1838-39. LONDON PASTIMES. 167 



only intended to put him in the way of the Bow omnibus ; but 

 that would not do now ; and I well remember the eager head 

 out of the cab window, as he at length caught sight of me on my 

 way to meet the absentee, already long after his time. A few 

 such incidents, added to the unreasonable length of the road, led 

 to our changing our quarters, and we set up our abode in Great 

 Clarendon Street, Euston Square, where we fell into the hands 

 of the Philistines, and got initiated into some of the mysteries 

 of London lodging-houses, which furnished materials for many 

 a joke at a later date, but w r ere serious matters at the time, when 

 our purses were fully as light as our hearts. 



" We did not fail to make good use of some of the great Lon- 

 don sights of that time : its picture-galleries, museums, cathe- 

 drals, etc., and among the rest, I do not think that George ever 

 repented of having availed himself of the opportunity of witness- 

 ing some of the wonderful reproductions of Shakspere's choicest 

 dramas, with which Macready was then delighting the London 

 world at Covent Garden ; nor of his first peep at a pantomime, 

 brought out with all the glories of a London stage, and which he 

 enjoyed with a mirth as hearty and unrestrained as the happiest 

 child there. ' Peeping Tom of Coventry ' was often afterwards 

 laughed over, and furnished illustrations, both grave and gay, in 

 writings of a later date. Such pastimes, however, were only the 

 rare relaxations of an exceedingly busy and happy season." 



Further details of Laboratory duties are given in writing home. 

 " I go to the Laboratory at nine o'clock, and do not finally leave 

 it till five o'clock. Long as these hours are, they are agreeably 

 broken up : thus, at eleven o'clock, I go in to hear Mr. Graham's 

 lecture ; at two I go home to dinner, and at five I leave finally. 

 Three days a week there will be a practical class, where I shall 

 have to assist, so that there will be no room for wearying. You 

 will observe I am never more than two hours continuously at 

 work : at Dr. Christison's Laboratory I was often four or five, 

 and as many at Eichmond Court always. My lodgings are at a 

 mile's distance from the University, so that I shall have a 

 comfortably long walk, to and from my working place, twice 

 each day. 



