where I met many of the literary people who are out of the great
world, and yet very desirable to see.

There, too, I met the Misses Cushman, Charlotte and Susan, who
attend his church. I was very much pleased with both of them. I
have never seen them play, but they will send me a list of their
parts at their next engagement and I shall certainly go to hear
them. They are of Old Colony descent (from Elder Cushman), and have
very much of the New England character, culture, and good sense. On
Monday I dined at Sir Edward Codrington's, the hero of Navarino,
with the Marquis and Marchioness of Queensberry, and a party of
admirals and navy officers. On Tuesday I dined at Lady Braye's,
where were Mr. Rogers, Dr. Holland, Sir Augustus and Lady Albinia
Foster, formerly British Minister to the United States. He could
describe OUR COURT, as he called it, in the time of Madison and
Monroe.


January 1, 1848


This evening, in addition to my usual morning letter from your
father, I have another; a new postal arrangement beginning to-day
with the New Year. He gives me a most interesting conversation he
has just been having with Baron von Humboldt, who is now in Paris.
He says he poured out a delicious stream of remarks, anecdotes,
narratives, opinion. He feels great interest in our Mexican
affairs, as he has been much there, and is a Mexican by adoption.

His letter, dated the 31st December, says: "Madam Adelaide died at