humor is, of necessity and in its
very essence, vulgar. I differ entirely with you here. I think
humor is very often closely allied to poetry; not only a large
element in highly poetic minds, which surely refutes your position,
but kindred to the highest and deepest order of imagination, and
frequently eminently fanciful and graceful in its peculiar
manifestations. However, I cannot now make leisure to write about
this, but while I read it I scored the passage as one from which I
dissented. That, however, of course does not establish its fallacy;
but I think, had I time, I could convince you of it. I acted Juliet
on Wednesday, and read your analysis of it before doing so. Oh,
could you but have seen and heard my Romeo!... I am sure it is just
as well that an actress on the English stage at the present day
should not have too distinct a vision of the beings Shakespeare
intended to realize, or she might be induced, like the unfortunate
heroine of the song, to "hang herself in her garters." To be sure
there is always my expedient to resort to, of acting to a wooden
vase; you know I had one put upon my balcony, in "Romeo and
Juliet," at Covent Garden, to assist Mr. Abbott in drawing forth
the expression of my sentiments. I have been reading over Portia
to-day; she is still my dream of ladies, my pearl of womanhood....
I must close this letter, for I have many more to write to-night,
and it is already late. Once more, thank you very much for your
book, and believe me,

Ever yours very truly,
F. A. K.

_August 1st._--Sailed for America.

The book referred to in this letter was Mrs. Jameson's "Analysis of
Shakespeare's Female Characters," which she very kindly dedicated to me.
The etching in the title-page was changed from the one she at first
intended to have put in it, and represented a female figure in an
attitude of despondency, sitting by the sea, and watching a ship sailing
toward the setting sun; a design which I know she meant to have
reference to my departure. I believe she subsequently changed it again
to the one she had first executed, and which was of a less personal
significance.... I exchanged no more letters with my friend Miss S----,
who joined me at Liverpool, and remained with me till I sailed for
Amer