50 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



CHAPTER V. 



THE FIRST OF ENGLAND. THE STREETS. - A RAILWAY STATION. - THE 



AT NIGHT. - PROSTITUTES. - TEMPERANCE. - THE STILL LIFE OF LIVERPOOL. 

 - A MARKET. 



AT the head of the gang-plank stood a policeman, easily 

 recognised and familiar, thanks to Punch, who politely 

 helped us to land, thus giving us immediate occasion to 

 thank the government for its hospitality, and its regard for 

 our safety and convenience. It was a real pleasure to stamp 

 upon the neat, firm, solid mason-work of the dock, and we 

 could not but be mindful of the shabby log-wharves we had 

 stumbled over as we left New York. We were immediately 

 beset by porters, not rudely, but with serious, anxious defer 

 ence and care to keep a way open before us. I was assisting 

 a lady, and carried her bag ; a man followed me pertina 

 ciously. &quot; I tell you I have no baggage,&quot; said I. &quot; But, sir, 

 this bag ?&quot; &quot; Oh, I can carry that.&quot; &quot; Excuse me, sir ; you 

 must not, indeed ; gentlemen never does so in this country&quot; 

 After handing the lady into a hackney-coach, we walked on. 

 The landing-place was spacious, not encumbered with small 

 buildings or piles of freight, and though there was a little rain 

 falling, there was a smooth, clean stone pavement, free from 

 mud, to walk upon. There was a slight smell of bituminous 

 smoke in the air, not disagreeable, but, to me, highly -pleas 

 ant. I snuffed it as if passing a field of new-mown hay 

 snuffed and pondered, and at last was brought to my mind 



