384 SECOND JOURNEY IN EUROPE. [1851, 



elegance than our Parisian quarters, but decidedly 

 more comfort. The only thing that distresses us is, 

 that we cannot translate dear Mrs. Crook bodily to 

 Cambridge, Massachusetts. Sure we would if she were 

 younger ; but the dear old creature will now erelong 

 be translated to a far better land. . . . Unpacked 

 (which in interminableness is only second to packing 

 up) and went down to the Hookers'. . . . 



Friday, after writing and dispatching letters home, 

 we went up to London, shopped, etc., in the City ; 

 streets nasty (the English word is very appropriate ; 

 no wonder they always use it), and such a contrast to 

 beautiful and gay Paris, which is vastly more con. 

 venient and agreeable for shopping. . . . 



Saturday, ... a little stroll in the Gardens, which 

 are looking beautifully, the trees loaded with rich 

 foliage, and the great masses of Rhododendrons in 

 blossom. 



In the evening went with Dr. Hooker up to the 

 last soiree of Lord Rosse, the president of the Royal 

 Society ; too late to see Prince Albert, who came and 

 went early ; saw the usual dons. Sir Charles Lyell 

 asked if I had stayed abroad all the time since last 

 year, or had just come over afresh ! . . . 



Wednesday, we were off early in the morning, to 

 make our first visit to the Great Exhibition. We went 

 up to town by railroad as usual ; walked over Water- 

 loo bridge, and having reached the Strand, had the 

 satisfaction of seeing nine omnibuses pass westward, 

 all full. Despairing of all hope of getting into an 

 omnibus, we were just turning to look for a cab, when 

 a well-dressed and respectable woman, who had been 

 making similar unsuccessful attempts, rushed up to us, 

 exclaiming, " Oh ! are you going to the Exhibition ? 



