sentation are founded. He asked me if
at the present day, and in our present state of civilization, such
a character as Juliet could be imagined possible; so that I believe
I was a little disappointed, in spite of his greatness, his
goodness, and my reverence and admiration for him.

I went to call on him with a Miss Sedgwick, a person of
considerable literary reputation here, and whose name and books you
may perhaps have heard of. One of them, "Hope Leslie," is, I think,
known in England. Though she is a good deal older than myself, I
have formed a great friendship with her; she is excellent, as well
as very clever and charming. She knows Dr. Channing intimately, and
is a member of his church....

It is now Monday morning, dear H----, and I am presently going to
set off to the races. American races! only think of that! I who
never saw but one in my own country, and was totally uninterested
by it! But I am going chiefly to please a nice little woman who is
just married, and whose husband has several horses that are to run,
so perhaps I shall find these more exciting than I did the races I
attended at home. They are very little supported or resorted to
here; the religious and respectable part of the community
disapprove of them. There is a general prejudice against them, and
they are even preached against; so that they are entirely in the
hands of a few gentlemen of fortune, who keep them up, partly for
their amusement, and partly with a view to the improvement of the
breed of horses in this country. The running is said to be very
good, the show is nothing.... However, I am going, and therefore
you may look hereafter to hear--what you shall hear now--because
I'm just come back, and am happy to inform you that my friend's
husband's horse won the race. The stake was only L2000--no very
great matter--but still enough to make the result interesting, if
not important; though I think the hazard we ran of our lives at
starting was the most exciting part of the day.

The racecourse is on Long Island, and, to reach it, one crosses the
arm of the sea that divides that strip of land from New York in a
steam ferryboat. All these transports were so thronged to-day with
carriages, horses, and a self-governed, enlightened, and very free
people, that in all