his country in
favor of, and sympathy with, the poor, oppressed Roman Catholics in
Ireland; "professional" politicians made their cause and England's
oppression of them regular popularity capital; writing and speechifying
in the most violent manner, and with the most crass ignorance, upon the
subject of their wrongs and the tyranny they endured from our
government; and now Philadelphia _flares_ from river to river with the
burning of Roman Catholic churches, and the Catholics are shot down in
the streets and their houses pillaged in broad daylight.

The arrest of several of the ringleaders of the mob, and the arrival of
large numbers of regular troops, have produced a temporary lull in the
city; but the spirit of lawless violence has been permitted to grow and
strengthen itself in these people for some time past now; and of course,
as they were allowed, unchecked and unpunished, to set fire to the
property of the negroes, and to murder them without anybody caring what
befell the persons or property of "damned niggers," the same turbulent
spirit is now breaking out in other directions, where it is rather less
agreeable to the _respectable_ portion of the community, but where they
will now find considerable difficulty in checking it; and, of course, if
it is to choose its own objects of outrage and abuse, the _respectable_
portion of the community may some day be disagreeably surprised by
having to take their turn with the poor Roman Catholic Irish and the
poor American negroes. The whole is a lamentable chapter of human
weakness and wickedness, that would cast shame and scorn upon republican
institutions, if it were not that Christianity itself is liable to the
same condemnation, judged by some of its apparent results.

You ask me if I apportion my time among my various occupations with the
same systematic regularity as formerly. I endeavor to do so, but find it
almost impossible.... I read but very little. My leisure is principally
given to my German, in which I am making some progress. I walk with the
children morning and evening; I still play and sing a little at some
time or other of the day, and write interminable letters to people afar
off, who I wish were nearer. I walk before breakfast with the children,
_i.e._ from seven till eight. Three times a week I take them to the
market to buy fruit and flowers, an errand that I like as well as they
do. The other three mornings we walk in the square opposite this house.