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mode of surrounding them with hedges, instead of using the zigzag rail-fence, which I have already mentioned. Leaving the stages, I again embarked on board the steam-boat, and descended the magnificent bay of the Chesapeak to Baltimore, a distance of fifty-one miles.

This city, founded by Lord Baltimore in the year 1634, remained for a length of time an inconsiderable place, but contains at present a popu→ lation of 62,738 souls, and is the fourth commercial city in the United States. It derives all its commerce, which is very considerable, particularly as regards the coasting trade, from its situation on a point of land which runs out into the Patapsco river, an arm of the Chesapeak Bay. At this port are built those long sharp schooners, celebrated under the name of the Baltimore Clippers. These vessels, which were once considered to sail faster than any in the world, are now surpassed by the New York pilot boats.

One of the first things in Baltimore that attracts the attention of the stranger, is the greatly increased number of blacks that he meets in the streets; for Maryland, in which the city is built, is a slave State.

There are many remarkable public buildings in Baltimore, the handsomest of which is the new Unitarian church. The inside of this building is very highly finished, and is a model of simplicity and elegance. The exterior is also very good, The church is a rotunda, with a portico in front.

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and, though considerably smaller, is built something on the plan of the Pantheon at Rome. I do not, for my own part, admire the custom preva lent in America, and which is making its way into England, of building churches in imitation of Grecian or Roman temples. I certainly consider, though perhaps with bad taste, that the old gothic style is much better adapted to the celebration of the sombre mysteries of our holy religion. It has been urged by many, that gothic architecture is too expensive; but this would not be the case, if, instead of the florid gothic of Henry the Seventh's time, we adopted the more natural and simple style of the previous centuries. But whatever style of architecture is preferred, it must, I think, be granted, that windows and chimneys agree very ill with colonnades and porticoes; and I am sure that any one looking at the Unitarian church of Baltimore would confess, that the chimneys or pipes of the stoves greatly disfigure its classical appearance.

Immediately opposite is the Catholic cathedral, which, though much larger, is not so handsome a building, as its tout ensemble is heavy and clumsy. These two churches are only separated by a broad street, and, as if in defiance of each other, there are inscriptions over the principal entrance of each. If I were not a strenuous supporter of the doctrine of the Trinity, I should be disposed to prefer the simple inscription of the Unitarians, "TO MONN OEN,” to the longer one of the Catholics,

"As for us, we preach Christ crucified, a stumblingblock to the Gentiles, &c. &c."

In the cathedral there is a large and beautiful painting of the Descent from the Cross, presented to the church by Louis the Eighteenth, through the Count de Menou, French Minister at Washington. This cathedral was built by a lottery, which is no doubt a very moral and convenient method of raising money, but which might induce a heretic to suppose that the builders were at the same time serving both God and mammon.

The Exchange is a handsome structure, and is particularly well adapted to the purposes for which it was built. It contains a large hall, in which files of all the American and of most of the foreign newspapers are fastened on sloping desks. Round the walls are suspended large and handsome maps, charts, and plans. There is also a small and select library of books of reference, such as dictionaries, &c. With the liberality that characterizes all the public institutions in America, strangers are admitted to this Institution gratis.

In Baltimore there are two fine public monuments. One, dedicated to the memory of Washington, stands in a kind of park immediately on the skirts of the city, and was not finished when I was there. It is an immense column of marble, to the top of which there is an ascent by means of a staircase in its interior. The other monument is in a small place or square, leading out of the prin

cipal street, and is a beautiful little ornamented column of white marble, surmounted with a statue. On this column are inscribed the names of those, who fell in the battle that took place in the neighbourhood of the town during the last war.

No spot in the city is more pleasant, during the hot weather, than the public fountain, which is surrounded by thick shady elms. Here a very pretty little cupola has been erected, supported on pillars. Beneath this, two flights of marble steps, which divide at the entrance, conduct you down to the brazen mouths, from which the pure and cool water gushes out in copious streams. I was uncommonly pleased with this fountain, and used often to visit it in my walks.

Indeed, though it makes no pretensions to grandeur, yet I think it does more credit to the good taste of the Baltimo reans than any thing else in the city.

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In the Museum, which contains a tolerably good cabinet of Natural History, I particularly remarked the beautiful mode adopted for the preservation of the insects. They are fixed in little shallow frames, made of plaster of Paris, on which, before it is hard, a watch glass is placed, excluding not only all living insects, occasionally so destructive in a Museum, but even the air itself; so that the specimens retain their colour and natural appearance for any length of time, without the slightest injury. This Museum, which is the property of a Mr. Peale, son of the gentleman who owns that

at Philadelphia, is similarly disfigured by some wretched paintings. I may mention, as an instance of enthusiasm for the art, that the aforesaid Mr. Peale has inflicted upon his two sons, the names of Rembrandt and Raphael.

Baltimore is a regular and well-built city, but inferior in this respect to Philadelphia. Should the two canals that are contemplated be finished, one from the Susquehanna, and the other from the Potowmac, Baltimore will become a much larger and more important city than at present.

I proceeded in the stage to Washington, a distance of eighty-four miles, over a very good road, but through a most uninteresting country. A great deal of the land on each side had not been cleared, and where it had, it was sterile, and apparently very unproductive.

Before arriving at the Federal City, I passed through the little village of Bladensburgh, the spot where the action was fought (if action it can be called) which decided the fate of the capital in the last war, The only American troops that opposed General Ross, were a small body of marines, commanded by Major Miller, and a few seamen, under Commodore Barney. These brave fellows were all cut to pieces. The militia, although very numerous, ran away without firing a shot; and did not stop, until they had reached Montgomery, fifteen miles distant. On account of the cowardly conduct of the militia, this action

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