THE EUROPEAN JOURNALS 



173 



that Sir James Hall and his brother called to receive infor- 

 mation respecting the comfort that may be expected in 

 travelling through my dear country. 



Sunday, December 3. My good friends, Mr. and Mrs. 

 Lizars came in as usual after church ; they like the Otter 

 better than the Turkeys. It was nearly finished, to the 

 great astonishment of Mr. Syme and Mr. Cameron, who 

 came to announce that the rooms at the Institution were 

 mine till the 20th inst. Mr. Cameron looked long at the 

 picture and said : " No man in either England or Scotland 

 could paint that picture in so short a time." Now to me 

 this is all truly wonderful ; I came to this Europe fearful, 

 humble, dreading all, scarce able to hold up my head and 

 meet the glance of the learned, and I am praised so highly ! 

 It is quite unaccountable, and I still fear it will not last ; 

 these good people certainly give me more merit than I am 

 entitled to ; it can only be a glance of astonishment or sur- 

 prise operating on them because my style is new, and 

 somewhat different from those who have preceded me. 

 Mr. Bridges, who knows everybody, and goes everywhere, 

 went with me to dine with Mr. Witham of Yorkshire. 

 We dined — had coffee — supped at eleven. At twelve 

 the ladies left us ; I wished to leave, but it was impossible. 

 Dr. Knox said he wished to propose me as an honorary 

 member of the Wernerian Society ; our host said he^would 

 second the motion ; my health was drunk, and I finally 

 retired with Dr. Knox, leaving Mr. Bridges and the other 

 gentlemen making whiskey toddy from that potent Scotch 

 liquor which as yet I cannot swallow. It was now half- 

 past two ; what hours do I keep ! Am I to lead this 

 life long? If I do I must receive from my Maker a new 

 supply of strength, for even my strong constitution cannot 

 stand it. 



Monday, December 4- I gave early orders to Mrs. 

 Dickie to have a particularly good breakfast ready by nine 

 o'clock because Mr. Witham had offered last night to come 



