our geography, institutions, and progress. The general tone of remark in many circles would indicate that the people of America are but a step removed from barbarism, descendants of Indians-Indians themselves, slightly improved. A few instances of this will show my meaning. In conversation, one day, with a well-educated physician of London, our remarks turned upon the modes of living in America; and one thing leading to another, I was soon aware that my kind and intelligent host believed that Americans, instead of rising and quietly retiring from the table after dinner, would throw their feet upon the board, and, if they wished, spit across, on, or under the table, as was most convenient. The habit of spitting is considered peculiarly odious, and peculiarly American; and many persons imagine that we are in the vulgar habit of spitting in the pulpit, at the table, on ladies' dresses, and in the hats of friends. But as vulgar as the habit is, and as prevalent among us as it may be, it cannot be more objectionable to them than the vulgar habit of snuff-taking, which prevails in Europe, is to us. I have seen snuff taken in the stage, in the family, in the store, at the table, and in the pulpit, by men who make the highest claim to gentility and fashionable education. A distinguished clergyman in Paris, on the day when I went to hear him, paused at the close of every division of an able discourse, and deliberately drawing his snuff-box from his pocket, used its contents, and then went to preaching again as furiously as a farmer would go to mowing after a potent dram.

Of our geography they seem to know as little as of our habits. A clergyman asked me one day if New England was in Massachusetts. Had I asked him if Europe was in Italy, he would have ridiculed my

ignorance, and justly too; and yet my question would have been as reasonable as his. A gentleman who was presiding at a temperance meeting in Exeter Hallthe editor of a London paper -introduced a speaker as from Portland, Massachusetts. He was corrected; but, making another blunder, he said, "The gentleman is from Maine, Massachusetts." Should the presiding officer of a meeting in America introduce a speaker as from Scotland, England, the children present would smile at his ignorance; and yet the moderator of a meeting in England feels no blush if he makes such a mistake with reference to our country. You may remember that, on one occasion, Mr. Webster was spoken of by a distinguished Englishman as a "member of the Upper Senate of New York" -a blunder very pardonable in a child or an ignoramus, but not in a statesman or a man of letters.

One day, on the platform of Exeter Hall, I met with a distinguished member of the society of Friends. He asked where I was from, and who I was, and added, "Why, thee talk our language as well as we do❞—the poor man evidently thinking we used here the dialect of the Indians, or the brogue of the Irish, when the fact is, the English language is used nowhere in the world with as much purity as in New England; and of this fact all Englishmen who have ever visited our country are aware. I repeatedly heard the remark, when I informed friends with whom I became acquainted where I was from, “Why, you are no darker than our people!' or "You are as light as an Englishman!"-as if they expected I was of a copper color, when all the blood which flows in my veins I have derived from an English ancestry. In the great exhibition, in the department of America, are two model Indians, adorned in

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all the quills, feathers, and laces of an Indian chief and his wife, or squaw. An intelligent-looking lady one day was overheard to ask a member of the House of Commons, with all apparent seriousness, if "all Americans were like these."

If I should say that this ignorance of and prejudice against America was found in all circles, it would not be true. Where America is known, she is appreciated; and among all the people of different nations, I have found none more agreeable and kind than our English friends. When once you get under the cold, icy, outside crust of English life, you find the finest and most delightful society in the world.

But we return to Birmingham. To its credit be it said, it has, with its two hundred and twenty thousand inhabitants, about sixty churches, some fifty of which are evangelical, and but few theaters; many pious ministers, and few preachers of error; many scenes of pure and reasonable recreation, and very few which are degrading and vicious. It is one vast workshop — one industrial exhibition, in which all trades are represented. Here may be found all kinds of iron work, glass works, tin and brass works, button manufactories, pin and pen factories, electro plating, papier maché working, India rubber works, manufactories where fire-arms, metallic furniture, cloth, and almost every other namable article is produced in the most finished manner, and in the largest quantities.

Nor does the stranger find the country surrounding Birmingham to be destitute of interest. Out at a little distance is Coventry, and the old ruins of Kenilworth Castle, and Warwick Castle and town, in which still remain the evidences of former greatness the halls where kings and queens reveled in luxury. Still beyond

is Stratford-on-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakspeare, with the old house in which he was born still standing. Still farther off is Dudley Castle, memorable in the history of the past, and living with the associations which link the past to the present and the future. Indeed, every inch of ground in this vicinity is historic; every cliff, and hill, and vale bring to mind some scene of glory or shame of which poets have sung, or over which orators have grown eloquent.

We left Birmingham early one morning for London, the Babylon of modern times; and into that great city our readers, in the next chapter, will be taken.

V.

GENERAL VIEW OF LONDON.

ONE day, about ten o'clock in the morning, I found myself in a London omnibus, rolling away from the railroad station, towards I knew not where, near the center of the great city. Where we were "put down" mattered little to myself and associates. We had no home; and one part of the city was as likely to afford us a stopping-place as another. The streets were blocked up with carriages and cabs, and crowds of busy men were moving to and fro. Now we were obliged to wait until the street-way could be cleared; and anon we were dashing on by proud churches, wellfilled stores, and grand residences. Near the Bank we left the "bus," and commenced our search for a temporary home. home. We soon found that we could live any where, and at any price; for, notwithstanding the crowded state of the city, we found "apartments to let" in great abundance. We soon engaged lodgings, including breakfast, service, &c., for three shillings and eightpence per day. Under this arrangement, we were to find our dinner and tea where we could, which usually cost about three shillings more, making our daily expense six shillings and eightpence. To this was to be added the expense of washing, sight-seeing, riding, and other extras, which we found, notwithstanding the cheapness of our board, to amount to a considerable sum by the close of the week.