European life and manners in familiar letters to friends Volume 1

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1849 Excerpt: ... be surprised to find how poorly they live; at least, we should think it so. They have oat-meal porridge and skim milk for breakfast, bread and potatoes for dinner, with beer, and porridge again at night. They cook their porridge for themselves, and I was going to add, do their own washing, but I am inclined to believe that a Scotch laborer never sees any washing, either for his person or his clothes. The degree of dirt in which they live in a Scotch bothie is unsurpassed. I have forgotten to tell you how fine the small fruits are here--gooseberries, currants, strawberries, and raspberries. Strawberries were in the market when I arrived, or rather in May, and are still to be had. They are sold now for about twelve and a half cents a pint, and the best raspberries for less. I saw strawberries in Dundee of which ten weighed a pound, and one I measured was nearly as long as my little finger. I have seen with delight that the Acadia has arrived, and I have sent to London for my letters. LETTER XXII. Derby, 2d September, 1845. My Dear J----: I Am not willing to postpone longer writing to you, though, as I am under marching orders this morning, it must be a hasty and indifferent letter. I was delighted to find you had once more reached the blessed land of New England, after various perils of life and health by land and sea, and to learn, by your mother's last letters, that your imperfect health is fast being improved, and that you have been re-creating yourself on the charming banks of the Connecticut, and among the picturesque mountains and valleys of New Hampshire. In point of scenery, within my knowledge, there is nothing more varied and beautiful than the whole course of the Connecticut River, which I have followed, as few others have done, from its mouth to i...