v MEMOIR. 



It was in the autumn of 1849 that Frederika Bre- 

 Y mer caine to America. She had been for several years 

 in intimate correspondence with Mr. Downing, and was 

 closely attracted to him by a profound sympathy with his 

 view of the dignity and influence of the home. He re- 

 ceived Miss Bremer upon her arrival, and she went with 

 him to his house, where she staid several weeks, and wrote 

 there the introduction to the authorized American edition 

 of her works. It is well for us, perhaps, that as she has 

 written a work upon " The Homes of the United States," 

 she should have taken her first impression of them from 

 that of Mr. Downing. During all her travels in this 

 country she constantly corresponded with him and his 

 wife, to whom she was very tenderly attached. Her letters 

 were full of cheerful humor and shrewd observation. She 

 went bravely about alone, and was treated, almost without 

 exception, with consideration and courtesy. And after her 

 journey was over, and she was about to return home, she 

 came to say farewell where she had first greeted America, 

 in Downing's garden. 



In this year he finally resolved to devote himself entirely 

 to architecture and building, and, in order to benefit by the 

 largest variety of experience in elegant rural life, and to se- 

 cure the services of an accomplished and able architect, 

 thoroughly trained to the business he proposed, Mr. Downing 

 went to England in the summer of 1850, having arranged 

 with Messrs. D. Appleton & Co. for the publication of 

 " The Architecture of Country Houses ; including Designs 

 for Cottages, Farm-houses, and Villas/' 



Already in correspondence with the leading Englishmen 

 in his department, Mr. Downing was at once cordially 

 welcomed. He showed the admirable, and not the un- 

 friendly, qualities of his countrymen, and was directly en- 



