cvm 
LIFE OF WILSON. 
mer heat in Philadelphia. The streets of Savannah are also mere 
beds of burning sand, without even a foot pavement ; and until one 
learns to traverse them with both eyes and mouth shut, both are 
plentifully filled with showers and whirlwinds of sand. I was lon- 
ger detained in Charleston than I expected, partly on account of 
the races, which occupied the minds of many I wished to visit, to 
the exclusion of every thing else. At nine they were in bed ; at 
ten breakfasting — dressing at eleven — gone out at noon, and not 
visible again until ten next morning. I met, however, with some 
excellent exceptions among the first ranks of society, and my work 
excited universal admiration. Dr. D. introduced it very handsome- 
ly into the Courier. 
“ The indolence, want of energy, and dissipation of the wealthy 
part of the community in that place, are truly contemptible. The 
superabundance of negroes in the southern states has destroyed the 
activity of the whites. The carpenter, bricklayer, and even the 
blacksmith, stand with their hands in their pockets, overlooking 
their negroes. The planter orders his servant to tell the overseer 
to see my horse fed and taken care of ; the overseer sends another 
negro to tell the driver to send one of his hands to do it. Before 
half of this routine is gone through, I have myself unharnessed, 
rubbed down, and fed my horse. Every thing must be done through 
the agency of these slovenly blacks, and a gentleman here can 
hardly perform the services without half a dozen 
negroes to assist him. These, however, are not one tenth of the 
curses slavery has brought on the southern states. Nothing has 
surprised me more than the cold melancholy reserve of the females 
of the best families in South Carolina and Georgia. Old and young, 
single and married, all have that dull frigid insipidity and reserve 
which is attributed to solitary old maids. Even in their own houses 
they scarce utter any thing to a stranger but yes or no, and one is 
perpetually puzzled to know whether it proceeds from awkward- 
ness or dislike. Those who have been at some of their balls say 
