Imatges de pàgina
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families are ill provided with neceffaries, and their children are without education or morals. When a man makes hufbandry his principal employment, and attends to lumber only at feasons of leifure; and can afford to keep it for a market, and be his own factor, then it becomes profitable. The profits of the other generally goes into the hands of the trader, who fupplies him with neceffaries at an advanced price, and keeps him in a state of dependance.

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Where husbandry is the employment of the men, domestic manufactures are carried on by the women. They fpin and weave their own flax and wool; and their families are clad in cloth of their own making. The people of Londonderry, and the towns which are made up of emigrants from it, attend largely to the manufacture of linen cloth and thread, and make great quantities for fale. These people are industrious, frugal and hofpitable. The men are fanguine and robuft. The women are of lively difpofitions, and the native white and red complexion of Ireland is not loft in New-Hampshire. The town is much indebted to them for its wealth and confe quence.'*

The people of New-Hampshire, in general, are induftrious, and allow themselves very lit

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MS. letter of the Rev. William Morrifon of Londonderry.

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tle time for diverfion. One who indulges himself in idleness and play, is ftigmatifed according to his demerit. At military musters, at Judicial Courts, at the raising of houses, at the launching of ships, and at the ordination of Ministers, which are seasons of public concourfe, the young people amufe themselves with dancing. In fome towns they have a practice, at Christmass, of shooting geefe for wagers; and on many other occafions, the diverfion of firing at marks is very common, and has an excellent effect in forming young men to a dexterous ufe of arms. The time of gathering the Indian corn is always a feason of feftivity. The ears are gathered and brought home by day, and in the evening a company. of neighbours join in hufking them, and conclude their labor with a fupper and a dance. In the capital towns they have regular affemblies for dancing, and fometimes theatrical entertainments have been given by the young gentlemen and ladies. In Portfmouth, there is as much elegance and politenefs of manners, as in any of the capital towns of NewEngland. It is often vifited by strangers, who always meet with a friendly and hospitable reception.

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The free indulgence of fpirituous liquors, has been, and is now, one of the greatest faults many of the people of New-Hampshire; efpecially in the neighbourhood of the river Pafcataqua,

Pafcataqua, and its branches, and wherever the business of getting lumber forms the principal employment of the people. If the reader is curious to form an estimate of the quantity of distilled fpirits confumed in the State, he may fatisfy himself, partly by infpecting the Table of importation; partly by inquiring the number of barrels of Rum manufactured at the only diftil house in the State; partly by confidering the quantity transported by land from the different feaports of Maffachusetts, and partly by knowing the allow'ance' which is ufually given to labouring people in the neighbourhood of the river Pafcataqua; and which is obftinately perfifted in, notwithstanding the remonstrances and endeavours of fome worthy characters to abol ifh it.

In travelling up the country it affords pleafure to obferve the various articles of produce and manufacture coming to market; but in travelling down the country, it is equally difguftful to meet the fame team's returning, loaded with cafks of rum, along with fish, falt and other neceffary articles.

Before the Revolution it was customary to give drams at funerals, and in fome towns to repeat the baneful dofe two or three times. During the war, a fcarcity of materials gave opportunity to put a check on this pernicious

practice.

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practice. It is now lefs common in most places, and in fome it is wholly disused.

Among husbandmen, cyder is their com mon drink. Malt liquor is not fo frequent as its wholesomeness deferves; and as the facility with which barley and hops may be raifed, feems to require. In fome of the new towns a liquor is made of fpruce twigs, boiled in maple fap, which is extremely pleasant. But after all, there are no perfons more robust and healthy, than those, whofe only or principal drink is the fimple element, with which nature has universally and bountifully fupplied this happy land.

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CHAP.

XVI.

Conftitution, Laws, Revenue and Militia.

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'HE form of government, eftablifhed in 1784, is founded on thefe two grand principles, viz. 1. That the people have the fole and exclufive right of governing themfelves, as a free, fovereign and independent State; exercifing and enjoying every power, jurifdiction and right pertaining thereto, which is not, or may not hereafter 'be by them exprefsly delegated to the United 'States of America, in Congrefs affembled.' And 2. That the three effential powers of government, the legiflative, executive and judicial ought to be kept as feparate from, and independent of each other, as the nature of a free government will admit; or as is 'confiftent with that chain of connexion which binds the whole fabric.'

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The rights of the people are particularly declared in thirty-eight articles prefixed to the form of government. The objects of this declaration are perfonal freedom, the fecurity of property, and the peace and order of human fociety.

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