landlords of Scotland, more than in any other country, nor more at this time than any former period. The rife of lands has been the consequence of an increase of trade and wealth, and the difpofition to go abroad in the common people, at prefent, is owing to the fame cause that made clerks and fupercargoes go out for these fifty years paft, viz. the hope of bettering their circumftances. It is both unjust and impoffible to hinder them, if they be so minded; and, for the reasons given above, I am perfuaded it will not be the least injury to those of any rank whom they leave behind. For my own part, my interest in the matter is not great ; but fince Providence has fent me to this part of the world, and fince fo much honour has been done me, as to suppose that my character might be fome fecurity against fraud and impofition, I shall certainly look upon it as my duty, to do every real fervice in my power to fuch of my countrymen as fhall fall in my way, and fhall either defire or feem to need my affiftance.

J. W.

IGNORANCE OF THE BRITISH

WITH RESPECT TO

AMERICA.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SCOTS MAGAZINE.

SIR,

Philadelphia, May 28. 1771.

I Saw in your Magazine (Appendix 1770) a let

·ter, figned E. R. containing fome remarks upon, and a fevere condemnation of Dr Lathrop's fermon at Boston, entitled, "Innocent Blood crying for Vengeance." Thefe remarks are introduced with obferving, that the fynod of New-York and Philadelphia had written a letter, and claimed relation to the church of Scotland; and then fays the author,

on reading of which I could not help thinking, if we may judge of the American church from the fample here given, that our church derives no great honour from her western progeny; but I hope the ftock is better than the fample.'

Now, Sir, as to this author's obfervations on Dr Lathrop's fermon, I fhall fay little-becaufe, perhaps, it cannot be wholly juftified; yet, if all circumstances are duly attended to, there is as little. reason to infult or glory over the people of Boston, as there was to excite the public refentment against Captain P. But what I have only in view, is fhortly to expose the exceffive abfurdity and ignorance of bringing in the fynod of New-York and Philadelphia on this occafion. Were the author of this fermon even a member of the fynod, or any way connected with it, the attempt would be impertinent; because no church can be fuppofed anfwerable for the prudence of every particular perfon connected with her, efpecially the wifdom or prepriety of their publications. Does the church of Scotland defire to be judged by this rule? I suppose not. Nor will I be guilty of fo much injuftice, as to judge of her by this her friend and advocate. 'I hope,' as he fays, the stock is better than the fample;' for,

How astonishing must be the ignorance of that gentleman concerning the British dominions in America, when he fsupposes the ministers of Boston to be a part of the fynod of New York and Philadelphia! Did the fynod's letter fay any such thing? Did it not enumerate the provinces in which their members refide? Did it not inform the Public, that it is but seventy years fince the first prefbytery met in this country? But give me leave to inform your correspondent, that it is about one hundred and forty years fince the people of New-England established a college at Cambridge near Bofton; that their

churches are upon the independent plan, and are, in the four New-England provinces, above five hundred in number; whereas the whole fynod of New. York and Philadelphia contained, when their letter was written, but one hundred and twenty-feven members, and does not now amount to one hundred and fifty.

I do not mean by this to difclaim connection with the churches of New-England. They are a moft refpectable part of the church of Christ. Nor do I think that any part of the British empire is at this day equal to them for real religion and found morals. My fingle purpofe is to teach your correfpondent, and your readers in general, not to write upon American affairs unlefs they underfland them. I tell you nothing but truth when I fay, that being a Briton, I have often blushed in company to hear ftories narrated of the abfurd and ignorant manner in which perfons of no inconfiderable ftations in Britain have talked of things and places in America. We have heard of a gentleman in the House of Commons frequently making mention of the island of Pennfylvania; and of another who, in the Privy Council, infifted, after contradiction, on his being right in his defcription of the island of NewJerfey.

But what excels every thing is the following ftory, which I have been affured by perfons well acquainted with it, was a fact.-Some years ago a frigate came from England, with difpatches for many, or most of the governors of provinces in North America. The captain had orders to go first to New York, and from thence to proceed to

Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, Pennfylvania, and the Jerfeys. When he arrived at New York, he delivered his dispatches there, and mentioned his orders. The governor told him, if you will give me the letters for the governors of New Jersey and Pennfylvania, I will undertake to have them delivered in forty-eight hours, but if you take the rout prefcribed to you, perhaps they will not receive them in three months. To which the captain replied, I do not care a farthing about the matter; I will stick to my inftructions.

I am, Sir, your moft obedient,

humble fervant,

X. Y.