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awhile in La Fayette Square, under the shade of leafy trees. It is really an enclosed garden in front of the White House, open to the public. Times have changed wonderfully since the French Marquis helped the Americans to gain their Independence. The Government offices close early in the afternoon and at half-past three, throngs of male and female employés pass through La Fayette Square on their way home.

Of course I looked in at the White House, obtaining a peep at its rooms of State, and best of all, an interview with the man who was its guest for the time. I paid my visit in the evening. No pomp or ceremony was there to delay an entrance. A single "boy in blue" stood leaning on his rifle at the outer door, and inside a comrade mounted guard before the President's room. Mr. Johnson was alone in his bureau when I was admitted, and remained standing by his desk during the interview. After a few minutes chat on America and England, and mutual expressions of good-will, the great man shook hands and bid me good bye. The simplicity of manners between the American people and their Chief Magistrate, and the readiness of access which they find to his presence, stand out in strong relief, as contrasted with the cumbersome etiquette to be observed at royal receptions in England. Mr. Johnson was known in Europe as a man of indomitable courage, courage almost verging on obstinacy. I found him grave and thoughtful, evidently possessed of immense physical power, and endowed with great calibre of mind. I left his presence with this couplet running in my head,

"It is excellent to have a giant's strength,

But it is tyrannous to use it like a giant."

History will record that Mr. Lincoln's successor used his powers in thwarting the wishes of the people,-that the

tenor of his administration was to incline backward the dial of reconciliation and progress. Those who now visit the White House will find the "obstructor" gone, and Grant, the soldier, reigning in his stead.

During the election times, Grant was the idol of the Republican party. A gentleman of Rhode Island told me that the favourite General was really looked upon as the hope of the nation. He had left all his United States' bonds in his banker's hands with the following instructions:-"If Mr. Seymour is elected President sell out at once every dollar's-worth of my scrip, if Grant is the candidate elect, double the value of my holdings." This incident bespeaks immense confidence in the wisdom of the present Chief Magistrate of the United States. I was on board a steamer when the result of the November elections was known. The news delighted my American fellow-passengers. Strong emotion was visible on the faces of the men, and the joy of the ladies knew no bounds,-"The Lord be praised" said they, "for giving us Grant as President." Many Americans lament the frequent change of President as a misfortune of republican government. The elections coming so often, keep the nation in constant excitement. Throughout the United States thousands of place-holders advance and retire with each incoming and outgoing President. With the Chief Magistrate also rests the appointment of all officers in the army and navy, subject only to the sanction of Congress. After all, an Englishman has reason to prefer in many respects, the constitution of his own country. Many a thoughtful citizen of the United States has said to me,-"Do you know, we say amongst ourselves, that, with all her anomalies and faults, England is the best governed country in the world."

It is probable that Washington city may have seen its palmiest days. The American Empire has wonderfully widened its boundaries since the days of early Independence.

Whole territories which were then unknown and unexplored, are now accurately shown on the maps of the Government survey. The centre alters with the circumference geographically, and there is now a desire that the place of executive Federal power should be changed from Washington to St. Louis. This generation may witness the eagle leave its old haunts on the Potomac, and find itself ensconced on the banks of the Mississippi. From its new eyrie it will look out, east, west, north, and south upon the people of whose power it is symbolical. Its flight will be upward still, cheered by goodly achievement in the past, to greater deeds in the future.

While waiting in an ante-room at the White House, an old gentleman came up and entered into conversation with me. "Dont forget me in your journal," said he merrily, when we parted. His memories of England were those of fifty years ago. When he sailed away from the land of his birth, he left behind him riot and dissention among the people. Bands of angry men were in their ignorance breaking to pieces the machinery which was soon to become the source of England's wealth. Crime was rampant and suffering general throughout Great Britain at the close of the great wars. From danger and distress at home he turned manfully to brave the anger of the Atlantic, and after a voyage of forty-five days, landed in America. Many years of his life had been spent in mission work in California, when that State was a centre of wickedness and darkness. Now he pursues his quiet path of usefulness in the Capitol-city, like the good Samaritan doing good without heed to

creed, winning respect from all, and kindly eetings even from Catholic sisters of mercy. "Always draw your sword for the Great Captain," said he, "in the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand."-His unselfish and unsectarian Christianity seemed to spring from a similar spirit, as that sentence which on the page of the printed Bible, reminds us "Multæ terricolis linguæ, Cœlestibus una.”

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N olden time, the "hanging-gardens" of Babylon ranked among the wonders of the world. Southern Virginia, and in the sunny Carolinas, nature presents the same, on a scale of magnificence that man cannot imitate. Grim weather-beaten forest-trees are walls and standard-bearers, and the swamps are the hot-beds from which spring up nature's conservatories. The artizan of Cashmere never mingled a richer dye than the rose-blooms of North Carolina, never edged Sultana's shawl with aught so "fairy fine," so virgin white, as the racemes of Virginia's fringe-tree. Arras-weavers in the Netherlands could never fabricate the pattern which starts into life, when the southern sun throws a shuttle of tropic-growth across the exhalations of the swamps.

Tendrils of wild vine clasp the lichen-covered branches, and curtains of Spanish moss hang down in folds of grey. Wild cypress is growing here, its dark yew-green leaves spotted with scarlet berries; there lignumvitæ, with flat pine-like sprays merged into each other as the twigs

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