fore I sent the papers written by my friend Dr. Senter. If they came to hand since, I have now to express my obligations for them, and to tell you how much I was pleased and instructed by that very curious History of the Mexicans. Clavigero has let in light upon several dark subjects. I now see pretty clearly where our aboriginals came from, and how they progressed from North to South. A painter who went from this country to study in Italy, saw, as he imagined, three very exact paintings of some of our more northern tribe of Indians, in the gallery at Florence: when he expressed his surprise at seeing such portraits there, they told him he was mistaken, they were paintings of three Tartars, who were sent as presents by the Empress of Russia to the Grand Duke, who caused their portraits to be taken; another evidence that our Indians and the Tartars wére the same people.

B. W.

LETTER CCLX.

From the same.

Dear Doctor, Cambridge, Nov. 25, 1794. Dictionary Johnson has somewhere observed, that there is an inequality which happens to every man, in every mode of exertion, manual or men

tal: that the mechanic cannot handle his hammer and his file at all times with equal dexterity; and that there are hours, he knew not why, when his hand is out; and I verily believe it is true, for this is the third evening that I have sat down, without any visible impediment, to write to my friend Dr. Lettsom, and I have not been able to cover one page before I felt disposed to tear up what I had written, and throw it in the fire. Why is it that intellectual vigour will sometimes desert a man, merriment confuse him, and objection disconcert him-and, I may add, awkwardness overwhelm him-when neither ill health, nor low spirits, can be accused as the cause? It is true, this is the gloomy month of November, which is a black month in Old England, but made, by the wisdom of our forefathers, the brightest and happiest month in the year in New England, for in this month is celebrated the Te Deum, or "Thanksgiving," as we call it, throughout New England, when every Religious society (one excepted) return thanks publicly, their own way, and every heart is made to leap with joy. Contributions are made in every congregation for the needy servants and dependants; even prisoners are sure to have on that day such a repast as the British poor seldom partake of in the course of their lives. To see the year crowned with a plenteous harvest, and every man, woman, and child with a sufficiency to feed them and keep them warm just as they are entering on the verge

of winter, gives hilarity to our November, almost equal to the European May. The Governor and Council appoint this festival every year in this month by proclamation. It is made universal by appointing it always on the fifth day of the week, when our Friends hold their week-day meetings. The vast quantities of provisions brought from the country at this season give strangers some idea of this land of promise; and the easy situation of the lower class of people has induced some to say that their condition was too happy to last long. 'Tis charming to observe the spirit of benevolence which reigns among us. A fire destroyed forty houses a few months ago in Boston. In a very short time 70,000 dollars were raised by subscription and by contributions in all the Religious societies for their relief. Great poverty is not seen among us unless accompanied with drunkenness. At this season too we make our Congressional rulers. Here the lowest labourer dares, and often does, vote contrary to the wish of his employer; and should the rich man presume to controul the vote of his dependant or servant, he would not escape the odium of his neighbours. It is, however, to be regretted, that in general we do not sufficiently consider the superior advantages and blessings we enjoy over every other people on earth we are happy in our habits, our morals, and our form of government. Should Heaven in mercy preserve us still longer from the desolating and immoral effects of war, I shall hope our habits

of peace will, as in Holland, save us from the destructive effects of that diabolical scourge for many generations to come.

This summer I have visited the medicinal springs of Saratoga in the State of New York, which are so celebrated among us that thousands resort to them in the course of a season from almost every State in the Union. In a newspaper which accompanies this you will see a short account which I have given of them. I have been not a little gratified by this journey. I went nearly 300 miles from the sea-coast, and was about ten weeks travelling what may be called a magnificent country, yet very different from what the little big men who inhabit palaces and haunt courts would consider as worthy that epithet. I passed one mountain that was 28 miles over: it had four or five towns on it. At its summit, where great Nature dwells in awful solitude, the surrounding prospect was pleasing, far beyond my powers of description. When afterwards I rode along the spacious Hudson, and saw this vast current winding majestically between enormous mountains, with here and there a stupendous cataract, I more clearly comprehended the cause of that elevation of thought manifested by a common soldier in our army during the war. While the army was encamped on the banks of this river, a private soldier, one day when off duty, amused himself with climbing one of these huge mountains. When he had reached the pinnacle his

mind was so sublimely affected with the amazing height he found himself from the surface of the water, and the vast extent his eye reached, that he stretched forth his right arm, and gave the following words of command: "Attention, the Universe! By kingdoms, to the right wheelmarch!" This anecdote I had from Gen. Lincoln, and serves, I think, to shew that situations affect the human mind more than writers on education are aware of. It is probable the sons of the mountains conceive sublime ideas from their habit of looking down on the world.

I went quite up to Lake George. This vast sheet of water, expanding between two immense mountains, forms a sublime and beautiful prospect. To me it was the most beautiful picture I have yet found in the great book of Nature. I had some curiosity to see the field of battle where Burgoyne and Gates fought, as well as the spot where the former surrendered. General Gates himself happening to visit the Springs, I went with him, the Spanish Ambassador, and several others, to view this famous place. The General told me he should hardly have known the ground again, for what were then woods are now corn-fields, and regular farms. I always thought Burgoyne's expedition a very unwise scheme; I now saw it was an attempt worthy only of Don Quixote. An army of four times its force could not have marched to the sea-coast. When about to surrender, Burgoyne exclaimed with surprise!