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； but we found； not altogether to my sorrow； that the works had been stopped on account of the water。 No effort has been made in any of these mines to subdue the water； nor has steam been applied to the working of them。 The lodes have been so rich with lead that the speculators have been content to take out the metal that was easily reached； and to go off in search of fresh ground when disturbed by water。 〃And are wages here paid pretty punctually？〃 I asked。 〃Well； a man has to be smart； you know。〃 And then my friend went on to acknowledge that it would be better for the country if smartness were not so essential。 Iowa has a population of 674；000 souls； and in October； 1861； had already mustered eighteen regiments of one thousand men each。 Such a population would give probably 170；000 men capable of bearing arms； and therefore the number of soldiers sent had already amounted to more than a decimation of the available strength of the State。 When we were at Dubuque； nothing was talked of but the army。 It seemed that mines； coal…pits； and corn…fields were all of no account in comparison with the war。 How many regiments could be squeezed out of the State； was the one question which filled all minds； and the general desire was that such regiments should be sent to the Western army； to swell the triumph which was still expected for General Fremont； and to assist in sweeping slavery out into the Gulf of Mexico。 The patriotism of the West has been quite as keen as that of the North； and has produced results as memorable； but it has sprung from a different source； and been conducted and animated by a different sentiment。 National greatness and support of the law have been the idea of the North； national greatness and abolition of slavery have been those of the West。 How they are to agree as to terms when between them they have crushed the Souththat is the difficulty。 At Dubuque in Iowa； I ate the best apple that I ever encountered。 I make that statement with the purpose of doing justice to the Americans on a matter which is to them one of considerable importance。 Americans； as rule； do not believe in English apples。 They declare that there are none； and receive accounts of Devonshire cider with manifest incredulity。 〃But at any rate there are no apples in England equal to ours。〃 That is an assertion to which an Englishman is called upon to give an absolute assent； and I hereby give it。 Apples so excellent as some which were given to us at Dubuque I have never eaten in England。 There is a great jealousy respecting all the fruits of the earth。 〃Your peaches are fine to look at；〃 was said to me； 〃but they have no flavor。〃 This was the assertion of a lady； and I made no answer。 My idea had been that American peaches had no flavor； that French peaches had none； that those of Italy had none； that little as there might be of which England could boast with truth； she might at any rate boast of her peaches without fear of contradiction。 Indeed； my idea had been that good peaches were to be got in England only。 I am beginning to doubt whether my belief on the matter has not been the product of insular ignorance and idolatrous self…worship。 It may be that a peach should be a combination of an apple and a turnip。 〃My great objection to your country； sir；〃 said another； 〃is that you have got no vegetables。〃 Had he told me that we had got no sea…board； or no coals； he would not have surprised me more。 No vegetables in England！ I could not restrain myself altogether； and replied by a confession 〃that we 'raised' no squash。〃 Squash is the pulp of the pumpkin； and is much used in the States； both as a vegetable and for pies。 No vegetables in England！ Did my surprise arise from the insular ignorance and idolatrous self… worship of a Britisher； or was my American friend laboring under a delusion？ Is Covent Garden well supplied with vegetables； or is it not？ Do we cultivate our kitchen…gardens with success； or am I under a delusion on that subject？ Do I dream； or is it true that out of my own little patches at home I have enough； for all domestic purposes； of peas； beans； broccoli； cauliflower； celery； beet…root； onions； carrots； parsnips； turnips； sea…kale； asparagus； French beans； artichokes； vegetable marrow； cucumbers； tomatoes； endive； lettuce； as well as herbs of many kinds； cabbages throughout the year； and potatoes？ No vegetables！ Had the gentleman told me that England did not suit him because we had nothing but vegetables； I should have been less surprised。 From Dubuque； on the western shore of the river； we passed over to Dunleath； in Illinois； and went on from thence by railway to Dixon。 I was induced to visit this not very flourishing town by a desire to see the rolling prairie of Illinois； and to learn by eyesight something of the crops of corn or Indian maize which are produced upon the land。 Had that gentleman told me that we knew nothing of producing corn in England； he would have been nearer the mark； for of corn； in the profusion in which it is grown here； we do not know much。 Better land than the prairies of Illinois for cereal crops the world's surface probably cannot show。 And here there has been no necessity for the long previous labor of banishing the forest。 Enormous prairies stretch across the State； into which the plow can be put at once。 The earth is rich with the vegetation of thousands of years； and the farmer's return is given to him without delay。 The land bursts with its own produce； and the plenty is such that it creates wasteful carelessness in the gathering of the crop。 It is not worth a man's while to handle less than large quantities。 Up in Minnesota I had been grieved by the loose manner in which wheat was treated。 I have seen bags of it upset and left upon the ground。 The labor of collecting it was more than it was worth。 There wheat is the chief crop； and as the lands become cleared and cultivation spreads itself； the amount coming down the Mississippi will be increased almost to infinity。 The price of wheat in Europe will soon depend； not upon the value of the wheat in the country which grows it； but on the power and cheapness of the modes which may exist for transporting it。 I have not been able to obtain the exact prices with reference to the carriage of wheat from St。 Paul （the capital of Minnesota） to Liverpool； but I have done so as regards Indian…corn from the State of Illinois。 The following statement will show what proportion the value of the article at the place of its growth bears to the cost of the carriage； and it shows also how enormous an effect on the price of corn in England would follow any serious decrease in the cost of carriage：
A bushel of Indian…corn at Bloomington； in Illinois； cost； in October； 1861 10 cents。 Freight to Chicago 10 〃 Storage 2 〃 Freight from Chicago to Buffalo 22 〃 Elevating； and canal freight to New York 19 〃 Transfer in New York and insurance 3 〃 Ocean freight 23 〃 … Cost of a bu