The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-06-13

outside, to see greater things within the city,
but not so. Coming to this hotel, (thc Roy
al,O you arc disappointed. Everything is
small and very plain, so unlike'New York.
The houses are all dark looking, built of
brick and not painted, and seldom higher
than two stories. The streets and sidewalks
arc very narrow, but the whole city is very
clean and remins one Of the parade ground
of Fort or Barracks. The sun really never
does shine so brightly here as it does ia home:
and people say it is owing to the immense
number of factories, steamboats, and RAILROADS
that the atmosphere has such smoky appear
ancc.
At the risk Of being considered cgotistical
and teller Of travellers stories, will narrate
something in the nature of an adventure.
which befell me here yesterday I, visited
the Americap Minister to procure a.ticket of
admission to the House. of Parliament. On
my way back to the hotcl"I had; necessarily.
to inquire my way, and for that purpose 1
addressed one who looked like gentleman,
who politely showed, ME steamer which
would land me quito near my hotel, saying.
that lie was going in the same direction. On
board the steamer we entered into converse
tion which continued until; we landed, [
than ked himfSr his courtesy, and was walking
Off when he said that as I was stranger, he
would go with me- On VIC walked, and l
expressed great desire to visit the Bank Of
England, of#hich I had heard 50 much. He
invited me to go with him to his Office, and
while there I found out that he was men,
Der Of the legal profession. After arranging
his business we sailed forth, he saying that
he would go with me and point out places Of
interest along the route, which he did: To
60 into the Bank of Englandiit is necessary
to have q ticket from well known broker,
"but," said my friend, ~ have taken such a
fancy to you that I will so with you myself,
as am well known at the Bank" OF coursc,
I accepted his generous offer, and upon ar
irving at the Bank, I was shown over every
department. One of the officers placed in
my hands million pounds in Bank notes,
and my heart commenced to thump, Isaid,
laughingly, ';can I depart now ?" to which
hcgavca an emphatic "no.' They then carried
me to where the gold is weighed, whiohrizsa
greater wonder. Thcreyou see five pound
gold pieces thrown on, scales and every piece
that is worn little. tlle scales will put it to
the right, and every one full weight will be
put to the left. Every piece that is light is
returned to the broker who paid it in, with
a.. mark on it, so that it cannot be passed
again, in tha manner in, which old Banks
used to mark countcrfeits, and that gold
piece is sold as cold gold" Il was informed
that one brokes lostin one year, ten thous-
and pounds (s5O, ,O9o) gold, by light weight,
and the officer added that, the losses ofmaly
of the brokers in this way we're fearful The
Bank of England has within its walls, its
own printer, carpenter, blacksmith and brick
layer, each department visited, and all
were busily engaged; in fact, it is town in
itself.
Leaving the Bank. I visited the Court
House. The rooms inside arc very small,
though the exterior presents a fine appear
ancc. Tue. officers of court were dressed in
great style, all covered with gold braid from
the porter to the Judge and a multitude Of
grey wigs. I left the Court House about
O'Clock, and again thanked my friend fol
his kind attention, but he did not leave me
there, and insisted on my going to dine with
him. I accepted his offer and calling cal
we soon drove up to his elegant mansion
where I was introduced to his wife and
family. The ladies reminded me of our own
and played and sang handsomely tor me an
til about six o'clock, when we were summon
ed to dinner. What surprised Me most Of
all their social customs was this: just before
leaving the table large silScr. tankard wa:
brought in, filled with wine. The host
raised it to Ills lips and drank. My face
flushed up and I pretended not to see tho
gcntlcman drinking out of the big pitcher
with two side handles. Directly the pitcher
is handed to me and I proceeded to fill my
glass with its contents, when was politely
STOPPED and requested to drink out of the
pitcher. 1 scarely could believe that it was
so intended and declined, at which my host
expressed great surprise saying, that the
pitcher was called the "Pitcher of Love, y
and that it was quite an honor to stranger
to be allowed to drink out of that pitcher
1 then drank, and it was handed round 10
every member of the family until finished,
Upon the second round was compelled tc
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