"Dear to the nymphs who haunt Carthæa's wood, Don't forget to tip him with gold!" Upon this hint, and surrounded by some half-dozen school-boys, who amused themselves with pulling my hair, pinching my arms, tickling my cheek with a paper-allumet, I produced the following lines, which, as Christmas comes but once a-year, may not be unwelcome: "STAGGING" FOR THE MILLION. "Litera scripta manet." To the Air of" Bow, wow, wow." Oh! have you heard the news of late, how all the world were stagging it? The money flowed so plenteously that all the folks were bagging it; Patrician lords of high degree were mixing with the rabble, For where's the man "wot" can be found that don't in railways dabble? Stag! stag! stag! Among the herd you'll find divines, knights, lawyers, soldiers, sailors, With outlaw'd gents, sweeps, K.C.B.s, cads, black-legs, tinkers, tailors; And Melton men, who quit the chace, and take to stags for sporting, And lots of London pretty deers, who go a Capel-court-ing! Stag! stag! stag! The soldier quits the warlike line, for civil engineering; Retaining fees to peers are sent, to soften opposition; Provisional committee-men, with "Lawyers Quirk and Gammon," To resume my own narrative. After viewing the market at Birkenhead, the park, and new docks, over which we were escorted by Mr. Jackson, one of the spirited individuals who, magician-like, have raised this new city to its present importance, we proceeded to Liskard Hall, the seat of Harold Littledale, Esq. The model-farm of this gentleman is unquestionably one of the greatest "lions" of the day, as is proved by its being almost daily visited by every one who takes an interest in agriculture. No expense has been spared; and, as the whole arrangements have been made under the direction of one of the best practical farmers of the day, Mr. Torr, of Lincolnshire, the result has been, as might be expected, most satisfactory. The veriest detractor in the world could scarcely detect a flaw in the whole system. Every modern invention of merit, every scientific improvement, are here concentrated; and we will venture to affirm that, however great the outlay may have been at first, that it will eventually repay the spirited owner. The farm consists of 440 acres of arable land, with the model buildings, of which we will give our readers a slight sketch. They consist of a very neat, picturesque brick house for the bailiff, a dairy, four cottages for the labourers, stabling, cow-sheds, rickyard, and every other requisite convenience. There are one hundred stalls for cows, as well ventilated as Her Majesty's stables at Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace, independent of the proper buildings for calves. There are piggeries, with Torr's patent troughs, one of the neatest and most useful inventions ever made. There is a poultry-yard, with as fine a specimen of the feathered creation as any in existence; among which shines pre-eminently forth, at least in size, a huge American cock, of the Pennsylvanian buck breed. He really reminds one of the Brobdignag bird that was introduced in one of the most popular pantomimes of the day, and upon whose appearance Grimaldi was wont to pour forth the ditty "This whacking bird must be a cassowary." If Pennsylvanian bonds are below par, this splendid specimen of the gallinaceous breed is quite at a premium. The dairy which is attached to the bailiff's house is a very neat building; it contains a marble fountain, which would put to shame those exquisite specimens of national taste lately erected in Trafalgar Square. We never pass D these without thinking of the old story when Langham Church with its extraordinary spire was first built: "What order of architecture do you call that?" enquired a connoisseur from one of the building committee. "Oh!" replied the other, "that is Mr. Nash's particular order." But to the dairy: The walls are made hollow, so as to keep out the summer's heat. Attached to the dairy is a small room, where, upon a sultry day, strawberries and cream and fresh syllabubs may be enjoyed. Among the farm offices are a place for smoking hams, one for curing bacon, a slaughter-house, a smithy, compost sheds, manure tanks, while a large pond supplies a tank which extends over the whole of one of the buildings, and supplies the horses and cattle with water. At this model farm the old saying is realized"A place for everything, and everything in its place." Among the modern inventions is a steam-engine, which, unlike many "Jacks of all Trades," is, really, master of all; for it thrashes the corn, divides the grain with the same operation into three qualities, No. 1, 2, and 3, grinds the corn into flour, cuts dry and green food for the cattle, conveys it to the steaming-house, steams it, supplies a drying-kiln, for taking the moisture out of damp corn, crushes beans and oats, mixes food for the pigs, and churns the butter. If some of our revered ancestors-the gentlemen farmers of a hundred years agocould rise from their graves, and see this leviathan engine at work, doing the labour of some dozen hands by machinery, they would indeed be scared out of their senses. The buildings of which we have given so faint an account were erected by Messrs. Holmes and Son, of Liverpool, and add laurels to their former reputation. In conclusion, Mr. Littledale's bailiff is a most civil and intelligent man, ready at all times to conduct those who, privileged by his master's order, apply to see the farm. Liskard Hall is in every respect a most comfortable mansion, well built, thoroughly warmed and ventilated, the cellars not to be equalled, and the artist who presides over the culinary department one of the best specimens of native talent that I almost ever met with. As the domestic circle whose hospitality I enjoyed are those who "doing good by stealth, would blush to find it fame," I shall merely say that a more united or happier ménage never existed. It is a gratifying sight to witness the aged grandfather-who has already passed, by many winters, the period usually allotted to man of threescore years and ten-surrounded by his wife, his children, and their youthful progeny, himself enjoying robust and vigorous health both in mind and body, and delighting by the soundness of his judgment and clearness of his intellect the troops of friends" that congregate round the hospitable board at Liskard. Long life and happiness, say we, to the rooftree, and its branches. From Liskard I made sundry excursions, and among others to New Brighton, a thriving and most delightful watering-place, situated on the sea-coast near the Lighthouse and Fort Rock. Here, again, I was reminded of what energy and enter prise can accomplish. Not many years ago, the present site of this picturesque watering-place was uninhabited: it consisted of nothing but sand banks; when two spirited individuals, foreseeing that the population of Liverpool must yearly increase, and that a spot free 66 from the smoke and turmoil of a large city was a grand desideratum to its inhabitants, bought up the land, and sold portions of it on building leases. Hence the most beautiful marine residences have sprung up, which, not having the pen of the great George Robins, we will not attempt to describe. Mr. Rowson, one of the projectors of the undertaking, has cultivated this formerly sandy desert, and produced as good a garden as it is possible to imagine: his house, stables, conservatories, and green-houses are admirable specimens of good workmanship and taste. New Brighton will, we have no doubt, become in time one of the most popular watering-places in England. There is everything to recommend it-fine sea views, with constant shipping passing, excellent sands, a first-rate hotel, comfortable lodging-houses, perfect quiet, the rides and drives about it extremely good, and within ten minutes of that most important and populous city, Liverpool. Steamers ply from the pier to Liverpool every half-hour throughout the day. Upon the New Brighton side of the Mersey is quiet, retirement, calmness, and peace; while upon the other, bustle, activity, and all the turmoils of the busy world, are in constant operation. We must now proceed to this great mart of commerce; and, in so doing, call to our aid portions of the guide to which we were indebted for having lionized us through this important city. "The metropolis, being the centre of arts, science, and luxury, has not been inaptly called the Modern Babylon; Edinburgh, from being the seat of so much learning and wisdom, has been termed the Modern Athens; while Liverpool, from its immense commerce and mercantile connections, has received the name of Modern Tyre."So says the guide: and there are few who now witness its spacious docks, its noble public buildings, its handsome squares, its costly shops, its broad streets, can bring themselves to believe that within little more than a century this leviathan city has sprung from an insignificant fishing village. In 1736 the population of Liverpool was 19,396: in 1841, taken in its suburbs, it amounted to 286,487, exclusive of at least 12,000 seamen belonging to the port; and we have every reason to believe that before another census is taken, a considerable increase will have taken place. Among the principal sights worthy the stranger's attention are the Exchange, Custom-House, Post-Office, and last not least-the Docks. The latter are certainly the wonder of the world, and deserve our first attention. The principal ones are the Prince's, Waterloo, Victoria, Trafalgar, and Clarence. Here may be seen miles of forest of masts and spars: we speak within compass-for they occupy from the extreme south to the furthermost northern point-a distance of four miles. In the river may be seen a flotilla of merchantmen, while the rapidly passing steam-boats are flitting about like so many fire-flies. An American liner is at anchor, with the "star-spangled" banner of the new world, awaiting a favouring breeze. The government steam-vessel is at her moorings; whilst Spanish, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swedish, Dutch, Danish, and Indian vessels, dressed in their gayest colours, are hourly arriving from foreign parts; the flags, banners, and standards of all nations are fluttering gaily in the winds, while the union-jack "that for years has braved the battle and the breeze" floats triumphantly above them all. From the Prince's dock the view is extremely fine. To the southward you can see the Cheshire woods in the distance, and northward the Irish channel, Bootle Bay, Crosby on the Lancashire coast, the Rock Light-house and Fort. Here the eye takes in all the Cheshire coast, New Brighton, Egremont, Seacomb, Woodside, Birkenhead, Tranmere, Rock, New and Eastham Ferries. The length of the Prince's dock is 500 yards, the breadth 106, having an area of 57,129 yards. Outside the western wall is a marine parade 750 yards in length, 11 in breadth. The Waterloo Dock has water accommodation of 30,764 yards. Here are some splendid American liners. I went on board the "Henry Clay," of New York, 1,464 tons, and received the greatest attention from her courteous commander, Capt. Nye. Nothing can exceed the beauty of this ship: she is quite a model for a frigate. Her accommodations are superior to any sailing vessel that I ever saw. The saloon and sleeping berths are commodious and airy, and there are many comforts on board little known to those who are so often literally "cabined, cribbed, confined" in dark holes six feet by three. The Victoria Dock has a water space of 30,000 square yards; the Trafalgar, 33,000. The Clarence Dock, graving and half-tide, which is exclusively for steam-vessels, has, including the lock, water accommodation to the extent of 29,313 square yards. Here there are some splendid Glasgow packets. I was much struck, in my ramble through the docks, with the fine appearance of the Liverpool pilot boats: they are strongly-built sloops, painted white with a green stripe, and are admirably adapted for their perilous avocations. The southern docks consist of George's Dock, 26,793 square yards water space, 1,001 yards quay space, 246 yards in length, and 100 in breadth; the Canning (graving), Salthouse, Albert, the Duke's (late Duke of Bridgewater), King's, Queen's (graving), Union, Brunswick (half tide and graving, the most extensive of any, having 60,284 square yards of water space), Coburg, Toxteth, Egerton, and Herculanean. A new dock, to be called the "Garston," is projected for receiving inland coals for exportation. The quarantine ground is nearly opposite the New Ferry, about four miles up the river. Among the hulks may be seen the once truly celebrated craft, the "saucy Arethusa," immortalized by Dibdin in one of his most popular sea songs; as also the Spanish "Santissima Trinidada," captured by Nelson, in that action which shed such a lustre over the naval force of Old England. During one of my morning perambulations, I saw the celebrated American screw-auxiliary vessel, "Massachusetts," which had arrived a few days previous from New York, in seventeen days and eleven hours. She is the first of a screw-auxiliary line to sail between Liverpool and New York, built at Boston by Mr. Samuel Hall. She is 800 tons burden, American measurement, 155 feet on deck, 178 feet from billet-lead to taffrail, 33 feet beam, has engines of 280 horse power, and is ship rigged, with a few exceptions, the most striking being that her topmasts are fixed abaft the mast. Her screw is of a |