f links and lanterns flashing and
flickering about them, made up the most striking picture you can
conceive. As we returned I remained at the bottom of the stairs
last of all, to look back at the beautiful road to Hades, wishing I
might be left behind, and then we reascended, through wheels,
pulleys, and engines, to the upper day. After this we rowed down
the river to the docks, lunched on board a splendid East Indiaman,
and came home again. I think it is better for me, however, to look
at the trees, and the sun, moon, and stars, than at tunnels and
docks; they make me too _humanity proud_.

I am reading "Vivian Grey." Have you read it? It is very clever.

Ever your most affectionate

FANNY.

16 ST. JAMES STREET, BUCKINGHAM GATE, January, 1828.
DEAREST H----,

I jumped, in despite of a horrid headache, when I saw your letter.
Indeed, if you knew how the sight of your handwriting delights me,
you would not talk of lack of matter; for what have I to tell you
of more interest for you, than the health and proceedings of those
you love must be to me?

Dear John is come home with his trophy. He is really a highly
gifted creature; but I sometimes fear that the passionate eagerness
with which he _pursues his pursuit_, the sort of frenzy he has
about politics, and his constant excitement about political
questions, may actually injure his health, and the vehemence with
which he speaks and writes in support of his peculiar views will
perhaps endanger his future prospects.

He is neither tory nor whig, but a radical, a utilitarian, an
adorer of Bentham, a worshiper of Mill, an advocate for vote by
ballot, an opponent of hereditary aristocracy, the church
establishment, the army and navy, which he deems sources of
unnecessary national expense; though who is to take care of our
souls and bodies, if the three last-named institutions are done
away with, I do not quite see. Morning, noon, and night he is
writing whole volumes of arguments against them, full of a good
deal of careful study and reading, and in a close, concise,
forcible style, which is excellent in itself, and the essays are
creditable to his laborious industry; but they will not teach him