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Rh came to New York to live. It was there that I first met Bryant and Dr. Bellows and the illuminati generally. Her four charming daughters, her handsome son, Ellery Sedgwick, and their celebrated "Aunt Catharine," with Mrs. Sedgwick's wit and hospitality, drew all around her. It was a home to the somewhat lonely young woman, who had not then found her place. Dr. Lieber, the great philosopher, was there sometimes. Dr. Bellows was the delightful and genial talker of the group. Who could, who ever can, describe his fascinating talk? His sermons were models of pulpit eloquence; the mantle of Channing fell on his shoulders, but it was the every-day charm which was his attraction. Genial, delightful, scholarly, always in a fine Sydney Smith humor, he poured out his deepest, wisest, best thoughts with prodigal lavishness; then would come wild, witty, airy fancies and sweet seriousness, and facts that could scald like tears. Whatever mood he was in, whatever part of your character he wished to impress, his eloquence was always to be depended upon. No one wished to argue any point he had taken; he carried all before him.

His sermons were infinitely inspiring and useful; his talk was a celestial recreation; he was funny as well as witty, and behind all there was a good, hard, New England common-sense. When he and his associates. Dr. Agnew, George T. Strong, etc., took up the Sanitary Commission, this latter qualification made him the superbly successful organizer and useful man that he proved to be. At his house what assemblages of humorists and philanthropists and talkers I have met! — George L. Schuyler, Hoppin, Bryant, Tuckerman, Bancroft, Peter Cooper, Washington Irving, Fitz-Greene Halleck, George William Curtis, and all the artists. Those delightful