deal of 

 sparring, she took up the birch rod, and began to 

 whip him with an uncommon degree of asperity. 

 When the poor lad found that he must either 

 drink the nauseous dish of tea or be flogged to 

 death, he turned upon her in self-defence ; showed 

 her to the outside of the nursery door, and never 

 more allowed her to meddle with his affairs. 



Since the independence, the population has in- 

 creased from three to ten millions. A fine navy 

 has been built; and everything attended to that 

 could ensure prosperity at home, and respect 

 abroad. 



The former wilds of North America bear ample 

 testimony to the achievements of this enterprising 

 people. Forests have been cleared away, swamps 



