Astley's Amphitheatre, was showing his collection of wild beasts on the stage at Liverpool at the time.

We went to see Mr. Laird's Dock-yard at Birkenhead, which is on the opposite bank of the river, and small steamers convey people across. We received much attention from him, and we had the opportunity of satisfying our curiosity about iron vessels. The process of building vessels with iron is more simple and expeditious than with wood; there was one vessel nearly in frame, and another was approaching towards completion. There were smiths' shops, and a mould loft on the premises. Mr. Laird had lately built three iron steam vessels for the Niger Expedition.

We were anxious to see the three iron steam boats which Mr. Laird had lately built, they were in one of the docks at Liverpool; he therefore kindly promised to take us there the day following the next; and accordingly we accompanied him on that day to the dock where the vessels were fitting out. These three steamers are built by the British Government for the purpose of sending them to the river Niger, in Africa, in order to explore the country, to establish trade with the natives, to show them the advantage of commerce, and to endeavour to put down the demoralizing influence of the slave trade which now prevails among the Africans.

These vessels are built purposely for this laud

able object, and the undertaking is called the "Niger Expedition," and a vast body of influential and humane individuals have formed a society collectively to co-operate with the Government in this enterprize, and we hope they may be successful in their praiseworthy object. The vessels are all very good models, and particularly adapted for navigating shallow rivers. They were equipped under the superintendence of Mr. A. B. Cruize, Foreman of Portsmouth Dock-yard, and who was kind enough to furnish us with the particulars that we required of these vessels. The two which are larger than the third are about 450 tons, have two engines of thirty-five horse-power each, and can carry coals for one hundred and eighty hours, or seven days and a half. The third called the Soudan, has only one engine of thirty-five horsepower, and can carry coals for five days (of twentyfour hours.) The interior of these vessels are very conveniently fitted up, so as to contribute as much as possible to the comforts of the officers and the ship's company.

In consequence of the warm and unhealthy climate of Africa, which is very uncongenial to European constitutions, great attention is paid to proper ventilation. The plan adopted for this purpose is very ingenious: Two fanners similar to those used for blasting the smiths' fires at Chatham yard, are fixed in the engine-room, they are put in motion by the engine, and when the engine

is at rest they can be moved by a crank handle. The fanned wheel when revolving with great velocity, forces a quantity of air which is conveyed to every part and every cabin in the ship by means of flat square pipes under the beams, and valves of thin plates fitted in every cabin to regulate the draught. In addition to which, similar pipes, two in number, are fitted in every cabin from the deck, having perforated tops or lids, the one reaching a little above the lower deck, and the other only a foot or two below the beams; and by this simple but scientific contrivance, a free ventilation is secured, because the rarified atmosphere which always floats at the top, or in other words, near the ceiling of a room, will escape through the short pipe, and fresh air will supply its place through the long one; thus there would be a constant circulation of air, which would render the apartment delightfully cool and pleasant.

We were extremely gratified in inspecting these vessels, they are very substantially built, and look very handsome and lively above water; the engines were made by Messrs. Forrester and Co. of Liverpool, at their manufactory called the Vauxhall Foundery, which we visited. On delivering the letter we had from the East India House, much politeness was shewn to us; and we were conducted round their establishment. There were no large works manufacturing. The foundery was large and there was every thing that is required for a

foundery, and several small steam engines were in progress.

On the 14th of November we left Liverpool by a magnificent steam vessel called the "Achilles” for Glasgow. She was nearly 1000 ton in burthen and four hundred and fifty horse power and her accommodations were the best that we ever saw, the saloon was very large, and well furnished, there were two fire places, and mirrors fitted into frames between the ports. The skylights were circular and very handsome, and sofas covered with silk were ranged at the upper end of the saloon, or the part nearest the stern, and the bed places were also very conveniently fitted up, and kept remarkably clean.

We entered the Frith of Clyde in the morning and the scenery on both sides of it was very bold and romantic. The mountains were very lofty and the summit of the highest was already covered with snow, which we were informed would not melt before the month of March or April; at half past ten we reached Greenock, and as our steamer could not go to Glasgow, on account of its being ebb tide, we were put on board a small iron steamer which conveyed us in two hours to that place. We were on deck, and as we approached within half a mile of the landing place, we attracted a great many people on shore, and many of them actually took the trouble of running along the beach, keeping pace with the steamer,

(which was going at a slow rate in consequence of the crowded state of the river) to the landing place in order to peep at us; and when we left the vessel, we were surrounded by at least a thousand persons, all noticing the peculiarity of our costume, which they very seldom see at that place, as we believe that no Parsee save ourselves and our cousin Ardaseer Cursetjee, had ever before been to Glasgow; we were not at all concerned or annoyed at it, because we saw the Scotch people were very much pleased at our appearance. We however had a gentleman waiting our arrival who immediately called a carriage for us, and we all were driven to Carrick's Royal Hotel in George's Square, where we remained the whole time we were at Glasgow, it is a fine place, and much attention was paid by the proprietor to us. It being Sunday we found every shop closed, and it appears to us that the Scotch were very particular in keeping the Sabbath. The next morning we were favoured with a call from Mr. Wright, who was requested by our friends at Liverpool, to pay us attention, he was accompanied by his son Mr. John Wright who had been to Bombay and knew our friends very well there, his brother is now a partner in the firm of Messrs. Nicol and Co. of Bombay and he himself is interested in the well known firm of John Fleming and Co. of Glasgow. And we must confess that we never dreamt of receiving so much attention from these gentlemen,