. they are immeasurably superior to the othersare, that the back of the seat is not high enough, there being no support for the head and neck, no soft, snug corner to nestle in, while the seat is rather short for two-at least for two goodly Britishers; perhaps it may do for two lean Yankees. On a railway on the broad guage, between, I think, Elmira and Canandaigua, in the west of New York State, the latter defect does not exist, and there I saw the most comfortable cars for a short journey that I ever met. On long journeys, for half a dollar, one can get a bed made up in a sleeping car, where, if we do not sleep, we at least get rested, and in the recumbent posture-a very important point in a night journey of ten or twelve hours. On the great lines for passenger traffic, as between Boston and New York, the case of the lovers of tobacco is considered, and "smoking cars" are provided. It would be an improvement in the American car were there some comfortable seats with high backs, as in our first-class carriages, where also one might be a little quiet (we must not say "select," in the United States), and not in the midst of a restless crowd. But I suspect that such exclusiveness would not be tolerated in the great republic; it would be considered "aristo " cratic." In matters of public accommodation, all must be served alike. The sovereign people" are fully impregnated with the doctrine which Jefferson laid forth in the Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal, and they have "bettered his instruction," to make it mean somewhat more than he ever intended by it. There are excellent arrangements also as to the baggage. It is given in charge to a baggage-master, who gives in return something to show for it-a brass ticket with the number marked in bold characters. When the train is approaching a leading station, an agent of one of the expresses (for forwarding goods) comes into the cars, and, if you are willing, on receiving your check, will take charge of your luggage, and forward it to any hotel or other address you give him; and you have no trouble hunting up your goods; you can go immediately to your abode, where they will soon follow, if they are not there before you. Attached to every engine there is a large, loud-tongued bell, which is always rung when a train starts, and when it is approaching a station where it is to stop-a useful signal to passengers waiting the arrival of a train, and which may also be a preventive of accidents. While speaking of railways, I may mention that, in several instances, I found great want of punctuality as to the arrival of trains. In some long journeys, where I had a through ticket, for a succession of railways under different companies, one train was often too late for the connecting train; and I was sometimes detained hours, a day, or two days (if Sunday intervened). This occurred repeatedly to myself, and I knew of many other persons experiencing the same irregularity; not from unexpected accidents, or impediments caused by the weather, but from sheer negligence and indifference to keeping faith with passengers. It seemed as if the companies were in league with the inn-keepers on the line, who were the only parties benefited by the failure to perform what the advertisements held out, what could easily be done, and what the ticket was sold for. I found the Hudson River Railroad Company particularly distinguished for such want of good faith; the delays on that line were frequent and shameful, such as I do not believe ever occur on any European railway, and quite discreditable to any public company. Another unpleasant thing on the American railways was the disagreeableness of the conductors, the only class of people in the United States, that came under my notice, of whose manners I had cause to complain. Cold, disobliging, and repulsive, one could with great difficulty extract any information from them, and yet a stranger is greatly dependent on them; as the companies do not provide satisfactory time-bills, with the clear, full, exact information one finds in Europe. Comparisons are odious, but I could not help contrasting the behaviour of the American conductors with the frank, hearty, obliging manners I have ever found in like officers on the British or Continental railways. The Americans exhibit extraordinary fertility of invention. When railways are established, and a large carriage is required for the new mode of conveyance, we stick together three coaches of the old sort, and even paint the new one so as to look like the old one. The American takes advantage of the necessary enlargement to improve the construction, and strike out something new. The Englishman has a large inventive genius, but at the same time a tendency to stand by the old ways; the American assumes at once that whatever is old is wrong, and never rests till he has hit upon something new. This spirit of innovation greatly promotes invention. Ingenious and convenient contrivances for saving time, trouble, and expense, as well as promoting comfort, abound everywhere in the United States. This inventive spirit is encouraged by the easy terms on which patents may be secured. The following is the tariff of fees for patents and caveats, which, with one or two of the regulations, show that everything is done to foster and promote improvements in the useful arts. Application for a design Caveat Application for a patent, if made by a citizen, or a foreigner who has resided in the States for Application for a patent By a subject of Great Britain By any other foreigner Application for an extension DOLLARS. 15 20 30 500 300 40 Copy of a patent or other instrument, 10 cents for every 100 words. Recording the assignment, 1 dollar up to 300 words; 2 dollars for 300 to 1000 words; 3 dollars above 1000 words. On a patent following a caveat, the charge for the latter is allowed to stand as part of the fee for the patent. An extension, after inquiry and hearing of objections, is granted for seven years. If the application for a patent is rejected, two-thirds of the charge are returned. It is |