Traveller (to his dragoman).--I wish to have the opinion of an
unprejudiced Ottoman gentleman as to the prospects of our English
commerce and manufactures; just ask the Pasha to give me his views
on the subject.

Pasha (after having received the communication of the dragoman).--
The ships of the English swarm like flies; their printed calicoes
cover the whole earth; and by the side of their swords the blades
of Damascus are blades of grass. All India is but an item in the
ledger-books of the merchants, whose lumber-rooms are filled with
ancient thrones!--whirr! whirr! all by wheels!--whiz! whiz! all by
steam.

Dragoman.--The Pasha compliments the cutlery of England, and also
the East India Company.

Traveller.--The Pasha's right about the cutlery (I tried my
scimitar with the common officers' swords belonging to our fellows
at Malta, and they cut it like the leaf of a novel). Well (to the
dragoman), tell the Pasha I am exceedingly gratified to find that
he entertains such a high opinion of our manufacturing energy, but
I should like him to know, though, that we have got something in
England besides that. These foreigners are always fancying that we
have nothing but ships, and railways, and East India Companies; do
just tell the Pasha that our rural districts deserve his attention,
and that even within the last two hundred years there has been an
evident improvement in the culture of the turnip, and if he does
not take any interest about that, at all events you can explain
that we have our virtues in the country--that we are a truth-
telling people, and, like the Osmanlees, are faithful in the