THE EUROPEAN JOURNALS 225 



sad blunder; I promised to dine at three different houses 

 the same day, and when it came I discovered my error, 

 and wrote an apology to all, and went to none. 



Twizel House, Belford — NortJiiimberland, April 10, 

 1827. Probably since ten years I have not been so long 

 without recording my deeds or my thoughts ; and even 

 now I feel by no means inclined to write, and for no par- 

 ticular reason. From Friday the 23d of ]\Iarch till the 5th 

 of April my time was busily employed, copying some of my 

 drawings, from five in the morning till seven at night. I 

 dined out rarely, as I found the time used by this encroached 

 too much on that needed by my ardent desire to improve 

 myself in oil and in perspective, which I wished to study 

 with close attention. Every day brought me packets of 

 letters of introduction, and I called here and there to make 

 my adieux. I went often in the evening to Mr. Lizars' ; 

 I felt the parting with him and his wife and sister would 

 be hard, and together we attended meetings of the differ- 

 ent societies. The last night I went to the Royal Society. 

 Sir Wm. Hamilton ^ read a paper against phrenology, 

 which would seem to quite destroy the theory of Mr. 

 Combe. I left many things in the care of my landlady, 

 as well as several pictures, and at six o'clock on the morn- 

 ing of April 5, left Edinburgh, where I hope to go again. 

 The weather was delightful. We passed Dunbar and Ber- 

 wick, our road near the sea most of the time, and at half- 

 past four, the coach stopped opposite the lodge of Twizel 

 House. I left my baggage in the care of the woman at 

 the lodge, and proceeded through some small woods 

 towards the house, which I saw after a few minutes, — a 

 fine house, commanding an extensive view of the country, 

 the German Ocean, and Bamborough Castle. I ascended 

 the great staircase with pleasure, for I knew that here 

 was congeniality of feeling. Hearing the family were 



1 One of the greatest metaphysicians of modern times. Born at Glasgow 

 1788, died in Edinburgh, 1856. 



VOL. I. — 15 



