land of freedom and big crops.

I have had 'good luck to your fishing' sung to me more than once by most
sweet voices, and have realized it to my heart's content in the way of
trout; but this is all. Since I arrived in America there have been no less
than three travelling historians upon the ground, with whose energy of
conception, art of fabrication, facility of combination, capacity of
bitterness and established name, I could not enter the lists. And as for
matrimonial projects, foreigners seem to me to have no longer any hope of
success in consequence of the entire pre-occupation of this walk of life
by a regularly drilled and educated corps of young Americans, bred up
avowedly with no other pursuit; who talk, think, dream of nothing else
than fortune by marriage; and with a shrewdness and intelligence of
calculation that entirely distance the foreigner, (but which seem
wonderfully after the nuptials to forsake them _in stocks of another
description_,) know at a glance the value, expectations, hopes, and
dependencies of each young marriageable lady even before she comes out; so
that instead of being able to accomplish a purpose of this kind, I find it
quite as much as I can do to avoid falling in love beyond repeal with the
refinement, gentleness, grace, and untold sweetness that distinguish the
portionless beauties of New-York.

Indeed this class to which I have adverted of licensed fortune-hunters is
so numerous; the fortunes themselves except to the initiated are so
uncertain; and the entire want of that most useful profession, _les
courtiers de mariage_, is so grievous to all incidental visitors, that I
have often thought how admirable the arrangement would be, if the young
ladies were at once to adopt as a fashionable decoration some tasteful
head ornament, on which should be inscribed, in distinct but graceful
characters, some one of such legends as the following, which should
indicate the incontestible possessions of the wearer:

$30,000 State of New-York Fives.

My face is my fortune.

$200,000 Indiana State Bonds.

2 lots on Broadway, 4 in the Bowery and 1 on Union-Square.

Nothing but truth, discretion, intelligence and grace.

$60,000 Alabama Sterling Bonds.

The Tongues, and what you see.

$27,000 on indefeasible Bond and Mortgage.

A House and Shop in _Maiden-Lane_ with fixtures, and a careful
tenant at 1400 a year on lease three years unexpired.