Shall we point out others? We are fellow-travellers, and shall make acquaintance as the voyage proceeds. In the Atlantic steamers, on the first day out (and on high and holidays subsequently), the jellies set down on table are richly ornamented; _medioque in fonte leporum_ rise the American and British flags nobly emblazoned in tin. As the passengers remark this pleasing phenomenon, the Captain no doubt improves the occasion by expressing a hope, to his right and left, that the flag of Mr. Bull and his younger Brother may always float side by side in friendly emulation. Novels having been previously compared to jellies--here are two (one perhaps not entirely saccharine, and flavoured with an _amari aliquid_ very distasteful to some palates)--two novels under two flags, the one that ancient ensign which has hung before the well-known booth of _Vanity Fair_; the other that fresh and handsome standard which has lately been hoisted on _Barchester Towers_. Pray, sir, or madam, to which dish will you be helped? So have I seen my friends Captain Lang and Captain Comstock press their guests to partake of the fare on that memorable “First day out,” when there is no man, I think, who sits down but asks a blessing on his voyage, and the good ship dips over the bar, and bounds away into the blue water. FOOTNOTES: [33] Stow quotes the inscription, still extant, “from the table fast chained in St. Peter’s Church, Cornhill;” and says “he was after some chronicle buried at London, and after some chronicle buried at Glowcester”--but oh! these incorrect chroniclers! when Alban Butler, in the _Lives of the Saints_, v. xii., and Murray’s _Handbook_, and the Sacristan at Chur, all say Lucius was killed there, and I saw his tomb with my own eyes! [34] By the way, what a strange fate is that which has befallen the veteran novelist! He is her Majesty’s Consul-General in Venice, the only city in Europe where the famous “Two Cavaliers” cannot by any possibility be seen riding together. Transcriber’s Notes The following changes have been made: A table of contents has been added for the convenience of the reader. Some illustrations have been moved outside the enclosing paragraphs. Changed +dorekie+ to +dovekie+ in “saw a solitary dovekie in winter plumage” on page 105.