11 Gower St., London, July 9th, 1850.
My Dear Sumner:
— . . . I did not intend to go into the grand monde here at all, and
called on very few persons; but somehow or other we have got in for it, and
have engagements for several evenings ahead.
The pleasantest dinner we have had was at Stephenson's, M.
P. (the tubular bridge man) who has one of the most beautiful houses in London,
fitted with exquisite taste and adorned by choice articles of virtu. Among
other things he has the original of Powers' Fisher Boy, which strikes me as the
most beautiful and original thing he ever did. The dinner was on ne peut pas
mieux: I should say
the most remarkable thing about it was the paucity of edibles. Everything was
exquisite in appearance and flavour, and yet one had to partake of every dish
in order to make as hearty a dinner as one is disposed to after fasting until
seven p. M. The portion of soup was very tiny, and eaten with a tiny spoon; the
fish just enough to taste; the pièce de resistance only so in name; and so through
to the dessert, which was very rich and ample. It is true it was a Sunday
dinner, and was called an unceremonious one; I think I observe, however, that
there is a great improvement in London dinners, in respect to profusion; there
is enough, but only enough. So far as I have seen and known, wine-bibbing has
materially diminished. My impression is that the luncheon has risen in public
opinion, and that the English are adopting the French déjeuner a là fourchette; they
used, I know, long ago, to lunch pretty heartily, but perhaps lunch is now
becoming par excellence the meal.
These culinary speculations are very crude and founded on
very narrow observation; they are therefore worth little, but then they cost me
nothing, and you shall have them, valeant quantum.
I have not called on all my old friends and acquaintances or
your friends, being rather shy of seeming to challenge attentions, which in
English mean dinners. I shall, before I go, call on Morpeth1 (that
was), Ingham and others of your friends. Some have been very, very kind, as Sir
H. and Lady Inglis; the first trotted in to see us and welcome us as soon as he
heard of us, and the latter brings in her knitting and chats away of an evening
with Julia. They are most kind and worthy people.
_______________
1 Earl of Carlisle
SOURCE: Laura E. Richards, Editor, Letters and
Journals of Samuel Gridley Howe, Volume 2, p. 314-6
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