AMERICA AND THE AMERICANS.
THIS is a goodnaturecl and sensible report of the sojourn of a mer- cantile traveller in the United States.: It is calculated to produce a very favourable impression of the Union on the mind of the English reader. The traveller.is, as he says, virtually a citizen of the world :. small differences rake but, a slight impression upon his mind : he is consequently drawn away from the fastidious ,ob- servation of the non-essentials, that have too much attracted the attention Of travellers, to the solid and substantial advantages en- joyed by the citizens of the United States._ The 'greatest novelty in the book is certainly that which we have mentioned, namely, that it is fair, and on the whole approbatory. The only. extract that Will tell as such, is one which embraces a general account of the Newspapers and the Theatres of the United States. .
Nothing in America is perhaps more striking than the rapid and general diffusion of information through the community by means of newspapers, the daily circulation of which is immense, and very far exceeding that of Great Britain.
A daily paper only costs about two guineas per annum. I saw them every where, from the counting-rooms, as the merchants' offices are called, to the smallest stalls of the sons of Cnspin; and often observed the carters reading their papers whilst waiting for a job, either in the streets, or in small news- rooms purposely opened for that class opposite their usual stands. Advertising is proportionably cheap, as there is no duty on either materials, publication, or contents; and the facilities given to trade by this liberal policy are very great. The newspapers of the great cities are issued twice a day; namely, at six o'clock in the morning, and thrje or four in the afternoon.
The delivery • is accomplished with great rapidity, by numbers of active messengers.
At private houses, the papers are either thrust under .the doors, or thrown into the areas, or even left upon thestep, .should the newsman's knock not be immediately attended to; and during the absence of .a servant, or of the family, they sometimes remain untouched for holm, even in a crowded strict or tho- roughfare. None are so poor as not to have their own newspaper. The diurnal press is, generally speaking, respectibly conducted, and the lead- ing articles.weli Written: European news is eopiouslyreported, and is as eagerly real; but no namby-pamby trash of fashionable movements, routes, and dinners, Sails its way into the columns of American papers, such absurdities being justly held up to ridicule. In treating of political subjects, allowances must unquestionably be made fir writers under the influence of party or strong 'national feelings; tint no excuse can- be offered for the illiberal abuse and wilful misrepresentations in whick some of the editors, when speaking of the parent country, delight to indulge. I remarked' an instance of national egotism in one of these journals, so egre- gious-that I' 'cannot resist giving it a place in these pages, although its insertion may cause a smile at the expense of the author. In allusion to the English Tory press foolishly asserting that the newspapers of America were devoid of interest, the sapient writer, in his desire of revenge, launched into an hyper- bolical flourish, from which I have extracted the following moreeau :—" We thank .heaven that our papers are barren of interest to the recorders of midnight assassinations, of accidents by flood and field, of the tale of strife and blood, and of titled profligacy. We reprint ; they (the English) originate." Mark how plain a tale shall put him down ! Within a few months from the date of. the publication in question, the Same paper, among its domestic intelli- gence 'and the every-day reports of. the courts of justice, had to announce the horrirtrnitleight murder of a gentleman of fourscore years and upwards, by a set of young men of highly respectable connexions; the blowing up, with consider- ableloss dial!, of several steam vessels; the robbery of a bank of an immense amount; the robbery of a mail, under such aggravated circumstances that one of the culprits suffered death ; the execution of several pirates, who not only plundered the .Ves,sel, but murdered- the captain and mate; and, lastly, the ap- prehension of a barrister, of highly respectable and genteel family, for purloining wearing apparel from the house in which he boarded. How far these Climes coincide-with the classification of the New York editor, the reader will judge:
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The drama n the United States, like the press, is not subjected to any censor- ship, save that of public opinion; and managers are at full liberty to produce, as Poloniui says, "Tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral comical, his- toricalpastbral, scene individable, or poem unlimited,'' without let or hindrance, when they please. The consequence of this free-trade in theatricals i that: in no country is the drama more liberally patronized. The two principal theatres .of New York are of large dimensions; and are elegantly decorated and fitted up. They have each friar tiers of boxes, the fronts of the basis of which were hang with sifir.drapery in festoons, which had a good effect.' The scenery., ,machinery, dresses, and, technically. speakiag;the properties, appear equal, HI style and execution, to what are exhibitedan the patent esta- blishments of London. The curtain. of one of thesetemples. of • Thespis was of the richest crimson silk damask, ornamented withgold fringe and tassels • and, in lieu of being drawn tip, it was gracefully gathered to the sides of the pro-
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The members of the coiPs:dra;natigue, With a few exceptions, are English; and are as effective as any provincial, companies in Great Britain. Coffee and refreshments are served -in- the-sah.ons-at moderate prices; and in the winter season, these apartments, as well as the lobbies, are all kept agreeably warm by large. stoves. As .4 ptecaltinn . case, of an accidental rash to the doors from an alarm of fire, they are all Made to open outwards so that a pres- sure from within would not produce serious consequences, as 8i:eh must inevit- ably do in the English theatres or crowded places of public resort.
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