CORRESPONDENCE WITH DR. MANTELL. 211 



scription of Monte Video, the rural villa of my brother-in- 

 law, Daniel Wadsworth, Esq., of Hartford. It is on the 

 summit of a trap-mountain,* with a beautiful crystal lake 

 with fine fish, a tower rising above all other objects, and a 

 glorious view of the splendid valley of the Connecticut, of 

 a wide region one hundred miles in diameter. I think 

 I told you in my last letter that my son and his little family 

 are now there 



TO DR. MANTELL. 



NEW HAVEN, December 29, 1845. 



I WAS not without some anxiety lest your in- 

 firmities had increased upon you, but our friends, the Ly- 

 ells, who lodged with us in the first week of this month, 

 relieved me on that head. I wrote to invite them here 

 again on their way south, and a note from Mrs. Lyell in- 

 formed me that they would stop. They were with us but one 

 night, and a few hours in the morning ; the visit, although 

 short, was very agreeable. Mrs. L., lady-like as usual, and 

 none the worse for four years more of time, while he was 

 evidently improved in cheerful and attentive manners, and 

 was not once absent-minded, so far as I saw. They are on 

 their way to New Orleans, and will pass up the river in the 

 spring, as my son and I did last year. I made him out a 

 good many introductions, all of which bore on his scientific 

 objects, and gave him full minutes of objects and persons 

 on his tour. They spoke kindly of you, and both expressed 

 their surprise that you could write such interesting books, 

 (then they referred particularly to the Medals) while you 

 were so great a sufferer. Mr. L. appears to have become 

 Americanized so far as to adapt himself readily to the modes 

 of this country ; and his book has paved the way for a 



friendly reception Professor Kingsley arrived on 



the morning of October 4, and they in the evening. Mr. 



K. was much interested by his interviews with you ; told 



* Nearly one thousand feet above the river. 



