the ruins of Thebes, of Palmyra, of Athens, and of Rome, form a melancholy skeleton of the glorious figure which they each exhibited when in perfection. The single solitary column, of vast proportions, grey in aspect, worn in surface, overgrown with ivy and moss, rising from the ruined bridge on which the triumphal procession and the battle-scene were previously depicted, is one of the most impressive objects that can be seen upon canvass; while the surrounding fragments of noble edifices crumbling into dust, the second wilderness of nature restored, in the tangled thicket and entwined verdure of the soil, and the pale light of the moon shed over the whole, are all calculated to produce a train of melancholy feelings in beholder of the least degree of sensibility.

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On myself, perhaps, the effect of this beautiful series of pictures, representing the Course of Empires, was stronger than it might have been on many others, from its rekindling in my bosom the feelings I had so powerfully experienced, when standing amid the ruins of ancient grandeur, at Alexandria, Memphis, and Thebes-at Tyre, Sidon, and Jerusalem-and at Nineveh, Babylon, and Persepolis; the course of these great cities and empires having been exactly that which was here so beautifully and so pathetically pourtrayed; and this feeling was still further strengthened, perhaps, by the apprehension, that the same fate might, probably, be maturing in the womb of time, for the great cities and nations that now rule the earth.

In the architecture of New York, a great improvement of taste is visible. The older buildings of the town are rude in design, mean in materials, and

EGYPTIAN BUILDING.

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wretched in execution; but every successive period of twenty years, exhibits a manifest advance towards a better state of things. The more modern churches are in a chaste Grecian style, some of the Doric, and some of the Ionic order. The University in Washington Square is a fine specimen of the Gothic; and the great hotel of Astor House has all the massiveness, simplicity, and chasteness of design adapted to such an edifice.

One of the most remarkable of the public buildings of New York is a new House of Detention, or Bridewell, sometimes called the Hall of Justice, in Centre-Street, not far from the centre of Broadway.

It is intended for a prison, for the detention of accused criminals before trial; and attached to the same building are all the requisite conveniences for the business of the city magistrates, and the criminal courts held by them. This edifice is built in the Egyptian style of architecture; and though it has

many defects, yet, as a whole, it is very imposing. The front and portico, which covers a façade of about 100 feet, is striking, from its novelty. The columns, which are modelled after some of the pillars in the temple of Philöe, are well sculptured, and produce a very solemn and stately effect. The whole edifice, however, wants elevation; and would have looked to much greater advantage, if it had been raised ten or twelve feet above the ground. The high interior walls of the prison-department appearing over the lower and outer walls of the temple model, by which it is surrounded, is a violation of propriety and good taste; and the small space allowed for the steps in front of the portico, with the steepness of their angle of ascent, are also great deformities. Notwithstanding these defects, however, the massiveness of the style, added to its novelty, when compared with surrounding edifices, will always cause it to be a very remarkable building.

CHAP. XII.

Peculiarities in the manners and customs of New York-Visits between residents and strangers Carriages, servants, liveries, &c.-Want of lamps, numbers of houses-Naming of streets, bell-hangers and locksmiths-Song of chimney-sweeps in their rounds-Excellent mode of observing new year's day-Love of quaintness and singularity of expression-Examples in announcements and editorial paragraphs Visit to Newark with Mr. Webster-Instances of wit, cheerfulness, and humour-Anecdote of Mr. Webster and coloured people-Memorial of coloured people against mixed races-Boarding-house life, its advantages and disadvantages-Peculiarity of expression, phrases, &c.

AMONG the peculiarities of New York, and traits of manners not common to other places, the following may deserve mention. It is usual here, as in other parts of the country, for the residents to call first upon the stranger who arrives; and this visit is expected to be returned before an invitation to the house takes place. It would, of course, greatly facilitate the performance of the visit, if the resident who makes the call, or leaves his card, were to place his address on it, so as to let the stranger know where he might call; but out of more than 200 cards that were left for us by persons calling, there were not more than ten on which the address, or place of residence, was added to the name. To every one to whom I mentioned this defect, it was admitted to be a source of great inconvenience; but the excuse was, that it was not the custom in New York to put the residence on

the cards, and many valuable hours are thus lost by the consequent uncertainty of this, and the inquiries to which it leads, since the Directory confines its information chiefly to places of business. The hours of morning visiting are earlier here than in England; from eleven till two, is the most usual period, as many families dine at three, and few later than four or five. An excellent custom, worthy of all imitation, prevails here, which is, for ladies who may be at home when called on, but not prepared or disposed to see company, to leave word with the servant, that "they are engaged," instead of saying, as in England, "not at home;" and as this answer is given without their knowing who the parties are that call, and to all without distinction, no offence can be justly taken at it. A great improvement might be made on this, however, and a great deal of time saved that is now lost to both parties by calls made on persons who are either not at home, or, being at home, are engaged; namely, that ladies and gentlemen should, if they received morning visits at all, have one or more fixed days in the week, on which they would be at home within certain prescribed hours, and have these stated in a corner of their cards, so that visitors might know when to call with a certainty of finding the person of whom they were in search. For the want of some such arrangement as this, many valuable hours are lost every day, in unsuccessful calls on persons who are really out, and the evil seems to be on the increase.

In the equipages and dresses of the servants, male and female, there is much greater plainness here than in England. The domestics are mostly black or coloured people; and the greatest number of the coach