maker; and if he afks too high a price, they take them of the merchant: thus the two profeffions are checks on each other. The fhoemaker, however, has, on the whole, a confiderable profit upon his labour in America, beyond what he had in Europe, as he can add to his price a fum nearly equal to all the expences of freight and commiffion, rifque or infurance, &c. neceffarily charged by the merchant. And the cafe is the fame with the workmen in every other mechanic art. Hence it is, that artifans generally live better and more easily in America than in Europe; and fuch as are good œconomifts make a comfortable provifion for age, and for their children. Such may, therefore, remove with advantage to America.

In the old long-fettled countries of Europe, all arts, trades, profeffions, farms, &c. are fo full, that it is difficult for a poor man who has children to

5

place

place them where they may gain, or learn to gain, a decent livelihood. The artifans, who fear creating future rivals in bufinefs, refufe to take apprentices, but upon conditions of money, maintenance, or the like, which the parents are unable to comply with. Hence the youth are dragged up in ignorance of every gainful art, and obliged to become foldiers, or fervants, or thieves, for a fubfiftence. In America, the rapid increase of inhabitants takes away that fear of rivalship, and artifans willingly receive apprentices from the hope of profit by their labour, during the remainder of the time ftipulated, after they hall be inftructed. Hence it is easy for poor families to get their children inftructed; for the artisans are fo defirous of apprentices, that many of them will even give money to the parents, to have boys from ten to fifteen years of age bound apprentices to them, till the age R 2

of

of twenty-one; and many poor parents have, by that means, on their arrival in the country, raised money enough to buy land fufficient to establish themfelves, and to fubfift the rest of their family by agriculture. These contracts for apprentices are made before a magiftrate, who regulates the agreement according to reafon and juftice; and having in view the formation of a future useful citizen, obliges the mafter to engage by a written indenture, not only that, during the time of service ftipulated, the apprentice shall be duly provided with meat, drink, apparel, washing, and lodging, and at its expiration with a complete new fuit of clothes, but also that he shall be taught to read, write, and caft accounts; and that he shall be well instructed in the art or profeffion of his mafter, or fome other, by which he may afterwards gain a livelihood, and be able in his turn to raise a family.

A

Copy

copy of this indenture is given to the apprentice or his friends, and the magistrate keeps a record of it, to which recourse may be had, in case of failure by the master in any point of performance. This defire among the 'mafters to have more hands employed in working for them, induces them to pay the paffages of young perfons, of both fexes, who, on their arrival, agree to serve them one, two, three, or four years; those who have already learned a trade, agreeing for a shorter term, in proportion to their skill, and the confequent immediate value of their fervice; and those who have none, agreeing for a longer term, in confideration of being taught an art their poverty would not permit them to acquire in their own country.

The almost general mediocrity of fortune that prevails in America, obliging its people to follow fome business for subfistence, those vices that arife ufually from

R 3

Hence

from idleness, are in a great measure prevented. Industry and conftant employment are great prefervatives of the morals and virtue of a nation. bad examples to youth are more rare in America, which must be a comfortable confideration to parents. To this may be truly added, that serious religion, under its various denominations, is not only tolerated, but respected and practifed. Atheism is unknown there; infidelity rare and fecret; fo that perfons may live to a great age in that country without having their piety fhocked by meeting with either an atheist or an infidel. And the Divine Being feems to have manifefted his approbation of the mutual forbearance and kindness with which the different fects treat each other, by the remarkable profperity with which he has been pleafed to favour the whole country.