" If
anything could make John Bull blush, I should think it might be that;
but he is a hardened and villainous hypocrite. I always felt that he
cared nothing for or against slavery, except as it gave him a vantage-
ground on which to parade his own virtue and sneer at our iniquity.
With best regards from Mrs. Hawthorne and myself to yourself and
family, sincerely yours,
NATH'L HAWTHORNE.
CHAPTER XVII.
FLORIDA, 1865-1869.
LETTER TO DUCHESS OF ARGYLL.--MRS. STOWE DESIRES TO HAVE A HOME AT THE
SOUTH.--FLORIDA THE BEST FIELD FOR DOING GOOD.--SHE BUYS A PLACE AT
MANDARIN.--A CHARMING WINTER RESIDENCE.--"PALMETTO LEAVES."--EASTER
SUNDAY AT MANDARIN.--CORRESPONDENCE WITH DR. HOLMES.--"POGANUC
PEOPLE."--RECEPTIONS IN NEW ORLEANS AND TALLAHASSEE.--LAST WINTER AT
MANDARIN.
In 1866, the terrible conflict between the North and South having
ended, Mrs. Stowe wrote the following letter to the Duchess of
Argyll:--
HARTFORD, _February_ 19, 1866.
MY DEAR FRIEND,--Your letter was a real spring of comfort to me,
bringing refreshingly the pleasant library at Inverary and the lovely
days I spent there.
I am grieved at what you say of your dear mother's health. I showed
your letter to Mrs. Perkins, and we both agreed in saying that
_we_ should like for a time to fill the place of maid to her, as
doubtless you all feel, too. I should so love to be with her, to read
to her, and talk to her! and oh, there is so much that would cheer and
comfort a noble heart like hers that we could talk about.
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