[Manchester—Saturday, 25 August 1866]
August 25. Jamie went to town early it is his Club-dinner—went to walk directly after he left—read Chaucer’s prologue to C.T. felt indisposed for work but before noon sauntered forth again to drink up the glory of the day—brilliant and cool as October; the trees were waving, the round white clouds were sailing “highest up in the air” as in the days of Lady Clare, the tiny sunflowers and beautiful gerardias were at their fullest, the purple asters not yet faded and now and then a red leaf! what wonder I was late to dinner!
Miss Brown came from Boston with sketches of Mt. Desert and tales of her late visit there. In the afternoon read Victor Hugo’s new novel and sat again for my portrait until 7 then not expecting Jamie till late flew to the beach to watch the moonrise—a still violet sea.
About ½ past 9 Jamie came, fatigued with his day. The dinner was not a large assemblage but it was the first since the return of Mr Agassiz. Agassiz seized Holmes in his arms and took him quite off his feet. Longfellow was there and told J. in confidence that Charles Sumner was really engaged to be married. Agassiz talked much of the greatness of Brazil, of the trees, of which he had counted 149 varieties in the forests whereas we have about 20 varieties in New England, of the vast space ready there for enterprise (there is not a saw-mill in the whole country), of the intelligence of the emperor and his intended visit to this country.
Longfellow and Agassiz accompanied him to Lyme. As they looked from the car-window into the beautiful moonlight J. asked A. if that was not as beautiful as Brazil. “Ah!” said he “I was just reflecting how sterile was the appearance of New England after the luxuriant beauty of Brazil.”
A. is sadly troubled to find the “old hack politicians” whom he hoped the war had slain coming out again in renewed force.
