crisis for the cure of any local disease,
any partial decay, without danger to the whole; though not, perhaps,
without difficulty and suffering both to classes and individuals.

God is over all, and I do not believe that one of the most Christian of
nations will perish in the attempt to follow the last of Christ's
commandments, "Love one another."

I am painfully impressed with what constantly seems to me the
short-sightedness of the clever worldly-wise people I hear talking upon
these subjects, and the deep despondence of those who see a great cloud
looming up over the land. Our narrow room and redundant population make
any sudden violent political movement dangerous, perhaps; but I have
faith in the general wholesome spirit of our people, their good sense
and good principle. I have the same admiration for and confidence in our
national character that I have in the institutions of the United States.

God keep this precious England safe!...

I am ever yours most truly,
FANNY.

KING STREET, Wednesday, March 8th, 1848.

My little finger has recovered from Macready. It is gradually getting
much better, but he certainly did it an injury. With regard to his
"relenting," he is, I am told, quite uncommonly gracious and considerate
to me....

I was told by a friend of mine who was at "Hamlet" the other evening,
that in the closet scene with his mother he had literally knocked the
poor woman down who was playing the Queen. I thought this an incredible
exaggeration, and asked her afterwards if it was true, and she said so
true that she was bruised all across her breast with the blow he had
given her; that, happening to take his hand at a moment when he did not
wish her to do so, he had struck her violently and knocked her literally
down; so I suppose I may consider it "relenting" that he never yet has
knocked me down....

We are quite lively now in London with riots of our own--a more exciting
process than merely reading of our neighbors' across the Channel. Last
night a mob, in its playful progress though this street, broke the
peaceful windows of this house. There have been great meetings in
Trafalgar Square these two last evenings, in which the people threw
stones about, and made a noise, but that was all they did by all
accounts. They have smashed sundry windows, and the annoyance and
appreh