CONTENTS.

LECTURE I.

BRITISH AMERICA.

Apology-Voyage out-Passengers-My prepossession in
favour of one of them-His doings-His tale of Silas Gray-
Brought to trial as Mr. Humbug Barnum, and acquitted after
an able defence-Mr. Bennett, the tragedian-Miss Williams,
the Welsh Nightingale-Halifax and its hospitable inhabitants
-Coach journey to Annapolis-Kentville and Longfellow's
Evangeline-St. John, New Brunswick, fogs, and kind friends
-American steamers - Portland - Hotel system - Railway
cars-Monster vice of America-Quebec-The St. Lawrence-
Emigrants-American Scientific Association meet at Montreal
-Their and my kind reception-Normal schools at Montreal
and Toronto-Visit to the settlement of the Mohawk Indians
-Appearance of the country-Crops and agriculture-Falls
of Niagara-Farewell.

LECTURE II.

UNITED STATES.

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Commence with the first day of the week-Churches, preach-
ing and singing-Chicago, "the prairie city"-Its wonderful
progress-Immense trade-Net-work of railways-How paid
for-An illustration-The Mississippi, "the father of waters
St. Louis-Harbour crowded with steamboats-Burns and the
Bible - Louisville - Holey Kentucky — Slaves— Kittydids—
Drive to the Mammoth Cave-Blind fish-Temperature-
Advertisements found nine miles beyond the light of day-
That of Mrs. Dr. Kinsey-Railroad advertisements-Speci-
mens-Cincinnati-District school-Post-office-Decimal coin-
age-To New York and Philadelphia-Rapidity of travelling
in the West-Marvellous development of the resources of the
country-Slavery-Peculiarities of the Americans-Feeling
towards Britain-Conclusion.

LECTURE I.

I AM conscious that the lecture which I am about to deliver requires some apology. The theme on which I am to speak is remotely enough connected with the objects which bring us together to-day. You may, therefore, well ask me why I have chosen it, and I feel that I am bound to give you an answer. I have many reasons. One is, that the subject of University Reform, on which some of us have been ringing the changes during the last few years, has lost its freshness at any rate, and, if I mistake not, much of its importance too. When it seemed a present probability, it was my duty and my interest to express my sentiments fully on the subject; but now that it appears only a future possibility, I am urged by no such motives to return to it, and I gladly seek a new topic. Another reason is, that for some months

B

during the past summer, when I ought, perhaps, to have been thinking of my classes, my mind was engrossed with other matters, and I cannot recollect that the University rose up vividly before me except on one occasion, when, in a Kentucky paper, I saw an announcement, probably stolen from the pages of Punch, that one of my colleagues intended visiting the United States, but in compliment to the prejudices of the Antislavery party, had resolved to change his name for the occasion.

My apologies for the selection of my present subject are, therefore, really only one-that I have nothing to say on any other. I have, in fact, been playing the truant, and wandering in the West. And as the objects which presented themselves during my tour are vividly before me at this moment, I will, at the risk of being unacademical, give you the benefit of the impressions I retain.

The directors of an institution with which I am connected having resolved to extend their business operations to the British provinces of North America, I was requested to take part in the preliminary arrangements. An unusually favourable opportunity was thus afforded me of