THE EUROPEAN JOURNALS 



193 



other fish to fry. I put up a beautiful male Pheasant, and 

 outlined it on coarse gray paper to pounce it in proper 

 position on my canvas. Sir Wm. Jardine and Mr. Selby 

 were here drawing under my direction most of the day. 

 My time is so taken up, and daylight so short, that 

 though four hours is all I allow for sleep, I am behind- 

 hand, and have engaged an amanuensis. I go out so much 

 that I frequently dress three times a day, the greatest bore 

 in the world to me ; why I cannot dine in my blue coat as 

 well as a black one, I cannot say, but so it seems. Mrs. 

 Lizars came with a friend, Mr. Simpson, to invite me to a 

 phrenological supper, Dr. Charles Fox, looking very ill, 

 and two friends of Mr. Selby ; the whole morning passed 

 away, no canvas came for me, and I could not have left my 

 guests to work, if it had. I looked often at the beautiful 

 Pheasant, with longing eyes, but when the canvas came and 

 my guests had gone, daylight went with them, so I had 

 lost a most precious day ; that is a vast deal in a man's 

 life-glass. The supper was really a phrenological party; 

 my head and Mr. Selby's were compared, and at twelve 

 o'clock he and I went home together. I was glad to feel 

 the frosty air and to see the stars. I think Mr. Selby one 

 of those rare men that are seldom met with, and when 

 one is found it proves how good some of our species may 

 be. Never before did I so long for a glimpse of our rich 

 magnolia woods ; I never before felt the want of a glance 

 at our forests as I do now ; could I be there but a moment, 

 hear the mellow Mock-bird, or the Wood-thrush, to me 

 ahvays so pleasing, how happy should I be ; but alas ! I 

 am far from those scenes. I seem, in a measure, to have 

 gone back to my early days of society and fine dressing, 

 silk stockings and pumps, and all the finery with which I 

 made a popinjay of myself in my youth. 



December 22 ^ Friday. I painted a good portion to-day 

 though it was quite dark by three of the afternoon ; how 

 I long for the fair days of summer. My room to-day was 



VOL. I. — 13 



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