NEW- ENGLANDERS. 
gsonjiwho has a double portion. In this way is preserved that happy 
medioGrity among the people, which, by inducing economy and 
industryvi’eaioves from them temptations to luxury, and forms theni 
to habits of sobriety and temperance. At the same time, their 
indiustry and frugality exempt them from want, and from the neces- 
sity of submitting to any encroachment on their liberties. 
In New England, knowledge is more generally diffused among all 
ranks of people than in almost any other part of the globe, arising 
from the extensive establishment of schools in every township. An- 
other source of information is the newspapers, of which no less thap 
thirty thousand are printed every week in New England, and circu- 
lated in almost every town and village in the country. A person of ma- 
ture age, who cannot both read and write, is rarely to be found. By 
means of this general establishment of schools, the extensive circu- 
lation of ne%spapers, and the consequent universality of information, 
every township throughout the country is furnished with men capa- 
ble of conducting the affairs of their town with judgment and dis- 
cretion. These men are the channels of political information to the 
lower class of people, if such a class may be said to exist in New 
England, where every man thinks himself at least as good as his 
neighbour, and believes' that all mankind are, or at least ought 
to be, equal The citizens from their childhood form habits of can- 
vassing public affairs, and commence politicians, which naturally leads 
them to be very inquisitive. This desire of knowledge in a greater 
or less degree prevails throughout all classes of people in New Eng- 
land ; and from their various modes of expressing it, some of which 
are blunt and familiar, bordering on impertinence, strangers have 
been induced to mention impertinent inquisitiveness as a distinguishing 
characteristic of the people. 
Each man also has his independent system of politics^ and each 
assumes a dictatorial office. Hence originates that restless, litigious, 
complaining spkit, which forms a dark shade in the character of 
New-Englandniee. Before the American war, which introduced into 
New England a flood of corruptions with many improvements, the 
sabbath was observed with great strictness ; no unnecessary travelling, 
no secular business, no visiting nor diversions, were permitted on that 
sacred day. But since the war, a catholic tolerant spirit, occasioned 
by a more enlarged intercourse with mankind, has greatly increased, 
and is becoming universal. 
There is one distinguishing characteristic in this people, — the custom 
of annually celebrating fasts and thanksgivings. The people of New 
England generally obtain their estates by hard and persevering labour ; 
they of consequence know their value, and spend with frugality. 
Yet in no country do the indigent and unfortunate fare better. Their 
laws oblige every town to provide a competent maintenance for their 
poor ; and the necessitous stranger is protected and relieved by their 
humane institutions. In no part of the world are the people happier, 
belter furnished with the necessaries and conveniencies of life, or 
more independent, than the farmers in New England. As the great 
body of the people are hard independent freeholders, their tnanners 
are congenial 'to their employments, plain, simple, and unpolished, 
X 
