REVIEW.

Tableau du Climat et du Sol des Etats Unis de L'Amerique, par C. F. Volney. 8vo. 2 vol. Paris, an. 12. [=1803.]

WHEN M. Volney published his Travels into Egypt and Syria, he remarked in the Preface, that, hesitating upon the direction, which he would travel, he had considered at Tour through North America, as very interesting, though for several reasons he then laid it aside. It seems however to have been a favorite intention, resumed and prosecuted with the first opportunity.

In the Introduction of the work before us, M. Volney observes," when in the year 1783 I set sail from Marseilles, it was on a pursuit agreeable to my inclinations; and with that alacrity, and that confidence in others and in myself, with which youth is inspired. I quitted with readiness a place of abundance and of peace, to sojourn in a region of barbarism and wretchedness; with no other motive, than that of employing the restless and active season of youth in such a manner, as would procure me new information, and by its acquisition adorn my life, and advance my reputation. On the contrary, in 1795, when I embarked at Havre, it was with the dissatisfaction and disgust, which the spectacle and experience of persecution had excited. Grieved at the past and anxious for the future, I thought I might go, without distrust, among a FREE people, trusting that, as a sincere Friend of LIBERTY, I should find for my old age that peaceful asylum, I despaired of in Europe. With these views, I visited successively all parts of the UNITED STATES, making observations upon the Climate, the Laws, and the Manners of the People, with particular reference to social life and domestic happiness. The result of my observations and

reflections, considering on one hand the stormy and gloomy prospect, not only of France, but of all Europe, the probabil ity of long and obstinate contentions, originating in the last struggles of declining prejudices with increasing information, and of superannuated despotism with youthful Liberty; and on the other hand, the peaceful and encouraging presage to the United States from the extent of their territory, the encouragement to settlers, the profits of industry, personal independence, and the mildness of the government, founded on its very weakness; I was confirmed in a resolution to become a resident in America. But in 1798 an epidemic disaffection with the French Nation, and the menacing appearance of an immediate rupture with France, compelled my departure, and the relinquishment of my purpose. I had reason also to complain of personal indignities, and of public attacks," &c.

His reasons for not becoming an inabitant himself, and for dissuading other Frenchmen from such an intention, are principally stated in the following paragraph. "I say it with regret, but my researches have not led me to find in the Americans those fraternal and benevolent dispositions, with which some writers have flattered us. On the contrary, I have thought, that they retain a strong tinge of the national prejudices of their mother country against us; prejudices fomented by the wars of Canada; feebly altered by our alliance in their INSURRECTION; very powerfully revived of late by declamations in Congress, and by the addresses of the towns and corporations to the President, Mr. J. A****, in consequence of the late depredations of our privateers ; and lastly encouraged even in the Colleges, by prizes for orations and defamatory theses against the French."*

From these circumstances, and imagining himself looked upon with jealous eyes, as a kind of governmental spy, M. Volney beheld every thing through the medium of partiality and prejudice, and returned dissatisfied from every excursion. His literary pride too was not a little wounded.

* See the prizes at Princetown, in 1797 and 1798.

In the note at the fourth page of the Preface he complains, that the homage due to him, as a man of letters, and as a stranger, was not paid him by some of those, who filled the highest offices. This will not surprise us, who remember, that, in his common conversation, he openly advanced political opinions directly repugnant to those, by which the administration of our government was influenced; and avowed religious sentiments disgusting to such, as entertain the least respect for Christianity.

The information, which is collected by a Foreigner in a short visit to our Country, must be very superficial and imperfect. Intelligent individuals indeed may communicate some particulars; but he may not always have access to the best informed. Even what he collects he is liable to misunderstand, or misrepresent. He brings with him his prejudices and his pride. He meets with local prepossessions and jealousies. He sees only the exterior; and that under many disadvantages. He explores but a small part of an immense continent; and that hastily. He is unacquaint ed with our history, and our language. He is therefore far from being able to describe with accuracy, or characterize with precision.

M. Volney labored under all these disadvantages; yet he discovers much discernment, and has thrown together, in tolerable order, many curious and interesting observations.

At the close of the Preface he gives notice, that he prefers spelling the names of persons and places, as they should be pronounced, agreeably to the power of the letters in the French alphabet. This is indeed a necessary premonition; otherwise we should be apt to stumble upon the "Grîn montains," and be led to mistake "Ouilsonville" for a French settlement on the "Ouabache." Like some Egyptian Magician, lately returned from the borders of the Nile, he converts our most beautiful rivers into "Souskouana,” and "Delaouare ;" inundates "Ouaterstrît;" and, by a wizard spell, so transforms some of our most respected friends, that we hardly recognize them again, in "Gen. Ouilkinnson,”,

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"Gen. Ouayne," "M. Ouellse," "M. Châ," and "M. Ouait."* We know not the propriety of thus changing prope er names. It must create great confusion in Geography, and in History. And we believe, that even M. VOLNEY would deem it an indignity, if the American translator of his work should, governed by his own authority, declare it "a description of the climate and territory of the United States of America, by MONSHEER VORLNEH." Such a misnomer would be no more discreditable to this French philosopher, than it must be disgusting to the American people to find the name of the man, whose memory they delight to honor, distorted into VAZINGUETON OF OUACHINNTONN.

Of the fairness and candor of our author an opinion may be formed from the following paragraph, in which he sums up the character of the inhabitants of the United States. “I could prove," says he, "by incontestible facts, that proportionably to the greatness of population, the extent of concerns, and the multiplicity of interests, there is not in the United States so much economy in the finances,t so much good faith in public transactions,‡ so much decency in public manners, § so much moderation in party spirit, nor so much care in the education of youth, as in most of the old states of Europe." The first Chapter is upon the Geographical situation of the United States, and the superficies of their territory. It contains some general remarks upon the boundaries, the number of acres, and the varieties of climate.

In Chapter II, on the aspect of the Country, he observes, that to an European traveller, especially to one, who like him was accustomed to the view of the naked regions of Egypt, Asia, and the borders of the Mediterranean, the prominent feature of the country in America has the wild ap

* General Wilkinson, General Wayne, Mr. Welles, Mr. Shaw, and Mr. White.

+ « Affaire d'Alger, et construction des fregates à 1,700,000 Fr. la peice." "Traité de JAY comparé à celui de PARIS."

S" Affaire de M. LYONS en plein Congrès."

"Scandaleux désordres du College de Princeton, et nullité des autres."

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pearance of an almost entire forest, from the sea coast, growing more and more thick, as you penetrate farther. And he adds, that, “ during the long journey I made, in 1796, from the mouth of the Delaouare, through Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Kentucky, to the river Ouabache; thence north, across the N. W. Territory, to Fort Detroit, over Lake Erie to Niagara and Albany; and in the year following, from Boston to Richmond in Virginia, I scarcely trav elled three miles together in open and cleared [déboisé] ground. Every where I found the road bordered with thickets, or shaded with large trees, the silence and sameness of which, the soil sometimes arid and sometimes swampy, trees fallen through age, or overturned by the tempests, lying and rotting on the surface; and the persecuting swarms of gadflies, musquetoes, and gnats, are not of those charming particulars, of which our romantic writers dream, in the smoaky cities of Europe."

Agreeably to this view of the Country, he divides the whole continent into three districts. 1st, "The forest of the South, which comprehends the sea coast of Virginia, of the two Carolinas, of Georgia, and of the Floridas; and genearally speaking extends from Chesapeak bay to Saint Mary's, over a tract of gravel and sand, from thirty to fifty leagues. All this space, covered with pine, savin, spruce, cedar, cypress, and other resinous trees, offers to the eye a constant verdure over a most sterile soil; excepting that on the banks of the rivers, on lands, which have been made by the wash from higher grounds, and on the meadows, may be found strips, which agriculture can render productive.” The second district, or middle forest, "comprehends the mountainous parts of the Carolinas and Virginia, all Pennsylvania, the south of New York, all Kentucky, and north of the Ohio as far, as the Ouabache; covered with various trees, which indicate a fertile soil." The third district, or Forest of the North, includes the northern parts of New York, the interior of Connecticut, Vermont and Massachusetts, to Canada; covered with hardy and resinous trees, &c.