The quietness of this evening circle, the charm of its kind hospitality, the evident air of sincerity and good will which pervaded every thing, made the evening pass most delightfully to me.  I had never felt myself more at home even among the Quakers.  Such a visit is a true rest and refreshment, a thousand times better than the most brilliant and glittering entertainment.

At eleven o’clock, however, the carriage called, for our evening was drawing to its close; that of our friends, I suppose, was but just commencing, as London’s liveliest hours are by gaslight, but we cannot learn the art of turning night into day.

LETTER XV.

May 4.

MY DEAR S.:—­

This morning I felt too tired to go out any where; but Mr. and Mrs. Binney persuaded me to go just a little while in to the meeting of the Bible Society, for you must know that this is anniversary week, and so, besides the usual rush, and roar, and whirl of London, there is the confluence of all the religious forces in Exeter Hall.  I told Mrs. B. that I was worn out, and did not think I could sit through a single speech; but she tempted me by a promise that I should withdraw at any moment.  We had a nice little snug gallery near one of the doors, where I could see all over the house, and make a quick retreat in case of need.

In one point English ladies certainly do carry practical industry farther than I ever saw it in America.  Every body knows that an anniversary meeting is something of a siege, and I observed many good ladies below had made regular provision therefor, by bringing knitting work, sewing, crochet, or embroidery.  I thought it was an improvement, and mean to recommend it when I get home.  I am sure many of our Marthas in America will be very grateful for the custom.

The Earl of Shaftesbury was in the chair, and I saw him now for the first time.  He is quite a tall man, of slender figure, with a long and narrow face, dark hazel eyes, and very thick, auburn hair.  His bearing was dignified and appropriate to his position.  People here are somewhat amused by the vivacity with which American papers are exhorting Lord Shaftesbury to look into the factory system, and to explore the collieries, and in general to take care of the suffering lower classes, as if he had been doing any thing else for these twenty years past.  To people who know how he has worked against wind and tide, in the face of opposition and obloquy, and how all the dreadful statistics that they quote against him were brought out expressly by inquiries set on foot and prosecuted by him, and how these same statistics have been by him reiterated in the ears of successive houses of Parliament till all these abuses have been reformed, as far as the most stringent and minute legislation can reform, them,—­it is quite amusing to hear him exhorted to consider the situation of the working classes.  One reason for this, perhaps,