_Monday, 27th_.--After writing the foregoing yesterday, we went to dine, and then John called and spent nearly two hours chatting. _They_ had been to lunch at the Lowell's (relations of the Minister in England), and leave to-day at one o'clock for New York, and on the first start in the _Germanica_ for England. I think we are all glad we are _not_ going to Japan, &c., as I have just written to Mrs. Neilson, "the old country suits my aged inside the best." I told her I thought the people about New Brunswick and Boston were especially delightful. "After this," I added, "you will, perhaps, think me impertinent if I say they seem to me so English! but after all, you came from us, and it only shows you have kept the stock pure, while we have in many cases adopted a spurious Americanism in our ways and speech." Since I wrote this, Mrs. Perkins, a married daughter of dear Mrs. Bruen, and a masterful kind of person, has called on me, and upon my making some such remark as the foregoing, she exclaimed, "I don't like _that_ at all! Before the war we used to like being taken for English, but now we _don't_,--How would _you_ like to be taken for an American?" "Well," I replied, "we don't speak of the _mother_ being like the _child_; whether you like it or not you _are_ English by descent, and are our cousins at _least_." Dick asked her afterwards, "What do you wish to be thought?" "An American, of course." "Please tell me then how you describe an _American_?" We could not get her to do so; in fact, nothing pleases the _set-up_ creatures, for if we judge of them by the Western or Southern, or even Central Americans, they exclaim at our injustice, and if we judge by these New England States, they are indignant at being thought English! This, I believe, is only a _pretence_, however, and that in their _hearts_ they are fond of England, and justly proud of the relationship and likeness. Certainly the New Englanders are conceited and _bumptious_, and in this also they keep up their British characteristics. They want to lose their State distinctions (which their patriot Washington was so anxious to guard), and become _one_ great nation, centralizing everything, which, indeed, seems the rage everywhere. The Democrats are more conservative and _really_ liberal, and I trust Cleveland will get elected as President, for there are many independent Republicans (_Bolters_, they call them,) who will vote for him, knowing that Blaine would be a disgrace to their country; he is a plausible rogue, and respectable people of all opinions almost acknowledge it. Mr. and Mrs. Winthrop called (I have a nice sitting-room now), and we are to drive there and lunch with them to-morrow. Mrs. Lowell also called, and gave us the _Republican_ view of things, being a strong Anti-Democrat; told us that the Southerners, by arguments of personal _fear_, made the negroes vote against the Republicans, who they would otherwise support, according to her story. So much, if true, for