il on the 4th I ought to be
satisfied with having had this glimpse of them, if my stay were
prolonged I should like very much to go there for a short time.

Lord Dacre told me that the _Great Western_ had arrived yesterday, and
brought most threatening news of the hostile spirit of America about the
Oregon question; he fears there will certainly be a war. Good God, how
horrible! The two foremost nations of Christendom to disgrace themselves
and humanity by giving such a spectacle to the world!

After my visit to the Dacres, I came back to my solitary dinner in
Mortimer Street; and, reflecting upon many things during this lonely
evening, have wished myself between you and dear Dorothy, who neither of
you tell falsehoods or pretend to like things and people that you
dislike. Wouldn't it be a nice world if one could live all one's time
with none but the best good people? I have spent the whole evening in
reading my friend Charles Sumner's Peace Oration, which I only began in
America; and to listening to the lady playing on the piano next door,
and envying her. Our landlord has a piano in his room downstairs, I
find, and he is not at home: now, that is a real temptation of the very
devil. How I should like to pay half an hour's visit to it!

My dear Hal, Mrs. Jameson is coming to see me to-morrow morning! What
shall I do--what shall I say about her _tiff_ with Adelaide? Wasn't it a
pity that Mrs. Grote was taken ill this morning?

God bless you. I want to say one or two words to dear Dorothy, according
to right, for she has written to me in your two last letters.

Ever yours,
FANNY.

Oh, I do wish I was with you! for you are not in the least base, mean,
cowardly, or worldly.

DEAREST GOOD ANGEL,

Do not fancy, from the vehemence of my style to Harriet, that I am in a
worse mental or material condition than I am. I only do hope that before
I have lived much longer it will please God to give me grace to love and
admire the great bulk of my fellow-creatures more than I do at present.
_Certainly_, dear Dorothy, if I should remain in England, I will come
down to Hastings for a fortnight; and owe my subsistence for that time
to you and Hal. Perhaps these rumors of wars may make some difference in
my father's plans. I should be very happy with you both. I have a notion
that you would spoil me as well as Hal, and, used to that