On a bleak and snowy November day in 1851, the Hawthorne family, with their trunks, got into a large farm wagon and drove away from the little red house. And with the departure of Hawthorne, Melville had dreamed the last of his avenging dreams. There may have been some association between the two men while Hawthorne was in West Newton, and later in Concord, but no records survive. In 1856, on his way to the Holy Land, Melville visited Hawthorne at Southport two days after arriving in Liverpool. Melville’s account of the meeting is thus recorded in his journal:
“Sunday, Nov. 9: Stayed home till dinner. After dinner took steamboat for Rock Ferry to find Mr. Hawthorne. On getting to R. F. learned he had removed thence 18 months previous and was now residing out of town.
“Monday, Nov. 10: Went among the docks to see the Mediterranean steamers. Saw Mr. Hawthorne at Consulate. Invited me to stay with him during my sojourn at Liverpool. Dined at Anderson’s, a very nice place, and charges moderate.
“Tuesday, Nov. 11: Hawthorne for Southport, 20 miles distant on the seashore, a watering place. Found Mrs. Hawthorne & the rest awaiting tea for us.
“Wednesday, Nov. 12: At Southport, an agreeable day. Took a long walk by the sea. Sand & grass. Wild & desolate. A strong wind. Good talk. In the evening stout & fox & geese. Julian grown into a fine lad. Una taller than her brother. Mrs. Hawthorne not in good health. Mr. Hawthorne stayed home with me.
“Thursday, Nov. 13: At Southport till noon. Mr. H. & I took train then for Liverpool. Spent rest of day putting enquiries among steamers.
“Friday, Nov. 14: Took bus for London Road. Called at Mr. Hawthorne’s. Met a Mr. Bright. Took me to his club and luncheoned me there.
“Sunday, Nov. 16: Rode in the omnibus. Went out to Foxhill Park, &c. Grand organ at St. George’s Hall.”
Three days later, Melville was off for Constantinople. In his English Note-book, under November 30th, 1856, Hawthorne wrote:
“November 30: A week ago last Monday, Herman Melville came to see me at the Consulate, looking much as he used to do, and with his characteristic gravity and reserve of manner.... We soon found ourselves on pretty much our former terms of sociability and confidence.... He is thus far on his way to Constantinople. I do not wonder that he found it necessary to take an airing through the world, after so many years of toilsome pen-labour, following upon so wild and adventurous a youth as his was. I invited him to come and stay with us at Southport, as long as he might remain in this vicinity, and accordingly he did come the next day.... On Wednesday we took a pretty long walk together, and sat down in a hollow among the sand-hills, sheltering ourselves from the high cool wind. Melville, as he always does, began to reason of Providence and futurity, and of everything else that lies beyond human ken.... He has a very high and noble nature, and is better worth immortality than the most of us.... On Saturday we went to Chester together. I love to take every opportunity of going to Chester; it being the one only place, within easy reach of Liverpool, which possesses any old English interest. We went to the Cathedral.”—And then architecture gives place to personal comment.