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sad blunder; I promised to dine at three different houses 

 the same day, and when it came I discovered my error, 

 and wrote an apology to all, and went to none. 



Twizcl House y Bclford Northumberland^ April 10, 

 1827. Probably since ten years I have not been so long 

 without recording my deeds or my thoughts ; and even 

 now I feel by no means inclined to write, and for no par- 

 ticular reason. From Friday the 23d of March till the 5th 

 of April my time was busily employed, copying some of my 

 drawings, from five in the morning till seven at night. I 

 dined out rarely, as I found the time used by this encroached 

 too much on that needed by my ardent desire to improve 

 myself in oil and in perspective, which I wished to study 

 with close attention. Every day brought me packets of 

 letters of introduction, and I called here and there to make 

 my adieux. I went often in the evening to Mr. Lizars' ; 

 I felt the parting with him and his wife and sister would 

 be hard, and together we attended meetings of the differ- 

 ent societies. The last night I went to the Royal Society. 

 Sir Wm. Hamilton J read a paper against phrenology, 

 which would seem to quite destroy the theory of Mr. 

 Combe. I left many things in the care of my landlady, 

 as well as several pictures, and at six o'clock on the morn- 

 ing of April 5, left Edinburgh, where I hope to go again. 

 The weather was delightful. We passed Dunbar and Ber- 

 wick, our road near the sea most of the time, and at half- 

 past four, the coach stopped opposite the lodge of Twizel 

 House. I left my baggage in the care of the woman at 

 the lodge, and proceeded through some small woods 

 towards the house, which I saw after a few minutes, a 

 fine house, commanding an extensive view of the country, 

 the German Ocean, and Bamborough Castle. I ascended 

 the great staircase with pleasure, for I knew that here 

 was congeniality of feeling. Hearing the family were 



1 One of the greatest metaphysicians of modern times. Born at Glasgow 

 1788, died in Edinburgh, 1856. 



VOL. I. 15 



