In a letter from Mrs. Roosevelt, dated on the 13th ultimo, in which, after mentioning that she had learned your intention to return home, she invites you to make her house your home while in New York, etc., etc. I have written to her to-day, thanking her for her kind invitation, and expressing the desire that you should know each other better.
I agree with you in opinion that Mr. —— is not the man to succeed in public life, or in captivating such fastidious ladies as yourself; but yet I have no doubt he is a good and amiable man, as he is certainly well informed. Much allowance ought to be made for wounded vanity. But I admit I am no judge in these matters, since you inform me that Mr. —— has been the admiration of Philadelphia ladies.
Mr. Van Dyke does not properly appreciate Mr. Tyler. I like them both very much, as well as their wives.
Van Dyke is able, grateful, energetic and influential, and should he take care of himself, will yet win his way to a high position.
Do not forget to present my love to Lily Macalester and my kind regards to her father and Mrs. Lathrop.
I know of no news here which would interest you much. A few dinner parties are now given, to which I have been invited. I dine to-day with Monckton Milnes, and on Tuesday next with Sir Henry and Lady Holland.
Many kind inquiries are still made about you. I wish you would inform Eskridge without delay that I attach great importance to the immediate transfer of the Michigan Central Railroad stock about which I wrote to him by the last steamer. I hope, however, that ere this can reach you he will have attended to this business.
In one respect, at least, I am now deemed a man of great importance. In the present uneasy condition of the stock exchange, an incautious word from me would either raise or sink the price of consols.
I see much of Mr. Ward, and he is thoroughly American in our present difficulties. This has raised him much in my estimation.
London, November 2, 1855.