"Norma,"
which she sang in English, retaining the whole of the recitative. My
sister's success was triumphant, and the fortunes of the unfortunate
theatre, which again were at the lowest ebb, revived under the
influence of her great and immediate popularity, and the overflowing
houses that, night after night, crowded to hear her. Her
performances, which I seldom missed, were among my most delightful
pleasures, during a season in which I enjoyed the companionship of
my dear friend, and a great deal of pleasant social intercourse with
the most interesting and agreeable people of the great gay London
world.]

BOWOOD, Sunday, December 19th.
_To Theodore Sedgwick, Esq._
MY DEAR THEODORE,

I cannot conceive how it happens that a letter of yours, dated the 8th
September, should have reached me only a fortnight ago in London. Either
it must have been forgotten after written, and not sent for some time,
or Messrs. Harnden and Co.'s _Express_ is the slowest known conveyance
in the world. However that may be, the letter and the Philadelphia Bank
statement did arrive safe at last, and my father desires me to thank you
particularly for your kindness in sending it to him. Not, indeed, that
it is peculiarly consolatory in itself, inasmuch as it confirms our
worst apprehensions about the fate of all moneys lodged in that
disastrous institution. But perhaps it is better to have a term put to
one's uncertainty, even by the positive conviction of misfortune not to
be averted. My father's property in that bank--"The United States
Bank"--was considerable for him, and had been hardly earned money. I
understand from him that my share of our American earnings are in the
New Orleans banks, which, though they pay no dividends, and have not
done so for some time past, are still, I believe, supposed to be safe
and solvent....

We are staying just now with Lord and Lady Lansdowne, in this pleasant
home of theirs--a home of terrestrial delights. Inside the house, all is
tasteful and intellectual magnificence--such pictures! such statues!
And outside, a charming English landscape, educated with consummate
taste into the very perfection of apparently natural beauty.... They are
amiable, good, pleasant, and every way distinguished people, and I like
them very much. He, as you know, is one of our leading Whig statesmen, a
munificent patron of the