to $70,000. The owning of so much land by a few wealthy men deprives the common people of all chance to acquire an interest in the soil, or to support themselves by their own farming operations. Thus the rich are continually being made richer, and the poor poorer, in Great Britain so different is Old England from New England. There lands are cut up into small plantations, and each farmer is the owner of his estate against the world. It is thought that the repeal of the corn laws, which have given the rich producers a monopoly in the sale of breadstuffs, will so reduce the price of grain, &c., that the Lords can no longer make it profitable to farm it without working themselves; and the effect ultimately may be to cause the lands to pass into the hands of operators, and then the people will have a chance to live independently of their lordly owners and masters.

LETTER XXIV.

A STROLL ABOUT LONDON.

Blackwall Railway-Call on P. Vaughan, Esq.-Boarding in LondonThe American Minister-A Saunter through Queen's Way-Refreshment Garden-Hyde Park and first view of Crystal Palace--The SerpentineSmithfield Faggots-St. Bartholomew's Church-Reflections on the burning of Rev. John Rogers-New Lodgings-Music of Jew's Harp.

LONDON, AUGUST 13, 1851.

I MAKE it a point to write something a Letter if possible every night before I retire to rest. This, however, keeps me up as late as other Londoners; seldom does the couch receive my exhausted frame and wearied head before low twelve. But till midnight London is all noon-day; the streets are illuminated by, I guess I may say, safely, millions of miniature suns in the shape of brilliant gas lights, and are as full of people, omnibuses and other vehicles as they are at high twelve. It would be of little use for me to retire before the night in London really begins. I am up, also, betimes, finishing those writings which had not been completed the previous evening; and if the family does not bring up my breakfast in season, I take my cane and go out to some eatinghouse and obtain the necessary repast, and thence start off on my day's work about London or in the Crystal Palace. I lost time in getting out to England, and must make it

up by observing the more accurately and working the faster and harder whilst here.

As I cannot conveniently this evening indite a regular Letter, I transcribe a few leaves from my diary, written a few days after my arrival.

August 2d. Went from ship in W. I. Dock, Blackwall, to town, alone, on the Railway that passes over the tops of the buildings - hence about four miles to the Station just within the old London walls, on Crutchet Friars, Jewry street, near the Minories. The cars pass each way once in every fifteen minutes. The train, this morning, consisted of twenty-three cars, all full of passengers, at 6d. each. There were so many, and I knew them not that I was, as I have said, "alone." No one can be more alone in the lonely forests of Aroostook, than he is if a stranger in London. Such a "world is but a wilderness."

"Amidst the crowd, the hum, the shock of men,
To hear, to see, to feel, and to possess,
And roam along, the worldly tired denizen,
With none to bless us, none whom we can bless;
Minions of splendor, shrinking from distress!
None that with kindred consciousness endued,
If we were not, would seem to smile the less
Of all that flatter'd, follow'd, sought, and sued;
This is to be ALONE; this, this is solitude."

Walked from the Station - there is no such word as Depot, here; this is a French word, and the English hate the French and French words. I say I walked from the Station to Fenchurch Street, where I called on P. Vaughan, Esq., and delivered my letter of introduction from Gov. Hubbard. He was ill, confined to his bed, and I could not see him. A gentleman, however, in his office offered me every assistance, and gave me a line to Mr. Lawrence, the American Minister.

Passed along Fenchurch Street into Grace street; thence up Bishop's Gate Street, Without, to Gilpin's Book-store (I believe it was near this that the John Gilpin race took place!)—and there found brother Preston, who said he had engaged rooms for us at Mr. Melladews, No. 23 Swinton street, where we must arrange our city "home" to-morrow. We do not board here as in the United States, at a stipulated sum per week, all found; but hire our rooms, into which no one, not even the family or servants, can enter but by our call or consent; the rooms are furnished; we ring the bell and order what we will eat, what we will drink and wherewithal we will be served, and it is brought on piecemeal and charged accordingly; so that we never know, till the close of a week, what is the amount of our board bill. Great advantage is taken of a stranger's unacquaintance with prices of particular articles of food, condiments, &c., and as for servants, they must receive pay for every courtesy. It is costly living in London-especially this summer, during the rush of company from all parts of the world to attend the Great Exhibition.

Took an omnibus at the Royal Exchange, corner of Cornhill and Lombard Streets, opposite the Bank of England, and rode through Cheapside, by St. Paul's Cathedral, over Ludgate Hill, through Fleet Street and the Strand, by Charing Cross and Trafalgar square, where stands a huge statue of Nelson, high in air, into Pall Mall, up St. James Street, to Piccadiliy, a distance of about three miles, for 6d, and called on Hon. Abbot Lawrence. I gave him my letters of commendation, and showed him my Commission. He received me very kindly, and begged me to feel at home in his house as long as I should

remain in London. He makes a fine appearance, and is a noble specimen of a fine old New England gentleman. He is much respected in London generally, and by the Court in particular. Perhaps he is not so learned a man as was J. Q. Adams, Edward Everett, or George Bancroft, but he is better acquainted with human life than either, knows more of men and manners, is perfectly familiar with all business matters, and understands well the interests of his country. I doubt if we were ever better represented at the Court of St. James. Cost his private pocket what it may, he is determined the United States shall suffer nothing for the want of his attentions. He lives in good style at the Court End of the Town, on Piccadilly, a most elegant street that, like Beacon Street in Boston, which has the Common in full view, looks out upon the open St. James' Park, directly opposite to Buckingham Palace, the Queen's Metropolitan residence. I believe his house is between the Russian and French minister's and he maintains as good, though not so gorgeous, a style as they. I saw nothing antirepublican in his house, his servants or in his own manners. The rooms are richly furnished with fine paintings, mostly commemorative of American scenery and patriotism, and his office is in a front parlor on the second story, that fronts upon the beautiful lawns, lakes and sylvan beauties of the Park. He presides at a round table in the centre of the room-a grey headed, gentlemanly man, attentive to all business introduced to him; and his Secretary of Legation, a son of Gov. Davis, of Worcester, who has travelled much in foreign parts, is ever ready to await his wishes and execute his directions. He remarked to me