Wild Sports of the West 



CHAPTER I. 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 



London, July ist, 1829. 



Notwithstanding its dust and desertion, I am still 

 lurking in the metropolis. The heat has become in- 

 tolerable — yesterday I imagined myself in Calcutta — 

 for never but in the land of curries and red pepper did 

 I experience anything so oppressive. 



I breakfasted this morning at the Club-house. My 

 air and attitude, as I caught a glimpse of them in a 

 concave mirror, looked exquisitely disconsolate. Never 

 was mortal more ennuye than I. Town has become 

 a desert — the world has abandoned it by general con- 

 sent — the streets feel as if they had been recently fanned 

 by a sirocco ; and of divers unhappy beings whom I 

 encountered in my walk from Grafton Street to St. 

 James's, none seemed at ease but a bilious gentleman 

 from Bombay and the French fellow who exhibits in 

 the oven. The thermometer, in a shaded corner of 

 the room, is stationary at 82 deg. To remain longer 

 here would be suicidal ; but, where to go — whither to 

 fly — alas ! I know not. 



