156 LETTERS FROM ALABAMA. 
spreading, and these holes are regarded with a very- 
exemplary philosophy. I should have observed, 
however, that at the bottom of the chimney, and 
more particularly at the fire-back^ the clay is 
increased in thickness to more than a foot. Add 
to this description a ladder of three steps at each 
end of the passage, from the ground to the floor, and 
you have my worthy friend’s hospitable mansion. 
Now poor and mean houses may be found in 
every country, but this is but one of the many ; it 
is not inhabited by poor persons, nor is it con- 
sidered as at all remarkable for discomfort ; it is, 
according to- the average, a very decent house. 
There are some, certainly, much superior ; but 
these are frame-houses, regularly clapboarded, and 
ceiled, and two, or even three stories high, includ- 
ing the ground-floor. They are mostly of recent 
erection, and are inhabited by planters of large 
property; these have comforts and elegancies in 
them which would do no dishonour to an English 
gentleman. 
The towns and villages partake of the same 
rude and make-shift character. The Americans, in 
commencing a hamlet or village, always look for- 
ward to its becoming a city; and hence the plan is 
laid out with an amplitude and grandeur that seems 
ridiculous, when contrasted with the immediate 
filling up of the blank ; for they are content to put 
up with the meanest huts for present use. Nothing 
like attachment to a particular house, estate, or 
town, exists in an American’s breast ; he always 
expects to sell his improvements,” and move ” 
to some other region; hence his residence has 
always a temporary character ; and those thousand 
little conveniences and amenities which we delight 
