THE EUROPEAN JOURNALS 299 



a superior man indeed; and their children blooming with 

 health and full of spirit. Such talks on birds we have 

 had together. Why, Lucy, thou wouldst think that birds 

 were all that we cared for in this world, but thou knowest 

 this is not so. Whilst there I began a drawing for Mrs. 

 Swainson, and showed Mr. Swainson how to put up birds 

 in my style, which delighted him. 



August 9. More than two months have passed since I 

 have opened my journal not through idleness, but be- 

 cause, on the contrary, I have been too busy with my 

 plates, and in superintending the coloring of them, and 

 with painting. I wished again to try painting in oil, and 

 set to with close attention, day after day, and have now 

 before me eight pictures begun, but not one entirely fin- 

 ished. I have a great desire to exhibit some of these in 

 this wonderful London. One of these pictures is from 

 my sketch of an Eagle pouncing on a Lamb, 1 dost thou 

 remember it ? They are on the top of a dreary mountain ; 

 the sky is dark and stormy, and I am sure the positions 

 of the bird and his prey are wholly correct. My drawing 

 is good, but the picture at present shows great coldness 

 and want of strength. Another is a copy of the very 

 group of Black Cocks, or Grouse, for which Mr. Gaily 

 paid me ^100, and I copy it with his permission; if it is 

 better than his, and I think it will be, he must exchange, 

 for assuredly he should own the superior picture. The 

 others are smaller and less important. With the excep- 

 tion of such exercise as has been necessary, and my jour- 

 neys (often several times a day) to Havell's, I have not 

 left my room, and have labored as if not to be painting 

 was a heinous crime. I have been at work from four 

 every morning till dark ; I have kept up my large corre- 

 spondence, my publication goes on well and regularly, 

 and this very day seventy sets have been distributed ; yet 



1 This picture is still in the family, being owned by one of the grand- 

 daughters. 



