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you enquire if I am informed in European Politics. Well -some-after my fashion. My information has been derived heretofore principally, while in College from the Reviews, the British Quarterlies, you know &c. My knowledge of Am "politics" has for a few years also been founded principally upon the American Reviews, the "North American" the "Whig" and "Democratic" Reviews. These Reviews I regard as extremely valuable, not only as being the best mirrors of politics: reflecting it in perhaps its best state, but in what may be called its "transition" state, from believer the state of mere news, in which of course it has little value, to the state of history: but also as being the most true & sensible exponents of the views & sentiments of the parties whose organs they are. It is certainly the case in regard to the great European Reviews; and I believe also in great, measure, with the "Whig" & Democratic." Of course there can little reliance be placed upon the mere partisan newspapers of either party. They are worth reading merely for the news of the day or week: not as exponents of real sentiment. These Reviews seem to me about as much necessaries of literary life, as bread & meat of the physical. The very idea of being so poor as to be compelled to do without them would seem to bar me from a professional life. since I came here, in default of Reviews & everything else, I take H Greeleys "New York Tribune", perhaps the best substitute, as far as Foreign politics are concerned. It also suffices to keep me comfortably informed of congressional proceedings & domestic affairs. Your definition of History is a good one, as far as "politics" is every thing, for that in the first tense in history. "An Aristocrat is but a democrat ripe & gone to seed" is extremely true. Extremes are frequently close together, but their true opposite is the mean not each other. I have been ardently democratic & aristocratic, a great change or revulsion of feeling has some over me; I do not know but I am getting prematurely old, but I am becoming much conservative, republican, constitutionalist. Present appearances are extremely unfavorable to Metternich, and to Austrian policy and self continuance. How wonderfully the Italian states are coming up! Tuscany, Florence the Sicilies too as peacable, are showing the right kind of revolution. There is truth in your "thought" upon female friendship. The love of one does naturally tend to elevate ones' opinion of the whole. I am not sure but Anne is right in thinking it the thing you need. You have some ideas somewhat different from mine. You say you cannot read certain books I recommend to you, you are "ignorant of important facts"; ignorant of facts? Who is not? the mind of Newton, with the memory of and all Memnotechny to boot, after gormandizing fact for millions of years, would still remain ignorant of most. But, the truth is knowledge of fact is not really the most important knowledge; to be sure certain proportion, a limited number of facts is somewhat necessary in all professions & occupations; perhaps more as required for an Engineer or a Financier, that for an other man. Beyond this limit a fool may know more facts than a philosopher. "Yet", the utilitarian may say "it is very convenient" Yes- so is an Encyclopedia but it is rather a poor use to put a man to make him one; or a table of Logarithms either Why perhaps you know half a dozen times as many facts now as I do: but it does not prove you are the best educated. The books mentioned would teach how to use facts,