Letters from England, 1846-1849

ELIZABETH DAVIS BANCROFT, the writer of these letters, was the youngest child and only daughter of William and Rebecca Morton Davis, and was born at Plymouth, Mass., in October, 1803. She often spoke in later times of what a good preparation for her life abroad were the years she spent at Miss Cushing’s school at Hingham, and of her visits to her uncles, Judge Davis and Mr. I. P. Davis of Boston. In 1825 she married Alexander Bliss, a brilliant young lawyer and a junior partner of Daniel Webster. On his death a few years later, her father having died, her mother and brother formed a household with her and her two sons in Winthrop Place, Boston. As a young girl in Plymouth she became a great friend of the future Mrs. Emerson and later of Mr. Emerson and of Mr. and Mrs. Ripley, and through them was much interested in Brook Farm.

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

From a crayon drawing by J. R. Swinton (1850); from a picture owned by Elizabeth B. Bliss. A. W. Kinglake (“Eothen”) 90

From a photograph. Samuel Rogers 98

From the drawing by G. Richmond (1848); photograph copyright by Walker & Cockerell, London. Lady Byron 106

From the portrait in the possession of Sir J. Tollemache Sinclair, Bart. George Hudson, the “Railway King” 114

From the engraving after F. Grant. Lord Palmerston 130

From the portrait by Partridge; photograph copyright by Walker & Cockerell, London. Lady Palmerston 136

From a painting, by permission of Sir Francis Gore. Mrs. Dawson Damer 154

From the miniature by Isabey, by permission of Lady Constance Leslie. Mrs. Fitzherbert 160

From the pastel by J. Russell. Richard Monckton Miles (Lord Houghton) 170

From a drawing by Cousins, by permission of the Hon. Mrs. Arthur Henniker. Lord George Bentinck 190

From a painting by Lane, by permission of the Duke of Portland. Sir Robert Peel 194

From the mezzotint after Sir T. Lawrence, R. A. Lady Peel 198