me a flourishing, fashionable
bathing-place. It was then a mere row of very humble seaside
lodging-houses, where persons constrained as I was to remain in the
close vicinity of Liverpool, were able to obtain fresh air, salt
water, and an uninterrupted sea view.

A Liverpool lady told me that, having once spent some weeks at this
place one summer, her son, a lad of about twelve years old, used to
ride along the sands to Liverpool every day for his lessons, and
that she could see him through the telescope all the way to the
first houses on the outskirt of the town. Just about midway,
however, there was a spot of treacherous quicksand, and I confess I
wondered at my friend's courage in watching her boy pass that point:
he knew it well, and was little likely to take his pony too near it;
but I confess I would rather have trusted to his caution to avoid
the place, than watched him pass it through a telescope.

From Liverpool, the long-expected ship having arrived, we went to
London, and spent as much time with our friends there and elsewhere
as our very limited leisure would then allow; and by the 10th of
September, we were again on the edge of English ground, about to
sail for the United States.]

LIVERPOOL, Friday, September 8th, 1837.
MY DEAR LADY DACRE,

My time in England is growing painfully short, for the watch says
half-past eleven, and at two o'clock I shall be on board the ship. My
promise, as well as my desire, urge me to write you a few parting words.
And yet what can they be, that may give you the slightest pleasure?

My parting with my poor mother was calmer than I had ventured to
anticipate, and I thank Heaven that I was not obliged to leave England
without seeing her once more. I have heard from my sister, who had just
received the news of my sudden departure from England when she wrote.
She was bitterly disappointed; but yet I think this unexpected parting
without seeing each other again is perhaps well. Our last leave-taking,
when she started with my father for Carlsbad, was quite cheerful,
because we looked soon to meet again. We have been spared those
exceedingly painful moments of clinging to what we are condemned to
lose, and in the midst of novelty and variety she will miss me far less
than had I left her lonely, in the home where we have been together for
the past year.

Dear Lady Dacr