Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-11-17
DICKENS BOOK ON AMERICA.

DICKENS BOOK ON AMERICA
From this work which bears the title OF ".lmerica
.Nties for general circulation by Charles Dickens w
make the following extracts:-
LANDING IN BOSTON.
When landed in America could not help being
strongly impressed with The contrast their Custom
House presented and the attention. poitencss and good
huinor with which lis officers discharged their duty.
As we did not land in Boston. in consequence of son'
detention at the wharf. until after dark, received my
INST impressions OF The city IN walking down 10 The
custom House on the morning after our arrival, which
was Sunday. ain afraid 10 say. by the way how ma
ny offers of pcws aud IN church for that morning
were made Ia IS. by formal Of invitation, before
we had hall finished first dinner in America but II
may be allowed to make moderate guess without 90
ing into nicer calculation should say that AT least AS
many slttines prulcrcd would have acconms
dated score or two OF grown up families. The mum
Der of ceeds and Ims Of religion to which the pleasure
OF our company requested was in very fair proper
ton.
When got into the streets upon this Sunday
ing the mir clear; the houses bright and
gay; the sgnboads painted IN such gaudy colors;
the gllled letters gnden the bricks We're 81
very red the stone very white the blinds and a
rea ratings very green the knobs aud plates up
the street doors maryellousy bright and twink
ling and all light and unsubsantal in appearance,
that every horoughiare in the city looked exactly like
a scene IN panomme 1t rarely happens IN the bust
ness streets that tradosman, II may venture TO call
any body tradcsman, where every body Is merchant.
resides above his store; that many occupations are OF
carried house. and the whole front is cover
ed with boards and inscriptions. As walked along
kept CLAN ing up these boards confidently cNpeengto
few of them cangcinto something's and nevertufn
ed corner suddenly without looking out for the cownand
panaloon. whu had no doubt, were hiding IN door
way or behind some pillar close at hand. As to llarle
quln and Coumbne discovered immediately that they
lodged (hey always looking after lodgings in pan
tomime) at very small clucknakcr's story high
near the hole which, in addition 10 various sym
bos and Devices almost covering the whole front, had
a great dial hanging QUITO be jumped through, Of
course.
The suburbs are. if possible even unsubs,an,la
looking than the city. The white wooden houses ESQ
white that it makes wink 10 look at thcm.) with
their green alousie blinds sprnkled aud dropped
about IN all directions. without seeming 10 have any root
at all in the ground an the small churches and chapcls
are SO prin and bright, and highly vanished, that
almost believed the whole affair could he taken up
piecemeal like chd's toy, and cranncd into little
box.
The city is beautiful one, and cannot fail. | should
imagine Impress all strangers very hvorably. The
private dwelling houses are for the part, large and
elegant the shops extremely good and the public bull
dngs handsome. The STATE House Is built upon the
summit Of hill, which rises gradually at first, and after
wards by steep ascent almost from the waters edge
| In front Is green enclosure called the common The
site is beautiful, and from the top there is charming
panoramic view Of the Whole town and neGhborhood. -
In addition 10 variety OF commodous offices, II contains
two handsome chambers In the House OF Represen-
taves Of the State hold their meetings; In the other the
Senate. Such proceedings as saw here were conducted
with perfect gravity aud decorum, and were certainly
calculated to inspire attention aud respect.
AMERICAN LAW COURTS AND LAWA Frs.
To an Engllshman, accustomed 10 the paraphernaa
Of Westminster Hall. American court OF law is as odd
sight as, suppose an English court OF law would be
10 American Except in the Supreme Court AT
rot " he luuUp
there is such thing wig gown connected win
the administration Of justice The gentlemen OF tie par,
being barrisers and attorneys too or there Is division
Of those functions in England are no more removed
from their clients than attorneys IN our Court or the
Reiefof Insolven Debtors from theirs. The jury
are quite at home, aud make themselves as comfortable
as circumstances will permit. The witness Is 50 little ell
eyated above, put alop rnm, the crowd IN the court
that stranger entering during pause III the proceedings
would fin it difficult pick him out from the rest.
And ifit CHANGED to be criminal trial. his eyes, nine
out OF ten would wander 10 the dock IN search OF
The prisoner in VAIN Tor that gentleman would most like
" be loungng among the most distinguished ornaments
of the legal profession, whispering Suggestions IN his
counses making tooihpck out OF an old qull
with his pen-knlie.
could not but notice these differences, when visit
ed the at Boston was much surprised al first,
too observe that the counsel who n'erroaated the wit
under examination at the tine did 50 sitting But
seeing that he was also occupied writing down the
answers and remembering that he alone and had
no Junior quickly cosoled myself with the reflection
that law was not quito expensive an article here rs
hcme; and that the absence Of sundry tonacs which
we regard as indispensable, had doubtless very avora
bic influence upon the bill of costs
In every court ample and commodlous provision is
made for The accommodation Of the citizens This Is The
ease all through America In every puolic institution,
the right Of the people attend and TO have an interest
in the proceedings, most fully and distinctly recog
nzed There grim door keepers 10 dole OUT Their
iady civy by the sXpenny worth; nor Is there, SIN
cerey believe, any instence OF Office OF any KIND No
thing national is exhibited for money; and public oil
a;e this good example. hope shall continue to do
so and that the funess Of lime deans and chap
tiers may be converted. -
THE LADIES OF BOSTON.
'The tone Of society in Boston in of perfect po-
likeness, courtesy, and good breeding. The ladies' are
unquestlonably very beautiiuin face: but there am
compelled to stop Their education smuch with u.s.
neither better nor worse had heard very
not disappointed"
DINNER All BOSTON.
The usual dinner hour is two O'Clock dinner par
ty takes place five, and al evening party they sci
dom sup later than eleven; that 1t goes hard but
gets home, from rout, by midnight. never
could find out any difference between party Boston
and party London, saving that at the former place
all assemblies are held at rational hours; that the
conversation may possibly be little louder and
cheerful that guest usually expected ascend to the
very top of the house take his cloak off that he is
tain to Sec every dinner. unusual amount of poul
try the table; and al every supper at least two mighty
bow Is of hot stewed oysters IN any OF which halt
grown Duke of Clarence might be sinothered easily"