"Addressing an American in his own language"

They were evidently Ladies, and conversed very well.  After some [68] conversation the old lady having heard me speak English, addressed my companion in the same language.  I was in hopes that my correspondante would do the same, but she for a long time preferred the French, and I of course could not turn the language.  However after some time the mother speaking in English gave her an opportunity of addressing the daughter in the same, when to my surprise she spoke it much better than her mother, and I learned from her that all the young ladies here are taught English French and Italian as a part of their Education.  She preferred speaking in French however, as she told me she did not feel exactly at here ease, when conversing with an Englishman or American, but that she could not hesitate generally addressing an American in his own language, as she found them most lenient as regards mistakes being [69] made.  I really consider it as a great compliment paid to my countrymen.  For if there is any thing which is more ungentlemanly than another, it is for a stranger to laugh at another’s mistakes in addressing him in a tongue not his own.