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 strong and happy for the whole of my journey. This evening I give my fourth representation in London; by the 8th I shall have given the six evenings I promised.

I hope, dear Alexander, that while your little mother goes to gather laurels and dollars in America you will gather your laurels in the approaching examination. Think of the happiness it will be, whenever I receive a good report of you. Gabriel is still too young for much study, but his turn, I hope, will come.

Grandmamma returns to Paris as soon as we have embarked for America. She will bring you the latest news, and will give you both two tender kisses from me,

Your little Mother, who loves you both with all her heart.

She wrote to her mother an account of the journey out. She said her health was good in spite of pains in her chest:—"The ache in my side has even disappeared for the present. I have certainly felt other pains in my back and chest; but I must never forget that my chest was always a weak one."

Her very insistance, however, on her happiness and well-being is a little suspicious:—

Léon de BeauvalletLéon Beauvallet [sic], one of the troupe whom Rachel took with her, has written an account of this "Odysée," as he calls it, of French tragedy in America; it is brimful of fun, rattle-headed nonsense, and astounding caricature, but greatly offended the Americans of the day.