We are now in the midst of General Assembly.  Mr. Stearns is here, and we have sprinklings of ministers to dine and to tea at all sorts of odd hours....  I can’t help loving what is Christlike in people, whether I like their natural characters or not; after all, what else is there in the world worth much love?  My Katy seems to be ploughing her way with more or less success, and making friends and foes.  You, who helped me fashion her, would be interested in the letters I get from wives, showing that the want of demonstration in men is a wide-spread evil, under which women do groan being burdened. Entre nous, Mrs. Dr. ——­ is one, and I got a letter to-day from Michigan to the same effect.  We are having delightful weather for the meetings.  Yesterday morning Dr. John Hall preached in our church, and it was crammed full to Overflowing....  Lew.  S. [3] has decided to study theology.  We are all glad.  He and I have got quite acquainted of late and talk most learnedly together.  Did I tell you I have translated a German dramatic poem in five acts?  Miss Anna Nevins says I have done it extremely well.  I don’t know about that, but my whole soul got into it somehow, and I did not know whether I was in the body or out of it for two or three weeks.  I wish I could do things decently and in order.  There is to be a great party at Apollo Hall this evening for both Assemblies.  I am going and expect to get tired to death.

26th—­It was a brilliant scene at Apollo Hall.  Everybody was there, and the hall was finely adapted to the purpose of accommodating the 2,000 people present.  The speeches were very poor.  I went to the prayer-meeting this morning.  The church was full, galleries and all, and the spirit was excellent.  Many men shed tears in speaking for reunion, and, from what Mr. Stearns reports of the meeting of the Committee last night, union may be considered as good as restored.  You will hear nothing else from me; it is all I hear talked about. Monday, 3l.—­Hot as need be.  Dr. B., of Brooklyn, dined with us; said he never ate strawberry short-cake before, and was reading Katy.  It is awful to think how many D.D.s are doing it (eating short-cake, I mean, of course!) Hope the Assembly will wind up to-night. June 5.—­We are so glad you have got to La Tour and find it so pleasant there, and that you have met Dr. and Mrs. Guthrie, and that they have met you instead of the blowsy-towsy American women, who make one so ashamed of them.  If I wasn’t going to Dorset, I should wish I were going where you are; but then, you see, I am going to Dorset!...  I have been to the Central Park with Mrs. —–­, who talked in one steady stream all the way.  I was sleepy and the carriage very noisy; and take it altogether, what a farce life is sometimes! the intercourse of human beings outsides touching outsides, the heart and soul lying to all intents and purposes as dead as a door-nail.  Do you ever feel mentally and spiritually alone in the world?  Perhaps everybody does.