canvas. male and female. A well-stocked library, an excellent table, an occasional rubber at whist, or hit at backgammon, made the time pass rapidly away; and on the twelfth day we landed at New York. I could not fail from contrasting the wonderful powers of steam against When first I crossed the Atlantic some thirty years ago, we made our passage in a fast frigate from Spithead to Quebec in six weeks; and upon my return to England we ran home in what was then called an extraordinary short time, namely, one-and-twenty days. From ten to eleven days is now the average passage to New York. But to my narrative I had no difficulty in passing my sea-chest at the Custom-house, and entering a "hack" drove to the American Hotel. Having secured a comfortable bed-room, I strolled for an hour before dinner, leaving cards on some residents whom I had met in my own country. At four o'clock I dined at the table d'hôte, which was attended by the families resident in the hotel; and the conversation and manners of the assembled guests gave me a most favourable opinion of the American character. The dinner, which was extremely well dressed, was served in a very liberal style; the waiting was good; and the utmost neatness prevailed in the knife, fork, glass, plate, and linen department. Ice was in profusion, and some of the beverages would have gratified the fastidious taste of the talented author of "London at Table"-a work which we recommend to the notice of all gourmands and gourmets, as one of the best and cheapest productions we have read for some time: the receipts contained in it are worth ten times the price of it, which is only half-a-crown. It was the last book I purchased in England, and as I left it open in the "saloon," during my passage out, for general circulation, not a few "bills of fare," and instructions for concocting sundry prandial delicacies, and summer drinks, were extracted from it by the lovers of good living on board. It is not my intention to give a "guide-book" account of the city, which contains the usual number of churches, meeting-houses, seminaries, prisons, commercial and charitable institutions, literary establishments, and markets: nor shall I enter into an elaborate disquisition upon the society of New York, the institutions of the United States, the crime, politics, slavery, religion, education of the New World. Time, space forbid it; and even a more important reason suggests itself, namely, a feeling of the perfect impossibility of doing justice to the subject during so brief a sejour in the country. If this plan was adopted by tourists at home and abroad, we should not have to deplore the numerous misstatements, exaggerated facts, prejudiced opinions, fallacious judgments, erroneous conclusions, and ill-natured sentiments, that too often disfigure the works of those who, at a bird's-eye glance over a hurried travel, profess to give a description of the country, and an insight into the habits and customs of its inhabitants. I remember once being asked by a Parisian, whom I met in the Dover and Calais packet, whether "Lecestere Square" was not "le plus beau et fashionable quartier de Londres?" The deluded individual had, during a week's residence at "Sablonière's" hotel, placed himself under the care of a Swiss guide, who seldom extended his researches further west than Regent-street, or east than Covent Garden, and whose southern and northern trips had been limited to Golden Square and the Strand, and yet with the cacoëthes scribendi strong upon him, the observant Frenchman was preparing his journal for publication! A foreign name and title find wondrous favour in the eyes of our native publishers, as has been proved in the late disastrous case of the German baroness. To resume our own countrymen andI blush to own it-countrywomen, are not exempt from this blemish, as the "travels," "wanderings," "excursions," journeys," of too many will prove. Some there are who have added mischief to ignorance, and have wielded their venomous pens in propagating slanders against their continental and transatlantic neighbours, and who with unblushing effrontery have indulged in severe sarcasms and false observations, which would equally apply to the land of their birth if they selected a Ramsgate steamer, or second-class railway-carriage for the scene of their drama, and the inhabitants of Finsbury-square, St. Martin's Lane, or Cranbourn Alley, as the model for the national characters. A stroll in Broadway gave me a tolerably good idea of the fashionable world of New York. The daughters of Columbia are most fair to look at, and are extremely well dressed their costume is evidently based on the Parisian school-they adopt the French code of good taste-an elegant bonnet, irreproachable gloves, and the neatest of shoes. The male exquisites differ very little from other foreigners of the same class, who are to be met with at all the German wateringplaces, and who are occasionally to be found in Regent-street, London. I was very much amused in going into a "book-store," to purchase Macaulay's History of England for a few cents, to find the New York Sunday Times and Mercury upon the counter. Pray be seated!" said the attentive proprietor of the establishment-" you'll find some smart notions in those papers." I availed myself of the offer, and certainly the "notions" fully justified the eulogiums they had received. Among others I must mention the following pithy paragraph : "Not less than 5,000 bridles were made in Troy, N. Y., last year. Another runs as follows: "FORENSIC ELOQUENCE. TO A JUDGE. "Your honour sits high on the adorable seat of justice, like the Asiatic rock of Gibraltar-while the eternal streams of justice, like the cadaverous clouds of the valley, flow meandering at your feet." The Minnesota Pioneer gives us a specimen of strong writing. After describing a mischievous trick of an "infernal scoundrel," who had poured vitriol on a horse, the editor says: "He deserves to have red-hot lava poured into his ears, and to have his eyes poulticed with lunar caustic." "Forsyth County, Ohio, has neither a rum-shop, a prison, or a pauper." "They have got a great aristocrat in Troy. He won't even smile, for fear people should think he was getting too familiar with himself." "A bookseller who hung out a placard of 'Yeast,' by the author of Alton Locke,' had two applications for it the other day from ancient females, domestically inclined, and bearing tin pails: one asked for a pint; and the other wanted a' penny-worth.'” The following puff is worthy of the Rowland, Mechi, Moses, and Warren school : "SECRET OF BEAUTY. "HOW TO BE HANDSOME. "I CAN INSTRUCT ANY PERSON HOW TO BE handsome. I teach how to make brown skin fair and clear. I teach how to remove tan, pimples, and freckles. I teach how to change the sallow face into one of beauty. I teach how to make the wrinkled skin smooth. I teach how to make diseased gums hard and sound. I teach how to make offensive breath perfectly sweet. I teach how to make hard brown hands soft and white. I teach how to make the hair grow luxuriantly. I can hasten the growth of whiske's, mustachios, etc. I teach how to preserve the eyesight for life. I teach how to restore impaired eyesight. I teach how to change grey hair to its original colour. I teach how to change the colour of the hair as may be desired. I teach how to make the hair soft, rich, and glossy. I teach how to make the lips and checks red. I teach how to remove superfluous hair. I know the above are all perfectly harmless and pleasant. I give directions to make and use these compounds. I know they are better than any advertised cosmetics. I ask only One Dollar for all this information. I receive no letters unless post-paid. "Address or send to M. LAVASSE, French Chemist, 104, Nassau-street, corner of Ann, New York. He will send the work by mail or otherwise. "INDUCEMENTS TO CLUBS.-To accommodate neighbourhoods, eight copies will be sent for Five Dollars. Beware of imitations! Address as above." Upon the following morning my attention was attracted to the following notice : "EXCURSION TO HOBOKEN. "" FERKIAGE REDUCED TO FOUR CENTS." "This the most favourite of summer resorts now offers to visitors greater indncements than ever. The beautiful walks along the river-side that lead to the Elysian fields, are kept in excellent order." Taking advantage of the fineness of the day, I left Canal Street at an early hour, and after an agreeable trip reached this transatlantic paradise, where I was introduced to the presiding genius of the place— Captain Francheschi. This gallant veteran served under Napoleon Bonaparte, and was in the revolution of Columbia with Simon Bolivar, the brave Generals Pacy, Bermudes, and Marinius. The captain, who is full of life and spirit, has a fine establishment of carriages and horses ready at a moment's notice to transport all pleasure-seeking persons to the neighbouring sights-Bergen Point, Paterson's Falls, Hachensach, Bull's Ferry, or Fort Lee. Availing myself of the services of the hearty old soldier, I ordered a carriage and pair to convey me to some of the sights of this beautiful spot; and in a few moments an open vehicle, painted mazarin-blue, richly furnished with velvet trimmings, and silver-mounted harness, with two undeniable-looking horses, was at the door. To prove that amusement is not on the wane, I give a list of the public places of entertainment that were open during my sejour in New York:-Max Maretzek's Italian Opera at Castle Garden, every weekday except Saturday: Bowery Theatre: New National Theatre: Niblo's Garden-Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, Burton's Dramatic Company; Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, a foreign ballet performance : Brougham's Lyceum-a French company of comedians. Barnum's "Jenny Lind's entrepreneur" opens his Museum nightly, with a comic pantomime, grand bottle performance, tight-rope, magic, poses plastiques, comedies and farces; and the "Happy Family"-composed of upwards of one hundred trained animals and birds, of the most diverse and antagonistic characters and natures, and yet living together in the same enclosure, on terms of amity and lasting friendship. The Columbian Gardens and Vauxhall complete the list of public amusements. While upon the subject of the "Happy Family," I cannot refrain from laying before my readers an article from the before-quoted Sunday Times, which I " guess they will agree with me is full of point and talent. There is an original vein of humour running through the United States press, that is not to be met with elsewhere. In describing a trip to the Falls of Niagara by a party of tradesmen excursionists, the writer says "The tailor made a single note Oh what a place to sponge a coat!" and the same authority remarks that an Italian traveller was boasting of his land of sun, and its wonderful volcano, "Vesuvius." Retorted Brother Jonathan "And haven't we got a waterfall that could entirely extinguish it ?" But to "hark back"-as the huntsmen say "THE 'HAPPY FAMILY' PRINCIPLE. "It is highly desirable that the process by which Mr. Sutton, of Barnum's Museum, mollifies the prejudices of birds and beasts-establishing relations of peace and amity between cats and mice, and hawks and pigeons-should be applied to the human family. Peace Congresses assemble and pass resolutions; but the nations continue to decide their quarrels by the arbitrement of the sword an-l bayonet, just as usual. If the inhabitants of the earth are to learn war no more, the reform must be effected in a way entirely different from that proposed by Mr. Cobden. Appeals to reason, humanity, and self-interest will never curb the warlike ambition of the Russian Czar; nor turn the sword-sceptre of Austria into a wand of peace; nor render the double-headed eagle of Prussia granivorous; nor cause the British lion to prefer butter-milk to blood; nor wash the sanguinous stripe out of the French tricolor; uor, in any given number of years between 1851 and eternity, so argue down the spirit of the first-born Cain' in the human breast, as to change the civilized world into a community of quakers. But there is no telling what Mr. Sutton, who has succeeded so well in causing the 'lower animals' to fraternize, might effect with the human species. Give him a wider and nobler field for his experiments. Let him try his hand at making a 'Happy Family' ont of such material as Mr. Rhett and Abbey Kelly; Sir Frederick Thesiger and Cardinal Wiseman; the Ban Jellachich and General Dembin-ki; a Kafir and a British officer; an Irish catholic and an Orangeman. Could these be brought to live together in unity, we should have some faith in the possibility of universal and continuous peace, but not otherwise. We fear, however, this is a consummation beyond the skill of Happy Family' manufacturers, whether of the European Peace Society, or of Barnum's Museum." To the above list we could add many a name of those equally opposed in politics and religion; but we are satisfied with the selection the American editor has made. As my object during my short stay was to see everything and everybody, I declined many friendly invitations to dinner, knowing that the acceptance of them would occupy too much of my time. My plan was, to engage a "hack"-so all public conveyances are termed-and with the assistance of an English friend, now domiciled in New York, to drive through the streets by day, and visit the theatres, gardens, and other sights during the evening. We generally dined at the best table d'hôtes in the city; and I am bound to admit that La science de gueule is not neglected in America; the "spoon exercise"-as Fanny Kemble termed it in her amusing workbeing extremely good. The soups, fish, joints, entrées, entremets, differ very little from those which are to be found at the principal London restaurateurs; and the wines-especially the Madeira-are of the first quality the "beverages" are beyond praise, as those who have indulged in glasses of sherry-cobler, mint-julep, and Mississippi punch will readily admit. Among the new dishes that struck me most were "fried haslet, shad, cod-fish balls, wheat and buckwheat cakes, hot corn-bread and short-cake for breakfast, Tarrapin soup-made of the land-tortoise, stewed black-fish, tender loin and Porterhouse steaks, clam and chicken pot-pies for dinner, with the following vegetables previously unknown to me-succotash, boiled corn, and Lima beans. The waiter at one of the hotels surprised me not a little, when with a true Tipperary brogue he asked whether "his honour would like any roughand-ready pudding, Wortlebury or pumpkin pies, rice, mush, sampand-milk for dessert?" In the same tone I told him "he was a broth of a boy," and ordered him to bring a drop of the "crater," and a bottle of Madeira. "Sure, your honour !" he replied, " and haven't I got a quart of Pat Linigan's best-which never paid the exciseman-bad luck to him !— a visit, and more shame for it?" With this the Irish help (for the waiters at almost all the hotels are from the land of Erin) left the room, and shortly returned with a bottle of genuine whiskey, and one of the finest Madeira. With these auxiliaries, and the best of Havannah cigars, my friend and myself passed an hour or two most agreeably; and had not the charms of Anna Thillon carried us off to Niblo's Garden, we might perchance have found ourselves tolerable well "screwed with the "auxiliary" aid above alluded to. (To be continued.) |