574 APPENDIX. 



rat. This brute, like the family which first brought it over, exists in 

 round numbers, and demands a most plentiful supply of food. 



CHARLES WATERTON. 



To the Same. 



WALTON HALL, June 25, 1855. 



My dear Friend, Our weather here is just as usual protean by 

 the hour. Were it not, just now, for a good roaring fire alongside of 

 me, I should fancy myself a winter traveller in the arctic regions. 

 The night before last we had a strong frost ; yesterday was hot and 

 cold alternately. I can see, by the large green cherries which are 

 now lying on the ground under the trees, that the season is most 

 uncongenial. As for yourself, I must say that I do not pity you. 

 Although you may be doomed to live on frog instead of beef, and 

 be forced to gaze on a fire-place filled with showy flowers in lieu of 

 lighted fuel, still you have a warm Parisian sun in every street to 

 console and comfort you a thing we never see in this cold and 

 gloomy country. 



We bird-stuffers are a very low set, very jealous of each other, and 

 excessively prone to anger and to defamation. Take what follows 

 as an example : I had gone to Burlington Quay in quest of sea- 

 fowl. Having hired a gig, I engaged a man by name Mellor to 

 introduce me to the rock-climbers on the sea-coast. After we had 

 returned to Burlington Quay, as I was walking down the street, a 

 man by name Wilson came to his shop-door, and asked me to go 

 in and look at a golden eagle which he had just stuffed. Mellor 

 stayed in the street, seeming loathe to enter. On my rejoining him, 

 he said, " Mr Waterton, I never speaks ill of nobody; but, I must say, 

 that Wilson is the damnedest devil that ever came into our town ! " 



I am glad that you have found your old friend again. He will be 

 a great comfort to you. I already prize him for your sake. Pray 

 tell him that, if he should come to England, he has only to drop me 

 a line to know that I am at home, and I will give him a hearty wel- 

 come. I like you Yankees, and I have had some of the very best 

 specimens of information and fine feelings from your little nook of a 

 place on the other side of the big pond. 



