THE FIRST OF ENGLAND. 35 



CHAPTER V. 



The First of England The Streets A Railway Station The Docks at 

 Night Prostitutes Temperance The Still Life of Liverpool A 

 Market. 



A T the head of the gang-plank stood a policeman, easily rec- 

 *T ognized and familiar, thanks to Punch, who politely helped 

 us to land, thus giving us immediate occasion to thank the gov- 

 ernment for its hospitality, and its regard for our safety and con- 

 venience. 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 deference and care to keep a way open be- 

 fore us. I was assisting a lady, and carried her bag ; a man fol- 

 lowed me pertinaciously. " I have no baggage," said I. " But, 

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

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

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

 The landing-place was spacious, not encumbered with shanties 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 dis- 



