EFFECTS OF TALKING.

Then followed the hospitable reception we met with at Trieste-our gaieties at Laybach-our adventures at Gratz — and my travelling under the honourable surveillance of the police to Vienna, in consequence of my having talked too loudly at a table d'hôte of my visit to Napolcon, and my rencontre with Maria Louisa at Parma.

You abandoned me at Vienna, where I went to spend a week and stayed a year. Since that time I have visited various other parts of the old world, and, consequently, as a cosmopolite, consider myself authorised to give my opinion of the new; which I mean to do in the most point-blank manner. And if I am somewhat too egotistical, you must pardon me; for I propose to describe to you what I hear, sec, think, and do: and bear this in mind, that I have never read any account of America, save and except the "Life of Columbus" and Robertson's

WRITERS ON THE AMERICANS.

7

from the accounts given by former travellers, it is only a proof of the rapid changes which are going on in this hard-working, "go-a-head," improving, and extraordinary

nation.

Captain M- I have not the pleasure Marry of knowing: many years ago, and before she turned authoress, I had the honour of spending a week in the same house with Mrs. Trollope T: and Captain H- I know, as wall having accompanied a gallant relative of mine to China, and greatly respect him. Various other productions from the pens of these talented persons I have perused with delight; but their remarks on the Americans have never come under my observation; and, ever since I formed the project of judging for myself, I have studiously avoided them.

Since you and I last met, I have been once quartered in the Mediterranean, and twice in the West Indies; where I saw a

8

TRAVELLING COMPANIONS.

hurricane, and had the yellow fever. About two years ago I was transplanted from the torrid to the frigid zone—leaving Barbadocs in the middle of November, with the thermometer at 85°; and landing at Halifax the latter end of December, with the thermometer at 20° below zero. Thence I was hurried to New Brunswick, where I got into the very thickest of the frontier feud; and now behold me set out on my American voyage of discovery!

Morcover, I am travelling with a great Temperance chief. For let me advise you, as the mercantile man says, that after taking leave of my regiment at Fredericton (and a jovial leave-taking it was), I steamed it to Saint John's, on the magnificent river of that name; and there forcgathered with two agreeable and accomplished friends and fellow-soldiers-one of them the said Temperance chief- who are to be my companions in my journey through the United

INDIAN ENCAMPMENTS.

9

States and after another leave-taking with our gallant friends of the whose feel

ings and facings are as friendly and familiar to me as those of my own dear boys, we embarked for Boston on the 20th of August, in a large steamer crammed with a most heterogeneous mass of passengers.

The weather was splendid, and we passed Partridge Island, Mahogany Island, and a vast variety of islands as well as of rivers; amongst others the Magaguadavic, now likely to figure in the Boundary line; reached the grand Manan and Campobello, and entered the bay of Passamaquoddy on a charming evening and amidst enchanting scenery.

Indian encampments were seen on the different promontories, to which we passed so close that we had an opportunity of observing the various costumes of the wild wanderers of the West; whilst others of their community were paddling canoes in

10

AN AMERICAN SQUADRON.

all directions around us, and numberless fishing boats were scen in the distance.

The course of the Scoudiac (which is, I believe, the real St. Croix) was pointed out to me, and the town of Saint Andrew's, situated about sixteen miles up this very large river. The anchorage, when you enter the bay, is excellent, both at Harbour de Lute on the Campobello side, as well as at Mouse Island; where is built the pretty Dutch-looking town of Eastport, which I perambulated during the short time the steamer halted, meeting several American middies with unsailorlooking but extremely dandified and comfortable togas.

An American squadron, commanded by Commodore Shubrich, being in the roads, consisting of the Macedonian and two sloops, the Erie and Levant, the New Brunswick passengers-a fine, hardy, loyal, and mother-country loving race-did not fail to