at the evil. He
was the political sponsor for all the new notions on the subject of our
foreign mercantile policy; and by laying before him in a strong point of
view the fatal consequences of carrying his system to extremes, I hoped
something might yet be done for the owners of real estate, the bones and
sinews of the land.

I shall just add in this place that Mr. Huskisson sent me a very polite
and a very statesman-like reply, in which he disclaimed any intention of
meddling improperly with British interests in any way; that taxation was
necessary to our system, and of course every nation was the best
judge of its own means and resources; but that he merely aimed at the
establishment of just and generous principles, by which nations that had
no occasion for British measures should not unhandsomely resort to
them; and that certain external truths should stand, like so many
well-constructed tubs, each on its own bottom. I must say I was pleased
with this attention from a man generally reputed as clever as Mr.
Huskisson, and from that time I became a convert to most of his
opinions.

The next communication that I opened was from the overseer of the estate
in Louisiana, who informed me that the general aspect of things in that
quarter of the world was favorable, but the smallpox had found its way
among the negroes, and the business of the plantation would immediately
require the services of fifteen able-bodied men, with the usual
sprinkling of women and children. He added that the laws of America
prohibited the further importation of blacks from any country without
the limits of the Union, but that there was a very pretty and profitable
internal trade in the article, and that the supply might be obtained in
sufficient season either from the Carolinas, Virginia, or Maryland.
He admitted, however, that there was some choice between the different
stocks of these several States, and that some discretion might be
necessary in making the selection. The negro of the Carolinas was the
most used to the cotton-field, had less occasion for clothes, and it had
been proved by experiment could be fattened on red herrings; while, on
the other hand, the negro farther north had the highest instinct, could
sometimes reason, and that he had even been known to preach when he
had got as high up as Philadelphia. He much affected, also, bacon and
poultry. Perhaps it might be well to purchase samples of lots from all
the different stocks in ma