Part 1

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THE

RURAL MAGAZINE,

AND

LITERARY EVENING FIRE-SIDE.

VOL. I. PHILADELPHIA, _Eighth Month, 1820_. _No. 8._

A FRIEND OF THE RURAL MAGAZINE TO ITS READERS.

There is nothing in which the honourable fame and steady prosperity of our country, and the best interests of its inhabitants, are more deeply involved, than in _the promotion of agriculture_. With one hundred and twenty millions of acres of _cleared_, or _natural, strong, unwooded_ land, and a population computed at nine millions of persons, we have more soil already prepared for plantations, farms and grazing, in proportion to our numbers, than any other civilized people; and our capacities to add to our quantity of cleared or unwooded land, extend to ten times the number of acres. From the productions of these lands have our former happiness and wealth arisen, and from the commerce and fabrication of these productions, have our foreign and domestic trade, and all our home manufactures, worth above two hundred millions of dollars, sprung up. The merchants and manufacturers actually hold so real and great a competition for the natural and agricultural productions of the land, that none of these productions, capable of manufacture, were exported even in the last year, except _cotton_, in the manufacture of which we had made very great progress, in 1810; even without the double and war duties, or those existing at this time. They were supposed to be worth 15,000,000 of dollars in that year. The present crisis, when all nations are revising and improving their systems of agriculture, commerce and manufactures, appears to be a fit season for increased attention, consideration and exertion on our part; and first in the culture of the soil. It is proposed, as a suitable object for such a work as _The Rural Magazine_, to make some of those exertions in relation to _agriculture and the connected subjects_, which are often demanded by those strong tides in human life, which are dispensed to us in the course of divine Providence. Pennsylvania, and the five other states which are contiguous to her, making six in their whole number, contain about one hundred and forty millions of acres of land in the most temperate and genial _farming_ climates of our country. The southern parts of that noble farming district even favours the cotton, the vine and the fig tree; and every species of production, requiring the tone of the northern part of the temperate zone for its growth or the fabrication of those productions, is adapted to the higher latitudes of that region of our country. The best culture of the eastern states is comprehended in the proper farming of that district. The effectual bearing of the productions of the south upon the profits of the farming of the middle, northern and eastern states, will always render the actual or new culture of our great southern district of sugar, rice, indigo, cotton and grape vines, deeply important us; because the cultivation of those and other productions, adapted to their climates, will prevent their attention, as principal objects, to those things which must always be produced by our cattle, grass, apple, vegetable and grain farms. The cider and apple brandy, for example, of the county of _Morris_, in New Jersey, which far exceeds the general belief, the superfine flour of the white wheat country of this middle district, and the fabrications of the dairy of the eastern states, sustain no interference at home or abroad, from the productions of those southern labourers who are employed on sugar, rice, cotton, indigo and tobacco; or may be employed on the fruit of the grape vine, the olive tree and their fabrications, which annually yield to France one hundred and twenty millions of dollars. The culture of the southern states is, therefore, in truth, a fit subject of attention and solicitude for the Pennsylvanians, and their surrounding northern and eastern brethren; and valuable papers on that subject would always deserve a place in _The Rural Magazine_. If the African TERENCE has been quoted, beyond any other writer, for the beautiful exclamation of one of his personified characters, "_Homo_ sum, et nihil humani a me alienum puto,"[1] how impossible is it for a true and faithful member of this favoured nation to forget to exclaim, "_Americanus_ sum, et nihil _Americani_ a me alienum puto."[2]

[1] I am a _man_, and I consider nothing that affects _man_ as foreign to me.

[2] I am an _American_, and I consider nothing that affects _America_ as foreign to me.

Some of the most important practices of agriculture belong to all our climates. _Irrigation_, beautiful, elegant, profitable _irrigation_, or the watering of grounds, by turning upon them streams that have been wont to run waste, and pour their unused vegetative powers into navigable rivers, is a great example. The venerable and judicious ARTHUR YOUNG wrote to his compatriots in England, from the districts of Piedmont and Milan, the best irrigated parts of _the valley of the Po_, that such was the perfection of that branch of agriculture and the connected branches of working and neat cattle, dairies, rice, &c. that, excellent as was their English system in his vicinity, his friends could have no conception of perfection in farming, without visiting that part of upper Italy. The orange trees are carefully irrigated in the kingdom of Portugal, as are the vines of Madeira, and the rice in those of our southern states which produce that wholesome, valuable and delightful grain.

Let us, then, in every section of our country, keep attention on the stretch _to improve our whole landed interest_, which, like our great internal seas, our heaven dispensed lakes, is the natural head, from which the sister streams of _commerce and manufactures_ are, unforcedly, to flow, and run till the end of time.

FOR THE RURAL MAGAZINE.

THE DESULTORY REMARKER.

No. VII.

Travel in the younger sort is a part of education; in the elder a part of experience.

_Bacon._

In pursuance of the plan proposed in the initial number of these papers, which, although a mortifying consideration to the pride of authorship, it is quite probable many of my readers have already forgotten; I shall, on the present occasion, avail myself of one of the sources of instruction and gratification there indicated--foreign travel. The friend to whom I am indebted for the following remarkable incidents, illustrative of the present state of morals in Italy, has not long since returned from a tour through England, France, Italy, Switzerland, and part of Germany; with an increased attachment for his native country and her admirable institutions.

He left Milan for Florence, passing through the towns of Lodi, Plazenza, Parma, and Bologna, where he arrived after eight days journeying. Among the passengers in the coach with him, was a young gentleman of Rome, the Cavaliere V----, who was returning home after a two years tour in _South_ America and Europe. Between these two, as those who are strangers in any part of the world, particularly when travelling together, experience a community of privation and enjoyment, an intimacy was soon formed. The distance from Florence to Rome is 193 English miles. The road passes over the Appenine mountains, and by the tardy mode of travelling peculiar to the country, there being no public coaches, it requires six days. The highways in this neighbourhood are infested with banditti of the most ferocious character, and almost every day furnishes accounts of robberies and murders. On the 5th of January, 1819, they left Florence. The first three days were marked by no striking incident, but on the morning of the fourth, about dawn, their ears were accosted with a sudden discharge of fire-arms close to the carriage, which they soon found to proceed from the carbines of banditti. Previously to quitting Milan, our friend had taken the precaution to divide his gold, carrying part of it about his person, enveloped in a bandana handkerchief in the form of a belt, and the remainder in a portmanteau. He had also a number of Bank of England notes, which he carried in his pocket-book, with his passport, &c. The bandana soon attracted their attention, and its contents, 30 Napoleons, with his purse, &c. fell into their hands. His portmanteau being securely lashed to the imperial, escaped the plunderers, as well as his watch and pocket-book. It was within a league of Montifiascone where the attack was made. The robbers were interrupted in the height of their villainy, by the tramp of approaching horses, which proved to be the neighbouring peasantry commencing their daily toils; and retreated with precipitation to the impenetrable thickets of the Appenines. The travellers then proceeded on their journey to Rome, without experiencing further molestation.

On their arrival there, our countryman congratulated himself on his good fortune in having become acquainted with the Cavaliere V----, whose politeness and attentions were particularly grateful; and as Rome was the place of his residence, every object of interest and curiosity to be found there, was perfectly familiar to him. He introduced his American acquaintance to his father, who was a man of rank, living in splendour and opulence; and to his sisters, whose society the latter felt every disposition to cultivate. Thus various circumstances appeared to combine to render pleasant a residence in this celebrated metropolis, and to aid him in his contemplations among the remaining monuments of her former magnificence and power.

One morning having a leisure hour on his hands, our townsmen was engaged in his chamber counting his money, in order to ascertain the extent of his loss, sustained by the unwelcome visiters who had paid him their respects on the road; when the Cavaliere unceremoniously entered the room, and seeing a pocket-book in his hand, immediately inquired what he had lost. The fact was, that a 20 pound note of the Bank of England was missing, and as the pocket-book in which the notes were contained, was not discovered by the banditti, in their haste to make their escape, he concluded that it had been carelessly dropped at some time or other, and would never again be heard of; which he stated at once to his pseudo friend. The latter expressed some surprise, and evinced considerable embarrassment on the occasion. His quondam fellow tourist, however, made light of the matter, and endeavoured to change the conversation by stating, that he would ask the advice of his banker the duke of Torlonia, fortunately the only house in the habit of discounting English notes; and would also write to his banker in London, to have the payment stopped at the Bank of England. To this plan the Cavaliere strenuously objected, but said, that he knew a man in Rome, who would procure him the note if it was to be found; and in consequence of this suggestion, the application to the Duke was not made. Our traveller, reflecting on the circumstances connected with this interview, his being interrogated as to his loss before any intimation had been given that such loss had been sustained, the hurried and peculiar manner in which the inquiries were made, in addition to the fact that the Cavaliere was the only person who had seen them counted, and that he was careless of locking up his pocket-book, began to suspect, although his rank and standing might forbid it, that the gentleman knew something about the note. As the numbers of the different bills had been taken, there could not readily have been a mistake. A few days subsequently it was distinctly intimated, that the person to whom application had been made, knew where the note was. An interview with the _conjurer_ was zealously urged, in the hope of visiting the thief with merited punishment. To this the Cavaliere replied, that he had pledged his honour that the affair should remain in profound secrecy, and that he would himself be responsible for the payment, and accordingly gave his note of hand for it payable in two days! After _many_ days had elapsed without receiving the amount, the patience of our traveller was nearly exhausted, and under the influence of irritation, produced by the unprincipled conduct of this modern Roman, it was determined to disclose the whole transaction to his father. The subject was introduced with the utmost delicacy. The old gentleman, after hearing a detail of all the circumstances, coolly observed, that it was no business of his, and that his son would doubtless attend to it. He was then explicitly told, that respect for his supposed parental feelings had induced the reserve which he had witnessed; but as this reserve, it was perfectly apparent, was altogether unnecessary, the facts of the case should be made known, and the moral turpitude of his son publicly exposed.--The expression of this determination caused an immediate change of tone and manner; he was now all sensibility to the reputation of his son and that of his family, and gave a positive assurance that the money should be immediately forthcoming. Shortly after this conversation it was brought by his quondam friend, and was principally in various gold coins, which had probably been procured for him by a broker, on the lowest terms.

The family, in which our countryman resided, while at Rome, was highly agreeable; and the society of the lady, and her amiable daughters, was a source of pleasure to the gentlemen who lived in the house. On the evening of the day on which this affair was settled, he had taken his wonted seat in this interesting circle, which so delightfully reminded him of that which he had left at home, when the brother of the Cavaliere, who was invested with some office of dignity, entered in full dress. He very courteously and gracefully paid his respects to all the individuals composing the company, with the exception of the American, of whom, notwithstanding his being well acquainted with him, he took no notice whatever. He then intimated to the lady of the house, that he wished to speak with her in private. She accordingly withdrew, and very soon afterwards returned, and informed our tourist, that the gentleman desired to see him in the adjoining room. On entering, he was charged with attempting to sully the character of a family, which could trace its reputation and fame through a long line of noble ancestry; and that for this injustice, instant reparation should be made. He then drew his sword in a tempest of passion, but recollecting immediately, that his antagonist was unarmed, he sheathed it, and drew from his pocket a pair of pistols, with which he insisted they should fight without delay. By this time one of the party, alarmed by the noise occasioned by their altercation, hurried into the room, and on learning the cause which produced it, gave such explanations to the enraged Italian as were acknowledged to be perfectly satisfactory, as to the treatment his brother had received; and with a smile, which he could assume at pleasure, he took his leave. After his departure, the lady took occasion to caution our traveller against venturing out during the evening, assigning as a reason for this advice, that the officer was very vindictive in his disposition, and that an Englishman, who had not long previously given him some offence, lost his life in consequence of the attack of an assassin. This admonition was not disregarded. In the course of the evening, a member of the family, who had heard nothing of the previous occurrences, on his return home, observed, that he could not conceive what mischief was in agitation, as his face had been closely examined by more than one person, in passing the lamps, who wore masks, and appeared to be actuated by curiosity, or some other motive, to an extraordinary degree. Those who were acquainted with the events of the evening, were at no loss to conjecture for whom they were on the watch. An obnoxious individual can at any time be put out of the way, in Rome, for a very small reward. To save these obliging and tender-hearted gentry further trouble, and to consult his own safety, he early the next morning left the dominions of the church, and pursued his journey to Naples.

If individuals, and incidents of such a character, should frequently present themselves to the notice of the tourist, it would almost induce him to deny himself the delights and advantages of foreign travel, and adopt this sentiment of COWLEY,

_About the spacious world let others roam, The voyage life, is longest made at home._ ☞

FOR THE RURAL MAGAZINE.

THE VILLAGE TEACHER.

Twice in every year our otherwise quiet village is thrown into a ferment, which agitates its little community like an earthquake, and unsettles all the habits of order and industry for which we are usually remarkable. The cause of this great tumult is the militia training--that system which supposes every citizen to be a soldier, and undertakes to instruct him in the art and mystery of holding a musket and putting the right foot foremost. On the last of these occasions, I was surprised to find that my whole school had played truant; and observing an unusual ferment in the streets, found, upon inquiry, that at the last election for officer, Ezekiel Snip, the village tailor, a man with fierce red whiskers and a peculiar altitude of chin, had been elected captain. Ezekiel had dipt into Duane's Hand-Book, and was esteemed profoundly skilled in the manual exercise; so that the neighbours were all on the tiptoe of expectation to witness the parade of the day. As this took place opposite to my school-room, I seated myself quietly at the window to watch how matters proceeded. About eight o'clock, the tavern porch began to be filled with people, some bringing old rusty rifles, others their fowling pieces, and some armed with a stout oaken stick. Then sallied forth a valiant drummer, aided by a no less valiant fifer, at the head of some dozens of the town boys, to alarm the village. They marched up the street, and down the street, and beat tantarara, and whistled out of all tune,--till my head ached,--to the infinite delight of the idle urchins at their heels, and the gaping housemaids at the doors and windows, as they passed. When this preparatory ceremony was gone through, forth issued captain Snip from the tavern door, in all the glory of a blue coat, epaulettes, a sword and feather. The militia-men were then ranged out in ranks, and the muster-roll called. I was particularly struck with the assemblage present. I looked in vain for the most respectable of our mechanics and neighbouring farmers.--The ranks were chiefly filled with the idle young men of the village and the tavern frequenters of the neighbourhood; in short, with men who hung loose upon society, and were eager for every adventure that would enable them to get through a day, without work, and might end in a drinking match. Captain Snip bustled about with becoming self-importance,--fixed this man six inches back, and that one as much forward, and having thus ranged them _a la militaire_, proceeded, by the aid of his Hand-Book, to induct them into the manual exercise. At the word "Shoulder fire-locks," a scene of confusion ensued. Some had their pieces on the right and some on the left shoulder, and they were ranged at all angles from a perpendicular to a horizontal line.--With infinite difficulty, and after repeated trials, the captain got them to order and proceeded to the next command. As he went on I observed that he became impatient and confused; the disorder into which his company were continually getting, surpassed his abilities to rectify, and his limited and superficial knowledge began to fail him. He quite lost his authority over his men; but by dint of storming, succeeded at last in getting some how through the business. The drum then sounded, and the gallant troop marched out to the commons, there to encamp for the day, carrying in their train all the noisy and idle boys of the town.

In the afternoon they again made their appearance, dusty, fatigued, and disorderly, and after a sham exercise in the street, were dismissed. It was a glorious day for the sellers of cakes, and beer, and brandy, and whiskey. Many a bottle that day was emptied of its fiery contents, and many a miserable wretch strengthened in the habits of vice and dissipation. Scarce a man of this valiant corps returned home sober. The tavern door was a scene of continued quarrelling and the most shocking profanity, till eleven o'clock.

Battle succeeded battle, to the infinite diversion of the by-standers, and to the edification and instruction of the lads of all sizes that were thronging to this school of morality. I know not how captain Snip felt upon descending to his ordinary employment, from such a height of military glory, but I myself have been sad and melancholy ever since, when I reflected upon the events of the day.

And what, fellow citizens, is the great good attained by these militia trainings? It is the idlest of idle dreams to suppose the recurrence, four times in the year, of such scenes as I have described, can make soldiers of our yeomanry. It may make idlers, it may make bullies, and drunkards, and gamblers of them; but what they learn of military discipline, of the subordination of a camp, is not worth a farthing candle. You lose to the state the labour of a hundred thousand men, that they may be placed under the tuition of some half-learned captain, who, perhaps, has never been in a camp, and who does not, in the course of years, teach them more than they could at any time learn as well and better in half a day's real service. The good done to the state by these militia laws is a mere shadow, and the wounds which they inflict upon the steady habits, the industry and the morality of the country, are awful and portentous. I believe I do not exceed probability in asserting, that one half of the drunkenness in the state, is induced or confirmed at these militia trainings.