efore they
can be prevented, because a powerful force of preventive police and
municipal officers, invested with permanent authority, are abominations
in the eyes of a free and independent American citizen.

As, however, by a very wholesome law, the city pays for all damages
committed by public violence upon property, the whole population of the
town will be taxed for the _spree_ of these lively gentry; and under the
pressure of this salutary arrangement the whole militia turned out, all
the decent citizens organized themselves into patrols and policemen, and
by the time the riot had raged three days, and the city had incurred a
heavy debt for burnt and pillaged property, a stop was put to the
disorder. Cannon were planted round all the remaining Catholic churches
to protect them; the streets were lined with soldiers; every householder
was out on guard in his particular district during the night, and by
dint of effectual but, unfortunately, rather tardy measures order has
been restored.

My own affairs are far from flourishing, and I am heartily glad to have
anything else to speak of, little cheerful as the anything else may
be....

I hope all is well with you. Geraldine is almost a woman now, I suppose.
I think of you much oftener than I write to you, and am

Ever yours,
FANNY.

May 20th, 1844.

No, my dearest Hal, the day is never long, but always short, even when I
rise before six.... I have a vivid consciousness of an increased
perception of the minor _goods_ of existence, in the midst of its
greatest evils, and things that till now have been mere enjoyments to me
now appear to me in the light of positive blessings.

My delight in everything beautiful increases daily, and I now count and
appreciate the innumerable alleviations that life has in every
twenty-four hours, even in its seasons of severest trial.

A spirit of greater thankfulness is often engendered by suffering
itself; it is one of the "sweet uses of adversity," and mitigates it
immensely.

A beautiful flower was brought to me to-day; and while I remained
absorbed in contemplating it, it seemed to me a very angel of
consolatory admonition.

God bless you, dearest friend. How full of sources of comfort He has
made this lovely woe-world!

Ever yours,