ed an occasional refuge to men busily engaged
in the toils of life, from which they came forth none the worse to a
renewal of its strivings; and certainly that the chief magistrate of the
greatest city in the world might be fitly regarded as the representative
of that class of our readers."

Of an incident towards the close of the year, though it had important
practical results, brief mention will here suffice. We saw the Mannings
executed on the walls of Horsemonger-lane gaol; and with the letter
which Dickens wrote next day to the _Times_ descriptive of what we had
witnessed on that memorable morning, there began an active agitation
against public executions which never ceased until the salutary change
was effected which has worked so well. Shortly after this he visited
Rockingham-castle, the seat of Mr. and Mrs. Watson, his Lausanne
friends; and I must preface by a word or two the amusing letter in which
he told me of this visit. It was written in character, and the character
was that of an American visitor to England.

"I knew him, Horatio;" and a very kindly honest man he was, who had come
to England authorised to make enquiry into our general agricultural
condition, and who discharged his mission by publishing some reports
extremely creditable to his good sense and ability, expressed in a plain
nervous English that reminded one of the rural writings of Cobbett. But
in an evil hour he published also a series of private letters to friends
written from the various residences his introductions had opened to him;
and these were filled with revelations as to the internal economy of
English noblemen's country houses, of a highly startling description. As
for example, how, on arrival at a house your "name is announced, and
your portmanteau immediately taken into your chamber, which the servant
shows you, with every convenience." How "you are asked by the servant at
breakfast what you will have, or you get up and help yourself." How at
dinner you don't dash at the dishes, or contend for the "fixings," but
wait till "his portion is handed by servants to every one." How all the
wines, fruit, glasses, candlesticks, lamps, and plate are "taken care
of" by butlers, who have under-butlers for their "adjuncts;" how ladies
never wear "white satin shoes or white gloves more than once;" how
dinner napkins are "never left upon the table, but either thrown into
your chair or on the floor under the table;" how no end of pains are
take