Manchester. 205 



who were taken so by surprise when a four-in-hand 

 stopped at the door, said something Kke this about the 

 American ladies and gentlemen as they left. Why not ? 

 Nothing comes amiss to the Gay Charioteers, and so on 

 we go to Manchester, getting once more into the grim, 

 smoky regions of manufacturing enterprise. 



Manchester, July 6. 



Mine host of The Queen's takes the prize for the one 

 best " swell " dinner enjoyed by the party ; but then the 

 rain and the moderate luncheon at the little inn, so dif- 

 ferent from the picnics on flowery banks, may have 

 given it a relish. The Queen's was evidently determined 

 that its American guests should leave with a favorable 

 impression, and so they did. 



There was time to visit the Town Hall and walk the 

 principal streets, but all felt an invincible repugnance 

 to large towns. It was not these we had come to see. 

 Let us get away as soon as possible, and out once more 

 to the green fields ; we have cotton-mills and warehouses 

 and dirty, smoky manufactories enough and to spare at 

 home. The morning was cloudy, but the rain held off, 

 and we left the hotel amid a great crowd. The police 

 had at last to step in front of the coach and clear the 

 way. The newspapers had announced our arrival and 

 intended departure, and this .brought the crowd upon 

 us. Getting into and out of large cities is the most dif- 

 ficult part of our driving, for the Ordnance map is useless 



