108 Architecture in. the United States. 



mon objects of pursuit and pleasure, of regret and praise ; something 

 to make us more a people of one heart and one mind, is needed. I 

 do not say that objects of architectural beauty, would do every thing 

 towards correcting the evil ; but I believe they would be found of 

 vast benefit in that way. They v/ould be public, objects of sense as 

 well as study, constantly before us, and, of necessity, matters of 

 thought and remark. Place in a village a handsome public monu- 

 ment, or pillar, or church, and I do not hesitate to say that, all other 

 things being equal, those villagers will be bound more to one another, 

 and to their village, than those of another. Place by another a 

 group of trees, with a fountain playing in their midst : have beneath 

 them tasteful seats, and make it a place to v/hich experienced age 

 •and prattling infancy will go for company or amusement ; a spot where 

 the villagers will assemble in the evening for cheerful conversation, 

 and I venture to say that these people will love their homes more, 

 and thinking less of changing, u'ill improve them more ; that they 

 v/ill be wiser ; that tlieir taverns will be less frequented ; and tliat 

 every good feeling will prevail more among them, than would have 

 been the case without. Place in a town or city, a spot with spread- 

 ing trees, and pleasant walks between, a spot which would serve as 

 an agreeable promenade, and the feelings of that people will flow 

 in a kinder and smootlier channel ; there will be more cheerfulness 

 and more happiness than there would otherwise have been. It is 

 a delightful amusement to saunter along the French promenades 

 about sunset, and observe the happy groups, of all ages, that throng 

 them ; to watch the rapid sale of bouquets, at the platforms which 

 line their sides (flowers only are admitted there); and as an Ameri- 

 can looks at the cheerful scene, he must think witli pain of his own 

 cities, where every thing seems calculated for dull labor, or lynx- 

 eyed gain. It is doubtless owing, in some degree, to the provision of 

 such places, in foreign countries, that their natives resort less to 

 tavei-ns for amusement than with us ; and that intoxication conse- 

 quently is less frequently seen. The French have their Boulevards ; 

 the Spaniards their Prado ;, the Italians tlieir Corso ; all of these 

 have their public gardens ; and we — we have our tippling shops, the 

 bane and disgrace of our land, and shall have them, I fear, till we 

 provide more innocent places of resort. All attempts to check this 

 current of human feeling are vain ; the stream must flow ; and if we 

 give it a channel, will refresh and beautify the land, it would other- 

 wise have desolated and destroved. 



