been strongest, and where the character of the people is more of the nature to make fighters for abstract principles. The Southerners hate the Yankees, and _vice versâ_, for this very reason; and if the crisis comes really to anything like fighting, the New England, especially the Massachusetts men, will probably fight very maliciously as against slaveholders, and the slaveholders against them as Abolitionists, which _they_ now are, pretty much to a man. A huge volunteer force is levying and being prepared for action; but in spite of the very unanimous feeling of the North and North-West, and the warlike attitude of the South, I shall not believe in anything deserving the name of war till I see it. The South is without resources that can avail for a six months' struggle. The North has a huge, unarmed, undisciplined force of men at its command; but the Southerners do not want to fight, and neither do the Northerners; _but_ if any combination of circumstances (and of course matters cannot stand still, especially with the border states all _au pied en l'air_) should occasion any collision accompanied with considerable effusions of blood, I believe the North would pour itself upon the Southern States and annihilate the secessionist party. It is extremely difficult to foresee the probable course of events, but I believe eventually the Southern States will be obliged to return to their allegiance, and _then_ I believe the North will, once for all, legislate for the future limiting of the curse of slavery to those states where it _now_ exists, and where, of course, under such circumstances, it would very soon cease to exist, as if it cannot extend itself it must die. In one sense slavery is undoubtedly the cause of the present disastrous crisis--and in the profoundest sense, for the character of the Southerners is the immediate result of these infernal "institutions"; and but for Southern slavery Southern "Chivalry," that arrogant, insolent, ignorant, ferocious and lawless race of men, would never have existed. Oh, how thankful I shall be to be at home once more! Farewell, dear Mr. Leighton; pray, if there is anything special to be done about your pictures, write to me and let me have the pleasure of doing something for you. Oh, I am so enraged that I could not get them sold; and yet though you may not think it, I should have thought it a pity for them to have to live the rest of their lives here. Thank you again for the photographs; I look at them constantly. All _such things_ are like being lifted into another atmosphere from that which surrounds and stifles one here. Believe me always your obliged and sincere friend, FANNY KEMBLE.