town in the United States. Besides, that which is a low reward for literature in England, is a high reward in America. No man there, who possesses more than ordinary learning, can remain long unnoticed. His reward often depends upon himself. The nobility are bountiful rewarders of merit, when it makes itself conspicuous."

I left this German author rather abruptly, some offence being apparent, from the difference of our views and the tendency of our arguments; and went to deliver another letter of introduction I had to one of the professors of Cambridge University. At his house I was introduced to Mr. Bowditch, professor, but not teacher of mathematics; the best mathematician in the States, and president of an insurance office, apparently between sixty and seventy years of age: this gentleman's look was venerable, and his countenance expressive and intelligent. At the professor's, I was introduced also to Mr. Pickering, a lawyer of great eminence in Boston. This party I found agreeable, and I was not again troubled with unseasonable remarks against existing aristocracies. Americans do not themselves revile kings and nobles, so much as

foreigners do; but they listen to depreciating statements with visible pleasure.

Mr. Pickering accompanied me home, and invited me to call at his office the next morning early, when he or his son would accompany me to different places which he imagined I would choose to visit. Accordingly they conducted me to the State-house, Court-house, public reading-rooms, which form also a kind of museum, the dock-yard, market-house, university, &c.

On arriving at the State-house, I found it to be a noble building, and was particularly struck with its admirable situation. It stands on a lofty eminence, which commands a complete view of the town, and is ascended from the park side by a fine flight of steps I mounted to the cupola, which is almost as high from the water as the top of the Monument in London, and affords a prospect of vast extent on all sides. A great number of towns and villages were observable, scattered over the surrounding country; some of them at the distance of twelve or fourteen miles. The numerous bridges over the estuary appeared beautiful, and gave variety to the landscape.

F

The University is not within the city of Boston, but stands three or four miles without, and on the other side of the river. The buildings do not impress a stranger with ideas of magnificence. They are plain brick buildings, some of them very old, and destitute of ornamental architecture. We were so late in going that the students, generally mere boys, were coming out from evening prayers. The only thing which Mr. P's son deemed worthy of notice at Cambridge, as the university is called, was the library, which occupies two large rooms, and contains between thirty and forty thousand volumes. There are not many works in it, which can be regarded as valuable. Most of them have been purchased at second hand bookstalls in London. A small Greek M.S. was shewn to me, most exquisitely written; also a beautiful Persian M.S. These were both secured under two locks and keys, on account of their rarity. I had often seen splendid eastern M.S. on the shelves of London booksellers, without any such security; and could not help smiling at this characteristic protection.

The market-house is a long line of buildings of

hewn stone. There is a foot-path down the centre. On each side are stall for venders, and doors at convenient distances. It did not appear to me that there was any place set apart for butchers or fish stalls, &c., but that any person of any calling might pitch his stand where he pleased. The whole market was under cover, and had storerooms above.

My friend next accompanied me to the house of the Commodore, who, with great complaisance and condescension, carried us through the dock-yard, and showed us every thing it contained. The only object which filled me with admiration, was the dry dock just finished, into which no vessel had yet been admitted. This excavation, which the Commodore informed us was much longer and broader than any at Portsmouth, was lined with massive blocks of granite, larger than I had ever seen employed before in building. There is a steam-engine erected in the neighbourhood of the dock for pumping out the water, which, when completed, will possess sufficient power to empty it in a short time. Should greater celerity be wanted, the diameter of the well is sufficient to admit a

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greater number of pumps.

There was nothing

which the Commodore left unnoticed; and my obligation to him, and to various other gentlemen in America, require me to acknowledge that I believe there is no trouble they would think too great, in order to oblige and gratify a stranger.

In Boston, there is nothing to be seen very interesting to one who has lived in London. Their Libraries, Museum, Court-house, Town-hall, and other public buildings, present little worth noticing. There is some tradition respecting the Courthouse, which may render it interesting. It was in front of that place, where the British forces were drawn up, during the time that riots existed in Boston, respecting the duties on tea. It was there that the soldiers were brutally insulted and stoned by the American rabble, previous to any bloodshed in revolutionary battles. It was there that the first shot was fired by the English, and the first American killed. The spot is still pointed out where the first man fell.

The gentleman before-named, whose kindness I thus experienced, expressed a wish to learn the Persian and Nagaree characters, and the euphonic