Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-27
rHACKERAY IN NEW YORK.
A Hitherto Unpublished Letter with
Some Interesting Comments.

SOme IultGtstInB
The following autograph letter is now
first published by the London Times:
CLARENDON HOTEL.
NEW YORK. April s. 1853.
My Dear Irs. Bayne.-I received your
kind letter at Washington. where /
passed some three weeks pleasantly
enough among the great folks of tho
republic. and receiving a great deal OF
hospitality from them and our Minister.
Mr.. Champion, the most hospitable OF all
possible diplomatists. ! saw the two
Presidents Chey came to my Lecturer,
and dined at the White House In the
reign OF the late sovereign. Mr.. Fillmore.
Then l went away into Virginia cross
ing the pretty Rappahannock (where
you know the Esmond family had their
large estates). Ii gave me queer SEN
sation to see the place, and / fancied
the story was actually true for minute
or two-and that one might ride over
yonder hills and come upon the old Man
sion House. where the little Colonel
lived, with his jealous wife. But, what
am ] talking OF? Colonel Esmond is
forgotten in this country; and, suppose,
I'm ours. Here the reign OF novels Is for
q very brief season indeed, and MY
Novel; and "Vilette' have long since
periwigged companions. have not made
fortune in four months. but snug
little sum of money, which will grow,
let US hope. now l have made a begin
ming. Perhaps 1 may come back another
year with another venture, but all this
depends upon the fates and tomorrow,
OF which no man Is master. At Charles
ton / met your kinsman, Rankin. who
met with a mishap. poor fellow, at the
hotel, where he was robbed of 20, n great
slice out OF a subalterns travelling-sup-
ply. ] shall see him again in Montreal
next week. most probably, where | shall
find winter still lingering in the lap Of
May. having left spring, and almost
summer. fortnight since. at Savannah
and Charleston.
l have come away from the South not
so Mortified. as perhaps ! ought to be
with slavery, which in the towns is not
by any means horrifying institution.
The negroes Of the good families are
the happiest, LATEST. comfortable race OF
menials. They are kept luxuriously in
working time and cared for most be-
neyolently in old sge-one white does the
work of four Of them, and one negro that
can work has mis- old parents very likely
and young children that can't. IL is the
clumsiest machine that was ever devised.
Uncle Toms Cabin" and the Trades OF
the abolitionists mayn't destroy IT, but
common sense infallibly will before long.
and every proprietor would be rid OF his
slaves II he could, not In the cotton
growing States. / mean, but in households
and in common agricultural estates.
II is a drearlly. unpicturesque coun-
try, for the most part | have not seen
a dozen picturesque views through all my
wanderings, nor ever cared to use a
pencil. except to sketch negro or two;
and these are wonderful for their grotes-
queness, oddly. and pathetic drollery,
so to speak. Oh. what comfort 1t will
be TO see the old country again. and TO
shut up these wearisome lectures! l am
so sick OF them that ! VOW to revolt day
after day. 1t Is only the thought OF
those young ladies at Paris that makes
me continue this ambulatory quack bust
ness. I have made kind and pleasant
friends. some whom ] hope to like and
remember all my life. There are just as
good mot so many ladies and gentle
men here as with us, and ! have lost
my heart twice or thrice quite satisfac-
torily, and recovered II. too, not In the
least injured by the temporary abstrac-
ton during my stay here. The luxury OF
this city is prodigious; and surely Solomon
in all his glory or the Queen OF Sheba
when she came to visit him in state, was
not arrayed so magnificenty as these
New York damsels. | send my very best
regards to all our kinsfolk and friends.
and that judicious critic who preferred
reading about Marlborough to seeing
Wellingtons obseques. l hope. u. v.
TO be home before many months are
over, and / am always yours most sim
cerely. w. NJ. THAcKERAY."