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xii regularly kept, during a tour which occupied the greater part of a year.

Their writer has not sought to dwell upon the dark shades of the countries that it was her privilege to visit. It might have been easy to fix the eye upon the blemishes that appertain to each, as it is to discern foibles in the most exalted character. Yet it is but a losing office to quit our own quiet fireside, and throw ourselves upon the stormy billows, for the sake of finding fault. This might be done with less fatigue and peril at home. She might doubtless have found a thorn here and there, but the rose was sweeter, and she preferred rather to press the flower, than to preserve the thorn. She might easily have gathered stinging nettles or brambles, but what she has avoided, multitudes who go the same road can find, and cull if they choose. So the lovers of poignancy may be gratified, from many sources, should they be compelled to pronounce this volume vapid and void of discrimination.

"When I have called the bad, bad" says Goethe, "how much is gained by that? He who would work aright, had better busy himself to show forth and to do that which is good." And, methinks, he who leaves his native land, to take note of foreign realms, and is brought again in safety to his own home and people, owes not only a great debt of gratitude to his