d am ashamed to think how seldom I availed
myself of so great a favor.]

Then, too, my profession occupies nearly the whole of my time; I
have rehearsals every day, and act four times a week; my
journalizing takes up a good deal of my leisure. Walking in the
heat we still have here fatigues me and hurts my feet very much,
especially when I have to stand at the theater all the evening.
Although I have been here a month, I have seen but little either of
places or people; the latter, you know, I nowhere affect, and my
distaste for the society of strangers must, of course, interfere
with my deriving information from them. Still, as you say, I must
inevitably see and learn much that is new to me, and I take
pleasure in the hope that when I return to you I shall be less
distressingly ignorant than you must often have found me....

I am very sorry my brother Henry and his men are going to be sent
upon so odious an errand as tithe-collecting must be in Ireland. I
trust in God he may meet with no mischief while fulfilling his
duty; I should be both to think of that comely-looking young thing
bruised or broken, maimed or murdered. I hardly think your savage
Irishers would have the heart to hurt him, he looks so like, what
indeed he is, a mere boy; but then, to be sure, his errand is not
one to recommend him to their mercy.

I have read Bryant's poetry, and like it very much. The general
spirit of it is admirable; it is all wholesome poetry, and some of
it is very beautiful.

I am going to get Graham's "History of the United States," and
Smith's "History of Virginia," to beguile my journey to
Philadelphia with. I can't fancy a savage woman marrying a
civilized man.... I suppose love might bring harmony out of the
discords of natures so dissimilar, but I think if I had been a wild
she-American, I should not have been tamed by one of the invading
race, my hunters. Pocahontas thought differently....

Are you acquainted with any of Daniel Webster's speeches? They are
very fine, eloquent, and powerful; and one that he delivered upon
the commemoration of the landing of the English exiles at Plymouth,
in many parts, magnificent. I was profoundly affected by it when my
father read it to us on board ship....

Bad as your mice, of which you complain so bitte