tête a tête with mine host-of all things the most irksome. On my return, having visited the stable, I retired to bed, and had my choice of half a dozen, in a room the full length of the house, being for tunately the only guest for the night. It was scarcely dark, when on lying down, my ears were suddenly assailed by a noise perfectly new, and for which I was at a loss to account, till, by enquiry in the morning, I learned that it had proceeded from the frogs in an adjacent pond, and the creeking song of the locust. Among the discord, like the bass in a band of music, was a kind of roaring, which particularly surprized me. It resembled the distant bellowing of the enraged bull; and this I found proceeded from what they aptly call the bull-frog. These animals are four times the size of the English frog, and raise their heads above the water for the space of two minutes, at intervals, (for I have since particularly noticed them,) when they continue this most discordant noise. I could seldom find them out of water, and when I came upon them by surprize, on the margin of a pond, they fled to it by prodigious jumps. I had made many efforts to catch one of them in vain, but returning one evening from a shooting party, being about to draw my charge, and observing one in a marsh near me, rising to make his roar, I discharged the contents of my piece, and immediately saw it floating on the water. A dog which had accompanied us brought it to me. It measured six inches in length, and its hind legs were nearly as long as the body. In colour, and

somewhat in shape, it more resembled the toad than our green-speckled frog. I severed its body, and brought home the hind-quarters, more delicate in appearance than those of a chicken. In France I had conquered my repugnance to the flesh of a frog; and having heard that some people in America extolled such food, I resolved to have a little fricassee made of this part of the bull-frog. In accomplishing my purpose I had many difficulties to combat. Not a domestic of the house would touch it, and determined to carry my point, I seized the stew-pan, procured the necessary ingredients, and cooked a dish greatly to my satisfaction—and I can assure my reader, that if he could conquer that enemy to the mind, prejudice, he would find the legs of a frog nearly as excellent as those of a woodcock.

I have been thus prolix in order to draw a picture of my first day's peregrination in the interior of America; but shall hereafter avoid repetitions of this subject, there being little variation in the treat ment you meet with in New England. I must, however, observe, that I was greatly indebted to fortune throughout the twenty-four hours; therefore to give a general view of travelling in this part of the world, in the private manner I had adopted, I shall now shew the reader, without the most distant idea of giving offence, what must sometimes be endured fro the manners and customs of the people.

Arrived at your inn, let me suppose, like myself, you had fallen in with a landlord, who at the moment would condescend to take the trouble to pro

eure you refreshment after the family hour; and that no pig, or other trifling circumstance, called off his attention, he will sit by your side, and enter in the most familiar manner into conversation; which is prefaced, of course, with a demand of your business, and so forth. He will then start a political question, (for here every individual is a politician), force your answer, contradict, deny, and, finally, be ripe for a quarrel, should you not acquiesce in all his opinions. When the homely meal is served up, he will often place himself opposite to you at the table, at the same time declaring, that "though he had eaten a hearty dinner, yet he will pick a bit with you." Thus will he sit, drinking out of your glass, and of the liquor you are to pay for, belching in your face, and committing other excesses still more indelicate and disgusting. Perfectly inattentive to your accommodation, and regardless of your appetite, he will dart his fork into the best of the dish, and leave you to take the next cut. If you arrive at the dinner-hour, you are seated with "mine hostess" and her dirty children, with whom you have often to scramble for a plate, and even the servants of the inn; for liberty and equality level all ranks upon the road, from the host to the hostler. The children, imitative of their free and polite papa, will also seize your drink, slobber in it, and often snatch a dainty bit from your plate. This is esteemed wit, and consequently provokes a a ugh, at the expence of those who are payIng for the board. No check must be given to

These demonstrations of unsophisticated nature; for the smallest rebuke will bring down a severe animadversion from the parent. Many are the instances that could be pointed out, where the writer has undergone these mortifications, and if Mr. Winterbottom has ever travelled in the country parts of the United States, he can, if he pleases, attest the truth of these observations.

"The American farmer, (says this gentleman) has more simplicity and honesty-we more art and chicanery; they have more of nature, and we more of the world. Nature, indeed, formed our features and intellects very much alike; but while we have metamorphosed the one, and contaminated the other, they have retained and preserved the natural symbols of both."

If we credit these assertions, we must admit that the inhabitants of the new world, far excel us, also, in mental acquirements; but I take the very contrary to be the fact. A republican spirit makes them forward and impertinent-a spirit of trade renders them full of chicanery--and under a shew of liberty, they are commonly tyrants to each other. This is observable at their public meetings, when the fumes of whisky or apple brandy begin to operate-the more opulent will lord it over his poor neighbour; while the robust will attack the weak, till the whole exhibits a scene of riot, blasphemy, and intoxication.

An English farmer, in the north especially, when asked the price of his grain, will answer with mo

dest diffidence: nay, will often be abashed at the attempt to undervalue the article. In America, the meanest planter must go through his routine of interrogatories, and perhaps mount his political hobbyhorse, before you receive an answer to your question. Should you happen to observe that you can purchase for less than he demands, he will give you the lie, accompanied with a grin and an oath, and tell you to go where you can obtain it cheaper.

With the other sex, whose curiosity is generally, admitted in other countries to be by no means inferior to that of the men, you may naturally expect to fare no better. This I likewise found by manifold experience. One instance, which occurred during the excursion described in this chapter, shall here suffice. Seeing a pleasant little cottage on the river Connecticut, and understanding that it was to be let, I knocked at the door, which was opened by a woman, of whom I enquired the rent of the house. -"And where are you from?" was the reply.— "Pray, madam," I again asked, "is this house to be let?"-"Be you from New-York or Boston?" said the inquisitive dame. The place was situated about half-way between those two towns. Impatient at this mode of reply" I'll thank you, madam,” I repeated," to acquaint me with the price demanded for this little place?"-" Pray what may you be?" rejoined she, as if fully determined not to satisfy my enquiry till I had gratified her curiosity. I was not less resolute than herself, and turned my back in Jisgust.