Upon The Whole, I Love My
Own Country Better Than Ever, But Whether I Shall Not Miss, Upon My
Return, Some Things To Which I Am Gradually Getting Accustomed, I
Have Yet To Learn.
The gratification of mixing constantly with
those foremost in the world for rank, science, literature, or all
which adorns society is great, but there is a certain yearning
toward those whose habits, education, and modes of thought are the
same as our own, which I never can get over.
In the full tide of
conversation I often stop and think, "I may unconsciously be jarring
the prejudices or preconceived notions of these people upon a
thousand points; for how differently have I been trained from these
women of high rank, and men, too, with whom I am now thrown." Upon
all topics we are accustomed to think, perhaps, with more latitude,
religion, politics, morals, everything. I like the English
extremely, even more than I expected, and yet happy am I to think
that our own best portions of society can bear a comparison with
theirs. When I see you I can explain to you the differences, but I
think we need not be ashamed of ourselves.
LETTER: To I.P.D.
LONDON, January 2, 1847
My dear Uncle: . . . I refer you to my letters to my boys, for all
the new persons and places we may have seen lately, while I give you
for Aunty's amusement a minute account of my visit into the country
at Mr. Bates's, where things are managed in a scrupulously English
manner, so that it will give her the same idea of country life here,
as if it were a nobleman's castle.
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