ticing the coincidence of "Our Village" having first appeared in
the Lady's Magazine, and saying something like what I wrote to you
last night. I think this will take off the danger of provoking
apprehension on one side and disappointment on the other; because
after all, although anecdote be not the style of the book, it does
contain some.

May I put in the story of Washington's ghost? without your name, of
course; it would be very interesting, and I am ten times more
desirous of making the book as good as I can, since I have reason to
believe you will be interested in it. Pray, forgive me for having
worried you last night and now again. I am a terribly nervous
person, and hate and dread literary scrapes, or indeed disputes of
any sort. But I ought not to have worried you. Just tell me if you
think this sort of preface will take the sting from the title, for I
dare say Mr. Bentley won't change it.

Adieu, dear friend. All peace and comfort to you in your journey;
amusement you are sure of. I write also to dear Mr. Bennett, whom I
fear I have also worried.

Ever most faithfully yours,

M.R.M.

1852.

January 5.

Mr. Bennoch has just had the very great kindness, dear Mr. Fields,
to let me know of your safe arrival at Genoa, and of your enjoyment
of your journey. Thank God for it! We heard so much about commotions
in the South of France that I had become fidgety about you, the
rather that it is the best who go, and that I for one cannot afford
to lose you.

Now let me thank you for all your munificence,--that beautiful
Longfellow with the hundred illustrations, and that other book of
Professor Longfellow's, beautiful in another way, the "Golden
Legend." I hope I shall be only one among the multitude who think
this the greatest and best thing he has done yet, so racy, so full
of character, of what the French call local color, so, in its best
and highest sense, original. Moreover, I like the happy ending. Then
those charming volumes of De Quincey and Sprague and Grace
Greenwood. (Is that her real name?) And dear Mr. Hawthorne, and the
two new poets, who, if also young poets, will be fresh glories for
America. How can I thank you enough for all these enjoyments? And
you must come back to England, and add to my obligations by giving
me as much as you can of your