old country names mingled with others of Trans-Atlantic origin; yet differing strangely in geographical position from namesakes in Britain.

On the banks of Merrimac river stand 4 or 5 large factories, called by such names as Washington, Pemberton, Atlantic and Pacific. Powerful water-wheels, turned by the stream, furnish motive-power which keeps thousands of spindles and looms busy at work. These mills are all the property of Joint Stock Companies, being to some extent owned by capitalists in Boston and New York. At present, during the existence of a high tariff on foreign goods, they are earning money fast for fortunate stockholders. Four thousand people are employed at the largest mill in Lawrence, and the rate of wages paid to them is higher than in England. The girls or young women, who can manage looms for cotton and woollen fabrics, and at the carpet-mills of Lowell will earn £2 weekly; and like Cornish miners, they only receive their money once a month. I had an opportunity of examining the machinery generally in use; I saw the shawls and poplins, cottons and woollens which are here manufactured; and was much pleased with all. The machinery is ingenious, and the fabrics produced are almost on a par with those of English and French manufacture. There is no reason why they should not be fully equal, or even superior, for the high wages paid in America, induce the best men from both countries to go out to the United States, carrying their ability and experience with them.

From Lawrence I drove to Lowell, which is distant about 9 miles. For some way, the road lay along the banks of the Merrimac, which is here a noble river. It was full of fish a short time ago, but as manufactures and

fish cannot divide the sovereignty of the stream, the latter, being the weaker, are becoming fewer and fewer every year. A large dam has been made across the river, so that the water may be taken off by a canal, to turn the numerous waterwheels. Lowell is great in cotton-mills, and the high character which its female operatives have gained for steadiness, economy and prudence has almost passed into a proverb. While I was here, a fire broke out at one of the mills, but the bell on the city-hall tower gave the alarm, and the fire engines were quickly on the spot, and the flames got under. Skilled artizan-emigrants from the Old World are constantly streaming into these busy manufacturing towns; and New England having taken the lead in spinning and weaving, will probably maintain it, in the face of all the continent.*

From life in these New England manufacturing towns, our thoughts often wandered far away to other and distant parts of the Union. We talked of California, which seems to us the finest and most prodigally endowed province of America. Some of its valleys are wonderfully rich and prolific. It would astonish my English friends to hear Californians talk of their country; of its mighty pine trees, its wonderful pears and grapes, and leviathan vegetable growths. Even its very trees yield ivory; and you learn that the finest wheaten flour now comes from the land of the Golden Gate. In fact it produces everything that is found in the other States, and treasure of gold as well. Here nature yields the good gifts of tropical lands, blessing her gifts with the coolest of breezes, to drive away lassitude and indolence from the dwellers in this sunny land. In California's riches above and below

*

Georgia and North Carolina however, are becoming formidable competitors with New England in cotton spinning.

the soil, we seem to have the realization of ancient prophesy--"that the ploughman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed, and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt."

Then our conversation turned on Florida. It is 1,400 miles from New England to the "Land of Flowers;" yet the distance is overcome by numbers of invalids, who yearly seek in this Southern land, a refuge for comsumption. They generally reside there from November to May, when tropical heat drives them northward again. Mrs. Stowe has purchased a home in Florida for her son, and is remaining there during the winter. On the "sea islands" along the coast, is grown the finest cotton in the world; yet much of the interior of the country is sandy and marshy, as attested by numerous barrens and cypress-swamps. Considerable portions of the State remain as wild as when Ponce de Leon sailed through its reef-like keys, and the first Spanish settlers landed upon its shores. On the St. John river, the mullet jumps up from the water into the boat, at the sight of a light; and on Deer Island grow wild all the fruits of the earth that the heart of man can desire. In spite of panther and bear, which are yet plentiful on Indian-river, in spite of sandy wastes and gloomy swamps, the land is beautiful. Under the feet a garden of flowers, and the bluest of heavens Bending above, and resting its dome on the walls of the forest. One of the ladies of the W. household, Miss Fanny G. had come to Europe along with Mrs. Stowe. At Liverpool Mr. L. the London publisher, met the authoress of "Uncle Tom's Cabin ;" and he had arranged for her party to land without the annoyance of passing through the customhouse. I was very glad to hear of such a compliment being paid to this gifted American lady. A well-known

Scottish Duke presented plaid shawls-woven in the pattern and colors, of the tartan of his own clan-to Mrs. Stowe and her lady friends. I have no doubt that they are carefully treasured up as souveniers in many an American home. The address to Mrs. Stowe presented by the Duchess of Sutherland, and signed by many thousands of my country-women, was highly prized by her. The long lists of signatures were bound up into eight large volumes, and placed in a special bookcase in her library at Hartford. Valuable money results must have flowed in upon the publication of her two best works. On her return from Europe she had a fancyhouse or mansion built in Hartford. It was something it the style of a Moorish mansion, with covered courtyard, quadrangle and conservatory. But in a year or two she sold it, and is now in Florida, as has been previously stated.