Jonathan and His Continent: Rambles Through American Society

You have often asked me to write my impressions of America and the Americans, and your newspapers have been good enough to suggest Jonathan and his Continent as a title for the book.
The title is good, and I accept it.
As for the book, since you wish it, here it is. But I must warn you that if ever you should fancy you see in this little volume a deep study of your great country and of your amiable compatriots, your worldwide reputation for humour would be exploded.
However, as my collaborator, Jack Allyn, is an American citizen, some at least of the statements here set down regarding Jonathan ought to have weight and authority.
Population of America.—An Anecdote about the Sun.—Where is the Centre of America?—Jonathan cannot get over it, nor can I.—America, the Land of Conjuring.—A Letter from Jonathan decides me to set out for the United States.
he population of America is about sixty millions—mostly colonels.
Yes, sixty millions—all alive and kicking!
If the earth is small, America is large, and the Americans are immense!
An Englishman was one day boasting to a Frenchman of the immensity of the British Empire.
Yes, sir, he exclaimed to finish up with, the sun never sets on the English possessions.
I am not surprised at that, replied the Frenchman; the sun is obliged to keep an eye on the rascals.
However, the sun can now travel from New York to San Francisco, and light, on his passage, a free nation which, for the last hundred years, has been pretty successful in her efforts to get on in the world without John Bull's protection.