New Releases by Susan Horner

Thanking them for their Christmas card, describing the winter in Florence and discussing the recent riots in London; saying "The late horrible riot in London it seems has not caused such a loss of money as was at first expected - but it has shewn great remissness on the part of the Police, that it should even have occurred, since the damage was all done by thieves and rascals from the worst part of London. We rejoice to see a meeting of destitute workmen, a protest against the Social Democrats & I heartily wish with them the heads may be arrested & punished for inciting to revolt. A good sum is contributed to the Lord Mayor to meet the present distress. There must be something very wrong in the management of matters when any respectable well conducted human being can starve, especially when those who have plenty are all ready to help when they know how & to whom. We have not yet the accounts of the riots in Leicester which appear to have been very bad, but there is no trusting Italian or any foreign Paper which seem to delight to magnify the troubles of England...I am sure our respectable free, law loving people, upper & middle classes & work people will be able, without any of these tools of despots, to control or [illegible] act such rising as that of last week. I do hope it will be a lesson to root out the haunts of criminals in the heart of a city of four million inhabitants. I do not see why they should not be dispersed & brought to punishment, though not taken in any particular act - as a band of brigands in a cavern of Sicily;" adding how nice it is to have her sister and her niece with them for the winter and describing her niece''s accomplishments as an artist and the musical accomplishments of their adopted daughter; sending her kind regards.

Saying that her sister is writing at the same time to Mrs. Field (MA 23519.3) and explaining the family concerns that have kept her from writing sooner, commenting on the heat and the need for rain and relating news of the Greenoughs; saying "Mr. and Mrs. Greenough are leaving Florence for a few days, but to return & remain as long as the heat will permit - for Mr. Greenough has much to work on his statue of Governor Winthrop as well as his lovely little Puck - They were very sorry to miss seeing you again;" sending her regards and that of her sister.

Expressing her pleasure at hearing the plans are moving ahead for the Centennial Exhibition and adding that she has been told "... the English Government has promised to send over Commissioners to the Exhibition & that Congress is also more favourable to the project that formerly appeared;" commenting on news of the poor health of a mutual friend and describing the Christmas party she will attend hosted by Mr. Graham, the American Consul, and his wife; saying "They collect generally upwards of 200 children from mere babes to little girls & boys of 12 or 14, & besides, grown up young ladies & gentlemen - There is a large tree rich with gifts & games for the little ones & dances for those who are older, & much enjoyment for the oldest like ourselves, who only look on - It begins sensibly at seven o''clock - I quite enter into your enjoyment of Rome - the most interesting place in the world, though whilst one delights in those excavations, as in the realisation of some familiar tale or romance, I always feel thankful to live in another age & that the cruel wicked tyrants of old & ruthless soldiers have so long passed from this earth;" thanking her for her kind letter and sending her compliments to Mr. Field.