The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-07-08
COPYRIGHT SECURED.
GREENWOOD LEAVES FROM OVER THE SEA
EDGBAsroN, BIRMINGHAM,

June IL 1852
My DEAR Mrs BAILEY: left Liverpool on
an afternoon of unusual brightness, but
plunged Immediately into young night, in
the shape of the longest tunnel ever passed
through. They tell me it is scarcely noticeable
compared with one between this place and
London but it will do to begin with. The
English frst-class railway carriages are more
luxurious than ours Substantially made soft
ly cushioned aud curtained, nothing can sur
pass them for comfort; then they have John
Bull exclusiveness about them, each carriage
being calculated for six passengers and no
more So rapid is the rate at which they run,
and so wonderfully smooth the rail below such
total absence is there of noise and dust, that
it is even difficult to believe we are going Mt all
When closed my eyes on the scene, | was
really bewildered but when looked out on
the whirling landscape, was forced to the
conclusion that either the trees and hedges
were having a mad gallopade, a furious coun-
trp dance together and what was more un-
likely. venerable churches were recreating
themselves with wild steeple-chase or that
we were under glorious Roadway
The country between Liverpool and Biz
mingham, as far as my dizzied sight would al
low me to Judge seemed fiat and uninterest-
ing. But the glory Of a most luxuriant sum-
mer greenness and bloom is over it ALL
A peculiar and constant joy to me is in re-
marking how everywhere the simplest Gotta
| ges of th9 common people are built and ad0rn
ed with taste, and kept with the utmost neat
ness and care. Many of them are exquisite
miniatures of the residences of the rich--witt
sweet little lawns, and ilower-pots, like chill
dren's Fairgrounds diminutive hedges, tiny
trellices, and gravel walks scarcely foot wide
Mr. Surge met me at the station. knew
him at once. from the portraits we have in
America, though they give the idea OF some
what stouter person than he il, | think. Biz
mingham, constantly canopied by dense
cloud of coal smoke, reminds me somewhat OF
Pittsburgh, rs did Liverpool, by the way.
have as vet seen nothing of the town, but
am going soon to visit several of the manuiac-
tories Edgbaston which is quite out of the
smoke and noise of the town, is lovely place
IL rained hard, and the twilight was deepen
ing, when | arrived but ! was received into
ing-rOom, opening into conservatory of beau
tiful bright flowers ] was met with sweet
words and sweeter smiles of welcome, by the
lovely young wife of Joseph Surge and by his
fair children-quaint, Quaker specimens Of
ton in merfie England. ! felt thoroughly at
home and at rest, from the first and then that
very night after had retired to my room,
there was sent to me- all unexpectedly pack
age of letters from America 1t were imp0s-
sible for you to conceive, as for me to describe,
my emotion ON beholding these. ! actually
grew faint with excess of Joy; and after hav-
ing come safely over the salt seas there was
| Il. of thatr Lninn randaraI IIanlh1Q hv "a
briny greeting on shore And yet, had been
parted from the writers but seventeen days.
All my friend the poet is entirely correct
Time as moi Of years
Mr. Sturge's place is retred, modest, and
unpretending in every way, but most lovely.
The smooth cosely-cut lawns are perpetual
pleasure to my eye; next come the hedges, the
iyys the honeysuckes the hollys, and glossy
Ieayed laurels Roses and rhodudendrons are
now in full bloom peones are a.hame, the
May tree is a little pasSt but the laburnum Is
vet in its golden glory. and with its long pend
ant branches all in flower seems pouring IT.
self down in bounteous royal shower re-
minding one of Joye's auriierons courtship OF
Danae.
The most beautiful tree have yet seen IN
England, is the copper.beech at least II mas
the finest effect amid other foliage. There Is
one in the line of trees skirting the lawn be-
fore me- which, with it, dark, rich tint, looks,
amid the surrounding bloom and yerdure, like
a Rembrandt in a gallery Of bright, modern
paintings The balsamine, which IL common
and hardy outdoor plant with ns, is here care
fully cultivated in the h0t-house. But J do
not see that it looks less stiff or plebeian than
at home felt when met with one first that
! had caught u parvenu and was hall inclined
tn ask her how she dared ~ put on such airs,
and perch herself up 10 pertly on hot~honse
stand in England. when her family in America
were 40 irretrievably vulgar
The pansies here are indeed " for thought
so richly tinted, so variously colored 80 sweet
and 80 immensely large
Delicious and countless bird-notes are qulyer-
ing through the moist air all day long. have
already heard the cuckoo the blackbrd- and
the thrush, and English poetry and English
life will henceforth be the sweeter TO me Tor
their remembered strains.
have seen some fine blood horses since my
arrival, but ] actually admire most the power
ful dray-horses of Liverpool. They are mag
nifcent great animals shall never have
done wondering at the little donkey carts or,
rather, at the immense strength, and no body,
of the donkeys themselves. had no idea that
this really estimable, though much condemned
animal, anywhere existed in such small varie-
ties While driving, the other day, our car
riage was run into by one Of these same don
key establishments, the swkwsrd driver Of