630 Mrs, Wright's Travels in the United States. 
parent that each bud appeared distinctly 
through it; in some places, large trees 
gave way beneath the unusual burden, 
their heads absolutely touching the 
ground, until their trunks snapped in 
twain. Fortunately, there was no wind, 
or the devastation would have been 
dreadful; it has been cruel enough as 
it is, boughs and branches every where 
strewing the ground, and stems shat¬ 
tered as if by lightning. 
The observations that I can make 
upon the climate apply of course but to 
a small portion of this vast world, 
which comprises all the climates of the 
earth ; with the exception perhaps of 
one—the gloomy. The Atlantic bor¬ 
der of New England is indeed liable, 
in the spring months, to fogs blown 
from off the Newfoundland bank ; but 
these temporary visitors do not despoil 
the atmosphere of the general character 
of brilliancy which, summer and win¬ 
ter, it may be said more or less to pos¬ 
sess from Maine to Missouri. The vi¬ 
vidness of the light, which is at first 
painful to English, aud even Euro¬ 
pean eyes of whatever country, 1 could 
imagine had wrought an effect on the 
national physiognomy. The Americans 
in general are remarkable for even 
brows, much projected over the eyes, 
which, small and piercing, usually 
glance from beneath them with singu¬ 
lar intelligence and quickness of obser¬ 
vation. The climate of this continent, 
except where influenced by local causes, 
seems to be peculiarly healthy, and 
highly favourable to the growth of the 
human figure ; other circumstances 
doubtless assist its effect; a population 
free from poverty, and in consequence 
comparatively of vice, might perhaps 
attain to nature’s full standard in an 
atmosphere less pure. The diseases of 
the country appear to be few and vio¬ 
lent ; fevers, and other inflammatory 
disorders, common during the first au¬ 
tumnal months; the temperate habits 
of the people, however, preserve them 
in a great measure from these attacks, 
or moderate their violence. I imagine 
there are more instances of extraordi¬ 
nary longevity in these states than you 
could find in any part of Europe. 
The Western States seem destined to 
be the paradise of America. The beauty 
of their climate is probably unrivalled, 
unless it be by that of some of the ele¬ 
vated plains of the southern continent. 
The influence of the mild breezes from 
the Mexican gulf, which blow with the 
steadiness of a trade wind up the great 
valley of the Mississippi, is felt even to 
the southern shore of Lake Erie; and 
affects the climate of some of the north¬ 
western counties of New York. 
HORSES. 
I observed in the carts and waggons 
standing in andaround the market-place 
of Philadelphia, the same well-fed, well 
rubbed,healtliy-looking horses, thathave 
so often attracted my attention through¬ 
out this country. Truly, I do not re¬ 
member to have seen a starved horse 
since I landed. The animals seem to 
share the influence of wholesome laws 
with their masters; their influence 
reaching them through that which they 
exert more immediately upon the cha¬ 
racter, as well as the circumstances, of 
the proud lords of the creation. I say 
character as well as circumstances; 
for though, when a man feeds his horse 
well, it may only argue, that he has 
wherewithal to procure provender; 
when he uses him gently, and guides 
him with the voice instead of the whip,, 
it shews that he has good sense or hu¬ 
manity ; good sense, if he consider his 
own ease, and humanity, if he consider 
that of the animal. It is a pretty thing 
to see a horse broke in this country ; it 
is done entirely by gentleness. A 
skilful rider, after much previous coax¬ 
ing and leading, mounts the wild crea¬ 
ture without whip or spur, and soothes 
him with the hand and the voice, or 
allows him to spend himself in the 
race, and brings him at last to obey the 
check of the rein, or the note of the 
voice, witli the readiness of the steed 
of a Bedouin. The lesson, thus learned, 
is never forgotten ; a word or a whistle 
sets the horse to his full speed, whe¬ 
ther in the carriage, the dearborn, or 
the stage. In travelling, I remember 
but once to have seen a driver who ever 
did more than crack his whip in the 
air. This exception, too, was a Euro¬ 
pean. 
GERMAN REDEMPTIONERS. 
The ships chiefly employed in this 
trade are Dutch, but the depressed 
state of commerce has thrown into it 
vessels of all nations, British, A merican 
and others, from the ports of the Baltic. 
It was, of course, found somewhat 
difficult to bring foreign ships under the 
jurisdiction of the state laws. The 
first regulations were, in some cases, so 
shamefully evaded, that the national 
government took the subject under 
consideration, aud passed a law which 
extended to every port in the Union, 
and has been found thoroughly effec¬ 
tive ; 
