After walking through the streets of Liverpool, we crossed by a ferry to Birkenhead, and made our way to a spot of high ground, from whence we could obtain a complete panoramic view of the town and river.  Looking to our right, we saw the Mersey flowing from the south in a northerly direction towards the Irish Sea.  Below us, in the midst of the stream, we could distinguish, extending in a long line from right to left, some of the largest merchant-ships in the world.  There were also smaller craft of every description, with the flags of nearly all nations flying from their mast-heads, either ready to sail, waiting for orders, or preparing to go into dock; while others, with wide-spread canvas, or with steam tugs alongside, were coming up or down the river.  Before us we made out a huge tobacco warehouse, and behind it, dock beyond dock, far away to the south, and still further towards the sea and the north. On one side was the King's Dock, the Queen's Basin and Dock, the Coburg Dock, the Union Dock, and the Brunswick Dock--"their names showing," as papa observed, "the periods at which they were formed."  To the north of King's Dock we saw the Albert Dock, with the Marine Parade in front of it; also Salthouse Dock, Canning Dock, George's Dock, with its landing-stage towards the river; and the enormous Prince's Dock still further to the south, and a line of basins and docks beyond.  These docks are not small pools, but large rectangular lakes, crowded thickly with magnificent shipping loaded with the produce of numberless countries, their tall masts rising towards the sky in dense groves, their yards so interlocked that it seemed impossible that they could ever be extricated.  The sight gave us some idea of the number of vessels which belong to Liverpool, or annually visit this port.