STATE BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE 183 



in a long letter written in London, extracts from which 

 follow : 



(S. W. J. TOE. E. J.) 



Jan. 19 Feb. 8, 1876. 



. . . Returning on Tuesday to my hotel (in Liverpool), I 

 found a messenger with a note from Mr. Muspratt, and I at 

 once accepted his invitation to dine that evening. Meeting 

 him at his office at five o'clock, I found him fuller faced and 

 heavier than 20 years ago, but quite recognizable and very 

 cordial. We went by rail some four miles to Seaforth at the 

 north entrance to the Mersey, and soon walked thence to 

 Seaforth Hall, built by his father 35 years ago. After warm- 

 ing my toes at the grate in his den, I was escorted to the 

 dining-room, . . . there was introduced to Mr. James Mus- 

 pratt the grandfather, 84 years old but as hearty as talkative, 

 and, bating a little deafness, as young as any of us. Also to 

 Miss Muspratt, the next day she was to go with her father 

 to Cheltenham to enter the new Woman's College. The dinner 

 passed pleasantly, Muspratt being a capital talker and well 

 posted in American affairs and a great friend of the North. 



In this dining-room hung a superb portrait of Liebig by 

 Frautsehold, very similar to the engraving Brush gave me, 

 but painted since Liebig 's death and a better and truer as well 

 as more beautiful portrait. After being shown all the pictures, 

 busts and statuary, in the dining-room, library and hall by Mr. 

 James Muspratt, I went with Mr. Edmund to take a smoke, 

 and an hour or two passed in pleasant chat until at 9.30 the 

 cab came to take me to the station. . . . Next day brought 

 me to London. 



. . . Friday and Saturday I walked about town through 

 the once before visited streets, Oxford, Regent, Strand, Cheap- 

 side, Piccadilly, Pall Mall, etc. The old landmarks mostly 

 remain, but many new ones have appeared. The shops are 

 vastly more brilliant, the statues and fine buildings more 

 numerous than 20 years ago. London is in fact improved in 



