"The United States much the largest; but England is a great deal older. "New-Yorkers cross the streets diagonally; the Londoners cross them at right angles. "In England the odd pennies are wrapped in a paper, and handed back with 'I thank you, Sir.' "Streets in London have tops and bottoms; in America they have upper and lower ends. "In England a man's wife is 'very bad;' in America, 'very ill;' and in France, 'bien malade.' "Americans 'turn to the _right_ as the law directs;' the English turn to the _left_. "English mutton and babies are much the fattest. "Gooseberries in England much the largest, but not so sweet. "Pigs in the American cities are seen promenading in the streets; in London, only seen hanging by their hind legs. "In England men are 'knocked up;' in America they are 'knocked down.' "'_Top-coats_' are very frequent in England, in America nothing is known higher than an '_over-coat_.' "In the United States a man is 'smart;' in England he is 'clever.' "English ladies are more luscious, but not quite so----" Just when I had read thus far, the steward tapped me on the shoulder and told me that "I was wanted below immediately, for my lady was very ill." I closed my book and ran below, where I found my poor wife and little family all dreadfully sick. I waited on them a while and got sea-sick myself. My musings on England and America were thus broken off; and from the time that we launched forth amidst the clatter upon a French wharf, I had as much as I could do to keep my little children and my luggage together, and all recollections of England and my native country vanished in the confusion and din that was around me in the new world we were entering upon. Custom-houses and railways and diligences have been a thousand times described, and I need say nothing of them, except that we got through them all, and into the _Victoria Hotel_, in Paris, where we found rest, fine beds, kind attentions, and enough to eat.