Mooney's Nine Years In America.
From particular circumstances our attention has been latterly
a good deal directed to works treating of America, and we can
honestly aver, that we have obtained more substantial
information from this litle shilling work of Mr Mooney's,
than we have been able to extract from works ten times
as large and twenty times as costly. It is written in the
form of "letters," purporting to give advice to an
intending emigrant, and the scope of these epistles may be
gathered from the following short extract:-
"I think the best use I can make of any surplus time at my command,
is to write a series of letters to you and the rest of my countrymen,
placing before you faithfully the advantages and disadvantages of
the New World, with full directions for the guidance of every class
of my countrymen and countrywomen whose circumstances oblige them to
go in quest of a new home."
This comprehensive intention is carried out in four familiar epistles,
written in a very agreeable and unpretending style. The first presents
to us "AMERICA AS IT IS," and enters with some particularity into
a consideration of "the constitution, government, customs, education,
industry, enterprise, and general habits of the people of America;"
the second letter contains full information as to the best way of
reaching this land of promise, and is headed, "PREPARATIONS AND ADVICE
FOR THE VOYAGE;" the third letter is entitled, "ARRIVAL IN THE NEW
WORLD - SEARCH FOR A HOME," and carries the reader along more than
two thousand miles of "the richest, finest, freest country in the
world," beginning at New York and never stopping till he reaches
Winconsin. [Wisconsin?] The details and description given in this
letter are full of interest and information, not alone to the
general reader also. The fourth and last letter gives an account of
"THE MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS," and must be particularly useful to the
class of operatives and artisans who go to seek their fortunes
amongst them, because it enables the seeker after immediate employment,
to discover at a glance, where his particular trade or calling
flourishes most and is best rewarded, and thus sends him point blank
to his proper destination, without the necessity of lingering a
moment by the way.
The whole of the information contained in Mr Mooney's capital little
work - which ought to be called, "THE EMIGRANT'S BEST GUIDE TO
AMERICA," and most assuredly would never belie the title - is the
product of nine years residence there. Indeed it has this superiority
of the far greater number of works of a similar class, that it is
evidently the production of one who has saw and studied all that he
records, and who brings along experience as well as accurate
observation to aid the praiseworthy purpose he has in view; on this
account, we do not hesitate to advise all those who wish to gain a
rapid yet most intelligent glance at America progesss and America's
capabilities, to add it to their library without delay.
