Chapter XXXIV: Return to New York—Conclusion

The comfortable Adelphi Hotel again received us at Albany, on the 14th of June, and we decided upon passing the following day there, both to see the place, and to recruit our strength, which we began to feel we had taxed severely by a...

Chapter XXXIII: Niagara—Arrival at Forsythes—First sight of the Falls—Goat Island—The Rapids—Buffalo—Lake Erie—Canandaigua—Stage-coach adventures

At length we reached Niagara. It was the brightest day that June could give; and almost any day would have seemed bright that brought me to the object which, for years, I had languished to look upon. We did not hear the sound of the...

Chapter XXIX: Literature—Extracts—Fine Arts—Education

The character of the American literature is, generally speaking, pretty justly appreciated in Europe. The immense exhalation of periodical trash, which penetrates into every cot and corner of the country, and which is greedily sucked in by all ranks, is unquestionably one great cause...

Chapter XXVII: Return to Stonington—Thunder-storm—Emigrants—Illness—Alexandria

A fortnight passed rapidly away in this great city, and, doubtless, there was still much left unseen when we quitted it, according to previous arrangement, to return to our friends in Maryland. We came back by a different route, going by land from...

Chapter XVI: Danger of rural excursions—Sickness

It is by no means easy to enjoy the beauties of American scenery in the west, even when you are in a neighbourhood that affords much to admire; at least, in doing so, you run considerable risk of injuring your health. Nothing is considered...

Chapter XIV: American Spring—Controversy between Messrs. Owen and Campbell—Public ball—Separation of the sexes—American freedom—Execution

The American spring is by no means so agreeable as the American autumn; both move with faultering step, and slow; but this lingering pace, which is delicious in autumn, is most tormenting in the spring. In the one case you are about to part...

Chapter IV: Departure from Memphis—Ohio River—Louisville—Cincinnati

On the 1st of February, 1828, we embarked on board the Criterion, and once more began to float on the ‘father of waters,’ as the poor banished Indians were wont to call the Mississippi. The company on board was wonderfully like what we had...

Chapter III: Company on board the Steamboat—Scenery of the Mississippi—Crocodiles—Arrival at Memphis—Nashoba

The weather was warm and bright, and we found the guard of the boat, as they call the gallery that runs round the cabins, a very agreeable station; here we all sat as long as light lasted, and sometimes wrapped in our shawls, we...

Chapter XXXII: Journey to Niagara—Hudson—West Point—Hyde Park—Albany—Yankees—Trenton Falls—Rochester—Genesee Falls—Lockport

How quickly weeks glide away in a city such as New York, especially when you reckon among your friends some of the most agreeable people in either hemisphere. But we had still a long journey before us, and one of the wonders of the...

Chapter XXIII: Fruits and Flowers of Maryland and Virginia—Copper-head Snake—Insects—Elections

Our summer in Maryland (1830) was delightful. The thermometer stood at 94, but the heat was by no means so oppressive as what we had felt in the West. In no part of North America are the natural productions of the soil more various,...