52 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



an imaginary driving-wheel, the engine at the other end being 

 governed by his motions : forward slower slower faster 

 slower stop back. The train stopped, the doors were 

 unlocked by men in a more brilliant uniform, and there was 

 a great rush of passengers to secure good seats. Women 

 with bundles and band-boxes were shoved this way and that, 

 as they struggled to hoist themselves into the doors ; their 

 parcels were knocked out of their hands, porters picked them 

 up and threw them in, reckless where. So bewildered and 

 flustered did they all seem to be, that we could not refrain 

 from trying to assist them. There was nothing in the plan 

 or fittings of the Building that needs remark, and we soon re 

 turned to the terrace, where we remained some time observ 

 ing the peculiarities of the houses and the people passing in 

 the vicinity. 



Going into the street again we wandered on till it was 

 quite dark, with no other object but to get a general impres 

 sion of the character of the town. We looked into a few 

 houses where we saw a sign of &quot; Clean and well-aired beds,&quot; 

 and found that we should have no difficulty in getting com 

 fortable lodgings at a very moderate price. From nine until 

 twelve we were waiting at the dock for the ship to haul in, 

 or trying in vain to get a boat to go on board of her. There 

 were many vessels laying near the great gates, all standing 

 by, when they should be opened at high-water, to be hauled 

 in. 



The broad promenade outside the dock walls was occupied 

 by the police, stevedores, watermen, boarding-house keepers, 

 and a crowd of women, waiting to help in the ships or to 

 receive their crews when the tide should have risen enough 

 to admit them. I was surprised at the quietness and decency 

 of these &quot; sailors wives,&quot; as they called themselves ; they 

 were plainly and generally neatly dressed, and talked quietly 



