pearance of change; the days shorten, rough cold winds blow, and the leaves on the trees begin to look yellow. This is a busy month with the farmer; he ploughs his land, and sows great part of his wheat; there are no flowers in the fields; the hedges look bare, and then comes November, the eleventh month, cold, damp, foggy, and miserable. All the trees become bare, the weather becomes cold, and the spirits are depressed, and this brings December, the twelfth and last month. Frosts and snow like what we described in January now prevail, but there is a clearer atmosphere usually in December than in November. The frosts harden the ground so that one can walk pleasantly; and in December is Christmas, the season of fes tivity among Christians, being the birth-time of Jesus Christ. There is great rejoicing; great and cheerful parties are made at each other's houses. On Christmas-day, all the members of families contrive to come from distances of many miles to meet and dine at their father's house, and Christmas makes all hearts merry. We here wish to inform our countrymen that the climate of England, though very cold, is not unhealthy, because we kept our healths, generally speaking, very good indeed, and by taking proper care of ourselves, we escaped the rigour and severity of the winter. On account of the cold and the frequent changes of weather, it is necessary to wear flannel next the skin, in order to keep the body warm and of an uniform temperature. Great care ought to be taken in keeping the feet warm, and never putting on clothes which are the least damp, because that is liable to give a severe cold in winter. There are many precautions necessary in England with regard to the climate, which our space will not allow us to enumerate, but we shall mention a few which would be useful to any of our countrymen visiting England. In winter, be careful not to put on damp shoes, never get unnecessarily wet, avoid going out in the evening as much as possible. When you go out in cold weather, put on as much clothing as would keep you warm; take plenty of exercise, even in very severe weather (provided it is dry). Never stand in open air after a long walk, or after you have perspired. Do not sit with a window or a door open, or where there is a draught of air. Never go out of a warm room into open air, or to a cold place without some additional clothing. By following these suggestions, and by adopting a judicious and moderate plan of living, we think that a stranger will keep his health very good, and consequently will enjoy all the pleasures of his travels. CHAPTER XXXV. CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS. It is now necessary, as the period draws near for us to bid a final adieu and farewell to England, and to return to our ever dear and happy home, Bombay, that we should take leave of our readers. First, then, we would address our own countrymen, as it is for them that we have compiled this little volume, and we would say to our brethren in the east, who have leisure and money, by all means pay a visit to England. Amply, most amply will they be repaid for the expenditure of their time and a portion of their fortune. They will see that England is a mighty country, containing within herself all the elements of a mighty people that she has mineral productions of coal, iron, copper, tin, and several sorts of stone, that enable her children to take a prominent position as a manufacturing people, and that no nation of the present day can compete with her in her manufactures: that her machinery is of the most perfect description, and that by it she produces every : material, from the finest lace to the largest cable, that her cutlery and other instruments are unrivalled both for their workmanship and for the materials of which they are made: that her glass is as pure and beautifully cut as it is possible for such an article to be made: that her woollen cloths for fineness of texture, brightness of colour, and for durability are not to be matched any where. That her linen and cotton surpass those manufactured in any other part of the globe, that her silks are now nearly equal to those of any other kingdom, and her institutions are the greatest object of admiration to all the nations on the face of the earth. Our readers will very naturally ask, why is it that this little speck on the map of the world should thus become unrivalled. Why cannot France, containing in population double that of England, compete with her? why not the mighty continent of America? why not the other European nations? We will answer this question in a very few words. There is a great deal of private enterprise among the English people, they are all of one mind, and all working to one end-viz. the adopting of such measures as will promote their happiness and welfare. Almost all the institutions, educational, scientific, and charitable, belong to private associations and companies, receiving but little support and many none at all from Government; we have elsewhere described the bridges, railroads and other public conveyances which have been constructed by private individuals. Banks, asylums, &c. are private property, and to effect all these they unite together in large numbers, by which means wealth, talent and influence are concentrated into one point, this leads them to the establishment of great national works subservient to public good. This system is decidedly mischievous when carried out for the formation of projects, which individual wealth is capable of effecting, as it tends to check and discourage individual enterprise, but for works such as railroads, bridges, banks and other institutions, it is admirably calculated, as these are beyond individual power to effect. To this in a great measure in conjunction with the colonial possesions and maritime enterprize may be attributed the greatness of England and by this public feeling, and union of sentiment among themselves the English have now arrived at such national prosperity as to excite the admiration of the world. To give an idea of the activity and fondness of of public business that so pre-eminently distinguishes the English character from that of their European neighbours, we may mention that we became acquainted with a commercial gentleman, whose enterprising spirit had led him almost unaided to form not less than five great companies, all of unquestionable utility to the country, viz. three banks, one gas light and one railway company, this same gentleman was likewise a magis |