[Boston—Friday, 4 October 1867]
Friday morning Dr Hayes came to breakfast and shortly after Mr & Miss Godwin came to lunch.
Walked out in the afternoon. Dr Hayes described the kyack & its management perfectly from my little model.
Mr Godwin is very sad. He has just lost a little boy of six years old and having left his wife and two children on the other side of the ocean is filled with melancholy at his own home business. How little money is under such circumstances. He went out to dine with Henry James. Mr J. took him into his own little room and shut the door, then he asked if he read Italian. He said “no.” “Do you ever read Dante?” “No”. “Ah, then I have a brother yet!” He enlarged very amusingly upon the rage for Dante. Mr Godwin is dispirited for the country as well as about himself. I think the sadness of death has interfused his sight.
Dr Hayes told us yesterday a marvellous tale of an iceberg—one large enough to pay off all our National debt at the present price of ice if it could but be towed this way!! I was also interested in hearing that poor Maximilian just after he came to Mexico encased with his own hands and sent him a decoration. A certain Father Fischer whom Dr Hayes knew was with the emperor at the time. He said Maximilian was always a romantic character and oftener busied in collecting butterflies than in attending to affairs of state. Father Fischer is now in prison or he would have given Dr Hayes, & through him to the world some valuable accounts of M. in his last days.
Mr Godwin is full of books. He seems happy enough if just left to run loose among them. J. is looking rather weary. He is never let alone. Last night he was obliged to go down town to hear an Englishman, a Mr Nicholls, give a public reading. The man brought us letters and it seemed the least he could do.
