far the finest we had
seen. The cabins were above, and the deck passengers, as they
are called, were accommodated below. In front of the ladies'
cabin was an ample balcony, sheltered by an awning; chairs and
sofas were placed there, and even at that early season, nearly
all the female passengers passed the whole day there. The name
of this splendid vessel was the Lady Franklin. By the way, I was
often amused by the evident fondness which the Americans shew for
titles. The wives of their eminent men constantly receive that
of "Lady." We heard of Lady Washington, Lady Jackson, and many
other "ladies." The eternal recurrence of their militia titles
is particularly ludicrous, met with, as they are, among the
tavern-keepers, market-gardeners, &c. But I think the most
remarkable instance which we noticed of this sort of
aristocratical longing occurred at Cincinnati. Mr. T-- in
speaking of a gentleman of the neighbourhood, called him Mr. M--.
"General M--, sir," observed his companion. "I beg his pardon,"
rejoined Mr. T--, "but I was not aware of his being in the army."
"No, sir, not in the army," was the reply, "but he was surveyor-
general of the district."

The weather was delightful; all trace of winter had disappeared,
and we again found ourselves moving rapidly up the stream, and
enjoying all the beauty of the Ohio.

Of the male part of the passengers we saw nothing, excepting at
the short silent periods allotted for breakfast, dinner, and
supper, at which we were permitted to enter their cabin, and
place ourselves at their table.

In the Lady Franklin we had decidedly the best of it, for we had
our beautiful balcony to sit in. In all respects, indeed, our
accommodations were very superior to what we had found in the
boat which brought us from New Orleans to Memphis, where we were
stowed away in a miserable little chamber close aft, under the
cabin, and given to understand by the steward, that it was our
duty there to remain "till such time as the bell should ring for
meals."

The separation of the sexes, so often mentioned, is no where more
remarkable than on board the steam-boats. Among the passengers
on this occasion we had a gentleman and his wife, who really
appeared to suffer from the arrangement. She was an invalid, and
he was extremely attentive to her, as far, at least, as the
regulations permitted. When the steward opened the door of
communication between the cabins, to permit our approach