[Footnote 45:  The population of New York, to-day, is about 2,200,000, or not greatly inferior to that of Scotland; and superior to that of Hanover, or Wurtemberg, or Denmark, or Saxony, all of which are kingdoms.  The increase of population in the United States, at present, the immigration included, is not far from 500,000 souls annually, which is equal to the addition of an average state each year!  The western speculations find their solution in this fact.]

The Swiss have most of the physical peculiarities of the different nations that surround them.  The German part of the population, however, are, on the whole, both larger and better-looking than the true Germans.  All the mountaineers are fresher and have clearer complexions than those in the lower portions of the country, but the difference in size is not very apparent.  Nowhere is there such a population as in our south-western states; indeed, I question if large men are as common in any other country.  Scotland, however, may possibly form an exception.

The women of Switzerland are better-looking than those of France or Germany, but beauty, or even extreme prettiness, is rare.  Light, flexible, graceful forms are quite uncommon.  Large hands and feet are met with everywhere, those of our women being miraculous in comparison.  But the same thing is true nearly all over the north of Europe.  Even our men—­meaning the gentlemen—­I think, might be remarked for the same peculiarities in this part of the world.  The English have absurd notions on this subject, and I have often enjoyed a malicious pleasure in bringing my own democratic paws and hoofs (no prodigies at home) in contrast with their aristocratic members.  Of course, the climate has great influence on all these things.

I scarcely think the Swiss women of the mountains entitled to their reputation for beauty.  If strength, proportions on a scale that is scarcely feminine, symmetry that is more anatomically than poetically perfect, enter into the estimate, one certainly sees in some of the cantons, female peasants who may be called fine women.  I remember, in 1828, to have met one of these in the Grisons, near the upper end of the valley of the Rhine.  This woman had a form, carriage, and proportions that would have made a magnificent duchess in a coronation procession; but the face, though fresh and fair, did not correspond with the figure.  The women of our own mountains excel them altogether, being a more true medium between strength and coarseness.  Even Mrs. Trollope admits that the American women (perhaps she ought to have said the girls) are the most beautiful in the world, while they are the least interesting.  Mrs. Trollope has written a vast deal of nonsense, putting cockneyisms into the mouths of Americans, and calling them Americanisms, but she has also written a good many truths.  I will not go as far as to say she was right in the latter part of this charge; but if our girls would cultivate neater and more elegant forms of expression;