Globalization of the United States, 1789-1861

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Goodrich, Charles A. The Universal Traveller: Designed to Introduce Readers at Home to an Acquaintance with the Arts, Customs, and Manners of the Principal Modern Nations on the Globe. Hartford: G. Robins, 1843.

Charles A. Goodrich. The Universal Traveller: Designed to Introduce Readers at Home to an Acquaintance with the Arts, Customs, and Manners of the Principal Modern Nations on the Globe. Hartford: G. Robins, 1843. p. [9].

Catering to the armchair traveler, Goodrich proclaimed that reading about the world secondhand “will make you more satisfied than ever with your own country.”

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It is the privilege of but few, to visit and observe distant countries and different nations. Although travelling has greatly increased of late years, and, as facilities are multiplied, is likely to increase still more, yet it is chiefly confined to certain classes, by no means numerically large. The majority are necessarily cut off from this species of amusement and information. They have neither the requisite leisure, nor sufficient wealth. Many, also, are unfitted for travelling, by reason of their habits and dispositions. New countries, and new objects, would neither please nor profit them. And not a few who do travel, are disqualified for improvement, from the want of that peculiar tact — that power of observation and discrimination, which is so essential to a just estimate of men and manners.

But for such a privation, is there no indemnity? Must they, who cannot literally visit foreign countries, and cannot view with their own eyes the varieties of human character and customs, always remain in ignorance? Happily, this is not the severe condition of their being. It is not necessary to forego the pleasure and advantages of a varied and extensive knowledge of the world. They may enjoy travelling, as well as others. They may enjoy it at home, and in every season of the year, even amidst the frosts and confinement of winter. They may travel, and yet never quit their firesides or porticoes.

If it be necessary to explain to our readers how this can be done, we will begin by supposing that the long evenings of our winters are arrived — the storm rages abroad — the winds howl around your dwelling; but you are quietly seated by your comfortable fire, and you wish some amusing, and yet profitable employment, in which to pass away the hours. We propose to you, then, to make a travelling excursion — a sort of tarry-at-home journey, or voyage around the globe. We will endeavor, by giving a condensed, yet sufficiently extensive account of the world, in the manners, customs, rites, laws, governments, and other particulars respecting its inhabitants, to furnish the means of your making such an excursion. We will hold up a picture by which, in the comfort and security of your homes, you may see whatever is worthy of inspection, just as the literal traveller would see it, in the various states and kingdoms of which the globe is constituted.

To those, however, who are reluctant to attempt such a tour, we would suggest particular considerations.

1. You will avoid the dangers and sufferings, which attend those who go abroad among different nations. No man, who leaves his home for a distant land, knows what may befall him in his course; or rather, every such a one knows, that he exposes himself to numerous perils and difficulties. He can scarcely hope to escape casualties and disasters; and it is a chance if his life is not the forfeiture of his curiosity. What has been the fate of travellers, especially the more adventurous of them? Witness Ledyard, Park, Clapperton, Lander, and hundreds of others. But by the mode of travelling here proposed, you will run no such hazards as attended these men, and by which they lost their lives. You will escape perils by land and perils by sea. You will be exposed to no dangers from pirates who infest the seas, or from robbers or assassins, who waylay the passing land-traveller. You may visit the most savage tribes, in perfect safety &mdash Indians, Algerines, New-Zealanders, barbarians, cannibals. You will fear neither the scorching heats of an African desert, nor the rigors of a Siberian winter. You may travel thousands of miles, with scarcely the sense of weariness. You may penetrate the most distant countries, and remain in perfect quiet. You may enjoy, in a sense, all the amusements of the voyager or traveller, and suffer none of his inconveniences.

2. You will be able to acquire a greater amount of information, and that of a more accurate kind, in a single month, than by travelling for years, in the common and literal mode. This will be the case, because you will have passed through more countries, and have observed more of men and manners, than if you had employed the time in personal examination. And as to accuracy of information — minute and full acquaintance with the objects met with in travelling, this may be expected from the method here proposed, when it could not be attained in any other way. Perhaps you are not fitted to make such nice observations on men and manners, as are found in many books of travel. Perhaps you are not acquainted with the different languages that are necessary to be understood, in order to the acquisition of correct knowledge. You may not be able to philosophize, or deduce inferences, or make comparisons, as is desirable in order to learn all that might be learned by travelling. For these and other reasons, this sort of tarry-at-home excursion may furnish you not only with more, but better information, respecting different countries, than if you were actually to spend the same time in personal inspection of them.

3. The mode of travelling here recommended, will serve to enlarge and enrich the mind. Nothing is better calculated to produce this effect, than just delineations of human nature — of human life, and manners, and character — of man in all the varieties of his condition, as an inhabitant of the earth. It expands our views, and furnishes the mind with innumerable topics of thought and illustration. Knowledge generally is the best kind of acquisition — better than silver or gold, or any of the means of sensual enjoyment It will be a source of happiness, as you will be able to enjoy yourselves independently of others. Knowledge cannot be taken away, as property and other worldly acquisitions may be. It is our own prerogative, and the distinction of our intellectual nature, and can be annihilated only with the mind, in which it resides. Besides, it will give you influence and reputation — extend the sphere of your exertions, and increase the power of doing good. Imparting weight to character, it will entitle you to consideration in all respectable society. The branch or kind of knowledge more especially recommended here, is equal in value to that of any other, religion excepted. Indeed, it may lead you to true religious knowledge. If there is any kind of secular information which has a direct moral use and tendency, it must be this. Through such a mode of travelling, you will become acquainted with the human character; you will see it as modified by religion or its opposite. You will of course be able to judge of the value of the Bible and Christian institutions, as you will perceive their influence upon the state of society. You will find their influence always and uniformly propitious. Where they are not known, society will be seen to be eminently in a vicious, unhappy, and degraded state. You will be able to judge of the value of the Bible and of Christian institutions, especially in their influence on woman — how they raise her to her proper rank in the domestic state — expand her mind and refine her character. The false religions and superstitions on the earth, will be seen in all their polluting, degrading, and distressing influence on the sex. Thus, the comparison of the effects of Christianity, and those false religions, which knowledge in this way acquired will enable you to make, cannot but show you the genius of that religion, and its infinite superiority to every other.

4. You will learn from our proposed mode of travelling, the useful lesson of contentment. It will make you more satisfied than ever with your own country — its state of society — morals, religion, education, government, and privileges — most of those circumstances in which it differs from other countries, and indeed all the circumstances that contribute to national happiness. It may be hoped, too, that your gratitude to God will be excited in view of the distinguished mercies you enjoy, in common with your countrymen. It must be felt to be an occasion of the most sincere gratitude, that he has placed you in so favored and goodly a land, rather than amid the burning sands of Africa, or the frozen wilds of Northern Asia — and that he has conferred on us, as a nation, those civil and religious institutions that are the glory of our land.

Now, then, reader, as you are decided to accompany us, we will set forth. But as self-knowledge is the most important — and a knowledge of one’s own country is to be preferred to that of all others, we will first take a survey of ourselves; and when we have done this, if you become weary, you may retreat, and we will endeavor to enlist some one else to accompany us. It is our purpose, however, to make the circuit so interesting, that instead of leaving us, we expect you will cling the closer, the longer we travel together. Without further preface, then, we will commence our review with America.