We entered London through Highgate, and according to the admonition of my Richmond friend, when our coach pulled up at the Bull-and-Mouth, Hyde-Park, I called a cab, directing the driver to take me to the Saracen-Head, Snowhill, Skinner street. I rattled it off so handily that coachee took me for an old Londoner: I entered the hotel with as much assurance as though I had been born on the spot. Notwithstanding my caution, they soon ascertained that I was not an Englishman, in consequence of which, they paid me every attention the house afforded. Before leaving Boston, I was furnished with introductory letters to several families in England, with whose relatives I was well acquainted, and among whom was a lady whose brothers and three sisters lived in London.
Accordingly in a few days I set about hunting up my new acquaintances. My first letter was to a gentleman whose place of business was in the Strand. I called there, but as he was not in, left my card with the letter, and went home, it being near my dinino" hour. Just after dining, and while sitting in my room, the barmaid called to me, saying, that there was a gentleman below that wished to see me. 1 came down and found it was Mr. Herford, the gentleman at whose store I had called in the forenoon. He seemed somewhat embarrassed, observing " he regretted not being at his hoffioe when I called; saying at the same time, " that his two sisters were in town, and if I had no objection, would direct a note to them with my address, and that they would in all probability call upon me on their way home." Accordingly I remained in my room, finishing up some letters, when, at about five P.
M., was again called, and informed that there were two ladies in the parlor, who wished to see me; and on entering, perceived two very pretty young girls, neither of whom was far from twenty years of age. After making my bow, and speaking to them, the one whom I took for the eldest commenced a tittering: lauo-h, which increased so fast that she was not able to speak, and holding a handkerchief to her face, began in an inchorent manner to apologize for her rudeness, saying: " I hope you will excuse me sir." (tittering again,) " I don't know what you will think of us, sir. While we were on our way here, Maria and I were wondering how we should make ourselves understood by you, having no idea that you spoke English, and then, we thought you were very dark, with long black hair, and when we saw you, were quite amazed, that you so much resembled an Englishman, and spoke the language so well." " Why? did not your brother tell you that I was not an Indian?" " Oh; we have not seen brother.
He merely wrote a note telling us where you were." " But did not Mrs. Staniford ever inform you in her letters, that the people in America, were like the English both in appearance and language? " " No sir, she never said anything in particular about the people, but sent us a book containing an account of the dreadful cruelties practised by them towards the English, and the book is full of their likenesses." On explanation, I found this description of Americans was a book on the Indian wars, and full of Indian portraits. And, after having a good laugh over our meeting, the girls arose to leave, expressing themselves highly delighted at seeing me, and hinting that it would be very agreeable to them if I would accompany them home.
Their place of residence was on the Surry side, just over Blackfriar's bridge, at Camperdown Cottage. They resided with their elder sister, to whom I was introduced. Wre took tea in the garden, under the shade of a venerable oak, and in the evening were joined by the brother. On my return over the bridge, the young ladies insisted on waiting upon me, a short distance, which certainly was quite agreeable. Mr. Herford was very attentive, offering his services to accompany me any-where 1 wished to go. Accordino-ly, one morning, we started soon after breakfast for a walk,° stopping first at Deptford, and after looking round the dock-yard a while, went on to Greenwich. Here we saw the jolly, old jack tar pensioners.
And it is truly amusing to hear these old salts talk over their slang, and how nicely they will beg a sixpence from you. Here are many of the old Trafalgar's, the Nile's, and Copenhagen's; and just mention the name of Nelson, and you will soon have a crowd around you, some with one arm, another with a timber toe, and there's a poor fellow drawn about in a cart, having lost both legs. These fellows are all fat and hearty, singing away merrily. They wear cocked hats, blue coats, and large shoebuckles. When a fellow gets a little too much beer on board, he cock-bill's his old three cornered hat, and begins, perhaps, with the middle verse of some favorite song, but always gives you the chorus.
It is very singular, that every one happened to be right along-side the old boy (Nelson,) when he was shot by the Spanish soger-built-lubber, from the Santisma's maintop. " My eyes, Bill, didn't he get it? Why sir, there ivasnH as much left of that ere fellow, as would feed a kitten." "Aye, a brave soul was Nelson, and them ere swabs, he used to wear, is changed into wings, and he's flying about Heaven like a Mother Cary's Chicken."