From New York a pleasant diversion suggested itself at this time. On Monday, April 11th, we took the train from New York to Albany, giving us a pleasant glimpse of woodland and river scenery all the way. On our arrival we were met by a jovial skipper-friend of Thackeray's. His great anxiety was to sequestrate the lecturer in the privacy of his hotel, with the idea of only giving the privilege of seeing him to those willing to pay for it at the lecture-hall. This had naturally the contrary effect to that intended, as Thackeray was at once seized with an intense desire to walk about and to see the town for himself; so we sallied out with that view. The visit was well timed, as the jaded members of the twin houses—the Senate and the Representatives—had only two or three session-days left before disbanding, their salaries being only payable for 200 sittings, which then expired, when relaxation of duty coincided naturally with stoppage of salary. The then Capitol was a plain brown-stone building, since this period replaced by a granite structure of far greater pretentions architecturally.