THE EUROPEAN JOURNALS 291 



might make a capital bed for an Osage Indian during the 

 whole of a cold winter on the Arkansas River. 



London, March 15. The scene is quite changed, or 

 better say returned, for I am again in London. I found 

 my little Larks as lively as ever, but judge of my pleas- 

 ure when I found three letters from thee and Victor and 

 Johnny, dated Nov. 10, Dec. 19, and Jan. 20. What 

 comfort would it be to see thee. Havell tells me a hun- 

 dred sets of No. 6 are in hand for coloring. Mr. David 

 Lyon called to see my work, and said it had been recom- 

 mended to him by Sir Thos. Lawrence. This seems 

 strange after what I heard before, but like all other men 

 Sir Thomas has probably his enemies, and falsehoods 

 have been told about him. 



March 20. Called on Havell and saw the plate of the 

 Parroquets nearly finished; I think it is a beautiful piece 

 of work. My landlady received a notice that if she did 

 not pay her rent to-morrow an ofiticer would be put in 

 possession. I perceived she was in distress when I came 

 in, and asking her trouble gave her what assistance I 

 could by writing a cheque for i^20, which she has prom- 

 ised to repay. This evening I went to Covent Garden to 

 see "Othello;" I had an excellent seat. I saw Kean, 

 Young, and Kemble; the play was terrifyingly well 

 performed. 



Saturday, March 20. To-day I was with friend Ser- 

 geant most of the time; this evening have paid Havell in 

 full, and now, thank God, feel free to leave noisy, smoky 

 London. 



Oxford, March 2If. I am now in Oxford the clean, and 

 in comfortable lodgings. I arrived at four o'clock, shrunk 

 to about one half my usual size by the coldness of the 

 weather, having ridden on top of the coach, facing the 

 northern blast, that caused a severe frost last night, and 

 has, doubtless, nipped much fruit in the bud. As I trav- 

 elled I saw Windsor Castle about two miles distant, and 



