Letters from England | Page 5

looks very young and handsome; then Mr. Colman, who

also looks very well, Mr. Boyd and a Mr. Haight, of New York, and Mr.
Gair, son of Mr. Gair of Liverpool, a pleasing young man.
Monday Evening
This morning came Mr. Aspinwall, then Captain Wormeley, then Dr.
Holland, then Mrs. Bates, then Mr. Joseph Jay and his sister, then Tom
Appleton, Mrs. and Miss Wormeley, and Mrs. Franklin Dexter. Dr.
Holland came a second time to take me a drive, but Mrs. Bates being
with me he took your father. Mrs. Bates took me to do some shopping,
and to see about some houses. They are very desirous we should be in
their neighborhood, in Portland Place, but I have a fancy myself for the
new part of town. I have been so used all my life to see things fresh and
clean-looking, that I cannot get accustomed to the London dinge, and
some of the finest houses look to me as though I would like to give
them a good scouring. Tell Cousin M. never to come to England, she
would be shocked every minute, with all the grandeur. A new country
is cleaner-looking, though it may not be so picturesque.
I got your letters when I arrived here, and I wish this may give you but
a little pleasure they gave me. Pray never let a steamer come without a
token from both of you . . . With love to Grandma and Uncle Thomas,
believe me, with more love than ever before, ELIZABETH D.
BANCROFT

LETTER: To W.D.B. and A.B. LONDON, November 3, 1846

. . . This day, at five, your father had his first interview with Lord
Palmerston, who will acquaint the Queen with his arrival, and after she
has received him we shall leave our cards upon all the ministers and
CORPS DIPLOMATIQUE.
November 4th
Your father had a most agreeable dinner at Lord Holland's. He met
there Lord and Lady Palmerston, Lord Morpeth, Lord de Mauley, Mr.
Harcourt, a son of the Archbishop of York, etc. He took out Lady
Holland and Lord Morpeth, Lady Palmerston, the only ladies present.
Holland House is surrounded by 200 acres in the midst of the western
part of London, or rather Kensington. Lord Holland has no children,
and the family dies with him. They dined in the room in which Addison
died.

To-day, to my surprise, came Lady Palmerston, which was a great
courtesy, as it was my place to make the first visit. She is the sister of
Lord Melbourne. Lord de Mauley has also been here. . . . To-day I have
been driving through some of the best streets in London, and my ideas
of its extent and magnificence are rising fast. The houses are more
picturesque than ours, and some of them most noble. The vastness of a
great capital like this cannot burst upon one at once. Its effect increases
daily. The extent of the Park, surrounded by mansions which look,
some of them, like a whole history in themselves, has to-day quite
dazzled my imagination.
November 5th
This morning, Thursday, came an invitation to dine with Lord and
Lady Palmerston on Saturday. Sir George Grey, another of the
ministers, came to see us to-day and Lord Mahon. Your father and I
have been all the morning looking at houses, and have nearly
concluded upon one in Eaton Square. We find a hotel very expensive,
and not very comfortable for us, as your father is very restive without
his books about him. Mr. Harcourt also came to see us to- day. I
mention as many of the names of our visitors as I can recollect, as it
will give you some idea of the composition of English society . . . This
moment a large card in an envelope has been brought me, which runs
thus: "The Lord Steward has received Her Majesty's commands to
invite Mr. Bancroft to dinner at Windsor Castle on Thursday, 12th
November, to remain until Friday, 13th." I am glad he will dine there
before me, that he may tell me the order of performances.
Friday, November 6th
. . . We had to-day a delightful visit from Rogers, the Poet, who is now
quite old, but with a most interesting countenance. He was full of
cordiality, and, at parting, as he took my hand, said: "Our acquaintance
must become friendship." Mr. Harcourt came again and sat an hour
with us, and has introduced your father at the Traveller's Club and the
Athenaeum Club. To-night came my new lady's maid, Russell. She
dresses hair beautifully, but is rather too great a person to suit my
fancy.
Sunday Evening, November 8th
On Friday evening we met at Mrs. Wormeley's a cosy little knot of
Americans. The Dexters