But whilst I am by nature incapable of repaying kindness by aspersion, I feel that I am no less above the meanness of attempting a return in that base coin--flattery; that which I saw I say, and as _I_ saw it. I blame none of my predecessors for their general views, but claim the right of differing from them wherever I think fit; and if my account of things most on the surface even, should sometimes appear opposite to theirs, I would not, by this, desire to impeach their veracity, since the changes working in society are as rapid, though not quite so apparent, as those operating on the face of these vast countries, whose probable destinies do in truth render almost ridiculous the opinions and speculations of even the sagest of the pigmies that have bustled over their varied surface. CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. Page EUROPE 1 The Eve of Sailing _ib._ Sailing Day 4 The Europe Packet 7 The Europe continued.--Change of Affairs. 21 Journal at Sea 28 Land, ho! 34 Port 39 NEW YORK 47 First Impressions of the City _ib._ A Bivouac 49 Cato's! 58 Theatre 60 PHILADELPHIA 74 The Theatres.--Walnut and Chestnut. 87 JOURNEY TO BOSTON 90 The East River.--Hurl-Gate.--The Sound.--Point Judith.--Newport Harbour.--Providence. _ib._ BOSTON 101 State Prison 114 Tremont Hotel 117 The Tremont Theatre 123 JOURNAL 127 BALTIMORE 135 Baltimore.--Journal continued. 140 The Temperance House 145 Journal 153 Journal continued.--New Year's Day in New York. 166 The Dutch and Irish Colonies of Pennsylvania. 181 THE STEAM-BOAT 188 Delaware.--Newcastle.--Railroad.--French-Town.--Elk River.--North Point.--Bay of Chesapeake.--Baltimore. _ib._ WASHINGTON 200 Theatre, Washington 210 Pierce's Garden 215