In 1838 she married George Bancroft, the historian and statesman, who was then Collector of the Port of Boston and a widower with three children. They continued to live in Winthrop Place till 1845, when for one year Mr. Bancroft was Secretary of the Navy in Polk’s cabinet. While he was in that position the Naval Academy at Annapolis was established; and he played an important part in the earlier stages of the Mexican War. In the fall of 1846 he became Minister to England. It was then that the letters were written from which these extracts have been taken. A number of passages not of general interest have been omitted, without any indications of such omission in the text, but in no case has any change in a sentence been made. Most of the letters are in the form of a diary and were addressed to immediate relatives, and none of them were written for publication; but owing to the standing of Mr. Bancroft as a man of letters, as well as his official station, the writer saw London life under an unusual variety of interesting aspects. In 1849 Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft returned to this country, and Mr. Bancroft occupied himself with his history until 1868, when he was for seven years Minister to Prussia and the German Empire. At the expiration of that time they took up their residence in Washington, where they lived during the remainder of their lives. PORTRAITS AND VIEWS Elizabeth Davis Bancroft _Frontispiece_ Probably taken at Brady’s National Gallery, New York, sometime after her return from England; from a picture owned by Elizabeth B. Bliss. Aston Hall (Bracebridge Hall) 8 Henry Edward, fourth Lord Holland 14 From the portrait by C. R. Leslie, R. A., at Holland House, by permission of the Earl of Ilchester. Augusta, Lady Holland 20 From the portrait by G. F. Watts, R. A., at Holland House, by permission of the Earl of Ilchester. Holland House 26 George Bancroft 34 From the painting by C. C. Ingham in the possession of William J. A. Bliss. Elizabeth Davis Bancroft 40 From the painting by C. C. Ingham in the possession of William J. A. Bliss. The Duke of Wellington 70 From the portrait by Count Alfred D’Orsay; photograph copyright by Walker & Cockerell, London. Sir Stratford Canning 74 From the drawing by Richmond, make about 1848, by permission of the Hon. Louisa Canning. Lord Ashburton 84 After Sir T. Lawrence, R. A. Miss Berry, at the Age of 86 88