Martin and Mark are on a train bound west when they are interrupted by Mr. Lafayette Kettle, who listens in on their conversation. General Choke also joins them and begins to speak against tyranny in England, although he insists, despite Martin’s attempts to correct him, that Queen Victoria lives in the Tower of London. He represents a group called the Watertoast Association of United Sympathisers, which is an anti-British group. Martin has been given a letter of introduction to General Choke by Dr. Bevan. General Choke tells them that he is involved in the town of Eden's development. This bothers Martin because Bevan had told him that Choke would be a disinterested advisor. At their destination, General Choke escorts Martin and Mark to Mr. Scadder, who shows them the plans for the city of Eden. Martin is shocked to see a whole city planned out and wonders that there is anything for an architect to do. He is reassured that not all the buildings have been constructed. Martin and Mark pool their resources and decide to throw in thirty pounds to buy some property in Eden. Martin declares that their new company shall be called “Chuzzlewit and Tapley,” but Mark insists that it should be “Chuzzlewit and Co.,” because he has always wanted to be a “Co.” At the National Hotel, Mark and Martin join a meeting of the Watertoast Association, in which the members declare their support of an Irish candidate who is for Irish independence. However, when news arrives that the Irishman is against slavery, they promptly dissolve the association and devote their remaining resources to proslavery individuals.

Captain Kedgwick, the proprietor of the National Hotel, announces to Martin that he must hold a levee to be introduced to the general public. Martin is astounded, but concedes since it seems he has no choice. The levee is a flow of people eager to meet the Englishman. Mrs. Hominy, who writes for the improvement of public morality, attaches herself to Martin for two days. Mark loads their luggage onto the steamboat that will take them to Eden. He asks Kedgwick why they hold these levees for someone such as Martin. Kedgwick explains that the people like excitement, especially anyone going to Eden, because no one comes back alive from that place.

Martin and Mark journey down the river toward the Valley of Eden. Mrs. Hominy accompanies them, but another group of gentlemen along the lines of Dr. Bevan keeps her away from Martin. When they arrive at New Thermopylae (Mrs. Hominy’s destination), Mark and Martin are surprised to see that it is just a few clusters of buildings. They wonder why anyone would stop here when Eden is just a few miles downstream. They discover why when they reach Eden, a group of tumbledown cabins built on swampy ground, most of which are deserted. They are met by a scarecrow of a man, who informs them that his son is ill and his younger son died recently from the fever. He leads them to their property, which consists of a cabin used as a corn crib. Martin is overcome and cries. The next day, Mark begins to make some improvements while Martin sits and feels sorry for himself.