LONDON IN 1862 47 



However, we got there all right, but to me the horror 

 was only multiplied, for the noise in the street caused 

 nightmares of the most terrifying sort, and there was 

 for the first two or three days some anxiety as to whether 

 I should not have to be taken home. 



I settled down, and in the next few weeks saw more of 

 London than I have ever seen since. The Exhibition 

 came first, with the big scented fountain immediately 

 after you entered. That scent remains very familiar 

 still. Then, not far from the entrance was a most mag- 

 nificent, gilded loose-box which Colonel Townley had 

 had made for Kettledrum, his Derby winner of the 

 previous year. 



We went to Astley's and saw Mazeppa, we went to 

 the Haymarket and saw Sothern as Lord Dundreary ; 

 to the Zoo, British Museum, Tower of London, Hampton 

 Court, with the Maze and monster Vine, the Crystal 

 Palace, where Blondin was walking high up over the 

 grounds, and I shut my eyes because his performance was 

 unbearably dangerous. What a wonder he was, walking 

 with a bag over his head and baskets on his feet, pretending 

 to slip and half fall ! It is very strange, but there has 

 never been but one Blondin, nor anyone with pretensions 

 to rival him. Even more strange is it that after he had 

 retired for a number of years and lost his money by an 

 ill-advised investment in Honduras bonds, he came out 

 again with the same absolute nerve control as he had in 

 his early career. There are many who must have seen 

 him at the Westminster Aquarium in this later stage, 

 and no one else was ever allowed to ropewalk there 

 without a net below. 



The Colleen Bawn was another of the plays which 

 my first visit to London recalls, but Sothern as Lord 

 Dundreary is the best-remembered character, with Buxton 

 pressing him somewhat closely. I was much interested 

 in the Royal horses when they came out for exercise from 

 the Buckingham Palace stables, the house we were in 

 commanding a full view of such proceedings. No doubt 



