I confess I was not a little surprised to see the open, unguarded state, in which the railways here are left. Foot-passengers cross and recross the lines at will, with the greatest nonchalance; and even children playing in the streets run across with apparent impunity, if we may judge by the rareness of accidents. Nay, vehicles of all kinds run quietly along the road, close to and nearly side by side with the train, without causing much alarm to the horses. One circumstance amused and surprised me, how soon the passengers got tired of a sitting position, or each other's company; for no sooner was the train in motion, than several of them were seen hurrying out through the passage and opening the door at the end, when they would step across to the next car, and so on to a third; a practice which travellers are warned against, as fraught with great danger, but which is constantly repeated, spite of every caution, by restless passengers.

The American engines, I may observe, burn principally wood; in consequence of which, their chimnies are formed in the shape of a wide-mouthed funnel, with an iron net-work at the top to keep the cinders and burning fragments from flying out. The body is constructed very similarly to that of the English engine, but painted in a lighter and more showy colour; and I noticed one arrangement, that I thought most excellent—a square cabin or compartment made of iron and glass for sheltering the engineer and stoker, who thus can see all around them, without being themselves

exposed to the scorching sun or wintry storm.

Were

our own railway companies to adopt this humane plan, instead of exposing their servants to the inclemency of the weather, many valuable lives would be preserved, and premature widowhood and orphanage prevented, which now result from engineers' exposure, night and day, to the severity of the winter.

After traversing towns and villages too numerous to mention, wé at length reached Hartford, in Connecticut-whence, after a brief stay, we travelled onward, till we arrived at Springfield, in Massachusetts, a place noted for its arsenal, and manufacture of fire-arms, and where large quantities of the newest inventions in all kinds of warlike implements are deposited.

IV. BOSTON, ITS INSTITUTIONS AND BABY-SHOWS.

THE consciousness that I was approaching my destination excited in me great interest; and I found that the engine takes the trains into the very heart of the city. The first view of Boston is extremely attractive, surrounded as it is by the small but pleasant towns and villages of Roxburg, Charleston, Cambridge, &c. The railway bridges near it are of great length-sometimes reaching two miles, and being built of wood do not look very safe; but the cars constantly pass over them,

with but few accidents. Their summits, too, command some very fine views, and as the eye glances around, the undulations of well-wooded and ever-varying hill and dale, with the silvery bay in the distance, present à magnificent panorama.

On entering this city (the capital of Massachusetts) the stranger is agreeably struck by the cleanliness and good order-though withal somewhat of formality— that reigns throughout. The houses are built of red bricks, and most of the larger have long flights of steps to approach the street door; besides which, the windows have mostly light-green Venetian shutters, which give them an extremely graceful and cheerful appearance.

I must now trespass a little on my reader's patience, while I speak of myself. I had come out to the United States purposely to take a commercial appointment in a firm at Boston, and I was naturally anxious concerning the reception with which I might meet from my new employers, of whom I knew nothing, except by report. There were two of them, one an American, the other a tolerably educated German, who was the manager of my department in the business. When I presented myself at their house on the evening of my arrival, the German addressed me in his broken English" You have come a long vay to vork," and treated the journey as lightly as if I had only come from an adjoining county; while the American, after eyeing me from tip to toe, without saying a word,

quietly resumed his writing, which my entrance had interrupted. I was ordered to attend next morningand as I slowly walked to my hotel, I thought I had been ill-employed in risking a long and expensive voyage at their request, to meet with a reception so cold on my arrival. The very next day I at once saw that my presence was not at all welcome; for the German treated me with a cold hauteur that was very disheartening, and threw every impediment in my way-in fact, did all he could to make my position as uncomfortable as possible. The motive that prompted them to this unworthy conduct is still a mystery to me; nor can I account for it on any other principle than by supposing that their business had greatly decreased since their first correspondence with me. I in a few weeks quitted their house in disgust ;-yet good, after all, came out of evil-for I very shortly procured an appointinent, a little distance from Boston, in which I remained during the rest of my stay in America.

I would caution the reader, however, against supposing that by the above, I mean to charge American employers with want of principle and disregard of their positive written engagements, for I know of honourable instances to the contrary; but I would warn all persons leaving their English homes for the United States, in search of employment, not to rely too much on written contracts; for the chances are that they will do better without any, and I have great doubts whether, if the

matter were tried, however strong the morality and evidence of the case, any compensation would be awarded for the infraction of agreements contracted in different countries.

To return from my digression; Boston has a wellwooded little park, which, from the fine umbrageous trees that it contains, proves a great boon to the inhabitants, when the scorching rays of the midsummer sun drive them from their brick-baked streets. On an elevated spot, within this enclosure (somewhat inappropriately termed BOSTON COMMON) stands a circular edifice with a cupola, which gives it something the appearance of a miniature St. Paul's. This is the STATE HOUSE of Boston, where the Senate and Legislature of the State hold their Parliamentary Councils ; and both for the chaste design of the interior, and the good order in which business is conducted, this place well deserves a visit. The stranger, too, is reminded of the important initiative part played by Boston in the War of Independence, by an old drum hung against the gallery rails of the Senate Chamber, said to have been taken at the battle of Lexington, in 1775—the first that was fought in the great national struggle. The Senate, or Upper House, is composed of forty members, the House of Representatives of 356, both elected annually, like the Governor and Executive Council.

Boston was, during my stay there, the scene of one of Barnum's most eccentric and amusing speculations.

D