The despatches of a general being usually acknowledged to be the safest
sources from which the historian of a campaign can draw, I proceed to set
forth a letter of the Countess de Saldar, forwarded to her sister,
Harriet Cogglesby, three mornings after her arrival at Beckley Court; and
which, if it should prove false in a few particulars, does nevertheless
let us into the state of the Countess's mind, and gives the result of
that general's first inspection of the field of action. The Countess's
epistolary English does small credit to her Fallow field education; but
it is feminine, and flows more than her ordinary speech. Besides,
leaders of men have always notoriously been above the honours of grammar.


'MY DEAREST HARRIET,

'Your note awaited me. No sooner my name announced, than servitors in
yellow livery, with powder and buckles started before me, and bowing one
presented it on a salver. A venerable butler--most impressive! led the
way. In future, my dear, let it be de Saldar de Sancorvo. That is our
title by rights, and it may as well be so in England. English Countess
is certainly best. Always put the de. But let us be systematic, as my
poor Silva says. He would be in the way here, and had better not come
till I see something he can do. Silva has great reliance upon me. The
farther he is from Lymport, my dear!--and imagine me, Harriet, driving
through Fallow field to Beckley Court! I gave one peep at Dubbins's, as
I passed. The school still goes on. I saw three little girls skipping,
and the old swing-pole. SEMINARY FOR YOUNG LADIES as bright as ever! I
should have liked to have kissed the children and given them bonbons and
a holiday.