We set out from Buffalo soon after breakfast, and made
our way over a waste, through brush, over fences, along a
natural terrace once planted with guns, down to the ferry
at Black Rock. On the way I saw one of the less pre-
possessing abodes of settlers so frequently described ; its
desolate appearance on the verge of the wood ; its un-
tidy garden, and the cool, uncomfortable manners, and the
lank hair, and pale, dingy countenance of its mistress. I
also heard, during our walk, some things which make me
think that Buffalo is as undesirable a place of residence as
any in the free States. It is the rendezvous of all manner of
persons ; the passage through which fugitives pass from the
States to Canada, from Canada to the States, and from Eu-
rope and the Eastern States into the wild West. Runa«
way slaves come here, and their owners follow in hopes of
recapturing ^em. Indian traders, land speculators, and
poor emigrams come heref and the most debased Indianii



VOBT BBOB. n

the half-omlizedy hang about the outskirts. No influence
that the mass of respectable inhabitants can exert can neu-
tralize the bad efiects of a floating population like this ; and
the place is unavoidably a very vicious one. A sufllicieBt
proof of this is, that ladies cannot walk beyond the streets
without the protection of a gentleman. Some excellent
English ladies opened a school in Buflalo, and, not being
aware of the peculiarities of the place, followed, with their
pupils, the English practice of taking country walks. They
persevered for some time, hoping to obtain countenance for
the wholesome practice ; but were compelled, after a time,
not only to give up walking, but to leave the place. It will
be understood that I do not give this as any specimen of
-American towns. The corruption of Buffalo is owing
chiefly to its frontier position, and consequent liability to a
Ticious, transient population.
