The writer of the article remarks: “The friends of the British and Foreign School Society dined together yesterday at the Freemasons’ Tavern. The Marquis of Lansdowne took the chair, supported by the Dukes of Kent and Sussex, the Earls of Darnley and Eardley, and several other eminent persons. The health of the Chairman and Vice-Presidents was drunk, and then that of the female members of the Society. After this a poetical tribute of Miss Mitford’s was sung, and ‘Thanks to Miss Mitford’ was drunk with applause.” The following lines occur in the poem:— “The mental world was wrapt in night.” * * * * * Oh, how the glorious dawn unfold The brighter day that lurk’d behind? The march of armies may be told, But not the march of mind.” Mary was present on the occasion, being seated, together with her friends, in the gallery of the hall. She writes to her mother: “I did not believe my ears when Lord Lansdowne, with his usual graceful eloquence, gave my health. I did not even believe it when my old friend the Duke of Kent, observing that Lord Lansdowne’s voice was not always strong enough to penetrate the depths of that immense assembly, reiterated it with stentorian lungs. Still less did I believe my ears when it was drunk with ‘three times three,’ a flourish of drums and trumpets from the Duke of Kent’s band, and the unanimous thundering and continued plaudits of five hundred people. I really thought it must be [for] Mr. Whitbread, and though I wondered how he could be ‘fair and amiable’ I still thought it him till his health was really drunk and he rose to make the beautiful speech of which you have only a very faint outline in the _Chronicle_.” This speech was made à propos of a toast. “The Cause of Education throughout the World,” Mr. Whitbread remarking, “Miss Mitford has designated it ‘The March of Mind.’” Whilst Mary Mitford was thus growing in fame, her father, through his many speculations, was frequently involved in money difficulties. In the year 1811 it seems he was actually detained in the debtors’ prison, and arrangements had to be made for the sale of the pictures at Bertram House in order to obtain money for his release. His wife, who in her warm affection was almost too forbearing, wrote to him: “I know you were disappointed in the sale of the pictures; but, my love, if we have less wealth than we hoped, we shall not have less affection; these clouds may blow over more happily than we expected.” Again she writes: “As to the cause of our present difficulties it avails not how they originated. The only question is how they can be most speedily and effectually put an end to. I ask for no details which you do not voluntarily choose to make. A forced confidence my whole soul would revolt at.”