and hazy atmosphere resting over the busy scene. It seemed, as we stood and looked on the panorama before us, that long ago, away in our early boyhood, we had once dreamed of the very identical scene spread before our eyes. Some picture from the dark background of the past rises indistinctly up, and is succeeded by a spectral host, as fond memory pours forth in pale and shadowy train her trooping phantoms, yielding obedience to her fairy wand, like as the fabled genii of old, called from their dark abodes by the voice of the magician.

CHAPTER VII.

LONDON is an inexhaustible field for the investigation of the curious stranger, and we might dwell without limit on its myriad wonders. We might tell of the British Musem, and the Queen's Opera; of the Vernon gallery, and the Royal mews; of the London docks, and the beer vaults; of the fish market, and the Burlington Arcade; of Greenwich and Woolwich; of the old Bailey and Bow-street, of churches and theaters; of the Strand by day, and of Regent street by gas light, and in fine, of matters innumerable peculiar to the city of London. But weary of the din and smoke we sigh for the pure atmosphere of travel, and so we'll plume our wings for sunny France.

About 3 o'clock A. M., we were roused by "Boots," according to orders, who buckled on our trunks, gave the last touch of his nimble brush to our wardrobe, saw us seated in our cab, and receiving his farewell bonus, wished us a long life and a happy journey, as we dashed away from St. James' Place. We had started for the special express train, by means of which passengers from London reach Paris in eleven hours. It was in the cold gray of the morning, the streets were comparatively clear, and we rattled on at a rapid pace over the well-paved road. We were

rather behind our time, and so ordered "cabby" to drive like Jehu. He did his duty, and so did his trotter, but we reached the railway station just as the snorting iron steed had bounded from his stable. Fogg and Brevard had also arrived a moment too late, and so our misfortune was consolingly mutual. To go back, we were one and all resolved not to do, and so concluded to take the 6 o'clock train down to Brighton. The hour arrived and we were on the move, rejoicing to escape the uproar of city, and no-wise loth to flee the impositions there practiced on the unwary.

A few hours' ride over green glades and through chalky tunnels brought us to Brighton-that watering place so famous in English novels. After breakfasting in one of the numerous coffee-houses we strolled over the city, which contains, it is said, in the fashionable season, a population of eighty thousand, while the permanent citizens number only thirty thousand, leaving a floating population of fifty thousand. An amusing feature of this city is the great number of miniature carriages, drawn by goats, in harness; a convenience, we supposed, for gouty squires, and superannuated dames. Saw the royal pavilion, one of Victoria's numerous country seats, but which, we were told, she had never occupied, though reserved for her exclusive use. Many of the houses are beautifully stuccoed with dark gravel, which, with their verandas, present an appearance, at once elegant and unique. Ascended Race Hill, just back of the city, and from its bold, bald summit, had a fine view of

the city and its channel; met here with a picture a rural life in the olden time, viz: the shepherd boys with their crooks and sagacious dogs, tending their flocks in the open fields. At 6 o'clock P. M., we took the cars for New Haven, a small port on the coast of England, and at 11 o'clock at night we put out into the boisterous English channel, on a small and filthy steamer, bound for the port of Dieppe, on the coast of France. A more disagreeable and nauseating night we never passed, than on board that little "dug-out," as it danced exultingly over the rough waters of the Channel. The very memory of our internal agonies, and external circumstances, causes us even now to shudder. The night was dark as Erebus, and the waters dashed madly against our frail vessel, as she pushed out into the angry elements. Our steamer was unprovided with berths, and so great was the number of passengers on the occasion, that not even a sofa or a chair could be paraded for the accommodation of each one of us. We, however, crowded down into the cabin, which soon became almost equal to the "Black-hole of Calcutta ;" so much so that we could endure the close atmosphere and constant volcanic heavings for only a short while, and then sought relief on deck, which, though cold and comfortless was yet preferable to the foul confinement below. With our overcoat about us we lay down on the hard boards, while our wee bit of a craft was dancing like a feather tossed to and fro by the wind. In fact we were just in that peculiar state of indifference, which

renders one perfectly insensible to all other sufferings, and callous even to his own life. Before morning dawned we stumbled once again down into the cabin, and despite our own physical demolition, we could not suppress a smile at the scene before us. Friend Taylor, who possessed, in an eminent degree, that faculty of ever being at home; had managed, by some art of hous pocus, to secure an entire sofa, and was stretched out at full length, reveling in the luxury of unbroken sleep, and blissfully ignorant of all that was transpiring about him. A few feet off were two surly sons of England, who, not having even sufficient room for a comfortable seat, described their sufferings as perfectly "stunning," and swore heartily at the prostrate form of our friend for a d-d lazy rascal, because he seemed so entirely comfortable and reconciled to the evils of the hour. He, though, slept happily on, without once knowing what an object of malice and envy he was to those about him.

But "finis omnibus est," and so at last the long night wore away, and the morn broke, like an angel visitant above our heads, and about 9 o'clock A. M., we reached Dieppe. Our vessel was brought up into her accustomed berth, and arrangements made for the examination of passports and baggage. About thirty yards from the shore sat the Custom-House office, on each side of which were attached ropes, reaching down to the vessel's side, thus forming an inclosed space into which the passengers were huddled like so many pigs in a pen. From this temporary quaran