VET. 51.] . TO CHARLES DARWIN. 477 



whom refused to attend the dinner, and in at least 

 one paper, in a tone like your own. It was really as 

 bad as the speeches of some members of Parliament, 

 and worse because it was foolish. 



The fact is, a set of cunning fellows on both sides 

 of the water (but here utterly characterless) have 

 contrived to make both English and Yankees believe 

 that each was bent upon quarreling with the other. 



Your thinking of me " as an Englishman " would 

 once have been a compliment, and is what from my 

 well-known feelings and expressions I have passed for 

 among my friends here. Had the North gone on giv- 

 ing in to the South as for years past, I should have 

 been one, at least in residence, just as soon as I could 

 have got out of the country. I thank God, it has 

 been otherwise, and that I have a country to be proud 

 of, and which I will gladly suffer for, if need be. 

 With all its weakness and follies (and I know them 

 well) I go for my country, and to be friendly with 

 those we ought to be on good terms with. I am cured 

 of some illusions. We shall do very well, and the 

 two countries will be on the best of terms when we 

 are strong ; till then we must not expect it. 



If it is the old question of struggle for life, good 

 feeling has not much to do with it : the weak must go 

 to the wall, because it can't help it. " Blessed are 

 the strong, for they shall inherit the earth." 



My wife, who is loath to strike you from her books, 

 begs you to make allowances for the people here, who 

 were so very cocky at having caught two such ineffa- 

 ble scamps as Mason and Slidell, whom we have rea- 

 son to hate with perfect hatred ; that they thought of 

 nothing else, and did not mean to be saucy to Eng- 

 land. But you have made us sore, there is no deny- 

 ing it. We did not allow enough for longitude. 



