received by London society and was treated like a hero. He began meeting with Godwin regularly. America His younger daughter by his first wife was adopted by a British general, and his youngest daughter was adopted by an Italian family. Trelawny's financial condition improved significantly around that time. In 1832, while on a visit to Liverpool, he decided to travel to the United States. He arrived in Charleston, in early 1833. He then travelled to New York in early summer, where he met Fenimore Cooper and Fanny Kemble. They then travelled to Niagara. Wherever they went, he often talked of staying permanently. He repeatedly raised political issues and furiously argued when disagreed with. In August he decided to try to swim across the rapids below the falls. He successfully made it across, but nearly drowned on the way back. He then travelled to Saratoga, New Haven, New York City, and Philadelphia. He returned to Charleston, preferring the climate there. He was disappointed that his atheism was poorly received in the United States. He later claimed to have travelled to California in 1833. He was bothered by the way wealthy Americans tried to copy the habits of Europe. It is unknown exactly what he did in late 1833 and early 1834; some have speculated that he made plans to build a utopian community. He travelled to Philadelphia again by autumn 1834. He was depressed at that time and returned to England in spring 1835. Philosophical Radicals Upon his return to England, Trelawny became politically active with a group known as the Philosophical Radicals. The group advocated left-wing politics and often focused its efforts on the rights of women. Trelawny began associating with its supporters, many of whom were among the upper-class members of London society. Most of London society was willing to overlook his claims of disloyalty against the British after his claimed desertion and accepted him into society. At this time many women were attracted to him, and there was frequent speculation about his sexual escapades in many London tabloids, such as The Satirist. He soon had a falling out with Mary Shelley. He was offended in part because she turned to Thomas Jefferson Hogg for advice instead of asking him. He later described Mary as "the blab of blabs" in a letter to Claire Clairmont. Trelawny and Mary Shelley also disagreed about a custody reform bill that was proposed