[24] This unfortunate “friend of mine” called the next day, with a handkerchief tied over one eye, and one arm in a sling; and while we happened to be talking of their intended visit to some of the “hells,” he took occasion to exclaim at once, “My good fellows, let me advise you, go and see everything else in London, but take especial care you don’t go into any of those infernal regions, and get served as I have been, or ten times worse, for I was lucky that I didn’t lose my life.” “Then you have seen them?” said I. “Seen them? yes, I saw, till I was knocked down three or four times, and my pockets picked, after I paid out to those infernal demons fifteen pounds; so I lost about thirty pounds altogether, and have not been able to see since. Nat B—n of New York was with me, and he got off much worse than I did; he was carried home for dead and hasn’t been out of his room since. When I get a little better, my good fellows, I will give you a long account of what we saw, and I’ll venture you never will want to risk your heads there.” My friend here left us, and Jim and the Doctor had evidently changed their minds about going to see the “Hells of London.”
[25] St Louis.
[26] The Royal Arms (the Lion and the Unicorn).
[27] It is worthy of remark, and due to these kind-hearted people, that I should here explain that this was by no means a solitary instance of their benevolence in Birmingham. Whenever they could get out upon the portico to look into the streets, they threw their pence to the poor; and during the time they were residing in London, we ascertained to a certainty that they gave away to poor Lascars and others in the streets, from their omnibus, many pounds sterling.
[28] Bennett’s Hill, near Birmingham, Nov. 1st, 1844.
My dear Mr. Catlin,—I have seen the nobility of England at a birth-night ball in St. James’s palace. I have seen the King and Queen move around the circle, stopping to speak to every individual, and I have wondered what they could have to say. I have seen the Prince of Wales (afterwards George the Fourth) open the ball with a minuet, and afterwards dance down a country dance; and I thought him a handsome young man, and a fine dancer. This was in the year 1780.
Yesterday, as you well know, for you brought them to visit me, I saw the fourteen Ioway Indians. I shook hands with each, and told them, through the interpreter, that red men were my friends. I looked at them, as they were seated in a half-circle in my drawing-room, immoveable as statues, and magnificently dressed in their own costume, with astonishment. I had never seen a spectacle so imposing. At my request, you presented them to me separately—first the men, and then the women and children—and I gave each a small present, for which they were so thankful. At parting, the War-chief stood before me and made a speech, thanking me for my kindness to them, which they should long recollect, and saying, “that, although we should meet no more in this world, yet he hoped the Great Spirit would make us meet in the next.” The action of the chief was free and natural, and most graceful; far superior to anything I ever saw. Indeed, these people are the nobility of nature.
I am, my dear Sir, your very obliged and very respectful
Catherine Hutton.
[29] Miss E. Fothergill.
[30] The Author.