king 'bonnet-lairds,' undertake
to go to work immediately; taking for part-payment the necessaries of
life, and receiving road-stock for the balance. Without a cent of
capital, they began a work which would eventually cost 50,000 dollars,
in full confidence that something would turn up to procure the
wherewithal. The beauty of the matter is, that the project succeeded.
The road has not only quadrupled the value of property all around, but
it bids fair to pay a dividend in five years of 50 per cent. If a
steam-boat is wanted, it is acquired in the same way. Large vessels
have been completely built and equipped, without the owners possessing
one farthing, and they have not only paid for themselves, but have
made handsome fortunes for the lucky and enterprising projectors.
Speculation of this kind, which would be justly deemed dishonourable
in a settled country, is apt to be less rigidly considered in the
pioneers of a new world. What country can attempt to cope with such
energy and enterprise as this? It is frequently a subject of remark,
that men born in England, and educated in the States, are among the
foremost in these enterprising projects.

There are many other facts in these interesting volumes which we
should like to call attention to; but the reader who has accompanied
us through this sketch cannot do better than read the volumes
themselves--only remembering, that the enthusiasm of his guide might
have been considerably moderated had he been an emigrant instead of a
gentleman traveller.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] _Atlantic and Transatlantic Sketches, Afloat and Ashore._ By
Captain Mackinnon, R.N. 2 vols. Colburn & Co. 1852.

[2] The _America_ lost her laurels at Cowes a few weeks ago.

MRS GRIMSHAWE'S TREATISE ON HOLDFASTS.

I am ready to maintain, against all assailants of the position, that
the person who can feel so deep an interest in any of the works of God
as to find, in the investigation of them, employment for time which
might otherwise hang a little heavily on hand, and occupation of an
innocent and even of a useful nature for an active mind, has a decided
advantage over one who has no such resource. And I further maintain,
that there is not one single object in created nature, from the drop
of ditch-water which occupies the attention of Herr von Creep-crawl,
up to the 'serried host' of angels and archangels who inhabit the
realms of light, which does not present matter worthy of the study and
at