Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 6.djvu/399

 128. VI. JUNK 26. 1920.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

327

intense competition, and it seems that there is abundance of philanthropic spirit in the wealthy classes. It is the same with the gaols, reforma- tories, etc. Dined with Davis Van Buren, Judge Kent, Duncan, Oliphant, etc. and sat late.

Friday, [November 7.] To the Mint, Law and Police Courts, Gaol, etc. The first small, the Courts slovenly and without order, the Gaol overcrowded. Saw there the last fashionable forger Huntington, a flash-looking fast man who would certainly never have got credit for half a million in London. In the afternoon crossed over to Jersey and had a good ride with Mr. Duer and Davis, and dined pleasantly with the former. To the N.Y. in the evening where a large concourse of Southerners.

Saturday, [November 8.] Paying visits, etc. Over the Adriatic new steamer of the Collins Line very gorgeous but not over comfortable or, I should think, safe. A good deal with Oliphant in Broadway. Dined with Phelps. Very splendid dinner, Bancroft, General Scott, Commodore Dewey [?], H. Grinnell, Davis (J. Downing), Duncan, Oliphant, etc. Very pleasant, till in the evening to the Press Club where were most of the N.Y. celebrities who fraternised most sociably. Home very late.

Sunday, \November 9.] Took breakfast with Duncan at 9 in his beautiful house in the 6th Avenue, and then with the Governors of several Institutions to visit all the charitable and peni- tentiary establishments of the City in Randall's and Blackwell Islands, both in the Bast Kiyer. The situation most admirable and the establish- ment which comprised Orphan's Home, Work- house, Lunatic Asylum, Hospitals, Schools for Vagrants, Vagrants' Prison, etc. such as could only be maintained in a country where such things are not much needed. As compared with our things of the same character there was all the difference between a cottage orndc and a real cottage. In fact they seemed so glad to catch a pauper that they don't know how to make enough of him. Landed above the City, met Duncan's horses and had a 10 miles trot before dinner to see the Croton Aqueduct. Pretty well done by bed time.

Monday, [November 10.] I had promised to go yesterday with the Pringles to hear Beacher Ward preach and they had taken extraordinary pains to procure seats and were vexed in pro- portion at my absence. I therefore asked them all to dinner at the Clarendon where I had dined before since my arrival. After that they went to Thalberg's and Pringle and I spent the evening till their return. Oliphant in high flirtation with Miss Eustace. To Brady the photographer,

Tiffany's etc. but lighted.

N.Y. shops not locked up at night

Tuesday [November 11.] Went withHurlbut to lunch with Colonel Fremont who bears his dis- appointment with much fortitude. He is a slight, very gentlemanly man with none of the filibustering look his ordinary portraits give him. On the contrary his ordinary expression is rather melancholy but with great show of firmness. Did a good deal of calling and dined with Ban- croft at 6. There were Mrs. B. and Mrs. Duncan and a Miss unknown, a senator and his wife, B. Davis, Mr. Bryant, a poet, a Mr. Curtis, a

litterateur who had turned stump speaker, the new Governor of New York and one or two others. Mrs. B. full of curiosity about people in England and the whole party agreeable enough. Went afterwards to the N.Y. and finished the evening by packing up.

Wednesday, [November 12.] Called on the Dun- cans and sent cards to all who had sent me invi- tations, took leave of Pringle and started at 12 for the boat, accompanied by Oliphant, Pringle^. Hurlbut and Phelps. Cunard was there and had, I found, reserved for me the very best cabin in the ship. Certainly nothing can exceed the kindness with which I have been treated here and of which what I have written gives a very faint idea. Of course, a great deal of it was mere lionising, but never was so humble a lion< treated with so much consideration. Nobody ever talked shop to me nor was I ever allowed to- feel that the civilities were not for myself as an individual. If people had any expectations of their lion's roaring they must have been dis- appointed, for though I tried to be as agreeable as- I naturally could I always carefully avoided the editorial. I may, perhaps hereafter regret that I spent so large a portion of my time at N.Y. instead of going further ; but now my regret is rather that I had not more time to observe and" to profit by the good society of the capital, instead of travelling over thousands of miles of forest and prairie. Happily I have done that and if ever I come here again it will be to see more of N.Y. and to go south.

I started without knowing whether there would: be any acquaintance on board, but on the quay met Grattan, the Consul, who had given me a dinner at Boston, and Phelps introduced me on- board to Mr. and Mrs. Mac Tavish, just married and on their wedding trip. The day was the strongest possible contrast to that on which we left Liverpool, for there was a fine bright sun which set off N.Y. to the utmost and scarcely a ripple on the water. We ran rapidly through the narrows where there are many formidable works and got to Sandy Hook about 4. At our table- besides those I have named were also two young- Americans named Rawlins and Hammond both good sailors and conversible. Poor Mrs. Mac T". could not sit out even the first dinner, and smooth as it was we saw no more of her for three or four days, but the rest of the party kept together until Sunday when it came on to blow hard from the S.W. There was however a favourable wind and though there was a good deal of sea which cost us most of our society for a couple of days the motion was not nearly so disagreeable as on the outward voyage and we shipped very little water. It continues to blow fresh still (Thursday 20th) and we are only able to carry close reefed topsails and trysails 'but the ship is tolerably easy. We have however lost the Mac

Tavishes entirely and Grattan only shows occa- sionally and looks wretched ; one of the mess (Sears) has indeed never appeared since the first day, For myself, I have not missed a meal, not even a lunch, but the dulness is terrible. I get up at 8 and try to hold out till 12, but the days are sadly long in spite of whist and French novels. The sea is monotonous beyond descrip- tion and but for the sake of exercise I should seldom go up to the promenade deck. ' As to the