J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur’s (1735 - 1813) book Letters from an American Farmer was first published in London in 1782. Through a series of letters the author talks about an idealized free society in America. The author’s farm Pine Hill is the setting for these letters, which depict a land damaged by civilization. In the third letter What is an American Crebecoeur gives his opinion on immigration and emigration with the motto Ubi panis ibi patria ( Where there is bread, there is (my) country ). These letters provide an interesting view of 18th century America and the attitudes of one important author of the era.