The American Department-Wayne Scythes-Shoe Pegs-Cars-Pro- ducts of Ohio-Carriages-Breadstuffs-Daguerreotypes-South Caro- Leaving London-Fertility of the Country-Heavy Crops-Appearance A passage engaged-Liverpool compared with London-Docks-Nel- GLIMPSES AND GATHERINGS. LETTER I. A FORTUNATE CHANGE OF DIRECTION. A Super-directing Providence-Passage in the "Ocean," on the Ocean, to Boston-A thief at the Berth-Failure of the Peace-Ship Nightingale-Necessity of changing the Route - Must see Canada before England and Quebec before London-A Fellow Passenger - Ride by Railway through Massachusetts and New Hampshire to Vermont-Brief Notes by the Way-The Connecticut River, and description of Bellows Falls. "Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well; When our deep plots do pall: and that should teach us SHAKSPEARE. LAKE CHAMPLAIN, JUNE 14, 1851. WHERE now? This is a lawful question for my readers to propose, and I am more than half inclined to ask it myself; I can answer it, however, only in humble reference to the mysterious workings of a super-directing Providence. Day before yesterday, in the afternoon, I left my own sweet home in Augusta for Europe and here I am on Lake Champlain!—instead of ploughing the briny ocean named for the African Mount Atlas eastward, actually turning a furrow by steam on one of the fresh Mediterranean seas of our own Champaign country, westward of the Green Mountains! Thousands of facts and incidents in the whole history of my life, from childhood to old age, have arisen up in my pathway as proofs and demonstrations of the truth of the Scriptures (the whole of life is a verification of Holy Writ,)—and especially of that Scripture which readeth, in the words of the Wise man, "A man's heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps." Have you not, also, often found it true? Cannot you call to mind many instances in which you have "devised" your "ways," or in other words, have laid your plans and purposes with the utmost consideration and care, and commenced the execution of them with ready feet and strong hands; and yet, you had hardly taken the first "step" ere your feet were tending in a different direction, and you were led to results of which you never dreamed at the beginning -all the while, knowing that you acted freely, and yet proving that God controlled every cause that could conspire to the final event? I am just so much of a Calvinist that I verily believe God's presence is everywhere; that his hand is concerned in all things; that atheism, or the doctrine of chance, is true nowhere; and that, if not a sparrow can fall to the ground without his notice, so neither can any other event take place in this or any other world which is not subject to the agency of Him, "who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will." "Thus wisdom speaks To man; thus calls him through this actual form Of nature, through Religion's fuller noon, Through life's bewildering mazes to observe A Providence in all." But though I admit and rejoice to believe in the superdirecting agency of God's providence in all my move ments, I do not, therefore, deny my own moral freedom or accountability, nor doubt that a very sufficient reason may be given why I am now going Westward on the Lake, rather than Eastward on the Ocean. Indeed, this strange fact, instead of being inconsistent with my main design, will be found the one, ordered in the Providence of God, for its better accomplishment. As I have said-I left home on Thursday afternoon; and, after a most delightful passage in the excellent steamer "Ocean"-freighted brim-full of broad-brimmed Quakers, or Friends, proceeding to their Yearly Meeting at Newport, and a most excellent, because a pacific and honest people they are, whom I always love to be amongst arrived in Boston at 3 o'clock the next morning. Nothing of particular interest occurred during the passage, unless I may mention the fact that some dishonest wight stole from my berth that famous cane which I have carried, and which has helped support me, through the whole of my manhood, and which, indeed, I received as a family heirloom in childhood, it having descended to me from a respected grandfather whose name I bear. Some person, I suppose, was tempted by the silver ring that clasped it, upon which my name was engraved. Much good may it do him! I wished it to support my tottering steps in Europe, and prized it very highly from the circumstances under which it descended to me. The rogue will have my name with him wherever he carries the cane, and will know, as often as he sees it, that he is a thief and needs repentance. I leave him to the chastisement of his own conscience. Before I left the steamer, Rev. Charles Spear, of Boston, came on board to inform us that the project of the |