94 FIRST JOURNEY IN EUROPE. [1839, 



is now closed and the key in the possession of an 

 architect at Edinburgh, so that I could not obtain 

 admittance. It was in this place, perchance you 

 may recollect, that the first meeting of Rob Roy with 

 Osbaldistone took place. My Scotch reminiscences 

 have been greatly revived to-day. To-day I have for 

 the first time seen and tasted only tasted the 

 two Scotch national dishes, viz., singed sheep's head 

 and a haggis ! 



I had arranged to leave Glasgow on the morning 

 after Christmas, when Sir William insisted on my 

 staying at least over Wednesday to sit for my por- 

 trait ! I contrived, however, to sit on Tuesday (Christ- 

 mas day), when I was done in about four hours, in the 

 same style as Sir William's other botanical portraits, 

 and with so much success that it was unanimously 

 proclaimed to be a most striking likeness ; in fact the 

 most successful of all the artist's attempts are said to 

 be this and that of Dr. Torrey, by whose side, it seems, 

 I am destined to be suspended ! a compliment with 

 which I may well feel highly gratified. I believe it is 

 a capital likeness. 



I dined out only once at Glasgow, at the house of 

 Mr. Davidson, a very rich don who has made all his 

 money in business here. 



Late in the day I went into town to secure a place 

 in the early coach for Stirling and also a bed for the 

 night, as well as to select some little Christmas pres- 

 ents for the Misses Hooker. In the evening Sir Wil- 

 liam had several friends to dinner, and soon after the 

 breaking up of the evening party I took my leave of 

 these kind friends with no small regret ; my contem- 

 plated visit of ten days has been prolonged to just twice 

 that number. And now, as we have fairly bid adieu 



