UNITED STATES. 53

and French styles. Among the ladies, particularly in the Northern States, we observe some of the most beautiful women on earth, and as great a proportion of handsome women as in England; but they lose their bloom soon; and those which have the most charming complexions, and most fascinating coun— tenances and graceful figures, become too frequently the early victims of consumption. An Englishman cannot for some time know the American ladies suf- ficiently well to appreciate justly their kind, affec- tionate, and amiable virtues. These they assuredly possess in a high degree; but being of more retired habits—which they may blame the American gentle- men for—“ they often bloom unseen,” and their excel- lences are only known to their friends, or to those strangers whose merit obtains them admittance, as eigfants de la maison, with the family.

The United States, peopled at first by persons who left these kingdoms when the state of public man- ners was very different from what they now are, and by the adventurous of all classes from other parts of Europe, must retain much of their original habits and education. Time alone will amalgamate these materials, and create a standard which Will eventually give a more marked tone to public and private society. The country people of America are blunt, but cer- tainly civil, although often accused of rudeness. I feel safe in considering them not so rude, and certainly not so ignorant, as the peasantry of England. They are never obsequious, it is true, and this arises from their being usuallyindependent in their circumstances.