138 FIRST JOURNEY IN EUROPE. [1839, 



mounted for himself, and made an appointment with 

 me and another friend to meet him on Monday even- 

 ing next, to examine his microscopes and curious ob- 

 jects more quietly and at large than could be done in 

 a crowd, and to prepare some specimens for me. Mr. 

 Reade, a gentleman who was invited, but was pre- 

 vented from attending, was so kind as to send me a 

 copy of his paper on the Infusoria and Scales of Fishes 

 found in Flint, with proof impressions which are far 

 superior to those in the " Annals of Natural His- 

 tory." . . . 



Tuesday evening, February 19. Three days have 

 passed since I have written a line for you. This sus- 

 pension was occasioned by my late hours last night. 

 After spending the morning at the Horticultural So- 

 ciety, then going into the City, where I dined, then 

 going far out on the Mile-Find Road to deliver a letter 

 intrusted to me by Mr. Scatcherd, then returning as 

 far as the Bank, I went again, partly by omnibus and 

 partly on my legs, almost as far in the northern out- 

 skirts of the town, to spend an evening with Mr. 

 Bowerbank, one of the best microscopists in London, 

 who owns the best microscope. I found so much to 

 see that I did not get away until past twelve, and then 

 I had a walk before me almost the whole length of 

 London, from New North Road to Charing Cross. 

 I had an opportunity of seeing, what was especially 

 promised me, the camera lucida applied to the micro- 

 scope ; an invaluable invention for an awkward person 

 like me, as I am convinced I could with a very little 

 practice turn out very fair outline sketches of objects 

 I might be examining. I acquired much information 

 on various subjects ; saw some most curious and unique 

 specimens of vegetable structure, and particularly 



