not fail to mark that
her gracious ladyship did oftentimes look toward the new brides, and
that big tears did sometimes roll down her cheek the while."

COURTESY OF AMERICANS.

I like the Americans more and more: either they have improved
wonderfully lately, or else the criticisms on them have been cruelly
exaggerated. They are particularly courteous and obliging; and seem, I
think, amiably anxious that foreigners should carry away a favorable
impression of them. As for me, let other travelers say what they please
of them, I am determined not to be prejudiced, but to judge of them
exactly as I find them; and I shall most pertinaciously continue to
praise them (if I see no good cause to alter my present humble opinion),
and most especially for their obliging civility and hospitable attention
to strangers, of which I have already seen several instances.

I have witnessed but very few isolated cases, as yet, of the unrefined
habits so usually ascribed to them; and those cases decidedly were not
among the higher orders of people; for there seems just as much
difference in America as any where else in some respects. The superior
classes here have almost always excellent manners, and a great deal of
real and natural, as well as acquired refinement, and are often besides
(which perhaps will not be believed in fastidious England) extremely
distinguished-looking. By the way, the captains of the steamboats appear
a remarkably gentlemanlike race of men in general, particularly
courteous in their deportment, and very considerate and obliging to the
passengers.--_Lady Emeline Wortley._

_Monthly Record of Current Events._

POLITICAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

THE UNITED STATES.

The past month has been remarkable for general quiet and for an absence
of excitement of any kind, rather than for events either of political or
general interest. It has often been noted as characteristic of the
American Republic, that, however fierce and menacing popular excitement
may appear to be, it disappears with the immediate event which gave it
birth. A presidential election, for instance, calls forth the most
embittered and apparently dangerous contests between different sections
of the Union, and an observer, unacquainted with the character of our
people, and the practical working of our institutions, would naturally
expect that the result, whatever it might be, would excite the defeated
party to armed resistance, and plunge the c