60 AX AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



he had given us, took his leave. We remained a long time, and 

 enjoyed it, as you may think. 



Did you ever hear of Birkenhead Abbey? I never had 

 before. It has no celebrity ; but coming upon it so fresh from 

 the land of youth, as we did, so unexpectant of any thing of the 

 kind though I have seen far older ruins, and more renowned, 

 I have found none so impressive. 



A ruined end of the old prior's house had been repaired and 

 roofed over many years ago, and was used as a school-house 

 many years ago, for the ivy on it was very strong and gnarled, 

 and bushes and grass were growing all over the roof. I send 

 you a hasty sketch of it; wouldn't you like the memory of 

 such a school ? 



At the market-place we went into a baker's shop, and, while 

 eating buns, learned that the poorest flour in market was Ameri- 

 can and the best French. Upon examination of his stock, we 

 thought he had hardly a fair sample of American flour ; but his 

 French flour was certainly remarkably fine, and would be so 

 considered at Rochester. He said it made much whiter bread 

 than either American or English, and he used but little of it 

 unmixed, except for the most delicate pastry. French and 

 English flour is sold in sacks, American in barrels. He thought 

 American flour was not generally kiln-dried, as it should be for 

 exportation,* and was much injured in consequence. When we 

 left he obligingly directed us to several objects of interest in the 

 vicinity, and showed us through the market. It is but little less 



* The great bulk of the flour -we are now (1851) exporting to England is of inferior 

 quality, worth about S3. 50, when common superfine is S4.50. It is used extensively by 

 the millers in England to mix with a superior quality of their own grinding, of English 

 wheat. By the way, the custom of taking a toll in kind, as a compensation for grinding 

 at grist-mills, which our fathers brought from England, and which we retain, is now 

 obsolete there. The millers make their charges in money, and are paid as in any other 

 business. 



