114 FIRST JOURNEY IN EUROPE. [1839, 



Thence we visited the Museum of the Zoological So- 

 ciety, for which Dr. Richardson not only procured us 

 free admittance, but procured for us an order to visit 

 the Zoological Gardens ; made calls with Hooker, 

 whom Joseph and I left with the Chancellor of the Ex- 

 chequer in Downing Street, while we passed by West- 

 minster Hall and Abbey down to Bentham's, who has 

 a beautiful residence as retired as the country. Found 

 Bentham an exceedingly pleasant and amiable man ; 

 spent an hour or two, till Hooker came in ; accepted 

 an invitation to dine with him to-morrow ; went into 

 the City ; introduced to Richard Taylor, 1 at his print- 

 ing-office ; were all invited to breakfast on Tuesday 

 morning next ; went to Longman's famous bookstore 

 and warehouse ; one of the young Longmans politely 

 showed us over the building, showed us room after 

 room filled with solid literature, a most surprising 

 quantity ; went by St. Paul's again, saw the Bank, etc. ; 

 took an omnibus again to West End ; passed by the 

 London University, etc. Joe Hooker and I went to 

 dine with J. E. Gray, who has taken it into his head 

 to show us no little attention ; he has lately married 

 a rich wife, a widow, much older than himself ; I was 

 quite pleased with her. Went to the Botanical So- 

 ciety, poor concern ; and then to hear Faraday give 

 the first lecture of the season at the Royal Institution, 

 Mr. Gray having kindly offered us tickets. I was 

 unexpectedly introduced to Faraday just before the 

 lecture ; pleasant man, with a very quick and lively 

 expression of countenance. The lecture was on Elec- 

 trical Eels, etc. ; most elegant lecturer he is ; brilliant 

 and rapid experimenter. I hope to hear him again. 



1 Richard Taylor ; printer ; for many years secretary of the Linna^an 

 Society. 



