case, and he had met with _but_ one, for which he would give his word.
These things are trifles; but when they are told in books that are read
and trusted to throughout Europe; such books, too, as that of the
Marquis de Chastelleux, or that of De Rouchefoucault, it becomes a
matter of serious inquiry. The truth must be told, whatever it is, for
the truth cannot be so bad, whatever it may be, as the untruth which is
now repeated of us.

The travels of Chastelleux are translated by an Englishman who had been
a long while in this country. The book was undoubtedly written with
great care, by a very honest, able man, who had very good opportunities
of knowing the truth; and is now set off by another very honest, able
man, who was, if anything, rather partial to America--enough to make one
wary of trusting the report of any traveler who does not say in so many
words, after establishing a character for himself--I saw this; I heard
this; I take nobody's word for what I now say, etc., etc. It would be
easy to enumerate a multitude of other stories which are now believed
in, about the people of the United States, not only by the people of
Europe, and of Great Britain particularly, but by the people of the
United States themselves. But a dry catalogue of such things would be of
little use.

[Here he refers to the charge reported of New Englanders, that that they
_eat pork and molasses--pork and molasses_ TOGETHER, which is here
denied as a ridiculous story. H. R. S.]

They bundle in Wales; bundling there is a serious matter. A lady--a
Welsh woman whose word is truth itself--assured me not long ago, that in
her country they do not think a bit the worse, of a girl for
anticipating her duties, in other words, for being a mother before she