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THE EUROPEAN JOURNALS 



151 



ments, but possibly not so in the actual observation of Nature 

 at her best, in the wilds, as I certainly have seen her. 



October 29, Sunday. With the exception of the short 

 walk to the post-office with my letters, I have been as 

 busy as a bee all day, for I have written much. Yester- 

 day at ten Messrs. Patison brought twelve ladies and the 

 Messrs. Thomas and John Todd of this city to see my 

 drawings ; they remained full two hours. Professor Dun- 

 can came in and was truly a kind friend. After my com- 

 pany had left, and I had been promised several letters for 

 Sir Walter Scott, I took a walk, and entered a public gar- 

 den, where I soon found myself a prisoner, and where, 

 had I not found a pretty maid who took pity on my 

 itonrderiCy I certainly would have felt very awkward, as I 

 had neither letter nor pocket-book to show for my identi- 

 fication. I then went in search of a Scotch pebble ; one 

 attracted me, but a boy in the shop said his father could 

 make one still handsomer. I wanted not pebbles made by 

 man, I wanted them the result of nature, but I enquired 

 of the lad how they were made. Without hesitation the 

 boy answered : " by fire-heat, and whilst the pores of the 

 pebbles are open colored infusions are impregnated." 

 Now what will not man do to deceive his brother? I 

 called on Mr. Jeffrey,^ who was not in; he comes from 

 his Hall, two and a half miles ofif, every day for two hours, 

 from two to four o'clock ; therefore I entered his sanctum 

 sanctorum, sealed the letter, and wrote on my card that I 

 would be happy to see him. What a mass of books, 

 papers, portfolios, dirt, beautiful paintings, engravings, 

 casts, with such parcels of unopened packages all di- 

 rected " Francis Jeffrey, Esq." Whilst I looked at this 

 mass I thought. What have / done, compared with what 

 this man has done, and has to do? I much long to see 

 the famous critic. As I came away my thoughts reverted to 



' Lord Francis Jeffrey, 1773-1850, the distinguished Scottish critic and 

 essayist. 



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