ement will be found successful, and that this violent
precipitating one's self from the sphere in which one is placed in the
scale of civilization is not what is wanted, but much rather the full
performance of our several duties at the post where we each of us stand
and have been providentially placed. The old English catechism of
Christian obligation taught us that we were to do our duty in that state
of life into which it had pleased God to call us--and if we did, there
would be small need of revolutions.

In America these social experiments were perfectly disinterested and
undertaken for the sake of moral good results; for where they were
tried, there was neither excessive wealth nor poverty to suggest them,
and the excellent and intelligent people thus brought together by pure
zeal for social improvement disagreed and grumbled with each other, were
so perfectly and uncomfortably unsuccessful in their experiments that
their whole scheme collapsed, and dissolved into the older social
disorders from which they had thought to raise themselves and others....

MY DEAR HAL,

... I do not see why a much greater subdivision of land would not be
beneficial in England. Of course, if to the example of America you
retort all its singular and advantageous conditions, I have nothing to
say; but how about Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland? where
small proprietorship appears to result in prosperity both to the land
and its cultivators. I do not believe that the tenure of land will long
continue what it is here, nor do I believe, in spite of the warlike
notes of preparation from all sides of the Continent just now, that the
day of great standing armies can last much longer--neither in France nor
England, surely, can the people consent much longer to be taxed as they
are for military purposes....

I told you of my having found, in the theatre at Norwich, a couple of
young people whose position had interested me much. They were very poor,
but gentlefolks, and sorely as they needed money, I could not offer it
to them, so I promised to go down to Lynn, and act for them whenever
they could obtain their manager's leave to have me.... And on Saturday,
the 18th, I shall go down to Mrs. H----'s, my dear friend Harness's
niece, who lives within seven miles of Lynn, and visit her, while I do
what I can for them.

Ever yours,
FANNY.