258 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 



expiring flame. I forgot the vexations already 

 alluded to, and set off for New York, in the beau- 

 tiful packet John Wells, commanded by Captain 

 Harris. The passage was long and cold ; but the 

 elegant accommodations on board, and the polite 

 attention of the commander, rendered it very 

 agreeable; and I landed, in health and merri- 

 ment, in the stately capital of the new world. 



We will soon pen down a few remarks on this 

 magnificent city, but not just now. I want to 

 venture into the north-west country, and get to 

 their great canal, which the world talks so much 

 about, though I fear it will be hard work to make 

 one's way through bugs, bears, brutes, and buf- 

 faloes, which we Europeans imagine are so fre- 

 quent and ferocious in these never-ending western 

 wilds. 



I left New York on a fine morning in July, 

 without one letter of introduction, for the city of 

 Albany, some hundred and eighty miles up the 

 celebrated Hudson. I seldom care about letters 

 of introduction, for I am one of those who depend 

 much upon an accidental acquaintance. Full 

 many a face do I see, as I go wandering up and 

 down the world, whose mild eye, and sweet and 

 placid features, seem to beckon to me, and say, 

 as it were, "Speak but civilly to me, and I will 

 do what I can for you." Such a face as this 

 is worth more than a dozen letters of introduc- 

 tion ; and such a face, gentle reader, I found on 

 board the steam-boat from New York to the city 

 of Albany. 



There was a great number of well-dressed 

 ladies and gentlemen in the vessel, all entire 



