THE EUROPEAN JOURNALS 289 



ceived a university education! I listened and admired 

 for a long time, when suddenly Professor Whewell began 

 asking me questions about the woods, the birds, the abo- 

 rigines of America. The more I rove about, the more I 

 find how little known the interior of America is; we sat 

 till late. No subscriber to-day, but I must not despair; 

 nothing can be done without patience and industry, and, 

 thank God, I have both. 



March 7. The frost was so severe last night that the 

 ground was white when I took my walk; I saw ice an 

 eighth of an inch thick. As most of the fruit trees are in 

 blossom, the gardeners will suffer this year. Inclement 

 though it was, the birds were courting, and some, such as 

 Jackdaws and Rooks, forming nests. After breakfast I 

 went to the library, having received a permit, and looked 

 at three volumes of Le Vaillant's "Birds of Africa," 

 which contain very bad figures. I was called from here 

 to show my work to the son of Lord Fitzwilliam, who 

 came with his tutor, Mr. Upton. The latter informed 

 me the young nobleman wished to own the book. I 

 showed my drawings, and he, being full of the ardor of 

 youth, asked where he should write his name. I gave him 

 my list; his youth, his good looks, his courtesy, his re- 

 finement attracted me much, and made me wish his name 

 should stand by that of some good friend. There was no 

 room by Mrs. Rathbone's, so I asked that he write imme- 

 diately above the Countess of Morton, and he wrote in a 

 beautiful hand, which I wish I could equal, " Hon. W. C. 

 Wentworth Fitzwilliam." He is a charming young man, 

 and I wish him bon voyage through life. On returning to 

 my lodgings this evening, my landlord asked me to join 

 him in what he called "a glass of home-brewed." I ac- 

 cepted, not to hurt his feelings, a thing I consider almost 

 criminal ; but it is muddy-looking stuff, not to my taste. 



Saturday, 8th. The weather bad, but my eyes and ears 

 were greeted by more birds than I have seen yet in this 



VOL. I. 19 



