and liberal patron of the arts. If anything could have alleviated the
half-hour's suspense before one obtained admission to his beautiful
library, which was on some occasions (of, I suppose, slight importance)
his "operating-room," it would have been the choice specimens of lovely
landscape painting, by the first English masters, which adorned his
dining-room. I have sat by Sir Thomas Lawrence at the hospitable
dinner-table, where Mr. Cartwright gave his friends the most agreeable
opportunity of using the teeth which he, preserved for them, and heard
in his house the best classical English vocal music, capitally executed
by the first professors of that school, and brilliant amicable rivalry
of first-rate piano-forte performances by Cramer, Neukomm, Hummel, and
Moscheles, who were all personal friends of their host.

GREAT RUSSELL STREET, January 3, 1831.
MY DEAR H----,

I promised you, in the interesting P.S. I annexed to my aunt Dall's
letter, to write to you to-day, and I sit down this evening to
fulfill my promise. My father is gone out to dinner, my mother is
asleep on the sofa, Dall reclines dozing in that blissful armchair
you wot of, and Henry, happier than either, is extended snoring
before the fire on the softest, thickest, splendidest colored rug
(a piece of my mother's workmanship) that the most poetical canine
imagination could conceive; I should think an earthly type of those
heavenly rugs which virtuous dogs, according to your creed, are
destined to enjoy.

[My friend Miss S---- held (without having so eloquently advocated) the
theory of her and my friend Miss Cobbe, of the possible future existence
of animals; such animals at any rate as had formed literally a precious
part of the earthly existence of their owners, and in whom a certain
sense, so nearly resembling conscience, is developed, by their obedience
and attachment to the superior race, that it is difficult to consider
them unmoral creatures. Perhaps, however, if the choice were given our
four-footed friends to share our future prospects and present
responsibility, they might decline the offer, "Thankfu' they werena'
men, but dogs."]

Dear H----, the pleasant excitement of your society assisted the
natural contentedness or indifference of my disposition to throw
aside many reflections upon myself and others, the life I lead and
its variou