InnocountryinEuropehasthegreatsocialrevolutionwhichIhavebeendescribingmadesuchrapidprogressasinFrance;butithasalwaysbeenborneonbychance。TheheadsoftheStatehaveneverhadanyforethoughtforitsexigencies，anditsvictorieshavebeenobtainedwithouttheirconsentorwithouttheirknowledge。Themostpowerful，themostintelligent，andthemostmoralclassesofthenationhaveneverattemptedtoconnectthemselveswithitinordertoguideit。Thepeoplehasconsequentlybeenabandonedtoitswildpropensities，andithasgrownuplikethoseoutcastswhoreceivetheireducationinthepublicstreets，andwhoareunacquaintedwithaughtbutthevicesandwretchednessofsociety。Theexistenceofademocracywasseeminglyunknown，whenonasuddenittookpossessionofthesupremepower。Everythingwasthensubmittedtoitscaprices;itwasworshippedastheidolofstrength;until，whenitwasenfeebledbyitsownexcesses，thelegislatorconceivedtherashprojectofannihilatingitspower，insteadofinstructingitandcorrectingitsvices;noattemptwasmadetofitittogovern，butallwerebentonexcludingitfromthegovernment。
Theconsequenceofthishasbeenthatthedemocraticrevolutionhasbeeneffectedonlyinthematerialpartsofsociety，withoutthatconcomitantchangeinlaws，ideas，customs，andmannerswhichwasnecessarytorendersucharevolutionbeneficial。Wehavegottenademocracy，butwithouttheconditionswhichlessenitsvicesandrenderitsnaturaladvantagesmoreprominent;andalthoughwealreadyperceivetheevilsitbrings，weareignorantofthebenefitsitmayconfer。
WhilethepoweroftheCrown，supportedbythearistocracy，peaceablygovernedthenationsofEurope，societypossessed，inthemidstofitswretchedness，severaldifferentadvantageswhichcannowscarcelybeappreciatedorconceived。Thepowerofapartofhissubjectswasaninsurmountablebarriertothetyrannyoftheprince;andthemonarch，whofeltthealmostdivinecharacterwhichheenjoyedintheeyesofthemultitude，derivedamotiveforthejustuseofhispowerfromtherespectwhichheinspired。Highastheywereplacedabovethepeople，thenoblescouldnotbuttakethatcalmandbenevolentinterestinitsfatewhichtheshepherdfeelstowardshisflock;andwithoutacknowledgingthepoorastheirequals，theywatchedoverthedestinyofthosewhosewelfareProvidencehadentrustedtotheircare。Thepeopleneverhavingconceivedtheideaofasocialconditiondifferentfromitsown，andentertainingnoexpectationofeverrankingwithitschiefs，receivedbenefitsfromthemwithoutdiscussingtheirrights。Itgrewattachedtothemwhentheywereclementandjust，anditsubmittedwithoutresistanceorservilitytotheirexactions，astotheinevitablevisitationsofthearmofGod。Custom，andthemannersofthetime，hadmoreovercreatedaspeciesoflawinthemidstofviolence，andestablishedcertainlimitstooppression。Asthenobleneversuspectedthatanyonewouldattempttodeprivehimoftheprivilegeswhichhebelievedtobelegitimate，andastheserflookeduponhisowninferiorityasaconsequenceoftheimmutableorderofnature，itiseasytoimaginethatamutualexchangeofgood—willtookplacebetweentwoclassessodifferentlygiftedbyfate。Inequalityandwretchednesswerethentobefoundinsociety;butthesoulsofneitherrankofmenweredegraded。Menarenotcorruptedbytheexerciseofpowerordebasedbythehabitofobedience，butbytheexerciseofapowerwhichtheybelievetobeillegalandbyobediencetoarulewhichtheyconsidertobeusurpedandoppressive。Ononesidewaswealth，strength，andleisure，accompaniedbytherefinementsofluxury，theeleganceoftaste，thepleasuresofwit，andthereligionofart。Ontheotherwaslaborandarudeignorance;butinthemidstofthiscoarseandignorantmultitudeitwasnotuncommontomeetwithenergeticpassions，generoussentiments，profoundreligiousconvictions，andindependentvirtues。ThebodyofaStatethusorganizedmightboastofitsstability，itspower，and，aboveall，ofitsglory。
Butthesceneisnowchanged，andgraduallythetworanksmingle;thedivisionswhichonceseveredmankindarelowered，propertyisdivided，powerisheldincommon，thelightofintelligencespreads，andthecapacitiesofallclassesareequallycultivated;theStatebecomesdemocratic，andtheempireofdemocracyisslowlyandpeaceablyintroducedintotheinstitutionsandthemannersofthenation。Icanconceiveasocietyinwhichallmenwouldprofessanequalattachmentandrespectforthelawsofwhichtheyarethecommonauthors;inwhichtheauthorityoftheStatewouldberespectedasnecessary，thoughnotasdivine;andtheloyaltyofthesubjecttoitschiefmagistratewouldnotbeapassion，butaquietandrationalpersuasion。Everyindividualbeinginthepossessionofrightswhichheissuretoretain，akindofmanlyrelianceandreciprocalcourtesywouldarisebetweenallclasses，alikeremovedfromprideandmeanness。Thepeople，wellacquaintedwithitstrueinterests，wouldallowthatinordertoprofitbytheadvantagesofsocietyitisnecessarytosatisfyitsdemands。
Inthisstateofthingsthevoluntaryassociationofthecitizensmightsupplytheindividualexertionsofthenobles，andthecommunitywouldbealikeprotectedfromanarchyandfromoppression。
Iadmitthat，inademocraticStatethusconstituted，societywillnotbestationary;buttheimpulsesofthesocialbodymayberegulatedanddirectedforwards;iftherebelesssplendorthaninthehallsofanaristocracy，thecontrastofmiserywillbelessfrequentalso;thepleasuresofenjoymentmaybelessexcessive，butthoseofcomfortwillbemoregeneral;thesciencesmaybelessperfectlycultivated，butignorancewillbelesscommon;theimpetuosityofthefeelingswillberepressed，andthehabitsofthenationsoftened;therewillbemorevicesandfewercrimes。Intheabsenceofenthusiasmandofanardentfaith，greatsacrificesmaybeobtainedfromthemembersofacommonwealthbyanappealtotheirunderstandingsandtheirexperience;eachindividualwillfeelthesamenecessityforunitingwithhisfellow—citizenstoprotecthisownweakness;andasheknowsthatiftheyaretoassisthemustco—operate，hewillreadilyperceivethathispersonalinterestisidentifiedwiththeinterestofthecommunity。Thenation，takenasawhole，willbelessbrilliant，lessglorious，andperhapslessstrong;butthemajorityofthecitizenswillenjoyagreaterdegreeofprosperity，andthepeoplewillremainquiet，notbecauseitdespairsofamelioration，butbecauseitisconsciousoftheadvantagesofitscondition。Ifalltheconsequencesofthisstateofthingswerenotgoodoruseful，societywouldatleasthaveappropriatedallsuchaswereusefulandgood;andhavingonceandforeverrenouncedthesocialadvantagesofaristocracy，mankindwouldenterintopossessionofallthebenefitswhichdemocracycanafford。
Buthereitmaybeaskedwhatwehaveadoptedintheplaceofthoseinstitutions，thoseideas，andthosecustomsofourforefatherswhichwehaveabandoned。Thespellofroyaltyisbroken，butithasnotbeensucceededbythemajestyofthelaws;
thepeoplehaslearnedtodespiseallauthority，butfearnowextortsalargertributeofobediencethanthatwhichwasformerlypaidbyreverenceandbylove。
Iperceivethatwehavedestroyedthoseindependentbeingswhichwereabletocopewithtyrannysingle—handed;butitistheGovernmentthathasinheritedtheprivilegesofwhichfamilies，corporations，andindividualshavebeendeprived;theweaknessofthewholecommunityhasthereforesucceededthatinfluenceofasmallbodyofcitizens，which，ifitwassometimesoppressive，wasoftenconservative。Thedivisionofpropertyhaslessenedthedistancewhichseparatedtherichfromthepoor;butitwouldseemthatthenearertheydrawtoeachother，thegreateristheirmutualhatred，andthemorevehementtheenvyandthedreadwithwhichtheyresisteachother’sclaimstopower;thenotionofRightisalikeinsensibletobothclasses，andForceaffordstoboththeonlyargumentforthepresent，andtheonlyguaranteeforthefuture。Thepoormanretainstheprejudicesofhisforefatherswithouttheirfaith，andtheirignorancewithouttheirvirtues;hehasadoptedthedoctrineofself—interestastheruleofhisactions，withoutunderstandingthesciencewhichcontrolsit，andhisegotismisnolessblindthanhisdevotednesswasformerly。Ifsocietyistranquil，itisnotbecauseitreliesuponitsstrengthanditswell—being，butbecauseitknowsitsweaknessanditsinfirmities;asingleeffortmaycostititslife;everybodyfeelstheevil，butnoonehascourageorenergyenoughtoseekthecure;thedesires，theregret，thesorrows，andthejoysofthetimeproducenothingthatisvisibleorpermanent，likethepassionsofoldmenwhichterminateinimpotence。
Wehave，then，abandonedwhateveradvantagestheoldstateofthingsafforded，withoutreceivinganycompensationfromourpresentcondition;wehavedestroyedanaristocracy，andweseeminclinedtosurveyitsruinswithcomplacency，andtofixourabodeinthemidstofthem。
Thephenomenawhichtheintellectualworldpresentsarenotlessdeplorable。ThedemocracyofFrance，checkedinitscourseorabandonedtoitslawlesspassions，hasoverthrownwhatevercrosseditspath，andhasshakenallthatithasnotdestroyed。
Itsempireonsocietyhasnotbeengraduallyintroducedorpeaceablyestablished，butithasconstantlyadvancedinthemidstofdisorderandtheagitationofaconflict。Intheheatofthestruggleeachpartisanishurriedbeyondthelimitsofhisopinionsbytheopinionsandtheexcessesofhisopponents，untilhelosessightoftheendofhisexertions，andholdsalanguagewhichdisguiseshisrealsentimentsorsecretinstincts。Hencearisesthestrangeconfusionwhichwearewitnessing。Icannotrecalltomymindapassageinhistorymoreworthyofsorrowandofpitythanthesceneswhicharehappeningunderoureyes;itisasifthenaturalbondwhichunitestheopinionsofmantohistastesandhisactionstohisprincipleswasnowbroken;thesympathywhichhasalwaysbeenacknowledgedbetweenthefeelingsandtheideasofmankindappearstobedissolved，andallthelawsofmoralanalogytobedissolved，andallthelawsofmoralanalogytobeabolished。
ZealousChristiansmaybefoundamongstuswhosemindsarenurturedintheloveandknowledgeofafuturelife，andwhoreadilyespousethecauseofhumanlibertyasthesourceofallmoralgreatness。Christianity，whichhasdeclaredthatallmenareequalinthesightofGod，willnotrefusetoacknowledgethatallcitizensareequalintheeyeofthelaw。But，byasingularconcourseofevents，religionisentangledinthoseinstitutionswhichdemocracyassails，anditisnotunfrequentlybroughttorejecttheequalityitloves，andtocursethatcauseoflibertyasafoewhichitmighthallowbyitsalliance。
BythesideofthesereligiousmenIdiscernotherswhoselooksareturnedtotheearthmorethantoHeaven;theyarethepartisansofliberty，notonlyasthesourceofthenoblestvirtues，butmoreespeciallyastherootofallsolidadvantages;
andtheysincerelydesiretoextenditssway，andtoimpartitsblessingstomankind。Itisnaturalthattheyshouldhastentoinvoketheassistanceofreligion，fortheymustknowthatlibertycannotbeestablishedwithoutmorality，normoralitywithoutfaith;buttheyhaveseenreligionintheranksoftheiradversaries，andtheyinquirenofurther;someofthemattackitopenly，andtheremainderareafraidtodefendit。
Informeragesslaveryhasbeenadvocatedbythevenalandslavish—minded，whilsttheindependentandthewarm—heartedwerestrugglingwithouthopetosavethelibertiesofmankind。Butmenofhighandgenerouscharactersarenowtobemetwith，whoseopinionsareatvariancewiththeirinclinations，andwhopraisethatservilitywhichtheyhavethemselvesneverknown。Others，onthecontrary，speakinthenameofliberty，asiftheywereabletofeelitssanctityanditsmajesty，andloudlyclaimforhumanitythoserightswhichtheyhavealwaysdisowned。Therearevirtuousandpeacefulindividualswhosepuremorality，quiethabits，affluence，andtalentsfitthemtobetheleadersofthesurroundingpopulation;theirloveoftheircountryissincere，andtheyarepreparedtomakethegreatestsacrificestoitswelfare，buttheyconfoundtheabusesofcivilizationwithitsbenefits，andtheideaofevilisinseparableintheirmindsfromthatofnovelty。
Notfarfromthisclassisanotherparty，whoseobjectistomaterializemankind，tohituponwhatisexpedientwithoutheedingwhatisjust，toacquireknowledgewithoutfaith，andprosperityapartfromvirtue;assumingthetitleofthechampionsofmoderncivilization，andplacingthemselvesinastationwhichtheyusurpwithinsolence，andfromwhichtheyaredrivenbytheirownunworthiness。Wherearewethen？Thereligionistsaretheenemiesofliberty，andthefriendsoflibertyattackreligion;thehigh—mindedandthenobleadvocatesubjection，andthemeanestandmostservilemindspreachindependence;honestandenlightenedcitizensareopposedtoallprogress，whilstmenwithoutpatriotismandwithoutprinciplesaretheapostlesofcivilizationandofintelligence。Hassuchbeenthefateofthecenturieswhichhaveprecededourown？andhasmanalwaysinhabitedaworldlikethepresent，wherenothingislinkedtogether，wherevirtueiswithoutgenius，andgeniuswithouthonor;wheretheloveoforderisconfoundedwithatasteforoppression，andtheholyritesoffreedomwithacontemptoflaw;
wherethelightthrownbyconscienceonhumanactionsisdim，andwherenothingseemstobeanylongerforbiddenorallowed，honorableorshameful，falseortrue？Icannot，however，believethattheCreatormademantoleavehiminanendlessstrugglewiththeintellectualmiserieswhichsurroundus:GoddestinesacalmerandamorecertainfuturetothecommunitiesofEurope;I
amunacquaintedwithHisdesigns，butIshallnotceasetobelieveinthembecauseIcannotfathomthem，andIhadrathermistrustmyowncapacitythanHisjustice。
ThereisacountryintheworldwherethegreatrevolutionwhichIamspeakingofseemsnearlytohavereacheditsnaturallimits;ithasbeeneffectedwitheaseandsimplicity，sayratherthatthiscountryhasattainedtheconsequencesofthedemocraticrevolutionwhichweareundergoingwithouthavingexperiencedtherevolutionitself。TheemigrantswhofixedthemselvesontheshoresofAmericainthebeginningoftheseventeenthcenturyseveredthedemocraticprinciplefromalltheprincipleswhichrepresseditintheoldcommunitiesofEurope，andtransplanteditunalloyedtotheNewWorld。Ithastherebeenallowedtospreadinperfectfreedom，andtoputforthitsconsequencesinthelawsbyinfluencingthemannersofthecountry。
Itappearstomebeyondadoubtthatsoonerorlaterweshallarrive，liketheAmericans，atanalmostcompleteequalityofconditions。ButIdonotconcludefromthisthatweshalleverbenecessarilyledtodrawthesamepoliticalconsequenceswhichtheAmericanshavederivedfromasimilarsocialorganization。Iamfarfromsupposingthattheyhavechosentheonlyformofgovernmentwhichademocracymayadopt;buttheidentityoftheefficientcauseoflawsandmannersinthetwocountriesissufficienttoaccountfortheimmenseinterestwehaveinbecomingacquaintedwithitseffectsineachofthem。
Itisnot，then，merelytosatisfyalegitimatecuriositythatIhaveexaminedAmerica;mywishhasbeentofindinstructionbywhichwemayourselvesprofit。WhoevershouldimaginethatIhaveintendedtowriteapanegyricwillperceivethatsuchwasnotmydesign;norhasitbeenmyobjecttoadvocateanyformofgovernmentinparticular，forIamofopinionthatabsoluteexcellenceisrarelytobefoundinanylegislation;Ihavenotevenaffectedtodiscusswhetherthesocialrevolution，whichIbelievetobeirresistible，isadvantageousorprejudicialtomankind;Ihaveacknowledgedthisrevolutionasafactalreadyaccomplishedorontheeveofitsaccomplishment;andIhaveselectedthenation，fromamongstthosewhichhaveundergoneit，inwhichitsdevelopmenthasbeenthemostpeacefulandthemostcomplete，inordertodiscernitsnaturalconsequences，and，ifitbepossible，todistinguishthemeansbywhichitmayberenderedprofitable。IconfessthatinAmericaIsawmorethanAmerica;Isoughttheimageofdemocracyitself，withitsinclinations，itscharacter，itsprejudices，anditspassions，inordertolearnwhatwehavetofearortohopefromitsprogress。
InthefirstpartofthisworkIhaveattemptedtoshowthetendencygiventothelawsbythedemocracyofAmerica，whichisabandonedalmostwithoutrestrainttoitsinstinctivepropensities，andtoexhibitthecourseitprescribestotheGovernmentandtheinfluenceitexercisesonaffairs。Ihavesoughttodiscovertheevilsandtheadvantageswhichitproduces。IhaveexaminedtheprecautionsusedbytheAmericanstodirectit，aswellasthosewhichtheyhavenotadopted，andI
haveundertakentopointoutthecauseswhichenableittogovernsociety。IdonotknowwhetherIhavesucceededinmakingknownwhatIsawinAmerica，butIamcertainthatsuchhasbeenmysinceredesire，andthatIhavenever，knowingly，mouldedfactstoideas，insteadofideastofacts。
Wheneverapointcouldbeestablishedbytheaidofwrittendocuments，Ihavehadrecoursetotheoriginaltext，andtothemostauthenticandapprovedworks。Ihavecitedmyauthoritiesinthenotes，andanyonemayrefertothem。Wheneveranopinion，apoliticalcustom，oraremarkonthemannersofthecountrywasconcerned，IendeavoredtoconsultthemostenlightenedmenImetwith。Ifthepointinquestionwasimportantordoubtful，Iwasnotsatisfiedwithonetestimony，butIformedmyopinionontheevidenceofseveralwitnesses。Herethereadermustnecessarilybelievemeuponmyword。Icouldfrequentlyhavequotednameswhichareeitherknowntohim，orwhichdeservetobeso，inproofofwhatIadvance;butIhavecarefullyabstainedfromthispractice。Astrangerfrequentlyhearsimportanttruthsatthefire—sideofhishost，whichthelatterwouldperhapsconcealfromtheearoffriendship;heconsoleshimselfwithhisguestforthesilencetowhichheisrestricted，andtheshortnessofthetraveller’sstaytakesawayallfearofhisindiscretion。I
carefullynotedeveryconversationofthisnatureassoonasitoccurred，butthesenoteswillneverleavemywriting—case;Ihadratherinjurethesuccessofmystatementsthanaddmynametothelistofthosestrangerswhorepaythegeneroushospitalitytheyhavereceivedbysubsequentchagrinandannoyance。
Iamawarethat，notwithstandingmycare，nothingwillbeeasierthantocriticisethisbook，ifanyoneeverchoosestocriticiseit。Thosereaderswhomayexamineitcloselywilldiscoverthefundamentalideawhichconnectstheseveralpartstogether。ButthediversityofthesubjectsIhavehadtotreatisexceedinglygreat，anditwillnotbedifficulttoopposeanisolatedfacttothebodyoffactswhichIquote，oranisolatedideatothebodyofideasIputforth。Ihopetobereadinthespiritwhichhasguidedmylabors，andthatmybookmaybejudgedbythegeneralimpressionitleaves，asIhaveformedmyownjudgmentnotonanysinglereason，butuponthemassofevidence。
Itmustnotbeforgottenthattheauthorwhowishestobeunderstoodisobligedtopushallhisideastotheirutmosttheoreticalconsequences，andoftentothevergeofwhatisfalseorimpracticable;forifitbenecessarysometimestoquittherulesoflogicinactivelife，suchisnotthecaseindiscourse，andamanfindsthatalmostasmanydifficultiesspringfrominconsistencyoflanguageasusuallyarisefrominconsistencyofconduct。
Iconcludebypointingoutmyselfwhatmanyreaderswillconsidertheprincipaldefectofthework。Thisbookiswrittentofavornoparticularviews，andincomposingitIhaveentertainednodesignsofservingorattackinganyparty;Ihaveundertakennottoseedifferently，buttolookfurtherthanparties，andwhilsttheyarebusiedforthemorrowIhaveturnedmythoughtstotheFuture。
ChapterI:ExteriorFormOfNorthAmericaChapterSummaryNorthAmericadividedintotwovastregions，oneincliningtowardsthePole，theothertowardstheEquator—ValleyoftheMississippi—TracesoftheRevolutionsoftheGlobe—ShoreoftheAtlanticOceanwheretheEnglishColonieswerefounded—
DifferenceintheappearanceofNorthandofSouthAmericaatthetimeoftheirDiscovery—ForestsofNorthAmerica—Prairies—WanderingTribesofNatives—Theiroutwardappearance，manners，andlanguage—Tracesofanunknownpeople。
ExteriorFormOfNorthAmericaNorthAmericapresentsinitsexternalformcertaingeneralfeatureswhichitiseasytodiscriminateatthefirstglance。A
sortofmethodicalorderseemstohaveregulatedtheseparationoflandandwater，mountainsandvalleys。Asimple，butgrand，arrangementisdiscoverableamidsttheconfusionofobjectsandtheprodigiousvarietyofscenes。Thiscontinentisdivided，almostequally，intotwovastregions，oneofwhichisboundedonthenorthbytheArcticPole，andbythetwogreatoceansontheeastandwest。Itstretchestowardsthesouth，formingatrianglewhoseirregularsidesmeetatlengthbelowthegreatlakesofCanada。Thesecondregionbeginswheretheotherterminates，andincludesalltheremainderofthecontinent。TheoneslopesgentlytowardsthePole，theothertowardstheEquator。
Theterritorycomprehendedinthefirstregiondescendstowardsthenorthwithsoimperceptibleaslopethatitmayalmostbesaidtoformalevelplain。Withintheboundsofthisimmensetractofcountrythereareneitherhighmountainsnordeepvalleys。Streamsmeanderthroughitirregularly:greatriversmixtheircurrents，separateandmeetagain，disperseandformvastmarshes，losingalltraceoftheirchannelsinthelabyrinthofwaterstheyhavethemselvescreated;andthus，atlength，afterinnumerablewindings，fallintothePolarSeas。
Thegreatlakeswhichboundthisfirstregionarenotwalledin，likemostofthoseintheOldWorld，betweenhillsandrocks。
Theirbanksareflat，andrisebutafewfeetabovetheleveloftheirwaters;eachofthemthusformingavastbowlfilledtothebrim。TheslightestchangeinthestructureoftheglobewouldcausetheirwaterstorusheithertowardsthePoleortothetropicalsea。
Thesecondregionismorevariedonitssurface，andbettersuitedforthehabitationofman。Twolongchainsofmountainsdivideitfromoneextremetotheother;theAlleghanyridgetakestheformoftheshoresoftheAtlanticOcean;theotherisparallelwiththePacific。Thespacewhichliesbetweenthesetwochainsofmountainscontains1，341，649squaremiles。*aItssurfaceisthereforeaboutsixtimesasgreatasthatofFrance。
Thisvastterritory，however，formsasinglevalley，onesideofwhichdescendsgraduallyfromtheroundedsummitsoftheAlleghanies，whiletheotherrisesinanuninterruptedcoursetowardsthetopsoftheRockyMountains。Atthebottomofthevalleyflowsanimmenseriver，intowhichthevariousstreamsissuingfromthemountainsfallfromallparts。Inmemoryoftheirnativeland，theFrenchformerlycalledthisrivertheSt。
Louis。TheIndians，intheirpompouslanguage，havenamedittheFatherofWaters，ortheMississippi。
[Footnotea:Darby’s"ViewoftheUnitedStates。"]
TheMississippitakesitssourceabovethelimitofthetwogreatregionsofwhichIhavespoken，notfarfromthehighestpointofthetable—landwheretheyunite。Nearthesamespotrisesanotherriver，*bwhichemptiesitselfintothePolarseas。
ThecourseoftheMississippiisatfirstdubious:itwindsseveraltimestowardsthenorth，fromwhenceitrose;andatlength，afterhavingbeendelayedinlakesandmarshes，itflowsslowlyonwardstothesouth。Sometimesquietlyglidingalongtheargillaceousbedwhichnaturehasassignedtoit，sometimesswollenbystorms，theMississippiwaters2，500milesinitscourse。*cAtthedistanceof1，364milesfromitsmouththisriverattainsanaveragedepthoffifteenfeet;anditisnavigatedbyvesselsof300tonsburdenforacourseofnearly500miles。Fifty—sevenlargenavigableriverscontributetoswellthewatersoftheMississippi;amongstothers，theMissouri，whichtraversesaspaceof2，500miles;theArkansasof1，300miles，theRedRiver1，000miles，fourwhosecourseisfrom800to1，000milesinlength，viz。，theIllinois，theSt。
Peter’s，theSt。Francis，andtheMoingona;besidesacountlessmultitudeofrivuletswhichunitefromallpartstheirtributarystreams。
[Footnoteb:TheRedRiver。]
[Footnotec:Warden’s"DescriptionoftheUnitedStates。"]
ThevalleywhichiswateredbytheMississippiseemsformedtobethebedofthismightyriver，which，likeagodofantiquity，dispensesbothgoodandevilinitscourse。Ontheshoresofthestreamnaturedisplaysaninexhaustiblefertility;
inproportionasyourecedefromitsbanks，thepowersofvegetationlanguish，thesoilbecomespoor，andtheplantsthatsurvivehaveasicklygrowth。NowherehavethegreatconvulsionsoftheglobeleftmoreevidenttracesthaninthevalleyoftheMississippi;thewholeaspectofthecountryshowsthepowerfuleffectsofwater，bothbyitsfertilityandbyitsbarrenness。
Thewatersoftheprimevaloceanaccumulatedenormousbedsofvegetablemouldinthevalley，whichtheylevelledastheyretired。Upontherightshoreoftheriverareseenimmenseplains，assmoothasifthehusbandmanhadpassedoverthemwithhisroller。Asyouapproachthemountainsthesoilbecomesmoreandmoreunequalandsterile;thegroundis，asitwere，piercedinathousandplacesbyprimitiverocks，whichappearlikethebonesofaskeletonwhosefleshispartlyconsumed。Thesurfaceoftheearthiscoveredwithagranitesandandhugeirregularmassesofstone，amongwhichafewplantsforcetheirgrowth，andgivetheappearanceofagreenfieldcoveredwiththeruinsofavastedifice。Thesestonesandthissanddiscover，onexamination，aperfectanalogywiththosewhichcomposethearidandbrokensummitsoftheRockyMountains。Thefloodofwaterswhichwashedthesoiltothebottomofthevalleyafterwardscarriedawayportionsoftherocksthemselves;andthese，dashedandbruisedagainsttheneighboringcliffs，wereleftscatteredlikewrecksattheirfeet。*dThevalleyoftheMississippiis，uponthewhole，themostmagnificentdwelling—placepreparedbyGodforman’sabode;andyetitmaybesaidthatatpresentitisbutamightydesert。
[Footnoted:SeeAppendix，A。]
OntheeasternsideoftheAlleghanies，betweenthebaseofthesemountainsandtheAtlanticOcean，thereliesalongridgeofrocksandsand，whichtheseaappearstohaveleftbehindasitretired。Themeanbreadthofthisterritorydoesnotexceedonehundredmiles;butitisaboutninehundredmilesinlength。
ThispartoftheAmericancontinenthasasoilwhichofferseveryobstacletothehusbandman，anditsvegetationisscantyandunvaried。
Uponthisinhospitablecoastthefirstunitedeffortsofhumanindustryweremade。ThetongueofaridlandwasthecradleofthoseEnglishcolonieswhichweredestinedonedaytobecometheUnitedStatesofAmerica。Thecentreofpowerstillremainshere;whilstinthebackwoodsthetrueelementsofthegreatpeopletowhomthefuturecontrolofthecontinentbelongsaregatheringalmostinsecrecytogether。
WhentheEuropeansfirstlandedontheshoresoftheWestIndies，andafterwardsonthecoastofSouthAmerica，theythoughtthemselvestransportedintothosefabulousregionsofwhichpoetshadsung。Theseasparkledwithphosphoriclight，andtheextraordinarytransparencyofitswatersdiscoveredtotheviewofthenavigatorallthathadhithertobeenhiddeninthedeepabyss。*eHereandthereappearedlittleislandsperfumedwithodoriferousplants，andresemblingbasketsofflowersfloatingonthetranquilsurfaceoftheocean。Everyobjectwhichmetthesight，inthisenchantingregion，seemedpreparedtosatisfythewantsorcontributetothepleasuresofman。Almostallthetreeswereloadedwithnourishingfruits，andthosewhichwereuselessasfooddelightedtheeyebythebrilliancyandvarietyoftheircolors。Ingrovesoffragrantlemon—trees，wildfigs，floweringmyrtles，acacias，andoleanders，whichwerehungwithfestoonsofvariousclimbingplants，coveredwithflowers，amultitudeofbirdsunknowninEuropedisplayedtheirbrightplumage，glitteringwithpurpleandazure，andmingledtheirwarblingwiththeharmonyofaworldteemingwithlifeandmotion。*fUnderneaththisbrilliantexteriordeathwasconcealed。Buttheairoftheseclimateshadsoenervatinganinfluencethatman，absorbedbypresentenjoyment，wasrenderedregardlessofthefuture。
[Footnotee:MalteBruntellsus（vol。v。p。726）thatthewateroftheCaribbeanSeaissotransparentthatcoralsandfisharediscernibleatadepthofsixtyfathoms。Theshipseemedtofloatinair，thenavigatorbecamegiddyashiseyepenetratedthroughthecrystalflood，andbeheldsubmarinegardens，orbedsofshells，orgildedfishesglidingamongtuftsandthicketsofseaweed。]
[Footnotef:SeeAppendix，B。]
NorthAmericaappearedunderaverydifferentaspect;thereeverythingwasgrave，serious，andsolemn:itseemedcreatedtobethedomainofintelligence，astheSouthwasthatofsensualdelight。Aturbulentandfoggyoceanwasheditsshores。Itwasgirtroundbyabeltofgraniterocks，orbywidetractsofsand。
Thefoliageofitswoodswasdarkandgloomy，fortheywerecomposedoffirs，larches，evergreenoaks，wildolive—trees，andlaurels。Beyondthisouterbeltlaythethickshadesofthecentralforest，wherethelargesttreeswhichareproducedinthetwohemispheresgrowsidebyside。Theplane，thecatalpa，thesugar—maple，andtheVirginianpoplarmingledtheirbrancheswiththoseoftheoak，thebeech，andthelime。Inthese，asintheforestsoftheOldWorld，destructionwasperpetuallygoingon。Theruinsofvegetationwereheapeduponeachother;buttherewasnolaboringhandtoremovethem，andtheirdecaywasnotrapidenoughtomakeroomforthecontinualworkofreproduction。Climbingplants，grasses，andotherherbsforcedtheirwaythroughthemassofdyingtrees;theycreptalongtheirbendingtrunks，foundnourishmentintheirdustycavities，andapassagebeneaththelifelessbark。Thusdecaygaveitsassistancetolife，andtheirrespectiveproductionsweremingledtogether。Thedepthsoftheseforestsweregloomyandobscure，undirectedintheircoursebyhumanindustry，preservedinthemaconstantmoisture。Itwasraretomeetwithflowers，wildfruits，orbirdsbeneaththeirshades。Thefallofatreeoverthrownbyage，therushingtorrentofacataract，thelowingofthebuffalo，andthehowlingofthewindweretheonlysoundswhichbrokethesilenceofnature。
Totheeastofthegreatriver，thewoodsalmostdisappeared;intheirsteadwereseenprairiesofimmenseextent。