126 



A UDUBON 



forty drawings and packed them ready for removal. Now 

 for the concert. It was six o'clock and raining when I left 

 for Fountain Street, where already carriages had accumu- 

 lated to a great number. I presented my ticket, and was 

 dsked to write my name and residence, for this is not 

 exactly a public affair, but most select; so I am told. 

 The room is full of red, white, blue, and green turbans well 

 fitted to the handsome heads of the ladies. I went to one 

 side where my ear and my intellect might be well satisfied, 

 and where I should not be noticed ; but it would not do, 

 my long hair and unfashionable garments were observed 

 far more than was agreeable to me. But the music soon 

 began, and I forgot all else for the time ; still between the 

 various performances I felt myself gazed at through lor- 

 gnettes, and was most ill at ease. I have passed many un- 

 comfortable evenings in company, and this one may be 

 added. 



Quarry Bank, September 26. Whilst putting up my 

 pictures in my newly granted " apartment " I received a 

 note from Mrs. Gregg inviting me here for the night to 

 meet Professor Smyth.^ He is a tall, fine-looking gentle- 

 man from Cambridge, full of knowledge, good taste, and 

 kindness. At dinner the Professor sat opposite the 

 Woodsman, and America was largely the topic of conver- 

 sation. One evening spent with people such as these 

 is worth a hundred fashionable ones. 



Wednesday, September 27. It is a strange atmosphere, 

 warm, damp, rainy, then fair again, all in less than two 

 hours, which was the time consumed by my early walk. 

 On my return soon after eight I found four of the ladies 

 all drawing in the library ; that in this country is generally 

 the sitting-room. At about ten we had breakfast, when 

 we talked much of duels, and of my friend Clay '^ and 



1 William Smyth, 1766-1849, poet, scholar, and Professor of Modern 

 History at Cambridge. 



2 Henry Clay. 



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