Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-06-02

we're published some ten or twelve years ago,
and an infant country is daily undergoing
changes and improvements.
"You found, then, very little refinement
amongst the Americans twelve years ago 7"
said |.
~ must confess that I have seen moro re-
fined Americans abroad than l ever beheld
in their own country" was her reply.
| felt a smile forming about my lips. when
l caught the expression of Lady Bulwer's
speaking eyes. They were looking "lhere's
a douceW for you And that look put me
on my guard. I answered with the least flat
tered air | could command 81 think while
you passed over the sterling virtues of the
Americans, you took pains to hold up TO rid
icule their unimportant peculiarities and
magnify their foibles into vices"
81 hope TO prove to you that you are
wrong. | did not caricatmc the Americans,
therefore | did not hold them up to ridicule.
I gave no touches to the picture which were
prompted by malice; and impaired no hues
which we're the ~colorIngs of fancy. pro-
tested against the charge of injustice in rela-
ting what | have actually seen. When |
have detailed a conversation, or described
an incident, it was written down Immediate
" after the occurance took place. And |
took especial pains to be guilty of no exag-
geration."
Granted. But was not a false c~oloring
gwen to the objects around you by your own
mind?
Most probably they wore a hue to my
eyes, different from that which they assumed
in the sight of those habituated from child
hood to the American mode of living.
| Were ] nOW writing a work on your country,
it would probably bear little resemblance to
my former production. The banks of the
Mississippi, twelve years ago, were not the
most favorable place for receiving pleasant
first impressions. Then, | think your gov
eminent an experiment, which in the end
may not prove successful. | prefer ours.
| readily admit that this fact alone would
quicken my perceptions of the disadvantages
arising from republicanism. A contrary
conviction would quicken yours probably, in
travelling through England, to the disadvan-
taee of a monarchy. As long as | strictly
adhered to the truth which l feel l have
done, | cannot be justly censured for having
OpcIly GhpIeSSeu NY OplIlIOHS.
"No nor censurcd at all, if the example
Of too many others, who have visited our
shores, and partaken of our inequalities, to
laugh at our kindness, could keep you in
countenance."
"If you class me amongst such persons, |
shall begin to accuse you of injustice. My
case differed from that of most travellers
through your country. l had no claims on
America, and did not receive that liospi,able
reception, which should seal the lips. My
circumstances were then far from good. |
endeavored 10 establish in Cincinnati a ba-
zaar, such as you have seen in London and
Liverpool. | met with neither support MOI
encouragement. The hand of friendship
which has been extended towards many o.
my countrymen, was not offered to me.
had no c%ivilitics to acknowledge by especia
forbearance. Why, then, should | lose the
opportunity of obtaining a livelihood by u.s.
ing my pen in dclincating traits of American
character? Would you scruple to publish
the notes, which you may have made in trav'
) elling through England? Answer me tina
question before we discuss any further"
"Certainly not fl imagined then
worth publication"
81 see the implied severity of your re-
mark, Still your answer ends the discussion
You have acknowledged that you woulc
yourself write as freely of my country as
have written Of yours; and Of course you dc
no, object to being done by as you would dc
5 to others"
You are right. And I do not see but
! but"
"But tina, you will have to be good friend
en- dept de uOus memes," said Lady Bul
wer, coming to my assistance.
Undoubtedly, the tie between us is
great one" replied Mrs. Trollope, bowin!
r to her friend.
"Unquestionably a great one !" said La
r dy Bulwer, comically surveying her OWL
finely formed but by no means fragile per
. son.
: From that day l looked upon Mrs. Troll
S lope as a friend, and found her a warm an
> true one. ] esteemed i, a privilege to visi
. her: for her houndoir was the %favorite re
sort of the English and French Lilerat
She was always kind, very agreeable, an
perfectly lady-like. She had seen so niue
of the world, that her conversation was equal
: ly instructive and amusing. Her fund c
: anecdotes was as inexhauslible as the wild
: ow's cruise. never heard her make use {
"A coarse word, or knew her guilty Of an un
refined action.
LOOKING GLASSES