Confiding, madam, in your reported magnanimity and generosity to oblige, I will divest myself of tedious circumlocution, and fervently exhort you to make a second exhibition of your skill; which, there can be no doubt, will be highly successful to you, and as interesting to your admirers.
The Public.
"Miss Greenfield embarked from New York in a British steamer for England, April 6, 1853; and arrived in Liverpool the 16th of April, 1853; rested over the sabbath, and proceeded Monday morning to London, in which metropolis she became safely domiciled on the evening of the same day.
"But painful trials awaited her from a quarter the most unexpected. The individual with whom she had drawn up the contract for this musical tour was unfaithful to his promises; and she found herself abandoned, without money and without friends, in a strange country.
"She had been told Lord Shaftesbury was one of the great good men of England; and she resolved to call upon him in person, and entreat an interview. His lordship immediately granted her request, listened patiently to her history, and directly gave her a letter of introduction to his lawyer.
"It may perhaps be considered a providential concurrence that Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe was in London this same time with Miss Greenfield. We notice in her 'Sunny Memories,' under the date of May 6, the following remarks: 'A good many calls this morning. Among others came Miss Greenfield, the (so-called) "Black Swan." She appears to be a gentle, amiable, and interesting young person. She has a most astonishing voice. C. sat down to the piano, and played while she sang. Her voice runs through a compass of three octaves and a fourth. This is four notes more than Malibran's. She sings a most magnificent tenor, with such a breadth and volume of sound, that, with your back turned, you could not imagine it to be a woman. While she was there, Mrs. S.C. Hall, of the "Irish Sketches," was announced. I told her of Miss Greenfield; and she took great interest in her, and requested her to sing something for her. C. played the accompaniment, and she sang "Old Folks at Home," first in a soprano voice, and then in a tenor, or baritone. Mrs. Hall was amazed and delighted, and entered at once into her cause. She said she would call with me, and present her to Sir George Smart, who is at the head of the Queen's musical establishment, and, of course, the acknowledged leader of London musical judgment.
"'In the course of the day I had a note from Mrs. Hall, saying, that, as Sir George Smart was about leaving town, she had not waited for me, but had taken Miss Greenfield to him herself. She writes that he was really astonished and charmed at the wonderful weight, compass, and power of her voice. He was also as well pleased with the mind in her singing, and her quickness in doing and catching all that he told her. Should she have a public opportunity to perform, he offered to hear her rehearse beforehand. Mrs. Hall says, "This is a great deal for him, whose hours are all marked with gold."'
"Again Mrs. Stowe says, 'To-day the Duchess of Sutherland called with the Duchess of Argyle. Miss Greenfield happened to be present; and I begged leave to present her, giving a slight sketch of her history. I was pleased with the kind and easy affability with which the Duchess of Sutherland conversed with her, betraying by no inflection of voice, and nothing in her air or manner, the great lady talking with the poor girl. She asked all her questions with as much delicacy, and made her request to hear her sing with as much consideration and politeness, as if she had been addressing any one in her own circle. She seemed much pleased with her singing, and remarked that she should be happy to give her an opportunity of performing in Stafford House, as soon as she should be a little relieved of a heavy cold which seemed to oppress her at present. This, of course, will be decisive of her favor in London. The duchess is to let us know when the arrangement is completed.
"'I never so fully realized,' continues Mrs. Stowe, 'that there really is no natural prejudice against color in the human mind. Miss Greenfield is a dark mulattress, of a pleasing and gentle face, though by no means handsome. She is short and thick-set, with a chest of great amplitude, as one would think on hearing her tenor. I have never seen, in any of the persons to whom I have presented her, the least indications of suppressed surprise or disgust, any more than we should exhibit on the reception of a dark-complexioned Spaniard or Portuguese.