te at great length of English politics; Robert Ingham, of lawyers and judges on the Northern Circuit, and of Parliament; Milnes, of scholars, new books, and public life; Mrs. Grote, of her husband's studies and friends, and of public affairs; Kenyon, of society and literary men. Morpeth, who was disinclined to letter-writing, wrote to him from time to time,—always with much affection.
Occasional letters came from Sir Charles R. Vaughan; H. Bellenden Ker; Henry Reeve; Abraham Hayward; Alexander Cochrane; Thomas Brown; Mrs. Anne B. Montagu; Edward Rushton, of Liverpool; Edward Dowling,
Mr. Dowling went in 1840 to Canada, as legal adviser of the Governor-General, and died there in 1844. and others.
Thomas Falconer, who visited Texas, and published a book on the Discovery of the Mississippi, wrote frequently while travelling, and while at home at Putney Hall.
From Mittermaier, Foelix, and Julius, he also received tidings, —particularly from Mittermaier, who wrote in German.
Fay kep
, and by this work placed at the head of American literature.
He is forty-five, but with the freedom, warmth, and frolic of a boy. His family is delightful.
There sits the father, venerable Nestor of the house; his wife, a most agreeable old lady, who refuses to yield to time; then William, my friend, his wife and two children,—three generations gathered under one roof, all happy in each other's love.
I sup with them often on Sunday night, at about nine o'clock; and then we have also Franklin Dexter and wife, a daughter of Judge Prescott. William H. Prescott is now engaged on a history of the conquest of Mexico,—a subject of remarkable capacity.
It has already occupied him two years and more.
I have seen a programme or sketch of the proposed work, and have been astonished at its almost epic character.
Of the Ticknors I see a great deal.
I see much of Bancroft, and know him familiarly.
His third volume of American history, recently published, is brilliant, vigorous, and strikin
