The town is handsomely built, and several things constantly remind one that here the people rule, and their convenience and comfort are studied: the footways for example are in general twice as broad as ours, in some instances taking up at least as much of the street as that set apart for the carriages; and the hackney coaches are not only neat but _elegant_ in our sense of the word, and both drivers and horses equally superior. In a late publication,[6] it is observed that the goods in the stores are set out in a slovenly manner; {22} my own observation is that their shops or stores are apparently as good, and the stock as well shewn as in many good houses in London: their coffee-houses and dinner-rooms in the best lodging-houses are even superbly fitted up, very much in the French style: the Tontine, the City, and the Bank-coffeehouses are three of the first; and a person may now dine at any one of them, I believe, for three dollars and a half per week, and fare sumptuously upon turtle, &c. every day;--wine is but little drank, or any other liquor indeed, either at or immediately after dinner by Americans; the reason for this, as given to me by an American, seems good--"We consider dinner as a sufficient stimulus" says he "without adding wine or spirits to it." The business of the courts of justice during the summer is done in the evenings and nights; the great heat of the weather in the day time absolutely preventing any number of people from collecting together without danger of fevers, particularly such persons as compose the witnesses, auditors, and attendants in a law court. Mr. Fearon states, that forgery of bank notes is unknown here, for, that the execution of them is so excellent (I write the sense of his words from memory) it renders it too difficult to attempt.--I can affirm that there was scarcely a store I {23} went into at New York, but they could shew me several; and so well executed, it was impossible for me to see any difference between the valid and the forged note. A DRIVE TO THE FALLS OF THE PASSAIC RIVER, JERSEY STATE