rly, may be, they
are civilized Christian creatures compared with the heathen swarms
with which we wage war incessantly here. Every evening, as soon as
the sun sets, clouds of mosquitoes begin their war-dance round us;
their sting is most venomous, and as my patience is not even
skin-deep, I tear myself like a maniac, and then, instead of oil,
pour aromatic vinegar into my wounds, and a very pretty species of
torture is produced by that means, I assure you. Besides these
winged devils, we have swarms of flies, which also bite and sting,
with a venomous rancor of which I should have thought their
frivolity incapable. Besides these, every cupboard and drawer in
our rooms is full of moths. Besides these, we have an army of
cantankerous fleas quartered upon us. Besides these, we have one
particular closet where we keep--our bugs, and where for the most
part, I am truly thankful to say, they keep themselves. Besides
these, we have two or three ants' nests in our bedroom, and
everything we look upon seems but a moving mass of these red,
long-legged, but always exemplary insects. These fellow-creatures
make one's life not worth much having, and I do nothing all day
long but sing the famous entomological chorus in "Faust;" and if
this goes on much longer, I feel as if I should take to buzzing. Do
you know that it is hard upon three o'clock in the morning? I must
leave off and go to bed, for I rehearse Constance to-morrow at
eleven, and act her to-morrow night. On Friday I act Bizarre in
"The Inconstant," and think I shall find it great fun.... God bless
you, dearest H----.

Ever your affectionate
F. A. K.

MANSION HOUSE, PHILADELPHIA, October 10, 1832.
DEAREST H----,

Do not let the date of this make any alteration in your way of
addressing your letters, which must still be "Park Theater, New
York;" for before this reaches you we shall probably have returned
thither; but I date particularly that you may follow us with your
mind's legs, and know where to find us. My dearest H----, in spite
of an often heavy heart, and my distaste for my present
surroundings, I have reason to be most grateful, and I trust I am
so, for the benefits which we have alrea