and when I told her what I remembered hearing of
Spedding, she was eager to see him; which access I knew not how
to secure, except through you. She wrote me that she prospers in
all things, and had just received at once a summons to meet
Spedding at your house. But do not fancy that I send any one to
you heedlessly; for I value your time at its rate to nations,
and refuse many more letters than I give. I shall not send you
any more people without good reason.

Your visit to Germany will stand you in stead, when the
annoyances of the journey are forgotten, and, in spite of your
disclaimers, I am preparing to read your history of Frederic.
You are an inveterate European, and rightfully stand for your
polity and antiquities and culture: and I have long since
forborne to importune you with America, as if it were a humorous
repetition of Johnson's visit to Scotland. And yet since
Thackeray's adventure, I have often thought how you would bear
the pains and penalties; and have painted out your march
triumphal. I was at New York, lately, for a few days, and fell
into some traces of Thackeray, who has made a good mark in this
country by a certain manly blurting out of his opinion in various
companies, where so much honesty was rare and useful. I am sorry
never once to have been in the same town with him whilst he was
here. I hope to see him, if he comes again. New York would
interest you, as I am told it did him; you both less and more.
The "society" there is at least self-pleased, and its own; it
has a contempt of Boston, and a very modest opinion of London.
There is already all the play and fury that belong to great
wealth. A new fortune drops into the city every day; no end is
to palaces, none to diamonds, none to dinners and suppers. All
Spanish America discovers that only in the U. States, of all the
continent, is safe investment; and money gravitates therefore to
New York. The Southern naphtha, too, comes in as an ingredient,
and lubricates manners and tastes to that degree, that Boston is
hated for stiffness, and excellence in luxury is rapidly
attained. Of course, dining, dancing, equipaging, etc. are the
exclusive beatitudes,--and Thackeray will not cure us of this
distemper. Have you a physician that can? Are you a physician,
and will you come? If you will come, cities will go out to
meet you.

And now I see I have so much to say to you that I ought to write
once a month, and I must begin at