^T. 28.] JOURNAL. 125 



morning Joe Hooker and myself breakfasted together, 

 and then paid a visit to Westminster Abbey, which 

 we examined in every part, from Poets' Corner to 

 Henry VII.'s Chapel. . . . 



As we left the Abbey (where, by the way, we were 

 most thoroughly chilled with our long stay), we went 

 into the Chapter House adjoining, a very antique 

 building crammed with old records and musty manu- 

 scripts, and Sir Francis Palgrave kindly showed us 

 the famous Domesday Book, which is in a perfect 

 state of preservation ; all the writing perfectly dis- 

 tinct, and so plainly executed that we could read it, 

 here and there, with moderate facility. He showed 

 us a copy of a treaty made with France by Cardinal 

 Wolsey, of which the immense seal appended was cut 

 in gold, and of the most elaborate workmanship. We 

 saw also the original papal bull sent to Henry VIII., 

 constituting him " Defender of the Faith " ! We went 

 from this to Westminster Hall ; saw the large room, 

 which is very fine ; looked into the Court of Exche- 

 quer, and saw the Lord Chancellor and other judges 

 in their full-bottom wigs, most funny to behold, I 

 assure you ; and the barristers with their queer horse- 

 hair wigs, frizzled on the top of their heads, but tied 

 up into nice and regular curls behind, which fall upon 

 their shoulders. The case of the Canadian prisoners 

 was then under consideration. We then rode in an 

 omnibus to the City and visited St. Paul's Church, 

 which, grand as it is, does not show to advantage after 

 Westminster Abbey. The monumental statuary is 

 very fine ; some of it I would mention, but the ex- 

 treme lateness of the hour obliges me discreetly to 

 break off and finish my account of the day hereafter. 

 Bon soir, or rather Bon jour ! 



