S44 
ly married, and settled on plantations. 
They are much tollowed, especially by 
the women; but I apprehend more from 
curiosity and a desire to see and be seen, 
than from a view to conversion: indeed, 
some are honest enough to confess it. 
It is excusable when we consider how 
far asunder the plantations are, the thin- 
ness of the population, the scarcity of 
market-towns, and, in fine, the few op- 
portunities young people have of seeing 
one another except at meeting. So that 
saying nothing of spiritual conversion, [ 
have no doubt many a couple is con- 
verted from the errors of single life to 
the wholesome doctrine and practice of 
matrimony by these periodical assemblies. 
Cainp meetings are frequently held, when 
the people assemble in crowds, and en- 
camp in tents by families, for three or 
four nights, having a stock of provisions, 
&c. with them. 
The men of Maryland are in general 
swarthy, tall, and athletic. To the cli- 
mate, stoves, and immoderate use of to- 
bacco, may be in a great measure attri- 
buted their swarthy “and unhealthy ap- 
pearance, particularly the Germans, 
‘The women are tall, genteel, many hand- 
seme, some benucitel and easy in their 
carriage. They are, however, deficient 
in personal Cleanliness, as nell as the 
men. That ingredient in the continu- 
ation and formation of health and beau- 
ty, to which our British fair are no 
strangers, would, if practised, enhance 
the charms of many a black-eyed Marv- 
lander. ‘Their teeth are in general bad, 
owing, I think, to a hot and saline diet 
of tea and cotiee, hot bread, sausages 
highly seasoned, alt and hung thee and 
salt fish morning, noon, and night. They 
omit, too, the very necessary “precaution 
of washing their mouths every morning, 
using the finger to the teeth, instead of a 
hard pernicious brush. Many are not 
deficient in education, but the abomina- 
ble system of negro ‘slavery frequently 
puts to flight all their good principles and 
habits of industry learnt at school. De- 
pending upon negro exertion for every 
thing about their houses and persons, 
they are literally the slaves of slaves, and 
victiras of spleen, ennui, and the most 
odious passions. 
There is an early disposition for mar- 
riage, caused by climate and precocious 
puberty, combined with the ease of 
supporting a wife and family with re- 
spectability and comfort. Women are 
marriaguble from fifteen. Men in gene- 
Abstract of a Journal kept in Maryland. 
[Nov. 4, 
ral do not marry before twenty-five or 
thirty. Bastardy is common, and the al- 
lowance till the child is seven years old, 
is not to exceed forty dollars per annum. 
The most predominant diseases are fever 
and ague, and of late consumption, par- 
ticularly amongst the females. I observe 
from the weekly lists of deaths in Balti- 
more, that about one-third is from the 
latter disease. Dr. Rush, in designat- 
ing this the British disease, laments its 
appearance and increase in America, as 
an unequivocal symptom of a depar- 
ture from the simple mode of life pur- 
sued by our ancestors. Highly seasoned 
dishes, liquors, tea, balls, routes, dress, 
or rather nudity, &c. have an injurious 
effect upon the constitution just in the 
proportion of immoderate and unsea- 
sonable enjoyment. The formidable 
train of nervous affections is to be traced 
to them, which have penetrated from the 
toilet of the fine lady even to the work- 
shop of the artisan. Many of the old 
complaints have been banished by them, 
or so changed in their symptoms and 
operation as to be scarcely recognizable. 
They may be said to form a middle class 
between the chronic and acute diseases, 
and, from their obstinacy and continu- 
ance in ce instances during life, may 
not improperly, perhaps, be called mulic. 
But, unfortunately, they can propagate 
their species, as. many a miserable off- 
spring can testify. Thus it is that the 
sins of the parents are visited upon the 
children. 
Mr. M. was in Baltimore during the 
yellow fever in 1797. He had lately 
taken a shop, and begun business in the 
hatting line on the Point. He boarded 
with a Doctor Jacquet, and his own bu~ 
siness heing very bad, he offered. his ser- 
vices to the Doctor , ‘who was burthened 
with too much. He was induced to this 
oe the circumstance of owing the Doc- 
: fifty dollars, being the rent of his - 
ie He carried out medicine, and 
bied the patients. He had five dollars 
the first day, and fifteen per day for three 
days more, when he left him. The Doc- 
tor was getting what he liked, sometimes 
two hundred dollars per day. Mr. M. 
advised him to remove, but he would not, 
swearing that he was case-hardened 
against the attacks of the fever. Mr.M. 
saw him, in the morning of his removal 
from Baltimore, puta stout ship carpenter 
into his coffin, and carry it to the grave 
himself, when no one would come near 
him, A few days after, the Doctor sick-~ 
ened, 
