JOURNAL 103 



Paul's. So I made a partial shifting, a rude shaving, 

 and a good breakfasting, and thereafter saUied forth. 

 St. Paul's I had seen before ; it did not excite much 

 wonder. Strolling along I got to Waterloo Bridge, and 

 inspected Hungerford IMarket, which latter afforded me 

 a good deal of amusement. Soon after I went to the 

 British Museum, which is at present shut upon its 

 proprietors, tlie public. Howe^'er I had a letter to 

 JNIaster Grey, and he being absent I presented it to his 

 brother. He gave me permission to walk in, and when 

 disengaged from Professor Lichtenstein of Berlin, then 

 on a visit, showed me all the apartments in succession. 

 It is unnecessary to describe this splendid and extensive 

 museum, as there is a catalogue of it published. How- 

 ever, 1 have taken some notes. 



IMontagu's collection of British birds, which is fine 

 on account of its extent, but does not contain ten well- 

 stuffed specimens. When are we to see some improve- 

 ment in this art ? Surely it were better to give an artist 

 twenty shillings for a fine specimen than five for a bad one. 

 Every stufFer has a way of his own in which he prepares 

 all birds. In Edinburgh, Black John, and Carfrae, and 

 Gibson have each a peculiar mode — every species has 

 the same attitude. The late Mr. Wilson was a good 

 stuffer of grouse, but he stuffed all birds in precisely the 

 same style. The pervading style of Montagu's birds is 

 distortion. There is not, so far as I have observed, one 

 faultless specimen among them. Good collection of 

 eggs. Montagu's shells in glazed tables — pretty good. 



