whiskers, and beard cut very short-gentlemanly in appearance, with bright eyes and very good teeth. He welcomed me, and introduced me to the other gentlemen, who were all very distinguished citizens of New York, fifteen in number (there were three judges).

At 7 dinner was announced. We proceeded to the next apartment, and there took our places. Every gentleman had his place at table indicated by a very ornamental card, with his name inscribed, and each one had, besides, a very pretty bill of fare, got up specially for the occasion. Indeed I may say that the banquet -for the repast wanted nothing to deserve the titlewas quite worthy of Delmonico's celebrated name. I, of course, had the post of honour next the host. At my right hand was Judge Daly, a very scholarly man, and at the other side of my host was Father Hecker, perhaps the most distinguished ecclesiastic in New York. Everything was superb, from the egg to the apple; it appeared to me to be a paragon of dinners.

I found that Mr. O'Connor is great-grandson of a very distinguished namesake of his, Charles O'Connor, of Balangar, who lived in the last century, and was one of a prominent trio, including Mr. Curry and Mr. Wyse, who were mainly instrumental in forming what was known as the "Catholic Association," which had a great deal to do in procuring a remission of the Penal Laws. Judge Daly also is the great-grandson of Denis Daly, a very remarkable name in the old Irish Parliament. I thought it strange that I should be just then sitting between the great-grandsons of two men of whom I had so often read with pleasure and admiration. I regret that my memory is so bad; otherwise

I should be able to record some good things that were said this evening.

Thursday, June 23rd.-We drive to Wall-street by appointment to meet Mr. Eugene O'Sullivan. He has been many years in America, and has amassed a large fortune. He gave us 250 dols., and invited us to spend the evening at Long Branch, a fashionable watering-place, some thirty miles from the city. We took, with him, the steamer from some wharf not far from Broadway, and proceeded on our way. The steamer is one of the so-called "floating palaces." No hotel was ever so magnificently furnished or decorated. Luxury was studied in everything-not simple comfort, but luxury. The afternoon was lovely, and the sea breeze delightful to us coming from the broiling streets. of people were on board; but there was no crushing-there was room for all.

Crowds

Mr. O'Sullivan introduced us to the pastor of Long Branch, a Frenchman.

He accepted an invitation to We landed not far from Sandy

come and dine with us. Hook, and took the train, which brought us in half-anhour to our destination. Mr. O'Sullivan's house was not far from the station-a large frame-house, with piazzas on every floor, and not a quarter of a mile from the sea shore. The Atlantic stretched away before us, with many ships and steamers and fishing-boats dotting its surface. We were introduced to Mrs. O'Sullivan, a fine handsome lady.

The season has not yet commenced in Long Branch, but when it does it is very gay; it is one of the most fashionable watering-places in America. A great number of hotels are here, all frame buildings. We go to see them after

dinner. One is 700 feet long. The apartments are magnificent. Space is the grand feature of all. In one immense drawingroom a gentleman sat reading a newspaper. He seemed as lonely as Adam in Paradise before the creation of Eve, but enjoyed the advantage of his progenitor, inasmuch as the latter had not the luxury of reading the papers. These hotels hang almost over the sea, and must have a pleasant time when the place is full. We loitered about the shore almost till midnight, enjoying the cool air, and listening to the ocean breaking its swelling waves.

Next morning we return to town by the steamer, and bade Mr. O'Sullivan farewell, with many thanks for his kindness. The heat of the day was insufferable, so we leave New York

to-morrow.

CHAPTER III.

NIAGARA.

Saturday, June 25th.-It was our intention to go up the Hudson to Albany, by steamer, a distance of 145 miles. The scenery of this river is pleasant beyond measure, and we were naturally curious to see it. We left by carriage for the wharf, whence the steamer was to start; but what with the bad streets and the great traffic, the horses did little more than crawl, so we lost the steamer by ten minutes. This annoyed us exceedingly, but we had to bear it with patience. We drove to the Railway Terminus-a considerable distance-and took our tickets for the train which would start at half-past ten, so that we had only an hour and a-half to wait. The time we beguiled as best we could, and that was difficult enough.

At length the bell rings, and we proceed to the train. Now, I wish to mention here that in American railway trains there is no distinction of classes — the country is democratic and all the people travel on the same footing. A ticket-holder can walk from one end of the train to the other and please himself with a seat. The seats are all upholstered sumptuously, fit for the great as well as the humble. We step into one carriage-it is full-so we pass into another. This has plenty of room, and is got up far more luxuriously than the one we left. The walls are decorated beautifully; there are not seats, but armchairs and lounges, all upholstered in scarlet velvet; a magnificent carpet under foot, and tables, on which the travellers may place their books or papers, while at the foot of the carriage is a large and gorgeously ornamented fountain, containing ice-water, of which, in American trains during hot weather, there is a large consumption. This, I thought, is very fine, and the Americans after all are a great people; they study comfort in everything, and they are right. What a grand thing this equality is in a State any man, no matter what his rank, has only to pay his six dollars and enjoy this splendid room, and travel his 145 miles in four hours and a-half, express. Yes; I regret having thought anything hard of America. I see things improve and my views, no doubt will change. "Tickets!" shouts the conductor, entering our carriage, as soon as the train had moved off. I show mine. Another dollar," he says. "What!" I cried, "another dollar ?—for what?" "This," said he, "is a drawingroom car!" Now, what a drawingroom car was I had no notion, but I clearly saw that, let Americans say what they will, there is a distinction of

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classes in their trains, so they need not brag so much of their Equality. A parlour car would have suited me just as well, but of course I kept my position, paid my dollar, and sought refuge for my vexed spirit in the pages of "Lothair."

A great nuisance in those trains is caused by boys passing through and flinging a book, or a bottle of perfume, or some other article into your lap, and passing down the length of the train, doing the same to everyone else. You are supposed to look over the book, or perfume, or whatever it is, and make up your mind to buy it or not. The boy returns, and should you buy, he takes your money, and should you not buy, he takes his wares. I never saw anyone buy. This is repeated very often, and, to a stranger, is rather startling, especially if he is rapt in thought, or buried in a book..

Albany is a pretty city, with the Hudson running through and one side rather elevated. The streets good, with trees in many places on both sides; remarkably quiet after New York;. clean, with good pavements; neatness and elegance. This is the capital, and here the Senate, for the State of New York, holds its sittings. We found the thermometer at 105° in the shade. Stopped at the Delavan House-a branch of the Metropolitan in New York-and conducted the same way. Called on Father Wadhaues, V.G., a kind and gentlemanly man, He asked us to dine to-morrow. We agreed. Called on a few other persons to whom I had letters.

Sunday, June 26th.-Dined with Father Wadhaues ; in the evening called on a Captain O'Neill, from Cork, of the Police