London and took
a big sunny suite of rooms in the Albany. Here he settled down to
learn all he could of London, its ways and its people. In New York he
had already met a number of English men and women distinguished in
various walks of life, and with these as a nucleus he soon extended his
circle of friends until it became as large as it was varied. In his
youth, and indeed throughout his life, Richard had the greatest
affection for England and the English. No truer American ever lived,
but he thought the United States and Great Britain were bound by ties
that must endure always. He admired British habits, their
cosmopolitanism and the very simplicity of their mode of living. He
loved their country life, and the swirl of London never failed to
thrill him. During the last half of his life Richard had perhaps as
many intimate friends in London as in New York. His fresh point of
view, his very eagerness to understand theirs, made them welcome him
more as one of their own people than as a stranger.

LONDON, June 3, 1892.

DEAR FAMILY:

I went out to the Derby on Wednesday and think it is the most
interesting thing I ever saw over here. It is SO like these people
never to have seen it. It seems to be chiefly composed of
costermongers and Americans. I got a box-seat on a public coach and
went out at ten. We rode for three hours in a procession of donkey
shays, omnibuses, coaches, carriages, vans, advertising wagons; every
sort of conveyance stretching for sixteen miles, and with people lining
the sides to look on. I spent my time when I got there wandering
around over the grounds, which were like Barnum's circus multiplied by
thousands. It was a beautiful day and quite the most remarkable sight
of my life. Much more wonderful than Johnstown, so you see it must
have impressed me. We were five hours getting back, the people singing
all the way and pelting one another and saying funny impudent things.

My rooms are something gorgeous. They are on the first floor, looking
into Piccadilly from a court, and they are filled with Hogarth's
prints, old silver, blue and white china, Zulu weapons and fur rugs,
and easy chairs of India silk. You never saw such rooms! And a very
good servant, who cooks and valets me and runs errands and takes such
good care of me that last night Cust and Balfour called at one to get
some supper and he would not let them in. Think of having the Leader
of the House of Commons com