On Arriving Here We Found Our Rooms All Ready For Us At Long's
Hotel, Kept By Mr. Markwell, A Wine Merchant.
The house is in New
Bond Street, in the very centre of movement at the West End, and Mr.
Markwell full of personal assiduity, which we never see with us.
He
comes to the carriage himself, gives me his arm to go upstairs, is
so much obliged to us for honoring his house, ushers you in to
dinner, at least on the first day, and seats you, etc., etc.
Do not imagine us in fresh, new-looking rooms as we should be in New
York or Philadelphia. No, in London even new things look old, but
almost everything IS old. Our parlor has three windows down to the
floor, but it is very dark. The paint is maple color, and
everything is dingy in appearance. The window in my bedroom looks
like a horn lantern, so thick is the smoke, and yet everything is
scrupulously clean. On our arrival, Boyd, the Secretary of
Legation, soon came, and stayed to dine with us at six. Our dinner
was an excellent soup, the boiled cod garnished with fried smelts,
the roast beef and a FRICANDEAU with sweet breads, then a pheasant,
and afterwards, dessert.
This morning Mr. Bates came very early to see us, and then Mr.
Joseph Coolidge, who looks very young and handsome; then Mr. Colman,
who also looks very well, Mr. Boyd and a Mr. Haight, of New York,
and Mr. Gair, son of Mr. Gair of Liverpool, a pleasing young man.
Monday Evening
This morning came Mr. Aspinwall, then Captain Wormeley, then Dr.
Holland, then Mrs. Bates, then Mr. Joseph Jay and his sister, then
Tom Appleton, Mrs. and Miss Wormeley, and Mrs. Franklin Dexter. Dr.
Holland came a second time to take me a drive, but Mrs. Bates being
with me he took your father. Mrs. Bates took me to do some
shopping, and to see about some houses. They are very desirous we
should be in their neighborhood, in Portland Place, but I have a
fancy myself for the new part of town. I have been so used all my
life to see things fresh and clean-looking, that I cannot get
accustomed to the London dinge, and some of the finest houses look
to me as though I would like to give them a good scouring. Tell
Cousin M. never to come to England, she would be shocked every
minute, with all the grandeur. A new country is cleaner-looking,
though it may not be so picturesque.
I got your letters when I arrived here, and I wish this may give you
but a little pleasure they gave me. Pray never let a steamer come
without a token from both of you . . . With love to Grandma and
Uncle Thomas, believe me, with more love than ever before,
ELIZABETH D. BANCROFT
LETTER: To W.D.B. and A.B.
LONDON, November 3, 1846
. . . This day, at five, your father had his first interview with
Lord Palmerston, who will acquaint the Queen with his arrival, and
after she has received him we shall leave our cards upon all the
ministers and CORPS DIPLOMATIQUE.
November 4th
Your father had a most agreeable dinner at Lord Holland's. He met
there Lord and Lady Palmerston, Lord Morpeth, Lord de Mauley, Mr.
Harcourt, a son of the Archbishop of York, etc. He took out Lady
Holland and Lord Morpeth, Lady Palmerston, the only ladies present.
Holland House is surrounded by 200 acres in the midst of the western
part of London, or rather Kensington. Lord Holland has no children,
and the family dies with him. They dined in the room in which
Addison died.
To-day, to my surprise, came Lady Palmerston, which was a great
courtesy, as it was my place to make the first visit. She is the
sister of Lord Melbourne. Lord de Mauley has also been here. . . .
To-day I have been driving through some of the best streets in
London, and my ideas of its extent and magnificence are rising fast.
The houses are more picturesque than ours, and some of them most
noble. The vastness of a great capital like this cannot burst upon
one at once. Its effect increases daily. The extent of the Park,
surrounded by mansions which look, some of them, like a whole
history in themselves, has to-day quite dazzled my imagination.
November 5th
This morning, Thursday, came an invitation to dine with Lord and
Lady Palmerston on Saturday. Sir George Grey, another of the
ministers, came to see us to-day and Lord Mahon. Your father and I
have been all the morning looking at houses, and have nearly
concluded upon one in Eaton Square. We find a hotel very expensive,
and not very comfortable for us, as your father is very restive
without his books about him. Mr. Harcourt also came to see us to-
day. I mention as many of the names of our visitors as I can
recollect, as it will give you some idea of the composition of
English society . . . This moment a large card in an envelope has
been brought me, which runs thus: "The Lord Steward has received
Her Majesty's commands to invite Mr. Bancroft to dinner at Windsor
Castle on Thursday, 12th November, to remain until Friday, 13th." I
am glad he will dine there before me, that he may tell me the order
of performances.
Friday, November 6th
. . . We had to-day a delightful visit from Rogers, the Poet, who is
now quite old, but with a most interesting countenance. He was full
of cordiality, and, at parting, as he took my hand, said: "Our
acquaintance must become friendship." Mr. Harcourt came again and
sat an hour with us, and has introduced your father at the
Traveller's Club and the Athenaeum Club. To-night came my new
lady's maid, Russell. She dresses hair beautifully, but is rather
too great a person to suit my fancy.
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