t." I wish I could afford to see her every night, but it is a dear
recreation. Henry Greville is not "teaching me to act," though I dare
say he thinks I may derive profit as well as pleasure from seeing
Rachel....

All my friends are extremely impatient of my small gains; I am not,
though I certainly should be glad if they were larger....

I have moved my Psyche, my beautiful and serene goddess. As the ancient
Romans had especial tutelary gods for their private houses, the patron
saints of the heathen calendar, she is my adopted divinity. You know I
have had her with me in some of my blackest and bitterest seasons, and
have often marvelled at the mere combination of lines which have
produced so exquisite an image of noble graceful thoughtfulness. She is
not without a certain sweet sternness, too; there is immense power, as
well as repose, in that lovely countenance,--how--why--can mere curved
and straight lines convey so profoundly moral an impression? She is an
admirable companion, and reminds me of Wordsworth's "Ode to Duty," which
I every now and then feel inclined to apostrophize her with.

I have sent out the big centre china jar to the table on the stair-case,
and have put my goddess in the drawing-room in its place....

I have received a kind invitation from Lady Dacre to the Hoo, and I
shall spend next week there, which will be both good and agreeable for
me. I expect to find Lady G---- there; she is a person for whom I have a
great liking and esteem, and whom I shall be glad to meet. Perhaps, too,
dear William Harness; but I do not know of anybody else.

I forget whether I told you that the Sedgwicks had sent me a friend of
theirs, an American country clergyman, to lionize about London, which I
have been doing for the last three days. I took him to the British
Museum, and showed him the Elgin Marbles, and the library, and the
curious manuscripts and books which strangers generally care to see; but
the profit and pleasure, I should think, of travelling is but little
unless the mind is in some slight measure prepared for more knowledge by
the possession of some small original stock; and a great many Americans
come abroad but poorly furnished not only with learning but with the
means of learning.

Charles Greville got me an admission for my Yankee friend to the House
of Lords. We were admitted while the business was going on, and saw the
curious old form of passing the Acts of Parliament by Commission, than