4 MEMOIR. 



and interesting practice, and the sentences on the preceding page are 

 copied from him as the best introduction and apology to my diary. 



Born August 13, 1825. Baptised in the following September. 



My father was residing at this time in Upper Gower Street, 

 and was in business at Lincoln's Inn. 



Before I began to recollect anything, we left London, my 

 father retiring from active business ; and in the year 1830 he 

 went abroad with his whole family. My earliest recollections 

 are of the yellow travelling carriage in which we performed the 

 tour my mother and myself, Charles and his nurse in the 

 inside, my father and Reginald on the box, and Emma (now 

 Mrs P.) on the dickey behind. The well-loaded carriage was 

 dragged along by four horses, mounted by a pair of French 

 postilions in jack-boots. A few miles in advance we were pre- 

 ceded by Victor, the courier, a big, good-natured Frenchman, in 

 moustache and a sort of uniform. Thus we traversed France, 

 crossed the Alps, and advanced into Italy till we reached Naples. 

 Mount Vesuvius was in a state of eruption, and I recollect 

 watching its flames at night ; but little else made any impression 

 upon my mind. 



While staying in Eome (1831) we witnessed the election of 

 a new Pope. At night St Peter's was magnificently illuminated ; 

 the carnival next came on ; but at this time there were great 

 political disturbances, a revolution was apprehended, and the safety 

 of all foreigners, particularly that of the English, was endangered. 

 The hotels containing strangers were barricaded and fortified to 

 resist any attack made by the mob. At length we made our 

 escape, and left the Eternal City precipitately. 



