enjoy, and seek for the means of transporting themselves
here, in spite of all obstacles and laws. To what
purpose then have so many useful books and divine
maxims been transmitted to us from preceding ages?—Are
they all vain, all useless? Must human nature
ever be the sport of the few, and its many wounds remain
unhealed? How happy are we here, in having fortunately
escaped the miseries which attended our fathers; how
thankful ought we to be, that they reared us in a
land where sobriety and industry never fail to meet
with the most ample rewards! You have, no doubt,
read several histories of this continent, yet there
are a thousand facts, a thousand explanations overlooked.
Authors will certainly convey to you a geographical
knowledge of this country; they will acquaint you
with the eras of the several settlements, the foundations
of our towns, the spirit of our different charters,
etc., yet they do not sufficiently disclose the
genius of the people, their various customs, their
modes of agriculture, the innumerable resources which
the industrious have of raising themselves to a comfortable
and easy situation. Few of these writers have
resided here, and those who have, had not pervaded
every part of the country, nor carefully examined
the nature and principles of our association.
It would be a task worthy a speculative genius, to
enter intimately into the situation and characters
of the people, from Nova Scotia to West Florida; and
surely history cannot possibly present any subject
more pleasing to behold. Sensible how unable
I am to lead you through so vast a maze, let us look
attentively for some small unnoticed corner; but where
shall we go in quest of such a one? Numberless
settlements, each distinguished by some peculiarities,
present themselves on every side; all seem to realise
the most sanguine wishes that a good man could form
for the happiness of his race. Here they live
by fishing on the most plentiful coasts in the world;
there they fell trees, by the sides of large rivers,
for masts and lumber; here others convert innumerable
logs into the best boards; there again others cultivate
the land, rear cattle, and clear large fields.
Yet I have a spot in my view, where none of these
occupations are performed, which will, I hope, reward
us for the trouble of inspection; but though it is
barren in its soil, insignificant in its extent, inconvenient
in its situation, deprived of materials for building;
it seems to have been inhabited merely to prove what
mankind can do when happily governed! Here I can
point out to you exertions of the most successful
industry; instances of native sagacity unassisted
by science; the happy fruits of a well directed perseverance.
It is always a refreshing spectacle to me, when in
my review of the various component parts of this immense
whole, I observe the labours of its inhabitants singularly
rewarded by nature; when I see them emerged out of
their first difficulties, living with decency and